Scout Notes

West Ham assets disappoint ahead of Blank Gameweek 31

West Ham United warmed up for Blank Gameweek 31 in underwhelming fashion on Saturday.

The Hammers fell to a 2-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Cardiff City, a side that had lost all three of their previous Premier League fixtures and who had conceded ten goals in the process of doing so.

This was West Ham’s sixth away match without a victory.

There was more concern for Felipe Anderson‘s owners after the Brazilian winger was hooked at half-time but the positive news for those Fantasy managers with West Ham assets in their squads is that Manuel Pellegrini’s side are at home in Blank Gameweek 31 and are unbeaten in five at the London Stadium.

The Hammers’ latest defeat on the road is the primary focus of this Scout Notes article, while we will also run the rule over the Crystal Palace v Brighton and Hove Albion below.

Cardiff City 2-0 West Ham United

  • Goals: Junior Hoilett (£5.0m), Victor Camarasa (£4.6m)
  • Assists: Josh Murphy (£4.8m)

Manuel Pellegrini said Felipe Anderson‘s (£7.2m) half-time substitution on Saturday was tactical in nature, allaying any fears of an injury for the Brazil international ahead of Blank Gameweek 31.

While concerns over fitness will have been assuaged, there will still be unease among the 15.8% of Fantasy Premier League managers who own the attacking midfielder ahead of the hugely appealing home fixture against Huddersfield Town next Saturday.

Anderson has been an ever-present in the league this season and is clearly a favourite of Pellegrini’s but the fact that he was withdrawn at the interval after yet another sub-par display must be a worry.

As is the fact that the Hammers are now blessed with attack-minded options ready and waiting for a start: Michail Antonio (£6.8m), Samir Nasri (£5.2m) and Marko Arnautovic (£6.8m) all began Saturday’s game on the bench and came on as substitutes in the second half.

Pellegrini said of Anderson’s withdrawal:

Just a tactical change because we didn’t create chances in the first half and, at least in the second half, Marko had a shot which was blocked by the goalkeeper and we had another shot from Declan Rice off the post.

Cardiff didn’t create too many chances also, but they scored their two goals.

We didn’t have many chances in the first half and that’s why we tried to make tactical changes, first with Marko Arnautovic and after that with Nasri and Antonio.

We improved a little bit but we didn’t create the amount of chances you need if you want to win away.

Anderson has registered just two shots in the last six Gameweeks, neither of which was on target.

The Brazilian midfielder has only created three chances in the last four Gameweeks, meanwhile.

On Saturday, Anderson didn’t register a single shot, key pass or penalty box touch.

He wasn’t alone in turning in a poor performance, however.

Javier Hernandez (£6.1m) also failed to register a goal attempt or create a chance in his awful 90-minute showing up front, while Manuel Lanzini (£6.4m) – who only sporadically flickered into life – did likewise before being substituted just before the hour mark. Robert Snodgrass (£5.0m) was similarly ineffective on the right flank.

West Ham had only two attempts on goal in the first hour and it wasn’t until Arnautovic stung Neil Etheridge‘s (£4.7m) palms after 74 minutes that the visitors registered a shot on target.

The Austrian striker was perhaps one of the few winners out of this defeat, as it would surely only serve to further his chances of a start in Gameweek 31.

Given that bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield visit the London Stadium next weekend, Pellegrini may even decide to play Arnautovic alongside Hernandez in a 4-4-2 and abandon the 4-1-4-1 system he has used recently.

“Out of position” defender Declan Rice (£4.6m), who was on the scoresheet in Gameweek 29, struck the upright from open play in the second half with West Ham’s only real other serious attempt on goal.

The Irons were repeatedly exposed at the back, too, with Lukasz Fabianski (£4.8m) called on to make five additional stops.

Pellegrini said of West Ham’s ongoing struggles away from home:

More than a disappointing result, it was a disappointing performance. We must review what we are doing when we are playing away because in four [of the last five] away games we didn’t score one goal and we conceded too many.

We knew that today we would find a team that was in a difficult moment with three defeats in a row that are fighting against relegation, but they didn’t have to do much to score two goals.

We were not concentrating for both goals. You can play badly but you can at least draw nil-nil. I think that was a very bad performance.

Maybe we improved a little bit in the last 15 minutes of the first half, but we didn’t create chances. We had two in the second half with Marko and one shot hitting the post but this was not enough to win a game away against a team fighting against relegation.

The good news for owners of West Ham assets is that the Hammers face Huddersfield at home in Gameweek 31 – and Pellegrini’s troops are a different prospect at the London Stadium than they are on the road.

The Irons are unbeaten in five matches on home soil and the below comparison of their goal threat in their last six home fixtures (left) versus last half-dozen away games (right) emphasises their more potent attacking menace in east London:

Andy Carroll (£5.4m) missed out on Saturday, meanwhile, with Pellegrini explaining his absence thus:

Andy was not considered for this game. He has some problem in his ankle, so he was not in the [squad] list.

Cardiff assets now take back seat in Blank Gameweek 31 and with both Chelsea and Manchester City to come thereafter (potentially in a Double Gameweek 32), there will be few Fantasy managers interested in their assets despite this much-needed win.

As bad as West Ham were, the Bluebirds were much improved on their recent dismal showings.

Neil Warnock’s side got about their visitors with real venom in the first half, bullying their opponents from the off and showing plenty of attacking intent.

Josh Murphy (£4.8m) and Junior Hoilett (£5.0m) were recalled on the flanks as Warnock reverted to a 4-4-1-1 and it was those two wingers who combined for Cardiff’s opener after just three minutes.

The excellent Victor Camarasa (£4.6m), back in the “number ten” role, bundled in his side’s second goal after the restart and could have had another strike of his own when Fabianski made a terrific double-stop from both the Spaniard and Oumar Niasse (£5.0m).

Niasse also scuffed an excellent one-on-one opportunity wide as Cardiff were well worthy of their first win since Gameweek 26.

Camarasa and Joe Bennett (£4.4m) both limped off in the second half and Warnock provided updates on the pair after full-time:

Victor has got cramp. It’s quite physical to play for us. He apologised when he went off but I said: ‘Don’t worry, you did enough in an hour!’

Joe has just snicked a hamstring, nothing serious. But it’s three weeks until the next game, so he should have an opportunity there.

Warnock praised his side’s performance, meanwhile:

There are a lot of positives today, a lot of answers for the critics. That’s our eighth clean sheet, I would like to see how many other teams in the bottom half have eight clean sheets this year.

The centre-backs and full-backs were fabulous then you go into midfield with Gunnarsson running the show.

Arter got the crowd involved with his energy, Camarasa oozed class and Oumar played a part, the centre-halves knew they were in for a tough game today.

I asked the wide players to contribute to goals and you couldn’t have asked for much more. Wingers always get criticised but today I thought they were fantastic.

Cardiff City XI (4-2-3-1): Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett (Bacuna 62′); Murphy, Gunnarsson, Arter (Paterson 84′), Hoilett; Camarasa (Ralls 68′); Niasse.

West Ham United XI (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice; Snodgrass, Noble (Nasri 58′), Lanzini (Antonio 58′), Anderson (Arnautovic 45′); Hernandez.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion

  • Goals: Luka Milivojevic (£6.3m) | Glenn Murray (£6.3m), Anthony Knockaert (£5.2m)
  • Assists: Andros Townsend (£5.9m)| Lewis Dunk (£4.4m), Dale Stephens (£4.3m)

Crystal Palace and Brighton are without a league fixture in Blank Gameweek 31, as both teams are in FA Cup action this coming weekend.

Saturday’s “M23 derby” was the two clubs’ final league fixture before the international break and there is the very real prospect of both sides having a Double Gameweek 32 when the domestic action resumes at the end of March.

Brighton’s victory over their rivals was much-needed from their point of view but it meant a frustrating afternoon for owners of Crystal Palace assets, with the Eagles yet again demonstrating familiar failings on home soil.

Roy Hodgson’s side have the second-worst home record in the Premier League this season, with only Huddersfield having lost more games on their own patch.

Defensively, they are fairly solid: only six teams have conceded fewer goals on home soil and the Eagles were only beaten on Saturday by two superb strikes from Glenn Murray (£6.3m) and Anthony Knockaert (£5.2m).

Brighton, indeed, only had four shots on goal all game.

Palace’s goal threat is letting them down at Selhurst Park, though: again, only Huddersfield have scored fewer home league goals this season.

The hope for owners of Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m), Michy Batshuayi (£6.5m) et al ahead of this match was that the visit of Brighton would be the perfect opportunity to remedy that problem, as the Seagulls had conceded two or more goals in each of their last five away league matches.

Palace had also scored more goals in the preceding eight Gameweeks than all teams bar Manchester City and had been on the scoresheet in every one of their Premier League fixtures in 2019.

However, Palace again found it difficult to overcome a side that set out to defend.

As blistering as they are on the counter-attack away from home, Palace lack inspiration when their opposition are camped inside their own box.

Their only goal on Saturday came from the penalty spot, with Luka Milivojevic (£6.3m) dispatching his eighth spot-kick of the season after Andros Townsend (£5.9m) had been felled.

Clear-cut opportunities for Palace were few and far between, with Jeffrey Schlupp (£4.5m) – again playing “out of position” in central midfield – blazing the best of their chances over in stoppage time.

A long-distance attempt from Batshuayi and a looping James Tomkins (£4.3m) header were the only efforts that Mathew Ryan (£4.4m) had to deal with, as Brighton’s solid backline blocked seven of the hosts’ 15 shots.

Hodgson reflected on Saturday’s performance compared to their more impressive recent displays:

It’s a poor performance in the sense that we weren’t able to do enough with the amount of possession that we’d got. But they are such different games so I don’t know quite how you compare them. The last two games, we were playing against teams where we’d had 40% of possession against a team that’s had 60% of possession.

We’d had great opportunities to use our counter-attacking threats and to use those opportunities whereas today of course we were up against a packed defence who had the benefit from 15 minutes into the game to be sitting on a 1-0 lead. I don’t quite know how the performances can be compared particularly. Can we play better? I suppose we can.

Chris Hughton meanwhile paid tribute to his centre-back pairing of Lewis Dunk (£4.4m) and Shane Duffy (£4.7m), who played a large part in keeping Palace at bay:

I thought Lewis was very good. Both him and Shane needed to be. Anything less from our two centre-halves and I don’t know if we end up winning the game.

They were put under a lot of pressure, a lot of balls into the box, and they had to stay on their feet. I thought Lewis defended particularly well.

Murray wasn’t even meant to be starting on Saturday but his replacement in the Brighton XI, Florin Andone (£5.0m), suffered a thigh injury in the warm-up.

The veteran striker lashed in a brilliant half-volley from a difficult angle to give Brighton the lead, after Tomkins had misjudged an up-and-under from Dunk in the swirling wing.

Hughton said of his strike options:

Glenn had been playing recently and we have good competition up there. We had Andone on the bench in our last game and he changed the game with the winning goal. He deserved the start.

Sometimes if it’s early in the warm-up, you know you’re making a change, but this was very late, almost as the players were coming off.

If Andone starts, he might have done well and got the winner. But equally if you have to make that change late before the game, Glenn’s not a bad option to bring in.

Away from home you need to try and stretch the team, more so. Andone probably would be stronger at that because he’s got more pace than Glenn so he’d give us more dynamic stretching of the team but Glenn’s clever. He’s very clever in the way that he does it and he works [hard].

Knockaert’s winner was a brilliant curling strike from distance but the winger was perhaps fortunate to still be on the pitch after a first-minute tackle on Milivojevic.

Hodgson said, magnanimously:

He committed a bad foul early on but I don’t think it was a malicious foul. It was a winger’s tackle, wasn’t it? Trying in a derby game to show his commitment. It was over the ball of course and it was a bad foul of course but I presume the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

You’d have to ask the referee. We were incensed by the challenge of course, I thought it looked like a very dangerous one. I was very pleased to see Luka Milivojevic get to his feet again. My first thought was to turn to Cheikhou Kouyate and to tell him to get warmed up. I had visions of him not being able to carry on.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Dann, Van Aanholt; McArthur (Benteke 77′), Milivojevic, Schlupp; Townsend (Meyer 77′), Batshuayi, Zaha.

Brighton and Hove Albion XI (4-5-1): Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; Knockaert (March 75′), Bissouma, Stephens, Propper, Jahanbakhsh (Locadia 90′); Murray.



715 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Arnautovic looking like Aphex Twin in the photo.

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Looks like a windowlicker to me.

  2. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Best for BGW31 and BGW33? (FH32):

    A) Wilson, Fraser, Azpi
    B) Vardy, Brooks, Azpi
    C) Vardy, Fraser, Ake/Pereira
    D) Something else

    (Already have 3 Liverpool, Hazard, Higuain, King).

    Cheers

    1. samidace
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Vardy and Fraser since you already have King

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Cheers. Thinking C too (with Ake)

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      C, with Periera

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Cheers. Pereira just for attacking threat? Think Leicester have a decent chance conceding away to both Burnley and Hudds...

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Attacking threat, and fixtures in 31/33. Two of the bottom four, I know they haven't been great defensively, but I'd bet on at least one clean sheet in those two games.
          Ake has little to no attacking threat from what I've seen.

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Cheers, good points.

    3. Fasya
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      A on paper looks good, but u already have King tho..
      Fraser, Azpi, and A.Barnes maybe..

  3. WVA
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 18 days ago

    Likely FH 32 template?

    Ederson
    Luiz Dalot Doherty
    Hazard Sterling Pogba Neves
    Aguero Higuain Rashford

    1. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Probably not far off. Lukaku, Jimenez, Bilva could be good too.

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Something like that. Not sure about Neves/Doherty, and maybe different GK if eg. Mendy fit again

      • Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Not sure, we don’t know the doubles yet ?

      • samidace
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Doherty could be rested? Around 3 days between their DGW

      • Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        I have 5 of those

        So torn both ways now

      • pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Template perhaps but suspect.

        Jim over Rashford and Higuain surely. Doherty? Palace are likely to get the double and have Huddersfield so both Schlupp and AWB. Neves? Doubt this. Mourinho is better and then both Townsend and Mili are probably better value.

    3. samidace
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Would you rather

      Only for GW31 & 33, ignore price

      A. Hazard Wilson (-4) / 10 players
      B. Fraser Vardy Wilson (-8) / 11 players

      And..

      1. Boruc (NEW) (BUR)
      2. Kepa (eve) (WHU)

      Appreciate any thoughts

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        B, coinflip

        1. samidace
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Leaning towards B too, how about the keeper, Kepa or Boruc?
          No Bou or Che def covers right now

          1. Catastrophe
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I meant coinflip for Boruc/Kepa 🙂 Bournemouth on fixtures Kepa on Team...If you can't make use of the spare cash then maybe Kepa would be best.

            1. samidace
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Ah my bad, yea cheers mate

    4. Tmel
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      Boruc
      Rice TAA Robertson
      Fanderson Salah Almiron
      Vardy

      Currently have 8 GW31 players and 1FT - which is the best option?

      a) Sterling & Rash > Haz & Wilson (-4)
      b) Sterling, Rash & Jimenez > Haz, Hig & Wilson (-8)

      1. Catastrophe
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        B, assuming you are FH32 and you need these players to field 11 in BGW33

    5. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      My defence for 31 is

      Boruc
      TAA Van Dijk Lascelles

      With no back up on bench and some doubts over Lascelles and I am playing double Bournemouth attack is it worth- 4 to get Azpilicueta in for Lascelles? Lascelles also not certain yet to play 33

      1. samidace
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Wait presser

    6. Fasya
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 18 days ago

      How many hits would u take for this GW, non FHers?

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        -4

      2. MTPockets
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Enough to have max mids/fwds

        • BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Obviously it affects also gw 33 because that is a BGEäW as well. But if only thinking about gw31 then probably quite strict analysis if the incoming player is going to give you estimated 4p or more and thats it. I would not do many hits because most of teams are mid or bottom table playing each other (and Chelsea has poor form)

        • jomikijiq
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          -8 to get 10 + Puncheon

        • Catastrophe
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Any (half decent) transfer should be worth a hit if it gets you an extra starter for both BGW31 and BGW33 (that's assuming FH32 though)

          1. Fasya
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            yes i am FH32, just considering whether get full 11 by -8 or just 10 -4

            1. Catastrophe
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              If it's going to get you an extra starter for both GWs then surely any of the likely transfers (vardy/wilson/Fraser/hazard/Higuain/Azpi etc) will be worth -4. I would go for the -8 (I'm doing the same - see above)

              1. Fasya
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                i'll see above..

      3. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 18 days ago

        Pep Guardiola has been linked with Juventus but, asked about his future, the Manchester City boss said: "I have two more years and that's all.

        "Many of them (the stories) are not true but I cannot come and deny everything. I'm going to be here two more years. For the future, I don't know."

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 18 days ago

            He also said he may stay an additional year

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Oh really, wonder why that isn't being reported?
              Hope he does, excellent addition to the PL.

              1. YEAH PITCH!
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                There's a video on YouTube of him saying it himself from the weekend.

        2. simong1
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Fabianski – Button
          Robertson – TAA – Perreira – Doherty – AWB
          Salah – Son – Hazard – Maddison – F. Anderson
          Jimenez – Vardy - Crouch

          Will be doing FH32 and WC34. 1FT, 0.9 ITB.

          Thinking of going Jimenez > Wilson with the FT. Should I do an additional transfer for a hit? Thanks!

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            You'd be fine with just bringing in Wilson.

            Do you have a lot of value in Son? No real reason to hold otherwise - you could do the Wilson/ Fraser double up?

            1. simong1
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              No value at all in Son as only got him a few wks back. Could do that move alright. Do you think it's worth bringing in Fraser for a hit though? Will also have a FT to play around with in advance of GW33

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                It’s a coin toss. Fraser could easily outscore a 4pt hit but it’s obv a gamble and you may prefer to play it safe

                1. simong1
                  • 5 Years
                  5 years, 18 days ago

                  Ok thanks! Looking at the risk of TAA not playing against Fulham also (talk of him being injured), would it be wiser to bring in someone like Ake for AWB instead?

                  1. Don Kloppeone
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 18 days ago

                    I think that’s a personal one. I personally would rather take the risk on TAA playing (I have him also) vs getting in a BOU defender

        3. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Variation on a theme but given the balance of stats, form and fixtures, which would you prioritise getting for GW31/33?

          A) Vardy (bur, hud) - already have Maddison/ Pereira
          B) Hazard (eve, WHU) - already have Higuain/ Luiz

          Same question for:

          1) Wilson
          2) Fraser

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I wish I knew Don!
            Are you not considering Mane, or do you already have him?

            1. Don Kloppeone
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              I WISH I could consider Mané but I'm locked out with Salah, Robbo, TAA!

              So torn on whether Haz is even worth bringing in given his troll status and CHE poor form!

              1. HamezMace
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                Hazard has been poor, but did you see that Everton defence....going without an attacker against them seems like fpl suicide!

                I can only pick two of, Hazard, Mane and Vardy...and I can't decide.

                1. Don Kloppeone
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 18 days ago

                  It’s so tough. I def would fancy Mané and Vardy is Mr Consistent

                  I could get Vardy, Haz and Fraser for -8 if I ditch Pogba as well which is starting to look tempting!

                  1. HamezMace
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 18 days ago

                    I do fancy Mane, but I have Salah, and Robertson, I expect a Liverpool win, but they aren't playing with the same attacking swagger they had earlier this season, and as I say, a Chelsea attacker against Everton looks important.

                    I was 0.1m off doing Sterling, Son and Rashford, to Hazard, Mane and Vardy -4.

                    Now Wilson is back, I think Fraser becomes a great option again, depends how much it'll cost you to get Pogba back, as assuming you'll want him for the double.

                    1. Don Kloppeone
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 18 days ago

                      I’d lose 0.4m dropping Pog now. So it’s def a consideration

                      Really my choice is easy if I forget Vardy (as I’ll just take a -4 to get in Haz and Wilson) but he looks a hard one to ignore for these fixtures and not sure having Maddison covers it...

          2. MMN
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Tough, probably A1.

            1. Don Kloppeone
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Cheers mate - amazing GW score for you!

          3. BobbyDoesNotLook
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            A definitely (I own both but Haz is not worth the money imo). 1 and 2 depending on other players. Both good options.

        4. ShaunGoater123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Button > Boruc or Lloris > Kepa?

          I also have Rondon which makes me lean more towards Kepa

        5. boogle
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Play Digne (CHE) or do Hojbjerg > Barnes/Brooks for a hit?

          Team after Sterling > Haz is as follows:

          Schmeichel
          Robbo TAA Pereira Digne
          Salah Haz Anderson Fraser
          Higuain Arnie

          No bench

        6. danishdynamite
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Classic dilema

          Having decided that I cannot trust Fandersen, I'm doing Jimi > Wilson for a hit, which puts Fandsren on my bench

          Which is a copper bottomed guarantee that the wuckfit is gonna score a hattie against Hudds, isn't it.

          So: Wilson for a hit, or play Fandersen ?

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Do both

            1. danishdynamite
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Yup, that's also an option......which puts everyone's (least) favourite Leicester wing back (Perreira) on the bench

              He's been stinking out the joint too, the uselsss bugger ..... and that's maybe the better option than benching Fandersen

          2. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            If there is someway you can guarantee Anderson gets a hat trick, then do whatever you need to do.
            Be the hero we all deserve.

          3. DA Minnion (Former great)
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Fanny will score f all.

            1. danishdynamite
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              I can see him not even playing after getting hauled at HT

        7. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Do we have the chip strategy all wrong?

          should we just hold our best players and stumble through 31 with a few Liveroool, Chelsea, Vardy etc, to have the players anyway for 32, TC32, FH33, WC34, BB35

          1. Tanglebrain
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I’m wondering why the DGW32 fixtures are taking so long to announce. We might have it VERY wrong!

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              TV schedule

          2. kalmoffit
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            There is no One Size Fits All strategy.

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              There is if you beliebe what’s written here 😉

            2. Richd
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Yeah exactly.

              I have 2 ft and can do FH31 or FH32 both viable

              But I don’t have TC.. so no point not doing FH32

          3. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            if I had even 1 man city and chelsea players, I would have gone that route but I feel FH32 will be better for my team. would be too many compromises just for the sake of TC32

            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              I had a stack of mainly useless Chelsea and GW31 bench fodder, no Wolves, and sold Kun for Auba ... that sent we a certain way ... but for others ?

          4. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I blew up TC on Sane.
            It's perfect strategy for me.

          5. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Meh - bit late now. Bored of hearing about chip strategies tbh! 🙂

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              It's showtime 😉

          6. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I'm tempted tbh. If you have 3x Chelsea and they get a dgw32 it's not hard to field 9 players for 31 and 9 dgw players for 32. Aguero or Sterling TC against ful/CAR could be worth it.

          7. Demel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            That's what i did. Except FH31, BB32, WC33. This allows you to keep all of your best players and take advantage of the doubles whilst fielding a team for the single weeks. You can even play your TC on your 2nd double.

        8. coopsxx
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          I have 2 free transfers... and want to use my free hit chip?

          if i use the 2 free transfers, confirm, then use free hit.

          will i have the team after the 2 free transfers for the following week when it reverts after the free hit ?

          1. DA Minnion (Former great)
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            No only one

          2. jomikijiq
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            no, the same team as GW30 and 1 ft

          3. philm33
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            No, your free hit chip effectively overrides the transfers you already made. You will revert to the team that finished the previous GW

        9. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          so with dgw's left limited

          the plan is to use the TC in a sgw for me

          how much do we consider to be a good return for a TC in a sgw?

          1. jomikijiq
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            double digits for me

          2. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            How much did Sterling score on the weekend ? 🙂

            1. #FPLBhuna
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              i do think salah could replicate it this weekend, a bit like he did at bournemouth 🙂

          3. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Probably 8-ish minimum I would have thought. In the grand scheme of things, the TC chip isn't worth that much over a whole season.

            1. #FPLBhuna
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              so I wouldn't be a fool to TC salah at fulham on Sunday?

              1. Now I'm Panicking
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                You do what you want mate.

                1. Pep Pig
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 18 days ago

                  Yes Jarvish 😀

              2. kalmoffit
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                Not a bad idea imo.

          4. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            10

          5. Vobinho
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I had 8 off Salah earlier in the season, I'm just glad it wasn't a blank!

          6. KingOllie
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            I got 1 point off a Sane DGW - so you cant do any worse really

        10. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          My daily update on how much I hate Schar, Anderson and Pereira

          1. Pras (FPL)
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            You knew the risk getting in Schar. No sympathies there.

            1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Also, has easily outscored Lascelles/Yedlin, so Schar owners complaining is pretty funny.

            2. Richd
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Ironically the Lascelles injury means should have gone Schar. Ah hindsight.

              1. Pras (FPL)
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                Schar is banned mate - got his 10th yellow

            3. FPL ZB
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Had him for five weeks or so

              1. Pras (FPL)
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                So he gave you 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 clean sheets in those 5 weeks!

          2. DA Minnion (Former great)
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Only Fanny for me. I hate him a lot.

            1. #FPLBhuna
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              it's a she

          3. altan8797
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            fandy.. im out of words

        11. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          whos the best def for 4.9 ?

          A. Rice (double up with fab)
          B. Tark/Mee/Taylor
          C. Evans
          D. clyne
          E. Yedlin

          Or would you sacrifice buying fraser for brooks or barnes and get a better def in maybe chilwell or luiz ?

          1. jomikijiq
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            just for 31 Rice, for 31&33 would say Clyne

        12. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          How’s this for a plan?

          For GW31: Kola and Aguero > Clyne and Higuain for free

          GW33: Anderson > Hazard for free

          1. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            how much did u buy aguero for ?

            hes likely got fulham and cardiff in 32

            1. Fantasy Gold
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              Free hitting in 32 so I’ll get him back

              1. ZimZalabim
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                but u wont have him back in ur actual team till gw 34 so people without wc will push his price up a lot in 32 could end up being very costly to bring him back in 34, atleast thats what im thinking so decided not to sell him but i bought at 11.4
                so not getting higuain or vardy instead getting wilson in for jimi

                If ur set on selling him i think vardy is a better option than higuain

                anderson is garbage i would sell him asap regardless of him playing or not

                1. MGD
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 18 days ago

                  Points over pounds at this stage my friend!

                  1. ZimZalabim
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 18 days ago

                    well i think wilson as good an option if not better than vardy and higuain for 31 and 33

                    if i thought that vardy or higuain would score that much more than wilson i would sell aguero but with the value tied up and the other options not being better as such i think its a better option regardless.

                    But if selling aguero works better for you then go for it

        13. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          managed to catch 3 42 point captain hauls this season

          Sterling x2
          Salah x1

          Salah to make it level again this weekend 🙂

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            🙂

        14. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Also mane or bobby ?

          1. #FPLBhuna
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            $$

          2. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Mane

        15. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Best -4? Will FH32, WC33/34. Or any other suggestions?

          A. Son+Kamara >> Fraser+Wilson
          B. Son+Kun >> Hazard+Wilson

          Fabianski
          TAA • Digne • Rice
          Salah • Mané • FAnderson • Almirón
          Vardy •
          (Button / Son* / Aguero* / Schar* / Bednarek* / Kamara*)

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            B

        16. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          wilson or king ?

          king on pen but wilson looks on fire

          thoughts ?

          thanks 🙂

          1. Pras (FPL)
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Has to be Wilson

          2. potatoace
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Wilson , he's in that groove again.

          3. Ajax Hamsterdam
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            thanks guys 🙂

          4. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Get on Wilson early

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 18 days ago

              cheers

        17. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          I'm bored of gw31 already.
          Bring on the fa cup matches, bring on the dgw announcements.

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Agreed.
            Two weeks to play around with a free hit team, I can't wait.

        18. Arsenal97
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          If i want to double up on bournemouth players (already have brooks ) :
          Should i get in :
          Wilson for rondon ?
          Or
          Fraser for felipe anderson ?

          1. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            fraser

        19. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          So for GW 31 I'm line up as:-

          Schmeichel BUR (a)

          Robbo FUL (a)
          Digne CHE (h)

          Hazard EVE (a)
          Salah FUL (a)
          Brooks NEW (h)

          Wilson NEW (h)
          Arnie HUDD (h)
          Vardy BUR (a)

          Blanks - Button, AWB, Kolasinac, Bednarek, Sterling, Camarasa

          I'm happy enough to play 9. The commonly known 2-3-3 formation 😀

          0.9 ITB but I really can't get excited about bringing anyone in for a hit.

          Now I've got to this part of my post I'm not exactly sure what purpose it poses and not quite sure it warrants any replies.

          So what's everyone having for tea today?

        20. Laporte In A Storm
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Best BOU defender that's not Ake?

          1. altan8797
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            daniels if nailed again

          2. kalmoffit
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            The cheapest

          3. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            clyne i guess

        21. altan8797
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          for gw31

          a) arnie or vardy
          b) fraser, fandy or maddison

          have hazard, mane, mo, higuain and king as rest of midfields and forwards

          Im on FH so no hit concerns

          1. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            vardy
            fraser

        22. Hargo
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Hazard or Mane for 31. Have Salah.

          1. kalmoffit
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            Mane-who knows what the score could be.

        23. We All Lacazette
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 18 days ago

          Assume this question will be asked a lot over the coming week but....

          How many players are people fielding for:

          A) Blank Gameweek 31?

          B) Double Gameweek 32?

          I myself am looking at 11 for the Blank and 6 for the double (assuming City are included)

          1. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 18 days ago

            10 for 31 with a couple of hits

            free hit 32

          2. MTPockets
              5 years, 18 days ago

              why 6?

              1. We All Lacazette
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 18 days ago

                Saving my free hit for the blank gameweek (and will almost certainly regret it)

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 18 days ago

                    Seems a shame to then miss out on 5 players, with a dgw, but gd luck

                    1. We All Lacazette
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      5 years, 18 days ago

                      Will have a wildcard for the 2nd DGW to try and make up for it, cheers!