Fantasy Premier League

FPL Draft: The clash across the pond

By The Scout 9 Aug 2018
Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Brighton's Lewis Dunk

Experts from the UK and US clash in the new FPL Draft game. Who will win in 2018/19?

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Another season of Fantasy Premier League Draft means another hotly-contested league involving the managerial cream of the crop from both sides of the Atlantic.

The "Clash Across The Pond" league involves "experts" from the UK and the USA, with the victor earning bragging rights that can last for up to seven hours depending on which time zone the recipient happens to be living in.

Last year's bragger-in-chief ended up being the UK's Paul McKinnon, and he'll be back to defend his title.

Here's the lowdown on all the managers involved in this season's battle.

UK
Mark Sutherns - Team Name: Sutherns Comfort

Runner-up in his first FPL Draft campaign, Mark will look to snatch top spot this time around. However, his allegiance to Arsenal may have already scuppered his chances.

Most likely to say: Why is Lacazette benched again?

Squad: Ederson, Patricio; Tarkowski, Sakho, Stones, Monreal, Trippier; Ramsey, Ozil, Richarlison, Milivojevic, Lingard; Aguero, Lacazette, King.

Paul - Team Name: Woody Allen

Winner of the inaugural Clash Across the Pond, Paul is already plotting a successful defence. But a lack of Liverpool attackers may be his downfall this season.

Most likely to say: I should have picked Mane.

Squad: Lloris, Begovic; Robertson, Mendy, Young, Luiz, Bellerin; Hazard, Son, B Silva, Schurrle, Pereyra; Jesus, Wilson, Iheanacho.

Neale - Team Name: Skonto Rigga

The Deputy Editor of Fantasy Football Scout (FFS) and an FPL veteran of well over a decade, Neale's second season in the draft format threatens to be as disastrous as his first with his choice of forwards.

Most likely to say: Who vetoed my trade?

Squad: De Gea, Foster; Van Dijk; Azpilicueta, D Sanchez, van Aanholt, Jonny; Eriksen, Pogba, Mane, Moura, Fraser; Tosun, Rondon, Gray.

Geoff - Team Name: GEOFFREY

As an FPL Draft first-timer, Geoff hopes he can replicate some previous FPL form.

The FFS Community Manager had a top 3,000 finish followed by a top 2,000 finish, before then finishing 49th two seasons ago.

He fell drastically last season to finish at 74,663, so maybe Draft is the key to regaining that lost form.

Most likely to say: Why did I go for a Manchester United quintuple?

Squad: Alisson, Fabianksi; Davies, Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, Bailly, Darmian; De Bruyne, Mkhitaryan, Willian, Mata, Shaqiri; Lukaku, Morata, Mitrovic.

USA
Chuck - Team Name: Party With Vardy

Most people have been playing FPL since Chuck was born, but since he has been exposed to FPL Draft, his life hasn't been the same.

Just as comfortable rolling with five defenders as he is playing three forwards, Chuck knows that flexibility is key in a long season.

Most likely to say: It's always easier to find a player that will get a clean sheet than it is to find someone who will score a goal.

Squad: Schmeichel, Dubravka; Maguire, Laporte, Smalling, Lascelles, Gibson; Salah, Mahrez, Anderson, Keita, Jahanbakhsh; Vardy, Benteke, Mounie.


Steve - Team Name - UnhealthyObSessegnon

Over the past two decades, Steve has gained dual citizenship as an avid draft player, while becoming equally passionate playing the traditional FPL game.

With FPL Draft merging these two love affairs, Steve is confident there is no possible result other than success ... now that Harry Kane has come home.

Most likely to say: If only I had £0.5m more.

Squad: Leno, Cech; Alonso, Vertonghen, Coleman, Pereira, Mee; Alexis, D Silva, Walcott, Pedro, Townsend; Kane, Arnautovic, Wood.

Neal - Team Name: Rotoworld_PL

The godfather/old man of FPL punditry and newly optimistic Arsenal supporter, Neal has been writing about various Fantasy game formats since the 2004/05 season and has been playing draft games of all types since the early 1990s.

Most likely to say: How many minutes do you think Pep has to give to attacking players?

Squad: Heaton, Ryan; Walker, Cresswell, Rudiger, Alderweireld, Sokratis; Sterling, Sigurdsson, Sessegnon, Jota, Hughes; Firmino, Zaha, A Perez.

Sean - Team Name: Ospina Colada

Having plied his trade as a columnist and Fantasy Football expert with an allegiance to underlying numbers, Sean is a product of the FPL Draft "Golden Generation".

The 3-4-3 tactician has a keen eye for finding undervalued talent and isn't afraid to roll the dice on new arrivals.

Most likely to say: (insert statement defending Patrick van Aanholt)

Squad: Pickford, Guaita; Otamendi, Valencia, Mustafi, Bertrand, Fredericks; Sane, Alli, Gross, Maddison, Yarmolenko; Aubameyang, Austin, Rashford.

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