Pro Pundits

Why chasing the fixtures with the FPL ‘big hitters’ is a strategy to consider

In our latest Pro Pundits article, Lateriser12 – who has overall ranks of 77th and 189th to his name examines how premium and popular attacking options fare against defences of varying abilities.


I’m not so sure I’ve ever had a ‘strategy’ going into a season of Fantasy Premier League. It’s such a dynamic game. What is gold today is garbage tomorrow. That said, I’ve been intending to play this phase of the season with a loose strategy in mind (which I will talk about in the latter half of the article).

One of the biggest mistakes a Fantasy manager can make is being stubborn about picking sides, establishing rules and taking oaths to not do certain things during a season because of, you know, ego. I made the mistake of calling out a rule in my last article: “never captain a defender”. My good friend and old FFS poster, The Light Knight (proponent of big at the back more than five years ago) correctly pointed out that Sir Aleksandar Kolarov and Sir Leighton Baines have been an exception to this in the past.

I’ve been banging on about Sadio Mane (£11.9m) over Mohamed Salah (£12.4m) (play with #NoFoMo) since pre-season. That said, I would be stupid to say that Mane will continue to outperform Salah throughout the season. It might or might not happen, there is no way to tell. Salah could very much hit form of two years ago. The FPL manager that wins will be the one that spots the form and formation shift early and acts on it quickly. Or the one that ends up going with both. At the moment, I’m 50-50 between both.

Anyway, let’s come back to strategy. Before the season started, I always thought there are way too many big hitters this season. I was fully expecting a brutal season with lots of huge point swings (38k to 168k for me this week and I’m still looking to save). I didn’t think this would be a season for the faint-hearted.

Thankfully, the Chelsea assets showed up and offered tremendous value which nullified the swings to a certain extent. I tried fitting as many big hitters as I could into my Wildcard in Gameweek 3. My most expensive defender in Gameweek 3 was Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m). Going without Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) was an error I very quickly corrected in Gameweek 5. Being stubborn will gain you nothing; correct your errors as soon as you realize it’s an error.

Somewhere around Gameweek 5, I realised that there is potential to play this phase of the game keeping a loose strategy in mind. It was very difficult to fit in a lot of big hitters in one team. I did realise though that there were a lot of buy-and-forget players that could form the base of a team for a very long time. Just because of the value they offer, players like Alexander-Arnold, John Lundstram (£4.7m), Diego Rico (£4.2m), Caglar Soyuncu (£4.7m), Mason Mount (£6.9m), Tammy Abraham (£7.8m), and now Jack Grealish (£5.9m) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (£6.0m) are few of the many that could just stay in your team for ages. That would allow you to switch your premiums on a regular basis.

A couple of moves I’ve made recently were done keeping this in mind. Three of my last four transfers in were Jimenez, Abraham and Anthony Martial (£7.6m). I went with Jimenez over Wilson in particular because Jimenez was a much longer-term pick compared to Wilson, which loosely allowed me to pursue my big hitter switching strategy. Martial was also done with a long-term view to fund Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m).

Now when it comes to premiums, the big hitters, the crème-de-la-crème, people get really worried to shift them out and rightly so. The assumption and thinking is that the big guns are fixture-proof. They will perform in every game.

The second problem with switching big hitters is price. If you get onto a premium option early and his price escalates, you lose value when you sell. Fair point, but also one that restricts you in my opinion. Losing value equates to you finding a Hudson-Odoi over a Mount at a later stage in the season. It’s not that difficult to find one more bargain. Also it is very liberating to not get bogged down by value and price.

That said, it’s definitely not wrong to play the value game (happy, Jossy?). I just don’t think it deserves as much attention as it gets. Now let’s divert our attention to the fixture-proof nature of the big guns.

I decided to dive in and conduct a little experiment. I divided the league into three tiers of defence (based on my opinion, form and some statistics). These tiers are not permanent and some of the assumptions are questionable. Treat it as strictly my opinion (which does not take home and away into consideration).


The Kolarov (Top Tier) – Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Sheffield United, Leicester.

The Lescott (Middle Tier) – Crystal Palace, Burnley, Everton, Wolves, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur.

The Bramble (Bottom Tier) – West Ham, Norwich, Watford, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Southampton, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Brighton.


Once I did that, I decided to calculate the points per minute for all our big hitters. This is what the data showed:

The first table includes our super-premium five. Each of these players is very consistent in their patterns versus the Kolarov, Lescott and Bramble teams. While the sample set in question here is very small, it is extremely consistent for all five of them which validates that for now at least, there is value in chasing the fixtures with our big hitters.

All of them offer 10+ points per 90 minutes against the Bramble sides with the exception of Raheem Sterling (£12.1m) and I expect that to change soon.

So despite the fear, you are playing the odds and percentages when you go fixture-chasing with your big guns. A warning though – do not treat this as a cardinal rule. If a player hits top form or goes off-form, everything changes. At the very least, you will have read some interesting data. Also I suspect that this is not enough of a sample set. I am happy to discuss this with anyone who has had a look into this for a much bigger sample size.

Amongst the other attackers that have been relevant this season, the pattern is not as consistent as the big five. None of them are offering the explosiveness of the primary big hitters against the Bramble sides with the exception of Jamie Vardy (£9.3m). The Leicester striker’s pattern is very predictable with him returning double-figure hauls in all three of his Bramble games so far (two of them against ten men who gave up, though), which makes him a very useful FPL asset if he continues this trend.

Keeping this theory in mind, I’m all set to keep my Manchester City trio this week with a view to shifting one after the fixture versus Southampton at the weekend. That said, I’m extremely worried as a Mane and Salah non-owner this week. I really, really need to get one of them in soon enough. I’ll take my chances ignoring Vardy for a week or two and see how he performs against 11 men first. Until then, the good old couch is very much in place.

Good luck for the Gameweek, all!


FFScout user Lateriser12 has a very impressive Fantasy CV. He has registered two finishes in the top 200 (one of them equating to number one in India) and four in the top 10,000 in the last six seasons. The secret to his success has been playing non-conventionally and fearlessly, swearing by ‘upside chasing’ and not giving ownership much of a look.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 10

474 Comments Post a Comment
  1. tokara
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Any chance of Tielemans getting bench this week?

    1. Wally banter
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      never unless injured

  2. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Good (c) and bench?
    Any recommendations for the comming weeks?

    Pope
    TAA/Lund/Tomori
    Mane/KDB(c)/Maddison/Mount
    Auba/Vardy/Abraham

    Button/Rico/Soy/Hayden

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

      I'd do Auba to Aguero, or use him to get Sterling. The latter allows you to fund Salah for Pool's good fixture sell too.

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good. Soy ahead of Rico probs.

  3. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    The best option here chaps?

    Henderson
    Otamendi* Lundstram Dunk Lowton
    Salah Sterling Martial
    Aguero* Tammy Maupay

    McGovern Rico Cantwell* Dedonk

    A) Otamendi -> TAA (-4)
    B) Cantwell -> Perez/Mount/Pulisic
    C) Otamendi + Cantwell -> TAA+ Trossard (-8)
    D) No hits.

    0 FT, £2.9m inb

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      *Option B is for -4

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

      A is a no brainer.

      Then next week Aguero -> Vardy, and use the remaining funds to upgrade Cantwell to a mid you can play every week.

      1. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, thinking the same. Would you go Robertson over TAA and bank 0.3?

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

          Nah, TAA all day long for me.

          1. Rolls-Royce
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Ta.

  4. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Which one?
    A)
    Pope
    TAA, Ota, Lund
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Martial, Mount
    Tammy, Connolly

    Button, Soy, Tomori, Greenwood

    B)
    Pope
    TAA, Soy, Lund, Soy,
    Salah, Sterling, KDB, Mount
    Vardy, Tammy

    Button, Tomori, Rico, Dendoncker

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

      B but double Soyuncu is a risky punt imo

  5. Big Hitters: Set and forget or not?
    Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Inclined to hear more of your thoughts with respect to big hitter switching as per fixtures or are you a set and forget manager? What are your thoughts after reading the article?

    If the big hitters don't show form, I'm willing to chase the fixtures personally. Sometimes I'll chase the fixtures despite the form too.

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

      not mad on chasing fixtures; hate losing value.

      that being said I have KDB Dilva & sterling currently, so am thinking of moving silva -> martial next week

      KDB/Sterling going nowhere unless they hit extremely poor form

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

        I like the move

      2. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        moving on one of the best value assets in the game... dunno about that!

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

      I actually did it well last season, got the core of mid priced good value players like Jimmy for example, kept them long term even through bad fixtures, and used transfers to switch between big hitters, i.e. the captaincy options.

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

        Did it work?

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

          2018/19 Points 2422 Rank 3684

          I was even higher at some points of the season, but second wildcard and chips played badly got me down from around 1.5-2k

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

            Lovely. Great validation.

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

              I need advice in Nirvana
              x

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

      My thoughts are now to get Auba out for Sterling and slap the armband on him. Need to take a hit tho..

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

        I guess it's justifiable, taking a hit for a strong captaincy option for that week.

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

          I can't sleep well if I don't own Sterling when City plays Southampton home. Aston Villa match gave me enough of a scare. This time it won't be just a scare. On top of that another Auba blank would be quite painful.

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

            I consider shipping Auba and McGinn for Salah and Connolly for -8...

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

              -8 is always painful but I see the upside.

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

        Worth it imo

    4. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Replied on the previous page.

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

        Cheers RR

    5. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Exactly one of the biggest problems every season. I want to keep Auba and Son for now despite the blanks, but don't know if I should do it. The fixtures still look great but their teams are out of form. But these are those type of players which in my opinion will surley haul in the next few games. It just depends if you want to keep faith for that long or jump on other big hitters. To answer the question I think I will probably keep one, if not both.

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

        Good luck with the decision you take

    6. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Nicely written mate. Well done.

      Personally had thought about switching Sterling to a Liverpool mid to own both Mane and Salah in a couple of week. But looking at Steling’s importance and the fact that City have not “bad fixture”.. I might just keep Salah and Sterling over Mane.

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

        Another route if anything

    7. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The thing is, fixtures don't matter as much to the big hitters. Sterling, Salah, Kun etc have traditionally scored vs on paper tougher teams. Sometimes an organised park the bus side like Newcastle or Crystal Palace can be as or more difficult as facing a traditional top 6 team.

      Fixtures are more of a consideration when it comes to which big hitters to captain imo.

      1. AndyCook
          4 years, 5 months ago

          The most important thing the article written indicates to me is that a top 6 team is not a top 6 defence. If you categorise your defences appropriately then you can see a clear trend in contrast to what you say.

      2. Scotch333
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        The issue here is that the 3 groups of teams you used have been created knowing the results of the last 10 GW. So it is no surprise that the results of the analysis appear to show that rotating Big Hitters would be a good idea. In other words, if you know which team is going to do well against which then of course rotating big hitters is great.
        But the issue is that beforehand you don't. If we are honest with ourselves here who would have put Sheffield in the Kolarovs and Arsenal in the Brambles in GW1 ?
        So, at the end of the day, the issue with predicting returns over one game remains and therefore rotating big hitters is not really a sound statistical strategy.

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

          Was also my first thought on reading it.

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

            Except your final sentence!

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

          Cheers for this and I get where you're coming from. That said my categorisation of defences was done first and then I filled the data.

          Will be interesting to see how the trend plays out over the course of the season. I'd say at GW1 my perception for maybe 5 defences would be different. Also reckon our judgement of defences grows stronger week on week.

      3. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I play this the opposite way; have my hitters as main-stays and rotate around my fringe players according to fixtures.

        1. L S P
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          this is largely the stance I'm taking this year as well. Going OK but I'm yet to use my WC which could change my approach a bit. esp if i opt to move from mainly 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 or 3-5-2.

      4. Olivier Bernards watch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I recall seeing some analysis somewhere that showed that rotating big hitters (attackers in particular) for optimal fixtures is a far more effective use of transfers than rotating cheaper assets in a similar way, even without taking captaincy into account. I think this makes sense to me in so far as the variation of expected points between fixtures is probably larger for e.g. salah/kun/sterling/kane than it is for the best options at lower price brackets (and for defenders especially). When you then take into account the added factor of always trying to have the strongest possible captaincy option, it makes a lot of sense to spend fixtures rotating big hitters rather than cheapies imo

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

          Absolutely. I've done something on the impact of your decisions which should be published soon.

      5. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I change them around. But mainly between City and Liverpool. They are just so much better teams than the rest of the PL.

        I have 2 big hitting City right now (Sterling and KDB), but no Liverpool attacker. That is because lately, City have had better fixtures. After this gw, they face each other, then Liverpools fixtures improve while City's decline. I can then sell either KDB or Sterling for Mane or Salah.

        Kane and Aubameyang are good players but they play for vastly inferior teams, so I am not too interested in them, (though I did have Auba for the start of the season).

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

        I'm all for it but other factors come into it as well, such as player rotation or captaincy. I got Aguero, Sterling and KdB from GW4 for their prime fixture run, and only had Adrian from Liverpool. After this GW I'll get rid of Aguero and Sterling (keep KdB), and get in two of Salah, Robbo, TAA (already have Mane).

        Aguero's rotation risk plus difficult upcoming fixtures means I won't be captaining him. Salah on the other hand will play every game and has good fixtures so I will captain him. Until recently this was the other way around and to be fair since GW4 Salah got 2 goals and 2 assists, while Aguero got 4 goals and 3 assists so my decision worked (albeit neither player ripped it up!).

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

        A lot of people would classify Auba and Kane in the first group along with the premium big hitters. They certainly are price wise. I think this is a mistake as Liverpool and City are comfortably the two best teams in the league. My strategy is to have KDB ( I got him at 9.5) and two others from the first group at all times and to rotate the captaincy between these players depending on fixtures. GW 12 is looking a bit dodgy due to Liverpool playing city but that's just one gameweek.

      8. The Cisco Kid
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Personally, I have tried to be more set-and-forget of late. The last few seasons I have moved Salah and Kane our before multiple hat tricks in December, and I feel burned. I’m not sure we can effectively identify the factors that make a team a “Kolarov Team” rather than a “Bramble Team”, which certainly skews the results of your analysis. That’s not to say you reach an incorrect conclusion, but rather that I am probably more conservative in my willingness to interchange premium players and more willing to ride the ups and downs of the fixtures, trusting the talent of the players to average out over the course of the season.

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

          Yep. Think it definitely makes sense to revisit this at a latter stage in the season.

      9. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Very timely HT - as a Salah owner and Sterling non-owner - that particular hokey cokey is being assessed from multiple angles ahead of Saturday!

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

          Much simpler to just rotate the captaincy between them than to hokey-cokey them in and out of the team, which would both lose value and make other transfers more difficult.

      10. Monkey Hanger
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Why does Kane and Auba not make it into your top tier of big hitters?
        Who could possibly of included the Blades in the group of Kolarov, and the Gunners in the group of Titus pre season?

        I realise that you must have put in a lot of time and effort into writing this, but it seems all you have done is picked the five strongest defences, ten games into the season, then selected the big hitters which fit your conclusion best.

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

          Just my opinion that Kane and Auba aren't the same gravy. And form has Sheffield in top stats. I always like an attacker against an Arsenal D.

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

        I think it is a mistake to disregard the difference between home and away form.

        The numbers of goals conceded and clean sheets kept by each team in their first five home or first five away matches are as follows:

        3: CRY(H) 3CS; LEI(H), NEW(H) & LIV(A) 2CS;
        4: MCI(H) 3CS; MUN(H), SHU(H) & SHU(A) 2CS; TOT(H) 1CS;
        5: AVL(H), CHE(H), MCI(A) & WOL(A) 2CS; LEI(A) 1CS; LIV(H) 0CS;
        6: SOU(A) 2CS; BHA(H), BOU(A) & WHU(A) 1CS; MUN(A) 0CS;
        7: BUR(H) 3CS; EVE(H) 2CS; ARS(H), BOU(H) & ARS(A) 1CS;
        8: WAT(H), WHU(H) & BHA(A) 2CS; WOL(H) 1CS; BUR(A) 0CS;
        9: EVE(A) 1CS; CRY(A) 0CS;
        10: NOR(A) 1CS;
        11: AVL(A), CHE(A) & TOT(A) 0CS;
        12: NEW(A) 1CS;
        13: WAT(A) 0CS;
        14: NOR(H) 0CS;
        19: SOU(H) 0CS.

        Based solely on the numbers of goals conceded, and ignoring underlying stats and the facts that this is a small sample, that some teams have faced far easier or far stronger opposition than others, and that some teams have improved through new management or system changes and that others have regressed as a result of injuries, we could define the Kolorov defences as those that have conceded no more than 5 goals and kept at least 2 clean sheets in their 5 matches and the Brambles as those that have conceded 10 or more.

        Based on this, the Super-Kolorovs are SHU and MCI,
        the other Kolorovs are CRY, LEI, NEW, LIV, MUN, AVL and CHE when at home and LIV and WOL when away,
        while the sub-Bramble cannon-fodder are NOR,
        and the other Brambles are SOU at home and WAT, NEW, AVL, CHE and TOT when away.

        Note that NEW, AVL and CHE are Kolorovs at home but Brambles when away.

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

          *LIV at home are not a Kolarov according to my definition, since they haven't kept any home clean sheets.

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

          This is very helpful Red Lightning. Thanks! I wanted to keep a loose structure instead of a deep dive but agree what you have to say.

      12. SweepaKeepa
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Had patience rewarded with Sterling and de Bruyne all season. Feel it’s a good time now to jump ship to Liverpool, but afraid of tinkering with something that’s currently working!

      13. JamieMac
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        I can't see Sterling/KdB leaving my team at least until Xmas, but probably the whole season.

        Auba on the other hand can be shifted

      14. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Fixtures a little irrelevant to big hitters from Liverpool and City imo but from other teams yes. Even short term punts regarding fixtures. This week I'm bringing in Richarlison (I know not a big hitter) for short term fixtures over form.
        My -12 move worked great last week and your previous article gave me added confidence in making the move. In: Vardy20, Dilva9, Jimenez2 Janmaat6 🙂

    8. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I don't want to do it but want to see opinions. Auba, Son, Cantwell > Vardy, Matrial, Mount for -4? Yes or no?

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

        Would you be playing cantwell? If so then yeah

        1. iL PiStOlErO
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Cantwell is just a ghost here but I want to keep Son and Auba. Maybe just Martial in but dont know how

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

            I would wait one more week on martial. If he performs this week it's an easy swap for son, I guess

            1. iL PiStOlErO
              • 4 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              Agreed, maybe the best option. But this way I will waste a ft but maybe I can downgrade Cantwell and use the rest of the money next week

      2. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Just Auba to Vardy I think.

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

      Would you bring in Sterling for Mane part of a -8 hit? Have Salah as well.

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

        Sterling (c) ?

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

        I thought you weren't taking hits this week?!

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

          I am resisting!!!

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

        Nope

      4. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        No. Doesn't make sense.

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

        no

    10. Jullepuu
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Thoughts on playing 4-4-2 after game week 13 with double pool defence?

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

        I’m already on it but yeah after 13 is good man

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

        I'm highly considering it. Perhaps even 4-5-1

      3. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Been on Pool double D since GW1. Also have Ederson.

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

          What's your rank?

          1. Bobby Digital
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Top1k

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

              Congrats

              1. Bobby Digital
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                Long season

              2. Bobby Digital
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 5 months ago

                ... cheers anyway.

    11. fakelund
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Start one this week?
      a) Soyuncu (CRY a)
      or
      b) Tomori (WAT a)

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

        Tomori

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

        B

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

        I'm on B

    12. olidooley
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Gtg here? FT spent

      Pope
      Robertson TAA Mendy Lundstram
      Salah Sterling KDB Mount
      Abraham Maupay

      McGovern Söyüncü Dendoncker Greenwood

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

        Yeah, bang on

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

        Gtg

    13. SOTHPAW
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      G2G?

      Roberto

      TAA, Otamendi, Lundstram

      Sterling(c), KDB(v), Mane, Mount, Maddison

      Vardy, Abraham

      Stek, Connolly, Tomori, Kelly

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

        Yep, nice team

    14. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Which pair for this GW?
      A. Aguero (C) Yarmolenko
      B. Sterling (C) Maupay -8

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

        A. Give Aguero one more chance

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

          A for sure

      2. Arthur Shelby
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        A, though it's hard to tell. Big risk to ship Aguero out as part of a -8...

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

      Ooh I like the look of this.....
      Digne, cantwell, auba to
      AWB, dilva, firmino
      -8

    16. Arthur Shelby
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Aubameyang & Yarmo > Connolly & Mane/Salah worth a -4?

      I'm thinking no. If I could stretch to Auba & Cantwell I would, but I'm short.

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

        I'd hold

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

      Kun/no-Sterling owners...
      A. Keep and captain.
      B. Keep and captain other (e.g. Kdb)
      C. Selling to fund sterling (for me that's - 4)

      After this week...
      1. Keeping/wait and see
      2. Sell for?

      I'm on A2 currently but unsure whether to go little and large (Sterling plus cheap fwd) or spread (e.g. Martial and Lacazette, Silva and Rashford)

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

        A2 for me
        Endless options for transfers next GW, could stay in the premium bracket (Kane/Auba), could go mid-price (Rashford/Laca), could go cheap (Jimenez) and upgrade Yarmolenko

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

          Yes. I'm looking at using Kun and CHO as makeweights if they don't perform (or play!)

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

        A2. I am also unsure about the distribution of funds. Laca, Jimenez, Firminho is on my watchlist
        Could also do Aguero+Saka > Mane/Sterling + Fodder and switch to 3-5-2

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

      Terrified to C aguero this weekend...I did it last weekend :(.

      Pointless question to ask his chances of starting...but asking never the less..

      Could just C KDB.

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

        YOLO

    19. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hi

      Who is the best 6.5 MF for this front 8 for the next few GWs

      Sterling Mount KDB McGinn xxxxxxx

      Abraham Vardy Aubayemang

      Any ideas would be welcomed

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

        Youri

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

          Easily

      2. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Well you need to bench one of them. Just get a 4,4 mid imo. Replace McGinn if any, fixtures are bad.

    20. Pep Pig
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Hi all. Don't usually put out a cry for help but I'm in a mess here with 1FT. I think I need to remove at least 3 players with no WC.

      Pope Button
      Alonson TAA Otamendi Lundstram Mings
      Tielemans Salah KDB Cantwell Gendouzi
      Wilson Auba Joelinton 🙁

      Any advice here people?

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

        Joelinton? Wow

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          I know mate I'm still ashamed. I brought him in GW6 on a WC as differential and he'd been benched most weeks since.

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

            Is Joelinton to Connolly and Alonso to Robbo possible?

            1. Pep Pig
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              I have 0.7 itb so could do the Alonso > Robbo switch but I'm quite excited still about owning Alonso for now

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

                In that case Anzhi's suggestion is probably better

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

                Yeah, wouldn't get rid of Alonso, next two look great and he's in form.

                1. Pep Pig
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 5 months ago

                  I enjoyed how he still managed a clean sheet against Bonley 😀

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

        Wilson and Joel to Conn and Vardy?

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          It is something I've looked at and may well do leaving 0.6m change. Cheers for the replies

    21. Hig1990
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Any ideas what to do here? 2FT, 0.7M ITB

      Pope/Button
      TAA, Ota, Lund, Soy, Hanley
      Salah, KDB, Maddi, Mount, Guendouzi
      Auba, Jimmi, Tammy

      I would like Sterling in there but not ready to sell Salah. Anyone else worth considering? Auba>Vardy? I need an Ota replacement also

    22. Relaxing
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Not a clue what to do here. Any thoughts appreciated

      Pope (McGov)
      TAA Lund Tomori (Rico) (Soy)
      Mount KDB Mane Sterling Maddison
      Abraham Connolly (Wilson)

      2FT, 0.7.

      Downgrade Wilson perhaps? Would like Vardy after this week and Robbo (for soy probably) the following week but finding it difficult to find the players to downgrade. Thanks!

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        If Wilson was going to be on your bench, why don't you just use the 1FT and bring in Rashford?

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

          That is an option, really just not sure who to bench of Connolly, Wilson and Madds. Do you think Rashford and United can do well? Martial seems to be the popular pick here

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            You have a great midfield mate so no point tinkering with that. I believe Utd will turn things around and when they do, both will be great options. Though you can't bench any of those 5 mids this week so you'd have a headache whether to bench Connolly or not. With a strong mid 5, you will have headaches most weeks I assume whilst Connolly is playing well

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

              All good advice, thanks my friend

    23. ceerus
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Maddison or Tielemans?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Tielemans was my pick... because I couldn't afford Maddison. In hindsight I think Tielemans is more fun.

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

          Watch last night game

          He was magnificent

          1. Bobby Digital
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            I saw the highlights should've had atleast one more assist. Class player, I hope he picks up where he started at the end of last season.

    24. Kevtheotter
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      No untied or Leicester players and the question is simply

      Maddison or Martial?

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

        I'd go Martial out of the two. Prefer to go with Vardy from Leicester.

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Tielemans and bank the cash.

    25. FPLHaggis
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A few difficult weeks recently failing to land the captaincy. Kun (c) last week and unsure whether to stick it on him or Raz. Kun will become Vardy next week.

      Ready to move on the Norwich boys - which of these options look best?

      Pope (Button)
      TAA Robbo Lowton Lundy
      Raz(c) KDB Mount
      Kun Tammy Pukki
      (Soy Cantwell Hayden)

      A) Pukki > Jimi
      B) Pukki & Cantwell > Connolly & Martial (-4)

      Thanks for any feedback

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

        B gives you a nicer team structure long term

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

          Yep. Thinking it's an OK hit. Kun to Vardy the following week will leave me Hayden > 7.3m the week after.

    26. Zebrahimović
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Salah or Mane? Is it a proper coin toss decision?

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

        Salah

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

        Salah for me

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

        Coin toss, I think

      4. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Its not
        Salah is better fantasy asset, especially in captaincy (Mane owner)
        I'm considering getting both for their nice run of fixtures

    27. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Fantastic article LR.

      I went into the season with the opposite strategy: Keep Salah, Sterling, Trent all season, and shuffle about the supporting cast based on fixtures and form. I thought those 3 would be far ahead of the rest of the pack and hence important for captaincy. Mark successfully stuck to a rigid big hitter strategy last year, ignoring the likes of Kane, Aguero, Aubameyang, and sticking with the midfield titans all season. This hasn't really worked for me this season.

      It's interesting to hear about the opposite approach from a top player such as yourself. I suppose what we need to remember is that every season is vastly different to the last, and the corresponding strategy will vary wildly depending on the players available, their form, and their prices. I was basing too much on the previous season, and holding out that things would regress back to the "norm", particularly with the Liverpool defence. The urge to avoid "knee-jerking" has cost me a heap of points, and left me slow to adapt.

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

      Is this too weak?

      Pope
      TAA, Rico, Lundstram, Soyuncu, Janmaat
      Mane, KdB, Sterling, Martial, Mount
      Jimenez, Tammy, Connolly

    29. Mr Zoff
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Greeting from Indonesia.
      My team. 0 itb. Overall 16,986
      Ryan - Schmeichel
      Montoya - Lowton - Kelly - Lundstram - Diop
      Mané - Sterling - James - Son - Mount
      King - Vardy - Abraham

      Who to replace Son ? I want improve my def, maybe Kelly.

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Martial

        1. Mr Zoff
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          2 Uniteds ? Maybe no

          1. Bobby Digital
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Tielemans

    30. SUPER MOKH
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      A. Boly Wilson > Chilwell Jimi
      B. Boly Wilson > Chilwell Maupay

      What do you think about Jimi? I really like Maupay too but those fixtures..

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

      Who is the best Otamendi replacement, no money spare and have Lundstram and Soy Boy already

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

        Tomori?

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

        just been spoonfed the answer

        https://www.premierleague.com/news/1473935?sf222464522=1

    32. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Pukki party this weekend?

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

        whose birthday is it?

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Only if you've already sold him.

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Keeping for the season.. he'll come good.