Preview #2 - Vegas Virgins

G BW 4.5 Jaaskelainen
G WA 4.0 Al-Habsi
D CH 7.0 Terry
D EV 7.0 Baines
D MU 5.5 Evans J
D BW 5.5 Cahill
D WW 4.0 Mouyokolo
M LI 11.5 Gerrard
M AV 9.0 Milner
M TH 8.0 Lennon
M BI 4.5 Ferguson
M AR 5.0 Wilshere
F MC 9.5 Adebayor
F WA 6.5 Rodallega
F AR 8.0 Chamakh

99.5 Spent
0.5 Remaining

Wiggum Unscientific Projected Ranking: Mid table
Probable Captain: Steven Gerrard
Biggest Strength: Depth
Biggest Weakness: Goalkeepers
Potential Draft Steal: Marouane Chamakh 
Wildcard: Marouane Chamakh

Analysis: Like Hal, Craig is someone that the board of FC Springfield does not like to second guess. There is a proven track record in the desert war room of good drafting and solid transfers. However, a quick glance at the roster suggests to Wiggum that there isn’t enough here to be the early season favorite.

The key strong point of this team is the fact it is anchored by Steven Gerrard – one of the true fantasy superstars that any team would like to have. Behind that, players like Milner, Adebayor, Rodallega, and Terry will more often than not produce for the Virgins. And he may come cheap, but few keepers see more shots come their way than Jussi, giving the Virgins a reliable point getter in the back – even if Bolton cant expect a clean sheet most weeks. A good loan transfer from Arsenal could see Jack Wilshere become a point producing machine as well.

Like all teams though, there are numerous question marks here – and more so than other teams, there appear to be questions on this team whether the core players can consistently expect to be starters. Among the main questions Wiggum’s crayon jotted down include: does Adebayor finish the season as a starter or will Man City’s transfer policy make him an expensive sub? Can James Milner replicate last season’s production or was it an exception, and will a transfer to Man City see him as well fighting to be a starter? Will Jonny Evans start in the heart of Man U’s defense, or will he too ride the pine? What will Leighton Baines do this season? And is this Aaron Lennon’s breakout year?

To me though, the main ace in the hole (sorry – tried to go without a gambling reference) of this team is Maroune Chamakh. If he adapts quickly to the prem and steals a starting spot from Bendtner, this could the x-factor for this team. On the other hand, if he starts slow and/or sits on the bench, Virgins might be looking very quickly to use a wildcard to address some of the weaknesses this team will need to correct to hope for more than a mid-table finish.