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. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Who would you lose first out of Shaw, Fraser, Kane?...Others Im not so worried about atm.

    1. Mr Q
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Shaw

      1. Mr Q
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Then fraser

    2. nelluckram
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Only Shaw

    3. Lignja
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Swaping all 3 this week if all go as planed for Salah, Arnaut and Benet

    4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Kane

  2. Mr Q
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    A) robbo+Richarlison
    B) laporte+Sigurdsson

    Long term and already have TAA

    1. nelluckram
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Trips/Mendy + Rich work??

      1. Mr Q
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Yep, that too 🙂

  3. nelluckram
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Hart (Hamer)
    Alonso, Mendy, Robbo (Bennet, AWB)
    Hazard, Mané, Rich, Fraser (CHO*)
    Kane, Mitro*, Wilson*

    0 FT, 2.4 ITB

    My plan is to gradually do Mitro, Wilson, CHO -> Jimenez/Ings, Kamara, De Bruyne and switch to a 352, as they rise. I currently have exact cash and I don't mind taking hits for this team. Am I planning too far ahead? I think getting De Bruyne in early could be a season changer... Currently 18k. Thoughts?

    1. Son is Rising
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Is this a wildcard?

      1. nelluckram
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        No. I'm just going to monitor their prices and do them as dictated by rises, or for free, whichever comes first

    2. wulfrunian
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Since you have Mane who is almost in the same price like Kdb the swap is easy.Good to go imo or Kane->Kun(c).

      1. nelluckram
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        My FT was Kun - Kane (c) before the rise and drop!! Maybe I'm crazy. Aguero and Jesus will surely start sharing minutes, although with Aguero not on international duty, this may not go so well for the first GW...

  4. wulfrunian
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Interesting comparison for the last 4 gameweeks between Alonso and Rudiger.

  5. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Mail and Mirror report that Harry Kane did not complete a full training session yesterday amid fears of burnout and excessive workload.

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Meant to happen sooner or later anyway

    2. nelluckram
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Keep him fresh for west ham!! (c)

    3. thunder_mike
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      He has been on a different training schedule since the World Cup (along with a few other Spurs players). Good chance this was already planned with regard to his current schedule.

  6. vanillasky639
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    thoughts on potential WC?

    fab
    alonso taa robbo
    salah haz richarlison sterling
    arnie wilson murray

    hamer, kenedy, AWB, bennett

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Like it

    2. nelluckram
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I like it but i might go Mendy or Trips over Robbo as you already have TAA (Liverpool fan)

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Tot has sour fixtures coming, so Trippier in is not a good idea.

        1. nelluckram
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          True. I'm thinking quite long-term currently. Trying to save the WC for end of December!

          1. vanillasky639
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 23 days ago

            im thinking double up on lvpool defence for their great run of fixtures. best defence in the league, should be guaranteed points.

  7. Goat
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Anyone played God of War on PS4?

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I've played Hogs of War, but not God of War, sorry

      1. Guba
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        What a game that was!

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          You're rubbish, Yellow player!

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I completely forgot about getting that. I haven't for some reason even though I loved the previous 3

      1. Goat
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Got it today for 30 quid. Will help get over this IB

    3. hustler7
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Spiderman was awesome too if you haven't played that. Red Dead Redemption in a few weeks too!

    4. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Yes, graphics are unreal!

  8. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    In order to be able to make a decent, late decision, I need the following players not to rise:

    Sterling: 31.3
    KDB: -2.9
    Mane: -63.8

    And the following not to drop:

    Ozil 41.3
    Pogba -56.1

    It's currently looking good to get me past the weekend. Not sure about making it up to the deadline yet. Anyone else nervous about being forced into an early move? Personally, I want to wait on news about KDB, if there is any, because my preferred move would be to shun Sterling to buy both KDB and Mane instead.

    1. Pierce34
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Mane is more likely do drop, surely - he's still on two red arrows. Although personally I prefer Sterling out of Man City options, regardless of whether KDB is fit.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Yes, I didn't mean to suggest he was on the rise. These are just the facts about who I need to not rise or fall, regardless of which direction they're currently heading 🙂

        I prefer Sterling too, but of course, there are other players to consider since his price is higher than KDB's so the possible combinations are different. I can afford Ozil and Pogba to KDB and Mane. Otherwise, just one of them to Sterling.

        1. Pierce34
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          Even though I have Mane I think Ozil/Pogba to Sterling sounds like the best move to me.

          But then again I would've advised you not to play triple Wolves defence so you probably know better than me 😉

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 23 days ago

            Cheers. I don't know any better than you. I'm in a jam, and hope time simply makes the decision obvious for me before the deadline. Wish I could afford Sterling and Mane 😀

    2. penman26
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      you mad? if you are transfering out pogba no player has had more shots on target in last 2 gws

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        A little mad only. Most around hear seem to think selling him is a priority for me.

        Though with Chelsea and City in the next 4, I would be more comfortable benching him than playing him, especially with Mourinho's penchant for bus parking against top 6 opponents (and now also against the rest of the field). If his fixtures were better, I would be happy to keep, despite United's poor form. And I may even keep anyway and sell Ozil for Sterling.

        The other problem is in the alternatives, since Sterling looks a great option, Mane too, and KDB is very enticing, and I have a ton of money ITB for the purpose of upgrading one or two of these players.

  9. masoud123
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Hi, I have made 3 different FPL accounts, as I am in 3 different leagues with 3 different groups of friends, was wondering if this was ok? I dont want FPL to ban me , its the last thing I need!

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Against the FPL terms, but you should be all right, unless I report you 😉 You wouldn't you have one team for all three leagues? You just wanted 3 teams, didn't you!

      1. Pierce34
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Also, this. Why not just enter the same team in the three different leagues?

        1. masoud123
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          I look at differentials every weekend depending on which league I am in. So I might transfer ect zaha in if no one in one of my leagues has him.

          But if everyone has zaha in another one of my leagues I am in, I wouldnt get zaha and go for a wildcard. e.g jiminez ect.

          So its hard to try and win all three leagues with one account. Its not like I am competing against anyone else apart from my different groups of friends, so didnt think it would be a problem , just wanted to make sure

    2. Pierce34
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      This will be very frowned upon here to put it mildly!

      1. masoud123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Didnt know it was that badly frowned upon. If I entered two teams in last say the LMS on here then, fair enough, I could understand. I get two teams wheras everyone gets one, thats cheating. But I havent! (didnt even get to enter it as I made my FPL teams too late)

    3. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Reported

    4. Goat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I don’t believe you.

    5. wander
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      this is borderline cheating in each league.

      1. masoud123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Remember, I only have one team in each league.

        And just to add if I did enter a FFScout comeptition, needless to say I would only enter ONE team

    6. KingOllie
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Im currently contacting Mark to get your IP . Goodnight Sweet Prince

      1. masoud123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Problem is every league is head to head so I want to be able to concentrate on one league with one team.. Shall I close down my other two accounts?

        If I entered more than one team in the SAME team I can understand that being cheating tbh. But if you guys say so, I will either not use or just shut down my other two teams

        1. Rihanovic
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          You can do this with only one account in three H2H draft leagues.

          1. masoud123
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 23 days ago

            cheers

            1. Rihanovic
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 23 days ago

              No worries.

    7. Il Papera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      ‘It’s the last thing I need!’ is golden.

      1. masoud123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        It is as sky fantasy football isnt as fun. People put their teams as private which defeats the objective of the game, to outwitt your opponent, look at differentials ect

    8. Rihanovic
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Let's give the man a break, he opened up and came out clean.
      He obviously feels bad about it, that's why he was asking.

      1. masoud123
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Thanks, still dont know how thats cheating though. Its cheating to gain an advantage over someone else. I have no advantage against my friends (in the 3 different leagues Im competing in). As I only have one team in each league.

        Do you kinda understand what Im trying to say?

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          Maybe your friends are in multiple leagues, but don't have multiple teams.

          Aside from that, it's cheating in overall standings, as you can get a higher rank by picking your best team.

          I understand what you're saying, and I'm not too bothered by it myself. Each to their own.

          1. masoud123
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 23 days ago

            See what you are saying. But in terms of the overall standings , I aint gonna win the damn thing, and I dont even look at them. Like who cares whether I am ranked 2million or 300k. Same thing. But yeah, if my friends are in multiple leagues with only one team and I am in multiple leagues with multiple teams (only one team in one league), then I have the slight advantage.

          2. Rihanovic
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 23 days ago

            This.

    9. Monkey Hanger
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Dirty cheat. 🙂

  10. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Could get to here with my 2FTs, is it too heavy at the back?

    Patricio
    Trippier, Alonso, Robertson, Mendy
    Mane, Hazard, Richarlison
    Aguero, Vardy, Ings

    (Neves, AWB, Hojberg)

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      like it. all your defs have nice juicy fixtures.. AWB to Bennett

    2. Dude1234
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Very heavy at the back. Would look to move neves out too

  11. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Hart > Alisson
    Fraser > Mane
    Kane > Mitrovic
    for -4?

    Current team
    Hart
    Laporte Doherty Yedlin
    Salah Hazard Fraser Richarlison
    Kane Kun Jimenez

    Button Bennett Hojberg AWB 2FT

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Hart > Alisson seems a waste to me tbh, especially for a hit. Save the money for future use? If you're interested in "cover", then you go ahead, but know that I don't approve 😉

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        you're right, can do that next week for free. cheers...

        1. jtreble
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          I HATE taking hits but I’d do this move.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Don't think I'd double up on Liverpool midfield.

      1. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        why not? both are projected to get loads of points in the next few weeks...

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          This. I'm not interested in Salah personally, but I fear him just the same. If I buy Mane, then your differential is Salah. It doesn't matter than Mane happens to also belong to Liverpool. You have one whole Salah more than me (minus whatever other players I have in his place, then plus and minus the other differentials).

        2. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          True, it's relatively high risk though investing nearly 1/4 of your budget on 2 players who haven't been in very good form. Pool haven't been very free-scoring this year, teams are going to park the bus and so far and there are some rotation/minutes managed worries

          Could work out wonderfully of course either.

  12. Bob McMayday
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Any suggestions for this WC team please?

    Pat Fab
    Alonso Robbie Doh Yed AWB
    Haz Mane Rich Mad Hojbjerg
    Aguero Laca Arnie

    1. Bob McMayday
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Robbo

    2. Stupendous
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Rid of AWB probably now.

      Shocking fixtures

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I like it.Think keeping AWB through his tough fixtures is fine considering he will probably be 2nd/3rd on your bench.

    4. Bob McMayday
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Yeah agree about AWB fixtures but 0.0 itb so only works with him as I don’t want to triple up on wolves

    5. Dude1234
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Savage team! Tempted to wildcard to that myself!

  13. TAT
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Ederson - Hamer
    Wan-Bissaka - Robertson - Doherty - Alonso - Steve Cook
    Fraser - Salah - Maddison - Hazard - Stephens
    Kane - Mitrović - Kamara

    My team at the moment. I have £1.2 in the bank, one free transfer, and looking at options. Kane > Agüero an obvious move, but are there other players to consider – perhaps for a hit? OR at 305k, and the team isn't making huge climb in the rankings.

  14. Stupendous
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    New favourite strategy on WC. Plug everyone in and work backwards til it works!

    Current mid..

    Sterling Hazard Salah KDB Mane

    1. Guba
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Good strategy though I think that midfield would come at detriment to the rest of your team!
      So much value in the wing backs currently.

      1. Stupendous
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Yep but plugging in the gaps is fun. Impossible to have that mid but that's what I started with!

    2. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      will have Salah,Mane and Hazard for next week.. Kun coves KDB and Sterling...

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Could you fit in that midfield with something like:

      Patricio (4.0)
      Doherty, Yedlin, Duffy (AWB, Bennett)
      Sterling, Hazard, Salah, KDB, Mane
      Arnie, Mitro (Joselu)

      1. Stupendous
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Looking at those 2 up front yes.

        Sadly that def is not for me. Dont wanna lose the fullbacks

  15. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    1.Keep or sell fraser
    2.Play foster save FT or foster >patricio

    1. Stupendous
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Sell
      Save

  16. Bialystrzelec
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Alonso Trippier TAA Doherty AWB

    A. Trippier > Robertson
    B. Trippier > To
    C. Trippier > Mendy

    1. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      A

      1. NorwichCityLad
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        A

  17. NorwichCityLad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    What do you think of this gw11 Fraser > josh Murphy

    1. noahzark22
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      awful

    2. Eytexi
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Wrongly debated a huddersfield mid earlier and people tore me to shreds so im gonna say no to a Cardiff mid. Cardiff and Huddersfield both have great fixtures from GW11, but how much faith do you have in them taking points?

  18. bigdip
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Patricio (Fabianski)
    Walker, Alonso, Robertson, Cook (AWB)
    Haz, Mane Richarlison Fraser (Cairney)
    Aguero (C) King (ARNIE)

    1FT and 0.9mn ITB.

    A) Cook to Doherty
    B) Cook to Trippier
    C) Cook to Chilwell
    D) King to Mitro
    E) Arnie to Mitro
    F) Hold

    1. Bialystrzelec
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Keep, good fixtures for concerned players

      1. bigdip
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        thanks

  19. Hacksaw
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Wood or Welbeck? For the season.

    I'm in an auction league. It's painful. Don't ask.

    1. Hacksaw
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      I'm basically asking who the 36th best forward is.

    2. Eytexi
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Wood imo

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Wood has to be more likely to become a regular starter. I actually don't mind Welbeck in the starting XI, but his competition is stiff as balls.

  20. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Just read this article, anyone know if Gunnarsson will be on set pieces when he returns to the side ? Surely assured of starts once fit as well, could be a nice 5th midfield option at 4.4.

    1. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      And was he on pens last season when fit ?

      1. The 5% Team
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        He didn't play lots of matches last year, about 20.
        Still hoping he drops to 4.3...been hovering around -98 percent on fplstatistics

        1. TLF
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 23 days ago

          Good to know, just had a look at his record last few season's and noticed Ltd game time last season. Any idea why, was it injury or was he rotated ? If the latter that's a bit off putting, would rather opt for a 'nailed' player elsewhere such as Billing, Westwood or Obiang.

  21. TerryVenables
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    (A) Patricio + Mendy
    (B) Ederson + TAA

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      A

  22. Stupendous
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    How about this bad boy...

    Fabianski
    Doherty Laporte Robertson Alonso
    Mane KDB Sterling Hazard
    Arnie Mitrovic

    Hamer Vokes Hjobjerg Bennett

    1. Mr Q
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Wouldnt go kdb just yet.. he probably wont start playing 90 min.. more likely cameos from the bench in the beginning..

  23. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Has anyone been following Mitrovic? Now -87.9% Was planning to get him in for Cardiff but not at all willing to risk getting a price drop.

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Let him drop and then buy him

      1. Mr Q
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        +1

  24. Dynamic Duos
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Going to have to carry on with this defence for a good few more weeks i think, so i can get KDB gwk11.

    Ederson Button
    TAA Doherty Wan Duffy Alonso

  25. Mr Q
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Been looking in to Vokes/kenedy rotation as 7th attacking player.. and it looks juicy.

    Would allow me this bad boy:

    Pat-fab

    Alonso-robbo-taa-Doherty-awb
    Haz-sterling-Mane-rich-kenedy
    Laca-arnie-vokes

    Mane can easily become kdb and laca can become Vardy.

    What do u think of vokes/kenedy? (Could also bench both and play Doherty)

    Feels like the time of year when a fairly bench could be useful..

    1. noahzark22
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      both haven't performed to get a spot on my team. I'd take Kenedy of the two though

  26. noahzark22
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Patrício
    Robertson, Doherty, Mendy, Alonso
    Hazard, Salah, Knockaert, Maddison
    Vardy, Mitrovic

    Bench
    Foster, Ings, Wan-Bissaka, Fraser

    Going through a hurricane so may be without power for a few days. I think I'm all set for next week

    1. Mr Q
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      International break, so you have plenty of time 🙂

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Drive around it imho

    3. Goat
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Funny how this hurricane and yere last hurricane both came during International Breaks. Is it a sign? No more international breaks = no more hurricanes?

  27. nelluckram
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Apologies for re-post but I'm still on the fence

    Hart (Hamer)
    Alonso, Mendy, Robbo (Bennet, AWB)
    Hazard, Mané, Rich, Fraser (CHO*)
    Kane, Mitro*, Wilson*

    0 FT, 2.4 ITB

    My plan is to gradually do Mitro, Wilson, CHO -> Jimenez/Ings, Kamara, De Bruyne and switch to a 352, as they rise. I currently have exact cash and I don't mind taking hits for this team. Am I planning too far ahead? I think getting De Bruyne in early could be a season changer... Currently 18k. Thoughts?

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Not a fan tbh. You will have to field players with poor fixtures if you have AWB, Bennett, Jimenez, Kamara, Fraser, Richarlison. Especially in GW 11 and surrounding GWs.

      1. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        I agree with DF. If you’re making transfers getting out a non playing CHO don’t get another non playing choice of Kamara.

  28. thunder_mike
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    WC team, thoughts appreciated.
    Pat Fab
    Mendy Alonso Robbo Doherty WanB
    Mane Hazard Richarlison Kenedy Masuaku
    Kun Laca Mitro
    0.0 itb.

    Considering.
    A) Giving Mitro the Cardiff game and then swapping to Murray for a nice rotation.
    B) Laca + Masuaka > Arnie + Knockaert. Keep Mitro, rotate Kenedy and Knockaert with the fixtures.

    1. I Member
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Looks good. Kenedy in my WC team as well.

  29. Pringle
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Why are we selling Fraser now ahead of his home fixture against Southampton?

    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Potential injury. Although I wouldn’t be selling him as (like last IB) he could easily play next GW.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      People desperate to get Deulofeu

      1. Overated Mou
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 23 days ago

        Yeah and fail

    3. Overated Mou
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 23 days ago

      Yellow flag i guess

  30. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 23 days ago

    Which team would you prefer? The Non-WC team (-4) or the WC team?

    A (Non-Wild Card team i can get for -4)
    Patricio • Foster
    Alonso • Robbo • Shaw • Doherty • Awb
    Salah • Hazard • Maddison • Richarlison • Camarassa
    Kun • King • Jimenez

    B (potential WC team from gw10)
    Ryan • Fabianki
    Alonso • TAA • Mendy • Doherty • Bennett
    Salah • Hazard • Maddison • Knockart • Hojberg
    Firmino • Arnie • Mitro

    If i dont WC in gw10, the only other time to use it will be in gw15 when spurs fixtures improve for the better. There arent any other major fixture swings and i can easily get spurs cover with 2FT's come gw15 so might as well set my team up in gw10 for the long run.

    Thoughts?