It's a brand new season, thank Jebus, cos to be honest there wasn't much more faux-interest I could put into current affairs; other people's baby's development and drinking in beer gardens in the bloody sun; so it's back to keeping a constant eye on which of the Da Silva twins will play most; watching the development of 19 year old academy players and sitting in pubs from early Saturday kick off till the late 'un...
Which is a fantastic link to introducing you all to the Back Of The Net Boy's sister pub for this season, Sober Lane http://www.facebook.com/soberlane?ref=ts will be giving a monthly prize and seasonal prize...
Anyroad in a break from our usual format myself and Captain's Corner will do a shortlist of 10 players. The shortlist will break down into, 3 Bankers, 3 Mid-price, 3 hunches and 1 "My head says no, but my heart says yes" player
Bankers
Okay the obvious spine of your Cech-Vidic-Nani-Rooney etc is such a given that I won't bother but it does bring us to
1) Shay Given (Aston Villa) [5.0 million] - While I do give a bit of time to the "he's not as good as people make out" argument, the trio of him with Richard Dunne and James Collins in front of me can only be a rugged defence, and at 5 million is a good deal too, with a very favourable opening 6 fixtures to the season too.
2) Tim Cahill (Everton) – What can you say, the Everton ship simply must turn soon (if the first team squad was a film, I’d put them as the team of mighty men in Armageddon), and when they do, he’ll be there at the end of most dead balls and brave headers.
3) Bent (Aston Villa) – Darren Bent scores goals, always, everywhere. He will play every game is fit for.
There you go, 3 bankers for 14 million. And since all of them are nailed on first teamers, assuming they stay injury free the three combined have a Projected points total of over 400 points for just playing alone.
Mid-Price / Budget
4) James McCarthy (Wigan) - At this point it looks unlikely he will move to a bigger club (he was mildly linked to both Arsenal and Liverpool over last few months), so this looks like he is set to (a) have a high impact 32-38 game season and (b) become the natural attacking replacement for Charles Insomnia, which should ensure many assist points and bonus points too.
5) Wes Brown (Sunderland) [4.5] – Same club, different story. One of the most subtly decorated players in the modern game, this guy has experience in every muscle of his body (but also a medical history with pretty much all of them too). Bruce knows him personally and surely bought him to parachute him straight into team at Anton Ferdinand’s expense. I’m predicting an Indian summer for him. (By the by, I now count 5 former Man Utd players at Stadium of Light, not including Steve Bruce and backroom staff)
6) Peter Odemwingie – WBA [7.5] – A great season last year, can’t argue with 15 goals and 9 assists. Hodgson knows how to use him effectively. Two horrible opening fixtures, but after that a really nice run of matches.
There you go, 3 bankers for 14 million.
Hunch
7) Conor Wickam (Sunderland) [6.0] – I’m reticent to big up anyone who fell out with Roy Keane, but then again it’s quite a long list. An incredibly hyped player (but it’s unlike the English press to build up a teenager and write them off by 21). Sunderland have made quite a few signings, this season and it’s hard to tell who will be Gyan’s main foil. One thing for certain, the spot is up for grabs. And mister Ellis wouldn’t have let the tight purse strings let 8million pounds out for a laugh or on a hunch.
8) Riise (Fulham) [6.0] – Sturdy and solid for Liverpool, I was surprised they let him go so easy. Always a hard worker and seemingly good guy, not too bothered with the limelight (not even karaoke - Click On This!!!). His return to English football hasn’t set the back pages on fire, but Martin Jol is an insightful manager, and the only worry might be with Europa League distraction the defence will concede a lot of silly late goals. If memory serves he has a great long range shot and has a long throw in.
9) Benayon (Chelsea) – At 7 million, he’s an expensive hunch I know, but it’s just hard to predict Chelsea’s attacking line up at any time, 7/8 players going for a maximum of 3 places; with Torres surely being guaranteed one unless he gets worse and even more goal shy (which would be quite hard)
Total Cost 19 million.
My Head Says No But My Heart Say Yes
10) Think Stoke for as much as they have been derided as the Antithesis of Barcelona (who would win on a rainy Tuesday night etc etc), will have a good solid season. And even right now they have only one fit striker (Jones), but I’m also drawn to Irish international Jonathan Walters (his profile pic on fantasy football website doesn’t look like how I remember him) is a listed as a midfielder but if I’m right he plays close to a forwards role. But the horrendous opening fixture of Chelsea tells me to hand back….
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So Here is The Captain of Captain's Corner giving his 10 cents...
Bankers
1) Vincent Kompany (Man City) [6.0 million] – City had the most clean sheets in the PL last season, an impressive 18 so you definitely want representation there. City defenders are all undervalued, I’m even considering picking up two. Kompany is definitely a nailed on starter and looks set to be club captain this year. Players new to FPL shouldn’t be confused by his score last year of 95, as he was classified as a midfielder and hence not getting 4 points for each of those lovely 18 shut outs.
2) Nani (Man United) [10.0 million] – Nani was the highest FPL scorer last year with a whopping 198 points. He’s somewhat under the radar this year (although still coming in with 23% ownership) as doubts about his playing time emerged with Valencia stealing minutes from him last year and the signing of versatile midfielder Ashley Young. But with Valencia injured again, a brace against City in the Community shield and Fergie himself publicly promising him a start against West Brom, you really need to get him in. It remains to be seen if he’s good pick season long though.
3) Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) [12.0 million] – RVP is a FPL beast. He’s what the long time Fantasy Managers call “fixture proof”. He can and will score against anyone and if fit will make your captaincy choice pretty easy every week. But that’s a big if, at the time of writing, RVP is yet again an injury concern with a niggling ankle problem after being taken off at half time against Benefica.
Mid-Price / Budget
4) Stephen Taylor (Newcastle) [4.5] – Injured for most of last season, S. Taylor is back and is a definite starter in the back for Newcastle. He managed an impressive 3 goals and 1 assisst in just 1000 minutes last year. Extrapolate that to a full season and you’re getting returns that rival Baines at 3.5m cheaper. And he scored the other day in a friendly. At 4.5 million it’s a no brainer for me.
5) N’Zogbia (Aston Villa) [7.5] – N’Zogbia was the shining light in a pretty dismal Wigan side that barely avoided relegation and was rewarded with a move to Villa. It remains to be seen how he’ll fit in and there was some fitness doubts but those fears would seem to be allayed with him playing and scoring in a friendly against Sporting Braga. Great value at 7.5 million.
6) Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) [6.5] – Bit of a gamble here to be honest and we all remember Wigan’s dreadful 4-0 opening day loss to Blackpool (hands up who had Boselli in their starting 11?), but Wigan face the three promoted teams in their first fixtures and this is just too tempting. At 6.5 you could do much worse than Rodallega.
Hunch
7) Moses (Wigan) [5.0] – Another Wigan player?? Have I learned nothing? Moses replaces N’Zogbia on the wing and really wouldn’t have got a mention other than he’s been very impressive pre season, scoring 5 in 6 games. Now picking players based on pre season form is dangerous and again I would point to the Boselli fiasco of last year. Moses is most definitely a gamble, but at just 5 million, he’s a cheap gamble.
8) David Silva (Man City) [9.5] – There’s an ongoing debate in Fantasy Football circles about Yaya versus Silva. With so much rotation in the City forwards, people will look to the midfield for City representation. Yaya comes in 1.5 cheaper and has gained a lot of interest based on his being allowed to get forward towards the end of last year. He played deeper in the Community Shield on Sunday though, and Silva has been impressive pre season. I’m going with Silva. Much easier to trade down to yaya if need be rather than trying to trade up.
9) Ramsey (Arsenal) [6.5] – In the perceived post Fabregas and possibly Nasri Arsenal team, Jack Wilshere is attracting all the attention, a great player sure, but just wasn’t getting the fasntasy points last year to warrant an investment. Ramsay looks to be playing more forward and taking on the Cesc role and some Arsenal blogs and forums I’ve been to reckon he’s the man to fill Fab’s boots. So many uncertainties at this stage though.
My Head Says No But My Hearts Say Yes
Wigan! I’m clearly obsessed with them. I see them in my dreams and in my nightmares. Boselli is there, kicking a beach ball against a wall and missing, then Moses comes along and boots him over to Italy, telling me “It’s different this time, play and captain me and I will lavish you with points”. Okay then.
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ReplyDeleteChelseas fixtures look favourable for the first six aside from a visit to old trafford and they conceded only one goal in pre-season. I think one of malouda, cole, and terry need to be included since they seem to be nailed on starters. Benayoun is definitely one to watch when the season is under way.
ReplyDeleteA bit sick that Drogba both a) didn't start and then b) came on to do nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy Man City trio of Silva (c), Kompany and Lescott will have to do something special tonight but a solid clean sheet would be grand to start with.
Already have to put the thinking cap on with Drogba. Too much money on a will he/won't he type.