Preamble
30 December 2025 253 comments
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Hello from the future.

It’s a long-awaited holiday in my world, one that began with a long day’s journey to tomorrow night. Cross the International Date Line and the phrase ‘at the time of writing’ is no longer a shared understanding but a cue to do quick maths in base-12.

Games are kicking off in the middle of the night here, only tomorrow, and anyway, at the time of writing, I’m roughly a working day ahead of FPL Towers.

Antipodean problems, you say, and I can hear the laughter from my Dead Zone compatriots already. Funny though, how thinking backwards around the clock lumbers my brain while the temporal challenge I’m used to, relative to FPL Towers, is a simple clockwise sum.

Let’s hope that’s a metaphor for the year to come: looking forward to the future, regardless of how difficult it might be to look back.

Plenty of us on here week on week, lamenting a hit that missed or a Bench Boost that wasn’t. It fits, then, that today’s kick-off unlocks our second set of chips. New inflection points to ponder as we cross that line on the calendar into a fresh new year, whenever that is, wherever you are in the world. A handful of second chances to rise or fall relative to the rest. Hours later, we’re into January and the winter transfer window opens, a fresh new crop of players decanted into the transfers screen.

And with all that comes the beginning of the end, Gameweek 19 commencing the back half of the season, warp speed towards Survival Sunday and an endless summer before it’s time to do it all again.

It’s getting late here, and before I hare off on some fresh new year Fantasy waffle, Zophar’s already reminded us not to take this Fantasy business too seriously. So, I’ll take a serious tack towards the personal and wish you and yours, from my shared desk space here at my far-flung family’s kitchen table, a very happy new year.


Introducing The Eye Test 2
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  1. Amartey Partey
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    West Ham XI: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Paqueta, Wilson, Bowen.
    Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Dunk, Van Hecke, Veltman, Kadioglu, Ayari, Milner, De Cuyper, Minteh, Gomez, Welbeck.

    Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Acheampong, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Estevao, Garnacho, Delap.
    Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Truffert, Senesi, Hill, Jimenez, Scott, Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo, Kluivert, Evanilson.

    Nottingham Forest XI: John Victor, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Jesus
    Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dibling, Rohl, McNeil, Barry

    Burnley starting line-up: Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Laurent, Esteve, Pires, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Edwards, Broja, Tchaouna
    Newcastle starting line-up: Pope, Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Wissa, Gordon

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      John Victor - Dubravka for the rest of season babyyy

    2. ZAMUNDA
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Cheers

    3. The Philosopher
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Have a feeling I should've started Dubravka instead of Verbruggen.

      1. Four Letter Wirtz
        • 10 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Nah, it's Verbruggen's turn for another 11-pointer!

        1. The Philosopher
          • 6 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Will take a Bowen blank in that case!

    4. OneTeamInBristol
      • 2 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Got Minteh coming in for Rice luckily

    5. F4L
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      chelsea bournemouth could be a really fun watch, tavernier playing deeper again bit more attacking, cucurella out. should be like 4-5+ goals in it

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        And Palmer back to his best with a hattie

  2. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Need a 3-3 madness in the West Ham - Brighton game with hatties from Bowen and Minteh

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Good luck.

    2. Mother Farke
      • 2 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      West Ham desperate for a win tonight = space.

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Same !

  3. Kaneyonero
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Look like I need to get rid of Sels, Dub to save me this gw? Lol

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      same

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Weeks to late

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 14 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Nah I want another 0.5 drop minimum before I consider selling

        1. chocolove
          • 15 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          Haha

  4. OneTeamInBristol
    • 2 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Who burnt my Rice?

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      he was left out and went bad

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Dan Burn

    3. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Cooked

      Overboilled

      But not fried

      Just needs to cool down a bit

  5. Nutmeg Ninja
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Already looking like a bad week for those taking hits...

  6. F4L
    • 11 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    i dont own this time but is the keane issue the same one that kept him out of the Bournemouth match?

  7. JabbaWookiee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    No Keane!!

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Roy? Robbie?

      1. JabbaWookiee
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Gene

  8. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    So far it looks like an ok week for FH

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      As long as Gab starts

  9. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    That Everton lineup is horrific

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Forest clean sheet on the card

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        John Victor ftw

  10. Capocannonieri
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Well, the data said the Woltemade would be a ok pick vs Burnley.

    He could still sub at 60 minutes and score a brace, but do we expect him to job share with a health Wissa?

    Or can they play together? Seems Wissa was good supporting Toney at Brentford. Plus, Wissa, Toney, and Mbuemo was very stout.

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Avoid all NUFC attack like a plague. If Elanga come back and it's a nightmare

    2. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      they can play together for flexibility but neither will be guaranteed starts

    3. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      brentford didnt have any good left wingers. newcastle have two

      both wissa and woltemade are terrible picks going forward. they;ll either not start or get taken off early which impacts their potential for hauls massively

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Two good LWs? They should try playing them sometimes

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 7 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          both gordon and barnes are good enough premier league wingers. theyre miles better than anything brentford had when wissa and toney were there, so we will hardly ever see wotlemade and wissa starting together

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            They’re both insanely inconsistent. Gordon’s got 5 NPGs in the last 50 league games or so, and Barnes is a properly streaky highlight reel player.

            1. Nightcrawler
              • 7 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              still good players especially compared to brentford players. if youre asking for consistently good numbers season in season out then youre heading into great pl wingers category. id say they are definitely top 10 in their position in the league which is good

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                You need to be a “great” winger to score more than 5 goals in 1.5 seasons, playing for a CL team?

    4. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Inject that 1-0 Burnley into my veins

  11. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Come on Gordon Palmer!

  12. Capocannonieri
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Well Damn for many FH teams...

    Pedro and Neto on the bench.

    Probably Palmer and Estevao for 60, then Neto and Pedro for 30.

    1. Punned It
      • 1 Year
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Plenty of time for five Palmer goals.

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        This. Trying to throw shade on Palmer starting lol

    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Need to play the FH before Christmas

      If it's a double helping next season too?

    3. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Delap?

    4. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      No one picked JP did they?

  13. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Dub come save me.

  14. One More Hit
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    I need Reece James to play, otherwise I think I've got whichever Leeds 3.8m defender substituting on for my FH.

    Thought FH19 was a good idea to avoid rotation problems others would experience! Have burned the first set of chips, got 4 points out of BB17 as well

    1. riot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      nonplaying cheapies are never worth it on a fh seen it happen a ton of times before they're drafted in

      1. One More Hit
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        I had Keane as my second sub, must have missed all the news that he was likely to miss out.

  15. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Lacey set to start and replace injured Mount

    https://x.com/i/status/2006072031490740472

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Remember the name

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        WC active

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        I knew you would be happy with that one

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          He’s quality

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Wtf. RIP Cunha owner

      1. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 14 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        ?

        1. chocolove
          • 15 Years
          8 months, 1 day ago

          More toothless attack

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            8 months, 1 day ago

            Lacey’s only 5 goal contributions behind Mount despite playing 46 fewer league games for us

            1. chocolove
              • 15 Years
              8 months, 1 day ago

              Doubt it. Nervy youngster

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                8 months, 1 day ago

                Doubt what? These are actual facts.

    3. Bavarian
      • 8 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      TC material

    4. F4L
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      is he RW/RM? are united just going back to usual set up today. cunha sesko lacey front 3

  16. Mr. O'Connell
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Sels and Keane. Let's go 0-0 Forest Everton!!!

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Lol. You're Sels diehard fan

    2. patrickhatrick
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      hate it when that happens

  17. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Used 2 FTs last week to bring in Keane and Rice and both miss out this GW ofcourse.. need Richards to feature this week or I will end up with 10 playing

    1. S.Kuqi
      • 13 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Prime fpl

  18. Sir Michael Taker
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    State of that Everton team. Deary me

  19. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Neto punt on FH already gone sideways, typical

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Garnacho is crap, no idea why they bother starting him

    2. patrickhatrick
      • 14 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      he’ll be on at 60, brace scored and 3bps… have faith!

      1. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        If he stays on the bench I get Thiago

  20. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Was planning on selling Thiago but think I will keep one more week for sure.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Why?

  21. Dean1980
    • 3 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Wow my De Cuyper punt starts !

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Why not?

  22. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Nathan Patterson wouldn't get a game for Elgin. CHO monster haul.

    1. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      0-0 best bet

  23. S.Kuqi
    • 13 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Mid week gw, already major line up drama and only two pages.

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Two articles tbf

  24. a wat di rass
    • 6 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Rice pictured with Arsenal team, I'm gonna be annoyed if he starts now I benched him

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      He was always turning up with the squad

      That was reported too.

      Expect him out and Gabriel to start along with Timber

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      oh ok maybe its just a knock then

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Good becuase I need him in gw20

    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      I took him out !

  25. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Rice arrives with the rest of the squad. But wearing different gear.

  26. fedolefan
    • 12 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Can someone tell me if it is okay to pull up my panties? Been down for 50 mins now.

    1. a wat di rass
      • 6 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      yes it's updated now, pants up and 4 new chips

      1. chocolove
        • 15 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Wowzah

      2. fedolefan
        • 12 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        Thank you!

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Party inside FPL tower. Hoold my beer

  27. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    UPDATED

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 9 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Nice!

  28. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Just got Keane in this week (for Burn) to fix a shambolic backline.

    Thaaat’s annoying!

  29. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    I free-hit this week and I’ve been given all the chips again but it says free-hit unavailable

    Is this the same for anyone else?

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Can’t free-hit in back to back weeks ?

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        8 months, 1 day ago

        This

    2. Il Capitano
      • 5 Years
      8 months, 1 day ago

      Can't Free Hit in back to back GWs

  30. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    8 months, 1 day ago

    Moyes on Keane and Alcaraz:

    "I'm not going to tell you what the injuries are, but obviously they're both missing the game, so we’re disappointed because it adds to quite a big number at the moment [of players we have out]."

    https://x.com/i/status/2006075794540617738