Dream Team

LIKE several of Manchester City’s new recruits, Rodri (£4.3m) took some time to adjust to life under Pep Guardiola.However, few players have gone on to establish themselves as an essential component of the decorated tactician’s system in the manner of the Spain international.
The 27-year-old now has the same aura about him as the legendary Barcelona midfielders who translated Guardiola’s grand plan to the pitch over a decade ago.

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A class actCredit: DREAM TEAM
Just as he did in the Champions League final, Rodri provided the winning goal for his side against Sheffield United on Sunday with a sweet connection typical of his technical brilliance.
Whereas the treble-sealing strike in Istanbul was a controlled right-footed instep, his winner at Bramall Lane was an instinctive swing of the left, but no less effective.
Such is Rodri’s importance to City, he is essentially immune to ‘Pep Roulette’ – the term given to Guardiola’s unpredictable rotation policy that has often left Dream Team managers frustrated.
Even players of Kevin De Bruyne (£6.7m) and Phil Foden’s (£4.5m) calibre have unexpectedly appeared on the substitute bench when heavily backed to plunder points against favourable opposition.
It would almost be simpler for Dream Team gaffers to stay clear of Etihad assets altogether but that’s not a realistic strategy because there are so many points to be had when Pep Roulette spins in one’s favour.
Foden collects Dream Team points when on the pitch but his minutes aren’t guaranteedCredit: GETTY
In Gameweek 3, illness restricted Foden to just a few minutes (he still provided an assist in that time) and while Guardiola can’t be blamed for that, it was the latest example of an attacking midfielder missing out on significant points while the ever-present Rodri cashed in.
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The latter banked ten points when all was said and done to take his season tally to 29 – Bukayo Saka (£6.1m) is the only midfielder above him in the rankings.
Truth be told, Rodri has been a perfectly viable Dream Team option for a couple of years now but the reason gaffers were previously hesitant to back him related to the general lack of returns provided by defensive midfielders.
However, that’s all changed this season because of the improved scoring system that recognises significant contributions in every aspect of the game.
It just so happens that Rodri has a decent eye for goal as well as being a master metronome and a savvy ball winner.
Rodri does it all for Man CityCredit: Reuters
So while it’s highly unlikely he’ll maintain his current scoring of two goals in three outings, as the first name on the team sheet for 99% of fixtures he will inevitably will tick over for months on end.
A sizeable chunk of Dream Team managers have already recognised this as Rodri’s ownership of 20.9% makes him the ninth-most popular player in the game at the time of writing.
And he’ll probably be among the most recruited players ahead of the Gameweek 4.
For gaffers sick of Pep Roulette, Rodri is an enabler of regular, consistent City points.

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THE captaincy debate is an open-and-shut case for Gameweek 3… or is it?Let’s run through the strongest contenders for Dream Team managers to mull over before the 7pm Friday deadline.

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Gaffers are backing Haaland to run riot this weekendCredit: ALAMY
Erling Haaland (£8.6m)
Manchester City’s imperious No9 is deservedly the obvious choice.
Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday where they’ll come up against a Sheffield United outfit that have conceded 40 shots across their first two games this season.
Almost everyone expects heavy one-way traffic in the visitors’ favour and that’s likely to mean chances galore for Haaland.
It’s worth noting that we advised Dream Team gaffers to take on the Norwegian cyborg in Gameweek 2 and all the alternatives we put forward produced more points – those who strapped the armband to Pervis Estupinan (£3.6m) or Bryan Mbeumo (£3.7m) would have been handsomely rewarded.
However, while there are opportunities to go against Haaland, Gameweek 3 is probably not one of them.
Bukayo Saka (£6.1m)
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Star BoyCredit: DREAM TEAM
For those who feel compelled to bet against Haaland, Arsenal’s No7 is a more than tempting alternative.
The Gunners host Fulham at the weekend and while Marco Silva’s men haven’t conceded as many shots as Sheffield United, they’re not far behind.
Not even a Bernd Leno (£3.3m) masterclass will be enough to deny the hosts at the Emirates if the Cottagers produce another toothless defensive display.
Saka averages a goal involvement every 129.7 minutes in the Premier League since the start of last season.
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Ben Chilwell (£4.5m)
It’s worth acknowledging the fact that 12 of the 20 clubs will play twice in Gameweek 3.
From a Dream Team perspective, Chelsea and Tottenham are the most notable teams among those pulling double duty.
The Blues have the additional benefit of back-to-back home games against favourable opposition in the form of Luton and Wimbledon.
No Premier League defender has registered more touches in the final third than Chilwell in the opening exchanges of the new campaign – he’s essentially an extra attacker in Mauricio Pochettino’s system.
If the England left-back was guaranteed to start both fixtures then he would be a genuinely excellent alternative to Haaland but virtually every player is a rotation risk in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup.
Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m)
Will everything click for Manchester United in Gameweek 3?Credit: ALAMY
Only a truly brave soul would back a Manchester United player over Haaland this weekend given the nature of the Red Devils’ performances so far.
However, the underlying statistics suggest goal involvements are coming for the captain.
Fernandes couldn’t have asked for a more favourable match-up than Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford – Steve Cooper’s men have mustered just eight point on the road since promotion to the top flight.
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MOST-POPULAR CAPTAINS FOR GAMEWEEK 3 AMONG ALL DREAM TEAM MANAGERS:

Ering Haaland (£8.6m)
Bukayo Saka (£6.1m)
Mohamed Salah (£6.8m)
Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m)
Martin Odegaard (£4.9m) More

A hearty round of applause for the 2.7% of Dream Team managers currently backing Yoane Wissa (£2.2m).The 26-year-old has been tasked with the unenviable task of filling Ivan Toney’s boots for the first half of the season and he’s off to an excellent start.

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Dream Team’s top striker!Credit: DREAM TEAM
With Brentford’s top scorer in the Premier League suspended until January, much of the focus has been on whether Wissa can provide regular goals over the course of several months having previously deputised for Toney impressively in small doses.
2023/24 offers a small sample size with the Bees having played just twice but the DR Congo international has burst out of the blocks with two goals and an assist.
Add in further returns for appearances and shots on target, Wissa currently boasts a tally of 21 points.
This makes him Dream Team’s top striker after two Gameweeks, three points clear of Erling Haaland (£8.6m).
Needless to say, Manchester City’s No9 is at the opposite end of the scale in terms of price and popularity (85.9% ownership).
Wissa and Mbeumo have flourished at the start of the new seasonCredit: GETTY
Wissa took advantage of Fulham’s porous defence in the west London derby on Saturday to add 12 points to the nine he earned away to Tottenham in Gameweek 1.
One key aspect of Brentford’s play since their promotion to the top flight has been Toney’s understanding and interplay with Bryan Mbeumo (£3.7m).
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Understudy Wissa has fulfilled this role seamlessly too with the Frenchman having racked up 24 points already.
Thomas Frank’s side take on Crystal Palace and Newport County in Gameweek 4 before and their September fixtures look relatively favourable too: Bournemouth (h), Newcastle (a), Everton (h).
Dream Team bosses in need of a bargain striker simply shouldn’t look anywhere else than Brentford’s No11!

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CHELSEA suffered a frustrating defeat to West Ham on Sunday but Mauricio Pochettino will have taken appreciated Raheem Sterling’s (£3.5m) performance.The England international did his best to single-handedly claim some points from the London Stadium but his team-mates failed to make the most of his efforts.
His penetrating runs carved the Hammers’ open time and time again, particularly in the first half, and though his end product wasn’t perfect he deserved at least one assist.
Sterling can’t be faulted for his efforts at West HamCredit: DREAM TEAM
Ben Chilwell (£4.5m) failed to convert a free shot from close range after a Sterling cutback before the latter’s quick feet won a penalty only for Enzo Fernandez (£3m) to be denied by Alphonse Areola (£2m).
And in the second half, Sterling created an inviting chance for Mykhailo Mudryk (£2.9m) but the Ukrainian winger volleyed his effort over the bar.
The Blues’ No7 missed out on concrete returns but his impressive performance was recognised in the realm of Dream Team in the form of FIVE bonus points.
In fact, Sterling was the only player to earn maximum bonus points in Gameweek 2.
Add in appearance points and he finished with a deserved haul of seven on Sunday.
Sterling won a penalty for his side but Fernandez failed to capitaliseCredit: GETTY
Experienced Dream Team gaffers will know that Sterling is a force to be reckoned with when in form – he was the overall top points scorer in 2019/20.
It’s early days but he’s started well this term despite Chelsea having mustered only one point from their first two games.
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A glance at the schedule suggests Sterling will have ample opportunities to build on his tally in the coming weeks, starting with a home fixtures against Luton and Wimbledon in Gameweek 3 – although it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was rested in the Carabao Cup.
Pochettino’s men will then face Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge before a trip to Bournemouth after the international break.
Dream Team bosses won’t be overly eager to back Chelsea assets given what they’ve witnessed so far this season but Sterling is worthy of consideration, even if just in the short-term for a friendly run of games.

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MANCHESTER UNITED’s most-popular players have stumbled out of the blocks in Dream Team this season.Erik ten Hag’s side started with a win against Wolves but they were largely outplayed at Old Trafford and ultimately benefited from the visitors’ wastefulness.
In Gameweek 2, the Red Devils travelled to north London for an entertaining clash with Tottenham but one that ended in a 2-0 defeat.
Many of Man United’s popular stars have produced few points between them so farCredit: DREAM TEAM
It’s early days but several widely-selected assets have provided meagre returns for Dream Team managers.
Only Erling Haaland (£8.6m) amassed more points than Marcus Rashford (£6.3m) last season but the England international has mustered just six points from two outings so far this term.
The 25-year-old’s ownership of 21.1% makes him the fourth-most popular striker in the game at present.
Mason Mount (£3.4m) was hugely popular prior to Gameweek 1 with many gaffers seeing him as a value-for-money selection.
However, the ex-Chelsea midfielder has struggled to make a positive impact in his new surroundings so far and has returned just four points as a result.
That’s a disastrous result for the Dream Team bosses who opted to spend £3.5m of their initial budget on Mount rather than Kaoru Mitoma or Solly March.
Man United have underwhelmed in their opening two gamesCredit: GETTY
Most disappointing of all has been Lisandro Martinez (£3.8m).
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The World Cup winner remains the eighth-most selected defender in Dream Team but probably not for long after his own goal at Spurs.
The ex-Ajax centre-back was replaced at half-time against Wolves and his scuffed clearance that ended up in Andre Onana’s (£4.2m) net capped a miserable opening to the new campaign.
At the time of writing, Martinez has ZERO points to his name!
Bruno Fernandes (£6.4m) has ticked over well enough with ten points thanks to some tackles and big chances created but even his owners may be feeling tad twitchy.
So should gaffers act this week to replace Man United’s stuttering stars?
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With Manchester City set to face Sheffield United, moving from Rashford and company to Phil Foden (£4.4m) and friends looks a smart move on paper.
However, it could be argued that Ten Hag’s men deserve more time to prove themselves.
They welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford in Gameweek 3 which has to be considered one of the most favourable fixtures possible.
Steve Cooper’s side are no pushovers at the City Ground but they have a miserable record on the road.
If the hosts aren’t able to cash in this Saturday then there won’t be much hope of them producing substantial returns the following week away to Arsenal or against Brighton after the international break.
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All eyes on Old Trafford this weekend – no more excuses!

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THE 2023/24 Dream Team season is still in its infancy but that doesn’t mean gaffers should allow themselves to be complacent.With two transfers available per Gameweek there’s plenty of room for flexibility and every in-form asset is worthy of consideration.
Enter Taiwo Awoniyi (£2.6m).

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On a hot streakCredit: Dream Team
Nottingham Forest’s No9 opened the scoring at the City Ground on Friday night when the hosts beat Sheffield United 2-1.
Granted, the Blades appear one of the Premier League’s more favourable opponents at present but Awoniyi also scored against a formidable side in Gameweek 1 in the form of Arsenal.
In fact, the Nigeria international has now scored EIGHT goals in his last six outings.
It’s worth acknowledging that this spree is spread over two seasons, separated by a lengthy summer break, but the bigger picture is that he has found in feet in England’s top flight.
2022/23 was his first campaign among Steve Cooper’s troops and he finished with 11 goals in all competitions at an average of one every 142.7 minutes.
Forest are impressive at home but dire on the roadCredit: Reuters
Awoniyi was on Liverpool’s books for years without ever playing for the Reds at senior level and was signed by Forest off the back of an impressive campaign with over-achievers Union Berlin.
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A groin injury disrupted his debut season but he’s started the current term is similarly prolific style to how he finished the last one.
At the time of writing, the 26-year-old features in just 0.8% of Dream Teams but that slim minority of gaffers have been handsomely rewarded.
He took seven points off the Gunners from just 19 minutes played and added eight more at the expensive of Sheffield United to take his season tally to 15.
Alexander Isak (£4.2m), Erling Haaland (£8.6m) and Yoane Wissa (£2.2m) are the only strikers above him in the rankings right now.
Wissa is Dream Team’s top striker at this early stageCredit: GETTY
An affordable differential on a goalscoring streak is a tempting Dream Team option by definition but many gaffers will be perturbed by Forest’s upcoming fixtures.
The two-time European champions are always competitive on familiar ground but their record on the road is worse than dismal.
Cooper’s side mustered just eight points away from home all last season (the worst return among all 20 clubs) and they lost their first away game this term too – although that was a difficult match-up at the Emirates in fairness.
Forest travel to Old Trafford in Gameweek 3 and Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 4.
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They play Burnley at home in the Carabao Cup in between those fixtures but rotation is likely in the country’s secondary domestic cup competition.
Still, Awoniyi is forcing himself into the conversation with every goal he scores.

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