Transfer round up Part 5
We have allowed the transfers to settle a while having blitzed them all last week but it looks as though many teams have been adding talent since. Swansea have gone back to the tried and trusted and may have unearthed fantasy gold as well as adding someone to supply that gold with chances, West Ham have strengthened their attack once more and Stoke have decided to test the Barca theory (‘but can he hack it on a cold Wednesday night in Stoke…’). We are delighted that say that Bryan Munich has had his finger on the pulse of the transfer activity since our last update and here is his take on the latest signings in the top flight…
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Mid – 6.0)
Maybe there’s something in the air. Maybe it’s that Lego movie. Whatever the reason, nostalgia is the new future. Retro is the new modern. Premier League teams are going back to the future. If your club doesn’t have a new old face then you’re SO last year… oh… which would… actually make you retro, so that would maybe be OK… hey, can we go over the rules again?
Gylfi Sigurdsson, or ‘Siggy’ as he’s known in FPL circles by lazy typists, is firmly strapped into his DeLorean and turning back the dial to 2012, when he managed 7 goals and 5 assists in 18 games. In the blink of an eye, he now goes from being an unappealingly priced 6.0 squad member for Spurs to a bargain 6.0 figurehead for Swansea. Even with limited game time at Spurs, his 8 goals and 5 assists over the two seasons illustrate further that the Icelander gets the job done whenever called upon. A full season at the Liberty Stadium could make a mockery of his price tag.
Were the Swans’ opening fixture at a lesser side than a resurgent Man Utd, the Siggy bandwagon would surely be full steam ahead. From GW2 onwards, though, his appeal steepens sharply. Get ready for some Siggy stardust.
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Ben Davies (Def – 5.0)
The FPL site seem curiously keen on making sure we don’t call the London club ‘Tottenham Hotspur’. Nope, it’s just ‘Spurs’ this season guys. It doesn’t bother me, but it’s going to really wind up the OCD managers out there who’ll now have to re-alphabetize their DVDs.
Hi-fiving Siggy on the M4, coming the other way, Ben Davies will be keen to make a longer lasting impression at White Hart Lane. 3 goals and 3 assists in two seasons is arguably rather modest for a flying full-back, but we all saw what Pochettino did with Luke Shaw at Southampton. Ben Davies is very much in that mould and it should be an exciting season for the Welsh left-back under the visionary Argentinian’s management.
His pricing compares him favourably with other fullbacks at ‘big’ clubs. (Ivanovic 7.0, Zabaleta 6.5, Luis 6.0, Shaw 6.0, G. Johnson 5.5, Debuchy 5.5,) None more strikingly than teammate Kyle Walker, who will surely now struggle to covet our affections for Spurs coverage with Davies on the other flank and a full 1.0 cheaper.
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Jefferson Montero (Mid – 6.0)
This 24 year-old winger signed from Mexican club Morelia on a 4 year contract. The ex-Villareal flanker started all 3 of Ecuador’s World Cup games, though arguably only did himself justice against the Swiss. It would be easy to dismiss this transfer as yet another trendy post-World Cup knee-jerk purchase, but in actual fact the Swans had been courting him since March. He’ll be a like-for-like swap with the departing Pablo Hernandez, though he gives Garry Monk the added dimension of operating on either side.
Montero’s a small, but pacy and direct winger who loves to attack defenders. He’s not the finished product yet, as his final ball often disappoints. But you can expect him to give defenders uncomfortable decisions to make in the box, and he’s scored some spectacular goals at both club and international level to date. A Michu-spearheaded Swansea would have certainly helped his assist production, but Sigurdsson charging forward alongside him will somewhat balance things back out; and if Bony hangs around at the Liberty Stadium, all three Swansea players could well be a rich source of assists and goals.
It’s worth noting however that he’s been a bit of a journeyman despite his youth and playing in the Premier League will be a cultural upheaval for him. Whether he settles will determine how well gauged his price of 6.0 really is.
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Enner Valencia (Fwd – 7.0)
Having now mastered the art of being perennially unavailable through injuries and suspensions, Andy Carroll has given Big Sam no option but to bring in strikers that, y’know, play. Supplementing fellow summer acquisition Mauro Zarate, the Hammers could well field a new look front two come kick-off.
As a boy, young Enner used to help out on his father’s farm, and legend (i.e. the Internet) has it that he sold milk to fund his first pair of football boots. When Allardyce was asked what drew him to the former milkboy’s talents, Sam may have retorted with this three pronged pun-fest, “He can skim past opponents; his delivery’s good; and he can go pasteurize in no time.”
Valencia, nicknamed ‘Superman’ for his power and pace, shined in Brazil with 3 goals for Ecuador. Whether the FA will allow him to wear his underpants outside his shorts has yet to be confirmed. Let’s hope not. West Ham are rumoured to have paid £12m, close to the club record £15m they shelled out for Carroll, so expectations will be high.
There’s every reason to believe the 25 year-old can indeed meet said expectations. He boasts an astonishing strike rate of late. His World Cup exploits took his international tally to 7 goals in 12 games; while last season he netted 18 times in 23 appearances for Mexican side Pachuca. If he hits the ground running, he could well become quickly in demand at 7.0.
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Bojan Krkic (Fwd – 5.5)
Eight. It took just eight words to set in motion one of the most unlikely transfers this summer.
“I will join if you sign Phil Bardsley.”
Bojan Krkic had unenviable expectations bestowed upon him at a young age. ‘The next Messi’. Come on now, even the current Messi didn’t have to cope with being called ‘the next Messi’. Such a label would have surely suffocated Lionel’s progress, and then there’s issues about time-travel, blah blah blah.
At 23, it seems rather unfair that Krkic’s image has already been tarnished as a disappointment in not reaching such unattainable heights. The flip-side is that Stoke may have landed a bargain to end all bargains. With a £3m price tag that will barely register on the Premier League’s hyperactive spendometer, the Potters could very well have on their hands a hungry young forward with a lot to prove and bags of potential still to surface.
Being categorized as a striker in FPL doesn’t do the Spaniard international too many favours. The winger wasn’t prolific in his loan spell at Ajax last season. 4 goals in 24 games doesn’t get the blood pumping and even his meagre 3 assists suggests he has work to do. He should benefit from the ‘completed dribbles’ aspect of the newly tweaked BPS system, though, as he’ll dribble more than an old man salivating in the front row of a beauty pageant.
At 5.5 strikers don’t come much cheaper, so if Bojan becomes an integral part of Mark Hughes’ reinvented Britannia brand, FPL managers may well be looking at their very own bargain; and Stoke City fans could soon be lauding a new Messi-ah. Or maybe just a very naughty boy (Hi, Python fans).
Please RMT : ATM playing 3-4-3
De Gea (Myhill)
Lovern, Koscielny, Luis (Vlaar, Upson)
Sanchez, Sterling, Nasri, Mata (El Ahmadi)
Rooney, Remy, Bojan
Taking a risk on Bojan I know. This probably won’t be my team for the start of the season anyway!!
Hi Elchico, yes definite risk right there! I’d probably rather scrape the extra 0.5 from somewhere for a Jelavic or Long. Rest of it looks good, nice team.
Thanks inittiwinit, I was considering downgrading Koscienly to Ward becuase of their first few fixtures (even though I support Arsenal and he’s one of my favourite players!!) which free’s up 1 mil so could bring in Long/Jelavic as you said but also Wickham who’s another cheap option
Also in that bracket is Fletcher now you mention Sunderland who’s gone under the radar a bit.
Lovren and Vlaar are both risky picks. Liverpool not solid at the back and AV has horrible fixtures.
the rest of the team seems fine, but maybe get Chelsea cover somewhere in the attack.
Rooney > Costa or Mata > Hazard/Fab.
Think many people will use WC after GW3. If that’s the case, Vlaar isn’t a bad pick for 4,5m. 😉
Haha hence why I’m getting him now but won’t pick him for the first few games…do you’s think Brendan Rogers will use Enrique like last season before he got injured on the left wing?
From his quotes last night I’d say he’s certainly aiming to use Sterling and Markovic as his wide men with Lallana or Coutinho in behind Sturridge.
Is Coutinho worth a big shout now with Lallana out?
He’ll certainly be the no10 for now I’d have thought. I’d like to see how he does for a few games first though.
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Mutts do you want to reconsider your offer ? as we are @ 95 pounds already ! wot a fantastic community !!!
Cracking offer muts, I’ll not pass that up.
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Potty
Anyone know what happened with the Remy transfer? I got a feeling he did pass the medical, Pool just don’t want him, which I get. But if you don’t want him why go for him in the first place? With the young Belgian, Lambert and Sturridge you already have 2 veterans, you don’t need 3. Crazy POOL!!!!!!!!!!
Raz, the young Belgian is staying at Lille for 1 more season before joining us.
Aaah, didn’t know that. Makes sense. Still unsure if Remy would’ve been the right choice. Don’t think Remy likes to warm the bench.
Well the young Belgian is set to be loaned out to Lille this year. So Only Lambert and Sturridge up front is rather light. They need an alternative to Remy! Very strange he failed the medical. Back in Marseille he had heart problems, perhaps they resurfaced?
True KFC, a hole in the heart has been mentioned. We are back looking at Bony, as the swans chairman has said that if a champions league team came in for him with a reasonable offer they would consider the sale, we are monitoring spurs’ interest in J-Rod aswell, although he is out until october.
Well Southampton is notorious for being a seller club even though the claim not to be, lol? Bony would be a good signing I guess but as mentioned a bit down you may need a marquee signing to partner Sturridge. Or is he afraid of being bullied again? (Caragher remarks on Suarez bullying Sturidge haha)
@ Cantono
QPR say Pool are lying and that he’s just fine. They just tested him.
Well QPR are not gonna admit he is damaged goods are they now? His market value could take a hit! 😉
Along those lines fellas, who would you prefer for FPL cover from Pool – Sturridge or Sterling? Haven’t seen many teams with Sturridge so far, but I’ve got him in there currently. Sturridge > Costa would help with cash though.
Not touching Pool/City at the start of the season, very unkind fixtures.
I’m considering Sturridge. He’s still the most owned forward on about 30%. That’s not why I’m considering him but just thought I’d point it out.
Thanks Innit. Just meant havent seen him in a lot of drafts here.
Most people with sense are not touching Pool at the moment. 😛
Thanks Raz :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZD1sQBdlE
Hey guys…
Bit concerned with Liverpools lack of strikers…
Was hoping Remy deal would sort it, but clearly there’s been a problem with the deal..
Liverpool will struggle for goals with just Sturridge & Lambert, plus Lallana out injured…
We need a top striker to partner studge upfront….Boney looks the part…?
Hey Bigpopz, I agree Liverpool may struggle to start with, but I don’t think Bony would really solve this… good finisher but so is Lambert, he’s not a “top striker” in my opinion, it’d just be another ‘good’ option who gets rotated. I know it’s unlikely, but the signing of someone like Benzema is what would really help you push on, need to spend big!
Jim…
Your right buddy…
We need a marque signing upfront…
Realistically who do you reckon we could get…
Falcao is available..?
Or what about a Torres reunion ( he looked good in that Liverpool red shirt )
Lukaku maybe..
Cavani maybe up for grabs…
Can’t think of anyone else who’s up for a move..?
Cavani maybe yeah! Can’t see Falcao moving… Romelu could be anywhere but it’d surprise me to see him at yours. He wouldn’t be marquee though… so yeah, some real talent like Edinson or Karim would set you good! I heard Man U were after Cavani though..? Probably bullshit but who knows!
Hull have completed the double signing of Dundee United’s Andrew Robertson and Sheffield United’s Harry Maguire for a combined fee of over £5 million pounds.
Draft number 2. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Mannone (Krul)
Lovren Davies Vlaar (Ward, Bruce)
Hazard Ramsey Silva Eriksen de Jong
Rooney(c) Giroud (Naismith)
My ‘D’ is weaker now for the sacrifice of a 3-4-3 that contained Remy as my 3rd striker.
Not sure if I should stay with this squad or not … but then again, when are we ever sure? 😉
Hi Shrizzine, that looks like a strong team. Watch the Mannone situation in particular. Assuming Lovren is at Liverpool they don’t have the best fixtures and they weren’t exactly tight last season anyway. Personally I’d look at another 3rd striker who is more nailed on to start.
Thanks Init!
No probs mate. Any thoughts on that 3rd striker?