Here’s our fantasy premier league improvers article where we look at 3 players who could improve their returns compared to last season
fantasy premier league improvers – 3 players who could increase their returns next season
I’ve trawled through various players underlying shooting stats to look for those who have had dips this year which are outwith their normal production. I’m thinking this maybe aberrations and we can look forward to improved returns this season. Here’s 3 players where I’ll try and make the case for future improvement
Kevin De Bruyne
In the stats graphic the underlying stats are provided by whoscored.com are are as follows:
SOB = shots outside the box
SIB = shots inside the box
SOT = shots on target
KP = key passes
Last 3 seasons stats
Squawka comparison stats for De Bruyne last 3 seasons
The rationale
The stats to me show that De Bruyne should be able to improve his goal scoring and continue with his assist levels and therefore improve his points total. The unknown being rotation and the manager.
The reason I say this is that this season we saw a significant drop off in his goals per minutes far off his last 2 seasons. Admittedly 1 is with Wolsfburg. The reason to me was the huge drop in shot accuracy which is inconsistent with previous levels. To me the increase in shots outside the box isn’t significant enough to explain it. The Shots out side the box stat is also consistent with his Wolfsburg level which didn’t see anything like the drop off in accuracy. This season I would hope to see him repeat his shot numbers with a far better accuracy and therefore more goals plus continue with the level of assists
First 6 fixtures
Brighton v Man City
Man City v Everton
Bournemouth v Man City
Man City v Liverpool
Watford v Man City
Man City v Crystal Palace
In my fixture ease article I rated Man City as having the 9th best attacking fixtures from GW1-3, 6th best from GW1-6 and 7th best from GW1-10.
Troy Deeney
Last 3 seasons stats
Squawka comparison last 3 seasons for Deeney
The rationale
My rationale here is 2 fold and not just on stats. The first is that last year he fell out with the manager who dropped him and had little faith in his abilities. With former Hull Boss Marco Silva in charge he has the the chance to redeem himself. The 2nd is due to his fall in shot stats. You can see from the squawka comparison that his shot stats fell dramatically last season from the 2015/16. Although the 2014/15 season was in the Championship it still goes someway to back up the drop as well. Hopefully this season we will see an improvement in his shot stats and a new manager will give him the gametime and faith to succeed.
First 6 fixtures
Watford v Liverpool
Bournemouth v Watford
Watford v Brighton
Southampton v Watford
Watford v Man City
Swansea v Watford
In my fixture ease article I rated Watford as having the 6th best attacking fixtures from GW1-3, 12th best from GW1-6 and 17th best from GW1-10.
Andros Townsend
Last 3 season stats
Squawka comparison last 3 seasons Townsend
Rationale
Andros Townsend is the 1 person that makes Yosemite Sam and Philip Coutinho look like they think before they shoot. However, all the stats are the pretty much the same over the 3 seasons except the shot accuracy suddenly has gone from 67% and 74% to 38% without any significant changes to his shooting volumes and locations.
He surely can’t shoot that badly again. Gametime will be key though with a new manager and pre-season will be crucial to assess this.
First 6 fixtures
Crystal Palace v Huddersfield
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace v Swansea
Burnley v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Man City v Crystal Palace
In my fixture ease article I rated C Palace as having the 3rd best attacking fixtures from GW1-3, 8th best from GW1-6 and 12th best from GW1-10.
Final thoughts
At the moment Jesus is my City plan so I can’t see De Bruyne making it. I haven’t ruled out Deeney or Townsend but it would depend on price and other players etc.
Hope you found it food for thought
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