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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Just an update on the chat some of us were having last night about Liverpool LBs and reports from Holland today are saying Liverpool are I’m talks with PSV over Jethro Willems for 13 million. I don’t really know much about this lad but he plays for his country at 22 years of age so he can’t be any worse than Moreno right? 😉
During 14/15 campaign i think, i read somewhere that Baines and Mirallas were not linking good, and that’s when Baines lost his attacking potential. Thoughts? That’s the case still?
Could be true. Mirallas is quite selfish. I think he affects Lukaku negatively aswell
Mirralas won’t get much game time. If you need a way into Everton then Barkley is your man, he will do great things this season mark my words. Baines for £5.5m is a bargain, and Stones at £5m is great value into City’s team.
How about Delafeau? Always looks good when I see him play
Again mate not nailed on. I expect alot of changers from Everton in the coming weeks.
Hi datoism, that was most definitely the case. Baines was at his best with Pienaar as he was great at holding play up with his back to goal (despite being an 8 stone midget!). He’d do that and Baines would go beyond. Since him he’s not really had a steady partner and when it’s been either Mirallas or Deulofeu it’s not worked as both are selfish. Mirallas wants to inside and shoot, Deulofeu wants to hit the byline and cross. Neither suits an overlapping full back. With Mirallas there is the space but never the pass and with Deulofeu there is no space. It’ll be interesting to see who gets the wide left spot as it will certainly have an impact on whether Baines will be effective from open play but either way he’s still now great value again as Everton will be much tighter with Koeman in charge and he’s on pens as well as a share of all other set-pieces.
what about right wing? Coleman and Lennon doing good?
Either Lennon or Deulofeu can play there. Lennon is less selfish and so probably suits Coleman more but his partner tends to affect him less so than Baines for some reason. He’s slightly more prone than Baines to getting the odd goal or assist from open play but Baines being on set-pieces probably swings it in his favour with them both now being the same price.
Hey guys,
Had a lot of thoughts on the team in the last two days, dis some changes in defense and now comes the big dilemma – Kun or Ibra and if Kun – at what cost? So I came up with the following 2 scenarios. For now, I plan to stick to the second one (with Aguero / Costa). What are your thoughts on the overall team?
Team 2. The other reason for which I like this one more is that it gives me a lot of coverage throughout the top teams.
I prefer team 2
Ok so here is my latest, not so sure about going with two cheap forwards.
What do you think about it?
Hey Wafflez. I wouldn’t be a big fan of the two cheap forwards there to be honest. As always, it’s a serious headache upgrading to even a Lukaku or Costa, let alone a Kane or Ibrahimovic or what have you. I’d at least pair Aguero with a 9mln ish forward and then a cheaper guy. It’s a nice team though and could go very well for you especially if Charlie Austin is to see good game time. Bitchin midfield.
Sorry, meant pair a 9mln ish forward with Ibrahimovic.
Yea tried Costa instead of gray but didn’t like the midfield. Same with kun instead of ibra..
Anyway thanks for the input NIN
There are plenty of forwards around that 6.5 price. If one underperforms you just swap one.
NIN,
A question. I’ve been running my variations on Ibra/Aguero, as well as Init’s, through FFfix, and I can’t get very close, predicted pointwise, over the first five weeks, to Aguero+2 6.5’s. One may not have much faith in FFfix, after the first round of projected prices came in, but it seems as if treating Hazard as a stand-in forward (with Mkhitaryan as Ibra cover), produces better results.
Is Hazard a fair sub?
What are they giving Ibra’s numbers as Ki?
Init,
All FFfix’ algorithms give are overall team predictions. They’ve now adjusted their (basically) underestimated player values to reflect FL standards, so Ibra is 11.5. My guess is that including Mhkitaryan may counterbalance some Ibra effects; they do like Mikky as a vice-captain.
FWIW.
And NIN is correct to be skeptical of “Billyball” approaches; I will be making most of my final picks, and eventual adjustments, based on the incisive commentary here on 247.
The thing about these allstats approachs is that it takes all the fun/risk/merith. If you do follow a points predicted site, what’s your credit for nailing that gw? The ability to follow others algorithms? I get it If it just works as a vague assessment of things but then that’s where it doesn’t work, given that those are based on stats whereas ours are based on knowledge and gut feeling.
So, let me add to Mito’s hate list:
8. I hate FFF points prediction thing for the reasons stated above!
Ok thanks Ki, they used to break it down per player, bit odd if they don’t! Pointless in fact. Personally I don’t use such things, not there’s anything wrong with them and I certainly think the more such things people can add to any decision making process then the better but it should only be a small part of the puzzle and ultimate decision.
Personally I prefer to see and read a reasoned argument for or against a decision with a full justification behind it. The added beauty of that on here is that the author will give their view but then also the author is always on hand to discuss it further in the comments and we always welcome opposing views, again with justification, as that adds even more value for everyone as you end up with a host of views for and against.
That said I predict Ibra will get 46 points in the first 3 weeks
Hi Ki. Personally, i don’t even look at those type of stats or predictions on FFF. Through articles on here and my own gut, i make my picks. I’d take Hazard over Ibrahimovic any day of the week though. Cover United by all means, the fixtures are there to do so, but i feel like Miki / Martial are much better value and allow more funds for elsewhere. Not sure if that answers your question mate but it’s all i’ve got just now. Just eyeing up an out-there approach for season start so head is a touch fried, or fired as Matt would say
I will be wildcarding in the international break to get the Arsenal players in so I wanted to go all in for the first few weeks. Thats why Cabaye and Xhaka are there.
gunners, how can you be planning to WC when it hasn’t even started!!
@DMC, anything is possible…didn’t Portugal just win the Euros. 😉
Well that was the obvious pick Mito. You just didnt see it coming!
Because I want Ozil Alexis and Koscielny who are on an extended break. 😉
I like the team. One of the best I have seen with Aguero and Zlats. Xhaka is a DMC so can’t see him picking up any points plus he has a bad disciplinary record
Yeah Xhaka is a stand in until the Int. break wildcard!