G EV 5.5 Howard
G WB 4.0 Carson
D LI 6.5 Carragher
D CH 7.0 Ivanovic
D MC 6.0 Kolarov
D WB 4.0 Pablo
D WA 4.5 Figueroa
M AR 9.5 Arshavin
M TH 7.5 Modric
M MU 8.0 Nani
M NU 5.5 Nolan
M BW 5.5 Lee
F CH 12.5 Drogba
F CH 9.0 Anelka
F SC 5.0 Fuller
100.0 Spent
0.0 Remaining
Wiggum Unscientific Projected Ranking: Mid table
Probable Captain: Didier Drogba
Biggest Strength: Strong 1-2-3 Punch
Biggest Weakness: Unpredictable midfield
Potential Draft Steal: Chung-Yong Lee
Wildcard: Nani
Analysis: Defending champions FC Springfield have abandoned the defense heavy approach that won them the title last season in favor of amassing the most expensive strike force in the club’s history. This is causing some concern at Springfield HQ, but there does appear to be enough potential to keep the season interesting.
The strength in the team would appear to be that like blech_dawgs it is top heavy. If healthy, a Drogba-Arshavin 1-2 combo is perhaps the most promising 1-2 punch in the league. Behind them, Anelka and Modric would never be out of place as a potential captain. And the overall starting 11 looks strong – Tim Howard is a proven producer and clean sheet candidate, the defense is anchored by two sure starters on two of the best defensive teams in the prem, the midfield is solid top to bottom, and up front the team cornered the market on starting Chelsea strikers which could either flop considerably or else shutout the rest of the Small Rocks of some major point opportunities. Add to this the potential of Nani (if even just as a cap hold), Kolarov, and Chung-Young Lee and Wiggum’s bet that West Brom could be this year’s Birmingham (last season Wiggum picked up Johnson and Dann for peanuts and rode their 12 game unbeaten streak to serious points) and all the ingredients appear to be there to a serious player in the league until May.
At the end of the day, however, Wiggum just can’t shake the feeling that there are too many question marks here to realistically compete for the title without major changes. Drogba and Anelka are both on the wrong side of 30 – can they stay healthy? Has Nani ever produced as he was projected to? Why did Wiggum get shutout of Man City talent upfront? And perhaps most perplexing - why is Ricardo Fuller on this team?!
Wiggum had a so-so draft last year, and made up for it through shrewd transfers of low priced talent and swooping for Carlos Tevez just before his season took off. Wiggum will need to create similar magic this season to hope to lift a 4th Small Rocks trophy, but even if one of the stars of the team gets injured there is enough quality to suspect that Springfield can maintain at least a mid-table finish to the end.
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