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. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you C, flipping between Tammy & Calum?
    Do bench players look correct?

    Pope
    Virgil, Otamendi, Trent,
    Sterling, Maddison, Mount, KDB
    Vardy, Tammy, C Wilson

    Button, Cantwell, Lundstram, Montoya,

    .9 bank

    Still got all chips.

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Abraham

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Ta

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

      Kun

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Specsavers?

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

    What happened to everyone saying Sterling always gets rested after international breaks?

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      ye I have been wondering why it’s barely been brought up

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

      No Sané?

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        was no sane before the Watford match

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

          yeah, true.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Played nearly week ago?

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

      Because everyone knows he'll be rested this gw or next. There is no need to mention it

  3. YEAH PITCH!
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Vardy
    B) C.Wilson

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B for now, A for later is my approach

  4. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start 1
    A) Lundstram
    B) Söyuncu

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

    2. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      b

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

    A) Sterling, Traore, Tomori (in a 3-5-2)

    B) Wilson, Maddison, Pereira (in a 3-4-3)

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

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

      b

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

    Is this gtg? 1FT

    Pope
    TAA Rico Lunds
    Mane KDB Son Mount
    Auba Tammy (J)immy

    Bench order: Ota Saka Ward

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

      Nice

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

        Thanks!

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

    A or B gents? Got 2 FTs - this is for a -4....

    A) VVD, Salah, Pukki ---> Tomori, Mane, Vardy

    B) Otamendi, Salah, Pukki ---> Ota, Mane, Vardy

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      In B, ota to ota ?

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

        My bad - Rico

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

      Probably A

  8. gunnerlover
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How on Earth do you play McGinn when you’re front 7 is KDB, Mount, Maddison, Mane, King Auba and Abraham. What a mess I’ve gotten myself in to!!

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

      McGinn for King

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

      Thats why you dont have a full front 8 of viable players.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Could be worse.

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

      Hahah always keep a weak(ish) bench

    5. MosF94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Villa have tough fixtures coming up - why not sell McGinn to free up some funds to invest in defence?

  9. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Captain kun or KDB?

    Or is Tammy or vardy a better option?

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

      Kun

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

        Agueeerrroo

  10. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which one in a front three with abraham and wilson?
    A) Auba
    B) Kane
    C)VArdy

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

      Kun

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

        cant afford that which is why i said them three..

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

      A

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

    Pope
    Soyunuc, VVD, Digne
    Sterling, Mane, Son, Kdb, Cantwell
    Pukki, Abraham,
    Bench: Mcgovern, Dunk, Lundstram, Greenwood

    2FT 0.3ITB.

    Any suggestions guys? really stuck with what to do with Son.

    Considering Digne > Tomori but leaves me 0.1 short if i want to do mount and vardy in for greenwood and Son the following week.

  12. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    Ota TAA Digne Soy
    Sterling Mahrez Salah Mount
    Abraham Pukki
    (4.0 Rico Dendoncker Greenwood)

    1FT & 1.6ITB

    a) Mahrez > KDB
    b) Salah > Mane
    c) Pukki > Wilson
    d) A & C (-4)
    e) B & C (-4)

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

      A. Get KDB

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

    FPL stats showing Salah to drop?

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yep

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

      You can check on this site http://www.fplstatistics.co.uk/

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

    Bench one...

    a) TAA
    b) Zinchenko
    c) Digne
    d) Rico

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

      B

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

    Hello all this lot GTG?

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

    Subs; Stekelenberg Saka Cantwell Kelly

    0FT

  16. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Having welcomed baby #4 into the world this week I'm completely out of the loop.

    I see Salah is flagged and I have Mane.
    Is Salah -- KDB a bit of a no brainer?

    Cheers

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      you need to spend more time in the FPL loop or you’ll end up with #5 you naughty boy

    2. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      that move for free makes sense to me though

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate

    3. SweepaKeepa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Congratulations!
      I’d say a bit sideways. A matter of taste over necessity if nothing more urgent.

      1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate, it gives me 2.6 to upgrade greenwood/Pukki but the last time I sold Salah he got a treble

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

          I guess that’s 0.1 short of turning Greenwood into Jiménez still? Otherwise that would make it all very worthwhile.

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

      Congrats.

      Keep Salah.

  17. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any fellow Kane captainers ?

    It’s watford afterall

  18. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Chance of kun starting?

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

      He better. Have the armband on him

  19. Felix Navidad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son + otamendi -> TAA + maddison
    Yes if:
    A for free
    B -4
    C -8
    or
    D Not worth it

    1. Magpies4ever
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A, maybe B at a push

  20. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Couple of quick questions:

    1) Who to bench from Tomori, Zincheko, Cantwell? Already starting pukki if that makes a difference

    2) Captain Tammy or Kane?

    1. Magpies4ever
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Cantwell and Kane

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

      Cantwell and Kane

  21. Bob McMayday
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ever got so tired of thinking about transfers that you just hit the button? Hadn’t even crossed my mind until the last minute but just done Pukki + Haller > Wilson + King. Could go either way

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

      Looks like 2 upgrades to me

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

      Could work well.

  22. Magpies4ever
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Bench Cantwell or Rico?

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

      Cantwell

    2. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd bench Cantwell... just.

  23. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Soy or Tomori?

    Will have both by GW12, but who do you think will score highest between now and then?

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

      Tomori but Soy is perhaps the better pick purely because CHO is a'calling

  24. avfc82
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    First hit of the season done, lets hope it pays off.

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Who for?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry for the slow reply!

        Robertson, David Silva, Pukki > Rico, De Bruyne, Abraham.

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

      Good luck mate, no doubt you have it careful consideration. I'm close to pulling the trigger on Son to CHO. Auba & Son to Vardy & Mane for a hit has been tempting me too but think I'll avoid the hit on this occassion. Armband on CHO if I bring him in, feeling punty.

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

        Wow. Ballsy

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

          Risky but fancy going with my gut this week and having some fun. I'll wait until tomorrow in case news filters through that Sons a starter although it's unlikely.

          1. avfc82
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Good luck!

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

              Cheers man, you got your armband sorted or keeping cards close to your chest ?

              1. avfc82
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                No secrets, think I'm going Vardy!

                Team will prob look like this...

                Henderson
                Alexander-Arnold, Otamendi, Lundstram, Rico
                Salah, Sterling, De Bruyne, Hudson-Odoi
                Vardy (c), Abraham

                Button, Montoya, Dendoncker, Greenwood

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

                  Nice 1, looking good. Hope I'm not losing the plot in considering CHO with the arm band, don't normally go so leftfield but if Tammy does well, chances are so will CHO, I know Chelsea home record isn't the greatest but maybe this New match will be the exception. Enjoy the footy.

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

      For?

      1. avfc82
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Robertson, David Silva, Pukki > Rico, De Bruyne, Abraham.

        Don't feel confident at all if I'm being honest but long term, it should work out.

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

    Pukki out right??

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

      Not for me, I think he'll do ok this GW.

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

    Alzate of Brighton. Is he defensive or attacking?

    Basically looking for the best midfield fodder (4.4/4.5)...

  27. The Tinkerman
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    1FT, would you change anything? Initially planned to WC, but decided to pas on Auba and keep hold of Salah... sadly no Abraham... could get him for Pukki now. Have 1.7 ITB.

    Heaton
    TAA, Ota, Tomori, Soyuncu
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount
    Pukki, Haller

    Button; Greenwood, Cantwell, Montoya

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

      I’d get Tammy. Chelsea have good fixtures and Norwich look shot already.

      1. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        See below, hit to get him and Wilson, or straight in for Pukki?

    2. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki, Haller > Abraham, Wilson (-4)?

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Sound like that will pay back?

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

    Evening all this lot GTG?

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

    Subs; Stekelenberg Saka Cantwell Kelly

    0FT

  29. SAY MY NAME
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    WC team, GTG?? any thoughts gents?

    Lascelles or Kelly +0.3?

    plan is to bring in taa+vvd/robbo gw13, funded by whichever of vardy/Wilson isn't performing

    Pope
    Pereira/Tomori/Rico
    Mane/Sterling/KDB/Mount
    Abraham(c)/Wilson(vc)/Vardy

    McGovern/Lascelles/Lundstram/Dendoncker

  30. Takedog1
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is kdb fully fit now?