Pro Pundits
14 August 2025 697 comments
zøphar zøphar
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With the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 1 deadline just a day away, our pundits are sharing their teams with us.

Here, eight-time top 10k finisher Zophar talks us through three-way defensive rotation and reasons for overlooking Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m).

Make sure you sign up for the new season to get all the Member-only articles, tools and features to make 2025/26 your best FPL campaign yet!

FPL 2025/26 first draft team reveals: DC magnets + Bench Boost 1

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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FPL pre-season: Malen + Watkins again, Xhaka debut, secretive Man City 2
697 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 21 hours ago

    RMT guys, If you'd be so kind 🙂

    Sels,
    Porro, Ait Nouri, Cucurella,
    Saka, Wirtz, Reijnders, KDH,
    Haaland, Watkins, J Pedro

    Dubravka, H Wilson, Diouf, Esteve.

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Very good team

    2. Football99
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Looks good.

    3. Coys96
      • 8 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      One too many punts for my liking

      Pedro is one poor performance away from a benching, Wilson not nailed. Don’t know how Reijnders will fit in

      Rest looks good. Unpopular but would fancy a bench boost GW1. Think Burnley will frustrate spurs, they’re gonna go and play 541, and they’re organised

      Also prefer others to Saka but the GW2 fixture is good so can see why you’d go that way

      1. Wolfman180
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 21 hours ago

        Thanks for your thoughts 🙂
        To be fair I haven't considered BB1 in a good while now. Just set it in my mind that I'd play it at some point where I had a really bad benching headache. Don't think Dubravka plays GW1 though so I'm gonna wait and see.
        Pedro could get benched but I think he gets enough time in squad until Mateta becomes a better option, after Europe games etc.
        I know Wilson ain't nailed but if he plays then he rotates well from what I can see.
        I'm just not that keen on Palmer (famous last words) and I think Saka is being slept on slightly. Even without pens he's a good option and with a decent number 9 now I think his assist tally will increase.
        I get ya that there are a few punts in there, but I think there are also quite a few template picks in there too.

    4. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Big fan. I got Palmer over Saka, but very similar. Haaland is a great differential. Will be top scorer this year.

    5. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Great team

    6. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 20 hours ago

      Cheers Guys

  2. Football99
    • 1 Year
    4 months, 21 hours ago

    Sels
    Van de ven, wan bisska , de cuyper
    Salah , saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
    Bowen , pedro

    1m in bank- Possible change Bowen in GM2? Thoughts on team please and any suggestions

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Utd tough fixtures

  3. Maresca–Ball
    • 1 Year
    4 months, 21 hours ago

    Which £4.0 DEF is best to go for:

    A). Esteve
    B). Reinildo

    1. AAAFootball
        4 months, 21 hours ago

        E

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 21 hours ago

          Is he nailed long term?
          Dont suppose I could be cheeky and and hijak t ask the best 4.5 mid?

    2. kings of kafiristan
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 21 hours ago

      Ekitike or Watkins GW1 only. Have frimpong and wirtz. Thanks

      1. AAAFootball
          4 months, 21 hours ago

          Watkins probably

      2. AAAFootball
          4 months, 21 hours ago

          Someone RMT please

          Selsz
          Porro Murillo Diouf
          Palmer Rogers Ndaiye Kudus
          Haaland Watkins Joao Pedro

          Hegyi Isarr Esteve hoever

          Plan to sell Diouf gw2for konsa
          Wc7

          Good to go?

          1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 21 hours ago

            Bad transfer plan

            Where did the money go

            1. AAAFootball
                4 months, 21 hours ago

                Lol yeah it slipped through my fingers.

                The towards are not cheap, and nobody bought just for price

                I just can't resist Diouf honestly

              • Ball Ake
                • 1 Year
                4 months, 21 hours ago

                Spent some on Pedro, Ndiaye, booze and hookers, the rest he just wasted

            2. AAAFootball
                4 months, 21 hours ago

                Is the bench alright?

              • BrockLanders
                • 10 Years
                4 months, 21 hours ago

                Massive lack of Liverpool

                1. AAAFootball
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    Everton fan lol

                2. Bored Ape Jota Club
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  4 months, 21 hours ago

                  Silly transfer

                  1. AAAFootball
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      What would you suggest

                      1. Ball Ake
                        • 1 Year
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        Maybe Ndiaye or Kudos to Gakpo and Pedro to JSL

                      2. Bored Ape Jota Club
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        Don't plan for a defense transfer in gw2. That is all.

                3. Roshen
                  • 3 Years
                  4 months, 21 hours ago

                  Kelleher – Valdimarsson
                  VdV – Nico – AWB – De Cuyper – Dorgu
                  Salah – Palmer – Rogers – Reijnders – Xhaka
                  Haaland – Solanke – Guiu

                  gtg?

                  1. Manani
                    • 14 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    looks good for a Salah + Palmer + Haaland team

                  2. AAAFootball
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Light at the back but no glaring holes

                      Better options than Xhaka around though

                      1. Roshen
                        • 3 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        Xhala + Rogers –> Ndiaye + Wilson?

                  3. Manani
                    • 14 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    gtg?

                    Sels Dub
                    NWilliams Cucu Porro Diouf Rodon
                    Salah Palmer Reij PMSarr Wirtz
                    Watkins Pedro Guiu

                    1mITB

                  4. hazza44
                    • 13 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    A) Rejinders or B) Anderson
                    &
                    1) Sels or 2) Sanchez

                    1. cassanata
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 16 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      A2

                    2. Feed tha Sheep
                      • 13 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      A2

                  5. Football99
                    • 1 Year
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    Salah or haaland or both?

                    1. Sideways Backwards
                      • 10 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Neither for me

                    2. cassanata
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 16 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      I'm going with Haaland, not saying its right though.

                    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                      • 9 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Neither

                  6. Sideways Backwards
                    • 10 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    Play
                    A) Kudus
                    B) Reijnders

                    Captain
                    1) Pedro
                    2) Wirtz

                    1. Coys96
                      • 8 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      A (why have him if you’ll bench him in the best possible fixture)

                      Oof.. you got anyone else? Probably 2 as more likely to play 90

                    2. Ball Ake
                      • 1 Year
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      B2

                  7. Emiliano Sala
                    • 9 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    Which one is a better pick you think?
                    Gakpo or Ekitike?

                    1. Mino Raiola
                      • 9 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Gakpo

                    2. Feed tha Sheep
                      • 13 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Both could be good but with Gakpo he at least knows the league

                    3. Coys96
                      • 8 Years
                      4 months, 21 hours ago

                      Ekitike

                  8. Feed tha Sheep
                    • 13 Years
                    4 months, 21 hours ago

                    Best way to save 0.5?

                    A. Murillo > Williams
                    B. Bruno > Wirtz
                    C. Reijnders > Dewsbury-Hall

                    1. AAAFootball
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        Not a

                      • Coys96
                        • 8 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        B, don’t get the Bruno hype. Relying on pens, defcons and set pieces for 9 mil!!!

                        1. Ball Ake
                          • 1 Year
                          4 months, 20 hours ago

                          Me either, he'll be playing deeper and until Utd sign a midfielder with legs Bruno is going to be chasing a lot of empty space rather than supporting the front 3. Good for Defcon maybe but 9m is a high price

                      • Bored Ape Jota Club
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 10 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        A

                      • Moon Dog
                          4 months, 21 hours ago

                          C for me Sheep. I'm convinced by Mr. DH

                        • Manani
                          • 14 Years
                          4 months, 21 hours ago

                          b

                        • IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                          • 9 Years
                          4 months, 21 hours ago

                          I would do both A and B

                          1. Feed tha Sheep
                            • 13 Years
                            4 months, 21 hours ago

                            You think Williams is a better pick than Murillo?

                            1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                              • 9 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Not necessarily, just dont think Murillo is worth 0.5 more

                      • Coys96
                        • 8 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        Bottomed

                        1) Sarr & Ekitike
                        2) Gakpo/Gordon & Mateta

                        Like Gordon as on pens and likely starting up top at least for first couple. Don’t have Salah or Wirtz…

                      • adstomko
                        • 9 Years
                        4 months, 21 hours ago

                        G2G? A bit different:

                        Sels
                        Romero - Lacroix - Collins
                        Palmer - Saka - Fernandes - Wirtz - Rogers
                        Watkins - Gyökeres
                        (Turner* - Diakité - Bijol - Wheatley*)

                        *Denotes player has left club - keeps their starting price.

                        1. Moon Dog
                            4 months, 21 hours ago

                            I would replace Turner with Dubravka. Should be 1st choice when fit.

                            And Wheatly to Guiu, who apparently has assurances about gametime in his loan contract. Being the highest scoring 4.5m forward always stops price falls. It's the one everyone moves to.

                            1. adstomko
                              • 9 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Is that true about highest scoring players at their price point keeping price?
                              I didn’t even know that.

                              1. Moon Dog
                                  4 months, 21 hours ago

                                  It's not a sure thing in the rules, just something I've noticed with 4.5m forwards and mids. A behavioural pattern. When managers pick a dud player for their early WC or restructuring, they pick the 4.5m with the most points. Every time. It stops the rot.

                                  1. adstomko
                                    • 9 Years
                                    4 months, 20 hours ago

                                    I see what you mean. Thanks for this.

                            2. Ray85
                              • 7 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Not sure about both Gyokores and Saka with those fixtures

                              1. adstomko
                                • 9 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Got Gyökeres in case he hauls in GW2 or 4, then I can easily drop down to any striker

                          • Ubique_Ash
                            • 3 Years
                            4 months, 21 hours ago

                            How’s she looking?

                            BB Active

                            Sánchez
                            Van De Ven | Gabriel | Aït-Nouri
                            Fernandes | Palmer | Wirtz | Reinjders | Kudus
                            Gÿokeres | Ekitiké

                            Dúbravka | João Pedro | Williams | Andersen

                          • Pep Roulette
                            • 8 Years
                            4 months, 21 hours ago

                            Georginio has finally crossed 1% ownership

                          • cutch
                            • 11 Years
                            4 months, 21 hours ago

                            I want a player for the Monday game. Is Ndiaye nailed?

                            1. AAAFootball
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Yes

                              • Yes Ndidi
                                • 6 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                He's virtually an anagram of the word!

                            2. Ray85
                              • 7 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Rate my team please - BB

                              Sels
                              Cuca Diouf De Cupyer
                              Mo, Palmer, Kudus, Adingra
                              Watkins, Gyokeres, Fullkurg

                              Dubravka, VDV, Wilson, Reinaldo

                              Thanks 🙂

                            3. Tomerick
                              • 11 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Help please. I will probably be travelling near deadline. If anyone gets any news on Rogers please notify meeeeeeee.

                              1. Ray85
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                He's back training, that's all we will know

                            4. Yes Ndidi
                              • 6 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Best use of 10.5 please

                              a. KDH & Porro

                              b. Rutter & VdV (or Diouf)

                              All likely to have to play most weeks.

                              TY

                              1. Ray85
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                B

                              2. Bleh
                                • 9 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                B with Diouf.

                            5. Bleh
                              • 9 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Would you change anything here? Feel like the only major punt is Cunha. Chickened out of Mateta for Pedro’s form/fixtures.

                              Sels
                              Murillo, Lacroix, Diouf
                              Salah, Palmer, Wirtz, Cunha, Reijnders
                              Watkins, Pedro

                              (Dubravka, Guiu, Rodon, Esteve)

                              1. Yes Ndidi
                                • 6 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Cunha could be inspired if the players around him click. Love him as a player. Should be nailed, and should score well. So no, not really.

                            6. Emiliano Sala
                              • 9 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Thoughts on pedro neto?

                              1. Ray85
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Too much of a rotation risk

                              2. nico05
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Great but far from nailed imo

                            7. TafOnTour1
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 1 Year
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              A or B? (Currently on A)

                              A) Sels, De Cuyper, Neco Williams, Van De Ven, Saka, Wirtz, Kroupi Jr

                              B) Kelleher, Munoz, Pedro Porro, Milenkovic, Bruno Fernandes, King, Joao Pedro?

                            8. Football99
                              • 1 Year
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Team A, B or C

                              A
                              Sels
                              Van de ven, diouf , de cuyper
                              Salah , saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
                              Bowen , pedro

                              1m in bank - possibly change Bowen and upgrade in GM2

                              B
                              Sels
                              Van de ven, diouf , de cuyper
                              Salah, saka, Tielemans, reinjeers , 7m mid maybe neto
                              Haaland , Pedro

                              C
                              Sels
                              Van de ven, wan bisska , de cuyper
                              Saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
                              Haaland , pedro, ekikite
                              1m in bank

                              1. nico05
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                I like B - consider Rogers as your mid

                              2. Royal5
                                • 14 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                Need more options 🙂

                            9. nico05
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 7 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Best 4.5 def (already have 1 spurs)
                              Best 4.5 mid please

                            10. blacky7475
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 14 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Evening folks.

                              The wait is nearly over and after a week of week of Mo Hokey Cokey, he's out again...I think.

                              Any comments or suggestions before I shut the laptop and forget all about it...until Mo wakes me in a cold sweat at 4am, wheeling away in celebration of his first half hat-trick, despite Wirtz's early red card

                            11. Fer Fuch's Ake
                              • 12 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Best 4.5 Defender?

                              1- Andersen
                              2- Dorgu
                              3- De Cuyper

                              cheers

                              1. Football99
                                • 1 Year
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                3

                                1. nico05
                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                  • 7 Years
                                  4 months, 21 hours ago

                                  Is he nailed though?

                              2. nico05
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                2. - consider van de ven?

                              3. Ball Ake
                                • 1 Year
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                1 or Richards

                              4. Besaid_Auroch
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 10 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                All decent at the price. I like 3 as a punt provided your team isn't full of punts. 1 is safer.

                              5. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
                                • 9 Years
                                4 months, 20 hours ago

                                Fixtures aren't easy, but Dorgu

                            12. Pep Roulette
                              • 8 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Would Dan James & Gnonto be too much for Everton's defence? Does it make Leeds attack including Piroe an under the radar pick in GW1?

                              1. nico05
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 21 hours ago

                                its a good front 3 to be fair, they may sign a new CF though?

                              2. nico05
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 7 Years
                                4 months, 20 hours ago

                                who do you prefer James or Gnonto?

                            13. Dutchy
                              • 7 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              A. Cucurella Reijnders
                              B. VDV Rogers

                            14. Besaid_Auroch
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 10 Years
                              4 months, 21 hours ago

                              Here we go. Any thoughts welcome...

                              Sels / Dubrav'

                              Porro / Murillo / Diouf (De Cuyper / Esteve)
                              Salah / Palmer / Ndiaye / Gakpo / Mitoma
                              Watkins / Bowen / Giui