Selection

Babel impressing even weeks after Fulham relegation

With the Double Gamweeks and Blank Gameweeks over for another season, we can sit back, relax and enjoy life once again.

Or can we?

The finishing line is almost in sight and mini-leagues can still be won or lost over fine margins.

Liverpool and Man City are still battling it out at the top and there’s still life in the fight to avoid the final relegation spot.

Here are three poorly-owned players that may be of interest to you in Gameweek 36…


Ryan Babel

Price: £5.5m

Ownership: 0.7%

GW36 Fixture: Cardiff (H)

As a general rule of thumb, players from teams that are mathematically relegated are not worth considering in FPL. But I believe Ryan Babel (£5.5m) is defying that principle and can no longer be ignored.

He has quietly scored three goals and registered two assists in his last seven games.

The former Liverpool man is already Fulham’s sixth-highest outfield FPL points scorer, despite only joining them in Gameweek 23.

With the shackles now off, he is playing with a level of freedom that has helped Fulham win two of their last three games even if it’s been in vain.

But I can’t see his performance levels dropping anytime soon. Surely he has some sort of self-motivation to put himself in the shop window so that he doesn’t have to ply his trade in the Championship next season?

His advanced position is being duly rewarded as in the last six Gameweeks he has the second joint-most number of goals inside the box (three) among all midfielders.

Fulham’s next opponents are Cardiff at Craven Cottage. The Bluebirds are still fighting for survival and won’t simply park the bus and hope to nick a boring draw in a compact game.

The Bluebirds have conceded almost two goals per game on average on the road this season too.

I expect Ryan Babel to take advantage of their defensive frailties and be in contention to continue his unsung run of Fantasy returns.



Joel Matip

Price: £4.9m

Ownership: 1.1%

GW36 Fixture: Huddersfield (H)

The chances are that you already have Liverpool defensive cover in your team. However, do you have space to add one more but are squeezed for cash?

Look no further than Joel Matip (£4.9m).

You can’t go wrong with a regular starting sub-£5.0m defender from a title challenging team that has kept nineteen clean sheets this season.

Of course, he hasn’t been a regular from Gameweek 1 but he has played every minute of Premier League football since Gameweek 23.

Matip’s price hasn’t risen since then and he has kept six clean sheets in the process.

With that said, he doesn’t boast a noticeable attacking threat like Robertson, Alexander-Arnold of Van Dijk.

In addition, Matip’s seven penalty area touches in the last six Gameweeks are hardly worth mentioning but it’s only two less than Van Dijk during the same period.

With Matip you simply have a very good chance of a cheap and cheerful Fantasy return in Gameweek 36 through an easy clean sheet banker.

Liverpool face off against relegated Huddersfield on Friday.

The Terriers have only scored 11 away goals all season, whereas Liverpool have conceded the least number of league goals at home since August. What more could you ask for?



Dele Alli

Price: £8.8m

Ownership: 2.4%

GW36 Fixture: West Ham (H)

If an injury hadn’t hampered him for large chunks of this season, there’s no doubt Dele Alli (£8.8m) would have racked up double-digits for goals and assists by now.

He’s on course for playing his lowest number of minutes in a Premier League season but it hasn’t stopped him from registering nine FPL attacking returns.

Now that he is fully fit, Alli should hopefully see through the remainder of the league campaign and whatever is still left of Tottenham’s dream European adventure.

Dele Alli’s heatmap for the 2018/19 season so far

He still boasts an impressive heatmap for the 18/19 season and his injuries haven’t prevented him from playing in advanced positions with 40% of his touches being in the final third.

With Kane still out injured, Alli will play an important role in Tottenham’s attacking areas.

This all bodes well with the fact that they’ve also won every home match at their new state-of-the-art stadium.

Spurs still need to win games to secure Champions’ League football for the 2019/2020 season too.

Up next are West Ham who have lost three of their last four games. They can’t challenge for Europe and are safe from relegation.

Put simply they have nothing to play for.

It could be the kind of match that Alli can revel in, to build up his own self-confidence and show the Spurs faithful that he can help see them through from now till May.

1,856 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Can I get some advice on my next step?

    Should I slap the TC on Mané this weekend?

    Lloris
    Robertson / Doherty / Duffy
    Son / Mané / Jota / Ericksen
    Aguero / Lacazette / Jiminez

    Bench: Foster, Dunk, Ward-Prowse, Valery
    1FT and 1.0

    A. Duffy —> TAA
    B. Ericksen —> B.Silva
    C. Any other suggestions?

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes and Save

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

      A is the standout option 100%

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

      Laca > Firmino is an option but I would got with A.

    4. Dybala10
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I did A

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

    A) Get Firmino or Salah for the rest of season and TC Salah this week
    or
    B) Get Sterling for the rest of season and TC Mane this week

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

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

      B

  3. Queens of the South Age
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Little worried as I don't have salah or mane. I have TAA, Robbo and Firmino

    Just captain Firmino and hope for the best or I could get salah/mane in for a hit by taking KDB and Firmino out.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Triple captain Trent or Robbo and doing something else with KDB funds.

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

      Be afraid, be very afraid

  4. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    My dumb brain is feeling Firminho as a TC differential this week ffs

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

      Could happen! Less explosive but goal/assist/3 bonus isn’t out of the question...

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

    Go without Mane/Salah and get Robbo in along with TAA?
    Would captain Son/Sterling.

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

      So Mane + Salah vs. Robbo + one of them?
      If so, play Mane and Salah.

      I

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

        I have to lose Eriksen for Mane or Sterling for Salah.
        Dont like either of those moves really hence the dilemma.
        Feel duffy to Robbo is better maybe remove Gray.

        What you think?
        Team is below:

        Ryan
        Duffy Trippier TAA
        Sterling Son Eriksen Jota
        Aguero Jomenez Gray

        Foster JWP Valery Doherty

        2.2ITB 1FT

  6. azz007
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is there a poll

    Mane or Salah TC?

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

      ppl will likely only give the answer to which one they actually own.
      not sure how many actually have both nowadays

    2. backstreets
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I’m getting one of them in and putting TC on them. As at 13:17 it will be Salah but likely to change my mind a good bit before GW starts !

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Salah

  7. Party time
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Anyone here going without Liverpool or a City player for the armband?

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

        I could very well be yes!

        1. Party time
            4 years, 11 months ago

            I'm considering Vardy but I think Mané is the safer option

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

              looking at Son or maybe Sterling

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

          Nope. Only issue is Liv TC this week or Hazard next.

          1. Party time
              4 years, 11 months ago

              I think this week is a very good week to tc any Liverpool player

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

          Bagel or Redmond?

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

            Babel*

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

            Redmond

          3. Fulchester's New Centr…
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Babel looking dangerous and Fulham decent fixtures. Redmond might easily do as well or better, but is also a troll of long-standing.

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

          Change anything?

          1FT
          0.0 ITB

          Lloris
          Doherty, TAA, Duffy
          Salah (tc), Son, Moura, Deulofeu, Sterling
          Kun, Jimenez

          Foster,- Long, Kolasinac, Valery

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

            Nice team.

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

            I would probably go with Kola/Valery over Duffy.

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

          TC POLL

          1) Yes you are
          2) No you're not

          1. Party time
              4 years, 11 months ago

              2

            • Fire Chief Moe
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              1

            • HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              2

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

              1

            • TheDragon
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              If you can’t TC a Liverpool player at home to a relegated Huddersfield then I don’t know what to tell you

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

                The concern of limited minutes should the game be comfortable is the only thing putting me off.
                I'm going to captain a City player against a hopefully safe, but still terrible Brighton team, who will be as assured as you can be of playing 90 minutes, with a title to win.

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

                  there is logic to this too

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

                  I get what you are saying but there is just as much uncertainty in your approach of using it in. GW38. You need

                  - Brighton to be safe (not guaranteed)
                  - City not to have already won the league (not guaranteed)

                  Plus it’s away and are you really trying to win 10-0 if you have to win to win the league or are you going to get to 2-0 and take no risks

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

                    I accept it's not guaranteed. But I do expect this scenario on the last day.

                    I don't think I've ever seen City take the no risks approach it's not in their DNA under Pep.

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

                      Good luck if you go for that approach, could pay off hugely and if nothing else will give you a very exciting last day of the season. I’ll be using mine tonight though

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

                        Thank you, good luck to you too, I mean I think both are solid ways to approach the TC chip.

                        The idea of a guaranteed GW38 green arrow should also not be underestimated 🙂

            • the dom 1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              3 undecided 😉

            • yakirh
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              1.5

          2. Geordie19
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Would be a -4

            KDB and Rondon
            Out for Babel and Aguero

            Or KDB and Rondon out for
            Mane and Zaha

            Or KDB and Rondon out for
            Bernardo Silva and Firmino

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Middle one

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

            1) Play Foster or Ryan (I don't know who yet) and next GW will buy De Gea for the last two seemingly easy fixtures
            2) Buy Ederson and be my set-and-forget GK until the end of the season (I already have Laporte - that's the cons of that plan)

            1. Perthite
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              1 is my question too atm.

            2. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Riggs - get Ed; Perthite - play Ryan

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

                Thanks.

          4. CelticBhoy1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Start Boly or Wan-B?

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

              Wan

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

            Thinking of saving FT. Potentially double up on Pogba/Rashford next week. Thoughts?

            1 FT
            0.9m bank

            Ryan
            TAA - Kola - Valery
            Son - Tielmans - Sterling - Salah TC
            Laca - Aguero - Jimenez

            Leno - JWP - Duffy - Bednarek

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

              Maybe save it as the team looks good for this game week. Would not touch Pogba though his mind has been in Madrid since slap head came back. He's been useless. Can't wait until we get him out of the club in the summer

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

                No player in the league is more of a flat track bully than Pogba. The last 2 games are huge opportunities to flat track bully the opposition. I could see at least 1 haul.

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

                  he's looking for an excuse for leaving - a bit of face saving. We didn't make the champions league etc. is what he's about. He'll be useless in both games against Hud and Cardiff IMO

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

            Do we think Matip plays?

            Worth dropping Doherty for him then?

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

              (Because Lovren and Gomez are back)

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

              Probably and almost certainly not.

            3. Abra Dubravka
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Struggling with this too.

              Think Alisson and Van Dijk are only certs

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

            Quick question:

            A) Play Llorente and save FT
            B) Duffy > Matip and play him over Llorente

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              No other options? Gutting if either don't start.

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

                I have options to come on from my bench otherwise.
                (Valery, Højbjerg)

                1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Play Llorente then.

          8. The Royal Robin
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Anything worth a -4? £1.7 itb. Good luck all!

            Alisson
            Doherty VVD Laporte
            Sterling Son Eriksen Mane
            Rondon Wilson Jiminez

            Ryan Camarasa Kola Rudiger

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Nothing worth a hit springs to mind.

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

            Which formation?

            a) 4-4-2:

            Lloris
            Robbo - Laporte - Duffy - DUNK/JONNY
            Salah - Son - Mane - Jota
            Aguero - Jimenez

            b) 3-4-3:

            Lloris
            Robbo - Laporte - Duffy
            Salah - Son - Mane - Jota
            Aguero - Jimenez - LLORENTE

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

              So basically, bench Llorente or Dunk/Jonny?

          10. KingOllie
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Play 2 out of these!::

            A) Wilson(sou)
            B) Jimenez(wat)
            C) Duffy(NEW)
            D) Redmond(BOU)

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

              Jimenez and Duffy

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

            should I get rid of Sane this week?

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

              What is he doing in the team all this while anyway

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

                The double 🙁

            2. Tsparkes10
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              I wouldn't. Scored when brought on last game. Could well start

            3. Dybala10
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Oh yes.

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

            Jonny or Jimenez ? Anyone fancies a CS in Wolves-Watford game ?

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

              think both teams will score

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

                If that happen bet its not going to be Jimenez lol

                1. Cruz88
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  To be fair sods law dictates Jiminez will get returns this week, after many DGW captainers might have got annoyed enough to move him on. Still got him after a disastrous TC last week and holding out some hope (though Wolves away record isn't great)

                  1. Alexis Nonsense
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 11 months ago

                    Well, Jimenez is the fpl player of the season imo, anything other than keeping is madness, but I hope many will get rid

                    1. Alexis Nonsense
                      • 8 Years
                      4 years, 11 months ago

                      Speaking of keeping, wonder if Wolves will be able to keep him?

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

                        Think he recently signed perm contract

              2. The Ejiptian King
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                This.

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

            Bench one:

            A) Doherty
            B) Duffy
            C) JWP

            1. Ziyech on the Bench
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              A

          14. n14mul
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Afternoon,

            Help me pick one out of these.

            A. Valery
            B. Doherty
            C. Peliter

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

              Doherty

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

              Definitely not C!!!

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

              Normally B but think A is good this week

              1. Alexis Nonsense
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                I'm between Valery and Duffy

                What do you think?

                1. n14mul
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 11 months ago

                  Got dunk just not sure Valery will start as he hasn't last 2

          15. Flippo_
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            My team right now:

            Alisson (Ederson)
            TAA - Bednarek - Aké - (Duffy) - (David Luiz)
            Milivojevic - Sterling - Pogba - Mane [TC] - Lucas Moura
            Jiminez - Lacazette - (Rashford)

            Good to go? Or should I play Duffy in place of Bednarek or Aké, because they are playing against each other?

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Duffy over Ake

            2. the dom 1
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Play Duffy

          16. KUNingas
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            A) Laca -> Firmino (C/TC)
            B) Jota + Laca -> Mane (C/TC) + Ings (-4)
            C) Eriksen + Laca -> Salah (C/TC) + Ings (-4)

            1. Victor6359
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              A

          17. Ziyech on the Bench
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Start 1:

            A) Jonny
            B) WB
            C) Bednarek

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Bed

          18. Tmel
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Llorente likely to start?

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

              Possibly/Probably. Somewhere inbetween the two.

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

            Llorente to Shane Long? Would allow me to do Duffy to TAA. Thanks a lot guys.

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

              For free. Yes. For a hit? Probably not.

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

                It would be for a hit, yeah. Thanks mate.

          20. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Idk which is more fun/differential:

            A) Salah TC and Zaha
            B) Firminho TC and Mane

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

              B

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

              For me the fun combination is the combination which scores the most points.

              1. Tsparkes10
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Which is? In your opinion

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

              It`s always a question differential to what? To top 10k, to your rival or to common opinion on ffs? If you are chasing something/someone - for me B is interesting, if not - A.

              1. Tsparkes10
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 11 months ago

                Well. I'm at 38k and 8 points behind Rival who has WC playing this week but no TC left. He's keeping Mane I think

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

                  Both choices will be enough different, because captain is not Mane, Firmino more differential, Salah more safe, imho.

                  1. Tsparkes10
                    • 5 Years
                    4 years, 11 months ago

                    Cheers 🙂

          21. Jambot
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            Surely Trippier has had enough rest now? Missed 2 of last 3 PL games! Or is walker-peters really expected to play again?

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

              Hopefully he plays.
              When he does hes usually gold especially FPL wise!

            2. Dybala10
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 11 months ago

              Looks like he is carrying a groin injury.

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

                Wasn’t aware of that! Fingers crossed I’ve got Kolasanic as well 11m defensive disaster pairing Trent could add to my problems too