Opinion

FPL Question Time – What to do with Man City players for Blank Gameweek 27

Fantasy Premier League managers are starting to ponder how best to handle Blank Gameweek 27.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Brighton all have no fixture on the weekend after next, which will affect our transfer plans.

We’ve asked our panel what their plans are…

Who’s on the panel this week?

Simon March – Former FPL champion who won the title in 2014/15. Has regularly contributed to these pages ever since.

Ben Crabtree – Another FPL title winner, who secured the crown in the 2016/17 campaign.

David Munday – editor of Fantasy Football Scout, a man who spends too much time in the members area for his own good.

Question 1 – Simon

David Peter: With Mane matching Salah outcome, is it time to jump ship?

Simon: “It’s easy to see the appeal of switching Salah to Mane given that the latter is a lot cheaper and, on a points-per-million basis, offers greater value for money.

“At the same time though, there is a feeling that we’ve ‘been here before’ with these two and, the last time at least, it ended up being a fairly decisive victory for Salah.

“He’s more expensive, definitely, but he’s also scored almost 50 points more than Mane already this season.

“In fact, from a pure points-scoring perspective, Salah isn’t just the best Liverpool asset but he is, arguably, the best option of any player full stop.

“However, it would be wrong to say that there aren’t potential advantages to be gained in switching Salah to Mane, it really depends on what you do with the extra money.

“For example, for me, it would allow an easy upgrade of Richarlison to Sterling and it’s hard to argue that this wouldn’t offer a better combo in the aggregate.

“But would I be more confident in captaining Mane or Sterling over Salah long term? Probably not. Salah’s consistency in terms of starts and returns gives him an almost unique advantage in that respect.

“Also, with so many good budget or mid-priced options currently available, and so few heavy-hitters demanding our attention, it’s debatable whether we even really need the extra money right now.

“If managers can achieve the same key player upgrades with Salah as they can without him, and without severely weakening their teams, then there isn’t as much of an advantage in making the switch.

“Of course, this will be different for every manager so the key question anybody considering this move needs to ask themselves is whether, for their team, the potential advantage is big enough to justify the risk of getting rid of the current highest-scoring, highest-owned player.”

Question 2 – David

Claremount Crusaders: If, like a lot of managers, I have three Liverpool and two Manchester United players, plus those who don’t have a fixture, is it best to play the Free Hit chip for Blank Gameweek 27?

David: “I’d be lying if I said the Free Hit chip hadn’t crossed my mind for Blank Gameweek 27.

“Like many Fantasy managers, I am currently in possession of Richarlison and Lucas Digne, while Leroy Sané is my Manchester City asset of choice.

“On current form, none of these options is hugely appealing in the short-term at least and I’m keen to offload them.

“However, I’m also faced with the dilemma of having to field four key players in one unpredictable match, with Andrew Robertson, Mohamed Salah, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford all in action at Old Trafford.

“The first obvious problem is that I don’t have a stand-out captain candidate with Liverpool away from home and Manchester United going up against that mean Reds’ defence.

“If I was playing the Free Hit, I’d be looking to get in maybe Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette for Arsenal’s home match with Southampton.

“However, I have to remember that while my squad doesn’t look in fantastic shape for the next round of fixtures, I still have 10 active players, which for a Blank Gameweek is a decent amount. I’d be surprised if the vast majority of Fantasy managers weren’t in a similar situation to that.

“Looking ahead to Blank Gameweeks 31 and 33, I could not be confident that I’ll be able to guarantee 10 active players, with more than four teams expected to miss games at that stage of the season.

“For that reason, I think the best course of action is to use my Free Transfers to plug the gaps in terms of players who Blank in Gameweek 27 and holding the Free Hit chip for a later date when it could have a bigger effect on my squad.”

Question 3 – Ben

Tom: With Richarlison not producing the goals anymore and an upcoming Blank Gameweek, who would you look to in the mid-price midfielder market, around the £7.0m mark?

Ben: “I’m in the boat with many other frustrated managers who own Richarlison and would have sold five weeks ago if the Double Gameweek had not been on the horizon.

“After the disappointment of Gameweek 25, the early sub against Watford and now a Blank Gameweek there’s no excuses to delay disposing of him any longer.

“From my watchlist, I have three main contenders to don the FC Crab Dogg colours.

“Felipe Anderson has a great immediate fixture in Fulham where they seem very weak down Anderson’s side.

“His fixtures after that are very good bar Manchester City away which comes immediately after but it’s not a game in which he can’t get attacking returns.

“His playing form is maybe a little better than his points form but West Ham have had a few harder games recently in contrast to their four easy games in the next five.

“I’d feel hard done by with less than 20 points over the next five games with potentially 30-35 possible if West Ham click again.

“Diogo Jota is the second of my main three candidates. His immediate fixture in Bournemouth away is decent.

“It wouldn’t surprise if Wolves don’t score and it wouldn’t surprise me if they score three. After that, they have two good fixtures but this is followed by a run of games that may mean you want to take him out, so potentially Jota is a short term option.

“He looks a bit stronger and like he’s adjusted to the Premier League, so I predict Jota’s points range to be 12-25 points over the next five games.

“Option number three is James Maddison at Leicester. Crystal Palace at home is next up which is quite a good fixture but the Eagles are quite strong defensively, especially if James Tomkins is back from injury for the game.

“After that, his fixtures offer strong potential to keep in until Gameweek 34 or 35.

“Performance-wise, Maddison rarely disappoints me but for FPL points he only has 11 in the last five games.

“Claude Puel appears to be the only person who believes he deserves rotation but as his opinion directly affects Maddison’s points, it is a concern.

“Leicester are playing well enough in my opinion and with their fixtures, I can see an upturn in points for Maddison.

“My current line of thought is to go for Anderson but I may switch to Maddison before the deadline.

“Ryan Fraser and Pascal Groß could come into my thinking but tricky upcoming fixtures for one and team form plus minutes issues for the other is tempering interest at the moment.”

Question 4 – David

Sam: What should we do with our Man City assets from GW27 onwards when they have no fixture?

David: “I think the right call on each Manchester City option depends on which player we’re talking about.

“For example, I think if I had Sergio Aguero right now I’d be benching him for Gameweek 27.

“No player has had more shots on target than Aguero in the last four Gameweeks, and his regularity of starts even across all three fixtures in Gameweeks 25 and 26 show he is the number one forward at Manchester City once again.

“I know that you could do an easy switch for Aubameyang for the Blank, but you are going to want Aguero straight back the following week.

“Booking in a future transfer could leave you with problems if you end up with injuries or bans elsewhere in your squad after Gameweek 27.

“With Raheem Sterling, it’s another judgement call as he has the potential to be important for you after the Blank Gameweek, so could be worth benching.

“However, his underlying statistics don’t quite compare to Aguero, with just four accurate shots in the last four Gameweeks. For that reason he doesn’t feel quite as essential for a transfer back in after Blank Gameweek 27 if you wanted to move him out.

“Outside of that, I think you can get away with ditching Manchester City options this week, especially if it involves moving on Leroy Sané.

“With the Champions League returning for the defending champions there will certainly be a greater risk of rotation for all their players so taking some time to suss out who the new favourites are during the busy period could help you avoid being stung by ‘Pep Roulette’.”

1,219 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HamezMace
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    You know it's an FA cup weekend coming up when we've been on the same page for over 2 hours.

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

      #timing

      1. Fuddled FC
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Iol

      2. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        LOL

  2. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    GKP: Etheridge (Speroni)
    DEF: Doherty, Robertson, Wan-Bissaka (Shaw) (Bednarek)
    MID: Westwood, Pogba, Son (C), Salah (V) (Sterling)
    FWD: Firmino, Rashford, Jiménez

    1 FT, 0.3 IDB

    What to do here?

    a) Shaw to Pereira
    b) Firmino to Laca
    c) something else?

    1. Fuddled FC
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      a) and play instead of AWB this week

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

      A and start over WB

      1. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        What to do with Firmino? Hold?

        1. Fuddled FC
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Possibly swap to Lacazette or hold as following 2 fixtures are good

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

          A possible punt would be Arnie who has Fulham - if he plays! - and a decent fixture run including a match in 31.

          If you do that then that opens the possibility of getting TAA or Mane as your 3rd Liverpool player down the line.

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

      A because Pereira plays as a RM or a LM against weaker oppositions

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

      You might consider Firmino to Vardy==see his fixtures== and use the money to upgrade westwood.

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

    Everyone banging on about Periera and Chilwell.. Slab head is the one you want

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

      OFC How could you possibly forget slab head?

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

      Can't afford 5.3m max

  4. Fuddled FC
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who do I drop to finance Firmino > Aguero from gw 28?
    I will have 2 FT

    a) Salah > Sterling (have Mane)
    b) Rashford, Luiz > TAA, Barnes (-4)
    c) Son. Luiz > F.Anderson, TAA (-4)
    d) Mane > F.Anderson
    e) just keep Firmino as none worth it..

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

      D is the only one I'd consider

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

      Does this mean you’re on triple Liverpool attack? Bold.

      I’d go D I suppose but B or C looks tempting to get Liverpool defensive cover. I think I’d just take Fanderson Son over Rashford Barnes.

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    What active player, besides Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo, do you wish would join a PL club?

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

      Jadon Sancho

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ramos with pen duties & corner threat

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

      Dybala, or Mbappe

    4. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Thiago. Not for FPL reasons, just like watching him play.

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

      Ousmane Dembele

    6. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Dybala

    7. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ramsey

    8. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Matthijs de Ligt

    9. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd like to serge gnabry give it another go because hes
      been flying in the bundesliga ever since he left

    10. Weasel51
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mbappe

    11. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Isco - always pleasure to watch how he caresses the ball.
      Technically so gifted its unbelievable.

  6. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So if you could field a whole squad this GW, would using a bench boost be a bit of a differential

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

      Could do depends on what your bench looks like.

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Doesn’t make a difference if it’s used now or another GW, you get extra points either way

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Well it does if some people are taking hits to field 11 etc etc

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

          It'll make a difference to your game week rank, but not your OR

          1. FDMS All Starz
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            This

    3. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on your bench. Other ppl saving their BB for a DGW, so could be a differential in a negative way.

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Haha you’re not wrong there

    4. puhd
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nope

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

      BB on a week when people are struggling to field 11 in many cases and don't care if they don't. Sounds like disappointment

  7. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Will Kun rise again before the deadline? Surely people won’t bring him in closer to the deadline with a blank next, think those who brought him in was from kneejerking/casual

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

      I think ppl who brought him in were afraid of a price rise or smth and some of them are just utter idiots.

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

    Newcastle assets are looked at in the latest Community Article:

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/02/13/tyne-to-shine/

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

    Bench 2:

    A)AWB vs LEI(A)
    B) Camarasa vs WAT (H)
    C) Shaw vs LIV(H)
    D) Pereira vs CRY (H)

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

      BD

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

        U sure I was thinking B and D starting

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

          D shouldn’t be on this list

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

      Shaw and AWB, but be wary of Camarasa cameo

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

        Ya Camarasa should start, I think he is back to full fitness.

  10. Goat
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    The possibility for Brighton to have:
    (CAR) (SOU) for DGW32, screams for a Duffy and Dunk double up!

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

      Or a Glenn Murray TC

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

        Shades of Andy Carroll in 15/16

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

          That would make a great band name

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

            Too bad when they don't show up

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

      Dunk not so much because he isnt an attacking threat as much as duffy is.

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

      I wouldn’t. Just one is enough!

  11. Simmoo
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling + Firmino -> Anderson + Aubameyang (C)?

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

      No

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

      Yes

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good on paper but I’m not sure if Fanderson will do thaaaat well think maybe Firmino to Laca may be enough

  12. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Not convinced Sane is a 'must ditch' player. Nothing to say he is now out of favour, still think he's got just as much chance of rotation as Sterling. I think I'm gonna hold on to him for now.

    1. Lemongrab
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      0,1,0 indicates he is out of favour.

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

        I agree

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

      Smart choice buddy, I will be doing the same!

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sterling has been playing better on the left than the right, and mendy back too, also Bilva is playing on the wing now...these all adds up to Sane not worth holdin onto at that price

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

        Mendy is back to trolling not back at training!! Means Sane Aguero Sterling could all start with Bilva playing CM w KBD and Dilva

        1. FDMS All Starz
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          So where will Fernandinho play?

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

            Bilva Fernandinho + KDB or Dilva my bad

    4. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I reckon there's a binder full of stuff suggesting he's out of favour. B Silva is peps main man, he's picking the team around him at the moment.

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

        But he would want B Silva to play in all the important matches giving players like Sane a chance to play against weaker oppositions.

        1. FDMS All Starz
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He won’t rotate his team too much, can’t afford to lose any points now and all games in all competition are very important from now on

    5. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd get rid. He'll get minutes but Sterling is in the driving seat for the LW position, and Bernardo on the RW.

  13. puhd
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Feeling fairly confident here:

    Sane Rich and Sucess OUT
    Mane McNeil and Auba (C) IN

    -4. Good moves?

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

      Sane could come bk to hurt if he starts games after their BGW 27

  14. Rahulio
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    My current GK's: Etheridge and Button

    Should I do Etheridge to Fabi and Button to Boruc? Or is there better?

  15. boc610
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Im more than certain now that Mbappe is the only player who will hit messi / Ronaldo numbers when both of them aren't playing anymore and be the number one player in the world for years to come.

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

      Because he done it against United?
      Or because it’s the first time you saw him play?

      1. boc610
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        . first time I saw him play???get real chief. He had city players on toasr at age 17, watched him play a lot. There's no other player at that age further ahead in his development .

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

          Shoulda been certain of this after the World Cup

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Think if Rasford moved to a team like Madrid he could improve to that level too

      1. boc610
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I love rashford but honestly think mabappe is a level, maybe two ahead of him already... and rashford is older

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

      He is so much like the Brazilian Ronaldo, in terms of body type, and speed.
      Can see him at Real Madrid eventually, and I agree with you, the stand out player for the next generation.

  16. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) TAA + Fraser

    B) Chilwell + FAnderson

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

      B) Becuase Liverpool are vulnerable at the back these days

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

      B Fraser doesn’t have good fixtures yet

  17. Rahulio
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Button + Etheridge > Fabi + Boruc?
    Is there better?

  18. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Laporte
    B) Chilwell

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

    is this decent for gw27?

    fab
    pva - doherty - robertson
    salah - mane - pogba - jota
    rashford - jiminez - arnie

    ederson - awb - bednarek - sterling

  20. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    llrois
    Shaw lascelles Bennett AWB
    Salah son(c) Pogba jota
    Jimenez rashford

    Subs - aguero richarlson Luiz

    1.0 ITB and 1FT

    Any worthwhile transfer to make or save it for next week? All my ML competitors will struggle to field 11 and no arsneal assets for them

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

    what's the best -4?

    a) siggy + sterling > son + eriksen (-4) - would need to take another hit to bring sterling back though

    b) siggy + ings > jota + arnie (-4)

    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If this is for GW27, I would take a -4 only if you could not field 9-11 players. At least 9 should be fine instead of taking hits.

      a) is best of the two above.

  22. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ignoring GW 27, from GW 28 onward which option is better:
    A) Sterling and Firmino (current)
    B) Mane and Aguero

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

      A

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

      C) Sterling and Mane

  23. OleGGMU
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Foster Speroni

    Doherty, AWB, Perreira, Holebas, Simpson

    Son, Mane, Salah, McNeil, Jota

    Lacaz, Aguero, Jiminez
    0.2 ITB
    Thoughts lads?
    considering a -4 to switch lacaz to barnes to free up cash for a midfield upgrade of Jota to Pogba and change to sort out simpson and speroni for perhaps Bednarek and Boruc

  24. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For the run in:

    A) Laporte
    B) Chilwell

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

    if ings is passed fit, would you hold him for gw27 and play?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Always injured and crap fixtures - I'd move on personally if no bigger issues.

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

      if you want that price level , switch to Ashley Barnes before he goes up to 5.7m

  26. Patonius2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If I make my FT and then play my Free Hit to transfer them back out will my GW28 team still contain the player I FT'd in?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Jarvis knows

  27. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who to captain out of these?

    A) Salah
    B) Lacazette
    C) Son
    D) Rashford
    E) Pogba

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lacca

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Laca

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

    For a bit of fun while it's quite, assuming a worst case for the blanks in GW31 what would your FH team be?

    Fixtures would be, as I understand it, which might be wrong.

    Bournemouth v Newcastle
    Burnley v Leicester
    West Ham v Hddersfield
    Fulham v Liverpool

    Fabianski
    Robertson - Periera - Tarkowski (maybe)
    Salah - Mane - Anderson - Maddison
    Arnautovic - Vardy - Wilson/King

  29. S3
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Fab
    Robertson - Wan-B - Doherty
    Son - Salah - Pogba - Sane
    Rashford - Jiménez - Laca
    (Hamer - TAA - Bednarek - Nasri)

    1FT ; 1.6ITB

    Which Xfer for GW 27?. Plan is to upgrade any Xfer made below to Sterling in GW28
    A) Sane to Felipe
    B) Sane to Almirón ( a punt really)
    C) or any other recommended Xfer