Pre-Season

The best mid-price FPL midfielders for 2020/21

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

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

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

Big-Six Starters and Back-Ups

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gomez absent for Liverpool as more injuries revealed after FPL deadline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newly Promoted Assets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top-Half Options

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Best – and Worst – of the Rest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Best players by position:

1,159 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Stormbringer22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Which £45m midfield do you prefer going forward:

    A. Salah - KDB - Bruno - Armstrong - ASM
    B. Salah - Bruno - Son - Ziyech - ASM

    Comes down to having a City asset vs having balance. If I went with B, worst case scenario would be if KDB is hauling like a mofo, I can always do Salah > KDB.

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 7 months ago

        B

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

        It's KdB + Armstrong vs Son + Ziyech and I think Son + Ziyech wins out to start the season - they have a fixture in GW1, favorable fixtures for a while.

        If need be, roll a transfer and you can do Son + Ziyech > KdB + Armstrong/ASM for free. Or as you said, do Salah > KdB.

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

          Cheers Camzy. It was you that opened my eyes to be fair to you. Decided to get Bruno from the get-go, bench him GW1 and keep Son for a few more fixtures. Always wanted Ziyech in my team as well, so B is what I am leaning towards.

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

        Son and Ziyech vs Kevin and Armstrong then? B

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

          Yeah, I suppose I could have summarised it like that. Would have been easier. Thought I would provide some context as well. Cheers Fulchester!

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

        A

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

      Ferguson is a new injury or the injury he picked earlier? As per the pre seasons page he played 20 mins in the last friendly so ruling him out 3 weeks before kick off makes no sense?

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

        Anyone who thinks he's starting GW1 is in dreamland, he's a price drop waiting to happen.

      2. I Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Which friendly? He wasn't in their squad for the game yesterday.

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

        "... he played 20 mins in the last friendly ...". Link?

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

          pre-season page on here, been entered wrong

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

            OK. I can't see how he will be able to play without an agreed contract (no insurance).

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

              ... to play or train ...

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

      First 433 draft. Any opinions?

      McCarthy
      TAA Dier Vinagre KWP
      Salah Auba Maddison
      Vardy Werner Mitrovic

      4.0; Lamptey, 2 x 4.5 (currently Gordon and Stephens)

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

        4-3-3 looks a bit non-optimal. Jamie is the problem.

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

        Not a huge fan as it means starting two budget defenders every week, I'd go even bigger at the back if starting with four at the back. Any plan for United and City assets?

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

          Auba will become KDB/Sterling. Vardy and Werner give me the option to go Martial and then Maddison to Greenwood.

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

        Don't like Maddison tbh

        Looks fine to me besides though, currently playing a 433 too

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

        Not keen on the Leicester double-up. I think Vardy is overpriced. I get that the fixtures look favourable from an attacking perspective, but I don't think Leicester would capitalise on that. Would downgrade Vardy and invest in midfield to a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2

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

      Think this is the best I’ve come up with so far:

      Mcarthy
      TAA, Vinagre, Justin
      Auba, (S)alah, Son, ASM
      Jimi, Werner, Mitro

      (Button, Ferguson, Stephens, Mitchell)

      0 ITB

      Thoughts?

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

        What's your City/United plan?

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

        That defence

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

        Don't start with that defence. Please.

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

        You need at least another premium to go with TAA. Doherty is the most popular choice

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

        Oh my 🙂
        Yeah, defence needs some work.
        Obviously you know story on Vinagre, Justin...those 2 x 4.0 etc
        Definitely you need to sacrifice somewhere else to address the issue...

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

        To save the defence, who is the most obvious sacrifice?

        Jimi?

        1. jg7u
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          I honestly don't think you need to add more than 0.5 into that defence. Vinagre might be leaving so replace him with someone if that's the case and replace either Ferguson or Mitchell with someone costing 4.5 and who rotates well with your starters.

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

      Another RMT because I'm bored

      McCarthy Nyland
      TAA Doc Davies Taylor Mitchell
      Auba Salah Son ASM Bissouma
      Werner Mitro Davis

      1.5 in the bank

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

        Nice

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

          Thanks

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

        I am guessing the 1.5itb is to do Son > Bruno. Good team!

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

          Yeah and if Bruno's price rises before gw2 I can just do Auba to KDB and Son to Bruno in gw3

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

        It’s nice and balanced...
        I would suggest maybe to think about replacing ASM with cheaper team mate Richie whom I expect to have similar if not better returns (if no new signings) that will give you extra 0.5 which will enable you to upgrade either Mitchell to 4.5 or even Bissouma for Soucek perhaps?

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

          Ritchie's position is still a questionmark but if he plays as a winger I'm interested in him for sure

    7. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Wow seems like there's very little love for Ings, to me he's still a great option. If he manages to stay fit, keep pens and Ralph gets a consistent Southampton season he could easily beat last years score. Lots of ifs but if he gets injured I can remove and even without pens he bangs them in

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

          I'm on Jim at the moment, but would love to have both.

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I'm glad so many people are sleeping on him, great run of fixtures he will score

          2. FPL Bielsa
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            I like Ings and he was one i had pencilled in before prices were released, i prefer him to Jimmy for now, think there will be some fatigue issues early on at Wolves, but what stops me getting Ings is Werner at 9.5m which seems a bargain to me, if Werner doesn't start fast its an easy switch to Ings and i prefer Werner first up v Brighton than Ings away at Palace.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Got both to start

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

              Modern football captains only really do the toss anyway. Who cares?

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

            Lads, any suggestion of a way I could keep this Bruno strategy and fit Jimi in the team?

            McCarthy / Steer
            TAA, Doherty, KWP, Saliba (or Lascelles) / 4.0
            Salah, Auba, Armstrong, Soucek / Bruno
            Timo, Mitrovic / 4.5

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

              Not without dropping one of Salah/Auba

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

              Not really, Salah or Auba down to Son or Ziyech and Mitro up to Jim or even 4.5 up to Jim (if Ziyech) work?

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

                Then my KDB plan would go out of the window... yeah, I think I can't do it. Still, thank you very very much indeed, lads

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

              Not easy, guess you would like to downgrade 2-3 Players for cheaper options to upgrade Mitro...too much shuffle

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

            Need help with my N draft

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

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

            GK Steer
            DEF Justin Saliba Ferguson
            MID ASM Soucek
            FOR Davis

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

              GK - I have no idea what's going with Nyland/Steer and who is going to start, keep monitoring
              DEF - Vinagre might still be a great option (if AMN falls through). I also like Justin with Leicester's early fixtures. Your 4.0 could be Mitchell, Johnson or Strujik. I think Johnson has best chance of starting to begin the season.
              MID - Agree
              FWD - Brewster has to be the one is he goes on loan

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

            Rodrigo likely to be about 7m?

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

              6.5 max. Probably 6.

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

                Would be a steal.
                Best value ever.

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

              Deluxe Bamford so 6.5?

          6. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            A breakdown of city's likely signing of messi

            Total cost: 780 million
            Barcelona receives: 700 million
            Agent receives: 70 million
            Ffp fine paid in advance: 10 million

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

              Barcelona recieves: 0 million

              1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Clause expired

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

                  Lawyers like this message 😉

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

            So is anyone planning on going no City or UTD until further notice. Hits and WC are going to be flavour of the week from GW1.

            I think I am going sit back and watch the madness unfold.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                3 years, 7 months ago

                City yes, utd no I will get Bruno in

            2. Niho992
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Messi to City almost done. His price ? I guess about 15.0 as MiD

              KdB will be useless from fantasy aspect then

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

                lol. The opposite. KdB will be beyond essential at 11.5m.

                I am not interested in Messi if he's more than 13m. He's not worth 2m more than KdB.

                1. Niho992
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Both will play on right side. Messi will take pens, corners and FKs. KdB becoming 7.5 MiD in that case

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

                    KdB can play anywhere. Left, middle, right, CM, CAM.

                    And no, I think KdB will still be on pens. Messi to take FKs and some corners.

                    1. Niho992
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      He can but he is best as RCM. And no way KdB will take pens ahead of Messi

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

                        KDB and Messi linking up on the right is a great thing for both

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

                        I think you're just completely wrong here. But Messi has to come first for all these hypotheticals to be tested.

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

                    Not sure I agree with you about pens - from memory Messi has missed loads.

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

                      Yeah, he's ridiculously mediocre at penalties given how amazing he is - 75% conversion rate more or less which is below average. I guess it's still possible he's given penalties, he's had them at Barcelona all these years despite there (presumably) being better takers there but I agree that he shouldn't take them.

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

                        That's horribly written but you get the point (I hope!)

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

                  Didn't think about it that way, interesting. Sterling too would greatly benefit

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

                  KDB is not essential at £11.5m, but will not be ‘useless’ by any stretch.

                  Messi will be a great option at £13m or £13.5m

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

                I hope their marketing strategy is quality. Financial Fair Play will not be questioned I suppose.

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

                Almost done? Doesn't seem that way yet

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

                13...max 14
                We had 14 before - right? I think but not certain

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

                  I remember Thierry Henry being 14m.

                  Very few players were playing fantasy football back then. It was my first season back in 2006-07.

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

                    Yes, he was...can’t remember if CR7 was one season 14 as well...

                  2. Niho992
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    Henry
                    Rvp
                    CR

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

              McCarthy (Nyland)
              TAA - Dier - Saliba (Johnson - Mitchell)
              Salah - Auba - Son - Ziyech - Armstrong
              Werner - Mitrovic (Brewster)

              The bench completely relies on preseason if none are playing, I’ll be downgrading Ziyech for funds into defence.

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

                Mitchell Johnson's Saliba is the obvious issue that allows the rest to look so good.

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

                  Yeah keeping tabs on Saliba of course. Can easily knock Dier to KWP and upgrade one of the 4.0s which is probably the wise thing to do.

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

                Brewster loan to Leeds I hope. I will over him like a rash.
                So you will be playing 2 defenders most weeks! (SMILE)

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

                  I think there’s a very good chance Saliba starts, he was important over in France so has experience in top flight football, Arteta likes youth.

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

                    He is on my watchlist for sure. But starting him week 1 is a huge risk. The Charity shield can help though.

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

                      I’ve actually added KWP and Ayling in for Mitchell/Dier for security for the time being.

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

              Assuming Messi is a 14.0 mid, does Salah become a dead asset from an FPL perspective?

              1. Niho992
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                KdB will become dead asset.

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

                  Not sure about that.......could be a devastating double-up

                2. Tony Moon
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Lol

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

                Good question. Are there fixtures where you’d rather captain Salah, or is messi a permacap?

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

                  I reckon if you're getting Messi in, there is very little chance that you're not going to permacap him.

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

                    Not sure I agree myself, but you certainly don’t need Salah if that’s the case, so will make him a dead asset for some for sure

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

                      the triple up in Liverpool defence would become template methinks

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

                      I'd double pool defence with Robbo and ignore Salah yes

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

              James Rodriguez potential price ?

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

                8 probably cos of the name.

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

                Colombian lad?

            6. madame shelly
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Treating GW1 as an extra free-hit. Load team with Liv/Ars/Lei and WC GW2 with loads more info and MCY back in loop.

              Simples 🙂

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

                Why not GW3 in that case?

                1. madame shelly
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  cos then it's not an extra free hit. besides, a gw2 team catches all the early bandwagons and you're armed with most of the info you need. city/utd assets pretty easy to know who's needed already

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

                    True...do you expect players that you would have to rise after first GW or the once you want to get? 🙂

                    1. madame shelly
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      will wildcard on day 1 of season after kick offs, catch any price rises

              2. Tony Moon
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                WC will be far more valuable later on.

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

              Assuming Messi is 14.0, the below would be my team by GW3

              McCarthy 4.0
              TAA VVD 4.5 4.5 4.5
              Messi KDB Ziyech ASM Soucek
              Martial Mitro Brewster

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

                RMTs including Messi - time for lunch I think!

                1. g40steve
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  Correct, he earns £900k a week at present - you think prem wages are obscene - he’s on a different planet compared to everyone else.

                  Not good for wage caps etc!

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

                Looks good. Sensible approach

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

                  Cheers, on second thought maybe Dier and a 4.0 in defence.........:)))))))

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

              Hate to pick a team this far before the start of the season, but I'm away for the next fortnight, so here's what I've come up with (barring injuries). Any thoughts?

              Ryan, Johnstone
              James, Digne, TAA, Gomez, Vinagre
              Grealish, Salah, Rashford, Saint-Maximin, Son
              Davis, Bamford, Jiminez

              With a view to dropping Son for Bruno Fernandes after week 1 and Digne for Wan-Bissaka after week 2.

              After that, using either the Salah or Fernandes slot for some Upside Chasing (never tried this before)...

              Custard

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

                Well, if you are already willing to sacrifice Grealish for blank in GW1, why not upgrade him for Greenwood?
                Oh and those front 3 🙂 Yikes 😉

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

                Edit - reverse those two transfers due to budget restrictions...

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

              Yeah - there's probably a lot of 5-4-1 or 4-5-1 in my future...

              My longer term plan is to have Rashford, Fernandes and Wan Bissaka from United, so Greenwood would be problematic...

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

                Don’t forget inevitable price rises after GW1 - they might come around and bite you 🙂

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

                  I'll be making my changes around 5pm on week one. Now that I've reversed my transfer plans, I'm a bit more concerned about Fernandes going up in price before my week two transfer. May need to think that through a bit more 🙁

                  Plus there's the inevitable injury to a key player to consider!

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

                    Downgraded Grealish to Traore to give me a spare £0.5M to play with...

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

                      Will Traore start?

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

                    That would include few hits - right?
                    It might work but not keen on -4 or -8 after GW 1

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

                      Think Traore's going to play more often than not (and I've got Bamford on the bench just in case for week 1)

                      No need for any hits. I've got £1.5M in the bank, and Son to Fernandes will cost £1.5M. Digne to Wan-Bissaka should return me £0.5M (unless his price goes up).

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

                        Watch transfers...Leeds are into 2 forwards

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

                          I live in Leeds, and my Leeds United-supporting friends assure me that even if they sign somebody, it'll be at least 4-6 weeks before Bielsa gives them a start.

                          I'm taking a little on faith here!

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

                    If Bruno gets an assist he will go up 0.3 for sure. maybe wc's will help keep the price down.

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

                      Now that I've got £0.5M in hand, I can bring him in after week 1 (or shortly after kickoff on week 1, to be precise).

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

                        Yep but it is still restrictive. Remember a price drop is like having lost .5 early on.

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

              Interesting GW1 team that one can have without Salah...........

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

                I was looking that one or without TAA as well since I’m sold on WC for GW3 but nah...

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

                I am most likely only going to have 1 of Salah or Auba to start the season. Community Shield will decide!

            11. The Legend Squad
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Would appreciate people’s thoughts on this.

              A) Doherty, Soucek, Werner
              B) Vinagre, ASM, Kane

              Thanks!

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

                If Vinagre is starting I would go with B

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

              I personally think man U scoring 12 goals and conceding 8 in their last 8 matches is not a great reason to panic about having none of their assets. I will be far more concerned about Citeh. All this talk about an early WC is so unnecessary; will their players score more than Salah Mane Auba Werner Ziyech? To me it is 50/50. You can sit on your hands and watch hits and WC's happening all over why you do absolutely nothing and maybe gain ground. Take the opportunity while it is there.

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

              Thank you for this excellent report!

            14. billnats
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              A) TAA & Werner
              B) VVD & Kane

              Feel like Kane is less chance of rotation

            15. FPL Forward Thinker
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              4-4-2
              Ryan
              CHE (H)

              Alexander-Arnold
              LEE (H)

              James
              BHA (A)

              Tierney
              FUL (A)

              Robertson
              LEE (H)

              ----------
              Pereira
              LEI (H)

              Son
              EVE (H)

              Aubameyang
              FUL (A)

              Mané
              LEE (H)
              -----------------
              Antonio
              NEW (H)

              Mitrović
              ARS (H)

              GK
              Button
              CHE (H)

              Armstrong
              CRY (A)

              Bamford
              LIV (A)

              Branthwaite
              TOT (A)

            16. Lukakus Unit
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              What are people's thoughts on Matt Ritchie and Lascelles?

              Newcastle has a good first two GWs.

            17. Jimbuck2FPL
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              I can't help but feel ASM is going to be all show and no points - Armstrong may be a good option (especially if no Ings). I still like Soucek, even though he has terror fixtures - failing that Klich/Harrison at the same price are worth keeping an eye on.

            18. Tashi Tshering
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Hey peoples I'm new to FPL.
              Can you guys give me some tips and advices
              Here is my team.

              McCarthy
              TAA Egan Vinagre
              Son saint-Maximin Lundstram Auba salah(c)
              Werner Ings
              Bench--- Nyland Davis Mitchell and Branthwaite

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

              A. Laporte and Ings in 4-4-2
              B. Armstrong Son in 3-5-2