Pro Pundits - Sam

No room for the heart when playing FPL

Some Fantasy Premier League selections are made based on form, some on fixtures, some on a gut feeling and some come from the heart. 

This season I am learning that the heart should not be trusted where FPL is concerned.

This is something that I have always known and I have tried historically to base my choices on tangible evidence but this season one man crept in.

This was, in part, due to the price reduction he had at the start of the season but also due to a need for a talisman, someone I really trusted alongside my maverick John Lundstram (£5.1m), John McGinn (£5.8m), Dean Henderson (£4.7m) and Diego Rico (£4.3m) picks.

Harry Kane (£10.9m), should have been the perfect striker – playing in a team who made it all the way to the Champions League final and at the low price point of just £11.0m at the time.

However, Spurs have been far from their best this season and Kane far from his, playing more as a defensive midfielder under Mauricio Pochetino than a striker.

Fast forward to Gameweek 14, Kane nearly left my team but the arrival of Jose Mourinho changed things. Would Spurs improve? Would Kane play as an out and out striker again?

Would the Fantasy hauls return?

Suddenly it was the wrong time to get rid, especially as he had a price rise with other managers bringing him in.

However, my gut feeling (which should always be followed) was to switch him for Dele Alli (£8.6m) who I spoke at length about on every FPL show and podcast that week.

Nonetheless, I held Kane who failed to return when Dele did. This has been repeated in both Gameweeks 14 and 15.

The stay of execution is over, this week Kane will go.

Having watched Kane against Manchester United revert back to playing deeper when Spurs fell behind, whilst Dele was in and around the box making all the right runs, it was apparent which Spurs asset is the one to own and it’s the one playing as the number 10 not the meant to be playing as the number 9.

Having two transfers going into Gameweek 16 means that I am able to make a change in my strike force and midfield without taking a points hit. McGinn is the unfortunate casualty in order for me to bring in Dele.  

Whilst the Aston Villa man was fantastic in the early Gameweeks of the season the points have dried up of late and with a Kane downgrade up-top, I have plenty of budget to afford the upgrade to Dele. This leaves me with £8.2m for a third striker alongside Vardy and Abraham.

There are a few decent options in this price bracket. 

Raúl Jimenez (£7.7m), Danny Ings (£6.2m) and Lys Mousset (£5.1m) are the three in contention for the spot.

Having used the Members Area to compare the players the results are interesting.  

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

3,982 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Return of the FF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gtg? Half tempted by benchboost - ridiculous idea?

    Gazza
    TAA - Soy - Lund
    Alli(v) - Mane - KdB - Maddi
    Ings - Jimi - Vardy (c)

    Pope - Traore - Tomori - Rico

    0 FT and 0.9 itb

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

      Yes

      1. Return of the FF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yes to gtg or ridiculous to use benchboost? Or both?

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Absurd idea

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Surely a joke?

        1. Return of the FF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Fair enough. I generally dislike my benchboost chip and feel relieved when it's out the way

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

      More risk of rotation this week. Did mine in gw 11 I think. Got about 20 for it.

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      One of the worst ideas in the history of FPL

      1. Return of the FF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm honoured!

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

      No bench boost IMO

    6. Crump
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      nice team

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

    Start 3 out of the following 5:

    Lundy, Kelly, Soy, Dunk, Aurier

    ?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      LAD

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ace

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

        Who is the C?

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

          Soy, but you don’t want to play him. About as bad an idea as the bench boost above

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

            Annie what you on about?

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

              C/3 as in the third one on the list.

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

      Aurier, Lundstram, Kelly

  3. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one please:

    A. Lundstram
    B. Wood
    C. Soyuncu

    1. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      C

    2. Bubi
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  4. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to drop from
    A. Ings
    B. Jimenez
    C. Grealish
    D. Pulisic

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Someone has been a kid in a candy shop!

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      D

  5. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Man City have Man Utd then Arsenal. Time to jump back on their assets?

    1. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Two home in next three and then a lovely 20-23. Don't own but I'd be v happy with if I did right now. Plenty of teams with awful fixtures in that period

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, why not

  6. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    lads pls

    mane, KDB, Puli, Son, Tielemans*
    a. give Tielemans this gw
    b. switch to 8,4?

  7. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No one seems to be considering that Salah could be benched again as Klopp may simply be protecting his ankle again for CL ?? Klopp basically said that Mane is as fit as fook. ??? just food for thought for those who are considering Mane > Salah move.

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

      He could rest any of them. Salah's form is poor. Hoping for a sudden bounce in form 2 GWs away from a skip doesn't look a great move especially if you have an inform Mane.

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'm risking it

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

      Yeah, I’m concerned re Salah.

      He will explode (10+) or bust (1pt). Nothing in between.

  8. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Mount to Alli worth -4?

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

      No

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

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

    Which 1 to Start?

    A. Tomori
    B. Cantwell
    C. McGinn

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

      B

    2. Crump
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B or C. Probs B.

  10. Barmak
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan,
    Tomori, TAA, Lundstram
    Mané, Sterling, Alli (C), Maddison, Tielemans
    Vardy, Tammy

    Bench: Henderson, Kelly, Rico, Greenwood

    G2G?

    Considerations: Henderson ahead of Ryan?
    Kelly ahead of anyone?
    Alli captain shout?

    Thanks and good luck all!

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

      I like Alli captain shout but feel his form may falter at some point. So it’s ballsy.

      I’d go Kelly above Tomori but Palace defence is also a gamble. Great to shut out Bmouth with 10 men but down to 2 recognised Defenders now and I don’t want to rely on Kouyaté for anything ever.

  11. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tammy(C) anyone? Great away record and Everton in a bad place

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Was thinking the same, but early kick off dissuades me

  12. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Mane to salah for 1 week?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nah

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nope.

  13. benbro
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Got a feeling Salah might explode
    Worth doing Sterling > Salah?

    Or looking at Pope > Ryan.

    Or save ft?

    1FT
    0.4 ITB

    Pope (mcG)
    Trent, Lund, Kelly, (Tomori, Soy)
    Sterling, Mane, Alli, Mourinho, Maddison
    Vardy, Abraham (connelly)

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

    Play Cantwell or Mount?

    Already playing Pulesic.

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

      Mount

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

    Djenepo or Soyuncu as 1st sub?

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Soyuncu. How come he's not in your starting XI?

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

        Have Pereira

        Reducing the risk if incase they concede.

  16. selig
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    gazza button
    lund tomori vvd digne soy
    mane pulisic alli madd martial
    vardy ings nketiah

    2.3itb 1ft
    suggestions?

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

      Martial to Son?

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

        0.1 off and also not sure about double spurs

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

          Digne to Jetro Willems and Nketiah to Abraham/Rashford?

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

            cant afford it. only have 7.8 itb for forward. jimenez?

  17. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What do you guys think about Tomori, Saka, Auba to Pereira, Dele, Mousset for - 8?

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

      You know more about Aubameyang but overall those moves looks fine.

      I think you are late to Pereira, do you have Soyuncu?

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Of course. I want triple Leicester and rate Ricardo higher than James so he would be my third pick.

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like the moves just not the -8

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        My first hit(s) of the season. I've held for 15 gameweeks which is bloody brilliant:)

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

      Big no

      1. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why?

  18. Come on you Kante
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who scores mot points over December ?

    A-Daniel James
    B- Mount

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B I think

    2. Crump
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  19. arkom
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA / Aurier / Lund
    Mane / KDB / Maddison / Alli(c)
    Vardy / Tammy / Jimmy

    1. Cantwell 2. Soy 3. Rico

    Gtg? How about bench & captain?

  20. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi everyone, thoughts on that team? Am I gtg? Bench order correct?

    Guaita
    TAA, Robbo, Lundstram
    Mané, KDB, Alli (V), Maddison
    Vardy (C), Jimenez, Mousset

    Button - Soy, McGinn, Rico

  21. bjarnia87
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    martial + KDB to Alli + Son?

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good to me.

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

      Don't sell De Bruyne

  22. Vic Rattlehead
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Jimenez+Mount to Alli+Ings using 2FT?

    Yay or Nay?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It's a tough one but yes

    2. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No

  23. Visionaries
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A Pope > Gaza
    B Jim > Abraham
    C Wickham (3rd sub) > Mousset

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

      Cheers for your help

  24. Crump
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Hi everyone, am I gtg? Have a good weekend.

    Guaita
    TAA - Aurier - Lund
    Maddi - Son - Alli - Mane - Puli
    Vardy(c) - Abraham

    (Button / Soy - Tomori - Connolly)

  25. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning all! Left it late!! Hungover and need help!!

    Just some quick ideas of what you would do with this lot?

    Pope
    Soy VVD Lund
    Mane Sterling KDB Zaha
    Vardy Ings Jiminez

    Button / Tomori / Dendonc / Rico
    2FT
    Any advice would be great! GL all!

    1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Capt Vardy and go back to bed

    2. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sterling and zaha to son and Alli

      Wake up for the late kick off and marvel at your points

  26. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What time is the old mcbrekky club on?

  27. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Sterling -> Son (save FT)
    B) Mount & JWP -> Pulisic & Cantwell
    C) Something else

    Ryan
    TAA, Aurier, Lundstram
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, JWP
    Vardy, Abraham, Pukki

    Button, Soyuncu, Dendoncker, Williams
    Bank 0.0m, 2FT, WC available

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita Button*

    TAA Robertson Soy Lund Hanley*

    Son Maddison Zaha Alli(C) Mane

    Vardy Jimenez Greenwood*

    Alli captain?

    And everyone Is suggesting playing Lund but I see Norwich scoring and a blank/rotation?- thoughts!?

    1. Mona Lisa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I personally am not playing Lund, but wouldn't really endorse it, I just see Norwich scoring, so I'd be backing him for attacking returns... I have better options for that. I like Alli (c), don't have him, so I'm on Son. Good team.

  29. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Cap:
    a) Alli
    b) Vardy