Opinion

FPL Question Time – Consult our panel ahead of Gameweek 5

The international break has given Fantasy Premier League managers plenty of time to stew over their squads.

As has become tradition, a fair number of FPL bosses will have deployed their first Wildcards over the last fortnight as they look to overhaul their failing teams or consolidate a good start.

For those of us with the prized chip still intact or who have already burned it, we still have a number of conundrums to solve ahead of some appealing fixtures in Gameweek 5 and beyond.

To help you with any dilemmas, we’ve put together another panel of Fantasy managers to answer your questions.

WHO’S ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK?

Tom Freeman / avfc82 – A long-term member of and frequent poster to the Fantasy Football Scout site. Tom has five top 1,000 finishes to his name in ten years of playing FPL.

Aleksander Våge Nilsen – Currently eighth in the Fantasy Football Scout Career Hall of Fame, having had three top 1k finishes in the last five seasons.

FPL Hints – One of the most-followed names in the FPL community, a seasoned veteran as well as a Scout writer and an Official FPL panellist. Finished 110th in the world in 2011/12.

Greyhead – The writer of, among other things, our weekly Great and the Good series. Greyhead finished 85th in the world in 2018/19.

Legomané – Fantasy Football Scout moderator and current leader of the Mods and Cons league. Legomané finished 1,006th in the world in his previous best season of 2016/17.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS

682 Comments Post a Comment
  1. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    GTG?

    Pope
    TAA Zinch Digne Pieters
    Salah(c) Sterling(v) KDB Mount
    Wilson Pukki

    (Button Greenwood Lundstram Cantwell

    0 FT, 0.3 ITB

    1. thewhitepele
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      G2G

    2. Champagne supernova
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It’s template, that team is everywhere

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Would one surge up the ranks with an everywhere team 🙂

        Y or N?

    3. Joyce1998
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      your gonna want to play lund this gw

      1. merin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Instead of who?

        1. gergin
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Pieters. No need to double Burnley away.

      2. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not really with the rest of his team .

    4. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good side but personally not sold on Mount in an injury plagued side.

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

    Pope
    TAA - VVD - Montoya
    McGinn - Sterling - Salah(C) - Lanzini - Mount
    Pukki - Haller
    Button - Digne - Greenwood - Rico
    1FT 1.7ITB
    G2G? Or drop someone for Digne?

    1. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      VVD to Digne? if not then save

    2. thewhitepele
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      G2G, don't think its smart getting out VVD when they're playing NEW at home.

  3. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Lundstrom or Diop?

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lundstram
      KDB

      1. thewhitepele
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        This

  4. Klip Klopp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Aguero or KDB?

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Depends who else you've got and who h one you want most.

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        * which one you want most *

    2. JoeSoap
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tough call. Aguero likely to be a rotation risk if Jesus is back though arguably a more reliable captain when playing. I am keener to get KDB myself.

    3. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Both.

  5. thewhitepele
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    TAA VVD Digne Zinch
    Salah Sterling KDB Cantwell
    Pukki Barnes

    Button, Greenwood, Rico, Dendonck

    Any ideas? Have 1FT and 1.1m ITB. Right now thinking of saving the FT and doing Dendonck+VVD --> Mount + 5.7 (e.g. Alder) next week. That would mean playing Cantwell v MCI but at the same time get to play VVD v NEW. Sound good?

  6. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Iv 1 ft what would you do with this team?

    Pope
    Pieters, lundstram, digne, robertson
    Salah, sterling, maddison, kdb
    Pukki, haller.

    Bench, button, greenwood, cantwell, Söyüncü

  7. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I logged in to FPL and changed the colour of Kun's 'C' from white to black, it looked so good I saved it for a minute before losing my bottle and switching it back 😉

    1. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      hahaaaa! DO IT!

  8. TheBabyfacedAssassin
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    1FT 0.1ITB, save it FT and GTG?
    Pope
    VVD, Lundstram, Söyüncü
    KDB, Salah, Sterling, Mount
    Aguero, Barnes, Greenwood
    Subs Cantwell, Kelly, Hanley

  9. Worsle90
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    How’s this looking?

    Pope (BHA)
    TAA, VVD (NEW), Digne (BOU), Zinchenko (NOR), Lundstram (SOU)

    Sterling, KDB (NOR), Salah (NEW), Gudmundsson (BHA)

    Haller (AVL)

    Button, Joelinton, Dendoncker, Greenwood

  10. BarrowAFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Current team:
    Pope - Heaton
    TAA - Digne - Coleman - Montoya - Lundstram
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Trossard - Dendo
    Haller - Barnes - Greenwood

    Is this worth a WC to get Aguero in?

    Pope - Button
    TAA - AMN - Lowton - Soyuncu - Lundstram
    Salah - Sterling - KDB - Cantwell - Dendo
    Aguero - Wesley - Greenwood

    1. theswallow1965
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't WC. You have Sterling & KDB already as great City cover.

  11. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    15:00 Sterling C
    16:00 salah C
    17:00 Sterling C

    And its just Tuesday 😀

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

      Goes with your name 😉

  12. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Heaton

    Virgil - Robbo - Digne - Walker

    Salah - Martial? - Mount - Sterling

    Pukki - Wilson

    (dendo, lund, green)

    1. Martial to who ??
    2. Save FT
    3. Any other advice?

  13. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Would you WC this lot? Or just take Moura out and leave it another week? 0.5 in bank

    Was tempted last GW, took a hit and failed (mainly due to Robinson). Those in bold are the players I may get shot of and maybe one of the Pool defenders. Needs more City.

    Pope
    vvd, Robbo, Digne
    Sterling, Salah, MOURA, ROBINSON, MOUNT
    Pukki, Haller
    Heaton, MONTOYA, GREENWOOD, Kelly,

    1. buzzkill
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't WC that personally

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanx. Tempted to leave it this week though feel I am constantly losing ground by not using it.

    2. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      If Robinson is fit you can play him... otherwise use Montoya as bench cover with a good fixture.

      Wouldn't get rid of Mount - Wolves without Boly could be vulnerable at set pieces (which he takes) or through the middle, where hopefully he will play again if Pedro or CHO come back.

      Which leaves Moura... with your structure it's hard to get to KDB from him but maybe one of the Pool DFs could be sacrificed?

      Otherwise I would consider Martial, James, Ceballos or McGinn. Maybe even Maddison if you're not too bothered about fixs.

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks for your input. Moura is the main problem. Ironically got rid of martial last GW and took chance on Moura. KDB hard to fit in without an extra transfer though could do Dilva.

        1. Shatner's Bassoon
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I did exactly the same and we have v similar sides actually! This was mine at the end of last GW:

          Pope
          Digne Robbo Zinch
          Sterling Salah Moura Mount
          King Haller Pukki

          Heaton Montoya Dendonck Lunds.

          Just that one structural difference having King meant I could climb from Moura to KDB in 2 moves 😐

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            You just answered his question succinctly as you can.

          2. JoeSoap
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Thanks again. Will stall the WC and have a rethink.

            1. Shatner's Bassoon
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              NP, good luck.

              1. JoeSoap
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Good luck to you as well.

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I will put an "N" in place of their name if no WC is necessary and then you can make up your own mind.
      N
      N N N
      N N Y N N
      N N
      N N Y Y
      Mind made up?

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Appreciate that. Probably right though I am sure Robinson would have been included had he not scored. Probably leave WC for now.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Good Call!

    4. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like Moura to David Silva. He will be rotated every now and then but is usually in the points when he plays.

      1. JoeSoap
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks, rotation would be a concern, same for most City players I guess.

  14. Harvey Spector
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Captain Kane? Torn between Salah and Kane.

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      City against Norwich.

    2. Mini Mahouse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Salah if you're not captaining anyone from City

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Watch people run to Kane who has just scored the worst hat trick in history.

    4. theswallow1965
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Salah & Sterling could have hauls this weekend but Sterling edges it for me against that Norwich defence!

    5. theswallow1965
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      But out of the two, Salah for me 100%

  15. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Anything worth a hit?

    Ryan
    Coleman VanDijk Otamendi Lundstram
    Salah McGinn Sterling KDB
    Wesley Kane

    Button Catwell Greenwood Kelly

    0.2m ITB

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

      Nothing I would do here for a hit tbh

  16. Mini Mahouse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    G2G?

    Pope
    Otamendi Digne TAA Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB
    Haller Barnes Pukki

    Button Cantwell Dendocker Rico

    1m ITB

    1. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      solid team

  17. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    If Trent starts tonight would you be reluctant to bring him in this week for a -4? Fear that he may not start if so, and thus can wait a week.

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      And boom out of the blue TAA goes up another 0.1. If you can afford it then fine. But read in the previous article where one poster had Lapotre, his price went down and then TAA went up. Losing 0.2 gotta hurt like a mofo.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        See below

      2. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not fussed. Lost 0.4 on the planned transfers anyway.

  18. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    How do people deal with the 2 games a week period we are entering?
    Do you always have a strong 1st bench to cover for inevitable rotation and injuries?
    Do you cover 2 bench possibilities? Not a big problem if you have a cheap "Lundstrum and Cantwell" alternative.
    Or do you just take a chance on the strongest possible 1st 11 and take the medicine for a fail.
    My personal concerns are South American international players and ones from the far east.

    1. The_Fish
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like a playing bench, but not an expensive one. Currently Montoya, Dendoncker and Greenwood. 2 points is fine, if that's all it is.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        50/50 whether good enough.
        Kelly injured and will lose his place.
        Dendonker rotation threat.
        Montoya OK but there will be time you hope he does not come on.
        IMHO

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Depends what you mean by rotation. e.g. If you'll start X player anyway and he's likely to get limited minutes rather than none it's not worth pondering bench picks too much. Personally want 2 starters and that's about the only criteria

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I mean zero minutes.
          Defenders usually either play or don't

          1. MTPockets
              4 years, 6 months ago

              For the average defender it's probably max 2pts lost. For premiums - problem is it's difficut to afford them and have great benches. Having a more rounded squad has tended to backfire for me - in that yes rotation happens but less often and less predictably than I worry about

              1. Eze Really?
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                That is why I asked those questions. Interesting because if I look back I tend to agree.

          2. Shatner's Bassoon
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah this is how I feel about it too. 2 playing benchees is usually enough to cover any full no-shows, and I also like not to have too many selection headaches so those players will usually be pretty much bargain basement.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I think 1st bench is crucial though. I like a player who can surprise me with points on the bench but get wound up if he stays there. (Smile)

              1. Shatner's Bassoon
                • 5 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                ha... Cantwell/Lunds are perfect for that then really, especially if bought at starting price. Both running around in attacking-ish areas + at least the potential for returns in most fixtures.

                1. Eze Really?
                  • 9 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  The 2 I kept on my WC

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          As long as I have 2 bench which are starting like Lund and Cantwell then 3rd bench can see zero minutes.

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Agreed. Makes Lund and cant a worthwhile tfr if you don't have them

        3. AndyCook
            4 years, 6 months ago

            It’s rare for attacking players to get zero minutes. One playing defender on the bench is normally enough if playing three at the back or one playing player to field a full 11. Full playing bench is redundant

            1. AndyCook
                4 years, 6 months ago

                One playing player in a four or five at the back*

          • TiAgoFPL
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Hello there
            My current team
            Heaton
            VVD Digne Zinchenko Lundstram Montoya
            Sterling De Bruyne Mane
            Rashford Pukki
            Bench: Martial Cantwel Greenwood

            My question bank a transfer ? Or use it ?
            Martial injured or Rashford just not performing

          • Where dahoud at
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Wat wud u do with this?

            Pope
            Pieters, lundstram, digne, robertson
            Salah, sterling, maddison, kdb
            Pukki, haller.

            Bench, button, greenwood, cantwell, Söyüncü

            1. The_Fish
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Very little.

              Wouldn't want double Burnley though

          • BlzE_94
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Which would you pick on WC??

            A) Sterling + Abraham

            B) Aguero + Mount

            1. The_Fish
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A

            2. TiAgoFPL
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A

            3. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Boils down to wanting Sterling or Kun.
              Therefore A because Kun will have his minutes managed more than Sterling.

          • Party Til You Pukki
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Been a while since I've posted, but here's my current wildcard. Any thoughts, tips or character assassinations would be greatly appreciated. Feel like I'm in danger of chasing form, and I'm dumping out Vardy to accommodate the front three. That feels like it's going to bite me on the arse pretty hard. Burnley's fixtures look too juicy to ignore.

            Pope (Button)
            TAA / Digne / Lundstram / Tarkowski (Kelly)
            Salah / Sterling / KDB (Cantwell)
            Pukki / Barnes / Haller

            1. kendo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Looks good to me

              1. Party Til You Pukki
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Nice one. Looking forward to watching it all go up in flames this weekend.

          • FPL Blow-In
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Play double Everton defence or Lundstram?

            Or both and bench Pukkhi.

            Thanks.

            1. BlzE_94
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Why would you bench pukki? :S

              1. FPL Blow-In
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                I’m not. Have city defence though so could do it and go for the higher ceiling but I won’t.

              2. FPL Blow-In
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Would have been quicker to just answer the question.

          • runupstream
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Ederson (Button)

            Digne TAA Robertson (Kelly Rico)
            Dendoncker Salah Sterling James Cantwell
            Rashford Jimenez (Greenwood)

            I want to bring Aguero in. What to do?

            1. runupstream
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              1,6 ITB

          • gonzalocampos
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Decisions decisions: Play Pukki or Lundstram?

            I am at 65% playing Lundstram.

            1. IRBOX ⚽
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Should be 99% playing Pukki

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

                i am currently on lundstram over pukki.... got me reconcidering there!!! -.-

          • Gunner1290
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Who to play:

            A) dendonker (Chelsea home)
            B) Soyoncu (United away)
            C) greenwood (leciester home)

            1. kendo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A

            2. gooner_112233445566
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A for me but wouldn’t want to play any if I’m honest

          • gooner_112233445566
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Down to this decision...

            A) otamendi, Ceballos (other 5.9), Jimenez, c Wilson
            B) ota, lanzini, pukki, Jimenez
            C) ota, lanzini, pukki, c Wilson
            D) soyuncu (other 4.5), lanzini, Jimenez, pukki
            E) soyuncu, pukki, Jimenez, c Wilson

            Please vote

            1. theswallow1965
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              C

          • kendo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Pope
            VVD Digne Zinchenko Wan-Bis
            Mane Sterling KDB Martial
            Pukki Barnes

            Pope Lundstram Cantwell Greenwood

            Have 2ft’s really want Salah back to do this

            Can either go

            A Martial to James or Mount

            B Wan Bis to a Burnley def and play Lundstram

            Any other advice appreciated

            Kendo

            1. theswallow1965
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A unless you particularly want double Burnley defence.

              1. kendo
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                On the ffs pod today they mentioned Burnley as top for cs potential next 4 gw’s

                1. Hy liverpool
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  Don't listen to them then.

            2. kendo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              It is their helpful advice on the pod that is leaning me towards considering another Burnley defender - thanks for your helpful comment 🙂

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

                In that case listen to me - I've got Pope, Pieters and Lowton!!!

                1. The Overthinker
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  So you've again gone for triple team def 😀

            3. kendo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Thanks Andy - lots of faith there!

          • Pep Roulette
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            On WC! Have Sterling!

            A. KDB & Cantwell (Greenwood bench)
            B. DSilva & Pukki (Guendouzi bench)

            1. The_Fish
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              A

            2. AndyCook
                4 years, 6 months ago

                Neither would work for me

              • theswallow1965
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                A

            3. beastie
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              How's this?

              Pope - Button
              TAA - Digne - Otamendi - Pieters - Lundstram
              Salah - KDB - Son - Mount - Cantwell
              Haller - Pukki - Barnes

              0.5 ITB