Pro Pundits

Learning from a disastrous start to the FPL season

“Failure is rich in learning opportunities for a simple reason: in many of its guises, it represents a violation of expectation. It is showing us that the world is in some sense different from the way we imagined it to be.” – Matthew Syed, Black Box Thinking

It feels a bit paradoxical to be writing this under the guise of a Pro Pundit. I’m currently sat at 1,675, 335 in the world, the lowest rank I have ever had in my 13 seasons of playing.

I certainly don’t feel like a ‘Pro’ at this point in time.

I’m being burned my poor decisions, bad planning and over-complicating Fantasy Premier League as I chase shadows and try to claw my way up the ladder.

In some ways, my poor season helps me write these articles. It would be difficult to write a series on learning from mistakes if I was sat snugly in the top 10k after all.

The blinking red light sat atop my black box is a constant reminder that I need to learn from my errors and start to do things differently.

But first, I need to address the fundamental mistakes that I’ve made to get me to this point.

The wheels came off my season in Gameweek 5, and I haven’t been able to get them back on.

This was the week I left Teemu Pukki (£6.9m) on the bench when he hauled against Man City. I instead played Jack O’Connell (£4.5m) at home to Southampton.

It’s easy to look back and say, “well that was a bad decision” – but let’s consider why exactly it was such a bad move.

Okay, I felt like Sheffield United had a decent chance of a clean sheet.  I was hopeful of six to nine points for O’Connell.

But.

Pukki was playing Man City, who had just lost Aymeric Laporte (£6.3m) to a nasty injury. Norwich were scoring goals for fun and Pukki was in great form. His ownership was at around 40%.

As a forward, it’s hard to put an upper limit on their potential, but really, I should have put his ceiling in the double digits with all the factors considered. Essentially, I risked a defender (historically low-ceiling) over an in-form striker, up against a makeshift defence (high-ceiling). I tried to be too clever, and it failed miserably.

Lessons: Consider the ceiling of players before making a decision, defenders are likely to score fewer points than forwards. Don’t bench in-form forwards. Use information from team camps to aid decisions.

This is basic stuff, Az.

I did not make enough changes on my Wildcard – while Aubameyang failed to deliver

From Gameweek 5 I struggled to stop the rot, so in Gameweek 8 I played the Wildcard to try and get ahead of the curve.

A few weeks before, I had belittled Joe for taking all of the “wild” out of a Wildcard. Perhaps this influenced my thinking. I made a number of bad decisions here, of which I am now paying the price.

In total, I made six changes on my wildcard, with only three players from the team that lined up in Gameweek 7 leaving my team. Straight away, this seems questionable. I obviously had faith in the core players in my team, so why did I Wildcard?

The main reason was for a switch in formation. Strikers were performing well, and I moved on Pierre-Emeric Aubameyang (£11.1m). I can’t beat myself up over the choice of striker, he had scored points in every game up until this point. Arsenal were ticking over in the league (although they did look a bit suspect). However, the manner in which I got him raised a few eyebrows.

Gone was Mohamed Salah (£12.4m), leaving me with no Liverpool attackers. My reasoning was they were about to hit a tricky run of fixtures and I wasn’t going to captain their assets.

However, I had said a few days before that Manchester City and Liverpool were leagues apart of other teams in the division. Going with no Reds attackers has left we incredibly stressed watching their matches. Normally a sign there’s something not quite right with how your team is set up.

On the flip side, I’ve felt stressed watching Arsenal play because I know, for my team, the pressure is on Aubameyang to deliver. The chances of the Gabonese international blanking while Liverpool overcame their ‘tricky’ run was not set in stone. It wasn’t worth the risk. Relying on Liverpool assets to blank and Arsenal attackers to haul, in light of both last season and this season, isn’t logical. It was a poor move – perhaps justifiable if I had the faith to captain Aubameyang during his easier games – but I didn’t.

Even with Aubameyang scoring in every game leading up to my ownership, I still didn’t even consider him for the armband. This should have been a warning.

Lessons learned: Teams like Liverpool and City need to be considered differently to others in the league. Their players don’t have “bad” fixtures. Liverpool attackers in particular are assured of starts, return almost every week, and a loss or a blank would be a major shock. For other teams, it is expected. Think twice before selling players from these sides.

With that said, at least there was some method in the madness. But with my other two major decisions on the wildcard, I am really struggling to see the logic.

Out went Kevin de Bruyne (£10.1m) despite being given information that he was only going to miss one Gameweek. I took a punt on Riyad Mahrez (£8.4m) thinking Bernardo Silva (£7.9m) would get a ban and he’d represent good value for money. What a short-term move. I’d always want de Bruyne back. Effectively I sold the best performing player in the game for a one week “punt” on someone who isn’t even first choice.

Lessons learned: Consider the long-term potential of transfers. Don’t give yourself a transfer to make down the line if you can afford it. Avoid players who aren’t first choice when everyone is fit. There’s a reason they aren’t playing.

I was recently priced out of being able to sign Vardy

And then comes my biggest regret of the season. One of the other reasons for the Wildcard was to get ahead of the curve with Leicester. In came the top-scoring defender in the game at the time, Ricardo Pereria (£6.1m), after a check of his stats vs. Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) and I made sure to leave £2.0m in the bank to do Pukki to Jamie Vardy (£9.2m) after Pukki’s appealing fixture at home to Villa (which they lost 5-1).

I am a firm believer in banking a transfer after a Wildcard. In my view, your team should be set up for at least a few weeks, and only injuries and/or suspensions should influence your decisions.

But, once again, I was blighted by short-term potential. Pukki had Villa at home, Vardy had Liverpool away. I was fearful of a Pukki haul. I decided that I would give Pukki the home game and then move on Vardy.

Both players blanked. Not a disaster. But then Vardy went up in price unexpectedly and I was priced out of the move. I was left with £2.0m in the bank, an out of form Pukki, and my plan to get Vardy went up in smoke.

I was left ruing my decision to go for a £4.5m midfielder (Bukayo Saka) over a £4.3m or £4.4m option who would have given me a bit of leeway in case of any fluctuations in the market.

I think this is a good opportunity to consider, what do you think a free transfer is worth? If I had gone with Vardy straight away, and Pukki had got 10 points – I would have been annoyed that Gameweek.

But then, I would have gone into the next Gameweek with two free transfers, the striker I wanted in the long run, and a way of correcting any potential Mahrez / KDB or Aubameyang / Salah or Mané regret. I personally think this is worth 10 points.

Instead, I moved Pukki on for a player I didn’t really want in Callum Wilson (£8.0m), who went on to blank against Norwich and Watford. Vardy, meanwhile, averaged 15 points in the next two games. A painful lesson.

Lessons learned: Don’t give yourself transfers to make. Allow yourself room for flexibility. If taking punts, have a way out. Don’t dig yourself into a corner. Back the players you want, don’t buy players you don’t have faith in.

I sold Mount for Hudson-Odoi ahead of Gameweek 10

And now we are approaching Gameweek 11 and it doesn’t look like I’ve learned from these mistakes. Last week, I let go of Mason Mount (£6.9m), one of my only decent players (points-wise) for yet another punt… Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m).

While this move was necessary to correct my Mahrez mistake, I do now wonder if I have made the error of buying in a player very at risk of rotation, at the expense of someone in form, in the same team, who has his position locked down.

It will be a painful reminder once again if I have to sheepishly buy Mount back at £0.4m more than I paid for him. However, I’m going to stand by this decision this time.

Hudson-Odoi had, arguably, been Chelsea’s best attacker over the previous few weeks. Christian Pulisic (£7.1m) was out of favour. No one could have predicted he’d get a hat-trick (and Willian (£7.0m) would score too!).

If Hudson-Odoi does end up on the bench in the foreseeable future, I do believe this is just one of those things that happens – rather than being a particularly bad decision. Time will tell if I regret it, I’m sticking with him for now.

Buying Hudson-Odoi will unlikely be picked up by the Black Box if it fails… but selling Mount… well, I can already feel myself writing this up with a sense of bitterness.

But that’s enough self-reflection. Onwards we go as we catapult towards Gameweek 11. My team is not how I want it, I’m worried about not owning numerous, in form, highly owned players and equally not confident about my own misfiring boys. Another hit has already been taken to bring in Vardy for Wilson, to correct the biggest regret of my FPL career to date.

Trying to plan ahead, I’ve toyed with the idea of selling Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) next week for Sadio Mané (£11.9m) as City’s fixtures turn. Having written this article, I’m feeling much less inclined to make this move. Hey, maybe these articles are helpful after all…

Here is how I currently plan to line-up in Gameweek 11

Lessons learned from Gameweek 10

Az <p>One half of the FPL BlackBox YouTube series with Mark Sutherns.</p><p>Former Membership Strategy Manager for FFS&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

374 Comments Post a Comment
  1. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Best option for next 3 gameweeks

    A: Digne + Martial + Rashford
    B: Lascelles + Vardy + Rashford

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

      B . No need double up Utd

      1. Murder On Zidanesfloor
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        No need to get United at all. Scored less goals than burney and villa

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Different kettle of fish lately with the last two performances and with Martial back. Young team and they thrive on confidence and two good performances should bring that (not a UTD fan)

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

          Albeit with a pop gun of an attack for six games....as a United fan I remain deeply unconvinced re: Martial but he has three goals in the four full games he has completed..accept the team almost completely toothless in the fixtures when absent...

        3. kraftwerker
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It really can't be underestimated how different a proposition Utd are in attack with Martial in the side. They actually have a focal point who can hold the ball with his back to goal and link up play, allowing them to put more sustained pressure on teams. Helps get the best out of Rashford too. I don't know about doubling up but I'd definitely want one of them.

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

    1 FT
    Should I
    Wilson to Rashford or roll FT?

    Thanks.

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

      Considering the same, but am waiting for injury news on Salah to take the decision.

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

        Will u do if salah is fine?

  3. mattyb09
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Small sample size...but has Cancelo been the more attacking City back?

    Last 2 gameweeks:

    Cancelo - 3 shots 2 SOG 6 crosses 4 chances created 1 big chance (GW 8 stats: 2 shots 0 SOG 6 crosses 1 chance created 1 big chance)
    Mendy - 2 shots 0 SOG 7 crosses 2 chances created 0 big chances

    ...At the very least he has matched Mendy for 0.6 less.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah it's close but Cancelo has a direct replacement in Walker but Zin is injured so Mendy seems nailed

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

    Any advice here?

    Have 2FT's/0.3 ITB

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

    Would like to do one of these moves ( don't mind the hit ), but which?

    A) Pukki -> Maupay
    B) Pukki, Otamendi -> Maupay, Mendy
    C) Pukki, Otamendi, Hayden -> Connolley, Tomori, Martial (-4)
    D) Pukki, Otamendi, Hayden -> Ayew, Janmaat, Martial (-4)

    1. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      C/D 50/50

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

        Leaning towards C

  5. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lol, been away from the site for three years, come back to ask a question. End up on the bottom of the page, and a bunch of new posts appear on the next immediately.

    Yeah, just remembered why

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Welcome back Judge!

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Wow! Its almost like FFS has an engaged and eager community!

    3. Party time
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Inmate?

    4. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Radical moves here...Thoughts? Have exact money to pull it off.

      OUT: Aguero/Maddison/Wilson/Dendonk
      IN: Vardy/Sterling/Greenwood/Yarmolenko

      -8

      New formation: 3-5-2.

      I have KDB, Mane, TAA, Tammy, Mount still.

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

        I like it. Yes, go for it

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

        No

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks both...of course, I get 2 diff responses. Jarv, can u explain why youd object? The minus 8, the players involved?

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

            Well, it's your team so you can do what you like, but for starters I wouldn't get rid of Aguero before Southampton at home, regardless of the hit.

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yes, of course I can do what I like, but I'm on here asking opinions, lol! Anywho, I agree, that losing Kun for that match could hurt...but his benching 2 weeks in a row (I only owned him for 1) sure is strange and disheartening. But I do have KDB at least, and I'd have Sterling too for a hit...so, I dont think Id be without ample 'coverage'. I made an error selecting Kun on WC. He's clearly going to play less than last season in the Prem.

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

                Yeah, I think next week is the week to get rid of Aguero though. Vardy anytime scorer odds of 5/4 even with the "mug punter" bias of him just doesn't scream "must buy at any cost" for this week.

                1. Yank Revolution
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  I hear you. Thanks for the feedback.

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

      Is this worth -4 by any chance?

      Mane King ➡ Sterling(c) Vardy

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

        Not for me. Losing Mane could backfire

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

        Mane out?
        Hell nawwww

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

          But sterling fear is traumatizing me

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

            honestly, if I didn't have him at this point I'd avoid.
            Fixtures turn nasty after Southampton.

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Sure liv is a rough one, but CHE, new, bur dont look bad to me!

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

              Az, didn't you just say in that article "Liverpool and City should be judged differently?"

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

        King to Vardy

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

          Not enough funds innit

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

      Great to see so much discussion on my article guys, and thanks for all the positive feedback - means a lot!
      Will be back in 2 weeks to talk about the new mess I've likely gone and got myself in to...

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

        Thanks for the very good article, Az.
        Don't be too hard on yourself. We've all made a lot of decisions that seemed right at the time only for them to not work out this season.
        On we go...

      2. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        good read Az. Q: ur thoughts on this move Kun+Cantwell to Raz+ Connolly for a hit ? Raz along side KDB and Dilva as i believe this trio is most nailed and can score against any team

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

        Your point re: Liverpool assets is interesting, we've only scored 8 goals in 5 gameweeks so the logic is sound, maybe just the wrong replacements!

    7. OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Abraham worth keeping? Have Mount.

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

        yes. He is assured of starts in an attacking team.

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

        I'm considering selling him for vardy for -4. Could be a shocking call if abraham does anything at all. But his fixtures are not all that good

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

      Great article.

      It does feel like you are more critical about your older decisions than your more recent ones. Seems as though you guve yourself a lit more lee way for the hudson odoi decision than for the mahrez call. I feel that they are similar decisions but in different price brackets.

      The mahrez transfer only seems much worse several weeks on.

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

        Interesting.
        Hudson-Odoi is quite a lot cheaper though and seemed to be first choice after 2 successive starts. His rest was unfortunate but its the explosion of Pulisic and Willian in that game which is the concern.
        Gotta hope thats just a phase and 'CHO' will be back soon.

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

          Good point, although he hadn't even got a fulll 90 PL minutes under his belt until gameweek 9. Feels to me like he was as much of a gamble in terms of starts as mahrez, who was on fire leading up to your wildcard.

          I do think he looks good amd lampard will try to help him get in the team. At the price he is worth holding - unlike mahrez! I guess the price does make a big difference to the post-rationalising!

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

          Ceballos 'exploded' against Burnley - since then?
          Pulisic scored the three against Burnley, but his stats from Dortmund don't exactly say 'wow'. Sustainable???

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

      This is probably wasteful but 2 defenders I want for good fixtures coming up are Chilwell and Lundstram. Got 2 free transfers and can just afford doing Otamendi to Chilwell and Söyüncü to Lundstram
      (don’t want double Leicester defence). Would give me team below- yes or no?

      Pope
      TAA Lundstram Chilwell
      Salah Sterling KDB Mount
      Abraham Vardy

      McGovern Rico Diop Greenwood

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

        I'd just do ota>chilwell and keep the double leicester defence. Fixtures are great

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

          Thanks- cannot afford that unfortunately-

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

        Do it.

      3. All de Gea no iDier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Chilwell is only being talked about after last the GW. He won't do that every week so stick with Soyuncu who gets just the same CS points for less money.

        Lundstram is arguably now over priced compared to Rico, Targett and possibly chambers if he holds his position. And the Blades have three difficult fixtures coming up.

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

      KDB & Sterling
      or
      Salah & Mane

      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        kdb + mane if u must but why not have three of those

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

        Salah and mane

    11. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Auba to vardy
      Mahrez to martial
      Both or none?

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

        I would do both

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

        Both

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

        Both

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

      A) otamendi > chilwell
      B) otamendi + abraham > rico + vardy

      Either way, I think i need to get rid of otamendi for the comfort that I have at least three starting defenders!

      Current team:

      Pope (McGovern)
      Otamendi, TAA, tomori (montoya, kelly)
      Salah, sterling, son, mount (cantwell)
      Maupay, Abraham, Jimenez

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

        Son to KDB - does that give you enough for Otamendi to a Sheff Utd defender, or Lascelles for a punt?

    13. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Should I use my wild card to replace the team below? Or take -4 hit to get rid of aguero for vardy?

      Pope / Heaton

      Digne / otamendi / soyuncu / Lundstram/ Rico

      Salah / mount / Traoré / KDB / Son

      Aguero / haller / 4.5

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

        neither

        1. Party time
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Neal

          • Party time
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Neal or Neil?

          • MikeBravo
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Wait till international break in a couple of weeks

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

          Loving these articles.

          Iv brought in Auba as part of a - 8 and I'm struggling to know why I did it tbh.

          I have Vardy and Tammy so whom I can I really swap him out to? And iv no Pool attacking player...

          1. All de Gea no iDier
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Auba > Connolly and pump the money into a Salah or Mane.

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

            Stick with Auba for now...

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

            did you bring Auba in this week?
            Now thats brave

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

          What are wilson owners doing? Newcastle game looks tempting and man utd can find ways to offer goals.

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

            Getting fitted for wigs having ripped all their hair out

        4. Any Laporte in a Storm
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Az, nice article. I can't believe you still don't have a Liverpool attacker and have two prem forwards. IMO, not a good decision. Get Auba out and Mane in.

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

            I know bud.
            Trouble is their price. 12m is a hefy amount, especially when I'm rocking Sterling / KDB / Vardy.

            Even if I dropped Auba, I've still got to find nearly a million to get Mane - and that would mean going with a 4.6 forward - of which only Connolley fits the bill - which means little flexibility and a strong potential he'll get dropped / rested now that Trossards back.

            A tough one indeed! I'll probably look at downgrading Perreria in a few weeks and having a bit of a switcharoo.

            1. Any Laporte in a Storm
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Yeah, fair enough. Never a great feeling having such a low-priced forward in your line up. I forget Mane's price has jacked up recently. Will be interesting to hear how you get on!

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

          This is possibly the greatest article I have ever read on FFS! I have done EXACTLY the same mistakes. Aubameyang, dropping Vardy, the Hudson Odoi punt, Pukki, a terrible wildcard that made things worse - all of it, and I am at around 3 millionth in the league. The only thing I did differently (and worse) was bet the house on Kane v Newcastle, when he blanked!! I feel so much better I'm not alone, let's kick the season off again right now!

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

            Thanks Lord Voldemort!
            I think we can all feel a bit alone and isolated when we are down the lower echelons of the rankings, but there will always be other managers in our position!
            I have no doubt that there is plenty of time left to correct our mistakes and finish respectably.

            Thanks for reading and the praise! 🙂

        6. CroatianHammer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Only getting to read this now AZ. An excellent dissection of your moves.

          For my part I've blanked badly with moves for Pepe (shipped out one week later and no regrets since), who then became Martial (injured that week) and who then became James (effective blanks until GW10, where he was on my bench as 3rd sub).

          I've taken the advice of the podcast this season. Playing the fixture as much as the player where needed. It's what put me on track for Vardy against Newcastle. I came up trumps that week. That he's the statbuster was the clincher.

          I've Ceballos and Saka too, the latter is fine for his price but the former is losing value and likely going out for GW12. Should tonight's cup game provide other information I might even take my first hit of the season and bring in someone from Leicester or Chelsea instead of the Gunner.

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

            Thanks Croatianhammer 🙂

            Great move getting Vardy, Pepe was a bit of a wild punt for 9 million, but very unlucky with Martial.

            I also fell into the Ceballos trap, really thought he'd nail down a number 10 role - but looks a bit part player, which frankly astounds me. Trouble is he's not delivering when he does start. I'd say he definitely needs to go.

        7. FPL Ron Manager
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Your team is far from being disastrous, although I can easily imagine now possessing attacking Liverpool players would make watching their games an uncomfortable experience. The volume of goals they're scoring might not be massively high right now, the activity of TAA with the chances he is providing means that if they have a match where suddenly a lot of those chances are converted into goals, then not having Salah/Mane could become very unpleasant.

          I'm inclined to feel that I wouldn't want to be swapping around Liverpool and City players at the premium level unless one of them was injured for a period of time longer than two gameweeks or one of their colleagues was going through a serious purple patch. For me, KDB and Sterling are essential and for me, I have gone with Salah on the Liverpool side, along with TAA.

          I sometimes think times like this where you might be having a tougher time means it can be helpful to have a second team, such as for a zombie league perhaps. If you have at least a team performing well, even if it isn't your "preferred" team, it can help you feel a bit better and perhaps see things with a bit more clarity where things are going well for you in the other team. You can then try to implement that into your main team to try and lift you up the overall rankings and mini-leagues.

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

            Thanks Ron.

            I do play goalscorer challenge which I enjoy, as well as my draft team. Draft team going pretty badly but at least GSC isn't a disaster!

            1. FPL Ron Manager
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              I created a team for a small week 1 challenge off Twitter and that team is currently inside the top 7k! I didn't make any changes to it from week 5 until last Friday where I brought in some Leicester players, which gave me a gw score of 80. Hopefully I won't ruin it by paying it too much attention!

              I wasn't going to spend much time, if any, on the team once the initial challenge had been done, but having seen how well it's doing I want to see if I can keep it in the top 10k.

              My main team got 70 points and I think is looking good for the next few gw's. I'm really pleased I brought in Connolly for his 8 points and I'm optimistic he can do something for me against Norwich too. A nice little differential in a fairly attacking team with a decent defence. Although I don't really have anywhere to go with him if he stops playing, I was playing a two striker formation anyway, but more than happy to go with three up front with Connolly for the time being. With Vardy, Abraham, Mount, Salah, Sterling, and De Bruyne I feel very confident of my chances of another good haul this weekend.

        8. Forza Napoli
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Great article! Have to confess I moved CHO in last week, and have moved him straight back out for a more sure thing in David Silva. We'll see how that works out 😐

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

            sounds good to me... wish I could make that move!

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

            Same

        9. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Hey Az,
          Enjoyed that read in a sadistic way, it just goes to show how easy it is to make avoidable mistakes in this game. Hope you turn it around with some better decisions and a dose of old fashioned good luck!