FPL FORECAST 2016/17: Gameweek 2
Each and every week the three members of The Hype Team post their Premier League and FPL predictions in an attempt to enlighten players that might be stuck with their FPL choices and transfers. In addition, we’ll be taking on a guest for every Gameweek in the PL. On the weekly agenda are a general predictions category, a Gameweek Fantasy Premier League forecast, scout picks, and captaincy choices. For the second weekend of the season, we welcome @AUSFPL as our second guest. All aboard.
Fantasy Premier League: Gameweek 2 Deadline
For the 2016/17 Premier League season, the FPL deadline will be one hour before the commencement of the week's first game. The Premier League website lists each FPL deadline, you can always ask on social media, and you can also view a real time countdown on our Weekly Hype page.
In a change from last season, Friday nights games are going to more common in the 2016/17 season. The first listed game is between Man United and Southampton at 8pm.
The transfer deadline for GW2 is Friday August 19th at 19:00pm.
How does our Forecasting work?
We have taken to our Hype Team, and the FPL Community, to compete in a weekly head to head dual of wits. We are asking the questions that dominate each week in the Fantasy Premier League: who to pick, who to avoid, who to captain, and who may surprise. The 3 members of the Hype Team, and a Guest, will provide weekly insight for the Gameweek ahead. For the sake of the first edition of the Forecast, we have provided an example of what we're sending out to interest parties.
Premier League Fixture Prediction: As pundits, we are testing our football acumen with PL predictions (Mark Lawrenson style, only less biased, hopefully) and will be providing regular updated tables and stats in each edition of the FPL Forecast. A perfect score is worth 3 points whilst a correct result is worth 1 point.
FPL Gameweek Forecasting: Answering the regular questions that come up every single week in the Fantasy Premier League community that helps with identifying captaincy picks, transfers, attacking options, clean sheet potential, teams to look our for and avoid, the wildcard differential players, and general analysis and comments.
Scout Picks: Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, using the rules of the FPL - formations, captains and vice captains, and the player limits of 3 per club (chips will not be feature of these weekly picks)
Each team must pick a Captain, labelled as (c) and a Vice Captain listed as (vc).
Fixture Prediction: 2016/17 Points Table
In our predictions a perfect score is 3 points, and predicting the right outcome is worth 1 point (aka if a team wins but, you predict it, but don't get the perfect score). Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our Premier League predictions series for the season.
Sam Austin (@TheHypeTrainSam): 12 (1) = 12 total
Phil Jones (@TheHypeTrainPJ): 7 (1) = 7 total
Robert Austin (@TheHypeTrainRob): 10 (1) = 10 total
Special Guests: 2 (1) = 2 total
Special Guests
GW1 - @FPLAid: 2pts (zero perfect scores, two correct results, 8 wrong)
Individual Gameweek Predictions
GW1: Sam (12), Phil (7), Rob (10), @FPLAid (2)
FPL Scout Picks: Gameweek ??
Picking a squad of 15 for a single Gameweek, using the rules of the FPL - formations, captains and vice captains, and the player limits of 3 per club (chips will not be feature of these weekly picks). Below is the Gameweek and overall rundown of our Premier League predictions series for the season.
Sam Austin (@TheHypeTrainSam): 60 (1) = 60 total
Phil Jones (@TheHypeTrainPJ): 51 (1) = 52 total
Robert Austin (@TheHypeTrainRob): 53 (1) = 53 total
Special Guests: 50 (1) = 50 total
Scout Picks: Special Guests
GW1 - @FPLAid: 50pts (Captain Aguero, 18pts)
Individual Gameweek Scout Picks
GW1: Sam (60), Phil (52), Rob (53), @FPLAid (50)
Sam Austin (Face Facts)
Twitter: @TheHypeTrainSam
Favourite PL Club: Liverpool
About: Sam is the Hype Train’s Chief Writer, and Weekly Wildcards specialist, delving into the depths of FPL possibility each and every week.
Gameweek 2 Fixture Prediction
Man United 0-1 Southampton
Stoke 0-1 Man City
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Spurs 2-0 Crystal Palace
Swansea 3-0 Hull
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
West Brom 1-1 Everton
Leicester 2-2 Arsenal
Sunderland 1-0 Middlesbrough
West Ham 3-1 Bournemouth
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Best GW Attacking Options:
Swansea (H) vs Hull
Liverpool (a) vs Burnley
Spurs (H) vs Crystal Palace
West Ham (H) vs Bournemouth
Leicester (H) vs Arsenal
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Swansea (H) vs Hull
Man City (a) vs Stoke
Spurs (H) vs Crystal Palace
Southampton (a) vs Manchester United
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Philippe Coutinho, Leroy Fer, Lukasz Fabianski, Diego Costa, Santi Cazorla.
OUT: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sadio Mane, Scott Dann, Charlie Daniels.
Who is the team to look out for?:
Swansea – Guidolin has things ticking just the way he wants after signing a new contract with the Welsh club, and I predict that they are going to start the season strong again. They have a Hull side brimming with confidence after their win over Leicester but Swansea are a different animal to tame. I can see the allure of Hull being torn to sunder by Llorente and Routledge who offered something different. Leicester could have scored a dozen goals, so Hull were by some measure scraping at their luck.
West Ham – The first Premier League game at the new stadium should see West Ham give their all with Payet starting the match. Andy Carroll is a great addition for FPL teams this week, and so might a defender from the Hammers too. All the pieces are in place for this to be a memorable match against a Bournemouth side who lacked rhythm following on from their loss to Manchester United last Sunday.
Liverpool – Even without the injured Sadio Mane the attacking threat of Liverpool should easily see off Burnley in this fixture, and let’s not forget that Liverpool have never lost to Burnley in the Premier League. Burnley shouldn’t cause the some offensive headache Arsenal did so in the minds of many this match is already sealed for the Reds.
Spurs – A first home game of the season at the Lane could see big returns against the crippled Eagles squad who looks like they are there for the taking. With their entire first team fit and available they should take three points here and could be keeping a clean sheet in the process.
Who is the team to avoid?:
Arsenal – There is still no evidence or news that they have their full contingent back, and this may benefit Leicester who could punish the inexperienced defensive pairing of Chambers and Holding.
Crystal Palace – Legitimately worried that by selling Bolasie they have already conceded defeat, I might be wrong, but every time I have seen them play without Bolasie they have frustratingly struggled. When he got injured just after Christmas last year they dropped all momentum and slipped from the Champions League places to the periphery of just avoiding relegation. They didn’t look like ever scoring against West Brom, and Spurs should continue that trend.
GW Differential Picks:
1. Michel Vorm – The Spurs second choice comes in after an injury to first choice Hugo Lloris, he could be a good option between the sticks as they take on a Crystal Palace that have lost their main driving force in the shape of Yannick Bolasie. I am worrying for Palace as he controlled the pace of their games, as evident against West Brom in his last cameo appearance. I don’t see Pardew’s men causing Spurs many problems.
2. Jermaine Defoe – When he scored against Man City I wasn’t surprised, the man has bags of quality and Middlesbrough should warrant more opportunities for the England international to add to his impressive goal tally since moving to Sunderland.
3. Wayne Routledge – Was important for the Swans in pre-season and looks to have obtained a starting spot under Guidolin. Playing in advanced roles he could be the one making runs of the big Llorente, giving Swansea a total different outlet and needed pace in their game.
4. Troy Deeney – I have picked Troy to do something big against Chelsea, even if the Hornets lose, the stocky forward is the wildcard king for a reason and did actually score against Chelsea last season at Stamford Bridge
FPL Captaincy Pick:
(C) – Roberto Firmino – Whilst Coutinho won all the plaudits against Arsenal I think that his Brazilian teammate will be the difference maker as Burnley sits a bit deeper than Arsenal did. Firmino is operating in the central striking role and should be good for his money to score with Sadio Mane injured for the fixture. Hopefully for FPL managers another rampant performance from Klopp’s heavy-metal Liverpool.
(VC) – Jamie Vardy – Everyone is jumping off the Leicester bandwagon but this could be a huge mistake after Liverpool routed Arsenal. There are goals to be scored in this fixture and Jamie Vardy knows a thing or two about putting it past Petr Cech. The English speedster scored three goals against Arsenal last term and if he is just one percent more clinical than he was against Hull then many FPL managers may regret dropping him from their teams.
Other Gameweek Comments:
Phil has already spoken about not captaining in the early fixtures, so the opening game could be a low scoring affair. Also, I am looking at these fixtures and thinking “Where are the traps.” Everyone was
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Lukasz Fabianski
DEF: Toby Alderweireld
DEF: Patrick van Aanholt
DEF: John Stones
MID: Wayne Routledge
MID: Riyad Mahrez
MID: Dimitri Payet (c)
MID: Roberto Firmino
FOR: Jamie Vardy (vc)
FOR: Diego Costa
FOR: Andy Carroll
Substitutes
GK: Simon Mignolet
MID: Eden Hazard
DEF: Nathaniel Clyne
DEF: Kyle Walker
Phil Jones (SweatyMongoose FC)
Twitter: @TheHypeTrainPJ
Favourite PL Club: Chelsea
About: Phil is our Transfer and general FPL expert, and is mini-league Champion between the Hype Team.
Gameweek 2 Fixture Prediction
Man United 1-1 Southampton
Stoke 0-3 Man City
Burnley 1-3 Liverpool
Spurs 2-0 Crystal Palace
Swansea 1-0 Hull
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
West Brom 0-0 Everton
Leicester 1-0 Arsenal
Sunderland 0-2 Middlesbrough
West Ham 2-1 Bournemouth
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Best GW Attacking Options:
Man City (a) vs Stoke
Liverpool (a) vs Burnley
Spurs (H) vs Crystal Palace
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Swansea (H) vs Hull
Man City (a) vs Stoke
Spurs (H) vs Crystal Palace
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Andy Carroll, Diego Costa, Any of the Liverpool middle men.
OUT: Gerard Deulofeu, Darmian, Fabregas
Who is the team to look out for?:
Leicester – Looking to bounce back after a shock defeat. Expect Musa to drop back to the bench and a more familiar style of play resumed. Time for Mardy/Vahrez to step up.
West Ham – Payet expected to start this one. Had an instant impact vs Chelsea. He will run the show and provide Carroll with the service he needs.
Who is the team to avoid?:
Arsenal - No options in defence worth taking a risk on. Another injury on the list, in Aaron Ramsey. Too many usual starters not match fit.
Crystal Palace - Will have difficulty restructuring after the loss of their main playmaker. In desperate need of a quality front man. Possibly the only team in the league (bar Hull) not to have one.
GW Differential Picks:
1. Adam Lallana – A key player in the dynamic Klopp system, goal and assist threat against a weak opposition.
2. Jermaine Defoe – A 20 goal a season striker always looks threatening. Up against Premier League new boys Middlesbrough.
3. Solomon Rondon – A goal at the weekend. The big man faces a depleted Everton defence.
FPL Captaincy Pick:
(C) – Diego Costa – More sprints than any other player at the weekend. Always committed. Able to bully defences. One of the best finishers in the game.
(VC) – Roberto Firmino – Was unlucky at the weekend not to get on the score-sheet. Expected to play up front against a weaker opposition. Able to produce big points hauls as seen last season.
Other Gameweek Comments:
Never Captain in the early fixtures (Hint: Man Utd are a whole day early)
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Foster
DEF: Walker
DEF: Stones
DEF: Amat
MID: Sigurdsson
MID: Mahrez
MID: Hazard
MID: Firmino (v)
FOR: Aguero
FOR: Costa (c)
FOR: Defoe
Substitutes
GK: Mignolet
MID: Payet
DEF: Azpilicueta
DEF: Fuchs
Robert Austin (Pownage FC)
Twitter: @TheHypeTrainRob
Favourite PL Club: Arsenal
About: Robbo is the Hype Train owner that provides a wealth of Graphical Aid for all THT social platforms.
Gameweek 2 Fixture Prediction
Man United 2-1 Southampton
Stoke 1-1 Man City
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Spurs 3-0 Crystal Palace
Swansea 2-0 Hull
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
West Brom 0-0 Everton
Leicester 2-1 Arsenal
Sunderland 1-1 Middlesbrough
West Ham 2-0 Bournemouth
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Best GW Attacking Options:
Spurs (a) vs. Crystal Palace
Liverpool (a) vs. Burnley
West Ham (h) vs. Bournemouth
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
West Brom (h) vs. Everton
Swansea (h) vs. Hull
Spurs (h) vs. Crystal Palace
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
IN: Roberto Firmino is still the main goal threat for Liverpool up top. Man United play Hull soon, might be worth an option to double down at the back with an eye to the future. Defoe is also proving clinical. There's also some good budget options in Capoue (Watford) and Amat (Swansea) for consideration
OUT: Generally speaking, Arsenal players need to go for now. They just won't click until GW5 onward when their run clears up. They might end up being like Chelsea last season, with a stagnated side that lingers in mid-table for the season. Stranger things have happened.
Who is the team to look out for?:
Leicester – 2 home games in a row for the Foxes and people have already given up faith. Shame on you. Leicester deserve to have a bit of faith, especially Vardy and Mahrez.
Southampton – Southampton, as previously mentioned, love playing at Old Trafford and will give Man United a good game on Friday. I have predicted United to win, but I kind of want my prediction to bite me in the ass.
Who is the team to avoid?:
Crystal Palace - Pardew has just sold Bolasie. We all know how terribly they did last season without him (just the one win all season without Yala, if you didn't know).
Hull - A big win over Leicester doesn't paper over the cracks. The club is in dire need of reinforcement and proper leadership. They are riding the Hype Train right now, but for how long? As predicted, Swansea looked a good unit against Burnley, and I expect them to keep up the form for another week.
GW Differential Picks:
1. Lukasz Fabianski – The Swansea keeper was crucial in stopping Burnley's Andre Gray and was a great selection for our Weekly Wildcards. Has a tough run of games coming up, but will make a lot of save points, and is reliable every season in the FPL.
2. Dusan Tadic – Southampton love going to Old Trafford every season, with Tadic claiming a goal and an assist in his last 2 visits. Could spring another surprise, so if you're part of the 5.5% that own the Serbian, I'd personally risk him against United.
3. Troy Deeney – Chelsea's defence proved that their is work to do this season. Kante is a good step, but in general the squad is not the finished article. Deeney and Ighalo brutalised Chelsea's back four last season, and could do the same this season. In particular, Deeney was in fine form at St Mary's during the opening weekend, superbly setting up Capoue with a headed knockdown. The Englishman is also on penalties.
FPL Captaincy Pick:
(C) – Harry Kane – The No Dembele Theory is real, but surely Kane's got to come good against a Palace side that struggled against West Brom. Penalties might be a goal relief for Kane.
(VC) – Roberto Firmino – Liverpool have a lot of attacking talent, with Firmino still playing up top. I am expecting he might take the plaudits away from Coutinho this week.
Other Gameweek Comments:
If in doubt, captain Aguero. Just remember how, it's time for Pep to prove his worth. Can he do it at Stoke (probably not on a cold windy night, most likely a warm early afternoon)?
FPL Hype Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Fabianski
DEF: Alderweireld
DEF: Dawson
DEF: Valencia
MID: Payet
MID: Mahrez
MID: Hazard
MID: Firmino (v)
FOR: Aguero
FOR: Vardy
FOR: Kane (c)
Substitutes
GK: Foster
MID: Shaqiri
DEF: Fuchs
DEF: Stones
Special Guest (AUSFPL)
Twitter: @AUSFPL
Favourite PL Club(s): Sam (Liverpool), Luke (Man United)
About: AUSFPL are FPL newcomers from Australia, providing weekly team analysis, with an incoming FPL Podcast to call their own. If you're half way round the world, these guys detail the FPL deadlines for every coming Gameweek, and are probably the most dedicated having to get up super-early to watch Premier League football!
Gameweek 2 Fixture Prediction
Man United 2-0 Southampton
Stoke 1-1 Man City
Burnley 2-3 Liverpool
Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace
Swansea 2-2 Hull
Watford 0-2 Chelsea
West Brom 0-1 Everton
Leicester 1-2 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-1 Middlesbrough
West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth
FPL Forecasting: Gameweek 2
Best GW Attacking Options:
Man Utd v Southampton
Liverpool v Burnley
Leicester v Arsenal
Swansea v Hull
Best GW Defensive / Clean Sheet Potential:
Tottenham v Crystal Palace
Everton v West Brom
Who would you Transfer In and Out for the Gameweek and beyond?:
Transfer Out: Leicester Defence, Xhaka, Kante.
Transfer In: Baines, Coutinho, Snodgrass, Negredo, Hazard.
Who is the team to look out for?:
Look out for Hull who will be on a high. Could be some cheap alternatives. Liverpool could also continue their goals scoring form.
Who is the team to avoid?:
Bournemouth, Crystal Palace.
GW Differential Picks:
Snodgrass, Defoe, Mane, Lamella.
FPL Captaincy Pick:
Aguero or Ibrahimovic if you have him.
Other Gameweek Comments:
Look out for Hazard who appears to be back in form. Unfortunately, he has to wait until the rest of the team catches up with him. Payet was slow and inefficient against Chelsea so we are conscious of his position at the moment and will re-assess after GW2 fixture v Bournemouth.
FPL Scout Picks: Gameweek 2
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Courtois
DEF: Baines
DEF: Walker
DEF: Valencia
MID: Lamella
MID: Mane
MID: Snodgrass
MID: Hazard
FOR: Ibrahimović (vc)
FOR: Aguero (c)
FOR: Negredo
Substitutes
GK: Vorm
MID: Firmino
DEF: Clyne
DEF: Stones
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015 specialising in the Fantasy Premier League (#FPL), providing beautiful graphics and weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb ranking tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review movies, television, live music, festivals, and any relevant topic in the public eye.
You can follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook, or visit our website here at www.thehypetrain.co.uk
All aboard.
