MJ would have loved these youngsters too
It’s certainly not the biggest story this month in world football, but the UEFA U-21 Championship is nearing its conclusion in Sweden, and England’s youngsters have really impressed.
They’re through to the final after squeaking by host country Sweden on penalties in the semi-finals today, so I figured it would be nice to give them their due. Let’s take a look at the starting 11, and how I rate their chances to produce in the (fantasy) Premier League this upcoming season:
GK Joe Hart: Birmingham have signed the Manchester City stud on a season long loan deal and Hart will presumably take over the starting role at St. Andrew’s. Hart should be valued in the 4.5M range and could prove to be a bargain. He won’t come close to matching last year’s value play (Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer was just 4.0M to start the season) but Hart may be a reliable back-up for fantasy footie managers.
RB Martin Cranie: Now that Liverpool have over-spent for Glen Johnson, Portsmouth should welcome Martin Cranie into the starting lineup. The right back is still an unknown commodity in the Premier League, and Portsmouth’s team is still in flux after being sold, but he should get his chance – and I think he may well be a “sleeper” pick this year.
CB Michah Richards and CB Nedum Onuoha: Pretty straightforward. Both featured prominently last season for Manchester City and are reliable, if not spectacular, producers in the fantasy game. Neither player offers much of an attacking threat though and thus they will not be the key to any winning fantasy team.
LB Kieran Gibbs: At just 19 years old, he has the most potential of the back 4, but he will be stuck on the bench at Arsenal behind the superb Gael Clichy. If Clichy gets injured, Gibbs could be one to watch. Otherwise, he should be avoided.
CM Lee Cattermole, Mark Noble, and Fabrice Muamba: Cattermole is a great “Real life” player, but a poor fantasy option. He is like Nicky Butt, in that sense. He rarely scores or assists, and he often finds himself in the referee’s book after a mis-timed tackle. He will have a very long career in England, but it won’t be scoring goals. Noble, on the other hand, is a guy I’ve always been high on. He is strong from set pieces, and plays the game with his head up – really a good passer. I like him a lot. Muamba, the Bolton player, has showed flashes of brilliance, but like Cattermole – lacks the attacking technique needed to become a reliable fantasy Premier League star. Noble is the choice out of those three, then.
LM James Milner: We don’t need to say much about the Aston Villa star after his breakout season last year. The captain of the U-21 team is deadly from set pieces and the run of play, and should be the focal point of Villa’s offense (along with Ashley Young) now that Gareth Barry has moved to Manchester City.
RM Theo Walcott: The biggest question mark in the U-21 starting eleven for me, from a production perspective in the EPL. Will the rest of his Arsenal teammates share the ball? Will he start consistently? Will he avoid injury? If the answer to all three of those questions is “Yes,” then he will produce from his wide position. His speed is amazing. Breathtaking really.
Striker Gabby Agbonlahor: Agbonlahor should continue to form a great strike partnership up front with John Carew at Villa. He’s streaky – and needs to be more consistent to please fantasy managers- but he scores in bunches and if you catch him in a purple patch – you will not be disappointed.
Good luck to all fantasy premier league managers this coming season. The EPL kicks off on August 15th.
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