Members

FPL team reveal: Benching dilemmas ahead of Gameweek 11

Pro Pundits 29

I’m currently in nosebleed territory with an overall rank of 21,857 after ten Gameweeks.

Historically, I’ve been a late developer in a season, however in my best season (817th place in 2017/18), I got off to a similarly good start. I’m hoping to kick on from this position and move into the top 10k.

I played my Wildcard back in Gameweek 8, where picks of Reece James (£5.8m) and Phil Foden (£8.2m) have carried me up 150,000 places. This shows how just a couple of well-timed differentials can really make your season. Don’t give up hope if you haven’t got off to the best start!

Above: My pre-Wildcard team (Gameweek 7)

My major decisions this week don’t actually revolve around transfers. I’m in an enviable position of not having many fires to put out in my side; instead, I have decisions to make about who to put in my starting XI and who to bench.

The last few weeks have seen me bench hauls from the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe (£5.6m) and Aaron Ramsdale (£4.7m) and this is one of the frustrations of having decent picks across my entire 15, rather than any ‘fodder’ options.

While it is annoying to bench players who return points, having options in my team should allow me to take my time with transfers and perhaps be able to save a free transfer when others are scrambling around. Having picked up Smith-Rowe at just £5.3m, I’m very happy to own him over the likes of Josh Brownhill (£4.4m) and I already reaped benefits when I got his nine points off my bench for the benched Bryan Mbeumo (£5.6m).

However, with three very good options currently on my bench, I sense that this week could test my current calmness for this approach.

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

647 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mount back in training so I reckon starts

  2. AD105
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Taking out Azpi - bring in Chilly or James? Very tough one

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chilly

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Tough but I'm leaning Chilwell at this moment!

    3. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I went James. He’s the sexy pick.

      Everyone is fixated in the past and perhaps overlooking that James could easily have become equally as ‘nailed’ as Chilly is.

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Probably overkill but here's my matrix: https://i.imgur.com/t7NZJQU.png

      Tl;dr - James on current season form
      Chilwell for longer-term form and less cameo risk

    5. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I was considering Chilly but changed to James after reading this
      https://twitter.com/BigManBakar/status/1456293582260916232

      Both good options though, really is a roll of the dice. It's the fixtures against teams weak on that side that swayed it for me

  3. oi no professionals
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Play 2 out of this lot:
    A. Raph
    B. Vardy
    C. Maupay
    D. Hwang
    E. Cancelo

    1. Oldie99
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No idea but do you really have all that money on the bench

      1. oi no professionals
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Ramsdale / (Foster)
        TAA, James, Chilwell ( Liv, Cancelo)
        Salah, ESR, Foden, Mbeumo, Raph
        Maupay, Vardy ( Hwang)

        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Bench Liv, Wang and Maupay

          1. oi no professionals
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            But Maupay is my differential against the worst def on the league

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Hwang and Cancelo

    3. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      AB easy.

      1. waldo666
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        This.

      2. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Agreed

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

        This

  4. Drogba Legend
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    2FT, 1.1 ITB, and sitting 30k OR. Help appreciated:

    Ramsdale
    Azpi - Rudiger - Cancelo - Livra
    Salah - Raph - Havertz - Saka
    Vardy - Antonio - Toney

    Foster - Dias - Livra - Brownhill

    A) Upgrade/drop Dias (TAA or drop him to someone else)?
    B) Dias + someone (Vardy, Kai, Saka, etc) out?
    C) Something else?

    Cheers

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      You know what to do... 1.5m OR here

      1. Drogba Legend
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I'm actually lost this week. Want to do something wise since there are a few different directions we can all go with premiums and their fixture swings soon.

        1. Drogba Legend
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 5 months ago

          Livra is also on my bench, not starting. 3-4-3

          1. Gunners in Haaland
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 5 months ago

            Best of luck mate

  5. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Evening everyone. Good to go?

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo Chilwell
    Salah(c) Mbeumo Gallagher ESR
    Kane Hwang Ronaldo

    Steele Livramento Jansson Sissoko

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Yep looks pretty good!

      1. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  6. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What would you do here?
    I have 2 FTs so might as well use 1…

    Mendy
    James(VC) TAA Cancelo Duffy
    Salah(C) Foden Raphinha
    Jesus Toney

    Foster; Antonio Livramento Brownhill

  7. Brunsvigeren
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Suggestions here, 1FT. 1.7 ITB, ranked 200k


    TAA - Rüdiger - Chilwell
    Salah - Raphina - Gray - Saka - Foden
    Vardy - Antonio

    Steer - Duffy - Semedo - Richardson

    Any ideas?

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Easy save tbh

      1. Brunsvigeren
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Hmm, borring eh
        ?

  8. Oldie99
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    2FT, transfer and bench headaches
    A. Dias to James, bench Livra, roll transfer
    B. Dias to James, Havertz to Son - bench Livra
    C. Havertz to Son, roll transfer

    Ramsdale
    Trent Azpi Cancelo Livra
    Salah Raph Havertz* ESR
    Toney Jimi

    Antonio Dias* Luiz

  9. tryf88
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who will score more over two next gw, Gallagher or ESR?

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      ESr

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      ESR

  10. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which 2 of these would you bench?

    A - Cancelo (mun)
    B - Duffy (NEW)
    C - Livramento (AVL)
    D - Foden (mun)
    E - Raphinha (LEI)
    F - Antonio (LIV)
    G - Jesus (mun)
    H - Toney (NOR)

    1. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      BC

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      BF

  11. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Captain:

    A - James
    B - Salah

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      I'm going B

  12. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Play one?

    1. Antonio
    2. Hwang

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

    3. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

  13. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ramsdale
    Cancelo TAA Livra James
    Salah Foden Mbuemo Raphina
    Vardy Antonio
    (Foster Hwang Walker Brownhill)

    2FT & 1.2ITB

    1) Walker > Chilwell
    2) Walker > Reguilon
    3) Brownhill & Vardy > Son & Broja
    4) Mbuemo & Vardy > Son & Toney

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

    2. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      1

  14. DrNinjamonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Should i WC? No clue what to do!

    1.4 ITB. 1 FT.

    Sanchez
    Rudiger / AAT / Semedo / Amartey / Tsimikas
    Raph / Salah / Sarr / Gray / Havertz
    Toney / Vardy / Antonio

    WC or is there an obvious transfer im missing?

    1. Definitely not sleeping
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Problem I’m having but no WC. Suggest getting rid of Gray Semedo and Amarty. Maybe a -4 hit.

  15. Definitely not sleeping
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Made my FT already. 3.5m ITB

    GTG?

    Sanchez
    Livra,Dunk,Chilly
    Salah,Foden,Gray,Raph,Mbuemo
    Ronaldo,Dennis

    Foster,ASM,Cancelo,Amarty

  16. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Christensen and Antonio to James and Toney -4?

  17. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    To have along Chilwell and Cancelo:
    1) Rudi
    2) James

    First on bench:
    A) Livra
    B) Duffy

    Thanks all!

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      2 B

  18. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    After that Kane ‘performance’ tonight I’m pulling the handbrake on GW12 Raph & Vardy > Kane & Mbuemo

    It’s looking like Vardy & Sissoko > Son & Broja and a switch to a nominal 3-5-2 instead.

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Second move looks better as things stand but still a while to go so you never know!

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Wise decision for mine.

    3. House Frey Wedding Planner
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I still want to see how they play against Everton before deciding on Son or Kane.

      I'm still leaning towards Kane as Conte has said he would have Kane stay in the box instead of drifting deep and its an easy move to Ronaldo after gw15

  19. Aye
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Who to bench?

    Livramento (AVL H)
    Dias (MUN A)
    Antonio (LIV H)

    1. Joey Barton and Friends
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Toss a coin. I’d bench Dias

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Dias

    3. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Dias as reckon city will concede

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Dias

  20. Joey Barton and Friends
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    2 FT. No fires to put out. Was all set on Antonio - Toney but Azpi to Chilwell (have James) seems smarter

  21. Jambot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Don’t really want to bench Livra. Who would you bench?

    Ramsdale
    Chillwell Trent Cancelo
    SalahC Havertz Raphina Foden
    Toney Vardy Broja

    Foster Livra Samedo Sissoko

    1. Joey Barton and Friends
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Broja. Is he actually fit?

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        He is. I wouldn’t have done my transfer (FodIn) if I knew he was

    2. MikeBravo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Havertz

  22. AD105
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Play 1:

    A) Antonio (Liv)
    B) Livra (Villa)
    C) Duffy (New)

    1. Bod
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      C

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

      Antonio

    3. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A as reckon have to play the forward

    4. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

    5. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

  23. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Bench 2 -

    Livramento / Cancelo / Hwang

    Currently playing Livra, but feel it's close.

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I’d probably bench Liv.
      I’m certainly playing Cancelo over him and Liv 1st bench

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I have all 3 and benching livra and hwang

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

      Play Cancelo

  24. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    The question is will James outscore either Rudiger or Cancelo enough for a -4?

  25. Brunsvigeren
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Suggestions here, 1FT. 1.7 ITB, ranked 200k


    TAA - Rüdiger - Chilwell
    Salah - Raphina - Gray - Saka - Foden
    Vardy - Antonio

    Steer - Duffy - Semedo - Richardson

    Any ideas?

    Im thinking of skipping Gray tbh

  26. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Need inspiration…
    I have 2 FTs so might as well use 1…

    Mendy
    James(VC) TAA Cancelo Duffy
    Salah(C) Foden Raphinha
    Jesus Toney

    Foster; Antonio Livramento Brownhill

  27. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    sanchez (foster)
    rudi christensen taa white (matip)
    raph salah beny (town sisoko)
    antonio jimi vardy

    which?

    a) town beny -4 to galagher zaha esr mbuemo tross
    b) beny matip -4 to mbeumo dufy/livra/dier/mitchel (gw12 town christensen -4 to son 4.4/4.5 def.)
    c) beny town -4 to son 4.5 mid

  28. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Correct lineup and bench order?

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo (vc)James
    (c)Salah Raph Mbuemo Gray
    Vardy Hwang Antonio

    Steele Liv White McArthur

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Would put White over Liv on your bench

  29. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which 2 of these would you bench?

    A - Cancelo (mun)
    B - Duffy (NEW)
    C - Livramento (AVL)
    D - Raphinha (LEI)
    E - Antonio (LIV)
    F - Jesus (mun)

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      BC

  30. boroie
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Need inspiration…

    I have 2 FTs so might as well use 1…

    Mendy
    James(VC) TAA Cancelo Duffy
    Salah(C) Foden Raphinha
    Jesus Toney

    Foster; Antonio Livramento Brownhill