Scout Reports

What FPL managers can expect from new Chelsea boss Frank Lampard

The appointment of Frank Lampard as the new Chelsea head coach is an interesting one for Blues’ fans and Fantasy managers alike.

The retired midfielder has had only one year in club management, having led Derby County to a Championship play-off final in 2018/19.

Maurizio Sarri’s 11-month stay in west London ended with his appointment as Juventus manager in June and there is palpable hope among the Stamford Bridge faithful that Sarri’s exit could be a positive one for the club’s many academy products.

Lampard has already hinted that he will give youth a chance next season and that prospect will seem even likelier if Chelsea’s two-window transfer ban is upheld.

The departure of Eden Hazard is a blow and, with the Blues currently unable to recruit, we are faced with a strange situation of no Chelsea player being available for more than £7.5m in Fantasy Premier League next season.

Bargains could be had among the Blues’ squad, then, with the likes of Willian (£7.0m) and Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) catching the eye in the mid-price midfield bracket and several academy graduates – such as Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, who are still yet to be priced up – potentially making the step up to senior level in 2019/20.

To help us piece together a picture of Lampard the manager, we have enlisted the help of Derby County fan site/Twitter account 12th Ram for further insight on the Chelsea boss.

What Style of Football Does Lampard Use?

The attacking returns posted by Jayden Bogle last season may be a clue as to how Frank Lampard wants his Chelsea full-backs to play in 2019/20.

We have only one season’s worth of evidence to draw upon but there were plenty of clues at Derby for what type of football Lampard will try to play in west London.

Like Sarri, Lampard frequently used a 4-3-3 but there were differences within the two systems.

Lampard often opted for an additional midfield enforcer (i.e. Bradley Johnson) just in front of the back four, as opposed to only playing a Jorginho (£5.0m)-type of ‘regista’ there.

N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) may well be the man Lampard turns to in that position, should he stick to a 4-3-3.

In his first press conference, Lampard said:

I’ve said it before, Kante is one of the greatest midfield players in the world. In the last few years, his performances have been outstanding. My job will be to find the best position to get the best out of him. I know the qualities, the attributes he has.

The new Chelsea boss exacted a high press from the front at Derby and high energy levels were asked of County’s midfielders and forwards when both in and out of possession.

The youthful zest of Ross Barkley (£6.0m) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£6.5m) may nicely fit into a similar system, although where that would leave Jorginho is another question.

It’s not a given that Lampard will use a 4-3-3 at Chelsea, of course. The new Blues’ boss experimented with a similar 4-2-3-1, a 4-4-2 and a wing-back system during 2018/19.

The full-backs in Lampard’s Derby teams have been encouraged to get forward to provide width, with County’s wide midfielders having generally played as more narrow inside-forwards rather than out-and-out wingers.

Right-back Jayden Bogle, indeed, registered more assists than any of his team-mates last season.

One of the weaknesses of Lampard’s stewardship has been the spaces left behind his gallivanting full-backs when they bomb forward.

Similarly, the new Chelsea boss’s insistence on a high line and playing out from the back also caused a problem or two.

12th Ram said:

Lampard was very clear from the outset that he wanted to play a fast, aggressive, attacking game and at times we saw that in action.

However, his stubbornness to mix up the tactics often led to us being one-dimensional and predictable. Especially playing out from the back when we didn’t have the players to do so – it cost us a few goals!

Most Derby fans would agree that his tactical stubbornness – or being naive – cost us a few times last season.

Rotation is the Fantasy manager’s nemesis and 12th Ram said that Lampard is prone to making the odd change to his line-ups on a week-to-week basis. In particular, he referenced the flanks, which could slightly temper interest in Willian and Pedro (£7.0m) ahead of the pre-season matches.

He’s a bit of a rotator but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his favourites. Expect changes each game but usually on the flanks or up top, whereas he tends to keep a more settled defence.

For much more detailed analysis of Lampard’s debut season as manager, may we point you in the direction of Ram Srinivas’s superb in-depth piece that delves into the Derby data from 2018/19.

Will Lampard put his faith in youth?

Tammy Abraham has returned to Chelsea after hitting 26 goals for Aston Villa in the Championship last season.

Lampard made positive noises about Chelsea’s youth system in his first press conference and indeed he worked with two of the club’s academy products at Derby last season.

Midfielder Mason Mount and centre-back Fikayo Tomori, who joined on loan from Chelsea in the summer of 2018, made 44 and 35 Championship appearances respectively for the Rams, with both players playing a prominent part in the play-offs too.

Five of the six players who racked up the most minutes for Derby in the second tier were 24 or under at the start of the campaign, one of whom was 18-year-old full-back Jayden Bogle.

However, 32-year-old Richard Keogh was an ever-present at the heart of the defence and thirtysomethings Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson, Scott Carson, and Tom Huddlestone all made at least 20 league starts.

Veteran Ashley Cole was also recruited in the January transfer window to add experience to the squad.

As a result, not one of Derby’s starting XIs featured in the top 50 youngest matchday line-ups of the 2018/19 Championship season.

To paraphrase Alan Partridge, it will probably be evolution and not revolution at the Bridge next year as Lampard looks to bed in a few young prospects with the future in mind while retaining a senior core of players in the first team.

Indeed, in his press conference, Lampard said:

On one hand, trying to develop young players, I think that’s really important, but at the same time, I want to work with the experienced players. I want players that, whether you’re 18 years of age or 32 years of age, you feel like Chelsea’s your club.

If we talk about losing Eden Hazard, yes we can understand that. But at the same time, we also have a very strong squad of players and I don’t want to talk down this squad because there is huge talent there. A team that managed to come third last year in the Premier League and managed to win the Europa League. We haven’t been decimated, we haven’t lost players from everywhere, we still have a very strong squad.

How Did Lampard’s Derby Compare With Sarri’s Chelsea?

Both Maurizio Sarri and Eden Hazard have departed Stamford Bridge this summer.

While any statistical comparison between a Championship club and a side in the top flight is to be taken with a pinch of salt, it is worth looking at various underlying statistics to see how Derby County and Chelsea fared in 2018/19 – particularly as both teams were somewhere towards the top of their respective divisions.

Attacking Stats
TeamGoalsShotsShots on targetShots in the boxBig chancesShot accuracyGoal conversionAvg possession
Derby1.5113.334.596.961.4546.58%11.33%55.1%
Chelsea1.6615.975.189.952.5332.45%10.38%63.6%

Above: Underlying attacking stats for Derby and Chelsea in 2018/19 (including play-offs). All figures given bar shot accuracy, goal conversion and average possession are per game.

Chelsea bettered Derby for most of the key performance indicators listed above, although the Rams were more clinical with their chances.

What is illustrated here is just how many times Derby’s players chanced their arm from distance: 47.9% of their shots were from outside the box, a higher percentage than any other Premiership or Championship club.

Derby’s midfielders and forwards seem to have been actively encouraged by Lampard to try long-range efforts. No Championship player registered more attempts or goals from outside the box than Harry Wilson last season.

That may lead to more shots for the likes of Willian, Barkley and Loftus-Cheek, should a similar mentality be adopted at Stamford Bridge. Only 37.7% of Chelsea’s attempts were from outside the box in 2018/19.

As a result of this shoot-on-sight approach, the quality of opportunities was a concern. Derby’s rate of 1.45 big chances per game was bettered by 16 Premier League clubs in 2018/19.

Reading were the only second-tier club to have fewer shots in the six-yard box than Derby (31) last season.

Defensive Stats
TeamGoals concededClean sheetsShots concededShots on target concededShots in the box concededBig chances conceded
Derby1.200.2212.713.618.371.51
Chelsea1.030.429.183.265.681.45

Above: Underlying defensive stats for Derby and Chelsea in 2018/19 (including play-offs). All figures given are per game.

Chelsea outperformed Derby on the defensive front, with the Rams only recording 11 clean sheets in their 49 league and play-off matches: the Blues managed five more shut-outs in ten fewer games.

There was a very similar number of big chances conceded by both sides on average per game, although Derby were more prone to allowing shots in the box.

Did Lampard Make an Improvement at Derby on 2017/18?

Clean sheets weren’t easy to come by for Derby in 2018/19.

In the season before Lampard’s appointment, Derby finished sixth in the Championship – exactly where they did in 2018/19.

The Rams gained one point fewer under Lampard than they did under Gary Rowett, with their rate of goals (1.51 v 1.48) almost identical across the league and play-off matches in both campaigns.

Rowett’s Derby conceded at a rate of 1.04 goals per game, compared to 1.20 under Lampard.

Interestingly, Derby kept almost double the number of clean sheets under Rowett (20) – who was criticised in some quarters for his dour tactics – than they managed under Lampard (11).

The new Chelsea boss showed more attacking ambition than his predecessor at Pride Park, with Derby averaging 13.33 shots per game under Lampard compared to 11.81 under Rowett.

Lampard’s Rams did average more shots in the box per match than Rowett’s rather less exciting side (6.96 v 6.65) although there wasn’t a great deal in it as County repeatedly let fly from distance in the season just gone.

How Does Lampard Handle The Press?

Frank Lampard in his first press conference as Chelsea manager.

Lampard has always come across as fairly intelligent and polite as a player and pundit and those traits are again evident as a manager.

12th Ram said:

If you had half an eye on the Championship last season you would have heard all about Bielsa, Leeds and Spygate! Lampard carried himself incredibly well throughout it and rarely lost face.

In post-match interviews when we’d lost he’d be visibly angry but that’s what you want to see from the boss.

One of his big positives is his levelheadedness and professionalism with the media, as you’d expect from someone who’s been in the limelight for so many years.

What we FPL managers really want from him as Chelsea boss is clear and unequivocal quotes on the Blues’ injury situation.

According to 12th Ram, the prospects look good on that front:

He’s pretty upfront regarding injury news which will be a boost to Fantasy players. Can’t remember too many times where he’s been tricky in this regard.

Final Thoughts

Christian Pulisic, Chelsea’s most expensive player in FPL, is still cheaper than 13 other midfielders.

There is understandable caution about Lampard’s appointment given his inexperience at managerial level and the weaknesses that were apparent at Derby last season.

Nevertheless, it should be stressed that 2018/19 was as much a transitional year for the Rams as it was a learning curve for Lampard himself.

The then-County boss had to move several senior high-earners on early in his tenure and instil a completely different footballing ethos to the one his players were used to under the dour Rowett.

Any defensive frailties of his preferred style and formation would, you’d think, be helped no end by having Kante – rather than Tom Huddlestone or Bradley Johnson – to call upon in front of the back four in 2019/20.

It may well be that next season is a similarly transitional one for Chelsea that 2018/19 was for Derby, as Lampard begins the long-term process of integrating academy products into the first-team set-up and trying to coach “Sarri-ball” out of the senior players already at his disposal.

Should Chelsea’s transfer ban be upheld, Lampard would also be unable to recruit the exact type of player he is looking for to prosper in his system.

Pre-season will be an interesting watch, then, while the matches against Manchester United and Leicester City in Gameweeks 1 and 2 might be decent auditions if many of us are still to be convinced that the cut-price FPL options in Chelsea’s squad are as good as they seem.

1,169 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A) VVD & Laporte
    B) Robbo & Walker

    Have TAA locked in

    1. pokern1nja09
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    3. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Depends a lot on whether City get another RB in. Don't sweat it for now.

    4. ROLLING THE DICE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

  2. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Bottomed.

    Going to settle on this until end of pre-season. Would appreciate as much food for thought as possible!

    Ryan,
    TAA, VVD, Digne, Zinchenko, Shaw
    Salah, Sterling, KDB
    King, DCL

    Button, Noble, Dendoncker, Greenwood

    £0.5m ITB for DCL - Deulofeu or Zinchenko to Mendy.

    Please opine!

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

      Really like this. Though you will probably need to get maguire if he joins or walker in for zinchenko

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate. Chenko and DCL the obvious wait-and-sees

    2. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Upgrade DCL with the 0.5 now (Everton actively bidding for strikers - unlikely he'll start the season as anything other than first-change) and be open to downgrading Digne to Coleman (because it's probably not a downgrade) if you do need that half-mil back again.

      I don't get the Shaw thing at all but otherwise, yeah, I applaude you for putting your pen down for a while, so to speak. So much still to change!

      1. Worsle90
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Exactly but there really isn’t much point fretting endlessly when we have no idea where we stand with the more interesting picks.

        Digne on some set-pieces is, I suppose, the difference. Certainly open to swapping with Coleman down the line, though, if it becomes a sensible option.

        I like Shaw. Got a hunch.

  3. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Which is the better option please all?

    A) King, KDB and Ake
    B) Wilson, Zaha and Mendy/Digne

    1. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      King Zaha and digne

  4. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kelly didn’t start today, can we take from it something ?

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

      *tears autopick team apart*

    2. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Was just thinking that, at most, 1.4% of all these RMTs will still be relevant if it transpires Kelly won't be getting any minutes come August.

      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Not really. He's in most teams because he's 4.0 but not because we expect him to play.

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

          But most people have Dendo, him and a non-playing third-sub for their bench. If Ward is also non-playing, suddenly everyone needs an extra 0.5 because Dendo's not nailed either.

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

      It was a very experimental team. Read nothing into it apart from the fact that Dann is fit anyway!!

      Kelly is a very unlikely starter in any event without injuries imo

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

      Came on second half and scored

  5. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Rotating skips:
    A Salah/Sterling
    B Auba/ Kane with 2.5 to spare?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A, best two players in the game and fairly easy to have both

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        B would probably get you a pretty nice rank if A start poorly for some reason though

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        B rotates perfectly and Home point for the 2 is almost on a par with A rotation

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

      A

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

      Depends on the 3rd player/

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        It means moving a 4.5 defender to a premium

  6. Godfrey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Diego Costa >> Wolves seems close. What price do we expect for the Spanish Brazilian?

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

      Is he? Cripes.
      West ham could use him actually

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

      I thought Everton were looking at him?

  7. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    If only Brooks was nailed we could all get him instead of Fraser and save 1m

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

      If a fella met a fella in a fellas field full off fpl managers and asked those fellas who in my fpl team should i field?

      How many F's in that?

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

      If only your team was nailed.

  8. BooYaKasha
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    KDB + B.Silva
    Or
    Sterling + Kante
    ?

    1. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      1

    2. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Or Sterling + 4.5mid + upgrade to a better defender?!

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

    Very few teams on here with Aguero. Maybe the extra 1m is too much for most.

    1. Dr Mulholland
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Can't help feeling that he's not consistent enough.

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

        Priceless.

      2. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He consistently performed well at home matches.

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

      He was tricky last season - all about timing with Kun

      200 points for the season, 54 of which came in three games -you had to be very accurate with the captaincy to get the best out of him

      Salah & Sterling probably way ahead of him in the queue for people’s budget... Kane 1m cheaper also

      Would anyone really be suprised if Kun had 50 points after the first 4 GW’s either though

    3. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yet many teams with Kane

      Funny isn’t that aguero seems to perform really well under pep gaining his highest tally in years yet Kane with his injuries and differing position is still more popular

    4. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I've got him at he min but he only ever gets 60 minutes which Is a concern. Kane will play 90 minutes quite a lot

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

      kun the player i hate not owning, always scared of a haul, 3, 4 , 5 goals in a game ! always a popular cap pick to.
      plus as my only premium forward will be an easy swap to kane, auba etc if theres an injury

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

      Have him right now and expect to start with him. If you don’t start with him the most likely way to get him is WC for most

      Kane from GW3 is an easy move. Not vice versa

    7. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      One or two from:

      Salah
      Mané
      Sterling
      Aguero
      Kane

      I think it's quite easy to see why Aguero isn't in many teams - Sterling

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

        Salah and Aguero for me.

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

      His one of my first picks

  10. Dr Mulholland
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Can't stop tinkering:

    David Luiz, Sterling + Dendoncker
    or
    Dunk, Mané + Perez

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

      1st 3 imo

  11. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Pickford
    VVD, TAA, Mendy (Walker if not nailed)
    Sterling, Mane, Sigurdsson, Perez, Zaha
    King, Jota

    Thoughts?

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

      Bench?

      1. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Only one usable player. Chester from AV, the others are fodder.

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

          Decent lot, Salah will decide your early GWs.

  12. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Got to ask the obvious Q....Tielemans or Perez???

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

      Wait until after pre season friendlies to decide. Depends very much where Perez is playing . As a 2 with Vardy makes him the better option imo.

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers pal

      2. BigBarn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        ^^This^^

      3. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Why wait when you can choose, lock & load now.

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

          This is very true . Some could do this and stop asking multiple repeated stupid questions.

          1. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            There are no stupid questions, only stupid posters.

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

      I think Perez, but we shall see through preseason.

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

      Perez will likely be playing further up field, on the flank or as a support striker for Vardy. I think given he is OOP and came in for big money he could be a great shout. Tielemans was great last season I just think he wont be able to produce the same numbers this year.

      It's a very close one and ultimately up to how you feel about it.

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers guys! Totally appreciate it’s a wait and see but keen to see people’s thoughts. Actually sounds like Perez the current favourite!

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I like people saying Tielemans stats "he can't possibly keep it up"
          Why the hell not? He is class

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yep that’s just his level. The reason Rodgers started so well at Leicester

  13. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    ignoring the woeful bench, what do you think? Kelly/Jorginho rotation

    Heaton (4.0)
    TAA VVD Trippier Kelly (Gibson)
    Salah Sterling KDB Bilva (Jorginho)
    King Deeney (4.5)

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      V risky!

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Too many City mids man

    3. Carlton P
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Terrible. Always trying to think outside the box

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        😀

    4. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nasty team!

  14. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Still tinkering...A or B fellas and why??

    A) Heaton
    TAA - Robbo - Coleman - 4.5
    Salah - Sterling - Tielemans/Perez - Siggy
    King - Vardy

    B) Heaton
    TAA - Robbo - Digne
    Salah - Zaha - Tielemans/Perez - Siggy
    King - Aguero - Adams

  15. Flight Of the Naby Keita
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Would appreciate some destructive criticism on this draft:

    Heaton (if no.1)
    Robbo | VvD | Laporte | Digne
    Salah | KdB | Zaha | Tielemans
    Kane | DCL

    Button | Dendo | Kelly | Greenwood

    Could downgrade defence and upgrade Tielemans to Maddison/Mili (or Sig at a stretch), but Tielemans at 6.5 is pretty great...
    Digne to a 5.5 defender seems doable, who do people see as the best option? Coleman/Chilwell/a Spurs lad?

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

      I quite like it except it lacks City attackers

      1. Flight Of the Naby Keita
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Could tweak to

        Heaton
        Robbo | VvD | Walker | Coleman
        Salah | Sterling | KdB | Zaha
        King | DCL

        or as above with Sterling & King Aguero & Tielemans?

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

          I think Sterling is the way forward. I am no expert though mate. Just my gut. But KDB could be a feasible match for him.
          I would say tbf go with one of those three. Don't shoehorn 2 in. Like I say I am starting with Sterling. And keeping Kane

  16. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Is anyone considering Willian? At 7M and without Hazard around surely he will have some set pieces and more opportunities to play.

    Also scores as 2nd best value player on RMT for first 10 gws....

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      yes I am, probably start with Moura and switch to Willian after a couple of weeks

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pedro ?

  17. Samian
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I think I've found it. Not looking for a RMT just wanted to share what I've come up with...

    Ryan / Button
    Alexander-Arnold / van Dijk / Laporte / Coleman / Kelly (or Rico, or whichever 4.0 gets the most pre-season minutes / looks most nailed on)
    Salah / Sterling / Willian / Jorginho / Dendoncker
    King / Rashford / Murray

    I think Willian, Rashford, King and Murray will be great value. Jorginho probably wont see too much playing time, but a Chelsea penalty taker as my 1st sub isn't a bad shout, and thinking he will play a bit further forward with Kante reverting to DM.

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure about Willian & Murray

    2. abaalan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Very similar to what I was going for. Was thinking Hayden > Dendoncker and DCL > Murray.....

    3. Fit of Pique
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Been using the RMT tool? 😉

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

      Not bad this, only thing for me is Murray and Jorg but you know the risks, and I can tell you love a penalty taker

  18. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Murray or DCL?

    1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wesley or whichever Brighton striker out if locadia or Andone gets the nod

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      DCL if they dont sign a new striker

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Rich might get the job if they sign malcom

  19. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Totally off topic here ...
    does anyone think Sir Kim Darroch looks like Phil Mickelson?

    I'll get my coat .......

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

      I think he looks like a pudgy Sir Humphrey Appleby and i bet he just as machiavellian as him.

  20. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Brooks + 1m or Fraser?

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

      If all history is relative, there can be no such concept as 'being'. Discuss that instead?

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        But these sorts of things don’t matter

      2. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A: History means noting therefor i am?

        B:If one is measured by their history could they be descirbed as a has being?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Give him a B.

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

    1.5 mill to improve this lot. I’m committed to no Salah to start with anyway. Kun is there for GW1 and 2 to leave Kane open for 3. Happy to captain Liverpool defence when required

    Alonso could be Digne or Luiz if not nailed - more cash

    Fab (Button)
    Robbo TAA Alonso Cathcart (O’Connell)
    Sterling Siggy Perez Yarmo (Romeu)
    Kun Jota (Wickham)

    Main options now are

    Siggy to KdB - triple City! But wary from being burnt last time
    Cathcart to power defender
    Yarmo to Fraser
    Jota to Wilson

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

      Surely you need Kane for 1?
      Alonso could be amazing!

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

        I’d be more tempted by Auba against Newcastle in truth. The point about starting with Kun is that he’d be very hard to get otherwise. Not 100% on that but leaning that way

    2. Worsle90
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Upgrade Cathy

  22. Carlton P
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on Azpi? At 6.0 and should get 150 points or so
    A) set and forget option
    B) better trying to hit the in form 5.5-6.5 mid/forward?

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

      Definitely a good option just got to wait and see how Lamp's sets them up

    2. Fit of Pique
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Debating this myself. Azpi seems like the much more likely get but nervous about 5 at the back, is there enough options there?

      1. Carlton P
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        TAA l Robbo l Digne l Azpi
        Coleman
        Trips
        Ake

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Could be great. Bap machine too

      1. Carlton P
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        As a set and forget option I think he could be great. Leaves more tinkering for the in form mid price mids/forwards

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

      Liking the thought of Chelsea defence, Kante back to what he does best could improve it. Also Hazard out and not not tracking back could be a plus!!

      Posted above experimental Alonso pick! Luiz would be my next port of call I think. Though Azpi and potentially Christensen at 5.9 are both interesting too.

  23. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Having another 6.5 option (Tielemans) makes Perez a much safer option.

    Ederson
    TAA Robbo Walker Digne
    Salah Sterling Zaha Perez
    King Deulofeu

    Four wingers and six strikers anyone!?

    1. Scotty B
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Great team lad

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Will be interesting to see what happens with Zaha

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

      Like it mostly but double City defence just feels back to front.

    4. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Get Pickford instead of Ederson, and get rid of Digne. With the remaining 2m get a decent forward for 6,5 (Jota maybe)

  24. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ohhhgg oh oh ohhhhhhhh look at this........

    Ederson
    Coleman Walker VVD Digne Robbo
    Salah Siggy Brooks
    King Aguero

    Norris Dendonker Guendouzi Nketia

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

      I'd rather not.

      1. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Come on give credit. Look at that team!!!!

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      pretty nice, do you prefer it to this?

      Heaton (4.0)
      TAA VVD Digne Trippier Zinchenko
      Salah Sterling KDB (Jorginho Donck)
      King Deeney (4.5)

      1. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I do tbh but yours still good.

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

      B . Is this the right answer ?

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

      Very nice, 5-3-2s do look the best on paper I've noticed

      1. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks. My only worry is Brooks, but he should be nailed shouldn't he?

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

          He will be a great option if Fraser moves to Arsenal but if he stays Fraser should be worth the extra million imo.

          1. Scotty B
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Will he still be nailed?

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

          I'd go for Perez or Tielemans instead

    5. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You don't need Coleman mate, just get another mid or something

  25. Snevitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Ings' points projection seems rather high, both for the season and the first six weeks. Anyone considered him?

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

      Not with all of their strikers now and him made out of glass

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

      Ings is a good price, I'll probably own him at some point, but I don't like the fixtures.

      I also want to see what Djenepo's role is, and how well Che Adams performs.

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

        Very confused at the projection to be honest, definitely a wait and see.

    3. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It is the same trap as last season... 🙂

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

    Sorry another one! A or B please?

    A) TAA | Robbo | KdB | Siggy (4-4-2)
    B) TAA | VVD | Sterling | Zinchenko (5-3-2)

    No City defense with A if you think that matters.

    Thanks

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

        Cheers

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

    A. Sterling + 4.5
    B. KDB + Fraser

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

  28. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Pickford (Button)
    VVD, TAA, Walker (Chester, Kelly)
    Mane, Sigurdsson, Perez, Zaha (Dendoncker)
    Aguero, King, Deulofeu

    Thoughts?

    1. Flight Of the Naby Keita
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Looking very strong imo.

      I prefer Salah & Maddison to Mane & Sigurdsson but I'm not sure there's much in it...
      Pickford, Sig, Aguero Heaton, Maddison, Kane would give you enough to do Perez to KdB if that appeals?

  29. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    12.5 +12 =24.5 Points for the season 259 + 234 = 483 x 2 for captain =966 *80% =780 choosing them /24.5 = 32 pts per mil
    11+11 =22. Points per season 205 +(160+20% for short gametime= 192) =365 x 2 =762 x 80% choosing them = 610 /22 is 27.5 pts per mil

    This Gunk says salah and sterling better than auba and kane by a margin.
    However, Home fixtures spell a different story.

  30. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    David Brooks a good pick?

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

      of course not