Scout Reports

Attractive price boosts Tielemans’ appeal

Leicester City’s permanent signing of Youri Tielemans (£6.5m) continues to boost interest in their assets for the start of the 2019/20 season.

Fantasy Premier League managers had already been considering Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) and James Maddison (£7.0m) so far in the summer, but the cheaper Tielemans will now rival those two – as well as new singing Ayoze Perez (£6.5m) – for inclusion in our squads.

In this latest Scout Report article, we will analyse the Belgian’s exploits during his loan spell at Leicester last season and assess his potential for the 2019/20 campaign.

Later today, we will have a more in-depth look at Tielemans’ numbers and how they stand up to Maddison’s in particular in an article for Fantasy Football Scout members.

The History and Statistics

Tielemans has been the subject of interest from Europe’s top clubs for some years

Tielemans has been one of the most promising midfield prospects of European football in recent years.

Still only 22-years-old, the Belgian has already made over 250 senior appearances across his country’s top flight as well as Ligue 1 and, as of February 2019, the Premier League too.

Between 2013 and 2017, Tielemans was at Anderlecht, where he scored 35 goals in 185 appearances in all competitions.

His last campaign in Belgium saw him net five times in 15 European appearances.

That’s what drew attention to him from the bigger clubs on the continent and earned him a move to AS Monaco.

Tielemans did not have quite so much success in Ligue 1, scoring just five times in 47 league matches for Monaco.

However, that didn’t stop him hitting the ground running when he arrived in Leicester back in January of this year.

It took Tielemans just three games to get his first attacking return for the Foxes, providing an assist in a 2-1 win over Brighton in Gameweek 28.

That started an incredible run of reliability for the Belgian international as he went on to involve himself in eight goals in the next nine Gameweeks.

In fact, between his debut in Gameweek 26 and the end of the campaign, only Vardy (12) secured more attacking returns than Tielemans (eight).

Three of those were his own goals, with a further five coming from four regular assists and one of the Fantasy variety, a deflected cross to Wes Morgan (£4.5m) against Burnley in Gameweek 31.

During that time, Maddison was the next most central figure to Leicester’s FPL developments, scoring twice and assisting three times (five goal involvements).

That was three fewer than Tielemans despite playing 27 more minutes than him between Gameweeks 26 and 38.

So the question moving forward into the new campaign is whether or not the Belgian can continue to outperform Maddison, given that he already offers a £0.5m saving.

A closer inspection of the underlying statistics shows an interesting story, revealing that it’s not an open and shut case when we compare Tielemans against his now-permanent colleagues towards the back end of last season.

Player Mins per shot Mins per shot in the box Mins per shot on target Mins per chance created
James Maddison 31.9 124.2 111.8 26
Harvey Barnes 25.8 34.8 114.4 57.2
Jamie Vardy 29.8 33.4 64.8 64.8
Youri Tielemans 35.2 155.9 90.9 68.2

We discuss Perez’s underlying numbers, meanwhile, in a piece written shortly after his move from Newcastle.

The Prospects

Tielemans’ underlying statistics compared to his Leicester colleagues were not quite as impressive as first expected

As you can see from the table above, Tielemans did not come out on top for any of the attacking statistics we used to compare him against his key team-mates.

Maddison created more chances than any Leicester player between Gameweeks 26 and 38, averaging one every 26 minutes.

The fact that he has almost complete control of corners and free-kicks will have played a big part in this.

Next up was Harvey Barnes (£6.0m), who fashioned one every 57.2 minutes.

Even centre-forward Vardy averaged a better minutes per chance created than Tielemans’ 68.2.

That’s not to say that the Belgian was not an important part of the team though. In fact, no Leicester player created more big chances than Tielemans during his time at the club last season.

Recording a total of six, the same number as Ricardo Pereira (£6.0m), meant that the Belgian averaged a big chance created every 181 minutes.

When studying the goal threat, we can see again that Maddison was shooting more often than Tielemans too, as was Barnes and, not surprisingly, Vardy.

The Foxes’ talismanic striker was obviously top for minutes per shot in the box (33.4) too and, out of these four key team-mates, Tielemans actually came out worse in that department, averaging a shot in the box every 155.9 minutes.

Tielemans may have to work hard to sustain his form from the end of 2018/19 in the new campaign

Perhaps it’s possible then that such a run as he produced at the end of last season, in which he secured eight attacking returns in nine Gameweeks, is somewhat unsustainable at the start of 2019/20.

What these pieces of information mean for Tielemans’ expected goals (xG) is something we will have to save for our upcoming Members-only article.

How his underlying translates into xG, and those of his colleagues will give us the full picture of what use Tielemans will be to Fantasy managers this season.

As that data is a big part of our Membership package, only those signed up for the 2019/20 campaign will be able to read our analysis of it, coming later today.

While Tielemans doesn’t hold up as favourably as we’d hoped when it comes to the raw underlying statistics, there are, of course, plenty of positives about the player.

In particular, he seems to have advantages over Maddison and Barnes in terms of security of place in the team.

For the majority of Tielemans’ time at Leicester, he was stationed in a central midfield pairing of a four-man bank, enjoying consistent time in the same role.

However, while he was in that role, Brendan Rodgers experimented with different roles for the fifth midfield man.

Sometimes Maddison was deployed as a number 10 behind Vardy in a 4-4-1-1, while at others, Wilfried Ndidi sat behind the midfield in a 4-1-4-1.

Furthermore, Maddison was also moved into several positions within the midfield four at times, either in the middle with Tielemans, or in the place of Barnes on the left flank of it.

Either way, compared to those two midfield team-mates, Tielemans held his position while the others shifted around him.

That is certainly to his credit as it would have almost certainly contributed to his consistent return of FPL points compared to Maddison and Barnes.

Crucially, the £6.5m price-tag is the key appeal of Tielemans though.

The £0.5m over Barnes is worth paying given that he is considerably more assured of a start than the Englishman, while he still offers a £0.5m saving against Maddison, who he outscored in his time at Leicester in 2018/19.

602 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Kane and Bilva or sterling and Mili?

    1. Bumbaclot
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Kane and milli

      1. Bumbaclot
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Kane and Silva *

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

    Ryan
    VVD - Coleman - Laporte
    Salah - KdB - Siggy - Pulisic - Gross
    Vardy - King

    Button - Fredericks - Kelly - Wickham

    Realise Pulisic and Gross are risks but trying to avoid as many double ups at the start as possible. Price points make it easy to jump on someone as well.

  3. Bumbaclot
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A. VVD/delofeu

    Or

    B. TAA/DCL

    Thanks

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

      A

    2. FPL-Gutten
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

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

      B

  4. Baked baines
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How’s this 1st draft looking guys? Any obvious changes to be made?

    Ryan

    TAA Ake AWB Robbo Digne

    Zaha Salah

    Wilson Vardy Kane

    1. Bumbaclot
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I don’t like the 2 mids thing and also can’t see your bench. So 2/10

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

      Why do you have AWB?

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

        Why, is he not allowed to have him?

    3. Baked baines
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Bench is fodder

      Button Hayden Dendonker Obiang

    4. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      what happened to you midfield?
      Sacrifice Kane and 1 premium defender to bulk up midfield

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

      ditch Kane, Wilson,AWB

      Bring in some quality in midfield - Sterling/KDB/Siggy

      King up front is a no brainer, jota/Jimenez/DCL all good value also

  5. b91jh
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    At the sub-premium price range, would u prefer KDB or Vardy?

    1. mcmd11
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy

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

      KDB. Its not comparable

      1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        this

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

        this also

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

      Depends who replaces each of them, though.

      For example, If you have Sterling instead of KdB so then you pick Vardy instead of, say, Aguero then fair enough.

  6. mcmd11
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Robo or TAA? why?

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

      Both, they're awesome.

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

      Taa on set pieces, more likely to get assists and goals

    3. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      TAA for me, fell in love last season 🙂

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

        I've got both. If I absolutely have to squeeze 0.5 from somewhere, Robbo can > VVD.

  7. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Perez or Tielmans or both ?

    Also is Pulisic nailed ?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Perez/Teilemans needs pre-season assessment. They are the same price so pointless deciding now.
      I don't think it will take long for Pulisic to be nailed - may be eased in initially though.

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Both is an interesting option though, and not one I have seen many suggest.

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

          I will have both of them, they are super cheap

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            True - though I do have slight reservations about having the likely 3rd and 4th most productive attacking players from a team that is likely to finish mid-table in my starting 11.

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

        I think Pulisic must be nailed. They payed a lot for him

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tielemans for now, settled and consistently good.

      He should be.

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

        I've got both for now. They're just such great value. Will monitor pre-season though, to see if both start and are sufficiently offensive.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tielemans

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

    Thoughts on my current squad?

    Alisson
    Coleman VVD Mendy Vertonghen
    Salah KDB Zaha Maddison
    Kane King

    Not sold on Mendy but definitely want a way into that City defence. Could find .5m from somewhere for Laporte... Maybe swap Zaha for Brooks?

    First year on this site so would appreciate some pointers! lost my work league last year... that can't happen again

  9. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    What do we think folks?

    Kepa
    VVD, TAA, Zinchenko
    KDB, Salah, Zaha, Tielemans, Yarmolenko
    King, Adams

    Button, Christensen, Kelly, Barnes

    2ITB which will likely upgrade Christensen and Yarmolenko but waiting on preseason to find out more

    1. mcmd11
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pretty good. Maybe try to upgrade KDB to Sterling. Not sure if Adams is nailed.

      1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Can get in Sterling fairly easily but I think KDB at that price is a steal if playing consistently!
        Adams is to keep it exciting... likely that will be GW1 transfer out 🙂

  10. mcmd11
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    thoughts on this team?

    Ryan (Button)
    VVD Digne Robo Laporte (Kelly)
    Salah Sterling Sigi Maddison (Dendoncker)
    Deulofeu King (Greenwood)

    Cheers

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      7.5/10

      Not sold on Deulofeu and better options instead of Siggy at that price IMO

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

        Who do you rate higher than siggy at that price? I'd say he is pick of the bunch at 8.0

        1. Alli 3',17',64�…
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Bilva

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

            lol, fair enough, I may be picking them both alongside Salah and Sterling, but still think early on Siggy is the better option of the two of them. Evertons fixtures are great

            1. Alli 3',17',64�…
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Yea probably and Bilvas position not certain or minutes tbh but just a cheap way into city and he most likely will perform. He was a bit of a thorn in my side at certain times last season

          2. Majestic Chanka
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Bilva has a bad habit of blanking in games where city score 5 or 6.

            He can be good but I think Siggy is the better option in price and Sterling/KdB/Kun/Defence are all better uses of a City slot.

  11. Markus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Does anyone know any betting sites that has odds on total team goals or total clean sheets (or even most clean sheets) across the season? Spreadex is good for individual player goalscoring market estimates but don't know if any bookmakers do season team bets as would be helpful to understand where the market anticipates these things from a fantasy perspective...

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Good bookies comparison site.
      https://www.oddschecker.com/

  12. Assist me a river
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    1 to 10? What do you guys think?

    Alison
    Van Dijk - Laporte - Talyor (burnley)
    Tielemans - Salah - Siggy - Brooks - Zaha
    Aguero - Jota

    Button, Targett, Dunk, Wickham

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      7/10

      Sterling over Aguero for me, with VAR coming in this could very well change
      Better options than Brooks at that price

      1. Assist me a river
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        The VAR thing is deffo a factor!

        Which player would you transfer Brooks for?

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

      Decent team.... I prefer Sterling to Aguero and King to Brooks... can you afford to switch them round?

    3. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Pretty great. Taylor the only one I'd have question marks over. Like many others, I think Allison is a waste of a liverpool spot.

  13. Kante FC
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Ederson (Button)

    Robbo - TAA - VVD - Digne - Coleman

    KDB - Siggi - Maddison (Dendoncker - Stephens)

    Kane - Vardy (Greenwood)

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

      Good team, but with no Sterling or Salah will be lots of hiding behind the sofa. But you can't have them all

    2. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No Liverpool mid?
      Double everton defence could backfire

    3. Netley Lucas
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      The value of that back 6 appears sound, not sure you've nailed the value of good captaincy further forward though, big sofa?

    4. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Ditch one of the Everton defenders for someone like azpil?

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

    Ok ,I'm going round in circles, but effectively have 2 versions of my draft - I cannot be persuaded to invest heavily up front.... here are my options - which one do you prefer?

    Draft 1 (my current preference)

    Ryan
    Robertson, vvd, Coleman, Walker
    Salah, Sterling, SIGGY, BILVA
    King, DEULOFEU

    Bench is fodder with only a 4.5 mid likely to play

    Draft 2 (the KDB one)
    Ryan
    Robertson, vvd, Coleman, Walker
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, 7.0 (Zaha/Maddison/tielemans etc,,,)
    King, DCL

    Bench similar, although if I got a 6.5 mid I'd have a 4.5 defender along with a 4.5 mid to come off my bench

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

      also Walker may be Mendy or Zinchenko in draft 1 or possibly LaPorte in draft 2 if I get a 6.5 mid and don't upgrade my bench

  15. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Between these three for final two places:

    A) Aguero and Perez (have Tielemans)
    B) Sterling and Deulofeu/Jota
    C) KDB and Vardy

    If C then will perma captain Salah first 5 gws.

    Thanks

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

      B or C, tough call

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        It is. C might make my life easier with only one captain option.

    2. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      hmmm C just for me

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

      currently on B

  16. Alli 3',17',64�…
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    I really hope Costa comes back that will be epic for Wolves and the entire premier league. Great player he is, Chelsea losing him was a massive mistake

  17. avfc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    West Ham news...

    A new shirt number for Chicha - 9.

    Also, Yarmolenko is the new no 7.

    Travelling squad for Asia Trophy...

    Goalkeepers: Fabianski, Martin, Roberto
    Defenders: Cresswell, Diop, Fredericks, Johnson, Ogbonna, Reid, Zabaleta
    Midfielders: Lanzini, Cullen, Diangana, Noble, Obiang, Rice, Sanchez, Snodgrass, Wilshere
    Forwards: Antonio, Chicharito, F. Anderson, Yarmolenko

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wilshere - forgot completely about him! Likely to be a threat to some in the starting 11?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        If he can stay fit... although there is a lot of competition with Fornals to come in.

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

      Whilst I'm no fan I can see Chica staying and possibly being an option now. I'd rather they spend on someone good of course

    3. Kimmich
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Chicharito
      Yarmolemko - Lanzini/Fornals - Anderson
      Rice - Noble
      Cresswell - Diop - Balbuena - Fredericks
      Fabianski

      Just an example team but a striker away from being up there with Leicester and Wolves.

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

    Id be totally OK with man Utd buying lemina - very decent CM (when fit)

    Not for FPL obvs tho

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

      Saints reject? Sloppy seconds if they can't afford a kid who's played a dozen PL games? My, how the mighty have fallen.

  19. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Foxes 300/1 for the league.
    They couldn't, could they?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      About a 1 in 301 chance I reckon.

      1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        😆 You nevery know !!

        1. Alli 3',17',64�…
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No chance it’s not like that happened before 😀

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

      Wasn't it 5000/1 last time. Now that I'd put a quid on.

      1. Alli 3',17',64�…
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I think 1000/1 wasn’t it?

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

          I'll take it 😉

      2. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I believe it was in that ball park and there were a few Fox fans with a tenner E/W and the like. Lucky booglers!

        Bookies have wisened up now, though Blades and Canaries are 2500/1 and you can even get 2000/1 on the Cherries. 🙂

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

            Aha! I remember stuff like that. Now, where did I put me glasses?

  20. martyhan
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this please
    Lloris ( button)
    Vvd robbo Laporte coleman (Kelly)
    Salah kdb Townsend Perez (dendoncker)
    King Kane (Wickham)

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

      not keen on LLoris bur otherwise nice, no Sterling is a worry

  21. avfc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    That Zimmermann news is a blow for Norwich. Godfrey likely to replace him alongside Klose.

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

      What happened?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Knee injury, out for 4-6 weeks.

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

      So guess that is another blow for my no Salah team...

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

    A) KDB, Fraser, Wilson
    B) Sterling, King, Deulofeu

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

      B

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

      a = 2 mids and a striker
      b = 2 strikers and a mid

      So who are the other players involved?

  23. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Can you add in Barnes and Perez in the comparison article that coming up later?

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Posted this last night. Looking at cheap three way rotations in defence.

    Assuming Kelly is looking likely to play for the first few games you can save quite a bit. Makes 352 look a good option in this case. For example:

    Pope
    Robertson, VVD, Smith
    Salah, Sterling, Siggy, Zaha, Perez
    Wilson, King

    4m, Dunk, Kelly, Greenwood

    What are people’s thoughts on this team?

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

      You're relying on BOU to start with a bang. If they don't you'll have a lot of catching up to do. Kelly is unlikely to start.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I’d be trying to avail of the first two fixtures anyway for sure. Wilson could then become Jiminez/Abraham etc come Gw3 would be my thinking.

      2. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Andy with Sakho and Tomkins currently injured CPL only have 4 listed defenders fit. Is there someone from the midfield list more likely to play in defence ahead of Kelly?

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

          If both of them don't recover and Palace don't buy or loan in anyone, he starts. Got a month to go but right now I don't fancy the odds.
          Dunk rotates quite well with a Burnley 4.5 for a bit, other than GW4 (I have Dendonk to step up in emergencies).

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Thank you.

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

      Not a fan of Pope in goal. Really not sure who will play in goal for Burnley this season (or if they'll keep many clean sheets) so I'd try and change that. The rotation seems fine and the 5-2 up front makes more sense than the 4-3 as Perez is probably better than getting in DCL or someone similar in the forward position

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Pope can be any other 4.5gk but with Hart and Heaton being rumoured with other clubs it would seem he is likely to be first choice but pre season will show us more.

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

        Pope's fine. He will be the #1 for Burnley, and I'd have more confidence in him than bandwagon Ryan.
        Smith's a third Cherry, hence my comment about over-reliance on them, albeit with their kind 1st 2 GWs.

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

          Maybe he is the best option at 4.5 but I don't think it's a good idea to have a 4.5 keeper as your only keeper. I think its worth trying to find the budget to get a 5.0 keeper

        2. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Yeah thanks Andy I agree with what you are saying. I suppose I’d normally go form over fixture but with nothing to go off at the moment I’m going with fixtures. I just see the 3 promoted teams struggling massively.

    3. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Who’s Smith?
      Areas u need to look at are:
      Smith
      Perez
      Wilson/King

      Do Wilson > Jimenez and then look at upgrading smith

      I wouldn’t rotate it never works well

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        What’s your thinking with Perez/Wilson/King? All 3 are veg good options imo?

        As I mentioned above Wilson to Jiminez could be on the cards for gw3.

        Adam Smith of Bournemouth. 4.5/4.5/4 rotation in defence. Frees up some cash.

        1. Alli 3',17',64�…
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Bournemouth are atrocious in defence, and two Bournemouth forwards no ty. Fraser and one forward is the right idea imo. The forwards could work out tbh but no Bournemouth defence

  25. Kizza_10
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    How do you think she looks likes with 3 big hitters, Granted the bench is weak but I’m willing to gamble in the opening few game weeks. Do you think this is viable. Any advice is welcome.

    Ryan
    Wan B Robertson Walker VVD Coleman
    Tielemans Salah Sterling Moutinho
    Kane

    Subs, button, donkey, wickham, greenwood

  26. FantasyFootballFanatic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on this first draft?

    Alisson (Button)
    VVD Zinchenko Stevens (Gibson Kelly)
    Salah Sterling Sig Mili (Dendoncker)
    Jimenez Tammy (when he is put into the game) King

    Huge emphasis on penalty takers as I think there will be lots more than last season due to the introduction of VAR.

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

      If you really want penalty takers then you should probably have Noble as your 5th mid. Defence looks a bit weak (personally I don't think Zinchenko is reliable enough) and a Sheff United defender as your 3rd defender with no rotation is ballsy to the max

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

      I don't think its a forgone conclusion that there will be more penalties.

      If you look at combined data or Bunndesliga, La Liga and Serie A....
      Season Before VAR introduced - total penalties awarded 348
      Season after VAR introduced - total penalties awarded 347

  27. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Don't get why there is so much love for King, currently the template forward on here.
    There is an equal amount of cons as there are pros to owning him.
    With Callum Wilson back, King gets pushed into a supporting role either out wide or to the number 10 position. He is not effective here, only averages 3 assists per season. If he was listed as a midfield on FPL then yeah I would consider him. He only ever thrives playing centre forward. Only 1 goal in last 6 matches (no assists either). No guarantee he is #1 penalty taker, wouldn't be surprises to see Wilson 1st choice. Bournemouth's GW3-5 is ManCity, Leicester and Everton... could be 3 blanks.
    I think people are so desperate to find that 6.5m forward to fit the template 352 system that it is causing King to appear more attractive than he really is.

    1. Alli 3',17',64�…
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yea it really bugs me that I cant afford Wilson. For 6.5 king is great price but he is not Wilson and has no where bears Wilson’s potential. Wilson can legit be getting the odd hatti or even 4 in one game last season? King ain’t going to be getting that..

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

      At 6.5 he'll do for 2 GWs without upsetting the rest of the team.

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

      Lack of other apealing forwards in that range is the reason - Jota having bad fixtures, Delofeu as well, Murray is trash, Burnley fwd line a big question mark but unassouming, only real other option I can see is Calvert-Lewin or spending extra cash and going for Wilson/Vardy/Jimenez.
      He is clearly the best option due to great fixtures at this specific price point for forwards which is why most people are going for him (me included as a sole striker in my 4-5-1 team)

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

        That's my point, due to lack of forwards in this 'essential range', people are looking at King with rose tinted glasses.
        Everyone trying to uses the optimal strategy (https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/07/08/player-value-and-the-most-efficient-use-of-the-fpl-budget/?hc_page=1&hc_sort_by=comment_date#hc_comment_20416745 ) but this isn't optimal if the players you force into it aren't themselves value for money.
        You need to adjust the strategy slightly to fit in a better forward choice.

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

      Leicester and everton are crap defensively.

  28. mcmd11
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any 4m defender that could start? Newly promoted sides?

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

      no

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

      If Ben Gibson gets a transfer to Villa then maybe him.

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

    Like this lot quite a bit:-

    Button - Pope
    Robertson - Laporte - Digne - Dawson - Diop
    Salah - Sterling - Tielemans - Hojbjerg - Dendoncker
    Aubameyang - King - Wickham

    Default of 4-4-2 with options of 5-3-2, 5-4-1 and 4-5-1.

    Wickham could be any of the 4.5's if they are likely starters. Could go Cathcart or Femenia over Dawson to upgrade Button to Ryan.

  30. Kimmich
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Opinions on this Aguero team?

    Ryan
    VVD - Digne - Zinchenko (Balbuena - Kelly)
    Salah - Siggy - Zaha - Perez - Anderson
    Aguero - Jiménez (Wickham)

    Zinchenko can become Walker and Digne Coleman if he doesn’t look like starting.

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

      Looks good. Any way of upgrading someone in your mid to KDB? If there is then I think you have a great team

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

        Could probably squeeze him in with trimming Digne - Coleman, Anderson - JWP/Trossard and Siggy becoming KdB.

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

          Jiminez to King or DCL probably worth it for first few weeks due to fixtures, you could then keep siggy and upgrade Perez or Zaha to KDB including trimming above