IN THE BIN
Premier League fantasy football tips: 5 former favourites you need to avoid picking this season
It's time to ditch some of your Dream Team heroes, as this season could be a bad one for them...
It's time to ditch some of your Dream Team heroes, as this season could be a bad one for them...
We have absolutely no room for sentiment in fantasy football.
The game is merciless, meaning last season's heroes could be yesterday's losers in this campaign.
Luckily for you, we've looked at some former Dream Team favourites that are perhaps past their best and should be no where near your line-up this season...
As Mendy enters his third season in the Premier League, there's little doubt that he'll be a popular choice among Dream Team gaffers.
It's true that - on his day - he's perhaps the most naturally gifted full-back in the league, but since his big-money move from Monaco 'his day' has been few and far between.
Last season he endured THREE lengthy lay-offs, with a nasty knee injury around the festive period essentially ending his season - albeit for a couple of appearances here and there.
He'll be out of action at the start of 2019/20 too, and we think it's time you looked elsewhere for points-scoring defenders.
Two years ago - off the back of his move from Everton to Man United - Lukaku was the most-picked player on Dream Team heading into the 2017/18 season.
And while he's certainly picked up a healthy dose of fantasy football points - not to mention goals for the Red Devils - since then, he's never quite justified his high price; both in terms of Dream Team and real-life.
This coming season looks particularly dire for the big Belgian, as he's been hotly pursued by Inter Milan throughout the summer transfer window.
Unsettled and unloved, he's on the fringes of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's side for 2019/20, with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and even 17-year-old Mason Greenwood preferred in attack.
Not so long ago, Alonso was one of fantasy football's undisputed champions; a marauding, goal-scoring wing-back that was a staple of nearly everyone's Dream Team.
Not anymore it seems, after a disastrous 2018/19 campaign that saw his powers significantly decline.
It wasn't long before supporters turned on him after a string of poor performances and there was often a sigh of relief from Blues fans when Emerson Palmieri was preferred on the left of defence ahead of the Spaniard.
We doubt he'll be a regular this season either, and it might be time to bin him off.
Sane seemed like a natural choice for Dream Team last season; well-rested from his World Cup exclusion and a huge part of Man City's 2017/18 success. He was a huge start-of-season favourite.
But in the early months of last year, he rarely started for the side amidst rumours boss Pep Guardiola was unhappy with the German youngster's attitude and commitment.
Of course, he still played his part in City's title defence, but you get the feeling he's still not in his manager's good books, especially considering Bayern Munich are said to be interested in signing him this summer.
Maybe pick somebody else?
We're not quite sure what to think of Willian.
Every now and then, he's turn up in the blue shirt of Chelsea and pulls off a show-stopping performance that makes you wonder why he doesn't get picked for the side every week by his manager.
But those performances are becoming less and less frequent, and we certainly doubt the Brazilian will be a first-team regular next season.
Or perhaps he will? Lampard's handed him the No.10 shirt for the season ahead, alluding to the fact that he might still be a main-player in the side.
Even so, his lack of consistency has really put us off choosing him among the midfielders in our Dream Team.
Picking your team name is just as important as assembling your squad in the first place.
Witty? Original? Anything but Neville Wears Prada for the 12th year in a row?
We've created an extensive list of classics which might help you decide if you're struggling...
This season Mo Salah and Sergio Aguero lead the way on £7.5m, with Harry Kane nicely placed just behind on £7m.
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