The quick and the dirty for Wigan: we can not recommend buying any of their defensive unit. Goalkeeper Al-Habsi had a lot of promise in Fantasy Premier League last summer. However he posted just eight cleansheets. The stats at EPLIndex show that he made 119 saves, the fantasy premier league credited him with 130.
In front of him, Stam, Alcaraz and Caldwell we committed to their efforts at the back and made very little attempt to engage in the attack. The three combined to create 34 chances – Beausejour (37), Moses (41) paced the squad — while the fourth member of the defensive line, Maynor Fiueroa, created 24 chances himself. Figueroa is the only defender that can be invested in, his price £4.5m offsets the fact that he is unlikely to earn a clean sheet bonus more than once every four matches.
In the midfield there are a number of midfielders who all rate some scouting. The two who should be purchased are Victor Moses and Jean Beausejour.The price discrepancy makes Beausejour the more attractive option. He will cost only £5.5m against your salary cap in Fantasy Premier League Official. You’re likely ready for what comes next — or you would be if you’d read the other 19 Buying Guides — but Beausejour created 37 chances last season. What is more remarkable than the SEVEN assists he had is that he did this in 1387′. He was on pace for a 21 assist season. That is Antonio Valaencia, Ashley Young level production. And you’re able to capitalize on his ownership in two ways. One, the price is very low and two, his ownership is 0.2%. Despite playing less than 1/3 of the season, he led the Latics with 141 crosses and connected with 28%. He also passed the ball competently: completing 467/599, 78%. He did take only 6 shots. So we can’t expect too much, but a good investment with the early schedule.
Moses is the core of the team. He scored 6 goals, one off the pace set by Di Santo, led the team in shots (103), shots on target (30), dribbles attempted (210), total chance created (41) and chances created in open play (36). If he moves to Cheslea his value will, like Sinclair to Manchester City, drop to near zero in Fantasy Premier Leagues. You should note, with his price set at £7m, there will be very little room for error if he is to earn enough to meet that price tag. Moses is selected in 10.2% Fantasy Premier League sides as of Aug. 15. A quick midfielder note: James McCarthy created 33 chances in 2011-12. He is priced just £5m, and is worth watching. With the new arrivals we’re unsure of where the focus of the attack will lie, but he has shown the ability to produce if given the opportunity.
There have been a few incoming players in recent days at Wigan with the latest being Arouna Kone. Kone joins Arsenal’s Miyaichi in the Latics attack. Kone scored 15 times in 34 games last season to help Levante to a surprise sixth-place finish in La Liga while on loan from Sevilla. Kone hasn’t been added to the Fantasy Premier League yet, but we expect to see him priced in line with Di Santo, £5.5m. As for Miyaici:
Ryo Miyaichi: Created a chance on average every 32 minutes last season – more often than any Arsenal player & 11th most in the PL (10+ apps)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 13, 2012
He is priced £5m, and is selected in 0.8% of FPL sides. There is no guarantee that the teen is a regular member of the starting XI for Roberto Martinez. The reported departure of Moses could change that and necessitate additional playing time should Martinez loses his top creative threat.
Kone should have no problem displacing one of Di Santo or Sammon and earning a starting nod every week.
Buying: Moses, Beausejour
Scouting: Figueroa, Miyaichi, McCarthy, Di Santo
Selling: Al-Habsi, Stam, Alcaraz, Caldwell
| 19 Aug 13:30 | Gameweek 1 | Chelsea (H) |
| 25 Aug 15:00 | Gameweek 2 | Southampton (A) |
| 01 Sep 15:00 | Gameweek 3 | Stoke City (H) |
| 15 Sep 15:00 | Gameweek 4 | Man Utd (A) |
| 22 Sep 15:00 | Gameweek 5 | Fulham (H) |
| 29 Sep 15:00 | Gameweek 6 | Sunderland (A) |
| 06 Oct 15:00 | Gameweek 7 | Everton (H) |
| 20 Oct 15:00 | Gameweek 8 | Swansea (A) |
| 27 Oct 15:00 | Gameweek 9 | West Ham (H) |
| 03 Nov 15:00 | Gameweek 10 | Tottenham (A) |