Here’s our FPL Preseason article where we check on our preseason watchlist and how the teams and players are doing in FPL preseason after the final weekend of the 7/8 August. 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 After The Final Weekends Games – 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 5 August
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 £5.5m mid Smith Rowe, £6.0m mid Willock, £4.5m Def Ben White and £5.0m attacking LB Tierney. Saka’s return is also of interest.
The last friendly was a 0-1 loss to Spurs. It looked like a pretty much first choice team.
£4.5m Def White starts but £4.5m RB Chambers on the bench. £5.5m Smith Rowe continues to start. Aubameyang was on left with Lacazette starting CF. However that was probably because Saka was on bench after Euros rest and if he starts Aubameyang could be CF would be my guess. From the highlights I thought Arsenal were pretty ordinary.
Aston Villa
£8.0m forward Ings and £6.5m mid Bailey have changed the landscape somewhat.
Villa beat Salernitana 3-1. I imagine the formation was 4-3-3 with a DM. Martinez, Mings and Targett all start. No Bailey (maybe quarantine?), No Buendia (injury not sure how serious). £8.0m Fwd Ings starts. Traore on bench.
The no Bailey and Buendia meant that El Ghazi started and he took the pen not Ings. I think though that if either Bailey, Buendia and Watkins start as AMs in 4-2-3-1 El Ghazi won’t and Ings will take the pens.
However Watkins went off injured no idea of seriousness yet so it’s all up in the air at the moment which is a shame given the first 3 fixtures
Brentford
I’m only interested to see if £5.5m Mid Mbeumo plays as a forward. I don’t think preseason is going to be the decision maker on £6.5m fwd and penalty taker Ivan Toney
Toney didn’t make the 2-1 win over Valencia due to an injury but is expected to be fit for GW1. Mbeumo looked like he played as a right sided forward but the relevance of it is questionable with Toney not playing. I can’t see him playing in a 2 with Toney at this time
Brighton
In reality we are only interested in £4.5m GK Sanchez and a £4.5m Defender preferably a wing back.
In the 2-0 loss to Getafe, Sanchez and £4.5m Def Webster back from injury as was £5.0m Dunk so the defence looking near full strength. It seemed they played a back 4 with £4.5m Veltman on the right. Veltman is the most attacking option but for £4.5m Webster I think was the safest
£5.5m fwd Connolly started with £6.5m Trossard and £6.5m Maupay coming off the bench but I can’t believe Connolly will start GW1 but it does attach some risk if you’re thinking of picking Maupay. There are rumours around CF Odsonne Edouard of Celtic to further complicate things.
Interestingly Scherpen is injured so £4.0m Steele can be your back up GK if you want injury cover. Not sure how long he’s out though
Chelsea
The rotation and multitude of players at the Euros, plus the tricky fixtures means no one really of interest for GW1
No games played since the last update.
Mendy, Rudiger, Pulisic, Havertz, Werner and Ziyech are the players who could be considered something like first team material who have played. The defence is decimated and no sign of £6.0m Chilwell .
There is another friendly on Wednesday the 11th but who knows how he will approach this. It looks pretty certain Lukaku is coming although whether in time to start in GW1 is questionable. It definitely dents false 9 Havertz’s appeal though
Crystal Palace
No one of interest.
Last friendly was a 3-1 win over Watford with Zaha scoring twice including a penalty and Benteke coming off the bench to get another. Interestingly £4.5m mid McArthur has played 3 of the last 4 friendlies. He may not be as nailed as say Bissouma but he does offer some attacking potential.
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.
Pickford started but Calvert-Lewin didn’t make it with a slight knock. Everton were a defensive disaster in the 4-0 loss to Man Utd with Pickford looking at his unpredictable worst. Really hard to pay £5.5m for Digne after that
Leeds
Raphinha and Ayling are of interest and both are safe starters and I’m not really worried about form in pre-season. Rodrigo as a £6.5m starter fwd would be interesting
Leeds drew 2-2 with Villareal. Firpo has a knock so didn’t start. I couldn’t tell if Dallas went back to LB or Struijk played there. Rodrigo continues to start but as a CAM .
Leicester
The 1-0 victory in the Community Shield (against a very understrength Man City) had everything.
Rodgers played a back 4 with £4.0m Amartey in the side. I can’t imagine Rodgers won’t go into the transfer market for a replacement with both Evans and Fofana injured but no recent rumours so he maybe good for a few games.
£7.5m forward Iheanacho didn’t start again so that’s the end of the road for me even if he did come on and score the penalty. £6.0m mid Perez started in Rodgers favoured 4-1-4-1.
£7.0m mid Barnes looked good and could be an option
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Other posts
Attacking players fixture difficulty Schedule
Defensive players fixture difficulty schedule
Kev and Rob’s first draft teams
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
4 more FFGeek Contributors drafts
The FFGeek Contributor tracker team
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