Pro Pundits

My Digne replacement and why I’m changing formation for FPL Gameweek 10

Gameweek 9 was an amazing Gameweek for me. After taking my first hit of the season, I managed to get a total of 88 points and a Gameweek rank around the 20K mark, which was one of my top ranks in a single Gameweek ever. 

Consequently, I got a massive green arrow that propelled me to inside the top 30K in the overall rankings with the Wildcard still available.

Out of my starting eleven, four players delivered a double-digit haul and only my two Aston Villa assets blanked. Even Alex McCarthy (£4.5m) managed to get seven points without a clean sheet or a penalty save so I could not be happier with my boys.

Even though I mentioned in my last article I was planning to keep Mohamed Salah (£12.2m) in my team, ultimately, I decided to sell the Liverpool star for Bruno Fernandes (£10.8m). There was plenty of doubt if Salah would miss one or two matches due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and it coupled with the appeal of captaining Fernandes against West Brom, made me change my mind.

And so, on Friday night, I decided to pull the trigger, bringing in the Portuguese maestro and trusting him with the armband. This decision worked pretty well after Fernandes scored yet another penalty and collected three bonus points in a tougher than expected home match for Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Salah could start at Brighton after playing against Atalanta on Wednesday night and we all know how he can punish his sellers in any given week. However, after Brighton, he plays against Wolves and both these opponents are well-organised teams. 

For this reason, I will take my chances without Salah for two Gameweeks, looking to probably bing him back in Gameweek 12, when Liverpool play against Fulham (possibly by using my Wildcard in that exact Gameweek).

Additionally, I needed a defender to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) and Lucas Digne (£6.2m) was the standout choice to me. Everton’s three immediate fixtures were excellent, his assist potential is only second to the Liverpool fullbacks and I thought he had good potential for clean sheets or attacking returns in the short term.

I was very happy to see him bombing forward even more than he usually does, playing as a left wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation against Fulham. This new system suited him perfectly and he delivered two assists in a crazy first half at Craven Cottage. Sadly, for Everton and for his fantasy owners like myself, he suffered an ankle ligament injury in training this week and will be out for the foreseeable future.

Gameweek 10 plans

How Kane, Son and De Bruyne fared in midst of FPL fixture swing

Looking at my team ahead of Gameweek 10, I am a little bit concerned about the fact that I don’t own any Manchester City players for their back-to-back home matches against Burnley and Fulham.

My initial plan was to get Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) in for Son Heung-min (£9.5m) but I find it hard to justify using a free transfer to sell such a reliable source of points, regardless of how bad Spurs’ schedule may be. 

I think Son was clearly underpriced by FPL this season, especially if we compare him with other heavy-hitters such as Raheem Sterling (£11.5m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.6m) or even De Bruyne, who costs £2.1m million more than the Tottenham superstar right now.

Another thing we know about Son is that he is one of the most clinical finishers in the world and he doesn’t need many chances to score goals, as we saw in Gameweek 9 when he scored with the only real chance he had in the whole match.

And so, given Son’s price, form and overall career numbers, I decided I am going to keep him in my team for now. This way, I can use my transfers to improve weaker links in my squad, even if it means going without De Bruyne for their match against Burnley. I will re-assess this decision ahead of Gameweek 11 and if Guardiola’s team looks better attacking-wise than they have looked lately, I might decide to get him in by then.

CHANGING FORMATION

Even though 4-3-3 has been working pretty well for me so far, I think now is the time to finally switch formation and get back to the more conventional 3-4-3. There are several factors that clearly make me think this is the correct timing for a change:

  • 1) Two of the best defenders in the game (TAA and Digne) are injured for an unknown period of time;
  • 2) Clean sheet potential for good defensive teams such as Wolves, Tottenham and Burnley doesn’t look good in the short-term given their tough schedule;
  • 3) There is, finally, a cheap midfielder who I think will be able to compete with the best defenders in the game in terms of expected points and value.

With all these factors in mind and with £4.4 million available in the bank, I decided to bring Diogo Jota (£6.7m) in for Mario Lemina (£4.5m). The most recent Liverpool acquisition seems to have settled perfectly into Jurgen Klopp’s plans and, priced at £6.7 million, I don’t think he even needs to start every match to be worth every penny.

Since joining the Reds, his expected goals and assists per 90 minutes are pretty close to what Salah and Mane have been doing for years and, even if these excellent numbers decrease over a larger sample (which I doubt they will), I think he will have no problems justifying such a cheap price tag. To me, he is the clear front-runner for the award of best value player in the game this season and if he manages to nail a spot in Liverpool’s starting eleven, I think he will be pretty much an essential pick for every fantasy manager in the world.

With my free transfer locked in and, after taking no hits in the first eight Gameweeks of the season, I am now considering taking my second hit in a row to get rid of Digne for Rúben Dias (£5.5m). 

However, I am still debating if I should play Stuart Dallas (£4.5m) and sell Digne next week for free instead. Dallas played out of position against Arsenal last weekend and he was pretty close to scoring his second goal of the season while bombing forward the whole match. Unfortunately, Leeds travels to Goodison Park and Anfield next, which means the chances of him getting clean sheets anytime soon are very slim.

Manchester City’s defence, on the other hand, looks really good this season and I think Dias could be worth four extra points over Dallas in the sum of the next two Gameweeks. In fact, bookies give Manchester City a 55% chance of getting a clean sheet this week and he also offers a decent threat from set-pieces. 

If I decide to take a hit for Dias, I will be able to field a very strong defence with the Portuguese centre-back alongside Andrew Robertson (£7.1m) and Ben Chilwell (£6.0m). This will allow me to use my free transfers in midfield and attack in the next Gameweeks, which I think is really important.

Anyway, this will definitely be a late call for me and it’s possible I decide to just get Jota this week and hope that Marcelo Bielsa plays Dallas as a box-to-box midfielder again.

CAPTAINCY

Having made the decision of going without De Bruyne this week, I have no choice but to trust Fernandes with the armband yet again. Since joining Manchester United, he delivered more points away from home than at Old Trafford and I expect Southampton to play an attacking style of football (as they always do), which hopefully will benefit Fernandes’ potential for points.

FANS ARE BACK

Other than that, I was very pleased to know that half the Premier League’s clubs will be able to welcome back fans starting in Gameweek 11. For now, only 2,000 supporters will be allowed in the stands but, after almost six months of empty stadiums, it’s definitely a nice improvement.

That being said, I don’t think this change will have any impact on my FPL decisions. I don’t think there will be a huge advantage for the 10 teams allowed to have fans in their home matches and I will only consider this factor whenever there is a really close decision between two possible transfers I might be considering for my team.

Thanks for reading and good luck this week!

1,060 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How does this attacking 7 look?

    Salah, KDB, Ziyech, Jota, Grealish
    DCL, Vardy

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

      Going for the same on wildcard. Just trying to decide between Jota and Bamford

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

      Really good, but not worried about the in form Spurs duo at all?

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

        Had them, will get back to them after Christmas

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

    Son & Zaha >> KDB & Tielemans?

    Free transfers.

    Own Kane and Salah.

  3. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Jota gonna be one of those players whose price and ownership gets out of hand fast and I never end up owning as too stubborn. Same has happened with DCL as well.

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      The problem with Jota is that he isn't guaranteed to start, unlike DCL or Ings last season.

  4. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best Man City MF and GW11 captain option to have out of

    KDB
    Sterling

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I think KDB slightly more nailed and more consistent
      Sterling on the right day could score more though
      Would say KDB

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

      Sterling had a huge ppg at home vs non top 6 last season

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

      At the moment KDB.

  5. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah not on pens now with Milner on the pitch?

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

      Shhhhh

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

      Lololol

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

      Very good question

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

      Salah took a pen against Midjylland when Milner was on the pitch.

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Ya mate. Just realised. So he keeps them then?

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

    Martinez, McCarthy
    Robertson, Dallas, KWP, Semedo, Sakho
    Jota, Fernandes, Son, Ziyech, Barkley
    DCL, Kane, Brewster
    1FT, 0,2ITB

    GTG and save FT or tweak now?
    Sakho to Konsa?
    Ideally would ditch Brewster for Bamford/Watkins as well but that means taking a -4.

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

    GTG?

    McCarthy
    Justin, Chilwell, Bellerin
    Salah, Jota, Son, Ziyech, Rashford
    Vardy, Bamford

    Bench: Coufal, Kilman, Davis

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

      Rashford is a doubt if that bothers you at all, Coufal to come on looks fine though if he is out.

    2. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Feels like rashford has to go eventually but not urgent this week

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

        yeah looking to move him to Sterling or KDB next gameweek

  8. Tingate
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Repost from last page:

    Guaita
    James - Targett - Chilwell
    Sterling - Rashford - KDB - Grealish
    Bamford - Kane - Watkins

    Forster - Lamptey - Burke - Mitchell

    £0M ITB 1FT

    Was set on Kane to Vardy but now with doubts over Rashford is the better moves Kane > DCL & Rashford > Salah for a -4?

    Thanks!

    1. ted mcnure
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Those are good moves- I´d do it. Team looking good!

  9. Sean
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If I wasn't bringing in KDB I'd captain Bamford over DCL/Fernandes/Kane this week

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

      Misses too many sitters

  10. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Repost

    Rate my wct pls. Suggestions welcome

    McCarthy Steer
    Chillwell Lamptey Killman Lewis Taylor
    Kdb Salah Bruno Jota Riedewald
    Dcl bamford Vardy

    Defence is bad but love the front 7

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

    Anyone here bought Sterling for this week? Thought he looked sharp midweek and also will play more advanced than KDB . Seems like KDB is much more popular

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Ive had sterling for a few weeks now. In hindsight wish I’d chosen kdb

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

      Had him for a few weeks due to low ownership and playing catch up. Frustrating

  12. FirminoIsBetterThanYou
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If you’ve got Kane would you do Son & Zaha -> Jota & Salah(C) for a hit, I can’t afford Salah without the other move?

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

    Martinez
    Robbo - Zouma - Targett - Kilman
    Son - Bruno - Jrod
    Vardy - DCL - Adams
    (4.0 - Soucek - Barkley* - Lamptey*)

    A) Hold
    B) Jrod > KDB for 2 weeks, then switch to Salah (-4)
    C) Barkley > Jota (-4)
    D) Targett > Dias (-4)

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      a

  14. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Pick 2 to play:

    a. Coufal
    b. Dallas
    c. Zouma
    d. Watkins

    ???

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      a, b

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

      c and d

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

      CD

    4. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B D

  15. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A). Ziyech & Mane.. or
    B). Sterling & Jota (Would cost -4).

    Need to be brave and close down 50 odd points in ML.

    Current team is:
    Martinez
    Justin - Cancelo - PVA
    Mane - Ziyech - KDB - Bruno - Grealish
    DCL - Watkins
    (Foster - James - Neco Williams - Brewster)

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

        Tricky one.
        Jota more explosive at the moment.
        Sterling could haul big next few weeks.
        Mane could be rested. High risk high reward.
        Think I’ll be going with Jota and Sterling

    2. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      I would also do B. Interested in why you have no Spurs. I’m already getting in Jota (taking out Foden) but it would need me to transfer out Son to get Sterling. Can’t quite bring myself to do it!

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

    Great article, thanks!

  17. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    DCL or Bruno for the armband this week?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bruno between these 2

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

    Can I get some advice on my team for this week please:

    Martinez
    Targett / Coufal / Zouma
    Fernandes / Ziyech / Grealish / Son / James Rodriguez
    DCL / Kane

    Bench: Steele, Kilman, Brewster, Dunne

    1FT and 2.7 itb

    A. James Rodriguez --> Jota
    B. Kane --> Vardy
    C. A defender to Cancelo?
    D. Any other suggestions

  19. icanseethroughyou
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez Forster
    Semedo Lamptey Justin KWP Zouma
    Grealish Rashford Foden Son Bissouma
    Vardy DCL Wilson

    3.7M in bank.
    Going to do Foden to Jota. Is it worth doing Semedo to Dias for a hit?

  20. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi, which option is better
    A: Pulisic and Jiminez to Vardy and Jota (-4)
    B: Pulisic and Jiminez to Salah and Bamford (-4)
    Thx

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

      I have B but I think the general consensus will be A especially for this week

  21. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Huge news that Ings might be back next week.

    No way of getting him in though...

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

      Ohmygod yes. My boy is coming backkk

  22. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bring in kwp or Dallas?

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

      Kwp seems to rotate nicely with my other defenders.
      But he's on 3 yellows so..

      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Is it 5 yellows for a ban?

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

          Yes until maybe gw18?

          1. Rhodes your boat
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Interesting that’s something to bear in mind, would you still go kwp over Dallas? Rest of defence is chilwell lamptey Mitchell

            1. Rhodes your boat
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 4 months ago

              And balbuena

  23. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hamez Reguilon to Sterling Cancelo -4? I see it as -4 over two weeks for two players with great fixtures.
    Would (c) Sterling next week.
    Can't afford KDB.

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

      Scenes when Mendy starts over Cancelo in next game or 2

  24. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    How nailed is Cancelo for city?

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

      Less so now Mendy is back

    2. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not very with Mendy back

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

      Cheers Chico’s XX

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

    The recent article in the Athletic on Magnus Carlsen and FPL is a nice one.

  26. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any chance of Mitchell starting this week?

    1. Andriy Shevchenko is Back
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Very unlikely.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      low.

  27. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Zaha, Maupay & Kane -> KDB, Bamford, Wilson -8?

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

      No from me.

  28. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Salah(c), Jota, Jimenez? (Can afford City players next week)

    B) Salah, Soucek, Vardy(c) (costs -4) more hits needed for City in GW11.

  29. Kane Train
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which one?

    A) Werner
    B) Vardy

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

      B

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B for few GWs.

      Once CHE elite midfield is fully fit and going, switch to Werner.

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

    Sterling or De Bruyne?

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

      Shield or sword is the answer

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

        Exactly my thoughts.

        Everyone going for KDB, so safe call. But Sterling can be so explosive, we just haven’t seen it this season.

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      KDB

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

      I got KDB but would say Sterling