Pre-Season

Budget FPL defenders hard to find in 2019/20

Fantasy Premier League managers looking for this season’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) probably wouldn’t have been too inspired upon the game’s relaunch in late June.

A budget defender is a prized commodity in the Fantasy world, particularly when we are trying to accommodate as many premium assets as possible.

There are no underpriced gems that are immediately apparent in the £4.0m bracket, although pre-season can often throw up a name to consider from this select group – as was the case with Wan-Bissaka 12 months ago.

There is more choice in the £4.5m rung as we hunt for the next Matt Doherty (£6.0m) but there are still plenty of names to sift through and disregard in this price band, too.

Finding the best cut-price options at the back is something we’ll be doing in the article below as we look at all 76 defenders currently listed below the £5.0m mark.

The £4.0m Enablers

Martin Kelly (right) was used as an emergency centre-back by Roy Hodgson last season

At the time of writing, there are 13 defenders priced up at £4.0m.

Martin Kelly (£4.0m) saw the most Premier League minutes among this baker’s dozen last season and indeed he is currently the most-owned defender in his price band, sitting in more than one in five FPL squads.

Kelly started all of Palace’s final seven fixtures and made 13 appearances in all.

Each of those run-outs came at centre-half, however, as he filled in for the injured James Tomkins (£5.0m) and/or Mamadou Sakho (£5.0m).

Any Fantasy manager hoping that Kelly will be given the nod to replace Wan-Bissaka at right-back might be disappointed, then, with Joel Ward (£4.5m) having deputised in that position last season in the games that the new £50m Manchester United signing missed.

There also seems a good chance that Roy Hodgson will use some of the cash from that sale to bolster his options at full-back.

Kelly could still start the season in the Palace starting XI should Sakho or Tomkins not recover but long-term the prospects don’t look great for regular minutes.

At Bournemouth, Diego Rico‘s first-team opportunities (£4.0m) look bleak following the capture of Lloyd Kelly (£4.5m) while Jack Simpson (£4.0m) may very well be fourth-choice centre-half when the Cherries have a full complement of stoppers fit. Kelly, indeed, can also play centrally.

Ben Gibson (£4.0m) had just one league run-out last season but may only be a Ben Mee or James Tarkowski (both £5.0m) injury away from a stint in the first team: Mee was an ever-present last season, with Tarkowski missing just three games.

Max Kilman, Grant Hanley and Winston Reid (all £4.0m) are further down the centre-half pecking orders at their respective clubs, although Nuno Espirito Santo had positive things to say about Kilman in April:

Max is 100 percent integrated into the squad. He’s improving. We try an individual approach with him, trying to, first of all, get him better as an athlete. That includes a lot of aspects – nutrition, gym.

And then we integrate him into a full training session with the first team, because playing and training with us will improve his level.

He’s gradually improving and he will have his chance, for sure. He will have his chance.

Former Wolves stopper Richard Stearman (£4.0m) is currently the backup option for John Egan (£4.5m) in the Sheffield United backline, while John Lundstram (£4.0m) has been classed as a defender despite being a central midfielder by trade.

We are unlikely to see much of the tough-tackling Lundstram, though, given that he has not started a single league match in 2019 and indeed struggled to make the match-day squad in the second half of last season.

Watford duo Marc Navarro and Sebastian Prodl (both £4.0m) each failed to clock up more than 100 minutes of Premier League football last season and are some way down the pecking order in their respective positions, while youngster Ben Johnson (£4.0m) was only called on by West Ham after an injury crisis at right-back in Gameweek 28.

Academy product Kayne Ramsay (£4.0m) only had one run-out for Southampton last season and will be hoping for more of a look-in this year, given Ralph Hasenhuttl’s record for placing trust in his youth team players.

The possible switch to a 4-2-2-2 (Hasenhuttl having mostly used a three-man central defence last season) would seem to further impinge on his first-team chances, however.

‘Big Six’ Backups

Rob Holding’s season was ended at Old Trafford in December

Konstantinos Mavropanos and Carl Jenkinson (both £4.5m) made only five starts between them last season and would seem unlikely to be challenging for a first-team place at Arsenal come Gameweek 1, although Crystal Palace have reportedly been linked with a move for Jenkinson as they seek a replacement for Wan-Bissaka.

Rob Holding (£4.5m) is still making his way back from a long-term knee injury but could be one to watch when fully fit, given that he had racked up nine straight starts before rupturing an ACL in December.

That said, Arsenal’s defensive record requires serious improvement from last season – particularly away from home, where they kept fewer clean sheets than any other Premier League side.

Davide Zappacosta (£4.5m) could depart Stamford Bridge this summer but if he stays and Chelsea are unable to recruit, then the Italian right-back may only be a Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) injury away from offering Fantasy managers a budget route into the Blues’ backline.

That’s easier said than done, of course, given that Azpilicueta has made at least 37 top-flight appearances in each of the last four seasons.

Reece James (not priced up by FPL) is another option at right-back, meanwhile, although is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

All of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur’s defenders are priced at £5.0m or higher.

Newly Promoted Options

‘Overlapping centre-back’ Jack O’Connell scored three goals and registered three assists last season

All bar one of the defenders representing Sheffield United, Norwich City and Aston Villa cost less than £5.0m in FPL.

The exception is the Blades’ attack-minded wing-back Enda Stevens (£5.0m), who banked four goals and six assists last season.

Jack O’Connell, John Egan and Chris Basham (all £4.5m) were United’s regular centre-halves in manager Chris Wilder’s 3-4-2-1, with O’Connell and Basham given license to overlap in this unique system.

George Baldock (£4.5m) ousted Kieron Freeman (£4.5m) from the right wing-back position midway through last season, although one goal and two assists says much about the difference between him and Stevens.

This position might very well be one that Wilder looks to reinforce this summer, too.

With 15 clean sheets in their final 23 games last season (21 shut-outs in all), the Blades had the best joint-best defensive record in the English second tier.

Norwich City’s offensive full-backs Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis (both £4.5m) are the obvious draw at Carrow Road, although the Canaries’ troubling defensive record (57 goals conceded and just 13 clean sheets) last season and tricky-looking opening five fixtures will be a deterrent.

Ben Godfrey (£4.5m) is a goal threat at centre-half alongside Christoph Zimmermann (£4.5m), with Timm Klose (£4.5m) having lost his place in the second half of 2018/19.

The Villans are short of numbers at the back after relying heavily on the loan market last season.

Axel Tuanzebe and Tyrone Mings (price TBC) have returned to their parent clubs, having ended the season as Villa’s first-choice centre-half pairing.

James Chester (£4.5m) was a regular before February but didn’t play in his side’s final 20 fixtures and has since admitted that the knee injury that sidelined him is one he will have to manage for the rest of his career.

Dean Smith has recruited Kortney Hause and Matt Targett (£4.5m) already, which will dent Neil Taylor‘s (£4.5m) first-team chances at left-back.

Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.5m), who scored two goals and registered eight assists last season, is perhaps the pick of Villa’s defenders from a Fantasy perspective but Smith will surely reinforce the right-back position this summer too after the departure of Alan Hutton.

El Mohamady has already scored twice for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations but will arrive back to the Midlands late in pre-season as a result of his involvement in the tournament.

You can read much more detailed reports on these three teams’ defensive options in the articles linked below.

READ MORE: Our guide to Norwich City defenders
READ MORE: Our guide to Sheffield United defenders
READ MORE: Our guide to Aston Villa defenders

Top-Half Assets

Ruben Vinagre made only seven league starts in 2018/19

Three of the ‘non-big six’ sides who finished in the top half last season have defenders available at £4.5m but they are a mixed bag at best.

Caglar Soyuncu and Wes Morgan (both £4.5m) will likely be backup options to Harry Maguire (£5.5m) and Jonny Evans (£5.0m), although the two Manchester clubs are said to be circling around Maguire this summer.

Christian Fuchs (£4.5m) won’t see much game-time, meanwhile, with new recruit James Justin (£5.0m) able to deputise at left-back should Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) pick up an injury.

Romain Saiss and Ruben Vinagre (both £4.5m) are two cut-price options at Wolves.

Vinagre, in particular, would appeal should there be an injury picked up by Matt Doherty (£6.0m) or Jonny (£5.5m).

Saiss played at both centre-half and central midfield last season, although was never a ‘nailed’ prospect in either position and made only 12 starts.

All of West Ham’s defenders apart from Aaron Cresswell (£5.0m) are available at £4.5m or less.

Their cut-price availability is for good reason, though: only relegated Huddersfield and Fulham kept fewer clean sheets than the Hammers (seven) last season, with Manuel Pellegrini’s side shipping 55 goals in the process.

Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena (£4.5m) would appear to be the first-choice centre-back pairing, with Angelo Ogbonna (£4.5m) next in line.

Balbuena had more efforts in the box than any of his teammates last season, despite only making 23 appearances due to injury.

Uncertainty over the full-back positions dents the appeal of Arthur Masuaku, Pablo Zabaleta, Ryan Fredericks (all £4.5m) and Cresswell, although Fredericks is surely the long-term right-back solution with Zabaleta turning 35 midway through next season.

All of Everton’s defenders are priced at £5.0m and above.

Eagles and Magpies

Jamaal Lascelles has dropped in price having failed to find the net last season

Of the sides we have not yet discussed, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are the two who had the best defensive records in the Premier League last season based on goals conceded (48 and 53) and clean sheets registered (11 and 12).

Rafael Benitez’s exit and Newcastle’s awful opening run of fixtures is an immediate turn-off, however.

Uncertainty over their new manager’s preferred personnel and formation also abound, although Jamaal Lascelles looks the pick of the bunch at £4.5m.

Javier Manquillo and the injured DeAndre Yedlin (both £4.5m) will do battle again for the right-back slot, while the likes of Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark (all £4.5m) offer Benitez’s replacement – if not Fantasy managers – plenty of options at centre-half.

Matt Ritchie (£5.5m) and Fabian Schar (£5.0m)’s increased goal and assist threat has seen those two players priced higher, with Ritchie a possible ‘out of position’ asset to watch in 2019/20.

Joel Ward and Scott Dann (both £4.5m) were very much backup options at Selhurst Park last season and only deputised in their respective positions when injuries mounted.

Hodgson will surely look to reinforce his defence over the summer following Wan-Bissaka’s departure, with Ward no doubt hoping that Palace draw a blank in the transfer market as he appears to be next in line at right-back.

Dann will be primed for a start in Gameweek 1 should Mamadou Sakho and/or James Tomkins (£5.0m) fail to recover from injury but his long-term Fantasy appeal isn’t great.

The Rest

Lewis Dunk has remained at £4.5m in FPL this season but Shane Duffy’s price has risen

Watford were the only club not to keep a clean sheet in the final 12 Gameweeks of the season and conceded more big chances than any other team in that time.

Interest in the Hornets’ backline may be lukewarm, then, although matches against Brighton, West Ham and Newcastle appeal in the opening four Gameweeks.

The sheer number of defenders available to Javi Gracia (there are ten listed in FPL) is off-putting, while the two who may offer the best chance of attacking returns – Craig Dawson and Jose Holebas – will cost £5.0m.

Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) did score three goals from centre-half and made more top-flight appearances than any of Watford’s defenders last season but faces competition for his place from Adrian Mariappa, Christian Kabasele (both £4.5m), Dawson and, to a lesser extent, Prodl.

Adam Masina (£4.5m) was mostly a backup to Holebas in 2018/19 while Daryl Janmaat and Kiko Femenia (both £4.5m) interchanged at right-back – if one of those two can nail down a starting spot ahead of Gameweek 1 then they may stoke modest interest, given their attacking mindsets.

Bournemouth and Southampton’s home fixtures interchange perfectly this season and each south coast club have defensive options available at £4.5m.

Southampton centre-backs Maya Yoshida, Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek (all £4.5m) scored only one goal between them last season, however, while only Huddersfield kept fewer clean sheets than the Saints in the 23 matches that Hasenhuttl oversaw.

Bournemouth duo Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels (both £4.5m) are currently recovering from long-term knee injuries so fellow full-backs Lloyd Kelly and Adam Smith (both £4.5m) may well be in line to start in Gameweek 1.

The pair registered only three attacking returns between them last season, however.

The Cherries’ first seven fixtures are among the best in the division although they have never been a defensively sound side: Eddie Howe’s troops have conceded at least 60 goals in each of their four seasons in the Premier League, with 2018/19’s tally of 70 goals against their worst ever in the top flight.

Somehow, though, they kept ten clean sheets last season.

Chris Mepham is another option at £4.5m but will have to oust Nathan Ake or Steve Cook (both £5.0m) at centre-half first.

Burnley are another club who can be paired in a rotation: the Clarets’ home fixtures dovetail neatly with Aston Villa’s.

Phil Bardsley and Matthew Lowton (£4.5m) will tussle for the right-back slot but offer little in the way of attacking threat, while Kevin Long (£4.5m) will again provide backup at centre-half.

Charlie Taylor (£4.5m) is a possible prospect from Gameweek 5 onwards, with the Burnley left-back – an ever-present in 2018/19 – ranking joint-seventh among FPL defenders for completed crosses last season.

Those crosses only translated into one assist, however, so his low price tag is warranted.

Brighton, who fare well on our Season Ticker in the opening half-dozen Gameweeks, complete our look at budget defenders.

Shane Duffy has risen to £5.0m following his five-goal campaign in 2018/19, leaving Lewis Dunk as the stand-out option in the £4.5m bracket.

Dunk himself registered three attacking returns last season but a lack of clean sheets (only seven for Brighton) meant that he again failed to crack the 100-point mark in FPL.

Deputy centre-halves Matthew Clarke and Leon Balogun are also available at £4.5m.

Full-back rotation was rife last season, with not one of Martin Montoya, Bernardo or Gaetan Bong (all £4.5m) making more than 24 starts or registering more than one assist each.

Graham Potter’s arrival could change the landscape at the Amex, of course, with the former Swansea boss bringing a more attack-minded mindset to the south coast.

826 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT:-

    Ederson
    Coleman Smith VVD Laporte Robbo
    Salah Siggy Fraser
    King Aguero

    4.0 fodder Dendonker 4.5 fodder 4.5 fodder

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

      No

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

        Rating teams now is pointless Scotty

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

      Amazing but prefer mine:

      Ryan
      Robbo | TAA | Digne
      Salah | KdB | Siggy | Zaha | Dendoncker
      Kane | King

      Button | Kelly | Rico | Greenwood

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

        Dendonkey every week!

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

          Prefer him to any 4.5 defenders

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

            It’s fair enough, my team is similar but a very different formation.

            You have Siggy and DD where I have Mendy & Laporte although I’ve had to downgrade TAA to VVD and King to DCL to afford that.

            So

            Siggy, King, TAA, Dend
            vs
            Laporte, Mendy, VVD, DCL

            Quite a right one actually, I do like your team.

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

    Thoughts?

    Ederson Button

    TAA Robbo Digne Targett Taylor

    Salah Sterling Siggy Zaha Dendoncker

    King DCL Nketiah

    Targett & Taylor both have encouraging attacking output, and it 4.5 each both rotate very well. Also not completely sold on DCL, but with Everton’s fixtures and not an inspiring amount options at that price bracket he seems worth the punt

    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Are you playing 341?
      It feels like you spent too much of your budget on a few players.

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

        442

    2. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Good

    3. Chazzwozza
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think you're over budget

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

        Nope. 100m exactly

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

      I have a very similar team but I have Vardy + Gomez + 4.5 keeper instead of Ederson + Robbo + DCL.

      (I like mine better of course 😛 )

  3. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Keep your teams coming , do you expect the affirmations to decide your starting team ? Rather take a step back , patience FGS , time will yield the answers

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

      When will Time be around to rate my team?

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

      Yes everyone must exercise the commendable levels of restraint you clearly possess.

  4. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I have noticed that a few teams are going with no heavy hitter up front . I would have thought that one of Kane aguero or auba would be pretty essential ? What am I missing ? I really like Kane at 11 actually.

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

      Many prefer Raz and Mo over them as captaincy options. No money for a third big hitter after that, nor is there much value in 11 mil+ players.

    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      5 atb is the vouge atm. Lots of money spent there with Salah/Sterling in MF leaves no cash for expensive strikers.

    3. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks all.

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

      How can one of three completely different players be essential?

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

    I’m beginning to swim against the tide here.

    Imo Zaha is very average if he doesn’t have a decent cf if you look at his returns. He’s a clear avoid in my book.

    Bilva is all possibility and has no record of FPL returns. No saying he’ll start up top either

    Kane without Son doesn’t return well - he’s from gw3 only now for me.

    Mo - I’m waiting for Afcon recuperation. I’m as bothered that Mane and Bobby won’t be fresh either.

    The AWB ownership makes almost no sense to me.

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      You know what is "aston villa"?
      5Th at championship

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Hahahaha

      2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Reply fail?

        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          No. Kane's first game

    2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Really not sure about that point about Kane, but otherwise I agree. I think in a fully rested, ready team, Kane can do damage without Son very comfortably. Not that I'd own him.

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

        Kane plus Son equals goals but the same doesn’t apply to Lucas.

        I had wanted Kane from day 1 (preseason providing of course) but I’m now seriously thinking Auba or Laca are better week 1 and 2 bets when you consider fixtures.

        It’s a short term call - I’d expect to be much more mainstream from week 3/4.

    3. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Awb = United fans clutching at straws for one of their players to fit in

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        They should go for De Gea in hope that he will rack up some "save points".

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

      Not sure what you mean regarding Mo but agree with all other points completely.

    5. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      How many Kane theories is that now? Dembele, Son, Formation, Moura etc

      I wholehardtedly agree with the Zahz sentiment & AWB. The rest, not so.

      1. Sharkytect
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Also - doesn't score in August. Loves london derby's

  6. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Last season I went the whole season without owning a single United player. This season I'm going to try the same but for Arsenal players I think, barring serious changes in the transfer window.

    To be honest, I doubt that I'll often own players from United or Chelsea either this season, but Arsenal I really can't see. With their measly budget, they're really quite unlikely to make significant improvements on last season (especially having already lost one of their better players), and their only actual viable assets last season were Aubameyang and, if generous, Lacazette. I'm happy enough to go without both barring unforeseen circumstances.

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

      Chelsea Im pretty sure will have a few gems a bit into the season when their team is more settled.

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        CHO is coming into my team for Zaha when he’s back and has nailed a place in first team. Frank laps him up

      2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Sure, maybe Hudson-Odoi, maybe Mount, maybe Abraham. All maybes.

      3. Bun Rab
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Pulisic, CHO & RLC will all become easily worth their price tags. I think RLC will play 10 role ahead of Barkley. He got 10 goals last season, if he stays fit he will get that and more.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Well Im an Arsenal supporter and given Emery's tactics last season I hardly owned any for more than a couple of weeks. Nailed on regularly starters are a must. ;

  7. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Son or KDB long term?

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

      i prefer son. hes the reason Im starting with KDB, easy swap gw3

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        My strategy exactly. Thanks

    2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Son. Too many variables with KdB. On occasion, de Bruyne has been a good FPL asset over the past three years or so. Not nearly often enough for my liking. A rested Son, however, has usually shown great value.

      1. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        On occasion? In that City team it makes more sense to look at his 200pts per season average in successive seasons before last year.

    3. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Why long term though ? This is a game of getting in on the up and getting out on the slide

    4. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      KDB for me if he stays fit. Just more goals to be able to contribute too.

  8. beastie
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    What do you think of this?

    Schmeichel-Ryan
    TAA-Gomez-Laporte-Digne-Dunk
    Salah-Bilva-Siggy-Milivojevic-Moutinho
    King-Jimenez-Murray

    Any feedback appreciated.

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

      Don’t like Moutinho, Bilva and especially Murray but otherwise solid.

      1. MFPL
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Lots of money will be left on the bench, would prefer Dendoncker over Moutinho for example, and then upgrading Gomez. Overall, it's solid.

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

          How about Gomez to Azpi, Moutinho to Dendoncker and Murray to Deulofeou?

      2. MFPL
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Didn't mean to reply to your comment hahaha

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

    Jota is obviously proven in the PL but B gives me slightly more flexibility off the bench. I’d need to actually identify a decent 4.5 defender too but I have a feeling Adams will do well for Saints and I think they’ll have a better season too.

    A) Jota & Kelly (Palace 4.0)
    B) Che Adams & 4.5 DEF (?)

    1. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Honestly, I don't really have a gut feeling for either Jota or Adams. Adams may do well but honestly haven't seen much of him.

      Out of the two, I would say B because you'll have a stronger bench.

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

        I can rotate Adams and the 4.5 too, dependant in fixture. Got any suggestions?

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

          On fixture*

        2. MFPL
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          In terms of a 4.5m defender, it's definitely slim. I like Dunk personally, but if you have Ryan I wouldn't double up just in case. Cathcart and Diop could be options.

          However, based on rotation, Targett from Aston Villa will probably best suit Adams' draw. Very nice fixtures, not sure about how well they are defensively though.

  10. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Rumours in Portuguese press that United will soon confirm an offer for Bruno Fernandes.

    If that deal is made, he can be a good asset to consider. Despite the portuguese league being **** comparatively to the Premier, that guy has quality

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think he’s very exciting. 20 goals and 13 assists in 33 games last season. That’s 1 direct goal involvement a game

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

        Yeah. He definitely was the main guy in Sporting last season. Great passing skills and high shot accuracy.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I will wait for Meatpiesausageroll's assesment

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

        If we sign him he is quality and a bargain.

        If we don’t then we didn’t want him anyway and he is not Utd quality and lacks ambition

  11. Bumbaclot
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    First draft first post of the year. All opinions welcome please 🙂

    Foster
    AWB/VVD/zinchenko
    Salah/kdb/zaha/brooks
    King/vardy/rashford

    Subs Ryan/dendonker/lascelles/Elmo

    Thanks everyone

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Would personally do Rashy-Deulofeu then Brooks-Siggy but looks good otherwise

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

    Looking forward to an article on Rodri

    Not so much he himself as he won’t be an FPL option, but i’d imagine his signing should nix any doubts about city’s ability to keep CS’s without Fernandinho

    Now to try to crowbar Ederson in alongside Laporte, Robbo, TAA, Digne, Coleman...

    We really need a first choice city LB to emerge to make things easier

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

      I agree with you, 100%.

      Unfortunately I think that even in early August it will not be totally clear who is 100% nailed - Mendy or Chenko. I can see some rotation there happening frequently.

      Walker feels a bit more safe, in that 6.0 range.

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

        I think we have to hope either Zinchenko or Mendy gets an injury (never a good thing) or that Pep makes it crystal clear from his pre season lineups that one is first choice - I think the chances of either aren’t great though

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

          Exactly, agree.

          I think we'll not be able to have that clarity from Pep.

          Don't you consider Walker?

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      It will be, sorry, is Zinchenko. I am sure of it. 😉

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

        This would be an FPL manager’s dream if so - would any team not have a nailed attacking Man City LB for 5.5?

        I was always in the space that if both were fully match fit, it would be Mendy first choice but we’ve never actually had that scenario arise - considering that Mendy couldn’t have been fully match fit since GW12 after the surgery & then the re-injury... and even prior to that he was still likely feeling the effects of the foot injury that kept him out GWs 5-7

        But then again mayb Pep is tired of Mendy’s crazy ways and wants a more stable/reliable character in there

      2. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Agree. Pep likes and trusts zinchenko. Mendy is on the naughty step with sane.

  13. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Vardy and KDB
    or
    Zaha and Sterling (formation change)

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Close one but Vardy & Kdb for me.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      ZS , at this time

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

      Zaha Sterling, imo

    4. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think service to Vardy is going to be excellent this season and also have a hunch that Rodri will afford KDB more creative license and will push him further up the pitch. He’ll have a great season.

    5. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy and KDB

    6. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Depends what you do with the 0.5 saving of Vardy and KDB really. Could swing it either way.

  14. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Tempted to consider (or at least not exclude) the Mane + Salah alternative. This draft also considers Sterling, hence having to look for (decent) budget options elsewhere.

    Thoughts please? Does it seem strong?

    Ryan
    Coleman, Walker, TAA, Diop
    Siggy, Norwood, Salah, Mane, Sterling
    King

    Cheers mates

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Is your bench, 4.0, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5?

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

        Bench is 100% fodder

        Button, Kelly, 4.5, 4.5

        1. Worsle90
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          I actually like it

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

            KDB and Perez instead of Sterling and Norwood may allow you to upgrade defence, true.

            But having all Salah Mane Sterling + TAA and Walker in defence seems really strong

    2. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      It's solid considering you've got Mane, Sterling and Salah. However, if you wanted to go with 2 Liverpool attacking assets I would look at Firmino over Mane, just to spread the funds a bit better.

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

        Thank you for the feedback and suggestion mate.

        Despite liking Bobby, I was principally leaning towards the Salah / Mane duo - I think both will have a great season and start in a strong mode.

        TAA Salah Mane is firepower as a trio

        1. MFPL
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah no doubt, they should all be involved heavily in Liverpool's goals. Would you consider KDB over Sterling?

          If not, I still think it's solid. If Norwood does well it's definitely a great team.

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

            KDB alternative:

            Ryan
            Digne, Ake, Walker, TAA
            Perez, Salah, Mane, Siggy, KDB
            King

            What do you think?

            1. MFPL
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 9 months ago

              Personally, I'm a fan of that. I would look at maybe going Digne to Coleman and Ake to Trippier, I'm liking Tottenham this season. However, regardless of change, I quite like that team a lot.

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

                Good shout.

                Thank you very much for the feedback and your helpful insights.

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

      Very tidy, what about Norwood to a 4.5 and Coleman to Digne or Walker to Laporte?

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

        I think Norwood's upside over Dendo or Hayden is higher comparatively to Digne or Laporte over Coleman and Walker, respectively.

        But actually that is a good debate. Have to think more about it. Norwood on set pieces may help him.

        KDB alternative instead of Sterling:

        Ryan
        Digne, Ake, Walker, TAA
        Perez, Salah, Mane, Siggy, KDB
        King

        What do you think?

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

          KdB allows for much better balance and flexibility imo, it took me a while to do it but once you start experimenting it becomes clear KdB makes more sense value wise.

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

        "tidy" actually is a good or bad thing in that context mate, allow me to ask? ahah

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

          Good

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

      Its not very good tbh

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

        Thank you for the feedback.

        Highly dependent on Norwood being a decent value option at that budget price.

        Having Salah Mane Sterling would always be a great challenge. I'll still consider the possibility over next weeks.

        Saving 2.5 from Sterling to KDB, team would be like:

        Ryan
        TAA, Walker, Trippier, Coleman
        Siggy, Perez, KDB, Mane, Salah
        King

        It feels like a lack of C options, though.

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

    Which would you pick if only one?

    A) Digne
    B) Walker
    C) Mendy
    D) Zinchenko

    1. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      It really depends on who is nailed.

      If Zinchenko is nailed, then D imo. Otherwise, probably A or B. I personally am not too big of a Digne fan, maybe that's because I had him at the wrong times last season.

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

        Yeah Digne's stats are certainly hard to ignore

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A. C if he was nailed but D gets starts at least

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

        Thanks mate

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A or D if he plays

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

      Digne
      Mendy if first choice

    5. El Tel
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      A

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

        Thanks all, Digne it is!

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

    Wonder what the celebration message for Nigel Folkard was...

  17. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Numerous ways to use .5 in this team - ideas welcome

    fabs 4.0
    TAA Robbo digne targett kelly
    Kdb salah Sterling grealish hayden
    Jota king 4.5

    Thinking could drop robbo to VVD and use the 1mil to upgrade jota to Jimenez or targett to AWB or other 5.5 defender

    Or grealish to Zaha/madison

    1. MFPL
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Personally would downgrade Fab to Ryan and utilise the 1mil to upgrade Targett to a Tottenham defender.

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

      I like the latter, to Zaha

    3. Robin Cook
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Not tempted by Siggy or Fraser?

  18. R.C
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Best possible way to use 13.5m for bench for 1 DEF, 1 MID and 1 ATK each?

  19. 11SPECIALONE11
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    I think I am going to go 4-4-2. Anyone I should dump from this team?

    Ryan

    TAA - Van Dijk - Mendy - Coleman

    Salah (C) - KDB - Sterling (V) - Zaha

    King - Calvert Lewin

    Bench: Button - Dendoncker - Hayden - Nketiah

    1. 11SPECIALONE11
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Kelly not Hayden **

  20. Bielsa's Bucket
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Would an Ayoze Pérez at Leicester City for 6.5 be a yes or no?

    1. 11SPECIALONE11
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      I think its a yes. Could see him and Vardy playing well together. He will be pushed out wide but still should get decent attacking returns

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

      Not if he's playing on the wing imo

  21. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Is Adam Smith nailed?

  22. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    With Mane scored same goals as Salah, and only 28 pts less, Why wont we save that 1 million and get Mane?
    Would love to hear some opnions and discussion.

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Salah is FPL royalty after 2 seasons he had.
      Salah unlike Mane can provide assists and is likely to be on pens.
      Mane isnt as consistent as Salah.

      Its only 1m and Mo seems like a much safer pick with wider spectrum of points options.

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Salah more likely to be on pens when Milner not on pitch

      Average over last two years way up on mane

      Easier to downgrade to mane than upgrade to salah

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

        That last bit is very important

      2. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        The last one really is a good one.

    3. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Mane poor away record.

    4. Tomerick
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Mane over performed and Salah underperformed last season.

      Mane was much better value last season compared to this one.

  23. ã…¤Rising
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    So who has the set pieces here Digne or Siggy ? People with Digne in their team think its him, people with Siggy say its him

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

      I think they have both have them (own both) 🙂

      1. ã…¤Rising
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        I mean every time someone talks up Digne or Siggy they say he has set pieces haha

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

          Digne has free kicks and corners I think.
          Siggy pens

          1. ã…¤Rising
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 9 months ago

            Siggy isnt even good on pens, just put all the set pieces on Digne and then we can all forget about Siggy

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

      Siggy on throw ins.

      Digne the rest

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

    Where's Deulofail, miss him

  25. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Ryan, (Button)
    Mendy, TAA, Zappacosta, Diop, (Kelly)
    Sterling, Salah, Mané, Bilva/Siggy, (Dendoncker)
    King, DCL, (Greenwood)

    If Zappacosta is used as a right wing-back as many are predicting, I think there are points in this. Any thoughts?

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Not sure on mendy and dcl.
      Feel like mane may struggle to match last season's goal return.
      Would move mane/dcl to vardy / siggy, and you have 0.5 left to move mendy to robbo

  26. ALTOID11
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Why has everyone got a little chubby on for Dendonker all of a sudden?

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

      He might be coming to us

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

        Massive backwards step he really won’t

    2. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Should be £5m probs. Only £4.5m midfielder who is anything like nailed.

    3. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Hes one of the few 4.5 who will start most weeks.. and grabs odd goal, what's not to like for fodder?

      1. ALTOID11
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Fair points. Think I’ll follow

  27. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    How does this look? Going kdb to cover city, and salah/kane will be the capt picks

    Ryan /4.0
    TAA / Robbo / Coleman / Christensen / Diop
    Salah / Kdb / Zaha ( dendoncker/ hayden)
    Kane / King / (4.5 )

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy > KDB
      F cover

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Maybe cover not the best word, just feel like he'll get consistent returns, and dont think you need 3 of the massive hitters(from salah mane kun sterling salah) 2 of those should be good for Capt. Salah perma Capt is also an option

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

      Really like it and very similar to mine.

    3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Vardy + Brooks +0.5 > KdB + King

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Not convinced on this one.. could be close between vardy/Kdb but expect king to outscore brooks

  28. All de Gea no iDier
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    So the staff post a long and well researched article about budget defenders and the third reply to the topic is RMT followed by lots more RMT questions.

    Until the management can sort this problem there is absolutely no point in having a reply option to these articles.

  29. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else on a Leicester quadruple up.

    Currently have Chilwell, Maddison, Perez, and Vardy

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      Had no idea we could quadruple up

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        You can if you buy Perez before he transfers. Your next transfer would have to be a Leicester player out though so there's no point.

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

        If you pick Perez now whilst already having 3 Leicester players before the transfer then it is possible to have 4. You aren’r Allowed to do anything else to your team until you take one out tho

      3. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        Just get Perez before he changes teams.

        It won’t let you do any other transfer once he switches teams unless you get rid of a Leicester player though.

      4. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 9 months ago

        You can if you move in Perez before he officially moves.. and then your next transfer you are forced to move one out!

    2. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      not with their fixtures

    3. ã…¤Rising
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 9 months ago

      No one:

      Bad Kompany : Leicester quadruple up?

  30. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 9 months ago

    If Lacazette moves to Atletico de Madrid, Auba becomes a good option imo

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

      And if Auba goes United oh boy nketiah looks great