What now? Because Cristiano Ronaldo ain't walkin' back through that door. The answer seems to be for everyone else to step up their game just a bit. I'm not sure that is a viable strategy. Or a strategy at all. So where does that leave fantasy managers who have always relied on Manchester United players for big returns?
The front pairing is sure to be Berbatov and Rooney. Rooney is the more attractive option, but priced accordingly. Owen is an intriguing pick for the first week. Even with one or maybe two cameo appearances he could score on Burnley and Birmingham. But over time, he's going to be a spot player, and may find himself behind Macheda and/or Wellbeck depending on the youngsters' improvement and his own decline.
In defence, they should be settled. It should a simple matter of penciling in van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra on the team sheet week. This would price out most fantasy managers, so 'lucky' for us ManU has something of a defensive crisis. Van der Sar is out for two months and his putative replacement Foster first looks terrible in the Community Shield and then pulls out of the England squad with an injury. Across the back line, Rafael, Neville, Brown and Vidic are some degree of injured. So while we can now afford the likes of Foster or Kuzczsak, and O'Shea the whole thing is a bit of an uncertain mess.
If only it were better in midfield. This has been one of Neal's "favorite" topics this summer. For fantasy manager, there are two problems. One is the lack of clarity. Fergie will have to pick four from Park, Nani, Valencia, Giggs, Scholes, Anderson, Carrick, Hargreaves and Fletcher. Of those perhaps Valencia and Carrick are more likely than not to start. But that's not a gamble that I'm willing to make as a fantasy manager. Especially given the relative lack of quality that is problem number two. Nani certainly has the potential and Valencia has been a consistent performer. Giggs is still a good bet against obliging opposition. But where's the match-winner in the group? And when has a title been won without a steady supply of goals from midfield? While Ronaldo might have been an anomaly, I can't think of a champion that didn't have a Lampard, Pires, or Beckham... hell, even a Scholes contributing to the cause. Maybe SAF could continue with Newcastle's experiment of Owen as an attacking midfielder. Could that one move kill the proverbial two birds?
Until these issues get sorted out on the pitch, I would be cautious on Manchester United players beyond the easy first twiweeks. Maybe by the run of Arsenal, @Spurs, Citeh in weeks 3-5 we'll get a sense of what SAF considers his best team... and how good that team really is.
Possible Starting XI: van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov
Players to Watch:
Wayne Rooney: What to make of Roonaldo? Is he a leading man or just an extremely talented second banana? You'd think we'd know the answer to this question by now but with CRon gone he's staked his claim at least verbally but thus far he has been unable to really assert himself as a first choice fantasy player and a top level star player. He may be England's most talented player but he has yet to prove he's their best. So, with his price as high as Gerrard, Lamps, and Arshavin you are likely to have to decide early whether you think his production will increase minus CRon or whether the lack of any discernable midfield (or the realizations of his own limitations) will prevent him from being worth the fantasy money. No doubt he's an extremely good player in both fantasy and the real world but the question here is whether he is worth the money.
Antonio Valencia: He's been discussed as among the best players outside the top 4 for a couple of seasons now - mostly on the back of a few excellent performances in high profile matches. One thing he has never really been is consistently excellent. Now, whether that is down to inferior talent around him at Wigan or his own talent and drive has yet to be determined. At about 11 to start the season and as the only skilled player in the United midfield he's probably a good bet. I'm betting that a lot of ManYoo's transition from back to front will go down the right side of the midfield.
Anderson: There are rarely returning players at a big club who could be considered value plays in fantasy. I'm not entirely convinced that Anderson will be a value either I'm entirely undecided as to whether he will realize his promise this season and give United a strong presence in central midfield or if he even has the aforementioned promise to start with. Let's also meter expectations here, if he DOES end up reaching his potential he's still not going to be a great fantasy player - the question here is whether you can get a 5.5 to 6 point/match player who will play consistently for just over 4. If he can produce at that level he will enable you bring in some more expensive players and he'll be worth your consideration. If he doesn't take the step up then he's just the midfield version of Mok from last season and there will be plenty of those guys available. The other interesting discussion in the United midfield (assuming no more acquisitions) is Ji Sung Park who is more expensive at around 8 but you know you'll get decent production (but rarely great production) if he gets the regular spot on the left side of midfield. The upside here is him starting regularly and producing like Joe Cole did two seasons ago at Chelsea - not going to make your season but not a bad deal for the money.
No comments:
Post a Comment