Question Time is back as Fantasy Premier League managers face some tough choices ahead of Gameweek 8.
Many of you are still considering your Wildcards and with teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City facing some tough fixtures previously powerful assets are being brought under serious scrutiny.
Harry Kane is also forcing managers’ hands with his plum fixture against Cardiff.
So we’ve put your queries to another panel of FPL personalities…
Who’s on the panel this week?
Lejuan Basson – A South African-based elite FPL manager, who finished 24th in the world in 2017/18.
Ben Crabtree – The overall winner of FPL in 2016/17 and proud Evertonian who refuses to field Liverpool players!
WGTA (Nick) – One half of the tremendously popular Who Got the Assist? podcast and Twitter account.
Question 1 – Lejuan
What are the key Gameweeks this autumn for Wildcards? I hear Gameweek 8 is one to look at, but I can imagine around Christmas might be one as well? Provided you are not in a dire need to use the Wildcard, when do you recommend that it is used?
“I’m a big believer in using your Wildcard when you really need it and not having a set date.
“Last season, however, I used mine around the Christmas period and it worked really really well though so I do think that is a great time to use it.
“By that time it will be clear who the form teams and players are and with games coming very quickly it is an ideal time to make a big jump up the rankings.”
Question 2 – Nick
Is it an absolute must to have at least one of Salah, Mane or Firmino? You can basically always trust Liverpool to score, but none of them feels quite right for me right now.
“It has been a quiet few Gameweeks for the front three for Liverpool with many people looking to disinvest especially with the likes of Kun, Kane and Hazard all firing.
“Another tough fixture against Man City is up next which means it could be another quiet game.
“However after City, in the next four they play the three weakest teams in terms of goals conceded so far this season, Huddersfield, Cardiff and Fulham and if you don’t have Liverpool attacking options for those games it will be hide behind the sofa time.”
Question 3 – Ben
Which players do you think have started well but really dipped in form in the last few Gameweeks? I cannot watch Premier League matches so hard to decide.
“A few players that I still see in teams with varying levels of popularity that started well and have declined are: Wilson, Pereyra, Walcott and Moura. There’s reasons to persevere with some of these but I think it’s good to have an end point.
“Wilson’s fixtures are good for another three so it’s probably worth holding but not bringing in. Moura has a plum next fixture but still carries some rotation risk, so I’d give him one more game.
“Walcott and Pereyra for me would be at their end point now in terms of there being better options like Richarlison and Maddison or more differential players like Knockaert and Felipe Anderson.
“Two other more controversial names that started well and have declined are Alonso and Mitrovic. Alonso was never going to keep up scoring double figures every week and with defensive hauls coming from cheaper options he is moving towards needing some big returns, especially as expensive midfield and attack options are becoming more prominent. I wouldn’t rush to sell him but personally he opens a Sterling door for me which I’m keeping at the back of my mind.
“Mitrovic has been quite consistent so it’s a little unfair to add him to a list of players in decline. However, taking away his 16 points against a tired, off form Burnley, his returns would be 24 points in six games. Not great, and Fulham are looking like a team that are quite easy to play against. I think he still has potential to do well for the price but players get less bonus when their team loses and players who supply him may have diminishing confidence levels.
“Liverpool have two players that need a mention: Mane and Salah. Mane is in a points decline as his goals to shots ratio normalises and Salah has declined from possibly the best player in the world to a top player just lacking end product. There are other options that make these sellable, but you may want an easy route to get them back in as soon as you see a big score posted.”
Question 4 – Lejuan
Is it worth free-hitting this week to get in Kane for this week and keeping Salah for Liverpool’s upcoming good fixtures?
“I still think the best time for the Free Hit is later in the season for the blank Gameweeks.
“It saves you a lot of difficult planning later trying to field a full team during the blank Gameweek.
“Also the thought of your normal team doing well also makes me question whether using the Free Hit when you have a full team is the right choice.”
Question 5 – Nick
With so many budget defenders with good upcoming fixtures, who can we trust the most to keep a clean sheet? Is a double-up on Wolves viable?
“I currently own Doherty and Patricio and both acted as quality differentials at 7.2% and 4.3% current ownership respectively returning an eye watering 22 points this gameweek for very little investment.
“The upcoming fixtures in my view make a Wolves double up viable and Doherty a great budget option who also offers attacking returns.
“Elsewhere Watford are another team that have great fixtures and Holebas also offers both attacking and defensive returns though he is only one yellow away from suspension.”
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