Fantasy Premier League Summer 2012 Transfer Signings Preview

Green QPR FPL Summer Transfer Window 2012 New Signings: Part III

Robert Green is now at QPR

Here we go. Part III of our [Fantasy] Premier League new signings preview, where we are going club-by-club [alphabetically] and previewing the new signings to give our take on their potential for fantasy stardom. Each player’s FPL price will follow their name in brackets.

If you missed Part I – Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton and Fulham – you can find the article here: Part I Preview.

If you missed Part II – Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, and Norwich – you can find the article here: Part II Preview.

I. QPR

Mark Hughes and QPR narrowly avoided relegation last time out but they have reloaded this season with a slew of big name summer signings – and it’s clear that a mid-table finish is not out of the question this time around.

Park Ji-Sung [6m] is a superb capture, though he won’t produce from a Fantasy Premier League perspective regularly, in “real life” he’ll make the crucial tackles and lung-bursting runs necessary to free up the more creative players like the moderately priced Taarabt [6m] and Wright-Phillips [5.5m].

Junior Hoilett [6.5m] was good in stretches for Blackburn last season and also arrives at QPR as a great new signing. He can play as a left winger or up front, and will look to improve on his 7 league goals last season. He’s not a fantasy bargain at 6.5m, but he will produce with playing time.

While Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse [both 6.5m] are the main men up front, new signing Andy Johnson [5m] is a player Mark Hughes knows well and the former Fulham and Crystal Palace man brings loads of experience. He’ll most probably feature as an impact substitute, however, unless Cisse and/or Zamora are injured.

At the back, QPR also upgraded. Paddy Kenny is now at Leeds and in comes Robert Green [4.5m] from West Ham. At 4.5m he’ll be a good fantasy producer if QPR can improve their defensive resolve under Hughes. He has experience as an England international and is an upgrade over Kenny.

Finally, Fabio [4.5m] has joined on loan from Manchester United. If he can hold down a regular spot at LB or perhaps played forward as a left winger, he could be a decent fantasy performer. A bit of a gamble, though, with competition from Armand Traore [5m] and others.

II. Reading

Reading are up from the Championship and will rely on returning star midfielder Jobi McAnuff [5.5m] if they have any chance of avoiding the drop, but they’ve also made a few summer signings:

Pavel Pogrebnyak [5m] comes over from Fulham – where he scored an impressive 6 goals in just ~ 900 minutes last season. He should score 10+ league goals this year assuming he stays healthy.

Chris Gunter and Adrian Mariappa [both 4m] are the new cheap defensive acquisitions – both coming over from Championship teams while Nicky Shorey [4.5m] will surely earn a starting role at the back with his prior Premier League experience.

Garath McCleary [5m] had a great season at Nottingham Forest last year and is a winger with pace – who can score goals and create for others – so perhaps at 5m he’ll end up being a rotated 5th midfielder for fantasy managers looking for a gamble.

III. Southampton

Another newly promoted team that relies on one massive, massive player – in this case it’s the returning Rickie Lambert [6m] who scored 25 goals last season. But they’ve also made a few summer moves…

Jay Rodriguez [5.5m] comes over from Burnley but shouldn’t be selected by fantasy managers with fellow forward Lambert just 0.5m more expensive and with a bit more upside.

Steven Davis [5m] comes over from Rangers. He has some prior league experience – about 5 years ago – but he shouldn’t be selected either – too defensive as a midfielder.

Nathan Clyne [4m] is a promising young right back who could prove to be a bargain selection for fantasy managers should he hold down a starting spot but at this stage it’s a massive risk.

IV. Stoke

Stoke. Stoke. Stoke. Tony Pulis is just so solid but he’s added a few flair players this summer. Michael Kightly [5.5m] has really impressed me when fit for Wolves – he shows a hunger for the ball and has great pace. He’s not afraid to take on a defender. He can be compared to teammate Matt Etherington [6.5m] and if he earns regular starts, he could be a surprise fantasy contributor. We’ll monitor him closely, then.

Stoke have also agreed to sign Dynamo Kiev left back Goran Popov on a season long loan but his price has yet to be added to the official Fantasy Premier League game. His most likely price will be in the 5m range. If for some reason he’s priced at 4.5m or 4m he could be a real bargain should he earn a presumed starting role at left back.

V. Sunderland

No major acquisitions of note though Carlos Cuellar [4.5m] comes over on a free from Aston Villa. He’s versatile and can play CB or RB but he’s slow and has never really been too impressive from a fantasy perspective.

Good luck to all fantasy managers.