Here’s the first of my attempts to bring a daily fantasy premier league news update for you and more importantly the implications for your fantasy premier league team. I’ll be rounding up the friendlies after this post
Gary Hooper
The ex Celtic striker in his first season for Norwich left the ground on a stretcher after an injury. Has to cast doubt over his start to the season. Good news though for RV Wolfswinkel owners especially as Hughton has been using a lone striker. Hughton played it down though. Here’s a quote from Hughton in Norwich City Mad:
“Gary has been taken for a precautionary X-ray. He got a whack on the shin, it was an awkward challenge,” he told his club’s Twitter feed,
“We’ll wait and see what the X-ray shows but hopefully it’s just a whack which will be a bit sore rather than anything more serious.”
We’ll keep you up to date, when results are back.
Gary Medel
The 26 year old Chilean International defensive midfielder has joined Cardiff City on a 4 year deal subject to a work permit. Despite being tagged a CDM he scored 6 goals and 3 assists in 32 games for Sevilla last season. However, the 2 years before that saw 46 games and2 goals. He’s a bit card happy and his nickname is the “pitbull” apparently, 8 yellows last season but thats expected in the non contact sport that is football in La Liga. I don’t think this will really have an effect on our fantasy premier league season as a CDM he doesnt even seem to be the box to box type so we wont see that many returns. He’ll probably just take the place of Mutch who’s not on our radar anyway. Should be interesting to see price though as he should be guaranteed gametime at that price. £4.5m would be the dream senario for a 2 point bench warmer although that seems unlikely. Sky Sports fantasy football though will be even more interesting as they some times undervalue new players, esepcially CDMs, who can benefit from the pass and tackle bonus associated with the format. Mackay was certainly raving about the deal in the Daily Mail:
‘We’re delighted to have secured the services of Gary – a tenacious and intelligent international midfielder,’ manager Malky Mackay told his club’s official website.
‘Having had two seasons of regular football in La Liga – with 60-odd international caps to his name and three appearances at a World Cup – his experience will be an invaluable asset to our squad.
‘He’s played in a number of Boca v River Plate derbies in Argentina – one of the world’s biggest derby matches – and I’ve no doubt that his background and pedigree will complement our midfield group in the Barclays Premier League.’
Gareth Bale
Yes I can see you all yawning over another Daniel Levy generated protracted transfer saga but this is actually interesting for us fantasy premier league managers. Sky are reporting that AVB expects Bale to miss the first game against Crystal Palace with his “injury”. I think everyone expected this but its the first time its been reported. Excellent clarity at least for that game and maybe more even if he stays. However, in my mind he’s going its just a matter of time.
Here’s what AVB said in Sky Sports News
“If we manage to recover the player, but obviously he is far, far off fitness regarding what the others have done. It is three weeks since he played for Tottenham so I wouldn’t expect him to play for us.”
Spurs coverage is desired in my mind and soldado seems the obvious switch
Daniel Agger
Another convenient injury, this time to Aggers knee, meant he missed the pre-season game against Celtic. Should he leave for Barca or miss significant game time it does provide more security for £5.0m bargain K Toure but it does weaken the defence and would make me reluctant to double up with Mignolet and Toure who are both good value.
Luke Shaw
Oh come on now. Southampton have been one of my picks to have an improved defence this year what with good perfromances with the new manager last year and the signing of the excellent Croatian international Lovren. Clyne then gets injured, oh well switch to Shaw, who now has an injury scare! The CB situation is a gamble apart from Lovren who’s more expensive at £5.0m. In short, Shaw sounds doubtful for GW1 but Clyne has a good chance. Here’s Pochettino on the official site:
Jerome Thomas
Possibly the best £4.5m midfielder in fantasy premier league, Palaces Jerome Thomas went off after 22 minutes in the game against Lazio with what the Croydon Guardian described as a calf injury. No official word that I can find but if thats the case then it seems unlikely he will line up for GW1. I would think the replacement would be Bolasie who’s £5.0m but that would just be short term to cover injury and there are better options than him for that cash anyway. We’ll keep you posted on any news
Thats it. hope you enjoyed the first in these series. Now to the mountain of pre-season games
Here’s the link to my GW1 fixture ease schedule:
http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-fixture-ease-schedule-gw1/
