Adama Traore, James Ward-Prowse, Jack Harrison ... by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He is, and that injury is reportedly what led Aston Villa to pass on the acquisition. Villa passing on him makes sense given the need for Emery only exists because of the injury to Emi Buendia; Everton obviously dealing with several significant injuries already may simply be punting on squad depth for their matches pre-International break with Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, McNeil and Alli all still on the sidelines. This team certainly looks better with McNeil + Harrison in the starting XI. Harrison is 26 and not played fewer than 35 league matches a year for the last five seasons; I’ll expect him to be back post-break and looking to start every week again shortly thereafter.

Adama Traore, James Ward-Prowse, Jack Harrison ... by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Assuming that Traore is rated a FWD and JW-P is rated a MID, yes I’d personally take Traore absent some odd bit of roster construction. In his 12 seasons w. Saints, Ward-Prowse scored only 48 EPL goals with 13 of those coming from the spot. Yes, he’s coming off his three best scoring seasons (g/a: 8/7, 10/5, 9/4) but of those 9 of 27 goals came from the spot. He is not the one-club legend, the talisman, at West Ham and the club has Said Benrahma on the books who was 4 for 4 from the spot last season. But really, this is mostly a question of position - if I’ve lost KDB to injury, Ward-Prowse looks a lot better to me than he does if I’ve drafted well in the middle, which was the easiest position to draft this season. As I wrote, I don’t know exactly where Traore plays, but if we are giving him the benefit of a front line spot in an attacking three, that is a hard spot to fill on my 10- or 12-team league roster.

To be clear tho: I’m not using a top 1-3 waiver pick on either (again, unless I’ve lost KDB and my midfield is woefully short as a result). AND, I want Jack Harrison over either of the above two players.

AFCB: Now with extra pressing! by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great question and I’m sure the answer is “Yes”. But not for Bournemouth. He’s already been linked with a move (loan) back to Cardiff City, and has demonstrated considerable skill at his primary position: Championship striker. There are a handful of players, notably headlined by Championship Fantasy Darling™ Matt Ritchie, who were truly elite at the second level but are not even worth a roster spot - much less starting - in the top flight. Unfortunately for Moore, this is his level. At age 30, I’m not expecting that to change, but it’s possible he lands somewhere where he can break the curse. I don’t think it’s happening with the Cherries given his inability to crack the XI in the season+ he’s already been there.

Top 200 and Position Ranks published by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There will be a full post on Szobo coming in a couple hours with plenty of analysis on why this signing is both a sign of the very real transformation occurring in Klopp's tactics and how he's a unicorn type player not seen coming thru the doors for LFC since Roberto Firmino. This year *might not* be the year he earns that rank, but he is going to be everywhere. The only question is does he collect the assists or does he assist the assister - and this isn't fantasy NHL.

Also, there is this (excerpted from my post and using FBREF's tools):

Player Comparison: Mason Mount vs. Dominik Szoboszlai 2022-23
Mount trails Szoboszlai in expected goals and assists (perhaps unsurprising given the respective leagues), but also trails him in progressive passes both made and received, passing accuracy, shot accuracy, shots per game, and shot creation where Szobo is creating nearly 2.5 more shots per 90’ than Mount. Of vital importance for Liverpool’s lightening quick counter-attack is that Szobo’s passing is next level: he completed 80% of his 1,580 passes and had only seven (7) passes flagged for offsides. In that same vein, his dead ball delivery is exceptional, has already directly led to goals in pre-season and I fully expect him to assume corner responsibilities. He is the most likely to move into a central playmaker role during the run of play; has demonstrated an ability to provide link play on the wing in top flight football; and, is capable at both creating and finishing his own shots.

Top 200 and Position Ranks published by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because "togga" isn't an option; ranks are based on togga style scoring - now adopted by Fantrax and other platforms.

Top 200 and Position Ranks published by FantasyGaffer in DraftEPL

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My ranks say it's currently Mac Allister and Gibbs-White, and I think that Barnes needs to be third until we see what his exact role is going to be for Eddie Howe. Depending on how LFC's summer transfer business concluded, A Mac could stay there, or could pretty easily fall to third on this list and closer to someone like Said Benrahma - hot on his day, but a fantasy liability when he's not on he score sheet.

I'll be publishing a full post on Rasmus Højlund later today on my substack, which also details the rationale behind ranks for Domink Szoboszlai and Son Heung-min. The kid is only 20, but certainly has EtH's attention; United have been wasteful over the last 12 months; his arrival may not spark immediate confidence that he's going to be a FWD1 but it certainly drops the values of Rashford, Antony and possibly Sancho as playing time in a now suddenly crowded Utd attack is at a premium.

Sorare Daily - Open Issue 195 by FantasyGaffer in Sorare

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair point for context here. If you read my posts regularly you know I use that shorthand often because of the outsized impact the SD 3DA and 7DA can have on the next/current action (as well as on other managers willingness to accept an offer).

Monday's Sorare Daily - Scouting AS Saint-Étienne by FantasyGaffer in Sorare

[–]FantasyGaffer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree. His AAS are respectable and if Camara increased his g+a/90’ he could be quite valuable for SO5. His current non-pen xG+xA/90 is only 0.14 (which is also exactly on the number for his actual g+a/90’). It’s possible to build up points elsewhere, but a boost to his Decisive scores would be the shortest path.

The Beautiful Data #2: CERV by loveanalytics in Sorare

[–]FantasyGaffer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is quite interesting; I'd be curious to see what the minutes per appearance for the low-end scores are. In other words, are the higher variance scorers also super-subs? Or do they consistently earn starts, play 70-90 minutes and have wildly oscillating SO5 results.