Rate My Team

FPL Rate My Team surgery with five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman

The 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season is almost upon us, with champions Manchester City visiting newcomers Burnley in tonight’s big kick-off.

As a result, the questions on team drafts, specific players and differentials are coming thick and fast in the comments section, so we’ve asked five-time top 1k finisher and Scout’s Deputy Editor, Tom Freeman, to answer some of your conundrums over the next 60 minutes.

He’ll be on hand to first reply to requests from Premium Members in the Hot Topic below the line of this piece and will get through as many as he can until the next article goes up. If there’s time, Tom will also turn his attention to other requests in the comments section.

If you’d like to receive an email notification letting you know when future RMT Surgery’s are live, you can now do so. When editing your profile, under ‘Alerts & Notifications‘, you’ll find a section on ‘Email Notifications‘. In there is an option for ‘Rate My Team Surgery‘, check that box and you will receive an email letting you know when the surgery is about to go live.

You can, as ever, chip in with your own opinions on the RMT requests filtering through – and naturally, you’re free to ignore the article subject matter and talk about any other wider FPL topics that you’d normally be musing on.

Don’t forget that, if it’s an algorithmic answer you’re after rather than an opinion-based one, we also have a ‘Rate My Team’ tool available in the Premium Members Area.

Haaland Foden


968 Comments Post a Comment
  1. willos_wanderers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 months, 24 days ago

    Think I’m done

    Onana
    Gabriel Saliba Stones Estu
    Salah Saka Eze
    Haaland Watkins Pedro

    1. Punter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Like it but prefer to have ManU mid personally

  2. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 24 days ago

    Which combination scores more?

    A) Bruno + Watkins + Chilwell
    B) Salah + João Pedro + Gvardiol

    Cheers lads.

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      This is a tough one, given Pep roulette, chilwell poor history of sustained mins, and uncertainty whether Bruno can regain pre-Ronaldo fantasy form. I don’t like the teams w JP as second striker, but maybe he can capitalize on good early fix and pay off. Just too risky for me.

      I guess I’d pick A, although I am starting with Mo.

  3. LeytonOrient
    • 9 Years
    9 months, 24 days ago

    Gvardiol has a great beard for a 21 year old.

    Rate it out of 10?

    For me - solid 8. Almost enough to justify him getting into my team.

  4. Woifi89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    9 months, 24 days ago

    Pikford Virginia
    Gabi, Shaw, Estu (Chilwell, Kabore)
    Rash, Bruno, Saka, Martinelli, Mitoma
    Haaland, Pedro (4.5)

  5. Devos
    • 2 Years
    9 months, 24 days ago

    What budget defender would you pick?

    a) George Baldock
    b) Issa Kaboré
    c) Jorden Beyer
    d) other

    Right now I'm leaning towards Kaboré.

    1. Patrick Cobbold
        9 months, 24 days ago

        I have Baldock but Kabore looks the best choice, is attacking too

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Power mid draft?

      Onana (4.0)
      Saliba - Cash - Udogie (Baldock, Beyer)
      Martinelli - Son - Salah - Bruno (4.5)
      Haaland - Pedro - JAckson

      1. mrtapio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Very close to my team, so I like it!
        Saliba > J.Timber
        Cash > Chilwell
        Son > Richarlison
        Bruno > Rash
        Martinelli > Saka
        Then you have my team

      2. Return Of Chamakh
        • 10 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Actually like this a lot! Unsure about Pedro and some of the defense but it looks different and that's the only way anyone's actually going to do better than anyone else anyway!

        1. Dacra
          • 9 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          Or much worse! 😀

          1. Return Of Chamakh
            • 10 Years
            9 months, 24 days ago

            Haha true! One thing I learned from last season is that the template absolutely chokes you after a while - mini leagues where a 5 point swing equalled 15-ish places etc every week. More fun to crash and burn than get caught in a mid-table straightjacket!

    3. mrtapio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Bell or Kaboré, and why?

    4. LFC
      • 2 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Steele (flekken)
      Gabriel estu cash (rico Henry) (baldock)
      Salah saka Diaz mitoma eze
      Haaland watkins (4.5mil)

      Any changes needed? Is going without chilwell and stones too risky?

      Best 4mil defender other than baldock?
      Diaz or different mid?

      1. Woifi89
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 1 Year
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Wouldn't go for Diaz and upgrade Cash or Henry

    5. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Anything you would likely change here?

      I could do Stones > Gvardiol and then upgrade Johnstone to a 5m keeper?

      Johnstone
      Stones - Gabriel - Estup
      Salah - Bruno - Saka - Madders - Diaby
      Haaland - Joao Pedro

      Turner - Botman - Beyer - Mubama

      1. Tic Tacs
        • 4 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Looks good.

    6. jb1985
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Too much of a gamble in defence but 7 possible penalty takers:

      Pickford,
      Timber, Shaw, Gvardiol,
      Mbeumo, Saak, Rashford, Richi, Salah
      Pedro, Haaland

      Turner, Pinnock, Kabore, Osula

      1. jb1985
        • 5 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        *Saka

    7. Hairy Potter
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Kane and Caicedo both holed up a pub in London having a pint and playing darts, while clubs try to sort out their transfers.

    8. Vasshin
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      My draft atm
      Onana
      Gabriel chilwell Stones
      Foden bruno saka jota martinelli
      Haaland Darwin

      Bench: Turner cash baldock archer

      How does my team look?

      Stones, Foden, jota, martineli and Darwin are all rotation risk and i have just cash as a bench who will replace if anyone doesn’t play. Is this a lot of risk going into first gw?

      Or should i just play safe and transfer
      1. Stones to Estupinian and Baldock to 4.5 defender like Botman

      1. Vasshin
        • 5 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        2. Foden to Eze/Mitoma and Baldock to James
        3. Darwin to Pedro and Baldock to James or any 5.5

        Thanks

      2. mrtapio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Too much risk. I'm only picking players I think will start the first couple of games. If players like Foden, Jota, Darwin and Martinelli start the first games and look good I'm not scared of an early WC

    9. Tic Tacs
      • 4 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Very boring but the last spot in my team that I'm deliberating over is for a 4.5m defender:

      A - Tarkowski
      B - Ashley Young
      C - Pinnock

      1. jb1985
        • 5 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        I have gone for Pinnock myself, Good GW 2,3,4,6,7 nice and green.

    10. iL PiStOlErO
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Think I will try this, looks good to me, strong bench and can always change one or two or even -4 in gw3.

      Onana 4.0
      Stones Gabriel Estu Mings Hickey
      Rash Foden Saka Szobo March
      Haaland Watkins Wissa

    11. Inspector Norse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      GTG?

      Pickford - Turner
      Gabriel - Estu - Chilwell - Botman - Kaboré
      Saka - Martinelli - Bruno - Rash - Richarlison
      Haaland - João Pedro - Jackson

      1. Rod Liddle's Young One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        That's a very good team.

    12. el polako
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Did LFC did a rookie mistake and instead of signing Caicedo's contract in Brighton, they invited him to Liverpool...?

      No wonder he's having 2nd thoughts.

    13. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      I just can't help but laugh at all of those Liverpool fans who mocked us for spending £105m on Rice, someone who has been in the Premier League for 5 seasons, is a starter for the national team, and captained his former side to a European trophy. But then their club goes and splashes £111m on a player who only played 1 full season in England and was twerking like crazy for every big club that could potentially sign him. His mind was set on Chelsea for a while, but of course he's open to joining Liverpool now. And who wouldn't be? They are the bigger club, after all.

      I have no doubt that Moises can become one of the best in his position under Klopp, however that doesn't change the fact that it's a huge overpay for what he's shown so far. Say what you want, but Brighton fleeced them. Their negotiators are simply brilliant; they stood their ground and got more than they ever imagined and even managed to get a sell-on clause, for crying out loud.

      Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Caicedo are very good signings, and Liverpool really upgraded their midfield to another level. All I'm asking them or you (the fans) is to not be hypocrites when the debate comes to spending money. Constant crying about FSG is tiring for everyone, not just you. They backed Klopp and let him spend more than ever in the entire club's history.

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Caicedo having second thoughts according to Skysports.

        1. Arteta
          • 8 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          This is definitely not the news anyone would want to hear about their potentially most expensive signing ever. Even if he joins later, the fans will know he had second thoughts, and that's a really bad start. His attitude and true colors were already seen in the winter transfer window and a couple of times after that. He's just too immature to know or decide what he wants, and he probably has bad advisors on top of that.

        2. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          Sky have been awful this window. They were the ones saying Kane didn't want to go.

      2. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        So you want to make fun but then go oh but he's great don't get me wrong he's great lol, say what you mean and say caicedos a bad signing

        1. Arteta
          • 8 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          I don't think he's a bad signing. He's exactly what they need, but he's too expensive for what he's done in his career so far. I could just write that Caicedo isn't a £111 million player today and leave out the rest. But that wouldn't be me.

      3. x.jim.x
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Caicedo is younger and already better than Rice.

        1. Arteta
          • 8 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          I knew you were going to say something like that. We'll never agree on this topic, I'm afraid.

          1. x.jim.x
            • 9 Years
            9 months, 24 days ago

            Regardless, you’ve both massively overpaid - dunno why you felt you had to write this long essay about it.

          2. PartyTime
            • 2 Years
            9 months, 24 days ago

            Caicedo is better than Rice imo too

          3. Arteta
            • 8 Years
            9 months, 24 days ago

            You're right about that. I expected the whole package to be cheaper. 7 or 6 months ago, there were talks/rumours that Rice would be available for £80m this summer, and I thought okay. West Ham got what they wanted as well, but I thought they would spend it differently and on younger players.

        2. Grande Tubarão
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          9 months, 24 days ago

          I typically like your unusual opinions - such as last season when you said Elanga was already better than Saka and referees hated Man Utd. This is wild though

      4. boc610
        • 12 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        the mikel doth protest too much methinks...

    14. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Lol, Sky saying that Caicedo is having second thoughts 😆

    15. TanN
      • 3 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Downgraded from Salah team to this;

      Pickford
      Stones Gabriel Estu
      Rashford Saka Martinelli Eze
      Haaland Watkins Pedro

      Turner Chilwell Diaby Baldock

    16. KieranKA
      • 2 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Pretty settled but still wondering about Chilwell + 4.5 F vs Pedro + Colwill. In the back of my mind I’m questioning Onana too, and whether to punt on Richarlison or wait

      Onana // Turner
      Stones Gabriel Estupiñán // Colwill Baldock
      Salah Rashford Saka Mitoma Mbeumo
      Haaland Pedro // Osula

    17. southernrocker1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Final decision -

      Salah or not?

      If yes -
      Salah and mitoma

      No -
      Fernandes and a second goon

      Help!!

      1. tim
        • 14 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        I have him instead of Bruno atmo, he has been absent from my team until today.

        Not considering anyone else.

      2. Zaruto
        • 6 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        salah & mitoma for me

    18. tim
      • 14 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      More and more Salahless teams

      1. Ibralicious
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Noticing this too, soo many getting cold feet

    19. The Painted Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Hey guys…. Played for many years, and always used this site, only posted first time yesterday lol…. Suddenly upside down cos of Kane

      Onana (turner)
      Saliba estu tark (chill well and cash)
      Rash Bruno trossard Martinelli (chuk……che)
      Haaland Jackson pedro

      I’m thinking Marti and trossard are the risks but I have 3m in bank to sort it out

      Reasonable shout?

      1. Inspector Norse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Fairly similar to mine (at least in terms of club break-down), but 3m in the bank maybe a bit much?

    20. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Have to almost respect the pettiness of Levy blocking Kane from winning his first trophy by delaying the transfer so he cant play in the german super cup. 😆

      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE FOR THE LAS…
        • 7 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Don’t think he’ll be playing regardless this weekend

    21. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      How likely are these popular fodders to fall in price? Anyone remembers how it was last season?

      1. Bob B
        • 10 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Forwards dropped a lot, Greenwood went to 4.2 maybe even lower last season

    22. Zaruto
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Salah Team, one last decision guys:

      1. BrunoF & Chukwu & Alvarez
      or
      2. Foden & Mitoma & JPedro

      Thks!!!

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        1

    23. bepreparedagain
      • 14 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      bernardo silva - I’m taking a gamble on him for the 1st game. Anybody else thinking the same?

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Yep

      2. Zaruto
        • 6 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        nop

    24. PeteMorr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      How nailed is Richarlison now?

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        Dunno, but he probably packed Kane's bags for him

    25. Chockky
      • 6 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      current draft

      Johnstone
      Saliba Estupinan Tark, Stones
      Eze, Jota, Martinelli, Mitoma
      Haaland J.Pedro

      Turner, TAA, Watkins, MacAllister

      A) stick for GW1
      B) sub TAA for Tark, Watkins for Eze

      thank you

    26. Zoostation
      • 9 Years
      9 months, 24 days ago

      Good to go? 0.5 ITB

      Pickford (Turner)

      Estupinan Stones Gabriel (Udogie, Baldock)

      Rashford Odegaard Saka Maddison (Nakamba)

      Haaland Watkins Jackson

      1. Chockky
        • 6 Years
        9 months, 24 days ago

        looks like it yes