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

    So, Joe Gomez is fit again, right? Any chance he gets a start against Huddersfield in place of Matip?

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

      Matip or Trent yes I think there's a good chance of it

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

        at 4.8M he could be a real bargain then...

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I'm wondering the same. Concern with CL semi coming up.

    3. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I was more worried about him replacing TAA, even with his form.

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

        I suppose there's a chance of that, but wasn't he playing CB before his injury?

        1. jdp219
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Honestly not sure on that. I was thinking it's more about CL for TAA.

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

    Hi all, best move for this week? 0.9itb

    Foster
    Duffy Robertson Doherty
    Salah Mane Pogba Son
    Jiminez Vardy King

    Ryan Brooks Kola Luiz

    A) Brooks -> Babel
    B) Pogba -> Bilva

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

      Like A

  3. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you rather play?
    A) JWP (BOU)
    B) Jota (Wat)

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same players on my squad. I currently have Jota starting. JWP is first spot on the bench, though.

      1. Balls of Steel
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Same as that and starting Jota... Don't like how JWP is playing deeper with Valery not playing!

  4. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Matip likely to play gw36? Ta.

  5. Viper
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Evening all. I have a few options, are any of them any more obvious than the other?

    A. KDB - > Hazard

    B. KDB - > Sané

    C. Kdb & Eriksen - > Salah & 7.0m mid (Moura, Redmond etc) (-4)

    D. Kdb & Doherty - > Sterling & Yoshida (-4)

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

      Might I suggest KDB > B.Silva?

      1. Viper
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yep, another option. Thanks.

        Leaves me funds to take a punt elsewhere in 37/38

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Would be C for me not sure who the mid should be though

      1. Viper
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I think it'll be Redmond. Fancy him for gwk 38

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

      Like kdb to bilva as already said

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

    Anyone know the current (not beginning of gw35 which is all i can find) bb percentage in top ten k? Thanks

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

      Difficult to know the true benefit/score of BB as many will have played strong options on the bench for the lolz.

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

        My colleague at work alleges that Foster, Bednareka and JWP were not genuine starters and that Lloris Vardy, Eriksen on the bench was me going full benchw*nkery

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

          Sorry, i’ve been unclear. I mean: how many have it left?

          That said, bench thingery is difficult to judge. I couldn’t tell you if i would have started masina or firmino in the double because i never intended to have that decision to make.

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

      86.1% after GW35 (18.6% before)

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

        That’s how many have used it in top 10k per LiveFPL

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

        Is that not the stat for people who went into 35 having played it? What I am curious to know is how many of that 13.9 remained in the top ten k. Thank you

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

          Ah I get you. Yes I think you’re right

  7. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is it worth a hit to upgrade Kolasinac?
    With martial the make weight

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

    Who would you rather keep until the end of the season? Jimenez or Jota?

    1. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      That’s a tough 1, I’ve been thinking the same it seems like Jimenez time maybe up

  9. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    You around Berbs? How goes it?

    Very nervous for these final three weeks. I'd still give Liverpool the edge given both fixtures.

  10. Pilgrim62
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I need Salah due my to ML situation. I have to loos one:
    Sterling,
    Kun,
    Son
    Mane
    Any advise?

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

      None. Keep status quo

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

      Kun as lots of other low price options ( perez Wilson Zaha ) my fav is rash for gw37/38 just a thought

  11. MT180
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    GTG?

    Pickford
    AWB Robertson Digne
    Mane Duelofeu Hazard Bilva
    King Aguero (C) Firmino

    Speroni Fraser Bennett Peltier

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

      Captain kun over mane?

      1. MT180
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        No, i'll captain mane for this week. What about Firmino for captain though?

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

      Toss up just have a feeling mane over firm but either good

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

    keep vardy or switch to firmino?

    1. Pilgrim62
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Firmino imo

    2. PBC
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Been thinking Firmino but actually Vardy vs Arsenal is a great fixture and I have other problems so used my transfers elsewhere and brought in TAA.

  13. KINGS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which one to bench this week?

    A) Jimi
    B) Gray
    C) Redmond

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

      B

  14. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    G2G?
    Ryan
    Trippier Duffy Kolasinac
    Salah Sterling Mane Salah
    Jiminez Kun Llorente

    Hammer Valery Bednerak Hudson-Odi

    Cheers

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

      How many Salahs you have

    2. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Needs more Salah.

      1. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Lol defo meant to be Son G2G?

  15. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    1) Doherty > TAA (exact funds)
    2) Save FT

    Would have done #1 already but a little nervous about rotation.

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

    Bench which one?

    A) Wilson (sou)
    B) Jimenez (wat)

    1. jl3757
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A for me

  17. zizoo10
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    start one on field
    A) batshuai (will he start?)
    B) luiz

  18. jl3757
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Should've went with Hojberg instead of JWP on wildcard, now I'm faced with keeping Eriksen or taking a -4 to switch for Mane. Worth it or not?

  19. Pilgrim62
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who is more dangerous till end of the season:
    Kun or Son ?

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

      Kun