Pre-season Hub for the 2017/18 FPL season
Hello and welcome to the Pre Season Hub for the 2017/18 season.
For those both old and new to the site this is an article which aims to bring to you in one convenient place, all the vital news from each of the twenty Premier League clubs’ friendly matches this summer. The ultimate aim is to build up a portfolio of information to help you in selecting your opening FPL squad when the game re-opens week commencing 10th July (next week)!
The hub is very much a living document which I personally will keep up to date as the matches take place. I encourage you guys to help out with any line-ups, goal scoring or assist information. We also like to see general notes being left here if you happened to witness on screen, or better still, in person, any particular player performance, style etc. Basically anything you deem FPL worthy.
How to use…
The whole article is intrinsically linked to the HOT COMMENTS section that appears above the Latest Comments. Basically we have created a comment link for each team. Simply scroll to the Hot Comments for the team you require info on and it’ll take you to their section and we will have all their pre-season info in one place courtesy of our fantastic community members.
The purpose of this is so that –
1. There is a specific place to post relevant pre-season info for each team –
Please post any findings – line-ups, signings, team news, match reports, etc…
2. It’s easy to find all the info.
Need to know the pre-season line-ups for Arsenal? Easy, just click on their link in Hot Comments and you will come to their hub.
So with the first pre-season friendlies involving FPL relevant teams taking place this Saturday the 8th with Watford beginning their schedule, please find below the fixtures…
(NB: At this stage there will still be pre-season matches being announced and I will endeavour to update these as we go along. Southampton for instance only have one friendly scheduled so far but this can be excused by their new manager only just arriving – expect further announcements soon).
Arsenal
13 July
Sydney v Arsenal
15 July
Western Sydney Wanderers v Arsenal
19 July
Bayern Munich v Arsenal
22 July
Chelsea v Arsenal
29 July
Arsenal v Benfica
30 July
Arsenal v Sevilla
6 August – Community Shield
Arsenal v Chelsea
Bournemouth
22 July
Portsmouth v Bournemouth
29 July
Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth
30 July
Bournemouth v Valencia
2 August
Yeovil Town v Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove Albion
14 July
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Brighton & Hove Albion
22 July
Crawley Town v Brighton & Hove Albion
25 July
Southend United v Brighton & Hove Albion
29 July
Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion
1 August
Girona v Brighton & Hove Albion
6 August
Brighton & Hove Albion v Atletico Madrid
Burnley
14 July
Shamrock Rovers v Burnley
22 July
Kidderminster Harriers v Burnley
Alfreton Town v Burnley
25 July
Preston North End v Burnley
29 July
Nottingham Forest v Burnley
1 August
Burnley v Celta Vigo
5 August
Burnley v Hannover 96
Chelsea
22 July
Chelsea v Arsenal
25 July
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
29 July
Chelsea v Inter
6 August – Community Shield
Arsenal v Chelsea
Crystal Palace
15 July
Maidstone United v Crystal Palace
19 July
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
22 July
Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion/Leicester City
5 August
Crystal Palace v Schalke 04
Everton
13 July
Gor Mahia v Everton
19 July
Twente v Everton
22 July
Genk v Everton
6 August
Everton v Sevilla
Huddersfield Town
12 July
Accrington Stanley v Huddersfield Town
16 July
Bury v Huddersfield Town
22 July
Barnsley v Huddersfield Town
1 August
Stuttgart v Huddersfield Town
4 August
Torino v Huddersfield Town
Leicester City
19 July
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion
22 July
Leicester City v Liverpool/Crystal Palace
26 July
Luton Town v Leicester City
28 July
Milton Keynes Dons v Leicester City
29 July
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City
1 August
Burton Albion v Leicester City
4 August
Leicester City v Borussia Moenchengladbach
Liverpool
12 July
Tranmere Rovers v Liverpool
14 July
Wigan Athletic v Liverpool
19 July
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
22 July
Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion/Leicester City
29 July
Hertha Berlin v Liverpool
1 August
Bayern Munich v Liverpool
2 August
Atletico Madrid/Napoli v Liverpool
5 August
Liverpool v Athletic
Manchester City
20 July
Manchester United v Manchester City
26 July
Real Madrid v Manchester City
29 July
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
4 August
Manchester City v West Ham United
Manchester United
15 July
Los Angeles Galaxy v Manchester United
17 July
Real Salt Lake v Manchester United
20 July
Manchester United v Manchester City
23 July
Manchester United v Real Madrid
26 July
Manchester United v Barcelona
30 July
Valerenga v Manchester United
2 August
Manchester United v Sampdoria
8 August – UEFA Super Cup
Real Madrid v Manchester United
Newcastle United
14 July
Heart of Midlothian v Newcastle United
22 July
Preston North End v Newcastle United
26 July
Bradford City v Newcastle United
29 July
Mainz v Newcastle United
2 August
Wolfsburg v Newcastle United
6 August
Newcastle United v Hellas Verona
Southampton
22 July
Brentford v Southampton
Stoke City
10 July
Neuchatel Xamax v Stoke City
12 July
Young Boys v Stoke City
15 July
Monaco v Stoke City
25 July
Sheffield United v Stoke City
29 July
Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City
30 July
Crewe Alexandra v Stoke City
5 August
RB Leipzig v Stoke City
Swansea City
12 July
Barnet v Swansea City
15 July
Philadelphia Union v Swansea City
19 July
Richmond Kickers v Swansea City
22 July
North Carolina v Swansea City
29 July
Birmingham City v Swansea City
5 August
Swansea City v Sampdoria
Tottenham Hotspur
22 July
Tottenham Hotspur v Paris Saint-Germain
26 July
Tottenham Hotspur v Roma
Watford
8 July
Woking v Watford
15 July
Wimbledon v Watford
18 July
Viktoria Plzen v Watford
22 July
Eibar v Watford
West Bromwich Albion
12 July
Slavia Prague v West Bromwich Albion
19 July
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion
22 July
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool/Crystal Palace
26 July
Burton Albion v West Bromwich Albion
Walsall v West Bromwich Albion
29 July
Bristol Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Slough Town v West Bromwich Albion
1 August
Kidderminster Harriers v West Bromwich Albion
Port Vale v West Bromwich Albion
5 August
Deportivo La Coruna v West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United
28 July
Werder Bremen v West Ham United (Match 1)
29 July
Werder Bremen v West Ham United (Match 2)
1 August
Altona 93 v West Ham United
4 August
Manchester City v West Ham United
Thanks for reading Pre-season Hub for the 2017/18 FPL season. This article was written by The Gallant Pioneer 
The Fixture Tracker…
A new chip is awaiting us. The “Free Hit” replaces All Out Attack
https://www.premierleague.com/news/436425
That’s a good move. More strategy to consider. Two options with that from an initial read – use it to field 11 in that week when the fixtures are decimated or more likely use it on a DGW. Definitely one to sucker your ML rivals into wasting early doors
Yeah I like it. Assuming we still have 2 wildcards it will give us more scope as to when we use the 2nd wildcard.
I did wonder that with the 2nd WC though, they say “sit alongside THE wildcard”.
That’s true!
Yeah, noticed that too. They don’t seem to relate in terms of each purposes though so there’s possibly no reason to deduct one WC. Plus, it’s replacing the useless AOA so if they to deduct one WC that would mean one less chip which I don’t think their keen of.
This one will do our heads also regarding price changes of the ones you buy for that week and the ones that you get back on the following week! Nevermind the fact that the ones you buy and that you want to excel are not going to be there the coming week! I like it! I wonder if these transfer count for the player’s price changes at all. I mean you can’t benefit from those changes but will prices be affected by transfers done under the FH?
As for when to play it I agree, as an initial read, that it may be useful to play a decent XI namely when fixtures are slim, as per the example they give on the article.
Also, sometimes we like our squad but the fixtures just aren’t there for that GW. Or we like our squad but there are these 3/4 stand outs that we’d like to have for that GW only but not in the long term. The DGWs though seem the most likely to help us on not depleting an entire good squad for just two games in a week but that will also depend on when said DGW occurs. If it’s 37 it may not help that much. Anyway, seems one for ‘keep and monitor’ as all chips are.
Has it started already?
Not sure I’m a fan of the new chip myself. I sense that it will play into the hands of casuals that are caught out by a blank GW where half their team isn’t playing. Still, there should be enough blanks/doubles to separate the serious players from the casuals.
We still get a second wildcard, look at the bottom of the article.
‘That could lead to many FPL managers rethinking their use of existing chips, particularly the second Wildcard’.
Well spotted Gear
We should start putting the most important info at the bottom of the articles, just to mess with DMC.
Ah! They must have edited the article !!
Good spot Gear!
Obviously if we use the ‘free hit’ for a big DGW we wont be able to bench boost as well.
I like it and, on initial reaction, there seem to be many different circumstances when to use the Free Hit – a GW with not many fixtures (GW28 last season I believe?), a DGW obviously, maybe even GW38?
Hey Kop, yes, but sounds like the perfect strategy for a small GW, when you are short on players, since then you don’t need to reinvest to get the previous squad back, as the rules says: “if the Free Hit chip is played leading up to Gameweek 2, once the deadline has passed, you will see the points scored by your new squad via the points tab.Your previous squad will now return and is accessible on the transfers tab.” ….I wonder how this will work when it comes to price changes though… for example, if you have gained value on a certain player, would you loose this after the chip is played?!
@XAOC,
Looks like you have your old team running in the background per say. So any positive or negative price changes will be reflected once you get your original team back. As far as losing value, this would mean that it acts like we never truly sold anyone, so we should not lose any value unless that player’s price drops during that week.
Thanks Mito! I though so as well. I guess this will also trigger a lot of players to not hold on their WC for the key moments, so we might see even more early WC. I would definitely keep it for one of the early DGWs, when you just want to capitalize on the fixtures of certain teams.
Hey xaoc,
I think you’re correct. Without giving it any thought the obvious time to play the new chip is during a BGW.
Morning guys! Just read the above and it is certainly a big improvement on the AOA!
Seems like another one to sit on till later in the season and adds to the drama – I like it!
Looking forward to the game launching now after a few weeks off after the U21’s!
Morning Rosco mate
Hey all like the look of this new chip but can someone clarify if we use this chip & a lot of players use it at same time can we lose money from are original team with price drops ??????
Good question. I know that wildcards have a lesser effect on price drops. This should have no effect really. If it goes down when you take them out then it should go up when you bring them back in.
Sounds like it, Silvers. Otherwise it makes no sense when you take the opposite scenario in consideration. As far as I understand, it kinda act as a temporary team, while you still work with your original one in the background. But we definitely need to clarify it early on.
Yes xaoc this could have a big impact on team value one we need to get some clarification on 😉
I applaud the creators actually for realising that the AOA didn’t really function and I like it when things are recognised as not having worked rather than a stubbornness based on ego.
The new chip sounds good. I’d either use it on a week where there are only four games or a DGW where the Top 4 are all playing against the lessers and I’m bare and wildcardless (although I hope that won’t occur 😉 )
I would give them credit, but we had that stupid chip for a second year. I never once used it.
True mate. Well at least they gave it a chance. It was a dead rubber but it’s gone now at least.
I actually used it both years in cases where I was thin on defense due to suspensions or injuries, or in GWs with bad fixtures. Worked quite well, but I agree that the new chip makes things way more interesting as it requires planning and allows for great progress if used at the right time.
6.0m seems somewhat high for Eric Bailly
Not even much of an attacking threat
If he is 6.0 it probably means there will be no cheap-ish way into the United defence and for that matter the CFC one. Probably keeper or if we are lucky Rudiger 5.5 assuming he actually does start.
We might see Lindelof sneaking in at 5.5. I think they sometimes err on the side of caution with newbies.
Lindelof might even be on freekick duty (based on his Benfica career) after Pogba, now that Rooney and Zlatan are gone, so definitely one to keep an eye on!
LB is the key. I doubt that Shaw, Darmian or Blind will be over 5,5. And if Shaw is on form and starts, he is the biggest attacking threat from all defenders (in my humble opinion). However, once Rojo is back, he can also compete for that spot, so I expect a lot of rotation at the United back. Bailly seems to be the only safe choice, but considering his lack of attacking threat and the fact that he will be off to Afcon in Jan/Feb, I rather go DeGea and get one of the Chelsea or Spurs full/wingbacks as a premium option.
Well those guys will have the right price but there is rotation risk so there lies the problem. No AFCON this year so no worry there.
Exactly. Therefore I rather go De Gea to cover the MU defense until things become more clearer. At 6m, there will be other, more certain premium options (eg. Spurs).
You are right about Afcon, I got mislead by the 2018 African Nations Championship, which is at the same time. Thanks, Mito!
Really high….. alonso must surely be around £7m if bailly is £6m!
Hi Mitro.
Hope you’re well.
Alonso could well be a £7M midfielder!
God I hope not!
I’m good mate! About to head out with the missus for our last night before we come home tomorrow, how you been?
Mitro
Hope you’re having a great time mate.
I’m enjoying my summer thanks. Well as much as I can whilst I work and run kids here, there and everywhere when I’m not working!
Alonso will be a defender by the looks of it with Moses reclassified as a one.
It’s been brilliant but I’m missing the boys, can’t wait til I see them tomorrow!! 😉
Coutinho at 9.0m
Thought he would be around that mark! Suspect firmino will be the same and mane will be 9.5 maybe even 10!
Mane surely can’t be 10? There wasn’t enough difference between Coutinho and Mane last season to warrant a 1.0 difference I would think, but you never know I guess.
Would have thought he’d be £0.5m more than Salah. Perhaps to squeeze Mane under £10m.
Jesus at 10.5m
Jesus!!!! It’s gonna be bloody tough this year if the budget is still 100m!
Yeah me with Luikaku & Tekkers alongside. It was gonna be Lacazette,Lukaku and Jesus who ended up at 8.8 last season. There goes my 1st change of mind.
Was going to be the first player in my team, not anymore unless the budget is increasing
It’s looking like 3-5-2 for me!
Definitely at this stage
If you are lucky you will have about 35 million if you don’t spend much on a 3rd forward, don’t think you will have that much left for mids, but I am in a generous mood.
So you would have to buy 5 mids at about 7 million per. If you spend about 9.5 for one top notch one, you are basically down to 6 million per on the other four, what do you think we will get for that? Unless you are going to only have one expensive forward as part of your two and one mid priced one. It is going to be hard.
You know what this could be setting up, an added importance to building value.
Well so far I haven’t seen one forward that looks worth their value yet. Just have to wait and see..
I have not seen one players price yet that I think will definitely be in my team. Alli comes closest
Will they do a Guardiola and price Aguero at 10.0 is the question!
That’s more like it lol
Was hoping Rooney might come in as a midfielder. Shame.
@Waxys? 😉
Lol
Rooney might be worth a punt if his price is reasonable i.e. Nowhere near 9.5 like last year
Might be – but not for the first fixtures!