Thread by @FootbalIEcon

FPL Best Budget Enablers at each price point 🧵

Recommendations and analysis of the best enabler pick from 4.0m-6.0m in order to free up cash for your premium picks 💰

#fpl #fplcommunity

4.0m - Neco Williams 🔴

While there are a few 4.0m defenders expected to move to starting roles at new teams, Neco Williams at Forest looks to be the best pick.

Neco played 14 games on loan at Fulham in the second half of 21/22, where he scored 2G and 2A in 1200minutes, for a goal involvement every 3.3 games. Forest are expected to play a 3atb system, where Neco would operate as the right wing-back.

They have made strong defensive signings in Henderson and Niakhate, hoping to maintain their defensive prowess from last season, where they boasted the 2nd best defence in the Championship.

Neco will be given license to attack down the right side, as departing wing back Djed Spence was this season.

Spence only achieved 6 GI last season, every 6.6 games, while Neco not only had more frequent GI, but also had more key passes, crosses and shots /90, showing he can improve on Spence’s tally.

While Forest are still expected to battle relegation this season, their defensively sound system will yield Neco occasional clean sheets, without restricting his offensive license.

Their strong acquisitions, expected to continue, will surround Neco with quality both in attack and defence.

Honourable mentions 😌

- Nat Phillips - likely move to Bournemouth, nailed on, occasional goal threat.
- Eric Bailly - potential move to Fulham, but injury-prone.

4.5m - Andreas Pereira ⚪️

Andreas could be THE budget enabler this season. His recent move to Fulham sees him become my no.1 pick as a 4.5m enabler.

While there are multiple strong defensive options at this price point, I prefer using a midfielder spot due to the quality of high-end defensive options this season, combined with the viable 4.0m options, which imo make the 4.5m defenders significantly less attractive.

Whilst at Flamengo, Andreas played as an attacking midfielder in the 3-man midfield or a 433. He was frequently positioned wide of centre, around the corners of the penalty box, where he could create and cross the ball.

He also took significant free-kicks and corners, contributing to his 5.8crosses/90 and 2.3shots/90. Fulham primarily used a 4231 shape, with former player Fabio Carvalho in the no.10 position behind the striker. I expect Andreas to replace him.

Carvalho also took some right-footed set pieces, so I would expect Andreas to replace him here, sharing the responsibility with Wilson. This is made more significant considering Fulham’s Mitrovic(6’2) and Adarabiyo(6’4) will be attacking the box.

Andreas is by far the best 4.5m midfielder option. As a set-piece-taking attacking midfielder, there is no reason to doubt he could get double-digit GI this season, assuming he gets the relevant game time.

With the quality of defender options this season, most people will opt to go with 4 or 5 defenders in their XI, increasing the value of a 4.5m mid option.

Honourable mentions 😌

- Ricardo Pereira - good for rotation but Leicester can be fragile.
- Tariq Lamptey - decent upside if nailed.
- Jonny - only if Ait-Nouri leaves.
- Diogo Dalot - if MU kick on, big upside at 4.5m.

5.0m - Kieran Tierney 🔴

While more expensive defensive options such as Chilwell or Perisic will be popular, Arsenal have the best opening 5 fixtures in the league, and Tierney is at far less rotation of risk than these pricier alternatives.

Despite struggling with injuries, Tierney returned offensively once every 5 games, while keeping a CS in 9/22 games. When Tierney is playing Arsenal heavily favours their left-hand side in possession, while Tomiyasu stays narrower, creating a 3atb.

This allows Tierney to receive a lot of final third passes and achieve significantly more penalty box touches than most fullbacks.

In their opening run (cry,LEI,bou,FUL,AVL) Tierney will face 2 newly promoted sides and just 1 team that ranked in the top half for xG last season.

With the amount of luxury defensive options available to players, the quality of Arsenal attackers and the cheaper defensive alternatives at Arsenal, Tierney will likely be overlooked and lowly owned come GW1.

He could offer a nice differential despite being a top6, offensive fullback, with the best opening 5 fixtures in the league.

Honourable mentions 😌

• Cucurella - should he get the City move.
• Cash - potentially beneficial system change, good fix.
• Doherty - little risky, need assurance of minutes.
• Elanga - unlikely to start but potential.
• Mitoma - outside shout, watch friendlies.

5.5m - Deniz Undav 🔵

Deniz Undav is my top pick for a 5.5m enabler. For those who haven't seen Undav play, he is a ruthless, two-footed, aggressive, clinical box-striker.

His movement and awareness inside the box are key and combined with his strength in duels and finishing ability he is a constant threat to defenders, even while the ball is in seemingly harmless positions.

While it's not necessarily his MO, check out this strike for USG last season…

https://twitter.com/UnionStGilloise/status/1500204866353967110

Undav is selfless in the build-up and happy to occupy the box, waiting for the chance to come.

His box presence and finishing ability are exactly what Maupay, and Brighton generally, have lacked in recent seasons.

If Brighton can maintain their chance creation with Undav in the XI, I have no doubt he will hit double-digit goals this season - this has happened once at Brighton in the past 3 seasons (Maupay, 19/20, 10g).

Disclaimer - I don't see 5.5m defenders as enablers due to the lower prices of defenders, but Perisic would be in the discussion for the best 5.5m assets.

Honourable Mentions 😌

• Neto - great player, wrong team 🤷‍♂️
• Olise - tough fixtures, one to keep an eye on.
• Gordon - if he gets the Newcastle move.
• Broja - if he gets a starting job, unlikely West Ham, maybe Newcastle?

6.0m - Martinelli 🔴

Quite simply, Martinelli...
• averaged just under 0.5 xG+xA per90 last season.
• has the best opening 5 fixtures in the league.
• has a better finisher ahead of him(Jesus) and a better creator feeding him(Vieira).

Martinelli seems to have secured the left-wing spot in Arsenal’s 4231, with some rotation coming from ESR across the midfield 3.

He averaged 2.4 shots and 2.3 crosses per90, alongside 6.67 box touches, which would put him in the 91st percentile amongst attacking midfielders.

As with Tierney, Arsenal’s opening fixtures are just too good to ignore, and while Arsenal may not be at the level of Liverpool, Chelsea, City and Spurs, they are the next best in terms of chance creation.

Considering Martinelli’s comparable players at those teams, the likes of Foden, Diaz, Mount and Kulusevski are all priced at 8m, 33% more than Martinelli.

With most people looking for 2+ premiums and a heavy defence, having a 6m midfielder you can rely on for the first 5 games could really free up some change.

Honourable mentions 😌

• Buendia - good fixtures, unsure if nailed every game.
• Awoniyi - will tick over but no fixture run until GW6.
• Harrison - is dependent on transfers but Leeds 'energy drink', 4222 football could yield goals.