By Jack Woodfield.
We're a quarter of the way through the FPL season, and the devil in me - that same shoulder-perched lunatic who convinced me to get a mortgage aged 27, and captain Roberto Firmino against Man City in GW4 - is controlling the shots this week. Rather than the customary 'Essentials collection' ('Wait, what's the Essentials Collection' I hear you groan), the Gameweek 10 preview will entail a quarter-term review of the 20 Premier League teams so far in their efforts to appease us FPL managers which, unfortunately, remains secondary to winning games.
Fear not, there'll be no arbitrary grading. What there will be is compelling content (possibly), fascinating short-term predictions (maybe) and thought-provoking analysis (definitely not).
Arsenal
Top point scorers: Monreal (49), Lacazette (40), Ramsey (39) Fixtures: Swansea (H), Man City (A), Spurs (H), Burnley (A), Huddersfield (H) Goal machine Monreal's quest for the Golden Boot aside, Arsenal have been peculiar FPL commodities so far. An atrocious defensive start was rectified with 4 clean sheets in a row, but their troubling fixtures will render clean sheets harder to come by. Attacking threats Lacazette and Ramsey have been inconsistent, but Sanchez's 12-point haul against Everton suggests the Chilean could be hitting peak form once again. Xhaka, meanwhile, is a discount option who despite having no nous for being a defensive midfielder, often plays as one, yet has decent set piece delivery and continues to crop up in attacking positions. Top prospects: Sanchez, XhakaBournemouth
Top point scorers: Surman (32), Daniels (29), Begovic (24) Fixtures: Chelsea (H), Newcastle (A), Huddersfield (H), Swansea (A), Burnley (H) No disrespect to Andrew Surman, but who the chuff would have thought Andrew Surman would be the Cherries' top point scorer by GW9? That's the position we all find ourselves in, and it's unsettling. Deeply unsettling. Suffice to say Bournemouth have offered pittance to FPL managers so far, with just one clean sheet and one goal each for King and Defoe. However, Stanislas' penalty returns against Stoke could mark the turnaround. Bournemouth have great fixtures approaching too, which makes Daniels another alluring option, and the return of Stanislas and Wilson could be pivotal to the Cherries endearing themselves as FPL differentials once again. Top prospects: Stanislas, Daniels, WilsonBrighton
Top point scorers: Gross (40), Ryan (33), Duffy (32) Fixtures: Southampton (H), Swansea (A), Stoke (H), Man Utd (A), Crystal Palace (H) While far from a one-man team, Gross is clearly Brighton's player, as evidenced by his involvement in all but two of the Seagulls' nine goals so far. The German is central to Brighton extending their Premier League stay for a second season, and their fixtures are enticing. There's also clean sheet potential in upcoming weeks, with Ryan and Duffy capable of adding to their superb hauls. Top prospects: Gross, Ryan, DuffyBurnley
Top point scorers: Ward (44), Lowton (31), Brady (29) Fixtures: Newcastle (H), Southampton (A), Swansea (H), Arsenal (H), Bournemouth (A) https://twitter.com/OfficialFPL/status/919979044791341056 We've likely all growled with despair upon a Burnley playing missing out on a clean sheet or attacking returns this season, but then we must ask ourselves 'Why do we have Burnley players in our team at all, and why are we now shouting at the dog?". Ward and Wood (boy band name, anyone?) have done their bit, but Robbie Brady's early hype has fizzled out. Enter Nick Pope. Burnley's no.2 goalkeeper has notched bonus points in 3 of his last 5 games, and even when Burnley concede, Pope is scoring. The Clarets' upcoming fixtures are winnable; Pope's the only one I'd rely on for regular returns. Top prospects: Pope, Ward, WoodChelsea
Top point scorers: Morata (50), Azpilicueta (47), Courtois (34) Fixtures: Bournemouth (A), Man Utd (H), West Brom (A), Liverpool (A), Swansea (H) Sitting 9 points off Man City already, Chelsea's spluttering start has been infuriating. Morata hitting the proverbial ground running was joyful, and the Spaniard will no doubt resume his goalscoring ways having fully shaken off his hamstring injury, but owners of Marcos Alonso, the game's most expensive defender, have been short-changed. Meanwhile, only Azpilicueta with four assists and a goal have compensated for the Blues' woeful three clean sheets thus far. Hazard's back, though, collecting his first assist in GW9, and his partnership with Morata could yet be spectacular. Just don't rely on the Blues to win to nil. Top prospects: Morata, Hazard, AzpilicuetaCrystal Palace
Top point scorers: Hennessey (19), Townsend (17), Cabaye (15) Fixtures: West Ham (H), Spurs (A), Everton (H), Stoke (H), Brighton (A) It would be almost cruel to grasp at positives for Palace, but I love a challenge. So that 2-1 win against Chelsea was neat. The Roy Hodgson gifs are settling down too. Zaha has looked alright since returning from injury. And I'm out. If you've trusted any Palace players so far, you have my utmost pity, unwanted I'm sure. As an owner of Loftus-Cheek, I too have waited and waited for that faith to be rewarded. All for nothing. There's better options than Zaha, but he seems the only Palace player worth gambling on, if you really have to. Top prospects: ZahaEverton
Top point scorers: Rooney (38), Pickford (25), Calvert-Lewin (23) Fixtures: Leicester (A), Watford (H), Crystal Palace (A), Southampton (A), West Ham (H)Ronald Koeman's sacking on Monday could yet usher a return to success for Everton, but it's been dire so far. Cult FPL hero Sigurdsson hasn't yet registered attacking returns, while fellow big-money signing Klaasen barely gets a game. The Toffees' one clean sheet has nullified their defenders as useful options, although Pickford's 32 saves will have rewarded some. Rooney - scorer of 4 of Everton's 5 goals - is the only one carrying any form into an attractive run of games. Top prospects: Rooney, PickfordLive scenes in Everton's boardroom pic.twitter.com/7HuB73rxkF
— Joe Gilmore (@Gilology) October 23, 2017
Huddersfield
Top point scorers: Lössl (40), Mooy (36), Löwe Fixtures: Liverpool (A), West Brom (H), Bournemouth (A), Man City (H), Arsenal (A) FPL bosses pounced in droves for Huddersfield defenders after beginning with three consecutive clean sheets, but the Terriers were chasing their tails until Saturday's upset win over Man Utd. Points came at a premium after GW3, and only Mooy - with 2 goals and 1 assist - has provided a sustained attacking threat. Their fixtures are grim, though, with Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal in their next five. Lössl will be a busy man which could boost his save count, sure, but do you want to be relying on that? It may be best revisiting Huddersfield options once their tough run subsides. Top prospects: Lössl, MooyLeicester
Top point scorers: Mahrez (43), Vardy (42), Schmeichel (38) Fixtures: Everton (H), Stoke (A), Man City (H), West Ham (A), Spurs (H) Similarly to Burnley, Leicester's FPL assets have returned staggered rewards so far. Vardy and Maguire are their two most selected players, but Vardy has blanked in 3 straight games and Maguire has kept 2 clean sheets in 7. However, in Mahrez the Foxes have a player capable of deciding games, should he have the onus to on a given day. One goal and two assists from his last two is promising, and could yet be the 'shot' in the arm for the Vardy party to start up again. The Foxes' fixtures aren't appealing, though, and their disparate form should be considered when transferring in/keeping either of the duo. Top prospects: Mahrez, VardyLiverpool
Top point scorers: Salah (51), Firmino (37), Coutinho (30) Fixtures: Huddersfield (H), West Ham (A), Southampton (H), Chelsea (H), Stoke (A) It all began so well for Liverpool. Mane, Firmino and Salah sprang out the traps, but Mane's red card against Man City was the catalyst for things crumbling. Firmino's form disintegrated; Mane then returned from suspension to get injured and the Reds' shambolic defence has ruled out their backline as worthwhile assets. Despite the turmoil surrounding him, Salah has impressively kept going and can seemingly be relied upon for goals, while Coutinho has returned with the shop-window drive he'll need to ostensibly keep Barcelona interested. The latter two are strong options and Liverpool's fixtures are pleasing, on paper at least. Top prospects: Salah, CoutinhoMan City
Top point scorers: Sane (59), Aguero (59), Otamendi (55) Fixtures: West Brom (A), Arsenal (H), Leicester (A), Huddersfield (A), Southampton (H)The champions-elect look unstoppable, and there's points to be had in all areas of City's team. But then there's the Pep caveat. Sterling and Jesus were two of the three most transferred in players for GW9, neither of whom started against Burnley. Of course, given their staggering 32 league goals, one week's rotation often corrects itself with all of City's attack-minded regulars scoring upwards of 45 points already. Fit as many in as you can. Top prospects: All of them, fill your boots8 of the top 30 players in the #FPL after #GW9 play for Man City.
5 of those (Sane, Aguero, D Silva, Otamendi, KDB) are in the top 10. — FPL Statistics (@HypeTrainStats) October 23, 2017
Man Utd
Top point scorers: Lukaku (57), Valencia (54), De Gea (53) Fixtures: Spurs (H), Chelsea (A), Newcastle (H), Brighton (H), Watford (A) I find it hard to comprehend over 131,000 managers ousted Lukaku during GWs 7-9. Not only is he assured to start each week (until Ibra comes back), but he's failed to return attacking points just twice. He is United's bright spark, supplemented superbly initially by the likes of Pogba, Mkhitaryan and Rashford, but those options for various reasons are now less attractive. United's fixtures aren't great, but their defence is superb (when not Lindelof'd), and Lukaku is a regular threat. Top prospects: LukakuNewcastle
Top point scorers: Lascelles (41), Ritchie (36), Elliot (34) Fixtures: Burnley (A), Bournemouth (H), Man Utd (A), Watford (H), West Brom (A) Arguably the best budget FPL team, Newcastle's top three scorers cost a combined £14.9m. Meagre, right? Well, in a vacuum, yes, but the Magpies' lack of goals - they're the second-lowest scorers in the top half - is a bit of an issue. They've scored more than once just three times so far, and Ritchie's assists could be so much more if his team-mates were a bit more ruthless. I'm nitpicking, though. Ritchie is tremendous value, and Newcastle have some solid opportunities for clean sheets approaching, which could benefit Lascelles and Elliot even more. Top prospects: Ritchie, Lascelles, ElliotSouthampton
Top point scorers: Forster (47), Yoshida (44), Bertrand (32) Fixtures: Brighton (A), Burnley (H), Liverpool (A), Everton (H), Man City (A) That Southampton's highest three scoring players are their goalkeeper and defenders tells the whole story. Southampton are wholly unreliable going forward. And you couldn't even call them profligate, they just don't create many chances. They are, however, a secure defensive unit, and Yoshida's heroics have kept summer signing Hoedt out in recent weeks. Van Dijk is back too, and could be a tasty short-term differential before their fixtures turn grisly. Top prospects: Van Dijk, YoshidaStoke
Top point scorers: Diouf (38), Choupo-Moting (37), Shaqiri (27) Fixtures: Watford (A), Leicester (H), Brighton (A), Crystal Palace (A), Liverpool (H)Oh how three weeks can change everything. Prior to GW6 Stoke weren't much in the way of FPL commodities. Now, Diouf is the form budget wing-back-striker hybrid and Choupo-Moting has two assists in three. It's still hard to gauge Stoke's long-term value, but their 11.7 shots per game is encouraging and they've sturdy value options going forward with nice fixtures looming. Top prospects: Diouf, Choupo-MotingOnly Richarlison (32) & Mohamed Salah (31) have had more goal attempts than Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (27) this season.#FPL midfielders. pic.twitter.com/EPkLI3OJpx
— Sportito (@SportitoDFS) October 25, 2017
Swansea
Top point scorers: Fabianksi (41), Abraham (41), Mawson (37) Fixtures: Arsenal (A), Brighton (H), Burnley (A), Bournemouth (H), Chelsea (A) Swansea, or 'the Tammy Abraham team' as Pep Guardiola might call them, are pretty reliant on their main man. By far and away the best budget striker gem, Abraham has scored 4 of the Swans' 6 goals. He's pivotal to everything good Swansea do, and with two tempting home fixtures coming up, may even warrant a cheeky captaincy pick. Otherwise, the perpetually busy Fabianksi is a reasonable goalkeeper placeholder who'll surely be busy in Swansea's next three away games. Top prospects: Abraham, FabianskiTottenham
Top point scorers: Kane (63), Eriksen (58), Davies (49) Fixtures: Man Utd (A), Crystal Palace (H), Arsenal (A), West Brom (H), Leicester (A) The natural order of things resumed as Kane sat atop the point scoring charts after GW9, but despite Spurs’ generally excellent start, they’ve been mighty frustrating at times. Kane’s Wembley blanks drew thousands to shelve the striker; Alli’s form has been erratic; Davies hits double figures then gets benched. But Eriksen and Kane really are too valuable to not persevere with, despite a troubling run of fixtures ahead. Top prospects: Kane, EriksenWatford
Top point scorers: Richarlison (50), Doucoure (48), Femenia (32) Fixtures: Stoke (H), Everton (A), West Ham (H), Newcastle (A), Man Utd (H) That 6-0 drubbing to Man City aside, Watford’s start has been glorious, and there’s no reason to suggest it can’t continue. Marco Silva supposedly coaxed Richarlison out of Man Utd and Chelsea’s clutches in the summer, and the Brazilian’s bandwagon is cruising majestically as Watford lacerate the coattails of the top four. The only downside is that other than Doucouré there aren’t many reliable point scorers in the team. Top prospects: RicharlisonRicharlison stats compared to other < £7mil att midfielder. 🔝🔝🔝 pic.twitter.com/zO5yKWXKFj
— FPL Philosopey (@Philosopey) October 24, 2017
