Scout Notes

Laporte the real star of Double Gameweek 25

It was a largely underwhelming conclusion for those with attacking assets in Double Gameweek 25 as Manchester City laboured to victory over Everton.

The defending champions were not their usual scintillating best at Goodison Park, with benchings and blanks for many of the midfield and forward players involved in the match.

Only those invested in the Manchester City defence will be pleased with Wednesday night’s events, especially owners of Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m).

Everton 0-2 Man City

Goals: Aymeric Laporte (£5.9m), Gabriel Jesus (£10.0m)

Assists: David Silva (£8.5m)

Double Gameweek 25 proved to be a complete anti-climax for those in possession of Leroy Sané (£9.8m). After missing out on Sunday’s 3-1 win over Arsenal altogether, the German international started at Goodison Park but was substituted in the 59th minute having offered little.

After 11 starts in 12 Premier League matches prior to Double Gameweek 25 as well as two goals and two assists between Gameweeks 21 and 24, Sané equalled his worst score across two top-flight games this season. He has not combined for one point between consecutive Gameweeks since the third and fourth matches of 2018/19. That feat happened to come when he was the most popular Manchester City option among the top 10,000 FPL managers, captained by 370,000+ overall and Triple Captained by 26,000+.

Manchester City did spend much of the opening hour of the match probing down the left, hoping to expose Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m), who had come in for Seamus Coleman (£5.2m) at right-back. However, despite no player registering more penalty box touches than him, Sané was offside on a number of occasions and was the natural player to be replaced when Pep Guardiola wanted to introduce Raheem Sterling (£11.3m) in the second half.

A little over half an hour on the Goodison Park pitch for the Englishman was not enough time for him to truly make a mark on proceedings. Sterling shot just once, playing no key passes on the night. However, there was some encouragement to take for his owners as his short involvement in the match should mean he is in the frame to start when Chelsea visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sergio Aguero (£11.4m) could not follow up his Sunday afternoon hat-trick as he was limited to just two efforts on goal in the game. Only one of those was in the penalty box and neither were on target. He was unlucky not to find the net in the first half when David Silva (£8.5m) fizzed a ball across Everton’s six-yard box, but Aguero’s pressurised touch turned it onto the bar. Despite proving a much better player at home compared to away this season, the Argentinian’s blank on Merseyside was his first on the road since returning from injury in Gameweek 18. Since then he has assisted at Leicester and Huddersfield, scoring at Southampton and Newcastle.

Aguero looks likely to start against Chelsea as he was substituted in the 78th minute, replaced by Gabriel Jesus (£10.0m). He has now started seven of the last eight Premier League matches, while his Brazilian colleague has featured from the beginning just once in that time. When Manchester City’s Blank Gameweek 27 is out of the way, Aguero may make a strong case for inclusion in our squads if he has reclaimed a regular starting spot. Jesus still reminded Guardiola of his credentials though, netting a stoppage-time goal from his own rebound.

“Many decisions could be better, that is my job. I analyse these decisions but it is important because Sergio scored three goals in the last game and I know how important the feeling is for the strikers to score. But before that Gabriel scores seven, eight, nine goals in a short time so I’ve got an incredible two strikers. Sometimes you see the spaces where the players should go. They play, I don’t play, but in general, I am so satisfied. In the last three months, it’s been game, game, game. Now in three, four days we have another against Chelsea. But I don’t know how far we will get, how far we arrive, maybe we will die on the road, or we are there. Game by game and we will prepare.” – Pep Guardiola

David Silva’s performance was also worth noting, as he was joint-top for penalty box touches on Wednesday night. Having started the last three in a row, he has assisted in two of those. However, on a night characterised less by intricate play in the box and more by hopeful crosses, David Silva only played one key pass on this occasion.

“We were not lucky because football is like this but to score in the last minute of the first half helps us and in the second half they pushed more and it was more difficult to make our game. Some people were tired but we did it.” – Pep Guardiola

Despite Aguero’s Arsenal hat-trick, the top scorer for Double Gameweek 25 was actually his defensive colleague Laporte. The Frenchman, deployed at left-back again, seemed to have an uncanny knowledge of the fact that Fantasy managers were turning to him this week. He had managed just one attacking return between Gameweeks 1 and 24 but recorded a goal and an assist across two matches in Double Gameweek 25. Laporte could have even netted a second had he been on target earlier in the first half when Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) was caught in no man’s land during a corner. Add into the equation a clean sheet and maximum bonus points at Goodison Park, and Laporte came away with 20 points.

After a run of eight Premier League matches without a clean sheet between Gameweeks 14 and 21, Manchester City now have three in their last five outings. That was also beneficial to Ederson (£5.6m), who scored eight points in the end.

However, some of the credit for Manchester City’s latest shutout does have to go to Everton who failed to create a single big chance on the night. There was much more effort and desire from the Toffees compared to their flat performance in the 3-1 defeat to Wolves at the weekend, but ultimately they caused little of trouble for the defending champions.

“Performance was completely different to our last game. Good attitude, strong answer, everything we needed. We should show this tonight, and in every game. It has to be our image as a team. Nothing to compare with our last game.” – Marco Silva

Marco Silva turned heads with a surprising team selection, opting to switch from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3, which involved dropping Richarlison (£6.8m) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.4m) to the bench. This was just the fourth Premier League game this season that Richarlison has not started. Only once before this game was it by Silva’s choice too, the other two enforced following a Gameweek 3 sending off. In his initial absence, Everton fielded a front three of Bernard (£5.9m) and Theo Walcott (£6.0m) flanking Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m), with Cenk Tosun (£6.5m) also among the substitutes.

“I felt it was the best XI to start the match. We had a different profile of players in the middle zone.” – Marco Silva

There was a return in the midfield trio for Idrissa Gueye (£4.8m), who had recently been the subject of transfer speculation about a move to Paris Saint Germain. He was one of Everton’s key performers against Manchester City as they largely frustrated their play.

“Gueye’s performance showed to me, to all, how he is a fantastic professional. He did well despite not training the last few days. In general, the players gave me a good answer.” – Marco Silva

Wednesday’s defeat was the latest in a long line of matches characterised by Everton’s weaknesses to set pieces. After struggling to defend them against Wolves on Saturday, Manchester City’s best opportunities also came from such situations. As already mentioned, Laporte could have easily scored twice at Goodison Park. That could be good news for anyone still holding Jose Holebas (£4.8m) ahead of Everton’s trip to Watford in Gameweek 26.

“Big frustration to concede 47 minutes first half, 97 minutes second half. I don’t want to talk more about set-pieces. What I tell, I will tell to the players. I understand why you ask, but there is something inside the mind of our players. We have to work more.” – Marco Silva

Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Digne, Zouma, Keane, Kenny; Davies, Gueye, A Gomes (Sigurdsson 63′); Bernard (Richarlison 72′), Calvert-Lewin, Walcott (Tosun 78′).

Man City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Laporte, Otamendi, Stones, Walker; D Silva (De Bruyne 88′), Fernandinho, Gündogan; Sané (Sterling 59′), Aguero (Jesus 78′), B Silva.

884 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Do West Ham and Liverpool have no blanks?

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

      Yes that sounds right (for 27 and 31 anyway).

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Correct.

  2. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How's this looking for this gw? Should crack a 100 easy?

    Mccarthy
    vvd koscielny digne
    hazard mane dsilva son
    auba jiminez rashford

    patricio awb camarasa balbuena

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      most definitely !

    2. altan8797
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      43 points loading

  3. simong1
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fabianski
    Robertson - TAA - Doherty
    Salah (C) – Hazard – Richarlison – Pogba (VC) – Son
    Jimenez – Rashford

    Bench: Button, AWB, Digne, Crouch

    All set for this GW? 0FT, 1M ITB

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Needs Auba

    2. tibollom
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      awb instead of richa

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Definitely not. Watford have conceded more big chances than any other team over the last 6GW’s except for Fulham

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He has extra incentive too.
          Haul/RC incoming

        2. tibollom
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          yea but he is rubbish and so are everton

          1. IRBOX ⚽
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Very insightful retort. They played really well against City.. fancy them to do some damage at Vicarage Road

  4. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Triple figures incoming:

    Fabianski
    Robbo Doherty Digne
    Salah Pogba Son Richarlison
    Auba Rashford Jimenez

    Button Laporte Højbjerg Bennett

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I hope you get that.
      We have 9 players in common 😛
      I'll settle for 90

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks great. Captain?

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Auba

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Same
      Same Same Same
      Same Same Same Same
      Same Same Same

      Pat WanB Lamela Alders (1.2 ITB)

    4. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      digne and rich wont give you anything

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Watford defensive stats say otherwise, something non-members cannot easily understand.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Rich has had a really nice run of fixtures and returned once. Misplaced confidence in him - he was dropped for a reason.

          With Digne you have a chance

    5. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      and why bench laporte

    6. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That is my first 11 except i have Sane over Son and 2.2m in the bank.

  5. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    start ederson or fab?

    currently starting ederson

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Fab

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      sell ererson asap if you re not starting him imo

  6. Efan Ekoku Pops
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    GTG? Need to stop the rot
    Fabianski
    Robbo / Doherty / Bednarek
    Salah / Mane / Son / Pogba / Sane
    Rashford / Jiminez

    Boruc / Shaw / AWB / Kamara

  7. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fab
    Robbo • TAA • Doherty
    Salah • Hazard • Sane • Pogba • Jota
    Rashford • Jimènez

    (Button / Digne / Awb / Kamara)
    2 FTs

    Hazard, Sane & Kamara ➡️
    Auba, Son & 4.5m

    Any reason not to make these moves for (-4)?

    Cheers! 🙂

    1. tibollom
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Go for it

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Worth it and (c) Auba

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Auba vs Salah is a close decision this week. But I’m happy I’ll own both this week.

  8. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    How does this sound?
    GW26 - Kun -> Auba -4
    GW27 - Digne -> Peltier, McNeil -> F.Anderson -4
    GW28 - Sane -> Hazard

    Would would leave me with
    Patricio
    Robbo TAA AWB Bednarek Peltier
    Salah Hazard Son Pogba FAnderson
    Auba Rashford Jimenez

  9. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    G2G guys?

    Fab
    Robbo AWB Doherty
    Salah(c) Son Pogba Jota
    Rash Auba Jimenez

    Stek, Bamba, Peireira, Camarasa

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

      1. tibollom
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks Amey - bench and captain alright as well?

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bench yes.
          © Between auba & Salah fir me too. Not sure yet

    2. Trevez
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2g could toss a coin for the (c) Salah or auba

  10. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    guys could so with some help. really struggling to decide which below 4.8 mid to buy to cover for hazard for gw27. am really tempted by camarasa but is that not a bit daft to buy a player flagged yellow 🙂 ?

    1. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      there isnt really options below 6m

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        has to be haha 🙂

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          c'mon even barnes at 5.5 looks ok for leicester

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Well he is not 4.8 and a lot to prove still. There are cheaper than 6 mil but they don't jump from the page.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      There are 2-3 weeks for GW 27. Camarasa should be fit by then, if you don't trust any other midfielder in that range

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yeah think i'll take the gamble, after the sane disaster what's the worst that can happen anyway haha 🙂

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Can we just change the topic 😀

    3. maratus
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Look at defenders, not mids at that price range, imo.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          i would expect i need money to get auba

  11. kime67
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    funny how laporte managed to outscore aguero.

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      It will take him another 22 game weeks for that to happen again. Prior to GW25, he's been lack luster all season for his price point.

  12. Amey
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hello guys,
    This is the team
    Fabs
    Robbo, Doherty,Digne
    Son,Mane,Jota,Pogba,Salah©
    Auba,Rash
    Hamer,Awb,kiko,kamara
    0ft,1.5itb
    G2G ??

    1. tibollom
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G mate... personally would have AWB instead of Digne tho

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah. I also thought about that but its Digne's last match in my team, so taking a punt as he has higher ceiling amongst them.

    2. theodosios
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      GTG and get rid of Kamara next GW

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah.
        Just not able to save a ft for that from 2-3 weeks.
        Hopefully he goes out of my team for good.

    3. fenixri
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Very strong, only player I dont like from your starting ix is Digne. Your attack is crazy good for this gw

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you mate 🙂
        I need some points this gw.
        Also Digne is a punt as his last match in the team. Expecting some fireworks

    4. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks great buddy - hope it comes good!!

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thank you buddy 🙂
        Hopefully. I need a good gw !!

  13. Jabba12
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bench 2
    a) AWB
    b) Bennett
    c) Rondon
    d) Mitro
    e) Lindelof

  14. Kemosabe1
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Do i.... bring in lacazette for ings... no hit.

    Or aub for ings. Felipe for sane.... for minus 4. (Don't have the money for aub without the hit)

    1. Kemosabe1
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      This is for the next 3 fixtures... then it's likely to aguero

    2. Trevez
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lac could be a good differential

  15. MINUS FOUR
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Really surprised there are still a number of well known managers (and plenty of lesser known ones) still sticking to the following mantra:

    1) It's too early to think too much about a strategy for BGW31, DGW32, and chip usage etc; and
    2) I'm leaning towards building a squad using FTs for BGW31 and playing the Free Hit in DGW32.

    Even now for GW26 the big transfer targets of the likes of Son, Auba etc who are unlikely to have a fixture in GW31. So from GW27 are people just going to immediately start using every FT to get rid of their key assets from the big clubs (plus Wolves assets etc) for the likes of Bournemouth, Leicester and West Ham players? How long are they going to wait to starting making these transfers? Surely the squad demolition must begin very, very soon if you're actually going to field a decent full starting team by GW11. And even then, that means getting rid of some seriously good assets far sooner than you'd ideally choose to.

    In my team I would potentially need to get rid of: Doherty, Digne, AWB, Bednarek, Deulofeu, Richarlison, Pogba, Sane, Jimenez, Aguero, Rashford. That's 11 playersin 5 gameweeks! And it's not like my team is miles away from the template. Personally, I'm perfectly set up to play the Free Hit in BGW31 since a huge majority of my team is already filled with the kind of DGWers I'd want for DGW32. However the fixtures fall, there's a very good chance the squad I'll have will already be quite well covered, then I can make a few transfers if required and play either Bench Boost or Triple Captain when others free hitting and can't use another chip.

    Are some managers simply burying their heads in the sand about this? Are they going to be surprised how much squad dismantling will be required in order to Free Hit in GW32?

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      With 1ft per GW I will have 8 players Auba and son over 5 weeks should make the points over 1 Gw with 11 players.

      1. MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who do you need to start transferring out in advance then? Must be some of Pogba, Rashford, City and Chelsea.

        You wouldn't rather keep your preferred team intact, make aggressive transfers for the players you actually want right now, and then solve the GBW31 issues with your free hit?

        1. KingOllie
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          What you gonna do during gwk33?

          1. MINUS FOUR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            It's the least impacted BGW. Some of the teams blanking in GW31 won't blank in GW33 (Son, Arsenal players, etc), so you can put a team together that's good enough. I've looked at possible fixtures and how my squad would be by then, and I'd have a full starting 11 with approximately 1 hit.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Son and Arsenal are important for GW33

              1. MINUS FOUR
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                I know, I plan to have them. They are 2 examples of options that might have a DGW32 and also play in BGW33. It's perfect.

        2. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          The players I will have avoiding accidents are:
          Fab Perreira Robbo Mane Salah Fraser Anderson Almiron*

          Pogba* Rash Jimi Auba Doherty Awb Patricio Digne

          Pogba And Almiron dependent on form. i can do Vardy for Auba

          A bit messy but you get my point?

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Free Hit 31 looking more enticing with those terrible blanks/fixtures.. your squad will be loaded for 32 with DGW’ers.. TC time.. WC 34/BB35

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        this is what I'm most likely doing, but don't want it to dictate my transfers (although it looks like my FTs this week favour that option anyway)

      2. MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Exactly. Why is this the less popular plan? Even before making any transfers my current squad is basically a DGW squad. And between now and then I can completely ignore Leicester / Bournemouth / West Ham assets (who let's face it, nobody would really want unless they were the only option) and continue making transfers in for the likes of Son, Auba, Kolasinac while keeping Pogba, Rashford, Jimenez, Doherty in my team the whole way. Last thing I want to be doing is dropping Wolves and Man United assets unnecessarily.

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          100% agree mate, sticj to your own plan

        2. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I take your points; they are valid.
          How many SGW players will you have in a DGW. (Salah Robbo Mane) come to mind.

          1. MINUS FOUR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Planning to hopefully have zero SGW players in the DGW. I will use 2FTs to get rid of Salah just for GW32 as part of a move where I will bring in 2 key DGWers at the last minute (Hazard, KDB, Auba, whoever becomes an obvious pick). Robbo and Mane can sit on the bench.

            I've been through it week by week, transfer by transfer, and there is a way to optimise for both the BGWs and the DGW by only taking the odd hit.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Logical. But never failed to hut me (Sane an example) when I chase DGW's. Especially when rotation becomes even more common. I have done what you did but I don't have a FH.

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I think the main issue is letting it affect your immediate decisions too much, even before you have the full load of information. I didn't do Phillips -> King around this time last season because of DGW stuff and it backfired horribly.

      A part of me thinks getting Fraser over Jota is the smart thing to do, it keeps my options to play FH in 31 or 32 - but I also think Jota will outscore him over the next 4, so I'll get him and that will probably narrow my FH options. Like most decisions on here it could go either way

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        some people may prefer to get Fraser this week, and then a couple of Leicester players next week, both ways could work well imo

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'm not a great manager. Just want to use FH in a dgw to explore it's potential fully.
      Gw31 every one will © Salah so i personally don't see much upside in it.
      Also IF Wolves go out i won't even have to make a ft keeping bgw31 in mind as I'll have 11 players already.

      We'll see though as still 4-5 ft's to go their

    5. KingOllie
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      3 Liverpool,
      2 west ham (good fixtures)
      1 leicester (good fixtures)
      2 bournemouth (good fixtures from gwk30)
      1 newcastle (good fixtures)

      Thats 9 players who i can get and still have a good team without selling the likes of Pogba/Jiminez.

      From your list id be ok with selling: Digne / deulofeu / richarlison / sane / aguero.

      This gwk i am bringing in Son/Auba/Fraser. Over the next few weeks i will draft in Felipe Anderson for Rich and bring in a leicester / Newcastle defender for blankers.

      Gwk 30 i can transfer in a Bmouth striker and whoever else is showing form. Its a sound strategy and will be even easier should we get another team not blanking in 31

      1. MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You also won't be able to play BB or TC in the DGW because you're using the FH chip. Those who go BGW31 free hit will have the chance to jump ahead again the following GW if their other chip goes well. You're banking on those managers not being able to get as many DGWers out in DGW32 as you can with the free hit, but what if they can?

    6. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        "are people just going to immediately start using every FT to get rid of their key assets from the big clubs (plus Wolves assets etc) for the likes of Bournemouth, Leicester and West Ham players?"

        Yes (and Liverpool, and whoever else doesn't end up blanking)

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          that's the thing, all 3 of those teams do have really good fixtures

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Problem is it's not just 31; 33 could be more of the same so don't fancy FH31.
              Will probably do Sane - Mane this week then wait to see how the FA Cup results fall to determine the rest

              1. SADIO SANÉ
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                yeah probably not a bad idea, think I'm going all in on Wolves/Arsenal for the next 3 and then see what happens - not particularly worried about 33, think getting 11 out will be easy enough

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Could work out that way, but right now I only have Salah/TAA who don't blank in 31 (so max 8 for free) so can't risk ignoring it.

                    1. MINUS FOUR
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      This is the part that surprises me - many do seem to be ignoring it for now. But the numbers don't add up. If you're not free hitting in BGW31, you really do need to start planning immediately unless your current squad dictates otherwise. My squad definitely is not and would not be ready for GW31 anytime soon.

                      1. MTPockets
                          5 years, 1 month ago

                          I guess many just aren't aware/hoping there aren't as many blanks as could be. Not sure but as you say if not playing FH in 31 could have a decimated team. Planning could also backfire if Palace, Wolves, Watford, Chelsea etc all go out of the cup. But I'm not taking that risk.

              2. KingOllie
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Leicester and west ham have great fixtures and dont blank. Bournemouth have a great run soon. Newcastle have nice fixtures and play gwk31 also.

                Id make some of these transfers regardless of blanks - just playing the fixture swings

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Yeah I'm more of a fixtures person anyway

                2. MINUS FOUR
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Fair enough then, each to their own. I think it could easily end up being a case of making transfers that are not optimal over a stretch of 5-6 GWs. If you FH in BGW31, every transfer you make between now and then can be 100% focused on scoring points right now, with the best players and the best fixtures to achieve that in. Honestly I wouldn't want Leicester and West Ham assets.

                  Anyway, it's going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out.

                  1. MTPockets
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      You could be right and last season the target-blanks approach didn't work well.
                      But this time there's better correlation between doing it and fixtures.

                      1. MINUS FOUR
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 6 Years
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        That's my concern. I prefer the option where my focus is having the strongest possible team every GW, not planning for blanks that are 5 GWs away. Combine that with the fact I clearly don't believe in those clubs with decent fixtures to the same extent some others do.

                        1. MTPockets
                            5 years, 1 month ago

                            The counter argument is you'll actually end up optimising 31 for those Lei/Bou/Whu assets you don't want via the FH chip (versus others who will balance and limit it to say 8), then unable to totally optimise for DGW32 and fingers crossed for 33.

                            1. MINUS FOUR
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 6 Years
                              5 years, 1 month ago

                              That is a reasonable counter argument actually. I think from all the analysis I've done, combined now with lots of great feedback from everyone, I've come to the conclusion that my original plan has the higher ceiling but also the lower floor. It's going to depend how much one wants to gamble with the fixtures etc. I do think there's a strong case for the FH in GW31 and playing a BB or TC in GW32, but yes it does come with greater risks should the double fixtures not fall your way in GW32 and/or if GW33 proves more problematic than anticipated. Lots to consider.

                  2. Joss Ackland’s Spunky…
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    You make a fair point.
                    But surely second guessing the make up of the fa QF is a bit risky?

                    I had also planned a free hit gw32. Perhaps i'll reconsider this. I do only have freehit and bench boost left unfortunately so i was hoping i could get in players from teams likely to play both 31 and 33 with the free hit inbetween and then adjust for 35.

                    You've got me thinking though.

                  3. Pep Pig
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Yes Kalon I'm with you here.

                    I'm also planning the FH in GW31 and looking to maximize points potential in the 4 GWs before that.

                    No transfer this week. Though all being well we know a lot more in the week running up to GW 27.

                    I'm fairly relaxed about the chips to be fair.

                  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    My plan from 2weeks ago still stands:

                    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/19769694

                    BGW31 - 90% chance of 5 or more fixtures (no chip needed?)
                    DGW32 - FH for DGW
                    BGW33 - minimum 6 fixtures guaranteed (no chip needed?)
                    GW34 - WC targeting DGW35 players
                    DGW35 - BB for DGW

                    Just leaves triple captain... according to Ben Crellin there should be a third DGW, we just don’t know when yet. Failing that - Salah GW36 for obvious reasons may still be better than any DGW

                  5. DantheManinaPan
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    I haven't been focusing too heavily on what everyone else is doing, but for me FH 31 is definitely the best option. I really like my team at the moment, and there's no way I'm going to dismantle it for the sake of a single game week - this is the ideal time for a free hit!

                    However, I don't still have my wildcard, so my situation is probably very different to many others who can fix their squad back up after the blanks

                    1. MINUS FOUR
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      Yeah, this is mainly what I'm trying to get at - the dismantling aspect. As much as possible I'd like to avoid needing to do that. There are some strong looking teams around at the moment, and a lot of the players making them strong are players that will need to be dropped in preparation for GW31, which doesn't appeal to me.

                      All that said, if Wolves go out of the FA Cup (and therefore have a fixture vs Arsenal) and/or Chelsea lose to Man United and end up having a fixture (vs Everton) in GW31, this could sway my thinking back the other way. In these cases I actually would be able to field a strong 11 in BGW31 purely through FTs, and then my original plan would be overcomplicated for no reason.

                      But my current thinking is based on the reverse happening in the FA Cup, and me not wanting to wreck the squad I have at the moment.

                3. Joss Ackland’s Spunky…
                  • 5 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  I've got angry and sacked off sane and Aguero (till gw 28)

                  Sane- fanderson
                  Aguero- Auba

                  Patricio
                  Bennet, Mendy, Robbo
                  Salah (c), Son,Pogba,fanders
                  Llorente, Rashford, Auba(v)

                  100 points?

                  1. Eze Really?
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Coin toss I did Sane Son as a lot did.
                    I will be doing Richa Anderson and Kun Auba next week

                4. gelisiguzel
                  • 5 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Any suggestions?
                  Does it worth going Sane, Kun > Mane and Auba (-4)

                  1FT and 1.5ITB

                  Lloris (Speroni)
                  Shaw-Doherty-Robbo ( AWB, Bednarek)
                  Salah-Sane- Pogba- Son ( Lamela)
                  Kun- Jimi- Rashford

                  1. Bucket Man
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Just Sane to Mane for me

                5. PURPLE-RONNIE
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Richarlison or sane to son lads?

                  1. IRBOX ⚽
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Sane. He won’t start vs Chelsea

                  2. Trevez
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    If you are playing both I would do rich to son and then sane out next week

                6. altan8797
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  anyone going for laca instead of auba ?

                  1. Rostah
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Thinking about it

                  2. Dosh
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Thinking of, could be a nice differential.

                7. Captain Knackered
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  GTG this week?

                  0.7itb with 1FT

                  Lloris
                  Kola - Shaw - Robertson - Doherty
                  Son - Sane - Salah (c) - Mane (vc) - Pogba
                  Rashford

                  Speroni, Wan Bissaka, Long, Quaner**

                  1. King Kohli
                    • 11 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Sane may not play, rest looks good

                    1. Captain Knackered
                      • 7 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      Was going to do Sane and Quaner to Solly March and Vardy next week?

                      Any other suggestions?

                8. CelticBhoy1
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Transfer out:

                  A) Richarlison

                  B) Digne

                  1. Bucket Man
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    depends what replacements you can get and what your team is like. A for me.

                9. Bucket Man
                  • 5 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  40 points, yes 40. Rank down 200k 🙁
                  1FT 0.5ITB, Sane to Son? then move on Digne/Siggy or Martial
                  Fabianski
                  VVD, Doherty, Bednarek
                  Salah, Sane, Martial, Siggy
                  Auba, Rashford, Jiminez
                  Button, AWB, Digne, Obiang

                  1. Amey
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Yes good plan.

                    1. Bucket Man
                      • 5 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      Thanks 🙂

                10. maratus
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  GTG ?
                  Any improvements to do, 1m ITB

                  Etheridge / Steele
                  Wanbis / Shaw / Doherty (Bamba, Digne)
                  Pogba / Sané / Son / Salah (Puncheon)
                  Aubameyang / Rashford / Jimenez

                11. DF
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Is this the third season of the TC chip?
                  Trying to remember how I've used it in the past. Definitely copped Kane's 1 pointer and obviously went for Sane's this time round. How many more have there been?

                  1. King Kohli
                    • 11 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    3rd or 4th season I guess

                  2. Amey
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    4th

                  3. HamezMace
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    I think so.
                    I did Sanchez 2 years ago, and Kane last year. Can't think of a time before Sanchez.

                  4. Mo Mané Mo Problems
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Started in 2015/16.

                    TC/BB/AoA (All out attack).

                    AoA cost me 5 points as a defender outscored my 8th attacker.
                    BB: Can't remember how many points I gained (10-15 I think)
                    TC: Hazard for 12 I think.

                    Sanchez scored 25 in the week I used BB (DGW34), and my bench got about 20-30 in the week I used TC (DGW37).

                    Was gutted.

                  5. L P
                    • 12 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    4th season now, my record so far is

                    15/16- Payet for 12 x 3
                    16/17- Aguero for 9 x 3
                    17/18- Kane for 3 x 3

                    1. DF
                      • 10 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      Ah yeah. Was that the Aguero 9 pointer when he missed a pen to chip away at his haul?
                      Cheers by the way

                12. Swagat
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  This will be my Team for next week after i bring Auba for a -4

                  Pat
                  Doherty AWB Shaw
                  Salah(c) Sterling Son Pogba
                  Auba(vc) Rashford Jimenez

                  Fab Holebas Bednarek Puncheon

                  Right bench and order?

                  1. Swagat
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Next Game week*

                13. dashdriver
                  • 8 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Etheridge
                  Robertson / Duffy / Bennett
                  Salah (C) / Pogba / Sané / Son
                  Aubameyang (vc) / Rashford / Jiménez

                  Boruc / Wan-Bissaka / Danilo / Westwood

                  GTG or Sané > Mané for a hit?

                14. AppleDunk
                  • 10 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Bench two pls

                  A. Filipe (cry)
                  B. Rich (wat)
                  C. Diane (wat)
                  D. AWB (WHM)
                  E. Bednarek (CAR)

                  1. AppleDunk
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    That's Digne of coz

                  2. claretparrot
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    C & E

                  3. KingOllie
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    c + d

                    1. Party time
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        This

                        1. Pep Pig
                          • 7 Years
                          5 years, 1 month ago

                          Your "this" comments zzzzzz

                  4. Trevez
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Please pick two
                    A, Richarlison (WAT)
                    B, FAnderson(CRY)
                    C, Barnes (BHA)

                    1. claretparrot
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 5 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      A & B

                    2. HamezMace
                      • 9 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      To start? AB.

                      1. Trevez
                        • 10 Years
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        Yea to start sorry wasn’t that clear

                    3. Party time
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        AB

                    4. claretparrot
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 5 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      If you're trying to wind down City assets, which would you ship this week (Son in)?

                      A) Sterling
                      B) Sané

                      1. XABI 15
                        • 8 Years
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        Sane

                    5. bigdip
                      • 11 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      Have gone from 2nd in my group to 20th out of 40 because everyone had Aguero and Laporte and all I had was Sane. Does this look like a team to get some points back (used my FT to bring in Auba & Son):

                      Fabianski (Patricio)
                      AWB Robertson Digne Doherty (Alonson)
                      Martial Pogba Richarlison Salah Son (Billing)
                      Auba (C) Rashford

                      Thoughts pls

                      1. Bucket Man
                        • 5 Years
                        5 years, 1 month ago

                        Yes but you have 6 mids and 2 forwards haha

                        1. bigdip
                          • 11 Years
                          5 years, 1 month ago

                          haha! martial isn't there anymore lol

                          1. Bucket Man
                            • 5 Years
                            5 years, 1 month ago

                            Looks nice for this week absolutely!