Pro Pundits

Is now the right time to restructure our FPL teams?

Fantasy Premier League managers could be forgiven for thinking that now is the time to perform extensive surgery on our squads ahead of Gameweek 9.

A big reason for that is recent re-examining of the premium assets we need to own, influenced, of course by the well-documented fixture-swing on the other side of the international break.

We have been talking about how to balance these expensive individuals all season, the strategy of rotating through them quickly a big talking point going all the way back to pre-season.

Fernandes stakes captaincy claim ahead of Gameweek 9 meeting with West Brom

Bruno Fernandez celebrates scoring against Everton in Gameweek 8

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.7m), Mohamad Salah (£12.4m), Harry Kane (£11.0m) Kevin De Bruyne (£11.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m) were among those options who managers were considering owning at some point in the campaign.

Starting the season with so many premium options meant that we looked to the likes of Tyrick Mitchell (£4.2m), Nathan Ferguson (£4.0m) Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m) Yves Bissouma (£4.5m) and Tomas Souček (£4.9m) to enable budget restrictions.

This strategy often works well at the start of the season. Mostly because we are learning about the teams, who is getting starts, which teams start the season with a bang and which struggle to get going.

The lack of data at the beginning of a campaign means that owning as many tried and tested premiums as possible is often a good decision as it should ensure some points returns while we gather as much data as possible about the rest of the league.

Blank Gameweek 1 also threw FPL managers a curve ball and made safe premium picks an even more attractive option. However, within a few rounds it became clear that some of those budget picks were the right ones to be on, while others caused FPL Managers headaches.

Mitchell retains left-back berth as van Aanholt named among Palace subs again

Tyrick Mitchell in action for Crystal Palace against Southampton’s Kyle Walker Peters

Mitchell started the season with back to back points returns for a clean sheet in Gameweek 1 and an assist in Gameweek 2, however since then he has blanked regularly, got injured and lost his place in the team.

His team-mate Ferguson was highly discussed in the FPL community as being a great way in to the Crystal Palace defence when he recovered from his injury. However, this injury has continued to keep the former West Bromwich Albion out and he is yet to make his first appearance for Palace.

At the same time Max Kilman (£4.3m) is now on the radar with three returns in his five starts for Wolves this season. Indeed, he was unlucky not to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 8 following a debated penalty for Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) as well as having a good goal-scoring of his own.

The FPL impact of Aït-Nouri's debut on Saïss, Kilman and Podence

Max Kilman celebrates with his Wolves team mates following Rayan Ait-Nouri’s first goal for the club

After eight Gameweeks we now have a clearer understanding of who the cheap enablers are, which premiums are worth investing in and what the best way to distribute the budget across our FPL teams is.

The early part of this season saw very few clean sheets. Although this was roughly aligned with the number of shut-outs we see at the start of every season, the number of goals was disproportionately higher than normal.

We saw some ridiculous score lines, Aston Villa and Liverpool played out a 7-2, Southampton and Spurs as well as Leicester, Everton and West Brom and Man City managed 5-2 results, while Liverpool and Leeds kicked off the new season with a 4-3 thriller.

These score-lines meant that many FPL managers like myself saw very little value in investing in premium defenders. However, the level of goals scored each week is decreasing and the number of clean sheets is rising so is it time to rethink how our FPL teams are structured?

Cheap at the back

Coufal successfully blocks a shot from Sergio Aguero

When the season started many FPL managers looked to find most of their value players in defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.4m) started the campaign as the most-owned defender in the game, largely paired with £4.5m and £4.0m options in our teams.

With 99 goals scored between Gameweeks 1 and 3, combined with only 13 clean sheets in the same period this strategy worked well. The number of goals and the lack of clean sheets meant that using the money to fill the forward spots with better assets seemed a wise strategy.

The cheap defence plus Alexander-Arnold strategy worried me at the start of the season. In all of my other FPL seasons there has been real value in spending on the defence.

All three of the Liverpool’s key Fantasy defenders, alongside the likes of Lucas Digne (£6.1m), Aymeric Laporte (£6.0m), Ben Chilwell (£5.9m) and Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) have, in seasons gone by, proved to be amazing FPL assets who were well worth the investment.

This change in strategy made me uneasy. I always worry about making my team as flexible as possible so that it is easy to move from one player to another as the season progresses and the right assets to won becomes clear.

My concern with starting the year with a mix of £4.5m and £4.0m defenders is that there is very little can go from there without using two transfers and therefore potentially taking a points hit.

Is now the right time for some restructuring? 1

Eric Dier and Harry Kane celebrate the laters goal vs PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League for Spurs

As a result, I decided to have Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier (£4.9m) and then two 4.5m and a 4.0m. Doing this made me feel a little more confident that should there be a defender that I really wanted to move too it would be an easier process to get there.

As the last eight Gameweeks have shown defenders are now starting to be back up to the pace of the game. There have been 17 clean sheets in the last three Gameweeks, in comparison to the 13 for the first three as well as just 68 goals, a massive drop.

This movement towards more clean sheets potential makes this cheap at the back strategy a little outdated. Especially when you couple this with the fact that we now only have one player, Kilman, who started the season at 4.0m who is now regularly starting for his side.

Kurt Zouma celebrates scoring for Chelsea vs Burnley

For me the cheap at the back strategy has had its day. There are so many defenders who at over £5.0m who are keeping clean sheets and registering goals, assists and bonus points that it is worth finding budget to improve some of those 4.5m defenders for the likes of Aaron Cresswell (£5.1m), Ben Chilwell (£5.9m), Kurt Zouma (£5.3m), Hector Bellerín (£5.2m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) all look worthy of FPL investment.

More pressingly, as their returns grow so will their price tags so its worth investing now before they are worth more and thus divert more money away from your premium midfield or forward positions.

The cheap at the back days were fun while they lasted but nows the time to invest more of that FPL budget to enable managers to reap the benefits.

However is it necessary to go all in at the back and invest in multiple premium defenders?

Big at the back

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson celebrate a Liverpool goal

FPL managers have seen success with the double-up on Liverpool defenders. This season, with just one clean sheet, a long-term injury for Virgil van Dijk (£6.3m), and only one assist for Alexander-Arnold and two assists and one goal for Robertson they haven’t been the prolific FPL points returners that we have come to love.

But is there still scope for picking three or four over £5.5m premium defenders? At the start of the season definitely not but in Gameweeks 7 and 8 alone we had Rayan Ait Nouri (£5.0m), Kyle Walker (£6.1m), Zouma, Bellerín, Sergio Regulion (£5.6m), Tariq Lamptey (£4.7m), Stuart Dallas (£4.5m), Patrick Van-Aanolt (£5.4m), Chilwell, and Matt Doherty (£5.8m) all registering an attacking return.

While Lamptey and Dallas fall comfortably in to the cheap bracket, the rest of the defenders registering attacking returns in the last few weeks have been from the premium price tag.

Matt Doherty in action for Spurs vs Everton

Of these options, Doherty, Walker and Aït-Nouri also managed a clean sheet in the same Gameweek as their attacking return resulting in 12, 15 and 15 point hauls respectively. Investing in these defenders who have attacking pedigree at a time when we are starting to see an increase in clean sheets and fewer goals on average in each Gameweek is a wise move.

However there is a balancing act at play here. Owning Alexander-Arnold, Doherty, Walker and Aït-Nouri will cost you £24.3m nearly a quarter of your budget. Even if you add Kilman as a cheap fifth defender option at 4.3 you have still spent £28.6m on your defenders and thus owning multiple in form players such as Salah, Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m), Fernandes and Vardy becomes virtually impossible.

Defenders can return huge hauls as we have seen from some of them in the last few weeks, but there is also the chance that they concede goals right at the end of matches or give up a contentious penalty and return nothing as we have seen recently with the Crystal Palace, Wolves and Manchester United.

Harry Maguire reacts to Arsenal’s penalty against Manchester United in Gameweek 7

But even their own colleagues can damage their points potential. We saw this in Gameweek 8 where Dier was on track for two bonus points until the Kane goal went in when he slipped out of the top-three for BPS altogether.

It takes a brave FPL manager, especially this season, to invest big at the back. While it can be great, for me there needs to be a balance to ensure that you don’t miss out on the key attacking options due to a huge budget investment at the back.

For me, now is the time to have a core spine throughout the team to ensure the premium assets you want in every part of the pitch.

Core Spine from front to back

Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and Matt Doherty celebrate Spurs win vs Brighton

Every season, FPL managers end up with a core spine of talent in their teams where the budget is spread to form a strong unit that can be played week-in week-out. This core is then supported by enablers.

In a normal campaign this core would, in all likelihood, have been a strategy that more FPL managers have already deployed. However, the Blank Gameweek 1, the often bizarre results we have seen, as well as the aforementioned number of goals and lack of clean sheets means that it has taken longer than normal for me to move to this strategy.

With two free transfers going into Gameweek 8, I decide to drop down to one playing goalkeeper in Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) rather than maintaining my preferred rotating options.

Aaron Cresswell in action for West Ham

Losing my second playing keeper freed me up an additional £4.8m which I could use to upgrade the now injured Mitchell, who was my cheapest defensive option.

Replacing Mitchell with Cresswell ahead of West Ham’s fixture-turn, was the beginning of me investing a little more in the spine of my team.

With Cresswell alongside Alexander-Arnold, as well as three premium midfielders (Son, Sarah and Fernandes) and two more expensive strikers (Kane and Calvert-Lewin), Gameweek 8 was my highest points return of the season so far. Every single member of my squad, apart from Alexander-Arnold returned more than just the two points for playing the match.

Gameweek 9 points curtesy of LiveFPL.net

Ahead of Gameweek 9 finding a way to invest in more over £5.0m assets in my defence feels like a good idea.

Ideally, I would like to upgrade Dallas to one of the Chelsea or Man City defenders, this of course would mean moving some of the budget around.

I will potentially downgrade on Son Heung-min (9.6m) to Hakim Ziyech (8.1m) as the Spurs fixture shift happens, which could be a good option to fund my Chelsea defender upgrade.

Is now the right time for some restructuring? 2

Trent Alexander-Arnold before going off with an injury against Manchester City in Gameweek 8

However, with the only blot of Gameweek 8 being Alexander-Arnold going off with what looked like a calf injury just after the 60 minute mark, there is the option of downgrading him to reinvest the money across the defence.

As a result, I will be watching the price falls carefully and keeping a close ear to the ground for news out of Liverpool on the seriousness of the injury.

If Alexander-Arnold is out, the the move to Chilwell looks the most obvious and then I will reinvest the money upgrading Dallas to one of the Man City defenders, Joao Cancelo (£5.4m) or Walker looking like the best options after their Gameweek 9 fixture against Spurs.

Lessons learnt

While cheap defenders helped us fill our FPL teams with premium midfielders and forwards at the start of the season the last few Gameweeks have shown a change.

Now there is a need to invest budget in your defenders especially in the likes of Chilwell and Cresswell who have the perfect blend of form and fixtures.

Moving to a strategy of investing across the team from front to back may mean that there are some forwards and midfielders who it is impossible to own as a result of budget restrictions.

However, the pull of increased defensive returns, especially from defenders with attacking potential too, should counteract any missed returns from other positions.

It is impossible to own everyone – but it is possible to set your team to return as many potential FPL points as possible by carefully distributing our FPL budget across the field.

Sam FPLFamily <p>Head of Partnerships, People and Product. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, FPL Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

1,091 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Actually warming to the idea of not having Salah until GW12 with a plan of Ziyech+Vardy > Salah and one of the many cheaper forwards. On WC at the moment

    Any thoughts on this idea?

    Martinez
    Chilwell Cancelo Cresswell
    KDB Bruno Ziyech Grealish
    Vardy DCL Watkins/Bamford/Wilson/Antonio

    4.0 Justin Soucek 3.9

    0.6ITB (or 1.1 if Coufal instead of Cresswell)

    Would need a plan to get back Kane/Son back for GW16 but can think about that one nearer the time

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks very good. Antonio if fit otherwise Watkins. Neco Williams your 3.9 m defender?

      1. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks. Essentially by committing to 3-4-3 it's a choice over the next 3 gw's of
        A. Mané + cheap forward (with Salah back in as soon as confirmed available)
        B. Ziyech + Vardy

        Wary of using a Liverpool slot for a 3.9 so leaning more towards Bernardo but can monitor updates from Klopp though this week

  2. Will J 256
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any changes needed here?
    Martinez
    Chilwell, Cresswell, Cancelo
    Salah, Fernandes, Grealish, KDB
    DCL, Bamford, Watkins

    Forster, Ayling, Lamptey, Soucek

    1. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Looks great, 3 C's a nice set and forget defence.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bench or swap Salah

      1. Will J 256
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks!

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

    FFS i just log in and found Robo injured too 🙁

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

    Those who consider benching Salah. No worries that he might not be razorsharp straight after covid? Needs some time to recover, will he be able to train and keep in shape 100%?

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

      I will want him back regardless.

      I have other issues to sort out and plans that do not involve using 2FT to offload and reload the same player.

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

        Benching.

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

      Bringing him is the pain. Can't use 2FTs on same player.

    3. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not really, if we was really ill then maybe but from what I’ve seen he’s just tested positive without having any bad symptoms so no reason why he can’t stay in shape in the mean time.

    4. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Any reason why he won’t be able to train?

  5. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    That whistle is annoying!

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

    Can’t find any news on if Son is going to be available for GW9?

    Anyone know if he’s been tested?

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He played yesterday so assume he's fine.

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Apparently he’s self isolating in Austria, can’t seem to find out how long that will be for though.

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        had a second negative test, he is fine

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

          Happy days

    3. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probably until they’ve been tested

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

      Legend. R.I.P.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I wouldn't put him in legend status but he was very good in his day. Shilton in my opinion was much better.

  7. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Maupay and Son to Watkins and Bruno (C) worth -4?

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

      50/50 this GW I think.. but should be worth it in the next 2-3

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

    Is Robbo really injured or just taking a rest? Not flagged so assuming he is fine.

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

      Just checking. Tight hamstring. Doesn’t seem major but his Twitter said it flared up with training today

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Felt hamstring tightness after 120 mins of last match, should be fine.

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Do us a favour don’t bother linking anything from the Mail, known for falsies.

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

          🙂

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            🙂

            1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              1. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                🙂

  9. The Ilfordian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wijnaldum 2 goals in 13 minutes

  10. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Neco W limping

  11. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    We’ll actually get unlimited transfers next week at this rate

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Only if it was bench boost every GW.

  12. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son and Salah > James(Would rather have Grealish but already have 3 Villa players) and Bruno?

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

      If no other issues on Friday then yes

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

    Martinez (Forster)
    Robbo Chillwell Lamptey (Saiss, Mitchell)
    Salah Son Zaha Grealish (Bisouma)
    Kane Bamford DCL

    Salah benched GW9 and play 4-3-3

    How’s the plan:

    GW9:Son >>> Bruno
    Saiss >>> Coufal
    GW10: Kane >>> Werner
    GW11: Save transfer
    GW12: DCL >>> Antonio
    Zaha >>> KDB

  14. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What to do with Rashford?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      See if he's playing GW9.

    2. amit1964
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      ask villa if they would trade garlish with him

  15. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Will be a fair few hits flying around this week, especially those who moved early and still 6 days left til the deadline

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

      Yeah it’s what we love to see

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No sh1t Sherlock.

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Just going through your comment history, your a proper tool

        1. Ron_Swanson
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Agreed

  16. No Salah
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    With The amount of injuries now, It makes more sense to hold onto son + Kane instead of taking hits to get rid!

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Madness to sell either way, 2 highest scoring players

      1. Nice to Finally Michu
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        massive performances against brighton and west brom, fixtures look plum

        have to agree

    2. The Ilfordian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Agreed. Will need to be few changes of strategy and also use what’s on the bench.

    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good point

    4. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Having to to keep them doesn't hide the fact their fixtures are not as good in the coming weeks, and players like Vardy and KDB are better options.

  17. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Considering dropping Kane and getting KDB Mane for a super 3-5-2 with Salah Ziyech Grealish along with them

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Make that 342, with Salah with COVID

      1. Shark Team
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I have Max Verstappen on the bench ready for everything

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

    Only 64 (c) points out of 464 this season.
    Have almost always got it wrong.

    A) Vardy (liv)
    B) Mane (LEI)
    C) Richarlison (ful)
    D) Bruno (WBA)
    E) KdB (tot)
    F) Watkins (BHA)

    Help me get it right this time around?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C for me. Maybe D.

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

      Bruno or DCL next time.

  19. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Raz and Robbo injuries seem like international break knocks, no?

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

      Probably

  20. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Someone talk me out of this crazy idea

    Robertson, Salah, Son ->
    Cancelo, KDB, Sterling -8

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

      Just Salah to KDB

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      That’s if your set on taking him out, I’m not keen on it myself.

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Same here tbh

        Team looks like this

        Martinez
        Robbo* Chilwell Zouma
        Salah* Son Ziyech Grealish
        Kane DCL Bamford

        (Steer Ayling Bissouma Justin)

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

          Nothing wrong with the team at all, no need for anything drastic. Just wait for more news on Salah and if he’s only out for one game then bench him, if not move him on for Bruno/KDB. You have a decent enough bench to help out if needed.

          1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            That was my plan from the beginning, to just bench Salah. But I'm always getting aggressive ideas like this. Cheers.

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I’d do it the other way round for a -8, but not this way no

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers Kap!

    4. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Just dont do the Salah OUT Sterling IN.. the other two moves are great

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        .5 short!

        1. Shark Team
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Then do it or get Targett instead of Cancelo

  21. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Wow salah at -86% on fpl stats .

    I had him from start and on WC. What do I do? What happens if if he test positive again ? He will miss Brighton game ?

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Keep him

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Just keep until more news, don’t worry about price drops.

  22. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Can FPL freeze prices please xD

    It's ridiculous that people are buying and selling players right now. It would be so typical if Bruno got ruled out because of COVID now.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I know, I don’t get it. More fool them

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        But then again, is most likely all Wildcarders thinking about it

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          If that were true Bruno and Ziyech wouldn't have gone up in price.

          1. Big boy Bowen
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            I’m sure players bought and sold on WC aren’t entirely immune to price changes, probably just higher threshold

    2. caldracula
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      The more early transfers people do will mean more mistakes in the long run. Not particularly worried about price changes, for every good option there’s always a cheaper alternative but I like to keep cash ITB so I don’t have to rush my moves either way.

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

      Bruno being ruled out would be justice served

    4. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Only people playing wc's should be buying and selling atm. Others should hold fast.

  23. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If no more injuries/covid, which do you prefer in the next couple of gws?
    A) Kane and bissouma to kdb and brewster (-8)
    B) have and soucek to kdb and Adams (-4)
    B) son to kdb (-4)
    C) Bruno to kdb
    D) Mané to kdb

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      First B

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I think Mane could be good now that Salah is out.. he's gonna be the main man and step up.

        1. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I guess it's whether there is enough creativity to create the chances for him. Robbo out would be a huge miss, hopefully it's an international break injury

        2. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Maybe, either way I’d do the transfer in GW10

    3. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wow, errors galore in there, sorry!
      Thank you

    4. Shineonme
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      Second B if you have Kane.

  24. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah & Rashford currently look like issues.

    Do I sell both?

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

      Pretty sure Rashford has an international break injury and should be available for next PL game

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hoping so.

        Salah definitely higher priority. Not sure I can rely on Brewster for 2 weeks while he’s out.

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

    McCarthy (Fodder)
    Robbo Bellerin Zouma (Fodder x2)
    Son Salah Grealish JRod (Bissouma)
    Kane DCL Jimenez

    1FT, 0.0m in the bank

    Should I:-

    A. Wildcard the above

    B. Make a few transfers

    C. Do nothing and roll FT

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

    2. CFC1990
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hi mate, first of all keep an eye on team value. Leave any decision as long as you can now until you notice a few price increases involving players you want and/or decreases of players you own.

      We may also get some updates on Salah, Robbo etc in the meantime.

      If Salah is the only one out, I would probably swap him to Fernandes and maybe wildcard GW10 to target City, Leicester and maybe getting Salah back in.

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

    Sterling missing today's England game, damn you IB!

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Oh dear, injuries are mounting up!

    2. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      International breakitis - it is seasonal and goes viral this time of year

  27. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which one for the next 5-6 gws?
    A)Kane +4pts
    B)Mane
    C)Vardy

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C

  28. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Do you think Neco Williams gets to play in first team while TAA out? Or more likely Milner steps in. Looks to be playing well for Wales today

  29. TheNovocastrian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    My plans for the next 5 gameweeks, if all goes well and no major injuries affect the rest of my team:

    Salah to Bruno (WBA) for gw9, -4;
    Bruno to KDB (BUR, FUL) for gw10 & 11;
    KDB to Salah (ful) for gw 12;
    Salah to KDB (WBA) for gw13.

    All comments and opinions welcome. Cheers.

    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      good plan

    2. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Mate, disaster written all over this. Shuffling premiums in such a short span of time is never a good idea.

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

        I'd normally think the same and rarely change my premiums.
        These moves, with 1.0m itb and confidence in the rest of my squad, will give me a nailed captain each week who will be on pens for his team.

        One point to note though is that I've had a really bad start to the season (2.7m OR) so I'm happy yo be a bit more aggressive in my decisions.

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

          Post fail.
          This was meant to be a reply to a post on the previous page.

      2. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        This