Alex: This week we talk about the changes to FPL for this season. We discuss the Harland debate and we've got a nice clever pun thanks to someone in our WhatsApp group for that. We'll also look at the top utmost owned players as we go, we're only less than 24 hours away until the deadline. And then Ben and I will also pick our five spotlights of 10 players owned less than 10%. And then finally, Siege, Ben and myself have created a team and we're going to reveal our Game Week 1 team. So, Ben, it's not that long Ben: Yes. Alex: ago since we recorded. Quickly, how are you? And then we'll get into the changes. Ben: well, I did a bit of shopping just before I came to record this pod and I was wearing my Newcastle top and someone came up and fist bumped me and said, Yeah, Newcastle. So if that's not a good omen for the season, I don't know what is. On the other hand, I do think it's highly likely that Isak bags a hat trick in a couple days' time. So I'm shitting Alex: Can you imagine? Ben: myself. I'm shitting myself. But I'm okay. Also the the the the Alex: I've heard some good rumours about Newcastle though, I some potential, some decent transfers coming in the next... Ben: Yeah, Nico G. Forget about Bruno G. We've been linked with Nico G, Nico Gonzalez from Man City, who would be a Alex: I saw that. Ben: e an excellent signing if we can get that one over the line, although I'm sure it'll be hijacked by somebody else. you didn't you didn't reveal the the clever pun. It was Harland or Narland. Alex: I was gonna do it when we got to it, but you've done it now. Ben: I just really liked that. Well done, Trotty. I might use might nick that for the episode title. But yeah, we me and Alex are gonna have Alex: Harland vs. Yarland. Ben: a look at a few a few players in the spotlight who are under 10% owned, just because I know all of you have been through various drafts and we want to sew some some doubt in the final hours before the deadline just to really mess with your mind. But yeah, before we do that, let's get into the to the changes. Can you explain some of them? Because Alex: Yeah, there's been, of course, there's been some changes to the bonus points system. So in previous fantasy seasons, players were handed a bonus point reduction of minus one every time they were tackled. However, this metric has now been removed so that flair players who dribble a lot more, such as wingers, fullbacks, are no longer punished for taking on an opponent. So if they get tackled, those bonus points that they get in the game, that won't be deducted. So if they lose the ball, which I suppose is a nice one. then but then Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: there is less rewards now in terms of DEFCON. So Ben: Hm. Alex: last year DEFCON was huge. I think what they've realized then is they try and need to balance it out a bit. So there's now less reward for clearances, blocks and interceptions. A player will now earn one bonus point for every three clearance blocks or interceptions instead of one bonus point for every two. So this should slightly lessen the likelihood of centre backs picking up bonus points because there are other types of players who just make clearances, blocks and interceptions. And we know we had some centre backs last year who just literally would just be clearing it every two minutes and picking Ben: Mm. Alex: up loads of bonus points. So that's those and then Ben, you'll take us on to them. Yeah. Ben: Wait, so to s so to summarize then it's it's easier it's a bit it's a bit rebalanced towards attackers and e and and then not as easy for defenders, yeah. Alex: I think so, yeah. That's what it sounds like because it sounds like there's those more attacking players, they're not going to lose points if they lose the ball. Yeah. Ben: Potential bonus points. Yeah. Alex: Whereas defenders now have to do a bit more to get a bonus point. So I think it's trying to find that balance because I think last year, if we Ben: To get to get DEF CON. Yeah. Alex: think about it, there was a lot more bonus points wasn't there for Defcon than there was for maybe attacking. Ben: Mm. Alex: And I think Ben: Mm. Alex: they're trying to do, I think it's good. think they've got to find the even balance so it's fair for both sides of the game. So it'd be interesting. Ben: Yeah. And then as well, we've got goalkeeper saves. So goalkeepers will now earn two bonus points, or BPS, sorry, not bonus points for any save. So goalkeepers will continue to collect an extra one BPS for saving a shot taken from inside the box, but save from outside the box metric has been removed for twenty twenty-six-twenty-seven. So goalkeeper will now earn an additional one BPS for saving a big chance, which is a situation where the player is expected to. score. I read all that and I don't underst yeah, Alex: I'm intrigued to know how they're going to work that out. Ben: I don't understand how that's gonna work. So like what defines a big chance, an XG over a certain amount or what? Like Alex: What happens if there's an open goal but he shoots from the halfway line? Does that count as a big chance? Ben: I don't know. Probably not, right? 'Cause Alex: and then the keeper like somehow gets back and saves it. like, hmm. That's gonna be an interesting one. That sounds a bit Vah-ry to me. Ben: Yeah, that's a weird one. It it it 'cause go yeah, goalkeepers were always always kinda like you know, not like they earn the least amount of points in it, 'cause they're kinda capped by a clean sheet. Very, very rarely do they get bonus points unless they have a penalty save. So that sounds like it might be trying to address that issue with the bonus points, but yeah, we'll have to see how that one goes. And then we've also Yeah, exactly. Alex: just in treating how they measure it that's all. Ben: Exactly. And if it I I bet they like recalculate it after the game and someone's gonna get screwed over by a point somewhere down the line. It's gonna be annoying. elsewhere we've got live update and tracking real time standings. So ph this is according to the PL app, right? So mini league rankings and overall global positions now update continuously during matches. That's a massive one. That is an absolutely massive one because I always used to log in for like two hours, you know, after all the games had finished and it still hadn't updated. So for it to now change in real time, that's pretty big, no? Don't you think? We'll have to get Greg's take on that, because that's that seems like that's a that's a big one. Alex: Yeah, agreed. It'd be interesting how they do that for head to head. Ben: Yeah. Alex: I can see it definitely working in terms of overall Ben: Overall. Alex: points, but I suppose for us with what Greg did last year, that was really important for us, wasn't it? Because we could track real Ben: Mm, mm. Alex: game time points. So, yeah, Ben: Mm. Alex: interesting. Ben: And then the other thing is live bonus points. So projected bonus points begin displaying after the 20th minute of each match. So that'll be interesting as well. And then a later lockdown. So scores and bonus points are finalized at 9 UK time the morning after the final game week fixture, instead of one hour after full time. so Alex: so we're going to be waiting longer for the bonus points. Ben: Huh, that's annoying. So pre what so say so say you have a Friday evening fixture and Bruno Fernandez gets three bonus points in that game Alex: but you have to wait till the following morning. Ben: But you have to wait until no, you have to wait until after the final game week fixture. So potentially you'd be waiting until after, you know, Sunday night or whatever. Alex: If you've got a game on Saturday, but then there's a Monday night game, you're be waiting until Tuesday. Ben: That's I don't like that. 'Cause that 'cause 'cause they could reduce the bonus points. Yeah. Yeah, there we go. Alex: No, I don't like that. That's where we've got Greg's app. Yeah. That's where, yeah, I don't really like that one. And then we've also got some new tools and interface features. Price change predictor, so an official tool that tracks daily transfer activity to signal players likely to rise or fall in value at midnight UK time. So that could be quite helpful. Ben: Is that built in within the app or that sounds like that might be an add on of some kind? An official tool? Yeah. Alex: to see jay's written these it's annoying that he's not here that he he Ben: You can't give us more invo. Alex: can't give us more info he is our fantasy expert at the end of the day but he's not here for our first fantasy episode talk about that for a let down we won't get into too much and then chips this season of fpl will have the same chips as last season with double chips you will have a bench boost triple captain free hit and wild card to use between game week one and 19 and then the same chips to use again second half of the season between game week 20 and 38 and there is no AFKON this time so we won't have all those additional transfers that we got last year Ben: yeah, good point. Alex: so it makes it a bit more challenging but yeah I'm glad they kept the same chips they didn't need to revamp that I quite liked it having double up I thought that worked quite well so I'm quite happy to go with that. Ben: Agreed, and I'm glad they didn't bring the assistant manager chip in again as well, 'cause that was a bit weird as well. Alex: Yeah, that was that was weird. But right, let's get into some actual fantasy chat. As we said, we were going to talk about the Jarlund versus Narlund chat. I don't know if I feel like I have to do that in an accent. I don't know why it's very like Scandinavian Jarlund versus Narlund. So we're going to get into this chat because as of today is Thursday evening, there is a lot of noise starting to grow Ben: Mm. Alex: on social media about not going with Harland. I know that a lot Ben: Mm. Alex: of those people who use the fantasy AI thing to help pick their team, which is kind of cheating in my eyes, but anyway, if those that do use that are saying that they're getting a better team percentage without him than they would with him. So that's quite interesting Ben: Mm. Alex: that actually the real analysts are thinking maybe it's not worth to go with him. The question was posted on our WhatsApp group as well. Pete asked us the question. Trotty it looks like is not going with Harland so I hope I've got him in game week one. Ben? Yarland or Narland? Ben: I don't know. I'm fully I'm it's gonna go down to the wire, to be honest with you, because I don't to be honest, in my latest draft I've got both Haaland and Isak, but the just the midfield looks so poor because I've spent so much money on the forward line that I'm gonna sacrifice one or the other, probably Esak, because hopefully Iriali's to teams are slow to get going. Alex: Yeah. Ben: But I yeah, it's just There's so many different thoughts and feelings around it. So first off, you've got the community shield in which Man City were awful, right? and you're kind of thinking, what are they actually gonna do under Moreska? Secondly, you've got the fact that Haaland hasn't had much of a preseason and this was his first ever World Cup s you know, since he's joined, I think since he's joined you know, since he A senior professional, right? It's an always first appearance, but like it's first time since Man City that he's participated in a summer tournament. So you got that. And then you've got on the other hand his record in game week one since joining City, which reads as follows: 22-23, it was 13 points, that was two goals. 23-24, 13 points, two goals, 24-25, 7 points, 1 goal, 25-26, 13 points, 2 goals. So All these like eggheads and, you know, really intelligent AI bots and all those kind of things, like predicting that you might actually make a better team without him, are kind of ignoring the fact that Game Week One, he's he always bags. So I dunno, do you what do you think? Are you Alex: Yes, those are good stats, right? But I mean, they're completely irrelevant. I think when you get to the first game, my point on it is he's probably the best number nine in the world alongside Harry Kane right now. Name me Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: a better one. Whether or not City are playing well, he's going to get a chance and you know he's going to score. Right? Ben: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Alex: That was in the World Cup. Norway didn't get many chances, but when Harlan got a chance, he scored. Ben: Yeah. Alex: I mean, I just think... think there's two, my other point is that as well is if you do take him out, yes, it frees up some cash, but are the players you're bringing in, those two or three players that you're bringing in to replace him, that are they really going to combine to score, to outscore him? Possibly. Ben: Mm. Alex: But then what's the risk? Right? And I think it's what you've got. you've got to go on gut feel. It's the first game week one. I think you've got to go on your gut feel game week one. Now my gut feel, and I'm not going to make a secret of this, is I'm not going to drop Harland because I think the risk versus reward is too great. I don't think I could risk not having him, then him scoring two and then already having to play catch up to Ben: Yeah. Alex: catch up. Whereas if I leave him out, or if I have him in, but he doesn't do anything, and those people who didn't have him score quite well, I still think that gap would be less than if you did have him and he did score compared to you did it and you didn't. So I just think that gap between not having him and having him would be significantly different. I think if you, you know. Ben: Plus you've got the whole thing of like where it's much easier to take him out if you've got him in from the start versus Alex: Exactly. Exactly. Ben: getting him in after a couple of game weeks and having to do a couple of transfers and having to afford him. Alex: and knowing people in our league that if he blanks game week one there'll be minus 12 points being taken for game week two. Ben: But that brings us that brings us nicely on to the next point, right? Which is which is the most owned players currently. So Haaland is currently sixty nine point five percent Alex owned. Yeah. Alex: And that comes back to my point is nearly 70 % of people own him. Are you gonna take that? Which 30 % are taking that risk of not having him? If he scores, those Ben: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Alex: 30 % are already way behind already. So Ben: Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Alex: yeah, but yeah, sorry, carry on. Ben: Who else is the most owned? So so we've just got the most of the top, you know, ten players who are the most owned. Alex: 10. Yeah. Ben: Haaland is unsurprisingly at the top of that list with sixty-nine point five percent, fifteen and a half million. Second in the list is Jal Pedro, sixty one point eight percent at seven point five million. How are we feeling about Jao Pedro this season, Alex? Has he been in many of your drafts at all? Didn't make our Alex: Mmm. Ben: final draft, did he? Alex: Ciao Pedro! Ben: Where's our draft gun? Yeah. Cause I I spent a lot of last season calling him a fraud, 'cause there was that run that he had, I think it was under Moresca, where he didn't have a shot in like eight games or something like that. Hmm. Alex: I think you've... Yeah, true. But he's had a summer off. He didn't go to the World Cup, so he's had a break. He's fit, he's fresh. For seven and a half million, I think it's a bargain. I actually Ben: Mm. Alex: think it's a bargain. You're mad not to have him, if I'm totally honest. If you don't have him, then I think, again, it comes to that Highland thing, I think you're weighing up... The fact that he's actually now earned 62.4%, that is as of right now, I've just got it up. So that's changed Ben: Right. Alex: already dramatically from this morning to this evening. Ben: Yeah. Alex: Again, he's pushing that boundary where can you really risk not having him? He's had the summer Ben: Yeah. Alex: off. I think you can't look past it. As I said, seven and half mil for a striker who potentially could score 15 goals this season. I think that's a bargain. Ben: Yeah. Yeah. Third on the list, Bruno Fernandez, twelve million this season, forty nine point nine percent. So right on the nose of fifty fifty ownership there. again, I think he's one of those where it's like you'd be daft not to have him personally. I know he's a slow starter sometimes in August, but I I also spent a lot of last year calling him a fraud and then I had him for the most most latter end of the season. I he's just quality, isn't he? So he's on everything. Yeah. Alex: He's on everything, isn't he? He'll be on pens, corners, free kicks, he'll be in the middle of the park, getting the ball, everything. Yeah. Ben: Yeah. F fourth on the list is c bit surprising to me. It's Dominic Slobosli Liverpool, seven million, forty one point four percent owned at the moment. That was a lot, lot lower last season. Obviously he had a really good season last year in quite an inconsistent Liverpool side. I don't know that he'll have the same I suppose he's in a lot of people's drafts because he's cheaper than Vertz, isn't he? and there's quite a few root point root points there. but yeah, not sure, not sure about him. And then after hi after Slob Slides, Raya, six million, thirty-five point nine percent owned, followed by Embuemo eight million, thirty three point six percent owned. so I don't know, have you got any of those three? Are you thinking about any of those three? Alex: Good question. And just to to call out here, these percentages are of Thursday morning. So if you're looking Ben: Yeah. Alex: at this on Friday morning, when this comes out, those sentences could have significantly changed in that in those 24 hours. So personally, I think if you don't have David Raya, what are you doing? Arsenal have got Coventry on the first night of the season. If you're not going to double up in Arsenal defense, which I think is quite a conundrum, because they've Ben: Mm. Mm. Alex: obviously just signed Konza. I don't think Konzer plays, but I think it would be interesting to see who Arsenal go with as a back four. Ben: Mm. Alex: So I think the safer option is you know David Raya is going to start, he's guaranteed starter. I think at this point of the season, it's not XG, it's X minutes, isn't it? It's making sure you need players in your team who are to play pretty much 90 minutes and you know he's going to play. So I think Raya and Shabazzala were the same. Shabazzala will be on free kicks and corners. So again, I think it's that way up between him and Virts who's going to probably have more of an impact for seven million. Again, he's cheaper than Virts and I think he probably has a bit more impact. So that's why I don't see that. And I suppose in Buen Mo is high on that list because they've got what Hull and Ip switch in their opening two games. And he did finish Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: the season quite well, didn't he? Playing as that number nine. So and Cesco is out injured. So you're guaranteed that he's going to start as a number nine. Saturday so that doesn't surprise me. Ben: Just a point on the old ownership and how that might change between the time of recording and the time you're listening to this. The last time I saw, there were only seven million players signed up to fantasy this year. Now, when you think about last year, we we hit an all-time high of 13 million. So we're well behind that with only a day to go. So either about 50% of fantasy managers are are leaving it to the last minute. Or we're gonna have a lower number of overall players this year. Maybe Premier League have taken some steps to remove some of the bot accounts of the duplicates and all that kind of thing. But there's still gonna be millions and millions of people signing up tomorrow, I think. So that will really also affect the the ownership numbers. So yeah, it might be completely different what we're saying now versus versus when you're listening to this tomorrow. But Just to round off that list, Calafiore is currently thirty-one per thirty-one point four percent owned at five point five mil. to your point, Alex, about doubling up on Arsenal's events. And then surprisingly, only twenty nine point four percent after an amazing season last season, Gabriel at eight million. I suppose his price price hike has put a lot of people off. Two million Alex: why he's £2 million more than he was last year. Ben: pounds more. Yeah, so you've seen ownership numbers dip there a little bit. and then to make up the last two, we've got Calvert Lewin, twenty eight point seven percent, and Semeno, twenty-six point five percent. So yeah, all the usual suspects in there. Quite surprised by how low Gabrielle's gone, although, like you say, he had one of the biggest price increases, so that explains that. But yeah, so real conundrum about Arsenal's defence. I really don't know who's nailed for ninety minutes or nailed to start this weekend against Coventry. So Rya, I think, is just too expensive for a keeper. You could go double arsenal defence and then you save a bit of money in goal. But yeah, it's a tough one that one. Just got so many conundrums and there's less than twenty four hours to go. Alex: That's what you don't want heading into tomorrow's more conundrums. You kind of want to have your team Ben: I die. Alex: done tonight. I'm done. That's me done today. I've done about six Ben: Is it? Alex: drafts today and I'm now I'm like I'm done. No more. I'll leave it now. Ben: I'm gonna be tinkering right up until the deadline and I hope that with this next section we're gonna inspire you to keep tinkering as well. So we Yeah, Alex: or we're gonna throw spanners. Ben: let's throw some spanners. Let's look at them the under ten percent owned. which are Alex: Yeah, there's a long list obviously. Ben: there is a long list and some surprising names in there as well. I'll just highlight a few. Saka this year is under ten percent owned. Which really, really surprised me considering the past couple of seasons he's been pretty essential. And then the other one that surprised me is Odegaard with only six point four percent. I suppose that's a a bit of a reflection on Arsenal's attack and how it was rotated and how it wasn't all that reliable last season. And obviously Sack has had his injuries. But yeah, who who did you want to talk about here, Alex? Because there's loads of names. Philip Kaiseido as well. He had a monster season as a DEF CON merchant for Chelsea. Only three point nine percent owned. Does that not surprise you? Alex: Not massively, I don't think. I think under how Chabier-Lonso plays, he'll definitely play with him as like a holding midfielder. So I think it would be less likely him getting as far forward as... Yeah, Saka surprised me, but not really, given the fact that he's been battling an injury most of the summer. Ben: Mm. Alex: Hasn't really done much pre-season. I know Arteta did say today that he is fit for tomorrow. Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: So that would be interesting. I wouldn't surprise me if I saw Saka come in tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised, but then I wouldn't be surprised if I saw him left on the bench. Ben: Mm. Alex: So another one that also just caught my eye slightly was Van Hecke and Seneci at Spurs. suppose Spurs are a bit... Ben: Mm. Alex: Last year obviously they were Bournemouth and Brighton and I think they would have been in a lot of people's teams, especially at the back Ben: Yeah. Alex: end of the season. But now the fact that they're at Spurs, I think it just... throws up that bit if it can under him. But then there's the others in there. Igor Jesus from Knott's Forest. I think he's really low on this list. That's Ben: Mm. Alex: kind of surprised me that a really good preseason. However, I did send Ben: Mm. Alex: didn't do you see that thing I sent to CJ earlier today about preseason? So I saw someone post it. Yeah, I'll Ben: Yeah. Pre season has absolutely no impact on points, does it? Yeah. Alex: read it. The exact the exact quote was it said, Ignore pre-season stats, scoring goals in friendlies rarely amounts to anything in regular season. Have fun. Ben: Yeah. Yeah. Alex: So if any spanners in works there, let's think about that for pre-season. So maybe ignore that. Ben: Yeah. Well, I just wanna shout out as well, the highest scoring goalkeeper of last season, or at least in the top two, Pickford. Alex: Who's that, Pickford? Ben: Pickford is only eight point three percent owned currently, which is mad because he like I said, like if he didn't finish first, he was he he was second or third in over a points Alex: Is that because he's five and a half mil though? Do you think it's quite expensive? Five, I think maybe he was five and a half. I think he was around the same, but Ben: 'Cause what last what was he last season? Four point five probably. Yeah. Yeah. Alex: I think I think he wasn't in people's teams at the beginning and then he moved into people's teams as Ben: Mm. Alex: the season went on. It could it could well happen again this season. Again, Everton, we don't know. I think they're a bit of a conundrum. I think so. They're under Moys, aren't they? Yeah. Ben: I think they'll be they'll be pretty solid. Solid and un unspectacular. Yeah. Alex: But talking of Everton, I thought as well, someone who was outstanding for Everton last year and was a, he was a fantasy point merchant, was Dewsbury Hall. I think Ben: Mm. Mm. Alex: he's on this list, but he's all the way down at like three and a half percent, 6.5 Ben: Yeah. Yeah. Alex: mil. I think he's a bit of a, could be a good differential to have, if you think about Ben: Yeah. Alex: it in there. He could be another one. And the other one I want to just call out because with Timber being injured for Arsenal, Ben White. Ben: Mm then why? Mm hmm. Alex: I he started against City and I think he's likely to probably start at least the opening two or three games until Konza comes in. think Ben White, I think he's down there at 3.5%. And again, he's a good Ben: Interesting. Alex: little pun for 5.5 mil if Ben: Yeah. Alex: you want to have him. But I think maybe that price might just put people off. But yeah. Ben: Also wanna shout out to CJ's boy, Ismail Sarr, for Crystal Palace. I know, but he still he Alex: Is it CJ's boy though? Because he always let him down! Ben: still went we're back to him and kept going back. It was like an abusive relationship. But supposedly, this is my Crystal Palace insight, which was aka a quick Google search. No, Alex: I don't know who their manager is, some French guy in it. Ben: I don't know. Also, I just Googled this, but Meteta has played zero minutes this preseason. I don't know whether that's down to injury or or what's going on there. Zero minutes preseason for Meteta, so Alex: Zero minutes? Not played a minute? Maybe he's forcing a move. Ben: maybe. But that means that Saar will definitely be on pens when Meteta isn't playing. And not that this is anything to go by, but FPL's top predicted scorers, SAR is in them for game weeks one to six. Something like an XG of Alex: Hmm, Ben: nine or ten or Alex: there's a spanner. Ben: something like that. So that's a potential spanner. Still quite expensive. Six Alex: Let's make sure CJ listens to that. Ben: point yeah, six point five mil, CJ. You should be tempted by that. but yeah we'll see. We'll see. who else? Who else can we throw in at the last minute here? Elliot Anderson Alex: Elliot Anderson, but I suppose he's he's different game for him now with him at City. Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: I don't think he gets as many Def Con as he got at Forest. Ben: Foden after an dreadful season last season. four point five percent owned, only seven mil. I wonder Alex: Yeah. Ben: if we'll see him play a slightly different role under Moreska versus Pep. I wonder if it will be a bit of a renaissance for him. I know he signed a new contract recently. I do wonder if, you know, rested fully fit Foden under a new system might do really well. Same applies to Doku, although I think Doku's injured, isn't he? He's also one of Alex: He's out there, he's been out, hasn't he? Ben: one of Man City's brightest players last season, only four point four percent owned this season. Alex: Yeah, and then also I think other players that just looking at the, I mean, the list is continuously long. But other players on there, I think people were just put off by the fact of what's happened at Newcastle, Lewis Hall is down when normally he'd probably be further up on that Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: list. Don Ballard, Dan Ballard, sorry, from Ben: yeah, ballard. Alex: last year who was solid for Sunderland. Cherokee, he's low on that list. I think there's a lot of good players who have it. Yeah, Ben: Mm. Havertz, less than five percent. Alex: Kyrgyz, I think Liverpool at some point are going to be better defensively under Ben: Yeah. Agreed. Alex: Iriola. So I think there's all that conversation in there. And Harry Wilson as well, who had an outstanding season Ben: Kirk has literally worked under. Yeah. Alex: last year for Fulham, now at Leeds. Ben: Strange move that, isn't it? Bit of a sideways move from Fulham to Leeds, but I suppose that's a f Yeah. Alex: Yeah, but he's in the back end of his 20s. His knee must be 30 now maybe. So that'd be interesting to see. yeah, interesting list though. And I do think there'll be a lot of players in there who over the next few weeks will plunge up in terms of Ben: Rise Mm. Alex: percentage wise into the 15 to 20 percenters. But we just don't know, we? I suppose. Ben: Gakpo and Alison, those both been like Alex: But Gatpo might be going to Spurs. think if they're trying to get Marmouch in Savino, I think... Ben: Marmoush, Savinio and Gakpo for a combined fee of like Alex: Mamou, you're a big fraud. Ben: my god, Marmoush. He looks world class whenever he plays Newcastle, to be fair, but apart from that he's not really done much, has he? But like Alex: I think if Spurs sign Sevigny and Montmourge, I think that's a great signing for Spurs. I honestly think. Ben: Marmoush, yes, but what's Safinho actually ever done to be touted as like a nearly ninety million pound player? Like, has he I think he's got like three goals. Yeah, but like they Alex: think he was okay at City, he just didn't play enough. Maybe, I don't Ben: bought him for how much? And they're selling him for how much? It's just crazy. It's crazy, you know, potential profit on a player who just has not done anything at City. Marmoush I do rate, but that's only because he's so good against Newcastle. but yeah. Alex: Yeah, I mean, there's so much change still to happen, right? We've still got two weeks of the transfer window. I Ben: Yeah. Alex: think there's going to be significant, that percentage right now, I think a lot of people have very similar teams and that will obviously drastically Ben: Mm. Alex: change as we go on in terms of, except for in our league, I think you're to get your proper renegade as going all sorts of randoms in their team. I Jennings like to post earlier about Chelsea's new left-back, Pelestra. And he was like, yeah, he's going to be in my fantasy team. I'm like, all right, all right, Yeah. Just let's. Ben: I bet you any I bet you that Charlie goes without Haaland. I think he'll try a a a narland draft for sure. Alex: No comment. Ben: No? Okay. yeah, I suppose you can't re Well no, I don't I'm not saying he's did he? Alex: I can't reveal his team, that's not fair. He showed me his team earlier. Yeah, yeah. Ben: even though you're in the same division. Hmm. Interesting. Interesting. Alex: Yeah, I know. He was like, boldly shared it with me. was like, mate, you know, you're going for the trophy, right? And I'm going for the title. Let's just clarify that right now. And then he went on a whinge about how unlucky he was last year. was like, yeah, but you did catch him for bragging. So I think you just. But he was like, yeah, but if it had paid off, it would have been history. And I was like, but it didn't. Ben: Yeah, but it didn't. Alex: He was like, but everyone would be talking about it. I was like, they were Ben: But I know. Alex: for the wrong reasons. dear. Right. Just before we finish then, Ben: That's Yeah. Alex: Ben, CJ and I this year have created our own team and those of you in our league, do not panic. We're not going to enter it into our league. We're not going to stir the pot. We know how people win. It's not fair that you've won the cup with your own team. So no, don't worry. We're not going to do that. But what we are going to use it for is to help us with this fancy chat. And we have entered many, many, many FPL content creators leagues. this season and CJ is going to be managing that as our fancy expert. But we have created our own team. So what we are going to do is we're going to share our game week one draft and kind of talk you through Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: it. There are some strong picks. think what we have done and I think it's fair to say right, Ben, is we've gone quite risky with our game week one. We've gone with the... Ben: Yeah. Because it's a combined effort and nothing's at stake for us as a as a as a trio, so yeah. Alex: Yeah, exactly. Like, there's nothing to lose. So let's let me share my screen and then we can kind of I'll read out the team and then Ben, Ben, we'll get your thoughts on how we picked it first and then we'll just share. So here we are. Here's our team. So we've got Kinski and Gull, Luke Shaw, Calafiore and Hume as our back three. Bruno Fernandez, Zollis and Day and Schobsleit in midfield and then Isaac Harland and Jarl. Pedro up front, and then we are going to be bench boosting in our first week. We're going to go game week one bench boost, which means we will be having to look to remove Drabravka out. That has been discussed this evening with Gomez, Kadiaglu and Diop on the bench. So there might be some minor changes in there because we're going to have to move Drabravka. But there we are. There's our game week one draft. Ben: I have to say it looks very good up top with Isak Harland and Jal Pedro, but I'm thinking the defence is a bit honking. Calafiore, Shaw, and Hume. There's no Gabriel. There's no David Raya. There's the double Spurs goalkeeper situation, which I know we're gonna change, but that does seem to be like a quite popular tactic this season. It's like both of those keepers are four point five, I think. So you're guaranteed for one of them to play and you to you to get points. Yeah. I think that's a pretty strong front three. I'm not too sure about the defence. Especially Shaw. Is he gonna play that much? Didn't play that much last season, did he? Although he's had some injury issues. Alex: Yeah, he did. He's going to play because who else have they got a left back at United? Ben: True. True. They'll be linked with Lewis Hall, but yeah, hands off. This Hume Alex: They don't have anyone else. Ben: bloke as well. is he apparently playing he's one of those players in fantasy where he's listed as a defender, but in actual a actuality he'll be playing across the front three or in midfield or something? Alex: Yeah, possibly. think Siege told me that he's going to be playing right wing, I think CJ said. So, Hume's going to be playing right wing of all places. So, that's maybe why he's gone into our team. And I think I've just got this feeling about Zollis. Lots of people have gone with Zollis. And I have a feeling he's not going to start, but we will see. We will see. think at this point, it's too risky not to have him because a lot of people have put him, I think he's about 20 % of him now. So I think it's kind of too risky not to have him in case he, because given how well he's done, I mean, what do we know about preseason? But he did do well in the Community Shield last week. But I think we've gone with a lot of players who have, especially who've got high reward, but then they're also high risk if they don't, if like, for doing nothing. I think EZAC's one of those. Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: But that was the approach we went with here. We went with a bit of a high risk policy of going, well, let's see how many points we can get on the board early doors. And then if we need to play an early wild card, then we will do so. Ben: Or take a thirty two point hit. Alex: We'll take a 32 point hit, yeah, and just completely screw ourselves in every league that we're in. But yeah. Ben: Mm-hmm. Alex: But yeah, I think we've talked about lot of those players, haven't we? On the episode tonight. But Ben: Yeah. Pretty pretty typical template, I'd say. Alex: pretty typical template. I don't think there's any massive surprises. I think obviously having the double brighten up with Gomez and Kadiaglu is an interesting. They drew 0-0 tonight in their Europa Conference League qualifier against Ben: Clean cheap. Alex: some weird team. they did all those players, both those players did play. so it will be interesting. And I do think it switch will surprise a few people this year. I really do. think they, Ben: D. Alex: yeah, I think I mean, I could be wrong and human scores a hat trick. But we will see, we will see. Now Right, just before we finish, I wanted to get your thoughts on from you, Ben. I'm not asking you to share me your exact team for head to head because I don't want us to reveal that. But Ben: Mm. Alex: what I would like to do, and this is a surprise, so this wasn't on the script. So I thought I'd just throw this out. And can ask me the same. You can ask me the Ben: I'm on the spot. Alex: same question. But in terms of you've picked your team, and as you said, you've probably still going to do loads of tinkering tomorrow. But as of right now. Who is the player in your team that is a must have going in to game week one? Who's the one player Ben: Mm, good question. Alex: that's definitely not gonna be thought about of moving at all? Ben: Do you know what? All their places at risk. No. Yeah, none of you are safe. None of you are safe. I'll get rid of you Alex: That's a proper football manager quote. Ben: all. I'll bring in the youngsters. I don't know. To be honest, I was gonna say Gabriel in defence for Arsenal, 'cause they're just a clean sheet merchant, pops up with a lot of goals, a lot of DEF CON. It's just that price point. I think most likely ninety nine point nine percent I'm keeping in Gabrielle unless I decide to go rogue. Go for a cheaper Arsenal defender, which frees me up a couple mil. But I would say that Gabriel is in ninety-nine percent of my drafts. Alex: That's interesting you say that just because of given how expensive he is. And I know we touched on that earlier. So I'm actually quite surprised you say that. But that's fair enough. I think you're right. I think he's going to get clean sheets and he is such a threat from set pieces. So I definitely agree. Ben: Yeah. Yeah. How about you? Alex: I'm to be really boring and I'm going to say Bruno Fernandez. I just think Ben: Mm. Alex: he without him United are nothing. And Ben: Mm. Alex: whether or not United are good or bad or ugly. Bruno Fernandes is always in the game. He's always on the ball. He's assisting everything. He's in and around the penalty box and he's brilliant Ben: Creating chances, yeah. Alex: from outside the box when he's going for a finish. I just think, I know he's 12 million, that's a lot, but in terms of what he did last season, I think he probably deserves that price tag. And I do think that he could potentially have a big field day in the first two games of the season against Hull and Ipswich. Ben: Yeah. Agreed. Alex: go. Great, well we've both gone safe yeah, no roguer points, we haven't got any randomers on tonight to go rogue but thank you all for listening, we really appreciate it and we wish you all the best of luck into game week one. We will be back as a trio I believe on Tuesday where we'll be reviewing the first weekend of our head-to-head league and then know, big, big right? I'm so, I'm so excited, literally. I'm so excited. Ben: I'm bricking it. I'm absolutely bricking it. For whatever reason, I've got I'm very scared for this season. Yeah. Yeah. Alex: I think in Div 2 you've got nothing to lose. So I've got nothing to lose. I'm very excited. We've got a huge amount of players that really excited. But I'm also just excited that the season's back. We've got football tomorrow night. Also going to win 8-0 against Coventry on the opening night. And that'll be a nice, comfortable Gabrielle hat trick for you, Ben: Nice. Yes, please. Alex: So I'll round it off this week, as Ben did it on Tuesday. May the fantasy gods be with you for game week one. Cheers, Ben. Ben: Bye bye