fantasy premier league 2015/16 tips – new player profile Roberto Firmino

Fantasy Premier League, New player profiles, Preseason

Here’s the second of our fantasy premier league new player profile articles where we assess the prospects of various players new to the premier league.   The intention is to update the articles nearer the start of the season once the pre-season gives us some more data.  Our 2nd subject is Liverpool’s new signing Roberto Firmino.

Roberto Firmino is a 1.81m (5 foot 11 1/2)  23  year old Brazilian attacking midfielder/striker who has signed for Liverpool from Hoffenhiem in the German League.   The fee is reported to be £29m.  We look at the player, assessing his stats and prospects for Liverpool

fantasy premier league 2015/16 tips – new player profile Roberto Firmino

Statistics

 Roberto Firmino   
 SeasonTeammatches goals/assists Mins per Goal/Assist 
 2014/15 Hoffenheim337/10171 mins
 2013/14 Hoffenheim3316/12104 mins
 2012/13 Hoffenheim324/3339 mins
Totals9827/25158 mins
Brazil93 goals
 Europa N/A
 UCL N/A
   

Prospects

His stats are a bit mixed.  Again looking at Hazard and Sanchez as the 2 premier midfielders in the premier league last season Hazard scored 14 goals and 10 assists at a goal or assist every 140 minutes.  Sanchez scored 16 goals and 8 assists for a goal/assiSt every 123 minutes.  It is far better that Sterlings 7 goals and 8 assists in 14/15 at a goal or assist every 203 minutes.  The premier league to be fair though has more depth than the German League although Hoffenheim were a mid table team.

Firmino is a very quick skilful player who can play as either a winger or a number 10.  He even has played as a forward for Brazil.  He is full of flicks and fakes and deft touches.  He was the main creator mainly as a number 10 in the Hoffenheim side although also played on both flanks.

It’s tough to say where he will play at this stage for Liverpool.  His versatility combined with Rodgers desire to tinker with formations and positions makes it impossible to prdict.  He could play as a CAM in 4-2-3-1 or in either flank of the 3.  He could play as a false nine in 4-3-3.  He could also play behind the 2 or as a striker in a pair in 3-4-1-2.  Anything seems possible at the moment.  This is why pre-season will be of paramount importance in assessing his position and Liverpools formation.  At the risk of speculating I could see him as a CAM in 4-2-3-1.  Who plays the striker will be interesting given that Sturridge is likely to miss the start of the season.

Picking a Liverpool player for GW1 is a reasonable bet given their fixtures to start with.  I’ve ranked them 3rd best fixtures over 6 and the 3 home games are excellent

Stoke (A)
Bournemouth (H)
Arsenal (A)
West Ham (H)
Manchester United (A)
Norwich (H)

Assuming Sterling goes and obviously Sturridge injured that makes it a choice between Coutinho and Firmino.  Or perhaps the Belgian striker Origi although at 20 in his first season leading the line seems a big ask.  Just to make the situation more complicated both Coutinho and Firmino have played in the Copa America so pre-season will also give some clues as to their fitness and whether they are fit enough and likely to line up for GW1 given the early start to the league of August 8th.

His FPL position is also going to be crucial.  If he ends up in the 3 of 4-2-3-1 then classification as a forward in FPL will hardly be ideal

UPDATED 11/7:  Firmino is classified in FPL as a midfielder and is priced at £8.5m

Summary

  • The stats for the player are ok if not outstanding.
  • His position is difficult to predict as is Rodgers formation given his tinkering
  • Good fixtures for Liverpool though but picking the best choice is tricky
  • Copa America means his fitness needs monitoring to see if he starts in GW1
  • His FPL classification will be crucial.  He will have far more attraction as a midfielder (He is a midfielder in FPL £8.5m)

 

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