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Assessing the best FPL players from Man Utd

Throughout the 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, our team of Pro Pundits, Hall of Famers and guest contributors will be sharing their thoughts, tips and own transfer plans.

Only Premium Members are able to read every single one of these pieces, so sign up today to get full access not just to the editorial content but all of the other benefits, from hundreds of Opta stats to a transfer planner.

Here, two-time Indian FPL champion Lateriser assesses the Manchester United squad ahead of a favourable fixture swing.

The FFS Pro Pundits 34

Not often in the last few years have I been asked to write specifically about Manchester United, which in itself is quite encouraging.

In the next three Gameweeks, the Red Devils face West Ham United at home followed by two trips to Aston Villa and Fulham.

It’s worth noting that both West Ham and Aston Villa have the best expected goals conceded (xGC) record over the last six matches. So, if opting for a United attacker, the expectation should be more ‘steady stream’ rather than an explosion of points. Their underlying attacking stats haven’t been great (ranking near the middle) but it is worth noting that a bad start was then followed by better results against tougher teams.

The last five games have been against Manchester City, Everton, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, a selection of the league’s stingiest defences.

READ MORE: FPL Gameweek 14 live team news: Haaland injury latest

THE ATTACK

Gameweek 9 brought Antony‘s (£7.6m) first full game, so it’s worth looking at the data since then to identify trends as Erik ten Hag’s side has finally settled into a rhythm.

Let us look at goal threat first.

For more on Gameweek 14, my fellow Pro Pundit Zophar and I did a short comprehensive podcast where we discuss Liverpool, Arsenal and the short-term flings we like for the final pre-World Cup weeks. You can watch it below:

493 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mirror Man
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Arteta's head has been tarred for quite some time now. Why has nobody feathered it?

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        For quite some time?

    • tryf88
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Mount to Martinelli or Almiron?

      Have Trippier, Zaha, Saka, Foden

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Rashford.

    • Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Guardiola on Haaland foot injury: "...[it won't be] 24 hours [when I know if Erling is available or not].

      "I will know it in two hours if he is able to play [against Leicester] or not."

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        You know when you've been Pepped...

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

    • Crista Ronaldo Sewy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 6 months ago

      When is Arsenal's presser?

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Last night

        1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Wasn't that post match for PSV?

    • Shultan
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Pep comments
      He feels better, we have training this afternoon & we will assess. We will see how he feels in his foot & after we will decide

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Good ol’ Pep.

      2. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        *pep comments on haaland

    • Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Anything on Cancelo?

    • Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      https://mobile.twitter.com/SamLee/status/1585971941428453377

      @SamLee

      Guardiola on Haaland: "He feels better, we have training this afternoon and we will assess. We will see how he feels in his foot and after we will decide."

      As expected

      1. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Cheers, the vagueness bodes well for me.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          So, should I sell? 😀

          1. FPL Brains
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Oh crap haha. I'd wait till 10mins before the deadline to see if there are leaks.

        2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Yeah I think I'm just going to stick on captaincy and see. Would be surprised if he's benched and comes on if there's any risk

      2. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        so he's fine apparently

      3. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Pep Can't give a straight answer Guardiola

    • banskt
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Roll FT?

      Pope
      Saliba, Trippier, Andersen
      Salah, KDB(vc), Saka, Martinelli
      Haaland(c), Toney, Mitrovic
      (Ward, Andreas, Struijk, Webster)

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Good as it gets! GL

        1. banskt
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Thanks mate. Good luck to you too.

      2. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        looks great

        After your advice last week i ended up in the hospital high on morphine and took Kane out for a -4 ouch!

    • Crista Ronaldo Sewy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Erling Haaland "feels better" and will be assessed after today's training session. A decision will then be made on his availability, according to Pep Guardiola.

      https://twitter.com/FFScout/status/1585973270809292800

      Are you capping him?

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Yes. Salah VC.

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        No. Even before his injury I was thinking of going Salah. This has 0 chance of backfiring ofc.

      3. Stimps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Salah (c)

      4. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Nope, I'll be swinging towards Salah this week. Feel like if there is a week to do it, this is the one. The last time I deviated away from Haaland (when he had a game), I picked KDB in GW8. Let's see if go 2 for 2.

        1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Was frightening to not (C) Haaland even when he had a blank GW... Imagine this

          Do you think it would be worth being around before the deadline for early team news?

          1. FPL Brains
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Definitely mate. Not sure if the reliable leak was a Liverpool based one last time, but we got some good information about Darwin 10mins before the deadline. Natedog is usually pretty good at finding it (among some others).

            1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 1 Year
              1 year, 6 months ago

              Thanks champ - big decisions ahead

            2. El Presidente
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 6 months ago

              Yeah but that's LIV. I don't think we will have the same reliability with City

      5. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        I may go Jesus

    • Crista Ronaldo Sewy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Clear as mud, cheers Pep

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Pep Guardiola: "Play 90 minutes every game and he [Julian Alvarez] will score goals, maybe not like Erling [Haaland], but he will score goals..." @City_Xtra

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Missed the first part of the quote:

        Pep Guardiola: "If [Erling] Haaland doesn’t play, then [Julian] Alvarez is the natural first option to replace him. I don’t judge Julian on how many goals he has scored..."

        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          I snapped up Alvarez in my draft league, hopefully this bodes well.

      2. banskt
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Does Alvarez gets minutes in the next 3?

        How about him as the third City slot? Haaland - KDB - Alvarez?

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          I think only a good FPL option if Haaland gets injured (in which case he looks great). Otherwise hard to argue better value than KDB/Foden/Cancelo.

          1. banskt
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            I am thinking he will start getting more game time instead of Foden...

            Pep good at smelling, Foden mysterious benches, I am starting to think something is off about Foden. Too eager to play world cup and sidelined? Disciplinary?

    • Phil Pino
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Any and all suggestions for what I should do this GW are appreciated:

      a) play Andreas (roll FT)
      2) play Tross (roll FT)
      iii) Tross -> Rashford / Antony

      Currently on a) but feels like wasting an opportunity to be benching Tross

    • nerd_is_the_werd
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Perisic starts v BOU (a), yes no?..

      1. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        No

      2. Rodney
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        No

      3. nerd_is_the_werd
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Ok great, thought that would be the case, 3rd on the bench he goes...

    • Rodney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Sanchez

      TAA - Cancelo - Trippier

      Saka - Martinelli - Foden - Andreas - Maddison

      Toney - Haaland

      Ward - Scamacca - Dalot - Patterson

      £3.3m itb

      A) Roll
      B) Sanchez to Allison
      C) Scamacca to Nunez

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      I've got the armband back on Salah and it feels good!

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Shame on you... It had to be already on mo.

    • Crista Ronaldo Sewy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Can we reset the captaincy poll?

      Stop the count

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Well nothing substantial has happened tbh

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Best 4.8m defender? A few on my list are Shaw, Dalot and White.

      Thanks

      1. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Cresswell

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Decent shout. Better than the 3 I mention?

          1. PompeyUpNorth!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Yes I think so. I got him 2 weeks ago n am happy. His underlying stats are great as well

        2. banskt
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          This. If I was buying a 4.8m defender, I would definitely go with Cresswell.

          But, O wouldn't spend my transfers on defenders unless absolutely required.

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Tarkowski

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Interesting! Thanks

      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        If you can bench this week, Castagne looks good going forwards

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          This is the team so I’d probably save the FT if I could play one of the final defenders but they all look poor

        2. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Guaita
          
Cancelo - Tripps - Kilman
          
Salah - Foden - Saka - Zaha
          Haaland - Toney - Mitro
          (Ivo | Andreas - Webster - Neco)

          1. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Looks fine? Kilman not amazing but for some reason I don't think there are that many CSs this weekend

    • Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      So will u still start haaland or bench?

      1. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Won't bench, will take the 1pt if needed.

      2. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        City first game tomorrow.. This might help.

      3. N00B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        so Haaland cameo or Andreas full 90?

        1. Letsgo!
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Of course andreas full 90

      4. Stimps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Start and Salah (c)

      5. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Think I'll sell with Antony for DCL and Dé Bruyne - 4. Will lose value but get back in WC break.

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Fulham and Brentford at home are scary.

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Yeah. Andreas in form in a good time if Haaland doesn't start and just Antony to Almiron.

    • The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Based on Peps comments Haaland is deemed fit enough to train.

      Haaland must be close to a return either as a starter or as a sub.

      1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 6 months ago

        My thinking too... He is a bit of a cyborg

        If he can train, surely he is within a shout

        Even if he is on in the 2nd half, wouldn't go against him

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Or neither. They don't need to risk him if there's any doubt he's not 100% why would they risk him starting or from the bench?

        1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Well, Pep did start him in the CL vs BVB when he was fatigued and a slight fever

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 6 months ago

            Another game he didn't need to be risked for. He could come on for 10 mins and get a long term injury and for sake of that game and CL midweek which he'll miss anyway, it's an unnecessary risk. I'd love him to play like but if he was my player wouldn't play him unless he's 100% then start him. Should be a Doctor deciding anyway not Pep.

        2. El Presidente
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Pep referred to next 3 PL fixtures as "finals" before WC break. So, if there is a player that can be "risked" is Haaland. I bet he will start every single one.

      3. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Haaland will be doing some solitary in-the-woods training like Rocky in Rocky IV.

        1. Nanook
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          You’ve got it backwards there. Halaand has access to the best medical and training staff in the world, and he even resembles Rocky’s archenemy. The real life Ivan Drago . . . . he’s “not human”.

    • Shultan
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      With city playing away surely we should know by tomorrow morning if haaland has travelled or not?
      If he's genuinely injured surely they wouldn't bother taking him to Leicester

      1. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        If he travels then I think he starts

        1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 1 Year
          1 year, 6 months ago

          My thinking too

          Worth being around to see any early news before KO

          Even if he is on in the 2nd half - he can do damage

      2. banskt
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        I believe we will definitely know whether he is traveling or not.

        We wouldn't know whether he plays or not.

    • DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Darwin (C) ftw...

      1. SammoUK111
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        +1

    • Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      The cool kids are selling Haaland.

      1. SammoUK111
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Madness

      2. Merlin the Wraith
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Well your 'cool kids' might just get their fingers burnt. You one of them? Singed fingers plus profit loss? GL with that

      3. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Cook kids are getting wrecked

    • The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Kane is going up against a Bournemouth who have lost their keeper due to injury.

      Great pick this week.

      1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Potentially scary

      2. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Tottenham have to attack and shoot first before they test the new GK, awful to watch atm.. But still would be tempted with liverpool and leeds high lines.

      3. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Spurs struggle vs low blocks

      4. Caravagio
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Moura likely to be played between now and WorldCup with Richarlison and Kulu out?

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Gil should get some decent gametime.

    • Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Any chance of Tsimikas starting against Leeds this week?

    • Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Haha start haaland or bailey(really tempted to start bailey

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Great banter

        1. Letsgo!
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 6 months ago

          Whats wrong?

    • Caravagio
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Are we getting a presser from TenHag today?

    • Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Jack Grealish: “[Using statistics] is the worst argument you can use in my case. As a winger, I've never scored many goals. During my final season with Villa, I only scored six in the #PL and before, I scored eight in the PL [2019/20] and six in the Championship [2018/19]..."

      Almiron is clear, you overrated b**ch

      1. Crista Ronaldo Sewy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 6 months ago

        LMAO Almiron got him scrambling

      2. TheTinman
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        Almiron living in his head

    • NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Play Dier or Guehi (or use ft to bring someone else in)?

      Not the most exciting question I know...

    • DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Travers last game the 9-0 loss against Pool...

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 6 months ago

        A bit better organised now under O'Neil. Best of luck to the Maynooth man.

    • Letsgo!
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 6 months ago

      Start eduoard or bailey?