Great Expectations

Potential for Pogba to have best-ever FPL season in 2018/19

Fresh from scoring in the World Cup final and winning the coveted trophy with France, Paul Pogba (£8.0m) could be about to record his best ever season with Manchester United.

The midfielder may miss the first few weeks of the campaign but across the course of 2018/19 there is great potential for him to be an important Fantasy Premier League asset.

A thigh muscle injury between September and November restricted Pogba to just 27 appearances for the Red Devils last season, but he still managed to record his highest ever FPL score of 138 from six goals and 13 assists. No United player was the provider for more goals and only Romelu Lukaku (£11.0m) was involved in more than him.

We’ve had a look at some of the reasons why we expect Pogba to improve on that over the next 12 months, even if he will miss the first few weeks of the campaign through extended World Cup leave.

NEW POSITION

The arrival of Fred (£6.0m) at Old Trafford should allow Pogba more freedom to commit to attack this season. With the new signing potentially sat alongside Nemanja Matic (£5.0m) in holding midfield, Pogba will have less defensive responsibilities to concern himself with. Although it must be said that he particularly shone in a slightly deeper role for France next to N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Steven N’Zonzi in the World Cup final. At the same time, Jesse Lingard (£7.0m) earned Jose Mourinho’s favour playing as the central attacking midfielder in 2017/18 and Pogba may have to displace him if he hopes to play further up the pitch.

SHOTS FIRED

Pogba clearly has an eye for goal and should surpass his previous goal tally of six this season. Only six midfielders had more shots last season, despite him only playing 27 games. In fact, out of the Premier League’s most trigger happy midfielders in 2017/18, only Mohamed Salah (4.0) and Alexis Sánchez (2.83) averaged more shots per game than Pogba’s 2.81. The Frenchman even registered more shots per match than Lukaku’s 2.5, although the Belgian striker was more accurate. A large number of those efforts came from outside of opposing penalty areas but if Pogba does earn a more advanced role the percentage of those taken inside the box would likely increase.

IN THE MONEY

On the whole, Pogba offered better value than any of Manchester United’s regular starting attacking assets last season. His points-per-match (ppm) of 5.1 could not be beaten by anyone at Old Trafford. The more expensive Alexis Sánchez (£10.5m) came in at 4.9 ppm, Lukaku’s was 4.76 ppm while Lingard, while cheaper, had a points-per-match of 3.87. Even if Pogba retains his position in deeper midfield he could still prove better value across the season than Sánchez and Lukaku who are £2.5m and £3.0m dearer than him respectively.

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1,167 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AriseSirGiggsy
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Quite like my latest draft

    3-5-2

    Ryan
    Robertson Shaw Daniels
    Salah Sane Martial Kenedy Cairney
    Aguero Aubamayang

    (Button, Peltier, W-Bissika, Kamara)

    1.5m in the bank to transfer in Kane

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      In the main I like , plenty of time to commit

    2. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Get some bench.

      1. AriseSirGiggsy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Can upgrade Wam-B to a 4.5 if I take 0.5 out of the Kane fund, and claw that back by doing Martial > Mhktaryan after GW2

    3. ⚽️ Barry Chocolate ⚽…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      surely theres more value in def dthan kenedy. toons fixtures are woeful

    4. pm17
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Martial rotaturn risk after few games...mite wanna use an everton player cuz of fixtures...
      But overall the team seems ok

  2. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who is the cheapest forward nailed on?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Wood I guess

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Hmm 6.5... I look forward to 4.5-5M

    2. olly:)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      maybe Andone, maybe Zohore, maybe Madine at 5.0 or below. Definitely nailed is Bobby Reid, and Jiminez at 5.5

      1. BigBarn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Olly, do you really think Jimiez is nailed for the start of the season? What do you know that I don't?!

  3. statenisland
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I've just come to my senses and strengthened the back. Thoughts?

    Schmeichel
    Davies, TAA, Monreal
    Eriksen, Mahrez, Salah, Siggy, Milivojevic
    Firmino, Arnautovic

    Speroni, Bednarek, Malone, Quaner

    Please help - I'm crap at this.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Plenty of time , relax. See how the friendlies pan out. A few you have are unlikely to start

  4. olly:)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Ryan Button
    Robertson Mendy PvA Boly Christie
    Salah Sanchez Siggy Willian Stephens
    Auba King Madine

    - 4-4-2
    - Boly and Christie rotate quite well, not sure on christie but seems to rotate pretty well with Boly.
    - Sanchez placeholder for KDB, whenever he's back he'll be in.

    1. AriseSirGiggsy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      No city attackers?

      1. olly:)
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        If you read it properly you can see Sanchez = placeholder for KDB, if KDB comes back GW2 then i've gone a whole 1 gameweek without a city attacker which isn't exactly easy (arsenal away)

        1. AriseSirGiggsy
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Fair nuff, just surprises me when I see a draft without Sane

  5. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Will Mendy be the regular left back this season?
    Seen him in a lot of teams and would definitely pick him of he's nailed

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Wait for more news, if positive then get him

    2. Dont choose VW. Pickford
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      On cities pre season tour now despite most WC players still missing. He's in mine right now but will only keep him for GW1 if he starts the community sheild

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Aye

    3. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      if he stays fit yes

    4. AriseSirGiggsy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      IMHO - absolutely yes

      Would pick him from start (still might) but Robertson has a much tastier fuxture

  6. as33
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    RMT: Ryan, Fabianski
    Daniels, Alonso, Alexander, Schelotto, Bennett
    Milivojevic, Eriksen, Salah, Sanchez, Matic
    Kamara, Aguero, Zaha? Any good

    1. AriseSirGiggsy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I’ve read (particularly on FFS) that Alonso is no longer nailed in a 4 man defence, and even if he gets the nod, his output will be lesser

    2. Dont choose VW. Pickford
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Might as well have a more attacking 5mil mid over matic. Ralls, Kenedy, Neves etc. all have better potential for points imo

    3. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah , but some may not start. Patience , wait for the final friendlies to get a better idea

    4. AriseSirGiggsy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      In terms of layout, your setting yourself up to only be able to get 1 premium forward (without major reorganisation requiring hits)
      That could be an error if, say, Lukaku and Kane look to be bordering on “essential”