Digest

The Digest – Gameweek 1

We bring the curtain down on Gameweek 1 with the weekly digest.

Manchester United’s new frontman makes his presence felt at Old Trafford. Huddersfield Town’s performance changes our perspective on their potential, while we analyse the Harry Kane exodus, as the transfer market is quick to escalate.

The Player

Any concerns over how quickly Romelu Lukaku would settle at Manchester United were swiftly dispelled after a weekend double at home to West Ham.

Entering Gameweek 1 as the top owned and most captained player in Fantasy Premier League, the Belgian justified that collective show of faith with a 13-point haul in his first league appearance for the Red Devils.

Now owned by over 51% of managers, he’s garnered more than 115,000 transfers-in since Friday’s deadline.

The fixtures certainly offer the chance to maintain momentum – with Swansea, Leicester and Stoke up next – his armband appeal is obvious.

The competition for places in our three-man frontlines could barely be stronger after a host of premium picks delivered. Yet Lukaku’s immediate impact in Jose Mourinho’s new-look attack ensures he remains a prominent figure in our thinking for now.

As witnessed on Sunday, there is also the hope that the new boy’s pace as the focal point could unlock United’s under-performing midfielders as Fantasy options.

At home, in particular, they were dire last season – Mourinho’s men scored a mere 26 times at Old Trafford, netting more than twice in just two of 19 fixtures.

If Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba can build on promising weekend displays, our attentions may not be solely focused on Lukaku.

The Team

As the first side to gain promotion to the Premier League with a negative goal difference, few had considered Huddersfield Town for their initial squads.

Handed a season opener away to Palace, the general assumption was that Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke would run riot against a defence that managed just six clean sheets in 23 away outings in last season’s Championship.

Yet David Wagner’s side wasted no time in proving the doubters wrong.

Indeed, their 3-0 win at Selhurst Park suggests that the Terriers’ high-pressing style of play could prove more efficient in the top flight, where far fewer opponents operate with route one tactics.

What’s encouraging is that they stuck to their tried and trusted approach despite installing target man Steve Mounie up front.

The new boy is a monster in the air – he averaged 8.4 successful aerial duels on his way to netting 14 times for Montpellier last season – but his new team-mates didn’t resort to launching aimless long balls and deep crosses. Indeed, only Brighton and Swansea (eight apiece) produced fewer crosses than the Terriers’ 14 in Gameweek 1.

The early-season optimism is emboldened by a run of favourable fixtures – along with Man United, Huddersfield are the only side to avoid all of last season’s top six in the first six Gameweeks.

Having scored twice against the Eagles, Mounie (6.0) is clearly the main bandwagon, claiming over 78,000 new owners thanks to a 12-point return.

But three home fixtures in the next four (NEW SOU whu LEI) look promising at both ends of the pitch, with centre-half Zanka and set-piece taker Aaron Mooy also subject to investment in light of a goal and assist respectively.

And the search for value picks could soon see more of Wagner’s regulars make their way onto our radars. Raiding left-back Chris Lowe mirrors Zanka’s 4.5 price point, while new boy Tom Ince equalled Mounie’s pre-season tally of four goals.

The Talking Point

One match into the season and Harry Kane – the winner of back-to-back Golden Boots – has already been given the elbow by over 91,000 FPL managers after failing to score against Newcastle United.

The fact that Kane produced more shots and more efforts inside the box than any other striker in the opening round of fixtures seems to have been dismissed.

Similarly, he’s now poised to face Chelsea’s decimated defence and then Burnley in back-to-back home matches.

It says everything about the current market activity that proven Fantasy royalty like Kane can be so quickly cast aside.

He may be last season’s top scoring forward and number one for points per match (7.5) in 2016/17, but that record fails to protect him.

Judging by the current trends, the form of premium priced forwards could make the market particularly volatile this season.

Eleven strikers were priced at 8.5 or over at the start of this season’s FPL. Of the ten who took to the pitch in Gameweek 1, only three failed to find the net – Kane, Gabriel Jesus and Michy Batshuayi.

Jesus, who was second only to Kane for points per match up front last season, has been sold by nearly 50,000. Meanwhile, Batshuayi has already fallen in cost to 8.4.

Perhaps Kane’s poor scoring record in August, or the fact that Spurs have to play their home matches at Wembley, are the bigger factors at play here.

So often in Fantasy football, patience is a commodity that can pay off for those who avoid knee jerking.

But with such a luxury of forward options at our disposal this season, there’s a high chance that we will have to ride out and absorb price drops in order to stick to our guns.

A blank against Chelsea, with further returns for Lukaku at Swansea, would cause significant tremours.

Kane’s appeal centre’s around his infallibility as a captain candidate. Should Lukaku begin to show the potential to match him home and – more crucially – away, then the Spurs striker will suffer another blow and, for some, he may not be given the Burnley fixture to address the balance.

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1,740 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Waxys
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Prefer Mancini for fantasy than pep tbh

    1. Irish Madridista ⭐
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Can't see either being good value for money at this point in their careers, Mancini's PPG are woeful.

      1. Waxys
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Mancini's city was legendary for EPL.

        Pellegrini wasn great too with Toure

  2. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    And Man City want Jonny Evans? Sorry what

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Ha ha my thoughts exactly

    2. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Maybe misses Manchester and feels like adding a few trophies as backup, although he's better than stones haha

    3. One Man
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Ferguson did say to the Norther Irish manager that united were wrong to sell him.

  3. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    I need to move out Zaha so....

    A. Zaha to Mooy and Gabbi to Firmino. -4

    B. PVA to Hegazi and Zaha to 8.0 -4

    C. Zaha to 7.0 (or less). FT

    1. Johnny 8
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Team looks pretty solid to me so C. Think it's worth waiting one more week to see if Gabbi can remember where the goal is.

    2. Captain Roberto
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Hegazi might be nailed if Evans goes to City

  4. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Man City want to buy Jonny Evans lmao

    1. olidooley
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Surprised Utd aren't in for Crouch

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Is there a vacant post on their bench or what?

    3. Captain Roberto
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Well, he is only 29 and Otamendi and Mangala are absolute sh*te.

  5. Farke in hell
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Play one of these:

    Loftus-Cheek vs LIV
    Quaner vs NEW
    Carroll vs MAN U

    1. olidooley
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Quaner or RLC

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Will Quanar start? If not, RLC

    2. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Q

  6. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Over 4000 entries in LMS
    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2017/07/21/the-last-man-standing-competition-3/

    If you score 48 or more in GW1, you qualify for GW2.

    1. Horlicks esq.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Smashed it.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      5 points clear! Close shave

    3. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Oups.. Saved!
      Kane let me down! 🙁

    4. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      I scored 48, thanks for not culling me

    5. Mayo for Sam
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      What's the prize

  7. Waxys
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Yesss I hope city sign Evans.

    We need more squad depth in defence.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      The more John Stoneses in FPL the better (for people who don't buy John Stoneses)

      1. Waxys
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        I think Stones is crap and not with half of 50m we paid for him

        1. Waxys
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          Worth

        2. Captain Roberto
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          Price should no longer be considered when assessing a players ability. Especially when considering transfers made my teams backed my countries(ManCity/PSG!) who will pay what ever they want for players simply to have them.

          Premiere League (England ==> England) transfers are twice the price or equivalent foreign ==> England transfers. Then when it's one of the rich list the price is doubled again.

          Sterling £50m equals a true value of £12.5m.
          Walker £45m equals a true value of £11m

    2. One Man
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Hope he signs so Hegazi is then naniled

  8. JohnnyMagrinho
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Is it looking likely that Danilo will retain his place against Everton or will he be ousted by Sane? I'm assuming Mendy won't feature, but heard rumours about Sane usurping him this week. Any truth to that or just conjecture?

    • New Article Posted
    • SLOT GACOR MAXWIN
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      please help me:

      Cech

      Alonso, Cedric, Alderweireld

      Salah, Pogba, Matic, Chamberlain

      Gabbiandini, Lukaku, Lacazette

      Subs: Ryan, Daniels, Keane, Lofus-cheek.

      thinking Vardy in for lacazette and xhaka in for Chamberlain..

      Do you think thats a good move for -4?

      1. zon
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        No

        1. SLOT GACOR MAXWIN
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          why not?

          1. Sancidino
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 7 months ago

            Vardy has bad fixtures. You should just be shipping Ox

            1. SLOT GACOR MAXWIN
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 7 months ago

              ox for xhaka?

            2. King Sheep
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 7 months ago

              Ship Ox, keep Laca, no need to change him.

    • zon
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Play RLC over Willian this week?

      1. One Man
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Willian

      2. King Sheep
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Willian

    • darrellb
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      in the last man standing league, how do you know from what points onwars have been eliminated, or if you have been eliminated? does your name just not turn up in the league anymore? is there a tracker?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        http://torresmagic.webs.com/lmsupdate.htm

        If you aren't in the league anymore, you have been eliminated.

        1. darrellb
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          sorry missed your comment from earlier with the update. yippee kai yay.... still in it. 37 more weeks to go.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 7 months ago

            Ends in GW37 so 36 🙂

    • Macafu
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Gabbiadinni to Mounie?

      1. Turbolag
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        No

      2. captaincuddles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Hell yes

    • LosBlancos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      The Zaha replacement is killing me, I have to take a -4 hit for him as I've transfered before the injury news.
      Can't decide on who to choose between Rambo, Arnie, Tadic, Atsu.

    • SLOT GACOR MAXWIN
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Salah or Lukaku for captain?

      1. Macafu
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Kaku

    • fordy049
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Anybody have a link to mark's team?

    • LT10
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Bench one of the following for this weekend...

      a) Danilo (EVE)
      b) Atsu (hud)
      c) Willian (spurs)

      Thanks

    • ramzieibrahim
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Mee or Lowe?
      Rlc or any other 4.5 ?

      1. captaincuddles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Lowe
        There's a few that played at weekend - what about jack cork Burnley just to be different!

    • danaz10
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Tadic in for Zaha?

      1. captaincuddles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        I did

    • AdemolaLookman
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Zaha to Pogba or D Silva ?

      I have Aguero, Lukaku and Mhki already . It's only a short term move

    • One Man
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Zaha to Wijnaldum ???

      1. Nastradarmus
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        I was thinking this finished well last season

    • Neetan
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      1 - Would you play Foster or Dawson away to Burnley?
      2 - thinking of getting rid of Ibe but struggling for replacements, any ideas for 5m mid?

      Elliot

      Alexander-Arnold - Stephens -Danilo- Davies

      Pogba - Tadic- Willian - De Bruyne

      Kane - Lukaku

      Subs
      Foster
      C.Dawson
      Abraham
      Ibe

      1. Kenneth Tang
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Ibe is a terrible choice when you setup your team. Sell him asap for Atsu / RLC / Carroll