The Summer Buys: A Fantasy Preview

Apologies all, due to wonders of humankind I haven't been about too much over the last week.

Rather than preview every Premier League side and discussing the players we know, lets take a look at the club by club main summer transfers (there will be a number I miss, not liking their likely points return).  Predicting their fantasy value for the coming season will be a challenge but lets take a stab.

Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez - 12m

World Cup star and for the second summer in a row Arsenal provide a big price exciting signing.  Sanchez is a top quality player full of speed, ball control and a cool finisher.  He is 20 goal a season potential and may add half again in assists.  May start the season in the "theo" role.

Mathieu Debuchy - 9.97

Not so sure about his ability to defend in real life but in the world of fantasy it doesn't matter.  Attack minded will bomb forward for a gunners team in control of games.  Likely to have the 20pt plus game when Arsenal keep a clean sheet

Calum Chambers - 5.45m

Mikolaj and Ming are tipping him to start at CB against Palace.  Impressed in pre season and value pick in week one.

Aston Villa

Joe Cole 4.34m

Was great in 2002, its 2014.  Expensive filler.

Philippe Senderos - 6m

Was great in a one off game sometime in his career against somebody whom I forget.  Will however have to make many, many blocks and tackles won.

Kiran Richardson -5m

Was great in ummm a game last season I'm sure.  A midfield choice may play left back, avoid.

Burnley

Michael Kightly - STILL not in the game

Proven premier league experience will be important for Burnley this season and KIghtly brings plenty of that.  In the prime of his career he played 32 and scored 5 last season when on loan.  Now a permanent signing he seems certain to start the season at least as a first team regular.  Keep an eye out as he has yet to be added to the game.

Lukas Jutkiewicz - 5m

Been finding goals in preseason with 3 so far.  he scored 7 in 20 games whilst on loan at Bolton last season.  May find himself benched later in the season and when playing away from home.

Stephen Reid - Not in game, Yahoo fail

Was always a points provider at WBA when and that is a big when, he is fit.  Should he start at 2m, worth picking in home games.

Chelsea

Cesc Fabregas - 12m

Is he in his prime or can he develop further after stalling at Barcelona.  Likely to provide assists and goals but how many in a packed Chelsea midfield.  Playing behind Costa he will do well but should he be forced in a deep role alongside Matic he may be over priced.  Keep an eye on how Jose uses him.

Diego Costa - 12m

The question being asked in Spain is was he a one season wonder.  Made no impact in World Cup but was injured.  In theory not a 30 goal a season man despite last year.  Much more a Drogba type causing havoc and creating for others.  I suspect we will view him as a better player in real life than in fantasy.  He is perfect for Jose's system of play and will be disliked by rival fans for his fouling and moaning.  Foul and booking magnet may frustrate you one week then blast a brace of assist and goals the next.  Possible Troll warning.

Filipe Luis - 9m

A defensive full back he will earn you points with volume of Chelsea CS.

Didier Drogba - 6m

Droggers at 6m, wow, buy buy buy.  Oh wait not the same man in 2014.  One of those forwards you love when he is in your team, not so when not.  He will rarely be in your thoughts bare maybe the Christmas period with early team news.  Very effective bench weapon for a very powerful Chelsea squad.

Crystal Palace

Fraizer Campbell -6m

Nippy forward who scores goals in clusters.  Overpriced at 6m as likely a bench and rotation pick.

Brede Hangeland - 6m

Excellent signing once more by Tony P.  Excellent pick for week 2 but may return value in week one with bucket loads of BS, PI and TW.  Danger from Tony P set piece plays as well.

Everton

Gareth Barry 6.99m

Unlikely you ever pick him but a solid option to start when fixtures pile up.

Romelu Lukaku 12.16m

Current Troll King.  Will have a point to prove even more and maybe a nice little bet in the top goalscorer betting each way (for you brits).  Failure when you pick him, scores when you don't.  Perhaps he can add consistency this season.

Hull City

Jake Livermore - 5.17m

No longer the 1m wonder but worth noting now a permanent signing.

Robert Snodgrass - 7m

BFRS available as a middie, awesome, available at 6m, you got to be effing kidding me.  Will be in many if not all teams.  Priced very wrong by Yahoo.

Thomas Ince - 4.79m

Is he any good or is he really good?  Turned down Inter Milan for Hull, wow.  That may prove to be a wise move but something tells me no club of that size comes in for him again.  However under Steve Bruce he will be handled well. Perhaps will find himself used as a second half bench weapon away from home.  They can't play all of Ince, Jelly, Long and Snoddy away from home without piling pressure on their back line.

Leicester City

Mark Albrighton - 5.69m

Went to Villa Park to watch Villa play Arsenal two season ago through work.  I had picked Albrighton up on the barn door for around this price after he had a big phantom game.  Mark opened the scoring that night in December which made Stall smile.  Left me with a fantasy soft spot.  Pretty sure he returns value at worst weekly.  If he can stay fit he will work his way to a double digit player by Christmas.

Leonardo Ulloa -6m

Will enjoy playing in Leicesters style.  Fancy he may be a good alternative option in home games.

Liverpool

Rickie Lambert - 11.30m

Now a squad/impact player he will be a tempting pick week one if Sturridge is out.

Adam Lallana -12.92m

Excellent player still improving. Will miss early season so may find his sharpness come the early winter months.

Emre Can - 6m

Defensive mid will probably be given a watching brief by us.

Lazar Markovic - 8m

One more of Brendan's young players for the future.  Likely to be eased into the first team but Rodgers will give him chances.

Dejan Lovren - 9.28m

You would think now first choice.  Powerful CB who will add some steel to a Liverpool defence at times a little too nice.  Danger from corners he adds you a goal chance.  Maybe it's he of the old Saints brigade who scores against his previous team week one.

Manchester City

Bacary Sagna - 9.82m

Decent right back motivated by money.  Will rotate with the superior Zabaleta.  That may be useful if he plays the weaker opponents at home.

Fernando - 7.50m

Defensive middie way over priced by Yahoo early.

Manchester United

Ander Herrera - 7m

The best central midfield player at the club already.  Little too much on his shoulders if United do not add to the squad this month.  Expected to play most games and provide assists and phantoms in midfield in first season.

Luke Shaw - 10.37m

Big price tag on the young mans shoulders.  Already experienced the Van Gaal expectations, which is great as they match the fans.  Full of promise, can he fulfill it over the next ten years.  Incredibly, amazingly and astonishly has his early first team place under threat from bloody Ashley Young of all people.

Newcastle United

Ayoze Perez - 3.50m

Young spanish player (wow not french) scored 17 in 50 for Tenerife.  At 21 may take time to settle in rough and tough Premier League.  Priced to tempt by Yahoo.

Siem De Jong -6m

Very good player when fit.  The new Darren Anderton for those of you old enough to remember "sick note".  Approx 1 goal in 3 for Ajax plus on all set pieces.  If fit, very much an option in week one should you feel the Newcastle players get inspired by the vocal support against the Champs. If fit he will return value and my gut says scores if fit.  If fit.

Daryl Janmaat - 7m

We saw he was a solid player in the World Cup but will have defending to do week one if Kolarov gets the nod.

Remy Cabella - 7m

Newcastles big signing so far and somewhat of a coup by the club to pick him up.  No doubt the other french members of the squad had an influence.  Oh did I say he's french? rare for Newcastle hey.  Said to be similar in style to Adam Lallana he will get a few welcome to the Premier League moments week one.

Emmanuel Riviere 5.50m

40 goals in 159 games in the french league suggests we don't have a 20pts plus player here.  However a closer look and he joined Monaco last January where he scored 1 in 3.  He has scored preseason and his main attribute is his blistering pace.   he isn't one of those nippy but lightweight boys and brings power to go with the pace.  With City likely to push up all aggressive like in week one, he could be a danger on the counter should he take his chances (has a rep for missing a few) and a real handful if he handles the atmosphere, which is sure to be crazy.

Queens Park Rangers

Rio Ferdinand - 6m

I just get the feeling we may see a master class from Rio for one week and a full match of the day package (for UK viewers) showing the player he once was.  Long term can his body play week in week out?

Steven Caulker - 7m

The young man still gets caught out of position and has a mistake in him but what better teachers could he have than Rio and Dunne?  While a work in progress in the real world he is a fantasy points magnet.  Tempting week one and any home game.

Southampton

Dusan Tadic - 6m

Arriving from the dutch league Tadic brings stats to tempt you.  In two seasons at FC Groningen he scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists season one, with 16 goals, 14 assist year two.  Capable of playing all the roles behind the forward in a 4231 shape he will also be attracting your interest.  Quick feet and the desire to be positive, plus the likelihood that he takes the kicks means a potential sleeper and if he starts fast, season keeper type. I just get this imagine of a Steven Gerrard "I'm the daddy here " type tackle early in game one knocking some of the cockyness out of him.

Graziano Pelle 6.5m

A Koeman man back to back seasons have provided 29 goals and 9 assists followed by 26 goals and 6 assists playing for Feyenoord.  A quick check at the youtube promotional video shows a player seemingly with an all round game.  Headers, left foot, outside box goals, goalmouth scrambles, penalties and a pretty smart haircut.  Maybe seeing him do this in a red and white shirt persuades me he may just do a job in the league.  If he adapts he becomes a really interesting pick in home games early.

Ryan Bertrand - 3.99m

Ryan is yet one more young english player unable to get a chance under Roman Abramovich thirst for immediate success.  Jose hasn't got much of a rep for bring the kids through so Bertrand had and has no chance of progressing at Chelsea.  When his contract runs down he will be sold and I hope he make progress at QPR.  Once again any home game gives you value.

Stoke City

Phil Bardsley - 7.52m

I find Sunderland letting him go strange.  Under Poyet he was excellent and even better at times with his fantasy returns.  Should be starting right back but I'm slightly concerned he may not be (any help readers).

Steve Sidwell - 10.80m

A Ken favourite a Nick hate.  Good buy for Stoke but we will see if he is first choice.  Price too rich for my taste.

Bojan Krkic - 6m

Go back say 3 years or so and tell me you ever saw this move happening.  Bojan has frankly flopped since and maybe the trappings of money and fame have knocked the hunger out of him.  Maybe not though.  Maybe the quite incredible Barca team were just too much for him to compete with at that stage of his development.  I get the early impression he may fit well into the Stoke dressing room where the monsters like Robert Huth, Peter Crouch, Ryans Shawcross etc may big brother their little dynamic match winner.  If he could have picked an opening day opponent to ease him into the Premier then he got it.  Shame he is classified as a forward as he plays deep either behind the forward or to the right.

Sunderland

Jordi Gomez - 5.50m

Hadnt realised he had joined until I started this post.  One to keep an eye on to see if he can force a first team spot.

Billy Jones -6.78m

And I didn't know he had signed either.  Solid points scorer at WBA who couldn't defend as a team.  If he becomes first choice then a good pick in home games.

Jack Rodwell - 1m

Filler and just one more of Englands wasted talent.  Given little to no chance at moneybags City his moment may have passed or it may not.  At his price a bench warmer in all our teams.

Patrick Van Aanholt 5.53m

This depends on whether Sunderland sign Marcos Alonso as they are trying to do.  If not then attack minded Van Aanholt may need a nickname for us to use on a Saturday afternoon.  How about nah-nah nah-nah nah-nah Nah-Nah Patvan, Patvan, Patvvaaaaaannnnn?  Maybe not.

Swansea City

Lucas Fabianski - 4.66m

Welcome to my week two side.  Week one I sir will pass on you.  If you have plans to have a bench keeper he may be your man to bring in for his home ties.

Gylfi Sigurdsson -7.28m

He a deal, he's a steal, he's a sale of the effing century.  Everyone should have one and we all will be week two if not before.  Yahoo should have priced him over 10m.

Bafetimbi Gomis - 7m

62 goals in 172 games for Lyon suggest we have a consistent goal scorer.  Will he be part of a double act with Bony or Bony's replacement? Keep an eye on him.

Tottenham

Ben Davies 9.60m

Very good signing for Spurs.  Consistent and improving he will be value through the season.

Michel Vorm 5.14m

The signing who I assumed would replace Lloris when PSG bid became too much to turn down.  That may happen next season now and by then he may be down under 2m.  Roll on 2015/16.

West Bromwich Albion

Brown Ideye -6m

Big money signing for WBA may take time to settle having played no preseason due to visa issues.  33 goals in 74 for Dynamo Kyiv I'm unsure whether that should impress.  He has impressed in the Champions League is fast and strong in the air.  Having played in Ukraine and Switzerland the english winter shouldn't hold any fears.  It appears he has bigger desires than WBA but for those to happen he will need to offer up 15 plus goals.

Joleon Lescott - 6.34m

Further decent signing Lescott went off injured in his preseason debut.  If fit he is a week one option.

Chris Baird -2m

Maybe he plays in centre midfield, maybe at right back.  One thing should he become a first team regular he is at least a bench option.

West Ham United

Enner Valencia - 6m

Looked a good player in the World Cup and sure to cause the Spurs backline issues.  One more to keep an eye on.

Aaron Cresswell - 1m

I thought he may be the first choice left back in a strong West Ham defence.  He may still be but his preseason has be littered with errors and moments caught out of position.  Excellent going forward but may find the step up tough in the early weeks.  Bench for sure and maybe a starter.

Carl Jenkinson - 5.15m

Out on loan if he can nail down a first team spot he maybe must have.  Scores every type of point the Yahoo game offers.

Mauro Zarate 5.5m

One of those players yet to fulfill his potential.  The interest comes in yahoos choice of position.  Classified as a midfield player he may play as a forward giving us a classic out of position winner.  Rumours Big Sam didn't want him make me unsure for week one.  But against a spurs team that have a bad record against their rivals I may have a interest a week one Saturday other than Lamela.

There you go.  There are others and before next Saturday there will be more (Vidal and a CB to Manu please).

Who do you like of the summer buys in your team?

Stall