“You’ll never win anything with kids,” said ex-Liverpool defender and former BBC pundit Alan Hansen, after Manchester United’s opening day defeat to Aston Villa in 95/96 season. The young United team included five 20-year-olds and the likes of David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. United went on to win the league and F.A cup with these youngsters and Hansen was forced to eat humble pie.
So with the start of the new season almost upon us and Hansen’s theory emphatically disproved, which “kids” (players 21 and under) could give fantasy teams a boost this season? This isn’t an informative strategy guide full of facts, figures and stats, it’s just a list of young promising players which at some point throughout the season could be useful for your fantasy team, some are already firmly on the fantasy radar whilst others are likely only considered the deepest of sleepers. So let’s kick off with,
Raheem Sterling
Age: 19
Team: Liverpool
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 8.5mil
Raheem Sterling is the most obvious candidate to be on this list, since the midfielder sits in 28.6% of fantasy premier league teams at the time of writing. Sterling scored nine goals and provided seven assists last season and will be integral to manger Brendon Rodgers plans this season. The teenager is able to play in a number of attacking positions and this versatility will likely see him play week in week out as Liverpool challenge for Premier league title alongside their Champions league schedule.
Having already scored twice during preseason sterling heads into the new season in good form and Liverpool will need him at his best if they are to overcome the loss of Luis Suarez and his 31 premier league goals. Sterling should do the business this season and at just 8.5mil offers better value than teammate Daniel Sturridge for those fantasy managers intent on having a Liverpool attacking asset in their line-ups.
Ross Barkley
Age: 20
Team: Everton
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 7mil
The fantastically gifted Everton midfielder announced his arrival on the fantasy scene with a thunderous strike on the opening day of last season, at 5mil fantasy managers were quick to snap up his services, unfortunately Roberto Martinez decided to ease the youngster through the early part of the season and with game time hard to predict Barkley soon become a fantasy afterthought. As we headed into the premier league run in Barkley once again become relevant as Everton were handed 2 double gameweeks, the midfielder was given more playing time and his performances picked up, he produced three goals and an assist in his last nine games finishing the year with 6 goals and 4 assists.
The hope for fantasy managers is Barkley will get to play behind the striker regularly this season but with a price hike to 7mil he needs to produce like he did down the stretch last season to justify a place in our line-ups. Looking short term, Everton have a tough run of fixtures to open the season so a wait and see approach with Barkley seems the best option for fantasy managers early doors.
Luke Shaw
Age: 19
Team: Manchester United
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 6mil
The fourth most expensive defender in history, Luke Shaw steps straight into a great fantasy situation at Manchester United, Patrice Evra has left for Juventus and Alex Buttner is now a safe distance away from Old Trafford, Shaw currently has no competition for his place. Although short term he is to be avoided due to an injury that is set to see him sidelined for four weeks. Long term, he is likely to be fielded as wing back in Louis Van Gaal’s 3-4-1-2 formation just furthers Shaw’s fantasy appeal. Add in the lack of European competitions and the risk of rotation is slim to none, Shaw looks (and please excuse the poor pun) a “sure thing” with plenty of attacking upside.
Romelu Lukaku
Age: 21
Team: Everton
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 9mil
Yes technically still a “kid”, the Belgian striker is only 21 and with his 28mil transfer to Everton now finalised Romelu Lukuku immediately returns to fantasy relevance. Lukaku was fantastic whilst on loan for the Toffees last season registering 15 goals and 9 assists, his return to the Merseyside club means fantasy mangers are handed a safe route into Everton’s attack. Roberto Martinez was every bit the Claudio Ranieri tinkerman last season rotating his midfield on a weekly basis and with the addition of European duties this season we should expect more of the same. Lukaku was however exempt from this rotation last season starting 29 of the 31 games he was available for, fantasy mangers can feel assured the Belgian will see a lot of playing time this season.
As mentioned Everton’s opening schedule looks tough and most fantasy mangers will look elsewhere for early attacking assets but for the Ultimate fantasy game Lukaku looks a great pick, with Europa league games on a Thursday Everton are guaranteed to play a lot of Sunday games offering managers the chance to bring Lukaku into their line-ups for under performing Saturday players.
Calum Chambers
Age: 19
Team: Arsenal
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 4.5mil
A month ago Calum Chambers was expecting to battle with Nathaniel Clyne for a starting fullback role in Ronald Koeman’s new look Southampton, but Arsene Wenger swooped in to sign the 19 year old for the Gunners, dramatically changing his fantasy outlook for the season ahead. So far Chambers has featured 3 times for Arsenal this preseason, all at centre back, including the 3-0 charity shield victory and with Per Mertesacker being eased back to match fitness following World Cup success there are first team opportunities for the teenager if only for the short term.
After that Chambers will likely have to be content with a place on the bench for much of the season but his versatility may yet see him involved, able to play centre half or fullback means if one of Mathieu Debuchy, Laurent Koscielny or Mertesacker go down with injury then chambers will step into the line-up and at just 4.5mil he will be the cheapest route into a defence that claimed 17 clean sheets last season, if that scenario plays out Chambers will surely find his way into the majority of fantasy teams.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Age: 20
Team: Arsenal
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 6.5mil
Aside from trying his hand at goalkeeping (see BT sport advert continuously overplayed), Oxlade-Chamberlain produced an underwhelming 2 goals 3 assists last season, though he did it in just 529 minutes of premier league action which was mainly due to injuries. “the Ox” has all the talents needed in an attacking midfielder, fantastic with the ball at his feet, able to spot a pass and willing to run at defenders he can play in multiple positions across the midfield and would have been a major player for England in Brazil had a leg injury not ruled him out of the group stage.
Game time at Arsenal however may be difficult to come by, Wenger will set up in his default 4-2-3-1 formation, Aaron Ramsey will be partnered by a defensive midfielder in the double pivot so “the Ox” will have to oust one of Meust Ozil, Alexis Sanchez or Theo Walcott (when all are fit) from the starting line-up, not to mention the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla that will be pushing for a first team place. If Arsenal are ravaged by injuries which seems like a yearly occurrence “the Ox” may yet have a chance at regular first team football, and at 6.5m any run of games in the Arsenal line-up would have him on fantasy radars as a fantastic mid-price option.
Saido Berahino
Age: 20
Team: West Brom
Fantasy Premier League starting price: 5.5mil
Now I wouldn’t blame anyone for just ignoring the rest of this segment as soon as you read “West Brom” in the title, many people including myself feel the baggies will be nothing short of a David Moyes disaster this season. Still there may well be a stretch where the baggies have a decent run of fixtures or the prediction of complete implosion is incorrect, thus fantasy mangers should keep an eye Saido Berahino.
Initially it looks like he will vie with new signing Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe for the starting striker role, one is an unproven premier league footballer and one has proved he’s not a premier league footballer. Still Berahino’s versatility means he could easily fill a wide berth if not selected up top. Afforded few opportunities under Steve Clarke and fewer still under Pepe Mel, Berahino produced five premier league goals and two assists last season. Since there is a massive lack of budget forwards and if Berahino can nail down a starting spot and West Brom aren’t completely terrible then he could be a useful differential.
9 years, 8 months agoGreat round up.