FPL Goat’s Fixture Ticker: Gameweek 3

Gameweek 2 was eventful and full of useful data points and information, from a second set of starting lineups, we have doubled the sample size to judge players and coaches, we have more DEFCON info and more. FPL GOAT takes a look at some key teams with appealing fixtures over the upcoming GWs, and which players from those teams we want to target as he does every week in his invaluable FPL Fixture Ticker.

1. Aston Villa:

I would be sound foolish to still recommend Aston Villa players given their abysmal performance in the first 2 GWs of the season. The only team in the PL to still not score a goal, Emery playing players out of position has made them look absolutely blunt in attack. One of their attackers is still a buy, definitely a keep and not a sell given their decent fixtures. I expect Emery to turn it around swiftly in the next round of games.

🥇 Watkins: I would still consider buying him but not at a priority and only after the likes of Joao Pedro and Chris Wood. Playing Tielemans as a 10, Rogers out of position at right wing at times has worsen the cause for Watkins. The next 5 fixtures for Aston Villa are one of the best on paper at least, them playing 2 promoted teams in that time too. If you have Watkins keep him.

🥈 Rogers: Still a decent option at his price, he has played a lot of minutes out of position with Emery tweaking his system so many times in the 2 games they have played. If you want absolute guarantee of minutes from your Villa player it has to be Rogers, proper 90 minutes man and won’t be subbed regularly at all.

NOTE: The way Aston Villa have looked it’s still advisable to sell one of Rogers or Watkins if you own both, too many attackers from the same team in one basket.

2. Chelsea:

Maybe Chelsea are a really good attack or maybe West Ham are just that bad that they make every attack look elite. Chelsea looked back to their attacking best despite their best attacker injured in the warm up.

🥇 Joao Pedro: He thrives in a system where he isn’t the lone striker playing upfront. Chelsea started with designated striker in Delap and JP behind him. Neto on the left and Estevao replacing the injured Palmer. The front 4 looked more fluid with Joao Pedro as the second striker or the attacking midfielder just behind Delap, linking everything together. Though he massively over performed with 3 attacking returns from 0.52 xGI, for his price and most forwards misfiring he is an easy transfer in.

🥈 Cucurella: Probably the best premium striker option alongside the Arsenal defenders but they don’t have as good of fixtures as Cucurella. So far among Defenders he is top for Big chances created and 3rd best for xA and just behind VVD for expected points in the next 5 GWs while being way more attacking.

🚨 Palmer: He was set to start but got injured during the warm up and had to pull up. Scans yet to take place and he would miss at least the Fulham game in GW3. If he does miss GW3 I would recommend selling him because of the opportunity cost attached with him.

3. Crystal Palace:

Palace have looked really robust in defence both vs Chelsea and Forest. The next fixture vs Villa is termed as a red fixture in the ticker but should be a green or a grey fixture how average villa have looked.

🥇 Munoz: He looked absolutely amazing in both the games and also got an assist last week. Bombing forward from the right wing he created a chances and a big chance both with an xA of 0.32. If you want a cheaper way into the Palace defence with big DEFCON potential go with Lacroix who is 0.5m cheaper. He hit DEFCON points in both the games too. If you want an entry level defender then go for Guehi or Richards who may be good for clean sheets but not so for DEFCON or attacking wise.

🥈 Sarr: Probably one of the best if not the best £7.0m or under Midfielder in the game at the moment. The burden on him will only increase with Eze now off to arsenal, Sarr will be the creative outlet in the attacking 3rd as a creator and as a ball carrier too. He is also one of the best cheaper alternatives if you wanna replace Palmer or Saka.

🥉 Mateta: I would keep him as a 3rd or 4th best option to get after Joao Pedro, Wood and maybe Watkins all ahead looking at the fixtures.

4. Nottingham Forest:

Forest play possibly 3 of the worst defence in the league so far in WHU, BUR, SUN in the next 4 GWs.

🥇 Wood: I have to change my stance and say Chris wood is currently the top 2 strikers under £9m to own. So clinical he doesn’t need volume of shots to score, he and Joao Pedro are currently the top forwards to own.

🥈 Murillo/Williams: Murillo probably the standout forest defender with his massive DEFCON potential combined with attacking and bonus points. Neco Williams being £0.5m cheaper I would say is an equally good option being decent for DEFCON and a full-back who bombs forward a lot. They looked rock solid vs a blunt Brentford attack and only conceded via and unlucky penalty to Thiago. Murillo and Williams both got 5 and 6 DEFCONs respectively, they looked decent vs Palace too and with the upcoming fixtures I expect them to get clean sheets more often.

🥉 Milenkovic/Sels: Milenkovic surprisingly pipped ahead of both Murillo and Williams in DEFCONs and was 3 contributions away from 2 DEFCON points in GW1 and again had more DEFCONs in GW2 as well. I still maintain my stance about rob Sanchez being a better pick than Sels.

5. Spurs:

Currently one of the most in form teams in the league with 5 goals scored and none conceded only behind Arsenal. Though you could take the Man City game at the Etihad as an anomaly because historically Spurs have always done well there but you can’t deny the fact that the defence looks absolutely amazing under Frank.

🥇 Porro: The best defender to own in FPL at the moment at any price point. The crazy part is he is 3rd best among defenders for xA despite not creating any big chances which shows how big of a chance creator he is despite having played Man City in GW2. Porro now plays West ham, wolves and Leeds in the next 4 GWs which are relatively good fixtures for a potential clean sheet and a big defender haul.

🥉 Brennan Johnson: Though Johnson costs £0.4m more than Kudus I really like him more as an option. His positioning is slightly more central and in front of the phase of the goal compared to Kudus who is usually holding the width out wide letting Porro cut inside. Johnson also has a xGI double of Kudus and more of a goalscorer and kudus more of a creative role.

NOTE: I would recommend Richarlison as Frank said he is the no.9 of choice at the moment but you never know when he drops a stinker and is replaced by Solanke. So I don’t think Richarlison long term is an option with minutes risk.

My FPL watch-list:

Defenders:

1. Munoz
2. ⁠Cucurella
3. Gabriel

Midfielders:

1. Semenyo
2. ⁠Johnson
3. Kudus
4. ⁠Tavernier
5. ⁠Ismaila Sarr
6. ⁠Elanga

Forwards:

1. Joao pedro
2. ⁠Wood
3. ⁠Gyokeres

 

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