Pro Pundits

FPL first-draft team reveals: No Haaland and spreading the budget

The 2014/15 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) overall winner, Simon March, talked to our very own Joe in midweek about his Gameweek 1 plans and first team draft.

With FPL live for 2022/23, we’re welcoming back our stellar team of Pro Pundits and Hall of Famers for the new campaign.

We’ll be hearing from our panel of writers in the lead-up to August, to get their thoughts on the pricing and to see their initial picks.

Our contributors will be providing regular articles and team reveals throughout the new season, with only Premium Members able to access every single one.

With some of us Fantasy managers wondering whether we can adopt a successful ‘threemium’ strategy with a trio of heavy hitters, Simon’s team contains only one £10.0m+ player.

The former champ has instead packed his midfield and attack with four players in the £8.0m-£8.5m bracket, including lone forward Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m).

There are the obligatory premium names in defence, too, along with a surprise choice between the posts.

You can watch the embedded video below.


Other top FPL managers such as Lateriser, Zophar, Tom Freeman and Luke Williams have already been speaking to Az about their first drafts, and you can watch their videos – along with lots of other pre-season content – over on our YouTube channel.

Haaland Foden


594 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TheBiffas
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Who would have Cucurella if he got his move?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Pep Guardiola and Man City

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            1 year, 9 months ago

            And not me, wouldn't be sure if he would play the majority

            1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              I feel like he would play a lot. He'd be the strongest pick at left-back, no? With Cancelo on the right.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  As long as the option to have Cancelo left and Walker RB remains then I would be wary of starting with Cucurella, no reason he can't make the spot his own but Pep signings can often take a short while to get up to speed with exactly what he wants from them. I see this as less of an issue with Cucurella tbf he seems Pep moulded

                  1. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Yer that's fair - especially the point about getting up to speed. I've put him in my latest draft cos a) knee-jerk, b) I don't have any MCI def, and c) prefer him to Walker.

          • BECKS TO THE FUTURE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            I juuust put him in my latest draft haha

          • La Roja
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            It’s hard to pass him by at 5m but I can’t see this transfer to be complete very soon. I won’t start with him

          • Cheeky Onion
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            As a fan of Spanish football, I was very disappointed to see him leave La Liga. He's such a good wide player with a high football IQ that should work nicely in the City squad. Eventually he'll make that spot his own, but until then, his FPL value is limited.

            Barcelona let the perfect Jordi Alba protégé slip through their hands with him.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                1 year, 9 months ago

                In their defence they kept getting away with selling crap fullbacks for a high fee just because of the La Masia tag, they probably never expected to accidentally sell a good one

          • Invincibles
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Think 2 x 8.0m is essential for me. So many good options at that price point and not confident in likes of Martinelli/Rashford as an alternative.

          • Lukakwho
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Liking this draft

            Mendy (4M)

            TAA Robbo Cancelo Perisic (Tomayasu)

            Salah Rashford Martinelli Bailey (Andreas)

            Haaland, Jesus (4M)

            What you reckon? Perhaps a little weak in midfield.

            1. Soto Ayam
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              4m forward?

              1. Soto Ayam
                • 4 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                But yeah, light on midfield

          • Bobby Digital
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Anyone know the latest on Tomiyasu?

            1. Mona Lisa
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              He's just had a hair cut, and his phone charge is 76%

              1. Bobby Digital
                • 6 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Funneeh...

          • pmletch
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Took some advice, more recommendations welcome

            Raya (4.0)
            Trent, robbo, James, Cancelo, Justin
            Salah, Bruno G , Bernardo (Bailey, Andreas)
            Jesus, Haaland (Plange)

          • banskt
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            A. Here's how my team would look if I were to buy Salah.
            Sanchez
            Trent, Robertson, Cancelo, Trippier
            Salah, Mount, Mahrez, Coutinho, Rashford
            Jesus
            (4.0, Neco, Undav, 4.5)

            B. Current team with Haaland / Kane:
            Sanchez
            Trent, Robertson, Cancelo, Trippier
            Diaz, Mount, Martinelli, Rashford
            Kane, Haaland.
            (4.0, Neco, Andreas, 4.5)

          • TripleHHH
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            New draft, feels quite well balanced, bit concerned over starting 5 defenders though...

            Sanchez
            TAA, Dalot, Cancelo, James, Trippier
            Salah (C), Saka, Mount
            Kane, Martial

            Subs: Gazzaniga, Bailey, Andreas, Taylor

            1. Mona Lisa
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              I'd forget about thinking players like TAA, Cancelo & James as just defenders. They're midfielders who get bonus and 4 points for a CS.

          • Crystal Alice
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            just looked out of interest for Lingard’s price but he’s not listed yet.. any estimates at his price? thinking 5.5 or 6m

            1. St Pauli Walnuts
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              With that West Ham spell, wouldn't be shocked at 6.5 even. What was his starting price last season?

              At 5.5 he'd be a better option than Neto I reckon. Lot of unknowns with Forest now though, they pretty much have a complete new team. Wonder how this affects Johnson.

          • Andrew Garfield
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Please rate my draft team
            Meslier
            Digne/TAA/Justin/Cancelo
            Salah/Bailey/Rasford/Son
            Haaland/Mitrovic

            Bench: Denis N.Williams/Andreas/Greenwood

          • Krisbrown06
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            rate my team please
            raya
            TAA/Chilwell/N.Williams/James
            Salah/Bruno.G/Sinisterra
            Kane/Darwin/Jesus

            Bench
            £4m keeper/Digne/Winks

            1. The Mentaculus
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Sinisterra came off today with what looked like a hamstring injury

            2. NB 1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Any concerns about no Man City?

          • EggyBoffFC
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Where is the screenshot? I don’t want to watch a video.