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>Head of Partnerships, People and Product. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, FPL Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

3,982 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flying Dutchman
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Lundstram or Aurier?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      both or A

      1. Flying Dutchman
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        My defense is Soy, TAA, Lund and Aurirer
        Lund's high ownership scares me that's the problem

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Lund must start against norwich...they cud score 2 or 3

        2. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Bench Soy

      2. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aurier

  2. FirMinaMiMo
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Armband options to!!!

    A vardy
    B mane
    C son
    D tammy

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      Party

      1. FirMinaMiMo
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yu mean this week also a vardy party???? 🙂

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

      A

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

      B Mane

  3. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who is the best cheap GK for the foreseeable future?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Schmeichel, Guita, Hnerderson in that order

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

        Hendo is better than guiata

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

          SHU defense regressing

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

        Dubravka above hendo

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          agree

    2. FirMinaMiMo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Krul haha!!!

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

    Please help. Play 2 from those 5:

    1. Soyuncu (currently)
    2. Lundstram(currently)
    3. Ings
    4. Cantwell
    5. Kelly

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      23

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

      23

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

      Wht are yu telling mate...yu mean that we hve to select any 2 from 3,4,5????

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

        Any 2 from 5 listed

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

      23

    5. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      23.

  5. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottom of previous page

    What to do here chaps?

    Guaita
    Lundstram Soyuncu TAA
    Mane Mount KDB Maddison
    Vardy Mousset Laca

    McGovern Saiss Dendoncker Rico

    2m ITB and 1 FT

    A) Saiss ➡ Aurier
    B) Saiss Mount ➡ Kelly Alli -4
    C) Laca Mount ➡ Tammy Son(c) -4
    D) Laca ➡ Kane (c)
    E) Save FT

    1. stumanchuu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like c

    2. Mull
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      E

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      E.

      Definitely not D.

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

      I like all except D.
      B or C is the best. Prefer C more

    5. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B coz u want lacca against the worst defense currently in westham

  6. RashFraud
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    80 points behind in ML. Captain Alli or Vardy?

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

      Vardy

    2. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Alli still a Differential

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

      How good at FPL is the leader?

  7. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Dunk or Lund?

  8. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    On WC, would you have
    A) Rashford (Dendo)
    B) KDB (Greenwood)

    Guaita
    Trent Robbo Aurier Lundstram Kelly
    Mane Alli Mount Canwell X
    Vardy Tammy X

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You have robbo on wc?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Still believe

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

      Why not Ings?
      Then switch him to Pukki in gw19

    4. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      KDB a must and season keeper for me.

    5. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A defensive Liverpool double up on a WC, before they blank might not be such a good idea.

  9. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any new issues come about with any players in the last 24 hours?

  10. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Want a Matip (5.3) replacement, 0.7 ITB

    Baldock - Soyuncu - Aurier - Tomori - ?

    Who to get in?
    Do not rate CRY defense highly right now.

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

      Jetro Willems or Dunk

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

    I'm really surprised that Tammy didn't rise last night

    1. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It'll all make sense if he gets reduced minutes today.

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

        He should in my opinion but my name isn't Frank Lampard though

  12. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Martin or Henderson? I brought both on my wildcard two week ago with the intention to play Henderson all games but now I want to play Martin to avoid the Sheffield double up. And Martin is at home against Arsenal...

    a. play Martin
    b. play Henderson

    Martin
    TAA, Lundstram, Aurier
    Salah, Son(C), KDB(VC), Pulisic, Maddison
    Vardy, Ings

    Henderson, Kelly, Greenwood, Williams

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

      not two weeks ago, only a week ago - 🙂 but two games have passed since...

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'd play hendo

    3. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bench order correct. ?

      Kelly, Fleck, Rico

      Cheers

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Looks good to me

        • Jullepuu
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yes

        • the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks lads

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

        GTG?

        Hendo
        TAA, Aurier, Lund
        Mane, KDB, Alli, Mount
        Vardy (C), Jimmy, Tammy

        Button, Soy, Cantwell, Rico

        Bench correct?

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          G2G

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

        Any salah captaincies here???? 🙂

      4. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        looks like pulisic will not start as he hasnt trainned much yesterday keeping mind of crucial ucl do or die match ...

        1. tokara
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Lamp press suggest he will start to me

      5. Pomp and Circumstance
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        which Newcastle defender is better--Willems (4.6) or Clark (4.3) ?

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Willems

      6. tokara
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tiel to D.Silva, would u do it?

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

          No. Rather get Maddison for that price

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

        Please help. Bench 1

        1. Soyuncu
        2. Pulisic
        3. Ings
        4. Robertson

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

          1

        2. the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Tough decision

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

            My team

            Hendo
            TAA-Robbo-Soy-Lund
            KDB-Mane-Maddison
            Tammy-Ings-Vardy

            Button-Pulisic-Guendouzi-Lowton

            1FT

        3. # Young Gun SEAMUS #
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          2

      8. Fpl-king
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Son or Alli?

        1. the dom 1
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I went with Ali for a 1 week punt.

        2. Pomp and Circumstance
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          they're both good; Mourinho appears to rate Alli highly (says he should be playing second striker position) and he has been in form

          it might be good having both in a few weeks, with one of them for now

          1. King Kun Ta
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Oops too late...have both of them allready! 🙂

      9. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        When his manager says he is an incredible player it usually means he is getting benched.

        Right?

        1. ‘Tis the Season
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Phil Foden is that you..

      10. Whats the Mata?
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        RP:

        Which one would you bench?
        A. Lund
        B. Soy
        C. Kelly

        1. Eleven Hag
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          soy

        2. TAB
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Soy

      11. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Would you start Martial this week, bench or sell?

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

          Sell

      12. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Order on the bench is good:

        kelly, cantwell, soyuncu

        Or should I change?

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

          Soy first

      13. Champions united
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Play cantwell or lunds
        Or douglas >zaha and play zaha 1 ft left

        1. King Kun Ta
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Lunds

      14. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Is vardy on any sorts of record??gonna decide who to put the armband on..

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          His own record of most consecutive goals?

          1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Okkk

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

          On road to break his own record of scoring in 11 consecutive games (I guess!)

          Currently on 7

          1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Thanks

      15. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Last one.

        Would u do Roberto > Gazzaniga for free?

        Other GK is Pope.

        Or roll FT.

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

          Roll.

      16. King Kun Ta
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Pope to

        A Guaita
        B Henderson
        C Ryan

        Kelly and Lund allready in my team! Ta!

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

          Guaita

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

          I’ve gone for double blades but tbh no-one is keeping regular clean sheets except Leicester right now so probably doesn’t matter who you pick.

          1. King Kun Ta
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Keep Pope then and roll over my FT?

        3. Abra Dubravka
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Keep Pope.
          I had Hendo and Lund but didn’t like to double up

      17. The_Fish
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Everyone captaining Vardy again?

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

          it's between him and Alli for me

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

            Going for Vardy because owning Alli is differential enough.

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

          Based on captaincy polls it looks distributed between Mane, Vardy, son

      18. pjanns
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        GTG?? Hope you all have a good GW. 🙂

        Henderson
        TAA - Soy - Lunds
        Mane - KDB - Son - Maddison
        Jiminez - Vardy - Abraham

        Cantwell - Rico - Montoya

        1 FT, 0,9ITB

        thanks a lot!

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

          GTG

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

            Thanks!