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 Koeman has been replaced by Frenchman Claude Puel who has spent the past 4 seasons in charge of Ligue 1 side Nice, and prior to that he had spells in charge of Lyon, Lille and Monaco.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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Yes I know. No aguero. Thoughts?
Looks good on paper but i can see that stroke force coming back to haunt you, maybe even in GW1. I’d cheapen the midfield a bit and buy Aguero. Sounds obvious but i think he’s a must have (along with Mahrez i reckon they’re the only two must haves). Sunderland at home to start has hat-trick written all over it.
Nin do you reckon Mahrez is a must have? Guy is quality but so much speculation and Leicesters goals did dry up a bit
I do yes. They had a title to win and did the right thing i think. Didn’t burn out their attackers and became solid as a rock. even during those spells we seen that they can open up when they want (remember the Southampton game where they were 2-0 down at half time. Opened up second half and got a draw and should have really scored 4!). Right no he’s the only one in the running for GW1 capo for me, outside of Aguero.
Interesting. He’s one of the players I’m pretty torn about.
Just about the first name on my team sheet anyway. Again, just after Aguero 😉
Thanks NIN, you’re right about that. Aguero should always be a must
Delafeau is playing upfront again has scored again. Just not sure on game time
Nope, i ain’t going there again
Didn’t know we could change our usernames
I’m just going to go by Matt now because changing it completely would confuse poor Silvers and I hated my username anyway only kept it because I came over from the FFC site :winktongue:
It’s tequila Tuesday so i doubt Silvers knows his own name today :hippo:
I thought you may have been one of the X-Men. Disappointing.
That’s why I thought it would be unfair on him and with Whiskey Wednesday tomorrow then him off for the ‘weekend’ I thought it best to do the change now
haha
No they just rejected me that’s also why the X had to go
Hahaha, right on!
The bastards. How dare they. Ask Mito to have a word. He knows how to get things done.
Haha! Hopefully he’ll see this an get onto the professor 😉
Evening all
Defence is fairly weak but think it’s worth it for the front line. Ayew to Barkley and Costa to Lukaku from week 4
Thoughts?
Looks good to me mate, maybe switch out Fernandez for Taylor though as from what i hear the former may not be guaranteed to stat.
+1
+1 exactly what NIN says but I will add that I think you should change Fletcher to another 4.5 mid as he won’t get many points
Decent team that one. Can’t really fault it.
Cheers all
Taken advice on board so maybe this?
Will keep my eye on friendlies
Really nice team that. It’s amazing what changing up a couple of the cheaper guys can do to the overall outlook of the squad
Yeah this looks just so much more better to me mate, nice team!!
Team 1: plan for first 6 GWs
Valdes (Jakupovic)
Shaw McAuley Schlupp (Friend and Lenihan)
Mahrez Townsend J.Rod Haz (de Roon)
Ibra Kun Carroll
Save GW2 transfer.
Mahrez to Payet for GW4.
Possibly Ibra out to Lukaku same week.
Upgrade elsewhere week after.
Don’t really like the GK’s in this team but J.Rod to Redmond gives me an extra 0.5 to upgrade Valdes?
Team 2: plan for first 6 GWs
Courtois (Valdes)
Fuchs McAuley Shaw (Friend and Lenihan)
Siggy Townsend J.Rod Haz (de Roon)
Ibra Kun Carroll
Fuchs for a one week punt then switch to Baines
Siggy to Barkley for GW3.
Possibly Ibra out to Lukaku for GW4
Upgrade elsewhere week after.
J.Rod and Valdes could become Redmond and Jakupovic to raise a mil??
Do these plans make sense or am I spewing nonsense?? :cuckoo:
Haha
I prefer team 1 there buddy. The future planning for that one seems more on point to me, plus it has Mahrez in there for good measure.
Yeah Team 2 is the only draft I’ve done without Mahrez. I prefer team 1 as well it’s just that the Gk’s are crap and I really want Baines especially for the easy fixtures. Do you think the money I get from switching the Redmond should be used on Valdes or on Schlupp to Fuchs then the plans change a little to possibly taking a hit for GW4 but if the punt works out then it won’t be too bad?
I’d be happy enough with Valdes as a set and forget GK to be honest. Swap Shaw out for Baines if he’s your preferred choice for the long run? Assuming Rodriguez is going to be a starter i’d just keep him and leave Redmond. Chances are your GW4 plan will change by the time it comes around anyway so i wouldn’t worry too much about that.
Really? I was just looking at his fixtures and they aren’t the most exciting I’m thinking right now that a Palace Gk would be better to set and forget? Hmm I don’t think I’ll sell Shaw but will have to consider it because I just fancy Koeman to get the best out of Baines but United should be more solid at the back with Mou there now. Plus with the friendlies still to play I can see if Rod plays if not then it’s simple switch to Redmond and the .5 goes to Schlupp.
I think so yeah. I haven’t made many drafts, just three i think, and he was in two of them as a set and forget GK. Hart is in the current one. Palace could be a shout for that also as you say but i’d be more inclined to get a Ward or Dann and try and get in on their attacking potential. Yep, watch those friendlies like a hawk, kinda have to when in two minds about two similarly priced players in the same position from the same team. I just lobbed Townsend and Lord Siggy in there as my mid range guys.
Yeah will be watching a few players now. Hopefully United will get a few preseason games so we can see how they are defensively. Siggy was considered but Mahrez won that battle by a landslide so forced J.Rod and Townsend to be the midrange but it’s not much of a downgrade.
Anyone lost an X :smiling:
I’m confused now. Is it an imposter called Matt with dysleXia?!
Haha