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Technical Area – Budget Midfield Options

One key to a successful Fantasy season has always been the early discovery of a midfield gem.

The 2015/16 season saw Riyad Mahrez rise from relative obscurity to the heights of a 240-point season, while last campaign, Josh King’s 16 goals powered many Fantasy line-ups to the top of their respective mini-leagues.

After seven Gameweeks, we are beginning to accumulate sufficient data to begin making more confident assertions regarding a player’s underlying performance metrics.

This international break is, therefore, an ideal time to evaluate the potential candidates for the title of must-have budget midfielder this time around.

It also gives us the chance to roll out – for the first time in Technical Area – data on expected goals (xG) and assists (xA), a new source of information which will soon be available to our members.

1,891 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Richo

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Quality player

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Looks a good player.

    3. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Needs to work on that teapot celebration though...

    4. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Who?

    5. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Like it.

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

      spitting image of a young bobby zamora ooooohhhhh young man

  2. Eton Rifles
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Batshuayi scores again.

    😎

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Hmmm...

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      You either die a hero, or live long enough to become the Villain

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          😀

        2. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Man, you were so campy back then Adam West.

        3. Fantasy Gold
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Haha!

    3. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      😆

  3. The Head-Ake
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Shameless RP :

    1) Kaku, Otamendi, Hazard and Joselu
    2) Jesus, Vardy, Alli and Simpson
    3) Jesus, Joselu, Hazard and Luiz/Azpi

    Which one and why? Would love your opinions. Sorry, despo times ahead 🙁

    1. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Not again :/

    2. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I'd probably go 3 with Azpi.

    3. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      3 with Azpi.

      1. The Head-Ake
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Doesn't it make the team unflexible?

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

          Team?

          1. The Head-Ake
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Fabianski
            Ward - X - Monreal - Davies.
            Coutinho - X - Silva
            Kane - x - X

            (Elliot-Mbemba-Hogg- King)

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

              2 also good option imo if you want flexible team 433/343.But if you want to play 433 every week go 3.

    4. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Hazard not ready yet. So 2, switch Alli for Sané perhaps.

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        2

  4. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Begovic with an assist. Which GK will have the first assist of the PL season?

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I once had a goalie assist on the bench in FPL.... That was great!! 😀

      1. Yellin' in my Ear
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I once had a goalie goal on the bench, scored against the keeper I played

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ederson

    3. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ederson

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Was thiking Ederson too lol.

    4. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      : xA computer explodes :

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        No-one

    5. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Don't get why people are saying Ederson. Teams are camped around their own box vs City.

      Will be someone like Schmeichel imo.

  5. Fantasy Gold
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    This bloke Richarlison is a serious troll.

    Shipped him out just as he started his scoring run.

    Cheers kiddo.

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      That's just mean 😐

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Tbf I was on wildcard so he was never gonna survive anyway

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

      Ouch

    3. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      When does it become your own fault for selling a player at the wrong time ?

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Just bants, I take full responsibility 🙂

        1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Now apologise for all of my mistakes 😉

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            😆

  6. flippetyflop
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A or B please guys??

    A - Alonso Hazard and Joselu

    or

    B - Azpi Sterling and Vardy

    1. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      B

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        B

  7. AFC49
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A.) Ramsey > Groß, Chicha > Vardy (-4)?
    B.) Ramsey > Groß GW8, Chicha > Vardy GW9.
    C.) Keep Ramsey and Chicha for GW8 and do it in GW9.

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

      C

    2. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Does any potential price rise affect matters? If not, I'd say C (and then you might want to do something completely different) 😉

      1. AFC49
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Not really and currently have Chicha on the bench for this week. Want Vardy.

        1. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Why Gross though, Choupo-Moting seems better bet, no?

  8. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Southgate saying they lack creativity because Lallana is injured. England to win the WC if Lallana is fit?

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

      No chance.

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      No doubt about it

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Germany are running afraid right now

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Stop with the needless WW2 references. Jeez.

        1. F4L
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          actually wasn't intentional 😀

    4. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Lallana players for Liverpool + it's Liverpools year = England win the World Cup .

    5. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Ha!

    6. Rash
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Southgate is clueless

    7. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I think he has a point. Lallana could play a similar role to the one Eriksen does for Spurs. And with Rose, Kane, Walker, Dier and Alli in the team you could build a Spurs based team that play well together.

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

        Eriksen in different league to lallana.. however he's a much better option than the ox

      2. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Eriksen is a much better player

    8. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      hahahaha

    9. Nascimento
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      With Lallana and Rashford fully fit, they're an unstoppable force!

  9. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Elliot with ?

    A Pope or
    B Fabianski

    Both seem to rotate pretty well with Elliot.

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      A

    3. Mick J
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Do you have a Burnley defender? If not, I would definitely go for Pope. If, on the other hand, you have not, I think I would pick Fabianski to avoid a double. If you, for some reason, should have a Swansea defender, I would pick Pope regardless.

  10. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Alex Iwobi leading Nigeria to the WC.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Poor man's Lallana.

  11. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Top article. Was plannign to do Mooy -> Groß for FT, but looks like Chupa is the one for the short term. Then get Richarlison on WC.

  12. My Name Is Prince
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Sweden will win the WC if they continue scoring 8 goals a game...

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      #Unsustainable

      1. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        #IF

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

      If they meet Luxembourg every round

    3. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Mind = Blown

  13. F4L
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    France Luxembourg 0-0. Sweden Luxembourg 8-0. Sweden France 8-0 ?

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

      Yep.

    2. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      No need for Question Mark

    3. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yep, that's the logic...

  14. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Great article

  15. GOTHAM City F.C.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    I hope Laca scores today, I need him to raise before I ship him out.

  16. Fantasy Gold
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Help me out boys. Which do you prefer out of these lot?

    A) Salah and Rashford > Sterling and Vardy for free
    B) Salah and Rashford > Sanchez/Hazard and Abraham for free
    C) Lukaku and Rashford > Jesus and Vardy for free
    D) Rashford, Lukaku and Salah > Jesus, Vardy and Sterling for -4

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      D).

    2. UnitedFan
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      C

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      C

    4. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Not fussed on losing Lukaku or Salah myself but C from those I guess.

    5. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      D

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks all 🙂

  17. Transferred Out
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    A. Vardy & Richarlison or B. Coutinho & Abraham

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      C&A

    3. Mick J
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Option A for now, I think, but be prepared to get Coutinho in if he does well in the difficult fixtures coming up.

  18. Mick J
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone considering going 3-4-3 or 4-4-2 with both Richarlison and Choupo-Moting, i.e. as third and fourth mids?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes both presently in my WC and could play 3-4-3 or 4-3-3

      1. Mick J
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks for the reply. Who’s your third striker?

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Vardy

    2. PocketZola
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Chop not against manc

    3. ☆Khaz
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Considering, but I'm not a big fan of benching money. Honestly think they are a little too expensive for a rotation plan.

      1. ☆Khaz
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        See now that I misread your post. Wouldn't field them both each week.

        1. Mick J
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          What if you have a decent fourth of fifth defender, depending on the structure, that could fill in the weeks when one of them have a tricky fixture?

    4. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      That's what I've been doing since my GW6 wildcard, in order to afford a big three up front and a decent defence. It's worked well so far.

      1. Mick J
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks for the reply! Do you have one or two expensive mids in addition to the two?

  19. Mo Mané No Problems
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Azpilicueta or Luiz on WC?
    Can afford Azpi, and have a nice plan to do Vardy + Azpi > Morata + Jones when Morata is back.

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Azpi of course if you can afford!

  20. Fantasy Gold
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Any idea why Mahrez wasn't in Algeria's squad for their game vs Cameroon today?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      It was a dead rubber, nothing to play for.

    2. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Think it is related to last ib when he left Algeria squad to negotiate contract to who knows where...

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks all

  21. Egyptian Giza
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    If we win tomorrow against Congo. We go to the WC. I repeat, we go to the WC.

    Our last qualification was in 1990

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Who are you?

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Not Sweden.

        1. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          I know Sweden are already in the WC (if they keep scoring 8 goals a game...)

        2. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Didn't see the name there, haha... Cheers 🙂

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Prayers are with Salah.... 😉

      1. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        And Hegazi

    3. VFORVANDETA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Salad team?

  22. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Slick Rick.

    1. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Once upon a time not long ago...

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        When people wore pajamas and lived life slow
        When laws were stern and justice stood
        And people were behavin' like they ought ta good
        There lived a lil' boy who was miss lead

        Lol what a classic.

  23. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    My WC structure really down to whether to get

    A Coutinho/Salah
    B Eriksen
    C Hazard

    Which would you pick and why? Silva/Sterling is likely to be other main midfielder

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      I have Eriksen and Coutinho. Also Sterling. Pretty happy with that.

      1. My Name Is Prince
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        For me the order is Coutinho, Eriksen, Sterling though, because of the price, although I'd want all three ideally as well...

      2. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        This

      3. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        You must have high team sale value of about 101.8 plus. Good job! Unfortunately I am 100.5. Pedro best I could get in WC team you posted in last couple of days in place of Eriksen

    2. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Coutinho

  24. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Double Che defence a good move then Jesus/Kaku to Morata if he outperforms?

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Too expensive with double-up imho

  25. marquinhos
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Morata & Hunemier to Vardy & Azpi?

    Yes or No?

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

      Yes.

      1. marquinhos
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        do you think Foster & Morata to Ederson & Vardy is a better move?

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

          I would say Vardy Azpi better.

          1. marquinhos
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            cheers

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    3. Chenku╰☆╮
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Yes yes yes

  26. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Safe to bring om Otamendi with Kompany nearing return, or is he at risk og being rotated next two GW's?

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      People seem to think it is Stones who suffers more from Kompany's return, but I myself can't be sure enough... Hence I'm eyeing Walker instead

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

        This.

      2. Chenku╰☆╮
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        It's is more nailed imo

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Ota

          1. Pompel
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Txs, might take ny chances

        2. My Name Is Prince
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          "Next two GWs"

          Who knows with CL and all...

          1. Pompel
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Only need to catch some point before WC'ing. Hegazi will be the fall guy

      3. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Can't stretch to 6.5 at this point. Would maybe get Azpi om that case

    2. Bird Raymond
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Huge game for Otamendi at altitude in the early hours of Wednesday l, wouldn't be surprised if he was benched this week.

  27. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Seen a few shipping Ramsey.Injured?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      No just useless.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Better options emerging at 1.5 above & 1.0 below his price... I'm stuck with him for at least another week due to lack of FT's so hoping he can reward with a long overdue goal v Watford

  28. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Did anyone see Fellaini go off? How bad did it look?

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Not good but we'll know more in a day or 2...

      1. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Some wrote that he was holding left knee.

    2. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Knee issue

    3. Yankee Toffee
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers all

  29. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Talk of ligament damage for Fellaini... really hope not anything cruiciate related 🙁

  30. Jigger & Pony
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Oh well. Was giving getting Fellaini on WC serious consideration.