Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 2
By the time that you read this, things — fixtures — will have happened! Certain players (most probably) brought in double-digit hauls for their owners; several favourites (most likely) got booked. The culprits may well seem obvious now, but it wasn’t even remotely clear on Saturday morning.
Indeed, whilst I’m writing to you from the past — well, that can be said of any given passage, but it’s often fresh off the print — we’ve now observed ~2.105% of the new [F]PL season, albeit not a full Gameweek yet. That leaves us with just under 98% of the season to chase: almost quite literally, then, all to play for! One step at a time, though, or perhaps three to four steps; Premier League fixtures (even in the crowds’ absences) will never cease to function as our guiding lights.
This might just be my first Fixtures article, but you know the drill already. As always, take the bold statements that follow this with a pinch of salt. Then flush them all down your now-briny toilet.
FPL FIXTURE TRACKER
But first up that all important Fixture Tracker itself…
FIXTURE TRACKER LINK
Worth Chasing
The pair of elephants lurking in the room (as per Swirly’s reference last week) both need addressing here, but first off, it’s only fair to feature the best upcoming fixtures of all…
Everton — West Brom (H), Crystal Palace (A), Brighton (H)
You never know how The Toffees will perform in a given match. Again, that can be said of any given team, granted. Given their [outfield] squad, however, this is a baffling bunch. Did any of you see that Spurs (A) result coming? Turns out they are baffling too.
Anyway, caveats aside, this revamped squad (James Rodríguez in with a jerky four-point hit?) now faces three sides that should all be primarily aiming to survive. For a team with Ancelotti’s presumably high ambitions, this lot should yield seven to nine points, ‘should’ being the major operative word. You probably don’t have space for Digne-esque punts, but Fixtures articles don’t care.
Manchester United — Crystal Palace (H), Brighton (A), Spurs (H)
Once more, here’s a team that now faces three sides that should all be primarily aiming to survive. No more digs from now on, no matter how easy the fixture schedulers have made them. I’ll try…
Manchester United are back from their summer holidays. Of course, sadly, not everybody returned on their expected flight; in contrast, The Fridge just feels thankful to be back at all, and likely never wants to leave the safety of his kitchen again. All of the rest should be charged up and raring to go. Solskjær was driving pretty smoothly in the closing stages of the prior season and I wouldn’t be remotely surprised to see him storm towards pole position after their opening set. I’ve just realised that, beyond fridges having wheels, there’s absolutely no need for this F1 analogy.
Manchester City — Wolves (A), Leicester (H), Leeds (A)
More returns from summer, even better players, slightly harder fixtures. Granted, an initial away match at Wolves doesn’t scream out for a big GW2 transfer, yet no PL fixture necessarily stops this machine from scoring half a dozen goals. Leicester folded harder than James Milner’s fresh ironing after the post-lockdown resumption and, quite frankly, Leeds United might as well be carrying the first-time participation badge.
I expect some resilience from each of their opponents here, make no mistake, but I don’t expect much. Pep failed to pull off his three-consecutive-titles trick — he’ll instil his relentless hunger amongst everybody whom he selects to start now — we just need to figure that selection out…
Worth Running Away From
Any takers? Surely not. I’d be saving those ‘calculated gambles’ for much further down the line.
West Ham — Arsenal (A), Wolves (H), Leicester (A)
Another set of overlapping fixtures here. The teams in question, however, couldn’t be much more different — except for their questionable defences. Even then…
Never mind whatever the Newcastle result was — it can only get sadder from here.
Crystal Palace — Manchester United (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A)
Since the restart, with Norwich out of the picture, no PL team’s looked worse. Only a solitary point claimed against Spurs (which, of course, means almost nothing) in their final eight matches. Things don’t look much better for Mitchell and co. now.
I just remembered that you can use factual stats to consolidate your viewpoints…
West Brom — Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Southampton (A)
One final team with two away trips in their next three matches. Which one has the worst deal? It’s nice to remember that you don’t need to worry about your choice: stick with Pereira; ditch for an emerging option who keeps winking at you; just don’t bring in another squad member from this tragic trio.
Probably Not Worth Losing Sleep Over
Southampton and Liverpool offer plenty of FPL options — you know their names — but it’s a pretty mixed bag for both at present. Leicester are now blessed with a very enticing pair of home fixtures that straddle their dreaded Etihad visit. Spurs cou——
I’m afraid that all that we’ve got enough space for! Good luck with your GW2 plans. I’ll catch you soon.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Fixture Analysis Gameweek 2. This article was written by Jamesimmo.
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Standard week one really. Reassessing I want rid of about 4 or 5 players. Only one week so no need to panic. Who looks bad/good might not look the same next. Certainly would not advise a wildcard while the transfer window is still open
Standard? Really? 78 pts is way above average, you nailed your captain choice and you fluked Mitchell’s 6pts from your bench. I would call that a pretty amazing week myself, Smash 😀
Nice going with the Salah (C), kudos. Seeing as we have quite similar teams, who are you looking at getting rid of? (Guessing at Vinagre, Mitro, Havertz, Ings and TAA)
I finished GW1 with 77 points.
For GW2, I still play with the same lineup, I just replaced Harsion with Maximin.
I have postponed the arrival of KDB for week 3.
Great scoring. Well done mate :good:
Missed the Newcastle game. Can any one explain whether Hendricks is playing a more advanced position that he managed a goal and an assist or was it just luck that he was there at the correct place at the correct time? But lightning won’t strike twice..
He was playing more attacking than he usually is at Burnley. Will he keep his place long term in that role though now they have signed Fraser
8 point hit incoming who is the best 5m or below def looks like Vintage going down tonight & KDB going up
Silvers.
Don’t. Just, don’t.
James/Saiss. Why an 8 point hit?
Hey guys not to worried about points at this stage making cash in early days is something I always do it helps later on I like Che and Wol fixtures but I’m not sure James is nailed what do you thk ?
Btw, is that your team that is linked? Could also go with Gabriel.
Red Ars fixtures crap so leaving that for the time being no I don’t thk it is have to sort that team name ALL WHITES got 78 this Gw so call it 70 still above ave This is a LG game
It won’t do my HTH any good though ha
If Ainsley Maitland niles stays, he will be useful as a defender playing as Wingback.
Marcal seems to have taken Vinagre’s Left wingback role
Gabriel is the one being most transferred in
Shrivathsa thanks not so keen on Ars fixtures yet & if Vinagre stays it could be a risk going with Marcal
What makes you think that Vinagre is going down tonight? :scratch_one-s_head:
Two days likely but James Gabriel Saiss will go up I might have another day Or so to decide
I’m intrigued to hear your thoughts. I read a lot that you shouldn’t take too many hits and not -8 in a week etc. And it’s too early for a WC but what do you do if the targets you planned over the next 3 weeks are all going up in price? Ultimately budgets are tight at this stage that a 0.1 increase by say Fernandes and KDB in the next couple of days means I am unable to afford those moves without, obviously changing more of my squad around, thus making more transfers. Do you just give up on those targets?
igy4 it depends on the situation most top players don’t like taking hits for good reason but the start of the season is always volatile in the early GW & I would suggest this is a bit different with City & Utd not playing the first GW , :punish: I reckon there will be a lot of hits this GW but I wouldn’t be wanting to take hits ever GW
Also factor in your teams performance or if some of your players didn’t start.
Personally I always try & make cash early doors but everyone is different hit the button
I’m kind of with Silvers on this.
For a game where the object is to get the most points its strange that I don’t have any problem with throwing away 4 of them to get the team i want early on as long as you are sensible about it.
I just figure that if its someone like KDB in theory he can pay back those 4 pts easily over the rest of the season. If you taking a -4 to do something like swap stephens for bissouma then its a different story
I personally think that a hit or two is worth it to stick to a well thought out plan. If you get KDB for a hit this week for example yes it will cost you 4pts but thats not too much of a cost, esp early in the season. FPL can have a slight group mentality when it comes to certain aspects of the game but i feel if you free yourself from it, whilst still making sensible decisions, it might actually help. Plus making your own choices and playing your own game is way more fun.
Hi Igy. Hope you’re feeling ok and that FPL is a nice diversion for you at the moment.
FWIW, I’m an advocate of early transfers (and taking hits) if it would otherwise price you out of the team you want. Worst case scenario is you transfer in a player who gets injured before the next GW. Well, you can always transfer them out again for another -4. Not ideal, but you have that option. However, if you delay a transfer to avoid taking a -4 this week, or to make sure your player is healthy for the next GW, but they then go up in price and you can’t afford them, then you’re screwed. You can’t get an FPL bank loan for £0.1m.
And, as others have said, you’ll likely make up the -4 if your new player performs as you hoped. If not, well that’s bad luck, but at least you took the risk and you got the player you wanted, rather than settling for someone you didn’t.
If things go wrong in FPL, I often find it’s easier to regret making the move than to regret not making the move.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
After weeks and weeks research over the close season and some tinkering after the City and United postponement I ended up with 41 points…..a measly 41 fecking points.
Goodness if you captained Salah that got you 40 points.
My worse ever start to a season.
I knew the risks of not having big hitters in my team and paid the price big time.
So I either spit the dummy or knuckle down and use my experience, knowledge and great articles and comments from the ff247 community.
Rant over.
Jamie
You will be fine. 37 more gameweeks to go. You might even beat your 2017/18 rank this time.
You’re ahead of the game for wk2 with already having Martial and Ake. And there will be better results for Havertz, Ings, TAA etc coming up. One bad week doesn’t make a season.
Oh dear James. Whilst your GW1 team may have been better at Quidditch, things can only get better from here
Thanks guys for the encouraging words.
Fingers crossed for me that these players do something in game week 2.
Although with two Liverpool defenders against two Chelsea attackers then I fear another difficult game week.
God I can’t help myself with all my complaints.
Jamie
Jamie, I can beat you on that one. Finished with 37 points, a total car crash. Gambled with captain Kane who did f all and went with Mane instead of Salah.
I am seriously contemplating to use the WC :manic:
Hmm, linked team has you on 64. I don’t think you need a WC.
That’s an old link
LRL and Mito, sorry, I forgot to update the link the other day. Can one of you please check if it’s done now.
Yeah, you good.
Cheers Mito :good:
Link is good now. Keep Mane for now. He plays well away. Maybe Kane -> Martial?
Yes, Kane was always to be my first target. Utterly disappointed of his performance and doubt he will do much away to Sotton after playing in the Europa League on Thursday. Just hope I won’t miss him in GW 3 at home against Newcastle.
I did well to start with and I am contemplating using the WC myself. I just don’t want to lose the start by sitting on my score.
Ah, bad luck Ivan. My GW was below average too. At least we did better with our doubles team 😀
Chips, my ghost ship team finished with 3 points less and had three non players
😯
Chips, just emailed you some Fantasy Bundesliga stuff 😉
Well, as you know, I set my main team up as my ghost ship team for this season. That scored me 42pts. Our doubles team scored 72pts and my B team scored 80pts :unknw:
Oh, thanks Ivan. I’ll take a look at your email now :manic:
It’s always the bloody B team :laugh2: