Is The Ibrahimovic Bandwagon Justified?

I agree that Rooney will do well - but also that Ibrahimovic will too. The big Swede's max bonus from one goal as well bodes well for the captaincy.

In the end I reshuffled ahead of GW1 and put Aguero in instead of Ibra. I'm still not convinced he'll maintain that starting form.

Rooney's first touch is so frustrating to watch. But he has a lot of quality players around him this season. He will do well as long as he can keep playing this position.

The problem is Pogba. We don't know if he will affect Rooney's potential once he is fit.

I'm not sure the article has answered the question in its title. Instead it trumpets the merits of Rooney as a value pick. Personally I think it's too soon to tell. Pointswise it's advantage Ibrahimovic, Statswise it's Rooney.

Time will tell.

Ibra will do well, I think thats looking like a given. Its whether he'll do 2m-2.5m better than Rooney/Costa/Lukaku when he starts thats will be the question. Those extra millions can buy a lot of points elsewhere...

Thought provoking... but he only played 3 games for a very poor Sweden at the Euros. If he can score 2 in 2 when not fully fit, what kind of returns will he get in a couple of weeks?

He is 34, soon 35, but takes training and preparation very seriously, doesn't drink or go out etc. I don't see this as a problem at all.

I think he is going to do extremely well. Unlike Rooney he is absolutely nailed (Pogba and Mihktarian, possibly even Mata, can play the 10 role) and will get heaps of goals and assists. Interesting to see who will be on pens...

Thing to watch out for is a dip in form in February-March. This is something he has always suffered and explains why he comes up short in key CL games in that period.

'Has two goals in two games but only four chances have come his way.'

Don't understand why that is a negative? Imagine the goals he will get when more chances come his way!

Rooney's a nope for me. Id rather spend £9mm on a MID playing as a FWD than FWD playing as a MID.

Happy with Zlatan, Kun and Vardy at the minute. Will assess in a few weeks if I want to downgrade one and spend the funds in midfield.

Stop thinking too much and just captain Aguero. He will score only one but i think its good enough!

Totti from Roma still score goals at his current age. Just saying.

His shots in the box is worrying though unless you believe in his ability to convert very few chances to goal over the long-term:

Leicester: 2 shots (1 blocked shot inside the box, 1 header inside the box scored)

Bournemouth: 2 shots (1 freekick outside the box, 1 shot outside the box scored)

I don't think the conversion is sustainable over a long period if this trend continues.

With the introduction of Pogba, it will be interesting to see if he creates chances for Martial, Mata, Rooney and Ibra. Or if he ends up taking chances away from them by shooting further up the pitch. Though when Mkhitaryan is introduced to the side I think this will improve Ibra's threat (while subsequently taking the assist potential from Valencia)

Worth keeping an eye on him. No doubt the Hull fixture will be the biggest talking point coming up for FPL managers with regards to Ibra.

I'm not sure age is much of an impediment, certainly not at the start of the season. If Ibra has a good game and Vardy doesn't, I'll probably get Ibra in for next week.

I love what you guys do, your website is extremely helpful and a well needed time saver for me.
That being said, I find this article quite weak with very few arguments and facts. Of course Rooney might do better this year, and he is cheaper than Ibra... So, does that mean the bandwagon is unjustified, I'm not sure and this review didn't bring much to figure out.

Costa is the one I'm interested in.

If he's getting regular starts, a 9.5m striker in a top team with great fixtures could be a bargain.

Personally wont be gettinng Ibra or Rooney this season. Kane will be better value when he picks up form and dembele return. Even costa/lukaku offer better value

Hi all need some help! please

A) Antonio
B) Ibe
C) Phillips
D) Chamberlain

Check out Southampton's defensive stats last week, they were unlucky to concede. Is that Watford being awful, or do SOT have a much better defense then we think?

Fed up of hearing about Ibrahimovic's age. 35 is just a number.

-He has been apparently smashing fitness tests at United.
-He has never been a pacey player so he hasn't lost anything in that regard.
-He relies on his physicality and that is still clearly there, notice his leap for Valencia's cross last week were he took down two players with him.
-People like Luca Toni had great seasons past the age of 30, it's uncommon but not impossible.

Honestly think there's a chance that 31 goals could be beaten by someone this season, probably not Ibra but maybe Aguero if he stays fit. (Think he may finally stay fit this season).

This week only - who would you prefer: Siggy or Lamela?

Granted it was only one game, Ibra's underlying stats were... not good. I'm delighted there's a bandwagon warming up, and at 11.5+ for some of the least inspired forward performance of last week (one unlikely goal aside), I'm glad I'm not on it.

I am going to go out on a limb and say Ibra will become the oldest player to score 20+ goals in EPL .

What a terrible article, mentioning the Euros says it all, scraping the bottom of the barrel with regards to quality here lads.

Written by a person who can't do it in one move no doubt?

1. Zlatan is not yet fully fit - potential for him to improve as match fitmess builds
2. He failed to score in five games at the Euros - Sweden
3. He turns 35 next month. The oldest player to score 20+ goals in an Premier League season was Alan Shearer at 33 - Sports Science development is prolonging football careers
4. He has two goals in two games but only four chances have come his way - Too early and too small a sample size
5. Wayne Rooney may well be reinstated as first choice penalty taker, while Zlatan will also face a challenge for free kick - Could go either way

He's such an intimidating figure to defend against, and his good start will only add to the fear factor he brings

(i think.....)

Aguero scored his 100th Prem goal back in April. Of those, 'only' 41 were away goals. Liking the idea of a weekly Zlatan/Sergio captaincy flip based on home fixtures.

siggy/firmino/alli/eriken ???

Thanks for the article TimT. I compared the 2 & plumped for Rooney. I think Zlatan will give him more space to work in. And that 2.5 saving is huge

jaku-foster
azpi-amat-stones-walker-love
capoue-eriksen-redmond-payet-firminio
aguero-costa-rooney

i prefer rooney pick cause i free funds and my team look more solid:)

Its a beautiful Ibra Land.

Mourinho Main Men

FC Porto
2003/2004 - Benni McCarthy (Top Goalscorer - 20 goals in 23 games. Won the Golden Boot.)
Chelsea
2004/2005 - Frank Lampard (13 goals)
2005/2006 - Frank Lampard (16 goals)
2006/2007 - Didier Drogba (20 goals - Golden Boot)
Inter Milan
2008/2009 - Zlatan (25 goals + 7 assists. Golden Boot)
2009/2010 - Diego Milito (22 goals+ 4 assists. 2nd top scorer in La Liga)
Real Madrid
2010/2011 - Cristiano Ronaldo (40 goals + 10 assists. Golden Boot)
2011/2012 - Cristiano Ronaldo (46 goals + 12 assists. Second behind Messi. He had highest goals + assists)
2012/2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo (34 goals + 10 assists. Second Behind Messi. Was injured for a bit)
Chelsea
2013/2014 - Hazard (14 goals)
2014/2015 - Diego Costa (20 goals and 3 assists in 26 games. Second behind Aguero)

Golden Boot - 4 out of 11 seasons
Top 2 goalscorers - 8 out of 11 season
The three seasons he didn't have a top 2 striker was when he didn't have the personnel.
Make of this what you want.

Its a beautiful Ibra Land Part Deux.

A lot you looking at stats about how Zlatan had bad stats. Zlatan defies stats. Just need to have a look at his contribution to the game to realize this. I'll take you lads through this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpBVfar9Iw8

He's not got a shot but United are just about learning how to use him. He's quality who won't need that many chances as we've already seen. He tanks 2 defenders in the box here and he's going to keep on repeating this week on week. Can't be dominated physically by any defender in the league.

Set up Rooney easily for a goal and should have buried it. Rooney decided to dive instead.

Exquisite touch to set Rooney up easily again who again misses a great chance

That free kick.

He was through on goal and just for fun decided to square it to Mkhi instead.

So his stats, whichever there are are super quality and he almost affects goal scoring directly.

(Roo is a great option but i just thing Zlatan is incredibly quality. His shots outside the box as good as shots inside the box. Being a United fan, its a dream to have your marquee player be a great FPL option) and watching him week in week out is a pleasure.

Makes me wet, this Zlatan lad. Don't look at his stats. Look at his quality.
Also, here is Mourinho talking about how he intends on using Zlatan.

ON SCORERS LINGARD AND IBRAHIMOVIC
“Zlatan will be more dangerous when we are more dominant and play closest to the box. Zlatan is not a very fast player to play 50 metres away from the box like where Vardy can be dangerous. Zlatan needs the team to play, he needs the team to produce and he needs the team to be arriving in the final third. It's something that we also have to change because the profile of this team was more about possession of the ball. Even arriving in crossing positions, the team normally plays back again and tries to change to the other side. We are trying to change. The reality is the second goal is a great example of that.”

Also Rooney is crap.