Digest

The Digest – Gameweek 4

It’s time we said goodnight to Gameweek 4. Tucking it up in bed with a review of born-again Belgian, a nest of buzzing Hornets and a theory that might just see the top scoring Fantasy Premier League player make it off our bench.

The Player

There really is no contest.

Romelu Lukaku’s revival as a Fantasy asset has been sudden and extreme.

It’s taken three goals and nine shots and now we’re happy to forgive him for three season’s of Fantasy frustration.

It’s all premature, of course. With Fantasy Premier League armbands in place, Lukaku could easily revert to type and draw a Gameweek 5 blank against Middlesbrough.

But let’s just indulge ourselves for a while. Let’s entertain the idea that Lukaku’s stunning performance against Sunderland will be typical of a season that finally sees the Belgian establish himself amongst the heavy-hitting elite.

We know he has the tools – the finishing ability, the pace, the power and strength in the air.

With Yannick Bolasie installed on the flank, he may also have a new supply of service and a formidable runner who can drag and stretch a defence, leaving gaps for Lukaku to expose.

Certainly we already know that there’s an improvement under Ronald Koeman and we’ve seen enough to assure us that getting the best from Lukaku will be top of the Dutchman’s list of priorities.

It all makes sense – it all points to a 20-25 goal season for the striker.

If we feel that there’s a chance of that materialising, then we have to question whether the double act of Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is really “essential”.

Avoiding Aguero will be, for many, a risk too far, but we may now look at Ibrahimovic in a new light.

Should Lukaku snatch penalty duties from Leighton Baines and go on to deliver against ‘Boro, the Fantasy Football jury will be meeting with one key point on their agenda.

The ScoutCast jury have already assembled on this very subject.

The Team

Quique Sanchez Flores appeared to do very little wrong last season.

Watford stalled badly in order to grind out safety but we saw Bournemouth do the same – it was an understandable shift of gears, designed to preserve precious top-flight status.

But now, under the stewardship of Walter Mazzarri, the Hornets warrant a re-assessment from Fantasy managers.

The spirit and attacking intent shown in their 4-2 recovery against West Ham demonstrated that they could be revived.

Etienne Capoue’s story is remarkable and gets further attention below.

Instead, let us ponder a revival in fortunes for Odion Ighalo and, in particular, Troy Deeney.

Mazzarri’s men march on Burnley, Bournemouth, Middlesbrough, Swansea and Hull City following Sunday’s meeting with Manchester United.

That tantalising run promotes investment, with Saturday’s performance and returns revealing Ighalo and Deeney as viable targets.

At 6.9 and with penalties all the rage, Deeney looks the preferred option – he’s hovering in our Watchlist and about to surge once this weekend has passed.

Then there’s wing-back Jose Holebas – not a name we’d expect to creep into consideration.

However, the 4.5 priced Greek has impressive underlying numbers and his goal at the London Stadium is an example of his potential.

Given that fixture list, the Watford defence could offer one or two shut-outs and, if that’s the case, Holebas looks set to be a factor when the bonus points are shared out.

The Talking Point

Etienne Capoue can’t do much more to play his way into our plans.

The guy is delivering the impossible – three goals from four attempts – wildly exceeding our expectations when we tentatively dipped our toe into the limited pool of 4.5 midfield talent.

For the majority of us, he’s proving a frustrating asset to own. His best efforts have been wasted because, with pricier, more illustrious options available, we’ve kept Capoue parked on the timber.

Each week we can forlornly look at his points haul and imagine our tallies had we shown faith in the Frenchman but, as discussed in last night’s ScoutCast, will a time ever arise when we’ll look to Capoue and willingly throw him a starting role?

As it happens, the stars may just be aligning to make that more likely.

Sergio Aguero’s return in Gameweek 6, coupled with the form or replacements Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku, suddenly have us reviewing options.

Dare we cut the in-form Chelsea and Everton strikers adrift purely out of fear of the damage Aguero may inflict on Swansea?

There is another way.

We can put faith in Capoue and dip into the 4.5 midfield market again. It’s more than just a late night FPL pipe dream.

As mentioned above, Watford’s fixtures come into bloom from Gameweek 6 onwards, presenting a scenario where it would perhaps be folly to consider benching an on-fire Capoue.

Play Capoue as our fourth midfielder and suddenly the fifth slot can be tossed away in any random direction and our 3-4-3 can bristle with a forward line of Aguero, Ibrahimovic and Lukaku/Costa. Tempting.

We’d all suffer weak benches but Capoue has proved that perhaps that’s no bad thing. At least we’d no longer be left gazing wistfully at double figures amongst our subs.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

1,082 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Total Foot 5
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lamela owners: confident hell start this gameweek right?

    1. Les Bleus
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Not so much.

    2. Hakuna Juan Mata
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

    3. Numb
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No

    4. Jersey
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      not an owner, but how can you be confident he'll start this weekend?

      and wait until Sissoko gets involved too . . . the Spurs midfield has a big "DON"T TOUCH"
      sign on it for me.

  2. PvA
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Everyone watching the Champions League and I'm just fanboying over Capoue

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Would you play him over Defoe?

      1. PvA
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Not sure because Defoe is against his old club

        I'm playing him as 4th mid after GW5

        Might even play all out attack or make a transfer in order to play Capoue this week

  3. Les Bleus
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez still on penos

  4. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Nolito nailed for this weekend?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Good chance.

    2. Bubz
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      You'd have thought so

    3. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, in for Navas

  5. Total Foot 5
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    mahrez is back. so much for the fade. and this gw,,,,

    1. Ziegler1988
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Two set piece goals against a Belgian team. 9.5m and bad fixtures after Burnley

      1. Ziegler1988
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        *9.4m

        1. Konig Luther
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          hmm... tempting

    2. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm selling after Burnley

  6. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I'll have to buy Mahrez back then, goddammit

  7. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    We are all assuming Benteke is on penalties right?

    1. Bubz
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      He basically said he is

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Well he said he'd take the next one but I'm not sure he makes the decision tbh, likely he'll take but not 100%

      • Mr. Meeseeks
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yes sir.

      • Make United Great Again
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Yes

      • Jersey
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        yes

    3. Wildcard
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Evening. *WILDCARD ACTIVE*

      Heaton - Pickford
      Walker Smith Janmaat - Evans Amat
      KDB Antonio Firmino Capoue - Hodjberg
      Kane Zlatan Lukaku

      1.3m ITB for Zlatan to Kun.. Any obvious changes / thoughts?

      Cheers!

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Bold to go without Mahrez

        1. Wildcard
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          You wouldn't have said that one hour ago. I'm over Leicester

          1. Numb
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            He's now on form and on pens though. An hour ago he was on neither

            1. Wildcard
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              True pal. In that price range I still see others ahead of him for now. Until he's consistent again in the league I'll go without

            2. Cojiro
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              It's brugge. Depay was good against poor opposition and we all know how that ended. I want to see Mahrez do well in the prem before I get him personally

              1. Numb
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 1 month ago

                Did you miss last season?

                1. JIM BOB
                  • 8 Years
                  8 years, 1 month ago

                  This.

                  Player of the season, champions of England and top FPL points scorer last season.

                  Yeah, similar to Depay.

                2. Cojiro
                  • 10 Years
                  8 years, 1 month ago

                  Surely u don't think Leicester are the same team this year without Kante?

          2. Weasel Boy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            This

      2. Cojiro
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Personally prefer zlatan to Kane but looks good for the 2x 4.5 plan. Might want to wait a week if u can as Kun is back and capoues fixtures improve

      3. Leaf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Capoue is a 5th mid only I'd say

      4. JIM BOB
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Did you create an account just because you want thoughts on your WC?

        Hence, calling yourself the superbly creative name of 'wildcard'....

        1. Wildcard
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          It's a much more boring story. On the iPad and my auto fill password gives a different account to the one I usually use. I think I put this name on a wildcard 2 season ago

      5. Miguel Sanchez
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Swap Janmaat for Holebas and spend 0.5 on Smith or Evans to Williams or Stones

        1. Cojiro
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Agree

        2. Wildcard
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Valid point. Was dreaming of another season where Janmaat has 12 assists. You're right - thanks!

      6. FPL Maldini
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Not interested in Hazard?

        1. Wildcard
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I've had him all season.. Had my worst week *ever* last week and seeing hazard glued to the touch line frustrated the hell out of me

      7. Mr. Meeseeks
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Ok, no Zlatan and no Hazard.. Instead Kane and KDB. Smith and Janmaat instead of perhaps Valencia, Baines. Yeah, no I'm not feeling it.

        1. Wildcard
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

      8. PvA
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Lovin' that Capoue 4th mid action

        Looking HOT

    4. Kuyt Hero
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Which one just for this GW?

      A) Puncheon (STO)
      B) Zaha (STO)
      C) Bolasie (MID)
      D) Snodgrass (ARS)

      1. JIM BOB
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        C

        1. Kuyt Hero
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers.

    5. The Mighty Hippo
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      would Ozil > Sanchez and Azpilicueta > Morgan be a worthwhile move for a -4 hit next GW?

    6. Cojiro
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Spurs much better with Dembele on. But we already knew that

      1. faver
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        it would influence wanyama or lamela minutes?

        1. Cojiro
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Not Lamela. Wanyama yes

    7. Total Foot 5
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      all hail Lord Bendtner he's on for nffc

    8. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      How likely is it that Aguero drops to 12.9?

      1. Bubz
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Highly

        1. Numb
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I don't think so, remember the deadline is Friday so one less day.

          1. Bubz
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 1 month ago

            I assumed he meant before he comes back

            1. Numb
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 1 month ago

              But people will start bringing him back in Friday night.

              1. Bubz
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 1 month ago

                Ah I see what you mean. I was thinking there was another week for some reason

        2. JIM BOB
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          People will probably bring him in when he gets his hat trick tonight

        3. Miguel Sanchez
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers, what I wanted to hear, my WC sanity depends on it.

    9. Ziegler1988
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy off for Musa

    10. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Who to get this week on a FT?

      A) Firmino/Mane
      B) Nolito/Sterling

      WCing this weekend.

      1. Rich_20
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Nolito

    11. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy blank and off - doesn't fill me with confidence for the weekend

      1. Ziegler1988
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        FPL assist

    12. Swan - Villa Proud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      If Gray is banned AND Sterling is rested, Ill only have Amat or Kone available to come in. I'm Wild carding in GW6

      Worth a -4 to get in Ihanecho? Or just let autosubs do their thing

    13. Make United Great Again
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      When Dembele returns for Spurs in the league Alli & Kane will be very appealing!

    14. Rich_20
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      They say a week in politics is a lifetime. Well FPL takes that to another level, people chop and change views in a matter of minutes #Mahrezfading

      1. the axolotl
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        if only people could get the points for the players after they've played. there'd be some seriously good players here

    15. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Madrid 1-1

      1. Syd.
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Disallowed 😆

        1. Studgie G
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          your making a habit of doing this 😀

    16. PvA
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Stones, SHAW, Evans
      Hazard, Coutinho, Redmond, Payet, CAPOUE

      Would you play all out attack and play Capoue over Shaw

      Or

      Would you do Payet --> 4.5m and play Capoue as a 4th mid right now?
      I'm planning on making Capoue 4th mid after this week anyway, but I've fallen in love him him now and want to play him asap
      Next week would be an easy Lukaku --> Aguero

      1. PvA
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Could even do Benteke --> Aguero because of the free funds. Leaves me with Aguero, Ibra and Lukaku... woah

      2. Carpe Diem
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        why would you want to use a chip to play Capoue (MUN) over Shaw (wat)?

        1. PvA
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Shaw injury concern and I love Capoue

    17. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling 😆 😆

      He shouldve had a hat trick tonight

      1. goriuanx
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        If Pep can teach him how to finish..

        1. Syd.
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I don't think you can teach that..... You either have it or you don't

    18. UnitednationsXI
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      ideas on how to get kun back? Have 1m itb

      foster jaku
      valencia friend souare stones pieters
      hazard firmino antonio ozil capoue
      ibra kaku gray

      A: wc in gw6 to Brin him back...remove souare/gray/ozil/pieters/stones in the process

      B: look to get him in gw7/8 and make my gw6 move accordingly..

      C: wc in gw7..

    19. FPLHaggis
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Would appreciate feedback after a poor week:

      Foster (WHM)
      Valencia (wat) Morgan (BUR) Stones (BOU)
      Haz (LIV) Sanchez (hul) Barks (MID) Capoue (MUN)
      Ibra (wat) Benteke (STK) Gray (lei)

      Ramirez / Friend / Kingsley

      3.5ITB 1FT

      a) Hold FT
      b) Transfer Barkley > to Lamela (SUN)
      c) Something else

      Doing Sanchez & Gray to Kun & Firmino next week

    20. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm unable to watch the city game... How is Raheem Sterling playing?

      Any chance he'll be rested or rotated on the weekend??

      Thanks

    21. Kaneyonero
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Big Mahrez

    22. ♤TeddyBear♤
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What do we think the chances of Kane being rested at the weekend are? Against a poor Sunderland side he may not be required.

      Also Deli Alli is a diving b*ast*rd

    23. Clifford☯
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Leicester Fixtures After GW8- cpl/Spurs/wba/wat/mid/sun/MCI/bou/stk .

      1. Champione
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        *CPL/tot/WBA/wat/MID/sun/MCI/bou/sto

    24. Kaneyonero
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lukaku and Benteke both to brace this weekend?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        At least

    25. Rich_20
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lamela to bolasie/mirralas or risk he starts?