Wilfried Bony is a 24 year old 6 foot 0 inch Ivory Coast striker who has transferred from Vitesse Arnhem to Swansea City for £12.232m.  It is still subject to a work permit but he has passed a medical

Background

Wilfried Bony’s broad first team history was 2 years with Czech team Sparta Prague between 2008-2010 after which he  transferred to Dutch Eredivisie team Vitesse Arnhem in 2010 where he has played ever since.  You will see from the stats table below that he has an excellent goal scoring record.  He has also made a number of appearances for the Ivory Coast national team over the last 3 years. 

The headline for Wilfried Bony is that he is a finisher.  Anyone who scored 31 goals in 30 games last season is going to be given that tag.  Those goals were crucial to Vitesse finishing 4th in Eredivisie last year.  There is no doubt that he is a clinical finisher and a goalscorer on the ground and in the air but he also does have good technical ability and can bring other people in to the game. 8 assists last year are evidence of that.   This skill will be an essential part of the game especially with their patient build up play when in possession and also the need to bring in to the game the  deadly Michu sitting behind him.  However, he also has good strength and pace which will fit with Swansea on the break.

He has been compared to Didier Drogba which is inevitable given they are countrymen.  He hasnt helped that citing him as his inspiration.  There are some views that , although he will obviously be hard pressed to replicate Drogbas record in the premier league, that he does have a superior technique and touch although he doesnt match Drogbas raw power and aerial strength.  However the Chelsea of Mourinho past is a very different animal needing different characteristics than Laudrup’s Swansea.

He certainly can talk and there are plenty of quotes to go at but here’s the ones that talk about his view of his style:

“I’m here to score goals.”

They know my strengths – I have power and strength when I shoot and kick the ball – I will give everything to the coach to develop and play the way he wants me to play.

I hope to replicate my form from last season but tactically, I have to understand how the coach and the other players are working.

The style of football in the UK will suit me and I think the way Swansea play will also be good for me because it is a similar style of football to Dutch teams.”

Stats

His record in Europe for Vitesse and Sparta is also pretty impressive 24 games produced 13 goals and 1 assist.  Its virtually all in the Europa League plus a few games in Champions league qualifiers which dilutes it a little.  He”s no slouch internationally as well for the Ivory Coast who he has represented in the last 3 seasons..  In 19 games its 8 goals and 2 assists.

Fantasy premier league perspective  

Well here’s one player who wont be facing any game time issues.  With Schecter now returned back to his parent club and Danny Graham sold last year there’s isnt a viable forward alternative.  Michu played there last season but he will revert to playing behind the striker.  The only other options at the moment are Luke Moore and young Donnelly, neither are realistic premier league front line players.  Unless things go horribly wrong and Michu needs to return to striker Bony will play every game and be the focal point of the attack and the most advanced player.  Good news there then.

His goal scoring record of last year was exceptional.  31 goals in 30 games in a relatively small club is pretty impressive to say the least.  It has to be said that last year was also exceptional compared to previous years were he scored far less, although a still respectable 1 every 2 games.  What I also like was his  ratio of assists.  Last year showed that the best fantasy premier league strikers also created chances and produced assists as well as just scoring goals.

There are 2 issues or at least percieved issues in my mind.  The first is the view that strikers from the Dutch league have a mixed record and therefore goals in that league don’t translate to goals in fantasy premier league.  The examples rolled out are Alves for Middlesborough and Kezman for Chelsea plus a couple of other players who have gone to Germany to reinforce the point.  On the reverse side Suarez came from Ajax and Van Nistlerooy from PSV.  Also lets not forget that a certain RVP came from Feyenoord.  Not that I’m trying to compare Bony to either in terms of qulaity.  Interestingly both though had fairly slow starts, RVP only scored 5 goals in 26 games and nearly 1000 minutes in his first season.  Suarez scored 4 in 13 games in a similar number of minutes.  There aren’t that many examples of attacking players in the last couple of seasons, certainly none who match the money paid for Bony.  Holman and Myiachi are 2 lower level exapmples which have been disasters and Ruiz came from Twente for around £7m and he’s been a mixed success.

Personally I dont buy that there is an issue, players come to the premier league from different leaguses and hit the ground running these days and I dont think there will be an issue.  Look at Benteke and Lukaku who came from Belgian teams and that league isn’t anywhere near as good as the Dutch league.  

The 2nd issue is the fixtures.  Here are the first 6:

Man Utd H,  Tottenham A,  WBA  A ,  Liverpool H,  Crystal Palace A ,  Arsenal H

Youve got 4 of last years top 7 in your first 6 fixtures.  Not good.  In fantasy premier league you will want a core of must haves who stay irrespective of fixtures but the other players fixtures will play a part in selection.  This is the only negative in my mind and the only thing clouding the decision to  him being a real option for me for gameweek 1. Assuming he is a realistic value obviously.

Just as an aside.  I dont think Bony will blunt the effectiveness of Michu.  He is a quality player behind the striker and thats where his early goals last seasoncame from.  Whether he drifts in late to the box or comes from deep on the counter he doesnt need to play as a striker to be effective.  Playing just behind he is just as good.   Personally I think Michu is going to be too pricey next year and Bony offers a realistic alternative in my mind at a better value

Summary

Great scoring record in Holland and  guaranteed gametime as the most advanced forward.  I don’t believe the myth that strikers from the Dutch league can’t adjust.  The only negative is the tough opening fixtures with 4 out of last years top 7 teams being opponents in the 6 opening games.  He will also be a cheaper alternative to Michu.  He’s a maybe for me depending on the price and the other alternatives. The only negative being the opening fixtures.

Stats from transfermarkt.co.uk

follow us on twitter @fantasyfoot20 or facebook  www.facebook.com/fantasyfootballgeek