Opinion
2 May 2018 1024 comments
James H James H
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Our coverage of Gameweek 36 concludes as we run the rule over the key individual, the team and talking point to catch our attention.

Dusan Tadic keeps Southampton’s survival bid alive, and an impressive Crystal Palace sweep aside a hapless Leicester City to dismiss their own relegation concerns.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s in-form attack stake a strong claim for the captaincy in Double Gameweek 37 as Harry Kane’s toils continue.

The Player

Like Adel Taarabt before him, Dusan Tadic is one of those players who never quite delivers on the underlying numbers.

Aside from Gameweek 8 of 2014/15, where he famously served up a goal and four assists in an 8-1 win over Sunderland, the Serbian has frustrated Fantasy Premier League (FPL) backers all too often.

Yet, as evidenced by his output at home to Bournemouth, the recent arrival of Mark Hughes has revived Tadic’s potential.

A brace in last weekend’s win means that the playmaker has scored three of his side’s five goals in five matches since the new manager arrived – equalling his output for previous boss Mauricio Pellegrino in the opening 31 Gameweeks.

Again, Tadic ticks all of the statistical boxes. Under Hughes, he leads all team-mates for key passes (12) and efforts in the box (seven), while he’s joint-top for shots and efforts on target.

Encouragingly for Hughes, Saturday’s vital win over the Cherries means that his side have netted twice in three of their last four, which includes hauls against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Now just a single point behind fourth-bottom Swansea, Southampton travel to the face the Welshmen in the second match of Double Gameweek 37, with a visit to Everton beforehand.

Given that they face Man City on the final day of the season, Tadic’s displays over those next two matches could determine the Saints’ survival plight.

Involved in 50% of Saints’ goals since Hughes took charge, he could be equally valuable to his recent Fantasy investors.

So far almost 34,000 managers have put their trust in more returns, with Tadic simmering at just over 100,000 owners making him an intriguing differential ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The Team

Similar to Tadic, Crystal Palace served a timely reminder that the relegation battle can play a major role in our thinking at this point in the season.

Largely ignored by FPL managers due to the lack of a Double Gameweek, the Eagles’ 5-0 thrashing of Leicester City was made all the more remarkable on a Saturday where seven of the first 12 teams to feature all failed to find the net.

With five individuals all getting on the scoresheet, as many as four Palace players delivered double-figures. Once again, Wilfried Zaha was the star of the show, claiming a second 14-point return in the space of three Gameweeks.

Roy Hodgson’s decision to switch the Ivory Coast international up front alongside Andros Townsend in Gameweek 31 has proved a masterstroke.

While Zaha has supplied four goals and two assists in that run, Palace’s team numbers underline their overall threat – across the last six matches, they rank among the top four sides when it comes to shots on target (30), big chances (18) and goals (13).

Understandably, with 12 teams playing twice in the next round of fixtures, many will again overlook the Selhurst Park side when it comes to investing for Double Gameweek 37.

Yet with clashes against Stoke and West Brom to finish the season, Hodgson’s regulars have the momentum to continue racking up the points and finally secure their top-flight safety.

Zaha is the obvious target, though fellow midfielder James McArthur looks has great potential for those shopping in the sub-4.5 price bracket. That’s before we even consider Luka Milivojevic who – via his dead-ball prowess – is second only to Mohamed Salah for points per million value (26.4).

Meanwhile, Patrick van Aanholt has once again justified his reputation as a provider of attacking points from the back. The Dutchman has claimed three goals in eight Gameweeks and is ranked top for shots (11) among defenders over that period.

The Talking Point

When Double Gameweek 37 was initially confirmed, Harry Kane was immediately locked in as the obvious choice for the armband and remaining Triple Captain chips.

A trip to West Brom, followed by the visit of travel-sick Newcastle, seemed tailor-made for the Spurs striker as he looked to chase down Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.

We only had to look back to last season, where Kane scored five times in Double Gameweek 37, following that up with a final-day hat-trick against Hull, to remind ourselves of his explosive ability.

However, it seems like Kane didn’t get the memo.

After scoring six times in as many matches over Gameweek 23-28, he’s netted three goals in the subsequent eight.

Indeed, at Spurs alone, that’s a tally matched by Christian Eriksen and bettered by Son Heung-min and Dele Alli, with four goals apiece.

While many will point to the controversies surrounding Kane’s goal award at Stoke and the recent FA tweet, his lethargy dates back further than either furore; the striker has managed just a single double-digit return in his last 15 league outings.

On the plus side, Monday’s goal at home to Watford means that Kane heads into Double Gameweek 37 having scored in back-to-back matches for the first time since Gameweek 28.

Now just four goals behind Salah, he’s still very much focused on his battle to finish top scorer for the third successive season.

“It’s something I want to win – every striker in the country wants to win the Golden Boot, and I’m no different.

It’s nice to be back on the goal trail and I’m looking forward to the last three weeks of the season. I’ve got two in my last two Premier League games and my ankle feels good”.

Yet with Man City’s attack looking to chase down Premier League records, Kane no longer looks the automatic go-to option.

At a time where Raheem Sterling has 10+ points in each of his last three and Gabriel Jesus has scored in four successive league outings, our armband decision for this penultimate round of fixtures could prove decisive to mini-league success.

Not for the first time this season, Kane has failed to put minds at rest.

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

    Salah > Eriksen (FT) for last 2GWs ??

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

      Sure

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      nope i d find someone else

    3. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm doing that transfer myself, I think it will pay off

    4. Planet Head
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Nope I think Salah is undroppable, even at Chelsea

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

        Mind might change if he scores a hattie in Rome.

    5. Kaptenen
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Risky, I wouldnt

    6. FPLzebub
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      For free? Sure.

  2. Bubbles1985
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    My team is :

    Lloris (Ryan)
    Morgan - Masuaku - Dunk - Mustafi (Lowton)
    Willian - Salah - Gross - Sane (Ibe)
    Jesus (TC)- Kane(vc) (Barnes)

    Leaves me with 0ft and 2.0m itb

    What to do with this shower....
    Chasing 23 points. Willian > Arnie for -4 or would Morgan/Mustafi upgrade be more essential?!

  3. Champions united
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Kompany+willian>alli+davies (-8)

    Yes
    No

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes if playing bb

    2. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Tough. If Bavies plays both games and Willian doesn't start then yeah. If Willian plays both and Bavies plays once then no.

      1. Champions united
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Its all surprise who plays and who will not

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

      Yes

  4. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone having problems logging into members area?? Tried several times

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Me, but I haven't paid

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        🙂

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

        xD

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

      Its working okay for me.

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

      Just logged in. It's fine.

    4. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What's your password? Let me try.

  5. Planet Head
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Any Kasper news?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Was looking white as a sheet last time I saw him

      1. Planet Head
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Still in friendly spirits maybe?

  6. Stevie B
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What make sense of these transfers?

    A) Salah -> KdB
    B) Willian -> Arnautovic
    C) Lukaku -> Jesus
    D) Barnes -> Jordan Ayew
    E) all transfers

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

      C is the best

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

      In order of best to worst:

      C
      B
      D
      A

      1. jimmy.floyd
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        This

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

      CDAB

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

      E. Live a little.

  7. Kaptenen
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Best defender for this week under 5.5?

    1. Expected Toulouse
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Danilo if Walker is out. Otherwise Naughton or Cedric.

  8. Gwladys Nights
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    1 FT/0.5 ITB

    De Gea/Ryan
    Vertonghen/Christensen/Dunk/Morgan/Lowton
    Sanchez/Son/Sterling/Willian/Gudmundsson
    Kane/Vardy/Barnes

    Defending a 55 lead in my ML. Rival has Jesus and Arnie as main diffs. Really need to get Jesus, but Arnie I can take or leave.

    Would you do:
    A) Sanchez, Vardy, Barnes -> KDB, Jesus, J. Ayew (-8)
    B) Vardy, Barnes, Christensen -> Jesus, J. Ayew, Bednarek/Dummett (-8)
    C) Any of the above + Willian -> Arnie (-12)

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

      B

  9. jimmy.floyd
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    DDG
    Naughton Maguire Vertonghen
    Salah Willian Sterling Arnie
    Kane Jesus Ayew

    Ederson Lowton Tomkins Tarroll

    Playing BB
    Already went -8
    2.2 itb

    Any of these worth -12 ?

    A Tarroll to Tadic
    B Willian to Alli
    C Lowton to Smalling/ Bavies

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

      Nah but if one it has to be B

    2. FPLzebub
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B is worth a further hit.

  10. gomez123
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    39 behind in my ML, Im gunna bench boost this week,leader has no chips and no Jesus ( will need a hit to get him)
    Current team nowt in bank!!
    DDG/Hennessy
    Sanchez/Dummett/Ogbonna/Daniels/Hegazi
    Sterling/Son/Willian/Shaq/Milli
    Jesus (c) Kane/Vardy
    Thinking Shaq & Hegazi to Fernandenho & Mawson -4
    Gives me 12 DGW players and 3 good others
    GW 38 Willian & Vardy to Salah and probs Barnes
    Good plan Y or N

  11. Expected Toulouse
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Salah + Shaqiri + Robertson to De Bruyne + Arnie + Dummett worth a -8?
    Alternatively could get Sane + Pogba for a -4 instead or De Bruyne for free.

  12. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I have Kompany and Lukaku.

    They need shifting or is there news on them being beck for the weekend?

  13. Viper
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    A. Bailly, Salah & Vardy - > Mawson, Sterling & Jesus (-8). D. Silva - > Salah with 1 ft in gwk 38

    B. Bailly, Willian & Vardy - > Naughton, Sterling & Jesus (-8). Punt in gwk 38

    If I do A, I'll probably do Willian - > Arnautovic (-4) too. If I do B, I go without Arnautovic.

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Is Willian to Arnie really worth -4 for this gw?

      Maybe you can get Arnie in GW38 for Willian.

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

        If I do B, I can't get Arnautovic anyway

        1. Karan_G14
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I’d do B and keep Salah in that case because you’d definitely want him back next week.

    3. fr3d
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

  14. Daniel Exeter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who are the top 5 strikers this double?

    1. Jesus
    2. Kane
    3. Luka
    4. ?
    5. ?

    1. jbenny1107
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vardy Auba

    2. jackx13
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Rashford if Kaku injured!

  15. Positive vibes
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Hi, which one is better?
    A. Alli, Naughton
    B. Willian, Christensen + 8 pts

    Thanks, sorry repost

    1. Daniel Exeter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      b

  16. Donster
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who is the most important to get rid off?

    A: Morgan

    B: Gross

    C: Willian

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Daniel Exeter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      A
      B
      C

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

      Arnautovic should be the best 7.0 replacement right?

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

        Yeah slim pickings below that.

      2. Colonel Klink
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Or Tadic at 6.2

    4. Dsmythy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Morgan

  17. _Gunner
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Sane or Sterling for the DGW?

    1. jbenny1107
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Both

  18. rdamjan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I have Kenedy in my team. Would you do Kenedy to Fernandinho for free? But this mean I would take a hit in 38 to get Salah back in my team.

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

      They're both likely to post similar scores so I wouldn't. Nice position to be in if that's your main decision.

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No

    3. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No. You would need Fernandinho to outscore Kenedy by 4 points and there's no guarantee of that.

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

      Never

  19. Positive vibes
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    For a hit (-4), Christensen to ....

    A. Smalling
    B. Vert
    C. Others, who? (max 6.8m)
    D. Keep

    Rival has A.
    Thanks.

    1. jbenny1107
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vert

    2. Dsmythy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vert played great Monday. If your rival is chasing you then maybe Smalling makes sense instead.

    3. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Vertonghen

  20. Krafty Werks
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Presuming Arsenal get knocked out of the Europa, which do you prefer to move Willian to for a hit?...or perhaps don't move him at all?

    A - Ramsey (hit to get Salah back in 38)
    B - Arnie (hit to get Salah back in 38)
    C - Lingard (leaves money ITB to do Eriksen > Salah for no hit in 38)
    D - Keep Willian, run the gauntlet and save 4pts?

    Thanks.

    1. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      D

  21. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I am top by 7 points! Anyone else this close? TC Pick is probably going to win the whole thing? No pressure 🙂

    1. Karan_G14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I’m top by 4 points and that is also evens now as I’ve taken an extra hit this week.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Still going Harry? I’m 50:50 with Jesus

        1. Karan_G14
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 1 month ago

          I’m 80:20 in favour of Kane maybe because I know my rival will TC Kane and he doesn’t have Sterling so I’m already up on City assets.

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Top by 14pts in one of my cash ML's but 2nd has used all chips and i still have TC...hopefully sink him this week!!

    3. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      I'm trailing #1 in my league by 122pts, no pressure!!!

      1. Holmes
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Want him to feel the pressure when we enter GW38 😉

    4. Eden Wizard
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      25 points between top 3, they're both on TC this week, I'm on BB!

    5. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Nice! Good luck all 😀

    6. I Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Trailing by 2 points. Nerve wracking.

  22. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    TC pick essential, who to triple Kane, Jesus, Sterling? 20pts behind ml leader

    1. boc610
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      jesus

  23. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Which move is best?

    A) Lingard > Sane/Arnie/Ramsey -8

    B) Willian > Eriksen/Alli -8

  24. Sadio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Who to start this week

    J Ayew or J Lingard?

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

      JA

  25. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Which bulk move, if any, would be worthwhile?
    Apologies for the long list - narrowing it down. Danilo is only if Walker is ruled out.

    A) Morgan Willian Vardy to Danilo/Mawson Kenedy Jesus (-8)
    B) Alonso Vardy to Danilo/Mawson Jesus (-4)
    C) Same as B with Willian to Rambo/Tadic/Arnie (-8)
    D) Salah Willian Vardy to KDB King/Ki Jesus (-8) with Salah back the week after.
    E) Alonso Salah Vardy to KDB Jesus Naughton (-8)

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

      Why don’t you show your whole squad?

      Make a new post though.

      1. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Arn

  26. United84
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Currently on:

    DDG
    Dummett Davies Morgan
    Gross Eriksen Sterling Willian Zaha
    Kane Jesus

    Already done Lukaku to Jesus...anything else worth a -4? only 0.4 ITB as need the the 1.1 to bring back Salah for 38
    was thinking
    A Danilo for Morgan (if walker confirmed injured)
    B Willian to Arnie
    C GTG
    Any advice? thoughts?

  27. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    On BB with this DGW15... Anything worth a transfer or should I just save and have 2 for 38?

    Lloris* - Mcarthy*
    Smalling* - Davies* - Cedric* - Naughton* - Lejeune*
    Sterling* - Silva* - Pogba* - Lingard* - Ramsey*
    Kane* - Jesus* - Perez*

    1FT, 0.1 ITB

  28. FPLzebub
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is Valencia + Gundogan > Danilo + Ramsey (or Arnautovic if Arsenal remain in the Europa League) worth a -4?

  29. arndff_
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    1FT. How many players would you sell from:
    Morgan, Mahrez, Barnes?

    A) 1
    B) 2
    C) 3

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

      B

    2. KOKAK
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      C

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

      morgan and mahrez

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

        I think J Ayew is a must, isn’t he?

    4. Donster
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Had the same problem. Sold Mahrez for Sterling. Now I’m contemplating doing -4 to get rid of Morgan or Gross

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

        Dunno... This is my line-up:

        DDG
        Alonso Cedric Morgan*
        Salah Sterling Mahrez* Son
        Kane Jesus Barnes*

        Nordfelt Kenedy Lowton Long

  30. KOKAK
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 1 month ago

    David Silva and Phil Jones update please.