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How Pep Is Turning Sterling Into Fantasy Gold

Welcome to my first Fantasy Football Scout community article, where I will take look at how Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s innovative tactics and tutoring could turn Raheem Sterling into Fantasy gold.

Pep as a tutor

Guardiola has a strong track record of getting the most out of players. At Barcelona he helped Sergio Busquets to become one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and even Pedro, who is now with Chelsea, improved significantly on the wing, under Guardiola’s tutelage. Even the seemingly already perfect Lionel Messi improved with Guardiola at the helm at Barcelona. Sterling looks to be among the latest projects that Guardiola has taken on in his quest to improve players.

Formation

The formation Guardiola will probably use in the attacking phase for most of the season is 3-2-4-1. This is different from a usual 4-3-3 , where there is usually two versus two on the flanks, but often little space for one on one encounters. This means that wingers under this system do not often get great scoring or assisting opportunities.

What 3-2-4-1 does is overload the middle so the opposite team has to commit a lot of players to the middle of the park, leaving wingers with more space out wide and a greater chance to find space to score or put in a cross should they get past the opposing team’s full back. We have already seen how Sterling has benefitted from this system, earning a pair of assists in Man City’s demolition of  Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League qualifier midweek,  and another in Gameweek 1’s encounter with Sunderland. 

Rotation Fears To Ease

There is a caveat though around the team sheet, with Sterling having to compete with a number of players with experience of  wing play, including Nolito, Jesus Navas, David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. Personally, I think there are four key reasons why Sterling will get the nod.

  1. Sterling can play very well on both wings
  2. Jesus Navas isn’t an amazing player by any means so I don’t think that Pep will give him too many starts in Premier League games.
  3. New signing Leroy Sane is currently injured and new to the Premier League and may require time to adapt.
  4. I think Silva and De Bruyne are likely to be used in central roles this season, lessening the competition on the wing. Sterling and Nolito look to be first choice wingers.

Conclusion

Sterling will be able to use his main strength of taking on full backs a lot more than previously and this season looks set to benefit from more game time. At 8.0 he looks like a great midfield addition to our watch lists.

39 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Thanks for this. With so many good mids this season I think Sterling could go under the radar. Starts and points though suggest you are definitely on to something. Will definitely monitor this situation.

    Congrats on your first community article btw 🙂

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Thank you, pretty surprised it was published 😀

    2. Rammerintet
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      He has gotten is it 3 penalties in two games?

      I am very much considering him also being a huge differential. 1.9% ownership according to the fpl site.

  2. Jamie_GAWA
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Shall see how he does against Stoke then if he does well he could be in, no need for punts like Sterling at this point in the season

    Steady,reliable picks only early on

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Yea, will monitor him very closely vs Stoke.

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Also got to take some risks and pay close attention to when a player's form changes for the better.

  3. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    +1

    Fantastic article, was only noticing how much Sterling has improved since Guardiola took over.

    He looks very good on the right, and I've been saying it to my Liverpool friends (even when Sterling was there) that he needs to be used on the right more.

    8.0m and as you said less likely to be rotated due to his versatility. Certainly looks like a great pick for when Man City get their momentum going. Already delivering and they haven't even come close to their peak yet.

    🙂

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Thnx 🙂 He could find himself in my squad after next GW if he impresses again and Alli doesn't.

  4. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Good article, ta. Sterling was a shoe-in at Liverpool. At £8m and (when) in form/starting, he's even better value at City.

  5. TFP
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Yeah, I don't see him as super-premium but at 8.0 he's certainly interesting, especially with question marks over some of the similarly priced options (eriksen possibly sulking, tadic possibly eclipsed by redmond's oop and price attractions).

  6. gonzalocampos
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    I see Sterling on my team for a couple of fixtures after the Manchester derby. Fixtures aafter GW5:
    Bournemonth (at home)
    Swansea (away)

    1. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Same. I don't see the point of dropping anyone till that, unless a price hike occurs.

      Too early to be making those switches.

  7. Mr. Blonde
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    So many good options in the price bracket but definitely have my eye on him. A good read, congrats!

  8. Banana Shaqiri - HMD, PUP
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Thanks for the post, Sterling hasn't been on my radar but I might have a little look now. Great stuff

  9. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Lovely article, would like to have kept him as much under the radar as possible though

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Sorry 😛 I care only about my ML this season and I need the practice. 😀

  10. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    He played well against Bucharest, looked a different player to the one at the back end of last season. Good read Cheers mate

  11. Smythe
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Good article. He looked very good in Bucharest I thought. Definitely on my radar.

  12. Deadly97
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    If you got 66 points in gw 1
    Would you consider
    A) saving a free transfer
    B) taking out one of your deadwood i.e (Mkhi)
    C) take a minus 4 hit to get a high qualtiy player
    D) wildcard, which is highly improbable

    1. Deadly97
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      RMT: 1 mil ITB
      Forster
      McAuley,shaw,stones
      Townsend,hazard,mahrez,fletcher,
      Kun, long,gray

      Butland, parades,pieters, Mkhitariyan

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Don't like it tbh.......

        Get rid of Mkh, too soon in the season to see if he's going to be any good.

        Your defence is pretty safe, though not sure how well it will rotate. Not convinced on Townsend, but after this week CP have kinder fixtures. Long for Negredo, Forster to Foster, Butland to Heaton (rotate well with each other and generates another mil). With them changes you could bring in some more proven (less risky) players and a differential - Payet/Redmond.

        Obviously I have 2 balls and neither of them are crystal, but I can't see too much potential in that team.

      2. twitstick
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        I wouldn't go crazy, but swap mkhi. So many better options for that price atm. Everyone else is playing, so sit tight a few more weeks.

  13. Jafalad
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    A timely and insightful article. Congratulations on your first one done.

    How do the stats back you up? I can only see one goal attempt so far and not much else. Well worth adding to the Watchlist though.

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Atm it's just a tactical thinking, too early to look at any stats IMO.

  14. OwaisMirza
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Dë gea
    Stones Morgan Walker
    Mahrez Eriksen Martial Kante
    Aguero janssen Musa

    Subs
    Jakupovic januzaj pieters parades

    Any suggestions on what changes I should make? I'm willing to make 2 changes and get the -4

  15. Elvy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    This is worth watching

    http://www.mancity.com/citytv/features/2016/08/15/every-touch-raheem-sterling-v-sunderland/1471257825881

    Sterling is excellent - but poses no goal threat though some assist threat. I wonder if Pep has said to him, don't worry about goals. Suspect he'll win a quite few penalties this year. Maybe not enough points return for £8m though.

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      Worth a watch indeed, but it's just one game. Pretty sure he will reach double digits in goals & assists this season which would be great for 8.0M player.

  16. joersherman
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Great article will watch him and potentially bring him in from GW3/after derby.

    Trying to swap van dyke for a 4.5 defender. What do you think is the best rotating defender with my other defenders?:

    Souare / Shaw / Williams / Stones / 4.5.

    Cheers!

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      You got enough money invested in defense already and these 4 should definitely do the job for you. I would bring Amat in for 4.0M

      1. joersherman
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 8 months ago

        Good idea - is he nailed to start? Swanseas games not too favourable after gw2 that's my only concern. Not sure whether it'd worth 0.5 to get a west brom / Stoke / Bournemouth defender. Or even perhaps Collins for West ham? Thanks for your thoughts!

        1. MesQueUnClub
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 8 months ago

          He would be a bench warmer for you, don't need 5 playing CBs if you have 3 from big clubs.

          1. joersherman
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 8 months ago

            Agreed - made the change!

            Considering starting amat over Shaw as I've got redmond. Other option is to bench redmond for townsend and start shaw

            1. joersherman
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 8 months ago

              Or could even play 4 at the back (including amat and shaw) then bench townsend and redmond

  17. nelto1998
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Which should I play?
    McAuley (eve) or Friend (Sun)
    Capoue (che) or Gray (Liv)

    1. MesQueUnClub
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      First is close one, would go with Friend, especially if u got Foster in goal & Gray.

  18. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Who to bench guys .. ?

    a) stones - away to stoke

    b) redmond - away to man u

    Tnks

  19. Mr Alex
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on saving ft this week, even though I own Fischer/Gray, Kane, double United defence (which I've decided I don't like) and will also have to miss price changes and play 4-3-3?

    I would then potentially do 3 transfers next week so I can make a slightly more informed judgement having there been two games, which would act as a kinda very mini wildcard.

  20. harvard
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 8 months ago

    dunno what pple think of bolasie at palace. do i
    a. play him nd long in a 3-4-3
    b. play him nd feghouli if he recovers in a 3-4-3.
    c. play him nd go 4-3-3 (bench long nd feghouli)
    d. bunch all 3 nd go 5-3-2.
    e. make a transfer for one of them (which one)

    my defence is
    stones
    amat
    mcauley
    morgan
    friend.

    advice appreciated

    1. harvard
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 8 months ago

      bolasie at *everton
      b. its 3 5-2
      c. its 4.-4-2
      d. bench