Here’s our FPL preseason update where we check on our preseason watchlist and how the teams and players are doing in FPL preseason. This is part 1 Arsenal through to Leicester. We also note anything else that catches our eye after reviewing all the preseason games and activity to date.
FPL Preseason Update 29th July – How’s The FFGeek Watchlist Doing – Part 1 Arsenal To Leicester
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Introduction
Firstly here’s the FPL preseason watchlist article link. Also our article on which players could be late back due to International tournaments is relevant
There’s also last weeks update on the 22nd July
I’m looking at specific players and issues within a team so my FPL preseason work is focused rather than giving you a mass of information on players who have no FPL relevance.
I won’t repeat the watchlist article here but from the commentary you will understand what I’m looking for.
Sofascore is a great resource for giving you lineups although not in every game.
Arsenal
Our interest here is Smith Rowe, Willock, Ben White completing his transfer and £5.0m attacking LB Tierney. Saka’s return is also of interest.
£5.5m mid Smith Rowe continues to feature starting in what looked like a sort of first string lineup as a CAM in the 4-1 win over Millwall on the 24th. The next game on the 28th was against Watford and again resulted in a 4-1 win. This was less than a 1st string team and Smith Rowe didn’t start. The problem for Smith Rowe is more the continual pursuit of an alternative CAM in Maddison and Odegaard
No sign of £6.0m mid Willock in either of the 2 games and among transfer rumours. Hard to see him fit enough for GW1
Tierney started v Millwall but no sign of £6.5m Saka yet who has to be a doubt for GW1
The Statman Dave youtube is worth watching
Aston Villa
Here were interested in the £8.0m Jack Grealish transfer speculation and his post Euros return. Also £6.0m mid El Ghazi interests me if he starts and retains pens
Only the 1 friendly, the 2-0 loss to Stoke since my last update. A fairly mixed team started with no Grealish anywhere. No Traore either after a groin operation and no sign of Trezeguet gives El Ghazi a decent chance of starting GW1 and he was the LAM in a 4-2-3-1 here.
Grealish transfer chat re Man City aimlessly wanders on
Match report Youtube highlights
Brentford
£5.5m mids Mbeumo potentially of interest if he plays as a forward.
I’ve gone straight to the 2-2 Man Utd draw against a very 2nd string Man Utd team. Mbeumo didn’t start but came on as sub and appeared to be playing as an RM. Scored a very good goal
Brighton
Ben White confirms his transfer to Arsenal. Does Potter play a back 3 and where does Veltman play now that Lamptey is injury. Check Sanchez back post Euros
Just the 1 game played in preseason so far a 0-0 with Rangers.
A mixed 1st half and 2nd half team with no sign of Veltman or Sanchez. Dunk, Webster, Lamptey and Welbeck all injured so game was fairly meaningless
Burnley
Only the 2 £4.5m mids of interest here in Brownhill and Cork.
Both played the 2 games otherwise both were of no interest vs Oldham and Blackpool
Chelsea
The rotation and multitude of players at the Euros means no one really of interest for GW1
Chelsea beat Bournemouth on the 27th with a team consisting of Kepa and Danny Drinkwater to give you an idea of how close the team is to a first 11
No movement on the £6.5m fwd Abraham leaving the club and he started in this game
Crystal Palace
No one of interest. The Ipswich game saw the closest to a first 11 starting and £4.0m def Kelly wasn’t in it
Everton
Only £5.5m Digne and £8.0m Calvert-Lewin’s return from Euro duties is of interest. Plus general Benitez stuff including the acquisition of 2 wingers pushing back Digne.
2 games played for Everton with Digne featuring heavily in both. £5.5m mid Gray has been getting good reviews in what looked like a pretty strong team in the 2nd match.
No sign of Calvert-Lewin as yet.
Leeds
Raphinha and Ayling are of interest and both played here but both are safe starters and I’m not really worried about form in pre-season.
Leicester
We will see Leicester in the Community Shield on the 7 August which will be helpful so to some extent the rest of preseason is fairly superfluous
However, a desired 3-5-2 formation for Fofana and Iheanacho are firmly on our minds
The 2nd game a 1-0 loss to Wycombe didn’t help much. A fairly mixed side. Iheanacho played the 2nd half and Fofana CB in, worryingly for Fofana, what looked like a back 4 in the first half and 4-4-2. Evans appears to be still injured which could be a short term reprieve for Fofana.
Other posts
Attacking players fixture difficulty Schedule
Defensive players fixture difficulty schedule
Kev and Rob’s first draft teams
The FFGeek Tracker team (8k OR last season)
An overview of Promoted Norwich City
Players who could miss GW1 due to International tournaments
The FFGeek Pre-season watchlist
Andrew Whitfield’s latest draft team
The Youtube and Twitter template
A team with 3 premium captain picks
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