West Ham is the promoted side with the most intriguing fantasy premier league options. Three of their players scored in double figures last season, and that does not include Mark Noble who scored eight and assisted nine. Between the sticks last year they had Robert Green, who allowed 44 goals in 44 Champions League starts in 2011-12. Green recorded 209 saves for a side that posted 17 clean sheets. But he has departed for QPR. In his place are Jussi Jaaskelainen and Steven Henderson. We’ve touched on them via Twitter recently but it is worth noting again here: this could end up being a time share. Jaaskelainen has the obvious EPL experience — making 18 starts for Bolton a year ago. He posted 2 cleans sheets and recorded 63 saves. We can not expect that West Ham will have a much easier time this year, but a £4.5m bench option early could reap rewards. West Ham face just two top six sides in the opening 10 gameweeks.
A more attractive option would be for Henderson to win the starting job. According to ESPN, he made 131 saves in 24 starts for Portsmouth in the 2011-12 season. Shades of Ben Foster. At £4m, if Henderson wins the starting job he is a must own for the bench of any manager who has selected a top-tier ‘keeper. There is a bit of hope he wins the job as the 24-year-old was just purchased this summer and signed a three-year deal.
In a similar view, George McCartney and James Tompkins are being bought as discount options for the defensive line. Each featured heavily in the 2011-12 Champo campaign, with McCartney’s 44 appearances highlighted by two goals and two assists. Tompkins was the more prolific in the attack, scoring five goals and three assists in his 35 appearances. As of Aug 14., Tompkins (£4.5m) was selected in 2.9% of fantasy premier league sides while McCartney (£4m) was selected in 3%. Recent addition James Collins figures to feature prominently for the Hammers but there is no value to be had with his price opening at £5m.
The midfield is a collection of could-be’s. In from Wigan, Mohamed Diamé scored three goals and an assist in 1600′ for the Latics in the Prem last season. He is currently the third most heavily selected in the Hammers midfield, owned by 1.1% of Fantasy Premier League managers. The French midfielder is still just 25 years old and has an excellent chance of linking with Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan this season. Noble and Nolan have resumes that speak for themselves, but we’ll add our stamp of approval as well. Nolan followed his 2010-11 Newcastle campaign — 12 goals, two assists — with 12 goals and four assists in 44 Championship fixtures. If his legs do not betray him, and he’s not that old, the thirty-year-old should be in line for a memorable return to the top flight. His midfield compatriot Noble is priced a full £1m less at £5m, but has not seen his selection match Nolan’s. As of Aug. 14: Nolan 4.5% selected; Noble 3.6% selected in Fantasy Premier League.
One midfielder being largely ignored is Mathew Taylor. He should not be looked past, having led the Hammers with 10 assists last season. Once the year gets underway, and we have some data to substantiate the premise, we’ll make a determination on Taylor. For now he remains a ‘Scout’, but could easily be bought with one eye on the early schedule. Priced £5m, he is selected in 0.4% of Fantasy Premier League sides.
West Ham failed to score in seven Championship matches in 2011-12. They were second in scoring behind only Southampton and have added from FC Sochaux-Montbeliard Modibo Maiga on a four-
The scoring exploits of Carlton Cole are better known to EPL supporters and managers in the fantasy premier league games. Last year he added to his career tally by leading West Ham with 15 goals (five assists) in 35 appearances. He is priced in line with Maiga at £5.5m. As of Aug. 14, Cole is selected in 1.2% of sides while Maiga is selected in 0.4%. Nicky Maynard also bears watching but we’re unsure where he fits — or if he fits in the starting XI at all — and will allow the first few gameweeks of the season to play-out before reaching a decision.
Buying: Tompkins, Nolan, Noble, Cole
Scouting: Henderson, Taylor, Diamé, Vaz Te, Maynard, Maiga
Selling: Collins, McCartney
18 Aug 15:00 |
Gameweek 1 |
Aston Villa (H) |
25 Aug 12:45 |
Gameweek 2 |
Swansea (A) |
01 Sep 12:45 |
Gameweek 3 |
Fulham (H) |
15 Sep 12:45 |
Gameweek 4 |
Norwich (A) |
22 Sep 15:00 |
Gameweek 5 |
Sunderland (H) |
01 Oct 20:00 |
Gameweek 6 |
QPR (A) |
06 Oct 17:30 |
Gameweek 7 |
Arsenal (H) |
20 Oct 15:00 |
Gameweek 8 |
Southampton (H) |
27 Oct 15:00 |
Gameweek 9 |
Wigan (A) |
03 Nov 17:30 |
Gameweek 10 |
Man City (H) |