Frisking the Fixtures

Who has the worst fixtures at the start of the 2022/23 FPL season?

With the Premier League fixtures now released for 2022/23, we can begin assessing which teams we should invest in and which we should avoid.

Here, we take a look at those sides with less favourable schedules.

The primary focus in this article will be on a six-Gameweek lookahead but we will scrutinise the shorter and longer-term prospects where appropriate.

Our Season Ticker was updated almost immediately after the fixtures were released at 9am BST on Thursday, with the opening six Gameweeks sorted by difficulty below:

Subscribers to Fantasy Football Scout can use this helpful tool to pick out the best and worst runs of matches for each club, sort by rotation pairings, use their own customised difficulty ratings and more.

You can see a tutorial on the Season Ticker below:


WORST FIXTURES

BOURNEMOUTH

After their opening day clash at home to Aston Villa, Bournemouth face three of last season’s top five between Gameweeks 2 and 4.

The away trips look particularly daunting, as the Championship runners-up visit Manchester City and Liverpool, while the home tie against Arsenal in Gameweek 3 is hardly appetising either.

As a result, the Cherries sit rock bottom of our Season Ticker across the opening six rounds.

Fantasy investment in 29-goal striker Dominic Solanke and co may have to wait, then, although goalkeeper Mark Travers could potentially rack up some save points: the 23-year-old’s save percentage of 76.9% was the fourth-best in the Championship last term.

Scott Parker’s troops do at least have some respite from Gameweeks 6-13, however, with fellow new boys Nottingham Forest and Fulham to come as well as Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Brentford and Southampton.

CRYSTAL PALACE

76 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Thomas Jerome Newton
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    That's put me off Mitrovic even more.

    1. DelPiero10
        1 year, 9 months ago

        There's too much value in the 6m+ defenders for me to even consider players like Mitrovic. These promoted sides are a million miles away from being legitimate options IMO.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Exactly so. I'm going with 4x 6m+ defenders for that reason.

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Me too. Robbo, Cancelo, Perisic, Chilwell though instead of 2 each from Pool and City.

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Well I'm going with TAA, Robbo, Cancelo and Dias - no messing around!!

              1. Zimo
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Indeed indeed good choices. Maybe Laporte over Dias. Seems more secure.

                1. Andy_Social
                  • 11 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Only pencilled in Dias 'cos Camzy has Laporte cost 0.5m more. Will depend purely on price.

          2. DelPiero10
              1 year, 9 months ago

              I wouldn't rule out the possibility of starting with 5 premium defenders and a strong goalkeeper as well but that would probably require a couple of superb value picks in midfield which seems unlikely. It may well be possible if the best CB's are favorably priced though. These defenders/goalkeepers and midfielders like Maddison, Mount, Bowen, Saka, etc are the players I'm most interested in, pricing-wise. For me the premiums pick themselves and the fixtures have solidified my thoughts on them.

              1. LangerznMash
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                This is what I did with my January wildcard to great effect.

                1. DelPiero10
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Nice one. I just took a quick peek at your season history and yes, from gw22 on you had mostly amazing GWR's. It's just a shame there was a handful of stinkers in there too otherwise it would have been an epic run. I'm open to the possibility of splurging roughly half the initial squad budget on a monster defense and choosing just one premium attacker as a sort of perma-captain, allowing the best mid-priced midfielders to also be selected. I wouldn't necessarily trust Salah or Son, as good as they are, with a perma-captain but Haaland really opens things up. It's going to be an interesting season.

        2. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          If you could only pick one for the start of the season:

          1. Son
          2. Haaland

          1. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Haaland.

          2. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            1

        3. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          If you could only start with one:

          1. Son
          2. Haaland

          1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            2

          2. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            still Haaland.

          3. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            2

        4. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          1. Who could be the best mid for upto 6 to 6.5m?

          2. Who could be the best forward for upto 6 to 6.5m?

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            I wish we knew

          2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Mate we don't even have prices for anyone yet

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              key words 'could be'

          3. LangerznMash
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            1 = a fully fit Leon Bailey playing OOP in a front 2.
            2 = Nketiah (if Arsenal don't sign Jesus) or Welbeck.

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              1. What system Villa will play?
              2. They'll sign Jesus

              1. LangerznMash
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                4312 with Coutinho playing in the hole behind Watkins and Bailey.

        5. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          https://mobile.twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1537448361057345538

          Arsenal have made a €35m bid (+ add ons) for Fabio Vieira from Porto, Spurs rumoured to be looking at him too

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            What position does he play

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              10 and 8

              1. Zimo
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Hmm competition for Odegaard?

                1. R.C
                  • 6 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Yeah and back up

          2. R.C
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Porto are going to accept it

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Hang on, I've just upped Odegaard. Don't do this!

              1. R.C
                • 6 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Sorry Odegaard not nailed anymore with this signing

            2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Has a €50m release clause, so I doubt it will be straightforward (especially if other clubs are looking too)

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Think of the savings by selling off their old stock of Vieira shirts!

        6. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          I'm a little disappointed with Newcastle's opening fixtures. I had Dubravka and Guimaraes in mind, but they'll have to wait now.

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Same good sir. Also Bowen and West Ham.

          2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Same, was keen on Trippier or Guimaraes, still may contemplate them as there are some decent fixtures there but wouldn't want to need to rely on them each week

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Oh yeh, Trippier too. They'll go on my shortlist.

          3. R.C
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Newcastle trying to sign Pope

          4. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Yeah I wanted Callum Wilson.

            But no problem, the fixtures pick up around 6-8, we can pick up a few Magpies then.

            1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              GW6 looks like a good early wildcard week with Newcastle being one of the main teams to go after then.

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                I'll aim to save a 2FT for that move. I think it's important to save the WC for the WC.

                1. Piggs Boson
                  • 12 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  We might get an extra one special for the WC.

                  Just got to wait to see what the rules will be. Expecting a few changes...

                  1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 3 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Yeah I'm expecting them to hand one out for free for post-qatar to appease the casual base. Whether they announce something like that ahead of time at launch... I'd like to think so.

        7. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Doherty.

          1. Nailed?
          2. Price prediction?

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Spurs were looking at Djed Spence last I remember so probably not nailed and 5.5-6m is likely.

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              They'll get Spence but I don't think he starts immediately does he?

              5.5-6m is steep

            2. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Agree. Emerson was clearly rubbish, but this Spence will be expected to push Doherty. There's always the worry that his form crashes again. I'd still be interested at 5.5m though.

              1. Old Man
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Spence is going to be a player. He will take pitch time from Doherty .... maybe even his place eventually.

        8. Azathoth
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Any idea when FPL opens?

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Soon hopefully. Wait for them to start teasing prices. You'll know its imminent then.

          2. FPL price manipulators are …
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            I'm looking forward to any changes in the game.

          3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Whenever the 21/22 season goes offline it shouldn't be much more than a few days away

          4. Kloppage Time
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            It went live last year a week after the fixtures were announced if that helps.

        9. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Liverpool complete their last signing of their season. RB from Aberdeen. Calvin Ramsay.

        10. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          You know how some things "just happen", yeah? I wanted to see how much a "guess and enter" team price would be, without choosing any particular players in my head except Salah, TAA and Haaland. (I'm unsure if anyone else thinks my prices are realistic). Of course it came out bang on 100m. If only the season could be so easy ......
          4.5
          8.0; 6.0; 5.5; 5.5; 4.5
          13.0; 9.0; 8.0; 6.0; 5.0
          12.0; 8.0; 5.0

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            You're missing a keeper there

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              LOL

          2. I Member
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            4m too expensive lol.

            1. Dthinger
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              yah, but not too hard to fix...swap out the 8mil forward and midfield for a 6mil and 6.5mil respectively, and go for a 4mil defender instead of 4.5

          3. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            I knew that I was drinking too much - lol!!!

        11. Santi sensei
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Cash or Digne at 5.5 will be popular picks with the fixtures

          1. No Professionals
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            yeah Cash is someone I was thinking about before the fixtures. There are going to be loads of 6-8m defenders so going to have to make some sacrifices.

          2. Soto Ayam
            • 4 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            True dat. Digne picked up form towards the end of last season, but it's hard to forget his trap potential. However, that was during his Everton days.

        12. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Arsenal have reached full agreement with Porto for Fábio Vieira, here we go! Proposal has been accepted as reported before.

        13. R.C
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Djed Spence looks good!

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Indeed he does.

        14. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Watchlists updated, with Jimenez and Emerson Royal making the cut lol, God help us.

          1. Haa-lala-land
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            If looking at Wolves, probably swap Jimi for Fabio Silva on your watchlist this year

        15. pundit of punts
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Raya
          TAA - Cancelo - James - 4.5
          Salah - Diaz - Martinelli
          EBH - Watkins - Jimenez

          4 - 4.5 - 4.5 - 4

          This would probably be popular at the start I think.

          1. R.C
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Not worried about Spurs?

        16. matz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          yikes, db upgrades always provide some "moments". you may notice a few wobbles.

        17. jay01
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Who do you think the budget/mid price gems will be this year?

        18. jay01
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Livefpl lets you pick an 11. Apologies for being that guy but rate my fantasy fantasy team? Lol

          Raya (4.0)
          TAA Cancelo Chilwell AitNouri (Mitchell)
          Salah Saka Kulu BJohnson (4.5)
          Haaland Hwang

          1. jay01
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Wolves and palace rotate well, hwang and BJ predicted at 5.5 and 6 respectively, but will be looking out for others

        19. Thomas Jerome Newton
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Is there any way of seeing how many hits you took in previous seasons?