Here’s the second part of our fantasy premier league preseason catch up for the midweek games of 4th to 8th of August . We’ll look at the lineups and what that could mean for GW1. We’ll also look to identify those players undervalued for their position in their team as well as the outright bargains. We’ll tell you who’s in form and give our estimate of the potential GW1 lineups. The teams covered in part 2 are Stoke, Everton, Sunderland, Chelsea and we also cover Hulls Europa League 2nd leg game.
fantasy premier league pre season tips – midweek games between 4 and 8 August – part 2
Stoke 2 Real Betis 0
Stoke City: Begovic, Bardsley (Teixeira 88), Pieters (Muniesa 64) (Huth 82), Whelan (Adam 70), Ireland, Arnautovic (Walters 79), Wilson, Nzonzi (Sidwell 46), Shawcross (Cameron 46), Diouf (Odemwingie 46), Bojan (Crouch 79).
Goals: Pieters, Bojan
No significant injuries before the game although Wilson and Walters picked up knocks which are expected to be ok for GW1. The game was another success for Bojan who scored his 3rd goal. He was undoubtedly the star of the show playing on the right of the attacking 3 in 4-2-3-1. Bardsley also played well at RB.
Form player in preseason: Bojan
Value players: Bojan at £5.5m although unfortunately a forward. Ireland at £5.0m if he can play centrally in the attacking 3 of 4-2-3-1 although that is not certain at this stage.
Potential GW1 lineup:
Begovic – Bardsley, Pieters, Huth, Shawcross – NZonzi, Whelan – Arnautovic, Bojan, Odemwingie/Ireland – Diouf
Everton 1 Celta Vigo 3
Goal: McGeady
EVERTON: (4-3-3) Howard (Robles, 45), Baines (Browning, 45), Distin, Stones, Hibbert (Duffy, 45), Barry (Gibson, 45), McCarthy, McGeady, Osman (Capt) (Besic, 45), Barkley, Naismith. Subs not used: Alcaraz, Kennedy, Duffy, Hope, Long. Goal: McGeady (9)
With Jagielka and Coleman injured, neither with return dates, this looks like it could be a difficult start for Everton. The Belgians Mirallas and Lukaku were also given a rest.
It was a game of poor defence from Everton. Only the new CDM Besic showed any form.
Form players in preseason: Naismith, Besic
Potential value players: Osman at £5.5m although getting into the side looks difficult. Hibbert at £4.5m could be a cheap RB if Coleman still isn’t fit for GW1 Although only to the injury is healed
Potential GW1 lineup: Howard – Hibbert, Baines, Stones/Distin, Jagielka – Barry, McCarthy – Pienaar, 2 from Barkley, Mirallas, Osman – Lukaku
Sunderland 2 Real Betis 0
SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Vergini (Mavrias 46), O’Shea (Brown 46), Roberge, van Aanholt, Johnson (Fletcher 68), Larsson, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Cattermole 46), Giaccherini (Gomez 39), Wickham. Subs not used: Pantilimon
Goals: Fletcher, Wickham
Not really a first team that started by any stretch. With Billy Jones injured but expected back for GW1 it was unpriced on FPL Vergini at RB. Not destined to hold that position though. Rodwell had a promising start by trying to get forward to support the lone striker. Fletcher made a real difference when he came on and he looks the favourite to lead the line despite the form of Wickham at the end of last season. Mannone got the starting berth in the GK battle. Giaccherini went off with a groin injury with no return date as yet.
Form players in preseason: Fletcher
Value players: Everyone fairly valued. Forward Fletcher has 3-5-2 potential at £5.5m
Potential GW1 lineup: Mannone/Pantilimon – Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt – Bridcutt/Cattermole – Gomez, Johnson, Giaccherini, Laarson/Wickham – Fletcher
Chelsea 2 Fenerbache o
Chelsea 0 Besiktas 1
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas (Mikel 39); Schurrle (Ramires 33), Oscar, Hazard (Salah 41); Costa (Drogba 35).
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Matic (Mikel 43), Fabregas (Salah 33); Ramires (Torres 43), Willian, Hazard (Oscar 22); Costa (Drogba 22).
Goals: Costa Ivanovic
A bizzare 2 45 minute games here. Azpili playing LB in the first game gives some doubt to the Luius LB selection unfortunately. Matic and Fabregas seem certian for the double pivot. Costa will start up front so the real area of confusion is the attacking 3. No injuries of note. Costa was the real star here
form players in preseason: Terry, Costa, Fabregas
Potential value players: Luis at £6.0m is the value in defence although Azpili at LB is the first sign it may not be nailed on. Salah if he can start is the value in midfield until fitness of the sqaud is up.
Potential GW1 Lineup: Courtois/Cech – Azpilicueta/Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry Luis/Azpilicueta – Matic, Fabregas – Hazard, Salah, Oscar/Schurrle/Willian – Costa
Hull 2 Trenchin 1
Hull City: Allan McGregor, Alex Bruce (Tom Ince 66), James Chester, Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Robbie Brady (Liam Rosenior 56), Tom Huddlestone, Robert Snodgrass, Jake Livermore, Yannick Sagbo, Shane Long (Sone Aluko 74).
Goals: Elmo, Aluko
With no injuries Steve Bruce rolled out again a 3-5-2. Jelavic was presumably not fit to start after the World Cup and seems hard to imagine he will be fit for GW1. Again a 3-5-2 was rolled out and £4.0m CB Bruce was in the line up. Bruce being subbed so the team could move to 4-4-2 wasn’t the happiest of signs though to add to his mistake allowing the first goal. Brady interesting started and he is value at £5.0m in midfield but didn’t really impress and was subbed in the 2nd half. Tom Ince another attacking prospect was also only off the bench. That leaves Snodgrass as the realistic Hull midfield prospect at £6.0m but that relies on consistent set piece involvement.
Form players in preseason: No standout players at the moment
value players: Alex Bruce at £4.0m but comes with risk in that he will only play in 3-5-2 and could be sacrificed for 4-4-2 during the game. Fine if after 60 minutes, not great if before. Aluko playing as a striker but classified as a midfilder for £5.0m looks good value but will lose his place when Jelavic is fit.
Potential lineup for GW1: McGregor – Bruce, Davies, Chester – Rosenior, Elmo, Livermore, Huddlestone, Snodgrass – Aluko, Long
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fantasy premier league pre season tips. fantasy premier league pre season tips.
