Pre-Season

The Best Goalkeepers to Buy in FPL 2018/19

Now that the dust has settled following the launch of the Fantasy Premier League 2018/19 game, we can start to look at each position in a bit more detail. We’ll begin, as we often do, with goalkeepers.

David De Gea has been announced as the most expensive shot-stopper at £6.0m, which may deter some from investing in the Manchester United number one.

Meanwhile, Lukasz Fabianski looks set for high ownership given that he has held onto his £4.5m price tag.

Who are the best premium goalkeepers?

Ederson (£5.5m) looks to be the most viable premium goalkeeper option for the start of 2018/19. Not only do Manchester City have the best fixtures in the opening seven Gameweeks (playing all six of the most recently promoted clubs), their goalkeeper also benefits from being priced cheaper than some of his defensive colleagues: Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker are both £6.5m, while Benjamin Mendy is £6.0m. John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Danilo, America Laporte and Fabian Delph – none of whom looked particularly “nailed” – are all £5.5m too.

Whilst goal and assist potential strengthens the case of Otamendi and co, rotation under Pep Guardiola could make Ederson the only member of the City backline who is assured of a start. After the Gameweek 1 fixture against Arsenal (a match City won 3-0 last season), City face Huddersfield (h), Wolves (a), Newcastle (h), Fulham (h), Cardiff (a) and Brighton (h) in their next six fixtures.

Thibaut Courtois (£5.5m) is another premium asset to consider, with Chelsea currently sat second for defence in our season ticker. In the first six Gameweeks the Blues have away fixtures at Huddersfield and Newcastle, as well as home matches against Bournemouth and Cardiff. Only De Gea and Ederson collected more clean sheets than Courtois last season and, like his Man City counterpart, the Belgian shot-stopper offers a slightly cheaper route than his defensive team-mates to potential shut-outs.

Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have been handed £6.5m price tags, with Victor Moses and Antonio Rudiger marked up at £6.0m. Gary Cahill, David Luis, Andreas Christensen, Davide Zappacosta and Emerson all match Courtois’ price but, at this stage, are much less guaranteed a start.

Hugo Lloris completes the trio of £5.5m goalkeepers and has a strong case for inclusion in our squads too, considering that only one of his defensive colleagues will start the 2018/19 season at a cheaper price. All but Kyle Walker-Peters have come in at £6.0m, making Lloris the cheaper alternative for anyone looking at matches with Newcastle, Fulham, Watford and Brighton in the first six Gameweeks. Spurs do face Manchester United and Liverpool in that period, though.

Meanwhile, last season’s Golden Glove winner David De Gea has come in as the most expensive goalkeeper at £6.0m. As mentioned, his hike up from £5.5m is expected to cause some damage to his ownership figures. The United man kept more clean sheets than anyone else in 2017/18, but there are now more cost-effective options at Old Trafford.

Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Diogo Dalot are all priced at £5.5m, while the reclassified Ashley Young, who has been handed the same price as De Gea but offers the prospect of attacking returns, could prove to be a savvy investment. What we can be assured of with De Gea and no other United defender, however, is guaranteed starts.

Elsewhere in United’s squad, Antonio Valencia is £6.5m and Chris Smalling starts at £6.0m.

Who are the best mid-price goalkeepers?

Whichever of Nick Pope or Tom Heaton gets a starting berth at Burnley is worth considering this season. Both goalkeepers start at £5.0m after the Clarets kept 12 clean sheets in 2017/18. Pope had an impressive campaign, finishing as the fourth-highest scoring goalkeeper despite not making an appearance until Gameweek 4. The extra money might be worth paying given that Burnley shot-stoppers often do well for save and bonus points, while just three teams (Man City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace) rank higher for defence on our season ticker in the first six Gameweeks.

England’s World Cup penalty shootout hero, Jordan Pickford, remains at £5.0m and also has kind fixtures in the opening six weeks. Arsenal are the only side from last season’s top six who he will face in that period, a run of matches that includes home fixtures against Southampton, Huddersfield and West Ham and trips to Wolves and Bournemouth. However, with Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams both priced up at £4.5m, the veteran centre-backs may provide more cost-effective cover.

Pre-season should give us an indication as to which Arsenal goalkeeper – Petr Cech or Bernd Leno (both £5.0m) – will start the season as Unai Emery’s first choice. Leno has a reputation for saving spot-kicks: the German goalkeeper has stopped nine of the 39 penalties he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Fantasy managers should avoid Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka (£5.0m), as the Magpies currently sit bottom of our season ticker for defence. In their first six matches, the Magpies host Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal and travel to Manchester City, Cardiff and Crystal Palace. Only three goalkeepers (Loris Karius, Ederson and Lloris) kept more clean sheets than Dubravka after his debut in Gameweek 27. However, he ranked just 16th for saves made between then and Gameweek 38.

Who are the best budget goalkeepers?

Lukasz Fabianski (£4.5m) has made a swift return to the Premier League after former employers Swansea City were relegated. The Polish shot-stopper, who made more saves than any other goalkeeper last season, joins a side who had the joint-worst defensive record in the division in 2017/18.

West Ham face three of last season’s top six in the opening six Gameweeks, also playing Bournemouth (h), Wolves (h) and Everton (a) in that run of half-dozen matches.

The Hammers’ fixtures rotate perfectly with Southampton this season. A pair-up with Alex McCarthy/Fraser Forster (both £4.5m) should, in theory, give an unbroken run of home matches between now and the end of the season.

It’s hard to justify investment in Mathew Ryan (£4.5m) in the early stages of the season. Brighton face Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham in the first six weeks, with away trips to Watford and Southampton to come in Gameweeks 1 and 5; their only favourable match-up is a home fixture against Fulham in Gameweek 4.

The Seagulls’ home matches dovetail beautifully with Newcastle’s this season, but with Dubravka prohibitively priced at £5.0m, a £4.5m defensive double-up (e.g. Dunk/Lejeune) may be the better route to go when both sides’ fixtures ease off from Gameweek 8.

Our season ticker ranks Crystal Palace’ first nine fixtures as the most favourable from a defensive perspective, so Vicente Guaita/Wayne Hennessey (£4.5m) could prove to be an astute purchase.

Bournemouth’s opening fixtures are also particularly attractive, although Asmir Begovic (£4.5m) would surely lose out to a cut-price Charlie Daniels as many FPL bosses’ chosen Cherries pick in defence.

Palace and Bournemouth’s fixtures, coincidentally, intertwine exactly to give an unbroken run of home matches between now and Gameweek 38.

Cardiff and Huddersfield’s mixed starts would seem likely to deter investment in Alex Smithies and Jonas Lossl (both £4.5m), meanwhile.

World Cup Data

We’re delighted to offer World Cup data as an early addition to our regular season offering to help those playing Fantasy games over the summer.

We’ve secured Opta data, not only for the tournament itself, but also from the Qualifying Rounds for Europe and South America and for international friendlies involving the participating nations. This includes all the matches played right up to the tournament kick-off.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

Check out this new trailer detailing the World Cup content below…

McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy

Join our McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy league ‘FantasyFootballScout’ using the code: HEWJPVYR

Fantasy iTeam

Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League open to UK users only, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers. There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

Click here for details and here to sign up.

Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

Please note, users must be over 18 and based in the UK to join our league.

1,265 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eden Wizard
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Never ever invested in defence but with the dominant style of play I think pool and city defence is essential this year. United overperformed and looked shakey often

    1. liiusions
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Mendy and one of TAA/Lovren nailed in my team. All 3 underpriced

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Matip is starter

      2. Andy_Social
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        TAA may rotate with Clyne.

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          I’d be very worried about this

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Get both 😀

          2. noahzark22
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, get both and you'll always have the one that plays. Barring you choose the wrong starter and they come in as a sub in the final minutes ruining the autosub

      3. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Robinson

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      🙄

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Opposition can’t score if they don’t have the ball 🙄

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Essential 😀

    4. Eden Wizard
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Robbo VVD double up

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Mendy and karius in my current draft...

  2. Emiliano Sala
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Lamela going to explode as kane and son are out

    1. Eden Wizard
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Llorente to start?

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Too bad to start imo

    2. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Lucas Moura

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        He is spurs' last option

    3. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Decent shout. Question is if Spurs as a unit will perform at all considering their entire core have had deep WC runs.

    4. DantheManinaPan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Orrrr, Spurs could just be crap. Who knows?

      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Any way to calculate this, lamela has more potential than any other 6.5

  3. ooooo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    What changes should I make? 0.0mil
    Ederson
    Robertson Coleman Cedric
    Salah Dilva Mkhi Deulofeu
    Aguero Firmino Tosun

    Mccarthy kiko Stephens Wan-Bissaka

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Hey, you're good to go!

      1. ooooo
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        thanks

    2. Eden Wizard
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Very decent team! Screen shotting this

    3. Eden Wizard
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Treble Saints defence scares me but starting XI is magic

      1. ooooo
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        stephens is a mid and mccarthy has become speroni

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Is your team not .5 m over?

          1. cravencottage
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            It is

  4. Eden Wizard
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Last year:
    Mane + Firmino = 328 points for £19ml
    Salah ALONE = 303 for £13ml

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Now add the Mane autosubs.

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Illustrating false economy in people considering the double up as better value

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          By making it look closer than it really is? 😛

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Had Mane played similar minutes to the other two, you'd have more of a point.

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Disagree. Mane doesn’t play more minutes - look at his history.

          2. DantheManinaPan
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Points per 90:

            Mane + Firmino: 11.94
            Salah: 9.39

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      It's official.

      Mane & Firmino covers Salah.

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Also official, Salah covers Mane + Firmino 😆

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Doesn't look like it to me. Those 25 points could cost you a ML!

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Salah + 6.5? You must be joking

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Huh? You've lost me. I thought we were doing jokes about Salah vs Mane + Firmino

              1. Eden Wizard
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                I was genuine lol so you’d be in the Mane & Firmino camp over Salah?

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 4 months ago

                  No obviously not? You can't have 2 players in one slot, can you?

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Salah won’t get 300 points this season - bookmark this 😉

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        400?

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Maybe not, but mid-200s is almost inevitable!

    4. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Mane + Firmino is an investment of 10mill above the 4.5x2 minimum investment.
      Salah is an investment of 8.5mill above the 4.5 minimum investment.
      10m for 328 points or 8.5m for 303 points.

      Posting the prices straight up like that is misleading because you cant pay less than 4.5 for any player (why PPM is an awful stat) Also Mane was out for parts of the season. In conclusion, its extremely close between Salah or Mane + Firmino.

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Mane doesn’t play full seasons, why are people blinding themselves about this?

        13 + 6.5 would have hugely outscored those two.

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          One transfer adds his replacement's points. 😉

        2. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Even without factoring in Mane autosub points its extremely close when you consider the investment cost (price minus 4.5m) as you should instead of the price alone. With autosub points Mane and Firmino probably beat Salah for value. Then consider that Salah had the best FPL season ever which he is extremely unlikely to repeat and its not as clear cut as you say. Salah has captaincy in his favor though because hes a set and forget C and you need reliably high scoring captain options.

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Not sure I subscribe to this school of thought but thanks for your input

        3. Cok3y5murf
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Math fail. That's 19.5, not 19

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            😆 best banter

  5. ludaslol
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Griezman vs Hazard for the run in

    (Have Mbappe already)

    1. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Greasy Tony. KDB seems the best midfield option from Belgium with his new more advanced position.

  6. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Why would the players still left at WC get rested at the beginning, Hazard, KDB and the likes? In good form and important for the team.
    Its almost a month from final in WC until GW1

    1. The Nuttmxn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      May not train straight away, players will need a rest and some holiday before returning back.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      It's not so much rest as being match fit and up to speed with the team. They will be at the beach while the rest of the team plays friendlies (depending on players and World Cup run)

    3. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah it is a big fpl dilemma leaving out the best players in the world because they are the best.

      It is only fair to conclude some of these players may need a small bit more time to get up to speed in the PL after their exploits in the WC.Hard to psych yourself up for for Huddersfield like you would for a WC finals game.

    4. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      3 weeks mandatory ‘leave’ after the WC, they will be back at their clubs just a few days before GW1, no pre-season or involvement in friendlies or training

  7. The Nuttmxn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Rate my first draft:

    Begovic
    Daniels, Tarkowski, Tomkins, Robertson
    Salah, D.Silva, Son, Milivojevic
    Aguero, Wilson
    (Ederson, Mkhitaryan, 4.5 everton def, Quaner)

    1. Sadio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Double Bournemouth backline!? and Wilson!?

      2/10

      1. The Nuttmxn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Only for GW1, Cardiff at home is a great fixture to me.

        Struggling for a 6m striker or lower, if Ings gets a good move it will be him.

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Austin

          1. The Nuttmxn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Could do, will be interesting to see how Armstrong fits into the side.

        2. lugs
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          i've took a punt on Bobby Reid at Cardiff (5.5) , 19 goals in the championship last year so he could do well

    2. DantheManinaPan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A bit odd - not my cup of tea tbh.
      Ederson + Mkhi on the bench is just daft

      1. The Nuttmxn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        For GW1, I don't like the fixture, then I put them in the side.

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          They are still quality, premium players. You don't bench those.

          1. The Nuttmxn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Seems a bit odd, the price I pay should only matter for if they get in my 15, not if I start them or not.

  8. The Nuttmxn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Will Wan-Bassaka play next season? He got the odd starts at the end of last season.

    1. lugs
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      he's got every chance with Ward as his only competition

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        What about the dude in a car crash?

      2. DantheManinaPan
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Ward who doesn't appear to be in the game...

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Anyone know why?

          1. lugs
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            he was out of contract , just the other day signed a new one though so should be in the game soon enough

    2. Eden Wizard
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      He got a lot of starts at RB - should do but watch preseason. If Schlupp doesn’t start in midfield I’ll downgrade to Obi Wan

  9. Eden Wizard
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Today’s draft = nailed it (til tomorrow):
    Fab Begovic
    Robbo VVD Mendy SchlOOP Bednarek
    13 Silva Mkhi Wally Deulofeu
    Kun Austin Tosun

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Who are you going to get for that 13m?

      1. Eden Wizard
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        About 303 points * 2 for permacaptaincy

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Looking at SchlOOP myself (great name btw). He's on the pile with about 7 other Palace players I want.

          The Austin pick makes me sick, though

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            If he starts wide milf I’ll be buzzing! Could very much happen between him and Mc

  10. Emiliano Sala
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Why no eriksen love?
    Too much template and copy here

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Too expensive IMO

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Same price as Firmino, you really think Firmino is a better option?

    2. The Nuttmxn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Have Son, not fond of the double up straight off the bat.

      1. diesel001
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Son is a poor pick given he is missing the start of the season to play int he Asian games. Google it.

        1. The Nuttmxn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks, had no idea.

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Eriksen is first on my team sheet

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      From what i have seen Jack lots of managers looking to get Kane and Salah into their teams are overlooking other great players over budget reasons.

      Also lots of scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to find budget players to allow for Salah and Kane.It might work but it looks a bit unbalanced to me.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Not sure I agree about scraping the bottom of the barrell. There is so much decent value everywhere that it's still easy to build a team with Salah in. It's just a choice of whether to go for Salah + good value less expensive player or 2 good value players in between (simplified version of reality)

        1. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          I think maybe pick one of those high prices premiums maybe Salah to start with.Trying to squeeze in the two of them might be a bridge too far but i could be wrong.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Begging your pardon, I read you final sentence to mean just Salah, not both him and Kane.

            1. Ógie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Yeah i think Salah may be the best to start with as Kane's legendary August blues and the fact that he may need a bit more time to get up to speed after his WC exploits.

              It is one or the other for me and if Salah does not look like he is going to live up to that hefty price tag during his second season a switcheroo might have to take place.

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                I agree, though I'm not even considering Kane at this point. I had him for the start of last season, and then basically never owned him in the final half when he actually scored goals, and I still managed to pretty well.

                Not gonna plan anything with him either. I'll only move forhim in desperation, but I doubt there will be any with all the other possible rewarding combinations we can create. Salah or neither for me 🙂

    5. Twelve years a slave
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Tottenham world cup hangover could be a concern. Plus Eriksen is not normally a super fast starter, I know this from owning him at start, he normally begins scoring week after I wildcard him out

      1. Sadio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Well he produced in 3 of his first 4 games last year.

      2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Did well early season last year.

    6. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      All his teammates (primarily in England and Belgium) are still at the world cup and will hopefully be for another week...either they have no break and start the season knackered, or miss pre-season and don't start the season.

      Moving to a new stadium...will likely take time to settle in

      Harry Kane + August

      Son's military service issue might mean he's missing the start of the season.

      Not great opening fixtures.

      ...there's plenty of reasons to avoid Spurs 🙂

      1. noahzark22
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        With Son and Kane out for at least the first game, that leaves Eriksen as the primary source, with Lamela being a cheeky pick in Son's absence.

        1. Business Cat
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          He'll be a one man team pretty much...a bit like Denmark in fact.

          They were hardly free scoring 🙂

          1. noahzark22
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            I rate Newcastle, Fulham, and Watford well below any World Cup team

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        He will be center of everything then. Plus that, I really can not find any better option else than sane/silva

  11. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Who to captain?

    A Lukaku
    B Griezmann
    C KDB

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Tough one, who are you currently picking and why?

      1. Scotty B
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Griezmann and absolutely no idea why

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          What score are you expecting that game?

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Griezmann

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A

    4. AndyCook
        6 years, 4 months ago

        A or B according to bookies.

    5. Twelve years a slave
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      When will people learn that playing promoted sides in the first Six weeks is NOT a good fixture. Like Russia they try twice as hard to begin with, and it is only later on when their enthusiasm drops that they become very good fixtures.

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Why specifically 6 weeks?

        1. Twelve years a slave
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Was not really meant to be specific, just a ball park figure, and it happens to be a traditional length of time to look ahead when considering who to buy

      2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        This I can agree with actually

      3. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Conversely I always punt on a cheapie forward from them.

        1. Twelve years a slave
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Exactly, am quite keen on One or Two Cardiff players to start with. I think the world cup could make the newly promoted sides even better early propositions this season. They tend to have less players that were involved.

      4. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Promoted teams against the Top 7 goal-scoring cliubs last season in the first 6 fixtures:

        Brighton 0-2 City
        Newcastle 0-2 Spurs

        Brighton 0-2 Leicester

        Hud 1-1 Leceicester

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Week 7:

          Hud 0-4 Spurs
          Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
          Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool

        2. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Yea, their good form is normally against the low-mid table teams whose managers get fired in November.

        3. Twelve years a slave
          • 14 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          None of them were battered, and City probably averaged more than Two goals against all teams, same with Tottenham. So those results actually support the view that promoted clubs start well

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            It doesn't support the view that they did well. If you're correct about City averaging 2 goals a game, then it could mean that the promoted teams are average at best. But your argument is that they are better than their bottom half counterparts. Where's the evidence that they were better? Those results I posted are poor results for anyone. Very rarely does a battering really happen.

            I prefer these kinds of generalisations to be supported before I can really entertain them tbh

            1. Twelve years a slave
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Well Duelofail, measuring them against teams that were subsequently the highest scoring like you did, is very, very poor methodology.

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                It's not if I'm asking the question, "how did they do against top scoring teams?". The most bought attacking players will be from teams with good attack and good fixtures. I felt the need to control for something in my rushed methodology, since the sample size is so small and the variance so high. So I chose to compare the most relavant pool of fixtures in FPL terms so that a conclusion can be drawn, however tentative, without spending an age finding and processing the data, either.

                The burden of proof is on you not me, anyway. My poor methodology was much better than yours so far! 😀 You're negative know-all tone demands authority, but I'm just not willing to give it to you because you demand it, sorry 😀

                1. Twelve years a slave
                  • 14 Years
                  6 years, 4 months ago

                  There is no burden of proof mate, My analysis goes back seasons, however now I no longer run the blog I feel no compunction to share it.

                  Just pointing out that promoted teams are not that easy come season start.

          2. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Spurs are useless early on due to Kane for one. More happenstance than anything.

      5. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Almost forgot to consider this. Cheers

      6. Cok3y5murf
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        This is exactly the kind of overthinking that costs me more often than reward me 😛

      7. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Fake news. The correct answer is 4 1/2 weeks.

    6. RubberDucky
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Just tinkering and spotted Bolasie.

        At 6.0 he could be a real bargain

        1. olly:)
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          as an everton fan , he's awful and if he starts i will be very disappointed, lookman and walcott both better.

        2. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          He scored a hattrick in one game and very little else.

      • olly:)
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        who takes pks for LIV when milner isnt on the pitch?

        1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          The dream would be a nailed Fabinho to do it.
          But at this point, who knows...

          1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            *always

        2. Brosstan
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Seemed to be Salah at the end of last season when he was chasing records but it could be Firmino.

        3. lugs
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Salah

        4. Eden Wizard
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Haven’t you seen football since 2016? Milner Ian old news.

      • Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I have just finished watching the British F1GP.

        What a race,i wont spoil it for those that have not had a chance to see it yet.
        Make sure to watch it if you like a good race.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          No spoiler? 😮 I guess I'll watch the highlights then, even though I don't follow F1 anymore.

        2. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Are you can F1 fan?

          Been watching since the early 90s...I was literally off my seat for the last dozen laps.

          1. Ógie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Yes i am a fan.I watch every race qualifying and even practice.
            I fell in love with the sport as a young lad back in the early 90s with the likes of Nigel Mansell,Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost during what was a golden age of F1.

            It has been fantastic this season one of the best in years.Hopefully we are entering a new golden age.

      • S6 Owl
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Struggling with funds for the last 2 transfers...

        A. Lingard + Fodder / Kalinic (for 3rd/4th place game)
        B. Pickford + Hendo

        Already have Courtios in goal.

        1. olly:)
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          A

        2. AndyCook
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Must be better swaps still. Hoping Kalinic will play on third fourth is risky even if they make it there.

        3. olly:)
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          surely stones would be the most nailed city defender if you were to disregard the WC effect?

          1. lugs
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            nah , Walker, Ota, Kompany & Mendy will be first choice i think

            1. olly:)
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              stones is one of the keys to the system, no?

              1. lugs
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                probably not as there's also Laporte to consider

            2. Fred54
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Laporte says Hi.

        4. Dacra
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Thoughts on Mahrez at City?

          1. olly:)
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            rotation

          2. GreennRed
            • 13 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Makes picking a City attacking option even less appealing. Too many swilling from the same points trough. Great pick at Leicester.

          3. Ógie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Could kill him as an fpl option and could put a cloud over other City midfield options over rotation nightmares.

            We will just have to wait and see how it plays out.

        5. Over Midwicket
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          City's opening run after Arsenal makes my nether regions tingle. We should all be tripling up at a minimum, IMO.

          Kun, Sané/Silva and Mendy/Ederson IN.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            No City in my team at the moment. Interested in Aguero, Silva, KDB, Mahrez and Mendy, but Silva is closest to my team atm, followed by Mendy

            1. Eden Wizard
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              I’m gonna go for 3+Mahrez then switch 1 out if preseason dictates

          2. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Quadruple up and hope Mahrez claims the KDB spot while he’s resting

        6. shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Any idea if Meunier is available for Tuesday? 1 FT left and have Claesson to move on ideally..

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Suspended for one game

            1. shirtless
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              I thought so. Down to ten then!

        7. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Jagielka or Williams at 4.5 EVE?

          VVD or Robertson for LIV?

          1. Business Cat
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Wait and see which one plays

            Robertson

          2. lugs
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            for me Robbo , and i think probably jagielka will play but he's not getting any younger so you never know

          3. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Could even be Holgate. I'm definitely getting whichever 4.5 Toffee defender starts; waiting to see who it is.

            1. My heart goes Salalalalah
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Double-up with Pickford til 1st WC for me

        8. Fuchs Mane Kante
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          All this hate for the England team.

          Gonna beat the EU in the final.

          Its coming home haters.

          1. Eden Wizard
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Brexit means it’s coming home

            1. Business Cat
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              If it's England - Belgium in the final, you know the media are going to label it the Brexit Final.

              (sigh)

        9. Flying Nugget
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Just to update, I had planned to run a money league but it has proved too much hassle. I am still running a league which I will cover in my blog. All welcome to join, the code is 97757-44614

        10. Bambi
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Chances of mitrovic coming in at 6.0? there's a nice hole in my team for him

          1. Andy_Social
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            I'd be interested at that price.

        11. RubberDucky
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Still recovering from last season FPL and the WC FF.

            So this is my 1st draft and prob last.

            Thoughts appreciated

            DDG/Fabianski

            Daniels/Coleman/Maguire/Tomkins/Bednarek

            Silva/Salah/Walcott/Milo/Doucoure

            Aguero/Tosun/Arnautovic

            1. Ghost Gooner
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              10.5 on gks is too much. Prefer Hughes over Doucore. I'd start with Zaha over Arnie

          • Sadio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Do we really think Liverpool thrash West Ham GW1?

            Pelligrini as manager, Fabianski, and a solid core of players. Can see it being a tough game for Liverpool tbh.

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              3-1

            2. Bambi
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              yeah, harder than people expect. Think the arsenal city game will be a high scorer with both teams getting a few

              1. lugs
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                agreed , i never get the logic of people not wanting someone like Auba in gw1 just because they are playing City , sure City could beat them 0-3 again but it could also be a 4-3 thriller with Auba getting a hat-trick , not playing defenders from either side i can understand

            3. Andy_Social
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              GW1 always unpredictable, frequent upsets.

          • My heart goes Salalalalah
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Don't be shy to let me have it please...

            Pickford/Stekelenburg
            Robbo Ward Bailly Bednarek Jags
            Dilva Salah Jota Gudmundson Stephens
            Aguero Zaha Firmino

            Midfield seems light but I can't see any other options. 0.0itb

            1. Ghost Gooner
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Don't like Bailly (out of favour?) Jags (not nailed?) Ward (old and Burnley have Europa)

          • Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Hopping in the shower. Looking forward to reading your scathing remarks when I get out!

            Guaita
            Coleman PVA TAA
            Salad Mickey Ramsey Deulofail
            Kun Auba Tosun

            Speroni | Clyne, Bednarek, Masuaku

            Guaita/Speroni > any 4.5/4.0 possible

            1. My heart goes Salalalalah
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              What happened to your Fabianski rotation? Just make sure TAA is nailed, especially at the start. If those ARS players looks nailed, I'll be on them too. Deulofail is an absolute waste of oxygen...or that's the word around here LOL

              1. EmreCan Hustle
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                He has Clyne too.

                1. My heart goes Salalalalah
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 4 months ago

                  Aaaah right

              2. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                Fabianksi rotation is possible if I don't find a single 4.5 GK I'm happy to stick with.

                TAA doesn't need to be nailed at 5.0 in a top team. That's what the bench is for 😉 However, I actually have Clyne to cover him in this team!

                Agreed about Deulofail.

            2. My heart goes Salalalalah
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Stephens BHA more nailed than Masuaku IMO

            3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Looks horrible, won’t reach 30 points in any single gameweek, doubt they’ll do it in dgw to be honest.
              Not only bad at football, this lot is also butt ugly.
              What kind of coach could attract such a sorry bunch...

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                Guillltyyyy

                1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 4 months ago

                  Hey, you were not supposed to read this ahead of the amontillado I’m drinking have taken effect
                  😉

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 4 months ago

                    What can I say. I shower fast when I'm doing it in acid

                    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                      • 10 Years
                      6 years, 4 months ago

                      🙂

              2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                That shower better be taken with hydrochloric acid

            4. Business Cat
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 4 months ago

              Pretty good

              I've gone Zaha over Tosun

              Not sure why Clyne and TAA are in there given they play the same position and only one will play...get a Burnley defender for 5.0

              There seems to be some opinion that Scelotto or Wan-Bissaka (or maybe both) might be playing 4.0 defenders...one of them instead of Bednarek

              Fabianski and 4.0 in goal

              1. Business Cat
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 4 months ago

                Oh, and ditch Deu 😉

                1. Deulofail
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 4 months ago

                  😀

                  Actually I think I prefer Zaha to Tosun myself if he stays at Palace. I have Wood, Zaha and Tosun and just sold 2 of them at random really.

                  If TAA doesn't play, I would rather have Clyne than a Burnley defender. And I think on average it will do me well despite being unable to rotate on fixtures. People won't be rotating VVD or Robertson for example, and I won't be rotating my Liverpool defender either 🙂

                  I like all Palace players, so I'd be happy with Was-Bissaka. Perhaps I'll downgrade PvA to Schlupp if he's going to play and upgrade Bednarek or Masuaku, or both!

                  1. Business Cat
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    6 years, 4 months ago

                    You are wasting two Liverpool slots on TAA and Clyne.

                    While you really need two slots for their attack in all likelihood

                    1. Deulofail
                      • 8 Years
                      6 years, 4 months ago

                      Wasting one slot*

                      As you can see though, I've forgone my Liverpool attack in any case, in favour of Kun and Auba up top and a great value mid (imo). Neither Firmino nor Mane will be essential; or rather, I'm willing to take the risk that they won't be.

                      If a better defender emerges (e.g. Kolasinac), then I'll make the switch (and destroy the whole team to rebuild with different mids!). There's too much up in thhe air tbh, but I like the look of this team on current information 🙂

          • Fuchs Mane Kante
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            Goalman Schindler Pva Bench fods Bench fods.

            Done.

          • olly:)
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 4 months ago

            done some tinkering, let me know what u think...

            Ederson / 4.5 WAT Gk

            Robbo / Bellerin / Coleman / Schlupp / 4.0

            Eriksen / DSilva / Mkhi / Lookman / 4.5

            Auba / Firmino / Vardy