Fantasy football: my team for Gameweek 1

With the new season rapidly approaching, it's that time of year again; to pick your fantasy team again. After hours of deliberation I came up with a side that I thought was a solid team; a perfect blend of attack and defence, whilst balancing quality with price. So, with £100 million to spend on 15 players, I will show you who I picked and justify why I picked them.

Formation: 4:3:3

Position/Name/Price/Opponent 

GK: Joe Hart -£6.5million Newcastle (H)

In goal I went with the ever present Joe Hart. He played every minute in the league for City last season, and was also the leading goalkeeper with 147 points. With numerous clean sheets last season, and facing a mediocre Newcastle side in game week 1, Manchester City and Hart have a good chance of starting their campaign with a clean sheet.

Defence

Joleon Lescott - £5.5million Newcastle (H)

I was initially going to go with Nastasic at the same price, but due to his injury in pre-season I went for City's 3rd choice centre back, Joleon Lescott. Once known for his ability to score prolifically from corners, Lescott could bag a goal as well as a clean sheet in his sides first game against Newcastle.

Per Mertesacker - £5.5million Aston Villa (H)

The 6 foot 6 giant and his team Arsenal play against Aston Villa at home to start their campaign, meaning a good chance at a clean sheet. Benteke provides a threat to Arsenal which may tarnish their hopes of a shut out, but in the long term I expect Arsenal to get at least 10 clean sheets this season, and at £5.5 million, Mertesacker is the perfect option.

Branislav Ivanovic - £6.5million Hull (H) Aston villa (H)

Ivanovic can be deployed at either right back or centre back which increases his chances of starting in Chelsea's opening 2 games, and his aerial threat and desire to go forward means he can score, assist and pick up clean sheets, all you need from a defender. Playing twice in the first game week is a bonus, and I expect him as we'll as the other Chelsea lads to pick up big points in the first gameweek.

Nathan Baker - £4million Arsenal (A) Chelsea (A)

I only picked Baker because at £4 million you can't get cheaper, and he is playing 2 games in the first gameweek meaning potential to pick up more points. Although he and his side face very tricky first round ties, a starter at the lowest price possible is what you look for to create a good squad overall; and baker fits the bill perfectly.

Midfielders:

Phillipe Coutinho - £9million Stoke (H)

I've been so impressed with this guy. He is a magician. Ever since he pulled on the red shirt for the first time he has been a revelation, and he's carried on his incredible start into the pre season where he has already notched 3 goals. With the Brazilian likely to play in a front 3 at Liverpool, his creativity and attacking flair guarantees goals and assists, and he may prove to be an integral part in my team across the season.

Theo Walcott - £9.5million Aston Villa (H)

Walcott has established himself as a regular starter at Arsenal, and has proven himself by scoring a lot of goals in his rise to stardom. At £9.5million, he took a large chunk out of my budget, but its a risk worth taking considering Arsenal don't face any of the big boys for a number of weeks, indicating he could be in the points at the start of the season.

Eden Hazard - £9.5 million Hull (H) Aston Villa (H)

I risked putting Hazard in at the start of last season and he didn't disappoint, having a blistering first season that consisted of 9 goals and 16 assists. With Chelsea playing both Hull and Villa at home in their opening games, Hazard is likely to pick up a few points and hopefully carry on his form from last season into the start of this season.

Forwards:

Romelu Lukaku - £8million Hull (H) Aston Villa (H)

One of the biggest gambles of this team, considering Lukaku may not be a regular starter for Chelsea. With the big Belgium back from a terrific loan spell from West Brom, his chances of starting have been enhanced considering he is contesting a starting berth up front with the misfiring duo Fernando Torres and Demba Ba. If I was Mourinho I'd definitely start with Lukaku, he seems the natural successor to Drogba, but does Mourinho see it the same way? I hope so.

Cristian Benteke - £9million Arsenal (A) Chelsea (A)

Regardless of whether Benteke moved to Tottenham or not this summer, I still would've had him in my team. He scored 18 goals last season for Villa and is the main reason why they stayed up last season, bagging a number of points in the process. Being a big fish in a small pond has seemed to help him, as he is now the 'go to guy' at the Midlands club; and this can only work in his favour. I expect to see him have another big season this year.

Daniel Sturridge - £9million Stoke (H)

Another risk that I may end up regretting is the picking of Daniel Sturridge. Don't get me wrong he was one of the first names on my team sheet, but there have been worries about his fitness. He suffered an injury whilst playing for England in May, and the English forward hasn't been able to shake it off yet, suggesting he may not be fit for the start of the season. Nevertheless, whether or not he starts, when he does retain full fitness he will be straight back in the team, mainly because he had the best goals to minutes ratio in the Premier League last season. That means Sturridge = Goals = Points.

*if he doesn't recover in time he will be replaced by Soldado.

Subs:

Kelvin Davies £4million

With back up keepers, you just want to go for the cheapest one possible. He played last season in small segments, meaning he racks up a few points, but even if he doesn't play it doesn't matter due to Hart being an ever present in goal.

Liam Rosenior £4 million

Another cheap pick, Rosenior was Hull's first choice right back last season and I have gambled in hoping he retains the starting right back position this season. Hull may prove to be the whipping boys this season meaning he may even get minus points some gameweeks, but he's probably going to stay on the bench anyway.

Jonjo Shelvey £5.5 million

I couldn't leave him out. I just couldn't. Jonjo made the wise decision to leave to Swansea this season, and with that he's going to play a much bigger part in the Premier League this season. He's due to replace Baker after gameweek 1, and after that I'm hoping Shelvey can discover a goal scoring touch which eluded him last season. His performances in friendlies and against Malmo FF in the Europa League have been extremely encouraging, and if he can take this form into the new season he could prove to be a bargain.

Jack Colback £4.5 million

He's cheap, and he plays. That means he can pick up points, and thats all you're looking for in a sub. Players like Colback, Rosenior, Baker and Davis allow me the budget to spend elsewhere; a tactic needed to deploy if you're going to have a successful Fantasy Football season. And that's what I've done.