Opinion

How to bounce back from awful Double Gameweek 34

Double Gameweek 34 was the final nail in the coffin for those of us who have endured a frustrating season.

Wildcarders watched on in horror as the players they shipped out racked up the points while the new recruits failed to fire.

Going into the Brighton vs Cardiff game on Tuesday, I was on a measly 31 points, meanwhile my old friend Callum Wilson (£6.6m) and his teammate Ryan Fraser (£6.3m) (both of whom were in my Gameweek 33 team and blanked) had managed 31 points between them in the 5-0 hammering of Brighton. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down.

Two points from captain Shane Duffy (£4.8m) was painful. Never captain a defender they said. They were right. Brighton are in big trouble. Shipping their assets for a hit this week is not the worst idea as they face two difficult away matches now.

Manchester City and Spurs treated us to one of the most entertaining Champions League matches in recent memory on Wednesday night.

City won 4-3 on the night but Spurs qualified for the semi-finals on the away goals rule.

It was frustrating to watch in a way as a Fantasy manager with the likes of Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m), Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), Son Heung-min (£8.8m) and Christian Eriksen (£9.3m) heavily involved in the goals. Let’s hope for more of the same in the league fixture on Saturday so we can reap the rewards.

More importantly, City going out of the Champions League bodes well for their assets in FPL.

We should see less rotation now from Pep Guardiola as they aim to fight off the challenge of Liverpool for the title.

This makes Sterling and co. even more attractive for the run-in. A City triple-up will be on the minds of managers between now and the end of the season.

On the other hand, Mauricio Pochettino is likely to manage the minutes of his players with the games against Ajax on the horizon. The good news is that Son picked up a yellow card against City, so he’s now banned for the first leg of the semi-final making him less likely to need a rest.

Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) and Sadio Mané (£10.1m) continued their fine form with a goal apiece against Porto which sealed Liverpool’s passage to the last four.

The Reds face Cardiff (away) and Huddersfield (home) in their next two games. If you don’t own either, it’s advisable to get at least one of them in.

Some managers who set up to Bench Boost this week are now having second thoughts particularly if they own Troy Deeney (£5.9m) and double/triple Brighton.

There is logic to postponing it especially if you still have your triple captain chip which could be used instead this week. It’s worth considering at least.

You could save a transfer this week with a view to Bench Boosting in Gameweek 36 or 37.

Gameweek 38 feels risky for that chip as there is often rotation on the final day.

There is a wide range of captaincy options for Double Gameweek 35 which should make it an interesting one. Like we saw in Blank Gameweek 33, the lack of a massive standout candidate means it’s a good week to go for a differential and make up major ground in mini-leagues and in overall rank. Nailing the right captain will be key.

The City assets are more attractive now having been knocked out of the Champions League.

Son will be popular following his performance and yellow card midweek.

Raúl Jiménez (£6.9m) currently leads the captaincy poll ahead of two home games against Brighton and Arsenal. The Mexican should get close to 180 minutes over the two matches which makes him a great option.

Salah and Mane shouldn’t be ignored either despite having just one game versus Cardiff (away).

There are plenty of other options too. For those chasing, maybe it’s time to take a punt with the armband this week!

Good luck for the Double Gameweek and enjoy your weekend folks.

484 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    If you were told your BB would get you 18 points for this week would you do it?

    Or hold off for potentially another week>

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      off the bench that is.....

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      yes, would do it...think 16 is minimum, although maybe bit higher with DGW

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        My PP is 18 from bench players

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      12+ is good so I'll take the guaranteed 18, thanks 🙂

    4. Tev
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I’d want more from a bench boost this week, 100%.
      What’s your actual situation, though? You can’t know you’ll get 18 points.

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Just taking Predicted points of the 4 lowest PPGW projections from members section....

    5. MTPockets
        4 years, 11 months ago

        for sure

      • Bun Rab
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        3/4 assists or a couple of clean sheets sounds good to me.

    6. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Watford Team News:

      https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1118907539167404033

      He said last Friday that Deulofeu had trained all week so he's not to be fully trusted, slowly becoming the Spanish Eddie Howe.

      1. Tev
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Probably worth risking imo, they’ll be keen to get him in with Deeney out hopefully.

      2. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Masina punt is on if anyone fancies it. Holebas sounds out for both (probably).

      3. MTPockets
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Equal stresser for Gray/Sucess transfer

      4. Salarrivederci
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Gtg?
        0 FT 0 ITB

        Leno
        Robertson - van Dijk - Bednarek
        Salah - Sterling - KDB - Hazard - Redmond
        Wilson - Jiménez

        (Ryan, Duffy, Rondon, Dunk)

        1. Tev
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Looks great mate. The inevitable Wolves 0-1 Brighton will sting though 😉

          1. Salarrivederci
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Last week I went -8 to bring in Ryan, Dunk & Duffy. Made me bench Wilson, Brooks & Leno. I've started a god dang seagull for the last time in FPL.

            Oh well if the make Fantasy Championship next season I might get a defender 😉

            1. Tev
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Christ, that’s unlucky. Would be classic FPL for them to bounce back this week vs highly owned Wolves/ Spurs assets though.

      5. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        BB 35.

        Ryan. Gunn.
        Duffy. Kolasinac. TAA. Valery. Dunk.
        KdB. Son. Eriksen. Sterling. CHO.
        Jimenez. Aguero. Wilson.

        Any move here, worth a hit?

        A) Dunk -> Cathcart/Boly
        B) CHO -> Deulofeu/Redmond

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Bshould pay for itself?

          1. Slitherene
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Depending on CHO's playing time tonight.

            Deulofeu or Redmond then?

        2. circusmonkey
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Surprised you are selling CHO now, he might be part of a hit for me (Duffy to Laporte).

      6. AlpoShearer
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        A. VVD
        B. Laporte

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          A

        2. Bun Rab
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          VVD for the cleanies and goal threat.

      7. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Do Ings and Long sometimes play together or is it a case of one comes on for the other?
        Same with Gray and Success would be interesting - but I guess no real data exists there.

      8. Ronnies
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Appreciate yer advice on this 1 guys:

        Should I play BB this gameweek or wait for GW 36 when Soton & Brighton have better fixtures.

        Looking at Bench boosting these players:

        Ryan / Dunk / JWP / Bednarek

        I also own Duffy and Valery.

        Thanks guys.

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          probably do it, since only other decent GW for Brighton is 36.
          With 3 Brighton players, just take a chance with the double fixtures

          I only have Duffy, and I am changing BB from this week to 37, but will ship out Duffy by then

      9. The 5% Team
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Play one:
        A. TAA (Cardiff)
        B. Valery (Newcastle and Watford)

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          A

          1. The 5% Team
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            thnx, leaning towards that as well
            stupid DGW's

        2. Bun Rab
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          A. Could be on for attacking returns too.

      10. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Do we know if Troy Deeney is deffo out.....I thought Watford were appealing ??

        1. MTPockets
            4 years, 11 months ago

            they lost

              1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Thank you fellas..........change of plan for this week then........

          • Bun Rab
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            *appalling

        2. Union_Jacks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I imagine Gray plays a large part in these next two fixtures for Watford then.

          I doubt Deulo can play 2 full games in 4 days.

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Shame he isn't very good, could have been gold!

          2. Bun Rab
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Not a lot of options at that price point with doubles. Maybe Ings? As good a punt as any with no competition.

          3. We Will Klopp you
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Agreed, I only need him for these 2 games so bringing him in

          1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Causes Unnecessary Needless Transfer

        3. VinMar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Lloris (Foster)

          Laporte - TAA - Duffy - Dunk - Valery

          Mane - Eriksen - Son - Martial* - Jota

          Aguero - Jimenez - Deeney*

          Martial + Deeney > Firmino + Deulofeu (risk it) ?

        4. balint84
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          captain

          A) Salah
          B) Agüero
          C) Sterling
          D) Son
          E) Jimenez

          1. GE
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            B

        5. balint84
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          A) TAA for Yedlin (-4)
          B) Sterling for Hazard (-4)
          C) neither for that price

          1. Coys96
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            B

            1. Coys96
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              actually neither, expect hazard to score against bur

        6. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Captain options:

          Aguero:

          Against top 6: 8 goals + 0 assists in 7 games (including 2 hatricks). 3 blanks (all away from home)

          Sterling:

          Against top 6: 3 goals + 4 assists in 8 games. 3 blanks.

          Jimenez:

          At home: 8 goals + 4 assists in 16 games. 6 blanks.

          At home against top 6: 2 goals + 1 assist in 5 games. 2 blanks (against liverpool + city)

          At home against teams who have conceded more than 50 (brighton have) at home: 5 goals + 2 assists in 6 games. 2 blanks

          Son:

          Against top 6 teams: 1 goal 0 assists in 7 games
          Against teams conceding more than 50 goals (like brighton): 4 goals and 2 assists in 9 games
          Although Son didn't play many minutes in these games

          Thought this may help 😀

          1. GE
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Thanks, Aguero (C) locked in

        7. GE
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          What would you do? 🙂

          1) Deeney -> Gray
          2) Deeney and Duffy -> Wilson and Yoshida (-4)

        8. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          What’s missing for this team? Will use BB

          Ryan Foster
          Robbo Laporte Duffy yoshida awb
          Sterling Eriksen Son Jota Højbjerg
          Firmino Wilson Jiménez

          Ryan to Gunn?
          Bring in hazard?
          Best replacement for Duffy?
          Currently 5m in the war chest and happy to take a couple of hits

          1. FPL_Crisis
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Any thoughts here guys?