Pro Pundits

Patience and holding the transfer my way of responding to Gameweek 9

Holly, the founder of FPL Community, has two top 10k finishes in five FPL seasons, is a regular guest on the FPL Show and recent addition to the Scoutcast line-up.

It’s fair to say, like most people, I haven’t had the best start to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season.

Those 94 points from Gameweek 1 have faded beyond a distant memory, to a dream and it’s been largely downhill since then.

Four red arrows ensued and I’ve been bouncing around the 1.5 million mark for a good few weeks now and, in the words of David Wardale, with one Wildcard wasted. 

I’m in unchartered territory for this stage of the season and catching is not a position I’m used to. Last season I was camped in the top 100k for the entire 38 Gameweeks, with the large majority of them in the top 10k so I’m still unsure how I quite ended up here.

I guess this season has been truly unpredictable, just when we see a trend developing, it crumbles before our eyes.

Manchester City have proved to be a problematic source of investment this season

Manchester City were attacking kings, until they crumbled against Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sergio Aguero (£12.2m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) and Callum Wilson (£8.0m) all looked unstoppable until Gameweek 8 rolled around and stopped them in their tracks.

Captaincy has failed us week in and week out, to the point where a dice roll would prove more effective in my case (it was Gameweek 1 when my captain last scored!)

I made what I thought would be some big moves last week, transferring out Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) and Mohammed Salah (£12.4m) for Wilson and Sadio Mané (£11.8m).

Although those moves left me with positive points, they didn’t exactly set the world alight the way I’d hoped and heading into future Gameweeks without Salah always fills me with nerves.

Gameweek 10 looks to be a tricky one to negotiate. I’m invested in five players from Burnley’s clash with Chelsea. Ruing the errors of my Gameweek 5 Wildcard, I also appear to still have two Norwich players in my squad including the injured Grant Hanley (£4.0m) who could easily have been a performing Diego Rico (4.2m) or Martin Kelly (£4.1m).

I’m holding the transfer this week hoping to get some flexibility for future Gameweeks

So, where to go from here? Well, I’m armed with one free transfer to ponder over, with my head telling me to hold and my heart urging me to hit that transfers tab and make yet more changes in an attempt to claw back my season. Patience is a virtue, but mine is wearing very thin right now. There’s absolutely nothing in the bank, so flexibility is at rock bottom right now.

Despite my front three providing absolutely nothing last weekend, I’m quite optimistic of their chances going into this Gameweek. The fixtures also look great for the midfield and I’m happy to play “King” John Lundstram (£4.6m) in defence, after regretfully benching his clean sheet last time out. 

It’s the defence where options are most slim but one free transfer doesn’t provide much choice, so I’ll be holding for now and looking forward to the flexibility of two free transfers come next week. Hanley survives for now!

I’ve come to a point where I don’t expect my captain to deliver, but Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) is the chosen man this weekend with his home fixture and at least some midweek form to speak of.

Holly, the founder of FPL Community, has two top 10k finishes in five FPL seasons, is a regular guest on the FPL Show and recent addition to the Scoutcast line-up.

362 Comments Post a Comment
  1. andre_c
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I want to treble up on City attack, Aguero, KDB, Mahrez (could be a good differential) for the next two and I think doing this can cover for Salah and Mane.

    GW10: I'm thinking to do Salah, Otamendi > KDB, Tomori
    GW11: Hold
    GW12: Hold (or other changes in the team)
    GW13: Bring Salah, Mane in by switching Aguero to cheaper forward and upgrading mid to Salah/Mane. Also swapping Mahrez for Salah/Mane. So for GW13, my premiums will be Salah, Mane, and KDB.

    Pope
    TAA, Otamendi, Lund
    Salah, Mahrez, Mount, Yarmo
    Aguero, Tammy, Wilson

    Button, Rico, Soy, Cantwell
    Thoughts?
    Any help will be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks

  2. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Jesse Lingard: "It's fantastic to have him back fit. He's been so lively and bubbly in training. I don't know how much game time we'll give him but he looks like he needs to catch up on lost time."

    The legend is back MF !!

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

      Has so much potential this guy, young and full of energy - great prospect for the future

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

        Young? Is he not 25 years old?

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Jesse is bubbly.

      I mean what a way to describe a really bad player 😀

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

    Who play?

    a/ McGinn (i have Ota)
    b/ Rico

    Thanks.

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

      b

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

    best midfielder under 5.2?

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Saka? Longstaff? Jorghino?

  5. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Get
    A) Tomori for Lowton
    B) Robertson for Van Dijk

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

      I'd hold unless you really *have* to use a FT

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

    Is it worth dumping Zinchenko or Cresswell for a hit? Bench wearing thin too with Kelly injured and only Lundy to come off for a defender

    1. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      mmm i think zinchenko's race is run for a while so would be looking to move him on. but not sure its worth a hit this week. try and do for free next week

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

      Not worth it. Hold..!

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

    Play Lundstram or Soyuncu?

    1. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      i think lundstram. can't see a cleansheet for either but more chance of attacking returns

  8. HD7
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Auba Sterling KDB

    Who to C?

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      KDB

  9. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    what do you prefer here?

    A)Son & Pukki > Martial & Vardy
    B) Son & Pukki > KDB & striker up to 6.5
    D) Son & Pukki > Tielemans & Firmino
    C) Nothing, just save the transfer and have 2 next week. Would lose selling value on pukki as he’s dropping tonight by the looks of it

    Rest of team:

    Gazza / Button

    Tomori / Soy / Lundstram / Rico / Lowton

    Salah / Sterling / Mount / Dendonker

    Auba / Abraham

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

      Son > KdB for sure this week. Fund it with Pukki > Connolly. Bank the cash and use it to upgrade Dendo next week?

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        yeah definitely an option. would then be playing connolly this week?

        slight concern that city have spurs and liverpool coming up so would be doubling up on them attacking, but the next two look very nice

        no concern taking son out? could be about to go on a streak?

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

          It doesn't matter. These next two weeks could be enormous and KdB isn't really optional at that price imo.

  10. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope
    Ota Rico TAA Tomori
    Salah Sterling KDB
    Haller Abraham Wilson

    Button Lundy Cantwell Dend

    I have 2 FT but nothing in the bank and for the life of me I can’t see an easy singular transfer?

    1. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      yeah nothing really obvious there.

      Maybe move on Otamendi. I know they have two good fixtures but who knows if he'll play. he'll be a question mark each week.

      but yeah i can understand not wanting to do that this week so might have to burn the transfer.

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

      Pope to Ryan or Haller to Ings

  11. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sterling to start this weekend?

  12. Matt42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Got 5 defenders all playing away this week ... which 3 to start ... ?

    Lund (WHU)
    Soyuncu (SOU)
    Rico (WAT)
    Tomori (BUR)
    Boly (NEW)

    1. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      similar scenario for many of us, me included.

      Of your 5 i would say play:
      Lund
      Rico
      Boly

  13. Chris_H
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Interesting reading in the Guardian for those of us pondering Jiminez

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2019/oct/24/wolves-struggling-demands-europa-league-premier-league

  14. JT11fc
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any of these moves look good?

    Pope
    Trent Ota Cresswell Soy
    Son KDB Mount
    Auba Kun Tammy

    Button Cantwell Lundy Hayden

    2FT 1.0m itb

    1. Son Cresswell Ota - Mane Willems Dunk

    2. Son Cresswell Soy - Mane Lascelles Reid

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

    Pope
    Lunds / Otamendi / Willems
    Mane / KDB / Mount / Son
    Vardy / Auba(c) / Abraham

    Button / Guilbert / DougLuiz / Hanley

    My bench is horrible, I know!

    GTG...??

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Besides captain good to go

  16. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think about Alonso as a punt for a few weeks?

    1. JT11fc
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Might have mist the best of it, see what Emerson news there is

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

      Give it a couple of weeks. He has a great run coming up something like GW12

  17. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Have all of Kun, KdB and Sterling. Who to captain and who to vice-captain?

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

      I think Kun will be on the bench so not him

    2. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Been there, done that and regret

  18. StayoutheSpiceZone
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I do think it is amazing that a few people are saying that Sterling may be rested this weekend.
    They get chance to close the gap to 3 points.
    He is their most in form asset alongside KDB
    They have the League Cup in the midweek

    100% starts.

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

      This is one week I fear not owning him

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

        Yes mate, I would imagine that was so. He is been frustrating as an owner recently, but with Mendy playing I feel he is playing more centrally.

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

      100% starts

      Come on lad. We categorically know this isn't true

      He'll probably start, probably

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

        Ok so similar to Sex Panther, works 60% of the time, everytime.

  19. Ribus
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Otamendi likely to start?

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

      He is in my time and I would LOVE to know the answer to that question.

      What do you reckon? I think he might go Stones and Fernan

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

        Thinking the same.
        Stones will start and then its between Ota and Fern.
        Mendy could be gold the next 2 games..

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

      Last week he had a knock and in UCL he was on bench inspite of being fit. I am 100% sure he will atleast start vs AVL. Will shift him after Soton on wc as TAA is enough premium in current situation...Maybe digne if everton build up on whm win

  20. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    So if I keep both mane and salah (which is my preferred option), I would either do:

    A Madds to Silva for free.
    B Madds, Wilson to KdB, Maupay/ings (-4)

    so it comes down to which option of the above gets more points

    A Silva, Wilson (& Vardy or Mane(c)
    B Kdb (c), Maupay/ings, -4

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

      also if you look at KDBs record at home... I mean he is a must! and (c) for this week.

  21. Who are all Lukakus
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pope 4.0
    TAA Otacantdefendi Soyuncu Lund Rico
    Sterling KDB Mane Mount Cantwell
    Tammy Wilson Pukki
    2 FT 0.2 itb
    Wanna burn 1 FT. Need 0.1 to to Pukki to Jimenez. Otherwise I am happy with the team.
    Suggestion?

  22. moffnseath
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Jimenez & Cancelo
    B) Tammy & Dunk

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

      Cancelo May play this weekend but is far from nailed.

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

    Play one of

    A) Aurier
    B) Soyuncu
    C) Lundstram

    I own Haller and playing him so puts me off Lundstram.

    Other defenders are Ota and Rico.

    1. Citizen Kane
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      B for me mate

  24. spray
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I have pretty close to Holly's team, with a few modifications.

    Schmeichel
    Lundstram, Lascelles, Alex-Arnold
    De Bruyne, Sterling, Mount, Salah
    Deulofeu, Abraham, Jimenez

    Heaton
    Webster, Tomori, Cantwell

    I benches Tomori in favour of Lascelles, who has nearly been as good, defensively, but is home with a good home record.
    I don't mind Jimenez over Wilson, but would prefer Haller over Deulofeu, despite Sheffield's form.
    Schmeichel doesn't have to face Chelsea too, which is good.

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

      Salah, Sterling, C, VC, respectively.

  25. Lucas8406
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Do I join the Vardy Party instead of Auba?

  26. Citizen Kane
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What transfers shall i do?

    Ederson
    Trent, Tomori, Soy, Lund, Montoya

    KDB, Sterling, Mount, Yarmo, Cantwell

    Auba, Vardy, Tammy

    1FT, 0.1ITB