Premier League 2020/21: FPL & PL Team of the Season
The 2020/21 Premier League season began on Saturday 12th September 2021 and later concluded on Sunday 23rd May 2021, with the team here believing that the 2020/21 Premier League Season (and FPL campaign) was the longest do date from a mental mindset. Here, we catalogue the players our team's trio of Sam Austin, Phil Jones, and Robert Austin, debated over and chose for their Team of the Season picks. The team here debated for an eternity before nailing down a univeral set of selections for our website, so have a read through our thoughts and let us know your thoughts on our TOTS selects. All aboard.
FPL Team of the Season: 2020/21 Season
Qualification: This TOTS is purely related to the Fantasy Premier League game and act as the sole opinion of the team here at The Hype Train.
Formation: 3-4-3
Starting 11
GK: Emi Martinez (AVL)
DEF: Ruben Dias (MCI)
DEF: Stuart Dallas (LEE)
DEF: Aaron Cresswell (WHU)
MID: Bruno Fernandes (MUN)
MID: Heung-Min Son (TOT)
MID: Ilkay Gundogan (MCI)
MID: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
FOR: Harry Kane (TOT)
FOR: Patrick Bamford (LEE)
FOR: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE)
Substitutes
GK: Edouard Mendy (CHE)
MID: James Ward-Prowse (SOU)
DEF: James Justin (LEI)
DEF: Ben Chilwell (CHE)
Are there any reasons why this squad has been chosen?:
Largely, our FPL Team of the Season was straight forward, though picking defenders this year proved to be a nightmare. Our process was simple though – we had all three of our team pick their squads and then if there was an overall consensus they’d make the cut. The differences would then be discussed and debated.
There was unilateral support for a forward line of Salah-Kane-Son in the game due to individual campaigns, whilst Emi Martinez, Ruben Dias, and Ilkay Gundogan got the vote from all three of the team.
Were there any hiccups that made a TOTS a hard sell?:
A number of non-footballing factors affected the overall enjoyment, and at times quality, of the beautiful game in England. Covid cases postponed several games before the Xmas period and caused a huge fixture disruption, whilst the dates of the season were squeezed meaning more games had to be played in less time. The Super League also was the nail in the coffin of a long, never-ending campaign, whilst the biggest killer that toyed with FPL players in particular – the fixture schedule.
Fixtures being spread out and drip fed to players was a killer. There was never any rest bite for players of the game or those in the pitch and watching one game at a time was torture. All of these factors really proved detrimental this past season.
Did anyone miss out in your Team of the Season?:
The team’s major discussion was about the defenders to choose from, or more accurately, the lack of options to consider. It feels like you needed to have just 10 or so returns to be a relevant TOTS contender. That’s why James Justin (LEI) made the cut despite being injured from Gameweek 23 onwards.
Rob managed to talk Sam and Phil out of selecting Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV), the third best defender in the game with 160 points, citing Liverpool’s poor defensive form in the season, the fact that TAA was the most sold defender in the game with 3.8 million transfers out, and inflated with an end-of-season price of £7.8m (a price that would refuse to go down despite the millions that binned the RB). Alexnader-Arnold was also outscored by Andrew Robertson (161 points), managed limited returns before Gameweek 30 and in general was a wasted and costly addition to your team, barring the final stretch of games to end the campaign.
TAA was eventually lapped in consideration by cheaper, and equally effective, alternatives – Stuart Dallas (LEE), Aaron Cresswell (WHU) and Luke Shaw (MUN). The message couldn’t be clearer though – it was a terrible year for defenders in the game, a complete mess from start to finish.
The only other debate was over who to fill the third forward vacancy alongside Harry Kane (TOT) and Patrick Bamford (LEE). Sam argued the case for Ollie Watkins (AVL), whilst Rob and Phil were on the side of Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE) – this was a lot closer to call with either man worthy of the third spot. DCL won the battle between the two, though it was a close fought debate between the English duo.
TOTS Considerations: Calvert-Lewin vs. Watkins
- DCL played 33 times (with 32 starts), whilst Watkins started 37 games and missed just the one game.
- Watkins was cheaper (£6.6m) than DCL (£7.5m).
- Watkins managed FPL returns in 16/37 matches, ending the season with 14 goals and 9 assists.
- DCL managed returns in 18/33 matches, with 16 goals and 8 assists.
- DCL (21) earned more Bonus Points than Watkins (18)
- Watkins started the season strong, as did DCL who started exceptionally. There were blank patches mid-season with sporadic returns for both until Gameweek 38.
FPL Player of the Season: Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
The Aston Villa shot-stopper was head and shoulders the best FPL player in his position this season – and is now the Goalkeeper with the most points in a single FPL campaign (186). Martinez also made the third most saves this season (142), was third in the golden glove race with 15 clean sheets, and earned 27 Bonus, more than any other Goalkeeper in the game and third overall in the game.
Breakout Player of the Season: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Whilst edged out of our TOTS selections by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins was the true breakthrough player of the season. Our classification was a first-time player in the league who made an instant impact – Emi Martinez and Patrick Bamford have been on the radar for a while despite their own breakthroughs – but it was the Villa attacker that offered form, value and points in a fine first season in the Premier League.
Biggest Flop of the Season: Timo Werner (CHE)
From having a third of the game’s players backing Werner during Gameweek 1, to where he ended up in the game with virtually no support from active players, Werner was the runaway flop in the game for the 2020/21 season. In reality though the German didn’t have a bad season, but unless it is translated into points when it matters, he’ll be crucified by fantasy football critics on social media.
Most Reliable Team:
Leeds
Overall Premier League Team of the Season: 2020/21 Season
Qualification: This is an overall TOTS based on performances in the Premier League and in other domestic and European cup competitions (League Cup, FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League).
Formation: 4-3-3
Starting 11
GK: Edouard Mendy (CHE)
RB: Joao Cancelo (MCI)
CB: Antonio Rudiger (CHE)
CB: Ruben Dias (MCI)
LB: Ben Chilwell (CHE)
CM: N’Golo Kante (CHE)
CM: Mason Mount (CHE)
CM: Ilkay Gundogan (MCI)
RW: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
ST: Harry Kane (TOT)
LW: Heung-Min Son (TOT)
Substitutes
GK: Emi Martinez (AVL)
FOR: Jamie Vardy (LEI)
MID: Youri Tielemans (LEI)
DEF: Luke Shaw (MUN)
Are there any reasons why this squad has been chosen?:
With European and domestic cup competitions also being taken into consideration there is more of an emphasis on the ‘Big Six’, with Chelsea, City, Spurs and Liverpool the only clubs to featuring in the Starting XI, whilst Leicester’s efforts in the league and FA Cup are demonstrated, whilst Luke Shaw’s rise in form, and the undeniable allure of Emi Martinez (AVL) round out a largely straight forward TOTS.
Overall Player of the Season: Harry Kane (Spurs)
Harry Kane had a good season, winning the Golden Boot and Playmaker Awards in the same season, all whilst doing this in a conservative Jose Mourinho squad. Spurs didn’t live up to the heights in the Europa League this season, but Kane managed 8 goals in the competition and 33 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions.
Best Young Player of the Season: Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Without putting the Fantasy into the matter, Mason Mount and Phil Foden were the only two contenders for Best Young Player, though we feel that Mount’s minutes and consistency mattered, whilst Phil Foden was subject to rotation at Man City. Mount established himself as an undroppable asset for club and country and performed well in every big fixture, including the Champions League final against Pep Guardiola’s Man City side that featured Foden.
Goal of the Season Shortlist:
1) Youri Tielemans (LEI) vs. Chelsea – FA Cup Final
2) Erik Lamela (TOT) vs. Arsenal – Premier League
3) Manuel Lanzini (WHU) vs. Spurs – Premier League
Saves of the Season:
1) Kasper Schmeichel (LEI) vs. Mason Mount (CHE) – FA Cup Final
2) Edouard Mendy (CHE) vs. Karim Benzema (REA) – Champions League Semi-Final
Favourite Moment of the Season: Alisson’s Goal
Liverpool’s dramatic win against West Brom on Sunday 16th May 2021 was massive for the win as the 95th winner helped The Reds clinch a place in the Champions League. The scorer was none other than Brazilian keeper, Alisson, who powered home a brilliant header for the last-gasp victory. The shock factor of the goal was brilliant to watch and a moment etched in Premier League history.
Biggest Flop of the Season: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ARS)
Late to training several times and out of the squad (as captain nonetheless), catching Malaria whilst on international duty, and largely underperforming for a sodden Arsenal outfit, it was a season to forget for the Gabon international – 15 goals in 39 appearances all season for the Forward is a huge drop after managing 60 goals in the last two seasons combined.
Worst Moment of the Season: The Super League unearths to try and destroy domestic football across the world.
View our statistical info-graphics from the 2020/21 Season:
Want to know more about The Hype Train?
The Hype Train is an entertainment website founded in 2015, specialising in Fantasy sports reporting, starting with Fantasy Premier League (FPL), before expanding to MLS Fantasy coverage in 2018.
We pride ourselves in providing beautiful graphics, statistics, in-depth analytical reporting and free weekly insight for hopeful players attempting to climb rankings tables. We are also occasional media reviewers, with a keen interest to review games, live sport, and professional wrestling.
In 2019, Hype Train Football Club was formed, becoming the first Fantasy Football website to take to the field. HTFC is a socially active team across social and web channels, providing regular match highlights, match reports, comprehensive player statistics and unique player profiles. We won both Goal of the Season Awards in the Berkshire and County FA regions, with Callum Parr-Jones winning the Berks & Bucks FA award, whilst Martin King won the PlaySport UK award.
The Hype Train were nominated and shortlisted for the 'Best Football Blog' in 2016 by the Football Bloggers Association at their annual Football Blogging Awards (The FBA's), and were again shortlisted as a finalist in 2019 in the 'Best Fantasy Football Blog' category.
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All aboard.
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