Welcome to the Game-week #1 issue of FPL Unplugged for the 2021/22 season! If you are new here please do consider supporting me by subscribing to my newsletter. Every week, I write about all things FPL. Right from Game-week reviews, Game-week previews, FPL trends, captain picks, Buy/Sell/Watchlist/Hold indicators and much more. Why don’t you come along?
Game-week #1: Preview
With the deadline in just about a few hours, everyone is busy tinkering with their squads trying to find the right balance and fit in players both highly owned and differentials.
Some of the highly owned players are Bruno, Salah, Shaw and Sanchez. I would suggest getting them in as a decision to avoid such highly owned assets could come back to haunt you.
If you are a first timer, just build a squad with the players with high ownership till you get an idea about how the game is played as well as how different teams are performing this season. This strategy won’t guarantee you a top 1% rank but will definitely keep you close enough till you get the hang of it.
FPL Trends
Trend #1: BruNO or BruYES?
With everyone mostly going with two 12m premiums the FPL Community is divided between BruNO or BruYES.
Personally, I have decided to be on the BruNO side (might switch sides because of FOMO) avoiding him for a few reasons that I have listed in my last post Gucci, Versace or Dior.
Trend #2: Foster the number 2 Keeper
Foster sits at at pretty high ownership of 28.2% right now because of two reasons. Firstly, because of his 4m price point and secondly because he has the best chance of finding game time among the 4m keepers. I would suggest you avoid doing that. Reasons:
Bachmann WILL start a 100% of Watford’s games as long as he is fit.
It is not worth downgrading to Foster in order to have more wiggle room because as soon as more people start playing their wildcards and transferring him out his price will drop from 4m to 3.9m and maybe even 3.8m. You might end up depreciating your team value while trying to find that extra 0.5m.
Watford are a newly promoted team. Watford did put up some impressive numbers defensively in the Championship but translating them into the Premier League is IMPOSSIBLE.
Buy/Sell/Watchlist/Hold
Buy:
1. Salah:
Unless you are playing anti-FPL and trying to score the least points possible or are from the future and know that Salah will perform badly this season, YOU HAVE NO REASON TO AVOID HIM. Just get him in because if you don’t and he manages to score a hattrick (very possible) against Norwich you will look like a fool.
2. Shaw:
Shaw has crossed 50% ownership and avoiding him will hurt your rank badly. He is in the form of his life, had the most chances created by a defender in the PL last season and is a part of a very improved United defence.
Sell:
Not applicable for GW 1.
Watchlist:
1. Benrahma:
Benrahma has had a very strong pre-season and might just have a season to remember with the Hammers. He showed moments of promise last season but failed to string together consistent performances. If he can put up a few good performances early on he may become a must have by the International break.
Hold:
Not applicable for GW 1.
Captain Picks
Salah
Over 90% of the people that own him are gonna captain him. Owning a 12m player and not captaining him for most game-weeks makes no sense. And if you don’t have him, go transfer him in and captain him!
Antonio
I am really doing this for the sake of it. If you do not have Salah or do not wanna captain him (for some reason), Antonio is the guy for you. Newcastle will be an easy fixture for the big man to score some big points but seriously, captain Salah :-)
FPL Hot Takes
This is a one-off section where I will try to make few predictions for the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Antonio and Maupay to start the season on a high then get injured and drop off respectively.
Ait-Nouri to be in all teams by GW #10
Dele Ali and Doherty to start performing well under the new coach.
Lukaku to finish the season with 20+ goals