Fantasy premier league preseason – the FFGeek 20 club FPL monitor

Fantasy Premier League, lineups, Preseason

Here is the our fantasy premier league preseason monitor where we keep an eye on the key elements of preseason including lineups, injuries and form from preseason news and games. 

Fantasy premier league preseason – the FFGeek 20 club FPL monitor

Any feedback or corrections tell me.  All appreciated

LAST UPDATE:  6 August

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This article is the basis for my pre-season coverage.  It will be soon converted to a page with a tab at the top of the site so you can access it easily at anytime.

I will put at the top of the page when it was last updated.  This article was written 6 August 2019.

The purpose of the page is to cover the fantasy premier league preseason so that it shows you;

  1. My current view of the most likely GW1 lineup including formation and positions
  2. Form players
  3. Highlighting players that appear to be good value

Underneath each team graphic I will highlight injuries which at the moment I’m getting from the site teamfeed.co.uk which is a resource I’m trying.  If the article is a few days old use the link to check on the latest info.  The line will show the player, injury and if known, the return date.

I will then give a general view about how predictable the lineups are generally

Lastly  I will then give myself a job list effectively of who I will specifically be monitoring for each team in the value watchlist.  That will be a fairly specific list

The additional comments will be me giving views on relevant players and topics related to the teams pre-season

I want to keep the pre-season game reviews and this page quite focused so it’s not flooded with information that no one cares about and is easily digestible.

If you have anything to add in terms of feedback or corrections please say.

Arsenal

Injuries

Hector Bellerin (DF) Cruciate ligament injury (since 19/01) Early October 2019

Predictability

5 different formations in the last 5 PL games of 18/19.  A very hard to predict side complicated by the new signings of Ceballos and Pepe

Value Watchlist

Mkhitaryan is bound to be the fall guy for £9.5m Pepe even though Pepe looks unlikely to start GW1

£4.5 Chambers looks likely to start although Mustafi still presents some sort of risk.

Additional comments

Emery looks like he will play 4-2-3-1 with Aubameyang in the midfield 3

Ceballos could play either CAM or CM on a home and away rotation basis making Ozil an issue

Aston Villa

Injuries

Ezri Konsa Thigh injury (since 03/08) Day to day
Anwar El-Ghazi (AT) Unknown (since 03/08) Few Days
Jed Steer (GK) Heel injury (since 03/08) Few Days

Predictability

12 or so transfers make it difficult to predict.

Value Watchlist

El Ghazi and Trezeguet at £5.5m could be value but unknown who will start.

£4.5m Mings looks the most nailed defender although £4.5m Guilbert has also shown attacking form

Additional comments

Bournemouth

Injuries

Lewis Cook (MI) Cruciate ligament injury (since 06/12) Unknown
Lloyd Kelly (DF) Ankle injury (since 31/07) Unknown
Dan Gosling (MI) Hip injury (since 27/07) Late October 2019
David Brooks (AT) Ankle injury (since 28/07) Medio October 2019
Junior Stanislas (MI) Knee injury (since 20/04) Late August 2019
Simon Francis (DF) Cruciate ligament injury (since 26/12) Early September 2019

Predictability

Key players are predictable the rest difficult

Value Watchlist

£4.0m def Rico has an excellent chance of starting.  After that the £4.5m safest def is probably Adam Smith.

£5.0m mid  Ibe is great value while Brooks and Stanislas are injured

Additional comments

King is penalty taker. Fraser will dominate set pieces.

Brighton

Injuries

Ezequiel Schelotto (DF) Cruciate ligament injury (since 03/03) Day to day
Jason Steele (GK) Wrist injury (since 24/01) Day to day
Jose Izquierdo (AT) Knee injury (since 03/05) Unknown
Yves Bissouma (MI) Shoulder injury (since 02/06) Unknown

Predictability

New manager with an attacking mindset so difficult to predict lineup.  3-4-3 in last 2 friendlies.

Value Watchlist

Stephens as a £4.5m mid starter.

Dunk looks the best of the £4.5m defs.  Especially if he goes to Leicester.

£4.5m Ryan and £4.0m Button are the only such combo.

Additional comments

Gross looks out in the 3-4-3 formation which leaves £6.0m forwards Murray/Maupay alone for penalties.  The transfer may have happened too late for Maupay to start GW1.

Good early fixtures

Burnley

Injuries

Steven Defour (MI) Calf Injury (since 30/01) Day to day
Bailey Peacock-Farrell (GK) Knock injury (since 27/07) Few Days
James Tarkowski (DF) Thigh injury (since 03/08) Unknown
Kevin Long (DF) Groin injury (since 03/08) Unknown
Robert Brady (MI) Rib injury (since 03/08) Unknown

Predictability

Generally good.

Value Watchlist

The £4.5m Defs in Lowton and Taylor.

Pope as a £4.5m GK with save potential.

Additional comments

£6.5m forward Wood likely to be on Pens given pre-season although £6.5m fwd Barnes did take some last season.

Wood looking the form option.

Chelsea

Injuries

Jamal Blackman (GK) Broken leg (since 16/11) Unknown
Marco Van Ginkel (MI) Cruciate ligament injury (since 26/06) Unknown
Reece James (DF) Ankle injury (since 07/06) Unknown
Antonio Rüdiger (DF) Knee injury (since 28/04) Medio September 2019
Callum Hudson-Odoi (MI) Achilles tendon injury (since 22/04) Late August 2019
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (MI) Achilles tendon injury (since 16/05) Late November 2019

Predictabilty

Doubts all over the place with a new manager.  Has played 4-2-3-1.

Value Watchlist

£7.0m forward Abrahams looks great value for a Chelsea CF.

£6.0m Mids Barkley and Mount are great value as CAM’s it’s just who gets the nod.

Mids £7.0m Pedro and £7.5m Pulisic look good value.

£5.0m CBs Zouma and Christensen also look great value again it’s just who gets the nod.  Zouma probably has the edge.

Additional comments

Willian still to come in after Copa America rest.  Penalties up in the air between Abrahams, Barkley and Willian

Crystal Palace

Injuries

James Tomkins (DF) Groin injury (since 06/04) Unknown

Predictability

Fairly good but Zaha will change things including formation potentially.  Hodgson certainly ended on a 4-4-2

Value Watchlist

£5.0m Def Sakho missing the last match opens the door for £4.0m Kelly early on if £4.5m Cahill isn’t ready

Additional comments

Zaha if he doesn’t leave will come in and change the formation to a 4-4-2 and play up top or a 4-3-3 and play on the left of a front 3.

£7.0m Mid Milivojevic is the penalty taker supreme but you can for it in the price.

Everton

Injuries

Fabian Delph Thigh injury (since 03/08) Unknown

Predictability

Good

Value Watchlist

£7.0m forward Moise Kean looks great value for £7.0m if he’s ready to start GW1

Additional comments

£8.0m Sigurdsson should have pens and set pieces.

£8.0m Mid Richarlison back from Copa America only recently and only played 45 mins of pre-season so he’s bracketed with Walcott.

The loss of Zouma and Gueye brings questions over the defence.  The proposed signing of Sidibe makes Coleman potentially vulnerable at some stage.



Leicester

Injuries

None

Predictability

Despite the above Rodgers is quite a tinkerer

Value Watchlist

£5.5m Albrighton is good value but you’d go for £6.5m mids Tielemans or Perez as an alternative.

£4.5m def Soyuncu offers value if Leicester don’t make a transfer.

Additional comments

Rodgers has played a 4-4-2 diamond which would see Perez as a striker and Maddison at the tip of the diamond.  However he has also played 4-1-4-1 which would see Perez out on the right.  He does tuck in with that formation with RB Pereira providing the width.

Ndidi’s return from AFCON and Maguires loss does diminish their defensive strength.

Liverpool

Injuries

James Milner (MI) Muscle injury (since 04/08) Day to day
Ryan Kent Illness (since 28/07) Day to day
Caoimhin Kelleher (GK) Broken wrist (since 06/07) Medio August 2019
Nathaniel Clyne (DF) Cruciate ligament injury (since 19/07) Late January 2020

Predictabilty

Good apart from the number 4, 10 and 8.

Value Watchlist

Matip and Gomez offer a £5.5m opening in the defence. Gomez started the Community Shield but Matip came on to impress

Additional comments

Mane return from AFCON looks like he will miss GW1.  £5.5m Origi played on the left of the front 3.

Milner is the designated pen taker but Salah when Milners off the pitch.

Manchester City

Injuries

Benjamin Mendy (DF) Meniscus injury (since 16/05) Back in training
Aymeric Laporte (DF) Knock injury (since 04/08) Unknown
Leroy Sane Knee injury (since 04/08) Unknown

Predictabilty

Key players generally play subject to rest related rotation

Value Watchlist

Zinchenko offers value at £5.5m but Mendy will be back in a couple of games.  £5.5m Stones offers value with Otamendi in competition although Otamendi is normally a right sided CB.

Additional comments

With Sane an injury doubt and Aguero without preseason minutes it seems that the post Sane Community Shield injury lineup is likely for GW1.  I suspect Jesus would take pens in this scenario

Manchester United

Injuries

 Alexis Sanchez (AT) Hamstring Injury (since 06/07) Back in training
Timothy Fosu-Mensah (MI) Knee injury (since 13/04) Day to day
Paul Pogba (MI) Back injury (since 02/08) Few Days
Demetri Mitchell (MI) Meniscus injury (since 12/02) Unknown
Lee Grant (GK) Unknown (since 18/07) Unknown
Eric Bailly Bertrand (DF) Knee injury (since 25/07) Late December 2019

Predictability

Low – OGS tinkers with formations and personnel

Value Watchlist

£7.5m mid Martial as a CF is possible.  Even £8.5m Rashford could be good value.

£4.5m forward Greenwood looks the ultimate value but seems unlikely to start.

Additional comments

Pogba seems like he’s going to play in the 2 of 4-2-3-1 which limits his appeal although you’d expect him to retain pens.

Newcastle

Injuries

DeAndre Yedlin (DF) Groin injury (since 03/05) Back in training
Robert Elliot (GK) Back injury (since 25/02) Back in training
Christian Atsu (AT) Hamstring Injury (since 29/06) Unknown
Matt Ritchie (MI) Hamstring Injury (since 30/07) Unknown
Florian Lejeune (DF) Cruciate ligament injury (since 06/04) Late August 2019

Predictability

Low as new manager Steve Bruce appointed

Value Watchlist

Almiron has potential at £6.0m especially if he plays in a front 2.  Hard to know how new signing £5.5m mid Saint Maximin will fit in

Hayden as a £4.5m bench warmer

The defence if strong as last season is value at £4.5m.  Lascelles the most reliable.

Additional comments

Norwich

fantasy premier league preseason

Injuries

Timm Klose (DF) Hip injury (since 02/08) Few Days
Alexander Tettey (MI) Calf Injury (since 16/07) Early August 2019
Christoph Zimmermann (DF) Meniscus injury (since 10/07) Late August 2019
Louis Thompson (MI) Hamstring Injury (since 14/07) A few weeks

Predictability

Good as far as the Championship was concerned

Value Watchlist

no one

Additional comments

Sheffield United

Injuries

Jake Wright (DF) Broken cheekbone (since 06/07) Back in training

Predictability

Tricky with transfers

Value Watchlist

£5.5m forward McGoldrick as a cheap pen taker if he can hold his place.

£5.0m Norwood as a pen taker after 2 in pre-season and a set piece man.

£5.5m mid Robinson as a forward

£4.0m def Lundstram

Additional comments

Southampton

fantasy premier preseason

Injuries

None

Predictability

Low.  Many formations and selection issues

Value Watchlist

Formation:  3421, 3-4-1-2, 442 or 433

Confirmation Gunn the no 1 GK.

£4.5m defs in Yoshida and Bedanrek

Additional comments

Strikers looking to be £6.0m Ings and Adams with Ings penalty taker

Spurs

Injuries

Eric Dier (MI) Unknown (since 13/07) Back in training
Serge Aurier (DF) Wrist injury (since 08/07) Back in training
Bamidele Alli (MI) Hamstring Injury (since 04/08) Unknown
Victor Wanyama (MI) Knee injury (since 29/07) Unknown
Ben Davies (DF) Groin injury (since 13/06) Early August 2019
Juan Foyth (DF) Ankle injury (since 31/07) Early September 2019
Foyth and Son are suspended for 2 games

Predictability

Mixed full backs rotate and competition in the AM position

Value Watchlist

Lots of value very short term.

£7.5m Moura for 2 games until £9.5m Son comes back as competition

£6.0m Lamela until Alli is fit.

£5.0m RB Walker Peters until same priced Aurier is fit.

Additional comments

4-4-2 diamond or 4-2-3-1 affects the Moura position.




Watford

fantasy premier league preseason

Injuries

Gerard Deulofeu (AT) Muscle injury (since 20/07) Day to day
Adalberto Peñaranda Maestre (AT) Hamstring Injury (since 06/06) Unknown

Predictability

The back 4 can be unpredictable and Gray can upset the front 2 line up but the midfield fairly settled

Value Watchlist

None

Additional comments

 

West Ham

fantasy premier league preseason

Injuries 

Lukasz Fabianski (GK) Groin injury (since 31/07) Unknown
Mark Noble (MI) Leg injury (since 27/07) Medio August 2019

Predictability

pretty good but alot of competition for the AM spots.

Watchlist

Balbuena or Fredericks will be the best of the £4.5m defence.

Wolves

Injuries

Matt Doherty (DF) Knee injury (since 10/07) Early August 2019

Predictability

Good although Europa League is the unknown

Value Watchlist

Dendoncker for security at £4.5m

Additional comments

Jimenez has returned  from CONCAF and I’d expect him to start GW1.

 

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