There’s a lot of panic going on right now in the FPL community. Well, I’m right there with them.
If you’re a non-Haaland owner, this week went as badly as you would’ve expected. Around half a million owners also happened to Triple Captain him. Good for those guys! Bad for poor, non-Haaland-owning schmucks like me.
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Okay, enough moaning – let’s talk about some actual football.
I watched four games in full this weekend, so we’ll start with them:
- Palace vs West Ham
- Villa vs Arsenal
- Wolves vs Chelsea
- Liverpool vs Brentford
I also had Spurs vs Everton on during the Palace/West Ham game. The rest of the analysis is from highlights, articles, podcasts, and so on.
Right! Without further ado, here were the main FPL takeaways from Gameweek 2.
Crystal Palace 0 – 2 West Ham
This was a really fun game, as expected (16 goals in the previous four meetings between these sides).
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Palace looked fantastic in the first half. So quick and incisive going forward, with Wharton’s passing fantastic. Their closing down was great too. They threatened constantly… but their actual finishing was poor over and over again.
I’m not panicking whatsoever on Eze. He should’ve had a goal last week. This week he hit a beautiful shot from outside the area, which was inches from going in. And, he was generally brilliant, as usual.
Munoz was super-attacking once again. No returns yet, and his underlying stats are terrible. But I’m not panicking – if he keeps getting this far forward, the returns will come.
Guehi was fantastic at the back.
Overall, the attack looked fine. I’ve got no problem holding Mateta either, whose general play was better than last week.
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West Ham just look like a really solid team, front to back.
For all Palace’s pressure, they still kept a clean in a tricky fixture, so I’d definitely back the West Ham defence in easier games.
Kilman got an assist here, and is definitely on the watchlist at 4.5 (after the Man City game next week). Areola climbs my goalkeeper rankings too. We’re not interested in FPL, but for the record Wan-Bissaka looked good after coming on, his drive set up the second goal, and he’ll presumably start over Coufal now.
As a Bowen backer, I was very pleased with his goal. He struggled mightily in the first half, along with basically all West Ham attackers. He didn’t do that much in the second half, honestly… but he doesn’t need to. He’s a class finisher, and his goal was just the latest evidence. I’m definitely holding.
Kudus was his usual, exciting self.
Füllkrug came on for around half an hour, and looked okay, but sort-of messed up a chance late on. We’re not buying him yet, but he’s definitely an interesting prospect.
Aston Villa 0 – 2 Arsenal
This was really not a fun game. For 70 minutes Villa sat back and occasionally countered, Arsenal passed it slowly around and were completely ineffective going forward.
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Then Trossard came on and changed everything. He’ll surely start over Martinelli, who he outperformed last year, and who was rubbish again. At only 6.9, he’s a really intriguing prospect. He’s a brilliant finisher, and got 12 goals in only 1,600mins last season (a regular starter often gets around 3,000mins, for reference).
Saka is Saka. He just returns every week. He’s completely matchup-proof, and he’ll be in my team all season.
Havertz had a tough game against a good defence. I’d definitely hold for Brighton next week.
I don’t like Odegaard as an FPL pick, certainly not at 8.5. I’d much rather have Trossard at around 7.0 when the fixtures turn, for example. He’s still brilliant in real life, but is more of a pre-assist player right now, which doesn’t help us in FPL. He did have one great chance… and completely skied it.
The defence played okay, and technically got a clean…
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But that’s because Watkins basically missed one or two open goals, depending on how harsh you want to be. You can make excuses for both the first half miss and the second half header… but for supposedly one of the best forwards in the game, they’re both poor.
As an owner, I’m incredibly annoyed, but not massively concerned yet. That said, I definitely don’t like him going off for Duran after 60-ish minutes in both games.
Villa’s defence was fine. I’d definitely start them all, and Martinez, in the next few easy games.
Maatsen came on for Digne. He looked fast! But didn’t have time to do much. Watch this space.
Rogers was excellent. He drove with the ball right through Arsenal’s midfield several times. For all that, he didn’t really come close to returning.
He’s got tons of potential, is definitely nailed after this performance, and therefore remains great value at 5.0. But… it would be nice to see some actual FPL points soon!
Bailey struggled in a really tough matchup. Again, I wouldn’t panic yet. Arsenal are the best defence in the league, and easier games are ahead. He’s an easy hold.
Wolves 2 – 6 Chelsea
A ridiculous game. The first half was just bananas – non-stop, end-to-end action. Then Maresca got his team sorted at half-time, O’Neil didn’t, and Chelsea destroyed Wolves.
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The Chelsea defence were all over the place in the first half. They were good in the second, but I wouldn’t trust any of them or Sanchez right now.
Palmer was great. He was far more involved than last week, playing pretty central and with some licence to move around. I’d have absolutely no problem rushing out to get him after this, particularly with decent fixtures coming up.
Do not rush out to get Madueke. Fair play for the hat-trick, but also Wolves’ defending was just suicidal in the second half, especially on the left side. Let’s wait and see a bit, if the partnership with Palmer is legit or not.
Jackson had a decent all-round game. I still struggle to work out whether he’s actually a good player, but you can’t argue with his numbers in FPL.
Unless they go out and get Osimhen, we have to assume he’s the starting striker. And if Chelsea are going to play like they did today, and he’s got Palmer/Neto/Madueke flying around behind him, he really could be an excellent pick. Nice differential too, at only 3.5% ownership.
From an FPL perspective, the rest of the Chelsea attack is an unholy mess. Mudryk was rubbish as usual, Neto looked better but wasn’t great, Felix finished brilliantly but basically plays the same position as Nkunku… let’s just leave them all well alone.
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I wouldn’t go near any Wolves players right now. There, that was easy!
Liverpool 2 – 0 Brentford
Liverpool looked really good. Just a solid, controlled all-round performance.
The attack linked up particularly nicely. Mo/Jota/Diaz will surely be the starting combo indefinitely. Definitely bin Darwin or Gakpo, if you were holding out hope.
As for Jota vs Diaz… they’re both great options. Hold either of them, if you’ve got them. If you’re just getting one now, I’d still take Jota, as the actual centre-forward.
Trent is scaring me, as a non-owner. He might not have any returns yet, but it’s really just a matter of time. He’s dropping deep and spraying long passes, getting forward too, even his corners were excellent here. 100% hold him, if you’ve got him.
Robertson looked fine too. His positioning was also very attacking, and he had a decent shot at goal.
Salah is Salah.
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I’d read absolutely nothing into this for Brentford. Away at Anfield is a horrible matchup, and Liverpool’s defence played well.
Mbeumo looked pretty sharp, and you’re definitely holding him or Wissa for the Southampton game anyway.
Spurs 4 – 0 Everton
Unfortunately I’m not sure we can read anything into this game for Spurs. The attack looked fine… but against what? (More on that shortly). The defence technically kept a clean, although still managed to give up quite a few chances.
They got the job done. But this might also literally be the easiest current matchup.
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Everton… where shall I start?
They genuinely look like the worst defence in the league right now.
Pickford was awful, simply gifting the ball to Son for one goal. The back line is shocking. They’re just all over the place.
If you’re being kind, you’d say Brighton and Spurs are two of the best attacks in the league. Fine. But they’ve still been dreadful. I wouldn’t back them to keep any cleans right now. And here I am, stuck with a Pickford/Myko double!
We don’t care about any of their (so-called) attackers, obviously.
Man City 4 – 1 Ipswich
Haaland is Haaland, Kev is Kev.
I’m rowing back my excitement over Doku, however. He definitely looks good, but has played 90 and 70 mins so far, City have scored 6 goals, and he’s got 0 returns.
The City defence did what they kept doing last season – not keeping cleans! Over and over again last year, City would batter a team… but invariably concede one goal. The defence just doesn’t quite get the job done, compared to Arsenal, for example.
West Ham away isn’t an easy matchup either, with their attacking talent. So, I wouldn’t get any City defenders right now.
As for Foden, this is absolutely textbook Pep Roulette. He’s wasting loads of money for owners, doesn’t seem like he’s going to play… then as soon as you sell him, you can guarantee he’ll start and get three returns.
Personally, I’d just sell. You can drop straight down to Jota/Diaz and save a load of money. Or make it a double move and get up to Palmer/Saka/Son. Either way, 9.4 is too much to be spending on someone who might not even play.
Brighton 2 – 1 Man U
The Brighton attack looks excellent so far. They’ve got tons of movement, pace to burn, the team as a whole plays an attacking style. You’re not getting any of them before Arsenal away, but hold any assets you’ve got.
I also think the Brighton defence looks good enough to back them in the easier fixtures against Ipswich and Forest, after Arsenal.
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The Man U defence reverted to the bad old days. I’d be tempted to sell any of them, with Liverpool coming up in GW3. But hold if you can for Southampton after, and hope they get the job done, as against Fulham.
Despite the catastrophic defensive ending though, overall the performance was fine… but I wouldn’t actually want any of their attacking assets either. Even Bruno, for example, might be playing well, but it’s not actually translating to points!
Fulham 2 – 1 Leicester City
Well, looks like ESR owners are holding after all! He took his goal brilliantly, and has Ipswich now. Even after that, he might be worth holding for the price and potential.
Muniz still feels fine to keep too, with ESR, Iwobi, Andreas et al, all playing around him. Definitely hold him for Ipswich, and if he still hasn’t returned start taking a good, long look.
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Leicester seem… fine. They’re not terrible, not that good either. I’m still happy to target them for now, as one of the better matchups.
Bournemouth 1 – 1 Newcastle
We’re not interested in any Bournemouth players yet.
That said, it was interesting that Evanilson started and played 70mins immediately. He’s straight in as their starting striker, so definitely belongs on the ol’ watchlist at only 6.0.
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The Newcastle full-back situation is a real mess. Hall got benched but came on, Trippier didn’t start again but came on for Livramento.
The defence doesn’t fill you with confidence anyway. Regardless of the VAR controversy, they still gave up 2.23 xGC, and have Spurs next. In short, I wouldn’t buy any of them!
Shockingly, Gordon is not suddenly rubbish. Unless it’s for a genuine upgrade, like Palmer, hold him until further notice.
Bit of a slow start for Isak… but I’m not worrying about him yet either. Spurs’ defence looked shaky even against Everton, and we’ve seen many, many times that he’s an excellent striker.
Southampton 0 – 1 Notts Forest
To put it politely, this wasn’t a very FPL-relevant game.
That said, obviously hold and start Gibbs-White and Wood for the Wolves game. But don’t buy them, because Liverpool away is straight after.
Final Thoughts
Well, that’ll do it for this little FPL review. Hopefully it proved at least mildly useful.
To repeat something you already know, and which I’m also telling myself right now… it’s still incredibly early! Watkins and Isak will score goals! Trent will get assists!
However bleak it seems (I’m still talking to myself here, as well as you) – don’t panic yet!