Here’s our updated FPL pre-season guide so far where we are focused on identifying value players for our FPL team. We review the key players in the matches to date and also focus on the best cheap players for our benches. There’s also an update on the potential lineups of every Premier League team taking into account preseason matches and transfers
FPL Pre-season guide – the weeks pre-season matches summary and update potential lineups
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Introduction
Preseason is in 3 parts
Value Players
Firstly there is my list of 44 players that I will be assessing over pre-season to try and find players that are undervalued and then establish as to whether they will be starters in their team. That last point is crucial. As I write this there will be some element of gametime risk about each player on this list or at least some positional interest. Martinelli is an obvious example as he at least has competition for his place with Smith-Rowe.
There’s also a included a list of players with loan or transfer potential to create value for another team. Take £4.0m Neco Williams for example has gone to Nottingham Forest from Liverpool.
It’s not a complete menu of players that I will be considering for my team. It doesn’t include the likes of Salah, De Bruyne, Son, Robertson, Toney, Cancelo etc etc. All these players I know will start. That’s the difference and we know what they can do. Preseason form for me is irrelevant for these types of players. Their priority is fitness.
You can see this list updated on the FFGeek Patreon site
In the commentary below I will give the key points after the weekends matches.
Preseason matches
Pre-season matches are starting to look more focused on first team lineups but there’s still some preseason matches are against poor opposition with teams mixed up with reserves, young players with no discernible lineup pattern. That means at times there’s very little to take from the games.
I’ll focus as I said above on value players getting into the starting lineup
I’ll comment generally here but you can find the link to the google spreadsheet I’m running on the FFGeek Patreon site
Each Teams Potential lineup
I will also be GW1 starting possible lineups for each team in the Premier league which I will keep updated over pre-season. It will show what I think the GW1 lineup and formation will be and where there will be uncertainties. I put the first one up over a week ago and will update it next Tuesday the 27th.
Summary of significant events for value players to date
Includes information from games up to Thursday 21st July
£4.5m Mids
I prefer having the cheapest FPL bench possible especially with the 5 subs rule in the Premier League which could mean there is less chance that our FPL benches will be needed
Andreas of Fulham is still the best option but after that it’s getting difficult. There could easily be no more that are even close to certain.
At the moment I’m monitoring Da Silva of Brentford, Reed of Fulham, Forshaw of Leeds and Lavia and Diallo of Southampton. There’s also potential loans for Gilmour and Winks but I’m not getting my hopes up and we could end up in a situation that if you need another bench Mid you have to go to the £5.0m market which would be a great waste of money
£4.0m Defenders
Again we pretty much have a lock with Forests £4.0m Nico Williams.
Again there’s likely to be no more either through starting lineups or loans. Patterson of Everton has a chance but likely only to Coleman is fit. There’s a player at Wolves called Toti who has played some pre-season but I can’t see it.
Otherwise it’s hoping for loans but the likes of Brandon Williams, Nat Phillips and Tanganga are looking unlikely to be starting in the PL anywhere.
Other players worth mentioning
In no particular order
Martinelli and White
Trying to work out if £6.0m Arsenal Mid Martinelli will be first choice has been difficult with injuries to Smith Rowe and Vieira although at least Vieira is mainly right sided.
£4.5m CB White has a very talked up Saliba to contend with and the other option Tomiyasu has yet to play in preseason.
Bailey
The £5.0m Villa mid has played decent minutes in pre-season and could really nail the starting spot. He has competition and will be a sub magnet I imagine but would be a standout for the price as an AM.
Wissa
The £5.5m Brentford Mid should play on the left of a front 3 although need to see that he can fend of new signing Lewis Potter
Rashford
Ten Hag saying that Martial could be the GW1 CF starter is great news for hm at £7.0m but it also reduces the main competition for that LAM spot for £6.5m Rashford. Ajax’s Antony joining could cause problems though even though he is a RW as Sancho could move to the LAM side.
Ait Nouri/ Jonny
It seems that RWB Semedo has a chance to be fit forGW1. If he takes the RWB side then which of those 2 play RWB? I personally aren’t sure
Nathan Tella
The £5.0m Southampton mid has played the last 2 as a striker. I can’t see it happening ultimately for GW1 but worth monitoring
Doherty/Perisic
So much going on here. £4.5m Spence joins from Forest although weirdly Conte talks about him as a Club investment and one for the future. A few days before he goes on about how great Moura could be as a RWB. If I had to bet I would say Doherty will start but it’s not an easy one that’s for sure. The issue with Perisic is just minutes after an injury in May. Will he be fit enough to start is the question?
Mateta/Edouard
No clue as who of the £5.5m forwards will start here given that both have played most games. That could be the case but with Olise injured we can’t get the full picture on what the manager wants to do with a full attack available. Fixtures are terrible in any case but at the moment it would be the cheapest starting forward if one emerges.
Broja
Looks like the £5.5m Chelsea forward could go to West Ham. Will he start? That’s hard to say but I guess we’ll see.
Nunez
The £9.0m Liverpool CF scored 4 goals v Leipzig coming on as a sub. That combined with £8.0m Mid Diaz having a quiet game saw some switching with FPL managers. I still think he will hold his place over Firmino and that’s made more certain as Jota looks like he could easily not be fit for GW1.
Community Shield.
I haven’t talked about City. Injuries to Laporte and Dias. Foden, Gundogan and Stones not on the tour due to “entry requirements”. I assuming that’s vaccines. Also a minimal injury, it seems, to Haaland means the Comm Shield on the 31st is going to be the crucial point for the City lineup 1 week before GW1.
That will also be helpful for Liverpool to see the front 3 as well as whether Alisson is fit and whether Konate or Matip will partner Van Dijk.
Each Teams Potential lineup
I will also be GW1 starting possible lineups for each team in the Premier league which I will keep updated over pre-season. It will show what I think the GW1 lineup and formation will be and where there will be uncertainties. Next one likely Tuesday the 27th.
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Bournemouth
Brentford
Brighton
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds
Leicester
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Spurs
Richarlison suspended GW1
West Ham
Wolves
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