Promoted Teams FPL preview 2020/21

Every single season it’s always an unknown in who to pick from the newly promoted teams. This season the promoted teams are Fulham, who beat Brentford in the Play Off Final, West Brom who went down a few seasons ago finished second to the winners of the Championship Leeds United. Leeds have had a 16 year wait to finally be back in the top flight. Whenever a new team comes up they try and spend the money they have gained from promotion on players that may not even fit or gel with the rest of the team, this happened the last time Fulham were in the top flight a couple of seasons, they spent about 100m on signings and they came up for one season and were sent packing. Leeds have been active in the transfer market and West Brom have attempted a few transfers too. What do we expect from the promoted teams, I reckon they all stay up this season. 

Leeds opening 5 games:

Liverpool (A)

Fulham (H)

Sheffield (A)

Manchester City (H)

Wolves (H)

Fulham opening 5 games:

Arsenal (H)

Leeds (A)

Aston Villa (H)

Wolves (A)

Sheffield (A)

West Bromwich Albion opening 5 games:

Leicester (H)

Everton (A)

Chelsea (H)

Southampton (A)

Burnley (H)

All promoted teams have some favourable fixtures and Leeds face Liverpool and City in their first 5 meaning I’d be staying away from Leeds defenders and keepers. Fulham start the opening game of the season at Craven Cottage versus Arsenal. Actually stay away from all promoted teams defences, and keepers unless they are on your bench. 

Goalkeepers: 

Fabricio (4.0): Played for Mallorca on loan from Fulham last season but only played one solitary game in La Lisa but played three games in the Copa Del Rey keeping two clean sheets. He wasn’t in the squad when he was eligible to play in the championship. I believe he would be the first choice keeper for Fulham this season. Could potentially be a bench option for your team, currently in 2.4% of teams.

Casilla (4.5): Joined Leeds from Real Madrid back in 2019 winter transfer window. He played in 36 games last season, but was banned for 8 games towards the end of the season, he did keep 15 clean sheets. Definitely worth keeping an eye on him as he is a quality keeper in my opinion and I’ll be watching him and considering him, he is only in 3.5% of teams

Defenders:

Joe Bryan (5.0): Fulham’s hero of the playoff Final scoring two goals. Last time in the premier league he only scored 52 points contributing 1 assist and 5 clean sheets. Last season he scored a goal and contributed 7 assists. He did receive 6 yellow cards. At 5.0 there are better players you can pick as Fulham might be quite leaky in the goal conceded department. Currently 1.8% of teams.

Barry Douglas (4.0): Was part of the Wolves team that got promoted but since then joined Leeds. He currently is owned by 16% of managers. Last season for Leeds he played 15 games, but only started in 6 of those games, and subbed in 9 times. He was involved in the match-day squad 36 times but just couldn’t push his way into getting more appearances. He was involved in only one of Leeds 15 clean sheets. Only a bench contender, I wouldn’t start him whatsoever. 

Robin Koch (4.5): Newly signed 24 year old Centre Back for Leeds, he has come from Freiburg in the Bundesliga. Was involved 32 of the 34 bundesliga games last season, starting 31 times. In those 31 games he started he was involved in 5 clean sheets. He did have some time playing as a Central Defensive Midfielder, while playing CDM he scored 1 goal. Another player I would consider for just your bench. 

Kieran Gibbs (4.5): In my initial team at the moment only on the bench though. Wouldn’t be considering him starting for your team due to possibly leaking goals. Having a look at what happened last season for Gibbs looked like he fell out of favour and only played 14 games. In those 14 games he scored a solitary goal and provided 2 assists. Will definitely be changing him to a different defender for my bench spot. 

Midfielders:

Matt Phillips (5.5): Last time he was in the premier league he scored 81 points and contributed 2 goals and 3 assists. The season before WBA went down he ended up in my team for a little while and in that season he got 115 points, which consisted of 4 goals and 9 assists. I do reckon this season he will contribute about 10-12. Last season in the championship for West Brom he played 39 games in which he started 30 of them scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists. Just keep an eye on him to see how he fairs being back in the premier league again.

Oliver Burke (4.5): A Scottish up and comer, the last time he was in the premier league, he was only introduced later on in the season playing 356 minutes for 23 points, however he did provide two assists. If he is a consistent starter than will have potential to hit the 75/80 mark which is amazing starting at 4.5m. Last season he went on loan to Deportivo Alaves where he was involved in 33 match-day squads, Starting 14 out of 31 games, the other 17 he was used as a substitute. He scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists. Currently in 0.6% of teams currently.

Matheus Pereira (6.0): I remember saying to my brother if West Brom sign Pereira he will be straight into my team, and I’m still not going back on that decision, he was one of my first picked players for my initial FPL team. Last season in the championship he played 42 games starting 38 of them while contributing 8 goals and 20 assists. Definitely should be part of you starting XI, he won’t reach the same heights as last season but expect around 12-15 goal contributions for this season. Currently only in 5.1% of teams but I do expect that to grow to at least 10% by the time Gameweek 1 is locked. 

Pablo Hernandez (6.0): Played for Swansea in the premier league back in 2012-2014, back then he scored 77 and 110 with an average of 3 goals a season and 8 assists a season, this season I do see a slight Improvement on that to probable 13-15, does that justify his price tag potentially. Last season for Leeds he played 36 games scoring 9 times and providing 9 assists too. Do take into consideration that he is 35 years old currently, so he might miss a few games here and there due to general tiredness or soreness.

Kalvin Phillips (5.0): I remember watching this guy live before the start of last season when a Leeds toured Australia, Kalvin Phillips played very well against rivals Manchester United, he was dictating from midfield and making extraordinary passes too. Last season Phillips played 37 games, starting in all of the games. He scored 2 goals and contributed 2 assists, you would hope he improve to some degree this season. Good cheap option and should be at the heart of Leeds midfield. 

Anthony Knockaert (5.5): Went to Fulham on loan and now has transferred there permanently. He has the experience with Brighton over the last a couple of seasons, not scoring amazingly but having a respectable score of 74 and 88. In those two seasons he averaged 3 goals a season and 4 assists a season. Last season in the championship he played 42 games starting in 32 of them and coming off the bench in the other 10, he scored 3 goals and contributed 5 assists, he does have experience and potential but I don’t see him improving by much on his score 88 about 4 seasons ago.

Forwards:

Aleksandar Mitrovic (6.0): Nearly 30% of managers are backing Mitrovic to do what he did last time he was in the premier league, he scored 132 points contributing 11 goals and 4 assists. I do believe he will be around that same mark again this season. Last season in the championship he scored 26 goals and contributed 2 assists. Definitely in contention for a starting spot in my team.

Patrick Bamford (5.5): Has played 2 seasons before in the premier league but only played about 350 minutes in each of those seasons. He scored 1 goal back in the 2016/17 season. Last season he played 45 out of 46 possible games for Leeds, starting 43 times. He contributed 16 goals and 4 assists, he will possibly be around 8-10 goal mark this season. It will be very interesting on how Marcelo Bielsa sets up his strikers, now with the signing of Rodrigo from Valencia. 

Rodrigo (6.0): Leeds new signing from Valencia, when I saw he signed for them I was very happy for them. He may not be a proven goal scorer over the last couple of seasons but I do believe he is a good player. Last season playing for Valencia he was involved 27 times scoring 4 goals and providing 9 assists. Unfortunately he missed the last 5 games due to a knee injury. There are better 6.0m players that you could potentially have in your starting XI, but definitely keep him in your watch list as he could potentially be a player worth having.

Hal Robson-Kanu (5.5): I will never forget his wonder goal for Wales against Belgium in the Euros of 2016, it was exquisite. Last time he played in the premier league he only scored 32 points from 816 minutes, scoring 2 goals. Last season in the Championship for West Brom he played 39 games, starting 24 games. He scored 10 goals and contributed 2 assists. Just keep an eye on him. From memory last time WBA were in the top flight they didn’t score that many goals.