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. marcus2704
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What to do with Salah?

    I dont really want to break up my dream midfield of Sterling / KDB / Mane / Salah but if both KDB and Salah dont play this week I am screwed..!

    I was thinking of a -4 to ultimately have either Auba or Kane (as a Watford fan, I worry about us today at Spurs as Kane could get a hatful). Any thoughts?

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

      Keep Salah, he has Manu lol

    2. Alonso The Great Midfielder
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      do u really have that 4 midfield--seems a waste-im thinking get auba but not for a hit

      1. marcus2704
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        So far its worked out pretty well for me, currently 113K but was in top 5K earlier in the season.

        Good point about Man U, will keep Salah as could do well against a mid-table team like them.

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

      kdb will play if that helps

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

    Gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Otamendi Tomori
    Mane(C) KDB Mount Sterling
    Wilson Tammy Jimenez

    Button Cantwell Lundstram Kelly

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

      Nice one ... like Jimmy pick

  3. No_Mo_Salah?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A or B on wc? 3 5 2 vs 3 4 3.

    A. Pope
    TAA - Soyu - Tomori (Rico / Lund)
    Sterling - Mount- Mane - Mad - KDB
    Tammy- Wilson (Greenwood)

    B. Pope
    TAA - Pereira - Rico (Kelly/ Lund) - Mount- Mane - Mad - KDB (Cantwell)
    Tammy- Wilson-Auba

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

      so sterling v + aub (cantwell)
      you already have kdb
      arsenal fixtures
      lacaaette a threat or help
      sorry idk
      i have sterling. kane this week (wc) then kane>auba next week

      1. No_Mo_Salah?
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks. Would do Kane too for 1 week but 0.1 short to get Auba back in...

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

    Bottomed*
    Who goes:

    A. Pukki
    B. Haller (have Yarmo)

    Who comes in:

    1. Abraham (have mount and Tomori)
    2. Wilson
    3. Vardy
    4. Jiminez

    All for a -4
    Thanka all and GL

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

    Morning, Couple of quick questions:

    1) Which two to bench from
    A: Tomori
    B: Cantwell
    C: Zincheko
    D: Rico

    Already starting pukki if that makes a difference

    2) Captain Tammy or Kane?

    Leaning towards benching BD and captain Kane

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

    Worth A Hit?

    Ceballos & Wood > Saka & King

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

      A hit? No ... Wood to King only?

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

        Unfortunately just short by 0.1

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

          Shall i just stick with Ceballos and save FT

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

            Yes

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

          Hmmh ... do next week for free? Play Wood.

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

    1 FT and 0.5 ITB Still have WC not sure what moves to make thanks. Any ideas?

    Pope Button
    TAA Digne Otamendi Tomori Lundstram
    Salah Sterling KDB McGinn Dendoncker
    Wilson Pukki Greenwood

    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Digne to Pereira?

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

    Is Salah to mane worth it? For free

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

      In isolation is too sideways unless clear use of the extra money

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

        I will have just enough to upgrade dilva to kdb next week

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

          So do both next week, you have missed the price swing anyway? 2 FT is handier to anticipate crocks

          1. St Pauli Walnuts
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Good advice

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

    How’s it looking...

    Pope
    VVD / Otamendi / Guilbert
    Mount / KDB / Mane / Son
    Abraham / Pukki / Aubameyang(c)

    Button / Lundstram / DougLuiz / Hanley

    0FT 0.2ITB...

    Auba captain purely because of the MNF factor and I’ve got a gut feeling for goals...
    Is this sound reasoning or should I change it to someone else? Who??

    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go Abraham captain I think.

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

        Not going to lie, I have had it on him. Will probably be an eleventh hour decision. Ty

  10. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last decision... who to (C):

    1. Salah (mun)
    2. KDB (cry)
    3. Sterling (cry)
    4. C Wilson (NOR)
    5. Tammy (NEW)

    Thanks

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

      Abraham (c) Wilson (vc)

    2. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Going Wilson (C) and Abraham (VC)

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

    A) VVD & Pukki > Soy & Vardy/Wilson (-4)
    B) VVD & Saka > Soy & Mount (-4)
    C) Salah & Greenwood > Mount & Vardy/Wilson (-4)

    Pope
    TAA, VVD, Otamendi, Aurier
    KDB, Sterling, Salah, Cantwell
    Abraham, Pukki

    Button, Saka, Lundstram, Greenwood

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

    Bottom’ish of Previous page

    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. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Mane is my vice

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

        who's your cap?

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Tammy

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

      Mane C for me.

  13. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Gtg?

    Ryan

    TAA Pereira Rico
    KdB Mané Maddison Mount
    Wilson(c) Auba Tammy

    Bench: Button D Luiz Lundstram Kelly

    D Luiz ok 4.5m fodder?

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

    Boly or Tomori? Currently Boly is on the seat ...

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

      both good picks, depends do you need that extra 0.3

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

        No

    2. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Boly for me

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

    Let’s try this again...

    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. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good. Could do Vardy to Wilson and spread cash for Yarmo?

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

        Hmm interesting - would rather Vardy though

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

    And if I want to do the Vardy > Aubameyang upgrade, which one of Sterling or KDB should be sacrificed?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why would you want to ship vardy

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

        This

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

    Best defender for 4.8?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Guendouzi

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

        Change role?

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

      Pieters Tomori Lowton Willems

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tomori

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

    Sonny to KDB for free?

    1. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Next GW

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

        This

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

        I was on this but checked spurs yesterday's training pics and couldn't see Son, made me more confused

    2. No_Mo_Salah?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yup

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah - Son could be benched

  19. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Salah mane price changes are annoying!

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

      The power of WC 🙂

  20. Chelsea91
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    Taa,Soy,Guilbert
    Mane,Kdb,Maddison,Mount,
    Auba,Wilson,Tammy

    Any suggestion on the team?

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

      Nice can't see the bench

      1. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Button lund Reid Elneny

      2. Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        have change Guilbert to kelly and reid to rico

  21. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all? WC team GTG or start with Kane over Aguero?

    Pope
    TAA Pereria Boly
    Mané KDB Mount CHO
    Aguero Wilson(c) Abraham

    McGovern Rico Lundstran Dendocker

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

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

      Great team - love the triple Chelsea attack. Not convinced with Kane (or Spurs).

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

      Nice one, Kane (C) then you are set 🙂

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Very nice.

  22. The Greenback Boogie
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which 2 to start?

    A. Soy - Burnley (h)
    B. Guilbert - Brighton (h)
    C. Cresswell - Everton (a)

  23. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    TAA, Otamendi, Digne, Soyuncu
    Salah, Sterling, James, KDB
    Abraham, Wilson (c)

    Button, Dendonker, Lundstram, Greenwood

    0.1m ITB, 0 FT

    A) James to McGinn for a hit
    B) James to Yarmolenko for a hit
    C) Save and do James to Yarmolenko for fee next GW.

  24. New Article
  25. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Should be an interesting GW

    Results after an IB are never quite what is expected

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Am expecting another points drop for city

      Arsenal cud get a shock as well

  26. Postman Ty
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Last minute changes...
    a) Aguero + KDB
    b) Auba + Sterling

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A

  27. rohan
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Basically stuck between two 50-50s

    Captain: Wilson vs Tammy

    To start: Cantwell vs Lundstram

    Any thoughts?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wilson
      Lundstram

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

    A) Sterling + Auba
    B) Sterling + KDB

  29. Giggs22
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Morning all,

    I have selected the following team this week, think I'm happy also to take a punt on Martial returning.

    Leno
    Pereira/Tomori/Digne
    Martial/Traore/Maddison/McGinn
    Connolly/Aguero/Abraham

    Gazzaniga/Salah/TAA/Kelly

    Abraham - Captain, Aguero - VC

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

    Guess Sterling captain looks good now. Fingers crossed.Most had on Wilson/Tammy/Kun.