2018/19 Fantasy Premier League Squad revealed

After finishing a very respectable 22nd overall in McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy game, Wanderers now turn their attention to the season-long marathon that is commonly known as the Fantasy Premier League.

Fantasy Football Portal plan to follow them every step of the way, not only keeping a close eye on their progress but also adding insight into the thinking behind their team selections.

So, with the transfer window closing early, there is plenty for FPL managers to ponder. Notably:

• How quickly will players returning from World Cup duty be reintroduced?
• Can players with a point to prove get off to flying starts?
• Which players are likely to be undervalued?
• How will the influx of a host of new arrivals at clubs like West Ham, Everton and Fulham influence starting line-ups?

It would be far too easy to take a punt on marquee signings at this stage, while loading up with too many World Cup players is also risky.

The sensible thing to do is to target players with attractive early fixtures who have a point to prove and try to get off to a steady start.

Playing the Wildcard around Gameweek 4-5 looks like a smart move as well since it will allow you to assess how many of the new faces are fitting in at their respective teams and more importantly offer the chance for you to snap up those that may well be undervalued in the process.

This is the strategy that Wanderers have gone for, with Álvaro Morata and Alexis Sánchez both included from the off, as they look to build on indifferent first seasons at their current clubs.

On top of this, 5 players are selected from Liverpool and Manchester City, the two clubs that could well fight it out for the title. Mo Salah is included among these and he looks like captain material in GW1.

Willy Boly and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are included as budget defenders, while Tom Cairney gets that 5th midfielder slot.

Brighton don’t have the easiest set of early fixtures but they do look to have made some very astute signings so Pascal Gross goes on the watchlist for now. With extra quality now surrounding him, Gross may well build on a fantastic first FPL campaign but it’s another player that will be plying his trade on the South Coast that is preferred instead.

Mohamed Elyounoussi tormented Manchester City at the Etihad last season and if the Saints are to avoid getting sucked into the relegation scrap again, they will need their new Norwegian signing to deliver.

Big spending Everton have plenty to prove and the same can also be said of Richarlison but the youngster still gets the nod on the strength of some great early fixtures.

Andre Gray and another Norwegian, Joshua King, are selected up front alongside Morata.

Bournemouth take on leading relegation candidates Cardiff City so Asmir Begovic is preferred in goal to Ederson for GW1.

Will Wanderers get off to a flying start?