Pro Pundits - Lateriser

‘Enjoy the ride, adapt and stop planning’ – FPL’s reigning India winner says to focus on the short-term

The Double Gameweeks are here.

But it hasn’t been a smooth ride. Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have had so many unexpected detours (a lot of off-roading) on the way, but battered, bruised and with a lot of dents, we’re finally here.

Just know that you are not the only ones facing these twists and turns. It won’t be the last time unexpected rescheduling happens either.

FPL managers all over the globe have been meandering their way through these unexpected times and you’ve just got to enjoy the ride and adapt. It’s the only option you have really.

So what do I intend to do differently? First off, stop planning. Be more short-sighted. Normally, when making moves, I look at the next five to six Gameweeks.

Instead, I am going to play for the points available and have a more short-term approach when planning my moves.

This means I’ll likely look at the next three Gameweeks when making my moves and no more than that.

Why? We could literally have unexpected cancellations and changes (Double Gameweeks) at any time. So planning mid-term doesn’t have much value in my opinion.

Secondly, and I have said this multiple times this season, I’m all for wanting to chase price rises, but honestly, I can’t say it enough, this is the season to delay your transfers as far as possible.

The fantasy landscape is changing daily and new bits of information are appearing on a daily basis, which might drastically affect your transfer strategy.

You might think that your transfers might not be affordable the next day, but when you look closer, there is always another way.

Has the recent Double Gameweek news for Aston Villa and Newcastle and the lack of a double for Leeds United and Southampton changed my plans?

FPL Transfer Traps Gameweek 6 1

I currently own only Patrick Bamford (£6.6m) from the two teams and before Blank Gameweek 18, I sold Jack Grealish (£7.7m) and Che Adams (£6.0m).

I had heard murmurs of the Leeds vs Southampton game being called off and I just don’t trust the fitness of Villa’s players and the lure of two premium Manchester big hitters was too much for me.

It was a gamble and it won’t be the last time I’ll need to roll the dice this season.

It just seems like a season of difficult decisions given the sheer number of consistent big hitters but it is what it is.

Just a small note on Aston Villa, the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown at the time of writing and we don’t necessarily know how the squad has been affected.

It is a very thin squad that is very reliant on 10 to 14 players and if the majority of the first team squad is affected, I don’t know how much I’d trust them.

Keeping this in mind, their players come into the don’t buy/ don’t sell category for me until we know more about them.

Auto Draft 1

Speaking of difficult decisions, one big decision that FPL managers will likely be making this season is whether to sell Son Heung-min (£9.8m) or Harry Kane (£11.1m) for a premium Double Gameweek asset in Gameweek 19.

The one thing I’ll say is if you’re doing it to get in a premium big hitter like Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) or Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) who are genuine captaincy options, then it makes sense to me.

If not, it becomes a very difficult decision (one that might not necessarily be the right one) given their fixture in Gameweek 19.

Then it comes down to gut and the kind of FPL manager you are.

If I was to hold one of Son or Kane, at the moment I’d lean towards holding Son primarily because of the price difference.

I see a lot of people selling their Arsenal and Leeds United assets for Double Gameweek players.

It is important to not have the blinkers on for the doubles because both of these teams in addition to Spurs have very good games in Gameweek 19 and it might not be the smartest thing to sell them just to buy additional minutes in the Double Gameweek.

You need to look at the next couple of Gameweeks while making these decisions and then make the call.

A few things I have noticed in the last few weeks is that players like Son, Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) and KDB have looked very tired in the last 30 minutes of games and I feel like in comparison, Liverpool and Chelsea both having some time off will play into their hands.

I’m personally expecting an upturn in performances for both of these teams in the coming weeks.

Having some time on the training ground with the full team without playing games can be underestimated and I think that will show.

It is worth noting Chelsea have all their players fit now including their full-backs and it’s easy to forget that when they, along with Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) were fit, Chelsea were creating chances for fun.

They have a decent looking Double Gameweek (both Leicester and Fulham are in the worst five teams for big chances conceded at home this season) and I quite like their fixtures in the mid-term as well.

There are some good picks in that team both in attack and in defence should you fancy it.

Some of you are wondering about whether you should Bench Boost or not.

In my opinion if you have players from the likes of Leeds who have a good Gameweek 19 fixture, I’d still use the chip and play the Bench Boost.

The case for you to Bench Boost is even stronger, especially if you have used your Free Hit chip in Gameweek 18.

I say that is the case because if you wildcard in Gameweek 25 for the Double Gameweek in 26, your bench spots will need to be likely focused on Blank Gameweek 29 and that is something to consider while you’re making your decision.

Otherwise, one of the prime advantages of having used the Bench Boost chip is so that it’s out of the way and you can focus funds on your starting 11 (plus two bench spots) rather than spreading them over 15 players.

It is very difficult to give an answer with regards to this conundrum because it is very team dependant but generally when it comes to using your chips, there will be many more mini Double Gameweeks in play the way the season is going, so there are going to be more opportunities than you think for chip deployment.

I intentionally decide to just talk a little bit of macro-philosophy with this article ahead of the Double Gameweek but all of you are aware of the numbers and the good picks so I thought it might be worthwhile to outline a few things that might not have caught your attention.

I’ve been making steady progress with my season after a terrible start.

Despite having games called off for my Manchester City and Spurs assets and despite not deploying my Free Hit chip in Gameweek 18, I’ve climbed from a 3.1 million Overall Rank (OR) in Gameweek 12 to a 1.54 million OR at present.

I was very happy to get a 300,000 sized green arrow in Gameweek 18 despite taking a hit, owning nine players and not deploying the Free Hit chip which tells you that quality matters over quantity.

If the odds are stacked against you in a particular Gameweek in terms of numbers of players, it still isn’t the end of the world because if you have the right players, you could still climb up the table.

Also, it is worth mentioning that Zophar & I had the pleasure of interviewing the creator of LiveFPL.net recently and it was a pleasure getting to chat with Ragabolly.

He’s a PHD in quantum physics and still claims to not be a genius.

He’s a very humble guy and it’s an interview worth watching if you haven’t already. You can see it here.

We also did our standard podcast of The FPL Wire where we talk about Double Gameweek 19 in depth which you will find below. Thanks for reading and good luck this Gameweek!

5,989 Comments Post a Comment
  1. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A.Foden & Dawson
    B. Soucek & stones

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B by far imo

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

      B

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    4. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B by far

    5. In Bale We Trust
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers I’ve been leaning towards B
        But have no city attack

    6. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    7. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  2. DagheMunegu
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Werner anyone ?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No.

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just put him in!

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        (I did)

    3. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Twice bitten, difficult to go back. Not sure he’s shown enough form yet

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      There is nothing good in the Wernhole

    5. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not even Lampard

  3. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lowton, Dallas, Son & Kane -> Dias, Cancelo, KDB & Antonio (-12)

    Too much? Which defender transfer would you lose if so?.

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Too much for mine, drop Cancelo and just run with Dias imo.

      1. Viper
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers for the reply

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As someone who has not owned Dallas all season, I'm overjoyed that so many are selling him. One less threat to my rank to worry about.

  4. JP\'s
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is the bigger must have Salah or Vardy for GW19 and beyond?

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Salah

      1. BeWater
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I have both. Vardy has a really decent run of games.

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

      Salah

    3. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Salah to be like everyone else.
      Vardy to be a bit different.

  5. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez/Nyland*
    Stones Cancelo Justin (Dallas Kilman)
    Son Fernandes Salah El Ghazi (Burke)
    Kane DCL* Bamford

    For a minus 4
    A DCL to Antonio
    B Burke to Soucek (Bench DCL)
    C Kilman to Coufal (bench DCL)

    1. Ajaxeeding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      a

  6. winchester
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Evening lads, got 1,6m itb and 1ft
    Any sensible moves here lads, not using any chips, cheeers. Any news on taylor btw?

    martinez
    robbo coufal dallas
    salah(c) soucek bruno son
    bamford kane adams
    (martin kwp taylor bissouma)

    A) taylor+kane -> cacelo/dias+vardy -4
    B) robbo+son -> cancelo/dias+kdb -4
    C) taylor -> cancelo/dias
    D) robbo+son+adams -> cancelo/dias+kdb+watkins

    Considering playing 4-4-2 (benching adams)

    1. Ajaxeeding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

      1. winchester
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        cheers lad, think manageable without kdb or vardy? also, which city defender?

    2. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Taylor touch and go. I’m not risking him (was going to be part of BB). I would go B but C seems like safe 12 points to me

  7. Ajaxeeding
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For the long term, would you do A or B:
    A) Dallas to Cancelo for -4
    B) Struijk to Stones for -4

    Current team with 1.6 ITB:
    McCarthy; Johnstone
    Dias; Justin; KWP; Dallas; Struijk
    Salah; Fernandes; Son; Grealish; Soucek
    Kane; Bamford; Antonio

  8. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one:

    a) Antonio (BUR, WBA)
    b) Chilwell (ful, lei)
    c) Bamford (BHA)

    Unlikely to BB as other players would be Areola, Adams & Mitchell

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      c

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

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

      C

    4. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

    5. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      shame but bam

  9. Holding Mee Bong
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone worried about the City v Villa game going ahead?

    Want to TC KDB.

  10. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is McCarthy to Martinez worth a hit?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I don't think it is.

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not for me

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

      No

    4. Coaly
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, great run coming up for Villa and awful one for Soton. McCarthy’s points have been very predictable against weak opposition so far ...

  11. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mccarthy
    Stones Holding Coufal
    Salah Bruno KDB(C) Maddy
    Antonio Bamford Kane

    Fraser Taylor Bissouma Mitchell

    Did Son to KDB; TAA to Stones; Wood to Antonio (-8) ?

    Should I do Mccarthy to Martinez/ De Gea for another hit or stop it right here?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd stop

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  12. dubtom
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Current team:
    Martinez
    Stones Cancelo Justin Coufal Targett
    Sterling Fernandes Salah Lookman
    Kane
    (bench: Button, Maupay, Raphinha, Brewster)

    0FT but I'm thinking Kane -> Vardy/Antonio like-for-like or Maupay -> Antonio which would also mean leaving Targett or Lookman on the bench.

    Thoughts??

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

    I've not seen any mention of sterling? Not a viable option?

    1. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Will outscore KDB, marky my words

    2. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      still on my naughty step

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sold him for Salah. Done with him! (... for now)

  14. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Help me go to sleep:

    Johnstone/ Mccarthy
    Stones / Coufal / Justin / Balbuena/ Dallas
    Son / Salah / Bruno / Raphina / Soucek
    Kane / Bamford / Adams

    A) KDB + Vardy ( for son and kane) === -4 points
    B) Cancelo (for balbuena)
    C) Cancelo + Vardy (for balbuena + Kane) === -4
    D) Cancelo + KDB + Antonio (for balbuena + Son + Kane) ==== -8
    E) Pieteres + KDB + Anronio (for balbuena + Raph + Kane) === -8

    1. MattysFantasyFooty
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C out the lot would want to keep one spurs asset imo

    2. Greyling
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      b

    4. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    5. umerlfc
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I really don't mind D if plan is to captain KDB

    6. dubtom
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      D or E

    7. Ajaxeeding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    8. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      so I got 2C, 2B, 2D, 1A, 1E... Thanks mates.. it's a tough decision, not sure if I'll play B too or not

      1. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        BB*

  15. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Punt on:

    A) Foden
    B) Maddison

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      a

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden.

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

      foden

    5. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    6. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

  16. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Final post. Please help - really stuck and need to do it before price rise...

    a) No chips with bench of Steer, KWP, DCL,Dallas

    b) Take -12 and use BB on Mendy/Martinez/Fabs, Stones, Watkins, Dallas with 3 DGWers

    1. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      a

    2. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I like the look of b

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

      Join me on B. Mendy or Martinez look good

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  17. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Play DDG or Martinez?

  18. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    JWP and Bamford to H Barnes and Antonio -4?

    Do it?

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You'll be wanting Bamford back soon enough. And Antonio's minutes not guaranteed after returning from injury.

  19. Coaly
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    a) Pulisic to Maddison/Grealish
    b) McCarthy to Martinez + a) -4
    c) Save FT

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      c

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      C

  20. Mr.K
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio or Lacazette?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio

    2. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ant

    3. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks guys! No love for Laca against Newcastle? I'll do it!

  21. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this -8?

    Kane + Adams + Kwp ---> Vardy + Antonio + Dias (-8)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      do it

  22. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sorry for long post. Which of the below transfers? Have no city which worries me. 0.3m ITB.

    Johnstone
    Justin - Robbo - Coufal - Balbuena
    Salah - Son - Bruno - Soucek
    Kane - Bamford

    McCarthy - Raphinha - Adams - Alioski

    A) Robbo + Balbuena + Raphinha > Dias + Stones + Foden -8.
    B) Robbo + Balbuena + Raphinia + Adams > Dias + Stones + Foden + Antonio -12 (Will BB).
    C) Robbo + Raphinha > Dias + Foden -4.
    D) Robbo + Balbuena > Stones + Dias -4.
    D) Robbo + Balbuena + Son > Stones + Dawson + KDB -8.

    1. Old Bull
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If you’re certain you want a city defender like everyone else on the planet, then C looks tasty. But of course it’s a punt with City

      1. Bobby_Baggio
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think i need at least one city player if not two. You dont fancy big gamble on B?

        1. Old Bull
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I’ve taken a -8 on Foden and Cresswell and am feeling extremely nervy about it in a fun way. The chances of being hit with City rotation obviously increases with your option. I’m also not as convinced the City defence will hold over both matches But, If you want a thrill and stuff the consequences, then hey do it.

  23. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Those with 3 Villa losing any?

  24. Hasselbaink Forever - Defoe…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mane > KDB worth a -4?

    1. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

  25. Nibbsy
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL to Wilson or Watkins?

  26. afs2239
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Zouma has a chance to get something
    or should i sell to a city def

    1. kip kop
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Keep

  27. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you expect that Cancelo will get a rest?

  28. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I used my FH

    Areola (Nyland)
    Cancelo, Stones, Justin (Ampadu, Mitchell)
    Salah, KDB (c), Bruno, Son, Soucek
    Vardy, Antonio (Davis)

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

    Are all these worth a hit? Would mean I BB but no KDB

    Adams to Antonio
    Lowton to Stones
    McCarthy to Martinez or Mendy

  30. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Play Bamford
    B) Adams -> Antonio for - 4, play Antonio and bench Bamford.

    1) Play Kane
    2) Kane -> Vardy for - 4?

    Thank you!