fantasy premier league new players – Newcastle forward Emmanuel Riviere

Emmanuel Riviere is a 6 foot 24 year old French Centre Forward who has moved from Monaco in the French Ligue 1 to Newcastle.  We look at the background to his transfer, his stats and his fantasy premier league prospects plus his initial fixtures

fantasy premier league new players – Newcastle forward Emmanuel Riviere

Background

Well there’s no need to pontificate as to why Rivierie was bought for Newcastle.  That is the ending of the loan of Loic Remy from QPR. Last year Remy scored 14 goals and 3 assists for Newcastle.  That amounted to 33% of there goals.  While the loss of Cabaye was a big reason for there loss of form in the last part of the season, when Remy was injured as well it was a disaster.  Newcastle lost 10 of the 12 games when Remy was injured or suspended.

So with Remy returning on loan to QPR it meant that Cisse was the only out and out striker at the club after Shola Ameobi was released. Replacements were desperately needed.

21 year old Spanish striker Ayoze Perez was signed from Tenerife.  However a 21 year old who’s only league experience is 34 games in the Spanish second division is hardly a ready made solution.  Riviere was desperately needed.

So what type of striker is Riviere.  He should be suited to the premier league.  He’s very strong and quick.  He likes playing on the shoulder of defenders and his movement is very good.  He sometimes lacks technique and touch and decision making.  He is a goal scorer though with 9 of his 10 goals last season coming from inside the penalty area.

He will have alot of Frenchman at the Newcastle to help him adjust to the slight weather and cultural differences between Newcastle and Monaco/Toulose.

He’s £7.0m in FPL which is the same price as Welbeck, Carroll, Osvaldo, Gomis and Enner Valencia.  If Carroll was fit none of those couldbe guaranteed a starting place although you would think that Valencia would have started if Carroll was fit due to the fee and the new supposed attacking policy

Here’s what Pardew had to say on his arrival.  Nothing really helpful just the usual platitudes:

“This is an important signing because the striking area is one we really had to improve.

“We have looked at Emmanuel for a while and we know he will score goals for us.

“He is quick, hungry for success and will love having 50,000 Geordies cheering him on and singing his name.

“I am really looking forward to integrating Emmanuel in the group and cannot wait to see him in action for us.”

He’s always played in France so here’s his Ligue 1 stats:

He’s never played for the Full French International team and hence was not involved in the World Cup.  However he played 15 games for the Under 21 side scoring 6 goals.  As for his European Club experience he’s only ever played 20 minutes of European football that being in the UEFA Cup.

The stats to be hones aren’t anything to be writing home about.  Last season was the first time he’s scored double figure goals and in only 1 season has he contributed any meaningful number of assists.

His minutes per goals in a weaker league for a top side is pretty questionable.  Last season it was 159 minutes poer goal or assist.  His overall average is similar at 166 minutes.

Thats better than £6.0m Crouch at 203 minutes and £6.0m Long at 248 minutes and marginally better than last years £8.0m flop Soldado at 175 minutes.  However it’s miles behind £7.5m Remy at 123 minutes and  £7.5m Lambert last season of 117 minutes.

Fantasy premier league prospects

Well given that young Perez is the only other prospect then gametime seems assured which is a plus.  Pardew has played different formations but Riviere should play whatever the formation.  He appreas better suited to a pair given his on the shoulder playing style but that isn’t an issue for Pardew who has often played 2 strikers.

Newcastle have improced their creativity in the side with the purchase of Cabella and De Jong but given that there maybe an adjustment period for those players he will be relying on Gouffran and Sissoko to step up.  Sissoko got 6 assists last season and Gouffran 5 so the potential is there.

Another factor is the premier league adjustment period required.  You would have seen from my article (copy and paste into your browser)

fantasy premier league tips – were the new players successful last season?

that only really Bony and Negredo could be reagrded as anything like sucesses.  Bony however took sometime to adjust and Negredo started well but lost his place.  There were many failures with far better pedigrees such as Soldado and Osvaldo.

So it will be interesting to see how he performs.  Here’s his first 6 fixtures:

Man City (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Southampton (A)
Hull (H)
Stoke (A)

So apart from the first game and the Stoke game the fixtures could be worse.  I’ve ranked them as the 9th best first 6 fixtures in fantasy premier league

Here’s the link to copy and paste into your browser for the GW1 fixture ease schedule:

fantasy premier league fixture analysis – fixture ease GW1 2014/15

His ownership at the moment is only 1.8% os if you gamble and he’s successful then your ranking will benefit.

So far his preseason has been reasonably successful he’s played in 3 of the 4 friendlies and scored in the 4-0 win against Sydney.  By all accounts he’s played reasonably well.  So far the preseason has been 2 A league sides and Sheffield Wednesday which aren’t exactly testing opposition.

Summary

• Tall strong quick striker who plays on the shoulder
• £7.0m in FPL
• Stats are ordinary.  Only once scored 10 + goals
• Gametime should be secure
• Reasonably good preseason

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