Ultimately, yesterday’s deadline day will likely be remembered for the sight of Peter Odemwingie stuck in a QPR car park as the Nigerian’s mooted move to Loftus Road fell through in bizarre fashion. Nevertheless, there were a number of deals that could well prove crucial to Fantasy managers over the remainder of the season – as the dust settles, we pick through the standout options…
Chris Samba to QPR
The former Blackburn man is set to be an automatic pick at the heart of the R’s defence as Harry Redknapp looks to fill the gap created by Ryan Nelsen’s departure to FC Toronto. From a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective, Samba is likely to come in at 5.0 – the same initial price tag afforded to Julio Cesar – but with the likes of Clint Hill and Nedum Onouha costing 4.3 and 4.1 respectively, there are certainly cheaper routes into a backline that has registered clean sheets against Chelsea, Spurs and City in their last four.
Samba also carries a significant goal threat and notched four times in each of his last two full seasons at Ewood Park before moving to Russian outfit Anzhi midway through the previous campaign. Home games with Norwich and Sunderland in the next six, in addition to trips to Swansea, Southampton and Villa, hand the R’s one of the most appealing schedules of any side over the short-term and if Redknapp’s side continue their resilient defensive displays, Samba certainly looks the most likely QPR to benefit at both ends of the pitch.
It’s worth keeping an eye on Fabio here, too; the 4.2 priced Brazilian was fielded on the right of the attacking midfield three against City but this was likely down to injuries to Jamie Mackie and Shaun Wright-Phillips. If he nails down a regular out of position berth, though, the on-loan United man is one to keep an eye on – in all likelihood, he’ll revert to left-back once the treatment room empties.
Danny Graham to Sunderland
Only four sides have scored fewer goals than Sunderland’s 27 this season – bearing in mind Steven Fletcher has notched 10 of those, the Black Cats over-reliance on their summer signing is all too apparent. Graham’s arrival from Swansea suggests he could be fielded in tandem with Fletcher in a 4-4-2 – certainly, if O’Neill continues with a 4-4-1-1, the new boy is likely to be utilised as no more than back-up to Fletcher.
A move to 4-4-2 would diminish Stephane Sessegnon’s appeal. The Benin international has been shifted from his regular role in “the hole” to the right wing in recent games but with three goals in 23 starts, has made a minimal impact this season. Such a scenario would see him vie for a starting role with Adam Johnson, James McClean and perhaps even Seb Larsson on the flanks – McClean has already seen his game time diminish, with Johnson’s move to the left flank forcing him onto the bench in the last two games.
Priced at just 5.4 in FPL, Graham would certainly be an intriguing option if he nails down a regular role; he scored in each of his last two starts for the Swans and has a favourable upcoming schedule to potentially flourish – the Black Cats have Reading, West Brom, Fulham, QPR and Norwich in the next six. O’Neill may well choose to ease him into the first-team fold, though, giving us time to assess the situation – after the deal went through, the Sunderland boss revealed his new acquisition will afford him different options:
“I’ve got a fairly decent idea in my head about how we’ll use Danny. As the players get to know him and he gets to know them, there’ll be a number of formations we’ll be able to use.”
From a Swansea perspective, it may well earn Michu more time as a lone forward. The Spaniard has been fielded up front on a number of occasions now, with Jonathan de Guzman moving forward into “the hole”. Potentially, then, the Dutchman could benefit in a more advanced role from Graham’s departure, though Michael Laudrup has started Itay Schechter up top in each of the last two – at 5.0 in FPL, he could earn increased game time if Michu keeps his advanced midfield berth.
Urby Emanuelson to Fulham
The Dutchman swaps Milan for Craven Cottage and adds to Fulham’s multitude of left-sided options. His versatility could be the key to Emanuelson’s Fantasy appeal – he can fill in at the back or in midfield and could, potentially, be an out of position prospect in Fantasy games. At the back, Martin Jol seems to have lost faith in John Arne Riise of late – Matthew Briggs and Kieran Richardson have both been handed chances at the Norwegian’s expense and it may well be that the new boy has arrived to bolster a backline that has conceded 41 goals already – the sixth worse backline in the Premier League.
Alternatively, Emanuelson could be fielded on the flank, though Jol has plenty of options there, too; Richardson, Alex Kacaniklic, Kerim Frei and Hugo Rodallega are all in the mix. A FPL price of 5.0 (defender) or 5.5 to 6.0 (midfielder) looks likely – ultimately, then, the best Fantasy scenario would be for the Dutchman to be listed as a defender but played in midfield. While his career has somewhat stalled since moving to the San Siro, a total of nine goals and 12 assists in his last two seasons at former club Ajax highlights his capabilities.
With United, Chelsea and Spurs in the next six, though, in addition to games against Stoke and Sunderland, Fulham’s schedule is anything but straightforward. Fantasy managers are likely to hold back any investment until the picture becomes a little clearer.
Urby Emanuelson – You Tube – Goal Compilation
Luciano Becchio to Norwich
Similar to Sunderland, the Canaries badly need goals. They’ve notched just 25 times – the fourth worst record in the top-flight – but while the Black Cats have Fletcher to rely upon, Norwich’s lone forward Grant Holt has found the net just four times this term. Indeed, Holt is joint-top scorer along with Robert Snodgrass and Anthony Pilkington and looks a shadow of the striker that racked up 15 goals under Paul Lambert at Carrow Road last time round.
While Becchio is an unknown quantity at the top level, he has, however, registered double figures in each of his five seasons for the Elland Road outfit – his highest haul was 19 in the Championship in 2010-11 but he’s already grabbed 16 in 26 appearances this time round. It remains to be seen how Hughton plans to utilise the new boy, though. Norwich started the season with a front two but quickly moved to 4-4-1-1, with Wes Hoolahan handed a playmaker role behind Holt – at present, Hughton’s rigid tactics suggest Becchio may have to battle it out with Holt for game time unless the Canaries boss opts for a more expansive style of play. With three home games in the next five (FUL, EVE, SOU) we may soon get an idea of how he fits in – a FPL price tag of 5.5 to 6.0 looks a likely outcome here.
Similarly, Kei Kamara could be worth monitoring – the six foot, three inch powerhouse has been brought in on loan from MLS side, Kansas City and arrives with a strong reputation from the American league having scored nine of more goals in each of his last three seasons. With 11 goals and eight assists last term with Kansas, the MLS stats show Kamara ranking top for shots in the league and second for shots on target: it’s clear he arrives at Carrow Road with some confidence. Again, expect a price tag around the 5.5 mark, here.
Luciano Becchio – You Tube – Showreel
Kei Kamara – You Tube – Goal Compilation
Nacho Monreal to Arsenal
With Kieran Gibbs sidelined for around four to six weeks with a thigh injury and Andre Santos being, well, Andre Santos, Arsene Wenger moved to solve his problematic left-back area by returning to Santi Cazorla’s former club to snap up the 26-year-old. The Gunners boss admitted Monreal has been a long-term target for the north London club:
“We have been monitoring him for some time now and are really pleased that we’ve been able to agree this move today. Monreal is a strong left-sided defender with good experience at both club and international level. He is a technically gifted player, a good crosser in the final third and strong in the air. Monreal will add quality to our squad and of course, to our defensive unit. We all look forward to him playing for us.”
A regular for Malaga, the new boy certainly hasn’t come to warm the Arsenal bench or provide experienced back-up and looks set to give Gibbs a real run for his money. While Gibbs has already supplied five assists this term and has been the standout Arsenal defender in terms of attacking returns, Monreal offers plenty going forward, too – he produced four assists in his debut season at Malaga and followed that up with a goal and three assists in 14 La Liga starts this time round.
In the short-term at least, he looks set for starts due to Gibbs’ injury and is instantly afforded the platform to cement a starting berth. When fit, Gibbs offered a security of starts this term but that is clearly no longer the case; his 9% FPL owners will be more than a little unsettled by this news, with Wojciech Szczesny and Per Mertesacker now looking the only sub 6.0 regulars in the Gunners backline in light of Monreal’s arrival. Likely to come in around the 5.5 mark in the FPL, the Spaniard has enticing home games with Stoke and Villa, in addition to a trip to Sunderland in his next three – a single clean sheet in their last eight is indicative of Arsenal’s need for extra resilience at the back.
Brek Shea to Stoke
The Potters moved to clinch the signing of one of the hottest prospects in the MLS, capturing the 22-year-old on a four-and-half year contract from FC Dallas. You won’t be surprised to hear that Shea stands at six foot three inches, a real powerhouse of a left winger who boasts speed, some trickery and a propensity to cut inside and threten the goal. Pace and power, with the height to lend to Stoke’s aerial threat – it all sounds like the perfect package for Tony Pulis.
This season’s statistics at Dallas offer little to get excited about – three goals and two assists is a modest return from 20 starts but last season’s haul of 11 goals and four assists hint at the potential on offer here. Certainly, Pulis was beaming at the prospect of Shea in a Stoke shirt having swung the deadline day deal…
“Brek is a very, very exciting player, and one who we firmly believe could go on to become an outstanding player for this Football Club. He has terrific pace, a very good left foot and is capable of scoring goals. He has all the tools needed to be a success here.”
There are are question marks about Shea’s final ball, however, and, having previously deployed the accurate crossing of Matt Etherington and Jermaine Pennant on the flanks, Shea is a different kind of player. More direct and with a greater goal threat, it will be interesting to see how quickly the Stoke boss looks to introduce the young American.
If he’s thrown straight in and begins to show the talent that stirred rumour of interest from Man United, among others, Shea could well prove a bargain proposition all round. He cost Stoke £2.5 million: he’s likely to be valued around the 5.0 mark in FPL terms.
