Pre-season friendlies and implications
Going through some of the recent pre-season friendlies and implications they have in FPL. Looking at systems, line-ups, goals, assists and everything else that can help FPL players get ready for the season ahead.
Monitoring pre-season friendlies can give FPL players a good idea of players in form, playing minutes, injuries and much more. This can have a very positive impact on FPL managers beginning of the season and help us get off to a good start.
Union Berlin 1-0 Nottingham Forest
As you can see below newly promoted side Nottingham Forest set up in their usual wing-back system of 3-4-3. New signing and £4.5m left wing back Harry Toffolo started the match whilst right wing-back and popular asset Neco Williams also started another pre-season friendly.
FPL managers will be happy that Williams has started back to back matches as his minutes look more assured for the start of the season. New striker and £6m forward also started the game but put in a very rusty overall performance.
With two matches in a row now without a clean sheet managers will be hoping Nottingham Forest can settle the back line.
Besiktas 0-3 Wolves
The FPL community will be taking notes on Wolves pre-season due to their fixtures. They rank first on the Fantasy Football season ticker for best fixtures.
A strong line-up from Wolves meant that Wolves put in a serious performance against big Turkish side and European football regulars Besiktas. The first goal came from £7m forward Raul Jimenez, a player that FPL managers will be keen to monitor this season.
The second goal came from potential differential £5.5m Daniel Podence whilst the goal the sealed the win for Wolves was put away by the popular £5.5m midfielder Pedro Neto. With close to 20% ownership at the time of writing Neto continued his great pre-season form.
£4.5m defender Ait-Nouri and on many managers watchlists came away with an assist and a clean sheet.
Bayern 0-1 Man City
A clash of the titans, two of the best teams in Europe came to blows in a low scoring win for English side Manchester City. Both teams were one or two key players off their best eleven so this was a big test for both sides.
Early template favourites £11.5m forward Haaland and £7m defender Cancelo both came away with returns. Debutant Haaland scored in the 12th minute for Man City whilst Cancelo secured a clean sheet. Both showing early signs of form and potential heading into the new season.
Other midfielder assets £12m Kevin-De Bruyne and £8m Mahrez both had quiet matches. However the nicely priced £7m Jack Grealish came away with an early assist and looked very creative at times.
Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea
A big game with plenty of popular FPL assets so we will break it down by team separately.
Chelsea
Tuchel tried a back four tactic for the first time during the pre-season tour. Key assets £6m defender Reece James and £8m midfielder Mason Mount were lively but failed to do anything significant. The change of system seemed to have a considerably negative impact on the overall performance especially in the first half.
New signing and £10m Raheem Sterling also had a quiet performance along with £8m forward Kai Havertz who failed to get on the end of a couple of great crosses by James.
In the second half Tuchel changed back to his favoured back three, although there was clear improvements defensively and offensively, there was no significant change.
Arsenal
Fielded a much more noticeable first team. A fantastic overall performance lead to a huge 4-0 win over former European champions Chelsea. New defender signing £5m Zinchenko covered left back and came away with a clean sheet whilst also looking creative in the final third.
Key midfielder assets £8m Saka and £6.5 Odegaard both got on the score sheet and both looked consistently offensive until they both came off. 13.4% owned (at the time of writing) £6m midfielder Martinelli claimed another return showing his effectivity when he does play with the assist.
Template favourite and £8m forward Gabriel Jesus also clinched a goal after a mistake by Chalobah. The lobbed finish was sharp and reflects well for FPL managers as a massive 63% of the game currently own him.
Estoril 1-3 Fulham
Playing a first team eleven and 4-2-3-1 formation Fulham really did impress. £6.5m forward Mitrovic stole the show with a brace in the first 12 minutes of the game. A player many will be monitoring for periods of good fixtures.
The assists came from £6m midfielder Harry Wilson from a corner. The other goal also created from a corner and took by popular budget enabler and £4.5m midfielder Andreas who completed back to back assists in his last two pre-season matches.
If you missed out on the last edition of pre-season friendlies and implications you can catch up here.
