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>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

1,091 Comments Post a Comment
  1. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What a pass by De Bruyne

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

    Too one dimensional play, needs a rethink Gareth?

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

      Rethink implies thinking was done in the first place

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

    Might just go cheap at the back going forward, TAA to Chilwell was my transfer this week but now looks to be off the cards!

    Martinez
    Lamptey | Dallas | Coufal
    KdB | Bruno | Son | Grealish | Rodriguez
    Kane | DCL

    Steer | Kilman | Brewster | Mitchell*

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

      0.8ITB to get Salah back for KdB

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

    Can someone do a summary of which players could be out next GW. Thanks.

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wait till Friday for confirmed news.

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Everyone.

      done.

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

      Wait for Team News article from Neil?

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

        He's certainly going to be very busy next Friday !

    4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Il just copy and paste my team for you then mate!!! Haha

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

      TAA, Salah, Robbo, Sterling, Chilwell are what springs to mind

      1. pablo discobar
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Think robbo will be fine tbh. I've got money in bank to allow Mitchell to cancelo. Would cover if either robbo or Chilwell miss out

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

        Rashford (Ward-Prowse if you’re into that sort of thing). Probably both minor

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

        What's up with Robertson!?

        That's too many, now.

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

      Everyone

  5. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Might just get free hit out the way!! Have 5 flags..

    1. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probably want that for gw 18

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

      Could be an option

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

      5 flags now but who knows how serious those issues are or what team news comes out between now and the GW deadline. I reckon just chill for now then reassess on Friday.

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

        Yes, chill.
        Chill well.

    4. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Already used, thankfully to great effect last GW.

    5. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Thinking the same

      What a disaster

      This is what it's for

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

    Any news on Mitchell? Seems to be a lengthy spell on the sidelines for a ‘knock’?

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

    Werner or Fernandes captain?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Neither

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

        Well I’m not gonna captain salah and there’s no one else captain worthy in my team

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

      Hard to say as we don't know what shape UTD, Chelsea or their opponents will be in by the deadline. Really tricky to plan anything at the moment as no decision will be an informed one.

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

        Yeh

  8. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    It's crazy you have Pope and Henderson in your team, yet you play Pickford.

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

      This

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pope needs to be the main man

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

    Any more internationals left to worry about?

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

      Think still some midweek games?

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

      Plenty mid week, all the teams play again.

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

    Does salah > De bruyne sound good if I’ve got a horrible bench

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes its decent

  11. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell surely out for Newcastle?

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

      Hopefully precautionary

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

      Was that bad? Did not watch ...

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

      Not necessarily- he was holding lower back but walking fine so could just be impact knock and could even be fine for Iceland game.

  12. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Taken a - 4 (got rid of TAA and foden). Now may need to take another hit to field 11.

    Which of these moves would you make, if Chilwell injured?

    A....salah to Bruno (c) .. bench chilwell

    B.....chilwell to another defender....bench salah.

    A has a much higher ceiling obvs - but salah likely to be back gw10...

    Thanks

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wait for more info. You've missed the Bruno price rise so no need to worry about that now. I would say if there are no more injuries over the IB then do B. If there are more injuries do A.

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

        Thanks mate. Yup. Not doing anything now till friday

        The players I removed already had to go so no regret there

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

    Boris has been pinged by the Covid tracing, isolation for 10 days.

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

      Yep breaking news earlier this evening

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

      OMG another transfer required!

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Boris who?

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

        Johnson should be immune imo...

  14. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    England embarrassing, going to be tough going back to work facing the Danes in the office 🙁

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

      Sven lost 10 games out of 67 & got the sack, Southgate has lost 10 from 48?

      1. Tasty Jerk
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yep, England are poor. Will be supporting Denmark by proxy now 🙂

    2. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Work from home if you can

    3. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Speaking out of your arse

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

      Hardly embarrassing

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

    Kind of glad I missed the price-rise for Salah>Fernandes now. With Chilwell, Robertson and Ferguson amongst my defenders as well as rotation-prone Reguilon, I think I need to sort my defence or risk having Lamptey playing on his own.

  16. Riverside Red
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Maximus Bonimus Pointimus, Lucy2019, Eat My Goal, Bartowski , what's your view on Grealish now, only an average player?

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

      Where is Maximus? Haven't seen him lately.

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

        No idea, miss his analysis

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

        Yeah I like his posts, always went into great detail

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Pass me the sick bucket lads. Embarrassing.

        2. John Nerdelbaum
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          That's an understatement
          I think some of his posts were longer than War and Peace

      3. John Nerdelbaum
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Passed out in the middle of writing one of his posts

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          😆

      4. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Great isn't it

    2. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He really stepped up to the next level. Fair play to him. Wasn't sure if he'd manage it

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

    Bruno surely captain this week?

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It was on Salah, but I'm still unsure over Bruno's home form. I'm sticking it on DCL.

    2. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Absolutely no doubt
      The stand out pick next weekend

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      DCL

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

      Werner for me

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

      Tempted to bring in Vardy and captain

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

      Not sure can bring Bruno in as looks like may only have 1 defender playing so think may have to make 2 transfers on defence for -4 and put captaincy on Ziyech

    7. Clintymints
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah. Sheer lack of options

  18. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    54 years of hurt

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Don't worry, we're bringing it home next year

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

      Will there be any of those from back then live to see England win major honors again?

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

      Mate thirty years of hurt was like yesterday

  19. sentz05
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How does this WC look?

    Martinez Steer
    Coufal Chilwell Justin Kilman Cancelo
    Grealish Fernandes Jota Ziyech Saka
    Werner DCL Vardy

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Would prefer Soucek over Saka. Otherwise a very strong side for the next few GW's at least. May be a pain to get Salah in again though with the way you've spread the funds.

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

      No plans of getting Salah back?

    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No Manchester City assets?

      1. sentz05
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        KDB doesn't seem to be the point machine he once was.

    4. sentz05
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'm thinking of changing Saka to Soucek but everything good coming out of arsenal seems to be from Saka. They've got to turn the corner sooner rather than later. I think I'd downgrade either Vardy or Werner to get Salah back.

      1. BenDavies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        That'd require 2 FT's though, or a hit. Surely easier to leave some money in the bank.

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

      If all fit looks good-only suggestion is Soucek over Saka

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

      Youre going to need city

    7. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      sell Steer

  20. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    WC draft fill in the blank:
    McCarthy, Forster
    Zouma, -----, KWP, Justin, Targett
    Salah, Grealish, -----, -----, Soucek
    CDL, Watkins, -----

    1) Cancelo, KDB, Ziyech, Werner
    2) Cancelo, KDB, 6.7mid(?), Kane
    3) Coufal, Bruno, Ziyech, Kane

    Other ideas? Mane over Salah? Chilwell over Zouma?

    1. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      3

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

      Prefer 3 over 1 just because I'm wary of doubling up on Chelsea attack

      1. jdp219
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Why is that?

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

      1 100%

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

      I'm closest to 1 personally at the moment of those options with Vardy over Werner

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

    RMWCT?

    Martinez | Forster
    PvA Lamptey Taylor | Justin Lewis
    Mane KdB Bruno Soucek | Berge
    Vardy Richarlison Watkins

    0.6 ITB

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Like it a lot, although you may be playing 4 defenders some weeks unless you plan to play Soucek every week.

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

        That's the plan. Hoping Berge shows up!

        1. BenDavies
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Fair enough. I really like Soucek and only got rid before West Ham's terrible run, but I'm looking to get him back. Insane value for 4.9 and surprised more don't talk about him here.

  22. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Robbo Chilwell Saiss Mitchell
    Salah Sterling Rashford JWP Lookman
    Kane(c) Wilson Brewster

    GTG

    1. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Lol

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

      I hope that’s a wind up lol

    3. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kane is fit though

    4. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It's mental to think this could be a legit team btw. Someone definitely has this team or similar.

      1. Long ago I drew a walrus
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, that was the point. Could feasibly be Kane (c) and 14 absentees. The most ridiculous IB I've ever seen

  23. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    All this madness and still got another round of international matches to endure!!!!! Salah, Rashford, Chilwell, Wilson, Saiss(lost place) anyone else’s team looking increasing depleted by the day??

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

      Everyone's is so it's all good

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Very true mate!!

  24. Long ago I drew a walrus
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    So has there been any news on the Jordan Henderson 'injury' yet? Was he even injured? Or was it just a weird substitution

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

      It's my understanding Southgate said he came off at half time due to a muscle injury he picked up in the first half.

      1. Digital-Real
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        any links to the story?

  25. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone can beat me with no. of injures in his team?

    Robbo Chilwell Mitchel
    Salah Stephens
    Antonio

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What are you going to do?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Relax and wait Friday. If things are still bad, will make as many hits needed to field full 11

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

      Defence main issue!

      TAA Chilwell Mitchell Saïss ( lost place)
      Salah
      Brewster ( withdrawn from u 21 squad today)

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Saiss is not injured so I am not sure it counts. Brewster I think it's fine, but you are close 😉

  26. Willmissudimitrypayet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What is the verdict on injuries to Robbo and Chilwell?

    Got a defense I was very happy with with Robbo, Chilwell, Lamptey, Kilman and Reguilon.

    What now you reckon? Got 2FT with these defensive issues + Salah and 2 spurs-attackers to worry about. Where would you prioritize your moves?

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

      Without any evidence, I'd say Robertson will be ok.

      Chilwell might be more 5050, but I'd still slightly favour him to be ok

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Azpi will play LB the next game most probably.

  27. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Both Salah and Son need around 12K non WC NTI this week in order to fall in price. Looks like it's a given.

  28. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any update from Gareth re Chilwell injury ?

  29. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Kasper Schmeichel needed medical treatment after a knock to the head in the first half of Denmark's win over Iceland tonight. Schmeichel was then replaced at half-time.

    Ben Chilwell limped off in the first half of England's defeat to Belgium this evening. The Chelsea left-back was holding his back as he exited the field of play.

    Andrew Robertson missed Scotland's match against Slovakia today with a hamstring injury. The Liverpool left-back hasn't yet been ruled out of his country's midweek game against Israel, however.

    The Egyptian FA have now confirmed that Mohamed Salah has undergone a second test and has again tested positive for COVID-19:

    I wonder whether we will see a WC active on the next episode of Blackbox? What you think?

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

      Doubt it, Mark's team is still not too bad and he came into the week with 2 FT.

  30. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Made 2 transfers early 🙁 and currently have Salah + Chilwell... Have Anguissa, Mitchell and Dunne in the bench. Would you go -8 to get a playing 3rd defender? Dont want to lose Salah

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No I wouldnt do a -8 for that

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

      Would at least wait for Chilwell news; might not be bad