FPL experts: Should you have Haaland in your opening squad?
The Fantasy Premier League season is upon us, and with it comes the annual dilemma for managers: should you splash out on the most expensive player in the game, Erling Haaland? The Norwegian striker is a phenomenal talent, but his price tag of £15.0m is a significant chunk of your budget, leaving you with less to spend on other key players.
This year, the debate is more intense than ever. Haaland has shown incredible goal-scoring prowess since joining Manchester City, and he’s widely considered a must-have. However, his astronomical price tag and the availability of other tempting options have left many Fantasy managers questioning if he’s truly worth the investment.
To help you make the right decision, we’ve consulted with a panel of FPL experts to get their insights on whether Haaland should be in your opening squad. From experienced veterans like Holly Shand to rising stars like Utkarsh Dalmia, these analysts offer diverse perspectives and actionable advice.
Let’s dive into the arguments for and against having Haaland in your starting team.
What the experts say
The FPL experts are divided on the Haaland question. Some believe he’s a guaranteed point-getter and a must-have, while others find his price tag too steep and recommend focusing on value picks and captaincy options.
- Consider your budget: Haaland’s £15.0m price tag is a significant investment that could limit your flexibility in selecting other key players.
- Explore alternative options: While Haaland is a top performer, there are other potent attacking players available at lower costs, like Phil Foden at £9.5m.
- Value for money matters: Players like Watkins, who outscored Haaland last season and cost £9.0m, can provide comparable returns at a lower price.
- Diverse opinions: FPL experts are divided on whether Haaland should be in your opening squad, with some emphasizing the importance of value picks and captaincy options over splurging on the most expensive player.
- Captaincy considerations: Salah and Watkins are highlighted as attractive captaincy options compared to Haaland at their respective price points.
- Balance is key: While Haaland offers explosive potential, balancing your squad with value picks can lead to a more well-rounded team overall.
Gianni Buttice: A focus on value and captaincy options
Gianni Buttice, a well-respected FPL analyst, has a clear-cut opinion: he’s not going to start with Haaland. He believes the Norwegian’s high price tag doesn’t justify his inclusion, especially considering the abundance of other potent attacking options available at a lower cost.
Buttice highlights Phil Foden as a viable alternative, who, at £9.5m, is a significantly cheaper way to gain exposure to the City attack. He also emphasizes the importance of captaincy options, suggesting that Salah and Watkins are more attractive picks than Haaland at their respective price points.
Buttice argues that Watkins, at £9.0m, is a steal considering he outscored Haaland last season. This highlights a crucial factor in FPL decision-making: value for money. While Haaland might be the most explosive player, other players can offer comparable returns at a fraction of the cost.
Buttice’s perspective emphasizes the importance of team balance and strategic decision-making. By focusing on value picks and multiple captaincy options, he aims to build a more diverse team that can adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of the FPL season.
Holly Shand: Haaland is the best goalscorer in the league
On the other side of the spectrum, Holly Shand believes Haaland is a must-have for any serious FPL manager. She acknowledges his hefty price tag but argues that his exceptional goal-scoring ability makes him an indispensable asset.
Shand emphasizes that Haaland has proven himself to be the best goalscorer in the Premier League, consistently delivering top-tier performances. She also points out that he’s benefited from a full pre-season and will be fresh and ready to start the campaign with a bang.
Shand’s argument focuses on Haaland’s undeniable talent and his ability to deliver consistent points. She believes that, even at his high price, his potential for goals is unparalleled, making him a worthwhile investment for any FPL manager seeking to dominate their league.
Pranil Sheth: A strategic approach to Haaland
Pranil Sheth offers a more nuanced perspective on Haaland, acknowledging both his potential and his limitations. He believes that a team without Haaland can offer better balance and value, but he also recognizes the allure of starting with the world-class striker, particularly with an enticing fixture against Ipswich Town in Gameweek 2.
Sheth’s strategy revolves around strategic planning. He proposes starting with Haaland and then selling him later in the season to reinvest the funds elsewhere. This approach allows for both the immediate benefits of having Haaland in the team and the flexibility to adjust your squad based on emerging trends and value picks.
Sheth’s approach highlights the dynamic nature of FPL and the need for adaptability. By planning for a future sale, he can maximize the potential of Haaland while also ensuring that he’s not locked into an expensive asset that might become detrimental to his team balance later in the season.
Utkarsh Dalmia: The captaincy dilemma
Utkarsh Dalmia, a rising star in the FPL community, acknowledges the appeal of Haaland’s Gameweek 2 fixture against Ipswich Town but ultimately prefers to go without him. His decision is driven by captaincy considerations, as he believes Salah is a more reliable captaincy option for the first few weeks of the season.
Dalmia suggests that the absence of Haaland allows for the inclusion of players like Foden or De Bruyne, who also offer significant captaincy potential. This approach emphasizes the importance of having multiple captaincy options in your squad, allowing you to maximize points by strategically selecting your captain based on each week’s fixtures and form.
Dalmia’s decision underscores the importance of prioritizing a diverse captaincy strategy. By focusing on Salah and other captainable players, he aims to maximize points across the season, even without the guaranteed goals of Haaland.
Pras: The lure of Haaland’s inevitable goals
Pras, a seasoned FPL veteran, acknowledges the initial “no Haaland” temptation, but he believes that the temptation to have him will be too much to resist. He predicts that budget gems and a few early goals from Haaland will make it easier to justify his inclusion in the team.
Pras’s argument focuses on the inevitable impact of Haaland on the FPL world. He believes that Haaland’s goals and the subsequent transfer activity will make it nearly impossible to ignore him. His decision highlights the emotional side of FPL, where the allure of a player like Haaland can override initial strategic considerations.
Lee Bonfield: A flexible approach to Haaland
Lee Bonfield, a well-known FPL analyst, sees the appeal of Haaland’s fixture against Ipswich but emphasizes the need for flexibility. He plans to start with Haaland but is open to swapping him later in the season to achieve better squad balance.
Bonfield’s strategy is based on adaptability and monitoring the performance of other players, particularly those who missed the Euros, such as Palmer, Saka, and Foden. He believes that as the season progresses and players return to full fitness, he’ll be able to adjust his squad to maximize points.
Bonfield’s approach highlights the importance of constant evaluation and adjustment in FPL. By being open to changes and monitoring player performance, he aims to maintain a competitive squad throughout the season, even if it means parting ways with Haaland later on.
Harry Daniels: A captaincy-centric decision
Harry Daniels, an FPL expert with a strong following, believes that the Haaland decision ultimately boils down to captaincy. If you’re comfortable rotating your captaincy between Salah, Palmer, Watkins, and other options, then Haaland might not be worth his hefty price tag.
Daniels focuses on the importance of maximizing captaincy points. He believes that if you can consistently find high-scoring captain options, then you can achieve similar results without the expense of having Haaland in your team.
Daniels’s view underscores the strategic importance of captaincy decisions in FPL. By prioritizing a diverse captaincy strategy, he believes that managers can effectively compete without investing heavily in a single player like Haaland.
Oscar: The impact on team balance
Oscar, an experienced FPL analyst, is firmly against having Haaland in his team, arguing that he negatively impacts team balance. He believes that the £2.5m saved by choosing Salah instead allows for the inclusion of other valuable players, such as Palmer, Saka, Watkins, and Isak.
Oscar’s decision highlights the importance of squad balance in FPL. By avoiding Haaland, he can create a more diverse team with a wider range of scoring potential, potentially leading to higher overall points.
Oscar’s perspective emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the overall impact of each player on your team. By prioritizing balance and value, he aims to create a well-rounded squad that can adapt to the challenges of the FPL season.
Sam Bonfield: A short-term investment
Sam Bonfield, another FPL expert, plans to start with both Haaland and Salah, but he sees Haaland as a short-term investment. He intends to sell Haaland before Gameweek 3 and reinvest the funds in other players, such as Havertz and Foden, to maintain an investment in the City attack.
Bonfield’s strategy highlights the importance of short-term planning and player rotation. By selling Haaland before Gameweek 3, he can capitalize on his initial performance while avoiding the potential drawbacks of his high price tag in the later stages of the season.
Bonfield’s approach emphasizes the dynamic nature of FPL and the need for constant evaluation and adjustment. By strategically rotating players and adapting to the changing dynamics of the game, he aims to maximize his points throughout the season.
Conclusion
The decision of whether or not to include Haaland in your opening squad is a complex one, with no right or wrong answer. The experts offer diverse perspectives, highlighting factors like price tag, captaincy potential, team balance, and long-term strategy.
Ultimately, the best decision depends on your individual FPL strategy and preferences. Carefully consider the pros and cons of each approach, weigh the risks and rewards, and make the choice that best aligns with your goals for the season.
Remember, FPL is a dynamic game, and it’s crucial to be flexible and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of player performance, fixtures, and emerging trends. Don’t be afraid to adjust your squad based on your own research and analysis, and most importantly, enjoy the ride!
