Pro Pundits - Lateriser

My FPL tips on team value, Wildcarding and more for Gameweek 31+ and beyond

In his latest Pro Pundits article, Lateriser12 – who has overall ranks of 77th and 189th to his name  shares his thoughts on the Fantasy landscape ahead of the run-in.


Games are coming thick and fast and there is no time to breathe in terms of processing information and building a strategy. This is when isolated thinking, acquiring information, eye-test and quick thinking comes into play.

My advice to every FPL manager out there would be don’t indulge in too much tinkering. Instead, process as much information as you can and the answers will come to you easier. If I ever have a “this or that” question in my head, I normally tend to re-watch the highlights of the same game and look at some stats in the Members Area and the answer is there in front of me.

I am desperately trying to not overthink the coming eight Gameweeks, which does become a little difficult when you’re just outside the top 500. But nothing needs to change in terms of my strategy and I just need to keep doing what I am doing and we will see where I land in Gameweek 38+.

I have been thinking long and hard on what to write.

I could take you guys through my Wildcard team but I’m still tinkering and most of my thoughts are on the Scoutcast I just did with Joe and Andy. Give it a listen.

I thought of giving you guys differentials to consider but Tom has a great track record doing those and we’ve covered a fair bit of them on the Scoutcast as well.

With eight Gameweeks to go, I’m just going to freestyle this article and talk about a few strategy-focused things that have been playing on my mind and that you might find useful. I did speak about a few of these on the Scoutcast but I think you might find it useful if I elaborate further.

1) What am I doing with Manchester City?

De Bruyne out of Manchester derby as Aguero starts City's Double Gameweek 29 opener

I am writing this article before the Manchester City v Burnley game but as it stands, I have no Manchester City player in my Wildcard draft. The reasoning is quite simple for me: I expect major rotation for them in the next two Gameweeks and I don’t think the games will be easy.

They have the FA Cup (Pep mentioned that it was their most important game apart from the UEFA Champions League game against Real Madrid) just three days after the Chelsea game and I think it is near-impossible to predict who will get the majority share of minutes in these three games.

You could say that they will play their strongest team against Liverpool, which doesn’t sound like a very attractive prospect. Holding Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) is a very reasonable move if you have value attached to him but I’ve sold him four times this season already and I’m looking elsewhere for the next Gameweek to hunt for hauls.

You should know that this is generally how I play FPL in general, though, as I’m very comfortable switching big hitters in the search of double-digit hauls from premium assets and I don’t indulge in ‘cover picks’ as much as others.

The two players from Manchester City that I did consider on my wildcard are Ederson (£6.0m) and Phil Foden (£5.1m). Here’s why.

Manchester City have great fixtures after these two Gameweeks, they looked the fittest and most solid team so far and I expect Ederson to keep a ton of clean sheets until Gameweek 38+.

When it comes to Foden, I expect him to get a lot of minutes and I think he’s a really good option for your eighth attacker. What I would do with Foden is that if he is rested for a particular game, I would probably start him in my FPL team in the next game as we expect Pep to rotate and Foden’s upside is very high.

In fact, this is exactly what I intend on doing with Manchester City assets. Since I am expecting them to be heavily rotated, I will try second-guessing Pep and get the Manchester City attacker for a particular run or even a single fixture (they have a lot of ‘captainable’ fixtures Gameweek 33+ onwards).

As things stand, I am looking to add one or two City attackers in my team from Gameweek 33+ onwards and I am being careful to not spread my funds too much with my Wildcard squad so as to afford them in two or three moves.

2) What are my thoughts on the Spurs attackers?

What the FA Cup replay results mean for the Blank Gameweek 31 picture

I have seen a lot of the community struggle with what to do when it comes to the Spurs assets. I would first like to bring your attention to this excellent piece written by Neale.

When I read this article, I had made up my mind that Son Heung-min (£9.7m) was going to be my go-to asset for the Spurs run-in.

My view of the Spurs attackers are that all the midfielders are correctly priced and you will get what you pay for. I personally would not consider Steven Bergwijn (£7.4m) as I think he is more prone to rotation than Son or Dele Alli (£8.3m). This quote from Jose Mourinho after the first game for Spurs led to this thinking:

We played with Bergwijn, Lamela, Kane and Son, and our bench was very strong in defensive options. We had Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen on the bench but we didn’t have Lucas or Dele or Lamela or Bergwijn. Imagine Bergwijn on the bench and Lucas playing and coming out minute 60-65 and Bergwijn coming for the last period, I can imagine the impact that we could have. So a bit of frustration but at the same time really happy with the players.

This makes me think that Son and Alli are less prone to rotation compared to Bergwijn.

Another thing I’d like to mention is that Spurs are third on the defensive ticker when sorted until Gameweek 38+ and, as mentioned by Mourinho in the press conference on Monday, Serge Aurier’s (£4.9m) competitors for that spot are injured which makes him a good pick in my books:

The only position where we don’t have [competition] is right-back because we have only Serge [Aurier] and nobody else. The other options, Tanganga and Foyth, they are both out.

3) But what about value?

Alexander-Arnold's consistency continues as Firmino unlucky to blank

I just didn’t think I could write an article at this point of time without addressing the value question.

Personally, I don’t attach too much importance to value as I always like shifting big hitters.

But even for the more traditional managers, you have accumulated value until this point of the season so that you can use it.

I would not worry about value too much with just eight Gameweeks to go. If you find a higher upside pick that has the potential to bring home a double-digit haul and the only reason you are not selling that player is value, you are playing this game wrong. I assure you that you will be able to buy that player later and if it means paying £0.5m more, so be it.

4) Don’t be afraid to chase hauls

I would also encourage all managers to use this unique situation that we are in to go haul-hunting.

All the transfers you make right now should be more focused towards chasing bigger hauls rather than making ‘balance-friendly’ moves that might not have a huge points impact.

We aren’t going to get very many opportunities this season to get the likes of a differential Richarlison (£8.3m) against a leaky Norwich defence.

While earlier in the season, you might think that you are going to be stuck with a transfer for a long time, as the Gameweeks keep passing us, you are only going to hold players for a shorter and shorter time period. That should help you increase your risk appetite.

5) I am looking at structure and price points

Is it time to invest in Arsenal assets after Gameweek 28? 9

While I’m on my Wildcard, I’m thinking about whether I want to go ahead with a 3-4-3 formation or a 3-5-2. I normally play a 3-4-3 but in this case I am considering switching to a 3-5-2 because I see more options in midfield than I do in the strike force.

I am also making sure all my money is spent on the pitch and not on the bench because I will want to bring in Manchester City assets in the near future and I want to keep those funds condensed into my attackers. That said, I do like fifth midfielders like Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) and Phil Foden (£5.1m) more than I like the budget strikers.

6) Short-term punts?

If you are interested in short-term gambles, there are a few I like depending on your team structure. I will mention four that I really like here:

  • Matt Ritchie (£5.3m)
  • Richarlison (£8.3m)
  • Ismaila Sarr (£6.4m) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.6m)

7) Why am I Wildcarding so early?

Many are not confident about Wildcarding so early into Project Restart because of the lack of enough information. While I see value in that point of view, I also think that we only have eight Gameweeks to play.

Being pro-active is the way I like playing the game and while you might argue that your team is ‘good enough’ for the week, my counter to you would be ‘why not go for ideal instead of good enough?’. 

Like I mentioned earlier, there are very few hauls left for the taking and I want to try being there for as many as possible. In addition, I don’t see the eco-system changing too much between Gameweek 31+ and Gameweek 33+ (famous last words).

On that note, I will take your leave. I will leave you with my latest Wildcard tinker but I cannot assure you that it will be my final team (I still have to watch Manchester City v Burnley):

I hope you will find my slightly unstructured article useful. Good luck for the Gameweek!


Fantasy Football Scout user Lateriser12 has a very impressive Fantasy CV. He has registered two finishes in the top 200 (one of them equating to number one in India) and four in the top 10,000 in the last six seasons. The secret to his success has been playing non-conventionally and fearlessly, swearing by ‘upside chasing’ and not giving ownership much of a look.

Double Gameweek 30+ FPL Lessons Learned

875 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On a WC:

    Martinez Button
    TAA Doherty Saiss Lascelles Holgate
    Salah KDB Bruno X Davis
    Rashford Jimi X

    1) Bergwijn & DCL
    2) Son & Greenwood
    (so essentially playing 1 of Lasc/Holgate/Greenwood each week to afford Son)

    1. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would Nketiah be better than Greenwood?

    2. Turns
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      2 for me. Son is nailed, but Berg is not. Lots of competition: Lucas, Alli, Gedson, Lamela.

    3. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1 better duo. But Lascellas and Holgate rotates nicely so not a big problem of playing one of these two

  2. Turns
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC active. Ranked 25k overall, but playing around with the idea of risking no Mane/Salah and packing the defence. Thoughts (0.2 ITB):

    Pope
    TAA - Doherty - Alonso
    KDB - Son - Bruno - Richarlison
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    3.9 - Saka - Lascelles - Holgate

    1. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It is a lovely team but im not sure about double Everton.

      1. Turns
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        More of a short-term punt. Probably switch to Martial or Mahrez in GW33+

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

      You think Alonso will start against City?

      1. Turns
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Will probs bench for Lascelles this GW

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

      I wouldn't be surprised if he's dropped for that game. Bit of a liability defensively speaking.

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

      @Turns

      I have both and will start Lascelles this GW.

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

    Top article as always by LR!

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thanks Zoph

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

        sssh about Richarlison, he's going under the radar on here

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

      We should have always ht about matters that are written in the article. Now it is basically impossible 🙁

      Well written and I liked the fact that it was "unstructured". That was the only way to write about all these interesting pts of view.

  4. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Expecting the team screenshot to get added shortly. Good luck for the Gameweek guys! Hope you enjoyed the article and the podcast!

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Also, i was considering switching Nketiah and Son to Jesus and Foden but think i'll wait 2 weeks.

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Good call. Son and Nketiah look good for the next two. Foden looks good for the run im at his price but I am not sure about Jesus. I still expect him to be rotated.

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

      Thanks LR.
      What do you think of a punt on Kane, great fixtures but he's been rubbish ?

      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        free hit, maybe. wildcard, no.

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

          cheers, that makes things easier

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

    Captain Auba(sou) or Bruno(SHU)

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

      Bruno

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

    Thoughts on this WC team?

    Maybe KDB over Mahrez? Mane over Salah?

    DDG/Martin
    TAA/Doherty/Saiss/Holgate/Lascelles
    Salah/Son/Mahrez/BrunoF/Foden
    Rash/Jim/Ings

  7. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nice article.

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Snap.

  8. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nice article.

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers Sully and Denial.

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

        Yeah, nice read, echos my thoughts exactly on playing WC now, there are not that many GWs left to make the most of it!

  9. TIME TO VARTY
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Rashford Saint Max
    Or
    DCL Martial

    1. Turns
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      One with DCL. I think he will have a great run in. ASM is a trap for me

    2. TIME TO VARTY
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers

  10. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Morning/afternoon all.

    I would appreciate opinions on my wildcard appreciated.

    Pope,
    Trent, Doherty, Ritchie, Maguire,
    KDB, Mane, Bergwijn, Fernandes,
    Rashford, Jiminez,

    Button, Saka, Feminia, Nketiah

  11. GREEN IS GOOD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Good article, thanks.

    Rashford or Son?

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

      Went Rashford myself. If he stays fit those fixtures have goals written all over them.

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        ta

  12. gers23
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aguero and Grealish to Vardy and Bruno(captain) for a hit?

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

      Yeah

  13. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Should I be looking to downgrade a sub and upgrade elsewhere? 5.7m is a lot to have on the bench, but I’m hoping to rotate him with DCL.

    Foster
    TAA, Aurier, Doherty
    Mane, Kdb, Bruno, Son
    Rashford, DCL, jimi

    Button, lascelles, kiko, traore

    1. Turns
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Great team - your team value must be mega!

  14. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No Man City is a huge mistake. They are, by far, the highest scoring team of the league and even with all the rotation they have the best set of mids and attackers in fpl.

    1. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Oh, I forgot. And they came back totally firing!!!!

    2. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i will get them.

    3. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, the article was written before the game last night, so pre Aguero injury.

      Mahrez is now hard to avoid.

  15. Samurai Blue
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A. Son + Saiss
    B. Alli + Doherty

    Very though choice ...

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A

  16. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Excellent piece. Thank you for posting.

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Thank you 🙂

  17. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Play 1:
    A. Cathcart
    B. C.Taylor

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

      B

  18. Wheyyyy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Think I'm pretty settled on this WC. I want a strong bench moving foward as we all know there will be rotation. Thoughts?

    De Gea
    Digne, Trent, Doherty, Ritchie
    Bruno, Son, Mane
    Rash, Jimmy, DCL
    Stek / Saint-Max / Foden / Kiko

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

      I realise my funds are quite spread out but I'm happy to downgrade Ritchie/Digne/ASM in the next few weeks to make upgrades to City assets.

  19. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    A) Aubameyang to DCL
    or
    B) Mane to Fernandes?

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

      Both good moves. A

    2. liiusions
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      If this is you using a FT I wouldn’t make either move this week

  20. yer old da
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bergwijn and Guendouzi, or Sarr and Foden?

  21. KingRichud
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Who gets more points rest of season.

    A)Soyuncu
    B)Justin

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

      B

  22. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martinez 3.9
    TAA Doherty Ritchie Holgate Robinson
    Mane KdB Bruno Son Martial
    Jiminez DCL Greenwood
    0ITB

    Thoughts on my WC team? I realise it looks like every single one on here... Happy to go without Rashford as I think Martial is a better FPL option

    1. Hktrader88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I like this team! I was trying to get this team, but I'm 0.4m off.. all because I took out DCL before the DGW for 6.1m! So to get this I'd have to go Holgate+Robinson to Simpson+Kilman which leaves me a very weak bench.

  23. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC active

    Patricio

    Doherty aurier awb holgate lascelles
    Mane kdb bruno son hayden
    Rashford jimmy dcl

    Thoughts

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

      Any cash in the bank?

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

        Nothing .. all in here

  24. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Why no love for Justin? Is Aurier that much better?

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

      Justin 100% for me, fact he is cheaper helps as well.

  25. doppelganger
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What about Vardy captain ?

  26. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Phil Foden, obviously a super talent, but is it just me, or does he come across as an arrogant ass when on the pitch. I've thought it before when seeing him play, and again last night, he scores, and just explodes a torrent of abuse (towards the ref - i dunno), what was that about?

    Not be happy in the moment at scoring your first brace in the premier league?

  27. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Saiss or Justin?
    Already have Doherty

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

      I'd lean Saiss if you aren't against double ups at the back.

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

    Last questions.

    Pick Salah or Mane?

    Play Lascelles or Holgate?

  29. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    On FH::

    A) Rashford, DCL, Salah, Lascelles (Guendouzi) - no Vardy or Ings
    B) Vardy, DCL, Martial, VVD (Aurier) - no Ings
    C) Ings, DCL, Salah, AWB (Lascelles) - no Vardy or 2nd United attacker
    D) Rashford, Ings, Richarlison, VVD (AWB) - no Vardy

    Rest of Team:

    Pope
    TAA, Doherty, X
    Mane, Son, Fernandes, X
    Jimenez, X, X

    Cheers!

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

      I think D could be explosive
      A probably safer

  30. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Team this week:

    Pope
    TAA Doherty Lascelles
    Salah KdB Barnes Bruno
    Rashford Jimmy DCL

    // McCarthy / Mount / Taylor / O'Connell

    Save FT or Barnes out for Alli? (If we get team news early)