Thursday, August 4, 2011

2011/12 Fantasy Season Preview - Queens Park Rangers


Queens Park Rangers FC
Last Season Summary
League ranking: 1st - League Championship (88 points)
Points per game (home: away): 2.13: 1.70
Goals per game (for: against): 1.54: 0.70
Number of clean sheets: 25 (out of 46 games)
Top league scorer: Adel Taarabt (19 goals)
Top league assister: Adel Taarabt (16 assists)

Transfers
In: Jay Bothroyd, Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon
Out: Mikele Leigertwood

Predicted Season Finish: 14th
I am quite positive about QPR's survival. Decent defence, coupled with the existence of Adel Taarabt, should make them a pretty consistently performing team. I cannot wait to see them in action.

Fantasy Ace: Adel Taarabt (£6.5m)
Being the most expensive fantasy player among those who promoted, Adel Taarabt is this season's Charlie Adam. Crowned as "The Next Zidane" by some, Taarabt does have a lot of skills to show: impressive footwork, wide vision, precision passes, clinical finishing, solid free kicks and the best of all, he can play at both middle and sideways.

With such attacking variability, defenders will have big trouble to guard him. He will definitely shine in the Premier League. I am expecting more than 150 fantasy points from him. Hopefully he won't be gone before the season starts.

Decent Picks: Jay Bothroyd (£6.0m), Dudley Campbell (£5.5m), Danny Gabbidon (£4.0m)
Both are equipped with Premier League experience. Bothroyd scored 18 goals and 8 assists for Cardiff last season. It might be just okay, but with better supplies at QPR (particularly Taarabt), he should benefit.

Unfortunately for Heidar Helguson, the arrival of DJ Campbell is expected to make the former lost his place. Campbell has gone through a productive season with Blackpool, producing 13 goals and 4 assists. That kind of figure at Premier League should be more than enough to gain your confidence on him.

On the other hand, being so experienced in Premier League relegation fight, Wales international Gabbidon is a budget choice for 5th defender. QPR's relatively good defence record compared to the other two promoted sides should be able to help him to score more fantasy points.

2 comments:

  1. What about Ephraim? His performance doesn't justify his lack of starts last season, isn't it? I noticed some of their defenses are producing and scoring fair amount of goals as well

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  2. As far as I am concerned, Ephraim's stats aren't that promising... If you can't provide good numbers at lower level, it's even harder when you are at the top.

    And yea, you cannot compare defence of two different levels directly.Sticking with experienced defenders like Gabiddon is the safest bet.

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