Failed Pre-season Bandwagons and Their Replacements

Here is a list of the  pre-season bandwagons that, on current evidence, don’t look like good Fantasy options anymore. For some it’s not about performance. Players like Ben Davies, Felipe Luis and Stevan Jovetic don’t look 100% nailed on anymore, which is the main reason they’re on the list to boot. For each I’ve listed similarly priced replacements that on current form look like better prospects.

Felipe Luis DEF 6.0, Ben Davies DEF 5.0 

New Chelsea signing Luis was left out of the first game, with Cesar Azpilicueta starting in his place. It looks like he will probably be given his first Premier League start at Stamford Bridge, but it definitely does not look like he’s nailed on and will most likely be rotated. At 6.0, I wouldn’t want a premium defender with a chance of getting benched once in a while.

Same security of starts problem with Davies, with Danny Rose starting in his place in Gameweek 1. With more people now realising he doesn’t have a guaranteed spot in the team, his transfers out are rising as people look to find a better replacement.

Replacement Option: 

Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)

• Southampton have excellent fixtures all the way until GW12
• WBA, whm, NEW, swa, QPR, tot, SUN, STK, hul, LEI, avl
• Loves to get forward and will surely pick up a few assists if not goals, evident from his nine-point haul this Gameweek with a goal and two bonus points.
• Reasonably priced at 5.o, leaving you with 1.0 in the bank to upgrade other areas of your team if you have Luis, and nothing else compromised if you had Davies.
• Their defensive resolve can only increase with the arrival of  Florin Gardos.

Ashley Young MID 5.5

Young didn’t look attacking at all against Swansea and seemed the reverse out-of-position prospect he is, at left wing-back – I’d strongly suggest Januzaj if you still want a budget Man United midfielder punt. United also aren’t looking at their best, and with better options cropping up around the same price bracket, you might want to offload Young.

Replacement Options:

Tom Ince (Hull)

• Hull have some great fixtures coming up and have a nice run in the next four – STO, avl, WHM, new
• He’s now nailed on in Steve Bruce’s side after the injury to Robert Snodgrass. There’s a good chance he could play in the hole with the Scot absent.  If not, he’ll be playing where he normally does on the left-wing.
• Looked pretty attacking against QPR, and had decent goal threat. Members might want to have a look at his stats in the member’s area. They’re pretty decent for a 5.5-priced midfielder.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

• Great fixtures with games against BUR, WBA, SOT, sun, NEW and LEI in the next eight.
• Playing in the hole at the moment, though there is a chance he could get pushed out wide if Monk opts for two men up front in Gomis and Bony.
• Solid haul in Gameweek 1 of 13 points for a goal and assist against Man Utd at Old Trafford.
• On set pieces.
• His price is on the rise, so if you’re looking to get him, get him in ASAP. Sit back, and let the cash roll in as his price looks set to hit the 0.3 rise limit this week.
• Well worth the extra 0.6 over Ince.

Stevan Jovetic FWD 8m 

Sergio Aguero is  back a lot earlier than expected, so it looks like Jovetic’s place is in danger, with Manuel Pellegrini seemingly favouring an Edin Dzeko-Aguero partnership. I’d love to have him if he was nailed on. His only problem is his security of starts. He looked pretty threatening against Newcastle and would be good pick otherwise. I’d advise you to keep him if he looks likely to start in Gameweek 2, or if Pellegrini sheds more light on his starting chances.

Replacement Options:

Loic Remy (QPR)

• Excellent player, looked very lively against Hull, was great at Newcastle last season and hopefully will replicate that form for QPR
• Here are some useful stats featuring Remy for members
• Looks like QPR’s main proven attacking force in the Premier League, and he should be involved in most of QPR’s goals.
• QPR are looking to strengthen their midfield and attack with soon-to-be-signings, Fer and Vargas. I belive they will only positively contribute to Remy’s output
• He’s cheaper than Oliver Giroud and Jovetic, leaving you with money in the bank to upgrade elsewhere
• Fixtures aren’t the best, though

Emmanuel Adebayor (Spurs)

• Pretty good fixtures with games against QPR, sun and WBA in the next four
• Looks nailed on and seemingly favoured over Roberto Soldado and Harry Kane
• Will be their main man up front with the brilliant Christian Eriksen feeding him
• Will also be on penalties if Soldado’s not on the pitch (which he shouldn’t for the better part of most games)
• Had a great run of form at the end of last season, and hopefully will continue that run this season

Other alternatives to those above: 

DEF – Steven Caulker 5.0, James Chester 4.5

MID – Robert Brady 5.0, Jordan Henderson 6.0

FWD – Graziano Pelle 7.5, Steven Naismith 5.0