EPL Supercoach Gameweek 1-5 Wrap: 7 things we learnt


<p>I think this is the first time in my Premier League watching life that I’m glad for the International Break. </p>



<p>After a hot start that saw the Bolywood Bhoys up in the Top 500, Gameweek 5 (labelled a ‘troll week’ by Niko) has ravaged the rank &#8211; 62 hurts anytime &#8211; although a little less given the weirdness of the round and my confidence in Arsenal, who met one of the hottest teams in World Football on the weekend.</p>



<p>No time like the present then to look back on what we learned not only in GW5 of EPL Supercoach &#8211; but what the first 5 weeks have shown us.</p>



<p>599 Total &#8211; 1,542 overall is not bad considering last year’s finish was more than 2,000 places below that &#8211; room to grow is a good thing &#8211; as many of the Premier League’s new managers are finding this season.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. Fernandes is not the sure bet of last year</strong></h3>



<p>This applies to United more broadly (although they were never sure bets) &#8211; but I’m more worried about them than I was this time last year under a manager &#8211; who I frankly don’t think is up to the task of taking this team in the right direction &#8211; much less having the squad to take them to a 2nd consecutive season of Champions League football.</p>



<p>The first price drop has hurt for owners, and a Breakeven of 29 is frightening &#8211; the caveat I’d bring here is that after the first international break last season he reeled off 5 straight double-digit scores in games against the likes of Liverpool &amp; Brighton &#8211; before several explosions over the Christmas period.</p>



<p>I’m committed to holding my nerve for the moment and wouldn’t consider selling at the moment &#8211; but I completely understand those who have jumped off. United’s attack is giving him little, if any, support at the moment. </p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2.&nbsp; Brighton have season-long keepers</strong></h3>



<p>The trick is going to be figuring out who they are.<strong> Luka Vuskovic </strong>looks just that &#8211; cash projections all green until well into the year as they key figure in a defence that is over-performing again and has one of the best goalkeepers in the competition as its anchor.</p>



<p>Are there any through midfield? I’ve seen enough from <strong>Jack Hinshelwood</strong> to think he could be that, but an injury so early in the season can be a curse &#8211; hopefully the extended layoff helps him in the long term, although I’m not convinced he’ll come straight back into their starting side.</p>



<p><strong>Maxim De Cuyper</strong> &#8211; looks a sure thing &#8211; but will he stay playing in the same position for much longer? If I am further forced to think about a Fernandes trade, I’ll be trying to spend most of his cash on this guy.</p>



<p><strong>Yalcoulye </strong>&#8211; minutes risk, <strong>Gross </strong>&#8211; has probably topped out in terms of price, <strong>Diego Gomez</strong> could be a sneaky steal at 7.8mil just for his versatility.</p>



<p>If <strong>Kostoulos </strong>gets a run of games together, he looks a legitimate forward option now or somewhere soon down the track.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. Liverpool’s Attack is a wait-and-see</strong></h3>



<p>Some doubts over their last two performances against Fulham and Bournemouth &#8211; but both were sent out to disrupt the Reds, and that’s not how most teams will be taking them on.</p>



<p><strong>Alexander Isak’s </strong>start has been more than encouraging, and bar a couple of tight offsides, he could have had an even hotter start. Not a trade in this GW, but I’d be keeping a close eye on him if his price drops as projected to around $8mil.</p>



<p>You’d be right to point out I’ve reinvested <strong>Wirtz’s </strong>money, but I’d still describe myself as a believer &#8211; I don’t think there are any midfielders I’d be moving to in his price range at this point &#8211; given the fact I think the growing quality around him will improve him as the season goes on.</p>



<p>Man City after the international break could well be where they explode &#8211; the Sky Blues’ defence has looked anything but sturdy to this point.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Speaking of City…</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. Haaland is still the most fixture-proof forward in the League</strong></h3>



<p>Goals against Liverpool, Arsenal, Man Utd &amp; Brighton last year &#8211; another goal against the Red Devils already this season &#8211; barring injury, he will win the Golden Boot again this season.</p>



<p>Looking down the track &#8211; the run from Gameweek 16-21 looks particularly appealing.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. Brentford have better options than Sangare</strong></h3>



<p>I was one of those praising him to high heaven when he came into the Premier League, and I stick by the fact that he will be at a Top 6 club &#8211; but he’s not registering the contributions we want on the defensive side of the ball in his deep-lying position at this early stage of his career in England.</p>



<p>Plenty has been said about <strong>Kevin Schade </strong>and <strong>Vitaly Janelt </strong>&#8211; not a move yet, but whoever wins the starting spot from <strong>Mikkel Damsgaard </strong>&amp; <strong>Mathias Jensen </strong>in the long term could yet be someone we’re riding to the penthouse.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. *In Harry Redknapp Voice* Josh King is going right to the very Top</strong></h3>



<p>If you’re a podcast listener, you’ll have heard myself and Matty Jurman wax lyrical about this 19-year-old since last season &#8211; we weren’t wrong &#8211; just early.</p>



<p>Now he has an unchallenged run ahead of him in a Fulham team that (with the exception of the 0-0 with Liverpool) has been set up to attack. </p>



<p>His performance against Man Utd was the latest in a string of them that will see him playing for England before long.</p>



<p>Ipswich (A), Hull (H), Coventry (A) &#8211; is an invitation to jump on.</p>



<p>If you’re keen on doubling down on attack-minded Fulham… Forward <strong>Gonzalo Garcia </strong>at just 5mil could be a steal.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>7. Active Defenders are sneaky big point scorers</strong></h3>



<p><strong>James Tarkowski </strong>leads the way here &#8211; sure, two clean sheets help, but his underlying numbers are terrific again, as they were a year ago.</p>



<p>It’s part of the reason I’m confident <strong>Gabriel </strong>will rise up the pecking order again as the season goes on.&nbsp;</p>



<p>See also <strong>Jeremie Jacquet, Jan Paul van Hecke </strong>(although I couldn’t endorse any Spurs trade right now) and <strong>Murillo</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Team Set Up &#8211; Trade Plans</strong></h3>



<p>See the Discord in a week’s time… if you’re not in it, sign up! Top Right of your webpage &#8211; go on click through!</p>


EPL Supercoach Gameweek 1-5 Wrap: 7 things we learnt

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