Newcomers to the Premier League are typically always a major risk in Fantasy terms but Mauro Boselli’s arrival to these shores presents an intriguing prospect that could be difficult to resist.
The Argentian striker signed a four-year deal with Wigan back in July for an undisclosed fee, with previous reports indicating the he’d been on both United and City’s scouting radars. Wigan got their man however with Boselli encouraged by the advice of fellow Argentinian Juan Veron to take up the offer of Premier League football…
“He told me it was the best place in the world to play your football and that it would be the best place for me as a player.”
Whether Juan meant Wigan in particular is up for debate.
Roberto Martinez won’t care too much about Boselli’s view from the bedroom window or nightlife options – on signing the striker, he was understandably more interested in talking up his abilities on the pitch…
“He’s a goalscorer who lives to put the ball in the the net – a clever player and a natural finisher. He can cause havoc in the penalty area and he gives the team some great new options with the variety of roles he can play…We want him to reach his full potential here and bring plenty of smiles to the Latics fans.”
Wigan fans should indeed be smiling. Despite the efforts of Hugo Rodallega, the Latics spent much of last season desperately looking for someone to convert chances. Jason Scotland didn’t quite measure up. Next season however the crowds at DW Stadium can turn up to watch arguably one of the best predators in World football in the blue stripes.
The Statistics
Opinion…
Andy
“”I really like the idea of Mauro Boselli. I still remember that look on my colleagues faces when Amr Zaki scored 2 against Hull. Wigan have Blackpool first – I want to see that look again.
Everyone will have their Lampard, Rooney etc. It’s the gambles that excite my fantasy bones, and Boselli fits into that just like Lee, Boateng and Zaki did before him.
If he scores 2 points, so be it; I’ve still got Lampard.”
Boselli’s career got off to a stuttering start. Cast in the shadow of Martín Palermo, he failed to hold down a regular starting role at Boca Juniors and struggled to convince during a loan period at Malaga. Early on then, a record of 15 goals in 76 appearances failed to suggest the form that Boselli would show once he arrived at Estudiantes in 2008.
His impact on arrival at Estudiantes was immediate. Boselli struck seven goals in his first 13 league games in front of his new fans. He went on to score 32 goals in 57 to flight appearances for the Argentinian club, with 18 more goals arriving in international cup competitions.
That scoring rate soon attracted interest from Europe, while a fee of £5 million made him available to Europe’s middle tier clubs. As it turned out Wigan were the club prepared to take the plunge. Boselli’s disappointment at not making Maradona’s World Cup squad was sweetened by a summer Premier League move.
The Prospects
Boselli displays decent pace without being electric, is strong without being a bully; above all he is quite rightly considered an out-and-out goalscorer who comes alive once in-range of the target. Well capable of wriggling free of defenders, we shouldn’t expect Boselli to make weaving runs from deep at the defence or play a major role in Wigan’s build up play. Instead he’ll live as most predators do, on the shoulder of the last man and drifting away from markers in the box in search of an opportunity. His expertise at taking chances with right or left foot, or indeed with his head is undoubted. Boselli is a convertor of chances and will also likely take on penalty taking duties from Hugo Rodallega.
His potential in the Premier League and as a Fantasy prospect will depend greatly on the service that comes his way. Securing the future of Charles N’Zogbia will be crucial to that. Should the winger remain at the DW then his supply, along with that of Rodallega from the right flank, should hand Boselli the ammunition which will allow him to hit double figures in his first Premier League season.
Crucially Boselli’s prospects appear to have been underplayed by the Fantasy Games. Priced at just 6.0 in the Fantasy Premier League game, he looks a decent proposition and, given that Wigan have four home matches in the first five fixtures, he even looks a temptation for our initial lineups.
Rodallega’s 10 goals, 7 assists and 23 FPL bonus points demonstrated that a Wigan striker can produce the goods, despite the Latics struggling in the main. Boselli is similarly as cheap, will likely take on spot-kick duties and is a better finisher than his Columbian teammate. The potential is clear; this is one new foreign arrival that is well worth a second or third look.