Here’s top 1k finisher Ben Humphrey with his first draft telegraph fantasy football team
Telegraph fantasy football – Ben Humphrey posts his first draft team
Also see Ben’s bargain telegraph fantasy football players
Here is my first draft team for TFF. I say first draft because I’ve already lost count of how many transfers I’ve made and how many times I’ve changed my mind about players. There are so many things to think about. Not only do we have the usual prices, good fixtures, pre-season and guaranteed starters to think about, we now also have to consider the late returners from the World Cup.
I have personally decided to set up my team so I have the best that it can be without considering those who have uncertain return dates. Transfers in TFF are too precious to be used after a week or two replacing players from your initial team to bring in the late comers. I want a solid start so I am trying to build a team around certain starters with good fixtures and multiple sources of points where possible.
Here’s the team:
GOALKEEPERS
This was one of the more straight forward areas for me. It was always a shootout between Alisson and Ederson. They both start the season with good fixtures, and represent teams with good clean sheet records. At the moment I’ve gone for the Liverpool stopper Alisson, just because it saves a few pennies.
DEFENDERS
After my previous article where I searched for some possible bargains, I chose to go with the cheapest of the Burnley backline for S. Ward, £3.0m. He has some decent fixtures to capitalise on so I’m hoping that Burnley can rediscover their mean streak.
Next up I’ve gone for the attacking menace of Van Aanholt, £3.2m. I maintain that he could be a steal at that price if he can stay fit.
I was always going to double up on either Liverpool or Man City, and at the moment I’m on the red side with Robertson, £3.8m. It’s a perfect storm for the Scotsman, with clean sheets, attacking returns, good fixtures, and guaranteed starts and of world cup involvement. Why wouldn’t you have him in your team?
Finally, my most expensive defender, Mendy, £4.0m. Last season was a bit of a write off, but I’m expecting big things this time round. It could be a defensive and attacking point’s festival. The Community Shield at the weekend will hopefully seal his starting place.
MIDFIELD
First of all, and most obviously I have Mr Salah, £6.0m. It’s far easier to include the Egyptian in your TFF team without losing some of the balance in your team, unlike in FPL.
I’m taking a bit of a punt on Everton’s Richarlison, £3.8m. His manager loves him, so game time should be assured. I’s also too easy to write him off after the second half of last season. I think he will be in many more teams by Christmas, with Marco Silva’s brand of football suiting the young Brazilian.
My final spot in the middle of the park goes to Ramsey, £4.6m. I like the look of Arsenal’s fixtures, so it was a choice between the Welshman and Mkhitaryan. At the moment, I’m going for the more direct threat of Ramsey, but this one’s certainly not cast in stone.
STRIKERS
Other than Salah, the most certain pick for me was Aguero, £6.8m. I’ve always loved having him in my fantasy teams, and with City’s fixtures, and the late return of Jesus, he was always going to make my final cut. He’s back in training but yet to feature in pre-season so the Community Shield will again be telling.
My next spot had originally gone to Aubmeyang, but the saving of £0.6m, and the fact that he is possibly destined for a role on the wing, left me opting for Lacazette, £6.0m.
Another player that I had desperately wanted was Arnautovic but I have recently been put off by his tough fixtures. I fear I may live to regret this, as he proved at the back end of last season that he can score against anyone. I have instead chosen the budget charms of Mr Wood of Burnley, £4.5m. He did have a few injury problems last season, but I’m hoping that a summer break will have him ready to go. I was particularly surprised to find that Wood is available for £0.5m less than his team mate Ashley Barnes.
At the time of writing, I am pretty happy with my team, but as we all know, things can change in the blink of an eye, and with it, our best laid plans. The only spot that is still up for grabs, is Ramsey’s. I do like his directness and goal threat, but his injury record does worry me.
I will be back before the season starts with my final, solid, concrete picks for the season ahead, so let’s see if I can control the urge to tinker.
Good luck, and happy tinkering
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