Scout Notes

The van Dijk latest as Spurs encourage ahead of second GW32 fixture

Liverpool kept their title bid ticking over with a late victory over Tottenham Hotspur but this was another win that left Fantasy managers with plenty to think about regarding the Reds’ players in Gameweek 33 and beyond.

Jurgen Klopp’s side made heavy work of a victory over Fulham in Gameweek 31 and this was another match in which they failed to truly convince, especially in a second half that Spurs had the better of.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side still have one more fixture to contest in Double Gameweek 32, of course, and their response to falling a goal behind at Anfield on Sunday will provide some optimism heading into their game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Our Scout Notes piece below looks at the main Fantasy talking points from Liverpool’s 37th home league match without defeat.

Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

  • Goals: Roberto Firmino (£9.2m), Toby Alderweireld (£6.0m) own-goal | Lucas Moura (£6.7m)
  • Assists: Andrew Robertson (£6.8m), Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) | Christian Eriksen (£9.2m)

Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) outscored Sadio Mane (£10.0m) in Fantasy Premier League for the first time in nine Gameweeks on Sunday, recording only his third attacking return in that time in the process.

This was a performance like many others from the Egyptian, however.

Salah bossed the shot count once again but didn’t particularly look like scoring and his “assist” came courtesy of some poor handling from Hugo Lloris (£5.4m), rather than any commendable work of his own.

With the clock ticking down, Spurs’ goalkeeper dropped Salah’s innocuous back-post header onto the feet of Toby Alderweireld (£6.0m), who could only bundle the ball into his own goal.

The Egyptian winger, who didn’t feature for his country over the international break, had earlier registered a couple of customary wild swings off target and ought to have slipped in Mane on a second-half counter-attack, only to go it alone and see his drilled shot blocked by a backpedalling Alderweireld.

A cold analysis of the stats will reveal that Mane had half the penalty box touches as Salah and three fewer attempts on goal but this has become a recurring trend in Liverpool games and the Senegal international went closer to scoring than his pricier team-mate with two curling efforts that narrowly missed Lloris’s left-hand post.

The Reds had begun the game in swaggering fashion, largely dominating their opponents in the first half.

The improved Roberto Firmino (£9.2m) nodded in Andrew Robertson‘s (£6.8m) superb cross after a quarter of an hour to open the scoring and Liverpool were worthy of their lead at half-time.

The Reds’ two full-backs were a menace all afternoon and registered more touches in the opposition half than any other player on show.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.5m), who had recovered from a back injury to start at right-back, was a threat from set plays and struck the upright with one inswinging cross in the first half, before setting up Salah for the headed chance that led to Liverpool’s winner late on.

Alexander-Arnold drew praise from his manager for his dead-ball deliveries:

Set-pieces were not bad today, the second ball off set-pieces is quite a tool for us this season. Trent brings the ball in and I think we had seven players in the box, which is an interesting number! Two players on the left wing for the cross and seven in the box, [that means there] are not a lot of players left for protection but that’s the risk you have to take.

The England right-back also struck a half-volley narrowly wide shortly after Firmino’s opener before forcing Lloris into his first save of the match with a curling, dipping effort on 76 minutes.

While Robertson couldn’t match his opposite full-back for attacking numbers (one key pass, no shots) he was a constant outlet down the left flank and walked away with all three bonus points: no FPL asset has more of those this season.

It seems odd to praise Liverpool defenders after a third league match without a clean sheet but Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) was similarly impressive, barely giving Harry Kane (£12.5m) a sniff and demonstrating some excellent positional play (in the circumstances) when Spurs found themselves in a two-on-one situation with the Dutchman late on.

Van Dijk also had his customary headed attempt on goal from a set play but caused worry for Liverpool fans and his FPL owners alike when wincing through the final minutes of the game and being pictured with an ice pack on his ankle in the post-match interviews.

His manager provided a fitness update on van Dijk after full-time:

We have to see. I asked him and I think it was in the counter-attack situation when Sissoko hit him. I don’t know if he twisted it or it is a knock.

He was walking to the interviews with a big ice pack. I hope it’s nothing serious but I don’t know yet.

The player himself said, rather positively:

I hurt my ankle but hopefully, it’s not too bad. It hurts, but we will take a look at it. I’ll be fine for Friday.

Alisson (£5.9m) was less convincing and, although he faced only two shots on target all afternoon, caused moments of consternation in the Liverpool backline with his distribution and flapping at crosses.

Liverpool’s central midfield also found themselves losing control of the match after half-time as Spurs wrestled their way into the game.

Pochettino had initially sent his side out in a 5-3-2/3-5-2 but moved to a back four in the second half, with Jan Vertonghen (£5.9m) moving over to left-back and Danny Rose (£5.8m) pushed forward into midfield.

Dele Alli (£8.8m) and Christian Eriksen (£9.2m) also traded places after the interval, with Alli dropping deeper, and Spurs looked the better for it – concern perhaps for the former MK Dons midfielder’s owners going into the Lilywhites’ second Gameweek 32 match against Palace on Wednesday.

Alli could still well have scored even when in his more withdrawn role, however, curling narrowly over as Spurs hit their hosts on the break late on.

Even more anxious, perhaps, will be Son Heung-min‘s (£8.6m) owners.

Benched for the second league match in a row, the Korean saw his effective replacement, Lucas Moura (£6.7m), not only produce an impressive display in the Spurs attack but also score the visitors’ equaliser on 69 minutes.

While Kane struggled to get any change out of van Dijk, the Brazilian had more penalty box touches and shots on goal than any of his team-mates.

Son could still have left Anfield with an attacking return after coming on as a substitute, however, with Moussa Sissoko (£4.9m) wildly lashing over from the Korean’s pass in that aforementioned two-on-one situation with van Dijk.

The solace for Kane’s owners, at least, is that he won’t face a centre-half as good as van Dijk very often and certainly not on Wednesday night against Palace.

While he blanked on Sunday, the Spurs and England striker has registered a goal and/or assist in each of his last ten starts against non-“big six” sides.

Kane still deserves credit for his quickly taken free-kick that led to the Lilywhites’ equaliser, while he also set Son and Sissoko away for that late chance with a first-time ball from deep.

Eriksen’s own recent performances have mirrored that of Salah’s: positive on the underlying stats front but less so on the eye.

That was again the case on Merseyside on Sunday.

The Dane was below his best but somehow recorded more key passes than any player on show at Anfield and went close to scoring when Robertson blocked his goalbound shot, before inadvertently teeing up Lucas for Spurs’ equaliser.

Below-par or otherwise, Eriksen has now recorded ten or more FPL assists in each of his last four seasons.

Speaking of his side’s display, Pochettino said:

We changed the shape after the first half when we conceded. Always you have a plan in your head and it doesn’t always work. The most important thing is when it doesn’t work have the capacity to always find a different way. I think the team has this capacity and flexibility to change, to change the shape and the positions on the pitch in the offensive and defensive situations. Always keeping the same philosophy. That is the most important thing, to have a different plan to play.

Of course in the second half, we changed the positions and the shape. We started to build better and for Liverpool, it was difficult to read the situation when we started to build from the back and how we started to break the pressure from them, the first defensive line and then we started to play forward and dominate the game and create chances.

In the second half, I thought we dominated and played much better than Liverpool. Overall, I think we were better than Liverpool.

Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Milner (Fabinho 77′), Henderson (Origi 77′), Wijnaldum; Salah (Lovren 90′), Firmino, Mane.

Tottenham Hotspur XI (5-3-2): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez (Son 69′), Vertonghen, Rose; Sissoko, Eriksen (Llorente 90+1)’, Alli; Lucas Moura (Davies 82′), Kane.

740 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Hey guys! Have 11 playing this week, 3.7itb

    Fab
    VVD TAA Luiz Awb
    Hazard Mane Fraser
    Higuain Vardy King

    Hamer Pogba jota Bennett

    What would you do?
    A) Jota > Maddison/Mkhi (depending on how he does tonight) and bench Awb
    B) Fab > Schmeichel
    C) king/Higuai (who?) > Laca

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      B

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Hey man Congrats on Bilva, I was on him all week till Lukaku news and got Dilva with the cash. Made sense at the time so no regrets but kudos to your gut feeling! And cheers, might just stick to your advice this time

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah
          I really liked the Bilva pick mate.
          I'm not that great to advise mate, it's a suggestion 🙂
          I just think that Arsenal-everton is going to be a tight game.
          So suggested Fabs to Leicester keeper swap 🙂
          Thank you for kind words !

          1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Hoping Dilva can balance out the scores though 😉 cheers

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Yes. He will get some points i think.
              GL 🙂

    2. FPL Pillars
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Too early to tell what the best move is.

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Agreed, just early thoughts 🙂

        1. FPL Pillars
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Defo not C is my early thought 🙂 A or B

          1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Cheers. Yeah probably A if Mkhi looks good, else B

    3. TAArt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      B for me. pretty well set up

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers

  2. TAArt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Bottomed. Help please 🙂

    No WC left, planning ahead - what’s the max hits you’d take? I’m thinking a -8 in 34 and a -8 in 35, would get me an extra 8 games so I figure the -16 would pay itself back. Would leave me with this for gw35 where I’d also bench boost:

    Ryan / Pat
    Robbo / Duffy / Kola / Bednarek / AWB
    Mane / Salah / Sterling / Deulofeu / JWP
    Aguero / Jimi / Wilson

    Alternatively just take a -4 in 35 which would mean I’d have King over Jimi and he does have Fulham at home...? Would probably select Jota over Deulofeu in that case

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Lol at everyone thinking Chelsea have a good chance of keeping a CS when Chicarito is likely to play...

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      That's why I got Azpi 😉

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        It's laughable.

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Lucky owners. (Including me)
          He was off-side right ??

          1. SpaceCadet
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Miles. Not complaining as I own him too.

    2. Murder On Zidanesfloor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah double Chelsea was clearly a bad idea. Happy I had Azpi, and Rashford and martial to cover

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Talking about GW33 rsthen than BW32 btw.

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Ohh hahah missed that

    4. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Can see it being a 0-0 tbh.

    5. Make Arrows Green Again
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      That West Ham performance against Everton was one of the worst of any PL teams this season against any opposition. It should be interesting to see which out-of-form team triumphs in this one.

  4. Patrick Bateman
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Is Salah to Mane even a sideways move given both their respective form?

    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      No. It is sensible. Nobody would talk this way if it weren’t salah. You’re good to do it.

  5. Reckoner.
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    2 FT, will be WC in GW34. Ideas for transfers?

    Alisson
    Robertson | Kolasinac | Valery | Bednarek | Bennett*
    Salah | Brooks | Pogba* | Son* | Camarasa*
    Higuain | Aguero* | Rashford*

    3 transfers for -4 would get 11 out.

  6. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    ManU have eve/MANC in dgw 35.

    Tough.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I am likely not bothering with them in the GW34 WC. Perhaps Rashford, but only 37/38 are good.

    2. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yep I'm not considering any of United player's atm

    3. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Probably just one of Pogba or Rashford.

    4. HamezMace
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Can Everton be described as tough?
      Also United v City won't be easy for either team.

  7. PlayPercentage
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    From the Blue Moon fan's forum, a quote from Pep:
    “The next games I am going to make a few changes.
    We cannot win the Premier League and the other tournaments just with the players who played on Saturday,
    a few (other) players are going to play against Cardiff and I want the best of them.”

    I can't see Aguero playing, as they have an FA Cup semi and then a tough Champions League tie against Spurs.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Happy to take my Captain points and run. Hopefully TC'ers not catching up.

    2. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I'd be suprised if any of my 3 City players started tbh (Kun, Sterling, Dilva)

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

      I personally won't mind Kun not starting.
      That'd mean he'll play Raz (imo) so ...

      1. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Hoping for the same. Everybody else has aguero C so not so much a problem if he doesnt start

    4. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Can see significant changes in the FA Cup. PL more important.

    5. Konstaapeli
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Time for Sane to shine!

  8. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Why was Boruc dropped and will he start vs Burnley?

    1. HamezMace
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Howe said pre-match he has two No.1s, Begovic has trained well all week and has been pushing Boruc, and Howe felt it was the right time to rotate.

      Will Boruc start against Burnley, probably not, but maybe 🙂

  9. Ryan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Is it better to take hits in a BGW or a DGW?

    My thinking is that it is better to take hits in a blank GW. In a blank GW you typically sell a player who has a blank with a player who has a game. Normally you can be quite certain that the player you bring in will start as you only have to predict lineups for just the one game.

    For this reason I think it is different in a DGW. Typically you'd sell a single GW player for a DGW player. However in this instance, you can't be as sure that the player you buy will start in both games. The length of time between games, and not being privy to the 2nd game pre-match conference, along with many other factors are a severe limitation on our predictive capacity. For this reason we may see less value in spending hits in a DGW over a BGW

    If it is better to take hits in a BGW it would be worth exploring how this might affect our chip strategies. When DGW's and BGW's are close together taking hits in one of those GW's might be unavoidable. Therefore we should seriously consider BGW as the best time to take hits as part of our overall chip strategies.

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      you not on nirvana any longer?

      1. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        First post on scout in a number of months. I've been a busy man.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          oh.

          Sorry then.

          😕

          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Life changes eh. Hopefully I get more time for FPL stuff in the future.

    2. theodosios
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      DGW35 certainly not attractive as this one.Only Arsenal with good fixtures, but that's not helpful coz of Emery

    3. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      GW34 if you want to change a SGW player for a Brighton DGW player. Get 2 DGWs with Brighton

    4. Fitzy.
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Agree mate. You can *assume* that hits in a BGW cost you 2 points with a chance to get that back with interest as you're replacing a 0 pointer in your squad. In a DGW you're hoping that the DGWer you bring in plays twice and also outscores the SGWer you replaced by more than 4 points.

      1. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah, some nice additional points there. You can probably argue the same thing regarding the 2 points in a DGW but of course there is more uncertainty as to whether the player starts a 2nd game.

        You make a great point about how a SGWer could still outscore a DGWer. There is no possible contest between players when considering a player with a blank over one that plays.

    5. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I don't think this is the right way of looking at things, as to whether it's "better" or "worse". It's more a case of team management - in general, reducing the number of hits required is favourable, which means better team management/planning in order to have more of the "right" players at the right time. Hits always need to be looked at on their own merits, and can of course be justified. Sure, it's probably slightly easier to justify hits in BGWs but there will be plenty of very similar teams already, who've got to the same position with fewer hits - that's what we should be aiming to do, on average.

      1. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        My argument is that this idea can be part of the planning process. Particularly when considering the known knowns in a particular period of time. There are positives in trying to avoid hits and planning well in advance but this also limits your options on weekly transfers leading up to a blank. So there is still a trade off that needs to be acknowledged here and it is a weakness.

        My primary concern however is when hits are 'unavoidable'. Usually when DGW's and Blanks are right next to each other as they are now. Which week we choose to use a chip, and when we have to take hits to cash in on those extra games etc. Even the best planning can leave us a little short of the ideal (less than 11 in a blank and not 11 DGWers etc).

      2. Make Arrows Green Again
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I agree with this - I was about to post something similar. Context dictates when and where hits need to be taken and this can vary from season to season and what happens in your own team.

        There is something else, which is a tendency to read too much into examples of where hits have been taken and they have handsomely paid off. I've been guilty of this - I have taken a -12 and ended up being around 20-30 points up in a given GW, convincing myself that 'hits are good'. I forget in these moments that there are plenty of other times that hits haven't paid off and, more importantly, that if I had planned my transfers better I might have had those 20-30 extra points without needing to take any hits in a given week.

  10. b91jh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    First WC34 BB35 draft. Thoughts?

    Ryan Foster
    Valery Bednarek Duffy TAA Robertson
    Mane Deulofeu Sterling JWP Jota
    Kun Kane Jimenez

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Murray over Jimenez in 34 surely.

    2. TAArt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Decent

  11. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone thinking of completely ignoring City on GW34 WC?

    The DGW35 (TOT, mun) for them doesn't look that good and they could easily rotate in GW34 (cry) as they have CL either side of that game.

    Also if they reach CL Semi Final they will play every midweek from now until end of the season.

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I'm wondering if Sane will be the best pick for the final league games with Sterling getting regular CL action and reduced PL time. But with Pep, as always we're simply guessing.

      Considering avoiding altogether.

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Sane is too risky for me. I'm also considering avoiding totally but the only one I like is Sterling.

    2. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Most potent attack Buddy.
      I have had my a.. whooped before for getting Auba/salah instead of Kun/Raz 😀
      Not anymore.

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Rotation is a big worry though. Not many gameweeks left so I want to get the most out of my premium players.

        Don't think I'm even considering Auba but looking at Kane & Mane/Salah as my premium options.

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Cool. What do you think about this wc draft 😉

          Foster,Ryan
          Holebas,Taa,Robbo,Dunk,Duffy
          Sterling,Mane,Jota, Deulofeu, Jwp
          Kun,Kane, Jimenez

          Dunk can be Valery/Jonny in gw 35

          1. Karan14
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            I like the look of it but having those 3 players means you have to make 2 transfers if you want Salah back.

            Mine is pretty similar as you would guess only major difference being I have Pogba, Rashford & Salah over Sterling, Kun & Jota. Pogba could be a Spurs mid as well.

            Doherty/Kolasinac over Holebas?

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Kola is one i thought about definitely.
              Wolves ain't keeping CS so .. have Doherty atm in my team. Too many goals conceding puts me off.

              Hopefully mane would cover salah too

    3. Rocky FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I think I will get Sterling because I can, Without Salah, Sterling, Aguero and Kane the only premium assets worth having imo.

    4. MTPockets
        5 years, 7 months ago

        no

    5. Bojaninho
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      top 3 players to own this week..?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Haz, Mane, Vardy, Wilson/King

      2. Simmoo
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Liverpool Defence, Hazard, Salah/Mane

    6. cescpistols111
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Thoughts on this first draft WC team? Planning BB in GW35 (only chip left). Have to WC now as only have 4 active players for GW33 🙁

      Guaita - Ryan
      TAA - Laporte - Kolasinac - Doherty - AwB
      Hazard - Mane - Sigurdsson - Deulofeu - Ward Prowse
      Aguero - Lacazette - Rashford

      1. One for All
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Get some Bournemouth players, they play Fulham GW 35 Ake a cheap option

    7. Rocky FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      How do I check how many players already used their 2nd wildcard?
      Thanks

      1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        https://fpldiscovery.wordpress.com/2019/03/30/18-19-gw32-team-selection-and-stats/

        Scroll to "chips played" - note that this is at the start of GW32.

    8. John Colby (C)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Morning all. Need some advice please. For GW 33 do I go -4 and do these transfers (I’m in a very tight mini league with single points separating the top 3):

      Higuain and Arnautovic out

      Auba and Wilson in

      - or Lacazette in and not go -4. Only Bournemouth coverage I have is Brooks.

      1. fenixri
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I would just do Arnie->Wilson if leagie is that tight

        1. John Colby (C)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Cheers - Higuain has been such a disappointment

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Can't to face you lot on the weekend. VanDijk, meet Danny Ings.

        1. goriuanx
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Don't think Ings can play as it's a loan for this season, obligation to buy is from the summer. (Might be wrong?)

      2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Amazing

      3. diesel001
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Keita Milner Wijnaldum IMO.

        More mobile and Milner is decent at clipping in crosses if he ends up being wider.

    9. fenixri
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I have 10 players for gw33. Need to sell one of Doherty/Pogba/Rashord to field 11 but it means losing money I have tied in (0,5; 0,4; 0.4). Is it worth it to do for example Pogba->Tielemans/Maddison?

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Depends who you'll want in your 34 WC if you are doing si

      2. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        I'd definitely sell pogba.
        Dead asset atm. Playing in Midfield 2 instead of 3 for last 30 odd minutes every game.
        Also looking uninterested in playing for United sometimes. So..

      3. b91jh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        If you're not getting him back anyway then why not.

      4. MTPockets
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Are you wildcarding in 34 - any don't you want on the wc?

          1. fenixri
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            I am

        • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Ten players, three options, one sub gk, who is the other player that you can’t change?

          I think it is worth it if you no longer want someone for the rest of the year but otherwise not for one week.

          1. fenixri
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            4,3 midfielder. It comes down to decision to move player I wont have in my WC, but that means planning way ahead

            1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              If you have any money I would swap him for mcneil, otherwise you could look at bacuna or romeu?

              1. fenixri
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Not a bad idea, thanks!

                1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  🙂 Good luck. I feel invested now, can you afford mcneil?

                  1. fenixri
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Yes I can. I have 0,9 itb.

                    1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Very nice!

        • Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Whu at home in 34 and dgw in 35. So personally I wouldnt. But its a move that makes sense so... Follow your gut

        • Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Sell Pogba, he's used.

      5. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Massive game for...someone’s fpl team tonight, but the question is: if you don’t have anyone playing do you expect your rank to drop by
        A) single figures
        B) double figures
        C) triple figures
        D) somehow more

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Currently 78k from 83k. Can't see dropping below 83k so still hopefully a green arrow

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Good job. I think it would be extraordinary if arsenal newcastle dropped you five k places within the top 100k

            1. Tsparkes10
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Yup. Probs closer to 80k if that. Hopefully with 2nd batch I can get closer to 70k but depends on rotation

              1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Yeah, I think you are safe in staying in top 80 tonight and then yeah, should be able to rake another 10 or so, good luck.

        2. Fitzy.
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          By not much. Hardly any players from ARS/NEW in play in the top 10k, and not much higher overall.

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            I agree. I was looking at my new rank going, “ah but I have nobody tonight so I will drop” but I think it will be 0-99 places

        3. Rains of Castamere
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
          Goal: Ki-Seung Yeung
          Assist: Joselu

        4. fenixri
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          I cant see Auba outscore Aguero, and I believe there are only few teams with both Auba and Kun this week, so not much worried.

        5. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          1-1. Og auba & og rondon would be nice result.

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Plus yellow cards for taking their shirts off in celebration?

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              + Auba pen miss 😛

              1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Perfect. How’s your all out attack gone, amey?

                1. Amey
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  69 with 11 to go 😉

                  1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Amazing! Hoping david can replicate bernado in the second one so that city attack beats city defence. Come on, the positive players!

                    1. Amey
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Yeah
                      Hopefully he will mate. 🙂

      6. Bojaninho
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        debating ditching one lfc defender to bring Mane in next to salah

        or

        Salah out Mane in...

        .. madness?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 months ago

          Well whats mad about it?

        2. MTPockets
            5 years, 7 months ago

            Not mad but I'd lose a def, esp if it's for free

            1. Bojaninho
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              it would be for a -4.. VVD >Chillwell Fanderson>Mane

              1. MTPockets
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  Then I'd probably lose Salah if that keen on Mane

            2. fenixri
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              I will strongly consider Salah out for Mane, but need to see what exactly I get from extra cash. Too early for me to think about wc now.

          • Christina.
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 7 months ago

            I'm assuming people are keeping TAA and one of Salah/Mane for Westham(gw 34) on their 34 WC?

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Thinking about taa,robbo,mane

            2. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              ..sorry ignore me.

            3. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 7 months ago

              Huh?

            4. MTPockets
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Chelsea, and probably not

              • Rains of Castamere
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                Liverpool will smash Chelsea who play Sparta Praha either side of that match and they know they need to focus heavily on Europa.

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Liverpool have CL either side of that match

              • HamezMace
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 7 months ago

                WC34/BB35 question.

                People using this strategy, are you getting any non-DGW35 players on your WC?

                Teams w/ DGW35 are; United, City, Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, Watford, Brighton, and Southampton.

                Are you planning on going without Liverpool players for example, and thinking of FT'ing them in later down the road?

                1. Christina.
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 7 months ago

                  looking at it now...hanging on to TAA.

                  No idea how to line up a WC 34 midf...

                  1. HamezMace
                    • 10 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Same, having a mid-morning tinker.

                    Sterling is a lock. JWP is an enabler.
                    Can't see an Arsenal mid I want, would love Ramsey but too unsure of game time. Martial maybe? Son/Alli?
                    Mane is in at the minute, but again, with no DGW I'm not sure.

                    1. Christina.
                      • 14 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Mkhi? Risky though.

                      Mane Delefeo JWP Sterling Son ?

                      Depends if I get Lacazette

                      No idea actually

                      1. HamezMace
                        • 10 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Mkhi way too risky, and honestly don't expect much from him anyway. I'm trying to get Auba in my team, he'll probably be my only Arsenal player.

                        1. Christina.
                          • 14 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Yeah, I reckon I might just settle for Kola. Auba too exp for me.

                          1. HamezMace
                            • 10 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Is Kola safe for Arsenal? Not kept too much attention on their defence lately.

                2. MTPockets
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Will keep TAA if affordable

                    1. HamezMace
                      • 10 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Will he be your only non DGWer?

                      1. MTPockets
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          I haven't thought about it yet tbh

                          1. HamezMace
                            • 10 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Why not 🙂

                    2. Amey
                      • 6 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      3 pool + rest dgw player's

                      1. HamezMace
                        • 10 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Any ideas on who the other players will be?

                        Salah, Mane, and Robertson/TAA I assume are the Liverpool players?

                        1. Amey
                          • 6 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Foster,Ryan
                          Holebas,Taa,Robbo,Dunk,Duffy
                          Sterling,Mane,Jota, Deulofeu, Jwp
                          Kun,Kane, Jimenez

                          Dunk can be Valery/Jonny in gw 35

                          1. HamezMace
                            • 10 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Why TAA and Robertson?
                            Assuming you'll play both Dunk/Duffy in 34, as Liverpool play Chelsea.
                            No DGW for them in 35 either.

                            1. Amey
                              • 6 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              Might do Taa to Kola.

                    3. Rupert The Horse
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 11 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Im thinking Fraser.

                      1. HamezMace
                        • 10 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Has a juicy fixture, and I know we share the TV problem.

                        What about Liverpool players?

                        1. Amey
                          • 6 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Bournemouth on the beach that time maybe ??
                          No motivation 😕

                    4. Rains of Castamere
                      • 9 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Keeping TAA and Mane probably. They could put 5 past Cardiff and

                      1. Rains of Castamere
                        • 9 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        and don't want to leave myself open to non-WCers.

                        1. HamezMace
                          • 10 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Yes, I suppose at this stage it's about protecting ML rank, as much as OR.

                    5. Karan14
                      • 8 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      I'm definitely going to be keeping 2-3 Liverpool players in my team.

                      Robbo, TAA, Mane & Salah all under consideration.

                      They have the best fixtures from 35-38 imo.

                      1. Konstaapeli
                        • 8 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        You can make transfers after GW34 too.

                      2. HamezMace
                        • 10 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        My current draft has had TAA and Mane more often than not.
                        Salah I feel I'm happy to go without. Prefer Kane for the run in.

                  • John Colby (C)
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    5 years, 7 months ago

                    Honestly think VAR will have a dramatic impact on the game next season - likely to increase the number of cards issued and punish defenders inside the box.

                    1. MTPockets
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Hopefully divers as well

                      • Amey
                        • 6 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Smalling YC each match 😀

                      • Rupert The Horse
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Well yes, obviously.

                      • goriuanx
                        • 14 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        I wouldn't want to be Chris Smalling next season.

                        1. dicky2014
                          • 10 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          I wouldn't want to be him any season with that hair do.

                      • fenixri
                        • 8 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        And there will be a lot of penalties so pen takers will be a must have. Just take a look at World Cup and fantasy game. Loading team with penalty takers was a way to go.

                    2. Rhodes your boat
                      • 8 Years
                      5 years, 7 months ago

                      Got 11 for this week but how to improve with 3.1itb and 1FT.

                      Boruc
                      Robbo taa pereira bednarek
                      Salah hazard Fraser
                      Higuain Wilson Barnes

                      Hamer pogba jonny guendouzi

                      1. MTPockets
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          lazy question but new gk?

                        • Rocky FPL
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 6 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Bednarek to Kolasinac

                        • fenixri
                          • 8 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Boruc lost his spot?

                          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                            • 6 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Hamer got his back though?

                      2. Konstaapeli
                        • 8 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Haven't taken a hit in ages. How does this look?

                        F.Anderson & Arnie > Maddison & Wilson

                      3. pjomara
                        • 14 Years
                        5 years, 7 months ago

                        Higuain likely to be dropped for Chelsea's next 2 PL games?

                        1. MTPockets
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Doubt it. Sarri doesn't appear to have a plan B

                          • VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                            • 6 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            I don’t think so. Sarri is stubborn as anything and gonzalo is his man. There is a chance he misses out in one, though.

                          • Rupert The Horse
                            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                            • 11 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Probably Giroud starts next game.

                        2. Rupert The Horse
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 11 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          What do we think of this WC34 BB35 budget team? Some players are place holders and I'll transfer Etheridge to Leno.

                          Ryan Etheridge
                          Bednarek Boly Kolasinac Alderweireld Duffy
                          Son/Alli Sterling Fraser Camasara Ward Prowse
                          Kane Kun Murray

                          1. fenixri
                            • 8 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Not enough Pool for me

                            1. Rupert The Horse
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 11 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              Son to Mane?

                          2. Amey
                            • 6 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            No wolves or Watford ??
                            Not for me.
                            Son + Murray to Jimenez + Deulofeu ??

                            1. Rupert The Horse
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 11 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              Do you think those 2 players will be nailed though?

                              1. Amey
                                • 6 Years
                                5 years, 7 months ago

                                Yes
                                Deulofeu is playing with some flair. Might be taken off early but it's fine imo. Jimenez is Jimenez so ..

                              2. Karan14
                                • 8 Years
                                5 years, 7 months ago

                                They should be considering FA Cup will be out of the way and they would have had a decent rest till GW35.

                                1. Rupert The Horse
                                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                  • 11 Years
                                  5 years, 7 months ago

                                  Ah yes of course.

                          3. Christina.
                            • 14 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Nah, not for me.

                            1. Rupert The Horse
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 11 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              It is a bit crap.

                          4. HamezMace
                            • 10 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Looks similar to a few of the ideas I've thrown around myself this morning.
                            It's strange, on paper it's not the best, lots of players from the bottom 6 clubs, but maybe that's what's best on a WC at this time of the season - players who are still playing for something.

                            Of the DGW teams, I'm building a team around Sterling, Kane, Ryan and Duffy. Everyone else is negotiable.

                            1. Rupert The Horse
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 11 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              Yes, same 4 plus Aguero.
                              Keeping an eye on Aubameyang though, for my sins.

                              1. HamezMace
                                • 10 Years
                                5 years, 7 months ago

                                It would be lovely to have Aguero, but I don't think I can afford him with Kane and Sterling.
                                I think I'm going with Auba though, probably more as he's the only Arsenal player I would want, and they have nice fixtures.

                          5. Karan14
                            • 8 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Robbo over Alder.

                            Brighton have 5 games in 2 weeks between GW34-36 can see Murray getting a couple of benchings.

                            Rest if you're okay with City rotation and their fixtures then it looks good although I wouldnt be comfortable going without Pool attack.

                            1. Rupert The Horse
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 11 Years
                              5 years, 7 months ago

                              All good points, I might keep Mane.
                              Thanks.

                        3. Iceball
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 9 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          Now soon our benchboost success will be up to Brighton players, how exciting 🙂

                          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
                            • 6 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Can’t face it. This block of three gws has taken so much planning I am just looking forward to a week of seeing how my picks do.

                        4. #FPLBhuna
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 7 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          current team for bgw33

                          fab
                          robbo - awb - luiz
                          salah - mane - hazard - barnes
                          rondon - king - vardy

                          thoughts on pogba + rondon > wilson + fraser (-4)

                          fear bournemouth could avenge their 4-0 defeat to burnley away earlier in the season and fully expect wilson and fraser to be involved

                          also have rondon up against awb, so hoping palace can keep it tight

                        5. SADIO SANÉ
                          • 9 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          this is lazy, but it could help others so here goes...pick the 3 best options from Liverpool, Arsenal, Bournemouth:
                          Mane TAA Robertson
                          Auba Kola Laca
                          Wilson Fraser King

                          would anyone consider having TAA, Robertson & VVD?

                        6. SHOOTER MCGINN
                          • 9 Years
                          5 years, 7 months ago

                          I can't wait to sell Hazard and Higuain again. Useless.

                          1. BARIO MALOTELLI
                            • 5 Years
                            5 years, 7 months ago

                            Hazard had an assist for barkley but finish was awful