Fantasy Premier League Promoted Teams Analysis FPL 2018/19 Wolves
We look at the reigning Championship winners Wolves who lit up the second tier of English football by winning 30 of their 46 games, scoring 82 goals and conceding 39. This saw them finish on 99 points and so close to breaking the 100 mark. The Wolves ownership have been showing their intent and ambition in recent seasons with the big-name signings of Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho so a similar season to last wouldn’t be too much of a surprise. This team is full of youth and is led by Nuno Espirito Santo, a Portuguese manager, who has organised a well-oiled machine and I would hazard to call them the poor man’s Man City (no disrespect intended!). What I mean by this is Wolves are a side that plays attractive football and if they can make a smooth step up in class to the Premier League then they could easily be finishing in the top half of the table.
Rundown of how they set up –
This well-organised team is set up in a way we have gotten familiar with in recent weeks, that is they set up like Gareth Southgate’s England. A 3-4-3 formation with 2 wing-backs but instead of one sitting midfielder like Henderson, Wolves have two. This offers a very solid midfield that protects the back three and makes it easier for the wing-backs to focus on supplying the front line. Everything I have read about Nuno Espirito Santo makes me compare him more and more to a Pep-mould manager. He wants attacking football, where his team keep the ball on the ground and keep possession. As long as nothing changes and with the new signings that Nuno has brought in I can see Wolves doing very well.
Players to look at –
Rui Patricio – 4.5 mil
This was a massive, MASSIVE coup for Wolves as the turmoil in the Portuguese capital has been a blessing for the English team who have snapped up a World Cup starting goalkeeper who also won the Euros only two years ago. What more could you ask for?! Patricio and Wolves start the season against Everton, West Ham, Leicester and Man City so four games which could prove rather tough but if Patricio does not keep a clean sheet you can definitely count on him grabbing save points and maybe even bonus points. If you are looking for a rotating keeper, he is one I would keep an eye on; his stats in Portugal show 23 clean sheets out of 56 games in all competitions so that is decent going. He is unproven in England which we all know can prove difficult for new goalkeepers trying to get used to the physicality of the game but being proven on a European and International stage makes me feel a bit more confident about him.
Defensive assets
Ones to keep an eye on in the Wolves defence are Ryan Bennett and Matt Doherty who are priced 4.0 and 4.5 respectively. Doherty and Bennett are cheap options into this team with Doherty being a right wing-back and Bennett being a 4.0 starting center-back but keep an eye on the transfer window in case Wolves bring in a new CB. Bennett was brought in and a lot felt he would rot in the reserves and was only there to make up the numbers but last season he was amazingly solid and even grabbed a few goals so he definitely feels like the best 4.0m option. Wolves have also just signed Jonny Castro Otto on loan from Athletico Madrid and he can play RB or LB which should see him playing on the left to replace Barry Douglas who many felt was Wolves best defender. Otto has played 222 times in Spain scoring 5 goals and getting 13 assists in that time so has both an eye for goal and a team mate. Wolves seem to have brought in a very experienced youngster here so depending on his price could be a nice way into the team. If he is 4.5 or less I would consider him.
Helder Costa – 5.0 mil
The Wolves midfield options for FPL are absolutely stacked! With the likes of Cavaleiro, Costa, Neves, Enobakhare, and Moutinho. It may be difficult to know which players may actually start in that midfield so keeping an eye on the pre-season friendlies is absolutely essential! You may be surprised I didn’t select Ruben Neves here as the only reason I got selected for this article was that I said how amazing he was and I’m not wrong! Neves is incredible to watch and really should be playing in the Champions League he is that skilled, but it just shows the ambition this Wolves side have! Without Neves, Wolves would be lost! He is the lynchpin, the dynamo, the magic in the centre, the… you get the idea. I have ranted about him but now for the reasons against and that is the fact he is a defensive midfielder who can be quite the card magnet. For this reason, I am suggesting Helder Costa for the same price. Costa plays as the right winger but from what I understand he is very much a form player so if he is not in form he might be dropped but will tend to come on as a sub. I wouldn’t be too mad to go for a Wolves midfielder due to the uncertainty over who plays in the middle but the one exception to that is this next man…
Diogo Jota – 6.5 mil
This one has caused some raised eyebrows in those who know the Wolves team as Jota plays as a striker or as a left winger and was the top scorer for Wolves with 17 goals yet the powers that be at FPL have listed him as a midfielder. This is very good news as it gives us a very nice OOP player in an attacking promoted side. Anyone who is reading this could have a step up on their rivals that don’t know about the strange decision by FPL and bring in a “fourth” striker. At 6.5 he may be a bit outside the bargain range but if he was classified as a striker, would you turn down a striker that banged in 17 goals and has the talent that he does behind him? This season also sees him getting a partner in Raul Jimenez who some may recognise from his exploits with Mexico in the World Cup. This partnership could lessen Jota’s goals but may increase his assists or it could flip and actually increase his goals. It is one to keep an eye on to see who is the main man with the other being his supporting act but a gut feeling could see Jota permanently move out to the left wing with Raul Jimenez taking the central role, but we shall see!
Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Promoted Teams Analysis FPL 2018/19 Wolves. This article was written by Matt
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PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Usually we run an article and ask people to get involved and cover the friendlies with any info they can gather. And it’s usually fun but in all honesty it’s usually also a bit messy and difficult to refer back to. This season we have one link that you will need need for all such info, courtesy of Mito –
Here you will find all the pre-season info you could ever wish for in one place – line-ups, scorers, assists, match info, sarcastic comments…
SET-PIECE TAKERS LIST
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FIXTURE TRACKER LINK
It’s been a busy summer already with Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Chelsea appointing new managers, Manchester City adding to their already dominant squad, Man Utd continuing to splash the cash and Liverpool trying to protect Karius by beefing up their midfield. Spurs may even have a new home soon.
And FPL wise, this is the place to discuss strategy, learn about the promoted teams and their players while in the days and weeks to come we’ll have plenty of articles, interviews, player analysis, Bore Offs, Tips, etc, etc.
So be sure to get involved in the discussions, the RMTs and the banter as we look forward to another season of Fantasy fun!
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This is where I’ve got to so far. 1 million in the bank. Sane to KDB likely. Would like Bailly to be Shaw. Relatively relaxed about the front 7. Will bottle the two 4m defenders I’m sure and swap one for a 4.5m. Thoughts on this side welcome please.
@Kralin. Decently balanced team there. But, you may also have noticed, very weak(and probably non-playing) bench of defenders. Cedric and Bailly, both could be a risk too. Front looks good enough
Thanks for the input constantine, appreciated. Yes, it’s the back that’s causing me a headache.
Robertson and Ederson were in the first draft and will probably remain, unless Courtois decamps and Pickford /Schmeichel find their way to SW London. All the other places are up for grabs.
Tomkins is looking probable for me. Bailly is a sort of placeholder. I want some Man U defensive ass in the team, just damned if I know who at the moment. Shaw would be very handy.
Cant believe you haven’t put Arnie in!!!
Agree on all this. Worth killing Firmino and getting say Zaha / Arnie to plump that back line up perhaps? It’s an option I’m looking at myself.
Thanks very much. It’s a good idea. My bench is utter crap at the moment.
I did think Wood to Austin frees up a bit more money, but Austin could be a very risky pick. Wood should in theory be all right. Another thought is downgrade Wood to a cheapo, go 3-5-2, Masuaku becoming a Fulham or Wolves player.
All food for thought.
Not a fan of a 3-5-2 really, not if it’s a locked in one with a dead 3rd striker anyway. I’m reluctant even to go as low as a 6.5 on that 3rd spot but will probably have to as I’m going for a strong defence again, that served me very well season as it was a deliberate tactic to get off to a better start than I normally do and it worked. See where they place Mitro in the prices, he could be your answer if you don’t fancy Austin. I’ve seen Austin in loads of teams but like yourself I’m not yet convinced on him. If we knew he’d play every week for sure, that’s a different matter.
Yes, agree on all that. The front 7 I have are ok I think in the sense that GW1 is very unpredictable anyway and I look to GW2 as well (and beyond a bit) and see how things are going then.
In the Richarlison slot I’ve moved around from Mata, Schürrle, Sessegnon, but Rich has the fixtures – though I know Everton haven’t done a lot pre-season. But does that matter?
Re the defence I’m happy with Robertson but would like a Man U defender as well. Azpilicueta would be nice but very tricky.
I’m not convinced on Everton at all right now but as you say it may be a red herring. Plenty of teams have great pre-seasons, as such, and then flop and also vice-versa.
Kenedy has dreadful fixtures, I’d pick someone else in that 5.0m bracket…
However, GWs 9-18 Newcastle have amazing fixtures! Might wanna revisit Kenedy maybe… Costa, Ralls, Cairney all better bets from the start imo
aha, we overlapped. Not bad ideas, thanks. Cairney was in one of my earlier drafts.
Yes he has, but I’m not under too many illusions about that 5m slot. And the fixtures pick up, very nicely, assuming he’s not long gone by then.
Who do you see in that <=5m midfielder slot? Hughes of Watford is a thought. Jorginho? It's thin gruel.
I must add I do believe in form over fixtures, but when it comes to a “small” team then the fixtures usually matter a bit more and contrary with the top-6 sides it’s always form over fixtures for me!
Yes, definitely. You make good points. But we may see one or two of the top 6 get off to a sluggish start. Kenedy (and, to an extent Richarlison) are the sort of players who can easily be shifted to someone we haven’t thought of yet – some emerging 4.5m superdude with great fixtures.
GW1 is such a minefield. I always try to roll the transfer and take the GW1 side into week 2, then assess from there.
Yep, will save the first transfer as well, the beginning of the game, the first 4 GWs or so, before the first IB, are always impossible to predict, which teams start well, which teams don’t start at all… And the same goes for players, that’s why I think it’s important to try to “cover” as many price points as possible for easy switches to players no one even mentioned prior GW1
Hello Kralin. Long time no speak. I hope you are well, sir.
Lots to like here. Keep £0.5M for KDB upgrade, like you say, and maybe upgrade Masuaku to Ralls with the other £0.5M. Or, I’d consider a Wolves defender if you bottle one of your current £4.0M picks.
Hoping this isn’t unwelcome, but I’d maybe rethink Kenedy as he has rotten opening fixtures (Newcastle face Spurs, Chelsea, City and Arsenal within the first five GWs). Maybe consider a punt on a similarly priced mid from one of the newly promoted teams? Or perhaps Kenedy > Keita and Firmino > Arnie/Zaha to maintain double LIV attack whilst upgrading Kenedy?
In the time it’s taken me to write this, I see everybody else has already said all of this :big-lol:
Evening Chipster, all comments very welcome, the verdict seems to be to make him a dead Kenedy. I’m just not seeing a lot to inspire me, plus they have Cardiff in week two, so it may just about pay off and someone else may materialise I can hurriedly switch him to before the horror fixtures click in. Spurs may not be that great in GW1. But I’ve used the word ‘may’ a bit too often there. Weird things happen though. GW1 last year saw Burnley turn over Chelsea. I know, I’m clutching at straws.
Yes, very well thanks, I hope you are too. I’m looking forward to renewing the Chipster Conversation.
Always expect the unexpected in the opening GWs! 😀
What’s with the new grav? You were always more of a Portrait Person than a Landscape Lad (or is it some kind of Abstract Art?)
Oh I got tired of the black and white photos. I thought something like this would do for now. You’ve remained very constant.
Looks like my current draft so I like it. I’d pick a more nailed on midfielder than Makusaku though I’ve spent the million basically on Kenedy
Thanks Smash. Yes Masuaku was hurriedly put in (like most of my bench) so will ensure as best I can I have a fully functional XIV (not too worried about the non-playing goalie).
Yeah I’d go with a Stephens or Gudmonson someone more nailed. Not too bothered about the bench and have same 4 million defenders as you. They both should see game time. Some 4.5 defenders only get 1 point anyway. I’m thinking same lines as you though
Hey Matt,
Thanks my friend for the look at Wolves. Top ten for me this year. Bookmark this 😉
Fancy a few players to go off nicely here but the trick as you mentioned is to find which . . . . and when!
Cheers Matt, great stuff there. Feels like you and AT are the only two writers we have at present! But that’s what you get for being students in the summer while the rest of us go on holiday and wrestle in vain with families!
Pretty sure Jota gets a spot on my roster.
It feels like we are to us too! 😉
Oh well, let us know when you both get lives and then we’ll drag another couple of students off the street 😉
Any students about? Send Init 150 words with why you want to write for the site and a paragraph on what you’d write your first article on… PLEASE 😉
I said when…
I know… CALLING ALL STUDENTS 😉
Ah, dear dead days, gone beyond recall (for me, alas).
Ramsey potentially off to Barca as part of a swap deal including Dembele. Would surely make Arsenal play a lone striker in Lacazette with Auba and Dembele on the wings.
Suddenly, Laca has become a must have. You think?
Wouldn’t say a must, but something to monitor! I know many on this site, with good reason, would argue that Auba will still outscore him even if he is pushed out onto the left.
But then Auba is 1.5m more expensive. Laca could be fit with Kun, if needed. But that’s just estimations as of now. Laca will become more favourable/ attractive when Kane comes into picture.
I’m not deterring you from Laca at all! He’s currently in my team over Auba.
Thanks mate. I’m planning to fit him in somehow. If you have to choose between Laca and Erik( given Ibhave no other player from either sides), who’d you go with?
For me Eriksen, narrowly. Not a lot in it.
Probably Eriksen. Based on (a) proven returns in the PL and (b) Arsenal’s first two fixtures (although I guess you then need to look at the structure you want to play, as you could use Firmino for the first few matches and switch to Laca)
Cheers AT and Kralin. Erik it is then
No
So, Mahrez is back in the picture. Any takers?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45008917
Nah, the lad who was left home alone during Christmas will be the one I’ll take!
Keviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!
Rhymes with Get iiiiiiiiiiiiiiin! 😆
Shall teach this to my daughter. Marry and her little lamb can take rest for a while
I’m already doing it with my son! Great minds 😉
I see Finlandia is kicking in Zed :woot:
Could be, don’t forget I’m always two hours ahead of ya! 😆
It doesn’t matter mate. There is always a happy hour somewhere in the world 😆
Evening all.
Anyone else hoping the Crouch to Burnley rumours are true to fill that elusive £4.5m striker who scores a few goals slot?
How am I looking so far? I’m pretty set on a 4-4-2 to start the season.
Absolutely on Crouch, although he won’t get much game time! Not too keen on Bernardo – even if he plays in GW1 it’s a transfer waiting to happen.
All aboard the Hughes train!
Two goals and 3 assists in the equivalent of 11 matches last season – he generally got something when he started games – so I am defo having a piece of that action.
It’s a real struggle to afford double Man City coverage along with Salah – seriously considering a 5-3-2 which gives more flexibility for that
A 5-3-2 is not that flexible a formation. It can be a pain. A bit of a trap. I have tried it. Because you’re pretty much committed to playing that five at the back it makes getting the hot attacking players very difficult. And I doubt you’d ever captain one of your 5 at the back.
Better to have a more conventional line up but be ultra-flexible with that. Switch it to 4-4-2 if need be, etc.
Just from a pure enjoyment point of view, I don’t celebrate clean sheets like I do goals, so I’m not going with a five back. Four back perhaps.
With a 5-3-2 the ceiling isn’t as high, unless you get really lucky. And clean sheets can be lost by irritating substitutions or last minute lapses of concentration and so on.
If we had 5 strikers weirdly classified as defenders then bring it on.
The one good thing though is that with a 5-3-2 you can just about get a really elite XI out on the pitch. The compromise is in the formation, and its low ceiling, etc etc.
Back to your team though. I like the Fab as sole goalie pick. And I like the B Silva pick as well, assuming he starts.
But Firmino for me over Lacazette.
I really rate B Silva too, and he’d be straight in if his game time was guaranteed. Sadly I don’t even think strong performances would give him a regular starting spot. There is just so much quality in the side that rotation is inevitable and he didn’t start enough last year. Obviously the injuries at the start of the season might play into his hands, but it’s risky.
Yes it’s Sane for me at the moment – who himself is looking slightly risky. A total minefield but those City fixtures can’t be ignored.
Sane hasn’t started a single pre-season game yet and has played very few minutes too despite not being at the WC… Seems a bit strange to me, apparently Pep said he’s still working on his fitness… What on earth has he been doing during the summer? :woot:
Maybe he walked, or tried to walk, from Land’s End to John o’ Groats competely naked, and collapsed from heat fatigue.
Thanks for the thoughts Kralin & AT.
B Silva seems a risk worth taking at the start of the season since I generally play a mini-WC after GW2 which allows for some pretty major reshaping. Don’t think Firmino starts the season and I like Laca’s pre-season form – tough start to the season though so I’ll give that some thought.
Cheers
Robbo