FPL Gameweek 7 Review

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 7 isn’t actually finished but we are bringing you our review ahead of the final game (Luton v.s. Burnley) and we will cover that in our midweek preview.

Gameweek 7 of FPL showed me something. The spread of ownership is so broad that even when you own the gameweek’s top scorer and 80% of managers don’t, you can still get a red arrow…

This FPL gameweek 7 also underlined something else: xG isn’t great at telling you what will happen when you only look at 90 minutes:

Right, lets get into it!

 

Spurs 2-1 Liverpool

xG: 2.23-1.31

We had to start here didn’t we…

It was a crazy game. We aren’t going to get into the ins and outs but, as always, will focus on fantasy relevant news. Besides, if you want to see a real example of corruption, look no further:

Mo Salah finally had a game where he didn’t return  thanks to some dreadful officiating, particularly from VAR. Luis Diaz also missed out because he put the goal away from Salah’s “offside” assist. So, basically Mo has returned every week.

When they went down to ten men after Curtis Jones got sent off, Gakpo scored an excellent goal. The Darwin v.s. Gakpo debate will continue but I still don’t think you can trust either to play every week.

Jota got sent off too for two yellow cards which means he will miss the next game but be back after that. That means Diaz is probably nailed for the next game. That’s a tasty one week punt if need it!

 

Maddison wasn’t really very close to a return. He had a couple of shots from outside the box but we know these are low xG opportunities. Instead, he played as a playmaker and was more looking to assist the assister.

That’s exactly what happened when Richarlison assisted Son for the first goal. Rich was out on the wing making runs in behind and putting them in the box for Son.

I’m a little nervous that Maddison has the potential to go missing in games like this. We have seen it with KDB in the past. I guess the thing that makes it less worrying is that Maddo only costs 7.7 and KDB is normally at least 9.5.

As for Rich and Son, I think we could see Rich continue to play in this role and Son stay in the middle. Rich looked really dangerous in this wide role and this is what he used to play for Everton and Watford so it’s not super unusual. If he’s available on the waivers in your draft league, I would probably pick him up for next week’s Luton game.

Porro and Udogie didn’t return but continue to look like great attacking wing-backs. Particularly Porro who appears to have nailed down that starting spot over Royale.

 

Wolves 2-1 Man City

xG: 0.47-0.87

You can already see from the xG that this game didn’t go the right way.

Neto’s return was somewhat lucky after it took a big deflection. But, the run he made was incredible. He has quietly been plugging away for this lacklustre Wolves attack. With everyone on wildcard and looking to bring Salah in, at only 5.6 Neto could be a good enabler. He’s currently 12th for expected goal involvement among midfielders. Hwang scored but I can’t see him as an FPL asset at the moment.

Alvarez continued to do what he does. Yet another return. The set pieces just add to how good he is and he put the free-kick away really well. Foden had one cleared off the line by Dawson so he was a little unlucky.

Haaland was very quiet. It’s not very likely that everyone else will be able to keep him as quiet as Dawson did. And, I really don’t care how bad his fixtures get, he has proven to us that he can score any day and against anyone.

City once again showed how its not worth investing in their defence. Caught on the transition several times and Kovacic is certainly not as good as Rodri. It’s probably not a surprise that City have lost both games where Rodri was missing.

 

Aston Villa 6-1 Brigthon

xG: 1.58-1.71

Another xG beater.

And, another week, another bad defensive performance from Brighton. Of course, Villa are good, but they aren’t this good!

Watkins absolutely dominated the game. He was a bit fortunate to get the hat trick but he had been unfortunate in previous weeks. So, if you held him since the start of the season like me, then you’re about even. Of course, he got himself ANOTHER fantasy assist (it’s not a real assist).

Diaby was also excellent. Unfortunately, he went off with a little injury so watch out for this before you bring him in. Cash also had a solid game, took another shot and returned with an assist.

Estupinian was very unlucky to score an own goal and he did have a good shot on target in the first half. I don’t mind if you want to hold him because of his attacking output. But with Liverpool and City coming up, you are probably benching him for the next two weeks so selling him is also fine.

Fati opened his account in a momentary lapse of Villa’s defence. He’s one to watch with a good fixture run or in Draft if he can nail down a spot.

I kind of forgot that Mitoma was on the pitch watching this game which is a pretty bad sign. On the other hand, at 5-1 down De Zerbi didn’t decide to take him off despite midweek football coming up. So, hopefully he is incredibly fit. Regardless, I do think that we are seeing the consequences of them playing so many games without necessarily having the fitness, squad depth or experience.

 

Everton 1-2 Luton

xG: 2.90-0.89

Fuck me I hate Jordan Pickford. How can they not keep a clean sheet. Against the worst team in the league as well!?

I don’t understand why Beto was benched after he was so great last week. Regardless, DCL put one away. With a little doubt over who starts up top week in and week out I don’t think you can play either with confidence. Of course, you wouldn’t because Everton suck but if you’re desperate for a striker in Draft I could see why you would have them.

If you did the brave thing and brought in Morris for the double then take a bow. He’s easily the best pick of the 5.5 forwards. If not for a couple of inches he would have had another one. But, I still think you can do better by spending more or getting Archer. Great pick for draft though.

 

Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace

xG: 1.30-0.90

We have been talking up Palace’s defence all year and its nice to see us be right again. Of course, we didn’t know Andersen could strike the ball like that. That’s his second goal of the season. It doesn’t seem likely he keep scoring but he still remains a great buy. Same with Guehi and Mitchell.

As with Mitoma earlier, I kind of forgot Rashford was playing. He was pretty absent all game. Fernades is clearly the one to go for if you want United. But, they also suck. So, why would you?

I liked watching Hojlund playing again. He was really good at bringing others into the game again and even offered some attacking threat himself. I just don’t think you can go there until they get better.

 

Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal

xG: 0.65-3.43

An incredibly frustrating watch if you owned Saka. He put one away early on and then gave up both penalties to Odegaard and Havertz, respectively. Nketiah got the “assist” for the first one and Odegaard got the second. Odegaard actually deserved an assist for the White goal with a lovely set piece delivery.

Worth noting that Jesus played out wide with Nketiah through the middle again thanks to Martinelli and Trossard still being injured.

Bournemouth looked woeful. Solanke remains the only real option here and even then he’s just a draft pick.

 

Newcastle 2-0 Burnley

xG: 3.19-0.65

Botman and Wilson didn’t make the squad and the former could be a long-term injury which makes Lascelles and interesting option at 3.9.

Almiron’s goal was outrageous. The shot was ludicrous. Trippier’s assist was a tackle… Having said that, he probably could have had an actual assist later. He has the most key passes of any defender in the league this year and I am desparateluy scrambling to get him in.

Isak slotted a penalty away. That’s three in three for him.

 

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Brentford

xG: 0.47-1.70

Forest were easily the better team in the first half and that might have continued had Niakhite not got sent off in the 56th minute. As it was, Brentford took charge in the second half. To be fair, they looked better even before the red but it gave them added impetus. Brentford actually scored off the free-kick after Niakhite’s sending off – Norgaard putting away Jensen’s good delivery.

Regardless, Dominguez got on the end of a Taffolo cross to make it 1-1. Awoniyi was still the Forest main man and had one chalked off for offside fairly early in the first half.

Brentford had a couple of shouts for a penalty which didn’t go their way. Otherwise Mbeumo was fine. Not great but fine. The whole team runs through him so he does well when they do well generally. Unfortunately, they aren’t doing well these days. And that’s more worrying. I’d probably hold him if I had him, if only because there is nobody else I would rather have at that price point right now.

As for Wissa, I just do not understand what has happened. He keeps completely missing the ball and/or goal. He missed a tap-in again in this game. He is far more problematic.

 

West Ham 2-0 Sheffield United

xG: 2.14-1.07

McBurnie returned from suspension for Sheffield united which made a bit of a difference for them. He could have had a goal. But West Ham are just better than them.

Bowen was brilliant. Everything ran through him. He could have had a goal and an assist before his 24th minute opener. That was his fifth league goal this season. He’s a great asset.

Somehow, Ward-Prowse got himself a bonus point despite not returning. He might actually be a good pick. I think Diaby, Mbeumo, Mitoma and Eze are all better but if you are interested he isn’t half bad. He is currently 11th for expected goal involvement amongst midfielders if you need proof.

 

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea

xG: 1.08-1.73

Chelsea finally delivered on some of their attacking promise. I’m not saying it’s because Jackson wasn’t playing but it certainly helped. Broja is much stronger and better at holding up the ball and bringing others into play. Of course, neither are an option unless one of them becomes nailed, but Broja would be a real cheat code at only £4.9mn. He did go off after 70 mins but perhaps it was just a fitness thing.

Fulham’s defence was pretty poor and they made it easy for Chelsea. Still, Palmer looked bloody brilliant. All over the pitch and connecting passes, even if he did make a few mistakes. I wish I could say the same for the left winger but Mudryk still doesn’t look that impressive. It was a great finish and good run for his goal. But most of the time he is just running down the wing and losing the ball or playing a bad pass. Fingers crossed he improves with age. He went off at half time with an injury.

Sterling was ill, hence Palmer starting.

We aren’t really looking at any Fulham assets but I had been led to believe that their defence was good. It didn’t look anything like that in this game.

 

That’s it.

Don’t forget to check back on Wednesday for our FPL gameweek 8 preview!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *