We’re hearing from all our guest writers ahead of the big Gameweek 1 kick-off.

Here, three-time top 200 finisher Lateriser discusses four things – both on and off the field – that could still alter our Gameweek 1 teams.

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There’s not much time left to make many decisions and yet I’ve still to resolve so many of them.

Largely, I feel fairly settled with the information my brain has processed and have a shortlist in my head of permutations and combinations. However, I think most of us FPL managers will only finalise those decisions based on what we see over the weekend.

We keep telling ourselves that pre-season doesn’t matter and it’s only a fitness exercise but I think the closer the friendlies get to Gameweek 1, the more relevant the information. And that is why I think we can gain a fair amount of knowledge from the action at the weekend – and what happens off the field over the next week.

1. HOW WILL MAN CITY LOOK?

So far, we don’t have an idea of how Manchester City will look.

While the shape of Chelsea is relatively more predictable (if we use the end of the Club World Club) as a base, that of Manchester City still has some question marks.

I think all of us are conveniently ignoring a certain Erling Haaland (£14.0m) using the ‘captaincy’ reason but I think we might regret it if we don’t go there. I am certainly giving myself the same reason but I just know that he’s going to start the season on fire. Man City are much better equipped to handle this campaign with their recruitment and return to fitness (and relevance) of a couple of their key players.

I am certainly targeting that fixture in Gameweek 6 as a key point to invest in their team (if my head hasn’t turned this weekend).

2. DUBRAVKA + GUIU: HOW MANY MINUTES WILL THEY GET?

There is so much information out there to gain which will determine the shape of our squad.

If, like me, you’re looking at a Bench Boost in the first three Gameweeks, the fitness of Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) and how Sunderland plan to use Marc Guiu (£4.5m) is very important.

How Burnley and the Black Cats use these two budget gems over the weekend will be interesting. Keep an ear out for next week’s press conferences, too.

• READ MORE: FPL new signings: Guiu the top £4.5m forward after Sunderland move
• READ MORE: FPL new signings: Will £4.0m goalkeeper Dubravka start?

There’s also a question mark over the fitness of Morgan Rogers (£7.0m), of course.

3. STRIKER MERRY-GO-ROUND

And not just that, a big striker-sized domino effect is still pending in the league.

The futures of Alexander Isak (£10.5m), Yoane Wissa (£7.5m) and Nicolas Jackson (£6.5m) are still to be determined, all of whom will become very relevant in the FPL domain.

A £7.5m or £6.5m forward leading the line for Newcastle would be an interesting proposition.

I am really hoping that Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) does not become a part of that merry-go-round for strikers, as I would very much like him to be the main man at Aston Villa.

4. PALACE’S EUROPEAN FATE

Speaking of information to be gained, I am very intrigued by Crystal Palace because I believe they have had a very good pre-season with a settled team playing together regularly.

But what happens with their appeal on Monday will determine how I view their team. If they have to play a European qualifier between Gameweeks 1-2 and 2-3, that will slightly put me off their assets and vice versa.

In addition, while the news of Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) leaving Crystal Palace has calmed down at the moment, I am still worried about one of the north London clubs making a big move. This might have an Olise-sized effect on the start of the season for Palace, who were slow off the mark last year. I don’t expect that to be the case this year if they keep hold of Eze, which makes the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m), Daniel Munoz (£5.5m) Maxence Lacroix (£5.0m), Chris Richards (£4.5m) and Eze himself all very interesting options from an FPL point of view.

This affects the attackers more, in my opinion, as I think Eze directly affects the points potential of Mateta, Sarr and Munoz (who I see as an attacker!).

PLAYING MY OWN GAME

Away from the above considerations, it is an exciting time in FPL. So much to learn and the heart is full of hope and optimism.

I’ve not had the best three years but while I admit I didn’t really play good FPL for a season or two, last year I thought I played fairly well and just didn’t have the rub of the green. I’m aware that my playstyle means a relatively wider bell curve in the possibilities of rank in the season, where I am as capable of having a top 5k finish as I am of having a top 500k finish.

But I realised in the two years of not playing FPL well that, to truly enjoy the game, I have to back my gut and hope that the hours of time put into reading, watching football and now looking at analytical data (you learn or get left behind) is going to lead to a subconscious that is more powered than the average FPL manager.

I’m hoping to pay more attention to minutes, work on accumulating more free transfers so I can make them in tranches of 3-4 instead of 1-2, not ignore penalties and largely start going rogue only when we start going deeper into the season. All of the above, while reflecting a little more and spending some time with my own mind.

With the abundance of content out there, it is easy to keep consuming more while ultimately thinking less about your team. It’s a mistake I’ve tended to make over the last few seasons. Hopefully, I’ll correct that and process my thoughts a lot more than listening to others’ processed thoughts.

And most importantly, here’s hoping that lady luck is on my side this campaign. Fingers crossed. On that note, good luck everyone!