[THREAD]
Budget Goalkeepers

Budget goalkeepers are proving popular once again. Currently, Pope (£5.5m) is the most owned GKP, selected by ~30%. Downgrading him could save £1.0m to be reinvested further up the pitch. Following the release of PL fixtures yesterday, here’s a thread on the £4.5m starting GKPs.

In order of FPL appeal:
1. McCarthy SOU
2. Ryan BHA
3. Meslier LEE
4. Martinez ARS
5. Johnstone WBA
6. Rodak FUL

Alex McCarthy GKP SOU
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 28
Per G: 1.3 conceded 2.8 saves 69% save percentage
7 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 27.9
CRY (A), TOT (H), BUR (A), WBA (H), CHE (A), EVE (H), AVL (A), NEW (H), WOL (A), MUN (H)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 3.0

McCarthy started every match from GW12 onwards in 19/20. He claimed 7 shut-outs from that point. Only 8 GKPs surpassed that tally and all of them are priced at £5.0m or more. McCarthy’s total of 79 saves ranked 8th in that period, highlighting his multiple routes to points.

Mathew Ryan GKP BHA
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 38
Per G: 1.4 conceded 3.1 saves 68% save percentage
9 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 28.9
CHE (H), NEW (A), MUN (H), EVE (A), CRY (A), WBA (H), TOT (A), BUR (H), AVL (A), LIV (H)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 3.0

Ryan was the 8th top-scoring GKP in 19/20, with 135 points. His potential for both save and bonus points boosts his appeal as the go-to option in the budget bracket. The option to pair Ryan with his deputy, Button (£4.0m) guarantees a starting GKP for a total spend of just £8.5m.

Illan Meslier GKP LEE
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 10
Per G: 0.4 conceded 2.0 saves 83% save percentage
7 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 21.7
LIV (A), FUL (H), SHU (A), MCI (H), WOL (H), AVL (A), LEI (H), CRY (A), ARS (H), EVE (A)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 3.1

Meslier stepped up as Leeds’ goalkeeper during Casilla’s 8 match ban for on-pitch racial abuse. Following his 7 shut-outs from 10 games, he appears to be their new first choice between the sticks. Meslier’s save percentage is the best of all the budget GKPs.

Emiliano Martinez GKP ARS
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 9
Per G: 1.0 conceded 3.8 saves 79% save percentage
3 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 34.1
FUL (A), WHU (H), LIV (A), SHU (H), MCI (A), LEI (H), MUN (A), AVL (H), LEE (A), WOL (H)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 3.1

Martinez turned in a series of impressive displays after a securing a starting role towards the end of 19/20. Only Lloris had a better save percentage among all PL GKPs. It is unlikely, but Martinez could continue in goal for the Gunners, even with Leno (£5.0m) now back fit.

Sam Johnstone GKP WBA
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 46
Per G: 1.0 conceded 2.4 saves 71% save percentage
14 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 26.2
LEI (H), EVE (A), CHE (H), SOU (A), BUR (H), BHA (A), FUL (A), TOT (H), MUN (A), SHU (H)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 2.8

Johnstone made the most saves of the promoted GKPs in 19/20. However, West Brom's defensive record suggests they may not appeal to managers who prefer to rotate their picks home and away. Only 5 of their shut-outs came at home.

Marek Rodak GKP FUL
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 33
Per G: 1.0 conceded 3.0 saves 75% save percentage
13 clean sheets

@FFix projected points GW1-8: 24.6
ARS (H), LEE (A), AVL (H), WOL (A), SHU (A), CRY (H), WBA (H), WHU (A), EVE (H), LEI (A)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 2.6

Rodak had the highest saves-per-game of the promoted GKPs in 19/20. However, Fulham conceded 48 goals, the most of the three promoted clubs. Although, they offered clean-sheet potential at home. Fulham recorded 10/17 shutouts at Craven Cottage.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread. Retweets and feedback are appreciated. As always, thanks to @AllAboutFPL, @FPLGOAT7, @FPL_Elite and @FPLFanatix for their continued support in growing my audience.

I will be posting a thread on the best budget (£4.5m) defenders (including fixture rotation) tomorrow.

A late addition... https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1296471804895277057

Tom Heaton GKP AVL
Price: £4.5m
Appearances: 20
Per G: 1.8 conceded 3.4 saves
66% save percentage
4 clean sheets

BLANK, SHU (H), FUL (A), LIV (H), LEI (A), LEE (H), SOU (H), ARS (A), BHA (H), WHU (A)
Average FDR for first 10 GWs: 2.9

Heaton has recently returned to training at Aston Villa, after sustaining a knee injury in GW21 v Burnley. Only Martinez averaged more saves per game of the £4.5m GKPs. AVL weren’t great defensively though, as only BOU and NOR kept less shut-outs and only NOR conceded more goals.