Selection

The best budget defenders for the FPL restart

Having already assessed the cheapest goalkeepers on offer, we continue our position-by-position analysis of Fantasy Premier League assets with a look at budget defenders.

It remains to be seen what FPL do regarding free transfers ahead of the restart: will we have to make do with our usual allocation, be handed another Wildcard or given unlimited changes ahead of the first deadline?

Whatever happens, many of us may be making wholesale alterations to our squads ahead of the opening Double Gameweek, especially as any outstanding chips (Free Hit, second Wildcard etc) will still be valid.

Budget assets will have their part to play as usual, even if their primary function is to free up cash to spend on the heavy hitters elsewhere.

Defenders costing less than £5.0m come under the spotlight here, then.

There are over 150 of these assets to choose from, almost a quarter of the FPL player database.

Many of them aren’t even worthy of a passing mention: there are those who have barely played a minute, those who are currently injured and those who are out on loan.

With that in mind, we’ll attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff and concentrate only on the stoppers worth considering.

Jack O’Connell and John Egan

  • Prices: O’Connell (£4.7m), Egan (£4.6m)
  • Ownerships: O’Connell (3.5%), Egan (2.4%)
  • Next three fixtures: avl + new | mun | TOT
  • Potential next four fixtures: bur | WOL | CHE | lei

Perhaps more of a Double Gameweek pick than anything longer term, Sheffield United’s defenders start with two appealing fixtures when the Premier League resumes in June.

Strugglers Aston Villa and shot-shy Newcastle United form the Bladesmen’s double-header and many of us will be tempted by more than one of their assets when we get back underway.

With the Blades’ goalkeeper and wing-backs costing more than £5.0m, and the out-of-position John Lundstram (£4.9m) perhaps now a rotation risk, we instead look to Chris Wilder’s centre-halves for value-for-money picks.

Jack O’Connell (£4.7m) and John Egan (£4.6m) form part of Sheffield United’s regular back three along with Chris Basham (£4.6m) and all of those stoppers have started every game that they have been available for this season.

The overlapping O’Connell has played every single minute, while defensive rock Egan’s only substitution and absence was enforced by injury.

The pair have only two attacking returns between them in 2019/20 but rank in the top ten among FPL defenders for big chances created and shots in the box respectively.

It’s important to acknowledge their limitations: they don’t offer quite the same presence in the final third as Enda Stevens (£5.2m) and George Baldock (£5.1m), nor do they provide the sustained goal threat of the much-heralded Lundstram.

But they do give us (we hope) security of starts and a cheaper route into a Sheffield United backline that has conceded fewer goals than all top-flight teams bar Liverpool this season.

A word on Lundstram before we move on.

Still owned by 39.1% of FPL bosses, the out-of-position defender had seemingly lost his place in the engine room to new signing Sander Berge (£4.8m) in the spring, only to return to the starting XI in Gameweek 29 and deliver a double-digit haul.

His race might not be run yet, then, and the FPL fairytale may still have a happy ending before his inevitable reclassification in 2020/21.

Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez

  • Prices: Lascelles (£4.3m), Fernandez (£4.6m)
  • Ownerships: Lascelles (4.5%), Fernandez (3.0%)
  • Next three fixtures: SHU | AVL | bou
  • Potential next four fixtures: WHU | mci | wat | TOT

Looking solely at fixture difficulty over the next four Gameweeks (if West Ham are indeed the opposition in the last of those games), then Newcastle United are up there with Wolverhampton Wanderers as having the best run in the division.

Three of the Magpies’ next four matches are at St James Park and Steve Bruce’s side have a good defensive record on their own patch, having conceded the joint-lowest number of goals in home matches in 2019/20.

Whether the lack of crowds will negate home advantage and whether Bruce’s recent change to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 will mean a loss of stability at the back are relevant questions.

But Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Sheffield United are all in the bottom seven for goals scored in 2020 and clean sheets could be in the offing regardless of venue.

With question marks over the right-back position and Danny Rose (£5.3m) extortionately priced on the opposite flank, we turn to the Magpies’ two centre-halves.

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) has been nailed when fit, while Federico Fernandez (£4.6m) has started every league match from Gameweek 10 onwards.

Fernandez warrants being that bit more expensive, having delivered more bonus points than all bar three FPL defenders this season.

He also has four attacking returns to his name in 2019/20.

READ MORE: Why Fernandez excels on the Bonus Points System

Bruce does have four other fit centre-halves now at his disposal, which may be a slight worry, but Fernandez and Lascelles were in charge of the positions before coronavirus halted play.

Those who love their rotating budget defenders may be interested to learn that Newcastle and West Ham’s games dovetail to give an anticipated run of SHU, AVL, bou, WHU, BUR, nor, WAT, bha, AVL.

Watford’s matches also intertwine well with Newcastle’s until the very final day.

Willy Boly and Romain Saiss

Defences on top as wasteful Jimenez and anonymous Vardy blank at Molineux
  • Prices: Boly (£4.8m), Saiss (£4.6m)
  • Ownerships: Boly (3.3%), Saiss (3.7%)
  • Next three fixtures: whu | BOU | avl
  • Potential next four fixtures: ARS | shu | EVE | bur

The impact of Willy Boly (£4.8m) on the Wolves defence has been well-documented, with Wolves keeping seven clean sheets in the 13 games he has started this season – and only one in the other 16 fixtures.

Both he and Romain Saiss (£4.6m) are cut-price alternatives to Matt Doherty (£6.3m) and while they can’t offer the same sustained attacking threat from open play as the Irishman, do offer a bit of menace from dead-ball situations.

Saiss sits in the top ten for shots in the box among defenders this season and already has four attacking returns to his name.

Boly simply hasn’t got going offensively in 2019/20, with only one recorded effort on goal, but did have an effort chalked off after VAR intervention in Gameweek 26 and scored on four occasions last season.

Wolves have six remaining fixtures against teams ranked tenth or below, with three of the bottom five up next.

James Justin

  • Price: £4.7m
  • Ownership: 0.1%
  • Next three fixtures: wat | BHA | eve
  • Potential next four fixtures: CRY | ars | bou | SHU

Not a name some Fantasy managers will be overly familiar with, James Justin (£4.7m) has had to play second fiddle at Leicester City for much of this season.

Signed from Luton Town last summer, the attack-minded full-back has only been handed two league starts since making the move, the last of which came in Gameweek 29.

The budget defender could be poised for an extended run in the side, however, with the injured Ricardo Pereira (£6.3m) expected to miss the rest of the season.

We haven’t got much to go off in 2019/20 but Justin did excel and score in the Carabao Cup win over his form employers earlier in the campaign and emerged from the bench to grab an assist in the Gameweek 15 win over Watford – albeit a fortuitous one.

Able to play off either side, the versatile full-back was used down the left in the final Premier League game before the mid-March suspension and registered more final-third touches than Pereira on the opposite flank.

Four teams in the bottom half of the table await the Foxes next, although it has to be said that Nigel Pearson and Carlo Ancelotti have improved the attacking output at Watford and Everton considerably.

Leicester have the third-best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 28 goals so far.

Centre-half Caglar Soyuncu (£4.9m) is another one of the Foxes’ defenders who squeezes into the sub-£5.0m category.

Charlie Taylor

  • Price: £4.3m
  • Ownership: 2.4%
  • Next three fixtures: mci | WAT | cry
  • Potential next four fixtures: SHU | whu | liv | WOL

Only Liverpool have kept more clean sheets than Burnley this season.

The Clarets’ full-backs are the cheapest route into this solid backline, with Charlie Taylor (£4.3m) and Phil Bardsley (£4.3m) having been Sean Dyche’s preferred options before COVID-19 stopped play.

Taylor has started every match he has been available for from Gameweek 12 onwards, with only a hamstring injury interrupting his run in the starting XI in December.

No attacking returns this season highlights just why Taylor is so cheap and in truth, it’s mostly clean sheets or bust for the left-back.

The budget asset has had only one shot all season and his rate of chances created is not great, either.

Only Dwight McNeil (£6.1m) has delivered more open-play crosses than Taylor in the Burnley squad, however, which is something to cling onto given how aerially dominant the Clarets are.

Watford, Palace and Sheffield United ought to present Sean Dyche’s side with a decent chance of adding to their clean sheet tally as those three sides are in the bottom six for goals scored this season.

Mason Holgate

  • Price: £4.3m
  • Ownership: 2.0%
  • Next three fixtures: LIV | nor | LEI
  • Potential next four fixtures: tot | SOU | wol | AVL

A piece of injury news over the last week has temporarily boosted Mason Holgate‘s (£4.3m) appeal as a budget FPL defender.

Yerry Mina (£5.3m) looks set to miss the start of the season with a thigh injury, although how long the Colombian will actually be sidelined for is as yet unknown.

Centre-half rotation was something Carlo Ancelotti promised earlier this year and he has been true to his word.

Holgate has been the mainstay at the back as Mina and Michael Keane (£5.2m) dip in and out of the side but even he was handed a shock benching in Gameweek 26.

Not many of us would consider an Everton defender for the Merseyside derby but the Toffees do meet Norwich, Southampton, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Sheffield United in the run-in, so Holgate could be wheeled out by Fantasy managers for those more favourable games and benched for the rest.

Ancelotti’s week-to-week tinkering will keep us on our toes when Mina returns, however.

Max Aarons

  • Price: £4.3m
  • Ownership: 1.3%
  • Next three fixtures: SOU | EVE | ars
  • Potential next four fixtures: BHA | wat | WHU | che

With Sam Byram (£4.3m) and Jamal Lewis (£4.4m) tussling for the left-back slot and Daniel Farke finally having a full complement of centre-halves available to him after an injury-ravaged campaign, we turn to Max Aarons (£4.3m) as our curveball Norwich City pick.

Grant Hanley (£4.1m) has been bench fodder for some of us this season but the idea of selecting a Canaries defender with a view to actually playing them would have been laughable for much of 2019/20.

Norwich had been showing signs of resilience before the suspension of play, however, having conceded just seven goals in as many games and kept three clean sheets in the process.

Liverpool had been impressively kept at bay for much of their Gameweek 26 clash at Carrow Road, too.

The concerns would be over a loss of momentum after a three-month break and the Canaries’ need for points eliciting a more gung-ho mindset.

But with Farke having actual centre-backs to choose from and having settled on a functional pairing of Kenny McLean (£4.8m) and Alex Tettey (£4.5m) in front of the back four, there is no surprise that Norwich’s defensive numbers have moved in the right direction.

Their remaining home fixtures (Southampton, Everton, Brighton, West Ham and Burnley) are a dream and three of those matches take place soon after the restart.

No Norwich player has created more big chances this season than Aarons, who is second among his teammates for crosses, too.

Also Consider

Aside from Lundstram, Diego Rico (£4.2m) and Martin Kelly (£4.1m) are two of the most popular budget defenders in FPL in terms of ownership.

Both lost their places in their respective clubs’ starting XI prior to the Premier League’s current hiatus, however, and may well be down the pecking order when we resume.

The likes of Japhet Tanganga (£4.1m) and Brandon Williams (£4.2m) are very attractively priced and will almost certainly get game-time between now and the end of 2019/20 but, at a time of the season when we’re looking for secure starters, we couldn’t be confident of either of them making the cut from week to week.

The same is true for Chelsea’s three sub-£5.0m centre-halves and Nicolas Otamendi (£4.9m) at Manchester City, while it remains to be seen if Pablo Mari‘s (£4.8m) league debut in Gameweek 29 translates into more regular starts for Arsenal.

All of these players could provide value during the run-in given the right circumstances (i.e. the enforced absence or loss of form of a first-team regular) but injury issues are thin on the ground right now, so we can’t have much conviction about any of them.

Serge Aurier (£4.9m) has been a regular starter under Jose Mourinho for much of the Spurs manager’s tenure and it’s easy to forget how exciting he looked in the early days of the current regime.

Two substitute appearances in the last three matches has dented his appeal, however, while three clean sheets in 17 games for the Lilywhites under the Special One is well below-par, too.

Onto the more secure starters, then.

Ryan Bertrand (£4.8m) and Aaron Cresswell (£4.5m) are regulars under their current managers and both have been increasingly involved at corner-kick situations of late, with Cresswell also fond of chancing his arm at direct free-kicks.

One clean sheet for the Hammers under David Moyes is a damning indictment (Cresswell averages 1.6 points per match under the Scot), however, while only four clubs have kept fewer shut-outs than the Saints in 2019/20.

West Ham’s last six matches and Southampton’s final three games are quite appealing, at least, and those two clubs could still be fighting for their lives at the season’s end.

Matt Targett (£4.4m) is another cheapo defender who has been on set-piece duties recently, having taken ten corner-kicks in the six Gameweeks before COVID-19 stopped play.

Aston Villa begin with a Double Gameweek when football resumes and he is the pick of their backline – although that isn’t saying much.

The Villans have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team this season and no side has fewer clean sheets.

We’re ignoring Lewis Dunk (£4.7m) for now, with Brighton and Hove Albion having some iffy fixtures to begin with.

Dunk is also only one caution away from a two-match ban.

The centre-back with an eye for a goal will be one to consider perhaps for the final three Gameweeks, however, if the games pan out in the original order and the Seagulls face Southampton, Newcastle and Burnley as expected.

A poor run of fixtures also prevents us from getting over-excited about the likes of Joel Ward (£4.3m) and Gary Cahill (£4.4m) at Crystal Palace, who are one of the better sides in the division defensively.

All nine of the Eagles’ clean sheets have come against sides ranked tenth or below and they meet just three of those clubs in the run-in.

Roy Hodgson’s side do play Burnley and Bournemouth in the first three Gameweeks back, however, and prevented those sides from scoring in the reverse fixtures.

Let’s end on a positive note with Watford.

The Hornets have kept a respectable five clean sheets since Nigel Pearson took charge, a total that is inferior to just three clubs over the same timeframe.

Their fixtures also dovetail fairly well with Sheffield United’s, giving the following run until the season’s end:

new + avl | bur | SOU | bur | NOR | NEW | whu | EVE | sou

To bring us back full circle, pairing and alternating Egan or O’Connell with someone like Craig Cathcart (£4.3m), who is an ever-present under Pearson, would be a way of guaranteeing a relatively favourable match on any given Gameweek.

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263 Comments Post a Comment
  1. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Good Sunday morning all! A rainy day for my morning run.

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

    So is it worth using FH on next gw? What about the bench boost?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Many planning on using FH if there is a dgw for four teams.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I wonder how many are considering blowing (on) their chips asap to climb up their minileagues before a possible permanent early termination of the season.

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          It is one of those niggling thoughts in the back of my mind.

        2. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          People inclinded to do that used their chips by gw 4

          1. Drexl Spivey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Covid Spike #2 though.

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Yes, that's my point. There's even a chance that the two June 17th fixtures are the only ones played before a second and final (for this football season) lockdown. If not that soon, after 2-3 weeks given the chaotic situation in England.

              1. Pukki Party
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I'm not going to plan long term for the rest of the season myself. Only 1-2 gameweeks ahead for your reason explained above.

        3. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          100%

          Once the title is decided and Europe places & relegation done, there will be a move to season. That’s is a second wave hasn’t done it first.

          Blow chips asap, need to move fast, one month the game could be over.

    2. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on your team. If you've got barely any DGW players then yeah use the FH, I personally will have 6 DGW players so I won't be using it

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I’m in the same boat, will probably BB with 7 off DGW players (3x City, 3x Sheff & Auba)

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don't see much to favour using BB. The SGW fixtures aren't very appealing and you're highly unlikely to already have playing DGW players on the bench. FH is a good option given that at this point another DGW seems unlikely.

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

      Cheers for the advice. I have 5 DGW players 3sheff 1manc 1arsenal so tough to know if it's worth it.

  3. paul1964
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    When are we going to see PARTS THREE AND FOUR OF the articles you started about this..... "Who are the most secure starters ahead of the FPL restart?"

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Calm your tits. 9 days to go

      1. paul1964
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thank you for your unhelpful and rude response. Some people might say if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all.

  4. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Must be a ton of teams already with at least one Wolves defender, one Sheffield, one Newcastle, etc...

  5. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Only 9 days left and we still dont know if we'll get unlimited transfers. Disgrace

    1. Dennis System
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      your life must be pretty empty

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

        Yup thats it

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

      10 days*

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      They probably don't see the need to clarify something which is not in rules, and is no more than pure speculation that has not been mentioned by them at any point. Surely it would have been included in the last update from them, when they reminded that the chips we still have will remain available, if it was going to happen.

      https://www.premierleague.com/news/1665216/

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yup, there's never been anything to remotely suggest there would be unlimited transfers. Just entitled fellas on here with wild speculation demanding answers god dammit!

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

          WRONG.

          For those like me who have already used our FH the dgw is an unforeseen hurdle only unlimited transfers evens the playing field

          1. Cookie Kid
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            You’ve had 10 transfers since mid March

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

              Of no use without knowledge of fixtures

              1. Cookie Kid
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Nightcrawler (great film btw) you knew what the remaining fixtures were and which teams would have an extra game.

                Did you make any transfers at all?

                Did you not benefit from your free hit when you played it?

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

                  No i actually ended up with a lower score than my original team thanks to kdb destroying arsenal 🙁

            2. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Indeed. Only fair those who kept the faith see some benefit.

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                * I was supporting Cookie Kid, there.

          2. Van der Faart
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            It doesnt even the playing field. It gives those who have already used all their chips an extra wild card.

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Before FPL closed the gate I used the opportunity to tidy up my squad with 3 double-transfers. Apart from regrettably moving Auba in and out again, it's looking in good shape for the restart.

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

                Thats good work from u but some of us were preoccupied given the circumstances. We shdnt be punished for that

                1. Tomerick
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Is Nightcrawler Dominic Cummings? The rules don’t work for you as they are so you need to change them to fit your specific circumstances?

          3. St Pauli Walnuts
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Oooh, upper case ... you must mean business.

            That is wild speculation as I said, there's never been anything to suggest FPL Towers would do this.

            1. Rotation's Alter Ego
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I know I'm very much in the minority on this one, but I can see unlimited transfers being a thing, and can certainly see why people think FPL might want to.

              Whilst I agree that I would have expected them to announce it by now if they were planning on adding unlimited transfers, I'm very surprised that they, despite frequent opportunities, have made no comment on the number of FTs we'd receive despite plenty of questions about it.

              You can also look at it from the marketing side, where unlimited transfers means lots of people are back taking a big interest in their team and will get the clicks right back up again.

              For clarity sake - I hope I am wrong, unlimited transfers would be a big disadvantage for me. I also acknowledge that outside of my speculation there's nothing to suggest that their will be unlimited transfers and users shouldn't make rash assumptions that there will, but I think there's merit to planning for both if there are and if there aren't.

              1. Cookie Kid
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I can’t see this happening, it would give a massive undeserved advantage for people who have already used their WC and not great for the integrity of the game.

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

                Very well said. Spot on

              3. Chemical76
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                19/20 season never ended. It has suffered a in year postponement so unlimited transfers are not merited.
                This is only applicable to the start of a season. Similarly, there should be no extra Wildcard. That would only be suitable in a version of the game where there were 25 teams and, say, 60 games a season.
                The ONLY way forward is unused chips plus unused FTs (adhering to normal carry forward rules).
                Used your WC in week 29 and feel aggrieved?
                Tough luck! Its part of the game: unforeseen influences.

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

                  Some years ago a free wildcard was awarded becuase of the game crashing before the deadline.briles are flexible

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

                    *rules

              4. St Pauli Walnuts
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                My point was that they never promised or even alluded to the possibility of unlimited free transfers for the restart, so it certainly isn’t a “disgrace” that they haven’t confirmed one way or another.

                Whether there should be or not is a different matter and I’ve no problem with people debating that, personally I can see some valid points for both camps but fall firmly in the shouldn’t camp overall,

                1. Chemical76
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Can we agree that they're deadline for clarification is this Wednesday?

              5. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Unlimited transfers would cause an outrage. Don't even understand why people think it's even an option when there has been no indication at all from FPL. Somone on twitter made it up and the whole fpl community started believing it ?

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

                  Unlimited transfers would be a gestire of goodwill from fol for thise affected by the virus. To suggest it would cause an outrage is outrageous in itself imo

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

                    Gesture*
                    Fpl*
                    Those*

                    1. Bennerman
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      This is crass and poor taste

                  2. Bennerman
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    People on here live in a bubble, unlimited transfers is an absolute fantasy dreamed up and then made a thing probably 15-20 people who chat among themselves. The rest of the world, and just basic applied logic, doesn't even entertain the dumb, self-,

                    1. Bennerman
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      self-indulgy notion.

                      1. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        self-indulgent.

                        Pay peanuts for a phone, get s monkey for a spell check

                      2. Bennerman
                        • 5 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        a

                  3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    They may do it , sure but there has been nothing from FPL to suggest it, infact no mention and a reminder to keep your chips is more suggesting they will carry on as usual.

                    Like i say it would benefit me so i wouldn't be shedding no tears but massively unfair if they do it. Until they hint at it, it is just yet again more twitter rubbish, to me anyway

                2. Rotation's Alter Ego
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Well, I explained why I think the way I do above 😉 Don't expect people to agree with me, just think it's too hasty to completely rule it out from your thinking like it's completely impossible.

                  I don't know. I don't listen to what Twitter have decided, never find it useful.

                  1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    Yer your reasoning if fine. It wouldn't be a total shock . The fact everyone is talking about it may even have given FPL the idea to do it

                  2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    I’d 100% agree RAE in terms of why it might happen - although I’m honestly not hugely bothered either way... Let alone “Outraged”...

                    But can totally see the possible case/s & reason/s they might choose to go there

                    All it takes is a “Salah, Bruno, TAA & Jimenez in self-isolation with positive Covid19 tests” headline on the eve of GW39 for example, to render even the most proactive of slow Wildcards redundant

                    Unlimited transfers *kind of* helps folks deal with that type of thing before the restart - but no idea where FPL’s heads are at with regards all this - the important thing is that they start the game back up again

                    You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone 🙂

                    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                      • 14 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      When i say outraged , im looking at it more from a perspective of those doing well and the free opportunity to create a differential team given to others trying to catch up ( like myself) .

                      If i was leading i would want the teams below to be have to be taking hits as a way of trying to get out of trouble not a " get out of jail free card ". It would feel like a bit of a kick in the face personally

                      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        I guess its just going to take some people more time than others to make the transition from being grateful that the game restarts, to a feeling of being outraged or kicked in the face about being given more transfers 🙂

                      2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        Yer but when those people have a few
                        Hundred or thousand quid at stake it kind of becomes more serious so it depends on the situation

                      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                        • 14 Years
                        3 years, 9 months ago

                        Having thousands of quid on FPL is probably a fairly niche scenario in fairness, and leading a mini league of people who have thousands of quid on FPL probably even more niche...

                        There are any number of platitudes you could throw out there too, rightly or wrong ly - if they're good enough they'll win anyway, if they can afford to spend thousands of quid on FPL they can afford to lose it, unlimited transfers in the hands of a good manager may help more than hinder them...

                        But even at that I guess I just couldn't bring myself to be outraged on the behalf of those folks, or feel that I'm being kicked in the face on their behalf for what seems such a niche scenario in the grand scheme of things

                        Maybe I'll get there in time though 🙂

                    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                      • 14 Years
                      3 years, 9 months ago

                      I guess what i am saying is why punish the people who are having a good season.

  6. YuvalFPL
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Morning all

    How is this free hit team looking?

    Henderson
    Doherty, Bellerin, E.Stevens
    Sterling KDB Pepe Grealish Fleck
    Auba Augero

    Martin, Tanganga, El Mohamady, Greenwood

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Looking good.

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        thanks.

    2. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      nice FH team.
      Who would you captain?
      Why Doherty and not another DGW player?

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        KDB or Auba for captain. Will decide nearer the time, leaning towards Auba as I think he'll get more minutes.

        Doherty was picked because I want 3 city mids/forwards, I don't want an aston villa defender as they're terrible defensively and 3 Sheffield United in defence seems like too much. I wanted Fleck instead of Ozil but budget couldn't quite stretch.

        Doherty seemed the best of the rest. Who do you prefer in defence for a FH?

    3. TwiggsJameson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Very similar to mine, I like it.

      I have Leno, Stevens, Egan, Targett at the back though.

  7. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone for triple SHU defence free hit?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Literally everyone

      1. Dacra
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        First I've properly looked at my FH today 🙂

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah
          I have seen almost every team posted here with 2/3 SHU defense

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I blew my FH some time ago but I've got triple Blades at the back anyway so I'm good.

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Might go double SHU & double AV to spread the risk/reward - Reina, Mings/Targett, Lundy and O’Connell. Might play TAA instead of one of them.

      Not wasting a MCI or ARS spot on a defender.

      1. YuvalFPL
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        what's the point in having villa defenders? most goals conceded and least clean sheets.

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah. Free hit is a chance to go all out attack on the fixtures.

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      For shiz.

  8. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Quick poll - how many of the top 300k OR in FPL won’t bother logging in again this season?

    1. 50k
    2. 100k
    3. 150k
    4. 200k
    5. 250k

    Trying to work out a target for final rank.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1, it predominately serious players in the top 300K.

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Well that’s my target set - top 250k 😎

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          My target at the start of the season is always top 1% minimum (75k this season), but 250k is still well into the top 4% which would be a great result in just about anything you do in life.

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I’m top 0.5% for talking sh1te every season 😎

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Should be between 50k to 100k.

      But you're missing a point here jaf.
      Dead teams can do well than people like me(us*) who OVERTHINK over everything in the game 😛

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Casuals delight and ghost ships sailing have done me for many a season.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Ha ha

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yes, there is normally a team that you could have picked in GW1 and left alone for the whole season that would have been good enough to win FPL.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah

    3. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hmm. I'm in the top 5K. Can't see many above me giving up. Likely to be plenty lower down the ranks though.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Hello Andy ..

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yo mate 😉

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Good to see everyone back 😀
            Seriously !!

      2. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah reckon In the top 50k only a slack handful won’t climb back on the horse.

    4. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I think it will be a decent whack lower than 1 even.

  9. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Repost
    Morning All !!
    I think i am going to save my FH (only remaining chip) and play with 2 dgw players i have. I don't like Arsenal/Villa players, already have Henderson & KDB so don't think FH is worth it. (Leaning towards it atm of course

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Morning All !!
      I think i am going to save my FH (only remaining chip) and play with 2 dgw players i have. I don't like Arsenal/Villa players, already have Henderson & KDB so don't think FH is worth it. (Leaning towards it atm of course )

      Team i have:

      Henderson
      Taa Saiss Lascells/Stephens/Taylor
      Salah KDB Bruno Son
      Vardy Rashford DCL

      I am pathetic at using Chips ...
      So, what do you guys think ??

      Saving FH for a rainy day or last GW of the season can be fun maybe ..

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        As long as you bring two more City assets, at least one of them being Aguero or Sterling it could work.
        I personally would FH with your team

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks for reply mate.
          Only way to bring City attacker is selling Salah (unless on FH)

          Will you still play FH if it was your last chip?

          1. POLSKA GOLA
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I wouldn’t mind selling Salah for Sterling but you’d like him back for GW40 at home. I’m selling Mané for Sterling but planning to WC next week and get Salah.
            If you don’t have a WC it may be sensible to FH now as it’s not guaranteed there will be any blanks or doubles at all

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah
              This is only assured DGW right now.
              Thanks mate 🙂

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      This is embarrassing 🙁

    3. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It's a brave move and you may be laughing if a juicy DGW scenario presents itself later in the season, but I'd rather have one in the hand. Kun and Auba up front etc. could pay off and is worth the gamble I reckon.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        This being a fix DGW has upside simply because of its assurance..
        Yeah
        . thanks mate 🙂

        1. St Pauli Walnuts
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Yep. The only thing that is likely to make me reconsider FH is if there's any info before the restart that suggests reasonable chance of another DGW later.

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Yep
            Hopefully we'll get more information about it before start of39

  10. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    The more I look at a potential FH team for the DGW, the less convincing it appears.

    The likes of Salah, Mane, Vardy, Jiminez, TAA, etc could easily outscore the DGW players featured in most FH teams, mine included.

    The Sheffield defence have two away games, likewise Arsenal with one at Man City.
    Grealish aside, most Villa players a

    1. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cont.

      ...are unappealing, picking Man City players is a lottery.

      I think I will just stick with 4-5 core DGW players and save the FH for a later week.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        For me, home/away doesn't mean anything without the crowds, and I'd avoid City as they've nothing to play for in the league and everything to play for in CL. I've popped Foden in as a cheeky 5th Mid but that's it.

        1. zes
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Sheffield have more CSs on the toad this season anyway

          1. zes
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            * on the road lol

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I liked on the toad

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

      Yeah i dont have fh and looked at the possibility of using using a wc but just ended up with either so much crap or rotation risks i dropped the idea

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Reckon I will play Salah, Jimenez, TAA and 8 x DGWs....two from each team (Reina/Leno, Mings/Targett, Lundy, O’Connell, Grealish, Aguero, KdB, Augbamayang, Saka)

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

      Indeed, but if SHU get 2 clean sheets...

      Might change my mind before though, let's see!

    5. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      They're not really away games though are they, that should be factored in.

    6. zes
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah 2 away goals all season a worry tbh

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        'In my opinion', you mean.

        It's not a spontaneous outbreak of honesty, you haven't been keeping that idea to yourself for reasons of national security and suddenly decided to reveal it for the benefit of mankind.

        1. zes
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Obviously it’s my opinion what a needless thing to say

      2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yep - although “away” and “home” under Covid may not be anything like what they were previously...

        But Salah definitely had a general trend this season of only performing away from home if Mané wasn’t on the pitch

        When Mané played, he generally saved his hauls for Anfield:

        Salah away 5.1 PPA (62 points, 12 apps)
        Salah home 8.9 PPA (124 points, 14 apps)
        Salah with no Mané 11.6 PPA (58 points, 5 apps)
        Salah with Mane 5.9 PPA (130 points, 22 apps)

        But when Mané didn’t play, home or away became close to irrelevant - Mo just flipped almost instantly back into 300-points-a-season mode (11.6 PPA without Sadio there to share the limelight!)

    7. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Then again consider that the 4 teams playing will have an opportunity to remove the cobwebs early and could do well against teams playing their first game later in the week, who will still be trying to "climatise",

  11. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    First try FH:

    Leno
    3x cheap SHU - TAA (fodder)
    Kdb - Sterling - Grealish - Pepe (fodder)
    Auba - Aguero (fodder)

    Mid fodder can be around 5.0 to stand a chance of playing if needed..

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nice. I'm likely to go Salah over Pepe and downgrade TAA, your version has a higher ceiling though I reckon.

      Saka maybe for your fodder.

    2. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      As per my post (above) I think a more balanced team of DGW Players and highly owned SGW players (Salah, Jimmy, etc) is optimal as opposed to 11 DGW players.

      Just my opinion.

    3. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      That's my FH team at the mo, with the luxury of the SHU wingbacks included amongst the 3 blades, and McCarthy Lascelles & Guendozi (or someone) + one fodder on the bench. I think it has the highest ceiling if you're going for 11 DGWers.

      Devo-McDuff's suggestion below is an interesting one though, might have a look at that.

  12. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Completely forgot I was doing well this season, now quite excited about the return! 🙂

    Also, Liverpool winning the league will still be pretty decent! 😀

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      PL trophy coming to Pool is like Thanos .....

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

      ‘Completely forgot’

      1. Thug
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I 'completely forgot' how crap I am at this game 🙂

  13. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Stevens or Baldock?

    1. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Baldock

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

      Enda

  14. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Morning

    Should I FH this team

    Henderson* McCarthy

    TAA Boly Janmaat Stephens Dunk

    KDB* Salah Traore Barnes Mooy

    Aubameyang* DCL Ings

    or just do Mooy > Grealish & Dunk > Baldock instead

    Any ideas would be welcomed

  15. DeadStarComing
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Can we get the fixture ticker updated soon please? This tool is so useful for me. Thanks in advance.

    1. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      My guess would be that it won't be updated until all the fixtures are announced and given Gameweeks, but I'll ask if it's feasible to add just the first three weeks.

      1. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Anything would help. I know I can simply view the fixtures elsewhere but I like the sorting option/colour coding etc. I appreciate it’s all very busy currently.

      2. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Also, are we actually expecting the other fixtures to be announced yet? I did think this would be it for another 2-3 weeks and the Prem would announce them in blocks of 3 as we go.

        1. Rotation's Alter Ego
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I think they will be released soon - but again it's more trademark speculation from myself 😉

          They (FPL) would have a good idea what they (PL) are planning, so when they released the statement for draft saying...

          "Once dates are confirmed and all remaining Premier League fixtures have been announced, our plan is to resume FPL  Draft  with additional multiple Gameweeks created to reflect the remaining 92 fixtures."

          ... I take this as fixtures and gameweeks will definitely be revealed well before the season resumes.

          1. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Fair enough, except the last line - "fixtures and gameweeks will definitely be revealed well before the season resumes." We are in to that time zone in my eyes! There are less than 2 weeks now! 🙂

      3. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Can you not just add all remaining fixtures? It's obvious that the same order is being kept.

        All you need is a small disclaimer. We are all adults. We can take it.

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          There are under 18s on this site.

          1. FPL Virgin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Are Hub offering a full season ticker?

            1. Fantasy Gold
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              You’re an adult?

              Wow, you learn something new every day.

  16. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What to do with this lot?

    McCarthy Button
    TAA James Soyuncu Boly Lascelles
    Barnes Maddison Salah KDB Hayden
    Auba Firmino Jota

    Team isn't great, was expecting it to look better as I seemed to remember doing well pre covid. FH, WC and BB intact

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      FH followed by WC

  17. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Some points about the restart of FPL

    1) Many of us build up value at the start of the season and keep our chips so we can zoom up the rankings at the end of the season when the Blank and Double Gameweeks arrive. This year we only have one DGW and won't have the opportunity of zooming up the rankings like we normally do. You don't see many of us complaining.

    At least by NOT giving unlimited transfers to every player it will be a consolation and our long-term planning and patience will be rewarded in a small way.

    2) Some good players have had a rubbish season and have had to use some of their chips early, this can happen to anyone. Good players aren't complaining and will still be looking at this as a challenge.

    3) The game did not stop we were ALL given the opportunity to make a slow WC. You can't blame FPL if you didn't take advantage of their gift. In fact some good players didn't do a slow WC purposefully, knowing that players could perform differently at the restart anyway.

    4) Finally, we are all in the same boat, none of us know how the players will perform and this makes it a level playing field. This can't be used as an excuse for any reason.

    I thank you.

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

      1) wrong. We have 2 dgws not 1. Most of us already successfully used our TC on the first dgw

      3) there were other more pressibg issues given the circumstances. Wont go into detail but im sure u understand

      4) fair enough

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        1) I'm talking about DGW's from when the season restarts.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          We don't know how many DGWs there will be as the PL hasn't released the rest of the fixture list yet, and we can't be sure how FA Cup and European ties will affect PL fixtures.
          I'm one of those who's blown his chips (still have WC) but I think it only fair to the integrity of the competition if we start exactly where we left off.

          1. The Polymath
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I can't see any reason for postponements, certainly not the weather or cup replays. So how could we get DGW's?

            1. Epic Fail
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Covid

              1. Amey
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Exactly !

              2. The Polymath
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Still dreaming we won't finish the season Epic? 😉

                1. Epic Fail
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Yep. Just woke up from a wet dream about it now. 😎

              3. DeadStarComing
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yep this is obviously the big risk. What I meant below was it doesn't look like they'll be any planned DGWs, apart from GW39.

            2. POLSKA GOLA
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Regional lockdowns could be imposed if R rates is high in some parts of the country

            3. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Second wave pandemic. 🙂

          2. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Right now it looks unlikely they'll be more DGWs. As far as I understand it, it looks like the FA cup rounds will be followed by a clear midweek for the Prem fixtures to be played and the European games don't actually get played until after the Prem now.

      2. DeadStarComing
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I feel a little out of touch with all this debate. What's the actual argument for feeling that unlimited transfers should be given to all? In fantasy terms the Prem is coming back with mostly the same squads and the same fixture list. Why can't we just pick up where we left off?

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          There isn't one. It's self-perpetuating guff from on here

          1. DeadStarComing
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I'm trying to be nicer than that 🙂 . I'm genuinly interested in the differing opinions. I think I'm in the camp where it actually doesn't matter too much. As in I think I'll benefit anyway as I still have most chips. If we get unlimited transfers I'll probably bench boost over free hit in GW39.

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I'm not arsed about it at all but I'm also not arsed about tip-toeing around stupid talk, and I'm afraid it's rife.

              Fighting a losing battle but will land the odd punch

            2. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I am quite happy with no unlimited transfers because I have 3 city and 3 arsenal and I will have 8 dgw players with 2 frees. I am not gonna use free hit because I am already fairly well set and by the same logic unlimited transfers will not benefit me as much as most.

              However, this debate usually starts with a smug wildcard holder claiming superior intelligence and declaring no unlimited transfers 'fair' which I call bs on. It's not fair because the game has stopped for 3 months. A pre season is currently happenning. And the biggest reason is that there are massive rule changes which affect fpl like 5 subs. Fullbacks are the most rotated position in some teams due to workload and the fixture list is now highly congested. I would have made vastly different decisions in my gw 29 wildcard had I known these rules and fixture changes. I also would have paid attention to the extra info we are picking up via friendlies. Nketiah is on my radar now and he was not before.
              Is unlimited transfers fair on wildcard holders? Probably not although some have picked up that they maintain an advantage which they always do. I jump in when these self righteous morons claim superior intelligence and justice as reasons for no unlimited transfers.

              I actually hope we do just carry on from where we left off but i would not blame fol for giving unlimited and i certainly wouldn't call this situation fair for anyone.

              I thank you

          2. The Polymath
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            That's right, it's on the list with the one big game week 39 nonsense. 😀

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah, what was that all about? Eh, on what logic? And we had people talking about coding like they knew it etc. Embarrassing

              1. The Polymath
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                We sometimes forget there are all kinds of people in this world. 😀

                1. Bennerman
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  We're reminded every day at the moment, and not in a good way.

      3. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nightcrawler. Last season I missed the first deadline because of more pressing circumstances. I started the season with an injured Trippier and Ihenacho.

        I did not ask for unlimited transfers then and I dont now.

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i can see the arguments for and against. The fixtures have changed especially the blank gameweek that some people would have prepared for that is no longer happening and the immediate new DGW For example. Also fpl have never said they will do unlimited transfers like they never said anything about a massive GW38 so we could just be chatting about nothing wait and see what they do and enjoy the game whatever it is! Its going to be tough on some and good for some however they handle it

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah but fixtures change often during the season, you don't get compensated for it. To dream up an entire raft of free transfers is just FFD bed-wetters bleating at their worst.

        All you need to do really to get the gist is refer to the game rules (which FPL have mentioned in both recent updates) but that's too logical for the fantasist/outraged brigade.

  18. lespaul
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Seems a waste of 2 FTs using the free hit for 39 :-/

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      We don't know if a saved FT will roll over yet.

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

        Wow is there a possibility of that too? If we dont get unlimited transfers and get our extra free hit get taken away on top of that i might just pack my bags

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I assume it will, because everything I've seen FPL wise so far suggests that the season will continue like their hasn't been a three month break but we won't know for sure until we can make transfers.

    2. Bennerman
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Carpe diem

      If you have to burn one transfer (not two - you'll always have one) for the greater good then so be it.

    3. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      You can't have your cake and eat it, I'd love to keep the FH for later but even 2 FT's won't help. 😀

    4. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Don't use it then. Problem solved. 😀

  19. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Think this may be my best effort so far at a FH team I'm content with having.

    Hendo
    TAA-Lund-Targett/Mings(Fodder)
    Salah-Kdb-Saka-Grealish(Guendozi)
    Auba-Aguero-Jimmy

    Just not sure about Aguero, hopefully Pep isn't a secretive tw*t during his press conference.

  20. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    People considering FH'ing in GW39, anyone not convinced by Pepe?

    https://twitter.com/ThreeFiveWho/status/1269369454988857344?s=19

    Pepe has been in my drafts but I'm not sold on him. Feel like he's only there because I'm struggling to spend my budget.

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I am.

    2. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      No bad thing to sit on 3 or 4 million for now. We don't know which big hitters will be rested and rotated, and which will play a key part n the rest of the season. Money itb = opportunities to leap on bandwagons.

  21. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Your help is needed please
    Should I FH this team

    Henderson* McCarthy

    TAA Boly Janmaat Stephens Dunk

    KDB* Salah Traore Barnes Mooy

    Aubameyang* DCL Ings
    Any ideas would be welcomed

  22. jay01
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone else planning to BB first gwk rather than FH? Im not interested in arsenal and villa players at all, will captain Kun and have triple sheffield defence. Rest of the team are the likes of Salah Mane Jimi TAA Doherty (and other sgwk players).. i can field effectively 19 playing players this way without touching FH

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yup that's normal double gameweek strategy, you set your team up for it and either triple cap or bench boost. In this case some teams may not be set up right so have to free hit, bench boost essentially is a second player anyway so all about how your team is set up

      • POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        That’s my plan atm, 7 DGW players (3xSheff, 3xCity & Auba) and a BB, would WC GW40 to offload bench players to the cheapest possible

      • pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Thinking it over

        Can get to 20 starters with 2FTs. Likewise very dubious about Arsenal and actually not that sold on SU defence. Grealish I like as the talisman who'll be central to anything Villa do do. The doubt in my mind is that my bench isn't really exciting:

        Hendo (good)
        Taylor (awful)
        AWB (dubious)
        Barnes (good)

        Other point is that I expect to be carrying a strong bench to the end given likely rotation so other opportunities will occur.

        1. POLSKA GOLA
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Lateriser made a point a few days ago that with 5 subs your starters are more likely to play a cameo rather than a no show, making good bench redundant.
          I tend to agree and thinking of going with absolutely cheapest bench possible. Do you think having subs would still make sense? I guess it could come handy if a certain player was not in the squad at all due to positive test

          1. Andy_Social
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            For me, the significance of the 5 subs is that the premium midfielders and strikers are more likely to get hauled off early, decreasing their value. That's one reason I'm punting on Foden rather than a hi-value City player.

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I wouldn't overplay that idea. It's only two more subs and managers know who their best players are, they don't take them off unless they need to either because they are starting the next game (a good thing) and/or they've already done the business (a good thing)

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                I think managers will be concerned about muscle injuries, and will take off more important players rather than risk them going down after 80 minutes. Just a guess - I've not been monitoring the Bundesliga which should give important clues as to how players will cope in the PL.

                1. POLSKA GOLA
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  I think it also increases chance of premium mids and forwards to start on the bench and be brought in n at let’s say 55-60 mins rather than being rested completely. As LR pointed out much less likely VC and subs would play a role

            2. POLSKA GOLA
              • 10 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Foden is too risky for me, he’s been disciplined by the club over something he did in lockdown recently, hasn’t he? I’m thinking more of Bilva/Dilva route as 3rd City midfielder

          2. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Fair point - it could play out that way. But BB is still a useful chip and with a strong 15 theres a case to play it early no?

    2. BananaMan
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Morning,
      Logged into FPL at the minute, I'm able to access the transfer page.
      It looks like the initial transfer page as per the beginning of the season but with my existing team already loaded and their current values.

      Has anyone made any transfers and pressed 'Make Transfers'??
      I'm curious as to what will happen, theres no indication of hits being taken.

      Any insights?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        It won't let you make transfers. Says something about the game being closed.

        1. BananaMan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          It tells you that if you press the button? I haven't dared to got that far!

      2. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        You've not got the balls, have you?

        Don't worry, nothing will happen. They've not started it back up properly yet.

        1. BananaMan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Ha ha ha, nope.
          Currently top of my cash league, cant afford an accidental -4!!

          1. Bennerman
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Fair shout, haha. Think it'll probably start up next week

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

          Hes merely asked a question

        1. BananaMan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks! Put my mind at ease.
          Didn't want to miss an opportunity!

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Three players you have to get with your FH?

      GO!

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Kun, Sterling, Sane

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          This. I am massivly playing catch up tho

      2. I Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        KDB, Auba, Grealish.

    4. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would appreciate some opinions on this..name your top 5 midfielders in the world at present (irrespective of am/dm/cm)

    5. TwiggsJameson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I see this FPL article has slipped in the assumed fixtures for WAT/SHU rotation until the end of the season. So come on guys, get the ticker going based on the original fixture order. That is a really useful tool for planning, what I pay my membership subscription for.

    6. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I'm intrigued. A question for those playing FPL for money. How much could you actually win or lose?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm currently not in any money places in any leagues but potential to finish with about £1,000 or so.

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Is that a massive league or have you all put a lot in?

          Personally it's a lot smaller, more like 100 quid to win

          1. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Pretty small leagues. Cost £100 to enter and one that cost £25.

          2. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Crap. I forgot I was in a few Sky money leagues too but I forgot about those even before Coronavirus.

      2. BananaMan
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        £20 per man for the season + £5 per man for Manager of the Month.
        MOM wins £110 each month.
        Season:
        1st: £240
        2nd: £150
        3rd: £50

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

        100 pound entry. 30 members.

        Top 10 end up making profit with 11th breaking even.

        Winner gets 1000, runner up 850 and so on...

        Currently 8th

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          That's pretty big. I need to step up the jeopardy

        2. BananaMan
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          How many pts is the leader currently on??

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

            70 something. Its all very close so a lot to play for

            8th spot currently wins 150 but i think i have a shot of top 3 (only 24 behind).

            1. BananaMan
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Head to Head??
              or did you mean he's 70 ahead, whats his total points at the minute?
              24 points could swing in a single gameweek if things go your way!

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

                Hes 70 ahead. Dont remember exact score but hes in top 500.

                Its his first season. Only play big money games with people i know personally who arent very good at this game but its backfired especially with the chip situation. Hes used all of them

                1. BananaMan
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  Its like playing poker against people who've never played before!

      4. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm currently top of our seasonal ML - $25 pay-in, $500 prize. Was given the option of closing the league and taking the winnings last month, but elected to play on.
        2 weekly mini-leagues, $5 and $2 pay-ins. I win about 50% of those.
        It
        s peannuts as you can see, but it's what makes FPL (and PL) stay interesting, for me.

      5. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm just in a small league at work with a £10 stake.

        Already won a monthly £10 MOTM prize so don't stand to lose anything.

        Will win £200 for 1st place (currently in 3rd) with smaller prizes for 2nd and 3rd.

      6. All For One
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        4 Member money league

        Currently 1st I win £200, £50 entry

      7. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Theres a £120, left in the kitty in my league. In theory there were three more £10 MOTM awards and prizes for final top three. I'll have to rejig the money when full fixtures are announced.

        I have a decent shot at second. Normally I pick up the MOTM awards in the last months with judicial chip and dgw play, but not so sure of that this year.

        1. Bennerman
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          There's never been a monthly prize in mine, I see it's quite popular elsewhere. Suits me though, I tend to build towards a strong finish with chips held so I wouldn't necessarily be cleaning up the first few months

          1. Ginkapo FPL
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            I attribute monthly prizes with keeping everyone engaged including the weaker players. This helps increase numbers year on year

            1. Bennerman
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              That's good, yeah. People do chucj the towel in early. I suppose you get a few who might use all chips in one month in pursuit of the monthly prize.

              1. Ginkapo FPL
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                February tends to be the month for those whove given up to go all in on winning the MOTM prize. I got beat by 2pts to that prize, but nevermind as I am in contention for the end of season prizes.

      8. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Between £1500 and £2000 but 120 points behind it is impossible. If i can sneak into the lower cash places it would be a miracle. Dunno why i am even carrying on tfb 😆

    7. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Hi all - bit of advice required please.

      Would you BB this team on the opening GW of the restart?

      Also, which two extra DGW players would you prioritise? (2FT / 0.2itb).

      Krul
      TAA - Doherty - Alonso - O'Connell
      Salah - KDB - Fernandes - Barnes
      Auba - Jota

      McCarthy/ Cantwell- DCL-Lascelles

    8. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      All chips intact.

      Ryan
      AW-B Lascelles Egan Taylor Saiss
      Mane KdB Sterling Fernandes
      Rashford Jimenez DC-L

      Should I use the FH chip?
      How many GW's will we have?

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yes.
        9

        1. Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          If 9 GW's are left, I think its better to save the FH.

          1. Epic Fail
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Save it for what?

            1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Probably use mine in the last gw. Some of the biggest scores happen then

              1. Epic Fail
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                There's right or wrong way to play it, that's not for me though. I see more potential in a DGW and less potential in a final single GW especially if many have nothing to play for at that point and just want to stay injury free for the quick turn around to the next season.

                1. MYNAMEISBigtopmark.sman
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 9 months ago

                  I agree. But in his context last gw is an option. You implied there was no other. Not saying you meant that but it is certainly implied

                  1. Epic Fail
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 9 months ago

                    No, just wondering what scenario he envisioned saving it for.

            2. Slitherene
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              For a GW where my team sucks?

      2. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nice team.

        I'd probably just get another couple of DGW players and leave it at that.

        And lose Ryan.

        1. Slitherene
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Will we get another FT before the start of the next GW?

      3. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I'm just hoping we can keep the free transfers left over from previous weeks.

    9. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      What a brilliant, brilliant article. It has everything you need to source a cheap defender. A clear yard ahead of the budget goalkeeper article yesterday.

      This is the required standard for which I'm happy to pay my membership fees for.

      1. POLSKA GOLA
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I agree it’s a very comprehensive guide. Luckily for us non-members no need to pay for it 🙂