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31 July 2018 2563 comments
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With just over a week to go until the 2018/19 season begins, Watford players aren’t proving to be popular purchases in the Fantasy Premier League community.

The Hornets are one of only two clubs – the other being newly promoted Cardiff City – who don’t have a single player with an FPL ownership of 5% or more.

This isn’t a huge shock, looking at last season’s figures: the Hertfordshire club had the third-worst defensive record in the top flight and only one of their players – central midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure (£6.0m) – scored more than five league goals. Richarlison, meanwhile, departed for Everton last week.

Javi Gracia’s side are third-favourites for relegation with some bookmakers and their form from Gameweek 14 onwards last season – the Hornets won more matches (six) before this point than they did in their remaining 25 games (five) – was that of a team fighting the drop.

Watford’s opening three fixtures this season are enticing, however: home matches against Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace sandwich the Hornets’ trip to Burnley, who could be in UEFA Europa League action either side of that encounter.

Encouraging underlying defensive statistics, the pre-season form of Andre Gray (£6.0m) and a tactical system that encourages their full-backs to attack are worthy of note, too – all of which we will expand on in the article below.

In-depth data on Watford’s season is available in the Members’ Area, while Fantasy Football Scout members can also read our detailed analysis of the key statistics in the article below.

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  1. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on this team?

    Fabianski - 4.0
    Robertson - PVA - Coleman - Doherty - Bednarek
    Salah - Sanchez - Jota - Richarlison - Ward
    Aguero - Zaha - Arnautovic

    1. willl
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Decent, not sure about Fabianksi with the fixtures though

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        All about save point with Fabian

        1. willl
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          need to make 12 saves to match a clean sheet though...

      2. LewanGOALski
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I am counting on save points and BAPS at the beginning of the season. In general I think he’s a steal at 4.5 this year and will be easily in top3 in points per million

        1. willl
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah but you can avoid his terrible fixtures and get him in later on, we have transfers for a reason.

          Set and forget is a myth.

          1. LewanGOALski
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Whom for 4.5 though?
            Was thinking Patricio but already have Doherty from Wolves

            1. willl
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Patricio or Ryan imo, Ryan fixtures aren't great either though

              If you're planning to WC fairly early just look at the first few weeks I'd say

            2. Andy_Social
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              I'm happy with both of them but if you're not, Foster has easy early fixtures.

    2. MarkoSD
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ok

  2. Bad Kompany
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    If you get a grav does it show up anywhere else other than here such as your email?

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      never seen mine anywhere else

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

    2. willl
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I saw mine somewhere else but can't remember where, discord maybe?

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers! Just worried about some stupid picture appearing in something important

        1. Baps Hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Well, do check it then. Or don't upload stupid picture.

    3. Dybala10
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wordpress.

    4. squ1rrel
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      showed up for me on a programming website.

  3. Tmel
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    X 4.0
    X X Mendy Robertson AWB

    a) Ederson, Tomkins & Boly
    b) Patricio, PVA & Cedric
    c) Fabianski, PVA & Boly

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. krzys
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      A

  4. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I have Sanchez as a placeholder for Hazard, but I also have Pedro atm...is that wise or should I look at another 6.5m mid or keep Pedro short term?

    Not sure I want to double up.

    Thanks.

    1. willl
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If they are good options individually they are good options together

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Pretty much this

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers.

    2. Bad Kompany
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      If you think Pedro is the best 6.5 option and he looks likely to start the first few, pick him

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers. You think Pedro is a long term option?

        1. Johnny Leghorn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I do. But it will depend if they buy another striker.

  5. The Pesci challenge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Not signing Mitro at 6.5, might as well have zaha or arnie

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Arnie definitely

    2. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Only if you have £7m

    3. MarkoSD
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      yep

  6. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Is neves on pens as far as we know ?

    1. Totally !rre!evant
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yes. Should be

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thank you

  7. Totally !rre!evant
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    What's the general consensus on having a forward playing against a defender in the first game week? Don't think I can bring myself to do it, yet so many on here look very likely to do so.

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Don’t understand the problem with it. If they’re good picks, their good picks regardless

    2. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not ideal but not worth ignoring good players over.

      I build my team. Then i check. If the players are fringe importance i might change but if they are integral to the make up of the team then i leave them in there and trust my gut

    3. el polako
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Depends on a defender some of them are just too offensive\expensive to bench. Example from my current team:
      Mendy vs. Laca & Ozil, I will play them all hoping for high scoring game and some returns from City's left back.

    4. willl
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Avoiding something based on one week is silly, if you want them for the weeks after then get them

    5. Totally !rre!evant
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all. Quite clear that outcome!

  8. FPL Footy Show Pod
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Pedro and Luiz too risky?

    1. sirmorbach
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I think so, yeah. What's your bench?

      1. FPL Footy Show Pod
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cedric, AW & Masuaku

  9. Jay_
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I know rotation rarely works but check out WAT/CPL/CAR. It's good for a long time with only 1 or 2 'tough' games until gw30 odd. A 4.5 WAT with WB and Peltier (or a 4.5 if you don't fancy Peltier could be very good for 12.5/13m.

      1. FPL Footy Show Pod
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Trouble is - Watford and Cardiff will struggle this year. Palace might make top half if all goes well for them.

        1. Jay_
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I'm not so sure they'll struggle. Look how Palace were once they got their first point and look at Watford stats at end of season. Cardiff, sure, big favourites for drop but it's only playing a Def every now and then in easy homes.

        2. badgerboy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          It is a really good long term rotation. Problem is nailing down the Watford defenders.

          1. Jay_
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Yeah I was hoping for some light on the 4.5's of WAT in the article.

        3. Warby84
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ryan/Schmeichel
          Robertson Alonso Mendy Tomkins Wan B
          DeBruyne Salah Schurrle Richarlison Masuaka
          Aubameyang Arnautovic Jimenez

          3-4-3 in order

          OR

          Ryan/Schmeichel
          Robertson Bailly Mendy Tomkins Wan B
          Salah Gross Richarlison Masuaka Ward
          Aguero Aubameyang Arnautovic

          4-3-3 in order

          I’m down to the last 2 teams?

          Any thoughts

          1. FPL Footy Show Pod
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            3-4-3 much more balanced.

            Will Sch start? I see Pedro as an excellent option at 6.5.

        4. sirmorbach
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Hughes ftw

        5. Albert_Luque
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Apologies for repost, bottomed on last page. First RMT after a good deal of tinkering, come up with a decent team I feel (although probably reinforcing the template). Would welcome any comments.

          Patricio - 4.0
          Mendy - Robertson - Mee - Tomkins - 4.0
          Salah - Mane - Mahrez - Richarlison - Cairney
          Aguero - Arnie - Sorloth

          Thanks!

          1. MarkoSD
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            ok

          2. Johnny Leghorn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Not sold on Mee. Shaw better for now in price bracket. Jose says he's starting.
            Good team otherwise.

        6. camarozz
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          But Fab and Foster same price and maybe better??

          1. camarozz
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Reply fail to above comment..

          2. CloudSky
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            They arent.

        7. OO
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ramsey vs Arnautovic?

        8. Hazardous1983
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Mane sane or mahrez? Already own salah and aguero

          1. MarkoSD
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            mane is nailed

          2. krzys
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Mane

        9. Hazardous1983
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          2 of mitro arnie and zaha.

          1. MarkoSD
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            arnie and zaha

        10. Scotty B
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Are Steve Cook and Kolasanic nailed?

          1. krzys
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Cook should be. Kolasinac probably not.

          2. Hairy Potter
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Mebbees

          3. Rainer
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Depends on your definition of nailed.

          4. Hairy Potter
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Mebbees not

        11. 420king
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Arnie didn't score today. Is he still in form?

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Nope, he’s crap.

            Remove.

            1. 420king
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              I don't have him yet. This form vs fixture debate doesn't convince me.

        12. Obi-1 Kenobi-0
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          What's the general consensus on Zaha vs Arnie at the moment?

          Currently on Zaha but starting to see a lot more Arnie on here. I like him, and get the fixture proof argument, but still prefer Zaha over the first fifth of the season.

          1. Warby84
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I think the difference is mentality, Zaha wants to leave... but Arnautovic is a class above..

        13. Scotty B
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Anyone considering Janmaat?
          Decent fixtures and always got a goal in him

          1. Warby84
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Never even considered any Watford player

        14. Fantasynørden
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Which premium City midfielder do you prefer from GW1?

          A) Sané
          B) Mahrez
          C) KDB
          D) David Silva
          E) Sterling

          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Arguably KDB is he is fit and ready for gw1. Quite hard to predict between the rest of them who will play and who will not.

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              if*

          2. It’s a Knockaert
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            B

          3. Neves say Neves
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Pick one who plays in community shield

          4. AD2110
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I’m going with Silva. Don’t know why not many teams have him. Do people think he won’t start or something. I’m pretty sure he will start

          5. Taking the Mkhitaryan
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            B

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

            Great topic of discussion. This post should be pinned to the top of each page ahah.

            Sterling is for now the least preferred due to WC.
            The more nailed one for me is D. Silva, however Sane and Mahrez are much more tempting in terms of goals and assists.

            From the above mentionned I would prioritize any of Sane and Mahrez

        15. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Guys, gameweek 4 get ready....

          https://youtu.be/EdsPV6gvtGY

        16. FC Hakkebøf
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Which combo do you prefer long term?

          A) Zaha + Mane
          B) Firmino + Mkhitaryan (lets pretend the latter is nailed)

          1. It’s a Knockaert
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            A

          2. krzys
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            B

          3. Neves say Neves
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            A

          4. EgyptianKing
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I was on B but changed to A recently...

        17. Scheister
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Have Mendy and Kun from City, with no Spurs at the moment.
          KDB or Eriksen as second mid??
          Can't make up my mind

          1. krzys
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Eriksen

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            KDB

          3. allbbbaaaannnnn
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Eriksen

          4. EgyptianKing
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Having Kun, I would go for Eriksen. Haveboth in my team

        18. ponsio22
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          When’s the next scoutcast?

        19. MrCloppity
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Ederson
          Robertson, Coleman, Cedric
          Eriksen, Salah, Richarlison, Silva
          Zaha, Firmino, Arnautovic or Tosun (GW1)

          Bench- Stekelenburg, Tomkins, Wan-Bissaka, Kenedy

          Thoughts?

        20. JD @JDCochran2
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Mahrez cleared for training and possible pick for Charity Shield

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Can’t wait for Pep’s pressers to start again.

            ‘Mahrez is much, much better’.

            Then not in the matchday squad.

            1. JD @JDCochran2
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Ha! So true. Good think is Sane has arrived unfit. Very good chance for Mahrez to play in GW1

        21. F4L
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          How good are Yarmolenko and F.Anderson ?

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Very good.

            I expect top 8 for West Ham.

          2. Andy_Social
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Tearing it up pre-season. With Arnie they look a very potent force. Only problem is tricky early fixtures.

          3. F4L
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            cheers both, look like decent prospects at 7mil then at some point in the season.

          4. Taking the Mkhitaryan
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Very very good

            1. Taking the Mkhitaryan
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Although Felipe is a bit injury prone

              1. F4L
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                I hope he can stay fit then! Impressive side Wham are building

        22. @fpl_phenom
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Anyone doing the Sun FF ? £400K price money!

          1. F4L
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            how many people play it?

            1. @fpl_phenom
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Don’t know... this is the first year Iv done it...

              1. F4L
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                hmm sound enticing , might give it a whirl . Cheers

          2. invertebrate
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I'll play it in the hopes of getting off to a lightning start but only because of the prize money. The structure and scoring is horrific.

            For instance, every single club competition counts towards points. So if you pick players from a team not in Europe you've immediately lost at least 6 games worth of points before Christmas.

            1. Do I Not Like Orange
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Plus the star man & '7 out of 10' rating system makes the FPL BAPS system look fair and balanced.

              1. invertebrate
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                And the only formations are 442 or 433. Actually they might have added 343 this season as well.

                Basically the only good thing about the Sun game is the prize money.

          3. Do I Not Like Orange
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I will be, but do you know if they've changed rules re: when you can make transfers? Used to do my head in waiting til the start of a calendar month to unlock my transfers then having to wait an extra week because the player I wanted rid of had already played some stupid Carabao Cup game on a Tuesday night. Their World Cup game had a much better system.

            1. invertebrate
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Don't think it's changed. You get 3 transfers a month but as you say if your player has played that week (even in the Coca Cola Cup) the transfer doesn't take effect until I think the Friday.

              Compounding the 3 transfers monthly thing is a price fluctuation system way more volatile than FPL. So you could use your third transfer by say the 20th of the month and by the time you can transfer in your next target he could have risen literally a couple of million.

          4. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            The more people you recruit, the less chance you have of winning.

          5. Indpush
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I have two teams. One is where I can use transfers and one is in a zombie league

        23. Cal
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          A)
          DDG;
          Mendy, Robertson, Coleman;
          Salah, Eriksen, Richarlison, Schurrle;
          Zaha, Arnautovic, Aguero

          Or

          B)
          DDG;
          Mendy, Robertson, Coleman;
          Salah, Eriksen, Mahrez, Sigurdsson, Gross;
          Zaha, Arnautovic

          1. cravencottage
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            B- Kun more explosive than Mahrez