Niko’s Supercoach EPL Watchlist | Round 2

There we have it, our first gameweek done and dusted! 

This game is high scoring!  

112 for me, which seems to be about par for the round.

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I need to stop shooting myself in the foot with these grand plans, such as starting Sels over Raya due to the fixtures.

Fixtures don’t matter when they are season-long holds, Niko, you numpty.

Now that we have more of an idea about the scoring system and first-choice players, let’s see if we need to hit the trade button already, albeit with only a one-game sample size.

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Buy

Erling Haaland ($11.57m | Man City | FWD)

He is Him, and City look to be back to their best.

Rodri coming back from injury very soon will only make them better, and this guy will play 90 minutes nearly every week.

Worth the price tag.

Daniel Ballard ($4.2m | Sunderland | DEF)

At his price and with a 30 in his rolling average, I can’t even comprehend how much he will go up in price when his bubble bursts.

Friendly matchup away to Burnley this weekend who looked terrible against Spurs.

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Tijjani Reijnders ($6.5m | Man City | MID)

Ultra impressive in his City debut and looks like he’ll be a mainstay in that midfield as their long term Gundogan replacement.

Cheap for his likely output, but could get rotated from time to time.

No real defensive intent either, so fully reliant on attacking points.

Igor Thiago ($3.75m | Brentford | FWD)

Easy pick at that price point and on penalties.

If you had Guiu instead, it’s worth the trade.

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Hold

Mohamed Salah ($15.55m | Liverpool | FWD)

Not at his best and clearly grieving his mate.

Still knocked one home for him, and no need to jump off yet.

Expect him to lose plenty of cash with his high breakevens.

Cole Palmer ($12.72m | Chelsea | MID)

Tough watch if you captained him.

Club World Cup aside, he’s been very ordinary for a long time now.

One more chance against the Hammers.

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Bruno Fernandes ($11.49m | Man United | MID)

9 points against the best defence in the league and playing deeper.

Seems like a good floor, on pens, and the fixture opens up a little from here.

United looked much better than I expected, and don’t have Europe to worry about.

Season-long hold IMO.

Florian Wirtz ($8m | Liverpool | FWD)

The jury is already out, but I’d be giving him another chance.

Not a great debut, it must be said, but the role is right and he does track back defensively, which opens up point opportunities.

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Jeremy Frimpong ($6.5m Liverpool DEF)

I’m spewing that I didn’t trust my gut and fade him.

Felt his hammy a little and subbed off as a precaution.

He’ll be better and Newcastle don’t have a striker at present, so could clean.

Viktor Gyokeres ($7.5m | Arsenal | FWD)

Stinker of a debut.

It would be foolish to sell him before Leeds at home. 

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Joao Pedro ($8.44m | Chelsea | FWD)

One more chance.

Potentially much better options at that price, i.e. guys on pens.

Ollie Watkins ($8.3m | Aston Villa | FWD)

Not a great start for the Villa against my boys.

I’m waiting to see what he does at Brentford before making a call on him.

If Liverpool don’t sign a LW a swap to Gakpo might be the play.

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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ($3.9m | Everton | MID)

Played the full 90 minutes in the number 10 role.

Everton always seems to start seasons poorly for some reason.

Cheap enough to keep rolling out for now.

James Tarkowski ($9.24m | Everton | DEF)

7 points in a 1-0 loss, plus he lost points for a dubious penalty conceded.

Easy hold and someone I’ll be targeting to bring in.

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Kyle Walker ($4.2m | Burnley | DEF)

Not ideal for the 22.3% of coaches who own him, registering a -1.

I’d be inclined to hold for one more week, as Spurs away is tough for defenders. 

It won’t cost you anything to hold.

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Watch

Richarlison ($4.5m | Tottenham | FWD)

Coming off a double and 24 points, but away to Man City next.

See how he goes and whether his form keeps him as the starting striker.

I think it will for now, but it could turn in an instant as Solanke is fit again.

Hugo Ekitike ($6.5m | Liverpool | FWD)

Great get if you started him.

The doubts are still there, as I’m positive the Isak transfer will happen soon, which will cost him minutes.

He was cramping after an hour, which is of note.

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James Trafford ($3.9m | Man City | GK)

Potentially only between the sticks because Ederson had Gastro. 

Plus, City keep talking about buying Donnarumma from PSG as their Ederson replacement if Ederson leaves for Galatasaray. 

The Italian won’t move to be the #2. 

Trafford might not see the bubble for a long time.

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Oscar Bobb ($3.75m | Man City | MID)

Flying under the radar, I feel.

He was the first choice before he got injured last season, and the first choice again.

Seems to be a Pep favourite.

Tino Livramento ($5.76m | Newcastle | DEF)

Seems the pick of the Toon defenders at his price. 

Wait for Liverpool to pass before potentially buying into the Leeds/Wolves/Bournemouth run.

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Sell

Jarrod Bowen ($11.73m | West Ham | FWD)

No bubbles getting blown here.

Hammers looked very ordinary, and his price could plummet with Chelsea and Forest coming up.

Played like a relegation candidate team.

Omar Marmoush ($8.64m | Man City | FWD)

If you took the gamble, it hasn’t paid off.

Will be heavily part of the Pep roulette.

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Niclas Fulkrug ($4.63m | West Ham | FWD)

Not sure he’s going to last long in the team, and better off shipping him off now.

John Arias ($5.5m | Wolves | MID)

Plenty of hype around him in the pre-season, being on pens etc.

But he was not in the starting XI.