The Scout is analyzing clubs that can be effectively paired to assist Fantasy Premier League managers in starting strong for the 2024/25 season. Last season, Aston Villa and Newcastle United achieved the second-best clean sheet record in home matches, with Newcastle securing eight out of ten at St James' Park. Aston Villa matched this performance away from home, achieving four clean sheets in both home and away games. Although their away total might seem modest, only Arsenal and Manchester City recorded more than five clean sheets on the road during the 2023/24 season.
Instead of solely selecting players based on home fixtures, it may be more strategic to utilize the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR) to determine optimal play times. This approach allows managers to face all three promoted teams—Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town—along with a trip to AFC Bournemouth and home matches against Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Rotation Strategy for GW1-6
*1 = easiest fixture, 5 = hardest fixture
Budget options in the Newcastle defense may be limited, as regular players like Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, and Nick Pope were priced at £5.0m or higher last season. Sven Botman appears to be the most promising budget-friendly defender among Newcastle's current lineup. Despite an injury-plagued 2023/24 season limiting him to 17 appearances and 51 points, he demonstrated a significant threat during set-pieces, scoring twice and providing two assists. His ten headed shots ranked second for the Magpies last season, even with his extended absence.
For Aston Villa, new left-back Ian Maatsen stands out as a great option given Unai Emery's tactical preference. The Spaniard is expected to occupy advanced positions in possession, allowing the right-back to shift centrally and create a back three in conjunction with the center-backs. Maatsen recorded two goals and two assists in 15 Bundesliga starts for Borussia Dortmund last season and played a role in their UEFA Champions League final run, scoring once in seven appearances in the tournament.