Pro Pundits - Darren

The Southampton players I’m considering for my ‘big-at-the-back’ FPL team

A Fantasy Premier League veteran of 11 years, Darren Wiles has an incredible track record with three top 1k finishes in the last four seasons.


Unusually for me, I was a little late to the Fantasy Football party this season. All while most managers were busy planning their drafts since the launch, I was busy packing up boxes in the process of moving house. 

I have been desperate to get started and now that mission has been completed, I have finally been able to start planning for Gameweek 1.

It’s easy to see why moving house is widely regarded as a stressful time in our lives but let me tell you…it’s a walk in the park compared to working out how we’re going to get in the Manchester United and Manchester City assets into our teams for Gameweek 2.

So, after registering my team, assessing the fixtures and diving into some data in the Premium Members Area, I now feel ready and equipped to share my current draft along with a few ideas I have.

Best players by position:

1,137 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Good luck getting City, ManU and Kane/Son

    1. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I was wondering that too. Assume Salah and Auba will become Bruno/KDB. Not sure beyond that.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Maybe, just feels like one might end up chasing ones tail going around in circles and never owning the big hitters at the right time. Feels like Vvd/Doh might be sacrificed early on if the big hitters hit the ground running and the CS are slow.

  2. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Laporte has covid and he's in your team? Won't even play gw2

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Possibly written before the news, I was contemplating him tbf

    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ergh, when did that happen?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        FFS tweeted 21 hours ago.

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Guessing the article was written before that announcement.

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

      And Mahrez

      They don’t show signs or symptoms though.

      Intelligent this virus

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        They made the schoolboy error of staying in England when other players were heading off to places with less covid.

    5. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I heard they’ll be ok for game week 2

  3. The Handsome Hunk
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Havertz going to start in GW1 ?

    1. hewittj1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      i think so but it is just a hunch

  4. Bojan Horsemack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is there a convenient way anywhere online to check team line-ups last year, week by week, club by club? Thanks in advance 🙂

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Transfermarkt?

      1. Bojan Horsemack
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Perfect!

  5. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Davies Vinagre
    Salah Auba Son Armstrong ASM
    Werner Ings

    4.0, Mitchell , Johnson, Davis.

    Thoughts?

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nice. V similar to mine.

      Only issue being the defence. Would ideally have an extra 4.5 incase someone doesn't play.

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers. And that definitely the risk.

        But I don’t like any 5.0 mids. Otherwise I’d downgrade one of ASM/Armstrong. Tough one

    2. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Vinagre is leaving Wolves I heard

  6. Var Var Voom
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    With Nketiah starting the Community Shield and then scoring a hat trick in the week for Eng U21s does that make him a starter for gw1 against Fulham?

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

    JJ Kenny has played more minutes than Coleman in this rather short ‘pre season’

    He’s not nailed is he?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Isn't Coleman on international duty?

      1. Concrete
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Ah right...he’s captain too

        Back to the drawing board with the 4.5 defs

        Cheers

  8. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Think I'd rather take a punt on Digne than have Laporte sat on the bench for 1-2 gw's.

    1. Stef rocks
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I am on Digne train as well 🙂

  9. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Greenwood is a huge steal at 7.5 if United don’t get Sancho. His ownership will be huge.

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I expect his mum had grounded him.

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Alli to Greenwood in gw2/3/4 on my radar

    3. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Whats the chances greenwood still starts in gw2?

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Almost certain

        1. n14mul
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Any 2 week quarantine won't affect his chances of starting?

  10. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    1. Son
    2. Alli (save 1.0 for elsewhere)

    Thanks

    1. shawry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      1. Can always downgrade

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      1

    3. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      2

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

      2

      Going to have the extra cash after doing salah>bruno or Auba>kdb to upgrade Alli to whichever Chelsea mid looks like starting hot

  11. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    is the FFS membership worth it over say, Fantasy Football Hub ??

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Not a massive difference, hub has a nice app so you can compare players on the toilet

      1. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        You can use FFS on the toilet if you like?

  12. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    just read naughty stuff done by Greenwood & Foden.. clubs taking any action?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Not yet. I expect they're still rowing across the Atlantic.

    2. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No they won't

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        good

    3. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      hope not

    4. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Hope so

    5. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Extremely naughty 😉 Beautiful young blonde making the move with her friend. You can't blame them for that, too much asked. The mistake was to get caught 🙂

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Foden has a wife and kid!

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Man City are serious..

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Oops...

        3. Stef rocks
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          The guy is 18 and has a wife and a kid WOW not wasting his time

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        A remarkably stupid comment - lets all break the rules and just laugh it off.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Well there is actually basically zero risk of covid in Iceland atm. And I didn't know that Foden is married with child, sorry.

          1. Tinkermania
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Zero risk? Stop exaggerating. Even if it was zero, the protocol was broken.

    6. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      All joke aside I'm surprised that they have messed up on their FIRST outing with England.

      I would have thought their support teams would have advised them along better...

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Maguire, Greenwood, Foden .. Southgate must be p!ssed off

  13. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Chances off united getting sancho by the weekend I'd say its 25%

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      We'll know more tomorrow

      1. Where dahoud at
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        ?

        1. R.C
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Deal should be done in a couple of days

          1. Make United Great Again
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            According to?

          2. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            source?

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

            Source?

    2. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Zero percianoo

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      0%

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Just pay his wages and get him, he has another 2-3 years in him

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Hopefully to LFC soon...

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        If we can't pay his asking wages, your lot may prefer to back off as well imo

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      hope he goes to Barca .. much needed

  14. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    According to BBC Telegraph +behind paywall) has an article that Brewster would be allowed to leave in this window. With Origi and Minamino that would make sense to me. What do you think?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Probably will go on loan.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Depends whether Klopp sees the kids ahead of those two. I'd have thought Origi is superfluous, so it's between Rhian and Mina. Really down to what Klopp sees on the training ground. May not decide before GW1 deadline anyway.

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yes, but if starting with 4-4-2 it is between him and Davis. And if he is sold or loaned to another PL club he is a must have bandwagon. So not owning him may cost a transfer as well as owning him. Decision to make.

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Villa have already enquired, which suggests Davis isn't flavour of the month anyway.

  15. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA Davies KWP
    Salah Auba Alli Soucek
    Werner Ings Adams

    (4.0 Mitchell Ayling Bissouma)
    0.5m

    If Soucek is not available for GW1 get ASM or Wolves def in a 433?

    Salah & Ings to Bruno & Martial for GW2 if I can't afford just Ings to Martial.

    Thoughts?

  16. MrZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any news on TAA? Will he start gw1?

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I would imagine. He had a little run out with England and I'm sure klopp knows they have to fight for every point again

    2. Botman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      he's expected to play for england v denmark

  17. T.Henry14
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    What do you think?

    McCarthy
    TAA, Davies, Vinagre (KWP, Taylor)
    Salah, Auba, Bergwijn, ASM (Bissouma)
    Werner, Ings, Mitrovic

    Bergwijn -- Greenwood after GW1

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Decent

  18. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Morning lads,
    Talk to me about Branthwaite (4.0) - is he going to start for Everton with Holgate injured?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ahead of Keane and Mina?

      1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Keane will surly have 1 spot, Minna didn't play even 1 minute in preseason...

    2. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      if they play 3 at back

    3. foreverton
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No he won't. 4th choice CB.

      1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Do you think Ancelotti rate Mina?

        1. foreverton
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Keane and Mina are competing for the same spot - couldn't tell you who will start.

          1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Then that's good for Branthwaite, no?
            Holgate injured...so Branthwaite will replace him till he recovers.

            1. foreverton
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              No if Holgate is injured the CB pairing will be Mina - Keane

  19. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Would you downgrade Tierney to 4.5 or Doherty to a 5 in order to improve elsewhere..

    Thinking Dier or Davies?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What would the improvement be?

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Mitrovic our for Ings..

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah Doherty out for dier looks good

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Dier for me

  20. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Morning all,
    How's this looking? Think I'm finally settled, like the structure, allows me to move to city/utd/chel fairly easily.
    Mccarthy nyland
    TAA Robbo dier kwp ayling
    Auba Bruno son ASM soucek
    Werner adams davis

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Very good team.. no salah but can't fault those Liv fullbacks.

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I like it. I've gone very similar but starting with Salah for home game vs Leeds then bringing in Bruno for gw2.

      For comparison:
      McCarthy
      TAA Robbo Doherty Davies
      Salah Auba Alli ASM
      Adams Werner

      Could go Doherty to 2 * 4.5 and Alli to Son or Bissouma to Soucek for better bench

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Very similar! I am debating that. Need an extra 0.5 (maybe son to alli). But I'm reluctant to be tied into that transfer gw2

        1. antis0cial
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          My thinking is that Salah could well haul vs Leeds, and if that is the case, could even -4 if I feel the need. I'd rather have the points in the bag then worry about whether I want to transfer out a player in form.

          1. waltzingmatildas
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Hmm, that is probably the sensible move. Thanks!

  21. Puncheon Guly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any Wolves fans speculated over where Fabio Silva fits into the team? For the amount they paid he'll surely start more often than not, regardless of his age and at 5.5 could be a bargain.

    1. Botman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Think he will just rotate minutes with Jota

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

    First RMT 🙂 Thought on this team so far?

    Mccarthy
    Alexander-Arnold - Vinagre - Zouma - Justin
    Aubameyang - Salah - Son - Havertz
    Mitrović - Werner

    Button - Stephens - Bernardo - Davis

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Rumours vinagre is leaving and is unlikely to start. I wouldn't go for a Chelsea CB either, not sure who will start and they haven't been the best defensively so far, I'd prefer one of the Spurs 5's Davies or Dier. You have a lot of uncertainty in that backline considering you have no bench, rest looks fine.

  23. zLaTaN@uNiTeD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on trossard for first 2gw?

  24. Bojan Horsemack
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Likely Arsenal defence at the start?

  25. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any latest news on Soucek? Any chance he'll play vs Newcastle?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      i've dumped him.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Friday is the day

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      2 weeks of self-isolation and then returns to the UK .. just in time for GW1

    4. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks all.. here's hoping that he can play

  26. Var Var Voom
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    With Nketiah starting the Community Shield and then scoring a hat trick in the week for Eng U21s does that make him a starter for gw1 against Fulham?.

  27. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Ramsdale
    Trent Davies Walker-P Tierney (Mitchell)
    Salah Aubameyang Bissouma St Max (Fernandes)
    Werner Adams (Davis)

    My dilemma is Ings/Adams and whether to bench Fernandes or use son as a placeholder..

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts?

    McCarthy
    TAA Justin KWP
    Salah Auba ASM Ceballos Son
    Ings Werner

    GW 2- Son+Ings ➡️ Bruno+DCL
    And planning to wildcard GW 5.

  29. Doug McCasual
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Can anyone explain the rationale behind having these nations league matches?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ridiculous

    2. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      power of UEFA

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It made sense in the days before covid, when international friendlies were a joke and players would drop out by the dozen. Gives the little nations a chance to top a table, get a promotion. I think after covid they should have dropped it for this cycle though.

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

      £££££ thats it

      1. Doug McCasual
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        yeah, must be all tied up it broadcasting rights as there's no 'gate' involved

        pretty ill advised imo considering that pesky virus ravaging the continent