Sky Sports – Player List Analysis – Forwards

We roll out our fourth article on this year’s Sky Sports game this evening. Having cast an eye over the rule changes and subsequently assessed the Player Price List for Goalkeepers and Defenders and Midfielders, we now take a look on what’s on offer for our forward lines:

Budget Bracket

Hull’s Sone Aluko comes in as the cheapest forward in the Sky Sports game at 5.6. The Nigerian notched eight goals and four assists from 23 appearances before being sidelined with an Achilles injury and had initially looked a decent shout but the Tigers’ recent loan acquisition of Danny Graham (7.6) and pursuit of Yannick Sagbo suggests Aluko’s starting berth is perhaps no longer guaranteed.

Crystal Palace’s record signing Dwight Gayle has a greater security of starts. With Glenn Murray injured, Gayle should get the nod as Ian Holloway’s lone forward and comes in at 6.1, while Sunderland’s new boy Jozy Altidore has been very favourably priced at just 6.3 – the US international arrives on Wearside in serious form, having racked up 31 goals and seven assists in 39 league and cup matches last term.

Cardiff’s big-money signing Andreas Cornelius will set you back 6.6 – a contribution of 18 goals and five assists helped FC Copenhagen to the Danish title last season, with his target man abilities ideal for Malky Mackay’s lone forward system. Certainly, “The Danish Tank” looks better value than Bluebirds team-mate Craig Bellamy – priced at 7.3, he’s likely to be mainly fielded on the flank in Mackay’s 4-5-1, with an occasional switch up top when Cardiff change to a two man frontline. West Ham’s Ricardo Vaz Te could be worth an early-season punt if Andy Carroll fails to recover from a heel injury. Typically fielded on the flank, the 6.9 priced Portuguese forward is the likeliest Hammer to lead the line in Carroll’s absence and has a strong run of opening fixtures to potentially benefit from (CAR, new, STO, sot, EVE, hul).

Mid-Price Options

Norwich’s new forward Ricky Van Wolfswinkel has been handed a 7.5 price tag, after netting 14 times in each of the last two season for Sporting Lisbon. While Chris Hughton is closing in on a move for Gary Hooper, the Dutchman still looks to be a nailed-on starter – a change in set-up from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 looks likely now as the Canaries look to improve upon last term’s dismal 41-goal haul. Emmanuel Adebayor’s mere five goals in 2012/13 are reflected in his cost of 7.6 – if Spurs fail to find a new striker, he could, potentially, he worth a shout if he can rediscover the form which made him such a prolific Fantasy asset a couple of years ago. With Andre Villas-Boas admitting his interest in Roberto Soldado earlier this week, the Togo international may be warming the bench more often than not this time out.

Villa wide men Andreas Weimann and Gabby Agbonlahor are both priced at 7.7, though the latter was a little more prolific last time out by nine goals to seven and also provided more assists than the young Austrian. Certainly, if Paul Lambert’s side can replicate the form of the final few matches of 2012/13 they could be worth consideration but with the duo set to play right and left of Christian Benteke respectively, it’s hard to justify any real investment. The midlanders’ forgotten man Darren Bent – priced at 7.5 – looks an intriguing option if he can manoeuvre a switch to Newcastle. Bent revealed earlier this week he expects to leave Villa “pretty soon” and with the Magpies facing (WHM, FUL, avl, HUL) from Gameweeks 2-5, investment in Alan Pardew’s side could pay off.

Peter Crouch could benefit from Mark Hughes’ plans to bring a more attacking style of football to Stoke. At 7.8, the big centre-forward may thrive on service from proper wingers, as opposed to the previous tactic employed by Tony Pulis, which mainly involved sticking central midfielders on the flank. While Crouch was hardly prolific in 2012/13, he was still vital to the Potters – with seven goals and four assists, he played a part in 11 of their 34 league goals. Bryan Ruiz and Jay Rodriguez, at 7.8 and 7.9 respectively, afford us cheap options into the Fulham and Southampton attacks but with more prolific options on offer at both clubs, both may find it difficult to pick up significant interest.

Priced at 8.0, Chelsea’s summer signing Andre Schurrle may be somewhat cheaper than both Juan Mata and Eden Hazard but his classification as a forward is likely to dent his appeal, bearing in mind he’s more than likely to be fielded out wide in the 4-2-3-1 – while Jose Mourinho also hinted the German international could be fielded through the centre recently, his reverse out of position listing will knock the new boy off many Watchlists.

Swansea’s big-money signing Wilfried Bony will be looking to steal Michu’s thunder this season. The Ivory Coast forward arrives at the Liberty on the back of 31 goals and eight assists in 30 league matches for Vitesse Arnhem and his installation as the Swans lone forward will ensure the Spaniard is fielded in the role in “the hole” behind. Stevan Jovetic has been handed the lowest price of any City forward. The summer signing from Fiorentina comes in at just 8.1 but his versatility could go against him – the Montenegro international is perhaps more likely to be fielded in a more withdrawn central role or even on the left in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2 formation. With so much uncertainty surrounding the likely starters up top under Manuel Pellegrini, his acquisition undoubtedly comes at a risk.

Coming in at 8.1, Andy Carroll will surely be earmarked as a possible option. If he can recover from his current heel problem, the Hammers main man has a superb opening run of fixtures which present a strong chance to open this season in the same manner he finished 2012/13. Another former Liverpool striker, Nicolas Anelka, is one to consider. The new West Brom forward comes in at 8.2 and while his versatility may see him utilised on the flank by Steve Clarke, Anelka has featured through the middle so far in pre-season and notched twice in the Baggies previous game. Certainly, the Frenchman looks a better option than new team-mate Shane Long (8.0).

Steven Fletcher’s eye for goal was crucial for Sunderland last time out but at 8.0, compared to Altidore’s 6.3, he’s far less budget-friendly that his new Black Cats’ team-mate, though the Scot has a strong record in the Premier League and has produced double figures in each of his last three seasons. Over at Everton, Arouna Kone is marginally dearer than Nikica Jelavic by 8.4 to 8.0 but is expected to lead the line in a front three, having racked up 11 goals and five assists under Roberto Martinez at Wigan. The Croatian’s game time looks questionable, by comparison, though ultimately Kone’s appeal is considerably lessened by Kevin Mirallas, with the Belgian down as a 6.5 midfielder. Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse remains relatively expensive despite a disappointing second season in the top-flight. Coming in at 8.4, the Senegal striker notched just eight times in 2012/13 and although he may be the Magpies only current first-team forward, Alan Pardew looks intent on adding to his options – Cisse tends to operate best as a lone frontman and may struggle to justify such a cost if Pardew moves to a 4-4-2.

Premium Prospects

If Arsenal’s interest in Luis Suarez fails to come to fruition, Olivier Giroud’s 8.5 price tag becomes a little more appetising, with the Frenchman likely to go into next season as the Gunners’ number one striker. Given that Arsene Wenger is clearly determined to bolster his frontline, Giroud looks on shaky ground despite notching six times in three pre-season matches.

Both Romelu Lukaku and Dimitar Berbatov have been priced at 8.6 on the back of their respective 17 and 15 goal hauls last time out – while the Belgian’s consistency of game time remains questionable now he’s back at Chelsea, he’s still the cheapest Blues forward on option, with Demba Ba and Fernando Torres priced at 9.0 and 9.3 respectively. Berbatov offers far more security – he remains nailed-on as Fulham’s number one forward and, with spot-kicks in the bag, still has plenty potential to shine as Martin Jol’s main goal threat – the same applies to Southampton’s Rickie Lambert (8.7), who also has free-kicks in his locker and matched Berbatov’s goal haul in 2012/13.

Michu’s reclassification as a forward really puts the cat amongst the pigeons and denies Fantasy managers a reliable source of goals from midfield. The Spaniard will set you back 8.8 but if he can replicate last season’s 18 strikes, remains a viable proposition as a frontman, though some may be swayed by Bony’s more budget-friendly route into the Swansea attack. Christian Benteke has been elevated out of the mid-price range and now costs 9.0 due to his 19 goals in 2012/13. The Villa man also provided four assists, playing a part in 23 of his side’s 47 goals and with spot-kicks in his locker, there’s no reason why he can’t replicate last season’s displays and justify that price tag, now his future at Villa Park is settled.

The Luis Suarez situation at Liverpool leaves Fantasy managers with a dilemma. New boy Iago Aspas comes in at 8.5 and Daniel Sturridge has been priced at 9.2 – both are cheaper than the Uruguayan, who will take up 9.9 of your budget. Suarez is, of course, suspended for Liverpool’s first six matches of the season but if he gets the move he’s been itching for, Sturridge looks the likeliest to lead the line, with Aspas handed a role on the right. Bearing in mind Philippe Coutinho is a 7.8 midfielder, though, many may opt for the Brazilian instead.

Sergio Aguero remains in the top three most expensive forwards in spite of a poor season last time out. With Manuel Pellegrini now installed as the City boss, a more attack-minded style of play is anticipated; the Argentine’s 9.8 price tag is far more expensive that Edin Dzeko (8.5) and Alvaro Negredo (8.6) but the general consensus of opinion is that Aguero will remain Pellegrini’s main striker, with his versatility allowing him to either lead the line or drop in behind. Dzeko now seems to have been knocked down the pecking order as a result of the new arrivals and while Negredo rolls up to the Etihad on the back of 25 goals and four assists for Sevilla last season, his lack of versatility may prove detrimental to his overall minutes across the season as Pellegrini alters his system and personnel in accordance with opponent.

Finally, around the corner in the red half of Manchester, Sky Sports clearly have high hopes for the currently-hamstrung Wayne Rooney. He’s still the fourth most expensive player in the game at 9.6, despite falling far short of his usual standards in 2012/13 – with Chelsea in pursuit, it’s debatable whether Rooney will even be at Old Trafford come September but when we have the relentless, goal-scoring machine that is Robin Van Persie (10.0) as an alternative, there’s little decision, if any, needing to be made. While a move to Stamford Bridge would bring boost Rooney’s prospects, the security of both starts and attacking returns makes Van Persie seem a relative bargain, given how close the pair are in price.