Scout Network

Are premium defenders worth investing in from FPL Gameweek 9 onwards?

With clean sheets on the increase and the average number of goals scored in each game lower now than it was at the start of the season premium defenders are back on the radar of Fantasy Premier League managers.

Is now the right time to invest more money in the defence? Should we be looking to go big at the back? And which FPL defenders should we spend our FPL budget on – we asked the Scout Network for their thoughts on what is the correct defensive FPL strategy.

FPL BlackBox

Ben Chilwell playing for Chelsea against Sheffield United

At the moment, I can’t see any real logic in going big at the back – which surprises me considering I felt this was a very viable strategy after the first few weeks of the season.

Chilwell looks a must. He’s now risen to £6.0m, but looks worth the price. The double up with Reece James looks very viable, and you can get him for a cut price £5.0m.

With players such as Vladimir Coufal and Arthur Masuaku (both £4.5m), Tariq Lamptey (£4.7m), Matt Targett (£4.5m) all presenting good value, those with the likes of Trent Alexander Arnold (£7.4m) and Andrew Robertson (£7.0m) must be looking at this and thinking that they can free up some real funds to jump on Manchester City and / or Manchester United players who now have a great run of games.

While I will continue to shirk premium defenders, Joao Cancelo (£5.4m) has caught my eye – and I’m looking at Alex Telles (£5.5m) too, depending on the results of Luke Shaw‘s (£4.9m) most recent injury. Both could offer good returns for their price

Az FPL BlackBox

Ted Talks FPL

Chances diagram from Ted Talks FPL – Statistics from the last 6 Gameweeks

As always with defenders, picking the players with the best combined clean sheet & attacking return potential is key.

In the chance diagram above, the top 10 players are presented for each type of chance in the last six Gameweeks. Small Chances are difficult efforts such as shots from outside the box or speculative headed attempts. Big chances are clear-cut opportunities, typically close to goal. The names that stand out are in two or more of the categories.

The Liverpool fullbacks are always pretty good statistically but a potential calf injury to Alexander-Arnold may be the final nail in the coffin for patient owners, especially as this may further reduce Liverpool’s clean sheet potential. Robertson may also suffer from Liverpool’s formation change. With Diogo Jota (£6.5m) making more starts, the left-back has been less inclined to maraud forward. This makes me wonder whether the ££7.0m+ price tag still offers good value.

Ben Chilwell’s popularity has risen over the last few weeks along with his price (£6.0m). 11 small chances created, five small chances and one big chance shows a good level of intent and diversity. Two goals and two assists in five games is his reward.

Along with Chelsea’s heightened clean sheet potential, he seems like the primary choice for our backlines. At £1.0m less, team-mate Reece James (£5.0m) is also showing a good level of intent with six Small Chances Created and five small Chances.

He will need to start adding clear-cut opportunities to his locker along with end-product, having refrained from returning attacking points since Gameweek 1.

James might have nailed down a regular starting position after playing 90 mins in the last 3 Gameweeks but Cesar Azpilicueta (£5.8m) always feels like something of a threat when it comes to rotation.

With West Ham’s recent defensive solidity, Aaron Cresswell (£5.1m) also stands out as decent mid-priced option. His team-mates Masuaku and Coufal may offer better value at £4.5m but 13 small Chances Created and two big chances created for the left-sided centre-back is certainly worth taking note of.

Sergio Reguilón (£5.6m) and Cancelo are the last of our premium options. The Spurs left-back has created small chances, been afforded six small chances and fashioned two big chances in the last six Gameweeks but the fixtures are about to get extremely tough. Is he still worth it?

Having started the last four Premier League games in a row for Man City, combined with some European rests, Cancelo seems to have claimed the left-back position for himself.

He is showing promise going forward and with City’s excellent run of fixtures from Gameweek 10, the clean sheets are likely to follow too. He looks most likely to be my replacement for Alexander-Arnold, if the injury is serious.

With regards to structure, I think three at the back is still the best, leaving seven attacking slots to lap up the prevalent attacking points. There’s an argument to say that those three defensive positions could be filled by mid-priced assets such as Chilwell, Cancelo and Cresswell.

Ted Talks FPL

FPL Family

Aaron Cresswell in action for West Ham

Defenders have been a key thinking point of mine over the last couple of Gameweeks. My latest Pro Pundit article, which comes out later this week, is all about restructuring to allow for an increased budget allocation to the defence.

The last few Gameweeks have seen fewer goals scored across the weekends and an increase on the number of clean sheets kept. We are also now beginning to see more consistency at the back, especially from teams such as Southampton and Chelsea and therefore the appeal of their defenders is on the increase.

Chilwell and Cresswell are the obvious defensive picks for me for the foreseeable future. Both have the form, fixtures and huge potential upside for attacking returns and thus at their price points offer exceptional value for money.

FPL Family Sam

FPL Nymfria

Vestergaard celebrates Scoring with Theo Walcott for Southampton vs Chelsea

I feel defenders are one of the toughest positions to call so far this season.

With so few clean sheets at the start of the campaign, we can at least now see some more filtering through. I was debating between Kurt Zouma (£5.3m) and Chilwell ahead of last Gameweek, and with the sale of Danny Ings (£8.4m), I was able to up my budget to afford the left-back.

Luckily, it paid off, but I still believe that Zouma and his cheaper counter colleague James, could be worth consideration if you can’t reach the ever rising Chilwell or you fancy the double up.

I still have a Romain Saïss (£5.2m) shaped problem, and I also have to have some serious thought on if Robertson is worth keeping going forward. The Defenders I’m looking at as key targets for possible replacements are, Jannik Vestergaard (£4.7m) who currently has four clean sheets and two goals.

After selling Southampton defence early doors, I am looking to get back on as their clean sheets really hurts my rank, so any cover there would be good.

I also think West Ham defence could be worth some consideration. Cresswell, with his three assists, has looked impressive and it usually reflects in the bonus points also. As a cheaper alternative, Coufal at 4.5m also looks like a decent option, with just one fewer assist than his left-sided, set-piece-taking team-mate.

FPL Nymfria

FPL Partridge

Patrick Van Aanholt celebrates Crystal Palace’s opening goal vs Leeds in Gameweek 8

Currently I still have Robertson and Alexander-Arnold. The main reason I still have both is because I couldn’t identify which one to offload. My indecision may help me in the long run though, as with Liverpool’s fixtures clearing up, I can still see both hitting form at some point soon.

The player I want however, is Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m). Watching the games it seems like he’s added some real threat and penetration down the left for Palace. He had a great assist ruled out last week, as well as being fouled for the overturned penalty. This week his deflected cross caused the own goal and Palace have a great run of fixtures that I think will result in more points for PVA. We also don’t know if he jumps ahead of Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m) in the penalty taking queue, which would increase his potential even more.

FPL Partridge

El Statto

El Statto graphic to show the breakdown of Chilwell’s points this season by Home&Away/League position of opponents/Gameweek

Heat Map for Chilwell’s season so far by El Statto

With only six defenders currently in the top 30 highest scored players, currently it makes sense I feel to continue to allocate as much as possible budget into the midfielders and forwards. Also with the top premiums of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson both outside the top 50 it gives you more money than ever to use.

If I was Wildcarding over the international break, Chilwell would be the first name into my defence. After missing the first three games, he has since returned three clean sheets, two assists and two goals in five appearances, and is averaging eight points per match.

With a good run of fixtures against mid-to-lower positioned teams, I think you can expect some returns to continue. As he showed against Sheffield United, Chilwell will get into the box whenever he can, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the score sheet again over the next six.

He was on corners, but now Ziyech is in the side and taken over it is one assist option gone, but the way he has started this season is very Alexander-Arnold-esque.

El Statto

FPL Greece

Cancelo stars for City as Sheff Utd's weak right-side bodes well for Chelsea

Joao Cancelo puts in a cross for Manchester City while under pressure

With the current sample of eight Gameweeks, Chilwell is the most reliable and explosive defender in our view. With his marauding runs on the left and how often he gets in the penalty box, as well as his crossing capacity, should be a no brainer for all managers. A Wildcard draft should start from him leading the defence.

With the current lack of clean sheets for Liverpool, and the drought of attacking returns for both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, it is hard to advocate for sticking with them, even though the underlying stats remain strong.

However, at FPL Greece, we consider having a big-hitting defender a big plus. Not only due to team structure (since upgrading a defender is difficult and usually requires hits), but also because historically, very few midfielders or attachers at the price range of £7.0 to £7.5m hit the mark of 180+ points. Neither of them will keep underperforming for the whole season.

Nevertheless, if one would move away from Liverpool defence, Cancelo keeps turning heads with his performances. He looks like he has secured his spot in Guardiola’s starting XI, his assist potential is high considering the number of crosses and his heat-map, and City’s schedule past Chelsea bodes well with his clean sheet potential.

That aside, it is hard to look past the favourable schedule of Aston Villa and the good defensive credentials they have given. Either as a cover, or as a double up to the amazing Emi Martinez (£4.8m), either of Tyrone Mings (£5.2m), or Matt Targett (£4.5m) would be a good be a solid choice.

FPL Greece

Mini League Mate

Leeds defender Stuart Dallas

My wildcard in Gameweek 6 was focused on taking money out of defence to secure the services of more of the midfielders and strikers who seem to be getting consistent returns. The clean sheets have started to come in thick and fast but there are so many budget defenders capable of attacking returns like Lamptey, Cresswell, Max Kilman (£4.3m), Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.5m), Stuart Dallas (£4.5m), Luke Ayling (£4.5m) – the list goes on. I have one mid/premium which is Chilwell who is widely backed as the next, or equivalent, TAA/Robbo.

Mini League Mate

Whats happening in the Scout Network?

El Statto

There were two new articles published this this week.

The first one highlighting the 26 players who furfill our own pre-set criteria (returns in at least three games/ a least one haul so far/ played at least 75% of the mins) Looking at what makes them good transfer options and then factoring in their fixtures.

The other article was by Jan Sienkiewicz, following their surprise defeat in Europe this week he takes a look at what is going on at Manchester United, whether the wheels are coming off the Ole-bus and whether his decisions are effecting the appeal of the Red Devils players as FPL assets.

FPL Family

Lee and Sam both had excellent Gameweek 8 results, although Sam spent Sunday evenings Live Stream regretting her decision to bench Ollie Watkins when he scored a brace while they were live!

Lee also appeared on last weeks Official FPL podcast in the build up to Gameweek 8, while you’ll be able to catch Sam on the FPL Show this week alongside Duncan Alexander.

Mini League Mate

Last week Mini League Mate had a special trial week for a select group of Fantasy Football Scout Members who received a Dossier for Gameweek 7 to enable them to try out the service Mini League Mate provides.

As a result many have FFS Members have subsequently subscribed to carry on recieving the Dossier moving forwards! The trial also provided Mini League Mate with some great feedback including lots of suggestions for how FFS Members would like to visualise their data – this is something that the guys at Mini League Mate will be looking into for the next few weeks and looking to deploy where possible.

FPL Poker Player

The usually weekly FPL Poker Tables blog was published this week ahead of the deadline for Gameweek 8. This blog reported on very encouraging results for the previous gameweek’s predictions, and highlighted the key points of interest regarding the upcoming GW5 scoreline predictions, clean sheet probabilities, expected goals and player points.

Exitingly spreadsheet sales for FPL Poker Player also went global with customers now from all around the world, including Indonesia, Slovenia, Malaysia, India, and Ireland. The development of a new sortable players expected points table was announced. As well as this, the betting arm spinoff account recorded a 25% Return On Investment in Gameweek 4, with three winning bets out of the four recommended to followers.

FPL BlackBox

On Wednesday ahead of the Gameweek 8 deadline Mark and Az hosted another episode of FPL BlackBox looking ahead to the game week and focused in on, amongst other things, the data surrounding the choice between Harry Kane and Heung-min Son for the Gameweek 8 captaincy.

This week FPL Black Box will be live on Thursday evening – don’t forget to hit that subscribe button!

If you are an FPL content creator, tool maker, social star or indeed any strand of the FPL community and you want to be part of the Scout Network you can get in touch here.

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

1,321 Comments Post a Comment
  1. cheeky moses
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    From GW 10 and forward, who would you rather have as your 4th def?
    A) Masuaku
    B) Dallas

    Playing a 3-4-3 so would mostly be bench cover and the occasional start

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A but prefer Coufal to Masuaku

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        this for me

      2. cheeky moses
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers, yeah me too. But already have Dallas and Masuaku so it's a question of who to sell for dias/cancelo in gw 10.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Would sell the Leeds defender then

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

      Whoever rotates best with your 3rd defender

  2. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No TAA and Thiago, a defense of Robbo-Williams-Matip-Milner, should I really be handing Mane the captaincy... Hmm.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      They're gonna have to attack more to win games now if they start conceding more

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I think they were attacking just fine in the first place, don't subscribe to that logic. The quality of attacking is what I'm concerned about

      2. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        They've lost one of their biggest playmaker though

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

      2 of their most creative players gone, a completely busted up defence. Don’t think things will be good on either side of the pitch for Pool

    3. cheeky moses
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      get in Vardy!

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        No

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

    Is 2 playing bench fodders enough or would you have 3 going into the Christmas period?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Don't miss ur keeper. Go for 4

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

        4.5 keeper on the bench is a waste of funds

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Oh u said playing bench fodder. I missed that part. I thought bench fodder meant they don't play. Im confused

        2. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          So i meant like a 3.9 keeper

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

          I only have 1 playing bench player myself.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      2 is enough I think - personally have only had one GW in the last three seasons where all three of my bench options have been needed.

      1. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I agree. On the Hail Cheaters pod they had a story about a guy who was down to 9 players last week, so he played free hit. He got 53 points, while his 9-man original team would have got 67. Typical.

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

        Good point

  4. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son and Saïss ➡️ Bruno AMD N.Williams?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      For -8 but think it could be worth it

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

        Hell no

      2. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Well we're not sure Williams will play. Milner could play there instead

    2. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      no

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      nope

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No

  5. popcoin
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Justin, KWP or Coufal?

    Justin has possibly the 3 best fixtures any defender could have in 10,11 and 12 - but I need them to play in GW9.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Coufal

      1. popcoin
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        are West Ham's underlying defensive numbers good?

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          They have been and didn't concede many during their nightmare opening run of games

  6. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son to Bruno for a good captain?

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      definitely if not for a hit

      1. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        free

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

      Yes for free

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If you have Salah he's still a good captain. Doubt over United's ability against a deep block

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

    Is Soucek a waste of funds sitting on the bench? Downgrade to a 4.5 mid? Current draft has this bench

    4.0gk | Coufal Soucek 3.9def

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I don't think having an 8th attacking option is a waste this year.

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

        Why’s that?

  8. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Current thoughts on KDB vs Sterling?

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

      Owned Sterling all season but KDB is the better choice as of now

    2. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB is clearly better for me, has pens, better underlying stats, and Sterling has looked very off this season which is never good for a player like him

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kevin

    4. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB

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

      Judging from the answers, we're going to make that sideways move 🙁

  9. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Have to play 3 every GW.

    A) Cresswell + Grealish + Bissouma + Bamford
    B) Lamptey + Soucek + Berge + DC-L

    Which option would you choose?

    1. Super John McGinn-
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  10. Super John McGinn-
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez, Forster
    Robertson*, Chilwell, Semedo*, Dallas, 3.9
    Salah, Son*, Zieych, Grealish, Stephens*
    Kane*, DCL, Bamford

    2 FT, 1.0 ITB

    A) Robbo + Son > Cancelo + KDB
    B) Semedo + Son > Kilman + KDB
    C) Semedo + Son > Coufal + Bruno(C) (Stephens* Kane > KDB + Brewster -4 next GW)

    1. cheeky moses
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  11. myteamissheeeeeeeet
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Yes peeps!

    How can I squeeze KDB into this WC please and ideally Chilwell ha?

    McCarthy 4.0
    Kilman Justin James Coufal KWP
    Salah Fernandes Ziyech Grealish Elneny
    Werner Kane Bamford

    0 in the bank!

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

      Are you prepared to sell kane? If not its impossible

      1. myteamissheeeeeeeet
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        How about:
        Kane to Vardy
        Grealish to KDB
        Werner to Watkins

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

      is this for real, how do you expect to squeeze several million from nowhere. If you want to own those players you'll have to rebuild your team

      sideays laughing crying emoji etc

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Salah to KDB,James to Chilwell and KWP to one of the Williams at Liverpool

    4. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kane exit

  12. JURGENAUT
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any changes needed here?

    McCarthy
    Chilwell - Justin - Lamptey
    Salah - Fernandes - Grealish - Zaha
    Kane - Werner - DCL

    Forster - Kilman - Mitchell - Stephens

    Cheers 🙂

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If no FTs then GTG

      1. JURGENAUT
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        If I did have a FT, what would you suggest?

        0.0ITB

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

          do nothing

        2. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Nothing actually - save FT

          Play Kilman over Justin this GW

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

            quite fancy justin with liverpools hospital defence

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              But surely the clean sheet odds would favour Wolves at home to Southampton over Leicester away at Pool?

        3. The Point About It Is
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Save

    2. JURGENAUT
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers all, appreciate the input 🙂

  13. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Heres one for you:

    A) Cancelo, Ziyech, Watkins
    B) Target, KDB, Soucek (rotating where needed with Brewster)

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    4. JURGENAUT
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    5. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    6. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  14. dshv
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Mccarthy
    Chilwell justin lamptey taylor mitchell
    Son salah bruno sterling soucek
    Watkins dcl davis

    1.8 itb .. 1fT

    Son to ziyech
    Ehat i have to do with Soucek
    Somehow to bring city defence

    Tell ?

  15. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What to do?

    Martinez (Forster)
    Chillwell Robbo Lamptey (Saiss Mitchel)
    Salah Son Grealish Zaha
    Kane DCL Bamford

    2FT 1.1Mil ITB

    Who needs to leave and for who?

    1. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Son to KDB - boring but sensible
      and/or sort out Saiss - lots of 4.5 options to give you some £

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

        Maybe taking out a 9ml prolific MF for a struggling 11.5 isn't so sensible

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Never played the fixtures then?

          1. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            If 6 assists in 4 games is struggling, sign me up!

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

              You know where 4 of those assists came from

              10 goals in 7 games this season isn't really firing premium territory

              By all means go for KdB on a hunch that City are about to find form, but ahead of Spurs it's probably not that sound to suggest 1G3A v 8G2A is the sensible choice

              1. Flair
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                Sure, Son up against Walker who can be exploited is a perfectly fine option. My comment was based on the GW10 run.

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice team. Either tidy up the defence a bit, saiss and Mitchell are weak links at moment. Or son to Bruno (c) also an option

    3. Bennyboy1907
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      How about son to Bruno and Saiss to Coufal?

      Then next week Kane to vardy for the nice fixtures

      Then next week Robbo to cancelo and asses attacking Man City assets till then

  16. The Point About It Is
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Looking at 352 options instead of my usual 343
    A: DeBruyne + Brewster (bench)
    or
    B: Soucek (bench) + Vardy

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    2. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy fixtures look appealing tho: liv, FUL, shu, BHA, EVE and you get to keep your 343

  17. ZAMUNDA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    On Wildcard:
    From:
    Martinez/McCarthy
    Chilwell/Justin/Coufal/Lamptey/Mitchell
    Salah/Son/Rodriguez/Zaha/Bissouma
    Werner/Bamford/Ings

    To:
    Martinez/Forster
    Chilwell/Justin/Coufal/Lamptey/Kilman
    Salah/Bruno/Ziyech/Grealish/Zaha
    DCL/Watkins/Bamford

    ITB: 3.1- currently on 53K rank

    Thoughts on how to get Man City assets from GW10?

    1. ZAMUNDA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Used to play 3-4-3 and will be switching to 3-5-2 (KDB) or remain 3-4-3 (Jesus)

    2. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can you go Zaha to KDB and Bam to Brewster?
      I am also on WC and have same conundrum see above

      1. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I need nailed 3 upfront tho, kinda used to 343 but I will give it a try. Cheers mate

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

      You'd have to give up Salah or Bruno for KDB or Sterling. I'll be in the same boat if City start firing.

      1. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah exactly, I can replace Bruno after WBA game but need to see Man City scoring first

    4. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure why you used wc. You’ve only made 3 or 4 significant changes. You need a bench player in your front 8? Bamford to Brewster and Zaha to kdb?

      1. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I made 7 changes actually, had Ings and Mitchell injuried (Before their prices drop), 4.5 keeper to 4.0 for fund to get Bruno and upcoming Man City asset. Also I managed to get Watkins, Grealish, and DCL before their prices raised. WC saved me and I still have 3.1 itb. Bamford to Brewster and Zaha to KDB seem legit. Cheers

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Good luck. Team looks great so well set up

  18. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    Robbo, Chilly, KWP
    Salah, Son, Ziyech, Grealish
    Kane, DCL, Maupay

    (Steer, Dallas, 4.5m, 3.9m)
    2 fts, 0.3m in the bank.

    A) Steer + Maupay to 4m + Watkins
    B) Maupay to Antonio
    C) Maupay to Antonio, Robertson to anyone
    D) Maupay to Antonio, Son to 9.9m
    E) Son to Bruno, Maupay to Antonio, Robertson to Cancelo/PVA (-4)

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      In E), Bruno could also be KDB

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

      Can you afford E without Maupay to Antonio? Feels like that one could wait?

      1. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I can but Maupay is a waste of space in my team.

        1. Captain_Shirokov
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          He is priority ahead of Son and Robertson to get rid of for me.

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

          -4 to bring Antonio in against a weak defence. Agree Maupay needs to go but might not need to be now. Over the last 2/3 he's no more of a waste than Robbo tbh (I say that as a Robbo owner)

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

            against a strong defence*(!)

          2. Captain_Shirokov
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Interesting, thanks. Who would be your defender of choice?

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

              Cancelo if you could guarantee the minutes. Otherwise I like Zouma (even as a double up) or Creswell(!)

              1. Captain_Shirokov
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                As a Chelsea fan, I couldn't bare watching games with a defensive double-up lol

                I've been hurt from the last two seasons

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

    Plenty of time to change my mind before the deadline... but for now I'm going to go without City premiums even though I'm shipping Son, Kane or both this week.

    Have just decided to treat them like any other assets and not jump on until they show they can get back to their best.

    1. popcoin
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      agreed. they just haven't looked at it and Spurs is a good game to wait and watch

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

        Yep. I've been planning KDB in around now for ages, but it's dawned on me that it's based on nothing more than stellar seasons in the past. If I miss one haul then jump on, so be it

    2. tinear
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'm going with Son to Bruno while watching City. I mean Bruno is delivering now but not forever and City's fixtures look promising.

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

        Agreed. I already have Bruno which makes it a little easier to hold on. Ideal scenario is City start to look great again as Bruno tails off and the decision is easy!

    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who are you getting for son and Kane? The problem you’ll have is Man City player will be most popular captain in gw 10 & 11

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

        Son will become Grealish. I've got 0.0 ITB now and would like the breathing room. Kane is staying as it stands but wouldn't expect him to last long - Jesus an option if Kun stays out

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Grealish is great pick. And those fixtures are so good! Considering him as captain this week.

          Still think you’ll need kdb so I’d have a plan on how you’ll get him in if he starts to fire

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

            Agreed, and the extra cash will help with that. Although to be honest I think it would have to be Salah or Bruno out if I want to maintain some sort of structure/balance

            1. Pat Bonner
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Agreed, not sure you can have Kane salah Bruno and kdb and a balanced team. Would probably lose Bruno out of those 4 based on Man U erratic form but could also argue that losing Kane for next few makes sense

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        KDB has ~15% ownership and it's decreasing with him being the highest owned City asset, Salah will be the most popular captain GW10.

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Great if kdb’s a differential captain

          1. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Magnificent really

  20. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Who gets more G+A over the rest of the season, Lamptey or Brewster?
    I genuinely think it's the defender...

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep, Brewsters stats are laughable (I own him!)

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

      I am rotating between the two for last spot in playing 11 most weeks

  21. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    RMWCT

    Think I have settled on this and will most likely go ahead with it barring any injuries or covid tests in IB

    Martinez(Forster)
    Chilwell Cancelo Lamptey(Coufal)(Neco Williams)
    Salah KDB Fernandes Ziyech Grealish
    DCL Watkins(Brewster)

    The only player that I don't have that I really wanted was Vardy but can't have them all sadly...

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can't see anything wrong with that

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice, I would swap KDB for Kane though

    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Great team. What I would go for if I had wc. Any cash left to get Kilman and Cresswell over Coufal Williams

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

      Like it. In your shoes all I would be thinking is that in my experience having a premium slot up front almost always works out favourable compared to packing the mid.

      If you want Vardy, have him. You've got KdB in there who right now for all intents and purposes, is a nostalgia pick. Until both he AND city as a team start firing then he is not essential.

      I can see the appeal of those games. Definitely. For me I think i'd rather go in accepting that he could haul against Burnley, then move if hand forced. Rather than go all in, come away with a poor return and look back wondering what I was thinking bringing in an 11.5m player with 27 points in 6 games

      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Nostalgia pick!!

  22. tinear
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Coufal or Walker Pieters?

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Coufal

  23. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Now Gomez is out for Pool?

    1. FPL Bond @ Twitter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yes. Liverpool defence in tatters now..

  24. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best defender from now until over Christmas that isn't Chilwell?

    Cancelo is tempting but I don't want to be bringing in a player who will have limited gametime over the coming GWs.

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Dias

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, Dias if you want security of starts

        1. Captain_Shirokov
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks both, but aren't Ake and Garcia options for when Pep inevitably rotates?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            CBs don't tend to get rotated too much and think any rotation will come in the UCL as the group is almost wrapped up there.

            1. Captain_Shirokov
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Interesting point about the CL. Dias gets added to my watchlist.

          2. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Dias will probably be occasionally rested but it's a negligible issue to me. Ake is a threat to Laporte mainly but I think Pep will look to develop a partnership between his two world class CBs, he spent 50M on a Kompany replacement for a reason. I think Dias will prove great value over the next run

            1. Captain_Shirokov
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Thanks he may be the one I go for in that case.

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

        Love that. Shirkov I'd add it to my list above!

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Cresswell

      1. Captain_Shirokov
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Nailed, West Ham actually look solid, ok fixtures. This could be the one.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Watch the highlights from the Fulham game

          1. Captain_Shirokov
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Was he advanced?

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Had two great goal attempts (one free kick hit the bar and one volley from outside the box tipped over) and created a big chance from a corner for Haller who hit the bar. Could have been an 20+ haul

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He's so good

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Wish I could have afforded him over Coufal last GW

          1. Flair
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I could move James to him down the line

  25. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell - Dias/Cancelo - Cresswell soon to be the FFS template?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yup

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Basically this is what I'm getting from the replies lol, would be a serious backline to have for the immediate future

  26. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dias with 1 shot in 450 minutes, damn. Whether that matters much in the long run is debatable though, should still score a few

  27. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sell TAA for who?

    Martinez
    TAA Chilwell Lamptey
    Salah Grealish Son Zaha
    Maupay Kane DCL

    Steer Dallas Bissouma Kilman

    1. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Coufal and upgrade Zaha or Maupay?

    2. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      see above

  28. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling and Son -> Chilwell and Zaha for free?

    Thank you!

    1. Captain_Shirokov
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can't afford Ziyech? I presume you already have Grealish.

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure that's worth it for Zaha

  29. Bennerman
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What's the furthest people have got on the mini-game on the fplstatistics site?

    I keep getting to level 12 and then hitting major issues. I arrived with 12 lives earlier and lost the lot without getting very far.

    Also, anyone know any secret levels or tricks/cheats, for fun?

    (What, you didn't know there was a game? Click on the football)

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Which football?

      1. Bennerman
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        It's on the left of the prices screen.

        I'm on desktop, not sure about mobile.

  30. FlyingWithoutIngs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any city fans about? Is cancelo worth it long term I have him but wondering if hes worth keeping