FPL PRE-SEASON: Christian Pulisic | Chelsea FC

No Christian Pulisic in FPL? Since Fantasy Premier League forgot to add Pulisic to the game, our scouts were pitch side with the U.S. Men’s National Team taking notes. ✍️

Update!

What a coincidence! @OfficialFPL added Pulisic to the game just 24 hours after our post. 😎

Concacaf Gold Cup 2019.

We’d like to thank Concacaf for the chance to cover the Gold Cup quarterfinal featuring the USMNT. We didn’t waste the opportunity!

Now we’re giving FPL fans a behind-the-scenes look into Chelsea’s new man, Christian Pulisic.

Despite the club’s transfer ban, new manager, and endless comparisons to Eden Hazard, can the American silence his critics?

Christian Pulisic USA.

Upper 90 Studios was pitch side and in the press box at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles for the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals USA vs. Curaçao (PHOTO GALLERY).

Every factor counts in Fantasy Premier League, and that includes pre-season research. So we kept a close eye on Christian Pulisic to see if his playing style could translate into FPL points.

Player Rating.

Pulisic got off to a fast start, nearly scoring in the second minute. Just two minutes later, he drove into into the box and was denied brilliantly by the Curaçao goalkeeper with a shot from close range.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute. Pulisic broke free on the left wing and hit a long areal cross to Weston McKennie, who towered in a powerful header.

He continued to charge forward at every opportunity, and in the 57th minute, he pulled another effort just wide of the target. It’s worth noting that Pulisic was on all corner kicks and set pieces.

USA closed out the game with a 1-0 win, earning a spot in the Gold Cup semifinals. But they will need to raise their game if they intend on beating Jamaica.

⚽️ Can Pulisic’s playing style translate into FPL returns?

*All photos taken by Upper 90 Studios at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

Bonus Points System.

The Bonus Points System uses a range of statistics to award every player a BPS score at the end of the game. The highest scoring player receives 3 points, 2 points for second place, and 1 point to third.

Hazard was known as a BPS magnet, and a key metric in determining BPS is “Successful dribbles.” According to Twitter statisticians @utdarena, Pulisic is amongst the best when it comes to dribbling:

⚽️ Pulisic is the youngest player to captain the U.S. in the modern era (20 years old).

Worth the risk at the start?

It’s difficult to gauge Pulisic’s points-scoring potential with so many question marks over Chelsea. Their transfer ban means they can’t strengthen in the key striker role. Heading into the season with just one forward, Olivier Giroud, is a concern.

Getting off to a fast start was key to our success last season. Investing on proven players with Premier League experience while avoiding newcomers set a positive tone for our journey toward a top 21k OR.

Some players struggle to adapt to a new manager, teammates or style of play. Even changes in their diet can impact training and focus. Fantasy managers with an instinct to start last season with Felipe Anderson and Diogo Jota may have been victims of this adjustment period.

Does that mean avoid all the newcomers at the start? No. Taking calculated risks and unearthing hidden gems is part of the game, as we saw last year with Wolves defender Matt Doherty.

Searching for value early on is crucial, but we must also find the right balance while applying proven strategies at different stages in the season.

For this reason, we may keep a close eye on Pulisic and Chelsea initially, investing instead on more experienced Premier League players we can trust for the start of the new season.

⚽️ Pulisic is a fantastic young player, but will he hit the ground running in FPL?

Update!

What a coincidence

FPL toolkit.

Stay tuned for the 2019/20 FPL TOOLKIT! Featuring the Player Guide, Pre-season Takeaways and complete 15-Man Squads. We’ll have the final verdict on Christian Pulisic, worthy of a punt or avoid? Plus all the top FPL tips to give you a competitive advantage at the start of the season.

Fantasy Premier League strategy.

With a decade-long winning record in the top 1-2%, our Fantasy Premier League tips and tools help managers from all around the world play and win. Last season was our best ever, finishing top 0.3%, Overall Rank 21k out of 6.3 million! ALL-NEW strategy 2019-20, from analyzing direct competitors to smashing the 💯 club with Chips.

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Rate My Team.

FPL Pre-Season: Christian Pulisic | Chelsea FC. Leave us a comment and let’s rate your first drafts.

Good luck!
-Bruno