Pre-Season

The best mid-price FPL midfielders for 2020/21

Having scoured the Fantasy Premier League price list for the pick of the budget midfielders, we now switch our focus to the mid-price bracket.

For the purposes of this piece, we are looking at options with a starting price between £5.5m and £7.0m inclusive.

You can also read our thoughts on budget goalkeepersmid-price/premium goalkeepersbudget defenders and mid-price/premium defenders, with an analysis of FPL forwards to follow.

Big-Six Starters and Back-Ups

This could be a big season for Phil Foden (£6.5m), who has long been touted as a replacement for the now-departed David Silva.

After being sparingly used before the coronavirus outbreak, Foden was more heavily involved after lockdown, starting six of Manchester City’s final 10 league games and appearing as a substitute in another three.

Foden delivered six attacking returns and averaged 5.6 points per match over this period (the same as Son Heung-min‘s (£9.0m) season-long mean), although it should be said that most of his joy was had in a more advanced position to the one Silva occupied during his decade at the Etihad.

Rotation is inevitable even with ‘El Mago’ gone and, at £6.5m rather than £5.5m, his price makes him that bit harder to own as a luxury pick.

But the 20-year-old prospect is definitely one for the watchlist for when Guardiola’s troops begin their campaign in Gameweek 2 and he offers a substantial saving on even the likes of Riyad Mahrez (£8.5m), who doesn’t look much more ‘nailed’ than Foden.

Elsewhere at City, the jury is still out on new arrival Ferran Torres (£7.0m), while the more restrained Rodri (£5.5m) and Ilkay Gundogan (£5.5m) will only chip in with the occasional attacking return from the base of the City midfield.

Gomez absent for Liverpool as more injuries revealed after FPL deadline

There’s a gap of £5.5m between Liverpool’s two free-scoring premium assets and any other Reds midfielder, which likely tells you all you need to know about the other options from Jurgen Klopp’s side in the middle of the park.

Other than Harry Wilson (£5.5m), who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, only club captain Jordan Henderson (£5.5m) registered more than five attacking returns among Liverpool’s nine-strong group of mid-price midfielders.

The more attack-minded Naby Keita (£5.5m) is potentially one to monitor after two goals and three assists in just 806 minutes in 2019/20 but it’s in the engine room where Klopp more frequently rotates, while the likes of Takumi Minamino (£6.5m) will be reliant on injuries picked up by the first-choice front three for meaningful game-time.

Game-time could also be a huge problem for Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley (all £6.0m) after Chelsea’s lavish spending in the transfer market this summer, with Kai Havertz also being heavily linked at the time of writing.

Even Mason Mount (£7.0m) may be nervously monitoring the Blues’ in-bound activity, having been a favourite of Frank Lampard’s last season.

Mount – who delivered six of his 13 attacking returns in the first ten Gameweeks of 2019/20 – appeared in all but one of Chelsea’s 38 league fixtures last season, starting 32 of them, but would be a sizeable rotation risk if attacking midfielder Havertz also arrives.

Arsenal’s four mid-price assets are either underwhelming or problematically priced, with Willian‘s (£8.0m) capture potentially eating into the game-time of former budget favourite Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) – who has been handed a £1m starting price rise – and Reiss Nelson (£5.5m).

Who knows what the future holds for Mesut Ozil (£7.0m) after his late-season disappearing act but, even when he was a regular under Mikel Arteta, two attacking returns in ten starts is reflective of his waning powers.

Granit Xhaka (£5.5m) is no longer a set-piece specialist at Arsenal (he took only one corner last season) and is also perhaps half a million too pricey as a result.

Manchester United’s quartet of midfield options in the £5.5m-£6.5m bracket managed just two starts between them after lockdown and, barring any injuries picked up by the first-team regulars, will be expecting to play second fiddle when the Red Devils’ season gets underway in Gameweek 2.

Lucas Moura (£7.0m) and Giovani Lo Celso (£7.0m) are perhaps the pick of Spurs’ five mid-priced midfielders, with the Lilywhites gifted some favourable fixtures at the start of 2020/21.

Lo Celso has enjoyed a share of corners since Christian Eriksen departed and featured in a more advanced role after lockdown, claiming three assists.

Lucas was also a regular down the right flank when football resumed in June and set up two goals, although he and Lo Celso didn’t score a goal or register a big chance between them.

Lo Celso could also potentially move into a deeper role to accommodate Dele Alli‘s (£8.0m) return, while Lucas faces the permanent threat of rotation with Steven Bergwijn (£7.5m) now an alternative on the wing.

Newly Promoted Assets

The four most advanced Leeds United midfielders in behind their central striker will all set FPL managers back at least £5.5m.

The most expensive of them is Pablo Hernandez (£6.0m), who supplied 18 attacking returns in the Whites’ title-winning year.

Unlike his creative counterpart at West Bromwich Albion (see below), however, 35-year-old Hernandez may be prone to a spot of rotation as the season goes on.

He doesn’t have the monopoly at set-play situations, either, so there are understandable reservations about the undeniably gifted Spaniard.

Wingers Helder Costa and Jack Harrison plus the penalty-taking Mateusz Klich will all set Fantasy bosses back £5.5m, the last two of whom both started all bar one of Leeds’ 46 Championship games.

We’ll point you in the direction of our dedicated piece on Leeds’ attacking assets for more information on that trio, although we’ll also highlight the fact that loanee Harrison will be ineligible to face his parent club in Gameweek 4.

Matheus Pereira (£6.0m) is, arguably, the stand-out midfielder from any of the three promoted clubs and he comes at a cost as a result.

A total of 16 assists (and that’s discounting ‘Fantasy assists’), 116 key passes and 20 big chances created were not only highs in the West Brom squad but bettered by no other player in the entire Championship.

No Albion player could match Pereira’s shot count (111) last season, either.

On a share of corner-taking duties and first in line for direct free-kicks, Pereira may offer multiple routes to Fantasy points in an otherwise limited Albion attack.

The chances of wingers Kamil Grosicki (£5.5m) and Matt Phillips (£5.5m) starting in Gameweek 1 may well hinge on who else West Brom bring in over the summer, as Slaven Bilic is down three loanees – all of them attacking midfielders – who played a big part in 2019/20.

You can read a more detailed appraisal of Albion’s midfielders here.

Given their inconsistency against inferior opposition in 2019/20 and the fact they were in and out of the Fulham side at the end of the season, wingers Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.5m) and Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m) have limited appeal at this early stage.

The deeper-lying Tom Cairney (£5.5m) was a more nailed pick under Scott Parker but, given Fulham’s relative shortage of goals in the second tier and Cairney’s meagre FPL returns two years ago, there’ll be understandable scepticism about the Scotland international.

Top-Half Options

There is a lot to like about a Europa League-less Wolves, not least their fixture run from Gameweeks 3-7.

But while Raul Jimenez (£8.5m) offers reliability in terms of starts, the one or two slots alongside him appear to be up for grabs.

If any of Adama Traore (£6.5m), Daniel Podence (£5.5m), Pedro Neto (£5.5m) and the reclassified Diogo Jota (£6.5m) were considered secure starters, then they’d be featuring in a lot more FPL team drafts than they are at present.

Take the post-lockdown period, for example: while Jimenez was an ever-present in the season run-in, not one of the above quartet started more than six of Wolves’ final nine matches.

Perhaps the fixture congestion played a part in that but in truth the uncertainty went further back in the calendar year, with Nuno Espirito Santo alternating between a 3-5-2 and a 3-4-3 from February onwards.

The hope would be for the stability we saw in the middle third of last season but with the emergence of Podence especially, the situation looks too unpredictable at present.

2019/20 felt like a slightly underwhelming one for James Maddison (£7.0m) from a Fantasy perspective, with the England international being outscored by teammate Harvey Barnes (£7.0m).

The underlying data suggests this was something of a freak occurrence, with Maddison registering half the assists that Barnes managed despite creating over twice as many chances.

Barnes does admittedly pose the greater goal threat of the two, getting into the opposition box and shooting on a more frequent basis, but while Maddison is a shoo-in to feature if fit, his teammate is less secure: in the post-lockdown era, Barnes made more substitute appearances than starts.

Ayoze Perez‘s (£6.5m) ability to play on the right or centrally meant he was slightly less at risk of rotation as Brendan Rodgers switched formation in the run-in but he was still the most-substituted Premier League player of 2019/20, averaging only 61.2 minutes per appearance.

Some decent opening fixtures for the Foxes are tempered by Europa League involvement and poor form this calendar year (four wins and eight defeats in their last 17 league matches), so a cure for their 2020 hangover is needed before they seriously re-enter the thinking.

Lundstram benched again as Fantasy owners consider selling the 'Lord'

A reclassification and a price hike were inevitable for John Lundstram (£5.5m) after his memorable 2019/20 but he is still cheaper than current teammate John Fleck (£6.0m), who looks a tad expensive.

What Fleck likely has over Lundstram is security of starts, with Sander Berge‘s (£5.0m) arrival and a contract saga potentially leaving the former ‘out of position’ FPL defender on the cusp of a Bramall Lane exit.

It’ll still be worth keeping tabs on Lundstram if he makes a move to another Premier League team, as he registered more big chances last season than any other sub-£6.0m midfielder in this article.

It goes without saying that he’ll be worse off as a Fantasy midfielder: he would have lost out on around 40 points had he been classified properly in 2019/20.

Fleck registered two fewer attacking returns than Lundstram, meanwhile, so doesn’t scream ‘value for money’.

Fantasy managers know they are getting security of starts with their Burnley assets, and Dwight McNeil (£6.0m) and Ashley Westwood (£5.5m) were both nailed picks last season.

The parallels were striking: both scored twice, set up seven goals, started every match they were available for and shared set-piece duties.

Winger McNeil offers that bit extra creativity from open play, of course, and his expected goal involvement (xGI) suggested he should have delivered two more attacking returns than his teammate.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on the fitness of Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£5.5m), whose glass calves restricted him to just six starts in 2019/20.

On his day he’s capable of an assist or two and the right-wing spot is there for the taking at present, with the Clarets’ squad paper-thin.

Don’t forget, though: Burnley blank in Gameweek 1.

The Best – and Worst – of the Rest

No sub-£7.5m FPL midfielder ‘underachieved’ more than James Ward-Prowse (£6.0m) in 2019/20, with his two missed spot-kicks not helping his xGI delta.

It remains to be seen if Ward-Prowse remains on penalty-taking duties following his two misses from 12 yards, with the Golden Boot-chasing Danny Ings (£8.5m) allowed to take two penalties in the run-in.

No player took more corners than Ward-Prowse last season and he is a constant menace from both indirect and direct free-kicks, which is a good job as his threat from open play has taken a downward trajectory since his move to a ‘number six’ role in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2.

Someone who thrived in that new system was Stuart Armstrong (£5.5m), who established himself as one of the two ‘number tens’ ahead of Sofiane Boufal (£5.5m) and Moussa Djenepo (£5.5m).

Not as nailed as Ward-Prowse or the slightly overpriced Nathan Redmond (£6.5m) due to Hasenhuttl’s management of his minutes, he nevertheless registered more goals and shots than any Saints player bar Ings from Gameweek 13 onwards (the point of the pivotal tactical reshuffle).

No mid-price midfielder in this article has indeed scored or shot on more occasions than Armstrong in 2020 so far, even if most of those efforts came from distance.

Only relegated Norwich City scored fewer goals than Crystal Palace last season and, with Roy Hodgson still at the helm, it’s hard to see Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) and co being transformed into a gung-ho attacking side in 2020/21.

Zaha did register more penalty box touches and shots in the opposition area in 2019/20 than any other midfielder now priced at £7.0m or under, while he has averaged over 16 FPL returns per season across the last four years; last year’s haul of four goals and six assists lowering that mean.

A lack of penalties killed Luka Milivojevic‘s (£6.0m) appeal after two seasons of spot-kick joy, meanwhile.

It’s perhaps worth keeping an eye on Jeffrey Schlupp (£5.5m) in pre-season, with the Ghanaian deployed as an out-of-position striker in the 2-1 friendly win over Oxford United.

Down the M23, Adam Lallana has it all to prove at an inflated £6.5m after years of inertia at Anfield.

Graham Potter’s bloated squad and his predilection for rotation will be enough to put most FPL managers off Brighton assets, despite the promising team he is building.

Leandro Trossard (£6.0m) is the obvious standout name from the Seagulls but even the Belgian, who posed the biggest goal threat of Albion’s midfield assets and who enjoyed the odd ‘out of position’ run-out up front, still warmed the benched on 12 occasions in 2019/20.

Much is expected of Alexis Mac Allister (£5.5m) in his first full season on the south coast but his rawness was evident in the run-in and he remains low down on the watchlist for now.

There was some bemusing pricing of Aston Villa assets going on at FPL Towers upon the game’s relaunch, with the listing of Jota at £6.0m the most baffling decision.

Reported Manchester United target Jack Grealish (£7.0m) is fairly priced, though.

While the Villa talisman only delivered two attacking returns in his final 15 appearances, it shouldn’t be forgotten how impressive he was before that point.

Grealish racked up seven goals, six assists and 14 bonus points in the first 23 Gameweeks of the campaign, averaging a very respectable 5.0 points per match over this period.

Despite the barren run in the final third of the campaign, Grealish still finished first for overall score (149) and points per match (4.1) among sub-£7.5m midfielders (discounting the reclassified Matt Ritchie (£5.0m) and Lundstram).

Only De Bruyne created more chances than Grealish in 2019/20.

Trezeguet (£5.5m) was Villa’s form midfielder in the run-in, scoring three goals, but only Grealish, Douglas Luiz (£5.0m) and perhaps John McGinn (£5.5m) look truly secure in Dean Smith’s XI, with rotation commonplace throughout last season.

McGinn looked off the pace after recovering from a long-term lay-off so it will be interesting to see if a pre-season regime has helped him recover his stamina levels after an impressive start to 2019/20.

Pre-season has started well for Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.0m), who scored twice and set up another in the Toffees’ 3-3 draw with Blackpool.

The consensus seems to be that the Icelander needs a number ten role to maximise his potential, something that wasn’t afforded to him until Carlo Ancelotti switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 in Gameweek 37+.

Everton were back in a 4-4-2 at the weekend, however, with Sigurdsson offering little from open play and reliant on a corner, a free-kick and penalty for his three attacking returns against Blackpool – not that FPL managers care a jot where their goals and assists come from.

The Toffees’ five midfield assets at £5.5m-£6.0m were equally underwhelming in 2019/20, so there’ll be few takers from that quintet despite the decent opening run of games.

FPL managers may be leaving West Ham assets well alone until the fixture swing in Gameweek 9 but Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m) is the stand-out name from the Hammers’ seven-strong group of mid-price midfielders, having made a big impression since his move from Hull City.

The winger was an ever-present starter from Gameweek 28 onwards, setting up four goals in the post-lockdown era alone.

Pablo Fornals (£6.5m) also made the starting XI in every game from this point but was less eye-catching and David Moyes has a wealth of attacking midfield options waiting in the wings, including Manuel Lanzini (£6.5m), Robert Snodgrass (£6.0m), Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.0m) and returning loanee Grady Diangana (£5.5m).

Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.5m) is the highest-owned FPL midfielder under £6.0m at the time of writing, although his eye-catching displays haven’t always been converted into FPL points during his time on Tyneside.

His minutes-per-xGI figure was the best of Newcastle United’s midfielders last season but that average paled in comparison to many other assets in his Fantasy position and the lack of a clinical striker up top for the Magpies sometimes meant his fine work out wide went unrewarded.

The change to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 in March seemed to remove the shackles from Steve Bruce’s side, with five of Saint-Maximin’s eight attacking returns in 2019/20 arriving in the final ten Gameweeks.

Jonjo Shelvey (£5.5m) is an interesting alternative at this price point: the deep-lying playmaker had the best points-per-match average (4.0) of any sub-£6.0m midfielder in this article bar the reclassified Lundstram and Ritchie, with his involvement at free-kicks and corners integral to his returns.



Best players by position:

1,159 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    The world is about to catch up with pingissimus on Ferguson 🙂

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

      Is he injured?

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

        Tweet from Roy highlighting knee injury and pointing to fact he’s not in full training likely

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

          Interesting...

        2. Hangman Page
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Roy tweets?!

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

            Old man is technosavvy 😉

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

      Mitchell?

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

        Much better bet for week 1 but apparently PvA isn’t that far away. Short term fix only.

        He didn’t start first preseason match but played 70 mins.

    3. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      From a long term point of view - who would be better to start with, Ferguson right?

      As Mitchell is just a back up for PvA

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

        Most probably yes, but think about early price increases - sounds like Mitchell would be more likely to rise early

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

        Ferguson possibly but he’s also likely back up imo early even when fit . Suspect the idea that RH is going to ditch Ward immediately is overstated.

    4. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Blimey, yeah. Looking pretty good for the Danny Ings opener, (Bruno © GW2):

      https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/crystal-palace-manager-provides-fitness-update-on-first-transfer-window-signing/

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

        Same defence held Spurs very comfortably to 1-1 - Palace had much better of game. Defo not full strength but not despicable either.

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          You're putting me off Son now.

  2. Thomas Jerome Newton
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is 5.5 too weak in midfield to play in your team week in week out?
    From last years scores, a few 5.5 defenders (Burnley, Sheff Utd) outscored the low Mids by quite a margin.
    Might be better to downgrade Mid to 4.5 and up a 4.5 defender to 5.5?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      In a way I agree the cheap mdf as long as they play every week are not going to haul week in week out whereas 0.5 quality difference for defenders is huge

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      There are some good 5.5m options in midfield this year. But overall, I don't like that bracket at defense or in midfield. Slightly too expensive at defense, too little in midfield.

  3. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    GW1 team pretty much complete..

    McCarthy
    Trent Saiss Tierney Dier (Ferguson)
    Salah Aubameyang Ritchie Soucek (Fernandes)
    Werner Mitrovic (Davis)

    0itb

    Any thoughts?

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

      Smart moving going Saiss

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        What about Coady??

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

          Coady is more nailed

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good.
      Don’t know about 2 5.0m MF’s but I suppose you will be rotating them from GW2.

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

      Pretty good!

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

    Hello everyone at FFS.
    Wouldn't it be nice if you coould also employ a pundit or two just and entirely dedicated to Fantasyleague football? I mean that all-season competition born in 1991 and still alive (I've see an advertising post here last year), which may admittedly have a tenth or a twelfth of the users/fans of the now classic FPL, but still has a lot of - not to say it's long been "the" classic fantasy game about Premier League football.
    Thanks for an answer and congrats for site, competence and services.
    Armando, Rome, ITY

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

      Do you like Smalling?

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

        LOL Yes, I do. Gope I'll like him next season too.

  5. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Similar to real world players' valuations, wondering if anyone has tried FPL players' valuations?

    1. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Sorry, not sure what you mean?

      1. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Not sure if you are aware of player valuations but before any club purchases/sells a player they have some professional value that player to get the right price based on player skills, performances etc

        I was wondering if anyone has developed or tried to, do the same for FPL players

        1. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          You can get some sort of value based on current price and last season's points.
          This is thrown for some players though who have changed position or who didn't play all of last season.

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

    Morning, A or B please guys?

    A) Greenwood | Pereira | Mitrovic | (Soucek)
    B) Fernandes | Soucek | 4.0 defender | (4.5 mid)

    Brackets is first on bench

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

      A because Fernandes isn't worth starting a 4.0 defender

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        ^

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

          Thanks guys, makes sense

    2. Birds of Prey
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A. Souceks fixture aren't good. I went try newcaslte at 5.0

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        @5m does Soucek need good fixtures though?

        1. Birds of Prey
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Yes I was talking Ritchie btw. Good luck.

          1. Birds of Prey
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Forgot also have Philips at 5.0 on a punt. I

        2. Ron_Swanson
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I'd say a 5m mid especially needs good fixtures to make him viable

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

      A

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

        Thanks all, clear as day

  7. mark@22
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    A. Aubameyang, de bruyne, ziyech
    B. Salah, de bruyne,rashford
    C. Salah, de bruyne, aubameyang

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Why do you have De Bruyne in all the options?

      Money matters in making this choice. A might be the most efficient spend.

      1. Birds of Prey
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Leave ldb out then get him and lose auba is what many are doing.

      2. mark@22
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        De bruyne top scored last year and must have

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          He's a perfectly good pick.

          It just doesn't really matter if he's in all the choices..

          Could just be:

          A) Auba, Ziyech
          B) Salah, Rashford
          C) Salah, Auba

          1. mark@22
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Anyone sticking with aubameyang?

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

              Auba is going to be very popular for GW1

  8. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Should I get Egan or Saïss?

    Egan just goes better with my rotation

    If I got Saïss I’d have to play double Southampton defense vs Spurs.

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

      Egan then

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Egan

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

    Can someone tell me which one is the best of these then

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

      Hmm reply fail

      Can someone tell me which one is the best of these then, I’m more confused than ever now !

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

        Just realised it doesn’t take my joking emojis

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

          The joke's on you then! Emojis 1, Kitman 0

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

            Who got the assist?

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

              Poo emoji

  10. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Now I'm considering Salah's place in the team...

    Who is better to have for the first two weeks:

    Salah - LEE che
    Auba - ful WHU

    It's Auba right? After that, I can pivot to either KdB or Salah in GW3 if need be. Maybe even Messi if he goes to City...

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

      Think most people have both for GW1. I do at the moment.

      Agree with you though, not sure Salah is going to be in my team long this season. Seems you can get similar production from Fernandes for £1.5m less.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Fernandes is top priority for me at his price point. Ahead of both Salah and Auba. Will bench him in GW1 I'm pretty set on this.

      2. farmerfat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        No chance Fernandes keeps up his from from last season, unrealistic.

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

          Agree

          1. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            He has scored 20+ goals in back to back seasons. He continues to be the chief creator for a strong MUN attacking side on penalties. I don't see why he can't get 250 points this year.

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

              If you compare his underlying (penalty) numbers to Rashford's (non-penalty) numbers you will find out where the real value is.

              1. Camzy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                I do think I will own Rashford at some point this season too. But I think they're both underpriced frankly and both great options.

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

                  Then we are on the same page 🙂

        2. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          He doesn’t need to keep up with that level though. Just near it will be good enough.

        3. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          He doesn't need to. If he kept up his form from last season he'd end with 346 points.

          He only needs to deliver at around 70% of his last season's form to be on course for 250 points.

        4. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          As long as he almost keeps up with Salah, he is better option than him.

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Auba

    3. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      The answer has to be Both - particularly for GW1

      If you could only have 1 it’s probably Auba just

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        No it doesn't have to be both.

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I really don't like having two 12.0ms in the end. Only want one to start because I rate Fernandes as a 12.0m that costs 10.5m.

          1. Tomo1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Wait for the Community Shield Saturday when they play each other and see who looks sharpest - good eye test for both players.

            1. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Good idea. Will definitely do that.

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

      Auba clearly the better option imo

    5. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yep auba who easily becomes Kdb/sterling

      Honestly don’t think Salahs fixtures aren’t that great

      Want him or mane for Leeds and then it’s a question of which Utd he becomes

      Would be looking to get salah back in say gw9 for son or maybe 6 depending how son turns out

      My thinking is to jump on short term price gains you’ll need cash to be flexible can’t be tied in two ultra expensive mids

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

      I prefer Salah.

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

      Camzy, you were saying Salah was a must-have for the opening set of games until quite recently. And you’re reasoning was sound. Are you over-thinking things?

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

        *your

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I can get him in GW3 to begin the run of ARS avl eve SHU WHU

        I do think he's rather important for that run of games. But notice I only compared the first two games. Is Auba better than Salah for GW1 and 2?

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Looking only at GW1 & 2 - Auba seems to come out on top for projected points. Taking a more long-term view (say, until GW6) I think Salah is a safer bet. It all depends on your plan - is Salah/Auba going to become a City asset at some point early on?

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

            This - if keeping Salah or Auba in one slot, how are you fitting in a City asset alongside Bruno and other premiums like Son/Ziyech, Martial/Werner etc etc

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

      Salah - I trust Liverpool more

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Camzy isn't this your 27th draft team?

        1. FPL Daniel
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          P. S. Salah is in decline

        2. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I haven't actually made that many. Just discussed a lot of ideas.

    9. Chris_H
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Interesting that Auba is now owned by a higher % than Salah so if playing the numbers game another reason for Auba.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Don't care about ownership. I care about points. It doesn't matter to me if Auba or Salah is more owned right now.

  11. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Best defender to start GW1 from these:

    A) Justin
    B) Ferguson
    C) Saliba

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Will they even start?

      1. Wild Card this!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Chances of them starting would be in this order:

        Justin
        Saliba
        Ferguson

        But if they would all start - I would go for Saliba.

        1. CheesyZoot
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          This is basically what I was thinking....

          Any other Defender up to 4.5m more likely to start than these 3?

          1. Wild Card this!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            There are lots of 4.5 starters. Lots of course.
            Check the article on 4 and 4.5 mil defenders...it was issued recently...

  12. Budgies
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    How's this looking....

    McCarthy
    TAA, Dier, Saiss, Vinagre
    Slah, Aub, Son, Ziyech
    Jimenez, Mitro

    (Nyland, S Maximin, Ferguson, Brewster)

  13. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Presume Messi will take penos, will lessen the appeal of Kdb imo.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Why? Messi's penalty record is a bang average 76%

      Messi has never been like this huge leader or anything. I don't think he wants to control Barcelona. He's just an incredibly good player with a lot of responsibility that he wants to escape from.

      I think he'll relish playing without the armband, without responsibility and just score goals under Pep.

      1. mark@22
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        If Messi goes to city de bruyne will get 30+ assists lol

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 7 months ago

        No he doesn't demand them and has never had a consistent season of taking them, even recently in the champions League he let Suarez take it

    3. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Woeful captaincy picks last year so trying to plan them in advance based on what immediately stands out in terms of fixtures (subject to form and everything else)

        1- Salah
        2- Auba
        3- Salah/Kane
        4- Werner/Ings

        Not captaining Salah away unless I see evidence that convinces me otherwise

      • ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        A) Dier+Armstrong
        B) Tierney+Soucek

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 7 months ago

            A

          • FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            B

          • mark@22
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            A

        2. deathcabofdevil
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          If Messi indeed comes to City, will he be classified as a MID or FWD ? What do you think his price will be ? Will you get him if he's overpriced at the cost of disrupting the rest of your team ?

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Mid if Salah Auba Mane are mids. I wouldn't get him if he's an obscene cost but at 14m for a perma cap I'd take that all day long

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

                But if he’s £14m I can’t see you being able to have any other premium mids alongside him.

                That extra £2m is huge considering what it does to the rest of your teams affordability.

                1. deathcabofdevil
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Yes 14m too much considering the points you are losing by downgrading atleast 3-4 good players to accommodate him, especially in the GW's where he blanks.

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

              Great questions

            • Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Definitely a mid considering they classed Auba and Rashford as mids this season.

              13m.

              1. FPL Daniel
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                14 m mid. Just like Ronaldo

                1. Camzy
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  I won't buy him at 14m.

                  You're telling me that he's worth 2.5m more than KdB? No chance of that at his age with Pep roulette.

                  1. deathcabofdevil
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Yeah I feel like 12.5m will be a more justified price considering his age.

            • Pukki Blinders
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              13.5 mid

          2. FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Pereira is an interesting option at 6m. I’d say there will be a bandwagon at some point but I won’t be starting off with him.

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

              A WBA bandwagon? Think Berahino was the last one

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

                LOL

            2. The Wanton Trader
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I’m starting with him in my team.

              Can easily be switched to cheaper mid.

              Not as easy to get him in...

            3. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              May end up being another Buendia.

          3. The 12th Man
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            If Messi does go to City.
            KDB will be priceless!

            1. mark@22
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Totally agree

            2. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Yep. All those assists...

          4. OPTA FPL
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            You think Willian or Xhaka will take set pieces for Arsenal?

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

              Uncertain.

              Willian should take a few when he plays, but there are other candidates (Like Pepe and Nelson).

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

              Betting on Willian

          5. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            My new rule going into the season is not to take as many hits I took around 18 last season. I wondered if anyone else has a new ‘not to do rule’?

            1. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Not to keep dead weights for as long as I did last season. Jesus, I stuck with Vardy until about March time....

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

              Key new rule for me is to brag mercilessly if I fluke a good score and remain deathly silent during poor weeks.

          6. I am 42
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Need help with my N draft

            Players that did not leave since my 1st draft ie my core team

            McCarthy 4m
            TAA Robertson 4.5m 4.5m 4m
            Salah Auba Son 5.5m 5m
            Vardy Mitro 4.5m

            Undecided
            GK Steer
            DEF Justin Saliba Ferguson
            MID ASM Soucek
            FOR Davis

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

              Nyland
              Robbo > VVD, Saliba > Saiss. Justin ??
              Armstrong Soucek
              Davis

              1. I am 42
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                thanks

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

            McCarthy / Nyland
            TAA, Doherty, Justin, Webster, Pieters / Taylor
            Salah, Son, Barnes, Armstrong, Soucek
            Werner, Jimenez, Antonio

            1.5itb work in progress!

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

            Very excited about Rashford this season. He is getting better and better each year, expecting big things from him FPL wise.

            I am sure the move to mid is going to make him great value this season!

            1. Stormbringer22
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Rashford is a great option. Think Martial is better value though as I expect him to outscore Rash if he stays injury free and starts at 0.5 cheaper

            2. Sune
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Best MUN option imo.

            3. Je suis le chat
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              He's good value compared to Sterling who had similar output for 2m more.

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

              Also big on Rashford this year based on his underlying stats. I think the switch from ATT to MID for him and MID to ATT for Martial is enough to settle it. I also think Bruno takes a step back this year in terms of weekly averages and surely MUN can't have that many penalties again?

            5. nolard
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Me too, but how to chose between:

              A 10.5 Bruno, who was unplayable - will it continue?

              The nice-price Greenwood

              and

              Rashford now in midfield?

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

                Will Rashford be playing in those Nations League matches? I felt he'd lost his edge back end of the season. Will reconsider if I see some good performances. Currently, have Greenwood on the bench with Bruno coming in for Son GW3.

          9. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            If I was to leave Fernandes on the bench for GW1, I will have the following team for GW2:

            McCarthy
            TAA - Doherty - Justin/Vinagre
            Salah - Bruno - Son - Ziyech - ASM/Armstrong
            Werner - Mitro

            This then leaves me with the only plausible way of getting City in by either doing Salah > KDB/Sterling (which I don't like) or Son > Mahrez (which I really don't like). Would it be crazy to go ahead with the team above and wait and see on City assets? Or is it back to the drawing board for me altogether. I like the team above, but no City in it...

            1. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I like it.

            2. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Just leave City. They're bottom of the ticker for the first 5 games. If they suddenly start putting 5 past the likes of Wolves and Leicester, WC and get 3 attackers in. But I don't really see it.

              wol LEI lee ARS.

              I think I'd be happy to wait.

              1. avfc82
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                They scored 8 in the respective fixtures against wol, LEI and ARS last season.

                Getting in one of De Bruyne, Sterling or Aguero (if fit) for GW3, against a Leicester side missing several key players, looks really important to me.

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

                Given that schedule, it's one I think Kevin can thrive in, but I'd be in no hurry to get the others. Of course with my triple-Pool defence I'm spared the Salah dilemma.

          10. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Not sure on saiss with his poor discipline..

            1 Coady 2 Saiis 3 Egan
            A. Dier/Ritchie B Aurier/Stephens

            1. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              What poor discipline?

              1. Warby84
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                10 Y and a Red last season

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

              Ritchie mid now, yes?

              1. Warby84
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Yes but also possible Penalty taker which is interesting, just hope he nails down a spot

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

              Would still go 2,A

          11. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I want Messi to come from FPL point of view since it will make the game more interesting, however as a Chelsea fan will hate it, since the title will be done before it starts...

            What are your thoughts, are you pro Messi in FPL or against?

            1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Don't want him to go to city. League wouldn't be over if he signed though.

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

              I'd like to know if he'll be classified as a fwd or mid. I wonder too what his price might be. Any thoughts?

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

              Messi at 13.0 or more is going to see many ditching either Bruno or KDB. It will turn your team structure upside down.

              I will not go Messi at that price. Sure he will be a great asset but he will need to do amazingly well with points vs £'s. So I would skip.

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

              I want Messi @ City, Ronaldo @ United, Bale @ spurs to make FPL interesting

            5. Je suis le chat
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Messi won't fix their defence, great motivation for the Pool and Jurgen.

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

            Best two 4.5 defenders to start with? Lamptey and Lascelles?

            Already have McCarthy and Doherty so don’t fancy a double up with those teams.

            1. FPL Daniel
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              It's so difficult to answer. All 4.5 are a gamble pretty much

            2. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Justin and Saliba potential options.

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

                I know we can make transfers but I don’t really want to be using transfers on 4.5 defenders and I see Justin as short term, Saliba an unknown quantity and may not be nailed if they get Gabriel.

                1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  yeah Saliba one to monitor. I'm likely to start with Justin, wildcard always available to sort out defence. My plan is to go Trent plus cheap to start and then wildcard to Double pool and Doherty when fixtures get easier.

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

              I like Justin tbh.
              Good fixtures

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

              Taylor, and another who plays in week 1.

          13. Balls of Steel
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            With Gabriel looking highly likely to become an Arsenal player now will he be a guaranteed starter and what is his price point likely to be?

          14. Visionaries
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I'm liking this no Auba tactic.
            Thoughts?

            Mccarthy
            TAA, Justin, Vinagre, (Taylor, Ferguson)
            Pepe, Willian, Salah, Ziyech, St Max
            Kane, Adams, (Davies)

            4.0 ITB
            GW 2 - Pepe, Willian or Ziyech > Bruno, would still leave 1.5, could also get Son/Greenwood for -4

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

              Needs Auba

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

                I'd only get rid for Bruno after 1 week.
                Overpriced and overrated

          15. nolard
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I am thinkíng to leave Auba out, as I won't keep him anyway.
            12 millions is a lot, and frees up money.
            So, perhaps Son then for the first games until I get KDB?

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

              Auba have nice fixtures and we can't have everyone

            2. Netley Lucas
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              @ful has Aubs brace writ large though, Hammers maybe trickier though.

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

              I've thought similar, maybe opt for Willian as some cover, but it means I'd need to fund KDB elsewhere...

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

              Basically, I have to choose between Auba for 2 games, Salah and Son.

            5. Visionaries
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              See my post above.
              Gives me much more flexibility.
              Certainly locked in on that now