A Rising Star Poised for a Breakout in the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League

A Rising Star Poised for a Breakout in the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League

Michael Olise of Crystal Palace reacts during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on May 19, 2024 in London, England(Image-Getty)

 The Scout identifies players who could significantly improve their performance in the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League (FPL). One standout player is Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, a midfielder who demonstrated immense potential last season despite missing half of the campaign due to injury.

 Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)

Impressive Performance Despite Injuries

Michael Olise was one of the most impressive all-round performers in Fantasy last season, even though he missed half of the campaign due to injury. Olise managed to score 10 goals and provide six assists in only 14 starts for Crystal Palace, with an additional five appearances as a substitute. This was a notable improvement from the 2022/23 season, where he recorded two goals and 11 assists over 37 matches, six of which were as a substitute.

Impact of Substitutions

Assessing his contributions across both seasons reveals that Olise wasn't much of an impact substitute. He made 11 appearances off the bench across the two seasons, failing to score or assist in any of those matches. Therefore, analyzing his performance in the 45 matches he started gives a clearer picture of his consistency.

 Consistency in Performance

In the 2022/23 season, Olise managed an attacking return (goal or assist) in 10 out of 31 starts, blanking in 21 matches, resulting in a success rate of 32.2%. In contrast, last season, he scored or assisted in 10 out of 14 starts, blanking in only four fixtures, achieving a success rate of 71.4%.

 Underlying Statistics

The underlying statistics from last season illustrate significant improvements in Olise's game. Despite playing almost 1,500 minutes more in 2023/24 compared to the previous season, he still produced more shots, shots in the box, and shots on target. In 2022/23, he had just one big chance, contributing to a low goal conversion rate of 3.9%. Last season, he had seven big chances and improved his goal conversion rate to 17.5%.

Creativity and Playmaking

Olise's creativity also saw an uptick. While he made 72 key passes in 2022/23, double his tally from last season, his frequency of key passes quickened slightly from one every 38 minutes to one every 36 minutes. Additionally, he created nine big chances last season, just two fewer than in the previous season despite the difference in playing time.

 Comparison with Other Midfielders

Expected Goal Involvement (xGI)

Olise's potential is further highlighted when comparing his Expected Goal Involvement (xGI) data with other midfielders. His average of 123.2 minutes per xGI was the fourth-best in his position last season, close to Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, who had 16 goals and 12 assists, ranking fourth overall with 226 points.

Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA)

Olise's average of 234.8 minutes per expected goal (xG) was comparable to Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, who has consistently delivered over 200 points in three of the last four seasons. In terms of expected assists (xA), Olise excelled even further. His average of 259.3 minutes per xA was second only to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, who averaged 172.8 minutes per xA.

 Conclusion

The data underscores Michael Olise's substantial improvement and his alignment with the elite players in Fantasy for goals and assists. If he maintains his form and avoids injuries, Olise has the potential to make a significant impact in the 2024/25 season, making him a player to watch in the Fantasy Premier League.