Pre-Season

The Best Budget Forwards to Buy in FPL 2018/19

Having analysed the goalkeepers, budget defenders, mid-price/premium defenders, budget midfielders, mid-price midfielders and premium midfielders, our thorough look through the Fantasy Premier League price list continues with an assessment of the budget forwards on offer.

The reasons for selecting at least one striker priced at £6.0m or below are varied, the most glaringly obvious one being out of necessity to free up funds elsewhere. To afford numerous premium assets, sacrifices have to be made in some positions. With almost one in two FPL managers currently owning Mohamed Salah, for example, a bargain basement “enabler” or two will almost certainly be required to fund the Egyptian’s inflated £13.0m price tag.

Another reason why Fantasy bosses may be deliberately light in attack, at least early on, is that several of the premium forward options – Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Gabriel Jesus, Jamie Vardy etc –  have had decimated pre-seasons following their participation in this summer’s World Cup and are less appealing prospects as a result. Mid-price options such as Wilfried Zaha, Marko Arnautovic and Cenk Tosun are currently mopping up the owners as a consequence (more of which we’ll discuss in our next price list analysis article), but the likes of Aboubakar Kamara and Collin Quaner (both £4.5m) are proving to be relatively popular alternatives.

Which bring us to our next point of consideration: whether we want our budget forwards to be viable playing options or set-and-forget bench fodder. The popularity of Kamara and Quaner suggests the prevailing opinion is for the latter and a cursory glance through the plethora of “rate my team” requests on the FFS site would suggest a significant proportion of FPL managers are pursuing this strategy. Callum Wilson (£6.0m), sitting in 4.1% of FPL squads at the time of writing, is currently the most popular budget forward who has a realistic chance of sustained game-time.

The £4.5m Bracket

Quaner was a favoured option last season for FPL managers ditching 3-4-3 in favour of a power five in midfield and even gifted his owners some playing time, making 13 league starts and as many substitute appearances for Huddersfield Town; that the German forward recorded four assists was an added bonus.

Most of Quaner’s appearances were on the right wing, rather than up top, for the Terriers last season and David Wagner has strengthened his options on the flanks over the summer with the captures of Ramadan Sobhi and Adama Diakhaby. The versatile Diakhaby, a signing from Monaco, started Huddersfield’s recent friendlies against Darmstadt and Lyon on the right flank, and Quaner’s minutes would seem at more risk this season.

Not that pitch-time would be of a huge concern for the 7.3% of FPL managers who own Quaner, of course, the majority of whom would be benching the budget forward on a weekly basis.

Kamara’s listing as Fulham’s sole striking option in FPL will have caught the eye of many Fantasy managers, but the chances of the French forward starting the season as the spearhead of Slavisa Jokanovic’s attack are slim. The Cottagers will almost certainly add a bona fide striker or two to their ranks before Gameweek 1, with last year’s loan signing Aleksandar Mitrovic persistently linked with a permanent move to west London.

Kamara featured mostly as a substitute striker throughout Fulham’s promotion-winning season, coming off the bench in 22 of his 30 Championship appearances. The budget forward ended up the season on the right of Jokanovic’s front three in attack and could potentially be blooded there in 2018/19, although the arrival of Andre Schurrle from Borussia Dortmund would further cast doubt on Kamara’s first-team chances.

There is little else to interest FPL managers in the £4.5m bracket: Gary Madine, the scorer of three pre-season goals against the mighty Bodmin Town and Tavistock AFC, may feature intermittently for Cardiff City this season but is well behind Kenneth Zohore and new signing Bobby Reid in the pecking order up front.

It’s worth reiterating that for many Fantasy managers, especially at this early stage in the season when a full playing bench is perhaps not necessary, the prospective pitch-time of their £4.5m forwards is an irrelevance.

The £5.0m Bracket

An extra £0.5m doesn’t buy much this season and not one of the forwards in the £5.0m bracket stands out. The fact that Joselu is currently the most-owned striker in this price group says much about the other options available.

Newcastle United’s much-maligned striker scored on only four occasions in 2017/18 and his last league start for the Magpies was a home match against Burnley in January, a fixture in which Joselu missed from the spot.

The former Stoke City striker has, at least, featured prominently in pre-season, starting both of Newcastle’s fixtures played to date and netting in the 2-2 draw with Hull City. The expected arrival of Yoshinori Muto from Mainz would likely put paid to his first-team renaissance, however.

Shane Long, Elias Kachunga and Lys Mousset are among the familiar names in this group, all of whom will see minutes for their respective clubs at some point this season but are far from guaranteed starters – and more likely to see action in support roles/on the flank.

Tomer Hemed, who has two goals and an assist in pre-season, will likely be behind Glenn Murray, Jurgen Locadia (£5.5m) and Florin Andone in the pecking order at Brighton and Hove Albion, meanwhile.

Kenneth Zohore and Leo Bonatini are £5.0m-rated options for newly promoted Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The arrival of Bobby Reid (£5.5m) from Bristol City doesn’t necessarily signal the end of Zohore’s first-team opportunities, with Reid playing either alongside or to the wide of the big Dane in Cardiff’s two most-recent friendlies. Zohore isn’t likely to be troubling the top goal-scorer charts, however, having scored on only nine occasions in 36 Championship appearances last season. A rate of an attempt on goal every 29.1 minutes in 2017/18 was a decent one, though that mean will likely worsen against superior opposition this season.

Bonatini, meanwhile, began last season at Wolves in scintillating form, scoring on 12 occasions before Christmas. A five-month barren spell between then and the end of the campaign led to his demotion from nailed-on starter to impact substitute and the concern again this season would be his minutes – particularly after the arrival of Raul Jimenez (£5.5m).

Alexander Sorloth has had an unspectacular beginning to his Crystal Palace career but has shown glimpses of form in pre-season, starting every one of the Eagles’ four friendlies contested to date and being directly involved in four of his side’s goals. Palace’s dearth of options in attack means that – as is currently the case with Christian Benteke’s ankle knock – the Norwegian target-man is only an injury away from a potential start in Gameweek 1.

The £5.5m Bracket

Oumar Niasse and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were a cost-effective source of points for Everton in 2017/18. Niasse scored on eight occasions in the league and, of all the forwards available at £6.0m or below in FPL this season, had the best points-per-match average (3.8). Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, found the back of the net on four occasions and no Premier League striker in any price bracket assisted more goals (eight).

The arrival of Cenk Tosun in January was a game-changer, however. After the Turkish striker’s debut in Gameweek 23, Niasse and Calvert-Lewin started only seven matches between them from then until the end of the season. Silva has made positive noises about both players since taking over at Goodison Park but the pair will likely be squad players at best this season.

Sandro Ramirez, another Toffee in the £5.5m bracket, has unexpectedly featured prominently in pre-season, starting all five of Everton’s summer friendlies to date. Everton have an appealing start to the season (wlv, SOU, bou, HUD, WHU) and Sandro, long-thought to be surplus to requirements at Goodison and indeed not even priced up when FPL went live last month, is one to monitor over the coming weeks. With Gylfi Sigurdsson and new signing Richarlison still to return, however, Sandro’s first-team prospects either up front or in the supporting roles behind Tosun would appear slim.

On the surface, Danny Ings has to be one of the least appealing striking options in this bracket. All eyes will be on the transfer market in the coming weeks, however, with the Liverpool reserve set for a possible exit after three injury-hit years on Merseyside.

Should Ings make a move to a Premier League club that could guarantee him starts, the former Burnley striker is one to monitor in the medium term. Still just 26 years of age, Ings hit double figures for goals in his last full season (2014/15) for the Clarets in the top flight.

Sam Vokes largely played second fiddle to Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood at Turf Moor last season, but with the Clarets competing in Europe this season (qualification permitting), could feature more prominently in 2018/19. Barnes was sidelined for Burnley’s Europa League match with Aberdeen but the problem (blisters) is not a serious one. Vokes meanwhile emerged from the bench to grab the Clarets’ equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.

Having previously discussed Kenneth Zohore and Leo Bonatini in the £5.0m bracket, Bobby Reid and Raul Jimenez are slightly more expensive options for their respective clubs.

Both strikers are untested at Premier League level and for Reid in particular, the Premier League could be a daunting step up. Reid scored on 19 occasions in the Championship last season but his underlying statistics were mostly inferior to those of Zohore and he had previously not scored more than three goals in a single campaign. After a decent opening three fixtures, Cardiff’s horrendous run of matches between Gameweeks 4 and 10 will likely deter much investment in the Bristolian forward.

Jimenez is a more interesting proposition and, although new to English football, his physicality and ability to bring his team-mates into play would seem ideally suited to the figurehead role in Nuno Espirito Santo’s 3-4-3 system. Santo may decide to gradually ease Jimenez into first-team action, but the Mexico international has already started two of Wolves’ pre-season friendlies and experienced the blood and thunder of an away match at Stoke City.

Jimenez didn’t score more than seven league goals in a single season during his three years at Benfica, however.

Laurent Depoitre is set to once again battle Steve Mounie (£6.0m) for the lone forward’s role in David Wagner’s 4-2-3-1 formation and the Belgian striker staked his claim to a first-team place with two goals in Huddersfield’s 3-1 win over Lyon. While Depoitre’s minutes-per-chance average of 72.3 was the worst among forwards with more than 30 appearances to their name, the Belgian striker’s goal conversion rate of 24% was among the highest in his position. Huddersfield’s miserable league goals tally of 28 in 2017/18 was indicative of their creativity problems, but the Terriers could potentially pose more of a sustained goal threat this season with Ramadan Sobhi, Alex Pritchard and Adama Diakhaby playing just off Mounie/Depoitre.

Andy Carroll is set to miss the first few months of the season, while Jurgen Locadia faces a race against time to be fit for Brighton’s opening match at Watford. Having featured only sporadically for the Seagulls after his move in January (sometimes on the flank), this could be a make-or-break season for Locadia with an ageing Glenn Murray and an unproven Florin Andone for competition.

The £6.0m Bracket

In an ideal world, Fantasy managers ought to be expecting security of starts as well as a potent goal threat for a £6.0m-rated forward.

The likes of Daniel Sturridge, Kelechi Iheanacho and Fernando Llorente fall at the first hurdle, then. Llorente has four goals already in pre-season and could potentially start in Harry Kane’s place as the England striker builds up his fitness after a post-World Cup break, but Kane has already stated that he hopes to feature in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans for the Gameweek 1 encounter with Newcastle United.

There aren’t many “nailed” picks in this bracket elsewhere, either. Dwight Gayle ousted Joselu from the Newcastle team after the Spaniard’s horror show in the 1-1 draw with Burnley in January, but question marks remain over his ability to cut it at top-flight level: the former Crystal Palace striker scored on only six occasions last season. The Magpies’ atrocious sequence of fixtures in the first eight Gameweeks would further dent Gayle’s appeal.

As mentioned before, Steve Mounie is likely to interchange with Laurent Depoitre as the spearhead of the Huddersfield attack. The Benin international had almost twice as many goal attempts (49) as Depoitre (25) last season, despite playing only 50 more minutes. Mounie’s greater number of shots failed to translate into a glut of goals, however, with his total of seven league strikes beating Depoitre’s only by one.

No forward available for £6.0m or less this season had more shots on goal (60) in 2017/18 than Ashley Barnes. Available for £0.5m less than strike partner Chris Wood, Barnes had a better minutes-per-chance average (36) than the former Leeds striker although scored one league goal fewer. Burnley’s fixtures for Gameweeks 1-8 are inviting, although their participation in the Europa League could see Sean Dyche on occasion rotate one of the most settled sides of last season. Barnes is currently struggling with blisters and missed the Europa League match with Aberdeen on Thursday.

The other six strikers in the £6.0m bracket belong to just three teams, with each pair – Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini at Southampton, Troy Deeney and Andre Gray at Watford, and Callum Wilson and Jermain Defoe at Bournemouth – likely to be competing for one centre-forward spot at their respective clubs.

If Austin gets the nod over Gabbiadini (as he did in the recent friendly defeat to Derby County), then the former Queens Park Rangers striker is one of the most attractive propositions in this price bracket, particularly with Southampton’s agreeable first five fixtures.

Austin had another injury-plagued season last year and it is easy to brand him a nostalgic pick, but his minutes-per-chance average (21.5) in 2017/18 was inferior only to those of Harry Kane, Olivier Giroud and Sergio Aguero among strikers with 20+ appearances to their name.

Gray has started both of Watford’s pre-season friendlies contested to date, registering a goal and an assist over those two appearances. Neither Gray nor Deeney shone in the league last season (both finishing with five goals to their name) but with home fixtures against Brighton and Palace to come in the first three Gameweeks, Gray could be a shot-to-nothing short-term punt.

Wilson started all but two of Bournemouth’s final 20 fixtures of last season, with Eddie Howe mostly sticking by his first-choice forward even during a 12-match goal drought. Wilson’s scoreless run from late-January to mid-May will likely deter possible owners, but the Cherries meet only one of the “big six” in the first ten Gameweeks and their attack, in particular, is worthy of consideration for this run. Josh King (£6.5m) is another route into the Bournemouth forward line, but the Norwegian’s minutes-per-chance rate of 48.1 last season was far inferior to Wilson’s 37.5.

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1,264 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Pesci challenge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Mahrez or Eriksen?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez

    2. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez

    3. Goodnight Kiwi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Eriksen for safety. Mahrez for a riskier higher ceiling

    4. Pirlø's Pen
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mahrez, seems like Eriksen will play more of a deeper role at the start

      1. The Pesci challenge
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        You think, wouldn’t play a no10 role?

  2. davies
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A) Aguero + Lacazette (343)

    B) Aubameyang + Sane (352)

    1. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B is safer

    2. Goodnight Kiwi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B

    3. Eden Wizard
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero & Sane

      1. davies
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        3 City (Mahrez Sane Mendy)

    4. Viiksisika
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A

  3. Goodnight Kiwi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A: De Gea, 4.0 keeper, Tomkins
    B. Fabianski, Foster, PVA

    1. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. A.T
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B

  4. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What kind of fruit is Brighton's Jahalablablah?

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mysterious one. Could be a Gross from last year or a total rotten apple.

  5. anish10
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Salah & Mane double up look good?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Why not Salah & Bobby instead?

      1. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        this

      2. anish10
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Doubt he'll start the season, rather have Arnie up top.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I have Bobby & Arnie up top. Why would Bobby not start? He barely played for Brazil. Mane played way more minutes in the WC

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Nah, terrible players with low goal involvement in a bad attack 😛

      Btw, statistically Mane scores more pts per game than Firmino 😉

  6. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Rmt

    Foster Fab
    Robbo tomkins cedric Wan-b Peltier
    Salah Eriksen Mahrez Jota
    Auba Arnie Zaha

    The defence is a bit weak I know....

  7. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this draft\ll

    Begovic
    Coleman Kola Baines. ( Zaba. WanBissaka)
    Salah Rich neves Redmond. (Westwood)
    Kane. Aguero Morata

    Thx

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      risky with double Everton defence and morata

  8. Eden Wizard
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Curious that Mkhi isn't getting minutes with no WC

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Just managing his minutes with the injuries he’s had. He’ll play the start of the season

  9. Pirlø's Pen
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What are people’s thoughts on Alexis Sanchez?

    Quite confident in the pick myself and think he could smash it early doors.

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      100% nailed for my GW1 team

    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Could be. I’m holding fire for now as I want to see more games as it was his first game back but he’s had a long break so could be the Sanchez of old

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rumoured United are looking to play with two up top, one of them being Sanchez, so yeah, if he clicks, he'll be great

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Worried Utd were sold a pup with him & he was a panic buy. He was disgraceful last year. Very selfish too, doesn’t strike me as someone good to have around he dressing room, it’s all about him. He also has looked overweight at times in the last year, and is 30 this season. I’m hoping he hasn’t peaked & will now just see out his days on a mega contract putting the odd crap team to the sword and blanking most of the rest of the time.

    5. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I really want him but Salah and few other picks make it a bit dificult.
      Only way for me is downgrade Kun. Not sure about that but Im not saying no

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Not for me would rather a 9.5 mil Sane,Mane or Eriksen and of course Salah

        If he can recreate his form from two seasons ago then I’ll bring him in of course

  10. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Was pretty settled with my Salah-less team, but now thinking I might have to bring him in. I had Firmino for Liverpool cover...

    1. Pirlø's Pen
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Unless you are a masochist I would suggest buying Salah.

      1. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        🙂

    2. red forever
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      You can’t cover Salah

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      If Salah's value was at the average rate for midfielders, he would cost around 16.0m.

      Surprisingly good value at that price, and that isn't even including captaincy. Even if his pts total decreased this season, he would still be good value, and is a must for me.

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Most folks will go through this pattern. I think there is a diagram of it on Reddit called the Salah cycle or something.

      He’s at 50% ownership at th eminute & provided he doesn’t get injured I dimagine he’ll start GW1 way higher than that

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Looks as if I'll have to re-jig my team then, folks... =o/

  11. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Wondering about Christian Eriksen. Undoubtedly a starter if he's ready for first team football, but is it worth getting him in for 9.5m?

    a)Lucas-Richarlison-Jota

    b)Eriksen-Gray-Deleofeu

    Rest of the team:

    Foster-Lossl
    Robertson-Shaw-Tomkins
    Salah-A-Mkhitaryan-B-C
    Aguero-Aubameyang

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      +4.5 striker

    2. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B for me

  12. Fassy
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    RMT (4-4-2)

    Patricio - Hamer
    Azpilicueta - Robertson - Mendy - Coleman - Wan-Bissaka
    Salah - Mahrez - Willian - Seri - Costa
    Firmino - Lacazette - Quaner

    Hopefully Schmeichel moves to Chelsea, Costa >> 4.5 mid Patricio >> Schmeichel

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Like it a lot. Seem to cover the lot

    2. hovedskov
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A bit of a bet not to start with either Kun or Auba

      1. Fassy
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Auba would be in my team if he didn't play as a winger. Aguero isn't nailed, for 11.0 he needs to be nailed.

  13. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Ederson • 4.0
    Robertson • xxx • Tomkins • xxx • WB
    Salah • Mahrez • Richarlison • xxx • 4.5
    Aguero • Firmino • Zaha

    15.5 mil on:

    A) Bailly, Peltier, Schurrle
    B) Shaw, Cedric, Schurrle
    C) Bailly, Cedric, Deulofeu
    D) Shaw, Peltier, Jota

  14. davies
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Sørloth worth the 0.5 extra?

    1. AC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Are you playing 3-4-3 or 3-5-2?

  15. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How does this team look?

    Patricio Norris
    Rudiger Bailly Lovren Tomkins Kabasele
    Salah Sanchez Eriksen Deulofeu Cairney
    Auba Arnie Quaner

    Prepared to bench Lovren for the first couple of games.

  16. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone tried 3 attackers each from City & Liverpool.

    Like Salah, Mané, Firmino, Sané, Mahrez, Dilva/KDB etc.

    Do you really need any other players with those 6

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      It's a nice base. The rest of the team would suffer.

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        451 I guess could work.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah any back 4 with that front 6 should be acceptable

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            You get a basically free Man City clean sheet too with 3x midfielder CS points, and half a Liverpool CS for free with 2x mids

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Man City rotation could be a thorn in he side though. Maybe Mané too if he’s injured/suspended as he usually is

  17. AndyCook
      5 years, 9 months ago

      For draft what would be your top 5 mids, in order?

      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Salah, Sanchez, KDB, Eriksen, Mane

        1. AndyCook
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Thanks, I was thinking to leave Sterling, Sane and Mahrez until after those guys too.

            1. GoonerByron
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              I have 5 other mids before Sterling and Sane 😉

              And would maybe prefer some others too

        2. Chandler Bing
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Salah
          Alexis
          KdB
          Eriksen
          Mane

        3. jimbo90
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Salah
          Eriksen
          Sane
          Sanchez
          De Bruyne

          1. AndyCook
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Why Sane? Thinking Sterling and Mahrez more likely to steal each other’s gametime?

        4. pearls of andre wisdom
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Thoughts on this line up? I'm a bit worried about lack of premium forward but thinking of taking the risk in the first 2 or 3 weeks and poss WC after

          Patricio
          Tarkowski, Mendy, Azpi
          Mahrez, Lucas, Alexis, Salah
          Zaha, Tosun, Arnie

          Fabianski, Cedric, W-B, Stephens

          1. Dr. Rog
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            poor structure almost certainly will require a double transfer in wk2 or 3 when one of aubo/aguero/lukako/firmino scores a brace and becomes essential

        5. Bucket Man
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Looking OK?. Don't know what to do if Firmino doesn't look set to play. Any ideas?

          Ederson, Hamer
          Robertson, Coleman, Bolly, Tomkins, Diop
          Salah, Mahrez, Jota, Richarlison, Deulofeu
          Kun/Auba, Firmino, Kamara

          1. rjcv177
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Same spot. But my mid is heavier and i mighg upgrade firmino to auba.
            In your case i would downgrade to arnie (that will fund upgrade on boly and jota/deulofeu)

        6. stachman
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ward or Shaw?

        7. Hakuna Morata
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Mata or Richarlision for the first 4-5 fixtures ?

          1. Rash
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I'm on both currently altho I'd pick rich 1st

        8. Rash
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Any decent 5.5 or below mids to consider to rotate with 3rd striker please

          1. Hakuna Morata
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Neves and Cairney ?

          2. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            McArthur, Cairney, Neves, Jorginho, Wilshire, Mooy, Kennedy, Del Boy, Serri, Gray to name a few

          3. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I personally like Deulofeu.

            I think he's quality. He played a fair bit for the Barca first team last season and didn't look out of place (And disgracefully wasn't given a league medal). Should be a big fish in a small pond at Watford. Was nailed for Watford when fit last season, but remaining fit is a concern with him. Worth the gamble imo. Potentially a huge season bandwagon of Mahrez proportions imo.

            Here's a video of all his touches against Chelsea: (1g, 1a) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89FASpDoy0

          4. Rash
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Some good options there thank you

        9. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Only one player, Harry Kane scored more than 200 points for a forward last year. I am not saying this is the way it will continue to go, but if you plan to have Salah as captain most weeks and premium mids are just as capable of scoring at the level of forwards; does it not make sense to avoid an expensive forward line?

          Firmino Arnie and a cheapie (who will be third on the bench) as an example are capable of scoring points per million at a more than satisfying rate.

          I personally think 5 good mids is the way to go this year and 4 5 1 or 3 5 2 are good options. It makes sense that as little money sits on the bench as possible and value in defenders at 4.5 to 5 are suited as 1st and second benchers. Not often do you get to use the third bencher.

          Having said this there seems to be a mass of choices in the 5 to 6 mil range in mids; so one can set up a side much more easily than the standard 3 4 3 as in prior seasons.

          1. SW6
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            As with all these kind of posts it depends on form. Form is the biggest variable that determines FPL performance and we have no data on form for this season. Choose a flexible team that can react to how this season goes and you should be fine

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              100% but if you can manage to save an FT then the pain to change is not hard. Kun Auba and Kane are the obvious ones with Kaku knocking. Dropping a 9 mil mid (Erik or Mahrez for instance) to a 5-6 mil mid and upgrading an Arnie or Firmino is not that difficult.

          2. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Aubu will seriously challenge the 200pts barrier this year i reckon.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              He could do and should do at the price. Playing right wing lately though. As the likes of Kun and Auba won't be regular captains, I am leaning towards missing them out.

        10. JamieC180
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Which do I go for?

          A) Bailly, Robertson, Sane, Martial
          B) Alexander-arnold/Ward, Shaw, Mahrez, Eriksen

        11. hovedskov
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Best 5.0 defenders?

          1. Raikan007
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Burnley, Everton, Saints are your best bet, lots of options (and Palace)

          2. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            5m is the worst bracket for defenders, not much difference between the 4.5m and 5m defenders for me.

            1. hovedskov
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              For me, it was:
              Robertson - Cedric +
              a) Coleman (or other 5.5) + Daniels (but apparently not nailed? which 4.5 is 100% nailed for a decent side?)
              b) Shaw + Tarkowski (or any other 2x5.0 combination)
              +
              Wan-Bissaka

              Would prefer to play with a 4 backline if possible.

              1. HamezMace
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                Coleman is a good option at 5.5m.
                Daniels I think would be nailed, but probably not the best option.
                Shaw is good short term punt, 1 - 2 weeks maximum.
                Cedric is probably the best pick of the 4.5m
                Other options at 4.5 - the Brighton pair, Tomkins, Newcastle kept a few clean sheets last year, possibly some options from Everton? - All of which I expect to be a good as any of the 5m options.

          3. Pellegrini Falcon
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Kolasinac? or Shaw

            1. Raikan007
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Neither

              Rather pick 4.5m and use the extra somwhere else.

              Also depends are you planning to play these defenders in first few GW?? If not just chose someone and stick him on the bench. Evans could be a good punt this year I think

            2. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              I don't think either are first choice

              1. Pellegrini Falcon
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                There are quotes about Monreal not being in Emery's plans. Don't think Arsenal have any other left back option

                1. aspilcueta
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 9 months ago

                  Kolasinac.

                  1. Pellegrini Falcon
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 9 months ago

                    Yeah so I think Kola is nailed on

                2. HamezMace
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 9 months ago

                  Not seen these quotes?
                  I did read that he liked Maitland-Niles, and I think he played that left wing back role at times last year.
                  Kola could be first choice, but I don't consider him nailed.

        12. Babit1967
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I really want Eriksen but not at the expense of Sane or Salah so how do you fit him in

          Ederson

          Bailly vvd Robbo Azpi

          Salah Sane Richarlison Jota

          Aguero Arnie

          Subs Speroni WB Stephens Quaner

          1. Pellegrini Falcon
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Aguero has to go. Plus, it'll be a nightmare thinking of whether to captain him when Jesus comes back

            1. Babit1967
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah I’ve thought about that and I’ll probs be captaining Salah all the time anyway, aguero to laca will free up 1.5 mill I guess and another 1.5 maybe from defence could then see me upgrade richarlison to Eriksen or mane

            2. Big_Andy_GAWA
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              I'm scared of what he might do to Huddersfield...

              1. Pellegrini Falcon
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                Huddersfield are actually pretty stubborn when they set up to defend. Got a 0-0 and 1-2 loss last season against City

                1. Babit1967
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 9 months ago

                  I think I’ll stick with this team - Aguero if plays has a nice set of fixtures and can always switch to Auba/laca or kaku if he is being rotated

        13. Pellegrini Falcon
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Is Dale Stephens nailed in the starting XI?

        14. Fassy
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Quite the dilemma. Playing 5-3-2 with Bellerin or Bailly as fifth defender or 4-4-2 with Seri/Deulofeu as 4th midfielder...

        15. AceKn1ght
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Was struggling to decide between Arnie, Tosun and Zaha for my third striker.... Each look great options for the start!

          Which made me think; surely there is merit in picking all 3, and going heavy in defence and midfield?

          Plenty of City midfielders to ‘cover’ Aguero...

          Maybe look at picking up Auba/Laca in GW3 or so...

          Kane seems to be very much a ‘casual’ pick, but again, should be easy enough to get him in after a few weeks...

          Thoughts?

          1. SW6
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Perhaps. But when Aguero plays Huddersfield, Wolves, Newcastle, Fulham, Cardiff, Brighton all in a row with 4 at home, I want him in my FPL team more than any other player.

            1. AceKn1ght
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              True, I suppose... But I’ll be finding it difficult not to captain Salah, and picking a couple of; KDB, Sane, Mahrez, Dilva, Sterling will get you points... The problem is knowing which two, on any given gameweek!

        16. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Just simply, who do you have in your team?

          A. Kane and Salah
          B. Just Salah
          C. Just Kane
          D. Neither

          1. vova
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            B for now

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              People who reply to the bottom post are my favourite kinds of people

          2. Goodnight Kiwi
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            B

          3. Lukakwho
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            B

          4. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Thought as much, cheers all.