Pro Pundits - Sam

No room for the heart when playing FPL

Some Fantasy Premier League selections are made based on form, some on fixtures, some on a gut feeling and some come from the heart. 

This season I am learning that the heart should not be trusted where FPL is concerned.

This is something that I have always known and I have tried historically to base my choices on tangible evidence but this season one man crept in.

This was, in part, due to the price reduction he had at the start of the season but also due to a need for a talisman, someone I really trusted alongside my maverick John Lundstram (£5.1m), John McGinn (£5.8m), Dean Henderson (£4.7m) and Diego Rico (£4.3m) picks.

Harry Kane (£10.9m), should have been the perfect striker – playing in a team who made it all the way to the Champions League final and at the low price point of just £11.0m at the time.

However, Spurs have been far from their best this season and Kane far from his, playing more as a defensive midfielder under Mauricio Pochetino than a striker.

Fast forward to Gameweek 14, Kane nearly left my team but the arrival of Jose Mourinho changed things. Would Spurs improve? Would Kane play as an out and out striker again?

Would the Fantasy hauls return?

Suddenly it was the wrong time to get rid, especially as he had a price rise with other managers bringing him in.

However, my gut feeling (which should always be followed) was to switch him for Dele Alli (£8.6m) who I spoke at length about on every FPL show and podcast that week.

Nonetheless, I held Kane who failed to return when Dele did. This has been repeated in both Gameweeks 14 and 15.

The stay of execution is over, this week Kane will go.

Having watched Kane against Manchester United revert back to playing deeper when Spurs fell behind, whilst Dele was in and around the box making all the right runs, it was apparent which Spurs asset is the one to own and it’s the one playing as the number 10 not the meant to be playing as the number 9.

Having two transfers going into Gameweek 16 means that I am able to make a change in my strike force and midfield without taking a points hit. McGinn is the unfortunate casualty in order for me to bring in Dele.  

Whilst the Aston Villa man was fantastic in the early Gameweeks of the season the points have dried up of late and with a Kane downgrade up-top, I have plenty of budget to afford the upgrade to Dele. This leaves me with £8.2m for a third striker alongside Vardy and Abraham.

There are a few decent options in this price bracket. 

Raúl Jimenez (£7.7m), Danny Ings (£6.2m) and Lys Mousset (£5.1m) are the three in contention for the spot.

Having used the Members Area to compare the players the results are interesting.  

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

3,982 Comments Post a Comment
  1. El Lobito 10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    FYi Steve Cook isn't playing. Bournemouth will be much weaker without him, he's like a pitbull. Liverpool could hit them for three or more.

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He's probably throwing a sickie after the game he had against Salah last year.

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

    i'm looking at:

    gazza
    trent-soy-the lord
    kdb-mount-mane-zaha
    tammy-vardy-ings

    subs: tomori, tiels, dunk.

    wildcard still to play, i've not given it any thoughts so won't play this GW, likely saving it for 18/19.

    i badly, badly want alli in. think he'll do great deeds vs burnley.

    only options for getting all in are: [A] a direct switch for kdb/mane [which seems like madness]; [B] take a -4 hit to take out mount/zaha/tomori & downgrade someone else, probs dunk or tomori to kelly; or [C] sit tight, accept that i'll have to go without for another week.

    thoughts??

  3. istanbul05
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench in the right order guys?

    Pope,
    TAA, VVD, Lundstram,
    Mane, KDB, Alli, Zaha,
    Vardy, Abraham, Jimenez.

    Soyuncu, Cantwell, Kelly

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

    Play 3

    A: TAA
    B: Pereira
    C: Kelly
    D: Tamori
    E: Lundtrum

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      BCE

      1. Taegugk Warrior
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Bench TAA..?

        1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yes, bookmark this

    2. istanbul05
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      ABE

      1. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This

  5. Berge20
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This feels like a really basic question, so I have to be missing something (or something changed about the game and I didn't realize)....

    Why if I bought a player (Jimmy) at 7.4 and am trying to sell him today (current price of 7.7) can I only sell him for 7.4? I thought for each two tenths up, you could sell a player for .1 more?

    Feeling like an idiot. It's FPL, so usual....

    1. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You can sell him at 7.5

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Seems weird, you should be able to sell him for 7.5

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

      And if his price drops to 7.6, it won’t affect your selling price. It’ll still be at 7.5.

      1. Berge20
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Agree with all of you, but it will sell for 7.4. Totally don't get it.

  6. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This GW- would you start..
    1. Kelly.
    2. Cantwell.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      1

  7. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed.

    Is it worth doing Pukki & Jim ==> Tammy & Ings (-4)? Or KdB & Pukki ==> Tammy & Dilva? Or something else?

    Pope
    Soy / TAA / Lundstram
    Salah / KDB / Alli / Maddison
    Vardy / Pukki / Jim

    Bench: Button, Kelly, Guendouzi, Rico

  8. mash
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA Soyuncu Lundstram
    Mane KDB Maddison Mount
    Vardy Abraham Jiminez

    Buton Zaha Tomori Rico

    2FT, 0.9 in the bank

    Want Alli in this week. As I don't want to sell Mane or KDB, I will need to downgrade elsewhere to fund it.

    A) Zaha and Mount to Alli and Cantwell (plus 0.7 in the bank)
    B) Zaha and Maddison to Alli and Cantwell (plus 1.8 in the bank)
    C) Tomori and Maddison to Kelly and Alli (plus 0.5 in the bank)
    D) Mount and Jiminez to Alli and Mousset (plus 1.0 in the bank)

    A is my first choice at the moment, would you agree? Are there better options I've not considered?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A looks great

  9. Snapes on a Plane
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ryan or Guaita ? Who is a better pick?

    1. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guaita

    2. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Guaita

  10. Dopey44
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Got 2FT 0.6m. Appreciate advice

    A - Mount + Chilwell --> Alli + 4.2 def
    B - Mount + Robbo --> Alli + 5.4 def
    C - McGovern --> Martin (2FT next week)
    D - Anything else?

    Pope
    TAA Robbo Chilwell Lundstram
    Mane Maddison KDB
    Vardy Abraham Jiminez

    (McGovern) (Mount) (Kelly) (Dendo)

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  11. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which? 2 ft (my def. Ryan lund soy taa kely)

    A) mount to puli, gw17 2 ft, laca out
    B) lowton to wilems/aurier/dunk/shefield def., Gw17 2 ft, mount laca out

  12. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Lundstarm Tomori
    Mane Son Ali Tilimens
    Vardy Jiminez Lacazette

    Button Guendouzi Kelly Rico

    Lacazette Guendouzi and Jiminez to Salah Mousette Greenwood -8?

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Laca to Tammy first
      Tielemans upgrade.

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Guen to a playing bench lad

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      -8 in a week where rotation will hurt many is a massive risk

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

        This

  13. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    All set before I pack it in for the night?

    Heaton
    Soyuncu Lundstram TAA
    Alli(c) Son Mane KDB(v)
    Vardy Ings Abraham

    Pope Cantwell Montoya Kilman

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good team and ready to go.

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

      Change captaincy to Vardy and you are GTG

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Gtg
      Like the C pick.

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

      Thanks all

  14. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sterling to Mané? Salah?
    Tielemans to Pulisic / Maddison
    0.9 itb. No pool attack scares me...

    Pope
    TAA VVD Lundstram
    Sterling KDB Tielemans Zaha
    Vardy Abraham Jimenez

    Soyuncu Kelly Dendoncker

  15. Aubaaaaa
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who will score the least points this week?
    A. Abraham
    B. Jiminez
    C. Mousset

    1. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez

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

        Hard to say really.. Abraham and Jimenez play midweek. So they might be subbed off early.

  16. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Have ryan lund soy taa kely lowton, who is better for next 2-4 gwks before WC in gw18 or 20, lowton to:

    A) dunk
    B) wilems
    C) sheffield def.
    D) aurier

  17. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Will you Captain Vardy or Mane?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son

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

        Think I've just persuaded myself on Son as well... Fingers crossed. Last time I did he got 13 points so hoping for a repeat of that!

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

      Vardy... Liverpool playing midweek worries me. Same goes for Spurs for that matter if you are considering Son or Alli

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

        Spurs already through and Mourinho said he is going to rest some players in that game. Think Son and Alli should be fine

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

      Vardy i think due to possible Mane rotation

  18. Lionel Ronaldo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Price changes in _ hours and _ minutes ?

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      After 1 hr 20 mins

      1. Nightf0x
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        1:30 am GMT

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

    Which combintion would you prefer long term?

    A) Jim + Alli + Henderson (3-4-3)
    B) Rash + Pulisic + Gazza (3-4-3)
    C) Alli + Pulisic + Henderson (3-5-2)
    D) Jim + Pulisic + Guaita/Hendo/Gazza (3-4-3)

    1. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Long-term as in until the end of the season? A, otherwise B.

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

        Always subject to changes of course..

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How long term? I like C but Henderson has terrible fixtures GW20-24.

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

        Should have said midterm or not specified it I suppose. But thanks for the contribution. I like C very much too indeed

  20. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thinking Martial & Jimi out but who in?

    A) Son & Mousett
    B) Alli & Ings
    C) Zaha & Tammy
    D) just Zaha and keep Jimi

    1. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I would not lose Jimenez, but option C looks good in the short/medium term.

  21. Astronautovic
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    To afford Tammy, would you downgrade
    A) pope to mccarthy/martin
    B) martial to grealish
    C) son to alli

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

      1. Astronautovic
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks mate

    2. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not C

      1. Astronautovic
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks man

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B, get ahead of the curve.

      1. Astronautovic
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks man

  22. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who is the best possibility rested..?
    A. Mane
    B. TAA

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  23. The Hoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks for your help on the previous page... have narrowed it down to:

    A. Tierney/Jorginho -> Kelly(or other cheap def)/Alli (and then transfer B next week)
    OR
    B. Auba/Jorginho-> Rashford/Alli

    Obvs Tierney also has to go but I think that’s less urgent

    Henderson
    TAA/Soy/Lund/Tierney
    Mane/Mount/Maddison
    Auba/Vardy/Tammy

    Gazza/Rico/Jorginho/Dendoncker

    1.8m ITB, 2 FT

    1. Astronautovic
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. dontyouknowimloko
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough choice but B looks best.

      I just did Aub/McG to Tammy/Alli

      Gooner but Aub has to go. Lucky brace v Norwich (first pen saved) then well off the pace v Brighton.

      Rashford better for next week really but might as well get him now. City not exactly solid recently.

      I’d play Dendoncker over Tierney. Goal midweek and might score in batches.

  24. Alli
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    2 FT
    A) Jimé > Tammy
    B) Rico > Kelly

    Ryan
    Robbo - Söyüncü - Aurier
    Mané(vc) - Son - KDB - Pulisic
    Vardy(c) - Jiménez - Ings

    Button - Cantwell - Lundstram - Rico

  25. migas2k7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tomori to arnold for -4? I belive chelsea will conceed.

  26. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which? Have 2 ft (my def. Ryan lund soy taa kely)

    A) mount to puli, gw17 2 ft, laca out
    B) lowton to wilems/aurier/dunk/shefield def., Gw17 2 ft, mount laca out

  27. Heiro
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If I have two transfers this week and don't use any.

    Will I have two next GW?

    1. Taegugk Warrior
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Y

    2. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes you will, but at the same time whether you use one or none, you will still have two next week. Might as well use one.

  28. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Aguero triple captain at Arsenal, you heard it here first

    1. Lionel Ronaldo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Come back posting after it fails too.

      1. popcoin
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Of course

  29. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Are we sleeping on Rashford?

    I am no fan of his or United but he has 92 points. Dont forget he has missed 2 penalties and returned in a high percentage of his games.

    200 point player there

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

      Yep he looks a good option

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He's massively improved since Martial came back from injury, left inside forward is definitely his best position.

    3. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I’m 100% getting next week. For Aubameyang. Which makes me think I should just get him this week, not expecting much from Arsenal at West Ham on a cold Monday night

  30. blind faith
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:
    A) Kelly
    B) Soyuncu
    C) Lundstrum
    D) Aurier

    1. Nightf0x
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A or B

      1. Taegugk Warrior
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        TAA