So Joleon Lescott has finally completed his inevitable move to Eastlands. The defender joins the ranks at City for a fee, believed to be in the region of £24 million. A blow for Everton, great news for City (despite the fee), semi-interesting news for us fantasy managers. Perhaps.
Lescott has been one of the top five fantasy defenders over the past three seasons since joining Everton from Wolves. His goalscoring instincts, adding to the semi-consistent clean sheet gathering generated by Moyes’ team, have made him a heavy scorer to rival the likes of Vidic and Carragher. Subsequently, like City themselves, we’re being asked to pay top dollar for Lescott’s services this season.
He started the season priced at 7.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game – although his absence from the Everton defence has seen him drop to 7.3. Only five defenders are priced the same or higher in that game. We know his qualities. We know his price. So now he’s due Premier League starts this season, do we re-consider Lescott as a fantasy prospect?…
City certainly have the form to suggest that Lescott has a good chance of returning clean sheets from day one. Hughes’ side are yet to concede a goal in their two league games and have a decent fixture this coming weekend with a trip to Portsmouth. Things stiffen considerably after the international break however, as Lescott finds himself up against the Arsenal and United attacks in gameweeks 5 and 6. In the short-term then, there’s little to get excited about.
That hesitancy could allow for a further price drop in the Fantasy Premier League game which would then take us into a much more favourable run of fixtures (WHM avl wig FUL bir BUR). Those three home games in particular, look strong possibilities for clean sheets, making Lescott a viable option from gameweek 6 onwards.
There’s no doubt that the presence of Lescott will reinforce the City defence further. Richard Dunne is expected to leave the club before the window, so Lescott should be assured regular starts alongside Toure once he’s settled, although Kompany, when fit, is another option for Hughes. Perhaps we ought to look at this different then and utilise City’s new-found stability with Lescott installed, by looking at cheaper alternatives in their defensive unit. Toure, Given and to a lesser extent, Bridge, look certain of starts and all appear to be attractive options for that run of favourable fixtures from gameweek 6 to 12.
As for Everton. The move was the best solution possible for them. Moyes will surely reinforce his rearguard in the next seven days, although it seems likely that we’ll see Neville lineup alongside Yobo against Wigan this weekend. The departure of Lescott will settle the dressing room, but his absence from the teamsheet shouldn’t be underestimated. They have an incredibly kind run of fixtures (WIG ful BLA por STK WLV bol AVL whm) to get themselves over losing a key player but I’m still hesitant when it comes to investing in them defensively; certainly until Moyes has made his move in the transfer market and a new man is settled.