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What does Brighton’s signing of a new goalkeeper mean for Robert Sanchez?

Brighton and Hove Albion’s Robert Sanchez (£4.5m) is the second most-popular goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League, sitting in over 27% of FPL squads at present.

The Spaniard is owned by more Fantasy managers than the rest of the other £4.5m shot-stoppers combined, so Friday’s news that the Seagulls had sealed the signing of 21-year-old Dutch custodian Kjell Scherpen from Ajax may have been disconcerting to some.

The transfer has actually been on the cards for some time, with media reports in May suggesting talks had already begun.

Scherpen, a Netherlands under-21 international, had made only two league appearances for Ajax in his two years in Amsterdam but had previous senior experience with former club Emmen.

Albion boss Graham Potter said of his new capture:

We’re delighted to welcome Kjell to the club. He’s a player we have been monitoring for a while and we see him as a player with a lot of the right attributes.

As well as his size he is someone we think will work very hard to improve all aspects of his game as he gets used to English football. We look forward to working with him.

What does the new signing mean for Robert Sanchez?

Salah and blanks again as Brighton defensive assets shine ahead of good run 3

The departure of Mat Ryan (£4.5m) and expected exit of Christian Walton did make it seem likely that Potter would swoop for another goalkeeper in the summer, with Jason Steele (£4.0m) not a serious candidate for promotion to the Albion starting XI.

Thankfully for prospective Sanchez owners, Scherpen may also be a little way from the first team – for now, at least.

The Athletic’s Andy Naylor previously reported that:

Scherpen… will be a back-up goalkeeper for Brighton, as a number 2/3, in-between first choice Robert Sanchez and Jason Steele.

The Athletic understands he is likely to be loaned out to aid his development, a tactic Brighton have used with Sanchez and Christian Walton, who is leaving after eight years at the club.

Maty Ryan, replaced in December in Graham Potter’s side by Sanchez, is also departing after a loan spell at Arsenal as part of the overhaul of the goalkeeping group.

Brighton have forthcoming pre-season friendlies against Rangers on July 24 and Getafe on August 7, with the latter warm-up game in particular likely to tell us more about how Potter is planning to set his troops up in Gameweek 1.

448 Comments Post a Comment
  1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Another templateish one

    Sanchez 4
    Trent Digne Shaw Lamptey Ayling
    Salah Bruno Rafa Buendia 4.5
    Bamford Nacho Toney

    Robbo in a 4-4-2 or Nacho/7 5 in a 3-4-3?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I'd start with the 3-4-3 concept with a view to the 4-4-2 if Liverpool defence is racking up cs early.

      There are any number of forward assets that could become Robbo by week 4 say - lots of flexibility there if you want to move in that direction.

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah, totally makes sense! Cheers, mate

  2. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Matt Doherty. Has pedigree, will be playing under Nuno (who loves him) and Aurier now up for sale. Wolves GW2. I think he’s worth looking at. Thoughts?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure about Doherty theory

      Nuno sold him for Semedo, has Aurier, and is being linked with Zeki Celik

      1. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Aurier up for sale

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          He’s still there though - and PSG have signed Hakimi which puts a body in front of him there

          It’s his contract expiry & the fact he can leave for free thats driving the transfer buzz…

          If a taker isn’t found in the next month he’ll probably be absolutely playing out of his skin this season to get himself a big move for free when his contract expires in 12 months

          And the links with Celik aren’t good for Doherty either

          Nor was Nuno selling him for Semedo…

          If he looks nailed he could be great though

          1. HollywoodXI
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            Source ColmVHayes on Twitter: Nuno asked what Matt Doherty needs to do to reach previous levels: "What he's doing every day. Commit himself, work hard, the quality is there. I know him, he knows us. Take the best of him and this is what we will try." It feels like he’s going to be first choice whether Aurier leaves or not.

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 8 months ago

              As a new manager he’s hardly going to start alienating guys on day 1 though

              I’d imagine there were a few awkward moments between them when they met again after him being let go from Wolves for just 12m & being replaced with a big money 28m Barcelona right back

              I think Nuno was making it pretty clear where he thought Wolves could improve

              But 100% hard to argue that if Doherty was nailed he could be absolute gold at 5.0, to be monitored pre-season, the whole RB situation - Aurier, Doherty, Celik

              1. I Member
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 8 months ago

                Or it was Doherty who wanted to leave Wolves to go to a bigger club?

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  2 years, 8 months ago

                  Wolves instigated the move as part of their desire to "evolve the team"

                  1. HollywoodXI
                    • 9 Years
                    2 years, 8 months ago

                    True. Nuno wanted to switch from wing backs to a back 4 and play possession based football. Doherty didn’t fit that system. It will be interesting to see whether Nuno reverts to wing backs at Spurs or not as that may provide the biggest indication as to whether Doherty will be a starter.

                    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                      • 14 Years
                      2 years, 8 months ago

                      I don’t think Nuno really intended to utilise a back 4 regularly at all - he kept going with 3 centrebacks for the majority of the season, including the first 10-ish games

                      Looked like just a straight upgrade situation, Doherty wasn’t a guy they wanted to keep… it’s not even as if Semedo was much younger either

                      But worth monitoring in pre season for sure

                      1. HollywoodXI
                        • 9 Years
                        2 years, 8 months ago

                        According to the Wolves chairman it was a change of playing style and switching formation that led to Doherty being sold mate. See here:
                        https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.molineux.news/news/wolves-chairman-jeff-shi-explains-reasoning-behind-matt-doherty-sale/amp/

                        Definitely one I’m going to monitor in pre-season.

                      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        2 years, 8 months ago

                        Yeah but Nuno continued playing 3 centrebacks for the majority of the season, including the first 10-ish games so obviously had no intention of playing a back 4 regularly, and was happy to get Semedo in for Doherty in spite of that…

                        Worth keeping an eye on the whole Aurier, Doherty, Celik situation, hopefully Nuno doesn’t want rid of Doherty twice as he could make a good FPL asset if he was nailed

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      If Aurier is on his way out, I'm interested!

    3. Godfrey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      At the start it makes sense to go for Regullion, 100% nailed

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Prefer Reguilon

    5. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yep, def worth a look for 5.0. He was very consistent at Wolves - 4g 7/8a per season.

      Why didn't Maureen like him?

      1. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Too attacking I would guess. I think he’s a quality player and at 5m worth a punt if Aurier goes.

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          Mour didn't get the best out of Spurs def, which I find surprising. It's going to be a wait & see to see what impact Nuno has.

  3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Fill the blanks, feel a strong bench is key with Covid cases climbing:

    A) Robertson, Greenwood, Welbeck
    B) Ayling, Jota, Cavani

    Sanchez Foster
    TAA Shaw Digne ______ Coufal
    Salah Mahrez ______ Sarr Brownhill
    DCL Watkins ______

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Have similar sort of set up right now - no Bruno and 5.5 at the back with TAA and 7 strong attackers.

      Nacho is my most certain pick after Mo on whatever formation I end up with. Also a fan of Grealish who was fantastic last season but there are question marks there of course.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Sorry a me centric answer. On your choices I'd go B probs

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Greenwood possibly a more surer starter than Jota, but with Mahrez in the mix I'm not sure any of those options give you what you're aiming for. Plus you've made some hard sacrifices in the core team. You could spend less in def to upgrade your forwards to more solid assets

  4. It's his Job.
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Feel I like this one..

    Sanchez
    TAA Digne Dias Shaw
    Salah Raphinha Traore Jota
    Kane Iheanacho

    4/Welbeck/Brownhill/Williams

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Looks good if Kane starts gw1. I'd start Welbeck over a mf with tougher fixtures

  5. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Shaw + Toney or White + Iheanacho?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Curious - which forward(s) are more nailed for you than Nacho?

      I'd do the White Nacho one first likely - though naturally it could work either way. Less certain than most on here about Shaw - especially for instant impact.

      1. sirmorbach
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I have Watkins and Bamford as well. Appreciate it, sir.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          Then with Bam and Watkins I might do the other one!

          Perhaps - probably - wrong think but I'm suspicious of triple 7.5/8.0 up top. Nacho apart they were all very frustrating owns last season and will be more so now they are priced much higher. Can well envisage myself looking at all those mid priced attackers and wondering why I have so many of them when they dribble returns in.

          [Slightly wrestling with ideas of squad balance/distribution of funds and "long term value" issues myself.]

          1. sirmorbach
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            Hmmm. Food for thought there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, mate