We have in no way been waiting for news on the transfer of Lucas Moura but that is a convenient excuse. With news that Moura has reached an agreement with Paris St. Germain to join in January going public this evening, Manchester United’s reported top target will not join Shinji Kagawa at Old Trafford. However this team does have quality and depth at each position and remains one of the favourites for the EPL crown. However, for fantasy premier league purposes we must greet this non-transfers as a good bit of new as it means less competition for playing time.
This season at United there will even be competition between the sticks with David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard both showing class a year ago. De Gea kept 13 clean sheets in his matches while Lindegaard managed 6 of his own. Owning both players may appear to be an attractive option, certainly ensuring you that you always have United’s keeper in your starting XI, but the cost £6.0m for DdG and an additional £5.5m for AL isn’t enticing. We’ve previous touted this strategy last term, when their prices were a touch lower, and we’ve touted spending big on two ‘keepers out of the gate, but in this case there is too much potential for lost value. Pick one of the two and find another goalkeeper elsewhere.
At the back United remain a bit of shambles. Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans remain injured with Smalling not due back for more than a month. Patrice Evra has also been showing signs of age as has Rio. With Vidic back, and ideally helpful, it will be interesting to see what four backs become first choice. We’re ok with scouting United in the first five matches, and waiting until GW 11 to invest in the back four. GW 5-10 see’s Ferguson’s men play Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal.
It is the midfield at Manchester were the most fantasy premier league questions arise. Ashley Young, Nani, Valencia, and Kagawa all owned in 4.4% of Fantasy Premier League sides or more. Interestingly it is the newest member of United’s midfield ranks that commands the most selections: Kagawa is owned 15.3%, more than 2x the selections than second-most select Red Devil midfielder Valencia (7.6%). The key factor here is actually price. Kagawa is priced £8.5m, the same price as Ashley Young. Valencia and Nani are priced just higher with £9.0m valuations. If early ownership drives Kagawa’s price, it makes sense to invest but if those 15.3% of owners all abandon the new boy as his playing time fails to materialize, you will lose you early investment. It is hard to see either Nani (8 goals 12 assists) or Valencia (4 goals 14 assists) losing their place in the starting XI. Despite some injury issues, Ashley Young did not struggle for fantasy premier league purposes. He had 6 goals and 11 assists in 1565′. While everyone is focused on Valencia’s return in his shortened season, he actually played 2124′ – more than 6 matches of minutes more than the England winger. The heavy competition in those attacking and wide midfield positions leaves something to be desired, particularly with the threat of 20′ substitute appearances leaving FPL managers with 1 point for a game week, but there is massive value to be had. We are investing in Nani and Valencia early with the hope that Young’s falls.
For more on Kagawa please read Cooper’s post at EPL Index available here.
There are no selection problems at the front. It is Rooney > Welbeck > Chicharito > Berbatov. Sir Alex has said that he understands Berba wanting to leave but that hasn’t seen much movement. With little price difference between Welbeck and Hernandez it is preference and a question of who gets a quick start. The Mexican has had a impressive impact off of the bench in recent seasons while the English forward appears to be the second choice for Manchester United.
The price on Rooney is a reflection of his total value and constant presence in the side. The addition of Van Persie could change that. In the will he/won’t he fiasco surrounding Robin Van Persie, the likeliest landing place in the Premier League appears to be Manchester United. Having been piped to the title on goal difference, the addition of last seasons top goal scorer and winner of every relevant individual honor in England. The duo of Rooney and Van Persie could form the best strike partnership in the world. Although we would expect that they would poach some of the others chances, Rooney is capable of thriving while only scoring 15-20 goals.
Buying: De Gea, Vidic, Rafael, Nani, Valencia, Rooney
Scouting: Evra, Evans, Kagawa, Young, Welbeck,
Selling: Ferdinand, Carrick, Cleverly, Berbatov
20 Aug 20:00 |
Gameweek 1 |
Everton (A) |
25 Aug 15:00 |
Gameweek 2 |
Fulham (H) |
02 Sep 16:00 |
Gameweek 3 |
Southampton (A) |
15 Sep 15:00 |
Gameweek 4 |
Wigan (H) |
23 Sep 13:30 |
Gameweek 5 |
Liverpool (A) |
29 Sep 17:30 |
Gameweek 6 |
Tottenham (H) |
07 Oct 16:00 |
Gameweek 7 |
Newcastle (A) |
20 Oct 15:00 |
Gameweek 8 |
Stoke City (H) |
28 Oct 16:00 |
Gameweek 9 |
Chelsea (A) |
03 Nov 12:45 |
Gameweek 10 |
Arsenal (H) |