Here’s our fantasy premier league cheap forwards article where we look at 4 of the promoted teams forwards to see who stacks up best.
fantasy premier league cheap forwards – Gayle vs Murray vs Mounie vs Baldock
Here we look at a load of stats and make an assessment as to which would be the best for our FPL teams
Underlying stats are from whoscored.com
SOB = shots outside the box
6YB = inside the 6 yard box shots
SIB = shots in the penalty box
SOT = shots on target
KP = key passes
The stats
Here’s the basic stats for the 4 from last season. Remember Mounie who has signed for Huddersfield played for Montpellier in Ligue 1 last season.
Lets also look at their squawka comparison stats:
Lastly lets compare Murray and Gayle from their last 2 seasons in the premier league:
Mounie
I’m going to start with Mounie as he’s the hardest to assess. It’s difficult to compare Ligue 1 in France to the Championship or indeed the premier league especially when you’re going to a side who’s a massive favourite to get relegated. His basic returns aren’t as good, at a goal or assist every 166 minutes, as even a cheap premier league striker in the Llorente or Vokes type but they’re not totally ridiculous. The fixtures are good so if you’re going to gamble now is the time. He should at least be gametime secure. However, history shows that strikers for lower placed sides who are new to the PL can struggle.
Huddersfield first 6 fixtures:
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield
Huddersfield v Newcastle
Huddersfield v Southampton
West Ham v Huddersfield
Huddersfield v Leicester
Burnley v Huddersfield
Baldock
Brighton played alot of 4-4-2 last season but I find it difficult to believe that Baldock will play this season either through replacement or change of formation so I’m going to leave it here
Gayle
Gayle is unquestionably the winner here out of these 4 on the available information. His 16/17 returns with a goal or assist every 86 minutes is outstanding even if it is in the Championship. His underlying stats are undoubtedly the best of the 4 and a shot in the box at 2 or over per 90 is pretty impressive. Again it is the Championship.
His previous premier league history though is nothing to write home about. He averages a goal or assist every 207 minutes over those 2 seasons. Although he did play as a winger he was primarily a CF. The underlying stats are at the budget striker end though at around 1 per 90 mins. The fixtures are good though.
Unless Newcastle buy a striker, which is a big possibility, I think his gametime is reasonably secure. Benetiz maybe a rotation fan but there’s no conflicting priorities like there would have been at the top clubs he managed. It’s all about staying in the premier league. Certainly Gayle was rotated and left on the bench in the early parts of the season a few times. The latter part though was pretty much all related to an injury occurring or post an injury where I’m sure he was being treated carefully. Gametime related to injuries seems more of a risk than Benetiz at the moment.
Apart from the first game the opening first 6 fixtures couldn’t be much better
Newcastle V Spurs
Huddersfield V Newcastle
Newcastle V West Ham
Swansea V Newcastle
Newcastle V Stoke
Brighton V Newcastle
Murray
At 33 it’s hard to believe he’s going to be leading the line for Brighton. Murray returned at a goal or assist every 123 minutes were good last season in the Championship. The underlying stats last season were a bit mixed though.
His previous premier league experience while being labelled a failure wasn’t really failure. Murray’s numbers at Bournemouth were terrible but his underlying stats were good and you could make a case that he was unlucky. His 14/15 season at Palace was, on a per minutes basis, positively Aguero like. A goal or assist every 86 minutes is incredible and shots in the box and on target at around 2 per 90 is excellent. I just can’t see it though. Surely Brighton have to invest big in a striker. If they don’t he will surely start the season. Ok fixtures are mixed especially the opening 3
Brighton’s first 6 fixtures:
Brighton V Man City
Leicester V Brighton
Watford V Brighton
Brighton V West Brom
Bournemouth V Brighton
Brighton V Newcastle
Summary
For me Gayle on form and fixtures remains the best option. Murray has some chinks of light but I just can’t see it. Mounie has potential and ok fixtures but history of budget strikers in the premier league makes him a risk. Huddersfield will be a difficult side to hit the ground running.
If there are any supporters who can add anything please do.
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