Spot the Differential

Martial could make mockery of £7.5m price tag this year

Wish the summer and your weekend afternoons goodbye, as it’s that time of the year again… Fantasy Premier League is back.

As we hurtle towards the Gameweek 1 deadline, Fantasy Football Scout has all the information, advice and tips you need to help you with your team.

Our best XI for the opening weekend comes out later on Friday but for now, we have something for you mavericks out there.

If you want something slightly different to the crowd, here are three players with low ownership that may be worth considering for Gameweek 1…

Anthony Martial

Martial could do well for Manchester United this year if he gets a run in the team

Price: £7.5m

Ownership: 5.0%

GW1 Opponent: Chelsea (H)

There is no denying that Manchester United did not finished the 2018/19 season on a high. As soon as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was offered the manager’s role on a permanent basis things began to take a turn for the worse as the Red Devils agonisingly missed out on a coveted Champions League spot. 

If there’s one person who could help turn things around with a run in the side, it is Anthony Martial

He averaged an attacking return every 115 minutes in the Premier League last season.

Despite being listed as a midfielder he often plays in advanced positions, such as a centre forward on three occasions during pre-season.

His record of scoring 34 goal in 113 Premier League games is very reasonable, especially when considering his FPL price tag (£7.5m) and position. 

Historically, a combination of injuries, rotation and being subbed off often limited his game time. 

With that said, he is one of United’s most experienced attacking players and, fitness permitting, he should start matches regularly and will be relied upon to perform at his best on a consistent basis. 

Manchester United will be up against a transitional Chelsea team on the opening weekend. 

Interestingly, the last time Martial featured against them he scored a brace in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s defence has not looked too solid in pre-season and they have just lost David Luiz (£6.0m) to Arsenal.

After last season’s woes, Manchester United will want to get off to a good start and players like Martial will need to make more of a difference with improved motivation.

Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters (left) in action for Spurs this summer

Price: £5.0m

Ownership: 3.03%

GW1 Opponent: Aston Villa (H)

Kyle Walker-Peters was far from being one of Tottenham’s firstchoice full-backs last season, but a unique opportunity has presented itself to the youngster.

The departure of Kieran Trippier to La Liga and the injuries to Serge Aurier and Juan Foyth have unexpectedly brought him to the fore. 

Walker-Peters has only featured in nine Premier League games during his entire career and yet averages an assist for every 112 minutes played. 

Moreover, last season, 32% of his touches were in the final third of the pitch. 

Of course, three of Walkers-Peters’ assists came from one game, but it provides an evident glimpse of attacking capabilities.

In fact, you won’t get many other starting £5.0m defenders from last season’s top four, espcially not at wing-back.

The transfer window has now closed and Tottenham’s did not sign any new right-sided defenders. 

Walker-Peters may not be a hugely long-term option and may need transferring/wildcarding out when Foyth or Aurier comes back but we don’t know exactly when that will be yet. 

Tottenham kick start their campaign against newly promoted Aston Villa in Gameweek 1, a favourable fixture.

Walker-Peters has a chance to establish himself in the team and with a few good performances he may prolong his presence as a regular starter.

Ashley Barnes

Burnley’s strike force could enjoy their Gameweek 1 opener against Southampton

Price: £6.5m

Ownership: 0.9%

GW1 Opponent: Southampton

Ashley Barnes was a great differential last season, registering 12 goals and 3 assists. 

This attacking output alone was responsible for 33% of Burnley’s goals, which shows you how important he is to the team. 

There are many other strikers currently priced at £6.5m with similar contributions, such as Josh King, but Barnes has an extra edge. 

For every season that he has played in the Premier League he seems to be progressively scoring more goals:

14/15 Premier League season 5 goals in 35 games
16/17 Premier League season 6 goals in 28 games
17/18 Premier League season 9 goals in 36 games
18/19 Premier League season 12 goals in 37 games

The former Austria Under-20 international’s performance trajectory clearly shows that he is getting better at the top-flight level.

He is at the peak of his powers and there isn’t anything stopping him, even if they’ve signed Jay Rodriguez as an additional forward to add to the mix. 

Sure, Barnes won’t end the season with 20+ goals, but would it be hard to reject him for your third budget striker spot when he could exceed last season’s points tally? 

Burnley start the season with Southampton at Turf Moor. Barnes has scored two league goals in his last two starts against the Saints and he should be more than capable of causing havoc to their backline once again.

MORE TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS CONTENT

Arsenal | Aston Villa (manager) | Aston Villa (defence) | Aston Villa (attack) | Bournemouth | Brighton | Burnley | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Leicester | Liverpool | Man City | Man United | Newcastle | Norwich (manager) | Norwich (defence) | Norwich (attack) | Sheffield United (manager) | Sheffield United (defence) | Sheffield United (attack) | Southampton | Spurs | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

3,661 Comments Post a Comment
  1. United10
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Better pick?
    a) Lundstram, Robinson, Adams
    b) Laporte, Donkey, Wickham

    1. Will
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram likely not to start with new signing

      1. United10
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I know, I would have either Robinson or Adams on the bench with option A

    2. Aleksei
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  2. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    B Silva a good pick

    1. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's going to be he man this year, so so good, David Silva will likely ease off, Sane is out for a long time

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

        Don't have him but agree with this. Have a feeling he'll be in my team before too long

  3. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Rico or Lundstram for my budget 5th defender?

    1. United10
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundstram

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rico

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Think neither will start so neither

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

    How many qualification rounds do wolves have to go through for the Europa league?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      The current one and then one more

  5. Royston7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Last minute tinker help much appreciated

    Heaton (McGovern)
    Digne TAA VVD Zinch (Lundstram)
    Salah Sterling Moura Perez (Dendoncker)
    Wilson King (Greenwood)

    Currently very templatey set up, but keep thinking about Auba...I'm not convinced about Citeh first two fixtures, and if I go for (B) the plan would be to bring Sterling & Jota in for Auba and Moura in GW3. Silly not to start with Sterling??

    (A) Sterling & King (As above)
    or
    (B) Fraser and Aubameyang

    1. FlyingWithoutIngs
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  6. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Dunk or Montoya?

    1. FlyingWithoutIngs
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Montoya

    2. John78
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      M

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

      Montoya

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

    Holebas , Kyle Walker Peters or Ake?

    1. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      KWP i've gone with in my team

  8. John78
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    a) Montoya in a 442 or
    b) Calum Robinson in a 352?

  9. Call Me Old Fashioned
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT?

    Pope Button
    Robbo Digne Montoya Guilbert Rico
    Salah Sterling Perez Robinson Dendoncker
    Auba Jota King

    0.5 in bank. Use it on Robinson to Trossard/Barkley or save

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Save and assess

  10. skeptical
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Seven months out for Sane... ouch!

    1. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Get Bilva in

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

        Think he's too pricey at 8.0!

        1. The Mantis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          what!!? that's a great price

        2. tikka mo'salah
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Might turn out to be one of the better value midfielders in the game..

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Literally ouch

  11. Shankly611
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    TAA VVD Soyuncu
    Salah Sterling Moura Perez
    Rashford King Jota

    Heaton Montoya Dendoncker Lundstram

    thoughts?

  12. Taribo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Would love help on this one:

    a) King & KDB

    b) Wilson & Bilva

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A, King on Pens and KDM better than Bilva imo

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A all day. More flexible price points.

      I also might have it out for Wilson. Think he's poor value at 8.0m.

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Agree with camzy on the value. My team is always based on getting most points per pound

    3. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

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

      Or Kane and Robinson?

    5. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      c) King & Bilva

      Because Sane is out so I expect Bilva will play more attaching and King is on pens

      1. The Mantis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        attacking*

    6. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve gone B. Wilson far better option than King.

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Based on?

  13. LSP
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who do you reckon? Have Wilson and Digne.

    A) Siggy + VVD
    B) Fraser + TAA

    1. FlyingWithoutIngs
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

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

      B

    3. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B for now but very tough choice

    4. Royston7
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  14. NeverLucky
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi gents,

    Any glaring changes? or G2G?

    Button / Pope
    Van Dijk / TAA / Digne / Zinchenko / Kelly
    Salah / Sterling / Perez / Jorginho / Dendoncker
    Kane / King / Greenwood

    0.5 ITB

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

    Manchester Evening News covering Pep's presser:

    "Mahrez and Laporte clear to play

    Riyad Mahrez is free to play after that medical issue ruled him out last week, and Aymeric Laporte has overcome a knock."

    "Right-back competition
    Walker vs Cancelo

    'Kyle came and gave us something we didn’t have. Without him, it would have been so difficult. His physicality is beyond normal but we need competition. For Kyle, it is important to have good competition. What he had with Danilo, and with Cancelo it will happen again. Both have to fight for the position, Cancelo can play on the left as well so it’s good for the team. The guy who is more confident has more chances to play but Kyle knows everything about the way we want to play. Kyle right now is the first one'."

    "Cancelo and Rodri
    Will they start tomorrow?

    'Cancelo is not going to play. He arrived two days ago but he’s going to settle well, having played at an important team in Juventus. You are used to that mentality. Rodri, every day I’m more convinced that the deal we have done with him will be one of the best we have done in years'."

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Solving that DM position was so big for City. Looks like it will be Rodri and Gundogan when Fernandinho retires. Which is annoyingly good - they have disgusting depth..

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

        This. What a team they have.

        I am a HUGE fan of Gundogan myself. He's a monster. If he only he didn't have so many injury problems...

  16. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Kane or Aubameyang, if i go kane il have no arsenal cover, wnd what a froint 5 arsenal have, really struggling to pick

    1. The Mantis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      maybe Auba and Moura

      1. tikka mo'salah
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I went auba+moura, and will look at shipping Moura for Son when he is back. Never really liked having Kane in my team.

        1. The Mantis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I did have Kane in my team for a while leading up to this, however it was so unbalanced. so I no longer have him. I always wild card early anyway if i do want him

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

    a) VVD, KDB, Jota, King (Dendoncker)
    b) VVD, Barkley, Trossard, Vardy, Adams
    c) TAA, Barkley, Trossard, Wilson, Jota

  18. ManUtdFan_UK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) VVD & Siggy
    B) Fraser & TAA

    Already have Robertson and Wilson if that makes a difference... currently on B

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

      B

  19. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    TAA or Robbo? Surely Robbo long term but TAA as good or better for home matches or easier games.
    Watching him at Murrayfield Trent look dreadful and vulnerable v Napoli so I think Gomez will get the nod at right back occasionally.

    Risk v reward Trent could pay off.
    I enjoyed owning last year but at 5m over Robbo at 6.4 I was an easy decision for me.

  20. Rossonero
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Taylor going to start for Burnley? Not in predicted lineup on site

    1. tikka mo'salah
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Rumours say he wont. Had him since the start, but now he had to go for Montoya :-/

    2. slamdunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I see somewhere he played a behind closed door friendly recently,not sure if true or not.

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Competition from Pieters

  21. BigPointDipper
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A)Fraser/Zinchenko/Fermino/trossard

    Or

    B)Sterling/king/Dendoncker/Digne

  22. Iain Dowies Love Child
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    This is my current squad and I'm pretty set:

    Pope / Heaton
    TAA / Digne / Zinchenko / Dunk / Kiko F
    Salah / Sterling / Fraser / Pereyra
    Vardy / Wilson / Greenwood

    ALTHOUGH.....considering Fraser to Perez and Greenwood to Origi - worth it? Y or N.....

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

    Is Kane essential???

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nah mate

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

      No but he's in my team. I feel he will have a fast start this year.

  24. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Kean or BSilva?

    If Kean, I could upgrade my bench..

  25. AFC49
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which one is better?

    A.) KWP, McGinn, Kane, King
    B.) Zinchenko, Siggy, Wilson, Jota

  26. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who scores more in first two weeks:

    Fraser or KDB

    1. slamdunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Fraser

  27. slamdunk
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    My last decision....

    A-KWP

    B-Two roatating 4.5 defenders

    Many thanks

  28. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sooo confused on my backline and 1 attacking spot...thoughts on this?

    A: Pope/Button + VVD + Zincheko + Perez
    B: Pope/Heaton + VVD + Zincheko + Ings
    C: Pope/Button + Martial + Shaw + Ings
    D: Pope/Button + Martial + KWP/Montoya rotation + Ings

  29. Leeds2116
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    B Silva worth it?

  30. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A- Martial

    B- Moura