After a solid start to the season there hasn’t been too much cause for concern at FFS HQ over my FPL squad for this week, and with the team assembled with the long term in mind, here are my thoughts on what may need to change for my FPL Gameweek 2 Squad ahead of another exciting weekend’s action.
Goalkeeper
No doubts here, I’m happy with my options and only using 9.0m on my two keepers. Bert Verbruggen kept a clean sheet against Villa in Gameweek 1, and didn’t have much to do. Antonin Kinsky had a torrid game against Brentford but the Bees were superb and Spurs will expect a better performance and result, so the Czech international takes the gloves for this one.
Defenders
Ricardo Calafiori is nailed, he’s picked up a goal and an assist in his first two competitive games this season, and Arsenal’s opponents this weekend are Aston Villa, who are all over the place. It doesn’t look like they’re going to get anyone new in before the weekend, so the Champions will be strongly expected to win.
Marc Guehi played in midfield for City in a surprising move in Gameweek 1, and scored the equaliser, so he’s another no-brainer. Hopefully he continues in that midfield position to add to his already strong attacking threat. Luke Shaw had a torrid time for United against Hull, but a home game against Ipswich is a perfect chance for a clean sheet, so he keeps his place as well.
The main decision this week is to keep faith with Jan-Paul van Hecke or sub in Bobby Thomas. Coventry have a home game with Hull, while I have Kinsky in goal, so the Dutchman goes to the bench and in comes the Sky Blues centre back, who picked up the defensive contribution bonus even in a 3-0 defeat for his side at Arsenal.
Midfielders
I was thinking I’d be shipping out Christos Tzolis after the Coventry game, given Arsenal’s next games did look tricky on paper – Villa and Chelsea – but with Villa looking particularly poor, Tzolis retains his place. I’m also sticking with Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo for the home game against Brentford, while Nottingham Forest have had a tough week, so Dominik Szoboszlai is also an obvious pick after his goalscoring contribution for Liverpool in Gameweek 1, who host Forest this weekend.
I’m hoping I don’t get punished for leaving Diego Gomez on the bench again, but Brighton have a tough game at Chelsea, however, the Paraguayan is a strong candidate to come into the team for Gameweek 3, as Brighton host Leeds and then head off to Coventry the week after.
Forwards
Erling Haaland has scored on his last two trips to Selhurst Park and after a blank against Bournemouth there will be some selling him, but I’m not one of them. He’s a must. Joao Pedro scored against Fulham on Monday and he’s an easy keep as well for a home game against his old club.
Kaye Furo hasn’t even made the bench in Brentford’s first two games so I’m thankful I have two other playing subs in Gomez and van Hecke. Furo’s lack of action makes playing an early bench boost a real challenge, so he’s the biggest cause for thought in my current squad.
Captaincy
A few candidates here but I’m sticking with Erling Haaland who has a good record against Crystal Palace, and doesn’t often start the season with two blanks in a row. It’s rinse and repeat with the vice captaincy as Bruno Fernandes keeps hold of it for the visit of Ipswich to Old Trafford.
Watch List
Three players I’m keeping an eye on are:
- Maxim de Cuyper – Yes, he’s risen in price, but if de Cuyper stays on the left wing he’ll have to come in for gameweek 3 with those strong fixtures coming up for Brighton.
- Ezri Konsa – The new Arsenal man is 4.5m and could come into the side at the expense of Christhian Mosquera soon. A regular starter in the Gunners squad at that price is a tantalising prospect.
- Cole Palmer – Electrifying in Gameweek 1 and could come in at the expense of Fernandes if he keeps up that level of form. He was the closest to coming into my squad this week.
- Jack Hinshelwood – Playing in a more advanced position, Hinshelwood is another Brighton player on the radar after his two goals on the opening weekend.
- Georginio Rutter – Not an area of my team I’m currently looking to address, but Rutter makes it a hat-trick of Brighton assets given he seems the most reliable 5.5m striker in the game to be starting currently.
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