Why can’t we just be allowed to have nice things?
Along with Trent, Sonny was one of the most consistently underpriced players in FPL over the past couple of years.
In the five seasons between 2016-17 and 2020-21, he was priced between 7.5 and 9.0. In that 20-21 season he put up over 3,100 fantasy points (17 G, 11 A, 13 CS), at a starting price of 9.0, and a finishing price of 9.6. The FPL Powers adjusted, raising him to 10.0 for the 21-22 season. Sonny went over 3,000 points again, with his in-season price rising all the way to 11.2.
Then FPL Towers went and spoiled everybody’s fun.
Sonny came into the 2022-23 season priced at a hefty 12.0, making him, Mo, and Kev the clear Big Three in midfield.
Perhaps seduced by the opening fixture against Southampton, around 20% of FPL managers got him in to kick off the season. He managed a solitary assist in that 4-1 demolition, and has since blanked in the tougher fixtures against Chelsea and Wolves. Between the price and the performances, we need to talk about Sonny.
The Numbers
So far in the 2022-23 season, Son has started all three games and played 243 minutes. He’s got 0 goals and 1 assist, for a grand total of 10 FPL points.
This puts him level with Jack Harrison (6.0) and Joe Ayodele-Aribo (5.5). Kev, who also started the season at 12.0, has already scored 20pts. Teammate Kulusevski has 18pts, having played only a handful more minutes, while Kane has 16pts (2 G, 0 A).
Clearly, the surface numbers aren’t great. What happens if we take a look under the hood?
Nothing good, as it turns out. Son has an uninspiring 0.57 xG so far this season, giving him a theoretical average of 294 minutes per xG. His xA is even worse, at 0.34 (494 mins/xA). He’s taken only six shots so far, three of which have been on target.
The Eye Test
If I hadn’t watched Spurs vs Wolves at the weekend, I’d be tempted to dismiss Sonny’s struggles as a small sample size. I’d have reassured any naysayers that his class would shine through soon enough.
I did watch the game, however, and what I saw didn’t look good.
Sonny just doesn’t look right. He was getting in good positions on Saturday. In possession, he was playing more or less as the central striker with Perisic to his left, Kulu out right, and Kane floating around behind. Several decent chances or half-chances fell to him, and the lack of conviction in his finishing was bizarre considering what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.
I’m not hitting the panic button on him in real life. He’s only 30, and he was ridiculous last season. But he’s clearly lacking confidence right now.
The Alternatives
This is the main argument against Son. There are simply too many obvious alternatives, all of which are better than him right now.
I can’t imagine having Son over Kulusevski, for example. He’s picked up exactly where he left off last season, passed the eye test, is outperforming his xG and xA handily, and is currently 3.7 cheaper.
You’ve already got Mo. But – if you’re locked-in on two premiums in midfield – De Bruyne is also vastly superior to Son right now. He looks incredible (his goal against Bournemouth was *chef’s kiss*), is only 0.2 more expensive, and he’s got Palace and Forest at home, then Villa away, before the fixtures get slightly tougher (‘slightly’ – we are talking about City here).
You’ve probably got Martinelli already too. If you want to save a ton of money and reinvest elsewhere though (probably defence), I like Zaha at 7.0 (after the City game, obviously), or Rodrigo at 6.2 (started well, and solid fixtures coming up).
On Your Bike, Son?
If you’ve not got Son already, you’re obviously not touching him with a ten-foot barge pole.
If you have got him… sorry. You’re in a tough spot.
The upcoming fixtures will make you want to keep him, but are trickier than they look. Nottingham Forest away is up next, and they’ve looked solid. West Ham away comes after that, and they’ve also kept it fairly tight, despite basically having no centre-backs. After that it’s Fulham at home, which is tasty… but then it’s City away straight after.
If you haven’t got Kulu, I’d make that swap immediately. That 3.7 price difference is massive. Obviously, the same applies for Martinelli (6.3) if you’re late to the party. If your third City spot is open, and you don’t want a new premium defender, Kev (12.1) is a vastly better option right now than Sonny.
Spurs look fine, and – as Perisic beds in – the floodgates will definitely open at some point. I would want absolutely no part in such an expensive risk as Sonny right now though. He’s already dropped in price once, and 200,000+ managers binning him each means you’ll only lose more money. Binning him is the smart choice at the time of writing, with a view to looking again in Gameweek 11 when their fixtures get very, very nice indeed.
