Dec 14

Newcastle - Team & Player Guide 2015/16 - Fantasy Premier League Tips

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We're teaming up with knowledgeable fans ahead of the 2015/2016 Fantasy Premier League season to get some tips on their players potential, starting lineups, transfers and much more. This article will focus on Newcastle United who under new manager Steve McClaren will be pushing for a top 10 finish. Magpies fan rewindthegamer (as he's known on Reddit) has provided us with his expert insight in to the club and hopefully his predictions and player analysis will help you choose which Newcastle players should make your FPL teams. He will also be at hand to answer any of your Newcastle related questions in the comments section. Without further ado, here's our Newcastle team guide and player tips for the 2015/16 season.

OPENING FIXTURES

Southampton (H) Swansea (A) Manchester United (A) Arsenal (H) West Ham (H)

SET PIECE TAKERS

Penalties: Papiss Cisse, Remy Cabella Freekicks: Jack Colback, Siem de Jong, Georginio Wijnaldum Corners: Jack Colback, Remy Cabella

TRANSFER TARGETS

Striker - Charlie Austin (Transfer rumour) Midfielder - Michael Carrick (Loan rumour)

PREDICTED LINEUP

Krul Janmaat Coloccini Williamson Dummett Colback Sissoko Wijnaldum De Jong Perez Mitrovic

NEWCASTLE'S DEFENSIVE RECORD

Last season Newcastle were awful at the back, they conceded 63 goals, yes 63. The second highest amount behind 20th placed Queens Park Rangers. Tim Krul kept eight clean sheets in 30 games last season and will be looking to improve that this year. The difference between this year and last is Newcastle now have stability in the managerial department with the arrival of Steve McClaren whose Derby side conceded 56 goals last season in the Championship, one of the lowest in the league. McClaren will be looking to tighten up that back line and reduce the amount of goals conceded. If you do pick a Newcastle defender just be aware that they rarely keep clean sheets.

GOALKEEPER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Tim Krul (4.5) - He will without doubt start the season as the first choice, and quite frankly wont have much competition. The problem with Krul is he won't be keeping many clean sheets he's behind the 2nd worse defence in the league last season which is currently unchanged. VERDICT:We wouldn't consider it due to the lack of clean sheets [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Rob Elliot (4.0m) - Likely to be third choice so is barely going to see the pitch. VERDICT: It's not even worth thinking about.  Karl Darlow (4.0m) Darlow will be second choice behind Krul. Impressed during his time at Nottingham Forest but is going to struggle to displace Krul this season. VERDICT: He's not going to be getting enough game time to score you points. 

WHICH NEWCASTLE DEFENDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

Firstly we'd like to say we wouldn't really recommend any Newcastle defenders to start the season with. They just don't keep enough clean sheets. Janmaat looks the best option though, he's very good going forward and with the signing of Mitrovic he should be pushing for more assists as the striker has a lot better aerial presence than the strikers of last season.

DEFENDER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Daryl Janmaat (5.0m) - Without a doubt the best defender Newcastle have, in his debut season he collected eight assists and grabbed a single goal. On the downside for Janmaat there are better FPL players who will keep more clean sheets VERDICT:You could spend 5.0m on a defender who'd keep more clean sheets. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Fabricio Coloccini (4.5m) - At 4.5m Coloccini could be a great purchase. He won't score hundreds of points but he could be utilised really well in a rotation system. VERDICT: You could swap him in and out with another cheap defender but he's not a high scorer. Mike Williamson (4.5m) - Usually quite solid, but he became error prone and was a liability towards the end of last season, always has a mistake in him. VERDICT: Due to the fact he doesn't know what he's doing half the time it's a no. Jamaal Lascelles (4.5m) A new signing at Newcastle the young English defender will be looking to impress the new manager. He's shown in the past that he has the ability to play in the Premier League but he may not be a starter from the outset. VERDICT: Keep an eye on him cause he could be a good option if he gets a consistent run in the side. Paul Dummett/Massadio Haidara (4.5m) The pair will be rotated in and out the side at left back and it's very hard to call which one will start each GW.. VERDICT: Avoid them both to much risk. Steven Taylor (4.0m) - When fit he's a solid presence at the back for Newcastle, it's just being fit that's the problem. If he can stay injury free he looks great value at just 4.0m VERDICT: To much risk involved with his fitness - avoid.

WHICH NEWCASTLE MIDFIELDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

Newcastle have a handful of exciting midfielders, the problem is when they pull on the black and white shirt they seem to lose all their talent and flair. Cabella would have been our pick had he lived up to his potential last season but he didn't and now he's struggling to get into the side. Wijnaldum is an exciting signing but it's hard to say how he will adapt to the Premier League so for now we are avoiding him. Our pick for a Newcastle midfielder is a bit left field it's Siem de Jong, he's been impressing during pre season and is showing all the signs that he's going to be very important to Newcastle this coming season.

MIDFIELDER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Siem de Jong (6.5m) - Struggled last season with injures and ended up playing 149 minutes but he still managed to score one goal during the process. He's impressing in pre season and will be hoping to take that form into the league, he's currently the best midfield option Newcastle offer. VERDICT:We wouldn't start with him not with their opening fixtures. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Georginio Wijnaldum (7.0m) - It's yet to be known where Wijnaldum will play in the team, what he does offer Newcastle though is versatility. He can play anywhere across the midfield and also upfront. He was fantastic last season for PSV but there is always the risk that he won't be able to continue that over. VERDICT:Keep an eye out for him has the potential to be fantastic. Remy Cabella (6.5m) - He's very creative but was very very disappointing last season and failed to live up to his billing. There has been talk of a loan deal away from the club though. VERDICT: Avoid, was poor last year and may not get game time this season. Yoan Gouffran (6.0m) - Yeah he's still about, does very little when he's on the pitch and that's not very often. VERDICT: Move along he won't do much. Moussa Sissoko (6.0m) - He brings a lot of versatility to Newcastle and was one of their shining lights of last year but with the additions of more creative players in midfield and upfront he will less influential more withdrawn role. VERDICT: Won't have the same attacking affect that he did last year so avoid. Jack Colback (5.5m) - Expected to be playing deeper this season dictating the play and will probably be in and out of the side used for Newcastle. VERDICT: He won't score many points so don't get him. Rolando Aarons (5.0m) - Has a lot of promise to become a fantastic player but he is still young. He could start but there is no guarantee. VERDICT: If Aarons starts to get a good run of games he could be a great addition at 5.0m but we wouldn't advise him from the start. Gabriel Obertan/Mehdi Abeid/Vurnon Anita/Cheick Tiote(4.5m) - The first three will be struggling for game time and Tiote will be struggling to avoid being booked. VERDICT: We wouldn't even bother.

WHICH NEWCASTLE FORWARD SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

If we were to pick any Newcastle striker it would be Mitrovic, the new signing in Newcastle and should slot straight into the side. He has somewhat of a bad reputation and that could see him in trouble both on and off the pitch reducing his game time. He's scored goals on a consistent basis before and if you believe the rumours Chelsea were also interested in signing him so he has pedigree. We wouldn't say he's the best option from the start though due to his lack of game time in England.

FORWARD ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Aleksandar Mitrovic (6.5m) - He brings a physical presence to Newcastle, something they've been missing for a while. His power will come in handy to hold up the ball and bring in other players. He's likely to start displacing Cisse in the team. Good aerial ability but new to the pace of England. VERDICT: Be aware of him as he has the qualities to score goals. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Papiss Cisse (6.5m) - Likely to be in and out the side making room for Mitrovic. There are a lot better options out there than Cisse who will score on a more regular basis. VERDICT: Spend your money elsewhere. Ayoze Perez (5.5m) - With the additions Newcastle have made Perez is likely to suffer and will be seeing less game time, unfortunately as he was a joy to watch at times. VERDICT: Although he was the highest scoring Newcastle striker last year, his game time will be limited. Emmanuel Riviere (5.0m) - If you watched any of Riviere last season you'll know how poor he was, that's not expected to change this season with him being 4th choice. VERDICT: Not even worth a bench spot.

OVERALL SUMMARY

If you insist on having a Newcastle striker then it should be the new man Mitrovic. He's been brought in by McClaren to score goals, he provides power and an ariel threat that should see him collect assists and score from both open play and set pieces. In midfield we'd be taking the Dutchman De Jong. Struggled to get onto the pitch due to injuries last season but looked good in the little time he got. We wouldn't pick him from the start but certainly keep an eye on him. Newcastle defenders are not that appealing due to their reluctancy to keep clean sheets but Janmaat looks an interesting option due to his attacking threat. If you rotate him well he could pick up important points for you. Finally in goal Tim Krul, he's a nailed on starter for Newcastle and won't face much competition. He does however struggle to get them clean sheets.