Scout Report – Jobi McAnuff
Filed under: Scout Reports - Posted by: Paul
Our series of articles assessing the potential of certain key candidates from the three promoted clubs got underway earlier today with a look at Southampton’s Rickie Lambert. Next up under analysis is skipper of the npower Championship winners Reading, Jobi McAnuff:
The left winger was a key contributor in his side’s title-winning season last time round. McAnuff missed just six league matches, playing 40 times and, with five goals and 11 assists, was the Royals’ chief creator; only Noel Hunt – with eight goals and nine assists – contributed to more of Reading’s 69 goals in 2011/12. With McAnuff’s game time looking assured for the upcoming campaign, he looks in pole position to once again play a significant part in his side’s attacking forays.
The Statistics
McAnuff began his career as a 20-year-old at Wimbledon in 2001-02. Over the course of his three seasons with the Dons he made 96 league appearances and netted 12 times before the club went into administration – as a result, he joined Alan Pardew’s West Ham in the January 2004 transfer window. His time at Upton Park was brief, however; the winger played just 13 matches and scored a single goal before making his way to Cardiff after just six months at the London club.
Once again, he was afforded little time to settle – a single season in Wales produced two goals in 44 league appearances before Crystal Palace came calling. McAnuff spent two years at Selhurst Park, returning 12 goals and seven assists in 77 league matches before joining up at Watford in June 2007 in a deal thought to be worth £1.75m. A couple of seasons at the Hornets saw the winger make 82 league appearances, scoring five times and providing 14 assists before former Watford boss Brendan Rodgers snapped up his services for Reading prior to the closure of the August 2009 transfer window. Despite Rodgers’ subsequent departure, McAnuff seems to have finally found his home at the Madejski and has flourished under the guidance of Brian McDermott. Already, he has spent three seasons at the club and, prior to the beginning of last term, was handed the armband – to date, he has appeared in 116 league matches for the Royals, scoring 12 goals and providing 27 assists.
The Prospects
Although Reading have been one of the busiest clubs in this summer’s transfer window with six new faces already unveiled, McAnuff’s position has not been threatened. The acquisition of Garath McCleary from Nottingham Forest places doubts over last season’s regular right winger, Jimmy Kebe, but McAnuff, as the skipper, looks a far more secure starter on the opposite flank.
To some extent, the downside to investing in Reading’s attacking assets is that there was no real home/away disparity in terms of goals scored last term; the Royals bagged 36 in front of their own fans and 33 on the road, meaning it could be a touch more difficult to rotate their mid-price options with as much confidence as, say, Southampton; Nigel Adkins’ side notched 13 more goals at home (49 versus 36), for example. McDermott’s tactics means the Royals utilise speed on the flank to hit on the counter, regardless of opponent – in all likelihood, there is as much chance of McAnuff producing the goods away from home as there is at the Madejski if the club keep the same approach as last season.
Costing 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and 5.0 in the Sky Sports game, McAnuff is reasonably priced, considering his creative potential but there are, perhaps, question marks as to whether McDermott’s approach will be quite so fruitful in the Premier League. Of all the Royals midfield assets, though, McAnuff looks to hold the most potential, given how vital the wide men are to their attacking forays; bearing in mind the central midfielders’ main job in McDermott’s system is to sit deep in front of the back-four and break up the opposition play, their appeal looks comparatively sparse.
A double Gameweek 1 will no doubt boost McAnuff’s initial level of investment, with Reading playing host to Stoke before travelling to Chelsea but, after that, the schedule is anything but enticing. With trips to Sunderland and West Brom, allied with home clashes against Spurs and Newcastle in addition to a blank Gameweek 3, it’s fair to say the allure of Reading’s assets could quickly dissipate – bearing in mind there are a handful of similarly priced or cheaper options with better opening schedules, it could well be we treat McDermott’s men with much trepidation until their fixtures take a turn for the better.
Further Reference
Jobi McAnuff Wikipedia
Jobi McAnuff Statistics
Jobi McAnuff YouTube
About The Author
paul
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July 27 at 7:55 am
Goonther says:
who was captain of brazil today?
July 27 at 7:59 am
Anti-Ipswich says:
I dunno, but Oscar looked damn good
July 27 at 8:01 am
Willis_Hide says:
Thiago Silva.
July 27 at 7:58 am
mo says:
morning people
A- clichy and mig
b- lescott and jussi??
July 27 at 7:59 am
Coldplay - Krohn-Delhi A True Legend says:
B is the safer bet but I am taking a risk and going with Clichy.
July 27 at 7:59 am
pompeyfan says:
Crusher, you around? What do you think about the rumours of Theo Janssen leaving? I would be hugely disappointed if he was sold
July 27 at 7:59 am
Coldplay - Krohn-Delhi A True Legend says:
Morning everyone. Please RMT this team.
Friedel Green
Ivanovic Clichy Williams Figuero Gunter
Bale Hazard Ramires Maloney O’Neil
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2.0 in the bank to do Torres to Rooney in GW2.
July 27 at 8:02 am
RedNev says:
You have 4 players from Chelsea. Ramires -> Pienaar or N’Zog and you are good to go.
July 27 at 8:04 am
Coldplay - Krohn-Delhi A True Legend says:
Sorry. Hazard is meant to be Kagawa.
July 27 at 7:59 am
6mboyjam says:
N Zog or graham???
July 27 at 8:02 am
pompeyfan says:
tough one. I have N’Zog in my team, partly because i have 3 big strikers
July 27 at 8:12 am
teddy says:
Charlie N’Zogbia for me.
July 27 at 8:00 am
Revsfc2013 says:
I crunched some numbers and besides the obvious (Man U, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham), Liverpool will actually do really well for goals scored, but I have no clue who I should pick amongst their mid/forwards. Same for Man City forwards.
July 27 at 8:01 am
Billy Gilmore says:
Which numbers were they? I bet they didn’t include hitting the post.
July 27 at 8:05 am
Revsfc2013 says:
I took the location-adjusted recent meetings’ goals-scored and goals-conceded that the season ticker used. I then made some calculations from there. Needless to say it felt really tedious.
July 27 at 8:06 am
Revsfc2013 says:
I’ll rephrase, who is the most “nailed-on” of liverpool mids and forwards, and who is most nailed on of the Man City forwards, bearing in mind all the fatigue from the Euros/Olympics.
July 27 at 8:01 am
lateriser12 - "I am a consulting detective. The only one in the world" says:
I dont believe it! i pulled off an aatish! New post!
http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....nt-3485361
July 27 at 8:03 am
Willis_Hide says:
July 27 at 8:03 am
jinswick says:
Not convinced on the AVB style of defending, but that said, this one is a little tricky. Whatcha think?
a) Friedel & Cuellar (my pick of the 4.5m defenders for the opening 10 games)
b) Mignolet & Rangel (my pick of the 5.0m defenders for the opening 10 games)
July 27 at 8:15 am
Daniel - Chelsea champions says:
Andre and defending?
July 27 at 8:06 am
Hubert says:
Evening all,
What do you lot think of Szczesny/Vorm combination?
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July 27 at 8:14 am
Daniel - Chelsea champions says:
No
July 27 at 8:23 am
Revsfc2013 says:
not worth it, I see a repeat of August meltdown with prolonged transfer saga talk and sagna leg break.
July 27 at 8:14 am
Daniel - Chelsea champions says:
Looks like we (Chelsea) gave up on a huge signing upfront, something like Hulk is of the cards. The Moses deal looks like is gonna happen and he is wanted to be played as a striker apparently. Or maybe a right winger like Sturridge was used. Lukaku will go on loan that give us 3 strikers Torres, Sturridge and Moses. So if Torres finds his scoring boots again he could be a fantasy force once again. And if he suddenly fails to deliver or injury suspension happens, Mosses would be wonderful OOP prospect or Sturridge useful 3rd striker in the squad.
Can’t wait for the season to happen.
And yeah all those lads with Torres in the RMT feel reassured he is gonna be the main man.
P.S. As Robbie revealed right back will come for sure, so don’t be over confident in Ivan.
Cheers,
July 27 at 8:21 am
Revsfc2013 says:
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July 27 at 8:27 am
Revsfc2013 says:
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July 27 at 9:06 am
Brian (Not the messiah) says:
bent
July 27 at 9:05 am
ninja says:
Current midfield of bale dempsey noble, best 2mids to add to that for 12.5m
July 27 at 9:06 am
Brian (Not the messiah) says:
if you can find .5 then you can get 2 6.5′s
July 27 at 9:15 am
shermanater says:
walters taarabt