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. NotsoSpursy
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which one??

    Play - Cantwell (saints home)

    Play - Soy (villa away)

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

      Cantwell

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

      Villa will score so Cantwell

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

      Cantwell

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

      Cantwell can do well against saints

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

    Captain Aurier locked in. So long, suckers!

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

      lol

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

      Good luck 🙂

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

      I salute you

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

      Red card imminent

  3. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    No pressing issues. Son to Alli for free?

    1. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Son may haul Alli may not swings and roundabouts

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

        Well you could make that argument about any transfer. Alli’s on fire and is 1.2 million cheaper.

        1. El Matador
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Both could haul and you've potentially wasted a transfer

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

      I’d save.

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

      Yep

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

      No

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

      Go for it.

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

      Not a gamble I would take tbh. The likelihood of it backfiring is too high for me. In the game before the United game son was just a whisker away from a massive haul. Son, or both, for me

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

    Can someone please tell me how to access the stat tables used on the scoutcast? Cheers

  5. Elfozzie 42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Really struggling with who to bench

    Guita
    Lundy, TAA, Soy
    Mount, Son, Mane, De Bruyne
    Jimi, Ings, Vardy

    Have: Kelly & Cantwell on bench
    Thoughts: I'm seeing Pukki/Norwich back in scoring mood so I feel they've a good chance of hitting the net today, but then again manager change at Watford could mean a better performance and I already have Palace cover.

    1) GTG
    2) Kelly for Lundy
    3) Kelly for Soy

  6. Squeazy
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I have to play 1 of these:

    A) Cantwell (SHU)
    B) Fleck (nor)
    C) Söyüncü (avl)
    D) Kelly (wat)

    Any thoughts?

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

      I’m on cantwell but keep changing

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

      Bench boost!

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

        Hadn’t even crossed my mind!

    3. Mona Lisa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tough, B

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

      Thanks all.

  7. Le _ Professeur
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which 2 would you play from ( Ings - Willems - Kelly - Lundstram ) ?

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

      Ings lund

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

    Start one:

    A) Cantwell
    B) Mount

    Captain one:

    A) Vardy
    B) Mané
    C) Son

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

      B and A then C in that order

    2. Le _ Professeur
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B - C

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

      Mount and Vardy

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

      Mount
      Vardy

    5. Mona Lisa
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B,C

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

    Have Henderson as GK
    Who to bench?
    A) Lundstram
    B) Willems
    C) Soy

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

      Willems

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

    Gtg?

    Nervous with first -4 of the season...

    Henderson
    TAA, Aurier, Lundstram
    Mane, Kdb, Alli, Son
    Vardy (C), Abraham, Jimenez

    Subs: Button, Cantwell, Soyuncu, Rico

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

      Crazy how you afforded that team? What’s your value

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

        106.8

  11. JAYPEE
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play:
    Lundstram, Connolly or Tomori

  12. Cheshire Duck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Should I play Fleck or Jordan Ayew ?

    1. Le _ Professeur
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ayew imo

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

      I’d go for Ayew

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

      Fleck

  13. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Morning folks. Gtg?

    Pope
    TAA Lund Kelly
    Salah KdB Son(C) Pulisic
    Vardy Rash Mousse

    Button Soy Guilbert Dendo

    0.2 itb, 1ft

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

    Good to go?
    Ryan
    Lundy Trent Soy
    Mane son De bruyne Maddy
    Jimmy Tammy Vardy

    Kelly Cantwell Rico
    Play any of the subs ?

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

    Bench one from each of these:

    A) Soyuncu (avl)
    B) Lundstram (nor)

    1) Tielemans (avl)
    2) Cantwell (SHU)

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

      A2

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

      A2 but close

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

      Soy
      Cantwell

  16. El Magico5
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who to bench?

    A) Lund
    B) Soy
    C) Willems
    D) Ings

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

      C

    2. Le _ Professeur
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Same dilemma 🙁

      1. El Magico5
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        It's a tough one! Im on C at the minute, its been like that all week so should just leave it. Cant take some more willems points on the bench again though....

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

      Bbbb

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

      Lund... fancy a Norwich win..

      1. El Magico5
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        C, B and A so far. Cheers fellas

    5. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      Willems

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

    Choose one for this week only:

    A. Puli (EVE A)

    B. Madds (AVL A)

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

      Maddison since puli MIGHT be rested

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

    Gtg? Or one of below?

    A) Mount > Pulisic
    B) Pope > Guiata
    C) Save

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

    Button, Soyuncu, Cantwell, Cancelo

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      Save and reassess

  19. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who are your differential players (

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

      *Ignore apologies

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

        Surely we should acknowledge apologies?

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

      Salah captain and jwp

  20. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    G2G? Right benching order?

    Henderson
    Robertson-TAA-Lundstram
    Mount-Mane-Son(c)-Maddison
    Vardy-Jimenez-Tammy

    Button-Cantwel-Soyuncul-Kelly

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

      Tough that one. I currently have Soy first on my bench, then Cantwell. Would consider Kelly first

  21. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Everyone captaining Vardy?

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

      Thinking about KDB .....radical

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No . VC

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

      Captaincy poll is available to see

  22. Ole.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Someone posted a twitter yesterday that's accurate for Chelsea teams, what is it please?

  23. BigPointDipper
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bruyne/trossard to Dilva/Alli... worth it? What ya recon...

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

    Pukki to score 20 golazos this season?

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

      Zero chance of this

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

        atleast not PL goals, maybe all comps

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

        A couple goals before new year and he might make it.

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

        Hardly zero

  25. dshv
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Kelly lund soy
    Sterling mane mount alli
    Tammy kane vardy

    Bench: baldock dendo rico

    Captain vardy or kane?
    Play kelly over baldock?

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Vardy
      Yes

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

      Vardy kelly

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

    Repost. Help a brother out.

    Choose one for this week only:

    A. Puli (EVE A)

    B. Madds (AVL A)

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

      (*i have several siblings)

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

      B for me
      cuz i've a feeling that pulisic might be benched and come off

      he's the only player who didn't rotate with an important game against lille looming

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

      Madz... fancy a Everton upset

  27. Totti
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    am i bonkers to captain mousset ? 😀

    1. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A little :p

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

        🙂

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

      Rested and vs the worst home defence in the league...it doesn’t sound mad to me.

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

      Don’t do it

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

    Any news on Tammy's knock from Lampard?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks like he’s been training.

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

      He should play because everton ares not slouches haha!

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You called.

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

      thanks lads

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

    Everyone is soo sure about (c) Vardy but AV record at home is really good and can’t see them being beaten heavily?

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

      I'm personally a bit of a Villa fan so there's that bias in me telling me not to captain Vardy. They've kept 3 clean sheets at home this season.

      Vardy seems like the no-risk captain at this point but Son is tempting, as he's one of only 2 starting players for me at home.

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

      They keep conceding tho. I think you're hoping for one Vardy goal and 3 bonus points. Ceiling is 9.

    3. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      They do tend to concede though and haven't played many of the bigger PL clubs at home .

  30. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Gazza
    TAA, Pereira, Lord, Chillwell
    Mane, Mount, Son, Alli
    Tammy, Vardy,

    Ings, Cantwell, Targett

    2m itb, 0FT

    who to cap?

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

      Cantwell