SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
With Fantasy Football an established way for people to enjoy football for almost 20 years now, SBC has set up its own community league here. Sam Cooke gives some advice to would-be managers who are interested in joining the fun about who they should sign.
1) Yaya Toure, Man City (£11m)
A midfielder who dominated the league last season and who should do so again this campaign. 20 goals and nine assists went some way to making him the top performer in Fantasy Football as the Ivorian clocked in a little under 3000 minutes of game time. Though £11m is a hefty price tag, especially for a midfielder, he will justify it.
2) Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal (£5.5m)
An effortless transition from Ligue 1 to Newcastle saw Arsene Wenger pay a reported 12 million (more than double his previous fee) to secure his services. He played 46 times for Newcastle and showed his attacking capabilities moving up the right wing. He will slot into, and strengthen, an Arsenal defence which conceded the fourth least in the Premier League 2013/14.
3) Leighton Baines, Everton (£7m)
Alongside teammate Seamus Coleman and once bitten, twice shy Branislav Ivanovic, Leighton Baines is the most expensive defender at £7m. Out of the three though, indeed out of all defenders available, include this one. The third most points haul in the game of all defenders last season (Terry and Coleman scored more), he plays for Everton, who under Martinez, conceded just 39 goals last season. Only Man City and Chelsea conceded less, and with Tim Howard between the sticks, and a strong defensive unit who know each other well in Coleman, Stones and Jagielka they will be difficult to score against once more.
Furthermore Baines is an attacking threat, he set up 5 goals (third most of defenders in the league) and scored 5 to boot. He takes set pieces (both direct free kicks and corners) and is the club’s go to penalty taker, though Lukaku will be vying for this role. This is a man you need in your team, true that the Toffees have a rather tricky start, but Baines remains a necessity in my view.
4) Raheem Sterling, Liverpool (£8.5m)
Absolutely flourishing under the watchful eye of Brendan Rodgers this looks set to be an even stronger season from the youngster. Whilst only two of the S’ of Liverpool’s delightful SSS remain, the English duo of Raheem and Daniel Sturridge will be out to show just how little they need Luis Suarez. At £8.5m he’s also cheaper than the likes of David Silva, Mata, Ozil and Walcott. He creates chances and he scores goals
5) Diego Costa, Chelsea (£10.5m)
Controversial I know, to place a Premier League newcomer into the must haves list but Costa’s record justifies his selection. The star striker in an Atletico Madrid side which won La Liga and came so close to lifting the Champions League trophy too. The Spanish Brazilian (Brazilian Spaniard?) scored 27 league goals and a further 8 (in 9 games) in the Champions League.
He will have chances aplenty coming from Chelsea’s array of attacking midfield talent and with Drogba back at the club, he has a mentor on hand to school him in the ways of becoming a Chelsea legend. He should do very well. He’s also the most likely candidate to replace Lampard as the club’s main penalty taker.
At a cool £10.5m he’s one of the most expensive forwards – only RVP, Sturridge and Aguero cost more and Rooney is available for the same price. As such it’s arguably a safer bet to opt for one of these Premiership savvy selections but I’m sticking to my guns. After all when else has a one time Atletico Madrid star striker arrived at Chelsea and not lived up to their big price tag?
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