Thread by @PsychoFpl

Setting up your #FPL GW1 squad: A beginners guide🧵

Going into my 16th FPL season, I have developed a process I go through towards GW1.

For many managers this will be redundant, but I thought I’d share that process in a thread for those who are new to the #FPLCommunity

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1.Fixture Fetish

After the fixtures came out, Twitter was rife with fixture tickers showing the easy and difficult fixture runs. Analysing who has the best fixtures early on and where the fixtures turn is incredibly important and will inform when you play the wildcard.

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2. Mini seasons

This year, due to the world cup, we basically have three wildcards and 4 mini seasons of 9-10 gameweeks.

This makes analysing the early runs even more key because you are looking for players probably for no longer than the first 8 gameweeks....

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After GW8 there is a 2-week international break (with players in your squad potentially picking up injuries) and the fixtures for Arsenal and Brighton become a lot worse. Those for Leicester, Bournemouth & Villa become a lot better. This could be a good time to wildcard.

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3. It’s a sprint, not a marathon.

If you know when you want to wildcard, you can look in more detail at the fixtures until that time.

I for example aim for a GW9 wildcard and until then, ARS, BHA, MCI, BRE, LEE, and LIV have the best fixtures....

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Clearly there is a mix there of very good teams and teams that are more likely to be mid table or lower.

Obviously you want the spine of your GW1 team to consist of the players from the good teams with the good fixtures.

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4. Team structure

You probably want to load up on LIV, MCI & ARS assets, but it is important to think about a flexible team structure.

However well we plan, we are invariably wrong about many things. A good team structure makes it much easier to correct our mistakes.

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Take Haaland, His price point (11.5) makes it very easy to switch to Kane (11.5) if he turns out to underwhelm. Conversely, Wolves’ Neto is an #FPLCommunity darling, but his price point (5.5) makes him difficult to run away from, other than probably to Wissa or Ramsey.

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So while you are getting LIV, MCI, ARS assets, focus on flexible price points. Saka (8.0) makes a switch to Foden, Maddison, Mount etc very easy. Martinelli (6.0) is at a more awkward price point.

Likewise, plenty of 7.5-8 forwards, but 5.5 is a more difficult price.

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5. Bargain hunting

It is safe to say that the pricing of players this year has been generous. Due to some very tasty bargains, we can easily load up on LIV, MCI, ARS players and sprinkle some TOT or CHE on top.

Some of the bargains in each of the positions imo are:

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GK: Mendy, Ederson, Allison, Pickford
DEF: Chilwell, James, TAA, Tomiyasu, Justin, Lamptey, Dunk, Perisic, Jonny, Trippier
MID: Diaz, Raphinha, Fernandes, Rashford
FWD: Vardy, Jesus

So there seems to be more value in defence than in forward positions, which is why...

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many are looking at going big at the back. This could be a valid strategy, but remember, we are always wrong about things we believe in GW1. If you go huge at the back with Haaland and Salah and only budget mids and fwds and suddenly Man United becomes a major factor...

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... getting to a Fernandes (10.0) is a lot more difficult than if you have an 8.0 mid like Saka who you can upgrade by downgrading one of your expensive defenders.

A good team structure therefore also has some cash cows that make emergency moves easier...

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6. Cash cows

Getting the most expensive player in each position makes every direct move to a replacement possible.

This is why Salah, Haaland and TAA are also good team structure picks. If one of them picks up an injury, you can replace him with everyone you want.

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Get your money on the pitch!

On team structure: don't spend too much money on your four subs. This season teams can make 5 substitutions each match, which obviously makes the chances of a no-show of one of your players smaller.

I would say one good sub is enough.

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7. Preseason transfers

We'll see plenty of movement on the transfer market until GW1. Keep an eye on transfers, because meh picks can suddenly become very interesting.

Sterling at City was rarely a good pick, but this would change if he becomes nailed at Chelsea....

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Other examples are Andreas Pereira who might become a very good 4.5 FUL mid if he moves there from MUN, Raphinha (7.0) if he gets his move to Chelsea and Neco Williams (4.0) who could become a wingback at Nottingham Forest.

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8. Preseason matches

A close eye on preseason matches is important as tells us who is in form. Last season I got Antonio and Benrahma in for GW1 because of that and they propelled me up the ranks.

@FFScout provides very valuable info on preseason matches. It's not...

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just a way to keep track of player and team form, but at least as important is seeing what formation the teams play in and what the player's roles are.

For example, many keep a close eye on CHE playing 4 or 5 at the back as 4 atb reduces the appeal of their wingbacks.

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9. Words of wisdom

This is just one thread with some very broad strokes. If you want to improve your skills as an #FPL manager you should continuously expose yourself to quality information. You can do this in different ways. My favourite is by listening to podcasts....

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I would certainly follow these pods religiously:

@FMLFPL
@FPLBlackBox_
@aboveaveragefpl
@TheFPLWire
@PlanetFPLPod

Follow these folks for quality info and a richer #FPL experience :

@FPLTheorist
@FPLfrasier
@FPL_Kante
@Pras_fpl
@FPL_Bateman
@FPL_Wrangler
@fpl_flair
@coinflipfpl
@FPL_BlackWolf
@FplHedgehog
@soucekyoself
@FPLTomJones
@mombasadele
@FPL__Raptor

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@420Fpl
@FPL_Naboo
@HinduMonkey
@FPL__Jack
@Dabooka
@thefinfpl
@fpl_hellblazer
@rey_qur
@FPLPsychoo
@Fpl_Juste
@ToastFpl
@SayedZeesh
@FplJaap
@FPLFella
@FPL_Norm
@FplRichard
@BakerFPL343
@Clem_Bobby82
@FPLFledgling
@ffscout_az
@fpl_tactician

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OK that's it!

Happy tinkering for the next few weeks and if you show me your drafts, I'll try to give you my thoughts about them!

#FPL #FPLCommunity

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