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

    Pope
    TAA, Lascelles, Lundstram, Rico
    Mane, KDB, Mount
    Aguero(c), Aubameyang, Pukki

    Button, Saka, Cantwell, Mings

    2 FT, 0.0 ITB

    A) Mings & Pukki > Webster & Jimenez
    B) Cantwell & Pukki > CHO & Connolly
    C) Cantwell, Mount & Pukki > D. Silva, CHO & Connolly - 4

    Thanks in advance

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

      A or B, keep Mount

  2. John Colby (Capt)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which do you think is the best strategy for this week please:

    A). Son + Lanzini out for KDB + Hudson-Odoi (no hits with Son due back in GW 12 and one of Sterling or KDB transferred out)
    Or
    B). Son + Lanzini + Buendia out for KDB + Martial + 4.5 midfielder who has to play (for a hit of -4).
    I'm thinking A just see how Martial goes on his comeback but I'm not keen on a Hudson-Odoi and Abraham Chelsea double-up. B is tempting but there's little options around a playing 4.5m midfielder. I've given up on Lanzini but those next 2 fixtures look good for him.

  3. Al-Chemy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Spent so long trying to tinker with this team and contemplate hits. Should I just roll the transfer or try and sort out the Son/Cantwell/Aurier situation?

    Pope
    TAA Lunds Soy Ota
    Sterling Son Mount
    Aguero Tammy Wilson

    Bench: Heaton, Aurier, Cantwell

  4. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Jamie O’Hara saying Kane will never go to United cause he wants to win trophies is so true! Why on earth would Kane go to united to be mid table?

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

      To get the same salary to Pogba 😀

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        He can get at winning sides

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

          I doubt it

  5. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    City more likely in PL. any top side on the continent in CL even more realistic.

  6. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    @Scouts

    Am I supposed to be able to read the whole article?

    Theres and orang banner halfway down suggesting the article is for paying members only - i can read the lot still.

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

      If youve read it all youll have to be shot

    2. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You should be able to read most of it, but only members can see Targett's Heat Map, and a stats table comparing him to other defenders over the last three weeks.