Pro Pundits

FPL team reveals: 5-3-2 with triple Arsenal and Perisic

With Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) almost upon us, we’re welcoming back our stellar team of Pro Pundits, Hall of Famers and guest contributors for the new campaign.

Our writers will be providing regular articles and team reveals throughout the new season, with only Premium Members able to access every single one.

Next up is Sonaldo, who talks through his Gameweek 1 plans.

The FFS Pro Pundits 38

The anticipation of the new Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season is nearly over as the opening matches are about to commence. With the World Cup sandwiched in the middle, coupled with a new ‘five subs’ rule, it should be another tricky campaign to navigate. Yet that is what makes FPL so entertaining and I personally can’t wait to get going.

Before you pick your team, there are a few principles that I like to follow:

  • A lot of who we pick right now should be based on fixtures and the eye test, as we don’t have enough data to confidently justify our picks. The mantra of ‘we know little’ is a good starting place for now.
  • It’s ok to have a ‘template’ team as, within a couple of Gameweeks, lots can change and being able to adapt quickly will be important.
  • In FPL, we tend to think of the good scenarios without often considering what could go wrong. Thus, I believe that it’s fine to make the wrong calls but you should always have a backup plan.
  • While we don’t want to plan ahead too much, it’s good to have a Wildcard plan in mind, knowing that we have 16 Gameweeks to use it before having a month of unlimited transfers during the World Cup. Pras and I have done a Burning Questions video on this very topic.
Team Structure
  • Early season is usually high-scoring. As a result, I really want to invest in attackers and high-potential midfielders. 
  • However, the value of attacking wing-backs is too great to ignore, therefore I am leaning towards having a strong line of defence.
  • When looking at the fixtures, all the strong teams (Man City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, etc.) have decent fixtures to start the season. So, it means that I want to load up on City and Liverpool assets (thrree of each) if I can.
  • While the main dilemma for Liverpool is Robertson v Diaz, the City triple-up is a bit trickier. This is because while I want to own Cancelo and Haaland, it’s hard to identify the third City asset. Ederson comes into the fold as well as another defender in possibly Dias or Walker. But what if a City midfielder/forward asset starts to explode? Therefore, I’m likely to optimize my squad with just Cancelo and Haaland for now.
  • Essentially as I look to Wildcard in Gameweek 7-9, I am deciding between a 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 formation.

If you can’t tell by my FPL handle, my favorite player is Son Heung-min (£12.0m). Not having him in my team seems so odd. But to get him means I must sacrifice one of Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) or Erling Haaland (£11.5m), as I do not like the idea of a threemium structure. It sacrifices too many valuable assets.

My team is subject to change before the deadline, but here is what it looks like now:

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

1,045 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Heskey Time
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Ake + .5 itb for first 2-3 weeks than switch to doherty/perisic?

    1. krawiecus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Why not Walker / Trippier? But idea good

      1. Heskey Time
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Between trippier and ake for me. Walker just has no attacking threat whatsoever

  2. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I hear Perisic is not in the leaked Spurs team, should I just swap him for Trippier and keep £0.5m itb?

    Ward
    TAA Robbo Cancelo James Perisic*
    Salah Saka Bailey
    Kane Jesus

    Iversen Archer Andreas Dasilva

    1. krawiecus
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Yes

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Yesss

    3. Union_Jacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      That’s what I’m doing

    4. Heskey Time
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      my exact team. Just trying to decide between trippier and Ake

    5. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      where did you finded that leaked lineup ?

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Not sure but James from Planet FPL was talking about it

        1. Hits from the Bong
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          It made him replace Doherty and Perisic in his team

  3. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Imagine going for 2x4.0 GKs who are going to get you 2 points almost every single week

    xD

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      shhhhh

    2. didas
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Schmeichel didn't do that bad for points last season and they were awful defensively. Plus you save 1M on what he was priced.

    3. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Imagine the extra points you'd get from upgrade using that money in an another position eg Perisic to robbo

    4. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      They’re goalkeepers, they can still get save points if they’re not keeping clean sheets. If you don’t think it the best play then fine. I suspect they’ll do better this season and Ward (if nailed) will end up on similar points to most of the 4.5 keepers

    5. CornerTakenQuicklyOrigi
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      The 0.5 it saves could cover the likely point loss. Then again, it could not.

    6. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I’m not so sure, could turn out to be the “Wan Bissaka” type pick of the year. Trust in your handle!

    7. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Preach brother

    8. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I've got them and I'm not expecting much but I found that extra 0.5m to be just what I needed to afford the last piece of my own particular jigsaw. They'll be gone in a few weeks anyway when I flash the wildcard.

  4. Bryan Roy
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Going with:

    Ederson (Ward)
    TAA Robbo James (Walker) Neco
    Salah Rashford Lingard (Neto) (Andreas)
    Haaland Johnson Jesus

    Any changes? (Forest players have to stay)

    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Too much money on the bench

      1. Bryan Roy
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Fair point

        1. Men in green tights
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          I like it , personally waiting for gw6 before getting lings and Johnson in after the team has had time to settle also fixtures ease off . Bench is ok too

    2. Hay Number 2
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Whats with the Defence heavy teams, what am I missing?

  5. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I know its template, but is their anything I've missed or can change?

    A)James and Diaz
    B) Robbo and Mount
    C) Sanchez to Mendy

    Ward
    TAA, Cancelo, James, Gabriel
    Salah, Diaz, Martinelli, Neto
    Haaland, Jesus

    Bench: Sanchez, Andreas, Neco, Archer
    1M ITB

    1. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Kane or Son

      1. LLoris
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yup I'm getting that a lot. Anything else?

        1. Bubbles1985
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          B

  6. bmmc89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Trippier or Aaronson.... who scores better until GW5?

    1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Trip

  7. UncleJacks
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which one

    A - Sancho and Bailey

    B - Rashford and Gordon?

  8. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) TAA Dier or Robbo Perisic

    B) Sanchez or Raya

    C) Mount or Saka (have Jesus)

    Cheers.

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

    Bottomed:

    Any chance Cucurella gets a start? Or zero?

    1. focaccia
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Zero - gw2 should start

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

        Cheers

    2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Avoid

  10. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) sanchez, walker (any 5mil defender), saka
    B) ramsdale, Ruben dias, martinelli 0.5itb
    C) sanchez, Walker (any 5mil), saka

    Got ward as second keeper and cancelo already

    1. UncleJacks
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A & C

  11. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) TAA Dier or Robbo Perisic

    B) Sanchez or Raya

    C) Mount or Saka (have Jesus)

    Cheers all.

  12. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Mount or Foden?

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

      Mount coz nailed.

    2. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Mount, nailed

  13. lugs
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    i feel this team has a zen like balance so i'm done 🙂

    Ward
    TAA, Cancelo, James
    Bowen, Diaz, Mount, Bailey
    Kane(c), Nunez, Jesus

    Ramsdale, Andreas, Neco, Patterson

  14. Amartey Partey
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Template is boring, I'm going to take a chance and go BB1 WC2.

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Robertson, James, Trippier
    Salah, Martinelli, Bailey, Aaronson
    Kane, Jesus

    Martinez, Dalot, Almiron, Mbeumo

  15. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Who's on corners / free kicks for Arsenal?

  16. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Start the season with Kane or Haaland and why?

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Haaland because he is a goal monster. Kane is a mouth-breathing DM

    2. gart888
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Haaland. Save that transfer for getting Perisic in GW3.

    3. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Haaland, don’t book a transfer

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Thanks lads (or she)

    5. Heskey Time
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I am 50/50 but going Kane so I have a spurs player for the game tomorrow

  17. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    I'm actually ready this season. No excuses 🙁

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      zip

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Balls out, I'm shetting meself. Need some wet wipes

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Na, ill slather em up

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 7 months ago

            zip

            ouch

  18. focaccia
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Trippier + Neto + Haaland

    or

    B) Cancelo + Martinelli + Watkins (+1.5)

  19. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Best option?
    A) Mount
    B) Saka (have Jesus)
    C) Maddison
    D) Diaz (have Salah)

    1. UncleJacks
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  20. gart888
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Bottomed, sorry!

    Ramsdale
    Trent Cancelo Robertson James
    Salah Rashford Martinelli Bailey
    Haaland Jesus

    Ward Neco Andreas Archer
    0.5 ITB

    My only last question is if I punt on Perisic or Rashford
    A - Rashford + Neco + 0.5 ITB
    B - Perisic + Neto

  21. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Who is likely to start for Leicester? Ward or iverson?

    1. Powers106
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I don’t know so I’ve grabbed both and left 0.5 itb. Hate to waste a transfer on a gk but I only want the 4.0 that’s nailed and not the other guy lol and could wait til WC to move and save a ft

  22. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) Cancelo + Neto
    Have Dias already. No 8.0 mid.Neto Will rotate with Bailey in a 5-3-2.

    B) Mount + Neco
    Neco will be perma benched in a 4-4-2.

  23. Defaid Daniel
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A)Pope, Zinchenko
    B)Ramsadle, Trippier

    1. Wheato182
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Love me a bit of Ramsadle - yee haa!

      FYI - B.

  24. Wheato182
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which combo is best?

    A) Sa + Trippier
    B) Pope + Ait Nouri + 0.5

  25. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Any obvious changes?

    Sanchez Ward
    TAA Robbo Cancelo James Perisic
    Salah Saka Mount Kulu Andreas
    Jesus 4.5 4.5

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Yeah, Kane or Haaland

  26. 9I6
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Having a proper dilemma here, I don't like playing 4 at the back, but the second team is looking stronger...

    Iversen, (Ward)
    TAA, Chilwell, Zinchenko, (Dalot, Neco)
    Salah, Martinelli, Sancho, Bailey, (Andreas)
    Haaland, Darwin, Jesus

    Or

    Iversen, (Ward)
    TAA, Cancelo, Chilwell, Zinchenko, (Neco)
    Salah, Diaz, Sancho, Neto, (Andreas)
    Haaland, Jesus, (Archer)

    So basically...

    A. Darwin, Martinelli, Bailey, Dalot
    Or
    B. Cancelo, Diaz, Neto, Archer

  27. myteamissheeeeeeeet
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A. James & Bailey
    B. Rash & Jonny/Dalot

  28. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this Threemium?

    Ward
    TAA Robbo Walker Digne Dalot
    Salah Son Bailey
    Haaland Jesus

    No 8.0 mid but can easily get 2 with 2 FT's by downgrading one of the premium mids.

    Love the 5.0 defenders due to easy switching as there are a lot of options at that bracket.

  29. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Best £5m keeper?

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

      ramsdale

  30. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A) ramsdale, r dias, martinelli 0.5itb
    B) sanchez, Walker (any 5mil defender), saka