I'm pretty useless with drafts but happy to join if you need numbers. But if others want to give it a proper go, give them priority
Fantasy Premier League 25/26
- Thread starter Chipper
- Start date
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) chats to author, Dan Williamson, about his new book 'If I Hadnt Seen Such Riches' which chronicles our 1990/91 European Cup Winners Cup victory, which is a trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember it and a vital history lesson for those who don't.
Put together a team quickly as I was under pressure to renew a mini-league. I've not really followed pre-season of any team and a little out of sync with transfers but this is my draft.
Any glaring omissions or odd selections?
GK: Pickford, Dubravka
DEF: AWB, Dorgu, Gabriel, VVD, Hume
MID: Salah, Malen, Grealish, Eze, Dewsbury-Hall
STR: Haaland, Piroe, Strand Larson
Any glaring omissions or odd selections?
GK: Pickford, Dubravka
DEF: AWB, Dorgu, Gabriel, VVD, Hume
MID: Salah, Malen, Grealish, Eze, Dewsbury-Hall
STR: Haaland, Piroe, Strand Larson
I'm pretty useless with drafts but happy to join if you need numbers. But if others want to give it a proper go, give them priority
@Andycoleno9 I would be interested in this
Could have a go if you still need people. No worries if not!
Got mine tonight as well. How many people are you playing with? That really changes how valuable certain players are. Best thing to do is target forwards early and do some research on who would probably be a nailed on starter. I always try to prepare myself but once that clock starts ticking I'm usually just winging it
6 of us. I’ve won 3 years on the trot fortunately but people are more on it this year. I hope I don’t get first pick to be honest because I’d be stumped between getting Salah/Haaland/Saka/Palmer. Plus practically all of Liverpool options are appealing.
I tend to make a little watchlist but yeah by round 3, it all goes to shit. I won last year with Salah, and the year before with Haaland and the year before with Kane - so really I appreciate that your first pick can be the catalyst to a win.
I’m just clueless for the middle-last picks this year. I’ve done well in previous years in getting the likes of Aina, Wood late which end up being season-long holds.
Watch me pick fecking Dorgu as my 4th pick because I’m too excited after preseason.
Getting 3 Liverpool players is decent for sure. Whites a curveball I suppose.
It’s at 7 so I’ll probably do a bit of researching an hour before. But I’d be pleased with that team to be honest.
Im not sure starting with Gabriel is a good idea - they have a tough start I’d probably suggest you transfer him in around gameweek 7 when their fixtures get much better.
I’d suggest possibly Cucurella for him.
I’d also be wary of not having any Chelsea attacker - they’ve looked good in pre season - I think one of Palmer / Pedro is a must.
I think Mitoma is better value than Grealish early on as he will be unfit (you could go for Rutter who has been playing upfront over pre season )
Maybe try downgrading Piroe to Guhi and upgrading Larsen to one of the 7.5s
Reaching the same conclusion on Sanchez, but then he annoyed me at times last season. Picked him up on first wildcard and kept him until the second one.
At least 2 or 3 games he was personally responsible for wiping his onw clean sheet. Gave away a penalty at Old Trafford (glad he did in another way
) and dropped the ball under pressure to concede in at least 2 games. Was rotated/dropped once or twice as well including that easy looking game they had away at Southampton near Christmas.It all sticks in the memory! Holding a bit a of a grudge.
Think their central defence will be Tosin and Chalobah but nothing guranteed consideiring they have 30,000 players in their squad. Quite the turn-around for Chalobah after they recalled him from loan when short on numbers in January and played plenty in the Club World Cup too. Little bit of goal threat on him too. Scored 3 at Palace and continued going up for set pieces when back at Chelsea with 0.08 xG per 90 back there. Not elite as the best central defenders hit 0.10+ when going up for corners and free kicks but he's alright.
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Same for me, I'm thinking of going to go for players like Frimpong/Ait Nouri a little earlier than most would. I think there are so many midfield options, but forwards and elite level (wing)backs are scarce. Hope it doesn't backfire.
As for United, I'm staying well clear for the earlier rounds except for Sesko if he's available. I'll think about Mbeumo/Cunha but think they're rated a little too high. Dorgu is a good shout though for the later rounds!
Is defcon focus a good strategy? I've stacked my team with good defenders for this and don't know if 4 or 5 at the back should be the play
Is defcon focus a good strategy? I've stacked my team with good defenders for this and don't know if 4 or 5 at the back should be the play
Been lured by it to an extent.
It's a mixture of things. Uncertainty on a number of forwards coupled with the introduction of the defcon points that should boost up the points of a number of central defenders in particular, making them good looking points per million spent prsopects. Throw in lots of nice premium-ish midfielders and it's a tempting dish to order.
Saw this last night and was already onto it, been considering 4-5-1 for a good week now but he sums it up quite nicely.
The defcon magnets at the back have a fantastic chance of outperforming the budget forwards (Beto, Piroe, Muniz), and likely the budget midfielders too at least until the new Morgan Rogers or Jacob Murphy, a cheap midfielder with real attacking threat appears. If you guarantee me Harry Wilson, Donyell Malen or Jhon Arias is going to smash it then I'd rather have them but until they actually do it the defcon defenders add additional choices which makes playing 4 defenders look good.
Someone like Elliot Anderson (5.5 mid) who is a good budget midfield option had his points revised to 143 last season if defcon existed. Whereas the likes of Milenkovic, Murillo, Tarkowski, Collins and Lacroix would have outscored him with their would-be defcon points inserted at the same price point or less. Throw in your clean sheet specialists from good teams (Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City etc) and/or an attacking fulll back (Munoz, Ait-Nouri/Frimpong, et al or a punt on De Cuyper on a budget) and there's lots of options for defenders. Liking the 4 defender setup presently.
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Been really bouyant on Matheus Nunes but the general Pep roulette threat and one or two other small doubts have been creeping in.
Do we think he's nailed?
Rico Lewis started their one and only friendly although they did change everyone barring at half time Haaland in that one. Lewis also started their first game at the club world cup before getting sent off and Nunes playing from then on.
No Nunes in the FA Cup final either, Akanji preferred.
Was considering Nunes one of the more nailed on City picks after Haaland and Gvardiol as he was playing a lot when switched to right back and Lewis got binned off last season. Gone a bit cool on him now.
Do we think he's nailed?
Rico Lewis started their one and only friendly although they did change everyone barring at half time Haaland in that one. Lewis also started their first game at the club world cup before getting sent off and Nunes playing from then on.
No Nunes in the FA Cup final either, Akanji preferred.
Was considering Nunes one of the more nailed on City picks after Haaland and Gvardiol as he was playing a lot when switched to right back and Lewis got binned off last season. Gone a bit cool on him now.
Jack Grealish for 6.5m? I kinda like it.
Gudmundsson is a left-back who’s occasionally played as a left midfielder he is expected to start. Reinildo from Sunderland is another 4.0 defender who could start but I am not as sure about him starting. Gudmundsson is in my team.
Sesko price revealed at 7.5m. Won't start with him but I think he'll be a great pick later in the season.
Seriously toying with an idea of BB1, FH2... something like this maybe?
Kelleher Dubravka
VDV Frimpong Diouf Konsa Rodon
Salah Palmer Wirtz Kudus Reijnders
Pedro Wood Solanke
Kelleher Dubravka
VDV Frimpong Diouf Konsa Rodon
Salah Palmer Wirtz Kudus Reijnders
Pedro Wood Solanke
A little high to be honest. Thought he’d be around £7.5m. That’s the same as Wissa, Pedro, Solanke, Mateta who are a lot more likely to do well this season
Could go either way for Sesko in his first season
With Bruno, Mbeumo and Cunha he’s surrounded by better - on paper - attacking players, so it’s all about him adapting to the league and cementing a spot in the XI. But I think there’s some value in there potentially
I was keen on him too but no idea on the rotation, so going with Reijnders now Rodri's confirmed out til the international break
I've gone for neither for my first week. I've gone for all round decent squad and I'm using my bench boost in week 1.
GK - Sanchez / Sels
DF - Milenkovic/Wan Bissaka/Dorgu/Konate/Konsa
MF - Palmer/Mbeumo/Bruno/Wirtz/Gakpo
ST - Watkins/Beto/Joao Pedro
Think Baleba or Caicedo a better defensive midfield option than both to be honest. Baleba being .5m cheaper
Bruno / Watkins or Bowen / Mbeumo
When is the draft? Put me in, coach!
Reijnders has way more attacking potential though.
Is defcon focus a good strategy? I've stacked my team with good defenders for this and don't know if 4 or 5 at the back should be the play
Not sure about it myself. 10 or more clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles in a single match for a defender to earn 2 points is not easy. Most of the defenders who did this were either on the three teams who were relegated with little chance of clean sheets, or CB's who didn't provide goals or assists. If you think Forest is going to be as good defensively as last year, they have a couple of CB's to pick as does Everton, but I wouldn't have more than one.
There are a few midfielders who are probably going to pick up the two points, but they won't get you goals and assists. Perhaps when looking for your last midfielder who starts, 5.0 in cost, you take into account the defensive points. However, I think it's like save points for keepers, you don't pick a keeper for save points, but it's a bonus if they get them.
Allaboutfpl explains the issue better than I can,
https://allaboutfpl.com/2025/08/fpl-defensive-contribution-points-top-picks-stats-impact/#:~:text=FPL Defensive Contribution Points- Impact and Deep Dive&text=In a nutshell, DefCon rewards,exciting' picks, are strengthened.
Cheers, I did have Palmer in the initial draft but ran out of money.
Gone for Grealish to Rutter, Pirou to Guiu and Larson to Pedro.
I may take Gabriel out as well but not sold on the Chelsea defence, so we'll see.
Fair point, although Baleba would’ve been well over 100 last season given defensive contributions
Watkins and Bowen. Not starting the season with United.
Sesko comes in at 7.5m. Interesting price point.
Considering a 4-4-2 setup now, still really liking 4 at the back.
Instead of having Fullkrug (6m) rotating in and out of the team in a 4-5-1 and often being on the bench it intuitively makes sense to have a cheaper bench player to get more value playing.
A 5.5 bench (Anderson/Caicedo) midfielder brings the 6.5m forwards into the picture but none of them fill me with too much confidence. A 5.0 bench midfielder = Evanilson up front. Trim 0.5 elsewhere as well and there's the huge chunk of forwards at 7.5m to tap into.
Wharton seemingly on corners yesterday from one side of pitch until he went off, Baleba in the mix too at 5.0. I like Onana's stats if he got the playing time at Villa.
Could even justify a punt on Potts at West Ham for 4.5. He's expected to start from what I gather. If someone's only going to be perma sub it's not really worth it to keep much value on the bench at all. Wouldn't really see myself starting Anderson, Baleba etc. very often at all.
Instead of having Fullkrug (6m) rotating in and out of the team in a 4-5-1 and often being on the bench it intuitively makes sense to have a cheaper bench player to get more value playing.
A 5.5 bench (Anderson/Caicedo) midfielder brings the 6.5m forwards into the picture but none of them fill me with too much confidence. A 5.0 bench midfielder = Evanilson up front. Trim 0.5 elsewhere as well and there's the huge chunk of forwards at 7.5m to tap into.
Wharton seemingly on corners yesterday from one side of pitch until he went off, Baleba in the mix too at 5.0. I like Onana's stats if he got the playing time at Villa.
Could even justify a punt on Potts at West Ham for 4.5. He's expected to start from what I gather. If someone's only going to be perma sub it's not really worth it to keep much value on the bench at all. Wouldn't really see myself starting Anderson, Baleba etc. very often at all.
Is anyone else tempted by Sesko? I had him mentally marked as 8m.
I upgraded by 0.5 from Evanilson but need a second opinion
I upgraded by 0.5 from Evanilson but need a second opinion
I will bring him in GW2, if he gets some playing time against Arse.
I was thinking this but I also don't want to time my transfers.
I'm quite sure Amorim plays him because he spoke about the need to have a reference striker with a full week of training to go before Arsenal. Sesko will get 3-4 sessions with the group and most likely start I reckon.
It's more about whether hel be off the ground running. My team is full of safe picks and the excitement of a differential is pushing me for Sesko.
I am on this now too and am going to get on a few cheaper defenders that I think will have better seasons (Spurs, United) but still be under siege enough to get those defcon points, along with a few sure bets.
It will be the first time ever going in like this but I love my midfield and my attack, along with half my defence and my GK, so this is as close as I am going to get.
Not only have they done pricing very well this year, but the Isak drama, additions of Wirtz, Sesko, Gyokeres etc are so great for the game. Genuinely feels like there are so many ways to go now.
Defcon points are great too because it just sprinkles more options and combinations on top.
Defcon points are great too because it just sprinkles more options and combinations on top.
I had a fairly settled team until I started reading more into the DefCon stuff, which I had been completely ignoring before that. Now changed about half my team since yesterday
I kind of want to shoehorn Elliot Anderson in as my bench midfielder but I've currently got all the cheapest price points on my bench to make the starting team work. Might do it if it looks like Morgan Rogers will miss the opening game
I kind of want to shoehorn Elliot Anderson in as my bench midfielder but I've currently got all the cheapest price points on my bench to make the starting team work. Might do it if it looks like Morgan Rogers will miss the opening game
My strategy this season, to start, is BB1, FH2 and WC3 or 4. So I can afford to bring him in for GW2. Then I'll see what I'll do with MU assets when I WC.
Ah I got you. I haven't thought beyond BB. I think il WC later.
Do people really go heavy in defence this year because defcon points?
I am going with 3-4-3 with Vvd, VDV and Aina. With two 4.0 on the bench.
I see some people here going with some expensive defence
I am going with 3-4-3 with Vvd, VDV and Aina. With two 4.0 on the bench.
I see some people here going with some expensive defence
That's what I usually do myself, but with these extra chips, I just thought "get them out of the way".
There's different schools of thought. My view is that it's quite attainable for certain defenders to have up to 10 instances of either tackles, interceptions, clearances or blocks. That results in a bonus 2 points, so you can get very good value if you consider a Vvd / gabriel who are clean sheet potential on top. But even low block assets who soak and counter suddenly have strong value - Forrest and Palace for example. They can pick up 5pts in any game from just doing their job (no need for a goal or assist or CS).
I'm wondering how Dorgu does in this as he will surely intercept / block passes and also be in dangerous areas offensively.