Pre-Season

The best mid-price and premium FPL defenders for 2020/21

Our position-by-position analysis of the Fantasy Premier League options for 2020/21 continues as we scrutinise the premium defenders on offer.

In this article, we will weigh up the pros and cons of the 91 defensive assets currently available at £5.0m or above.

We’ll have more in-depth analysis to come between now and Gameweek 1 but these are our initial thoughts on the FPL player price list.

The £6.0m+ Premiums

A total of 11 Fantasy Premier League defenders are available for £6.0m or more, although one, Ricardo Pereira (£6.0m), is likely to be out of commission come Gameweek 1 and another, Marcos Alonso (£6.0m), is a real rotation risk.

A price rise to £7.5m hasn’t put many off Trent Alexander-Arnold and, at the time of writing, he is the most popular asset in the entire game.

Given that the two Manchester clubs and Burnley (three of the most solid teams at the back in 2020) blank in Gameweek 1, Liverpool defenders will be even more desirable for their opening-day clash with Leeds United.

We have covered Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) in some detail in a stand-alone piece, so, rather than retreading old ground, we’ll point you in the direction of that article.

As for the rest, Matt Doherty (£6.0m) stands out.

Only Alexander-Arnold provides better value among FPL defenders than Doherty based on points per million (2019/20 points and 2020/21 prices) and in two successive seasons has the Irishman delivered more than 10 attacking returns.

A big tick against Wolves’ name is that they won’t be involved in European club competition this season, so they won’t be afflicted by the Thursday-Sunday turnaround that plagued them in 2019/20 and led to some early-season rotation from Nuno Espirito Santo.

From Gameweek 25 onwards, Wolves were one of the most in-form Premier League teams from a defensive perspective, with nine clean sheets kept in their final 14 games.

At the other end of the pitch, no FPL defender had more shots in the box or big chances than Doherty last season.

Wolves have one of the more appealing runs of matches in the first seven Gameweeks, save for the visit of Manchester City – a team they beat twice last season, of course.

Speaking of the Citizens, the absence of a Gameweek 1 fixture for Pep Guardiola’s side will leave many FPL managers looking elsewhere for defensive options.

It’s worth reminding ourselves that, for all their critics, City’s backline still registered more Premier League clean sheets (17) than any other team last season.

Eight of them arrived in Aymeric Laporte‘s (£6.0m) 14 starts and he looks the pick of City’s three defenders at this price point.

As happened to Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) at the start of 2019/20, Laporte has dropped in price after an injury-affected campaign.

But the Frenchman was as good as nailed in the previous season, starting 34 of the 35 matches he was fully fit for.

Always capable of grabbing a goal, he recorded six attacking returns in that title-winning campaign too.

The capture of Nathan Ake (£5.5m) is something to keep an eye on, though, with the former Bournemouth man, like Laporte, more at home on the left-hand side of defence.

Lucas Digne (£6.0m) and Cesar Azpilicueta (£6.0m) round off the whistle-stop tour of the top-of-the-range FPL defenders.

Two of the more secure starters at clubs whose managers like to rotate, the pair were ranked second and fourth for chances created among Fantasy defenders last season.

Both Everton and Chelsea have some decent fixtures to come in the opening two months of the season but, as we’ll discuss in the sections below, there are questions to be asked about their defensive prowess under their current bosses.

Still, with eight attacking returns apiece to their names and their underlying stats catching the eye, any upturn in fortune on the clean sheet front will catapult them back into the premium defender conversation – if they weren’t already.

The gung-ho Alonso of course warrants a namecheck after his late-season return to the Chelsea starting XI but, with Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) heavily linked to the west London side, we’ll temporarily shelve any talk of a Fantasy renaissance for the Spaniard.

Cheaper Big-Six Options

As for the cheaper Manchester City and Liverpool assets available for less than £6.0m, only Joe Gomez (£5.5m) is someone we could confidently predict a start for at this early stage.

Gomez became a permanent fixture at centre-half during Liverpool’s incredible run of shut-outs from Gameweek 16 onwards, although offers nothing but clean sheet potential and had only one shot in the whole of last season.

Unless there are any pre-season injuries picked up by the Reds’ regulars at the back, Konstantinos Tsimikas (£5.0m) and Joel Matip (£5.0m) will surely begin 2020/21 as mere back-ups at best.

There are also too many options for Pep Guardiola at centre-half for Nathan Ake (£5.5m), Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m), John Stones (£5.0m), Eric Garcia (£5.0m) and even Fernandinho (£5.5m) to be considered trustworthy punts at the time of writing, although the veteran Brazilian will likely now see more ‘out of position’ run-outs in the middle of the park.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Joao Cancelo (£5.5m) couldn’t be relied on to start in any given Gameweek, either, despite the Portuguese belatedly finding favour at left-back at the end of last season.

As ever, the situation at City is a shifting one and needs to be constantly reappraised – an injury to the left-footed Laporte, for example, would surely mean that Ake would become a more dependable starter in what was the Premier League’s best defence for clean sheets in 2019/20.

Manchester United blank in Gameweek 1 but some appealing matches follow straight after and the Red Devils have been one of the form teams at the back in 2020.

No side has kept more clean sheets this calendar year, while only their cross-city rivals conceded on fewer occasions from Gameweek 21 onwards.

Providing he isn’t incarcerated, the ever-present Harry Maguire (£5.5m) is as secure a starter as they come and no centre-back had more shots than the England international last season – although only one led to a goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m) showed an upturn in attacking output this year, too, with three of his four assists arriving after New Year’s Day.

There’s still a bit of work to be done from an offensive perspective, however – as an example, Robertson created over three times as many chances as the United right-back in the post-lockdown era.

If he is fit (and that’s a big ‘if’), Luke Shaw is the obvious pick of the seven United defenders at £5.0m.

No attacking returns last season was a disappointment but his minutes-per-chance-created average was better than Wan-Bissaka’s in 2019/20.

Pre-season will be a good indicator as to whether Mikel Arteta still favours a 3-4-3 heading into the new season and will hopefully tell us whether the highly rated Willian Saliba (£4.5m) can be a reliable budget asset in 2020/21.

As for the Gunners’ more expensive options, not one of their six £5.0m defensive options could be perceived as being ‘nailed’ at this early stage.

Even Hector Bellerin (£5.0m), now available at his lowest price since 2014/15, faces a challenge from Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) and Cedric Soares (£5.0m) down the right as Arteta again prepares to juggle his options on the domestic front and in the UEFA Europa League.

Other than the wobble he had immediately after lockdown, David Luiz (£5.5m) has been a permanent fixture at the heart of the Arsenal backline under Arteta and couldn’t be bettered for shots or chances created among his defensive teammates following the change of manager.

Kieran Tierney (£5.5m) is perhaps the more appealing option at this price point, though, with glimmers of his potential (one goal, two assists and seven starts in Arsenal’s final eight league games of 2019/20) belatedly arriving after an injury-ravaged campaign.

While the opening two fixtures are enticing, interest might be short-lived: the Gunners meet four of last season’s top five and Sheffield United between Gameweeks 3-7.

Jose Mourinho’s ‘second season’ is usually his best and, after some mixed displays in the campaign just gone, there were signs of some improvement towards the end of 2019/20.

Four of the seven clean sheets that Tottenham Hotspur kept under their new manager came after the restart, which perhaps bodes well for the favourable opening fixtures to come.

Eight Spurs defenders are available for £5.0m-£5.5m and, as the numbers would suggest, not all will be starters come Gameweek 1.

Arguably the most appealing of them from an attacking perspective, Serge Aurier (£5.5m), may not even be at the club, with the Ivorian linked with a move away from north London this summer.

Mourinho has previously hailed the importance of Ben Davies (£5.0m) to his system but, although he has been a regular starter when fit, the Welshman tends to tuck in to become a third centre-half when the Lilywhites attack and doesn’t offer the offensive menace that Aurier provided.

Toby Alderweireld (£5.5m) and Eric Dier (£5.0m) may well be the first-choice options at centre-half if the post-lockdown line-ups were anything to go by (Dier came straight back into the side after suspension) but, should they continue to shape up in a lopsided back four, perhaps the best FPL defender from Spurs isn’t even at the club yet – that is, an attacking right-back in the Aurier mould.

A vast improvement at the back is required for Chelsea next season, with no team in the top half conceding more goals than the Blues in 2019/20.

Only five sides in the division kept fewer clean sheets, meanwhile.

Saying that, their goalkeepers have a lot to answer for as only four clubs had a superior ‘expected goals conceded’ (xGC) total.

Pinning Frank Lampard down to a regular centre-half pairing proved problematic last season with even defensive mainstay Antonio Rudiger (£5.0m) briefly losing his place in the run-in.

The one to watch at this price point is perhaps Reece James (£5.0m), whose offensive attributes caught the eye; of the Chelsea backline, only Alonso had a better minutes-per-chance-created average.

So long as the versatile Azpilicueta remains fit and available, though, there is always the risk of a maddening benching for the youngster.

Top-Half Options

Wolves’ Jonny (£5.5m) is out long-term with a knee injury, while Jonny Evans (£5.5m) will miss the first three matches of the season through suspension and it’s not yet clear whether Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) will recover from a heel injury to be available for Gameweek 1 – or, indeed, whether he’ll be sticking around at Leicester City.

Caglar Soyuncu (£5.5m), who has been handed a £1.0m starting price rise, is the only member of what was the Foxes’ regular back four in 2019/20 who isn’t red-flagged at present.

Leicester have some appealing matches in the opening five Gameweeks of the campaign but with three-quarters of the first-choice backline possibly unavailable, there have to be questions asked as to how watertight they will be even against more favourable opposition.

Wolves’ regular centre-halves, along with their crocked left wing-back, are all available in the mid-price bracket.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have some appealing matches from Gameweeks 3-7 and even an opening-day trip to Sheffield United, who aren’t renowned for their goalscoring exploits, offers clean sheet potential.

Wolves kept nine shut-outs in their final 14 games last season, a period that coincided with Willy Boly‘s (£5.5m) return from injury.

He and especially Romain Saiss (£5.0m) traditionally offer something that Conor Coady (£5.0m) very much doesn’t, namely goal threat from set plays.

Boly, who scored on four occasions in 2018/19, didn’t really get in the mix last season but Saiss was in the thick of it, registering more big chances than all bar two FPL defenders.

Boly and Coady are pretty much nailed when fit, while Saiss isn’t far behind them, with only two benchings from Gameweek 15 onwards – both in periods of fixture congestion.

No involvement in European club competition this season can surely only help on the rotation risk front.

Sheffield United also only have the league and domestic cups to focus on after flirting with a European qualification spot last season.

All five of their first-choice defenders have predictably been handed price rises after their superb first season back in the Premier League in which they registered 13 clean sheets.

To sum up their defensive assets in one line: John Egan (£5.0m) presents their biggest goal threat from dead-ball situations, while wing-backs Enda Stevens (£5.5m) and George Baldock (£5.5m) are unsurprisingly streets ahead of the centre-halves in terms of creativity.

Liverpool’s two full-backs were the only two FPL defenders who created more big chances than Stevens in 2019/20.

Rotation is happily not an issue with Chris Wilder, although fixtures in the opening eight Gameweeks might be with five of last season’s top eight facing the Blades.

You can read our thoughts on how Aaron Ramsdale‘s (£5.0m) capture will affect the Blades’ backline here, meanwhile.

A blank in Gameweek 1 and the availability of Burnley’s full-backs for £4.5m will put many off James Tarkowski (£5.5m) and Ben Mee (£5.0m).

The two centre-backs are at least nailed (when fit) under a manager who seldom rotates, while Tarkowski has hit five attacking returns in each of the last two campaigns.

While the Clarets may struggle to emulate last season’s total of 15 clean sheets, we know exactly what we are getting from a Sean Dyche-led side: in the five Premier League campaigns that he has overseen, Burnley have hit double figures for shut-outs in four of them.

No FPL defender personally kept more clean sheets than Tarkowski in 2019/20, while not a single defensive asset who now costs less than £6.0m scored more points than the Burnley stopper last season.

The Best – and Worst – of the Rest

Despite making good progress in his rehabilitation, Patrick van Aanholt (£5.5m) looks set to miss the start of the season with a dislocated shoulder.

Fabian Schar (£5.0m) is another who is touch and go for the beginning of the new campaign but the Swiss international had been playing second fiddle for a lot of 2019/20 anyway and Steve Bruce’s move to a back four (ergo one less centre-half) further dented his prospects.

From Gameweek 10 onwards, Federico Fernandez (£5.0m) started every match in the Newcastle defence.

He also racked up over three times as many bonus points (13) than any other Newcastle defender but the move to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 may have come at the expense of solidity at the back, with only two clean sheets arriving in the post-lockdown era.

Even accounting for Aston Villa’s late-season defensive improvement and his undoubted goal threat, it was still a surprise to see Tyrone Mings priced up at £5.0m.

A blank for the Villans in Gameweek 1 effectively seals his no-go status for the time being at least.

With West Ham United’s fixtures arguably the worst in the division in the first two months, Aaron Cresswell (£5.0m) and Angelo Ogbonna (£5.0m) also scream ‘avoid’.

Two newly promoted defenders enter at the £5.0m mark, with West Bromwich Albion’s Semi Ajayi likely to offer security of starts and a goal threat from centre-half.

The Baggies weren’t overly impressive at the back in 2019/20, however, and few managers will surely take a punt with the fixtures on the tricky side in the opening three Gameweeks.

Fulham’s schedule is better in the medium term but with the Cottagers snapping up left-back Antonee Robinson this week, we’ll have to bide our time to see how the USA international’s arrival affects Joe Bryan (£5.0m) – will he be ‘out of position’ further up the left flank or perhaps offloaded?

Which FPL players will be nearing a suspension when the season restarts?

There is a lot to like about Lewis Dunk (£5.0m), who has just signed a new five-year deal with Brighton and Hove Albion to (temporarily) put rumours of a move away from the south coast to bed.

Not one bona fide centre-half registered more attacking returns (six) or attempts on goal (31) than Dunk in the Premier League last season, while he was largely immune to the rotation that plagued other Brighton assets, starting 36 top-flight matches.

The Seagulls didn’t rack up too many clean sheets (nine) in 2019/20, while Albion’s opening fixtures aren’t great with Chelsea and Manchester United waiting in the first three Gameweeks.

While the price rise is off-putting, Dunk is one to watch for when the matches become more winnable and it’ll be interesting to see if Brighton can make strides at the back following investment in the promising Tariq Lamptey (£4.5m) and Ajax’s Joel Veltman (£4.5m).

Two teams with more favourable opening schedules are Everton and Southampton.

Yan Valery (£5.0m) is bemusingly more expensive than Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.5m) despite the expectation that he will start the season as back-up at right-back, while the availability of cheaper options in the Saints defence is a deterrent regarding Ryan Bertrand (£5.0m) and Jack Stephens (£5.0m).

Not one FPL defender priced up at £5.0m or less this season created more chances than Bertrand in 2019/20, however.

As for Everton, five clean sheets in 20 Premier League matches under Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t scream ‘must own’.

Yerry Mina (£5.5m) has yet to really follow up on the offensive threat he exhibited at the 2018 World Cup, having only scored three Premier League goals in two years at Everton, although his minutes-per-chance average last season was the second-best among centre-backs.

The chief problem with the Toffees’ centre-halves is security of starts, with Ancelotti having previously gone on record to say that he would rotate in that position.

Mina and Michael Keane (£5.0m) have been the most at risk so far, although Mason Holgate (£5.0m) has been less affected (15 starts and one benching).

With Everton expected to reinforce their options at right-back following loanee Djibril Sidibe’s departure, a question over how ‘nailed’ Seamus Coleman (£5.0m) is also has to be considered; the Irishman was benched in seven of the 20 games that his manager oversaw.

Best players by position:

684 Comments Post a Comment
  1. davies
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    If Keita starts the community shield, would you take the risk?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nah.

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nope

    3. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Potentially, but only if the Thiago deal seems unlikely to go through

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        or it does go through but Gini leaves

  2. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Are there any fanteam only discussion pages on here or forums about ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Should be a few forums.

  3. mrodgers91
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Probably been said already but happy coutinho got his champions league medal. Would still have him back

    1. Party time
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Barca would be sending 5m add ons to Liverpool as part of the previous transfer

    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      anyone got the league code for Last Man Standing?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        😛

        1. El Presidente
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Ah ah ah

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Over 900 teams in LMS.
      48n69x to enter.

      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        😆

      2. Party time
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I got knocked out in gw 1 last season...

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Plenty of good players did too.

            1. Party time
                3 years, 7 months ago

                This season will be different TM. I am gonna win it. I promise!

            2. OverTinker
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              could happen to anyone.

          2. FantasyHero
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            whats this ?

        • JELLYFISH
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Current draft for GW1?

          McCarthy
          TAA Ferguson Vinagre Justin
          Auba Salah Son Zyech
          Werner Mitro

          (Gordon Taylor Davis)

          How’s it looking?

          1. Squib
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            What I am on now mate except I have Werner and Antonio plus ASM in midfield with nothing ITB.
            I am toying with Vardy and Mitrovic instead.
            Still think I will be taking shots to get in KDB, Bruno among other in gameweek 2 and 3 depending.
            What are you thinking?

            1. JELLYFISH
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              1m itb and current thinking is Mitro > Wood and Son > Rash. Too many variables other than that

              1. Squib
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Got to get in on the Manchester sides attackers. Really want Bruno but waiting on Greenwood circumstance.

        • Yip Jaap Stam
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Is Ferguson a realist option as a starter?

          1. Marmalade Forest
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            A “realistic option” given the current injuries, lack of new signings and Scott Dann missing.

            Could easily fall back to “nowhere near the squad” by Christmas

            1. Ser Davos
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              No, the lad looks class. He's very much the main RB I think

              *possibly Ward starts ahead initially

        • davies
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          A) Doherty Armstrong (442)

          B) Mitchell Greenwood (352)

          1. FOO FIGHTER
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Has to be A?

            1. davies
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              After doing Auba > KDB in GW3 I’ll have 0.5 to upgrade Mitchell

              1. FOO FIGHTER
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                By that time UTD may already have signed a new RW.

              2. Marmalade Forest
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Unless Aubameyang is 11.9 from all of the sales and KDB is 11.6 from all of the buys.

                Then you’ll have 0.3 which is useless until later on in the season.

          2. Party time
              3 years, 7 months ago

              A

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

            Which of these 5m picks would you take a chance on?
            A. Bellerin
            B. Bavies
            C. Dier
            D. Other/Don't rate any

            1. FOO FIGHTER
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              B

            2. Carlton P
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              B

            3. Snevitz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              B or Saiss

            4. dunas_dog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Egan

            5. Party time
                3 years, 7 months ago

                B

              • Marmalade Forest
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Bellerín

              • The Knights Template
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                C or Egan

            6. @fpl_phenom
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              does anyone know what is happening around the Christmas period in terms of blank Gameweeks and double gamweeks? why is this happening this year as apposed to others and what gamweeks are likely to be affected?

              1. Marmalade Forest
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Look at Ben Crellin on Twitter

                Something like a BGW 18 and DGW19 to give teams a week off.

                1. @fpl_phenom
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  currently cant access it, cheers though

            7. Snevitz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I've played around with my team a lot, some would say too much, and it would be great to get feedback on a couple of decisions that I've made - triple Wolves defence and £18m spent on Man U when they don't have a fixture:

              McCarthy
              TAA, Doherty, Saiss, Vinagre
              Auba, Henderson, Soucek
              Werner, Ings, Mitrovic

              Button, Ferguson, Fernandes, Greenwood.

              This sets me up close to the team that I wanted before the missing fixtures were announced.
              Having the two Man U players means that I don't have a transfer planned so I can jump on any low priced player who performed well.
              The Wolves triple up at the book looks like good value although he does block an Ings to Jimenez swap if Ings got injured.
              Henderson seems great value at £5.5m, he just gets overlooked because most people have the premium options.

              1. diesel001
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Armstrong, ASM, Soucek are the 'template' £5.5m picks.

                Doesn't mean they are the right picks though.

              2. Rasping Drive
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                I think having so much money on the bench for GW1 is a mistake, especially when Pool have Leeds at home.

                1. Snevitz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  I agree it's risky but the team I'm putting out week 1cisnt terrible and it enables me to have my team set up how I want it long term without having to take a hit.
                  Obviously if Greenwood is no longer nailed then things will change.

                  1. Ser Davos
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Like the team and like the thought process

                    1. Ser Davos
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      But don't bother with Henderson... don't even know how much he is

                      Ponder Boly as a Wolf, but consider if Jiminez carries on

                  2. TheBrazilianRonaldo
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Greenwood’s numbers don’t suggest he’s going to hand worldly every week, but if I watch him he’s in. So it’s a toughie. Like the idea though. I have Fernandez on bench gw1 as well

              3. Marmalade Forest
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Henderson might be injured and won’t be rushed back with the options of AOC, Keita, Wijnaldum, Milner and Fabinho.

                I had him at the end of last season as a “balls out Hail Mary”. Not a safe pick and start of the season you need safety.

                Love the double United bench. Start with them and let auto sub sort it though.

                1. Snevitz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Thanks I wasn't sure if he was fit or not and I was hoping someone would tell me. 116 points from 2234 minutes last season is a good return so it's a shame. Easy swap to Armstrong or ASM I suppose.

                  1. Marmalade Forest
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Use SofaScore or TransferMarkt to check the preseason games and minutes played.

                    Don’t think he played their first friendly. Play again on the 25th

              4. space mercenary
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                I have taken a similar approach but with Greenwood, Bruno and Rashford on the bench,
                I have Salah and Zychech starting olus TAA+Robbo the rest are budget but 0.5 itb also gives a bit of flexibility.

                1. Snevitz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Taken it even further than me!
                  How confident are you that all your players will start in week 1?

            8. Aaa
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Thoughts here?

              Ryan/Button
              TAA/Doherty/Vinagre/KWP/Ferguson
              Salah/Fernandes/Son/Ziyech/Soucek
              Vardy/Adams/Davis

              No Auba I know is an obvious omission

              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Forward line a bit different to most. Solid team, you need an Auba blank.

            9. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Squeezing as much budget into the starting 11, thoughts on this team please?

              McCarthy
              TAA Justin Vinagre
              Salah Aubameyang Son ASM
              Werner Ings Mitrovic

              1. Party time
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Looks solid but template

                • TheBrazilianRonaldo
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Auba is over priced. Looks like a very good team for week 1

                • Squib
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  I like it

                • Lebowski85
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  I'm a fan. I just don't know how solid Leicester will be

                • Ask Yourself
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  It’s amazing but you know your 4.5 defenders will have to change by deadline. Either way you’ll be fine. Great side

                • Greeeno
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Same as my team but I went for Keita over ASM.
                  Pretty sure I'll be wildcarding wk 2 tho.

              2. Right In The Stanchion
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Vinagre Stroke is my team name this season

                1. stxrty
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Team O'Werner

                2. The Knights Template
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Appropriate

              3. goriuanx
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Looks like more RMTs now have double Liverpool defence. Hopefully they concede in the charity shield.

                1. TheBrazilianRonaldo
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Lack of ideas and expecting Liverpool to maintain their lucky defence numbers

                  1. Steve The Spud
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    They did a lot worse last season?

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

                Can anyone clarify the burnley left pack status please?

                In particular is Taylor nailed?

                Pieters player in plenty of the post kickdown games - and did well.

                Was Taylor injured? 4.5m nailed Burnley defender not to be sniffed at. Thanks

                1. Dynamic Duos
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Taylor was injured yeah

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

                    Thanks

                2. I Must Break You
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Pieters played quite a bit OOP as a mid last season as well, even when Taylor was fit

              5. The Orienteer - find me in …
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Who should I pick for my team please?

                1. Dynamic Duos
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Haha great stuff

                2. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Autopick works well.

              6. Ser Davos
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Justin played LB for Luton, whom LEI bought him off

                1. Dynamic Duos
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Nailed on then

              7. lastmanback
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Anyone else have a bug with the official premier league app on android, where it shows a current gameweek score of -1, and when you look at 'my team' it shows your players GW2 fixtures?

                1. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Everyone.

                  1. lastmanback
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Glad it's not just me, thanks Torres

              8. SAY MY NAME
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                anyone know if Chelsea have played any pre-season games yet? just wondering how they might line up, will probably vary a bit given their options and new signings

                1. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Don't think so.

                  1. SAY MY NAME
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    cheers TM

                2. Now I'm Panicking
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Players still on hols after playing in Europe probably

                  1. SAY MY NAME
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    thanks Jarvish

                3. stxrty
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Nope

                  1. stxrty
                    • 3 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    As in nope we haven't lol

                    1. SAY MY NAME
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      cool, thanks mate

              9. greenybne
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Hi all, battling between defensive value and attacking hauls. Leaning toward the former today. What do we think of this 442 draft?

                McCarthy, Nyland
                TAA, VVD, Doherty, KWP/Vinagre
                Auba, Son, Salah, Soucek, 4.5
                Ings, Mitro, 4.5

                Ings could be Jimmy and KWP/Vinagre could be any of the 4.5s rotating

                Plan to go Auba and Son to KDB and Rash/Greenwoood GW3

                1. Lebowski85
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Sounds good to me buddy & sqaud looks great Personal opinions is that Jiminez is more stable than Ings. Maybe Armstrong for Saints coverage? I don't understand the ASM love...mainly as Newcastle are so flakey. Saying that....I've I had them all GW1 I'd be happy enough

                  1. greenybne
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    ASM is at that very punty price point, could be Armstrong, Soucek, Lund, Henderson. I just like West Ham, Brighton to start the season for New

              10. George Sillett
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Who are your 3 to get relegated ?
                West Brom , Fulham & Palace for me.

                1. Snevitz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  West Brom, Fulham & Villa

                2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Yes and in that exact order too.

                  Palace fans must be so frustrated with their board. £50M for AWB, where’s it gone?

                3. Cak Juris
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  CPL, BHA and WBA

                4. dunas_dog
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Palace, Fulham and West Ham

                5. Ask Yourself
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  I always hope palace get relegated because of how horribly they play but every year they still manage to stay up like some fever dream of mine

                6. goriuanx
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Agreed

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

                  Looks like ive found my three 4.5 defs to go with double pool

              11. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Wishes for first gameweek if I fall into a coma until the deadline:

                Liverpool 0 - 0 Leeds
                Brighton 1 - 0 Chelsea
                Spurs 1 - 1 Everton
                Sheffield 1 - 1 Wolves
                Fulham 0 - 10 Arsenal
                Palace 0 - 10 Southampton
                West Brom 1 - 10 Leicester
                West Ham 10 - 10 Newcastle

                1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Not sure why, but this cracked me up 😆

                  Hope you’re well mate!

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

                  Very realistic scores, might place bets on these.

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

                  This is your coma

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

                  Do you only use the binary code?

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

                    yes and no

                5. The Polymath
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  These scores will come to pass, but all your players will unfortunately be benched. 😀

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

                    That's okay, I just want Arsenal to be top of the table!

              12. dshv
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Mccarthy nyland
                Taa justin egan (vinagre, ferguson)
                Salah son auba saint armstrong
                Mitro werner (wicham)

                1. This. And gw2 son to bruno
                2. Armstrong to greenwood and bench gw1

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

                  1

                  1. dshv
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Thanks

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

                Thoughts on this team? Will WC in GW3.

                Mccarthy
                TAA Vinagre Justin
                Salah Ziyech Son Keita
                Werner Vardy Lacazette

                (Nyland, Johnson, Gordon, Douglas)

              14. Cak Juris
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                How can we know XGI for promoted players?

              15. Ser Davos
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Didn't realise City actually cleaned up in the clean sheet dept

              16. Pieters 4 Wood
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                This so called 'template' team has mostly poor fixtures for GW2. Looks great on paper at first.

                McCarthy, TAA, Vinagre, Justin, Soucek, Salah, Auba, Son, St-Max, Kane, Mitrovic

                Nyland, Dallas, Ferguson, Brewster

                McCarthy, Vinagre, Justin, Soucek, Ferguson + Liverpool all have difficult gw2 fixture. Too much?

                Possibly Son (who has good fixture) out for Bruno for gw2

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

                  Yeah I was thinking myset it's tough to plan for GW2 with Soton v Spurs, Wolves v City and Lpool v Chelsea

              17. norab
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Who is ASM?

                1. dshv
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Maximin

                2. Mighty Banana
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 4 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Allan Saint-Maximin

                  1. norab
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    lol jaysus i'm an idiot. TA

              18. Vazza
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Guys, what are your thoughts on Newcastle defence?

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

                  City walls seen better days but the castle keep still going strong. Will be hard to penetrate without trojan horse tactics.