Awards

The lessons learned from 2018/19’s Defenders of the Year candidates

It was a big year for the premium defenders in Fantasy Premier League with eight of the top ten points-scorers overall in this category coming from just three clubs: champions Manchester City, runners-up Liverpool and third-place Chelsea.

Andrew Robertson (£6.7m) set a new record for total points scored by a defender in a single season, clocking up an incredible 213 – which made him the fifth-highest-scoring player in the game in 2018/19.

Those managers who invested heavily in defence over the course of the campaign got a healthy return of points for their outlay of cash.

It begs the question whether we should be looking to pump more of our £100m budget into our defence for Gameweek 1 in 2019/20 and entertain the idea of playing four or even five at the back more regularly.

Before we look at this year’s nominations for best defenders for our Team of the Season, let’s see how last year’s winners performed this time around.

Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi (£6.0m) managed to score just 70 points this season, a big drop from the 156 he accumulated in the previous campaign.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m) has become Pep Guardiola’s most trusted centre-half, which has forced the Argentine down the pecking order. Laporte has taken over the responsibility as the ball-playing centre half from Otamendi in the City team. Having found the net on four occasions in 2017/18, Otamendi failed to score a single goal this time around.

When the going got tough during the title run-in, Pep put his trust in club captain Vincent Kompany (£5.2m) to partner Laporte for the final four games. With John Stones (£5.2m) pushing for starts too, it looks like Otamendi’s days in a sky-blue shirt could be numbered.

Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.4m) found himself back in his more familiar right-back role this season under the management of Maurizio Sarri. He can count himself unlucky not have been nominated this time around after putting in another solid season.

For the third consecutive year, the Spaniard scored more than 150 points (158 in 2018/19). One goal, six assists and 16 clean sheets is a very impressive return but the fact that he was £1.0m more expensive than his teammate David Luiz (£5.8m) in Gameweek 1, who ended up outscoring him, explains why he wasn’t as popular as he had been previously.

Robertson followed up his Team of the Season inclusion last year with an even better campaign in 2018/19. You would think he’s a shoo-in for back-to-back awards but the competition is fierce, as we will discuss below.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.8m) had a sensational season and racked up 185 points, in large part down to his record-breaking tally of 13 assists.

Alexander-Arnold and Robertson joked throughout the campaign about their own competition on who would get the most assists. Together they provided 25 across 2018/19, with Alexander-Arnold winning by a margin of just one thanks to his two assists on the final day.

On top of his 13 assists, Alexander-Arnold scored one goal and picked up 16 clean sheets. He accumulated three yellow cards in the first three Gameweeks, which may have put some Fantasy managers off him, but he then went the rest of the campaign without being booked again.

The Englishman ranked third for crosses among defenders in 2018/19 with a total of 201. A large proportion of these were corners, of which he took 74 – a big number for a defender.

The 2-0 final day win over Wolves gave us a typical Alexander-Arnold performance: two assists, a clean sheet and three bonus points. In fact, looking at his final five matches of the season, he finished very strongly with six assists, four clean sheets and bonus in each of the five fixtures.

He is the ideal defender for Fantasy managers with multiple routes to points – clean sheets, goals, assists, bonus (25) and set pieces. Despite a price hike for 2019/20, he’s likely to be one of the first names in people’s teams when the game relaunches.

He averaged the same number of points per match (6.4) as Eden Hazard (£11.0m) and Sadio Mane (£10.3m) did, for a fraction of the price.

The only issue with Alexander-Arnold is his fitness. He missed nine league matches over the course of the season which makes the figures above look even more impressive. How many points would he have scored if he played in all 38 games? Let’s hope he can put his injury niggles behind him during the summer break and come back in August fitter and stronger than ever before.

Lucas Digne

Everton left-back Lucas Digne (£5.4m) had a rollercoaster of a season in FPL terms, going on a bizarre run of points-scoring from Gameweek 16 to 24 (10, 3, -1, 17, 2, 1, 12, -1, -2). That sequence included three goals, two assists, an own goal and a red card. His unpredictability as a Fantasy asset caused many to sell him, only to see Everton finish the season with eight clean sheets in their final 11 matches.

The Frenchman, who signed for the Toffees from Barcelona last summer, didn’t start his first game until Gameweek 4 against Huddersfield, in which he got his first assist of five for the season. He also got himself on the scoresheet on four occasions – Shane Duffy (£4.7m), with five goals, was the only defender who scored more.

Digne finished the season on 158 points and we could see him do even better next year now that he has settled into life in the Premier League. Like Alexander-Arnold, he’s another defender who is likely to be a popular pick for Gameweek 1 given how strongly he and Everton finished this campaign. His underlying statistics were very impressive this season, too: he ranked number one among defenders for crosses (280) and for chances created (71).

He is another full-back who took his fair share of corners, 89 in total. If he can continue posting these kinds of figures in 2019/20, he could be a ‘set and forget’ pick from the off. The big question is: what price he will be?

Matt Doherty

One of the most popular defenders this season was Wolves man Matt Doherty (£5.3m), who accumulated 144 points mainly due to his freedom to get into the opposition box.

Wolves didn’t keep many clean sheets (just nine in total) but Doherty made up for that with his attacking returns.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took promotion to the Premier League in their stride, ending up with a very impressive seventh-place finish. Santo’s preferred system of playing three centre-halves and two wing-backs made Doherty and Jonny (£4.3m) very attractive FPL options. Effectively, you were getting a midfielder who got four points for a clean sheet given how much time they spent in the attacking third of the pitch.

The “Irish Cafu” registered 110 touches in the opposition’s box over the course of the season, only bettered by Cardiff’s Sean Morrison (£4.7m) among defenders (128). Unlike Morrison, Doherty was productive with those touches, scoring four goals and providing seven assists. He was the second top points-scorer for Wolves, behind Raul Jimenez (£6.9m). Those managers who snapped Doherty up early on when he dropped to £4.4m got themselves the bargain of the season.

Doherty registered more goal attempts than any other defender (46), with the most eye-catching stat of all being that 40 of those efforts were from inside the box. He was also ranked number one among his fellow defenders for total big chances (nine).

Can he repeat his heroics in 2019/20?

Aymeric Laporte

With 177 points, Manchester City’s Laporte was the fourth-highest-scoring defender this season behind the Liverpool trio. He will be remembered as the Double Gameweek hero of 2018/19 with hauls of 20, 18 and 15 in City’s three Doubles.

With rotation rife as always in Pep Guardiola’s side, Laporte was a mainstay throughout the season: only Ederson (£5.7m) completed more minutes than the French defender. They were the only two City assets to get more than 3,000 minutes of game-time.

As mentioned above, Laporte has become Guardiola’s most trusted centre-half. One of the golden rules in Fantasy football is to target players who are ‘nailed’ and Laporte ticked that box in 2018/19. That seems unlikely to change next season, with the fact that he is City’s only left-footed centre-back making him much more likely to continue as a first-team regular.

He finished the season with three goals and three assists despite being often described as a defender who offers very little goal threat. Eighteen clean sheets and 16 bonus points helped him on his way to a nomination for our Team of the Season.

There has been a shift away from centre-halves in FPL in recent seasons and towards more attack-minded full-backs but Laporte’s performance this season is a reminder that they shouldn’t be totally ignored, especially when it comes to Double Gameweeks when they are usually more immune to rotation than the full-backs.

David Luiz

Chelsea’s Luiz enjoyed his best FPL season to date, finishing on 164 points. Marcos Alonso (£6.2m) has been the Fantasy favourite from the Chelsea defence over the last few years but the competition from Emerson (£5.2m) at left-back in the second half of the season has seen interest in the Spaniard drop off considerably. This left Luiz as the go-to defender from the Blues and he delivered consistently.

He scored three goals, all of which came in games where he also kept a clean sheet which made those Gameweeks particularly sweet for his backers.

On top of his three goals, he provided two assists and was on the pitch for all of Chelsea’s 16 clean sheets. The Brazilian stopper racked up 19 bonus points, too.

Delving into the stats, we expect to see mostly full-backs at the top of the chances created table when looking at defenders, but Luiz finds himself right up there this season: only Robertson and Digne created more big chances than Luiz (11) in 2018/19.

Luiz’s ability to play defence-splitting passes from deep makes him a very attractive FPL pick – if only there was a prolific striker up front to convert them.

Only Hazard scored more FPL points in a Chelsea shirt than the Brazilian centre-back this season. With the Belgian looking likely to move away from Stamford Bridge during the summer, could we see Luiz become the number one points-scoring Chelsea player in 2019/20?

Andrew Robertson

As mentioned above, Robertson is the new record holder for points scored by a defender in a single season. Unlike Alexander-Arnold, you didn’t have to worry about rotation/injuries with the Scot as he sat out just two matches all season.

Robertson’s 213 points was bettered only by Mohamed Salah (£13.2m), Hazard, Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) and Mane.

The Scotland international has quickly become one of the best left-backs in world football. After breaking the FPL record for points, he could be one of the most expensive defenders ever in the game next season – which will make us think twice about investing in him.

Robertson (21) registered more clean sheets than any other defender in 2018/19 and finished just one shy of Alexander-Arnold in the assist stakes with 12. The Liverpool left-back also finished top of the defenders’ charts for bonus points (29).

Robertson touched the ball in the final third on 1,005 occasions, more than any other defender. He finished top among defenders for a lot of the other stats, too – big chances created (15) being one of them.

If we were to criticise him for anything it would be about the fact that he didn’t score a single goal despite having 91 touches in the penalty area, but, after scoring 213 points, there can be few grumbles.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk (£6.7m) is the third Liverpool defender nominated for the Team of the Season. It’s no surprise given that, between the three of them, van Dijk, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold scored a massive 606 points. Anyone for the triple-up next season?

Van Dijk contributed 208 of those points thanks to his four goals, four assists, 20 clean sheets and 22 bonus points.

The big Dutchman was an ever-present for Jurgen Klopp’s side, completing 90 minutes in all but one of the 38 matches (a 54th-minute substitution in Gameweek 6 against Southampton caused him to miss out on the clean sheet points).

Van Dijk was arguably the main reason why Liverpool kept so many clean sheets this season, with everything seeming under control defensively when he’s on the pitch. In so many games this season, the Reds’ goal was never under any severe threat.

He’s such a big threat from set pieces, too, that it’s perhaps a surprise that he didn’t score more than four goals.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

The final nomination goes to the ‘Special Wan’, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.6m) from Crystal Palace. We received a gift from the Fantasy gods back in July 2018 when Wan-Bissaka was priced at just £4.0m, with the Eagles’ right-back snapped up by savvy FPL managers and going on to provide amazing value right throughout the campaign.

Wan-Bissaka missed only three games all season, picked up 12 clean sheets along the way and chipped in with three assists. He did cause heartache in Gameweek 2 when he was sent off against Liverpool but he redeemed himself thereafter for those who kept the faith.

The most impressive thing about Wan-Bissaka is his ability to hoover up bonus points even when he doesn’t keep a clean sheet. He racked up 18 bonus points over the course of the season, unheard of numbers for a £4.0m priced defender. The England under-21 international topped the defender’s charts for tackles (49), which was a big factor in his collection of those bonus points.


108 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    With so many points-delivering defs,5-2-3 or 5-3-2 sounds good for next season.(even better if Trippier has overcame his world cup hangover).

    1. HammersFan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      People say this at the end of every season. Then after a million drafts they revert back to the norm

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        True dat.

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I’d want 5-4-1, MF’s often outscore ST’s

  2. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    The one I’m most suspicious of for next season is Digne. I know he offers a lot going forward and with set pieces but the cs count for quite a lot too. Everton were horrid defensively for large patches of the season and only came good late.

    He’d have to be priced very reasonably to tempt me week 1.

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Pickford might be the set and forget keeper option with defence of TAA, AWB and Laporte.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Wait and see of course but I think I’m more likely to go Leicester over Everton for my slightly sub prime defensive option - Chilwell perhaps if he’s still there. I wouldn’t rule out Pereira either. He was pretty much up with Digne until that rather unlikely run of cs.

        I’m backing managers here - Rodgers over Silva - and that Leicester will have a clearer vision of how to play than Everton.

        1. suddenorgan
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          If Evans is £4.5m and they don't buy anyone he's going straight in for me

      2. suddenorgan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        isn't AWB going to be £5m?

        1. Je suis le chat
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Be a snip at a bigger club.

          1. suddenorgan
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            think I'd still want Utd to sort themselves out a bit first, I'm sure he would be in a lot of teams though

  3. Formation thoughts for next season
    asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    I’ve had some success with 4 at the back, but a bit reticent to commit completely.

    That said, if the fixtures are there, I’d likely be looking at Trent (potential to be slightly cheaper then Virgil and Robbo) Digne, and maybe Robertson, with a rotation 4th and 5th.

    1. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I know 4 or 5 at the back can be good and valid strategies, but I'll probably end up with basically a 3-4-3, like I do every season.

      I used to go cheap right across my backline but now, usually, from the start I go with one heavy hitter. I might have to increase that to 2.

      But with a limited budget at the beginning of the season I like the idea of two 4.5m (or 4.0m) defenders. This all, of course, comes down to who is actually priced at what, but I expect I'll go this route. The idea of a 6.0m defender and an extra 4.5m midfielder, instead of a 6.0m midfielder and cheap defender doesn't fit with the team structure I feel most comfortable with in terms of flexibility

    2. HammersFan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      all depends on pricing I guess. I ask everyone to have a look at the fpl reddit page for a good laugh on predicted prices for next season. Robertson VvD and Taa all 8.0 a piece apparently

      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        You wouldn't have laughed 8 years ago 😉 https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/20373452

    3. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I've just never liked the look or feel of a 4atb or 5atb formation - just feels very unsexy somehow.

      I like the idea of a 3-5-2 with a big midfield and no premium forward, but it's always hard to find a cheap 3rd striker than is suitable fodder.

      Will be interesting to see how the defenders are priced, and how many premium defenders I could afford - guessing it will be 2.

      So, probably another season of 3-4-3 - how exciting! 😉

    4. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      4 at the back may be the most feasible route if we want to have two Pool defenders.

      Will have to judge at the time though

    5. GreenWindmill
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I do think 5 at the back could be a great strategy because generally speaking it allows you to have more players from the top teams (not that the other teams don't provide great fantasy options of course).

      The main issue I see with it is managing to stick to your guns when there are multiple attacking options hitting form/fixture and you can't fit them in as easily as those playing 3-4-3/3-5-2. A few weeks of no clean sheets and it's easy to lose patience. Not one for the fickle manager, that's for sure.

    6. Feyzi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I always start a season 3-4-3. It gives you the flexibility to move to 4-3-3, 4-4-2 or 3-5-2; all temporarily until the first WC at or around GW8 when things have settled down and we can see who is in form and contending for the title and who are likely to perform... I find other formations less flexible and flexibility, at the beginning of the campaig, is top importance for me.

      1. Pillson
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Understand the logic of flexibility but your argument is illogical. Each of the 4 formations you have listed can be changed into any of the others in 2 transfers. 4-4-2 is just as flexible as 3-4-3.

    7. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      5-4-1 could be the way to go, Fowards tend not to be as good value as Midfielders/Defenders

    8. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Might go 4:3:3, and 4:4:2 using cheap rotating mids and 3rd striker to afford a team with lots of captain picks.

    9. James H
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      With you on this. Started this season with Robertson and Mendy and then bought Alonso soon after to make it three premium defenders. Was key to a fast start.

      So likely to be looking at two premium options minimum and having the option start with four at the back most Gameweeks.

      Overall formation will depend on whether the better budget options are in midfield or among the forwards.

    10. The Rumour Mill
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I think this season has highlighted the potential for 4 atb next season - I'll certainly be considering a back 4 of Robbo, TAA, Laporte and Digne. It will help this approach if FPL give us 4.0 midfielders like they did towards the end of this season (and/or 4.0 forwards).

    11. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Thinking maybe a 3-5-2 with a cheap front 2, 2 or 3 premiums in midfield and a couple of 6.0+ defenders. We'll see

    12. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      As others have already said, it does depend on how the fixtures fall but I think there could be some real value in investing accross the backline next season and playing 4 or even 5 at the back. Many defenders these days play so advanced they are more like midfielders anyway. With Trent this season for instance, I see him as offering the same attacking threat as many midfielders in the game if not more with the added bonus of CS points. We talk about OOP midfielders a lot but l think many of the 'OOP' defenders could be the winners next season. Of course there is plenty of value in likes of VVD & Laporte too with their CS potential, BPS and goal threat.

    13. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      3-5-2

      The defence made up of Liverpool and City.

      Midfield of 1 Liverpool, 1 City and then penalty takers (e.g. Siggy).

      Striker of 1 top player (e.g Auba) and then a cheap penalty taker (e.g. Deeney)

    14. Fire Chief Moe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Every year we get tild 4/5 at the back is a surefire way to value (points), every year everyone ends up going 3-4-3.

    15. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Good for a chinwag but can't do anything till we see player prices and classifications

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Please don't talk sense - there are almost 3 months of nothing to talk about to fill 😉

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          lol I think we need a kind of FPL Priory till July

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

        Oh absolutely, I think every year someone brings up playing heavy defence, it’s a waste of time until we have fixtures and prices.

        That said, I always go crawling back to 3 at the back, as eluded to there something more fun about goals and assists then clean sheets. First time in a while however where the defenders have smashed it so much.

    16. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Probably go 3-4-3, as usual. Worked out well this season 🙂
      Depends on the players / prices obviously, impossible to know for sure before the season kicks off.

    17. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I went five at the back at the beginning of last season: Robertson, Alonso, Mendy, PVA and Wan B. I had my best ever start to a season and was top 30k for the first 10 GWs using this strategy. I succumbed on WC to a defensive downgrade but that was more to do with Mendy’s injury and Alonso becoming useless. I’ll be starting next season with at least three premium defenders, one mid price and one cheapie.

    18. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A big fan of back 4 or 5, been playing with it for two years now and probably will continue the same

    19. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      would have thought the lesson from this season in particular is to give yourself flexibility. Jonty's price pointing always relevant at start of season particularly if you don't want to be forced into an early WC.
      Would be wary about starting a season with budget strikers as it took a while for that to be a viable option this season.
      My aim normally is to set up with 3 at the back but a decent 4th defender that rotates well.
      After that it's all about waiting for the transfers in and out this summer and obviously the FPL price setting.

    20. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Depends on prices of players and who offers the most value on paper at least. I played a lot of this season with 4 at the back and had reasonable success with it.
      My formation will solely depend on the prices of certain players and if the best defenders are 7m and over it will be a comparison between similar prices mids and forwards and who I think scores the most

    21. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      4-4-2. Flexible, with decent premium defence.

    22. WesMantooth
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Personally dont think the game is about formations. When prices are ready, it’l be easier to figure out the utility of the players. Should probably get 14-15 players youd be happy planting in the various gameweeks with different formations. Think Vaage Nilsen made a good point about this on meet the manager.

      1. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        True. This thread is surprisingly long considering we don't know anything about the fixtures or prices for next season, people just throwing their opinions which is fine of course. Get the players in who you think will score most points, that's the formation you'll end up using and deciding it beforehand is not going to happen anyways.

        Yours truly,
        Captain Obvious

      2. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        “... Personally dont think the game is about formations ...”. Agree.

  4. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Will Man Utd defenders be priced at £4.5m next season?

    1. HammersFan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Would be very surprised if they are more than 5. None of them have much attacking potential and leaked goals all over 5.0 across the board.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        You’re probably right given they play for Utd but given how bad they are and their points total this season pricing them at 4.5 wouldn’t be out of the question

    2. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Don't be ridiculous ... 4.0 tops.

    3. SweepaKeepa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I think all potential first teamers at 5.0 based on Man Utd historical reputation alone. And, therefore, poor value.

    4. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      De Ligt

    5. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      5mil, no more surely unless they strengthen heavily before FPL comes back.

  5. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    My most irritating move of the season?

    Having Guaita from week 1 and transferring him out around week 14 only to get him back in 18 must be close. But swapping VVD for Robbo in 26 probably is it. I was fed up with missing all those bps. VVD actually outpointed Robbo from there on in. His form flew slightly under the radar with TAA going silly

    TAA is presumably Liverpool defender of choice but I think I’d go VVD over Robbo if say it was 7.0 vs 7.5.

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I went VVD too because of the goal threat that never materialised at the start of the season, any price difference could swing it.

  6. Numb
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    TAA 7.0
    Digne 6.5
    Doherty 6.0
    Laporte 7.0
    Luiz 6.5
    Robertson 7.5
    VVD 7.5
    AWB 5.0

    1. HammersFan
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      .5 over on all of those bar AWB

    2. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I think Doherty might sneak a £5.5

    3. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Digne at 6.5 is exaggerated. He'll be 6.0 at most, most likely 5.5 imo.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Think 6.0 is very likely.

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      at those prices i think id get none of them

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        TAA at 7.0 still seems a no brainer.

    5. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      TAA 6.5m
      Digne 5.5m
      Doherty 5.5m
      Laporte 6.5m
      Luiz 6m
      Robertson 7m
      Van Dijk 6.5m
      AWB 5m

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        *fantasyfootballfix actually predict these same prices*

      2. Numb
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        How many points did Baines get the season before he was priced at 7.0?

        1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Was on all set pieces (inc pens), VVD may be 7m (still doubt it) but confident of all the others

          1. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            TAA is on direct free kicks and his ppg is through the roof. Theres no way hes below 7.0

            1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              Rotation risk with Gomez back fit & Clyne back from Loan Spell, Milner & Fabinho can also play RB. That’s why I can’t see him being 7m, otherwise everyone would go for the assured starters in VVD & Robertson (if priced the same which they should)

              1. The Rumour Mill
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                I don't think Clyne is much of a threat. Gomez is, but Klopp may see him as more of a centre back. Milner and Fabinho can do a job there but are better in midfield so I don't think Klopp would play either of them at RB unless forced through injury or suspension.

    6. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Ouch.

    7. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      TAA 7.0
      Digne 5.5
      Doherty 5.5
      Laporte 6.5
      Luiz 6.5
      Robertson 7.5
      VVD 7.0
      AWB 4.5 (5 if joins a big club)

      1. Sedemuda
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Unfortunately, I think you're right Amey.
        My stats say I got more points with a 3 5 2.
        However, I can see people going large at the back to start the season.
        I'm in my 3rd season & I love it!
        70k
        10k
        5k
        Thanks for your contributions this year, always positive & I appreciate that.
        The community is healthy with people like you posting.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Great record mate 🙂
          Thank you for kind words !!

      2. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Digne could be 6.5. Coleman was 6.5 after his good season.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          I hope not.
          Very good player to have if fixtures are good enough.

    8. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      These look anout spot on.
      Luiz at 6m would be my change.

      What's missing and a big factor in Liverpool defence is Gomez.
      What price and will he cause rotation with both Matip & TAA.

    9. WesMantooth
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      If these prices actually materialize, then that marks a shift towards a different pricingstructure.

      Think they generally price players from a vorp-perspective, and not just ppg or season totals.

  7. Evil Genius
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Holy crap.

    The first deadline-less weekend is here. How am I supposed to spend my Friday now??

      1. Ambrosiana Inter
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        How many gameweek have been played already?

  8. FPL_Hazards
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone have any idea when the first DGW/BGW will be next season?

    The Super Cup is on 14th August which is in between GW1 and GW2 so potentially 2 missing fixtures since it will be an all english affair?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      The Super Cup is a midweek match no?

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I cant imagine it would have any effect, being a midweek game.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Agreed

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      An early Liverpool bgw would make things interesting . I imagine the Club World Cup could shake things up a bit too. When does that happen?

      1. The Rumour Mill
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        I thought this too but it won't, its been cancelled until 2021 as they move to a 24 team format in june rather than a 10 team format in December. So the club world cup will never interrupt the regular season again.

    4. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      An another all London derby to look forward to

    5. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Effectively a shorter season by a couple due to Euros plus the winter break. Might be some major fixture congestion if teams are still in both Europe and the FA Cup later stages.

  9. Ambrosiana Inter
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    From official fpl Facebook page
    2018/19 BIGGEST PRICE INCREASES
    Jimenez - £5.5m ➡️ £6.9m
    Aguero - £11.0m ➡️ £12.0m
    Fraser - £5.5m ➡️ £6.4m
    Wilson - £6.0m ➡️ £6.9m

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Surprised TAA didn't go up by more.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Rotation/Injuries stopped his price rise imo

    2. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Doherty £4.4m -> £5.5m?

      1. Mysterion
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        They're looking at increases from GW1 to GW38 so 4.5 > 5.3

  10. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Where's the Captain Sensible article?

  11. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Plan for next season is to get as many 200 pointers as possible, nail them in and have fun with a few rotating cheapie 140 pointers.

  12. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Santi Cazorla was out for 2 years due to an injury that required 11 operations and was told his foot may need amputating.

    He was released by Arsenal, so he signed for Villarreal and found his form and regained his fitness.

    He’s just been recalled to the Spain squad for the first time since 2015.

    Makes me happy, Santi is a great guy.

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      What a lovely story. He was such a good fantasy asset for 2-3 years and such a top pro. It's great that his dedication to his fitness and hard work have been rewarded with a return to international football. Great post.

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Most technically gifted player I've seen at Arsenal since Bergkamp, absolutely love him, this news makes me so happy!

  13. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Allegri leaving Juventus. Chelsea job could be available soon....

    1. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Boro job became available just prior to this announcement... https://i.imgur.com/WMGgfN2.gif

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Brighton says hi

  14. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    My planned structure next season:
    5.5 | 4.0
    7.0 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.5
    12.0 | 9.5 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 4.5
    12.0 | 7.0 | 4.5

    Solid 4-4-2

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Imagine TAA and friends will be 7.5m, Mo 12.5m though maybe no striker over 11.5m.

    2. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Using the fantasyfootballfix Squad Creator & Predicted Player Prices this would be mine (will throw in a few names too)

      (5-4-1/4-4-2)

      4.5m

      Robertson(7m) TAA(6.5m) Digne(5.5m) AWB(5m) 4.5m

      Sterling(12m) Mane(11.5m) Alli/Son(8.5m) Maddison(7m) 4.5m

      Vardy(9m) DCL(6m) 4.5m

    3. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Lord, these posts are just too incredible for words.

  15. Evil Greg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    No point think about strategy for next season until fixtures are released really.

    1. Duffy Dunk
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      A slight worry is that the Uefa Super cup is midweek between gw1 & gw2, with 2 of LIV CHE TOT ARS involved.

  16. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Alisson - Ederson - Fernandinho - Richarlison - Firmino - Jesus at the Brazil team for the Copa America.

  17. Society
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Won't surprise me if they list Sterling as a striker next season.

  18. Society
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Names that not everyone's spruiking for next season that I'll be watching are ; Tielemans, McNeil, Pereira.
    And a bunch of last minute blonde changes of mind.