Pre-Season

Assessing the premium FPL forward options in 2019/20

There are some notable price changes among the premium forwards in Fantasy Premier League this season.

Perhaps the stand-out name is Harry Kane, who has fallen from a starting price of £12.5m in 2018/19 to £11.0m this time around.

There have been rises for Sergio Aguero (£12.0m), Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) and Callum Wilson (£8.0m) but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m), Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) and Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) cost exactly what they did 12 months ago.

For the purposes of this article, we will class any striker at £8.0m or above as a premium forward.

There are ten attackers in this price bracket at the time of writing, the same number as there were ahead of 2018/19.

Three are in action for their countries in international tournaments this summer: Aguero, Firmino and Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m).

The Three Heavy-Hitters

Harry Kane scored fewer home goals (six) than 11 other FPL forwards in 2018/19

Harry Kane is the obvious place to start for this analysis given that he is the cheapest he has been since the 2015/16 season.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker endured an injury-ravaged second half of 2018/19, sitting out ten Premier League matches with two separate ankle ligament problems.

A total of 160 points represented his worst FPL score in five seasons as a first-team regular.

While injuries are of course a mitigating factor, Kane managed to score 64 more FPL points in just 100 more minutes in 2016/17.

Nevertheless, the Spurs and England forward still managed to bank 23 attacking returns last season, more than any of his teammates.

His points-per-match average of 5.71 was also the second-best among FPL forwards in 2018/19 and better than those of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Vardy.

That figure wasn’t a million miles away from the points-per-match average of 5.86 that he managed in his 29-goal campaign in 2017/18.

These returns are all relative, however, and we Fantasy managers expect a lot more from our premium assets than we do from those in the budget and mid-price brackets.

One of the things we ask of our premium attacking options is reliable and explosive returns on their own turf, given that the captain’s armband is often handed to a heavy-hitter with a home fixture.

Kane arguably fell below the standard last season, returning just one double-digit haul at home (12 points v Southampton in Gameweek 12).

The Spurs man also blanked in five of his 12 league appearances at home, averaging only 4.83 points per match at Wembley/the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If he can settle into Spurs’ new stadium and maintain his output on the road (there were four double-digit hauls in away fixtures last season) then Kane may once again become the go-to premium forward option.

The £1.5m price drop certainly helps his cause, while Spurs’ opening run of home fixtures appeals massively (the Lilywhites avoid any of last season’s top ten in their first eight matches at home).

Trips to both Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester and Everton in that time are somewhat off-putting, however.

We’ll have more on Kane in a Members’ article on Sunday.

Spurs and Arsenal’s home fixtures alternate perfectly, of course, so Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang enjoys some enticing matches on home soil when Kane faces tricky trips away.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had more ‘big chances’ than any FPL asset in 2018/19

The Gabonese forward, who will have had a restful summer given that his national team failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, ended 2018/19 as the top-scoring FPL forward and the co-winner of the Golden Boot.

Despite those feats, he is still available for £11.0m.

Unai Emery’s late-season rotation roulette is perhaps one reason why Aubameyang remains steady at this price, with the Arsenal striker failing to start in six of Arsenal’s final 13 league fixtures – be it through Europa League-led tinkering or illness/injury.

It should be said, though, that Aubameyang had started all but two of Arsenal’s first 25 Premier League fixtures, with the rotation only biting hard when the Gunners reached the latter stages of the Europa League.

From Gameweek 4 onwards, Aubameyang never went more than two Premier League appearances without delivering an attacking return.

Only Kane and Aguero had better points-per-match averages than Aubameyang (5.69) among Fantasy strikers.

Of the FPL forwards who cost more than £9.0m, Aubameyang also offered the best value for money over the whole season, returning 19.0 points per million spent.

Aubameyang was, as he had been in 2017/18, clinical with his chances: his goal conversion rate of 23.4% was the second-best among FPL forwards who were regular starters.

Aguero is the same price as Raheem Sterling this season

Sergio Aguero is the most expensive FPL forward in the game in 2019/20, with his price rise to £12.0m from £11.0m matching that of Raheem Sterling’s.

The season just gone saw the Manchester City striker break the 20-goal barrier for the fifth year in a row, with his total of 201 points representing his best FPL season since 2014/15.

No FPL forward had a better rate of points per match (6.1) or banked as many attacking returns (32).

For those Fantasy bosses who like to captain a premium option with a home fixture, Aguero was a reliable asset: the Argentina international started 14 league matches at the Etihad in 2018/19, blanked in only one of them (the Gameweek 37 win over Leicester) and delivered 23 goals/assists in the process.

Aguero wasn’t nearly as effective away from home, registering only six goals and three assists.

A significant takeaway point from last season was just how “nailed” Aguero was.

When fully fit (we’re not counting the comeback match after injury against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 18), Aguero started 31 of City’s 32 Premier League fixtures.

He was, however, substituted in 23 of those games.

Much like the decision over Sadio Mane (£11.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), it may be a case of Fantasy managers selecting one of Sterling and Aguero – rather than both – this season given the prohibitive prices of each player and, for example, the fact that premium defenders are very much en vogue at present.

READ MORE: Can De Bruyne cover Aguero and Sterling in the City attack?

Three at £9.5m

Gabriel Jesus missed 18 of his 23 ‘big chances’ last season

Gabriel Jesus could have a big say in Aguero’s game-time, of course.

The Brazilian striker registered fewer attacking returns than Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m) last season and his starting price has dropped from £10.5m to £9.5m as a result of his lack of involvement and returns in City’s title-winning side.

Jesus started only eight Premier League matches in 2018/19, with just two arriving this calendar year.

The City striker’s expected goal (xG) delta was the worst of all Premier League players last season.

The Brazil international would appear to have much to do to force his way back into Pep Guardiola and Fantasy managers’ plans but, should an injury or loss of form befall Aguero, an alternative route into the City attack for £9.5m would be tempting.

The other two players available at £9.5m, Alexandre Lacazette and Roberto Firmino, are the same price they were 12 months ago.

Alexandre Lacazette didn’t record one double-digit FPL haul at home last season despite his consistent returns

Lacazette’s total of 25 attacking returns was beaten only by Aguero, Aubameyang and Wilson among FPL forwards and no striker registered more assists than the former Lyon man (12).

The Frenchman’s achievements are all-the-more commendable given that he started only 27 Premier League fixtures, with his so-so points-per-match average (4.74) skewed somewhat by eight substitute appearances.

Double-digit hauls were few and far between, however, with none arriving after Gameweek 8.

Consistency was the key with Lacazette, though, with the France international stringing together some excellent sequences throughout the season.

Lacazette blanked in only four matches between Gameweeks 14 and 32 – two of which he played 45 minutes or fewer in.

The French forward delivered attacking returns in all nine Arsenal home fixtures between Gameweeks 18 and 35, meanwhile.

The unpredictability of starts will be enough to put many FPL managers off, despite Lacazette’s proven ability to rack up the points and Arsenal’s appealing run of first eight home matches.

Roberto Firmino has hit ten or more goals and registered eight or more assists in each of his four seasons at Liverpool

Security of starts is something Firmino can generally offer, with the Brazilian making Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI in 31 of the 34 matches he was available for (and even one of those substitute appearances came off the back of an injury).

Seven FPL forwards had better points-per-match averages than Firmino (4.71) in 2018/19 but that rate wasn’t a million miles away from the average he posted in 2017/18 (4.89).

Firmino’s problem Fantasy-wise in 2019/20 will likely be the same as it was last season, with the popularity of his teammates in defence and midfield meaning that he may well be overlooked for one of the three permitted Liverpool slots in many FPL squads.

With Mane rising steeply in price and Salah costing £3.0m more than Firmino, however, the Brazilian striker could well be an interesting differential route into the Liverpool attack that sit second in our Season Ticker from Gameweeks 1 to 8.

Firmino, like his fellow attackers, is in international action this summer but will return to England sooner than Mane and Salah, with the Copa America ending a fortnight before the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cheaper Premium Options

Over half of Jamie Vardy’s points in 2018/19 (88 of 174) arrived in the final 13 Gameweeks

Jamie Vardy is another non-mover in terms of FPL starting price and is available at £9.0m again.

Leicester’s opening fixtures are a mixed bag at best (they actually sit bottom of our Season Ticker in the first eight Gameweeks) but in Vardy they have a striker likely to be as “nailed” a starter as any other premium forward option this season.

Vardy started all of Leicester’s ten league games under Brendan Rodgers, while he was the form striker in the division in the final 13 Gameweeks with 12 goals and two assists.

Vardy turns 33 midway through this season but a restful summer and a lack of European action for the Foxes in 2019/20 will surely stand him in good stead.

Vardy’s average of 5.12 points per match last season was the fifth-best among FPL forwards but his mean under Rodgers was vastly superior: the Leicester striker averaging 7.6 points per match when playing for the former Celtic boss.

Over the course of the season, Vardy proved to be better value than any other FPL forward priced above £7.0m, with the Leicester forward returning 19.3 points per million spent.

Vardy’s goal conversion rate has always been high (2018/19 was the fourth straight year it exceeded 20%) but a relative lack of opportunities being created for him has arguably held him back from even more goals in seasons gone by: the Leicester striker scored 20 goals in 2017/18 despite only being presented with a chance every 45.8 minutes.

Under a manager as attacking as Rodgers, 2019/20 could be a prosperous year for Vardy.

Those Fantasy managers going without him in the opening eight matches will no doubt be eyeing him up for the fixture swing in Gameweek 9.

Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were separated by £4.0m in FPL 12 months ago

Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku are both priced at £8.5m, though there is much speculation about the Belgian’s future and a summer exit is being touted.

Should Lukaku stay at Old Trafford then we will take a closer look at his credentials for 2019/20 but for now, our focus is on Rashford, who, like many of his teammates, has just had an up-and-down sort of season.

Struggling for attacking returns under Jose Mourinho, Rashford enjoyed a purple patch during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s honeymoon period and banked six goals and two assists in his first eight league appearances under the Norwegian.

Rashford managed only one FPL return (a goal against Watford) in the final 13 Gameweeks of the season, however, as United’s form reverted to type.

The Red Devils start 2019/20 with matches against Chelsea and Wolves, so some FPL managers may delay a decision on the England striker until the back-end of August.

With Lukaku and Paul Pogba’s (£8.5m) futures uncertain, United are in a state of flux at present so there is much that could still change in Manchester and affect Rashford’s prospects before Gameweek 1 rolls around.

Callum Wilson delivered more attacking returns (26) in 2018/19 than he had managed in his three previous seasons combined

Apart from a Gameweek 3 clash with Manchester City, Bournemouth’s opening run of fixtures looks one of the more appealing.

The Cherries take on all three newly promoted sides in the opening nine Gameweeks and also welcome West Ham United to the Liberty Stadium.

Callum Wilson will no doubt attract attention, then, even if he has been handed a £2.0m rise from his starting price in 2018/19.

Wilson finished the season as the fifth-highest-scoring FPL forward despite missing eight of Bournemouth’s league matches, while Aguero and Aubameyang were the only players in his position to register more attacking returns.

The Cherries’ striker registered more goals (14 v 13) and assists (12 v ten) than the more celebrated Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) and had a much better points-per-match average (5.6) than the Wolves forward (4.76).

Injuries are sometimes a concern for Wilson but security of starts aren’t, with the mid-price forward starting all 29 league matches that he was fully fit for (Wilson was a substitute in Gameweek 17 having just returned from the treatment table).

Wilson’s streaky form is what sees him maligned in some quarters: in the last nine Gameweeks of the season, he banked three double-digit hauls and blanked in the other six matches.

Five of Wilson’s six returns of ten points or more were on the road, a source of frustration perhaps for those Fantasy managers who target plum home fixtures when considering a player’s worth.

Joshua King will start 2019/20 at £6.5m so is a possible cut-price alternative to Wilson in the Bournemouth attack, of course: the Norway international had outscored his strike partner in the three preceding FPL seasons and is ahead of Wilson in the spot-kick running order.

717 Comments Post a Comment
  1. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Do we expect Vardy to outscore the likes of Wilson & Jimenez by 1m and 1.5m worth of points?

    Jimenez also on pens like Vardy and might not necessarily play in the Europa games

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Personally I think yes - his output seemed to go through the roof as soon as Rodgers came in, and Rodgers has previous with talisman attackers (think Siggy at Swansea or Suarez at Liverpool)

      Jimmy should still do well but he has Europa

      Wilson should still do well but he normally has injury problems

      Vardy’s caveat is his age, but I think when he’s fit he’ll be pretty close to fixture-proof

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I want to fit in Vardy but it affects my 5th attacker.

        Need 3 attackers for 21m, who do you go for?

        A. Vardy + Zaha + March/Jorginho
        B. Wilson + Zaha + Doucoure/Pererya
        C. Jimenez + Zaha + Brooks

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Vardy + King = 15.5 well spent

          5.5 is a horrible price point though, not sure who to go for there tbh

        2. St Pauli Walnuts
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          C

      2. Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Got to remember that Vardy has a history of massive point scoring when a new manager comes in before tailing off significantly after 6 months.

    2. Micahrichard
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      personally, I think jimenez gives the best value for points

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I am backing Vardy.
      Jimenez/Jota No go for me with EL.
      Wilson is an intriguing option. King can be a good value alternative to the him though so I'm going with Vardy + King
      My punt is Wood from Burnley 😛

    4. pokern1nja09
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I thought neves was on pens?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Alternates with Jimi

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Outscore maybe... But I think both Wilson and Jimenez offer more value than Vardy and would rather have any of them. Vardy is at an awkward price point. Hes also 33 years old now... hard to imagine someone at his age delivering week in week out which is needed to be value pick at 9.0

  2. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Those of you with TAA, Robbo, Salah & Sterling - what’s your forward line looking like?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      King, Jota, fodder.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      4.5GK
      TAA, Robbo, Laporte, Digne, Coleman
      Salah, Sterling
      Vardy, King, Ings*

      *The “compromise” slot - 6.0 left over so probably Ings/JWP until we see what 6.0&below bargains emerge in the first few gameweeks

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Pretty similar to what you have but not too sure on King.

        Feel like he's over reliant on pens to get any points and if Fraser departs, Bou will regress in an attacking sense.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah all of this is personnel & transfer dependent at this early stage

          If Fraser leaves as you say it necessitates a rethink on BOU attacking assets

          Similarly, probably even more so, if Gueye leaves there isn’t a hope of me going near everton’s Defence, let alone doubling up

          For now though i’m actually suprised they’ve made this team affordable - it seems like it shouldn’t be - if a first choice Man City LB emerges in preseason, that’s even more surplus budget from Laporte downgrade for the “compromise” slot 🙂

          1. Majestic Chanka
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            If Fraser leaves I move to DCL from King, or maybe Ings and that 0.5 goes to another City defender

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Kane, Long, 4.5

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        *Shudders*

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Lol, 5-4-1

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Please just dont pick Long. What a horrible player and fantasy pick. I had him in my team at a point last year and it was the worst decision of the season.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Salah Sterling 6m Midfielder
      Vardy King Deulofeu/Wood
      + 4 atb

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        How's it going mate?

        Why would you go with the likes of King/Deu/Wood over the equivalent 6.5/6m defenders who will comfortably outscore them?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I'm great 🙂
          What about you mate ? Thankfully game is out now. It's fun again !!
          Re team, I'm looking at something like:
          Ryan,4.0
          Robbo Taa Mendy Digne Kelly
          Salah Sterling Peryera Dendonker 4.5
          Vardy King Wood

          1. WVA
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            I'm good thanks, glad it's back too!

            Not sure how I feel about Mendy, injury prone and out of favour. Ederson and Dunk the safer choice IMO.

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah
              Mendy can become Laporte with some downgrade elsewhere

    5. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Just 1 up top with Vardy, all the value is in defence this year.

      Ederson
      TAA VVD Laporte Coleman Dunk
      Salah Sterling Siggy Jorginho
      Vardy

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        The reason I ask in the first place is I have a decent draft with Aguero and a decent draft with Sterling, but they slightly vary. Which combo do you prefer?

        A) VVD Maddison Aguero
        B) TAA Sterling Jota

        1. WVA
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          C) TAA VVD Sterling?

          B from yours though

          1. The Royal Robin
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            I don’t know I’d afford that.

      2. SmithyJ
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        What’s your bench looking like?

      3. pokern1nja09
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        You say that but how can you know? We could have some goalfests in August

      4. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        That's a good team bro.
        I'd personally look to upgrade Dunk/Jorginho by downgrading Siggy a bit

    6. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Wilson and Vardy

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Sacrificed the defence a bit WR?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Not really, I misread and actually have VvD not Robbo. TAA, VvD, Zinchenko, Trippier. 4.0.

          4-4-2

          1. The Royal Robin
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Nice, sounds alright. Trippier is a good shout. Confident of Zinchenko nailing a spot down?

            1. Wild Rover
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              No, but should be clearer by ko

    7. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      As Maximus has shown, this can be achieved with 5-2-3. All the value does appear to be in defense this year and the mid priced strikers for the most part appear to better than the mid priced mids.

      Something like this:

      Ryan
      Robbo | VVD | Walker | Coleman | 4.5
      Salah | Sterling
      Kane | King | Jota

      Button | 4.5 mid | 4.5 mid | 4.5 mid

      King and Jota (6.5) look more appealing than 6.5 mids.

    8. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      King - Jota - Deulofeu

    9. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Ederson
      Robbo,Laporte,TAA
      Mili,Mane(c),Siggy,Maddison
      Ageuro,King,Long

      My team ,look good?

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

      Morata / ? / ?

    11. Indpush
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      King, Jota, McGoldrick

  3. SmithyJ
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Need opinions, thanks

    A. Digne, Diop, McGinn, Jimenez
    B. Coleman, Kelly, Fraser, Jota

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B by mile

      1. SmithyJ
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks

  4. POLSKA GOLA
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Team nearly sorted, one remaining question is:
    A) Digne+Azpi
    B) Coleman+Zaha

    1. SmithyJ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A

    3. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B

    4. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Thnx all

  5. The Wanton Trader
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Feel ready to show this now.
    Got a bit of everything...

    Ryan
    TAA Ake Coleman
    Perez Mane KDB Zaha
    Vardy Kane(c) King

    Button Dendonker Fredericks Kelly

    Will no doubt mutate into something different before deadline but, I think it offers quite a lot.

    Any thoughts??

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Someone other then Ake. And Perez is wait and see. Other then that i like it

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Ake the best 5 mil I can see at present with a pretty decent set of fixtures.
        Perez is a decent enabler now classified as a mid imo.
        Cheers..

        1. Straobalno
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          No attack returns and team cant get cs. You can find better at 5 mil. Go dunk at 4.5m

          1. The Wanton Trader
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Dunk is not really an option as I have Ryan. Really don’t want to start the season with double Brighton defence. 😆

          2. The Wanton Trader
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Fredericks will be replacing Ake after GW 1.
            Really like him and West Ham have some lovely fixtures.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      No Sterling or Salah will cause you a lot of pain. Like the Perez pick

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Totally agree mate.
        Could make Mane, Salah but it would mean sacrificing probably Vardy, who I really want to keep.
        It’s the usual adage, “can’t have em all”. 🙂

    3. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I can see a lot of RMTs looking more and more like yours the closer we get to GW1.

      Your price structure is pretty typical for a 3-4-3 in past seasons. I think it looks pretty decent.

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        3-4-3 is my favoured formation.
        Can see a lot of these 5 at the back teams being wild carded early. Cheers..

  6. Straobalno
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Ryan
    Robertson, Laporte, Monreal, Coleman
    Sanchez, B.Silva, Zaha/Pedro
    Kane, Firmino, Aguero

    How to improve?

  7. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Maguire will be template if City get him

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Not that better then stons or otamendi

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      He won't be guaranteed to start unless Pep decides to play three cb's imo

    3. pokern1nja09
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      No guarantee he goes straight into the team. Pep might want to teach him how he wants him to play first

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yep by far a better CB than stones and Otamendi for his style of play

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Nah he will be eased into the side, wont play consistently.

  8. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Is Salah worth 1m more than Mane?

    1. pokern1nja09
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Probably yes.

    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think so with pens and may have more involvement on the ball this season compared to last season

    3. ajones1608
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Yep I think so, but I think sterling is essential and hard to have both

    4. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      If you can squeeze that extra mil from somewhere then, probably yes...

    5. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      On penalties (if Milly isn't on the pitch), on some corners, gets more assists etc. I think he is definitely worth the extra 12.5m.

    6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think he’s worth 1.5-2.0 more personally, don’t know what they were smoking when they priced the Liverpool assets up, but I’m definitely not complaining 🙂

  9. Rupert
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Morning all, hope the summer has been good for you.

    Thoughts on 1st draft would be greatly appreciated.

    Ryan Button

    TAA Van Dyke Coleman Lascelles Taylor

    Salah Bilva Siggy Zaha McGinn

    Kane King Wickham

    2 captain options. Would not be captaining sterling with fixtures of Kane and Salah so saved £4m and upgraded.

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Virtually the same as mine other than McGinn and the last 2 defs. Good team, really want vardy in there somehow but can’t have them all

      1. Rupert
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        We can’t. Feel this gives the best balance.

  10. paul1964
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Who does Targett play for? Villa or Southampton? Someone had mentioned him as a Villa player.

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Going to villa

    2. ajones1608
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Will soon be villa.. Great signing, our LW El Ghazi is one to cut in so can see a lot of overlaps and crosses into the box.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Targett is otw to Villa for 14m which could rise up to 17m.

      1. paul1964
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks for the headsup

  11. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    How’s this?

    Ryan Button
    Robertson TAA Laporte Digne Diop
    Salah KDB Siggy Maddison Dendonker
    King Jota Ings

    1. Straobalno
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Template

    2. paul1964
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Really lacking in forwards

    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Don’t like the front 3, either get aguero or Kane or vardy at a push

  12. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts please and thank you

    Ryan // Gunn

    Vvd // Laporte // Taylor // diop // Rico

    Salah // siggy // zaha // knockaert

    Aguero // vardy // king

    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Think you can get away with going just aguero, king and some fodder and use the money to upgrade one of your def’s

      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Only thinking of playing 3 with diop/Taylor having a decent rotation or I will go to Maguire and Ritchie if Maguire goes to city

    2. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Rico not guaranteed a spot, will have to see Preseason. New signing Lloyd Kelly is expected to get that full-back spot.

      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Yer was thinking that just hoping a 4.0 will come up as a starter. Is he a left back or right back? I know Adam Smith is usually cover for the full backs aswell

    3. paul1964
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      missing ONE midfielder

      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Oh yeah dendoncker.

    4. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Knockaert is not really an option, rather go trossard instead if you want someone from Brighton

      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Keeping an eye on Graham potters Brighton if he takes to 4-3-3 locadia or knockaert will be a good option. Only keeping an eye on mcginn and demari gray who could be rodgers liverpools sterling

  13. ajones1608
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Barkley a set piece taker in any way?

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

      No

  14. SmithyJ
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this team? Would be appreciated, think I’ve got a good draft so far.

    Ryan
    Digne, Laporte, TAA, Robertson, A.Smith
    Siggy, Salah, KDB
    King, Vardy

    Bench: Button, Dendoncker, McGinn (might downgrade to upgrade GK), Long

  15. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I see a few people going with Giroud but haven't Chelsea got Morata coming back if Athletico decide not to buy?

  16. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone going for Brooks? I think he’ll push on this season after impressing last year. I think that regardless of Fraser’s future he’ll do well but if Fraser does move on he might actually do particularly well taking a bit more responsibility to create. Thoughts?

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I agree. Brooks is alright, but I feel Fraser for 1.0m more porvides much more. If Fraser moves, Brooks' appeal will increase.

  17. Micahrichard
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    1) ward prowse + 5 fwd
    2) redmond + 4.5 fwd
    3) king + 4.5 mid
    4) calvert lewin + 5 mid

    which one the best option?

  18. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    My latest Kane draft.

    Ederson
    TAA Coleman A.Smith Dunk
    Salah(c) Sterling Sigurdsson Brooks Moutinho
    Kane(vc)

    Button Kelly Nketiah Wickham

    0.0m ITB

    Thoughts?

    1. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Nice.Why not Ede to Fabianski and upgrade one of Smith/Dunk?

  19. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    ‪Always like a punt to start the season, and I’m between these guys. Got a preference?

    ‪A) Brooks‬
    ‪B) Groß‬
    C) ‪Pérez‬

    1. juho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Brooks, hands down

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      B

  20. danlynch13
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    A) KDB + Vardy
    B) Sterling + jota

    Thanks!

  21. juho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Likely to adopt a setup that allows me to play a more passive style this season due to other personal commitments

    How does this look as a first draft?

    Ryan
    TAA / Laporte / Coleman / Trippier
    Salah / Sterling / KdB / Maddison / Brooks
    King

    1. Laporte In A Storm
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I actually quite like it. If it was me playing 4-5-1 I would still want the 1 up top to be someone a bit punchier than King. Could fit Arnie in there?

      1. juho
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        That makes sense.I could downgrade Trippier to someone like Enda Stevens to get Arnie.

        Not willing to downgrade the midfield as I enjoy a high-powered mid.

        Cheers.

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

      Cool.

      4.5/4.0
      Robbo, TAA, Laporte, 5.5, 4.0

      Salah, Sterling, KDB, 4.5, 4.5

      King, Jota, McGoldrick

  22. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    What are your resolutions for this season? What will you try to do differently from last season?

    For me its to be more patient and also consciously pick players that I can allow myself to be patient with. I picked far too many players last season that in hindsight I realize were transfers waiting to happen. Players with either uncertainty of starts or limited minutes. Morata, Higuain, Long, Vinagre, Pedro, Moura, Calvert-Lewin etc... all were in my team at a point and I think these kind of picks just put me in trouble as they inevitably lost their spot and needed to be transferred out.

    Right now my team has almost purely nailed players and it feels very safe and good.

    1. juho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      never transfer out a superstar unless he's injured/suspended

    2. The Royal Robin
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Very sensible and I can pretty much concur. Especially being more patient in my decision making, specifically when I use chips. You make a very interesting point though - it is worth avoiding bandwagons.

  23. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Which do you prefer?

    A) TAA Sterling & Jota
    B) VVD Maddison & Aguero

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

      A

  24. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Thoughts on this?

    4.5GK
    TAA Robbo Digne Mendy
    Salah Sterling Siggy Moura
    King Deeney

    4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5

    Of course waiting on Pre to see mendy status... If Zinchenko or Maguire move then 5.5m and save 0.5
    Moura only for a couple weeks till Son back and then Zaha/Sanchez all options and maybe save 0.5
    Deeney to Arnie an easy switch

  25. Laporte In A Storm
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    An early 3-4-3 draft because realistically I won't be playing anything else. First def/mid 6 is looking template

    Pickford
    Robbo / VVD / Laporte
    Salah / Sterling / Siggy / McGinn
    Arnie / Jota / DCL

    Button / Dendonca / Dunk / Gibson

    If there was a decent 4.5 def option beyond Dunk I would feel a bit more secure. AWB last season really was a godsend.

  26. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Deulofeu or Jota?

    1. SmithyJ
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Jota imo, how’s this team, any improvements?

      Ryan
      Digne, Laporte, TAA, Robertson, A.Smith
      Siggy, Salah, KDB
      King, Vardy

      Bench: 4.5m gk, Dendoncker, McGinn Wickham

  27. Juhanaev
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA-Bissaka-Digne
    Siggy-Salah(C)-Gross-KDB
    King-Kane-Calvert Lewin

    Button,Kelly,Friedricks,Dendonker

    Should i change
    1.King to Arnautovic
    2. Gross to Trossard

    Opinions please

  28. Roys Peak
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Heaton (Button)
    Van Dijk, Mendy, Tripper, Digne (Simpson)
    De Bruyne, Zaha, Salah(c), Sigurdsson (Hayden)
    Kane, King (Wickham)
    not sure if siggy should be downgraded to Maddison

  29. FencoFantasy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on my current team please:

    4-5-1

    Pickford (Button)
    Maguire, Zinchenko, VVD, Robbo (Kelly)
    Salah, KDB, Zaha, Siggy, Jorginho (for the mins & pens)
    Kane (Greenwood, Nketiah)

  30. tyiocoyg34
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT please 🙂

    Leno ( button )
    Rose - Walker - VVD - Janmaat ( Kelly )
    Salah (C) - KDB - Zaha - Tielemans ( Dendoncker )
    Kane ( V ) - Wilson ( Origi )