Here’s our FPL team tips Gameweek 1 article where the 3rd group of the FFGeek contributors show their teams for GW1. In this part there’s Costas Chari, Joseph Crilley, Chris Tucker and Sergio Torija
Fantasy premier league team tips GW1 – FFG contributor’s teams part 3
Geek note: If you join our Patreon site you will get access to an FPL contributor tracker team which combines the contributors individual teams each week to show their favourite players, transfers and captains. It will always be completed on a Friday/Saturday in a normal gameweek. There will also be a spreadsheet of each managers teams, transfers and captains so you can drill down further.
You also get:
Joe’s interactive transfer planner and points projection tool
Weekly podcasts with myself and the contributors
FFGeek private leagues
Access to the FFGeek Slack channel for discussion with the contributors and members
$2 and $3 tiers per calendar month. No commitment beyond 1 month
This is part 3 of the FPL managers who contribute to the FFGeek site with good histories who show their teams each week. This will give people a feel for what other managers are doing. It’s a fairly informal thing with no obligation on anyone and these teams may change at anytime before the deadline without further notice. In the future it also wont cover early transfers. It’s just to give an idea of the trends for the week no more.
See the part 1 contributors and part 2 contributors article
Joseph Crilley
Joseph’s last 3 seasons OR were 28k, 7k and 13k
Surprisingly, the major tinkering of my squad was finalised a few days ago as I took the opportunity to spend time planning on the beach during my recent holiday. The combination of sun, sea and sand gave me a clear mind in order to apply the finishing touches and I feel near-enough set for GW1.
As mentioned on the latest podcast with Rob and FFG, I will be fielding a 4-5-1 formation as I feel the stronger value is in midfield and defence along with a wider array of options; the forwards just aren’t for me this year! I will avoid going into too much specific detail on the squad as there is plenty of template players included and therefore isn’t a particular need for further explanation on them (e.g. Salah who will be my captain this week).
In building the team, I have looked to keep flexibility in order to create opportunities to bring in any early bandwagons that I think could emerge. For example, my three mid-price midfielders could become a Chelsea or Man Utd option who starts the season strong or Digne could be transferred out for one of their defenders.
In terms of what could change before the Friday deadline, the key position is the 11th player in my side as I will be selecting from a variety of 6-7mil midfield options. I spoke about my admiration for the West Ham attack on Twitter, which is why I currently have Lanzini, who will be their no.10, as my ‘punt’. However, I am also considering other players including Pereyra (fixtures pick), Barkley (risky top 6 choice) and Lamela (Spurs bias).
I am also getting twitchy about Zinchenko as Whu (A), Tot (H), Bou (A) doesn’t scream clean sheets so I am contemplating whether to avoid City defence for now and bring one in for GW4 once we are more comfortable with the line-up. If I do this, then I would select KWP to take advantage of the Spurs home fixtures with the view to using my bench defender in GW2.
So that’s how my GW1 team is looking and the only advice that I would offer is to try and avoid last-minute tinkering. You have spent the summer researching FPL, so you don’t want your mind to become frazzled and forget all that during a panicked situation at 6:30pm on Friday! Best of luck to everyone reading & all the contributors for the upcoming season!
Chris Tucker
Chris’s last 2 seasons overall rank were 17k and 1k
This is where I’m at with my team:
Robertson, Van Dijk, Salah, Sterling, Deulofeu and Wilson survive from my original draft, as do my bench warmers – Button, Dendoncker, Greenwood and Lundstram. Of those, I expect all to make the final cut, with the possible exception of Deulofeu. He may become, for example, Jota or even King if I decide to invest more money into defence. It depends on any news regarding his fitness as I am keen to capitalise on that GW1 Brighton fixture.
For me, the big takeaway from the Community Shield was the advanced position of KDB. He looked back to his best, creating plenty of chances. Barring injury, I fancy him to be PL player of the year. Given his form, I suddenly wanted him in my team.
What this meant was downgrading Walker to Zinchenko and Digne to Cathcart. Both have been brought in with initial fixtures and my early wildcard in mind; I would not touch either long-term. This has allowed me to turn Pereyra into Perez and Sigurdsson into KDB. Ryan has become Pope – I’m very much back and forwards on my choice of £4.5m goalkeeper.
It pleases me when I see that I now have 3 City and 3 Liverpool players in my starting 11. Not only that, but 2 City forward players. They create the most chances and score the most goals in the league. I’ll enjoy watching their games more knowing that I have good offensive coverage.
That said, I am nervous about not owning three players: Digne, Sigurdsson and Fraser. Particularly given their favourable early fixtures. I can see me sacrificing KDB for Fraser and moving from Cathcart to Digne tomorrow. I’m going to sleep on it!
Costas Chari
Costas’s last 3 seasons overall rank were 84k, 29k and 27k
Hello all! Another FPL season begins! Its been so long ago when i made my first draft. Many changes have followed.
Team planning.
Before making your team it is always important to set a timeframe for the team. Most have made teams to get them up to GW4 which is the first international break and then wildcard. Personally I made my team for the first 6-7 gwks and then wildcard. I have planned (although a single injury or player in form might change everything) transfers to get me there without taking hits (very important).
The team I am fairly settled for GW1 is as follows. Team plays a 3-5-2 as I think midfielders hold a great value and various sources of points.
GKs
went for a cheapie Brighton double up with Ryan and Button. Ryan has the fixtures and the save points. Last year whenever Brighton had a clean sheet he also got bonus points. With West Ham, Southampton and Burnley at home during the first 5 GWs I had to give him a chance.
DEFs
Liverpool double up with VVD and TAA is straight forward. Zinchenko as my Man City cover. They had 21 and 20 CS last season, so even if they have a bad season and each team have 15 CS then I still get 45. Cheapies Rico and Lundstram fill the 2 spots.
MIDs
Salah and Sterling my big hitter picks and captains. I went for Siggy as he has set pieces, penalties, corners and great fixtures. Fraser is in the team as well but will probably go out of the team GW3 for a Leicester asset (Tielemans/ Perez). Lastly my punt 0.5% ownership with set pieces and a good goal and assist record both in belgium and pre season with Brighton- Trossard. He will stay in the team for the fIrst 3-4 gameweeks and then switch to a Chelsea asset as I need to monitor them.
FWDs
King has the fixtures and penalties (did not have the funds for Wilson). Deeney is in after Deulofeu injury and also has pens. Deeney will stay up until GW4 and then change to either Haller or Wood? Greenwood as the bench holder.
Good luck to everyone! Let the games begin!!!!!
Sergio Torija
Sergio’s last 3 seasons were 596k, 17k and 21k
Still one day to go, so some more playing around to be done, but I’ve gone for what feels a very alternative team in all lines, also with the high risk of no City cover. That doesn’t sound great, but I do like the starting 11 and the fixtures, and I have hope in the alternatives.
In goal, I’ve gone for 2 playing keepers, one being Leno, none of which is popular but… Arsenal do have great fixtures up to December, except GWs 3,4&7, where Heaton covers to perfection.
In defence, three premiums plus the two 4.0 defenders that seem more likely to play, again a bit risky, but need to liberate budget somewhere.
In midfield I’ve trusted in Martial & Sigurdsson to go with Salah, with Robinson a punty choice as 4th mid. Dendoncker as 5th seemed easy.
Finally in attack, I considered Aguero, but the uncertainty over minutes have made me go back to Kane. King and Deulofeu complete the attack.
All in all, there are a few risky personal choices, but the million in the bank will help rebalance the squad as required in the first couple of weeks.
Good start of the season Geekers !
Geek note: If you join our Patreon site you will get access to an FPL contributor tracker team which combines the contributors individual teams each week to show their favourite players, transfers and captains. It will always be completed on a Friday/Saturday in a normal gameweek. There will also be a spreadsheet of each managers teams, transfers and captains so you can drill down further.
You also get:
Joe’s interactive transfer planner and points projection tool
Weekly podcasts with myself and the contributors
FFGeek private leagues
Access to the FFGeek Slack channel for discussion with the contributors and members
$2 and $3 tiers per calendar month. No commitment beyond 1 month
FFGeek league code codes:
fantasy premier league: fnqq66
Sky Sports fantasy football: fantasyfootball.skysports.com/leagues/join with PIN 8426114
Telegraph fantasy football: passcode 8693. PIN code 8000919. The telegraph have also offered a prize of £100 to the winner.
Sun Dream Team:
Classic League PIN: SGDKX9Y3
H2H PIN: SGFU3CR9
Social Media
Follow FFGeek on twitter and facebook and instagram for article updates and news
