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What it means to be an FPL manager and a professional footballer

Jordie van der Laan is living the dream – not only does he get paid to play football but he’s also an outstanding FPL manager. Who said life is fair?

Granted, you are unlikely to have heard of him. Jordie (pictured above left) plies his trade in the second tier of Dutch Football with SC Telstar, the club where Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink began his career, and, like Jimmy, is a centre-forward.

There’s nothing new in professional footballers playing FPL. Some like Asmir Begovic have done so for a number of years and while he’s no great shakes – he’s only once finished in the top 100k – others such as Owen Hargreaves and Matt Holland boast top 10,000 finishes.

Jordie, however, is different gravy – currently ranked 5,317 overall, two seasons ago he came 55th in the world.

In his book Wasting Your Wildcard David Wardale makes the distinction between most FPL managers who know about football – the clubs, the histories, the players, who’s in form, who’s not – and those who know football: coaches with the tactical nous to turn a match with their decisions, or scouts with an expert eye to recognise talent.

Being a pro footballer absolutely helps in becoming a better FPL manager. Or maybe I should say: having a good eye for the game helps in becoming a better FPL manager.

In this article Jordie discusses his passion for FPL, his strategies, and his life as a professional footballer.

Unlike Norway, the Netherlands is not fanatical about FPL, and if hadn’t been for Jordie’s local pub he may never have played fantasy football. When the pub set-up mini-leagues, a friendship with the landlord brought out Jordie’s competitive streak. Who doesn’t crave mini-league glory?

Jordie takes FPL very seriously. He watches every single Premier League match that is televised in his country and tunes into Match Of The Day every week. However he doesn’t simply rely upon having a good eye for the game.  

Stats also play an important role and he has an intuitive grasp of game mechanics. Having an analytical mind must run in the family – his brother is a referee with Champions League ambitions. All this combines to mark him out as an FPL manager who is brave and makes well-informed, often left-field decisions.

“I am aware of the template but I won’t ever pick players just because they belong to the template. I pick players because I think they will do well. I use the eye test and I take stats into consideration.”

One particular stat he values is the ICT Index.

“I use the ICT Index in a very straightforward way. I just look at the creativity and threat numbers for a player that I think could be a good FPL prospect. Lots of managers don’t seem to value the ICT Index from what I’ve read, but it has really helped me a lot. It’s very simple.”

“I’m looking at the raw numbers but I don’t set any specific limits. So if a player has a threat index of below 20.0 it won’t necessarily mean that I won’t consider him in the future. I’m looking for consistency in the numbers.”

“For instance Alonso has never had consistent numbers this season. He was way too expensive in my opinion and owners got very lucky in the first few Gameweeks. Yes, I could have caught some price rises, but has he lived up to expectations? Nah, zero goals and three assists since Gameweek 4.”

However he cautions against relying too heavily on stats:

Statistics can be misleading though. When a team is behind, they need to come up with a certain tactic that gets them on the scoresheet. They need to take risks especially when it gets closer to 90 minutes. When a team leads the game, they could decide to sit back, play a little more defensively and take less risks. The scoreline can open a game up or shut it down completely.

Just as a scoreline can change a game, so can a team’s position in the table, and Jordie has first-hand experience of teams being ‘on the beach’:

His move to SC Telstar last summer followed a successful season with JVC Cuijk in the fourth tier of Dutch football. Jordie was the leading goalscorer in their push for promotion. However, his move to a bigger club wasn’t as straightforward as you might expect.

“Before the winter break I scored 18 goals in 15 games. There were contacts at the time which should have already seen me signing a contract in the second tier, but unfortunately no offer became concrete. That also had something to do with my second half of the season, when I only scored 7 goals in 18 games. You need a bit of luck as a football player. Second tier clubs blamed me for a lack of quality and therefore didn’t want to sign me. In my eyes it was different.”

“We won the first period which meant we had qualified for the promotion play-offs. So we could lose all the remaining games and still go up if we won our knock-out games. And we did almost that. We didn’t win for 10 league games in a row. We sat back and most of our players didn’t give 100%, because we had something to fall back on. And, as a striker, I can tell you that is very frustrating. Especially when big clubs come to watch you.”

Thankfully three goals in the promotion play-offs led to a successful trial with SC Telstar. At his new club there’s plenty of competition for places – he finds himself alongside Premier League loanees Ryan Seager (Southampton) and Kyle Scott (Chelsea) – and it’s intense: the team trains up to seven times a week with a lot of attention given to tactics.

Unfortunately for Jordie it’s been a season interrupted by ankle and knee injuries: “It’s a hard time and it made me realize how tough it is to come back from a long-term injury.” Thankfully FPL provides a welcome distraction from the treatment room.

One thing Jordie is particularly good at in FPL is identifying non-template players before they go on a good run. For instance this season he picked up Son in Gameweek 15 ahead of his run of 75 points in the next seven Gameweeks, and Pogba at the start of his good run in Gameweek 19. Players who went on to form part of the template. In previous seasons he’s identified Lingard, Eriksen, and Stanislas before they’ve done well.

“When I go for a differential player, I’m hoping for him to get a haul sooner rather than later.”

“This season I’ve brought in Doherty at £4.4m, Van Dijk at £5.9m, Pogba at £7.8m, Son at £8.3m; all at the right time and all because I thought they were very valuable assets looking at their price tag and the attacking potential they had.”

Lingard last season I picked up very quickly indeed when he went on a great run. That was because I thought there weren’t many players at United at the time who could score a goal or win them games. He had the confidence and he fitted into my structure. Fortunately I seemed to be right about that.”

“Although that last point is something that managers seem to forget sometimes. Your squad structure can hand you opportunities that other managers don’t always get because they play a different formation. You need to be lucky sometimes and don’t tear your team up because of one player.”

“In the season when I came 55th, my punts paid off. And I did like to punt big time. I managed to bring in players who scored extremely well for me while being in very few squads.”

“For example I used my Wildcard in Gameweek 36 and I needed an eighth attacking player – the cheapest – who I could use for my Bench Boost. I never saw him mentioned anywhere but I picked up £4.6m Stanislas, who was owned by only 38k managers. He went on to score three times in the last three Gameweeks for me. I think that typifies what worked well for me that particular season.”

In his successful 2016/17 season Jordie made 54 transfers including 19 hits for a cost of 76 points. It’s interesting to note that it’s the same year in which taking hits proved so fruitful for then Career Hall of Fame number one Peter Kouwenberg25 hits for a cost of 100 points. Peter finished 134th overall.

This season Jordi’s shown a little more patience although he’s certainly not averse to a hit. He’s made 40 transfers and taken 10 hits for a cost of 40 points.

“I delve through every team in FPL. I update my watchlist every week. And that’s also exactly where my punts come from.”

“I try to have not more than 30 players on it because if I have more, I need to jump to page 2! Players who are in my team, are never on my watchlist.”

“Each week I base my transfers on what could happen in the next say three or four weeks. I set my team up with the players I already own and I then try to fill the holes with players that fit my squad structure. ‘Holes’ arise when I think I don’t want to play some of my current players or I just prefer to have others in the coming weeks.”

“After that I look at the fixtures. I put down a lot of options and I start to compare those options fixture-wise. For which fixture could I have a certain player? Does that require a free transfer or a hit? And so on.”

“This fixtures based approach also leads to something else: the players I fear. There are so many highly-owned premium players in the game that you can’t own them all. Which of the players that I don’t own do I fear? And in which specific Gameweek? Is there an option for me to get him in and is it really necessary to get him in? Does he fit my squad structure and would I be satisfied with him long term?”

“The names of the players I can’t or won’t bring in I write down next to my own team to see who can really cause damage. That doesn’t mean that every player who could hurt my rank if he does well is on my watchlist. There should be proof that they could do well.”

“My opinion about this is very simple: if there isn’t any proof that a popular player could do well, then I think that managers who own that particular player are wrong and will eventually fall behind, even if that player does well in one or more Gameweeks.”

“Of course during a season there are a few players that appear must-haves at some point. Just like everyone else I try to fit those players in as best I can, and in some cases it is almost impossible not to mess a bit with your squad structure, or to take a hit to fit certain players in. Those players are mainly, perhaps even exclusively, premium players.”

As a competitive sportsman, one element Jordie has learnt to control is the emotional side to FPL.

“Once you have realized you will do better when you don’t let the emotional side take over, you won’t let the emotional side take over. You need to have a clear head. Don’t make transfers immediately after a Gameweek. Wait till the deadline unless price changes force you.

Before a Gameweek starts your head will be much clearer than when a Gameweek has just ended.

Jordie has needed to heed every word of his own advice after a torrid week in which he dropped from 3,785 overall to outside the top 5,000:

“What a ridiculous Double Gameweek we’ve all had! I’m not as down as I would normally be though because lots of top 10,000 managers were in the same boat. And of course because Ajax went through in the Champions League, which was far more important.”

“I don’t know what I’ll do with my Free Transfer yet. Deeney is a pain and Duffy could go, but I’m sure I will use Bench Boost this week. Double fixtures over the single fixtures in Gameweek 36.”

To end the article I would like to wish Jordie the best of luck in Double Gameweek 35 and for the rest of the season, both in fantasy and real football. Thank you for sharing your insights.

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

4,264 Comments Post a Comment
  1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    So, I only need him for this week, and the future cash could be handy, so do you think masina is fine over Cathcart for the double?

    Played every time holebas has been out.

    Gracia says holebas will be okay in a week or two.

    And given the return of holebas they shouldn't be worried about burning him out.

    Also a little more attacking position than Cathcart as a wb I assume.

    Input would be greatly appreciated. I don't watch very much Watford at all.

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

      Yeah masina should be fine

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

        Thanks. If you have a cousin called super hornets that'd really help 😉

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      cathcart 3G this season and close to adding to that from what i saw v Watford.

      didnt notice masina but wasnt looking, either

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

        Hmm that is a little concerning. I just think they may need him for the cup so protect him.

    3. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      v arsenal...

      1. Poseidon.
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        This. Literally the worst team in the league dude

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          wot

  2. WVA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard Pereira Westwood > Sterling Robertson JWP -12 for BB?

    Ryan Gunn
    Robertson Luiz TAA Doherty Kola
    Salah Sterling Pogba Son JWP
    Jimenez Wilson Rondon

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

      Not for me

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

        What would you do then?

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

          Fund Haz to Sterling with a -8

  3. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Gray or Llorente?

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

      Llorente

    2. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      L

    3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'd go llorente if I had the slot

    4. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Llorente

    5. OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Didn't expect that vote. Will he play much?

      1. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        120 mins

    6. Bagheri Arce
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Personally don't get all the Llorente love!

      Reckon he'll only start one game of the double.

      I have Eriksen and Son so went Gray to spread some risk

      1. Thescaff
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Agree, fine for after the dgw

      2. Blame it on Traore
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        He's a fair bit cheaper than Gray, and he's firing off more shots in the box. Would rather have the money saved to spend elsewhere.

    7. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      gray

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

    A) Deeney > Rondon
    B) Deeney+Duffy > Wilson+Bennet (for a hit)

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

      A

  5. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else considering Bernardo Silva?

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes. Have Marital at the moment who is standing out a little..

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Will probably wait though until 36 to do Eriksen, Martial -> Bernardo, Mane

  6. syke63
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Repost
    Sell Dunk or Ryan?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

      1. syke63
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Which one was the question

    2. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I would for free, if you've got a player with a double with better fixtures in mind. Wouldn't do it for a hit

    3. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Oh, and Dunk

      1. syke63
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Will be for a hit. Keeping Duffy but one has to go. Dunk seems right for a SOU def.

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

      Both but if one dunk because Ryan can get saves and dunk can get yellows.

      On the other hand, you can nail a double player in gk because no rotation. So depends on which club you are looking at.

      Dunk best to be out, but Ryan perhaps best for replacements (foster, say)

      1. syke63
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        See above, thanks.

    5. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm considering this at the moment. Considering downgrading Duffy to fodder like Bednarek to free up funds. Have Valery already but a double up with SOU seems as good as a BRI double up at this stage.

    6. Disco Volante
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Ryan. You can always tuck Dunk away as a non-playing cheapie defender but you only get 2 GK and Brighton’s fixtures are bad.

  7. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone going all out dgw and ignoring Liverpool and Hazard?

    1. donkey73
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      aye

    2. syke63
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Can't see anyone without Liv players this gw. Goals for sure any surely a cleanie.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Can't see? Look up 🙂

        1. syke63
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          He posted while I was typing. Don't think anyone would be happy without some imo.

    3. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No. Think some Liverpool cover especially is well worth having

    4. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I only have Robertson. I wouldn’t take a hit to replace one of them

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

      Madness. Triple Liverpool

    6. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Need Liverpool for 36-38 imo. I've TAA and Bobby at the moment and leaving options to triple up after the DGW

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

      Just TAA at the min. Salah or Mane in next week probably

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

      I mean they're OK to not have this week but it's madness to not have at least 2 - ideally 3 for their run in.

  8. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Dunk > Masina (-4)?

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

      It's a yes from me.doing the same with duffy

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      yeah

  9. Oliver Reed
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thinking of doing Fraser > David Silva or B Silva for a hit. Thoughts?

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No Bournemouth nice home fixture and fraser will play full game Silva;s wont play both anyway

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bilva over Dilva if you decide to go that way. Don't think I would though for a -4

  10. Zizou
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Wilson and redmond
    B) ings and jota
    C) other combo for 12.1m

    Cheers

  11. The Left Duke #3
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Quick Poll lads. BB this week

    Deeney to
    A) Wilson
    B) gray
    C) Ings

    And should I do Dunk to Yoshida for a -4 hit. Have Duffy too.
    1) yes
    2) no

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A.

      I’d rather get in Cathcart or masina

    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Deeney to wilson, I wouldn't take a hit

    3. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A2

    4. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C2. Don't like Wilson's fixtures after this week really. Think you're better off getting a cheaper forward, banking the cash and upgrading elsewhere

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

      Gray for the week, Wilson for the season.

      And yes.

    6. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers lads. Think I'll give the hit a skip and roll with Dunk Duffy in my BB. Going ings will allow Eriksen to Mane next week

  12. Wılly
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mustafi an option for draft?

  13. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Captain?

    A. Aguero
    B. Sterling
    C. Jimmy

    Was all set on sterling but now thinking that city vs Spurs will be low scoring as each manager will look to tighten up at the back

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers!

    2. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      b

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers!

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

      C

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers!

    4. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I think Sterling. Just for his points ceiling at this stage of the season

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers!

    5. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm on TC C

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

      Don't see Pep aiming to tighten up at all - that was the mistake in the first leg. All out attack what I see.

  14. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Hi all any advice would be massively appreciated. How does this look?

    Lloris
    Doherty Dunk Robertson (Valery) (kelly)
    De Bruyne Son Eriksen Pogba
    Rashford Firmino Aguero
    0.1 to spend. 1 transfer.

    Thank you for looking 🙂

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      are you bench boosting? if so, who's second keeper and 5th mid?

      team looks decent though. would be tempted to get jimenez in is the only thing, with rashford the obvious makeway

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I still have my bench boost, is this the best week to use it?
        Would you recommend Rashford to Jiminez then? never considered that until now

      2. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Second keeper is Speroni ha

  15. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Vardy(whu) + Pogba(eve,MCI)
    B) Long(new,wat) + Sterling(TOT,mun) -4pts

    Who realistically scores more pts? A certainly has more nailed gametime, for one... tough call.

    A also means saving FT so I get 2FT to bring in Salah(TC) next week... (full team linked)

    🙂

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Id go with A. Like you say game time risj is a big concern for option b imo

  16. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Eriksen + Vardy >>>

    A) Sterling + Wilson
    B) Sterling + Gray
    C) Keep Eriksen and do Vardy to one above

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A and b are -4

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        D keep both

    2. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm keeping both Vardy and Eriksen this week! 🙂

      1. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        This

    3. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I’m doing Vardy > Llorente so that I keep Sterling and sell Eriksen instead for Salah

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

      C

    5. George James
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers all

      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I agree, keep both

  17. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is it 5 YC before your suspended? Jiménez is on 4. Am I wrong on this or the first one to notice?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      i thought it was 10YC

    2. soup natsi
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Resets around xmas

    3. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Even the 10 YC card count is reset now.

    4. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      That all ended after GW32

  18. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Wasn't gonna take hits this GW but now I am (-12!) and I'm not even bench boosting. It's like this is the damage of a bad wildcard. This is the team I should have had. Next year might use WC in this GW equivalent or alternatively earlier in the year when I'm struggling a wee bit.

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      When did you wildcard? Why -12?

      1. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Last week. I didn't play it too well. Know a lot of that is hindsight but some bad decisions cost me (not Brighton based like most). Minus twelve cos I love gambling. Not strictly necessary but just got a hunch it wasn't a great side.
        Sigurdsson, vardy, Laporte and Hazard out for KDB, Jimenez, koscielny and Sterling.

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Sideways moves fwiw

          1. Surfeit of Lampteys
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            There's a danger of that but I haven't got much to lose and I just the new team is much sexier.

  19. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Deeney & Duffy > Wilson & Yoshida (-4)
    B) Deeney & Eriksen > Llorente & KDB (-4)
    C) Deeney > Gray

    Current team is
    Lloris, Foster
    TAA, Doherty, Duffy, Dunk, Valery
    Sterling, Son, Eriksen, Mane, Jota
    Jimenez, Aguero, Deeney

    1. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C

  20. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Hi who is the better choice for this GW: Jota or Moura?

    1. The Chief
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Moura

    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Jota

    3. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Lucas Moura

  21. The Chief
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A. Firmino
    B. Lacazette

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

      B

    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I have both.

      Probably A due to sureness of starts and peach fixtures.

    4. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  22. nelluckram
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Shameless re-post coz, like.. seriously? I'm putting the armband on Doucouré??!

    Leno
    Trent, Aké, Robbo
    Doucouré, Mané, Hazard, Fraser
    Auba, Laca, Wilson

    Foster, Valery, Milivojevic, AWB

    BENCH BOOSTED!

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      very different team lol. good to see you climbing the ranks in recent weeks though.

      could be awful with no city or could be fantastic if arsenal chelsea and bournemouth score big!

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah I was in and around 20k OR until I went travelling and fell off the face of the Earth ha. Just wanna win all my mini leagues now.. 29 point gap

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      You got replies on the last page mate

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I know dude, thanks. Just inconclusive to say the least. I seriously think captaining Doucouré is somehow the best option

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          If you feel it in your gut, go for it. It's only a game after all and if/when he does score, you will be over the moon and it'll be a high point of the season.

          He isn't the worst shout. Should be nailed for both fixtures and has some goal threat.

          1. nelluckram
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah, cheers. Gonna go for it. I've already wrecked a potentially excellent season. Nothing to lose haha

  23. Gruu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anything worth a hit? BB activated

    A). Duffy > Yoshida (have Valery)
    B). Duffy > Catchcart (have Foster)
    C). JWP > Redmond

    Foster Ryan
    Laporte TAA Doherty Valery Duffy
    Sterling Mane Eriksen Son JWP
    Aguero Jimenez Gray

    0 ft, 0.4 itb

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      no no hits

    2. nelluckram
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Nah..

    3. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No, but if you really want then B or Duffy to Jonny

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

        No

      2. Gruu
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        already have doherty mate 🙂

  24. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Yes or no?
    Hazard, Arnie and Ryan to Sterling, Gray and Foster for -8?

    1. nelluckram
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Sounds ludicrous at first but maybe... are you planning on captaining Sterling? If so, probably yes

  25. JuulKrapuul
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Deeney replacement:

    A1) Long
    A2) Ings
    B1) Gray
    B2) Success

    Tempted to do A1, because this would enable Dunk --> TAA

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Whoever is cheapest.

    2. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Got to ask but why not just label them A B C D or 1 2 3 4?

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        S1)
        S2)
        W1)
        W2)

  26. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    If in doubt would you say it's best to save the FT rather than taking the -4?

    The combos are above or in my comment history...

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

      In doubt = save

    2. Blame it on Traore
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      For sure

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      So difficult to know.

      I tend to think that if it's more than a one week punt, a hit is more acceptable. If its an improvement to your overall team going forward.

      Defenders I'm less reluctant to take hits on. For a defender, you need a CS to break even. So something like Duffy -> Cathcart -4 isn't worth it imo. The -4 negates the slightly better CS odds in Watfords favour.

      1. Collie01
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Also, a punty hit such as Martial -> Bilva as I'm considering (for free though) could be disastarous as I'd be kicking myself if Martial scored more than Bilva, which is entirely possible. Whereas a hit to take out Deeney, who wouldn't play anyway, is much better.

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

        Agree. But out of interest what do you think of Duffy to Kolasinac for -4?

        1. Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I wouldn't bother for a hit. Kola is not 100% nailed esp with Arsenal still in Europe. Duffy has goal threat also.

          1. Gentle_Turks
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Cheers.

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

            Whose your cap this week?

  27. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    any chance we will know before deadline which Watford players travel to Hudd ? I would like to bring Deulo...

    1. Thescaff
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He travels

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Keep an eye on Twitter

  28. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Captain dilemma guys! cant decide.. Sterling or Jimi??

    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Jiminez

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

      I have both and I'm probably going Sterling.

    3. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      raheem

  29. b_brownson
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A Vardy + camarasa > de bruyne + llorente -4
    B Hazard + murray > aguero + moura -4
    C. Hazard + camara > de brunye + moura -4
    D. Hazard + vardy > aguero + de brunye -4
    E. Vardy + murray > aguero + llorente -4
    F. Hazard + murray > sterling + jimi -4
    G. Hazard + Murray > sterling + llorente -4
    G. Hazard > sterling FT

    1. Thescaff
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      F lol

    2. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      After all that you ended up with 2 Gs.
      Sorry but retype it all out again plz. 😆

    3. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Need more options

      1. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Hahaha

  30. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Gray looks to be such a trap as a Deeney replacement - but not much else for 6.5 (I have 3 Spurs already)

    1. Thescaff
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Dings