New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. Southampton
It has been another summer of turmoil down on the South coast as once more Southampton have lost a number of their key assets. Liverpool clearly felt that they did not have enough ex-Southampton players in their ranks so decided to shell out a reported £34m on Sadio Mane. Spurs splashed out £11m on midfield enforcer Victor Wanyama, while Graziano Pelle has buggered off to China where he will earn a reported £260k per week. The world has officially gone mad! However perhaps the biggest loss will be manager Ronald Koeman who has taken over the reins at Goodison Park. Koeman has been replaced by Frenchman Claude Puel who has spent the past 4 seasons in charge of Ligue 1 side Nice, and prior to that he had spells in charge of Lyon, Lille and Monaco. Over the years he has developed a reputation for developing youngsters and playing an attractive brand of football. This should see him fit in well at Southampton. Although he has big shoes to fill as Koeman had built on the work of Mauricio Pochettino. What he have seen in recent years is that Southampton typically spend their money wisely and judging from their latest two signings they have once more spent wisely.
For Southampton’s pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created Southampton Pre-season info
Nathan Redmond (£6.0m)
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After three years at Carrow Road Redmond decided to leave Norwich after they were relegated for the second time in three seasons. Redmond clearly wasn’t bought by Puel as his appointment was confirmed after the purchase of Redmond, although he has apparently been a long-term target for the Southampton hierarchy and we’ve seen how successful they have been over the years. The 22 year old will undoubtedly be seen as a direct replacement for Sadio Mane, but is he good enough to do so? Last season Mane scored 11 and assisted six while Redmond managed just six goals and three assists. Such basis stats are not always the best means to compare two players and some of the underlying stats suggest that Redmond can replace Mane. He created more chances per 90 minutes than Mane did. Surrounded by better quality players we must assume that more of these chances will now be scored! He’s certainly not the goalscorer that Mane is, he’s only managed to find the back of the net on 18 occasions in 174 league appearances. Although he did get his Saints career off to a flyer yesterday with two goals. Against… Zwolle. I would certainly expect him to pick up more fantasy points than in previous season but whether or not he’s worth considering will be determined by his price.
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (£4.5m)
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Just as many will view Redmond as a replacement for Mane they are likely to see Hojbjerg as a replacement for Wanyama. He is a defensive midfielder by trade but can just as easily play as a box-to-box midfielder. The 20 year-old has long been seen as one of Europe’s hottest properties and when he moved to Bayern back in 2013 many expected him to kick onto the next level under Pep Guardiola. Unfortunately it didn’t work out at the German club as he was kept out of the team by Kroos, Thiago and Schweinsteiger. Frustrated by a lack of game time he joined Augsburg on loan in January 2015 helping them to qualify for the Europa League where his tireless running and positivity going forward played an important role. He spent last season on loan at Schalke but struggled to cement his place in the side. What can we expect from him at Southampton? Assuming Puel adopts a 4-2-3-1 formation I would expect Hojbjerg to play as part of a two man holding midfield. He should have the physical strength to adapt to life in the Premier League and I expect Puel will work with him on the training ground to encourage him to get forward on a regular basis. Is he likely to be a fantasy asset? For now I would take a wait and see approach.
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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Sorted now, thanks Silvers. Banjo, I think Carzola is underrated and Arsenal would of won the league if he was fully fit last season. Ozil and Sanchez maybe better options but I’ll have to weaken else where. I think Carzola might be on pens too?
I’m not sure where Carzola fits in there at the moment. Ozil will be off the front, Sanchez on the left. Xkaka will hold. He could play along side him but then they have elneny played well back half of last season. Wilshire, Ramsey
Afternoon all
This is definitely the basis of my team. Not going for Ibra as i want the team well rounded going forward.
Thoughts?
Afternoon Mad I not going Ibra as well , might bite us in the butt but hey onwards and upwards team looks good , I was thinking of doubling up on MAN U but decided against it but could work. Not sure Terry will be nailed on age is against him now rest looks good. 😉
Cheers Silvers
Or i could do it this way but weaken defence a bit?
Cheers
Mad I like the first team better just change Will to Siggy for two GW then swap to Bark job done until other transfers show to us I also couldn’t drop KDB but I had to in the end , he his going to be a big player this season so it could hurt us.
No point having Siggy when i have Ayew mate.
Cheers for the advice
Morning from across the pond y’all. What are people’s thoughts on Cech vs Gabriel for Arse cover? And would Funes Mori be a decent cover if I can’t reach Baines?
Morning or should I say afternoon Colriles depends on the rest of your back 4 but Gab could come in for a bit of rotation. I will probably go with Mori he did well last season & could push on again but he his no Baines price dictates
Can’t see Mori playing guys. Not much anyway.
AnttL I thought he did well for you last season who will your back 4 be ???
Cheers AnttL. I’m guessing Baines/Coleman/Stones/Jags? So a lot depends on Stones staying in that case.
I think picking the right 6.5m striker to start with could make for a big differential this season but there are so many options. Regardless of cover in midfield who do we feel has the most potential over the first 3-6 weeks? Currently going with Carroll myself but that would change if Palace sign Berahino or I would even consider altering my team to get Benteke in if he signed for them.
Wilson / Gray / Negredo / Long / Austin / Berahino / Rondon / Carroll
Hey Rambo I’m currently going with Carroll but that’s only because I have J.Rod in midfield and I’m not sure whether I want to double up on Southampton players yet. I should probably also say that I’m not going with Payet for the first 3 games based on fixtures so that does kind of contradict my Carroll pick.
Hey Rambo I have Carroll at present but not set in stone keeping an eye on where Berahino goes but fixture wise I would say WHU , WBA but how many goals do they score , Austin or Long could also be ok & if Wat had better fixtures I would have gone with Deeney I like this player another to keep an eye on is Wickham @ 6m decent fixtures but they might sign someone else. 😉
Similar thinking myself lads. Currently have Redmond as Saints cover and Bolasie from Palace but a Berahino move could change 2 or 3 of my team. Agree with you Silver, Berahino currently at WBA is a no go for me. If we were starting tomorrow it’d be would Carroll, next few friendlies will hopefully help us more.
Afternoon all, could I get some feedback on this team You are more than welcome to pick the bones out of it many thanks.
Hey No1
I’m guessing you can log into your team on your phone now that your screenshotting?
I like the majority of this team but I think maybe downgrade Gabriel to upgrade Tarkowski so you have a better bench. Also keep an eye on whether Smith plays for Bournemouth if so I’ll definitely be bringing him in but I don’t think he’ll be chucking Daniels out of the team. Rest of the team looks good but are you 100% on the triple Everton? From GW3 onwards they have great fixtures but I would still try and spread the team coverage a bit. That’s only a personal thing though.
Ah thanks for the feedback matt and yeah can log in now it was just a question of the system not trusting the new website did you get yours sorted.
No problem mate
Ah right. No mine still isn’t working and FPL haven’t got back to me. What did you do to make your phone trust the new site?
No1likesus fairly good answer by Matt makes sense , although Wilson or should I say Bou don’t have great fixtures either maybe look else where 😉
Yeah was thinking the same just first draft not set in stone just yet.
Benteke has to move surely? West Ham and Palace would be very good for FPL
Hope he does and either of those teams would be great FPL move for us. Palace might be better as then he’d be the big target instead of having to share with Carroll.
I can see him moving. He says he wants to stay and fight for his place so it might be end of August. He can’t be staying though surely
Matt I take it your a Liverpool fan how do you think klopp will line up the midfield and up front.
Yeah how we’ll lineup is a bit hard to guess. I’d learn it up like this but Klopp is a strange creature so who knoes:
Can Grujic
Mane Firmino Couthino
Sturridge
But Henderson is captain so will probably be there instead of Grujic. Also I have a sneaky feeling that Klopp may not have 100% faith in Sturridge so could deploy Firmino up top and Wijnaldum could sit in behind.
With so many options this season I see Klopp subbing in and out to keep players fresh so a lot of them may not get 90 minutes in every game.
Sorry on the bus so a few spelling mistakes there haha but hopefully you get what I mean