For much of the season, Leicester City’s assets have been way off the radar of Fantasy managers, as their overpriced and under-performing stars failed to replicate the astonishing form that captured the Premier League title.
But last month Claudio Ranieri, the manager who guided them to 2015/16 success, was ruthlessly sacked and ever since the Foxes have once again become an invigorated force.
They have won all three league games under new boss Craig Shakespeare and also find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But can we really forgive months of mediocrity and take the plunge for the final few Gameweeks?
We turn to a select band of Fantasy Football Scout contributors to ask the Burning Question: is now the time to revisit Leicester City’s assets?
Simon March (2014/15 FPL Champion) says…
Potentially, yes, in the short term at least.
Leicester’s back to back home fixtures against Stoke and Sunderland couldn’t be much more enticing, and their usual suspects – Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Christian Fuchs – all seem to have hit some form of late. They could definitely inflict damage and deliver returns in the coming Gameweeks.
However, while the next couple of away fixtures against Everton and Crystal Palace could definitely be worse, there’s that small issue of a Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid looming on the horizon. You have to assume that, from Gameweek 32 at least, Leicester’s biggest assets will also become their biggest rotation risks.
Then there’s the question of their mentality. Yes, they’ve rallied spectacularly in the past few weeks, but is that sustainable given how poor they’d been previously? We know how dangerous Leicester can be when their back is against the wall, but are they really up for it in the league now relegation is less of a threat? And just how much of a distraction will that Champions League tie be? These, for me, are all reason to think twice.
Leicester will have a double Gameweek, but it looks likely that it’ll pit them against Man City and Spurs, giving them one of the toughest schedules of all the teams playing twice.
For me, investment in Leicester is for those looking for a short-term opportunity. There’s hardly any scope for ‘bargain hunting’ and, with more consistent performers coming in at similar prices to the likes of Vardy and Mahrez, I think there are better options for those looking to build for the longer term.
Jonty says…
It hasn’t just been their woeful form this season that has put me off Leicester assets; it has also been their dramatic price hikes since their title-winning season.
While Jamie Vardy started this season at an eye-watering 10.0, Everton’s Romelu Lukaku could have picked up in Gameweek 1 for 1m less. Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez’s initial 9.5 price tag looks dreadful value compared to the attacking potential of Liverpool and Spurs’ cheaper midfield big guns.
Elsewhere, Christian Fuchs’ Gameweek 1 value of 5.5 was, incredibly, the same as Kyle Walker’s at the start of the season. As we approach Gameweek 30, 56 points separate the Spurs’ raiding right back and the Foxes’ flop.
Even with their turnaround in form and a slight price reduction, Mahrez and Fuchs still seem a little over priced to me
But as for Jamie Vardy, finally, he appears to be performing like a 10m striker, with three goals and two assists in his last three.
With Stoke and Sunderland at home and with my team currently without an enticing Gameweek 30 captain, it is the Foxes’ marksman that interests me.
Not only does he have form and fixture, he also offers me exactly the kind of explosive differential I need as I seek to catch up on my mini-league leaders. Still owned by just 10.6% of FPL managers, he already has the same number of double-digit scores as the 39.6% owned Diego Costa, who will probably be Gameweek 30’s top choice captain.
For others in my position, of looking for a quick boost in rank, I think Vardy is the ideal solution, especially if you hand him the armband against Stoke, and even against Sunderland in Gameweek 31.
Andy85wsm says…
During the 2015/16 season, I wasn’t able to attend one single Vardy party. Twenty-four goals he scored last season and I somehow managed to dodge every single one.
With the way the current season has gone, I hadn’t even looked for an invite until the Ranieri sacking. Two goals against Liverpool and suddenly I was looking at the Leicester fixture list once again, although too scared to commit early. It was the “eye test” that did it for me, while watching the second leg of the Sevilla game in the Champions League.
Leicester’s performance was reminiscent of the team that had won the league last year; they were pressing and fighting for every ball and once again looked hungry.
While I don’t agree with what happened to Ranieri, there’s no room for sentiment when it comes to Fantasy Football. Now Craig Shakespeare is in charge the question of “to Leicester or not to Leicester” is coming back into our minds and I think I’m in the “to” camp, at least in the short term.
Stoke (h), Sunderland (h), Everton (a) and Crystal Palace (a) are a good set of short-term fixtures. With Harry Kane injured, Sergio Aguero a little too expensive for my liking and Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, I feel like we have room for Vardy in our line-ups, even if he is perhaps a little overpriced.
He’s shown he can still get the points, with three goals and two assists in his last three matches and at £9.8m I think he’s one to give another chance in our teams, and possibly even captain material against Stoke.
Mahrez on the other hand, is probably a step too far.
It’s not that I don’t think he will do okay over the same fixtures, it’s the availability of other midfielders performing who are just too difficult to sacrifice. Even with a 3-5-2 formation, I’m struggling to see how he fits in.
Beyond Vardy, my interest lies in Christian Fuchs who is priced at £5.2m and potentially much easier to fit in our squads.
With the next four fixtures I can see potential for both clean sheets and attacking returns: he has already managed four chances created and four shots in as many games. I missed out on Fuchs last season but am tempted to make a move this time; it’s just a question of finding some spare transfers at a time when there never seems to be enough.
Az says…
It’s such a shame that in the footballing world, the sunshine and rainbows from Leicester’s title winning run has been replaced with a big fat dark cloud.
However, in the Fantasy Football world things are quite different. Suddenly we have a team that has won all three of their Premier League games under their new manager, have a decent run of fixtures and a double Gameweek thrown in for good measure.
There really seems a buzz around the Leicester team now, and many of us are keen to tap into it. The main problem, though, for me, is who do we select?
In defence, Leicester are still leaking goals and Robert Huth and Wes Morgan are looking as ponderous as ever, I don’t fancy their chances of keeping many shut-outs in the near future.
However, the savvy manager will note that former Fantasy favourite, Fuchs, has dropped to 5.2 and has a goal and an assist in his last three. While I don’t see him picking up any clean sheets, he may just add to this tally in the coming weeks.
In midfield, Mahrez is the Hazard of last year, frighteningly bad all season but has seemed to be caught up in the improvement whirlwind that Shakespeare has summoned. But the Algerian still doesn’t look quite the player he was last season, despite his two goals in two games.
Plus, with the Liverpool midfield minefield, Alexis Sanchez and the Spurs options, is there really space for this Foxes maestro?
Elsewhere, Albrighton (4.9) appears to have regained his place and has two assists in the last three. He may be the man to consider in midfield if you are looking for a cheap enabler with some decent games and a double Gameweek.
Finally, up front, we have Leicester’s star man – Jamie Vardy (9.8). He looks electric at the moment: he seems to have recovered his blistering pace and looks capable of putting teams to the sword.
With a lack of firing forward options, his return to our thinking has come at a perfect time. I just wish I’d pulled the trigger last week to get his haul against the Hammers.
Applebonkers says…
Leicester’s new manager bounce looks in full-flight and right now their bushy tails are definitely up.
The same names as last season stand-out for me. Fuchs at the back, Mahrez in the middle and Vardy up top.
The latter looks particularly appealing as in attack is where options are currently most limited. Aguero has fixturitis, Zlatan is suspended, Costa has a brace allergy, Kane and Gabbiadini are crocked, Lukaku has no double Gameweeks, Defoe needs penalties, while Benteke is still Benteke – hugely frustrating.
Why not throw in some Leicester as pre-Wildcard punts?
Their immediate fixture list is so green it looks like one of these kale smoothies. A drink that claims to detox and reinvigorates after murky episodes like Gameweek 28.
Mark says…
I was always lining up an Aguero to Vardy trade ahead of Gameweek 3, but the cruel Seamus Coleman setback may just have put things back on ice.
It seems an obvious window to revisit Leicester. We have the convenience of their flourishing form, timed perfectly to coincide with our second Wildcard that, for some, could be put in play prior to Gameweek 34.
Back-to-back home matches with Stoke and Sunderland appear to present the platform for the Foxes to continue a run of three successive victories so, as short-term investments, they are exceptionally alluring. But the emphasis is on the short-term – I’d likely be looking at an exit plan as soon as Gameweek 32.
Fuch’s stock enjoys a boost in light of Coleman’s injury, although he will likely need attacking returns if he’s to repay our faith and, despite his recent goal and assist, I’m still not certain I trust him enough given the outlay.
Mahrez and Vardy are a different matter.
Involved in 45% and 50% of Leicester’s goals last season, not surprisingly, they are integral to the Shakespearean revival. Their incredible transformation following the departure of Claudio Ranieri leaves a sour taste and, while they still struggle to look good value, it’s difficult to ignore the form and fixture – Stoke and Sunderland at home in quick succession will surely offer further profit from the pair.
Much as my heart screams for me to be brave enough to move for Mahrez, the head says to stick with Vardy as a possible swap for Aguero.
But shedding Aguero, even with tepid form and two testing fixtures, brings me out in a rash and, with Coleman lighting a fire elsewhere in my squad, I’ve got a cast-iron get-out clause.
I want to be brave enough to see it through and perhaps even back Vardy with the armband, but there’s still several meetings to be had, and Gameweek 30 action points to be decided.
Truth be told, I’m still troubled by the scale of the transformation post-Ranieri and the fragility of the revival, with the Champions League still a massive distraction.
Paul Says….
If Vardy and Mahrez were priced similar to last year, I’d be more likely to consider them.
Those premium price tags are far too unpalatable and, looking at the underlying statistics; I just feel that there are a number of in-form alternatives with equally strong fixtures that merit my attention.
Leicester have somewhat flattered to deceive since Claudio Ranieri left. Vardy has scored three times from six attempts, and Mahrez’ frequency of shots and key passes have both slowed, despite his two goals. At the back, they have conceded more shots per match under Craig Shakespeare.
Granted, their morale is sky-high, and the upcoming pair of home matches with Stoke and Sunderland do look potentially profitable.
Of their options, Vardy is the one player that looks likely to sustain his form as the numbers also highlight that they are creating more “big chances” for him of late.
My 3-5-2 formation also factors into my thinking. I’m happy to hold Lukaku and then bring in Ibrahimovic next midweek rather than roll the dice on the Leicester man. The plan is then to switch to three up front, but that will only occur when Kane and/or Gabbiadini recover from injury.
