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

    Apologies all for leaving you hanging earlier on the trivia question. Got a work phone call and had fires to put out. Answer was Brad Friedel in 02/03 season.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Wut?

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

        Posted a trivia question earlier, said I will reveal the answer in 10 mins and then revealed it an hour later.

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

      No worries. Miguel supplied the answer on the last page

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

      Would never have gotten that. FPL going that long?

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

        Funnily enough, the 02/03 was the inaugural season

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

      Be careful from next time 😛

      (Who is he ?? 😆 i thought it must be cech)

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

        Apologies Amey! 😛

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

          😀

  2. Yordan Letchkov
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    First draft:

    McCarthy, Nyland
    TAA, Taylor, Justin, Vinagre, Douglas
    Salah, Mané, Son, Saint-Maxim, Bissouma
    Werner, Richarlison, Mitrovic

    Mané -> KDB for GW2

    Thoughts?

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

      Nae bad

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

      Not a fan of Richarlison. Defence may need a bit of work as only Trent is nailed. Rest looks fine.

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

    8 Chelsea players in quarantine. This is not good...

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

      Naive to be going on holidays but if the government aren't strict and allow it, you can't blame the players.

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

        Disagree, Berbs. It's actually pretty moronic to be flying abroad in the volatile circumstances.

        Particularly when you're a footballer. See the impact of the Celtic player.

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

      Only Mount from them would appear to be first choice

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

        Pulisic too

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

          True but his injury is likely to mean he misses the start anyway

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

      This seems like the season where it all comes down to finding the player who won’t be in quarantine come fixture day

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

      Their entire defence was socially distancing from attackers last season imo

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

        Excellent

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

      Unless players go back into bubbles like in Project restart i think games will start getting called off when there are confirmed cases.

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

        If it's their own irresponsible damned fault, the PL should make the games go ahead with youths making up the numbers.

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

          I don't know the context with the Chelsea players tbh. Prem would never allow playing the kids though as would be bad for the brand and clubs would riot!

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

            Not if the alternative is to suspend the league or postpone multiple matches.

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

              I think some postponements are inevitable personally, so stupid that all the cup competitons and internationals are going ahead as there's no time to fit in postponements. They should have cancelled League cup and some of the internationals imo

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

      To be honest, they could probably have got away with it if they hadn't said anything.
      Sandro played for QPR in the Prem for 6 months without a visa a few years ago and nobody noticed.

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

        Sandro playing without visa has no effect in others

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

          On*

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

            I understand that, just mean Big Brother will not be watching closely.

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

      Don’t worry they still have 468 players to choose from.

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

    Thoughts on this GW2 squad?

    McCarthy (4.0)
    TAA Laporte Boly (Vinagre - 4.0)
    KDB Fernandes Greenwood Foden Soucek
    Werner Martial (Brewster)

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

      Skipping week 1?

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

        In a way

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

          Soucek not a good option after week 1 imo as he has rubbish fixtures. Hard to say about the rest as we've no idea what week 1 will bring!

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

        Easier if you slipstream.

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

      WCing wk 2?

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

        Yup

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

          Martial,Werner is such a nice front two.
          A sacrifice of a premium midfielder is needed for it though.

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

            Will drop Martial down to the best 6.5 FWD GW 4 once it becomes apparent who that is

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

      Foden... have to wait for pre-season (and still not know)

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

        Yeah - hope Soucek and a decent 4.5 def or Brewster can cover his absences

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

          Won't cover his ten-minute cameos though.

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

            Yes but that is the risk with most City options

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

      Strong, prefer Laporte over Doherty then?

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

        I do

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

        I do now

    5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Almost identical to mince. Excellent!

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

    Suarez has been approached by PL clubs...

    And SHU now leading the race to sign Brewster on loan.

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

      Brewster would be a very nice bench option if he goes on loan to sheffield, Wilder always changes strikers at 60 minutes so he could get a fair few 30 minute run outs v tired legs. Don't think Suarez will return to the prem

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

      Barcelona want Jesus to replace Suarez. Fun if he and Messi both go to City.

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

        Apparently Barca will take Garcia, Jesus and some cash in exchange for Messi.

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

      suarez not as fast as he used to be but still a deadly finisher be great for PL. brewster great price if he goes to shu and get starts

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

      Surely China, US or back home for Luis.
      brewster on loan looks exciting

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

      Old news.

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

      Brewster the new Greenwood?

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

        Very possible. But last season I started with Greenwood and he just clogged up the bench for most of the season. The trick is yo know when he's going to get decent gametime and jump on.

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

          I doubt Brewster would go on loan to a club where he isn't promised time on the pitch. So that makes him risk worth taking from the start.

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

        The next Sterling at 4.5...

    7. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Brewster at SUTD will create a few changes.

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

        Davis > Brewster for me. And I suspect many others.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Easy one but if people have 3 forwards then it could ripple through the side

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

            Yeh, but i think far fewer have 3 viable strikers this time. 3-4-3 is fading away due to more focus on midfield.

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

          I might have both. Brewster is good enough to be 1st fwd sub and that could make 4-5-1 viable and flexible enough to change to 4-4-2.

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

    Keep ending up back on this..

    McCarthy
    Trent Virgil Vinagre
    Salah Aubameyang Fernandes Armstrong Soucek
    Werner Mitrovic

    Steer Johnson Strujik Davis

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

      Totally solid. Can see why you keep ending up with it.

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

      That looks unaffordable, good job - though you might only have 10 in GW1 if you are unlucky.

    3. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Solid but template. Can't see why you are benching so much money.

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

        Because it's better than using a placeholder and using a transfer or taking a hit GW2.

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Disagree.

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

          I'm with Doos. it's a 'safe' play but if you put that 10.5 to good use and gain more than 4 points with it then you can use it to bring Bruno in for a hit and still be up on the deal. Those who get that call correct will be the winners, the 'safe' players will be ok, but are effectively guaranteeing there will be a lot of other players who will end GW1 up in a better position. It's a long season and of course you have time to catch up but I'm one of those players who don't want to be at a disadvantage early on.

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

            It's Swings & Roundabouts. Lose a few points in GW1 versus losing points through hits in GW2-3

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

              Like I say, not a bad move. But guaranteed not to be the best one.

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

            Most will have Son as place holder. If he blanks and the cheap asset you start succeeds you are perhaps 8 pts or something ahead of those who have Son.

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

              Sure - the big losers are going to be the ones that buy a flop and still take the hit afterwards. That's the real gamble. Son as an example will probably be about evens odds to score or assist so it's probably a fair bet either way. There's more upside to picking Son than having your cheapie, however. It comes down to a safe play vs a gamble to me. Depends on what sort of manager you are.

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

                I'm the kind of manager who likes points, so I'm going to do what in the long run I feel scores me most points.

                I don't believe there's any asset in the game at 10.5 or below that outscores a 4.5 defender with a decent GW1 fixture + 4 points in the long run. I've used 4 points as the opportunity cost of not saving a free transfer - you might get lucky and have one to burn further down the line so it doesn't matter, but you might not. Maybe 3 points is better - I still think you'd be hard pressed to find that.

                When you start talking about hits, you have a GUARANTEED 4 points plus the opportunity cost of not saving a transfer. That is a disaster from a points expectation perspective, and that's pretty irrefutable.

                I'm fine with opinions, but Doosra has said multiple times now with some authority that benching expensive assets is 'wrong' - it just isn't in the context of a single GW where you're guaranteed to want them the next week anyway.

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

            In a one off game though a cheap player with a good fixture could outscore a premium player.
            Eg. Aubamayang could blank and Soucek score.

            Nothing is definite.

    4. The Sarjeant
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nice team. I really like it!

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

      Almost the same as me. Only difference is i have son Doherty and 4.5 mid over bruno soucek and 4m def

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

        Asm over amrstrong too

    6. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Pretty much the same for me

      McCarthy ➡️ Ryan
      VVD ➡️ Doc
      4.0 ➡️ KWP

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

      I'm on the Fernandes bench too - just swapped out Werner for Ziyech in a reshuffle...

      Ramsdale
      Trent Robbo Bavies KWP
      Auba Son Ziyech Soucek
      Richarlison Mitrovic

      Steer Mitchell Davis Fernandes

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

      Looks great. VVD comes to the fore if Doherty goes to Spurs

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

      Superb team. I kind of want to copy it, but I have an unhealthy attachment to Son at 9m...

    10. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Same set up as me but I've gone Doherty Tierney over VVD Armstrong. I don't want two 5-5.5 mids.

    11. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Sensible side

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

    Fantasy Football Scout
    @FFScout
    ·
    46s
    Hospital Martin Dubravka has pulled out of the Slovakia squad with an ankle injury. The Newcastle United goalkeeper's national coach suggests the player could be out for "several weeks".

    Shame FPL mispriced the Newcastle back up keepers at 4.5

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

      Darlow being 5.0 makes no sense whatsoever

      1. Party time
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Yes. It shows fpl is not a fair game

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

        His back up is 5m lol it’s like FPL knew this would happen. Big conspiracy.

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

        Sorry, Darlow is 5.0 WTF?

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

      What do you think of this latest draft?

      Cheers
      ____________________________________________
      McCarthy
      TAA Vinagre Justin Saliba
      Salah Auba Son Armstrong
      Werner Jimenez

      Ryan | Brewster Gordon Targett
      ____________________________________________

      Too much tinkering?

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

        I like it, using Auba/ Son as placeholders for united/ city boys?

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

        I think I'd want one more pricier option in defence aside from TAA but otherwise solid!

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

      This transfer season, and hence FPL season beginning, is shaping up to be one of the most interesting for years.

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

        Yes, team drafts will keep changing till GW1 deadline.

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

        Don't say that to a United fan. He might throw something at you 😀

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

          Old man ducks as Amey lobs large brick .....

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

            😆
            Old man misjudged the trajectory ....

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

          fernandes was your big money signing so stop complaining 😉

          If you get David Brooks then that's got to be considered a good window! :')

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

            One RW
            One CDM
            And it's a good window

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

          You guys will end up signing Brooks at £60m 😀

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

            They have made all their signings: a 14 year old Norwegian, a slightly older lad from Barca; Bruno six months ago and of course Pogba's new contract will be "like a new signing"

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

              Henderson signed a New deal too

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

                Of course yes, so 5 "new" players

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

            40

      3. Our Man Charlie
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        totally agree , lots of big (ish ) names being signed up or linked to be signed , Chelsea's window has been exciting but will the team gel ?
        keeping the tinkering down to last plausible minutes if possible

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

      A playing Brewster at Sheff U is a game changer. Hardly much to beat in front of him.

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

        Sheff Utd forwards didn't prove to be great value last year, and wouldn't have been even if they were 4.5.

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Lys Mousset 6G 4A 11B 84 4.5m

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

            5.0m

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

          Just makes it easier to have a 'proper' midfield or defense. I'd not expect much from him but then I don't expect much more from the 6.5 bracket either

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

      Will Jimi appeal less to managers with Doherty going to Spurs?

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

        Jimmy will still tick over, one of the most consistent players in the game. Traore going would be a bigger low as he provides a lot of Jimmys chances

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

          Does Traore get more game time if he goes I wonder or does an AMN move mean a like for like.

      2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        No, because the main providers are Moutinho and Jota.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Add traore I expect

      3. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Yes, losing a good player who is vital to attacking play affects everyone

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

        Rate my team?

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

        0.5 ITB

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

          Not a fan on Sigurdsson or Maddison picks to be honest. I don't know much about Ziyech. Planning to move Auba onto a city or united mid?

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

          Pretty good, I'd probably downgrade Sigurdsson despite the good fixtures, and either upgrade on one of the strikers or have some money in the bank to upgrade Son or Ziyech to Bruno.
          Maddison is a good pick though. Bartley and Justin are a bit dodgy considering how bad both West Brom and Leicester are at defending.

        3. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Steer clear of Siggy

      5. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Annoyingly, I think this will be one of the Community shields' where we still won't be able to guess who will be a main starter after it

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

            Yeh, it's 2 weeks before the PL starts, not one, so it's not that useful.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Annoying as I have Martinez, hopefully Arteta clarifies

          2. Baron Penguin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I’m sure this has been done to death, but what is everyone’s thinking?

            1. Set up with with no Manchester, WC GW2
            2. Set up with no Manchester, transfer in with FTs
            3. Compromise GW1, one or two Manchester on bench

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

              2 for me.

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

              Not 1 for me but some are considering it. I will only stretch to one united asset on the bench gameweek 1 and it would probably be greenwood. Option 2 most likely for me but not sure what the general 'consensus' is.

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

              #3. Prepared to coast and 'throw' my GW1 Mini cash league chances.

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

              Set up with no Manchester, transfer in 1 United for GW2. WC GW3 (fixture shift for some teams and 2 GWs should be a better indicator of form, bargain players etc).

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

              2 - leave money ITB to accommodate.

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

              I can't see anyone whose expected points outweigh Soucek's in GW1 by at least 4 points aside from Auba/Salah who I already own.

              No way I want to be wasting my wildcard after one week.

              Therefore has to be 3 for me!

            7. Baron Penguin
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Thanks all

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

              I'm planning to start with Greenwood on my bench.

              Then I'll save my transfer if possible and bring a Citizen in for GW3.

          3. pablo discobar
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            GK Mccarthy
            DEF TAA, Justin, Vinagre, Dier, Mitchell
            MID Salah, Auba, Son, Saint Max, Greenwood
            FWD Werner, Mitrovic, Brewer

            Not going to tinker much more now until further transfer news. A certain City signing could cause a rethink!

            How's it looking?

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

              It all depends on Dennis Zakaria then?

            2. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I hope he won't be the same FPL price as his release clause.

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

            Thoughts?
            1.5 ITB
            Ryan
            TAA Vinagre KWP Justin (Mitchell)
            Salah Auba Son Soucek
            Jimi Werner

            Son->Bruno GW2
            Will rid of Soucek when a budget midfielder emerges.

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

              Soucek is the budget mid 🙂

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

                Another 4.5 could emerge, like Cantwell last season

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

            For those who I’ve seen planning GW3 & 4 transfers let me save you time.....forget it! Not going to happen, so much will happen in the first 2 GWs that will change your whole plan, so don’t waste your time. Put out the team you think will do best from GW1 and take it from there

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

              GW3 and 4 maybe but I'm not going to not plan for City and United starting fixtures, particularly the latter.

          6. Big Hippo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            What do we think about Doherty to Spurs - anyone have any ideas as to who will replace him at Wolves and whether he will line up as RB or RWB at Spurs?

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

              I think he will be RB, as Mourinho doesn't often go for a back 3 with wing backs. I don't know if he would be as good at right back without the license to bomb forwards.

              Rumours of AMN to wolves who can play RWB, but I imagine they would sign another specialist RWB.

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

              If Wolves get AMN, he will step in for Doherty.

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

              If he joins spurs and is nailed then yeah great

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

              I guess it's going to be wait and see. He would be 6.0 def under Mourinho and we would have no idea whether he is going to be allowed to attack. So he could be one million wasted money and likely to drop in price. Straight out off my team in that case. Money saved can be used to get 5.0 Wolves and Spurs defender for example.

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

                Even Jose is not going to be buying him to just defend when the guy clearly has decent attack threat.

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

                  I suspect he gets the Aurier advanced role but offers way better service...

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

                    Perhaps. But there are question marks is in the air imo. If Davies is attacking on the other side and Son is on left side also, Doherty might not be attacking same time. And he usually doesn't pass very long balls.

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

              If Doherty goes to Spurs, then I'm redraughting Vinagre into my team.

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

            I do not know about anyone else but I like the idea of Doherty going to Spurs. He will probably play wide right in a midfield 5 with Davies Dier and Alderweireld in a back 3.

            1. Party time
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Wide right??

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

                You think Mou goes back 3? Hasn't played this much before has he?

              • Holmes
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Basically 4 at back while defending and 3 at back when at attacking.

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

                  So 4atb permanently then

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

                    Nope

            2. Gunners in Haaland
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Thought on this draft guys?

              Lloris
              TAA Saiss AMN KWP
              Salah Ritchie Son Soucek Auba
              Werner

              McCarthy Brewster Mitchell Vassilev

              2.5 ITB.
              Son -> Bruno GW2
              Auba/Salah - Sterling GW3

              Still with 1.5 ITB for Vassilev-> Mitro

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

              Yikes! Hello Darlow

              Martin Dubravka has pulled out of the Slovakia squad with an ankle injury. The Newcastle United goalkeeper's national coach suggests the player could be out for "several weeks"

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

                What a waste, Newcastle's defense not an option anymore...

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

                  Yeh, I had Lascelles pencilled if Vinny isn't a starter. Back to the drawing board.

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

                Steer & Darlow set and forget

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

                  Nevermind, I thought Darlow was 4.0 let alone 5.0!

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

                    Spooky that FPL Towers vastly overpriced him at 5.0!

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

                Soucek (C)

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

                That's all we need, just need ASM to pick up a knock now for a full house.

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

                It’s ironic how they completely mispriced Darlow and somehow it ended up being a realistic price for the start of the season. I still can’t see anyone getting him though.

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

              Now that Ferguson is injured are there any viable 4.0 defenders that might start?

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

                Probably not, Mitchell has lil bit chance.

              2. Old Man Willow
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Johnson at Wham worth keeping an eye on

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

                  Those fixtures. Even if he plays, I see a row of nul points.

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

                    Would be detrimental for kids confidence too.

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

                    1st fixture is pretty good.

                  3. Eze Really?
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    3rd sub only. get a low owned 4.0 so no TV is lost.

            5. La Roja
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Just been to top of the tallest building in the world and yes used the toilet (twice)

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

                Name and how many floors?

                1. La Roja
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Burj Khalifa, The athmosphere restaurant. My daughters birthday treat Innit, 4 years old 🙂

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

                    Nice, can't get any better I guess...

                    1. La Roja
                      • 12 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      Next years birthday expectations just gone higher..sigh..

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

                        Book your tickets for Elon Musk's SpaceX now!

                2. La Roja
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  126th floor

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

                Like Tyrion on the Wall?

              3. Party time
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  That will be a long way down for your turd

                • Klaren
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Not the best time of the year to be over there.

                  1. La Roja
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Why is that?

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

                Sake one of the most overlooked FPL options now?

                According to whoscored (PL+EL+FA Cup combined):
                Attacking left midfielder > 5 games, 1 goal and 3 assists
                Midfielder left > 4 games, 1 goal and 1 assist
                Forward left > 2 games, 1 assist
                Forward right > 2 games, 1 goal and 1 assist

                He won't be playing as leftback anymore...

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

                  Saka*

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

                  The Japanese drink or Arsenal kid? I've got the latter down so long as he's likely to be a starter.

                3. Holmes
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Possibility of getting benched due to Willian/Nketiah.

                4. antis0cial
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  If he starts could be great although after first 2 games Arsenal have a few tough games

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

                AMN @ £5.0m as Doherty's right wingback replacement = value town.

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

                  I think I'd rather have a 5m Spurs defender.

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

                    Only if Spurs played wingbacks due to increased clean sheets and attack returns.
                    AMN, Vinagre, Bellerin & Tierney = 4 wingbacks for £20.0m
                    + TAA = quality 5 man defence for only £27.5m!

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

                First draft:
                Ryan, McCarthy
                TAA, Vinagre, Dallas, Saliba, Taylor
                Salah, Greenwood, Bowen, Pereira, Grealish
                Werner, Ings, Jiminez

                No City is a big risk, but Pep's tinkering drives me mad

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

                First draft without Doherty, can't believe this. just want to run to u

                A) Van Dijk, Soucek, Kane
                B) Saliba, Son, Jimenez

              8. Return Of Chamakh
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Had a kinda high risk first draft I was super happy with until the news about Manchester players in GW1... How does this look, plus a way to get back to it for GW2 without using a chip:

                Ideal team:
                Ramsdale - (4m fodder)
                TAA - Laporte - Vinagre - (4m Douglas) - (4m Bernardo)
                Ziyech - Son - KDB - Grealish - Fernandes
                Mitovic - Jimenez (Davis)

                GW1 team:
                Ramsdale - (4m fodder)
                TAA - Aurier - Vinagre - Douglas - Bernardo
                Ziyech - Son - Salah - (Grealish) - (Fernandes)
                Mitovic - Jimenez (Davis)

                So quite a crap defence and no subs for the first gameweek, but then only two transfers to have my ideal team rolling for GW2 without wildcard etc! Obviously quite a few maybes in there but I'm up for some risks this year after a very boring approach last year haha. Any glaring errors or things to avoid?! Do those 4m players actually play for example hahaha?

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

                  No they don’t play.

                  1. Return Of Chamakh
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Ah crap haha! Thought I saw an article on here saying they were both starters so I boshed them in without research

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

                Dendonker worth considering as a £5m alternative to Soucek?

                1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  No.

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

                  Quite possibly. He had a good finish to the end of last season, seemed to be favoured by Nuno and scored one or two goals. Of course he's not nailed ....

              10. The Sarjeant
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                I really like my current draft! I don’t see me changing anything, unless Messi signs or other transfers happen/don’t happen. I’m gonna do a write up later and explain things.