Scout Notes

Aubameyang out of luck as Nketiah underscores budget FPL forward appeal

Southampton 0-2 Arsenal

  • Goals: Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m), Joe Willock (£4.7m)
  • Assists: Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m)
  • Bonus: Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) x3, Rob Holding (£4.4m) x2, Emiliano Martinez (£4.2m) x1

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) blanked again on Thursday as Arsenal bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over mid-table Southampton.

Never before had the Gabon international gone four Premier League matches without scoring but he set an unwanted record at St Mary’s, despite his side tasting success on the road for the first time since December 2019.

Luck wasn’t on his side on the south coast.

First denied a ninth-minute goal thanks to a combination of an Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) feather-touch and the underside of the crossbar, Aubameyang then saw Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) shank an effort wide on the stroke of half-time when a square ball would have left the premium FPL forward with a tap-in.

The roles were reversed after the interval, with Aubameyang’s attempted pass to the unmarked Nketiah deflecting off Jan Bednarek (£4.4m) and trickling agonisingly wide of McCarthy’s right-hand post.

The Gabonese striker’s jinxed evening culminated in the 85th minute when he was hacked down by Jack Stephens (£4.4m) as he raced through on McCarthy’s goal; the Southampton stopper seeing red and Arsenal, courtesy of substitute Joe Willock (£4.7m), doubling their lead from the resulting free-kick.

Unfortunate or not, there’ll be valid questions about his current worth as a premium asset – especially after a Gameweek in which many of the other heavy hitters returned points for their owners.

First, the good.

It should be said that Aubameyang still sits joint-second in the race for the Golden Boot, on 17 goals.

He is also relatively ‘nailed’ (he hasn’t been substituted or benched once under Mikel Arteta) and, contrary to popular belief, his role on the left flank doesn’t really affect his output much.

The Gunners arguably have the stand-out fixture of Gameweek 32+, as well, with bottom-of-the-table Norwich City the visitors to the Emirates next Wednesday.

That match against the Canaries could well be his swansong for the patient Fantasy managers who still own him, however.

After the clash with Daniel Farke’s Championship-bound troops comes four trickier-looking fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

On top of that, for £6.6m less, Fantasy managers can pick up another Arsenal forward: Nketiah.

Granted, the budget Fantasy asset isn’t perhaps as secure a starter as Aubameyang.

We have already seen Nketiah drop to the bench once in Gameweek 30+, with Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) taking his place, and we can expect to see some job-sharing going on between those two players between now and the end of 2019/20.

But the youngster has now started five of Arsenal’s last six league matches up front and marked his latest run-out with the Gunners’ deadlock-breaking goal at Southampton, intercepting a suicidal pass out from McCarthy and rolling the ball into the empty net.

Hailing Nketiah after the match, Arteta said:

Eddie, since I joined, the maturity and the personality that he plays every game with is incredible.

I demand a lot of our forward players to put the opponent under pressure and they’ve done it. A lot of the goals we score are because of the errors that we force on the opponent. In that heat, to keep chasing players and putting them under pressure, sometimes it’s not a really nice thing to do.

But obviously, when you get a goal from the mistakes they’ve made – which could have caused a few more goals – it’s really important. It generates belief in what they do and it pays the price for the effort.

I am happy with Eddie, the way he’s played again today, but I’m happy in general with the team.

Another youngster and budget FPL asset, Bukayo Saka (£4.7m), also continues to impress under Arteta.

The teenager was here operating as a sort of left-sided-midfielder-turned-wing-back in his manager’s fluid 4-3-3/3-4-3 and his versatility has come in handy with the injuries piling up since the restart.

Indeed, Saka is one of just four Arsenal players who has started all three league games since the Premier League resumed in mid-June.

Above: Arsenal players sorted by starts in Gameweeks 30+ to 31+

Not offering much goal threat of his own, Saka nevertheless is capable of chipping in with an assist (he has four this calendar year alone) and was the only Arsenal asset to create more than one chance on Thursday.

His manager seems to trust him, too, with Arteta saying afterwards:

It’s in his hands. He has a manager that has total belief in him, he has a club that really supports him and he has team-mates who adore him for who he is.

He’s such a nice boy, he’s very intelligent and he’s so willing to learn. He’s eager to be the best, he tries to be the best every day, and you can put him in different positions and he picks it up really quickly.

Every decision he makes, he takes risks. I think he could have produced three goals today. The maturity he shows on the pitch is really good.

While Lacazette was benched again and Nicolas Pepe (£9.3m) offered little, Arsenal’s defence at least showed signs of improvement.

It was perhaps no surprise that they looked more solid with Granit Xhaka (£5.1m) back in the side, with the Swiss defensive midfielder – public enemy number one towards the end of the Unai Emery reign – becoming an influential figure in the Arteta era.

All five of Arsenal’s clean sheets under their current boss have arrived with Xhaka in the starting XI.

Budget goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (£4.2m) was solid enough filling in for the injured Bernd Leno (£4.9m), meanwhile, and the cut-price Rob Holding (£4.4m) was arguably the man of the match at the back, looking considerably more dependable than the suspended David Luiz (£5.7m).

Another member of Thursday’s backline, Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), limped off injured in the second half – but Arteta said the Scotland international was merely suffering from cramp when he was interviewed later:

Kieran was cramping. He hasn’t played two games together in the last seven or eight months and he was suffering. The weather is different to Scotland and he needs to adapt to it.

The Saints were brought back down with a bump after the Gameweek 30+ win over Norwich City and it has to be stressed how favourable the circumstances were in that victory last Friday, with Daniel Farke deploying an experimental 4-4-2 to disastrous effect.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were second-best before the interval against Arsenal but improved after half-time, with substitute Shane Long (£4.7m) testing Martinez and Nathan Redmond (£6.2m) firing into the side-netting from decent positions.

Given Michael Obafemi‘s (£4.9m) so-so performances in his compatriot’s absence, the fit-again Long will expect to regain his place for Sunday’s trip to Watford.

The Saints will be without the suspended Stephens for that encounter, however, with the lumbering Jannik Vestergaard (£4.5m) potentially taking his place.

There is further encouragement for owners of Watford’s attacking assets, with question-marks over Southampton’s problem right-back position and their goalkeeper.

McCarthy’s distribution has always been a concern and he had already had one near-miss when he gifted Nketiah the opener, with Arsenal out-Southamptoning Southampton with their aggressive press.

Speaking of McCarthy after the match, Hasenhuttl said:

We know we play more in possession now and making the goalkeeper more of a player means he has the ball more often.

There are still some things he has to improve – his decision making: should I play the ball short or should I play the ball long.

He has stuff to work on.

Danny Ings (£7.2m) couldn’t add to his haul against Norwich here, meanwhile, and has now racked up 177 minutes of pitch-time over the last week; it’ll be interesting to see if Hasenhuttl spares him at Vicarage Road this weekend given how carefully he has handled his star striker in previous periods of fixture congestion.


Southampton XI (4-2-2-2): McCarthy; Valery (Walker-Peters 46′), Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Højbjerg (Vestergaard 90′), Ward-Prowse; Armstrong, Redmond; Obafemi (Long 46′), Ings (Romeu 90′). 

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Martinez; Bellerin, Holding, Mustafi, Tierney (Kolasinac 70′); Xhaka, Ceballos (Maitland-Niles 80′), Saka; Pepe (Willock 64′), Nketiah (Lacazette 79′), Aubameyang. 

Members Analysis

View full match data from Southampton v Arsenal

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 31+

1,030 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Actually considering captaining Richarlison, call me mad

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

      You are mad

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        +1

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

      I'm on Auba... It's differential week...

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

      Conversely I'm considering getting rid

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Fancy a punt and yeah if he fails he’s out

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I got rid

    4. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Mad

  2. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Bottom on previous page. For those that still have the BB chip, when is the best GW to use BB?

    1. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      When bench players have got decent enough fixtures. I wouldn't fixate on a particular week

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I still have a WC for teams that have a good fixture

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

      If that FA Cup manages to cause a DGW or 38 and build your team full of starters for it.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        My understanding is that there will be no DGW for the rest of the season

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

          The latter then

    3. Easy Cheesy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I still need to WC so going to do that w a BB the following week... maybe gw33 and pick a bench for gw34

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

        My thinking as well

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

    What game week is optimal to use FH?
    Had penciled in 38 but the fixtures don't look great imo

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

      Any gameweek can be optimal if you just play the fixtures that week. Get in the players with the best fixture and as many of the popular captaincy choices as possible.

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

        Quite true

    2. AC Yew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I was considering 33 but was forced to play earlier due to team issues

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

        Yeah looking at it 33 kind of works for me. Cheers

    3. Pinturicchio10
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Huge potential in 33+ for attacking and defensive options. I'd be aiming at that one myself.

      • Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        nothing wrong with 38

        Eve vs Bourn
        City vs Nor
        Ars vs Wat

        Not to mention the games where teams might have a lot to play for

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

        I just used it this week... worked out fairly well (Pope, Digne, Mane)... I reckon overall I only ended up about 10 points better off, though.

        My thinking is to use it when your team looks weakest, and before too many teams have nothing to play for. Maybe this week was too early - in a week or two we might have better idea if form...

    4. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Has there ever been a gameweek before where teams have a match after deadline before their prem game?

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

        Yesterday I heard about these FA Cup games and was genuinely shocked. It’s an unprecedented situation this season though so no point in looking for historic comparisons

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

      Team and bench order G2G? rolling on my FT for next week and giving bergwyn one last shot?

      Patricio
      Aurier TAA Doherty
      KDB Bruno Bergwyn Mane
      Rash Jim DCL

      Button, Lascelle, DLuiz, JRobison

    6. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Play:

      A) Ings (wat)
      B) DCL (LEI)

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

        A

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

        I’ve got DCL so almost certainly you should play Ings

        More seriously, I think DCL is correct choice but it’s close

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Can see Southampton rotating the front two at Watford

    7. Reckoner.
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Struggleing a bit with my Free Hit team, thoughts on this lot:

      Pope
      TAA | Azpilicueta | Doherty | PVA
      KDB | Son | Martial | Fernandes
      Rashford | Jimenez

      Button | Nketiah | Saka | Lascelles

      Any other players I should consider (had Traore, Kepa & DDG in at other times)

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

        Looks good

    8. FPL ZB
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Also, anyone on the Son armband? Saturday lunch kick off scares me with Jimmy

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

        Currently have it on Son with VC on Jimmy

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

        Son was poor. I'm not able to trust him. It'll be Rashford or Jimmy for me.

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Will the Blades have Henderson Egan and O’Connell back by then?

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

        If I had Son I’d go with him. But I don’t so it’s Doherty or Jimenez.

        Agree I’ll be much happier not captaining an FA cup player

    9. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Which one of Mane or Salah would you sell for Son?

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Mane out, Salah chasing golden boot and hopefully Klopp will play him most games

      2. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Mané but would keep both until 33

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          would you consider Mane to Martial if you have both?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            Prob not still

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Is that due to Liverpool not having FA cup fixture and Man U playing tomorrow and next Tues? Do you think Ighalo will start one of the games?

              1. Miguel Sanchez
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 9 months ago

                Yeah - think Liverpool will do well the next couple of games against City and Villa. Ighalo should start once this week. Probably the cup.

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

        I did mane>son, Barnes>martial last night... Also thought about pulisic

      4. Easy Cheesy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I wouldn’t sell either for son this week. I’m tempted to sell for a man u player but I’m tempted to keep both. I get rotation but they could run away with a ton of 4-0 wins

        1. Whats the Mata?
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Already have Bruno and Martial....

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

        I also had both...

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

      Thoughts?

      A) Grealish vs Villa
      B) Saka vs NOR
      C) Grealish to Martial (-4)

      2nd in ML by 10 points, won't catch the leader.

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

        *Grealish vs Wolves 😀

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

        C

      3. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        C

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

      This is kicking the dead man !
      I mean paying the price for going Auba over others.
      4.4m kid is outscoring him is pathetic .. sold him for hit last GW.

      (Auba hat-trick vs Norwich set in stone now 😀 )

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

        My C... Purely on dueness and differential... Also he's been unlucky.

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

      A Martinez & Martial
      B De Gea & Pulisic

      Already have Bruno & Rashford

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

        B

      2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        B

    13. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Patricio (Button)
      TAA Aurier Saiss (Simpson Lascelles)
      Son Salah KDB Martial (Gendouzi)
      Jimi Rashford Nketiah

      0.1 ITB 1 FT

      G2G to let ride for this GW? and save FT

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yep G2G

    14. Stat Sloth
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Anyone got the times for today's press conferences?

    15. SH
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Need help! Having a very busy week with study and work and don't want to spend so much time pondering what to do. What do I do with 2 FTs here?

      McCarthy
      TAA Doherty Lascellas
      Salah KDB Bruno Sarr
      Auba Jimenez Ings

      Button Barnes Soy Taylor
      0.1 ITB, 2FT

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

        Barnes + Ings to Rashford + fodder

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

          Can't do that with Rashford's current price

    16. ameisin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Would you BB this?
      Worried about flags on Ritchie/Foden, and the fact that Man C are playing Pool.
      Not sure if a better chance will come up, WC used but FH left.

      Patricio
      TAA | Doh | Aurier
      KDB | Son | Bruno | Martial
      Jimi | Rash | DCL

      Martinez | Ritchie* | Foden* | Holgate

    17. GW31+ Rough with the Smooth
      Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      How was your GW31+?

      Were any of your players benched? Did you get any injuries? How did your bench perform? Did your captain return?

      Tell us your tales of joy and woe from Gameweek 31+, here:

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

        Here come all the Martial owners...

      2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Going Bergwijn over Son to save money hurt..
        Also last minute switch from Pope,AWB to Aurier,DDG cost me but I think in the long-run it will pay off.

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

        65 points, 6K > 13K, Eliminated from LMS, Bruno Captain fail, Stephens red card so an extra transfer out required before I can use my BB. Not the best GW

        1. Az
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          probably a blessing in disguise that you dont have to BB with Stephens!

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

        In summary: Salalalalalalahahahhhhhhhhh

        This week proved once again that if you don’t know who to captain then going Salah or KDB can never be that bad an option.

        Salah was way off the pace and still scored 11 (joy) but he missed some very easy chances and on another today could have had 24 (woe)

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

        Small green, 81 points. Paid the price for a low TV I've got the template WC front 7 and TAA, but couldn't afford Doherty or AWB (or Aurier) to go with them, my Justin and Lascelles combo only contributed 6 points.

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

          should have played Holgate instead.

      6. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ordinary 73 points after last weeks 138. Everton twosome a mistake, should as usual have gone with first thoughts and trebled up on United attack. Also worried about Saiss and only one playing sub.

        Gap down to 30 at top of ML and have already done a -4 to get KDB back as a cover move.

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

        Smooth: -12 point hit actually paid off
        Sterling, Mahrez, Grealish, Lundstram > Son, Alli, Martial, AWB giving me a 16 point swing even after the hits

        Rough: Vardy (c), no Pool

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

        93 points with Son(c) was pretty good
        Started Saiss over Sarr which worked out well
        The entire defense returned:
        Pope
        TAA AWB Aurier Saiss

      9. thisisdiz
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Rough: Hold Vardy and Grealish on WC. Plan to replace them with Martial and probably Ings, but want to give Vardy one more chance..

        Smooth: Salah(c). TAA Aurier KDB Pope all return.

      10. Boris Bodega
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Second captain fail in a row (last week Auba, this week Fernandes).

        However, moving Leno, Aguero and Ozil out for Martinez, Martial and Rashford for -8 seemed to work out overall.
        71 points after the hit still resulted in red arrows, but could've been much worse.

      11. Dreaming of glory
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Smooth: 8 players returned for a 78
        Rough: last day captain change was to 1 of 3 who didnt

      12. Chris_H
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Played my FH to take advantage of the good fixtures...

        Worked out my non-free hit team with a -4 would have got exactly the same score as my FH team (71) - thanks for nothing Everton, Leicester, Dele and Vardy...

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

        Smooth;

        I got away with forgetting the deadline! I'd activated BB, had planned to switch Cahill>Lascelles to give me a full playing home bench. I also planned to move the armband from Salah to Fernandes after reading Captain Sensible. My dad passed on the weekend before last and we had my uncles and the vicar due round at 3pm to sort the order of service. Next thing I knew it was 5.05pm and I'd missed the deadline for the first time ever! Had it in my head it was 6.0pm which was of course kick off time. As luck would have it the transfer made no odds and Salah was the better captain pick and now I have 2 FTs this week! Dad pulled the strings there.. 🙂

        Salah(c), KdB, Jimi and a full house at the back with Trent, Robbo, Ryan, Boly.

        Rough;
        9 point BB with only a Taylor clean sheet to show for it. Cahill big fat zero as expected. Missed the deadline!

        Back to 778 OR with 93 points however I'm chipped out now.

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

        Everything is rough.
        DCL © fail
        OR tripled since the re-start.

        Smooth:
        Another GW tomorrow 😛

        1. Long ago I drew a walrus
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Liking that smooth! Noticed early on that we have very similar teams, I debated between Bruno and DCL for cap so technically ended up with the right decision there lol. Net 56 for a 50k red arrow

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

            This was officially my worst GW of season.
            Lol
            4.8m GWR
            Can't fall further down ehhh 😉

        2. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Well done for posting, Amey!

          Not sure why all these “smooths” are trying to invent a “rough” 😆

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

            Ha ha
            I hope your GW was smoother 😀

      15. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Smooth:, Had only 2 blanking Rough: C one of them.

        Fun faact: Def + GK bench included scored 59 points. Think it's a record for me in a single gw.

      16. Santigold
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        I used my FH in GW30+ to go all in on the DGW players, which didn't go too well (only 77 pts and went down from 3,631 to 9,557). I was already having doubts about my strategy looking at all the BB scores of over 100 pts. In the end I was rewarded for keeping the faith in my original team with 99 points in GW31+ (and a rank rise to 4,849). So I guess I'm back on track and I still have my WC and BB left. Although I have no idea when I'm going to use them.

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

        After my wildcard, got my third best gw rank of the season (91 points: 213k). Without Martial but with 8 returns out of 11, including Trent as captain, my highest scorer.

      18. Man Getting Hit By Football
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        92 points, Jiminez (c). Only Bruno & Ings scored less then 5 points.

        Along with 110 points last week, I've gone from 135k -> 58k in the two weeks since the restart.

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

        Had a great run since the restart.
        141 points gw30+ and 96 points this week.
        Jumped from 80k to just outside 10k, but no doubt there will be bad moments before the end of the season.
        Rough, had to play BB and WC though, so only got FH left.

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

        Hi geoff. Six of us fighting for 5 promotion places to FFS H2H league 1 division 1. Did you win this week ?
        Good luck, it's been my chief priority all season, so I'm really looking forward to the last 7 weeks.

      21. Lambey
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Smooth: After a bang average season, sitting at 280k pre-lockdown, i've had back to back 100+ GWs for first time ever, 109 last week and 102 this week, up to 100,470 now so almost top 100k. Everyone delivering apart from Jota and Bruno (c).
        Pope,Saiss,AWB,TAA,Martial,Mane,Son,KDB and Jimenez delivering.

        Pre-emptive rough: 20 point GW incoming to spoil my run and send me back down to where i belong

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

        178k at re-start with no wildcard left wasn't hopeful, a bench boost and afree hit later up to 40k. Martial the star this week on the Free Hit.

      23. Red Rock
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Free Hitter here, Vardy cap, got rid of KDB and Pulisic.

        Lost the coin flip on Lascelles vs Holgate on CS, double Everton attack.

        At least Pope and Trent did the business

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

        Smooth:-
        Auba, Jota and Henderson out for a -8 to bring in Rashford, Jimenez and Pope worked out well for a net 16 point gain.

        Rough:-
        Template players all doing well but the differentials (Barnes, DCL and Lascelles) all ended up with appearance points so a small green arrow.

      25. SteJ
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Took a hit to get rid of Aguero. Replacement only played a few minutes for 1 point.
        Drew with Average in my mini league

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

        Pretty rough really, 70 points, down a couple of hundred places to 445 OR, can't have too many more bad weeks if I want to achieve my top 100 finish dream!

      27. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        A strange week. Ended up on 77 points, but with a -16 it was 61 net. My changes was Leno, Lundstram, Sterling,Mahrez and Grealish. They got a total of (and i include Nyland 2 pointers here) 13 points. I brought in Martinez, Aurier, Martial, Fernandes and Mané. A total of 47. So that is a smooth in my book, 18 points up after deduction. Mahrez is the one i would have kept if i could rectify it but otherwise much more happy with those in than out longer term.

        On the wrong side i went for Auba over Mané as cap (i actually had my vc on Martial but it was a mistake-) which was annoying, but i liked what i saw vs Brighton and i were right in a sense not that it manifested itself in points, mind.

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Nice moves. It’s not every week you can play a -12 or -16 and recoup the points, but quite a fixture swing in GW31+ due to the double in GW30+.

          1. bench boost for every gamew…
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            yep, calculated risk with having no wc to fall back upon i decided to try and take advantage of BB and then planning to take huge hit to set up for most of the season. I did not know that Auba suddenly lost all his shooting ability though, spanner in the works. Still some work to do, but a lot less than it would have been without the hit. Currently deciding which to play out og Pukki, El Gazi and Basham-). Happy with the other 10 though so just trying to anticipate which one would start and which one to play in my 11. EL Ghazi as it stands but might just end up with Basham, last chance saloon for SHu in the run for europe and Spurs are mot THAT good in attack.

      28. Hairy Potter
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Smooth - FH with Salah (c), TAA, VVD, Doherty, Jiminez, Rashford, Son got me 89 points so happy with FH as well as BB chips these last 2 weeks.

        Rough - no attacking returns from Richarlison, DCL or Bruno. Dealing with price drops/transfers on my GW30/32 team.

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

        Rough: Bruno Captain
        Smooth: Owning Martial

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

        Smooth:WC 97 pts - nice rank jump. Chance to keep 9 year top 1% finish run going

        Rough:Penultimate WC draft changed just before deadline would have scored 114pts - always the way 🙂

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

        Not massively rough or smooth, but 68 with a Free Hit. Would have had 70 if I just left the team as it was.

      32. StinkinRich
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Rough - wanted players in first round of games so moved on mane/greenwood to vardy/alli (-4). Front line of jota Vardy dcl couldn’t muster anything.

        Smooth - usual TAA, Mo (c), Kdb. keeper and defence all scored 6+

      33. the Penman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        On wildcard, had options:

        Pope & Maguire
        DDG & Ritchie

        Went for DDG & Ritchie, and was feeling smug about it...until Pope smashes a 10-pointer to pip me by 2 points.

    18. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Play fernandes (bou) or Taylor (wat)...

      Have Pope in net.

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Think you have a couple of typos there confusing things but would go Fernandez

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

          Ta

    19. PapaWengzz
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Auba captaininers not worried he could be in for a 15 min cameo?

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

        I have him but will not captain him.

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

          yeah thinking the same

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

        Yup, I'll probably captain Jimenez just because I know he'll start. I don't actually have Auba yet but I will be playing WC next week, and have 1 FT and an injured Aguero. As bad as the restart has been for Auba he is still playing Norwich so would be rude not to get him in for 1 week only.

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

          Could be worth it, hes due and been unlucky. If he starts he could even get a hatty who knows

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

        Just sold him

      4. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        not in particular, he is extremely fit and they are 6 points behind fifth place which is a long shot but Arteta will not have given up (i think no chance myself but Arteta will see there´s a chance)

        He could be benched, but on paper he is the best cap option this week. In this tight schedule anyone can be and we saw Kun in 10 minutes vs Arsenal that a player can do some real damage in short time, Auba for the last half an hour vs tired Norwich legs, decimated by the look of relegation in their eyes, that could be enough.

    20. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      A) Play Bergwijn/Saka and save FT
      B) Bergwijn to Pulisic/Mount with FT

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Anyone?

      2. HollywoodXI
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        A

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

      Already have Saiss. Max 4.9M. Lundy to:
      A. Boly
      B. Lascelles
      C. Holgate
      D. Cahill

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        A

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

          This assuming no Doherty

    22. Nolberto Solano
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Fernandes to Martial? Or wait and see for one more week?

      1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Wait

    23. Visionaries
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this.
      If I don't make a transfer this week and use FH next week, will I get 2 FT's the following week?

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

        No back to 1 FT

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

          Ok cheers, that's what I thought

    24. Kitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pretty dreamy for me, I ended up with 90 points and also had Nketiah and Holgate on the bench.

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

        reply fail

    25. Chelsea91
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      McCarthy
      Taa,Saiss,Robbo
      Mane,Kdb,Bruno(c),Son(vc)
      Dcl,Jota,Ings

      Pope Soy,Fleck,Egan

      Good to go for GW 32+ guys?

      1. FPLord
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Front line looks weak, but guess you can't change without a hit

        1. Chelsea91
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          yes mate

          1. FPLord
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            then leave it as it is and play Pope instead of McCarthy

            1. Chelsea91
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              noted mate

        2. AC Yew
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          I agree. Would pick Jimenez over Jota if possible

          1. Chelsea91
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            need to take hit mate

            1. AC Yew
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              I would take the hit.

    26. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Got FH & TC left
      When do you see an apt GW for each?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        TC Salah vs Villa

        1. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Think he'll start every match now on?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 9 months ago

            No, but he’ll start enough to get a chance at a third golden boot

            1. The Red Devil
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 9 months ago

              Coz villa match is just less than 72 hours after match against city
              Thursday night- Sunday night

    27. FPLord
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Bench one out of DCL, Nketiah or Mahrez (has to be benched at some point)?

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nkeitah

      2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Nketiah

    28. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Team GTG here? Bench and captain thoughts

      McCarthy
      TAA Doherty Maguire Aurier
      Salah KDB Bruno Martial
      Jimenez DCL

      Krul Ings Barnes Fernandez

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

        Jimmy captain and would play Ings over DCL

      2. FPLord
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Ings vs DCL is a close call. Captain between Martial and Jimenez for me

      3. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        bench Maguire and play Ings

    29. Ian Davis
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Play DCL or Saka?

      Other option is DCL > Nketiah

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        DCL

      2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Similar Dilemma and I'm playing DCL

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

      Hi all,

      Please help

      I already have Rash and bruno....

      A.) Alli --> Martial

      OR

      B.) wait and see / carry FT