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. Puntillimon
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi all, on WC. Which to choose?

    A) robbo and jrod
    B) kilman and kdb

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

      B

      Not a fan of Rodriguez

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

        Cool thanks. I’m swaying towards B, saves me one FT next week as I’ll likely get in KDB

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

      Starting Kilman every week?

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

      B

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

      Robbo injured?

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

      Would definitely have jrod in my WC team.
      Next 3 fixtures are brilliant, Richarlison is back and they have a point to prove

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

      Kilman & James Rod

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

      B, by a long long long way

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

    Really think Foden could start against Spurs.
    With Mahrez, Torres, KDB and Bernardo all playing for their national team with games still left to play in the week, Foden is the only fit attacker who has been rested over the IB.

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

      Even so, it’s a tough fixture, it’s difficult to expect much returns.

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

        Spurs haven't been particularly great defensively.

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

          1 goal conceded in the last 3

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

            Facing the offensive behemoths of West Brom, Brighton and Burnley.

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

        Foden can turn up against the big teams though, as he's shown. Also fancy him to start against Burnley and Fulham, or at least one of them. Could be a big differential.

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

          Could do, but even when I’ve watched them and he’s played, he’s out a bit wide on the left and doesn’t look great, I just couldn’t hold him when you’ve got some of the top scoring players in the game so far at a million more

          That said with all the other stuff popping up with injuries, if you already have him, might need to be a hold and hope

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

      He started the last game after IB

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

    Henderson injured too? This is absolutely brutal.

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

      Wonder if any EPL champion got relegated in their next season...

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

        Leicester nearly did it, City did do it 🙁

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

      Liverpool just needs to refuse to send players on international duty. Its daft.

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

      People thinking Liverpool can’t do well even with these injuries ... it is Klopp and a system they will be fine.
      Maybe not as good as usual but still good. I have Mane and Jota on current WC.

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

    Mane scoring for Senegal, he's no longer due ffs!

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

    Not any form to go on but could Martial be a decent one week punt given the fixture?
    If not my 2 other are DCL and Watkins and budget is 10.4 so basically anyone except Kane?

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

      Martial could be a great differential pick but feel Vardy could go mental against a weakened Liverpool defence.

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

      Yes sounds great

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

      Still concerned about United playing any team that sits deep. Basically nullifies Ole’s one tactic.

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

        Good point.

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

      I'd consider Rich

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

        Yeah I love the next 3 fixtures. I have had JRod and DCL for awhile now and was thinking of throwing Keane into the mix so no room left for Rich. He has proper trolled me in the past as well.

    5. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      For sure Vardy before Martial. Richarlison would be my second choice if you want to keep a bit of funds free to make other upgrades in future weeks, such as to City assets

    6. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      For a one week punt? Sure!
      He is bound to score and WBA is the best fixture to do it.

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

      Martial a good shout but given pool's defensive issues, I did go for vardy instead.
      Plus he has good fixtures coming so u could just keep him and save a transfer

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

      He’ll surely come good at some point and it could be with a haul

      Unfortunately he seems to be one of those players that’s either electric or completely useless so it’s a gamble

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

      We have form, the form is awful...

      that said,he can't play any worse and on his day he can haul.

      But I'd say 60-70% chance it won't pay off.

      Get Vardy?

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

    From GW 10 City have some nice fixture apart from the derby game.
    Could Jesus be a decent pick?
    Surely Kun will be gradually brought back in after all these injury issues?

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

      Jesus has too much uncertainty for me but it could prove the shrewd, clever move. Especially if Aguero is out for West Brom and Burnley, big returns in those games for Gabriel.

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

      I am also considering Jesus. Aguero getting fit means there is a risk but given how bad city been performing i wont be surprised if both of them start for games going forward

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

      Yeah, I think there will be lots of people like myself going to GW 10 with son and Kane and wanting to lose Kane for 1 of vardy or Jesus

    4. Hktrader88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I'm on WC so also looking at moving Kane on. But looking at strikers:
      DCL 3 brilliant fixtures - Fulham, Leeds, Burnley, seems essential for these GW9-11
      Vardy - has Fulham, Sheff, Brighton GW10-12
      Jesus - pretty much has great fixtures from GW10-22
      Kane - great fixtures GW16 onwards
      Watkins - great between GW9-15
      Tough decision, but I'm leaning towards going with DCL / Vardy / Watkins. Then after GW11 - Rodriguez/DCL to Salah/Brewster. After GW12, switching Vardy to Jesus.

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

        I agree, the three to own are Watkins, DCL(for next 3),Vardy (back to Kane/Aguero/Jesus in a few weeks)

  7. Live Lad
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I have Salah, Chillwell, Robertson, Ferguson, Mitchell, (and Bissouma)

    In order to have a playing 11 team, I can do:
    Robbo + Mitchell to Cresswell + Walker-Peters (-4)
    Keep Salah and play Bissouma.
    Sounds good?

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

      yeah, try someone else over Walker Pieters

      1. Live Lad
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        who do you think is a good one?

  8. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    By end of ib, I imagine there would be others like me who would struggle to have full 11 players for the next gw!

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

      Probably tons, which is why there is no need to completely lose your head if that’s the case

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

    Chilwell injured too?

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

      yep

  10. white lightning
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I read this interesting stat that so far every top gw scorer has blanked the following gw & in gw8 Fernandes was the top scorer so...
    Can you call it a coincidence when it has happened 7 times.

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

      Yes.

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

      law of average or something like that

    3. I Must Break You
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Interesting and thanks for sharing. It's just statistics. Most players don't haul in multiple weeks so there's a better chance than not that a player wouldn't haul in consecutive game weeks. But last week's results don't influence the next week's results, just like the last coin flip doesn't affect the next coin flip.

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

      Yeah, coincidence, you could also consider that most but not all of those hauls come against weaker sides and you don’t usually play 2 week sides in a row

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

    Is anybody about who can explain how a player is 154% owned, surely if everyone has that player then he's 100% owned

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

      Captaincy.

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

      if 80% own him and half of them captain him, then the EO would be 0.4 + (0.4*2) = 120%

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

    I really don't see too many CS for Chelsea after Newcastle game and got Chilwell for 5.9 so am tempted to ship on WC, would you go for PVA or double up on City defence with Dias?

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

      double up

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Chilwell's not just in for the CSs though. His attacking potential is amazing.
      Palace have one CS all season and City' defense can concede goals any game.

      Chilwell is a much better pick than both.

      1. WE GO FOR IT
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I completely missed him getting injured. I'd wait till Frank gives update. I'd pick PVA if he's out long term.

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

      I'm sticking with Chillwell and Salah if they're only missing one GW, then I can justify using a transfer on swapping N Ferguson for Kilman.

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

      Only looked like a bit of a bad back, I think he’ll be ok and would keep, could be wrong tho

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

    Ahh, that simple, cheers Flair and djoker_nole

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

    How is Vardy playing nowadays? Last time I saw them play was vs West Ham and they were pretty bad. Have they improved from attacking perspective?

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

      All the stats point to him not doing anything all game but he keeps winning penalties and getting assists then if you fancy getting him go for it.

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

      He's on pens and Leicester get given lots of penalties. Also he has Fulham and Sheffield United in the next three. He's an explosive player, I think he should do well.

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

      Vardy doesn’t generate stats, just scores

      If hadn’t missed the PK in the last game, he would be +2 this week

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

    Is anyone giving any thought in getting Nathan Phillips for Lpool, there defence is weaker but they're not going to concede every game. It looks like he'll start every game the way they're getting injured.

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

      would wait to see how they line up first.

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

        Not many Lpool fans seem to have him in their teams on twitter mind. I thought he'd be nailed given their injury crisis.

  16. Yankee Toffee
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Might go back to Digne now with Robbo and Chillwell injured. Thoughts?

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

      I do not fancy Everton's defence

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

      Really depends how long he's out for, what about Walker or Cancelo

      1. Yankee Toffee
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        City look leaky. As do Everton

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

          Great fixtures coming up though and can only get better surely, especially as that freakish run of goals the PL saw is starting to slow down a bit.

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

      I would not call these guys injured, probably just bored with playing too many damn games

      Feel a tweak.. just go home to your employer and relax

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

    When you open your fpl team and 80 percent of your team is either flagged yellow or red.. with no Wc left seems like gg

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

      a ft and few hits will sort it out

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

      Really, that many 🙁

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

      12/15 flagged-serious?

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

    Ok I think this WC is looking pretty
    good. I made some tweaks to get the likes of Soucek and Kilman for the bench.
    Lots of triple ups to hit fixtures especially from GW10.
    GW 10 Bruno to KDB to give triple City, Villa and Eve. I would like Jota too but can’t have em all.

    Martinez

    Chilwell Cancelo Coufal

    Mane Bruno JamesRod Grealish

    DCL Watkins Jesus

    Forster Soucek Lamptey Kilman

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

      Chillwell could be injured and JamesRod(Hamez) has only got three fixtures before going on a horrendous run, can you not stretch to Ziyech?

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

        Ziyech was the previous draft instead of Grealish.
        I am planning DCL and JRod out in 12 with 2ft and Ziyech and Bamford in.
        How long is Chilwell out for?

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

          That sounds good.
          We don't know yet about Chillwell, limped off for England holding his back. Keep your eyes peeled on twitter and Neale on team news on Friday, You Tube around half five GMT

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

        I can have Ziyech for JRod as If I make Keane Coufal as per mistake noted below.
        Means going from triple Eve to just DCL but it looks good.

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

      Also an error in this draft as I actually have Keane instead of Coufal now.

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

    Robbo + Bissouma -> Cresswell + Jota -4
    Would allow me to bench Salah and Chilwell if both are out and give me this team.

    Martinez
    Zouma Creswell Ayling
    Son Ziyech Grealish Jota
    Kane DCL Bamford

    (Steer Justin Salah Chilwell)

    Yay or nay?

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

      Could be a whole lot worse!

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

      Don’t look bad at all considering those 2 would be benched.

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

      Why switch out a healthy Bissouma?

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

      Thanks all!

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

    Any news on Rashford?

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

    Remeber hits are only 2pts this werk as your first XI are all injured

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

      On paper yes but with yellow/red cards and goals conceded for defenders this may not be true but you already knew this.

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

    Bench - 1

    (1) Barkley (BHA)
    (2) Bamford (ARS)
    (3) Son (MCI)

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

      Bam

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

      How have you playing subs?
      WC?

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

        Nope- just got them.

        COVID and the brutal schedule make me like players like Barkley and Bamford who don’t have Champions League or International careers

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

    So I had a plan that now seems to be up in the air with the international break. Thoughts?

    Martinez - 4.0
    Robbo - Zouma - Lamptey - Targett - Kilman
    Salah - Son - Jrod - Barkley - Soucek
    Kane - DCL - Adams

    A) roll the transfer, Barkley/Kane > KDB/Watkins next week (original plan)

    B) Salah > KDB this week, do Barkley/Kane > Salah/Watkins when Salah is available again

    C) Salah > Bruno now, Barkley/Kane > KDB/Watkins next week for -4 Salah back in at later date

    D) one of the above options, but also get rid of Robbo? Thinking of Man City defence, Cancelo, Walker or Dias, but it would just be a further -4 probably.

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

    I’m heavily tempted by free hit this week as my team is in disarray,

    Martinez
    Van Aanholt Coufal Digne
    Grealish Fernandes Mane Ziyech
    Werner Richarlison Martial

    Any thoughts on doing this or take a heavy -8 and play dbl Brighton and Brewster??

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

      Team is fine. Chill and logout!

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

        This is free hit team

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

          Personally I’d save the FH, better gains (potentially) around a dgw.
          Most have problems this week so a good week to take a hit(s).

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

      Take the -8, it's really not that big a deal. Loads of others have, me included.

  25. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    With Sterling and Salah in team, is it worth either one to Bruno on a ft? Was hoping to save ft

  26. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    5 players flagged!
    Salah,Chilwell,Coleman,Ferguson,Wilson.
    and only 1 FT. Ughh

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

      And some will say that's why people shouldn't make early transfers. Like we can fix 7 flags with one transfer. 🙂

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

      Fortunately one of them is bench fodder

      1. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeh but I also have Jorginho. Lol

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

          What are Coleman and Jorginho still doing there 😆

          1. The 12th Man
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Coleman > Cancelo in gw 10 was the plan.
            Jorginho, don’t ask. Should have just got Bissouma.

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

              Good move

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

    Alex Telles is COVID positive after the 1-0 win Versus Marxist Venezuela

    Wonder if he congratulated Firmino with a hug for scoring? Shook hands with Ederson for his clean sheet, Wished Richarlison best wishes with Fullham, and hugged his Manchester party pal Jesus.

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

      Twice in two weeks? Surely not

  28. Kip
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    With covid flying around and fixtures bound to get thicker once Christmas comes knocking, do you intend to spend extra FT’s and funds to have a fully nailed on bench ( i’m looking at you, mitchell)? Or is it still viable to let a non playing cheapo rot as 3rd sub and spend your dough elsewhere?

    1. Phil's Stamps
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think two nailed subs is the min, but get 3 if you can stretch to it. I don't think finding an extra .3 or .4 for a nailed defender 3rd on your bench is too burdensome unless your TV is particularly poor.

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

      FWD: Brewster for 3-5-2
      MID: Bissouma for 3-4-3
      DEF: Kilman
      Another defender should be ideally a 4.5 nailed

  29. Hangman Page
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    What a lovely picture of Son and Kane, bathed in autumnal sunlight and sharing an embrace.

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

      I've got Wood

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

    I have Salah & Chilwell and was going to WC in Gw10. I'm going to keep them but should I WC a week earlier so I have 11 playing?