New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2016/17. West Ham
What a difference a year makes! Roughly 12 months ago, some bozo on here was ribbing this lot to the max, predicting a rough season and possible relegation due to the appointment of “woeful” Slaven Bilic as head honcho in replacement of the ever sturdy Sam Allardyce. An unknown French dude was supposedly the key to Hammers success but this bozo just didn’t believe it. Who was this character, you ask? None of your goddamn business, that’s who. Now, moving swiftly on; West Ham have been quite busy in the current window, snapping up some very interesting players, 4 of which we’ll cover in this here article. Two youth prospects (Domingos Quina & Toni Martinez) aren’t really expected to break into what is fast becoming a stacked Hammers team but they are worth a mention nonetheless. Quina, a 16 year old Portuguese attacking midfielder, has been highly touted as one for the future and West Ham have done well to nip in and take him on board. Martinez, slightly older at 19, was snapped up from the Valencia youth and is again seen as one for the future. Like Quina, he’s not expected to get much if any game time this season but as fantasy managers we’d be doing ourselves a service to keep an eye on the progression of Martinez and Quina as we may well be punting on them in a season or two. With those two now out of the way, lets have a peek at the Hammers signings that are more relevant to the upcoming fantasy season, shall we?…
For West Ham’s pre-season games, line-ups and general musings here is their link on the Pre-season hub we have created West Ham Pre-season info
Håvard Nordtveit – Defensive Midfielder / Center Back (£5.0m) Classed as a mid in FPL
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Signed from German outfit Gladbach, this defensive minded Norweigan has seemingly been drafted in to help plug the holes in a Hammers defence that was pretty porous at times last season. Despite playing an attractive, attacking style of football and finishing a more than respectable 7th, West Ham ranked 8th from the top 10 in terms of goals conceded – shipping a hefty 51 times over the course of the season. A reduction of 10 or so goals may have resulted in a top 4 finish, what with there being just a four point gap between themselves and Manchester City. Considering this, it’s not surprising that Bilic went after a solid member of a rather impressive Gladbach team and we’d expect Nordveit to do a job for the Hammers. Looking at his attacking stats there’s not a whole lot to whet the appetite, fantasy wise. Nordveit spent a full six seasons at Gladbach but only managed to find the net on 13 occasions and contributed few assists, making him an unattractive pick for us fantasy folk. It’s worth noting that he has been classed as a midfielder in FPL. We all know the value of an out-of-position gem in the game we love / hate so much so had he been classed as a defender then those goal scoring stats wouldn’t look all that bad really; 4 last season and 3 the season before. Decent, but only if there were clean sheet points to go along with the odd goal, which there isn’t!
Fantasy Prospect; 4/10
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Gökhan Töre – Winger / Attacking Midfielder (£5.5m)
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Now, onto the attacking side of things and first up we’ve got a loanee drafted in from Turkish side, Besiktas, a club most of you will know from their appearances in the Champions League down the years. The Hammers have dished out £2.5mln to bring Töre in for the season with a view to making the deal permanent next summer for a further £7.5mln should he do the business. The Turkish international (26 caps, 0 goals) started out as a professional in Germany with Hamburg, making 24 appearances before moving on to the Russian league of all places to ply his trade for Rubin Kazan. That venture didn’t go all that well for Gökhan and he was soon out of there, signing for Be?ikta? in 2013. During his three seasons in Turkey, Töre saw plenty of game time, making 111 appearances in total and finding the net 19 times; far from a spectacular return we think you’ll agree. Add 28 assists to that tally and we’re starting to look decent but we’d have to think that Töre will need to up his game considerably if he is to be effective in the Premier League. At just 24 years of age there is certainly time for improvement and it will be interesting to see if he gets into the starting 11 from the off but one thing is for sure; West Ham have a few players that could easily force Töre to sit out most games unless he hits the ground running. One to keep an eye on for sure.
Fantasy Prospect; 6/10
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Manuel Lanzini – Attacking Midfielder (£6.5m)
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Here’s a name we should all know from last season as he was on loan at the Hammers, and has now been added to the permanent squad for the upcoming season. Lanzini started the season off rather quietly, appearing here and there and not really showing much of anything. That was, until playmaker Dimitri Payet was ruled out for a couple of months through injury. Young Manuel burst into life in the absence of Payet and proceeded to become a heavily fancied fantasy option, scoring and assisting regularly before he himself picked up an injury that kept him out for a while. It seemed that by the time Lanzini was available again, West Ham had switched up their formation and he took time to settle back in but an okay tally of 6 league goals from 25 appearances may be a sign of what is to come from the young Argentine. How this talent ended up playing in the UAE Arabian Gulf League is anyone’s guess but now that he is on board at West Ham we’d be foolish to overlook what will likely be a much cheaper alternative to Payet, although maybe not quite as productive, but we shall see. At just 23 Manuel Lanzini has a bright future ahead of him and once he can nail a starting spot we’d expect him to continue to do well. The main drawback is the fact he is off to the Olympics with Argentina so he may not be available for the season start. Keep an eye on that one.
Fantasy Prospect; 7/10
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Sofiane Feghouli – Winger / Attacking Midfielder (£5.5m)
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Last, but most certainly not least, a player who has been making waves for a number of seasons in La Liga for Valencia; Sofiane Feghouli has been and still is an excellent player and is currently West Ham’s most exciting summer signing by far. Four seasons at Grenoble was enough time for Los Murciélagos to realise his talents and snap him up, and there he has stayed, bar a brief loan spell at Almeria, steadily improving as the seasons go by. Deployed mainly as a wide player, although at times shifted to a central attacking role or even the odd time as a central midfielder, Feghouli has almost always done what was asked of him to a high level and we’re expecting him to continue improving in a more free flowing attacking West Ham team. Work rate is the first noticeable trait in Feghouli. The Algerian has no issues with helping out on the defensive side as well as providing a skillful outlet at the other end of the field. 31 goals in five seasons at Valencia, a club who are almost always chopping and changing due to financial issues, is a decent return, considering. Feghouli is a good creator also, ticking another box for us fantasy managers. At international level, Feghouli is second only to the mercurial Riyad Mahrez in terms of importance to the team and even that is debatable. 11 goals in 40 appearances for Algeria is an excellent return, we think you’ll agree. All in all there’s no real downside to this signing and once priced reasonably he could well be one of the gems of the upcoming FPL season. Of that there is no doubt, even less so if the Hammers manage to snag one of the top strikers they are currently trying to sign. Watch this space people, Sofiane is an excellent player and should suit the fast pace of EPL.
Fantasy Prospect; 8/10
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Fixture Tracker – the first 6 games
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So with Moyes basically a guarantee for the Sunderland job who do people think will be the Hull manager? Bit of a strange one from Bruce to leave so close to the start of the season.
I agree Matt, report I read on Sky said Bruce was walking into the Sunderland job. I think there has been a lot of underlying tension going back to the playoffs with us last season, he made comments at the end of that about not being sure of his position.
I seen that today. SSN were saying something about Bruce wasn’t sure he’d be manager by the start of the season but I think he felt he’d be sacked so resigning is a strange one. Favourite to get the Hull job is supposedly Giggs but I don’t know why.
Apparently he’s had major problems throughout with the owners. I think it’s come to a head now because he’s identified 6 transfer targets and been knocked back despite having only 13 fit first teamers at present. The North East correspondent was on TalkSport earlier and said there’s no chance of him going back to Sunderland and he believed the Moyes thing was done pending the FA agreeing the Allaedyce compensation package.
Ah right well if the owners aren’t buying the players he needs then you can understand that he doesn’t feel appreciated there. Is the Hull owner still that fella who wanted to change the team name?
Fair enough Init. You sound like a ‘reat Northern Monkey with all that info 😉 You doing well pal?
Morning lads and lasses, How are we all? Pleased to see you lot getting some heat over there. Cold and wet here in NZ!
Thanks for the article NIN, I’m liking the look of Feghouli. If he can get a place, at 5.5 he’s in!
J-Rod. At 6.5 and OOP looks an overlooked bargain I like a lot. I see young Init has him above. On that note, any other cheapies we can see that are out there?
Morning Alex, how’s things mate? I like Feghouli as well but I don’t think having both him and Payet is worth it and not having Payet is hard to justify. I will be doing my best to have J.Rod as well. Another cheap player that could be good is Townsend I think.
All well thanks Matt and yourself? I have townsend in. Possibly looking at Ayew to JRod to save another mil. I can nearly squeeze Ibra into my forward 7 that already has KDB, Augero and Martial in it (with JRod and Townsend). Getting tasty
Hows your squad coming along?
That’s good. All’s good with me too Cheers mate. Ayew to J.Rod would be decent if he stays fit. That does sound good mate. Right now I’m trying to figure out what route is best to go. I have 4 drafts that include Ibra and Kun, just Kun and then without either of them but right now I’m leaning toward no Ibra. What formation are you thinking of playing?
Matt, 3-4-3 for me, Im demo taking Kun (too hard to get if he fires). Im the same around Ibra, I’m flitting between keeping and not. Plan is too have 3 rotating defenders and two that play the rest. Keepers; I was thinking a premium but now edging to cheapies. Forster and Hulls 4mil boy at present. And you?
Hi Alex
1. Good
2. He could actually be a great 5th at that price to rotate with a cheap striker, depending on people’s set up.
3. JRod will be in mine pending pre-season news on his position and form / sharpness
4. I’m 40 in 5 months and 3 days!
Init,
1.
2. agreed on that.
3. JRod is edging into mine as well, just not sure about him AND Townsend AND a 4.5 mid
4.40 is the new 30 my friend!
3. Don’t get caught up on their cheap prices. Doesn’t look as sexy as 2 x 9.5’s but if you feel they are right and ripe the price doesn’t matter.
Agreed Init, the other two mids are KDB and Martial.
@Alex, Figs could work as part of a rotation, but I am not sure I start him consistently. He won’t finish most games if last season is any indication. Plus he doesn’t seem to be the type to rack up a lot of fpl points. Last season he had 4 yellows, that was double of his combined goals and assists for the season.
Thanks for that Mito, maybe its a watchlist job! How are you mate?
Thoughts on Ake at Bournemouth? I’m hearing he could play a midfield role but I’m not sure it he’s nailed on to start…
Mee might be the better call.
I think there are better options at 4.5 but if he does get started in midfield he will become a great option. I’ll need to see more of preseason to know where and if he will play.
I have McAuley, Friend (nailed) and Mee at present, would you put Ake in for either if he gets that starting spot?
If he gets a starting spot I’d probably put him in for Mee.
Plus 1
James, Im assuming you have two ‘set and forget’ defenders (which out of interest)? If this is the case do Bournemouth, Brom and Boro rotate for the third spot?
Cheers lads.
Alex, good to hear about Ake, yeah going for Shaw and Baines. Courtois in goal too.
It’s unlike me to splash so much cash on defence but I think 5.5m is great value in both cases.
Been trying to look at fixture rotations but it’s much harder on the new site! Especially on mobile with no club logos anymore… any decent fixture sites you know of? Lists are hard to scrutinise.
Hi James,
funnily enough they are the two premium defenders I have. Two cheap keepers at present but Court is a good shout as I wanted Chelsea coverage.
I use twitter pal,also the fixture planner above on 247 is one of the best out there.
Good old 247! Of course. Thanks.
Are you gonna rotate or spend 8.5m and save? Rotating keepers is one of my biggest FPL banes. Not gonna torture myself (as much) this year.
James. Are you taking the piss?! :rant: #yellowcard 😉
https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/fixture-tracker/
If you can’t ascertain rotation from one of those then I don’t know what to say!
Haha can I contest the decision and get myself and early bath? I’m just impressed it’s up already!
We don’t sleep, you should know that by now! You’re excused this once.
Hello James, I actually really liked Ake last season. I watched a few Watford games and liked him. If he plays mid, he’s in for me.
RMT please guys. And umm there seems to be a lot of love for Hojberg, is he nailed on? Any attacking potential too? And who do you guys think are the best 4.5 midfielders out there? They will probably be bench fodder but you never know. Cheers!
At 4.5 Hojberg is better than Barry anyway.
Upgrade Matthews.
Thanks MattX
Hi Frunsix, saw you post the other day but didn’t catch you to say hi and welcome to the site, so hi and welcome to the site!
Looks nicely balanced. Threw Hojberg in mine but only as a place saver and only because of the total lack of any other decent options! Hoping someone will emerge in pre-season but failing that him or Barry or anyone who actually plays will do as hopefully won’t be using them anyway unless there’s an emergency.
Thanks for the welcome Init. Really loving it here. And yeah, have done Matthews > McAuley and Barry > Hojberg. Worried about no Man U attack cover though. Don’t know if I should forgo either Hazard or KDB (who are proven FPL bog-hitters) for Miki who is still relatively fresh in FPL.
*big-hitters*
Good team Frun, agree with Matts comments.
Thanks, have tried doing those changes. Team feels a lot more balanced now. Cheers!
For what it’s worth, forgot to add I have 0.5mil itb. Thanks.
Any 4m defenders out there even slightly likely to play?
With Hull only having 13 fit players Lenihan looks a decent shout to play.
And also concede a lot
Haha that too