Fantasy Premier League

Season Preview; Reading - Wigan

Thu Aug 02 11:29PM

Season Preview; Arsenal - Chelsea

Season Preview; Derby - Liverpool

Season Preview; Manchester City - Portsmouth

Season Preview; Reading - Wigan

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Reading

Jeremy's take:

Boy, did I miss the boat on Reading last season! I expected Watford to do well based on nothing more than the attacking promise of Marlon King and Ashley Young. But it was Reading that did the business, their come-from-behind win against Boro setting the tone for the season. And they never looked back from that win. Well, until the poisoned chalice of an UEFA Cup spot was on the line. Then they phoned it in a bit. They out-fought opponents (ask Cech!) but also played attractive football. Kevin Doyle scored the goals in the middle of the season, and Leroy Lita picked up the slack when Doyle went out injured. With both those players returning and set on avoiding the sophomore slump (Lita was impressive in the U21 World Cup), and Kitson an option off the bench, Reading settle nicely in the Premiership for another season.

On the other hand... their one defection was perhaps their most important. Steve Sidwell went off to Chelsea to star in their pre-season and the month of Januray, when Essien is away for the African Nations Cup. But he was a key man for them last season, scoring the not infrequent goal, but basically keeping the team ticking around him. They don't have anyone to replace that, unless the new guy, Cisse is something special and SERIOUSLY under the radar. It will be worth watching to see who comes in to the middle of the park for them and how it affects Reading's game.

Neal's take:

Unlike my colleague Jeremy, I was on the Royals' bandwagon from the start last season and was pleased to see them become THE feel-good story of the year. Unfortunately, history tells us that meteoric rises in one season are usually followed by stumbles in the next. Recent evidence includes Everton's post-Champions League season and West Ham's ugly follow-up to their FA Cup finals season in 2005-2006.

A lot of important parts are still in place - there aren't many teams outside the Top 4 that boast three strikers who can put the ball in the net. Add to that solid role players like James Harper, Nicky Shorey, Nicky Hunt, Bobby Convey. If new signing Emerse Fae can work his way into the team and make up for some of the loss of Steve Sidwell, then the Royals should be able to avoid falling to the depths that Everton and West Ham did. They aren't likely to challenge for Europe again but they won't be bad. The only disappointment is that there won't be nearly so many bargains to be had.

Player to watch:

Have to pick our fellow Yank Bobby Convey here. He's coming off injury and has a tough task to oust Stephen Hunt, who did so well last season after Convey went down. But Convey is a cheap, attack minded middie with a good left foot on set pieces. We like that. Another player to watch, though probably no one will be able to afford him for their fantasy teams, is Nick Shorey. He went from strength to strength last season, culminating in an England call up. And he's already scored in pre-season from a free kick. Shame about the 8.78 price tag.

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Sunderland

Jeremy's take:

Sunderland don't inspire much confidence. And the fact that they have been unable to sign any real quality leads me to believe that even other professionals expect them to head straight back to the Championship. It's also telling that the most ink is spent on their manager, and not their players. For fantasy purposes, there are a few options. Dean Whitehead was a find in their last stint in the Premiership. And he's back for only 6.58. Greg Halford is a fullback with promise, though you wouldn't expect Sunderland to be keeping many clean sheets this season. Michael Chopra was last season's Championship top scorer, though he didn't make the grade with Newcastle. Carlos Edwards, when he returns from injury will be a nice attacking midfielder. And on the other flank is Keiran Richardson. The cheapest player in fantasy football could be the buy of the season. With regular playing time and with an attacking brief, rather than a bit-part third-string full back, he might be in the points. Did we mention he was the cheapest player in the game?

Neal's take:

Well, right now just about all Sunderland have going for them is Keano's force of personality. In a league where Boro, Wigan, and Derby seem to have even less going for them, that might be enough but there certainly isn't too much more to get excited about. If I were going to get excited about anyone or anything on their roster it would be Dean Whitehead (who was reasonably good last time around in the Prem), Keiron Richardson (who will actually get a chance to play every week), and Anthony Stokes (because he's scored everywhere he's been, has plenty of upside at age 19, and is Irish so you have to think Keano will give him the benefit of the doubt). Outside of those three, there isn't much to get excited about - well, other than the fact that they're going to stay up.

Player to watch:

Did we mention that Keiran Richardson, a starting attacking midfielder, was the cheapest player in the game?

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Tottenham

Jeremy's take:

Spur's policy of squad building, and their focus on youth, has paid off in the last few years as they have starting knocking on the door of the big four. Last season they sold Michael Carrick, but were able to replace him with Zokora and blog-favorite (as he was listed as a defender while being a midfield stud) THud. They also brought in Dimitar Berbatov, easily the buy of the year. This season Spurs have continued to buy, bringing in players to meet their needs... DBent to play off Berbatov and score goals, Yoannes Kaboul to deputize for Ledley King, Gareth Bale to add some attacking impetus to the left-flank (be it from defence of midfield remains to be seen). If they can start the season healthy, shore up their all-too leaky defence (possibly related to the health issues), and find a balance in the midfield, Spurs could crack the top 4 this year and they could really punish some of the weaker teams if the mood strikes them.

Neal's take:

There has certainly been a lot of Spurs-are-now-better-than-Arsenal talk over the summer. I understand the excitement at adding some big name players but I'm having a hard time getting too excited about it all. I'm sure Bale is going to be good but he's young and moving up a division at a difficult position. Bent isn't really that much of an upgrade over Keane and Defoe so maybe there's another goal or two to be had there but Spurs supporters can't claim a major upgrade there. Maybe Kaboul will be a reasonable stand-in for King but unless/until King returns, the defence is suspect in my mind. I have to admit LOVING the acquisition of Kevin-Prince Boateng just for his name but that's about as excited as I am about this year's edition of Spurs.

Player to watch:

If Gareth Bale can make the left-back spot his own, he could be a GREAT buy for fantasy managers. Especially as Spurs are weak on the left side of midfield, he could either find himself playing up there, or if not, he'll have lots of room to push forward. I find it hard to believe that Spurs won't be better in defence, and better all around. So there will be lots of fantasy points for Bale from all angles. However, I would be remiss in not mentioning DBent. Not a bad 2006-07 season even though he was stuck on a doomed Charlton side and he missed so many games with a knee injury. With Spurs, playing off the incredible Berba King and being set up by that quality midfield, I think he has a real shot at the Golden Boot. I would certainly put him up in the top three candidates, with Drogba and Rooney.

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West Ham

Jeremy's take:

Perhaps you've heard a little about what's going on with West Ham? Well, we're going to skip past all that. If we can. West Ham are assembling a lot of talent. But there are big questions about the atmosphere in which they will be working, and whether or not Curbishley is up to the task of playing ringmaster in this circus. They've got lots of fantasy potential too. None more so than Dean Ashton, back from a year out with a broken ankle. He's a very reasonable 7.01 and will not only score goals, but set up chances for the likes of Bellamy, Boa Morte and Freddie with is link up play. They will need Spector, or someone else, to step up at left-back. But Parker should be an improvement over Boa-Morte in controlling the game from the center of the park. If they can focus on the game and not the drama, and if they can stay healthy -- Upson, I'm looking at you! -- they will be a tough opponent to face for anyone.

Neal's take:

I'm not sure I've ever gone from really liking a team to wishing bad things for them as quickly as I have West Ham over the last two years. As those who read the blog likely know, I generally pick one team to support each year (in addition to supporting Arsenal over everyone else) because I like their players or the story or something. Two years ago, the young and inspired WHU squad was that team and they solidified the position in January by signing my favorite non-Gooner Dean Ashton. Now? I'm just hoping that Dean Ashton can get healthy and find a lifeline out of Upton Park so that I can feel good about rooting for him to do well again. Really? Who thought putting Bellamy, Dyer, and Bowyer on the same team along with proven idiots like Anton Ferdinand was going to be a good idea?

Player to watch:

Dean Ashton. Dean Ashton. Dean Ashton. He's cheap. He's proven quality and he has something to prove.

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Wigan

Jeremy's take:

Melchiot - Hall - Bramble - not Baines (and seemingly not Paul Robinson either). That starting back-line is Wigan's team (and season) in a nutshell. Not enough quality. Not enough quantity. No leadership. Wigan were just horrible at the end of last season, and I feel like they've taken steps backwards losing players and their manager, Paul Jewell.

They seem to have a raft of central midfielders in Skoko, Landzaat, Scharner (if he's not need in central defence), and now Michael Brown. All of them will vie to play behind Koumas, who will be the fulcrum of the Wigan attack. Heskey and Camara are two on-again-off-again strikers, and the likely wide men Valencia and Sibierski are hardly models of consistency themselves.

Oh, and their keeper is Chris Kirkland. I know his dad has a famous bet on Chris playing for England, but what's the over/under on games missed due to injury this season?

Neal's take:

Yikes, look out below and begin warming up a place in the Championship for them now. Fantasy managers, start making notes about when players will be facing this defence - you'll thank me for it.

Player to watch:

We've said it a few times on the blog, but Jason Koumas is a blog favorite from way back and we're hopng he can carry on the tradition of players putting up big points on horrible and doomed teams. Think Dean Whitehead of Sunderland, or Jimmy Bullard with this Wigan team two seasons ago. And his scoring goals in pre-season is encouraging.

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