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The Technical Area – Assessing Budget Defences

Though every Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season has its ebbs and flows, it would certainly feel that the tides are changing with greater frequency than ever this term.

Just a few short weeks ago, driven by a strong Christmas schedule and the outstanding form of premium defenders such as Marcos Alonso and Nicholas Otamendi, numerous Fantasy managers (myself included) found themselves stacking up at the back – hoarding high-priced defensive assets from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United while making financial sacrifices further up the pitch.

Yet on the back of one of the most disappointing defensive Gameweeks in recent memory – in which a suite of premium defenders either failed to provide returns or, in many cases, feature altogether – the notion of trimming funds from the backline is becoming increasingly popular.

Moreover, a glance at the upcoming fixture list demonstrates huge potential for a number of so-called “smaller” clubs to provide strong clean sheet prospects over the medium term.

With this fact in mind, this week’s Technical Area will be assessing the defensive capabilities of these sides based on their recent form and upcoming schedules.

We’ll also appraise a number of budget defensive options in an effort to identify those lower-priced players with the potential to match bigger-budget rivals during the season’s run-in.

782 Comments Post a Comment
  1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Bench one:
    A) Pope (SWA)
    B) Schmeichel (mci)

    Last week I played Schmeichel (SWA) and got 2 points and benched Pope (MCI) who got 5 points.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Play Pope. Easy

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I see your point, but there is no way you're playing Schmeichel over Pope this gw

      1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Just annoying AF when trying to apply logic to this game 🙂

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Buddy. Just play Pope. It's the only sensible thing to do

    3. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Leicester are not as resilient as Burnley + the game is at the Etihad rather than the King Power. Lei are likely to concede at least 2-3 goals. Pope for sure.

  2. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Am I good to save my FT this week?

    DDG
    Otamendi, Alonso, Fernandez
    Sanchez, Sterling, Salah, Lingard, Choupo
    Kane, Wilson

    Elliot, Niasse, Mee, Dunk

    0.1 itb

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yes G2G.

  3. Red Rock
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Best Kenny replacement for the same price?

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandez but he has BGW31 probably.

      1. Red Rock
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Which teams definitely play in 31?

    2. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandez

    3. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Martina

  4. James2201
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    What should I do with this team, or shall I bank the free transfer?

    Begovic
    Shaw Mee Bauer
    Sanchez (C) Sterling Salah Walcott Ibe
    Aguero Ayewe

    Subs - Elliot Maguire Sturridge Gomez

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Play Sturridge against Chelsea. Shaw may be a problem.

      1. James2201
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah I’m thinking Shaw might now start but if he doesn’t then one of my bench will come in. You think I should play Sturridge over Ayew?

        1. Red Dagger ✪
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Yes against his old club with something to prove. Could be a huge differential.

  5. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Pickford
    Alonso, Jones, Taylor
    Salah(C), Sterling, Mkhi, Walcott
    Kane, Firmino, Wilson

    Elliot*, Dunk, Kenny*, RLC**

    1FT, 0.9 IDB

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. Bank that transfer.

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Save or maybe to do RLC->Milivojevic?

        1. Red Dagger ✪
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah RLC to Mili is good. Also good to have 2 FT's next week as the blank should be more clear.

  6. Lombardo86
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    HELP!!!!!

    DDG. (Elliot)
    Otto Jones Rudiger (Mee) (Klavan)
    Salah Sterling Hazard Doucoure IBe
    Kane Firmino (DCL)

    Do I I save my FT for next week? 0.1 ITB. Any good advice on changes for this GW? Winning 2 Leagues and 2nd in another 46pts behind!

    1. AzzaroMax99
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I don't see anything urgent here. Save FT.

  7. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Which one?

    A) Play Simpson (mci)

    B) Masuaku > Fernandez (BUR) (play Fernandez)

    C) Save transfer for more info on GW31 blanks

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Aaand i've just noticed there's no difference between A and C 🙂

  8. Delima
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Hi guys,

    currently set on this team:

    Darlow
    Jones - Azpilicueta - Otamendi
    Sanchez - Sterling - Salah - Ibe - Choupo
    Kane(c) - Firmino

    Elliot - J. Ayew - Bauer - Duffy

    No FT, 0.4 ITB

    Ok for the weekend, or would you set up differently?

    Thanks!

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      gtg

  9. Tronity
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Bit of bench tidying is needed! Mbemba > Smalling a sensible move with a FT?

    Will use him alongside Mee, Otamendi, Mawson and Kenny. De Gea in goal

  10. LSP
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Play Milivojevic or Fernandez?

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Fernandez for me.

  11. Zlat-man
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    an odd request.
    can anyone give me the link to view the article 'The Scout Squad- gameweek 26' ?
    (not 27 or 25)

      1. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Google is broken, it's not there for week 26

        1. Jairzinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          I just kept clicking 'previous' on FFS until I got to gameweek 25.. Looks like there wasn't one for gameweek 26.

        2. Niemi
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Just realised it was the scout picks and not the scout squad. Sorry, shame on me then.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Don't think there was one.

    2. Zlat-man
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      exactly, seems there wasnt one in gw 26.
      thx to all

  12. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    pickford
    alonso - jones - mee
    salah (c) - sterling - walcott - lingard*
    kane - aguero - wilson

    elliot, ogbonna, daniels, stephens

    a) lingard >> shaqiri
    b) save transfer

    Tnks guys.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Would you do a) for a hit? If not, then save.

  13. Greenbackbøøg…
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    You guys think Son will start this week?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yep.

      Withdrawn midweek on the hour mark to start next game

      1. Greenbackbøøg…
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        cheers

  14. BigBarn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    On the preise that they both start (which they will):

    Niasse or Ramsey?

    1. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      *premise

      1. JackJack
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Ram for me

        1. BigBarn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers. RMT suggests Niasse and it's starting to eat away at me.

  15. agueroooooney
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Ward close to dropping on FPL Stats, will husband price be locked now the red flag is gone?

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Think it went to yellow first.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      No, he was yellow flagged last.

  16. JRO093
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Salah or Kun for captain?

    From next week, which SWA mid 4.7 or below would you get? Had been thinking Andy King cuz of price but maybe Clucas or Dyer?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I'm captaining Kun.

  17. Alexis Nonsense
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Bench Ibe or Milijovetic ?

    1. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mili

  18. SoccerBoi69
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Adrian - Foster
    Alonso - Jones - Dunk - Chilwell - Ogbonna
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Martial - Walcott
    Wilson - Kane - Firmino

    1FT 0.2ITB

    Wacha fikun? Roll the transfer? OR Ogbonna (about to fall... in price) > Fernandez (rise imminent). The 0.2m swing could be vital. May downgrade KDB/ Alonso to Mkhi/ VVD next GW to spread funds (Lloris, Mee etc)

    1. SoccerBoi69
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      *I'd be playing Adrian this week, so Fernandez would avoid a West Ham defensive double up... ugh.

  19. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Weeeeeve got Salah, do do do do dooooo

    1. Robben Mee Blind
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Oh Mané Mané

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        And Bobby Firmiiiiinooooo

  20. Romford Pele - Don't w…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Walcott in for who?:
    A) Gross
    B) Lingard

    1. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Surely B

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      A

  21. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Quick vote. Who to captain and your best reason why?

    Salah (sou)
    Kane (ARS)
    Kun (LEI)

    cheers

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Kun, I think he will score highest.

    2. Backup Dancer
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah, all have CL midweek but Salah doesn't have FA Cup at the weekend

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Yeh good point. Jay's vid?

    3. Red Rock
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Kane, he loves playing Arsenal

  22. jackluhg
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Best Son replacement?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah

    2. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Why are you replacing him?

      1. ljuta zena
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        this

    3. Ahtikullervo
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      De Bruyne

    4. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      I'm keeping my Son, best spud attacker.

  23. ljuta zena
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Blaaaaah

    Salah, Kun or Kane for captain? 🙁

    1. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      see above 😉

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      See my answer not far above.

    3. ljuta zena
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Salah is highlander, but he will blank once. Kane against Arsenal on wings after big win and new asignments and guess who is left against weak and rip team...

  24. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Play 1 of these ?

    a) mee - away to swansea

    b) ogbonna - home to watford

    c) daniels - away to hudds

    Tnks guys.

    1. ljuta zena
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      a

    2. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Mee.

  25. Tazah
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like palace going to switch to? 442 with sorloth playing wonder who'll be on the other wing

  26. Red Rock
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Is Alexander-Arnold not an option for Liverpool? Guaranteed GW31 and every time he plays he looks so good going forward, commentators always back him for future England squad

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      When he plays.

      1. Red Rock
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 month ago

        Does he only play when Gomez is out?

  27. Nigawan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    I'm planning to use my WC. what do you guys think ?? sorry if its messy and confusing.

    Team A: WC
    Speroni - DDG
    Francis - Dunk - Mariapa - Alonso - Naughton
    Mcarthur - Salah - Walcott - Ramsey - Sterling
    Kane - Firmino - Aubameyang

    Team B: WC
    Speroni - DDG
    Francis - Dunk - Mariapa - Alonso - Naughton
    Mcarthur - Salah - Miki - Sanchez - Sterling
    Kane - Ayew - Firmino

    Team C: Current team
    Speroni - DDG
    Otamandi - Dunk - Daniels - Alonso - Kabasele
    Mcarthur - Salah - Walcott - lingard - sterling
    Kane - Ayew - Aguero

    1. ljuta zena
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Speroni out from any

  28. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    1-0 Barca. Coutinho goal

    1. StoichkovFPL
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 month ago

      Yeaaaaaaaa

  29. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Aubameyang or Firmino for the remainder of the season? Price isn't an issue

  30. Tazah
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 month ago

    Suarez assist, coutinho goal.... And what a goal