Pro Pundits

Three-time top 200 finisher Lateriser on City, captaincy and the Blanks and Doubles

The reigning FPL champion of India, Lateriser, shares his thoughts ahead of the Gameweek 16 deadline.


Things are moving incredibly fast in the Fantasy Premier League world and it’s important to stay on top of things and react. Traditionally, this is the period where the engaged FPL managers make ground on the casuals (who are getting not so casual, year on year).

For your information, I am writing this article on the morning after Saturday’s games so the piece will not contain relevant information from Sunday’s matches. Due to the current fifth-gear nature of FPL, this will be a freestyle ramble of all things I want to address.

First up, we need to talk about Manchester City. They are one of the prime culprits for my poor start to the season. In my Gameweek 3 Wildcard, I got in a triple City midfield and have had two City attackers for the most part of the season.

That explains my rank (1.7 million at the time of writing, which is a lot better than the 3.1 million it was in Gameweek 12). It has taken me so long to readjust my thinking in this case and I have definitely failed to adapt. Their fixtures from Gameweek 10 to 15 seduced me like prime Demi Moore (Burnley, Fulham, West Brom an Newcastle at home) and being a fixtures guy all my life, I jumped in.

I mean, we’re talking about Pep Guardiola and the most attacking team in the country for the past three years. But one of the signs of a good FPL manager is to adapt. I didn’t and my rank shows that. After watching Manchester City play Newcastle United last night, I was convinced that the play with the Citizens is their defence not their attack. I know I’m stating the obvious but we have three viable defender options from Guardiola’s side (I own two of them), all three of whom are under £6.0m.

For what they offer for their price, I personally think that taking the odd rest/rotation from them is fine because of the significant value they offer. City are playing a different brand of football (all audition games for the Champions League knockout stages) and we need to re-align our thinking with their attack.

One manager who did adapt is my pod-partner and fellow Pro Pundit, Zophar. He’s been sitting on double City defence since his Gameweek 9 Wildcard and reaping the rewards. That move reeks of low-key shrewdness that can go a long way in having a good season. He was sitting at 970k on his Gameweek 9 Wildcard and is currently at 119k.

What about Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m), though? Well, if we’re talking about the game yesterday, except for that one-on-one chance, he didn’t do much else.

Manchester City are eighth amongst all teams filtered by shots in the box over the last four matches. Yes, De Bruyne is shooting a lot and is playing further up the field, but I get the feeling that while he’s a clean striker of the ball, he takes a fair amount of time to get his shot off. As a result, a large chunk of his efforts just seem to get blocked.

Here’s some more data for you. These are the average expected per goals 90 minutes (xG/90) figures for Manchester City this year and the past three years:

SeasonxG/90
2020/211.6
2019/202.5
2018/192.2
2017/182.1

It just seems like us holding De Bruyne at the moment is for three reasons: ability, history and fear. Yes, he may explode and get a game with a penalty, an assist and a goal. But the more you actually watch Manchester City, the further away such a haul seems given that Pep Guardiola is channelling his inner Louis van Gaal these days.

I myself haven’t made the decision whether I’m holding or selling him but I will need to before Gameweek 16. To fund Harry Kane (£11.0m) into my team, I either need to downgrade Jack Grealish (£7.8m) to Raphinha (£5.4m) or move De Bruyne to Son Heung-min (£9.7M). It’s fair to say that I’ll be scouting some players tonight and Sadio Mane (£11.9m) is also someone I am monitoring closely.

A lot of you will be on a Wildcard while reading this article and I’d like to reiterate and say that don’t have a single-minded, tunnel-vision focus on just the Blank and Double Gameweeks. Every Gameweek counts and focusing on just Gameweek 18 and 19 isn’t going to help you. I urge again to look at the fixtures for players you are bringing in on your Wildcard before Gameweek 18 and after Gameweek 19.

At the moment, I’m looking at going chipless in Gameweek 18 and maybe using the Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 19. It is with this thought that I recruited both the Manchester City centre-backs before Gameweek 15 so as to play them in Gameweeks 18 and 19, and I particularly like their fixtures from Gameweek 20-22.

I’ll briefly talk about captaincy in Gameweeks 16 and 17. Scanning through the fixtures, Mohamed Salah (£12.6m) and the Spurs attacking duo stand out as captaincy options. The game against the Cottagers seems like a more Kane than Son game as I expect Fulham to sit deep, which means more chances closer to the box for the England international.

That said, Fulham are on a bit of a resurgence and are in the best five teams for expected goals conceded (xGC) in the last four matches. Spurs, on the other hand, are second only to West Brom for expected goals (xG), but we’ve seen that this does not seem to matter with them too much because if they score, it is very highly likely that their premium FPL duo will be involved.

I just happen to trust Salah and Liverpool a lot more than Spurs at the moment, which is why Salah will likely have my armband in Gameweek 16. Unlike Fulham, Newcastle are in the worst five defences in the league for expected goals conceded in the last five matches.

Gameweek 17, though, is where I’m looking to captain a Spurs attacker. A match against Leeds United should be considered as a prime fixture for captaincy and on paper, this just looks like a Son game to me, given the space Leeds United offer their opposition. The one good thing about this game is that we know that Bielsa is stubborn about his style of play and we can rely on him to offer the opposition tonnes of space to run behind. This captaincy call in Gameweek 18 might be what influences my transfer decision later tonight, depending on how the games pan out.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading what is possibly my last article for the calendar year. Here’s hoping that 2021 is a much better year for all of us.

As a side note, I would like to thank Fantasy Football Scout for the opportunity to write for them and all of you for reading my articles, supporting me and always providing me with valuable feedback.

Given the year that we’ve had, I’d just like to add a small note on mental health. I haven’t had a good season from an FPL point of view (so far) but I’m slowly beginning to climb the table. That hasn’t affected my enjoyment of the game at all.

Firstly, those of you that are struggling should remember that at the end of the day, this is just a game and that is exactly how you should treat it. If you ask me personally, I’m really enjoying this challenge of a bad start and am simply focusing on making good decisions week on week.

One of the best things about this game is that it enables you to talk to likeminded strangers from all over the world and develop new friendships. That is the essence of the FPL community. That is the primary. The rank is secondary. A lot of you ask me about my rank goal and I personally feel it is too early to think about that. FPL is about assimilating information between Gameweeks and then making decisions. Focus on that and make good decisions and leave the rest to chance because the rest isn’t in your control.

Secondly, the ‘perceived’ bad luck appears greater than it is because of the slow-drip of games that we are witnessing. So if you do end up watching a lot of matches, you do end up seeing a lot of chances missed, which just leads to a greater tilt. Just know that on an average, it takes four to five chances for a player to score a goal and these single incidents become magnified in your head because in most cases, you are watching one game at a time. Expectation management during FPL is a thing so that you don’t drive yourself crazy.

 I repeat, it’s just a game.


What is FPL Upside Chasing and how can I implement it in 2020/21?
1,821 Comments Post a Comment
  1. MoSalalalalalalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Raphinha, Soucek or hold onto Podence?

    1. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Definitely get rid of Podence.
      Both of the other 2 are great options with good fixtures.

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I'm getting podence in on wc

  2. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any changes to WC here? 0.2itb.

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Dier Cresswell Coufal Dallas Taylor
    Salah Son Bruno Grealish Soucek
    Kane Bamford D-Reid

    1. enrico.palazzo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Not too bad there - BB GW 19?

  3. HNI
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Worth dokmg Grealish to Saka or Dcl.to Vardy for -4? Is vardy actually going to be rested?

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

      Id say no. Vardy subject to Rodgers rotation and Saka and Arsenal in general inconsistent despite appealing fixtures

  4. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How’s this setup?? (nervous about Vardy being rested):

    Martinez
    Robertson Cancelo Dallas
    Salah Fernandes Son Grealish Soucek
    Vardy Bamford

    Forster Coufal Brewster Ferguson

    Thanks

    1. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      All good, u would worry bout Jack on 4 yellow with their fixtures

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        I*

      2. NATSTER
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Oh. When will the threshold be lifted to 10 cards? End of year?

        1. mrodgers91
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Was after GW18 last season i think

    2. Patron
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Is there any chance we get some leaks? I think there was some twitter acc dealing with Leicester lineups.

  5. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Don’t really need to use my wildcard but I haven’t used it yet so might as well, what do you reckon wc team?

    Sanchez, McCarthy
    Targett, chilwell, Justin, Kwp, baulbena
    Salah, Bruno, Son, soucek, Saka
    Calvert-Lewin, Kane, bamford

    Anyone you’d change?

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

      Maybe DCL to Adams

  6. enrico.palazzo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    RMWCT

    Leno (Johnstone)
    Cancelo - Stones - Justin - Dier - Taylor
    Salah - Bruno - Son - Gralish - Raphinha
    Kane - Bamford - Brewster

    Planning on doing

    Dier, Grealish > TAA/Robbo, Soucek for DGW with bench boost.

    Any suggestions? 0.0 ITB

    1. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I don't like it

      you have more players with one match in DGW19 than two

      1. enrico.palazzo
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        With good-ish fixtures though, what changes would you suggest?

  7. VICTORIOUS SECRET! !
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Suggestions please !!
    Kinda stuck

    Martinez/McCarthy
    Zouma dias Dallas Mitchell Dunne
    Son salah kdb Bruno anguissa
    DCL Adams Bamford

    0 ITB with 1FT

    1. FPL_Pugster
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Downgrade DCL to Wood. The over next 2 weeks upgrade Micthell & Dunne to playing defenders. Its hard without knowing chip stratergy?!

      1. VICTORIOUS SECRET! !
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        No wc

  8. JonSnow
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play 3 of the following:
    A) Dias
    B) Stones
    C) Chillwell
    D) Robertson

    1. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Abd

  9. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Am I completely mad for thinking about captaining KDB?

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Mad as a man who wears his clothes inside out whilst talking to crisp packets in a language he made up himself.

    2. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      People are selling. Who know... it might be time that he will deliver again to frustrate the sellers. 🙂

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Wouldn’t be suprised by a pen & an assist in any game

      Maybe even a treble return

      Also wouldn’t be suprised by 2 points

      I’m very rarely suprised you see

    4. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Salah/Mane/Kane the only better options imo

      maybe Son too

    5. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      In all seriousness, it's one of those seasons ... just look at the captain fails with great fixtures last week. I'm giving KDB oneckast chance but not brave enough to captain ... one thing for sure, he would be a hell of a captain differential if it comes off .... he who dares.

    6. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of last year's Mr Madman competition.

  10. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Starting this team for GW16.

    Martinez
    Coufal - Dallas - Taylor (Kilman, Mitchell)
    Salah - Bruno - Son - Maddison - Soucek
    Kane - Bamford (Brewster)

    Is it worth -4 to bring one more DGW player in with hope to improve GW16?
    A : Brewster > Vardy .. he could be rested
    B : Kilman > Robertson .. expect Robbo to play, but they might lose Matip and reduce CS chance

  11. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Guys what u doing with Matip, have no subs for him, best replacement, williams?

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      City defender or coufal

  12. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford and Grealish to Sterling and Saka? Would be for a hit.

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      No

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

      No

  13. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is Rodrigo nailed? Need him to start the next 4. Play him or Soucek this gw?

  14. Carroll to the rescue
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure on what to do here, any help appreciated!

    McCarthy Button
    Lamptey Dallas Robbo Coufal Justin
    Grealish Pulisic Son Bruno Soucek
    Bamford Kane DCL

    2 FTs and 0.3m ITB, thoughts?
    Very iffy on Pulisic and also have all chips remaining.

  15. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    A. Semedo > Dier (Captain Salah)
    B. KDB & Brewster > Kane & Fodder -4 (Captain Kane)

    Leaning A but it’s pretty boring

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah. A makes more sense.

      Did you take a break from here? Hadn’t seen you in a while until recently. Glad to see youre back

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers yeah A probably a bit of a longer term play... KDB > Rashford then somewhere down the road

        There’s nothing immediate signposting a Kane haul, but definitely a logical punt for those that wish to go there too

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A for me

  16. Redranger
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which one on WC?

    A) Dallas
    B) Taylor

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

      Dallas obviously

    2. Patron
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      a

  17. afsr
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KdB + Watkins to:

    A - Maddison, Kane (-4)
    B - Grealish, Vardy (-4)

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn’t do any tbh

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

      A then swap Kane to Vardy Gw19

    3. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Neither. Vardy unlikely to play

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

    Answered yesterday but fell asleep before I could ask any follow up questions!

    If I'm using FH for 17 then do I go into 18 with the squad I have after the deadline today and 1 free transfer? Thanks

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      You’d get your gw 16 squad back with 1 ft

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

        Much obliged

    2. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Why would you play FH in 17?

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

        Got it wrong, meant FH in 18 but theory still stands that I go into 19 with my squad from 17, thanks

  19. mdm
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one for me please:

    A. Gross (ARS)
    B. DCL (MCI)
    C. Coufal (sou)

    Thanks.

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      A

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

      Gross

    3. Patron
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      a

  20. pakornk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Captain Bruno or Salah?

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I’m on Salah

      1. Patron
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        salah

  21. CONNERS
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Get Kane in for -4 or just get Chris Wood for free?

    (Already have Son if that matters).

    Thanks

  22. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Good to go or risk of only 10 playing - £2.1itb already had a -4

    Martinez
    Taylor, Zouma, matip*
    Salah (c), Bruno, son, Raphina
    Bamford, DCL, Vardy

    4, Jones, Lamptey, Kilman

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Take another -4 so you have 3 playing defenders

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

      Looks nailed on for 10 but from the way things are going you should still be fine

      Be people out there who had mings -2 and still got a green arrow think of it that way !

  23. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    When does the suspension tightrope reset?
    At the end of GW18?! Or end of 19?

    1. mrodgers91
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      End of 18 based on last season but I wouldn't mind some confirmation too

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Once each team has played 19 matches. Villa for example still have 5 games to go

  24. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb > Kane with 2 fts? Also have son.

  25. mrodgers91
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    KDB and grealish to son and bruno?
    I must be the only one on here who hasnt already got bruno and its starting to hurt too much

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I dont have Bruno either and its cost me 350k places the last 2 weeks

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

      Yes - good moves imo.

    3. Patron
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      like it

  26. PURPLE-RONNIE
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Is welbeck to adams or Rodrigo worth a -4 lads or just play welbeck?

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

      Just play Welbeck

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Play welbeck

  27. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Guys

    A) grealish and James to taa and raphinha -4
    B) kdb to son
    C) kdb James to son robbo -4
    D) save

    Fh 18..

    Martinez
    James Dallas kwp bal lamptey
    Salah kdb bruno grealish bissou
    Kane bam adams

  28. tibollom
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    any help appreciated guys; how do i fix this team? 1 FT and 2.1 ITB

    McCarthy Button
    Dallas robbo bbalbuena lamptey ferguson
    bruno salah grealish soucek raphina
    bam dlc kane

    plan was to do grealish and lamptey to son and taylor maybe? Or is that too much spurs?

  29. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Any love for Wood or Ashley Barnes?

    Sheffield Utd & Fulham next two fixtures , both at home plus DGW.
    Surprised there's not more love!!!

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

      They were painful yesterday but you just know they will show up for these 2 home games, win them and all but secure another premier league season

      Ceiling is to low for me but could work out

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Exactly, but they are plum fixtures.

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Burnley... absolutely not

    3. Patron
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      getting wood myself...

      1. IRBOX ⚽
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Family site mate, calm down

        1. Patron
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          damn, as I saw a lowercase i knew it was coming.

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

    Guys

    Yay or Nay for this -4

    Matip & DCL > Taylor & Firmino

    1. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Deffo yay

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Losing possibly the best asset in the entire game this season for a hit? No thanks. Coleman and James back, Allan and Digne soon after.