Opinion

Who are the best FPL players to sign over the Christmas period?

We’ve assembled another panel of Fantasy managers to address the main topics of discussion ahead of Gameweek 17.

Earlier in the week, we asked you for your Fantasy Premier League-related posers and conundrums.

We’ve selected six questions that covered many of the recurring themes – from strategy over the festive season to Manchester City assets – and put them to our panel.

WHO’S ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK?

G-Whizz – A valued member of our moderator team and currently in his fifth FPL season, G-Whizz managed a personal best finish of 4,404th in 2018/19.

Andy – Pro Pundit, Let’s Talk FPL host and occasional Scoutcaster, Andy has come aboard to Fantasy Football Scout full-time recently. He has two top 10k finishes and an additional three inside the top 20k over the last nine years.

Lateriser – Another one of our Pro Pundits, Lateriser has registered two finishes in the top 200 (one of them equating to number one in India) and four in the top 10,000 in the last six seasons.

QUESTIONS

Jay Arell: Is Christian Pulisic’s time over for now? It’s now four blanks in a row despite his promising stats.

Andy: It certainly feels like Christian Pulisic’s time is up… nearly. I’m currently an owner and four back-to-back blanks has been frustrating, to say the least.

I’m loathe to transfer him out before a home game against Bournemouth though. I made the mistake of selling Mason Mount before the clash with Aston Villa and he went and got himself a goal.

As mentioned in the question, the underlying stats are still looking fairly good. Over the last four Gameweeks, he’s eighth for xG from open play and only Diogo Jota, Gabriel Jesus, Raúl Jiménez and of course Jamie Vardy have had more shots inside the box over the same time.

Bournemouth will potentially be without Nathan Aké, Steve Cook and Adam Smith for Gameweek 17, too.

Disappointment is the only thing I can foresee if I take Pulisic out, before giving him the chance to redeem himself. If he blanks again though there’s a certain well-rested Dele Alli and Son Heung-min that are on my Christmas list.


KHAAAN!!!: What do you believe would be a good differential strategy to adopt for any managers outside of the top 100k with a “template” team, who might be struggling to catch up?

Lateriser: If you don’t already know my playing style, I am someone who doesn’t believe in paying too much attention to the ownership of players. If you are outside the top 100k, it doesn’t really matter at this stage of the season. I strongly believe that if you’re in the top 500k at this point, you have a really good shot of making the top 10k this season.

You need to nail your chips to perfection and need to get the majority of the captaincy calls correctly in your favour. That said, it really isn’t as simple as it sounds.

A couple of opportunities open up in the short term for you. After this Gameweek, Jamie Vardy plays Manchester City and Liverpool. Most managers will not captain Vardy during this period so the captaincy percentages will be split. A good differential captain in such a period will help make ground quickly.

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Diogo Jota or Raul Jimenez in Gameweek 18 and one of the Spurs/United options in Gameweek 19 look like good bets. If you think you can deal with the heavy effective ownership, you can even give a Liverpool midfielder the armband this week instead of going with Vardy. I don’t think of this as particularly brave because for me Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Vardy are all equally good options. Roll the dice, I say. Listen to your instinct.

When it comes to playing the game and looking for differentials, my advice to you would be to not go for a differential just for the sake of a differential. Go ahead and pick who you genuinely think is the best option for your squad, trust your instinct and ignore the ownership. This is the most fun way to play the game.


Blaine Mcculla: Who are the best defenders to bring in over the festive period?

G-Whizz: I suppose it depends on how much you want to splash out and spend? Crystal Palace’s fixtures look golden for quite a while and I needed a cheap one so went for Martin Kelly. I was also looking more short term so went for Sheffield United and doubled up with Dean Henderson (in place of Nick Pope) in goal for the next three (AVL, bha and WAT).

Clearly my crystal ball is a bit cloudy at the moment and I should have gone with George Baldock and/or Enda Stevens!

Over the next eight Gameweeks, the Season Ticker puts Crystal Palace at the top of the pile overall and third when looking at the fixtures from a defensive point of view.

Aston Villa’s fixtures also look great, and Matt Targett could be a decent asset at such a low price. I can easily see managers who are looking to utilise their Wildcard considering him and/or Tom Heaton as an option.

Manchester City show up in second place but for me, at those prices, I’m sure value and “nailed-ness” could be found in abundance elsewhere and they haven’t looked solid since Aymeric Laporte’s injury. I’d honestly rather pick a Tottenham Hotspur defender over a Manchester City one right now, and their run over the next eight isn’t too bad really considering they only have to face Chelsea and Liverpool over that period of time.


Abinash Parajuli: Who is your must-have Christmas asset?

Kane, Son and Alli continue blistering start to Mourinho's reign

Andy: The one thing I’m asking for this year is a green arrow. To get one of those I suppose I’m going to need a must-have player or two.

I’ve kind of given the game away with my Pulisic answer but I can’t look past the Spurs midfielders right now in Dele Alli and Son Heung-min. Looking at the Fantasy Football Scout Season Ticker, Spurs have the second-best fixtures for attacking returns from now until Gameweek 21.

With a rank of sub-500,000, I’m looking for some differentials to give me some Christmas cheer. While Son may be owned by 19.8% and Alli 11.8% they are still different enough in my book, with Brighton (h), Norwich (a) and Southampton (a) to come over Christmas. They’re potentially even captaincy options.

Sometimes the best way to get a differential is to own two attackers from the same team. Plenty will own one of these two, but not many will own both – not yet at least. It’s cheating a little bit in terms of the question asked, but I think it’s one of my best chances of beating the competition at the moment. They have the form, the fixtures, and are posting some good underlying statistics.

There’s not much to dislike, and while I’d love my must-have player to be Harry Maguire, it may be time to be a bit more realistic.


Eirik Borander: I’m considering Anthony Martial versus Marcus Rashford. What are your thoughts on the Manchester United offensive assets?

Lateriser: I am a Manchester United fan and I feel like we are turning a corner. We are playing some pretty good football right now and I think it is a good time to invest in Manchester United assets.

I currently own Anthony Martial and I am looking at getting Marcus Rashford into my side as he looks like one of the best attackers in the league on current form. I wouldn’t buy into the whole ‘we don’t do well against deep block’ theory too much while picking the players. I had a look at the stats and found that Rashford actually has a higher rate of shots in the box, big chances and big chances created versus the weaker opposition.

If you are picking just one of them at the moment, it is a no-contest in my opinion: Rashford is quite comfortably the better pick at this stage. He is matching Vardy and Mane’s output on current form for much less cash. He passes the eye-test and is statistically outperforming Martial as well. This is simply the best I’ve seen him play. He looks incredibly hungry.

On top of that, he plays 90 minutes more often than not and also has penalties on his side. Another thing I’d like to add here is that Martial is also seemingly more injury-prone. That said, I do like both picks and I’m currently contemplating doubling up on the United attack. But I’m firmly on Team Rashford if you are looking to pick one.


Hutch: Is it time to drop one or both of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne?

G-Whizz: It depends on your team set-up but for me personally, I had both in a 3-4-3 and decided to drop Sterling for James Maddison for Gameweek 13.

Since that move, Maddison has scored 3, 2, 10, 9 and Sterling 2, 7, 3 and 2 respectively. Don’t get me wrong, there may well be Gameweeks where the reverse will happen, but in the main, I feel with the way Leicester and Manchester City are playing at the moment you’re likely to get more out of ditching one or the other. Clearly, who you bring in to replace Sterling or De Bruyne is also going to be a factor.

De Bruyne had to stay for me at the time and through that same period outscored Sterling by seven points (21 to 14), so at least that has worked out and most of their attacking play goes through him somewhere along the line.

I had bought De Bruyne at £9.5m so the recent price drop meant I can no longer do a straight swap to Son Heung-min but I’m more than willing to still find a way to go through with that move and have no City players at all for the foreseeable future – maybe even right up until Gameweek 33.


Gameweek 16 – FPL Match Reports

819 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Worth dumping one of alli/ son for Maddison this gw? Own both.

    1. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lol no

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No 100"%

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

      Nah

    4. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      WAT

    5. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes of course and do the same vice versa the week after depending on how they score this week

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

        You’re messing with the guy, right?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Ha.
          Yes clearly.

    6. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Surely not

    7. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dump both

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

    Does it get any better this GW? Saving a tranny, cue the red arrow!

    Pope
    TAA Lundstram Kelly
    Salah (C) KDB Alli Maddison Pulisic
    Vardy Abraham

    Button Mousset Tomori Guilbert

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Well, you could have Mane...

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Everyone knows that when Salah is fully fit, he’s a far better option

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

          He sure could have scored a couple against Braut with friends.

        2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Bigger fish than you to catch here

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

        Lol why would I want an inferior option!?

        1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Is he inferior to all of your attackers?

    2. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Poololisic

      lol

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

        Probably worthy of a ban that. He is going to haul big against a makeshift Cherries defence

        1. Nabs Kebabs
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          cringe

        2. Nabs Kebabs
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          the fact you still own him is worthy of a ban mate

    3. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      GL benching moussets haul 😉

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

        And who should he bench? Think that’s the correct order.

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

      100% roll FT

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

    Opinions on this plan??

    Before 18: TAA Hayden to Targett Grealish
    Before 19: Tomori to Aurier
    Before 20: Henderson to Guaita.

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

      AVL with 31.01 xGC overall. Only WHU and NOR are slightly worse than them.

      So I wouldn’t rely on a Villa defender.

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

        Villa at home are very very good

  4. Mayor of Flair
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone hanging on to Tomori?

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

      For shizzle

      1. Mayor of Flair
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Right on

      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Doubt it

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

      Zouma and Christensen were extremely poor against Everton. Tomori deserves to play with Rudiger.

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Me. Simply because Chelski have been so poor without him.

  5. GW17 preview
    Pep Pig
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Following on from last week’s preview, here are my thoughts and predictions for GW 17:-

    Liverpool v Watford

    The last 2 fixtures at Anfield between the 2 times have both finished 5-0. I’m not saying a repeat scoreline is a sure thing, but it’s not out of the question.
    The Klopp roulette is already upon us. Salah, Mane, TAA and Firmino effecting a few of our teams of late. My personal view on this is to roll the dice for the Watford game.
    It’s why we aim to have a playing bench and I believe Liverpool will again do the business here. VVD and Mane both hit a brace in the last fixture, and Salah hit 4 against them the season before.
    Any of the attacking 3 could end up with a haul in the early kick off. Though I can see another clean sheet on the cards.
    The CL game on Tuesday night saw the strongest line-up on offer. 2 goals in 100 seconds for Keita and Salah sealed the game. Keita was excellent in the game. Seemed much more effective higher up the pitch and if he can get a run in the side, he has a lot to offer. Although Salah (who I own) scored an excellent goal with his weaker foot, it must be said he had 9 attempts at goal, hitting the target just 3 times. This is why he never gets maximum BPS unless he manages to get that second goal. (greedy so and so)

    Prediction: Liverpool 4 – 0 Watford
    Player to watch: TAA

    Burnley v Newcastle

    Newcastle have picked up 2 consecutive victories since their draw against last season’s champions. Whilst Burnley have lost 3 on the bounce conceding 11 and scoring just once along the way.
    In this type of fixture, form has to play a big part. The magpies would have been brimming with confidence, though I think the hamstring news for Saint-Maximim could prove a costly blow. He’s a very exciting talent who at just 22 years old, has plenty of time to polish up his game.
    That aside, Jonjo Shelvey has scored 4 in his last 6 picking up 6 BPS. Is he throwing his name into the hat for that 5th midfield spot?
    Sean Dyche will see this as a must win game being just 3 points from the relegation zone, but unfortunately for Burnley, I see Newcastle coming out on top in what could be a tight affair. They now sit just 2 points away from Man Utd in 5th. They did the double over Burnley last season but they will have to work hard for it.

    Prediction: Burnley 1 – Newcastle 2
    Player to watch: Jonjo Shelvey

    Chelsea v Bournemouth

    My first thought is that this game can’t come soon enough for Chelsea. Since beating Man Utd 1-0 in GW 11, the cherries have lost their last 5. They’re hit with injuries and with Ake and Callum Wilson being their latest casualties, things are looking pretty grim for them.
    Chelsea coming off the back of a 3-1 defeat at Everton have to respond and I believe they will. If I owned Tammy Abraham I’d be rubbing my hands at the prospect of a haul. My guess is he’s going to have a very good day at the office. I expect a ruthless display from Chelsea… Pulisic, Mount and Abraham owners should reap the rewards. If Callum Wilson’s hamstring injury wasn’t serious, I could see him getting a goal to keep him in the shop window. Though I can’t see him being fit and that only leaves Solanke. Oh dear…
    A quick note on the CL game against Lille on Tuesday night. It wasn’t much of a contest, Chelsea dominated and that man Abraham looked sharp netting the opener. Pulisic owners would have been relieved when he got replaced on 62 mins by Hudson-Odoi who didn’t impress. Abraham got a rest for the last 20 mins or so and Mason Mount got the last 8 mins. I’d expect all 3 to start on Saturday.

    Prediction: Chelsea 3 – 0 Bournemouth
    Player to watch: Tammy Abraham

    Leicester v Norwich

    Norwich will not be looking forward to playing this tie at all. Why would they? The foxes are flying sitting 2nd in the league. Just 8 points behind Liverpool and have won 8 on the bounce. A fantastic achievement thus far.
    The Vardy party is phenomenal. The fact that he could easily have added assists and goals to his brace last Sunday says it all. He is peaking with confidence and we all know he’s going to score…. More importantly, I’m sure he does.
    With Man City away followed by Liverpool at home, things look tricky on paper for the festive period. All the more reason why it’s emphatic that Leicester come away with all 3 points here. I feel Norwich will still manage to score. They aren’t playing badly and still managing to dominate recent games whilst creating their fair share of chances. This won’t be a walk in the park by any means, but Leicester will have too much…. Surely.

    Prediction Leicester: 3 – 1 Norwich
    Player to watch: Jamie Vardy

    Sheff Utd v Aston Villa

    Whilst Sheff Utd haven’t kept a clean sheet since Lundstram’s monster haul in GW 11, the fear of him repeating anything near that has seen him promoted from many benches or even brought in.
    I can see it being quite a fluid game and I have considered sitting on the fence. Whilst Lundstram failed to have any penalty box touches registering just one shot outside the box at Carrow Road, Jack Grealish continued rewarding his owners with his 4th goal of the campaign. One player who has moved into my watchlist from these 2 teams is El Mohamady (4.2m). Reintroduced to the side against Chelsea registering an assist, then continued to look a decent asset on Sunday against Leicester. The touch heatmap is quite impressive and he looked much more like a winger. He registered 7 penalty box touches just 2nd to Jamie Vardy (9). Attempted to get several crosses into the box though just 2 successful…. And also managed to get on the end of 2 crosses himself. “If”, Aston Villa managed to keep the Blades at bay, he could score well. Not sure they will though. Though if Targett and Mings are passed fit, Freddie Guilbert will be challenging for a place in the starting 11 after being benched for the last 2. I put a recent post up about this on FFS and Tom (avfc82) seemed to think it was El Mo who could be replaced for Guilbert, so don’t read too much into my comments. This game really could go either way, but I’m sticking my neck out…

    Prediction: Sheff Utd 1 – 2 Aston Villa
    Player to watch: Jack Grealish

    Southampton v West Ham

    Southampton seemed to pick up some momentum since sharing the points with Arsenal in GW 13. Winning their next 2 home matches 2-1 against both Watford and Norwich, then a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle followed GW 16. The final score seemed harsh with the Saints having 54% of the possession. 19 shots to 12 and 12 corners to Newcastle’s 3. Clearly there are positives to see. No more so than Danny Ings. 8 goals in his last 10 PL matches scoring in his last 5. The 2 blanks in between came in that famous 9-0 hammering against Leicester where he played just 45 minutes, followed by Man City at the Etihad.
    After West Ham’s display on Monday night, I’m more than confident to suggest Southampton should win this, and Danny Ings will more than likely hit double figures in the PL for the first time since 2014/15. He must be relishing being injury free and full credit to Ralph Hasenhuttl . A former striker himself who is clearly getting a tune out of him.

    Prediction: Southampton 2 – 0 West Ham
    Player to watch: Danny Ings

    Man Utd v Everton

    I was pleased for Big Dunc last week. This GIF says it all about his presence https://gfycat.com/illinformedanothercanary-duncan-ferguson-jimmy-bullard-football
    Whilst his Everton side came away with an excellent 3-1 victory against Chelsea last week, I can’t see that run continuing. They will show fight and passion…. They have no choice I’m sure. I just think we are witnessing a Man Utd side who have turned a corner. I know, I know…. How many times have we said that before. Though with 10 goals in 16 PL games this season, including 7 in his last 8, I believe Marcus Rashford is now showing us what he has. We’ve always known of his talent. Though he now appears to be playing like he believes he is the main man. He is only 22 and we often need reminding of this fact. I believe his form will continue and his attacking threat alongside Martial and James will be too much come Sunday afternoon. I recently read on here that Rashford has never scored against Everton but I had no intention of seeing if this was true. I think we will see Martial in the goals this weekend as well as Rashford.

    Prediction: Man Utd 3 – 1 Everton
    Player to watch: Anthony Martial

    Wolves v Spurs

    Last season this fixture was an entertaining 3-2 victory for Spurs at the Molineux. The reverse fixture saw Wolves winning 3-1. Jimenez netted in both and I have a strong suspicion he will keep that trend. That said, I like what Jose is bringing to the Spurs table. Fluidity in attack is key when you have players like Son, Alli, Kane etc. They have goals in them, and although keeping Burnley at bay last week, I can’t see them shutting out the Wolves attack completely. Though I will be bold enough to predict a Spurs victory. One thing I would like to see is Sessegnon seeing more minutes. He picked up the last 15 against Burnley replacing Lucas Moura though the heat map shows he was a make-shift left back. Though he got a much needed 90 minutes at a no.11 against Bayern Wednesday night. He has said he believes the youngster is more of an attacking option than defensive, whilst also stating Sissoko is not a no. 6 (rewarding his faith netting in the emphatic 5-0 victory last weekend). Dele Alli, Kane and Aurier got the night off with Son being introduced for the final 25 minutes. Enough about Spurs….Wolves are an attacking threat, Jota and Jimenez remain a handful for any defence. I knew Jimenez was dropping in price but it wasn’t enough for me to ship him on. I believe he will do something here, then with Norwich next up it was a no-brainer for me. Hopefully the 2pm Sunday KO will deliver an excellent match.

    Prediction: Wolves 2 – 3 Spurs
    Player to watch: Heung-Ming Son

    Arsenal v Man City

    Well the first half between West Ham and Arsenal on Monday evening was truly woeful. I expected Arsenal to receive an ear-blasting at half time yet the first 10 or so minutes of the second half was equally as flat. Then Martinelli produced a smart finish and we saw a rejuvenated Arsenal who dominated the remaining half hour adding a further 2 goals. For me though, that isn’t enough. If they start so flat against Man City then they will get punished…. And that’s exactly how I see this one panning out. I see a repeat of last season 1-3 scoreline here and my guess is Kevin De Bruyne will be the man pulling the strings (as he often does) to ensure this happens. His energy, directness and constant threat to open up play will be the difference. I can’t see a single Arsenal midfielder who will be able to stop him and I can see a masterclass coming our way. I don’t own him currently and I’m worried about that. If getting beaten on their home soil to their arch rivals last Saturday doesn’t have a positive effect on this team, then nothing will.
    The CL game last night saw KDB get the night off, a 20 minute hatty by Jesus (before being replaced in the 66th minute. Sterling got the last 17 minutes and he did managed to get the ball in the back of the net within a few minutes but it was offside. He should also have scored with the last kick of the game but the chances keep coming. I’m already looking forward to signing Foden for 2020/21 by the way, yet again he was brilliant.

    Prediction: Arsenal 1 – 3 Man City
    Player to watch: Kevin De Bruyne

    Crystal Palace v Brighton

    The fixtures haven’t been too kind to Palace since GW 9 (Man City, Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea, Liverpool) where they picked up just the one point). Though they sit in 10th place just 2 points behind Man Utd in 5th. They have kept 6 clean sheets this season and 3 have come in the last 3 games. If they can score first, there is a chance they could continue their defensive form. Kelly (4.3m) is now in 28.7% of teams at the time of writing and possibly rise further with the GW18 blank approaching. I brought Zaha in for the incredible run of fixtures which started in GW15 and so far I’m left feeling frustrated… but I know he is capable on his day. I can’t be bias here though. I like what Potter is doing at Brighton. I find them much more entertaining than last season. It can be forgiven how they lost 3 on the bounce from GW12 against Man Utd, Leicester and Liverpool, but they ran Arsenal into the ground at the Emirates and could see the draw against Wolves last week as unfortunate. Davy Propper became a hero and villain within 8 minutes of that game and the momentum they gained came to a halt. Maupay is bringing a lot to the table and is a real live-wire. I think he will cause problems for the Palace defence and ensure Brighton pick up the points. Whilst I want to say Zaha will score and Brighton will win 2-1, I can’t. Not until they show something at the business end of the pitch.

    Prediction: Crystal Palace 0 – 2 Brighton
    Player to watch: Neal Maupay

    Hope you enjoyed the lengthy read and I wish you all luck and green arrows this week.
    Oink

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks a lot great work. )

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Captain choice is so hard this week. If I had Salah I think I would captain him over mane and vardy I think . He's back on form and a repeat of 2 seasons ago is a scary prospect

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          He's currently got the armband but there is an air of uncertainty about it

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

      Nice try to land a job as FFS writer

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not for me Kings. There may be a compliment in there somewhere

        1. Subzero (-4)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Always enjoy reading your previews mate. Very nice reading non data heavy content (not saying there is anything wrong with data btw). There does feel like there's a Salah explosion coming like. I have mane and should feel happy considering recent form but a giant king sized sofa will be needed lol

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Hey mate cheers for that much appreciated. Salah has my armband but I have that feeling about Mane every week. It's a week when I want everyone.

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

        Ease up. It's a good read.

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

        Nice work PP. usual jealous response from 0VA posters

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Cheers Binny

    3. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good read, cheers for the effort!

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

      Is that you David? I’m stunned!

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        😀

    5. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I agree with majority of your predictions, but think palace game will be a lot closer than 0-2 plus Utd game is hard to predict I could see a 1-1 or 2-1..

      Great analysis of the weekend games..

    6. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Very niice write up 🙂 , not sure how you reached that villa prediction and I really hope you're wrong Hahaha.

    7. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Palace to be beaten 2 nil at home by Brighton...nah for me!
      Nice read though and can't argue too much with the rest of it tbh, although think Wolves v Spurs will be a much tighter affair than a 5 goal thriller but really hope I'm wrong on that one!

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'd much prefer to the result the other way around mate. I kind of hope I am wrong with that for sure. It should be a decent game tactically either way. One I'm certainly looking forward to. Thank you

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yup, should be very interesting, think if Jose can go do Wolves and get a win it will give them another major boost going into some nice fixtures! I've only Alli but will be on the triple up next week most likely 🙂

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I have Son and Jimenez in this one. My main gripe this weekend is that I don't own any City assets. I think they will really do a number on Arsenal. Though KDB, Sterling or Jesus could all score well and I can't guess who. Leaning towards KDB but Sterling with have a say

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              I think they will too, also have no City but cant have em all and lots of other assets have great fixtures on paper also!
              I've Jimenez also and leaning towards holding onto him for the foreseeable atm.

    8. korbendallas82
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tnx.

    9. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Loving this posts big pep.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Haha thanks my mate

    10. Nickemon
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thank you for a great read, Pep Pig! Awesome work.

    11. Offside Trapattoni
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Very well done thank you-

    12. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This is a great post. I like hearing people thoughts and predictions on games. Well done

      1. Jernau M Gurgeh
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Very good write up. I don't agree with all the predictions ( I hope you're wrong on a few when looking at my team, lol) but very good read.
        Thx Pep

        1. Pep Pig
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Appreciate that mate. I must admit I had to put my team aside when doing the write ups as it's easily to form a bias. Good luck JMG

      2. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you. I'm sure I won't be winning Super Six with it but one never knows

    13. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks Pep. If all your predictions come in I might be looking at a 100 pointer this week. Fingers crossed.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Haha apologies in an advance Ant

    14. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good effort, but the predictions look very goal heavy.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Indeed mate. Never goes as planned but I think we could be on for a very entertaining week

    15. The_Socca_Philosopha
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Really enjoy these Pep! Hope you keep it up!

    16. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thank you. Very nice reading.
      I do agree on City, and think they will put 3 past Arsenal.
      Your write up just increased my dilema as to wether to do the switch from Pulisic to Son.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If I owned Pulisic I'd be inclined to hold this GW. Hudson-Odoi replaced him around the hour mark and didn't do anything to suggest he'd be losing his place. If you could save this week it would set you up in better shape for the blank? Chelsea also host Spurs next week. I certainly wouldn't talk you out of it though as I own Son and he's exciting to own in any fixture

        1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Agree regarding Son, he is very exciring prospect. Hate those 50/50 calls.

    17. ivo
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      nice article
      i was planning to switch De Bruyne for Richarlison and now you got me into thinking

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Feel free to come back and tell me off if it fails Ivo but stick with KDB for this one.

    18. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      With all due respect, El Mohamedy was cack against us, and Sheffield Utd should have little trouble disposing of Aston "no goal threat" Villa. Also, Everton will punish Man Utd.

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        That's fine WP. The stats could well have looked much better than the performance. I don't believe Everton will beat Utd

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Entertaining read but one mans or pigs opinion.
          You said it right there” I don’t believe”.

          1. Pep Pig
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Of course sir. My unprofessional opinions at that

            1. The 12th Man
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              I’m not saying what you say won’t happen or come close to it but could also be way off the mark too. Knowing how football bites back at our predictions.

              Anyway thanks for taking the time and energy to writing up your predictions, a very good write up with some logical thought.

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

      Thank you, great read!

      1. Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you sir

    20. BATISTUTA ®
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Great stuff, thank you once again !!
      Lets hope you’re wrong on SHU CS prediction ...hoping for 2-0

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

    Would like to get some advices. Dont know what to do now.

    Pope (Button)
    TAA - Soy - Lundstram (Rico - Reid)
    Salah - Mane - KdB - Maddy - Mount
    Jimenez - Vardy (Greenwood)

    Have 2 FT, 0.2M itb.

    A) Kdb -> Son
    B) Kdb and Jimenez -> Alli and Abraham (next week Salah to Son)
    C) Rico -> Kelly
    D) Something else?

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

      Tough choices for me. All could work out.

      I would hold Jimenez for GW18 captain (since it will be between him and Rashford then).

      So therefor leaning to C or D change keeper

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

    So this is the team for this week, have 2ft but really don't know what to do with them? Should I leave it like this or do something minor/major with 2ft?

    Pope
    TAA Lund Kelly
    Mo KdB Son Puli
    Vardy Rash Mousse

    Button Soy Guilbert Dendo

    0,2 itb, 2 ft

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

      Pulisic to Grealish/Maddison/Moura? You can also bring Ings or Tammy

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

        I actually looking at that move Puli to Tammy. But the option then is Mousse Puli to Tammy and 4.8mid and that would mean playing 433 with 4&5mid just as fodders. Not sure if that is the best move but dont want to lose any of the other guys. Also that Bournemouth game is just too good to ignore, like many others this week. If Mousse is not injured long term then maybe just risk and leave Puli for this week.

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

        Pulisic underlying stats have been great lately.

        Grealish: 4 YCs plus the next game won’t be an easy one for AVL.

        Maddison: bad fixtures swing GWs 18, 19.

        Moura: Son, Alli are better options.

        Ings/Tammy IN. However, he owns Vardy who’s a keeper for now surely. Rashford who’s been putting great numbers lately and Mousset who has some good fixtures till GW18 incl.

        So... no.

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

          Thanks for this. Will leave him for now, I agree. There are better options for using that ft. Cheers.

    2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I'd do something about Pope and roll the other, I think.

      1. Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This. Mousse is fine btw

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

          Thanks guys for the reply, thats great news then. Do you think he could even start this gw or is that too optimistic?

          1. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            No, pretty sure he starts mate. In my xi 🙂 we looked awful without him last home game. Unless wilder says something in conference I'd be almost certain

          2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            See Scout Tweets for Wilders comments about him. Sounds like he'll play to me

          3. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Chris Wilder on Lys Mousset:

            "He will be okay. He didn't train much late on in the week, which was disappointing, but he'll be fine. The bereavement hit him quite hard but he wanted to play at Norwich."

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

              The Mousse will be sweet again.

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

        Thanks but I actually like Pope next 2 games. If Pope out then for who? Have only 0.2 itb

        1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Pope's next two are good and he'll do fine over the season, but mid-term his fixtures are bad and you're in a position where you have a luxury 2nd transfer to spend. It's not that Pope urgently needs to go, just that you have nothing else to do and shouldn't waste a transfer.

          Not sure what the injury situation is with Lloris but I'd look at Gazzaniga.
          Maybe Ryan. Ramsdale and Heaton have good fixtures, although Bournemouth have Liverpool this week plus injuries, and you already have Guilbert.

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

            Cheers mate, I like your thinking. Not a fan of doubling up in defence so Heaton&Henderson were never options and I bought Kelly for Rico last week so have CP covered for now, but from these I am looking at Ryan atm cause Brighton are a different team under new manager and I like their fixtures for the longer term, also he is safe there as a first choice. Good luck this week.

            1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Cheers, you too!

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

      Burn FT

  8. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Save FT or too risky with no spurs attack?

    Hend
    TAA Lund Soy
    Mane KDB Maddison Pulisic
    Vardy Jiminez Tammy

    Heaton Kelly Aurier Dendonker

    1FT £1.2m itb

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

      Still have next GW to do so

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

      Save

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

    Ideas on ditching TAA till February? Could get Aurier and upgrade 5th mid for the Christmas games.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Seems to be a popular one. I'm keeping .If he gets booked against Watford, I'll reassess

      1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If he's booked against Watford he misses Leicester away, no?. That fixture is hardly the reason you're keeping him?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          More that he’ll miss the next two games.

          1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            But regardless of a YC he misses one of them, and the other is one of his worst fixtures.

            I'm not against ditching, I just don't think him being available for the Leicester game changes the equation all that much

    2. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      V likely if KDB looks good to keep

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

      Yep. Doing it.

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

      Transferred TAA out tonight for Aurier but mainly to get Rash in

  10. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tomori -> Aurier for free? Yes/no?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Big yes

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

      I'm doing it as well, but benching him because I can't fit him in this GW

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

      Yes

  11. El-Kloppico
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Lundy or Kelly?

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lundy by miles for me

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Any stats supporting your opinion? CRY more apt for a CS I guess and Villa will score.

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I watch a hell of a lot of football so don't need stats in this case, Lundy has been very unlucky in recent GWs! He's playing as a box to box mid and finds himself in the no10 position quite often!
          But go with your gut mate, GL

          1. Tsparkes10
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            A man who knows what he's talking about when it comes to the Lord 🙂

          2. El-Kloppico
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Great! Thanks m8

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Welcome mate, and don't get me wrong...benching Kelly's hauls and seeing Lundy blank in recent GWs has been very frustrating indeed!

        2. Jam0sh
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Play Kelly then?

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

      Both

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Robbo and Soy must start though

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

          Lundy then but either way you're risking bench points there.. What are your other options?

          1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Bench points aren't a bad thing

          2. El-Kloppico
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Robbo - Soy - **
            KdB - Mane - Son - Zaha
            Ings - Vardy - Abraham

            1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Play Lundstram, bench Kelly. Don't worry about it

    3. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The one you decide to bench will score more

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        As usual :p

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

      Play Lundy

    5. arndff_
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lundstram 100%

  12. All For One
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Seems like Liverpool will try and sign Takumi Minamino in January, great buy if we get him.

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Hope so.

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

      And that Haaland kid goes to Dortmund. Salzburg will sell half of that team likeMonaco few seasons before.

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

    Going to free up some funds by binning Robbo after this week. Which move looks better?

    A) Mount to Alli
    B) Pulisic to Son

    Thinking B as it leaves room to do Mount to Grealish. But A also allows room around the 7.5-8.0 price point where there are a few nice options, Richarlison, Martial, Maddison etc.

    Any thoughts appreciated

    1. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      See how all 4 plus Martial, Madi and Grealish look this week 🙂

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

        That seems a very logical response my good man

    2. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Grealish and Son looks good

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B + Grealish looks good to me.

  14. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bench headache... Good to have one i guess ... Any change you would do?

    Pope
    Lundstram soyunchu Evans
    Alli Salah mane James
    Vardy Abraham Jimenez

    Button Egan Hayden Fredericks

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

      Think you've got it right

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks right to me

    3. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers guys

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

    Ditch Tomori or Cantwell?

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

      Tomori

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      The one who is injured, dropped and plays in a dodgy defence.

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

        As opposed to the one who is dropped, generally in poor form and has tough fixtures?

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

          What I mean by this is it's not as simple as you make out. Hence asking the question!

        2. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Sorry for the tone, but yes, as opposed to that one.
          Cantwell's early form was a gift, but not much chance of replacing him with someone better so he can be buried last on bench if required. Scope for making much more meaningful change by replacing Tomori.

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

            No worries! Thanks, solid reasoning

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

    Why are people ignoring Salah!? Delicious..

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

      I'm so scared of rotation. Won't be losing him yet but half expecting to regret it

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

        He won’t be rotated mate. Has had plenty of rest during the ankle rehabilitation. He is fit as a fiddle and will absolutely trounce Mane from here on in

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

          Keeping for sure, question is whether or not to captain him this week or stick with Vardy!

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

            The ultimate differential to throw him the armband!

    2. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Double up with Mane is on the cards

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

        Not worth it

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

      I think he is the differential for this GW and for January

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don't buy, don't sell at that price.

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

    Use wildcard in GW18 with fixture swing or use WC in GW20 (to cover potential injuries) ?

    I am really thinking about this since you can create value + have a lot of returns in a short period due to this WC

    I am currently on :

    Guiata - Button

    Robertson - Soy - Lundstram - Kelly - Rico

    Salah - Mane - Alli - Tielemans - Cantwell

    Vardy - Jimenez - Ings

    I am thinking I would get more benefits for WC for GW18 to get into Spurs and Manu good fixtures and catch points and price rises while at the same time get out some other players. This is sure returns in my opinion while holding WC for GW20 is like potential help for injuries.

    Which ones would you do :

    A) Robertson -> Aurier
    B) Rico -> Targett
    C) Salah -> Son
    D) Tielemans -> Grealish / Martial
    E) Cantwell -> Dendonker
    F) Ings -> Rashford

    If I take Graelish for D, I can do GW19 a move of Jimenez to Abraham
    If I take Martial, I still have 0.6 in the bank and so can hold WC off a bit still.

    What is your opinion ?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No point holding it till the last minute if you have good reasons - which you seem to - for doing it sooner.

      Might be easier to visualise if you just give us proposed WC team rather than a list of transfers?

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

      My WC team would be :

      Guiata - Button

      Aurier - Soy - Lundstram - Kelly - Targett

      Mane - Son - Alli - Graelish - Dendonker

      Vardy - Rashford - Jimenez

      1.6m ITB

      So options

      Salah or Mane to keep
      Graelish or Martial to go ( but keeping in mind ITB money for Abraham afterwards)

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Def looks wrong with no Liverpool at all, but not saying I'm right.

        Mane over Mo - Salah has still not showed enough to put him ahead of Mane for me and presumably you would lose more value if you sold Mane.

        As you have Rashford, I'd get Grealish. He is absolutely central to what Villa do and there immediate fixtures are so good.

        I'd just get Tammy now over Jim too.

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

    abraham or rashford?

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

      Abraham

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tammy this week.

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

      Tammy this week, but for GW18 captain Rash

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

      Both if possible.

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

      Both

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

        not an option i want alli and son

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

    Play mousset or Kelly?

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

      Mousse for sure

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      If in doubt go for the attacker (cue 2 pointer for Mousse and double figures for Kelly).

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

      Sweet man Mousse

  20. G Banger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Henderson
    Taa Soyunco Lund
    Ali Mane KDB Maddison
    Vardy (C) Abraham Jimenez

    Kelly / Cantwell / Rico

    Next week:
    Maddison + Jiminez => Grelish + Rashford

    A) yay
    B) nay

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

      A

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Y

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Neigh

      1. G Banger
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Do you neigh because you disagree or because you are a horse?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I forget these days.

  21. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Brought in Son for KDB. Gtg? (0.0 ITB)

    Ryan (Button)
    TAA / Lundstram / Pereira (Rico / Williams)
    Mane (c) / Maddison / Zaha / Son (Dendocker)
    Vardy / Abraham / Rashford

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Looks good surprised you have no Crystal Palace defence

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good enough for me

  22. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    why people put KDB out?

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

      Others will most likely outscore him ( Spurs assets)

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What Chris said, but I'm keeping a tight hold on him this week at least.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      For obvious reasons. Read the article

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

        Excuse me? You’re referencing he opinion of one single (mediocre) manager.. don’t let that make a concrete decision for you

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          As in for obvious reasons. Plus read the article.
          City are in a continued downward spiral. Their fixtures are pants. Many mids are in form, some for cheaper. Just obvious stuff.

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

            ‘Read the article’.. I repeat my previous synopsis. KDB is going to haul big time against that woeful Arsenal defence and City remain far and away the best attack in the league. Very spurious to go without

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 3 months ago

              Well I’m more than happy to get rid.

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

      What the top guy said (spurs assets) was my main reason but also figuring out that the players in front of him are misfiring a bit in the league also (sterling, Jesus) so they are contributing to a reduced score for KDB by not converting his chances. Easiest way to solve, sell and jump onto better prospects.

  23. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Heaton for Gazza
    B) Targett for Lowton
    C) save

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Easy B, unless you are planning something exciting for next week.

      1. balint84
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        nope. maybe a newcastle defender

  24. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lads, I had decided I'd hold, but (a) Salah may be benched again, I'd bet, and (b) it looks like Mount is back on the bench, I don't think Jorginho leaves the team.

    That said, what do you suggest for this lot? (WC still available)

    Pope
    TAA, Chilwell, Lundstram / Kelly, Rico
    Salah, KDB, Alli, Mount / Traoré
    Vardy, Abraham, Jiménez

    A. Pope to Guaita/Hendo
    B. Salah to Son/Mané (who?)
    C. Mount and Salah to Maddison and Son (- 4)
    D. Hold, wait and assess for GWs 18 and 19
    E. Something else

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

      A
      I do not believe Salah will be benched since he needs to get back in form.

      Your bench is strong enough to cover a benching (if it even happens)

      Better prepare for GW18

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

        Appreciate it, mate!

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A: was for two weeks ago. You don’t hold the keeper for the two tough fixtures and then sell for the easy ones. That shouldn’t need to be explained.
      B: is just a bit silly now that he is backed to full fitness and been rested.
      C: is this a joke?
      D: yes

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

    Mane to Salah is a transfer I would whole heartedly advocate

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What's up with you mate and all this nonsense you're spouting?

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

        Nonsense? Salah is back to full fitness, superior attacking threat (both statistical and visually analytical) and optimal positional prowess. Holding Mane due to invested value is a mistake

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

          Holding KDB for the invested value past 8 gameweeks was also a mistake.

        2. jia you
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          hmmm, it's a no from me, silly transfer imho

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

          This is why your sitting with a 1.9M ranking

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

      attention seeking

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

      No reason to do it just yet.
      Maybe after the blank but fixtures aren't great for Pool after that.

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

        Maybe time to go Pool-less

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

      Hockey kockey with those two just calls for trouble. Also now with all those rotation threats I would leave one and look for other options.

  26. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    If Liverpool get Minamino, that second string front three will be a monster.

    Shaqiri-Origi-Minamino

    His style of play, work rate, his name even, it's all a dead ringer for Firmino. Long term successor. Although he is able to play across the front three. 7.25m, absolute dream solution.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Would be another great addition.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dream player for a dream price.

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Him and Haaland have been great. What a game that was at Anfield.

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

      What do you think will be his price in fpl? Around 5.5 maybe?

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        They'll probably overpice him. 7.5m imo.

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

          Wow, thats too much imo. But if he starts firing....although pool front three is written in stone.

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        No, much more.

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

          Weird criteria's for prices. So basically Pulisic and this Minamino are the same if he will be 7.5m. Not sure what to even think about it.

  27. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is anything worth a hit here?

    Henderson
    TAA Robertson Lundstram
    Son Alli Pulisic Maddison
    Vardy Abraham Rashford

    Pope Grealish Söyüncü Burn

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You know it’s not.
      So here’s what you were really looking for, “wow great team”.

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

        Cheers

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

      Thats some nice and specific combo you’ve got there. Save and then next week sort pool guys.

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      You know there isn't.

    4. balint84
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      no Liverpool midfielder?

  28. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    How is everyone this morning?
    I’m sick as a dog.

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

      At least you are not sick as a horse for change.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Feeling a little hoarse

    2. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Ruff?

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Feeling a bit pony myself.

    4. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Tired. Off to make a cup of joe.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Make it two. I’m still in bed.

  29. All For One
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita
    Kelly, Taa, Soyuncu, Lundstram (4.7mil)

    Triple up on Crystal Palace too much?

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Any suggestions?

      I was thinking Dunk

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dunk more than decent over next few weeks and scoring at the right end this year.

      1. All For One
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Cool thanks for the reply

  30. THE TRIPLE CAPTAIN CHIP
    Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Having a number of interesting debates on Twitter about the Triple Captain chip and thought I'd bring the fun over here.

    Essentially, I am considering the triple captain on Vardy this week, but there seems some push back because people feel it's better to use it on a 'differential' and there will be no real advantage of using it this week, due to Vardy's high ownership and likelihood that everybody and their Nan's will be captaining him.

    But this to me is a flawed philosophy. All that matters is points. In this case, advantages, EO, captain stats etc. don't matter.

    If Vardy get's 15 points at the weekend, you've made 15 points (as you would have captained him anyway)
    If your 1% owned differential down the line gets 15 points, you've made 15 points (as you would have captained him anyway)

    It might feel like it's better used on a differential pick, but the reality is, if you use it on a highly owned player and they return highly - you've used the chip to its full potential.

    To me, the Triple Captaincy, and indeed all the chips, provide a Psychological boost because you feel as though they could turn your season round at any time, if used correctly. But really, the Triple Captain chip isn't actually all that powerful, as a great return would only be around 15-20 points I'd say.

    Thoughts?

    https://twitter.com/ffscout_az/status/1205071887027585025

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

      Of course many will think it's better used in a double game week, which is a different argument.
      Here you are saying that the potential of points is higher for those with 2 games.

      But if you think Vardy vs Norwich at home has greater potential than any with a DGW, then you shouldn't be put off just because of high ownership

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I just love Vardy taking up the captain spot.
        It takes away the luck on captaincy choices.
        I wonder how many players are in the 500k bracket simply because of captain choices?
        Trip Captain though; not so sure when I saw a distinct Norwich improvement in the last couple of weeks.

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

      TC on a player with EO of probably 180+ is silly. Would much rather throw it on Salah for this GW, or obviously leave it until the double. You’re being too maverick due to a poor season (no offence - mine is worse!)

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

        this is exactly the flawed logic i'm talking about though.
        Effective ownership doesn't matter... it's still points!

        Salah hauls, gets 15 points, you make 15 points (as you would have captained him anyway)
        Vardy hauls, gets 15 points, you make 15 points

        It's the same result.

        You just need to back the player who is going to score the most points to make the most of the chip. Ownership doesn't matter

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

          It’s not flawed logic though brother. I’m making close to 45 points on the masses with a Salah haul, whereas I’m making 15 points on the masses with Vardy. It’s simple mathematics and to say otherwise is ‘flawed’

          1. Arse Craic
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            It evens out if both score 15?

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

              You’re not factoring ownership

              1. Arse Craic
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Salah TC 15 x 3 =45

                Everyone else:

                Vardy C 15 x 2 = 30

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

                  45 points at 20% EO + Vardy 15 points at 180% EO absolutely trumps Vardy 30 or even 45 points at 180% EO

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

                    If they both score the same points, it doesn't matter!

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

                      If they were the same ownership percentage it wouldn’t matter!

                      1. Kudo Warrior
                        • 10 Years
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        This!

                        Ownership is the main reason why AZ's logic is flawed. 100% agree with you Irbox.

                  2. Arse Craic
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Now I get you 🙂

                  3. chaser123
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 6 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Either way, you get 60 points....it doesn't make a difference.

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

            But Az's point stands. If your TC scored you 15 points. It doesn't matter if those 15 points were gained from Salah or from Vardy.

            If you have both and they both score 15, it doesn't matter which one you triple captained, you'll still have 60 points.

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

              It really does matter.. the success in this game hinges majorly on captaincy, of which TC is the most powerful metric. To say otherwise is remiss and incorrect

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

                Mathematically Salah 15 and vardy 15 gives you the same advantage. What are you talking about? Differential would work in the differential player scored more points than the template.

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

                  You need to read up on effective ownership..

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

                    You're saying, in your examples, that the TC is worth 45 points (if a player hauled 15) - when it's not - it's worth 15. You'd have captained them anyway

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

                    Okay lets talk on EO too. You have Salah who is owned by lets say just you. Everybody else has vardy. You TC salah and get 45 points. I TC vardy and get 45 too. Rest of the people captain vardy and get 30 points. In the end we both got 15 points advantage to all the rest. EO only matters if your player scores more than mine.

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

                      Yep, can't put it any more clearly than this

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

                      I own Vardy too though so your advantage is substantially minimalized. I really need Ragabolly right now

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

                        yeah so the advantage you have is owning Salah, it has nothing to do with the TC chip...

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

                        Of course it does. I’m gaining 300% points on a lowly owned player, whereas you’re gaining 100% on a highly owned player

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

                Captaincy is important, and getting it right in a Gameweek obviously determines how well you do most of the time.

                If you think Salah is the best option, give him the TC
                If you think Vardy is the best option, give him the TC

                The points you get will be the same regardless. If they both get the same points, and you've gone for Salah, the TC has got you no extra benefit than if you'd just gone for Vardy TC.

                I can't really explain it any better than this.

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

            No, because in your first example, Salah is hauling and Vardy is failing

            In the other, Vardy is hauling and others are blanking.

            If you captain Salah and he gets 15 points - and Vardy gets 0 (for arguments sake) - you've got 30 points Nice move. The TC only gets you an extra 15, not 45.

            Say next week, I captain Vardy and gets 15 points - and Salah, Mane etc. all get 0 - I've still got 30 points. The TC gets me an extra 15 on top of that. The TC has got us the same points (15). The difference is your differential captain, not the chip.

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

              Where did I say Vardy is failing? I’m saying they both score 15 points in the gameweek. I was merely referring to effective ownership and points gained/lossed. The obvious winning scenario is to hit a haul on the lowly owned asset. It’s pure mathematics - where is @Ragabolly when I need him?

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

                "I’m making close to 45 points on the masses with a Salah haul, whereas I’m making 15 points on the masses with Vardy."

                You'd be making 45 points on the masses if Vardy blanked. Your TC chip would however only be making you 15 of these points.

                The same as if you captained Vardy and he got 15...

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

                  How!? If Vardy is at 200% EO you’re only gaining the 15 extra on the field. With Salah at < 20% you’re gaining almost the entirety on the field whilst still owning Vardy

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

                    In this case i will have someone else instead of salah (lets say mane with EO 180% and scores 15 too). Again its equall.

                  2. DAZZ
                    • 9 Years
                    4 years, 3 months ago

                    Talk about complicating an simple game, captain who you think is the best option, forget everyone else

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

                    This is painful

              2. Arse Craic
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                Oh dear

              3. tets mcgee (Bachmann an Rob…
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 3 months ago

                I have a degree in statistics and AZ is correct here.

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

                  and I do also have a PhD where my research used a lot of statistical analysis... so I'd say we are quite well equipped to deal with this subject 😀

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

                EO is not a factor in this situation because you're assuming both players score the same number of points with certainty. This is where the confusion stems from.

                Assume that Salah's ownership is close to 0% and Vardy's is 100% and you own both players. If they both score 15 points then everyone in FPL will get 30 points from Vardy (assuming they all captain him) and zero from Salah. Then, whichever player you decide to TC will of course give you 45 points and and the player that you do not TC will give you 15 points, resulting in a total of 60 (and 30 more than all other FPL managers).

                EO would be applicable if there were uncertainty about the outcome. If it were not guaranteed that both players would score 15 points then the potential upside AND downside would be greater when using the TC on Salah (which is where the confusion was coming in). If you TC Salah and he scores 10 and Vardy scores 0, then you gain 30 points on all other FPL managers, however, if Salah scores 0 and Vardy scores 10, then you'd lose 10 points vs all other FPL managers. If you TC Vardy, however, then in the same examples, when Salah scores 10 and Vardy scores 0 then you gain 10 points on all managers and when Vardy scores 10 and Salah scores 0 you also gain 10 points of all managers.

                So, if you TC Salah in this gameweek you have the potential to gain or lose more ground on the rest of FPL. In the example you guys were discussing however, where both players score 15 points with certainty, it doesn't matter who you TC.

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

                  Finally some sense. So many people missing the point about potential upsides and downsides. Obviously if you knew in advance who would score the most points out of Player X and Player Y, you would give the TC to whoever that was. But you don't know, and that's why other strategic factors come into play depending on your risk aversion / upside chasing tendencies.

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

            This doesnt really make sense.

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

          I agree. Effective ownership doesn't matter. Points matter.

          Way too much emphasis placed on ranks in the middle of a season when it doesn't matter. What matters is the final rank for 90% of players and leagues.

          I'm losing rank now, I need a differential are missing the point. You pick differentials because you think they'll outscore the template picks not because you're taking random risks.

          I will say though, that I disagree with the chip being played on Vardy this week. Liverpool have a double GW with West Ham as one of the fixtures. That chip is being saved for Salah or Mane that week.

          1. Long ago I drew a walrus
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            The only argument I could accept for using TC in a SGW this season is that if Salah picks up form it could be difficult to determine which one of Salah or Mane hauls. Whereas, if Leicester run riot Vardy will be the main beneficiary. But otherwise, it's overwhelmingly in favour of saving for a DGW

        3. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Tend to agree. A tried and tested goal scorer like Vardy could get 25 goals this season. It simply says there is a 33% chance of a captain fail. In a DGW that number is halved provided no rotation threat.

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

      Save for DGW - probably going to be 3 or 4 this year, including at least 1 for Liverpool.

      The "psychological boost" is a nonsense concept. Doesn't effect future points at all.

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

        no of course it doesn't. but I can say from first hand experience that when I TC'ed Kane and he got 1 point, it was on my mind for the rest of the season.

        As I said, the DGW is a different argument (When best to use it). I'm just debating whether ownership should affect decision to play the chip

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

          I think the chip is overrated tbh - the difference between a TC success and a TC fail is probably less than 20 points, which equates to less than 1% of your total points over the season, so a bad season doesn't happen because of a TC fail.

          Ownership shouldn't affect the decision for me - just stick it on the player you think will score the most points in a solitary GW over the whole season (whenever that may be).

        2. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          I think nobody is answering your question. A TC should have no bearing on ownership; only points potential

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

          He didn’t get 1, he got 3

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

            He got 1 point.
            I captained for 2 points.
            The TC got me 1 extra point.

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

              If you’re referring to 17/18 season, he came on for a 1 point cameo in the first fixture and then blanked in the second fixture for a total of 3 points. (3 x 3 = 9)

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

                Southampton and West Ham from memory

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

                ah yes you're right on this front
                so 3 points, captained for another 3, triple captained for another 3

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

                  * I’m right on both fronts..

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

                    You’re correct on your calculations of total points, however, points against the field is the aim of FPL

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

                    you are not right on both fronts my friend. I just can't keep going round in circles.
                    Basically though, I think you're giving the TC too much credit. If Salah gets 15 points, the TC only gets you 15 points - not 45. The differential player + sexy captain pick have got you 30.

                    If Vardy gets the same points, regardless of EO or whatever, the TC has still got you 15 points.

                    If someone owns both Salah and Vardy and they score the same points, it doesnt matter which one you TC.

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

                      See posts below for more in-depth reply, but essentially it's about where you might in theory be able to score the 45 points when many rivals won't even score the original 15 (i.e. you TC Salah and they don't own Salah). It's the best case scenario, which you might want to take a calculated risk on chasing.

                      On the flip side, a TC with massive EO scores you 45 points but, as you say, it is really only 15 points gained on the field. The problem is that you don't know Vardy or anyone else will actually score the 15 points. You're guessing/predicting. Given that you don't know the outcome, it is not crazy or wrong to take an approach where you take a slight calculated risk on achieving the best possible score in relation to the field, not just in terms of your own team.

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

                        I'm not saying for a second that its stupid to captain someone like Salah over Vardy this week.
                        It, of course, has massive a massive upside if Vardy does blank and Salah scores.

                        But I genuinely believe Vardy has the highest chance of points this week, so for me personally, punting a captain / triple captain on a player who I feel, at best, will match his points doesn't seem a logical move.

                        My original point was more, I don't feel like people should be considering ownership when TC'ing, it's all about the points return. If you feel Salah will outscore Vardy, go for it! If not, don't!

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

                        I do think people should consider ownership, for all the points below about advantage over the field. In any situation where you cannot reasonably predict the future outcome with precision, it does make sense to consider other relevant strategic factors. TC Vardy is a very safe decision because he will probably do well, but it absolutely 100% NOT the way to achieve the best case scenario. There's a clear cap on how well it can go.

                      3. SADIO SANÉ
                        • 8 Years
                        4 years, 3 months ago

                        you are correct, as you know - I can't believe how many times you've explained it to him and he's still saying the same thing *facepalm gif*

    4. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I will use it on a dgw, only reason because it's much more fun...

    5. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Probably the best sgw fixtures for a TC in sight are this weekend in Leicester at home to Norwich and Liverpool at home to Watford. I'll keep mine for a dgw Salah / Mane though.

      • TiAgoFPL
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I used it already , Sterling against Southampton . L O L

      • Pep Pig
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Certainly see both arguments. How often do we see managed minutes in DGWs? I bump into it every season. Vardy will play 90 minutes guaranteed and can't see him not scoring. My advice would be to go with your gut mate.
        One obvious flaw would be you miss out on BPSx2 providing your TC scored in both DGWs.
        You'd want a brace from Vardy and you'd have to be happy

      • have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If you going to tc anyone, has to be Mane surely. That’s who I would go for this week

      • SADIO SANÉ
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Depends what you want. The best way (IMO) to use it is on a differential in a week when there is an overwhelming captaincy choice. This provides the most variance, meaning it also has the biggest chance of backfiring. A Salah 21x3 vs a Vardy 2x2-for most would be a huge rank boost. Though the opposite would be a red arrow and wasted chip. Depends if you want safety or not.

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Not sure if Salah counts as a 'differential' but you get my point

      • MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        The only issue with this logic is that it assumes your predications/expectations will come to fruition i.e. Vardy's 15 points x 3 is the same as anyone else's 15 points x 3 (true, obviously), when in reality the entire game of FPL is decided by how well you take advantage of countless scenarios (including calculated risks) then get lucky with the results having made good decisions. You can say "captain or triple captain the player you think will score the most points", but you don't know they'll score the most points.

        Therefore, the lure of using the TC on a slight differential (in terms of something like ownership, EO, captaincy percentage) is that if/when that player does haul and other captaincy options blank, the advantage gained can be significant. You won't know until the game is played, but this approach has the greater possibility of the highest reward.

        If you TC a player who everyone else gives the armband, you can only gain on the field in one direction - Vardy scoring points. You can't gain anything from your rival's captain blanking, because they have mostly also captained Vardy. What you really, really want if you're chasing is the swing in both directions, where your TC succeeds and popular captains fail.

        So your best case scenario can only be achieved by taking into account EO etc. If you're not bothered about the best case scenario, and you back yourself to predict the simple matter of who will score the most points, then go with your gut. It's a low-risk, low-reward move.

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

          Think of it this way: what would you do if it was GW38 and you needed to close a gap of around 30 points on your ML leader? You wouldn't necessarily just play the TC chip on whoever you thought would score the most points. You would factor in who the ML leader was likely to captain, and whether one of your other players also had a very strong chance of scoring well based on form/fixture compared to the slightly more obvious candidate. You would go for the biggest upside that is also realistic e.g. you probably wouldn't TC Lundstram hoping for a CS and a brace, but you might TC Salah (low EO) vs Watford instead of Vardy (high EO) vs Norwich if Salah outscoring Vardy could be the difference between overtaking the ML leader or having no chance.

          In either case you can't control whether Vardy or Salah scores more points in a single gameweek, but you can control giving yourself the best possible chance of the highest possible reward (and this case your only shot at victory). These decisions are FPL, otherwise we would always make every single decision based on 'most likely outcome' e.g. use betting odds etc. We'd never do anything maverick or off-template at all. But what we actually do is look for areas to gain an advantage on the field without going to absurd lengths in our risk taking.

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

            Agreed, but using the chip halfway through the season is very different to using it in GW 38.

            If I had 30 points to make up on the final day of the season, I'd skap the captaincy on someone mad and hope for the best. But there's no real logic here, it's just hoping and praying really.

            You could in theory make a large chunk of that up now if you went for Vardy and he hauled - the onus is then on your rival to make a similarly good call later down the line to restore the lead, which is never easy!

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

              My point is that the entire season is actually a culmination of lots of those theoretical GW38 scenarios combined towards an end result. Whether you play the TC now or in GW38, the highest possible advantage over the field (which is how FPL is judged, since you could win FPL with only 1000 points if nobody else scored more) is what you're looking for in every single decision.

              Who would you TC this GW if I could guarantee you one of the below scenarios:

              1. Vardy scores 25 points, Salah scores 15 points
              2. Salah scores 15 points, Vardy scores 1 point

              Now in #1, Vardy gets you the most points on offer. That's all you want, right? But against the field and comparatively, #2 is the winner because it's the greater advantage. Success in FPL is defined by how well you score in relation to your rivals, not how many points you score.

              And since you don't in advance how many points any player will score, you do have to take these things into consideration.

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

              See that's not what I would do at all. I'd give the captaincy to whoever I thought was genuinely the best option in my team that my rival would not captain. I wouldn't slap it on someone crazy or random, I'd give to another very promising option (ideally also a player my rival didn't own) and try to get the big points swing in both directions.

              It's the same in GW17 or any other time, I'm looking for the biggest swing, but still doing so with reasonable decision making. I'm not going to play the TC on Rico and hope he scores 5 goals. I'm going to play it one a seriously viable captaincy pick that doesn't have an EO of 180%.

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

          This is a really good reply, thanks.

          To me, getting the captaincy right is hard enough - without giving yourself the extra headache of whether other players will blank or not. It's all very uncertain.

          Vardy vs Norwich, where we are right now, is a fantastic option and I don't think there will be many better opportunities for a player to get a monster haul, so he definitely requires consideration.

          Of course, say we get to the end of the season, Vardy blanked against Norwich - you chuck the triple captain on Mason Greenwood and he scores a hattrick and you are laughing. Then you have the rights to laugh at all the people that went for Vardy triple captain.

          But if Vardy also gets a hattrick, then you are completely reliant on Mason Greenwood getting the same or more score for you to say the chip was a "success".

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

            No worries. I agree that there won't be many better opportunities for a big haul (that it feels like we can almost trust) than Vardy this GW. The reason I won't play my TC chip on him regardless of this is because my absolute best case scenario (like a hat-trick) still doesn't gain me THAT much of an advantage over the field.

            If you could guarantee me Vardy gets the hat-trick, I would play the TC. But since I won't have that guarantee, I would rather play the TC at a time where I equally believe the player will do well, combined with knowing that the potential advantage over the field is considerable if I'm right. In either scenario I'm hoping to be right based on my analysis, but only in one of them can I make up huge ground in a single decision.

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

            I take your point, but the example is obviously too extreme because nobody would do that with Greenwood. The realistic comparison is Vardy x3 when virtually everyone else will be on Vardy x2 anyway, OR a genuine alternative with a roughly equal chance of success but a much lower EO.

          3. MINUS FOUR
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I would even argue that if you find captaincy decisions tough or you seem to get it wrong a lot, that's even more reason to consider things like EO as a strategic tool.

            Your theory would be perfect for anyone with a near flawless record of captaincy picks, because then it really would just make sense to give the TC to the player you expect will score the most points. The reality is that we get captaincy wrong very often, so actually it is worth accepting that luck/variance and trying to use it to your advantage somehow - in this case, by using the TC on a player who won't have an EO through the roof, therefore minimising any potential advantage down to however many points Vardy happens to score.

      • Ben_dot_ji
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Big fan of Az. But if I had a £ for every time he was “considering” a move.......

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

          haha really? I don't feel like I say it that much...

          The example that springs to mind is when I was talking about TC'ing Salah a few years ago... I would have done it if I hadn't already wasted it on Kane! 🙁

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

            Haha tbf if my fpl chats with mates were recorded, I’d be equally as guilty! After being burnt TCing Salah vs Fulham last year, I’m making sure I’m using the chip on a week when it really is the obvious move. Seen Liv/potential Lei DGWs later in the season perhaps

        2. The Rumour Mill
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Haha, this and his excuse for not getting a player in because they are at an "awkward price point". I have heard him use this excuse for players at 5.5m, 6.5m, 8m, 9m, which spans about half the prices in the game! 😛

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

            Why’s everyone being mean 🙁

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

              kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

      • The Rumour Mill
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I was amazed to see that over the last 5 gameweeks Norwich have conceded only 7 big chances. They have played some poor sides in that time, granted, but I expected it to be a lot higher than that.

        I think there will be better opportunities for a TC chip down the line. There's a decent chance Leicester themselves make the EFL cup final, which would likely lead to a DGW for them. And unlike most top sides, we can be sure Vardy would play both games in a DGW.

      • MINUS FOUR
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why don't people always bet on the favourite in a horse race or any sporting event? We never say "just pick the horse you think will win". Statistically the favourite is the most likely to win, and therefore make you money. However, other options might in your opinion present better 'value'. You're not actually saying that your 15/1 outsider is more likely to win the race than the 6/1 favourite, but you still decide to bet on the 15/1 outsider. That's because relative to other outcomes, you have more to gain, whilst still believing there is a legitimate chance of success. If you didn't rate the 15/1 horse at all, you wouldn't bother. If you thought that 6/1 was actually overs for the favourite, you would take the value and bet on the favourite.

        For similar reasons it is prudent to consider EO when using the TC chip. I know that Vardy is likely to do well this GW, so I'll make him my captain, but I'm prepared to gamble that at some other point in the season there will be an opportunity to do better (relative to the rest of FPL managers, not just relative to Vardy's score) with a less owned and captained player at the time.

        Either way I don't know whether Vardy now or Player X later will score more points. But in the former case I can only hope for a limited reward because Vardy's EO will be massive. In the latter case I can still pick a player I have faith in for the TC, while at the same time gaining a considerable potential advantage based on his lower EO.

        It's risk versus reward in a game decided by success relative to the success of others only. That's not the same thing as pure statistics. Clearly if you only offered two scenarios: 1) Vardy definitely scores 15 points, 2) Player X definitely scores 10 points ... I would pick Vardy for TC because I now know that I will finish with more points, and in this example the rest of the field doesn't matter. However, since I don't know this, that basic statistical analysis doesn't have the same meaning. Now it is worth me considering what my rivals will do if I want to gain the highest possible advantage.

        It doesn't make it wrong to captain Vardy this GW, but it's equally not wrong to consider EO when making the decision.

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

          This is a valid argument with regards to horse racing. However, there the odds are “normalised” to the likelihood of a horse winning. And hence you may find better returns even outside say the top 3 positions.

          However in fastest football returns are absolute. If point returns were normalised based on ownership then your argument applies here as well. But a midfielder scores 5 points for a goal regardless of how many players own them. This means the best returners are the highest scoring players, irrespective of ownership.

          When deciding the value of a player, you look at the number of points he has fetched. And for what cost. Similarly when determining the value of a chip, you look at how many points it fetched. Not who fetched it or how many else had it.

      • The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I would consider it this week too but mine went in GW 1 on Salah.

      • President Giggs
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'd be hesitant to chuck it on Vardy this week as Norwich have shown a slight up turn in form I feel. We also know that Liverpool are going to have a dgwk which includes West Ham at some point.

        As an aside, ownership is completely irrelevant when using your TC chip. All that matters is the number of points that you gain from the chip itself; don't overthink it.

      • Sadio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I have a degree in arguing and you're all wrong.

      • Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I'll make this as short and simple as possible.
        Az, in the scenario he's talking about is correct.
        Irbox etc are wrong....simples.

        What the point here is is the value of points of gained by the use of TC.
        Not EO, Ownership as these are seperate arguments.

        At the end of the season you ask what did my TC yield, in this example the answer is 15 points, whether those 15 points came from Salah or Vardy is immaterial.
        You didn't gain more from Salah or vice versa.

        The EO stuff is a seperate case and that is what is being misunderstood.

      • Netley Lucas
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Correct AZ, ownership is irrelevant. The question you should ask is is it better used in a DGW? It is a rare situation to have a conservative approach to risk - 2 bites of the cherry - that has a higher potential reward, gl.

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

          It's irrelevant if you know in advance what points the players will score. Yes, if you assume all the options score 15 points, then EO is irrelevant. If, as is reality, you do not know the future outcome, it is still prudent to consider things like EO when making your TC decision.

      • CroatianHammer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I saw the tweet and had meant to reply there. I think that evidence of sundry seasons of FPL shows that TC outside of a DGW is rarely as sweet as it might be. When was the last time that a single match returned a ludicrous score for one player? Aguero netting 5 against Newcastle (I think it was Newcastle) saved my GW that year, and of course had I known he was going to hit 25 points (50 with the armband) then TC for the 75 would be a gimme.

        Yes, TC in a DGW runs the risk of rotation. I know that I, like many, had the original Captain America, wor Clint, as TC one year (want to say 2011, but might have been 2010) only to see him rested for the first. A fine haul in game 2 was good... but he should have put my team past 100 points for the week, and he didn't.

        Vardy is the safest pick this GW, but hindsight not withstanding is he really the best? Pulišić's underlying stats (as mentioned so often on the stream this week) are great and he should have returned in recent games. Facing a defence minus it's original starters (Rico is keeping his place even if everyone is fit again) I do think they'll be invited to attack and attack and attack. We can't predict 8-0, 9-0 scores at all, those are freak outliers, but 4-0 and the Yank netting twice and getting an assist is far from the realm of fantasy.

      • Pompel
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Hope your right. I've wasted it second season in a row from just being unaware I hit the TC button, for a grand total of 3pts..... Suggestion for next season: Prompt three times whether "really, really sure to use TC chip" , and the captain symbol should start flashing in pink and PC/mobile speakers should produce a loud alarm.

      • Futbol Heritage
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        EO is flawed logic. Points are all that matters.

        Lets say
        Vardy scores 15 EO 200%

        Salah scores 14 EO 10%

        I wont be surprised if people are seriously going to argue somehow EO makes 14*3 > 15*3?

      • chaser123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        This is the whole reason why you should always captain who you think will score most, regardless of EO....

      • LWO23
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Not sure this is really a debate. Those that think of like Irbox have it wrong. It really needs no deep explanation.

      • HollyShand
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Agree with all of this and it's something that I've strongly considered this week. In the end, the appeal of a nice Liverpool double gameweek next month has put me off and Norwich's defence not being as bad as earlier in the season. Good luck!