Hive FPL GW7 Preview - Haaland's triple captain bonanza
Welcome back to the HIve FPL for game week 7 of the 25/26 season!
Quick reminder - There's a Friday night game for GW7 so get your changes and transfers in asap!
Last week we anticipated a strong usage of chips across our leagues and the managers didn't disappoint as they jumped on the opportunity to triple captain Haaland who delivered a whopping 16 points against Burnley courtsey of 2 very late goals.
FPL in general saw the trip captain chip used a record number of time (over 800k players in GW6) for a single game week. Those who used it got a massive boost in the classic league and essentially made themselves unbeatable in head to heads against sides without it.
In fact the highest points tally that any Hive FPL side managed last week without giving Haaland the armband was 56 points delivered by @deraaa who bucked the trend by captaining Salah and leaving Haaland as VC. Meanwhile the top score for a side that didn't include Haaland full stop was @herbae's 49 points. A very decent return in an otherwise difficult week but it dropped him from a top 10 spot down to 19th as rivals around him benefited from those additional Haaland points.
In fact, 27 of the current top 50 sides in the Hive FPL classic league had Haaland as captain last week with a further 11 managers using their triple captain on him to excellent effective.
It does mean that there are some gaps opening up even at this early stage of the season. Top placed @stuartcturnbull is now 100 points clear of 61st placed @blockchainfpl who of course finished last season in 2nd. Still a very long way to go but a definite need for some teams to start picking up points.
In the head to head leagues, 6 sides went into GW6 looking to extend their unbeaten run but only 3 came out the other side unscathed.
Unbeaten in the league are...
| Hive Account | FPL Team | Division |
|---|---|---|
| @stuartcturnbull | Eh, No, Ah, Meh. | 2 |
| @suttercane | Sutter Kane | 2 |
| @kenechukwu97 | K Empire Balls | 2 |
Division 1
GW6 Results
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Lions | @gvkanten | 73 | 56 | Shamzy FC | @Shamzy |
| FC McKane | @mckane | 56 | 37 | Vickoly FC | @vickoly |
| Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee | @deniskj | 65 | 62 | samostically | @samostically |
| Red Cards of Rohan | @thoth442 | 75 | 47 | nonzy fc | @nonsowrites |
| Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt | 67 | 24 | Hiveheadz | @borran |
| Formidable Milano� | @damolexy | 60 | 49 | Steve Herbae | @herbae |
| Skander | @skanderh | 69 | 39 | Jungle squad | @george-dee |
| Spero FC | @sperosamuel15 | 57 | 82 | Hijos del VAR | @aaalviarez |
| Legion fc | @b0s | 17 | 45 | @blockchainFPL H2H | @blockchainfpl |
| YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 | 55 | 57 | Likodra FC | @teofilex11 |
GW7 Fixtures
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| @blockchainFPL H2H | @blockchainfpl | v | Hungry Lions | @gvkanten |
| Hijos del VAR | @aaalviarez | v | Likodra FC | @teofilex11 |
| Jungle squad | @george-dee | v | YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 |
| Steve Herbae | @herbae | v | Legion fc | @b0s |
| Hiveheadz | @borran | v | Spero FC | @sperosamuel15 |
| nonzy fc | @nonsowrites | v | Skander | @skanderh |
| samostically | @samostically | v | Formidable Milano� | @damolexy |
| Vickoly FC | @vickoly | v | Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt |
| Shamzy FC | @Shamzy | v | Red Cards of Rohan | @thoth442 |
| FC McKane | @mckane | v | Cunha Do Sum' 4 Mee | @deniskj |
Division 2
GW6 Results
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Fc | @twicejoy | 63 | 34 | Bennett's Boys | @olibennett |
| WIKE BOYS | @gone-hive | 30 | 33 | Rys FC | @omrys5 |
| The Cellas | @blanchy | 75 | 74 | PHOENIX FC | @kelvinpeters |
| gentleshaid | @gentleshaid | 58 | 84 | Micheal Fc | @micheal87 |
| Garuda XI | @aditya-p | 39 | 44 | Rubilu | @rubilu |
| HappyBoys FC | @happyboy1 | 53 | 60 | SportsNerd | @saif-ul-wahab |
| Matz Sels Seashells | @doombot75 | 63 | 36 | Tangram | @desro |
| ARFANTASY FC | @arfa | 51 | 73 | Hasaaland | @earplugs |
| adewalehafis | @adewaleopeyemi63 | 53 | 42 | Holohive | @acidyo |
| Funwarriors | @Jmis101 | 60 | 49 | Stevenson Fc | @Stevenson7 |
| K Empire Balls | @kenechukwu97 | 49 | 20 | Wongi | @wongi |
| Teamkoko | @myanmarkoko | 56 | 56 | Corkscrew | @deraaa |
| Eh, No, Ah, Meh. | @stuartcturnbull | 88 | 25 | Show Not Tel | @jmehta |
| Pepzerbi | @pepzerbi | 49 | 49 | Chrisamuda FC | @hive-world |
| Uwabbs FC | @uwabbs001 | 33 | 34 | Magical McFizzy | @mcfizzy |
| Deals on Wheels | @derek-trotter | 21 | 17 | Working 9 to 5 | @aunt-granny |
| Kingsleyy | @kingsleyy | 61 | 27 | Los Magos del Balón | @el-maestro |
| Jeremie Ping Pong | @pingpongfrimpong | 62 | 76 | Murima | @youngvic |
| Könttyrät FC | @pvmihalache | 58 | 31 | Sportin | @depar |
| valchiz Fc | @valchiz | 32 | 29 | Noobmaster69 | @workingdad |
| Hadji | @hadji | 23 | 22 | ThtHive | @tht |
| Emeka4 | @emeka4 | 76 | 80 | racibo | @racibo |
| Kelsco FC | @kilvnrex | 26 | 54 | Newton Heath RFC | @samirich |
| Queen dynasty | @princess-dara | 69 | 37 | Large in the Rear | @chineduokafor |
| Itachi FC | @justfavour | 21 | 32 | TheVulcAns⚓️ | @the9thcreator |
| Dapomola Fc | @dapomolaaaa | 30 | 63 | Blue Mooners | @leebennett |
| Blugrana | @ronnie10 | 73 | 66 | Corner | @artniche |
| Top 10k? | @elvisking | 69 | 59 | Tengo Rangers | @tengolotodo |
| Sutter Kane | @suttercane | 72 | 67 | Six and the City | @princekwame |
| hamzamusic | @Hamza-art | 67 | 55 | Bankai | @belemo |
| The People's XV | @publioscelta | 31 | 39 | Akatsuki | @seki1 |
| Amirirans | @amirtheawesome1 | 35 | 44 | Cygnus FC | @donjaun |
| Fire Power | @emekaj | 76 | 71 | Krake99 | @kraken99 |
GW7 Fixtures
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The People's XV | @publioscelta | v | Mighty Fc | @twicejoy |
| Amirirans | @amirtheawesome1 | v | hamzamusic | @Hamza-art |
| Fire Power | @emekaj | v | Sutter Kane | @suttercane |
| Krake99 | @kraken99 | v | Top 10k? | @elvisking |
| Cygnus FC | @donjaun | v | Blugrana | @ronnie10 |
| Akatsuki | @seki1 | v | Dapomola Fc | @dapomolaaaa |
| Bankai | @belemo | v | Itachi FC | @justfavour |
| Six and the City | @princekwame | v | Queen dynasty | @princess-dara |
| Tengo Rangers | @tengolotodo | v | Kelsco FC | @kilvnrex |
| Corner | @artniche | v | Emeka4 | @emeka4 |
| Blue Mooners | @leebennett | v | Hadji | @hadji |
| TheVulcAns⚓️ | @the9thcreator | v | valchiz Fc | @valchiz |
| Large in the Rear | @chineduokafor | v | Könttyrät FC | @pvmihalache |
| Newton Heath RFC | @samirich | v | Jeremie Ping Pong | @pingpongfrimpong |
| racibo | @racibo | v | Kingsleyy | @kingsleyy |
| ThtHive | @tht | v | Deals on Wheels | @derek-trotter |
| Noobmaster69 | @workingdad | v | Uwabbs FC | @uwabbs001 |
| Sportin | @depar | v | Pepzerbi | @pepzerbi |
| Murima | @youngvic | v | Eh, No, Ah, Meh. | @stuartcturnbull |
| Los Magos del Balón | @el-maestro | v | Teamkoko | @myanmarkoko |
| Working 9 to 5 | @aunt-granny | v | K Empire Balls | @kenechukwu97 |
| Magical McFizzy | @mcfizzy | v | Funwarriors | @Jmis101 |
| Chrisamuda FC | @hive-world | v | adewalehafis | @adewaleopeyemi63 |
| Show Not Tel | @jmehta | v | ARFANTASY FC | @arfa |
| Corkscrew | @deraaa | v | Matz Sels Seashells | @doombot75 |
| Wongi | @wongi | v | HappyBoys FC | @happyboy1 |
| Stevenson Fc | @Stevenson7 | v | Garuda XI | @aditya-p |
| Holohive | @acidyo | v | gentleshaid | @gentleshaid |
| Hasaaland | @earplugs | v | The Cellas | @blanchy |
| Tangram | @desro | v | WIKE BOYS | @gone-hive |
| SportsNerd | @saif-ul-wahab | v | Bennett's Boys | @olibennett |
| Rubilu | @rubilu | v | Rys FC | @omrys5 |
| Micheal Fc | @micheal87 | v | PHOENIX FC | @kelvinpeters |
Is Haaland a must have (again)?
On the basis of last week the answer is a resounding yes!
The big man started the season in 2.2mil FPL squads, that's about 17% of teams but is now already in just shy of 6 million sides, 55% of teams and that number only appears to be going up as we get towards the GW7 deadline.
In fact, we know it's gone up significantly because his price has increased again to 14.4mil and on current market trend is set to rise once more by the time we get to GW8 if not before. Bear in mind that he started last year at a record 15mil so by that measure he's actually on sale at the moment...
Of course the real big draw for him at the moment is that other premium players aren't performing.
Salah has just 4 goal involvements this season and was rested/dropped for Liverpool's Champions League game in Istanbul on Tuesday. It's likely he'll return to the side at the weekend but Liverpool, despite still being top, aren't really playing with any fluency and face a couple of top 4 opponents over the next month.
With Cole Palmer out injured, Saka just making his way back into the Arsenal starting XI and Isak similarly not having many minutes under his belt then managers are only left with one option to spend their money on...
It does however mean that we're back to a similar position as the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons where having Haaland isn't really an advantage because everyone else has got him too!
While he looks like a shoo-in for the next 3 weeks, it might be worth considering an exit strategy beyond that as City take on Bournemouth, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Tempted by Villa players?
That's right, just as you became fed-up with your Villa attacking options they go and stick 3 past Fulham in the space of 14 minutes!
This week they play at home again versus a Burnley side whose away form has looked pretty fragile to date. The Clarets have conceded 11 goals on their travels so far this season (3 matches) and while you wouldn't expect them to pick up points away at Spurs and the 2 Manchester clubs, getting hammered on a weekly basis isn't great for morale!
However, before you rush back in for the likes of Watkins and Rogers remember how poor Villa have been so far this season (Morgan Rogers doesn't look interested in my opinion) and that they played away in Europe on Thursday night.
Villa's league results following their Champions League group stage games in 24/25
Following their 8 Champions League group matches last season, the Villans won just 1 league match in the proceeding weekend fixtures, scoring only 6 goals in the process with half of them coming in the 3-1 win they managed against Wolves in September. Coincidentally a mirror of the result they achieved after their first European game this season against Fulham...
United stars to deliver or Sunderland to prove value for money?
United had a very difficult run of fixtures at the start of the 25/26 campaign but now enter into some games where you'd be backing their players to pick up points on a regular basis.
Add to that, the fact that they don't have any midweek football to contend with and this is a squad of players who you would assume should be both fit and well drilled in the style of play their manager wants to deliver, right?
United's most popular midfield options in Fernandes, Mbeumo and Cunha have contributed just 3 goal involvements between them in 6 weeks. Yes, that figure is impacted by the fact that Fernandes has missed 2 penalties so far this season and it will be interesting to see who takes the next one for United with Mbeumo waiting in the wings. However, United continue to look like a team more likely to under-perform their stats than over-perform them as evidenced by the above.
By contrast, Sunderland are flying and look by far the best of the promoted clubs to date. Granit Xhaka has already recorded 3 assists this season, no doubt helped by the fact that his teammates, unlike United's players, don't suffer from collective brain farts when presented with a goal-scoring opportunity. He's also recorded 6 DC points too, equal 2nd best for a midfielder in the FPL this year.
At the same time, keeper Roefs continues to be a hero between the posts and has picked up more points than any other goalie to date. Contrast that to United, who might be better off asking if they can just play rush-goalie for the remainder of the season and sticking Mason Mount in there - he's played pretty much every other position this year!
Despite the public backing of Amorim, this feels like a defining match in his reign. It has been nearly a year since his appointment and I don't think anyone in their right mind could claim that this United side has gotten better during that time. However, their home performances so far in 25/26 have been pretty good and so the crowd remains with the side, at least for now...
Arsenal good value against the Hammer and beyond
I'm sure that most managers will want to get at least a couple of Arsenal players in their XI for the home match against West Ham.
Not only are you looking at a match this week between one of the most effective sides from dead ball situations versus one that has been all over the place, particularly from corners so this season but the Gunners fixtures more generally are looking good for the foreseeable future.
Arsenal's next 5 games
There is no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League but Arsenal's next 5 matches look like very decent opportunities for their players to get points on the board.
Arsenal defenders will be the obvious picks for FPL sides while the injury to Madueke and the return of Saka might well see the later become a popular option.
Gyökeres has hardly had a sniff against higher class opposition recording xG of precisely zero against City, Liverpool and United. He may find a few of these defenses more at his level!
Haaland is a machine . That run against Arsenal . He was knocking 6ft 2 centre halves out of the way like 12 year olds .
!BEER
Players coming back as well . I’m glad of this international break
100 points already... Damn that's pretty big! Only 3-4 points per Gameweek though 😆
It goes to show how brutal and big the swings are becoming in this game. Who would've predicted that after 6 gameweeks, Haaland would've nearly doubled Salah's score (62 v. 32)?! Add in Semenyo scoring consistently double Salah's points tally and that's pretty much your 100 points already from just 2 players.
Every season the consequence to playing the traditionally patient game has a greater affect on the outcome!
Last season, I moved from Salah to Haaland around this time (GW6 I think) and that was the point where Haaland stop scoring and Salah started smashing it. There's absolutely nothing to indicate that this will happen this season and it feels inevitable that we'll all have at least 7 out of the same 11 players starting each week, making it increasingly difficult to gain ground.
There's still hope in the H2H again though 😆 🏆
Maybe but I think we’re still a way off getting that kind of a template squad. Haaland and Semenyo aside who else are you banking on?
Even then Bournemouth play 3 away matches in their next 4 so maybe the Semenyo bubble is about to burst!
Joao Pedro is the most popular pick and he’s managed 5 goal involvements all season with 3 against a shite West Ham team. He’s really just the best of an average bunch.
I imagine that most people will have at least 1 Arsenal defender/keeper for the foreseeable future. Otherwise it’s luck as much as judgement with the remaining picks.
!BEER
Aside from those 2, it's hard to ignore Arsenal's run of fixtures and their defenders, especially Timber and Califiori. There's so much talk of them getting rotated with Lewis-Skelly and Ben White but I think they're worth the risk, given their additional attacking threat.
Difficult at the moment though as there are few standouts. I'll whisper this name quietly...
Bruno Fernandes
I think Minteh's a good shout and is something of a bargain and I think that Richarlison is under represented too. Bowen could be an interesting pick now too as could Donny Malen if he pins down a place in the team. If I had any confidence in him starting the season, he'd have been in my GW1 team.
But yeah... feels like the player pool are all fairly equal and then we see such extremities in scores.
There would have to be rotation especially around the end of November and into early December but that’s probably the same for players in 9 teams this year!
I’ve currently got Timber but might bring in Raya as he’s less likely to be rotated and if he doesn’t play then he doesn’t play. He’s not coming on for a point!
Currently got Fernandes too but again might change it up with my wild card seeing as can no longer score from 12 yards!
I was wondering if Fernandes might get a boost when Amorin gets sacked but it's looking like he might get another year or so.
It's such a difficult season - there are so many players that you think "yeah, he's fine" but nobody that you think "I need him". I guess that's a good thing as there should be more variety to keep the game more interesting but with so many of the more expensive players doing badly or injured (i.e. Salah, Isak, Palmer, Saka), it feels like a struggle at the moment!
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