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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If you were going to pick one, who would you choose? Mbeumo or Cunha
From what I’ve heard out of the 2 Cunha. He’s more secure. Mbeumo a bigger risk
Cunha has looked much sharper and had must more pre season. I dont think mbeumo will play 90 minutes for a few weeks yet.
Anyone thinking about Saka?
Which combo is better?
A. Saka & J.Pedro or Wood
B. Wirtz and Watkins
I am starting with no Arsenal players.
A home game vs Leeds in GW2 has ne thinking of an early FH.
B for me, it’s good for 4 / 5 weeks
This make sense, thanks Gavi
Forest have struggled to score in preseason, puts me off Wood
Wirtz and Watkins.
Straight shootout between Watkins or Saka (no other arsenal or villa attacking coverage).
Who would you choose?
With the fixtures I’d probably go Watkins plus 1m to begin with then move to Arsenal when the fuxtures improve
I’m currently staying away from Arsenal.
For now I going with Saka over Watkins, Watkins does not start the season well, in general, he needs a few game weeks before he starts producing and that is the reason
How many people are changing their teams at least a couple of times a day ?
Don’t think I’ve ever been so undecided going into a new season…
Yeah, many great options this season.
Hi guys, quick question:
A: Evanilson & Kudus
B: Welbeck & Semenyo
C.
Neither?
Hey Teks. Hru?
I’d like to see the rest of your team to make a fair assessment. In that price category there are so many combo options. Depends on the balance of your team.
Hey Raz, I’m good, how about you? You’re right in that there are a lot of options at that price range, and I think I’ve decided to move away from both options at the moment. Gotta think about it a bit more I guess
Day late with reply. Sorry..
Afraid to show the rest of your team tekst? We don’t hold secrets for each other do we?
I’m good. Summer.
Click on image to enlarge:
I’ll take a good look later tonight Teks.
Not much wrong with your team. All the important names in it. I heard Porro will probably get a lot of attacking returns this season? If not sure about him van der Ven for 4.5m js a good option. Diouf is a nice shout. Double Forrest looks solid. You could potentially also have Sanches in goal. Think Chelsea will be awesome this season, though Collwill injury might cost them.
Reijnders is a bit od a risk because of Peptation and because it’s still unclear what his exact role will be. Don’t expect defensive contribution points, he’s mainly for attacking returns. And he will most definitely not score each week.
Anyway, your team makes a lot of sense.
This is currently mine but it’ll change a few billion times before deadline. Lol.
Click on image to enlarge:
Cheers, Raz! I think Reijnders might play similar to how Gundogan used to play for us, as a box-to-box midfielder who will chip in with the occasional goal. Due to injuries/lack of fitness for City’s other midfielders, I think he’s nailed on to start at least the first couple of matches. Porro will take more set pieces with Maddison out, so here’s hoping he gets some goals and assists.
That’s a nice team, Raz! Not really a lot to say about it – solid all around!
Thanks Teks. One more thing. Unsure about Cuypers and Brighton. I see you went for 5 solid 4.5m or higher defenders. Think you could go for a 4.0m defender. That money could be wisely spend later for a transfer..also think there are 2 or 3 great options for cheap defenders. Gudmunson and the French named Burnley guy are thr best options. Esteve, that was it.
A revised draft – what do you think?
Click on image to enlarge:
Looks very good, strong Forest double up, if there is money would go for Murillo over Aina, a tad worrying about Larsen and Cunha, would you want to consider a Welbeck and kudus?
I had Kudus earlier so could go back to him.
Not sure about Welbeck
I could get Watkins and Kudus for Strand and Cunha
Even though he’s a popular pick, several pundits and experts prefer pretty much all other starting defenders over Aina. Forgot why. Lowest on defensive contribution I think and something else.
I’m probably going Nico Williams myself
Thanks Raziel