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The Technical Area – Assessing Budget Defenders

With nine Gameweeks now behind us, we’re already nearly a quarter of the way through this season’s Premier League campaign.

While surprises have been thrown up across the board – particularly in midfield – the primary concern now facing many managers has to do with their defence.

Big-ticket, fire-and-forget options in the form of Marcos Alonso and Ben Davies have stuttered of late, leaving many of us eyeing exit routes into more reliable sources of points.

This week’s Technical Area will be taking stock of the defensive situation and mapping out paths for success between now and the mid-point of the year.

Given the heavy fixture congestion facing sides over December, reliability of starts – as well as a deep bench – becomes more important than ever. As does wringing the most out of our already strained budgets.

1,007 Comments Post a Comment
  1. YouReds
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Elliot Krul
    Monreal trippier Ward Cedric (mbemba)
    Silva Sterling Salah (TCarrol King)
    Jesus Kane Morata

    I’m thinking of saving a FT, and seeing what happens with city line up. Any thing you would change??

  2. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    This defence be good this week?

    Ward Alonso Cresswell

    1. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Could be good, could be disastrous. Dont trust West Ham

  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Coutinho or Jesus, this week only?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Coutinho but keep

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        It's a Free Hit team

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          O sorry Coutinho

    2. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Coutinho

    3. Ibracadebruyne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      depends on other pool/city in your team

    4. FPL Maldini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Coutinho

    5. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Cout

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

      I'd gan Jesus.

      Why don't you get him, Agüero and Lacazette up top.

      I wish I still had my free hit chip.

    7. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Coutinho.

  4. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Hits o'clock this week. Who's made the biggest?
    Go on, don't be shy.

    1. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Cheeky -4 myself

    2. Hooky
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      More hits than Rik Waller's had pies

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Waller love a pie

    3. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      I really want to make a -8 but I'm trying to control myself....

    4. Salarrivederci
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      -8 but prolly gonna do -16 if I dont believe Ch. Wood will play.

      Lukaku, Lloris & March -> Agüero, Richarlison, Speroni

      Might do: Sterling & Ch. Wood -> Coutinho and Diouf

      Team atm:

      Speroni
      Jones, Monreal, Lascelles
      Sterling, Silva, Hazard (C), Richarlison
      Kane, Agüero, Ch. Wood

      Elliot, Ake, Carroll, Mbemba

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Could be a winner

        1. Salarrivederci
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Well -16 is just nuts, so i might just go with it and get Carroll + Ake in if Wood and Sterling/Aguero misses out.
          But those transfers would rly balance the team and make me able of upgrading Mbemba to a 4.4 next week for free. I could play all formatons, and especially the midfield would be very nice: Coutinho, Silva, Hazard, Richarlison 🙂

    5. drughi
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      10 weeks and still no hit, I'm so proud. Ritchie>richarlison is tempting I must say

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        I’m trying go without too..
        Kills me every season..

    6. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      -8

      😎

      1. Sims
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        7 digit OR incoming

        1. Salarrivederci
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Maybe after next GW, but hey. 1/4 of the season. If you're having trouble fielding 11, and need to balance your team now is the time instead of losing 2,3 or 4 points every week due to balance and fixtures.

        2. We Will Klopp you
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Hardly, can easily get a rise with a -8

    7. Goat
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      2 FT’s so I took my first hit of the season. 4 big changes for -8 and captaining Salah who I brought in

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

      -fook all for me.

      Trying to be more conservative this season.

  5. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Jese or Brady out for Richarlison?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Brady

      1. asquishypotato
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Brady

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Brady

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers all! 🙂

  6. Ibracadebruyne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    A. Sanchez + Firmino
    B. Salah + Jesus

    Cheers!

    1. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      A

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        And (C) Sanchez

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

          Sanchez or Salah will be C

          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            Yeh A mate

    3. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      B

    4. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      B

    5. Goat
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      I have B and no way would I swap them for A

  7. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Dann nailed on, right? Especially after missing out on the Bristol thrashing.

  8. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Start
    A Duffy or
    B Cedric

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      B

    2. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Tough one.. Duffy for me, always go with the home side.

  9. Gw287
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Davies --> Dunk
    Carroll --> Richarlison (-4)

    Good moves?

    1. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      yes

    2. asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      sure.

      If caroll was your playing mid, if you are ending up with 8 upfront then maybe not

  10. EDEN THE MAN
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Where to use my 2FT?

    Foster-Elliot
    Azpi-Otamendi-Jones-Cedric-Naughton
    Eriksen-Salah-Silva-Ritchie-Atsu
    Kane-Morata-Quaner

    Any thoughts would be appreciated

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

      Ritchie to Richarlison and carry 1.

  11. GS456
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Ready lads?

    Elliott
    Otamendi, Mee, Naughton
    Richarlison, Ritchie, Eriksen, Sterling
    Jesus (c), Lukaku, Kane

    Still looking at Eriksen > Salah for a hit and captain

  12. Sims
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    hazard > sanchez(c) worth -4?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      No

    2. J T
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      No haz could easily outscored him

    3. pundit of punts
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Better captain hazard

    4. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Not a chance.

    5. Kim Jong Kün
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Never

  13. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Money no object, who too bring in for Miki?

    Thinking Salah or Hazard.

    Midfield is currently Silva Miki Ritchie Eriksen Caroll and have 3.1 in the bank to play with

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

      Salah

    2. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Salah.

  14. Vlad Tepes
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    need HELP guys with this team:

    Fabianski, (Elliot)
    Otamendi, Jones, B.Davies,(Lascelles, Rosenior)
    Gross,D.Silva,Eriksen,Ritchie(Carroll)
    Morata,Kane,Jesus

    0 ITB, 1 FT. Would like to do following:

    A) Ritchie + X --> Richarlison + X
    B) B.Davies(Have to go??) --> X
    C) Other
    D) Save

    Would appreciate your opinions, thanks!!

  15. New Post
  16. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    What's the issue with sterling?

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Rotation threat. Played 120 minutes Tuesday. good chance he doesn't start this weekend.

  17. fancy111
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Kola and Gross (-4) to
    A) Moreno and Richarlison
    B) 5.5 And Richarlison and stick with Jesus over Aguero for the next few
    C) Neither

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Wouldn't like to lose Kola this week.. could do just as well as Richarlison imo. C for me.

    2. Yellin' in my Ear
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      C

  18. The Rock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    What do we people think of signing Jesus this week but long term more than likely moving him on to Aguero?

    Or should I just bring in Aguero this week? Jesus is more likely to start this week. Still have WC in place too.

    1. GS456
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      i would be avoiding totally this week if i didnt have either.

      I have jesus so im holding but looking to get aguero as soon as.

      1. The Rock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        What other striker should i be looking at though?

        Have Kane and Vardy.. moving Lukaku on.

        1. GS456
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          would just keep lukaku.

          Morata isn't worth it yet

          1. The Rock
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            Agreed re Morata. I wouldn't mind Laca but it would be only for 1 week!

            Can't see Lukaku doing anything over the next 2 weeks. After that i hope to get him back for Vardy. Prob on a WC.

  19. balint84
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    who should be the first on my bench?

    A) Abraham
    B) Loftus-Cheek
    C) Jones

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      RLC.

    2. Kavorka
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      RLC

  20. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    The current world No 1 is a casual who has never finished below 400k, made a total of 4 transfers (not including his WC and Free Hit chip).

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/2118340/history

    1. kysersosa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Wow.

      Got to be in it to win it I guess, but its not where you are in October its where you are in May. Doubt he'll be in top 10,000.

  21. amxrvronsky
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Current team:
    foster / elliot
    ben davies / cedric / otamendi / mbemba / goldson
    choupo / salah / mkhi / atsu / t.carroll
    lukaku / kane / jesus
    2FT / 0ITB

    Free hit team:
    forster / elliot
    monreal / gomez / otamendi / mbemba / mariappa
    sanchez / salah / coutinho / richarlison / t.carroll
    jesus / morata / diouf

    Hey guys, I'm planning on playing free hit this GW. Does this team looks good or need some change?
    or stick with old team and make 2FT (leave your below hehe) Thanks!

    1. RADOAFC
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Id say just ditch Davies and Mkhi

  22. RADOAFC
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling to Salah, Coutinho or other?

  23. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Is Silva to Salah rather than Sterling to Salah just too risky?

    1. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      yes... keep silva as hes more nailed and scoring as much in as much in FPL

  24. Flycroft
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Great article. Thanks

  25. Dr Mulholland
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Hello
    Would appreciate some advice, I have two free transfers, would you change:
    Hazard + Manquillo to
    Pedro + Alonso ??

    1. Dr Mulholland
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      I could also change Davies + Manquillo to
      Trippier + Gomez /Femenia

  26. Neeskens Under Matip
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    No Watford defenders made the grade?