Dec 14

Sunderland - 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 Sunderland who will be hoping to stay in the Premier League after being labelled as one of the relegation candidates. Black Cats fan Hoggzeh (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 West Brom players should make your FPL teams. He will also be at hand to answer any of your sunderland related questions in the comments section. Without further ado, here's our Sunderland team guide and player tips for the 2015/16 season.

OPENING FIXTURES

Leicester (A) Norwich (H) Swansea (H) Aston Villa (A) Tottenham (H)

SET PIECE TAKERS

Penalties: Steven Fletcher, Jodri Gomez, Sebastian Larsson Freekicks: Sebastian Larsson, Adam Johnson Corners: Sebastian Larsson, Adam Johnson

TRANSFER TARGETS

Striker - Moussa Sow (Transfer rumour) Midfielder - Moussa Dembele, Leroy Fer (Transfer rumour)

PREDICTED LINEUP

Pantilimon Jones O'Shea Coates Van Aanholt Larsson Rodwell Johnson Defoe Fletcher Lens

SUNDERLAND DEFENSIVE RECORD

In Dick Advocaat's first nine games he managed three wins and three draws from his first eight games, considering he was a new manager coming into a difficult situation this is a fantastic record. In the past Advocaat's teams have been solid at the back and hard to break down something Sunderland will need this season if they want to stay in the Premier League. Last season the Black Cats' conceded 53 goals and kept 13 clean sheets. A good number for a team who finished 16th.

GOALKEEPER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Costel Pantilimon (5.0m) - The big Romanian kept 11 clean sheets last season and will be Sunderland's starting goalkeeper. He displaced Mannone in November 2014 and hasn't looked back since. He's surprisingly agile for his frame and is fantastic in the air. VERDICT: Guarenteed to start and will pick up bonus points for saves, has a competative price range though. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Vito Mannone (4.5m) - Lost his place after some horrific errors last season and will struggle to get it back with the form of Pantilimon. VERDICT: Avoid, he won't be playing.

WHICH SUNDERLAND DEFENDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

Despite finishing quite low in the league table there are a few Sunderland defenders who are of interest. Firstly Patrick Van Aanholt, he was a threat going forward for Sunderland last season and is a danger down the left hand side. Then you have John O'Shea - the second highest scoring Sunderland player last season with 107 points. If you want the odd assist then pay the extra 0.5m for Van Aanholt, but we would suggest John O'Shea he's probably the best 4.5m defender and Sunderland's fixtures mean you could use him in a rotation system.

DEFENDER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]John O'Shea (4.5m) - He played every minute up until GW35 where he suffered an injury, the captain of last season and has experience at the top level of football. He's guaranteed to be a starter and is reliable at the back but does look like he will make a mistake. VERDICT: He'd be fantastic to swap in and out of your side. Get him in there! [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Patrick Van Aanholt (5.0m) - Sunderland will look to use his attacking prowess; he's a very good attacking wingback � collecting five assists last season this with the lack of cutting edge strikers. He's nailed on to start put 5.0m seems a little bit steep for a Sunderland defender. VERDICT: If you do have a spare 5.0m and don't know how to spend it, PVA wouldn't be the worst place to go. Wes Brown (4.5m) - Played 25 games in the Premier League last season but with the addition of Coates and Kaboul expect that to be a lot less. Offers experience in the dressing room but not much else. VERDICT: No, No, No. Sebastian Coates (4.5m) Improved massively under the new manager that explains Advocaat's decision to bring him in permanently but it'll either be Kaboul or Coates which is a choice only the manager knows who will start. VERDICT: No, it's not worth taking the gamble of him starting. Younés Kaboul (4.5m) - Signing from Tottenham, Kaboul offers plenty of experience, but like Coates there is no telling who will start. If Kaboul does get a run in the side though he's well worth a shout for your team. VERDICT: If he starts ahead of Coates for a few GW's then yes, otherwise he's not worth the risk. Billy Jones/Adam Matthews (4.5m) - It's a difficult choice between who will occupy the right back position, Jones played there last season whilst Matthews is the new signing. VERDICT: It's a no for both of them, we couldn't tell you whose guarenteed to start.

WHICH SUNDERLAND MIDFIELDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

If you are adamant on having a Sunderland midfielder we think you should look at Sebastian Larsson, he's a set piece specialist - he is actually one of the highest scoring free kick takers in Premier League history. He's going to start almost every week baring any injury or drop in form. Despite Sunderland's disappointing season he still managed to score 105 points and plays with a lot of flair. He will get you points both goals and assists, just maybe not on regular occasions.

MIDFIELDER ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Sebastian Larsson (5.5m) - One of the most creative players in the Sunderland midfield, he puts 100% in every week and is on corners and free kicks. With the height Sunderland have in their team he should be picking up a few assists. VERDICT: A cheap midfielder who will play every week it's a gamble though. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Jeremain Lens (6.5m) - He's played under Advocaat before however he has never played in the Premier League before he could become very important to Sunderland but he's not worth the gamble from the start. VERDICT: It's 100% worth keeping an eye on him as he could be a fantastic player, but there are better options out there for 6.5m. Adam Johnson (6.0m) - A player who on his day can terrorise defenders but he has his court case coming up in August so his mind may be elsewhere. VERDICT: Nope avoid him. Emmanuele Giaccherini (5.5m) - 30 years old and played 305 minutes last season, he spends most of his time in the medical room. VERDICT: You'd be spending 5.5m for someone to sit on the injury list avoid him. Jordi Gomez (5.0m) - When he plays he takes penalties for Sunderland, his only problem is getting onto the pitch to start. He's not a nailed on starter and struggles to make a massive impact away from penalties. VERDICT: Not worth the risk of him playing. Jack Rodwell (5.0m) - Struggles to get into the game and when he does he gets booked 5 minutes later. VERDICT: Unless you want booking points and a player not to start avoid him. Lee Cattermole (4.5m) - If you know anything about the Premier League you would know Cattermole and bookings go hand in hand, because of that he's probably not the best player to have in FPL. VERDICT: Yes he will start but he will get booked. A lot. Liam Bridcutt/Will Buckley (4.5m-5.0m) - They both are not likely to play so best to leave them alone. VERDICT: Move along.

WHICH SUNDERLAND FORWARD SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?

The problem with Sunderland strikers are that they offer so much but they provide so little. Fletcher and Defoe should score but fail to produce. If you want a Sunderland striker though we'd suggest Defoe. He's been around for a while and has proven himself in the Premier League during that time. He has something special in him, shown in the derby against Newcastle. He has a habit of being in the right place at the right time, with a full season at Sunderland who knows what he could do.

FORWARD ANALYSIS

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[/mks_one_half] [mks_one_half]Jermain Defoe (5.5m) - He's proven how good he is in the past but for Sunderland he's failed to impress. Towards the end of the season he was used as a right-winger. With the addition of Lens he may get more chances than last season its just if can take them chances. VERDICT: You probably could spend 5.5m better, Sunderland don't tend to score much. [/mks_one_half] [/mks_col] Steven Fletcher (5.0m) - He's been the main striker for Sunderland in recent years but doesn't seem to score enough � as is the story with most Sunderland strikers. VERDICT: It'd be crazy to consider him, he doesn't get enough goals. Danny Graham (4.5m) - Yeah he's still about. VERDICT: Unless you're playing lowest score wins then avoid him.

OVERALL SUMMARY

In goal there is really only one choice in Pantilimon, he's nailed on the be a starter and was impressive last season he's dominant in the air and likes to impress the camera men with his saves. The defence could go either way between Van Aanholt and O'Shea. The former is more expensive and the extra 0.5m may not pay off. That's why we'd recommend O'Shea, he's going to start and probably going to be captain as well, a threat from set pieces and under Advocaat should cut out his mistakes. In midfield we feel the gamble of Lens isn't currently worth is, he has all the qualities but he needs to find his feet first in the league. Larsson currently seems the best selection he will start every week and is dangerous with a set piece, for the opening few GW's he's our recommendation. In the striking department, well Sunderland rarely score so the strikers don't look the best picks to us so we'd be avoiding them but if you insist on a Sunderland striker take Jermain Defoe - with a full pre season under his belt he could provide for Sunderland.