Pro Pundits

Why the stats are becoming hard to ignore in the Pulisic v Mount debate

Let’s Talk FPL’s Andy looks ahead to Gameweek 15 in his latest Pro Pundits piece


I don’t like making late changes to my team – at that point, it all feels a bit rushed. Despite this I still found myself on Saturday morning chopping and changing between Jamie Vardy (£9.9m) and Sadio Mané (£12.2m) for captaincy, only to pick the wrong one.

It turned out to be a fairly average week, scoring 51 and seeing a 4,321 red arrow, down to 510,594.

Looking ahead to Gameweek 15 and I’m in that weird situation where I could transfer out one of three players or just make no transfer at all.

Nick Pope (£4.7m) has a bit of a fixture swing from this Gameweek, and not in a good way. Looking at the Season Ticker in the Members Area right up until Gameweek 30 (which is when I’ll start looking at using the second Wildcard), Burnley are second bottom in terms of fixture difficulty for defence.

I’m still reluctant to use a transfer on a goalkeeper however. The ceiling for points is fairly low and at just £4.7m he’s scored 55 points total, only five points behind current leaders Mathew Ryan (£4.8m) and Kasper Schmeichel (£5.3m). With the fixtures getting more difficult I would hope for an increase in save points to combat the likelihood of less clean sheets as well.

Mason Mount (£6.6m) is another player I’m looking at giving the boot to. He has just one assist to his name in the last six Gameweeks. There is a part of me that wants to give him the Aston Villa game, but that would definitely be the last-chance saloon.

If you compare Mount to Christian Pulisic (£7.5m) over the last six Gameweeks, there really is no competition: Pulisic has created more chances, registered more big chances and recorded more shots inside the box over the same period.

Despite all of this, it’s John Lundstram (£5.0m) that I’m looking to bring in (yes that’s correct, I still don’t own him).

It will be Harry Maguire (£5.3m) leaving my team to accommodate Lundstram. I have thought about keeping him, given that he’s nailed and has good goal threat, and instead transfer out Issa Diop (£4.5m), but that leaves a lot of money spread out over my defence, and would mean I don’t have enough flexibility for future transfers.

It’s been difficult to ignore Lundstram, and that is made even worse by their upcoming fixture run that includes Newcastle United, Norwich, Aston Villa, Brighton and Watford. Couple that with his 45.5% ownership and it’s hard to go any longer without him given the potential for clean sheets and attacking returns: he’s 12th for expected goals (xG) from open play in the last six Gameweeks for example.

As much as the fixtures look good for my team this week, I want to be more aggressive with my transfers in an attempt to get ahead of the curve. Lundstram doesn’t do that but he does provide a comfort blanket. That being said, after writing this article and looking at the stats for Pulisic, it’s difficult to ignore him with Villa up next. Maybe I’ll take my fourth hit in as many Gameweeks and just get it over with…

As for captaincy, that’s easy. I can’t look past Vardy at the moment and even though I bought Mané in under the guise of handing him the armband between Gameweeks 14-17, I think it’ll be the Englishman who becomes permanent captain now, at least for the next three weeks.


Andy is the face of Let’s Talk FPL, one of the leading Fantasy YouTube channels and has been a big part of the Scoutcast over a number of years. He has two top 10k finishes and an additional three inside the top 20k over nine years.

1,294 Comments Post a Comment
  1. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Whos the best , must have Midfielder?
    Have KDB Mané & Son
    Money no object?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not must have but Alli/Pulisic will probably be fine

    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling and Salah if money no object.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm feeling like GW 1 😀

        1. sandman58
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Lol
          Which one though?

      2. Podge
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        😆

  2. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gtg? Ideally want to save this week

    Hendo
    TAA Perreira Lund
    KDB Mount Mane Martial Son
    Vardy(C) Mousset (Vc)

    (Gaz, Kelly, Connolly, Rico)

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yep, good to go.

      Cash in the bank?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        0.9

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial to Zaha.

    3. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      VGTG. Connolly only weakness in that team. But no urgency at all to remove him.

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

    What to do here guys? 1FT, 1.6m itb.

    Pope
    TAA Lundstram Soyuncu
    Mane KDB Son Maddison
    Vardy Jimenez Abraham

    Button Tomori Rico Nakamba

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save

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

      Was thinking Pope --> Guaita / Henderson, but cant decide which one

      1. Turns
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I went Henderson. Not too bothered about SHU double-up as Lund is pretty much in there for attacking points (with the chance of cleanie a bonus)

  4. Ibra
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have a a couple of questions:

    A) Keep Pope and save ft or transfer him to Henderson?
    B) Start two: Lundstram, Willems, Rico, Kelly

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save
      Lundstram, Kelly

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

    Looking to bring in "Vivianne Miedema" for rest of season. 6 goals and 4 assists in one match. With 3 baps, that would have given 123 points if you had triple captained her. Wow !!!!!!!

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Women's game is mad

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

    Pulisic played a lot of games lately. Isn't this a concern? Willian was rested in weekend and CHO seems to be recovered.

  7. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Comes to this, any thoughts?

    A) Martial to Zaha for free
    B) Martial to Pulisic for free
    C) Martial + Abraham -> Alli + Mousset -4
    D) Save ft

    Team as linked.

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

      I did A. In regards to B, see my above concern.

      1. seewhyaxe
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        thanks!!

        I'm quite worried about Zaha being a trap tbh

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          zaha is like MArtial & walcott for me. I never own them when they go on a run. Better for me to just avoid.

          1. seewhyaxe
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            lol whom would you suggest to replace Martial for me?

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Son? budget?

              1. seewhyaxe
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Already have Son. Other mfs are Mane, KDB & Hayden.

                Budget 7.6m

                1. Christina.
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 3 months ago

                  Puli?

                  1. seewhyaxe
                    • 7 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    so that's B!

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

          If there is a good time to bring him in, this is the one.

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

      D

  8. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2.5% Milivoyevic - he’s due and Brighton are just around the corner.

    Think he’s worth the extra 0.1 over Wilf

    1. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope

    2. Turns
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not a bad shout, but just not as exciting.

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish is worth more than both IMO 🙂
      If I was bringing one mid priced Midfielder atm, it'd be Grealish

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Grealish is top of my list as it’s just a first bench.

        But Mili is intriguing if you believe Palace will play front foot football - he gets the goals and Zaha the assist

  9. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any chance Otamendi gets a game during the pile up? Asking for a friend.

  10. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hypothetically, imagine there was a player in FPL worth like 20-25m but scored one goal every single week. Would you buy him?

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

      He has to score a hattrick every single week for 25m 🙂

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no

    3. Turns
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Probably. Would mean you could perma-captain them.

      FPL wouldn't be much fun though: EO would be huge

    4. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Id play 25m for Lundstram all day long

      1. HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        *pay

    5. Obi Wan Elokobi
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just get Vardy for 15 mil cheaper

    6. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      20 pts/GBP is the benchmark for forward value (ex-captaincy).

    7. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No (if no other player is scoring, then yes)

    8. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not explosive enough

    9. Podge
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      At 20m he’d need 600 points to be worth getting so no

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

      You mean if Messi played in the prem

  11. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Planning to do 3 transfers this and next gws, what would you pick as the best strategy?

    1) saka mount Abraham-> pulisic Alli mousset
    2) pope mount Maddison-> hendo zaha son
    3) mount saka Abraham -> Zaha son Connolly

    Team is:
    Pope
    Taa Soyuncu Lundstram
    Kdb mane Maddison Mount
    Jiménez Vardy Abraham

    Button. Aurier saka hanley

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

      Keep Maddy with those fixtures.

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

    Any help would be lovely please FPLers.

    (A) Martial -> Pulisic/Zaha [hope Tammy starts, otherwise Aurier comes in]
    (B) Tammy -> Jimenez
    (C) Both (-4)

    Henderson
    TAA - Lund - Soy
    Mane - KDB - Son - Perez - Martial*
    Tammy* - Vardy
    -----
    4.5 - Aurier - Lowton - 4.5

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

      1. Turns
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Zaha or Pulisic? Worried about rotation with latter and bench is weak.

        1. The Bonus Magnet
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          This is putting me off Pulisic. Midweek game with hudson and willian as options theres a decent chance of rotation.

        2. lindeg
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Puli higher chance of haul and higher chance of benching

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

      B

  13. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    good week for a hit I reckon.

    1. Pap Le Cissier
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thinking an aggressive-8 myself

      Mount, Tielemens and Rash -> Ali, Pulisic, Wood/Ings

    2. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I think the opposite, although it's very much team dependent. Too many doubts/concerns over rotation etc. Plus I have Lundstram, Sterling and Rico are 1 yellow card away from a ban.

      Mount > Pulisic as part of a hit tempts me but can't be 100% sure even Pulisic starts. I have Cantwell and Rico waiting in the wings which I'm okay with. 2FTs next week gives a lot more flexibility.

  14. shapply
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    probably saving FT this gw as Abraham may feature

    Pope
    TAA, Tomori, Lundstram
    Mane, Maddison, Son, KDB
    Jimenez, Vardy, Abraham
    subs: Button, Rico, Hayden, Hanley, 0.1itb

    1. The Bonus Magnet
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      That 0.1 nicely allows Henderson

      1. shapply
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        true, but not sure if it's worth it

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

      I like the keeper upgrade idea but not essential. What makes you think Abraham returns? Haven't seen anything myself.

      1. shapply
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lampard's comments (twitter cfc) in the recent days suggest that Abraham will be in contention

  15. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Martial to

    A) Alli (have Son)
    B) Zaha
    C) Maddison (have Vardy)

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. TheBrazilianRonaldo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fancy B. I’d only go double or triple Spurs when the fixtures look tastey

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

    Another Martial relatwd Q.

    Martial ->

    A) Maddison/ Perez
    B) Pulisic

    Other mids are Kdb,Mane,Son,Cantwell

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

        Thanks

        1. NABIL - FPL otai
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          No prob matey

  17. Tinmen
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Folks, which move should I do for ?

    A) Martial to Zaha
    B) Heaton to Henderson

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A if you must

  18. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan (buton)
    Soy taa lund (kely lowton)
    Mount kdb son mane (dendo)
    Vardy ings laca

    Which?
    A) laca to jimy/mouset/ayew /tammy
    B) mount to zaha/puli/madds/tiele
    C) lowton to sheff. Def.
    D) both above -4
    E) roll ft, bench 1 of laca mount kely
    F) lowton laca -4 to chilwel/periera moust/jimy

    1. The Bonus Magnet
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Picture isnt clear enough. Ryan to henderson maybe otherwise id probs hold n roll

  19. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    So palace having issues in defence, that probably shouldn’t put off the Guaita transfer?

    1. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      They had issues on Saturday still kept a clean sheet away from home

      1. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        yeah, true!

    2. TheBrazilianRonaldo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Palace have played the west fixtures. Anything going to seem easy for next 8 gw

  20. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Zaha hits form when the transfer window is nearing. Hmm.

  21. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rate the following mids in preference till gw18:

    A: Son...tricky gw15 fixture so probably best to bring him in gw16
    B: Alli....same as Son
    C: Pulisic...will he be rested midweek?
    D: Maddison...3 great fixtures to come but a tough gw18 fixture when the squads will be stretched
    E: Zaha...great fixtures, less attacking team but good gw18 fixture

    1. The Bonus Magnet
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Two tiers for me

      A and D

      B C and E

      Alli's poor threat rating vs west ham is putting me off him. Zaha too early to commit to. Chelsea having a bit of a mini wobble n too much talent for puli to be nailed. Hudson could easy start midweek n be man of the match.

  22. Shakshuka
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Good to save here? .4 banked. thx!

    Ryan
    TAA Robbo Lunds
    Mane KDB Mount Zaha
    Vardy (c) Jesus Jimmy

    Button Rico Dedocker Guilbert

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pretty similar teams we have!

      Schmeichel
      TAA Robbo Lundy
      Mane Son Zaha Barnes
      Vardy Jesus Jiminez

      Button Rico Dendo Reid

      1. Shakshuka
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Good luck, hopefully some production from Jesus!

  23. myteamissheeeeeeeet
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Chaps, Martial to Alli or Pulisic? Already own Son and have no Chelsea now!!

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      see below lol

    2. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pulisic

    3. TheBrazilianRonaldo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pulisic

  24. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pulisic

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ...nice fail

  25. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Need some unbiased opinion!

    Which GK is the best season keeper regardless of price?

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

      Regardless of price is tricky. My guess is that Schmeichel might edge others in total points strangely enough but yet I won't get him. Go figure!

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Best is subjective
      Bound to have some bias !!

      Best GK for me is Ryan because he has 4m substitute Button

  26. afsr
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Martial to Zaha this GW and Cantwell to Alli GW17.
    WDYT?

    1. afsr
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cantwell to Alli GW 16 of course

    2. seewhyaxe
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      nice.

  27. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Cantwell and Rashford to Alli and Mousset for - 4? Would then play 3,5,2

    Or Tielemans and Rashford to Alli and Mousset. I don't fancy losing Tielemans before Watford though.

    Current team:

    Pope
    Lundstrum, TAA, Soy
    Mane, Sterling, Tielemans, Pulisic
    Vardy, Rashford, Jimenez

    Bench: Cantwell, Aurier, Kelly,

  28. fakelund
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bit of a benching dilemma this week, but reckon this is GTG?

    Pope,
    TAA, Soyuncu, Lundstram
    KDB, Mane, Tielemans, Son
    Abraham*, Mousset, Vardy

    Heaton, Cantwell*, Kelly, Tomori

  29. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Just WCed last GW .. any transfers required or save?

    Hendo (Martin)
    TAA Soy Lunds (Kelly Williams)
    Mane Salah KDB Pulisic (Hayden)
    Vardy (c) Jimmy Ings

  30. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    0.2 short to upgrade Tielemans to Pulisic, how would you get him?
    downgrade pieters?

    Pope
    TAA Soy Lund
    Mane KDB Son Tielemans
    Rash Vardy Jimenez

    Kelly, cantwell, Pieters 0.7 ITB 1FT.

    1. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Or cantwell to dendo, depends if you want to keep Cantwell. He's been scoring some good points from my bench!

      1. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        yeah, kind of reluctant to let him go now.. will be benched always but you never now when you need these type of players.

      2. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        would you take the hit to get pulisic this way?

        1. Gideons Rolling Another One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Tricky. I'm contemplating Tielemans being the fall guy for Alli, but he does have a good fixture against Watford. I'm not sure it is worth a -4, but could be wrong!