Opinion

How I plan to navigate the Christmas period

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for FPL managers. The festive fixtures are upon us. Over the next fourteen days, four Gameweek’s will be played out in a feast of football for us Fantasy enthusiasts.

This period can make or break your season. With deadlines coming thick and fast, it’s a good idea to make note of when those deadlines are or set reminders on your phone. Don’t be that person in your mini-league who does a Gerrard and slips up at a crucial time.

Rotation will be rife across all teams with the short turnaround between matches, so make sure you have bench players who can come in and do a job for you.

Is it time to invest in Manchester United assets?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken the reigns at Old Trafford following the sacking of Jose Mourinho. Options such as Anthony Martial (£7.3m), Paul Pogba (£7.8m), Marcus Rashford (£6.9m) and Romelu Lukaku (£10.7m) are being talked about this week, given United’s kind run of fixtures: Cardiff (away), Huddersfield (home), Bournemouth (home) and Newcastle (away).

Getting in on their assets before others do could be a shrewd move but it’s always risky backing players before they’ve played for a new manager. We don’t know who Solskjaer will include in his first starting XI. It’s a ‘wait and see’ approach for me.

Not owning Eden proving hazardous

Eden Hazard (£11.0m) has returned attacking points in each of his last four appearances (one goal and five assists) to frustrate former owners. Out of all the premium assets, he’s arguably the must-have player for Christmas and New Year.

He’s got the form and the fixtures. Chelsea’s next five games are Leicester City (home), Watford (away), Crystal Palace (away), Southampton (home) and Newcastle (home).

If Maurizio Sarri continues to play Hazard as a ‘false nine’, Pedro Rodriguez (£6.3m) could become a decent option again. He’s started the last two, getting on the scoresheet against Brighton. It’s a situation to monitor. The Spaniard has six goals in just 805 minutes of playing time this season.

Saints reborn

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side was excellent in the 3-2 win over Arsenal in Gameweek 17. Danny Ings (£5.4m) was the star of the show, bagging himself a brace. Off the back of that performance, he’s the second-most transferred-in player this week behind Leroy Sané (£9.7m) and Felipe Anderson (£7.4m). If he can stay fit, he could offer excellent value between now and the end of the season.

Jan Bednarek (£3.9m) could be another bargain. He’s started the last two and was outstanding against Arsenal, much to the frustration of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) owners. It’s probably best to give it another few weeks before buying him to see if he is going to be the first choice and if Southampton can get to a stage where they are keeping clean sheets.

Hammers continue to shine

Lukasz Fabianski (£4.7m) has been FPL gold over the last four Gameweek’s, scoring twenty-seven points which included bonus in three out of the four games. He could well be a ‘set-and-forget’ goalkeeper for the rest of the campaign.

Anderson and Robert Snodgrass (£5.4m) are in blistering form and should continue to deliver as West Ham’s favourable fixture run continues.

There is talk that Marko Arnautovic (£6.9m) could return to action for the Southampton game on December 27th, in which case we should make sure we can get him back in our squads if we need to.

Transfer plans

The time has come for me to get a Man City midfielder, and why get one when you can get two? It is Christmas after all, I may as well treat myself.

With two free transfers, the plan is to ship Mohamed Salah (£13.1m), James Maddison (£6.8m) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (£6.8m) for Raheem Sterling (£11.6m), Sané and the enabler Ings.

Fingers crossed it pays off.

Don’t forget it’s a Friday deadline this week!

Good luck to all in the next four Gameweek’s and have a Merry Christmas.

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612 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Teror
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Am I g2g?

    Fab
    Alonso - Robbo - Doherty
    Haz - Sterling - Sane - Snodgrass
    Kane - Kamara - Jiminez

    (4.0 - Masuaku - AWB - TAA)

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      You took the -4 to do Auba to Haz then? I’m still weighing up

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Well tbh I haven't hit the button yet. Still not ENTIRELY decided if I'm going to get Kamara, Sane, Haz (-4) or just Ings and Haz. But I'm definitely keeping Kane over Aubamayang. Just about all the scouts and podcasters are saying the same and he looked much better than Auba last night as well.

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Who did you sell other than Auba?

          1. Teror
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Richarlison and Siggy. I really wanted to keep Richarlison but ultimately it's a choice between him and Sane and I think everyone in the world would choose Sane

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Put TAA before Doherty and let autosub deal with it just incase he starts

      1. Teror
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Hm good shout.

        1. FC Hakkebøf
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Your welcome 😀

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      G2G

  2. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    GTG?

    Fabs
    TAA Lovren Diop
    Hazard Sane Son Martial Richarlison
    Kane Lacazette

    Subs: Hamer Jimenez Doherty Peltier

    0.0 itb

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Roll on out

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      G2g

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Siggy dropping 🙁

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Where this say?

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t think he will drop this GW

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Great
        Hopefully he'll score & starts bandwagon

  4. slove
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    From next week on Mitro, Rashford and Camarasa or Mitro/Rashford, Ings and Snodgrass (will only ever need to play 2 of them and some weeks it will only be one)

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Mitro/rash,ings, Snoddy

      1. slove
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Which of Mitro and Rash?

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

          I rarely have United players but those next 2 fixures look very attractive. Worth a punt me thinks, so Jimenez to rashford.

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Rash
          Mitro is playing second fiddle to Kamara of all people for last 2 gw's

  5. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Looking at -8 this week.

    Lacazette, Billing and Fernandez to Kamara, Hazard and Bednarek. Switching to a 352.

    Worth it?

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Not imo

    2. slove
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Would keep Laca until next GW

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Basically, Haz in for Laca is not worth -8. Not this GW as Laca will probably start.

  6. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Captain Hazard or Sane?

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Hazard

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sane

  7. MHG
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    I have Jimenez and 1 free trf. My options ahead of tomorrows fixture with Liverpool are:
    A. Keep him and roll over my free trf.
    B. Trf him out for Ings
    C. Trf him out for Rondon (Fulham (h))

    A,B or C ? thanks

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Keep him. No one is doing better in that pricerange

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

      thanks - i'll resist tinkering!

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Id stick

    4. slove
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Keep him

  8. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Likelihood of Haz trolling purchasers this weekend?

    Clearly great long term but it’s those weeks where every other post is bringing him in that he does something naughty like blanks

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I think he'll haul this weekend

    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He has trolled me.. brought him in again now.

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      He can troll them.
      Keeping him for season is the key though.
      Talisman of a Big 6 club !

  9. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Looking to downgrade Alisson (also on Robertson) so I can upgrade Kamara a little with a view to wildcard some time in January most likely, Would Foster be a good replacement? Anyone got a better recommendation? Cheers

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Fabianski

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers, Currently have Diop and Balbuena that's the only issue with him for me

  10. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Snodgrass (H) Wat
    Or
    Son (A) to Everton

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Snod

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Snoddy

    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Son by a mile

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Well if only this gw then maybe snoddy

  11. FC Hakkebøf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Read something about premium defenders being less appealing during x-mas period because players gets worn out and make more mistakes hence more goals.

    Anyone got any stats to back up this statement?

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

      The stats dont back it up.

    2. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sounds stoopid

    3. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It’s more rotation that is a treat...just like for all other players

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah I agree. Just didnt bother check up on the stats if anyone already had the information to either confirm or shoot down the statement

    4. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks. Will try to find the page again and go on a rant

  12. Teror
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    You know what worries me about Kane: we've seen that he struggles if he plays two games in one week. Burnley match was a case in point. Games are coming thick and fast over the next couple weeks and Spurs have a more intense schedule than most. Bournemouth comes three days after Everton. I fear that we might be in store for another Kane five pointer.

    1. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      As long as he is in the points im good for now. Easy to switch to Auba or Aguero if he starts looking sloppy

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This

      2. Teror
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sure but a Kane capitancy blank in GW19 will be infuriating. Altho I imagine he'll be the most popular captain so it might not be the biggest risk.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          hazard has Watford 😉
          I may not even captain kane

    2. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Also worried that he keeps playing as a playmaker in their midfield. Still there is no premium striker as nailed as Kane. Imo Kane can is most reliable striker comparing to other candidates, Aubameyang, Aguero and Jesus. (Now maybe we can consider Lukaku too.) So I will pick Kane to my wildcard team.

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

      He only played the last half hour against arsenal

  13. slove
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Laca , Kamara and Camarasa to Mitro, Rashford and Snodgrass a good move? Will be playing 2 out of 3 each week until I ditch one of Mitro/Rash for Jiménez around GW23

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Keep Laca for this GW.
      You can thank me later 🙂

      1. slove
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        The move was for next week as idonng want to ditch him yet but yes I think a haul is coming too!

        1. Wild Card this!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Not sure about haul but he will start this GW.

      2. FC Hakkebøf
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yup. Kept him as well.

  14. MHG
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    A Jimenez (Liv h)
    B Doherty (Liv h)
    C Schindler(Sou h)
    D Zanka (Sou h)

    I need to play 2 and bench 2.
    Do I play my strong Wolves duo against L'pool or pray Huddersfield keep a clean sheet?!

    Which two to play?

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A,D

  15. TerryVenables
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Salah > Hazard or have 2 free transfers next week?