FPL Squad Building Guide: How Top Managers Win Every Season

Whether you’re chasing a first Top 50k finish or eyeing a serious push into the top 10k, getting your FPL team structure right is everything. It's not about picking the best 15 players — it's about picking the right 15 players with a structure that gives you long-term flexibility, value, and transfer efficiency.

Let’s break down the key components that top managers prioritise every season.

1. Get the Formation Right

The most popular and proven formations year after year are:

• 3-5-2: Midfielders dominate for value and returns. You get extra points for goals and the potential for clean sheets.

• 3-4-3: Still viable when there are strong budget midfielders and in-form budget strikers.

🧠 Key Rule: As a default field a maximum of 3 starting defenders and maximise players who have multiple routes to points (goals, assists, clean sheets, bonuses).

2. Budget Allocation: Flexibility Wins

Top managers allocate their funds carefully:

• Goalkeepers: £8.5m–£9.5m combined is the sweet spot. Either a 4.5/4.0 rotation or a 5.5 set-and-forget.

• Defence: 4 nailed starters (with one ultra-cheap bench option), ideally with attacking upside. .

• Midfield: The engine of your team. Spend big here — At least one premium or two mid-priced heavy-hitters is typical.

• Forwards: Varies by season. Some years 3 upfront works, other years it’s 1 big striker and a budget striker

💸 Top Tip: Leave at least £0.5m in the bank GW1 to allow for early price rises and flexibility.

3. Don’t Get Trapped by Too Many Premiums

Premiums (players £10.0m+) offer explosive returns, but they also eat your budget and reduce squad depth.

A common winning structure:

• 2 premiums

• 2 mid-priced stars

• 1 budget enabler

Why not 3+ premiums? Because it leads to too many 4.0m–4.5m bench fillers, and no easy way to pivot when one mid-priced gem starts hauling.

4. Ownership vs. Opportunity

Top managers don’t just pick highly-owned players — they look for balance.

• High ownership (template) helps protect your rank.

• Low ownership (differentials) help you climb.

Your structure should allow you to own some of both. Don’t build a squad full of differentials just to be different — pick value and upside. Then use transfers to go bold once your core is solid.

5. The Bench: Don’t Ignore It

Yes, your bench won’t win you FPL. But it can lose you FPL.

• A 4.0m defender who doesn’t play = a problem when rotation hits and a price drop risk.

• A 4.5m forward with minutes = a buffer when one of your stars is rested.

🔁 Use at least one bench slot on a reliable 2-pointer who will show up. Think of them as insurance.

6. Have an Exit Plan

You can’t predict everything, but your team structure should make future transfers easier, not harder.

✅ Ask yourself before GW1:

• Can I get to a new in-form striker without a -4?

• Can I jump on a midfield bandwagon easily?

• What happens if my goalkeeper gets injured?

Final Thoughts: Structure Before Stars

Picking the best 11 template players is easy on paper but building a flexible 15-man squad that works for the long haul is where the game is won. Structure buys you time, saves you hits, and lets you play aggressively when it matters.

💡 Build a team you won’t want to wildcard in GW2. That’s the hallmark of elite FPL planning.