Fantasy Premier League

FPL pre-season lessons: Antonio and Bamford strike again

By The Scout 8 Aug 2021

The Scout reviews Saturday’s friendlies as West Ham and Leeds forwards end pre-season in strong form

The Scout is highlighting the form players in Fantasy Premier League and making key tactical observations during pre-season.

Bamford among the goals

Patrick Bamford (£8.0m) and Michail Antonio (£7.5m) were on the scoresheet again ahead of the start of 2021/22 Fantasy.

Bamford's goal in Leeds United's 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Saturday was his second in their last three friendlies, having also netting against Real Betis.

Last season’s second top-scoring forward in Fantasy, Bamford’s ownership sits at a modest 18.6 per cent.

That is partly down to Leeds' opening schedule, with three of their first four matches scoring four in the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR).

Antonio to continue pre-season form?

West Ham United's Antonio, on the other hand, has a more favourable run of early opponents.

Three of his first four matches score only two in the FDR.

The Hammers' forward scored his third goal of pre-season in a 2-0 win over Atalanta.

Encouragingly, all three of his goals in pre-season have come in the West Ham's last three friendlies ahead of their Gameweek 1 visit to Newcastle United next weekend.

Antonio's team-mate Said Benrahma (£6.0m) provided both assists to extend his impressive output.

The winger has two goals and three assists in West Ham's final three friendlies.

Penalties add to Zaha appeal

Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) is another in-form midfielder in Fantasy.

He scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Watford, taking his tally to four goals over the summer. Zaha also appears to be the Eagles' first-choice penalty-taker under Patrick Vieira.

Man Utd stars shine

Elsewhere, Manchester United duo Luke Shaw (£5.5m) and Bruno Fernandes’ (£12.0m) showed why they are among the most popular players in early squads.

Both profited from set-piece duties in the 4-0 home win over Everton.

Shaw, who is the most-owned player in Fantasy on 51.3 per cent, assisted Harry Maguire’s (£5.5m) headed goal from a corner-kick.

Fernandes’ converted direct free-kick was a reminder of his captaincy potential for Man Utd’s Gameweek 1 home meeting with Leeds on Saturday.

Mason Greenwood (£7.5m) scored the Red Devils’ opener and could appeal to managers looking for a short-term value route into the Man Utd attack.

A £4.0m starting defender?

Finally, the fit-again Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) was handed a third straight start in Leicester City’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers has employed a 4-3-3 formation in those matches, with forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka (both £7.5m) reduced to substitute roles.

Although Iheanacho scored the decisive goal, it is Jamie Vardy (£10.5m) who is favourite to start as a lone striker in Rodgers' current system.

Cut-price defender Daniel Amartey (£4.0m) started in a back four for Leicester, with both Wesley Fofana (£4.5m) and Jonny Evans (£5.5m) injured.

But it is far from certain that Amartey will be a regular for the Foxes, with Rodgers likely to enter the transfer market to strengthen his options in light of Fofana’s long-term absence.