Scout Notes

Solskjaer provides Rashford injury update as Rodgers backs Vardy from the spot

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United

  • Goals: Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m), Mohamed Salah (£12.4m)
  • Assists: Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m), Alisson (£6.1m)
  • Bonus: Alisson, van Dijk x3, Alexander-Arnold x1

Marcus Rashford (£9.0m) faces at least six weeks on the sidelines after Ole Gunnar Solksjaer confirmed that the England striker had suffered a stress fracture of his back.

Rashford wasn’t involved at Anfield on Sunday, which Solskjaer did warn us of in Friday’s pre-match press conference – although the Norwegian’s reputation as something of a wolf-crier led many of us to cast doubt on the suggestion he would miss out.

Ahead of kick-off on Merseyside, Solskjaer provided the following update on Rashford:

He got a couple of knocks and jolts when he came on against Wolves and has aggravated his back. I wouldn’t expect him to be back in the next few weeks. We’ve got a mid-season break coming up; I’m not sure we’re going to see him before then.

However, speculation swelled throughout the afternoon that Solskjaer was perhaps not providing us with the full details of Rashford’s injury, with journalist Henry Winter suggesting the in-form FPL forward has a double stress fracture and will be sidelined for two to three months.

Asked again about Rashford’s injury in his post-match press conference, Solskjaer gave a slightly different answer:

He suffered a stress fracture against Wolverhampton [in the FA Cup last Wednesday]. Normally six weeks before you can get going slightly, probably, and then he’ll need time to get match-fit again.

That prognosis would put Rashford out until at least Gameweek 28, raising the possibility of increased game-time for budget FPL forward Mason Greenwood (£4.4m) – although, as we saw when Anthony Martial (£7.9m) was sidelined throughout the autumn, Solskjaer may still choose to handle his teenage striker carefully in this his breakthrough campaign.

Indeed, Solskjaer hinted at looking for “short-term deals” for strikers after Sunday’s game.

Greenwood was understandably overlooked for this daunting fixture, with Solskjaer opting to instead introduce Luke Shaw (£5.4m) as a third centre-half and revisit the wing-back system that helped achieve a 1-1 draw against the runaway league leaders back in Gameweek 9.

While still being battered for long periods of the game, a Rashford-less United perhaps performed better than many anticipated, giving Liverpool a scare or two.

Andreas Pereira (£4.9m) was inches away from converting an Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) pass shortly before the break, while Martial had a glorious chance to level the scores at 1-1 when blazing over the bar on 58 minutes.

Fred (£5.3m) also had an impressive game in the middle of the park, although a midfielder with no attacking returns to his name in 2019/20 will be persona non grata to Fantasy managers.

Speaking of his side’s performance, Solskjaer said:

In the last half hour, I thought we were excellent. We pegged them back, pressed them, had the majority of the possession in the second half, pushed them back and created chances, big chances. And we created the pressure, I thought they looked nervy and then, of course, we send everyone up to get the equaliser and they get that [second] goal.

While Liverpool were given the odd fright by their visitors en route to their seventh straight Premier League clean sheet, chances came and went far more frequently at the other end.

Until Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) raced onto a long punt out from Alisson (£6.1m) in second-half stoppage-time to put the game to bed, it had looked like Liverpool’s front three would all blank in the same match for the first time since Gameweek 14.

It wasn’t that Liverpool’s premium attacking options were short of opportunities, though – quite the contrary.

Salah should have been on the scoresheet 45 minutes before he was, somehow fluffing a chance from six yards and ruining an Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) assist in the process.

Sadio Mane (£12.4m) ought to have avoided a second successive blank, too, firing at David de Gea‘s (£5.4m) boot just before the interval and twice missing the target in the second half from the corner of the six-yard box.

The Senegal international also couldn’t bring the ball under control when set free midway through the first half and saw an assist chalked off after the VAR spotted a Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) foul on de Gea.

It was Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) who put the ball in the visitors’ net for that disallowed goal and the Brazilian can’t catch a break at Anfield, with his goalless streak on home soil stretching back to Gameweek 32 of last season.

Firmino came within inches of an assist, too, teeing up Jordan Henderson (£5.4m) for a shot that crashed back off de Gea’s left-hand post.

While the FPL returns were thin on the ground, the volume of chances arriving at the feet of Liverpool’s front three was encouraging going into Double Gameweek 24.

The problem, of course, is that we FPL managers only have three slots for Liverpool players, and the Reds’ defence is making a damn good case of their own.

On top of their seventh consecutive clean sheet, three of Liverpool’s backline were involved in the hosts’ two goals: van Dijk heading in a Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.5m) corner to break the deadlock before Alisson set Salah free in the dying stages to seal the win.

With Liverpool’s defenders matching and in some cases outpacing their more expensive attacking teammates for FPL returns over the last seven Gameweeks, there is certainly a case to made for a double-up at the back based on current form.

Speaking after the match, Jurgen Klopp said:

Very dominant in most periods of the game. I didn’t like too much in the first half the last five or seven minutes but nothing happened really, just we were not as dominant as before.

We played outstandingly well, we dominated the opponent, we played exactly in the space we had to.

And then the start of the second half was absolutely brutal – wow. We jumped in and had, I don’t know, three, four chances at least and didn’t score. How it always is and how it often enough was now in that season, the opponent has the chance to come back. That’s what happened. 

We had to defend them. The organisation was OK but it’s just about timing then, ‘When do you have the challenges, where do you have the challenges?’. We were a bit late in these moments and that’s why they came through, that’s why they could at least finish their situations off. But we defend then with a lot of passion and big heart and stuff like this.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Lallana 66′), Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino (Origi 83′), Mane (Fabinho 83′)

Manchester United XI (3-4-2-1): De Gea; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Dalot 87′); Wan Bissaka, Fred, Matic, Williams (Greenwood 74′); Andreas Pereira (Mata 74′); James, Martial.

Members Analysis

Burnley 2-1 Leicester City

  • Goals: Chris Wood (£6.2m), Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) | Harvey Barnes (£5.9m)
  • Assists: Ben Mee (£5.0m) | Dennis Praet (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Nick Pope (£4.6m) x3, Westwood x2, Wood x1

To no-one’s great surprise, Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) would remain on penalty-taking duties after his latest miss from 12 yards on Sunday.

Vardy hadn’t technically failed with a spot-kick this season before Nick Pope (£4.6m) saved his effort at Turf Moor but the most-owned Fantasy Premier League forward had originally been thwarted by Mat Ryan (£4.9m) in Gameweek 13, only for VAR intervention to allow him a second bite at the cherry due to penalty box encroachment.

This time, though, there was no reprieve, with Pope’s save resulting in Vardy’s third duck-egg in four Gameweeks – although the other two blanks were due to his absence through injury/paternity leave.

Speaking after full-time, Rodgers said of Vardy:

There’s no blame attached because he’s been absolutely brilliant for us and we wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in without him. Just one of them days, the goalkeeper saved everything that was there.

He’s normally clinical in that situation. If we have another penalty again, he’ll be the one who’ll step up and take it.

Vardy was anonymous for large chunks of this match but, then again, he often has been this season and still delivered the goods.

The premium FPL forward had only 24 touches of the ball in Lancashire – the same number as 74th-minute substitute Youri Tielemans (£6.3m) – but, to give an example, that’s still one more than he managed in Gameweek 16 when delivering a double-digit haul against Aston Villa.

Vardy has always made the most of limited service or possession, with a lot of his good work done off the ball; as Rodgers said above, this was simply just one of those days.

Pope later stood up well to deny Vardy when the Leicester striker was presented with his second ‘big chance’ of the match on 77 minutes and the impressive Burnley goalkeeper had earlier advanced off his line to force Vardy wide when he was clean through on goal, with the opportunity fizzling out into nothing.

With this being Vardy’s first (playing) blank of 2019/20 against a team currently in the bottom half of the table, many of us will be willing to cut him some slack, particularly as a fairly appealing home fixture against West Ham United is upon us.

Around 90,000 FPL managers have already seen enough, however, shipping Vardy out ahead of Double Gameweek 24.

Therein lies one of the reasons why Vardy is deemed dispensable by some, as funds may have to be generated to lump on Liverpool’s premium assets ahead of their forthcoming double-header.

While Vardy’s slow start to 2020 can be perhaps mitigated, there is growing concern about the players behind him and Leicester as a collective.

The Foxes have won only two of their last seven fixtures and have now lost back-to-back matches against teams in the lower reaches of the Premier League, with only one clean sheet arriving from Gameweek 16 onwards.

We discussed Leicester’s defence in great detail last week, highlighting their spiralling underlying stats but also the fact that a shot-shy Burnley would perhaps provide them with an ideal opportunity to bounce back to form.

The Foxes had seemed comfortable at the back in the first half, restricting their hosts to just one effort in the box, but were undone by the Clarets’ speciality: a set play.

It was Chris Wood (£6.2m) who prodded home to level the game on 55 minutes, pouncing in the six-yard box after Ben Mee‘s (£5.0m) header was repelled by Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m).

That rarest of beasts, a poor Jonny Evans (£5.3m) clearance, then played a part in Burnley’s winner, with Ashley Westwood (£5.4m) slamming home the loose ball shortly after Pope had denied Vardy for the second time.

The absence of Wilfred Ndidi (£5.0m) was perhaps keenly felt again at both ends, with Nampalys Mendy (£4.3m) the latest pretender to fall some way short of the Nigerian’s levels.

There is some good news on the Ndidi front, however, with Rodgers saying after the match:

We’ll see how he is for Wednesday, I think it’ll be too quick for him to be back by then, but certainly by the weekend, and I would say for Aston Villa, hopefully, he’ll be available.

One member of the Foxes’ regular back four missed out on Sunday, perhaps paying the price for some below-par recent performances.

Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), along with Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m), failed to even make the matchday squad, with Rodgers diplomatically saying after full-time:

They missed a very important session for us in the week, which was the build-up leading into this game, so we couldn’t bring them into the game today.

Both will be in contention for Wednesday.

Ben has played a lot of games, so we looked at that, and this was probably the game he could miss out on.

They were just unavailable for the training. We were doing a lot of preparation for this game, they were unable to be there, so we now move on.

Further forward, there wasn’t a great deal of inspiration behind Vardy.

James Maddison (£7.7m) blanked for the sixth time in seven Gameweeks and spent a lot of the afternoon on the floor, although did provide his usual teasing deliveries from dead-ball situations and probed outside the Burnley box.

The hit-and-miss Harvey Barnes (£5.8m) was perhaps the pick of Leicester’s attackers, registering the visitors’ first attempt of the day and later opening the scoring when running onto a Dennis Praet (£5.3m) tackle to fire underneath Pope.

It was Barnes who teed Praet up for a shot that Pope did brilliantly to tip away just after the interval, with the young winger later winning the penalty that Vardy missed when outpacing, and then being brought down by, Mee in the 66th minute.

The Clarets next face Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, so this win will likely do little to renew much interest in their Fantasy assets in the short term.

Let’s not forget that Pope had averaged only 2.56 points per match in the nine Gameweeks preceding this one, either.

Only one home team (Newcastle United) had fewer shots than Burnley in Gameweek 22, meanwhile.

Still, Burnley will head to Old Trafford on Wednesday with a goalkeeper brimming with confidence – not so good news, perhaps, for the Fantasy managers who own the likes of Anthony Martial (£7.9m).

The Clarets’ menace at dead-ball situations may also come into play, considering that United have conceded eight goals from corners already this season.

Speaking of Pope after the match, Sean Dyche said:

I thought Popey was very good again, not because he had ridiculous amounts to do, but when he did, he made big saves.

That’s the important quality a big keeper has, a top keeper has, so not just the penalty, there were a couple of other moments where he made big saves just by standing up and being what he is, fast reactions from a big frame.

Burnley XI (4-4-2): Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Wood (Lennon 90′), Rodriguez.

Leicester City XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Mendy; Perez (Iheanacho 73′), Praet (Tielemans 73′), Maddison, Barnes; Vardy.

Members Analysis

1,813 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Live Scoutcast 8pm Mon - leave your questions here
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Live Scoutcast tonight 8pm

    Joining me to discuss DGWK 24 will be Lateriser, who has just moved into the top 1K with his 'hit hard, hit home' strategy.

    Also on the bill is Az, another to enjoy a green arrow after a tricky GWK 23 for many.

    Link here -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKxYKQ8pgJ7V8wwh4hLsSXQ/live

    Feel free to leave your questions here.

    1. Fire Chief Moe
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What to do with Tammy. Move to Haller?, noticed he is on the Goals Imminent table which seems to come up trumps every week, or maybe DCL for Abraham, Everton got 3 nice fixtures and he seems on fire.

      1. George Agdgdgwngo
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        i dont think new & wat are nice fixtures. They are great defenses.

        1. Fire Chief Moe
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Newcastle look like a beating is round the corner if you trust the data.

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

      Dgw captain choice

      1. Fire Chief Moe
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Was going to go Mane but thought Salah looked more threatening yesterday, though Mane should have taken his big chance first time before Shaw got to it.

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

      Time to drop premium assets like Kevin De Bruyne and Vardy after this week? Especially for chasers.

    4. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Is Salah the best tc player this week?

      Is it worth going for a west ham player and if so which one?

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Noble/Snoddy yes IMO for Cantwell

    5. Stoic
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Martial output as Rashford is injured for maybe months ?

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

      Are you playing the TC chip this week and if so, who is it on?Salah, Mane or TAA?

      1. quayle99
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Not sure, but if I did it would be Trent

    7. ktk_interista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      1) Does Lateriser have a crystal ball? 🙂
      2) Who is the better captain option out of Mane and Salah? There is nothing concrete in the stats to favor either one over the other.

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

      Who is the key player and/or team that we are all overlooking as we concentrate our energies on the DGW? Is there an obvious transfer that we'd all be doing, for example, if it weren't for the double?

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

      Lateriser! Will tune in for that one.

      Q: When Aguero is at his best he's near essential. Should we be looking to bring him in after the DGW, despite City's tough fixtures?

      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You out of all people should not be asking this.

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

          I need to have more confidence in myself. I have the transfers mapped out, but I guess I needed affirmation.

    10. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The Gomez effect on the Liverpool defence, in his 8 starts this season he has 7 clean sheets and only 1 goal against.
      With Gomez in the team is a double Liverpool defence the way to go? Is it worth triple captain next week on TAA?
      Or does the return to fitness of Matip and Lovern make Liverpool clean sheets less likely.
      Would love some data and stats on Liverpool defence with and without Gomez in the starting line up.

      Also Leicester players, keep or ditch? possible blank if they beat Villa in the cup.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        If Klopp thinks so then Yes. Up to you to decide who he will keep fresh in CL after they win the league

    11. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Are people missing a trick not bringing in a West Ham player this week? I’m going with Mark Noble just in case they get awarded a pen.

      1. MrZ
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Noble of snoddy for me

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

          Sounds like a name from a toytown radio phone in

    12. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Liverpool questions obvious.
      Any West Ham DGWers?

      Main one - with Rashford how will Utd line-up? Greenwood only 2 starts this season (with Martial having missed that run of games).
      Or does Martial stay at 9 and the likes of Mata complete front 3?

    13. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      This one's for Lateriser:

      Should we be looking to sell the two most highly owned attackers Vardy & KDB before their tough run of fixtures mixed with some blanks?
      (Asking for those of us who are chasing)

    14. John Colby (Capt)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Q: Does GW 24 represent the best opportunity to play our Triple Captain Chip or are we overlooking other opportunities in other gameweeks that are stand-out options?

    15. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford replacements please.

      Is Haller worth a punt for the double?

      Which triple captain choice is the best?

      Is the best opportunity for the triple captain, or will there be better?

    16. theo_11
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Is this the right time to WC and bring 3 Liverpool players in my squad? I'm thinking of WC and get the following formation
      Guaita
      TAA-Soy-Lund
      KDB-Salah-Mane-Grealish
      Ayew-Ings-Vardy
      Bank: Button,Holgate,Cathcart,Hayden

    17. ♤TeddyBear♤
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Many of us have Aguero as our cash cow for bringing in Mane or Salah.

      With Aguero’s back to back double digit hauls would it be madness to then take him out ?

      Should he be kept and we should look elsewhere for Liverpool? I.E defensive double up.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I think Kun can outscore both Mane and Salah in the DGW.

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

        I sold Aguero yesterday (due a rest). Will buy him back when I sell one of Salah and Mane.

    18. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Traore and Cantwell to Noble and Snodgrass for -4?
      I think cantwell to Noble for sure.

    19. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Can you please discuss the legitimacy of West Ham options this week? Most FPL managers seem totally uninterested but surely with a DGW and Brighton at home to follow there could be some merit in bringing in an option or two, even for a hit.

      1. kamdaraji
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        no

    20. toontastic
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Last season Laporte was a surprise hero of multiple double gameweeks. Who will be the surprise hero this time?

    21. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      1) Is Gomez set to play both games this week?
      2) Vardy - patience or selling time?
      3) Best non-Liverpool player for this week, Son?

    22. Jakedmat01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Is a move from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 good with Traore, Fleck, Trossard, Cantwell a constant 5th playing midfielder

    23. The SK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Would you consider Randolph? GKs usually do well during DGW in the past.

    24. rojojojo
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      How do we decide between Salah and Mane for captaincy? Do we look at where opposition teams concede chances? If a team concedes chances on the left, it might be beneficial for Salah, but does it count every time Trent crosses the ball, in which case is is better for Mane? What other statistics are best to differentiate the 2? Or do we use Eye Test?

      Pros and Cons of triple captaining this week?

    25. Jakedmat01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Is this Vardy's last chance? as there is a possibility of him playing CHE, wol, MCI, blank GW (if LEI reach LC final)

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

      After DGW. If Vardy blanks one more, sell for Aguero/Auba?

    27. Liam_Mc96
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      TAA away this season has 7 goal involvements, joint 2nd with mane and 1 behind firmino, when you add to that 4 clean sheets is he the obvious choice for triple captain.

    28. Behemoth
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Dilemma

      Sarr, Alli and Aguero for Son, Martial and Firmino

      Or

      Sarr, Vardy for Firmino, Martial

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

    Any fellow Trent/Andy/Sadio triplers out there?

    Think I'll go with Trent for the triple captaincy

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

      I have toyed with Trent but, in reality, it'll be Salah for me

    2. quayle99
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe trent, undecided

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

    Morning all!

    Soyuncu & Traoré >>> Digne & Doucouré?

    McCarthy
    TAA - VvD - Soy
    Traoré - KdB - Salah (TC) - Madds
    Vardy - Ings - Jiménez
    [Button ~ Rico - Cantwell - Lund]
    2FT, 1.6 ITB

  4. Energetics
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA Soyuncu Doherty
    Salah (c) Mane KDB Grealish Cantwell
    Vardy Ings DCL

    Any changes needed? 0FT

    Doherty will become Baldock next week.

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

      Nothing for a hit. Ramsdale probably needs to go, maybe as a priority over the Doherty move if you have a half decent bench?

      1. Energetics
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ramsdale will be next possibly McCarthy freeing up funds for DCL to Jimi when fixtures change

      2. Energetics
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Bench is Button Cantwell Lundy Rico

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

          In that case, I'd personally do the Ramsdale move first and play Cantwell or Lund next week

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No
      Yes No No
      Yes Yes Yes Yes No
      No Yes Yes

      Cantwell to Noble?

      1. Energetics
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Don’t think it is worth a -4 especially as it creates a benching headache.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Why? Noble at 5.0 is as good as anyone at that price. Chances are you are selling Cantwell and his fixtures are horrible. Noble a player who can get a penalty and bonus. Maybe 10 points. Worth a punt IMO

  5. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    It seems, Ad Nauseum, everyone asking the same Pool questions. Which ones to have, which ones to C, which ones to TC.
    The question everyone should be asking is: How many tfr's does it cost to get your 3? Is it simple to move them out? Do you really want to pool mids or 2 backs going forward.
    Whoever we choose, we have a 50/50 chance of hitting the jackpot so go with your educated gut.
    Getting the easy cop out and having Firmino in my side stops the expected choice of ca[captaincy a little.
    More important is will a player you are NOT captaining, cover the transfers you use. Will I, when i move Firmino on, profit from the exercise.
    For example Rash to Firmino and Firmino to whoever and getting a Pool defensive double up (3 tfrs) cover the 12 point cost of the exercise? I doubt it.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I saved a transfer for this week specifically. I will keep the double midfield for 2 weeks and by then it will cost me nothing to remove it either. The fixtures are good enough to hold it for two games.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It is costing you indirectly. I always look at a ft as -4 and planning the ft usually falls flat.

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

      I settled on VvD as 3rd choice a couple of weeks back. The team structure it leaves me with (and the VvD pick itself) is the most likely to be something I want to keep going forward

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        My ML rival got VVD because it was all he could afford. He has 3 Pool defenders to set and forget. Could be a great accidental move.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Agreed but Firmino will have to give you a 10 point minimum just to pay for him.

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Anyone getting 3 Pool defenders has 31 points head start; less what you got from Pool players in other positions.

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

      I still have 2 ft to get 1 more pool.
      Probably Bobby for rash, his away stat is impressive & i think attacking players has higher ceiling in that matches.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed but Firmino will have to give you a 10 point minimum just to pay for him. Corrected

    4. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      and for those who went early on 3 still asking themselves why have i not gained more points?-) and why have i used two transfers on goalies only for Pope to get 12 points on my bench? i wish i had waited on my Pool moves so i had to be forced to play Pope.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        The only luck I had was getting Pope's unexpected points.
        Don't ask but I missed out on Jimmi, Traore, Aurier by what I though was the right decisions.

  6. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rash +rico>ings+roboo
    Rash+richa>ings+mane
    Both for a hit

    Ramsdale
    Soy Lund TAA rico holgate
    mane KDB cantwell Grealish richa
    Vardy jimmy rash

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      mane

  7. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashfords injury is a nightmare. Just cant see a decent pick for the next few weeks.

    A. Jimenez (tbh I think after Liv, his fixtures aren’t that bad)
    B. DCL (dont think New & Wat are great fixtures)
    C. Maupay (Bou & Whu are decent fixtures)

    Utiltaimtley i want Jimmy as he just so consistent. Just dont want him this GW.

    1. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I may bin Rash for Haller for 2 weeks, then flip to Ings.

    2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'd just get Jimenez, his fixtures look great to me after this week. Not worth spending extra transfers on, for example, Rashford -> DCL -> Jimenez.

      DCL had a run of fixtures starting with Burnley in GW19, and ending this week with Newcastle. I'm selling for Jim after this

  8. Cahill
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    if we forget mini leagues for a second, at what rank now would you consider 'chasing'?

    anything outside 50k? 100k?

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Outside 100k for now
      As long as you have all chips still available you'll climb quite a bit after using them

    2. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      My aim is always top 10k. Anything after that is a bonus. I'm currently 36 points outside that having dropped form 18k to 50k in 3 weeks. Still think its very achievable with 1 or 2 strong weeks. Even 100k right now is about 55 points off top 10k which would be doable

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I think AZ went up from 400k to 60k last five gameweeks last year, so to early now, but we are we not all chasing bar the one who actually leads?

  9. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    best replacment for Rashi?

    1. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Agueroooo

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

      Really difficult time to pick a striker, i think. Kun if money is no object but it's full of risk

      1. as33
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        0itb 🙂

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    going mane salah and taa.

    captaincy and whether or not I should use tc, thats another debate 🙂 what about you guys ? all sorted ?

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah (TC), Mane, TAA here.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        good luck

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

      TC Salah or Mane

    3. Mo Salah No Mane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Salah tc locked
      Taa and bobby

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

      Starting XI is sorted. Just have to decide on my transfer.

    5. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      tc salah looks like a popular option . form ? penalties ?

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

      Mo (TC), Trent and Virgil.

      Had planned Virgil > Robbo but yesterday has tempted me to punt on another Virgil goal, Trent assist

  11. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Looks like being Rashers -> Bobby F then.

  12. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Beat Kelly replacement?

    1) Williams
    2) Lascalles
    3) Ward (Palace)

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      2

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Any good reason gor your choice mate?

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

      I would hold Kelly.

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ward is back and since Kelly is not a RB specialist, then Ward would pretty quickly take his place back. What do you reckon?

        1. PepTalk
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Ward can play LB and given PVA and Schulpp are out and Riedewald is a stop gap measure, I think Ward will go LB and Kelly will keep the RB slot for the time being.

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

      Lascelles if you can rotate him with either Stephens (SOT) or a Sheff Utd defender.

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        How tight are Newcastle though? Expect they will get CS's going forward?

    4. AiAiCaptain
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What about Cathcart?
      Considering Kelly to him myself.

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

    What did Ralph say about Ings last week? DifferentialC was very down about his chances of starting both 23 and 24.

    Mad to start Greenwood ahead of him? Both could cameo of course but Selhurst Park has been a goal desert for ages now - feels like a limited downside

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

      May get some early team news before tomorrow's deadline re. Ings.

  14. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford and KDB to DCL and Mane(TC) -4 and then got 12m to replace Vardy for Aguero or Aubameyang, got try something sat at 230k

  15. El_Gigante
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Guaita | Button
    TAA | Soy | Lund | Mings | Kelly
    Salah | KDB | Richarlison | Graelish | Traore
    Vardy | Ings | Greenwood

    2.7itb

    Only way to get in Mane for Rich (and not lose any of the key players), would be to also do Guaita > McCarthy and Traore > Ings for a -8.

    Worth it?

    Alternative would be to do KDB > Mane or Mings > Robbo for free.

  16. olidooley
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi guys...Rashford causing me a big headache because I already have 3 Pool....1 FT 0.2itb

    Gazzaniga
    Robertson TAA Söyüncü
    Salah(TC) KDB Maddison Grealish
    Vardy Rashford** Ings

    McGovern Kelly Lundstram Dendoncker

    1) Rashford TO Haller punt
    2) Rashford/Maddison TO Martial/Maupay (-4)
    3) Multiple hits to get rid of Robbo and Rashford and get in Mané

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rash -> Jim for me, won't be worth much this week but it'll come good eventually

  17. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which triple LIV players are must have for DGwk & further???

    1. Lev Yashin
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      VvD, TAA, Gomez, Mané, Salah, Fimino, Milner.

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Mane, Salah and TAA. Robbo is very close in there and VVD maybe a nice bandwagon going forward. Thinking of going VVD over Mane personally.

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

      Robbo, TAA and Salah I think is the best balance

      1. FPL ElasticO
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Anyone looking to use triple captain chip on LIV assets....

  18. krumcake
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So, I'm one of the clever people who sold Jimenez and kept Rashford last GW. I only have 1 FT. What should I do now?

    Henderson
    Soyuncu Gomez TAA
    De Bruyne Maddison Salah Sarr
    Rashford Vardy Ings

    Cantwell Lundstram Rico

    1) Rashford + Gomez to Firmino + defender up to 4.9 (-4)
    2) Rashford to cheapish forward (I don't like any of them)
    3) Delete team

    I can't get Mane without taking -8, since I have 3 Liverpool players already.

    1. FPL ElasticO
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Rashford & Maddison >>> 4.5 - 5.0 & Mane

      1. krumcake
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        That would be for a -8. Seems very risky imo.

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

      Rash to DCL. If you have 3 pool now just stick imo. Then monitor and use the money wisely

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

      3

  19. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Need replacement for Maddison got frustrated with his form..... Who are the best replacements???

    1. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Sarr if he recovers

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      id keep maddison one more week

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

      Douc looking good

  20. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    best cheap forward ?

    a ayew
    b dcl
    c maupay
    d deeney

    thank you

    1. ice-cold aubameyang
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      dcl > deen > mau > ayew

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        thanks.

  21. Mo Salah No Mane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sarr out
    Pearson didn't say how long

  22. Who are all Lukakus
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    RMT please, 2FT 0.6m itb
    Ryan Button
    TAA Lund Soy Rico Kelly
    Salah Mane KDB Grealish Dendonker
    Vardy Abraham Ings

  23. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Do we expect Kiko to be back in starting XI. Should I do Kiko to Williams and start him over Kelly, or save a ft.

  24. Who are all Lukakus
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Salah triple captain this GW? Why not?

    1. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Same dilemma here. Likely to go with Firmino instead. His away form is much better.

  25. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mane or Robbo? Own salah and taa.

    1. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Depends how much messing about getting either does to your team. Hits required for both?

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes. Will have to lose one of kdb or kun to get in mane. Robbo is an easy upgrade on soy. But Manes EO is scary.

        1. Hect.OR 98th
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Robbo then. You'll never make ground matching the majority and I don't think Mane will make up for the transfer cost, lost value and points that KDB or Kun will get. Not in one week.

          1. SpaceCadet
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Cheers bud

  26. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What's the score with DGWs? We've got this one and GW37. Any others likely? Trying to decide whether to use TC this week or not. Will be using BB in GW37.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      GW34

      1. Hect.OR 98th
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        cheers.

  27. BigDaveSaves
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ryan
    Digne Williams TAA
    Salah Mane KDB Graelish
    Vardy DCL Ings

    Button Tanganga Dendoncker Lundstram

    Anything you'd change with this team?

    Thanks.

  28. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What was the biggest score with Varrdy (c)?

  29. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play one
    A Lundstram
    B Kelly
    C Rico

    1. Champ
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lundstram

  30. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford out:

    1) Firmino (obvious)
    2) Haller (punt)
    3) Jimenez (just because)

    1. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Who are your other forwards?

      1. Lev Yashin
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Vardy + Ings

    2. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Raul