Confirmed Signings and their FPL Potential

[GeezLouise]

I think Payet and Sakho are too risky. If they prove to be good picks, then I just jump into bandwagon. Again, I'm not afraid of losing their first goals. This game is not about "I knew it first".

Why do you think they are risky?

Because there are more proven alternatives.

Why do you think they are not risky? I agree that Sakho is somewhat proven, but Payet at 7.5 in his first Premier League season is a big gamble.

Don't know much about Payet. Sakho is a good pick imo - good fixtures after GW1, banned for 3 Europa fixtures, scored approx once every two games last season, and obviously kindy priced. Who do you think is better at that price?

[gallus]

I think Payet and Sakho are too risky. If they prove to be good picks, then I just jump into bandwagon. Again, I'm not afraid of losing their first goals. This game is not about "I knew it first".

Sakho is only 6.5 and proved that he can score last season. He's hardly more risky than other 6.5 strikers (you can make a case for Berahino, but his fixtures are awful).

[Hotstepper]

Sakho looked good when fit last year, and has been scoring pre-season. Currently in my 3rd striker berth, BUT... Still seems to be a lot of speculation about a striker signing for West Ham, and he could be shuffled into a wider position very quickly.

[Finisher1]

Yes, Sakho is a reasonable pick since good team structure includes one budget forward, because it is likely that one budget forward will become a bandwagon and it is then easy switch Sakho bandwagon if that will be the case. However, I would prefer some 5.5 alternative myself, but Sakho is a valid pick anyway.

But I can't justify Payet at 7.5. I don't see any reason to gamble with midfielders because I think there are plenty of proven alternatives in mid-price bracket (well, >8.0m) and I think those proven alternatives are more likely to become bandwagons as well.

[Le Red]

Yes, Sakho is a reasonable pick since good team structure includes one budget forward, because it is likely that one budget forward will become a bandwagon and it is then easy switch Sakho bandwagon if that will be the case. However, I would prefer some 5.5 alternative myself, but Sakho is a valid pick anyway.

But I can't justify Payet at 7.5. I don't see any reason to gamble with midfielders because I think there are plenty of proven alternatives in mid-price bracket (well, >8.0m) and I think those proven alternatives are more likely to become bandwagons as well.

The easy to downgrade bit is true, and worth some more thought for me, but I really prefered to spend less on my 3r4d striker (Jerome so far) and more on the midfield. For example, I currently have Hazard + Jerome. I could have Silva + Sakho for the same price, but what if Hazard explodes? I can't make the switch from Silva to Hazard, but I can go the other way around. I think that would be more urgent than jumping on a cheap striker who starts well.

[swadd1er]

Chelsea have agreed to sell Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid for around £15m. #CFC (Sky Sources)

Makes Azpiliqueta even more appealing at 6.0m.

[JoonaR16]

Chelsea have agreed to sell Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid for around £15m. #CFC (Sky Sources)

Makes Azpiliqueta even more appealing at 6.0m.

I also read it from Twitter (but thought it was a loan). I'm really considering him because I think he would benefit from the new bonus system this year which makes him even better for that price.

[Stemania]

Chelsea have agreed to sell Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid for around £15m. #CFC (Sky Sources)

Makes Azpiliqueta even more appealing at 6.0m.

Surely they will buy another full back as a replacement though - I can't see them going into a full 4-competition 60-odd game season with just two full backs and youth players to cover.

[Mav3rick]

Surely they will buy another full back as a replacement though - I can't see them going into a full 4-competition 60-odd game season with just two full backs and youth players to cover.

I expect that they will buy some new cover or other, my hope is that the cover they do sign is either not as highly rated as Luis or is more versatile and able to play across the back line. It seemed odd last year that Azpil got rotated/rested while Ivan did not. I'm hoping that the rests will be at least even this year and would like to think that luis going makes that more likely.

[Finisher1]

Chelsea have agreed to sell Filipe Luis to Atletico Madrid for around £15m. #CFC (Sky Sources)

Makes Azpiliqueta even more appealing at 6.0m.

I also read it from Twitter (but thought it was a loan). I'm really considering him because I think he would benefit from the new bonus system this year which makes him even better for that price.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the new bonus point system is expected to benefit centre backs.

[Billy Bongo]

It's expected to favour centre backs in 1-0 wins, they might sneak a BP instead of a midfielder with those of dribbles

But you can have as many blocks as you like but in a 2 or 3 nil win the goals and assists will still clean up

[Finisher1]

It's expected to favour centre backs in 1-0 wins, they might sneak a BP instead of a midfielder with those of dribbles

But you can have as many blocks as you like but in a 2 or 3 nil win the goals and assists will still clean up

All right. So Azpilicueta is not expected to be same kind of ridiculous bonus point machine that he was last season, when he was always selected as the man of the match by passing two yard passes?

[Le Red]

It's expected to favour centre backs in 1-0 wins, they might sneak a BP instead of a midfielder with those of dribbles

But you can have as many blocks as you like but in a 2 or 3 nil win the goals and assists will still clean up

All right. So Azpilicueta is not expected to be same kind of ridiculous bonus point machine that he was last season, when he was always selected as the man of the match by passing two yard passes?

As far as I'm concerned, he also had a big CBI (clearances, blocks and interceptions) number, which are rated highly in the new bonus system.

[asm_fanz]

Van Gaal stated that Darmian, the Italy right-back bought for £12.7m from Torino, will start as back-up. “We have brought Darmian for the second position behind [Antonio] Valencia and now already because of that injury [Paddy] McNair has to play there,” he said.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... gs-balance

[Mav3rick]

I don't know if I understand that quote... by "behind" Valenica, does he mean at right back with Valencia playing on the right of midfield? Is Darmian or Valencia "the injury" because that seems to imply to me that one them will play right midfield, which would obviously be an OOP opportunity.

EDIT - ok so it seems that Valencia is the injury, so McNair is coming into the team for him. So... that implies that Darmian was always playing, and that Valencia is seen as a midfielder, doesn't it?

[JoonaR16]

I don't know if I understand that quote... by "behind" Valenica, does he mean at right back with Valencia playing on the right of midfield? Is Darmian or Valencia "the injury" because that seems to imply to me that one them will play right midfield, which would obviously be an OOP opportunity.

I think he just means 2nd position in pecking order, just behind Valencia (his back-up).

[Mav3rick]

I don't know if I understand that quote... by "behind" Valenica, does he mean at right back with Valencia playing on the right of midfield? Is Darmian or Valencia "the injury" because that seems to imply to me that one them will play right midfield, which would obviously be an OOP opportunity.

I think he just means 2nd position in pecking order, just behind Valencia (his back-up).

I'm not sure it does. I don't get it - if Darmian is the backup to Valencia, and Valencia is injured, why does McNair have to "play there"

If he meant McNair takes over the back up role then that's a weird way of phrasing it.

I think it implies that LvG is thinking of Valencia as a right sided mid. Shame he's injured then or we might see in their tour match tomorrow morning.

[Stemania]

Doesn't he just mean that Darmian is backup to Valencia at RB, but McNair had to fill in at RB in the recent friendly in the second half because Valencia is injured? Essentially, he's just saying ''we needed another RB at the club so we bought Darmian'' as far as I can tell.

[Carlos Kickaball]

Exactly what Stemania said, that's how I read it first time anyway.

[NoEyeDeer]

Anyone know much about Sunderland new boy Lens?

Sunderland have a nice opening few fixtures so could be a decent shout at 6.5mil, as it sounds like he'll be the attacking focal point.

Will he play as a striker?

[Vsz]

Anyone know much about Sunderland new boy Lens?

Sunderland have a nice opening few fixtures so could be a decent shout at 6.5mil, as it sounds like he'll be the attacking focal point.

Will he play as a striker?

http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2 ... main-lens/ - take a look here buddy.

[Pirlo's Beard]

Admittedly I know very little about Payet, but he seems to be getting big wraps

Must have gone for a cheeky Nando's.

[First Sub Podcast]

Mitrovic at SJP could be an interesting one, a goalscorer but also a psycho

I'd guess he will be priced in the 6.5-7.5 range?

[Billy Bongo]

These players are CKs until proven otherwise

[snakzz]

Mitrovic at SJP could be an interesting one, a goalscorer but also a psycho

I'd guess he will be priced in the 6.5-7.5 range?

If he is 6.5 he is straight into my team.

[Stemania]

Mitrovic at SJP could be an interesting one, a goalscorer but also a psycho

I'd guess he will be priced in the 6.5-7.5 range?

If he is 6.5 he is straight into my team.

I'm not absolutely certain he'll start ahead of Cisse straight away tbh - he's only 20. I also have a sneaky feeling we might also be trying to swap Austin for Cisse in the squad (with Cisse going to the middle east/Turkey) and then I think Austin would get the nod.

[snakzz]

Mitrovic at SJP could be an interesting one, a goalscorer but also a psycho

I'd guess he will be priced in the 6.5-7.5 range?

If he is 6.5 he is straight into my team.

I'm not absolutely certain he'll start ahead of Cisse straight away tbh - he's only 20. I also have a sneaky feeling we might also be trying to swap Austin for Cisse in the squad (with Cisse going to the middle east/Turkey) and then I think Austin would get the nod.

I hope Cisse will be sold and Austin bought.

Cisse was utter garbage at the end of last season and I wanna thank him for what he has done, but we dont need him anymore.

Lets take an chance on the "kids". Mitrovic, Perez and the old man Austin of he joins.

[First Sub Podcast]

I'm not sure Stemania, Roma and Porto were really close to getting Mitrovic I'm not sure he would have gone to Newcastle had he not been given some assurances of game time?

He would start ahead of Cisse, Austin not sure.

Snakzz, I'f im honest I've only seen him play twice (Arsenal & Dortmund) and he looked a real handful. Otherwise I'm not that aware of his playing style/FPL potential. Can you shed any light?

[Stemania]

I'm not sure Stemania, Roma and Porto were really close to getting Mitrovic I'm not sure he would have gone to Newcastle had he not been given some assurances of game time?

I think this is more to do with his potential than anything else. I agree he's favourite to start over Cisse, but it's not certain for me.

I wouldn't like to predict most of our starting eleven at the moment tbh, not quite sure how De Jong, Wijnaldum, Colback, Tiote and Sissoko all fit in as none of them would be too comfortable wide left - I can't quite see Colback & Wijnaldum being a double pivot in a 4231 being too secure (though that seems the most likely) or Colback being the lone DM in a 433 (with Tiote missing out or being sold).


In other Newcastle news, Chancel Mbemba (the man with four birthdays!) joins Newcastle in the next few days too according to him. He's predominantly a CB (who can play fullback) so adds big doubt to Steven Taylor's 4m starting chances.

[MPTree]

Mitrovic at SJP could be an interesting one, a goalscorer but also a psycho

I'd guess he will be priced in the 6.5-7.5 range?

If he is 6.5 he is straight into my team.

Looks like he's straight into your team then. 6.5 it is.