Blank Gameweek 27 and potential dates for the subsequent doubles took centre stage this week as our hot topic posters looked to navigate the complex upcoming schedule. For our community writers, the FPL veterans’ long march to respectability and penalty-happy referees were on the agenda. Elsewhere, we look back on a dramatic u-turn concerning a certain City striker, before delving into the latest statistics from our Members area and catching up on those who go into Gameweek 24 in fine fettle atop our community leagues.
The Community Articles
Referees once again come under the spotlight in Bowstring the Carp’s latest Men in Black article, which looks to find where the most spot-kick happy officials will be plying their trade in Gameweek 24.
Among those keeping an eye on Stuart Atwell – the referee in Sunderland’s home tie with Manchester City – will be the FPLveterans being tracked by Kavali. As his latest update shows, their faith in City’s penalty-taking striker Sergio Aguero has given them plenty to cheer about in 2016 so far.
Meanwhile, Hutch_James dropped by to offer some handy tips for those looking to transport their FPL skills over to Rugby Union when the Six Nations Fantasy starts next month.
Don’t forget, if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.
The Hottest Topics
In light of Liverpool and Manchester City’s midweek progress to the Capital One Cup final, Fantasy managers now know the teams that face a blank fixture in Gameweek 27 and will have a double Gameweek somewhere down the line.
To evoke memories of the explosive potential on offer from double Gameweek players, Balders offered this reminder of some of FPL’s most impressive player hauls. For Fantasy managers struggling to navigate the impending blank and doubles, Nuttman served up this simple tea-based analogy to help out.
Those looking to invest in Manchester City’s future double Gameweek look to be deprived of a key asset, with the news that Kevin De Bruyne will miss the next 10 weeks after being stretchered off during the Capital One Cup semi-final. Finding a suitable replacement for the injured midfielder, who is currently owned by around a fifth of FPL managers, was among the key hot topics discussed this week.
Ryan Shawcross’s three-to-four week lay-off is another injury to rock the community, with the clean sheet potential of Stoke and their popular goalkeeper Jack Butland now at risk. As our hot topic on Stoke’s defensive displays with and without Shawcross shows his owners have plenty to worry about over the next month.
Southampton’s Fraser Forster has emerged as a possible back-up goalkeeper since returning from injury and is amongst the emerging stars discussed in Saints fan Lucy’s latest look at their key Fantasy targets. For more information on key goalkeepers and defenders, Eden Hazardous offered this update to his expected goals conceded research.
There was plenty more backslapping from Aguero captainers in this week’s rough with the smooth round up of Gameweek 23, many of whom will have done well in this week’s Hall of Fame update as well.
Among those to have a particularly rough week was Mark, who announced the end to his no-Aguero strategy shortly after the Manchester City man’s fourth goal in the last two Gameweeks hit the back of the net.
With no Premier League action this weekend, attention turns to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. We asked for your most memorable FA Cup moments, while Jarvish has organised a yes/no competition around the ties.
Finally, the January transfer window slams shut next week, which has prompted Andy85wsm to examine which teams have so far done the best business.
The Members Tables
Using “big chances conceded” as his guide, Doosra has constructed this table of the leakiest defences.
For those considering Liverpool assets as they look to navigate their impending blank in Gameweek 27 and double Gameweek, I’ve made this table looking at their sharpest shooters.
Elsewhere, mid-price midfielders with goals and assists in their locker are the focus for coopermacdonell7’s latest table.
If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.
The Community Tournaments
The group stages of the Fiffsa 5-a-side competition are in full swing. Cheesoid’s latest update from the group organisers looks back at the first round of games in Gameweek 23 and previews Gameweek 24’s match-ups.
In Balders’ Wimbledon Doubles competition the draw for the last 32 has been made. In addition, the quarter finals draw in the grand play offs, another of Balders’ competitions, has also been made.
Evs has reclaimed his second place berth in the race to catch leader Andy in the FFScout moderators and contributors league.
Elsewhere, HVT has emerged as one of our community tournaments’ most prolific players after Gameweek 23. He now tops both the Long and Winding Road main league and the FFS Old Farts Club competition.
Chucky77 is another with plenty to be pleased about. He continues to lead the Top 10K Any Season league, which is run by Red Lightning, is up to 122nd overall and is also top of the FFS Members League.
The new leader of Red Lightning’s January to May league is Nial Akata, while in TorresMagic‘s Last Man Standing competition, BenjaniMwaruwari hit the top score in Gameweek 23 with 107. There are now 584 teams left after 78 were eliminated when the safety score was set at 43.
If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round Ups please email me a brief summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spread sheet or head to head competition, at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.
