Community Team Reveal Gameweek 1 – Marc Jobling

Each Gameweek brings an FPL community team reveal. As a result, that person gives insight into their transfers, captaincy and future plans.

Ahead of Gameweek 1, it’s the turn of Marc Jobling to tell us what is happening to his team.

Hi Marc and thanks for the team reveal. Are you ready for the new season?

I’m really going to miss those football-less weekends, without a doubt. Tried really hard to cherish the last one. But inevitably, it had to end.

In terms of FPL squad, I’m at the classic overthinking stage. I see everyone else online suddenly going without Mohamed Salah and think that it would be nice to have Bukayo Saka. It’s tempting but, in my opinion, it feels like all you gain is Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With the transfer window open, little twists could occur at any time. Will Eberechi Eze move to Man City, in response to Oscar Bobb’s injury? Will Newcastle ever make a major transfer? Certain team decisions could quickly become out of date.

What does your defence look like?

As said in my first draft piece, one of my key strategies at the start of each season is to aim for a medium-to-long-term defence. That way, precious transfers are saved for attacking spots and the first Wildcard can be delayed for as long as possible.

Although the new ability to save five free transfers encourages a more aggressive style, that’s still my method.

Dean Henderson looks to have beaten Sam Johnstone in the battle to be Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper. That’s good enough for me.

And I’ve recently returned to an Arsenal defender, having noticed that teams like Aston Villa and Brighton have great fixtures during the Gunners’ poor-looking Gameweeks 4 and 5.

Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?

A regret from last year was not beginning with Salah and I know FPL is about looking forward, not back, but he has great fixtures this time. Doubling up on him and Diogo Jota gives a nod to the new trending template whilst also giving a captaincy option.

I like Saka and it’d be nice to have him but either way there’d be sad nervousness.

Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak remain from my first draft but I’ve cooled on names like Brennan Johnson and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Additionally, I really don’t ‘get’ the Eze appeal, so the Man City rumour gives me a great reason to decline.

As for Dominic Solanke, I’m not convinced he’ll be great for Spurs and certainly not for the huge fee they valued him at. But those two starting fixtures look great, so I’m just waiting for Ange Postecoglou’s words.

It feels like at least one big player will emerge from the £5.5m midfielder bracket. I’ll start with Emile Smith Rowe and see what happens.

So what are your early transfer plans?

It’s certainly been interesting to see strategies now that five of them can be collected at once.

The thought of having a deep starting squad, before Wildcarding in Gameweek 6 and immediately having lots of transfers sounds heavenly. But maybe I can also begin with a researched, well-balanced XI that both collects transactions and doesn’t need a Wildcard.

I have nothing locked in but know that Saka and Ollie Watkins will soon appeal.