The final fortnight of pre-season is underway and Saturday brought a whole bunch of friendlies. Here are the headline Fantasy Premier League (FPL) pre-season updates from each one.
This time it’s the outings of Everton, West Ham United, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Luton Town and Sheffield United.
- READ MORE: FPL pre-season: Mbeumo scores penalty, Klopp on Darwin
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- READ MORE: FPL pre-season: Diaby’s debut goal, Jackson scores again
- READ MORE: FPL pre-season: Nkunku and Chilwell impress, Eze stars again
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STOKE CITY 0-1 EVERTON
- Goal: Onana
- Assist: none
A third successive clean sheet could intrigue FPL managers, considering Everton’s attractive early fixtures. Of course, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City are all lower-league opposition but Sean Dyche has now had a full pre-season to get the Toffees in line with his Burnley side’s defensive solidity.
13.7% of teams currently have Jordan Pickford (£4.5m) in goal and there’ll also be slight interest in centre-back James Tarkowski (£4.5m) for those meetings with Fulham (h), Wolves (h) and Sheffield United (a).
Ashley Young (£4.5m) was again used at left-back here, with new winger Arnaut Danjuma (£5.5m) starting up front. There’ll be intrigue as to whether this happens versus the Cottagers, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) remains doubtful and Neal Maupay (£5.0m) continues to misfire.
Meanwhile, in a week where Andre Onana (£5.0m) arrived on the scene, Everton midfielder Amadou Onana (£5.0m) netted in the 96th minute.
Everton XI: Pickford; Patterson, Keane (Branthwaite 46), Tarkowski, Young; Gana, Garner (Onana 46), Doucoure (Onyango 83); Iwobi, Danjuma (Maupay 46), McNeil (Dobbin 69)
BOURNEMOUTH 1-3 ATALANTA
- Goal: Senesi
- Assist: Solanke
Andoni Iraola’s first match at the Vitality Stadium ended in a hard-fought defeat to Italian outfit Atalanta.
He made three changes to the side that beat Southampton last Tuesday, as David Brooks (£5.0m), Justin Kluivert (£5.0m) and Illia Zabarnyi (£4.5m) came in for Dango Ouattara (£5.0m), Chris Mepham (£4.5m) and Philip Billing (£5.5m). The latter of whom had a slight injury.
The Cherries have an interesting collection of £5.0m midfielders – Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara and in-form Ryan Christie. Ranked third-worst over the first seven Gameweeks according to our Season Ticker, fixtures then improve, by which time we’ll see which of these is worth pursuing.
Without a pre-season goal so far, Dominic Solanke (£6.5m) was at least able to set up Marcos Senesi‘s (£4.5m) strike. He was the only forward to reach 10 assists last season.
Bournemouth XI: Neto (Radu 46); Smith (Hill 77), Senesi (Ouattara 65), Zabarnyi, Kerkez; Cook (Kilkenny 77), Christie (Rothwell 77), Brooks (Mepham 65); Anthony, Kluivert (Traore 65); Solanke (Moore 77)
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-2 LUTON TOWN
- Goals: Mpanzu, Morris
- Assists: Chong, Adebayo
Much of Luton’s appeal was dampened following the announcement of Blank Gameweek 2. However, managers looking at the long-term will be interested in loanee Issa Kabore – another £4.0m defender who, unlike Amari’i Bell, offers attacking potential as the right wing-back.
Both started at Hillsborough, as did cheap midfielder Marvelous Nakamba (£4.5m). Last season’s top scorer Carlton Morris (£5.5m) was introduced for the final 15 minutes, enough time to score for the second match running.
Unbeaten in pre-season, it needs to be noted that the Hatters are yet to face challenging opposition. Wolves and Bundesliga side Bochum are up next.
Luton Town first half: Shea; Kaboré, Doughty, Andersen, Lockyer, Bell; Nakamba, Mpanzu, Chong; Woodrow, Obgene
Luton Town second half: Shea; Doughty, Giles, Andersen, Lockyer, Potts; Clark, Campbell, Berry; Woodrow (Morris 76), Ogbene (Adebayo 61)
DERBY COUNTY 1-3 SHEFFIELD UNITED
- Goals: Slimane, Baldock, Ndiaye
- Assists: Ndiaye, Basham
The good news for Sheffield United supporters is that their three-match scoreless streak is over. The bad news? Star player Iliman Ndiaye (£5.5m) was involved in two of these goals and he’s just left to join Marseille.
On the other hand, George Baldock (£4.0m) responded to the goal of Burnley’s fellow cheap defender Jordan Beyer (£4.0m) by netting himself. The wing-back found himself inside the penalty area calling for a cutback, before hammering into the net.
Sheffield United XI: Foderingham; Baldock, Egan, Ahmedhodžić, Robinson, Lowe; Berge, Osborn (Brooks 88), Slimane (Basham 75); Ndiaye, Osula
RENNES 3-1 WEST HAM UNITED
- Goal: Soucek
- Assist: Emerson
Elsewhere, Alphonse Areola (£4.0m) started ahead of Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m) as a strong West Ham line-up lost to Rennes.
Perhaps we shouldn’t read too much into that decision, considering Jarrod Bowen (£7.0m) began on the bench but it was also the first pre-season involvement of Lucas Paqueta (£6.0m).
Areola barely moved for Baptiste Santamaria’s stunning long-range strike and lasted only until half-time. The equaliser came via a towering Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) header provided by Emerson Palmieri‘s (£4.5m) free-kick, making it the fourth goal involvement of the Brazilian’s summer.
West Ham are the only Premier League side yet to buy anyone but, with the Declan Rice (£5.5m) money burning a hole in their pocket, you’d expect transfers to soon take place. Whether Danny Ings (£6.0m) remains their lead forward is uncertain.
West Ham United XI: Areola (Fabiański 46); Coufal, Zouma (Kehrer 62), Aguerd (Ogbonna 62), Emerson; Souček, Downes, Paquetá (Cornet 70); Fornals (Bowen 46), Benrahma (Scamacca 70), Ings (Mubama 46)
CELTIC 1-1 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
- Goal: Cunha (penalty)
- Assist: Doherty
Seeing Matt Doherty (£4.5m) assist for Wolves will make FPL managers reminiscent of the 2018-2020 period. Soon after coming on, the Irish international surged into the box and was fouled by Joe Hart, allowing cheap forward Matheus Cunha (£5.5m) to convert the spot kick.
It’s the Brazilian’s third pre-season goal but there’s generally very little interest in Julen Lopetegui’s lot, as Max Kilman (£4.5m) is the only outfielder in more than 0.6% of squads.
That could change if Joe Hodge (£4.5m) keeps starting in midfield.
Wolves XI: Sa; Semedo (Doherty 79), Dawson, Kilman, Bueno (Ait-Nouri 46); Lemina (Silva 79), Hodge, Nunes; Sarabia (Toti 71), Neto (Hwang 71), Cunha
With Euro 2024 kicking off this week, Fantasy Football Scout has an exclusive Premium Membership offer!
Our special Euros package is a 40% discount to our full-price Premium Membership, so for only £3.25 per month (billed annually), you get access to our unique Premium Members Area, which has all the data you need to succeed in Euro Fantasy.
Premium Members can now get that extra edge for their preparations with official Euro 2024 qualification and friendly data, as well as all the usual benefits like team reveals, a fixture ticker, expert strategy tips and more.
10 months, 20 days ago
Stones or Estupiñian?