Pro Pundits - Andy

Deciding which Leicester midfielder to sign for their appealing fixtures

Slight reprieve. That’s how I’d describe my Fantasy Premier League performance in Gameweek 12.

After several poor scores and a big rank drop it was refreshing to finally post a good score.

I went through with my plan to “reset” my team, and brought in Raúl Jiménez (£7.3m) and Jamie Vardy (£9.6m). With a score of 78, minus eight points for the hit, it was a solid overall score of 70 that saw me climb from 993,288 to 655,444.

How I got on in Gameweek 12

Another week, another benching of Çaglar Söyüncü (£4.9m). I’ve given up worrying about benching points. With so many cheap defenders offering great value it’s inevitable, and with the busy Christmas period coming up having options is not a bad thing.

It is worth noting, however, that Harry Maguire (£5.3m) once again blocked the points without earning his own, and after losing £0.1m on him already, it won’t be long until he leaves my team.

Maguire isn’t the front runner for a change this week though. I’ve spoken before about prioritising my transfers, and looking at my squad for Gameweek 13 it’s Andriy Yarmolenko (£6.0m) who is likely to be the first out the door.

My bus team for Gameweek 13

I do have some concerns over Mohamed Salah (£12.3m) and the ankle that is troubling him. That said, I am hopeful due to his exclusion from the Egypt squad and the fact that he’s still managed to start each of the last three Premier League matches.

There are media reports out there he may miss out this weekend but it seems much more sensible to wait and see what Jurgen Klopp has to say on Friday.

I’ll have a very close eye on the Crystal Palace game though. With Brighton, Everton, Bournemouth and Watford to come in the following four Gameweeks, I am keen to have a fit and firing Liverpool player for captaincy, and that may well have to be Sadio Mané (£12.1m), even if it does feel like a sideways move.

If Salah is out this week he’ll come in as part of a hit with another transfer that I will explain in just a moment. Like last week, I’ll be looking to not fall behind in future transfers and will take hits where necessary.

To find a replacement for Yarmolenko I’ve looked at the Season Ticker in the Members Area, sorted over the next 5 Gameweeks by attacking potential.

As a Vardy owner, it makes for great viewing to see Leicester top of the pile. It’s difficult to add more Liverpool players in with the prices I’d have to pay, and there’s no way I can trust any of the Arsenal midfielders.

That leaves me with Leicester midfielders, with James Maddison (£7.5m) and Youri Tielemans (£6.7m) the two men I’m currently looking at bringing in. I’ve discounted Ayoze Pérez (£6.1m) and Harvey Barnes (£5.9m) because I want players that are absolutely nailed on ahead of the busy Christmas period and would be worried about a lack of minutes for these two.

Choosing to go for Maddison and Tielemans is a very good example of underlying statistics versus the eye test.

When you watch Leicester play they are great form. They have the ability to control games, are quick to win the ball back, and you can see Maddison and Tielemans looking for the ball in behind to Vardy any time they have it. When you go to the Members Area however they haven’t been performing as well as you might think. Below is the last 4 Gameweeks…

If it wasn’t for the eye test I’d probably be slightly put off by these numbers. Given how well they and Leicester, in general, are playing I’m going to rely on the fact the fixtures may well provide better opportunities to increase their output.

With the price difference being £0.8m I’m actually siding slightly towards Tielemans at this point. He’s shooting inside the box slightly more and is keeping up his creativity without relying on set pieces.

That’s not something to turn your nose up to, however, paying the extra cash for Maddison knowing he has free-kicks and corners to fall back on is nice, but when you’re looking to conserve money wherever possible, the Belgian is probably the man for me.

With nine Gameweeks coming between now and January 1, we are in for a rollercoaster ride.

I look at my team and feel like I spent eight points last week to get closer to the so called ‘template’. Bringing in a Leicester midfielder this week isn’t exactly revolutionary either.

With a 300,000 rank boost last week though, it feels pointless looking to break the template for the sake of it.

My strategy at the moment is to make more medium to long-term moves, with absolutely nailed on players. This will let me focus on making moves with higher priority, and being able to react to anything that FPL might throw at us in the coming weeks.

There’s lots of Gameweeks to manage, there will be lots of twists and turns in a short space of time. I’m looking forward to the ride.

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

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944 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Daghe Munegu
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Yarmolenko to Tielemans - 4?

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

      Go for it. Hit Will easily be repayed thiis gw or next

  2. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Jose being back is a delight to entire premier league and media.

    Its just not the same without him. The post match interviews and press conferences are top notch, got humor and his onfeild antics makes it worth the while

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

      I'm gunning for the United Spurs match now 😀

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

        Jose will receive a warm welcome by united fans. No doubt

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

          It's the exit after match I'm more interested in bro 😉

    2. Smell the Lavender
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Agree 100%. Most managers just provide boring answers. A humble but confident Jose could be great for the EPL.

  3. cpo001
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    The standard move - Salah to Mane
    The quietly hopeful move - no transfers and keep Salah
    The maverick move - Salah and Greenwood to Rashford and Richarlison (-4)

    Which to go for?

    1. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 4 months ago

        The logical move - wait for more information

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

      A friend in my mini league just sent me this. Well p***ed?
      https://www.teamtalk.com/news/double-blow-for-liverpool-as-key-pair-ruled-out-of-crystal-palace-clash

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

        It's an article from team talk.. yesterday.
        Both trained today.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Cantwell going down in price tonight?

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

      Tomori or lund first on bench for Robertson ?

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Lund

      2. Pinturicchio10
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Tomori last sub surely.

        • Pieterke30
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Lund of course!!!

        • Bouncebackability
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          You genuinely don’t know the answer to that?! There is no hope for you my friend.

      3. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Best forward & mid combo for 17.9? (Have Mane, KDB, Vardy & Abraham)

        A. Kane/Auba & Tielemans
        B. Laca & Maddison/Pulisic
        C. Jimi & Son
        D. Sterling & Mousett
        E. Other

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

        Pope
        TAA - Lundy - Soy - Rico
        Mane - Raz - KDB - Mount
        Vardy - Abraham

        (4.0 Connolly Cantwell Tomori)
        1ft & 1.6m

        Down to these two options for me:

        A) KDB & Connolly ➡️ Tielemans & Jimenez
        B) Sterling & Connolly ➡️ Tielemans & Kane

        Prefer Tielemans over Maddison.

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

          B

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

            Jimenez better than Kane (?) I prefer him atm
            Don't know how Mou will play him.
            Could well be a wise move to sell Mount for Tielemans & keep Raz for this gw

        2. Feed tha Sheep
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          B

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

          Easy save

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

        Any ideas on where to use my 2FT please? 0.1m ITB.

        Pope
        Cancelo - Robbo - Lund
        KDB - Sterling - Mount - James
        Kane - Abraham - Vardy

        McGovern - Rico - Soy - Nakamba

        1. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 4 months ago

            James and Cancelo I'd say. Soyuncu good shout for defence. Not sure about mid as I've no idea what James' value is to be honest. Or Cancelo for that matter 😀

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

              Cheers I was think this two butntotal value is 11.5m which isn't great

          • JustPark
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Cancelo to Sheffield/Palace def, play Soy this week.

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

              Cheers got Lund so will look at palace

            2. zotter
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Yes. Cahill imo

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

              & JAmes to Lei player

        2. syke63
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Who would you get in to complete this lot? Have three Leicester.
          Schmeichal
          Tomori, Lundstrum, TAA, Rico

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

            Newcastle Defender

            1. syke63
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Have Lascelles atm, was thinking swap for a teammate or maybe Villa.

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

                Whoops
                Got Lascells too
                Janmaat also a good option

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

          Has Klopp give us an update on Salah today? Just someone on social media says he seen it on sky sports news today.

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

            Check last page
            He was pictured training

          2. Pinturicchio10
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Nope.

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

              Thanks guys

            • Rainer
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Will tomorrow, but he cant really be trusted.

              Trained but the ankle can't be 100% right.

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

                70-80% might be enough to haul 😛
                I'm gunning for this GW now !

          3. Rainer
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Robbo!

            https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1197564989084766210

            Them international injuries...

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

              Ha ha

            2. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Sigh, so much for injuries...

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

            Boring question: Best bench fodder

            A) Dendoncker
            Or
            B) Hayden
            ?

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Hayden, even Nakamba can do the job

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

              Hayden. Two syllables. Simple.

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

              Thanks guys

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

              Hayden because he can't get injured in the Europa League and can't play cb 😆

          5. balint84
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Son to captain?

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

              I would consider it if I owned him

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

              Captain America?

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

              Might not even start. Who knows how mou will set up

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

                Defensively

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

            Anything on Pulisic?

            1. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Nope, tomorrow

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

            Who else in here considering Salah captain if fit?

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

              \o/

            2. zotter
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Me

            3. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              What about Vardy?

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

                © atm
                Feeling Salah haul though 😮

                1. FC Hakkebøf
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 4 months ago

                  Im really undecided on Mane/Vardy my self. Even KDB could be a great pick this week

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

                    Yep.
                    Tough choice

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

                Brighton are actually very decent side at home. Won't be an easy game either.

            4. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Palace can be tough. Prefer Vardy

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

                Brighton can be tough too

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

              Between Salah, Sterling and Vardy for me

          8. FC Hakkebøf
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            GTG? 1 FT 2.5 ITB

            Gazza
            TAA Soy Lund
            Mane (C) KDB Son Mount
            Vardy Abraham Jimenez
            ____
            Button; Hayden Tomori Kelly

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

              Mount to Tielemans perhaps? Or martial

              1. FC Hakkebøf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 4 months ago

                The 2.5 is a buffer in case I want Sterling / Salah for Son or Robbo for Tomori. Could even do Son + Kelly to Martial + Robbo next week for free.

                I got Mount for 6.0. Not sure why I should get rid tbh

          9. zes
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Thoughts on Saint Maximin? 5th in the xGI table for midfielders over the last 4 GWs, 2nd over the last 2. Passes the eye test and good short term fixtures. Worth a punt at 5.6?

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

              Great shout

            2. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              If 5.5-6.0 is your budget then most definetely. Otherwise I would look for a Chelsea or Leicester mid. Martial also

            3. Holmes
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Yep

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

            G2G? On a -4 as it stands.

            Pope
            TAA Soyuncu Chambers
            Salah Martial Maddison Pulisic
            Aubameyang
            (C) Vardy Abraham

            Button Tomori Cantwell Hanley

            1. FC Hakkebøf
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              New article buddy

          11. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Dunk suspended and Webster injured. Brighton with 6th worst home record as it stands.

            Vardy (c)

          12. Gizzachance
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            if salah is confirmed fit, would you do ?
            A kdb to mane
            B kdb to son (w ham an bourne next) would block the mane move for a couple gw
            C save kdb for at least this week, re-asses next gw
            cheers

          13. dezille
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            A couple of options that I'm tinkering with:

            A) Son > Maddison, allowing Pukki > Rashford the following week
            B) Pukki > Jimenez (bench one of Rico, Lund or Soy)
            C) Bench Pukki & play all 3 of those defenders

            Totally undecided about Spurs assets and due to low ownership (fear of higher ownership value mids). If I do keep him for this week, then he gets next week as well at home to Bmouth. Rashford is looking dangerous and although bad upcoming fixtures, do not enjoy not owning.

            Cheers!

          14. HD7
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            1 FT, 1.3M ITB

            Gazza
            Robertson | TAA | Rico | Lundstram
            Mane | KDB | Maddison
            Vardy | Abraham | Jimenez

            Button | Willems | Mount | Hayden

            A) Save a transfer
            B) Mount to Richa for 1 GW punt Captain (plays Norwich) and then get Pulisic

            *Bought Mount for 6M