Opinion

The Digest – FPL Gameweek 1

Our Gameweek 1 coverage climaxes as we reflect on the player, the team and the latest talking point to demand our attention.

Raheem Sterling returned to Premier League action quicker than expected to remind us of his potential, while Crystal Palace provided the perfect performance for the multitudes of Fantasy managers who had Eagles assets in defence and attack.

We also examine the “death” of the Fantasy Premier League forward…

The Player

Raheem Sterling was far from most FPL managers’ thoughts and teams ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Sitting in just 2.1% of FPL squads, the England international was only the seventh-most popular City midfield asset in the game before the Gameweek 1 deadline.

A World Cup-affected pre-season and increased competition in the midfield spots – notably the capture of Riyad Mahrez and the summer form of Bernardo Silva – were contributing factors in his unpopularity among Fantasy managers, but a price hike to £11.0m was perhaps the chief reason why the highest-scoring City player in FPL last season was overlooked.

That Fernandinho (£5.5m) had over three times as many owners as Sterling ahead of the meeting with Arsenal summed up just how ignored the former Liverpool midfielder had initially been. Only 21,600 managers have snapped up Sterling since then, too.

With Mohamed Salah’s starting price ballooning to £13.0m and City alternatives such as Mahrez (£9.0m) and Leroy Sane (£9.5m) available for less money after a full pre-season, Sterling was the inevitable fall-guy as FPL managers endeavoured to make their £100m budgets stretch that little bit further.

It took all of 14 minutes of the match at the Emirates for the England international to serve a reminder of his worth: cutting in from the left flank after a lay-off from Benjamin Mendy, Sterling rifled home City’s opening goal past an unsighted Petr Cech from just outside the box.

Sterling registered more penalty box touches (11) than any Premier League midfielder this weekend, while only Callum Wilson could better that tally among FPL forwards. No City player had more shots than Sterling in the win over Arsenal, either.

Sterling’s deployment on the left flank was also a reminder of his versatility, an all-the-more important quality this season following Mahrez’s acquisition. While predominantly stationed on the right wing in 2017/18, Sterling played across the City frontline last season and, of course, toiled up front for England as a forward this summer. If Mahrez starts, it doesn’t necessarily follow that Sterling won’t.

By contrast, Leroy Sane’s route into the City team is seemingly one-way: of the German international’s 27 Premier League starts last season, only one wasn’t on the left flank.

That Sterling was fast-tracked straight into City’s team after only five days of training at the expense of Sane, who had a full pre-season under his belt, says much about Pep Guardiola’s trust in the 23-year-old.

After establishing himself in the City starting XI in Gameweek 11 of last season, Sterling was to start 24 of City’s final 28 league matches. Two of the fixtures he missed were enforced through a hamstring injury, while one of the other two non-appearances was the Double Gameweek 37 draw with Huddersfield after City had wrapped up the league title.

With all six of the most recently promoted teams to come in the next half-dozen Gameweeks, the fixture list couldn’t be better poised for Sterling to add to Sunday’s seven-point haul. Attacking returns in the matches against Huddersfield and Wolves in the coming fortnight will have the 97%+ of us who don’t own the City midfielder questioning our position and, just perhaps, looking at ways to accommodate yet another premium pick.

The Team

Was there a more talked-about team in pre-season than Crystal Palace? Every other social media post seemed to be musing on either the cluster of attractive defensive options in Roy Hodgson’s squad or whether Wilfred Zaha was worth the punt as a reclassified FPL forward.

Those who lumped on the Eagles’ assets for their Gameweek 1 trip to Fulham weren’t to be disappointed.

Three of Palace’s FPL defenders – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Patrick van Aanholt and an “out-of-position” Jeffrey Schlupp – all delivered attacking returns to add to their clean sheet points, while Zaha found the back of the net after starting the game alongside Christian Benteke in attack.

No team had more shots on target in Gameweek 1 than Hodgson’s side, with eight of their 12 overall attempts on goal coming from inside the box.

That Palace managed this in spite of their otherwise unremarkable attacking statistics could be seen in both a positive and negative light.

The Eagles’ possession rate of 34% was the lowest of all the 20 Premier League clubs last weekend, while Palace also ranked in the bottom three for touches and possession in the final third.

That only five clubs had more penalty box touches than Palace, however, showed just how clinical Hodgson’s troops were with what little time on the ball they were afforded: something the Eagles will surely have to emulate next Monday for the visit of Liverpool.

Though the fact that Fulham were allowed 15 shots on Wayne Hennessey’s goal is a slight worry for those FPL managers sticking with a Palace defender for the Gameweek 2 encounter with Mohamed Salah and co, cut a little deeper and the underlying defensive statistics aren’t quite as troubling: Palace were one of just five teams who didn’t allow their opposition a single “big chance” at the weekend. Only six of Fulham’s 15 efforts were from inside the area, meanwhile.

Saturday’s shut-out was Palace’s fifth clean sheet in nine Premier League matches, too.

The Talking Point

Not a single Premier League striker scored more than one goal or registered more than eight FPL points last weekend. Of the 25 goals recorded in the English top-flight in Gameweek 1, meanwhile, only six of them were scored by a forward.

The move away from a top-heavy FPL squad was already in motion before the opening weekend of the 2018/19 season, but the meagre attacking returns from our forwards – only three of whom registered assists – in Gameweek 1 has seemingly increased that momentum.

Nine defenders and six midfielders registered double-digit scores in the weekend just gone and, of the ten most-bought players of this round so far, not one of them is a forward.

While the short-termist, knee-jerk response would be to jettison our premium forward picks, it is far too early to write them off as disposable budget-freers.

Harry Kane, admittedly, looked well off the pace in Spurs’ 2-1 away win over Newcastle United and didn’t manage to register a single shot on target in the match. That Kane was starting the game at all, though, came as something of a surprise. The England striker was one of a number of premium picks, not just in attack, who looked unlikely to start in Gameweek 1 following their World Cup exertions, but whose selection made a fool out of many an FPL manager/pundit/writer/”expert” who were expecting a gradual reintroduction.

That unremarkable run-out against the Magpies, then, will at the very least have helped Kane to improve his match fitness and provide a platform to end his August goal drought when newly promoted Fulham – who conceded more shots on target than any Premier League club in Gameweek 1 – visit Wembley this Saturday.

Manchester City and Arsenal’s fixtures are about to take a turn for the better, too. Having faced each other in the final match of Gameweek 1, Sergio Aguero and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang will have far easier fixtures ahead of them in the coming months.

As mentioned earlier, City face all six of the sides promoted in 2017/18 and 2016/17 between now and the end of September, while Arsenal just have to get a trip to Stamford Bridge out of the way before a sequence of eight league matches in which they play none of the other “big six”.

After a 25-minute run-out against Leicester City, meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku will surely line up this weekend against a Brighton & Hove Albion side who conceded the most attempts on goal out of all 20 Premier League clubs in Gameweek 1.

Jamie Vardy was the only premium forward to get on the scoresheet last weekend and his Leicester City side now face a Wolverhampton Wanderers team that looked very exposed on the counter-attack against Everton on Saturday: a defensive flaw that Vardy has exploited time and time again in the past.

While we should, of course, pay heed to the weekly Fantasy trends, we need to be beware of the forward backlash that might lie just around the corner, particularly when reallocating funds to other positions. It wouldn’t take anything more than an Aguero/Kane/Aubameyang brace or hat-trick for us to be scrambling to raise funds again for their services.

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1,035 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Cruz88
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Would you rather have:

    a) Calum Wilson and Arnie as a rotational pair
    b) Vardy and 4.5 bench player

    1. yemzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      B

      1. colin1201
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Same. B for me.

        In fact, why not get Arnie, Vardy, and a 4.5 midfielder then?

        1. Cruz88
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          I feel like there's more value in midfield that's all

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      B. Rotating strikers not worth it.

    4. Planet Head
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I think if you've got Arnie, you play him

  2. fantasyfog
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I have a little dilemma after gw1, was gonna bench kante and Neves for king and Daniel's in gw2...

    what do you guys think now?

    1. Test Eagles
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I’d play them both and bench the Cherries guys

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Would play king and neves myself

    3. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Would bench Kante Neves

      1. Kragbaek
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Am I official now? 😉

        1. DRIZ ✅
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Haha yes a mod 😉

    4. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Play King and Neves.

  3. le flem
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Mata to Maddison?

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Next week

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        On second thoughts, Mata might not play with Lukaku back. Do it.

    2. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I would Madison feels like a bandwagon about to leave the station better to get on early

      1. bhunasallround
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Chu chu

        1. le flem
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers all

  4. BrutalLogiC
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    When is the scoutcast this week? Usually on a Tuesday right?

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Wednesday I believe

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      It's tonight

  5. Chandler Bing
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to play?

    A. Kabasele (BUR, A)
    B. Peltier (NEW, H)

    1. Kryten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Difficult but b Newcastle look in a bit of turmoil could be very low scoring game if not a 0.0

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Going to say Peltier.
      Maybe you should have or make a rule for for situations like these and stick to it over the season. Such as when you have 2 cheap defenders with ok fixtures you always play the one with the home fixture.

    4. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      A

    5. Willllsonnn!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I've brought Peltier in off my bench because my other 2 are PAL who are gonna get spanked by Pool.. your 2 are a toss up imo

    6. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I would probably play A but wouldn't be confident of more than 2 points for either player.

      1. Moosie the Staggie
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Burnley have looked pretty toothless so far

    7. Pea Soup
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      If you're not gonna play Peltier against Newcastle at home then I'd suggest you'll never play him.

  6. Krionos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I've been reading a lot about Crystal Palace having been solid defensively of late and towards the end of the 2017/18 season.

    However, looking at those last few games in April and May, the played WBrom, Leicester and Watford, registering clean sheets, while they conceded 2 against Bournemouth and Brighton.

    Not sure I'm feeling confident they will keep out that Liverpool attack based on that...

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Look at their record vs big teams

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        At home

    2. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Might not this week so there's an argument to bench Sakho/Tomkins/AWB if you have them but long-term fixtures should offer CS points.

      I've got PVA so I'll be playing him regardless.

      1. cpo001
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed, I've benched Sakho and AWB this week - I don't see them keeping a clean sheet.

    3. Willllsonnn!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I'm not confident of anyone keeping out the LIV attack

    4. Well you know, Triffic
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Fulham had chances.

  7. andrinho
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Transfer Lucas Moura to:
    a) Neves
    b) Pereyra
    c) Pedro
    d) Mata
    e) Kanté (considering he's playing further forward)
    f) Save transfer

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      F for 1 more week at least

    2. MAVER!CK
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      F

    3. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      F this week unless ruled out. If so, Mkhi.

    4. Jonny Bananas
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Realistically he'll score 8-10 goals in his first full season (with any luck), which is 1 in 4 approx. Maybe give him another game or two to see if he hits form?

  8. cpo001
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Predictions on the score for the Chelsea v Arsenal game?

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-0 Chelsea

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-1

    3. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-2

      Luiz, Morata

      Ozil, Maitland Niles

      1. FlyingWithoutIngs
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Niles got injured did he not? Or was it not that serious

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1

    5. cpo001
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure whether to play Jorginho or Ozil...on the reponses I'm still not sure! It's got to be one of them as I've benched 2x Palace defenders vs Liverpool.

      The RMT function has them about equal, and recommends benching Ozil but he's got a very slightly higher score than Jorginho (how does that work?)

    6. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-0

    7. FPL_352
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-2

    8. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-0

    9. Kragbaek
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-2

      8' Hazard (Kanté assist)
      HT
      53' Aubameyang (Xhaka assist)
      88' Lacazette (Aubameyang assist)
      FT

      Kanté to impress, Hazard to impress, Aubameyang and Lacazette to impress

      Pedro to disappoint, Mkhi and Özil to disappoint

      1. noquarternt
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Just boggles the mind.

      2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        I knew Ozil would disappoint.

    10. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1

    11. noquarternt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I read that games between the top 6 are more often draw than you'd think.

      So a draw.

    12. JoeSoap
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1

  9. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Was wondering...what was the total number of fpl players before each season start, since the beggining of the game? Anyone with approximative figures?

    Cheers

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Just over 4m

      1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        I meant every year. This year it is 4.5M approximately, but was wondering what the evolution of this figure was each season since the begining of the fpl.

        1. noquarternt
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Think it was 5 mill last year

    2. Pierce34
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I remember last year it was under 4m - it would be interesting to see if there's a steady rise in the number or whether there are peaks and troughs. Last year there were more than 1m joining after the start of the season.

  10. CaTriEm
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I don't really get why you wouldn't save your transfer this week, surely you made your team based on the first few gameweeks? Not a huge fan of planning transfers before GW1 because too much can go wrong.

    The knee-jerks on here are also a bit much, people transferring out Jota to Neves is especially puzzling, that coupled with the idea that if a team played a certain way in GW1 they will be that bad/good for the rest of the season. On a related note I've elected to abstain from this site while matches are ongoing, place is like a creche.

    1. noquarternt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      They'll never learn.

      Robertson + Salah -> Darmian + Kante for -4???? Pull the trigger before price rises?!??

      1. arndff_
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        I think these moves worth it.

      2. CaTriEm
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        People taking completely unnecessary hits after GW1, particularly those who have been on this site for the best part of a decade just absolutely baffle me.

        1. noquarternt
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Completely agree. Unless your player is properly injured, it's terrible.

          My favourite is the 'wildcard during the international break to catch double risers'. Hasn't happened for 3 years yet sure enough everyone will start hyping it and forget no one rose by the end.

          1. Four Hit Wonder
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 2 months ago

            True. During the international break interest in BPL is non existant, and you got all these wildcard transfers that don't amount to price changes. Very few price rises during this period.

      3. bhunasallround
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Leaves u enough to replace eriksen with neves

    2. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Because some were stupid enough to have Sane in their squads and cannot take the risk of 9.5 m on the bench again

    3. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, I can't deal with it during match-time either. And agree on the transfers.

      1. CaTriEm
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Opening Stages: Why did I get Salah, 13.0 is crazy for one player.

        Salah scores: HAHA NON SALAH TEAMS.

        End of game: Salah is overpriced Mane can cover him.

        All of this within the Liverpool's first game of the season. Mind numbing to read.

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Log out during game time.

          1. CaTriEm
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 2 months ago

            Which is exactly what I said I'm doing from now on.

    4. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Agree on strategy, yet everyone has different approaches. Why judge? Also, what's a creche?

      1. CaTriEm
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        The knee jerks are worthy of ridicule, planning transfers I suppose is a legitimate alternative strategy but it will eventually burn you if you keep planning them week by week.

        A creche is a nursery which looks after young children during the working day. It's a term used in Ireland and so I assumed it's also a thing in Britain.

  11. BurkyBoy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Hi, sorry to be a bugger.. but can you check the statement "No team had more shots on target in Gameweek 1 than Hodgson’s side, with eight of their 12 overall attempts on goal coming from inside the box" against the Team Stats - Goal Threat under Members tables?

    Either the statement or the stats in this table is wrong.

    1. BurkyBoy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Sorry, my bad.. read it wrong. I thought you were saying "No team had more shots from inside the box then CPL"..
      So the statement is according to the stats..sorry again..

  12. Moshinp4p
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Can someone link villa ronkes team plz thanks

    1. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      829593

      Waiting for my beer...

  13. Kragbaek
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I have real mixed feelings about Maddison.

    Someone, settle my mind.

    1. Kragbaek
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I feel he should be 5.5 or 6.0 to be interesting.

    2. Team Bobcat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Relax for another week. Jury still out on the man

    3. End of King Wilson
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      He got into space to pass or shoot relatively well (considering man utd def) There's a lot of potential when Vardy starts.

    4. FlyingWithoutIngs
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      If he was 6.0 he’d be straight in my team

  14. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know if Mark is still doing the FPL Show with Jules and that bald badger?

    1. noquarternt
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      You must be 12 to not know James Richardson.

      Mark has left for family reasons I believe.

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        I struggle to see how my age would correlate with my knowledge of a British TV presenter. Strange comment

        1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          he was one of the most recognisable faces for football on tv in the mid 90s through football italia, so it’s more we’re too old

        2. Gazpilicueta
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          you struggle to see how your age would correlate with knowledge of a tv presenter?? is that a joke?

  15. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Im thinking about getting a hit next week to do Mahrez, Mitrovic, Wijnaldum to Hazard, Jimenez, Kante

    Current squad:

    Lloris, Stekelenburg
    VVD, Mendy, Davies, Luiz, WB
    Salah, Mahrez, Richarlison, Wijnaldum, Neves
    Aguero, King, Mitrovic

    Should I do it ?

    1. Kragbaek
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Not worth the 4.

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        No. Anything you can do with just Mahrez and Wijnaldum?

        1. Jernau M Gurgeh
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Read his post again, it says next week !

          I would wait for the weekend results and then decide. A "mini wc" is almost always good to get out of trouble.

          1. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 2 months ago

            Yes. Next week would still be for -4. Not sure he is in trouble yet.

  16. JoeSoap
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    A. King to Arni
    B. Save FT (1m in bank)

    Fab (Foster)
    Robertson, Mendy, Peltier, (Daniels, WB)
    Salah, Mane, Richarlison, BSilva (Odoi)
    Aguero, King, Zaha

    1. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Save

      1. JoeSoap
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Save.

      1. JoeSoap
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

    3. Jules Rimet
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Great team. Daniels nailed or would u have wanted Smith/Cook in hindsight?

      1. JoeSoap
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. Was tempted to change to Smith/Cook but kept Daniels in the hope he might score over the first three weeks. Could end up being a wasted transfer.

    4. S3
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      I have a similar case. Am saving

      1. JoeSoap
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. Probably will as well. Two transfers could be useful.

  17. Paul
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Prediction for the following matches:

    Chelsea vs Arsenal
    Brighton vs Man Utd
    Palace vs Liverpool
    Man City vs Huddersfield

    I'll start

    2-2
    0-2
    1-2
    4-0

    1. willl
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-2
      0-2
      0-1
      6-0

    2. Moosie the Staggie
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-0
      0-1
      1-3
      4-0

    3. Planet Head
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1
      1-2
      1-2
      3-0

      Pretty much agree 🙂

      1. Planet Head
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        TC Aguero anyone?

        1. Giroud Depardieu
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Now you mention it, I am tempted - can’t be many better fixtures for him than that this season and City are looking at their best already. Only concern is if Pep for some reason starts Jesus?

          1. Planet Head
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 2 months ago

            What other options are there - wait for Kane to have a 3-point DGW again? Still hurts, that one.

            1. Planet Head
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 2 months ago

              TC Mendy? 🙂

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-2
      1-1
      1-3
      4-0

    5. TaiwanHC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1
      0-2
      0-1
      3-0

    6. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-0
      0-4
      1-1 VVD from corner.
      5-0

    7. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-1
      0-2
      0-2
      5-0

    8. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      1-0
      0-1
      1-3
      4-0

    9. FlyingWithoutIngs
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2-0
      1-3
      1-3
      3-0

    10. DeathoftheParty
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Change palace v pool to 0-3 and I'm with ya.

    11. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      0-0
      2-0
      1-3
      5-1

      1. caldracula
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        0-2 Utd*

  18. Planet Head
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Great article guys; nicely wrapped up.

  19. Rich89Cook
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    I have Lacazette, stick with and risk another bench or go for Bobby F, Morata or Zaha.

  20. Kragbaek
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    What happened to King? 1 attempt on goal compared to Wilson's 6 🙂

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Didn't see it, but maybe he is just not that good and year before last was a fluke.

      1. Planet Head
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        He was more like a number 9 that year though, and a no.10 since, right?

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Give it another couple weeks and we'll take stock.

    3. Kragbaek
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      One more game, I give him 😉

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        He's currently my first disposable player but that could all change is he takes next pen and Richarlison goes AWOL. Early days.

  21. Fulchester's New Centr…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    For GW3, 3FTs:

    A. Keep Aguero and Patricio?
    B. Change to Vardy and Ederson?
    C. Change to Sterling and Kamara (lose 4.5 mid bench fodder, keep Patricio)?

    Zero in bank so selling Aguero best way to generate funds. B looks best use of funds, but is it?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      2FTs of course.

    2. Pep says
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      D. Wait till gameweek 2 is done and dusted and assess the 1st 2 gameweeks as a whole and come up with a new A. B. & C. after.

      I say D.

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks Pep. Overall, in the longer-term how about Sterling instead of Aguero (even after Aguero hat-trick this weekend)?

        1. Pep says
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Ya I'm also looking into shipping Aguerro and replacing with either Sterling or DeBruyne. I may get DeBryune after this gameweek and monitor Sterling and how Pep handles the squad in the run up to my WC.

  22. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Save 100%

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      If that's for me, thanks.

  23. timawflowers
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Keep auba for this week or FT to Arnie, bringing Auba back in the week after?

    1. twoplustwo
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      lol

    2. bhunasallround
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      You got a lot to learn

    3. willl
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      madness

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Waste of a transfer.

    5. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah save FT. They're like gold dust, don't want to be wasting them like that

    6. Greyling
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Save FT

    7. Arceus
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Newbie mistake

  24. Nesvy
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Better choice ?

    a/ Bailly > Mendy (i have Ederson)
    b/ Save

    Thanks.

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Mandy is a must own but id like Bailly also...

      1. Webbinho
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        The Barry Manilow version?

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      If you are happy to have two City slots tied up with GK/Def then yes (I am considering same). Not confident about UTD.

  25. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Question for the old timers:

    I am looking for figures about the number of FPL players each season (at season start) since the creation of FPL (2007/2008?). Is this available anywhere?

    Cheers

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      That's a tricky one.

      This might be useful?
      https://fpldiscovery.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/season-1314-and-fpl-history/

      Don't have anything for more recent dates at season start, sorry 🙁

      1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        That's already very good. Thx a lot!

    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      try waybackmachine?

      1. The Seagulls and the Trawle…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Not familiar with that.
        Its a website?

    3. Webbinho
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      fpl started before that, they just starTed recording your finish. I was 102nd in 06/07, bit annoyed it didn't make my CV 🙁

      1. Fire Chief Moe
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        2006/2007 rank is on my profile

  26. @fpl_phenom
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone know when is Valencia back ??

    Have him on "FPL draft" and wondering should I keep him or remove if its going to be long term.....

    FPL has him back 18th August....... this be fairly accurate? another week onto this id still keep him on my bench on draft team.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Manchester Evening News has him as "Return date: Unknown"

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        right, cheers guys!

    2. MAVER!CK
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      yeah he'll be out for a while..remove him

  27. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Reckon Utd are the only top team who won't rotate attackers since season since they're the one with no attacking squad depth

    1. Pierce34
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      They actually do have depth, it's just that Mourinho refuses to use it (cf. Martial!).

    2. Mic
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      They suck though

    3. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      to a certain extent - sanchez, lukaku and pogba nailed i’d say but there will always be one of mata/rashford/martial going round the other spot

  28. Laporte In A Storm
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Hey guys. I recall a theory on Effective Ownership, to do with high ownership and captains. But I cant find it via search. Could anyone give me a refresher or point me in the direction of a resource? Thanks!

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Basically more popular layers eg Salah/Kane will have a higher EO as many will captain them. This therefore doubles their ownership effectively. It means even if you triple captain Salah you don’t want him to score it’s awful

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Wrong wrong wrong

      2. willl
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        If you triple captain Salah you have 300% ownership of him, so you definitely do want him to score...

      3. Mic
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Lmao wot..

      4. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        "even if you triple captain Salah you don’t want him to score"

        😆 You've had a mare mate 😉

        1. Laporte In A Storm
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          I am glad I am not the only one who didnt understand that.

      5. Laporte In A Storm
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Uhhh... ?

      6. Ask Yourself
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

    2. willl
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Effective Ownership = % ownership + % captained + 2x % triple captained

      1. Laporte In A Storm
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Great thanks. And whats the generally strategy? Eg, always captain a player with > 40% ownership because any points hall by them will kill your rank otherwise?

        1. willl
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 2 months ago

          Captain whoever you think scores the most points, effective ownership only really matters if it is over 100% as the average score will increase by more than 1 point for every point the player scores.

  29. Chris_H
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else consider benching Zaha this week? Feels like one of those times where I'm trying to be too clever, but still...

    1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on your other players! Palace do have the second worst fixture out of all 20 teams this week though, though that is blinded on here by FPL bias as everyone on here has at least 1 Palace player (and most have more).

      1. BadgersBoys
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        I'm actually thinking of going Mitrovic over him which is me trying to be way too clever..

      2. Chris_H
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah I know what you mean, I have Will Hughes at Burnley & feel Watford have a better chance of scoring... *rubs chin*

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on who would come in, but not sure ever worth benching guaranteed nailed strikers.

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      It would be worth it if the bench had good alternatives

  30. Greyling
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 2 months ago

    Who to play?

    A) King vs West Ham (Away)
    B) Neves vs Leicester (Away)

    1. Pep says
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      King

    2. MAVER!CK
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 2 months ago

      Always play furthest forward if in doubt.