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With the English Premier League set to kick off in just a matter of weeks, let’s consider ten questions to help prepare ourselves for an exciting FPL 2023-2023 season!
1. Which players will start for Chelsea, and how will they perform?
After a change in ownership and a historically poor 2022-23 campaign, the Blues are determined to redeem themselves and reclaim their spot among England’s elite football clubs. Under the guidance of new manager Mauricio Pochettino, and with a refreshed and youthful squad, Chelsea has hopes for a brighter future.
One of the most significant changes during the off-season has been the transformation of Chelsea’s squad. With a focus on youth, the club has recruited several talented prospects while also retaining key players. Exciting players like Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, and Noni Madueke have been signed to long-term contracts and are poised to be pillars of the team for years to come. Alongside experienced stars like Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling, the blend of youth and experience bodes well for the future.
New gaffer Pochettino, renowned for his tactical acumen and ability to develop young talent, is now tasked with revitalizing the Chelsea squad. Known for his high-intensity pressing and fluid attack, Pochettino’s philosophy aligns with the club’s historical emphasis on attractive football. The Argentine manager’s ability to get the best out of his players and create a cohesive unit will be crucial to Chelsea’s bid for redemption.
As it prepares for the new season the team faces the challenge of bouncing back and reclaiming its position among Europe’s elite, with the aim to finish in a UEFA Champions League qualification spot. Will their new manager and new players be able to make that a reality?
2. Can Newcastle continue its impressive performances?
After a remarkable 2022-23 campaign that saw Newcastle secure a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the club in the run-up to the new season. The success of the previous year has put the Magpies firmly on the radar of football fans and pundits, so expectations will be high for the upcoming campaign.
One of the key factors that contributed to Newcastle’s success in the previous campaign was an impressive defensive record. Conceding just 33 goals over the 38 matches, the Magpies boasted the fewest goals allowed in the league. This solid defensive foundation proved crucial in their journey to a top-four finish with many clean sheets secured along the way.
Fantasy managers also took notice of Newcastle’s defensive prowess and the impressive points returned by their defenders, making them highly sought-after picks for for many fantasy teams. Players such as Kieren Tripper, Sven Botman, and other defensive stalwarts provided consistent fantasy returns through clean sheets and even the occasional goal contribution.
As the Magpies enter the new season, they will face the challenge of sustaining their success and living up to heightened expectations. Other teams will be studying ways to counter their tactics and strategies, so the Magpies will need to be flexible and innovative if they are to maintain their winning ways.
Nevertheless, Newcastle’s prospects for the new season are filled with promise and optimism. With solid defensive foundations and the potential for strong fantasy returns from their defenders, Newcastle promises to be an exciting team to follow in the upcoming season. Can the Magpies replicate or even improve upon their success in the previous campaign?
3. Which clubs will qualify for Europe?
The 2023-24 season promises to be an exciting one for teams eyeing qualification for European tournaments. Clubs like Newcastle, Brighton, and Villa qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League respectively, indicates the recent growth and ambition of these clubs to compete at a higher level.
As discussed above, Newcastle’s recent success story will fuel a desire to again challenge the traditional Big-6 for a top-four league finish and the automatic qualification for the Champions League that comes along with it. Similarly, teams like Brighton, Brentford and Aston Villa will also look to build upon their impressive performances to compete for entry into European competitions.
Even Burnley, who had an impressive run in the Championship under the management of Vincent Kompany, will also be eager to carry their momentum into the Premier League and could fancy their chances for a European qualification spot among the top seven.
The competitiveness in the Premier League has increased over the years, and we can expect intense battles between the established top clubs and the emerging contenders, with teams looking to make their mark (as well as some money) on the European stage. It will undoubtedly be an exciting season, and as it always does, the fight for European qualification will add an extra layer of drama to the league. Which clubs will prevail?
4. Who will be your fantasy goalkeeper?
Although much more mundane than assets such as Kane, Salah, and Haaland, goalkeepers are a required component of every fantasy football team. With fantasy ceilings that rarely exceed points for clean sheets, your goalkeepers probably get more attention for making gaffes than they do for making stellar plays. Regardless, the position is still a crucial part of your fantasy team.
With the departure of net minders such as Edouard Mendy and David De Gea, the potential exits of David Raya and Hugo Lloris, and the arrival of exciting new goalies at several Premier League clubs, the candidates for your 2023-24 watchlist are myriad.
- Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
- Bernd Leno (Fulham)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Lukasz Fabianski (West Ham)
- Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
- Andre Onana (Man United)
- Mark Flekken (Brentford)
- Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)
- Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)
Which of these deserves a spot in your fantasy roster?
5. Will Everton spend another season fighting for Premier League survival?
Over the past two seasons, Everton has found itself mired in relegation battles, narrowly surviving with 16th and 17th place finishes. Under Sean Dyche, who took charge in January 2023, the team showed only marginal improvement, with five wins, six draws and seven losses in the latter half of the season after three wins, six draws, and nine losses in the first half.
The team will face extreme pressure to demonstrate improvement in the new season. Yet Everton’s activity in the summer window has been minimal, with the signing of 38 year-old Ashley Young on a free transfer from Aston Villa its only permanent acquisition so far. Can Sean Dyche rally his dressing room and inspire his players to perform to expectations?
6. Will Kompany’s Burnley emulate his former manager’s style?
Under Vincent Kompany’s leadership, Burnley has adopted a vibrant and attacking play style, characterized by an emphasis on positive football and creative flair. Kompany’s experience playing under Pep Guardiola at Man City, known for its expansive attacking football, suggests that the Belgian will continue with that theme in the Prem this season.
The team will prioritize building from the back, with the defense playing a proactive role in launching attacking moves. Fantasy managers should take note of Conor Roberts, an experienced goal-scoring defender. He will add a unique dimension to Burnley’s attack, becoming a potent threat during set-pieces and offensive transitions. In fantasy leagues, having a player like Roberts in the squad could prove advantageous as he is likely to be involved in both defensive contributions and attacking endeavors, translating into extra potential for points.
In the midfield, the talented Manuel Benson will bring his flair for the spectacular, contributing to moments of brilliance in the final third. This style of play is expected to result in goals and attacking involvements from the players around him too, creating ample opportunities for goal contributions across the attack.
Due to Burnley’s attacking approach we can expect the team’s matches to be thrilling and high-scoring affairs. But history has taught us that newly-promoted teams that attempt to play open football often pay the ultimate price. Can Kompany emulate his mentor’s philosophy and survive?
7. Will Arsenal change offensive systems?
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal has evolved into an exciting and formidable team, showcasing a versatile and dynamic system of play. After securing key signings in the transfer market, including Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber, Arteta now leads a team with even more depth and quality throughout the squad. This enhanced roster offers him the luxury to experiment with different formations, and one intriguing option is the same 3-2-4-1 setup that Pep Guardiola deployed at Man City last season.
Arraying the squad this way could see Ramsdale as a commanding presence in goal, supported by the trio of Timber, Gabriel, and Saliba providing firmness and flexibility at the back. The central midfield pairing of Rice and Zinchenko offers a balance of defensive stability and creativity, acting as the heartbeat of the team’s transitions. On the flanks, the dynamic duo of Saka and Martinelli can exploit wide areas and cut inside to deliver incisive passes and dangerous crosses. Through the middle, Odegaard’s vision and goal-scoring ability can link up seamlessly with the youthful flair of Havertz, while Gabriel Jesus serves as the point of the spear as a potent and agile striker.
Such a lineup comes with the challenge of fierce competition for places, with players like Leandro Trossard and Kieran Tierney fighting hard to earn spots in the starting lineup. This can only further elevate the level of quality and intensity within the squad. As the season unfolds and Arsenal fans eagerly anticipate another season of fluid attacking play, can Arteta’s tactical acumen enable the Gunners to compete for honors on multiple fronts and close the gap on his mentor at Man City?
8. How will James Maddison perform at Spurs?
James Maddison’s transfer to Tottenham presents an exciting chapter in his career. His move to Tottenham, which boasts attacking talents such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, could potentially create a formidable attacking trio that will capture the interest of many fantasy managers.
Maddison’s established pedigree as an elite creator, coupled with his goal-scoring prowess and set-piece abilities, should complement the existing arsenal of offensive weapons on hand at Tottenham. His ability to find the back of the net and provide crucial assists in previous seasons has made him a favorite among fantasy managers, who will now be eager to see how he adapts to his new surroundings.
However, it’s worth considering that joining such a star-studded team might force Maddison to share set-piece duties and adjust his play style to accommodate other elite attackers. His adaptability and footballing intelligence should bode well for him, but how will he perform in real life and as a fantasy asset now that he wears a Tottenham jersey (and for that matter, how will Spurs perform under new manager Ange Postecoglou)?
9. Will Bruno’s goal threat continue to decline?
Man United has announced Bruno Fernandes as the new club captain! Fernandes took the Premier League by storm after his transfer to Old Trafford in January of 2020. But his role has changed over the seasons, and he now serves as more of a ball distributor, making fewer off-ball runs into the box.
This has had consequences for his scoring threat. His goal tallies declined from 18 in 2020-21, to 10 in 2021-22), to 8 in 2022-23. Although he still provides assists from his new role, it has had an impact on his fantasy returns. While the Portuguese scored 244 points in his first full season at Old Trafford, he mustered just 176 last season and 155 the season prior.
With the addition of Mason Mount and the return to fitness of Christian Eriksen, will Bruno’s goal-scoring decline continue?
10. Where will Pep’s roulette ball fall next?
In the last campaign, Pep Guardiola’s mid-season decision to change formation to a 3-2-4-1 paved the pathway to City’s treble. A testament to his strategic acumen, this change demonstrated his willingness to adapt his tactics to suit the talents and abilities available within his squad in order to optimize results.
As the squad undergoes changes in the summer transfer window, including the departures of Riyad Mahrez and club captain Ikay Gundogen and the arrival of Mateo Kovacic, fans can anticipate further adjustments in playing styles and dynamics on the field. Gundogen’s exit creates an opportunity for Kovacic to bring his unique strengths and skills to the midfield. And the departure of attacker Riyad Mahrez could lead to modifications in Manchester City’s offensive system, potentially providing emerging talents like Julián Álvarez and Phil Foden with more opportunities to shine.
Can Guardiola continue to successfully “fit the tactics to the players” and maintain City’s dominance over English football even as his squad evolves?
Stats and info for this article were sourced from premierleague.com and transfermarkt.
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What are your answers to the above questions, and how do your insights influence your fantasy choices ahead of the upcoming EPL season? We encourage you to participate in the comments section, sharing your thoughts on any other relevant inquiries!
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