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

    Start Masuaku or Dallas?

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

      Masuaku.

  2. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hello guys. Would you save a FT here?

    Martinez
    PvA, Cancelo, Chillwell
    Grealish, Fernandes, Ziyech, KDB
    DCL, Vardy, Watkins

    Subs --- KWP, Bissouma, Bernardo --- 1 FT, 1.1 ITB

    A) Save FT
    B) Bruno and PvA -> Salah and Coufal (-4)

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

      Looks good, I'd save.

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

      Save

    3. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      save

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

    Views on this move guys?

    Son & Zaha >> KDB & Tielemans

    Free transfers.

    Own Kane and Salah.

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

      Not sure on Zaha to Tielemans. Jota better around the 6.5 mark.

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

      I'd quite like the idea of just Zaha to Torres

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

      Tielemans is a bit wild, I'd probably go KDB & Jota.

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

      Do it

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

      Thanks Guys. I have Salah so dont need to go Jota. That move is covering both City and Leic good fixtures.

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

    Would you do Mane----> KDB for -4? if you didn't have any City player? Also, only have Mane as Liverpool player for now.

    My worry is Mane played full 90 on wednesday while KDB is well rested.

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

      Yeah.

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

        or is Sterling a better option?

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

      Don't say that! Could do the same move but it hadn't even occurred to me. Have jota.
      Maybe next week if kdb/city fires?

  5. King Kun Ta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez Martin
    Chilwell Robbo Justin Ayling Mitchell
    Ziyech Son Bruno Grealish Bissouma
    Vardy DCL Bamford

    0 FT & 3.7 ITB

    No Pool or City midfielder this GW will get me behind the couch. Salah/Jota/KDB in for a hit? Son or Ziyech out? Or GTG? Aaahhhhh...

    Ta lads and GL this GW!

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

      I’m thinking Jota in is a priority this week. But like you that leaves me with no City so thinking of Son to Sterling. So tricky as I’ve taken lots of hits a lately

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

    Who else to put in this defence

    Martinez
    Chilwell lamptey** balbuena Mitchell

    A) Dallas
    B) kwp

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

    What's the point in pro pundit articles where they tell you they're planning to do one thing and then do literally the opposite. I mean, I struggle to see the value of these articles at the best of times.

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

      *sniggers

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Haven’t really being following the proposed vs actual trades tbh. Do you have some examples?

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

        This dude was going to keep Salah. Then sold him for Bruno(c) and scored 92 pts. Poor guy.

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Ah I see (I really should have read the article properly); Olson does have a point 😀

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

          I can't tell if the *snigger is because you think I read it and followed his suggestion?! Anyway, obviously I captained Bruno. I just can't really fathom any value whatsoever in these articles where 'pro-pundits' garble on tediously about the state of their team, something that has little useful application for the reader. And in the case of this, the single talking point that did apply to almost all fantasy managers was one where the article was written st a point where the manager didn't even have the courage of their convictions.

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

    My captain rationale this week:

    Sources: Poll, RMT, Fixture (Goal attempts in the Box Conceded last 4 matches, Big Chances conceded), Form
    Numbers for Poll and RMT are placement in the poll and in RMT.

    Vardy: 1, 1, FUL(34, 8), Form 6.7
    KDB: 2, 2, BUR(34, 7), Form 3.7
    Bruno: 3, 3, sou(35, 6), Form 10

    A tight race, but based on these numbers, Vardy gets my armband this week.

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

    Hamez to kdb worth -4? I think it is.

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

      Don't really see that

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

      I’m thinking about doing it for free. Don’t think I’d take a hit on it though.

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

        I will have to take a hit further down the line anyway.

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

    two starting defenders assuming Mitchell doesn't start
    a) Podence + TAA > Jota + Dias (technically a -2)
    b) above plus Wilson > Vardy

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B with Vardy & Cancelo (more attacking). Vardy in for a massive haul

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

    Is KWP>Diaz (-4) worth It?

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

      So long as you hold him for the juicy run of home games

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

    Afternoon all. G2G and bench order correct? Thanks.

    McCarthy
    Coufal - Chilwell - Justin
    Bruno - Son - Hamez - Jota
    Kane - Vardy(C) - DCL

    Konsa - Kilman - Stephens

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

      Seems good to me....though in the back of your mind you are probably thinking if you should bring in a city mid.

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

        would love to - i'll take it on the chin this week and next week city will enter my team

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kilman above Konsa imo. Arsenal attack is meh.

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

        CHeers

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

    Bench one:
    A) Dann (NEW)
    B) Cresswell (AVL)
    c) Targett (whu)

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

      C

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

    11.9m to spend.

    Best Hames replacement?

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

      KDB/Sterling/Son/Ziyech/Grealish

      So many options. Depends on the rest of your team

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

        Thanks. Thinking KDB or Sterling. Own the latter 2.

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

      KDB or Ziyech

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

        Thanks. Yes, KDB my thinking. Own Ziyech already.

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

    How's this looking?

    Mendy
    Chilwell, Justin, Cancelo
    KDB, Bruno, Ziyech, JRod, Grealish
    DCL, Vardy(c)

    Coufal, Targett, Brewster

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

      Not scared LFC assets run riot?

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

        A great team nonetheless and could score well. Lots of favourable fixtures there.

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

        Ofc I'm scared but there isn't a lot I can do. Maybe Jota to James but I'm already on -4.

  16. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dilemma.
    Anyone who like me, has kept Sterling so far....

    A) Will also bring KDB in
    B) Will replace for KDB
    C) Just keep Sterling for now

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

      Im between a and c myself.

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

        hmm, it's a tough one, right?
        Maybe we should just keep and assess for the next game...

      2. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        So B then?

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

      C

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

        One City is enough on current form
        Can reassess if they put 5 past Burnley etc.

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

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

    Either of these worth a hit?

    A. Semedo to Dias
    B. Son to Sterling

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

    Long term transfers Plus captain options.....is this worth a -8?

    Out: Bruno / Sterling / Regulion
    In: KDB / Salah / Nkounkou

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

      Why Sterling out to get KDB?

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

      No

  19. nevins84
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which one to play

    A)James
    B)Mitchell
    C)Targett

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

      a

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

    This season is amazing.This gw is amazing.Good luck to all my fellow Fpl addicts.

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

      Good luck to you to bro!

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

      Cheers fella , lets do it

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

      Same to you bro!

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

      Thanks, good luck to you too!

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

      Gl mate

  21. B0mberr
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1 - Jota and Dias in (for TAA and Podence) for a -4
    2 - KDB, Bamford and Dias ( for TAA, Podence and Kane) for a -8

  22. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son>Sterling done. Need a rank boost like last year GW6 when I jumped from 499k up to 40k. These two weeks could be my chance...

    Ryan
    Bellerin Konsa Coufal
    KdB(c) Sterling Bruno(vc) Soucek
    Kane DCL Mitro

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

      Yep time for the flounderers to take some calculated risks , Kane and Son ( had since gw1) out Vardy and KDB in maybe Sterling next too. Banking on MCity to click GL mate

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

        Decent moves. I’d have been just bringing in KdB this week but the Salah news made that change a week early. Might as well have a punt on Raz. Son was going whatever so it’s Sterling v Salah over two fixtures then switch for Fulham.

  23. finnish92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Play Adams or Watkins?

  24. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    PvA Kilman Coufal
    Grealish Sterling Bruno Son Jota
    DCL Kane

    Sub: 4.0 Brewster Ayling Mitchell

    ITB 3.1

    Already did my FT.

    A) Save
    B) KDB for Son -4
    C) Ayling for Cancelo -4

  25. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Team locked, no hits but no City or Pool either. Good luck all!

    Martinez
    Chilwell Coufal Justin
    Rashford Son Rodriguez Grealish
    Kane Vardy(c) Werner

    Button Kilman Bissouma Ferguson 0.9 ITB 0FT

  26. XX SMICER XX
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Bowen & Mane to KDB and Sterling for -8 crazy?
    I have already done Kane to Vardy (C)

    Plan would be bring back Salah for the Fulham game

  27. Thewonderfulgame
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Nkounkou the best 4.0 option at the moment, given Digne out for 2 months?

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

      I think so - best at that price anyway

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

      Not a chance!
      Wait and see regarding Everton’s defence.

  28. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Keep thinking who to get from Salah, KdB and Vardy... Will appreciate your help guys, what to do here?
    1ft, 2.5itb
    1) Son-> KdB
    2) Son Kane -> Salah/KdB Vardy for -4
    3) Son Ziyech-> Jota KdB for -4
    4) Kane Bowen-> bamford Salah/KdB for -4
    5) Bowen->Jota

    Martinez
    Robbo - James- Justin
    Son - Bowen - Grealish - Ziyech - Bruno
    DCL - Kane

    Mitchell - Brewster - Saiss

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

    Play 1:

    a. Coufal
    b. Dallas
    c. Zouma

    ?

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

      a

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

      I'd play coufal but he's definitely going to get booked when up against Grealish

  30. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sell Lamptey or James for Dias? I’ll be keeping Chilwell.

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

      I would be tempted to hold Lamptey gives you a few more coins ? but not an easy one