Scout Notes

Rotation and frustration for FPL managers but City bounce back with win

Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City

  • Goals: Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m), David Silva (£7.6m)
  • Assists: Bernardo Silva (£7.9m), Raheem Sterling (£12.1m)
  • Bonus: David Silva, Joao Cancelo (£5.3m) x3, Jesus x1

For the third time this season and the second time in three Gameweeks, Sergio Aguero (£12.2m) was dropped to the bench for a league match by Pep Guardiola.

The Argentinean striker didn’t even make it onto the field as a substitute as Gabriel Jesus (£9.5m) played the full 90 minutes and scored his side’s opening goal, taking his tally to three for the season.

The fact that the City boss is prone to rotation is hardly headline news but this was a particularly eyebrow-raising selection decision from Guardiola, given that Jesus had played 178 minutes for Brazil in Singapore over the last fortnight and that Aguero had been granted a breather over the international break.

The logic that the more rested Aguero would get the nod over his positional rival was turned on its head by the reigning champions’ head coach after full-time, with Guardiola saying:

We have two incredible strikers and Sergio is so important for this club. Gabriel came back from Brazil, Sergio was ten days without rhythm in training, that’s why I decided. But both are important.

When Sergio plays he plays a good level and when Gabriel plays he plays a good level. After that, I will take a decision. It depends on many, many things.

In fresh quotes released on Sunday evening, the City boss added:

Gabriel was always good from the beginning. Unfortunately, he had two tough injuries and after the World Cup, it was not easy for him.

He is a strong number nine of Brazil. The club bought an incredible young player for an incredible price – one of the best signings. When he arrived, he had an incredible impact and then after his injuries.

He’s good. He fights with Sergio Aguero; Sergio fights with him for one position. I’ve said many times: to compete with Sergio is the most difficult thing. Sergio is incredible – a legend; outrageously amazing. Sometimes, I need Sergio for many things; sometimes, I need Gabriel. That’s all.

The reason why (I picked Gabriel over Sergio at Crystal Palace) was because I thought Gabriel was in rhythm. When you play games with the national team, always you have the pace. Sergio was with Argentina for one week, came back and trained just three or four days. That’s the reason why.

He is young and he can improve. Like, in the last action he had, he had to pass to Kevin De Bruyne, but he is so young. There is more to come – from him and everyone.

I don’t know what will happen (who of Sergio or Gabriel will play) in the next game.

Aguero started every match from Gameweeks 1-13 last season, with that run only broken by injury.

Six of the seven Premier League matches that he failed to start in 2018/19 were either because of injury (Gameweeks 14-16 and 33) or came off the back of an injury (Gameweeks 17-18).

That security of starts is evidently a thing of the past, with Jesus playing much more of a prominent role domestically.

The Brazilian was a livewire throughout this match, too, producing some nimble footwork and highlighting his underrated strength in the air by registering six headed attempts on goal – one of which found the net for City’s opener.

Aguero’s owners may face a keep-or-sell dilemma, then, although they will be tempted to wait till Gameweek 12 before making a decision, with a double-header against Aston Villa and Southampton to come at the Etihad next.

The Argentina international is, after all, still the second-highest scoring Fantasy Premier League asset of 2019/20 despite three benchings.

Aguero is not alone in facing a rotation threat, of course.

At this stage last season, four City players were still ever-presents in the league; this time around, only Ederson (£6.1m) has made the starting XI in all nine of City’s league games.

Riyad Mahrez (£8.7m) was another to drop to the bench at Selhurst Park, although his demotion was perhaps less of a surprise given that he started City’s three matches in league and cup before the international break and considering that this may well have been Guardiola’s last chance to call upon Bernardo Silva (£7.9m) on the domestic front for a little while, given that the outcome to his FA charge is expected this week.

The two most-owned City players didn’t particularly have a field day in their teammates’ absence.

Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) did collect an assist for his role in David Silva‘s (£7.6m) goal but both he and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.1m) ought to have emerged from this encounter with more points.

Sterling was occasionally found hugging the left-hand touchline in the first half of Saturday’s match (something many observers have pointed out over recent weeks) but he was more prominent after the break, having four presentable chances from central positions inside the Palace box – the first hitting the post before three shots were skewed badly wide.

The fitness of Benjamin Mendy (£5.9m) could be key to Sterling’s goal threat when he plays on the left, with the Frenchman offering the natural width that the other left-bank candidates sometimes struggle to match.

Guardiola highlighted Sterling’s profligacy when asked about the winger’s fine assist:

Yeah. it was an incredible assist. At the same time, his mates gave him assists and he could not score a goal. But next time he will do it.

We created a lot of chances and their keeper made a lot of saves. It’s okay, hopefully we can be more clinical in the future, but it was a good result.

De Bruyne didn’t have his best game on his return from injury, with his distribution for once not inch-perfect and his first touch occasionally lacking.

That said, he ought to have emerged from this game with at least one attacking return, being completely overlooked by Jesus with the goal at his mercy and then heading agonisingly off the post from an Ilkay Gundogan (£5.2m) cross.

It was David Silva who ended up top-scoring for the hosts, with the veteran midfielder registering his fourth double-digit haul of the campaign – more than De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero have managed.

To compound the misery for many Fantasy managers, City’s three most-owned defenders missed out on their fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

Kyle Walker (£6.0m) and Nicolas Otamendi (£5.6m) were sidelined through illness and injury respectively, while Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.4m) was overlooked in favour of Mendy.

Zinchenko has now failed to start three of the last four league matches.

Two midfielders, Rodri (£5.5m) and Fernandinho (£5.2m), deputised at centre-half and were everything that Otamendi hasn’t been of late: cool, composed and quick-thinking, able to sniff out danger before a footrace from the halfway line was required.

While City still have an obvious weakness at set-piece situations – Ederson having to pull off a world-class save to tip Christian Benteke‘s (£5.7m) header onto the bar – Palace weren’t much of a threat from open play and it’ll be interesting to see how Guardiola shapes his defence up in Gameweek 10 after this display, should all of his centre-half options be available.

The City boss said of Rodri and Fernandinho:

Thank you so much for the effort because it is not their position. But our build-up is faster and both were incredible. Rodri didn’t train one day in that position but he is intelligent and smart.

The season is long. Everyone will play. It’s another option but we knew it at the beginning.

Palace’s role in the Fantasy world over the next four Gameweeks may be that of party-poopers, with the Eagles next facing Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Liverpool.

They are an admirably well-organised and stubborn side and had kept City mostly at bay before the visitors’ quick-fire double effectively killed the game just before half-time.

Over half of City’s ‘big chances’ arrived in the final quarter of an hour, with Palace having little option but to throw bodies forward.

Palace had only conceded one home goal before Saturday’s match and we can expect them to be a space-constricting barrier for the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m), Jamie Vardy (£9.0m), Tammy Abraham (£7.7m) and Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) in the weeks ahead, with defending very much Roy Hodgson’s side’s strong suit.

The Palace manager said after the game:

We were defending well, the defenders worked hard to follow the game plan. To make certain we seal off the space that their players need and want to use. But it’s hard to seal them off completely because of the quality of their players. We weren’t exactly conceding a goal chance every few minutes. But at 0-2, the ability and composure they have to keep the ball, it was going to be very tough.

We’d have needed an early goal [in response] to shake them, and the longer the game went on that didn’t happen. But we kept going, and kept trying, and made Ederson make two or three very good saves. We had the ball in their penalty area a lot more in that half, and I’m afraid that’s the best we could do in the game.

First-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita (£5.0m) and popular budget FPL defender Martin Kelly (£4.1m) missed this game through injury, with Hodgson saying later:

Vicente Guaita has been complaining about a slight groin problem for a period of time. We thought he possibly would recover but he didn’t. There was a thought we could have taken a risk with him. He was not far off from being fit.

Martin Kelly was in yesterday’s training session, he felt a slight twinge in his groin. As with Guaita, I’m not sure, I’m hoping it won’t be a long-term injury.

Crystal Palace XI (4-3-3): Hennessey; van Aanholt, Tomkins (Dann 83′), Cahill, Ward; Milivojevic (Benteke 76′), McArthur, Kouyate; Schlupp (Townsend 55′), Zaha, Ayew.

Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Rodri, Fernandinho, Mendy; D Silva (Stones 79′), Gundogan, De Bruyne (Foden 90′); B Silva, Jesus, Sterling.

Members Analysis

899 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Getting a red arrow on WC is one of the worst feelings...

    OR awful rn. 29 with Lundstram to go 🙁

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Meh, low average GW. Hopefully your team was set up for more than one week.

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

      Shouldn't be. A WC is for 5 months, not one week.

    3. KingOllie
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      saving my WC for gwk13 - i pray it gives me a boost.

      awful season

    4. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Like going to the dentist an he pulls the wrong tooth.

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

      You put in the time as did I. We just got unlucky - though my annoyance is booking a transfer (went Wilson for a week before Vardy). That's silly!
      Good week to have a bad week and all that...

  2. mookie
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What a horror of a GW! 23 points all out. The only slight negative is that I only dropped 250k in OR. It will probably be 500k+ once autosubs step in.

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

    Funny watching people go mental now the 'casuals' have worked out that being OK at FPL is actually pretty easy and amounts to transfering out injured players and not putting the C on your favourite cult player every week

    So who is ahead of the curve now, and how?

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      shhhhhh, dont say it, all this people putting hundreds of hours into research&stats... c´mon sheer luck cant be such a factor, right?..:-)

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

      I used to love beating my brother at chess until he learned how the pieces moved.

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        yep. The average level of FPL players has gone up substancially in the last 2/3 years. Not has easy as it used to be

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

          I feel its the same. Super easy to get 20k in OR

          1. El Presidente
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Fair enough, but not the feedback I´ve been reading though...

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

            You must be improving at the same rate as the average player then. Good job 😀

  4. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    not that you can take everything pep says as verbatim, but he does highlight how using aguero starting stats last season is massively flawed given that jesus was struggling with his body and his mind (confidence). not the case this season, sharp and scoring.

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

      Most annoying face in the league tho. Can't be looking at that even for a second

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

        KDB owners would have gladly belted it late in the game.

    2. MTPockets
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Indeed. Think there's also the aspect of Jesus' irritability at being sidelined and hints about otherwise leaving
        Will give Aguero 2 more games out of hope then likely move on

      • si
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Away from home, he starts.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Repost, no answers last time. Appreciate thoughts on this. 2ft 0.4itb. Want KDB back in before two home fixtures for ManCity.

      Pope
      TAA Robbo Digne Lundstram
      Salah Sterling Mount Cantwell
      Auba Haller

      Button Rico Saka GreenW

      A) Auba, Saka to KDB, Ings
      B) Auba, Cantwell to KDB, Maupay
      C) Salah, Saka to KDB, CHO/James
      D) Auba, Saka, Cantwell to Connolly, KDB, CHO/James -4

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

        Why are you getting rid of one of the most consistent, nailed players this year. And why make the decision before tonight. Will you still get rid if he hauls?

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Will captain a ManC player next two, Auba was a two week punt. A haul today could change my thinking but long term i want KDB back over Auba as i don't like starting Cantwell/Rico every week.

      2. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        E) Downgrade one of Liverpool duo/Digne and upgrade Saka to a proper 4th mid

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers, maybe Digne but not getting rid of TaA Robbo

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

          Give Auba and Saka a chance to play tonight before going forward.

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers

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

      Decent week for me. Gone from 250k to 60k and still have Aubameyang to play

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Points? Have Auba VC still playing myself hope he hauls (Salah C)

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

          51 points. Kept Dilva instead of my planned move to KDB. Had sterling C and Vardy VC

          1. Pukki Party
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Nice

      2. LC1
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Well done mate.

        A lot of poor weeks from most people, so good to see someone had a positive one!

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

          Thanks. It's nice when the template team doesn't score many points.....

          1. LC1
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, nice for you! Not so much for me 😉

          2. El Presidente
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            yep, thats why you should always have 3/4 differential players starting every GW

      3. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Nice to hear a good story for a change. Massive score this week

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

      Which is the set of better picks?

      A) Aguero + Maddison + Cantwell (Benched most weeks)

      or

      B) Sterling + Martial + Connolly (Benched most weeks)

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Martial is something I am thinking to get onto. But to be honest, I just don't kow anymore the way to go.

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

          Ha. I'm with you- this season has been one of the most unpredictable and disheartening for the fpl veterans...I am sure something will click soon

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

          I'm thinking of getting Martial in on a punt. Them fixtures are too nice to ignore.....

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            If I stay away you have a chance of success.

    6. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Have you guys ever experienced such a thankless exercise regarding FPL.
      I have scored 20 points up until now and there is very little for me to even want to change.
      Pope 1
      TAA 2 Ota 0 Rose 1 (Soy 2 Lund to play)
      Sterling 5 Mahrez 0 McGinn 2 Mount 3 (Cantwell 3)
      Auba to play Abraham 4 (cpt) Firmino 2

      Apart from the KDB move, I see very little room for improvement.

      Anybody else thinking the same?

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

        Ota and Rose are not worth owning.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I agree and there is 3 mil to play with when I get round to change them. That is not the inherent reason for this week's epic fail.
          My move will probably be this week
          KDB Rico for Mahrez Rose

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

            I would get Vardy for BF as well in a weeks time

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              The moment I have him is the moment he stops scoring.

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

            I think a few other teams struggled this week.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yep but I struggled with the strugglers

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

      Transfer advice?

      2FT 2.5m

      Pope Button
      TAA Robertson Tomori Soyuncu Lundstram
      Sterling Dilva Mount Jorginho Cantwell
      Vardy Aubameyang Pukki

      1. LC1
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Jorginho & Pukki > Yarmalenko & Wilson / Abraham ?

    8. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Betfair 7/1 Lundstram anytime GS
      90/1 2 or more
      1000/1 hattrick

      for those of us who don't have him subbing in tonight

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        1 goal a godd bet IMO

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

          It's really not.

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        But I have him so it won't happen.

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

        7/1 seems low

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

          its for anytime scorer, not 1st

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

            I know

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

              ok, its not too bad

    9. CelticBhoy1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki > ? (have 8.5 to spend)

      A) Rashford

      B) Jimenez

      C) Wilson

      D) Other

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

        D

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

          Haha sorry, C

      2. jimmy.floyd
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        B

    10. Klip Klopp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thoughts on this for a -4?

      Otamendi, Salah, Pukki —> Soyuncu, Manè, Vardy?

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        OK

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

        Salah out for a hit seems really strange. Mane managed a total of 0 shots against United.. Zero! Would also keep Otamendi for the next 2 home bankers

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

          You think Ota will play? i just want to get rid of Pukki and bring Vardy in!

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

            Wait for news on his knock and Champs League. I still see him as the first choice left centre half next to Fernandinho/Stones. Rodri will be pushed back up field when all fit

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

            I wouldn't be too concerned about Vardy I don't think...

            Personally I had the money ITB to make the move last week, so it made sense to bring him in, but I don't think he's essential enough at this stage to be taking hits and getting rid of the likes of Salah and Ota.

            I'm expecting a decent return for him, but not much more than you'd expect for his price

        2. El Presidente
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Well, not the greatest of displays yes, but still scored a goal (wrongly disallowed IMO) and made an "assist" for Firmino to waste a great opportunity

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

            Scored a goal? I saw an obvious handball with a big attacking advantage = free kick to the opposition. Anything after the infringement is irrelevant, as if it never happened. He may as well have put it in row 26 for all it matters!

            1. El Presidente
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              I get your point, but IMO thats not an handball. And I dont think there´s clarity on this new handball rules either. As someone asked yesterday, if it had been Lindelof instead?... Pen?

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

        Soy feels like a trap

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

        I don't think Salah or Otamendi are worth selling just yet.

    11. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Always find it funny when people say 'I'm 50 points behind - can I catch up?'

      Yes you can catch up, but the probability is less than 50% IMO. Because the pool of 'good' FPL assets has decreased significantly since GW1. You now need to pick the team that is going to do well for the next 8/9 GWs. But you have probably lost your WC and all the time the Top 10k / Top 100k are pushing forward.

      Yes, many of the Top 10k / Top 100k have used their chips, but if you are OR 1m+ are you saying that all those thousands of managers ahead of you are idiots and have used all their chips?

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

        I’ve seen you post this before and I don’t get it. 50 points is such a small margin regardless of rank. Let’s say you average higher than all of FPL for the remainder of the season with smart transfers and hit a few captaincy’s. Your rank will rocket. It’s all about consistency and beating the average on a regular basis

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It is very difficult to beat the Top 10k average every GW when you are behind. You might do it one week, but the Top 10k will respond.

          You are 50 pts behind now. But as every GW passes you reduce the number of opportunities to catch up. 50 pts is effectively 10-12 goals (excluding captaincy). How do you intend to get those 10-12 goals when the number of GWs is reducing and the pool of 'good' FPL assets is reducing?

          The theory of chasing, especially at 1m+ OR is based on a presumption that many ahead of you are 'chumps' who are not as good as you and will make mistakes. That is a false presumption IMO because most of them are not 'chumps'. The chumps are mainly OR 3m+ because they can't beat the Overall average each GW.

          People are given false hope re chasing IMO, because there are anecdotal stories of the odd FPL manager going from OR 1.5m to OR 2k. But those are the exceptions.

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

            I wouldn’t say it is difficult to beat the Top 10k average. You don’t need a super rogue team, just 1-2 small differentials who come in against the effective ownership of the masses. Also.. I would say the ‘pool of players’ as you say is greater than ever this season. That pool of players changes so regularly with templates shifts, fixture swings and players finding form. Just have to be ahead of the curve

      2. MTPockets
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I find it funny that you conclude on that probability, after 9/38 gameweeks

      3. Premium Forwards - Are they worth the price tag?
        Sam FPLFamily
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Are premium forwards worth their price tag?

        With Kane, Aguero and Firmino failing to bring returns in GW9 is it time to give up on premium strikers? Should the focus be on investing in the midfield?

        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Probably bringing Aguero in this week and switching to 3-4-3

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

            Interesting, rotation with Jesus doesn’t worry you?

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Triple City attack for next 2 home games is my plan to shoot up ranks (or likely fall further back). I still have WC and likely to deploy in 2-3 weeks.

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

              It does for me!

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

          no one with common sense owns Kane or BF.

          Wait for Auba to play.

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

            Auba? The guy who will be pushed out wide from next GW?

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

              Well able to score from out wide, hopefully! Is that his usual spot, only centeal sonce Lacazette out?

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

              does it matter? Laca seldom plays 90 mins.

              Besides, Auba scored in both games laca played in wk 2 and 4.

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

            Aubameyang tonight could certainly change the trend this game week.

            However, with Lacazette returning Aubameyang could be forced to play further wide. The statistics suggest from there he is less of an option, so would you still prefer him when playing with Lacazette?

            1. Rotation's Alter Ego
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Only 1 of Auba's 18 shots in the box has come with Lacazette on the pitch.

              Could equally argue that it's a small sample size / against very tough opponents but an interesting stat nonetheless

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

                Great stat

                1. Rotation's Alter Ego
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Completely stolen from Neale as well 😉

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

                yet Auba outscored him in the 2 games he played in wk 2 & 4.

                😆

              3. Le Bluff
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                That's from 145 minutes where he still scored and assisted!

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

              I have no problem owning Auba, even if Laca plays.

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

          There will be a right time to have them.
          Its just a matter of knowing when!

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

          Just switched to a 3-4-3; have a feeling that might have been a mistake.

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

            That’s my formation. I like the flexibility of it, especially if the front three don’t contain a premium and then the five in midfield are all great picks as means you have options around the fixtures. Why do you think it’s a mistake?

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

              It might just be the inevitable "post-wildcard" feeling; you're often left thinking about the choices you could've made instead (haha!).

              It might also be how I'm used to playing FPL; although I find 3-4-3 a bit more flexible (and this was partly the reason for picking that formation on wildcard), I usually play 3-5-2 with a stronger midfield. This season has been very difficult so far though, so a formation change was on the cards – really just to see if that can give a needed boost to the overall rank. Will have to see how it plays out, but I'm not ruling out going back to a 3-5-2 eventually.

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

                The cheaper front three made up of the likes of Vardy, Abraham, Haller, Jimenez etc look good to enable you to still have a strong midfield 5 especially if you haven’t spent a lot at the back

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

                  Very true. I hate facing a potential benching headache though, but I guess the fifth midfielder will likely be one that you can rotate.

                  My current front-three is Callum Wilson, Abraham and Aubameyang. Only kept Wilson on wildcard with the Norwich and Watford fixtures in mind, but it's tempting to transfer him out for Vardy or Jiménez as a long-term move.

        5. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          As soon as we do, the points will start coming in for forwards.
          I do know I can pick a 90mil team most weeks and it will out perform my 103.5 mil team now.

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

            It certainly feels that way doesn’t it!

        6. Rotation's Alter Ego
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Aguero's minutes are just starting to worry me now - been hard enough avoiding captaincy blanks without having to worry that they won't even start the away games! Won't be touching Kane for a while, but a return to goalscoring form for Auba and I'll be very happy despite some potentially tough defences on the horizon.

          I think as soon as Liverpool's fixtures swing I'll be looking to recover a bunch of money from my forward line and pump it into midfield. None of my forwards have particularly made a huge case for themselves so far, but have been more or less saved by nobody else in other positions doing much better! If it continues like this, I imagine double Liverpool midfield could become very popular...

        7. mookie
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It's not like the premium mids are scoring for fun though.
          Aguero is outscoring all of them bar KDB in 6/9 starts.

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

            That’s true, but the way Liverpool’s fixtures are for the next few gameweeks the Salah/Mane double up certainly looks tempting

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

          Kane to Vardy for me this week. Had enough now. Watch him score vs 'Pool!

        9. El Presidente
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Its definitely a tough call with such good options on the 7 to 9mil price range - Pukki, Haller, Jimenez, Tammy, Wilson, Vardy, Rashford.

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

            For sure. All of those options are great - Jimenez to me looks like he is coming back to the form and returns of last season.

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

          Salah + Sterling + KDB doesn't leave much room for a premium forward, and so far I've not seen enough to suggest the forwards will trump these guys come the end of the season.

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

          Vardy, Abraham and Wilson is my current strike force, Vardy the most expensive that I've owned so far this season and no regrets with that.

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

            That’s a lovely front three. Vardy is captainable most weeks too in my opinion

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

          There's a site called fplreview.com

          It uses expected stats and bookmaker odds to calculate an 'expected points' metric (one for each approach).

          Averaging the two approaches, we see the following expected points scores so far this season:

          Sterling: 64
          Salah: 61
          Aguero: 53
          KDB: 50
          Aubameyang: 43

          Take of that what you will.

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

            Harsh of me not to include Mane...

            Mane: 52

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

            Yeh sterling been so unfortunate

          3. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Those six (including Mane) are also the only players who have played more than 3 games and averaged over 6.5 points per match this season.
            A close correlation between the best expected and actual points!
            Unfortunately it isn't possible to own all of them, but it would seem inadvisable to own less than three.

        13. tisza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          My criteria for premium strikers/mids is that they must have double figure score potential and so be strong captaincy options.
          Auba has a bit of the Diego Costa about him this season - steady accumulation rather than explosive hauls.
          More than any season I remember there are enough mid price strikers capable of chipping in thus making 343 a great option

        14. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Probably yes, but I think you should have one premium forward, so that you can switch between them, from kun, Aubameyang, we shouldn't forget kun is still one of top scoring players in the game, so there'll be the odd missing of points, think it's one forward & two of Wilson Tammy Vardy Jimenez

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

            That’s been my strategy so far but I’m starting to think more money in midfield is the way to go. The premium forwards just don’t offer the same value for money as the midfielders do at the moment

        15. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I diligently held (and captained) Kane for the last two GWs - and we know how that felt!
          I’ve just liberated him (and myself) by activating my WC and am going with 3x mid-range in the form of:
          Vardy/Jimi/Tammy

          I fear Auba a little, but hoping Laca’s return stems Auba’s.

          Psychologically, I’ve already moved on from both GW9, and Premium forwards!

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

            This is exactly what I’m planning on doing - moving Kane to Jimenez to give me a front three of Jimenez, Vardy and Abraham. Are you planning to redeploy the saved Kane money in midfield?

            1. Brimble82
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Great minds!
              Though... what happened to ‘One from the top, middle and bottom’ strategy that you talked about in the FPL show last week?

              Re midfield investment, I needed it in order to do a (long overdue) double up on City midfield.
              So I have a front 7 of:
              CHO/KDB/Sterling/Mount
              Vardy/Jimi/Tammy

              I’m floundering at 1.4m so need to do something drastic.
              I’m going to take a break from Salah/Mané for 3GWs and then re-assess attacking options for GW13.

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

                I have real issues with rotation and Aguero, I worry about Auba’s returns when he is playing out wide alongside Lacazette so that leaves me with Kane who I don’t want to lose ideally as it throws my strategy out however his form alongside the form of the Spurs team means he isn’t returning at the level that he should be for a premium fantasy asset - hence swaying towards a strategy change. We recorded the show before the captain blank vs Watford so I’m starting to rethink

                1. Brimble82
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  Completely agree. The big three premium's all have their own specific issues to content with.
                  Let's hope VAJ is more profitable than VAR!

        16. P-h-o-e-n-i-x
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          The answer to that question lies in another question - Are there 3 in form premium midfielders who are pushing their case for inclusion in all our squads? The answer, I think, is NO.

          Therefore, I think it is important to own Aubameyang for this nice run of fixtures . In a season of captain blanks, he might well just tick over points and be captainable in quite a few gameweeks to come.

        17. doy
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          They are not worth their price tag, it seems to be better to go 2 or 3 mid priced strikers and beef up the midfield.

      4. jb1985
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        In a hungover haze yesterday i done Salah+Ota > Mane + Pereira for a hit 0.6ITB. Really wanted to get Robertson but missed out by 0.1m 🙁

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

        Got a a hard one for next week can i have some help..
        Who to play out of the 3 for next gameweek?
        Rico away to Watford
        Lundstram away to West Ham
        Pereira away to Southampton

        1. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Pereira

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

          Who else have you? All 3 look good.

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

          You can't bench Pereira at 6m+
          Soy on the other hand...

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

        Wildcard fail played like every time

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

          Longeterm it should work out.

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

          don't worry, low scoring week.

          look at the scout picks, they picked a team for this GW only and it only has 1 goal and 1 assist

      7. Squires FC
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        The things i would do for a Ceballos haul! Shocking gw so far, 24 pts.

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

          Someone still has Ceballos?

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

            His Mum

          2. Brimble82
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            My 8 year old son!
            Even he's looking to move him on.

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

        How's this looking?

        Pope
        Ota / Tomori / Soy
        Sterling (c) / KDB / Mane / Martial / Mount
        Auba / Tammy

        Subs: Button / Connolly / Rico / Lund

        0 itb

        1. CelticBhoy1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Nice team

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

          Tidy and not sheepish.

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

          I like Martial! Could really pay off

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

          U must have got KDB at 9.5? I have the same team n cudnt afford martial for similar setup

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

          Needs a Liverpool defender for their upcoming run. Really like it otherwise. Very similar to my set-up

      9. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Mcburnie charged with drink driving... What an idiot

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

          People make mistakes. At least he didn’t kill anyone (cf. Alonso)

          1. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            So stupid. Wilder won't like that at all, could've killed someone... Probably the highest wage in the club, so irresponsible. Lost all respect from me

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

            Seriously?

            1. Tsparkes10
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Seriously what?

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

                For Irbox.

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

          Not the first, won't be the last. Should, but won't, get a few months in prison. Prob get some top brief to minimise any punishment on a technicality.

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

            Prison? For a low range drink driving charge?

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

              A bit severe I know but getting behind the wheel after drinking is same as walking around with a loaded weapon, recipe for disaster. Richie Keogh's career is over because of a drunk driver and plenty of people have been killed by them.

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

                Would never put those two things in the same category. I agree with you it’s a really really dumb thing to do, but you also need to factor in the level of intoxication.. was he just over the limit and thought he was ok to drive, or was he full on plastered? There are many different considerations for a magistrate.

                1. Tsparkes10
                  • 5 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  True, rumours that he got in the next day when it was still in his system from the previous night. Guess we'll see, hopefully that rather than the full on got in whilst fkd cause that would be awful

        3. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I don't know why people are so forgiving and lenient when it comes to drink driving. Warnings, fines and even points on licenses don't make up for the fact that innocent lives are at risk. Should be an immediate prison sentence for X amount of time, with a criminal record of course.

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

            Agree with Irbox. We've got these judges and executioners here without even hearing the evidence. Or am I confusing this discussion with the Brexit bill today?

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

              I didn't even know BoJo was The Blades holding mid 😉

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

                He's the clown on the right wing

          2. The Knights Template
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Five days dungeon, no trials!

      10. Tshelby
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Keep Pukki or not? Don't know which striker I would rather have in the -7mill category. Don't want to take a hit.

        1FT
        0.2 ITB

        Pope
        TAA, Ota, Lund, Soyuncu, Rico
        KdB, Sterling, Mane, Mount, Hayden
        Jimenez, Tammy, Pukki

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

          Wait a GW and Pukki and Hayden to Connolly and 7m ish mid.

      11. DirtySanchez
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Most frustrating season ive ever had.

        Constantly trying to adapt and still falling down the rankings!

        Decent team (i think!) but still flopping.

        Pope/Button,
        VVD, TAA, Ward, Ota, Lund
        Salah, Son, KDB, Cantwell, Denk
        Pukki, Haller, Tammy

        FPL really tests me

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

        Pukki -> Jimmy Yay or Nay? For free

        1. jimmy.floyd
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yay

        2. jimbo90
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Yup

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

        Another tough gw, totterring around the 1m rank since the game started i feel. have 2FTs and 0.7m. Also have a WC but will probably use that around gw13

        Pope -- Heaton
        Taa Digne Tomori Zincheko -- Rico
        Sterling Kdb Mount -- Cantwell Docker
        Pukki Tammy Kane

        A: Kane >> Auba/Rashford/Haller and carry over other FT
        B: Kane + Pukki >> Rashford + Haller
        C: Kane + Docker >> Rashford + Maddison and bench Tomori
        D: Kane + Docker + Zincheko >> Haller + Pepe + Soy (-4)

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Kane, Dendonk to Vardy, CHO?

      14. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        How does my WC look after this week's results? 36 with 2 to go

        Hendo
        TAA Lund Perreira
        Mount Mane KDB CHO
        Abraham Wilson Vardy
        (Button, Tierney, Rico, Longstaff)

        1. Brimble82
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I like it.
          But that's because it's VERY similar to mine!
          Ederson*
          TAA Lund Perreira
          Mount Sterling* KDB CHO
          Abraham Jimenez* Vardy
          (Button, Tierney, Rico, Donks*)

          Considering Sterling>Mane in GW13 if Raza doesn't improve over the next three.

      15. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Worst ever start to a season and quickly losing TV.. what would you do here?

        Pope
        TAA Otamendi Soyuncu
        Salah Mahrez Son Mount
        Firmino Abraham Pukki

        4m Lundstram Rico 4.5m

        2FT, 1.4M ITB

        Was thinking Mahrez, Son, Firmino -> KDB, Martial, Auba -4.

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Like them moves but I'd go Vardy over Aubam

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

          Your moves look good. Maddison could be there for martial

        3. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Can you afford mahrez, firmino -> vardy, kdb for free?

          Shifting pukki might be another option.

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

            Yep I can afford that. Don't want to keep Son though.

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Fair enough. I'd watch arsenal tonight before deciding vardy/auba.

      16. EL tridente
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        McGinn to Trossard?

      17. Kuzser
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Not sure what to do this week..any help?
        2ft, 0.0itb
        1) son pukki-> Maddison Wilson
        2) Son pukki-> Vardy 7.5mid (martial/CHO)
        3) Son firmino-> Auba Maddison
        4) son Firmino-> mane Jimenez

        Pope 
        Soy Ota Taa
        KDB Mount Son Sterling 
        Pukki Abraham Firmino

        Button. Saka, Lundstram, Hanley

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I like 2 a lot

      18. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Pep explaining in clear words that his roulette is simply a roulette. Killing many future arguments/"educated guesses" in a few paragraphs. Good times 🙂

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

          This. We should have known - we did know - before the season started. Still hurts though. You can't go without City assets so you just gotta sit tight and take the punches.

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

            At least no cameo means point from the bench. Looking forward to a Lundy haul tonight 😛 !

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

        One thing causes by the focus on the template (made up of many players who were differentials by GW1) is that people haven't realized just how many differentials have failed woefully

        You won't see this because they're owned by few people. But the differentials that do work out grab all the attention. Miracle effect