Pro Pundits - Ash

Which budget defender should I sign for Blank Gameweek 28?

Like many Fantasy Premier League managers, I may need to make changes to my defence for Blank Gameweek 28.

It’s not the most exciting of areas to fix but having the right men at the back for a week with fewer fixtures than normal can make all the difference.

Having made some good progress recently, I’m confident that shuffling my pack in defence can help continue my rise up the ranks.

I’ve had an interesting few Gameweeks. With four consecutive green arrows, I’ve almost halved my rank since the turn of the year.

I should be delighted, right? Well, I’m far from content with some of my decisions.

For instance, I’ve sold players at the wrong time. I got rid of Kasper Schmeichel (£5.3m) last weekend (minutes before the FPL deadline) which only inspired him to attain an unexpected monster haul against Manchester City.

A couple of weeks prior I said farewell to John Lundstram (£4.9m) before he came off the bench and scored.

But there’s more – Mason Greenwood (£4.3m), Sadio Mané (£12.3m) and Romain Saïss (£4.4m) all registered fantasy returns in Gameweek 27. What do they have in common? I sold them recently.

There was certainly logic in selling each of them and in fairness I have strengthened other areas of my team. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom as Richarlison (£8.2m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.2m) have done well for me. But I feel that my rank rise could have been so much better with a bit more foresight and luck on my side.

With the League Cup final taking away two Premier League fixtures this weekend, many Fantasy managers may have to rely on their bench or take hits to field 11 starters.

Fortunately for me, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.8m) is the only player that I won’t have available at my disposal. That’s why it doesn’t make sense for me to use the Free Hit chip.

However, one of the main problems that I have with my team is the risk of rotation to my budget defenders. To my dismay, I once again have to address issues with my backline. It’s clear that none of Diego Rico (£4.3m), Brandon Williams (£4.1m) and Japhet Tanganga (£4.1m) are regular starters. I would be surprised if even one of them starts this weekend.

I’ve got £0.2m in the bank and it’s likely I need to make changes here. My options are limited, to say the least. Realistically, depending on who I sell, I can only buy Charlie Taylor (£4.2m), Jamal Lascelles (£4.3m) or Saïss.

I’m tempted to re-buy the Wolves man but I already have Rui Patricio (£5.1m) and don’t necessarily fancy doubling up for an unlikely clean sheet away at Spurs.

In comparison, Taylor has quietly kept three clean sheets in his last four games. Then again, Lascelles has the better run of games among the three of them between now and Gameweek 33.

I’m hoping that the core of my team can carry itself unscathed from Blank Gameweek 28. A small green arrow would be most welcome but I may have to play it ultra-safe to avoid a red one and it may even come down to whether I take a hit or not.

Looking beyond that, I can’t help but consider buying Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) after this weekend. Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) has not scored since Gameweek 18 and looks tailor-made to be sold for the Arsenal man.

But in order to make that move, I would have to consider downsizing one of my midfielders. That will be a tough choice, especially given Anthony Martial (£8.0m) and Richarlison have been scoring goals of late.

I don’t have much room to manoeuvre and it may be a fortunate turn of events if a premium-priced squad player becomes injured or suspended so that I can break the log jam and redistribute funds elsewhere.

Having said that, one of the lessons I’ve learnt the hard way with transfers this season is that if it’s not broken, there’s no need to fix it. So I guess I will have to wait and see.

313 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Traoré keep or sell ? Thanks

    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Sell probably.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Me too . A shame . Been one of my worst transfer this season

        1. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Wish jota was a mid.

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Keep I think

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Not concerned by minutes ?

    3. Men in green tights
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm keeping suspect he will start at spurs with his pace and being direct

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  2. Liastro ⭐️
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you wildcard this mess? 3.8m and 2FTs...

    Henderson* Button
    TAA Lundstram* Soyuncu Rico Kelly
    Salah KDB* Grealish* Traore Dendoncker
    Vardy Jimenez Ings

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Definitely no !

    2. poulteren
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      why is it a mess?

      1. paul1964
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This GW:
        No playing GK.
        Lundstram doesn't play and Kelly and Rico are rotation doubts.
        Grealish and KDB don't play.

        I would save the WC for later, do 2 transfers and hope Rico plays but it won't be a great score for you this GW even if the LIV and LEI players do the damage.

  3. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone tempted by Digne?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        If fit?

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Fixtures not good enough imo

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Fair

    2. Sharkytect
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I've had him for about 8 gameweeks and now looking to sell. Terrible fixtures. Not enough cleansheets

  4. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would you take a hit, or play two out of Rico* Traoré* and Dendoncker?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Reluctantly play 2

      1. The VAR Team
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, would be reluctantly!

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only 2 of them likely to start.

      1. The VAR Team
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Which two?

  5. Mikey44
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mccarthy
    TAA Soyuncu Lascelles Taylor
    Salah Mane Traore
    Ings Greenwood

    Subs: Button Auba KDB Grealish Egan

    1 FT, 0.4m itb

    Would you guys do:

    A) Greenwood -> Long and play with 10
    B) Egan -> Boly

    Cheers

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

  6. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Over 121,000 peeps have brought Aubameyang in this’s week, words fail 🙂

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Planning ahead is key 😉

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe bringing in ready then free hitting?

      1. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        If they free hit this week the Aub transfer will be cancelled out.

  7. Gazwaz80
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Especially this’s word 🙂

  8. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    VVD TAA Lascelles Taylor
    Salah Maddi Martial
    Pukki Ings Vardy(c)

    McGov Holgate Hayden KDB

    0FT 2.2ITB
    Team GTG?

    1. Lavecli
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Solid team. Like the Vardy Captain pick

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  9. alexh87
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Anything worth a -4 here? 2.8 ITB.

    McCarthy
    TAA Robbo Soy Lascelles
    Rich Perez Salah
    Vardy Ings Jimi

    Subs: Button Cantwell Rico KDB

    Thanks.

  10. Hana
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any chance of Kelly starting this GW? He is back fit and was on the bench last GW.

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Absolutely no chance. Ward is first choice RB for palace

  11. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Grealish and Auba to Bruno and Vardy?

    1. Sterling Malory
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Leaves me with

      McCarthy
      TAA VVD Dunk Lascelles
      Salah Traore Bruno
      Vardy Jimi Ings
      Henderson Cantwell KDB O'connell

  12. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Would get in Saiss but only have 4.2m to spend and already have Lascelles and CTaylor.

  13. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    2FTs. Nothing in the bank.

    Ryan
    TAA VvD Sidibe Stephens Rico*
    Salah Perez Trossard*
    Ings Vardy
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    4.0 Dendoncker Aubameyang KDB

    Trossard and Rico are not regular starters who they might be the ones to boot. But Sidibe vs a decent United attack?
    Any ideas?

    Thanks.

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      *so they might