I thought about doing separate blogs on the English Premier League teams (see previous blog for Arsenal and Aston Villa) for their fantasy preview but instead, I’ve decided to do one behemoth of a blog. Here goes,
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| The inspirational Blackburn Rovers and All Whites captain might be struggling to keep clean sheets this year. |
Blackburn
If you want to have a good fantasy season don’t go near Blackburn. They are going to struggle this year. If you are really desperate and want a bench player who will play every week, you can pick up Morten Gamst Pedersen, but this is clutching at straws. Avoid Blackburn.
Bolton
Is it just the team’s starting with ‘B’ that are terrible fantasy teams? Bolton is even worse than Blackburn fantasy wise. Some people will think about Kevin Davies, but for that price, you can pick up a forward such as Grant Holt, Demba Ba, or Peter Odemwingie who’ll get you more points. Try and stay away from Bolton this year – they are relegation material.
Chelsea
We go from one end of the spectrum to the other. Our premier league champions for 2011/12. Chelsea has so many good fantasy players it is hard to pick players who will be starting each week. There are a few who are guaranteed to get you points and stay relatively injury free.
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| Expect to see Lampard doing a lot of celebrating this year. |
Frank Lampard – The best midfield fantasy option in the EPL. He takes penalties (and Chelsea will get their fair share), some free kicks, and corners. He’ll get you 20 goals this season and 10+ assists. Better than a striker.
Ashley Cole – Every season Cole produces for Chelsea. Although he didn’t score last season, he was still amongst the top fantasy defenders. He’ll start every week and he is relatively injury free, so expect a lot of clean sheets, and a few assists along the way.
Daniel Sturridge – A bit of a sleeper amongst the heavyweights of Chelsea’s front line but I think he’ll be given the chance to start on the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation. Great goal scoring form last year and he is on fire in preseason, he could be a very good option on the bench and to use against lesser teams.
Everton
The toffees are a bit under the radar this year with the other folks in Merseyside taking up all the attention. David Moyes and his men won’t mind at all.
Leighton Baines – You must have Baines in your team this year. I didn’t last year, and it cost me a lot of points. A defender who takes penalties and free kicks is so rare and he is still relatively cheap. Amongst a decent defence, expect a decent amount of clean sheets along the way.
Jermaine Beckford – I’m expecting Beckford to break through this year. I almost put Louis Saha in this position but his injury history scares me. Beckford finished with lethal efficiency last season and he will only improve with a strong midfield of Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill providing the ball.
Tim Cahill – He seems like the forgotten man this year. His form was fantastic last year until he went away on international duty and he never quite recovered his form. He plays just behind the strikers and with his prolific goal scoring from set pieces, a great pick up again this year.
Fulham
I don’t know quite what to make of Fulham this year but there are a couple of players I would consider for your teams this year. Apologies to Clint Dempsey this year but with a fit Zamora, his opportunities will decrease.
Bobby Zamora – He was a great acquisition for teams at the tail end of last season providing a steady stream of assists and goals. He is the man at Fulham and wouldn’t do your team any harm.
John Arne Riise – A bit of a risk as we don’t know if he’ll start but if Martin Jol gives him a licence to roam, he could be a great pick up at a really cheap price. If he does start consistently, get on the band wagon quickly.
Liverpool
Possibly the hardest team to pick players from, with the possibility of picking up to ten viable players for fantasy this year. From the likes of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez to Pepe Reina at the back, Liverpool is littered with talent. I’m going to avoid their midfield as we really don’t know who is going to start, but Charlie Adam will be a great pick up for the first few games until Steven Gerrard is fit.
Andy Carroll – With all the rage over his strike partner, we are forgetting the damage that Carroll did last year at Newcastle. With a solid preseason behind him, and Suarez easing himself back in after the Copa America, expect Carroll to start paying back some of the hefty price tag that he cost Liverpool.
Luis Suarez – What a great player. He was in such good form last season and in the Copa America, he could really tear up the premiership this year. I’m a bit cautious to put him in straight away as I don’t know if he’ll start due to fatigue, but once fully fit, get him in your team.
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| Will Agger finally have a productive season at Anfield? Yes he will. |
Daniel Agger – This is a bit of a wildcard but he just scored two goals in their most recent preseason game and with Martin Skrtel injured to start the season, Agger has a huge chance to impress and cement his place. A bit of a punt early on, but worth the risk.
Manchester City
City is a tough team this year with so many players up front and a midfield that does not score a lot of fantasy points; we are mainly looking at the defence for points. A minor point on Sergio Aguero – as we don’t know if Carlos Tevez is leaving yet, we don’t know who will be taking penalties and free kicks. Depending on how things pan out, Aguero could be a very good buy as the season gets underway.
Joleon Lescott – Lescott can give his manager headaches with some of his defensive mistakes, but that doesn’t punish us as fantasy managers, and the goals he contributes are fantastic. Add that to a sturdy City defence, and you’ve got the recipe for a lot of points.
Alexander Kolarov – This is a risk and I would only pick Kolarov as a bench player but he could turn into something special. Used as a left winger for part of last season, he underperformed for City, but classed as a defender, he could get you some huge points if Mancini plays him in a forward role again.
Manchester United
Man Utd are a bit like Liverpool with their midfield and you don’t know who is going to start. Until we see a few games, I’d be cautious about picking players from Man Utd’s midfield. Their defence on the other hand...
Nemanja Vidic – The best defender last season and no reason to think he won’t be again this year. A threat from set pieces and the team captain, he’ll contribute a lot of points to your fantasy team this year. On a side note, it’ll be interesting to see how David De Gea goes. He might leak some early goals as he gets used to playing in the EPL.
Fabio – At the end of last season Fabio had overtaken his twin as the best right back on the Man Utd squad. At a good price for a Man Utd defender, and for a player who loves to get forward and play with the ball, if you can’t afford Vidic or Patrice Evra, Fabio is a fantastic alternative.
Wayne Rooney – It’s hard to ignore Rooney. He is such a wanker that you just don’t want to pick him for your team. If Robin Van Persie is injured, Darren Bent starts missing penalties, Sergio Aguero doesn’t live up to standards, or you’re just one of those wankers who support Man Utd, Rooney should be okay for you.
Newcastle United
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| Where will Joey Barton end up this year? |
Newcastle are a team you want to avoid this season for fantasy points as we just don’t have any players this year who will consistently contribute. If Joey Barton stays, he’s a viable option but apart from him...Demba Ba is a good third striker to have on your bench if Newcastle is playing a weak team, but unless you are really stuck on options, I’d avoid Newcastle players this season.
Norwich
The Canaries are a bit of a tickler this year. Their players are very teasing after such a goal scoring romp last season in the championship. After having the second least amount of clean sheets, their defence is not even worth spitting at, but a couple of players on attack could come in handy.
Grant Holt – A good option similar to that of Ba. Holt will get his fair share of goals as he takes the penalties, but don’t expect a goal every game.
Wes Hoolahan – A roaming midfield player similar to Chris Brunt last year. He is again a good option for your bench, and he’ll regularly chip in with the odd goal and assist. Only consider playing Holt or Hoolahan if they’re playing an average defence.
Queens Park Rangers
QPR are an interesting side. A strong defensive unit last year, but their defence is not worth looking at in the prem. If you want a really cheap keeper, pick up Paddy Kenny as he’ll be making a lot of saves, but apart from him there are only a couple of players worth considering.
Adel Taarabt – Almost sold their best player before the season started (that could’ve cost them £90 if they got relegated without him), but luckily he is still there. He plays a roaming role and will likely pick up 10 goals and maybe 10 assists for the season. A good bench player if you are desperate.
Jay Bothroyd – A bit of a sleeper is Bothroyd. A prolific scorer who I think will really trouble premier league defences along with DJ Campbell. A good pick up at a great price.
Stoke
I know that Matthew Ethrington had a good year last year but let us avoid the Stoke attacking players this year.
Robert Huth – The huge German was a great fantasy player last year picking up six goals from the back. Although I wouldn’t start Huth every week, if Stoke have an average team coming to the Britannia, he is worth using your transfer to get him in for that week.
Sunderland
It pains me to say this, but Sunderland could have a couple of hidden fantasy gems this year. With a fit squad, Steve Bruce’s squad could really scare some teams this year, and pile misery on lesser teams.
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| Sessegnon could be one of the top scoring fantasy midfielders this year playing as a striker for Sunderland. |
Stephane Sessegnon – Classed as a midfielder but playing as a second striker (always a recipe for success), Sessegnon has already scored three preseason goals, and looks a classy player. Playing alongside Asomoah Gyan, I think these two could have a great season up front for the Black Cats.
Michael Turner – I remember Turner from his Hull days in the prem where he regularly chipped in with goals. After an injury riddled season last year, Turner will be a great option this year. Sunderland has shored up their defence and Turner could quite likely start alongside the experienced Wes Brown, and after leaking a lot of goals last year, Sunderland will have a stellar defence this year.
Swansea
Sorry Swansea fans, but you aren’t worth touching with a barge pole. Not as bad as Bolton as Scott Sinclair may be productive, but if you still want to care about your team after Christmas, you’ll stay away from the Swans.
Tottenham
Spurs fans could have a tough time of it this year. Playing in the Europa league is not a fun experience (ask Liverpool fans about last year) with all the travel, and it can really affect your squad. The defence of Spurs is not steady enough – we don’t even know who’ll start in goal yet, but there attack offers one very good (albeit obvious) option.
Rafael Van der Vaart – The Dutchman was the pickup of the season last year and he’ll look to pick up where he left off. He was hampered by injuries at the tail end of last season, but I think Harry Redknapp will keep him out of the early Europa League fixtures to try and get Spurs into the top four again. The best midfield option after Frank Lampard this year.
West Brom
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| A bolter for the Baggies and for fantasy teams around the world is Peter Odemwingie. |
The Baggies are a tough team to predict fantasy wise. They comfortably stayed up last year, but no one really had a great fantasy performance. Chris Brunt, Jerome Thomas, and Youssouf Mulumbu were all okay performers for West Brom.
Peter Odemwingie – A definite player to consider as your third forward (or second depending how you structure your team). Odemwingie picked up 15 goals and nine assists last term, and at a good price again this year, he could be a great buy.
Wigan
Do I have to write about Wigan? Nope. Good. (Sorry Mr Martinez – you are not as bad as Bolton if that helps).
Wolves
Wolves’ players will struggle this year fantasy wise. They will be lucky to stay up again. If you are confident in Wolves, you can look at acquiring Matt Jarvis or Jamie O’Hara but you’d really be clutching at straws if you thought these guys will push you to the top.
