Last week, Nick Szczepanik began our look for hidden gems with his list of players to keep an eye on and possibly move up in our player rankings. This week, Howard Swains takes up the challenge:
"First things first: at £16 million, Darren Bent is overpriced. But here's something that seems to have been widely overlooked amid the indignant gossip concerning the transfer fee Charlton managed to prise out of Spurs: Bent could end up scoring a hatful for the north London side, even if he'll probably start the season as third-choice striker behind Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.
"Those two marksman forged a formidable partnership last season, contributing 25 of Tottenham's 57 league goals. But over at Charlton, Bent was banging in 14 of the relegated side's 34. And while Berbatov and Keane were feeding off the likes of Aaron Lennon, Didier Zokora, Jermain Defoe, Jermaine Jenas and Steed Malbranque - not to mention each other - Bent was served by the somewhat less star-studded Amady Faye, Andy Reid, Darren Ambrose and Jerome Thomas. Bent proved that he can score goals in any team and there's no reason to think he'll fail at Tottenham, inflated price tag or not.
"Indeed, Bent is better in the air than both Berbatov and Keane and he is at his best running on to the kind of flicks and lay-offs that both his new team-mates consistently provide. With Spurs likely to rotate strikers as they attempt to break into the top four, as well as chase success in three cup competitions, Bent is likely to see plenty of action.
"He should be a perfect fit for any PlayTheGame line-up.
"Tottenham fans remember few games from last season more fondly than the 4-3 victory over West Ham United at Upton Park, when they came from 2-0 and then 3-2 down to snatch victory via Paul Stalteri's injury-time winner.
"Exciting as it undoubtedly was, the match might yet become more notable for being the debut of Adel Taarabt, then a 17-year-old loanee from Lens, introduced by Martin Jol in the 87th minute, moments after Bobby Zamora's header had seemingly secured three priceless points for the Hammers.
"Taarabt boisterously blustered into the action as though he'd spent the preceding hour mainlining Red Bull. He seized the ball in his own half, exchanged passes with Teemu Tainio and Tom Huddlestone, before whirling off on a spindly dribble that required an agricultural intervention from Anton Ferdinand on the edge of the West Ham box. Dimitar Berbatov stepped up and curled the resulting free kick into the roof of the net and the Spurs comeback began.
"Since then, Taarabt has signed a permanent deal at Spurs and has been a star performer in Tottenham's as-yet unbeaten pre-season. He has scored a couple of 25-yard screamers (admitedly against weak opposition) and has lost none of the verve and confidence that characterised his debut cameo.
"Although Spurs have countless options in midfield, Taarabt seems certain to feature in the first team this year, probably from the bench and especially if Tottenham are chasing the game. PlayTheGame managers should follow Martin Jol's example: sign him up, wind him up and watch him go.
"Aston Villa fans have endured a largely frustrating pre-season, with the signings of Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood scarcely enough to whet the appetite of even the most loyal supporter for the coming season.
"But a genuine ray of light came during the first match of Villa's tour of North America, a 4-2 defeat of Toronto FC, which featured a hat-trick of the highest quality from Luke Moore, the 21-year-old forward.
"Moore first underlined his blistering pace (he ran onto a through ball from Ashley Young and flicked it past the keeper from the edge of the box), and his second and third were poacher's specials (Moore was quickest to react when the Toronto keeper spilled Marlon Harewood's shot, then turned in another Young cross from inside the six-yard box).
"With Villa's first-choice front line still undecided, Martin O'Neill must choose between Moore, Young, Gabriel Ablonlahor and John Carew. After a positive debut season last term, and displays such as this one against Toronto, many Villa supporters are clamouring for Moore. Take note."
Note taken and so our list thus far is as follows:
Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth)
Andriy Voronin (Liverpool)
David Healy (Fulham)
David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)
Luke Moore (Aston Villa)
Adel Taarabt (Tottenham)
Darren Bent (Tottenham)
Comments (2)
In the eyes of the blogger, what is the most valuable position in this format?
When planning your selections you have to consider not just the high-scoring player but the differential of that player to the rest at his position. In a baseball game of a similar variety there are concepts such as "positional scarcity" for positions which traditionally don't produce high fantasy stats but have the occasional highly valued high scoring stars.
So are goalkeepers like Van der Sar, Cech and Reina that much more valuable than their counterparts that you should aim to pick them in the first round of the draft?
Posted by David | July 31, 2007 1:06 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 01:06
Healy is certainly a good call. A proven goalscorer playing under a manager who has already got the best out of him.
Posted by Chekist | July 31, 2007 11:40 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 11:40