The latest batch of pre-season games taught Fantasy Premier League managers plenty about Chelsea, Burnley and Sheffield United in particular.
We are still on the hunt for a clear picture of Frank Lampard’s favoured team seleciton but we got some pointers as they played Barcelona.
Meanwhile, there was further information on the £4.0m defender situation as the Blades edge closer to the end of their friendlies schedule.
Barcelona 1-2 Chelsea
Goals: Tammy Abraham (£7.0m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m)
Assists: Jorginho (£5.0m), Marcos Alonso (£6.5m)
Tammy Abraham (£7.0m) scored his first goal of pre-season to further complicate the Chelsea striker situation.
The former Swansea City and Aston Villa loanee started for the Blues in a high-profile friendly against a decent Barcelona side and netted the opener.
Abraham’s performance has reminded Fantasy managers just how uncertain things are when it comes to Frank Lampard’s first-choice centre-forward, increasing the need to continue tracking the pre-season minutes.
Chelsea’s new manager made specific reference to the player’s confidence after the game but did not indicate his place within the pecking order.
“I won’t get carried away with anything about this performance, although I’m very happy. For Tammy, he’s a goalscorer and he’s hungry for goals. That’s what I love about his attitude as he constantly wants to score and I saw that in the Championship last year. He’s proven that and now it’s his time to prove it for Chelsea. Confidence is big for goalscorers, so to get his goal will put him in good stead.” – Frank Lampard
As things stand, Michy Batshuayi (£7.0m) has more pre-season minutes than any other Chelsea forward (155) but there is still a long way to go.
Olivier Giroud (£7.0m), who already has two pre-season goals to his name this summer, is just behind the Belgian on 120 while Abraham has 105.
As we already explained, there is still plenty of monitoring to do of this trio as the summer winds on, with Lampard not giving us many clues so far.
“Olivier Giroud came on and I thought he did very well as he showed his different styles and attributes that he brings. The same with Batshuayi. There’s competition and people keep talking a lot about it. They all need to rise to the competition and show they can be a striker for Chelsea. I’ve got full confidence in that. It’s great for Tammy.” – Frank Lampard
Questions also remain over how Chelsea will set up in midfield this season, with specific reference to the holding pair in Lampard’s 4-2-3-1 system.
🔵 After 4 pre-season matches we are still no closer to knowing who Chelsea's number one striker is…
— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) July 24, 2019
⏱ Minutes so far:
🇧🇪 Batshuayi – 155
🇫🇷 Giroud – 120
🏴 Abraham – 105#FPL #FantasyPL #FFScout #cfc pic.twitter.com/rtLktCSiiY
Jorginho (£5.0m) has played 173 minutes so far, more than any other recognised central midfielder which could bode well for those taking a punt on Chelsea’s potential penalty taker.
However, the knee injury to N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m) makes it hard to work out if Jorginho’s minutes are as a direct result of the Frenchman’s absence from pre-season games thus far, or if Lampard intends to pair them up in defensive midfield.
This is another area to continue tracking throughout pre-season, both concerning Kanté’s fitness and Jorginho’s pitch time.
“With N’Golo I sent him home a few days ago because I felt, even though I said how good the trip has been, for someone in their rehab it’s much more beneficial to be back at Cobham with the facilities we have there. It’s not a big backwards step that has been taken. He’s improving and hopefully, we will get him back by the time we start training towards the weekend and he will be in a position to pretty much join in with us. I’m hopeful that he’s ready for the start of the season, and maybe a break for a player that has played so many games over the past couple of seasons at such a level, in terms of output and energy, it may not be the worst.” – Frank Lampard
Maybe the key to working out who will start in holding midfield is Mateo Kovačić (£5.5m), who could potentially be ahead of either Kanté or Jorginho in the pecking order.
Lampard has sung his praises during pre-season and judging by the comments, you have to admit that the Croatian looks in a strong position to start Gameweek 1.
“I thought he was outstanding in the first half. I really liked Kovacic last year and I watched him a lot. When you say he had a difficult season I kind of get that, but at the same time I saw lots of things in his game that I really like. What I found here on the tour from the first day he turned up is a hungry attitude, desire to work and incredible talent on the ball. I want to work with him and I want to help him to improve and improve. There’s so much talent there, I really like him. He was outstanding today and I’m really pleased. We know we’ve got numbers in the midfield area and I can’t help but be excited by some of the elements today and I think there’s more to come.” – Frank Lampard
Mason Mount (£6.0m) has also earned plenty of praise from Lampard and will fancy his chances of landing the number 10 role for Gameweek 1.
‘Mason’s had a great trip. Energy, quality and brightness that he’s played and great within the group. He’s really announced himself into the first-team squad.” – Frank Lampard
Meanwhile, Pedro (£7.0m) is increasingly looking like the most nailed-on Chelsea attacker ahead of the new season.
His total of 205 pre-season minutes so far is the second highest among Chelsea players and with a relative lack of competition for his place, it seems very likely he will be on the team-sheet for Gameweek 1.
Part of that stems from an injury to Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m), while Willian (£7.0m) remains absent from the pre-season group.
After helping Brazil win the 2019 Copa America this summer, the winger is still yet to play any friendlies.
Lampard confirmed after the win over Barcelona that Willian was likely to return to training in early August, which may see him involved against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Blues’ final friendly match.
What position that puts him in for Gameweek 1 remains to be seen, but does increase Pedro’s chances of regular starts.
‘He’s due fit, well, hopefully, his return to training date is early August. He needed a bit of a break as well and we’re controlling that and making sure he’s getting his rehab during that break. I’m hopeful that he will come and train with us early August and he’ll get up to a level pretty quickly and be available for selection.” – Frank Lampard
Not surprisingly, Chelsea’s ever-present Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) has now played more minutes than any of his colleagues (206).
Crucially, the bulk of that time has been at right-back rather than at centre-back.
It now appears unlikely that Davide Zappacosta (£4.5m) will emerge as a budget option for the Chelsea defence.
The only way that the Italian could become a regular starter would be if Azpilicueta got injured, or if enough centre-backs were unavailable to force the Spaniard into the middle of the defence.
With Antonio Rüdiger (£6.0m) still out injured until September, it is probably between Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) and Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) to join David Luiz (£6.0m) at centre-back in Gameweek 1.
Zouma is currently ahead of Christensen on pre-season minutes by 180 to 138.
Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Emerson (Alonso 46′), D Luiz (Zouma 46′), Christensen (Tomori 48′), Azpilicueta (Bakayoko 71′); Kovačić (Zappacosta 70′), Jorginho (Drinkwater 71′); Pulisic (Giroud 60′), Mount (Barkley 60′), Pedro (Batshuayi 70′); Abraham (Kenedy 60′).
Fleetwood Town 0-2 Burnley
Goals: Ali Koiki, Chris Wood (£6.5m)
Assists: Matej Vydra (£5.5m), Phil Bardsley (£4.5m)
Chris Wood (£6.5m) extended his pre-season scoring form as he found the net in Burnley’s 2-0 win over Fleetwood on Tuesday evening.
The forward now has six goals and one assist across appearances in four friendlies.
We do have to remember though that form over the summer does come with plenty of caveats.
Firstly, these games are just friendlies and secondly, the quality of opposition has yet to match what Burnley will face in the Premier League.
All but one of Wood’s pre-season goals have come against teams that operate at League One level or below – that solitary exception scored past Fulham, now a Championship outfit.
However, it is worth noting that Wood’s confidence probably in a good place on this run, even if Burnley’s early fixtures don’t particularly inspire (SOU | ars | wol | LIV).
Sean Dyche continues to rotate his squad in these pre-season friendlies with 19 outfield players getting 45 minutes against Fleetwood.
The only options to record more than that were Joe Hart (£4.5m) and Kevin Long (£4.5m) who both played the full 90 minutes at Highbury Stadium.
The centre-back’s contribution is easy to explain with Burnley reporting that both Ben Mee (£5.0m) and Ben Gibson (£4.0m) were “both nursing knocks.”
However, it is unclear why Hart was treated to an extended outing against Fleetwood as Burnley’s goalkeeper situation continues to perplex Fantasy managers.
The former Manchester City shot-stopper has now played more pre-season minutes than any other Burnley goalkeeper (225).
Tom Heaton (£4.5m) was named on the bench at Highbury Stadium but remained an unused substitute amid further speculation over his future.
Joining him on the bench was Adam Legzdins while Nick Pope (£4.5m) was rested with a tight groin.
🍷 As Pope missed last night's friendly with a tight groin, there still isn't much between Burnley's goalkeepers in terms of pre-season minutes…
— Fantasy Football Scout (@FFScout) July 24, 2019
⏱ Hart – 225
⏱ Pope – 180
⏱ Heaton – 90#FPL #FantasyPL #FFScout #TwitterClarets pic.twitter.com/xHwJPT5bOJ
There is, obviously, a long way to go in pre-season, with Burnley three more matches between now and Gameweek 1, so, hopefully, we get a clearer idea of who the number one goalkeeper is.
The more positive news saw Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) return to full fitness following a slight injury, allowing him to make his first appearance of pre-season.
It is believed that, when fit, the former Leeds United defender will be the first-choice left-back but so far, Erik Pieters (£4.5m) is ahead of him in terms of preparation and pre-season minutes.
Another name missing as Burnley beat Fleetwood was Robbie Brady (£5.5m), who has struggled with injury in recent seasons.
“It is nothing too major. He got a bang on his ribs, bruising and a bit of stretch in the ribs so we are not going to force players who are not quite ready.” – Sean Dyche
It is also worth pointing out that Matej Vydra (£5.5m) is also enjoying a profitable pre-season campaign.
His assist for Ali Koiki‘s opening goal was his second of the summer and took his goal involvement to five (three scored, two assisted).
Only Wood has been involved in more than the former Reading and Derby forward.
Where he stands in the striker pecking order at Turf Moor is still very much up in the air though.
Wood and Jay Rodriguez (£6.0m) have both played 270 pre-season minutes so far with Vydra on 250 and Ashley Barnes (£6.5m) on 180.
First-half Burnley XI (4-4-2): Hart; Taylor, Long, Tarkowski, Lowton; Koiki, Westwood, Hendrick, Lennon; Vydra, Rodriguez.
Second-half Burnley XI (4-4-2): Hart, Pieters, Dunne, Long, Bardsley; McNeil, Benson, Cork, Gudmundsson; Wood, Barnes.
Chesterfield 0-5 Sheffield United
Goals: Billy Sharp x3 (£6.0m), Callum Robinson (£5.5m), Luke Freeman (£5.5m)
Assists: L Freeman x2, Kieron Freeman (£4.5m), Enda Stevens (£5.0m), David McGoldrick (£5.5m)
Billy Sharp (£6.0m) scored a hat-trick to solidify his place as one of Sheffield United’s most important players ahead of the 2019/20 season.
He has now netted four goals this pre-season and has recorded more minutes over the summer than any other recognised forward at Chris Wilder’s disposal (227).
FPL midfielder Callum Robinson (£5.5m) and David McGoldrick (£5.5m) look likely to fight it out to claim the other striker spot in the 3-5-2 system in place at Bramall Lane.
Both of them were involved in the goals at the Proact Stadium.
Robinson started and scored the second of the game, while McGoldrick provided the assist for Sheffield United’s fifth and final goal.
The Blades have now played four of their five scheduled pre-season games so, barring any announcements, are relatively near the end of friendly matches.
That is why we should keep an eye on John Lundstram (£4.0m), a central midfielder listed as a defender by FPL.
As has been mentioned before, the 25-year-old was only a bit-part player in 2018/19, and is not considered important by much of the fanbase either.
However, Lundstram has been one of the most heavily used assets in pre-season, only Enda Stevens (£5.0m) getting more minutes than his 270.
Crucially, Wilder said recently that the midfielder definitely has a part to play this season, which should certainly increase the Fantasy interest in him given Sheffield United’s potential for clean sheets.
“I thought John Lundstram yet again impressed. He’s possibly a player that many would have thought we’d have moved on in the summer but he’s got a definite part to play.” – Chris Wilder
Meanwhile, Simon Moore (£4.5m), Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) and John Egan (£4.5m) were among the unused substitutes.
Sheffield United XI (3-5-2): Dewhurst; Basham, Jagielka (Stearman 77), Bryan; Stevens (Fleck 77), Lundstram, L Freeman, Slater (Norwood 67), K Freeman (Baldock 67); Sharp (Boyes 79), Robinson (McGoldrick 65).
Cambridge 0-3 Leicester City
Goals: Harry Maguire (£5.5m), Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.0m), Hamza Choudhury (£4.5m)
Assists: Ben Chilwell (£5.5m), Harvey Barnes (£6.0m)
There was not too much to be learned from Leicester’s win over Cambridge on Tuesday night.
The Foxes are still handing out first pre-season appearances to a number of players, which makes it hard to assess the preferred options in several positions.
The centre-forward position is naturally, as nailed on as it’s going to get with Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) although Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.0m) got his first goal of the summer to get ready for understudy duty again.
Kasper Schmeichel (£5.0m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) had been left out of the first two matches but made their pre-season bows at the Abbey Stadium.
After half-time, James Maddison (£7.0m), Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) and Hamza Choudhury (£4.5m) all made their first club appearances of the summer, the latter two involved in the goals.
With interest in Leicester midfield options, it’s worth pointing out that Ayoze Pérez (£6.5m) was not involved again following an injury in Leicester’s first pre-season match.
Meanwhile, Youri Tielemans (£6.5m) got 60 minutes and is among the crop of players at the top of the pile for involvement so far (150).
Furthermore, he earned great praise for his display from the Leicester City commentary team.
“The one player that stuck out in the first half for me is Youri Tielemans. He was at the centre of everything, he’s always looking to be positive and as a young player watching on the bench, even though he’s a young player himself, he plays way beyond his years.” – Gerry Taggart, LCFC commentator
Finally, Brendan Rodgers was forced into a change when Jonny Evans (£5.0m) had to be withdrawn with a potential thigh problem.
However, it has been revealed that the centre-back will not take long to recover.
“You try to get out of these games with no injuries but unfortunately Jonny took a knock on the thigh. But it’s a dead leg, so it’s thankfully not a thigh strain. It was just a dead leg that was difficult for him.” – Brendan Rodgers
Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Chilwell (Fuchs 60′), Maguire (Morgan 60′), Evans (Söyüncü 46′), R Pereira (Justin 60′); Mendy (Choudhury 46′); D Gray (H Barnes 45′), Tielemans (Silva 60′), A King (Maddison 46′), Albrighton (Ghezzal 60′); Vardy (Iheanacho 60′).
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