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

    So. Cancelo. Looks to have nailed the spot. But the December schedule is ridiculous. Pure madness. Zinchenko and Mendy waiting in the wings.

    Is Dias worth the extra .1?

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

      Long term yes but short term I can see Cancelo being better.

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

      I think I will go with Cancelo myself, but I'll have a full playing bench on my present WC. If you aren't in that situation, then Dias may be a better pick.

    3. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It's a fair point, Pep has burned fpl managers countless times and yet we still go back hoping he has changed his ways. I'd say the Ake injury makes Dias slightly more safer but Cancelo has the bigger upside.

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

        Remember when Mendy was the must have... I think I'm going to roll the dice with Cancelo and just make sure I have a decent back up for the games he misses. His numbers are great.

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

    May have to free hit

    Mendy
    Van Aanholt Coufal Masuaku
    Mane Fernandes(C) De Bruyne Ziyech
    Calvert-Lewin Watkins Werner

    No bench

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

      How many players do you have out? It's a good FH team though.

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

        5

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

        My other option was ziyech/Van Aaanholt out for Zaha/Digne?

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

          I would do that. Keep a FH for blank/double gameweeks. It's a waste now.

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

    Mccarthy
    Chiwell taylor lamptey mitchell justin
    Salah soucek son sterling bruno
    Watkins dcl davis

    1.8itb 1ft

    WC ?

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

      I would wait for more news. Your team is looking really good if the likes of Chilwell and Sterling etc are ready for gw9

  4. Ange Ball
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Salah definitely out? Heard may do another test.

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

      He definetely will do another test. But I don't have much faith in the test coming back negative unfortunately.

      1. Ange Ball
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        scenes if he does

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

          Still in my team. Did a early TAA to Robbo transfer. Lesson learned

    2. abhirup780
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Even if he comes negative, he would still have to continue isolation till 23rd after coming back. But he will be allowed to leave Egypt.

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

    I think I am going to end up taking a -8, maybe even a -12 this week. And I feel great about it. I think the managers who are hit advert will suffer the most this season.

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

      I will probably do a -4. Really hope Robertson and Chilwell are ok. Otherwise might need to get rid of great options on wildcard

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

      It does seem like the environment is shifting more toward rewarding risk now. The ratio of Smooths to Roughs is rising, and the teams you expect to win are mostly winning (despite an occasional exception like Arsenal 0-3 Villa, which there will always be some of).

      These are conditions where you would expect to be able to take a hit and have the predictable things happen (good player with good fixture scores lots of points) so that it pays off.

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

        Interesting you mentioned Arsenal Vs Villa but not Liverpool Vs Villa

  6. FPLShaqiri
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Decided I did not require the WC earlier in the week. But Robertson/Chilwell are a spanner in the works, both good long term options so do not want to get rid of ideally, plus I have made great value on Chilwell. Would you wildcard?

    McCarthy
    TAA, Robbo, Chilwell
    Salah, Rodriguez, Son, Grealish, Podence
    DCL, Martial

    (Steer, Ayling, Ferguson, Davis)... 1FT, 0.2ITB

    If no wildcard I would be looking at TAA,Davis -> Targett,Bamford in GW9 (play Bamford over Salah, and then Ayling can sub in for Robbo or Chilwell). Then GW10 I'd be looking at Podence,Son -> fodder,KDB. Both for a hit.

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

      Bamfoird and Targett could be Watkins and 4.5 (already have Steer and Grealish so only 1 more Villa)

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

        Coufal?

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

          Think he is the best. Could stretch to Lamptey but too risky if there are price changes. Also considering Dann but he might not be nailed with Cahill lurking

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

      I would be tempted. But your team doesn't look to bad tbh. Sound like good transfers as well. Would prefer Watkins over Bamford though. Mainly because I am a fixture kind of guy.

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

        Yeah I want Watkins and Targett ideally. No other 4.5 defender stands out as a good rotation with Ayling but agree I want Watkins more.

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

      If injuries to robbo and chilwell i would recommend WC

  7. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    WILL you do salah to bruno now?

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

      Nope. Waiting for a 2nd test. And Bruno might catch an injury or get a positive test for covid before returning to Manchester. It's all bonkers.

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I thought salah do the test again alr and is positive?

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

          Where did you read that?

            1. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              Yeah this was the original second test confirming he had covid.

              The re-testing refers to I guess a third test due to take place next week.

              If negative he could be back in Liverpool by Friday.

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

          Ya tested positive twice

  8. Sheffield Wednesday
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If I have 10 fit players this week I'll count myself lucky and not take a -4 hit, which would likely be wasted on replacing a defender.

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

    This week only..

    A. Van Aanholt/Werner
    B. Digne/Martial

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

      A for me

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

    Ooh, what's going on with Robbo? Do we have any news on this / likelihood to start on Sunday?

  11. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What happened to Chilwell? Any word on whether he’ll be fit for the weekend?

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Just bought the guy ffs. WC incoming.

  12. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Did chilwell's injury look bad?

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

      Not particularly- walked off holding lower back so hopefully will be fine

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

    So theoretically Salah can play vs Leicester if he becomes positive after 7 days in Egypt?

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

      I think you mean negative. Can't see why he wouldn't be allowed to play if the test comes back negative

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

      surely the 7 days post third test would be touch and go to deadline, sounds more than doubtful

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

    So many players now possibly going to miss games due to injuries/covid.
    International break makes no sense!!

  15. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Been offline for a bit, how's she looking?

    TAA, Gomez, Castagne, Saiss
    Salah, Sterling, Rashford, Pulisic
    Ings, Wilson

    Antonio, JWP, Mitchell

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

      Schmeichel keeper I assume?

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

      G2G mate, no worries at all, who you captaining ?

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

      🙂

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

      Scratch XI nothing to worry about

    5. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What happened to sterling jwp and rash? Lol

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

    No Chelsea at all on my WC now...

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

      Argueably one of the teams with the most in form players. Bold!

  17. jia you
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How's my team looking

    Meslier
    Digne Maguire Masuaku
    Bruno KdB Hames Grealish
    Kane DCL Watkins
    (Casilla Jota Kilman Dunne)

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

      Looks great. I'm not sure about Mags I'd suggest better options for attacking returns. A few mentioned in this article.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        one week punt on FH

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

          FH really neccesary?

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            on a -8 and have Salah, Robertson and no bench so think I'd rather take those 8 points back and take my chances going without a FH chip

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

              FH on a double game week could get you 30+ points

              1. jia you
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 4 months ago

                keyword being 'could'

        2. kingbails
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Gd luck. If we're talking punts on a FH Scott Dann vs Burnley could be a bold or crazy move...

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            those type punts can be great rank boosters if they come off... might throw in one of two by deadline 🙂

  18. kingbails
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you guys go Ziyech or Grealish for the foreseeable assuming no other attacking Chelsea/AV cover?

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      both looking great options but prefer Grealish, nailed as can be and nice fixtures all the way to Christmas

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

        Yeh I can see you're hoping to capitalise on that, might join you. I went Zaha over Ziyech last GW which wasn't wise in hindsight. Either way, 加油

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

      Close call. Prefer Ziyech though. Happy to have both in my team

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

        I might sacrifice Zaha to do the same after upcoming GW

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

      Has to be Grealish for me. Looking at his fixtures is like a field of green. Set and forget until Boxing Day

    4. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Grealish

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

    Am I the only one thinking that Werner is being massively overlooked by the community? Could easily match or even ourscore Bruno and Vardy over the next 4 gameweeks for a million less. Tougher fixtures emerging, but so far they have played very well and surely it will only get better going forward? I think he could become the next bandwagon if Chelsea beats Spurs and he gets a decent return

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

      I think he's a pretty solid pick. I had him in the beginning and moved out just before he found form. But Chelsea looking as consistent as they come this season

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

      Yeah, he is my captain this week.

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

      I'm sticking with Kane this week, will then move to Vardy for GW10 and 11. After that I may consider Werner. But he's still a bit too inconsistent for me as an expensive forward. Prefer Jesus frankly.

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

        Not worried about Aguero tho?

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

          When Aguero returns I will be worried, but while Jesus is playing I'd prefer him over Werner. Just don't fancy Werner as a consistent FPL option just yet. He needs more games.

    4. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping for now, see him as a 'solid' pick, he could easily become Vardy for me soon though

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

      I agree and may captain him. He scored a brace at the weekend and got taken off seeking a third. I wish Lampard would play him up front as he prefers though

  20. Ragabolly
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Risers: Walker-Peters (4.6)

    Fallers: Ings (8.3) Tomori (4.7) Fredericks (4.3) Buur (3.9)

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

      KWP finally rises!? Didn't expect that. Pleasantly surprised.

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

        This!

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

        KWP was at about 50% on FPL Stats.

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

          Exactly! Thought Cancelo would definitely rise before KWP!

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

    Any chance Saiss might win back his place this upcoming GW?

    Trying to navigate this week purely on FT.

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

      Very unlikely. He seems to be out of the first XI now.

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

      I see him coming in for Kilman

  22. Boxwoods
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    KWP? WTF??

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

      Yeah, very random

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

    How bad did Chilwell’s injury look?

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

      Scroll up.

  24. Joggers Nipple
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Morning, will wait of course but any input on this rough plan?

    This week-
    TAA to Cancelo
    Later-
    A. James Rod to KDB and stop
    or
    B Son to KDB and cash for Werner to Vardy

    Martinez
    TAA Chilwell James
    Salah Son J Rod Grealish Souchek
    DCL Werner

    Forster Brewster Dallas Branwaite 1FT 2.5 M ITB
    Thanks for any thoughts

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

      Like TAA to Cancelo, not necessarily a fan of JRod to KDB with Everton's GW10 and GW11 fixtures. Son to KDB and Werner to Vardy I like a lot. I'm planning something similar.

  25. Sterling Malory
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just waiting on Salah and Chilwell news here but GTG otherwise I think?

    Martinez
    Chillwell Cresswell KWP Lamptey
    Bruno Son Grealish
    DCL Kane Bamford
    P-F Salah Stephens Mitchell

    Should I roll my transfer?

    1. Joggers Nipple
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A save or start to offload Spurs?

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

    I will now rename my FPL team Injury FC got 6 with 75% chance,1 with 25% chance and 1 with unknown return date also have Saiss who has fallen out of Nuno's rotation despite having a good start.

    only have 2 FT and use WC already.. My season in a nutshell..

  27. Sz21
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Thinking, Son-> Fernandes (c) + Podence-> Grealish (-4). Thoughts?

    Also- Would u be looking to WC this team soon? Not sure if there is much benefit to waiting much longer really.

    McCarthy.
    Cancelo, Chilwell, Ayling, Justin.
    Son, Barkley, Podence.
    Kane, DCL, Jimenez.
    Button, Mitchell, Salah, Bissouma.
    1ft, 3.8m ITB.

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

      Don't need to WC, can easily remedy your problems with a few FT's to get rid of Podence, Jimenez and any other smaller fires you want putting out.

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Depending on injury news, yeah WC.
      Jimenez could go to vardy, their schedule is great coming up. Or save that slot for transfer next week but he could easily score against Liverpool.
      Drop Barkley, get grealish. Maybe jota too for podence.
      Bruno to son makes sense, but they also barely scraped past west brom last week.
      Maybe ayling to coufal.
      Is Justin nailed?

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

    Finalizing the WC draft.
    1) Cancelo, KDB, Ziyech, Werner
    2) Coufal, Bruno, Ziyech, Kane
    3) Coufal, KDB, Ziyech, Vardy

    fwiw - Cancelo and Kane are in pre-WC team; everyone else are additions.

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

      1.. Not even close imo

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

      3

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

        Vardy over Werner is a big enough upgrade to justify the downgrade of Cancelo to Coufal. Coufal very attacking and West Ham doing well. I don't trust Werner enough yet as a FPL option (speaking as a Chelsea fan), especially over Vardy. Vardy over the next 3 could be mega-hauls.

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

          Cheers!
          (and thanks for previous comments, too)

    3. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      3

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

    Decisions...

    A. Ziyech + PVA
    B. Richa + Chilwell

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B, if chillwell fit. Pva too streaky I think

    2. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Easy B

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

    4 flags + Burke. 2 FTs to try and sort it out.

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

      Good luck TM. 2 FT's should do it.

    2. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      All the best.

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

      Easy, -4 to sell Salah, TAA & Mitchell