£4.5m midfielders

roryc

This is another key area to consider, as it seems most managers are going down one of two routes:

1. Picking 3/4 strong midfielders that will play every week in a 3-4-3 or 4-4-2 formation, with the 5th choice being a £4.5m midfielder.
2. Picking 4/5 strong midfielders that will play every week in a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation, with the 5th choice MF and 3rd choice FW rotating.

This poll relates to those that have gone with Option 1 above, and are looking for a £4.5m midfielder that will at the very least play regularly for his team. The issue isn't helped by the fact that two of the top choices (Albrighton and Tiote) have just been flagged with injuries! Worth bearing in mind that this position should be considered as a medium-long term move if you have any hope of holding on to your WC, as you will almost certainly have more pressing transfers to do each week than change up your 5th choice mid. Therefore it's probably worth ignoring the current injuries for the sake of the poll.


Karim El Ahmadi - Aston Villa
Currently the top chosen midfielder in this price bracket. 2 goals and 1 assist last year after playing 2/3 of all games. I'm not aware of any signings Villa have made in MF but looking at their pre-season games (which have not be going well) they seem to be playing a different team in both halves of each game. For the first few games El Ahmadi played the second half, then switched to playing the first half. Then for the last few games (when you would assume they are playign their starting 11) he came on as a sub late in the games. This would make it sound like he's unlikely to start IMO.

Marc Albrighton - Leicester
Was originally the top choice but a groin injury has seen his ownership plummet. Leicester have some shocking fixtures to start with but Albrighton might be one to think of as a season-keeper if he nails down a spot. Hammond, James, King and Taylor-Fletcher are all other options at this price range for Leicester, so could get the nod in his absence.

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle
Played over 2,700 minutes last year but with Cabella and De Jong now on the books at Newcastle there's a lot of competition for places. His injury is a bit more severe than Albrighton's though so might be worth holding off on Cheik.

George Boyd - Hull
2 goals and 2 assists in 1,200 minutes last season so definitely worth consideration. He started against Stuttgart in their last pre-season friendly so could have nailed down a spot.

Cork/Wanyama/Isgrove - Southampton
Southampton have a number of options in this area, with Cork, Wanyama and Isgrove all viable options. Think it's easiest to class them all together and people can specify their choice below. All three played the first friendly against Brighton and Hove alongside Tadic, Ward-Prowse and Davis (the three goal scorers). This had the Saints playing 6 players classed as midfielders in FPL. Cork was dropped for the next match against Bournemouth but came on at half-time for Ramirez. Isgrove scored the only goal of the game and was again a nuisance. Wanyama was dropped for the next game with both Cork and Isgrove starting, Yoshida coming on after 60 mins. Same set-up for the next friendly against Sporting Hasselt, with an assist from Isgrove. He seems to the one getting involved the most and would be my pick of the bunch, although it's slightly worrying that he started every game except the last friendly (came on as a sub). He's only 21 and hasn't had much experience at senior level, but he gets forward and can play up front which is enough for me! Lets just hope Koeman rates him enough to play him regularly.

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley
Burnley only have 7 players listed as midfielders in FPL, and 4 of these are £4.5m! You would assume one of these should nail down a spot. I don't know much about any of them bar Reid, so perhaps a Burnley fan can shed some light on them!


There are a few decent options in the £5m range but IMO this is too much to spend on what will essentially be your 3rd choice bench fodder, probably behind a £4m defender. That extra £0.5m is needed elsewhere, especially in defence. The difference between a £4m and £4.5m defender and £4.5m to £5m is huge. Apologies if I've missed any options above, trying to keep the poll short and sweet!

Michael D Not Higgins

George Boyd - Hull

Started on Albrighton, then transferred him out when he was reported injured for Tiote but just saw he's banjaxed at the moment too. Not sure who to go for now.

OneColdHand

roryc wrote: »

Karim El Ahmadi - Aston Villa
Currently the top chosen midfielder in this price bracket. 2 goals and 1 assist last year after playing 2/3 of all games. I'm not aware of any signings Villa have made in MF but looking at their pre-season games (which have not be going well) they seem to be playing a different team in both halves of each game. For the first few games El Ahmadi played the second half, then switched to playing the first half. Then for the last few games (when you would assume they are playign their starting 11) he came on as a sub late in the games. This would make it sound like he's unlikely to start IMO.

We have been linked with a Colombian midfielder, and I'd say if we sign him that would directly impact KEA's game time.

Dearg81

roryc wrote: »

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley
Burnley only have 7 players listed as midfielders in FPL, and 4 of these are £4.5m! You would assume one of these should nail down a spot. I don't know much about any of them bar Reid, so perhaps a Burnley fan can shed some light on them!

Dean Marney will play in centre mid every week I think, he wont do much in FPL apart from get you a few yellows :-). Jones played alongside him in midfield last season. I dont think any of the other lads will be regulars but I'm not a Burnley fan so not 100% sure on that.

CSF

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Thinking Wanyama as the Albrighton alternative.

Scorpion Sting

Re El Ahmadi, the only reason he is the most selected 4.5 mid is because he got the most points last season out of all the midfielders in the 4.5m category and 'casuals' basically autopicking the last midfield position. Exact same reason Alex Bruce is the top selected 4.0 defender.

Iused2likebusts

Dearg81 wrote: »

Dean Marney will play in centre mid every week I think, he wont do much in FPL apart from get you a few yellows :-). Jones played alongside him in midfield last season. I dont think any of the other lads will be regulars but I'm not a Burnley fan so not 100% sure on that.

Ye that's pretty spot on. I'd rate Marney as the better pick of the two as he scored a few last year and generally plays a bit higher forward.

djPSB

Faurlin for QPR?

Started last pre season game.

Scorpion Sting

djPSB wrote: »

Faurlin for QPR?

Started last pre season game.

He's a good option I think. I expect that he'll start alongside Barton in the pivot.

Mr. Incognito

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Isgrove for me

roryc

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

djPSB wrote: »

Faurlin for QPR?

Started last pre season game.

I looked at QPR but can't see any points coming from their £4.5m options. Faurlin may get the odd assist or goal but I would prefer the likes of Albrighton or Isgrove. Have to weight up the possibility of starting vs the chance of getting goals. There's also the factor of price rises. IMO it's better to have someone with low ownership that could explode and see an instant price jump. Even if he's on my bench scoring points I'm happy if he rises from £4.5 up to £5m, and Isgrove seems to be perfect for that. If he fails his ownership is low enough it won't fluctuate too much, if at all.

The Wild Bunch

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Matty James for Leicester

He was one of the best midfielders in the Championship last season

Mr.Prodston

The Wild Bunch wrote: »

Matty James for Leicester

He was one of the best midfielders in the Championship last season

I was looking at him last week but is he nailed on to start?

I was looking at Andy King too.

The Wild Bunch

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Mr.Prodston wrote: »

I was looking at him last week but is he nailed on to start?

I was looking at Andy King too.

King the liklier starter but James the better player in my opinion

If you can afford Drinkwater for the extra .5, I'd get him in

FHFC

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Just refreshing this thread as have seen a number of people asking for options for 4.5 mids in various threads.

Any fresh ideas added to this list would be helpful to us all.

Currently on Isgrove as he got a good bit of time preseason, and Koeman talked him up a bit early on. However they've signed Long and saw another poster suggesting they may ne playing 433 so I'm pretty dubious on him


Also re Rorys OP re Boyd, Bruce played largely a second string in that last friendly so Boyd featuring not necessarily a good thing.

Dubstar07

Marc Albrighton - Leicester

Well all that has given me a little headache now. Was on El Ahmadi (lazy option) but a re-think is on the cards

Michael D Not Higgins

George Boyd - Hull

Arsenal after Tiote if you believe the rags. Might push his price up if it goes through in a week or so.

Green&Red

Besic for Everton?

The Wild Bunch

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

This Chelsea winger Atsu thats going to Everton, he gonna be 4.5?

Menas

I am currently on Albrington. I know he is injured and may not make the 1st gameweek. Albrington seems the most nailed on 4.5 starter to me and I really dont want to be faffing about with wasting transfers on cheapo midfielders once the game starts.

So I reckon I will have him, accept that he may not play for the first week or two and then hope that he is not injured when the day comes that I need him. He is unlikely ever to make my first 11 and will always be a season long bench warmer.

roryc

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Sticking to Isgrove for the moment. Hopefully FHFC is wrong and Long doesn't affect his chances of starting!

8-10

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

Arsenal after Tiote if you believe the rags. Might push his price up if it goes through in a week or so.

Doubt that many people would get him in, he'd be brought as a Flamini upgrade

FHFC

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Trigger Happy wrote: »

I am currently on Albrington. I know he is injured and may not make the 1st gameweek. Albrington seems the most nailed on 4.5 starter to me and I really dont want to be faffing about with wasting transfers on cheapo midfielders once the game starts.

So I reckon I will have him, accept that he may not play for the first week or two and then hope that he is not injured when the day comes that I need him. He is unlikely ever to make my first 11 and will always be a season long bench warmer.

I was going to do that too, but was worried that as he had quite high ownership he could drop in price when people realised he wasn't in the team. His flag has helped reduce him down to 4.5% ownership now though so this could be the best shout. May even get price rises with wildcarders using him for their 5th mid when he's fit.

Menas

FHFC wrote: »

I was going to do that too, but was worried that as he had quite high ownership he could drop in price when people realised he wasn't in the team. His flag has helped reduce him down to 4.5% ownership now though so this could be the best shout. May even get price rises with wildcarders using him for their 5th mid when he's fit.

Welcome to the club. Membership 2.

km79

if jack cork to palace looks like being 100% he will be mine

ItsChecoTime

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Just want someone who will return a solid 2 in the event of an emergency. Think I'll be going for Wanyama. Of the 4.5 mids him and El Ahmadi seem most likely to start from the start of the season (with Albrighton and Tiote injured). Haven't a clue who'll be starting for Burnley so will avoid them. El Ahmadi has a 11.4% ownership so could be susceptible to price drops soon enough so Wanyama seems the safest option for me

Iused2likebusts

ItsChecoTime wrote: »

Just want someone who will return a solid 2 in the event of an emergency. Think I'll be going for Wanyama. Of the 4.5 mids him and El Ahmadi seem most likely to start from the start of the season (with Albrighton and Tiote injured). Haven't a clue who'll be starting for Burnley so will avoid them. El Ahmadi has a 11.4% ownership so could be susceptible to price drops soon enough so Wanyama seems the safest option for me

Marney and Jones will start and Marney gets the odd goal assist.

ItsChecoTime

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Marney and Jones will start and Marney gets the odd goal assist.

Interesting, might go for Marney in that case, cheers!

Cypher_sounds

Darron Gibson is £4.5m chances of him playing regularly?

CSF

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Darron Gibson is £4.5m chances of him playing regularly?

Low.

hjkl

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Darron Gibson is £4.5m chances of him playing regularly?

Very little. I don't think he'll win a midfield place from McCarthy or Barry.

hjkl

Is Isgrove actually likely to play?

Cypher_sounds

frimpong wrote: »

Very little. I don't think he'll win a midfield place from McCarthy or Barry.

True, would be worth keeping an eye on if they were to get a few injuries in midfield though.

Crimson King

El Ahmadi, all the way

zarquon

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Going with Wanyama. I got burned too many times last year with big price drops on 4.5m midfielders. Probably cost me over 1.0m at least during the course of the season. Wanyama will get solid 2-3 points and he will rarely ever see my team barring a few injuries. Will replace him later on if a better injury free nailed on option appears. At this point in the season there will be large price fluctuations so i will try to stay on the positive side of those.

manual_man

Longs' arrival messing up Isgrove potential pffff

donglen

Reid/Marney/Jones/Wallace - Burnley

Think I'll go Albrighton. I know he's injured at the mo but only using him as a back-up so will usually be benched but he should be back playing in a couple of weeks, he would seem to be the most promising points wise in that value bracket.

Paully D

donglen wrote: »

Think I'll go Albrighton. I know he's injured at the mo but only using him as a back-up so will usually be benched but he should be back playing in a couple of weeks, he would seem to be the most promising points wise in that value bracket.

I'd agree with this and will probably do the same.

I was worried that his high ownership would see him drop to £4.4m over the weekend when he's probably not in the squad, but at 4% now and seemingly dropping by the hour it might be okay.

For those more knowledgeable than me on the price rises, do you lads reckon it would be a big risk or should be safe enough at that ownership rate?

FHFC

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

Paully D wrote: »

I'd agree with this and will probably do the same.

I was worried that his high ownership would see him drop to £4.4m over the weekend when he's probably not in the squad, but at 4% now and seemingly dropping by the hour it might be okay.

For those more knowledgeable than me on the price rises, do you lads reckon it would be a big risk or should be safe enough at that ownership rate?

As somebody said elsewhere it needs about 10% of his ownership to TO to get to a drop, however the fact he is flagged means the figure increases to about 25% which might be the main thing.

It there were 3m players 4% ownership is 120,000 so only 12,000 TO would drop him 0.1 it with the flag that should be more like 30,000

PARlance

Paully D wrote: »

I'd agree with this and will probably do the same.

I was worried that his high ownership would see him drop to £4.4m over the weekend when he's probably not in the squad, but at 4% now and seemingly dropping by the hour it might be okay.

For those more knowledgeable than me on the price rises, do you lads reckon it would be a big risk or should be safe enough at that ownership rate?

Personally I think people have been overly spooked by this high ownership talk.
If takes ~10% of owners to transfer someone out.
I'd prefer to be sitting on a guy with 100,000 owners as I'll see that fall coming from a distance. A guy with 1,000 owners could have a small wave of transfers out and could be missed.

That said, I'd favour a low ownership guy but that's because I see more potential of price rises.

They are cheap 5th midfielders, they're not the number 1 priority of a players transfer activity thus their price is fairly "sticky" in my view.
Not something to be dismissed but I do think it's been over hyped

The Wild Bunch

Cheik Tiote - Newcastle

WANYAMA