Fantasy Premier League

Round-up

Wed Jul 23 07:26PM

Transfers and other news

Blackburn accept Villa Friedel bid -- 2 million is a great bit of business for Villa. Add to that the similar fee for Guzan to learn under Big Brad, and you're looking at the next ten years at that position filled. For fantasy managers it means that we may have a new keeper to pick up from Rovers. I wouldn't be too excited though. He likely won't be +10 just based on the defence in front of him. But for good matchups it will be nice to have another option.

West Ham sign £5m Behrami -- The fantasy implications of this will come down to where he's listed in the game. As a part time middie, part time defender the risk is that he will be listed as the former when he will likely get playing time at right back. 5 million for a player seems like a lot for simple squad building, even if he can cover multiple positions. Perhaps he'll force Lucas Neill infield to center back replacing a departing Anton Ferdinand?

Wigan strike Cattermole deal -- Cattermole has shown good things at Boro but could never hold down a regular spot. That's not likely to change at Wigan unless Scharner decides to leave or, just as likely, is needed at center back.

Spurs duo have Sunderland medicals -- From Wigan to Spurs to Sunderland. Chimbo's meteoric rise to the top of the world game continues apace! Meanwhile Tainio is a more than adequate replacement for Yorke, and decent competition for Miller, Whitehead, and whatever cast of anonymous characters (Ledbitter, etc?) Keane has in his midfield rotation.

Toure struck down by malaria -- Neal would like Wenger to buy an accomplished central defender. Now!

Teymourian thrilled with Fulham start -- Yawn. Other than to note that he's playing in a holding, or Senna, role behind the player formerly known as Danny Murphy. Something to think about as Fulham travel to Hull to open the season.

Benjani to miss start of season -- Jo can't get back from the Olympics fast enough.

Pre-season friendlies

Comments1 - 15 of 15

The utmost respect to the Blog and both of you, but I'm reviewing last year's potential +10 squad and I'm starting to get skeptical about Nasri, Dossena and Jo.
The '07 +10s include:
Torres (brilliant pick, not that he didn't show limitless potential in La Liga)
Tuncay (was a nice option when he produced, especially next to Alidneverthere)
Eduardo (nice until he was nearly crippled)
Younes Kaboul (not quite the break out performance in the Prem)
Voronin (tough to lock in to a squad when he was playing behind the goalless wonder Dirk Kuyt)
Nugent & Utaka at Pompey (good signings perhaps for the long term, but not much of a Fantasy impact for Nuge)
Nonetheless, I think both of your (J & N) fantasy foresight improved better and better throughout last season, so I'll continue to trust you to have infinite wisdom in '08/'09.
From ouknowtg on Wed Jul 23 07:57PM
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It looks like Friedel has been replaced by the Pillsbury Doughboy, not a positive move in most views. If Blackburn don't get someone decent to partner Samba, and don't find a legitimate holding midfielder, I think they are facing a very long season with very few clean sheets. Friedel's penalty saves and other heroics saved them many times last season ...
From reverendike on Thu Jul 24 12:16AM
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For fantasy managers, Gareth Bale has been good value for points per game last season until his long term injury. With the arrival of Modric including the hype surrounding him to Spurs, I don't see the (when fit) left back/winger getting as many points as he potentially could get if Modric is in the team. I could be wrong but with the presence of Modric, Bale may as well play an Arbeloa role this season (less SOT's and but potentially more asisst's and SC's). Is this a fair assumption?
From parans.rm on Thu Jul 24 05:02AM
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its in the tabloids that Robinson is off to Rovers, in which case he definately will not be a +10 player ; )
From petegoddard11996655 on Thu Jul 24 10:52AM
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LOL, petegoddard11996655. We've been down that (Seven Sisters) road before, haven't we? And speaking of Spurs, I don't think Modric's arrival will hinder Bale's points. He would be more attractive in midfield than at left back, but even so he'll get forward and get in crosses and shots. And he'll likely get his share of set-piece opportunities. Srna was Croatia's dead-ball expert and he took all those opportunities in Euro2008 and you could see Bale playing that role this season. I would worry more about THud and Jenas taking his points (and his health and fitness) rather than Modric.
From jspitzberg on Thu Jul 24 02:40PM
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is jummy away @ hull a good pick?
From petegoddard11996655 on Thu Jul 24 02:52PM
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Yes.
From jspitzberg on Thu Jul 24 03:48PM
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welcome back my friends. I was on holidays & didn't yet realize that it is showtime again!
From daniel_menezes on Thu Jul 24 06:45PM
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Rumor has Lucas Neill out the door - the signing of Behrami could be a move to backfill Neill (and get his silly wages off the books and on to those of a team happy to pay silly wages - Hello Citeh).
Agreed on the review of our +10 possibilities from last year, definitely hit and miss (and you didn't even get us on Malouda who was miserable). I will take issue with calling Utaka a bad call, he was fantasy gold for the first two months of the season and looked legitimately fantastic in real life as well. After that, he seemed to get shifted around a lot in the formation and never recaptured his early form. If Utaka looked like he was going to get PT as a striker again, I'd buy him in a second.
We're trying to learn and giving the honor to fewer players this season - so far only Modric, Bosingwa (assuming his injury is minor), and MAYBE Dossena and Gomes. Nasri does look like a good bet for week 1 vs. WBA though. Jo doesn't need to be considered until the Olympics are over and has never been on the official +10 list - just the watch list.
From neal_thurman on Thu Jul 24 07:07PM
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I totally forgot Malouda and his bust of a season, but I'll give you guys credit: Most of the players listed for last year's +10 had the caveat "But will he be a +10?"
There are no guarantees in Fantasy Football-- at least now that Derby is gone.
From ouknowtg on Thu Jul 24 07:42PM
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how bout bolton?elmander?MTay?btw Hull vs Fulham i remembered last season on opening match when Sun beat Tot 1-0. Maybe the same bout hull vs fulham?that time was Chopra's moment.....maybe its time for Geovani?just a thought so
From hostage_world on Thu Jul 24 07:44PM
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Jussi!
From jspitzberg on Thu Jul 24 08:04PM
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Re: #11 -I don't think I would gamble on a Fulham clean sheet in week 1 either, until we see how Schwarzer and the other new pieces fit in. But I think an offensive pick like Jummy might see a few scoring chances...
From sparta_prague2001 on Fri Jul 25 12:21AM
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OKAY All said and done - we as Arsenal supporters should be thinking about the season ahead. Do we boo 1 of our best chances of 30 goals this season or do we encourage Adebayor by singing his praises in the stands? I for one am at a crossroads, and given that i won't be in the stands but will sadly watch whatever Arsenal games i can on TV, I want to boo Ade for everything that he has said over the last couple of months. The fact that he said "I have a contract so i am an Arsenal Player, that is it" and then outside to newspaper reporters he said "I will sit down this week and talk with my manager" is despicable - BUT and i enphasize the "BUT" - I also want to shout his name as loud as i can, To sing his song and (excuse the sic pun) spur him on to another excellent season..... I feel that if we boo him we will lose him and if we lose him mid season we are f***ed. End of story. I think we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Theo got the number 14 shirt so that obviously means that Arsene thinks he is ready to fight for a place in the team, wether thats as an attacking midfielder or as an outright striker remains to be seen. Robin van Persie hopefully will stay fit ALL season which in my mind means ANOTHER 30 goals this season.... So if we get behind Adebayor and he and R.V.P. do the goods then i think we can do terribly well in the silverware department.
Lets let bygones be just that and swallow our PRIDE people.
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
(And if you don't know what that means u aint a gooner)
From mrnebb01 on Fri Jul 25 12:45AM
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When will nasri be added to fantasy???
From xxxpornomavxxx on Sat Jul 26 10:30PM
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