Pre-Season

FPL pre-season: Coppola’s impressive start + Rutter up top

17 July 2025 51 comments
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Two more Premier League teams, Brighton and Hove Albion and Aston Villa, were involved in pre-season friendlies on Wednesday.

Any standout Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points are covered in this Scout Notes article.

Brighton and Hove Albion 3-1 Stoke City

Where Lateriser expects some Gameweek 38 goals

  • Goals: Mitoma, Coppola
  • Assists: Ayari, Vickers, Rutter

New signing Diego Coppola scored as Brighton secured a 3-1 victory over Stoke City in sunny Marbella.

The Italian centre-back, who joined Albion for £9.4m from Hellas Verona last month, nodded in Caylan Vickers’ cross and generally looked sharp, impressing manager Fabian Hurzeler in the process.

“He has been really impressive so far. He has adapted really quickly. We shouldn’t under-estimate he had already a lot of Serie A games with his young age. He is a player with a lot of potential. He had a busy summer with being in the first team for Italy, being then in the under-21s.

“So quite a busy summer but overall very happy with him. He is a real Italian defender, he has a lot of potential and I think this can help us. You see how tall he is and of course we can use him.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Diego Coppola, in quotes reported by The Argus

Hurzeler used a total of 22 players in Spain, fielding completely different XIs in each half.

However, none of the new arrivals – except Coppola – were involved, with the likes of Maxim De Cuyper and Charalampos Kostoulas watching on from the stands.

In a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, the lively Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring via a deflection, before Georginio Rutter’s effort, which went down as an own-goal, wrapped it up late on.

As Brighton prepare for life without Joao Pedro, you get the feeling Rutter, who featured up front here, could be a key player next season.

As for Danny Welbeck, who Rutter replaced at half-time, it wasn’t quite the four-goal exploits of Saturday’s win over Wycombe Wanderers, but he did make a notable impression, frequently dropping deep to create space for others.

Hurzeler also provided an update on the injured Tariq Lamptey and Solly March after full-time:

“We know about Solly and T [Lamptey]. Small issues are always there but we don’t have any big issues.” – Fabian Hurzeler

Brighton and Hove Albion first-half XI: Steele; Veltman, van Hecke, Cashin, Hinshelwood; Baleba, Ayari; Howell, Moran, Mitoma; Welbeck

Brighton and Hove Albion second-half XI: Rushworth; Tasker, Coppola, Webster, Estupinan; Milner, Yalcouye; Buonanotte, Gomez, Vickers; Rutter

Walsall 1-0 Aston Villa

Best ways to replace Sven Botman in FPL

A youthful Aston Villa side suffered a narrow defeat at the Bescot Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Unai Emery used different teams in each half, although goalkeeper Joe Gauci was substituted early after going down with an injury.

From the senior squad, only Pau Torres, Alex Moreno, Lamare Bogarde, Ross Barkley and Jacob Ramsey started.

Barkley impressed most with some nice touches in the middle of the park.

Andres Garcia, Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara were later introduced at the break.

Meanwhile, new arrival Yasin Ozcan, who came close to netting the equaliser, featured at left-back.

Other chances fell to Charlie Pavey and Lewis Dobbin, but it’s very clear the focus here was on gaining match fitness, with a trip to Hansa Rostock in Germany on Saturday up next.

Aston Villa first-half XI: Gauci (Marschall 30); Rowe, Mosquera, Pau, Moreno; Bogarde, Barkley; Young, Jimoh-Aloba, Ramsey; Barry

Aston Villa second-half XI: Marschall; Garcia, Carroll, Mings, Ozcan; Kamara, Hemmings; Burrows, Pavey, Patterson; Dobbin

51 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    So if you're mates with Mark like Az and Mode you can send him a text to get the lowdown on what's happening with FPL. How is that fair for the rest of us outside the cartel?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      It’s now even open, what’s the difference? Hopefully 2 articles is enough of these.

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        not*

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      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        People misunderstood my point first time around.

        Az and Mode have a private WhatsApp with Mark. It's not fair.

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        1. White Pony
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          Jesus wept.

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        2. Az
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          There’s got to be some perks to being mates with Mark ffs

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          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 20 days ago

            😆

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          2. Jars458
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 months, 20 days ago

            Everyone seems very precious about certain content creators. WTF cares would be my view.

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        3. Zalk
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          Agree, we should all get our own private group with Mark!

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    2. Merlin the Wraith
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      Bloody hell!... Where's my broom?..

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    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      That’s another 50K added to your rank btw.

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      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 20 days ago

        I literally have no idea who you are replying to now. I can't follow the chain of comments up to the source like before.

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 20 days ago

          Plan worked, the rank reference should make it obvious.

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  2. Osfezt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    We still don't know anything about when it launches?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      Next week or Monday week would be my guess.

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      1. Osfezt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        That would give us 3 weeks ish before GW1, so makes sense. But its annoying that they are seemingly slower this year

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          Expecting some price reveals then the opening so maybe next week.

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    2. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      It probably depends on how long it takes them to successfully complete the testing of the essential updates to prepare for the 2025-26 season (it has been updating since 26th June). And I would expect FPL to reveal some prices and then launch as soon as possible (maybe as little as two or three days) after that. It's already running late, so they surely won't want to be revealing prices for six or seven days like they did last year.

      These updates are normally completed at least a couple of days before the FPL launch (and sometimes a long time before) in order to give managers a chance to update their personal details and save time on launch day, and they seem to take longer every year.
      Since 2019, FPL have revealed a selection of new prices for one to six days before each launch, but we are still waiting for this year’s first price reveals.
      Since 2012 at least, the launch date has never been later than 19th July (except in 2020, when the season started a month later than usual because COVID had caused the previous one to be extended).
      FPL will do a final update immediately before the launch; this took over an hour in 2021 and 2023, and nearly three and a half hours last year.
      The 2025-26 Premier League season starts on 15th August.”

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      1. Funkyav
        • 16 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        other games always seem to be ahead. I had hoped Mark's involvement might make them a bit more professional

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        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          FPL Virgin suggested some time ago that the launch would be later than usual this year because of all the improvements that Mark would want to make.
          It appears that he was right on this occasion.

          At one time FPL Towers used to deliberately wait for the Telegraph, Sun and Sky games to launch before launching FPL, but this year the main factor appears to be the time required to test the updates.

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          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 21 days ago

            I'm stunned. Someone has actually listened to me for once. Mark is clearly making wholesale changes to the game which is taking a long time to code.

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            1. skipnicklee
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 months, 20 days ago

              As long as it’s not his ridiculous double captain idea from the start of the season when he sh@t his pants over Haaland.

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          2. All Muxed Ip
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 months, 21 days ago

            Just looking at Fanteam site. They are usually pretty close price wise.It is a grown up,gimmic free game with lots of prizes for small stakes.
            I have been playing for years.Highly recommended!!!

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          3. lespaul
            • 16 Years
            4 months, 21 days ago

            I thought the joined FPL in 2023, no?

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            1. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 15 Years
              4 months, 21 days ago

              He's been collaborating with FPL for years, but earlier this year he took up a new senior position with them and is heavily involved in designing improvements to FPL. As a result, he has had to break his links with Blackbox to avoid conflicts of interest.
              He may or may not still be in a WhatsApp group with some of his former colleagues, but he won't be allowed to pass on any confidential information to them.

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              1. lespaul
                • 16 Years
                4 months, 21 days ago

                Oh ok thought it was longer

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              2. Az
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                4 months, 21 days ago

                He’s passing on some information but I do have my doubts that really are bringing in “pay £10 for an extra wildcard” monetisation

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                1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                  • 5 Years
                  4 months, 21 days ago

                  I'll pay him £10 to turn down the impending AI slopfest.
                  Customisable team badges that don't look anything like team badges, definitely what we've all been after. Can't wait for that one.

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    3. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      i assumed they would wait for CWC to finish then it price reveals monday - thursday then live on Friday but seems unlikely now

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  3. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    Coppola has entered The Conversation.

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  4. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    United with an improved bid of £65m plus £5m add ons for Mbeumo.

    Would he still be a good FPL pick at United without pens?

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    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      NO, but if they get a decent centre forward with Cunha and Mbeumo to supply him then it could be very interesting.

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      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        Depends on his price, but we have to wait and see. I certainly wouldn't get him for gw1. We have to see how they line up, get it going and where Bruno plays anyway.

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 21 days ago

          Bruno's going to be playing as part of a midfield two

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          1. Baps Hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 months, 20 days ago

            Yes, but we don't know how advanced he will be and will he make runs to the box (or close) in the 2nd wave. He can easily be either good or bad fpl asset.

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 20 days ago

              He'll be pretty advanced due to lack of positional discipline, but he's definitely going to play / score more like last season than his first

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  5. The Hunt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    Wirtz priced the same as Foden and Mbeumo on Fan Team.

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    1. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      Pedro priced the same as Wood, Solanke & Wissa.

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  6. Lanley Staurel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    Does the addition of a differential analysis piece on the new FFS site signal a change in scoring on the actual FPL game?

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    1. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      Well they said last season they were using that stupid side game to trial things for FPL this season, so yes, expect nerdy stats like interceptions to be added, which will only benefit the minority of people like Pras, who dedicate their life to researching such boring things.

      I am pretty sure FPL will be trashy this season. The AI junk is already indicative of that. Next they will find a way to monetize it.

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  7. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    4 months, 21 days ago

    I fully expect Pool to win the title again this season, but honestly, of they signed Isak, I think they would be the best team in the world. I would just pay what Newcastle want. Isak is an amazing player, if you put him in that Pool team, I bet he would get the golden boot first season with them.

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    1. Dubem_FC
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 21 days ago

      Isak will still be injury prone at Liverpool.

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      1. WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 21 days ago

        He’s not going

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    2. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 20 days ago

      Chelsea won the rights to call themselves the best team in the world for the next 4 years. Maybe Liverpool can try from 2029 on

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      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        4 months, 20 days ago

        Ha!

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      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 20 days ago

        And Sanchez is allegedly now the world's best goalkeeper!

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        1. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          4 months, 20 days ago

          Sanchez and Pedro, like "what is happening!" They even celebrated with Trump lmao.

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      3. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        4 months, 20 days ago

        This is rage bait right

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      4. Jars458
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 months, 20 days ago

        They can call themselves whatever they want, won't make it so. Supreme King of the Universe here.

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  8. Luis Suarez Ate My Homework
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 20 days ago

    I'm amazed with Joao Pedro leaving that Hurzeler isn't preparing Evan Ferguson as the starting #9. Instead, they're selling him to Roma. Does the manager not rate him? What is the issue there?

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