Opinion

The curse of the General goes on after KDB injury

Saturday morning, you bring in Kevin De Bruyne (£9.7m) and give him the armband for Double Gameweek 35.

The guy has been phenomenal in Manchester City’s last few matches. He’s a differential captain who is going to rocket you up the rankings with a mega-haul. At least that’s what I had convinced myself of.

Saturday afternoon, you sit down with a cuppa to watch Manchester City v Spurs full of excitement for KDB’s points.

Thirty-seven minutes in, the Belgian goes down clutching his leg.

Hello darkness my old friend.

Saturday evening, you switch off the TV, leave your phone at home and head out for the day to get away from the pain of FPL.

You are enjoying the sunshine in the park when three kids start kicking a ball around beside you.

You notice that one of them is wearing a Man City shirt. When he turns around, it reads ‘De Bruyne 17’ on the back.

The pain returns.

The kid even fell to the ground at one point crying after getting a kick from his mate. You couldn’t make it up.

I’m officially cursed this season.

Looking ahead to Gameweek 36, Sadio Mane (£10.0m) could be the next victim of the General’s curse. The triple captain chip is currently on him. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

It’s hard to look past this Liverpool fixture at home to a relegated Huddersfield side for those who have the chip still in hand. Mane has been very productive in front of his own fans this season with 14 of his 18 goals coming at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) is a great option too for those that own him. He’s returned attacking points in each of his last four appearances. Some would say ‘he’s due’ a big haul. It could happen on Friday night.

Managers who own both Mane and Salah have a very tough decision to make regarding the captaincy. There are other options too, the Liverpool defenders can outscore their attacking team-mates, we’ve seen it a few times already this season and Roberto Firmino (£9.3m) could trump them all.

Watch Huddersfield win 1-0 now.

Aside from Liverpool, Son Heung-min (£8.8m) has a nice home fixture against West Ham which he should start in given that he’s banned for the Champions League first-leg tie against Ajax next week.

Raheem Sterling (£11.6m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) will be captained by many this week too for their trip to Burnley who are now safe having reached the 40-point mark.

Transfers-wise, De Bruyne must go this week. The obvious replacement is Sterling, but it would require a -4. Salah is another option. Most likely, it will be one of these two but Gylfi Sigurdsson (£7.3m), Diogo Jota (£6.2m) and Gerard Deulofeu (£5.6m) are also fighting for that spot in midfield.

Whether or not to invest in Manchester United assets for their fixtures against Huddersfield (away) and Cardiff (home) in the final two Gameweek’s is something managers are asking themselves. The 2-0 loss to City on Wednesday night was their seventh defeat in their last nine matches. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side hasn’t scored a goal from open play in over eight hours of football.

It’s worrying times for United fans and it’s hard to justify bringing in any of their players in FPL despite the fixtures looking good on paper. Avoiding them completely might be the best thing to do.

I want to end my column this week by wishing Joe a speedy recovery. I’ve been lucky enough to spend some of my Saturday mornings this season doing the Breakfast Club with him. He puts in so much work behind the scenes and delivers some of the best FPL content out there week after week. Most of all, he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with since I started working in Fantasy Football. Get well soon.

Good luck for Gameweek 36 folks and enjoy your weekend.

589 Comments Post a Comment
  1. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    asking for a joey delluccio italian mafia massive

    start

    a) ryan + doherty
    b) ryan + duffy

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

      Doherty.

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

    3. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm doing B, I think. Though might play Valery

  2. kime67
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Wilson -> mitro?

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

      Not for me.

  3. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    TAA, xxx, Jonny, Bednarek, Kiko
    Salah, Son, xxx, Jota, Hojb
    Kun, xxx, Jim

    a) VVD, Bernardo, Laca
    b) Kola, Sterling/Mane(who), Zaha
    c) Kola, Bernardo, Firmino

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

      B with Mane, wildcard?

    2. Lemongrab
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B with Mane but don't like the Kola pick. Better options.

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

      B, Prefer Mané above Firmino as third LIV.I like Zaha more than Lacazette for the coming fixtures!

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

    Worth -4 to get both Salah and Mane?

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

      Yes

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

        Even for Eriksen?

      2. Patrick Bateman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Depends on who you're sacrificing...

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

          Eriksen and KDB

  5. Patrick Bateman
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lloris
    Robbo, Duffy, Valery
    Mane (TC), Erikson, Son, Sterling
    Aguero, Jiminez, Long

    (Foster, JWP, Dunk, Masina)
    2.2itb 1FT

    a) Dunk > VVD
    b) Aguero & Erikson > Rashford & Salah (TC) -4
    c) Something else

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

      A

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I have a feeling Salah is going to explode

      1. Patrick Bateman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        So do I. Hence I am leaning towards B!

  6. simong1
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Set up ok for this week, including the bench positions? Thanks

    Lloris
    Laporte – TAA – Duffy
    Son – Eriksen – Mane (c) – Redmond
    Aguero – Jimenez – Rashford

    Foster – Jota – Doherty - Valery

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

      I think I'd play Jota and Doherty over Duffy and Redmond.

      1. Patrick Bateman
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Triple Wolves against a side who is not 'top 6' is brave 😉

    2. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Perfect

  7. Snevitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one of Doherty, Jota or Jimenez?

    1. Taking one for the team
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Doherty

    2. Lemongrab
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm benching Doherty. Think Watford will score.

    3. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

      1. Laurel and Vardy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Bench Doherty.

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

      Thanks all

  8. JenkoJunko
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Afternoon all! 2nd place and 28 points behind ML leader so its risk taking time..... Thoughts on below would be very much appreciated!

    Current squad:
    Foster Ryan
    TAA Valery Laporte Kiki Doherty
    Jota Moura Son KDB Doucoure
    Kun Firmino Vardy

    1st place has Mane and i think will probably get Salah in.
    Do I:

    A. KDB & Doucoure to Holland & Sterling -4
    B. KDB & Doucoure to Mane & Deulofeu -4
    C. KDB & Vardy to Salah & Ings/Calvert-Lewin -4
    D. ????????????

    Any advice would be great! GL all! 🙂

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Think you need to get Mane in but I'm not convinced about Deulofeu. Maybe Babel instead?

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

        Thanks! Babel is a good shout.. but who would you start him instead of?

  9. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Captains for the next three gameweeks?

    Probably:

    36 - Salah / Mane
    37 - Aguero / Sterling
    38 - Pogba / Son

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

      Sterling, Sterling, Sterling for me.

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

      Mané, Sterling, Sterling

  10. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bench from below? Cheers

    Sterling Mane Eriksen Son Deulofeu
    Kun, Jimenez, Wilson

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Jim or Deulo

  11. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Seriously, do you think this trip to the US can impact on Salah's performance? Can he even be rested because of this? I can get him by doing Bilva, JWP to Salah, 4.0 mid (I don't need bench players anyway)

    But it is a huge investment and I can also be punished by Bilva who is in great form. And I don't want get rid of Mané or Eriksen.

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I wouldn't get rid of Bilva if I had him.

    2. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Look at Klopp his presser can't see Salah being rested maybe he will get a boost of confidence after that NY trip

    3. Numb
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He won’t get rested. No way

  12. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bottomed

    Which 3 players should be on the bench?

    A) Long
    B) Doherty
    C) Valery
    D) Kolasinac
    E) Duffy
    F) Deulofeu

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A, D, C

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

      ACD

  13. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    TC left to use and way behind so who is the best safe or punt option over the final 3 weeks?

    GW36 Mane or Son
    GW37 Sterling or Doherty
    GW38 Mane or Sterling

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

      Most ppl will say GW36 and probably for good reason

  14. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Eriksen & KDB to
    Salah(TC) & Mili for min 4?

    A)yes
    B)No
    C)Suck me

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

      Can’t you just do KDB > Mane?

      1. Michelle Davin
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Already got Mane

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

          KDB > B.Silva

  15. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who to sell to enable Mane/Salah??

    Sterling
    Aguero

    Not an easy decision this week but will TC Mane/Salah!

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

      Going on recent form probably Aguero.

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Aguero of the 2. Sterling has the better away form

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

    Now only 2 points behind ML rival who still has his TC and will 99% go Mane(TC) this week.

    Do I....

    A) get Mane in for Son/Eriksen and (c) to minimise the impact

    B) get Salah in for Sterling and (c)

    C) forget Liverpool mids and double on their defence TAA and Robbo (Doherty/Duffy > Robbo) and captain Sterling/Son instead

    Note: our teams are very similar especially mids and forwards (blocking strats from him)

    Me:
    Sterling Eriksen Son Jota JWP
    Aguero Jimi Gray

    Him:
    Sterling Eriksen Son Mane JWP
    Aguero Jimi Gray

    Appreciate any advice 🙂

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      What are you playing for? And how much risk do you want to take?

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

        PRIDE

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

        Long rivalry since school says 😆

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

      C I feel given then scenarios

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

        Right it’s tough. I feel and transfers for mids are a bit sides this week and captaining his TC is
        Conceding to losing to him this week.
        It’s def a tough choice

  17. Dele
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any other City defenders 'nailed' apart from Laporte and Walker?

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

      Nope

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

      Not really unless you go GK

  18. mikess
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Appreciate your help. Left it difficult to shoehorn Liverpool attack in.

    Ederson, Ryan
    TAA, Robertson, Doherty, Cathcart, Valery
    Sterling, Son, Eriksen, Doucoure, Torreira
    Aguero, Lacazette, Jiminez

    A) Lacazette > Firmino. TC Sterling or Aguero in 36/37
    B) Doucoure & Lacazette > Mane(TC) & Long/DCL - 4
    C) Torreira & Eriksen > Mane & 4m fodder - 4

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

      A and TC Firmino?

    2. Patrick Bateman
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hello Mike! I feel you do need Mane in here, even for -4. B.

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

      Cheers both

  19. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Please choose one GK and 3 defenders to start this GW:

    A) Foster
    B) Ryan

    C) Laporte
    D) Robbo
    E) Jonny
    F) Duffy
    G) Bednarek

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

      BCD E or F

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

      BCD

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

      Bcdg

  20. Atters
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Currently without Mane but have Firmino, any of these options worth it to bring Mane in? All for (-4)
    A) Erisken & Deulofeu - - Mane & Brooks
    B) Sterling & Deulofeu - - Mane & B.Silva
    C) Firmino & Deulofeu - - DCL & Mane
    I would captain Mane

  21. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is Eriksen KDB to Salah 6.5 mid worth a -4 if you want to tc salah? Or could just tc Mane instead?

    1. Atters
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Persoanlly I'd not take the hit and tc mane. But the - 4 is worth it if you definitely want to tc Salah

  22. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    KDB>???
    Have Mane, Jota, Eriksen, Hojberg

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

      Bilva

  23. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    For those with both, will you TC:

    A) Salah
    B) Mane

    1. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

      1. The Rock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Currently i only have Mane but i might have both and even if I do, I'm going with Mane.

    2. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A) Will boost my OR if he outscores Mane so taking the gamble. Hopefully pays off anyway.

  24. The Rock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ryan
    Trippier, Doherty, Duffy
    Mane, Eriksen, Son, Pogba
    Aguero, Vardy, Jimenez
    Ryan, Kolasinac, Bednarek, Hughes

    2 FT and 0 in the bank. Any of the below options stick out?

    A) 4 point hit on Trippier, Pogba and Vardy to TAA, Salah and 4.4 striker
    B) Trippier and Vardy to TAA & Firmino
    C) Trippier & Kolasinac to Robertson & 4.2 defender. Or TAA instead of Robertson and a better defender.

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

    The PFA team of the year:

    PFA | Professional Footballers' Association

    edersonmoraes93
    trentaa98
    VirgilvDijk
    Laporte
    andrewrobertso5

    paulpogba
    fernandinho
    BernardoCSilva

    sterling7
    aguerosergiokun
    Sadio Mané

  26. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lloris
    Robertson Laporte Duffy
    Eriksen Son Sterling Jota
    Aguero Jiminez Gray

    Foster Camarasa Doherty Bednarek

    I have 0.4m itb and 1ft...

    Eriksen and Aguero > Mane and Firmino worth the hit??

    Mane will be TC

  27. Numb
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Not sure if this was selective reading on my part, but I seem to recall that when people were debating chip strategies a few weeks ago, most were talking about Salah in 36 as their TC strategy. But now we’re here, not that many seem to be going through with it, despite Salah being in better form that he was back then! What happened?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A lot are going through with it. Many don't have a TC chip.

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Also wondering this myself. I guess because not many people went with him on Wildcard, and finding it difficult to bring him in without hits.

      Also tbf either player could outscore the other this week, it's impossible to predict

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

    Bench which one?

    A) Redmond (BOU)
    B) Wilson (sou)
    C) Jimenez (wat)

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

      Tough. Redmond perhaps.

  29. Reckoner
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is it worth to take a -4 hit to do Kolasinac to TAA?

    1. amit1964
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      i think taa will get 18-24 points until the end and kola 12-14 points...........so taa

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

        My thoughts too, considering all 3 GWs it should be a bargain.

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

      Yes imo

  30. amit1964
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    hii pick one:
    a) llorente
    b) wilson

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

      B. Could you take a look at my dilema above? x)