Last updated on August 29th, 2024
Written by FPervaL
When the official FPL announced rule changes for the new season, the ability to accumulate up to five free transfers instead of the previous limit of two was highlighted by many FPL managers as potentially having the biggest influence on strategies. While this rule change may still prove to be a valuable tool later in the season, the unexpected starting XI changes and transfers of some relatively highly owned players have made it difficult for many managers to save their free transfers. As a result, most managers needed to use their transfers by Game week 3, rather than rolling them over for later in the season.
1. Preseasons can be misleading
Especially those after major international tournaments.
If you have only one of Nkunku, Quansah, and Barco, you can consider yourself lucky. Based on the preseason games, they all seemed like a great option:
- 6.5 Chelsea midfielder, great opening fixtures, full preseason; result: 2 points from 2 games and price likely to drop to 6.3 by the deadline.
- Cheapest way into Liverpool’s defense, highest minutes of all Liverpool defenders in the preseason; result: 1 point from 2 games and price already dropped to 4.3
- 4.0 Brighton defender and on corners? Yes, please! Starting eleven in the last friendly game against Villareal, benched in GW1, loaned out by GW2 – true FPL disaster. (and by the way, corner takers are overhyped IMO. Since 2010 only 3% of the corners taken in Europe’s top 5 leagues have resulted in a goal, and for a goal scored with the next touch, right after the cross, the number is between 1% and 2%. Stat is from the book How to Watch Football by The Athletic Tifo, something to think about)
2. Play it safe
at the beginning of the season. This is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be enough time to catch up, risk, and implement a different strategy later in the season. In the opening few game weeks rank is almost irrelevant but it’s never nice to be ranked 6 million or already significantly behind your mini-league rivals, which is something that most likely happened to those who went without Salah or Haaland, or even both in the first two games.
3. Morgan Rogers is the best budget midfielder in the game
Although points in the first two games don’t back this thesis.
In the matches against West Ham and particularly Arsenal (Watkins missing a sitter which should have been Rogers assist) he was unlucky not to record at least one attacking return, but with easier fixtures coming, goals, assists, and FPL points are imminent for this 5.0 Villa midfielder.
Premier Fantasy Tools, FPL Fixture Difficulty: Aston Villa Offense
4. Conclusion
It’s easy to say don’t panic and stick to the plan, but this game is also about reacting to changes in PL teams. At this stage of the season, prices are extremely volatile, and unless you want to lose 0.2 in value on players like Nkunku and Quansah, you have to react and make early transfers, something I usually avoid. With this season’s pricing of premium options, team value could be more important than ever. An early wildcard is also an option if you’re dissatisfied with your team and can’t fix it with transfers alone. As I mentioned earlier, the ability to accumulate five free transfers could tempt many into an early wildcard. Now, with the transfer window closing and knowing the key (or in FPL terms nailed) players, it’s easier to build a solid foundation for upcoming fixtures and an efficient transfer plan.
