FPL

FPL team guide 2021/22 – Wolverhampton Wanderers: Best players, stats and more

Our team-by-team guide to the new Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season concludes with this preview of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After three successful seasons winning promotion to, and then establishing themselves in, the Premier League under manager Nuno Espírito Santo Wolves’ momentum stalled last term as significant injuries to key players such as Raul Jiménez (£7.5m) and Jonny (£4.5m) took their toll at both ends of the pitch.

The Molineux side’s final position of 13th was a significant drop from the two seventh-place finishes they had managed since rejoining the top flight and in the end, Santo’s departure by mutual consent seemed strangely unsurprising.

Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage is the new man in the hot seat. Wolves assets, particularly in defence, have generally dropped in FPL price this year, but could Lage’s attacking philosophy take the club back into contention for a European place?

We assess the Fantasy appeal of Wolves ahead of 2021/22 in this piece, which takes Opta player and team data from our Premium Members Area.

FPL pre-season: Trossard hits hat-trick from wing-back role 1

THE DEFENCE

TotalRank v other Premier League sides
Goals conceded5212th
Clean sheets1014th
Shots conceded44210th
Shots in the box conceded29810th
Shots on target conceded1529th
Big chances conceded  6710th
Expected goals conceded (xGC)49.819th

To many FPL managers, it felt last season as if Wolves defenders were underperforming the price tags they had acquired following strong performances in the previous couple of campaigns. It is certainly true that all their team defensive numbers were down with positions falling from around fifth in 2019/20 to around tenth in 2020/21.

However, the drop-off was felt more acutely in Fantasy games as Wolves fell from equal fourth in the crucial clean sheets statistic to 14th overall. That the actual difference was ten shut-outs instead of 13 illustrates that 12 clean sheets is something of a par score in FPL.

As the table above shows, no fewer than six out of 20 Premier League teams kept exactly a dozen clean sheets last season while three further teams kept 11.

For Wolves, both actual and expected goals conceded worsened by about 12. The most significant contributor to that seems to have been big chances conceded which declined from a league-leading 47 the season before to a tenth-placed 72 this time around.

Shots in the box conceded increased by around 16%, too.

Above: Wolves defence 2020/21 (left) vs. Wolves defence 2019/20 (right)

The home and away performances of the Wolves defence last season were mirror images in overall Fantasy terms, with the absence of crowds seemingly a significant factor in the negation of home advantage. Both at Molineux and on the road Wolves kept five clean sheets, conceded one or two goals ten times and three or more goals on four occasions.

It should be emphasised that, even facing disruption and a loss of form, the Wolves rearguard only reverted from being one of the most secure in the league to simply average. They were by no means terrible which suggests that a standard price of £4.5m for their defenders could be a sound investment if there is even a small bounce back – although Lage’s attacking mindset is a concern on the clean sheet front.

THE ATTACK

Total    Rank v other Premier League sides
Goals    3616th
Shots    46310th
Shots in the box28111th
Shots on target15311th
Big chances46=18th
Expected goals (xG)36.8717th

Up front, a couple of statistics slightly improved from 2019/20. Wolves managed two more shots (admittedly a lot less than 1% of their total) and also seven more shots on target which was enough to move them up a place in the rankings.

However, almost everything else fell dramatically and again, particularly at the business end. Goals scored went from 51 (=8th) to 36 (16th), though that total was almost exactly in line with the number of expected goals (36.87), and big chances again seemed the obvious culprit, almost halving from 83 (6th) to 46 (18th).

THE JIMÉNEZ EFFECT

576 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Spg76
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Bench boost activated

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      High five, me too, second year in a row going for the GW1 BB

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        How did it pan-out last season?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          The bench scored 20 points but most of that was made from a Romain Saiss 15 pointer.

    2. Moxon
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Would you WC in GW2 or stick?

      1. Spg76
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I can’t give any advice. 100% casual here who wants to win my mini league/WhatsApp group

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I dont think that will be a good idea

      3. DantheManinaPan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        No way. So much information to gain in the first few weeks that can be used well to make a good wildcard later

    3. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      There are too few of us

  2. Stormbringer22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Hmmm, what scores more:

    A. Bruno + £4.5 defender (White in my case) + Sanchez
    B. Son + Digne/Shaw + Meslier + £0.5itb

    Starting to think of maybe ditching Bruno...

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Meslier opening fixtures aren’t great. Neither is Son’s first game actually.

    2. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Assuming you have good rotation 4.5m def, A for me.

  3. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    https://theathletic.com/2735587/2021/07/29/ivan-toney-exclusive-art-goalscoring/

    Ivan Toney: “I won’t tell you my target but it is higher than 14 and 17,” he says. “I feel like if you aim higher and you come up just short, you will be alright. You have to aim crazy. I want to achieve something crazy.”

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Last striker to break 20 PL goals for a newly promoted team was Andy Johnson back in 2004/05

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        And didn't he do that with 10 pens or something like that? Or am I wrong?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          11 in fact

    2. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      So he'll get about 7 goals?

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Hard to argue with that mindset, fair play to him

    4. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Going for #1 rank this time, what can go wrong. Worst case, I'll finish at 1m...

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Back of an envelope maths - hopefully around 35 appearances, 13 goals, 5 assists, 15 bonus - approx 150 points

      Then +/- 10% either side of that if he either has or hasn't got luck on his side

      Somewhere in the 135-165 range should be doable

      But I think he actually has a great shot at getting 5-6 goal invovlements in those first 5 fixtures with Brentford coming out of the blocks all guns blazing

    6. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I like his mindset! he definately in my team!

  4. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone non-Fernandes'ing?

    a) Son, Sancho and Pukki (Really like Son in my team and think the Sancho punt could be quite fun)
    or
    b) Fernandes, Smith-Rowe and Antonio (Much safer)

    1. Club-De-Belon
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      59.9% of teams don't have him 😉
      Option A seems fine except Pukki pick (at least for the first run of fixtures).

    2. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B just because i dont like Pukki early on

    3. Welcome to Har vitzvah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I'm going without Bruno. Gives the team so much balance overall. I don't see why Son and an upgraded defender like Robbo, Creswell or Digne won't make up for Bruno points.

  5. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Luke Shaw is confident of being fit for the start of the Premier League season. He has returned to England and is quarantining ahead of reporting for pre-season training on Monday #mulive [@samuelluckhurst]

    https://mobile.twitter.com/utdreport/status/1420701982063570946

  6. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Does it not makes sense to go cheap in defence to start with and load up in midfield and attack?

    CS are few as the season begins and with the new VAR calls being in favor of the attackers for marginal offside decisions, I doubt we will have have that many CS.

    Is it worth sacrificing TAA in defence to get an Antonio, Nacho or Wilson?

    I feel they can outscore TAA over the first few gws. Can restructure when wildcards if more funds need to be out in defence.

    Appreciate thoughts on this.

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Interesting and good points. Only thing I’ll say is TAA and Robbo are chosen hugely for their goal involvement too.

    2. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Good point re. VAR and yes i think you can build a good team with TAA + 4.5's

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I was thinking more like 5.5, 5, 4.5, 4.5, 4 to start off till we see how teams are defending.

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Someone made a post yesterday showing there was no more CS in first half of season to 2nd half only they were slightly more unpredictable in nature - read into that what you will

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      They won't outscore TAA, and if they did they're an easy move.

    5. Indpush
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I'm doing it

  7. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Andros Townsend - think this one may be worth a separate thread.

    Just checked his heat map last season and it more or less confirmed what I saw. You need to look quite closely but there is less activity upfield and significantly fewer pen area touches in the last season compared to his last productive season.

    What I saw as a Palace watcher was he was used more as a wide mid than a winger. He did a job for Palace but was very poor FPL. If Rafa tries him as a wing then I don't; think it unreasonable to think he will become a better FPL asset - even before you factor in Everton and Palace. The difference could be stated as 4-2-3-1 (Everton) and 4-4-2 (Palace) when the middle 4 doesn't do much attacking. (Slightly simplistic that but conceals a truth.

    5.5 - punt territory but if he gets minutes I think he deserves to be quite high on that list of budget mids.

    1. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah was thinking this the other day, good foil for DCL too.

    2. Welcome to Har vitzvah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Absolutely. Townsend with DCL and towering Richarlson, and Fraser for 5.5m are the go to options for anyone going with a cheap starting.

      I have my doubts with ESR because Arsenal is in the market for CAM. He is for now just a fallback option for Arsenal.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        😉

        Fraser is the one I'm on right now. Things will change of course but those are the two I'm choosing between right now in the 5.5 range.

  8. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Hi everyone,

    What do you think of this team?

    Bachman (Foster)

    TAA - Coufal - White (Ayling - Omob)

    Salah - Bruno - Son - Raphinha - ESR

    Antonio - Watkins (Obafemi)

    ESR could be Mbeumo or townsend... Any suggestions?

    1. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Or you could

      ESR > Watkins > Toney & Bowen?

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      GK : Okay
      DEF : Okay
      MID : Okay, no room for up-gradation of Smith Rowe plus cant bench vs Chelsea and Man City.
      FWD : Okay

      Alternative : You can go for a 5.5 defender over Smith Rowe or Coufal and Omob to couple of 4.5 defenders who can cover Smith Rowe.

  9. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    So do we think Iheanacho starts the season as first choice striker?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yes imo, cant see Daka starting anytime soon

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      He should

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      If he's fit he has to start - he's too good not to

    4. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I'd be very surprised if he didn't start. Just interesting to see how they will line up with Barnes back

    5. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Imagine being Rodgers and not starting him.

      Hell on.

    6. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      4231

      Vardy
      Barnes. Maddy. Nacho
      Ndidi. Tiele
      ThomEvans Fofana Castagne
      Scheme

      Just my opinion. Maybe its different. Love to see Nacho playing close to the box tbh

  10. 824545201
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    (Bottomed) I have TAA. Pick 1:

    A) Robertson (4-4-2)
    B) Ihaenacho (3-4-3)

    1. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      A

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B

    5. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      A

    6. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Try pick both

    7. Welcome to Har vitzvah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      You can play both if you downgrade Bruno.

  11. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Gallagher being reported as doing a medical today at Palace - I assume loan

    If true I'm hoping that Chelsea youth squad was as ace as generally reported. Not that fussed if it turns out that Lamptey was the weak link 🙂

  12. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy is calling my name.. thoughts?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Daka will be better

  13. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Is Gilmour expected to be nailed?

    Thanks.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yes - Chelsea probably only agreed to it with a commitment to him being first choice when fit

    3. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

  14. Thinkering like a Boss
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Just try something different. How about this?

    Sanchez (Foster)
    TAA, Digne, Coufal (White, Ayling)
    Salah, Fernandes, Alli, Raphinha, Pepe
    Watkins, Antonio (Obafemi)

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Go for it.

  15. Aubamazette
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Chambers
    Salah Fernandes Pepe Buendia
    Antonio Watkins Iheanacho

    Veltman Brownhill Manquillo

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Pepe is a great pick

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Yeahh i like the brentford fixture a lot, much improved at the end of the season, looks like he's continued the form into pre season too. So i think he carries it on into the new season. Most likely move him on to a Man city mid vs NOR gw2 or Greenwood

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Similar to my team, but I have ESR and Robbo instead of Pepe and Shaw.

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Would like Robbo a long with Taa and Shaw, only way i could afford him really is if i downgrade Fernandes

    3. klipp klopp
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wills chambers start?

      1. Aubamazette
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I believe Arteta prefers him too Cedric yeah

  16. xHaTr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Which sounds better?

    A: Coufal and DCL

    B: Digne and Iheanacho

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      A

  17. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Tinkered so much with my defence and would like to be a bit different but keep coming back to Taa shaw digne 4.5 4.0

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Same here. Who's your other 2 then?

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Veltman and whichever 4.0 is in fashion at the time

        Might play velt gw 2 double up with Sanchez home v Watford over digne who is away at Leeds

        Yourself ?

        1. kevchenko
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          I think with Digne you have to set and forget him.... benching him and him getting an attacking return on the bench would defeat the point in having him, you might as well have the 5.0 CB instead?

        2. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          None at all. Have Ait-Nouri and Manq as place holders

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      It's a good backline for sure

      Currently choosing here to back 5.0 Tierney and Coufal to be sufficiently good early season to make the 1.0 mill less reasonable value. That said I have a contingency where I can get one of your 5.5s easily enough.

  18. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Digne
    Salah, Bruno, Raphinha Buendia
    Watkins Antonio Wilson

    Foster, White, Brownhill, 4m

    Thoughts, other than it being template?
    Cheers.

    1. kevchenko
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Very little to say about it to be fair... in a good way.

      If Toney scored against Arsenal, you could get him in.

      No City for GW2...

      I like the idea of a Liverpool triple up, to make a clean sheet for them useful rather than just the same as the majorty will have...

  19. kevchenko
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Help....who do you bench in GW1....

    A) Luke Shaw
    B) Raphinha
    C) Smith-Rowe

    1. danlynch13
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Shaw maybe if rumoured not fit other two could easily score well

  20. interpolnyc
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Playing around with no Liverpool FBs right away, they are just so expensive and without Firmino in the team right away they don't have the target man.
    What I will do is pop in Virgil when back I think, he's much better value.

    1. danlynch13
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      TAA is great value

  21. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this I’m happy with this team 0.5 itb so I have an option of Havertz > mahrez

    Sanchez
    TAA-Shaw-Tierney
    Salah-Raphina-Havertz-Bruno-Buendia
    Antonio-Toney

    Foster-Ayling-Manquillo-Obafemi

  22. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    The arsenal shirt (in transfers section) looks so much better on Ben white. The Brighton shirt forced me to move him out of the team even though I knew he transferred.