After racking up 26 goals and ten assists in 2014/15, Sergio Aguero entered last season as the most expensive player in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) at a price of 13.0. Despite a disappointing campaign for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, the Manchester City frontman still managed to find the net on 24 occasions and clinches the final slot in our Team of the Season, with over 25% of the votes cast.
The Statistics
Aguero endured a slow start to the season, registering just one goal and a single assist in his first seven matches. Those that kept faith in the Argentine were spectacularly rewarded in Gameweek 8, though, with a five-goal salvo in the 6-1 demolition of Newcastle bringing home 25 points. Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, the Argentina striker suffered a hamstring injury just days later while on international duty, and would subsequently miss City’s next four league fixtures.
In fact, Aguero’s season only started to gain momentum from Gameweek 20 onwards, when he scored seven goals in six appearances, including double-figure hauls against Crystal Palace and West Ham. As a result, his price soon climbed to a season-high of 13.6 in FPL by Gameweek 25.
The City front man also ended the campaign in strong form, scoring ten goals in as many matches, including a hat-trick against Chelsea in Gameweek 34.
Ending up with 184 points in FPL, Aguero finished up as the sixth-highest scoring player in the game, and only the fourth-highest scoring forward, behind Jamie Vardy (211), Harry Kane (211) and Romelu Lukaku (185).
Tellingly, though, Aguero did lead all forward for points per game (ppg) with 6.1, ahead of Vardy (5.9) and Kane (5.6), illustrating his penchant for picking up points if he can steer clear of the Etihad treatment room.
Aguero was comfortably the highest scoring City player for the season, though, with Joe Hart (134) and Kevin de Bruyne (131) some way behind the former Atletico Madrid man.
THE PROSPECTS
Although Aguero fell well sort of the 216 points he registered in 2014/15, we can expect him to remain the most expensive player in FPL next season. Having now scored 17 or more goals in four of his five Premier League seasons, the Argentine – despite his on-going injury concerns – remains one of the most potent Fantasy forces around.
Furthermore, the arrival of Pep Guardiola is likely to reignite our faith in City’s attack after a recent decline in output. Having scored 102 times on their way to the 2013/14 title, the Etihad outfit went on to net 83 and 71 goals in the subsequent two seasons as they toiled for a cutting edge under Pellegrini.
The incoming manager’s first-team plans could also shape our thinking elsewhere. If Guardiola hands Kevin de Bruyne his preferred central support role, the Belgian could well kick on from a debut campaign that saw him serve up 5.2 points per game – an average bettered only by four other midfielders. Should De Bruyne stay around the 10.0-mark and Aguero remain at 13.0, some may be tempted to save budget at the start of the season.
There’s also the pitch time of Kelechi Iheanacho to consider. The young Nigerian netted an impressive eight times in just 847 minutes in 2015/16 – indeed, his average of 105.9 minutes per goal was second only to Aguero for the season. Iheanacho is likely to be moved into the mid-price category but if he nails down a regular role under Guardiola, could prove exceptional value in the campaign to come.
Although there’s plenty of competition for our three-man frontlines from the likes of Kane, Vardy, Diego Costa, Anthony Martial, Daniel Sturridge, and Romelu Lukaku, Aguero’s capacity for explosive scores and reliable armband hauls will make the Argentine a must-have for many.
If he can remain injury-free, a fully-fit Aguero under the guidance of Guardiola could be a match made in heaven for Fantasy managers. Bearing in mind that the Argentine was still quickest amongst all forwards for minutes per attempt (20.5) and goal (101.8) in spite of his side’s decline in the final third last term, there’s arguably room for improvement as Pep prepares to take the Etihad hotseat.
