Here’s my fantasy premier league “ones to watch” for the top 4 challenging teams goalkeepers and defenders. I’ve combined the GKs and Defs now we have some clarity from GW1. I’ll look at the cheaper rotation options and the bargain basement players in the next article. This article will be from a team basis and give you the attacking and the value options as well as a view on the viabilty of the GK within that team.
Fantasy premier league gameweek 2 – “ones to watch” best elite defenders
Background
In this article I’ll be looking at GKs from a cost comparison basis with the rest of the defence. I’m continuing to do it by team rather than individuals but will give you the attacking and value options as well as the value and viabilty og the GK option
The choice with defence is elite defenders from the top 4 challenging teams or a rotation of cheaper players as well as the odd bargain basement £4.0m player. You may have seen from my earlier team structure article some options for setting up your defence which I’ll put in the link below. The article on cheap rotation and bargain basement defenders will follow.
Top 4 Challenging teams
These are Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Everton and Man Utd
Chelsea
We had clarification from GW1 that £6.0m GK Courtois is first choice for now. Unless Cech goes in the transfer window it maybe difficult to have Courtois in your team with a £4.0m non playing reserve as Mourinho hinted this wasn’t a final position. Azpilicueta started instead of £6.0m Luis which ruled out the cheapest of the defenders for now. Interestingly it was noticeable that the Chelsea team was much more offensive than last season and as a result conceded far more chances than you would normally expect. Was that a one off or a pattern? At least Chelsea have good fixtures to monitor that position
So we are now in a situation where a minimum £6.5m is required for a defender. Terry should get the bonus points and is an attacking threat but Ivanovic showed what a threat he is with a goal and a near assist.
18 (1st) clean sheets last season. 0 this season
GK option: Yes £6.0m Courtois but a £4.5m reserve maybe required
Value defender: None really. Cahill or Terry at £6.5m. is as close as it gets
Attacking defender: Ivanovic £7.0m
Arsenal
Despite the goal conceded from what looked a sloppy set piece Arsenal were solid all game that apart. However they were playing one of the poorest of attacking sides in Palace and their fixtures coming up aren’t easy. However they are still my bet for 2nd elite team representation although this week with Everton away isn’t the week to start
£4.5m Chambers started but it will in all likelihood just be until Mertesacker is back. Gibbs is out to gameweek 4 but he’s likely to be deputised by £5.0m LB Monreal rather than Chambers. Elsewhere Koscielny showed his attacking powers with a goal against Palace. Debuchy got an assist and again showed his attacking potential.
17 (2nd) clean sheets last season. 0 this season
GK option: £5.5m Szczesny is reasonable value but his place not tested while Ospina injured. Debuchy at the same price as a defender is a better option
Value defender: £5.5m Debuchy but also good attacking option as well
Attacking defender: £6.0m CBs Koscielny and Mertesacker when back both have potential.
Man Utd
Despite conceding 2 goals Man Utd didn’t really concede that many chances although they did look nervous in defence. Likely new signing Argentinian international CB Rojo, although only 24, should give them a bit more solidity and they do have good fixtures and aren’t expensive. They have 2 good fixtures away next for those exercising patience.
Rojo will depend on price and probably make the back 3 with Jones and Smalling while Evans is injured. The WBs won’t be FPL defenders at the moment with Shaw out
GK option: £5.5m De Gea is good value and is solid enough to gamble on a non playing reserve
Value option: Jones and Smalling are the same price at £5.5m
Attacking option: None but Rojo scoored 6 goals in 28 matches last season for Sporting Lisbon last season
Man City
Newcastle really gave them a fright but they do have defensive ability and still squeezed out a clean sheet. Gametime is an issue with all the defensive options and it will take a few games to see if any pattern of selection emerges. Tricky fixtures to come does give you sometime
16 (3rd) clean sheets last season. 1 this season
GK Option: £6.0m Hart is probably the safest selection option although Cabballero despite a dodgy Community shield does give him potential competition
value option; No one until selection policy confirmed
Attacking option: Possibly Kompany with 4 goals last season but by default with no one else gametime secure. If Kolarov ever nailed a spot he would be a lethal attacking option
Everton
Everton didn’t look anything like solid against Leicester which isn’t a great sign with Arsenal coming next. Will be one to monitor rather than jumping in. Coleman is now fit so should be interesting to see who wins the CB battle between Distin and Stones
15 (4th equal) clean sheets last season; 0 this season
GK option: £5.5m Howard is a similar price to value pick Jagielka
Value Def: £5.5m Jagielka although that relies on them showing more defensive ability than at Leicester
Attacking Def: Both Coleman and Baines are options although very expensive at £7.0m. Baines has pens and direct and indirect free kicks plus a share of corners
Spurs
Hard to take anything from last week as the sending off meant they were on the back foot after starting on the front foot. 2 expensive certainties who aren’t fit in Walker (no return date) and Vertonghen (not match fit) and a pool of other players in the £5.0m bracket. £5.0m Dier scored and got a clean sheet in the last game but his selection isn’t guaranteed with 4 CBs competing for a place next to Vertonghen. Lloris at £5.5m started which resolves that dilemma for now but with Vorm in the background it might need a £4.5m reserve. Spurs are worth monitoring though. Lets not forget the job Poccetinho did with Southampton defensively
14 (6th equal) clean sheets last season. 1 this season
GK option: £5.5m Lloris with a £4.5m reserve looks expensive if one of the £5.0m defenders can nail a place
Value option; Too difficult to tell at the moment. £5.0ish m options Rose, Dier or Kaboul could be if they can claim a spot
Attacking option: £6.0m Vertonghen when fit.
Liverpool
I think Liverpool have a lot to prove defensively after the Saints game and last season despite having £5.5m Lovren as the most owned defender in FPL. They looked anything other than solid and don’t have the best fixtures to come either.
£5.0m Manquillo started at RB but new £5.5m LB Moreno will alllow Johnson to move back to RB. Otherwise Lovren from a value perspective is the best option with last seasons top defensive goal scorer Skrtel the attacking option at £6.0m. To own Liverpool defensive assets you have to believe that Lovren and Moreno will significantly improve their 10 clean sheets of last season which certainly didn’t look the case against Southampton
10 (12th equal) clean sheets last season. 0 this season
GK option; Mignolet at £5.5m doesn’t seem great value compared to Lovren at the same price
Value option: Lovren at £5.5m.
Attacking option; Skrtel at £6.0m with 7 goals last season
On to the cheap rotation and baragin basement GKs/DEFs next
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Fantasy premier league gameweek 2
Fantasy premier league gameweek 2
