Squad structureBuyImmediate
Mark prefers a Manchester United defensive double-up over a double-up in attack for the opening fixtures.
Reasoning: He says his current draft uses double defence because the first two fixtures may offer more reliable defensive returns, while the attacking lineup remains uncertain.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Harry Maguire (Defensive option)
At the moment, my draft is ... on double defense ... especially given those two opening fixtures, maybe the defensive returns are a little bit more solid.
Play from 13:06 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionHoldImmediate
Bruno Fernandes should be retained rather than omitted at the start of the season.
Reasoning: Mark explicitly says Bruno is in his team and that he would not go against him for a conservative start, citing the possibility that the new midfielders allow him to play further forward.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Subject), Manchester United (Team context)
He's in my team. ... I wouldn't go against him. I would try to keep have him in there.
Play from 14:40 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextBuyShort
Bruno Fernandes moving further up the pitch could improve or sustain his FPL returns.
Reasoning: Mark links the addition of Santos and Tielemans to a reduced ball-progression burden for Bruno and says the resulting higher position can only be positive for FPL returns.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Subject), Andrey Santos (Teammate), Youri Tielemans (Teammate)
The impact of having Santos and Tielemans there is that Bruno will take positions further up the pitch and I think in terms of FPL returns that can only be a good thing.
Play from 15:37 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗CaptaincyCaptainImmediate
Mark currently favours Erling Haaland as captain over Bruno Fernandes for Gameweek 1, although he may reconsider after seeing Bruno's set-piece involvement.
Reasoning: When asked to choose between Bruno against Hull and Haaland against Bournemouth, Mark says the armband is currently on Haaland but remains open to changing it if Bruno resumes taking corners.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Alternative), Erling Haaland (Captaincy preference)
As things stand, it's on Harland at the minute ... I would almost want to see Bruno take a few corners ... but at the moment it's on Harland.
Play from 18:31 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityBuyShort
Bryan Mbeumo is close to nailed and should have strong starting security at the beginning of the season.
Reasoning: Mark highlights his strong starting record under Carrick, injury record and preseason form, while noting that substitutions may reduce his late-game minutes.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Bryan Mbeumo (Subject)
I think he's close to as nailed as you can possibly be ... I would be very confident about his minutes ... he will start and he's looking good and he's got the fixtures.
Play from 21:20 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityAvoidShort
Benjamin Sesko should initially be treated as an impact player rather than a secure starter, with Mbeumo preferred in the central role.
Reasoning: Mark questions Sesko's ability to fit Carrick's fluid front four, describes him as a traditional number nine, and says Mbeumo is likely to start ahead of him even when Sesko is fit.
Players/teams: Bryan Mbeumo (Preferred alternative), Benjamin Sesko (Subject)
He is an impact player in this squad at the moment rather than certified starter ... I don't think it's quite Chesco's time yet. Even if he is fit, I think we'll see more of Bumo.
Play from 23:37 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchShort
Bryan Mbeumo could be the Manchester United attacker most likely to be substituted early when Sesko enters, creating some short-term minutes risk despite his secure starts.
Reasoning: Mark says Mbeumo can tire, has played through minor niggles and may be protected during fixture congestion, while Amad is considered more valuable out of possession.
Players/teams: Bryan Mbeumo (Minutes risk), Amad Diallo (Competing player), Benjamin Sesko (Substitute)
I do think Abumo could be the one to lose out ... he's somebody who can tire and can fatigue in games ... I would expect ... Bumo to be brought off.
Play from 25:13 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionAvoidShort
Amad Diallo is not recommended as an early-season punt at his current price without clearer attacking output.
Reasoning: Mark expects Amad to play but questions the winger pairing against low blocks, notes his limited league output last season and wants to see a significant improvement before selecting him.
Players/teams: Bryan Mbeumo (More expensive alternative), Amad Diallo (Subject)
I personally wouldn't go there ... output last season wasn't really there from him ... I'd want to see more output from him ... before I would be moving him into my team.
Play from 27:39 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityAvoidImmediate
Matheus Cunha should be avoided for now because his starting position and minutes remain unclear.
Reasoning: Mark says Cunha competes with Dorgu and Rashford, that the left-wing role is still unresolved and that there are too many questions to give him meaningful FPL weight.
Players/teams: Patrick Dorgu (Competing player), Matheus Cunha (Subject), Marcus Rashford (Competing player)
That position feels too up in the air for me ... I wouldn't be careful about going there ... there's too many questions there at the moment to really put too much stock in Cunha.
Play from 29:40 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchShort
Marcus Rashford is a wait-and-see FPL option until his minutes become clearer.
Reasoning: Although Mark expects Rashford to play if he remains at United, he places him in a group with Cunha and Dorgu and says his minutes must be established before he becomes an FPL option.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Marcus Rashford (Subject)
We will have to see how many minutes he's going to get before he can really become an FPL option ... it's just a wait and see.
Play from 34:14 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionWatchShort
Luke Shaw is a viable short-term option for the first few weeks, but should not be treated as a long-term set-and-forget defender.
Reasoning: Mark expects Shaw's minutes to be secure even if United sign a left-back, but anticipates rotation later and remains cautious about his attacking contribution.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Luke Shaw (Subject)
I think the minutes will be there ... if you're looking for an early wildcard, I would say they're fairly secure for that first few weeks ... over the longer term ... I wouldn't think he's going to be a set and forget.
Play from 35:48 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionBuyShort
Harry Maguire is Mark's preferred United defender because his minutes appear more secure and he offers set-piece upside.
Reasoning: Mark says he selected Maguire over Shaw due to greater minute security, set-piece threat and confidence in his defensive returns.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Harry Maguire (Subject)
I've gone Magguire at the moment simply because I think the minutes are a lot more secure there and you've got the set piece threat.
Play from 37:21 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Form underlyingBuySeasonal
Harry Maguire has meaningful attacking upside from set pieces and could reach roughly five goals if his minutes hold.
Reasoning: Mark says United are likely to lean on Maguire more without Casemiro, considers five goals a reasonable target for an aerially dominant centre-back and expects him to remain first choice.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Harry Maguire (Subject)
I think United will lean into him more this season ... if you can get five goals, then I would say more than capable of that this season on his minutes.
Play from 39:43 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketWatchMedium
Newcastle United are an undervalued team worth monitoring for FPL assets.
Reasoning: Mark identifies Newcastle as a positive-surprise candidate, while acknowledging uncertainty around the new manager and squad.
Players/teams: Newcastle United (Subject)
I mentioned Newcastle before simply because I think they're being somewhat undervalued ... I am interested in Newcastle ... they could take people by surprise.
Play from 56:54 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketWatchMedium
Brentford assets, particularly Nathan Collins, remain undervalued and merit consideration.
Reasoning: Mark praises Brentford's coherence and defensive compactness, says Collins was valuable for defensive-contribution returns and includes him in his draft.
Players/teams: Nathan Collins (Player example), Brentford (Team context)
I also like Brenford ... they can be relatively defensively compact as well. Nathan Collins was huge for me last season actually in terms of Defcon ... he's in my draft now.
Play from 57:32 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesNeutralSeasonal
Because league parity remains high, Mark favours reliable players from strong teams with multiple routes to points over relying solely on fixture difficulty.
Reasoning: He says the increased competitiveness makes single-game fixture predictions harder and suggests prioritising players from good teams who can score through defensive contributions, corners and set pieces.
Players/teams: Premier League (League context)
It's tough to get a read on fixtures ... relying on good players from good teams who have roster points who've got defcon corner set pieces in their locker might just be the way to go.
Play from 52:27 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextWatchShort
Arsenal's clean-sheet prospects should not collapse solely because of William Saliba's absence, but a crackdown on holding at set pieces could reduce their set-piece advantage.
Reasoning: Mark views Arsenal's defensive strength as system-based, while identifying the Premier League's proposed set-piece enforcement as the larger risk to Arsenal's defensive and set-piece returns.
Players/teams: Arsenal (Team context), William Saliba (Absent player)
I don't think it would affect Arsenal so much ... it's more about the system ... with Arsenal, the bigger question is set pieces ... they'd need to score more open play goals.
Play from 1:02:00 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗