August in review - and a look ahead

Each month we will be looking back at the month that was – whilst also taking a stab at what we think might happen in the month to come.

For starters, here is August’s Fantasy League team of the month!

Kudos if your Fantasy League team resembled this…did anyone have eight or more of these players?

Caveats to the XI:

We have kept a two players per team quota in place
We have kept formation considerations too – most of the higher-scoring players are strikers, but that wouldn’t be a team 🙂

Whilst the XI retains a hint of predictability, there are also some refreshingly new names that have wasted no time in making their mark on the Premier League season.

Indeed, three of them – Kevin Danso, Daniel James and Teemu Pukki – weren’t even in the league last year.

Danso has certainly had an eventful start to his time at Southampton. Brought in on a season-long loan from FC Augsburg, the centre-half was sent off on his debut against Manchester United, but has already registered an assist and a clean sheet.

He will hope to be part of an improving Southampton who, after losing their first two league matches, ended the month unbeaten in three (in all competitions).

Everyone knows Sergio Aguero scores goals, but he’s maybe even outdone himself in the first month of the campaign.

If he were to continue his current goalscoring ratio (two for every Fantasy League appearance) he could end the season on 204 points, a full 70 ahead of Alan Shearer’s (42 game) Fantasy League record points haul. That would be some going…

Whilst this is the XI, there are others who certainly merit honourable mentions.

Kevin de Bruyne

After missing much of last season due to injury, the Belgian schemer has been making up for lost time – and then some.

Reminding everyone of his quality in the final third, he has already registered a frightening five assists in only four appearances.

Perhaps even more frightening for Man City’s opponents is that the only man who gets close to those numbers plays alongside him – David Silva.

Tammy Abraham

To be keeping pace with the likes of Aguero, Jamie Vardy and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no mean feat – it’s even more impressive when you consider that Tammy Abraham is in his first ‘proper’ season in the top flight. And that it’s with Chelsea, where scrutiny isn’t exactly in short supply.

The big question is – can he keep it going? He has the faith of boss Frank Lampard and a good cast of youngsters around him – it feels like his time.

Ashley Barnes

A little known fact is that Ashley Barnes represented Austria at U-20 level – and even applied for Austrian citizenship last February.

It was rejected, however – and he is certainly benefiting from having a sole focus on Burnley.

He has already banged in four goals this season, and with the Clarets looking rejuvenated without the toll of European football, that number could well go north quickly.

Looking ahead

How big an impact could the international break have on your players?

Spare a thought for Southampton’s Maya Yoshida who will be racking up the small matter of 14,500 miles representing Japan in fixtures against Paraguay and Myanmar.

Probably forgiveable if he dozes off at Bramall Lane on the following Saturday 14th when the Premier League resumes.

Just probably wise not to involve him if he’s part of your squad.

We’ve pulled together the first of our monthly ‘fixture difficulty’ assessments ahead of September. Playing each team is given a difficulty rating (home and away) and the cumulative results show who has the easiest or hardest upcoming run.

Team	Weeks 5-8
Burnley	110
Tottenham Hotspur	130
Aston Villa	145
Manchester City	145
West Ham United	145
Arsenal	155
Everton	160
Liverpool	160
Crystal Palace	165
Norwich City	170
Manchester United	175
AFC Bournemouth	180
Chelsea	185
Southampton	190
Watford	205
Brighton & Hove Albion	210
Sheffield United	210
Newcastle United	225
Wolverhampton Wanderers	235
Leicester City	260

All of which shows that it’s a big month for the league’s surprise package so far, Leicester City.

Many thought they’d go well under Brendan Rodgers, who’s got a point to prove back in England after his time with Liverpool. But perhaps not this well.

Opp.	Date	H/A
Man Utd	14th Sept	Away
Tottenham	21st Sept	Home
Newcastle	29th Sept	Home

Their September fixtures (above) are tough – particularly with Liverpool away in their first fixture in October – but get through these games still in the top four, and it may be a sign they will stay the course. It may also force managers into a closer look at their players too…

Wolves are one of the sides who could face a very challenging month. Having performed so well last season, they haven’t won in the Premier League yet and their upcoming run of fixtures is – by our reckoning – second hardest behind Leicester.

They also have eleven players on international duty – including many of their starting XI – and so Nuno Espirito Santo will have his work cut out in pushing his charges up the table in September.

Perhaps cruelly for the rest of the league, Man City and Liverpool have two of the easier September calendars. Added to this, both sides’ front men will be resting at home and priming themselves for the tests ahead.

Sadio Mane and Mo Salah – as Premier League players – are not eligible for the African Nations Championship.

And neither Gabriel Jesus nor Sergio Aguero will be doing any travel either – Jesus is suspended and Aguero has dodged Argentina’s friendlies.

Lastly, we think these players may be the ones to watch in September:

Pos.	Who	Why?
GK	Alisson	Should return after injury
FB	Lucas Digne	Everton starting to click
CB	Gary Cahill	Part of a solid defence
MF	Nicolas Pepe	Leaky defences up next
ST	Seb Haller	Confidence growing