Pro Pundits

Possible Alisson return highlights shortage of budget goalkeepers

Like many Fantasy Premier League managers, I am heading into Gameweek 9 hoping to end a run of frustrating misfortune.

With the international break over for another month, I’ve had enough time to reflect over Gameweek 8 in order to refocus for this weekend.

I was hoping to carry over my free transfer but, like a large number of managers, decided to act on impulse when news of Kevin de Bruyne’s (£10.0m) injury broke out.

This gave me an opportunity to redistribute funds and my last transfers involved me selling the Belgian and Jordan Ayew (£5.1m) for Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.0m) and Tammy Abraham (£7.7m) with a -4 hit for good measure.

Unfortunately, Ayew unexpectedly ended his run of booking-inspired one-point hauls by somehow scoring and getting three bonus points, whereas Yarmolenko failed to deliver and in turn adopted yellow card duties.

Kevin de Bruyne has caused Fantasy managers some distress over the international break

Abraham’s goal provided damage limitation by softening my red arrow but essentially my hit failed.

I now oversee a team without de Bruyne who could be back sooner to Manchester City’s first team than initially anticipated – but I have a number of other issues to consider.

Firstly, I have been keeping a close eye on the much-anticipated return of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson (£5.8m) who looks to be very close to starting for Jurgen Klopp’s men again.

With Adrian (£4.6m) and the non-starting David Button (£4.0m) currently in my team, this position has automatically become the main area that I need to address for Gameweek 9.

I’ve got £1.3m in the bank so I can sign any replacement up to the value of £5.9m which, thankfully, is most goalkeepers in the game.

Many of the more expensive goalkeepers have better colleagues in defence right now

Leicester have a great run of upcoming games and Kasper Schmeichel (£5.1m) could be an option. Usually, I’d rather buy a super cheap goalkeeper and upgrade one of my defenders to buy Ricardo Pereira (£6.2m) – after all he has scored two goals in his last three games.

Similarly, I considered Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5.5m) due to Chelsea’s generous fixtures, but if I wanted their defensive coverage, Fikayo Tomori (£4.7m) or Marcos Alonso (£6.2m) would make more sense.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much on offer for goalkeepers in the budget range at the moment. With Hugo Lloris’ (£5.5m) unfortunate long-term injury, Paulo Gazzaniga (£4.4m) became an overnight option.

He’s almost like the go-to Adrian replacement. But with confirmation that Michel Vorm (£4.5m) has re-signed for Tottenham on a free transfer, his place could also be at risk with a few inconsistent performances.

After all, Spurs have hardly been playing their best football during this campaign and have been mercurial at best. If anything, I want to avoid their players but might be almost forced into buying Gazzaniga.

The fact of the matter is that there’s no goalkeeper priced in or around £4.5m with a long run of decent games. Mat Ryan (£4.6m) could be an exception between Gameweek 9 and 18 but Gameweeks 12 to 15 are difficult on paper for him.

In the end, I went for Schmeichel as I wanted a long-term, relatively cheap goalkeeper that I would not need to see until the end of the year. Out of all the options above, he seemed the best to me.

Picking captains has been tough this season – and Gameweek 9 is no different

Many seasoned FPL managers will tell you that if you can nail your armband selection more often than not then your overall rank will almost take care of itself.

Unfortunately, in a season characterised by captain blanks for most of us, I am yet to make the highest FPL points’ scorer in my team my skipper for any given Gameweek in 2019/20.

For this weekend, Abraham (at home to Newcastle United) would have been an almost automatic pick but a shock win against Manchester United for Steve Bruce’s men last time out has put a question mark over that way of thinking.

Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) looked crisp during the international break and could be a good shout too. I can’t overlook Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) either, even if the spectre of Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) makes him a rotation risk waiting to happen.

However, fitness permitting, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) could be an interesting captain option. David de Gea (£5.6m) picked up an injury on international duty and is poised to miss the match this weekend.

Liverpool have won every Premier League game since August with Manchester United having their worst start in decades. The only thing missing for Liverpool is Salah at his goalscoring best and this could be the match in which he comes back with a bang as Liverpool try to widen the gap between them and Manchester City.

My Gameweek 9 team although I might make a late call on the captaincy

Ash is a member of our Pro Pundits initiative, a team of Fantasy managers here to bring you regular advice and updates on their teams. Ash, known by many as the Chief, recorded his best-ever FPL finish in 2011/12 placing 110th in the world and has become a massive community influencer ever since.

2,676 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hey fam! GTG?

    Gazza
    TAA Otamendi Aurier Rico
    Salah DSilva Yarmolenko
    Kun(C) Auba Tammy

    Button Cantwell Lundy Guendouzi

    Good luck everyone!

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You confident with Yarmo over cantwell? See below

    2. KNOW IT ALL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      gazza wont start?

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Gazza does start, face palm emoji

        1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Vorm perhaps

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            its too early for Vorm to be considered for starting. They got rid of Vorm because Gazza is second choice to Lloris, it would be strange for them to resign Vorm and then shove him in goal over Gazza.

  2. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who to start:
    A) Cantwell
    B) Yarmolenko

    1. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You serious?

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yarmo by a long distance, not sure why anyone is actually asking this question. Seen it a few times

      1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This

      2. Kay317
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yarmo = 3 goals
        Cantwell = 2 goals and 2 assists
        Cantwell playing the weaker defence.
        Its not that clear cut.

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          it is if you watch football, no offence but Yarmo and Cantwell are not in the same category at all.

          1. Kay317
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I do. And none taken. I know Yarmo is better, it's more about opposition.

            1. have you seen cyan
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              form over fixtures for me

        2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yarmo is the better player

          1. Kay317
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yes he is. I'm just not confident in him away at Everton.

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Fairly settled here:

    Pope
    TAA / Pereira / Boly
    Salah* / KDB / Maddison / Mount
    Vardy / Wilson / Abraham

    Button* // Rico / Cantwell* / Lundstram

    A) Button or McGovern?
    B) Cantwell > Traore?
    C) Salah or Mané?

    Krul back now, so McGovern back to the bench.

    Cantwell/Traore is a 5th MID. Won't be playing them much, but decent option to build value. Allows a striker downgrade later to get Sterling etc. if I need.

    Mané leaves 0.9m ITB and I'm not sure what I'd do with the cash at the moment.

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      a) Doesn't matter
      b) Dendoncker
      c) Mane

  4. Jones Town
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    With the risk of Salah not starting and the price drop, are people transferring to Mane/KDB? Was thinking of dropping Salah anyway... would also give me funds to do Pukki to Wilson? Have Sterling (c)

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah to Mane and Pukki to Tammy if you have the funds.

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah to start and burn you

    3. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Done Salah & Ceballos to Mane & Maddison for -4 myself

  5. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Getting aguero next week 100% with my ft.

    So this week do I have kane (c) for Watford at home or just have aguero now on my wildcard? (Got kdb and sterling as well)

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Aguero now. I wouldn't go near Kane until I see a double digit haul from him.

      1. gooner_112233445566
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I have a slight worry Jesus might start, plus Watford are awful

        1. Kay317
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Jesus played alot over the break and has travelled all while aguero rested. I think aguero starts. But then there is Pep.

    2. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What if something goes wrong and you have to use that ft to fix something else

      1. gooner_112233445566
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        That is very true

  6. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is Pukki done?

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Doubt it

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No but there are better options on form right now

      1. SlowStart
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Who for less money? Have Tammy and Wilson, 0 itb

    3. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hope not

  7. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero has never scored at Selhurst Park.

    1. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      May he get his first 3 tomorrow then!

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Will be 3 by tomorrow

  8. SomeoneKnows
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Would you play Rico over Otamendi ?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Really?

  9. KING KOUNDER
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son -> Maddison for free.

    Yay or Nay?

  10. gooner_112233445566
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you captain

    A) aguero
    B) sterling
    C) kdb
    D) Abraham
    E) Wilson

    1. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      D

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      E

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      E

    4. SlowStart
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      d

    5. RashFraud
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    6. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      D

    7. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  11. OLLY G
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Otamendi or Rico?

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ota

    2. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Stop

  12. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on my team, 1ft no itb

    Pope Button

    Dunk Tomori Mings Rico Lundstram

    KDB Sterling Mane Mount Cantwell

    Abraham Pukki Aguero

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Good team

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks

  13. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last wildcard decision....already got abraham and CHO... pick one out of...

    A....mount

    B....maddison

    Thanks

    1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. SlowStart
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      a

    3. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      b

    4. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Triple up and strap in

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Always been the plan to go for Madison....

    5. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  14. rdpx
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling/Pukki out for Aubamayamg/Mount...

    Genius or crazy?

    1. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Somewhere in between

    2. KNOW IT ALL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      neither 🙂

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      What happened to your question on the previous page?

      1. rdpx
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        People answered it?
        Did I miss something?
        😉

    4. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      could pay off, why not

      1. rdpx
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Could be the boost Sterling needs to get a hat trick!

  15. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A. Son+Cantwell to KDB+Dendonker (-4)
    B. Stick

    Pope
    TAA Lundstram Dunk
    Sterling(c) Son Mount McGinn
    Aguero Aubameyang Abraham

    Button Rico Cantwell Kelly

    1. SlowStart
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      b

    2. adidasOriginals
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Triple A upfront, nice

      1. Hits from the Bong
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, think one will be sacrificed for Mane before long

  16. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wow totally missed that Vorm had re-signed for Spurs.

    Got Gazz in my WC draft - worth dropping for a 4.0 leaving Pope as a set and forget? Could mean upgrading Lascelles to Lundy.

    1. adidasOriginals
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Up the Roses! I'd switch Gazz out.

  17. SlowStart
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What to do here? Burn a FT? 2FT, 0.0 itb

    Heaton
    TAA Soy Rico
    Sterling Salah KDB Mount
    Tammy Wilson Pukki

    Button Cantwell Lund Kelly

    Pukki >?
    Heaton >?

    Thanks!

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

      Pukki + Cantwell > Connolly + Maddy

      1. SlowStart
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        0.2 shy of that but good idea!

  18. adidasOriginals
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Transfer In?
    Chambers(ARS) or Boly (WOL)?
    Ta!

    1. KNOW IT ALL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      boly

    2. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Boly

      1. adidasOriginals
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Is Chambers too risky then?

        1. KNOW IT ALL
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I don't think chambers is risky, just boly is a better choice

    3. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Easy Bo

    4. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Boly. Bellerin will come back in within next 3 weeks I would say

    5. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Boly mate!

  19. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A whole day is required to read about Norwich's injury news.
    One thing looks likely - Cantwell is no longer a secure starter, I have friends who support them and they think he's due rest and some would drop him

  20. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Tomori or Söy?

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

      Soy

    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I went for Tom but Chelsea have apparent injury probs in defence

    3. gooner_112233445566
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Soy

  21. La vida FPL
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Folks,

    It comes down to this:

    A) Barnes > King
    B) Digne, Barnes > Tomori, Wilson (-4)
    C) Save (play Saka)

    Pope, Button
    VVD, Digne, Soyuncu, Lundstram, Montoya
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, KDB, Saka
    Abraham, Pukki, Barnes

    Leaning towards B right now as worried about KDB, salah, and Saka starting. Digne has a good fixture but Everton look like they could easily concede. -4 hopefully will pay off in the long run, maybe not immediately.

    Thoughts?

  22. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah -> Mane and give Pukki one more week
    OR
    Pukki -> Vardy
    OR
    Both (-4)

  23. PattBrofield
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    (A) James and Pukki to Wilson and Traore

    or

    (B) James to CHO

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

      B

  24. Beinahruga
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    worth taking a (C) punt on KDB? has no yellow flag on him now

    1. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not sure that could be considered a punt. He's the leading scorer isn't he?

    2. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Likely to have his minutes managed following injury.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        yea, is he actually back? Chance he starts from the bench?

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

          Pep declared him fit, my guess is he starts and plays 70.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            or he starts on the bench and comes on at 62" when city are trailing 1-0 to Palace lol

  25. Surfeit of Lampteys
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I'm not saying this from a position of knowledge but I reckon arsenal will go to a back three with Holding back. Could make their full backs a bit more tempting. Might even improve luiz like it did under Conte.

  26. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start 2:

    A) Tomori (NEW)
    B) Yarmolenko (eve)
    C) Rico (NOR)

  27. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    The decision I will inevitably delay until the morning but should ask now...
    A. Sterling + fodder
    B. Kun + fodder

    What's the right play and why?

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

      Why specify fodder haha, so basically Sterling or Kun....I still think Sterling is the one to own personally although Aguero for those 2 home fixtures could be immense.

  28. Cruyff's Eleven
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play Rico or Otamendi?

  29. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Appreciate feedback on this lot GTG?

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Söyüncü Lundstram
    Salah KDB Mount
    Aguero Vardy(VC) Abraham(C)

    Subs; Stekelenberg Saka Cantwell Kelly

    0FT

    1. Pumpkinhead *non-expert*
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd rather start Cantwell than Lunds - Wouldn't expect much from either but would rather the attacker incase Arsenal beat Sheff up.

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers for the feedback!

    2. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks v good!

      1. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Many thanks!

  30. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Play Cantwell or Lund hmmmm

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

      I’m playing cantwell

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go Lundstram