Sep
01
Pompey Capture Belhadj
Harry Redknapp has made his first move of the transfer deadline day by sealing a season-long loan deal with French club Lens for Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj.
Significantly Belhadj is a left back and will seemingly compete for that spot in the Pompey side with Hreidarsson and recent loan signing, Armand Traore.
Redknapp successfully tried out a new 3-5-2 formation at Everton with Johnson and Traore operating as wing-backs. This signing would appear to indicate that this is a system that he intends to explore further although it clearly puts a doubt over the starting role of Traore who, until today, looked a very decent fantasy signing.
I fancy that the time is right to go for Defoe. I’m hoping to make enough in the transfer market over coming week so that when Ronaldo is back my squad will be;
Turnbull, Schawarzer
Figueroa, Bosingwa, Steinsson, Young, Paintsil
Young, Ronaldo, Deco, Fabregas, Valencia
Zaki, Alves, Defoe
Then just refresh my mid-price forwards based on fixures.
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looks like johnson would be a good signing if he’s playing at wingback from now on then. he’s always been quite attack minded and portsmouth look solid at the back with the upcoming fixtures, esp as long as D james is in goal
ditto on defoe stevie - def coming in for the next gameweek
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I don’t think there is anything to wrorry about with Traore.
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Reply by Phil Pino on September 1, 2008 1:58 pm:
Why not marc? Have you seen the Belhadj play and adjudged him to be substandard?
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Berbatov to Man City then??
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Reply by Juzzie on September 1, 2008 1:59 pm:
Haha wow, wow, wow. Hijack of the year.
Somehow I doubt City’s offer will go through. Berba’s sulking is not because Spurs are a poor club, but because United are better, with Champions League and all. City haven’t exactly got that… Spurs and City might agree, but the player himself?
It’s still a possibility though. Berba might have already burnt his bridges at White Hart Lane and is possibly willing to move even to get games now. Would be lots more fun to have City join in the new trend of buying big to assault the gates of the big 4 and hope for entry, instead of all the brilliant players always moving to the big 4.
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Reply by Akers on September 1, 2008 2:03 pm:
He’ll go to United, this will just force them to raise their bid to £30M.
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As a French football fan, I can tell that I prefer Belhadj to Traore. The guy was pure quality in Lyon and Lens and will bring a lot offensively.
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i see no reason why harry wont play both of them probably traore at left-mid and Belhadj at left back. When Kranjaer returns he would then play right-mid as bouba-diop is not a right winger and has looked poor in the last few games there.
Also Distin is not really a left back. I think when they have enough players to play this system Distin will be a sure starter in the middle and Cambell and Kaboul will be rotated for the other spot.
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No Phil, just Traore is looked upon more as a winger and with Kranjkier out he may take his spot.
Kranjkier played pretty much all of last season and Pompey still played with full backs.
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Reply by tinkerman on September 1, 2008 3:57 pm:
interesting choices to make….
other the next 2 wks i did plan to bring in Traore and Van der Sar for Baines & Jassi but now i am terribly tempted by Defoe (for alves) and to afford him could bring in Pantsil rather than Traore…
my problem is i want van der sar, troare and defoe but cant get all 3
whats are the thoughts on the best points scoring combo?
Van der sar + Traore + Alves
or
Van der sar + Pantsil + Defoe
or
(?) + Traore + Defoe
for ? sub any GK for 5.5 or less
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Reply by Akers on September 1, 2008 4:01 pm:
I’d make the van der sar transfer first, as everton have easy games coming up.
Other than that, just wait and see. The amount of times I’ve had a 2 or 3 week plan this early in the season, and it has never materialised.
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Reply by stevie b on September 1, 2008 6:25 pm:
i agree, most ‘plans’ tend to go to pot. I’m looking at making my whole squad useful, and increase the value of my squad in the process. Clearly making only 1 transfer a week is the ideal scenario but there are times when certain things make more than one very worthwhile. OK, so you take 4 point hits occassionally, but if you squad is going to score more points over the next few weeks (you can generally look at your team for coming gameweeks and deduce how well it’s likely to do) and incoming players values are going to rise, then you need to do it.
If there is a time to take the 4 point hit it’s early in the season. Fixtures, injuries, returns from injuries, and player values all determine how many transfers you need to make.
Fabregas is back, Ronaldo is a month away, Matt Taylor is injured, Defoe looks good for a month or so, while Arsenal have two away games.
I thought about using my wildcard to accomodate Ronaldo. I’ve decided to lose points on transfers instead though, as you’ll not make as much in the transfer market, which is needed to afford him. I’d rather save my wildcard for a possible crisis later on in the season, or for fixture oddities.
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Reply by Stion - (Strathcarnage) on September 1, 2008 4:08 pm:
Do you have to make so many subs? Players will need to score goals just to break even. Those -4’s add up.
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Reply by tinkerman on September 1, 2008 4:29 pm:
over 2-3wks, not all in 1 go clearly
van der sar would be the last transfer, given he has liv and chelsea next up
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Reply by Stion - (Strathcarnage) on September 1, 2008 5:15 pm:
My mistake. Tinker away. Berbatov is in talks with Man Utd so at this precise moment in time it looks like he is bound for them.
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Sky Sports reckon Madrid are about to bid £36.5M for Berbatov. This is getting ridiculous.
I’m certain he’ll sign for United, and for £30M. SAF picked him up from the airport himself.
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Reply by The Littlest Hobo on September 1, 2008 4:21 pm:
How are you certain?? This last minute transfer stress is giving me the shakes….
I think this whole transfer business is getting personal and going around in circles.
Why would Daniel Levy pass the opportunity to spite Fergie and pocket an extra 6m in the process? I’m sure Calderon also wouldnt mind throwing a spanner in the works for MU after the Ronaldo saga, not to mention Man City…..
What I want to know is do we have a PLAN B if the Berbatov deal falls through???? We need a striker IMO, although the news of an early (Sep) return for Ronny is encouraging…
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Reply by Akers on September 1, 2008 4:24 pm:
Sir Alex rarely lets us down. If berba falls through, then Manucho will step up.
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Reply by The Littlest Hobo on September 1, 2008 5:16 pm:
I hope you are right…
….although I think Manucho has broken a meturtarsal (spelling?) in his foot….not sure when he is due fit again.
We need firepower for the upcoming matches against Liverpool and Chelsea that could prove critical
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Incredible!!!
Real Madrid wants Barbatov for 36 Million!!! This is because United did not want to sell Ronaldo when they had the chance! Man City are ready to bid even more than both clubs. Will Berbatov stay in England? He is currently talking to Fergie for a Deal! Man City is now officially the richest club in the world and they have about 1 Billion to spend on players in the next year alone. What will happen to Liverpool and Arsenal if they want to play champion league football in future when Man City get into the top 4 or win the league?
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Reply by Juzzie on September 1, 2008 4:29 pm:
Watching Chelsea, now everyone thinks that money alone can win you leagues. I would say not. It takes time and patience and heritage, and existing position.
Man City do not have all of that. yet.
And thank you for your enthusiasm, but please do try to curb it a little. Very few people like to see triple exclaimation marks and exggerations like “1 Billion to spend.”
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Tottenham want Emily Heskey!!!
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Incredible Man City have put in bids for Mario Gomez and David Villa!!!
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what is going on today! normally its a complete anti-climax but this is brilliant, well not brillaint as im a utd fan and it looks like we will end up with no one but still, good closing day gossip
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I want jennifer love hewitt!! i just made a bid for the 9 year old down the road for my under 10’s- he’s 5 ft tall- i just promised him macdonalds every week if we win. The parish over just upped the stakes with an offer of macdonalds, AND a giant bag of jelly beans….I CANT TAKE DE STRESS…AAAAGGGHHHH!!!
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————–James
—–Kaboul–Campbell–Distin
Johnson——————Belhadj/Traore
———-Diop—Diarra
————-Kranjcar
———-Crouch–Defoe
Hopefully this will be Pompey’s regular starting eleven when (hopefully) everyone’s fit. Only time will tell who will become first choice left wing-back though.
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Reply by The Littlest Hobo on September 1, 2008 5:20 pm:
…..so G. Johnson would be a better fantasy choice than Traore now?
I would think so. I wonder if Mark’s scout picks will reflect that soon also….
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WHAT ABOUT MY NINE YEAR OLD???AARRRGGGG!!
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i know this isn’t related to this thread but i was wondering how many of you are using the international break to use the wildcard and make some money in the transfer market??
Do you think it a good move to do this now or is it more productive to wait until you really need it or during a double gameweek?
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Reply by The Littlest Hobo on September 1, 2008 5:25 pm:
Only think its worth doing if your team needs changes in a number of areas.
Not worth doing as a money making exercise alone IMO.
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Reply by Nathaniel on September 1, 2008 6:10 pm:
I’ve gone for it this week but not just for money… although i think the extra 0.6/7 mill i will make will be helpful to build my squad.
In my opinion the wild card is overrated as being the solution to all your fpl problems. Kept hold of mine last year right up to christmas and all the while thought when i use it it will blow my league rivals apart but in the end it was all very Shevchenkoesque.
Saving it for a doublegame week is not an idea i would subscribe to either though, as it can as easily blow back in your face. After all your planning and hopes you can be left with players you dont really want who return your faith with 4 points from 2 games. lol
dumbell if you are going to do it for money i would wait until the next international break as most of the players that will make you the profit at the moment have already made the 0.1 rise meaning they will have to rise another .2 which is unlikely.
phew.. sorry went into one there
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I thought that Portsmouth looked a totally different team against Everton and reckon that defensively they could be onto a good thing…
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Reply by CK on September 1, 2008 5:41 pm:
Yeah but Everton are absolute rubbish at the moment!
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i think as regards the wildcard, im sorely tempted to take advantage of depressed prices. only thing stopping me is Ronaldo, and possible double gameweeks…but, as i said before, i cant seem to see when the scheduled double gameweeks are?? i know Manyoo will have one but i dont think there’s any others…any thoughts on that?
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Reply by Beeeez Dad on September 1, 2008 8:44 pm:
Jim, There are no “scheduled” double gameweeks. The doubles will evolve over the course of the season as teams have to postpone a scheduled game (like Fulham and ManU did this past weekend) and then make it up subsequently. Sometimes you may just end up with a single game added, but usually seems like they group the make ups as well. So far, only one game has been postponed and it hasn’t been rescheduled yet, so there is nothing to see yet. But, don’t worry, they will come.
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I must admit, amidst the transfer deadline day excitement, I activated one’s wildcard.
FPL hasn’t treated me too well thus far this season, probably the most frustrating thing being Downing’s missed penalty vs Stoke costing me 13 points with one kick of the ball (Downing Goal +5, Penalty miss -2, Alves Assist for winning pen +3 x2, plus had he scored it could have had an affect on the awarding of bonus points).
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does anyone think Faubert is a good signing this gameweek? Looking at West Ham’s fixtures it looks like he could get a few points…or do you think another of West Ham’s midfield could be raking in more points?
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Reply by Joe on September 1, 2008 9:21 pm:
Faubert is an awesome player to have. He takes all their corners and free kicks and should bag loads of assists if he stays fit. Cheap too :).
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Reply by Akers on September 1, 2008 9:30 pm:
I think Davies/Valencia/Gutierez are the best value between 5.5-6.
I think I’ll be bringing in Davies if his value drops another 0.1 to 5.7M
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Reply by Akers on September 1, 2008 9:30 pm:
I think Davies/Valencia/Gutierez are the best value between 5.5-6.
I think I’ll be bringing in Davies if his value drops another 0.1 to 5.7M. Mainly due to the fixtures Fulham have coming up.
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Why all the panic about double game weeks?
There are no scheduled for the next few months and even if there are some then the clubs usualy rotate, i got caught out by this a couple of times last season.
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Anyone know why swp is not on the price rise table on the crack the code website? Hes way over the 20k mark. Could it be something to do with him just being transfered to city?
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yeah marc there is a 7 day rule on transferred players rising in price SWP should still rise by 0.1 by the deadline tho
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some very strange price rises (and lack of) so far. It’s a long break so maybe they have some weird ‘random’ variable they throw in for this period?
double gameweeks are over-rated. Your wildcard may net you more points at the end of the season when you can completely change your squad to suit the last few fixtures. Ordinarily i’d say use it when you think it will have the biggest effect, in other words when you look at your squad and you think it looks really poor then it’s time. Double gameweeks require maybe one (or two at a push) additional transfers to get in the attacking players. Getting in defenders and nobodies for a double gameweek is pointless (literally).
A lot of it is common sense (does my squad look big in this? i mean, does my squad look good enough? and so forth). And instinct. If your gut says do it then you gotta do it.
i’m looking at making a triple swoop this week. Fabregas coming back, Taylor’s broken foot and Defoe being a better option than Adebayor over the next few weeks (plus he’ll increase in value and i’ll need the cash for Ronaldo) all add up to it.
Plus, my squad has virtually all it’s players playing at home one week then all away the next, so my transfers and consequent better use of subs will help offset this high & low points weeks, and better utilise the 15, so a 5H/10A split rather 4H/9A (1 injury), plus the players i’ll bring in are superior anyway. The top names such as Fabregas will score points consistently, and form the core of your team, week in, week out. To miss out on quality players who will easily rise in value and/or have good fixtures coming up is criminal.
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Reply by Rob on September 1, 2008 7:31 pm:
For the past 2 seasons I have left my Wildcard until towards the end of the season when at least four teams are playing twice in the GW. It’s not too difficult to then have the majority, if not all, of your team playing twice in a week.
This has always earned me well over 100 points.
But’s that just my preferred way of using the Wildcard.
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Reply by Phil Pino on September 2, 2008 4:02 pm:
I think that is probably the best tactical use of a Waynecard i have read Rob and i feel it must be saluted.
I salute you sir!
I wasted mine last season after the January transfer window and was contemplating using it this season to get C-Ron in. However, i think you’ve given me another good option to contemplate…
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man city linked with Robinho now . haha
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Thanks nathaniel. So next friday he is certain to go up .1 or maybe .2?
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Reply by Nathaniel on September 2, 2008 12:15 am:
no bother mate. i’m not exactly an expert but my team has gone up from 99.8 to 100.7 since saturday although only .2 of those are “spendable” i.e went up the additional .1.
SWP has had close on 40,000 net transfers in this week so going by the trend of many managers waiting to near the deadline i’d say he will go up .1 by deadline and .1 the evening after the deadline. City signing robinho might put a spanner in the works but he is likely to cost round 10-11 mill i reckon
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Reply by Juzzie on September 2, 2008 1:12 am:
Bandwagon galore, but now’s probably a pretty rough time to be getting City players, do any of you think?
Like Tottenham’s major midfield team-restructuring took a while to settle in, (and may still be, in fact), despite the huge abundance of quality; perhaps City needs some time too?
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Reply by Nathaniel on September 2, 2008 1:28 am:
SWP just went up tonight i guess the transfer embargo isnt in force this year….mmmmmm
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so man city get robinho foe £32 million - what a waste of money - a stiker who doesnt score.
He scored 11 goals for madrid last season and only 6 goals the season before that, making 32 appearances in each season.
He wont be in my fantasy team !
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Reply by Phil Pino on September 2, 2008 3:58 pm:
BROWN, i think you’re a little too harsh there… Don’t forget that last season Robinho also got 14 assists. Like Mark says, if he comes into the FPL as a midfielder (entirely possible as he played on the wing for R Madrid all last season, also reducing his goal-scoring potential) then he may be value for money if he comes in at around £10m (my guess…) Possibly even the same if he’s classed as a striker!
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lads, what do people think of Milner’s prospects for point scoring at Villa? he’s very cheap…
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