Awards

Who made our 2020/21 FPL Team of the Season?

Over the last week, Fantasy Football Scout site users have been voting on their favourite Fantasy Premier League goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards of 2020/21.

Overall score, points per match and value in FPL were all factors we considered when compiling our shortlist, with a total of 40 players up for nomination.

Our polls have now closed and we can reveal which players have made our end-of-season XI.

Our team of the year is set up in a 3-4-3, with Aston Villa (2), Leeds United (2), West Ham United (2), Tottenham Hotspur (2), Manchester City (1), Liverpool (1) and Manchester United (1) all represented.

And there wasn’t a single Chelsea asset in sight…

GOALKEEPER

It’s a landslide: in the least surprising result of our polls, Emiliano Martinez was the emphatic winner of the best goalkeeper ballot.

The Aston Villa custodian polled not far off 90% of the vote, with Illan Meslier a distant second.

Martinez not only finished as FPL’s highest-scoring shotstopper of 2020/21 but he also came within a whisker of breaking Brad Friedel’s record points total.

Friedel racked up 187 points all the way back in 2002/03, a tally that the Argentina international fell one point shy of.

The Aston Villa custodian did it all from a now-unthinkable starting price of £4.5m, and he was the best-value FPL asset in any position, returning 35.1 points per million spent.

He also had the best points-per-match average (4.9) of any first-choice goalkeeper.

DEFENDERS

There’s no surprise that Stuart Dallas topped the best defenders poll, with Aaron Cresswell also causing little stir by finishing second: the Leeds man was the highest-scoring player in his Fantasy position, with Cresswell the leading assist-maker among defenders.

Perhaps more eyebrow-raising was Cresswell’s teammate, Vladimir Coufal, pipping the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ruben Dias and John Stones into third.

The West Ham full-backs plundered a remarkable 20 assists between them this season and were responsible for almost a third of the goals that the Hammers scored.

Cresswell’s final total of 11 assists was among the highest ever in FPL, with only Liverpool’s current two full-backs beating that number in a single campaign.

Both West Ham players were among the top five FPL defenders for value (points per million) in 2020/21.

No defender with an initial cost of less than £5.0m has ever bettered Dallas’s total of 171 points, meanwhile.

The Northern Ireland international ticked an abundance of boxes: he was the only player in his position to play every single minute of the campaign, his total of eight goals was the joint-highest by a defender in FPL history and he boasted the best value (points per million) of any outfielder in 2020/21.

MIDFIELDERS

The top three highest-scoring midfielders in FPL were joined by Ilkay Gundogan in achieving a double-digit share of the ballot.

With up to five votes allowed for each site user in this position, Bruno Fernandes was nominated by the vast majority of those who had their say.

Mohamed Salah made the Team of the Season for the fourth straight year, while Son Heung-min survived the cut after his beating his previous best FPL campaign by a massive 50 points.

Son polled nearly twice as many votes as fifth-place Raphinha.

Fernandes racked up more double-figure Gameweek hauls (12) than any FPL asset en route to finishing top of the pile for FPL points on 244.

Despite posting his lowest overall total since joining Liverpool, Salah still registered more returns of 5+ points (20) than any other player.

Son actually matched the Egyptian for points per match (6.2) in 2020/21, with the Korean’s total of 28 attacking returns also exactly what Salah managed.

As for Gundogan, it’s safe to say we won’t see him at £5.5m again in 2021/22.

The Manchester City midfielder burst out of nowhere to rattle off 12 goals and three assists from Gameweeks 13 to 27, with that mid-season purple patch seeing his ownership climb from 19,000 to 3.1 million.

FORWARDS

Harry Kane and Patrick Bamford both mopped up the vote in the forwards’ poll, with Ollie Watkins narrowly seeing off Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the battle for third.

Kane, like Son, had his best-ever FPL season, registering 23 goals, 14 assists, 20 Gameweek returns, nine hauls and a 242-point total that was only a whisker away from toppling Bruno Fernandes from the overall summit.

Bamford defied pre-season expectations to finish 2020/21 as the second-highest scoring forward behind Kane, with his 17 goals and 11 assists leaving him only six points shy of the traditional elite FPL total of 200 points.

Watkins matched his fellow Championship alumnus stride-for-stride in terms of returns, but trailed Bamford on the really big scores, failing to add to the three he managed in the first 15 Gameweeks.

The budget-friendly pair finished the season as the two best-value forwards based on points per million spent.

133 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep roulette fail

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

      Tuchel two up FTW!

  2. JohnnyRev7
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    GTFI!

    Chelsea champions of Europe!

    I'm extremley drunk and the night will get even more messy.

    Ich

    1. Halftime
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Congratulations

  3. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Nice to see Man City and its ‘fans’ being brought back down to earth

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      'Fans' ?

  4. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Thats team of the season...

    So whats our template for next season?

    I look for something like this

    5.0 Meslier 4.0 GK

    5.5 Shaw 5.0 Dunk 4.5 Lamptey 4.5 Justin 4.0 Def

    12 Salah 12 Bruno 7.5 Raph / Grealish 6.0 Buendia / Soucek 4.5 Mid

    11.5 Kane 7.5 Watkins (Bam maybe 8.5) 6.5 Nacho

    😀

    1. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Can't see fpl towers letting us have Kane, Salah, and Bruno. Last year it was tricky to get them in with the prices. Honestly don't think your team will be affordable. May have to go 4.5 striker

      1. 3 A
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        They make strikers cheaper because mids always get more points. Many mids become top scorer from season to season.

        I think 11.5 for Kane is the limit. 12 for Salah and Bruno is fair enough. Last time Salah 13 mil when he smash the record 300+ points.

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Shaw, Dunk, Justin, Watkins & possibly Nacho will cost more then your estimate

      1. 3 A
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Watkins already 7.5. what do u think his price is?

        Its ok.. its just my early prediction. Can be change later. Chill

        1. Pep's Money Laundry
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Shaw 5.5 or possibly 6
          Dunk 5.5
          Justin 5.0 maybe 5.5
          Watkins 7.5 or 8.0
          Nacho I have a feeling will be 7.0/7.5 as 6.5 is for promoted strikers or those that have had bad a season

          1. 3 A
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Fair enough. Make sense for Nacho. He play for Leicester , top 6 right now so probably higher.

            Can get Alioski too for Dunk. 😀

          2. noquarternt
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Soucek surely 5.0 floor.

    3. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kane will be at least 12.5m.

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Krul
      TAA, 4.5, 4.5
      Bruno, Salah, ____, ____
      Kane, Bamford, ____
      (4.0, 4.5, 4.5, 4.5)

      Should leave about 18.0 for the 3x blank spots with this pricing:

      [Krul 4.5, TAA 7.0, Salah, Bruno, Kane all 12.0, Bamford 8.0]

      - If Pope makes 5.0 & Dyche stays he’d be very tempting though

      - If Bamford is 8.5 it might be a stretch too far & opens the door for Antonio, Nacho, Watkins etc who’ll be around 7.5

      - If Kane’s still at Spurs I’d probably avoid him & go with a cheaper striker & spread the extra cash around the 3x blank spots

    5. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      would be a good team, but your prices are way out, you will not be able to afford this team with £100M and I would rate Cantwell above Buendia, Pukki has scored in Prem before, could be a bargain forward...

  5. Calculated Risks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Only one of the 11 I never owned was Cresswell, as had Coufal and didn't want the double up.
    As with the likes of Gundo in particular, and to a degree Son, (maybe Salah late on), timing when to own was key.
    And learning never to bench Dallas no matter the opponent...pretty sure this year will be the most ever points on benches for a lot of players!

  6. Davros
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How many of the SEVEN England players will make the starting line up in the Euros?
    Chilwell
    James
    Walker
    Stones
    Mount
    Foden
    Sterling

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chilwell Stones Walker Mount Foden imo

      1. Davros
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        It’s a nice position to be in before a big tourney. Can’t remember last time this happened. I can see Chilwell being bumped by Shaw, and Sterling playing

      2. SuperG
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Loving you optimism that Sterling won’t start

    2. 2001: A Space Origi
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chilwell, Walker, Stones, Mount and Foden in, Sterling and James no, James maybe on bench.

  7. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Well after tonight I think the chances of Kane joining Citeh next season have gone to 90%+

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chelsea more likely now maybe?

      1. Nimby
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Spurs wouldn't sell to Chelsea would they? I think even Kane wouldn't fancy that move just for how controversial it would be.

        1. SuperG
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Thing is, Chelsea can offer a bucketload of players: their keeper, Tammy, CHO and a truck load of cash on top.

          It’d be worth it too - if Kane had been on the pitch Chelsea would’ve had two more goals

  8. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Imagine Chelsea had a centre forward who was actually able to hit a cows @rse with a banjo. They wouldn't be 6/1 for the 21/22 EPL, they'd be 1/6.

    1. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Champions league your having a laugh, Champions league winners again, yes we are....

    2. Chelsea Rangers Loyal
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hit Pep's @rse with a banjo.

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

        I might join you #duellingbanjos

    3. Cheeto__Bandito
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Knockout football is different to the league. Tuchel tactics are worse against low blocks, Pep played into his hands but of course Pep would never change his philosophy.

      1. SuperG
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Isn’t the point that Pep did (totally erroneously) change. All season he’s had a holding mid. Then last night he opened the door and waved the Chelsea players though.

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Is Pep renowned for integrating centre forwards properly into his teams?

      Not sure he likes playing with them - seems he’d much prefer this trying to be too clever with 6x midfielders & 3x full backs bollocks

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Sorry you said Chelsea

        Yeah the likes of Lewandoski, Mbappe, Haaland etc would elevate them a notch...

        But they would elevate many teams tbf

        Chelsea will implode next year for sure - there will be many more league results like West Brom & Villa... and many more cup results like Leciester

        They got a new manager bounce & rode it for all it was worth

        Roberto Di Matteo 2.0 really

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Man City's XIs. They ought to buy a striker and a backup LB

      Ederson
      Cancelo Stones Dias Mendy
      KDB Rodri Gundogan
      Mahrez ????? Foden

      Steffen
      Walker Laporte Ake ?????
      Bernardo Fernandinho Zinchenko
      Torres Jesus Sterling

  9. Cheeto__Bandito
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Would be massive if City got Grealish, big gulf in creativity stats after KDB in the squad, which inevitably gets exposed in the biggest of games, as shown by the limp performance tonight. Peak Grealish over Sterling tonight and they probably find a goal.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Definitely

      When you look at the City squad, the one area of the squad where they are too thin at the minute is players who can play in attacking midfield positions:

      Mahrez
      KDB
      Bilva
      Torres
      Sterling
      Foden
      Gundogan
      Jesus

      Only having 8 players who can play in those 3x positions is way too risky - they need at least double figures, if not 13 or 14 to be safe

      If they could just beef up that area of the squad with Grealish it would Shirley get them over the line

      1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        ::):

        1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          🙂

        2. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          😆

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Really surprised Pep didn’t start Aguero tonight after his amazing cameo at the weekend

    1. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe this defeat is a reminder that City needs Kane and Kane needs City and its gonna change this club's history

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yup

    2. SuperG
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I remember us two on a 5read early this season and some numpty saying Kane wouldn’t be near the top fpl scorers. He’s awesome. Every team on earth would be better for his inclusion. City or Chelsea - whoever gets him wins epl in my opinion.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Haha I don’t remember that, have you got a link? I think one of the things I got right this season was predicting the top 2 fpl scorers, though that turned out pretty obvious in the end

  11. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Still in shock. You Beessssss

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

      Would it be fair to say you are ....ahem...buzzing?

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

        Thank you thank you, please try the bistro.

  12. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Delighted for Brentford. Can't wait to buy a 5.5 Toney.

    1. JJeyy
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He will be 6 at least, possibly 6.5.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Surely 6.5 after attracting all the attention all year

      Why not pay 1.0-1.5 more for the likes of Bamford, Watkins, Antonio, Nacho, Wilson, Ings, Jimmy, DCL etc & downgrade if Toney manages to keep his run going rather than getting him early & realising he (and Brentford) need 5-10-15 games to adjust to the premiership

      (If they adjust at all)

  13. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pep roulette was a crime against the supporters.

  14. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Kante - Jorginho is the best midfield pair in the world currently, change my mind. Jorginho didn't receive enough praise after the final imho.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Jorginho is too error prone for me (most recently in the Arsenal game, which Chelsea lost).

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kante is great - but that's not exactly new news is it - he drove Leicester to win the league FFS

      Under Tuchel Jorginiho has been incredible though, starting in the 0-0 with wolves, being Benched for man utd, starting the 0-0 against Leeds, starting the 5-2 hammering by West brom, the 0-0 with Brighton, the defeat in Porto, being Benched for man City in the league, starting the Leicester Cup final defeat, starting the defeats to arsenal & Villa in the league & then letting sterling waltz past him like he wasn't there last night

      Chelsea were so lucky Pep decided last night to point an AK47 at his own foot & pull the trigger until it went click by not playing a DM

      Going to be hideous watching the new manager bounce wear off with a bang next year

      Tuchel is Roberto Di Matteo 2.0

      1. Studs Up
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Aahh...the new manager bounce logic again. Ok

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Boing boing boing

          Like one of those little rubber balls you throw at the floor

      2. Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He played Fernandinho in the FA Cup semi final and Chelsea still smashed them lmao

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          "Smashed them" 1-0 with 3 shots on target lmfao 😆

      3. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ah so for example 0-0 against Leeds and 0-0 against Brighton is Jorginho's fault? Kante didn't play in that game? Maybe he is poor too? Jorginho is in my opinion a player that will not raise your attention during the game, but he is absolutely a brain of a team, one of the most intelligent players in the world. The calmness he brings into the midfield is just underappreciated. Yesterday when Chelsea's defenders couldn't escape City's pressing you could just pass to Jorginho, and he would just make the best decision possible. For me the 2 is the main reason behind Chelsea's success, especially their good defensive form. Currently, I probably wouldn't trade any of them for any other midfielder in the world.

        The part about Tuchel being another Di Matteo I will not even comment, looks like you're very biased for whatever reason.

      4. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Why do you take such an abrasive approach in your posting?

  15. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Didn't Arsenal beat Chelsea by copying Tuchels formation?

    Give Chelsea lots of possession and they struggle to score against defensive teams that play counter attacking football.

    Tuchel is no genius, Arsenal and Villa both figured out at the end how to beat Chelsea by giving them possession.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Werner is pretty important to the way Chelsea play, even though he is a terrible finisher. Even though he is offside 8 times out of 10, the 2 times he isn't offside, Chelsea create a chance. Saw it yesterday with the goal. Werner makes a run, but manages to stay onside and drags the CB away, which creates space for Havertz. Chelsea's team is pretty clear now:

      Mendy
      Azpi Silva Rudiger
      James Jorginho Kante Chilwell
      Mount Werner
      Havertz

      Kepa
      Christensen Tomori Zouma
      CHO Kovacic Gilmour Alonso
      Ziyech Pulisic
      Giroud

      Expect Abraham to be sold and a replacemet to be signed to leave Giroud as an impact sub. Lampard looks like an idiot now for dropping Rudiger for Zouma at the start of the season.

      1. Ruinenlust
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Giroud is leaving

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yup - Arsenal, Villa, West Brom all beat them in the league

      They also dropped points vs Wolves, Brighton, Southampton, Leeds, Man Utd

      It'll be hilarious watching people being suprised when they're doing points left & right next season

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        *All results under Tuchel obvs

    3. Ruinenlust
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Tuchel dragged Chelsea from 9th place to top 4 and won them the Champions League, and you’re still trying to hate lmao

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        4th place is about their level alright, maybe fluking the odd cup run here & there every other year - any team can put together a couple of freak results to win a cup after all

        That's Chelsea in a nutshell, Tuchel will be no different to the other 900 managers that have came & got went under big Rom

        1. Ruinenlust
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Which one was the freak result? Because Chelsea comprehensively dominated every team they beat. Including City whom they’ve just smashed 3 times in just over a month lmao

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Your definition of smashing is hilarious 😆

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maybe he's not genius, however...

      Thomas Tuchel played Guardiola (x3), Zidane (x2), Simeone (x2), Klopp, Mourinho and Ancelotti this season.

      Nine wins. No defeats. Two goals conceded. One UCL trophy.

      ... must have been a lot of luck eh?!

      1. The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks for mentioning these teams it proves my point. Those teams we're beaten with counter attacking football. Managers will start to figure this and out, play deeper and use to 2 cdms. Then we'll see if Tuchel can adapt or implode.

        1. Vlekz
            2 years, 10 months ago

            The likes of ziyech haven't still settled in and adapted to the style of play of the new manager(he is still a very good player)
            A couple of months before the new season and even could be a potent weapon, he could play instead of werner in games where opponents sit back and that could make a world of difference(and unlike Klopp, tuchel doesn't mind using different players against different opposition's).

      2. The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I wouldn't be surprised to see Chelsea get figured out next season by the smaller teams who won't be to proud to change their system against them.

        Tuchel seems to be an impact manager. He lasts a couple of years at the big clubs then things start to go wrong.

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          You can say that about literally any other team that is doing well. Is it wrong necessarily? No. But it's very non-committal and with barely any basis.

          What you're saying is honestly quite a lot of bollocks.

          And so what? If it explodes after a year or two how is that any different from any other manager Chelsea have had over the last 15 years or so?

          I wouldn't be worried given out tried & tested approach to fixing managerial/form issues.

    5. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Post your World XI, but all players have to be under 30 when the new season starts in August 2021 (i.e. no KDB, VVD as they will be 30 in summer):

      Ederson
      TAA Varane Dias Alaba
      Veratti Fernandes Ndidi
      Neymar Kane Mbappe

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I wouldn't put Kane in a World 11. He's a flat track bully of rubbish teams and prospers in internationals as standard mostly poor. He's a great finisher but too slow carrying his big anvil-shaped head around the pitch. Wonder could he go to Chelsea, they could do with a good striker to put away the poorer sides.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Every player scores more against the weaker teams, he has a pretty good record against big teams considering he plays for Spurs

            1. Je suis le chat
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Just looked at his league goals this season: only scored vs poor sides aside from brace vs United in 6:2 drumming.

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  I mean he plays for Spurs who finished 7th? With defensive mourinho against any big team, look at his overall record. Other than Lew, Kane is the elite striker

            2. SuperG
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Wtf are you smoking dude? Kane is the best nine on earth. We should be proud to have him.

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Haaland, Lewa, Mbappe all visibly better

                Dozens of players with reasonably comparable ability who won't cost 150m

                Seriously overrated player imo - if he was French or German or Zimbabwean then UK commentators wouldn't make half the fuss they do, fawning over his every touch in every match

                Which in turn wouldn't have embedded him in the psyches of the easily influenced masses who swallow the media bullshite hype hook, line & sinker

                This is his first session over 20 league goals in three years FFS & he needed a bunch of penaltied to get there too

                He's obviously not shite, but he's so overvalued and overrated it's unreal

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Yeah you're the genius that's figured it out and the rest of us just follow the "media hype", it can't be that we also watch football and have a different opinion nope

                  • Well you know, Triffic
                    • 13 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Kane is also a creator. Top assists and goals in the league. That is rare. No way is Haaland above Kane.

                  • Van der Faart
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    This might be one of the worst takes I've ever seen. You're underating him probably because he hasn't won something. You seem to buy into the narrative that you can't be world class unless you've won a trophy, but that's nonsense. He's scored against every PL opponent he's faced, something nobody else has done. 15 goals v Leicester, 11 v West Ham, Everton and Arsenal.

              2. Hangman Page
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Is pace a prerequisite for being world class? Plenty of players over the years have done plenty without being lightning quick. I don’t remember Pirlo sprinting 100m in 11 seconds.

                Kane’s movement, hold up play and passing alone can be a joy to watch. Never mind that he’s absolutely deadly in front of goal.

                1. Je suis le chat
                  • 10 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  I think pace is necessary to get in a World 11 these days, especially as striker. Key players in the champions league final are quick: Kante, Havertz. Frightening athleticism of Haaland and Mbappe the future, alas.

              3. Van der Faart
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                If he didn't score v the weaker teams people would blast him for that too. Literally can't win no matter what he does.

            3. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Allison

              TAA Dias Varane alaba

              Mount Ndidi Grealish

              Mbappe Kane foden

          • Ruinenlust
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            What a fitting end to Aguero’s Man City career

            1. Noisy Neighbour
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              See you next Tuesday

          • Fassy
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Quick question about fanteam EURO 2020. After the groupstage do you have the option to use unlimited transfers? Or build a team now and only 1 transfer after each GW?

            1. Magic Zico
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              One WC throughout the tournament, use it or loose it end GW3-start GW4

          • Je suis le chat
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Spare a thought for Lampard this morning. He got lots wrong but did allow Mount to develop and signed Havertz and Werner who have made a difference. Hope Tuchel acknowledged him last night.

            1. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              He is at least the June picture on my Official Chelsea FC 2021 Calendar...

          • Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Well what a splendid morning 🙂

            1. Je suis le chat
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Needed it, feeling good here in the Irish Midlands after my Pfizer jab and sun on my pasty skin. Should be a great summers sport with the Euros, tour de France and Olympics.

              1. Nomar
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Had my 2nd jab yesterday too. Caught covid 6 weeks ago, over a month after my first jab though. Still got no taste or smell and get fatigued really quickly some days. Long covid is real. Going to try and finally cut my back lawn today. Not had the energy or weather to do it for the last 2 months.

                1. El Presidente
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  So you got covid after getting thr jab?

                  1. Qaiss
                    • 8 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    There are ‘two’ jabs. He caught it after getting his first.

          • Christina.
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            3 x N Macedonia
            3 x Portugal
            2 x finland
            2 x Spain
            2 x Italy
            2 x Cheqs
            + KdB

            Matchday 1 sorted in Euros.

            1. ash and swanson inc
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              reckon KDB will play after broken orbital socket and nose? I must admit considered getting rid as an expensive bench player if they are careful with him.

              1. bitm2007
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Will probably play with a mask like the player how caused the injury does.

                1. ash and swanson inc
                  • 10 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  i did wonder about that and I guess depends how bad his eye socket is as that is sensitive area and difficult to shield - but only a fortnight till he plays? still, bet he is keen to be involved from the off

              2. Indpush
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                "Orbital floor strength is regained 24 days after repair. The authors now let patients resume normal activities approximately 3 weeks after uncomplicated orbital floor fracture repair. This is one of many clinical factors in assessing the return to normal activities."

          • Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Bit bored so was wondering how much this set-and-forget back 5 would cost next season? Would be playing 4-4-2.

            Trent, Dias, Chilwell, Shaw, Dunk

            7.5, 6, 6, 6, 5? Can't see any of them being any lower tbh. Chilwell might even be 6.5.

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Wait to see who next season's cheap defender who is actually an attacking mid is

            2. mixology
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              I’ve been a loyal to the big-at-the-back strategy for 3 years and can say that my rank has suffered every time.

              The data seemed to be there to support this strategy, although I think it was mainly taken from 2 (or maybe 3 seasons ago) when you had 5.5-6 million premiums from Chelsea, Man City, and Trent/Robbo made a mockery of their price tag. There were 2 consecutive seasons (2-4 years ago) where CS were fairly predictable and these defenders did better than any poor budget striker options.

              Obviously this season seems an outlier, but I don’t think I’m going back to the premium strategy next season. There seems to be a greater choice of low price strikers who compete with their counterparts in defense, and cheap defenders who have solid seasons (Lundstram, Burnley defenders (both 2 seasons ago)Dallas, WH defenders, etc (this past season).

              But I’m definitely interested in your thoughts if you’ve had success with “big at the back”. I still believe in the data, it just has not worked for me and has been a constant theme

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                I think going big at the back is particularly valuable at the beginning of the season. And the value isn't necessarily in points per player, but overall. It's easier to pick out quality defensive players with attacking potential from quality teams than it is to identify where the points will come from for a similar price (or 0.5 more) in midfield. If there are more than 3 defenders that seem obviously good value when the game launches, I would be happy to take them all, except if there are obviously good value options elsewhere, but this is much less likely imo.

                The benefit is that you can concentrate your transfers on emerging form players and/or premium assets, where each transfer is shifting around more money, and potentially gaining more points. You shouldn't have to take as many hits, eiher, if any.

                The downside is that, to an extent, you are taking yourself out of the financial side of the game, since you are not participating so desperately in the race to sign the best value attacking options, since you have those slots by defenders that you've bought for the longer term. You're less likely to hit it big on a popular cheap player, but less likely to hit a dud as well.

                Ultimately, it just depends on the prices when they come out, though. I'd never pigeonhole myself into a framework or strategy until the GW1 deadline hits.

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  No one asked

                2. mixology
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  Agreed. I never bother with trying to find the best, say, 5.5 midfielder to start with. It’s impossible and ever-changing. I do find, however, that every season, there are budget strikers who haul quickly at the beginning of the season. Pick 2 and your likely to get a haul (Pukki, Mitro, Ings, Wilson, DCL, etc). I feel I usually get behind very early, losing my CS’s while top teams try to gel while a budget strikers bags a 13 point haul. It’s clearly a balance (and luck). I haven’t abandoned the idea but will tread cautiously this season

                3. FPL Theorist
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  Fabio, Mark, and Darren all did it well, and even managed to hold their WC until much later. They started with:

                  Mark -- TAA, Robbo, James, Ayling, Vinagre (to Digne GW2)
                  Fabio -- TAA, Digne, Justin, Dallas, KWP
                  Darren -- TAA, Robbo, Digne, KWP, Taylor

                  They also did really well though with picking at least one mid or striker who was very successful and at least moderately differential (Son for Fabio and Darren, Grealish for Mark). This helped them get off to a good enough start where they weren't too tempted to tear it all up and WC early.

                  1. FPL Theorist
                    • 4 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Interestingly, they all took different approaches to strikers. Darren went all cheap with Antonio, Mitrovic, and Wilson. Fabio also had Antonio and Mitrovic, but went Werner. Mark went with just two playing strikers (Werner and Adams) and one fodder.

                    1. Jernau M Gurgeh
                      • 13 Years
                      2 years, 10 months ago

                      For the moment, obviously depending on prices and fixtures, and subject to minor changes I am looking at the following structure.

                      GK's : 8.5M
                      Def's: 28.5M (3 premium in there)
                      Mid's: 45.0M (2 premium, 1 mid price and 2 lower)
                      For's 18.0 M (1 mid price, 1 lower and 1 budget)

                      Having an initial price structure appeals and stops over pricing on say defenders or goallies that may influence the mid's and forward investment.

                      1. FPL Theorist
                        • 4 Years
                        2 years, 10 months ago

                        Interesting. I felt like my basic structure was sensible, but I just had a lot of the wrong individuals, and stuck with them too long instead of switching to players who were performing better. I spent 27.5M on defenders, 42M on mids, and 22M on forwards with a structure of:

                        B (F)
                        P P B B (F)
                        P P M B (F)
                        M M (F)

                        (P=premium, M=mid-price around 7.5-9.0, B=budget, F=fodder)

                        I felt like the people who were the most likely to suffer early last season were those without the mid-priced mid slot (many had 2 premiums, 2 budget, and 1 fodder). Many of them felt that they had no choice but to WC early.

                  2. mixology
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    2 years, 10 months ago

                    Interesting, cheers

                    My disclaimer is that I take it to an extreme (4 premium defenders, sometimes 5) and love a double/triple up

                    It seems the only manager with 3 premiums (over 6 million) was Darren. Mark and Fabio only had 2. I never actually considered only 2 premium defenders as being "big at the back." But I suppose it is.

                    I've been so loyal to the premium defender strategy that I wouldn't transfer out any of them for the likes of Lundstram, Tyreke Mitchell, etc) thinking their returns wouldn't be consistent enough.

                    It's been nice to hear other input

              2. diesel001
                • 7 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                In theory, big at the back should work.

                7 clubs have had a 33.33% or higher CS rate in the PL in more than one season across the last 5 years:

                Man City (4), Chelsea (4), Man Utd (4), Liverpool (3), Spurs (3), Arsenal (2), Everton (2).

                Those are trusted clubs. However, there have been some clubs who have hit 33.33% CS or more in the PL in one of the last 5 seasons:

                Southampton (16/17), Burnley (19/20), Leicester (19/20), Wolves (19/20), Sheff Utd (19/20), Aston Villa (20/21).

                19/20 was crazy good for cheap defences to score points and was an anomaly. The things that generally hurt big at the back:

                (1) The cheap player who breaks out for one season at a smaller club because they are OOP or a young talent (2018/19: AWB, 2019/20: Lundstram, 2020/21: Dallas)
                (2) A cheap PL team that breaks out and keeps a large number of CS (see above) so you can double up on them
                (3) Injuries to key players at the 'big' clubs (2020/21: VVD, 2019/20: Laporte)

                Typically all three happen every season, which means big at the back loses its viability.

                1. mixology
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  Great post, cheers

                  Just looked up Saint's 16-17 season as I had no idea. Ryan Betrand was actually the top points scorer at 123. Seems there were lots of injuries/rotation as not many defenders played over 20 games. Fraser Forster in goal ended with 132 with 14 CS's.

                2. FPL Theorist
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 10 months ago

                  Yes, this is great to remember! The punditry seem to have a weakness for dismissing these "one-hit wonder" types of defenders and insisting they will regress -- which does eventually happen, but sometimes not until a whole season has gone.

            3. bitm2007
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              This season TAA scored half the goals and just over half the assists that he did in 2019/20, so I doubt he will be still priced at 7.5m. 7.0m, or 6.5m if we are very lucky. Other prices look good.

            4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              TAA 7.0
              Dias 6.5
              Chilwell 6.5
              Shaw 6.5
              Dunk 5.5

              Wouldn't go near any of them at those prices

              Bar TAA who will be a gift from the FPL Gods with a price drop AND a points increase (by virtue of VVD's return alone)

              1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Evening Maximus....just wanted to thank you for all your help and advice all season. Thank you for taking the time out for your considered points of view, not just for me but the whole FFS community.........see you next season.

          • Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Pepe goal against Dundalk is enjoyable and good. I like it https://youtu.be/68cRE6wxK4g?t=347

            1. Qaiss
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Really hoping he kicks on next season for us, played only 1600 minutes in the league and scored 10 goals.

              He could be a steal in FPL too if priced around 7.5m.

          • Ruinenlust
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Chelsea trailed for just 5 minutes throughout the entirety of this season’s Champions League

          • @persecuted_by_mods
              2 years, 10 months ago

              Saying Tuchel gets found out by small teams next season doesn't really mean anything unless you quantify it, otherwise you could (will) act like a genius any time they drop points vs a smaller team- which most premier league teams across a season normally do (barring freak City and Liverpool seasons)

              I think as it stands I'd say Liverpool and City top 2, Chelsea comfortably 3rd

            • Hangman Page
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 10 months ago

              I’ve always felt that wisdom is admitting that you don’t know everything and that while your opinion might be relatively well informed, it’s still just your opinion, not fact, and you should present it as such.

            • Party time
                2 years, 10 months ago

                Why do I feel like Pep found a quiet room to cry last night 😆

              • StingRay
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                I’m not convinced about putting in SHAW. Will he be fi now following a cracked rib. Covid has effected Man Utd preparations as some of their friendliest have been cancelled. Maguire also played in Euros so both won’t be fresh. Everyone’s seeing Shaw’s England Euro performance and going overboard.

                Digne a far better choice and better games