Pro Pundits

How a system change has made Wolves’ FPL assets more appealing

One of the world’s best FPL managers, Tom Freeman, takes a closer look at Wolves’ resurgence in his latest Pro Pundits piece.


When I started writing these fortnightly articles, as part of the Pro Pundits initiative, my aim was to talk about broader topics than simply my own team. I wanted to use this platform to raise discussion, from differentials who are maybe going under the radar to tactical aspects, ideas and strategies.

With this in mind, I’ve used the international break to take a closer look at Wolverhampton Wanderers, who after a slow start in which they picked up just three points from the first five games, have now gone seven without defeat in the league.

Last month, I talked about a lack of creativity throughout the team, but a decision to revert to a 3-4-3 shape in recent weeks has seen them increase their attacking threat.

Here we can see the average positions from their recent win over Aston Villa:

Using this 3-4-3 shape, they are now creating more chances, and shooting more often. In fact, over the last two Gameweeks only Manchester City have attempted more shots.

An important aspect to this system is that it allows two of their best performers this season, Adama Traoré (£5.2m) and Matt Doherty (£6.0m), to start. What we’ve often seen is Traoré staying wider, whilst Doherty has moved inside and into goalscoring positions. Indeed, 45% of Wolves attacks came from that right side versus Aston Villa.

Again, focusing on the last two Gameweeks, Doherty has had more penalty area touches than any other defender, and sits third for shots in the box:

The hope is that Wolves continue with a more proactive approach and take this into their forthcoming run of games against Bournemouth, Sheffield United, West Ham United, and more importantly in an otherwise tricky Gameweek 18, Norwich City.

READ MORE: Further analysis of Wolves’ use of a 3-4-3

The news of Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking literally filtered through as we were about to go on air on this week’s Scoutcast. It’s fair to say that it caught me off-guard. Now I’ve had time to reflect, I wanted to include a few thoughts here.

Firstly, I think it’s felt like the end of the road for Pochettino for a while now – 18 defeats in 2019 tells its own story.

Despite this, it shouldn’t take away from what a fantastic job he has done at Tottenham Hotspur. He’s transformed the club and raised expectations despite restrictions, and that should be applauded.

I think we all know how it’ll end for José Mourinho at Spurs, but it’s going to be interesting.

Moving onto my own team, this is how we currently line up, with two free transfers and £0.3m in the bank.

I’ll likely go into Gameweek 13 without a playing goalkeeper. Rather than repeat myself here, my thoughts on this can be heard on this week’s Scoutcast or on my recent Meet the Manager video.

A double move for Çaglar Söyüncü (£4.9m) and Sadio Mané (£12.1m) is under consideration, which would involve removing Martín Montoya (£4.5m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) – but more information is needed re the latter’s ongoing ankle issue before a decision is made.

I’ll also be keeping a close eye on events at the Emirates, with an idea to bring in one of Southampton’s midfielders as a Theo Walcott (£6.2m) replacement ahead of Gameweek 14, to try and capitalise on back-to-back home games with Watford and Norwich City.

In terms of captaincy, I’m currently on Raheem Sterling (£12.0m).

Chelsea have conceded 12 goals in six on the road so far this season and when you realise they’ve played Norwich, Southampton, Watford, Burnley, Wolves and Manchester United, it looks even worse.

Add to that Manchester City’s 19 goals in six home games, and I think Sterling is the standout candidate for me this week.

Thanks for reading… until next time.


Tom Freeman – aka avfc82 – 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.

Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020

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502 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Captain Son, Vardy or Sterling?

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

      A man in form - Vardy

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Jamie

  2. The Legend Squad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This seems to be the template? Thoughts?

    Gazz
    TAA Rico Lundstram
    Mane KDB Martial Maddison
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham

    Button Mount Tomori Kelly

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Fairly yeah

    2. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I have 10/11 and 12/15. My others are Ryan, Reid and Connolly. Planning to change Connolly for Jimenez for next GW.

  3. Evil Greg
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Play one:
    a) Rico
    b) Lundstram

    1. WWF
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Lord

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B, easy

      1. Evil Greg
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers guys. I can't help but feel Man Utd will win comfortably against the firm book.

    3. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I've gone with A

    4. The Bad Seed
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      he's the "defender" with most shots since the start of the season.

      Play him for the goal, clean sheets are a bonus 🙂

  4. WWF
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Why can't I search my old content like before? Is there a simple way?

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

      go to your profile and scroll down to your previous messages

  5. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How's this looking? 1 ft and .3m itb

    Pope
    Chilwell Soyuncu TAA Lundy
    Mane Sterling(c) Mount KDB
    Vardy(v) Abraham

    Heaton Montoya Connolly Saka

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Very good

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Ta

    2. Chippo, Hadji, Aloisi.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Close to what I've got. I think Kane is a must but I cant get him in without losing Sterling or Mane and a -4! Tossing up (c) between Vards and Sterling.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Why is Kane a must?

      2. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Kane a must?

        Hilarious.

        And now they even have a big fat bus parked on the pitch and he now plays CB.

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Nice. Huge reliance on a high scoring City Chelsea game, like most

    4. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Good, but captaining Sterling can make the real difference.

  6. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What to do with this? 0.3 ITB 2 FTs. Thanks

    Pope Button

    TAA Lundstram Soyuncu Rico Kelly

    Sterling Mane Maddison Mount Hayden

    Rashford Vardy Abraham

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Kelly to Yedlin?

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

      Tough

      That's a really nice side. I'd be half tempted to do Soy to Tomori and play Rico this week. Think Tomori looks better prospect in next 6 after this with that glut of home fixtures.

    3. Home Late From Age
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Kelly to Reid for some more ITB

    4. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping an eye on the young Brandon Williams at Man Utd. 4.0m and could nail down LB, Young is past it and Shaw injury prone.

    5. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Wild punt? Sterling KDB and Mount Richarlison ...

  7. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Save FT this GW? 1FT & 2.8m ITB.

    If so thinking then a -4 next GW...
    Mount+KDB+Connelly >> Pulisic+Salah+Greenwood. Good plan?

    Pope
    TAA • Lunds • Soyuncu
    KDB • Mané • Maddison • Martial • Mount
    Vardy(C) • Tammy
    (McG. Rico. Tomori. Connelly)

    1. theguy69
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      may as well get pulisic this week mate

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Why?

        1. theguy69
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          he will outscore mount and you are gonna do the transfer later anyway

          1. Alexis Nonsense
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Or he'll get benched and Mount scores ?

            1. theguy69
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              pulisic is the in form player

  8. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Mourinhos first training session at Spurs

    https://youtu.be/mzUwJ5Gh7lQ

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

      You know what?..

      Mourinho looks healthier and happier than ive seen him in a LONG time. I'm starting to believe he'll be great for Kane and co. Might save the Sterling > Salah move in favour of a Kane option

      1. Chippo, Hadji, Aloisi.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        This ^^

      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Noticed the same. The players look happy aswell. Think I might do a mini WC next week to bring in both Kane and Son

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I reckon a player looking miserable at Mourinho's first training session would be ill advised.

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

            are you Shaw?

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          When Aubameyang has Norwich??

      3. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        He's learning.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      The way he went around them all at the end touching the back of their necks was fascinating. This man knows his psychology. https://youtu.be/mzUwJ5Gh7lQ?t=408

  9. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Predict spurs line up for saturday? Here's mine:

    Gazziniga
    Foyth Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
    Dier Ndombele
    Eriksen Alli Son
    Kane

    Sissoko/L.Moura/Lo Celso borderline starters tho imo, coming from a spurs fan btw 🙂

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Give me Aurier please

  10. Bob McMayday
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Just randomly came across a FPL video on YouTube by a young FPL player called “FPL Suggers”. Seems really young but quite enthusiastic and looks like they are consistently making a video every week so fair play. Video only has about 20 views so let’s all watch, like and subscribe to make his day and support the future generation of sad blokes like us

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

      Thanks Bob, "AKA" FPL Suggers". You might want to include a link to your site if you want us to watch. People like to be spoon fed around here

      1. theguy69
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        lol

      2. Bob McMayday
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If you watch the video you might realise he probably isn’t the type of person you will find paying for membership to this site and arguing with morons like you

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

          😆

    2. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      https://youtu.be/RtyDnV_XMEA

      What band?

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Lol @ plugging your son's crappy youtube channel on here

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

        Don't be a moron Bro

      2. Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Grow up.

    4. Bob McMayday
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well this is what happens when you try to do something nice for someone. Thanks FPL community

    5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I will subscribe and support

      I have no time for all of the FPL twitter accounts, everyone now suddenly has become an expert at the game. Funny that.

      However this video seems genuine unlike others

      1. Mince n Tatties
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Nice one

  11. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Who scores more this week, Mount or Dilva?

    1. Evil Greg
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Dilva for me.

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount

      1. Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Honestly, or wishful thinking?

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

      Dave

    4. reeceon
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount, Dave probably won't start

      1. Gentle_Turks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        How come? Fit. Has started all home games when fit.

        1. reeceon
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Injured against soton, not had much game time since, he could start but shaktar at home midweek also, mount will start, could get goal involvement

    5. mdm
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount

  12. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Who scores more this week?

    A) Sterling

    B) Mane

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

      Mane

    2. reeceon
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mane

  13. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Which?

    A) jimy or ings
    B) pepe a good arsenal differential option ? Y or N

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

      Jim

    2. reeceon
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Jimmy, No

  14. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What to do with this? 0.2ITB 2FT. Thanks

    Ryan Button

    Robbo Soy Tomori Lund Rico

    Sterling Mane KDB Mount James

    Vardy Abraham Greenwood

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

      wait for news on Robbo, if out get TAA

      1. School of Poch
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Was considering that!

  15. reeceon
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Play Mendy or transfer to literally any defender? (got TAA/3lei/3Che)
    Cheers

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

      Tranny if its for free.

      Theres a Doherty wagon but would hold for news on Robbo

  16. Mini Mahouse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Is Sterling to Mane even worth it?

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

      yes he even is

  17. Ole.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Is Tomori going to increase tonight? If I want to do Mendy and Mount to Tomori and Martial, will have to make the Mendy transfer for a hit this week before the rise. But was hoping to hold out til next week. But looking unlikely now.

  18. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Something came to me during the IB

    There is actually a way to accommodate Double Liverpool Fullbacks, plus Lundstram AND Leicester defence without going 4 at the back

    That way is none other than.... Mr. Kasper Schmeichel. For example:

    Schmeichel
    TAA, Robbo, Lundy
    Salah, KDB, Maddison, Martial, Pulisic
    Tammy, Vardy
    (Button, Willems, Rico, Connolly)

  19. Lestat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best option going forward??

    A - Sterling, Mane, Maddison, Jimenez, (4pt hit)

    B - KDB, Mane, McGinn, Aubameyang (4pt hit)

    C - Sterling, KDB, McGinn, Aubameyang - (no hit)

  20. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best mid under 6.0?

    McGinn?

  21. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ryan,Button

    Robertson,Taa,Lundstram,Rico,Hanley

    Mane,Tielemans,Kdb,Maddison,Son

    Vardy,Abraham,Greenwood

    Anyone any suggestions?(I know it’s a poor team) but what should I do!?

    Thanks for the help

  22. Duck Dickworth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    .