The overview
Last season: 10th (BWSL2)
This season expectations: Mid-table
Durham are one of those sides who love to dig in and make a game of it. They can be tough to break down, and when they click going forward, there's been some great attacking quality on show, which for a Fantasy manager means there are points to be had if you know where to look.
Willie Kirk has freshened things up over the summer, with Jade Pennock, Olivia Fergusson and Madison McComasky all coming through the door to add a bit of spark to the squad. The player to get excited about, though, is the longest-serving player, Beth Hepple.
She's the engine of this Durham side, running the show from midfield and popping up with goals, assists and set-piece duties all rolled into one. The 29-year-old contributed 8 goals and 4 assists last season and would have averaged 6.7 points per 90 in our scoring system. She's exactly the sort of player who can quietly power your team week after week. Keep an eye on Lucy Watson too, a forward with a real spark about her who looked lively whenever she got the nod.
Set-piece takers
Corners: Beth Hepple is your go-to here; this adds yet another way to rack up points on top of everything else she brings.
Penalties: Hepple again. She's confident from the spot and looks nailed on to keep the duties, so you have a midfielder who scores, creates and takes the pens.
Direct free kicks: Another one for Hepple, the most likely to test the keeper from direct shots.
Player costs
Beth Hepple (£7.5m) is the star of the show for Durham. She gives you the kind of all-round involvement that makes her one of the smartest picks in this part of the table. Get her in, sit back, and let her do the work.
Around her, there's value to be found for the eagle-eyed. Lucy Watson (£5.5m) is worth looking at for a great value option up front, and on the days Durham need to dig in and frustrate the better sides, one of their defenders could reward you with a well-earned clean sheet. This is a squad worth keeping tabs on as the season unfolds.
|
Player |
Position |
Price (£m) |
|
Beth Hepple |
MID |
£7.5 |
|
Lauren Briggs |
MID |
£6.0 |
|
Lucy Watson |
FWD |
£5.5 |
|
Michaela Foster |
DEF |
£5.0 |
|
Poppy Pritchard |
FWD |
£5.0 |
|
Jade Pennock |
FWD |
£5.0 |
|
Grace Ayre |
DEF |
£4.5 |
|
Sarah Wilson |
DEF |
£4.5 |
|
Catriona Sheppard |
GK |
£4.5 |
|
Amber-Keegan Stobbs |
MID |
£4.5 |
|
Grace Ede |
MID |
£4.5 |
|
Dee Bradley |
MID |
£4.5 |
|
Sarah Robson |
MID |
£4.5 |
|
Grace Collinson |
FWD |
£4.0 |
|
Becky Salicki |
DEF |
£4.0 |
|
Ella Wilson |
DEF |
£4.0 |
*Squad lists match OPTA feed at the time of publish.
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