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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I doubt I was the only one who complained but I’d like to think I got something changed at the official site. You don’t have to mouse over to the right when you want to filter on the transfer screen. Some of you may have seen my rant on the old thread.
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Awesome work
, so, FPL does listen!
Colwill out for a few months.
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Guess that means Chelsea will go make a bid for Guehi.
They have ok cover if james stays fit at RB.
Really hoping he go’s to liverpool lol
If James stays fit
Cue Chelsea to buy 3 more CBs
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Thanks
Jamie
Which of these do you prefer?
It’s basically…
Sanchez, Palmer, Wirtz & Evanilson
vs
Darlow, Anderson, Gakpo & Haaland
Click on image to enlarge:
The 2nd pic
Thanks, Matt.
That’s where I’ve been the last few days – I just couldn’t resist a tinker to see what squeezing Haaland in would do.
As a pool fan, what are your thoughts on Wirtz vs Gakpo? I’m now wondering whether Gakpo + 1m is a better option.
And how’s your draft coming along? How many are locked in vs unknown??
Hey Banjo,
I do like Gakpo and he’s the only senior LW that we have in the squad so I think he will start the season but then if/when we sign Isak then you might have Ekitike playing on the left the odd time.
I do think Gakpo and 1 mil might be the best way to start though.
This is my current lot. I’m pretty happy with majority of it but starting to reconsider a few players. I have 0.5 itb currently.
Evanilson vs Strand Larsen as I do like them as a punt.
Or do I go down to Guiu and then use that money to upgrade Malen/Defence
Richards and Branthwaite vs Munoz and Diouf. Or keep the Everton defence.
What do you think?
I should probably add the screenshot hahah
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Malen could be gold if he’s nailed. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone other than Rogers/Watkins hits the ground running for Villa.
I think if I were you I’d downgrade either a mid or a striker to 4.5 bench fodder to bolster elsewhere – or you’ll only have benching headaches.
Which way you go with that is tight. I think there’s marginally more value/options in the 6.5 midfield range, hence why I have Guiu, but it’s a very close call.
I’d keep the current setup over Munoz/Diouf
Yeah I do hope Malen does well and he’s looked great at preseason. As long as Malen makes it to GW4/5 then I’m happy with that as I might swap him to Arias at that stage.
I am thinking Evanilson to Guiu and then upgrade my defenders but who knows might just leave it as I like the stronger bench.
Branthwaite I might swap to a different 5.5 just because Everton haven’t been great in preseason but the rest I think I’ll leave.
+1
I think Gakpo could have a sold season if he gets the minutes.
It’s mad that haaland is almost a differential too.
If you went with the 1st one you need to downgrade Watkins for more balance. For the reason 2 is better.
Thanks Gavy. I’ve had a reshuffle and have landed back here. What I like about this is that it leaves £1m ITB so it’s easy to jump on any Joao Pedro, Solanke, Mateta, Wirtz, Foden, Mbuemo bandwagons
Click on image to enlarge:
This is pretty sold too.
Keep an eye on Rodgers, he had a knock in a pre-season match
2nd for me
Hey guys,
Who is the best 4.5m keeper, do we think?
I was thinking Petrovic but Bournemouth defence has been torn apart so it’s likely Kelleher and then Verbruggen rn
They’re fine still I think, their transfer rumors are decent replacements.
Petro/Kelleher/Verbruggen/Sa in that order probably, though not much between the first three and Verbruggen especially a bit behind because of fixtures
Thanks guys.
I’m going with Petrovic
Left or Right
Click on image to enlarge:
Right if Guiu is your 8th attacker, I’m unsure of his minutes. I prefer left if you need to him to consistently start.
Munoz and Pedro Porro should comfortably outscore Richards and Van de ven I think
Right, but then Muñoz to Guehi and Murillo to Diouf and Guiu to Raul/JSL + 1itb or a 7.5’er
Right