Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Captain Kane to the Rescue

Harry Kane dons his Fantasy cape to pull many teams from the Double Gameweek 37 wreckage, although it is another north London striker who’s been the true hero of the piece.

The sofa behind which Kane’s captainers hid to watch armband rival Gabriel Jesus blank at the weekend was in good use again on Wednesday night, particularly when the Spurs striker contrived to completely miss the ball when put through against Newcastle.

It took 50 long minutes for those many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to finally emerge and, at least vaguely, enjoy their man’s performance after he stroked home Son Heung-min’s pass.

It was a huge goal for Kane, Spurs (who secured their Champions League place) and the 19.4% of FPL owners who’d captained him.

A six-point haul on the night also added an air of respectability to the decision by the 190,000+ (49.3%) to play the Triple Captain chip on him.

Having found the net in three of his last four, the Spurs striker sits just three goals behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot, despite concerns about his overall form and fitness.

A considerably more relaxed Spurs should now go into Sunday’s home match with Leicester City in the mood to help him narrow the gap further still.

Kane has scored five times in his last two matches against the Foxes, meaning that he will surely battle it out with Salah for the armband again.

Defence takes the strain

Watching Kane might have been a painful business of late, but Spurs’ defenders have been a rather more consistent source of joy.

That was just as well, what with Christian Eriksen (19.9%) and Dele Alli (14%) producing precious little from midfield over the Gameweek 37 doubles, while Son’s 14.5% ownership fared only marginally better thanks to last night’s assist.

It was left to the backline to deliver the goods, with a third straight clean sheet particularly fruitful for Jan Vertonghen’s 9.9% fan club as the Belgian also took home maximum bonus to currently sit as the top scoring defender for Gameweek 37 with 15 points.

That total was somewhat massaged by Vertonghen’s substitution before West Brom’s late winner at the weekend; a match in which Ben Davies, at 22.2% by far the most-owned of the Spurs defence, played no part.

He returned in place of Danny Rose last night, while fellow full-back Kieran Trippier (5.4%) made his third straight start, but went off with a knee injury late on that makes him an early doubt for Sunday.

With Serge Aurier still troubled by a hamstring issue, Spurs’ defence might struggle to keep a third clean sheet in four Gameweeks against Leicester, particularly with little more than pride and Kane’s personal glory to play for now.

As for Newcastle, Rafa Benitez made just two changes from the side that lost to Watford on Saturday.

Javier Manquillo was replaced by DeAndre Yedlin and Matt Ritchie came in for Jacob Murphy.

A fourth straight defeat by a one-goal margin followed, with only goalkeeper Martin Dubravka coming out of the double with much credit.

His six saves at Wembley – allied with a penalty stop at Watford on Saturday – meant he ended Gameweek 37 on 15 points and is currently the top-scoring keeper.

City changes wreck plans of many

Rotation-loving Pep Guardiola was always going to deliver a sting in the tail to the Gameweek for any number of managers.

The champions followed up their weekend trophy party with an extended farewell to Yaya Toure against Brighton.

Unfortunately, some key assets weren’t on the guest list, most notably Raheem Sterling (28.3%).

The winger’s absence from the squad was one of eight changes made by Guardiola, and it was a devastating blow to the 264,000 who had handed him the Gameweek 37 armband, while the 69,000+ who Triple Captained Sterling ended up with just nine points for their troubles.

David Silva (12.4%) was another not even at the ground, and the 22% who own Kevin De Bruyne had to make do with 90 minutes of bench-warming.

The Fantasy impact of City’s 3-1 win over the Seagulls was on the decidedly low side as a result, with a hat-trick of assists for Leroy Sane (12.6%) a high point for the 62,439 managers who had made him City’s third most popular transfer-in for the Double.

That figure was still well below those for Gabriel Jesus (268,671) and Sterling (199,980), but the German is finishing the season with a flourish – he now has 15 assists, which is second only to De Bruyne and that man Sterling again.

City’s scorers on the night were Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho, none of whom are owned by much more than 4%, which merely served to show just how much Jesus’ second straight blank hurt the majority.

The 18.8%-owned striker was the most purchased player of the Gameweek, with 277,000+ captaining him and a further 75,000 playing their Triple Captain chip on a man who ended home matches with Huddersfield and Brighton with just four shots in total, none of which managed to find the target.

At the back, sweeping changes meant the night off for well-owned assets such as Nicolas Otamendi (26.1%), Kyle Walker (12.3%) and even goalkeeper Ederson (9.1%), but at least their owners didn’t miss out on clean sheet points.

The decision to bench Ederson was a particularly unexpected one as he had the chance to draw level with David De Gea in the race for the Golden Glove.

Brighton striker Leonardo Ulloa, assisted by Davy Propper, grabbed the visitors’ consolation.

The Leicester loanee was the only change made by manager Chris Hughton, who dropped Glenn Murray (5.9%) to the bench.

City’s final fixture involves a trip to Southampton that, mathematically at least, is one of only four matches still having anything major riding on it.

As a result, Guardiola might well revert to something rather closer to his first-choice XI.

While there are suggestions that Silva’s season is now done after he returned to Valencia, owners of both Sterling and De Bruyne will surely be expecting a return to the teamsheet at St Mary’s.

Points aplenty at the King Power

Amid the rush to bring in Double Gameweek stars from Man City, Spurs and Man United, one prolific striker was left in the transfer dust.

But the 43,958 who took a punt on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw their man emerge from the cloud with a Gameweek-high 23 points, scoring his ninth goal in 11 matches as the ten-man Gunners went down 3-1 at Leicester.

Three goals, an assist and four bonus points was a game-changing reward for his 11.9% ownership – the winter arrival has currently outscored the next best striker in FPL by a massive 12 points over the Double.

That forward happened to be on the pitch with him; Jamie Vardy breaking his three-match drought with a penalty awarded after a foul on Demarai Gray.

Owned by 23.1%, Leicester’s top scorer had been trying the patience of his managers during that barren run, but they retained their faith – he’d lost just over a thousand in net sales since Gameweek 34 – and it was rewarded.

Riyad Mahrez’s travails – he’d blanked for six straight matches – had prompted considerably more sales, with 105,000+ getting rid over the last two weeks.

The 8.8% who remained were treated to a first goal since Gameweek 30 when he finished off a late counter-attack, youngster Hamza Choudhury providing the assist.

The Foxes’ other goal was an Kelechi Iheanacho effort from Fousseni Diabate’s pass.

Leicester’s win might persuade some that their players aren’t quite on the beach just yet, although a final-day trip to Spurs won’t prompt much extra investment either way.

And they owed much of last night’s victory to Arsenal, who made it seven straight away defeats courtesy, in part, to the first-half dismissal of Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The ensuing reshuffle reintroduced Shkodran Mustafi to domestic action for the first time since Gameweek 35, his 4.4% ownership bagging one whole point as a result.

Rather more impact was felt by Arsene Wenger’s decision to leave Alexandre Lacazette (7.3%) out of the squad all together, with Hector Bellerin (10.1%) and Nacho Monreal (8.5%) also rested.

Aubameyang was left to fly the Fantasy flag virtually alone, and FPL managers have finally taken note – he’s the most signed player heading into Gameweek 38.

Alas for Arsenal, that will involve another away match, at Huddersfield.

On the plus side, the Terriers might be in an accommodating mood…

Bridge of sorrows, bridge of joy

Coach David Wagner and his Huddersfield bus parked up at Stamford Bridge and came away with the point they needed to secure their Premier League survival.

The irony was that they actually flew down to the fixture.

The 1-1 draw was not pretty – they allowed Chelsea 78% possession and 22 shots – but Laurent Depoitre’s goal, from an Aaron Mooy long ball, and an almost ridiculously heroic rearguard action proved to be enough…just.

Fantasy interest in the Terriers was understandably limited, seeing as they had to travel to both Chelsea and Man City in Double Gameweek 37.

But last night’s result does have interesting implications.

Huddersfield’s Gameweek 38 visit from Arsenal could well be a rather less attritional occasion now that the threat of relegation has dissolved, which promotes the stock of the Gunners attack.

And barring a final-day meltdown by Liverpool at home to Brighton, even a Chelsea win at Newcastle will not be enough to bring Champions League football back to the Bridge next season. The Merseysiders now need just a point to claim a top-four spot.

With an FA Cup final to play a week later, coach Antonio Conte might well shuffle his pack again, as he did last night.

Weekend goalscorer Olivier Giroud was replaced by Alvaro Morata, who missed one tricky chance in an otherwise underwhelming performance, while the side’s most popular attacker, Willian (13.6%), was handed his first start since Gameweek 34, but also failed to impress.

Huddersfield went into the match with just three goals from their last nine matches, and the same total from their previous six away days.

Chelsea’s inability to keep a third straight clean sheet was, therefore, both surprising and hurtful to the 21% backing Cesar Azpilicueta.

But a huge stroke of luck at least kept Marcos Alonso’s 15.9% ownership happy, a clearance hitting the wing-back in the face and ending up in the back of the net.

Two bonus points took the Spaniard to ten on the night and 15 for the Gameweek – joint top with Vertonghen among defenders.

The backline was much-changed from the weekend, with Willy Caballero replacing Thibaut Courtois in goal and Andreas Christensen, who had a potentially match-winning header brilliantly saved by Jonas Lossl, back in after a three-match absence.

The upshot of all last night’s action is a welter of dead rubbers clogging up Sunday’s schedule.

Only the Liverpool and Chelsea fixtures, together with Man City’s trip to Southampton and Swansea City’s home match against Stoke City, have any real relevance.

But even then it will take huge swings in goal difference, and a shock away win by the Seagulls, to change the make-up of the league table as it currently stands.

All of which is going to make our Gameweek 38 decisions decidedly difficult, with run-outs for previously under-employed squad members and any number of pre-beach parties likely to be the order of the day.

517 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Pogba masterclass needed tonight.

    1. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      MU Clean Sheet badly needed. DDG / Smalling owner 😉

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Same

      2. evilfish
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        MU clean sheet and Arnie goal required, please.

        1. The Left Duke #3
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          haha

      3. Fantastisk
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Smalling will be on bench.

        1. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          No.

          1. Fantastisk
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Yes

      4. aborg
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Same here dude. Only Man Utd can save me from my miserable gw and from my rival potentially overtaking me to win the ML

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Arnie blank & no United CS even though I own DDG.

      1. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        If united don't keep cs, arnie will most probably be involved

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Not really Lanzini & Mario both capable.

          Honestly think West Ham will struggle to score against United so much more chance of Smalling hurting me.

    3. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      the problem is he can have a masterclass and end up with no goals or assists

    4. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Im not sure what to hope for from the match, DDG, Valencia, Arny and Pogba in my team so I'm pretty open minded on this one.

  2. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    What to do with this lot? - just going for any OR increase I can get in the last week as I can't catch the leader in my cash ML

    A) Jesus > Auba (punt)
    B) Vardy > Firmino
    C) Vardy, Morgan > Firmino, Robbo / Tomkins (-4)
    D) Other

    1FT £1.2itb
    DDG
    Vert, Smalling, Mustafi
    Salah (C), Sterling, Eriksen, Son, Mili
    Jesus, Vardy

    (Ryan) (J.Ayew, Lowton, Morgan)

    Cheers

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. bentekkers2299
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      B looks best..

      I am in a similar situation. Able to do Vardy to Firmino in 1 FT. But thinking of Son to Zaha and Vardy to Auba for a -4.

      Thoughts on that?

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I don’t think that’s worth it as Son v Zaha will be similar points wise and Firmino v Auba also

  3. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    A. Free transfer punt (0.0 ITB)
    B. Eriksen Vertonghen > Salah Trippier/Robertson (-4)
    C. Eriksen Lingard > Salah Gudmundsson/5.2 (-4)
    D. Something else? Cheers

    DDG
    Alonso Vertonghen Mawson
    Eriksen Sterling Arnautovic* Lingard
    Kane Jesus Barnes*

    (Ryan Milivojevic Lowton Chilwell*)

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Eriksen Jesus to Salah Firmino?

  4. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    My current attack for 38 is as follows

    Salah (c) Son Sane Gudmundsson (Willian)
    Kane (vc) Vardy Ayew

    Should I do

    Willian --> Zaha (-4) and bench someone? If yes, who to bench?

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Vardy to Firmino for free?

      1. The Left Duke #3
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        No can't do a straight swap unfortuately. My FT is KDB to Salah. Thinking either Willian --> Zaha or Vardy --> Giroud for a hit

  5. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Would anyone do this -4 ?

    Kane > Aubamayang
    Willian > Salah

    Gives me this 343:

    DDG
    Vertonghen Smalling Tarkowski
    KDB Sterling Son Salah
    Aubamayang Jesus Ayew

    Ryan Lowton Morgan Cook

    1. mgrea
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Keep Kane.

      Maybe look at Zaha if you are chasing.

      KDB to Salah if leading

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Could go

        Ayew > Aubamayang
        KDB > £6.4M Midfielder

  6. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I feel like this article massively overstates the measly 6 extra points that TCing got us last night

    1. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Agree. Oxymoron to say, “a six point haul.” It’s all relative though. 6 vs 2 vs 0 for the top 3 tc choices.

  7. MTPockets
      5 years, 10 months ago

      "promotes the stock of the Gunners attack". Does it though, even at Huddersfield?

      Lacazette: Home 11G/2A, Away 3G/2A
      Auba: Home 7G/3A, Away 2G/1A

    • Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      DDG
      Verto • Masuaku • Tarko
      Salah • Sterling • Son • Willian • Mili
      Kane • Jesus

      (Ryan / Barnes! / Dunk / Morgan)
      1 ft & 0.1m itb

      Willian ➡️ Arnie the most sensible transfer?

      Appreciate your thoughts! 🙂

    • Hands Guber
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I know everyone is bored to tears on the bonus points discussion but I had one thought on Kane this morning: a striker that scores and then does nothing else for the rest of the game bar making passes in the final 3rd say gets BP's where he has the winning goal (most likely let's say). An ambitious striker who tries everything to score more which will include misses and offsides which will detract from his OPTA stats will be way less likely to get bonus. So, in theory, in a way, the stats penalise the ambitious players and in that way the odds of them getting bonus get longer.

      Does that make sense?

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Agreed. The flair players get punished for trying to do well. The safety pass darlings get rewarded.

        1. nobwak
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Anyone can be ambitious, anyone can "try to do well". I can do that.
          Actually pulling it off should be what you get points for, not trying it.

      2. nobwak
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        So what you're saying is that a player that scores gets more bonus than a player that... doesn't score?

      3. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Yes. Totally agree.

    • This season's most disappointing players
      J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Fantasy Football Scout daily hot topic

      Which player has been the biggest let down this season for you?

      Has it been one of the magnificant 7m priced players, who promised so much in pre season but found themselves either out of form, or out of the first XI?

      Or a premium striker who failed to deliver often enough?

      What about the overpriced midfielders like Hazard and Sanchez?

      And which of this season's disappointments deserve a price drop? What price should they be?

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Harry Kane. Let me down when I needed him most.

        1. Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yup, and more than once.

          Alli, Hazard, Maguire (eventhough his team as a whole should be taking the blame) and now Jesus all deserve a mention too...

      2. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Morata, should go to 9.0 next season, if still at chelsea,ofc

        1. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Still too much 🙂

      3. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Alonso only scored when I didn’t have

      4. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Strangely Kane has been my Biggest disapointment this season. That's crazy because he has 29 goals but I kept too much faith in him. After captaining him through the back to back hatricks I went to 15k overall but I kept the armband on him in january and february while Salah was on fire. I now have dropped to 103k because of this and other bad Moves involving ludacrous hits.

      5. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Alonso. Broke my team to fit him in and he was absolutely useless.

        Of course he scored yesterday after I binned him.

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah, Alonso too. I always own him at the wrong time.

        2. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Not only did he score, but it was a complete fluke. Didn't know what was happening. Typical FPL

      6. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Mahrez. He's been terrible for me.

        Hazard/Sanchez/De Bruyne all need price cuts

        I also think central defenders should have lower prices, the likes of Cahill/Bailly/Koscielny should be lower next season

        Andre Ayew was well overpriced

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Sanchez should be 8.5 next season while Hazard should be at 9.5. De Bruyne is a solid 9.5.
          Morata needs a price drop to 8.5.

      7. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane yes - blanked at so many crucial times in great fixtures. Lukaku for me needs a mention - 90 minutes every week in a Man Utd team with plenty of supply. Should have been a captain option a majority of weeks - never was.

        The other thing that springs to mind is the wing back excitement of early weeks dropped off. A case in point is Kolasinac, but Davies, Rose, Trippier and Mendy all could and should have been gold.

      8. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Christensen

      9. JurgenRodgers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Alonso for me , missed his xmas hauls, took hits to get him in..
        Done nothing
        Finally sold pre 37
        15 Points

      10. nobwak
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Haven't really owned them, but Arsenal defenders should be priced how Liverpool's were this season. So max 5.5, with a couple of 5.0's. Goalkeeper should be 5.0.

        Don't see how Chelsea defenders can justifiably cost more than Spurs, United, City or Liverpool defenders next season either.

        1. Fantastisk
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Bellerin and Monreal are both top ten defenders, in terms of points

          1. nobwak
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Is that how pricing works? If so I'd expect Mili, Gross and Mahrez to get prices that reflect their scores in the top 10/15 midfielders.

      11. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        So far we are agreed. The 2nd top scoring defender and the top scoring striker have been the fails of the season 🙂

      12. the Penman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Harry Kane. Owning him has been one let down after another; selling him has proved even more disappointing.

        I was also hoping for a lot more from DDG this season. I only brought him in on GW33 wildcard; turns out he noticed and decided to slack right off for the rest of the season.

      13. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Another name here - Hernandez (Chicharito).

        Proven poacher playing at a mid-table team (in theory) aiming for Europe with Lanzini and Arnie supplying. What happened!

        1. the Penman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I was so excited for him. Such a wasted opportunity.

      14. the Penman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        None of the 5.0m defence teams proved any use in the end. Swansea, Southampton, West Brom (#NyomWatch), Leicester.

      15. Mikeharbrw
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane, Kane, Kane & Kane

      16. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane, by far.

        A captaincy troll that blanks against rubbish sides like Swansea, Bournemouth, Palace, etc. when everyone captains him. Just 205 points while costing 13.1m is terrible. Also, this is having played 2984 minutes, whereas he finished with 224 points last season having played just 2523 minutes. His conversion rate this season is also a poor 15.5%, lower than the likes of Salah, Aguero, Firmino, Vardy, Lukaku, Sterling and more. He has been wasteful in front of goal.

        For his output, he shouldn't be more than 11.5m, so I expect a price drop. Lukaku should drop to 10.5m too, but unfortunately for him, it's mainly due to the team he's playing for.

        1. michudagawd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          This.

      17. Oven Glover
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Lingard & Walcott. Equally poor for me. Kept both way too long.

      18. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Lukaku and Pogba have been a bit of a let down, started the season so well but haven't really lived up to their potential

      19. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hands down, Hazard for me.

        Time and time again he never fails to let me down.

      20. theodosios
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane and Alonso

      21. Fantastisk
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Bailly

      22. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane, without a doubt. Had him in my team way too long, and my OR haven't suffered one bit after dropping him.

        Had a look at my GW scores of this season yesterday, and the choices I would have made, had I gone without Kane completely. The point difference (and OR) would have been massive, as everyone I was priced out of getting at the various stages of the season, delivered.

        Next season I'm going without Kane - at least at the start of the season. Will look at spreading the cash more evenly throughout the team.

      23. nobwak
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Seems to me that most people saying Kane are more disappointed in their own decisions, in terms of when to sell, buy and captain, than they are in Kane. No?

        1. SouthCoastSaint
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          He’s still scored when he’s been playing badly. Can’t score hat tricks every game. Caught saints on a very very bad day.

          Terrible vs Brighton. Scored
          Average vs newcastle. Scored

          Sign of a class player

        2. GREEN IS GOOD
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          No

          1. nobwak
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Most expensive forward, highest scoring forward. What more do you want?

            1. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              That's irrelevant. What's relevant is value for price.

        3. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          To get the best out of him, we should sell him before most weeks when he's the prime captaincy candidate then, like when he's facing Swansea, Bournemouth, Palace, etc.

          Yep, it sure is our fault.

          If he's that unreliable, he shouldn't be 13m.

          1. nobwak
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            What should he be priced?

            1. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Not more than 11.5. And that's me being generous because he can be very explosive on his day.

          2. nobwak
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            In fairness the pricing is surely based on last season, not the season ahead that hadn't even happened yet.

            1. Cok3y5murf
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              I agree, I don't blame his pricing this season. I'm saying his price should be reduced next season.

              1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                he’s only scored 20 points fewer this season than last season, and still has a game left. If you’re saying you don’t blame his pricing this season, then are you saying that those 20 points are “worth” an extra 1.5m?

                Ultimately all the heavy hitters are poor value in terms of points per million. It’s just the nature of the pricing structure.

                For what it’s worth I do agree he’s been a disappointment in terms of not turning up when expected this season. I do also agree he might get a slight reduction in price, but I still think he’ll be 12.5m.

                Yes this season a number of far cheaper players have outperformed him. But the point is he has consistently been one of, if not the top scorer in the game his whole career. That total consistency is why he’s priced so heavily. I’d put my house on him being the same next season, and see him as the clear fav for the golden boot.

                1. Cok3y5murf
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  19 points fewer having played 461 minutes MORE than last season already. Points per minutes is down.

                  Also, he's just been a captaincy troll. We've all had more captain fails from him than any other player. At that price, if you can't rely on him for captaincy, there is no value. When Aguero used to be 13+, he still used to usually deliver when we captained him, and not blank against rubbish sides repeatedly. Except last season where he proved to be bad value for which his price was rightfully reduced this season.

                  Kane started the season at 12.5, so if there's going to be a reduction, it has to be below 12.5.

      24. Buzzy
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Wilson my biggest let down.
        got him in as 3rd striker after consecutive 12pters against Arsenal and Chelsea for 8 consecutive 2 pt returns.
        got fooled into thinking he'd keep scoring in easier fixtures.

        Kane most frustrating to own, held through all his blanks, got rid on Kanexit 1 missing both hat tricks, got him back for Bournemouth game where he gets injured and hasn't looked the same player since.

        1. Buzzy
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          most deserving of a price drop Morata imo

      25. SouthCoastSaint
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Bailly (clearly uniteds best defender) and Wilson

      26. Regin
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Callum Wilson didn't do anything when I held him for about 8 Weeks. And of course Jesus TC this gw!

        1. Regin
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          And Alonso of course. does nothing when I own him.

      27. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        In following order:
        Sanchez
        Ozil
        Lukaku
        Hazard
        Morata
        Kościelny

      28. Dreams
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Phil Jones. He was so good in the beginning. Was an automatic choice. His injury record really upsets me.

      29. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Three players let me down hugely when I put my faith in them this season:
        1. Sanchez
        2. Alli
        3. Sane (although he has somewhat redeemed himself as my C this week!)

      30. The Hindu Monkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        A lot of names mentioned here are the right players at the wrong time. You cannot possibly consider the likes of Kane and Alonso as the “biggest let down of the season” when they have as many points as they do. No player delivers all the time – even the great Salah has let holders down of late.

        There is no doubt that some with heavy price tags have been terrible. Sanchez and Morata being the two main examples when you consider how much they’ve both played.

        Kolasinac stands out for different reasons. Had so much potential to be a belter of a differential and then was just never picked.

        Both my two picks though will be high owned players for the same club. They might have been cheap. But they sat in my team for over 20 weeks EACH and returned not a single clean sheet or goal during that time.

        Step forward Charlie Daniels and Calum Wilson.

      31. Eden Wizard
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Likely nobody even considered him at all but Fabregas, had excellent value potential and stats last season.
        Flattered to deceive, much like the whole of Chelsea this year.

      32. Doctor Zeus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Me. I'm the biggest let down

      33. Awesom-o
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Sanchez - best player in FPL last season, never even considered him this time around.

        Lukaku - excellent last season, moves to Man Utd and he's now desperately average as an FPL asset

        Kane - Captaincy troll, his lack of assists have damaged him as an asset. For his price you expect consistent goals and assists, he just hasn't offered that.

        Pogba - plenty of promise mid-season, done very little again.

      34. XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Harry Kane.
        The reason being his lack of assists not lack of goals.
        2 assists all season is disgraceful from the furthest player up the pitch in a Spurs side.
        5 or 6 more assists would have eased some of those captaincy blanks, 5 points for your captain isn't a total disaster. Does he really not pass to anybody, what a self centred so and so.

        1. Eden Wizard
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Assists require someone other than Sissoko on the other end.....Vividly remember one last week and one in DGW 22 which spoiled Harry's assist.

          Suggest you dig in to his big chance creation.

          1. XabiAlonso
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            2 assists in 36 games is all the stats you need to know. Can't alli/eriksen/son score if he passes to those.
            I've watched him goal hang waiting for the ball to come to him in recent matches

            1. Eden Wizard
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Frankly, no they can't. Kane has scored similar to all three combined.

              Big chances created by comparison to those three would be brilliant stats.

      35. NestorC
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane and Sanchez, rival had neither so he wins it unfortunately

      36. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Also Tommy Carroll, had such potential to be a good enabler. Was a bad enabler.

        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hazard & Morata. There was a stretch over the winter where if I'd had Sterling and Firmino over the Chelsea pairing then I'd be looking a two digit rank. That said I feel lucky they've been my only major missteps this season. Foster, Richarlison and Adrian all hung around like bad smells for a while but you can carry those sorts of fringe players. It's much harder to carry 10m monstrosities.

      37. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Sanchez
        Hazard
        Morata
        Lukaku
        Jesus
        Mkhitaryan
        Rooney
        Siggy
        Mahrez

      38. McGrubbs
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Iheanacho and Hernandez/Chicharito, expected them to be strong mid budget forwards but they've disappointed.

      39. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Me, myself and I in the autumn. I made a lot of rookie mistakes. Reason for that is quite obvious also. Am I player. Yes, cause I play fpl 😉

        Kolasinac was performing quite well imo, but according to Wenger not defending well enough and was dropped. I blame Wenger, not Sead. Willian and Xhaka were said to be "steal cheap" or whatever is the term but disappointing. Alli was not as good as before.

      40. umerlfc
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Well Willian should be mentioned with all of his attractive stats leading up to nothing
        But throughout the season, every 3rd striker I got was a HUGE disappointment
        From Mounie to Joselu to Niasse to DCL to Wilson, a total let down all of them, and now I have Ayew who didn’t do anything in the DGW so the curse continues

      41. HNI
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Overpriced Overrated so called England darling Harry Edward Kane

      42. reddragons178
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Sanchez clearly surely. Compared to last season

      43. Euro Raiders
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Gary Cahill. Got sent off GW1 and my idea was for him to be a season keeper!
        Start up plan disrupted straight away. Early let down.

      44. Forget Special, I am the ON…
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hazard

      45. Pray for Mojo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        1 - Alonso

        I have had him in my team for 21 gameweeks and the return is 58 points

        In the 16 gws I haven’t had him he’s scored 107

        2 - Mahrez

        Brought him in the day before the City speculation and again in GW 32

        3 - Kane

        Had him for most of the season but was inspired by Jays first Kanexit rally and missed the hattricks

        1. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          That Alonso one.. really rough :/

      46. tisza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Not high priced but Ogbonna (having seen tonight's teams).
        Got him in for GW 22 double with decent form. West ham had a great run of home fixtures.
        Then plagued me for weeks. Didn't want to take a hit to get rid. Kept coming off bench even as 3rd sub with no returns.
        Finally shipped on GW 32 wc. Averaged 1.4ppg.

      47. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Alonso (only 42 points for my team from 14 starts at a cost of 7.1m, finishing with 8 points in 9 game-weeks from GW25 to GW33).
        Callum Wilson (16 points from 8 starts at a cost of 6.0m, never returned more than 2 points).
        Hegazi (2 points from 3 starts at a cost of 4.7m).

      48. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Luke Shaw.
        The team hardly ever concede a goal when he's on the pitch, but Mourinho hates him.
        Could have been a great prospect if given regular starts by a more reasonable manager.

      49. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Pogba...started so well...then meh

        Alli has been plop too

      50. Pirlø's Pen
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Harry. F'ing. Maguire.

      51. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        THIS SEASON'S MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYERS?

        Well I'm one of them, rubbish Overall Rank. 🙂

      52. darrellb
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        It's gotta be Sanchez. Not only did he underperform, but because of his price he could barely be used as a differential. I like Granville's old suggestion of players prices changing not just on transfers but also on ownership. Will prevent players like this from being absolutely useless.

      53. Jafalad
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        All of them. Feckers.

        Apart from Pope that is. The rest of them can feck off.

        The game has become a lottery.

      54. Az
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I've got quite a few!

        Alli. Just nowhere near as good as last year, such a shame he hasn't kicked on.
        Chicharito. Really thought he'd be a bargain at 7m at the start of the season and now can't even get into the team.
        De Bruyne. I know he's up there with the best, but FPL wise I expected more for 10.5 mil. Not captain material, playing very deep, and better options all around him at a lower price.
        Mane. Never really offered a decent alternative to Firmino alongside Salah, whereas Cout did.
        J. Rod. Had him in my GW1 team as thought he was the best budget forward. He was rubbish.
        Kolasanic. Absolute beast and looked fantastic as a WB shout - but never got the trust of Wenger.
        Richarlison. Beast at the start, hopeless since.
        Brighton defence. Thought we'd have more CS to be honest, always seemed to concede even when winning. Also, cannot believe the minimal amount of attacking returns for Dunk/Duffy - Duffy in particualr always looked a threat from corners.
        Morata. Good start, then dissapeared off the face of the earth.
        Lacazette. Billed as one of the best strikers around, only really threw his hat in the ring when we all free hitted a few weeks ago. Remember all those early subs?

        1. Adriano28
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Could start a channel or blog type called AZ RANTS...

      55. Darklord_bg
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        1. Alonso - biggest troll. Had him for 1/3 of the season, only got one of his hauls - vs. Tottenham. He's way too unpredictable, so you should either get, set and forget him or never get him at all.

        2. Phil Jones - I was really excited about owning him after he returned from his first injury around Christmas, but then he wasn't the same player anymore, capped off with his own goal (-2) and then dropped from the team unexpectedly.

        3. Morata - Got him in for Chelsea's looong nice list of fixtures before Christmas, kept faith with him through injury and suspension...you know how that turned out.

        4. KDB - Got him for GW1-3, saw he was playing too deep and got rid. The second I did that, he started producing double-digit hauls every week. Never got him back, since I never had the chance and there were better options available. Nevertheless, if I had kept the faith for one more week, he probably would have never left my team.

        5. Adrian - One clean sheet for 11 game weeks I owned him vs. weak opposition. Then dropped (perhaps expectedly). Dropped from my team as well.

        6. Willian - Got a couple of lousy assists from him besides owning him always when he was nailed an in form.

        7. Vardy - Got him early in the season, did nothing. The second I got rid of him, he scored (vs. Spurs no less) and has been on fire ever since.

        8. Mahrez - That last-minute goal from him last game week saved him from being the biggest disappointment of the season. Still managed to get into the top10 though.

      56. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Chelsea players in general. Got 3 in when they had the great fixture swing and they all found ways to hurt...

      57. melvinmbabazi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kane

      58. Jawosaurus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I think classing Kane as a disappointment is a bit harsh, especially with Sanchez costing similar. I think perhaps our expectations were too high – we’ll probably be hearing the same about Salah this time next season after ‘only’ scoring 20 goals.

        Looking back to my pre-season drafts, the 3 biggest disappointments in my mind are:

        Knockaert – didn’t really turn in to the budget gem we were expecting
        Siggy – didn’t really take to the move to Everton
        Klaassen – remember him? https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2017/06/20/scout-report-davy-klaassen/ Looked like he was going to be a goals & assists machine to rival Siggy given his record, but, like Siggy, it hasn’t really clicked for him at Everton

      59. hewittj1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        It has to be lukaku in my opinion. He was in so many draft teams at the start of the season and was considered a must have. He’s been consistently disappointing after a decent start

      60. Adriano28
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Siggurdson is Gylfi of this charge

    • camarozz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      My lead is slipping away after a pretty bad gw, TC Sterling etc. Down to 10 points with Smalling and Lingard to go. He has DDG and his bench boost or WC for nxt week

      So disappointing after i went ahead last few weeks from 80 behind. Think im toast now tho.

      1. Zinedine Kilbane
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Is your main rival a dead team or why has he not used 1 chips with week to go

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          This

      2. DJ1000
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        What is your team? I had a disastrous gw37 but ensured I have a very good team (on paper) for gw38. Both dbgws been awful whereas I have always done really well just after.

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Anyone considering Kane (C)? Think he looked sharper yesterday. Yeah, I know it's disease.

      1. MTPockets
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Doubt it. Will be too annoyed if he blanks & he's 3 goals behind Salah while latter has better game.

        • adey70
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Considering it. Tends to score a lot once he gets on a roll. And if he scores early, he might just go all out for the golden boot...

          1. Duffy Dunk
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Scoring 1 goal is not a roll.
            I don't trust him.

        • Pegboy
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I was there and I didn't think he looked sharp at all.

        • nobwak
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Salah has more to play for, both for his team and his personal record. Got to be Salah for me.

      2. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        KDB > Salah for free?

        Ignore Aubamayang.....

        1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yes and C Salah

      3. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Who should I get rid of for my final transfer?
        A. Alli
        B. Willian
        C. Sterling

        1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          B imo but hear Pep press conference for C

        2. Regin
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          C sterling will definitely play last game having been better rested.

      4. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hi, who is better for gw 38
        A. Vardy + Willian + 4 pts
        B. Firmino + Zaha
        Thanks.

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          B

        2. Assisting the assister
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          B definitely

      5. Raf
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Any must have differentials for this Gameweek? Got a 20 point gap to make up in ML.

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Zaha, Arnautovic, Kane(c), Firmino, Van Dijk

      6. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        A - Willian & Vardy > Salah & Ayew

        B - Lingard & Vardy > Salah & Ayew

        ....2 point lead in ML!!

        1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Monitor Lingard toni

          1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            * tonight

            1. Roy Rovers
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Yep...will do.

      7. RashFraud
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        What to do with this lot?

        DDG
        Vert Naughton Lowton
        Gross Salah sterling Arnie Pogba
        Kane Jesus (Barnes)

        1. Assisting the assister
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Any cash?

      8. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Zaha + Salah for Dilva and Eriksen? - 4 transfer.

        1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yes and C Salah imo

      9. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hi, which is better move for -4?
        A. Willian -> Zaha/Arnie
        B. Mustafi -> VVD
        C. No, neither
        Thanks.

        1. Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          B

      10. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Is an average of 16.6 points for your captain a mediocre or a pretty good Return?

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Looks good to me

      11. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Either forwards need a serious cull in prices or attacking wingers need to be reclassified as wingers, or something. Forwards are so annoyingly incompetitive right now - only 5 forwards have kept the pace this season with the midfield masses (excluding Aubameyang). Do you think something will be done?

      12. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Talk about dodging bullets right;

        BULLET ONE:
        So I finished work last Friday at 5pm, get home 5:30pm... get dinner on. So before the early 7pm deadline, I had planned to bring in Sterling for Mahrez, for a HIT, but got into a row with the missus, the next thing, I look at the time and it was 19:05... I was absolutely fuming that 'she' made me miss the deadline!!

        BULLET TWO:
        Earlier that day I must have been messing about with my TC chip at work, and had accidentally DE-ACTIVATED it from Jesus - I found out from Mini League rivals on whatsapp chat saying no TC activated thus cancelling it which means I now have it available for final GW!!

        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        I can't thank my missus enough for that argument

        1. Az
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          ha we both posted on the wrong article I see.

          Lucky lucky! who's the TC going on?

          1. Ten Season Wonder
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Double lucky Az! Went mad last night for Mahrez goal.

            Salah or Kane. I don't think I want to look firther than that as I'm 18 points behind ML leader for a few hundred quid prize.

      13. Az
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Morning all!

        It's been a pretty decent one so far and i'm up into OR 800. Now I just need to stay there!

        Big decision is who to sell for Salah... could do Sterling or Alli -> Salah for free. Or could take out Gross + Vardy/Jesus and have a reshuffle but would be for a -4.

        Hmmm...

        1. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Might as well go for the -4, higher ceiling.

          Who do you have tonight? I'm sadly one of the few that have slid down and let you past me this week!

          1. Az
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            🙂
            Arnie and DDG tonight! Would take a Arnie haul over a DDG clean sheet for sure.

        2. theodosios
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          The Saints are fighting for their lives, so imo Sterling > Salah

          1. nobwak
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            They're safe. Swansea are down. The goal swing required would be ridiculous.

        3. TLF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          The latter may be worth the hit, I can see Alli and Sterling punishing you if you sell

        4. Ten Season Wonder
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Nice one mate. Got your triple figure rank that you are talking about. 🙂

          I am taking a hit this weekend but still undecided on who.

        5. walkman666
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I’m in your hood with OR 892. I would need to go -4 for Salah, and would sell Pogba for him, and either Vardy, Son or Alonso to create the cash for the Salah move. Tricky.

        6. MTPockets
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Probably Alli or -4. Sterling rested and City going for 100pts. Alli somewhat binary although probably selling Son personally in a -4.

        7. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          If a player passes an easy chance straight to the keeper, do they get negative BAPs or positive BAPs?

        8. Gothenburgsaints
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          FPL Detox: Lessons from a former junky

          As the season comes to the end, let me share my personal FPL Detox experience. I started playing FPL 2014/15 as a friend invited me to join a mini-league. I had no idea of how the game worked or any ambition to well (260k rank). In 2015/16, I found FFS a while into the season as FFS got mentioned as cheating in our mini-league chat and started to read up in the mid of the season (2k rank). In 2016/17, I got more active, joining FFS tournaments etc and eventually ended up in email groups and other conversations with highly skilled FPL managers. I ended up 22 OR after a strong finish that season, but FPL started to take a lot of my time and attention. Constantly emailing about transfers, following games intensely on the phone during weekends (rarely watch games) and just putting a lot of energy into FPL.

          For different reasons, I decided to have a FPL detox this season (was originally set not to play at all), and here is what I learned during the season.

          1. Control how FPL enters your life: Emails, chats etc. are dangerous as FPL enters your life without you being able to control it. After I left all of my FPL groups, I can decide when to engage in FPL by for example reading on FFS.

          2. Limit your engagement: I left all but one of my mini-leagues (a mini-league with three uncommitted friends that I win with my eyes shut). The only thing remaining is OR and no way to be strategic in OR for most of the season (just maximize expected points).

          3. Force early decisions: As soon as you start contemplating complex decisions such as WC32 or WC33, FH35 or later etc., force a decision limiting your options. Same with FTs – make early transfers as it takes away the possibility to spend time contemplating decisions. For example, I pushed WC and made transfers in GW32 as soon as I realized that I was checking expected price changes too much to postpone the decision as much as possible. WC32 left me no choice but BB34, FH35, TC37.

          4. Accept that you will make worse decisions: During detox, you will make worse decisions as they will be less informed. FPL could still be fun, but your ambition level has to be lowered. I have made some stupid transfers for sure that would not have occurred if I had communicated with good FPL players crunching the numbers.

          OR is ok (1.5k) but more importantly I have managed to find a way to enjoy FPL while keeping my commitment at a reasonable level.

          1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            "OR is ok (1.5k)"

            What does that make mine 😆

            1. Gothenburgsaints
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Compared to what it could have been

              1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                With a history like yours, any tips for a fantasy n00b? Just watch the games?

                1. Gothenburgsaints
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  Almost never watch games. Cannot find the time with three small kids and a wife that hates football

                  1. Gothenburgsaints
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 10 months ago

                    Sorry iPhone cuts my messages when I insert smiles apparently. Advice was to avoid punts and rotation risk. FFS provides great insights but many on here tries to be too smart. Most punts are hits waiting to happen. Look at the player watchlist, remove rotation risks and then pick.

                    Learn how the game works etc as well

                    1. Sánchez
                      • 11 Years
                      5 years, 10 months ago

                      I had to delete my entire account in the Suarez season as it was getting a grip of me and ruining my weekends. Never been anywhere near your level but that point about rotatiom risks, although it should be obvious, is still one I need to improve on. Cost me my ML this season when I wildcarded in the dgw muppets like willian and cristensen.

                      1. Gothenburgsaints
                        • 7 Years
                        5 years, 10 months ago

                        Yes, FPL can do that is my experience as well. To be fair, I need to learn as well as I had Christiansen and Willian in WC32. Christiansen left for Long in GW34 (yes!) and Willian for Tadic in GW37 (not so great).

          2. MTPockets
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Been playing since 06/07 or earlier, but yes you took it way too seriously.
              Email/chat groups on any topic is not my thing. Just like stats, competition and watching football.

              1. Gothenburgsaints
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Yes I did and there is a crowd out there that does. Some good people that turned into friends outside of FPL talk. Just got too much for me personally so wanted to share some lessons if anyone else is thinking of detox

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 10 months ago

                    I find the game very frustrating at times but didn't realise the online group factor was such a thing. I don't do social media but perhaps your experience is mirrored in other communities using that approach. It would certainly be too much for me, but if you have friends from it now that's one good consequence.

                    1. Gothenburgsaints
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 10 months ago

                      I did not realize this either until I stumbled into it via some FFS people that opened up a whole new world of FPL. Fantastic advice and insights in these closed networks. Great people as well. Had I lived in UK (instead of Sweden) I would surely have met up with several of them in person.

                • 10 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Wow there's a name I didn't expect to see this season. Well done on making it work for you 🙂

                1. Gothenburgsaints
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  Thanks and good seing you again. It has worked great but I do miss the people and chats. When my life situation changes, I might come back. For now, this at least works

                2. 32chickens
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  Balders- what's happening?
                  All good here,grappling to get into CL in k+n div 1
                  Some comedian called diaby has just won and announced he is leaving his club
                  Where do they find these characters...
                  Trust all is well

                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 10 months ago

                    Tell me about it, he sent the presser to me too 😀

                    I'm all good yeah, grinding my way up from div 3 at the moment. I see you're in line for a champions league spot as it stands 🙂

                    I hope you're well & if you're ever in London give me a buzz for a drink or two!

            • @fpl_phenom
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Didn’t see the matches last night,

              Did Jesus or Kane look good? Considering removing one for Aubamayang...

              Also what to do with Willian ?

              1. Pegboy
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Kane is still sluggish. I wouldn't sell him though.

              2. boc610
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                he was really bad, even through in an air kick for good measure. spurs as a whole arent good at the mo

              3. Ten Season Wonder
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Jesus is a bigger troll than Trollkaku

              4. Assisting the assister
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Agree i'll probably do Trollesus>Auba

            • Kuzser
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Vardy and Alonso -> Kane and mawson for -8... great decision for gw37

            • Scotty B
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Eriksen > Mane
              Or
              Jesus > Firmino

              ??????????

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Not sure I'd be sure of getting rid of either of Erik or Jesus this week

                But if I had to choose I would prob go Erik > Mané, assuming you have Kane and he is trying to finish big

                1. Scotty B
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  Thanks and I do yes have Kane

            • DJ1000
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Dingo where are thou?

              Your best mate Stuart Broad has the highest fpl score this week!! Not only a great guy and a wonderful cricketer but a fantastic fpl player too!