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. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    TAA Lundstarm Tomori
    Mane Son Ali Tilimens
    Vardy Jiminez Lacazette

    Button Guendouzi Kelly Rico

    Mane to Salah but will Mane actually be rested?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No, keep

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

        If you could bring in Salah as well for a -8 would you?

        Tilimens/Lacazette/Tomori
        Salah/Greenwood/target

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Not for -8

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

            My team is boring though and I think Salah and Mane will outscore Lacazette Tilimens and a -8 over the next two?

  2. Mr_Barbs
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    1FT. Any thoughts or save?

    A) Cancelo > Kelly
    B) Mount > Pulisic
    C) Pope > Guiata
    D) Save

    Pope
    TAA, Lundtsram, Aurier
    Mane, Son, Maddison, Mount
    Abraham, Vardy(C), Mousset

    Button, Soyuncu, Cantwell, Cancelo

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

      I'm thinking about finally moving Pope on this week, for Gaza though.
      Seems the perfect time.

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

        Thanks! I think it's the best time. I already have aurier so don't fancy the double up!

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Save

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

    Play 1:
    Heaton
    Pope

    Not too sure if it matters, but have 3 Leicester players in my squad and no Spurs. Would it make more sense to play Pope then?

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      My dilemma also, currently on Pope

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

    Do I give kane 1 more week?

    Henderson
    Trent Soy lundy
    Kdb maddison mane pulisic
    Kane vardy ings

    Button grealish rico jannmat

    1ft .5itb

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

      Yes

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do, I'm considering captaining the future knight of the realm. He's a good record Vs Burnley.

    3. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He gets one more chance today

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ditch

  5. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    First on bench?

    A) Cantwell
    B) Soyuncu

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

  6. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Dilva anyone?

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

      I think he is a good option actually

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      My wife has had him for majority of the season and had done my absolute head in

    3. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He's done well, but I think the time to sign was during their easier run

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

    Best option please?

    A Pope > Gaza
    B Wickham (3rd sub) > Mousset/ Greenwood
    C Martial & Jim > Perez & Jesus -4

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

      I actually like option B with Mousset

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

    Bench order correct? Good to go?

    Gaz
    TAA Rob Lord
    Mane KDB Son Alli
    (P)arty Abra Mousset

    (Soyuncu Cantwell Rico)

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Soy over Mane

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

        Are you serious dude. No thanks.

        1. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Nah was more tongue in cheek mate. It’s a good team, ready to go

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

            Cheers. Good luck.

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

          Bet you won't be saying that if Mane is rested.

  9. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What are Mane owners doing with his imminent benching against Bournemouth?

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

      Captaining

    2. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Playing but not captaining.

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

      starting, hoping for a brace when he comes on at 70. or liverpool 3-0 after 1st half and full rest for Mane. In any case, it would be stupid to bench him and unwise to captain him.

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

      Playing, not capping

    5. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Playing and captaining mo

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice!!

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

      Play (V).

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

      Are you sure he will be benched?

      1. TOPCAT1960
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        seems to be the rumour here this morning - but dont blame this site if it goes pete tong

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

          On WC and can't decide if i go Mane or Salah

  10. Blue&White85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is it the right call to bench Mount?

    Pope
    TAA VVD Lundstram Aurier Soyuncu
    Mane Sterling Zaha
    Vardy Abraham

    Subs: Button Mount Dendoncker Greenwood

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mount in Lundstram out imo

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks.

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

      Play Mount bench Soy

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks.

  11. NielsvanDelft
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Done the coin toss! Salah the captain, who's with me?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me!

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

      I m in

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

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

      If I owned I would 100 percent do

    5. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah the time has come to gamble

  12. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Robertson Aurier Soyuncu
    Salah KDB Dele Traore
    Vardy Abraham Jimenez

    Button Lundstrom Rico Dendonker

    1. G2G ?.
    2. Team/bench correct ?
    2. Bench correct order ?

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

      Lund for traore

      1. Blue&White85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Agree with this.

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

      Lund for traore

      Order is button traore dendo rico 🙂

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

    Which keeper to bring in.

    A. Gazzaniga
    B. Guaita
    C. Ryan

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B if you can afford

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

      B

  14. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to play?

    A) Martial
    B) Kelly

    1. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  15. fridge
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning all

    Pope
    TAA. Lundstram. Soyuncu
    Maddison. Alli. KDB. Salah
    Ings. Jiminez. Vardy
    Button. Tomori. Donker. Montoya

    Jiminez > Abraham for free?

    Still have my wildcard to use at some point

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't.

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

      I'm tempted with the same move.
      Will probably leave it though as Abraham limped off the last match

  16. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    who to play?

    A) Kelly (wat)
    or
    B) Soyuncu (avl)

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      B

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

      B

  17. Better Call Raul
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Messed this up first time so trying again:

    1FT and 0.2 itb

    Henderson
    TAA-Robbo-Lundstram
    Mount-Mane-KdB-Maddison
    Vardy(c)-Jimenez-Abraham

    Button-Soy-Cantwell-Rico

    Save FT? Not really buying into the Spurs hype

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

      Yup, save.

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

    Can't wait for the gameweek to start. Let's go Mo!!!

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

    I feel like capping Alli v Burnley is like when we shouldn’t have captained anyone v Stoke but you do it anyway...

  20. Blackhorse
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Everyone, captain Harry kane this round. Trust that.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If you can't trust a first post from a new account, what can you trust?

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        The government?

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 3 months ago

          A black horse

        • Blackhorse
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I'm telling you, put the arm band on Harry this round

    2. Jude Rooney
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Jimenez and Cantwell or Ings and Mount?

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

        First option

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

          But hard to say in isolation, i have Vardy Rash Tammy over Jimenez as i think they are better options.

      2. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tough one

      3. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Ings cantwell

      4. Jude Rooney
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers - I'm sticking with Jimenez

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

      WC, gtg?

      Guaita
      Trent Robbo Aurier Lundstram
      Mane Alli Mount
      Vardy Rashford Tammy

      Martin Cantwell Rico Dendo

      A) Rashford, Aurier, Dendo
      B) Greenwood, Willems, KDB

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

        There's a lack of Pukki.

    4. james 101
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      GTG / anything you’d change?

      Hendo
      TAA Lunds Soyu
      Mane(vc) Son Pulisic Alli
      Vardy(c) Abraham Jimmy

      (Button. Maddison. Kelly. Rico.)

      1FT and 0.8m in the bank if required. Happy to save it though!

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks. And good luck!

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

        Gtg

        1. james 101
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers mate.

      3. bluenose82
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Benching Maddison!
        I have exactly the same problem and just cant seem to do it.

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

      Son or vardy for captain?

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        V

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Vardy for me. He's partying.

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

      gazza button
      lund tomori vvd digne soy
      mane pulisic alli madd martial
      vardy ings nketiah

      2.3itb 1ft
      suggestions?
      martial the obvious pick bc i dont see digne dropping

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

      Who to play? Have Henderson as GK
      A) Lundstram
      B) Willems

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        L

    8. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Can’t freaking decide (c) between Vardy, Mane and Dele, just Vardy seems a bit boring...

      1. james 101
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Consistency is not exciting.

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Points aren't boring. Being on the bench is.

      3. Kiwi Don
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Same, Alli seems logical but if Vardy hauls it will hurt your rank. Plus he is on pens.
        I just think villa at home have been really good this year.

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

        tough one for sure, if it wasnt for manes rotation risk I would 100% choose him

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

      Play Lundy or Kelly?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lund

      2. dtzx31
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hah mate, same question as I have...

    10. dtzx31
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who to bench? Lundstram or Martin Kelly?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Kelly

      2. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        K

    11. Weasel51
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Play one:

      A) Cantwell
      B) Mount

      Captain one:

      A) Vardy
      B) Mané
      C) Son