Team News
4 December 2018 2767 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
Share:

Sergio Aguero (£11.4m) looks unlikely to start for Manchester City when they face Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

His fitness is the primary concern for Fantasy managers with the Gameweek 15 deadline looming large.

You can read the latest injury news and predicted line-ups in our TEAM NEWS tab above, or watch our latest Conference Call video, which can be found at the foot of this article or on our YouTube channel.

Manager Pep Guardiola admitted he did not know if Aguero would be fit in time for Gameweek 15 in his Monday press conference, but the Fantasy Premier League community has been in overdrive ever since in their attempts to find out more.

Pictures emerged of a training session on Monday in which Aguero was not clearly seen although there were plenty of attempts to find him in the background.

On Tuesday morning images emerged of Manchester City travelling by train to Watford and the Manchester Evening News reported that Aguero and team-mate Oleksandr Zinchenko (£4.8m) were not spotted with the group. There are now reports in the media that Aguero has suffered an injury setback but nothing has been confirmed on this front yet.

That is probably good news for the large number of Fantasy managers moving Aguero on for Harry Kane (£12.4m) or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) in time for Tuesday’s deadline.

As per usual, there were no real indicators from Guardiola over who else might be in and out of the City team. Fabian Delph (£5.3m) and Gabriel Jesus (£10.1m) feel the most likely to start given the reported injuries in their positions.

We could see some rotation at Liverpool as well as Jurgen Klopp provided some updates on Sadio Mané (£9.8m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.5m). The former has a cut on his foot and would apparently miss the trip to Burnley if it was taking place on Tuesday. That makes him quite unlikely to start Gameweek 15 while Robertson’s dead leg is not considered to be too serious.

“Sadio (Mané) and (Andrew) Robertson we have to have another look today. Sadio has an awful cut on his foot so it needed to be stitched. He’s okay, he’s walking around here now but in flip-flops. We don’t play in flip-flops. With (Robertson) it’s not that serious, like with Sadio, but we need to have a look.” – Jurgen Klopp

Maurizio Sarri explained that Marcos Alonso (£7.1m) suffered a back injury in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham at the weekend. However, in the same press conference that the injury was revealed in, the Blues’ manager confirmed he would be ready to play in Gameweek 15. The same was the case with Mateo Kovacic (£5.8m), while Ross Barkley (£5.8m) was indirectly given the all-clear when Sarri explained there were no injuries for him to worry about.

“I spoke with the doctor ten minutes ago, but we have no injuries at the moment. We have a little problem with Kovacic and Alonso in he last match, but they are ready to play.” – Maurizio Sarri

The return of Kieran Trippier (£6.1m) could be a potential game-changer for Fantasy managers looking to jump in on Spurs’ fixture-swing. It was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the right-back was available for selection against Southampton. Whether he will start is another matter but his return to fitness does allow another route into Spurs’ attack in the coming weeks and at £6.1m he is under half the price of popular Gameweek 15 transfer target Kane. Anyone buying the talismanic strike can also feel confident with Trippier back in the side as he is a regular provider of assists for him.

Meanwhile, Erik Lamela (£6.3m), Davinson Sánchez (£5.8m), Mousa Dembele (£4.9m) and Victor Wanyama (£4.9m) were all ruled out of Gameweek 15.

“We’re going to play a lot of games. Some players we cannot rotate for different reasons. Some maybe need to rest. It’s so important the health of the squad and we believe we can win with anyone on the pitch.” – Mauricio Pochettino

There was no such detailed update from Manchester United where Jose Mourinho was reticent to provide much injury information. There are several defenders with yellow flags to their name ahead of Gameweek 15, including Luke Shaw (£5.0m), Chris Smalling (£5.7m) and Eric Bailly (£5.1m) while Victor Lindelöf (£4.8m) is out for some weeks and Ashley Young (£5.7m) misses out on Arsenal through suspension.

“No. I don’t want to update you, Arsenal TV make the same questions but they don’t they hide everything from the inside, so why should I answer to you so why should I give anything to you.” – Jose Mourinho

For all other injury news and predicted line-ups please visit our TEAM NEWS page which you can find at the top of our website.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

  1. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Chances of Alonso / Digne / Robbo starting?

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Alonso 70/100
      Digne 95/100
      Robertson 50/100

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      All rotation possibilities.
      Alonso less prone though

    3. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      75/100/25

  2. Shark Team
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Is it wise to put Salah captain and make the difference because I own Kane so I have little to lose?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      What's the max you expect from each player

      Salah never seems to get baps - isn't on pens

      Kane is on pens and sometimes gets baps

    2. clodhopper
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I havent got kane ill capt salah but if i had kane he would be captain

  3. El-Kloppico
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    This is the day where Laporte will be benched.

    1. LeicesterA
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I fear this. I fear it all!

      1. Down with this sort of thin…
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I've got the fear too...

    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      makes sense

    3. zdrojo187
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Or Sterling...

      1. Steiger
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Or both....

  4. Rock n Grohl
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Play AWB, Jimmy or Camarasa?

    1. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Jimmy

  5. LeicesterA
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Taken just one hit all season and currently in the top 1k for my troubles. However, I’ve somehow got myself in to a -8 mess this week.
    It’s not THAT bad, is it?

    Jiménez, Kun & Hazard > Kane, Auba & Anderson.

    1. GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Transfers not bad but the need to brag is...

      1. LeicesterA
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thank you. I think 😉

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Good transfers

      No need to be ashamed of being bold

      1. LeicesterA
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks EMG.

    3. clodhopper
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good who dares wins

  6. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I do hope those managers moaning about the vast wilderness of the international break are now not the same ones moaning about rotation due to fixture congestion 🙂

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      But if they'd played on the Saturday instead of being on an International break, they wouldn't have had to play mid-week and hence less rotation.

  7. DaddyPig
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    How’s this WC looking please guys?? Or does it definitely need Kane?
    Could really do with any advice. Thanks!

    Ederson Lössl
    Alonso TAA Mina Doherty AWB
    Sterling Sané Son Anderson Brooks
    Arnie Auba Wilson

    1. clodhopper
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nice team

  8. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I'm quite confused about the comparison tool and expected/per minute stats.

    The first observation is a small one. If you filter for one match, the expected stats change slightly when you check "show averages per appearance", which suggests there is some calculation which does not fully synchronise the stats. E.g. Aubameyang in GW13 achieved an xG of 1.50 or 1.51, depending on whether you check the averages box or not. As I say, only a small thing, but I can't figure out the reason.

    The main confusion for me is when you check "show averages..." over multiple GWs. For some (probably obvious) reason which I can't grasp, the values for minutes per xg/xA/xGI change when looking at averages per appearance. E.g. Aubameyang's minutes per xG this season is 154. But if you check the "show averages..." box, it's only 11 minutes, which means he should be scoring an average of 8 or 9 goals per 90 minute appearance.

    In my mind, the number of minutes it takes to achieve 1.00 whole xG remains the same whether you are looking at per-game averages or the total (because "mins per" is already an average). Same for minutes per [anything] stats. And this shows in mins per touch, which is NOT affected by checking the "show averages..." box. Can anyone explain why expected stats are special here?

    It seems like "mins per xX" is treated as an absolute total (154 mins per xG / 14 apps = 11), while "mins per [anything else]" is treated like an average (as it should be). Has this been misleading me for a year and a half of membership without me realising it? 😆

    tl;dr - Why do the "mins per" expected stats change when checking "show averages per appearance"?

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Aubameyang in GW14 achieved an xG of 1.50*

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    has sterling travelled down to watford?

    1. LeicesterA
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      You’d have heard about it if not.

    2. Down with this sort of thin…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Aye, pics of him on train

  10. Alli
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Patricio > Fabianski for free?

  11. DR0GBA
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    People on wildcard..

    is it more important to get the best players in an 11 (spend all your funds on them) or even it out and have a playing bench as well?

    1. A19
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      With the value in defence you can have a good bench with minimum cash. A 4.5 mid (Billing, Camarasa, Gunnarson, etc.) with two cheap defenders (WanB, Schindler, Dunk, Diop, etc.) will be enough cover. No need to invest more than that I think

    2. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      spend the minimum required to get a playing player on the bench no point spending more and having a benching headache each week but dont get a player that doesn't play ie peltier etc
      put as much money as you can in the first 11

      1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Handy this week when monsters like Hobjerg and Billing are coming off the bench.

    3. Angelic upstart
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Have at least 2 bench players that play. But they can be cheap enablers like billing or Stephens in midfield and success up front.

  12. LaCazettio
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    How does this W/C team look?

    Sane will move perfectly for Sterling next week and Kane/Salah for Aguero/other city mid and improve defence week after.

    Fabianski / Hamer
    TAA / Schindler / Balbuena / Wan B / Peltier
    Salah / F Anderson / Cairney / Hojberg / Sane
    Jimenez / Auba / Kane

  13. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard, Arnautovic or Eriksen for (c) ? 🙂

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      hazard

    2. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard

    3. lugs
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Arni

  14. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Captain one:

    A. Sterling
    B. Sané
    C. Richarlson
    D. Aubameyang

    1. Garlana
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I've gone b with a vc

    2. AuFeld
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Auba. MUN vs top six does not look good this season. Already conceded eight goals from three matches... with a healthy team

    3. CAPTAIN CRESPO
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      D

    4. Styles_X
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      go d

    5. Down with this sort of thin…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      D safest bet for start

  15. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Sane or Mahrez?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sane

  16. F4L
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Could Sterling play false 9 today ?

    1. Amey
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No imo.
      No need

    2. Down with this sort of thin…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Jesus plays tonight upfront, although good shout v Chelsea if Jesus struggles again tonight

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        yes just thinking as Jesus hasn't look convincing this season whatsoever. Not sure playing striker suits Sterling however

    3. zdrojo187
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling or Dilva...
      But only if Jesus is out too

  17. Dangerous Rhubarb
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Guys.

    I'm struggling to select a captain at the moment for this GW....which one would you choose?

    A. Siggy
    B. Arnie
    C. Richarlison
    D. Stirling
    E. Sane
    F. Anderson

    Vote now....many thanks.

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      E

      1. Dangerous Rhubarb
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks

    2. clodhopper
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      E

  18. CloudSky
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Is Laca a good option?

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      yee

    2. Styles_X
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      ye

    3. _Make
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Perfectly fine

    4. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Trying to figure it out, but finding it hard to justify him over Aubameyang. If you're going to spend that much on a player who needs to get a lot og goal involvement to justify the prce tag, it may actually be safer to go with Aubameyang, despite the price, since basically all the stats point to him as a better option. If you can't afford Aubameyang, I would argue that makes no difference to how well Lacazette will perform, so it's no reason to buy Lacazette. Perhaps avoid unless there's literally no one else you fancy

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        That said, hmmmmm still tempted.... 😀 Argh

      2. MTPockets
          7 years, 4 months ago

          All the stats except final 3rd and penalty area touches, more sustainable conversion rate, positioning (heatmap)

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Right, all the stats that don't matter as much 😛
            Is "more sustainable" a euphamismp for "lower"? Aubameyang is probably the better finisher, which should account for some of that difference. I would suggest his median conversion rate would be higher than Lacazette's over the course of the coming seasons (all things being equal), and my guess is that this is backed up by evidence from previous clubs, but I can't be arsed to look 🙂

            1. MTPockets
                7 years, 4 months ago

                Euphemism - yep

        • CloudSky
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers lads.

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Think I'm gonna get him now! Well, I'm making a move that mean I can't afford Auba next week, anyway. Not happy about it, but at the same time...happy about it.

      3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        auba stats are unsustainable, kane's stats not impressive.

        I am thinking wilson is the best replacement for aguero?

        1. TallestJohn
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          See below lol

        2. CAPTAIN CRESPO
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I'm thinking that too. But BOU are so off form.

          1. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            ?

        3. F4L
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          that's what I did and then improved mids and defence

        4. LeicesterA
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Those fixtures though!

        5. AuFeld
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Auba is lethal. 98 Goals from 144 appearances for Borussia.

      4. TallestJohn
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Aguero → Wilson (-4) not a transfer I expected to make this season but there you go. At least gives me the option of bringing in any of Kane/Auba/Laca for Firmino going forward.

      5. Marquis-Cha-Cha
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        How's this? Bench order ok?

        Hennessey
        Alonso / AWB / Digne / Robertson
        Richarlison / Sane / Salah / Fraser
        Arnie / Kane

        Foster / Doherty / Billing / Success

      6. The Greenback Boogie
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Too many injury concerns. Which one? Bench is a concern with Bennett and Hojberg

        A. Mane, Kun, Ozil, Alonso --> Son, Auba, Salah, WHU/Brighton defender (-8)
        B. Mane, Kun, Ozil, Alonso --> Son, Lacazette, Salah, 6.1 Defender (mostly alderweireld or trippier) (-4)
        C. Mane, Kun, Ozil --> Son, Auba, Sane (-4)

        1. TallestJohn
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          C

        2. clodhopper
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          A or c

      7. faux_C
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Fabianski
        Walker / Robertson / Alonso
        Hazard / Sterling / Son / Maddison
        Jimenez / Wilson(c) / Mitrovic

        Foster / Schurrle / Wan-Bissaka / Doherty

        Good to go?

        1. Amey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Play bissaka over jimmy
          That's one hell of a bench mate 😮

          1. faux_C
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Ha, that's what happens when you have no premium forwards 😉

            1. AuFeld
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              It's been working very well for Mark.

        2. clodhopper
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Jimenez seems too do well in big games

      8. rambo.
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        VC:
        Son Arnie or Auba?

        1st on bench:
        Pereira or Zabaleta ?

      9. Tee_blues
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Fabianski (Hamer)
        Robertson Alonso Doherty Digne Wanbisaka
        Hazard Salah Richarlison Fraser Felipe Anderson
        Aubamyang Arnautovic Success

        Used my 2FT already to bring in Auba and Anderson for Aguero and Martial.

        OPTION A : Do nothing and bank my week 16 transfer and do Salah Fraser and Robertson to Sane Sterling TAA in Week 17 for a -4.

        Option B: Do Hazard to Sterling this week

        Option C : ????

        With option A worried going without City for another 2 game weeks.

        With Option B : Sterling rotation risk and tough week 16 fixture

      10. dannyboy25
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I have Trippier, Mane and Alonso.... Am I mad to be considering bench boost? (Fraser, AWB, Dunk) - high llikelihood 1 or more won't play?

        1. LeicesterA
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Mad.

          1. dannyboy25
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Looked so tempting - slowly slipping down ranks from top 1k to 3k thought it could be a game changer but can see how it could slap me in the face!

        2. Amey
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Yes

        3. Marquis-Cha-Cha
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Don't. Save it. That's a decent bench.

          1. dannyboy25
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            okay thanks guys! Going to be in weird position hoping people don't play now haha - assume thats best order? 1. Fraser. 2 AWB 3. Dunk?

            1. Marquis-Cha-Cha
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Looks right

      11. Snapes on a Plane
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Who to replace Mane with?
        A) Eriksen
        B) Son
        C) F.Anderson

        1. Styles_X
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          b

        2. Marquis-Cha-Cha
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          A

        3. zdrojo187
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          A or C

      12. yer old da
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        By taking Aguero out I’d have no City attackers, and feel Alonso plus Hazard is overkill given Chelsea’s relatively poor form, so now looking at a 4 point hit to replace Hazard and Aguero with Sané and Kane(c).

        Alternative is a straight swap Aguero to Aubameyang, who I would bring in at the weekend for Kane anyway.

        Thoughts?

      13. Cojones of Destiny
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        cap one :
        a. sane
        b. aub

        thx

      14. Rinseboy
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Bellerin or TAA for December?
        TAA better form up to now
        Bellerin great fixtures?!