WFC's Team-By-Team Preview - Part 1

Arsenal

Top Target

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £11.0 (TSB 24.1%)

In only 13 appearances for the Gunners last season, Auba netted 10 goals and provided 4 assists, only failing to deliver an FPL return on three occasions. This saw him register 87 FPL points at 0.082 points per minutes (PPM). Interestingly, if Auba had played as many minutes as Harry Kane last season, he would have scored 36 more points than the Spurs star.

Differential/Punt

Mesut Özil – £8.5 (TSB 2.4%)

The ‘assist king’ struggled to find consistent form last season, but still managed to create one goal scoring chance every 25.7 minutes, ranking 4^th overall in the league for chances created. With a more settled and clinical attack pairing of Lacazette and Aubameyang in front of him this season, expect Özil to return to rediscover something near his 2015/16 form this season. At only £8.5, he could be a bargain!

Monitor

Sead Kolasinac – £5.0 (TSB 4.6%)

Kolasinac was an FPL beast last season until he lost his place in the starting line up. If Emery takes a liking to him and he can make the left-back spot his own once again, you’re going to want to have Kolasinac in your side.

Be Wary of

Hector Bellerín – £5.5 (TSB 12.5%)

With Lichtsteiner joining the Gunners, Emery has two high quality right-backs to choose from. Bellerín’s regular first team place is under threat.

Penalty Takers

1. Aubameyang; 2. Lacazette; 3. Özil

Free Kick Takers

1. Özil; 2. Mkhitaryan; 3. Ramsey

Corner Takers

1. Özil; 2. Ramsey; 3. Mkhitaryan

Predicted Top Scorer

Lacazette (17)

Predicted Top Assister

Özil (15)

Predicted Starting Line Up

Additional Notes

- Whoever starts out of Cech (£5.0) or Leno (£5.0) will be a great option.

- Both Ramsey (£7.5) and Mkhitaryan (£7.0) offer excellent value and both are good enough to serve as 3^rd midfielders in FPL sides.

Bournemouth

Top Target

Josh King – £6.5 (TSB 3.7%)

Bournemouth’s go-to man in attack, King enjoyed a solid 2017/18 season after his breakout 2016/17 season, registering 8 goals and 4 assists, with around 2 shots per game. The Norwegian international has proven himself as a reliable FPL asset.

Differential/Punt

Junior Stanislas – £6.0 (TSB 0.2%)

Despite an injury riddled campaign last season, Stanislas showed enough to suggest that he could be a top 10 FPL midfielder if he can maintain fitness. With nearly 3 shots per game, Stanislas finished last season with a PPM of 0.058 points per game, almost exactly the same as Dele Alli and Alexis Sánchez, and higher than Wilf Zaha and Romelu Lukaku.

Monitor

Jordan Ibe – £5.5 (TSB 0.7%)

The former Liverpool youngster enjoyed bright spells last season, such as two goals and two assists in five matches from January to February. With more confidence now that his first full season as a PL starter is under his belt, keep an eye on Ibe in the early stages of this season to see if he can transform his patches of form into longer runs.

Be Wary of

Callum Wilson – £6.0 (TSB 4.3%)

Wilson has netted a hat-trick in two out of the past three seasons, but only scored 8 and 5 goals overall in these seasons. Despite patches of superb goal scoring form that he does have, his severe inconsistency and common long running barren spells in front of goal are a major turn off.

Penalty Takers

1. King; 2. Wilson; 3. Stanislas

Free Kick Takers

1. Stanislas; 2. Daniels; 3. Arter

Corner Takers

1. Ibe; 2. Fraser; 3. Surman

Predicted Top Scorer

Josh King (10)

Predicted Top Assister

Ryan Fraser (8)

Predicted Starting Line Up

Additional Notes

- Eddie Howe has many options at his disposal in up front and in wide areas, so rotation may come into play if players enter form slumps

- Junior Stanislas may not be fit in time for the start of the season

Brighton

Top Target

Anthony Knockaert – £5.5 (TSB 0.6%)

Having made it through his first season as a starter in the PL, Knockaert should now be used to the pace and physicality of the league, and be primed to recapture the form that got us all so excited at the start of last season. Mahrez (240 points) and Josh King (178) both exploded in their second PL seasons, and Knockaert will be hoping to do the same.

Differential/Punt

José Izquierdo – £6.0 (TSB 0.8%)

Despite only registering 5 goals and 5 assists last season, the Colombian was a constant threat for the Seagulls, creating numerous chances and whipping in countless crosses.

Monitor

Ezequiel Schelotto – £4.0 (TSB 2.8%)

Priced at only £4.0, Schelotto overtook 37 year old Bruno as Brighton’s first choice right-back to end last season. If he can impress in pre-season and hold this spot down, he will be a must have.

Be Wary of

Glenn Murray – £6.5 (TSB 1.7%)

Despite scoring 12 goals last season, Murray will be turning 35 in September and with the other strikers Locadia, Hemed and Andone in Brighton’s ranks, it’s hard to see the big man playing so many minutes again this season.

Penalty Takers

1. Gross; 2. Murray; 3. Hemed

Free Kick Takers

1. Gross; 2. Knockaert; 3. Izquierdo

Corner Takers

1. Gross; 2. Knockaert; 3. Izquierdo

Predicted Top Scorer

Gross (8)

Predicted Top Assister

Knockaert (9)

Predicted Starting Line Up

Additional Notes

- The Brighton backline may experience a re-shuffle this season with the signing of Leon Balogun. If Hughton utilises the Nigerian in his preferred position at centre-back, one of Lewis Dunk or Shane Duff will miss out. However, if Balogun is fielded at right-back, that will spell the end of Schelotto’s FPL appeal.

Burnley

Top Target

Stephen Ward – £5.0 (TSB 10.7%)

Mr Consistent in a tight Burnley backline last season, Ward is a steady customer who has attacking potential and does well in the BPS.

Differential/Punt

Robbie Brady – £5.5 (TSB 0.1%)

Just as Brady was hitting his top form last season, he suffered a season ending injury. However, he was Burnley’s most potent attacking threat before his injury. An average of 8.2 crosses per game bodes well for his FPL appeal given Burnley’s strikers are all known for their aerial ability.

Monitor

Nahki Wells – £4.5 (TSB 2.4%)

Wells did next to nothing last season after three consecutive 10+ goal seasons in the Championship. This was down to the fact that he missed the first half of the season through injury, and by the time he was fit again, Dyche already had settled on a starting side. If Wells puts together a good pre-season, he may coming into consideration for a starting spot in the Burnley side this season.

Be Wary of

Nick Pope – £5.0 (TSB 9.5%)

The only worry with Nick Pope is that a fit again Tom Heaton may come back into the Burnley starting side. Pope has now represented England and was England’s third string keeper at the World Cup, but this spot in the squad was only available due to Heaton’s injury. Will Dyche stick with the young Pope after a player of the season campaign, or will club captain and proven performer Heaton reclaim the Burnley number one jersey? We will have to wait and see.

Penalty Takers

1. Vokes; 2. Wood; 3. Barnes

Free Kick Takers

1. Brady; 2. Defour; 3. Gudmundsson

Corner Takers

1. Brady; 2. Gudmundsson; 3. Arfield

Predicted Top Scorer

Wood (8)

Predicted Top Assister

Gudmundsson (10)

Predicted Starting Line Up

Additional Notes

- Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0) was a surprisingly reliable FPL asset last season, and should only improve again this year

- Dyche tended to rotated his centre forwards heavily last season