Digest

The FPL Digest: Sadio Mane, Brighton… and Cardiff’s budget assets

Our Gameweek 8 coverage ends with this regular look back at a player, team and discussion point that attracted our interest in the weekend’s matches.

Our featured player is not one who shone at the weekend: Sadio Mane didn’t manage a single shot on goal against Manchester City, but he and Liverpool are about to enjoy an appealing run of matches between now and December.

Brighton‘s medium-term fixtures are one of the best in the division and the Seagulls began this sequence of matches by recording their first clean sheet of the season in the 1-0 win over West Ham United.

We also ponder the unthinkable: are Cardiff City‘s budget assets worthy of a look for their own favourable run of fixtures in the coming months?

The Player – Sadio Mane

There has been plenty of discussion in recent weeks about Mohamed Salah (£12.8m), namely whether the Egyptian can possibly recapture his form of 2017/18 and whether he is worth the significant outlay.

Not so much has been made of Sadio Mane‘s (£9.9m) indifferent performances, however. The Senegalese midfielder hasn’t recorded a single attacking return since play resumed after the September international break, though admittedly three of the Reds’ fixtures in the last four Gameweeks were against Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City.

First things first: if you already own Mane, you very likely stick with him for the time being.

Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City and Fulham are three of Liverpool’s next four opponents in the league and this trio of clubs have conceded more goals than the other 17 Premier League sides.

For the non-owners who are toying with a move for a Liverpool asset or two ahead of this succession of matches between now and the November international break (and beyond), Mane’s game is worthy of scrutiny.

The former Southampton midfielder is not in terrible nick from an underlying stats point of view: Mane ranks fifth among FPL midfielders for shots on goal and penalty box touches, while only Salah has had more shots in the box among players in their classification. Mane is also proving to be more of a sustained goal threat than Roberto Firmino (£9.4m) based on a comparison of their key performance indicators (KPIs).

Even in the last four weeks, Mane’s output has remained fairly consistent, recording only one fewer shot than he did in Gameweeks 1-4 and indeed racking up more penalty box touches in spite of the trickier fixtures.

Where Mane has tailed off is in big chances, which is understandable given the calibre of Liverpool’s opposition: the Senegalese midfielder hasn’t had a single clear-cut opportunity in the last four Gameweeks.

Given that Fulham, Cardiff and Huddersfield have allowed 60 big chances between them this season, Mane can surely expect to see the whites of the goalkeepers’ eyes on a more frequent basis over the next month.

In truth, Mane’s lack of attacking returns in the last four Gameweeks have simply balanced out his over-performance in the first month of the campaign, in which he scored from four of his ten shots – an unsustainable goal conversion rate.

Mane has reached double figures for goals in each of his four previous seasons as a Premier League player and the underlying stats suggest he will do so again this campaign: he is currently matching or bettering several of his KPIs – penalty box touches, attempts on goal, shots on target and shots in the box – from last season. While his big chances and rate of minutes-per-shot are down, consideration has to be given to the fact three of Liverpool’s eight fixtures so far have been against their title rivals.

Salah is naturally outperforming Mane across the board for KPIs such as penalty box touches, shots and big chances, but then the Egyptian is also trumping all other midfielders for these statistics.

Increased competition from the likes of Daniel Sturridge (£5.8m) and Xherdan Shaqiri (£7.0m) is certainly a worry, of course: Mane has started all 11 of Liverpool’s competitive fixtures this season and a rest is surely just around the corner.

Another possibly significant development is the return to fitness of Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m). With Salah, Eden Hazard (£11.3m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.1m) all priced at £11.0m or above, Mane’s competition in that second rung of premium midfielders has been lacking this season, be it through injury, loss of form or rotation to the likes of Christian Eriksen (£9.2m), Dele Alli (£9.0m), Alexis Sanchez (£10.0m), Leroy Sane (£9.2m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.6m).

A fit and firing De Bruyne, traditionally a mainstay in the City midfield, is a tempting option from a Fantasy point view in this season of unpredictable rotation from Pep Guardiola. Mane has to deliver over the next month or so to convince his owners (of which there are over two million) to reject the straight swap to the Belgian in the medium term.

The Team – Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton’s 1-0 win over West Ham United on Friday kicked off a sequence of nine fixtures in which the Seagulls face none of the “big six”.

Chris Hughton’s side played Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the first two months of the season and their Fantasy assets were largely dodged by FPL managers for the first seven Gameweeks of the campaign.

With the south coast club sitting near the top of our Season Ticker between now and early December, should we consider drafting in one of their stand-out FPL assets?

Anyone who made a move for the likes of Mathew Ryan (£4.5m), Shane Duffy (£4.5m) and Lewis Dunk (£4.4m) ahead of Gameweek 8 was instantly rewarded as the Brighton backline recorded their first clean sheet of the season in the win over the Hammers.

Given that Brighton avoid any of the sides that finished in the top six between now and Gameweek 16 inclusive, the omens for further clean sheets are good: nine of their ten shut-outs in 2017/18 were registered against clubs ranked seventh or worse in the Premier League.

There remains a slight concern over their defensive solidity, however: only two clubs conceded more shots in the box than Brighton in Gameweek 8, though admittedly just four of West Ham’s efforts were on target and just one was a big chance.

Their statistics over the season so far don’t particularly encourage investment in Messrs Duffy, Dunk or Ryan: only Burnley have allowed more attempts on goal, while just Fulham have conceded more shots in the box. Only three teams have allowed more big chances, meanwhile.

Of course, consideration has to be given to the calibre of their opposition in four of those eight fixtures.

In 38 matches last season, only Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs and Chelsea conceded fewer big chances than the Seagulls in the Premier League.

It was perhaps no surprise that their first shut-out of 2018/19 came in a fixture in which their regular backline of last season – Ryan, Bruno (£4.4m), Dunk, Duffy and Gaetan Bong (£4.5m) – were reunited for the first time this campaign.

Brighton largely dealt with West Ham’s threat comfortably from open play on Friday but a concern would be how vulnerable they look at set-pieces, with Fabian Balbuena (£4.4m) wasting the visitors’ best chance from a corner and the Hammers generating six other opportunities from dead-ball situations.

Indeed, over the season so far only Newcastle United have allowed more set play attempts than the Seagulls.

Duffy can easily compensate for a lack of clean sheet with an attacking return, of course. After a frustrating 2017/18  in which he racked up 28 attempts on goal without finding the net, the Albion centre-back has already been involved in four goals this season (two goals, two assists).

Further forward, two names stand out as budget/mid-price Fantasy assets in midfield and attack.

The ageless Glenn Murray (£6.5m) scored his fifth goal of the campaign in that win at the Amex on Friday and indeed no FPL forward has more goals to his name than the veteran striker (five) this season.

Owned by just 2.6% of FPL managers and about to embark on one of the best fixture runs in the entire division, Murray is a seriously overlooked candidate as a third or perhaps second Fantasy forward – particularly as he has wrestled penalty-taking duties away from the injured Pascal Gross (£6.7m). Only one of Brighton’s next eight opponents (Wolves) haven’t already conceded a spot-kick this season.

A concern for Murray would be the amount of chances being created for him. An attempt on goal every 49.5 minutes is one of the worst in the division among forwards who are regular starters, while only Newcastle have racked up less shots than the Seagulls this season overall.

This, however, is nothing new. Murray only averaged a shot every 41.4 minutes last season and still managed to scored 12 league goals, thanks to his excellent goal conversion rate (and penalties, of course).

A bit like Jamie Vardy (£9.0m) at Leicester City, Murray tends to make the most of the few opportunities he is presented with.

Last season, Murray converted an impressive 22.6% of his opportunities into goals. This campaign, that figure has risen to 38.5% – the best in the league among FPL forwards.

Florin Andone (£5.0m) and Jurgen Locadia (£5.3m) provide competition for his place, but Hughton may instead choose to preserve Murray’s limbs in fixtures in which the Seagulls aren’t on the front foot and are expected to do a lot of chasing – in the away match against Manchester City in Gameweek 7, for example, Locadia was preferred up top.

Anthony Knockaert (£5.5m) was once again Brighton’s arch-creator on Friday and is another who is benefitting from Gross’s absence, having assumed the German’s role of chief set piece-taker.

Knockaert is in a rich vein of form and while perhaps not at his scintillating best against West Ham, still caused Arthur Masuaku (£4.4m) plenty of headaches down the flank.

No Brighton player has attempted as many shots or made as many key passes as Knockaert this season, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) is only FPL midfielder to have registered more assists.

Knockaert is quite possibly the best current midfield option available for less than £6.0m taking into account both current form and fixtures.

The Talking Point – Are Cardiff City assets even worth considering?

From Chris Sutton to our very own Joe, Neil Warnock’s side are as unfancied to stay up this season as their players are by the Fantasy community.

No Premier League team has scored fewer goals (four) than the Bluebirds in 2018/19, while only Fulham (21) have shipped more than Cardiff (17) at the other end.

Last season’s Championship runners-up also have the worst shot accuracy and goal conversion rate in the top flight.

That so many FPL managers disrupted the balance of their squad or took a hit to get Harry Kane (£12.5m) in ahead of the Gameweek 8 meeting between Spurs and Cardiff at Wembley said much about faith in the Bluebirds, who are still without a win at the eighth time of asking.

As they demonstrated in that narrow defeat on Saturday and in other fixtures this season, however, Cardiff aren’t quite as hilariously bad as often depicted.

City battered Burnley in Gameweek 7 and somehow came away from that match on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat (the Clarets having only had three shots on goal), and isolating their fixtures against clubs outside the top six makes for slightly better reading – Warnock’s troops have conceded on just four occasions in as many matches and kept clean sheets in two of those encounters.

The reason we highlight those more “winnable” games is that Cardiff now sit second in our Season Ticker for the next nine matches, with only Liverpool to play from the sides that finished in the European places last season during that spell.

With not one of their players costing more than £5.2m in FPL, are any of their assets now worthy of consideration for “playable” bench fodder duty at least and perhaps even granted the odd start in our Fantasy teams?

With regards to their forward options: absolutely not. Bobby Reid (£5.2m), Kenneth Zohore (£4.8m) and Gary Madine (£4.5m) have not only failed to register a single goal or assist between them this season but haven’t been able to nail down a place in Warnock’s starting XI, either. Indeed, not one of those three strikers started in the defeat to Spurs.

There are a couple of noteworthy options in the centre of the park, though, for those trawling the bargain bin for a fifth midfielder.

While Danny Ward‘s (£4.5m) stock has fallen after his brief run “out of position” as a striker came to an end, Victor Camarasa is one of the few £4.5m-rated options who is seemingly guaranteed game time.

Ostensibly a central midfielder, Camarasa has actually played wide right for a large chunk of this season and scored from that position in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.

His biggest selling point, however, is set-pieces. Sharing free-kick and corner-taking duties with Joe Ralls (£4.8m), Camarasa will now presumably have the monopoly on dead-ball situations over the next three matches as his team-mate serves a suspension for foul play. With Sean Morrison (£4.9m) and Sol Bamba (£4.5m) towering targets to aim for, the on-loan Betis midfielder could quite easily rack up an assist or two over the coming weeks and months.

Camarasa would likely be no more than a third substitute for any potential FPL owner, though Josh Murphy (£4.8m) has the undoubted potential to be a fifth midfielder who could be granted the odd start in these forthcoming matches.

The concern around Murphy in the early weeks of the season has been rotation, but with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (£4.8m) likely out injured until late November, Junior Hoilett (£5.1m) offering little of note from the flank and Cardiff’s strikers flattering to deceive, Murphy has established himself as the Bluebirds’ chief goal threat.

Murphy had two big chances against Spurs at the weekend (the joint-most any player has managed against the Lilywhites this season) and only Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) has had more attempts on goal and shots on target than Murphy among all FPL midfielders in the last two Gameweeks.

The former Norwich City man’s average of a shot on goal every 26 minutes is also the best among sub-£5.0m midfielders this season and better than the means of Christian Eriksen (£9.2m), Sadio Mane (£9.9m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.1m).

Most folk who watched Cardiff’s defeat to Burnley would be in agreement that Murphy was the game’s stand-out player and but for an excellent Joe Hart (£4.6m) save in that fixture and a brilliant goalline clearance from Toby Alderweireld (£5.9m) last Saturday, the City winger could have easily registered three goals in the last two matches.

It’d be a tough ask to convince anyone to punt on a Cardiff defender after Warnock’s side conceded 15 goals in five fixtures and in reality, with such value being offered elsewhere by the likes of Jonny (£4.4m), Matt Doherty (£4.7m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.3m) and several premium options regularly churning out attacking returns with clean sheets, a move for a Bluebirds stopper is a complete non-starter.

Just for the record, however, Cardiff’s defensive form against non-“big six” teams is far from terrible. City began the season with a run of games against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Huddersfield and the Bluebirds ranked sixth for fewest shots conceded, eighth for fewest shots on target allowed and joint-tenth for fewest shots in the box conceded in this sequence of matches, registering two clean sheets along the way. As we mentioned earlier, Burnley had only three attempts on goal (and no big chances) in their meeting with Cardiff in Gameweek 7.

That Morrison tops both the expected goals (xG) and expected goal involvement (xGI) columns among FPL defenders says much about his attacking threat from set pieces. Were he priced around the £4.5m mark, the Cardiff centre-back would have been one to perhaps consider as a fifth defender between now and Christmas. At £4.9m, however, even his undoubted dominance in the air struggles to justify that cost.

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665 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sounds like Aurier is back by him taking the Ivory Coast presser.. could be good news for us Trippier non-owners

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      isn't Aurier preferred in UCL anyway?

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

    I thought you were going to tell me he was injured with that cover photo!

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Haha, it had never even crossed my mind! Apologies for any panic caused 🙂

      I was going for "disappointed Mane" but that was the best I could come up with.

      1. Reedy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Ah I see! To be fair, I should have just assumed he was doing another Neymar impression.

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

      Yep, gave me a fright.

  3. Dont choose VW. Pickford
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Thinking about tripoier for mendy, what are peoples thoughts, already have ederson robbo and alonso

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

      delay for 1 week and see if mendy starts or not

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

        And If Mendy starts, he will be rested later? And if not he is rotation risk?

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

      I'll be going the opposite way. Mendy plays when fit and Spurs fixtures are not great.

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

    Patricio
    Walker Doherty Alonso Robertson
    Mane Hazard Richarlison Fraser
    Arnie Kane
    (Stek Maddison Ings AWB)

    1FT

    Had originally slated in a WC this week but team still performing well, should I look to use it this week or hold and just do Kane > Kun/Laca for free?

    1. HD7
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Whats your plan If Salah starts making hauls?

  5. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Salah or Mane (and use the cash elsewhere)
    for pools upcoming fixtures ?.

    1. Son is Rising
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I'm going Salah. Pools fixtures are too good not to have their player with highest potential.

      1. Totalfootball
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Fantasy Football Fix algorithm Wildcard gave me this:

    Patricio Ryan
    Mendy Robertson Doherty Yedlin Lowe
    Salah Mane Hazard Lerma Hojbjerg
    Aguero King Wilson

    Quite interesting! I like the core but obviously x2 Bou FWDs and Lerma as 4th mid aren't ideal.

    Not sure on the rules around promoting other sites, but I'm a big fan of FFFix. They have great tools.

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Surely Lerma would be B1 in a 433. It's a nice team but of you let an algorithm pick your team you may as well not play at all.

      1. Reedy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah you wouldn't play Lerma over a playing defender.

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

      I don't like lots about that team.

      Pat Ryan don't rotate well after a few weeks. Mendy still a slight uncertainty.

      Huddersfiled defender with a knock who may have to play some weeks.

      Lerma is a horrid pick and again will be forced to play some weeks.

      Bournemouth have 2 nice fixtures, then you'll want rid, fraser better value imo.

      It seems very shortsighted. FFix often gives odd suggestions, site has always seemed more style over substance to me.

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

        It depends how you tailor your questions.

        It's helping me answer my question of Salah vs Mane though and also how to do it.

        Currently weighing:

        Salah + Gomez vs Mane + Robertson and it's throwing up some interesting permutations. Obviously you need to use your head when using tools like this, but the algorithm gives you some cool suggestions you might otherwise not have considered.

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yep, granted. Sometimes it's hard to look beyond certain players and consider a more moneyball approach. I think It could be really helpful but I don't have confidence in some of the suggestions it's made for me in the past. Tbf I've only used the free version and haven't really experimented that much with the options.

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      This looks awfully short term. Triple BOU at this point?

  7. Costa in Wengerland
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Nice Article

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks very much!

  8. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Crosses conceded by Huddersfield and Cardiff favour one Liverpool fullback more than the other 🙂

    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Such a tease.

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I hardly ever use the Members section but seeing as there's time to kill

        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          It's great for stuff like this. I was looking at West Ham for a cheap defender to rotate with Doherty when Wolve's fixtures are horrid. I had no idea, but someone has helpfully already made a neat table. Turns out it's an obvious pick.

          1. BoleynWin
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            That’s what’s good about this site, you don’t NEED to be a member to get specific info (but all for supporting the site). If you were to pose that question about WHU defenders on an open article like this one you’d get a detailed answer from me and others too.

            1. Eddie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              But then everyone would know...

              That is what is so great about this site. There is nothing quite like the information sharing between fans. That you can't get from stats.

            2. All de Gea no iDier
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              And a load of rubbish mixed in with the good stuff.

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

      That would matter more if they had the same quality in their crosses.

      Yes, I'm just jealous 😉

  9. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Have 2FT's and 0.1m itb

    Hart
    Trippier Doherty Bennett
    Salah Hazard Richarlison Fraser
    Kane Aguero Jimenéz

    Hamer / AWB / Højbjerg / Bednarek

    A. Kane, Fraser & Bednarek 》 Firmino, Schürrle & Robertson -4
    B. Kane, Fraser & Bednarek 》 Mitrovic, Manè & TAA -4
    C. Kane & Bednarek 》 Firmino & Robertson
    D. Other suggedtions welcome 🙂

  10. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Best Zaha replacement? (Up to 7.2m)

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Arnie

    2. FPL Mentor
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Mitro for next 3 games

      1. internal error
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        this

  11. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Pick One

    A Aguero Salah Richarlison
    B Sterling Salah Arnautovic
    C Aguero KDB Mane

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Son is Rising
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      D Aguero, Salah, Sterling 😎

  12. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    RMWCT

    Alisson 4.0
    Doherty TAA Duffy Jonny AWB
    Hazard Salah Sterling Richarlison Murphy
    Agüero Arnautovic Jimenez

  13. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Mad to go Aguero-less on WC?

    Might try and fit KDB in, with Lacazette and Arnie Mitro

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      nope - am considering moving from Aguero to KDB from GW 11

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Tough to sell ahead of Burnley and Saints in next 3.

        Perhaps looking at it another, maybe time for 3 City again and just lock it in here onwards.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          With Hazard's form and higher average minutes I may more inclined to captain Hazard when Aguero plays Burnley and Saints...

          1. Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Aye and in that case I might sell

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

      Did you consider Sterling instead of Aguero?

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I still think he is a bit overpriced yet he is the 2nd highest mid.

        I cant bring myself to get Sterling over a 9.7m Kdb

        1. All de Gea no iDier
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I'd wait to see where Pep plays KdB. Last season he started out in central midfield assisting the assisters.

  14. King Kun Ta
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Bego (Fab)
    Mendy AWB Bennett Alonso (Pereira)
    Haz Rich Fraser (Maddison Stephens)
    Kane Aguero (C) Mitro

    1 FT and 1.6 ITB

    A Kane & Fraser -> Mane & Lacazette?

    B Kane & Stephens -> Mane & Wilson?

    C other suggestion?

  15. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    What does this mean please, Skronto? Should it be "one fewer shot"?

    "Even in the last four weeks, Mane’s output has remained fairly consistent, recording only fewer shot than he did in Gameweeks 1-4 and indeed racking up more penalty box touches in spite of the trickier fixtures."

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      That's right, good spot! Have changed that now.

  16. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Will anyone but Luka Modric win the Ballon D'Or realistically?

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      It should be Ramos. Combines being the world's best centre back with a real sense of fair play and gentlemanly conduct.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        A true gentleman who you trust implicitly with your daughter.

      2. teneighty
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Is he really better than Lovren though?

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

      Probably not. Modric season was so average but WC season so the rest doesn't matter.

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        This

  17. Top Dog
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Really interested to hear peoples views on who the 3 best premium defenders are. I currently have 4 (Trippier, Robbo, Alonso & Mendy) along with AWB. I am going to transfer in Doherty but am struggling on who to remove. Initial thoughts are Tripps due to unsecurity of starts, but his set-piece potential difficult to ignore!

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      yeah Trippier. Slightly tougher fixtures and slightly more at risk of a rest in one of the easier games.

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

      Trippier is the weakest of the three, by quite some way in my opinion.

      1. Bullet Eder
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        *of the four

    3. BoleynWin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I had the same back five & I have just moved in Doherty for Trippier. Fixtures aren’t great for trip, Eriksen due back soon to take some set piece duties back, rotation with Aurier likely. All factors.
      Mendy, Alonso & Robbo have very little rotation competition in like for like positions & have huge attacking potential along with very nice fixtures in the next 5/6 games.

    4. Me Spurs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Keep them all

  18. Son is Rising
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Arsenal's xG and xGA stats for the last 3 games are ridiculous.
    Goals (xG)
    Arsenal 2 (0.93) Everton 0 (1)
    Arsenal 2 (1.59) Watford 0 (2.38)
    Fulham 1 (1.34) Arsenal 5 (1.14)!

    That surely isn't sustainable?!

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      That's why I'm not bringing in Lacazette

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Laca and Auba are very talented, they can both score from outrageous positions, which is what makes Arsenal an exciting team again. They don't necesserily have to walk it in (ie wait for a shot with an xG of 1.00 to score a goal 😆 )

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          But can they maintain their current scoring rate when Arsenal are not producing a good number of high quality chances

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Well if you include the 5 goal game, then no, obviously not. Even Man City only managed 2.7 goals per game last season. 3 per game would be ridiculous 😀

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              2.8*

            2. internal error
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Yea, so the team aren't creating enough for Laca to convince me to buy him. I've missed the boat. I like your other striker though.

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 5 months ago

                Call back to the time I got very excited to own him at during preseason https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1018135750926307328

                1. internal error
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 5 months ago

                  I meant the striker in your fpl team. Auba and Laca are so talented. If Emery can create something sustainable then they will do well this season

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Arnie? I'm not confident with him tbh. I've avoided mid-priced options from non-to-6 sides in attack this season to avoid uncertainty about team performance, and this is the first time I've taken the plunge on the rollercoaster. I'll be benching him against Spurs and City, but hoping for big things against lesser sides.

                  2. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 5 months ago

                    Or Vardy? Yeah always love having him in my side. Mr Reliable, doesn't attract too much attention, but consistently helps your points tally most weeks, saving you FTs and money along the way.

                    1. internal error
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 11 Years
                      5 years, 5 months ago

                      That guy

  19. Tev
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    One free transfer to waste before next week’s wildcard, £0.6m itb
    Starting XI is:
    Alisson
    Doherty Alonso Trippier
    Hazard Fraser Dilva Mane
    Mitrovic King Kane (C)

    Anything seem worth it? Fraser -> Bernard looks a nice little one week punt to spice up my Sunday but remember last time Fraser faked an international injury...

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

      Why force a WC next week? Seems like you can run with that a while longer.

      1. Tev
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Been planning it for a while.
        May seem stupid but I want to stay a bit ahead of the curve, want Salah for Cardiff and Fulham at home (can see some big scores there), want rid of my Spurs and Bournemouth assets for now.
        Don’t fancy Dilva in my team with KDB back and not liking Mane either. Basically, a lot I want to change despite it looking decent for now

    2. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Kane->Kun?

      1. Tev
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, I’ll consider. That may make Kane the worst one week punt in history though

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

      Trippier to Robertson?

      1. Tev
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Don’t mind the sound of that...

        1. Jarnathan
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Seconded. I was going to suggest Mendy, but Robbo perfect

  20. fantasyxprt11
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Have 1 FT, sitting at 6k. .2 in the bank
    Haven't had a good start in Fpl for years, so what would be the best solution to keep that going.

    Team looks like:

    Keep/Hamer
    Alonso TAA Trippier AWB Bennet
    Hazard Hojbjerg Ramsey Richarlison Mane
    Aguero Lacazette Jiminez

    Looking to do either:
    A) Trippier to Mendy
    B) offload Ramsey, for Maddison? (Wait 1 week for this)
    C)Ramsey to Fraser and Jiminez to Mitro for a hit
    D) Save
    E) something else

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I'd save.

  21. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Oh no Zaha is catching Mitrovic and I can't afford Zaha to drop before Mitro.

    Should I just do the transfer now?

    1. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Oh my god just make the bloody transfer and leave us alone

      1. RoysCallerAnne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'm in a good mood today so decided to not go down this path 😆

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He probably won't drop tonight. If you have no other priorities then I guess you can gamble that Mitro doesn't get injured

    3. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Unless on WC no. I assume you have many players playing internationals and Lord above one of em may get injured.

  22. Goat
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I like the look of this. Bring in Mane now for these 2 glorious fixtures then switch to De Bruyne for his lovely run of 3 home games in 4 GW’s starting 4th November. He’ll be fit and firing by then

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Same idea

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I have enough money to get both in for Pogba and Ozil this week, but it's just a shame that KDB is probably not worth it yet. Your plan looks good, but could be a waste of a transfer if Mane is firing again, or a waste of an opportunity if you want both.

      1. Vobinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mane could well outscore Pogba and Ozil by himself over the next two, giving you the luxury of KDB blanks but a huge bonus if he hauls early as a differential

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          True, but I could just get Mane and wait on KDB. The problem being that this would be something of a commitment to buy KDB in the future, since I could afford Sterling this week (and keep Ozil or Pog for the time being) if I don't go for the Mane+KDB plan.

          1. Goat
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Mane for now. Reassess both players after these 2 “easy” fixtures for mane

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              Right it's a good plan. Would mean captaining Mane or Laca this week, as I wouldn't be junping on Sterling, who I think is the better option for captaincy, but I wouldn't captain Sterling the following week, so swings and roundabouts innit.

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

      I have this idea too but Mane would be my only pool attacker, do you have Salah too?

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        No I ditched salah during the last IB. Robertson and Mane will be enough for me

        1. Vobinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          So during liverpool's good run you'd ditch Mane for KDB leaving yourself with just Robertson and no cover for their attack?

          1. Goat
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Well the main bit of their good run is these next 2 fixtures. I’ll be watching both games very closely and decide after the 2 weeks who’s worth having

    4. BoleynWin
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Does this leave you with no Liverpool attackers after the next 2 games? Dangerous if so... imperative to have one from City & Pool due to goal to games ratios I think.

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah it would. I’ll have aguero for city and I don’t plan on ditching him anytime soon. It depends really on manes returns these next 2 games. I am comfortable for now going without salah

  23. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Latest WC draft...

    Patricio
    Alonso Laporte Doherty Robertson
    Hazard Sterling Richarlison Mane
    Lacazette Arnautovic

    Fabianski Joselu Bennett Hjobjerg

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

      Fabianski > fodder
      Laporte > TAA/cheapo
      Joselu > Mitrovic

  24. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Looks like Scotty B will drop tonight when Paddington Bear gets his hand on him.

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Paddington Bear has had enough. He spent the whole summer wrestling with Khabib and the last thing he needs is one of Scotty B's questions

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

      Only just saw this comment hahahahahaha

  25. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Schürrle & Firmino or Mané & Mitrovic.

    1. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      2nd one

  26. Tokosbobet88
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    can see a lot of you shipping Trippier!.. any good reason?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Mendy.

    2. fantasyxprt11
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Mendy probably.

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Aurier fit again perhaps, fixtures?

    4. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Mendy, Aurier being available

    5. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Bad defensive fixtures, not worth it with how bad Spurs are at the back lately.

  27. HD7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Rate this team please 🙂

    Dubravka
    Walker Robbo TAA Alonso
    Hazard Richa Mane Fraser
    Arnie Aguero

    Subs: Hamer, WanB, Hughes, Kamara

    If no injuries in Internationals
    Plan is :

    GW10: Walker to Duffy / If Salah shows up Mane to Salah -4
    GW11: Fraser to Maddison

  28. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Hi, how about this wc team? (433)

    Patricio
    Alonso • Robbo • Mendy • Doherty Salah • Haz • Rich
    Kun • Mitro • Wilson
    (Button, Knockaert, Bennett, Hojberg)

    -Wilson, Patricio -> Arnie, Fabs in gw 11
    -Will give Salah 2 gw to prove himself
    Cheers 🙂

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

      start with Fabianski instead

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

        team looks good btw

      2. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Why? WHU has harder fixtures than WOL gw 9 and 10. Thanks mate.

  29. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    A. Kane, Fraser & Trippier 》 Mitrovic, Mané & Robertson.

    OR

    B. Kane, Fraser & AWB 》 Firmino, Schürrle & Robertson

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

      A imo

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

    RMT tool suggests if I replace Aguero and Fraser with Wilson and Salah I could get 30 more points in the next 6 weeks. Amazing prediction.

    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Seriously woah !

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

      Salah is extremely highly tipped by just about any site's RMT or prediction tool.