Best Crystal Palace players to sign on FPL in 2018/19 – Complete Members’ Analysis

Just finished with my ticker. Here are some results:

Best short term fixtures (1-3): Liverpool, Everton, Watford, Burnley, Bournemouth, Cardiff
Worst short term fixtures: Brighton, Huddersfield, Newcastle, West Ham

Best medium term fixtures (1-8): City, Spurs, Burnley, Everton, Chelsea, Palace, United
Worst medium term fixtures: Cardiff, Newcastle, West Ham, Brighton

Good runs:
Arsenal: 3-10
Bournemouth 1-10
Burnley 1-8
Cardiff 1-3
Chelsea 1-8
CPL 1-8
Everton 1-9
Leicester 2-9
Liverpool 1-6
City 2-7
Utd 4-8
Spurs 6-9
Watford 1-3

- Arsenal from GW3 looks a good choice. Also gives us 2 weeks to assess the team and its players under Emery
- Bournemouth players are nice fillers. Dont have much confidence in them regardless of fixtures though.
- Burnleys fixtures are amazing and could represent the same value as last year even at 5.0. The problem is EL and a thin squad. Ill probably stay clear as I find more value in 4.5 bracket.
- Cardiff starts up nicely then goes on a horrendous run from GW4-8. Staying clear of anyone not named Peltier (if he plays).
- Chelsea fixtures are good. hud, new, BOU, CDF, whu, sou all have potential for CS and attacking returns. Picks for those that plan on an IB2 WC. Massive uncertainty in the team with Conte still there.
- Palace and Everton have amazing fixtures up to 2nd IB. Double ups are not out of questions, especially in defense. Some proper attacking talent in those defense lines too, not to mention some value picks in midfield and forward lines.
- Fulham has average fixtures. Sessegnon probably overpriced. Jury out on Cairney. Could be some decent picks in here.
- Dont like Leicester fixtures but with Mahrez gone, Gray and Madison are straight on my watchlist. No to their defense from me.
- Liverpool starts out the strongest. Triple up almost certain for me. The one that doesnt work probably becomes Arsenal.
- City have the best fixtures out of everyone up to 2nd IB. The problem is the same as always. Pep and rotations. Would quadruple up even if Id have some certainty in playing time but will make decision after seeing how they lineup in preseason.
- United: willing to start off without even with their defence ownership being as big as it is already. Will look to get someone in in GW4 when the dust settles and we have more prove of how they will lineup. Reckon Bailly at 5.5 could be a steal.
- Southamptons fixtures are IMO worse than everyone thinks they are. There is a decent possibility they could go without a CS up to Brighton in GW5.Still, they play for Hughes and at 4.5, Cedric is probably one of the best value picks in the game.
- Spurs on the other hand have better fixtures than people think. Other than the away games at Newcastle and United and the home game against Pool, every off the other 5 games up to IB2 could become a mauling. Massive uncertainty regarding their team though, with half the team still being in WC, Son in Asian games, the ever rotating wingbacks ets. Some short term punts for early WCs in Lamela, Moura and Davies could bring some points.Their GW6-9 run is probably one of the best possible.
- Like the look off the first 3 fixtures. Might punt on the likes of Deulofeu then switch them out if it doesnt work for some early bandwagons.
- West Ham got some really bad fixtures. Fab might still get you points though and is probably the most value gk at 4.5. One for the life after WC probably.
- Wolves are unknown. Fixtures are average, everyone expects big things out of this team. Preseason watch will be ever important.

I got thinking yesterday about how much the World Cup can have an effect on line ups in Gameweek 1. I did a bit of digging, and focused mainly on the Premier League players involved in the last two games of the 2014 World Cup.

Argentina:
- Zabaleta – Started every game at the World Cup. Unused substitute GW1, started GW2.
- Aguero – Started all 3 group games, 82nd minute substitute in the semi, and 45th minute substitute in the final. (Injured in third group game, and so missed Round of 16 and QF through injury) Substitute appearances vs Newcastle and Liverpool in GW1/2, scoring in both. Started GW3.
- Rojo – Started all games bar QF. Didn’t play for Manchester United until a work permit was granted in September. Debut on 14th September, played full 90.
- Demichelis – Started all games QF onwards. Started GW1, and played full 90.

Germany:
- Ozil – Started every game at the World Cup, earliest he was substituted off was the 63rd minute in the first group game. Started GW2, played full 90.
- Schurrle – Made a few substitute appearances, including coming on in the 31st minute in the final. Started GW1 and scored, removed on 78 minutes.
- Mertesacker – Started first 4 games, didn’t feature again until the 46th minute of the 7-1 against Brazil. 120th minute substitute in the final. Started GW2, and played the full 90.
- Podolski – Played around 55 minutes in total at the tournament, in the first and last group games. Didn’t even make the bench for GW2, when Ozil and Mertesacker were both starting.

Brazil:
- Cesar – QPR terminated his contract 3 days after the start of the season, didn’t play for Benfica until September.
- Oscar – Started all games for Brazil. Started GW1 for Chelsea, and played 82 minutes.
- Fernandinho – Started in the Round of 16, QF and SF. Hauled off at HT in the semi, came on at half time in the final match. 73rd minute substitute in GW1.
- Willian – Only started the 3rd placed play off, otherwise only used as a late substitute. 78th minute substitute in GW1, 70th minute GW2, started GW3.

Netherlands:
- RVP – Started all games bar the final group match. Started GW2, although was subbed off after 63 minutes. Scored his first goal in September, in *that* 5-3 defeat to Leicester.
- Janmaat – Featured in a few substitute appearances. Played full 90 GW1.
- Vlaar – Started every game at the World Cup. Started, and played full 90, GW1 for Villa.

As you can see, the vast majority of players who you’d consider important to their teams were starting by GW2. Majority were able to feature in GW1. Oscar and Vlaar were clearly on a diet of only Lucozade for the four weeks between the final games and GW1.

Hopefully this is of some use. Apologies if I missed anyone off, it’s late! Focussing on the last four games looks at those with the least rest, so the idea was that this should be ‘worst case’. I had a quick look at the Belgian stars who were knocked out in the QF, Hazard, Courtois, Kompany all started GW1.