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FPL Strategy - Wildcarding after GW1

The start to the season this year is unlike any other. With the World Cup ending less than a month before the season starts and the transfer deadline the night before the first game week begins, strategy is going to play a key part in the early weeks of FPL. I want to explore a few of the strategies and see what the pros and cons are. I’m not suggesting if I was to execute the strategy I’m going to propose, the piece I write is exactly I’d do it, I just want to provide some food for thought. I think the idea anyone has their final draft, or even something close to it is laughable at this stage. So much will happen in the transfer market and in terms of player availability in the run up to the season kicking on August 10th.

My first thought was what about wildcarding after week one? This is a hallmark of a ‘casual’, but given the various obstacles in our way before the season starts could it actually be a viable option? Generally the core of most successful FPL teams is made up of premium top six players. But we may not know the answers to is Kane fit, is Salah on pens, will Aubameyang be down the middle, is Sarri a good fit for Chelsea and which City attackers will Pep go with given his wealth of options. Whilst these questions may remain unanswered before the first week of the season, some could be answered by game week two.

Last season my highest single game week rank was game week 1. My mistake was to assume that team was great and be reluctant to use an early wildcard. I stuck by the likes of Foster, Hegazi and Alli for too long when actually an early refresh of the team would have worked wonders. I didn’t actually use the first wildcard until the last possible game week, which could be argued to as much of a ‘waste’ as using it after game week 1.

But there is merit to using a wildcard after one week this season. It would effectively be the equivalent of having a second free hit chip. Putting my eggs in a small number of baskets, I fancy that Liverpool, Palace, Wolves, Bournemouth and Southampton could all have a decent opener. I’d also like an attacking player from each of Arsenal and Man City as that has the potential to be an open game. Looking at the early fixtures, I could foresee these two being teams to double or triple up on, but game week one feels too soon to make that move. 

Making a line up like this is viable:

You could then factor in some of the late arriving internationals in game week 2. as they come back into the fold. Maybe finding out Salah is off pens (which could as easily be established in as press conference as on the pitch), Kane scoring an August goal or Arsenal springing a surprise on City could change your thinking. You could then wildcard into this:

The players selected in the second draft are borderline irrelevant. There is no way now I could predict what I want my game week 2 line-up to look like, but thats the very point of this strategy. By going into game week 1 knowing you’re going to wildcard, it takes some of the pressure off. It would of course be a brave move and there are without doubt cons. Although Aubameyang is in both drafts, he could be kicked out if says Lacazette was central or on penalties and bringing him in could free you up £1.5 million elsewhere.

By game week 2, you will have some of the answers but not all of them. For example I think Sarri’s start at Chelsea could be similar to Conte’s in his first season, with questionable results before finding their rhythm, not that I’m suggesting a 13 game winning streak is repeatable. Waiting, even until say game week 4 might be your best move, given many more starting elevens will be established by then as new signings and Premier League managers and players begin to get comfortable with a particular system or style of play.

Another, and perhaps the main reason holding back most from trying this out, is you then lose the option to wildcard again until at least Christmas. The September, October and November international breaks have always been a popular time to wildcard and this season is likely to be different. One of the main reasons for this because players pick up injuries then are away.

There is a fair chance with the introduction of the UEFA Nations League, players with knocks will be less willing to pull out of international squads as games will have a little more meaning than before. Particularly those in the English, French, Spanish and German squads could feel if they skip a meet up with their country, they’re more likely given to pushed out the picture given the vast pool of players those sides have at their disposal. This could mean more injuries are picked up  to key players in international breaks than in previous seasons, so holding onto a wildcard would be more beneficial. 

In conclusion, this strategy is certainly a risk but one that could pay off. Of course there are a lot of reasons not to do it, but I think the circumstances of this season make it much more viable than it would have been in the past. I’m not an ‘expert’ and even if I was I wouldn’t be saying this is a 100% what you should do, but it’s an idea if you want to try something different. At the end of the day, some lose sight of the fact FPL is game to be enjoyed and it wouldn’t be as thrilling if we all did the same thing every week.

[fplfrog]

Twenty differentials

With the season less than two weeks away there are plenty of drafts out there so far, many looking quite similar. This isn’t a surprise given that great minds think alike but I thought I’d have a look at a few current differentials from each team (players with under 5% ownership) to see what I could find...

Arsenal - Gabriel - £5.0 million - 2.5% ownership - With Mertesacker injured and Koscienly injury prone, the Brazilian seems a safe choice. Considerably cheaper than their other likely starters in defence, Gabriel is beginning to adapt to the English game after 18 months. Hopefully a regular starting berth in the team will bring him up to the expected standard, collecting a few clean sheet points along the way.

Bournemouth - Brad Smith - £4.0 million - 3.1% ownership - The new signing from Liverpool will undoubtedly face competition for the left back slot with Daniels and Ake, but Eddie Howe must have bought the Australian on the assumption he would fight for a first team place. Given his attacking instincts he could get a place on the left-wing, or be used to double up when a team have a particularly dangerous right winger. If nothing else he is a great third sub at just £4.0 million.

Burnley - Tom Heaton - £4.5 million - 4.8% ownership - Burnley are an easy side to pick a differential from given that only Andre Gray creeps over the 5% mark. However many of their starters seem overpriced (Vokes at 6 mil for example) but Heaton has kept a very reasonable price. Starts with a home game against the currently strikerless Swansea and will no doubt face numerous shots throughout the season, bringing plenty of save points.

Chelsea - John Terry - £5.5 million - 4.6% ownership - A massive price drop from £7.0 last year makes an old favourite a selection prospect once again. With Zouma out injured, the ex-England captain should be a starter. I don’t necessarily think Conte’s side will be as defensively solid as many expect at the start, but it’s key to remember that Terry will be a threat from set pieces too.

Crystal Palace - Yohan Cabaye - £6.0 million - 3.9% ownership - Another player whose starting value who has dropped compared to last year. The Frenchman struggled to hold down a starting place at Euro 2016 but should be one of the first names on the team sheet for Palace. Likely to still be their penalty taker next season, which could prove a regular occurrence given their tricky winger trio of Bolasie, Zaha and Townsend.

Everton - Kevin Mirallas - £6.5 million - 1.2% ownership - Hard to pick between him and Deulofeu but the Belgian gets the nod as his international team mate Lukaku looks unsettled and I think Mirallas is the one who could mostly easily fit into the striker mould. Has always looked talented but Roberto Martinez never seemed to get the best out of him. Under Ronald Koeman he could get a new lease of life, and Everton fans will be hoping Koeman develops Mirallas in a similar fashion to how he got the best out of Sadio Mane at Southampton.

Hull - Robert Snodgrass - £5.5 million - 0.8% ownership - It is hard to justify the selection of any Hull player given the mess they are in, but I’ll plug for the Scotsman. When Norwich were relegated in 2013/14 he was the best of a bad bunch and I can see him fulfilling that role again. The Scotsman has an excellent left foot so should be able to rack up a few assists and the odd goal.

Leicester - Andy King - £5.0 million - 0.2% ownership - Since everyone has jumped on the Foxes bandwagon, differentials are harder to come by. With N’Golo Kante leaving the club, King deserves a start for some very decent displays towards the end of last season. Functional but also a goal threat, the Welshman would be a worthy 4th/5th choice midfielder for your team in my opinion.

Liverpool - Divock Origi - £7.0 million - 2.6% ownership - I have a feeling this may be the Belgian’s breakthrough season. With Benteke out of favour, Liverpool’s striker options seem quite limited and with Klopp taking a shine to Origi, I can see him getting a lot of game time and a fair few goals.

Manchester City - Fernandinho - £5.5 million - 1.6% ownership - One of City’s best performers in a largely forgettable 15/16 season. Comfortable on the ball which should appeal to new boss Pep Guardiola and happy to shoot on sight if given the opportunity. Honourable mentions to Silva, Sterling and Iheanacho who all have low ownership and could have great seasons. The Brazilian gets the nod for being by far the cheapest of the four.

Manchester United - Antonio Valencia - £5.5 million - 2.5% ownership - The winger turned right back could play a key role in Mourinho’s new look United side. He racked up three assists in a pre-season friendly against Galatasary and could be the main to tee up plenty of Zlatan goals. Although United have been linked with other signings, I think they’ll stop at Pogba. This will leave Darmian as Valencia’s main competition at right back and I don’t see the Italian being Mourinho’s type of player.

Middlesbrough - Viktor Fischer - £5.5 million - 1.9% ownership - I’d be lying if I said my Football Manager experiences had nothing to do with this selection, but the Dane is a definite wild card. Has something to prove after not quite turning out to be the mercurial talent he was expected to be. Should creating chances for the likes of Negredo and Rhodes.

Southampton - Charlie Austin - £6.5 million - 2.8% ownership - A risk given his injury record but should get a run in the side following Pelle’s exit. A proven Premier League scorer in his QPR days, he has potential to thrive in a team that is full of players capable of putting opportunities on a plate for him.

Spurs - Kevin Wimmer - £5.0 million - 0.5% ownership - Likely to start the season at centre back for Spurs with Jan Vertonghen out injured. The Austrian slotted in effortlessly at the heart of the defence when called upon last season and I’d expect him to do the same this time around. Vertonghen himself won’t be a bad shout when he is fit again, at a full £1 mil cheaper than his defensive partner Alderweireld.

Stoke - Philip Wollscheid - £4.5 million- 2.5% ownership - A cheap and cheerful option at the back, the German was a regular starter for the Potters last season and should be again this time around. Stoke’s first home games of the season are against Man City and Spurs but they are always capable of pulling off a scalp at the newly christened bet365 stadium.

Sunderland - Lamine Kone - £4.5 million - 1.8% ownership - The Ivorian defender was a big reason that the Black Cats escaped relegation last season and he is bound to be a key player this time around. Scored a brace against Everton and could be heading to Goodison Park to replace John Stones, which would make his price tag even more attractive.

Swansea - Wayne Routledge - £5.0 million - 0.4% ownership - Hard to see where the goals are going to come from this season with Gomis, Paloschi and Portugese hero Eder having left the South Wales club. Andre Ayew remains but even he could go so Routledge may be one of their main attacking threats.

Watford - Juan Zuniga - £4.5 million - 0.8% ownership - Should be nailed on at left back after being signed by his former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri. The Colombian will also be a threat going forward and could provide chances for the lethal partnership of Deeney and Ighalo. Again they have a tricky first few fixtures, but Mazzarri’s side could be dark horses this season.

West Brom - Salomon Rondon - £6.5 million - 3.0% ownership - The Venezuelan should be the main source of goals for the Baggies this season. Their first eight games don’t look too difficult so it is quite feasible Rondon will be one of the best strikers in his price range at the beginning of the season. Diafra Sakho (ownership 0.4%) could also be a great shout if he heads to The Midlands club.

West Ham - Sofiane Feghouli - £5.5 million - 4.9% ownership - Barely makes the differential cut, but being Algerian has put him in the running to be this season’s Mahrez. The former Valencia man seems quite reasonably priced and with there likely to be a buzz around the East London club following the move to the Olympic Stadium, Feghouli is probably a sensible fourth choice midfielder for your team but expect him to go over the 5% ownership mark sooner rather than later.

[fplfrog]

Christmas Crackers

It’s been a funny old week, as a certain Mr Mourinho will attest. With the fixtures coming thick and fast over the festive period I felt it would only be sensible to look at the options available. With rotation inevitable, I’ve tried to pick out players who are less likely to be rested. In any case this is the time of year you probably can’t get away with keeping that injured 4.4 midfielder as your third sub any longer. Click below for my selections:

Wayne Hennessey - £4.0 million - 9.1% ownership - The Palace keeper was in great form last time out against Southampton, picking up a couple of bonus points along the way. The Welshman has firmly grasped the number 1 shirt at Selhurst Park and Stoke are the only top half side that he’ll face in the next five games so plenty of clean sheet potential ahead.

Ryan Shawcross - £4.8 million - 0.9% ownership - Stoke haven’t conceded a single league goal this season when their stalwart centre back has been on the pitch. Though his defensive partner Wollscheid is slightly cheaper, there is less chance of Shawcross being rotated over Christmas as his season didn’t start until the end of October due to injury.

Leandro Bacuna - £4.7 million - 0.2% ownership - The rot has to stop for Villa sometime soon. There is no better time than the present considering their next four fixtures come against inconsistent Newcastle, injury ravaged West Ham, fragile Norwich and lowly Sunderland. Bacuna has been used by boss Remi Garde as winger recently so even if Villa don’t keep the nil, attacking returns are a distinct possibility for a player who is listed as a defender on FPL.

Junior Stanislas - £4.2 million - 0.8% ownership - Despite barely featuring in the Championship this season, the former West Ham man has hit form of late in the top flight thanks to the Cherries injury crisis. Three goals in as many games suggest he poses an offensive threat and could bring in some decent returns with his club riding on the crest of a wave at the moment.

Georginio Wijnaldum - £7.0 million - 10.6% ownership - The Dutchman has been frustrating at times this season but right now he looks to be enjoying somewhat of a purple patch. After back to back wins against Liverpool and Spurs, there is renewed optimism around St James’ Park. I would be surprised if Steve McClaren doesn’t go with Mitrovic and Perez up top from the start, both of whom will happily feed off assists from the ex PSV man. Newcastle also seem to perform better on TV and that’s exactly where you’ll find two of their next four games.

Olivier Giroud - £9.0 million - 12.0% ownership - Many FPL managers will remember being stung this time last year when the Frenchman got sent off in a boxing day fixture against QPR. However there has never been a better time to get the Arsenal striker in as he looks full of confidence. Even the visit of Man City to the Emirates on Monday shouldn’t put you off as the Citizens always look ropey at the back without captain Vincent Kompany.

Divock Origi - £5.5 million - 0.3% ownership - With Daniel Sturridge sidelined and Christian Benteke out of form, now is the perfect time for the younger Belgian striker to shine. Jurgen Klopp has long been an admirer of Origi and his first Premier League goal of his career last weekend against West Brom will have given manager and player confidence. Under Klopp the Reds have generally been very good away from home, with the exception of their recent visit to Newcastle. Three of their next four fixtures are away from Anfield so Origi could be prove to be an excellent festive differential.

[fplfrog]

Five Differentials

After this first international break of the season we're going to see wildcards being used left, right and centre. The core of Ivanovic, Sterling, Ramsey, Sigurdsson, Fabregas, Naismith and Costa will exist in so many teams so identifying differential options at this early stage of the season will be vital for all FPL managers.

The Frog recently looked at some of the newest Premier League signings and how they might fare. Among them Wilfried Zaha, Nick Powell and Toby Alderweireld could be great differential options. 

Here is a look at some of the other players with less than 1% ownership who could be hidden gems:

Tom Heaton -  £4.5 million - (0.4% ownership) - The Burnley goalkeeper has shown good potential against elite opposition, impressing last time out against Manchester United. With three upcoming fixtures against what you'd have to say are fellow relegation candidates (Crystal Palace, Sunderland and West Brom) there could be further clean sheets on the cards for Heaton.

Jeffrey Schlupp - £4.5 million - (0.2% ownership) - The Ghanian, who bagged an assist last time out against Arsenal, offers fantastic versatility. Primarily used by Nigel Pearson at left-back (and who can blame him when the alternative is Paul Konchesky) he started his career as a striker so should have an eye for goal when he gets into advanced positions. Leicester have started the season impressively and I expect this to continue, starting with this weekend's trip to Stoke.

Ramires - £5.5 million - (0.6% ownership) - The Brazilian's ownership is low following his early season suspension. However in Chelsea's previous game against Everton he bagged a goal and assist, earning 13 points in the process. The former Benfica man should start against Swansea this weekend. Their following fixture away to Manchester City, should see Ramires deployed in a more attacking role on the right hand side. This is a tactic Mourinho used successfully in the same fixture last season and in the recent game at Goodison Park.

Lazar Markovic -£7.5 million - (0.3% ownership) - Another man who once plyed his trade at Benfica, the Serbian international hasn't yet had a chance to make his mark on the Premier League. With Daniel Sturridge out injured, Liverpool will undoubtedly be looking to inject pace in the inside. While Markovic may not be an obvious starting choice, with Champions League games starting soon there will undoubtedly be rotation.

Dwight Gayle - £5.4 million - (0.6% ownership) - Gayle followed up a Capital One Cup hat-trick with a goal in the opening minute against Newcastle last time out. It seems under Neil Warnock that Palace will be more of an offensive force than they were under Tony Pulis. With service from the likes of Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha, the man who was playing for Dagenham only three years ago could take the Premier League by storm.

[fplfrog]

New Faces and Old Faces

After the excitement of deadline day the dust has settled and fans await the end of an international break nobody wants. The Frog has decided to take a look at some of the signings that have been tied up before the window slammed shut and decide whether they deserve a place in your FPL team.

Hatem Ben Arfa - The Frenchman often appears to be a rebel without a cause but on his day can be an absolute world beater. Clearly his relationship with Newcastle United had become poisonous so a fresh start at Hull provides the perfect chance for the former Marseille player to reignite his career. Ben Arfa has most likely been brought in as a replacement for the injured Robert Snodgrass. However Steve Bruce is likely to see the best of him if he builds a team around him. If Bruce is bold enough to take this step he will be an absolute steal for FPL managers at just £5.8 million.

Falcao - Contrary to popular belief Falcao is exactly the player Manchester  United need. Whether you rate them or not United have enough central defenders and central midfielders. particularly as the FA Cup is their only distraction. If Van Gaal can turn De Vrij, Vlaar and Bruno Martins Indi into a competent back line then I'm sure he can do the same with Jones, Evans and Smalling over time. With the departures of Hernandez and Welbeck, as well as the injury problems suffered by RVP and Rooney, a world class striker is a very welcome addition at Old Trafford. Many FPL managers will be tempted to snap him up the Colombian for £11.0 million. One thing worth noting is that unlike strikers in a similar price range (Costa, Aguero, Rooney) United's new number 9 is unlikely to take penalties.

Nick Powell - With the exception of Adnan Januzaj, I think Powell is Manchester United's brightest youth prospect. Nigel Pearson will be undoubtedly delighted to have snapped him up on loan for Leicester. Last season with Wigan, Powell was impressive in central midfield. He is very likely to be given game time and could be a decent creative option in a Leicester side which has already impressed many since they returned to the top flight. A price-tag of £4.9 million shouldn't put you off a man who was voted Crewe Alexandra's 'greatest ever player' despite the fact he left the club when he was barely old enough to buy a beer.

Danny Welbeck - Arsenal's latest acquisition is without doubt an interesting one. If the striker endures a slow start he could become the next Francies Jeffers, though he does attributes that should compliment Arsenal's footballing philosophy. With the creativity of Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla and Sanchez behind him he should be able to penetrate defences and find himself in goalscoring positions. He has also proved for club and country he is capable of delicate and improvised finishes, which should fit in with the Gunners intricate style of play. If he is given a central striking role from the start I expect him to be a success and perhaps an FPL bargain at just £6.9 million.

Wilfried Zaha - Another Manchester United player who has been sent out on loan, Zaha has come home to Crystal Palace, where he first showed so much promise. He was very impressive in his second Palace debut, coming off the bench against Newcastle to score a last minute equaliser. The winger showed so much potential in the early years of his career that I can see him reaching the same heights as Raheem Sterling if he is properly nurtured. New Palace manager Neil Warnock has previously managed to get the best out of young raw talents before, such as Adel Taarabt and I expect him to work similar wonders with his latest acquisition. Palace's golden boy should be an appealing prospect for all FPL managers, with a price tag of £5.4 million and a home fixture against Burnley up next.

[fplfrog]

The Frog Squad

After much deliberating the Frog is ready for the start of the new season!

Here is the squad and a brief explanation of the selections:

Starting 11

Hugo Lloris - The France captain is pound for pound one of the best goalkeepers in the league. With opponents West Ham having to do without Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia they may lack firepower. As the Frog mentioned in a previous piece, Pochettino's Southampton had a great run of clean sheets at the start of last season.

Kyle Naughton - Arguably a better right back than Kyle Walker and with the England international out injured, Naughton has the chance to shine.

Ron Vlaar - After an excellent World Cup, the Dutchman will be hoping his club side can get off to a good start. Villa have a relatively easy run of opening fixtures and their form tends to be better away from home.

John Terry - You can't go wrong with Chelsea captain. An absolute stalwart under Jose Mourinho and he enjoys scoring away from home.

Leighton Baines - A fantasy football god. The first name on the team sheet given the attacking threat he poses from defence.

Eden Hazard - The winger was a great fantasy football asset last season and will be looking to reignite his career after a disappointing World Cup. An opening game against new boys Burnley should provide the perfect platform.

Yaya Toure - An absolute man mountain in the middle. Will offer an attacking threat and is almost certain to be the designated penalty taker in Sergio Aguero's early season absence.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - The attacking midfielder should be a revelation for in his second spell at Swansea. Many will be put off as he'll be up against Manchester United but with their inexperienced back line, they could be vulnerable to the Swans offensive threat.

Lewis Holtby - A bit of a wildcard with only 0.4% selection but he has had an impressive pre-season. Guilty of lacking confidence in previous campaigns but may be about to flourish.

Wilfried Bony - Again has a tough opening fixture but proved last season he was a natural goalscorer at this level. The Ivorian netted at Old Trafford last season and will be raring to go this season.

Diego Costa - The Frog has chosen Costa as the captain after an impressive season in La Liga last term. He is arguably the final piece in the Chelsea puzzle and should receive great service from the likes of Hazard, Oscar and Fabregas.

Bench

Boaz Myhill - Standard 4.0 goalkeeper who may get a chance if Ben Foster's injury problems come back to bite him.

Dushan Tadic - The Frog has said before to avoid the Liverpool v Southampton fixture, however the Saints follow up this match with fixtures against West Brom and West Ham. A terrific scoring record in the Eredivisie makes him an interesting leftfield selection.

Alex Bruce - Like everyone else the Frog can see Bruce is cheap, may get some game time and is of course the manager's son.

Ricardo Vaz Te - A cheap striker who may get a chance given West Ham's current injury woes.

[fplfrog]

Three Golden Rules for GW1

The Frog likes to be prepared and put in as much thinking as tinkering in pre-season. Here are The Frog's three golden rules for the first gameweek which are worth considering when making your selections:

All five of the teams mentioned have winnable fixtures in GW1, with the arguable exception of Swansea, who will at least follow up their trip to Old Trafford with home games against Burnley and West Brom.

2. QPR Syndrome - There is always a sense of promise around the West London club at this time of year. They throw money at some signings with relatively good pedigree (Mauricio Isla and Jordon Mutch are perfect examples) only for their optimism to be shattered before August is over.

Where QPR normally go wrong is at home on the first day of the season. In their last two Premier League campaigns they were thumped at home on the opening day 4-0 and 5-0 by Bolton and Swansea respectively. This time around they open their campaign at home to Hull. The Frog suggests selecting a Hull player or two as they'll be match sharp after a couple of Europa League games.

3. Avoid Liverpool v Southampton - The Frog foresees too many uncertainties and variables when analysing what will be the first Super Sunday game of the season. With Luis Suarez gone and Daniel Sturridge struggling with a hamstring issue, it is difficult to predict how Liverpool's attack will line up. Also it is tough to determine how Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren will cope coming up against their old club so soon after departing.  

The Saints are somewhat of unknown quantity too under Ronald Koeman, who took over in June. Koeman's old club Feyenoord didn't have an outstanding defensive record in the Eredivisie, conceding 12 more goals than eventual champions Ajax. Going forward they might be a better bet, especially as Italian striker Graziano Pelle, who followed Koeman to Southampton, was known in Holland for scoring a hatful of goals on Sundays. However the Frog doesn't believe in omens and would suggest steering clear of these sides until the dust settles.

[fplfrog]

Falling Stock, Rising Points

Welcome to FPL 2014/2015. After the greatest World Cup of the 21st century so far, we find ourselves less than a fortnight away from the Premier League season. With pre-season games still going on it is very difficult to determine form, so most FPL players will be primarily looking at price when it comes to making selections.

Hugo Lloris - (£5.5 million down from £6.0 million) - The Frenchman is one of the best keepers in Europe but he endured a difficult season last time around, largely due to the fact he had an ever changing back line in front of him. When you consider how defensively sound Mauricio Pochettino's Southampton at the start of last season (six clean sheets in their first nine league games last season) it wouldn't be a surprise to see the North London club tighten up at the back.

Jan Vertonghen (£6.0 million down from £7.0 million) - For largely the same reasons as above, Vertonghen has to be worth a gamble. A competent centre-back who had a very good goalscoring record when he played for Ajax, the Premier League is perhaps yet to see the best of the Belgian. Last season he was often moved out to left-back, but with both Ben Davies and Danny Rose available, Vertonghen should occupy his favoured central role this time around.

Leighton Baines - (£7 million down from £7.5 million) - England's first choice left-back is an absolute must for any fantasy team. Everton boss Roberto Martinez loves his full-backs to get forward which gives Baines a lot of opportunity to get balls into the box. Of course his free-kick and penalty taking ability sets him apart from most full-backs. I can only assume his price has dropped because a toe injury last season meant he didn't score as many points as he could have done.

Nemanja Matic - (£5.5 million down from £6.0 million) - Perhaps not an obvious choice given he often plays in a more defensive role, but the Serbian could be a great choice for your squad. Signed in January, he acclimatised to the Premier League with relative ease, which was particularly notable when Chelsea beat Man City during his debut at the Etihad. Matic will play most weeks and is likely to notch the odd assist, so he could be a safe option for your bench.

Gylfi Sigurdsson- (£6.0 million down from £7.0 million) - His price decrease was probably due to the fact he was expected to be a bit part player at Spurs this season rather than one of the main men at Swansea. With Michu on loan at Napoli, Sigurdsson will be the main attacking midfielder for the Welsh side, providing service for the potentially lethal strike force of Wilfried Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis. The Icelandic international also has a superb right foot which will come in very useful at set-piece situations.

Ashley Young - (£5.5 million down from £7.0 million) - The Manchester United man has has made a limited impact in his Old Trafford career. Usually deployed as a left-winger, the England outcast may find a new lease of life in a wing-back position. Even from a deeper position he could offer a goalscoring threat, as proved by his brace in a recent friendly against Real Madrid. His versatility will appeal to incoming manager Louis Van Gaal so he could well be worth a punt in your team at a very tidy price.

Mesut Ozil - (£9.0 million down from £10.0 million) - When Ozil wasn't affected by injury and fatigue he put in some in some stellar performances for the Gunners. With the signing of Alexis Sanchez, the return to fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott due back before Christmas, they'll be plenty of fast players in the side who will appreciate the German's precise through balls. Perhaps the World Cup winner shouldn't go straight into your side as he is unlikely to start the season due to a late this summer after Germany's success.

Steven Fletcher - (£5.5 million down from £7.0 million) - After an injury-hit campaign last time around, the Scotsman's stock has certainly fallen. However he has played some part in pre-season and seems to have a more certain future than his strike partner Connor Wickham who is stalling over a new contract. Fletcher has brilliant aerial ability and a great left foot. With Sunderland likely to have a better start this season under Gus Poyet than they did in the last under Paolo Di Canio, the former Wolves striker could be a great differential.

Gabriel Agbonlahor - (£5.5 million down from £7.0 million) - Another who has seen better days, Agbonlahor is yet to rekindle the form that saw him in contention for a place in the England squad not so long ago. His blistering pace should be ideal for the counter attacking football Paul Lambert likes to deploy so while he is a risk for any fantasy manager, there is always potential for him to deliver. 

Stevan Jovetic - (£8.0 million down from £9.0 million) - The forgotten striker at Manchester City could have a major part to play this season. His pre-season form has been exemplary and with Sergio Aguero yet to feature he could be on the team sheet when City start their season away to Newcastle.. As with any Arsenal or Manchester City selection you're planning on this season, the Community Shield will be the best indicator of the impact a particular player is going to have this season.