Preview #7 - Glorydaze FC

Preview #2: Glorydaze FC

G FU 5.0 Schwarzer
G WH 5.0 Green
D MU 7.5 Evra
D EV 6.0 Heitinga
D AV 6.0 Collins
D BI 4.5 Carr
D SC 4.5 Faye
M AV 8.5 Young A
M AR 7.5 Nasri
M BR 6.5 Dunn
M MU 7.0 Fletcher
M WB 5.5 Dorrans
F MU 12.0 Rooney
F BW 6.5 Davies K
F AV 7.5 Carew

99.5 Spent
0.5 Remaining

Wiggum Unscientific Projected Ranking: Mid-to-lower table
Probable Captain: Wayne Rooney
Biggest Strength: Solid roster with depth
Biggest Weakness: Lack of clear-cut captain if Rooney is injured
Potential Draft Steal: Samir Nasri
Wildcard: Ashley Young

Analysis: Glorydaze FC appears to be entering the 2010-2011 with a deep squad that nonetheless may lack sufficient cover in the “superstar” category were Rooney to get injured. For this reason, Wiggum has crayoned in a mid-to-lower table finish for the Small Rocks rookies.

How the newly promoted squad adapts to the fast paced style of play and transfer market shananigans of the top division (or just Hal) will be a key factor in their final ranking. A guess at the projected starting 11 shows a squad that will amass points at all positions - with the strong 1-5 midfield in particular looking likely to produce a good number of points while having sufficient cover to survive any injuries – but which might start to look thin in the absence of superstars. This means of course that to a large extent Glorydaze FC will only get a taste of glory should Rooney light up the prem.

Besides Rooney, all positions have players that are proven fantasy producers – Schwarzer as GK, Evra in defense, Ashley Yong in the midfield, and Kevin Davies up front. Its not unrealistic to expect each of these players to score between 100-150 points, and one or two of them to exceed that ceiling. But the X-factor on this team who could go a long way to determining whether Glorydaze FC finishes 3rd or 7th is Samir Nasri. Will he produce up to talent, or will Samir find minutes hard to come by in a very crowded Arsenal midfield.

While some managers hit for the fences in this draft, it appears Glorydaze FC has set itself up for unspectacular but predictable results. Perhaps a wise strategy as a newcomer to the Small Rocks, but it may also see the squad as a prime candidate to jump on the bandwagon of an expensive future Man City superstar in the search for all-important captain bonus points