MY FINAL FPL TEAM | GW1

Summary

The video discusses the user's finalized Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team for Gameweek 1, sharing insights on player selections and strategy. Key highlights include the announcement of a newly launched, free FPL app available on iOS, with Android coming soon. The user plans to get a tattoo of their logo upon reaching 200,000 subscribers. Detailed reasoning behind player picks like Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, and Haaland is provided, along with bench options and a discussion on the importance of pre-season form in shaping the team.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video discusses the creator's chosen Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team for the start of the new season.
• 📲 An app called 'FPL Focal' has been released in the App Store, offering tools to enhance the FPL experience, with an Android version coming later.
• 🔑 Henderson is selected as the goalkeeper due to recent developments at Crystal Palace, positioning him as the likely first choice.
• 🛡️ The defense includes Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, and Pedro Porro, with considerations given to their form, price, and opening fixtures.
• 🔄 Quansah's inclusion is based on Liverpool's pre-season games, suggesting he may be a regular starter under the new manager.
• 🚨 A caution about Quansah's potential for starting every game, with advice to have defensive coverage on the bench.
• 💰 Alexander-Arnold is chosen for his consistent performance and value for money, despite being under-owned.
• 🏠 Porro is selected for his attacking potential and the favorable fixtures he faces, including against newly promoted teams.
• 🌟 The midfield consists of Eze, Saka, Nkunku, Bruno, and Smith Rowe, with each player chosen based on their potential and pre-season form.
• 🔝 Nkunku's pre-season performance has been impressive, leading to his selection ahead of other Chelsea players.
• 🤔 The video creator expresses a preference for Haaland over Salah for the captain's armband due to Haaland's central role in Manchester City's attack.
• 👍 Isak is chosen as the forward due to his high ownership and favorable opening fixture against Southampton.
• 💡 The bench includes Valdimarsson, Barco, Konsa, and Jebbison, with each player selected for their potential or as a low-owned option.
• 💸 The team leaves 0.5m unspent, offering flexibility for future transfers and price changes.

Q & A

What is the significant news the speaker is excited to share?

The speaker has launched an app called FPL Focal, which is available for free in the app store and provides tools to enhance the FPL experience.

What is the speaker's plan for the 200,000 subscribers milestone?

The speaker plans to get a tattoo of the Focal logo once they reach 200,000 subscribers.

Which goalkeeper does the speaker choose for their FPL team and why?

The speaker chooses Henderson as their goalkeeper because he is very low owned and there has been recent news that Johnstone has been stripped of the #1 spot at Palace.

What is the reason behind choosing Quansah for the defense?

Quansah is chosen due to his strong performance in Liverpool's pre-season games, his fit with Slot's style, and the favorable opening fixtures.

Why does the speaker consider Trent Alexander-Arnold a valuable pick for their team?

Trent is considered valuable due to his consistent high xGI over the years, his role in Liverpool's defense, and his current low ownership percentage.

What is the speaker's strategy for dealing with Porro's challenging fixtures in GW3 and GW4?

The speaker plans to have the right defenders on the bench to manage the challenges of Porro facing Newcastle away and Arsenal at home in GW3 and GW4.

Which midfielders does the speaker select for their team and why?

The speaker selects Eze, Saka, Nkunku, Bruno, and Smith Rowe for their midfield. They chose these players based on their pre-season performances, potential for minutes, and team dynamics.

What is the speaker's reasoning for choosing Haaland over Salah as a captain?

The speaker feels more comfortable with Haaland as a set-and-forget captain for GW2, 3, and 4 due to his central role in Manchester City's attack and the potential for shared returns at Liverpool.

Why does the speaker choose Isak as one of the front two players?

Isak is chosen due to his high ownership in the game, his home fixture against Southampton in GW1, and his high probability of scoring based on odds.

What does the speaker think about the 5.5m midfielders and their selection process?

The speaker finds the 5.5m midfielders to be a challenging choice with many great options. They selected Smith Rowe over others like Winks based on pre-season performance and an extra 0.5m budget consideration.

What is the speaker's strategy for the bench and why do they have 0.5m in the bank?

The speaker's bench includes Valdimarsson, Barco, Konsa, and Jebbison, chosen for their potential and fixtures. They have 0.5m in the bank to maintain flexibility for transfers and price changes, and to possibly make moves like Porro to Gabriel, Saliba, or Gvardiol.

Outlines

00:00

🔔 Exciting Updates & GW1 Preparations

The speaker prepares the audience for the upcoming Gameweek 1 (GW1) in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) by sharing updates and important news. They mention the excitement of launching their new FPL app, available for free on iOS, and the upcoming Android version. They also discuss getting a tattoo of their logo when they reach 200,000 subscribers. The video will cover the finalized team selection, emphasizing its importance as the season approaches.

05:02

🧤 Goalkeeper & Defensive Line Strategy

The speaker discusses their choices for the goalkeeper and defensive lineup for GW1. They highlight the decision to pick Henderson as the goalkeeper due to uncertainty around Crystal Palace's starting keeper. The defense includes Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, and Pedro Porro, with a focus on the potential of each player, particularly Quansah's surprising pre-season performance. The speaker also stresses the importance of monitoring pre-season games and having coverage on the bench to manage risks, especially with Liverpool's defensive setup.

10:08

⚔️ Midfield Powerhouses & Striker Duo

The focus shifts to the midfield and forward selections. The speaker outlines their choices, including Eze, Saka, Nkunku, Bruno, and Smith Rowe, while noting the depth of options among 5.5m midfielders. Each player's pre-season performance and potential impact on the FPL season are discussed in detail. The star duo of Haaland and Isak lead the forward line, with Haaland being chosen over Salah due to team balance considerations. The speaker highlights Haaland's strong prospects in GW2, 3, and 4, and Isak's high ownership and favorable opening fixtures.

🪑 Bench Setup & Strategic Flexibility

The speaker wraps up the team discussion by explaining their bench choices: Valdimarsson, Barco, Konsa, and Jebbison. They justify the selections by emphasizing long-term fixtures and the importance of flexibility in transfers and price rises. They also mention having 0.5m in the bank, which provides room for potential adjustments, like upgrading a player or ensuring stability in the squad. The video ends with a call to action, encouraging viewers to download the app and subscribe for more content.

📲 Closing Remarks & Call to Action

In the closing segment, the speaker thanks the audience for watching and reiterates the availability of the free app in the description and comments. They also remind viewers about the upcoming tattoo at 200,000 subscribers and hint at future content, creating anticipation for the next video.

Keywords

💡GW1 deadline

GW1 stands for 'Gameweek 1,' a term used in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) to refer to the first week of the football season in which players select their teams. The 'GW1 deadline' is the cut-off point by which all team selections must be finalized. This is crucial as the video revolves around preparing for the upcoming FPL season, and making the best decisions before this deadline is a key theme.

💡FPL Focal app

The FPL Focal app is a newly launched application created by the video host to enhance the Fantasy Premier League experience. The app is designed to offer users tools like live rank checking, bonus points tracking, and price change alerts. It is central to the video as the host is promoting it as a valuable, free resource for FPL players, and it's a major piece of news they are sharing with their audience.

💡Pre-season monitoring

Pre-season monitoring refers to the practice of closely watching football teams' performances in friendly matches before the official season starts. In the context of FPL, this is important for making informed decisions about which players to pick based on their form and likelihood of starting in the official games. The host mentions how monitoring pre-season has influenced their decisions on which players to include in their FPL team.

💡Haaland vs Salah

Haaland and Salah are two top-tier football players in the Premier League, often central to FPL strategies due to their high scoring potential. The video discusses the dilemma of choosing between the two for the fantasy team, weighing the pros and cons of each. This decision is significant because it can shape the overall balance and success of the FPL team for the season.

💡4.5m keeper

A '4.5m keeper' refers to a goalkeeper in FPL who costs 4.5 million in the game's budget. These players are often considered budget-friendly options, and the video discusses choosing between different 4.5m keepers like Henderson or Flekken. The choice of a budget keeper is important in maintaining a balanced team budget while still securing a reliable player in goal.

💡Set and forget captain

The 'set and forget captain' strategy involves selecting a player as the team's captain who will consistently score high points, allowing the manager to keep them as captain for multiple weeks without changing. In the video, Haaland is considered for this role due to his consistent performance and high point potential, particularly in the early gameweeks. This strategy simplifies team management and is a common tactic in FPL.

💡Expected goal involvement (xGI)

Expected goal involvement (xGI) is a statistical metric that estimates a player's likelihood of contributing to goals, either by scoring or assisting, based on their play. The video mentions xGI to highlight the potential of players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Pedro Porro in contributing to goals, making them valuable picks for an FPL team. Understanding xGI helps managers make data-driven decisions in selecting players.

💡Price changes

Price changes in FPL refer to the fluctuations in a player's value based on their performance and the number of managers transferring them in or out. The FPL Focal app, as mentioned in the video, tracks these changes to help managers make timely decisions. Keeping track of price changes is crucial for maximizing the value of a team over the season and avoiding being priced out of desired transfers.

💡Benched players

Benched players are those selected in the FPL team but not included in the starting lineup for a particular gameweek. They can come into play if a starting player does not feature in the real-life match. The video advises ensuring that there are reliable options on the bench, particularly when there is uncertainty about the starting status of key players like Quansah. Having a strong bench is essential for covering unexpected absences.

💡Flexible transfers

Flexible transfers refer to the strategic decision to leave some budget unspent or to make transfers that allow for easy adjustments in future gameweeks. The video discusses leaving 0.5 million in the bank to keep options open for future transfers, which can be crucial for adapting to player injuries, form changes, or favorable fixtures. This flexibility helps maintain a strong, adaptable team throughout the season.

Highlights

Introduction to the FPL team selection and the upcoming GW1 deadline.

Invitation to subscribe for weekly FPL content and the milestone of a Focal logo tattoo at 200,000 subscribers.

Announcement of the launch of a free FPL-focused app in the app store with features for live rank and bonus points.

Upcoming availability of the Android version of the FPL app.

Selection of Henderson as the goalkeeper due to recent team news and his value at 4.5m.

Discussion on the potential transfer of Guehi from Palace to Newcastle and its implications.

Defense lineup including Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, and Pedro Porro with reasoning based on pre-season observations.

Quansah's potential as a new signing fitting Liverpool's style and his price point.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's value and consistency in FPL, especially considering his price and fixtures.

Porro's impressive pre-season and his role in Spurs' defense for the upcoming season.

Midfield selection featuring Eze, Saka, Nkunku, Bruno, and Smith Rowe with insights on their pre-season performances and potential.

Analysis of the 5.5m midfielders and the decision-making process for Smith Rowe over other options.

Nkunku's pre-season form and his role in Chelsea's attack for the new season.

Bruno Fernandes' importance in Man Utd's midfield and his potential as a set-piece taker.

Eze's value and potential impact in Fulham's midfield based on his stats from last season.

Saka's role in Arsenal's attack, his set-piece responsibilities, and expectations for the season.

Forward selection of Haaland and Isak with reasoning on their potential and team balance.

Discussion on the decision between Haaland and Salah and the strategic approach to captaincy.

Isak's popularity and his expected performance in the opening gameweek against Southampton.

Bench selection including Valdimarsson, Barco, Konsa, and Jebbison with considerations for their roles and potential.

Strategic decision to carry 0.5m in the bank for flexibility in transfers and price changes.

Closing remarks with a call to action for viewers to install the app and engage with the Focal tattoo milestone.

Transcripts

Welcome back for another video.

The GW1 deadline is around the corner, so  let's run through the team I've landed on  

to kick the season off. I've got  some huge news to share as well.

Before we get into it if you're  not subscribed I'll be posting  

my team and other FPL content every  week all season so hit that button.  

I'll be getting the Focal logo tattooed at  200,000 subscribers as well! Not far off.

So the huge news is my app has just gone live  in the app store, it's completely free for you,  

not monetised at all. Check your live rank, bonus  points, price changes and loads of other tools  

for a better FPL experience. Search FPL Focal  in the app store, I'll link it below as well.

The Android app is coming later, sorry  Android gang. Just iOS at the moment.  

I've been working on it tirelessly  for weeks and you're gonna love it.

So let's get into the team shall we.

In goal I've gone with Henderson. Very low  owned as well, the reason being earlier in  

pre-season there was uncertainty who was Palace's  #1 Henderson or Johnstone. The news in case you  

missed it is Johnstone's been stripped of the  #1 on his shirt and reportedly asked to leave,  

and wasn't in the squad for Palace's final  pre-season friendly even. So there's lots  

to like about Henderson, for 1 they were a  really solid defense last season under Glasner,  

ranking fourth best for expected goals conceded.  For 4.5m you really can't go wrong. The other  

4.5m keeper I considered is Flekken though  slightly less favourable opening fixtures.  

Guehi's being strongly linked with a move from  Palace to Newcastle, though it's worth noting  

when he was injured for a huge stretch of  last season they managed fine in his absence.

Onto the defense, it's a 3-4-3  lined up with Alexander-Arnold,  

Quansah and Pedro Porro at the back.

Quansah is someone who wasn't on my radar at all  until the final couple of Liverpool pre-season  

games, which underlines how useful monitoring  pre-season can be. I did a video covering what  

you need to know from all 20 teams if you've not  seen it. In their second to last friendly Quansah  

played RCB, Konate LCB. Van Dijk's position is  LCB so that was the first hint. Then in their  

final pre-season game against Sevilla Quansah and  Van Dijk were the centre back pairing. On paper  

Quansah fits Slot's style more, better  with his feet, perhaps more press proven.  

For 4.5m with those opening fixtures it's  too good of an opportunity to pass up on.  

What I will say is that we don't know  he's 100% nailed, I'm fully expecting  

him to start GW1 but if he makes a few big  mistakes we could see Konate come back in,  

therefore the sensible thing to do is ensure  you've got coverage on your bench so another  

defender can come into your team if he  doesn't work out. Outside of Quansah the  

cheapest route into Liverpool's defense  is 6m, same at Arsenal, at City it's 5.5m  

but it's unclear who will be nailed. When you put  in perspective like that he's worth it in my eyes.

Trent is someone who has been in basically every  draft. He's served me so well over the years  

in FPL and comes in at his cheapest price since  the 2019/20 season. I think he's being slept on,  

barely 26% owned and offers more than  any midfielder or forward for 7m if  

you ask me. Despite limited minutes due  to injury his 8.7 xGI was 2nd among all  

defenders last season, the year before he was 2nd  with 10.8 xGI, the year before 1st with 15.6 xGI,  

the year before top again with 10.1 xGI. Same  again before that. Consistency is invaluable  

in FPL. Faces newly promoted Ipswich in GW1 and  then 3 home games in the 4 gameweeks that follow.  

Liverpool are second on the GW1 clean sheet  odds given a 40% chance. Spurs 35% chance.

Porro was that player who beat Trent for xGI last  season, with 8.98 expected goal involvement. 198  

crosses, 53 shots. He's scored a couple goals in  pre-season and also has the appeal of facing a  

newly promoted team in GW1 which is Leicester.  Admittedly Spurs were not a great defense last  

season with only 7 clean sheets, though Van De  Ven's injury contributed to that. The elephant in  

the room is GW3 they're away to Newcastle and GW4  home to Arsenal. This is something you can plan  

for with the right defenders on your bench, in  GW3 I may start him regardless and bench in GW4.

Onto the midfield which is Eze,  Saka, Nkunku, Bruno and Smith Rowe.

I've found the 5.5m midfielders to be a real  headscratcher, I can't remember having so  

many great options in recent years. There's Smith  Rowe, Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Minteh, Brereton Diaz,  

Semenyo, and of course Rogers who is 5m. I've got  a soft spot for Smith Rowe not just as an Arsenal  

fan but he was instrumental when I got rank 1  back in the day. His injury record is a slight  

concern but he had surgery last year which  hopefully is the end on it. His availability  

actually wasn't a real issue last season, missed  6 matches with a knee injury but other than that  

was on the bench and the occasional start for  Arsenal. He's impressed in pre-season as well,  

came on at half time against Sevilla and  scored. Played 81 minutes in their final  

game vs Hoffenheim and scored. Faces two promoted  teams in GW2 and GW3. I've gone back and forth on  

Muniz who is Fulham's 6m striker and then  a 4.5m midfiedler like Winks on the bench,  

or Smith Rowe and 0.5m spare, though  there's no 4.5m forwards that will  

start unlike Winks for the same price.  Again it's boiled down to pre-season,  

Muniz has looked pretty average while Smith  Rowe's impressed and he gives me an extra 0.5m.

Nkunku has also impressed in pre-season, looking  by far Chelsea's most dangerous player, scoring  

3 times and 1 assist. Palmer was of course last  season's top scorer and someone who hasn't made it  

into my team. He only played 45 mins in pre-season  and I like Nkunku as an alternate for 4m cheaper,  

so Saka and Nkunku as opposed to Palmer and  a 6m mid. Chelsea are making a pretty absurd  

number of signings I won't lie and I hope to see  him starting regularly regardless. On paper he  

and Palmer should be the first 2 names on the  team sheet. If you've got Nkunku and Gvardiol  

I'd actually rather start Nkunku especially if  Rodri is out for GW1 which remains to be seen.

Man Utd have been making some good  signings this window and looking to add,  

I was surprised to see Bruno only 16% owned.  Absolutely everything goes through him,  

he's on set pieces, penalties. Just signed  a new contract. Man Utd lined up without a  

recognised striker in the community shield,  he was the most advanced player at times. We  

might see Rashford up top GW1 if ten Hag  wants to use Amad and Garnacho as well,  

could be a lethal pacy attack. It's gone a bit  under the radar how well he finished last season,  

perhaps in part because Casemiro was back from  injruy. From GW26 to GW34 7G 3A in 8 games. Then  

missed a couple of games injured himself. Casemiro  and Mainoo will be the base of their midfield GW1.

I'm surprised Eze was 7.5, they might have  got this one slightly wrong. 140 minutes  

per expected goal involvement last season, so in a  nutshell every 1.5 games roughly. Better than Son,  

Watkins, Bruno, Foden, Gordon. I wouldn't  advise against any of those picks though,  

besides Foden perhaps who hasn't played  a single minute in pre-season. He should  

be on free kicks now that Olise  has left and penalty duties too.

And lastly star boy, Saka. I don't think you can  go wrong with Son or Saka. Son's certainly had  

more of a pre-season but Saka looked really  sharp in his minutes towards the end when he  

returned. Again, takes corners on the right  side and Arsenal are a huge threat from them,  

scoring off 2 corners last pre-season  match even. On penalties as well,  

still seems to be improving every season and  who knows how high his ceiling is. Honestly  

wouldn't surprise me if we're paying 12m for  him next year. I love a home fixture for GW1  

as well and they're up against Wolves  at the Emirates to kick the season off.

Onto the front two and you probably  guessed it. Haaland and Isak.

A few of you left comments earlier in  pre-season saying by GW1 I'll have Haaland,  

so fair play you were right. Some of you said  I'd have both but for me it's only one or the  

other. I couldn't build a team with both that I  was happy with, it hurts team balance too much.  

You might disagree with that though if  someone like Trent is dispensible for you,  

switch him to a 4.5m defender and Saka to Salah.  Or Bruno to a 5.5m mid and Saka to Salah. So why  

Haaland? Don't get me wrong Haaland drafts and  Salah teams are dead even, but right now I feel  

more comfortable with set and forget Haaland  captain GW2, 3, 4. With Liverpool I wonder if  

the returns should be shared around a bit. It  was only one match obviously but in their final  

pre-season friendly at more or less full strength  Diaz scored a brace, Jota scored. I rate the Jota  

pick but this season I'm making a conscious effort  to pick more players that are more secure for  

expected minutes hence Bruno over Jota. Salah  has looked very lively don't get me wrong but  

if I look at Liverpool vs Ipswich GW1 it wouldn't  completely shock me if returns were shared again,  

while at City you feel Haaland's got every  opportunity to be at the centre of everything  

in front of goal. Though of course City have lots  of players capable of scoring too, but at least  

it's Haaland spear heading the attack. Let us  know in the comments Haaland or Salah, or both.

Isak's the most owned player in the game so I  probably don't need to sell this pick to most  

of you. Home to Southampton GW1, top of the GW1  goalscorer probabilities given a 47% chance of  

scoring any time. The odds always assume the  players start which doesn't apply to a few  

names here like Wilson, Darwin, Jesus. So Isak  gets the captain armband and then it's over to  

Haaland for a few weeks after that. Newcastle  have looked great in their friendlies and I'm  

expecting them to have a great season if  they can stay injury free this time round.

Let's move onto the bench which is  Valdimarsson, Barco, Konsa and Jebbison.

None of the 4m keepers are starters this season,  I've just opted for Valdimarsson as a low owned  

backup keeper to Flekken. I had Hall in a lot of  drafts and I'm very reluctantly letting him go,  

buying two 4.5m defenders that may or may  not be nailed could be asking for trouble,  

so it's Konsa who has good long term fixtures.  And Barco who has been immense in pre-season.  

Some Brighton fans feel it's his spot to lose  even once Estupinan is back. They're being  

heavily linked with Kadioglu who can play  left wing back, right wing back and a few  

other positions. So that could be an issue but  Brighton have looked weaker on their right side  

so that could be where he starts off. It's those  GW4 and GW5 fixtures for Brighton that I want a  

slice of if he keeps playing til then. He's  even been taking some corners in pre-season.

Now you might have spotted I've actually  got 0.5m in the bank with this team. If  

you can see somewhere to spend it let me  know. I'm only seeing marginal gains like  

a 5m keeper over Henderson, or maybe  Hall over Barco. I did look at that  

but I'd only play Hall in GW1 in honesty  so is it worth 0.5m to use him one week?

I've never been opposed to taking 0.5m into GW1,  it keeps you flexible with transfers and price  

rises. Leaves the door open for a Porro  to Gabriel, Saliba or Gvardiol type move.

Not long now, thanks for watching. Link to install  my completely free app in the description and  

comments. Focal tattoo at 200,000 subscribers,  let's do it. See you soon for the next one.