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

    KDB Captain who’s with me?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      can be gold

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

      i don't know the stats but i feel like he's always a bit rusty when he's been out. and then builds momentum and given a run of games is obviously lights out. that said he's definitely extra special this season and could get multiple returns even if only given 60 minutes

    3. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Woy, knows how to set up a team well defensively and rarely takes a heavy beating, so I wouldn't fancy it.

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

        should be fascinating tactically what with past woy pep encounters and teams smelling blood on the counter attack and zaha and otamendi. i really want to see pep's plan especially if cp hold city or even score in the first third of the match.

    4. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Going Aguero.....

  2. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling ir Abra to captain?

  3. Oldie99
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Start Cantwell or Lund?

    1. Roy Rovers
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gone Cantwell 1st sub and Lund 2nd.

  4. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Son to KDB for free? Yes or no?

    1. JimiY
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Depends if you have someone else from city or not.
      if you dont, then hold on to kdb.. else take son due to his future potential.

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

      yes

  5. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I have to do it - I promised myself already in pre season that I would get Hudson-Odoi. Getting Hudson-Odoi instead of Mount also means that I can afford Boly instead of a non-playing defender. Stil have the wildcard to clean up my mistakes later 🙂

    Heaton
    TAA, Lundstram, Boly
    Salah, Sterling (C), KDB (VC), Hudson-Odoi
    Pukki, Wilson, Abraham

    McGovern, Cantwell, Tomori, Rico

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

      why Lund over Tomori or rico just curious

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

        I just like him as a fpl asset - guess the team is relatively good defensively and he will get his attacking points

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gutsy capping Sterling

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

      Nice team. I'm tempted to do the same in order to upgrade Robbo to TAA.

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

      I’d bench Lundstram and play Tomori/Rico

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

        indecision chips.

        twice a season you get to play a this player / that player and keep the higher score

        once a season you can indecision chip your captain choice.

        the scenes...

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah - I'd go with your gut. CHO could be a great choice and I was sorely tempted to take an extra hit to get him. In two weeks I'm getting him and switching to 352

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

    Can someone comment on my team please?
    WC Played just now

    Pope/Mcgovern
    Rico, Kelly, Soyuncu, Lund, Lascelles
    Maddison, Mane, KDB, Mount (Carlos Sanchez)
    wilson, aguero, haller.
    1.9m in bank

    who should i replace carlos sanchez with? 1.9m in bank is being wasted, i want to use them... how?

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

      Bring in alteast 1 prime defender

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

      upgrade your defence

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

    Best combo for 10.7?

    Gazza 4.0
    TAA Soyuncu ***** Lundstram Rico
    Mane KDB Maddison ***** Dendoncker
    Aguero Wilson Abraham

    1. kawaiii
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tomori and CHO ? Or Tomori and McGinn

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This

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

      Lowton Yarmolenko

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

      Tomori and Yarmolenko

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

    (A) James and Pukki to Wilson and Traore

    (B) James to CHO (don’t have mount)

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

    Rico or Lundstram to play ? Thanks.

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rico...

  10. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Scouting Tierney this weekend

  11. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hi guys!

    On a wildcard and want TAA. How should I do it?

    A) Robbo + Mount > TAA + Hudson-Odoi
    B) Robbo + McGinn > TAA + Cantwell
    C) Stick with Robbo
    D) Something else?

    Currently on:
    Pope (McGovern)
    Robbo / Tomori / Soyuncu (Rico / Lundstram)
    Sterling / KdB / Mane / Mount / McGinn
    Vardy / Abraham (Connolly)

    Thanks!

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

      McGinn has been good, but his fixtures look terrible after Game Week 9. I'd go D. Can you afford Traore?

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

        That's where I've been leaning. I've had McGinn from 5.5 so I've made a bit of money on him and wouldn't mind losing him because of those fixture. I can afford Traore. Bit of a rotation risk with Wolves?

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

          True but your bench is solid. Plenty of flexibilty there. To be honest I'm in a similar situation. I want to upgrade VVD to TAA and am considering taking a hit after the Brighton game for VVD & McGinn -> TAA & Traore.

          Good luck

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

            Nice one, thanks. Given Traore has some nice fixtures too, he's a good option. Good luck to you too.

  12. Meeseeks
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Auba & Maddison
    B) Sterling & Jiminez (also have kdb)

    Really struggling to decide between the two options on a wildcard

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Close one, but I favour A...

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B easily

    3. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Do you have other City?

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

        Yes, KDB. Which option do you think?

  13. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Is the bench right and gtg?

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

    Button Cantwell Lundstram Rico

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

      Gtg

  14. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone benching Son? Not sure my heart could take a cameo. Thinking of playing Dunk for his goal, clean and max bonus.

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

      you play Son if you have him, simple as that

  15. Bookmark
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Hello guys, have 2FT 0.1 itb

    Pope
    Tomori Ota TAA
    Mane Son Cantwell KDB
    Aguero Pukki Abraham

    Button Lundstram Dendocker Willems

    1. Cantwell & Son -> Mount & Madison/Yarmolenko
    2. Son & Pukki -> Wilson & Mount
    3. Other ideas
    4. Save

  16. Woody01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wildcard Thoughts? Worry not having KDB but can’t find a way unless getting Wilson for Auba

    Ryan
    TAA / Otamendi / Soyuncu
    Maddison / Sterling / Mount / Fraser
    Auba / Abraham / Vardy

    Pope / Cantwell / Lundstram / Webster

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wtf is Fraser doing in there!?

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

      agree Fraser has to be swapped

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go with Wilson & KDB

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        and get rid of Fraser - can you afford CHO?

  17. itsmeguneet
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    How about this team???
    Having doubts over Mahrez being a victim of Pep rotation

    Heaton
    Robbo- Ota- Lund
    Mahrez- Mount- Salah - McGinn
    Tammy- Kun- Pukki

    Button, Rico, Kelly, Hayden

    1. Mini Mane Mo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      If Bilva is ban then Mahrez will start PL matches. He’s got until 21 Oct to submit his appeal.

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

        Save FT on this one?

  18. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all. Thoughts on how to improve my mid/forwards?

    I have 2FT. So many I'd like, Vardy, Mount, Aguero, Madison.

    Current front 8:

    Mane - Sterling - KDB - Cantwell - Dendo
    Abraham - Pukki - Auba

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

      Pukki to Wilson?

    2. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      One I'm tempted by is Sterling and Pukki ---> CHO and Aguero.

  19. Tokosbobet88
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    TAA or Robbo ?

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

      TAA, set piece involvement tips it for me. Any help below?

  20. Shack
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Really want to be able to get KDB back in next week (should never taken him out for Mahrez!) and worried about Laca’s impact on Auba, so would you:
    A: Auba & Ayew to Abraham and Wilson for a FT (then have enough for Mahrez to KDB next week)
    B: A plus Mahrez to KDB this week for 4 point hit
    Cheers!

    1. Tokosbobet88
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      i'd go A personally

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ah you fell for the KDB out like myself. FPL manual intervention made it a bad move so don't sweat it

      I feel same as you with Auba. I could never captain him and yes he's a problem playing on the left . I'd probably not lose 4 points as Mahrez could easily get some points ( slight rotation risk) so id go A and hope

  21. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Final wildcard touches
    Sterling or Mane
    Yarma or Maddo

    Mane or Yarmo doing mean I can have Boly over Dunk
    Own KDB and Kun

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

      Mane and Yarma all day long, any help above?

    2. Mini Mane Mo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane and Yarmo

    3. n-doggg
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane and maddo if you own kdb and Kun

    4. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all. 🙂

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

      Nothing wrong with having Dunk over Boly for the next 4 or 5 weeks.

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Probably right. His games toughen up after next 3 mate. It's weather I wanna mess about with defenders but I do agree

  22. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Save ft here or downgrade Yarmolenko or otamendi to enable Greenwood to King for a hit?

    Pope
    Taa, otamendi, soyunco, (lundstrum, Gilbert)
    Salah, sterling, kdb, Mount, Yarmolenko
    Tammy, pukki, (Greenwood)

  23. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pick one to captain

    A) Tammy (new H)

    B) Vardy (bur H)

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

      A

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B

      Tammy never completes 90 min

  24. snowman
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning All!!

    Is Saka likely to start?

  25. davies
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Except Soyuncu, best defender for 4.8?

    Still don’t trust Chelsea defensively for some reason...

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      West Ham have good fixtures, Diop

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

      Pieters

  26. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sell Salah for KdB?
    Captain Wilson or Vardy?

  27. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone else tempted to captain Mane or Salah? I’m on Sterling (c) but Palace have been fairly tight at the back

    I can see Liverpool destroying Manu

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

      O/

      I'm captaining Salah - united are awful

  28. Contegious
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Heaton
    Vvd Digne Soyuncu
    Salah Kdb Sterling(VC) Mount Cantwell
    Abraham(C) Pukki

    Pukki > Jimenez for a -4 worth it?

  29. Wally banter
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Does son practised in spurs training session yesterday? any info?

  30. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    First time looking at FPL for 2 weeks and wildcarding - thoughts on this?

    Heaton, McGovern
    TAA, Tomori, Soyuncu, Lundstram, Rico
    Sterling, Mane, KDB, Mount, Cantwell
    Vardy, Abraham, Connolly

    Would love Yarmolenko as my 5th midfielder but 0.6 short and can’t find the cash anywhere. What do we think?

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Very impressive history - respect.
      How about CHO for Mount? I really rate him.