Pro Pundits

Recent changes at Villa have brought budget options to my attention

Tom Freeman comes onto the team to make most of us feel wildly insecure about our overall rank history. A long-time Fantasy Football Scout user, he has finished inside the top 1,000 a staggering five times since 2009.

Fantasy Premier League may be a stressful game for many of us right now but I’ve got my eye on some potential budget options for the future.

Gameweek 9 did not get off to the best of starts for me as David Silva (£7.6m) and Andrew Robertson (£6.9m) – two of three players I transferred out along with Teemu Pukki (£7.0m) for a hit – both delivered. Right now, those moves don’t look too clever. Time will tell if it was the correct call.

Despite that, Gameweek 9 was a good one for me, thanks largely to Diego Rico (£4.2m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) and captain Jamie Vardy (£9.1m).

In a Gameweek where many of the top captain picks failed to deliver, Vardy proved an exception, with a goal and two bonus. He’s turning into a reliable FPL performer in home matches, scoring or assisting 50 per cent of Leicester City’s goals.

I managed to get 60 points in Gameweek 9

A Gameweek score of 60 leaves me with an overall rank of 52,895. Importantly, just 19 points off top 10k.

As focus now turns to Gameweek 10, I’m largely happy with my squad after last week’s surgery, with no immediate urge to use any chips, which are all still intact.

In terms of captaincy, it’s hard to look past Manchester City assets. Whilst Aston Villa have improved in recent weeks, I still have concerns teams can pass through their lines too easily, something I see Man City exploiting.

My current choice for the armband is Raheem Sterling (£12.1m), unstoppable against Atalanta midweek, and described by Pep Guardiola post-match as ‘extraordinary’.

Have I considered anyone else outside of Man City? Not really, though Vardy is an intriguing option against a leaky Southampton defence.

Here’s how we’re currently setup…

How I intend to line-up for Gameweek 10

Though I will likely roll a transfer this week, one player piqued my interest over the weekend.

Since coming into the starting eleven in place of Neil Taylor (£4.5m) in Gameweek 7, Matt Targett (£4.4m, 0.6% ownership) has scored one, assisted another with five bonus, returning an impressive 24 points. That deserves attention.

I was also encouraged by Everton’s 2-0 win over West Ham. The new midfield pairing of André Gomes (£5.3m), making his first start since Gameweek 4) and Tom Davies (£5.3m), making his first league start of the season) dominated the midfield, pressing well whilst comfortable in possession.

Both players deserve credit for their performances, whilst Alex Iwobi (£5.8m, playing as a 10) and Richarlison (£7.9m) could yet become Fantasy options.

That being said, like Manchester United, I still have concerns about Everton and their ability to break down teams playing a low block. The Brighton game should give us further clues as to whether Everton have turned a corner.

Also, a quick word on Lucas Digne (£6.0m), who was busy doing Lucas Digne type things, creating four chances and spending most of the game in the opposition’s half.  Have a look at the Average Positions map below – he’s the no 12, right up behind Bernard (no 20).

Everton’s average position map from Gameweek 9

Going forward, I hope you enjoy reading these articles as part of Fantasy Football Scout’s Pro Pundits squad and get a bit of insight into how I play the game. Thanks for reading… until next time.

Tom Freeman comes onto the team to make most of us feel wildly insecure about our overall rank history. A long-time Fantasy Football Scout user, he has finished inside the top 1,000 a staggering five times since 2009.

341 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play 2 of

    A. Rico
    B. Yarmo
    C. Lund
    D. Tomori

    1. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Top of the page? Oh hell no!

    2. Cto
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Difficult one indeed. I think I’d go Tomori, Yarmo

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lund Yarmo

  2. AFC49
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any ideas for this team?

    Pope
    Otamendi, Soyuncu, Tomori, Robbo
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, McGinn
    Auba, Abraham

    Button, Lundstram, Dendoncker, Greenwood

    1FT, 1.6 ITB

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

      I think save FT is fair

  3. Cto
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    0.1m shirt of switching Mahrez to KDB.

    Any thoughts on what to do? 1FT 1.4ITB

    Ryan
    Soyuncu Otamendi Alonso
    Sterling Mane Mount Mahrez
    Wilson Abraham Jimenez

    Lundstram, Cantwell, Kelly

    Thanks in advance

    1. Mayor of Flair
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Get rid of Ota for someone 0.1 cheaper

      1. Cto
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I don’t want to touch Ota. I think he’s starting and can score against weaker sides at home. But thanks 🙂

        1. Mayor of Flair
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Maybe downgrade Cantwell in that case?

        2. The Count of Monte Cristo
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          If one has both Digne and Otamendi, who would you drop if you hadto drop one?

          1. Scholes Out For Summer
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Ota

  4. Kuzser
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2ft, but not sure what to do this week..triple Leicester or Chelsea looks excessive, MU is a trap...

    Any ideas? 
    1) Son pukki-> Vardy 7.3 mid (madison/ james/CHO/gross)
    2) Son pukki Ota-> dilva vardy 5.2def for -4 Go wild with City for next 2
    3) Son Ota-> dilva + 6.5def
    3) son Firmino-> mane Jimenez

    Pope 
    Ota Taa Lundstram
    KDB Mount Son Sterling 
    Pukki Abraham Firmino

    Button. Saka, Soy, Hanley

  5. LarryJunior
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    In terms of planning for transfers the next weeks and starting GW13 with three Pool-players (already on TAA):
    A: Salah,Mane + 4.5 attacker
    B: Mane, Firmino + 7,3 midfielder

  6. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Martial starts.

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Typical Ole

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Understandable as he needs match fitness

        1. Flaming Flamingo
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Could have just brought him off the bench. He has a history of starting players just back from injury unnecessarily and I'm not sure it's wise to have a very injury prone player who's just returning play Thursday-Sunday.

  7. Pdrpro
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What do I do here?

    Heaton

    TAA Digne Lundstrum

    Mane Son KDB Mount

    Pukki Abraham Vardy

    Button---Rico---Soyuncu---Hayden

    0.2 ITB, got priced out of Pukki--->Jimenez by 0.1

    Could take a -4 and change Pukki and Son? But to who?

    D.Silva and Rashford perhaps?

    Thoughts?

    1. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Save it this week, or Son to Dilva could make sense.

  8. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Just realised I've only captained midfielders so far this year.

    Anyone else done the same?

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nope, only two for me. How many points do you have from your captain picks?

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not great!

        From most recent to GW1:

        5, 2, 3, 17, 2, 3, 8, 6, 12

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Wilson last week.

      Never again

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Luckily, there were a lot of misses for the armband last GW.

  9. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Manchester United: Sergio Romero, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Phil Jones, Harry Maguire (C), Marcos Rojo, Brandon Williams, James Garner, Scott McTominay, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial.

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

      Lmao

      1. Maddamotha
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Hilarous innit

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      James Garner - a true maverick.

    3. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Who is Williams and Garner?

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The latest in the production line from the Man U reserve team that got obliterated by Villa reserves and Fulham reserves last season. Think of Greenwood and Chong but worse (hard, I know)

  10. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Jimenez starts for Wolves. Martial starts for Utd.

  11. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Long term taking everything into consideration

    Mane or Aguero?

    1. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mane.

  12. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is Yarmolenko > Hudson-Odoi worth doing or is it worth giving Yarmo one more week?
    Been a let down so far and worried about loosing value on him

    1. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Prob a good move...I would save and do next week with 2ft's, if owning Mount and Tammy. I would prob go ahead and make the move if I only had 1 Chelsea attacker.

      1. JELLYFISH
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I have Tammy but not amount.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'd keep yarmolenko for next 2 great fixtures

  13. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play Soy or Lunnstrum?

    Currently on Lunn

    1. mazkills
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Lunn should play

    2. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Why cant people spell his name.

  14. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play 2?

    A) Montoya (EVE)
    B) Tomori (bur)
    C) Lundstram (whu)

  15. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Feel like my team is standing still, how to get points coming again?

    Pope (Button)
    TAA, Otamendi, Lundstram (Söyüncü , Rico)
    Mane, Sterling, KDB, Mount (Cantwell)
    Haller, Tammy, Wilson

    1 FT, 0.3 in the bank

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Good team. In fairness, most "good" teams have been standing still. Perhaps Haller to , Jiminez or Wood? But no real surgery needed

    2. AuFeld
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Roll the FT. It's possible that a lot of your players could return points for you this week.

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers!

  16. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Best move here lads?

    A) Zinch -> Lundy/Tomori
    B) Zinch -> Otamendi/Maguire
    C) Zinch & Pukki -> Robbo & Ings
    D) Zinch & Pukki -> Otamendi & Jimenez

    Ryan
    TAA, Digne, Boly
    Salah, Sterling, Mount, Cantwell
    Wilson, Abraham, Pukki

    Button, Soyuncu, Deondocker, Zinchenko
    Bank 0.4m, 2FT, WC available

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      i think D. recognize that questions about Ata swirl around here, but when he plays he offers attacking potential and is in MC defense. I prefer Jiminez to Ings as well.

  17. Nailed Jesus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    The consensus on here is benching Soy(sou) over Lund(whu)?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Both teams likely to concede, one is a midfielder...

      Go with your gut

  18. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Son and Pukki -> D.Silva and Vardy?
    Yes / No?

    1. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      for free or a hit? if free then yes if a hit then just the first transfer

  19. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Any updates on Bernardo Silva one? Cant find any on the web

    1. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      nothing yet

  20. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looking for a differential to replace McGinn up to 6.7m. Which of these options sounds the best?
    A) Gross/Trossard
    B) Zaha
    C) Iwobi
    D) Tielemans (bit less of a differential as such but looks a good option)

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tielemans is a good differential. No one owns him and overlooked

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Might not be the best week to bring in a LEI player. Four goals so far this season when playing away. That being said, he'll probably get a brace.

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Gross for next 2 could be good

    3. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Personally I don't like any of those. Trossard is great usually, but not sure if he'll play and stay injury free.
      How about James? (great fixtures) Odoi?

  21. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Start which one of these?
    A) Boly (new)
    B) Willems (WOL)

    Who to have first on bench?
    1) Boly / Willems (depending on above)
    2) Rico (wat)

    Willems actually beats Boly on most stats and NEW at home should be a decent defensive prospect with the added potential of runs down the left wing. Because of this I am leaning towards starting Willems but can't decide between Rico and Boly first on bench - Rico maybe?

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Willems > Rico > Boly for this week

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Nice one Sunny. Cheers

  22. andres
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Last call for the below... would prefer to keep both mane and salah but want KDB.. what do you guys think?

    Pope
    TAA Soy Lund
    Mane Salah Mount Madds
    Abraham Vardy Wilson

    Cantwell, Kelly, Pieters. 1 ITB

    A salah => kdb
    B salah, madds => kdb, dilva (-4)
    C Madds, Wilson => kdb, 6.0M striker (-4)

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A. No need for a hit

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        This. Hits are so costly this season.

      2. andres
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        yeah that is true... however, tempted by C. Salah and Mane can do some damage and I already own them.. would be a shame to miss out

  23. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So are they going to announce the BSilva ban or it's a waste of time speculating and waiting?

    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Who knows at this point, feels like it's been dragging on forever.

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Clutching at straws. Does not look like a ban is coming.

      If it was that urgent he would have been banned already.

      1. AuFeld
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        A bit presumptuous.

      2. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah agreed. It's Mahrez bugging me, he is a waste of space and money if he doesnt start 2 in a row.

  24. Pedersen
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Play
    A: Rico
    B: Soyu

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Rico

  25. Flaming Flamingo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    The lack of a Bernardo Silva update is annoying. Not sure it's wise ditching Mahrez with a ban still potentially looming, but equally keeping him could come at a cost this week if he doesn't start again.

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Do you own Mahrez? Are u keeping if nothing comes out?

      1. Flaming Flamingo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I do own him, but I haven't decided what I'd do with him yet. I'd either keep him or upgrade to KDB most likely. Yourself?

        1. ZeBestee
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          If Mahrez starts, then that transfer out will be painful.

  26. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Cantwell to dilva yay or nay to give me

    Pope
    Taa Lund Rico
    Salah sterling (c) kdb dilva Cho
    Abraham jimi

    Button tomori soyuncu greenwood

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

      I tripled up with CHO, Mount, Abraham. Too much good value to ignore considering fixtures and offensive playstyle

  27. mccormibar
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Which one to play out of Soyuncu (sou) and Tomori (bur)

    I’m thinking it’s a literal coin toss here.

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

      I would Soy if i had that choice. Have no trust in chelsea defense

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I would play Tomori. I think Southampton will score at home to Leicester

    3. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Read somewhere that Saints had scored in every home game since Hasenhuttl took charge.

    4. ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Play Tomori

    5. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Tomori is likely to be my first sub soy 2nd

  28. TH
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope
    Lund/TAA/Boly
    Mane/Dilva/De Bruyne/Mount
    Wilson/Tammy/Vardy

    Dunk/DenD/Kelly

    Dunk in for someone or keep current defence?
    Not comfortable without Kun/Sterling but we will see....

  29. Origal73
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Which 2 to start?
    1) Rico (wat)
    2) Soy (sou)
    3) Tomori (but).

    Leaning towards 1 and 2 both will appreciate any thoughts.

    1. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      1 and 3 for me

      1. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        yep 1 and 3 for me

    2. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      1.3

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'm playing 1 myself
      Unsure of 2.
      Dont have 3.

  30. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    A. Sterling + Wood
    B. Dilva + Rash

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      A