Top Underachieving FPL Assets

With the conclusion of Gameweek 3 in the 2021/22 FPL season, players like Adama Traoré and Raheem Sterling have massively underperformed in the month of August.

Following my previous article, where I discussed the top performers from the August phase and looked at some key stats from both the individual and team perspectives, I now bring you another piece where I’ll discuss some of the underperforming assets from August as we take a look at some key metrics and underlying numbers to find out where they’ve underperformed.

Just like the top performers, us FPL managers need to have a similar energy when looking at such underperforming assets, because just like an overperforming player can enter a barren run, an underperforming asset too can hit a purple patch and rack up ridiculous numbers when most managers let go of them.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the top underachieving assets from the August phase:

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Adama Traoré (£6.0m) | Wolverhampton Wanderers

Well, it should be no surprise that I have Adama in my underperformers’ list. In his first three Premier League fixtures, the Spain international had 12 Shots, three of which were on Target. Adama also had two Big Chances coming his way but the Wolves winger failed to capitalise on those opportunities.

Following his performances, Traoré has an Expected Goals (xG) tally of 1.30 and an Expected Assists (xA) tally of 0.70. Moreover, he has had 44 touches inside the opposition final third so far, playing nine Key Passes in the process. From an FPL perspective, Adama should have accumulated 17.4 points, but thus far has amassed only six, averaging 2 points per game.

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Vladimir Coufal (£5.0m) | West Ham United

West Ham United have been one of the most exciting teams in the league this season. They have scored 10 goals from their opening three fixtures and almost everyone from that squad has chipped in offensively when required.

And when it comes to fullbacks, after Liverpool‘s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vladimir Coufal has been the most effective fullback in the league, albeit having very little to show for it from a statistical standpoint.

Creatively, Coufal has already put in four Key Passes and created two Big Chances for his teammates at an Expected Assists (xG) of 0.90. Moreover, the Czech international has been heavily involved in the opposition final third with 56 touches. After Gameweek 3, based on his performances, the Expected Points (xPts) metric shows he should have accumulated 13.2 Pts, but has only amassed 7.

Raheem Sterling (£10.9m) | Manchester City

Despite his scintillating performances in the 2020 Euros, Raheem Sterling has had an underwhelming start to his 2021/22 Premier League season. As far as the Fantasy Premier League is concerned, Sterling has only scored nine points so far. While much of it has been down to Pep Guardiola resting and rotating his squad, with his limited chances, Sterling has evidently underperformed.

The England international has had seven Shots, three of which were Big Chances of which he was only able to convert one. His Expected Goals (xG) metric stands at 1.66 while creatively he hasn’t impacted the games so far, with only one Key Pass. That said, with time, this number can definitely shoot up. In terms of points, he was expected to rack up 17 by Gameweek 3, but with his solitary goal, he only has 9.

Francisco Trincão (£6.0m) | Wolverhampton Wanderers

Another Wolverhampton Wanderers player, on loan from Barcelona. Francisco Trincão, despite his zero attacking output, has settled pretty nicely in the Wolves squad. Just like Adama, Trincão has been a menace from that right flank, and with his trickery and progressive play, the Portuguese winger has had opportunities to open his account for Wolves, but has failed to do so.

Trincão has had eight Shots, five of which were on Target. He has had one Big Chance coming his way as his xG stands at 1.14, while he has been a creative presence as well with an xA of 0.39.

Wolves’ fortunes are bound to change pretty soon, and with that I expect both Traoré and Trincão to find their shooting boots. Moreover, in terms of points, the Portuguese has 7 of them against his name but is 8 shy of his projected tally of 15.4 points.

João Cancelo (£6.0m) | Manchester City

Following their disappointing opening-day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City are finally exuberating the class and ruthless football we associate them with. Although the City defenders missed out on a well-deserved clean sheet against Spurs, João Cancelo should have accumulated more points when you look at his underlying numbers.

The City fullback has only had five Shots from three matches, one of which was a Big Chance. Yet, the Portugal international has an impressive xG of 0.50, while on the creative front he’s had 93 touches inside the opposition final third from which he has played three Key Passes and created one Big Chance for his teammates.

João Cancelo has already amassed 14 points from his first three games. An average of 5 points per game is the dream of every FPL manager, but when you take in all his numbers, you notice that he has still underperformed as his Expected Points (xPts) tallies up to 21.14, roughly 7 more than his current tally.