FPL Gameweek 1
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Throughout the Premier League season, the upnnunder team will try to give tips and share strategies that got at least two of us in the top 14,000 worldwide including the FPL wizard of upnnunder, Michael, finishing 9th in Kenya. As always, the season begins with unbridled excitement at times masked by over-expectation of possibly being the next Simon March.
Options within the Promoted Teams.
Last season saw Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich go back down to the Championship. Up came Burnley, Middlesborough and Hull.
Burnley were the champions of the Championship and boasted a solid team that secured promotion. They managed to retain majority of the squad that was relegated from the Premier League. Sean Dyche’s teams are personified by organization and hard work, and last year’s was no different. Four players made the Championship team of the year, striker Andre Gray, valued at £6.5m, denfender Michael Keane, £5.0m, goalkeeper Tom Heaton, £4.5m, and Joey Barton who moved on to go and play for Rangers in Scotland. Gray scored 23 goals and added 8 assists in 41 appearances and has been the form player of pre season scoring 9 goals.
Middlesborough gained automatic promotion and boasted the Championship’s tightest defense. George Friend was in the TOTS, valued at £4.5m. He had 1 goal and 2 assists from right back, and would be pinging in the crosses for former Man City striker, Alvaro Negredo, £6.5m. Gaston Ramirez, £5.5m, looks set to be taking over set-piece duties due to the absence of Leadbitter and will play in the no 10 role. Exciting winger Viktor Fischer, £5.5m, is a bargain option in midfield with his pace and trickery, but it’s unlikely he’d be starting all games let alone playing 60 min. Victor Valdes, £4.5m, is set to take up the no 1 jersey for Boro, and could be a great option to rotate with.
Quite similar to Aston Villa, Hull seem to be primed to be almost as bad as the claret and blue. Steve Bruce left as manager, and the team has been struck down by long term injuries, having only one fit centre back in Curtis Davies. With only 13 first team players available for selection for the opening weekend, it makes it difficult to consider the Hull players.
West Ham & Southampton.
These two teams povide us with plenty of options in several positions. West Ham managed to get Gökhan Töre, Sofia Feghouli, £5.5m-a-apiece, and André Ayew, valued at £7.5m. After an extended break for Dimitri Payet £9.5m, it’lll be interesting to see who can lay down a marker before the Frenchman gets back to full fitness. He’s still the star of the team, but considering his value, there’s plenty of options at WHU. Lanzini is on the treatment table and would be another attacking option, £6.5m. They recently secured a loan deal for Argentine Olympian Jonathan Calleri, but Andy Carroll, £6.5m, remains the ideal man to lead the line, as long as he can stay fit. Defensively, they might be a bit light especially with not much depth at the fullback postions.
Southampton got a new manager in Puel who has made life very interesting in the South Coast. Southampton gained automatic qualification to the Europa League and Puel doesn’t seem to be afraid to try out new formations to accomodate all his players. Folowing the departure of Sadio Mane, Dusan Tadic, £7.5m, seems to have been handed the reins and will be playing in the no 10 position. With everything going through him, this is his team. Even more interesting is how new signing Nathan Redmond, £6.0m, has been utilized. Throughout the preseason, the £6.0m-rated midfielder has been playing as a second striker in an alternate 4–3–1–2 formation, alongside the sharp Shane Long or Charlie Austin, both £6.5m. Van Dijk, £5.5m, was prolific in bonus point scoring, as well a constant threat on set pieces. European Champion, Cedric, will be marauding down the wing with much more space in the new formation, as would be the solid Ryan Bertrand, £5.5m, who’s currently sidelined through injury. That would mean a starting berth for Matt Targett, £4.5m, who has started most of pre-season at left back. Fraser Forster, £5.0m , provides a goalkeeping option guaranteeing plenty of saves, but it’s yet to be seen how solid the Saints defense would be without Victor Wanyama in keeping clean sheets.
