FF247 Site Team News Pre-season Training
We’re Back, Baby – FF247 25/26 Season Kick-Off!
New season, same chaos – but this time with slightly more structure. After last year’s car crash of a Site Team performance, we’ve dusted ourselves off and we’re ready to give it another go. Let’s start with a bit of housekeeping, shall we?
A New Dawn (Sort Of)
You may have noticed things were a little quieter on the site last season. Truth is, getting our writers to actually write became harder than getting Darwin Nunez to stay onside. And when we did manage to publish something, comment volumes were lower than Southamptons’s final goal tally (26 for those interested).
So this season, we’re scaling things back. Fewer articles, more focus, and hopefully more of you on site when it counts. Simple.
People Come, People Go…
We’ve had a couple of key departures. GP and Swirly have bid farewell – or at least a long “see ya later” – to both FPL and the day-to-day running of the site. That leaves the management team as Init, Matt, yours truly (Rosco), and Floydeth.
We’re also trimming the writing team. We asked who still wanted in; if they didn’t raise their hands, we’re setting them free like unwanted loanees in a Championship squad clear-out. No hard feelings – it’s just time. (Frankly, it’s starting to feel a bit like the Isak situation at my club… maybe available, maybe injured, maybe ghosting us altogether.)
So… What’s the Plan?
Content-wise, expect the classics:
- H&L
- Site Team
- Live Match Chat
These articles have always brought the most interaction, so we’re keeping it tight and focused. We’ll throw in the odd Tips or Capos article when it feels right.
Let’s be honest: FPL isn’t what it was when FF247 was in its heyday. It’s bigger now. Louder. And most of you get your FPL fixes from YouTube, X (Twitter), or a podcast hosted by a guy called Steve in his garage. So we’re not going to waste your time (or ours) putting out content that gets lost in the noise.
Site Team 1.0 – The Drafts
To get the ball rolling, here’s where we’re currently at with the Site Team. We’ve got two drafts for you – one with a potential Gameweek 1 Bench Boost, and one without.
There’s chatter across the community that BB in GW1 might be the play. We’re not totally sold, but we’ve mocked it up just in case. That said, we’re not looking to blow both the BB and Wildcard by GW2, so the BB draft isn’t a complete rework – just a few tweaks to try and squeeze some juice out of that cursed chip (I got 3 points from mine last season. Yes, really. And yes, it was a Double Gameweek.)
✅ Draft 1: No Bench Boost
Goalkeepers
- Sels (£5.0m) – With the new BPS-save rules, he could be a beast. Second-highest scoring keeper last season (150pts) and starts the season nicely behind a settled defence.
- Kinsky (£4.0m) – Bench fodder. Allegedly the best of the £4.0m bunch.
Defenders
- Tarkowski (£5.5m) – A defensive monster when fit. Averaged 11.5 CBIT (Clearances, Blocks, Interceptions, Tackles) on clean sheet days. Bargain if he stays healthy.
- De Cuyper (£4.5m) – This one’s spicy. 75 goal contributions in 220 appearances. Not nailed early on, but Fulham first up, and they’re not exactly known for clean sheets.
- Pedro Porro (£5.5m) – Lovely fixtures. Attacking menace. Feels like a low-ownership gem while everyone else’s eyes are on premiums and £4.5m enablers.
- Truffert (£4.5m) – Our Matt-approved punt. Attacking full-back replacing Kerkez. Rotates well with Anderson..
- Cucurella (£6.0m) – Flex pick. Loads of good £6.0m defenders around, but Chelsea’s fixtures and his attacking output nudge him into the side.
Midfielders
- Palmer (£10.5m) – Club World Cup star. Only Salah and Mbeumo outscored him last season (214pts). Captaincy contender.
- Salah (£12.5m) – It’s Salah. Loves GW1. That’s all you need to know.
- Anderson (£5.5m) – CBIT magnet and potential set-piece duty now Elanga’s gone.
- Ndiaye (£6.5m) – • Ndiaye (£6.5m) – Reclassified as a mid. Could be Everton’s main man and (whisper it)… on pens?.
- Rogers (£7.0m) – Mr. Reliable. 90-minute man with 19 attacking returns last season. Great fixtures.
Forwards
- Solanke (£7.5m) – Promoted team in GW1, maybe on pens, new manager bounce. Just watch that ankle issue.
- Watkins (£9.0m) – Placeholder for Gyokeres in GW8. Villa’s fixtures are tasty and he was third-best forward last season.
- Kroupi Jr (£4.5m) – Bench fodder, but rotates nicely with Anderson if he gets minutes.
✅ Draft 2: Potential Bench Boost
Changes from Draft 1:
- Kinsky → Verbruggen (£4.5m) – Good shot-stopper, favourable fixture, and BPS upside.
- Porro → Murillo (£5.5m) – Would’ve been last season’s second-best defender under new CBIT rules. Forest double-up incoming.
- Truffert → Kilman (£4.5m) – West Ham’s best CBIT defender. Could also opt for AWB if we fancy attacking returns.
- Cucurella → Van de Ven (£4.5m) – Solid pick, nice opening fixture. Udogie’s injured, so VDV gets the nod.
- Watkins → Bowen (£8.0m) – Despite being reclassified, he’s still West Ham’s main man. Facing newly-promoted Sunderland. Destroy them (please).
- Kroupi Jr → Welbeck (£6.5m) – Fulham defence, meet Danny. On pens now Pedro’s gone. Not glamorous, but potentially gold.
Final Thoughts
We’ll post our final team closer to the deadline, and we’re also putting things to a vote this season — starting with which draft we go with. Democracy at work! If things go south again, at least we can all share the blame together. Comforting, right?
Drop your thoughts below, vote for your favourite draft, and let’s get the conversation started.
Let’s do this.
— FF247 Team
Thanks for reading FF247 Site Team News Pre-season Training. This article was written by Fantasy Football 247
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Latest one here. Still considering a week 1 BB. Thoughts?
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I don’t know about BB in GW1 I have seen many talking about it, I think GW2 would be better as you will know who’s playing if you have some you are unsure of.
I wouldn’t BB GW1 with that team to be honest.
It looks good for the long run minus Norgaard who I’m not keen on
Who at 6.0 or lower would you replace him with?
At 6 I’m very tempted to go with Tielemans or Paqueta.
At 5.5, it’s probably Reindeer but you already have him so after that Anderson. Someone I’m tempted at 5.5 though is Adingra
Tielmans maybe… I don’t think I want triple WestHam. Cheers!
That’s very fair!
Pick 2.
Evanilson
Strand Larsen
Wood
Wood and Strand Larsen for me.
You not put off by the lack of Forest goals in preseason?
Not really. I think Wood will have success.
Cheers ODT.
Evening all.
Well I’ve gone full circle and I’m back to no Salah and no Haaland.
I’m just gonna have fun with it and captain who takes my fancy.
Might not win me any prizes but I’ll enjoy it more this way!
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I think many people are going to be wondering about having Salah in their FPL team, after today’s performance, I know I am.
Way to go matie! Was thinking about the same thing this evening. It’s scary, but the value you get across the park kis incredible! Good luck!
Sorry, ‘is incredible’!
After yesterday’s truly Sunday pub league football by Liverpool with a full 1st team squad, Im also tempted to dump Salah (G-0, A-0, Shots&OnTarget-1, Fouls committed-2, YC-1, Missed penalty-1). But I recall one of his interview, he mentioned that the newbies must earn their stripes with Liverpool. Seems like he & VVD controls the changing room and going forward, it is very likely that he would want more balls to go via him for assists or goals… Elliot showed us that when he came in.. except froo direct shots, he passed to Salah.
I still haven’t nailed his position in my team, I’ll wait for the Fixture Tracker first before deciding. Also wondering if Palmer & Saka is a must in the FPL team.. now that Delap, Pedro, Enzo are upfront with him, its likely that his G & A might drop – penalty bonus points dropped too. Torssard, Rice or Martenelli for Arsenal a better choice?? I’m game for Caicedo rather than Palmer with the new Defensive Contribution points. Might even consider Bruno Frenandes now that Mbeumo & Cunha onboard.
The good thing about this season’s FPL is that we have 1 wildcard, 1 freehit, 1 bench boost & 1 triple captain to use GW1-19 and GW20-38 respectively.
Headache..headache choosing players..
Cheers !
Some good points you bring up there! When we think everything is going to be the same as in previous years, and then it all changes. Or does it???
Cheerio!
I ve ditched Salah and gone with Haaland. My feeling is Wirtz and ekitike plus gakpo are gonna Share more points as compared to the likes of diaz, nunez or firmino earlier..
Also Haaland seems the main guy in man city with Foden, cherki, marmoush, gundo, Bernardo, savinho, bobb etc gonna rotate.
Hi Reg
I respect your analysis of both football and cricket, and this may well turn out to be correct. But I think a champion like Salah does not just crumple into a screaming heap because of some pre season disagreement. It may well provoke him into being the dangerous beast we know and love, against Bournemouth in GW1! Who knows?
Cheers!
Rate my team, thinking of spending a little more than usual at the back, seems like 5.5/6 defenders provide more value than 5.5/6 midfielders/attackers with the new DC points.
What do you guys think?
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Debating Sarr vs Ndiaye and downgrading Gabriel/Tarkowski to get upgrade Bruno to Saka which gives me gameweek 2 captaincy option
The fwd line looks weak with lot of good options this year. Maybe downgrade bruno for better forwards Prefer frimpong cucurella or ait nouri over gabriel to start with due to fixtures.
Any indication when the Fixture Tracker for 2025/26 GW’s will be up for view? Thanks.