Pro Pundits

How patience in Liverpool defence can help me bounce back from FPL Gameweek 6

Gameweek 6 was one of my worst in Fantasy Premier League history but it’s not the Gameweek score that maketh the manager, it is your response to it that really matters.

When I started writing this article, I was sitting on a net score of 11 points (yes, eleven) from nine players (yes, nine) including my captain Mohamed Salah (£12.4m). Son Heung-min (£9.5m) and Harry Kane (£10.9m) added 15 points to that on Monday but a score of just 27 is not what I was hoping for at all.

I know I am not alone in scores like this for Gameweek 6, so I am writing about what went wrong and how I cope with that moving forward.

Ironically, I had really high hopes for this week. Triple Liverpool at home to a struggling Sheffield Untied side, the ever reliable captain Salah, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.7m) in great form, and appealing fixtures for the likes of Mat Ryan (£4.5m), Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.8m) and Ross Barkley (£6.0m). On paper, it was arguably my strongest-looking 11 of the season. 

So with this is mind, I think it is so important for us to remember not all good decisions lead to good results in FPL. Ultimately, we pick our teams but we have absolutely no control over what happens on the pitch. If our player gets injured, misses a sitter or gets sent off (I’m looking at you Lucas) then that not something we have any influence over. 

I decided to look at how we can look at bad scores objectively and work out how to improve our rank going forward rather than letting it spoil our weekend and make emotional decisions with regards to the next set of fixtures.

Here is my three-point plan for such scenarios.

  1. Identify the difference between bad decisions and what is bad luck. Last week’s score has no effect on next week’s score, but performances and statistics do. Rather than looking at a players bad score, look at his contribution on the pitch. The Fantasy Football Scout Premium Members Area is perfect for this.
  2. Try not to chase points. Jumping from player to player chasing points that have been and gone can be a frustrating circle. For example, hopping from the likes of Mitrovic, Ollie Watkins (£6.0m), Callum Wilson (£6.5m) and Patrick Bamford (£5.9m) is so tempting when we see all of these players returning double-digit hauls over the first six Gameweeks. But often we end up wasting precious transfers and missing all these points completely. I like to pick a player over a period of matches and trust they can provide me the value I am looking for. For example, I had a pre-conceived plan of sticking with Mitrovic until Gameweek 7 because of strong fixtures. I like to stay true to my game plans and if it doesn’t work so be it.
  3. Embrace the highs and lows. If you can’t enjoy a thrilling game because your captain hasn’t returned or you are secretly willing one of your forwards to score against the team you support, it is time to take a step back. After all, we play FPL to enhance our enjoyment of the game we love. Bad weeks are inevitable!

FORWARD PLANNING

A big talking point right now is what we do with Liverpool defensive assets now that Virgil van Dijk (£6.4m) is ruled out for a sustained period. As a Fantasy manager who has built a lot of success on the defensive double-up over the last two seasons, I feel it’s right I touch on this. 

What we are seeing in the first six weeks is season like no other. We have seen some freak results and it seems teams have forgotten how to defend. However, I believe we will soon see a return to normality and Premier League managers will address the defensive issues. Manchester United’s rather dull, stalemate draw with Chelsea is perhaps is a good early example of this.

I think it is important to stick to my identity as a FPL manager, to give Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) more time to deliver the returns we know they are capable of. 

As the old saying goes ‘You live by the sword, you die by the sword’. I was happy with what I saw from an attacking point of view again in Gameweek and, with Alisson (£5.9m) back in the side, I am still hopeful some clean sheets are imminent. As managers continue to ship out the full-backs in their droves, I’m hoping the patient approach will pay off once again.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM FPL GAMEWEEK 6

821 Comments Post a Comment
  1. PrincessPorkie
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Transferring Saint Max out - will have 7.1 itb. Who should i bring in?
    Phoden? Barkley? Other?

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Rn it would Barkley, but from GW10 Foden is a better pick.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Foden is worth a shot

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Phone phoden and bring him in

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Just got rid of Foden but he's still a good option. Be prepared for odd benchings and just think value over a term

    5. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Fodinho

  2. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If I had done nothing since GW1...cheered me up slightly:

    'Your current team value is 102.6. If you'd made no transfers, your team value would be 97.8.
    Your current actual points are 350 , and you've made 7 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of 57 points!'

    https://www.game-change.co.uk/2017/08/28/fantasy-football-what-if-machine/

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Your current team value is 100.9. If you'd made no transfers, your team value would be 99.9.
      Your current actual points are 341 , and you've made 4 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of 19 points!

      What a waste of time... 😆

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        haha, will def put off a lot of managers who have made little to no gains!

      2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I am exactly on the same number of points. -20 though! Quitting.

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

      Ouch

      28 points down from 348. The extra 2.5 mill isn't much of a consolation.

      Smashed it with Kane and Vardy week 1 - had I held them.

      How is captaincy factored in here?

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Youch, it just calculates if you had changed absolutely nothing with your team from GW1 (no transfers, played no chips or no captaincy changes)

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Painful:

      "Your current actual points are 341 , and you've made 6 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of -20 points"

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Wow -20...that truly is the dark side of the loon!

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Extremely dark. Had Kane in GW1. Got rid of him in GW3. And that is the difference.

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Ditto

            I managed to cap that by also losing Son when he was supposed to be out injured.

            1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Same here. Got him the week after that.

    4. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Ouch ouch ouch ouch

      Playing a dead team with Kane captain I'd be on 372 😀

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Interesting link - cheers!

    6. T88MYE
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If Tom had made no changes since GW1, their score would be 285.

      If they had, their GW1 team would have 315 points!

      Your current team value is 101.5. If you'd made no transfers, your team value would be 99.

      Your current actual points are 339 , and you've made 6 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of 54 points!

      +54... seems ok?

    7. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If you had made no changes since GW1, their score would be 394.
      ...with 20 points coming from the bench via automatic subs, and 0 extra points coming from their Vice Captain when their Captain didn't play.
      They captained Salah who's scored 50 points so far. They should have captained Son, who has 69 points so far.
      If they had, their GW1 team would have 413 points!
      Your current team value is 100.3. If you'd made no transfers, your team value would be 99.7.
      Your current actual points are 369 , and you've made 7 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of -25 points!

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Be good to do this after GW38 as well.

    8. Liberate HK - antichinazi
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If [ ] had made no changes since GW1, their score would be 399.
      ...with 6 points coming from the bench via automatic subs, and 7 extra points coming from their Vice Captain when their Captain didn't play.
      They captained Mané who's scored 39 points so far. They should have captained Son, who has 69 points so far.
      If they had, their GW1 team would have 429 points!
      Your current team value is 101.9. If you'd made no transfers, your team value would be 100.1.
      Your current actual points are 303 , and you've made 6 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of -96 points!

      1. Liberate HK - antichinazi
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        -96, who can beat me?

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

      Mine will be right up there with some. of the worst. Ouch! 😆

      Your current actual points are 293 , and you've made 6 transfers. So your transfer activity and captaincy choices have been worth a total of -67 points!

    10. Robson-Canoe
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      -58 points, nice

  3. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which option would you prefer if you have 2FT in Gameweek 8?

    A) Foden/Jimenez -> Bruno/Brewster
    B) Podence/Jimenez -> Rashford/Brewster

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B by a mile

    3. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I’m a big fan of Bruno, I’d say A

    4. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Podence seems to be a good player with very little FPL output. Wloves fictures are not good in the medium term.
      On that basis, B

    6. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thank you guys

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

    Mcarthy
    Chilwell - davies - kill - justin
    Salah - zaha - son - jorgino - mendy
    Kane - vardy - ings

    Worthy?

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mendy is really punty, like it.

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

      But is my ings man crush worthy??

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yes - him and Jimenez will tick over all season to around 200 points

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Mendy won’t get you any attacking points, get Soucek

  5. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Which squad scores more in next few weeks?

    SQUAD A
    Schmeichel - 4.0
    TAA - Coady - Keane - Basham - Lascelles
    Son - Salah - Rodriguez - Traoré - Kante
    Jimi - DCL - Bamford

    SQUAD B
    Martinez - 4.0
    Robbo - Saiss - Targett - Lamptey - Kilman
    Son - Salah - Jrodriguez - Barkley - Soucek
    Kane - DCL - Maupay

  6. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Any news on Antonio injury?

    1. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hopefully they rest him and then only allow me to trade him for Fulham

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Possibly hamstring injury and out for as much as 6 weeks

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I saw 6 weeks out rumours on here yesterday from the Hammers forums

  7. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    For the next 3 gws, rate these big hitters in order of preference

    Salah
    Sterling
    Kane
    Bruno
    Son

    1. NULL-X-VOID
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Kane
      Salah
      Son
      Sterling
      Bruno

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        This

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Nailed it. Though I'm sure it'll change significantly once GW10 rolls around.

      3. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        And this list goes backwards from gw10 onward

        1. Van der Faart
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          You think Kane won't do well v Chelsea and Arsenal defence?

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Won’t be hauling, I’ll be going without from gw9 onward

      4. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Kind of agree with you.
        Currently on Salah & Sterling with double pool defence.

        Would you take a -8 to to get in Kane & Son by removing Sterling & TAA?

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If Salah blanks this week I'm getting rid...

      1. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        What if he has 5 big chances and misses them all? Or gets one lucky assist. Points can be a misleading thing to remove or get players

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Ponts are all that count. Sooner or later we have to decide if a player that creates loads of chances and doesn't take them isn't confident enough to do so.

        2. G-Whizz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          A lucky assist means he stays but my mind is made up...

      2. Party time
          3 years, 5 months ago

          He will blank but don’t get rid

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Wanna do Salah and Pulisic plus c.f. 1.7m to Bruno and We Bruyne, will leave me with 0.3m. But wanna wait until Friday to avoid upsets. No price changes last night, if anything Salah could rise pre West Ham. Do you think prices for any of them can hamper my uncunning plan before Friday?

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Not sure losing Salah before playing West Ham @ Anfield is a good idea.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          There's always a scenario not to sell based on an upcoming fixtures. But I can't see him and Pulisic get more points than Bruno and De Bruyne long-term and their price is good. Really wondering if price changes could stop me on Friday and if yes will just get Bruno.

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Backwards moves imo, would be good to do that in a Few weeks

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

      Barnes to Son the obvious move here? 4.4itb. 1ft.

      --Martinez
      --Robbo--Chilwell--KWP
      --Salah--Barnes--JRod--Grealish
      --Kane--DCL--Bamford

      --Nyland--Lamptey--Mitchell---Burke.

      Thanks guys.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        yes indeed.

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

      Save FT? Or do something? 1FT, 0.0 itb

      Martinez
      TAA Chilwell Saiis
      Son Salah Grealish Zaha
      Kane Maupay* DCL

      subs: Steer Dallas Mitchell Bissouma

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Looks good. Is Maupay a doubt?

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

          No but I need to sell

    6. southcoastbeast
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Whos the best replacement for maupay ? My plan was to get antonio but he looks to beout for a number of weeks.

      A) adams
      B) bamford
      C) wilson

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hattrick Bamford.

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Adams if any

    7. Jamb0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Start 2 of:

      A) Justin (lee)
      B) Dallas (LEI)
      C) Walker-Peters (avl)