Pro Pundits

How I’m planning to kickstart my faltering FPL season

In his latest Pro Pundits piece, Az bemoans anticlimactic captaincies, disappointing differentials – and his failure to acquire a certain Sheffield United “defender”.


“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” – Matthew Syed, Black Box Thinking

Another fortnight passes, as does a rotten Gameweek and (finally!) a decent one.

Christmas is widely regarded as the season of joy – the antithesis of my own season of woe – but it does seem fitting time to reflect, once again, on my 2019/20 campaign so far.

Jamie Vardy (£9.6m), one of the main protagonists of my previous article and Fantasy Premier League top goalscorer at the time of writing, has finally come into my team and delivered me 30 points (one as captain) in two weeks.

Mason Mount (£6.8m), a player who I was rueing selling, has only managed one assist in three games (although of course, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£5.8m) has managed just three substitute appearances in as many matches, and a booking!).

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) has finally got me a goal and is still in place for the two best fixtures out there (Southampton and Norwich).

N’Golo Kanté (£5.0m) is back and Chelsea are already looking more solid, so I’m hoping for some more clean sheets from Fikayo Tomori (£4.8m).

Looking at my team, I believe I have reason for optimism going forward.

Of course, it hasn’t all been rosy. If I see one more mention of “Lord” John Lundstram (£4.9m), I may have to deactivate my account. It seems like myself and Andy are the only ones who don’t have the Sheffield United defender-turned-midfielder but I was put off at the start of the season due to his lack of minutes in 2018/19 and Sheffield United’s spending spree on supposedly “better” options.

On my Wildcard, the allure of a “strong” defence featuring Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m), Ricardo Pereira (£6.3m) and Nicolas Otamendi (£5.2m) – supplemented by the budget Diego Rico (£4.2m) and Tomori, who I thought was an absolute steal at £4.5m – meant there was no room at the inn for Lundstram.

I wasn’t even worried going into the Burnley game but of course, I had my head in my hands when they announced that Lundstram had scored. When I heard he had scored his second of the match, I just had to laugh. I’m still laughing now. Kind of.

I think the £4.0m defender, or a £4.5m midfielder in form, is a player who you just need to jump on at the earliest opportunity.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.4m) was one of my star players last season (although I often had to look at his points sat on my bench) and £4.5m midfielders like 2016/17-era Etienne Capoue (now £4.8m) are players you shouldn’t even be considering to put in your starting XI, but always end up coming in and do an amazing job for you. If they really go off the boil, most of the time you can sell them at a £0.4m/£0.5m profit but, for the most part, you just keep them in your team until the end of the season. They really are “set and forget”.

I should have prioritised Lundstram on the Wildcard. His ownership, position, and price rises made him too attractive an option to ignore. With a great run of fixtures coming up, a £4.0m defender who couldn’t even get a game in the Championship is now one of my most sought-after targets. It’s an amazing game we play.

I now sit at the lofty heights of a 1.2 million rank, having plunged to the depths of two million just a week ago. Having achieved a pretty tasty (and much coveted) 700k rank rise, I’m reminded of the importance of playing your own game.

The Fantasy Scout/Twitter template feels particularly strong this year. Players like Nick Pope (£4.7m), Lundstram, Mount, Sadio Mané (£12.1m), Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m), Vardy and Tammy Abraham (£8.0m) seem to be in every team that’s being bandied around. This can leave you thinking that you need some big differentials to climb the ranks.

Well actually, I’ve got most of these players, and my “differentials” in Hudson-Odoi, John McGinn (£5.8m) and Aubameyang have all failed to deliver. And yet, I was still able to get a healthy green arrow. Chasing shadows and binning perfectly good players to try and strike gold often does more harm than good.

It’s also reinforced the importance of getting that captaincy pick right. Obviously, it is unachievable for mere mortals like me, but the fact is that if I had captained my highest-scoring player each week, I would be ranked at just over 1k. That’s over a million places higher than where I am now. That, to me, is crazy.

The captaincy is something I’ve always struggled with – I can remember a handful of great captain picks over the years (Sergio Aguero‘s five goals vs Spurs, and an Alexis Sanchez hat-trick against West Ham) but actually, whenever I’ve rolled the dice (looking at you, Jesse Lingard) I’ve been burned.

This season however, it seems like you get burned when you play the logical game. Looking at my selections, it’s been an over-reliance on Raheem Sterling (£12.0m) that’s really hurt me. He’s been in great form for club and country – but this has not been turning into FPL points.

Well now I’ve seen through my plan which I had come up with weeks ago when I Wildcarded. Raheem is gone for the more reliable Mané. Can I see myself captaining anyone other than Vardy or Mané between now and Christmas? I doubt it.

City, much like my captain picks throughout my FPL career, seem too inconsistent to trust. I wonder if they are really focusing on the Champions League this year and, with Liverpool seemingly out of sight after just 13 Gameweeks, I wonder if there will be more disappointment for those that continue to back their assets with the armband.

In terms of my plans going forward, I’m putting more eggs in the Leicester basket. The Foxes don’t have the worry of Champions League rotation – and their performances and results have been nothing short of exceptional.

I’ve got to move out some of my deadwood. Hudson-Odoi has gone, and one of my favourite players in the league – a certain James Maddison (£7.5m) – is in. To fund this, I’ve had to downgrade Pereira, who has done okay for me, but is not living up to his £6.3m price tag. He leaves for the much more affordable Çağlar Söyüncü (£4.9m), who is looking like a steal at under £5.0m.

McGinn is next on the chopping block, and it’s likely that Aubameyang will be the man to fund an upgrade – after he has played against Southampton and Norwich. I’m hoping that he will deliver some solid returns in these games.

I wouldn’t be advising anyone to buy him but, if you have him, you’ve got to hold now. He won the Golden Boot last season and, if he has any hope of wrestling it off Vardy or Abraham, he needs to deliver in the next two matches. If he can bang in some goals, my rank should be more respectable by the time I write my next article… unless “Lord Lundstram” strikes again, that is.


Az has been a contributor to the site and Scoutcast guest for many years. The Brighton and Hove Albion supporter has three top 10k finishes to his name in a long Fantasy career, the best of which was a rank of 817 in the 2017/18 season.

Nominated for ‘Best in Fantasy Football – Editorial’ at the Football Content Awards 2020

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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

600 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dion D's Solo Shower
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Am I G2G for the coming GW? Can I roll a FT?

    Pope
    Van D - Lundstram - Soy
    Mané - KDB - Sterling - Tielemans - Mount
    Vardy (C) - Abraham

    Button - Fredericks - Tomori - Greenwood

    0.1 ITB. 1 FT.

    My only concerns for the moment is Fredericks & Greenwood. Considering Fredericks --> Baldock, going double on Sheffield defenders. Mad?

    1. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Disregard Greenwood, third sub he wont go lower than 4.3.

      Fredericks is a concern and I like the move.

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Barring injury that team will be good for next week and very small chance that you need your bench, both defenders on bench have tough fixtures so unless you want to play that defender you buy i would rather save ft.

  2. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Much coveted 700k rise. Something that is much coveted tends to be something specific.

    More great writing.

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

      what? coveted means "greatly desired or envied"...

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        This

      2. Bird Raymond
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        VAR check from dictionary corner.

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

          aaaaand it rules no goal for "No Professionals"

          and a red card!

          Unbelievable Raymond

      3. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yes but you can only envy or desire something specific. Like the much coveted top 10k. But you wouldn't covet position 12,382.

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Anyway, can't argue that 700k isn't one hell of a leap.

        2. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I covert a 12,382 OR.

          12,382 is much more specific than 1-10,000.

          Of course we covert a top 10k more than 12k but if you lye around 600k then 12k isn’t to be sniffed at.

          Think your being a little picky here.

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

            "more great writing" does come across pretty snide tbh, i'm all for constructive criticism but this is extremely picky!

  3. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Aguero owners what's the plan ?

    I'm keeping and captaining

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

      are there any others left

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        🙂

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

        Thing is I want to save transfer to possibly do a mini wc following week. I think city could tear Chelsea apart I'm happy to captain him

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Considering his performance at Anfield, Jesus could easily start

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      if i owned i would keep yeh, but i have a feeling that there could be a crossroad happening soon, which is partly because of Aguero´s decline and age but also Jesus been much better this season than last. And have a feeling that Pep wants to win CHL before he departs, and if Kun is rested more then he could be a lethal weapon when CHL comes to the fore in february/march. And, Chelsea won´t come and sit deep like most teams will so that could sway Pep to play Jesus who is much better in pressing game, Kun also not having that weeks rest now so also a factor.
      Just some speculations this, so again, i think Kun starts but in long term i would be more uncertain-)

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thank you so much for input . Kun is on his way out that's for sure and I will not keep him much longer but he's still more lethal than jesus so I reckon he ll start yes. Thanks again

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

    IB stand for its boring.

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Insufferable Biatch.

      • IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Injury bound

      • Limbo
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Irritable Bowels

      • HurriKane
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Itchy Balls

      • De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Ian Botham.

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

      SorstS by importance, can have only 2 so need help. (Have Abraham, Vardy)

      A. Jimenez
      B. Maddison
      C. Martial
      D. Pulisic

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Jimmy and and pulisic

      2. Cahill
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        have a thing for D (no homo)

        so: D, B, C, A

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

        Martial, Pulisic, Maddison, Jimenez

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

        B C

      5. Lignja
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks all

    3. tim
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking about WC this IB

      Pope Button
      Mendy TAA Soy Rico Lund
      KDB Salah Sterling Mount Cantwell
      Greenwood Pukki Tammy

      TO

      Pope Button
      Robertson Taa Rico Lund Soy
      Mane KDB Tielemans Mount McGinn
      Vardy Tammy Greenwood

      What do you think?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Nice BUT I'd want a full playing bench with fixtures about to get relentless

      2. Kaiser123
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I have the same with Martial instead of McGinn and Mads instead of Tiel.

        1. tim
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          That would be ideal, but zero money in the bank. 🙁

      3. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Going into next 2 months with Greenwood is asking for trouble imo
        Going double Liv defense when you have Lund, Soy and Rico, with SHU and Leic having a very nice run now, i´m not sold on tbf. And when christmas arrives (gw18, Leic, shu and bou gets ugly more tricky) and Liverpool´s are ok ish but not easy vs Lei and Wolves,i would perhaps arrange my defense with short term at hand but also with an eye on christmas. This because if you own that 4 you will first bench one of SOy and Lund while they have good fixtures and then you don´t want them for christmas.

        1. tim
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Great reply, thank you! I think you are right about my def, very valid points. Ive had Greenwood since the start so cant see anyone taking his place, the money required to upgrade can be spent elsewhere.

          1. jason_ni
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I have greenwood.. we are still 4/5 weeks of crazy fixture time, can reasses then.
            He continues to get minutes and unlucky not to score.
            I dont expect much else from bench fodder, I'd rather have him than someone like ayew for 0.8 mill more or whatever the diff is now.

    4. Kaiser123
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I have a defensive headache with TAA, Robbo, Soy, Lund and Rico, but need those when Liv have the blank week.

      1. kime67
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        should not worry about that yet

      2. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hope you are playing at least 4 at the back? Wouldn't want to benching 2 of soy lundy rico every week!

      3. Jay Arell
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Bench Rico every week

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

      Is Jamie Vardy the greatest Leicester player of all time?

      1. Kaiser123
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Gary Linekar was good, but Vardy won them the league.

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

        Not too clued up on their history but you would have to think so.

      3. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        In terms of legend/cult hero, yes. If you count in importance in that year they won the title i would say Mahrez is up there, 17goals and 11 assists in that winning season. Captain Morgan and Kanté was also instrumental to that win. To play Danny Simpson for almost an entire season and win the trophy says something of Ranieri´s managerial quality too.
        If you mean greatest i would prob say Lineker
        one of the worlds best strikers of all time, for some great teams and national team that was only a hand from god away from greatness in 86. But he did not win anything with Leicester.

        1. Old Gregg
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Probably is. Steve Walsh would be up there I would say.

          Showing my age there

      4. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Robbie savage in the equation.. along with heskey and lennon.. what a time to be a leicester fan back in the day.

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Just looked back.. there are a lot of legends in that 99 league cup winning team.. aul Tony cottee and Matty elliot.

    6. kime67
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Will rashford be a midfielder next season?

      1. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Well hes more of a midfielder than martial is, but I would say not likely!
        Martial will be moved up top for sure.

      2. Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If he plays the majority of his games at left-wing for the rest of the season, then very possibly - that would be in line with what FPL has done previously.

    7. user.n
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Should i sell Kane ore keep?

      1. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Sell

      2. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Depends who else you have upon your team tbh.. I'd prob get rid myself, then again if chasing could be good differential capt pick.

      3. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        keep for west ham away- hello... west ham are pants

      4. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Give away for nothing

    8. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      It's easy to say if I'd have made correct capt pick id be better of.
      Just checked, I'd have 70 more points and be sitting in top 10k instead of 300k.
      It is mad, same team, just wrong capt pick.
      Like az sterling has been my downfall.

      1. user.n
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Story of my season so far, only once right C.

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Ban all captains going forward!

      2. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Knew I should have captained Lundstram for the palace, Everton and Burnley games! Oh what should have been

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Exactly.. could be on cloud 9.. and rank#1

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I’ve got my captain wrong every week. Ah well.

      4. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Where do you see what the best captain choice was? Just by looking back through each GW?

        1. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Google fpl statistico, and put in your fpl Id, has lots of interesting analytics!

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

            Thanks for the heads up re: fpl statistico Jason - I recognised the site once I visited it - Roy Of The Rovers cartoon et al - but had not "been there" in recent times.

            1. jason_ni
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              No probs..
              Though sometimes your better off not knowing all the mistake you have made!

          2. Bubbles1985
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Cheers dude!

      5. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        i don´t think you can expect to pick the right one every week so bad or good rank hinges on several factors. But ofc, one or two times more during this 12weeks would have done good, i have two times vc captain on Mané who got 12 points whereas my cap got app points. That´s 20points.
        But that Sterling owner thing when he was benched and people got Lund and vc on KDB was a real point turn of the season, being on the right or wrong side of that and that´s another 20 pointer.

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

      Don't really know what to do

      2FT/0.4ITB

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

      A) Rico, Sterling, Connolly -> Robbo, Hayden, Vardy (-4)
      B) Sterling -> Salah
      C) Mount, Jiminez -> Hayden, Vardy
      D) something else?

      1. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A looks good

      2. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Not sure this is the right time to get Salah or Robbo with their ankle injuries ahead of such a packed schedule. They certainly don't look like "IB injuries".

        With your team I'd be looking to do Sterling/KDB & Connolly to Vardy & Dendoncker.

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

          Would wait untill the pressers to make the move.

          Sterling, Connolly to Vardy and Dendoncker would leave me 3.0 ITB. Could use that the next week to maybe get Robbo.

          1. Karan14
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Yes or you could also use it for KDB to Salah if he looks essential.

      3. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A is ok, but Sterling could really punish you

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

          Sure he could but he also could have give me points against Southampton, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton, Brighton,.. You just never know with Sterling and surely he will score a hattrick sometime soon but can't see it happening at the moment

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

        Sterling and Connolly to Son and someone else

    10. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Thoughts on this?
      GW13 Ota > Janmaat
      GW14 KDB > Mane

      Pope Heaton
      TAA Otamendi Soyuncu Tomori lundstrom
      Salah Mount KDB Dendonker Maddison
      Jiminez Vardy Tammy

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

        I would keep KdB. Should have had certainly one assist against Liverpool

    11. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Is Sterling to Mane for -4 madness?

      I have KDB but no Liv attack!

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

        Would wait to do it for free

      2. jason_ni
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed...would prb do for free unless you will be priced out.
        I'd be tempted to capt sterling if I had him.

        1. Bubbles1985
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers.
          I have captain on Auba at the minute but will see what the internationals deliver me with regards to injuries!

          Just checked that FPL statistico site, I am only -21 points through captain choice so not doing too bad!

          1. jason_ni
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Stick with your gut then..
            I'd prob go auba as well..but I have neither him or sterling so not an option!

    12. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Bought Mount early on for cheap.

      Is Pulisic really worth the upgrade

      1. Old Gregg
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Cant remember who posted some good stats on hear

        Pulisic certainly getting more touches in the box.

        1. Old Gregg
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          *here

      2. Phil's Stamps
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Mount is more nailed long-term, but Pulisic is a differential (at the mo). It also depends on who you have to downgrade in your team to upgrade Mount.

        I've got Mount and Abraham and am sticking with them for the foreseeable future.

      3. Limbo
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Hokey Cokey. I love that people are selling Mount. He's got a lot more to offer

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Not me.
          May bench him from time to time but looks to good for a 6.0m midfielder to drop totally.

          I dropped Fraser last year because he went quiet for a short time. Big mistake.

    13. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      On WC.

      Please choose what you think is the best going forward. thanks

      Have Taa-Lund.

      a) Rico-Tomori-Robbo-Mount

      b) Clark-Janmaat-Pereira-Pulisic.

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

        B - definitely need some Leicester defensive cover along the way what about Soyuncu?

        1. Old Gregg
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          sorry, I may have messed that up. Yes I have soy.

          a) Defence would be Taa-Robbo-lund-Soy-Rico + Mount

          or

          b) Taa-lund-Pereira-Clark-Janmatt + Pulisic

    14. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Does any of you know what happened to FFS H2H League (https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/3642/standings/c)?

      It never actually started because there was too many entrants or why?

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        It's been running a while, must have missed the articles!

        TopMarx last talked about it in his roundup

        https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/11/05/ffs-mini-leagues-community-competitions-gameweek-11/

        1. Arteta
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Woooah looks like I've been living under a rock haha
          Thank you very much RAE and fantastic work by everyone involved!

    15. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Best combo out of these?

      A) Maddison, Pulisic & Jimenez (343)
      B) Martial, Tielemans/Mount & Jimenez (343)
      C) Maddison, Martial & Mount (352)
      D) Martial, Tielemans & Pulisic (352)
      E) Tomori, KDB & Maddi/Marti/Puli (442)

      Appreciate your thoughts! 🙂

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

        A

        must be favourite too cause you put it first 😉

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

          your favourite*

        2. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Haha well I won't say it's my favorite but I do know it's the most sensible.
          I really like Martial but not sure about the fixtures and sacrifices I'm having to make to get him.

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

            I'm not feeling the Martial love, to be honest.

            Dont trust United and had him last season just as he decided to sulk and stop running.

            Maddison plays for a far better team and has a better supporting cast around him, imo. Better fixtures too.

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

        I think E but it's kinda hard to say cause it's not so clear. IMO you want to stick to KdB if you bought him early if not D looks nice.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Yes I bough him at 9.5m. But I don't get why do people want to stick with an underperforming asset just because we have value tied up in him?
          Other way to look at it is he earned us 0.3/0.4m now is maybe the time to cash in that profit.

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

            When I watched that game against Liverpool it's not him underperforming but his teammates all those beautiful crosses they didn't score. I'm keeping him for sure but I also understand why people want to get rid him of

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

              Want to get rid of him*

            2. Karan14
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              It's a tough decision between him & Sterling. But ones has to go to strengthen the team in other areas and so many mid price options doing well.

              Sterling's explosiveness vs cash tied in KDB

      3. Squeakybum99
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        B

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Tough to overlook both Maddison & Pulisic. Could easily be 8m+ in a few weeks with the kind of form & fixtures they have.

          1. Squeakybum99
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            It's a matter of opinion. I have Jim for the past few weeks and like him in the 3-4-3. Keen to move Mount out for Madd but Tielmans can cover. Martial's OOP attracts me as long as he is fit and hence I have him. It's not an easy decision. And popular choice is Maddy/Pulisic right now, but I wouldn't do it this week. Chelsea have a lot of games coming up with a real tough one next GW. Go with your gut.

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

              I have had Tielemans and was happy to WC him to Maddison. To me it's like thinking that you can cover Auba by getting Lacazette.

            2. Karan14
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Chelsea's fixtures are insane though. They have home games against Villa, West Ham, Bou Sou between GW14-19. I'd definitely want a double up in attack.

      4. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers mate! Leaning towards that only.

      5. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        A.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers! Seems like I will go down that route only.

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

        I am on WC this GW and I have chosen to have A.

        1. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Yup even I would go those three on wildcard. Seem to fit in perfectly.

      7. Sloopy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Pulisic the most dangerous attacker from Chelsea;
        Maddison on set pieces, so for me better option than Tielemans;
        If you want a player from MNU, you should get Martial (but I'm not totally convinced);
        KdB not spectaculair, but will bring steady points;
        Jimenez in form and on penalty's;
        Tomori is a good defensif option, but so are many at the back.

        For me: A!

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

        D. Don't like Jimenez.

        You seem really set on getting Maddison and Jimenez. Considering we have basically the same team, I disagree, and I'm interested to see where our respective approaches end up taking us.

    16. tim
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Im currently on my WC team w 0.0 ITB, are there any possible price rises that need my attention?

      1. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Check fpl statistics

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

        I'm on WC too, but not really bothered about price risers.

        Not many major price changes on IB anyway. Probably Mane, Schmeichel and Vardy will go up by 0.1, but not sure any others will rise twice in the next 8 days.

    17. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2FT 1.2m ITB

      Pope Button
      TAA Soyuncu Otamendi Lundstram Rico
      Salah Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
      Abraham Pukki Connolly

      A) Sterling & Pukki --> Maddison & Vardy
      B) Sterling & Pukki --> Mane & Jimenez
      C) Otamendi & Pukki --> Maguire & Jimenez
      D) Sterling Connolly & Pukki --> Maddison Jimenez & Vardy (-4)
      E) Sterling Cantwell & Pukki --> Tielemans Martial & Vardy (-4)
      F) Sterling Otamendi & Pukki --> Maddison Robertson & Vardy (-4)

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

        F for me, if Robbo is fit.

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

      Ryan (Button)
      VVD Soyuncy Lundstram (Kelly) (Matip)
      Mane KDB Maddison Mount (Cantwell)
      Auba Vardy Abraham

      0.1 ITB, 2 FT
      I was thinking about Auba, Matip OUT - Jimenez, TAA in. But removing Auba before SOU and NOR doesn't feel good.
      The other options that I considered was KDB, Matip OUT - Martial, TAA in. But a lot of people have KDB, and having him is like a shield.. I am really confused.

    19. The Yorkshire Pirlo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Give Auba the next couple of fixtures or start making the move to Salah?

      Already own TAA + Mane.

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Not sure Salah is such an improvement on Aubameyang just yet.

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Happy to have both 🙂

      2. Arteta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        My dilemma! It doesn't get much better than facing 3 out of the 5 worst sides this season in next 4 games. I wouldn't be surprised if he finally explodes, but even if he does others big hitters could still outscore him. So who knows. It's one of the hardest decisions for me this season for sure. Nowhere near close to no-brainer as some will say...

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah give him the next 3

    20. SHOWSTOPPERRR
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Feeling jealous when someone said/asked for their wc suggestions..

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

        Trust me. Not as easy as it looks.

    21. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      I won't ever be talked out of having Salah in my team, he is the best fpl option every year.

      1. Squeakybum99
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If fit yes. Don't flip flop too much unless you can predict player's ascension as you will miss out on both peaks.

        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah I think if you have Mane stick and if you have Salah stick , but If you have none then it is get Salah imo.

          1. The 12th Man
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            I have neither.
            Dropped Salah several weeks ago with a plan to get Mane after this international break but I’m strangely drawn back to Salah now.

            Think I’m leaving it one extra week to see how Salah looks against Palace.

      2. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        C vs Brighton looks tasty too

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

        Carslberg don't do FPL players

        But if they did - Salah would be quite close to it

    22. Daghe Munegu
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      For -4

      Sterling + Yarmo + Dendoncker to Dilva + Martial + Maddison ?

      Yes or no ?

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Neigh

    23. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mane or Salah?

      1FT.

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Salah

      2. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Salah

      3. ElliotJHP
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Sadio

      4. YEAH PITCH!
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Mane

      5. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If salah is fit it’s such an easy choice. Especially now he’s a differential

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

          He's a differential for a reason, though.

          I'm on WC this week and I've changed him to Mane.

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Given current state of fitness that’s not a crazy idea

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

        Very big on a fully fit Salah's prospects in that battle personally

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I’m thinking of moving my liverpool defence double up into Mane + Salah + TAA/Robbo if they don’t get cleanies in a couple of weeks. KDB stinking ho my team too. You still have faith in them?

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

            Its hard to know for sure - personally i just think their defensive record season to date looks freakishly wrong (best defence/least goals conceded but effectively no clean sheets) and will progress towards more, hopefully MUCH more, cleansheets - but there are no guarantees in FPL & stranger things have happened than that a continuation of the current weird trend of conceding very few goals and somewhat perversely getting very few cleansheets

            The "single goal conceded AGAIN" frustration aside, I actually love watching Liverpool games as a TAA/Robertson owner, their eye tests and involvement going forward is ridiculous - if clean sheets start coming, they're going to be posting some serious points

            But owning the two mids isn't gaining popularity for no reason - they're phenomenal FPL assets - especially in an environment where Sterling, Aguero & Auba have all been so underwhelming

            Personally Salah + the two fullbacks works much better for me though - enables a lovely 6 starting attackers supporting Salah (c) from the "value-pool" of (Maddison, Pulisic, Martial, Mount, KDB, Son, Tielemans, Jimmy, Tammy, Vardy, Rashford etc), enables a strong bench and also takes away the weekly captaincy decision fatigue that might arise in the other scenario too

            But its horses for courses and there's more than one way to set things up, as always

            1. Ask Yourself
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Yeah the problem for me is that they aren’t exactly unlucky to be conceding. Their xGC is nearly he exact same as their actual GC. So hard to ignore whistle Mane keeps scoring whilst KDB keeps blanking. Thinking the alternative play is PVA + Mane vs Robbo/TAA + Mane.
              Will give the defence two GWs with easy fixtures but if they keep acting up the double up is gone

              1. Ask Yourself
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 4 months ago

                Second and current option is Robbo/TAA + KDB *
                Hope they turn it around but KDB is the stinkiest option for me atm

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

                Yeah i don't think they've been overly unlucky to concede the goals they've conceded - they're outerforming their XGc afterall - but i do think (relative to other teams) they've been particularly unlucky not to keep more CS's

                Leicester & Sheff utd are setting the gold standard with Man city for CS's at the minute for example (5 each) but their respective XGc's are all currently worse than Liverpool, in the case of Sheff utd, dramatically so...

                Even Brighton have double the CS count of Liverpool from almost double the XGc - Burnley have double the CS count of Liverpool from a worse XGc etc etc

                It would only have taken an extra 2 or 3 CS's for Liverpool (quite reasonable from their underlying numbers vs. other sides) to add 20 or so points each onto TAA & Robbo's scores... if they had an extra 4 or 5 CS's (again not a massive statistical stretch based on how other teams are collecting CS's from huge XGc's) it would look even more rosy for the fullbacks

                So my, hopefully not misguided hunch is that that situation will somewhat correct itself with the passage of time, but zero guarantees unfortunately and we all know the strange statistical quirks the game can throw up

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

      A defense with TAA, Robbo, Janmaat, Lundstram and Soyuncu is too much of a headache?
      Would be TAA and Robbo playing every week with one spot left to fill.

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        If I go for the double up of TAA + Robbo it would be in a 4 at the back.
        Soy & Lund have very good fixtures and amazing value can't see myself benching them in the next 5-6.

        TAA - Soy - Lund are pretty much locked in a back 3 for me next few weeks.

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

          Thanks Karan as always!

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

        "stuck" with TAA, Lundstram, Soyuncu and Tomori. Finding it difficult to justify upgrading 1 to Robbo - with their price, form & fixtures

    25. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone else finding thag it is strangely tough to climb up the ranks this season? 9th season in now, this season is a weird one.. the drop in ranks on a bad gw is immense and even after good gws the ladder up is only a few thousand ranks

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Finding it undo able

    26. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Oh Jesus get a load of this.
      Many of us West Ham fans are fed up of Roberto and thought finally this would be our chance to see the legend Dave Martin get his chance, anyone but Roberto would do.
      It’s come out today that his contract requires him to be a “training ground goalkeeper”. Meaning he must be available at all training sessions to make saves from strikers.
      Roberto set to keep his place

      1. ElliotJHP
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        What does that even mean lol bloody hell West Ham out West Hamming themselves on this one

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Never heard of the idea in my life. Homegrown quota filling anyway. Why the club decided someone like this was worthy of a signing announcement video I will never know

          1. ElliotJHP
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Is the story on the web somewhere?

    27. Greko82
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Some help here gents. Who to play next gw:

      A) Lundstram
      B) Martial

      Team is:

      Pope-Heaton
      Lundstram-Robertson-Soy-Tomori-Maguire
      Mane-Son-Martial-Mount-Tielemans
      Jimi-Tammy-Vardy

      Thanks

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Always play the attacker. So Lundstram

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

        I think you might be better benching Tomori and possibly Mount there - and one of Maguire/Tielemans/Soy

        I'd be starting Martial & Lundy personally - Martial is playing up front so he'll likely get a chance or two and/or create a chance or two so worth buying a ticket in that lottery imo - especially with Henderson ineligible

      3. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I’m benching Lundstram in a similar position

        1. Greko82
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks