Awards

Vote for the best FPL defenders of 2019/20

The Fantasy Football Scout end of season awards continue this week with another poll for you to vote in.

We started the week looking at goalkeepers, but it is time to focus on defenders, overall points, price and value in Fantasy Premier League all factors to consider.

2019/20 was another season for flying wing-backs with an interesting overlap with last season’s best performers…

2018/19 Team of the Season Review – Defenders

  • Goalkeeper: Alisson
  • Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Matt Doherty
  • Midfielders: Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, Ryan Fraser, Eden Hazard
  • Forwards: Raúl Jiménez, Sergio Aguero

It is not so often that we see this but each one of last season’s best defenders managed to follow up with another strong campaign in the following year.

Just over 12 months ago, Liverpool pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson tied the vote on a share of 25.1% each having scored 185 and 213 points respectively.

This time around, despite a drop in clean sheets, both full-backs secured more attacking returns than in 2018/19, Robertson total rising from 12 to 14 and Alexander-Arnold’s from 14 to 19.

Matt Doherty also went from strength-to-strength in 2019/20. The Wolves wing-back’s first full Premier League campaign yielded a total of four goals, seven assists, eight clean sheets and a final score of 144.

It was up to 167 points for Doherty this time, which we’ll cover in more detail below…

2019/20 CANDIDATES

Trent Alexander-Arnold

What Liverpool win at Leicester means for FPL assets involved
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson in action for Liverpool

What a year it has been for Trent Alexander-Arnold, finishing the campaign with more points than any other FPL defender (210).

In the end, he was agonisingly close to breaking the record for highest season score in that position, set by Robertson’s 213 points in 2018/19, but a Gameweek 38+ benching robbed him of the opportunity.

However, the fact that Alexander-Arnold got so close to that tally is a telling reminder of what he has to offer. Remember that Robertson reached 213 points with 21 clean sheets to back it up; his right-sided counter-part got three points shy with seven fewer shut-outs.

It was, of course, attacking returns that set the tone for Alexander-Arnold in 2019/20, as he involved himself in 19 of Liverpool’s goals.

Direct free-kicks were mostly responsible for his four strikes, while a total of 15 assists was at least three more than any other defender this season, and seven more than Lucas Digne, who finished third for that particular statistic.

Accordingly, Alexander-Arnold secured seven double-figure Gameweek scores, including a record-breaking 24-point haul at Leicester during the winter.

Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty continues to fly the flag for something of a dying breed in FPL over recent years: the flying wing-back.

Wolves’ 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 systems have both featured the Republic of Ireland international in advanced positions once again in 2019/20.

As a result, despite a price-hike to £6.0m, Doherty still offered value, with four goals, eight assists, 12 clean sheets and 167 points overall. That made him the only non-Liverpool player in the top-four among defenders.

It was really the second half of the campaign that the right wing-back’s explosive potential became apparent, as his attacking capabilities were finally combined with reliable defensive returns.

Wolves had always been good at keeping things tight during Nuno Espirito Santo’s Premier League campaign but often struggled to convert this into clean sheets.

Willy Boly’s return to the side from injury in Gameweek 25 made all the difference. Between then and the end of the campaign, Wolves kept nine clean sheets from a possible 14, the joint-best in the division.

As a result, Doherty registered four double-figure hauls during this period, blanking on just two occasions. A price rise to £6.5m seems inevitable for 2019/20 but if Wolves keep up their clean sheet output, it may be a price well worth paying.

John Lundstram

FPL 2019/20 In Review Part One - Goalkeepers and Defenders

What can we say about this man that hasn’t already been said? A one-man cheat code for much of the 2019/20 season, John Lundstram will go down in Fantasy Premier League history like nobody ever has done before.

A £4.0m defender starting as a box-to-box midfielder in a team that can keep clean sheets meant ‘the Lord’ could offer various scoring avenues.

While he was well-known in the Fantasy Football Scout community during pre-season, the rest of the world first discovered Lundstram in Gameweek 2 when he scored the solitary goal in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace and registered a 14-point haul.

It got even better in Gameweek 11 when he scored twice in a 3-0 win over Burnley and came away with a whopping 21 points from one match.

Admittedly, Lundstram was unable to spend the entire of the season in the Sheffield United side, losing his place to Sander Berge just before lockdown, but he still managed a fair number of starts afterwards, adding a goal on the final day of the season.

But it is hard to say 2019/20 was not a success for him as a Fantasy asset. Five goals, four assists, 10 clean sheets, 15 bonus, 144 points, an average of 4.3 per game, all for a man who started the season at £4.0m.

A shift to midfield and likely price-hike to above £5.5m awaits for Lundstram, but we can still cherish the memories.

Ricardo Pereira

It might be a long time since Ricardo Pereira was a much-discussed Fantasy asset considering his pre-lockdown injury, but in the first half of the campaign, he was up there with the best.

Between Gameweeks 1 and 15, Leicester’s right-back was joint-top for clean sheets among defenders with a total of seven as the Foxes made a lightning-fast start to 2019/20.

At that point, Pereira was level with Jonny Evans and Çaglar Söyüncü but had more attacking returns at the time and was playing in a more advanced role.

That had helped the Portuguese international score 82 points in the first 15 matches of the campaign, at an average of 5.5 per game.

Things tailed off for Pereira as Leicester’s form dipped and he picked up an injury between Gameweeks 29 and 30+, but there is still plenty of potential going forward if he can get fit for 2020/21.

Andrew Robertson

As previously mentioned, Robertson could not quite match his record-breaking 213-point season tally from 2018/19 this time around but a score of 181 is nothing to be sniffed at.

The clean sheets did drop off for Liverpool this year, the Scottish international able to capitalise on a total of 13, but he more than made up for that short-coming as he pushed forward.

Registering the same number of assists as the previous campaign (12), Robertson advanced his goal threat in the Premier League during 2019/20, netting twice.

That helped him average five points per game this season and, as the campaign wore on, he started to find himself matching Alexander-Arnold’s output once again.

Between Gameweeks 31+ and 38+, Liverpool’s Beckham-esque right-back got just three attacking returns. Increasing his role in corners, Robertson doubled that tally with one goal and five assists combining for involvement in six of Liverpool’s strikes.

Another price-hike seems likely for the left-back in 2020/21, and we could see yet another campaign of debate over which Liverpool full-back is the better option.

Caglar Söyüncü

As mentioned above, Söyüncü was one of those Leicester defenders who had produced more defensive returns than others in the same positon during the first 15 Gameweeks.

It was the Turkish international who achieved the highest levels of popularity as a result, considering his kind starting price of £4.5m.

Even when he hit £5.0m at the height of Leicester’s powers, that was still better value than those around him in the Foxes’ defensive unit and there was, of course, some attacking threat too.

During the period in question he assisted in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United before posting a 14-point haul for a goal, clean sheet and three bonus against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 11.

Like Pereira, things tailed off for Söyüncü after Leicester hit their rough patch, keeping just five clean sheets from Gameweek 16 onwards and not adding to his attacking returns.

Despite that poor second half of the campaign, price rises are probably incoming for Leicester defence, even if it’s just by £0.5m, which will make it harder to consider Söyüncü in 2020/21.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is often seen as third-fiddle to Alexander-Arnold and Robertson but finishing as the third-highest-scoring FPL defender is nothing to be sniffed at.

Despite that aforementioned drop-off in clean sheets (from 20 to 15 for van Dijk), Liverpool’s centre-back still ended up with 178 points, just three shy of Robertson.

Playing every minute of the cmpaign certainly helped, which may come into play a lot more for Fantasy managers next season when the price gap between van Dijk and the full-backs expands and Neco Williams starts taking starts off their hands.

It is also worth pointing out that 2019/20 provided more double-figure hauls for van Dijk than it did Robertson. While the left-back recorded just one, the Dutch international managed two of them.

The first came when he scored both goals in a 2-1 win against Brighton, racking up 17 points, before 15 were posted in 2-0 win over Manchester United.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE

1,125 Comments Post a Comment
  1. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Would you rather go for the Chelsea newboys aka Werner/Ziyech to start with or the one we've seen in PL action aka Pulisic? Just thoughts irrespective of price. I feel going with what we've seen is the best bet but curious what the lads on here think

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dont get the new ones, if they perform then ok, but dont start with them. Many will, but its more likely to backfire then succeed. Could be rotated, unsure who starts where, and maybe expensive.

      Look at Pepe, Haller and players like that who never turned up
      Get Puli if any, trust me

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Plus also look at the bad record Chelsea have for strikers in recent years, Higuain, Morata, Bats. Costa has been their only decent striker in recent years and they were dumb to let him go

        1. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Morata actually hit the ground running - scored and assisted in his first league match, and then scored a hat-trick a month later.

          Also there are notable counter-examples to Pepe and Haller - Aubameyang, Salah, Ibrahimovic to a lesser extent, they all started red-hot and stayed that way.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Im pretty sure Morata was borderline terrible

            1. Greek Freak
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              But that's not the issue - the issue is whether someone is worth having from the start. And Morata - no matter how much he flopped later on - was very much worth it in the beginning.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm always hesitant about having PL newbies in from GW1, unless all/many of price, fixtures, pre-season form and ownership fall into place.

    3. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Only Werner, not Ziyech - Werner is an absolute goal machine and also likely to be on Pens, Strikers less likely to be eased in compared to wingers like Ziyech. Also Budesliga to Prem is an easier transition.

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

      Always the ones that have performed before. Can jump on some if they shine, but uncertainty is too high.

    5. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pulisic all day long. He’s a known quantity.

  2. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is team leaks before kick off good or bad for FPL? does it give unfair advantage to those who have the information to be able to select their teams accordingly or is it just part of good research?
    Having starting line up before GW deadline has helped me a great deal with my rank this season, though their are other FPL managers who want the deadline moved back by few hours.

    What do you think?

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

      For some people it’s in the middle of the night.

      It’s a fair part of the game and I don’t complain about it, but I’d like to see the whole aspect removed by moving it by another hour or so.

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think any advantage you can gain, by whatever means, is ok. That said, re team leaks, it creates so
      much noise in the way of fake news, fake accounts etc. that overall I wouldn’t mind seeing the deadline moved back an hour.

  3. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is there any way to download each game week of this season and stats for our personal team? Think I saw something about it a year ago on here

    1. Cheeto__Bandito
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      To save it for after update

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      https://www.livefpl.net/rank

      Enter your team ID and download excel file.

      1. Cheeto__Bandito
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        cheers

        1. Ragabolly
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          The direct link is http://www.livefpl.net/save

  4. BC1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can anyone help me out here please? Looking through my gameweek scores/teams/transfers etc and I came upon my gw9 score. Can someone please go into my team that's linked here and tell me if I'm either going mad or the fpl game missed giving me 6 points!? I know it sounds mad, but every time I look at it, I see I'm missing 6 points! Anyone please check for me, thanks!

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It looks fine to me.. 42 points in gw9, right?

      1. BC1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mad only seeing it now, thought KDB should have had 12 points! Thank you Ragabolly.

        1. Ragabolly
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Oh sorry I missed the vice captaincy thing, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let me actually try to see if there's an explanation through the api

          1. wulfrunian
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Kdb got 3 points in that game.FPL automatically made it 6.

    2. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You are absolutely right.Jeez.This is serious.

      1. wulfrunian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I am also confused.

    3. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks fine to me, are you expecting the 6 from KDB?

      1. BC1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh, stupidly didn't see KDB only got 3 points!

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

      Oh now I see it. KDB actually got 3 points and you got double that. Click on KDB and you will see he only got 3.

      1. BC1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yep, gone mad confirmed, cheers lads 🙂

        1. WALOR
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          All that time stuck in the Ecuadorian Embassy, it's not surprising

    5. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      what are you guys talking about? He got 42 points that week. GW9 KDB got 3 points, his vice changed from Kun to KDB and he then got 6 points for KDB

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        captain changed* but ok you see ur mistake now nvm

  5. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Next season, will we get 5 substitutes?

      1. Cak Juris
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I mean in FPL

  6. FPL Joker
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    If you go here, it’ll tell you how ‘lucky’ you were in FPL:

    https://fplreview.com/season-review/

    But how they work that out, goodness knows. Mine is insane.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not sure how to read those numbers...

    2. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Which datapoint are you looking at?

      I was 33k OR

      XG rank = 12k
      Odds rank = 6k
      Massive rank = 3k

      Luck factor = 58%

      Does that mean I’ve been unlucky?

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

        Means nothing.

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

      I was apparently insanely lucky - 88% or so

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

        Understat not Opta

    4. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Massive/odds rank = statistically how ‘well’ you’ve played over the season (not an exact science but if you read through the site their models are pretty damn predictive of player performance...)

      xG rank is how well your players ‘should’ have played given their actual performances in given games (adjusted for long term xG under/over performance I believe)

      Then your luck is the delta between the average of the three theoretical points, and your actual points. 50% luck rank is ‘average’ luck for the season, so if you’re above that you were ‘luckier’ than the average manager in terms of how you were impacted by unpredictable events like your players missing penalties or gilt edged chances, or Sterling getting 1 point at home to Southampton.

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

        Think I probably "lucked" out by ignoring DCL and not holding onto Vardy then 🙂

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

        Not sure what this says

        I'd have expected the Odds rank and luck rank to vary through the season, Looking at their visualisation I consistently beat both all season by quite a distance with a dip from weeks 3-12 where I was merely average.

        Come to this as a major sceptic about XG

    5. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      102,252 42,868 6,814 9,301 40% my numbers add up pretty well, felt very unlucky through out the season

    6. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Love tools like that, but unfortunately, the only thing I was able to conclude with certainty is that I got 220pts from captaining Salah.

      How is this "Luck" determined? Finished 237K but my xG Rank is meant to be 98K. Does that mean that I was unlucky and under performed or something? Luck is at 28.9%

      1. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        it means if all players had realised their xG/A in the games they played (with some adjustment for past under/overperformance), you'd be ranked 98k.

        Your luck being at 28.9% means that you were likely pretty unlucky this season in terms of player underperformance (not just xG but bookies odds/pre-game predictive models)

    7. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Don't think of that number as luck. It's how well top managers managed to look past the goalscorer odds and achieve success.

      My various rankings were like 5k, 22k on those metrics and I finished a dismal 107k. That means I picked decent teams on paper but couldn't convert them to FPL points. The higher number isn't luck at all (or luck is only a small component), it's the opposite. It's how well managers managed to look past the obvious and maximise points scores.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        "luck" is just a word employed by the site creator. It doesn't stand up to much critical analysis.

        1. Goonsquad245
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Bookies are pretty good at predicting performance to gain an edge, no? There's tonnes of empirical evidence around modelling of predicted player performance too.

          The fact is that there is an *immense* amount of short term variance in FPL. Some people might spot things that give them a slight edge in terms of whether to pick/captain a player, but it's not likely to make more than a point or so's difference either way in a given gameweek. The notion that people can 'accurately predict hauls' is laughable.

          Take Salah vs Burnley and Sterling vs Brighton only a few weeks ago. Salah scored 2 points that game, Sterling 21. Does the manager who captained Sterling deserve 38 more points than those who captained Salah? Was it that much of a better decision to do so, given both started and played 90 minutes (so taking rotation threat out of it)?

          This is where luck comes in - Salah/Sterling likely had similar points expectation that week, one massively overperformed it, one underperformed it, and it was massively magnified by the captaincy. Only takes two or three of those to skew an entire season.

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

            Its the exchanges where the markets are initially set & as a result bookies are really just reacting to any price moves on the exchanges

            e.g. if an exchange is offering man utd to win (backing) at 2/1 (3.0), and to lose (laying) at say 3.2 assuming a relatively tight spread, then a bookie has to make sure their (back) price is above the exchange's 3.2 (lay) price, otherwise they'll get hit with a flood of arbitrage (which is a risk free/ guaranteed winning position for punters, regardless of the outcome of the actual sporting event)

            So say the bookie was offering a back price of 3.3 and didn't cut to react to 3.1 or below the exchange's 3.2 lay price - massive chunks of liquidity will get put on with the bookie at 3.3 back price & the exchange at 3.2 lay, locking in risk free profit for the smart money

            The same thing is extrapolated out across every market a bookie offers - football, horse racing, cricket, darts etc etc - and the exchanges are moving real time, especially the closer you get to the start time of the event - in the few minutes before a horse race the movements can be absolutely mental as punters steam in with late money

            A similar thing can be seen with significant team news annoucements ~1 hour before kickoff - bookies that are slower to react to team news always leave themselves open to risk free bets for a few seconds/minutes as they're slower to react to the price moves on the exchange

            Then they just go in after the fact, identify which punters dared to take the value, and promptly ban them - winners are not welcome!

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

              * a bookie has to make sure their (back) price is BELOW the exchange's 3.2 (lay) price obvs!

            2. Goonsquad245
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Thanks - this is really interesting/helpful.

              Bookies odds obviously aren't perfect, but they're always a reasonable indication right (obviously they're never 'fair'... but one goalscorer relative to another is usually OK if it's cross-referenced)

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

                Yeah they're generally a very reasonable/directional indication in the majority of cases - they're just not 100% efficient & can also be wildly out from time to time

          2. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I'm not saying there isn't a huge amount of luck in the game, but even massive swings don't need to define the course of a season.

            Example: I was one of the lucky ones who TCed Salah in the Liverpool DGW. Plenty of people TCed Mane to 3x1pt. There were loads of people moaning on here about how unlucky they were and how the game was unfair and that their season had been ruined.

            That Salah TC took me to 20k at the time. I finished at a terrible 107k. Literally thousands of Mane TCers with much worse 5-year averages than me finished above me, many of whom would have been very happy with their finishing position if they had known what it would be at the start of the season.

            30 point swings in a given GW can be euphoric or they can be crushing, they feel season-defining, season-making, season-ending, but by focussing on these fair/unfair events we forget how much the bread and butter decisions we make account for the vast majority of a 2000 point plus season.

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

        Suspect there’s a correlation between luck and hitting bandwagons early

        My luck was 89% and I got

        Ings against Arsenal - very early
        Mane over Mo in week 2
        KdB in week 2
        Vardy from week 7 or so
        Grealish for his run around 20

        I also never had the template Mo Raz combo

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Aye true and there is an element of luck to that - all too often the wheels fall off a bandwagon! - but consistently getting on the right players is a mark of your skill.

        2. Goonsquad245
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          There will be, because if the players you mention had been unlucky and under-performed over the first weeks you had them, they never would have ended up being bandwagons in the first place.

        3. Goonsquad245
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Also not having Mo/Raz at the start of the season would have massively increased your luck % (and probably improved your rank!) because of the sheer number of the people that owned them and the level of underperformance from both.

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

            Yeah

            I had a magic week 2 WC - forgot to mention Pukki from week 2 also. There were a couple of other successes in there too. I only really missed out on Tammy and Mount

            Sadly I’m unlikely to match this again - early season in particular I had a magic eye for a bargain. It all went haywire from there. Got overexcited

            I’m guessed captaincy counts too. Did miserably first half of the season so never really capitalised on squad strength then had a genius run second half where my transfers went out of the window.

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

        You're basically saying that random variance is not random, it's caused by skill. Just basic misunderstanding of statistics, standard deviations and variance..

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          No I am saying that over the course of a season the luck evens out *for the most part*, with all of the factors that you mentioned accounted for in some way.

          Put it this way: if I could predict the future and ensure that I had 11 starting players every single week, BUT all had to be autoselected from a roster of playing players and I had no choice who I picked, even if I factored in an algorithm which enabled me to 'spend' the entire budget so I didn't end up with an entire team of Kellys and Moutinhos, I would still do very badly. I'm sure you would agree with that? I would probably average a rank of 2m each season.

          Sure, I might finish in the top 10k with my random ghost team but that's extremely unlucky. So it's the choices we make within the broader conversation of who is or who is not an obvious/template/differential/lucky/unlucky pick make the difference between what could be deemed the average score of a playing team (roughly 10x2, 1x4 (captain) plus any *randomly* accrued goals/assists/CS/BAPS etc) and the team of an experienced FPL manager who is able to block out most of the noise, knows which players are traps, and knows how to narrow down selections to maximise their chances of success. If there were no skill to the game there wouldn't be many if any players who average top 10k over the course of 6-7 seasons, statistically there just wouldn't.

          The main gist of what I am saying above, however, is that it is not for that particular site creator to determine what is luck. It's a single value based on his own read of the data, and only a proportion of that value can be down to luck.

          1. Goonsquad245
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Nobody is saying it's entirely luck, but there's an incredible amount of random variance to the game. You're trying to tell me that the difference between a top 1k finish and a top 10k (or even sometimes 100k) finish is pretty much always skill and 'ability to look past the odds', when it reality it's impossible for it to be so.

            Those people who have 6-7 top 10k finishes have been on the right side of variance - they just have. Yes, they've likely played well and given themselves the best chance of doing so, but there will be others that have never cracked the top 100k despite playing just as well, and others that have equalled or bettered their record despite playing significantly worse.

            Variance.

            1. Goonsquad245
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              *impossible for it to ALWAYS be so

            2. Make Arrows Green Again
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              You know, I basically agree, what I am saying is that skill gets you to a platform and then the RNG puts you somewhere in the 1k-100k distribution range. There are players like Lateriser12 who I can almost guarantee would never finish outside top 1m (based on current player numbers), so perhaps we could say that skill gets you your floor and luck gets you your ceiling?

              1. Goonsquad245
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                I think there are a reasonably large number of people you'd put into that category in honesty, the chances of a competent player finishing outside the top 1m are very very small (but still low). Ironically given LR's style of play I think he's more likely than most other excellent players to wind up with a very poor finish one season, but obviously still very unlikely.

                I think the RNG distribution is a bit higher than that - think you could realistically have a real stinker and finish at 300k or so having played well enough to 'deserve' a top tier rank.

                I like the way you have put that in terms of skill and luck, yes.

                1. Make Arrows Green Again
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Good point - case in point I tried to be all LR12 in the last GW of the season despite five consecutive 100k finishes being really important to my perception of my skill as a player, and it cost me very dearly:

                  Before: 59k - took a -4 for

                  KdB -> Sterling (c)
                  Ferndandes -> Antonio
                  Willian -> Silva

                  Probably a 25 point swing away based on me betting against highly-owned assets and failing miserably. In hindsight I would not have been so reckless given my priorities which was keeping my sacred 100k streak going! Anwyay, I've lost it now so I might end up being a bit more bold next season...... 1m+ finish here I come 😀

                  1. Make Arrows Green Again
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Oh, finished 107k

          2. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Of course compared to a random manager who doesn't know what he's doing and picks random players you have a skill factor that determines a lot of the difference in rank between him and you.

            I'm talking about the active managers who are making informed decisions. Let's say there's 250k of them world wide (no idea if this is accurate). Within this sample, variance accounts for a massive amount of the differences in rank.

            The model in the OP says for instance that someone with an actual statistical projected rank of 15k and 40% luck finishes about 150k. Over 4 seasons there is still 2.5% chance that this 'actual' 15k manager looks at an average of 150k rank after 4 seasons.. with the amount of active managers this is happening to tons of managers over the last seasons (and similarly it's happening to some managers in the other direction where they are overperforming, i.e being lucky)

            1. Make Arrows Green Again
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Well that narrows the field considerably and I'm very much inclined to agree - I finished in the top 1.5% but that's meaningless to me because with the greatest respect I don't see 90% of managers as competition to the likes of us! Although I would say that by taking that sample size (call it 250k, 500k, 1m) you are already selecting for skill to a large extent

              I would also say that if we're going to assign significance to the 'luck' value in the website in question, let's use fantasy-specific data from which to draw our conclusions. Bookies' odds are reasonable indicators of future success but are weighted and adjusted in the ways helpfully explained by MBP earlier in this conversation. If we are going to judge luck using this algorithm, it would be much better to use something like FFS' RMT tool. I know we can't (without a lot of work anyway!) but maybe it's something for the future.

              1. Brosstan
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Yes I agree bookies odds are flawed somewhat. But that is what the 'Massive Data' model the site uses, and which is very predictive, is for.

              2. Goonsquad245
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                That’s what the massive data element of it does, allows you to assess actual points performance vs a fantasy-specific prediction model, whilst the xG element accounts for underperformance/unluckiness within the games themselves.

              3. Make Arrows Green Again
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                OK cheers both, I will give it another look 🙂

    8. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I love this tool.
      Compounds that I've been pretty unlucky this season.
      Luck rank 29%
      Odds captains outscored my actual captains by 100!

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

      Many who don't understand statistics and think stuff like 'the eye test's can consistently outperform statistical models will ignore this site lol.

      40 % luck here, meanwhile everyone in the top 1k had 98+ luck factor. FPL is a luck game, confirmed by statistics and empirical models.

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Actual rank 175k, projected rank ~15-20k...

      2. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Obviously I agree with your first sentence 🙂

        I think FPL is a mixture of luck/skill, the skill being giving yourself the best chance you possibly can to succeed, but we are all at the absolute mercy of variance, and the luck element is much higher than a lot of people think.

        It does make me laugh when I see people saying FPL is 80% skill 20% luck or similar....it's hard to put %s on but obviously the higher the sample size the more skill plays into it. The entire history of FPL has had no volume of events whatsoever in the grand scheme of things.

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          It's hard to put a number on the 'edge' someone has in FPL over the field. If we define 'the field' as only active managers who make informed decision and remove every Egyptian one week team and dead teams and casuals we are looking at maybe 250k managers. I highly doubt anyone's edge over this field exceeds 10%. So it's at least 90% luck imo

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

            I've been saying this game is at least 90% luck for a long long time especially in the top 250k

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

        Let me just put out an example from a game that is also heavily effected by variance; poker.

        In poker there has been some a ton more actual statistic analysis on variance, and the results are for most people surprising. The effect of variance is absolutely massive. Let's take an actual example that has been mathematically proven.

        If you have 30% advantage over the opposition as a whole (this is an extremely high number and in FPL if you think about active managers/'actual' top 200k managers, no one has this kind of advantage over the opposition in FPL) over a sample of 1000 tournaments (a massive sample) with 1000 players you still have a whopping 23% chance to LOSE MONEY. Source: https://upswingpoker.com/tournament-player-mistakes-career-ending-mtt/.

        If you changed the % of advantage over the field to a lower number the chance to lose/perform worse than your average expectation would increase further.

        There is every reason to believe that FPL is effected in a similar way and that variance makes or breaks managers even over stretches of several seasons.. having 40% luck 4 seasons in a row can happen 2.5% of the time... Means it happens to tons of managers considering how many play this game. And that would have a manager with an expected average of respectable 15-20k over those 4 seasons instead look at a crappy ~150k average

        1. Goonsquad245
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          100% agree with all of that - been thinking about posting something similar re: MTT variance....

    10. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Actual rank 12k
      Massive rank 130
      Luck 41%

      Based on this, I guess I've been one of the unluckiest. 🙁

    11. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Serious poker players understand FPL pretty well. Try and get as many 51/49+ situations as you can and probability will be your friend long term. But factor in horrific runs of bad beats...too many of these plus general poor play will destroy a bankroll and maybe an entire FPL season...but not a career.

  7. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Leeds United are lining up a £15m bid to sign Juan Foyth from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, according to reports in the British media.

    what's Biesla style of play? good to invest in Leads defenders?

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      *Leeds

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

      Ben White could be the key (to unlocking Ayling?), as That Posh Bloke notes. Think Doherty with or without Boly.

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

      Leeds defence could be excellent value. They had a better cs record than both SU and Wolves in the Championship. Bielsa is the high priest of pressing. Poch idolises him as does Pep

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

        Really ??
        Wow

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

          https://eplindex.com/55721/pressing-analysis-pochettino-sampaoli-guardiola-bielsa.html

          Poch played for Bielsa. There's a hilarious story - lots of great Bielsa stories full stop - about how Bielsa measured Poch's legs while he was asleep before signing him as an academy player.

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

            Ha ha ha ha
            Sounds like a madman 😀

          2. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Can be fair to compare them with Wolves then
            If they sign a talisman like Jimenez they'll be good for PL

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

              There’s only one Jim - sadly

              A goal scorer is their Achilles heel. Nearly all Leeds fans curse Bamford. He has a tidy enough goal scoring record but has been profligate

              Part of deal there though is Bamford like all Leeds players gets through a huge amount of work. Leeds players will dominate all charts for miles run per match next season. A large part of his role has been creating space across the front line - he doesn’t get to goal hang

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

                Sounds like Wing backs will be fun. Just like Doherty Jonny etc from Wolves instead of going after attack

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

                  Ayling and Dallas might be the names to watch

                  Only follow them though match reports and occasional highlights so take all this with a pinch of salt. There was a great post - hot topic - from a fan a couple of days back.

                  One wrinkle - Bielsa sides tend to come with wrinkles - is that players switch in and out of position a fair bit

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

                    Sounds interesting for sure. Good to have them instead of boring Watford at least 😀

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

                      You're only picking on Watford in kindness to me as a Palace fan 🙂

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

                        😀

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

          Whoops misspoke - was thinking goals conceded record not cs. Just checked. Wolves did marginally better and SU marginally worse in cs. But that gives you an idea of defensive competence.

          They're also quite an attacking side too so if they work out in the prem they're more likely to follow a Wolves like trajectory than SU imo. Decent defensive record for a promoted side but a huge fall off from Championship form.

          I suspect PL teams will be more geared up to cope with that pressing game because they'll have seen it before and more potent attacks will mean Leeds keep fewer cs as happened with Wolves.

          Contrts with SU is that the SU system was so novel it took teams an age to figure it out and there wasn't much/any emphasis on attack

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

            Thank you for the information.
            Hopefully they are underpriced than SHU next season. All Shu defense will get bump in prices.

          2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Good stuff.....thank you

          3. MosF94
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I don't think "there wasn't much/any emphasis on attack" is accurate. We struggle to create chances, and struggle to convert them, but calling a team whose wide centre-backs frequently function as auxiliary wingers a singularly defensive minded team is a bit harsh!

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

              🙂

              Palace fan so obvs don’t recognise attack when I see it.

  8. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Brighton have signed Holland international Defender Joel Veltman from Ajax for £900,000.

    The 28-year-old can play at right-back or centre-back and has agreed a three-year contract.

    Veltman has joined former Liverpool star Adam Lallana in moving to Brighton.

    Good business!

    1. FPL Joker
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wonder if Ben White will leave. Liverpool want him and I imagine Leeds want him back too.

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        may not return to Leeds with that farewell(?) message .. looks a promising defender.

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

    We might yet get to pick 4.5 defs/GK from Brentford next season 😉

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

      Very decent goals against record but so-so cs record - mixed bag?

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

        At 4.5 we’re going to have to be beggars rather than choosers though - but sometimes less emphasis/expectation on having to take the initiative & go out to win games might help a team - they’ll be written off going into every match

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Looks like they're a footballing side, but not sure if their defence will withstand scrutiny from the Premier League's locksmiths/marksmen.

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

        Weren't we saying exactly that about Norwich?

    3. Baron Penguin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I’d be more interested in Watkins/Benrahma if they’re in the 5 - 6 million bracket. Rico Henry delivers a good cross from left back, but don’t see too many CS if they do make it.

    4. MosF94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Their keeper (Raya) has played well over the playoffs, so he could be worth a look? Saved a pen and made some other smart stops - could be the new Etheridge?

  10. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What's your FA Cup final prediction?

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

      Pulisic inspired Chelsea win

      Giroud comes back to haunt Arsenal

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If Chelsea play to their full capabilities it's hard to see Arsenal winning, but this Gunners team is beginning to take shape and show some reslience under your man. As a total neutral I don't really mind who wins but I hope that it's a good match.

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Chelsea win.

      60-40 chance

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

      Lampard ends up picking a fight with Arteta?

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

        A lunging tackle would be nice 😀

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

      It won't be another 6-0

    6. SackWenger
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      We have an excellent FA Cup final record against Chelsea - best them in both 2002 and 2017. The latter win was after beating City in the semi so hopefully a repeat. We were outplayed last year in the Europa League final but that was mainly down to Hazard. If we keep Pulisic quiet and impose ourselves on the games, we can win again. Should be a cracker and recent wins against Liverpool and City will have done us a world of good.

  11. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    When does the new FF season start? Like when can I start choosing my team again? I imagine it can’t be long

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      First the final team has to be promoted. Then the fixtures have to be released. And a couple of weeks after that the game should be live

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

        Fixtures could be the rub

        Still think that City United and Wolves may sit out week 1. How long will they wait for Euro matches to be resolved? Champions league is still a way off and if they don't start the process until we know which teams proceed it could take an age,

        1. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          They'll drop the preliminary fixtures within a couple of weeks and put in a disclaimer that some of the early games are subject to change depending on the CL results.

          FPL isn’t opening without fixtures.

  12. Rhinos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Will anyone have a wildcard left by gw3?
    Gw1 teams may have none of KDB, Sterling, Aguero, Fernandes, Martial, Rashford, AWB, Jiminez or Doherty. Every one of those players may have a dgw2

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

      IF the speculation is true that those clubs enter late, it will have to be the default position.

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I don't see any other way. Maybe if Liverpool Chelsea Spurs Arsenal start with great fixtures could get away with not owning the others but that'd mean ignoring a dgw, can't see it

    2. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      GW1= RMT
      GW2= RMWT

      That’s how I see it... 🙂

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        GW1 = RMFHT

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          or for me RMFH&BBT

          1. The Wanton Trader
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            That could be a strategy.
            Hadn’t thought of that.
            Would never of thought about free hitting GW1. Didn’t even know it was possible...

            1. Rhinos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              of course you can't free hit in gw1, what a waste that would be. It's just that if wildcarding in gw2 then your gw1 team is effectively a free hit

              1. The Wanton Trader
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Ok Rhinos.
                Must of misinterpreted your reply...

                1. Rhinos
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  it is a free hit just dont use the chip

                  1. The Wanton Trader
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Yeah, I can see your thinking behind that.

                2. Old Man
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Oh dear!
                  *Must've

                  1. The Wanton Trader
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    I should of known that...

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

          Yes that, if the game lets you. Normally I don't think you can FH in GW1, IIRC.

          1. jomikijiq
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            correct, you can't FHGW1

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

              A very simple and elegant solution would be FPL Towers to give everyone an extra FH just for GW1.

              1. Rhinos
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Why would they do that? And what would your team revert back to in gw2?

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

                  You select your squad as per normal, with players from those Euro'd teams. Bank it - that's your GW2 squad. You pick a squad for GW1 only which you do via extra FH. That way you don't have to waste a chip because of this one-off fixture anomoly.

                  1. Rhinos
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    thats not how free hits work. How would the game know what your banked team was?

                  2. Amey
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Not happening IMHO

                    They won't change sh.t 😀

                    It'll be upto individuals to strategize

    3. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You could just skip gw1 and join the game for gw2..

      1. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        could do but I like points

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

      So FH week 2 is an option if they are doubles. You can probably hang onto wildcard, just go heavy on Liverpool, London clubs.

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

        FH for GW2 wouldn't work because for GW3 you'd revert to your GW1 squad with no players from the top teams.

      2. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        yep that's an option if fixtures allign. Personally I'd rather save fh though. Wildcard the better chip but feel like fh better used later on

    5. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, team selections without UTD City and Wolves could get really interesting.

      Even if City returns by GW3, to figure out which team Pep selects is going to be very difficult.

    6. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is it not only teams who reach the final of the EL/CL who are likely to blank? Doubt it'll be that disruptive.

      1. Flaming Flamingo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        My mistake, semis for the CL.

      2. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Plus what if the your team from GW1 has done really well, are you going to rip it up to bring in City and UTD?

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          100% if they have a dgw

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            DGW's are 50/50 for good scores. Plus UTD and City would have had very little rest if they had to go all the way in Europe.

            1. Rhinos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              all good points but if man city man u and wolves have 2 good fixtures it would be bats*it crazy to ignore them

              1. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Some suggest Martial will be 10 to 10.5. If he is classed as a fwd at that price then I will give him a miss to be honest.

                I like the idea where City and UTD assets will be out of action for 2 GW's.

                I went without City many times this past season and did reasonably well 🙂

                1. Rhinos
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  spose could just transfer in a couple in gw2. All eyes on the fixture list

  13. Jealous Viper
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Saw this somewhere. Was wondering whether it was legit or still just rumors

    Enhancements for #FPL in 2020/21

    ✅ Assists points for winning a pen whether scored or not

    ✅ minus point(s) for player conceding pen

    ✅ 1 point for “x” amount of CBI/tackles (makes a 4.5 DM and CBs more appealing again)

    ✅ Salah, Mané, Martial, Antonio reclassified as FWDs

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Then Auba should be classed as a FWD as well? Plus Richa etc...

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Sorry, meant Auba will stay as a FWD

      2. Jealous Viper
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        It really opens up Pandoras box doesn't it. If Sterling is a mid, to my eye players like Mane, Rashford and Auba should be mids

        1. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Can't see Mane and Salah being changed to fwd's but anything possible.

    2. Rhinos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      if this happens then can see 3-4-3 as the only viable formation

    3. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I can't see them making so many significant changes myself, but I'm wrong roughly 99.6% of the time so who knows.

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

        Wrong again, you are wrong 99.7% of the time 😉

        1. Flaming Flamingo
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          😎

    4. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I think defender assists should be worth more

        1. aapoman
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          No way. In that case TAA would be at least 9m

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 8 months ago

              He should be, he's a freak and anomaly. If he wasn't here how is a defenders assist worth the same a striker or attacking midfielders assist. Increase from 3 points to 4 for defender assists

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

          All the attacking wingers would be forwards, it would be overkill.
          Any team that mainly plays 433 would have to have the wingers classed as forwards.
          I count 11 upgrades just from Chelsea, Everton and City (Pulisic, Willian, Pedro, CHO, Richarlison, Bernard, Walcott, Iwobi, Mahrez, Sterling, Bernado Silva) and that's just off the top of my head, probably more.

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

          Saw this somewhere, or made it up?

          1. Jealous Viper
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Saw it on an FPL group. Was wondering if there was any merit to it

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

              Seems unlikely, though without an actual source there is no way of gauging.

              1. Skonto Rigga
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Just someone's (the guy from Fix) suggestions, not actual changes being made:

                https://twitter.com/FPLEditor/status/1288214742390247426

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

                  Amazing how information can gather noise while transmission 🙂

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

          I really hope they change nothing. Maybe move the deadline 15 or 30min earlier but other than that I think the game is perfect

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

          I’m hoping they enhance the bench potential, by auto subbing starters if they have cameos, I.e play less than x minutes.

          Would make the bench more important especially if 5 subs stay, leading to more dynamic team selections.

          Also get rid of TC, replace with a double captain chip where the VC also scores double.

          Finally, the Free Hit chip should be differentiated from a WC more with once activated, managers can break the bank limit.

          1. Jealous Viper
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Like the FH idea

        6. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Minus points for a player conceding a pen is a critical addition to the game I have been arguing for for a long time.

          An FPL player can lose points for an OG when are putting his body on the line trying to prevent a goal and the ball takes a massive, and massively unlucky, deflection.

          An FPL player can foul a player or handle the ball in the box, break the rules of the game, cost your team a goal, *cost defenders clean sheet points and not lose points himself if he is a forward and not lose points.

          The first one is bad luck involving a player doing something unfortunate within the rules of the game and it's a points deduction. The second is, intended or not, a violation of the rules of the game and it's cost-neutral. Doesn't make any sense.

          1. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            *when he is putting his body on the line

        7. Klaren
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Seems more like rumours based on UCL fantasy rather than actual FPL changes.

      • Jealous Viper
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Anyone know when the fixture list will be out?

        1. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          be a while, won't even know who's in the league till tues night then there's the added complication of what to do with the teams in European competitions and how to fit domestic cups in

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            What about letting us start to pick our teams without fixtures lol

          2. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Re the European comps, I guess they are going to have to release a full fixture list on the assumption teams are knocked out of Europe in time to play the fixtures, and then if they progress far enough the games will be postponed. Doubt they will have time to wait until the European competitions are far enough down the line to know what teams will be unavailable in GW1.

          3. bench boost for every gamew…
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            They might just set up the fixtures and then they move the games around when they have to av Ording to which teams progress in the europe cups?

            1. SackWenger
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Makes sense to just pair United with Wolves and City with Liverpool and those games can be rescheduled in the season. Would certainly avoid Liverpool getting any early advantage and realistically they are the teams fighting out the title.

        2. Pasqualinho
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Rumours I've seen are for Aug 21.

        3. Klaren
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          2 weeks before the season starts

      • LangerznMash
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm a bit surprised that Baldock and Tarkowski don't feature in this vote. Both excellent value over the course of the season.

      • BellyKlopp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Anyone here run any cash mini leagues? Thinking about starting one next year - money for top 3 and a bit for each manager of the month. Any other ways of doing it?

        1. aapoman
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I'm running one cash league with a little over 100 people. Top 10 get money at the of the season and also each month's top 3 get some prize money.

        2. Danno - Emre Canada
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          That’s pretty much how we do it in most of ours. One of the MLS got up to a few thousand for the winner and £500 monthly prize. Wooden spoon buys the beers and trophy.

          1. BellyKlopp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            wow - £500 monthly prize is good! Whats the entry fee?

        3. Hana
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I’ve been part of one in Australia. Around 50 people enter with $50 entry. Have prizes for top 3, manager of the month and highest GW score of the month.

          It reduces the overall too 3 winners pool but keeps people interested throughout the season.

      • Spying on Leeds Part 2
        HammersXI
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Spying on Leeds (Part 2)

        Just following up on my post 2 days ago regarding Leeds prospects next season. I've covered the defensive aspect, now I shall take a very quick look at the attacking options (hopefully with some added stats thrown in for you guys!). Do note that all my write up and opinions are just my POV and my thoughts on their playing style over the last 2 season where Bielsa has taken over. Additionally, there will be some new signings coming in so not all of these players will be certain of their first-team status.

        In the 2019/20 campaign: Leeds scored 77 goals, while in the 2018/19 season, Leeds scored 73 goals. Not much difference really, but one thing to note is that our 3rd highest top scorer this season was own goals (8). On average combining both seasons, we scored about 1.63 goals per game (46 game season in Championship)

        Midfielders:

        Mateusz Klich (Started 45 out of 46 games) - 6 goals 5 assists (2 from the spot) | Mins played: 3,798
        Price: 6-6.5m
        Where else to start but our Polish midfielder who has been transformed under Bielsa. Prior to Bielsa joining, he looked set to leave the club having only started several times before being shipped on loan. Klich has provided additional steel to the midfield and is an interesting option attacking wise. Like with almost all Leeds assets, the stats don't tell the full story. He could have gotten more goals and assists if his finishing was better, but positioning wise he is always bombing forward around the edge of the box waiting for chances to come. In 2018/19 season, he scored 10 and assisted 8, so the potential is really there for him to kick on in EPL. Of all the midfielders, I would rate him as almost 100% certainty starter in Bielsa's team next season. He only missed 1 game in the last 2 seasons (albeit his drunken state after Leeds wrapped up promotion).

        Kalvin Phillips (Started 37 games last season) - 2 goals 2 assists
        Price: 4.5m - 5m
        Our local boy, scored in one of the most crucial games of the season against Birmingham in our centenary match this season. Stats honestly do not provide the full picture for his importance in this Leeds side since Bielsa took over. Think of him as a Kante like player in the Leeds team. He's in charge of most of our set pieces, which is alarming because we haven't scored many in the past 3 years. So if you think that you'll get a ton of assists from KP, think again. Like Klich, he is a 100% starter when fit / not suspended and I look forward to seeing him strut his stuff in EPL next season and potentially finally get a call up to the England National Team. Do note that in his role as CDM, he will be prone to yellows and even reds, which have occurred several times the past 2 seasons.

        Pablo Hernandez (Started 27 games, off the bench additional 9 games) - 9 goals 9 assists
        Price: 6.5m - 7m
        Pablo oh Pablo. He's the real reason alongside Bielsa that we are back in EPL after such a long wait. No surprise that he won Leeds player of the season the past 3 consecutive years. Would have played more if not for the injury he picked up post lockdown. Though even with the injury, he was used as an impact sub for several games, before being unleashed in our final 2 fixtures against Derby and Charlton. His vision is just extraordinary and he makes light work of the defenders with his ball control. Again, with all Leeds assets, he should have a higher goal and assist ratio if we could actually finish our chances. Age is not on his side, but he's still a mainslayer in Bielsa's team though you might see him replaced earlier on in matches or even used as an impact sub off the bench at half time. Underestimate his influence at your peril though. Last season he got 12 goals and 12 assists, with 37 appearances + 2 off the bench). If you're looking for an attacking Leeds option in FPL next season, look no further than Pablo.

        Jamie Shackleton (5 starts, 17 more off the bench) - 2 goals
        Price: 4.5m
        I've added him because Bielsa rates him highly and I expect to see more of him next season. Another kid from the academy, Shackleton has had to wait for his chances in this Leeds squad. But whenever he is brought on he provides a huge amount of energy and desire that threatens opponents at the closing stages of games. Recently bagged 2 goals in the last 2 games when Leeds had more freedom to play without the threat of results affecting promotion. A huge prospect for the future and could potentially push for an England spot in a couple of years time.

        Adam Forshaw (6 starts, additional 1 off the bench) - 1 assist
        Price: 4.5-5m
        This truly sums up my opinion of him when I almost forgot to include him in this list. He has been injured for almost 80% of the season after starting the first 6 games. Don't expect much of him tbh, but Bielsa does trust him and hopefully, he comes back fit for next season and help out the midfield. Brings about the experience that would be useful for Leeds in the big time.

        Wingers

        Jack Harrison ( 45 starts, an additional 1 off the bench) - 6 goals 8 assists
        Price: 6-6.5m
        Our Manchester City loanee who is set to join us on loan AGAIN for the 3rd season in a row in the next few days. Wasn't the biggest fan of him last season where Bielsa had so much trust in him but he delivered so little ( 4 goals 2 assists). This season though was an entirely different story altogether. He buckled down in training and it paid dividends on the field. A lot more attacking and ever willing to take defenders on, Harrison has improved leaps and bounds as the season progressed. He can be considered a tad unlucky as I think he is the player in Championship that has hit the post the most times this season (I counted at least 6-7). He still is a work in progress and I do see huge potential in him next season in EPL. Also one of the starters in Bielsa system the past season, I don't expect it to change anytime soon. With better finishing, he could have gotten double digits last season.

        Helder Costa ( 33 starts, additional 10 off the bench) - 4 goals 5 assists
        Price: 5.5 - 6m
        Our record signing apparently for 15m who honestly IMO has done not much to repay that transfer fee. Huge of potential shown with Wolves where they stomped through Championship but didn't fully cut it in EPL the following season and left on loan to Leeds this season. I'm still very divided about him, but with an additional season onboard (Harrison had that also), hopefully he breaks into the scene next season with better performance and confidence to take on defenders and do what he does best (score and assist). For right now, the jury is still out on him.

        Ian Carlo Poveda (1 start, additional 4 off the bench) - 1 assist
        Price: 4.5m
        Free transfer signing from Manchester City in January (thanks Pep), he took some time to buy into Bielsa's philosophy and was found mostly in u23 games midway through the season. Started appearing more after the lockdown, but we have yet to see many games from him to really write up a huge review. Bags of potential, and has been through some of the finest academies in the world (Barca, Arsenal, City), so he could be a hidden gem next season if trusted. One for the future.

        Strikers

        Patrick Bamford (43 starts, an additional 2 from the bench) - 16 goals 2 assists, 2 from the spot
        Price: 6-6.5m
        Where do I start with Bamford. There is really this love-hate relationship with him. Yes, he has scored crucial goals for us this season and been our talisman, however, the chances he missed are sometimes unforgivable (aka blocking Roberts goalbound shot in the Cardiff defeat cause he couldn't adjust his feet and jump in time). But that being said, I can see his importance to the side. He has fully bought Bielsa philosophy and is willing to track back and pressure opponents for all 90 mins, that can't be said of our loanee Nketiah or Augustin this season. Hence, Bielsa has constantly backed his man through all the bad patches and he has delivered (in a way) to bring us back to the promised land. Will he cope in EPL? I'm not sure tbh. I do think we still need a forward next season and he might not be our main striker. Can he score more than 10 goals next season? Honestly, I have my doubts, but if he improves his finishing, why not really? If Bielsa trusts him.... it's hard to go against that logic. Last season he scored 9 goals in 15 starts (7 off the bench) as we also had Roofe up front. With Roofe gone last season, the burden will be on Bamford as he leads the line.

        Tyler Roberts (12 starts, additional 11 from the bench) - 4 goals 1 assist
        Price: 5-5.5m
        Ah Tyler. If only he was fit the whole season, he would have scored more. Extremely injury prone since his days at WBA, he provides a different dimension to our attack when fit. Will he lead our line next season? I would say no. Based on his performances the past 10 games and his injury record, he would most likely play an impact sub role next season and potentially replace Bamford if he's injured/suspended. If we do sign another striker, he would be down the pecking order when the season starts. Age is still on his side, and there's still some potential left untapped. Hopefully, we can see more of him next season.

        Jean-Kévin Augustin ( 0 starts, 3 from the bench) - 0 goals and assist (great)
        Price: 5.5m
        I was so reluctant to write anything about him because of all the trouble he brought since joining. Arrived very unfit and wasn't the most willing to be part of Bielsa's philosophy and hence frozen out. Just at the time, he was finally going to start, he got injured and that was the end of his season there. The irony was that we rather send him back to Leipzig and terminate his loan over keeping him for the last 5 games. Speaks volumes of our recruitment and the power of Bielsa also. The only reason why he's in is that we have an agreement with Leipzig to sign him for 18m + if we get promoted though we are trying our best to get out of that and maybe pay some fee to ensure he doesn't come back for good. It's quite evident that both Leeds and the player doesn't want to be back. But will Leipzig allow it? Most likely no..

        So yes, I've come to the end of my analysis of Leeds the past 2 seasons. It has been an up and down journey, with more highs than lows but we are still built very strong defensively. If we do sign a top striker, we might see more end product from Harrison, Costa, Klich and Pablo. Those will be the 4 that would most likely start the first game of the season. Are they good enough for EPL? Other than Pablo, time will tell for the other 3.

        Thanks so much for those who have encouraged me and pushed me further into writing part 2! I hope that this would provide some insights into Leeds United for next season and would be around in the forum to answer any questions!

        1. HammersXI
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          This was way longer than expected. But hope you guys enjoy this post! 🙂

          Really looking forward to be back in EPL next season for sure and hopefully the attack will find their feet in EPL and be viable assets in FPL.

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Your previous post about Ayling has made me really interested. Attacking fullback at hopefully 4.5 is gold!

            1. aapoman
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              he will be 5.0 very likely

            2. HammersXI
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah, but FPL tends to ruin that by listing them at 5m. Either Ayling / Dallas at 4.5m would be great steals.

        2. Rhinos
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          so to sum up Leeds players would be better fpl assets if they were better players? 😆

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            If we had a better finisher tbh. There's potential but based on our finishing...it doesn't help really

            1. Rhinos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Harrison the one the interests me, feel like he has the most room for improvement and Bielsa trusts him, rarely plays

              1. HammersXI
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                yeah he is for sure. I do think he's a sure starter also. I'm hoping Costa has the same impact Harrison had after one season with Bielsa. We need to get our money worth for our record signing lol

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

          I hope for your sake they don't sell and buy loads of players and all this turns out to be a waste of time 🙂

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            You mean like Villa? 🙂

            Tbh if Bielsa is still in charge for the next 2 seasons, I really do not see this happening. We will need strengthening in 3 main positions, and Bielsa has already provided his shortlist of 5 players (obtainable -> insane) to the board as recommendations (part of his contract)

            Central Defender, Midfielder (Attacking) and Striker will be the 3 positions we look at for sure. So from both Articles, both White and Bamford would be replaced.

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

              Cool - will watch this space! Great work 🙂

              1. HammersXI
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Thanks man! Thought I just write something for the community before the actual Leeds article with all the stats etc come up. Sometimes having a fans POV provides an alternative voice esp with newly-promoted teams.

                As you can tell with Leeds, you can't judge us purely by data and Bielsa's style of playing enforces that.

            2. MosF94
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Any examples of the "insane" targets? I'm intrigued!

              1. HammersXI
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                The owner quoted Cavani and Ibra but I don't ever see them slotting in Bielsa mentality and style of play.

                Those who are slightly out there in terms of target could be potentially Florentino Luis, Thiago Almedia , possibly Brooks, Calum Wilson and Jonathan David

                I feel that the rest linked are slightly more obtainable (Romero, Martinez, Benhrama, Foyth).

                I think we have to be mindful that we won't throw money around but instead find gems like White.

                1. Klaren
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Most of those are great players but I'll never understand the Argentinian managers' obsession with Foyth who seems horrible every time he is on the pitch.

                  He is still a relatively young player but really haven't shown any signs of promise in his Spurs career so far.

                  1. HammersXI
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    I think it’s just the media linking foyth because bielsa is argentine. If anything I Hope foyth doesn’t come. I don’t see him in the Jansson / White mould at all. He’s wasted at Spurs and I don’t see a future for him in EPL.

                    It’s getting ABIT annoying when we are linked to every random argentine player in the press

                2. MosF94
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Wow, some big names and hyped young talents!

                  Ibra doesn't sound like a good fit, but Cavani is a workhorse so I could see him buying in more - wages might be a stretch, though?

                  There are definitely bargains to be found, especially in the Covid-afflicted market. I heard you might be rivalling us (Blades) for John Swift, who, while not a Benrahma calibre player, is probably a top 10-15 Championship player and available for under 5m.

                  I think Bielsa and Wilder and similar in that they take players who seem to be decent Championship players (or lower, when Wilder started) and improve them, and improve them some more, and somehow keep improving them. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if you signed a few less high-profile players who turn into surprisingly good players. But I do think you'll sign a couple of headturners too!

                  1. HammersXI
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Feels like we are playing Football manager and FIFA with the links eh? That’s how I feel right now. I don’t know who we really are signing but Bielsa likes to go with unknowns and train them (aka white)

                    I heard we are in for 5 positions. I assume 1 GK 2 CB 1 CM and 1 ST. Hopefully they complement first team. I really did hope that we get Swift, but wasnt a deal confirmed by the Blades. Also eye Loader but he doesn’t have EPL experience.

                    I don’t really know what to expect this window, but getting back up to EPL is the first step. I do hope we get white, but it will be funny seeing other clubs massively overpay because I don’t see him starting at Brighton.

                    All the best for the season!

        4. The Spion Kloppite
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Thank you for your submission which I enjoyed reading.
          I am keen to read your part 1 but don't know where to
          find it.
          Could you help me PLEASE.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            It's under hot topics actually! The 2nd one there if I'm not wrong.

            If you cant find it let me know and I'll drop you the link.

            1. The Spion Kloppite
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Got it.Thanks alot.
              GL to you.

        5. Jealous Viper
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Great write up. If Bamford is priced 6.5 or less, definitely worth a look at imo. Very profligate but always prefer a striker to get chances and miss than have none at all though i do wonder with better defences how many clear cut chances Leeds will create for him

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            As our main striker, I can't see him being priced less than that. But if we do get in new signings... then it could be different. His workrate really sets himself apart. So its easy to judge a striker for their goals, but his link up play also gave us a couple of goals throughout the season.

            Yeah I agree about having a striker with chances vs none at all. I'm sure Leeds players will create it for him, he just needs to finish them (easier said than done I know)

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

          Thanks for all your work. This report reinforces in my mind to put 3 Leeds players on my watchlist - the goalie, Ayling and Dallas.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Hey man! Remember you from the previous post 🙂

            Yeah that's why I did mention if I have a choice I might not touch the attackers at all until we get new signings / show some potential IRL.

            If FPL messes up all their pricing then I might end up not having a single one at all. Which is a shame :/

        7. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Fantastic stuff.....and very helpful........although I had assumed you were a fellow Ammers fan....

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I created my usernames years ago. No clue why I chose it until now but maybe cause my only EPL game I caught was at Upton Park.. Never had the opportunity to watch English football live since I grew up in Asia. But yes I can see why people might confuse the username and this post

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

            I wondered about his username - didn't like to ask!

            1. HammersXI
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Surprised there were little questions about that. Had to answer some on reddit also. For the longest time I followed West Ham in EPL during the Tevez era. But still keep tabs on Leeds until the past 3-4 seasons where I focused more on Leeds and watched almost all their games if possible

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

          Love these types of posts - one of the best parts of FFS imo

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Thanks man. Appreciate it! Will try to answer as much Leeds queries as possible before the main article comes out. Wanted to write this ever since promotion but thought better to wait till the season was completed.

        9. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Great post!

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Thanks man for the encouragement 🙂

        10. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks again for this. From what I have seen during Leeds’ successful Championship campaign that comparison with Sheffield United, regardless of different style of play, is reasonable. Leeds, analogically as SU, plays their own style of football and uses limited and specific, idiosyncratic group of player, who are suitable to Bielsa tactic. Therefore, the team is better than sum of its parts and no one (from attacking options) look specifically interesting. Hernandez is well above the rest but he will be rotated. So the only other option is Bamford if priced around 5,0. If his price will be higher I would probably stay away from Leeds offence and focus on defensive players.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yes great summary for sure. That's the same takeaway I would want people to have. The focus would be more of defensive options over attacking ones. I don't see Bamford being priced extremely low as he's our only striker technically. Klich and Hernandez will be one to watch.

            I honestly think if we managed to find some good signings for midfield and striker, then I might change my POV. This post was meant to just round up by initial post earlier about the defending aspect of things.

            1. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Re: Bamford. I personally do not think that his price will be above 5.5. For example players with better statistics in the Championship as Adams or Maupay got initial price 6.0. I hope that FPL Towers will take into consideration that Bamford played in PL before (Middleborough) and he was awful:)

              1. HammersXI
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Ah i didn't have the data for EFL strikers pricing. In that case I suspect 5.5-6m is more likely, with my gut feeling being 6m because he's our only striker so far that has delivered. If we do sign a better one before FPL is launched, that price might drop slightly.

                And yes his EPL stats is horrible.

                1. HammersXI
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Also Che Adams who had a similar enough record as Bamford in Championship was listed as 6.0 initially.

                  1. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    IMHO Che Adams had better record in the Championship than Bamford. He scored 22 goals and got 4 asssit for Birmingham, which as a team was terrible. Bamford scored 16 goals and got 4 assist for best team in the division, so I can see a small diffrence:)

                    1. HammersXI
                      • 11 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      Fair enough. We wanted to sign him but Southampton refused to let him go. Bamford.. sigh I won't be putting him in my FPL team for sure. It's just a bit hard seeing them list our top scorer as 5.5 and ppl like Ayling maybe at 5m.

                      Might end up having 1 defender and that's about it.

                      1. MosF94
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 8 months ago

                        I think there's a decent chance Bamford comes in at a tasty 5.5. His record in the Championship this season is very similar to McGoldrick's the previous season (15 goals 4 assists), and he came in at 5.5!

                        I do see what you're saying about him being your main striker, but tbf Leeds didn't actually score a huge amount of goals by the standards of a promoted side. So I think Bamford's profligacy might work in FPL-players' favour - especially if he can sort his finishing out in the coming season...

                        I also think you might have overpriced Klich. I see him coming in at 5-5.5 (if he'd had his 18/19 returns this season, he'd be higher). Could be a bit of a bargain, if I'm right!

                        1. HammersXI
                          • 11 Years
                          3 years, 8 months ago

                          Yeah I might be a bit off with my ratings. Am more intuned with defenders starting price as compared to attackers.

                          You’re right in saying Klich could come in at 5.5 that will be an interesting prospect, however I’ll still prefer have a bench folder instead of spending an additional million. A point to note about Klich, I do think he is our penalty taker and I’m unsure if FPL might factor that in. He gave 2 to bamford for confidence mostly.

                          It’s abit hard to imagine bamford fixing his finishing ability.. I do hope so for the sake of us, but I will temper the expectations straight away. Even at 5.5 I might be tempted to still avoid him. He’s a very hot and cold player, but when he’s on a scoring streak that’s the best time to get him.

                          1. MosF94
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 5 Years
                            3 years, 8 months ago

                            Didn't realise Klich was your penalty taker, very interesting! Do you know how many of his goals were penalties in the last couple of seasons?

                            Lol it's unlikely I know, but I do think he's been a bit unlucky in some of the games I've seen him, Bamford - in that 5-0 vs Stoke (where you were very impressive, it must be said), he cracked one against the woodwork and had one blocked on the line before scoring. Although his goal did go in off both posts, so I suppose that was pretty lucky in the end...

                          2. HammersXI
                            • 11 Years
                            3 years, 8 months ago

                            He’s only been with us for 2 full Seasons. If I’m not wrong he took 1 last season (before Roofe, Pablo and Saiz used to take)

                            This season he took 2/4 penalties that we had. I recall bamford taking the other 2 because they did want to boost his confidence.

                            We RARELY get penalties in EFL. Tons of appeals but rarely do we get it, hence the Low numbers as compared to other clubs. On the flipside we concede a lot (mostly due to shitty officiating) so hopefully var fixes that.

                            Yeah I do agree that bamford is quite unlucky at times but with the rate we attack and shots / crosses coming in, he should be scoring mid twenties. Since bielsa arrived, we have had a problem with converting our chances (14 shots for 1 goal) with tons of possession and conceding on our opponents first shot on goal. (We have improved majorly in the past 10 games on this)

                            Case in point, Cardiff scored 5 in 2 games against us this season with 6 shots on target. We had maybe 40 shots combined in both games and scored 3.

                            I will always have my doubts with Bamford, but he’s the best hope we had currently. (Really hoped Nketiah was used more, but Bielsa’s methods have produced results so...)

                2. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  If you sign other forward and Bielsa gives him a chance to play I will probably strongly consider this player as my 3rd forward:)

                  1. HammersXI
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    He might take a month + to be fully embedded with the team. Something like Nketiah and Costa but lets hope Leeds make their signings real early and the players can start preseason training together

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

          Great read

          From the little I’ve seen - and the quite a lot I’ve read - Klich was way up my list. You’ve reinforced that view. Hoping he gets a nice price.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah hopefully he is given slightly more freedom and shows his first season form. That helps greatly

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

          Thanks again! (as for the defenders)

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            No worries man! I do think that the defenders will be better assets next season

        13. Jafalad
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Probably the greatest write up on a promoted team to the EPL. Readable, insightful, ironic and factual. You have done a great job.

          Everyone will need three Leeds next season.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Thanks man for the kind words. I truly appreciate it. Just thought to give my 2 cents about Leeds assets. Didnt expect 2 Long write ups instead. Happy to help really.

            Though my advice is to not load up on 3 Leeds assets initially. I would stay clear of attackers unless their fixtures are dead good. And be careful not to add new signings in your team. Youll realize that Bielsa won’t just throw them in

        14. el polako
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Good stuff !
          Hope Klich wont be priced more than 5.0m, considering him as mine 5th mid\1st sub player.

          1. HammersXI
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I suspect he might be priced at 5.5 based on his form over the past 2 season. Hopefully they forget about penalties since it has been shared this season

        15. Greek Freak
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          This Own Goals guy sounds good, how much do you think he'll be priced at?

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

          Cheers mate. Very informative. I am watching now the documentary on Leeds, what happened to Ropp? Or Rope ? What his name? Seems to be great striker.

      • Dacra
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Aftewr a few days of moping about last week, im ready to think about FPL again.

        Was top 5k since GW27. Peaking at 1847 in GW32.

        3242 after GW37

        Finished 6624 after an abysmal last week.

        My first top 10k finish and should be pleased for that, but after the restart I had dreams of top 1k and it all fell apart!

        Whinge over.

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

          Don’t beat yourself up, was a weird season, especially after the restart.

          Players like Sterling, Kane, Son found form out of nowhere. Plus Ings all of a sudden being the fittest player around after seemingly needing his glass ankles usually needing rest after a few games.

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

            Still a superb rank, and you know that 🙂

            1. Dacra
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              😀

      • Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Any ideas on when player prices will be released?

        1. aapoman
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          late August likely. Still need to see who is the 3rd team that promotes from Championship. Then schedules need to be decided also. Especially for teams coming back from Champions and Europa league

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Won't the promotion final be played soon after the semi remaining?

            CL and Europa fixtures will only be done after the finals. League starts 12 Sept.

            I reckon the PL will have the fixtures out soon after the promotion final. Going to leave it very late to wait for the CL and Europa fixtures. PL Fixtures to be rearanged if need be.

            1. HammersXI
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              EFL playoff final is on 4th August.

              Surprised it clashed with UCL when the opportunity to play on the following Sunday wasn't considered.

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

            Cheers pal

      • FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Lets talk about Brewster. One player LFC will be hanging onto as talent in unlimited supply. Loan to an EPL promoted or bottom half team will be amazing.

        10 goals for Swansea since January.

        Kid is a prodigy!

        1. HammersXI
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Honestly, would love him at Leeds. But he chose Swansea over Leeds after seeing Nketiah. So that boat has sailed sadly.

          I think players really don't understand / see the benefit regarding being under Bielsa. I can certainly say Nketiah is a much better product after his short loan spell.

          Back to topic, I foresee Brewster potentially going to Palace or one of the newly promoted clubs? Wouldn't rule out WBA. Harry Wilson is another interesting prospect that would be available on loan

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Any thoughts on Matheus Pereira?

            1. HammersXI
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Bags of potential really. But dislike him for his play acting abilities also.

              I do think if he is priced right he will be direct competition to Pablo Hernandez.

              I just don't feel that confident over WBA attack over Leeds / Brentford.

              1. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                8 goals, 20 assists. Those figures are ridiculously good.

                Plus he played all Championship matches.

                Obviously those figures won't exist in the PL for him but if he is priced right, could be a very good option.

                1. HammersXI
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  This would also see him be priced a lot higher than the usual championship assists.

                  Would you spend 7-7.5m on a WBA player? He does have bags of potential and could see him doing well in EPL but really am unsure of how WBA will set up in EPL. It's a different proposition all together.

                  I cannot see him being priced similarly with Pablo and Klich.

                  I'm also unsure whether he has signed a permanent deal with them. He is currently on loan from Sporting, I know there's some deal in place to have some sort of obligation to buy if promoted

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

                  Will he be an Adel Taarabt or a Charlie Adam is the question!

                  1. FOO FIGHTER
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    This!

                  2. HammersXI
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Time will tell. Hence I would avoid him initially to see how he goes. Even players that performed very well in EFL has struggled getting terms with EPL when they finally got their move / promoted. (Che Adams being the most recent one)

                    I would rather feel more confident in selecting Watkins / Benhrama from Brentford over Periera.

                    1. FOO FIGHTER
                      • 4 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      If he is on loan, probably will cost a wa kload to sign as well so perhaps he will be signed on loan again?

                      But yeah, if his price is over 7.0 I will call him a miss.

                      1. HammersXI
                        • 11 Years
                        3 years, 8 months ago

                        I suspect they have an agreement to convert the loan to permanent. Alot of WBA fans are urging the club to quickly do so before other clubs snap him up.

                        I don't foresee another loan for him. Sporting would rather just sell in that case

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

          Yeah, he needs to move a notch up from Swansea - a lower-table PL side would be ideal. If I go 3-5-2 he may be my 3rd striker.

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Budget forwards could be the way to go.

      • The Spion Kloppite
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I hope someone from WBA and or FULHAM/BRENTFORD come up with
        a useful resume' of those teams such as been circulated by
        HAMMERSX1 recently which was a cracking good article.

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

          Yeah should be a HT, posts like that are what makes this site great.

        2. HammersXI
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks man for the support! Really appreciate it! I do hope to see similar posts hopefully!

      • Bambi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Price prediction for Kane next season? Thinking Spurs may get off to a strong start with no europa/champions league fatigue/delays

        1. The Spion Kloppite
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          11.0

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

          He started this season at 10.5 and scored 2 points less in total so should be 10.5 again

          1. Bambi
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            looks a decent pick at that price i'd say

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

              Yeah especially as a mid 😉

            2. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I agree. Nailed as well.

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

            I tell a lie he was 11, so 11 again I think

          3. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Did he not start at 11?

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

              Yeah my mistake

        3. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Think he will stay at 11.0. No improvement points wise compared to 18/19 so will be surprised if his price is increased.

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

          If he's over 9.5M he comes in for the odd game for me, and that's it. Too many blanks means his average isn't good enough to have in FPL teams for any length of time.

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

            Definitely !
            Premium defenders will outscore him comfortably over the season unless he finds his golden form again.

            Not enough reliable © too. I'd rather have Ings Jimenez Tony

      • Bambi
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Another player I've got my eye on is Lo Celso. Entered the game at 7.5 and registered only 3 assists. Hit by injuries ruined his start of the season but since Jose came in he was a key figure in that midfield. Expecting a reasonable price drop down to 6.0-6.5 and he could be a decent punt. Always picks the right pass in the final 3rd and is on some set pieces.

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

          True, could be. Struggling to see past Kane, Son, Aurier for Spurs assets.
          Maybe Davies (with a price drop) if he finds his attacking potential again

          1. Bambi
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I doubt that will happen for Davies. Looking back at Jose's teams of the past he always likes one fullback to be an attacking outlet (i.e. Ivanovic) and the other to tuck in and make a back 3.

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

              Yeah good point

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I am looking at Alli.

          1. Bambi
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Unfortunately for Ali he may be a victim on a change of formation to a midfield 3 of sissoko, winks and Lo Celso - unless Jose see's Ali playing wide of Kane with Son he may be difficult to accommodate

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Thanks for the info!

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

              Note Spuds are looking at Coutinho (as are Arsenal). If it happened it would be curtains for Alli.

              1. MosF94
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Where do you think Alli would go?

      • Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        https://www.premierleague.com/news/1744596?sf236349396=1

        "But Aubameyang's role on the left wing for the Gunners could potentially result in a change of position from a forward to a midfielder in FPL next term.

        That would be similar to players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Raheem Sterling, who also play out wide for their respective sides."

        "Could" and all that, but given that it's on the official PL site, you'd think that this was a bit of a signpost for next season.

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

          Nice
          Auba Rashford Greenwood Midfielders then.

          Alongside Salad Mane Raz ...

        2. Bury94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          11.0 mid?

          1. Skonto Rigga
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah, could well be. 32 extra points for him this season (clean sheets/goals) would have even taken him above Salah, although he would likely have lost a handful of bonus points in exchange, given the way BPS works.

        3. FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Can Official FPL afford to lose any more viable options at centre forward?

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

            Will he stay in pl anyway ?
            Contract over right ??

            1. FPL Virgin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future at the club could be determined by whether the Gunners win the FA Cup final, with Barcelona and Inter Milan watching how the 31-year-old's situation develops. (Mirror)

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

                Ed Woodward .... Watch it closely man 😀

            2. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah, apparently Arsenal do not want to extend his contract.

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

                Lol
                I don't believe that
                He's there best player hands down

            3. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Just checked now, does he not have one year left?

        4. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Wonder if Auba as a mid wont be a better compared to KDB?

          More goals, plus assists and Auba is as nailed AF.

          My my my....

        5. MosF94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          If he gets a position change without a slight price increase, it'll be difficult not include him - even factoring in bonus losses, we'd be looking at a 20+ point increase (on this season's score), which would shift his value-for-money from good to very good, I think

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

          So that's Auba, KDB & Bruno I now have to fit into midfield...

          Light at the back this year so!

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

            Can't see all this reclassification happening. Normally FPLTowers only change 5 or 6 positions. If they did as people are imagining, we'll all be going 4-5-1 and sticking 2x4.5 strikers on our benches.

            1. Skonto Rigga
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Ten last season: https://www.premierleague.com/news/1257639

              Don't think there's a cap on it, they're mostly striving for consistency. So Rashford, Auba, Greenwood, Lundstram MIDs, Antonio, Richarlison, Martial, Davis FWDs would fit FPL's current positional classifications, whether folk think it's a flawed system or otherwise. There'll be others, I'm sure.

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

                Okay, but to me that list suggests there will be an imbalance - too many premium midfielders and insufficient forwards.

                1. Baines on Toast...
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Agreed. The point Auba is put in mid is the point the entire position structure is broken. It was built before 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 became mainstream. We need forwards (Salah, Mane, Sterling, Martial) to be forwards, not the other way around.

                  1. Skonto Rigga
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    If that was the case, then aren't you merely creating a mass-movement of players from midfielders to forwards, where you can only select three of these premium options and not five? If Salah, Mane, Martial (that will happen anyway) and Sterling are forwards, then so are Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Willian, Pulisic, Traore, Zaha and so on and so on. Do you draw the line at attackers in a 4-3-3? Do you include wide players in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 as forwards? Is Rashford not a forward if he plays out wide in a 4-2-3-1, but Anwar El Ghazi is because he plays on the right of a three-man attack?

                    It's an interesting discussion! I certainly don't have the answers.

                    1. Baines on Toast...
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      I think the question is: Could this player, playing in a wide forward role, play up front on their own? Are they primarily a goalscorer?

                      Martial, Rashford, Auba, Richarlison are all strikers. Mahrez, Zaha and Bernardo are not. Sterling is borderline but probably a forward.

                      1. Skonto Rigga
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 8 months ago

                        Yeah but then you're into the murky area of subjectivity. I'm not saying I'm against it, but FPL very likely wouldn't entertain that opinion-based thinking when it comes to positions based on what they have done in recent years.

            2. Rover
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Was discussing this yesterday on here but if all this reclassification does happen, 442 will become a great formation.

              Even in general, there is merit to avoiding forwards from the big teams and only going for the talismanic target men from the smaller clubs. This is because in general they have a higher goal involvement for their team and if they do score, it is likely 3 bonus guaranteed. The likes of Wood, Ings, Deeney, Antonio?, Maupay, Pukki, Jimmy, Ayew etc.

              And also they do much better at home than away, so get 3 strikers

      • HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Greenwood price prediction?

        Most naturally gifted teenage striker ive seen in pl since harry kane burst on to the scene.

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

          Now 7.5-8m, I reckon. Still having him.

          1. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yh probably. He'll be one of the few affordable premium players

        2. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Tough one. £7.5m midfielder? Assuming FPL continue with their current positional structure.

        3. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 8 months ago

            7.0-8 striker

            Cant be above as he's not nailed especially if Sancho signs but there is a very real chance he could become the main striker sometime in the season and would get plenty of minutes regardless

            1. Klaren
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              FPL positions are based on previous season rather than speculative position for the upcoming season though (unless it is a player who didn't play in PL in the previous season). Greenwood spent over 95% of his playing time this season as a right winger so he definitely has to be classified as a midfielder.

              Also it is very unlikely he will become the main striker with Martial in the team. Probably used in as a backup/rotation option for Rashford/Martial/Sancho if Sancho is signed.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  I don't think you can say that because there doesn't seem to be any consistency with what they do sometimes, I wouldn't be surprised if he was a striker I wouldn't be surprised if he was

                  Yes he starts off as a back up rotation option but still gets plenty of minutes, if martial gets injured or goes off the boil I can see greenwood doing well enough to not be kicked out of the team instantly

            2. Bury94
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              7.5 seems fair, same as Foden

              1. HurriKane
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Both looking great options next season if nailed

            3. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              If United fail to sign Sancho before lunch, he'll be 8m like Tony this season.

              If they do, I'm afraid he won't be in 11 forever so no idea about price.

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

                What time's lunch? 😛

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

                  Launch i mean 😀
                  Good spot WR !

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

              I think we'll get lucky with a 7.5 or less - didn't play enough games early on - and utd will likely sign a forward which might both contribute to a nice pice point

              We may even get him as a 7.5 midfielder!

          • Qaiss
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Aubameyang if a midfielder last season would have been the second highest scorer (237 points) behind KDB. Very tempting if FPL give him the change and we sign a player or two to support him.

            1. Skonto Rigga
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Would have lost a handful of those points via BPS but still, would have been pushing him close.

              1. Skonto Rigga
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                And by "him", I meant Salah!

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

              For sure - same with Rashford

              It's still a bit odd that Rashford, Auba, Salah, Mane, Sterling are not all classified consistently

              There's more similarities than differences between their respective positioning over a season

              1. Skonto Rigga
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                They were classified consistently at the start of the season, though - Rashford and Auba had played more centrally in 2018/19, which is what FPL base their positional decisions on.

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

                  I could have sworn I saw on tranfrmrkt that Rashford started less games at CF than at non-CF last season, and same with Auba due to Laca - must see if I can dig it out, maybe I was imagining it

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

                    Compared to 6 games at CF this season & 25 games at non-CF!

                    Based on that - we're getting a slam dunk Rashford reclass to midfield aren't we 🙂

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

                      Auba:

                      19/20: 15x games as CF, 21x games as non-CF
                      18/19: 24x games as CF, 12x games non-CF

                      https://www.transfermarkt.com/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/58864/plus/0/saison/2019/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/11

                    2. Skonto Rigga
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • Has Moderation Rights
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      Yeah almost certainly!

                      1. Skonto Rigga
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 6 Years
                        3 years, 8 months ago

                        (reply fail to your "Rashford slam dunk" post!)

                        1. Skonto Rigga
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • Has Moderation Rights
                          • 6 Years
                          3 years, 8 months ago

                          Oh wait, it wasn't a "fail" but the "reply fail" post was a "fail" in itself. Jaysus.

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

                            Yeah based on tat its fair to say if Auba's getting a reclass after 21 games outside the CF position- then Rashford has to get same with 25x games outside the CF position

                            Jesus - how are we going to fit KDB, Bruno, Auba, Rashford into a 4 man midfield!

                            3-6-0 formation anyone??

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

                              That's why, imo it can't happen. If it did, we'd all be on 4-5-1 with 2 4.5 strikers on the bench.

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

                                Shoving Mane, Salah, Sterling, Martial up front might be a beter outcome for the game

                                We already have midfield big hitters sewed up for next season in KDB & Bruno, with Pulisic, Ziyech, Havertz & a few notable others about to join them

                                Whereas up front no one in their right minds will be picking Kane or Auba at 11.0+ with the paltry points they offer vs Ings, Jimmy, Vardy etc

                                Put the wide forwards up front imo & the game will be more balanced

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

                                Yeh, I can see Raz, Mo and Mane still being attractive as forwards, but think Martial and the Toffee lads will be less appealing points-wise. But in midfield every man and his dog will have Kev and Bruno (and Auba?) due to lack of options.

          • FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            @neale when is the content on here going to pick up? Not long until the new season begins!

            Plus you wanna be showcasing the good stuff while people are right now deciding which FPL website to hand over their money to and join.

            1. Skonto Rigga
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Not right now. One article a day at present (possibly two in cases, plus community stuff), as it always in the close season. That'll ramp up the closer we get to launch day, which will obviously be a lot quicker of a turnaround than in previous years.

              1. FPL Virgin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Cheers Neale. Got a good idea for a community article myself. Will submit soon 🙂

                1. Geoff
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Do it!

          • ElliotJHP
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Final nail in Laporte's FPL coffin.

            1. MosF94
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              It's gonna be difficult justifying having any Man City defender now, I think. The rotation risk is just too high, and Ederson is likely to be too expensive for a GK who doesn't make many saves or get many bonus points

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

                Eddie just won the Golden Glove. He'd still be a safe bet as a set-n-forget keeper.

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

                  If you see City pattern. They start season goalscoring & leaky fashion.
                  As the season reaches final stages, Pep team shuts shop down for shots taken & etc things.

                  They went on Amazing run of CS for last two seasons final gw's.

                  Something to remember 🙂

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

                    But last season they hadn't replaced Kompany. With Ake they've plugged the gap so should start tighter.

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

                      Yeah ... Good point

                2. MosF94
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  He's a safe bet, but was still outscored by 3 4.5s (and 6 other keepers) over the course of a season. If he's 5.5, maybe he'll be worth it, but I think I'd rather take my chances with a 4.5 and use the extra 1m elsewhere

            2. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              What happened ??
              I fear Ake ??

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

                Yeah, wot's the goss anyway?

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

                  He's a good CB.
                  So ... Hate City & Pool strengthening their teams 😛

              2. ElliotJHP
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Yep, 40 million fee agreed.

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

                  Amazing for Ake !

                  1. FOO FIGHTER
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 8 months ago

                    Very good player IMO but City defensive assets hardly do well.

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

                  Cool, good purchase. That's Garcia off my watchlist then.

            3. Rotation's Alter Ego
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I can see City struggling to deal with set-pieces in the future.

              Garcia is pretty weak aerially and Ake certainly isn't much better.

            4. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Imagine if Pep gets in another attacking mid now with Torres joining the ranks out wide as well.

              Roulette is going to be rife on a new level considering the amount of changes Pep made this season. Lol

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

                He's primed Foden to step into that role for the last 2 years. Replacing Sane and Kompany should be sufficient, unless he wants to plan ahead and get in a replacement for Aguero.

                1. FOO FIGHTER
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Or replacement for Dilva.

                  I doubt Pep is done in the window.

            5. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Nah, Laporte is nailed imho.

              1. ElliotJHP
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                What does nailed mean in City's team mean though? Start two out of three games? Hardly worth it for a 6.5 centre back.

                1. FOO FIGHTER
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  This!

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

                  Well if you take the long-term view, he'll prob still prove better value than most outside Liverpool.
                  Not for me though.

                3. jtreble
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  No, Laporte and Koulibaly will start every MCI game imho.

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

                    Press release I just read said they got Ake cos they can't/won't go for koulibaly.

                    1. jtreble
                      • 7 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      Link?

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

                        Guardian online, went up within the hour

                    2. Rotation's Alter Ego
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • Has Moderation Rights
                      • 12 Years
                      3 years, 8 months ago

                      Saw Sam Lee tweeting that City want 2 CBs and that this shouldn't impact Kouli.

                      https://twitter.com/SamLee/status/1288789058278367232?s=20

                      Kouli and Ake are very different standards of defenders

                      1. jtreble
                        • 7 Years
                        3 years, 8 months ago

                        +1. Ake won’t play much, he’s just a backup imho.

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

                          Hmm. He could've gone back to Chelsea and be nailed on. He must have got assurances.

                          1. jtreble
                            • 7 Years
                            3 years, 8 months ago

                            “... He must have got assurances ...”. :). From Pep. Ha ha. Good one.

          • FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Ake's price minimum 6.5?

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

              Exactly 6.5, not more.

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

              6, esp if they sign another one

              1. FPL Theorist
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                I agree that 6.0 is a fair price. 6.5 for any CB other than VVD is not likely to get many takers.

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

              I think he might be 5.5 if they sign Koulibaly

          • FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Really tempted going no City next season. Do not think Pep is finished in this window.

            Two new faces being added already. Aguero back from injury and minimum one more attacking player added, not sure I want to be involved with his tinkering.

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

              Kev. Prob no more.

              1. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Plus they City will want to rub salt in the wounds of UEFA fair play.

                Pep going to add more to his squad...

            2. The Cisco Kid
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              That’s one solution. I see the flip side: double up! Get one premium and one mid priced option, and call yourself good. Sterling and Foden? KDB and Bilva? Why not?

            3. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              GL.