Pro Pundits - FPL General
26 August 2026 257 comments
@FPLGeneral @FPLGeneral
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Our team of contributors are returning as we count down to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 2 deadline.

This time, we hear from FPL General, who shares his Gameweek 2 team reveal.

General, aka Mark, is no longer shackled by the Haaland-less experiment of 2025/26! He has three top 500 finishes to his name, as well as a further nine inside the top 50k.



Gameweek 1 Review

The Troops got off to a great start in Gameweek 1, racking up 82 points, thanks in large part to a 16-point Bench Boost. A Gameweek rank of 68k is very satisfying after all the pre-season tinkering! 

Going back to my final few decisions on Friday, I wanted to triple up on Arsenal for the Coventry fixture. To do so, I dropped right down to Regan Slater (£4.5m) as my fifth midfielder. I wasn’t too bothered about what the bench scored. Instead, I focused on getting the starting XI exactly how I wanted it. I figured Slater would be good for my long-term team structure (if I don’t use the Wildcard early). The assist against Manchester United was a lovely slice of luck. The clean sheet from Joe Rodon (£4.5m) ensured it was a successful deployment of the chip. It feels liberating to have it out of the way already! 

Cristhian Mosquera (£5.5m) was in every draft until Arsenal’s signing of Ezri Konsa (£4.5m). Shoehorning the Gunners’ two full-backs in instead couldn’t have gone any better! Midfielder Martin Odegaard (£6.5m) was in my first pre-season draft, so I followed my initial gut instinct and went back to him on Friday – and boy, I am glad I did.

The Manchester United triple-up was a disaster but they’ve got Ipswich Town at home this weekend, which should yield better returns. If not, they will be the first guys on the chopping block! 

It was very satisfying to see Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m) step up and score a late penalty for Liverpool. He could now be a 38-Gameweek pick this season with so many routes to points. 

Following the Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) blank, who was captained by many, I was hopeful that Erling Haaland (£15.5m) would capitalise and send me towards a 100-point Gameweek – but it wasn’t to be. After last season, was nice to be able to watch a Manchester City match on the sofa rather than behind it! 

Like Szoboszlai, Chelsea’s Joao Pedro (£7.5m) is another Gameweek 1 pick that could be there for the long-term. He’s likely to be my captain in Gameweek 4 for the home tie against Hull City, unless his teammate Cole Palmer (£9.5m) is purchased by then.

Gameweek 2 Team + Future Transfer Plans



257 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 15 days ago

    Play M Sangare or DCL??

    1. The Pretender
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      I want to play Sangare, but hard to sit DCL at home.

      I am no closer to my decision personally!

    2. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 15 days ago

      Dcl

    3. The Philosopher
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Is M Sangare the Sangare who scored plenty points last GW or is he the other Sangare?

      1. Ausman
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 14 days ago

        M is the point scorer

        1. The Philosopher
          • 6 Years
          1 month, 14 days ago

          Gotta start the point scorer, innit..

  2. zanetalv
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    playing a 12 team draft thinking of grabbing grealish now before eve/av trade, should i drop ngumoha or caicedo?

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Ngumoha

  3. Zoostation
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Wirtz feeling like a bust of a pick already.

    I know it’s early and am certainly giving another week but feels like he’s an inevitable transfer out.

    1. The Philosopher
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Yeah, he's like that.

    2. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      He’s better when he plays out wide.

    3. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      This could be a August 2025 post

  4. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Captain decision tricky this GW. Which one?

    A: Haaland
    B: Mbeumo
    C: Pedro

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      a

    2. sozopol
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      C is tempting but probably A

    3. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Of those A easily

    4. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Tzolis

  5. sozopol
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Start 2 of these three defenders.

    A Ballard (FUL)
    B Muharemovic (BRE)
    C N. Williams (liv)

    A and B for clean sheet odds and maybe defcons; C for attacking returns potential?

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      A & B

  6. CHRISGD81
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Defenders choose 3 out of Calafiori, White, Oriely and Maguire

    Then choose 2 out of Tzolis, Ndiaye and DCL

    My heads falling off

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Cali, White, NOR
      Tzol, DCL

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Maguire is very short term so probably the other 3 but how long is White nailed for hopefully til 5

      Tzolis and Ndiaye
      But if that means a 4.5 forward it gives another problem in that you will probably want Wissa for GW5 or Gonzalo from 6 in the DCL spot.
      I would not go without Tzolis unless going triple Ars defence.

  7. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    So if my transfer plans are to take
    1FT in GW3
    2FT GW 4
    2 transfers in GW5 for hit and have WC intact for later

    I am better doing zero transfers til a WC in 4 carry and get Chelsea in. (I am already loaded on City and pool for 3) and carry 3FT in GW5

    The second option seems better but the disadvantage is having to sit and watch price rises or falls.

    Is a third option of 1 FT in GW3 if one dropping and one rising, WC4 with

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      The third option leaves me 2FT in GW5

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        1 month, 14 days ago

        Transfers are precious

        1. Albrightondknight
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 14 days ago

          From that it’s option 2 no transfers and go for WC 4 and if players cost a bit more find a way ..?

          1. The FPL Units
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            1 month, 14 days ago

            I think so, unless injuries strike.

        2. Albrightondknight
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 14 days ago

          The WC4 allows me remove players than start to become a minutes or injury issue too - that gives me transfers outside the planned ones …
          Now I get the people last year who were saying build transfers before WC and have them after. Seems the best of both worlds.

    2. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      That’s a lot to take in

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 month, 14 days ago

        I know - try being inside my head. If it helps the team in the post below is 6 transfers from where I am right now.
        7 if I don’t like the Leeds defence double up.

        1. Ausman
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 14 days ago

          I don’t think people understand how much taking hits can affect their ranking. I had my best season ever last season, and I only scored 64 points more than the previous year, but I still went from top 25% to top 4%. That’s not me boasting, it’s just a little wake up call I received that taking hits and chasing last weeks points can really hurt your finishing position. 64 points is less than 2 points per week.
          One thing to consider, a WC in 4 might help to get rid of players who are not up to standard, but what about the new players who arrive a day or two after the transfer deadline? Those guys won’t be up to speed yet, even some of the players who were at World Cup aren’t up to speed yet. If the early wild card only takes you to GW 10 or 11 then you’ve got a problem.
          Personally I don’t want to use the WC until after the IB, about GW 9 or 10

          1. Albrightondknight
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            1 month, 14 days ago

            Cheers excellent reply. For years I have tried to be better with not taking hits but I usually do 20 a season which is nuts and yeah not a smart way to play. With so many players now the days of me finishing top 50k are well done more like 250k. Saving that amount of points is huge.
            New transfer in for clubs is one I did not factor. In when going WC as early as 4

          2. Three Pints of Schlager
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 14 days ago

            Chasing points of the previous weeks is exactly the main problem of this game.

            If you don't do it, you might miss out on price changes in both directions. That's why it is very tempting, plus FOMO.if a player keeps scoring. I remember "monitoring" Vardy and.Mahrez those days until it was too late.

            Well, one more option to.consider is the Free Hit chip. I think GW3 could work.well if you have too many Chelsea and Arsenal players, plus you can foxus on Man City. Also, it gives you a chance to win more time for collecting more new.season's data including late developments on the transfer market.

  8. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    White Cherki and maybe even Gvardiol might not be nailed short or medium term but in theory with those replaced with similar if needed
    Is a team too much cash on the bench and a headache each week or ok and could work if you rotate based on fixtures
    This would be the type of GW5 team I want to get too.

    Trafford Dub

    Calafiori White Gvardiol Ajer Rodon

    Palmer Szob Cherki Tzolis Ndiaye

    Halland Pedro Wissa

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      I suppose I should try to fit in another starting GK too in case I decide to pull a BB but don’t like any week til 10 and even that is not ideal.

    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Nothing to worry about for the next 2

  9. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Might just F around and roll the FT.

  10. Barnaby Wilde
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Could Pedro Porro get his first start at the weekend?

    1. The Philosopher
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      He could, but will he, is the question...

  11. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Kadioglu linked to United?

  12. Josh99
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Start kayode or james justin for gw2?

    1. The Philosopher
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      The one who'll score more points.

    2. Three Pints of Schlager
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Justin

  13. Josh99
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    The Banter i see

  14. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Start hume or van ewijk?

  15. Price Changes
    RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Price changes this morning, 27 August:

    UP
    Calafiori 5.6
    Kayode 4.6
    Joao Pedro 7.6

    Down
    Dowman 5.4
    Watkins 7.9
    Amad 5.9

  16. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    People buying De Cuyper before Chelsea away.

    FPL knee-jerk knows no bounds.

    1. Brosstan
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Watch him haul again in this joke game. Knee jerkers are never punished

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      He scored.
      People buying.
      Thats the law.

    3. MissouriMarten
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Knee-jerking or getting ahead of the curve? Time will tell.

  17. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    I still havent sorted my benching issues. bb not an option as I have 2 non playing players. help please 🙂

    bench 2

    a van ewijk
    b hume
    c de cuyper
    d muha
    e hinchelwood

    thank you very much!

  18. HollywoodXI
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Who should I bench from this lot?

    Verbruggen Kinsky
    Maguire O’Reilly Neco Williams Calafiori White
    Bruno Mbeumo Semenyo Tzolis Szoboslai
    Pedro Thiago DCL

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      n williams oreilly semenyo verb. you should just have bought haaland 😉

      1. HollywoodXI
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 14 days ago

        lol yeah maybe!

    2. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      crikey,headbanger gw1 BB hangover. really tricky, but ill have a stab
      verbruggen
      neco
      maguire
      dcl

      reverse of my gw1 bench of
      mathews
      konsa
      palestra
      reed
      net score zero

  19. jeffa79
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Playing a draft game and not sure what to do with the following:

    Khusanov (have Guehi)
    Neto
    Richarlison

    Potentially interested in De Cuyper and Stach but underwhelmed by the available forward options.

    Shall I stick or twist?

    1. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      richarlison has to go

  20. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Would you swap wirtz to tzolis?

    Will FH gw3
    And wc for gw5

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Next week, the trade is way more valuable at this stage.

  21. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Play Schade or DCL?

    1. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      schade sire,brentford cant stop scoring

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 14 days ago

        I tend to agree, I think DCL is in a trolling mood!

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    A nice reminder from last season:

    The most transferred in players for Gameweek 2 and their score:

    Reijnders - 2 points
    Semenyo - 6 points
    Wood - 2 points
    Ekitike - 9 points
    Ballard - 1 point
    Haaland - 2 points
    Kudus - 3 points
    Ait-Nouri - 1 point
    Cucurella - 5 points
    Gabriel - 6 points

    Like 3 of those ended up being good FPL assets that season

  23. Johnny too hotty
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Jackson or wissa for draft?
    Jackson seems nailed on every week right

  24. Warby84
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Which City defender is best, I think Guehi at 6m for minutes/Defcon and a target man for set pieces. I do have 0.5m if I want to go all out in O’Reilly..

  25. marcus2704
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    For captain, would you go with Palmer, Bruno or Haaland this week?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 14 days ago

      Haaland

  26. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Which 2 would you bench from these 6?

    Brobbey
    Tzolis
    Ballard
    Ajer
    Van Ewijk
    Ndiaye

  27. SARRFACE
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Hi everyone, QQ

    Play 1

    A) Tzolis
    B) DCL

  28. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    What would be Bouaddi price? 6.5 or 6?

  29. BerryMaze
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    1. Play 2: Sangare, DCL, Hinshelwood.
    2. Captain: Bruno F or Haaland.

    Any advice is appreciated.

  30. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 14 days ago

    Barcola price? 7.5?