Having analysed the rule changes and assessed the prices of Goalkeepers and Defenders, our third article focussing on the Sky Sports game takes a look at the Midfielders, as Fantasy managers begin to assemble their squads ahead of next month’s kick-off:
Budget Bracket
In terms of cheap likely starters, Sunderland new boy Cabral and Fulham’s summer signing Derek Boateng have been slapped with a 4.1 price tag – the pair should benefit from the tackling bonus rule at least and help free up the cash to be splashed elsewhere. Hull’s Stephen Quinn (42 apps, three goals, six assists last season) is a mainstay in the middle of the par under Steve Bruce and perhaps the best all-round option of the three.
In general, much of the budget bracket is filled with fringe players, though the promoted sides offer some regular starters. Cardiff’s Bo-Kyung Kim (4.5) became a key player for the Championship winners as the season unfolded last term, while Crystal Palace’s 4.6 priced Owen Garvan offers a more attacking option; likely to be fielded in “the hole” by Holloway, he produced four goals and six assists in 2012/13. Hull wing-back pair Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady are also listed at 4.6; Brady’s set-piece duties helped him accrue four goals and 13 assists last season and he could also be fielded in “the hole” if Steve Bruce shifts from 3-5-2 to 4-4-1-1. Man City’s forgotten winger Scott Sinclair (4.7) could be one to monitor if the rumours of a potential loan move to West Brom come to fruition.
At 4.8, there’s a couple of promoted options who produced decent returns from last time out. Hull’s Robert Koren (nine goals, five assists) looks an option in “the hole”, with spot-kicks and a share of set-pieces and corners in his locker, while Aron Gunnarson’s eight goals and five assists highlight his appeal in the Cardiff central midfield – he’s struggling to shake off a shoulder injury in time for the kick-off, though. Villa new boy Aleksandar Tonev could prove a snip at this price if he’s handed a role behind a lone striker. Staying in the sub-5.0 bracket, Charlie Adam looks set to be an integral part of Mark Hughes’ Stoke side next term and will likely be handed a key role in central midfield – with set-pieces and corners in his locker, 4.9 looks tempting. Leon Britton offers plenty of bonus pass potential, if he remain immune to Michael Laudrup’s rotational whims in the Swansea midfield, though Tomas Rosicky (4.9) only looks an option if Arsene Wenger fails to spend in the summer.
Mid-Price Options
Newcastle’s Yoan Gouffran may be one to watch. Coming in at just 5.1, he grabbed a couple of goals after being fielded in “the hole” towards the end of the season and could be a bargain for the Magpies; he could potentially move to the left of a front three if Alan Pardew decides to move to 4-3-3. Due to Papiss Cisse’s dispute with the club, Gouffran was fielded up front in a friendly against Motherwell in midweek and managed to find the net. If Sandro can steer clear of injury this year, his style looks ideal for the bonus points ruling – a price of 5.1 may appeal for the Tottenham man, though Mousa Dembele comes in at 5.8 for Andre Villas-Boas’ side and may offer a little more attacking potential if Spurs shift to 4-3-3. West Ham’s Mark Noble, at 5.2, has spot-kicks and set-pieces to fall back on and comes in at 0.5 less than team mate Matt Jarvis.
Aaron Ramsey’s role in the Arsenal double-pivot should offer the Welshman greater chance of passing bonus points – a price of 5.8 is relatively cheap if he remains a regular under Arsene Wenger, though Jack Wilshere, at 6.2, may offer far greater potential at the Emirates if he’s selected to play in “the hole” behind a lone forward. Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa has the potential to be a real steal at 5.9 – if he can steer clear of injury, the Frenchman’s cost looks hugely enticing here.
Southampton duo Morgan Schneiderlin and Gaston Ramirez will both set you back 6.2 and both appeal for differing reasons. Schneiderlin’s passing and tackling bonus potential somewhat offsets his overall lack of offensive contribution, while the latter hoping to steer clear of injury to flourish in his favoured position behind Rickie Lambert – with just five goals and three assists last term, there’s plenty of room for improvement. Saints new boy Victor Wanyama has also been added as a mid-price option – at just 5.9, he looks a key first-team player in the season ahead.
United trio Ashley Young 6.0, Antonio Valencia (6.4) and Nani (6.8) will be hoping to recapture their form after a dire season last time out and could be given a fresh start on the flanks under new boss David Moyes. Similarly, Samir Nasri (6.3) could be a bargain if he can cement a role under new City boss Manuel Pellegrini, while Kevin Mirallas, at 6.5, has the potential to thrive as an out of position forward if, as anticipated, he’s fielded on the right of a front three under Roberto Martinez at Everton. With six goals and three assists from the right in a 4-4-1-1 in 2012/13, Mirallas may well step up another level under the Spaniard’s guidance. Spurs new boy Paulinho will be one to watch. Many suspect Villas-Boas will move to 4-3-3 this season and hand the Brazilian the role as the most advanced central midfielder – at 6.6, he’s already on plenty radars.
Staying under the 7.0 price mark, both James Morrison (6.7) and Kevin Nolan (6.8) will be looking to benefit from their roles in “the hole” once again – Morrison registered five goals and five assists, while Nolan produced 10 goals and a pair of assists in 2012/13. Stephane Sessegnon will set you back the same as Morrison but it remains to be seen whether the Benin international will still be at Sunderland when the season kicks off next month, with rumours suggesting a move away from Wearside could be on the cards. New Black Cat Emanuele Giaccherini could be the pick of Paolo Di Canio’s midfielders and is far more reasonably priced at 6.2, by comparison.
Premium Prospects
Much depends on City’s tactics under Pellegrini but if the Chilean opts for his preferred 4-2-2-2 formation, Fernandinho is likely to partner Yaya Toure in front on the back-four. The former comes in at 7.0 compared to the Ivorian’s 8.6 and could prove a viable alternative, with the Sky bonus system looking tailor-made for his talents.
Shinji Kagawa may be one of the bargains of the season if David Moyes hands him his preferred role in “the hole”. The former Dortmund man costs just 7.0 and will surely leap into many a Fantasy team if United part company with Wayne Rooney this summer. Norwich’s Robert Snodgrass has been handed a 7.3 price tag after last term’s success but with set-pieces and corners in his locker, the Scot’s guaranteed game time could still appeal, as he looks to improve upon his six goals and six assists in his debut year at Carrow Road. Sunderland’s Adam Johnson also looks an option but Giaccherini’s price will likely prove a deterrent for those eyeing up the Black Cats midfield. Mikel Arteta’s spot-kicks, allied with his propensity to pick up bonus, keeps him firmly on the radar at 7.5, while 7.6 priced Oscar offers an alternative route into the Chelsea midfield three – he’ll be hoping to continue the form which saw him score in three of his last five starts in 2012/13.
Jesus Navas, at 7.6, could rival 8.4 priced David Silva for our consideration as Pellegrini brings a more attacking brand of football to City, while Philippe Coutinho will be earmarked by many after registered three goals and five assists in just 12 appearances in the previous season. The Liverpool winger costs 7.8 – 0.3 less than Steven Gerrard, though the latter does have spot-kick duties and a share of set-pieces and corners to bolster his appeal, with a deep-lying role also more inclined to favour him in terms of passing points bonus.
Frank Lampard’s consistency of game time could be set for an upturn following Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge – he’s priced at 7.9, after finishing last term as Chelsea’s top scorer with 15 goals to his name. Marouane Fellaini’s (8.3) prospects could be set for a dive, however, if Martinez rolls out a 3-4-3; the Belgian would return to a deeper role this time out, thus considerably reducing his goalscoring potential – a reliance on extra passing and tackling points may be on the cards.
Unsurprisingly, Santi Cazorla has leapt in price after last season’s superb batch of displays. The Spaniard will now set you back more than Theo Walcott (8.7 to 8.5) as a route into Arsenal’s midfield after registering 12 goals and 11 assists over 38 appearances. While Cazorla is also more likely to pick up passing bonus, it’s worth noting that Walcott’s 14 goals and 10 assists arrived over just 24 starts (and eight sub appearances) – he played over 1,000 minutes less than the Spaniard in 2012/13 and with more first-team minutes expected, could prove the better pick. Perhaps surprisingly, Gareth Bale is not the costliest midfielder on offer this season. After last term’s 21-goal haul, the Tottenham man comes in at 8.9 – 0.1 more than Eden Hazard but 0.1 less than the Belgian’s team mate Juan Mata; with Chelsea potentially primed for a double Gameweek 1, plenty of line-ups may well feature both as we look to get out of the blocks quickly.
Fantasy Football Scout League
Once again, we’ve set up an official Fantasy Football Scout league for those playing the Sky game – we’re looking to defend our crown, having finished as top-rated league in 2012/13. If you fancy the challenge, you can enter with the pin 8000112 and with Sky offering a cool £1,000 for the winner of our official “FFScout” league, there’s every incentive to get on board.
