FF247 Fantasy Football Site Team GW1
We’re back! Last season was something of a disappointment as we finished with our lowest rank since we first introduced the site team back in 2014/15. We don’t set ourselves any goals at the beginning of each season but at the very least we want to beat last season’s final rank. Hang on, is that a goal?! Just like the rest of you we’ve spent five minutes hours agonising over who to include in our GW1 squad and we’re finally there. Are we happy? Ask us that around 6pm on Sunday evening!
Below we have outlined some of our thought process when picking our squad. Hopefully it makes sense!
Goalkeepers
When we posted our very provisional squad a couple of weeks ago we had two £4.5m keepers. This then became a premium and a £4.0m option before reverting to two £4.5m keepers. Finally, we landed on Rui Patricio (£4.5m) and Ben Hamer (£4.0m). Why this option? Money. It’s as simple as that, we needed to free up cash for investments further up the pitch. Why Patricio and Hamer? Wolves were a solid outfit in the Championship last season and on the face of it, it would appear as though they’ve strengthened their squad over the summer and they should hopefully be a source of some early season clean sheets. As for Hamer…well he could be any £4.0m option.
Defenders
Initially we had Ederson as our keeper but following his display in the Charity Shield, Benjamin Mendy was drafted in for some City defensive cover. City will undoubtedly pick up their fair share of clean sheets over the opening game-weeks while Mendy should also chip in with some attacking returns.
Andrew Robertson has been in our squad from the beginning. Along with VVD he appears to be the Liverpool defender least susceptible to rotation and with a certain Spaniard as his competition he really should start every game!
Luke Shaw is something of a gamble. With Ashley Young as his competition he really should see more game time but Jose clearly isn’t a fan. We accept he’s probably a transfer waiting to happen but we’re banking on a couple of early season clean sheets before Young returns.
Our defence is completed by the Crystal Palace pair of James Tomkins and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Both Palace and Tomkins finished last season in fine form and the hope is that they carry such form into this season. We’ll probably require Tomkins sooner rather than later thanks to Jose and Shaw! Wan-Bissaka is in due to the fact that he’s £4.0m and is
set to start the season at right back.
Midfielders
Mo Salah is Mo Salah.
Christian Eriksen was a late arrival to our squad. If we’re being honest we probably wanted a City midfielder but with uncertainty around which of them will start we’ve gone with the safety of the Viking and with an opening day fixture against Newcastle he could very well be amongst the points. The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that we have £0.5m left in the bank and the likelihood is that this will be used to bring KDB in for Eriksen in the very near future.
Richarlison is in simply because of Everton’s fixtures. This is most certainly a fixtures over form punt. We’re hoping that his reunion with Marco Silva will see him rediscover the form he showed when he first linked up with Silva at the beginning of last season.
By the time we got to our last two midfield spots money was rather tight. Tom Cairney was chosen on the basis that that Fulham try to play an attacking brand of football and he is the attacking cog in their midfield. We don’t expect very much from Dale Stephens, simply that he delivers two points when called upon.
Forwards
Given City’s early season fixtures Sergio Aguero was one of the first names on our teamsheet. We’re well aware that he may be rotated with Jesus but he only needs 20 minutes to rattle in a few goals.
When Roberto Firmino scored and assisted in Liverpool’s final preseason friendly the following question was asked, “Did Firmino scare us into reshaping the team?” The answer was yes. Mo Salah might score the majority of the goals but without Firmino the Liverpool attack doesn’t function. This means that unlike many other forwards he’s a great source of assists as well as goals.
Josh King takes the 3rd forward spot in our team thanks to his preseason form and Bournemouth’s early fixtures.
Our GW1 team is…
Captain – Salah
We could say that this was a unanimous decision but that would suggest we actually took a vote! Someone suggested Salah as captain and nobody disagreed. He’s the obvious candidate.
Thanks for reading FF247 Fantasy Football Site Team GW1
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Last & Final draft
With 0.5m left
What does anyone think of this ??
Afternoon all.
Posting this from a family vacation in France. Managed to negotiate 1 hour of alone time to pick a team.
This is where I’m leaning now…. Let me know where I’m going wrong. (Other than no Salah, obviously)
No Salah is killing. Sorry mate. He’s a must.
I’d rather do Firm to King and find some extra funds to up Mane to Salah than any other move. Salah will be captained weekly by 50 percent which means it could make and break you.
Thanks Raz. It’s just soooo limiting to have him. So many teams all looking the same.
I’ll have a tinker and see what I can do.
YOu can take the risk. Remember a few season back with RvP? After his best scoring season the worst came and he had a scoring drought. I really don’t see that happenning to Salah though, not with the players that surround him.
Chins, mate, are you sure? Where abouts in France are you? Have you been enjoying a little too much of the local wine?
If you insist on avoiding Salah (that can work..), and keeping a v big top three, then I would probably think that Fab is the biggest risk. Otherwise, I like the team.
Bonnes vacances !
Hi mate. Staying in a small jeet in Loire valley. Middle of no where. Peace and quiet with lots of bread, cheese and wine. Lovely stuff.
Excellent. I used to live in France and last month spent a few fantastic days of wine tasting in Beaune.
There is no other country that I know where you can live like a king on bread, cheese and wine.
Enjoy yourself
Apart from Coleman looks fine. Sure about him?
Hello Chins,
I hope your holiday is going well mate!
The squad is looking well mate, some very solid pic & differentials!
Besides the no Salah issue, I wouldn’t be overly keen on the doubling up on Everton defence, they’ve been leaking goals at the back through pre-season and I believe their defence will take time to gel. Maybe try rotating keepers or another 5.0?
Fabregas’ long term game time could be in jeopardy also, but I do believe he’ll play in GW1
Chaps,
Holiday going well thanks and the feedback is greatly appreciated.
Had a tinker. Scared by the Salah comments. Gone Benteke based on fixtures over Firmino and moved Mane to Salah.
Also dumped double Everton at the back.
Any better, or shall I go back to plan A?
Thanks all.
Looks good to go to me anyways mate! Enjoy the rest of your holliers’
It’s still a good team, but what about King rather than Benteke?
The latter has promised to deceive for many years – as a Liverpool fan, I know!
Does this look good to go for GW1?
I have 0.5m ITB
Doubling up on WHU attack looks a little dangerous, imho. And I have Arnie. If they don’t score in the hard fixtures they have, you will cry. Hehe. 😛
I am prepared to take the risk mate. I think Anderson will come good. If not, I am sure I can find a 7million replacement, or thereabouts
Only a cockney would have two hammers….
im not a cockney, just like to gamble
With a liking for the outsiders…
well, you never know.
I am just not sure on Kante, and whether to replace Cedric.
I think I have enough cover for Cedric, taking into account its only the first week. I think there may be a few last minute changes to a lot of teams.
Hey Zoro,
If you’re about can you take a look at my questions on page 7, comment 37?
Does an “Alphabet Soup” team work?
Right now it’s set on that “Players with an ‘S’ Initial” but I could change to only one per alphabet letter for their FPL name. Just let me know!
I replied a while ago that the ‘S’ is too easy. For ‘Alphabet Soup’, if you mean surnames, only one starting A, B etc, then that’s fine Pancho.
I saw the S’s reply. So I was just going to use the name that they are listed as on FPL. Does that work?
I dunno what you’re saying now. You can have Aguero, but no more As, Bailly, but no more Bs, capiche?
Ederson,Boruc
Robertson,Tomkins,Daniels,Wan-Bissaka,Peltier
Mane,salah,Richarlison,Eriksen,Stephens
King,zaha,aguero
Thanks for the previous suggestions guys…
Thinking about
1. Cedric/Doherty for Daniels
2. Richarlison –> Ralls and Daniels –> davies/shaw/luiz
I’d do 1 and probably go with Doherty think he got 4goals and 4assists last year. Southampton don’t convince me in defence or attack.
I’d leave the other option for now personally and see how this week goes
Do we really think Willian won’t get any credit after playing a formidable WC?
I don’t think it’s down to the credit side of things Raz, I think it’s the fact that he’s not a guaranteed starter in GW1 and Chelsea have a tough game in GW2. As it stands there’s 2 positions to be divided between Hazard, Hudson, Pedro, Willian and even Moses will be battling for a spot. He’s on my watch list for sure and if he’s nailed on he’ll be in my mini/early WC team