Hello and welcome to Gameweek 4 preview as we delve through this weekends fixtures. Remember everyone you can have your say on your own team in our weekly podcast every Thursday a 5pm. Any one is free to join us on the HiveFPL Discord channel which is great fun at the weekends when the games are playing. We have United , Spurs , Chelsea and even some Arsenal supporters who join in. Anyway back to the weekends games. It's West Ham versus Luton starting us off on Friday evening
Friday
Luton Town vs West Ham
West Ham had such a bad showing in the Premiership last year that even their manager Moyes was questioned and the players that came in did not gel. They ended the season winning a European Cup and the penny was beginning to drop with their new players. This year they are after doing well in the terasnfer market and proping up their midfield. Ward Prowse has been a revelation and Bowen looks back to his best. West Ham are actually really good and the top of the table never lies. They are currently 2nd with 7 points from 9. Their keeper is having a great start. One wonders why he was second fiddle last year. Areola [GK] has 18 points so far. **Bowen[MID] **is first with 23pts. Bowen is a midfield that will probably end up West Ham's top scorer this year so he is shoe in for a place on most FPL teams. Luton on the other hand are very low scoring. Morris [FWD] has 10 points in total and he is doing well to get them. They are not a disaster but I cannot see them beating the Hammers this Friday. West Ham win here. Bowen to score.
Saturday
This tie looks like a lively one. Newcastle have not started great with only 3 points however they played Arsenal and Man City so the jury is still out on them. Brighton are playing like Barcelona and have 6 points from 9. Even after Chelsea have purchased half their team , they are still finding players that are better than the ones who have left. Solly March [MID] is one of the highest cumulative points tally on FPL with their defender Estupiñan [DEF] getting the points in early at 19 so far this season. Isak[FWD] and Gordon[MID] are lively for Newcastle. Why did they take Gordon off against Liverpool. It beggars belief. Newcastle not as lively as last year but I suspect a draw here in this one.
Bournemouth have only 1 point so far this season and have spent over 100 million but they are not actually that bad. Brentford have 5 points which is probably where they should be right now. Neto[GK] is Bournemouths top man which tells its own story but there is points to be had with Brentfords team in the absence of Ivan Toney with Mbuembo [MID] and Wisse [FWD] stepping up for the bees. A Brentford win here.
Chelsea are still finding their feet as it is a new team but their hammering of Luton last week showed us a few things. They had a minor blip against Wimbledon during the week with the blues going down and coming back to get through the round but they are still a work in progress. Sterling[MID] is starting to come back to form with 23 points so he is one to watch here. Their full back Disasi [DEF] is getting assists as well so he is starting to accumulate points. With Forest their striker Taiwo Awoniyi[FWD] is scoring goals for fun. Gibbs- White [MID] is also one to watch here. I predict a draw here again as Chelsea are not there yet
With Pep absent for another couple of games now is the time to get City. De Bruyne out as well is giving Foden a chance and he is not a bad player to have as a back up. It is ridiculous. Your Captain Haaland [FWD] scored another 2 goals last week and it is hard to see him not scoring between 40 and 50 again this season.But surprisingly enough Haaland is not the FPL's top guy yet. He isn't even number 1 at City . Rodrigo [MID] is. But Fulham are a good team under a very good manager in Silva and if any team will have the beating of Man City tactically it is Fulham. Palinha[MID] was everywhere against Spurs during the week and they have some good players. I still suspect a City victory here.
The earliest relegation battle in Premiership history this. It really is. Everton have been busy in the last week of the transfer market to ensure that they do not go down so we will see if any of the new boys get their place. No point mentioning any players here as they are all under 10 points from 3 games. Terrible stuff. I predict an Everton win here. But bearly.
Spurs made 9 changes during the week for their League Cup game against Fulham and the old Conteball reared its ugly head. Without Sarr and Bissouma and Maddison in midfield , Spurs were lacking. It's a good job all these players will be unleashed against Burnley. Spurs fans were not happy at all about being knocked out of the Carabeo Cup so expect a showing this weekend to right some wrongs. Maddison [MID] is on 22 points already and playing great stuff. He was one of the highest scorers in FPL last year as well but he seems to go under the radar. Vicario [GK] has 2 clean sheets in 3 games. With Romero and VDV in front of him , he is looking solid. Foster [FWD] is Burnleys only outlet really. This new Burnley team who are playing a better style of football are soon learning they are playing with the big boys. I expect a Spurs win here.
Sunday
The big one. Arsenal against United. They don't like each other these two and one can say that neither team are playing their best football. Arteta is tinkering to try and fit Havertz into the team. United are poor because they have been trying to fit Mount and Fernandez into the team while pushing Casemiro back a little which he doesn't seem to be suiting him. So both need a win here. I think Arsenal will be too strong for them in my opinion but if United get motoring then it is hard to know. They need their new number 9 up and running but I do not believe he is ready as of yet. Eddie Nketiah[FWD] has taken the bull by the horns and has stepped up to replace serial sicknote Jesus and you would do worse to place him on your team until Jesus comes back. Saha[MID] is flying it as well and took a peno last week to give him a good few points from midfield. VARANE [DEF] is now injured so he should be transferred out of your team. United do not have that many high points . Fernandez[MID] has 16 points. Many United fans have 3 players on their teams. Rashford [FWD] is in all their teams and I do not know why!! An Arsenal win here. United just aren't at the races and they should have spent 150 million to get Kane as this is what they need. Has-beens
An interesting one this with Liverpool all over the place defensively and Aston Villa starting to show signs that they really do deserve a spot at the top table. Nunez [FWD] is starting to motor and it was inevitable when he would come good. FPL players are wondering whether Salah [MID] will still be at the club. Trent Alexander [DEF] is finding himself defending more so he is not assisting and going forward. He was lucky to stay on the pitch last week. The days of Liverpool challenging City are gone I think and I can see Villa getting a result here. I predict a draw with Nunez on the scoresheet. Matty Cash[DEF] and Diaby[MID] are too underated players that could be an option for your FPL team but we will see how they perform against the reds before we give judgement.
The last game of the weekend is Crystal Palace versus Wolves. Both teams that will end up in mid table. They both are not bad and have enough quality to stay up. Hodgeson is the oldest manager in most likely European football but boy does he get a tune out of his team. He's an excellent manager. Anderson[DEF] is the unlikely points scorers so far this season for Palace. Neto[MID] for Wolves is some player. I am going with a Palace win here but just about. I was going to say a draw.
So that is the end of the preview. Best of luck to all the Hive FPL users this week and don't forget to transfer out the injured players. You do not have long left. Tune in tonight at 5pm for the discussion I mentioned above and let us know what you think will happen in the fixtures at the weekend. We hope to see you there.
easy win for manchester city once again, i don't think there is a team that can stop them right now