Is Haaland essential for our 2024/25 FPL teams?
Heading into the latest FPL season, managers are debating whether Erling Haaland is still essential now that he’s been handed the highest-ever starting price.
A slight decrease from £14.0m was predicted, considering his second Premier League campaign saw fewer goals and points. Yet FPL authorities instead raised him to a record £15.0m in an attempt to prevent template teams across the community.
It’s worked a treat. A nice split is forming, with some managers loyal to his reliability and others excited at what else his money could do. Pro Pundit FPL General actually has a draft for both scenarios.
Let’s look at both sides.
ESSENTIAL HAALAND
Despite playing fewer minutes due to a foot injury and three benchings, the 24-year-old machine still came out on top for various underlying stats. These can be found in Fantasy Football Scout’s Members Area.
Number one for goals (27), big chances (55) and expected goal involvement (xGI, 31.54), he produced almost identical attempts (121 v 123) and shots on target (57 v 60) compared to 2022/23.
In fact, this ‘weaker’ campaign saw Haaland accumulate a better expected goals (xG, 29.32) and minutes per chance (21.2) than previously.
| Mins | Goals | Shots | On Target | Big Chances | xG | xGI | Mins per goal | Mins per shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 2,560 | 27 | 121 | 57 | 55 | 29.32 | 31.54 | 94.8 | 21.2 |
| 2022/23 | 2,770 | 36 | 123 | 60 | 59 | 28.59 | 31.72 | 76.9 | 22.5 |
The Norwegian’s lack of international football means he has a full pre-season under his belt, enough time to remind FPL managers of his devastating potential. A friendly hat-trick versus Gameweek 1 opponents Chelsea, knowing that he’s then at home to newly-promoted Ipswich in Gameweek 2. His ownership is gradually increasing.
Strategically, having both Haaland and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) still allows a nice price spread of players in your squad. Beginning with this duo means that any non-owned asset can immediately be bought in one move. In other words, it’s easier to downgrade these premiums than be forced into buying them.
HAALAND IS NOT ESSENTIAL:
However, some great things can be done with that money. And there are other strong contenders for those three forward spots – Ollie Watkins (£9.0m), Alexander Isak (£8.5m), Kai Havertz (£8.0m), Dominic Solanke (£7.5m), Rodrigo Muniz (£6.0m) and Chris Wood (£6.0m).
That’s right, the same Watkins who ended last season as FPL’s top points scorer with 19 goals and 18 assists, costs a whopping £6.0m less than Haaland.
Opt to go without and you’re suddenly able to most of the other highly-owned guys instead. Premium attacking defenders, Salah, Bukayo Saka (£10.0m)…. maybe even Cole Palmer (£10.5m) if you’re unconvinced about Christopher Nkunku (£6.5m).
Furthermore, Pep Guardiola felt he was able to get away with managing Haaland’s minutes. And it worked, which makes the centre-forward seem less invincible than before.
CONCLUSION
It’s purely a money thing. Everyone knows that Haaland guarantees goals and will be the leading captaincy contender for most Gameweeks. Stats show that he didn’t regress last season.
With Julian Alvarez (£7.0m) seemingly set to depart Man City, he’s currently their only forward.
Interestingly, if you didn’t use Haaland at all last time, it would’ve been possible to reach 2,406 points and that’s without any transfers or chip usage.
He’s not essential. But remember that, if you go without him, it’s a commitment. Buying him back without using a Wildcard will be very difficult, even with the ability to now collect five free transfers.
Pick your side and embrace it.
