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 Koeman has been replaced by Frenchman Claude Puel who has spent the past 4 seasons in charge of Ligue 1 side Nice, and prior to that he had spells in charge of Lyon, Lille and Monaco.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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**** that’s a tough one
Haha was tossing up beetween Ibra and Lukaku and Carroll and Agureo
hi everyone. nice to be able to start thinking about soccer again.
i have a question to all the very knowledgeable people here. What are the keys to scoring well at EPL Fantasy?
I have been ranked between 100k – 200k forever. i did finish 2014/5 around 35k and thought that was going to be my ‘break-out’ year, but alas i was back to my average best last year.
i know there isn’t a simple answer, but to someone who knows the basics of the game and have been playing for a number of years now, how does someone start to become “elite”?
hi BB, as the 1st step i can highly recommend to follow the articles and comments of this site. if you do so you will see the process for sure. the strategies can be different but you will have good tips, suggestions on a weekly basis.
and don’t regret the previous season, it was a crazy one!
bundeena
When you find out let me know. :smirk:
It’s no exact science otherwise it would be boring. DO your best, follow as much football as you can – watching and reading and get feedback (on here obviously!) but follow your own gut feeling in the end.
Those are good ranks by the way, well done.
Patience is one of the main things for me,no knee jerking and doing the sensible moves.Sounds easy but over a full season takes a lot of will power sometimes.Plus watching as many games as possible.Even if you only watch a game for half an hour !
Great article, thanks Kop – Redmond could be a cheeky little asset this season!
Morning all! Been radio silent for a while but back for the new season. I know it is early days and it looks like many a new signing will be happening over the coming few, but who are people looking at currently?
Chief headache for me is the United boys: Ibra, Mkhi, Martial. Who do you take!?
Looking forward to seeing teams over the coming weeks and passing off my naff comments as tips.
AT
How you doing, good summer?
I’m liking all the activity on here just now and interesting as always to see all the different opinions on new players, team coverage etc.
For me, I’m probably giving Ibra the benefit of the doubt but wouldn’t rule out picking of Miki too as United should start well and the early fixtures are with them.
I am definitely with Ibra, AT. Miki would probably make the squad if I know for sure Payet won’t play. Their price tag being equal makes it an easy transfer. So I am high on them. Martial would probably be rated higher in my eyes if he wasn’t competing for a spot against Miki and Ibra. If he was just a bit cheaper, he probably make my GW1 team.
GP, very good thanks. How’s yours going?
Yeah, loving how active it is.
So many good midfielders so may have to go with Ibra – what a shame! haha
Mito, I would have thought they would operate a 4-2-3-1 with Martial – Rooney – Mkhi behind Ibra so all should play, although I must admit I haven’t been following preseason closely.
By competing, I meant for a spot on my fpl team.
AT
Gota couple of drafts and the same 4-5 players appear in them all so I’ve got the bones of it I reckon.
Mito, I thought that may have been what you meant after I wrote it haha
4-2-3-1 does suit the personnel, but not the coach…Mourinho normally plays 4-3-3. For that to happen though he needs pogba or some other mid that can to a “matic” for him. That would see Miki and Martial/Depay on the wings, with Ibra upfront and then the other two mids are anybody’s guess. Rooney could be one, but he can’t do what mourinho normally expects from his mids…
United have tons of experienced players in there, all of which seem “not good enough”, except maybe Herrera that could easily become one of those mids. We need to watch the community shield to really have an idea of what mou is doing.
Morning guys,
All well today? Big day out with the family yesterday hence the inactivity. Miss much?
Kop – thanks for the coverage of Southampton mate. I think if you are having a 4.5M sub midfielder you may as well start with Hobjerg just incase he turns out to be one of these who gets up and supports the attack. No harm in punting on him as he’ll surely play at the very least.
Ok I have desidered to look @ def stats from last season table att
These are the top ten teams that should pick up the most C//S in the first 1-5 GW in order Tot , MU , Leic , Ars , Sou , Man City , WBA , Mid ,CRY WHU curtesy of Jamie @ fplbet
Best rotation
Ars & Spurs
Liv & Eve
Lei & Mid
Che & Sun
Swa & Pal
Wat & Bou
Hull & Stk
Sou & WHU
WBA & Bur
Players @ 4.5m who I thk should start
Evans , Friend , Souare , Tayor , Pieters , Mee , Robertson , Cathcart , Francis , Kone could be others
Players @ 4m possibles Mensah , Lenihan , Kingsley , Wilson , Smith
Players whom are have been transferred in worth a mention
Tomkins 5m Bou , Stones to City 5m not a done deal yet but should be cheap way into City def Keep an an on Denayer City very talented CB 4.5 , Bailly MU 5.5m certain starter . Smith Liv if he gets a move to Bou could play MF & @ 4m could be fantasy pick.
Players that are worth a look @ from the new boys
Robertson Hull very useful full back , Alyala Mid scored 4 last season ,Keane Bur scored 5 Friend could also do well for Mid attacking FB
Three to keep an eye on Byram 4.5m WHU if he can break into team very good FB & Ake 4.5m should start & should play in MF. Brunt 5m down as def but plays MF
Def who are possibly pen or free kick takers
Daniels Bou , Baines Eve , Kolarov City , Van Aan Sun
Thanks for reading done this on my phone so probably some mistakes
Great stuff Silvers!
Gonna bookmark this and have a closer look at it later, but it looks great! Thanks for sharing this with us.
Silvers
Great stuff pal. Thanks for sharing. I mentioned about Byram on Friday or Saturday. I’m worried though that Antonio will start back there though. Watchlist for him though definitely.
@GPee, any chance Byram can play LB? Not looking great on Cresswell
Don’t see it Mito.
Right back or right midfield with Leeds. I think with Feghouli coming in to West Ham it’s likely Antonio will continue at RB. Just my own opinion though but the rest of the pre-season line-ups and the Europa League qualifier should give us some clues.
Silvers that is an article in itself mate.Good stuff mate.
Thanks Silvers. I hope you post links to all our articles over on FPLBet? 😉