Pro Pundits

Stats or the Eye Test – Which is better for FPL?

Throughout history, there have been many examples of intense division; Roundheads versus Cavaliers, North versus South, Beatles versus Stones, Leave versus Remain, Laurel versus Yanny, the list goes on.

But few subjects will have inspired the kind of fierce debate than the question of which is better for making FPL decisions; Stats or the Eye Test.

Proponents of the Eye Test; the idea that you need to actually watch football to do well in FPL, or at least that it is beneficial, often view Stats aficionados as nerds and somewhat artificial football fans who would probably be playing Fantasy K-Pop as long as it involved a pivot table.

They are often heard saying things like “Do you even watch football?” in a pejorative tone towards huddles of Stats fans, nervously and nasally talking ‘xG’ in what they believed to be an FPL safe space. 

Supporters of Stats; the opinion that underlying statistical information provides as good if not better view of football for the purposes of making FPL decisions, view proponents of the Eye Test as knuckle-dragging luddites who probably own a Greggs rewards card and reminisce for the ‘glory days’ when watching Saint and Greavsie on a Sunday afternoon was enough FPL research to give you ‘that edge’.

Okay, so all of this is maybe a little hyperbolic for the purposes of creating dramatic tension and, in reality, we all probably sit at least a little across both camps, but the question does remain as to which is better for making FPL decisions; Stats or the Eye Test and this is the question I’m going to try and address here.

The Eye Test

You would think that watching football would be an obvious benefit when it comes to playing a game that involves making football-related decisions and, indeed, many of the best FPL players out there, and several FPL champions no less, credit their success to the amount of football they consume.

It’s true that watching football can offer a lot to your FPL game as it provides the viewer with a broader understanding of football tactics and strategy and how these function, interact or conflict in order to increase or decrease a player’s chances of scoring FPL points.

Much of this is often difficult to pick up in stats alone, an example perhaps being Leicester’s Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) and his famous goal-scoring runs of the past, which occurred despite him seemingly taking barely any shots on goal. 

The manner in which Leicester played, and Vardy’s own style of play, combined to create a scenario where heconsistently overperformed against his stats. Now, you could argue that Vardy is now regressing but, it remains true that, had you been going by underlying stats alone even this season, you mighthave missed out on a run of 14 goals in 12 games.

These statistical anomalies occur at both ends of the pitch. For example, in the past six Gameweeks, Liverpool have allowed more shots than Chelsea and Manchester City, yet they have conceded only a fraction of the goals. Indeed Liverpool have made more defensive errors than all but three other Premier League teams this season and yet they have by far the best defensive record. The fewest defensive errors conceded? Watford.

So, you might surmise from this that you can’t believe stats and you can only really trust your own eyes. But can you actually trust your own eyes? The inherent cognitive biases that can influence an FPL manager’s perspective have been discussed on this site before and they will, in all likelihood, distort our visual perceptions of a player’s performance.

For example, when sitting down to scout a player in a football match, ‘confirmation bias’, or our tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms our existing views or expectations, will almost inevitably come into play. 

If you’ve decided that you want a player, you will probably pay greater attention to the good things that the player does. If you’ve decided you don’t want a player, or it’s difficult for you to get them, you’ll probably focus more on the bad things, or dismiss the good things (like a hat-trick) as ‘unsustainable’.

Then there’s the question of the sample size for the Eye Test and ‘belief in the law of small numbers’ which is the biased belief that a small sample will be accurately representative of the larger picture.

Concluding that a player offers attacking threat and thus “passess the eye test” could, in fact, be credited to as little as one or two memorable instances in the match a person just watched, not to mention that it is just one match and that we have yet to factor in the opposition.

Anyone who has watched a football match and thought “Ooh, Luke Shaw is getting forward a lot…” and brought him in on that basis can probably attest to how misleading our perception can be.

The key problem with the Eye Test is the general uncertainty as to what is actually being tested and, even moreso, what it even takes to pass the test. It has no objective standard and, by any scientific measure, the ‘eye test’ would be considered about as reliable as the average office printer.

Stats

So are stats better? Stats do have some advantages over the Eye Test, in particular that they offer a scalable means of interpreting football matches. Stats can distill hours upon hours of football into easily-digestible and objective data, offering a consistent platform for making decisions.

Stats can offer insights that are effectively invisible to the naked eye and help FPL managers to identify undervalued assets, predict form and, indeed, over-performance in a consistent manner. Stats can boil seemingly impossible questions such as; ‘who is the better Liverpool asset; Sadio Mané (£12.2m) or Mohamed Salah (£12.8m)?’ into objective stats, and they can do it in seconds.

Of course, certain stats are better than others. I’ve spoken before in this column about the significance of opportunity over ability for predicting goal scoring form and others have highlighted the strong correlations between stats such as ‘big chances’ and ‘shots in the box’ and goal scoring returns.

Stats such as xG and xGC, while not quite perfect, offer an instructive basis for making predictions and, with the introduction of things such as player heat maps, stats are offering an ever more complete view of a football match.

 1

Stats are also accessible. You don’t need to know your Lindeberg from your Lyapunov or your chi-squared from your psi-squared to make good use of statistical data. This site itself collects, distils and refines stats into many easily-usable forms and offers things like the Rate My Team tool which allows managers to just plug players in and let an algorithm do the rest. Stats in FPL have never been so plentiful, accessible or user-friendly as they currently are.

So, stats are better then? Well, not necessarily as many of the aforementioned challenges that problematise the Eye Test also apply here too. Anyone who has ever run two players through the Comparison Tool has probably experienced the tendency to cherry pick the stats that support the player who, deep down, they really wanted to get in the first place (confirmation bias again). 

Indeed, the value of stats are highly conditional; you need to be looking at the right stats, in the right volume and in the right context. For an example of how misleading stats can be, just look at any early season bandwagon and how they came to be thus. Typically they involve people making judgements on a player based on one or two matches with little consideration given to factors such as to the opposition, the player’s level of motivation, the possibility that they are an unknown quantity and thus harder to mark and, broadly, the conditions for sustainability of the form that they demonstrate.

Stats are also very easy to skew. Players who have exceptional games, sendings off, injuries, all these things and many more can disproportionately influence how player or team stats might appear. Despite the developments in xG, I’ve yet to see any stat that can reliably distinguish between a striker having an off day and a goalkeeper having a worldie as well as the Eye Test can, so we’re still some way, I think, to being able to fully and reliably ‘watch’ a match purely in the form of numbers, Matrix-style.

Football, I’d argue, is a much more challenging game to quantify statistically when compared to more linear, turn-based sports such as baseball (which has practically had its genome mapped it is so statistically rich) given the number of variables at play and, while it might seem like there are ‘too many’ stats in FPL, the lack of depth in those stats is actually a pretty big challenge to their utility. In FPL, we are almost always looking to make judgements on sample sizes that would be too small for any valid statistical test. In fact, it’s probably only when we get to this stage of the season where stats offer anything approaching reliability. So, when we talk about stats in FPL, we are really only ever talking about something that is directional and probably never conclusive.

Conclusion

A combination of both the Eye Test and Stats is the right way to go

Inevitably, there are advantages and disadvantages to both Stats and the Eye Test and both rely enormously on how we use them and the extent to which we can control the influence of our biases while doing so. Because neither the Eye Test nor Stats can tell the entire story individually, we have to conclude that it is the combination of both that is ideal. 

Having said that, I do think that it is significantly easier to remain objective when looking at stats versus a football match because stats tend to provoke far less emotion than the act of watching football does. I also think that we are moving towards a point of sophistication in stats where the marginal benefit of watching football versus just using stats will probably be quite small, possibly to the point where it may even be detrimental from an FPL-perspective.

What do I mean by this? Something people tend to find interesting about my FPL-winning season is that it came despite me watching almost no football at all that year (out of circumstance I stress, not because I don’t like watching football!).

The assumption is, generally, that this would be a huge disadvantage, however, I’ve come to believe that it may actually have been a big advantage. Because I wasn’t watching football, I was able to make all sorts of decisions that I’d normally struggle to make. I never worried about picking players playing against the team I support, I never picked a player because I wanted to feel more invested in a game I was watching and I never conflated what I wanted to happen with what was objectively more likely to happen.

Because I wasn’t watching, none of this really mattered.

Not watching football stripped much of the emotion and many of the biases from my decision process, leaving just the cold hard facts. I wouldn’t want to live like that forever, but I can’t deny that it probably helped that season.

It’s unlikely that many managers will stop watching football for the sake of their FPL team but we can become more conscious of the emotions and biases that might affect our use of the Eye Test, and indeed Stats, for making FPL decisions and seek to manage or compartmentalise these things.

If you use Stats, make sure you’re remaining objective and that you’re looking at the right stats, in a large enough quantity and in context. If you are an Eye Test aficionado, mentally separating the football that you watch for entertainment or team loyalty and the football you watch for research may improve your game. And if you are an Eye Test ‘purist’ who eschews stats entirely, you might want to consider giving them a shot or risk handing an ever growing and ever more accessible advantage to your opponents.

1,279 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Óró Sé…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A decent bench boost, right? Y/N?

    McCarthy (AVL)
    Lascelles (cry)
    Westwood (BOU)
    Mooy (shu)

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      DGW!

      1. pokern1nja09
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        what?

        1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          BB on DGW!

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      N

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

      save BB for DGW, otherwise is not a good move.

      Imagine 15 players who will play 2 games each ?

      1. Óró Sé…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I wc'd two gw's ago so doubt my bench will be in ruder health again this season. I hear you tho

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Well, depends on the players and fixtures, besides on a DGW rotation is highly probable as well

      3. Pipermaru
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        BB is about 4 guys on your bench not your whole squad.

    4. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, it's a decent bench, if you feel it's going to work just play BB.

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

    2 free transfers and no money in the bank, what to do here?

    Dubravka/McCarthy
    TAA Stephens Fernandez Ward Dunk
    KDB Salah Martial Willian Grealish
    Auba Jimenez Mousset

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Willian to a BGW player

  3. Saka Punch
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    A) Aguero to Jimi for free

    B) Save the transfer and take him out for Jimi/Vardy next week?

    Thanks

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'd do A

    2. Óró Sé…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

  4. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    G2G? Captain and bench order ok?

    Henderson
    TAA VVD C.Taylor
    Salah (C) KDB Richarlison Grealish
    Auba Jimenez Ings

    McCarthy Boly Lascelles Hayden

    1. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Looks great!

      I think you could start Boly over Taylor.

      1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I'm going to review some clean sheet data and decide

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Bookies prefer Wolves. I'd do Boly.

    2. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Gtg. Shame you have to bench Boly

    3. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Would start Boly over Taylor but a coin toss really. Captain choice perfect, rest of bench order perfect.

      1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Wonderful, thanks

    4. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    5. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Play boly

    6. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Gone for Boly - thanks all. Data and odds point to Wolves for a cleanie.

  5. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Armband on:

    A) Salah - safer pick due to EO
    B) Mané - higher risk/reward

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Depends on rank.

      Good rank - A
      Bad rank - B

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Depends whether you need to take a risk

  6. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    One hour i can not deciede who to play:

    1. Boly
    2. DCL
    3. Barnes

    ?

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Interesting. Probably DCL

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      2

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

      Isn't the deadline tomorrow?

  7. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any Aguero owners who have Jimenez & Ings also?

    What are you planning to do with him this week?
    I dont see any standout replacement I want maybe Vardy next week.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy now

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This week?
        With Ndidi missing Aguero looks a better option than Vardy.

      2. Pep Roulette
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        In the same boat! Thinking to do the same!

    2. One for All
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Yeh Aguero to Vardy most probably next gw

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah I want to do it next week but I have 2 FTs.

    3. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I'm doing Auba to Vardy so similar situation.

    4. Tickle Me Enzo
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Aguero Ings & Abra here; trying to figure out whether to transfer out Agu or Abra for Jimi...

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        If Abraham is still injured it's an easy decision.

        1. Tickle Me Enzo
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Waiting for presser

    5. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Bit of a gamble but I'm doing Aguero/KDB to Vardy/Mane

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Could work out handsomely. Good luck!

        1. El Presidente
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Or... be a complete desaster

          1. El Presidente
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Disaster damn!

  8. Lignja
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Gtg and save ft? 1ft 0.1m itb

    Pope
    Taa, Robertson, Lundstram
    Salah, Kdb, Grealish, Traore
    Auba, Vardy, Ings

    Lascales, Rico, Dendoker

  9. Pep Roulette
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Aguero owners! What are you doing with him?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Think I'm selling for Jimi

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Out for Jimi unless there's substance to the limp

    3. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Can't decide!

      Have Jimenez & Ings also so I'm struggling to find a replacement.

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Selling for Vardy next gw

  10. FortunesAlwaysHiding
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who from these guys moving forward?

    a) Mooy
    b) Trossard
    c) Ceballos

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

      Not C

    3. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Nailed one, which is Mooy.

  11. ThisTimeNxtYrRodney
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Having seen how the teams returning from a short break have not been as fluent and productive as they were before the break, it will be interesting to see how the teams who have had a 14 day break perform and how long it will be in this weeks round of games before they get back into their stride.
    The teams in question are everton, palace, Brighton, Watford, sheff utd and bournmouth.
    Two weeks off from top competition suggests to me that they will all be susceptible to conceding early goals. I accept sheff utd play Brighton, so hard to judge that one.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Hmmmmmmmm

    2. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I had a feeling that Brighton will get a win at Bramall Lane actually but overall your observation is valid, it might happen.

  12. theofficialMB180
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Alli, Mount & McCarthy or Lucas, Bruno and Button?
    I think a second keeper for the blanks/DGWs would be handy.

  13. FPL_BUCCANEER
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Hendo
    TAA Stephens Egan
    Salah Mane(C) KDB Grealish Traore
    Vardy Ings

    Button Greenwood Lascelles Soy

    0.7ITB 1FT

    Mane (C) is my differential.

    Any thoughts? TIA.

  14. Pukkipartyy
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Aguero or Auba to Jimi this week ?
    Or hold both ?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Aggy

    2. Saka Punch
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Personally doing Aguero to Jimi, but either could score tbf. Just the worry of Kun being benched with RM game coming midweek, whereas you know Auba will start

  15. Fit_to_drop
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Wolves are going to have a clean sheet this weekend. I don't own one of their defenders and have 1FT but I have to keep it to sort out my team next week for GW28.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Well you'll miss out on the cs points

    2. Holmes
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      You will have defender from other teams as well, they will also get 4pts for CS.

  16. gauzah
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Need to get rid of Son. Have to take a hit to do it though.

    No obvious candidates for replacement. What would you pick?

    A) Richarlison
    B) Martial
    C) Barnes
    D) Adama Traore
    E) Pepe

    1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

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

        He's good against the top 6 to be fair.
        I am tempted to go for him, it just feels wrong with the sea of reds.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      C or d

    3. ebb2sparky
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Out of those probably traore or Barnes and invest the cash elsewhere. I'm looking at mane but will need to be part of a 4 point hit to afford him

  17. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Struggling to afford Jiminez. 

    Holgate & Maupay -----> Saiss & Jota?

    2 FT...

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No

  18. ebb2sparky
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Son injury really hasn't helped 🙁 I have a dodgy defence and want to get rid of aguero too. Thinking Son and Aguero to Mane and Jimenez for a 4 point hit but it will leave me a dodgy defence:

    McCarthy
    TAA, Lundstram, Kelly
    Salah, KDB, Mane, Grealish
    Jimenez, Ings, DCL
    4.0, Rico, Hayden, Soy

    Would you take a hit to do this or just replace son with another midfielder up to 10.9 in value?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      If you are taking a hit this week, I'd rather do Son and Kelly to e.g. Boly and Martial/Bruno/Richarlison/Traore/Tony M and get rid of Kun next week.

      1. ebb2sparky
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        To be honest I don't fancy any of those midfield options and very reluctant to take a hit for a defender but I agree selling aguero can always back fire!

    2. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Do those moves and play Rico over Kelly

      1. ebb2sparky
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah might do that. I expect both will score 2 or less points so won't make much difference in the end!

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

      Son is a priority to lose, Aguero isn't. I'd say there are 3 or 4 players needed gone before Kun in your team.

      1. ebb2sparky
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Out of interest what 3 or 4 players are you referring to?

        I'm happy with Soy as I expect some clean sheets with their upcoming fixtures and I'm not bothered about 5 defenders so happy to keep 2 out of Rico, Kelly and lundstram.

        I might get rid of Grealish but that would only be because villa blank next week.

        I think DCL is great value for money so plan to keep for the time being.

  19. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    This is difficult...

    A) Martial to Mane
    B) Lundy to VVD

    1. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B just if you need a defender to start each week.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Basically I'm in your boat there. Kun to Jimi allows for either (I might go Robbo over Vvd fwiw).
      My only niggle is the extra 2m quid could really help with any sudden dgw (eg. Ryan to Ederson).

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Could get Gomes instead to save money?

    3. Pipermaru
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I don't like doubling up on Liverpool mids so B for me.

  20. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Who do you think is more likely to keep a CS this week?

    A) United vs (WAT)
    B) Sheffield vs (BHA)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    2. Bonus magnet
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      A

    3. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      B

    5. El Presidente
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tough call

  21. THAT'S LIFE
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Jota has to be taken seriously now in this form, right?

    1. 7rjngs lollygagger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Snap 🙂

      Stats are actually very decent in PL - he may be my punt running into 31 - give him a little run anyway

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Wasn't this same conversation had about 2 months' ago when he hauled against BHA?

      1. THAT'S LIFE
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        From what I've noticed in the past he is a streaky player. But you make a good point.

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yep. Interesting enough he also had 3+2 goals PL+EL... so after yesterdays hattie, comes a brace maybe?

    3. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      No. Wolves seem to favour the 3-5-2 formation in EL which favours Jota more as he plays centrally.

      In their 3-4-3, he's stuck out on the LW which lets Traore cause havoc on the RW.

      1. THAT'S LIFE
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Maybe Boly/Jota/Traore is the Wolves treble up which allows Vardy Ings Jota plus cash rather than Jimmy for Vardy...

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        You are right, but even when he plays closer to Jimenez in a more central role, he also comes from the left hand side. He uses both feet but his strongest is the left.

  22. 7rjngs lollygagger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Any insights into Jota?

    Cracking form in EL but can’t buy a PL return despite better overall stats than last season. Is there an explanation somewhere.

    He tempts me 🙂

    1. THAT'S LIFE
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Strikers get confidence from goals and it is Norwich next. Easy swap for DCL in my team and a game in 31. Its just that rotation that I fear but he is getting fairly decent minutes.

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Not seen the stats, but isn't the 3-4-3 shape the problem? Last year he only took off when they went to a front two rather than a three?

      1. 7rjngs lollygagger
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hmmm - that sounds familiar now. Think I’ll probably swerve as I’m not that keen on the Norwich match up!!

        Any suggestions for budget striker? DCL? Looking for strong bench option to go 3-4-3 3-5-2 when needed and concerned KdB gets benched this week.

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Probably Dom. Ighalo for a real punt?

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Yes, with Adama he plays on the left which is the spot where I think he better performs, both coming into the inside or going for the line. The problem with Jota is not positioning, but his physical condition. If he´s fit he´s super danger, because 90% of his game is based on being explosive in short spaces and fast in open play

      3. THAT'S LIFE
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Surely Nuno looks at last night and stays with it? I know it was not great opposition but Wolves rarely get 4.

    3. The Bad Seed
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      keep in mind that Jota only exploded by the final third of last season. Maybe due to system change

      Jota Now:
      - Good morale
      - Good fixtures
      - Final third is here
      - Jimenez might have a knock, and WILL need a rest

      The stars are aligned for Jota. But im currently on DCL and Ings.

      If DCL doesnt capitalize and Jota opens the door in the PL with a goal, or if a system change looks near - JUMP on him.

      So it's one to monitor closely

      1. THAT'S LIFE
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This is the thing - you need to jump on before the pack.

      2. El Presidente
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        The only way I see the system changing is if Adama is playing injured or not 100%, otherwise I doubt it. I didnt see the game last night but I think they actually played the 3 of them up front?

        1. THAT'S LIFE
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Might give him a few games with the option to go back to DCL after his tough run of games

  23. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Raheem Sterling says he is happy at Man City but also claims Real Madrid are a "Fantastic Club,

    "When you see the white shirt you know exactly what the club stands for, it's massive."

    So it begins.

    1. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Is he actually good enough tho?

      1. DAZZ
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Honestly, No. I can see Madrid moving for Mo before Raheem.

        1. JT11fc
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Ye Mo is a better version of the same type of player imo

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            You guys are kidding, right ?
            Salah can play max 2 years more, and Sterlo at least 5-7

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              How old is Salah in your opinion? Can Vardy play these days?

              1. Jebiga
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Well, Salah is not legend like Kun Aguero for example. I predict maybe one more decent season for Salah and thats it. Probably the same will happened with Vardy

                1. Qaiss
                  • 8 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  Salah has won the golden boot twice in a row. Scored 32 goals in one league season ffs. Helped his team to win the CL and PL this season too. What are you on about saying he’s not a legend?

                  1. Jebiga
                    • 12 Years
                    4 years, 8 months ago

                    Maybe he is, but not huge as Kun.

              2. Danno - Emre Canada
                • 9 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Salah is 27 two years older than Sterling

    2. Holmes
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Fulham should try to sign him

      1. Fulchester's New Centr…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        He'd be more than welcome at the Cottage, not a small upgrade over AK47.

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      'I have a contract with Man City...' says it all.

    4. goriuanx
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      He isn't good enough for Real Madrid.

      Salah, Mane, Sane, Son, Mbappe, Neymar just to name a few are better - and probably cost similar (bar the last 2 players).

      1. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        LOL. Salah and Mane are pants if they not playing in PL in VAR system

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Wtf VAR has done to them last two seasons? Are you 10 years old or something?

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yust saying that LiVARpool can go to the conferention league after this season for robbery 😉

        2. goriuanx
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Salah broke the all time PL record without VAR.

          Grow up man.

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Still KDB is number one in PL

            1. goriuanx
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              And what relevance does that have to your original comment: "Salah and Mane are pants if they not playing in PL in VAR system"

              If you have an opinion, at least back it up with rational reasons 🙂

              1. Jebiga
                • 12 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                That is absolutely true ! 🙂

              2. DAZZ
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                If im being brutally honest, i think i'd take Riyad Mahrez over Sterling. No joke.

        3. The Bad Seed
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          nonsense. Tells you haven't been watching - not 5 years back, not 2, not even today.

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Ok, lets see what will be next season when LiVARpool goes to usually 7th place as almost every year in past 30 years

            1. Danno - Emre Canada
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Only finished 7th a few times in the last 30 years, 4th seems to be the position of choice

    5. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      He is nowhere near to be good enough for Real Madrid

    6. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      What one season do to the peoples. Raheem is one of the best players in PL. Just not his season. Actually only KDB is better player in PL than him...

      1. The Bad Seed
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        and that is according to...?

        1. Jebiga
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Watching football 20 + years ?

          1. The Bad Seed
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            what a credible source!

            Someone who's watched football over 20 years and claims Salah was helped by VAR during the year he broke the record when VAR WASNT THERE.

            Mate. Everything you say without exception is waste of opinion.

            You just spread fake news, then back it up with unrelated childish remarks....

            done wasting time.

            1. Jebiga
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Ok, we will see the future 🙂
              Just see the goals scored and conceded. Almost the same season as last year between pool and city.
              And 20 points difference, that telling you something ?

              1. The Bad Seed
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                yes. better game management.

                Guardiola spoke about this. So did Klopp.

                It's not that hard to put 2 and 2 together.

                How is better game management and goal difference related to Raheem being good?

                This is the 5th time you back up false/halftrue news with unrelated personal preferences...

                Is this trolling? im really curious now.

      2. DAZZ
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        There are literally 3 or 4 better players in the Man City squad than Raheem, let alone the PL

      3. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Lay off the drugs please, a speed merchant with only one (albeit deadly) trick, off the ball movement for tap ins. He's the cherry on top when city are flying and is an incredibly useful asset to an attacking team. Things like ball control, passing, good dribbling are lacking big time though and that's not just this season

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            He was pants against Atletico Madrid, and Renato Lodi played with him. Just PL is not that good as other european leagues

            1. goriuanx
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Yep PL is rubbish, and Europe is where it's at - it's a good job the pants liVARpool have won 3 European trophies in the space of 6 months - more than Sterling's City have in their entire history.

              1. HNI
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                3? You counting Super Cup and Club world cup too?

                1. Jebiga
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  😀

                  What i done. Im sorry but didnt wanted to make this argue about Pool And City 🙂

                2. goriuanx
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  They're listed as major trophies - I don't make the rules! Far better than winning the FA Cup and League Cup anyhow.

        • @persecuted_by_mods
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Sterling is better than Aguero? Better than Salah? Better than Mane? Better than Alisson, Van Dijk, Robertson?

            1. Jebiga
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Sterling from the last season hell yeah. Sterling from this season no way !

              1. The Bad Seed
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                what does "sterling from last season" mean? XD

                he is either better now, or not.

                Please stop spamming. You can have last word though

              2. Make Arrows Green Again
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                7 years... have you been hacked?

        • kamdaraji
          • 15 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Sterling is world class!!!

        • Jebiga
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Sorry guys, put Looserpool will never be brilliant club like Deportivo La Coruna, Lazio, Manchester City, Arsenal. They got 20 + trophies with blody world war 1 and 2 money. Enough said

          1. The Bad Seed
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            MODS - can someone report this troll?

            I think it's a stolen 7 year account - going on "loserpool" spamming everywhere.

          2. HNI
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            You forgot Anzi Makachakala

          3. Danno - Emre Canada
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            What are you truly waffling about?!?! DLC have won their league what once in their history and Liverpool were awful during the in-between war years

        • HNI
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Lol that Wiseman poster is the biggest antithesis I have seen for a while. And sane posters are trying to reason with him. The thing about foolishness...Its only painful to others

          1. Jebiga
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            😀

          2. The Bad Seed
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            nah would'nt bother.

            We just want this community spam free 🙂 reasoning time is done.

            We report now.

            Last thing we want is trolls all over FFS

            1. HNI
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Yes he is infact the 'Bad Seed'

              1. The Bad Seed
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

              2. The Bad Seed
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Guess im reporting myself then!

      4. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        When you respond on nearly every comment, but get absolutely naff all back on your question.

        Thanks, community.

        1. Holmes
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          😀

          You will get used to it 😉

        2. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          There ya go mate! 🙂

        3. JT11fc
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          This

        4. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Refresh mate

        5. Piggs Boson
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Is there something you could be doing to make your posts more appealing?

          Maybe ask a more specific question, or give multiple choice.

        6. DAZZ
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          What do you need advice on?

        7. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          True. Reluctant to post my own questions and happy to get a response at all when I do.

          I appreciate that not everybody has as much "free" time as me, but find it particulalrly annoying when people ask a question, you reply with a further question/seek clarification and often are the only one to do son and you get no response to that.

          Maybe a grav with a purty lady might help.

          1. Stormbringer22
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            This ^

          2. Holmes
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Will try this grav thing next year, should help 😀

        8. HNI
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Just stop posting pics of your beak with every post and you will be fine

        9. Danno - Emre Canada
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Need a shorter name

      5. kamdaraji
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Boselli (C) this week?

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Drenthe

          1. kamdaraji
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            In accordance with your name I did drop donkey this week!

            1. The Knights Template
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Excellent move

      6. J to the T
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Best Lundy replacement?

        1. Lascelles/Fernandez
        2. Saiss
        3. Basham

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          1

        2. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          1, Lascelles

      7. Mufc202020
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        After a long term cheap defender starting GW29. Best options?? Can’t bring in any SHU players.

        1. Holmes
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Depends how cheap and what is the extent of long term

        2. Rains of Castamere
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Boly

      8. kamdaraji
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        thought please on XI

        VAR
        VAR VAR VAR VAR
        VAR VAR VAR
        VAR VAR VAR

        1. Badger Badger Mushroom Mush…
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No goal.

        2. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          VOOM

        3. Party time
            4 years, 8 months ago

            gtg

        4. Rains of Castamere
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          GW30 captain choice looks a minefield. City vs Burnley stands out as a good fixture but with Real Madrid three days later and nothing really to play for in the league, can see premium City assets getting a rest. Captaining KDB/Aguero/Mahrez is a real 1pt-cameo risk.

          Maybe Ings (c) - Norwich vs Southampton

          1. DAZZ
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Auba away to Brighton

            1. Rains of Castamere
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              I don't think I'll own him again this season. And just not convinced by Arsenal at all.

          2. Holmes
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Jimenez

            1. Rains of Castamere
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              West Ham away, definite option

          3. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Maybe, Vardy perhaps an option also if he finds form. Many will C Salah anyway.

            1. Rains of Castamere
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Everton away on a Monday night... not convinced.

          4. Pipermaru
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Ings, Jimmy, Tammy would be my choice...and there's always Liverpool.

        5. Sarri-ball
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          is Tammy Abraham a good option if fit.

          got jimenez/Augbameyang.

          chasing in mini league so looking some1 outside ings

          1. The Knights Template
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Could be

          2. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Might be eased in after injury. I wouldn't be happy to take 1pt cameo risk.

            1. Sarri-ball
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              that is a concern but think spurs 2 big a game but 3 games in 7 days id my concern