Thread by @FPLBrain

⚡️ THE FINAL COUNTDOWN - MY SHORTLIST ⚡️

Quick thoughts on the 30 players that make up my shortlist, with under 5 days to go. I'll whittle this down during the week as I finalise my team to begin the 21/22 #FPL season.

Players with a ⭐️ are my current top picks. OK let's go! 🧠

GKs

⭐️Bachmann (4.5m) - Watford have a great cleansheet record under Xisco, fixtures are good and likely to make a more saves than Sanchez

⭐️Sanchez (4.5) - Great record since getting the shirt, v nice fixtures. Lack of saves (& bonus?) and some defs injured / departed the cons

DEFs

⭐️ Trent(7.5) - Nothing needs to be said - assist machine, cleansheets, set piece master, fixtures are great, the full package

Chilwell (6.0) - Some tough early fixtures are putting me off, but he offers cleansheet, assist and even goal potential, with little competition

Stones (5.5) - Think he remains in the first XI and 5.5m for a City CB with a little bit of goal threat is nice

⭐️Shaw(5.5) - Lovely combo of open play and SP assist potential, cleans, fixtures

Digne (5.5) - As above except... it's Everton. Don't love the early vibes with Rafa

⭐️Coufal (5.0) - Relentless, nice assist threat, slight goal threat, dece fixtures

Ritchie (5.0) - Could be playing OOP, with assist & set piece potential to offset Newcastle being Newcastle

⭐️Dunk (5.0) Remains a serious threat at set pieces plus BHA nice defence and fixtures

⭐️Ayling (4.5) - Unlucky not to deliver some attacking returns last season based on eye test

Veltman (4.5) - xLively Lamptey would've been more fun but Veltmania might do in a pinch

White (4.5) - Very boring but a starting (probably, given price tag) Arsenal CB for 4.5 is solid

MIDs

⭐️Mo (12.5) - Remains the best FPL asset - striker classed as a mid with pens, always puts up huge xGI

⭐️Bruno (12.0) - Expectations of fewer pens is a slight dampener but should still remain an FPL points machine

These 2 leave you v well covered in terms of captaincy 👑

⭐️Son (10.0) - Rough opening fixture (altho City are depleted) but incredible finisher, will be up front or therabouts, 200 pts achieveable again

Mahrez (9.0) - Not the most auspicious outing in the Community Shield but should start given absentees and Norwich in GW2 is enticing

Havertz (8.5) - I don't think Lukaku will ruin him. Too good and will still be one of Chelsea's main threats. 200 pt potential at 8.5m

Grealish (8.0) - Would expect him to play a lot, especially with Foden's foot-knack. On a better team but less of a talisman, roughly evens out

⭐️Jota (7.5) - He gets a lot of stick but keeps forcing his way into starting lineups and has a lot of goal threat on a top team for a 7.5m mid

Torres (7.0) - Probably too many question marks here for me, but there's a blue sky case where he's the main striker for City for 7m

⭐️Raphinha(6.5) - One of the most underpriced players in the game - brilliant player, nailed on, good team, multi-return potential in almost any fixture

Saka(6.5) - World class player in the making I think, expect him to be nailed on and one of Arsenal's main attacking threats

Alli (6.5) - Could be Spurs' number 10 / support striker for 6.5m. It's really not that long since he was a premium option

⭐️Sarr (6.0) - Likely Watford's talisman, maybe their penalty taker too. Fixtures are pretty good and think the floor & ceiling are really nice here for 6m

Smith-Rowe (5.5) - Could be Arsenal's primary creator for just 5.5m. Tough fixtures in GWs 2 & 3 and possible arrival of Maddo / Odegaard the issues

FWDs

Ings (8.0) - If he can avoid injury and is the tip of the Villa spear, it's conceivable he could go close to 200 pts

⭐️Antonio (7.5) - Whenever he's healthy he basically plays like a premium player (stats & eye test), expect a great season if he can stay on the pitch

⭐️Wilson (7.5) - Similar case to Antonio - both have decent fixtures too - but a touch less explosive on a somewhat weaker team

Jimenez (7.5) - Great Prem and FPL pedigree, very much Wolves' talisman, pen taker, and everything sounding very positive about his recovery

⭐️Toney (6.5) - Has the potential to match the 7.5-8m fwds given Brentford's attacking style and as a superb pen taker. Fixtures good too

Round of applause for anyone who noticed that was 31 not 30! I missed out Honest Raul the first time. Bonus blurb!

I hope this has been a useful thread as the #GW1 deadline draws near. I'll post some updates as I narrow this down towards the final 15!

Likes & RTs appreciated ❤️

Forgot to mention… enablers / filler of choice currently looking like:

DEFs - Tsimikas, Amartey

MID - Brownhill

FWD - Obafemi

The latter is easily the least appealing which will be a factor when it comes to starting formation, but not necessarily decisive

2nd addendum… meant to mention that Lukaku, Kane and Lautaro Martinez will obviously shake things up if/when they move. But Kane situation is uncertain and he’ll miss at least 1 GW, I’m not starting with him. Lukaku I’d be v interested in at 11m or less but fixtures aren’t great