Pro Pundits

Brentford, £4.0m defenders and Leicester: The FPL surprises of 2021/22 so far

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I’ve been a bit slack with my Pro Pundit articles this year, but after seeing Neale, Tom and Marc pick up the “Best in Editorial” accolade at the Fantasy Content Awards, I’m keen to ride on their coattails.

With that said, I’ll be back to doing my regular pieces on here, looking at some of the key issues and deliberations facing Fantasy managers, and major talking points.

Before that though, with eight Gameweeks now behind our belts, I want to do a bit of a stock check for what started out as quite a predictable season but quickly flipped on its head as only Fantasy Premier League (FPL) can, with some surprise options and teams emerging.

Brentford

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Every year, we seem to get at least one promoted team that everyone falls in love with. This year, it is unquestionably Brentford, who have lit up the Premier League with some slick, attacking performances. Priced up at 5/4 to get relegated before the start of the season, these odds have been pushed up to 10/1 after a strong start in which they sit in ninth place with 12 points – that’s more than the likes of Leicester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa have got.

What’s been so impressive about Brentford however is their performances both in attack and defence. Their expected goals conceded (xGC) this season is up there with the best in the division (with only Manchester City’s freakishly imperious backline substantially better than them). The Bees have only conceded more than one goal on one occasion so far this season, and even that was against arguably the Premier League’s best attack right now.

David Raya (£4.6m) is looking a solid pick between the sticks with good fixtures to come, and Ethan Pinnock (£4.6m) and Pontus Jansson (£4.7m) already chipping in with five attacking returns between them.

But Brentford’s success isn’t solely based on good defensive numbers; they are more than holding their own against more established Premier League teams in attacking terms, too. An expected goals (xG) tally from open play of 7.71 puts them eighth, with Ivan Toney (£6.4m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£5.5m) offering cut-price options for our FPL teams. In case you missed it, Mbeumo has hit the woodwork six times already this season! With Burnley, Norwich and Newcastle on the horizon, however, many will be turning to the Frenchman, hoping that his luck will change – and that we don’t have another Adama Traore (£6.0m) on our hands…

The rise of Tino Livramento and Shane Duffy

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

293 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Oh not again …. Site poo’d the bed again or is it just me (who it isn’t working for, not who had an accident)?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      The site is a complete mess.

  2. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Permalink has taken over Open Controls!

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      When Controls is open a portal is created

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Hundreds of Werners could potentially get in!

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

    Bottomed, thoughts would be appreciated.

    Have not pulled the trigger yet on the moves but how does this team look?

    Raya
    Chilwell Trent Cancelo
    (S)alah Raphinha Gray Son
    Edouard Vardy Antonio

    Foster Livramento Hojbjerg Duffy

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good but hard to say without seeing the moves and opportunity costs elsewhere. Think Gray might be a sell soon with Everton injuries piling up.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I could get in Mbeumo for Gray but not worth a hit.

        Moves are Matip, Doucoure, DCL > Chilwell, Raphinha, Eduoard -12.

        If I roll and do nothing but having two injured players at a cost of 13.6m on my bench doing nothing, may as well risk it and get rid of both Doucoure and DCL now instead of losing value on both.

        Will be left with 0.1 doing these moves so if Doucoure and DCL drop, I cannot get the replacements in.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Son to KDB

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        No thank you. Son is nailed AF.

    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone contemplating giving Lamptey a chance if he gets more minutes and stays fit over the next couple of weeks? 4.4m, from GW11 has these fixtures:

      Newcastle
      Villa
      Leeds
      West Ham
      Soton
      Spurs
      Wolves

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Reply fail

    4. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      what was the moves in gw8?

    5. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Is this still for a -12?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

  4. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which option if Alonso starts tonight:

    A) Duffy (MCI)
    B) Chilwell (NOR) -4

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell if he doesnt start midweek

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell worth the risk if you have Livra as 1st bench.

      Thoughts on my team above?

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe A. Just don't like constantly worrying if my players will actually play (Christensen owner).

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I would have Chilwell and Alonso so would be covered each GW with a guaranteed attacking Chelsea LWB

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah I know, and that is very nice. A luxury, but very nice. Meanwhile I have Christensen!

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            It looks good in principle until Tuchel starts to bring off from the bench whichever you didn’t start with

  5. Cheeky Onion
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    1 FT, 1.7 ITB & open to taking a hit

    Foster
    TAA - Rudi - Reguilon* - Livra
    Salah - Raph - Benrahama*
    Ronaldo* - Antonio - Toney

    Sanchez* - Veltman - Sarr* - Brownhill

    A) Sanchez > Raya
    B) Reguilon > Cancelo
    C) Benrahma/Sarr > Townsend/Grey/Saka/Mbueno
    D) Ronaldo > Lukaku/Vardy/Jimenez

    Was planning on doing B & D for a hit, but I fear Cancelo might be rotated;could opt for Dias instead. Might just do D, but who up top? Thoughts?

  6. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone contemplating giving Lamptey a chance if he gets more minutes and stays fit over the next couple of weeks? 4.4m, from GW11 has these fixtures:

    Newcastle
    Villa
    Leeds
    West Ham
    Soton
    Spurs
    Wolves

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Why not!

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Why bother when you can get Duffy/Veltman/Webster for same price.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Question of who gets minutes. Your Dunk is still a great choice and the only one I'd back of that lot to be long term safe. Killing it in my zombie team with appearances from the bench.

        Probable RF to Holmes

      2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Veltman has been pretty poor this season and I think may make way for Lamptey. But Lamptey is akin to Livramento, he's a very attacking WB that will get far up the pitch and is very capable of getting attacking returns

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

      Still on my defensive watchlist but if funds allow might prefer Cucurella. Looks like an FPL prospect to me. Cash is the other one I'm looking at in that bracket.

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

      No because he hasn't kicked a ball in the Premier League for about 12 months.

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

    Midterm differential choice in defence?

    The Liverpool left back position has scored 43 points (or 42 if you strip out duplicate points), The Liverpool right back position has scored 45 points. Fixtures are pretty similar 🙂

    Pricier than Cancelo or Chelsea of course but history does favour Robbo for 180 plus points in a decent season.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Looking at him as an alternative to Trent or double up?

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Oh it'd be a double up.

        A curiosity to me is that Liverpool look back to dominant form but the triple up is off the agenda. It wouldn't be an immediate move but could happen post 12 or so when cash rich from losing premium forward.

        2% Robbo - something is out there. And given he doesn't appear in top of charts for points he'll be differential for a good while. A possible opportunity I'm thinking.

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Could work if you can afford without much compromise.

          I wont be able to spend that much on defense 😀

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            More a theory right now as opposed to a plan.

            It'd depend I guess on who is working in midfield and at what price. The old no 7.0 mid will match him argument. Could even come down to deciding he was better value than Raph say.

  8. Hint
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bench:

    A) Livramento (Burnley H)
    B) Mbuemo (Leicester H)
    C) Grealish (Brighton A)
    D) Antonio (Spurs H)

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

      A Open Controls
      B Closed Controls

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

  9. Jarnathan
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else thinking that Ndombele might be a good mid-priced option? Spurs fixtures turn soon and he passed the eye test last game as #10, especially with Saka, Sarr, Decoure and Jota falling out of favour.

  10. TokyoMontreal
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Raya
    TAA, Livramento, Rudiger
    Salah, Foden, Benrahma, Gray
    Antonio, Dennis, Ronaldo

    Sanchez, Jansson, Allan, Dier
    2.6 itb

    Thoughts for GW9.
    A) Lukaku, Jimenez > Ronaldo, Dennis For -4
    B) Lukaku, Jimenez, Raphinha > Ronaldo, Dennis, Benrahma For -8
    C) Lukaku, Jimenez, Mbeumo > Ronaldo, Dennis, Benrahma For -8

  11. Olaf Sabres
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    KDB as differential captain over Salah? Genius or stupidity?