Pro Pundits - Andy

The best replacements for injured West Ham goalkeeper Fabianski

With West Ham’s first-choice goalkeeper out for ‘a couple of weeks’, Let’s Talk FPL’s Andy looks at the leading candidates to replace him.


The magic of the Double Gameweek: that’s how I justified bringing in Lukasz Fabianski (£4.9m) in Gameweek 22. It couldn’t have gotten much worse than an injury within 13 minutes.

Given I’d spent so many Gameweeks thinking about removing Nick Pope (£4.6m) only to make this decision just makes the whole thing worse.

Reports from West Ham state that Fabianski will only be out of action for a “couple of weeks” but that doesn’t help me when that likely means he misses at least one (if not both) the games in Double Gameweek 24. Brighton (at home) in Gameweek 25 isn’t bad, but given the following fixtures are pretty awful, I don’t think I’ll be looking to hold him.

So once again, I’m back to checking out goalkeeper replacements.

I’m ruling out any goalkeeper that costs more than £5.0m. It’s just not a position I want to spend too much money on, and so far the premium goalkeepers haven’t really backed up their price points with a huge amount of points versus the value options.

Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m) is top of the points, but only by one, and with three Leicester players already in my team, along with Wilfred Ndidi (£5,0m) missing, I’m not sure how confident I am with upcoming clean sheets.

Let’s take a look at my top candidates.

Alex McCarthy (£4.3m)

A few weeks ago I didn’t think I’d be looking at a Southampton defensive player. The big draw is price but I still want points at the end of the day, and I wasn’t sure I’d be getting them from St Mary’s.

McCarthy is certainly primed for points, even if there hasn’t been a huge amount recently. They’ve conceded just four goals in the last six matches, keeping clean sheets against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. They also stopped Jamie Vardy (£10m) from registering a single shot in the box in Gameweek 22.

The upcoming matches are also promising with a sea of green fixture difficulty rating matches to come, right up until Gameweek 32 when we may be looking to use the second Wildcard anyway. That being said, the very short-term fixtures aren’t fantastic with Wolves (home), Crystal Palace (away) and Liverpool (away) to come in the next three Gameweeks.

You don’t need me to tell you about Liverpool’s attacking prowess, and Wolves sit joint fifth for shots in the box over the last six matches. That being said, McCarthy sits fifth himself for saves in the last six, so even if clean sheets aren’t forthcoming there is the opportunity for save points.

Dean Henderson (£4.9m)

I’ve underestimated Sheffield United defence for around 22 Gameweeks so far. I haven’t owned John Lundstram (£5.1m) for long enough this season, and I’ve ignored a very profitable double up in defence.

The next two fixtures aren’t great. Henderson goes to the Emirates in Gameweek 23, followed by hosting an in-form Manchester side in Gameweek 24. After that, though, the fixtures look great for a double-up:

In the last six matches, Henderson has only had to make 12 saves, which is far less than McCarthy even though both sides have conceded a similar number of shots in the box.

I don’t think that’s something I’d be too concerned about, though. Given the potential for clean sheets over Gameweek 25 to 29, there are plenty of points to be had.

There are a couple of things to note for longer-term planning, however. If Aston Villa were to beat Leicester in the Carabao Cup replay, it means Sheffield United would have a blank in Gameweek 28. Henderson will also be ineligible to face Manchester United in Gameweek 31 due to loan restrictions.

It’s not a big deal if you have a second playing goalkeeper but it’s worth mentioning.

Mathew Ryan (£4.9m)

Out of everyone on this list, Ryan has the best fixtures from the off – on paper at least.

It may not be as easy as it looks for Brighton to keep clean sheets in those games, especially when those same last four matches see Brighton sit as the sixth-worst team for the number of shots they’re conceding.

Given that Ryan also finds himself quite far down the list of goalkeepers for number of saves made, he probably comes under both McCarthy and Henderson in terms of my favourite options to bring in. That being said, this could be a case of overthinking.

As above, on paper the fixtures look good and sometimes that’s enough. You also have to take into account that Brighton have played Spurs, Chelsea and Everton in the last four matches so a turnaround in fixture difficulty, could also see a turnaround in clean sheet potential.

Ben Foster (£4.9m)

How I'm using the FA Cup weekend to forward plan in FPL 1

It would probably be wrong for me to not mention Foster. Since Nigel Pearson took charge of Watford they have kept four clean sheets in seven games against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

That’s one more clean sheet than they kept in the previous 15 games.

Looking at the defensive stats for the seven fixtures Pearson has been in charge makes for interesting reading.

We could see some regression and with Spurs, Everton, Manchester United and Liverpool to come in the next six matches I’m not feeling confident that the save points will be enough to make up for the lack of clean sheets that I foresee in these matches.

Conclusion

Right now my favoured option is McCarthy. That move saves me at least £0.5m versus the other options mentioned above and the Southampton defensive statistics are looking promising.

If Henderson had better fixtures from the off I would look closer at the double up. McCarthy doesn’t have it easy over the next two either, but they’re more favourable than what Sheffield United will face, and I don’t want to risk two potential blanks by Gameweek 31. I may rue that decision.

I don’t think there’s enough upside in bringing Ryan in and there’s always Lewis Dunk (£4.8m) if I feel I need Brighton defensive coverage. And Foster just doesn’t have the fixtures I’d want to see before bringing in a new player.

There’s plenty of other options that could be considered, including Bernd Leno (£5.0m) with Arsenal showing some defensive improvements. It’s just not enough time for me to consider them a changed team though, I need someone right now.

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) is another consideration with a fairly good run of fixtures right up until Gameweek 33, but again the short-term fixtures don’t look great and I’m not sure he’s worth the extra outlay.

The four main targets for me are listed above. The problem is that three of them were on my list for replacements last week and Fabianski wasn’t. Look who ended up coming in…


Andy is the face of Let’s Talk FPL, one of the leading Fantasy YouTube channels and has been a big part of the Scoutcast over a number of years. He has two top 10k finishes and an additional three inside the top 20k over nine years.

468 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any idea when liverpool last had a DGW?

    1. Rash
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      2015 I think

  2. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Villa apparently interested in Slimani

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

      Interesting, he has done okay in Monaco.

    2. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Fighter in him, he will tire those defenders for sure...but as main scorer i have doubts

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

    Should I play Cantwell or Grealish?

    1. The Mighty I
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Both if possible but Cantwell if not

      1. Longiss
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I could also bench Deulofeu or Rashford

        1. FantasyHero
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I'm benching martial so I can play Grealish and Cantwell. I would bench Deulofeu if I was you.

  4. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2FT

    Unsure of what to do - could look to brink McCarthy in or remove Aurier.
    Would be nice to have the 2FT next GW.

    Schmeichel Button
    TAA Sidibe Aurier Lundstram Webster
    Salah Mane Martial Grealish Cantwell
    Vardy Ings DCL

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      save imo

  5. How I met your Mata
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Bench one
    A grealish
    B DCL
    C Maddison

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Gruesome.

    2. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I'd bench Grealish

    3. Cahill
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      b

    4. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      c

  6. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Confirmed - the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in January and February next year.

    That means it'll be in the middle of the Premier League season.

    It means Salah, Mane, Aubameyang, Zaha, Ndidi, Mahrez etc could miss up to 6 Premier League games next season.

    @JohnBennettBBC

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Ben Crellin to work overtime next season.

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Will need some new felt-tips for Christmas

    2. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      origi essential

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Front three of Shaq, Firmino and Origi with Minamino in behin, surely.
        Unless Mbappe2020 happens.

        1. rjcv177
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          wow MBappe2020 😮

        2. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Is that a remix of a Hanson song?

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Hulk this.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        It's next season, don't think it's urgent, just a piece of info I thought could be of interest.

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yer I read it on page 3.

          1. Differential C (Mark)
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Ahh

      2. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        ....in Dec 2020

    4. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Beautiful. We need chaos like this to bust the template. The best fpl seasons have afcon, snow postponements and utter dgw carnage.

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Tbf this is a good point. More carnage is good.

      2. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Liverpool to be without Mane Salah and Keita at a key period of the season. I mean, they gotta be handicap somewhat to keep things competitive in the league next season.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Salah will probably retire from international football to miss out

          1. Differential C (Mark)
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Egypt fans will riot if that happens.

            1. lindeg
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              like he really cares

    5. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Oh wow, that will shake things up!

  7. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Need to sell Zaha.... 6.7m to spend.

    Best option:

    A) Punt on F. Anderson - with DW24 in mind

    B) Play it safe and get Jack Grealish

    Thanks guys.

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lamela if you feel punty. Otherwise Grealish.

    2. rjcv177
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Punt

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

      B

    4. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      punt sounds fun

  8. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Afternoon guys.
    With Triplepool on board i'm trying to overtake my ML.

    Ryan
    TAA, Soy, Rico (Kelly, Lund)
    Salah, Mane, KdB, Traore (Hayden)
    Vardy, Rashf, DCL

    Wich looks best?

    A) KdB and Traore to Martial and Richarlison
    B) Vardy and Traore to Deeney and Martial/Richarlison

    1. Angin out the Begović
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      dont get rid of KDB for a start

    2. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      none of these transfers are necessary

    3. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Y drop Kdb,he is performing day and day out,a total season keeper.he has palace at home next.actually he was a bargain at 9.5m(now 10.5+) with the form he is in.

  9. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best 2 to own for DGW24? All of them require a -4 except for the first one.

    A. Alli and Gomez
    B. Mahrez and Gomez
    C. Martial and Gomez
    D. Maddison and VVD
    E. Sarr and Robertson

    1. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      D, gomez not nailed with matip and lovren close to returning

      1. lindeg
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        E looks better, just stay away from gomez

        1. circusmonkey
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I got Gomez, reckon the other 2 wait even when fit

  10. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    1ft transfer and 0.4itb. Would you rather do?

    1. Pope to McCarthy
    2. Pope to Ryan
    3. Jimenez to Ings
    4. Kelly to Holgate
    5. Rico to Holgate

    Any combination worth a -4?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      3 has most upside

    2. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Get Ings and use the funds elsewhere.

    3. XABI 15
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks both, leaning towards that as frees up some cash

      1. cpo001
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm considering 1, 2, 3 and 4 of those options (don't own Rico) and think I'm settling on 1.

        Ings seems bandwagonny, Jimenez is a consistent keeper.

  11. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sorry, but as pointless articles go this takes some beating.

    Fab has a current ownership of 2.6% which is slightly lower than it was at weekend - hardly a worry for the masses.
    The active players would have made the holy grail of a GK transfer in the last 2 weeks 74,000 to get him in after his injury ,which was over a 3rd of his ownership have been burned, let them burn I say 😆

    Anyhoo, my point of such a low ownership player being an article headline as pointless still stands.

    Just saying.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      It looks like the author owned him though, and I think we are all supposed to be transfixed by the Pro Pundit's teams. (note: 40% of the Pro-Pundits currently have a rank of worse than 500k)

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        LR12 owned him and I do..that important.

      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        How’s Mark Sutherns the Oracle getting on?

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Badly in FPL, probably winning in life.

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Snorting lines off hookers probably 😉

            1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              Yep, winning in life. Marvelous!

            2. Gnu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              😆

      3. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I'm rustling a wee article together discussing what the 17k Shaqiri owners are going to do if he goes out on loan.
        It's rivettng stuff, I'm trying to condense the 12,000 words down to a more palatable 500.
        Wish me well.

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

      Good point, all sorts of biases involved.

  12. Saro0808
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Dcl or Maupay
    Gameweek 23: Maddison & Rashford to Richarlson & Dcl/Maupay
    Gameweek 24: Rico to Taa/Robbo

    Yes or No.
    Even I feel Rashboy will score against pool,he has nack of scoring goals against the top sides,as it suits his counter attacking style.

    1. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Or just do Rico & Soyu to Williams & Gomez
      My Current Team
      Ryan Button
      Rico Soyu Lund Baldock Holgate
      Maddi Salah Mane Kbd Cantwell
      Vardy Rashfor Ings

  13. Philip Jones's Diary
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Interested to know what people on here think is more valuable?
    a.) 0.2m
    or
    b.) 2 free transfers

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

      1. Philip Jones's Diary
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I think I agree, but for some reason I really want to transfer Tomori to Stephens before they drop and rise. The alternative is save the transfer and have 2 for next week.

  14. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Gazza
    TAA Soy Lund
    Martial KDB Salah Mane
    Ings Vardy Jimi
    Button Cantwell Rico Kelly

    Jimi + Martial -> DCL + Mahrez for free (after this 0.9itb) ?
    That allows me upgrade Rico/Gazza next week.

    1. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      do it, but no reason to upgrade gazza at home to norwich

  15. Gentle_Turks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Chances of Mahrez starting this week?

  16. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I must say something that I think is massively being overlooked in the big debate on which Liverpool players to get (on here but also on Twitter), are their fixtures post the double game week.

    They are:
    Sou (H), Nor (A), WHU (H), Wat (A), Bou (H)

    Looking at those fixtures double attack could be lethal as Liverpool make a big push to rack up the wins as quickly as possible.

    1. lindeg
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      not so sure, think they will be more defensive minded and looking to grind out results

  17. XABI 15
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Those teams are 5 of the bottom 8 teams for total goals conceded this season...

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

    Just wondering as a mediocre fpl player, if any of the teams are run by algorithms? and if so how are the doing?

    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Norwegian global league FPL: 3 girls first. OR is 20,21 and 22.

      1. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Wrong post.

  19. bigdip
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    GTG?
    GK: Ryan (Button)
    DEF: TAA,Targett, Dunk (Lundy, Kelly)
    MID: Richarlison, KDB (c), Son, Martial, Grealish
    FWD: Vardy, Ings (DCL)

    (0 FT, 3.3mn ITB)