In this Pre-Gameweek weekly article I hope to capture the heart of the FPL community. I am using some FPL personas to inspire my Picks for the next Game week. The accounts I use have no affiliation with this article or the picks within. I mean no malice, I am just calling it how I see these accounts. Hopefully it is just a bit of fun when everyone is losing their Sh*t in the countdown to deadline. If anyone does not want to be included going forward just let me know.

The Greatest mind pick

Now as you might have guessed this pick is inspired by a good friend and all round Egocentric @RealFPLChef. He is known for his football knowledge but also tends to go a little bit against the template.

So this week we are looking at Emerson at Chelsea. I know Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet this season and got spanked by that overperforming Utd side. But Emerson looks like what we all thought Alonso was. Apart from Emerson looks better on the defensive side of things. He covers all that flank for the full 90 mins. Further to that has 4 shots on target and completed 8 out of his 10 attempted dribbles. Lampard looks like he has his #1 left back position sorted.

This is is heatmap vs Norwich. Basically, a left winger. In 90 minute’s he completed 5 out of his 6 dribbles and managed 1 shot on target. He also had a shot blocked and created a goal scoring chance. If Chelsea can act as a defensive unit then clean sheets will be on the way. I am tipping them much to some peoples head shaking, to get their first at home to Sheffield UTD.

The Stats pick

This pick is inspired by @WGTA_FPL & @WGTA_Nick. Two gents I have in my ears during oiled up HIT workouts while they throw stats at me. So sticking to the stats. This pick will please one half of the pod more than the other. It’s my Beau, Sir Harold Kane.

In the firey fixture that is the NLD. Harry Kane is already the top Premier league goal scorer in the fixture on 9 goals in 9 games. However 1 more goal and he can go level with everyones favourite knee sliding Adebayor and the historic Bobby smith. They both sit atop the charts across all competitions, with 10 goals.

He has 4 goals in 4 games at the Emirates, and although has started sluggish will look to score again vs that Arsenal defence. As well as a good record vs Arsenal he has 27 goals in all London derbies. Making him the most prolific hitman in London games since RVP had 25 goals.

The Out there pick

Want something that’s not for everybody? This pick is inspired by my interactions with @chapellefpl, who I cannot tell if he is serious all the time or not. So we are going for Danny Ings here. Playing at home vs Manchester UTD. He has a goal and assist in his first 3 games this season and will look to test calamity Dave and the rest of that backline.

So far this season he has a mighty 20% shot accuracy with 1 on target out of 5. With not a lot of attacking options available vs Utd I expect them to go a little bit route one. Wingers, Redmond and Djenepo out, it leaves the erratic Boufal and outcast Elyounoussi for natural width. So, I think it will be flood midfield and get it to Adams and Ings up top to be annoying.

The next bandwagon pick

Who loves a bandwagon? that’s right @HinduMonkey does. Picks out an Austrian forward and suddenly they are both viral superstars. So here I am picking out who will be the next Barnes or Pukki, drumroll please…. Joel Matip. At 5.4m and less than 5% owned currently he could be a great way into Liverpool’s defence.

He did not start the first game but has started vs Southampton and Arsenal. Even getting himself on the score sheet against the Gunners. He has carried on his excellent form, from the back end of last season. He likes to play out from the back and is a threat in the oppositions box. Along with VVD they both make great targets for TAA and his set pieces. The only downside I can see is Joe Gomez. He is more a threat for Matip than for TAA.

But for 5.4m, Adrian aside he is the cheapest way into that back line that will keep a clean sheet sooner, rather than later. If you have bench cover, you can maybe afford a sub 5.5 defender who starts 80% of a top 2 sides game. If he starts and keeps a clean sheet at Turf Moor then watch people get on the Matip Motor (sorry everyone).

The obvious pick

Now I do not follow @FFScout, for this reason. I have not even looked at their site but am guessing their pick or one of them is this Manchester City midfielder. Step forward Mr Sterling. If you know anything about football you will know about him and what he has done already this season. It needs little explanation. But here is a little explanation. Sterling has set off at a blistering pace this season. Who said he couldn’t finish? He has 5 goals already in 3 games, is playing in a City set up that is seemingly set up just to funnel goals through him. Their PES Triple tap O cross has been perfected over the years, and the amount of goals scored 6 yards out is obscene.

This is his heatmap in the match away at Bournemouth. As you can see it does not look like a great heatmap. Drifting all over and in no concentrated areas. But in the game, he had 29 touches, had 2 shots 1 blocked and 1 scored. It just shows like top tier elite players, he doesn’t have to be at the top of his game to score or influence the game. Looking forward to seeing him carve up the Brighton defence and carry on his goal scoring form.

The hate/love pick

Now if you are into your FPL you will know of a gent called @FPL_FLY. He is very opinionated about a certain team in red. He says he hates them, but I know was secretly parading about in his Liverpool shirt and scarf on June the 1st. So for this pick is the player you reckon you hate but secretly love. This player did himself no favours last week with his celebration. The Owl supporting Jamie Vardy.

Unless you are a Sheffield UTD fan, last weeks goal celebration in front of their fans was amusing. If it was Alli in front of the silent Arsenal fans I would have the same amused look on my face. He just portrays a pr*ck. But is a very good goal scorer. With the team behind him still clicking, he has had little great service. But Maddison looks like he is coming into form which can mean only goals for the sharp chinned striker. I predict goals vs a usually leaky Bournemouth side.

The rebel sauce pick

Inspired by a friend and fellow #FPLBeerClub member @fpl_sauce, this pick is about someone not in the current spot light yet. But has all the sauce needed to propel himself to that much talked about status. He has already shown why he moved for a club record fee this summer. The man is Nicolas Pepe. He has only started 1 out of the 3 games this season but is the only person to have dribbled past VVD in what seems like an eternity.

He played on the right side of what looked like a front 2. With a Diamond played behind them. We may see Arsenal use this formation on the road to get more possession but yet have the lightening pace up top to spring counters. During the match he had 4 shots. 2 on target, 1 off target and 1 blocked. He also impressively completed 7 out of his 10 dribbles. I think if he plays on the right against Spurs on Sunday he could get joy whoever he plays. It could be Rose, who’s pace would be beneficial but it could be steady ben for the security if in a back 4.