Fantasy Football blog: Salah and Sterling bankers; real value at Wolves

Mo Salah TEAMtalk

Our man Dave Tindall takes on the Premier League’s Fantasy Football game and will give you some healthy tips each week on who could do the business to boost your points total.

The Premier League is back with a bang, with Liverpool kicking-off the new season with a home clash against newly-promoted Norwich, and Dave has picked the initial team that he hopes will lead him to Fantasy Football glory.

You can follow Dave’s journey throughout the season right here on TEAMtalk

 

Last season: A mixed bag. Hung around in mid-table in my 20-man league and then made a late surge, the highlight a Triple Captain play on Mo Salah when he filled his boots against Huddersfield. That got me to fourth. Then it was a mate’s birthday somewhere and I missed the deadline. That WILL NOT happen this season (even though I guarantee it will happen at least twice).

Week 1:

Yes, it’s a blank slate and a smorgasbord of talent to tuck into. A shame my initial plan came in at around £6m over budget.  Here goes: Time to splash £90m on my 15-man squad.

 

Goalkeepers

Rui Patricio TEAMtalk

Rui Patricio (£5.0) – Had him last season and he did okay (118pts). Wolves are already up and running in Europe so perhaps they’ll be sharper for a while. Away at Leicester first up.

Maarten Stekelenburg (£4.0) – Just making up the numbers by paying the minimum price. Didn’t play a single minute last season but he’s decent, isn’t he, if called upon.

 

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk (£7.0)

As well as turning a once laughable Liverpool defence into the tightest in the Premier League, he started scoring a few as well in the second half of last season. Reds will aim for his head from set-pieces. Deft assist in Community Shield.

Andrew Robertson TEAMtalk

Andy Robertson (£7.0)

Hopefully he’ll have his ‘most assists’ match bet with Trent TA again. While the right-back is rested from time to time, Robertson never is. Definite assist potential at home to Norwich.

Lucas Digne (£6.0)

Banked 158pts last season with four goals and five assists. Likes a free-kick. Everton are weird in that they can be really good or really bad but I’ll take him. Could make a fast start away at Crystal Palace.

Ricardo Pereira (£6.0)

Had the Leicester man from the start last season but transferred him out just as he became good. Those eight assists appeal and he scored a couple too. 146pts in his debut campaign and the Foxes should kick on this time. Home to Wolves.

John Lundstram (£4.0)

No idea. Just adding in someone who cost the minimum amount.

 

Midfielders

Mo Salah (£12.5)

A points machine in this game, piling up a ludicrous 303pts in his debut season at Anfield and a massive 259 last time. Will probably have 23 shots against Norwich on Friday night. Hopefully a few will fly in.

Raheem Sterling (£12.0)

Pep seems to fancy him as a central striker for the time being and that won’t hurt. Will get big numbers wherever he plays across the front line and has registered 234pts and 229pts the last two seasons. Opener is at West Ham and he scored at the London Stadium last season.

Lucas Moura (£7.5)

Likes to feast on the lesser teams so a home game against newly-promoted Aston Villa looks right up his street. Totted up 131pts last season.

Youri Tielemans (£6.5)

Could be a star this term. Only played his first game for Leicester in February but scored three and had five assists. Those numbers project out to a hefty haul this term.

Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5)

Fodder. Only £4.5m but seems to play a decent amount and easy to spot. Gets booked a bit so, overall, I don’t know why I’ve picked him.

 

Forwards

Josh King (£6.5)

I’ve top-loaded the midfield with de facto strikers Salah and Sterling so not much budget left. King takes penalties, scored 12 goals and had three assists last season. And cheaper than Callum Wilson. Cherries at home to Sheffield United.

Diogo Jota TEAMtalk

Diogo Jota (£6.5)

I was a Raul Jimenez man for much of last season which was mostly great although Jota started to match him for productivity later on. Nine goals and eight assists in the 2018/2019 campaign so value at £6.5.

Josip Drmic (£5.5)

Norwich will score their share as well as conceding boatloads. Drmic has netted in a World Cup for Switzerland and bagged a hat-trick in a pre-season. Expect I’ll transfer him out after three weeks. A strong candidate for “what was I thinking?”

 

Gameweek 1 team

Rui Patricio (Wolves) – Leicester (A)
Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) – Wolves (H)
Lucas Digne (Everton – Crystal Palace (A)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Norwich (H)
Andy Robertson (Liverpool) – Norwich (H)
Youri Tielemans (Leicester) – Wolves (H)
Lucas Moura (Spurs) – Aston Villa (H)
Raheem Sterling (Man City) – West Ham (A)
Mo Salah (Liverpool) – Norwich (H)
Josh King (Bournemouth) – Southampton (H)
Diogo Jota (Wolves) – Leicester (A)

Subs

Matteo Guendouzi TEAMtalk

Maarten Stekelenburg (Everton) – Crystal Palace (A)
Josip Drmic (Norwich) – Liverpool (A)
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) – Newcastle (A)
John Lundstram (Sheffield United) – Bournemouth (A)

 

Final thoughts

Just noticed I have four players in the Leicester v Wolves game including a defender in each team so I hope that one ends both 0-0 and 4-4. Seven of my team are playing at home which is good. Possibly. I have two blokes called Lucas.

Tip: It starts on Friday night so for god’s sake get your teams sorted before the deadline of 7pm.

Good luck!!!