Here’s the first of 5 articles where we look at each teams preseason. Were looking for value and form players plus trying to establish a potential GW1 lineup.The first 4 are Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton and Burnley
fantasy premier league preseason and potential lineups – Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton and Burnley
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Introduction
A short preseason as well as the ridiculous interruption by the Nations League makes this season’s GW1 harder than ever. Lineups will be more difficult to predict as a result and this will be exacerbated by the absence of 4 teams in GW1 in Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Burnley.
Here we will focus on the players of interest in the 4 teams and a potential GW1 lineup
Arsenal
Overview
So Arsenal weren’t a great defensive or attacking side last season and your view of them overall depends on how much you think Arteta can improve them.
Most of last season ended with a 3-4-3 formation and that’s what I think Arteta will start with
Who are we potentially interested in?
£12.0m Mid Aubameyang
Has had a good preseason and takes pens. I’m sure he’ll be in my team for GW1 with the 2 fixtures but overall I don’t think he represents value for money. His underlying stats are pretty ordinary and last season he relied on unbelievable finishing. Something he doesn’t have history to back it up. Long term you have to believe Arsenal can create more for him or he can keep being the deadly finisher he was last season
£4.5m GK Martinez
I’d love to think he could be the number 1 and it seems he played in the last friendly v Villa where there has been no team sheet but it would be a risk with Leno there.
£4.5m Def Saliba
I personally only think that the defence is worth £4.5m so that only has Saliba as a possible representative. The fact he didn’t start in the Community Shield isn’t helpful. However I can see them playing a 3-4-3 which surely gives him a good chance of starting and it seems he took part in the Villa loss on Sept 5. With Gabriel still in quarantine, Holding apparently looking to be loaned, Mustafi, Chambers and Mari injured and Sokratis on the bench for 13 of the last 14 games last season surely Saliba starts.
£5.0m Mid Ceballos
Should be in the midfield 2 with Xhaka over the season and at £5.0m could be the answer if West Ham’s £5.0m Soucek’s quarantine prevents him from starting. The question is his late arrival. Didn’t have to quarantine and played in the friendly v Villa apparently so has to have a good chance
£5.5m Mid Saka
Too many attacking mids and forwards unfortunately to see him being involved.
£6.0m Fwd Nketiah
Would be great value but had very mixed minutes at the end of last season and with Lacazette not being transferred out he remains a decent risk for me.
Fixtures
My Fixture Ease rank of 14 for defence and 13 for the attack
Potential lineup
Aston Villa
Overview
The defence was atrocious for most of the season although it did improve markedly after the restart. Unfortunately at the expense of the attack.
Attack was very ordinary with no striker of note. Hence the failed move for Wilson and now Ollie Watkins in their sights
Unfortunately no fixture GW1 and why would you clog your bench with a Villa player. There’s also very little preseason info
Who are we potentially interested in?
£7.0m mid Grealish
faded badly towards the end of the season but highly involved and plays in an attacking LW position. Not for me and certainly not worth having to bench GW1
£4.0m GK Nyland
Nyland and WBA’s Button are the best options for me for a £4.0m GK. Unless the rumours of Utd’s Sergio Romero get a head of steam which seem unlikely given Heaton’s the number 1 when back from injury then you should get a few games out of Nyland
£4.5m Targett
As I said above you have to believe the improved defence was the new normal. If you do then Targett is the best option for me
Fixtures
My Fixture Ease rank of 18 for defence and 20 for the attack. No game in GW1 distorts it
Potential lineup
Brighton
Overview
A pretty ordinary defence and attack.
Hard to predict lineup and formation
Who are we potentially interested in?
£4.5m GK Ryan
One of the few £4.5m GKs. A pretty ordinary GK with a PPM of 3.6 last season
£6.0m Mid Trossard
With a year in the PL under his belt and more average minutes it could be a reasonable season for the Belgian. Probably only for good fixture runs though
£6.5m Fwd Maupay
As for Trossard.
Fixtures
My Fixture Ease rank of 4 for defence and 10 for the attack
Potential lineup
Burnley
Overview
An attack which relies strongly on the 2 forwards and a defence that keeps clean sheets despite the overall stats
Predictable selection
Unfortunately no GW1 fixture which means clogging your bench with them at maybe the expense of Man Utd or Man City players.
Who are we potentially interested in?
£4.5m def Taylor
The defence for me should focus on £4.5m and Taylor looks to be the best option
£6.5m Fwd Wood
Great underlying stats and should have pens too
Fixtures
My Fixture Ease rank of 19 for defence and 17 for the attack largely due to no fixture in GW1
Potential lineup
Generally a stable 4-4-2. Looks like Mee and Barnes won’t be fit
Other posts
See part 1 of more FFGeek Contributor teams
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