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. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Mane and Firminho (Laporte following week)

    B) Salah and Rash/Zaha (TAA following week)

    Have TC left

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

      B with Zaha and TC salah

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

      B

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

    Who would you play this week?

    A. Jiminez (wat)
    B. Deulofeu (WOL)

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

      A

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

      A

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

    Bottomed, sorry!
    Bench which one?

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

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      V.tough. B

    2. Win'dian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A it is

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

      A

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

      A

  4. Not again Shirley
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Looking to play BB this weekend (should have played last week but there you go!)

    Only injury is Almiron so looking to replace him. Have no money in the bank.

    Anyone have any suggestions?

    My early thought was Babel.

    1. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Almiron is 6 million BTW.

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

      Babel yes - Del is the other choice there

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

      Babel yeah.
      My thought exactly.
      Good luck.

  5. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thinking of saving this week so I have 2FT. Thoughts? 0m ITB. Thanks all.

    Lloris
    Laporte - Bertrand - Robbo
    Mane(C) - Son - Eriksen - Jota
    Aguero - Jimenez - Gray

    (Foster) - Duffy - Valery - KDB

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

      Yes, GTG.

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

    Repost, sorry (bottomed)

    D'you think it's worth to take a -4 hit for Kolasinac to TAA?

    Thanks

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

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

      Won't Kola get cs next week v Brighton.

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

        Arsenal can't seem to get any CS. And what's worse, Kolasinac isn't nailed anymore..... -_-

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

          Yes, it's good move. Just trying to find reasons not to do it.

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

        Yes he will get it as he usually start home matches..

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

      I got Mane and Robbo, and the more think about it, the more I'm sure a triple L'pool is a must, and since I can't get Salah back in, TAA is the one. Thanks all!

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

    Bernado Silva a good pick over Sterling if it enables me to get Laporte and Ederson?

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

      Get Sterling

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

      Np

  8. Malkmus
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A'noon all. GTG? 1FT, 0.8 ITB.

    Foster
    Valery - Trent - LaPorte
    Mane (TC) - Son - Eriksen - Sterling - Jota
    Kun - Jimi

    Subs - Llorente - Dunk - Boly

    Ta !

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

    Play Gray(WOL) or JWP(BOU)?

    1. Bobby_Baggio
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      JWP

    2. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Gray for me but its close

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

      J

  10. V-2 Schneiderlin
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I have to go with some differentials to catch ML leaders who are 15 and 25 points ahead - we all have very similar teams. Is this crazy?:

    Eriksen and King out -> Babel and Firmino in (-4)

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

      You must have better options?

      1. V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        not really - all of us have the usual mids - Mane, Erik, Son, Sterling and Aguero and Jimi up front
        I have Jota mid and they have Deulofeu - just feel I need to mix things up a bit to catch them

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

          Salah is the ultimate differential then?

          1. V-2 Schneiderlin
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            tough to get him in without losing Aguero though

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

              I thought you wanted different 😉

              1. V-2 Schneiderlin
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                true - I have considered it - just worried about an Aguero haul - am less worried about a King haul!

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

      No no. What’s your full team?

      1. V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Ryan
        TAA, Doherty, Valery
        Son, Mane, Erik, Sterling, Jota
        Aguero, Jimi

        Subs: Foster, Bednarek, Mariappa, King

        1. V-2 Schneiderlin
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          the main thing is they have very similar teams but have Deulofeu instead of Jota and both have Laporte

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

            Money in the bank?

            1. V-2 Schneiderlin
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              only 0.3m

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

                Ok so there’s no point losing good inform players for the sake of being different from them.

                Your best bet is to go for a different captain choice (but still a good one) and hope that theirs underperforms yours.

                I’m in a similar position and considering this approach.

                I’d maybe captain Son or Sterling this week instead and hope they doe better than Mane (which they could do).

                If you really want an aggressive transfer I’d “maybe” do Aguero (currently underperforming) to Firmino. This also maybe helps to cover you NOT captaining Mane.

                That’s my advice (good or bad) 🙂

                GL

                1. V-2 Schneiderlin
                  • 13 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Thanks for this - I think you're right- am thinking Son (c) or the Aguero move for Firmino - no hit , cheers and GL to you too

  11. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anything worth a transfer here?

    Ryan
    TAA Laporte Robbo
    Sterling Mane Eriksen Son Deulofeu
    Kun Jimenez

    Foster Llorente Doherty Valery

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

      No, I like that team

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

      Looks good. I assume youre going Mane(C)/(TC)

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Undecided to be honest mate, leaning towards Sterling(c) at the minute

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

          At the cost of who and points?

          1. THFC4LIFE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Either Mane or Sterling for the armband basically

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

              Nah not for me. You already got Mane and a great mid. You’re set up pretty well. Actually considering Sterling/Son for (c) myself.

              1. THFC4LIFE
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                I’ve got Sterling aswel mate lol

    3. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      strong team - great defence

  12. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Pogba > B Silva or sabe for the easy final few games?

  13. leocarter27
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Start 1 of these? Bit stuck

    A) Ings (Bou H) * Long probs will start

    B) Hojbjerg (Bou H)

    C) Bennett (Wat A)

    D) Cathcart (Wol H)

    Thanks

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

      A

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

      A

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

    Who do you think scores more this week? Thanks.

    A - Redmond (Home to Bournemouth)
    B - JWP (Home to Bournemouth)
    C - Deulofeu (Home to Wolves)
    D - Babel (Home to Cardiff)

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

      A

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

      A/C

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

      D.

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

      Close
      D

    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Prob A

  15. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Help please. Pick 1 to play from each.

    1. Gray
    2. JWP

    A. Dunk (already playing Duffy)
    B. Doherty

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

      1

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

      A

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

      2B.

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

        Or not 2B? That (literally) is the question!

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

          Indeed

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

      2B

    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      2B

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

      I was thinking 2A.

      Thanks all

  16. PlayPercentage
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    What to do with Laca?

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

      Sold for Firmino

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

      Get firm a thought

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

    RMT
    Ryan
    TAA / Robertson / Duffy
    Son / Eriksen / Sterling(C) / Fraser
    Jimi / Firmino

    Who to start
    A) Pogba
    or
    B) King?

  18. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Will be offline shortly until after the deadline so just checking in - am I G2G for this week?

    0.4itb -4 taken

    Lloris
    Robbo, Laporte, Doherty
    Salah (TC), Son, Jota, Mili
    Kun, Firmino, Jimi
    (Foster) (JWP, Yoshida, Valery)

    Cheers!

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

      Yes

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

      Yup

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks all

  19. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Recon I have this starting 11 correct?

    Ryan,
    Valery, Robertson, Duffy
    Son, Sterling, Salah(c), Hazard, Doucoure
    Llorente, Vardy

    Kepa, Long, Jonny, Holebas

    Think I'd prefer to play Long over Doucoure but he's flagged and don't wanna risk a cameo? Has there been any injury news on him? Cheers

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

      Gtg

    2. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Jonny over Valery right?

  20. Hargo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Foster Ryan
    Roberton Doherty Duffy Valery Cathcart
    Sterling Son Mané Eriksen Hojbjerg
    Aguero Jimenez Wilson

    1FT 0 ITB

    Save?

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

      Yeah

  21. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Can't make up my mind

    A) Eriksen
    B) Firmino (-4)

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

      A

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I went for B but there is rationale to both doing better than the other!

      I wanted a lesser owned LIV differential for the HUD match

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

    Captain Firmino or Sterling?

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

      F

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

    Eriksen to Salah for free.
    Yes or No?

    Already has got Mane.
    Another her option for FT is Kola to Laporte.

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

      Yep

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

      Yes

  24. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Play Jota or Deulofeu? Have Jimenez

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

      Really tough..
      No other option to bench?

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Unfortunately not.

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

      Deulofeu

  25. pjanns
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lloris
    TAA - Robbo - Laporte
    Son - Jota - Hazard - Mane
    JimineZ Aguero - vardy

    GTG?

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

      Nice differentials

  26. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    It this line up correct? Planned transfer is Azpi to VVD.

    Ederson
    VVD, Monreal, Duffy
    Mane, Son, Jota, Sterling, Pogba
    Lacazette, Jiminez

    Foster, Llorente, Lindleof, Lascelles

    Lindleof ahead of Monreal?

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

    No hits taken, GTG..? Bench order okay too..?

    TC on Salah to get me into the top 5k hopefully

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

      No hits taken, GTG..? Bench order okay too..?

      TC on Salah to get me into the top 5k hopefully

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

      Team looks a bit sparse

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

        No idea why it's done that, it's deleted everything else.

        Will post again.

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Don’t think your team travelled

    4. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      You are 15 players short

      But TC Salah sounds good

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

      Don’t paste emojis as it removes the rest of msg after it

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

        Thanks for letting me know.

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

    i am thinking TC mane. Mental to take -4 for salah?

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

      I would only do it if you will TC Salah, if you TC mane then I’d save the transfer

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

        Who would you TC if you had both on a free?

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

          IF I had both I’d TC Salah but currently I only own Mane 🙁

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

      It's a cointoss

  29. jaymanutd1
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Best mid under 9.2 who isn't Son?

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

      Bilva worth a punt

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

        Definitely

  30. 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. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yep like it