Scout Reports

What Fantasy managers can expect from new Spurs boss Jose Mourinho

A little over 24 hours ago, Mauricio Pochettino was still in the managerial hotseat at Tottenham Hotspur.

The long-serving Spurs boss has since been dismissed and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who is back in the Premier League after an 11-month absence.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United head coach has signed a contract with the Lilywhites that runs until the end of the 2022/23 season, with the move to north London being his fourth separate stint in the English top flight.

Speaking upon his appointment, Mourinho said:

I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters. The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.

I really like this squad. Of course, I’m not going to say names, I’m not going to tell you individuals because this is completely against my concept of what a team has to be, but I like a lot the ability of the squad.

Spurs’ chairman, Daniel Levy, added:

In Jose, we have one of the most successful managers in football. He has a wealth of experience, can inspire teams and is a great tactician. He has won honours at every club he has coached. We believe he will bring energy and belief to the dressing room.

From the tiresome post-match gripes to the “guarantee” of trophies (he has won at least two leagues or cups in each of his last six jobs), we’re already well aware of what Mourinho has the potential to deliver on his return to English football.

For us Fantasy managers, our interest centres on what effect Mourinho can have on a spluttering Spurs squad.

Spurs in 2019/20 So Far

Sitting in 14th place in the Premier League and winless in five top-flight games, Spurs have ceased to become the attractive proposition to Fantasy managers that they once were.

Harry Kane (£10.8m) is the only Spurs player who can boast a double-digit ownership at present but, to put that in context, he is still the lowest-owned FPL asset in the £10.0m+ price bracket.

Not one Spurs player was owned by more than 10% of the top 10,000 Fantasy managers at the point of the Gameweek 12 deadline.

While the Lilywhites are still a respectable fifth for goals scored in the Premier League, they trail Manchester City, Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool by some distance and have scored on only four occasions in the last five Gameweeks.

On the underlying stats front, Spurs are ranked a lowly 16th for shots in the box and 17th for big chances created.

The picture is even worse at the back, with no team having kept fewer clean sheets (one) than Pochettino’s former charges in 2019/20.

Only Norwich City have allowed more shots on target.

Mourinho – The History

Ever since his appointment as Porto manager in January 2002, Mourinho has won trophies.

His two-and-a-half-year spell with the Portuguese side ended with back-to-back domestic titles, a UEFA Cup success and a UEFA Champions League win in 2004.

Joining Chelsea soon after, the “Special One” secured the Blues’ first Premier League crown for 50 years and then delivered the title again the following year, with three domestic cups thrown in for good measure during his first stint in west London.

Departing Stamford Bridge early on in the 2007/08 season, Mourinho returned to management the following summer with a successful two-year spell in Milan, securing back-to-back league titles and a Champions League crown with Inter.

Tasked with breaking up Barcelona’s dominance in Spain, Mourinho was appointed Real Madrid manager in May 2010 but left with only one La Liga title and a Copa del Rey crown to show for his three years in the Spanish capital.

A return to Chelsea in June 2013 peaked with a Premier League and League Cup double in 2014/15 before he was again axed in December 2015.

Two and a half years at Manchester United rounded off his managerial career before this week, with Mourinho adding an EFL Cup and a Europa League to his list of honours in 2016/17.

All of that paints a pretty picture of Mourinho the manager but there are obvious disclaimers.

The new Spurs boss was cursed by “Third Season Syndrome” in his three previous spells in England, with his two most-recent stints ending at almost exactly the same points (mid-December of his third season in charge) and his last full campaign (2006/07) in his first spell at Chelsea being beset by off-the-field problems.

Then there are the ego and personality issues: from Frank Arnesen to Cristiano Ronaldo, Mourinho has clashed (or reportedly clashed) with a number of high-profile figures at several of his sides.

A nomadic figure of sorts, Mourinho’s tendency to move around and apparent unwillingness to develop youth players has also led to criticisms that he’s yet to build a lasting legacy at any of his clubs.

However, the new Spurs head coach said today:

There is not one manager in the world who does not like to play young players and help young players to evolve, there is not one.

The problem is sometimes you get into clubs and the work that is below you is not good enough to produce these players, but when you have them, the managers are always happy to develop these players, so I look to our history and you see that the Academy is always giving the talent the first team needs. Of course, I also look forward to work with that profile.

Mourinho – The Tactics

Operating mostly in a 4-4-2 diamond at Porto, Mourinho became famous for his 4-3-3 during his first spell at Chelsea – a system that, of course, gave rise to the ‘Makelele role’.

Those two formations continued to be Mourinho’s go-to set-ups throughout his time at Stamford Bridge and then at Inter, with a 4-2-3-1 quickly introduced in Milan.

The move to the Bernabeu continued the tactical evolution, with that 4-2-3-1 shape almost exclusively used by the Portuguese boss.

The formation was also one he generally preferred during his second stint in west London and then in Manchester, although there were dalliances with the 4-3-3 and a wing-back system during his tenure at Old Trafford.

Pragmatic is a word that is often tossed in Mourinho’s direction regarding his managerial approach; negative is another.

Deep-lying defences, counter-attacks and quick transitions have been a feature of his sides’ play in the past although our short-term memories are perhaps blighted by some dire, pedestrian performances during his time in Manchester.

As Michael Cox points out in an article for The Athletic today, number tens have traditionally shone under Mourinho – be it Deco at Porto or Mesut Ozil at Real.

Speaking in 2015, Mourinho said:

For me, a No. 10 does a lot of things, with the ball and without the ball.

So for me, No. 10 is a very special player in my team, when I play with a No10, which in Chelsea in the last period we are doing. In a system of two midfield players and a No. 10, I demand a lot from a No. 10. Every position is important, but it is an important position.

I like a No. 10 to score goals. I like a No. 10 to get in the box. I like a No. 10 to score goals like Oscar against Maccabi Tel Aviv. A No. 10 for me is a No. 8-and-a-half when the team loses the ball and a No. 9-and-a-half when the team has the ball.

Could we perhaps see the re-emergence of Dele Alli (£8.4m) as a viable Fantasy asset, then, after a period of dormancy?

Cox also points out that Mourinho likes his strikers to, well, strike.

Out-and-out centre-forwards such as Didier Drogba and Diego Costa flourished during their time under the erstwhile Chelsea boss, which could well have positive ramifications for Kane as a Fantasy asset, given the concerns about his more deeper role under Pochettino.

Hard-working, up-and-down wingers have often been a feature of Mourinho sides, too, which seems ideally suited to Son Heung-min‘s (£9.6m) skillset.

Mourinho’s resistance to playing two strikers in the past decade may mean that we Fantasy managers won’t be able to enjoy Son as an “out of position” forward, however, unless there is a revisiting of the 4-4-2 diamond that Pochettino had a tendency to deploy.

The former United manager’s constant run-ins with Luke Shaw were a reminder that Mourinho likes his full-backs to be disciplined and defensively sound, too, which might be an issue at Spurs in the short term given the dearth of options available at present – particularly at right-back.

“Defence first” is unquestionably Mourinho’s mantra – as we’ll discuss below.

Mourinho’s Teams – The Underlying Stats

Looking back through our Members Area data (which stretches back to 2011/12), Mourinho’s Chelsea and United sides ranked as follows for several key underlying stats (we have only included full-season numbers).

In terms of the defensive stats, a rank of ‘1st’ means the tightest defence (i.e. fewest shots conceded, most clean sheets etc).

Chelsea: 2013/14

Attacking
GoalsShotsShots in the boxShots on targetBig chances
3rd (71)1st (692)2nd (376)3rd (222)5th (79)
Defensive
Goals concededShots concededShots in the box concededShots on target concededBig chances concededClean sheets
1st (27)3rd (393)2nd (207)1st (120)1st (33)1st (18)

Chelsea: 2014/15

Attacking
GoalsShotsShots in the boxShots on targetBig chances
2nd (73)4th (564)3rd (334)3rd (205)3rd (86)
Defensive
Goals concededShots concededShots in the box concededShots on target concededBig chances concededClean sheets
1st (32)5th (415)1st (208)2nd (121)1st (35)1st (17)

Manchester United: 2016/17

Attacking
GoalsShotsShots in the boxShots on targetBig chances
8th (54)4th (591)6th (343)4th (208)=4th (76)
Defensive
Goals concededShots concededShots in the box concededShots on target concededBig chances concededClean sheets
2nd (29)5th (361)4th (192)4th (113)1st (32)=1st (17)

Manchester United: 2017/18

Attacking
GoalsShotsShots in the boxShots on targetBig chances
5th (68)6th (512)7th (299)6th (173)6th (78)
Defensive
Goals concededShots concededShots in the box concededShots on target concededBig chances concededClean sheets
2nd (28)7th (436)5th (264)5th (144)6th= (57)1st (19)

A recurring theme in the tables above is that Mourinho’s sides, unsurprisingly, rank better for defensive stats than at the other end of the pitch.

In each of his four full seasons in charge of Chelsea or United in the current decade, a Mourinho team has ranked first or second for goals conceded and clean sheets registered.

Indeed, no other Premier League side could better a Mourinho-led team for clean sheets in the four campaigns scrutinised above, with a minimum of 17 shut-outs recorded in each of them.

There was a scarcity of big chances conceded, too, at least until 2017/18 – the early-season loss of key centre-half Eric Bailly to injury and the alarming dip in form from defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic perhaps mitigating factors there.

The attacking figures aren’t awful but Chelsea or United almost never topped the underlying stats tables, with even the Blues’ title-winning campaign of 2014/15 seeing them ranked only fourth for shots and third for big chances.

Final Thoughts

This is almost unchartered territory for Mourinho: the “Special One” hasn’t experienced a mid-season appointment in almost 18 years.

With Bobby Robson’s one-time right-hand man not having a full pre-season to impart his ideas or indeed a transfer window with which to recruit players of his liking, we might have to be modest in our expectations of the new Spurs boss.

That said, the “new manager bounce” – something Lateriser12 raised in a Hot Topic today – is always something to watch out for (see what happened when there was a managerial change at Old Trafford last season) and, quite frankly, it is difficult to imagine the Lilywhites sinking any deeper than they are now.

Mourinho’s track record for player bust-ups doesn’t sit easily, particularly as he has to immediately find a way of dealing with four contract rebels at Spurs: Christian Eriksen (£8.7m), Danny Rose (£5.4m), Toby Alderweireld (£5.4m) and Jan Vertonghen (£5.2m).

If he can get the Belgian duo on side (experienced defenders very much being Mourinho’s favourite type), then that might be the first stepping stone in shoring up what has been a leaky backline this season.

Budget goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.5m) may look even more inviting an option to Fantasy managers if the Lilywhites plug the holes in defence.

Further forward, we await the effect that Mourinho has on the likes of Son, Alli, Eriksen and Kane.

While the team stats above point towards a defence-first approach, it may be that Kane and Alli are better suited to Mourinho’s model than they were to the latter-day Pochettino set-up.

The sheer volume of players available to the former Chelsea boss in the middle of the park is perhaps reason enough to hold fire for now, while those Fantasy managers with more cut-price frontlines will see little reason to reshuffle their pack to fit Kane in just yet.

Saturday’s meeting with an out-of-sorts West Ham side will hopefully be a good gauge, with there being some decent Spurs fixtures to tap into beyond that point should the signs be positive.

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

Which FPL assets are on set-piece duties at their clubs? 1

VOTE FOR FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT BY
CLICKING HERE.

601 Comments Post a Comment
  1. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    JWP or Djenepo?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Neither wtf

    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Neither

    3. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      5th mid next week? JWP

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

      JWP.

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

      jwp a good pick

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

      Hayden best 4.4m 5th midfielder for me :mrgreen:

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

      neither

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

    Saving my FT this week but what’s the best option for GW14?

    KDB and Tomori our for:

    A) Martial and Robertson
    B) Maddison and TAA

    Gazza
    Lund Chilwell Tomori
    Mane Sterling KDB Mount
    Jimenez Vardy Tammy

    Button A.Smith Diop Hayden

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I would do Sterling Smith to madison Trent this week

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

    Great article, the point about the no.10 is an interesting one.

    Dele Alli is one to watch closely. I imagine he'll be bombing into the box regularly, particularly during counter attacks.

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Well Jose had Lampard as 10 at Chelsea however Sneijder and ozil at inter and Madrid who were both like erik

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

        Yeah, he still wanted Sneijder to arrive in the box though, as shown here: https://youtu.be/4wAG5ZUJ4eI?t=658

        This is probably Dele's biggest strength.

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          But sneijder could create too.

          1. zotter
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            So could Ozil and Lamps. Remove eriksen from that team and looks very functional

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

              He also like wide playmakers, so I can see Eriksen playing RW. He moved Mata out wide at Chelsea so he could come inside and complete the midfield diamond. He had Pandev move into midfield this game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wAG5ZUJ4eI&feature=youtu.be&t=628

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

                Wrong link: https://youtu.be/4wAG5ZUJ4eI?t=81

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

          I watched that video earlier after typing 'Mourinho' into YouTube.

  4. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    What's better...

    A) Son + Jimenez
    B) Kane + Martial/Mount

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      Son is going to be a terrible pick under Mourinho. Too much defensive responsibilities.

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

        Hard disagree. He's the player most likely to get all the attacking returns down the flanks.

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

          No chance. Look how stifled Willian was under Mourinho.

          Pochettino regularly played Son through the middle. His average position was often the furthest forward. He will not be given that sort of freedom under Mourinho, unless Mourinho tries something completely new.

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

      Kane + Martial is more expensive. If you can afford it, it's better.

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

    Bottomed

    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

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      How many FT how much itb

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

        0 an 0 unfortunately!

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Well stick. Wtf wrong with it

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

      It ain't that bad mate - However Hanley & Greenwood gives you no back up
      As above - how many FTs and how much ITB?

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

        0 and 0 - hold and re-address next GW

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

          Thank you!

  6. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Prepping my defence and looking at retaining my 442 going forward into the Christmas fixtures, with four good defs and one fodders
    Which defence to work towards:

    current
    Pope + TAA, Lund, Soy, AURIER, MINGS

    Q1 - Aurier to Tomori or Baldock
    Q2 - Mings to Rico or Janmat

    TIA

    1. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mings christmas fixture looks nice though. And Aurier seems like an interesting player to keep?

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Kind of agree. No point rushing this week

        1. TRIPOS TOPPER
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          thanks chaps

          will save my FT for now

  7. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Do you think the fact that Robbo and Salah may not play boosts Mane potential for this gw or not?

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

      no

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely doesn’t boost it!

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Liverpool losing two of their best attackers will not help Mane!

      Huge misses

      Going to Captain Vardy over Mane

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

    Is Traore an option for Cantwell replacement? Yellow flagged?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      As a fifth mid waste of 0.7 over Donck

      1. Simon B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Donck better option than Hayden?

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

        I have Greenwood so would be higher in pecking order. But you are still probably right.

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

      I think this is a good move, and he plays Norwich GW18 when you’ll prob need to bench a couple of Liverpool players.

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

    Will getting top 4 this season become Mourinho new 'greatest achievement' I wonder.

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Master of spin would claim top 8 and qualifying from champs league represents progression from where he took over.

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

        I think 'getting on early' on Spurs players is a mistake with 0 data.

        Despite that, my gut feeling is he will do well, against all logic.

        1. COYS Down Under
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I think he'll do well too. Coming in mid-season is helpful for him, he's got to focus on what he has and not what he could have had given the right money/opportunity.

    2. Fernando Torres
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Winning CL with Spurs this season will be his greatest.

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

        Roberto Di Matteo about to be upstaged?!

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

    Pope
    TAA / Pereira / Lundstram / Rico
    Mané / KDB / Tielemans / Mount
    Vardy / Abraham

    Button // Janmaat / Connolly / Cantwell

    Original plan was Janmaat(?) to Robbo this GW; Cantwell to Pulisic next week.

    Should I do the reverse this GW; play Pulisic over Mount?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      How much itb

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

        Plenty. 5.6m ITB.

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

      Have you thought about playing Janmaat (BUR) over Rico (WOL)? I have currently that way.

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Deffo do that

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

        I have indeed. I don't particularly rate either of their chances of a CS, but I may play him for the differential.

        Rico getting a return would hurt though!

  11. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Should I still do Wilson to Jiminez after he got minutes tonight? Wanna pull the trigger on it but not sure.

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Could hold regardless. Both probably as likely as each other to score and not the most urgent transfer

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

      Bournemouth have been pretty miserly at the back of late. Wolves not scoring loads away, only against Man City. So...no.

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I doubt either will change price tonight.

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

      Should be a good move. Wolwes are rarely benching Jimmy and lots of time to recover from jetlag.

  12. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Yammy > Snodgrass?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Hell no

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

      Nein

    3. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Snoddy is a no no

  13. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Lacazette 1.7% owned. Next four fixtures Saints, Norwich, Brighton, and West Ham.

    Worth a punt?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Why not

      1. Conik
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Because other players are more likely to score points.

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Punt being the key word there. Laca can easy score three in four

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

    Do you think Robertson will start on Saturday?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Probably, but hopefully not.

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

      Not according to sky sport

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Has not been a reliable source previously for this type of thing.

        There was a more reliable source shared by Berbs from Twitter I think that said nothing had been decided and Salah had done some outdoor training today (or maybe yesterday)

  15. Scout Picks Community Champion Lottery – Gameweek 13
    Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Evening! 🙂

    Fancy a crack at being this week's Community Champion Vs the Scout Picks? 16 remains the score to beat, which should definitely be smashed soon!

    Speaking of 16 - it was a 16 point win for the Scouts this week with an absolutely gigantic 96 scored, the highest of the season so far. Certainly not expected with the fixtures on the table, but I did talk it up as a "Tricky but rewarding week" to pick a team for!

    Think you have the eye to pick the differentials and form a winning team vs the Scout Picks? We need a Community Champion to represent us vs the Scout Picks for Gameweek 13.

    The Community Champion picks a team including a captain to go up against the Scout Picks, within a budget of 83m and in a playable FPL formation. Whichever Gameweek champion beats the Scout’s team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher!

    If you're interested in applying, email Geoff (geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk) with your FFS username and FPL Team ID.

    The Champion will be picked Thursday midday, so make sure to enter by then! The Champion then has until 11am Friday morning to send in their team.

    Good luck!

  16. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    How does the team look for this GW?
    Anything worth doing with my FT?

    Pope
    TAA Robertson Lundstram
    Mane KDB Maddison Mount
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham

    Button; Soyuncu, dendoncker, tomori

    Got 1 FT and 1.4 mill in the bank.

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      No - good team- definitely a save

    2. Conik
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Very easy bank.

    3. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers both!

    4. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Save easy. Even if robbo doesn’t play. I would start soy over Mount

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hmm interesting..

    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Great team. It’s what mine was meant to look like before I took my moves when not fully with it 😆

      Defo save.

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers, would you play mount or Soyuncu?

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I’m inclined to say Mount as I don’t believe he’s faded away the way most on here do. However Soy is probably a safer bet against a team that will be hard-pressed to score

          1. FF Dirtbag
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Good thoughts. Thanks!

            1. Don Kloppeone
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Pleasure. GL!

              Nice rank climbing from you the last few btw!

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

      Sweet - just hope Sterling blanks for you...

  17. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone fancy Firmino? I know he’s done nothing last 6 weeks, but he had a burst beforehand and maybe now has the fixtures for another good run of form? Fancy takin a punt on him

    1. Conik
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It's not that simple. Almost everybody has two striker places locked up by Vardy and Abraham, who should be kept, and many more already have three Liverpool. No reason Firmino can't score well but he's not worth a load of hassle to get.

      1. zotter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        This is true

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Perhaps though would prefer defensive double

    3. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pls do so I can overtake you

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

      Firmino is a gun. Season keeper

  18. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    With an eye to preparing for future fixtures and busy Xmas schedule is

    A Cantwell to McGinn good transfer. Good fixture week 13 over Mount or

    B Save transfer and play Mount

    A Gives

    Pope
    TAA Lundstram Söyüncü
    Mané KDB Martial McGinn*
    Vardy Tammy Abraham

    McGovern Mount Rico Diop

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      McGinn is a good pick but I don’t get the rampaging flood of people on here ditching Mount like there’s no tomorrow. He is still a good player with ability to score v well.

      Personally I’d save.

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I’d be keeping Mount ( and bench for City game) and getting rid of Cantwell for McGinn

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Oops sorry mate. Totally didn’t read properly!

          It’s a decent move but I’d save as Mount could still score well so I’d prefer to save and play him personally

    2. Conik
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Save. Cantwell not a worry when you have 5 starting defenders.

      If you have luxury transfers in the next few weeks it's a decent option, although GK upgrade could be more valuable.

  19. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I have a feeling this is going to be a an absolute ‘mare of a GW for me. Given I’m already on a -4 and Klopp unlikely to say something as clear as “Mo is out for more than this week” it looks like this is what I have to stick with:

    -4 1.3itb
    Pope
    TAA, Lunds, Soy
    Salah*, Mané, Maddison, Mount
    Vardy (C), Abraham, Jimi
    (McGovern) (Willems, Rico, Dendo)

    Bring on the MCI monster goal haul. 😆
    Obv anything you advise is great but I think I’m stuck!

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Even if Salah out your fine with those subs. Who did you bring in can i ask

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate.

        If you remember right at start of the IB I inadvertently made some transfers while tinkering when basically almost asleep:

        Boly, KDB > Salah, Soy (-4)

        Horrendous as it was before IB and I had never planned to lose KDB!

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

      Team all good even if Salah out- Willems good first sub

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers mate hope you’re right!

        It’s only Sterling and KDB I’m scared of!

  20. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Digne (NOR) too rogue for a captain punt?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      No.

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Not this week. It’s possible

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      No good be great pick. Due a haul this season. If pays off huge rank boost!

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

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

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

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

    Best option?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      A because of Mané rather than double City

  22. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    pope heaton
    robbo digne lund tomori gibson
    salah kdb tielemans mcginn mount
    vardy abraham jimenez

    already used 2FT to do Auba-King to Vardy-Abraham

    currently have mount and tomori on the bench, one can cover Robbo this week. would you do -4 Salah to Mane or save?

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I would do Salah to mane if he is out

  23. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Play:
    A) Soyuncu (4-3-3)
    Or
    B) Mount (3-4-3)?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mount

    2. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      A

  24. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Pope - Button
    TAA - Soysauce - Rico - Lundstram - Reid
    Sterling - KdB - Mane - Martial - Mount
    Tammy - Vardy - Wickham

    Any idea what to do? 2 FT, 0itb.

  25. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    2ft 0.3m itb

    A. Cho to Barnes/Mcginn roll other ft
    B. Aguero, Cho to Jiminez/Kane/Lacazete, Martial/Madison/ Son (18.1m total)

    Pope
    Taa, Soyuncu, Lundstram (Rico, Kelly)
    Ken, Mane, Mount, Cho
    Aguero, Vardy, Abraham

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B. Kane madison

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

        Sadly 0.2 short for that

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

          Can do with Tielemans

  26. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    With the Salah news, worth a -4 for:

    Salah & Jimi -> Maddison & Kane

    ?

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Why would you get rid of Jimenez with his nice fixtures?

  27. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Cantwell > Pulisic tonight?

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

      Trade of the season, do it!

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

      Isn't Pulisic flagged?

      1. Monkey Hanger
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, wait until after the pressers.

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

        Yeah he is, also some sources still reporting he may genuinely have an injury and be out.

        Source is The Sun, so not great, but he did sit out the most recent USA match.

        It's a hold for the moment I guess.

  28. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Am I the only one who hasn't joined the cult of Tomori?

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

      Nope. Haven't got him hear and probably won't for now either.

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I don’t have him either.

      My defence is TAA, Lunds, Soy, Willems, Rico

  29. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Do you think i shld do a sterling willian out for alli and kdb?

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

      Alli is kinda expensive for a punt. You don't know how Jose is going to use him.

    2. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I'm thinking of bringing Willian in.

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Wow willian in against manc? Dont do it lol.

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          So tell me about Man City rock solid defence then . I'm all ears.

          1. Letsgo!
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Their defence are not good but after all is at etihad . If you already have abraham or mount,then i dont see a need to bring in willian.

            So many better choices...

            1. George Sillett
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              What if he doesn't have those players ? Willian is a decent shout.

  30. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I need to get Mane. Ditch Sterling or KDB?
    Sterling can release more money but KDB played 68' more international football than Sterling thanks to Sterling's strategic idiocy...

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

      Sterling if you're not going to captain him in the next few weeks.