Interview

Interview – Jay Egersdorff – Hall of Fame Leader

As we revealed in last night’s feature,  our Hall of Fame has a new name at the top for the first time since the 2013/14 season, with Jay Egersdorff replacing long-time leader Ville Ronka.

While Ville drops to third in our Gameweek 20 live HoF update and has an overall rank outside the top 100,000 overall, Jay has enjoyed a stellar season with a current rank of 1,616.

This follows ten previous campaigns, in which Jay remarkably achieved a top 5,000 placing seven times.

A reminder that our Hall of Fame ranking system is applied to everyone who takes part in our Fantasy Premier League mini-leagues – both the free and members leagues.

Managers’ performances over the seasons are then traced to give a Hall of Fame rating, to offer a career version updated at the end of each season, which is free to view here, and a live version, which is available to Members via this link.

Following his achievement, we caught up with Jay to find out more about his Fantasy management strategies and to see if he could offer any advice for the rest of us giving chase.

Congratulations on reaching top place in the Hall of Fame. This season looks like business as usual for you but have you found it to be different? 

Jay: If you compare this season to last, there’s actually been a lot more consistency and predictability in the teams and their players. Last season, in contrast, was a nightmare because of the Leicester-factor plus the majority of the big teams were under-performing.

There’s also been a change in the setup of our teams this season, which is driven by the lack of 4.0 defenders at the start and abundance of good value 4.5 defenders. That, combined with bargain-priced Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue (4.5) being on fire in the opening Gameweeks, has lead to a shift in team composition.

For example, my team has taken advantage of this value in certain roles by having five reliable defenders to choose from, all valued above the base price, but a fairly hopeless cheap attacker (Hull City’s Adama Diomande).

Another change I’ve made this season has been to make transfers early a few times.

Speaking of transfers, the FPL market has proved divisive this season, with some managers concerned that price changes have been too volatile. Tell us more about your transfer strategy this season?

Jay: The value of your team is certainly secondary to points, so I’d never make a transfer early just because it would increase team value if there was a foreseeable risk it could affect my points total. For example, if the new player had a midweek game or was an injury doubt, I’d be wary of pressing the button.

That said, there have been examples this season where I’ve moved early, particularly around Christmas, where the fixtures are closer together making it more likely that the player will be rested between games.

My Gameweek 18 transfer of removing the suspended Diego Costa and bringing in Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a good example of making a move for points, as well as to tap into their massive price swings.

If you pick the right players and they’re scoring well, then the value will look after itself.

What are your other tried and tested strategies that you are once again deploying effectively this season?

Jay: The way I look at FPL is that it’s a prediction game, where you accumulate more points by giving your team the highest chance of getting a positive result.

So what you’re looking for is each Gameweek to enhance the probability of a high score.

I also factor in the fact that there are 38 Gameweeks and each week you get to pick 11 players to make up your score. So, over a season, you get to make 418 player selections (and within that 38 captain choices).

Therefore, you need to squeeze as many points out of every Gameweek, because, as each week passes, you have fewer opportunities to build up your score before time runs out.

I’m starting to sound like I use some mathematical approach but I really don’t – this is just logic.

So, while the overall goal is to maximise my score for every single Gameweek, there are some other basic rules I tend to follow:

– making transfers as close to the deadline as possible so I get the latest team news

– having players with a proven track record in the Premier League

– having players who are key to their team.

– having players who offer a variety of ways of scoring points – penalty takers, set piece takers, bonus point magnets and out of position players.

– only having players that play every week and aren’t obvious rotation risks

You have used a 3-5-2 formation for some time. Why adopt this tactic and in what way do you think it has contributed to your success?

Jay: It all goes back to my strategy of maximising each Gameweek score.

Midfielders can score points in multiple ways, while defenders can have points deducted for conceding goals. So, on that basis, it makes sense to have the maximum amount of midfielders and a minimum number of defenders.

Another reason for deploying a five-man midfield is that attacking teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool have been using midfielders – Alexis Sanchez and Roberto Firmino – as out of position strikers.

This means you are essentially playing 3-3-4 with two of your forwards scoring extra as they were listed in the game as midfielders.

So then – form or fixtures?

Jay: Both, although I’m a huge fan of fixtures.

Having a good appreciation of the schedule can help you identify where a team and their key players could enter a run of form.

The form is only of use to Fantasy managers if the fixtures allow us to predict whether a team and player in question will continue a run. It’s not much help if you transfer in a ‘form player’ who is about to come to the end of their spell.

Dele Alli, for example, has three double-digit FPL points hauls in a row. But what is the probability of him continuing that trend if you bring him in now?

I’d say it’s more unlikely than likely because, based on his fixtures, he’s facing a tough defence in West Brom, a team that don’t often concede too many goals.

Spurs then take on Manchester City at the Etihad, a title rival, who are coming into form after beating Burnley at home, West Ham in the Cup and have their star striker, Sergio Aguero, back in the side.

While in the long term Alli has Sunderland and Middlesbrough coming up, the question remains: could there be a better option for my team to maximise each Gameweek score?

You have taken two hits all season? Is this normal for you at this stage of a campaign? Why are you so adverse to taking hits? 

Jay: It’s that word again – probability.

You need to look after those points; they’re precious, and you only get 38 Gameweeks to acquire them. Why would you throw them away without a logical reason?

The way I view them is that each -4 transfer is actually -4 plus the score of the player you currently own who would have otherwise played.

Assuming this is an outfield player, this could be the player currently in your starting XI or any of your subs.

So there are four players there you could select from before you have to consider taking a hit. Assuming there’s a player among those four choices who is available to play, it’s pretty reasonable to forecast he’d get two points, so your -4 is actually a -6.

Your new player needs to score six points just to equal the score you’d have got anyway.

That’s not factoring in your current player scoring more than two points.

Immediately you’ve put the probability against you. Yes, this could pay off handsomely, but it could also fail, so as a strategy, taking frequent hits is too unreliable in my opinion.

There are times when a hit is a risk worth taking because you think the probability of a good points return is high and/or it will enhance your team for current and future Gameweeks.

A recent example from me was ahead of Gameweek 19 where I had two free transfers and Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford and Arsenal’s Walcott both injured.

I really wanted Liverpool’s Adam Lallana because of his form, Liverpool’s attacking play and his key role in earning assists and goals. But this left me with very limited options to replace Pickford, with his deputy Vito Mannone probably my best choice.

My solution was to spend a hit by making three transfers: Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne to Everton’s Leighton Baines, which freed up money to afford to upgrade Pickford to West Brom keeper Ben Foster as well as exchange Walcott for Lallana.

My rationale was that Baines had form on his side, is a key man for his team, is on penalties and has strong fixtures. Foster, meanwhile, also enjoys healthy ties over January.

With an assist and a goal since drafting him in, Baines alone has brought profit to the move. Plus I have a great keeper option for this month, and an attack minded midfielder from Liverpool in my side.

Your Gameweek 6 wildcard proved effective, taking you from 44,965 to 12,177. What were its successes and what advice would you give those looking to use their second wildcard?

Jay: This was when I made the switch to 3-5-2 and acquired both Firmino and Sanchez to effectively deploy a 3-3-4 formation.

Diomande also came in as my base price player (unusually an attacker rather than a defender), which meant I was able to bring in players like Jose Holebas of Watford into the squad. He proved to be a great source of points for a few Gameweeks and has increased in price.

The rules around wildcards have changed over the last few seasons; I’ve always been a fan of holding one until the last six to eight Gameweeks, and I think this is even more key now with the Triple Captain and Bench Boost chips proving effective in double Gameweeks.

I think the majority of managers – myself included – didn’t quite utilise the chips to their maximum potential last season, which is understandable given that they were new in the game. Rotation also played havoc with some teams with double fixtures, Liverpool in particular.

My advice is to stick with the wildcard and chips if you can, until the dust settles on the fixture list once the FA Cup and EFL Cup ties are played out.

Having said that, if your team is struggling, you could, of course, use the wildcard sooner then reinvest some of the points you accumulate now as ‘hits’ later in the season (such as following my Baines and Foster technique above).

What have been your most notable player successes and your biggest flops?

Jay: I’ve made some good calls based on my form and fixtures strategy.

For example, when Aguero was banned in Gameweek 4, I brought in Romelu Lukaku, who had under-performed to date but went on to get 17, 12, 2, 8, 8, 5, 12 over the next seven Gameweeks. The Everton striker went up heavily in value during that time too.

I’ve also sold players at the right time; they’d scored well, but I felt they would go off-form.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Gameweek 6 is one example. Also Firmino in Gameweek 16 and, more recently in Gameweek 18, when Costa got banned, I recruited Ibrahimovic as captain at home to Sunderland and earned 15 points.

What advice would you give managers who are struggling to rise up the overall rankings?

Jay: Make sure you only pick players who are nailed on to play every week and also apply a form and fixtures strategy, like the one above.

Also look for the teams who are about to hit form and ask yourself a series of key questions.

Such as, who are the key players in a team who will help achieve a run of form? And what factors could help that team go on that run?

A new manager, a return from injury of a key player, a pressing need to win matches due to a title challenge or relegation threat – these are all important factors to consider.

A lack of cup commitments is another, as this means players will, in theory, remain fresher and more focused on the league.

I’d also advise spending time on research.

I enjoy reading Fantasy Football Scout articles like the Scout Picks especially and look at the site’s fixture ticker each day to plan my moves. Having a good appreciation of the fixtures really helps you make reliable selections and decisions.

Any excuse to have a look at the Fantasy Football Scout fixture ticker is a good one, whether sat on the train, in the bath, waiting for a bus, whatever.

Read a newspaper and look at the match reports and lineups. Have fun talking to other managers and using the great features on the site, but at the end of the day, make the big decisions for yourself.

There’s so much data available for everybody – the information is there, you just need to look at it and analyse it, with the fixture list and league table the best place to start.

You don’t need to spend hours and hours managing your team if you’re reading the right stuff.

I’d also add that the data you gather with your own eyes is really crucial; watch the matches and see who you think is playing well.

For example, Harry Kane recently blanked in two “easy” home games. Spurs won both and scored give goals, but I then saw managers across Twitter and elsewhere going crazy, saying “Kane is hopeless, I’m selling him!”.

But watch the goals back, and there are at least two when Kane is there in the box, inches off getting a tap in. Nobody mentioned that.

Just because a good player has blanked doesn’t mean they’ve declined overnight. Kane proved this with three goals and an assist in the next two matches.

Finally, what advice would you give Ville Ronka?

Jay: An FPL great like Ville doesn’t need any advice. My advice to the other 4 million+ players is watch out for him flying up the rankings soon – he’s coming to get you!

If you would like to know more about the Hall of Fame you can view this movie to listen to Mark and Rate My Team’s Chris Atkinson talk you through it.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

1,790 Comments Post a Comment
  1. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Marco Silva asked whether Hull can keep Snodgrass in spite of improved West Ham bid. "I hope so"
    West Ham might get their man

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Where'll they put him?

      And why might they get him for 5m when we must pay 5.8m 🙂

  2. Geezer
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Will Holebas be back for the weekend?

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He will score 0 pts for you whether he plays or doesnt play

      1. Geezer
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        At home against Boro?

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I finally sold him. Always expect the worst from him

      2. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Watford have a young local lad Brandon who has featured last couple of games and may threaten holebas

      3. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I remember him scoring me 15pts

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Too early to say. Himself and Gomes have a fever.

  3. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Other than sanchez...who's the next best Arsenal attacking option for next 3 games?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      His name rhymes with Baloo

      1. Geezer
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        +1

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Walcott if he's fit

    3. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Giroud has scored 4 in 4 so you have to say him.

    4. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Giroud

    5. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Think I'd have to say Giroud as well. But I wouldn't be shocked if it was Walcott or Ozil.

    6. MidasBoys XI
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      At the moment I would say Giroud is best attacking option for Arsenal.

  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Imagine the scenes if Utd beat liverpool this weekend... With their fixtures they have to be back in contention for top four, maybe even the league!

    Utd 2 - 1 liverpool
    Zlatan x2. Firmino x1

    1. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Which league 😉

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Lol, wishful thinking i know... Still... You never know! Stranger things & all that. Although, yeah utd are NOT going to win the league come to think of it. Top 4 would be gr8 though

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          They'll finish above Pool I reckon. Attack isn't as good as Pool but they're becoming more solid at the back. Pool defence are likely to be shredded too easily.

      2. Geezer
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        If they win the Europa, and get 5th. Will 4th place get CL?

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Good question. And if City, Leicester or Arsenal were to miraculously win CL also could they get 6 CL spots in CL? Maybe some need to go qualifier route?

        2. Geezer
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          "No more than five clubs can enter the Champions League and no more than three can enter the Europa League from one national Association"

          1. Geezer
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            I guess the CL winner outside top 4 steals a place in the CL next year from the 4th place like it has been the recent years. But the Europa League winner doesn`t take the place from another team

            1. Geezer
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              But of course the EL winner gets CL next season. Therefore it can be 5 teams from England in CL

  5. FirminoIsBetterThanYou
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Managed to eek the funds out on my wildcard to do Ake -> Mee, worth it?

    1. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A Burnley defender is never worth it.

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Surely Heaton is an exception. Or do you not class a GK as a defender?

        1. Sess!
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Don't class heaton as a defender as he's a goalkeeper. It's heaton or no one when it comes to Burnley.

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      If i had a wildcard active, i'd be trying to get a defence of

      Toby (or any spurs def), Alonso (or any che def), Brunt, Stones, Jones

      Check out spurs & chelsea's goals against columns... Think they will definitely end up clear at the top of the clean sheets tables & toby in particular has gone way under the radar, due goals & assists. Brunt was only 4.9 & is on set pieces, OOP etc... And stones was only 4.7 which is fine for a 4th def, likewise stones is only 4.7, they both rotate very nicely & ultimately you're getting a utd & city defender for less than 9.5m!

      Just a thought.

      1. Z
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Rose, Aké, Brunt, Stones, Jones

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah that could be good actually, and 2.0 cheaper... Hmmmm

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Too expensive.would spoil the rest of the team.And I wouldn't have stones anywhere near it.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          As a fifth defender, for 4.7m i think Stones has a lot of upside & not much downside. I think City will get more Cleansheets on the run in than they did in first half of year.

          1. DA Minnion (Former great)
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Possibly but if you're playing 3 at the back that's a lot of cash sitting on the bench that could be used somewhere else.

            1. MidasBoys XI
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Depends if you have a bench boost. If so having players that are playing sat on your bench makes sense for dgws as well as minimising hits

              1. DA Minnion (Former great)
                • 11 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Well you have one bench boost and possibly 2 double gameweeks in the season.I'm all for having subs that play just not very expensive ones.

      3. bojack
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Stones offers nothing going forward and City have looked about as likely to string together clean sheets as Bournemouth.

  6. SC not pearls before swine
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Midfielders with at least 75 FPL points who average at least 2 shots in the box per 90 minutes:

    Alexis (2.27)
    Mane (2.07)
    Firmino (2.30)
    Walcott (2.55)
    Antonio (2.15)
    Son (2.31)

    Coutinho (1.97) and Alli (1.87) just missing out. I've talked myself into Antonio as my Mane replacement. Wish I'd had the stones to do it before taking the price fall.

    1. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      You could have at least ranked them in order

      1. Sess!
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Antonio is a decent enough shout tho. Great with his head, terrible with his feet tho.

      2. SC not pearls before swine
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Ha, my bad. They're ranked by total FPL points because that's the order I checked them.

  7. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    How is The Undertaker still wrestling? Looks well past it

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Dead on his feet.

    2. Z
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Dead man walking

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He knows all the dark arts of coffin dodging.

    4. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Because McMahon hasn't had a new idea since 2003.

    5. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He's about the 5th undertaker they've had

  8. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Hi....am I good to go this week folks?....0ft and 0itb

    Heaton (pickford)
    Alonso Jones Pieters (Cedric amat)
    Sanchez (c) lallana Phillips stanislas (capoue)
    Kun ibra kane

    Looking at kane to Costa next week as want Chelsea attacking coverage for Hull home....thanks

    1. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good. No Spurs midfielder could bite you, but I don't really see an easy fix for that at the moment.

  9. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Is Pickford to Jaku worth a -4 to free up £0.3m?

    How much is a -4 worth in £££?

    1. Sess!
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hell no

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I could really use the cash. Money is tight.

    2. Numb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Ask yourself "what would Jay do?"

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Jay from The Inbetweeners?

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          If you like.

    3. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      -4 is worth 0,3m if it`s a decent player

    4. Z
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Rather play an injured Pickford than Jaku

    5. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A waste of a transfer. You don't know how your other players will rise or fall, injuries, suspensions, before GW22 so you're 0.3m could be wiped out and your -4 points for a player you're unlikely to use.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Would you ever take a hit to free up cash?

        An injured Alonso > Ake for example.

        What I'm getting at is ... is a hit ever justified by freeing up money? And if so how much makes it worthwhile?

        1. Sharpe Shuffle
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Read what the HOF leader in this article says about hits and ask yourself "would he take a hit for Jaku?"

          I think you already know the answer 🙂

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            You're right 🙂

            I was just wondering if the extra cash justifies the hit. More a general musement.

    6. bojack
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Mistake.

  10. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Should I try to bring in Brunt and if so how? On my WC. Otherwise sticking with Nyom.

    Heaton / Grant
    Walker / Pieters / Baines / Chambers / Nyom
    Lallana / Sanchez / Alli / Phillips / De Roon
    Lukaku / Ibra / Costa

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Brunt would be nice but who do you lose.lukaku to giroud?

      1. Mind över Mata
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        That's probably the best option but don't want to lose him

        1. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          You probably won't play brunt this week anyway so leave it for now ,shouldn't need a transfer next week ,have 2 frees then to look at him again.

          1. Mind över Mata
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            On WC - some options below

    2. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Grant to Robinson and Pieters to Munisea?

  11. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Best option here?

    Should I try to bring in Brunt and if so how? On my WC. Otherwise sticking with Nyom.

    Heaton / Grant
    XXX / XXX / XXX / Chambers / Baines
    Lallana / Sanchez / Alli / Phillips / De Roon
    XXX / Ibra / Costa

    A) Giroud; Rose / Brunt / Jones

    B) Lukaku; Walker / Pieters / Nyom

    B is probably more balanced with less tied up in defence. But do let me know your thoughts.

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A is better Imo

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Post it again

    3. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A

    4. scootadee
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B for me

    5. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      A for me

    6. Moeda
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I'd go with A based on fixtures

  12. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Alli looking like rising tonight?

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      It's unlikely but not impossible

  13. JAC THE CAT
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    And back to FFS

    Decent scoutcast tonight

    1. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Justice for Friend!

      1. JAC THE CAT
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Ha ha!

        I was worried it was going to happen but Jonty and yourself steered it away nicely.

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I haven't watched it yet. I'm saving it 🙂

        Did Friend come up?

    2. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Looking forward to it, I shall have a listen on my way to work in the morning

  14. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Anybody have Jay's Twitter?

  15. FirminoIsBetterThanYou
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Which set for the foreseeable future?
    A). Lukaku + N.Taylor + Pieters
    B). Giroud + Baines + 3.9

    1. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      B if that last defender is your fifth

  16. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Hey Smarty Pants,
    Just a quick thank you & well done on the 'Discovery" work.
    Keep up the good work.

  17. JAC THE CAT
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I have Capoue and Holebas who look to be the next two players to pricedrop 🙁

    1. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Decent fixture coming up this weekend

      1. JAC THE CAT
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Yep, I'm not selling them yet.

        Always seem to have a more pressing move to make.

  18. Man Chest Hair United
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Alonso and Evans to Rose and Brunt. Is this worth a minus 4 can keep both long term

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Possibly.

      It might just take a while to get the points back, if ever.

    2. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Whats wrong with Alonso?

      1. Mark
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 17 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        See the Tweets - the Standard have raised concerns that Alonso has been carrying an injury since his arrival that may be escalating as a concern, hence Ake's recall.

        To be clear, they acknowledge that he's played on with it and, right now, we're not seeing reports of him specifically being a doubt for the weekend as yet. That's not to say we won't.

        Conte will hopefully be asked directly about his fitness later this week.

        1. Geezer
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers

        2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          yes we need the info. as an ake and alonso owner plus haz and costa i think ake is dead to me. he will be a bit player surely and id need a better 4th defender

        3. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I didn't like that article they are going with sources rather than quotes .

        4. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Hi Mark while you are here can I bring this to your attention:

          http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2017/01/09/versus-eriksen-and-alli/?hc_page=1#hc_comment_14829433

          Thanks

          1. andy85wsm
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Would be nice to have that back for sure

            1. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Yeh as I said doesn't seem like a hard thing to incorporate back in and can't think why they removed it in the first place.

              1. Mark
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 17 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                Good point. I'm all over it.

                1. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  Thanks

    3. Birds of Prey
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Rose's next two fixtures are no better than Alonzo's--tougher actually Why not just Alonzo>Rose WBA away> dif WB player ain't worth -4. IMO GL

      1. Man Chest Hair United
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks all

  19. Rostah
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Is Jaku back as an FPL asset after starting the last 2 matches with a clean sheet against Swansea & a few good saves tonight?

    1. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I think he has a good chance of starting the next game.

    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hull will be the most eagerly awaited teamsheet of the weekend!

  20. The special 5
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    So with Zlatan injured who is everyone bringing in for him?

    1. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      LOL good one

    2. JAC THE CAT
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      🙂

      He's just a bit poorly sick, likely to be back for Sunday.

    3. Parm
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Batshuayi

    4. MidasBoys XI
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      The special one says he'll be okay for the weekend game

  21. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Struggling to decide what to do this week. Many options, many hits potential.

    Do I take out Mkhi? Siggy? Carroll? Benteke?

    Can get Alli in for Mkhi with no hit. Could get him in for Sigurddson and just remove one of the strikers for Barnes...

    Would like Danny Rose too but don't particularly want rid of Jones, Alonso or Brunt. Plus Holebas has an okay fixture this week...

    1. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I'm keeping the faith with Mkhi. He will come good

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Read what Jay said above about a player being nailed 🙂

        1. Sharpe Shuffle
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I did. I think he's nailed

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Mourinho will drop him at the first sign of trouble, I feel. He doesn't trust him. A bit like Martial.

            1. dcarlito
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Don't think so. He's a class act. Initial reticence was probably down to giving him time to get accustomed to the league. He's on a different level, technically and speed wise, even Mourinho has to see that.

              1. FPL Virgin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                He was out in the cold for a long time. Even for some Europa league games. Ibra and Pogba are nailed. Mkhl isn't.

                1. Sharpe Shuffle
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  Out of interest, do you watch a lot of United games?

                  1. FPL Virgin
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 2 months ago

                    Nope, don't watch many games at all. I should do ... see if players pass the eye test and all that.

                    1. Sharpe Shuffle
                      • 8 Years
                      7 years, 2 months ago

                      I find it hard to relate. You spend so much time on here but you don't watch a lot of football? Watching the games is the fun part for me. Otherwise it's just looking at numbers on a page and I do enough of that at work

                      1. ducksfly2gether
                        • 8 Years
                        7 years, 2 months ago

                        That's the ONLY fun part. I don't use numbers at all. It's all eye test and basic fantasy sports strategy, for me. And a little bit of this forum mixed in. The worst park about watching games though is stupid NBCSN. They always put that ticker on the top right with scores from every game. Always have to cover it with a towel. So annoying.

                      2. Sharpe Shuffle
                        • 8 Years
                        7 years, 2 months ago

                        Yeah, that ticker is very distracting. Every time a scoreline changes, I'm compelled to pick up my phone to see if one of my players was responsible!

                2. dcarlito
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  That's in the past man, contemporise. Defined nailed? He will play in 90% of games. Have you been watching him at all?

                  1. FPL Virgin
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 7 Years
                    7 years, 2 months ago

                    Nope, not really.

                    1. dcarlito
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      7 years, 2 months ago

                      So you're talking brown. Again.

                      😉

                      1. FPL Virgin
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 7 Years
                        7 years, 2 months ago

                        My judgement is based on how Mourinho has handled him. I may be wrong. Let's see ...

            2. Sharpe Shuffle
              • 8 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              Ok. I may be slightly blinded by the fact that I'm a United fan but he looks pure quality to me. Happy to have him as a differential for now given the fixtures. If he doesn't produce, he's out for Coutinho

              1. dcarlito
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                7 years, 2 months ago

                He is quality. Just needs to translate to FPL gold now.

                1. Sharpe Shuffle
                  • 8 Years
                  7 years, 2 months ago

                  Yeah, I feel it's coming. Big players produce in big games so let's hope he hauls this weekend!

                  1. dcarlito
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    7 years, 2 months ago

                    Don't have him, but keeping an eye 😉

      2. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I think I want to as well which means Sigurdsson out for a hit...

      3. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Never had the underlying stats to justify the price. I think people got blinded by that offside goal

    2. Geezer
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Why did you bring in Mkhi if you already want to take him out? But yes, I think Mkhi to Alli is a good move

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Was a bit of a mistake potentially. I could revist when we play Hull (the game after Hazard plays Hull)

    3. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Think I'd sell Siggy & Benteke first, the other two should be ok for this week

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard>Alli or Eriksen
      Benteke or Carroll>Giroud

      Let Mkhi and Siggy alone it might be their turn to get a haul this week

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Hazard stays for Hull for sure 🙂

        1. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          If you are going to go 352 in the long run go with Benteke+Carroll>Giroud+Diomande so

          1. andy85wsm
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            And just leave Alli for a couple of weeks?

            Might work. I'll mull it over - cheers

  22. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Any new update on Valdes?

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Would like to know this as well

  23. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Play a back 3 of Alonso, Jones, Friend or do Ake to one of these for a -4?

    McAuley
    Williams
    Stones

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Ake to Macauly for a hit? Are you serious? The play Spurs.

  24. Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I haven't looked at the weather, and if I did wouldn't be able to make predictions.

    Which games are most likely to be called off? I really have no insight. Based on predicted weather, history, roads, etc.

    Any ideas?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      You can paint a pretty picture but you can't predict the weather

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        1. Jokes on you I can't paint
        2. I don't need predictions, just kind of looking for general thoughts :).

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I'm sorry Miss Jackson

        2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          cant do much but wait till sat am really and be careful on captain choices

          1. Geoff
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 11 Years
            7 years, 2 months ago

            Captain and vice captain choices from different areas is a good idea

            1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 2 months ago

              indeed. it looks like south games are fine probably all will be provides safety in and around grounds is sorted which is more a police matter

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      The ones up North are at risk supposedly if anything eventuates so Liverpool Hull Sunderland etc

    3. Sharpe Shuffle
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I think the likeliest outcome is that no games will be called off. Based on nothing much but I just don't recall too many Premier League games being called off for bad weather in the past

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      There will have to be a serious discussion on it Friday the 48 hour forecast is the most accurate we can hope for before the deadline

      It would be nice to workout what games if any will be affected and have some contingency plans in place
      There is always the nuclear wildcard option if things go pear shaped

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        We need to establish here that any postponements will be down to travel/fan safety. All Premier League grounds *should* have undersoil heating systems to prevent anything like this from happening.

        1. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Right. Good point

        2. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          Location & fixtures would put Hull, Swansea & Sunderland games most at risk I reckon, Burnley & 2 Mersey/Manc games possibly but who really knows at this stage.
          It will have some bearing on who I give C & VC armbands to.

      2. JÆKS ⭐
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Would really love these games to be postponed with all the uncertainty in my team (Valdes Holebas Alonso Ibra, and Origi but he prob won't play so)

    5. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Someone posted them earlier. But I believe the Spurs game was not on that list fwiw

  25. Helia
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    apart from swapping vvd out possibly i think im set (on wildcard). Will be swapping sanchez/defoe out for walcott/lukaku or kane if all goes to plan in 2 gws

    Foster mammone
    vvd brunt rose koscielny (amat)
    Sanchez Alli Eriksen Phillips Stanislas
    Zlatan Giroud Defoe

    what changes would you make?

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Save WC for DGW and getting rid of Sanchez is insane and for Walcott is just ridiculous

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Oh misread. This is your WC team. Your mid 5 look fine. I'd downgrade VVD if anyone Too much money in defence. Maybe lose Amat for Yoshida with the Fonte news

    3. Emp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      none i love it , koscielny to belerin if you can

  26. Kazza_
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    @TM - what was your transfer if you don't mind sharing?

    Did u do origi > rondon?

    1. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      He doesn't reveal his transfers 🙁

  27. Marquis-Cha-Cha
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    So......

    A. Hazard & Holebas to Eriksen & Rose (-4)
    B. Holebas to 4.6 defender (Chambers, Friend, Francis.....)
    C. Save and play Pieters / Valencia / Cedric

  28. Parm
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I know this obviously will never happen because said player will already be owned and team values would go crazy but repricing players that make January moves between Premier League sides would be good for the game. Thinking players like Batshuayi & Aké.

    1. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      It would certainly (most likely) keep things interesting in terms of finding value.

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        And might've stopped all of us from falling into the Stones trap earlier this season 😳

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I agree .

    3. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I would like to know how fpl towers came to their valuation of Batshuayi in the first place £9.0 starting price was ridiculous

  29. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Should we be worried about Ibra?

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      No says Mou

    2. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nah. Wait for press conference

    3. dcarlito
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Mou said he's not, so we can all relax.

  30. andy85wsm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I think Alli has been a little more consistent this season than we give him credit for. In the 13 games he played 60+ before the recent 4 game hotstreak of goals he scored or assisted 7 times in 13 games.

    The 4 games before the recent goal blitz he got 3 assists.

    1. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      With Toby back they've become super attacking with Walker and Rose playing WB. I think his form will continue

    2. @chapellefpl OR 577TH
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      What about Eriksen?

      1. andy85wsm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Great option too.

        Something about Alli I really like though, plus goals are easier to celebrate than assists 🙂

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Feeling optimistic about the Kane Alli Eriksen triple up next few weeks