Pre-Season

The budget FPL midfielders to consider at £5.5m

Having looked at the Fantasy Premier League midfield options available at £4.5m and £5.0m, we now focus on the budget assets that can be acquired for a little bit more money.

It is stating the obvious that the midfielders available at £5.5m generally offer more of an attacking threat than the cheaper options we have already discussed, with defensive midfielders, deep-lying playmakers and reserves prominent in the £4.5m-£5.0m bracket.

There are 41 midfielders available for £5.5m at the time of writing and we will discuss them all in this latest price list analysis.

Any players featured in this article who don’t cost £5.5m will have their starting price listed in brackets.

PLAYERS FROM THE ‘BIG SIX’ CLUBS

Jordan Henderson was redeployed as a “number eight” by Jurgen Klopp in the last half-dozen matches of 2018/19.

There are eight midfielders available at £5.5m who play for one of last season’s top two.

All four of Liverpool’s assets at this price are central midfielders and the competition for places in the middle of the park is enough to put off prospective Fantasy owners, let alone the fact that many of us will have our hearts set on a double-up or triple-up on the Reds’ premium options.

Fabinho offers little for FPL bosses as the anchorman in front of the defence, while Georginio Wijnaldum (who scored on three occasions last season) is no longer the sustained goal threat he was in his first season at Anfield and final year at Newcastle.

We ought to mention that James Milner is Liverpool’s first-choice penalty-taker but it’s starts that are a problem for the veteran: the ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder only lined up in one of Liverpool’s final ten league fixtures of 2018/19.

With Milner turning 34 midway through next season and competition for places fiercer than ever in the Liverpool engine room (the fit-again Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.0m) adding to Jurgen Klopp’s options), Milner may well be even more peripheral this year.

Jordan Henderson hasn’t passed 80 FPL points in the last four campaigns but he began to take on more attacking responsibilities in the season run-in, with all four of his goals/assists coming in the final six Gameweeks.

That positional evolution will be something we’ll be keeping an eye on in the opening weeks of 2019/20.

Competition in central midfield may also pose Fantasy managers dilemmas at Manchester City this season.

Fernandinho has chipped in with a few goals over his time at the Etihad but the veteran Brazilian will perhaps be gradually phased out this season following the arrival of Rodrigo.

The summer signing from Atletico Madrid scored three league goals last season, as many as he had managed in his previous four years.

Phil Foden made only three starts in 2018/19 but this could be a big year for the England under-21 international, with David Silva (£7.5m) set to leave at the end of it.

Ilkay Gundogan adds to Foden’s competition, however, especially as Rodri has arrived to take over as the midfield anchor – a role Gundogan was forced to adopt late last season when Fernandinho was injured.

Barring an injury crisis at City which would lead to less competition for either Gundogan or Foden and the regular starts that we Fantasy managers crave, neither player will feature in many FPL squads come Gameweek 1.

The likes of Mateo Kovacic, Harry Winks and Fred are, arguably, overpriced even in this price bracket.

Winks was neither a secure starter when fit nor a significant goal threat, with his role further back in the Spurs midfield restricting him to just two shots in the box all season.

Fred made just seven starts in the 21 matches that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw, meanwhile, and failed to score in any of them.

Kovacic is another underwhelming asset available at this price, though it’s possible Frank Lampard may be able to get more out of him from an attacking point of view.

The Croatian midfielder, signed on a permanent deal this summer, didn’t find the net once last season and banked only two assists.

Kovacic jobshared his left-sided central midfield role with Ross Barkley (£6.0m) in 2018/19 and Maurizio Sarri’s predictable substitutions became something of a running joke: Kovacic was hooked in 19 of the 21 league games he started.

It will be interesting to see where Kovacic is deployed under the new regime, although he has only seven league goals to his name in as many seasons and we aren’t expecting much to change in that regard.

Granit Xhaka is Arsenal’s sole representative at £5.5m, with the Switzerland international costing exactly the same as he has done in the previous three campaigns.

We pretty much know what to expect from Xhaka now: the odd spectacular free-kick from distance (two of his four goals in 2018/19 were such strikes) and a handful of assists from dead-ball situations.

No Arsenal player took more corners than Xhaka last season, while none of the Gunners’ other midfielders made as many league starts (29).

With the Swiss midfield general we also get yellow cards, however: there were ten of these in both 2018/19 and 2017/18.

PLAYERS FROM OTHER TOP-HALF CLUBS

Just two of Ruben Neves’ 74 shots last season were from inside the box – and both were penalties.

Andre Gomes has made his move to Goodison Park permanent this summer but, while his contribution to the Everton cause can’t be overstated, the former Barcelona midfielder delivered just three attacking returns in 2018/19 from the base of the Toffees’ midfield.

Tom Davies made only ten starts last season and not one came in the final 11 Gameweeks, so he is expected to be well down the pecking order in central midfield on Merseyside.

Rachid Ghezzal didn’t make a single start under Brendan Rodgers, while Demarai Gray was jettisoned from the flanks in Gameweeks 36 to 38 when Marc Albrighton had recovered from injury.

All three now have Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) to contend with ahead of 2019/20 and we will have to see how Rodgers tweaks his system to accommodate the £30m Spaniard – it may well be that none of the three Leicester £5.5m midfield options can offer us the security of starts we crave, let alone consistent attacking returns.

We’ll also have to monitor West Ham’s pre-season friendlies to see how Robert Snodgrass fits into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans: the Scotland international did make 25 starts last season but the Hammers are very well stocked with options in midfield, as we discussed in our mid-price analysis.

No FPL midfielder available for £5.5m registered more Premier League assists than Joao Moutinho (eight) last season.

We know what to expect from Moutinho and Ruben Neves: regular starts and the occasional attacking return, although their deep-lying roles mean goals from open play won’t be easy to come by.

Neves at least has the advantage of alternating penalties with Raul Jimenez (£7.5m), while he is also a threat from direct free-kicks (he scored two of each last season).

James Maddison (£7.0m) was the only FPL midfielder to take more corners than Moutinho last season, meanwhile, so the veteran Portuguese star offers plenty of assist potential from dead-ball situations.

PLAYERS FROM THE THREE PROMOTED CLUBS

John McGinn scored five goals in the final 12 matches of last season.

Mark Duffy was the most advanced of Sheffield United’s central midfield three last season and he chipped in with 12 attacking returns in 2018/19.

The veteran midfielder only had two big chances last year, however, while a shot on goal every 66.2 minutes would be poor even by Premier League standards let alone the Championship.

Duffy also turns 34 in October and there have to be legitimate concerns over his ability to string together a series of starts in the top flight.

Luke Freeman has indeed been brought in by Chris Wilder this summer and maybe the possible heir to Duffy.

Freeman bagged eight goals and six assists at QPR in 2018/19 and only four players created more chances in the second tier.

Since making his Championship debut in 2015/16, Freeman has registered more key passes and assists than any player in the division.

READ MORE: Our guide to Sheffield United’s attacking options

Marco Stiepermann and Onel Hernandez were heavily involved with Norwich’s promotion-winning campaign and chipped in with 15 and 17 attacking returns respectively.

Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) was the only Norwich player to register more shots or more efforts in the box than winger Hernandez in 2018/19.

Operating as a number ten in Daniel Farke’s 4-2-3-1 system, Stiepermann is arguably the more secure pick as he made more Championship starts than any of Norwich’s other midfielders last season.

Loanee Patrick Roberts – without a league goal in the last two years – joins them in the £5.5m bracket and pre-season will hopefully tell us if the Manchester City prospect is to be anything other than a backup option at Carrow Road in 2019/20.

Norwich sit bottom of our Season Ticker in Gameweeks 1 to 5 so those opening games may be a good way for us Fantasy managers to scope out Farke’s preferred personnel before the fixture swing in Gameweek 6.

READ MORE: Our guide to Norwich City’s attacking options

Winger Anwar El Ghazi and central midfielder John McGinn are Aston Villa’s two options at £5.5m.

McGinn made more starts than any Villa player last season and delivered 16 attacking returns in the league.

The Scotland international was top among his Villa midfield peers for shots inside the box and efforts on target, while not one of his teammates created more big chances.

McGinn did pick up an off-putting 14 yellow cards, however.

The versatile El Ghazi registered six goals and as many assists last season and was a near-permanent fixture in the second half of the campaign, with most of his run-outs coming on the left flank.

It remains to be seen what else Villa do in the transfer window this summer but at present, he would appear to be Dean Smith’s first choice left-winger.

READ MORE: Our guide to Aston Villa’s attacking options

The usual caveat applies to all of these players who impressed in the Championship last season, as we have seen many a Fantasy asset promoted with impressive stats in the English second tier and then fail to kick on in the Premier League.

THE REST

Moussa Djenepo scored three goals in five Europa League group games last season.

Jose Izquierdo, Jeffrey Schlupp and Steven Defour are all fighting their way back to fitness and in Izquierdo and Defour’s cases, their dismal track record with injury is reason enough to stay clear.

Schlupp, meanwhile, has lost his ‘out of position’ tag having been reclassified as an FPL midfielder and his appeal is dented as a result.

We’ll have to bide our time to see if Anthony Knockaert features in Graham Potter’s plans given the wealth of options the new Brighton manager has out wide, while Christian Atsu – very much second fiddle on Tyneside once Miguel Almiron (£6.0m) arrived – will be hoping for more opportunities under Newcastle’s new manager, especially as Ayoze Perez has now departed.

Robbie Brady was ousted from the Burnley team by Dwight McNeil (£6.0m) midway through last season and has made only one start this calendar year.

Jeff Hendrick was a regular fixture on the right flank in the second half of the season but offers little in the way of attacking threat and blanked in 29 of his 32 appearances.

Ashley Westwood is the obvious Burnley option at this price, having banked two goals and eight assists in 2018/19.

Westwood was prominent at corner-kicks but only after Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) lost his place, so the central midfielder’s assist potential may well be largely dictated by whether the Icelandic winger can regain the right-wing role.

It remains to be seen if Max Meyer can build on a fairly underwhelming debut season of just 15 starts and four attacking returns but James McArthur was one of the quiet budget success stories of 2018/19, returning more FPL points than any midfielder available for less than £6.0m this season.

Ten attacking returns represented his best-ever FPL haul but it was also the security of starts that boosted his appeal, with McArthur lining up in 36 of Palace’s 38 league games.

Those regular starts perhaps mask his limited threat a little, with McArthur averaging less than one shot and one key pass per appearance in 2018/19.

Will Hughes‘ averages were better than McArthur’s but inferior to his two Watford teammates available at £6.0m, Roberto Pereyra and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Six attacking returns for Hughes was indeed half of what Doucoure managed last season.

Finally, there are three midfielders available for £5.5m at Southampton.

Mohamed Elyounoussi is seemingly persona non grata under Ralph Hasenhuttl having made just two starts since the Austrian took charge, while Stuart Armstrong also only made the starting XI in nine of the 23 matches that the current Saints’ boss oversaw.

Moussa Djenepo is, perhaps, one of the more eye-catching names available at this price.

We urged caution about the pacy Mali international in our Scout Report given that we have been burned before by imports from the Low Countries and there is always the risk that the transfer could prove to be another misstep.

If Djenepo is to become a first-choice pick under Hasenhuttl, however, then a £5.5m winger with an eye for goal would be an alluring option – as Nathan Redmond (£6.5m) demonstrated at the back-end of 2018/19.

As we have stressed repeatedly this summer, pre-season could enhance the appeal of a name or two from this list who we may have dismissed – so we will be keeping a close eye on the teamsheets over the next four weeks of friendlies.

739 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Steirish
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Good to go? Just concerned about the bench

    Ryan

    Robertson TAA Digne Zinchenko

    Salah Sterling Siggy Perez

    Jiminez King

    Button/Dendonker/Kelly/wickham

    1. zdrojo187
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Mendy > Angelino > Zinchenko

    2. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Like the team. Think bench offers enough starters.
      I'm a bit conservative so feel Perez and Zinchenko a little bit risky for me. Jiminez a great price, but concerned he won't have had much of a break.

  2. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    When Tyrone Mings is £25m player...

    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yep... I think even I'm worth a few bob nowadays

    2. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      To be fair he did look pretty good for Villa and was a big reason why they got promoted. Time will tell if he will look as good in the Prem. Not had a look in at Bournemouth due to injury, so if he can stay injury free, I've a feeling he's a pretty good buy.

  3. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT at 350,49. How about your current draft?

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      RMT is a complete waste of time so far away from the start of the season.

      1. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        It sure is, but might give some hints about value, but of course way too early.

    2. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      346.62 will tweak b4 GW1 but fairly happy at the moment.

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      362.78

      1. DeathoftheParty
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Big Doggin

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Wouldn't pick half of them.

  4. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    (Transfers)
    Is Maxi Gomez actually any good?
    40 odd mil seems pretty rich...

    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Didn’t see much la Liga last season but year before, I liked what I saw of him. Fee is steep, epl tax

      1. Zenith UK
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Tbf, we are paying his buy-out clause, only joke is they accepted a previous lower offer and because we're fighting Valencia for him they've said, nah we want the buy-out clause now. Good business, bad faith.

  5. Haz to be Eden- Top scoring…
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ryan, Button
    Robertson, Digne, Diop, Taylor, Targett
    Siggy, Sterling, Salah, Perez, Dendoncker
    Kane, King, Wickham

    How do I shed 0.5 from this lot?

    1. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy to Fraser, Digne to 5.5

    2. Marmalade Forest
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A 2-4-2 with two of Diop, Taylor, Targett and Dendonker?

      I’ve not seen a great deal of set ups similar this pre-season. Seemed quite common last few years.

    3. Hiddenpaw
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Digne to Coleman looks like the obvious one

    4. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      One of the 4.5 defs to a 4.0

    5. Haz to be Eden- Top scoring…
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Thx guys

  6. Parm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    You can definitely see a difference in teams when it's pre-season vs when the game is played week-on-week. A lot of teams looking very well set if you were in a 'zombie' league, not in one where dynamics change.

    1. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Agree. Never back yourself into an early wildcard corner because you assume you’re going to get it right. Flexible teams beat balanced teams imo. Especially at the start of the season when you have no idea about how teams or players are going to perform

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I agree, always back your previous performers and never look any further than a couple of weeks...just like you would if you were playing any other week 😉

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah agreed.

      PpG is great for assessing a player over a season, but players are rarely consistent - the points ebb and flow with fixtures and form.

      Grabbing the right players at the right time will be key to maximising your points.

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        PPG and other metrics are great for reassessing and sort of measuring that this player was good/bad etc on a level playing field without injury/rotation.
        My main point was by looking at teams right now it's giving off sort of a long-season projection kind of vibe but as FPL managers, we live week-by-week, we add value to out own team by making moves. Fair enough a lot of these picks will add 'value' over a long period of time as results level off but on a week-by-week basis I think they'll be low on the list of 'most wanted' picks.

    3. Ramboros
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      To be fair pre season hasn't even started yet. It's not like you can jump on Jahanbakhsh due to Potter setting up his team in a particular way.

      1. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Preseason is just going to rip up all of the teams. Someone like Lingard is gonna score a hattrick against a heavily depleted Perth Glory and suddenly be in every squad.

  7. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    This isn’t the team you’d pick so how would you tinker with it to make it appeal to you?

    Ederson Button

    TAA Robertson VVD Laporte El Mohamady

    Sterling Milivojevic Perez Redmond Dendonker

    Vardy Jimenez Kodjia

    1. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Redmond to Brooks, decent fixtures for Bournemouth

    2. Villa Velour
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kodjia won't be starting.

      1. Old Bull
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He will be firmly on my bench if all goes to plan. As a Villa fan, are you expecting much from him in the Prem?

        1. Villa Velour
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No, he was second best to Tammy Abraham all last season and I suspect it'll be the same again with new signing Wesley. Any more than 5 goals for the season would be a big surprise.

          1. Old Bull
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Cheers.

    3. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Just my opinion obviously but I would take everyone out and build the team from front to back. Apart from sterling and maybe Dendoncker for budget, not enjoying what I see in the mid and forward slots

      1. Old Bull
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah that’s normally how I work too, & might revert to that with the WC. But thought I’d try different, especially with the high defence scores last season. Haven’t seen much to suggest that won’t happen again this season.

        1. McEwan
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I can see the appeal of the defence, it looks fab on paper. When it comes to filling in the blanks, less so. And if it backfires, its almost certainly a wildcard to move the money outa that defence, which, it’s got to be played at some point so why not try get ahead of the curve.

          Haven’t done a draft but with that back 4, I would almost be inclined to getting the cheapest 5th defender, mid and 3rd striker slot and going with an XI, no bench players.

          1. Old Bull
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Sorry, but to clarify, do you mean you’d try to upgrade elsewhere by having the cheapest players you could get on the bench, rather than players who might get some pitch time?

            1. McEwan
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Aye. Fired something together like. Bench is a mess but

              Ederson button
              VVD Robbo TAA Laporte Reid
              Sterling Zaha Anderson Brooks Dendoncker
              Kane Deulofeu wickham

    4. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I would want a little more firepower in midfield.
      For me, I would drop one of the Liverpool def to Digne (1m saving) and drop Jiminez to a 6.5m (1m).
      This will allow Milivojevic to Sigurdsson/Richarlison and Redmond/Perez to Fraser.

      1. Thomas Jerome Newton
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Alternatively, Ederson down to a 4.5/5m for 1 or 1.5m to use.

    5. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Midfield too poor

  8. I AM THE FPL MONSTER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Rate these four best to worst for start of season: Aguero, Kane, Sterling, Mane???

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kane
      Mane
      Sterling
      Aguero

      (My answer has changed slightly remembering Liverpool's opening fixture)

      1. I AM THE FPL MONSTER
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        For first 4 gws??

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          In that case:

          Mane
          Sterling
          Aguero
          Kane

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling
      Aguero
      Mane
      Kane

    3. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You’ve asked this one hell of a lot 😯

      1. I AM THE FPL MONSTER
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cos I don't get enough replies

        1. Poseidon.
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It looks like you’ve not acknowledged a single one of them. Always a good place to start

        2. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          What does that tell you ?

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Do we think El Mohamady will be nailed at RB for Villa?

    New Doherty?

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Realistic chance of being new RB.
      What have you been smoking regarding the comparison with Doherty ?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Doherty was 4.5 last season...

    2. Lovren an elevator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You realise he's played in the premiership before and wasn't that great?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He was an absolute legend in his day. Ignorant noob

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          * I expect he will a terrible buy this time and not a regular starter

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            OK cheers WR, have they signed a new RB then? Looked like he was nailed last season for them and did well (7 assists)

            1. Tony Moon
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Yes. French RB called Guilbert - looks quite handy.

      2. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yes I know - 2 goals 5 assists with a relegated Hull not too shabby at all in 14/15

  10. LSK
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Latest draft

    Ryan, Button
    Robertson, Laporte, Trippier, Diop, A Smith
    Salah, KDB, Fraser, Jorginho, Dendoncker
    Kane, Vardy, 4.5

    Playing 4-4-2 so of course only works if Jorginho plays and is on penalties.

  11. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Draft NO.8...after feeling convinced 4-4-2 was looking like the best formation to start the season i now really like the look of this 3-5-2...thoughts?

    Ryan
    Robbo / Digne / Laporte
    Salah / Sterling / Siggy / Zaha / Perez or Tielemans
    King / Jota

    Button, El Mohamedy or Targett, Gibson, Wickham

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

      So basically it's tielmans or Perez Vs VVD? I'd still go VVD.

  12. West End Exile
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone know what the latest is on Tielemans?

    1. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Just wait for BBC to confirm it. If it happens.

  13. The Wise Owl
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is Murray being overlooked at 6.0? Good opening fixtures.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You spelt overpriced wrong

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hehe.

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The real Brighton fwd bargain could be £1 cheaper

    3. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Not the worst shout. Probably need to monitor pre-season to see who new manager prefers up front. I'm hoping one of their other, cheaper, strikers might be favoured!

    4. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Murray was in and out of my team even when he was doing okay (two seasons ago?).
      Unless Brighton turn into a Bournemouth type goalscoring machine, best to move on.

    5. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If he stays as the main man. Unsexy but probably reliable.

    6. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Invested in a tricky winger, attackin manager... On pens.

      Cons are... I've also got him.

  14. noquarternt
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    McAuley currently unattached...

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Sold!

      1. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Surely some prem team wants his guaranteed 5 goals and plenty of clean sheets?

        1. The Wise Owl
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Sheffield United I bet.

          1. Sterling Malory
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            The Jealous Owl perhaps...

            1. The Wise Owl
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Nope, just making conversation.

          2. McEwan
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Him and Jagielka at the back. Solid

  15. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who is on Pens Richarlison or Siggy?

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Siggy. Also on penalties.

      1. The Wise Owl
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I mean free kicks, it's late, sorry.

  16. Parm
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Proposing a new tab to save the 'who do I start' questions next year. Have a rankings tab, get all the 'experts' to have their player ranks for that week in each position with a consensus list and a little blurb for each.

  17. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    All this talk of playing 5 defenders seems like complete madness to me.

    Happy to let people experient for the first few weeks until people realise that anyone is capable of scoring against anyone.

    Not to mention the obvious impact of VAR penalties...

    I'll be sticking with the tried and tested 3-4-3 any how!

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The times they are a changin..

    2. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'm torn between my trusted 343 or putting more in defence. Can see the value of premium defenders now and a 6.5 def does seem better than a 6.5 mid. I always thought the top defences tightened up in the latter half of the season, meaning fewer cleanies early on. But the stats don't back me up on that - Man C and Liv kept a fair few early on last season. Can see myself going for a 442 as a compromise.

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        442 is definitely an option.

        I just can't bring myself to have 5 at the back.

        I think 3 premium gives you much better balance throughout the team. There's always low/mid priced midfielders who do better than everyone predicts.

    3. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I was looking at value for my 1st draft and it seemes to point to 5 Def's.
      However, with a bench made up of 4.5m players I wanted one of them to be a Def as a definite starter.
      I'm looking at 4-4-2 at the moment.

      1. Sterling Malory
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        There's plenty of decent 4.5 defenders that will start. Dunk/O'connell/Aarons/Targett are the ones to watch.

        1. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Yep, why I didn't want to go 5 at back so I could have a decent 4.5 Def on bench.

    4. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Drafts are always filled with players who performed well from the last season.

      After 3 or 4 game weeks everyone will wildcard as some 5.0 mid and 4.5 defender will be tearing it up.

  18. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I tried to tinker with the team, but I didn't use more than 5 minutes as I quickly acknowledged that I don't know what to change really. So even if it might not be for the better, what potential changes should I at least take into consideration?

    Ryan
    TAA Robertson Laporte Digne
    Salah (C) Sterling Siggy
    King DCL

    Subs: Button Kelly Westwood Dedoncker

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Left out Zaha in midfield*

    2. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Suggest a 15th player!

    3. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Looks good, but I'm thinking DCL a bit risky until we know more.

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Last I heard was that he got praise from the manager and that he was their current first choice. But I agree he has been somewhat rocky pointwise last season. But that might change this season. It annoys me that I'm 0.5 short of upgrading him in case it fails though. But if Mendy seems to be nailed on, I can get the 0.5 cover by downgrading Laporte

        1. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I wanted to fit a 6.0m Fwd into my team but didn't feal secure until I upgraded to a 6.5m.

        2. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Swapping one of you Liverpool defenders to Van Dijk will get you 0.5m.

    4. Tony Moon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Haven't you got 6 mids and 2 forwards there?

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I am. Greenwood... not westwood

    5. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      are you not missing a striker?

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        ^

    6. Hobolicious
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The «exact» same team as I set up the day the game was launched. I feel the 4-4-2 gives a nice balance.

      The things I will monitor the most in PS:
      1) DCL
      2) VvD vs Robertson
      3) Walker/Zin/Mendy vs Laporte
      4) 4.0m defenders
      5) Zaha transfer saga
      6) 4.5m strikers
      7) 4.5m midfielders

  19. Jekori
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Siggy > Perez
    DCL > Jota
    Ryan > Pickford

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

      Reply fail to FC Hakkebof ^

    2. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Bit worried about Jota and Europa. Wolves didn't make much rotation throughout last season, and they may suffer with lack of replacements.

      1. McEwan
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        They could be out before the season starts. And also, their fixtures allow a nice chance to see how they are lining up. Wouldn’t be in any great hurry to fire a wolves player of any value into the side from the off

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

        I only hear negatives from playing in the Europa League. If anyone might get some rest at the start it's Jimenez. And what if they do well in Europe, it's a big morale boost and they'll want to achieve it again i suppose, i think they can go for top 8 again it's not like they were super lucky, they played well especially vs the big teams.

        1. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Historically only the big teams with big squads cope well with European matches.

          Just looks at Burnley and Leicester and their league performance the season after. They do well but not as well as before.

  20. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    The first draft I feel semi-comfortable with

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA Robbo Digne (Kelly, Gibson)
    Salah Sterling Siggy Maddison (Dendoncker)
    King DCL Deulofeu

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

      i've got exactly the same defense (except heaton over Ryan)
      Only changes in attack are that i went with Kane at the cost of playing a 4.0 defender or 4.5 midfielder every week. your team is more balanced, hopefully mine has a higher ceiling

    2. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I would do Zaha over Maddison, but otherwise I like it

      1. I Must Break You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        To be clear I don't dislike Maddison as a pick though either

  21. I Must Break You
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I'm not seeing a lot of love for Dwight McNeil -- in FPL ownership %, nor in comments on this site. But 3.6 pts/game at £6m puts him near the top in terms of value per £.
    Thoughts? Was last season just an anomaly? Is it that he plays for Burnley? Are there just better values at

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kante averages 3.2 to put that into context.

      1. I Must Break You
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yes, Kante at 3.2 and Gundogan at 3.6 are good comps for value at that rough price range, but both have question marks on the roles they will play this year.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'd see Burnley's first 4 GWs out the way and assess them after that.

  22. Could Have Ben Mee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts/Advice appreciated on this lot..

    Alisson (Button)
    Coleman, Laporte, VVD (El Mohamady, Stearman)
    Maddison, Salah, Grealish, KDB (Dendoncker)
    Kane, King DCL

    1. socho
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Solid

    2. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It will be nothing like you gameweek 1 team prior to deadline.

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      In Grealish and DCL you've got two weak points in your starting XI. Unless you absolutely worship Kane, I'd downgrade him to Vardy to strengthen those 2 positions.

    4. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      DCL to fodder and upgrade a non-playing defender to a playing one imo. Try and save .5 to turn Grealish into Brooks as well

      1. Could Have Ben Mee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers.
        Ive done El Mohamady, Grealish, Maddison, DCL to
        Azpi, Brooks, Perez and Wickham. Change to a 442

  23. Reds
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    2nd RMT. 5-3-2 at the moment.....

    Lloris
    TAA, Robbo, Laporte, Walker, Digne
    Salah, Sterling, Zaha,
    King, Jota,

    Reserves: Button, Dendoncker, D Stephens, Wickham

    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      One of the better efforts tbf. Expensive gks are a no no I'm afraid. Look at BHA/BUR options.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Excellent

    3. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Not keen on the formation but could be completely wrong. I’d be tempted on Trippier or (if he looks like he’s going to play) Alonso if going for 5 at the back.

      1. Reds
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks. My main concern is the lack of flexibility, esp if say Kane (11 m) or Son (9.5m) goes crazy.

        Happy with a sterling/salah capt options but to be fair, I have never played 5-3-2 with any great success......

  24. dashdriver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Haven´t made any changes to my initial team so far.

    Allison
    Robertson / Digne / Mendy
    Salah / Sigurdsson / Fraser / Grealish
    Vardy / Wilson / Jimenez

    Does it look decent?

    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ideal front three.
      Alison - avoid expensive gk options. Get two LIV ds.
      Mendy - too much uncertainty.
      Grealish...meh.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Decent, yeh.
      We don't know Mendy will nail the LB spot. You could be lucky and save 0.5mwith Zincheno, or Pep could rotate for that spot.
      Grealish - untested.
      Wilson/Jiminez - you could save heaps with King/Jota.

    3. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I like it. I would probably bring Laporte in for Mendy a 7m mid for Grealish and downgrade Wilson to King to find it. But good team imo

      1. LSK
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Fund*

  25. LSK
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What’s better?

    a) Vardy, KDB
    b) Aguero, Brooks
    c) King, Sterling

    All the same price. Have Fraser from Bournemouth and no other City or Leicester attack. Also have Salah and Kane so I have other captaincy options.

    Thanks in advance

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      C but you need a plan to ditch one or both of King or Frazer by GW3

      1. LSK
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers, Fraser will become the form 6.5-7.5 midfielder after the Sheffield United and Aston Villa games. (Unless he is the form midfielder in which case I’ll just have to go in to the City game with him)

  26. thorvaldsson
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    DZ would love some feedback

    Heaton Button
    VVD Digne Cathcart El Mohamady Diop
    Salah KDB SIggurdsson Zaha Dendoncker
    Kane King Deulofeu

    Thanks

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I like some of those defensive picks but it's a gamble not having 2 pool defenders.
      I like El Mohamady too but some here say he is not nailed, so not sure.
      After saving that money in defence I would find a way to have Sterling over Kane but for the start of the season it's fine.
      Sterling KDB attack double up could be great.

      1. thorvaldsson
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I'm very interested in a Leicester player. Just waiting on Tielemans price. I think they will be fun and with Zaha future uncertain I would replace him. Perez, Tielemans or Maddison are on my radar.

    2. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I like it but I know people see a lot of potential in Digne but for me if you’re having 2 premium defenders it has to be 2x Liverpool or 1 Liverpool and 1 City. I think Everton premium defence is a luxury you can’t afford with that attack

      1. thorvaldsson
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        If anything I would sacrifice Digne for Allison. 21 cleansheets is a lot I only have Digne for the set piece ability he will share with Siggy.

        1. LSK
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Hmmm then you’ll be left with 4 4.5 defenders. Personally I would sacrifice one of Zaha or Sigurdsson to fund Robertson/TAA or Laporte. But I can see the temptation of keeping them.

          1. thorvaldsson
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I could drop Zaha for Perez and turn Digne into Laporte.

  27. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Lascelles and Charlie Taylor a decent rotation pair at 4.5 each or any better suggestions for 9.0?
    If I go 5.0 and 4.0 I really dont have a bench.

    1. LSK
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A Smith and Diop are good for the first 10 weeks, by which point you will probably have wildcarded. Historically not the best defences but their fixtures are good

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers goodish I will check that out.

  28. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Mexico score.

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

      That blackheel assist from Jimenez was sick. USA completely out of sorts this half. Tough road back for em.

  29. Common hypnotist
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How about some feedback on this team guys.
    Anything appreciated.

    Ederson (Button)
    Digne,Robbo,TAA, Cathcart (Kelly)
    Salah,Sterling,Zaha,Perez(Dendonker)
    Ings,Deulofeu, King
    Thanks

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Like it a lot.

      Cathcart looks a smart pick to me and you've used your money well at the back.

      I'd be tempted to switch a 6.5 forward to Gross or Brooks myself.

      1. Common hypnotist
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks
        I have Brooks in mind but I don't like the idea of having a 4.5 striker doing nothing. The switch of Ings when he inevitably gets injured frees up 1.5m with 2 free transfers if value is better elsewhere. At least thats my plan

  30. pakornk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Really happy seeing people with no Kane or Kun in the team. You guys will be missing out on hauls big time.

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Salah Sterling Robbo Taa Digne King all capable of hauling in starting fixtures.
      I'm happy to ignore Kun Kane.

      1. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        yeah...will probably get one later in the season, but if you start with both, good luck to you...they also play each other in GW2 already

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

      You can add Auba to the list. The herd is looking at season value and ignoring transfer possibilities.

      If they looked at first half returns last year they'd see Sterling is very poor value when compared to Auba and Kane - all 3 returned identically up to 22. If you add in some rotation up top well.....

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You can’t have em all unfortunately, especially at those prices...

      No doubt Kane & Kun could do well short term, heck they could do superbly well... but can they compete over the long term with Salah & Sterling’s extra point per goal, and their 15-20 point boost from clean sheets? 3 seasons of data now says it’s difficult for them...

      I did a similar check in on Kane/Auba around GW14 last year, their captaincy rotation fixtures were SUPERB all the way to the end of the season... then Salah hattricked at bourenmouth GW17-ish, and went totally mental over Christmas and the rest is history