After assessing the Goalkeepers, Budget Defenders, Mid-Price Defenders and Premium Defenders in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, we now focus our attentions further up the park.
Prior to our assessment, it’s worth noting the changes to the BPS scoring system this term. The decrease to the BPS for pass completion will hit those players who ply their trade for dominant teams, though in truth, that won’t hurt many budget attacking options hard – the likes of Nemanja Matic and Gareth Barry will be the chief protagonists in the cut-price bracket. There’s also the improved BPS changes for successful tackles, which will certainly benefit Matic, given that he made more (100) than any player in the Premier League last season.
We start off, then, with a look at what’s on offer at 5.0 and under as Fantasy managers scour the market for this year’s George Boyd or Matty Phillips…
Arsenal’s Francis Coquelin is, at the very least, a reliable starter at 4.5. Having been named in the first XI in 19 of the final 20 league fixtures, his defensive qualities afforded the Gunners a better overall balance last term, though given he failed to produce any attacking returns, you’ll be getting three-point returns at best here.
Villa’s new signing Idrissa Gueye has been priced at just 5.0 and boasts a relatively decent scoring record in 2014/15, arriving on the back of four goals and a pair of assists for Lille last term. Charles N’Zogbia and Scott Sinclair also come in at 5.0 but will need to force their way into the starting XI to have any chance of coming into consideration, with Jack Grealish expected to nail down one of the wide roles. Ashley Westwood sets you back 4.5 but with a single assist last term, he offers little prospect of attacking returns. With Bournemouth, Palace, Sunderland, Leicester and West Brom in the first six, though, Tim Sherwood’s side could be ones to monitor.
As mentioned in previous articles, Villa rotate home/away with Midlands neighbours West Brom over the 38 Gameweeks. Baggies skipper Darren Fletcher and Claudio Yacob (4.5 apiece) both started 15 of Tony Pulis’ 18 matches in charge last term and will at least offer security of starts in the centre of the park. Fletcher scored once after arriving at the Hawthorns, whilst James Morrison (5.0), who also started all but three of the fixtures under the new manager, produced two goals and an assist last term. New boy James McClean (5.0) could attract investment if Pulis affords the industrious winger a run of starts on the left flank – he chalked up six goals and seven assists in the previous campaign but faces competition from Callum McManaman (5.0).
Harry Arter could be an option for Championship winners Bournemouth – priced at just 5.0, he bagged nine goals and three assists last time out. Former Norwich man Andrew Surman looks the likeliest starter at 4.5 for the Cherries; despite sitting in the double-pivot, he managed three goals and six assists in 2014/15. Bournemouth have the kindest opening schedule over the first six Gameweeks, according to our season ticker – three strong home encounters (AVL, LEI, SUN) are complemented by a trip to Norwich.
Eddie Howe’s side rotate with fellow new boys Watford over the 38 Gameweeks, though the Hornets are currently undergoing a restructuring programme under Quique Sanchez Flores and it remains to be seen just how many of last season’s regulars will retain a starting role. The likes of Almen Abdi (5.0) racked up nine goals and two assists playing in “the hole”, while Ikechi Anya (4.5) proved to be a fine facilitator on the left flank, amassing seven assists. Etienne Capoue (5.0) and Valon Behrami (4.5) have already been drafted in and look the likely starters in the double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, though the pair offer little in the way of attacking returns.
As mentioned above, Nemanja Matic looks set to be the chief beneficiary of the new BPS change for successful tackles. Coming in at just 5.0, he’s certainly very budget-friendly but his role in the Chelsea double-pivot produced just a goal and three assists last season – given we can only pick three players per team, few will be willing to turn to the Serbian as a viable option in the centre of the park.
Palace pair Mile Jedinak and James McArthur will set you back 5.0 apiece. The arrival of Yohan Cabaye places question marks over Alan Pardew’s plans in the centre of the park – should Cabaye be fielded in a deep-lying role, one of the duo look poised to miss out if the Eagles boss opts for a 4-2-3-1 set-up.
Everton’s Gareth Barry comes in at just 4.5 and started all but five of last season’s fixtures. Again, though, there’s uncertainty over Roberto Martinez’ intentions with Tom Cleverley adding an extra option in central midfield, whilst Steven Pienaar, Aiden McGeady and Leon Osman look far from certain starters at 5.0.
Claudio Ranieri’s arrival at Leicester may prove a source of frustration for Fantasy managers. Given that “The Tinkerman” is renowned for heavy rotation, the jury is very much out on Leicester’s potential regulars for the season ahead. Marc Albrighton staked a claim for inclusion with some strong displays at the end of last season – the 5.0-priced winger delivered two goals and assists in the Foxes’ concluding quintet of fixtures. The likes of Danny Drinkwater, Dean Hammond and Andy King are all 4.5 but we need to assess pre-season line-ups before considering any of them viable.
Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe is available at just 5.0 and was utilised as a right wing-back on a number of occasions during the latter part of 2014/15. With Brendan Rodgers keen to restructure, though, it remains to be seen whether the youngster can nail down a starting berth – right now, his acquisition looks too risky to justify.
Newcastle’s 5.0-priced Rolando Aarons will be hoping for a breakout season under new manager Steve McClaren. The fleet-footed 19-year-old scored and assisted in his second cameo last term, before succumbing to a hamstring injury that restricted him to two further appearances. Aarons has looked sharp in the close season, netting for the England U20s, though the arrival of new boy Georginio Wijnaldum could well restrict his pitch time.
Norwich ‘s Jonny Howson is available for 5.0 and produced nine goals and six assists from the centre of the park in the Championship last term. Wes Hoolahan (5.0) bagged five goals and ten assists, takes the majority of Norwich’s penalties and shares dead-ball duties with Nathan Redmond, though he’s less secure a starter – ten of his 39 appearances came off the bench. Graham Dorrans made 18 appearances (13 starts, five as a sub) after arriving at Carrow Road midway thorough last season. The former West Brom man – priced at 5.0 – bagged three goals and an assist and his top-flight experience could be key to the Canaries’ survival bid. Alex Tettey is cheaper at 4.5 but with 13 yellows to his name last year, may be best avoided.
With Morgan Schneiderlin now gone, Victor Wanyama looks a decent squad-filler at a price of just 4.5. The Kenyan struck three times for Southampton last time around, though his role in the double-pivot suggests he may struggle to replicate that goal-getting form, given he mustered just 28 attempts over the course of the previous campaign. Steven Davis (5.0) started 32 times in 2014/15 and although he managed just two assists, still produced 49 key passes for the Saints. Ronald Koeman’s side square up to three of last term’s top seven in the opening 13 rounds of fixtures.
Similarly, Tottenham’s Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason are very budget-friendly options at 4.5 and 5.0 respectively. The duo offer little in the way of attacking output, though – Bentaleb chipped in with a pair of assists in 2014/15, whilst central midfield partner Mason managed a goal and four assists.
Sunderland’s spot-kick taker Jordi Gomez (5.0) had started to find his form under new manager Dick Advocaat before his previous season was ended by injury and could be worth considering if he can nail down a starting berth again. Lee Cattermole comes in at 4.5, though it’s fair to say he is more likely to produce yellow cards than attacking returns. The Black Cats have some very kind opening fixtures and face just three of last season’s top seven in the first 14 Gameweeks.
West Ham new boy Pedro Obiang is available for a cut-priced 5.0 – although he’s noted more for his tough tackling, he notched three times for Sampdoria in Serie A last term. The Hammers have four decent home matches (LEI, BOU, NEW, NOR) in the first seven Gameweeks to heighten their initial appeal.
