Chips wildcardHoldImmediate
Andy is currently considering Bart Verbruggen and Antonin Kinsky as his preferred goalkeeper pairing for a Gameweek 1 bench boost.
Reasoning: He calls the pairing the cheapest route to a Gameweek 1 bench boost and says the combination looks fine.
Players/teams: Antonin Kinsky (Goalkeeper pairing), Bart Verbruggen (Goalkeeper pairing)
The cheapest way you can bench boost gameweek one is having two 4.5 million keepers... At the moment, I got Vugan and Kinsky and I think that looks fine.
Play from 0:33 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Squad structureStartShort
Andy is comfortable starting three Arsenal defenders because he views Arsenal as the league's best defence and believes the trio retains clean-sheet and attacking-return potential after Coventry.
Reasoning: He explicitly defends the triple-up and says he is happy with the three picks, while acknowledging that an attacker upgrade could force a downgrade.
Players/teams: Riccardo Calafiori (Defender), Arsenal (Team context), Ben White (Defender), Mosquera (Defender)
So, is three, especially for Arsenal. Best defense in the league... they still have a chance for attacking returns, still have a chance for clean sheets as well... I'm quite happy with those three picks.
Play from 4:29 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionSellImmediate
Andy would currently drop Cristhian Mosquera before Ben White or Riccardo Calafiori if he needed to remove one Arsenal defender.
Reasoning: He describes Mosquera as the least interesting option, while highlighting Calafiori's attacking ability and White's advanced positions.
Players/teams: Riccardo Calafiori (Alternative), Ben White (Alternative), Mosquera (Sell candidate)
If the deadline was in two minutes, I'm fairly sure I would drop Mascara because he's probably the least interesting option... Whereas Califury... we know how attacking he can be. And Ben White also gets into pretty advanced positions as well.
Play from 3:01 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextBuyShort
Andy believes Nico O'Reilly is likely to start Gameweek 1 and receive plenty of minutes, making him tempting at £6.5m because of his attacking left-back role and Arsenal's Gameweek 3 fixture.
Reasoning: He cites O'Reilly's immediate preseason inclusion, expected first-choice status and advanced positioning as signals for minutes and upside.
Players/teams: Nico O'Reilly (Transfer target), Arsenal (Opponent)
I'm pretty sure he's going to start gameweek one and get plenty of minutes. And if he's going to be playing like as a number 10 from left back, that's pretty tempting for 6.5 million, especially when they got Coventry at home in gameweek three.
Play from 2:13 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchShort
Andy considers Riccardo Calafiori first-choice when Arsenal are fully fit but is concerned that his minutes could become unpredictable around Gameweeks 3–5 because of competition from Jakub Kiwior.
Reasoning: He contrasts Calafiori's first-choice status with the possibility of an unexpected benching when Kiwior is available.
Players/teams: Riccardo Calafiori (Subject), Arsenal (Team context), Jakub Kiwior (Minutes competitor)
With Cal Fury, I think he's first choice, but Kiwior is always lurking. So it might just be gameweek three, gameweek four, gameweek five where all of a sudden Kiwior gets a start and you didn't see it coming.
Play from 3:50 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityBuyImmediate
Andy expects O'Shea to be more secure than Dara O'Shea's alternative at Ipswich and is inclined to choose him over the more highly owned option because of possible quicker price drops.
Reasoning: He says O'Shea is effectively nailed, while the alternative is slightly less secure and more highly owned, increasing price-drop risk.
Players/teams: Dara O'Shea (Alternative), Dara O'Shea (Transfer target), Ipswich Town (Team context)
O'Shea is like 100% nailed and DOP's maybe like 99%... DOP is way higher owned. So I think he's probably more likely to drop in price quicker. So I'm tempted just to go with O'Shea.
Play from 5:36 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Transfer decisionStartImmediate
Andy plans to start Bruno Fernandes in Gameweek 1 and considers him difficult to omit against Ipswich at home.
Reasoning: He says Fernandes has appeared in every preseason draft and expresses near certainty that he will be in the team.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Subject), Manchester United (Team context), Ipswich Town (Opponent)
I just find it really hard to go against him when it's Ipswich at home... So very like I'm 99.99999% sure Fernandez will be in the team.
Play from 6:33 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗CaptaincyCaptainImmediate
Andy intends to captain Bruno Fernandes in Gameweek 2.
Reasoning: He explicitly states that Fernandes will be his Gameweek 2 captain.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Captain), Manchester United (Team context)
And he'll be my captain in gameweek two.
Play from 7:17 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchShort
Andy likes Bryan Mbeumo for the first two Gameweeks but expects him to be a transfer-out candidate in Gameweeks 3–4 because his long-term minutes are not guaranteed.
Reasoning: He cites competition from players who can cover the forward and right-wing positions and the possibility of early substitutions.
Players/teams: Manchester United (Team context), Bryan Mbeumo (Subject)
I also really like [Mbeumo] for the first two, but he's probably a transfer out in game weeks three or four because I'm not sure I trust his minutes longer term... he could get subbed early as well.
Play from 7:27 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Form underlyingHoldShort
Andy considers Dominik Szoboszlai a reasonable but unspectacular pick because he expects consistent points from set pieces and penalty responsibility if Mohamed Salah is off the pitch.
Reasoning: He acknowledges concerns about Szoboszlai's deeper role and lack of preseason output but still expects reliable points.
Players/teams: Dominik Szoboszlai (Subject), Liverpool (Team context)
And yet, I still think he'll be fairly consistent with points... All set pieces, if [Salah's] off the pitch, he's going to be on penalties. I just think he'll find a way to get you points, but it's not going to be exciting.
Play from 8:01 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketHoldImmediate
Andy regards Pascal Groß as the best £5.5m midfielder and plans to retain him unless Brighton's European match creates a compelling reason to remove him.
Reasoning: He repeatedly says he does not see a better option at the price, while identifying the European match as the main decision point.
Players/teams: Pascal Groß (Subject), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context)
I still see him as the best 5.5 million midfielder... I really don't want to do that unless I absolutely have to because at 5.5, I don't think there's a better option.
Play from 8:52 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Form underlyingAvoidShort
Andy is avoiding Brentford midfielder Sangaré because he fears the pick may disappoint when defensive contributions do not materialize, despite acknowledging that he could be good.
Reasoning: He compares the situation with Elliot Anderson and anticipates frustration if the expected defensive points are absent.
Players/teams: Ibrahim Sangaré (Avoided option), Brentford (Team context)
So I don't really want to go there. Although I acknowledge he could be a good pick... I can just see that happening with the Brentford guy, Sangari.
Play from 9:12 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Role team contextWatchImmediate
Andy considers Iliman Ndiaye a viable £6m Everton midfielder because he expects him to be nailed and on penalties, but he has reservations due to competition and transfer speculation.
Reasoning: The positive case is based on expected starts and penalties; the risks are wide-position competition and a possible departure.
Players/teams: Iliman Ndiaye (Subject), Everton (Team context)
A 6 million pound nailed on midfielder for Everton on penalty sounds good... They do have a bit more competition for the wide spots this year... There's been transfer speculation that Injai might leave.
Play from 10:44 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesBuyShort
Andy expects Erling Haaland to start Gameweek 1 despite limited preseason minutes and wants him before Manchester City's favourable home fixtures in Gameweeks 3, 5 and 7.
Reasoning: He says he has no doubts Haaland will start and believes he will become necessary by the later home fixtures.
Players/teams: Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Subject)
He's going to start against Bournemouth. I don't really have any doubts about that. And... at home in three, Sunderland at home in five, Ipswich at home in seven. I know I'm going to want him by then.
Play from 11:57 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Chips wildcardHoldShort
Andy prefers starting with Haaland and Fernandes rather than committing to an early wildcard to bring Haaland in for Gameweek 3.
Reasoning: He acknowledges the no-Haaland strategy has merits but does not want to lock in an early wildcard and believes the premium pairing preserves more options.
Players/teams: Bruno Fernandes (Premium), Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Premium)
I don't necessarily want to lock in a wild card that early... I just think starting with Fernandez and Harland gives you more options potentially.
Play from 12:15 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketBuyShort
Andy considers Dominic Calvert-Lewin the best £6m forward because of his expected minutes and penalty role, despite Everton's opening fixtures not being ideal.
Reasoning: He explicitly ranks Calvert-Lewin as the best option at the price and cites playing time and penalties as the basis.
Players/teams: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Transfer target), Everton (Team context)
For me, he's the best 6 million... he'll definitely play. The minutes are great. He's on penalties, etc. I just think he's really good for 6 million.
Play from 13:16 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Value marketWatchImmediate
Andy views Oliver McBurnie as an acceptable eighth attacker only because he is expected to play and take penalties, but he expects limited goals and would upgrade him if funds allow.
Reasoning: He dislikes the pick and Everton/Hull's attacking outlook, but accepts McBurnie's nailed status and penalties because he will rarely need to start him.
Players/teams: Ollie McBurnie (Bench forward), Hull City (Team context)
The one thing I know with McBurnie right now is he will play and he will be on penalties and he's probably not going to score many goals but I'm not going to use him that often either.
Play from 15:13 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesWatchShort
Andy is strongly interested in Yoane Wissa as a potential forward upgrade because he expects him to be Newcastle's first-choice striker, play regularly and possibly take penalties, with better fixtures from Gameweek 3 onward.
Reasoning: He repeatedly expresses a positive instinct about Wissa, citing his Premier League experience, prior goals and expected role.
Players/teams: Newcastle United (Team context), Yoane Wissa (Transfer target)
I just think Vissa could be great... I think he has to be Newcastle's first choice nine going into the season... So I think he's going to play... if he plays probably on penalties as well. So I really like Vissa.
Play from 16:43 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗FixturesWatchShort
Andy believes Joao Pedro is an excellent pick but prefers to delay bringing him in until around Gameweek 4 because of Brighton's Gameweek 3 fixture against Arsenal.
Reasoning: He acknowledges Pedro's quality and ownership risk but says Gameweek 4 is when he expects to need him, allowing transfers or a wildcard to bring him in later.
Players/teams: João Pedro (Transfer target), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context), Arsenal (Opponent)
He's obviously a really good pick... but because he's got Arsenal away in gameweek three, there's part of me that just thinks wait until I wild card... game week four is when I really need him.
Play from 18:11 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Chips wildcardCaptainImmediate
Andy favours an early Gameweek 1 bench boost because his preferred structure already contains playing bench options and he would rather wildcard out of a bench boost than into one.
Reasoning: He explicitly rejects delaying the chip for this squad, citing expected starts and the continued usefulness of bench players after a wildcard.
Players/teams: Arsenal (Team context)
This team right here is why I'm very keen on bench boosting early because either way I'm going to want some playing players on the bench... I'd rather wild card out of a bench boost rather than into it.
Play from 22:19 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchImmediate
Andy would consider Mikey Moore as a one-week midfield punt if Brighton midfielder Gomez is not fit for the season start.
Reasoning: He says the structure depends on Gomez's fitness and identifies Moore as a likely Gameweek 1 starter for Spurs because of limited alternatives.
Players/teams: Simon Adingra (Fitness dependent alternative), Mikey Moore (One-week punt), Tottenham Hotspur (Team context)
As it stands, Mikey Moore from Spurs is going to have to start right wing because they don't have any options. So, maybe as a oneweek punt, I could go for him.
Play from 26:26 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Minutes availabilityWatchImmediate
Andy considers Brighton midfielder Gomez a legitimate £5m option only if fit, and says his preferred structure depends heavily on that fitness outcome.
Reasoning: He excludes Gomez after seeing him limp, then says he would be very tempted to use the structure if Gomez can start.
Players/teams: Simon Adingra (Fitness dependent subject), Brighton & Hove Albion (Team context)
I've not got Gomez because he was seen limping after the last game. I need to see if he's fit on Thursday... Gomez is a legit 5 million option if he's fit. And if he is, I'm very tempted to go with a team like this.
Play from 10:38 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗Chips wildcardBuyShort
Andy would definitely wildcard in Gameweek 3 if he starts without Haaland, in order to bring Haaland in for Coventry at home.
Reasoning: He explicitly links the no-Haaland strategy to a planned Gameweek 3 wildcard and Haaland purchase.
Players/teams: Manchester City (Team context), Erling Haaland (Wildcard target), Coventry City (Opponent)
But with no Harland, I know I am definitely wild carding gameweek three because I want him in for Coventry at home.
Play from 31:25 · 5 seconds before evidence ↗