Moving Target

Moving Target – Scott Sinclair

West Brom boss Steve Clarke boosted his options on the flanks towards the end of last week by acquiring Scott Sinclair from Manchester City on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move. Having previously been coached by Clarke during his five-year spell at Chelsea, the winger revealed the pair’s history played a major part in his decision to move to the midlands:

“I like the style of football Albion play and that’s why I chose to come here and play for Steve Clarke. I know him previously from my Chelsea days and I’m excited to be playing for him again. I sat down with my family and Steve Clarke being at West Brom helped us make the decision when we were discussing where the best place for me to come was at this point of my career. I’ve spoken to Steve throughout, we know each other well, and there isn’t a better place for me to come than here. Albion play good football and it’s great for me to come into this side.”

The History

Sinclair’s career began as a 15-year-old with Bristol City, where he became the club’s second-youngest ever first-team debutant back in late 2004. After making a couple of league appearances, he was snapped up by Chelsea the following summer but, despite his early promise, the winger found himself out of favour and made a mere five appearances for the west London club.

Indeed, much of Sinclair’s game time arrived via loan spells, with the Blues farming him out to a number of lower league clubs. Stints at Plymouth, QPR, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Birmingham and Wigan produced a total of six goals and four assists over 65 appearances before Swansea splashed out £500,000 for his services in the summer of 2010.

Finally guaranteed first-team football, the winger’s time at the Liberty proved a huge success. Handed spot-kick duties for the Welsh outfit, Sinclair racked up 22 goals and three assists in 46 appearances as he helped his new club clinch promotion to the Premier League via a play-off win over Reading.

The wide man’s first year in the top-flight brought him onto Fantasy radars, with eight goals and five assists for the Swans but after scoring in Gameweek 1 against QPR last season, Sinclair’s decision to up depart the Liberty for City ended his Fantasy prospects for 2012/13. Handed nine brief sub appearances and two starts under Roberto Mancini, he failed to find the net once in a hugely disappointing spell.

The Prospects

The move looks a perfect solution for all parties concerned, with Sinclair clearly a peripheral figure in Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team shake-up for the season ahead. Clarke, on the other hand, is desperate to inject some new blood into his side and is keen to help get the winger’s career back on track after a disappointing time at the Etihad:

“Scott understands he needs to play football and it will be good to work with him again. We’re delighted he feels this is the right club for him at this stage of his career. He is the type of player we were missing from the squad. He is a pure winger, who is quick, direct and scores goals – he has proven that over his career. He can play off the right or left and improves our attacking options.”

Much will depend on Clarke’s preferred formation as to how we assess Sinclair’s potential. So far this term, the Baggies boss has rolled out a 4-4-2 with James Morrison and Graham Dorrans handed the wide roles – if West Brom persist with this shape, Sinclair would also be vying for game time along with Chris Brunt for a role on the wing. Alternatively, Clarke may return to last term’s 4-2-3-1 and shift Morrison back into a central berth behind a lone forward, lessening the competition out wide. In addition, the midlands outfit also lined up in a 4-3-3 in one or two pre-season friendlies – potentially affording Sinclair a role in a front three.

Bearing in mind his side have yet to score over the first two Gameweeks, Clarke looks likely to freshen up his options ahead of the weekend home game with Swansea, perhaps handing Sinclair a debut against his old club. Listed in the mid-price bracket across the Fantasy games – 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) – Sinclair’s appeal would certainly be boosted if he’s afforded a share of set-pieces, while his impressive spot-kick conversion record may also persuade Clarke to hand him penalty duties.

While the short-term fixtures look decent (SWA, ful, SUN), Clarke’s side then face United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the following six – a schedule hardly conducive to Fantasy investment. With cheaper midfield alternatives such as Cardiff’s Peter Whittingham, Hull’s Robbie Brady or Everton youngster Ross Barkley not only far kinder on the budget but quick to pick up the attacking points, Sinclair is perhaps one to monitor until the Baggies’ agenda takes a turn for the better around the Gameweek 10 mark.

Further Reference

Scott Sinclair Wikipedia

Scott Sinclair Transfer Markt Page

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

1,581 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gandalf !
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    heyyy 🙂 need some help heree pleease :

    1-who's more nailed on in the saints deff? : yoshida or fonte ( and is yoshida injured or something ?)
    2- and whose more likely to get a faster price rise this week : fonte or brady ??

    thans for giving me some of your time

    CHEEERS

    Open Controls
    1. Azza
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      1 - I think Jose Fonte is going to be preferred over Yoshida due to his recent displays...
      2 - Very close...but I think Fonte (Google FISO crack the code and monitor if you have the time)

      Open Controls
  2. Michael Jordan - call me MJ
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    Any Palace fans reckon Williams is in with a chance of starting?

    Team news seems to think so, and apparently he's looked good in his two bench appearances.

    I guess the Capitol One cup could also be an indicator

    Open Controls
  3. Arsenal USA FC
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    My midfield is currently

    Walcott HAZARD Parker Silva Mirallas

    Hazard to......

    A Michu
    B Morrison
    C Paulinho
    D Townsend
    E Coutinho

    Open Controls
    1. Gandalf !
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      michu

      Open Controls
    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      A

      Open Controls
    3. leo_messi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      F Nolan

      Open Controls
    4. daddyo
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      In that list I like C or E, depends on your frontline though.

      Open Controls
    5. Marty McFly
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Coutinho if you're not bringing hazard back in. I personally would get Coutinho and then bring hazard back in gw5 for silva.

      Open Controls
    6. Azza
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Coutinho is bound to deliver...right? 😛

      Open Controls
  4. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 7 months ago

    What do you think about this my WC team this week? Thanks for input

    Mignolet / Davis

    Clyne / Coleman / M.Turner / Toure / Collins

    Whittingham / Walcott / Brady / Ben Arfa / Silva

    Rooney / Aguero / Sturridge

    £0.6m in the bank.

    Open Controls
    1. Gandalf !
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      NICE!

      Open Controls
      1. Gandalf !
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        but still a little risky to put rooney

        Open Controls
        1. OPTA FPL
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          He will be either at United or Chelsea, both are still good 😎

          Open Controls
    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Ruk - you are only 8pts behind me(At this early stage that equates to +- 250000 places in ranking!)

      Only 13pt behind Mark.

      How many changes to your original team?

      Open Controls
  5. Mak_Gold
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Please help guys. Which should I do?:

      A) Hazard -> Silva, Anelka -> Campbell
      B) Hazard -> Nolan, Anelka -> Dzeko/Lambert.

      Thanks.

      Open Controls
      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Nolan and lambo

        Open Controls
      2. andres
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        well I don't fancy nolan but neither campbell... maybe you could squeeze in Giroud?

        I wouldn't do B as it has Nolan and two 7.5 that will suffer a lot for points - Osvaldo will impact Lambs and Dzeko will loose his place eventually.

        Not sure I was able to help 🙂

        Open Controls
    • Trigg ⭐️
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      I do this all the time. Take a punt on a player who has 2 nice home games in a row, only to see him fail massively, when I knew all along that he probably would.

      Come on HBA, you have a home game v Fulham to prevent yourself being the latest name in my list.

      Open Controls
      1. tm245
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        So am I to avoid him now? Love the price and the fixtures. Just can't figure out their attacking shape if Remy returns -- does Sissoko become odd man out?

        Marveaux HBA Anita
        Gouffran Cisse Remy?

        Open Controls
        1. Trigg ⭐️
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          That's the thing, he has a good price and good fixtures, but these things never seem to work out for me.

          I really can't see HBA getting dropped, at the very least. Or Sissoko, for that matter, if anything, play HBA a bit wider and Sissoko in the centre.

          Open Controls
          1. tm245
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 7 months ago

            If that's the case I might be more inclined to go for Sissoko and use the money elsewhere...regardless, a NEW attacker will be in my team this week.

            Open Controls
      2. Manani
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Form>Fixture 😉

        Open Controls
      3. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I'm actually considering HBA this week.

        Open Controls
      4. Podge
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I lasted just 1 week with him 🙁

        Open Controls
    • Tabone
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      should i do, Bassong to toure, coutinho to walcott and mirallas to.paulinho for -8
      Next week im doing dzeko to sturridge (thats why coutinho has to go)
      (bassong has to go cos of price drop coming up) and mirallas to paulinho bcos paulinho looks like he will score amd.i also have barkely from everton!
      Sound like good trades?

      Open Controls
      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        just do Coutinho to Walcott

        Open Controls
        1. Tabone
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 7 months ago

          Wont have funds to get sturridge in next week then without downgrading mirallas tonpaulinho!

          Open Controls
      2. Michu stole my mojo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I wouldn't take the hits atall.

        Bassong - Toure would be good enough for me.

        I'd much rather have Mirallas@car than Paulinho@ars.

        Open Controls
      3. fdotman
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        just do bassong to toure imo

        Open Controls
    • New Post
    • FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Is it Daniels or myhill for west brom gk now

      Open Controls
      1. Marty McFly
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        I'm waiting for WBA's Capital One cup game. I'm expecting Daniels to play though, which won't mean a lot. I think Myhill will get the nod for the weekend. It's probably best to play your other keeper and monitor Fosters price. That's what I'm doing anyway.. If we all pull together we can keep him at 5.0m until it becomes clearer! 😉

        Open Controls
    • Ellipsis
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Had Foster and Davis and Hazard and Lukau. Lost .3 waiting for last night to give Lukaku his last chance. Had to make him and Foster proprieties so have taken a -4 hit which I really didn't want to do to get Boruc and Giroud.

      Got Hazard still on the Bench but don't want to leak loads more funds between now and GW4.

      Do I bite the bullet and do Haz for Silva or Michu now and take the hit up to -8. I have .2 in the bank.

      Horrible predicament!

      Open Controls
    • FollowFollow
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Can anyone help me make some changes so I can get more points 🙂

      I just need more points 🙂

      I have for this team for this week...

      .......................................Boruc...................................

      Whitts...............Zab.................Shaw...................Collins

      Silva..................Mirallas.................Walcott............Barfa

      ....................Dzeko...................RVP.............................

      (Given, Kasami, Clyne, Benteke)

      I have one free transfer

      Open Controls
      1. Marty McFly
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 7 months ago

        Save your transfer for next week.

        Open Controls
    • Alberto Tomba
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 7 months ago

      Fyi Scott made his Debut with bristol rovers not city, i was in the same year at school as him.

      Open Controls