BRIGHTON were the team of choice for Dream Team managers in need of brilliant bargains last season.
Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, Roberto De Zerbi’s troops have been assigned higher prices from the get-go, a reflection of their impressive efforts and the fact they’ll have European fixtures to bolster their schedule this term.
But that hasn’t perturbed gaffers as Lewis Dunk (£3m), Pervis Estupinan (£3.5m) and Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m) are among the most-popular assets in their respective positions, justifiably so.
But are the vast majority of Dream Team bosses underestimating Solly March (£3.5m) ahead of Gameweek 1?
DREAM TEAMThe stats don’t lie[/caption]
The 29-year-old currently features in just 2.1% of teams created, meaning almost 98% of registered gaffers have overlooked him in favour in other options.
This is interesting as March and Mitoma finished level on 153 points last season, yet the Japanese winger is the seventh-most selected midfielder right now while the former is less popular than Joelinton (£3m) – not that the Newcastle fan favourite is a bad selection by any means.
An ownership of 2.1% for last season’s eighth-best midfielder doesn’t add up.
It may be that gaffers simply see Mitoma as the better option among the Seagulls’ £3.5m midfielders – he’s certainly more fashionable as the younger of the pair with a more entertaining play style.
But the fact is March has been a key player under De Zerbi, playing predominantly from the right flank, he scored eight goals and provided eight assists in all competitions last season.
REUTERSMitoma and March were brilliant last season[/caption]
Brighton’s No7 racked up more minutes than Mitoma although the latter did end with more appearances.
The point being, there was a cigarette paper separating them last season but ahead of the new campaign, there’s a chasm between the two in terms of popularity.
Risk-adverse gaffers will prefer to follow the crowd and back Mitoma but those who like to gamble on a tempting alternative would do well to consider March.
And in fact, given De Zerbi’s side face Luton first up, why not both?
Remember, you can make as many transfers as you like before Gameweek 1 gets underway.