Fantasy Premier League 2015-16 Pre-Season Round up
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Hello. Happy Summer everyone and welcome to your Pre-Season Article. The article is intended as a ‘work-in-progress’ and a workspace where we can keep each other up to date with all the latest line-up and substitution news for all twenty of this season’s Premier League teams ahead of our final selection of our fantasy squads.
We should also record the scoreline particulars including the all-important scorers, assisters and ‘nearly men’. Any salient information such as a defender on penalty kicks duties, a midfielder playing striker or Asmir Begovic playing some part in a Chelsea match to let him think he has a chance of playing this season, can be found here.
Of course, if you are lucky enough to witness any of the action, your opinion is valued too so let us know who impresses and doesn’t impress during these games.
Now you may have noticed the cunning use of “your”, “we”, and “each other” above. This is not a one-man band, because I’m useless musically and I’m not on at all hours (as much as I would like to be), so please do get involved – get the line-ups ‘up’ and the opinions flowing.
The Fixtures
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Arsenal
15th July
Singapore XI v Arsenal
18th July
Everton v Arsenal
25th July
Arsenal v Lyon
26th July
Arsenal v Wolfsburg
Community Shield
2nd August
Chelsea v Arsenal
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Aston Villa
11th July
Fulham v Aston Villa
17th July
SC Braga v Aston Villa
21st July
Swindon Town v Aston Villa
25th July
Walsall v Aston Villa
28th July
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa
1st August
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa
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Bournemouth
14th July
Philadelphia Union 1-4 Bournemouth
18th July
Exeter City v Bournemouth
25th July
Nantes v Bournemouth
28th July
Yeovil Town v Bournemouth
31st July
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
1st August
Hoffenheim v Bournemouth
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Chelsea
22nd July
New York Red Bulls v Chelsea
25th July
Paris St Germain v Chelsea
28th July
Barcelona v Chelsea
5th August
Chelsea v Fiorentina
Community Shield
2nd August
Chelsea v Arsenal
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Crystal Palace
11th July
Barnet v Crystal Palace
18th July
Union Berlin v Crystal Palace
1st August
Fulham v Crystal Palace
3rd August
Dagenham & Redbridge v Crystal Palace
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Everton
11th July
Swindon Town v Everton
15th July
Stoke City v Everton
18th July
Everton v Arsenal
26th July
Heart of Midlothian v Everton
28th July
Dundee v Everton
1st August
Leeds United v Everton
2nd August
Everton v Villarreal (Testimonial Match)
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Leicester City
21st July
Lincoln City v Leicester City
25th July
Mansfield Town v Leicester City
28th July
Burton Albion v Leicester City
29th July
Rotherham United v Leicester City
1st August
Birmingham City v Leicester City
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Liverpool
14th July
Thailand XI v Liverpool
17th July
Brisbane Roar v Liverpool
20th July
Adelaide United v Liverpool
24th July
Malaysia XI v Liverpool
1st August
HJK Helsinki v Liverpool
2nd August
Swindon Town v Liverpool
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Manchester City
15th July
Adelaide United v Manchester City
18th July
Melbourne City v Manchester City
21st July
Roma v Manchester City
24th July
Manchester City v Real Madrid
27th July
Vietnam v Manchester City
1st August
Stuttgart v Manchester City
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Manchester United
17th July
Club America v Manchester United
21st July
San Jose Earthquakes v Manchester United
25th July
Barcelona v Manchester United
29th July
Paris St Germain v Manchester United
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Newcastle United
10th July
Gateshead v Newcastle United
14th July
Atlas v Newcastle United
18th July
Sacramento Republic v Newcastle United
21st July
Portland Timbers ‘2’ v Newcastle United
26th July
Sheffield United v Newcastle United
29th July
York City v Newcastle United
1st August
Newcastle United v Borussia Moenchengladbach
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Norwich City
11th July
Gorleston v Norwich City
14th July
Hithcin Town v Norwich City
17th July
Cambridge United v Norwich City
18th July
Maccabi Haifa v Norwich City
25th July
Augsburg v Norwich City
28th July
Norwich City v West Ham United
1st August
Norwich City v Brentford
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Southampton
8th July
Leipzig v Southampton
11th July
Valencia v Southampton
Red Bull Salzburg v Southampton
18th July
Groningen v Southampton
21st July
Quick ‘20 v Southampton
23rd July
Feyenoord v Southampton
2nd August
Southampton v Espanyol
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Stoke City
15th July
Stoke City v Everton
18th July
Singapore XI v Stoke City
22nd July
Wrexham v Stoke City
25th July
Brentford v Stoke City
1st August
Cologne v Stoke City
2nd August
Porto v Stoke City
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Sunderland
9th July
Darlington v Sunderland
14th July
Sacramento Republic v Sunderland
17th July
Pachuca v Sunderland
22nd July
Toronto v Sunderland
29th July
Doncaster Rovers v Sunderland
1st August
Hannover v Sunderland
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Swansea City
15th July
Borussia Moenchengladbach v Swansea City
18th July
1860 Munich v Swansea City
24th July
Reading v Swansea City
25th July
Nottingham Forest v Swansea City
1st August
Swansea City v Deportivo La Coruna
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Tottenham Hotspur
29th July
MLS All-Stars v Tottenham Hotspur
4th August
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotpsur
5th August
Tottenham Hotspur v Milan or Bayern Munich
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Watford
8th July
St Albans City v Watford
11th July
Wimbledon v Watford
15th July
Verl v Watford
17th July
Eintracht Braunschweig v Watford
19th July
Paderborn v Watford
25th July
Dundee v Watford
28th July
Cardiff City v Watford
1st August
Watford v Sevilla
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West Bromwich Albion
8th July
Red Bull Salzburg v West Bromwich Albion
17th July
Charleston Battery v West Bromwich Albion
19th July
Richmond Kickers v West Bromwich Albion
25th July
Swindon Town v West Bromwich Albion
28th July
Walsall v West Bromwich Albion
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West Ham United
11th July
Peterborough United v West Ham United
18th July
Southend United v West Ham United
21st July
Colchester United v West Ham United
25th July
Charlton Athletic v West Ham United
28th July
Norwich City v West Ham United
2nd August
West Ham United v Werder Bremen
Europa League
2nd July
West Ham United v Lusitanos
9th July
Lusitanos v West Ham United
16th July
West Ham United v Birkirkara
23rd July
Birkirkara v West Ham United
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Which team is better? I’m finding Hazard tough to fit in. Any suggestions?
Smash
Bench on both is very weak. I prefer Hazard and Ramsey I think.
I don’t see any attraction in Mignolet, Liverpool’s vfixtures away are very testing across the first month or so.
GP, I would have loved to see an explanation for why one bench was stronger than the other 😉
Hahah same here AT.
AT
I knew what I meant 😉
Thanks. Yeah I’ve decided to go weak on the defence to start. Value is tough enough as it is for starting 11. Really not set on mignolet. I could change my mind on that one. I do like Walcott though.
Thank you so much for putting this together Gallant!! I remember the amazing pre-season info you compiled for us last season and it was extremely helpful. How accurate are the formation line-ups do you think? The reason I ask is that it looks like Watford’s 4.5 midfielder Anya (7 assists last season) lined up in defense a couple of times, and if that’s the case I’ll probably steer clear of him as a budget 5th mid. Not a lot to choose from in that price range but if he’s playing as a defender he’s a no go.
I believe he played just behind Ighalo and Deeney in the front 3 today but I could be wrong.
Thanks Matt. I was kinda shocked to see him listed in defense on a couple of occasions, and if that’s something that might happen sometimes it certainly lessons his appeal. Currently looking at Anya as a 5th mid with Callum Wilson as a 3rd forward, or maybe Surman as a 5th mid with Deeney or Ighalo. I’d prefer Wilson over Deeney/Ighalo though if possible.
That’s probably because a few seasons ago he was their left back but over the last few seasons he’s become more of a winger. I prefer Wilson over Deeney as well because not many people are going for Deeney, but I’m not sure about Anya as a 5th mid to be honest.
That makes sense, thanks Matt. I’ll keep tinkering away, it’s all going to hinge on JRod being ready and first choice anyway. If that doesn’t look likely I’ll be chopping my squad up and starting over! lol
Sorry I just reread what I said and I meant not many people are selecting Wilson nor Deeney everybody seems to be going for Deeney.
Ye if J.Rod is fit I could be going to the chopping board again. Hahah
Red
You’re very welcome mate. Hope it helps.
Information is not 100% accurate – it’s the best I could gleam from post match reports and each clubs Twitter feed during the matches.
Anya though I know a bit about being a Scottish International. He is a winger predominately. He does occasionally play left back or left wingback.
I don’t expect him to play left back. Watford have just signed Jose Holebas from Roma who I believe is intended to play there.
I don’t see Anya playing 90 minutes every week though and as fifth midfielder you need him to. Monitor the start of the season.
He is very quick, loves taking players on and does assist well when he plays, as you mentioned
Ahh, thanks Gallant- that’s excellent info. He looks pretty good from the little I’ve been able to see on youtube, lol. But I need someone nailed on for sure. Any thoughts on this draft with Surman as 5th mid instead of Anya? Is Coates the most nailed for Sunderland? And Huth for Leicester?
Ruddy Hennessey
Azpi Cedric Francis Huth Coates
Hazard Cazorla Hendo Silva Surman
Aguero Ighalo JRod
.5 ITB
Red
Huth for Leicester and Coates for Sunderland are safe picks I think.
I have Deeney and Surman just now. Surman has PL experience with Norwich previously and I expect him to play but I could be wrong.
I’d love Silva and Aguero but I just can’t work it without Hazard leaving and I’m not for that.
Like your squad, as long as J-Rod starts the season well.
Cheers Gallant, I value your thoughts and FPL knowledge. It’s by no means set in stone yet, still not sure about going all in essentially with my Norwich keeper and if JRod isn’t a likely starter I’ll be tearing the whole thing up and starting over! It’s fun to start tinkering and see what we can come up with though. I’ve missed this! How’s your team coming along, starting to take shape or still just messing around with it?
No worries Red
I do my best but you can’t call everything.
My latest effort . . .
Nice looking side with some great differentials in there. I like the Benteke pick, I’ll be trying to stretch to him if JRod doesn’t look a certain starter. I like Muniesa too for a 4.5 Stoke defender if he starts. It’s really tough this season to come in under budget with Aguero and Hazard included, and it’s forcing us to take some gambles with players from newly promoted teams and players new to the EPL. If anything I’d say your side looks a bit risky with some of these new guys, but they’re all quality players so hopefully they will do well. Thanks again for the feedback and the article!
That is one thing Red. I am out on a limb with a few newbies. Far from ideal.
Happy to help mate.
Hey all. Please rate my team. Want to get your view on it. Got enough money in bank to switch Rooney to aguero.
Lack of arsenal attack worries me, they looked slick the other night.
Also surman and Wanyama will get you 2pts most of the week so I would upgrade atleast one of them, maybe downgrade Costa or azpiliqueta to upgrade them.
Hi guys. Come up with this team. Would of gone Butland instead of Fabianski but already have Stoke defensive coverage. Went with Berahino too. Thoughts?
@Tom, not much to really pick on you about there. Guess you could switch O’Shea to a Palace defender if you wanted to rotate with Muniesa. Rest is preference really. We all like certain people and have gut feelings about them so in the end we have to stick with who we like.
Evening Gents,
Hows this team shaping up?
Cech/Hamer
Cedric/Ward/Morgan/Baker/Alderweireld
Hazard/Milner/Walcott/Cabaye/Anya
Aguero/Rooney/Deeney
Really want Ivanovic, but rather used that money elsewhere… maybe Courtois in for Cech?
Morgan and Baker will need to change…
Anya for a 4.5m mid?
Deeney? See his popular… honestly dont know his story except his scored 20 goals last 3 seasons
Could go O’Shea/Depay/J.Rod in for Alder/Anya/Rooney
Hi Peter, I’d leave Rooney in there. He’s got some ridiculous scoring record against his first 3 opponents. Reckon they’ll get out of the blocks strong too. Courtois is a good shout and I reckon you could run with him for the season. Ivan probably be preferable in all honesty but that’s a £ issue. You’ve got a good core and balance there to work from. Personnel will change naturally but it’s a great start.
Hey all. Please rate my team. Want to get your view on it. Will get aguerro if he is fit. Thank you for your time.
Or B is better?
@Fahmi, I prefer team A of the two. All players will probably start and you don’t have to depend on Boruc every week with Pants as help.