Moving Target – Michael Kightly
Filed under: Moving Target, Scout Reports - Posted by: Paul
Tony Pulis added another wide man to Stoke City’s ranks earlier this week after snapping up Michael Kightly for a fee believed to be in the region of £2m. The 26-year-old arrives at the Britannia on a long-term deal from neighbours Wolves and is expected to push for a starting role in the upcoming campaign:
Having tasted relegation with the Molineux outfit only a matter of months ago, Kightly was clearly a relieved man to be given another bite of the Premier League cherry. Speaking to the Potters’ official website upon completion of the move, he enthused:
It’s a great club; an established Premier League club, so I am delighted to be here. Any footballer wants to play at the highest level and I am grateful to Stoke for giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League. The Club sold itself to me. What they have achieved over the past few years has been remarkable. Then there’s the excellent facilities and, of course, the supporters. So, it’s definitely a Club that is moving in the right direction.
The Statistics
Kightly began his career in the Tottenham youth ranks but returned to hometown club Basildon United after being released by the London outfit. Having scored 11 goals in 18 matches, he caught the eye of Southend United and was handed a two-year deal in 2003 but struggled to make any sort of impact. Over 13 games, the winger failed to find the net and was farmed out to Farnborough Town but his temporary spell was largely underwhelming; no goals in 11 games saw him return to Southend, where he was released by then-boss Steve Tilson.
Greys Athletic then came to the rescue ahead of the 2005-06 campaign. Over his season-and-a-half at the club, Kightly finally began to produce the goods; 52 games harvested 24 goals and earned a loan move to Wolves where, after notching twice in his first five matches, he signed a permanent deal. The winger’s first three seasons at Molineux hinted at huge potential; he returned 20 goals and 30 assists over 80 appearances, with the 2008/09 campaign alone producing eight goals and 19 assists, but since then, his game time has been dramatically reduced by injury. Ankle and metatarsal problems have limited Kightly to just 31 games for Wolves in the past three seasons, where he returned four goals and a couple of assists. A four-month loan spell at Watford midway through last term saw him find the net three times in 12 games before returning to the midlands club in January 2012.
The Prospects
With a mere 36 goals to their name last season, the Potters were the lowest scorers in the Premier League and Pulis revealed Kightly’s acquisition was a major factor in addressing this statistic. Attacking threat from the flanks was somewhat diminished in 2011/12 – Matthew Etherington scored three times while Jermaine Pennant failed to find the net at all, a factor their manager acknowledged:
There is nothing better than to have strong competition in all areas of the squad and Michael’s arrival will give us that in the wide positions. I’ve long been an admirer of Michael, not only in terms of him being a provider, but also the fact that he gets his share of goals. Our two wingers, Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, have been brilliant over the past few years, but they went off the boil in terms of goalscoring last season, so we wanted to address that. Competition for places will bring the best out of them again and that is what Michael’s presence will give us in that area.
With Etherington likely to continue in the left flank role, Pennant looks the most at risk here. The latter made just 18 starts for Stoke last season, with Jon Walters and Ryan Shotton both handed game time on the right of midfield. Walters now seems likely to continue solely up front rather than drop back onto the wing on occasion, boosting his potential as an out-of-position prospect in Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
While he has yet to be added to the Sky Sports game Kightly has been handed a 5.5 price tag by FPL – the same as Pennant and 1.0 less than Etherington – and, if he can nail down a regular role, his delivery from out wide will be a valuable asset to the likes of Peter Crouch up top and could, potentially, propel the former Wolves man as a viable mid-price asset for our consideration.
The Potters’ opening schedule is likely to see Fantasy managers approach the Stoke squad with plenty trepidation, however. With showdowns against Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United in the first eight Gameweeks, Pulis’ men could hardly ask for a trickier start and, while some may feel trips to Reading and Wigan could prove prosperous, it’s worth remembering the Stoke picked up a dire three points in their last nine away matches of 2011/12. Fantasy investment can be expected around the Gameweek 9 mark, however, when the fixture list smiles significantly kinder on Kightly and co.
Further Reference
About The Author
paul
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August 10 at 7:39 pm
Snowman says:
Hmmm my team is very very blue & white, cuellar is onlyone having some red…….should I be worried????
August 10 at 7:40 pm
Chazza says:
Yes, this whole game is about an even distribution of kit colours.
August 10 at 7:39 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
I’m trying to find some pink. Can you help?
August 10 at 7:42 pm
Chazza says:
Blur your eyesight when looking at Liverpool and Swansea kits side by side.
August 10 at 7:42 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
A man who knows his colours! My eyesight is permanently blurred
August 10 at 7:40 pm
Wild Rover says:
Got my only bit of red in today
(bit of claret on the bench as well)
August 10 at 7:43 pm
Snowman says:
that’s a realief, I’m not alone
August 10 at 7:43 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Nothing made me happier than when I briefly had a blue-free team last season
August 10 at 7:45 pm
Snowman says:
August 10 at 7:40 pm
He's an entertainer, Borinis not his style. says:
Lof of dinero going on GK’s and defenders for my liking which means that you’ve got a very average midfield.
August 10 at 7:43 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
Makes sense to me
August 10 at 7:46 pm
He's an entertainer, Borinis not his style. says:
Massive reply fail haha
August 10 at 7:43 pm
AriseSirGiggsy says:
Jermaine Jenas
August 10 at 7:43 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
Yes!!!
What?
August 10 at 7:44 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
Oh… rhymes with…
August 10 at 7:43 pm
1966 was a great year for English football - Eric was born says:
Is that rhyming slang?
August 10 at 7:46 pm
AriseSirGiggsy says:
My team just got someone who’s name rhymes with penis in it
August 10 at 7:46 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
My team consists of 15 total c**ts
August 10 at 7:45 pm
The Shire Pie says:
I’ve just logged onto the fpl site and instead of the villa strip, noble has a massive C where his strip should be. I don’t want to start a new bandwagon. But I can’t stop fate!
August 10 at 7:47 pm
JKisthe1 - The return of Los Colchenoros says:
erm, Noble plays for West Ham
August 10 at 7:48 pm
The Shire Pie says:
Details details….was blinded by the similarity of the strip colour. Still….
August 10 at 8:02 pm
Doosra - "A Liberty is both Universal and Indivisible. Anything else is just an excuse for bad behaviour by the rich." - A Noble quote. says:
Jesus wept.
August 10 at 7:46 pm
rdb says:
Opinions on this lot please!
5.5gk + fed
cashley vidic cuellar fonte demel
bale valencia lampard noble guthrie
torres tevez graham
2m in the bank for torres –> rooney
Thinking about friedel as the 5.5gk but not realy convinced, any better options out there?
August 10 at 7:48 pm
AriseSirGiggsy says:
Had lamps but worried about rotation due to England game
August 10 at 7:49 pm
4vets - Die Rothosen says:
Would probably downgrade a mid to upgrade another.
August 10 at 7:59 pm
you ll see says:
krul for gk maybe?
August 10 at 7:49 pm
Zero - "Once he makes up his mind, he's full of indecision" says:
Evening gents
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Nitin Nagaraja: Die Wölfe! says:
New post.
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Wild Rover says:
GB about to be disqualified from the 4 x 400m
August 10 at 7:50 pm
JKisthe1 - The return of Los Colchenoros says:
dropped the baton?
Ran out of lane?
False start?
August 10 at 7:49 pm
Nitin Nagaraja: Die Wölfe! says:
Exchange outside the permitted area + ran out of lane
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Wild Rover says:
Changed too late and ran out of lane for good measure
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Optimus says:
the 1st 2
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Dynamic says:
4×100
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Wild Rover says:
4 x 100
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Optimus says:
exchange that baton fail
August 10 at 7:50 pm
Aatish says:
NEW POST http://www.fantasyfootballscou.....mparisons/
August 10 at 10:19 pm
itstimmehc says:
Merci!
August 10 at 7:51 pm
klegend says:
Ross Barkley at 4.5m, discuss
August 10 at 7:57 pm
Giggs Boson says:
Is this defence too fragile or will it hold up?
Green | Jussi
Terry (Hughes Cuellar) (Boyce Gunter)
Terry->Baines gw2
It all costs just 34m.
August 10 at 8:01 pm
klegend says:
Will Diarra’s move to West Ham threaten Noble’s game time. pens?
August 11 at 4:38 am
benzieyeah says:
Noble will start 75%+ of games
August 10 at 8:03 pm
methos says:
Quick post
A: Walters (I know he has bad fixtures but stil an OOP) + Pienaar + Michu (6.5+6.5+6.5)
B: Yaya Toure + 6.5 + 5.0 (Noble/Maloney/Gibson)
Which combo?
August 10 at 8:11 pm
SMOOTH says:
what do you guys think of this team
fed begovic
clichy ivanovic hughes demel tierny
hazard bale kagawa pienaar guthrie
aguero torres graham
August 10 at 8:15 pm
moidawg says:
RMT please.
DDG (Davis)
Kompany – McCartney – Vertonghen (QPR Ferdinand, Clyne)
Noble – Allen – Bale – Hazard (Puncheon)
Torres (c) – Aguero – Pog
2.5 in the bank to switch things around GW2.
Big questions were:
Is Clyne a starter for the Saints? Some say yes, others no.
Allen just got transferred to Liverpool. Worth keeping him in? Or should I put in someone like Dyer (same price, but still on Swansea)?
Cheers.
August 10 at 8:20 pm
SMOOTH says:
A. Minglolet + petric + lampard + michu + 2M for torres to rooney
B. Federrici + Graham + Hazard + kagawaa + 0M ( will probably dowgrade hazard to accomodate the pig)
August 10 at 8:24 pm
jayzico says:
How many of you guys honestly believe a 4 point hit for gw2 could benefit your gameplan strategy hugely? I watched torres at brighton and he was nasty. but pig’s been worse. I know preseason means f.all but i’m considering a 4 pointer all the same for gw2…
purely cos i got 3 chels (cole,lamps,torres) and 2 reading…
thus cole to williams (and depending on how RVP fares… torres for perse. again dependent on both performances) … god this post is boring im sorry. but that means i get cole>williams and bull>persie for exact money.
(i actually dreamt about this tactic last night and am still loving it) word
August 10 at 8:26 pm
buteobuteo says:
Too Risky??????????????????????????
Shocking defence to make way for some good ol gambles and faithfuls
Jaask——Ruddy
Demel—— Cuellar——Figueroa——Clark—–Tierney
Hazard——Silva——Cazorla—–De-Guzman—-Marveaux
Rooney——Aguero—— Petric
August 10 at 8:57 pm
jayzico says:
lol. very. could be genius and you come first in world. that’s how fine the line is with this mad, mad (yet genius) team?
ps (you can do better than keepers)
August 10 at 8:29 pm
Back on the horse ..¦. says:
Kightly is shit
August 10 at 10:20 pm
Breast Rummage Albion says:
Hello people, Can I have your expert opinion on my team.
DEGEA/green
COLE/ HANGELAAND /LESCOTT demel harte
MATA/ VALENCIA / DYER / NOBLE/ maloney
GRAHAM / ROONEY / AGUERO
is valencia a risk? will he be a consistent starter. some reports saying he may start RB
August 10 at 10:57 pm
gclarke5 says:
Looks good maybe upgrade one of dyer, noble/ Maloney and DG cole/ lescott. Harte rot risk Pearce is good RdG coverage and fancy him for a few bonus also…
August 10 at 10:34 pm
matt_clough123 says:
Alright guys, new member first post! Anybody think a punt on Lukaku at 6.5 starting for west brom is a good shout?
August 10 at 10:56 pm
gclarke5 says:
West brom were in bottom 5 for goals scored,last season and expect them to be the same this season- Petric/Graham/ Cisse def better value!
August 10 at 11:01 pm
KingOfTheRunts says:
thoughts? new member
this is a fairly different team to the ones ive seen – i think
begovic/jaaskelainen
koscielny/kompany/cahill/riise
silva/cabaye/walters/hazard
aguero/petric/cole
any thoughts would be appreciated
August 10 at 11:05 pm
KingOfTheRunts says:
def sub coloccini
mid sub noble
August 10 at 11:06 pm
Barca forever says:
wow, that defence is the most expensive ever dude! you might wanna spend that money for ur forwards or midfield
August 10 at 11:54 pm
KingOfTheRunts says:
have done that, kompany and riise gone for cheaper alternatives, defoe in for cole and pienaar for noble. cheers bro
August 10 at 11:11 pm
jayzico says:
here’s mine. almost done and dusted>
Hart
Hangeland Cole Gorkss
Yaya Lamps Bale Guthrie/Kanu
Aguero(c) Torres Graham
Henderson.Noble.Cueller.Fonte
gw2> cole for williams. torres>persie. (4pointer i’ll happily take considering vanP’s positioning??? all heatsay at mo i know)?
ok? kinda good plan? plain awful… ?
August 10 at 11:12 pm
jayzico says:
ps. got 1.5 mill to do those sexy gw2 moves
August 10 at 11:20 pm
Barca forever says:
Joshua u’re a fooking legend!!
August 11 at 12:02 am
busteddocket says:
Rmt draft 2 thanks for any comments.
Federici, Jaaskelainen.
Cuellar, Cole A, Hangeland, Gorkss, Demel.
Silva, Lampard, Pienaar, McClean, Ireland.
Aguero, Torres, Graham.
Rooney for Torres Gm 2
Lescott for Cole Wk 3
August 11 at 1:25 am
Sean_MJWinning says:
Is Lukaku a good shout? Thinking of dropping Graham and taking a risk on him.
Cox – Nottingham Forest
Odemwingie – Won’t be play 90 minutes every game
Long – Starter
Rosenberg – Who knows?
I think I might take the punt. Although after the Carlos Vela treatment last season, I’m slightly apprehensive.
Thoughts?
August 11 at 1:28 am
Sean_MJWinning says:
Quote from Steve Clarke:
“But he’s had a season working at a top Premier League club and he now needs more minutes on the pitch”
Chances are he’ll play.
—————–Yacob————–Mulumbu——-
El Ghannasy————–Brunt—————Long
——————————Lakuka——————–
August 11 at 1:30 am
Gargamel says:
What about Odemwingie? He’s surely a started. I think Lukaku could possibly hold down that #9 place but I’m not gambling on it initially
August 11 at 4:59 am
benzieyeah says:
Ok, final team (I think). Thoughts?
Jussi – Federici
Lescott – A Cole – Fabio – Cuellar – Clyne
Mata – Bale – Ireland – Taarabt – Maloney
Aguero – Torres – Graham
with Torres > Rooney GW2 and A Cole > Dawson/Coloccini/Rafael/Walker/other GW3 (depending on line-ups of first 2 GWs)
August 11 at 5:00 am
benzieyeah says:
or even Mata > ??? GW3
August 11 at 5:05 am
Di Canioooohhh says:
Okay, I did as I was told and this is the result …
DDG, Fed
Cole, Hughes, Cuellar, Demel, Fonte
Bale, Lampard, Pienaar, Maoloney, Guthrie
Torres, Rooney, Tevez
Waddya reckon?