FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER IMPACT SUMMARY – PARK TO QPR – DE GUZMAN TO SWANSEA

Ji-Sung Park

Background

Queens Park Rangers have been celebrating, and so they should be, the £2m capture of Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung – it’s not every summer than QPR sign a player of this standard.

As reported in the Guardian, The vice chairman of QPR described this as ‘a momentous day for us’ Amit Bhatia remembers the struggles the club encountered at the beginning of his six-year association with the Rangers. QPR manager Mark Hughes has said ‘He was always picked for the big matches (for United) because they could rely on him.’ ‘This is a huge signing for QPR.’

The 31 year-old midfielder will be travelling with the squad on their pre-season tour of Thailand and Malaysia – as the Rangers website is hit by over 120,000 hits, everybody at the club is beginning to realise quite what it means to have ‘a global superstar’ as Ji.

Park felt that his opportunities were limited last seasons and the ambition at Rangers was what he found appealing – so he will be moving to the 45,000 seat stadium in west London. Park undoubtly had more profitable offers, especially from Asia, where he stands as the poster boy for the development of football. However he has chosen a two-year contract and may also take over the position as captain from the disgraced Joey Barton.

Over the past 3 seasons with United, Park’s statistics are:

Season                 Appearances                   Goals

2009-10                17                                           3

2010-11                15                                           5

2011-12                17                                           2

Total                     49                                          10

Prospects

There’s alot of questions abut how QPR will line up this fantasy premier league season and pre-season will be especially interesting.  Ive picked the midfield line up so far as Mackie, Diakite, Faurlin and Taraabt.  To me Taraabt and Diakite are fantasy premier league certainties.  While park may have been at Utd to sell shirts at QPR I think he will replace Mackie.  I don’t see him being a significant fantasy premier league force though.  I can’t see the goal or assist ratio being particularly exciting.

I’m planning on replacing Mackie in the fantasy premier league line up article for Park.

Jonathan De Guzman

Background

Swansea City have acquired the former Holland Under-21 international Jonathon De Guzman on a season long loan from Villarreal, following up the signing on Jose Manuel Flores from Genoa.   Both players having previously worked with Michael Laudrup at Mallorca, making Guzman the club’s second signing since Laudrup’s taking over at the Liberty Stadium.

The 24 year old midfielder has said in the Guardian ‘Once the opportunity came along to join Swansea and Michael Laudrup it was a done deal. I didn’t have to think twice about it.’

‘I watched Premier League football every week on the TV last season. I was aware that Swansea are a good footballing side, but they really caught my eye when they beat Manchester City. They had a great season and I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing on a new (stage) in the Premier League.’

‘I’m grateful for the opportunity and grateful that the manager has acknowledged me as a player.’

De Guzman moved from his birthplace in Canada to Holland to join the Feyenoord academy, making over 100 appearances for the Rotterdam club and featuring for the Dutch Under-21 side as well as playing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, having gained Dutch citizenship that year. He then moved to Mallorca in July 2010, made 38 appearances, and was sold to Villarreal for £7m last year. However, his opportunities ran dry after a change of manager caused his club to be relegated from the Primera Division.

Guzman’s statistics include:

Season                        Club                 Appearances                Goals

2010-11           Mallorca                            33                                5

2011-12           Mallorca                             1                                  1

2011-12           Villarreal                            20                                0

Totals                                                         54                                6

Although the current deal is only a season long loan from Villarreal, there is the opportunity for the deal to be made permanent at the end of the season and De Guzman is keen to have more game time with his new club – saying ‘I didn’t get much game time when the new coach came in. It was a frustrating time for me. I just want to play football on a regular basis again.’

‘I am fortunate that I will be working under a good coach at Swansea who lets you be free and allows you to do what you do best. I like to attack as a midfielder, box to box, and hopefully I can add my share of goals along the way.

Prospects

I’ve got the fantasy premier league midfield in a 3 with Britton and Allen plus Kenny Augustein.  I think Britton and Allen will stay and de Guzman will have the unenviable chance to replace Sigurdsson.  The goal ratio is hardly inspiring and  I wouldn’t be jumping over yourself to put him in my fantasy premier league team

I’m replacing Augustein with de Guzman in the fantasy premier league lineups section