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. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Play Cantwell or Aurier?

    1. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Play the attacker over the erratic

    2. Point-one short
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Aurier(if he plays).

  2. have you seen cyan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    3 players in the monday night game 😀

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Must be shite

  3. zizoo10
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    My fpl season is on the brink of collapse. Would appreciate some feedback on this WC draft

    Pope
    TAA • Soy • Rico
    Sterling • KDB • Maddo • Mount
    Auba • Vardy • Tammy

    McGovern • Cantwell • Lund • Kelly

    - Sterling > Pool mid when fixtures turn
    - 0.2 itb

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Great team. The season’s only just begun, there’s lots of time to turn your season around.

    2. Taegugk Warrior
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Poll mids vs MUN is not bad fixtures at the moment.

  4. jia you
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    0.3 up on my Son to Mane transfer this GW...hate hoping for a Mane haul against my own team but if we're going to lose, why not lose 2-3 to a Mane hattie 🙂

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Sold Mo for Mane 🙂

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        he looks the better player by a distance so far this season!

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Yes
          Thinking about doubling up on Mo Mane from gw13-17
          Will see how it goes

          1. jia you
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 14 days ago

            Thinking of either Mane, Bobby, TAA or Mane, Robbo, Taa myself!

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 14 days ago

              Bobby can help team structure a bit
              But don't like Son atm otherwise that's an easy swap for me.
              Raz king >> Bobby Son
              Robbo Taa Mane looks safest

  5. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Tammy or KDB for captain? With a reason for the choice.
    Thanks

    1. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      KDB, better player, better team. Tammy is very good but definitely over performing...regression incoming!

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        I dunno about that, he looks the real deal

        1. jia you
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          you could be right as he has looked very good...not 100% convinced yet myself but as an FPL asset considering his price he's great value and someone I need to try and sqeeze into my team soon most likely!

  6. davies
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Button or McGovern for second keeper?

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I went McGov since he was closer to a rise. Button seems to be falling...

    2. Bring back Rafa
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Button is a number 2 GK, McGovern number 3 GK (behind Krul & Furhman)

  7. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    For long-Term who to get ?
    A- AUBA
    B- Vardy
    C- C.Wilson

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      :'(

    2. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      depends on what you can do with the extra funds but the order you've listed are from most expensive to least expensive and in best to weakest long term pick imo

  8. paza12
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Start 4 mids from this: Mcginn, Maddison, KDB, Sterling and Mount. Have Abraham, Wilson and Auba up top. Cheers!

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Sterling,KDB,Mount,Mcginn

  9. Roy Rovers
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    GTG?

    Pope
    Vvd Otamendi Mings
    Salah Mount Kdb McGinn
    Aguero (C) Wilson Tammy

    Button Cantwell Lundstram Rico.

  10. Sadio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Has anyone considered Mount as captain?

    At least he's more likely to play 90 minutes.

    1. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Every team will have at least a couple of better captaincy punts than Mount so nah

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Reasonable differential shout

  11. Taegugk Warrior
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    RMWCT

    Ryan
    TAA,Tomori,Rico
    Mane,DeBruyne,Maddison,Mount
    Auba,Wilson(c),Tammy

    McGovern,Lundstram,Willems,Dendocker

    1. Roy Rovers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I’d have Dunk if I had Tomori.....rotate perfectly.

      1. Taegugk Warrior
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Need more 0.1 to bring dunk in. How about Tomori > Soy.
        So 2 Lei (madd,soy) + 2 Chelsea (Tammy, mount)

    2. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Great team! Set on the Wilson cap?

      1. Taegugk Warrior
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Head says Wilson, Heart says Mount...

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      One of the best WC teams I have seen on here over the last 2 weeks

  12. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Best Coleman replacement here?

    A) Boly
    B) Tomori
    C) Rico

    Head says Boly - nailed, BAP magnet & goal threat. But I have quite a bit of $ in defence so saving some with a set piece taking Rico could be a good idea. Tomori is the middle ground option, but I’m unsure he will always start once Rudiger, Zouma & Christensen are fit.

    TAA, Digne, Zinchenko, Söyüncü, xxx
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, Cantwell, Deondocker
    Wilson, Abraham, Pukki

  13. Seamus Goalman
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    On wildcard
    A) Lunny, Mount, Auba, Colloney
    B) Lunny, Mount, Laca, Maupay
    C) Willems, Elneny, Auba, Maupay
    All other players are starters
    Any thoughts would be appreciated

  14. Roy Rovers
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Boly

    1. Roy Rovers
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Fail......^ Jinswick

  15. FPL DONKEY
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    RMWCT

    Pope - (Button)
    Soy - Pereira - TAA - (Rico) - (Lundstram)
    Mount - CHO - Sterling - KDB - Mane
    Abraham - Wilson - (Connolly)

    Not doing well this season so punting on double LEI defence and triple CHE attack.
    Could upgrade Sterling -> Salah or Pereira -> Robbo from GW13

  16. mrpink32
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Are ppl overlooking Willian? Better stats than Mount or CHO over the last few gw? Only 7m?

    1. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I think he's Frank's somewhat under the radar main man! He talks up his youngsters but Willian is very important to that team!
      I've been keeping an eye on him and despite him playing well his attacking returns aren't really enough to justify bringing him in over Mount atm. But he has got hauls in his last two I'm pretty sure so could be a great punt for those who like a differential!

  17. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Salah + Pukki > KDB + AUBA
    YAAAAAAY
    Nope

    1. Taegugk Warrior
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Yayy...

      (If you have another pool attack cover)

      1. FPL ElasticO
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        No with Laca returning will push Auba wide, will have much lesser impact.... So keep Pukki this week or get Vardy instead if you really want to transfer in someone.....

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Thank you good advice

  18. Mondeo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    How likely/unlikely do we reckon it is Salah will play?

    Very tempted to go back in and buy Salah now he's come down 0.1m - very cheeky differential all of a sudden.

    1. FPL ElasticO
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Salah will start but how much impact will he have remains to be seen...

  19. FPL ElasticO
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    G2g guys.... Any thoughts?

    Pope
    Robbo/ Guilbert/ Tomori
    Sterling(vc)/ Salah/ KDB/ Cantwell
    Wilson/ Abraham (c)/ Pukki

    Bench:: 4.0/ Dendoncker/ Lundstram/ Cahill

  20. Amey
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Is this a gw to go with a premium © option like KDB/Raz when everyone is going Tammy/Wilson ??
    Raz has burned me 3 times so scared of a replay.
    KDB on other hand look good option

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Kün ?

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Would have loved to © him if i had him in my team

    2. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Yup, Kane for me, if I didn't own Kane I'd cap Sterling or Mane!

      1. Amey
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Cheers Jia
        As deadline is coming closer I'm thinking about Raz © 😀
        Self destruction mode maybe

        1. jia you
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Maybe its wishful thinking but Wilson and Tammy cappers could look silly if the big boys haul and they blank 😉

          1. Amey
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 14 days ago

            Ha ha
            You're making me think about Raz © more seriously now 😀

  21. FPL ElasticO
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    G2g for this GWk??

    Pope
    Robbo/ Guilbert/ Tomori
    Sterling(vc)/ Salah/ KDB/ Cantwell
    Wilson/ Abraham (c)/ Pukki

    Bench:: 4.0/ Dendoncker/ Lundstram/ Cahill

  22. SPFC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    What is the best option to replace Lloris and AWB?

    A- Schmeichel and Tomori
    B- Gazzaniga and Soyuncu
    C- Gazzaniga and Pereira
    D- Kepa and Soyuncu

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Pope Soyuncu

  23. jia you
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Thinking ahead to next GW, how do these moves look if all goes to plan?

    Kane + Pukki to Vardy + Tammy (1.1itb)

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Nice 🙂

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Cheers, could give Vardy til GW13/14 and if he's not firing switch him to Bobby for LIV's nice run 🙂

        1. Amey
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Same
          Don't think Vardy will misfire though
          He's going to be great this season IMO

          1. jia you
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 14 days ago

            That's what I'm hoping and use the money to get Robbo for the triple up instead 🙂

            1. Amey
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 14 days ago

              Attacking double looks way more interesting 😀
              Defensive double up is Solid like last season though.
              Hmmm
              Choice to make.
              Thankfully we have 4 more gw's & a IB to help us taking decision

              1. jia you
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 14 days ago

                TAA + Robbo are much more than a defensive double up as we all know 😉

    2. Ajaxeeding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Depending how this week goes, Pukki, Kane and Dgne are on the chopping block for me. I already have Tammy, but Vardy is height on my list. I’m likely to do Söyüncü, Vardy and Wilson next week. But who know how Kane’s hat trick this weekend will impact my plans

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Yeah, Kane has to haul DDs for me to consider keeping him I feel

    3. shadeslayer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Hey fellas.. Need ur help

      1ft & 1.0 itb

      Pope butt
      Taa RicardoP Lund pieters hanley
      Kdb dilva son Cantwell mount
      Aguero Wilson tammy

      A) hanley - > boly
      B) Dilva - > maddi

      1. jia you
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        A) looks good mate as Hanley is out for a month or two.

        1. Ajaxeeding
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Since you are being so insightful...I have an extra FT this week as I want to have 2FT next week (to likely get rid of Kane). What to do?

          One suggestion I got was that if I have no other moves then to use the FT on replacing Button with McGovern. Any suggestions much appreciated!!

          Current team with 0 ITB:
          Pope, Button
          Otamendi, TAA, Digne, Lundstram, Kelly
          Salah, Sterling, Mount, Cantwell, Dendoncker
          Kane, Pukki, Abraham

          1. jia you
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 14 days ago

            I'd dump Digne

            1. Ajaxeeding
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 14 days ago

              Would you do that now? And if so for whom? I was thinking Söyüncü (template) or Tomine (template) or Willems (punt)

              1. jia you
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 14 days ago

                I like Boly and bank the 1.0 but go with your gut

                1. Ajaxeeding
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 14 days ago

                  Boly is a good option. Thanks again for the engagement! I appreciate your thoughts! Good luck

                  1. jia you
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 14 days ago

                    GL mate

  24. RyanMK
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Who to bench? Worth considering bench boost? Current bench:
    Pukki // Lundstrum // Kelly

    Heaton
    TAA // Otamendi // Soyuncu
    McGinn // Mount // KDB // Maddison // Sterling
    Wilson // Abraham

    1. Firmino
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I would play Pukki instead of McGinn

  25. Firmino
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Bench order of: Rico, Cantwell, Montoya?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      CRM unless you think B'mouth CS.

    2. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      potential for a lot of points on that bench this GW but that's the case for many of us!

  26. paza12
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    WC Team, gtg?

    Ryan, Mcgovern
    Soy, Rico, Boly, Tomori, Lundo
    Sterling, De Bruyne, Maddison, Mount, Mcginn
    Auba, Abraham, Wilson

    0.8 ITB. Cheers!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Expensive bench attacker.

      1. paza12
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Thanks, what would you recommend?

      2. Ajaxeeding
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        So your suggestion would be to downgrade McGinn and upgrade a defender?

  27. shadeslayer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Hey fellas.. Need ur help

    1ft & 1.0 itb

    Pope butt
    Taa RicardoP Lund pieters hanley
    Kdb dilva son Cantwell mount
    Aguero Wilson tammy

    A) hanley - > boly
    B) Dilva - > maddi

  28. Eleven Hag
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Salah mane double up - thank u Salah for dropping

    1. Amey
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Another drop till next few gw's would be welcome 🙂

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        I expect him to go rogue against Villa and spurs

  29. BilalM
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Thinking of doing:

    Salah -> Son
    Greenwood -> King

    That would leave me with no Liverpool attacking cover at least for the next 2 weeks worth it?
    Or just go Salah -> Mane and be done with it?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Wouldn't buy Son this week.

    2. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I did Son to Mane so...yeah Salah to Mane but you should have done it a couple of hours ago and saved 0.2 😉

  30. FPL ElasticO
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Is Cantwell >> Hudson-odoi worth doing??

    1. jia you
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Cantwell is nailed CHO not quite atm...give it a week or two imo