Next this Saturday, we catch up on the member’s area statistics over the last three rounds of fixtures with our usual post-Gameweek article.
We assess the lay of the land at Arsenal as a result of Olivier Giroud’s first-team return before analysing Tottenham’s man of the moment and Manchester United’s pair of form players.
West Ham and Everton also play a part in our thinking ahead of some fine upcoming fixtures.
Giroud to defoe
Terrible advice
Save for now.
Looks good.
Beautiful
Nothing now.
Long term, Randolph ain't no good...look to upgrade.
Monitor the Ake/Alonso situation...Ake likely to be benchwarming, so start eyeing up replacements
If Ake does return to Chelsea, can you see him being a starter and if so for who? Should we all keep on to him? Thats annoying tho cause without him I need to find another cheap as defender who is awesome. Not that one exists
Doubt it.
He play 1 in 3 at best at Chelsea. Can't even see that much to be honest. He's dead as far as FPL is concerned.
can't see him getting much gametime. with zouma back now as well, it seems strange he'd bother with ake.
Do people think Coutinho will really come back firing?
I might swap for Lallana tonight for a hit (got the funds):
Grant (Jak)
Alonso,Ake, Baines (Brunt, Amat)
Alli, Lallana, Sanchez, Phillips (Deroon)
Ibra, Costa, Ibra
First Ibra is Kun. Sorry.
I think Pool could struggle without Mane. Their counter attack is so reliant on his pace.
Good point mate. I'll wait.
Any excuse to repost your team at us peasants
My 101.9m team value says hi 😉
sorry optimus.;)
Don't be, ace team you have 🙂
Cheers dude.
Yeah I reckon so.
Are you asking for an RMT?
Not at all. Genuinely curious about this move man.
You have every Right to Brag about that Team.
How did you manage that?
I used to have a team purely based on value. In the old ff days you had a top value league. Buy cheap, sell for profit. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Until midway in season.
What is that team worth? Looks like it must be 106!
Bellerin injured? Just drafted him in on my WC!
WC fail
13 GWs early 🙂
Thankfully my WC is still active.
Walker or Rose to replace?
Rose, cheaper and better
Isn't Rose close to a suspension?
2 YCs away...then you saw how that game worked out with Costa
Get rid.
Wenger said so in his post match interview.No details though.
I've kind of stuck with this WC team since making it, which must show i'm kinda settled with it more or less.
not posted it much at all, but would like opinions on this lot if you could gents?
Heaton
Cahill - Rose - Baines
Lallana - Alli - Sanchez - Eriksen - Phillips
Costa - Ibrahimovic
_________________________________
Robinson: Chambers, Barnes, Holgate
Comments much appreciated.
Please take Cahill out, just don't like the sight of him.
😀
Never owned Troy Deeney then?
Thankfully not 😀
🙂
haha!! yeah, he is the ONLY one that has looked liek the odd one out in all of that.
There's 1.0m in the bank, had planned on using some of it for lallana > cout, so leaves 0.4 to use elsewhere.
cahill to Azpi maybe, or just shove an arsenal defender in there?
I'd actually downgrade to Brunt.
I think Rondon in a 343 offers more value that Lallana, mate - given West Brom's fixtures. (I'd never go for a Pulis attacker but I think he's attacking more this season.)
yeah it's sound advice TS, cheers, i just really like the look of a 3-5-2 from here on in with not much value grabbing my attention for the budget third striker spot
I see you have 0 ITB so probably have money tied up in Lallana? The Man U fixture plus your WC could mean he's droppable to see how Liverpool line up without Mané, and see how they look.
no i'm actually on my WC team now TS haha! this IS my WC team above 🙂
i see what you mean though about Lallana.
It's Alli or Eriksen for me. Not both and I think you guys on early WC are going to regret having no Kun pretty quick.
Yaya - Had him as my Walcott replacement GW18 and 19 for 13 points. Yes, he's nailed in the short term (and longer IMO).
Giroud - Nailed for fixtures where the opposition park the bus, so in the next 5 we're looking at swa, BUR, WAT, che, HUL. I reckon he only sits out the trip to Chelsea in that run.
Players don't have to be nailed to justify a transfer.
Best combo in the medium term?
A) Dann and Allen
B) Friend and Chadli
You have Phillips? If not, you might consider him instead of Chadli. This at the same time allows for a defender more expensive than Friend. Either way, I got Chambers instead of Friend since Chamber’s minutes seems more secure in the longer run, but that might still not be the right move, of course.
B with Phillips.
What's more likely from here. A Giroud double rise before the next GW, or a Gray single rise.
Giroud on +95.5
Gray on +17.5
Gru
Probably Giroud.
Any of Girouds new owners going to stick the armband on him?
Sorry that was meant as a stand alone question
Guys, let me have it! What’s wrong with my squad? I’ve fallen every gameweek since Coutinho got injured. What should I aim to do in the longer run?
Heaton / Foster
Alonso / Williams / Holebas / Evans / Chambers
Sánchez / Firmino / Phillips / Allen / De Roon
Agüero / Ibrahimovic / Costa
0 free transfers, £0.0 in the bank
Looks fine, "just" nail your captain pick
Thanks! Sánchez next (versus Swansea), right?
Too much GK...downgrade Foster to cheapie
Defence WAY too heavy, midfield WAY too light.
And Firmino...so many better options!?
Personally, doesn't look like you have the money for that front 3...downgrade one and beef up midfield.
Thanks!
Is my defence really way too heavy? Should I downgrade Alonso, you think? The current leader of this game has the following defence,
Alonso / Walker / Baines / McAuley / Gibson,
while number two has,
Azpilicueta / Baines / Jones / McAuley / Aké (with de Gea in goal),
both defences clearly more expensive than mine, despite both teams having lower value.
However, downgrading Holebas to Yoshida might be a way of saving £0.4. I’d like to see if Yoshida would in fact replace Fonté.
After West Brom’s good run of fixtures has ended (from gameweek 28), I might downgrade Foster to Robinson, but probably not before.
I regret not replacing Firmino with one of the Tottenham boys earlier. I’ve kept faith, hoping that would pay of, but unfortunately it hasn’t. His numbers have been just as good as Alli’s but the latter has been much more accurate with his shots, obviously. I won’t take out Firmino for a hit now, and then he has Swansea at home, but if he doesn’t deliever in the match, he’s out.
My team value is £105.6, which isn’t that bad, although it hasn’t risen in quite some time. I could do something like Agüero and Allen to Lukaku and Alli, but Agüero’s home game against Swansea in gameweek 24 is tempting to hold on to. I got Costa at £9.6 so it’s tempting to hold on to him, and as a United fan I wouldn’t want to feel slightly disappointed whenever Ibrahimovic scores. I might consider selling Sánchez but the other Arsenal options aren’t very tempting at the moment, unless Giroud really nails down a spot.
How’s your team, and what’s your rank?
Link's in the profile. OR 20K, doing OK
Great team value! Good job! Looks like your all set for the rest of your season! The £1.8 in the bank, is that for upgrading Anichebe, or might you consider Agüero?
Did Hazard to Alli, hence the change rattling around.
No Aguero, not unless something dramatic happens.
Played 3-5-2 all season, not changing it.
Baines and Brunt next on the shopping list, Holebas and now Ake probably on the way out
Why Aké out? To get in Baines/Brunt, simply? I was actually considering downgrading Holebas to Aké, but I might rather get in Yoshida.
Alonso / Rose / Baines / Brunt sound like an ideal defence.
Is Bellerin definetly injured? If so, Bellerin>Kolscieny or who?
Brunt, Baines, Ake, Walker, Rose, Mustafi, Koscielny
Ah yea Baines slipped my mind, cheers
No worries... nice run of fixtures after the Citeh game.
Any FPL managers with a superiority complex saving their WC for a DGW?
👿
this guy 😎
Why no link? 🙂
although team doesn't require major surgery right now, despite me doing atrociously badly rank wise
I'm just curious if people are taking hits now so that they can lord it over other casuals about saving their WC for a DGW!
i'm not taking hits, i'm perfectly able to make my mistakes one player at a time
😀 Taking transfer hits all guns blazing is much more rewarding!
you know what, i'm not far from being won over on that front. maybe it's time to go a little crazy. kone to chambers early transfer?
Dont bother looking at WCRMT's. They are just so wrong.
Me, Im happy with my team (I did Origi->Lukaku).
That's the plan
Oh yes. 🙂
Just saw the tweet about Ake. So when will this happen? Will it be say next week, 2 months down the track, next season. I was contemplating bringing him in for gw21. Should I still proceed?
No.... https://t.co/4guYpv2YG1
Thanks mate.
Utd plays Hull midweek
Who's in the other semi?
Liverpool vs Southampton
A team vs B team
Cheers
Internet not working?
I don't trust the internet
I trust you lot
I don't blame you. Nothing but a cesspit of filth out there.
Not you.
We couldn't be arsed winning it again. Micky Mouse competition
😀
If you have 3 Chelsea players and Ake and then he returns to Chelsea what happens? You can't have 4 so is it a forced sale? Never seen it before. Sorry if question been asked already today
Check the Hot Topic
I don't see a HT on 4 Chelsea players?
You keep 4 players, but when you make a transfer you have to get rid of 1 or you can't do any other transfers.
😀
Cheers
Free transfer that has to be used that week, if you didnt use it fck knows what happens then. They auto swap someone for you probably Ake
Wtf 😀
You can keep all four for a week if you only have one free transfer and dont use it.
Bad guess. great input. 🙂
Next transfer has to be one of the four.
That's nice and simple 😀
GTG?
Heaton
Alonso Jones Pieters
Sanchez Haz Lallana Sterling Philips
Ibra Costa
Pickford Barnes Evans Pieters
Too much Sterling.
Suggestions?
0.5 bank 0FT
Gtg.
Everton now out of both Cups
And no Blank Week
Great Fixtures
Only PL to play for,
Lukaku will be well rested before every game.
Why do people still prefer Giroud over Him ?
So if they rest him, it will definitely be in the league?
Cheers.
Why would he need a Rest ?
Tired legs innit.
Giroud plays for the better team has better fixtures and is in better form
Don't you think Arsenal can play without him?
2-3 Bad Matches and they'll shift Sanchez upfront or Welbeck upfront.
That's when you switch to Defoe or Lukaku
Oh and he is cheaper
£ and fixtures.
assistance would be appreciated.
Cech • Pickford*
Lovren • Williams • Alonso • Amat • Francis*
Sanchez • Alli • Lallana • Allen • Capoue
Ibra • Kun •Origi
0.2 ITB 1FT
Look to shift Origi, Allen or Capoue.
Yeah cheers. Also have a banned Francis.
Thoughts on my WC front 8 for the foreseeable future:
Sanchez Alli Cout Phillips Hazard
Ibra Lukaku Barnes
Defence?
Not with that front 8
😀
Has Barnes up front...there's money left perhaps 🙂
My defence is Jaku Randolph
Ake Taylor Baines Brunt Chambers
Not sure about Eddie Howe's mentality in resting so many players today.
Pretty sure winning the cup would be a massive thing for Bournemouth. I suppose he doesn't want so many fixtures later on in the year given that they are in the latter stages of ... sweet fanny Adams.
Knows his priorities I suppose.
Priority these days is to stay in the PL
Clubs don't really give a monkeys about the FA Cup anymore
Bournemouth strike you as a team that is capable of being a good cup team. Can beat anyone on the day.
yeah totally agree with this. there's a very limited amount of silverware out there, and most teams should really be having a go at winning a competition that they're involved in. can understand an injury ravaged team fighting relegation maybe, but a mid table team?
they really should give a champs league spot to fa cup winners, or even a play-off vs the 4th place team. it's stupid considering it a big success to come 4th in the league
They should.
Made winning the Europa League slightly more relevant.
Sound enough. But you could end up with the unlikely outcome of Hartlepool in the CL. I think the winner gets entry to the EC.. Wigan played the EC whilst in the Championship.
i for one would love to see hartlepool taking on the likes of juventus and co. but in reality, with such a prize, the bigger, and not quite so big teams would have a real go at winning it
Not as much as me, I dare bet!
Last time a non-top-division club won the FA cup? Hypotheticals 🙂
Suggested this the other day. Good way to increase interest.
Millwalls season will go to the dogs now.
This tweet was posted on Thursday.
https://twitter.com/FFArsenal/status/817008110544023552
"Alexis Özil Cech Koscielny Bellerin Coquelin will not be included Saturday vs Preston. Walcott and Gibbs not back yet."
I suspect Wenger was referring to the knock Bellerin had before the Bournemouth game, but we will see.
To Giroud or not to? He pretty much determines how my wildcard team looks like. Any other wildcarder here pondering with same dilemma?
With Gru I'll be playing 3-4-3 and without 3-5-2
This, 100000%... I'm in EXACTLY the same boat. I'd wager our teams are probably identical then.
Those Arsenal fixtures are just too good to ignore. Considering triple up. Shame Theo isn't fit yet.
How is your defence atm?
Currently on Cahill, Baines, Ake, Brunt and Taylor. You?
No idea atm. Baines is pretty much only nailed in my team
Back on pens abd everybody is going nuts for Baines? Good fixtures ahead but they have not looked like a coherent team so far this season. I don't get the race for Baines.
Smells of bandwagon to me.
I'm in a similar position. Lukaku or Giroud makes it 343. Otherwise its Kun and Ibra in a 352.
Lukaku too expensive being third striker imo. Don't even consider him even with those fixtures.
I'm going Kunless 🙂 same Q. How is your defence shaping up?
The defence basically determines my team. I plan to gamble on Kun because I have a lot of ground to make up, but it is a risk.
I want Hazard, Alexis, Alli, Aguero and Ibra in forward positions. But not settled yet.
The defence is something along the lines of Rose/Walker, Baines, Jones, Ake, 4.0. But plenty of options in the 4.4 spot and Jones may well be downgraded to a 4.4 to bolster the 4th and 5th mids if I play 352. A lot yet to be decided...
Might even keep a Chelsea defender for two more games then switch to Spurs. If I change to 343 without Kun I can squeeze Lallana/Coutinho back in, so it's a very tough call.
I would keep Chelsea def for sure for next 2 gws if I had one
The way I see it, he is in the team until he stops peforming.
Hard to see him not perform against the poor quality defences Arsenal face over the next 5 fixtures (excluding Chelsea :))
I'm not getting him as he doesn't fit my team structure but I wish I could.
If Giroud would be your cheapest forward I'd do it to take advantage of his form and starts. Then you could ditch for say Defoe or perhaps even a 4.5 when he loses his place and/or form
That could be strategy worth considering.
Yeah I'm going to go with him for the next few fixtures I think.
It would be preferable to play wildcard for a double gameweek but when you're languishing around the mid 250 k mark and making little or no progress sometimes you just have to go for it.
Depends what you're playing for. I don't play for rank. I only play to beat my mini league rivals. Rank is just a byproduct of that.
Yeah but on the other hand the better your score the better your rank and the better chance you'll be top of your mini leagues.They all go hand in hand unless it's head to head leagues you play in.
But that's the thing. You say that you're 250k in rank so you're just gonna go for it. But you could be 250k in rank but top of all your mini leagues, so then you wouldn't need to take any risks.
I presume you're not top of your MLs though by the sound of it 😀
No I'm not Epic .leagues that I would traditionally be top or close to I'm struggling in so I've gotta try something.It's a great challenge this year to try and get back to the top of them.
^This
I can win my ML and have a crap rank but if I had a good rank I'd still win it
In theory yeah, but there are always scenarios that may play out.
e.g. last GW of the season, you might be top 100 overall, but there is a guy above you in your mini league who is 30 points ahead of you.
Now you could carry on as normal and at the very least consolidate your rank, but you definitely won't win your ML, or you could take a massive risk going all out in an effort to catch him knowing that the risk could make you plummet down the overall rankings, but there is no other way for you to win that ML.
Ah I see. That can obviously be avoided if by "playing for rank'' we mean playing for the highest rank possible but not many do that so I take your point. I still think in most cases it's the other way around but that's neither here nor there.
Aye true. I guess in my circumstances I'm actually "playing for rank", because I'm in so many MLs I can't just concentrate on individual teams. Though I am in cash leagues, so if it comes to in near the end of the season I will take a closer look at my rivals and adjust my team if need be depending on which leagues I may be able to win a prize in.
Or the 700k mark like me. WC activated 🙂
Exactly .what's the point waiting on one big week at the end of the season .I need help now.
Me too. At least I still have TC & BB for DGWs.
Had great start for this season. Actually best start ever. Now I have fallen to +350K and no idea what to do despite my team looking okeyish on paper. Activated my wildcard and hopelly with carefull planning I'm able to cope dgws.
But if I was in better position I would defo hold wc till dgws.
Depends on your Current Team.
If its a Decent Team which needs 3-4 transfers to fix it,
Not Worth It.
Injuries and DGW are only convincimg reasons for using WC.
Also using WC now will restrict your Transfers to DGW players even 3-4 weeks before DGW.
Which will make you miss out on some Good players those weeks.
Ake owners are you selling and who for on the back of this?
Bournemouth boss Howe said Ake's exit was "not 100% finalised yet".
He told BBC Radio Solent: "It would be a huge blow to us as he's done so well. It is easier said than to done to say we are going to go and recruit a player of a similar stature to Nathan."
Howe added: "I am not sure there are too many out there, hence why Chelsea would recall him. With Simon Francis's suspension and Marc Pugh's injury and now Nathan going back, our defensive resources are certainly stretched."
I'm on WC so will almost certainly sell
Probably for Friend/Chambers as can only stretch to 4.4 with current set-up
Yeah same here and already have Chambers so no idea who to swap to
How much can you stretch to and what's the rest of your back line?
Sorry just reread your comment and realise you're stuck to 4.4
Rest is Walker, Pieters, Chambers, Baines with Foster & Heaton as GK's
Can only stretch to 4.4 unless I changed a couple of them.
Front 8 is Sanchez Lallana Phillips Alli De Roon
Defoe Ibrahimovic Costa
So wouldn't really want to change any of that
Your front 8 is exactly the same as mine atm. What about Nyom and double up with Foster if good fixture?
Don't really like doubling up on defence but it's a thought I guess
Or perhaps punt on Robertson from Hull. Should be nailed at least even if the new manager fails to turn fortunes around
FML
Keeping on WC, if he plays he is the bargain of the season, if he doesn't I can sell for Nyom/Chambers/Friend etc.
Very good point! I may do the same
I have been falling in ranks for weeks now and my team looks pretty good on paper. getting frustrating..
Grant Pickford
Alonso Holebas Ake Nyom Amat
Sanchez Hazard Mkhytarian Lallana Fletcher
Ibra Costa Carroll
2 FT and 0.3 ITB.
I really could use some suggestions.
Lose Carroll, lose Hazard (not performing, don't need him and Costa).
Alli for Hazard
Giroud for Carroll...numbers roughly work?
Do that now.
In defence, drop Holebas first...try to get Baines, Brunt and Rose/Walker in...consider sacrificing Alonso and Ake...might both be less FPL-worthy after today's news.
On my WC, which team would you go with?
A)
Grant
Cahill Ake Baines
Lallana Alli Phillips Sanchez
Giroud Ibra Costa
(Heaton de Roon Brunt Taylor)
343
B)
Grant
Gibson Ake Baines
Hazard Alli Phillips Lallana Sanchez
Ibra Costa
(Heaton Evans Britos Barnes)
352
A but without Ake if he moves
Front 7/8 is better in team B but we all have those players. If you want to climb in rankings defence is where the you can make ground. For that reason I choose A - it looks more balanced
A
I want to double up the Arsenal players (easy fixtures), but difficult to know who is playing and who is not. I have Sanchez but Walcott or Giroud in addition to him?
And how about Alonso? Why people are talking about here, that he would not have nailed..
I've gone Sanchez and Giroud
Ake potentially being recalled from loan at Bournemouth for competition
But Ake does not play the same place with the Alonso?
He played full back when on loan at Watford last season I believe, and also one or two games there for Bournemouth too
He plays at CB or full back, but i'd imagine he could take the LCB spot and Azpi can move back to his natural position as full/wing back.
Isn't Ake originally meant to be a left back?
I booted up Football Manager. He's a natural left back who can play centre back. If this isn't conclusive I don't know what is 😉
Aké is a LB basically, that's where he has always played for Holland U21 and that's where he played for Watford all last season.
In the youth ranks at Chelsea he varied between LB and CB but it was always thought that he'd be too short to play CB at top level (he is a little under 6' 0" tall). Bournemouth have used him in that position, however, and he has done well there.
Aké has also played CM , in fact most of his appearances for the Chelsea 1st team have been in that position. He is very calm and accomplished on the ball and has long been identified as a big candidate to break through from the youth ranks in due course.
LWB would be a perfectly comfortable position for him, as would LCB. He could cover CM as well, which Chelsea need after Oscar and Mikel leaving.
I'd see him as cover for multiple positions in other words. The only question is what Aké himself will say. He may well prefer to play regularly at Bournemouth rather than intermittently (mainly off the bench) at Chelsea. On the other had, if he returns he has a good chance of a PL winner's medal this season.
Pretty sure I heard ake say his preferred position is in midfield. Just shows how versatile he is.
No. He sees himself as a defender.
1 minute in for those who don't want to sit through it.
😆
😆 sorry, shouldn't have said
*should have
Look, last time we spoke about this I pointed out that Aké may be recalled and you pooh-poohed the idea. I suggest you don't embarrass yourself any further.
http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2016/12/27/dugout-discussion-liverpool-vs-stoke-city/?hc_page=30#hc_comment_14727543
pooh-poohed?
Previously I gave an opinion that I didn't think he would be recalled because I taught he would rather continue playing for Bournemouth. The exact thing you have stated above.
And to do with his preferred position I provided a video which shows him saying his preferred position is in midfield.
So I don't understand how you can possibly think you are right and me wrong.
It appears he has quite recently changed his mind, previously he considered himself a defender. Which is where he has played the majority of games in his career, both at youth and 1st team level.
To be fair he is not expressing a very strong preference anyway. But there you go, he can play all 3 positions as I said.
That's all that I was trying to say in the beginning, he's a very versatile player.
Don't understand why you needed to get so offened/defensive or maybe I just picked up up wrong.
Strawman!
Tubes: You've been playing CB throughout your career, you've played on the left, you've played on the centre of midfield like the Makelele roll. What is your preferred position?
Ake: I think the last one you said, midfield. In front of the defence, trying to read the play, things like that, trying to intercept balls, I think that's my favourite one but the one I'm playing now I've played a lot of times for Chelsea and in Holland as well so I know that position quite well but I think the best one I can play is in midfield, but I don't mind playing anywhere else.
I am so sorry 😆
This thread has gone al quiet Lawro?
Sorry to burst your bubble but Football Manager 2016 only says Ake can play CM to an "unconvincing'' standard, hardly befitting cover for that Chelsea midfield. In addition they haven't even bothered to include any information to how well he can play LWB. 😉
Yeah, well... I think I know about Chelsea players better than FM does. 😕
You've stumbled across the joke! 😀
Friend or Chambers as Ake replacement? Would prefer George but will he get his place back?
Friend, he was outstanding last game. Club captain as well so fully expect him to have regained his place
Cheers FN
I've already transferred Ake in this week... Pretty annoying
Piss tAke?
GGGIIIIRRRROOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUDDDDDDDDD!!!
Thinking about getting Defoe in for now and upgrading to Lukaku later on, but how would you fund it
A) Alonso to Baines/Brunt
B) Lovren to Friend (already have Valdes)
Lovren out.
7 years, 3 months agoGrant - Randolph
Alonso - Baines - Ake - Chambers - Amat
Sanchez - Alli - Lallana - Phillips - de Roon
Costa - Giroud - Ibrahimovic
0.3itb, any changes people would make?