Scout Notes

Martial and Barkley turn heads in final pre-season games

Fantasy Premier League managers got a final chance to look at Manchester United and Chelsea’s teams on Saturday.

There has been plenty of interest in the cheaper options available at both clubs and we are starting to get a clearer idea of which ones have the most potential.

We also saw budget out-of-position options secure their places in our thinking at Sheffield United, while Bournemouth and Norwich also concluded their pre-season schedules.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-2 Chelsea

Ross Barkley took another penalty for Chelsea on Saturday

Goals: Tammy Abraham (£7.0m), Ross Barkley (£6.0m)

Assists: Mateo Kovacic (£5.5m), Mason Mount (£6.0m)

Ross Barkley (£6.0m) provided further complication for Fantasy managers on Saturday as he scored another pre-season penalty for Chelsea.

The central midfielder, who has largely been deployed in the number 10 role, finished the summer campaign involved in more goals than any of his colleagues.

Barkley scored four times, twice from the penalty spot and assisted a further three goals.

It was a penalty that put him on the scoresheet on Saturday, won after a foul on Mason Mount (£6.0m).

It was Tammy Abraham (£7.0m) who took the first penalty Chelsea won against Mönchengladbach, but this was when Barkley was not on the pitch.

However, Jorginho (£5.0m) happened to be on the pitch for both of those penalties which all but confirms he will not be the taker this season.

Furthermore, as we mentioned last week, there seems to be a suggestion that Willian (£7.0m) might assume the penalty-taking duties when he returns from international leave.

The other complication with Barkley was the fact that he did not start this final match of pre-season.

While the England international has been involved in more goals this summer than any other player, 10 of his colleagues registered more minutes.

Among those options is former Derby County loanee Mount, who played 320 minutes compared to Barkley’s 278.

It was Mount who started the Mönchengladbach game ahead of Barkley, although they were both on the pitch for the final 20 minutes, with the former pushed out wide and winning that penalty.

Either way, Lampard probably has something of a selection headache this season picking between Barkley and Mount.

By all accounts, Barkley has upped his game over the summer but Mount has also impressed and played his way into Lampard’s thinking, having also worked with him at Derby last season.

“(Mason has) done a lot. Coming back here, obviously, I worked with him last year, and I’m really happy with how he’s trained and his status within the group. The players recognise quality instantly, but they also recognise the work rate and character. Mason’s got all of those and he’s given me a problem. Ross Barkley’s also had a good pre-season and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be back later on. It’s good because they’re all adaptable and can play in a variety of positions amongst themselves. I couldn’t ask for more from what Mason’s done.” – Frank Lampard

After starting the last two matches in a row, Abraham looks to have secured the number one striker slot at Chelsea.

In those two games, Michy Batshuayi (£7.0m) managed just 15 minutes while Olivier Giroud (£7.0m) got 23 minutes.

As previously mentioned, Pedro (£7.0m) is the most secure of a start on the flanks of attacking midfielder. Only Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) got more pre-season minutes than him this summer (423 and 412 respectively).

That said, Barkley (seven), Mount (four), Abraham (three), Giroud (three), Batshuayi (three) and Pulisic (three) were all involved in more pre-season goals than the former Barcelona man (two).

“More or less (I know what my Gameweek 1 team will be). Again it’s a long week and I don’t want to say that because I think players have to train every day to get themselves in the team or get themselves out of the team. The door isn’t shut any way on that and we’ll need all the squad. We need players to be competitive and we need players who aren’t playing to come on like Giroud today and show a desire to come on and impact the game with work rate and desire to try and turn the result. That’s what we need throughout the season and I want to set that tone going into it.” – Frank Lampard

While there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to Chelsea’s attack, it must be said that their defence is yet to impress.

In three matches against Reading, Salzburg and Mönchengladbach the Blues conceded eight goals.

That might put Fantasy managers off looking to Kurt Zouma (£5.0m) initially, despite his kind pricing.

Marcos Alonso (£6.5m) is very much off-limits at this point. It was Emerson Palmieri (£5.5m) who started against Mönchengladbach and he outplayed the Spaniard during pre-season by 322 minutes to 218.

Things could still improve in the future for Chelsea’s defence as Antonio Rüdiger (£6.0m) continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

More importantly, N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m), the protective shield for the back-four, has missed almost all of pre-season too.

He made his first appearance of the summer as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Mönchengladbach but is still considered a doubt for Gameweek 1 given Lampard’s concerns over his match fitness.

“That was always the plan (to bring him on). He’s working a little bit now and it was just to give him the feeling of match time as he hasn’t been able to do that yet as it’s an awkward injury. I just wanted him to feel it and us to see it as you cannot replicate it unless you do it. It was a good opportunity to do that for him and we’ll work hard on getting him fit. Who knows if he’ll be ready for next week or not, but we’ll work hard for that. We also have to be a bit careful as he’s played so many games over the past three seasons and we don’t want to rush him back if it’s going to be negative. We’ll do our best to get him back.” – Frank Lampard

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Emerson (Alonso 67’), Christensen, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Kovacic (Kenedy 67’), Jorginho; Pulisic (Barkley 67’), Mount, Pedro (Kanté 72’); Abraham (Giroud 67’).

AC Milan 2-2 Manchester United

Marcus Rashford (right) and Anthony Martial have both looked good in pre-season

Goals: Marcus Rashford (£8.5m), Jesse Lingard (£6.5m)

Assists: Nemanja Matic (£5.0m), Anthony Martial (£7.5m)

Anthony Martial (£7.5m) looks set for a start in Manchester United’s attack for the Gameweek 1 visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford.

The Frenchman has enjoyed a successful pre-season campaign under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer over the last few weeks and added an assist as the Red Devils beat AC Milan on penalties in Cardiff.

No Manchester United player has registered more minutes than Martial this summer (339), with a number of his appearances coming as a centre-forward.

Against AC Milan, he was deployed alongside Marcus Rashford (£8.5m) in a front-two, the latter scoring his third goal of pre-season.

Ahead of that visit of Chelsea, who come to Old Trafford with some defensive issues, both Rashford and Martial have been involved in three pre-season goals each.

How they line up against the Blues is not completely certain. While both players are likely to start, it is not certain whether Solskjaer will go with a front three or front two. A forward trio would probably see Martial on the flanks and Rashford through the middle.

Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood (£4.5m) failed to get another start against AC Milan and he has not played more than 45 minutes per appearance all summer. In total, he managed just 201 minutes, compared to Juan Mata (£6.5m) recording 257, Jesse Lingard (£6.5m) 283, Daniel James (£6.0m) 283, and Martial and Rashford both getting 339 each.

That might make Greenwood a less than reliable budget forward option and the wealth of interest in him from the start of the campaign could trigger price falls if he is not used extensively.

However, Solskjaer did sing the youngster’s praises after the most recent match and insisted he’d have a part to play this season. In fact, he even hinted he could start against Chelsea.

“He’s got a chance of starting that one. He’s more than capable and will always be there, in and around the box, creating chances. And I won’t say it’s not a possibility, no, it’s a good possibility. If he keeps going as he does. It’s difficult to keep players out who perform well. He can play all four front positions, he can play 10, seven, 11, nine, he’s a natural footballer. With his left foot coming in, he can play anywhere along the frontline.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Midfielder Paul Pogba (£8.5m) missed the match with a back problem. Solskjaer seems optimistic about his chances of starting the season.

“Paul will probably be back early next week in training. It’s not an injury, just some pain. He’s not injured but I wasn’t going to risk anything this weekend. He should be okay [for Chelsea]. I would hope so, anyway. I wasn’t expecting Paul [at the airport]. I spoke to him after training and he didn’t feel right.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United XI (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Shaw, Rojo (Tuanzebe 64’), Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka (Young 64’); McTominay, Matic (Fred 64’), A Pereira (Lingard 64’); Mata (James 64’); Martial (Greenwood 82’), Rashford (A Gomes 82’).

Stade de Reims 3-1 Sheffield United

Callum Robinson looks to have serious potential as an out-of-position asset

Goals: Callum Robinson (£5.5m)

Assists: Enda Stevens (£5.0m)

John Lundstram (£4.0m) set himself up as a viable budget defender by starting the final match of Sheffield’s United’s pre-season campaign.

The FPL defender started in the central midfield trio for a fourth successive match and remains the most-used option there this summer.

Oliver Norwood (£5.0m) and John Fleck (£5.0m) were the other two members of this combination, with Luke Freeman (£5.5m) and Ben Osborn (£5.0m) among the substitutes again.

At this point, we can be fairly confident that Lundstram will start against Bournemouth, although whether he can hold on to a clean sheet is another matter.

For the second match in a row, Freeman replaced Lundstram in midfield around the hour-mark.

That could be a recurring tactical substitution we see this campaign, Lundstram more of a defensive-minded midfield player, although he did get three assists in pre-season, Freeman the more attacking one (two goals, three assists this summer).

If that were to be a regular set-up for Chris Wilder this season, maybe Lundstram’s clean sheet chances will be boosted? If Sheffield United have been able to keep things tight in the first hour, Lundstram could end up banking clean sheets before the more attacking Freeman takes to the field.

Meanwhile, another out-of-position asset at Sheffield United continues to offer some appeal to Fantasy managers.

Callum Robinson (£5.5m) was on the scoresheet for the Blades again on Saturday, taking his pre-season tally to four goals and one assist, more than any of his colleagues.

For the third match in a row, he was deployed in the front two of Wilder’s 3-5-2 system and looks to have a good chance of starting in Gameweek 1.

However, some doubt still hangs over the Sheffield United forward line following the recent record signing of centre-forward Oli McBurnie (£6.0m).

The former Swansea City man has featured as a second-half substitute in each of the Blades last two matches.

Meanwhile, David McGoldrick (£5.5m) has the most pre-season minutes of any Sheffield United forward (309), with Billy Sharp (£6.0m) just behind him on 272.

Dean Henderson (£4.5m) is already very locked in as the starting goalkeeper having been the favourite there last season and playing 90 minutes in each match since returning on loan from Manchester United.

Enda Stevens (£5.0m) and George Baldock (£4.5m) look confirmed as the wing-backs again, while Chris Basham (£4.5m) and John Egan (£4.5m) have been used the bost at centre-back.

However, key player from last season Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) has not featured in any of the last three pre-season matches in that centre-back trio.

He has been struggling with a pre-season injury but Wilder is optimistic he can start Gameweek 1.

“Jack’s okay. He’s fine, we just didn’t think it was worth the risk. He’s working back at our place, he should be available for the big one coming up and then going forward from there. We’re not worried about him. Like I say, we just felt doing it this way was for the best.” – Chris Wilder

Sheffield United XI: Henderson; Bryan (Osborn 46’), Egan, Basham; Stevens (Jagielka 76’), Fleck, Norwood (Morrison 76’), Lundstram (L Freeman 65’), Baldock (K Freeman 76’); McGoldrick (McBurnie 46’), Robinson (Sharp 65’).

Bournemouth 3-0 Lyon

Callum Wilson has been Bournemouth’s most dangerous player in pre-season

Goals: Callum Wilson (£8.0m), Gavin Kilkenny, Joshua King (£6.5m)

Assists: Nnamdi Ofoborh, Wilson x2

Bournemouth’s pre-season campaign has come to an end with virtually no clarification over who will be the first-choice goalkeeper in Gameweek 1.

In total, Eddie Howe used four different shot-stoppers across six games, with none of them featuring for 90 minutes more than once.

Top of the pile were Mark Travers (£4.5m) and Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) on 180 minutes each, while Asmir Begovic (£4.5m) and Artur Boruc (£4.5m) both played 90 minutes apiece (two 45-minute outings each).

One of Travers or Ramsdale seems likely to be number one but the gap of just 90 minutes between that pair and the other two is hardly a big one.

Predicting Bournemouth’s back-four will also prove difficult as Howe spent most of pre-season splitting his firs-team across two matches.

Against Lyon, there were 90-minute outings for Diego Rico (£4.0m) and Nathan Aké (£5.0m) but Chris Mepham (£4.5m), Jack Stacey (£4.5m) and Jack Simpson (£4.5m) were all involved the day before.

The left-back slot is one Fantasy managers are most interested in given Rico’s price point but it is hard to guarantee him a Gameweek 1 start.

Aké, Mepham, Stacey and Rico all tied for most minutes among Bournemouth defenders, but Adam Smith (£4.5m), capable of playing on the left, was not far behind on 255.

Furthermore, even though Lloyd Kelly (£4.5m) is out injured, there is still competition from Charlie Daniels (£4.5m) who returned from injury on Friday night.

As for predicting who will start at centre-back, Steve Cook (£4.5m) was back from injury against Lyon, playing 67 minutes.

Further up the pitch, Callum Wilson (£8.0m) finished pre-season in exceptional form, involved in all three goals scored against Lyon, scoring the first and assisting the other two.

After the six summer friendlies, the forward was top for attacking returns (five), Jordon Ibe (£5.0m) in second place on four.

Josh King (£6.5m) got his first goal of the summer against Lyon highlighting that he might not be in the sort of shape or form to cover Wilson at the start of the campaign.

As for Ryan Fraser (£7.5m), his involvement against Lazio on Friday night was why he didn’t play against Lyon.

Howe’s splitting of squads across pre-season means that Fraser and Wilson have played together for just 90 minutes together this summer. Whether that has an impact on their partnership at the start of the campaign remains to be seen.

Bournemouth XI: Ramsdale (Boruc 45’); Rico, Aké, S Cook (Dobre 67’), A Smith (Zemura 75’); Danjuma, Ofoborh, Billing (Jordan 60’), Kilkenny; Wilson (Surridge 75’), King (Sherring 86’).

Norwich City 1-0 Toulouse

Norwich won their final pre-season game against Toulouse

Goals: Kenny McLean (£5.0m)

Assists: Emi Buendía (£6.0m)

Teemu Pukki (£6.5m) and Emi Buendía (£6.0m) are very much back in with a chance of starting Norwich’s trip to Liverpool on Friday night.

They had injury problems earlier in pre-season but have now started the last two matches in a row.

Buendía got himself an assist for the only goal of the game as Kenny McLean (£5.0m) converted his corner.

Also of note for Fantasy managers was another start for Grant Hanley (£4.0m) who has recovered from a groin problem.

He finished the pre-season campaign as the most-used centre-back for Norwich (474 minutes), as Timm Klose (£4.5m) and Christoph Zimmermann (£4.5m) both missed the Toulouse game with injuries.

Norwich City XI: Krul (Fahrmann 46’); Lewis (Heise 86’), Godfrey, Hanley (c), Aarons (Byram 86’); Trybull (Leitner 61’), McLean (Vrancic 61’); Cantwell (O Hernández 61’), Stiepermann (Roberts 72′), Buendía (Srbeny 72′); Pukki (Drmic 65’).

1,994 Comments Post a Comment
  1. grayedog
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    GW1 (and in general, onwards), need to start 1:

    a) Dendocker (lei)
    b) Andone (wat)
    c) Bednarek (bur)
    d) Aarons (liv) (obviously not him)

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

    Anyone else working out how to find that extra 0.5m to upgrade their 6.5 striker to Kean!

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      just make sure you have a playing bench

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      with no preseason games at the club i can imagine him not starting gw1

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

        Looks a decent gamble tho, especially considering their opening fixtures and 7m seems a good price!

    3. Moxon
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne to Coleman was my sacrifice to keep 0.5itb for the potential upgrade later on

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

        I did actually have the 0.5m already but that was for Fraser to Bilva in mind!

    4. Bird Raymond
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I've got .5 going spare after bringing him in for Haller!

    5. Oooof
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      RMT pls:

      Ederson - Button

      VVD - AWB - KWP - Rico - Lundstram

      Salah - Sterling - Martial - Perez - Robinson

      Vardy - Joelinton - Greenwood

      1.5m itb

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

        Sorry!

  3. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this draft?

    Henderson
    Robbo Matip/Gomez Stones
    Salah(c) Sterling KDB Perez Barkley
    Wilson Adams
    (Button Rico Guilbert Wickham)

    1. Heskey Time
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      very similar to my team. You recon adams is a better pick than ings or jota at 6.5?

      1. UshFPL
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        All are good picks but would choose Adams because of Ings' injuries and Jota playing in the Europa League

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

    How is KDB a trap? Im seeing a few of these comments. A man who has scored 6G 21A and 8G 18A in consecutive seasons. No doubt would have scored the same last season but for an unfortunate injury. None of the other 9.5M players have ever broke the 190 point mark, KDB has twice. I feel after 4GW’s everyone will be rushing to get him in.

    Do people forget he got 3 assists against Spurs in the champions league? And then another 2 assists against Crystal Palace before another set back.

    I believe he is worth 1.0M - 1.5M more than his price tag, bookmark it

    1. Godfrey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think people who don't have him calling him a trap because they are scared of KDB

      1. EMBOLOFAN
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        yeah, petrified

        1. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          of the guy with 1xg in 1000mins last season

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      he overperformed in those seasons, they were a while ago, hes had bad injuries and citys system has changed with increase in goal contributions from wide players

      1. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The system has been more or less the same since 2016, when Pep arrived (Pep even used the same system during his last season with Bayern). 2016/17: 6G 21A and 2017/18: 8G 18A ...

    3. Link
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Passed the eye test for me yesterday....

      Just debating how to get him AND Sterling in alongside Salah

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I don't think he is a trap but I just can't forget the first few GWs of the 2017/2018 season where he was almost playing as deep as Otamendi (not literally, but close).

      I prefer Sterling over him and prefer to wait and see if he warrants having a 2nd City premium midfielder.

    5. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      For me the issue is that most teams park the bus against City and he plays relatively deep (Sane, Sterling, Bilva, Aguero etc. play further forward). He passed the eye test against Liverpool but that's because Liverpool are one of the few teams who will play a high defensive line against City and have a go. For the rest of the league, I think his pitch position will be deeper and therefore less likely to make contributions. That's my logic anyway.

  5. Gav's Gunners
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    KDB + Vardy
    Sterling + King ??

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      KDB + Vardy

  6. simong1
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on the below team? Thanks!

    Pope (Button)
    Robbo, VVD, Zinchenko, Dunk, Catchcart (Rotating 4.5s)
    Sterling, Salah, Perez, Barkley (Dendoncker)
    Kane, King (Greenwood)

  7. Bruno_02
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Why aguero was on the bench? He will not start in the first GW?

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

      Doubt it - long summer with Copa America

  8. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi guys, id appreciate as much help and feedback as possible. Thanks

    Pope McGovern

    TAA BLANK Digne Stones Lundstram

    Salah Sterling BLANK Perez Dendoncker

    Wilson Wood Greenwood

    With 14.5 to spend:

    A: Rich/Siggy + VVD

    B: Robbo + 7.5 (Moura/Fraser/Martial)

    1. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B with Martial

    2. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Like the team overall but that's a tough decision. B for me if you particularly like one of the 7.5 mids

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

        Fraser would be the one Id go for if I wasn’t set on Wilson. I like the look of Moura but he’s just a 1 week punt at best. Martial could be my guy

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

      I am on moura but would much rather fraser.. moura worries me not a fan of 1 week punts

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

        Fraser is a 2 week punt in a sense though.

  9. germanyozil10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Do you like it? Try to get back Digne or other MC Def after gw4

    Pope (Heaton rotate gw2 & 4)
    TAA VVD Zinchenko KWP (Kelly)
    Salah Stetling Perez Barkley
    Vardy Wilson (Nketiah)

    0.0 itb

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Solid

    2. EMBOLOFAN
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      dont like kwp

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

      Solid fureal would prob prefer holebas than kwp though those spurs guys worry me

      1. germanyozil10
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Will trade KWP to someone else.
        Any $5.0 def suggestion?

  10. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Deeney a good option to start the season?
    Good first 4 fixtures, nailed and on pens.

    Looking at Wood & Jota also but fixtures coupled with EL for Wolves is putting me off.

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

      I'm on deeney

      Nailed. On pens. Good fixtures. Watford usually start well

    2. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes, better option than Deu imo

    3. Harper (No more Penandes)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's my pick of the £6.5s along with Wood

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

      Deeney seems the best 6.5 option alongside King.

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

        Wood and jota better

  11. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Do I downgrade KDB?

    Ryan
    TAA - VVD - Digne - Guilbert
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Perez
    Wilson - Adams

    Button - Dendoncker - Wickham - Lundstram

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

      Looking at this kinda set up too.

      One option is to downgrade wilson to king. And use the 1.5 to bump up your 4.5m defender

      1. The Yorkshire Pirlo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I had King last year when Wilson was bagging all the goals. So this year I’m just going straight in with Wilson.

    2. Dank Squid
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I´m also going in this direction.

      Adams is interesting, but I don´t like the early fixtures - top 6 opponents (Southampton aren´t exactly Wolves or Leicester) mixed with away games. I might do VVD to Gomez, risky but means I can upgrade Adams and also have two rotating 4.5 defenders (which also means a slightly stronger bench).

  12. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Henderson
    VVD Robertson Zinchenko AWB
    Salah Sterling (Maddison/Perez) Zaha
    Vardy Kean

  13. tyron
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    rmt please
    Heaton (button)
    digne trent vvd holebas (kelly)
    salah sterling perez moura (den)
    wilson king (greenwood)

    Moura can become fraser and king become another 6.5.

    1.0 itb.
    any recommendations?

  14. Ted Striker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Vardy + Perez double up seems too much, even though it's a perfect for me, budget wise.

    What do you think about Vardy + Trossard, or Rashford + Perez?

    1. Ted Striker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      *perfect fit

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

      Personally dont see the point in touching Leicester before GW9.

      1. Ted Striker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Interesting, thanks for the input

    3. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I had the double up and I agree, too much with those fixtures. Out of those options I'd choose the first one but I switched formation to 352 and got KDB for Vardy

      1. Ted Striker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I like the idea, but I'm worried about KDB taking a while to get back up to full speed.

  15. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Sterling + King + 4.5 fodder

    B) Fraser + Wilson + 7.5 (Martial or Haller)

    Cant really see A cutting it when Im capping Salah too...

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      2 picks vs 3 isn't fair.

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

        Thats the thing though.. Sterling means you end up with a garbage bench at the very least, and downgrades across the board.

        1. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          So are you saying one of your players in B) would be on the bench? That's not worth it either.

  16. KneejerkJoe
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Can't wait for the weekend, are all og ur team settling in?

    Care to rate this bunch out of 10?

    +0,5itb

    Heaton
    TAA VanDijk Zinchenko KWP
    Siggy Bilva Salah (c)
    Kane Wilson King
    ...4.0 Dendonker Hayden Lindstrom

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

      6/10

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

        Thanks. Can I ask what you dont like?

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

          sure, i dont like zinchenko and city denfence in general, because i find it too hard to predict, but sincerley, i hope it works out. i dont like double defence, even after liverpools record last year, I looooove sterling and dont think its possible to look past him as first player down, aaaand im not sure about double bournemouth strikers. just my 2 pence

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

            Thanks! Salah edges it for me over Sterling because he has pens when Milner dont Play plus there are cheaper city midfielders but no alternatives at pool.
            (Dont know how to for in both)

            Double pool for tveit fixtures then easy downgrade to Digne or smthng.

            Ny plan is double bou first two then do something like King and Kwp to Digne and ings

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

      7/10

  17. Dank Squid
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sterling costs 12m. It seems he is a must-have despite expected bench appearances (and those might come against "weak" opponents).

    TAA costs 7m, but it seems he should be avoided because of expected bench appearances (likely against strong opponents).

    Am I missing something?

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

      Just that Sterling could, and is likely to score 2-3 goals in one game, a couple of times this season. Trent unlikely to do the same. personally I have both in my team.

      1. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        TAA getting a CS, two assists and some baps will also be a massive score, though.

        Both are also in my team.

    2. CelticBhoy1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You to factor in Captain potential as well, if you have him he could be captain 40-50% of the time

    3. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      People will be captaining Sterling often, TAA is unlikely to be captained at any point by most.

      Also Sterling can come in as a sub and still score decent points whereas coming in as a sub for defender significantly reduces points potential due to no CS potential.

      I haven't decided yet on him myself but I don't think he is as essential as Sterling.

  18. Gazpilicueta
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who would you say is the best keeper to pair with Pope? 4.0 or 4.5 to spend
    and why please

    1. germanyozil10
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Heaton

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

      Heaton. But I’m on Pope & 4.0 as my budget doesn’t stretch that far

  19. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    best £4.5 M GK to rotate with Ryan please

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

      Heaton

      1. Bonus magnet
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        LOL, had him before and changed him to Henessey and somehow i wasn't convinced

  20. RichieW
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Any chance of a RMT / change suggestions?

    Heaton
    Walker Maguire VVD Digne
    Salah(c) KDB Perez
    Kane Rashford King

    Button Rico Hayden Dendoncker

    1. Pia06rc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I'd personally downgrade Rashford to get Sterling in instead of KDB- feel he is overpriced

      1. RichieW
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Overpriced KDB or Rashford?

      2. RichieW
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Walker KDB Rashford >
        Stones Sterling Deeney?

  21. Musson10
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Opinions on this team, feel like its a bit heavy on expensive players and not much room to swap players out

    Ryan (Button)
    AWB, TAA, Zinchenko,4.5 defender (Dunk, maybe daniels if hes fit) (Lund)
    Sterling, Salah, Barkley, Perez (Dendoncker)
    Kane, Wilson (Greenwood)

  22. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    King or kean?

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

      Im going Jota with .5 in the bank to move to Kean after a couple weeks if he looks good

    2. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      hahahahahhaha

  23. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Really stuck with who to start with out of salah and auba?

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      this

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

      Auba is 2m cheaper

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Who do you get in midfield to replace salah though?

        1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          This is the same question i ask myself. I think Wilson can match Auba at for the first 2 GWs. wether I cant see which MID can match Salah 2 first GWs. GW 3 they both play each other so I might just wait to GW 4 and then reasses

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

          My midfield is Sterling Bilva Martial Perez. Very happy with it

  24. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sorry ....bottomed....views on best option here please?

    Pope button
    robbo vvd xxx zinchenko rico
    Salah sterling xxx perez dendonk
    Xxxx deeney Greenwood

    A..... digne, kdb king

    B..... digne fraser wilson

    C.. guillbert kdb, adams

    Thanks

    1. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Musson10
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  25. Pia06rc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What would you change to my team? Any improvements/tweaks needed?

    Lloris
    Robertson/VVD/Digne/AWB
    Salah/Sterling/Martial/Perez
    Wilson/Ings

    Button/Hayden/Lundstram/Wickham

  26. Sparkys Barmy Army
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone considering De Gea with United's expected upturn in clean sheets?

  27. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    João Cancelo has just left Juventus training center. He’s ready to become a new Manchester City player - the swap with Danilo (+30M€ to Juventus) is set to be completed as said on last days.

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

      He left a few hours ago, flying over swiss airspace now

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Choosing city defenders is currently a nightmare.

      1. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ederson and be done with it.

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

          Bravo starting GW1 is very possible

    3. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      There goes Walker’s prospect in FPL

  28. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best West ham mid?

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lanzini but I really think Haller is the one to get

      1. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

  29. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Brighton
    TAA VVD Zinky (KWP 4)
    Salah Sterling Moura Perez Barkley
    Kean Abraham (4.5)
    £0.5 leftover

    Like this team – lots of flexibility with players at various price points in defence and midfield, and a decent 12th man.
    Got half a mil leftover so can easily get a 7.5m striker (Haller) or 8m mid if necessary (Bilva/Siggy).
    The only tricky spots are 9.5m mids and 8m+ strikers (none of which offer that much value anyway)

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I very nice. Would play KWP first week if i had him.

      1. Markus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah over kean who maybe just gets a sub appearance?

    2. CelticBhoy1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nice punts with the forward line - hope they work out

  30. Uns95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on my team?

    Pope

    TAA VVD Shaw

    KDB Sterling Salah(c) Tielemans Barkley

    King Murray

    Subs: Heaton Kelly Greenwood Targett

    Wondering whether to keep KDB or downgrade to BSilva and use the funds to upgrade Murray to Abraham or Barkley to Pulisic.