Gameweek 3 - FPL

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Burnley 1-0 West Brom
Hazard

The fact of the matter is Burnley are simply a stronger side. West Brom are a work in progress still, but are improving week on week. I like their CB partnership and their CM partnership, but think there are weaknesses that need work. Hazard exposed Aurier, and inevitably I am not convinced about Dybala and Griezmann as a partnership. Schmeichel also is not up to standard for the league. Wanyama is the weakest link for Burnley (which is saying something).

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Crystal Palace 1-1 Bournemouth
Bale ----------------- Messi

I believe Bournemouth are the better side, but I think something about this Palace team would lead to them grinding out a point. A midfield of Herrera and Bakayoko does not lack bite or tenacity, and think they could make the game difficult for Bournemouth's pair. Palace are also incredibly well-stocked going forwards. I'd look to improve Howedes, though. Bournemouth have no weaknesses and will win the league for me.

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Hull 1-1 Watford
Mbappe - Ramos

I have not made my mind up regarding whether the deal to sacrifice Bonucci for Mbappe and Romagnoli was a good one yet. However, Mbappe definitely offers Hull some potency they have arguably been lacking going forwards, and that helped them today against his old team. Watford have done well to cure their only real weakness with arguably the best CB in the business. I'd be looking to improve Sane next (in comparison to the rest of the team).

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Middlesbrough 2-0 Swansea City
Ronaldo
Cavani

TAB has done incredibly well again in the transfer market to shore up his ailing defence. Kompany and Godin is a solid partnership, and provides a perfect foundation for Middlesbrough's power players to go out and attack. Jesus is not a winger and needs to be improved, but I am sure TAB knows this. Really like the look of Swansea's front 3, but think the midfield behind them could be improved.

Burnley vs WBA

Burnley are generally strong and this system looks much more balanced than last weeks, natural width up-top and a strong midfield core, a side without any real weakness other than having an inter player.

Albion are getting there but as I said before I don;t think that front 4 will work, the rest of the side I like

Burnley 2-0 Albion
PEAx2

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Palace vs B'Mouth

Palace have so much firepower that it papers over any cracks in the rest of the side - the defence is strong enough to keep them in games, but there strike-force will bury a lot of teams.

B'mouth are genuine contenders this season as long as their key men don't get injured, not a huge amount of depth and that is literally the only negative I can give them.

two absolute gems on display today and I think both sides have goals in them.

Palace 2-2 B'Mouth
Aguero, Mertens
Messi x2

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Boro vs Swansea

Boro's spine is strong and that'll stand them in good stead again this season - they don't seem to have as many goals in them, but I don't envisage them shipping many.

Swansea have a really lovely front three that will cause a lot of problems with their mixture of pace and power - need to look at CM I think going forwards.

Boro 2-1 Swa
Ronaldo, Cavani
Neymar

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Stoke vs Sunderland

Stokes problem with the 3-6-1 is a distinct lack of width going forwards, yes they held the middle ground and it worked in as much as it nullified Sunderlands core but it did leave them open to wing play.

Sunderland look a decent out-fit, not sure on Romero in goal and I'm not gonna take a cheap shot at Luiz the lad has proven his quality.

close game this but I think despite a lack of width Stoke have enough about themselves to grind out a win.

Stoke 1-0 Sunderland

Suarez

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth
I love Bale, De Bruyne and Aguero but this is a Crystal Palace side that needs some refreshing, particularly in defense. This Bournemouth side is clearly the better one for me and pick up a deserved win.

Crystal Palace 1-3 Bournemouth
Aguero / Messi x2, Isco


Hull vs Watford
Not sure about Hull in midfield but other than that it looks like a solid side, much improved from previous weeks. Watford have now got Ramos at the back (who I don't rate ). But it's a side that looks extremely strong. A worldie AM/WG is required to take this to the next level for me.

Hull 1-2 Watford
Higuain / Ramos, Lewandowski


Middlesbrough vs Swansea
I've said it before about Boro', their front four is too aggressive for my liking. If it were me, I'd trade a forward for a midfielder and play a 4-3-3 to make them stronger. Swansea would be a threat with that front three and I can see them having a go at the Middlesborugh centre backs. It's tough because I imagine Swansea being very difficult to break down and dangerous on the counter, but I'll say Middlesbrough just have the quality to sneak the win.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Swansea
Cavani


Stoke vs Sunderland
An interesting Stoke reshuffle, going forward I'd imagine them playing nice football, but I have questions on Khedira and Rodriguez myself. Sunderland are a solid side in need of a world class player to take them to next level. Also not sure if Luiz and Bailly would work as a pair, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt. A draw is the fair result I feel.

Stoke 1-1 Sunderland
Suarez / Robben

Burnley v West Brom

The home side are solid at the back although I felt the visitors looked the stronger going forward. I can see the front 4 of West Brom interchanging well although they would benefit from a natural number 9 to lead the line. I felt the sides were similar in midfield which led to a tight encounter. Whilst I feel the visitors would cause more problems going forward I think the home side are better equipped to soak up the pressure as they edged the points in this one.

Burnley 1-0 West Brom
Hazard


Crystal Palace v Bournemouth

I think Palace still need to do some work defensively however the firepower they possess in attack will always see them as a threat. Up against two attacking Bournemouth WB’s I can see Mertens and in particular Bale causing real problems on the flanks. On the flip side this Bournemouth side ooze real class going forward and I envisage them playing an entertaining brand of football. Goals are almost a certainly with such quality on show and this fixture didn’t disappoint as the spoils were shared.

Crystal Palace 2-2 Bournemouth
Bale (2) : Messi, Benzema



Hull City v Watford

This Hull side appear to be getting more adventurous and I like what I see. Whilst the loss of Bonucci is a big one I think Mbappe could potentially be one of the signings of the season with the youngster set for big things and a potential big money move on the cards. Bernadeschi could possibly be improved upon however other than that the home side look solid. Hard to fault the visitors, on paper they have an abundance of world class players on show however with Madrid conceding in almost 75% of their league games last season I can see that backline being breached such is the attacking nature of Madrid trio. Going forward they are always going to be a threat and with a world class finisher up top they are always going to score goals. Entertaining game with the attacking approach of the home side paying dividends as this one ends all square.

Hull City 1-1 Watford
Mbappe : Lewandowski



Stoke City v Sunderland

Interesting lineup from Stoke although the first thing that strikes me is that it appears very narrow. Suarez and Coutinho are an exciting attacking combo although I’d maybe find a way to bring one of Mane or Reus into the starting lineup to add another dimension to the attack. A benefit of the home sides set up is that they made it very difficult for the visitors to play through the middle which somewhat negated their best talent with Kroos struggling to find time on the ball to dictate the play. Luiz is a nice addition to the Sunderland backline and whilst he is much better suited to a back 3 I wouldn’t go so far as to say he is a weakness as he is coming off the back of a strong season. Defensively I felt the home side were the stronger however I just couldn’t the sides with a draw a fair result.

Stoke City 1-1 Sunderland
Suarez : Robben

CP vs BOU

I like the home sides attack and the defence is improving, but for general balance I like this Bournemouth side just that little bit better. The away side did manage to do a reasonable job containing the home sides attack and had enough going forward to get the goals required.

Score: 1-2

HULL vs WAT

A strong home side switched it up a bit and it didn't really work for me here against Watford. The home side have a strong side, could maybe use another seasoned professional in midfield for me and the game was lost for them due to sheer quality in midfield. The away side don't have an obvious weakness either and were strong here.

Score: 0-1

MID vs SWA

Middlesbrough as always looking good and they do the same here against Swansea. World class talent on show for the home side, could see an improvement on Jesus though for a more seasoned professional but other than that, they are sorted. Swansea lack the experience in midfield to see them through and whilst have the forward line here, lack defensively in this fixture to stand a chance.

Score: 2-1

STO vs SUN

The home side are just the stronger in this tight affair to make the difference. Going forward, Stoke have an excellent attack and it caused the Sunderland defence problems. Would maybe look at a formation that has a bit more width to it potentially if possible, but it worked well here. Sunderland were just out done by the better side here more than anything else, I personally don't like Luiz at the back regardless of the season he's had but for me, the obvious improvement would be the GK.

Score: 2-1

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Burnley 1 v 1 West Brom
Aubameyang - Dybala

Can see draw all over this one, cancelling each other out with a kind of 4-3-3 each and can't really see too many weaknesses in either side. Only criticism i have of WBA is that they should maybe try and play Griezmann behind Dybala instead of the other way around.

Hull City 1 v 2 Watford
Higuain - Lewandowski, Silva

Can see Watford getting the win here. As good as Chiellini and Romagnoli are, i feel like Lewandowski will give anyone a tough time in defence. The Watford side also has a better balance to it and if i was Hull i'd be trying to play Mbappe more centrally.

Middlesborough 2 v 0 Swansea City
Cavani, Ronaldo

I think Middlesborough will take this one. Neymar will give Walker a time of it defensively as hes a lot better at attacking. Should probably look to improve there if players are available.

Stoke City 1 v 0 Sunderland
Robben

I think Stoke have set up too narrow against a Sunderland team who have a nice width to them with natural wide players like Draxler and Robben, can see this being the breaking point for Stoke.

Burnley 1-0 West Brom
Hazard

Burnley - cant really fault the team, being ultra picky, id switch radja and iniesta around, as hazard will leave alaba to fend for himself, would improve on wanyama next

West Brom - dont see much wrong with the side in terms of balance, the edge just went to burnley in terms of tthe players on the ptich, would look to improve on kasper next


Crystal Palace 1-1 Bournemouth
Bale; Messi

Palace - like the team, just not too sure on the keeper

Bournemouth - also like this side, would look to improve on koscielny next


Hull City 0-2 Watford
Sane, Ewandowski

Hull - not sure on the midfield 3 personally, think its not on the same level as most midfields in the league

Watford - not much wrong with that team, think the wingers are the weakest part of the team but still very good


Middlesbrough 1-1 Swansea City
Cavani; Dembele

Boro - not liking the setup of that front 4, would personally drop jesus, get pepe in defence and play sanchez and ronnie either side of cavani in a 343

Swansea - i do like this team, personally id switch weigl and tielemans around

Burnley 2 - 1 WBA
Hazard (2) ; Dybala

Hull 1 - 2 Watford
Higuain ; Lewa, Sane

Boro 3-2 Swansea
Ronaldo (3) ; Kane, Neymar

Stoke 0 - 0 Sunderland