Opinion

FPL Question Time – Consult our panel ahead of Blank Gameweek 31

Our regular feature, Fantasy Premier League Question Time, returns ahead of Blank Gameweek 31.

There’s plenty to ponder for Fantasy managers at this point of the season, be it chip strategy, the international break, Champions League-influenced fixture congestion and, of course, which players to target for this weekend’s matches.

We’ve assembled another panel of familiar names to share their opinions on your questions, which you can submit in the Google form below.

Who’s on the panel this week?

Chief FPL Manager – A member of the Fantasy community with a huge Twitter following, “Chief” runs the FPL Hints website and has six top 1% finishes to his name – one of which was an overall rank of 110th in 2011/12.

Holly Shand – Founder of the popular Fantasy Football Community website and video star for Official FPL. Currently sits inside the top 5k after a 102-point Gameweek 30.

Joe – Scoutcast regular and the host of the excellent series, Meet the Manager. Joe is a fine manager in his own right, boasting a best-ever overall FPL rank of 840th in 2013/14 and having six other top 10k finishes to his name.

Submit your questions here

Make sure to drop your name and question in the Google Form below:

340 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 17 days ago

    Take the -4 for:

    Bednarek -> Azpilicueta

    or

    Pogba -> H Barnes (own Vardy + Pereira...)

    or neither?

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      the top one

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      fraser

      1. Shatner's Bassoon
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        own already

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      Azpi

    4. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      cheers all

  2. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 17 days ago

    Which is a safer GW31 combo?

    a) Allison, Diop and Rice

    b) Fabianski, TAA and Rice

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      A

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      Safer or better, B is better 😉

    3. JohnnyMagrinho
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Either way you’ve got two WHU defenders in each scenario.

        Points difference between TAA and Diop surely has more potential to be greater than between Alisson and Fabianski.

        B all the way.

        1. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          this

    4. yer old da
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      Two transfers for a 4 point hit to field a full XI this week. Aguero and Pogba > Vardy and Hazard a no-brainer right, especially as I’ll only lose 0.2 on each of I want them back with my FH in 32?

    5. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      why did people not buy Hazard and Vardy last week?

      It was so obvious Son/Pogba/Rashford had to go.

      🙄

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Hehehe, had both thankfully! Then again I had Son & Pogba too 😉

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        because hazard had been poor since few weeks?

      3. #FPLBhuna
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        I did son > sterling instead of jumping on the bgw31 bandwagon, and sterling > hazard this week

        glad I followed that route too! 😉

        but got vardy in gw28 :p

      4. TaiwanHC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Son played Southampton, and Pogba and Rashford played a shakey Arsenal defence. And I'm sure that most people made logical transfers.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          -Southampton have been on the up for a while - they nearly beat ManU (a) the week before
          -Pogba have been playing further back
          -Spurs have been poor lately/Son had scores of 2;2;2
          -Rashford has never been the same since being injured...2;1;2

          Vardy and Hazard in was logical.

      5. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Overall (not the top 10k have used many of their chips.
        Pogba and Rash money will be lost and they have 32 and 35 DGw's

      6. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Christina,
        Would you have Hazard over Mane this week?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          no

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Pickles.
            Thanks anyway.

    6. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 17 days ago

      A) Son to Fraser for free
      B) Son and Kola to Hazard and Diop/Clyne for a hit

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Currently have 8 players for BGW31

        1. MTPockets
            5 years, 17 days ago

            b

        2. JustPark
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          And I have Brooks if that matters. And triple Pool.

        3. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          its close but b is worth it if 90%+ sure will start

      2. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Hey guys,

        Any suggestions?

        Currently got 10 and 1FT 0.2ITB

        Fab
        TAA Diop Digne Azpilicueta
        Hazard Salah Mane Brooks
        Barnes

        Playing Subs: Boruc
        Non playing S.Cook Jim Aguero

        Having already 3 Bournemouth makes getting Wilson needs one hit.
        Will FH in 32

        A) Aguero > Higuaín
        B) Aguero > Vardy
        C) Jim & Cook > Wilson & Schlinder (-4)
        D) Aguero, Jim & Cook > Higuaín, Vardy & Valery (-8)
        E) Aguero, Jim & Cook > Wilson, Vardy & Chelsea Def (Probably Luiz) (-8)
        F) Other?

        Cheers

      3. FPL_ UP_Down
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Played my FH like to take a punt! GW31 chasing 170 points at the top..!
        GW 31
        Fabianski
        AAD Pereira D Luiz
        Fraser Salah(c) Hazard Mané
        Chicharito Vardy
        Bench:David Luiz Brooks Daniels

        GW 32
        Loris Guaita
        Kola Shaw DavidLuiz AAD Tomkins
        Hazard Son Pogba Fraser Ber Silva
        Higuain Zaha Aguero

        Hopefully Wolves and Palace to lose!
        What do you think?

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          whi is AAD?

          1. FPL_ UP_Down
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Sorry TTA

            1. FPL_ UP_Down
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              TAA *correction oops

        2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Don't think that GW31 team will make up much ground. Your team is so template it hurts.

          1. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            disagree entirely, simply fielding team of 11 without hits puts u at an advantage vs most people

            1. FPL_ UP_Down
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              I’m with you mate he can also only go with 6 players!
              Have to give it a go.. got to take my chances.
              He doesn’t have Salah Hazard Fraser Higuain Chicharito

        3. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          like both teams...taing any hits to get to your GW32 team? Also planned a bit ahead towards 33?

          Personally I like Batshuayi over Zaha, but still

          1. FPL_ UP_Down
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            No Hit for GW 32
            Depending on wolves & palace & Brighton results for DGW Fingers crossed!
            GW 33 confirmed playing
            Kola TAA David Luiz
            Hazard Fraser
            Higuain + 2FT

            Otherwise May use my WC in 33 to prepare for GW35 and BB there TC GW37

      4. kwyap123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Looking at fixture gw33, Is it correct that I will definitely have 11 players playing that week if I can ensure 10 players playing in gw31 (FH gw32, free transfer to get the 11th playing player gw33)

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          depends on which players you have now

          1. kwyap123
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Bou, lei, liv, che, wham, eve. Confirm no blank. Right?

            1. EMBOLOFAN
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              all good

            2. The 5% Team
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              no blanks....but both Everton and WestHam don't have the greatest fixtures in 33 though (vs Arsenal and Chelsea)

      5. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 17 days ago

        Why do suspect those saying value doesn't matter, on the whole don't have much value in their squads?

        🙂

        1. WesMantooth
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Bah...
          Those that don't have a lot say it doesn't matter and those that do says it matters a lot? there's no inbetween? no nuances?

        2. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          hehe

          building value isn't important anymore...losing value still is (if you have FH and WC)

          1. JohnnyMagrinho
              5 years, 17 days ago

              Someone in my ML is in top 3k OR and has a TV of 101.4m.

              Better, more consistent players are more valuable than expensive players who score less points.

              Incredibly obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people think TV means more.

          2. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            This^
            Rash Pogba Kun Doherty Jimi are examples of losing 2 mil in total. A major knock getting them back. Many will have all 4.

            1. WesMantooth
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              all depending on at which price you bought them. This is not a same for all scenario.

              1. Eze Really?
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 16 days ago

                Just saying with Robbo it will cost me 2.3 mil.

          3. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            I forgot Robbo

            1. WesMantooth
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              probably plenty managers looking to ship robbo ahead of 31 and 33

          4. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Possibly. Am guessing there are those arguing the other way have good value but crap ranks though...….

            1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              There is a 3rd way .... crap rank and value 🙂

        3. TaiwanHC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Thoughts on Sterling + Son + Ings --> Hazard + Fraser + Vardy (-4)?

          Current team:

          Guaita
          Robertson - TAA - Luiz - Pereira - AWB
          Salah - Sterling - Son - Pogba - Maddison
          Jimenez - Rondon - Ings

          Thanks guys!

          1. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            yeah sure

          2. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            as obv as they cum

        4. NecuratuL
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          my team for gw31
          Schmeichel
          Robertson D.Luiz Rice
          Antonio Salah Madisson D.Gray
          Higuain Rondon King
          should i take -4 for Antonio-Willian and D.Gray -Fraser ,
          all sugestion welcome , thanks

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Willian Fraser maybe

          2. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            dont take a -4 for anything

        5. fkmzcgp
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          H.Barnes or Brooks? (Got Vardy and Wilson)

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Fraser?

        6. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          I have XI players + 2.4m itb with Sterling & Pogba on my bench! Feels so dirty being rich!!

          1. FPL Pillars
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Rich Uncle?

        7. T96
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          A- Son, Jimenez & Hayden > Hazard, Wilson & Fraser (-4)
          B- Son, Robbo & Jiménez > Mane, Pereira & Wilson (-4)
          C- Son & Jimenez > Haz & Wilson (free)

          Team:
          Boruc
          Robbo Taa Chilwell
          Salah Hayden Son FAnderson
          Vardy Jimenez Higuain

          1. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            c

          2. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            C
            Def not B - Liking the double LIV defence myself for this GW!

        8. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          this is the week where slabhead rises to the fore 😉

        9. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          draft FH32

          patricio
          azpi - luiz - doherty
          sterling - sane - hazard - pogba
          rashford - jiminez - kun

        10. Captain_Shirokov
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Fabianski
          TAA - Digne - Pereira - Yedlin
          Salah - Mane - Anderson

          (Rash, Pogba, Aguero, Jimenez, Gunnarsson, AWB, Hamer)

          Aguero and Jimenez
          to
          Higuain and Wilson

          2ft sound good?

        11. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Which one? 9 playing in 31&33 now

          1. Jim to Wilson -4
          2. Pogba to Fraser -4
          3. 1/2 + Doh to Azpi/Ake -8

          Can't do both 1 and 2.
          Will FH 32, have Brooks already, no Chelsea or Cherries def.

        12. Longlatini
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Anyone on here already used their 2nd wc and FH chip already before this gw?

          How are you approaching the next few Gameweeks?

        13. Rushford
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Have 7 GW31 players atm. Which gets most points?

          A) Brooks (-4)
          B) Fabianski (-4)
          C) Vardy (-4) Includes selling Aguero and losing 0.3TV ahead of DGW!
          D) Vardy + Fraser/Maddison (-8) Aguero out

        14. Bobby_Baggio
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Afternoon all. After some advice on filling the gaps please? 16.8m to speand and using FH32. Thanks all.

          Fab
          Pereira - Robertson - Digne
          Salah - ____ - Mane - _____
          Vardy - Wilson

          1. HamezMace
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Hazard and Fraser possible?
            If not, lose Digne for someone.

            1. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              0.3m out of those two

              1. Pompel
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 17 days ago

                Fraser + Maddison then. Don't think losing Haz is a problem if not captaining.

            2. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              Lose Digne? He's playing right?

              1. HamezMace
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 17 days ago

                Yes, but playing for an Everton defence.

                1. Bobby_Baggio
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 17 days ago

                  Not worth transfer especially as I only have 10 players

                  1. HamezMace
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 17 days ago

                    I misunderstood your FH use, apologies, and indeed not worth taking him out for a hit.

                    Annoying to be just short of Haz/Fraser. Maybe Hazard and Brooks then.

        15. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Who wins?

          Fraser (NEW, BUR) and Maddison (bur, hud)
          vs
          Hazard (eve, WHM) and McNeil (LEI, bou)

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            First one I feel

          2. Bobby_Baggio
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            First but not by much

          3. Holmes
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Thanks, leaning toward that option as well

        16. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Don't get all the fuss on here with playing the chips so rigidly, takes the fun out of the game imo with BB being so overrated on here! As for TC, it is just a punt chip that you need to get extremely lucky with to benefit in a significant way from.
          Onto the WC, play it when you feel your team can benefit from it the most (and that's not always the week before a DGW).
          The only caveat is the FH chip which is very powerful imo and those that spunked that one off early are prob finding it difficult with this BGW-DGW-BGW scenario that has developed this season.

          1. Codetto
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            The triple captain is extremely overrated and only really effective if you captain a player that is a differential.

            1. Pompel
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              Yeah.
              3x1 points from Sané did not help to boost my OR

        17. Glokollur nr.1
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Looking ahead of GW31 which of these strikers looks the best?

          A) Vardy
          B) Lacazette
          C) Wilson

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            A)

          2. Bobby_Baggio
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Vardy but closely followed by Wilson

        18. BlzE_94
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Any concerns or gtg??

          Fabianski
          Robertson Azpilicueta Rice
          Salah Hazard Mane Fraser
          Vardy Wilson Barnes

        19. FPL Blow-In
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Feeling good with this XI. Opinions would be grateful.

          Fabianski
          Robertson, Azpi, Rice
          Salah, Hazard, Mane, Fraser
          Vardy, Arnie, Wilson

          Boric, C.Taylor, Barnes, 4m

        20. SomeoneKnows
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Going crazy with this decision as if its the most important ever 🙁
          For GW31 & GW33 only...

          A) David Luiz (Team in bad form but lots of CS this season)
          B) Ake (Team with better fixtures but not many CS this season)

        21. tburgess12
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Better option this week?

          A) Barnes

          B) Wilson

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 17 days ago

            Do you even need to ask with those two?

            1. tburgess12
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 17 days ago

              Evidently

        22. bigvern63
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 17 days ago

          Fabianski/Hennesey
          Kolasinac/TAA/van Dijk/Wan-Bissaka/Pereira
          F Anderson/Richarlison/Fraser/mane/Eriksen
          Aguero/Rashford/Jiminez

          Looking at FH wk32.
          I have 8 players wk31 and 2xFT to make up to 10.
          Everyone except Rashford and Jiminez will or might play wk33 but both have DGW in wk32.
          I will lose 0.3 and 0.4 in those players if I tx them out this week and back in again for wk32.

          I'm thinking...
          Rashford & Jiminez out, King and Wilson in (or maybe Barnes) for wk31 and lose 0.7m value
          FH for 11 DGW players wk32
          Use wk33 tx to make 11 players if needs be

          Is it worth losing 0.7m to have 10 players for gw31? I'll lose transfers if I don't use them ahead of the FH...

          Any thoughts gratefully received.

          Cheers, Verns.