Here’s our Sun Dream Team tips article where our Sun Pundit Simon Rowley outlines his team plans for GW1 and the early gameweeks
Sun Dream Team tips – Our Sun Pundit Simon Rowley outlines his team so far
You can also see some stats and a first draft team from the Geek using this link
Last season
I finished just outside the top 12k, which isn’t too bad, but was disappointing after getting as high as 1400 in December. My transfers gambles didn’t pay off after that, unfortunately. In the World Cup version, my best team finished just outside the top 2k, which wasn’t too bad at all.
Team selection
As FFG has already pointed out, the world cup and players returning late, doesn’t make selection easy at all to start with. With that in mind, here’s my first draft:
Goalkeeper
Pope looks terrific value, especially if Burnley qualify for Europa league group stages, but his fitness, and indeed starting spot, need monitoring before the season starts.
Defence
At the minute, I’m playing 4-3-3, so I’ve gone for 4 strong defensive teams, in Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Spurs.
Bailly looks likely to start the season, as does Laporte, but neither are long term picks. Robertson looks an absolute bargain, as does Davison Sanchez. I have plans in place for Bailly and Laporte, but more of that later.
Midfield
Sane was always going to be my first choice midfielder, with no World Cup fitness worries to consider. Willian looks a decent price (but transfer risk, more of that later).
Zaha is an early season punt, as Palaces fixtures don’t look to bad. He will also probably play as a forward (Arnautovic is the same, but his fixtures look trickier), but isn’t a long term pick.
Forwards
Pretty self explanatory with Salah, Aubameyang and Aguero, but I will be looking at getting Kane in for Aguero at some point.
Willian – with Barcelona seemingly determined to sign him, it opens up the possibility of Pedro getting more game time, and at £2.5m he could be an absolute bargain (reclassified as a midfielder this year, rather than a forward). This would allow me to upgrade Laporte to Mendy, who could have a massive season after last years injury. This would give me this team :
Possible other transfers and changes
With Jose apparently determined to sign Maguire from Leicester, he becomes a very attractive signing after his world cup rest. In that instance he would come in for Bailly. Lingard seems to have nailed down a starting spot under Jose, and looks a decent price at £4m. On return from rest he will come in for Zaha. As I’ve already said, Kane will come in for Aguero, these will probably be done using Augusts transfers, at the end of the month. This would give me either:
Depending on Willians possible transfer.
Good luck to everyone in this seasons competition, all transfers will be put on twitter as I do them (@upthevale1).
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