Recently the draft for the IEFSA Fantasy
League for the upcoming season was held on Fantrax. I was determined to
assemble a better squad than the one I saddled myself with at the start of last
season. Even though I claimed a respectable midtable position, I was constantly
battling with injuries, out of form players, players not making it into their
teams starting elevens, and of course, fixture bias against my team.
Things get a little more complicated with
this year’s draft though, as there are more teams involved, and some players
can be held over from last year’s game. For my part I held on to Marko
Arnautovic for his salary of $1. The Stoke City top scorer was one of my best
performers last season and I hope he can keep up that form into 2017. Let me
explain the make up for the rest of my squad after the draft was completed.
In goals I went with Tom Heaton of Burnley.
I got burned badly last year after spending $31 to get the Chelsea goalkeepers
and didn`t feel like over spending in this area again. Burnley did not have a
bad defensive record in the Championship and I’m hoping Heaton can emulate
someone like Gomes, who gained lots of points for Watford in their first season
back in the top division. With all the fantasy teams taking a team each, if
things go wrong then he will be very hard to trade away. I could very well be
stuck with him.
I`ve coupled Heaton up with his teammate
Michael Keane in defence. Keane is a regular at the back and could perhaps be
fancied to get three or four goals this year. I only spent $3 and won`t be too
hurt if I have to jettison him later in the season. I put most of my money into
two other players to make up my defence. Arsenal`s Bellerin cost $25 and is one
of the highest scorers in the game, while Leighton Baines cost $19 and is
looking to bounce back this year after an injury hit 2015/16. Everton should
improve at the back under new man Ronald Koeman, plus I’m hoping Baines'
frequent attacks forward can bring some joy too.
Last year my marquee signing was Memphis Depay……..
This year I spent even more money on another Manchester United player. I ended
up in a bit of a bidding war for the services of Mkhitaryan and when the dust
had settled he was in my squad for $71, which is way more than I had planned to
pay. But I felt I had to secure a signing after seeing a number of other big
names slip away. I will need the Armenian to play every game and to continue
the form that saw him score nearly once every three games in the Bundesliga
last season.
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| If he's half the player Tom Cleverley was then my money was well spent. |
To compliment him in midfield I picked up
two (currently injured) Arsenal players, Wilshire and Cazorla. I`m banking on
them breaking into the Arsenal team sooner rather than later, and they are
definitely an upgrade on the two Arsenal players I had last year in Welbeck and
Coquelin. To round out the midfield I brought in Kevin Mirallas for $12, again
this is a player I expect to be rejuvenated with the arrival of Koeman at
Goodison Park. The last midfielder I took a punt on was Joe Allen. If he had
stayed at Liverpool I would have never touched him, but at Stoke he will surely
be given more game time. He likes to keep possession and I hope he will be able
to set up a good few chances for my other Stoke player, Arnautovic.
All that`s left is to look at are the players
who will supply the goals in my squad, the forwards. Arnautovic has already
been mentioned. The two other Forwards did not have great seasons last year in
the Premier League, but under the guidance of new managers maybe
it will be their time to shine. Pedro was signed for $9 and as he is not a guaranteed
starter at Chelsea, he will probably occupy a bench spot on my team. The main
Forward I have will be Fabio Borini.
No, hear me out! Borini got five goals last
year in a largely hopeless Sunderland side. This year they should be a bit
tighter and more organized under David Moyes. If Moyes can get goals out of
Jelavic and Anichebe, he can surely get goals out of Borini.
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| Borini is due a goal, and I'm due a huge slice of luck! |
I still have some money to dabble in the
free agent market if there are any transfers to the Premier League before the
end of the month. I will probably look for a defender to rotate into my side,
or perhaps a more consistent midfielder if my Arsenal players end up spending
most of their time on the treatment table.
The opening matchup is fast approaching.
Look out for a preview before the weekend. And to keep up with all the goings
on in the league, follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter.
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