The international break has afforded us another chance to put more teams from further afield under the microscope for our European Fantasy managers partaking in UEFA Fantasy Champions League action.This time, we’re taking a look at FC Porto…
The side that Andre Villas-Boas mastered to the Primeira Liga, Europa League and Portuguese Cup treble last year have- aside for a recent stumble in Russia- so far carried on in pretty much the same vein
The Tactics
There may appear, on paper, to have been a gaping loss at the Dragao as the Portuguese champions lost not only their commander in chief but sold their star player, Radamel Falcao, to Athletico Madrid for record sum.
The end result, though, has been a fairly seamless transition despite cashing on over 50 million Euros of prime talent. Promoting from within, both on and off the pitch, has afforded Porto stability- new manager Vitor Pereira has pretty much stuck with the formation and tactics that lead the club to glory last season.
UEFA Average Position Map
As shown in the graphic above, and particularly in these UEFA-sourced average positions, it’s the same 4-3-3 as to which Porto deployed season – just with a slight change of personnel from before.
The back-four pretty much chooses itself with Rolando (4) and Nicolas Otamendi (30) the rocks at the centre, protecting Helton between the sticks. Alvaro Pereira (5), rumoured to have been high on Villas-Boas’ wish-list, and Jorge Fucile (13) are given plenty license to roam forward from the flanks – just like we’ve seen Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole do these first few weeks at Stamford Bridge. In fact, for those uninitiated on Porto, using the current Chelsea template makes for fair comparison.
Fernando (25) is the destroyer and shield for the back-line, allowing the full-backs license to forage forward – the part played by Raul Meireles or John Obi Mikel. A good player, but not so much a fantasy investment even at 5.0; the new “recovered balls” bonus will be his main ally.
In front of this screen a midfield pairing of Joao Moutinho (8) plus a.n. other can then be found. Last season Fredy Guarin was a mainstay but new signing Stefan Defour (35) has put paid to that lockdown, as the two jostle for time on the turf.
One Columbian striker has left to leave his more youthful compatriot -James Rodriguez (19) has come to the fore this season. Rodriguez is now regularly employed on the left of the front three but can be just as equally found central with Silvestre Varela (17, in top diagram) reclaiming his spot out wide if the call comes.
Kleber (11) was signed for just a couple of million Euros and has taken the role of the departed Falcao as the lead striker, with Hulk (12) continuing in his spot barraging in from the right wing as he did so successfully last season.
The Ones To Watch
Helton: Borne out of the Fabian Barthez school of goalkeeping you sometimes feel you can’t trust Helton as far as you can throw him. Luckily, he throws himself about the pitch just as much and will duck and dive for all his worth to try and keep sheets clean.
Rolando: With his central defensive partner a cool 1.0 more in price you’ll be looking at Rolando to offer a more cost-effective route into the Porto defence.
Joao Moutinho: The orchestrator. The architect. The puppet master. Moutinho dictates the run of play for the Portuguese champions and at just 6.0 is a relative bargain.
James Rodriguez: 6.5 for this “midfielder” is verging on theft. His talent and disposition means he is almost certainly worth a few million more. Think Daniel Sturridge at Chelsea but with the extra points for being classified as a midfielder. A downright snip of an option who is well worth considering.
Hulk: The player may have been named as such because he looks like Lou Ferigno, but he plays just as the name suggests too. A beast of a forward who plays with a power and ferocity that makes his 9.0 worthy of consideration- just don’t make him angry.
Kleber: A real bargain at just 6.5 and leading the line for the Portuguese champions. Do half of what his predecessor Falcao did in Europe and Fantasy managers will be rolling in the points. The only caveat is going to be his fitness leading into the coming weeks. Having damaged his collarbone in the defeat at Zenit last gameweek a prognosis on a return, as of yet, is something we’ve been unable to find.
