This FPL Dilemma compares two Bournemouth forwards; Josh King and Jermaine Defoe. Both players had decent seasons last campaign and will certainly be on the watchlist of many Fantasy Premier League managers.
Without further ado, let’s consider the underlying statistics for this FPL Dilemma…
Josh King
King is entering just his third season in the Premier League, but has certainly made his mark in the league. The Norwegian had previously played for Blackburn before his big move to the Cherries in 2015. At Rovers he scored 7 in 74 games as he was predominantly used as a wide midfielder.
He is also one of many graduates of Manchester United’s youth system, but made just one sub appearance in the League Cup. In his two seasons with Bournemouth he has bagged 22 Premier a league goals, 16 of which coming last season.
King was a diamond in FPL, being priced at just 5.5m which had eventually risen to 6.2m by the end of the season due to his excellent form. However to the dismay of many FPL managers King was changed to a forward which has put a lot of them off selecting him.
Jermaine Defoe
Where do I start with Jermaine Defoe? A great man on and off the pitch. Defoe has 11 Premier League seasons behind him and has racked up an impressive 108 goals. The Englishman had previously played for West Ham, Portsmouth, Tottenham and Sunderland in the Premier League.
Jermaine also had a loan spell with the Cherries when they were in League 1 and scored 13 goals in his first 12 games. After multiple spells at other Premier League clubs (above mentioned) and a cameo playing for MLS side Toronto FC, Defoe made his swift return to the Premier League with Sunderland in January 2015.
In the 2015/16 season he scored a fantastic 15 goals which included many vital ones against the likes of Chelsea and a stunning volley in the Tyne-were Derby. He replicated his scoring record last season, but his time it wasn’t enough and the Black Cats were relegated.
Defoe, a lot like King, was a great asset to many FPL teams as he was very generously priced at 7.0m to begin with. As well as goals, Defoe was a bonus point magnet, receiving 24 in total last season.
The Verdict
Josh King is price at 7.5m this year and Jermaine Defoe at 8.0m. There are some question marks as to whether King will play up top for Bournemouth or on the wing, because of the recent arrival of Defoe. Also, Eddie Howe has other strikers at his disposal including Benik Afobe who has had an impressive pre-season, which may force King back into the midfield.
Despite Defoe’s more expensive price I believe he’d still be the better option as the veteran is guaranteed to start up top, unlike King. Also some people are speculating that the Norwegian may be a ‘one season wonder’, which was great last season, but could well be a waste of money this season.
Overall, I believe you should play it safe with Defoe if you feel obliged to select a Bournemouth forward as they do score an unhealthy amount of goals in the Premier League.
Written by Harry Clark (@HarryClark67)
