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. Hits from the Bong
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Good to go? Cheers

    Martinez
    Chilwell Bellerin Coufal
    Salah Bruno(c) Son Rodriguez Grealish
    Kane DCL

    Steer Brewster Kilman Williams

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

      Aye - very nice midfield

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

      What a team.

    3. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not fancy Vardy?

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

      Personally I’d just do the former but might depend how many spurs you already have, reg is more nailed than Cancelo as well

      Either way the hit will probably pay off over the next 4.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      You are very persistent on asking this question numerous times. Just go with your gut and do the moves

  3. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Odds of scoring a goal for Soucek and Brewster are 3.6 and 3.3 respectively.

    Who would you start?

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

      Soucek, as Brewster might not start.

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

      Souc for me

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

      Bookies know nothing, start Soucek

    4. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      thnx guyz

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

    Mahrez or Torres?

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

      Neither

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

        This is probably the truth

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

    Getting nervous about Werner starting... but have been considering moving Kane out for Vardy all week. Reckon Timo gets the start with Pulisic and Havertz back? He had the full game midweek...

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

      Werner def starts - too soon for Pulisic

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        cheers

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

      Ofc he starts vs Spurs

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        lmao. needed this.

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

      He starts this one, but would be concerned in the mid-term and would lean towards losing him over Kane.

      1. swobe
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Really just concerned about this week. I agree though, will be downgrading Werner soon after.

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

    Call me crazy but I see Chelsea keeping a clean sheet vs Spurs

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

      Could well happen.

    2. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Wishful thinking or you look G at getting rid of kame and or son?

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

      You are crazy

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

      That would be good since I have double Chelsea defense and just Kane.

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

    Mane to Salah for free?

  8. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Is Rashford actually a doubt??? Thinking of getting rid for Sterling. Either him or Ziyech has to go...

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

      Similar boat! Either son or Rashford for me!

      He’s always a doubt and always plays

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Rashford out imo. I was also thinking similar but think Son will score much higher in next 5-6 weeks. This week I prefer Rashford however, so if u can get Son back easily (e.g next GW), I think I would take Son out.... but I'm not 🙂

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

          Can get him back but would lose .3 on him

      2. Oggle22
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Same dilemma have Bruno Rashford Kane and son
        Plan is Kane Zaha and Rashford or son to Vardy Soucek and Salah - 8
        need to lose son or Rashford to afford it

        1. Coys96
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I'd keep Kane. Same as I said above for Son v Rash

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

      Who told you he is a doubt?

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        ffscout twitter

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

      Ole suggested as much, no idea if it is still his shoulder or something new

      Looking at replacing Zouma and Rashford (I have Chilwell and Bruno) ... gives me 16.5m to play with

      Could be Justin+Sterling (have KDB) or JLewis+Salah

  9. Cahill
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rashford or Son -> Sterling

    No Bruno or KDB

  10. FPL Froggies
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Hi All,

    FPL Froggies (French-speaking Podcast - link in profile) are back this week and is happy to translate its French corner podcast section dedicated to a french-speaking FPL player.
    This week’s question is: are we overlooking Neil Maupay? 6.3

    But before we get started, we would like to dedicate this section to the one and only, the Legend. This week, you have reached the pantheon of players. Not a single minute without someone praising your talents, you, small midfielder with crazy speed and dribbling skills. This section is dedicated to you Diego

    Diego JOTAAAAAAA

    Yeah well… this joke is as bad in its written form as it is orally good.

    Anyway, let’s talk Maupay.

    Neil Maupay was born in 1996 in the posh Versailles and has both the French and Argentinian passport. He quickly moved to the south of France and started his career in OGC Nice for which he scored 9 goals in 56 appearances. He was then transferred to Saint-Etienne ASSE but was quick loaned to the Stade Brestois (Ligue 2) and started to draw attention scoring 13 goals in 32 games.

    He joined Brentford in 2017 and stayed there for 2 years scoring 41 goals in 95 games before joining Brighton in 2019 (14 goals in 44 and counting).
    Looking into the player background, we thought we would find dozens of anecdotes about his behavior on and outside the field but apart a burst out at the end of the game against Arsenal and some words exchanged with Guendouzi (we’ll find out later Guendouzi had started the whole thing) and the fact he has been left out of Brighton’s team for the Spurs game by Potters, we could not find much more gossip. It is rumored that Potters left Ryan and Maupay out of the team to make a statement towards the whole group of players: no one is essential, everybody has to fight for its position.

    But Maupay is that kind of player with some craziness in him which can see him scoring a panenka penalty against De Gea in GW3 and although Potters probably wanted to make a statement, Maupay is that kind of player who needs confidence. Thus, he will have the tendency to get frustrated for long period of goal drought but will easily capitalize on confidence to get on streaks that could be boosted by great management if supported.

    Maupay currently have an xG of 5.46 and an xA of 0.48. He is on penalties for a side that is entering a great run of fixtures from GW13 onwards.
    It remains to be seen whereas the resurrection of Welbeck will boost or eat off some of his appeal although Potters have started both of them together for the last two encounters.

    But taking into account Potters is falling into the tinkering coach category, Maupay seems to only be a viable option for the FPL managers who have the luxuary to use FT to transfer him in an out for a short streak of good fixtures when he is hitting form. Then, he could be a great differential. But at the 6.3 price, there are much better options available with the likes of Watkins, Bamford or Antonio to consider in the long run.

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

      People who believed in him and bought him got it really bad. Don't see why would anyone invest in Brighton's attack.

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A post about not getting Maupay as there are better options?

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

    all set.

    Martinez
    Chilwell, Dallas, kwp (kilman)
    Sterling, kdb vc, bruno, jota, grealish
    Vardy c, bamford (brewster)

    Cmonnnnnn

  12. One Man
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dias a good replacement for Digne ?

    Already have Cancelo.

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Certainly!

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

    Is Mane to KDB for a hit a silly move?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not really but risky

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

      Kind of

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

      Just did that

  14. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Following on from the comments from Pep regarding Kun "not being in the best condition" do you reckon Jesus is a safe bet for the next two?

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

      Torres Jesus Sterling

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

      Jesus is far from a safe bet

    3. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Probably yes, but may as well get Vardy then tbh

  15. Sho-kun
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    A) Rash --> Salah
    B) Rash --> KDB
    C) Rash + Zaha --> Salah/KDB + Grealish (-4)

  16. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    All set???

    Martinez
    Chilwell Cresswell Robbo
    Salah(c) Son Grealish Torres Rodriguez
    Kane DCL(V)

    Martin Kilman Mitchell Brewster .8itb

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nice

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

      Yep

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

      Brewster 1st sub though

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

        Okie dokie

    4. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No!

      Jk great team 😉

    5. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all!

  17. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Son >> KDB(c) worth a -4?

    McCarthy
    Chilwell, Cresswell, Justin
    Son, Bruno, Jota, Ziyech, Grealish
    Kane, DCL
    (4.0, Saiss, Mitchell, Davis)

  18. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    This article is making me consider Salah > KDB/Sterling for a hit. Seems mad, but having already bought in Jota my Liverpool cover is sorted (with Robbo also) and I think I stand a reasonably good chance of a return.

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

      Cover is a myth

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Madness! Not for a hit. Reassess next week for free

  19. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    2.5 mio itb..
    I could do

    a) Bruno -> Salah -4... not sure if it’s worth it
    b) bench -> Jota -4 and play Jota over Semedo

    I think b) has potential to do well... but messes up team structure with too much money on bench ... makes getting Salah back hard...

  20. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Howcome skybet has a number of request a bets with Zaha in them does he have a chance of playing?

  21. Bennyboy1907
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Have to start Bissouma or Mitchelll?

    Bissouma max 2 pointer

    Would Mitchel start or maybe he comes on for 1 point?

    Higher ceiling

  22. MoeZe3bi
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Best City defender?
    Is it Cancelo for his attacking potential? Or is Walker as he is more nailed in the starting XI?

  23. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Current team for the weekend: 1FT, 0.7 itb

    Martinez
    AWB Chilwell Coufal
    Bruno Son Grealish Zaha*
    Kane DCL Vardy

    Subs: Steer Mitchell Bissouma Dallas

    Zaha > Jota?

    Or a deduction to bring in KdB by losing Kane?

  24. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Martinez
    Robbo - Chilwell - Zouma
    Son - Ziyech - Grealish - Hamez
    Kane - DCL - Watkins

    1 FT
    4.5 itb

    Which should I do here:

    A) Zouma ➡ Cancelo
    B) Kane ➡ Vardy
    C) A + B for (-4)
    ..?

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

    Which one to play

    a) Soucek vs Villa
    b) Adams vs Man Utd

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      B

  26. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Zaha Replacement, 9.6 ITB ? Looking to bring back Salah in GW12
    A) Jota
    B) Madisson
    C) Other

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

      Son

      1. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Already have him 🙂

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

          a then

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

    Do you think that Antonio will start?

  28. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    2 questions:

    1) Which move as the main FT this week? (Have no LEI or MCI attack)
    A) Kane > Vardy (C)
    B) Son > KDB (C)

    2) Is Ziyech > Jota worth a -4? (Have no Salah or Mané)

    Cheers!

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

    Variance in scores is gonna be huge this weekend imo. Bad week to have a bad week as they say.

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

      A lot will depend on if/how big City and Liverpool win and if Chelsea Spurs game is high scoring

      1. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        And whether Penandes dives

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

    With Rashford yellow flagged:

    A) Play Rashford (sot) with Kilman (ars) first bench
    B) Jota (bha) -4

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

      A imo

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

      a