Transfer decisionAvoidImmediate
BigManBakar is leaning toward going without Erling Haaland because he does not expect to captain him in Gameweek 1 and doubts Haaland will play more than roughly 70–75 minutes.
Reasoning: He says he is about 80% toward a no-Haaland squad, citing Haaland's 53-minute Community Shield appearance, lack of a full preseason and expected limited Gameweek 1 minutes.
Players/teams: Erling Haaland (Subject)
I'm not 100% sure that I will go with the no Harland squad yet, but as of now, I think I'm 80% there... I don't see myself captaining Holland in game one... I don't think he's going to be playing more than 70 75 minutes in game one.
Play from 1:23 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗CaptaincyCaptainImmediate
BigManBakar prefers Bruno Fernandes as his captain for the first two gameweeks instead of Haaland.
Reasoning: He explicitly says Fernandes covers the captaincy in the first two weeks, with Manchester United facing favourable early fixtures in his view.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Captain), Manchester United (Team context), Erling Haaland (Alternative)
If I can cover the captaincy with Bruno in the first two weeks... then I just don't think I will be there on Harland.
Play from 1:47 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Chips wildcardStartShort
BigManBakar is planning to use a chip in Gameweek 3 to cover Manchester City's favourable fixture without owning Haaland.
Reasoning: He says there is no way he can go without Haaland at home in Gameweek 3 and intends to use either Free Hit or Wildcard.
Players/teams: Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Subject)
There's no way that I can go without Holland at home against K in game three. So that's sorted. Game three, I will be using a chip. Whether that is a free hit or a wild card remains to be seen.
Play from 22:08 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Chips wildcardStartShort
BigManBakar is targeting a Gameweek 1 Bench Boost, potentially a Gameweek 3 Free Hit, and an early Wildcard around Gameweek 7, while retaining flexibility to Wildcard in Gameweek 3 if the squad starts badly.
Reasoning: He describes this as his current chip strategy and says an early Wildcard is viable once team and player trends become clearer.
Players/teams: Fantasy Premier League (Team context)
As of now I'm aiming for maybe a bench boost in one potentially free hitting in game three and then wild carding after maybe in seven... I can easily pivot to let's say a wild card in three if my team starts really poorly.
Play from 5:34 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Squad structureHoldShort
BigManBakar wants to build a strong 15-man squad for the opening weeks, with no budget tied up in a weak eighth attacker or second goalkeeper before an early Wildcard.
Reasoning: He links the no-Haaland structure to having greater squad depth and says the aim is to use the Bench Boost early, then restructure with more information.
Players/teams: Fantasy Premier League (Team context)
One of the reasons behind picking no Harland is the fact that I can have a very very strong squad of 15... Longer term I just want to have a squad where I don't have money spent on my eighth attacker or on my second keeper.
Play from 4:53 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityBuyMedium
BigManBakar views David Raya as a safe, set-and-forget goalkeeper pick for Arsenal.
Reasoning: He describes Raya as safe, flexible for the rest of the squad and a consistent points source.
Players/teams: Arsenal (Team context), David Raya Martín (Subject)
I just think Ry is a very safe set and forget for Arsenal. Just allows me a lot of flexibility elsewhere in the squad as well.
Play from 8:41 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketWatchShort
BigManBakar considers Bart Verbruggen a potential value alternative to an expensive second goalkeeper over the first six gameweeks.
Reasoning: The recommended-transfer discussion suggests downgrading the expensive goalkeeper to Verbruggen, with the host citing improved predicted points and extra funds.
Players/teams: Senne Lammens (Subject), Bart Verbruggen (Alternative)
The recommendation is to get rid of... Ry as well... but to go down to Vugan and get the one and a half extra... you save a million and you're gaining 6.8 points across the first six game weeks.
Play from 39:06 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Form underlyingBuyShort
BigManBakar strongly prefers Gabriel Magalhães as the premium Arsenal defender in his no-Haaland squad.
Reasoning: He says Gabriel is affordable with the Haaland money and worth the upgrade over cheaper Arsenal defenders, supported by the cited predicted-points comparison.
Players/teams: Gabriel Magalhães (Subject), Arsenal (Team context)
The big one is Gabrielle. I just think you can get Gabriel quite comfortably with the Holland Cash... Gabriel over Califury is worth the upgrade.
Play from 10:21 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityBuyShort
BigManBakar prefers Mikel Mosquera over Riccardo Calafiori for his opening squad because he considers Mosquera safer for starts and more flexible over a six-week horizon.
Reasoning: He acknowledges Calafiori's attacking-role appeal but worries about rotation, early substitutions and competition for his position.
Players/teams: Riccardo Calafiori (Alternative), Arsenal (Team context), Mosquera (Subject)
I think Mosca is relatively more safe for starts... the risk of an early sub is there... I just think he could be slightly more of a long-term pick as opposed to Kalafury... I'm looking at the first six weeks as a horizon.
Play from 12:06 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextBuyShort
BigManBakar recommends Harry Maguire over Luke Shaw as a Manchester United defensive pick because of Maguire's defensive-contribution potential and aerial threat, particularly in the first two fixtures.
Reasoning: He says Maguire is worth the extra 0.5 million and notes uncertainty over how long Shaw keeps his place.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Luke Shaw (Alternative), Harry Maguire (Subject)
I think Meguire is worth the extra.5 over Shaw because of that aerial threat and because of the defcons and United could be in for a left back. So I'm not entirely sure how long Shaw keeps his spot.
Play from 14:44 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesBuyShort
Neco Williams is viewed as a useful early-season defensive enabler because of his advanced left-wing-back role, set-piece involvement and favourable rotation with the rest of the defence, especially in Gameweek 5.
Reasoning: BigManBakar highlights Williams' attacking positioning and set pieces, while specifically identifying Leeds at home and Coventry at home as useful fixtures.
Players/teams: Neco Williams (Subject), Nottingham Forest (Team context)
In this role it's actually the left wing back in Williams who's pushing... he has a share of the set pieces... in game week five he rotates really well... playing Coventry at home.
Play from 15:35 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketBuyImmediate
BigManBakar likes Dara O'Shea as a 4.0 million Ipswich defender for Gameweek 1, partly because he wants at least one Ipswich defender in his Bench Boost squad.
Reasoning: He calls O'Shea the safest Ipswich option, cites his home fixture and attacking threat, and says the Bench Boost 1 structure should include Ipswich defensive coverage.
Players/teams: Dara O'Shea (Subject), Ipswich Town (Team context)
He's probably the safest one of the IPS switch guys to go with... I just think at 4 million at home to Sun, it's a reasonably good fixture... it's important to have at least one Ipswich defender.
Play from 16:25 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesBuyShort
BigManBakar considers Liverpool's opening four fixtures sufficiently strong to support Liverpool attacking assets.
Reasoning: He specifically cites Newcastle away, Nottingham Forest at home, Ipswich away and Fulham at home as an excellent sequence.
Players/teams: Liverpool (Team context)
I think out of all the teams in the league, the best fixtures out there are for Liverpool... Newcastle away, then it's Forest at home, maybe Ipswich away, Fulham at home. First four are mental in terms of how good they are.
Play from 23:48 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗CaptaincyHoldShort
BigManBakar views Cole Palmer as a strategic hold for Gameweek 4 captaincy against Hull, even though his Gameweek 1–2 fixtures are not considered exceptional.
Reasoning: He wants Palmer to avoid a transfer or chip for the Gameweek 4 fixture and sees him as a potential differential captain when United and City face each other.
Players/teams: Cole Palmer (Subject), Chelsea (Team context)
Game week four Chelsea playing Hull at home... owning Palmer makes a lot of sense... I do think that gameweek four Chelsea versus Hull looks just super appealing and I would want to have Palmer for that.
Play from 20:16 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionWatchImmediate
The host is less convinced by Cole Palmer because of Chelsea's early fixtures and limited preseason threat, creating a conflicting view on Palmer's immediate appeal.
Reasoning: The host explicitly says he is not 100% sure, notes Palmer has not shown much in preseason and describes Fulham away, Brighton at home and Arsenal away as a difficult start.
Players/teams: Morgan Rogers (Alternative), Cole Palmer (Subject), Chelsea (Team context)
I'm not 100% sure on this... he's not shown much in preseason... Fulham away Brighton at home is quite a tough start for Chelsea and then it's Arsenal away.
Play from 21:24 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextBuyShort
BigManBakar considers Dominik Szoboszlai a secure starter with possible set-piece and penalty upside, making him attractive at his price during Liverpool's favourable opening run.
Reasoning: He cites secure starts, set pieces, possible penalties following Salah's departure and Liverpool's strong first four fixtures.
Players/teams: Dominik Szoboszlai (Subject), Liverpool (Team context)
Again, a player who served me well last season. Secure for starts on set pieces potentially on penalties now that Salah's gone... And the fixtures are really good.
Play from 23:48 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchImmediate
BigManBakar has doubts about Florian Wirtz because he may not consistently play 80–85 minutes and could be substituted early, despite playing as a number 10 with good fixtures.
Reasoning: He explicitly identifies Wirtz as a position he may change before the deadline and links the concern to fitness and early substitutions.
Players/teams: Florian Wirtz (Subject)
I'm not fully convinced he's like a 80 85 minute man and I do worry about whether he will be able to stay as consistent in terms of his minutes... there's slight doubts over how often he gets subbed early.
Play from 24:38 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketBuyShort
BigManBakar rates Iliman Ndiaye as undervalued at 6.0 million because he expects regular 90-minute involvement, attacking importance and penalty responsibility for Everton.
Reasoning: He calls Ndiaye a steal, identifies him as Everton's best attacker and notes two preseason penalties.
Players/teams: Iliman Ndiaye (Subject), Everton (Team context)
At 6 million, I just think he's a bit of a steal... He's a 90minute man, probably their best attacker. And on penalties, he's taken two penalties now in preseason as well.
Play from 28:27 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesBuyShort
BigManBakar prefers Ndiaye over Pascal Groß for the opening structure because Brighton's best fixture falls in Gameweek 3, when he expects to use a chip, while Ndiaye has stronger Gameweek 5–6 fixtures.
Reasoning: He directly explains that the Gameweek 3 chip reduces Groß's usefulness and contrasts Brighton's run with Ndiaye's fixtures.
Players/teams: Pascal Groß (Alternative), Iliman Ndiaye (Subject), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context)
I actually picked Ndiaye over Gross... the best fixture that Brighton have is arguably Leeds at home in gameweek three. Because I'm penciling a chip in three... Ndiaye just has a much better five and six.
Play from 29:28 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗CaptaincyBuyShort
BigManBakar views João Pedro as an easy forward selection at his price in a no-Haaland structure and considers him a viable Gameweek 4 captaincy option.
Reasoning: Both speakers describe João Pedro as straightforward to select without Haaland, with the host saying he is comfortable captaining him in Gameweek 4.
Players/teams: João Pedro (Subject)
I just think Ja Pedru is quite easy to pick if especially if not in Holland... I think I'm okay captaining Joao Pedro in gameweek 4.
Play from 31:00 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketBuyShort
BigManBakar considers Dominic Calvert-Lewin an unusually cheap forward at 6.0 million and expects him to provide attacking returns while enabling the rest of the squad.
Reasoning: He cites 16 attacking returns last season and says the player is too good to be priced at 6.0 million.
Players/teams: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Subject)
16 attacking returns last season. I have no idea why they priced him at 6 million. I just think he's too good a player to be priced so low. I think 6.5 at least would have been fair.
Play from 33:12 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchImmediate
The host argues that the Sunderland forward in BigManBakar's squad has low predicted points because of uncertain expected minutes, lack of penalties and a possible substitution around 75–80 minutes.
Reasoning: The host gives these as the likely reasons for the model's low projection, while still acknowledging the player's enabling value.
Players/teams: Sunderland (Team context), Sunderland forward (Subject)
Maybe due to expected minutes... he's not on penalties, I guess, and he gets subbed around 75 80 potentially. That's why.
Play from 33:55 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionWatchShort
BigManBakar is open to replacing the expensive goalkeeper and Florian Wirtz with cheaper alternatives if the predicted-point gains over the first six gameweeks are maintained.
Reasoning: He calls the recommended moves strong and potentially worth considering, while the host says the cheaper replacements increase predicted points and release funds.
Players/teams: Simon Adingra (Buy), Florian Wirtz (Sell), Bart Verbruggen (Buy)
I think they're very strong moves... moves that I can potentially consider for sure... Vert is out. Lefay is in and Lefay for one and a half million cheaper is beating Vert on predicted points.
Play from 39:06 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗