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. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Guilbert a better option than Montoya given the fixtures after GW1?

  2. thomas19390
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan/Button
    Robertson/Digne/Zinchenko/Aarons/Lundstram
    Salah/Sterling/Perez/Moura/Dendoncker
    Wilson/Jota/King

    0,5 ITB.GTG?

  3. L9
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    choose one:
    martial/lucas mooura/siggy

    i think going towards martial as everton hasn't score many goals in pre season and mooura is not a sure starter.

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lucas

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

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA/Digne/AWB
    Salah(c)/Sterling/Martial/Moura/Perez
    Wilson/Jota

    Button/Rico/Lund/Green

    Moura can be out with 2FTs after 2GW if needed and could then switch to 343

  5. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) TAA + Barkley
    B) VVD + Martial

    B £1m more but have it itb

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  6. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    big difference between Coleman and Digne?

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Everton signed Sidibe who might steal minutes from Coleman

    2. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      0.5 gets you set pieces and no sidibe threat

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

      hmm good point.

  7. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Interesting that guilbert has a decent bandwagon on here but his career goal+assist stats are very mediocre, am I missing something and why is targett in far fewer teams?

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

      This is what I’m thinking.

    2. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      a lot of yellow cards which is a big plus imo

    3. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      for a serious response

      he has good attacking potential

      you're not going to get someone like taa for 4.5

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Where's the evidence of attacking potential though? I suppose it just shows how poor the 4.5s are this year

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

      It just takes one person to constantly big up a player and if the price range is right, and fixtures okay, people want to believe it and somehow the player creeps into more and more teams.

  8. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pick one 4.0 Def
    A. Hanley
    B. Lundstram

    I already own rico

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

      B

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

    Pope

    Zinchenko Simpson Digne Robertson

    Salah, Maddison Sterling

    Greenwood Kane Vardy

    (Button, Kelly, Dendonck, Hayden)

    Good to go?
    My gut says no lol..

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

      Listen to your gut

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

      Will Simpson and Greenwood start?

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If your gut says no, then don't do it. You need to spread the wealth imo. As much as we'd love to be able to fit all the heavy hitters into our teams, it's just not going to happen

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

        Well, i did some changes to it:

        Pope

        Zinchenko TAA, Digne, Robertson

        Salah, Bilva, Perez

        Kane, Rashford, King

        Thoughts?

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

    GTG?

    Ryan
    TAA Robbo Zinchenko Coleman
    Salah Sterling KDB Pérez
    King Jota

    Button Rico Dendoncker Greenwood

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      i tink so

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

      Yes gtg.
      Do you have 0.5 ITB?

  11. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Everything gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Robbo Digne Zinchenko
    Salah Sterling Fraser Perez
    Wilson Jota

    4.0 Dendoncker Greenwood Rico

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

      Looks good

      1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

  12. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Aurier is already back.. Was a hand injury. At best kwp is a 2 gw punt. Wood and jrod looked like the main men for Burnley in preseason. Very weird that Barnes is recommended. Martial and Rashford and Chelsea could break the fpl game this season soon though considering their premiums are at mid point prices.

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

      Here’s hoping Wood bangs the goals!

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

      Aurier is not exactly in favour there. If KWP does well I suggest it will be his place to lose...

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

    Best 5.5 mid?
    a) Robinson
    b) McGinn

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

      Robinson

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b

  14. MrFrodo
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    I’m as happy as I have been which is good with the deadline closing in. What do you guys think of the team?

    Heaton (Button)
    Digne, VVD, Robertson, Cathcart (Lundstram)
    Pérez, Sterling, Salah, Trossard (Dendoncker)
    King, Kane (Greenwood)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same structure here. GTG.

  15. thomashl
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is EVE premium def really that great an idea?

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

      I don’t think so. I’ll get on them when I see defensive form.

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

        Cheers. Good to hear I’m not alone

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      In view of the fixtures i say why not

    3. Gallery
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Great fixtures - great attacking potential

    4. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nope. But I'm gonna use Digne as a punt who il switch out when a 5.5 to 6 bargain appears at Chelsea/city/United

      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Also my team is stretched as it is so I can't find 0.5 for laporte 🙂

    5. Lingard’s Shin Guards
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne for his attacking returns and hopefully some cleanies

  16. Gallery
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) KDB + King
    B) Kane + Robinson

    Rest of the team:
    Pope
    VVD-TAA-Coleman-Zinchenko
    Sterling-Salah-Perez-(?)
    Jota-(?)

    Cheers!

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

      B

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

      Interesting, maybe I should change to B..

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

    Last choices:

    1) Zinchenko
    2) KWP
    3) Vert
    4) Zouma

    A) KDB (have Sterling)
    B) Siggy
    C) Eriksen
    D) Martial

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

      3B

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

      1A for me

    3. Willllsonnn!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      4D for me

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

      Haha, three different answers

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

        Too many alternatives...

    5. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A1 Sharon. Good girl.

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

      Help me out please:

      A - Montoya, Barkley/Pereyra, Aubameyang
      B - TAA, Perez, Wilson

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

        B

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

      Still tinkering around...

      A) Ryan - Zinch - KDB - King

      B) DDG/Lloris - KWP - Martial - Wilson

    8. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Defender 5.5 or less
      A) AWB
      B) Zinchenko
      C) KWP
      D) Zouma

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

      Final squad decision : A or B?

      A)

      Pope, Button
      Digne, VvD, Robbo, Montoya,
      Salah, Sterling, Trossard
      King, Vardy, Jimenez

      Button, Camarasa, Dendoncker, Diop

      B)

      Pope,
      Digne, VvD, Robbo, Montoya,
      Salah, Sterling, MOURA, Trossard,
      King, Vardy

      Button, Greenwood, Diop, Dendoncker

      1. Kala Balla
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Go with your 4-4-2 team and replace Trossard with someone who will start...IMO

    10. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Best 4.5m defender?

      1) Dunk
      2) Guilbert
      3) Any other?

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

        I want to know this too. I've currently got Cathcart but am considering Montoya and Söyüncü

    11. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      No love for Sergio?

    12. Tabbara
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thoughts on
      Pope (Button)
      TAA Robertson Zinchenko Coleman (Lundstram)
      Sterling Salah Perez Fraser (Dedoncker)
      Wilson Jota (Greenwood)
      0.5 ITB
      Thx

    13. Fodderx4
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Alright Lads, down to the final decision with my team would appreciate thoughts...

      a: walker, mourra & Wilson
      b: zinchenco, kdb and king

    14. stuzig
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A) Vardy + Dendoncker (352) or £4.5m defender (442)
      B) Perez + Jota (352)

      Thanks

    15. El Copo
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Barkley in a 5-man midfield or Che Adams in a 3-man attack?

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

      Please RMT

      Pope
      Zinchenko/VVD/KWP
      Fraser/Salah/Moura/Trossard/Pérez
      Aub/Firmino

      Heaton/greenwood/Boly/laudstram

      Are we convinced Moura will start? Only started one game pre season.

      I also fed my team is very short sighted. Would look to get Stirling/Jiménez/ TAA or possible Cancelo in week 3 depending how first couple game weeks go?

      I like my team but something just doesn’t feel right with it

    17. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      captain

      1 - salah
      2 - sterling
      3 - auba

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

      This ship is going to sink. My forward line is King - Ings - Murray..

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

        It’s not good bossman.