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. Scout Picks Community Champion Lottery – Gameweek 5
    Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Gameweek 5 finally arrives after a slow international break, so yet again we need a Community Champion to go up against the Scout Picks team for this week. Something tells me that there might be a strong City representation in both teams this week!

    The Community Champion picks a team to go up against the Scout Picks, within a budget of 83m and in a playable FPL formation. Whichever Gameweek champion beats the Scout’s team by the largest margin will win a £100 Amazon Voucher!

    If you're interested in applying, email Geoff (geoff@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk) with your FFS username and FPL Team ID.

    The Champion will be picked Thursday midday, so make sure to enter by then! The Champion then has until 11am Friday morning to send in their team.

    Good luck!

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

    Hi all,
    On the WC merry go round...

    Pope (Button)
    Ota Taa Digne Pieters (Lundstrum)
    Salah Sterling Kdb (Cantwell Dendoncker)
    Barnes Haller Pukki

    Planning to rotate Pieters/Cantwell/Lundstrum

    Gtg?

    Cheers

  3. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What to do with 1FT and 0.1 ITB?

    Pope
    Lundstram VVD Zinc Coleman Laporte*
    Salah Sterling Mount McGinn Dendoncker
    Kane Pukki Greenwood

    Plan was Laporte & Kane > Matip & Aguero -4 but everyone here seems to think KDB is a better option but is harder to make that move.

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

      I Dont mind it. Aguero should be huge this week and Matip will be good in the short term

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      We have similar teams, could you do Kane and McGinn to Barnes and KdB? That's a move I'm considering for next week, probably saving FT this despite only having two city.

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah could afford that it’s just whether it’s worth a -4 this week?Mcginn has been ticking along nicely too though

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I might do it next GW, Kane and McGinn have decent fixtures this week.......cue two blanks. You can definitely handle benching Laporte this week if you need to though, he's already dropped anyway and Lund has a good fixture. I have TAA over VVD, Martial over Mount and Montoya over Laporte but otherwise our teams are the same.

  4. BananaMan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Wildcard.
    BIG Midfield

    Pope - Heaton
    Soyuncu - Matip - Zinchenko - Lundstram - Pieters
    Salah - KDB - Sterling - Mane - Guendouzi
    Greenwood - Pukki - Wickham

    Too much??

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      terrible team

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

        Harsh
        But
        True

      2. BananaMan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ha, what's the problem??
        Plenty of points in the midfield.
        Pukki is the only striker anyone has bought since GW2.
        Rotation defenders alongside the Man City/Liverpool pair.
        Keepers rotate well.
        Can't see why it's so bad?

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          You can only rotate defenders if you're playing Guendouzi every week?

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

      truly dire

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Thou shall not post a non-template team without expecting abuse.

      1. BananaMan
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Very true, how dare I!
        Everyone wants this midfield, why not have it??

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          No argument here.

    4. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Would downgrade a GK, Salah/Mane and upgrade a fwd

      • Markus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Zinchenko to otamendi at least. Can you eek out enough for ayew over wickham?

      • Teddy Brewski
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Presuming no money itb?

        Heaton to Button
        Zinc to Ota
        Wickham to Ayew

        That improves things slightly.... Means you can bench Guendouzi and Greenwood every week which you'll definitely want to do

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

          Notably you are very reliant on 2 big guns on the same team, and twice over. Often they'll split points. Of course you could be in for some big weeks, but beyond the big money lads you're praying

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

      Good moves?

      AWB + Rashford > TAA + Haller (-4)

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

        Absolutely

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

        Yes.

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

      Which pairing would you rather have for free:

      1. Aguero + James

      OR

      2. Sterling + Barnes

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

        2

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

        2

      3. Teddy Brewski
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        2

    7. mufc123
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki or abraham?

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

        Pukki for me.

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

        Pukki. CHE have CL.

    8. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I know I will get this wrong but Salah or Sterling for the captaincy?

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

        Salah. Fears of a rest for Sterling

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

          Yeah, I´m leaning towards him.

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

        Probably Salah because he is rested, playing at home, and on pens.

    9. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Was just reading comments earlier about Sterling being potentially rested. I had these doubts already... and now I've convinced myself that he will be rested for CL. Classic Pep move this.

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

        textbook

      2. MTPockets
          4 years, 6 months ago

          According to forum comment theory Sterling and KDB will be rested. And Aguero, Zinchenko...

      3. Shack1985
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Pukki & Otamendi or Abraham & Maitland-Niles ?

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

          a

        2. Bigdshane
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          First one by a mile

      4. quayle99
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Result of Man U - Southampton?

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

          1 - 1

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

        A. Pepe, KDB, Wood, Greenwood
        B. Aubameyang, DSilva, Barnes, Guendouzi

        1. quayle99
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          A

      6. quayle99
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Ryan. - Heaton
        Trent - VVD - Diop - Holebas - Dunk
        Sterling - Salah - Neves - Perez - Mount
        Jota - Vardy - Greenwood

        I'm waiting for 2FT then think Neves + Perez + Jota - KDB + Cantwell + Ayew

        Or Wildcard now?

      7. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Cantwell, is he worth getting at this point?

        As a 5th mid, is £4.8 too expensive? Might be the best option if needed from the bench, but it's 0.3 lost of your budget for first choice team.

        As a 4th mid with e.g. Dendo on bench, can he still provide value compared to the £5.3++ midfielders (Robinson, McGin, James etc.), taking into account the upgrades it allows elsewhere?

        1. quayle99
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Probably best option under 5 still. After Man City a few nicer fixtures too

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

            As a 4th mid then, I presume?

        2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I got him in before GW4 as my 4th, largely because some early mistakes have left me with limited budget.

          Fixtures after City look good enough to keep him there, but I might try to upgrade Dendoncker or Greenwood at some point and bench him if he looks less involved than in previous games

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

            Surely a good pick at £4.6 then, but if playing as a 5th mid at this point, you'll curse every time you lack £0.2 for a transfer

        3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Currently playing him as a 5th in a 352.

          Norwich strike me as a team that just have to attack, they will concede a lot so have no real choice. They are also depleted so I think he is nailed for the foreseeable...

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

            ...plus I see nothing under 6 million that appeals...

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

            Makes sense in a 352 yeah. I was rather thinking of a 442/343 , i.e. setting up with a 5th mid on bench

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

              Yep thats a job for a 4.5 regular

        4. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          If you plan never to play him, go with the cheaper one.

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

            Yeah, I might have to accept I was left at that station

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

        Sterling, KDB & Otamendi or
        Sterling KDG & Dilva?

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

          The 2nd option will surely imbalance your team

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

        Thoughts on KDB & DSilva double up and risking life without Sterling & Aguero?

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

          one from each of those pairings imho

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

        Pepe or Aubameyang if cash no issue?

        1. quayle99
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Auba

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

          PEA.

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

        Should you hold on to King and Wood, if you have hold them from gw1 now with fixtures so good.

        The only way to sell them is with hits as i have Laporte that needs to be dropped with 1 FT. Also have other injured one like Awb, martial

        Thanks

        1. Crisnel Ronessi
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Hold then

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

        How does this look? WC has got me crazy!

        Adrian Button
        TAA Otamendi Lowton Lundstram Rico
        Salah KDB DSilva Pepe Son
        Haller Wood Greenwood

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Will need to change username 🙁

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

            That's a really hurtful reply

            1. Now I'm Panicking
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              "I've Got Wood" could be a humorous alternative

              1. Crisnel Ronessi
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 6 months ago

                I like this

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

              "Haller back girl" - if you're a fan of Gwen Stefani and Sebastian Haller

            3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              just add 'S OVER'

        2. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Personally I think it lacks a City goalscorer, I'd want one of Sterling or Aguero in there. I do quite like a few of those selections tho, especially Pepe.

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

        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 this week. Sound good?

        Pope
        TAA VVD Digne Zinch
        Salah Sterling KDB Cantwell
        Pukki Barnes

        Button, Greenwood, Rico, Dendonck

      14. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Hello guys. Thoughts about following possible moves?

        Heaton
        TAA, Van Dijk, Zinchenko, Digne
        Salah, Sterling, McGinn, KDB
        Pukki, King

        subs: Pope --- Lundstram, Dendoncker, Greenwood --- 2 FT, 0.1 ITB

        A) Zinchenko & King -> Söyüncü & Haller for free
        B) King, Dendoncker, Van Dijk & Heaton -> Haller, Mount, Kelly & Button (-8)
        C) Something else, what?

      15. The_Socca_Philosopha
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Considering holding off bringing in Mount for the next 2 GWs and getting Ceballos until GW 7. Thoughts?

        1. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yep that sounds sensible, wol, LIV isn't ideal.

      16. Deulofeu
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Which 2 strikers out of these 4?

        Pukki
        Abrahim
        Haller
        Barnes?

        Thanks!

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

          Pukki and Haller

      17. Crisnel Ronessi
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        #YouKnowYoureAGrownupWhen

        You spend:
        - 35 hours a week at work
        - 2 hours a week cleaning
        - 5 hours a week cooking
        - 168 hours a week thinking about your #FPL team

      18. lindeg
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        if sterling gets 90 minutes tonight, is a rest in the weekend likely then?

        1. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Can't see it myself but nobody knows.

      19. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Danny Jamieson is so bad in the latest FPL show. How is he an expert lol

      20. Surfeit of Lampteys
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Eagerly awaiting my call to go on Meet The Manager series. Just forty minutes of me going through the thought process behind captaining Arshavin at Liverpool and Santi Cazorla at Reading those times.

      21. Kryptonite666
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        What changes would you make to this WC Team? 0.7 ITB

        Pope (Button)

        TAA Digne Pieters (Lundstram) (Kelly)

        Sterling KDB Mount James (Cantwell)

        Aguero Haller Pukki

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

          Get Salah

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

        A. Pepe, Pukki & Wood
        B. Aubameyang, Cantwell & Barnes

      23. I Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The thing with Sterling is, how often does he actually come off the bench when he doesn't start? Not very often if I'm remembering correctly. If he's going to start or not play at all then I'd rather captain him than Salah.

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

          Capping Salah is the safe call imo

        2. EMBOLOFAN
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          last season in the league he stayed on bench 3 times, came on 3 times

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

            last year he was benched after first international break (wasnt brought on)

        3. avfc82
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Not sure we can read too much into it. He was benched seven times last season in the league - stayed on it for the duration four times but came on as a sub on three occasions.

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Benched and didn't come on vs Huddersfield at home, Burnley at home, Watford away and Cardiff at home.

            Benched and came on as a sub vs Everton twice, and West Ham at home.