Niko’s Supercoach EPL Watchlist | Round 3

A mediocre score of 70 for me this week. 

Not aided by the very late out of Cole Palmer as VC, the Rayan Ait-Nouri injury affected zero, and the Bruno Fernandes penalty miss (has that ball landed yet?). 

It was pure Supercoach carnage with Saka injured too, and if you avoided most of it, the rub of the green has gone your way.

Obviously, my team has some issues, and trades need to be made. 

I can’t see a world where I’m not boosting and trying to capitalise on some low breakevens, especially since I still own Jeremie Frimpong, who was injured GW1. 

Change of luck needed please football Gods!

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Buy

Riccardo Calafiori (5.66mil, Arsenal DEF, -38 breakeven)

Seems like an easy switch from Frimpong and an immediate cash grab. 

If he can continue getting 60+ minutes with this attacking intent I’m happy. 

He is projected to go up a whopping 3.5mil with a projected score of 10 against Liverpool at Anfield. 

I would rather go here instead of Timber due to the price difference. 

You could go both, but the fixtures are the worst they’ll be this season for a 4-game stretch, and either could be rotated.

Richarlison (4.5mil, Tottenham FWD, -20 breakeven)

I think he keeps the striker role for at least the short term with Spurs’ current form. 

It should be an attacking match against Bournemouth at home this week and projected to rise 2.5mil, plus the fixtures afterwards are great. 

I wouldn’t expect any more than 70 minutes from him though, and if he has a bad game, he could be back to being a substitute.

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Hugo Ekitike (6.5mil, Liverpool FWD, -14 breakeven)

Clinical finisher and doesn’t need many chances to put it away. 

After Arsenal, they have Burnley and Everton, which look good for points. 

I am also considering Cody Gakpo, who looks assured of minutes on the left and seems to fall into assists and points.

The worry is the Isak saga, so I’m waiting until the transfer window closes for both picks.

Jack Grealish (3.9mil, Everton MID, -10 breakeven)

Pretty sure I’ll make the switch from Dewsbury-Hall. 

Will be the main man at Everton and has come on much quicker than I anticipated. 

Racked up quite a few defensive points on top of his two assists, which I like. 

The Grealish of Villa days were back on the weekend.

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Joao Pedro (8.44mil, Chelsea FWD, -4 breakeven)

If Palmer is out for a while, Pedro could really flourish in behind Delap, as we saw on the weekend just gone. 

I’m not sure Palmer will miss anymore than 1 or 2 matches since he’s attending music festivals.

Tino Livramento (5.76mil, Newcastle DEF, -4 breakeven)

Gets forward quite a bit, delivering quality crosses, and the Toon have a great short-term fixture run. 

I’m just worried about the injuries we obtained this week and what effect that has on the team’s results, but he should be a good long-term hold.

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Joao Palhinha (7.5mil, Tottenham MID, 2 breakeven)

An absolute bull in midfield and a big reason for their shock win away to Man City. 

Considering, but I expect goals to be rare.

James Tarkowski (9.24mil, Everton DEF, 8 breakeven)

If Ait-Nouri is out, I can see myself going here as a long-term pick. 

Everton are usually good defensively, and he has plenty of avenues to points. 

They were lucky to clean on the weekend, which is the concern.

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Others to consider:  

Moises Caicedo (6.75mil, Chelsea MID, -7 breakeven), who should continue to score well, but goals are rare from him.  Good long-term hold.

Josh Cullen (5.77mil, Burnley MID, -17 breakeven) but I don’t like the upcoming fixtures at all unless you bench him and use him purely for cash-making purposes.

Viktor Gyokeres (7.5mil, Arsenal FWD, -2 breakeven) but short-term fixtures are very tough.

Hold

Cole Palmer (12.72mil, Chelsea MID, n/a breakeven)

This obviously depends on injury news, but it seems to be on the minor end. 

The fixtures are good enough on paper to hold him and reassess as he won’t lose cash just yet.

I can’t argue against people selling either, as it’s a lot of money on the bench, and his form has been questionable.

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Bruno Fernandes (11.49mil, Man United MID, 25 breakeven)

Serves me right for saying he had a good floor. 

If the penalty goes in the onion bag instead of orbit, he scores well. 

I’m riding the wave and expecting a good score this week against Burnley, but he’ll bleed cash in the short-term which hurts.

Mohamed Salah (15.55mil Liverpool FWD, 21 breakeven)

Not at his best and sadly, we may be seeing his decline. 

Has scored very late points in both matches to date and not really justifying his price tag playing on the right wing; however, he’s still scoring playing badly. 

Two of the next three fixtures are elite for him and leaning to hold if you own.

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Matz Sels (7.05mil, Forest GKP, 14 breakeven)

The decision to start him over Raya is haunting me, but I cannot sell him with West Ham up next.  

Erling Haaland (11.57mil, Man City FWD, 9 breakeven)

Might just be a blip, so holding firm for now. 

Was largely quiet against Spurs with the exception of a header opportunity he should have put away really.  Will bounce back.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (8.15mil, Man City DEF, 9 breakeven)

Again, the injury report will decide this, but hoping he’s good to play or will miss one max so planning to hold. 

Still no sign of Gvardiol so he’s the main man in defence if fit.

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Igor Thiago (3.75mil Brentford FWD, -6 breakeven)

Still the main striker with no new signings and on penalties. 

I like the fixture this week away to Sunderland and think he’s still a great trade in if you don’t own.

James Trafford (3.9mil, Man City GKP, breakeven -6)

Had an absolute mare, and I would be shocked if he kept his spot. 

Okay to hold if you have a second keeper.

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Sell

Jeremy Frimpong (6.5mil, Liverpool DEF, n/a breakeven)

He won’t be back until after the international break, and with Bradley back and seeing minutes, I’m very much leaning to selling him.

Jarrod Bowen (11.73mil, West Ham FWD, breakeven 25) 

The Hammers utterly stink now and couldn’t even get a cup result either playing a full-strength side. 

You should be jumping off ASAP.

Florian Wirtz (8mil, Liverpool FWD, breakeven 16) 

Will be mass sold and rightfully so, as he can’t even muster an attempt on goal at the moment. 

Just hasn’t settled in just yet.

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Ollie Watkins (8.3mil, Aston Villa FWD, breakeven 15)

Not a great start to the season for the Villa. 

Fixtures are good, but their form is not, and that dictates this trade out along with the breakeven.

Niclas Fulkrug (4.63mil, West Ham FWD, breakeven 10) 

There are many better options above and below his price tag.  Sell.

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Maxim De Cuyper (5mil, Brighton DEF, breakeven 11)

He was easily worst on ground on the weekend and has Man City next. 

I would be watching the starting XI closely, as he was truly that bad, he could lose his spot in the team. 

Sell, unless you have larger fires.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (3.9mil, Everton MID, breakeven 3)

He’s still playing a good role, but not really getting involved in the attack as much as I’d like. 

Straight swap for Grealish who will start rocketing up in price, seems worth the trade.

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Trade Plans

My current trade plans include praying that Ait-Nouri and Palmer are fit:

OUT:  Frimpong + Watkins + Dewsbury-Hall

IN:  Calafiori + Gakpo + Grealish