Pre-Season

The best premium FPL midfielders for 2020/21

Premium midfielders have probably been the most-discussed group of players since Fantasy Premier League relaunched in the summer.

The reclassification of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.5m) has added to the wealth of options that Fantasy managers already have – and that’s before we even entertain the idea of Lionel Messi becoming a Premier League player.

In this piece, we’ll assess the merits of all 18 FPL midfielders who are currently listed between £7.5m and £12.0m inclusive.

We had previously looked at budget and mid-price midfielders in separate articles, along with budget goalkeepersmid-price/premium goalkeepersbudget defenders and mid-price/premium defenders.

Our rundown of the stand-out Fantasy forwards will follow soon.

Liverpool

 1

With the two Manchester clubs not in action in Gameweek 1, there’ll be plenty of interest in Liverpool’s premium duo for their opening-weekend clash against newly promoted Leeds United.

On paper, the decision has been made a little easier by Fantasy Premier League pricing up both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah at £12.0m.

Salah has, after all, outscored Mane for FPL points in each of the last three seasons, averaged more points per match in 2019/20 (6.9 v 6.3) and has the added bonus of being on penalties whenever James Milner (£5.5m) is not on the field.

Look a little closer though and the pair are more evenly matched than first appears with Salah only edging his teammate by one attacking return (29 v 28) in 2019/20.

If we remove substitute appearances and Mane’s infamous, injury-affected cameo in Double Gameweek 24, the gap is also much narrower when it comes to points per start (7.0 v 6.9 in Salah’s favour).

Their tallies for double-digit hauls, blanks and bonus points were also nearly identical last season.

The key difference is their shot count, with the Egyptian racking up over 50 more attempts on goal than his fellow premium midfielder.

Mane is therefore heavily reliant on maintaining a vastly superior goal conversion rate (as he has done in the last two seasons) in order to keep pace.

You can read much more on Liverpool’s two big hitters in a special comparison piece we published earlier this month.

Arsenal

using-the-top-10000-ownership-to-increase-your-fpl-rank-andys-article 9

Aubameyang’s recategorisation as an Fantasy midfielder was perhaps the headline story upon the relaunch of FPL in August.

The Gabon international would have finished third in the FPL standings on 230 points had the positional reclassification come a year earlier and it would have raised Aubameyang’s points-per-match average from 5.7 to 6.4.

If we take that average and compare it to the other premium midfielders in FPL, the Arsenal talisman is around about mid-table along with Rashford:


Player2019/20 Points Per Match
Fernandes8.4
De Bruyne7.2
Salah6.9
Aubameyang (as a midfielder)6.4
Rashford (as a midfielder)6.4
Mane6.3
Sterling6.2
Son5.7

It could be argued that there is better value in the premium bracket, then, with Rashford (who admittedly seems to have lost penalty-taking duties) averaging the same number of points per match as Aubameyang last season but significantly cheaper.

While it would be hard to justify keeping the Gabon international for an entire season, he is a name to perhaps target for the “easier” fixtures – of which Arsenal have two to start the season with.

Almost 75% his attacking returns, 16 of his goals and all six of his double-digit hauls came against teams in the bottom ten last season.

Again, we’ll point you in the direction of our stand-alone piece on Aubameyang, which delved into his numbers in much greater detail.

Willian (£8.0m) and Nicolas Pepe (£8.0m) offer a substantial saving on Aubameyang but there are obvious reasons for that.

While Aubameyang is almost ‘nailed’ to start under Mikel Arteta, Pepe hasn’t been so far: in the 20 matches that his new manager oversaw, the winger was benched in seven of them.

Given that he could again be competing with Willian, Reiss Nelson (£5.5m), Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) and possibly Aubameyang down the right flank this season, even a starting price drop of £1.5m might not be enough of a carrot for FPL managers.

Pepe was heavily involved at set-piece situations last season but Willian looks set to challenge him at free-kicks and corners, which would further dent his appeal.

No midfielder now priced at £8.0m or less averaged more points per match (4.7) or scored more goals (nine) than Willian in 2019/20.

Creatively, only three current FPL midfielders supplied more big chances.

Again, though, we will have to see just how secure a starter the 32-year-old Brazilian is before taking the plunge – and whether he can somehow wrestle penalty-taking duties away from Aubameyang, as four of the ex-Chelsea winger’s nine goals last season came from the spot.

Manchester City

How De Bruyne and Sterling compare as FPL assets for 2020/21?

It’s difficult to split Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), despite the Belgian scoring almost 50 more FPL points than his teammate last season.

Essentially, De Bruyne massively overachieved based on the expected goal involvement (xGI) data and Sterling hugely underachieved.

That’s not to say De Bruyne’s returns are unsustainable, as his accuracy from range often makes a mockery of Opta’s predictions and the best players tend to exceed expectations year after year.

But rather, we’d expect Sterling to improve on what he did last season.

He was the only one of the current crop of £10.0m+ Fantasy assets whose xGI delta was in the negative and it was in the assist count that he really suffered, with just six of them arriving in 2019/20; he had averaged 15.3 per year over the previous seasons.

Our Premium Members article compares the two in finer detail but the crux of it is that Sterling poses the greater goal threat, with De Bruyne by some distance the more creative – and the Belgian is now seemingly first in line for penalties for the Citizens.

There’ll be few takers of Bernardo Silva (£7.5m), who has never hit double figures for goals or assists in his three seasons as the Etihad, but Riyad Mahrez’s (£8.5m) name is often thrown around in pre-season by those considering a cut-price route in the Manchester City attack.

The Algerian’s rate of attacking returns per 90 minutes (1.09) was better than Salah’s (0.88) and almost as good as De Bruyne’s (1.11) but full-game run-outs were few and far between for the Algerian, who started just 21 Premier League fixtures and completed only nine of them.

If we could be sure of starts for Mahrez then he would be a no-brainer at that price, but as it stands, he’s a high-risk, high-reward type of player who is equally capable of a blank in a 20-minute cameo as he is a 16-point haul.

His average of 5.3 points per match in 2019/20 was better than any other midfielder who now costs less than £9.0m, which underscores his potential.

City blank in Gameweek 1 and in truth their fixtures don’t get good until late-November, with six of last season’s top-half clubs to come before that point.

Manchester United

using-the-top-10000-ownership-to-increase-your-fpl-rank-andys-article 2

We are spoilt for choice in the Manchester United midfield next season, with both Rashford and Mason Greenwood (£7.5m) reclassified ahead of 2019/20.

Those two players and Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) racked up 25 attacking returns between them in Manchester United’s nine post-restart fixtures, with the Red Devils galvanised by the Portugal international’s arrival in the final third of the season.

Fernandes’ points-per-match average of 8.4 looks unsustainable over the course of a full campaign but he could still do plenty of damage, especially as he seems to have wrestled control of penalties away from Rashford.

Even if we were to strip away spot-kicks completely (which arrived at a fierce rate for the Red Devils last season), Fernandes would still have averaged around 6.2 FPL points per match following his arrival – a very competitive figure.

There is also plenty to like about Rashford despite the winger losing the monopoly on penalties, with his expected goal involvement figure almost identical to Fernandes – who had the advantage of two extra spot-kicks – from Gameweek 30+ onwards.

This could be Salah v Mane part II: two midfield assets from the same club who are posting similar numbers in many departments, only one has penalty-taking duties on their side (we assume).

The difference in this case is that they are separated by one million in price.

Reliability of starts is something we can likely depend on with this duo, with Rashford and Fernandes lining up in every single Premier League match that they were available for.

Greenwood below-par and

Greenwood was the breakthrough act of last season but he did massively overachieve in the run-in, with the Opta eggheads suggesting he should have scored one goal – and not five – after lockdown ended.

The youngster will be heavily reliant on his deadeye finishing skills to keep pace with his more senior teammates if the underlying stats continue in the same manner but his main selling point is his price.

All of these appealing £9.0m+ heavy-hitters we’ve discussed in this article; we can’t afford them all.

That’s where the likes of Greenwood and Phil Foden (£6.5m) may come into play at their respective clubs, with both players unlikely to match their pricier colleagues for returns but getting plenty of game-time and acting as enablers for moves elsewhere.

United blank in Gameweek 1 but their fixtures thereafter look appealing, so contingency plans may be needed for their assets.

Our Premium Members article has a lot more on the United midfielders but you won’t find much on Paul Pogba (£8.0m), whose deep-lying playmaker status and loss of spot-kick duties have killed any interest in him from a Fantasy perspective.

The Frenchman indeed registered just one solitary shot in the box after the mid-June restart.

Chelsea

We already have two Chelsea assets at the bottom-end of the premium market and, if media rumours are to be believed, then Kai Havertz might be added to that pool.

The duo we already have to choose from are Hakim Ziyech (£8.0m) and Christian Pulisic (£8.5m), the latter of whom was in excellent form towards the end of the campaign.

The American averaged 0.85 goal involvements per 90 minutes in an injury-affected season, which was almost as good as the figures that Salah and Mane posted.

His ability to ghost into dangerous positions caught the eye and Pulisic was third among players in this article for shots in the box per 90 minutes.

The problem for a large chunk of the season was pitch-time, with first form and then fitness an issue.

Willian and Pulisic make case for Chelsea double-up with Norwich on horizon

Returning from the treatment table after lockdown, Pulisic racked up nine attacking returns in as many games and he has been attractively priced for 2020/21.

Chelsea have some appealing fixtures to start the season but the injured USA international is “touch and go” to be ready, so we may have to bide our time with him initially.

Ziyech, with his dead-ball expertise, trigger-happy shooting and creativity from open play, is an exciting prospect, but we have had many of those from the Eredivisie and there is always the doubt over whether new signings from overseas will immediately settle in the English top tier.

Nevertheless, the momentum behind free-spending Chelsea is growing by the day and many FPL managers will be happy to take a punt on the new arrivals from the off.

You can read much more on Ziyech here in our Scout Report.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur have one of the more favourable fixture schedules in the opening eight Gameweeks and how best to tap into it is a question many of us are asking.

Three of the Lilywhites’ midfielders fall into the £7.5m+ bracket this season, namely Son Heung-min (£9.0m), Dele Alli (£8.0m) and Steven Bergwijn (£7.5m).

Right off the bat, we’ll rule Bergwin out: the winger looks poised to share pitch-time with Lucas Moura (£7.0m) down the Spurs right and he only stared three of his side’s nine post-lockdown fixtures, with the Brazilian the more favoured option down that flank.

Alli had originally been a secure starter under Jose Mourinho, making the Spurs head coach’s line-up in 16 of the first 17 Premier League matches he oversaw.

Suspension and injury limited his involvement after lockdown, however, and Giovani Lo Celso (£7.0m) ended the season in Alli’s usual number ten position.

It’s worth keeping an eye on Spurs’ line-ups in pre-season to see if Lo Celso is moved back into a deeper role to accommodate Alli’s return, as the former MK Dons prospect is now available at his cheapest FPL price since 2015/16.

When he was a regular under Mourinho from Gameweks 13-29, Alli registered more ‘big chances’ than any other Premier League midfielder.

Son is where the main interest lies and he is the most-owned Spurs asset in FPL at the time of writing.

Despite his 2019/20 tally of 24 attacking returns being his best since moving to the Premier League, his starting price has dropped half a million from what it was a year ago.

The Korean would have gone close to his 2017/18 total of 178 points had he not missed a penalty and been dismissed twice and he also sat out eight Spurs games through injury or suspension.

Under the Special One, the South Korea international’s points-per-match average rose from to 5.1 to 5.9.

While there are more explosive players out there, Son was remarkably consistent throughout 2019/20: on only one occasion did he make more than two consecutive appearances without registering a goal or assist.

Spurs’ Europa League involvement (they are in continental cup action either side of Gameweeks 1-4) is an obvious caveat, with Harry Kane (£10.5m) the safest route into Mourinho’s attack amid the possible rotation.

The England striker also came out well in our Kane v Son comparison piece, although it’s always worth paying attention to Mourinho’s tactics as Son’s two most-recent double-digit hauls have arrived when playing centrally rather than out on the left.



Best players by position:

1,086 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Will Doherty to Spurs seriously dent his FPL potential?

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

      Think his shots and goals output will drop a little but this may be offset by more clean sheets and assists

      1. Mayor of Flair
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Spurs would play a flat back 4 though no?

        Would think his overall attacking potential would decrease while his CS potential would stay about the same.

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

          Yes - but the LB (Davies) remains somewhat static and allows the RB to bomb on and provide an overlap on the right to fire in crosses.

          He won't be doing any of the auxiliary forward support like he did for JImenez at Wolves where the majority of his goals came about.

          1. Mayor of Flair
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Could still be an option in that case.

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

              Of course

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

            This is correct. We play a lop-sided defence, with RB pushed on to play attacking midfield (not quite right-wing).

            I'm not sure about 'not doing any forward support' (by which I interpret as runs into the box and very high crossing), but if Aurier is the template, he will be a little deeper. I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho tweaks the system to accommodate Doherty's strengths, but I'd wait and see.

      2. Jay Jay Okocha
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Why would you expect more CS with Spurs? Wolves xGA was elite last season

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

      I was about to ask the same question. And why are wolves even thinking to sell him

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

        ££££££££

        1. Mayor of Flair
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          12m is nothing though. If United were buying him he'd cost 70m

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

            I don't understand why Wolves would let him go for 12 mil.

      2. Mayor of Flair
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Strange one alright. And for a bargain price too.

      3. Jay Jay Okocha
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        He's a better in FPL than he is in real life

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

          Agreed with this 100%

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

      As a spurs fan I’d say he’d still be a asset but at 6m I’d sooner have one of the 5m guys Davies for me

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

        I'd say Davies £5m and Doherty £6m is pretty fair given their respective attacking potential. I wouldn't touch either though.

        1. Mayor of Flair
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Why not?

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

            I don't trust our defence.

    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wouldn’t be worth 6m at Spurs imo

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

      if he plays the same tactics as aurier did only better cos doherty is a far superior player and imo that traore not in his way i much prefer him at spurs than wolves ,with harry and son on the end of his crosses as well, im baffled to see why people cant recognise he is in for a bumper season,6.0m is a gift only in my team if he goes to spurs..

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

      Straight out of my team if that move gets done, not going to be the same asset as he was at Wolves.
      Could really use the extra 1,5m 🙂

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

    Ben Davies, no goal no assist in last 2 seasons...

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

      Tucks in as a LCB when Spurs attack to allow the RB to overlap

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

      Very true, but those of who own him are backing clean sheets at 5.0m in a José Mourinho defence

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

      Yeah would rather have Dier.

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

        Davies is more nailed. Both have next to zero attacking threat.

  3. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Rate this team please?

    Ryan
    TAA, saliba, Justin
    Salah, aubameyang, ziyech, saint-maxi, foden
    Werner, Jimenez

    Nyland, Bernardo, braithwaite, Brewster

    1. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Front 7 brilliant
      Defense terrible, apart from TAA obviously

      1. 03farmboy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        That’s the price you have to pay though can’t afford good defence

        1. Mayor of Flair
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          True. Would look at C Taylor after GW1 though.

    2. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Saliba/Justin -> Vinagre

      1. 03farmboy
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Is vinagre a regular starter

        1. Chenku╰☆╮
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          No will be replaced for sure. Short term punt..

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

    I’ve just finished my first draft and I have 4.5m left for a striker and a goalkeeper.

    Mané, Salah and Kane just isn’t going to work

  5. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Ings or Jimi? Jimi seems to be more popular but his first 2 fixtures don't look good..

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

      Ings for sure

    2. Mr. Mystic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve gone for Jimmy as I’m keeping long-term.

    3. Bruno Commando
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Looks like a coin toss! I will prob take Ings and bring in Jimi some time later!

    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Jimi

  6. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Follow on from my last post....

    If Doherty goes to Spurs, does it dent Jiminez as a FPL option?

    Obviously he'll be replaced but by an inferior RWB?

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

      Apparently it'll be Maitland niles

  7. Garlana
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    What's going on with Martinez? I can't find anything about him looking to be transferred to elsewhere, surely he won't sit as a number 2 at arsenal anymore?

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

      He is on record saying there were '10 clubs' looking at him after the FA cup final, and demanding more guaranteed minutes next season. I think he may go if Arsenal get a decent offer for him.

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

        Actually surprised Chelsea haven't approached with a swap offer, they're desperate for a decent keeper.

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

      He will be competing for the number 1 spot with Leno, I believe.

  8. One Man
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is Alli being somewhat over looked ? At 1m less than Son. He played well under Mourinho before his injury. Could be a neat little differential ? Or am I missing something ?

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

      Definitely worth considering. I think most people have Son as a placeholder for either Bruno or Rashford. So having someone around that price point makes sense

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

      No, I think he could be good value as well.

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

      Could be. Firmly in the wait and see bucket for me.

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

      Spurs formation is very unclear. Mourinho tried out 3 or 4 different versions after the restart, all of which drastically affect Alli's position. He could be great, but feels very unpredictable.

    5. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He fails the eye test and hasn't been a consistent returner in years.

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

    Going with Salah + Son + Werner + 1.5 ITB means I can go
    Salah + 4.5mid > Bruno + Greenwood
    Son > Bruno
    Werner > Martial
    Rashford is at the bottom of the list for me for united assets

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

      I think a -4 gw2 is worth it to see who I want to keep out of these 3, although they have only got 1 week to perform

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

      Thinking the same

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

      I'm aiming to start the season with 1.5m in the bank if I can too. It's either that or benching a Man U asset, and I'd rather the extra info from GW1.

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

        Comes down to getting bruno and martial or Bruno and greenwood for the hit (if it’s still right at the time)

        Which combo would you rather have? - imagine they’ll be in the team for a while

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

          Really not sure. Probably Martial, but depends on the balance of the team. I prefer the mid-range attacking options (Mitro, Wood, Antonio etc) than the mid-range midfield options (Foden only one that appeals and is pretty risky). Which is a convoluted way of saying I might end up with Greenwood and a cheap attacking option, rather than Martial and cheap midfield option, even though I nominally prefer Martial.

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

    FPL trivia for those who would like to part-take. Who has been the top scoring goalkeeper in the game in a single season? Answer will be revealed in about 10 mins.

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

      DDG 17/18?

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

        The year Salah scored 31 goals?

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

          He wasn't doing them against Liverpool every game...

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

            what? the question is what keeper was the top scoring fpl player in a season. I'm saying Salah scoring 32 goals would've probable made him the top scoring fpl player that year.

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

              Question was top scoring goalkeeper in a single season.

              Salah has the record for all positions in 17/18

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

                my apologies.

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

      Cech 04/05?
      VDS 08/09?

    3. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Fabianski? Remember him being a machine quite a few seasons back.

    4. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Van Der Sar that year he kept like 15 CSs on the bounce? 07/08 or 08/09 maybe?

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

        08/09

        1. Mayor of Flair
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Good times

    5. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      DDG about 8 years ago?

      C'mon Stormzy don't leave us in suspense.

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

      Please don't tell us it was Joe Hart one time?

    7. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Did someone like Shay Given save a load of penalties one time?

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

      Lol I think I've found out who it is, it's pretty rediculous if it's true. I won't spoil it..

    9. 824545201
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wasn't it Brad Friedel? I forgot which team though and which season, Aston Villa maybe?

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

        Blackburn 02/03 ish maybe? Scored that season too

        1. 824545201
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah, i think you're right.

      2. Garlana
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I think someone has a great memory or knows how to Google

        1. 824545201
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          There was a post about this on the FPL subreddit a while ago, i'm surprised i remembered this.

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

        Yeah, there was a Reddit post about the best FPL XI of all time, and Friedel at Blackburn had around 187 points.

    10. thehodge
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Sorenson??

    11. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I'm pretty sure it is Friedel but don't remember the season

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

      Easy.
      Cech under Mou.
      24 CS's in that season ??

    13. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Friedel is the answer

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

      Sorry all, got a work call - Answer is Brad Friedel 02/03

  11. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Team A or B?

    Team A, 0ITB
    McCarthy*
    TAA Doherty* Vinagre Justin (Mitchell)
    Salah Mane* Auba Armstrong (Stephens)
    Jimi Mitro (Davis)

    Team B, 1.5ITB
    Ryan*
    TAA KWP* Vinagre Justin (Mitchell)
    Salah Son* Auba Soucek (Stephens)
    Jimi Werner* (Davis)

    Both teams would bring in Bruno GW2 from Mane/Son retrospectively

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      2nd one

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

    Morning guys. Who is the better pick.

    A) ASM ( Newcastle )
    B) Armstrong ( Southampton )

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      B looking a really good option I think.

    2. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A

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

      B, just.

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

    Egan or kwp ?

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

      Kwp

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

      They rotate nicely 🙂
      Egan if I would have to choose.

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Ooh, hadn't considered that.

  14. FPL Bargain
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Who will play at left back for Leicester now that Chilwell has gone? Justin? Fuchs? Any opinions inside hunch or wait for pre season mins?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Fuchs injured I believe so either the young lad or someone new - Justin filling in at right back.

    2. Bambi
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      thier defence looks decimated. Losing Chillwell, Perreria injured, Evans suspended. I would avoid tbh

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

      Thomas

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

      Thomas, but they'll sign someone.

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Luke Thomas but we might be buying Nicolas Tagliafico

  15. BoleynWin
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any Wolves fans give an idea how their defence will line up in the coming season with everyone fit? Let’s assume Doherty stays for arguments sake....

    Trying to ascertain if Boly is worth the 0.5mill more than Saiss for example

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Not a Wolves fan, but I'd say Saiss looks to be the one to go for. That back 3 seems pretty nailed.

    2. Botman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Doherty - Saiss - Coady - Boly - Vinagre (or new signing)

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

        Cheers for the reply gents, appreciated. Boly seemed dangerous at set plays whenever in watched him but doesn’t have the greatest Injury record so I’m leaning towards Saiss.

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

      Jonny saiss boly coady doherty

  16. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is Douglas a starter at Leeds?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Played about 10 times last year I think so... no

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

      no

  17. SorSy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any thoughts?

    McCathy , Nyland

    Walker-Pieters, Justin , Vinagre, Barry Douglas, Branthwaite
    Maddison, Auba, Son , Saint-Maximin, Salah
    Werner , Ings , Davies

    KDB and Fernandes will come in week 2 replacing Maddison and Auba.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Think the no defence thing needs reconsidering - St Max to a 4.5 and get a nailed defender for starters.

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

      That defense is depressing.

    3. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Ings to Mitro and upgrade your defence

  18. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is this GTG? Seems like I only have 1 playing sub if Brewster doesn't get loaned out..

    McCarthy // Nyland
    TAA Justin BDavies KWP // CTaylor
    Salah Auba Son ASM // Stephens
    Werner Ings // Brewster

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Should be OK for WK1

  19. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Dele Alli does have a little bit of 'Ings syndrome' about him, for want of a better term - he's one of those players that people will continue to ignore because he's injury prone but actually scores pretty well when fit

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      “F****ing lazy,” Mourinho tells the midfielder on his first day. “I am going to be a pain in the ass on you. And you are lucky because when I am a pain in the ass, it’s a good thing.”

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        😆 this sounds good, he wanted Utd to sign him

  20. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Rate my team?

    Lloris
    TAA Justin/Taylor KW-P/Hegazi
    Auba Son Ziyech Maddison Sigurdsson
    Jimenez Ings

    0.5 ITB

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Different, make it a bit more template

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

        How?

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          One of Madds/Gylfi down to a 5 or 5.5 and the other up to a premium gives better options for getting in UTD or City assets quickly

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

    My differential team that I'm settled on, tried exploring something very different options to get in the premiums in midfield. trying to prevent using any chips so early in the season:

    McCarthy
    Saiss, Vinagre, KWP, Saliba, Justin
    Aub, Ziyech, Son
    Wickham, Jimenez
    (Nyland, Brewster, Bruno, KDB)

    Will then revert my team to this from GW 2/3:

    McCarthy
    Saiss, Vinagre, KWP, Justin
    Aub, Ziyech, Son, Bruno, KDB
    Jimenez
    (Nyland, Saliba, Wickham, Brewster)

    Would then also offload one of my premium midfielders and cheap forwards for a striker upgrade to partner Jimenez once we start to see form and patterns emerging. Appreciate some thoughts, crazy going without TAA from the off, but he can be brought in!

    1. The Minus Fours
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Am I missing something? No Liverpool players at all from the off let alone TAA - brave much!

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I think the chances of Wickham starting seems pretty small. Try again please.

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

      Chelsea have 8 players in quarantine too

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        The new normal?

  22. SADIO SANÉ
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Boly signed a new contract yet? if not where are the transfer rumours, a few teams should be all over it

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Transfermarkt have him down as until 30.06.2021

      https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/willy-boly/profil/spieler/142310

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        nice, that's mad to me - maybe Wolves are falling apart somewhat

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

    So basically down to 2 drafts now, both medium to long term, one with Bruno and one without.

    Though I’m pretty set on my GW1 team I think.
    My Bruno in draft is below - thoughts? Too many sacrifices elsewhere or is it ok?

    McCarthy
    TAA | Egan | Taylor | Vinagre*
    Salah | KdB | Bruno | Greenwood | Soucek
    Kane

    Steer | Mitchell | Davis | Brewster

    *Will monitor minutes/likely lineup in case I need to move to another 4.5 defender.

    Thanks

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

      But you have 3 non-gw1 players in the starting XI?

      1. Andy'81
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Agreed, a 33.5 million bench for GW 1 is a bit extreme.

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

        My GW1 team is different, I’m try to plan long term here

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      6 man team in GW1 doesn't seem like much of a plan. Sorry.

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

        No need to apologise, my GW1 team is different - what I’m basically deciding is long term here and whether to plan for Bruno or not

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

    Let's assume the Doherty-Maitland Niles transfers happen. Most of us want a Wolves defender, many want a spurs one too - Who will you be going to for Wolves or Spurs and why?

    Vinagre 4.5
    AMN 5
    Dier 5
    Bavies 5
    Saiss 5
    Doherty 6

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

      Hah, just cross-posted with you (see one post below!)

    2. Morrissey1986
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Doherty is an Arsenal fan why don’t Arsenal try and get a deal that involves a swap? I would love to see Tierney one side Doherty the other.

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Doc and Saiss if he goes, Doc and Dier if he stays?

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

      Boly - nailed, BPS magnet when they keep a CS, hopefully picks up a few goals again like he did in 18/19

    5. jimski
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I was tempted by Bavies, but he's not all that attacking. Aurier at 5.0 last season was fine, but 5.0 for a Spurs defender without that level of attacking threat? Not sure I trust them yet. Wolves for me.

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

      Dier and Saiss

  25. jimski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    So who's the best Wolvs defender to get now Doherty is off? Are Boly or Maitland Niles worth the extra over Saiss or Coady?

    Of the 5.0s, Coady most nailed as captain, I guess. Saiss has slight game time risk.

    I don't trust Vinagre as a long-term option, and I'm not faffing with defensive trasnfers...

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Check goal threat in members area

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

        I just wonder whether an extra .5 is worth it for a small chance of a goal, or whether Saiss is worth the slight game-time risk over Coady for a small chance of a goal? Apart from Doherty, they don't exactly exude attacking points.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          sorry I meant goalthreat for 5m def...yes Saiss I reckon

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

      Haha! Yes crossed paths.
      Boly is definitely not worth 5.5 though his impact is remarkable on that defence in FPL terms. I'd still go Saiss over Coady. One is a set piece threat, the other is likely to score at the wrong end.

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

        Yeah, my instinct was for Saiss too. Slight worry over the threat from Dendonckey, who does sometimes drop into defence.

  26. 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. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve never seen something I dislike more to be honest

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        I once saw my mother in law naked...its worse

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

          That reminds me I once stayed with my wife's family, woke up too early and her parents left the door open whilst they were enjoying the morning rather too much. Scarred.

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Just because you're old it doesn't mean "everything" stops 😉

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

          Let's have a look at your amazing team then please

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

        You've obviously never visited the towns of Lincolnshire or had a day in Slough

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

        Care to eloborate on your ridiculous exaggeration?

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

          Willian and Pepe both overpriced and not guaranteed to start. Planning transfers almost never works, and the defence is so weak. No point going without Auba as there’s no real difference in this team other than the midfield picks being 10x worse than Auba.

          I suggest if you can’t take someone telling you they don’t like something

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

            ... then you shouldn’t be asking for opinions. You asked for my thoughts, so I gave them. Don’t need to start commenting on my team saying “this is it, seriously”

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

              if you’re going to keep on ignoring people saying that this team needs Auba, then I’m not sure how to help you if you keep posting the same team and ignoring the same piece of advice

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

              Well yeah I was surprised, considering how high and mighty you try to seem

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

            So Willian and Pepe are overpriced at 8? Auba is 12, rather have to the double and get rid of one for Bruno in gw2.
            Plus the defence is bang on investment wise for me. Left money in the bank for options.

            I can certainly take criticism if it's justified. Not just throw idiotic comments around that aren't backed up.
            You've shown to me you're clueless tbh.
            Bye

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

              You need Auba. And you will get punished. He’s consistently had 20+ goal seasons, and he’s now a midfielder, which means much more points.
              For example in my team, the one that you clearly don’t like, I have Salah Auba and Bruno. It’s quite easy to do.

              If you’re going without Auba, you need to replace him with someone who can be just as good. Willian and Pepe are not those men.

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

                I appreciate this reply, and although I agree, this tactic works best for me to get Kane in.
                Will probably change it all round next week, original 2 drafts had Auba

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

      Too much non Auba Arsenal

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

        The goalkeeper's good.

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Not good.

      On the plus side, thanks for this 30 seconds of joy, oh to be 10 again):

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inEYLrha5mo

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

        Haha you know it. Such an underrated cartoon

  27. Chelsea91
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thought on below team?

    Mc Carthy,Nyland
    Taa,Vvd,Chilwell,Davies,Ferguson
    Son,Ziyech,Salah,ASM,Traore
    Mitro,Martial,Davies

    0itb

    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Too much money in D. Auba needed. Fwds look light too.

      1. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Any suggestion?

        1. Jafalad
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Auba in for Ziyech. Dgrade VVD for a 4.5 like Dallas.

          1. Chelsea91
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            sure

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

    Patricio

    Boly TAA aurier

    Mane sterling ASM rashford pepe

    Martial antonio

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

      Nice team. I like it. The differential picks .

  29. jimski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    This has probably been asked a load already on here, but what do people think the actual chance is that Messi plays in the PL next season. More than 50%? It's hard to judge from media reports, who get over-excited easily.

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

      Unlikely imo

    2. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I think he will 80% leave Barça and if he is, City is 90% his destination. So they are big chances imo

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

      A load, far too much given that no one has any idea at the moment.

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

      I think that he will play for City

    5. Shaw must go on
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      20%city,30%Psg and 50% barcelona

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

      I think it's like 80/20 he leaves Barca and 80/20 he goes to City so a good chance I think.

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

      It's no easier to judge from a load of people throwing out their own percentages on a whim, though