Pro Pundits - Lateriser

‘Enjoy the ride, adapt and stop planning’ – FPL’s reigning India winner says to focus on the short-term

The Double Gameweeks are here.

But it hasn’t been a smooth ride. Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers have had so many unexpected detours (a lot of off-roading) on the way, but battered, bruised and with a lot of dents, we’re finally here.

Just know that you are not the only ones facing these twists and turns. It won’t be the last time unexpected rescheduling happens either.

FPL managers all over the globe have been meandering their way through these unexpected times and you’ve just got to enjoy the ride and adapt. It’s the only option you have really.

So what do I intend to do differently? First off, stop planning. Be more short-sighted. Normally, when making moves, I look at the next five to six Gameweeks.

Instead, I am going to play for the points available and have a more short-term approach when planning my moves.

This means I’ll likely look at the next three Gameweeks when making my moves and no more than that.

Why? We could literally have unexpected cancellations and changes (Double Gameweeks) at any time. So planning mid-term doesn’t have much value in my opinion.

Secondly, and I have said this multiple times this season, I’m all for wanting to chase price rises, but honestly, I can’t say it enough, this is the season to delay your transfers as far as possible.

The fantasy landscape is changing daily and new bits of information are appearing on a daily basis, which might drastically affect your transfer strategy.

You might think that your transfers might not be affordable the next day, but when you look closer, there is always another way.

Has the recent Double Gameweek news for Aston Villa and Newcastle and the lack of a double for Leeds United and Southampton changed my plans?

FPL Transfer Traps Gameweek 6 1

I currently own only Patrick Bamford (£6.6m) from the two teams and before Blank Gameweek 18, I sold Jack Grealish (£7.7m) and Che Adams (£6.0m).

I had heard murmurs of the Leeds vs Southampton game being called off and I just don’t trust the fitness of Villa’s players and the lure of two premium Manchester big hitters was too much for me.

It was a gamble and it won’t be the last time I’ll need to roll the dice this season.

It just seems like a season of difficult decisions given the sheer number of consistent big hitters but it is what it is.

Just a small note on Aston Villa, the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown at the time of writing and we don’t necessarily know how the squad has been affected.

It is a very thin squad that is very reliant on 10 to 14 players and if the majority of the first team squad is affected, I don’t know how much I’d trust them.

Keeping this in mind, their players come into the don’t buy/ don’t sell category for me until we know more about them.

Auto Draft 1

Speaking of difficult decisions, one big decision that FPL managers will likely be making this season is whether to sell Son Heung-min (£9.8m) or Harry Kane (£11.1m) for a premium Double Gameweek asset in Gameweek 19.

The one thing I’ll say is if you’re doing it to get in a premium big hitter like Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) or Kevin De Bruyne (£11.8m) who are genuine captaincy options, then it makes sense to me.

If not, it becomes a very difficult decision (one that might not necessarily be the right one) given their fixture in Gameweek 19.

Then it comes down to gut and the kind of FPL manager you are.

If I was to hold one of Son or Kane, at the moment I’d lean towards holding Son primarily because of the price difference.

I see a lot of people selling their Arsenal and Leeds United assets for Double Gameweek players.

It is important to not have the blinkers on for the doubles because both of these teams in addition to Spurs have very good games in Gameweek 19 and it might not be the smartest thing to sell them just to buy additional minutes in the Double Gameweek.

You need to look at the next couple of Gameweeks while making these decisions and then make the call.

A few things I have noticed in the last few weeks is that players like Son, Bruno Fernandes (£11.3m) and KDB have looked very tired in the last 30 minutes of games and I feel like in comparison, Liverpool and Chelsea both having some time off will play into their hands.

I’m personally expecting an upturn in performances for both of these teams in the coming weeks.

Having some time on the training ground with the full team without playing games can be underestimated and I think that will show.

It is worth noting Chelsea have all their players fit now including their full-backs and it’s easy to forget that when they, along with Hakim Ziyech (£8.1m) were fit, Chelsea were creating chances for fun.

They have a decent looking Double Gameweek (both Leicester and Fulham are in the worst five teams for big chances conceded at home this season) and I quite like their fixtures in the mid-term as well.

There are some good picks in that team both in attack and in defence should you fancy it.

Some of you are wondering about whether you should Bench Boost or not.

In my opinion if you have players from the likes of Leeds who have a good Gameweek 19 fixture, I’d still use the chip and play the Bench Boost.

The case for you to Bench Boost is even stronger, especially if you have used your Free Hit chip in Gameweek 18.

I say that is the case because if you wildcard in Gameweek 25 for the Double Gameweek in 26, your bench spots will need to be likely focused on Blank Gameweek 29 and that is something to consider while you’re making your decision.

Otherwise, one of the prime advantages of having used the Bench Boost chip is so that it’s out of the way and you can focus funds on your starting 11 (plus two bench spots) rather than spreading them over 15 players.

It is very difficult to give an answer with regards to this conundrum because it is very team dependant but generally when it comes to using your chips, there will be many more mini Double Gameweeks in play the way the season is going, so there are going to be more opportunities than you think for chip deployment.

I intentionally decide to just talk a little bit of macro-philosophy with this article ahead of the Double Gameweek but all of you are aware of the numbers and the good picks so I thought it might be worthwhile to outline a few things that might not have caught your attention.

I’ve been making steady progress with my season after a terrible start.

Despite having games called off for my Manchester City and Spurs assets and despite not deploying my Free Hit chip in Gameweek 18, I’ve climbed from a 3.1 million Overall Rank (OR) in Gameweek 12 to a 1.54 million OR at present.

I was very happy to get a 300,000 sized green arrow in Gameweek 18 despite taking a hit, owning nine players and not deploying the Free Hit chip which tells you that quality matters over quantity.

If the odds are stacked against you in a particular Gameweek in terms of numbers of players, it still isn’t the end of the world because if you have the right players, you could still climb up the table.

Also, it is worth mentioning that Zophar & I had the pleasure of interviewing the creator of LiveFPL.net recently and it was a pleasure getting to chat with Ragabolly.

He’s a PHD in quantum physics and still claims to not be a genius.

He’s a very humble guy and it’s an interview worth watching if you haven’t already. You can see it here.

We also did our standard podcast of The FPL Wire where we talk about Double Gameweek 19 in depth which you will find below. Thanks for reading and good luck this Gameweek!

5,989 Comments Post a Comment
  1. That Fantasy Guy
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do ....
    Robertson + son + wood to
    Stones + KDB + Antonio for -8?

    1. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

    3. Too Mane Men
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep but Robbo is one of the top three defenders to own this week IMO. If you can afford it another way I’d do it.

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You’re joking? How is Robbo a top choice.

        I’ve owned him most of the season but out the door this week. Liverpool low chance of clean sheets. So best case maybe 7-10 points?!

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

    Antonio is guarantee to start?

    1. Kingtekkerz
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Well he’s fit today.

  3. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on a bench boost of Anguissa, McCarthy, Raphinha, and Dallas?

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

    McCarthy
    Justin / Coufal / Maguire
    Bruno / Mane / Salah / Foden / Soucek
    Vardy / Wilson

    (Bamford / Dallas / Taylor)

    Good to go? Tempted to put FODEN as triple-captain, madness?! 😀

  5. Ibralicious
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Picking Gundogan over Foden for the extra funds worth it?

  6. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    TC Salah? Who's in...

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Enjoy your 12 points

      1. Evasivo
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Put those claws away

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

    Could someone please stop me from getting Harvey Barnes?

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It’s a TRAP

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

      I’ll come over now.

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

      Put the bottle away

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

      He's in my team and I'm tempted to shift him to Soucek.

  8. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who would you sacrifice to get in KDB assuming I own Salah already?

    A) Mane

    B) Salah

    1. Ci Siamo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B) Kane

    2. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Are you chasing or good rank?

      If chasing I’d lose Salah

      1. Ci Siamo
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry I meant Kane or Mane

        1. TomSaints
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I guess same then. If chasing keep mane

  9. Too Mane Men
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Desperate for some opinions here gents/ladies.

    1: A) James or B) Stones -4 (For Dallas)
    2: Play A) Martinez or B) Pope?

  10. For Fuchs Sake
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones will start both games right?

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

      Should do.

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

      It’s Pep. But probably

  11. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Feels wrong putting Watkins on the bench and playing SGW Bamford instead.

    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Why on earth would you do that?

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just put Bamford on the bench. Job done

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

    Save your chips, focus on the short-term... Okay 🙂

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

      Yeah. Hate it when the fish goes soggy.

    2. Dank Squid
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What if things don´t change before the end of the season and we keep focusing on the short-term, should we avoid using chips/choose one of the remaining ones for GW 38?

  13. Steve Stiffler
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking about pulling a -8 lol.. good moves or na?

    McCarthy and Adams > Ederson + 4.8 Fodder (Brewster probably )

    1. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not a fan

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

      no

    3. Party time
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Ederson + Coufal if you don’t have him otherwise save the transfer

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

      Based on this gw only, who would you rather have:

      a. Vardy
      b. Kane
      c. Antonio

      ?

      1. Whazza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        A

      2. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Vardy

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

        A

      4. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Vardy

    5. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Going into this DGW without KDB sure feels like a masochistic thing to do, but hey, can't have them all

      1. xtina
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah tricky one! Thinking Kane + Son -> KDB, Antonio

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Don't want to lose Son, hence the no KDB. Though indeed!

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

        Agree can't have them all, but can have Salah and KDB and enjoy the gw

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Can only do so for a -8 or a -4 but lose Son

          1. Whazza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            KDB - CRY AVL wba SHU bur

            Get him for this run while Son a fixture less, LIV and CHE.
            is my advise

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

      Hello guys. Any ideas what to do here?

      Pope
      Robertson, Dias, Coufal
      Grealish, Fernandes, Salah, Soucek, Son
      Bamford, Watkins

      Subs --- Meslier, KWP, DCL, Bernardo --- 1 FT, 0.6 ITB

    7. xtina
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would you play Holding, Anguissa (DGW), or Dier?

      1. Stormbringer22
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dier

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

        Anguissa

      3. Too Mane Men
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Holding based on the Sheff Vs Newcastle game alone.

    8. Darnell Nurse
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's like he lives in different universe, so out of touch this season

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

        Yeah I know. I’ll try and do better.

      2. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This season sure is different, can´t blame him

    9. michudagawd
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez
      Coufal Dias Robbo
      Salah ESR Grealish Fernandes Son
      Kane Bamford

      Forster - Dallas KWP Brewster

      1 FT, 0.9 itb

      Looking at doing Son + Kane -> KDB + Antonio for -4.

      G2G then or is it worth doing Brewster to Watkins for a further -4?

    10. grooveymatt65
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      hi guys

      doing a wildcard on fan team

      Who do people think would be the best chelsea mid out of pulisic, havertz and ziyech?

      because we want a differential and have our heart set on one of those?

      if none who would you recommend?

      thanks

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

      Tammy isn't an option right? Antonio just feels like it could be a disappointment

      1. Pedersen
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Oh he will be. But he is so cheap and do have potential. Would rather have some excitement in the game than just boring safety

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

          True. He was the plan when I wildcarded in 16, should stick with it. Cheers

    12. Pedersen
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Any news about Mccarthy? Is he back?

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

        Back training

        1. Pedersen
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Thanks

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

      Will you bench boost
      Meslier taylor Dallas Brewster

      Can do Brewster to Watkins (-4)

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

        No

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

          Update on taylor ?

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

            Not guaranteed to start just yet.

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

              Thanks

    14. 1justlookin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is it correct that AVL may have another DGW soon? Thinking of bringing in Leno for a hit, thats all.

      Worth it?

      1. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Bring in Leno for a hit? Why not Mendy or Martinez who has DGW? AVL have more dgw's but not sure when.

        1. 1justlookin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Sorry I meant Martinez in for a hit instead of Leno.

    15. The_FF_King
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have the exact money to make this FH team, all DGW players. Do I go for it?

      Martinez
      Dias, Cancelo, Robertson, Coufal
      KDB, Salah, Bruno, Soucek
      Antonio, Vardy

    16. EffPeeEll
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      With Citeh chasing the front runners, Aguero absent, Jesus abject, a DGW staring us in the face, and a possibility that an often over-hyper Manure v Liverpool match-up may once again fail to deliver for premium-priced Salah isn't;

      it time we faced up to the fact that KDB is by far and away the best option for captain, if not Triple Captain for GW 19?

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

        Yeah, I would probably TC him if not for BB

      2. MARVELLUS
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        But haven't City been a bit naff all season? How did they do last game?

        I have both and was KDB all the way, statting to think SALAH.

    17. Tabbara
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Which option is better :
      A : Balbuena, Adams and Son to Chilwell, Grealish and Antonio (-8)
      B: Balbuena and Adams to Antonio and Pieters (4.3 itb) (-4)
      Playing BB
      thx

    18. LM00091
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What do you think about this selection going into gw19?

      Mendy (Forster)
      Stones, Dias, Cresswell (Struijk, Douglas)
      Ziyech, Soucek, KDB, Salah, Fernandes
      Antonio, Vardy (Davis)

    19. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Triple captain this week

      Yes or No and why?

      1. ReadyGestedeCook
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yay

        Dubs GW

        Mighty Mo two plumb home fixtures

    20. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hi all ...

      Vardy + Maddison in for Son + Wilson/Watkins for a -4. ...?

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I've got Maddy and Vardy is a good option