Teams

Who are the most secure starters ahead of the FPL restart? Part three

We study both Manchester clubs, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Sheffield United as we continue our series of articles that looks at which Fantasy Premier League assets stand the best chance of frequent starts when the season resumes.

With up to five substitutions permitted and fixtures coming thick and fast in the run-in, rotation and in-game changes could be rife.

Looking back at which players have clocked up the most appearances and minutes so far in 2019/20 may be beneficial, then, for those targeting ‘nailed’ assets.

READ MORE: Who are the most secure starters, part one (Arsenal – Burnley)
READ MORE: Who are the most secure starters, part two (Chelsea – Liverpool)

We now turn our attention to the next five top-flight teams as we work down the list alphabetically.

Given that we’ve had a three-month break, there is always the danger that the head coaches in question will have performed U-turns on a number of players or reconsidered tactics.

Questions of motivation may also be valid for a number of teams, should there be nothing riding on their results over the coming month, so we may have to be braced for some managers using these end-of-season matches to experiment with personnel and shape.

All that being said, the below analysis should hopefully give us a rough guide as to which Fantasy assets are likeliest to rack up pitch-time in Gameweeks 30+ to 38+.

Manchester City

The million-dollar question: which Manchester City assets are the safest picks?

The top two players in the table above are probably the answer, although only the slippery City boss truly knows for sure.

Ederson‘s (£6.0m) only absences have been enforced by injury or illness, while groin and shoulder problems have accounted for two of Kevin De Bruyne‘s (£10.6m) three omissions from Pep Guardiola’s starting XI.

The Belgian’s only benching came in the Gameweek 5 defeat at Norwich City and De Bruyne started every match in the busy December period.

His minutes have more been managed during games, with ten of his 25 starts ending in substitutions, although more often than not his withdrawals have come when City are cruising and the premium midfielder has already plundered FPL points.

Raheem Sterling (£11.7m) had started all but one of his side’s opening 20 league games but tactical benchings at the start of 2020 and an injury in Gameweeks 26 and 27 have spoiled his record somewhat, with Leroy Sane‘s (£9.3m) imminent return only adding to the uncertainty out wide.

Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m) was the bedrock of the City defence last season, starting 34 of City’s 38 league games, but injuries have severely disrupted his involvement in 2019/20.

Guardiola was careful with the player upon his return earlier this calendar year, substituting him near the hour-mark in Gameweeks 26 and 27, and it remains to be seen just how match-ready he is ahead of Double Gameweek 30+. A fully fit Laporte would appear to be the likeliest starter at the back based on last season’s evidence but getting confirmation of his fitness status from the taciturn Guardiola is easier said than done.

Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) has been benched in seven of the 24 league games that he has been available for, meanwhile, although has started five of City’s last six games.

In truth, Gameweeks 30+ to 38+ look like even more of a lottery with City assets.

Firstly, the frequency of games sets alarm bells ringing, with ten league matches plus two possible cup ties to negotiate in the space of 40 days.

Then, there is the question of motivation.

City are comfortably second in the league, too far behind Liverpool to catch the champions-elect and too far ahead of the chasing pack to be concerned about losing a top-four place (should that count for anything, given City’s European ban).

Guardiola’s primary incentive will perhaps be to make sure his most trusted players are match-fit ahead of the FA Cup and Champions League restarts, with the latter coming at the beginning of August.

How he goes about that, though, is the big unknown.

Expect plenty of substitutions, more cameos off the bench and fewer zero-pointers in the run-in, as well as rotation between games.

The potential rewards on offer in the early Double Gameweek especially will be enough of a carrot for many of us to invest in City players but it would be a surprise if many of their outfielders were handed 180 minutes against Arsenal and Burnley.

Manchester United

David de Gea (£5.3m) and Harry Maguire (£5.3m) haven’t missed a minute of Premier League football this season, while Marcus Rashford (£8.8m) has also been an ever-present when injury hasn’t enforced his unavailability and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) has tasted bench duty just once.

Anthony Martial‘s (£8.0m) only absences from the starting XI have also been fitness-related (his one benching came off the back of a thigh injury) and he has started 19 of United’s last 20 league games, albeit having been substituted in over half of them.

It’s a remarkably settled picture at Old Trafford, with the improving Fred having started 22 games in a row in midfield and Victor Lindelof (£5.3m) having been preferred alongside Maguire for much of the season – although the return of Eric Bailly (£4.9m) from a long-term lay-off could jeopardise his place eventually.

Bruno Fernandes (£8.6m), of course, looks a shoo-in in the centre of the park.

Left-back and the right flank appear to be the most at-risk areas.

Brandon Williams (£4.2m) has proved to be an able deputy for Luke Shaw (£5.4m) when called upon, with the two players occasionially making the same team when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has switched to a wing-back system.

The versatile Daniel James (£5.8m) has been a regular starter on either flank this season but the rookie Welshman has arguably played more football than intended thanks to injuries elsewhere.

He appears to head the likes of Andreas Pereira (£4.8m) and Mason Greenwood (£4.3m) for a place on the right but Paul Pogba‘s (£8.3m) return could be interesting regarding United’s shape, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Solskjaer occasionally use a diamond formation – perhaps sacrificing James – in order to accommodate his excess of central midfielders.

Newcastle United

A change in formation from 5-4-1 to 4-2-3-1 in Gameweek 28 has altered the picture at St James Park somewhat, although the fit-again Martin Dubravka (£5.1m) is nailed between the posts regardless.

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) has been an ever-present when available, meanwhile, and Federico Fernandez (£4.6m) has started every league match from Gameweek 10 onwards.

Bruce does have four other fit centre-halves now at his disposal, which may be a slight worry, but Fernandez and Lascelles were in charge of the positions before coronavirus halted play.

Danny Rose (£5.3m) has started four matches in a row since his move from Spurs, while Javier Manquillo (£4.3m) has latterly been preferred at right-back when fit – although there is plenty of competition in that position.

Jonjo Shelvey (£4.9m) and Isaac Hayden (£4.5m) dropped into the double-pivot upon that recent move to the back four and are Steve Bruce’s most-used central midfielders this season (the former has spent time out injured), although the Longstaff brothers and Nabil Bentaleb (£4.9m) may see some game-time with the games coming thick and fast.

Be slightly wary of Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.4m), too, with Bruce perhaps likely to handle the Magpies’ most-talented player carefully given the frequency of games to come; the Frenchman’s hamstring snapped in Gameweek 16 after a run of starts in the side and Bruce acknowledged retrospectively that the winger had played too much football over a busy December.

Miguel Almiron (£5.8m) has started every game when fit but there is perhaps less certainty elsewhere, with Valentino Lazaro (£5.4m) and Matt Ritchie (£5.3m) both having good claims to the right-wing role.

Joelinton (£5.5m) has started more matches than not up top, meanwhile, but his goal shortage led to Dwight Gayle (£5.0m) being handed a rare run-out in Gameweek 29.

Andy Carroll (£5.4m) is now fit, too.

Norwich City

Teemu Pukki’s (£6.5m) talismanic status should ensure the Finn starts all of Norwich’s remaining games, at least while the Canaries still have a mathematical chance of survival.

Pukki hasn’t missed a single match when he has been fit and available for selection, which is also true of Tim Krul (£4.6m) and Max Aarons (£4.3m).

Sam Byram (£4.3m) held the upper hand at left-back until injury forced him off against Liverpool in Gameweek 26 and it’ll be interesting to see who Daniel Farke plumps for now that he has both Byram and Jamal Lewis (£4.4m) to choose from in that position.

There is uncertainty at centre-half, too, with Farke having a full complement of stoppers to select from for the first time this season.

Grant Hanley (£4.1m) had been in fine form before the mid-March suspension and would be harshly done by if dropped, although had seemingly been fourth in line behind Christoph Zimmermann (£4.4m), Ben Godfrey (£4.4m) and Timm Klose (£4.3m) when Norwich came up from the Championship.

All those players are now reportedly free of injury, with Klose – arguably Norwich’s best centre-half and their only natural left-sided option – available for the first time in 2019/20.

Alex Tettey (£4.5m) and Kenny McLean (£4.8m) had been the partnership in the midfield pivot in Gameweeks 23-29, with new signing Ondrej Duda (£4.7m) an ever-present in ‘the hole’ since his January move.

Todd Cantwell (£4.7m) has actually started every Norwich match this calendar year but is one of the most substituted out players in the Premier League this season and faced a spot of rotation in December when the games last piled up.

Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m) may well have to share pitch-time with Onel Hernandez (£5.3m) and Lukas Rupp (£4.5m), then, even if the first two appear favourites to start at present.

Sheffield United

The situation at Sheffield United is one of the most straight-forward in the division.

Eight of Chris Wilder’s regular starting XI have started every match when available for selection, with five of them boasting ever-present records.

The players in question are Dean Henderson (£5.3m), the three centre-halves, the two wing-backs, John Fleck (£5.0m) and Oliver Norwood (£4.9m) – which leaves three spots up for grabs.

John Lundstram (£4.9m) has held the right-sided central midfield position for much of 2019/20, starting in 22 of the first 23 Gameweeks; only an injury spoiled his ever-present record up until that point.

New signing Sander Berge (£4.8m) ousted the out-of-position FPL defender in Gameweek 24 but Lundstram returned to the starting XI just before coronavirus stopped play, producing a double-digit haul on his comeback.

Rotation has been commonplace up top, meanwhile, and it was particularly rife when Sheffield United last encountered a period of serious fixture congestion in December.

Not one of the Bladesmen’s strikers has more than 16 starts to their name this season, although Oli McBurnie (£5.7m) and Billy Sharp (£5.6m) had been the preferred pairing before the suspension of play, having racked up seven and five consecutive starts respectively.

Injury-enforced substitutions aside, Fleck, John Egan (£4.6m), Jack O’Connell (£4.7m) and the two wing-backs haven’t been replaced once in 2019/20 – so arguably look the likeliest candidates to last the full 90 minutes.

Wilder now having five substitutions up his sleeve, of course, could change all that.


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815 Comments Post a Comment
  1. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Good Tuesday morning all.

  2. Kalou
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Apologies if this has been asked 100 times.

    If I have been using the free transfers during lock down and I now use free hit, will my team go back to this current team the gw after?
    Thanks

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah should do, am working off that assumption

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yes

    3. Sahil.....
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It will be same as previous gw that is gw 29..as per free hit chip rule

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

      It will revert back to the team you’ve made with free transfers during lockdown (gameweek 38 team) you won’t keep any transfers from this unlimited transfer week as you lose transfers made in the same week as playing free hit

      1. Kalou
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks all

  3. offspinnersinahurry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I have free hit and bench boost chips left. With unlimited transfers now for week 30+ what do we think is the best strategy?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Depends if you have your second WC available

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      go with your gut. im in the same position as you. The first week will be waaaaaay to unpredictable thats a fact. im going with Auba, KDB, Henderson, Egan and Grealish for the DGW. Then will BB in 31, god knows from there, just going to wing it

    3. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I have the same chips as you. Because I had used my transfers up to week 38 I’m happy with what I have for the rest of the season so don’t. We’d the unlimited transfers. I’m going to free hit in 30 to load up on double week players then bench boost in 33 where the fixtures are good for almost all of my 15 players.

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        *need, not we’d.

  4. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No WC chip, thinking not to use the unlimited transfers and FH as planned for DGW. Will my team lose the 'slow WC' transfers I've made over the last couple of months after this game week?

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No your team revert to your slow WC team for GW31+

  5. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Jimenez and Salah or Sterling and Rashford ?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A for me

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      JS

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Jim and Salah

  6. Littlefish92
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What are people thinking of doing free hit or making transfers ?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Free hit for me, no second wildcard available

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        You think this is the best option for those without second WC? why's that?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I slow wildcarded already so have a decent squad which should make a decent BB in 31+. By FHing in 30+ means I can load up on 10 DGWers and TAA and not be lumbered with Villa player, excess SHU defenders and City attacker who will soon become rotation worries. Its a shame to lose out on the free transfers but I think it is the right move in my position.

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            That makes sense so. Is the FH in 30+ gonna revert to your GW29-30+ team, pre 30+ I mean, when GW31 deadline is over?

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I believe in GW31+ my squad will revert to the team that I ended up with in GW38 that I had slow wildcarded to.

              1. DAZZ
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yeah sounds good. How does your current team look then? Im currently lining up with this:

                Henderson Mccarthy
                TAA VVD AWB Lascelles Taylor
                Salah KDB Barnes Traore Cantwell
                Auba Rashford DCL

                1. Miguel Sanchez
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Re-post

                  Think I'll ignore the free transfers and go FH 30+ and BB31+... will only see me miss out on an extra couple of players over those who BB30+ with 12x DGWs

                  FH30+

                  Leno
                  TAA Stevens Baldock
                  Sterling KDB Pepe Grealish McGinn
                  Aguero Auba

                  BB31+
                  McCarthy Krul
                  TAA Doherty Alonso Maguire Fernandez
                  Salah KDB Bruno Richarlison Barnes
                  Jimenez Ings DCL

              2. GreennRed
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yeah, that's what I was thinking. The GW29 team plus transfers. Nice one. I made no changes after 29. Blessed that there's unlimited transfers in 30+. Will prob TC that GW and WC and FH later.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Waste of a freehit which could be useful later and no real need for it in GW30+. A BB or TC prob better that GW.

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Not really because it allows the opportunity to make have 8 or 9 double week players and you maybe only want to keep 2/3 of them. If you don’t free hit you are then left with a team that needs a lot of work for the rest of the season.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          True but you might be stuck for a FH later and can target the GWs ahead with unlimited transfers and a few hits if you've no WC. I'm probably pessimistic with possible lineup changes but lack of fitness, Euro games and other factors will impact starters.

      2. Pinturicchio10
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That's squad dependant though isn't it. And chip situation etc. Not really a one size fits all dgw.

          1. GreennRed
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Very true. Depends what chips you have left and what strategy you're considering.

      3. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Have WC, but am considering FH. If I use unlimited transfers I will lose team value, and will not be able to buy my slow WC team back which is what I'd like for GWs 31-33+,

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I know what you mean. I am considering the same.

    3. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How's this as a first draft with unlimited transfers then?

      Leno, Button
      TAA, O'Connell, Egan, Taylor, Kiki
      Mane, KDB, Bruno, Grealish, Hayden
      Auba, Rashford, Jimenez

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Have you already BBed?

    4. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Let’s hear some more chat for those of us who’ve already squandered all our chips

      Start 1 for the first GW - Saka or Jota?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Jota

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Saka

        1. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That’s cleared it up then

          1. Rasping Drive
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Hehe. Jota all day long if there had been no lockdown. But Jota tends to struggle at the start of the season which is putting me off him a little.

    5. southernpacific
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Is it possible to use the unlimited transfers to build a team. Then also free hit gw30?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nope

        1. southernpacific
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          So how are people using the WC and BB on gw30?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            They are but you just can’t Free Hit as well

          2. bitm2007
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            People are using unlimited transfers and BB in GW30, not WC

      2. Rhinos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        of course not. Fh chip isn't a free wildcard too

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          No and I can't see the sense of doing it but it is possible.

      3. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It is and I think your team will revert to the team you selected for 30+.

      4. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        no you will get your GW38 team back after GW30+.

    6. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Captain choice between De Bruyne and Aguero is gonna be interesting. Head says De Bruyne gut says Aguero. City hitting Arsenal / Burnley for 5 or 6 doesn't seem unreasonable so perhaps the decision isn't all that. Have both, captain one of them, hope for the best.

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

          I was actually thinking auba. Really worried about mins for city and 6 pr 6 hoals is the best case scenario youre lookibg at kind of like auba nicking a goal at city and a brace vs brightob

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

            6 or 5 goals*

          2. Pinturicchio10
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Its between Aguero and De Bruyne for me. I don't even want any Arsenal or Villa players but lobbing a few in there to cover any possible disaster.

          3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Head says De Bruyne, Gut says Kun, De Bruyne's gut says "MOAR SAUSAGE ROLLS"

            Trying to figure out the same conundrum

            KDB vs Kun vs Auba vs Sterling

            That's a lot of firepower to have in a single gameweek, let alone a double

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

              Are u going with with 3 city attackers?

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Very likely - probably free hitting as I already slowwildcarded

                Like the idea of those 4 big hitters & a SHU treble defence as a roll of the dice

                1. Miguel Sanchez
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  You reckon O’Connell or Basham outscore TAA in this GW? Got the SHU double up already

                  1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Doubting TAA is usually a first class ticket to Painsville in FPL

                    But yes, for a one week roll of the dice I'm probably up for it

                    No rush though, still another 7-8 days to mull things over, who knows what the world will look like this day next week the way things are going

                    Aliens or a giant meteorite collision course surely next on 2020's list of fun surprises for humanity

                2. Blue&White85
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  This is exactly what I’ve done.

            2. Pinturicchio10
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yep, loves a good sausage roll by the looks of it.

              • HamezMace
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I’m going with those four.

            3. CONNERS
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              With unlimited transfers, Aguero's ownership and captaincy rate will be huge.

              I think it's almost a requirement to captain him.

              1. Pinturicchio10
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Could say the same for De Bruyne.

                • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  I'd personaly still be a bit reluctant to captain Mr. Kun, rightly or wrongly

                  He’s certainly been becoming even more boom & bust as he gets older - making him a trickier FPL proposition:

                  This season for example the four (bou, BHA, avl, CPL) starts make up 62 of his 124 points (15.5 PPA in those four)

                  Whilst in his other 18 appearances - 12 starts/6 subs - he also got 62 points (5.2 PPA)

                  There just appears to be more & more games where he didn’t read the FPL script creeping in this year

                  It would have been hard to see the Kun of old getting just 10 FPL points from a full 270 minutes vs WOL, SOU, WHM for example

                  He still has to be a massive draw for the DGW though I agree - but captainers really need both Himself AND Pep to cooperate

            4. CONNERS
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Last piece of the DGW FH puzzle:

              A) TAA & Mahrez?
              B) Cheap Sub 5.0 def & Sterling?

              (Already have 3 x Sheff Def).

              Thanks

              1. Blue&White85
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                A

              2. CONNERS
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Cheers

            5. DAZZ
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Tempted to go with Laporte over one of my Liverpool defenders. Probably VVD

              1. GreennRed
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Don't expect many CS.

                1. The Overthinker
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  From Liverpool right ?

                  1. GreennRed
                    • 12 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Maybe not a good barometer but Bundesliga BCD games not having many CS. Man City defence isn't great anyways so not seeing Laporte's appeal over Van Dijk.

            6. SpaceCadet
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              With all chips intact except TC is this the best way to go?

              Gw 30 BB
              Gw 31 WC
              FH Any other gw depending on fixtures

              1. CONNERS
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                If you still have your WC, that looks like the best choice. It's what I would do in your situation.

                Not having a WC makes things more tricky in terms of navigating the DGW.

                1. SpaceCadet
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Cheers

              2. GreennRed
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Wouldn't WC so soon. After 3 or 4 games lineups can change, injuries, form, European games a priority. Leave playing fodder in your BB bench and an 11 for a few GWs.

                1. SpaceCadet
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Ideally wouldn’t like to wc so soon either. But would have to restrict the number of dgw players for Gw 30 then.

            7. Steirish
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Pope

              TAA Egan Boly

              KDB Salah Mane Fernandes

              DCL Rashford Jiminez

              Button / Lascelles / Hayden / Taylor

              0.0 in the bank and no chips left does this look ok for the rest of the season?

              1. Steve The Spud
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I’m in the same situation but I’m gambling on the first week whilst trying to maintain some balance for later on

                Guess your worry would be you’ve only got 2 dgw players there but you won’t be lumbered with likes of Laporte after the first week

              2. Blue&White85
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yes, very good team.

            8. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Ok made an alternative draft with 3 city attackers what do u guys think??

              BB (FOLLOWED BY WC)

              Leno Reina

              Triple SHU Def, Lacelles, Gomez

              Sterling KDB Saka Luiz Grealish

              Aguero Auba Jota

            9. rnrd
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              What do you think of this strategy?!

              - Use unlimited tranfers to set up for DGW30+ AND GW32+
              - then FH in 31+
              - Play your GW30 team in 32 (with one FT available)
              - WC in 33+ or 34+

              advantages: you can use your liverpool and city assets before the titles and the UCL race are wrapped up for them (presumably they'll be playing full strength until then) and then ditch them to jump on players playing for UCL qualification and / or relagation battle with a much better view of the battling team and key/fit players when wildcarding ?

              1. Jarnathan
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I think I'm going to follow something like this unless there is a very obvious gameweek in which fixtures suit a free hit much more. I think having 2 weeks to look at teams before using WC is also wise.

            10. RamaJama
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Weak links in BB team?

              Patricio, Leno

              TAA, Stevens, Egan, Targett, Lascelles

              Pepe, Kdb, Mahrez, Grealish, Fleck

              Aguero, Auba, Samatta

              Will probably WC GW 31, and also have FH left

              1. el polako
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I would swap Patricio for Reina and hope for save points maybe even cheeky CS at home.

              2. The Red Devil
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Samatta might start? I was gonna go with nketiah

                1. Phil's Stamps
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Samatta has to start, we don't have anyone else. Despite encouraging news from the friendlies, Nketiah is realistically still 3rd in the pecking order as Arsenal.

              3. The Red Devil
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Do check my team, similar strategy to yours, but a very different team

            11. SpagBol
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Thoughts on this bench boost team?

              I wanted to keep my 3 players who I have the most value tied up in; which are TAA, Doherty, Jiminez...

              Leno
              TAA Doherty Baldock
              KDB Mahrez Grealish McGinn
              Aguero Auba Jiminez

              Henderson | Saka Egan Targett

              0M in the bank...

              Cheers 🙂

            12. n14mul
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Morning all, hope your all well and full if excitement as we all know where we stand with FPL!

              With the dgw ahead I just wanted to ask if there are any Arsenal outfield players worth a look at apart from Auba?

              Pete, Ozil? Or neither?

            13. stepper1971
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I have a question, reading here I am seeing that people are saying if you use free hit your team will revert to your GW38 team which I get.

              I have just made multiple free transfers to build a DGW team (and saved) but I will have to get rid of 3 AVL etc so is it possible that if I make more transfers and FH my team will revert to what it was before I made these multiple transfers? I had used the slow wildcard over the hiatus to build a decent team and feel I now may have made a huge mistake.

              Any help greatfully appreciated.

              1. bitm2007
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yes your team will revert to what it was yesterday when the FPL site reopened, if you FH GW30+

              2. Rasping Drive
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yes, FH should cancel any transfers you made, I believe.

              3. stepper1971
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Thanks guys for replying

            14. Rinseboy
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              No WC so thought's on this FH team for 30?

              Leno
              Stevens Baldock TAA
              KDB Sterling Grealish Pepe Fleck
              Aguero Auba

              Then could BB in 31 with the below squad?

              Pope Leno
              Doherty Maguire TAA Fernandez Kiko
              Son KDB Salah Barnes Fernandes
              Jim Jota DCL

              1. Pinturicchio10
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  FH teams basically all look the same. No issues at all.

              2. fish&chips
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                A) Targett
                B) Boly
                C) another single GW defender 4.8m or less

                WIll wildcard in GW31

                1. Pinturicchio10
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    I'd go for Boly.

                2. Botman and Robben
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Think Walker will play both City games?

                  1. Pinturicchio10
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      Doubt it.

                  2. The Red Devil
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Unlimited transfers draft 1
                    Ederson Henderson
                    Egan Stephens TAA Lundstram mings
                    Mane Kdb Grealish saka traore

                    1. el polako
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      Going without strikers - brave.

                      1. The Red Devil
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        Lol, posted the full team below

                  3. anish10
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    What would you do with this team? FH or use unlimited transfers + BB?

                    Henderson McCarthy
                    Fernandez TAA Saiss Stevens Taylor
                    Fernandes KDB Sarr Salah Fleck
                    Firmino Jiminez Deeney

                    If I FH i'm still left with a decent team for the upcoming fixuteres, but if I BB + Unlimited transfers i'm left with a strong team for this week too.

                    1. anish10
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      no WC left btw

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

                    Morning all, probably been covered somewhere but best strategy to use with WC and FH left?

                    I am thinking

                    A) BB30+, WC31+, FH38+ or

                    B) FH30+, revert back to (good) current team from 31+, WC and BB before the next dgw when the FA cup semi's are rearranged

                    What (if at all) is the difference between these two approaches?

                  5. The Red Devil
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Unlimited transfers squad
                    Ederson Henderson
                    Egan Stephens TAA Lundstram mings
                    Mane kdb Grealish saka traore
                    Nketiah Aguero Aubameyang

                    0.0 ITB BB in 30+
                    Then WC in 31+
                    Suggestions?

                    1. lilmessipran
                      • 11 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      Will Nketiah even play?

                      1. The Red Devil
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        I have just 4.4 for a forward
                        Wasn't he playing when Lacazette was benched?

                      2. HamezMace
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        He started the last three Arsenal games before the lockdown.

                        Regardless, over two games he’s bound to get some minutes, given the 5 subs rule, at 4.4m I think he’s a good pick.

                        Samatta the other option.

                  6. zdrojo187
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    31 GW BB,Free Hit in 30

                    McCarthy Ramsdale
                    Wan Bissaka,Lascelles,Saiss,Taylor,Hanley
                    De Bruyne,Mane,Son,Traore,Barnes
                    Auba,Rashford,Jimenez
                    GTG???

                    1. HamezMace
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      I don’t understand what you’re asking?

                      Is this your team in 30, or 31?

                      1. zdrojo187
                        • 9 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        31 BB...My Free Hit Team in GW 30 will be different...
                        I dont have WC

                        1. HamezMace
                          • 9 Years
                          3 years, 9 months ago

                          You are aware that you can’t use your unlimited transfers to create this team, AND use FH in 30?

                          If you FH30, your GW31 team will revert to your pre-lockdown team.

                          1. zdrojo187
                            • 9 Years
                            3 years, 9 months ago

                            No,its gonna come to my unlimited transfer team...it is same like you start new season...

                            1. HamezMace
                              • 9 Years
                              3 years, 9 months ago

                              It’s not.

                              You can’t play FH in GW1 for this reason.

                  7. QUEN
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Morning all

                    Going to use BB then WC next week so need some advice

                    1. Who are city’s defenders going to be

                    2. Martinelli or nkeitah

                    1. HamezMace
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      1. No idea, Ederson the safest. Then it’s a minefield, but people seem to think Laporte the best option.

                      2. Tough call, but Nketiah started the last three Arsenal games before the lockdown so probably him.

                  8. MrCloppity
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    My current squad is this:
                    Leno, McCarthey
                    Aurier, Williams, Alonso, Lundstram, Alexander-Arnold
                    Saka, Salah, Traoré, Fernandes, Pérez
                    Ings, Jiménez, Aubameyang

                    Iv got Triple Captain, Free hit and a wild card left.

                    What would your strategy be?
                    Cheers

                    1. HamezMace
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      So you don’t have BB left?

                      If so,

                      Use unlimited transfers to get 11 DGWers and TC one of them this week.

                      Then wildcard to a team for the rest of the season the following week.

                      Save FH for an emergency.