Pro Pundits - Sam

FPL Family’s Sam: Bench Boost in Gameweek 1, Free Hit in Gameweek 2?

22 July 2025 104 comments
Sam FPLFamily Sam FPLFamily
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With Fantasy Premier League (FPL) live for 2025/26, we’re welcoming back our team of guest writers for the new campaign. 

Here, FPL Family’s Sam floats the idea of using the Bench Boost and the Free Hit in the opening two Gameweeks.

Make sure you sign up for the new season to get all the Member-only articles, tools and features to make 2025/26 your best FPL campaign yet!

So, FPL Towers have handed us all an extra set of chips. Brilliant.

As soon as I heard that there were going to be two Bench Boost chips, I knew I would want to play the first one in Gameweek 1.

But when you build a team fit for a Gameweek 1 Bench Boost, it doesn’t look great for Gameweek 2.

Bench Boost Gameweek 1

However, in Gameweek 3, it looks nice again (thanks to PlanFPL for the brilliant forward-planning tool!) So this leaves me with a dilemma. At first, I saw three possible options:

  • Use the chip and sacrifice Gameweek 2
  • Use the chip and take a hit in Gameweek 2
  • Don’t use the Bench Boost at all

But then, a fourth option emerged:

  • Play the Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 and then the Free Hit in Gameweek 2

This, to me, currently seems like the perfect play.

Gameweek 1 Bench Boost: Pros and cons

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

104 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. langey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    14 hours ago

    Hi, how do you leave a leauge? I can't find the "leave leauge" button :)...grrr this new interace is poor.

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    1. langey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      13 hours, 59 mins ago

      Don't worry about it...I found the button lol

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  2. Zenith UK
    • 8 Years
    13 hours, 57 mins ago

    Does anyone know if the math has been done for every defender / midfielder from last season and the points they would have had if the new ruleset (defensive contributions) was in place last year? I know we have the news articles from FPL themselves but it's limited to like the top 10 or whatever.

    On the topic of DC's does anyone else find it interesting that they've left "I" (influence), "C" (creativity) and "T" (threat) for the "II" (ICT Index) stats which are hardly used/discussed BUT they haven't added in the column (so far at least, granted I'm in the history tab) for CBITR?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      12 hours, 45 mins ago

      The ICT data really applies to attacking players.

      It looks like the defensive recoveries etc add about 15-20 points to those most involved in that aspect of the game in defence or defensive midfield positions.

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    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      12 hours, 28 mins ago

      Tables updated

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/07/21/where-you-can-find-all-of-last-seasons-fpl-defensive-contribution-points

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  3. Billy Whizz
    • 2 Years
    13 hours, 56 mins ago

    Is anyone thinking of going without Salah and Haaland?

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    1. Funkyav
      • 16 Years
      13 hours, 55 mins ago

      both? no chance for me. Salah always starts strong so he will be in. Question is whether to include Haaland as well

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    2. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      13 hours, 52 mins ago

      My current draft doesn't have either, but will surely change before deadline...

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    3. jayzico
      • 14 Years
      13 hours, 41 mins ago

      A controversial point, but both for me. Haaland(c) gw1.

      Easier to downgrade than up.

      IMO

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    4. THE CON MAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      13 hours, 27 mins ago

      No

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    5. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 8 mins ago

      I am as want to BB GW1

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    6. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      12 hours, 46 mins ago

      Thinking about it, yes.

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    7. Sun God Nika
      • 4 Years
      12 hours, 46 mins ago

      i am going without both starting off
      rather have fun at the start before eventually giving in like a baby and getting one in because they keep hauling

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      1. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 hours, 35 mins ago

        I agree.

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    8. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      12 hours, 14 mins ago

      No. First impression of the pricing seems like it's easy enough to build a strong squad with one of them, although probably not both. And I like the safety net of having one of them as a reliable captain option to start with

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    9. Zalk
      • 13 Years
      11 hours, 56 mins ago

      Current draft has neither and it looks strong. Only downside is chasing captain points every week without Salah, and that's stressful, so might end up with Salah eventually.

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  4. Coys96
    • 8 Years
    13 hours, 56 mins ago

    See you in GW1. I'm locked in 😉

    Sels
    Gabriel - De Cuyper - VDV
    Palmer - Semenyo - Kudus - Alcaraz
    Haaland - Isak - Solanke

    Sa - Adingra - Diouf - Reinildo (BB)

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  5. Bobby Digital
    • 7 Years
    13 hours, 53 mins ago

    Reijnders or Anderson?

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  6. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 10 mins ago

    Thoughts on gyorkeres? If 9m I'm interested

    But no guarantee he would start gw1 i guess?

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    1. Zilla
      • 7 Years
      13 hours, 8 mins ago

      Depends on his price tbh

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    2. Bobby Digital
      • 7 Years
      13 hours, 8 mins ago

      Yeah, if he's only 9m, he's straight into my team

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    3. x.jim.x
      • 10 Years
      12 hours, 33 mins ago

      Arteta would be sacked on the spot for spending a fortune on a new striker and playing Trossard or Merino over him

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      1. I Member
        • 9 Years
        12 hours, 28 mins ago

        Kai Havertz

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        1. x.jim.x
          • 10 Years
          12 hours, 26 mins ago

          Gyokeres scored more goals last season than Havertz has done in his last four

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    4. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      12 hours, 28 mins ago

      Wait a few GWs. He was a Championship player two years ago and Premier League can be a big step-up from Portugese League.

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      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 hours, 49 mins ago

        Vardy, Mahrez, Charlie Austin, Ivan Toney, MBuemo, Chris Wood all played in the Championship but have been successful in the Prem.

        Just because a player played in the Championship on his way up doesn’t mean he won’t step up in the Prem.

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        1. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          11 hours, 43 mins ago

          They came from Championship to Premier League. More than them too did well in the stepup. I'll go with the other Swedish striker for now, if he stays with Newcastle.

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    5. Zalk
      • 13 Years
      11 hours, 54 mins ago

      If he's 9 I'm swapping him for Saka, gaining 1m in the process.

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      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 hours, 49 mins ago

        Hopefully he’s £8.5m

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  7. Zilla
    • 7 Years
    13 hours, 9 mins ago

    I say we put an asterisk on last season due to AssMan

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    1. have you seen cyan
      • 5 Years
      10 hours, 3 mins ago

      What and a double asterisk this season?

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  8. Punk as Fuchs
    • 5 Years
    13 hours, 7 mins ago

    With this BB GW1, FH in GW2 plan, what's the plan for GW3? Because you'll just be back to the team that was optimised for GW1.

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    1. chocolove
      • 14 Years
      12 hours, 57 mins ago

      I think I love BB 1 and FH 3 more than BB 1 & FH 2

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      1. I Member
        • 9 Years
        12 hours, 32 mins ago

        Why?

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    2. I Member
      • 9 Years
      12 hours, 32 mins ago

      The GW1 team is good again in GW3.

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  9. Punned It
      12 hours, 46 mins ago

      Sorry for not rating others, I'm not that clever, but I do get inspired by everyone's drafts, so I'd be happy for thoughts on mine:

      Pickford - Mykolenko, Milenkovic, Wan-Bissaka
      Salah, Trossard, Rogers, Palmer
      Welbeck, Bowen, JP

      Areola, Baleba, Konsa, Bogle

      Trying to BB1 but not necessarily WC2.

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      1. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        12 hours, 38 mins ago

        Think it's too early to give any serious consideration to rating entire drafts tbh (I haven't even registered yet). But one thing I would say here is, I don't think Leeds v Everton is going to be 0-0. Maybe if Everton were at home I'd be more confident in a defensive double up, but not so much at Elland Road on opening day

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        1. Punned It
            12 hours, 31 mins ago

            I agree, but fancy Bogle and don't mind if not everyone on BB fires if he can be alright going forward.

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            1. Punned It
                12 hours, 31 mins ago

                Cheers, btw!

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              • The Mentaculus
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                12 hours, 17 mins ago

                I do like the Bogle pick for BB1; would maybe just think about someone else in the Mykolenko spot

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                1. Punned It
                    12 hours, 5 mins ago

                    I could always get him later. Good advice, cheers!

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                    1. Men in green tights
                      • 6 Years
                      9 hours, 48 mins ago

                      Better off with Tarks as your Everton player

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          • Hey_Arnold
            • 12 Years
            12 hours, 41 mins ago

            The new layout seems messy. Never rated the app so always accessed via the browser but it seems cheaper if that makes sense. How do you access the players list on transfers without having to remove an existing player?

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            1. GreennRed
              • 13 Years
              12 hours, 39 mins ago

              Click on Statistics option. It doesn't seem to have a search option though, but does if you try to replace a player.

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              1. Hey_Arnold
                • 12 Years
                12 hours, 38 mins ago

                Don't know why they wouldn't just have the player list tab like every other year...

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                1. GreennRed
                  • 13 Years
                  12 hours, 31 mins ago

                  They're probably spamming users with other ads and subliminal messaging from Temu, on our journey from tab to tab.

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            2. Zalk
              • 13 Years
              11 hours, 52 mins ago

              I'm using other sites for the planning this year, like fpl.team
              Much easier to navigate, but occasionally I'm getting past season stats from fpl.

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          • Kodap
            • 7 Years
            12 hours, 37 mins ago

            Haven't remotely thought about BB1 or anything like that, but this feels nice and balanced.

            Sels
            Colwill - Aina - Virgil
            Wirtz - Kudus - Palmer - Marmoush
            Isak - Pedro - Bowen

            Kelleher - De Cuyper - Truffert - Baleba

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            1. Hey_Arnold
              • 12 Years
              12 hours, 21 mins ago

              No Salah or haaland. Suicide

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          • Horlicks esq.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            12 hours, 29 mins ago

            Just here to see the number next to my name to certify that I am indeed, old.

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            1. Horlicks esq.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              12 hours, 29 mins ago

              15 years. Yup, fetch me a Werther's.

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              1. jayzico
                • 14 Years
                12 hours, 9 mins ago

                Worry not my old friend

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            2. coriswrasse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 hours, 28 mins ago

              Perhaps also wise.

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            3. All Hail K
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              11 hours, 19 mins ago

              Ancient.

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            4. cravencottage
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 hours, 7 mins ago

              agree!

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            5. have you seen cyan
              • 5 Years
              10 hours, 4 mins ago

              You should have a picture of a WW2 ration book for your avatar.

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          • Winston.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            12 hours, 26 mins ago

            First draft…

            Sanchez
            VVD - Gvardiol - DeCuyper
            Salah - Palmer - Rogers - Sarr - Semenyo
            Bowen - JoaoPedro

            Kinsky - Konza - Guehi - Barnes

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          • Ovidiu Lucian
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            12 hours, 20 mins ago

            we want the dark mode please!

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          • SamBlue
            • 6 Years
            12 hours, 11 mins ago

            **First Draft**

            Kelleher
            Saliba - Gvardiol - Porro - Estupiñán
            Salah - Wirtz - Eze
            João - Isak - Darwin

            Patterson - Le Fée - Wan-Bissaka - Ramsey

            ITB 0.0

            (New UI is a little annoying, having to confirm search options every time is a slight pain)

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            1. jayzico
              • 14 Years
              12 hours, 8 mins ago

              Darwin is offski

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            2. jayzico
              • 14 Years
              12 hours, 8 mins ago

              I also like Le Fee

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            3. Punk as Fuchs
              • 5 Years
              12 hours, 4 mins ago

              Estupiñán is about ready to leave for Milan, and Darwin is also possibly moving on.

              I would say there are probably better choices than double Sunderland too.

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            4. photek
              • 12 Years
              11 hours, 56 mins ago

              Not a fan of Darwin and Porro has City away in GW2

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          • BUZZBOMB ♡
            • 10 Years
            11 hours, 55 mins ago

            Why have FPL and FFS switched the main interactive bits we engage with - e.g. comments, players to transfer, etc from right side to left when 88-90% of the world is right handed?

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            1. All Hail K
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              11 hours, 18 mins ago

              Because no thought was put into it.

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              1. have you seen cyan
                • 5 Years
                10 hours, 6 mins ago

                Yea it’s not logical. Most people’s cursor will predominantly be positioned on the right of the screen for using the scroll bar. Not sure a human made that decision to move it to the left.

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            2. 'Broadsword Calling Da…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              11 hours, 4 mins ago

              This. It's giving me a headache, constantly going left to right n back with my eyes...and then scrolling down the lists (if you select Forwards or Mids, for example), you can 't scroll the sidebar anymore, it's a clusterf***, in my humble opinion.

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          • HarryFPL
            • 2 Years
            11 hours, 53 mins ago

            A. Minteh + Marmoush + Watkins + Pedro
            B. Palmer + Rogers + Evanilson + Welbeck

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          • Bobby Digital
            • 7 Years
            11 hours, 46 mins ago

            Gyökeres to Arsenal done.

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            1. Nomar
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              11 hours, 36 mins ago

              Good signing imo

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              1. Bobby Digital
                • 7 Years
                11 hours, 28 mins ago

                Will be interesting to see how they price him. Needs to be 10m or more or everyone will own him.

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          • BUZZBOMB ♡
            • 10 Years
            11 hours, 45 mins ago

            Trying to make transfers is a nightmare. Hit or miss as to whether it gives an option to sàve changes when filtering. What a pile of cack.

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            1. Nomar
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              11 hours, 35 mins ago

              This

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          • Count of Monte Hristo
            • 12 Years
            11 hours, 40 mins ago

            Cunha or Mbeumo if you had to choose?

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            1. Bobby Digital
              • 7 Years
              11 hours, 39 mins ago

              Cunha will be more central imo. and Mbeumo has Diallo competing for gametime

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              1. x.jim.x
                • 10 Years
                11 hours, 29 mins ago

                Both will be playing behind the striker, so both will be 'central' - Amad will be playing wingback

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            2. GreennRed
              • 13 Years
              11 hours, 38 mins ago

              Mbeumo.

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              1. Count of Monte Hristo
                • 12 Years
                11 hours, 36 mins ago

                Disagree with above? No more penalties for Mbeumo also worth considering?

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                1. GreennRed
                  • 13 Years
                  11 hours, 19 mins ago

                  I'm not sure I trust Cunha's temperament to be be playing for Manchester United. A good player in a poor team with low expectations. Interested to see how he can dig out results in big games where expectation is high. Mbeumo doesn't have his ability but has a better atitude.

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                  1. The Mentaculus
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 4 Years
                    10 hours, 25 mins ago

                    Did alright at Wolves in basically the same scenario, no..? Not exactly dependent on having a ton of creativity behind him

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                    1. GreennRed
                      • 13 Years
                      8 hours, 23 mins ago

                      If he gets his head in gear he'll be a great pick for United and FPL. Had little or no expectation at Wolves compared to Man Utd. Had a bit of an atitude problem last season. More natural talent than Mbeumo but I prefer Mbuemo's work ethic, which is probably more what United need.

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            3. Nomar
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              11 hours, 32 mins ago

              Neither really

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            4. have you seen cyan
              • 5 Years
              10 hours, 7 mins ago

              Tough one that. I think it’s personal preference. I think we maybe all end up with both at some point this season. But not now. Amad and Bruno are also potential options!

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          • FPL_WILDCARD
            • 7 Years
            11 hours, 37 mins ago

            Currently sitting on a first draft of:

            Areola
            Kerkez, Cucurella, Porro
            Salah(c), Bruno, Kudus, Marmoush, Mitoma
            Watkins, J.Pedro

            Subs: Esteve, Araujo, Obi

            What’s the better choice out of:
            A) Kerkez + Mitoma
            B) MLS + Elanga

            And:
            C) Watkins + Kudus
            D) Solanke + Eze/Rogers

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          • WVA
            • 8 Years
            11 hours, 17 mins ago

            This looks the best structure to me.

            5m keeper (a lot of good choices)
            6m 5.5m 4.5m defenders
            Salah Palmer Rogers Kudus
            Isak Pedro

            Best 5.5/6m mid or forward to finish team.

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            1. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              11 hours, 11 mins ago

              This does look very solid and an excellent spread of funds.

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            2. Silecro
              • 7 Years
              11 hours, 9 mins ago

              Drop 5.5 def to 5.0, bring Welbeck and there you have it

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              1. WVA
                • 8 Years
                10 hours, 48 mins ago

                Think I’d prefer to drop the 6 to a 5.5 as I like the look of Tark and Porro over Gvardiol and VVD

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          • Count of Monte Hristo
            • 12 Years
            11 hours, 12 mins ago

            From the midfield options available do you prefer the 8.0 + 6.0 combination or 7.5 + 6.5?

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            1. have you seen cyan
              • 5 Years
              10 hours, 9 mins ago

              6.0 is like a desolate waste ground tbh.

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          • Meta12345
              10 hours, 58 mins ago

              Which one?
              A) enzo and reijnders
              B) doku and caicedo

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              1. Yes Ndidi
                • 5 Years
                9 hours, 38 mins ago

                Both of A are in my first draft FWIW. Enzo did me well last season; just a nagging feeling that Rice might be the better option there.

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                1. Meta12345
                    9 hours, 24 mins ago

                    Yes but rice awful fixtures. I think enzo is a good pick. People saying that he will play defensive with the new signings like estevao, but he is only 18. I think he is goong to be ease in, palmer right, enzo some games number 10. Just like in the club world cup final. We have to monitor reijnders in other hand. If city sell players like gundogan or kovacic or someone else i think he is worth the shout. Plays very attacking.

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              2. Costa Nostra
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                10 hours, 57 mins ago

                Wow. Site has changed. Seems to be a theme this year. Carry o …

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              3. Pennywise
                • 15 Years
                10 hours, 37 mins ago

                RMT please it's very early draft stage...

                Pickford
                Aina / Ruben / Frimpong / Gabriel
                Wirtz / Baleba / Salah / Mbeumo
                Isak / Joao Pedro

                Bench is Dubravka / Guehi / Ekwah / Marshall

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              4. have you seen cyan
                • 5 Years
                10 hours, 20 mins ago

                Anyone else thinking about a Haaland, Salah, and Palmer triple up. I think I will go down that route tbh. Bench boost doesn’t look particularly appealing and it’s a lot easier to jump off of one of those three and downgrade to another player, as opposed to having a load of mid priced players. That said, you can wc pretty soon after FH so maybe BB will work out for people.

                I have done BB in GW1 like five times and four times it really paid off. Last season I was close to do it but deciding against it in the end and went Salah and Haaland, luckily I did because I had Quansah and Barco in that FH team which were disasters. Some players get quite a lot of minutes in pre-season but then get shipped off on loan, so it can be a trap.

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                1. Count of Monte Hristo
                  • 12 Years
                  9 hours, 56 mins ago

                  How is the rest of your squad after putting in Salah/Palmer/Haaland?

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                  1. have you seen cyan
                    • 5 Years
                    9 hours, 49 mins ago

                    The attack is ok, the defence is pretty weak. My most expensive defender is 5mil. But I can live with it. I doubt I will be on those 3 for long away, one of them will drop off or not have the form so I can consider a premium defender then.

                    There will be some teams which keep CS from GW1, but I doubt many, so I may as well get the most attacking defenders O can for 5 mil and under.

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                    1. Salarrivederci
                      • 9 Years
                      9 hours, 21 mins ago

                      I actually think the BB GW1, FH GW3 and WC GW4 looks pretty good.

                      GW 1 BB could be:
                      Verbruggen (FUL) - Patterson (WHU)
                      Gvardiol (wol) - Colwill (CRY) - Milenkovic (BRE) - Van de Ven (BUR) - Struijk (EVE)
                      Palmer (CRY) - Wirtz (BOU) - MGW (BRE) - Mac Allister (BOU) - Roberts (WHU)
                      Haaland (C) (wol) - Solanke (BUR) - Piroe (EVE)

                      Then FH GW2.

                      Then take a hit to field this in GW3:
                      Patterson (BRE)
                      Colwill (FUL) - Dalot (BUR) - Milenkovic (WHU)
                      Palmer (FUL) - Wirts (ARS) - Mbeumo/Cunha (BUR) - MGW (WHU) - Roberts (BRE)
                      Haaland (bri) - Solanke (BOU)

                      Not too bad or?

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                      1. have you seen cyan
                        • 5 Years
                        9 hours, 11 mins ago

                        Palmer and Haaland makes it a bit weak, I'm not sure who Piroe even is.

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