Opinion

Importance of holding your nerve ahead of international breaks

Gameweek 3 was another weekend of clean sheet wipe-outs. Nick Pope’s in the 96th minute against Wolves was the most painful of all. Only FPL would have you sweating over a Burnley clean sheet on a Sunday afternoon.

In the last two Gameweeks, there’s been just five clean sheets out of a possible 40. Managers who invested heavily in defence are getting frustrated and impatient with their backlines.

Patience is likely to be rewarded though. Manchester City (who have just one clean sheet so far) face Brighton, Norwich and Watford next while Liverpool (who are yet to register a shutout) play Burnley and Newcastle in their next two matches.

Shipping the likes of Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) could come back to bite you over the next few games. Give them time to deliver, it’s only been three weeks.

Going into an international break is a good time to save a transfer if you can (unless you plan to activate the Wildcard during the break). If you don’t have any major fires to fight in your squad, sit on your hands this week and look forward to having two frees for Gameweek 5.

Injuries often occur during internationals (most of which turn out to be nothing more than a sore toe) but it is comforting having those two frees available if you do get unlucky with a few knocks.

Two weeks is a long time in FPL, a lot can go wrong. In my case, I’d love to ship the disappointing Diogo Jota (£6.4m) out this week but I value the two frees for Gameweek 5 more than any of the replacements I can get for the Wolves man.

Anthony Martial (£7.7m) owners may want to ship him this week if he’s ruled out of the Southampton game by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (his press conference is on Friday). If it’s not a long-term injury however, he could just be put on your bench for Gameweek 4 if you have a decent replacement to save you a precious transfer.

Mason Greenwood (£4.5m) is on a lot of benches and he could get a start if Martial misses out. The youngster played 34 minutes in the defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend. Hopefully, Solskjaer will have us Fantasy managers in mind in Friday’s press conference and make things clear, something like “Anthony is out, Mason will start” would be great Ole.

There is probably one player this week I’d favour bringing in as opposed to saving the transfer and that’s Teemu Pukki (£7.0m). If you don’t have him yet, don’t avoid him out of stubbornness. I learned that lesson during Leicester’s title-winning season refusing to bring in Jamie Vardy (£8.9m).

Pukki faces a West Ham side yet to keep a clean sheet. With his high ownership, he will hurt your rank again this weekend if he continues his excellent form and his price will continue to rise during the break. This is not one to overthink.

What is up with Spurs? They looked devoid of ideas in trying to break Newcastle down last week. It’s not a rosy camp at present which is not good for their FPL prospects. Until the Christian Eriksen (£8.9m) saga comes to an end, avoiding Spurs players may be the best thing to do. It’s very odd that Jan Vertonghen (£5.3m) is not getting starts too. He’s their best defender. Harry Kane (£11.1m) owners were left frustrated against the Magpies but I can see him doing well against Arsenal so it might be worth giving him one more week at least.

Like Spurs, Manchester United slipped to a shock defeat in Gameweek 3, turned over by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. United assets were the talk of the town last week in Wildcard squads, but that enthusiasm has quickly died off. As a United fan, having watched the Palace game, Martial and Marcus Rashford (£8.7m) are the only two options on my Watchlist and even at that, I worry about where the service is going to come from.

Good luck in Gameweek 4 and enjoy the international break. It’s a good time to take stock of what has happened over the first four Gameweeks. Use the extra time to good effect.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 3

733 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Kelly or Lund?
    Play dendo or trossard?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Kelly
      Trossard

      1. Come on you Kante
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lund trossard

  2. BlzE_94
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Should i just bench Martial and play this team??

    Pope
    TAA Digne AWB
    Sterling Mane Son Mount
    Pukki Jota Greenwood

    Bench: Martial, Montoya, Rico

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      You made an ft yet? I would go Martial and Greenwood to McGinn/Ceballos and Barnes

  3. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A. Emerson

    B. AWB

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

      Emerson has the attacking threat. AWB will rack up the baps and United has the lowest expected goals against so far. CHE does look leaky but Kante and Rudi ought to improve their defense when they return.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A - haul incoming

  4. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Same as author of above text I refused to get in Vardy & Mahrez in "that" season.
    Wanted to proof all casuals in my ML that I know better....
    It was a very long and very bad season for me....

    Your team needs Pukki ! Get him now !

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      * should be "prove" right ?

      1. Kun, Ayew Nigerian?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yea. Prove is the verb (action word).

  5. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Martial was always a punt and a half. Casuals finally punished

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

      You are a proper arse sometimes

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        So much this

      2. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I would upvote this if it was ‘always’

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      7.5 midfielder nailed as striker for a top 6 team. Punt & a half indeed..

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This

  6. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Point predictions for this lot? 😀

    Haller (NOR)
    McGinn (cry)
    KDB (BHA)
    Mount (SHU)
    Maddison (BOU)
    Moura (ars)

    1. Mr Peanutbutter
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      6
      2
      10
      3
      5
      1

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      And Jota (eve) 🙂

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        2

    3. Laserface
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      7
      3
      9
      5
      7
      2

    4. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      15
      2
      6
      6
      5
      1

  7. Mr Peanutbutter
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Captain Kevin?

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

      Good option if you don't have any other MCI players to captain. Who else do you have that is worth considering for your captain?

      1. Mr Peanutbutter
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        sterling, pukki and salah

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Could be great or could get a single assist in a 5-0 win like he did GW1. Better more explosive options in my mind.

  8. jsookwa
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/08/29/good-news-for-chelsea-in-form-ace-seen-in-training-after-injury-scare/

    Guys greetings, any further news on Mount's injury situation?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nothing more than this. Was pictured in shooting practice with Lampard and Abraham.

      1. jsookwa
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks mate.

  9. Da Kril
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Play Ceballos at home to Spurs
    or play Jimenez away to Everton?
    Which scores more?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ceballos

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I would play Jimenez but really and truly I wouldn't bench either of them.

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jimenez defo

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

      Play Ceballos. WOL look tired and EVE defense have the fourth lowest expected goals against.

    5. Werner Bremen
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jimenez all the way

    6. Da Kril
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks, good feedback.

  10. Budgies
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Heaton
    V Dijk, Zinchenko, Digne, W Bissaka
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Cantwell
    Pukki, King

    (Pope, Greenwood, Martial, Rico)

    any tweaks to formation? ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!

  11. brianj
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will Mount be fit for the weekend?

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

      He was pictured training with the team on Tuesday

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Should be, look above.

  12. I Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is this the week that Liverpool finally keep a clean sheet?

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hoping so!

    2. Better off with a pin and a…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would love it, but I fear the Barnes.

    3. Kun, Ayew Nigerian?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Since it's a season of anomaly so far, since Liverpool haven't shot them out since 2015

  13. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone thinkging D. Jota could get into the points action this weekend?

    1. BigCoupes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hope so as I just brought him in

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Probably keeping so hope so. Everton not bad defensively so not the easiest week.

      I and many others own Everton defender so not optimal week for goals though.

  14. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    AWB - VVD - Laporte - Digne
    Mane - Sterling - KDB - Cantwell
    Pukki - Barnes

    (4.0 - Martial!! - Wickham - Lundstarm)
    1ft & 0.3m itb

    A) Save FT
    B) Martial to Lanzini/Mount (Bench someone)

    Cheers! 🙂

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B. Mount- bench awb

    2. Artemis Titans
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Save

    3. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B with Mount. Martial could be out or benched after the IB. So injury prone

  15. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who’s more likely to get a return Jota(eve) or Moura(ars)?

    Thanks

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jota, Everton defence looking a tad shaky mid week.

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ewwww……....don't fancy either of them mate, both away from home. Jota has a massive game tonight and will play, so on that basis alone I would go Moura, but whats your bench like ??

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Greenwood, Dendoncker, Rico.

        Trying to decide on this? With Martial out, I’m not forced to play one of Jota or Moura.

        A. Martial+Jota >> Mount+Haller
        B. Moura+Martial >> KDB+McGinn
        C. Moura+Martial >> Mount+Maddison

        1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          B...…….KDB v Brighton alone will cover the points and some, plus I like McGinn and have had him in my team from day one and has done very nicely.

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Cool, I’m bang on the money for that one

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tough one but probably Jota as he's nailed to start. Don't know what to expect from Spurs.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers Karan. Which of these would you do for a hit?

        A. Martial+Jota >> Mount+Haller
        B. Moura+Martial >> KDB+McGinn
        C. Moura+Martial >> Mount+Maddison

        Heaton
        TAA • VVD • Digne • Zinchenko
        Salah • Sterling • Moura • Martial*
        Pukki • Jota
        (Pope, Greenwood, Dendonk, Rico)

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Tough one but between A or B.

          Barnes could be a potential replacement for Jota next week if you go with B.

          With A you're stuck with Moura this week not sure who can replace him with next week.

          1. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            True. Although I might WC

  16. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Please rate this Wild Card:
    Pope, Button
    Van Dijk, Laporte, Digne, Guilbert, Lundstram
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
    Haller, Pukki, Greenwood

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tidy

    2. Valar(Keith)
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It's basically Your laporte + Greenwood vs other WCers Kelly and Haller. Not sure which one I like more tbh. Good team though

  17. Henryyy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What would you do here?

    A Martial to Mount FT
    B Play AWB (sou) save FT take Martial price drop

    Cheers

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  18. Godfrey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Struggling to find the solution for Martial.

    Martial + Digne >> KDB + Adam Smith -4

    Martial + Robertson >> KDB + Emerson -4 (already have TAA)

    Martial >> Maddison

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      None of these

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

      I like B

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Maybe B actually. But Chelsea defence is leaky

      1. Godfrey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I think Emerson will assist or score quite often if he keeps playing like he did the first GWs

  19. Origal73
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    team currently (0.6 ITB, No FT):
    Pope - Button
    VVD - Robertson- Digne - KWP - Rico
    KdB - Salah - Mount - Martial - Hayden
    Pukki - Kane - Greenwood

    Struggling with only KDB from Man City with their upcoming fixtures.
    Considering the following:
    1) Martial, Kane -> Aguero, Lanzini (-8) and captain Aguero
    2) Martial, Kane -> Sterling, Barnes (-8) and Captain Sterling
    3) Do nothing this week, captain Salah/KdB and sort team next week with (potentially -4) or WC (prefer not to WC prior to IB).
    Please please help as I am not sure what to do.

    Any thoughts on this? Rather keep the WC?

  20. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Likelihood of Martial dropping in price tomorrow?

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Very slim

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He's red flagged now. Could be a while before he has a price drop.

      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Not sure about that anymore. I saw something on here about new rules under red flag that any price rises can still be affected...

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      cheers lads

  21. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT asvel:) WC
    Pope
    Emerson, Pieters, Lundstram
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Dilva
    Haller, Rashi, Barnes

  22. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Order these subs please:

    Martial
    Lundstram
    Dunk

    Currently in that order

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lundy Dunk Martial

    2. Big Hands Barry
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Play martial just incase

  23. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Martial>Lanzini or King>Haller

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  24. FPL_WILDCARD
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Kane to Aguero worth a -4?

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

  25. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Suggest me best transfer options:

    A) Perez + KWP > James + Otamendi (saving 0.1 drop from Perez)
    B) martial + Wickham > cantwell + Haller (this makes me feel relaxed as I switch my formation from 4-5-1 to 3-5-2)

    Though both options are for hit so any other cool suggestions?

    Salah Sterling KDB martial Perez

    Pukki Greenwood Wickham

    Here is my front 8

  26. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best midfielder up to 5.9?

    1. Kaiser123
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Probably Cantwell for value

  27. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Pope
    VVD Digne AWB Zinchenko
    Salah Sterling KDB Perez
    Pukki Jota

    Best replacements for Perez and Jota?
    Transfers either this week or next ..... 0 FT and 1.0m ITB

    1. chaser123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Was thinking Mount and Barnes next week but Mount's fixtures look tricky (wol and LIV)...

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

    Worth a WC?

    Pope Button
    Robbo VVD Zinchenko Digne Guilbert
    Salah Sterling Moura Martial Dendonker
    Pukki Jota Greenwood

    Double Pool defence, Moura, Martial and Jota the main players I’m thinking of shipping.

    Thoughts?

    1. Kaiser123
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Downgrade Robbo and get KDB somehow.

  29. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which is a better option?

    a) Martial to Anderson

    b) Save FT and start Dendonker

    Thanks guys

  30. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Does his team need a WC or wait after IB. Everybody in my league just did the template team

    Heaton Pope
    VVD Maguire Coleman Diop RICO
    Salah Sterling Martial Mount Dendocker
    Kane King Greenwood