We're teaming up with knowledgeable fans ahead of the 2015/2016 Fantasy Premier League season to get some tips on their players potential, starting lineups, transfers and much more. This article will focus on Everton, who last season finished in a disappointing 11th position and will be hoping to improve upon that and be back fighting for a top 6 finish.
Toffee's fan on Reddit;
jmull8032 has provided us with his expert insight in to the club and hopefully his predictions and player analysis will help you choose which Everton players should make your FPL teams.
jmull8032 will also be at hand to answer any of your Everton related questions in the comments section. Without further ado, here's our Everton team guide and player tips for the 2015/16 season.
OPENING FIXTURES
Watford (H)
Southampton (A)
Manchester City (A)
Tottenham (A)
Chelsea (H)
SET PIECE TAKERS
Penalties: Leighton Baines, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas
Freekicks: Kevin Mirallas, Leighton Baines
Corners: Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas
TRANSFER TARGETS
Midfielder - Dennis Praet (Transfer rumour)
Striker - Charlie Austin (Transfer rumour)
Winger - Victor Moses (Loan rumour)
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Howard
Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines
Barry, McCarthy
Mirallas, Barkley, Deulofeu
Lukaku
EVERTON'S DEFENSIVE RECORD
Everton are usually solid defensively however something changed last year. It could have been down to their run in the Europa League that caused the players to become fatigued. Sylvain Distin suffered a massive drop in form and has now left the club and should be replaced by the promising John Stones who offers a lot more stability. Tim Howard between the sticks is always reliable and he's shown his brilliance year after year. They conceded 50 goals last season, 21 of which came at Goodison Park, but with no European distractions this campaign expect this figure to be lower. Everton's opening fixtures however do look brutal.
GOALKEEPER ANALYSIS
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Tim Howard (5.0m) - Started off last season poorly but regained form towards the latter end of the season. He's the first choice for Martinez but his price looks too expensive.
VERDICT: For his price, Howard looks like one of the worst value goalkeepers to start the season. As we mentioned his opening schedule is extremely unattractive.[/mks_one_half]
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Joel Robles (4.5) - When Tim Howard was out injured last season he stepped in and done an adequate job but it's going to take another injury or a serious drop in form from Howard for Robles to become the number 1.
VERDICT: Avoid, will be second choice.
WHICH EVERTON DEFENDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?
Baines is the defender with the most assists and the forth most goals in Premier League history. He's deadly from both free kicks and penalties, thats if Mirallas doesn't take it off him. There are some doubts over his fitness to start the season and to be honest Everton have an awful opening fixture list, but if you insist on having an Everton defender Baines is the one for you.
DEFENDER ANALYSIS
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Leighton Baines (6.5m) - He's one if the best attacking defenders in the Premier League and also has plenty of ability defensively. He's always going to be collecting points either for scoring or assisting and has a habit of scoring from set pieces. That said you could probably find better value defenders considering his opening fixtures.
VERDICT: Wait till Everton's fixtures have calmed down.
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Seamus Coleman (6.0) - Improves with every season and has the potential to get even better this year. He likes to attack and in the past two Premier League seasons combined he's scored nine goals and contributed four assists.
VERDICT: Again he's not one to put in from Gameweek 1.
Phil Jagielka (5.5) - He's the captain of Everton and is a guaranteed starter. Last season he ended up as the joint 3rd highest scoring defender with 142 points. He's showed no signs of depleting and without European competition he'll be as fit as a fiddle week in week out.
VERDICT: As with Coleman and Baines - let his opening fixtures pass until you pick him.
John Stones (5.5) - Chelsea seem adamant to acquire the services of Stones and you can see why as he's one of the best young players in the Premier League. He's good with the ball at his feet and causes problems from set pieces. If he stays he'll start and form a good partnership with Jagielka, it's a matter of how much Chelsea want the youngster.
VERDICT: You know by now right? Them opening fixtures look nasty.
Brendan Galloway/Tyias Browning/Tony Hibbert (4.0m - 4.5m) - Galloway broke into the Everton team towards the end of the season and could start at left back if Baines isn't fit otherwise he'll be making cameo appearances. Browning doesn't have a massive chance of playing unless once again injuries hit Everton. Hibbert will unlikely get any minutes so has no value in FPL.
VERDICT: Move on.
WHICH EVERTON MIDFIELDER SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?
There are so many options you could pick in the midfield. Firstly Kevin Mirallas, he has the ability to be very influential but doesn't turn up consistently enough. Then the returning Gerard Deulofeu who is a fan favourite at Everton and impressed during his loan spell two years ago. Then Ross Barkley who can be a game changer for Everton but injuries have halted his development. We are going with the Spaniard Deulofeu; he should be a starter on the wing for Everton and will provide Lukaku with a number of chances.
MIDFIELDER ANALYSIS
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Gerard Deulofeu (6.5) - The Goodison Park faithful love Deulofeu, he impressed fans and pundits during his loan spell from Barcelona in the 2013-2014 season and after a disappointing season at Sevilla will be hoping to recapture that form.
VERDICT: Expected to start on the wing for Everton and will be dangerous down the flanks for them.[/mks_one_half]
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Kevin Mirallas (7.0) - His future is yet to be decided with West Ham being one of the clubs looking to acquire his services. He was the highest scoring Everton midfielder with 81 points from only 18 starts. Injuries put his season on hold but now he's fit and ready to go.
VERDICT: He's too expensive for us.
Ross Barkley (6.5) - The golden boy on campus at Everton who can create something out of nothing - he just needs to find the consistency to do that on a regular basis. If he can avoid injuries he could easily recapture his form of two seasons ago.
VERDICT: One to watch, his season could go one of two ways.
Tom Cleverley (5.5) - Impressed on his loan spell at Aston Villa and was signed on a free from Manchester United. He will be fighting for game time but even when he does he wont be scoring many points.
VERDICT: We'd look elsewhere.
James McCarthy (5.0) - A consistent performer for Everton but his performances often get overlooked. In FPL terms he's not worth it as the scoring system doesn't compliment defensive midfielders.
VERDICT: FPL doesn't suit defensive midfielders.
Gareth Barry (4.5) - He's a magnet to cards and rarely gets over the halfway line.
VERDICT: Forget about it.
Leon Osman/Muhamed Besic/Darron Gibson/Steven Pienaar/Bryan Ovideo (4.5m-5.0m) - They will all be fighting for game time and won't be scoring points regularly enough to make an impact to your team.
VERDICT: Look elsewhere.
WHICH EVERTON FORWARD SHOULD I PICK FOR MY FPL TEAM?
There is only really one striker for Everton and that's Romelu Lukaku. At the tender age of just 22, there's no doubt he still has a lot to offer at Everton. He's quick, powerful and a threat in the air. He's the spearhead of Everton's attacks and if someone is going to score it's more than likely going to be the big Belgian. With the other striking options being Steven Naismith and Arouna Kone it's an easy choice.
FORWARD ANALYSIS
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Romelu Lukaku (8.0) - Lukaku scored 10 goals and assisted five last season but it's clear that's a long way from his potential. He still managed to scored more goals than the likes of Rooney and Benteke despite being part of Everton's European campaign, that would have likely hindered his fitness in the league.
VERDICT: Everton's most dangerous player, will score the majority of their goals.[/mks_one_half]
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Steven Naismith (5.5) - Naismith started last season incredibly well and was a gem to have on FPL, but his form soon dropped off and never returned before he eventually ended the season with six goals in 22 appearances.
VERDICT: He scores goals, but not on a regular enough basis. Move on.
Arouna Kone (5.0) - The forgotten man upfront for Everton, he'll be third choice behind Lukaku and Naismith. When he does play he doesn't really offer much.
VERDICT: Avoid for you own sake.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Tim Howard is going to be the starter for Everton but there is no guarantee he will be keeping clean sheets and his price-tag you could find a better goalkeeper. In defence we are leaning towards Baines but it's hard to decide on an Everton defender due to their opening schedule. In their opening 10 fixtures they face every team that finished in the top 8 last season. So if you're thinking about Baines at least hold off until after Gameweek 10. The midfield choice could go one of three ways between Barkley, Deulofeu and Mirallas. We feel that Deulofeu will have the most impact on the Everton side and at 6.5m could be a bargain. Finally upfront, it's hard to make a case for either Kone or Naismith so we're opting for Belgian powerhouse; Romelu Lukaku.
