Pro Pundits

Recent changes at Villa have brought budget options to my attention

Tom Freeman comes onto the team to make most of us feel wildly insecure about our overall rank history. A long-time Fantasy Football Scout user, he has finished inside the top 1,000 a staggering five times since 2009.

Fantasy Premier League may be a stressful game for many of us right now but I’ve got my eye on some potential budget options for the future.

Gameweek 9 did not get off to the best of starts for me as David Silva (£7.6m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) – two of three players I transferred out along with Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) for a hit – both delivered. Right now, those moves don’t look too clever. Time will tell if it was the correct call.

Despite that, Gameweek 9 was a good one for me, thanks largely to Diego Rico (£4.2m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) and captain Jamie Vardy (£9.1m).

In a Gameweek where many of the top captain picks failed to deliver, Vardy proved an exception, with a goal and two bonus. He’s turning into a reliable FPL performer in home matches, scoring or assisting 50 per cent of Leicester City’s goals.

I managed to get 60 points in Gameweek 9

A Gameweek score of 60 leaves me with an overall rank of 52,895. Importantly, just 19 points off top 10k.

As focus now turns to Gameweek 10, I’m largely happy with my squad after last week’s surgery, with no immediate urge to use any chips, which are all still intact.

In terms of captaincy, it’s hard to look past Manchester City assets. Whilst Aston Villa have improved in recent weeks, I still have concerns teams can pass through their lines too easily, something I see Man City exploiting.

My current choice for the armband is Raheem Sterling (£12.1m), unstoppable against Atalanta midweek, and described by Pep Guardiola post-match as ‘extraordinary’.

Have I considered anyone else outside of Man City? Not really, though Vardy is an intriguing option against a leaky Southampton defence.

Here’s how we’re currently setup…

How I intend to line-up for Gameweek 10

Though I will likely roll a transfer this week, one player piqued my interest over the weekend.

Since coming into the starting eleven in place of Neil Taylor (£4.5m) in Gameweek 7, Matt Targett (£4.4m, 0.6% ownership) has scored one, assisted another with five bonus, returning an impressive 24 points. That deserves attention.

I was also encouraged by Everton’s 2-0 win over West Ham. The new midfield pairing of André Gomes (£5.3m), making his first start since Gameweek 4) and Tom Davies (£5.3m), making his first league start of the season) dominated the midfield, pressing well whilst comfortable in possession.

Both players deserve credit for their performances, whilst Alex Iwobi (£5.8m, playing as a 10) and Richarlison (£7.9m) could yet become Fantasy options.

That being said, like Manchester United, I still have concerns about Everton and their ability to break down teams playing a low block. The Brighton game should give us further clues as to whether Everton have turned a corner.

Also, a quick word on Lucas Digne (£6.0m), who was busy doing Lucas Digne type things, creating four chances and spending most of the game in the opposition’s half.  Have a look at the Average Positions map below – he’s the no 12, right up behind Bernard (no 20).

Everton’s average position map from Gameweek 9

Going forward, I hope you enjoy reading these articles as part of Fantasy Football Scout’s Pro Pundits squad and get a bit of insight into how I play the game. Thanks for reading… until next time.

Tom Freeman comes onto the team to make most of us feel wildly insecure about our overall rank history. A long-time Fantasy Football Scout user, he has finished inside the top 1,000 a staggering five times since 2009.

341 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mikey44
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Matip Otamendi
    Salah Sterling KDB Mount Saka
    Abraham Pukki King

    Subs: Button Saka Rico Lundstram

    Any suggestions please? 1 FT and 0.0 itb..

    1. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Dont rate double Saka haha other than Pukki looks decent

    2. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Save for this week.

    3. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not a massive fan of Pukki right now, still have him myself but Norwich having smany injuries is hurting his chances furthermore

  2. lekalatch
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What to do guys?

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Soyuncu Montoya
    Sterling Mane Maddison Mount
    Auba Pukki

    Lundstram Cantwell Wickham

    2.7itb 1FT

    Pleeease help

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wicham to Tammy?

    2. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Downgrade Ota and upgrade Wickham to Jiminez?

      I would prob save transfer this week and do it for free next.

      1. mazkills
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry, Upgrade Wickham to Jimi would be knee jerkey this gw,

        I would get more funds from Ota and get him to Tammy next GW with 2 ft

    3. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lundy for Montoya for me

  3. mazkills
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A)Haller>Jiminez & Diop>Soy for -4

    B)Save transfer

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Save.

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Save

  4. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Most butters fpl option right now?

    a) Ceballos
    b) Perez
    c) Sigurdsson
    d) Fraser

    1. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      D B A C

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Don’t talk about my boy Perez like that he’s only 6m

      1. BigBillyBass
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        5m too much if you ask me

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      All of those could do well this week.
      Could.

      1. BigBillyBass
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        All butters

    4. KingOllie
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      e) redmond

  5. Laurel and Vardy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Digne (bha) or Lunds(wha)? Thanks.

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Digne.

    2. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hard to have big price players on bench, but Lundy is playing midfield. Toss a coin bud

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Dean

    4. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would consider freeing up some funds in the defense and playing Lundstram every week.

      1. mazkills
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        But Digne shouldnt be benched here

    5. JamieMac
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Digne, of course.

  6. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which scores more?

    a) Salah+Pukki+4pts.
    b) Dilva+Vardy.

    Thanks.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Reply success to aleksios above

    2. Chasing Waves
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      This week? … B imo

  7. Laurel and Vardy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A

    1. Laurel and Vardy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Reply fail to Aleksios above

  8. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Can't get Rasford or Vardy without -8 hit or by selling Sterling.

    Keep Pukki one more gw or ship him out for Jimenez whose stats are pretty average?

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Jiminez probably wont have a high scoring week himself, id save personally

    2. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Pukki another GW and get the 2ft...don't be taking -8 unless your team is all injured

    3. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      How about Maupay instead of keeping Pukki or getting Jimmy?

  9. Shakshuka
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Good to save here? Cheers!

    Ryan
    Robertson* Otamendi Lundstram
    KDB (c) Sterling Mane (v) Mount
    Wilson Jimenez Tammy

    Button Rico Dendocker Guilbert

    1. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      looks really good

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good, Ota possibly wont start will he? But Rico is great cover on your bench to cover that

      1. Shakshuka
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I'm thinking Ota will start this weekend, with Rodri out and Fernandinho played a lot.
        Def a problem for the future though. Thanks for replies!

  10. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Just hold FT if this is lineup for this week?

    Pope
    TAA Lunds Rico Digne
    Sterling KDB Mount
    Vardy Wilson Tammy

    Ceballos - Cantwell - Soy

    2.9itb 1FT

    Ceballos --> DSilva and benching Rico really tempting though...

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Both good options, nice team. Ceballos to DSilva for free is what id do though

    2. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I would probably make that move...not expecting hauls from Rico on a regular basis...especially with Dilva not playing midweek.

      1. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers - would only be a 3-4 GW move anyways as that's my placeholder for Mane soon

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Id do it

  11. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Assuming Zincheko is out, best moves here with 2FT and 0.7m itb

    Pope -- Heaton
    Taa Digne Tomori Zincheko* -- Rico
    Sterling Kdb Mount -- Cantwell Docker
    Pukki Tammy Kane

    A: Zincheko + Kane >> Lundy + Auba
    B: Zincheko + Docker + Kane >> Lundy + Dilva + Rashford (-4)..will bench Lundy in this case but good chance he comes on
    C: Kane >> Auba (or any other striker) and roll the other FT. Rico can come in place on Zincheko but an issue if sterling doesnt play
    D: Something else

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Possibly C. Rico a good option to tide you over this week

      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        A but with Kun instead of Auba

  12. Nolberto Solano
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should I take a -4 hit to do the below?

    Digne, Yarmo & Pukki OUT
    Janmaat, CHO & Vardy IN

    1. aleksios
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeap.

    2. Slartibartfast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Aye

  13. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Digne's fixtures are terrible. Would avoid.

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Agreed. Everton under performing massively

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Performing just as expected with Silva as manager

        1. nico05
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Good point to be fair, never been a fan

    2. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Are they that bad?

      bha, TOT, sou, NOR doesn't look terrible to me.

  14. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    All, Trossard updates on FFS Twitter.

  15. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hi all this is my current team, after a couple of bad weeks and with 1 transfer and 1.3 million available. Is it best to:
    Current team-
    Ederson
    TAA Ota Tomori AWB (Rico)
    Salah Maddison James KDB (Dendonker)
    Pukki Kane (Surridge)

    A- Wildcard
    B.Pukki & Kane to Vardy & Abraham
    C. Kane to Auba or Aguero?

    Cheers

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maybe just Kane to Vardy.

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thank you

  16. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Appreciate ideas on how to improve this team.

    Pope Stek
    TAA Ota Soy Lowton Rico
    Mane KDB Mount Cantwell Saka
    Kun Tammy Wilson

    1 Ft 2.1 itb

    A. Saka > CHO
    B. Ota > Tomori
    C. Save
    D. Any other

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B. I don't see Ota featuring very much now

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Worth keeping just incase he starts this week?
        Agree that he needs to go soon

  17. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Watch how Pukki trolls me now that I got rid of him 🙂

    1. sunzip14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I am expecting the same from Kane

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ha ha. Doubt it.

  18. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Brighton experts: with Mooy out Trossard starts, correct?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nope, on the bench.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Different positions. Mooy plays further back in central midfield. Trossard plays up front as a support striker, wing or number 10 playmaker

  19. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would have been great if Trossard was back for GW10 to see if he is really a viable asset. With Dunk in my defence not sure I want to double up on Brighton.

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, bit annoying, poor fixtures after Norwich too.

  20. Deece
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is this worth -8 long term. Have exact money. Big fan of Kun but the rotation makes him not a captain option:

    Kun + Wickahm + Pieters
    ->
    Vardy + Wilson + Rico

    Leaves me with

    Alisson
    Tomori Soy Dunk
    Sterling KDB Mane Mount
    Vardy Abraham Wilson

    Button Rico Lundstram Cantwell

    1. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm looking to bring Kun in. Would not be taking him out for a -8 before 2 juicy home games.

  21. flippetyflop
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What should my plan be with this team guys?

    1.8M in the bank

    I'm thinking Otamendi and Son to Diop and Salah.

    Pope/Button
    TAA/Sokratis/Soyunco/Ota/Rico
    Salah/Sterling/Maddison/Cantwell/Hayden
    Auba/Pukki/Abraham

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      bringing Son in for an away game at Anfield might be quite bold, same for taking out Salah at home vs a weak defense (ignoring the CL game for now)
      Would rather think about replacing Sokratis or Cantwell and Hayden
      What system do you play? 433?

      1. flippetyflop
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I'm taking out Son and Otamendi and replacing them with Diop and Salah.

        1. L S P
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          (confusing because your team shows ota+salah)

          i think you have to hold ota for the next two.

          i'd just do son->KDB and leave it at that or sokratis to someone good.

  22. 11 smelly shirts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Consider the following changes for my team
    Heaton, Button
    Robbo, Walker, Lundy, Montoya, Soy
    Salah, Sterling, Mahrez, McGinn, H. Wilson
    Abraham, Pukki, Greenwood

    Replace Sterling (due to rotation risk after 3 games in a row 90 min) by KdB; upgrade Pukki to Jiminez and then I struggle between:
    A Greenwood to Ings (he seems fixture proof scoring vs Che, Spurs and Wolves)
    B Mahrez/Salah to Mane (I'm confident that Mahrez will play at least 60 min though after his benching last week)\
    C McGinn to Hudson Odoi (feel it's better next week as Che plays in Burnley)

    What are your thoughts?

    1. Ini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Agree with getting KDB and upgrading pukki. Ings is an injury waiting to happen, Salah to Mane is a sideways move at this point. Mcginn to cho is an option too.

  23. Simon69
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play Cantwell at home to United

    or

    Cahill away to Arsenal?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell for sure.

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Glad I own none of these lol

  24. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How crazy would it be to start Lund over Mount?

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Don't do it m8.

    2. Squeakybum99
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Has to be someone else you can play Sir Lundy over.

  25. itsmeguneet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hello guys..Thoughts on this team?

    Pope
    Soy - VVD- Toby
    Traore- Salah- Son- Sterling- Mount
    Pukki- Tammy

    Button, Lund, Zinch, Greenwood

  26. 11 smelly shirts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    doesn't matter, both gives you 2 points

    1. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'm guessing this is a reply to my post lollll

      1. 11 smelly shirts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        yup, something went wrong, lol

  27. Ziyech on the Bench
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How does this sound fellas?

    McGinn, Otamendi => Martial, Stones (-4)?

    1. 11 smelly shirts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      would only do McGInn to Martial, the -4 isn't worth it, considering how much time Pep gave Mendy after his injury I wouldn't expect Stones to play so much yet

      1. Ziyech on the Bench
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        thanks for reply bro but I only have 1.6 ITB and need the 0.2 to make it work...

        do you recommend perhaps Tomori?

      2. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Brought on Stones instead of Otamendi midweek. Stones is first choice out of current defenders, and with Mendy, his injury record is awful and that's why it took a while for him to return.

  28. 11 smelly shirts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How long do you still comfortable with Abraham? He's still highly selected, but blanked in 3 of his last 4 GWs plus CL yesterday. Is it time to move him out?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Will see this weekend

    2. Ziyech on the Bench
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      no way he is so dangerous and hit the crossbar this weekend

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      He's still getting chances and will be the most selected player in the game this weekend, risky to get rid.

    4. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      May as well wait until the city game. They are all good value (Chelsea attack)

    5. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I don't see a lot of other strikers making a stake for a place in my team at the moment.

    6. joeydelucchi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      this is why this game is crazy, people considering losing Tammy.....i checked out all the stats from the strikers and mids on my radar, shots on target per min, shots in box per min etc....Tammy was top. check his heat map too its insane, he hardly leaves the box.
      he hit the bar at the weekend and then his chance to score came with about 10 mins left and the newcastle defender made a last ditch save with his leg....that wouldve been a goal any other day.

      Trust me, keep hold of this guy

  29. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Ota Tomori Lundstram Boly
    Sterling KDB Salah Mount Cantwell
    Wilson Abraham Greenwood
    1ft. 0.5itb.
    Save or panic?

  30. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    FFS Article: "... Gameweek 9 did not get off to the best of starts for me as David Silva (£7.6m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) – two of three players I transferred out ... for a hit – both delivered ...". Don't like these moves at all but Targett/Grealish could be great shouts. Nice article. Thanks and good luck to you.

    1. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks mate, yeah seemed like a good call at the time, will have to see how it plays out.

      Move in full was Robertson, David Silva, Pukki > Rico, De Bruyne, Abraham for -4.