The start of the much awaited Barclays Premier League is almost upon us. Like many avid fans the temptation to show off your knowledge is best encapsulated these days in a Fantasy Footy team. It can be a minefield selecting the right players for the right prices, which news signings will perform? Who are the hidden gems amongst the list of players to choose? I hope, here to give you an insight into 5 (somewhat unconventional) players who you SHOULD pick in your team:
Fantasy Footy Tips: 5 Players you SHOULD Pick
5. Bafétimbi Gomis: Remember that other Swansea player, quite good for Fantasy Football points? What was his name? Oh yes, Michu. It seems Swansea have quite the knack for scouting high quality players overseas. Gomis, to watchers of the French League should to an extent already be known. He joined Swansea this summer on a free transfer from Lyon, scoring 91 goals in 239 games. In terms of Fantasy Football he ticks a lot of the boxes. Is he affordable? Yes. A proven goalscorer? Yes. Most importantly, a player whose move has gone under the radar a little, something which allows the potential to give you the edge over fellow players.
4. Neil Taylor: Defenders can often be underwhelming to choose from, but pick the right one and you will see your points tally rise dramatically. Pick them on the cheap too and you can also put some of your precious budget into that big named striker also. Neil Taylor might just be the man to fulfil the role of a cheap, first team player who can bring a respectable number of points into your team. Ben Davies’s departure from the Swansea first team has left a vacancy to be filled by Taylor and at just £4.5m he will leave your budget looking healthy.
3. Kevin Nolan: Is he the best midfielder in the Premier League? No. However, what Nolan offers is exactly what you need. Try and incorporate a couple of midfielders who take set pieces of some kind, whether it is free kicks, corners or arguably most important penalties. Steven Gerrard may spring to mind as someone who ticks all the boxes in this category. Why splash out though? Kevin Nolan received 131 points last year, admittedly less than Gerrard (201) but remember that budget can be reinvested and Gerrard will potentially lose a lot of points for assists now Luis Suarez has gone (sorry Liverpool fans)!
2. Kasper Shmeichel: To continue the theme of having a player from each position we have Kasper Schmeichel. I must admit there is a risk attached to picking goalkeepers from newly promoted clubs, what if they are the whipping boys of the league for instance? Shmeichel has a lot to live up to in the Premier League; the last Shmeichel to grace the division wasn’t too bad I have heard. When it comes down to it, you have a simple choice when picking a keeper. Pick a goalkeeper from a team who are likely to finish in the top 5-6 and therefore concede less. Or try and be cunning (or foolish) and look lower down the order to save some money. Out of all the keepers outside of the top 5-6 Shmeichel excites me most, has a lot of potential and if he’s anything like his Dad £4.5m is a steal.
1. Cesc Fabregas: As an Arsenal fan *sobs*, it pains me to say it, but he will inevitably have a monumental part to play in any success Chelsea enjoy this season. His time at Barcelona and yes, Arsenal demonstrated his innate ability to play a brand of football elegantly allowing him to create chances and assist getting you Fantasy managers a points bonus. If he manages to link up with fellow Spaniard Diego Costa (or even the other Spaniard up top) the assists will roll in. He has also shown he can score the odd goal too and is the ideal player to have in midfield. He will cost you a little more, but if you avoid the temptation of the other big boys like Yaya Toure and Alexis Sanchez, Fabregas is simply a must have in any team. If you have been wise and saved some money on say, oh, I don’t know, Neil Taylor, the extra money for Cesc should be easy to find.
*Please note these suggestions are based on fantasy.premierleague.com*
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