In a new series of articles, FantasySports.co.uk will analyse the likely formation and performance impact that players would have on some of the Premier League’s greatest clubs. Today, we ask the question: ‘How would Girona striker Cristhian Stuani fit in at Everton?’
Our analysis series is to assist Fantasy Premier League managers in understanding the impact Cristhian Stuani could have in the English top-flight.
Analysis: How would Girona striker Cristhian Stuani fit in at Everton?
La Liga’s current leading scorer is not Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, nor Karim Benzema. Rather it is unlikely leading goalscorer Cristhian Stuani who plays for Girona.
The well-travelled striker has found the back of the net 11 times in 12 league games. Stuani, a World Cup veteran with Uruguay, has tallied 65 percent of the club’s goals. Thanks to his penchant for finding the back of the net, Girona are undefeated in their last six games and sit sixth in La Liga.
Promoted from the Segunda two seasons ago, Girona are establishing themselves as a mid-table La Liga side behind Stuani. The striker arrived at the club in 2017 from Middlesbrough and he tallied 21 goals in 33 league games, leading Girona to 10th place.
This season, Stuani has score one goal every 85 minutes he has been on the pitch.
Everton lost to Liverpool on Sunday and were held without a goal. The Toffees have scored just 20 times in the Premier League with Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson combining for 12 goals. Striker Cenk Tosun has been a bust for Marco Silva and Fantasy Premier League managers. Tosun has tallied two goals and two assists in 11 games. Six of those appearances have been off of the bench. Tosun has contributed to an Everton goal just once every 129.8 minutes. FPL managers who have selected Tosun have seen just 29 points returned.
Silva has failed to find goalscoring threats at Goodison. Theo Walcott has been just as poor as Tosun. The former Arsenal winger has tallied two goals, but those came in gameweeks 2 and 3, respectively.
The experienced Stuani could be a Premier League goal threat. He has played as a lone striker for Girona, which is something Silva prefers. The manager favours a 4-2-3-1 formation. Against Liverpool, Richarlison was deployed as the team’s No. 9, but his strengths are on the wing.
Stuani has played in the Premier League before. He joined Middlesbrough in 2015 after three seasons at Espanyol. Stuani’s seven goals helped Middlesbrough achieve Premier League promotion. He followed up his first season at Middlesbrough by tallying four goals in 23 Premier League games. The Uruguyan has familiarity with English football and though he didn’t set the top-flight on fire, he has scored just three fewer goals in the Premier League than Tosun currently has.
Add in that Tosun cost Everton a reported £27 million and the evidence of him being a bust (and poor scouting) are there. Stuani would offer Everton an in-form player that has experience playing as a lone No. 9. His contract expires in June 2020 and he is already on the wrong side of 30. Despite the negatives, Stuani could tally goals and FPL points to see managers thrive. Silva’s great man management could even bring out the best in the Uruguayan.