fantasy premier league new player profile – Stoke City’s Erik Pieters

New player profiles

Erik Pieters is a 6 foot 1 inch 24 year old  Dutch left back who has transferred from PSV to Stoke City for £3.168m

Background

Erik Pieters started his first team career with Dutch club Utrect between 2006 and 2008 making 51 appearances in Eredivisie.  He then moved to PSV where he played 93 first team games over 5 seasons.  However, he only made 2 appearances last season due to a broken metatarsal in the early part of the year and in the latter part after he sliced his arm open when punching through a window after being sent off in his comeback match.  On that subject his discipline record isnt great but nothing to unduly worry about.

 Mark Hughes made some interesting comments about his first signing, which made him look like as much as a  utility defender as a specialist left back.

“I am delighted to have secured Erik’s signature. The main focus this summer in attempting to strengthen the squad is ensuring it is balanced in key positions.

“While Erik is predominantly a left-back, he has also played for his country as a central defender, so he gives us other options.

“We need good quality in our starting eleven and good quality back-up for all areas, which Erik will certainly give us defensively.”

Stoke’s chief executive made similar noises: 

“Erik has a considerable amount of experience of playing at the highest level, both on the international stage with Holland and in the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven.

“He is a player who was identified by our technical director Mark Cartwright as one who could strengthen our defensive options and we have been tracking his progress, so we are delighted to have brought him here now.”

The player himself just made the usual I’m delighted to be here noises:

“I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League.

“It’s one of the hardest competitions to play in with some great players and teams and I’m really excited about it.

“I’m really looking forward to playing for this club. It’s important for me that the first impression is good and I’ve got a great feeling about Stoke City.”

Stats 

 Erik Pieters stats   
 SeasonTeamMatches Goals  Assists
2012/13 PSV  
2011/12 PSV16  
2010/11 PSV31  
2009/10 PSV27  
2008/09 PSV17   
2007/08 Utrecht31 
2006/07 Utrecht20   
     
 Totals 144 12 
     

He’s also played 34 games in the Champions league/Europa league for PSV with no goals or assists and 17 times for the Dutch national team and 8 times for the Dutch under 21 team.

Fantasy premier league perspective

A Stoke defender has historically been an integral part of our fantasy premier league team given their strong home form.  Shawcross for example amassed 12 clean sheets last year in fantasy premier league, as many as Clichy and Zabaleta.  A cheap way in to that defence has given very fruitful returns.

I rated the Stoke defece the 6th best home defence last year and 8th when rated against all teams home and away defence.  I rate their away defence 7th best away defence in the league but 20th overall.  With Wilson and Cameron available at various times between £4.0-£4.5m they were an essential addition to our fantasy premer league team not necessarily as a home and away option but a home rotation option for cheap defenders Cameron or Wilson.  I believe the defenders that will line up in our fantasy premier league teams home and away should be from the elite teams of City Chelsea Man Utd and Arsenal focusing on where there is value.

So having decided that a Stoke defender at the right price is desirable then what is the game time prospects of new boy Erik Pieters.  Marc Wilson was the principal LB last year although Cameron, Shotton and Wilkinson all had a go at various full back positions over the course of the year.

None of the 4 are alternatives are left footed and none are natural LBs.  Wilson the incumbent LB, is right footed and was bought to the club as a midfielder. 

This must give a real chance for Erik Pieters to start as the LB.   Furthermore, the uncertainty over the fullback positions mean he could come in at a keen price which may make him an attractive proposition as a value home rotation defender.  Wilson, Shawcross and Huth will be priced as the front line defenders which should make Erik Pieters a reasonable price.

His attacking returns are pretty ordinary.  Given a return of 1 assist every 10 games at a sucessful PSV side then at Stoke you would expect him to return 3 asssts at the most.  These are the assist returns of say Clyne, Jones and Ridgewell compared to the 6 of say Azpilicueta and Walker.

I’ll be keeping an eye on pre-season to see if he starts at LB and his price when the fantasy premier league website opens. 

Summary

So, firstly, the Stoke defence at the right price is worth coverage as a home rotation given their returns this year.  Given that the current LB Wilson is right footed and a midfielder originally, Erik Pieters has to be a reasonable prospect to start at LB as he is the only left footed full back and is an experienced Dutch International. 

Pre-season should tell us whether he is likely to start on opening day.  Lastly, if he is priced right (£4.5m would be ideal), which is possible given that Wilson should be priced as the first choice LB,  then he is definitely worthy of consideration in our opening day fantasy premier league team.

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