Tips

The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 1

Our Watchlist rankings, offering player recommendations over the next four-to-six Gameweeks, returns to the site again today. With the season only days away, a number of World Cup stars are still struggling for fitness and we subsequently steer clear of the doubts and place our faith in one or two of the form players over the close-season action:

Unsurprisingly, United and Chelsea dominate our early thoughts – both clubs have shown strong form over the pre-season and have the early fixtures to benefit. Louis Van Gaal’s men face just one of last term’s top eight in the first eight Gameweeks and approach the season with a 100% summer record – David de Gea’s security of starts earn him top spot for keepers, whilst Phil Jones gets the nod due to the fact that he’s the only centre-half who has yet to pick up an injury or knock over the recent action.

Juan Mata’s role behind the front two in a 3-4-1-2 brings him to the summit of the midfielders – with a full pre-season behind him, the Spaniard is looking to continue the form which harvested six goals, five assists and 15 bonus points in 15 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit. At 9.0, Mata looks a convincing double-up option with Wayne Rooney for those looking to load up on the Red Devils – Rooney’s ownership is now 44% and rising, making him the most popular pick by some distance in FPL right now, while Robin van Persie gets back to full fitness.

Ashley Young also comes into contention at 5.5 – fielded as a wing-back, he’s scored three times over the summer and is likely to benefit from injuries to the likes of Luke Shaw, Rafael and Antonio Valencia.

Over at the Bridge, Diego Costa’s four goals and three assists over the summer sum up his instant impact at Chelsea. Now sitting in 30% of teams, his arrival could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Jose Mourinho – the Blues fired more shots than any other side last season but a lack of clinical edge proved costly to their title tilt.

With games against Burnley, Leicester, Swansea and Villa in the first six, Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic also feature prominently in their respective positions – we reckon the Belgian will start this weekend, despite a relative lack of pre-season. Cesc Fabregas is a cheaper alternative to Hazard at 9.0 to 10.0, though the concern is that, as we’ve seen in pre-season, Mourinho can utilise him in the double-pivot as well as in “the hole” behind Costa.

Aside from the usual suspects, there are some notable options in the upper echelons of our first Watchlist. Stoke’s Asmir Begovic sits second for stoppers – with so much uncertainty over Mark Hughes’ defence, the 5.0-priced Bosnian offers a nailed-on option between the posts and faces only three of last season’s top eight in the opening 12 Gameweeks.

For the time being, Joel Ward (5.0) is our Palace defender of choice ahead of home games against West Ham, Burnley and Leicester in the first six. There’s every chance that we could turn our attentions to Martin Kelly if his proposed move from Liverpool goes through – at 4.5, the latter would be the cheapest option amongst Tony Pulis’ defence, with Ward expected to shift left to accommodate the new boy.

Steven Caulker’s goal threat brings the new QPR man into consideration. The centre-half notched five times last season for Cardiff and had more attempts in the box than any defender – with home games against Hull, Sunderland and Stoke in the first five, we’re backing the big centre-half to quickly prosper.

In midfield, the usual suspects dominate the main positions. Delve deeper, though, and mid-price options such as Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jason Puncheon and Dusan Tadic are all bubbling under – opening trips to United, Arsenal and Liverpool temper their initial appeal but all three should rise in our estimations from next week onwards. Tadic has been fielded wide in a front three by Ronald Koeman and with dead-ball duties to further his appeal, faces only one of last season’s top eight from Gameweek 2-12 and, at 7.5, should be a key player for the new-look Saints.

Up top, Rooney, Costa and Daniel Sturridge – a front three that would certainly test our £100m budgets – lead the way. City’s Stevan Jovetic tucks in just behind the trio on the back of five goals over pre-season – with Alvaro Negredo and both Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko yet to retain their match fitness, Jovetic, at 8.0, certainly offer an in-form route into the champions attack for the time being, though it’s best to plan an exit route in preparation for Aguero’s return to the fold.

While the Montenegro star is more of a short-term option, Stoke’s Bojan Krkic seems nailed-on by comparison and has the potential to be a bargain buy. Three goals over pre-season, allied with a price tag of just 5.5 and the Potters’ above-mentioned schedule over the first 12 Gameweeks makes the former Barcelona man the standout option in the budget bracket right now.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

1,834 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Moist Towelettes
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    A) Vertonghen, Mutch

    B) Lovren/5.5, Henderson?

    Open Controls
  2. cfc_kaka
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Hey Guys in a huge pool this year with coworkers could you rate my team thanks!

    Krul
    Collocini Chambers Caulker
    Mata Hazard Ramsey Barkley
    Rooney Giroud Costa

    Anyone know if de jong will be fit for newcastle?

    Open Controls
  3. barcacruz11
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Giroud or dzeko ? ? Why?

    Open Controls
  4. langello
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Coutinho or Sterling?

    Terry or Ivanovic?

    Need help!

    Open Controls
    1. BigCasher
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      BigCasher

      hello gents....

      my first team , haven't had much time this year

      Krul/Mannone

      Cahill/Lovren/Debuchy ( Ward/Bruce )

      Ramsey/Mata/Lamela/Hendorson ( Davis )

      Rooney/Costa/Diouf

      any feedback would be great - thanks

      Open Controls
      1. Birds of Prey
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        good bench that should fly easlily and can change formations w/o worry nice

        Open Controls
        1. BigCasher
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          Considering changing Lamela for Eriksen, just a more safe choice, but Lamela could be differential player in the team with Diouf.

          Open Controls
  5. saikado
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Can you suggest best midfielder in 5.0 price?

    Open Controls
    1. BigCasher
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      My choice is Davis at Southampton

      Open Controls
    2. Mahesh_Kumar
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      Tiote - Newcastle

      Open Controls
  6. NumptyNed
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Does anyone think navas is going to play at city?

    Open Controls
  7. Fawell
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Pretty happy with this how's it looking?

    De gea
    Debuchy/Cahill/Caulker
    Sanchez/Mata/Eriksen/Siggy
    Rooney/Costa/Bojan

    Myhill/Wisdom/Wanyama/Cameron

    Any suggestions?? Please rate out of 10 and reply and I'll rate yours :):):):

    Open Controls
  8. Gomolon
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Could somebody please RMT, as it's my first time playing and I haven't had anyone look at it yet.

    GK: Begovic, Fabianski

    DF: Fonte, Cameron, Jones, Vlaar, Bruce

    MF: Mata, Ramsey, Fabregas, Eriksen, Sigurdsson

    FW: Rooney, Bojan, Giroud

    ^ The above team leaves me with 0.5m in the bank^

    Currently I'm looking at playing 3-5-2, with Bojan on the bench unless he impresses. Defence and goalkeepers would be rotated based on fixtures.

    Current concerns of my own include:

    No Hazard, as he could be a good contender for top points scorer this season.
    Fonte instead of Lovren and Debuchy (all are priced at 5.5m)
    No Cahill (I couldn't afford him, but hopefully I could get him in the future.)
    No Sterling or Barkley (mainly due to fixtures,plus i can downgrade one of my 9.0m midfielders to them -depending on form- and still have money to upgrade other aspects of my squad.)
    If Bojan doesnt do well,it may be difficult to upgrade him to Lukaku, Bony, Remy, Dzeko etc
    Fabregas may be used more reguarly as a CDM, limiting his points chances compared to Hazard.

    As it is I'm planning to hold onto the 0.5m to upgrade Jones to Shaw once he returns from injury, but I'd really apprectiate some feedback please 🙂

    Open Controls
    1. spanner91
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 7 months ago

      I am in the same situation as yourself, i have 0.5 in the bank to upgrade Jones to Shaw. However i have gone for hazard over fabregas, leaving me with a 5m midfielder.

      IMO i think its easier to start with hazard and downgrade to fabregas if he proves to be in better form.

      You make a very good point about Bojan which i havent thought about but think 3-5-2 will be the strongest formation this season so having him as bench fodder doesnt bother me.

      so i would try start with hazard over fabregas which would free up 1m if you do make the downgrade making it easier to upgrade a defender to cahill or bojan to a better forward.

      Open Controls
      1. Gomolon
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 7 months ago

        Out of curiousity,which 5m midfielder did you go with ? If I were to downgrade,it would probably have to be Sigurdsson to a 5m midfielder, as I'd rather wait until getting Barkley/Sterling so I can see who's in better form and also avoid some of their opening fixtures. For me though, Sigurdsson has a lot of appeal, he improved a lot under Sherwood 2nd half of last season (bad 1st hald has brought down his cost significantly), also I think he might have been given some dead ballopportunities at Swansea now 🙂

        True, I'd rather take the gamble on Bojan than go all out with Rooney, Costa, Sturridge and see my team suffer for it.

        Who what changes would you reccomend I make in the team to upgrade Fabregas to Hazard?

        Oh, and after this mornings news about Tony Pulis, I'm going to swap out Fonte for Debuchy I think, could be a great game for the Gunners & a good chance for Wenger to start getting Debuchy settled in 🙂

        Open Controls
        1. spanner91
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 7 months ago

          my team

          Begovic / Krul

          Ferdinand, Jones, Luis/ Van Aanholt, Ward

          Siggy, Mata, Eriksen, Hazard / Davis (Southampton)

          Rooney Costa Bojan

          my defenders are a little more costly than yourself, but having seen last season the defenders outscored a lot of MF and ST.

          Davis of southampton is my 5m option, just based on their opening fixtures. I dont think southampton will struggle as much as people are expecting.

          i can see why you have fabianski as swansea rotate with stoke. however two 5m goalkeepers seems expensive, based on my team i prefer krul over fabianski which would free you 0.5. Newcastle have a good run of fixtures to begin with too.

          i wouldnt know what else to suggest as you have a strong squad in MF, the only reason i havent got any arsenal players is due to their hard start to the season and plan to bring in those players around gameweek 8. i dont think ramseys price will increase significantly as many people already own him. so could potentially downgrade him to .....

          thats my opinion

          Open Controls
          1. Gomolon
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 7 months ago

            Just having a little look through the top points scorers on FPL and you're right,they are outscoring quite a lot of midfielders and defenders.

            I think for the moment what I'm going to do though is downgrade Cameron to a 4.0m defender, so that I can put Hazard in and still have a very solid golkeeping combination, with Debuchy and Jones as the main two in the starting XI. Then about GW4-8 I can start looking at which midfielders I should downgrade a little, and which defenders are proving good value for money.

            I'm impressed at your squad though, it looks pretty solid all around, plus Costa & Rooney could be great :), I have'nt looked much into Arsenal's fixtures, are Chelsea's much better ? If so, i could make a straight swap of Ramsey to Fabregas, freeing up the space for Hazard (or try to sneak Costa in somehow,but that'l be unlikely.)

            Open Controls
            1. spanner91
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 7 months ago

              Chelsea are ok for 1-4 game weeks then I'm shifting to Liverpool. Going to bring arsenal game week 8 onwards.

              That sounds like a good plan. Cameron isn't nailed on, so good choice.

              Thanks for the feedback. You should use the fixture Flickr, can view 6 game weeks in advanced but if you are a member can view the whole season.

              Hence the reason I have no arsenal Liverpool or city yet!

              Open Controls
  9. Fawell
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Pretty happy with this how's it looking?

    De gea
    Debuchy/Cahill/Caulker
    Sanchez/Mata/Eriksen/Siggy
    Rooney/Costa/Bojan

    Myhill/Wisdom/Wanyama/Cameron

    Any suggestions?? Please rate out of 10 and reply and I'll rate yours :):)

    Open Controls
  10. FFNerd
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 7 months ago

    Begovic Myhill
    Davies Debuchy Azpilicueta Caulker Hutton
    Albrighton Hazard Ramsey Mata Eriksen
    Sturridge/Costa/Rooney Jovetic Bojan

    Begovic Myhill
    Davies Cahill Debuchy Caulker Hutton
    Siggurdson Fabregas Ramsey Mata Eriksen
    Costa/Rooney Jovetic Bojan

    Begovic Myhill
    Moore Cahill Debuchy Caulker Hutton
    Siggurdson Hazard Ramsey Mata Eriksen
    Costa/Rooney Jovetic Bojan

    Begovic Myhill
    Moore Cahill Debuchy Caulker Hutton
    Albrighton Fabregas Ramsey Mata Eriksen
    Costa Rooney Bojan

    Which one? Help please.

    Open Controls