Opinion

This Much We Know – Gameweek 10

This season continues to perplex, with the perils of owning big-ticket strikers and just about any and all Manchester City assets at the top of our list of woes.

But every cloud has a cheap and cheerful lining, be it a Swansea City striker or Man United’s peerless points per million centre-half.

Here’s my take on another head-scratching Gameweek.

Points and playtime at a premium

It was a weekend washout for nearly two-thirds of Fantasy managers who were united in captaining one of the six most expensive forwards in the game and were rewarded with a combined two assists and a monumental three shots on target.

Granted, Sergio Aguero’s week off (21% captaincy), coupled with Harry Kane’s (6%) untimely hamstring twang, meant that two of the biggest guns kept their powder dry, but those who had trusted the captaincy to Gabriel Jesus (8%), Alvaro Morata (6%), Alexandre Lacazette (5%) and, to a lesser extent, Romelu Lukaku (18%) will have had higher expectations.

Rotation, injury and a lack of form are biting for this elite sextet.

They’ve managed just six goals between them in the last three Gameweeks, compared to 17 strikes in the preceding three.

The meek might inherit the earth

While big names have floundered during their recent fallow run, Glenn Murray (£5.7m) has notched three times, Mame Biram Diouf (£5.5m) twice and Tammy Abraham (£5.8m) also has two goals (plus one assist).

This budget trio have played all but five minutes, whereas only Lukaku (270 minutes) and Lacazette (226 minutes) have graced the pitch for more than 180 of the 270 available minutes available to the not-so-super six.

Abraham, in particular, is the most popular striking acquisition so far this week following back-to-back price rises and a surge up the overall FPL standings which leaves him mixing it headily with the likes of Jesus, Morata and Lacazette.

Only Kane and Murray (with five each) have had more shots on target than Abraham’s four over the last three Gameweeks, and the Chelsea loanee faces a generally favourable set of upcoming fixtures – starting with a visit from Brighton.

All of this may mean that high-end midfielders are back in vogue.

Financing the middle men

If anyone is to break the Manchester City midfield stranglehold, it could be Eden Hazard, who trails only various Sky Blues and Riyad Mahrez in the form table.

Granted, with eight chances created against Bournemouth, he lacks the selfishness of an Alexis Sanchez or a Mohamed Salah, but with 190+ points in all but one of his seasons so far – and with fantastic fixtures to follow United’s visit on Sunday – he is currently the form choice over his similarly priced team-mate Morata.

Speaking of the Etihad conundrum (as we seem to do on a daily basis), the one player who has recently sailed flawlessly through choppy rotational waters is Leroy Sane.

With four goals and five assists in the last five Gameweeks, both his price and his ownership have rocketed. But we’ve been here before. Raheem Sterling briefly seemed to be Pep’s go-to man, while most of us have lost the Aguero/Jesus yo-yo game at least once this season.

Sane is undeniably on form, in favour and, whisper it, perhaps even immune from rotation. But we all know what happens next.

Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah put his owners through the mill at the weekend, missing an early penalty, failing to convert any of his three efforts on target and providing the consolation of a solitary assist.

Although we learned that Jurgen Klopp was serious when he touted the Egyptian as his next spot-kick specialist, Salah’s fluffed lines could see that precious baton passed to the next Liverpudlian in line.

Last season, the Reds were awarded nine penalties – mainly dispatched by James Milner. Daniel Sturridge could be next, though Bobby Firmino may just get another turn and lead us into temptation once again.

Silver Foxes

There was very little room anywhere on the collective tether of Jamie Vardy’s owners before his early strike against Everton.

That brought a three-match goal drought to an end and, perhaps, a stay of execution for the England man – at least for the visit to a Stoke City side which had the worst defensive record in the league before the weekend.

Mahrez has been a shrewder acquisition at an equivalent price, and he duly collected attacking points for the third match running. Owned by only 4.3%, he is very much the differential among the top ten midfielders in the game.

The stand-out performer, though, was Demarai Gray.

He completed a full league match for only the second time this season and rewarded his manager’s faith with a sparkling display during which he found the net and did enough to suggest that he may make the right wing his own, in turn liberating Mahrez for a more central role.

Promising.

The boy done good

Having taught him briefly at school (and been “schooled” by him in staff vs student matches), I was delighted to see a far less high-profile defender, Ben Chilwell, start in an attacking role in Claude Puel’s first match in charge.

Although Chilwell’s attacking statistics were muted on Sunday, a typically poised performance, including a clean sheet and a solitary shot in the area, furnished the 4.3 Leicester-man with six points and, hopefully, the chance to nail down a left-wing berth in future matches.

Along with rotation threats James Tomkins and Ragnar Klavan and rudderless Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny, Chilwell was one of the cheapest starting defenders of Gameweek 10 and, like Gray, could be an early gift from former Fantasy miser Puel.

The more expensive, the shorter our patience

There seems a frenzied need to maximise every precious FPL pound right now, and as soon as an expensive asset shows a weakness, they face a ruthless exit. Particularly if they happen to use up funds in defence.

Nicolas Otamendi is the latest example. Man City’s concession of two goals at West Brom, coupled with the ignominy of a fourth booking, has prompted heavy sales, even though he remains joint fourth in the overall defensive standings after 15-points in Gameweek 9.

It seems that there’s just no room for loyalty, although, the decision may, in part, be prompted by the imminent return of Vincent Kompany. Pep’s recent reminder that “John [Stones] and Ota can’t play every game”, is somewhat chilling.

Guardiola’s backline tinkering may have far less frequent, but we’ve been bitten enough times by his attack to be somewhat shy.

The model of predictability

And so to Phil Jones.

If Jose Mourinho were to be believed, the Manchester United centre-half has suffered as many trials as Hercules this season and apparently faces an almost impossible battle to get on the pitch every week. Instead, his withdrawal early on in the Huddersfield match represents his only missed game time so far.

With clean sheets against Liverpool and Spurs either side of that match, Jones has marauded his way to fixture-proof and essential status; his 58 points bettered only by team-mate Antonio Valencia among defenders.

The fact that half the four goals United have conceded this season came after Jones’s withdrawal against Huddersfield surely only strengthens his claim to be indispensable – both in Jose’s eyes and in our squads.

And all this for the princely sum of 5.3. Even in today’s market, surely that deserves our loyalty?

1,339 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dobswell55
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Aguero or Morata?

    Fate in Morata is fading after watching last night.

    1. Dobswell55
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Bringing in Kane for one, have Tammy already.

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero

    3. Prestige_Worldwide
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I had to choose between downgrading Kane or Morata to Abraham myself, I rolled the dice with Kane.

      1. Dobswell55
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        I went without Kane once this year, that was the Liverpool match. I don't think its a risk worth taking tbh.

      2. Dobswell55
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        He's just too good

      3. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        You downgraded kane to bring in Tammy ? You playing for the wooden spoon?

  2. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Stones to Jones worth doing tonight for free,

    Or wait and ride out the price rise?

    1. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Stones is more likely to return points this week, keep

      1. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        cheers

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Worth it

  3. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys
    How does this team look for this week?
    Elliott
    Ward Daniels otamendi
    Sterling hazard salah Carroll
    Kane lukaku Abraham

    Foster choupo dunk mbemba

    1ft and 0 in the bank

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Gtg save transfer this week

  4. raoulduke71
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    If Kane is fit would you do this (long term)

    Jesus > Kane
    Sanchez > Sane
    Maguire > Ward
    Mariappa > Jones
    -12 points!

    Gives me this, better fix and nice options from the bench

    Elliot
    Jones Ward VanDijk (Monreal)
    Sterling Salah Zaha Richarlison Sane
    Aguero Kane (Calvert Lew)

    a) crazy
    b) do it

    ?

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Fpldonny
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Just do top 2

    3. Pep says
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      God no. Top 2 are OK. Taken 8pts in hits for 2 defenders is gonna plummet you down the ranks

  5. MartialMatas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    2fts to use
    Can't afford Sterling to Salah

    A. Naughton to Daniels
    B. Alonso and Carroll to 4.5 def and Richarlison
    C. Something else
    D. Do nothing

    Begovic Elliot
    Alonso Stones Jones Naughton Mee
    Eriksen Sane Sterling RLC Carroll
    Kane Lukaku Abraham

    2ft 1.1m itb wc available

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I would just use both FT for a punt this week and wildcard next week

    2. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Eriksen > Salah is an option. Eriksen has hade a huge drop in form lately.

  6. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Who would you sell for Kane IF he’s back.

    A) Morata
    B) Kun

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I have all three, but maybe Kun, because he is not nailed yet.

    2. Dobswell55
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Same situation atm, leaning towards selling Morata giving lack of confidence. And Aguero is looking to break the record, surely will score at the weekend. May then move Aguero to Lukaku if his form returns.

      1. Dobswell55
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        *given lol

      2. kumast
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Aguero already broke the record didn't he?

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A easily. Looks absolutely awful right now. Can get him back GW14.

  7. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Play Fabianski with:

    a) Naughton
    b) Dunk

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Dunk. Hedge your bets I think

  8. COYG
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    What are we all wanting from city tonight? regarding to playing time and goals

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero & Sterling playing less then 60 min 🙂

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        That won't happen

  9. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    For the medium term, which team is it more important to have a defensive representative from?

    A) Burnley
    B) Leicester
    C) Watford
    D) Everton (If they get Dyche)

    Trying to work out my Cedric and Forster replacements.

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A or D

    2. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Pope and Mee double up

      Pope and Maguire if you don't like to double up

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      A by an absolute mile

    4. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      i would say leicester as well, puel is defensive minded and I think they ll keep a few clean sheets

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      How likely is Dyche to Everton?

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    I have Sterling and Morata but would like Lukaku from GW12, shall I transfer for
    Lukaku and Zaha or keep faith in Morata and keep it as it is? thanks 🙂

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      You like Lukaku from GW 12 so get him for GW 12. 😉

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        haha true I should have formulated am i right in wanting lukaku from gw12 ? 🙂

        1. Phil Dagger ⭐
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah I think you are. Morata has looked off the pace recently. Could see Lukaku banging in the goals in the easy fixtures that starts from GW 12

  11. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Elliot Foster
    Alonso Walker Kolasinac* Moreno Hunemeier
    Eriksen Sterling Richarlison Choupo Carroll
    Kane* Lukaku Abraham
    1ft, zero in the bank.
    Can I get away with save this week?

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely.

  12. Angin out the Begović
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    I Have,

    Kun, Kane, Morata

    Downgrade
    Morata --> Abraham

    Upgrade
    Atsu --> Hazard

    -4?

  13. bench boost for every gamew…
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    play

    Ward (Southampton A) or
    Dunk (Swansea A) or
    Jones (Chelsea A)

    currently Jones is in and i have Morata and as i usually try to avoid that but confidence in those other two is low. Swansea seems a bit lacklustre so actually Dunk is closest and the upside is bigger if Morata scores and Dunk keeps cs or score. Thoughts?

  14. The Head-Ake
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Fabianski - (Elliot)
    Otamendi - (Monreal) - Davies - (Mbemba) - Ward
    Coutinho - Hazard - Silva - Richarlison - (Cork)
    Kane(c) - Morata - Joselu (0.9, 1 FT)

    GTG? Any changes I should make?

  15. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Honest question.
    Would you rather have Abraham or Morata for this week? Or indeed the next few.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Morata BY A MILE 🙂 ( I have both actually )

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking....
      Morata to Abraham
      Vardy to Kaku (next week)

      Just pondering.

    3. Angin out the Begović
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      This is my same debate im heading towards Abraham as i will get Hazard for Chelsea cover

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Similar

  16. The Cloud
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Is Davies going to keep his starting position over rose? Really can't make my mind up on a Spurs defender

    1. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      No one can say for sure. But he has been so good that I wouldn't be too surprised if he starts against CPL. He has kind of earned his starting spot.

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping for the Palace match but ............... selling if he's injured tonight or doesn't start on Sunday.

  17. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso, Tom Carroll and Lacazette
    to
    Daniels, Zaha and Kane

    No brainer? Will spread it out over the next two weeks for free.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      no brainer 🙂 (is that for a -8 ? )

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Kane and Alonso this week, Zaha next week.

        Free.

  18. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Depending on team news tonight plus the fact it looks like Daniels won't be dropping i'm thinking of doing Kola & Jesus > Moreno & Aguero.

    I know Jesus > Aguero is potentially quite side ways i just feel over the long term Aguero is a safer option, more likely to start against Arsenal and loves scoring against them. Coupled with the fact he can break the City scoring record.

    If Daniels had dropped then i could afford him instead of Moreno but alas not to be and i'll have to look at putting him in for Lascelles in a week or so.

    What do you think?

    1. Arctic_Orangutans
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I wouldn’t be able to captain a City striker right now look at the last 2 weeks

  19. Arctic_Orangutans
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    I don’t want Kaku till Pog is back that will give the whole team a big boost!

    1. Angin out the Begović
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      word

  20. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    mmmh who s your other front 2 ? also you could play kola every game , same cant be said for moreno who is also a rotation risk.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      oops was meant to reply a post above sorry..

  21. HVT
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    All going well tonight,
    Aguero/Sanchez > Kane (c)/Sane -4?

  22. Lazaretti
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Hi All

    What is the situation of Yoshida atm? Dropped last gw. He has been Saints captain and he has played very well. Is there any changes that he will be back in starting 11. Any thoughts?

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Hoedt and Van Dijk seem the first choice pairing going forwards.

      1. Lazaretti
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks. Seems so. Were bit surprising that Yoshida stayed in starting 11 so long. But of course he has played so well that maybe he has deserved that. I guess I need to ship him out. Not hurry though as I have owned him from the start of the season.

    2. Alex1987
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      I hope Yoshida starts, at 5 mil its a fair chunk of money and to transfer him out...seems a waste of a FT.

    3. Bring the Cavalry
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Wouldn’t be surprised if Hoedt drops out for him again, I thought he looked poor last game. But Southampton have so many CB and poor fixtures coming I would be looking to get rid

  23. The Cloud
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Is Davies gonna start against Palace?!?!?!?

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 4 months ago

      Who knows.

  24. Jonny Bananas
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 4 months ago

    Morgen. Are the following two transfers wise? UCL minutes of players to be evaluated beforehand as concerned about injury & potential minutes. Also gives me 1.3m in the bank for future emergencies & upgrades.

    Coutinho & Sterling > Sane & Ayew

    Foster Elliot

    Bertrand Stones Ward

    Haz Cou Groß Sterling

    Kane Aguero Abraham

    Bench: Foster Zanka Mbemba Doucoure