Welcome to Insanely Football’s Dilemmas blog for Gameweek 1 of the FPL 2023/24 season. This blog will break down all the popular Dilemmas FPL managers have this week and offer FPL GW1 tips that will help you address the key dilemmas and maximize your FPL points.
The blog is written by Insanely Football. Do subscribe to his YouTube channel Insanely Football for more FPL-related content. You can also follow him on Instagram for daily FPL updates.
Let’s dive right into it. We will start with the first one.
Link to all our 2023/24 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, differentials, players to target, budget enablers and more. Completely free to access as well!
FPL GW1 Tips – Key Questions/Dilemmas Answered
1) Which team formation is the best to begin with?
This is a standard dilemma at the start of each season. What should we do with our FPL teams? Should we play a 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 3-4-3 or even a 4-5-1?
There is no correct answer here, and it depends on how much faith you have in certain players.
The time for big at the back is completely gone. Most of the drafts I have come across have a 3 man backline. A few drafts also have a slightly budgeted 4th defender giving managers an option to play with 4 at the back.
Just see what players you like for your team and understand how they can fit into your plans for Gameweek 1. You can come up with your desired formation based on the players you choose.
In terms of FPL, the most popular formation is 3-5-2, as it allows picking three strong defenders and going aggressive with your 7 attackers.
With so many players to choose from in midfield, you can go heavy in midfield with 5 players. Also, with Kane possibly leaving for Bayern Munich and picks like Jesus and Nkunku not fit to start the season, going with 2 strikers instead of 3 seems sensible. If you are still determining who should be your 2nd striker but are sure about a defender, you can even switch to a 4-5-1 with Haaland as your lone striker.
Be flexible with your formations, as they will likely change with the new players in your FPL team.
Read More: FPL Team Structure Guide- 6 Different Team Structures with Drafts, Pros and Cons
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Many managers are contemplating whether to go for 1 or 2 premiums for their FPL teams. It’s a tricky decision, and going in either direction has pros and cons.
If you go with 1 premium, Haaland, you can spread your cash. So rather than depending on budget picks, you can have well-rounded picks. i.e. upgrading a £6.5m MID to Martinelli or Joao Pedro to Watkins. While this sounds good, it can be problematic if a Salah, KDB or Kane (if he stays) emerges as a viable pick. As you have spread the cash across the team, it might be challenging to get the money, and you’ll likely make multiple moves which isn’t ideal. I would suggest having a plan to get to more premium picks if any trends emerge.
Going with 2 premiums, i.e. Haaland and Salah, takes a lot of your money, so you must make certain sacrifices. But it does offer you some flexibility. You can downgrade a Salah or Kane(if he stays) and go for more budget picks, or you can even replace them with other premium options, i.e. KDB.
Further Read: Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of GW1 Deadline
This question would have had a different answer if the Kane news didn’t come in, but now it’s edging towards one direction.
There is news that Tottenham has agreed to a deal in principle for Harry Kane.
The summer transfer window closes in England at 11pm (UK Time), and Tottenham would have played thrice in the PL before that. It feels like a considerable risk, as Harry Kane may be long gone by then.
There is no doubt that Kane had a better season than Salah and outscored him for most attacking metrics. But if he leaves, It just forces you to make an additional transfer which can be avoided by going for Salah instead.
Liverpool have looked slightly leaky at the back, but they are still an elite attack. Despite having an average season last year, Mohamed Salah finished with 239 points (19G+13A). He is nailed in that Liverpool XI is expected to be the talisman in their attack.
Going with Salah also allows you to chop and change your midfield picks if he doesn’t perform as expected. I would say get in Salah and avoid the headache.
Further Read: FPL GW1 Team Reveal & Strategy – AllAboutFPL
4) What ‘Goalkeepers’ should we target for our FPL teams?
If you are looking for a premium goalkeeper, Ederson is one of the best picks. Though he doesn’t make a lot of saves, he can still provide you clean sheet points, as City has a great set of opening fixtures. (Face promotes side BUR and SHU in GW1 & 3)
He is the most nailed option in the Man City defence that generally sees a fair amount of rotation. If you are in the market for a £5.5m goalkeeper, Ederson is your pick.
Man United were strong at the back last season, keeping 17 clean sheets. André Onana is their goalkeeper, who boasts excellent passing accuracy that can help accumulate more BPS. Whether he can avoid mistakes and keep clean sheets is still unknown. Still, if you are looking at the cheapest entry point in the United defence, he is the one to consider.
Brighton had a great season last year, where they managed to keep 12 clean sheets (6th highest among all teams). Jason Steele kept 6 clean sheets in 16 appearances, picking up 8 bonus points and getting an assist. Steele became the first choice towards the end of last season and is likely to remain Brighton’s number 1 for the start of this season.
Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone is an intriguing pick for managers at just £4.5m. He became a regular in the latter part of last season, keeping 3 clean sheets in 9 games and scoring 36 points. He has a good set of opening fixtures playing Sheffield United, Brentford, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest in his first 8 games.
Coming to enablers, there are two in the game right now. You can choose Alphonse Areola from West Ham or Matt Turner from Nottingham Forest. Both are valued at £4m and can get that no1 goalkeeper spot in their respective teams. Turner, in particular, could be FPL gold as he rotates well with Johnstone in the opening fixtures.
Further Read: Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
5) Which is the best ‘£6.5m Midfielder’?
There are 5 realistic options in the ‘£6.5m MID’ category. These are
- Bryan Mbeumo (BRE)
- Eberechi Eze (CRY)
- Moussa Diaby (AVL)
- Kaoru Mitoma (BHA)
- Solly March (BHA)
Bryan Mbeumo is Brentford’s most popular pick in the game right now. With Toney suspended, he is expected to lead the Brentford attack. He is also likely to be on penalties which adds to his overall appeal.
He has done well without Toney getting 6G+3A in 10 games. Brentford has good attacking fixtures (4th best), and Mbeumo can be a high-value pick in the crowded budget midfielder category.
Eberechi Eze has a good pre-season scoring 2 goals and getting 5 assists. With Zaha gone, there is a high possibility that Eze takes up that talisman role and is expected to be on penalties.
It’s still a risk as it’s Eze and Palace we are talking about. We need to temper our expectations and know the risks involved. The fixtures are okay from an attacking sense, and you can go for Eze.
Moussa Diaby is the most exciting pick of the lot. He is Aston Villa’s new signing and had a great season with Leverkusen last year. (17 attacking returns). Diaby is likely to play an out-of-position role but has the toughest fixtures. He is new to the Premier League and may take some time to settle into the team.
Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March are part of a better-attacking team. Still, their biggest issue is predicting which attacker would get the majority of returns. Solly March & Kaoru Mitoma had similar returns last season (16 each). With no obvious talisman, attacking returns will again get shared among both, adding Enciso and the likes of Ferguson and Joao Pedro in the mix.
Mitoma is the more nailed pick of the two as well. If you want to go safe, you go with him. If you are okay with taking some risk, you can go with March (owned by 2.6% of managers).
Out of these options, Mitoma and Eze stand out for me. Both are relatively safer picks and should do well for their respective teams. If you are willing to take some risk, you can go for Mbeumo. Diaby is a wait-and-watch for me.
Further Read: Mbeumo vs Mitoma vs Eze vs Diaby- 6.5. FPL Midfielders Comparison and Verdict
6) Who are the best ‘Premium Midfielders’ to target?
The players we are considering are the £8-9m slightly premium-ish options.
Coming to the Arsenal players first, Bukayo Saka, in particular, looked sharp, getting 25 attacking returns (14G+11A) last year. He was a regular in the Arsenal XI, getting the most minutes among all Arsenal attackers. He is expected to be as nailed as it gets and is an excellent pick in midfield.
One thing to note is that he is priced at £8.5m, which is 0.5m more than Martinelli. Still, the possibility of more minutes and being the team’s penalty taker make him a more attractive proposition.
On the other hand, Gabriel Martinelli was the 5th highest-scoring midfielder in the game despite playing slightly less than those around him. He secured 24 attacking returns last season, which included 15 goals and 9 assists, making him the best budget pick in the attack.
He outscored Saka for most attacking metrics last season, yet Martinelli’s appeal has lessened this year.
The narrative has changed a bit. He is only owned by around 14% of managers in the game right now, making him an exciting alternative to Saka.
Arsenal signing Havertz has also contributed to Martinelli’s low ownership. Still, with Jesus out for a while, Martinelli’s minutes may be secured, and he can be an explosive option in attack. If you are okay going against the crowd or can’t afford Saka, Martinelli is a more than able replacement.
Talking about Man Utd, there is one player head and shoulders above the rest.
Marcus Rashford had his best attacking season in a Man United shirt last year. He scored an impressive 30 goals across all competitions, of which 17 were in the Premier League. He also showed his creative side by getting 7 assists across the season. Man United have a good set of attacking fixtures, and Rashford can once again be a great pick in attack.
One thing to note is with Man Utd signing Rasmus Højlund, Rashford may be forced to play out wide, which might lessen his appeal, but at least for the season start, he is a great attacker to own.
The other option is Bruno Fernandes. He has been the creative engine in the United midfield and will continue to do this season. Last year, he was 2nd among all MUN players for points scored, getting 17 attacking returns (8G+9A).
Coming in at just £8.5m, he looks a bit of a bargain this year. He is expected to be on penalties and should get a fair share of free kicks and corners. There’s no doubt Bruno is an elite asset, and his key stats tell us the same story. If you can’t afford Rashford for some reason and still want a Man Utd attacker, Fernandes is undoubtedly worth a go for GW1.
My Ranking
1) Bukayo Saka
2) Marcus Rashford
3) Gabriel Martinelli
4) Bruno Fernandes
Further Read: Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
7) Should we buy Tottenham players for the start of the season?
Quite a few FPL managers are planning to ditch the Tottenham FPL options, and there is a good reason for the same.
As mentioned earlier in the article, there is a high chance that Harry Kane will leave Tottenham and join Bayern Munich. With Kane’s position still unknown, going with him isn’t ideal, as it’s a transfer waiting to happen. Though Kane leaving isn’t great, that opens up a possibility for Richarlison to become a steal at £7m.
Until Kane’s position hangs in the balance, Richarlison is a risky pick. He may/may not get starts, which isn’t the ideal scenario to begin the new season. It’s because of these reasons I’d avoid both Kane and Richarlison.
Son Heung-min has been playing a very wide role on the wings in pre-season games, significantly reducing his goal threat. At £9m, there are better alternatives to look at for our FPL teams.
I’d avoid the defence for now. Tottenham doesn’t look settled in defence and may be unable to keep clean sheets even in the more straightforward games.
The player that interests me is James Maddison. Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty around Tottenham and Kane in particular, but Maddison is a known FPL asset. He is likely to play in an advanced position and has proven to be quite creative in recent seasons. He ranks top for most attacking metrics (xA, big chances created, key passes, goal involvement, goals scored, shots attempted) compared to all Spurs MIDs last season.
Though I will avoid all players from Tottenham right now, if I had to take a risk, I’d go for Maddison in midfield.
That will be all from my side for this week! All the best for FPL Gameweek 1, and I will see you all next week.
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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW1 of the 2023/24 FPL Season
Pre-Season Friendlies Updates & Fixtures
2023/24 FPL Pre Season: All Clubs Friendlies Fixtures & Updates
2023/24 Pre Season Summary of All 20 Premier League Teams
FPL GW1 Must Read Articles:
FPL GW1 Scout Picks Based On Stats, Analysis, And Matchups
2023/24 Season: Predicted GW1 Lineups of All 20 PL Teams
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks To Consider Ahead Of GW1 Deadline
FPL GW1 Team Reveal & Strategy – AllAboutFPL
FPL GW1 Tips & Preview – Breaking Down The Key Dilemmas
FPL Players And Teams To Target From FPL Gameweek 1 To 6
Drafts for FPL GW1:
FPL Gameweek 1 Drafts with Haaland + Salah and Trent Trio
FPL GW1 Drafts with 3-4-3 Formation | 2023/24 FPL Season
Initial GW1 Drafts for the 2023/24 Season with Pros and Cons
Top FPL GW1 Differential Picks to Consider Ahead of GW1 Deadline
Four Players Who Have Never Left My FPL GW1 Draft
FPL GW1 Team Reveal & Strategy – AllAboutFPL
FPL Goalkeepers Analysis:
Best FPL Goalkeepers to Target For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best FPL Goalkeepers at Each Price Point for the 2023/24 Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations- Defenders and Goal Keepers
2023/24 FPL Season Positional Analysis:
Defenders:
Best £4.0 Million FPL Defenders For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £4.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £5-£5.5 Million FPL Defenders for the 2023/24 FPL Season
FPL Rotational Pairs and Combinations- Defenders and Goal Keepers
Midfielders:
£4.5 Million FPL Midfielders Watchlist for the 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £5 & £5.5 Million FPL Midfielders For The 2023/24 FPL Season
Best £6.0 -£7.5 Million FPL Midfielders | 2023/24 Season
Mbeumo vs Mitoma vs Eze vs Diaby- 6.5. FPL Midfielders Comparison and Verdict
Best Premium FPL Midfielders (£8.0 -£12.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Forwards:
Best Mid-Priced FPL Forwards (£7.0 – £8.0m) | 2023/24 Season
Best FPL Forwards in The £6.0 & £6.5M Price Bracket
Best FPL Budget Forwards (£4.5 – £5.5 Million) | 23/24 Season
Ultimate Guide & FPL Calendar:
Ultimate FPL Pre-Season Guide & Tips for the 2023/24 Season
2023/24 FPL Season Schedule: Key Dates, Information & Timeline
Fixture Analysis:
FPL Fixture Analysis For The 2023/24 FPL Season | PL Fixtures
General FPL Blogs:
FPL Team Structure Guide- 6 Different Team Structures with Drafts, Pros and Cons
Premier League Penalty & Set Piece Takers | 2023/24 PL Season
Best FPL Picks Outside Top 6 Teams | 2023/24 FPL Season
FPL Differentials- Players To Watch Ahead Of The 2023/24 Season
FPL Budget Enablers(Top Budget Picks Position wise)
Under Priced FPL Assets from Big 6 Teams
Best Differential FPL Team For The 2023-2024 Season
Players to Avoid in FPL Ahead of FPL Gameweek 1
Initial Reaction to FPL Player Price Reveals for the 2023/24 FPL Season
List of Free to Join Prize FPL Mini Leagues Ahead of 23/24 Season
FPL Tips and Best Practices to Have an Enjoyable FPL Season
FPL Team ID- What is it? How to get a Low Team ID for 2023/24 FPL Season
Best FPL Team Names for the 2023/24 FPL Season
If you’re new to FPL, here is a link to all our FPL Beginners Guide including FPL Beginner’s Guide- How to play?, Bench boost, Team value, Triple captain, Effective ownership, Price Changes, Free Hit, Bonus Points, and more.
Link to all our 2023/24 Pre-Season articles including all team pre-season friendly updates, team previews, fixture analysis, position-wise analysis, and more. Completely free to access as well!
Thanks for reading the “FPL GW1 Tips & Preview – Breaking Down The Key Dilemmas” blog. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for regular blogs. Also, follow our 120,000+community on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated on regular Posts and FPL updates.
What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL Gameweek 1 of the 2023/24 FPL Season?
We’ll be covering team previews for all 20 teams, FPL team structures, must-own players, player comparisons, differential picks, fixture analysis, captaincy metrics, multiple FPL drafts with pros and cons, chip strategy, rules guide, beginners guide, FPL tips, and more. Keep checking allaboutfpl.com for all our blogs and subscribe to our free newsletter through the link below. We’ll also be posting regularly about the same on our social media accounts so follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook keep our notification ON.
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