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. The Wealdstone Raider
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Thinking about throwing Cucurella in

    Out: Ramsdale, James, Perisic,
    In: Raya, Robertson, Cucurella

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

      Is Cucurella nailed to start GW1?

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

      Not sure he will play one day after his signing. They can easily play a James Azpi TSilva Koulibaly Alonso for GW1 and maybe 2

    3. The Wealdstone Raider
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      True but Alonso is on his way out

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

    Last changes
    A) White, James and Pereira
    B) Cash/Digne, Zinchenko and Bailey

    Will be benching White and Pereira with option A, and 2 of Cash/Digne, Zinchenko, Bailey and Andersen with option B

  3. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which combination?

    A) James, Cancelo, Martinelli

    or

    B) Sterling, Walker, Digne

    Cheers.

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

      Prefer A

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

      A

    3. Q
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A

  4. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    This 5-3-2 with 5.5 mid on the bench looked bizarre when I first did it a few days ago and now it's the pro pundit template.

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

      You're on two 4.0 GKs?

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        If I go 4-4-2 then yes, but I'm back on Perisic over Saka so 5.0 is back in.

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

    What you prefer:

    A Bamford Martinelli
    B Jesus Rodrigo

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

      Jesus Rodrigo

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

        Jesus Martinelli*

  6. HD7
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Some help please...
    A or B, mates?

    A) Ederson Robo Rashford
    Bench: 4.5m midfielder

    B) Ramsdale Digne/Trippier Saka
    Bench: Neto

    Team:
    -
    TAA Cancelo James Perisic -
    Salah - Bailey
    Haaland Jesus

    Ward - Pereira Greenwood

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

      B

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

    BOTTOMED.

    happy w this, gtg?

    Ward

    TAA James Walker Tripp

    Salah(C) KDB Martinelli Bailey

    Kane Jesus

    Iversen Neco Andreas Greenwood

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      What about Hahaland & Son

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

        thought about it, prefer Kane & KDB to begin with

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

    Which 3?:

    A) Ramsdale, Neto, Rashford

    B) Ward/Ive, Bailey, Mount

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

      B

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

    Who'd you pick?

    1. Trippier 5-3-2
    2. Bailey 4-4-2

    1. HD7
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      A long term

  10. HD7
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Rashford or Martinelli?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Martin

  11. Mark Colonel
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    How nailed Reece James is ???

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Pretty much

      until injury

      1. Mark Colonel
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        brilliant 🙂

    2. C_G
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      nailed enough to never leave any of my draft teams

  12. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A or B?

    A,
    Ramsdale,
    Trent, Cancelo, Walker, Trippier
    Sterling, Salah, Martinelli, Bailey
    Jesus, Kane

    Ward, Andreas, Taylor, Neco

    B,

    Mendy,
    Trent, Robbo, Cancelo, Trippier
    Salah, Mahrez, Martinelli, Bailey,
    Jesus, Kane,

    Ward, Andreas, Neco, Taylor

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Cheers

  13. Wakanda
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Rmt please

    Ramsdale
    Taa/Robertson/digne/James/cancelo
    Saka/son/diaz/Bailey
    Kane

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

    OK last one then i'm done:

    A) Son + Watkins (+1.5)

    B) Maddison + Haaland

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

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

        Or instead of Madders, Kulu?

        1. linkafu
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          I have Maddison in my team so I cannot tell you to get him out

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

      B

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

        Or instead of Madders, Kulu?

  15. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Been so happy for ages with my team and now finding myself panicking

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

      Ha, same

    2. kroky
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Lmao I'm the exact same

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

      Nothing new!

      The two cheap keepers open up a new team?

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yeah that’s the one I’m happy with, but I want Son

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Can’t have em all.

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 7 months ago

            Very true, I’m still off the fags by the way!

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    White or Saliba? Final call!

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

      White

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

      Zinchenko

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

    Would love your comments; A or B, or anything else?

    A:
    Ramsdale (Ward)
    TAA - Robertson - Cancelo - Walker - James
    Salah - Neto - Grealish (Andreas - Cafu)
    Kane (C) - Jesus (Greenwood)

    B:
    Raya (Lis)
    TAA - Walker - Perisic - Zinchenko (N. Williams)
    Salah (C) - Bailey - Rashford (Andreas - Dasilva)
    Haaland (V) - Kane - Jesus

    Cheers guys

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

      a

  18. Kiyoshi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Pope
    TAA - Cancelo - Cash
    Salah - Bailey - Rashford - Saka
    Jesus - Kane - Mbeumo

    Ward - Walker - Andreas - Neco Williams

    What do you think? Should I sell Mbeumo?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Who for?

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

        Maybe for a fourth premium defender

  19. Libano
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Why is Archer in so many teams? Isn't Greenwood more likely to get minutes?

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

      Greenwood higher owned and more likely to fall in price

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Archer scored in pre season

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        But Taylor is the sleeper

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 7 months ago

          Archer and Greenwood both look like £4.4’s waiting to happen.

  20. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Digne or Cash?

    cheers

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I have Cash, primarily because Digne has let me down way too many times before, so I can’t bring myself to own him now.

  21. Back of the Garnett
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Good luck all!

    Last question..

    A) Raya/Sanchez & Ward
    B) Ward & Iversen + 0.5 ITB

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

      B

      1. Back of the Garnett
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Yep my thoughts too, cheers!

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

      I've gone b just to shave the 0.5m , don't think there will be much difference with most of the 4.5m gks anyway

  22. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Which one?

    A) James & Neto
    B) Walker & Rashford

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

      A probably, just

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

      B

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

      A

    4. hotine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  23. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    we got any more news on perisic starting? I'm BB so if he aint starting he has to go :/

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      I think he’s one of those players that, if you have him, you play him anyway and hope that he a) starts and b) gets at least 60 minutes.

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

      Planet FPL just released a mini podcast to say neither Perisic nor Doherty are in the leaked starting lineup. Think Perisic will come on.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        thanks guys, I cant risk it, he is out for Gabriel

  24. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Arsenal triple up too much? Already have Mart and Jesus.

    A) Robertson Saka and Ward

    B) Chilwell Diaz and Ramsdale

    1. linkafu
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B but with James

      1. Weasel51
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 7 months ago

        Have James too.

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

      Didn't think Chilwell was likely to start GW1? So probably A

  25. Sly Fly
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Hi,

    Would you rather have:

    Saka, Walker, Neto... or,
    Martinelli, Cancelo, Neto, or,
    Martinelli, Dias, and a 6.5mid (if there are any decent ones)?

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

    A. Bowen & Neco + 0.5 (442, start Bailey)
    B. James & Martinelli +1m (532, bench bailey)

    1. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

  27. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    is gibbs white nailed?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Probably will be if he goes to Forest.

  28. Wag the Drog
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    A)Grealish
    B)Rashford
    C)Sancho

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

      b

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      X

  29. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Mount is the safe pick, Mahrez is risky but seems more fun.

    Part of me should know better than to pick Mahrez but... what should I do?

    A) Mount
    B) Mahrez

    Ward Iversen
    TAA Robbo Cancelo James (Neco)
    Salah xxx Martinelli Bailey (Andreas)
    Kane Jesus (Archer)

    Thanks!

    1. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      B

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

        Ta!

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Do the one you want the most.

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

        Thanks. For my sins, probably Mahrez!

  30. HD7
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 7 months ago

    Digne or Trippier
    Rashford or Martinelli

    1. Wag the Drog
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Martinelli

    2. hotine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 7 months ago

      Tripper and martin