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. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Just saw that late Johnstone save on Firmino. What a keeper he is!

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

      Was great as a bobby owner!

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      And then you see Meslier who probably would not catch Covid in a hospital full of patients; and wonder how come Leeds have so many CS. Not that I am complaining. Dallas owner since GW3.

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

        Meslier was fantastic yesterday, I have no idea what you're talking about. Made the saves he needed to and punched away the corners that have been Leeds' weakness, especially against a team like Burnley. Only blip was the push on Mee.

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          I am talking about him opting to never catch/ hold the ball. There were times when he decided to punch instead of simply catching the ball. Strange technique which will definitely hurt him.

  2. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Help me choose one?

    A) If I get Kane this week.
    DGW 19 might look something like this : Matip, Dias, Kane, Bamford, Watkins

    B) If I get Son this week.
    DGW 19 might look something like this :
    Stones, Ayling, Son, Vardy, Adams

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

    Son or Bruno for captain? Thinking Salah too but he kinda looked meh

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

      Bruno for me

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

      son for me

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

      How did Son look?

    4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Bruno. Son looked ineffective.

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

    Who would normally play left back for West Ham in the 4/4/2 ?

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

      Cresswell

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

    Lads, is it mad to go with zouma and chilwell on WC?

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

      They don’t look good at the back, I would go with 1 on wc, probably Zouma

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

        Cheers, you have good punt for me under 6.3?

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

          Don’t know about a punt I’d probably take stones or Cancelo and make sure my bench was full of players like Targett and Taylor to cover any benchings

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

            Cancelo sounds fun!

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

      personally I wouldnt

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

    Start Johnson or Martinez?

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

      West Brom look intent on defending

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

    grealish and lamptey to son and taylor for a hit?

    1 FT and 2.1 ITB...

    McCarthy Button
    Lamptey dallas robbo ferguson balbuena
    salah bruno grealish soucek raphina
    dcl kae bam

  8. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    How to upgrade this team?
    KdB to son?

    2FT 0.0 ITB

    Martinez
    Chilwell, KWP, Dias, Coufal, Kilman
    Grealish, Bruno, KdB, Salah, Soucek
    Bamford, DCL, Adams

    1. tbos83
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KdB to Son, Grealish to El Ghazi, Adams to Kane

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

    Start James (double with Mendy if he starts) or cresswell

  10. Kered
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone looking at Rhys?

    I'm tempted because Lamptey is out and downgrading him gives me exact funds for me to swap Burke to Raph next week.

    I'm aware he will soon lose his spot, but at 4.0 I'm not too fussed having as a bench fodder

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

      Sure I gambled on the wrong one Phillips before buy Rhys should start the next 2 minimum

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

        Yea, and could get himself a game in the dgw also. Might just save my FT though and monitor for next gw as I already have a bench headache.

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

    Please can anyone explain assuming I will FH in gw18 and BB gw19, exactly how many Free Transfers do we get to use from now until Gw19?

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

      2.
      1 in 17.
      0 in 18.
      1 in 19.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      If you aren't carrying 2 FTs in GW17 then:

      1 in GW17
      0 in GW18 (FH)
      1 in GW19

  12. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Best Lamptey replacement with a DGW 19 with a simila rprice?
    Thinking Taylor

    1. The Wanton Trader
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Or a Hammer...?

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

      This! I already have Taylor, can’t go wrong with him especially with fixtures to come, no brainer

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

        Taylor Coufal Dallas

  13. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Play it safe or gamble ??

    Martinez
    Targett, Dallas, Justin
    KDB, Bruno, Grealish, Salah
    Bamford, Wilson, Vardy

    Burke, Lamptey, Mitchell

    1Ft and 0.1 ITB

    Play it safe and bring in a replacement for Lamptey or gamble and bring KDB out for Son?

    Closest rival in ML is 18pts behind me for the month has Son.

    Any other suggestions appreciated.

  14. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    RMWCT

    McCarthy Johnstone
    Robbo Stones Dallas Justin Taylor
    Salah Bruno Rashford Soucek Rapinha
    Firminho Adams Bamford.

    Plan is to bb gw19 and firminho is a 1 gw punt

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

      Serious lack of Spurs

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

        Other players can score just as well .

      2. Jones Kusi
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        And Spurs are in good form?

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

      good

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

    Which one to start

    A. Rodrigo
    B. Soucek

    1. Martinez
    2. Johnstone

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

      B1

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

        Sorry B2

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

    Who should I start between Dallas and coufal? I’m on Dallas at the mo

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

      Dallas

    2. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Dallas

  17. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on what to do? 0.1 ITB 1FT

    McCarthy
    Robbo I Chilwell I Dallas
    Salah I Bruno | Rashford | Son | I Bowen
    DCL | Rodrigo

    Forster I Coufal I Brewster I *Lamptey

    Cheers

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

      I’d save. Looks gtg.

  18. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which one for DGW19 BB?

    A) Grealish (EVE), Kane (shu), Stones (CRY) -4
    B) KDB (CRY), Antonio (BUR, WBA), Matip (MUN, BUR)

    B if Antonio and Matip would be available.

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

      B

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

      B

  19. Vinchent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Kind of stuck on what to do for GW 16. Any tips appreciated:

    McCarthy (Nyland)
    Zouma, Dias, Justin (KWP, Dallas)
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Son (Bissouma)
    Calvert-Lewin, Bamford, Adams

    0,5 in the bank

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

    Are people captaining Spurs purely based on Fulham? Fulham have been really good and Spurs abysmal. Wouldn’t even be surprised if Parker’s men nick a point or three here. Salah, KDB, Bruno still the best options

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

      I wouldn’t touch spurs with a barge pole for (c) right now ... spurs fan

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

        Somebody gets it! They have looked toothless. Maybe score 1-2 goals but don’t see anything more based on Mourinho set up and recent performances

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

      Agreed

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

    WC Draft 1:
    Fabianski McCarthy
    Robbo Cancelo Dier Coufal Taylor
    Grealish Salah Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Adams

    WC Draft 2:
    *Johnstone* McCarthy
    Robbo Cancelo Coufal Taylor *Struijc*
    *Son* Salah Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Adams

    WC Draft 3:
    *Johnstone* McCarthy
    Robbo Cancelo *Stones* *Hause* *Struijc*
    *Son* Salah Bruno Soucek Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Adams

    Which one of the lot? Any other suggestions?

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

      2

  22. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Which BGW18 players would you consider essential?

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

      KDB, Kane, Son, Sterling/Aguero (if fit), Cancelo/Dias.. the rest can be differentials: Wilson, Auba, Rodriguez, Neto

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

      3 city (kdb, defender, and one more). That’s probably it tbh. DCL, Neto/podence, grealish, Watkins, son, and Kane all should be ok but aren’t essential

    3. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      KDB, Kane, Son

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks all

  23. Nerdlinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Please RMWCT....

    McCarthy, Meslier
    TAA, KWP, Creswell, Dallas, Justin
    Mane, Son, Souckek, Maddison, Romeu
    Kane, Vardy, Bamford

    Looking to probably change out Kane/Son for the dgw especially if their form doesn't improve

    1. Sid07
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Which chip you plan to use

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

        Bench boost most likely. I'll upgrade Romeu with funds from son/Kane

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

          I have free hit for 18

        2. Sid07
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Midfield looks weak
          Will downgrade a striker to upgrade midfield

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

      Correction... Fabianski not McCarthy

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

      Don’t like the Kane and Vardy double up. One or the other. Vardy likely rested/benched this GW so would lose him to upgrade that midfield. No Bruno or Salah? Asking for red arrows

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

        Mane is my Salah lite! But thanks, lack of Bruno is in my thoughts, but with EFL cup semi I can see him getting some rotation at some point too...

  24. Sid07
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Have 2fts and will fh gw18
    1) lamptey to Taylor
    2) kdb to son
    3) both

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

      1

  25. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) Soucek
    B) Raphinia
    C) DCL

    Currently on C.

    1. Sid07
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      B

  26. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    McCarthy
    Coufal, Robertson, Cancelo, Targett
    Salah (C), KDB, Bruno, Grealish
    Adams, Bamford

    Forster, Lookman, Brewster, Lewis

    2.3 itb 2ft

    A stick with the plan. Grealish and Lookman > Son and Soucek

    B KDB, Brewster, Grealish > Son, Vardy, Neto (not playing FH GW 18) -4

    C any other suggestions?

  27. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Not sure if this is a rash move but did kdb and dcl to raphinha and kane - 4 last night as I gear up to gw19bb

    Martinez forster
    Robbo James coufal dallas balbuena
    Salah bruno grealish raphinha soucek
    Kane watkins bamford

    Will do forster to Johnstone before 19 and maybe grealish or kane out too....thanks

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

      Looking good.

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks. Good luck

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

      Good luck. I don’t like the moves at all. KDB double figure haul against the Toffees is on the cards and DCL is the focal point of a team in second on the ladder with all of their danger men due back in the next 1-3 weeks

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

      Triple Villa bit much with no dgw19

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Dcl likely to be rested.

        Kdb doesn't seem worth the money

        Cash for grealish to rashford for gw17 if I want

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

    Seen the question about 5 yellow cards a bit on here recently and done some digging.
    Turns out it's their teams 19th fixture so for any teams that have a game in hand then it would be a week later before it was lifted to 10 cards.
    Hope this helps a few of you out.

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

    Opinions on Lamptey to Cancelo/Stones for a hit?

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

      not for a hit unless you have no cover

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

    Mane or Son?

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

      Mane Spurs are imploding

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

      I really want Mane but means I’ll have to give up getting Martial/Vardy for a cheap striker.

    3. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Son

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

      Mane easily

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

      Cheers all! 🙂
      Looks like Mane it is. Just fear the Leeds game for Son.