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

    just done -12 and still not got 11 DGWs

    1. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Omg

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

        Actually I have, but that 11th player is Pieters 🙂

    2. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just press Wildcard / FH if you have one. Good luck!

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

        Used FH last week and feels like I need WC for later. Not replaced any DGW player, it can cancel out playing two games right 🙂

    3. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm probably going to do the same 😆

  2. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do any of these for free

    A. Watkins to Antonio
    B. C. Jones to ESR
    C. Roll FT

    I’m bench boosting this week

    1. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No

    2. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I dont know about Aston villa situation but if Watkins really play then no!

    3. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B for me esr better option going forward

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

      Trying to decide whether to bring in Antonio or Watkins - that 0.1m makes a big difference to who else I bring in

      1. Vazza
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

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

    Which -8 sounds better?

    A) Adams + Bowen + Taylor -> Antonio + Gundogan + Stones
    B) Kane + Adams + Grealish -> Antonio + Watkins + KDB

    Cheers.

    1. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      can you just do Adams > Antonio?

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

        not enough funds

        1. Thinkering like a Boss
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          then A sound better unless you really want to captain KDB

  4. Going To Win This Year
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Justin or Dallas for Cancelo

    1. AD2110
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      J

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

      Dallas

    3. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dallas

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

    What do you think of this -8?

    Kane, Son, DCL—> Vardy, Salah, Antonio

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

      Yes no doubt

    2. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m contemplating exactly the same mate bit with Lacazette

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Indeed of DCL

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

      Like eating chipotle. Risky but worth it.

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

      I'm thinking of doing almost exactly the same except I alread have Salah so son would be making way for KDB. I don't normally mind taking hits but -8 seems a lot. I don't want to keep DCL while his value decreases so I think I'll end up doing it.

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

      Don't like getting rid of both spurs asset. You'll regret it

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

        Have you seen the future?

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

          Almost always

    6. D.Glynn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure about Antonio

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

      Cheers guys! Could just do DCL to Antonio, but feel no Salah could hurt me this week

  6. Mooster©️
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Lacazette to Vardy worth -4?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ep

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

      Yes

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

      Yeah

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

      Defo

    5. Mooster©️
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I did it. Vardy(c)???

  7. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who scores more this week?
    A) Saiss
    B) Antonio -4

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully Saiss

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

      Saiss by 2 points

  8. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think this is worth a -8?

    Taylor*, Kane, Grealish -> Stones, KDB, Antonio

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

      Probably, would want to keep Grealish ofc

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

      Not without seeing your team. I think Grealish will score highly this GW and Kane will do well compared to an unfit Antonio

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

    Below transfer sound good, thinking A? Have no city which worries me. 0.3m ITB and thinking not to BB.

    Johnstone
    Justin - Robbo - Coufal - Balbuena
    Salah - Son - Bruno - Soucek - Raphinha
    Kane

    McCarthy - Bamford - Adams - Alioski

    A) Robbo + Balbuena + Raphinha > Dias + Stones + Foden -8
    B) Robbo + Raphinha > Dias + Foden -4
    C) Robbo + Balbuena > Stones + Dias -4
    D) Anything else

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Jeez, that's a tough one. Double City is better medium term than double WHM so I'd prefer A out of those in my current thought-process.

      Your team is very similar to mine too. Never considered Kane --> KDB effectively?

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

        see kane or son as season keepers and prefer both at the moment

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

      C

  10. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mendy or Martinez

    (would prefer Martinez, but covid and all that)

  11. Twisted Melon
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start two:
    A) Wilson (Ars, AVL)
    B) El ghazi (Mci, New)
    C) Konsa (Mci, New)
    D) Bamford (bha)

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      AB

  12. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Worth it? Would do Adams and Son -> Salah and Antonio +1.3ITB if I don’t

    Martinez
    AWB Cancelo Stones
    KDB Son Soucek Bruno
    Kane Bamford Adams

    FH to
    Ederson
    Stones Ogbonna Cresswell Coufal
    Salah KDB Bruno Lookman ESR
    Werner Vardy

    1. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Soucek in place of Lookman/ESR.?

  13. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How risky is it to fly without KDB this DGW? Just outside the top 10k....

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

      I can't fit him in. Accepted it.

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

      Dangerous but we gotta do what we gotta do

  14. D.Glynn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A DGW punt in mid, why not. I have it down to these,
    A) Pulisic
    B) Ziyech
    C) Pogba
    D) Madison.
    Going without KDB buy not worth ripping team and hits.

  15. Fit_to_drop
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hammer Fans: Any inside info on whether Fabianki plays?

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

      No a hammer but he trained and tweeted something positive

    2. Twisted Melon
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He's fit but risk Randolph may still get the nod for one more game

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

      Cheers guys

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

      Inside info on who will play as striker would be handy

  16. KaBoZ: Kids,don't Drin…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Raphina + Cancello
    B) Son + Pieteres

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B for me

  17. FPL_Pugster
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think this is worth a -8 to attack the DGW with a BB?

    Son/Adams/Dallas OUT > KDB/Antonio/Kilman IN

    Will leave me with 0.0itb and just Bamford/McCarthy+Forster as single GW players?

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

      Kilman doesnt have a DGW! KDB and Antonio in sounds good but not bb with kilman and other sgw players

  18. Saka Punch
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which is the best option?

    A) Son, Kane, Burke -> Salah, Antonio, Soucek (-8) Bench Dallas

    B) Rashford, Son -> Salah, Soucek (-4) Start Dallas

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

      B

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

      A

  19. MikeS
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane and son out for kdb and vardy in? -8?

    1. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Honestly don't think it's worth it. No way of getting KdB in for -4?

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

        I'm struggling:

        Martinez-(steer)
        Zouma-dias-justin-coufal-dallas
        Salah-son-grealish-soucek-bruno
        Antonio-kane-bam

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

          £1.3mn in bank

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

    What would you do with this?? The plan was to BB this gw but I might stick to it and take a - 4/8.

    0.8 ITB
    McCarthy Johnstone
    Balbuena Taylor Justin Dallas Zouma
    Son Salah Bruno Raphinha Soucek
    Vardy Adams Bamford

    1. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio and Stones for Adams and Taylor?

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

    1ft 1.3mitb

    Martinez (Steer)
    Coufal Dallas Stones (Mitchell, Dunne)
    Son, Rashford, Bruno, KDB, Soucek
    Kane Bamford (Brewster)

    a) Bruno>Salah
    b) Rashford+Kane> Salah and Antonio (-4)
    c) Something else

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

    Martinez or Mendy?

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

      martinez

  23. dubtom
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane to Antonio or Vardy for -4
    YES or NO?

  24. Steve McCroskey
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you BB a bench of Johnstone, KWP, Dallas, Adams?

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

      nope

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

        If you could get Adams to Antonio.

    2. Saka Punch
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd consider if I'd used my freehit/WC

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

      Nah.

    4. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No.

  25. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which move?

    Lowton - > Dias/Cancelo (-4)

    Dallas -> Dias/Cancelo (-4)

    Both (-8)

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

      Lowton

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

      Close. Lowton->Cancelo only

  26. Genovoze
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who is the better 5th def:
    A) Struijk
    B) Mitchell

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mitchell

  27. Veggente85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why there is a lot of Antonio punts when you can get 2 gw19 games and good fixture with that with Wilson?

    1. Veggente85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      *after it

    2. Sarri-ball
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I was between the 2 followed the crowd if im honest. and was alot of negitives about newcastle attack. But im sure antonio a swap waiting 2 happen in a few weeks. Wilson can just leave tick along.

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      West Ham fixtures are far better for mine.

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

      Got Wilson (and Bamford) - trying to decide whether to bring in Antonio or Watkins (for Lacazette)

      Seems optimistic thinking that Antonio is going to be fit and come to the rescue of the dgw

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

    Son and Adams > Foden and Antonio (-8) , yay or nay?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nay from me, assume you can't just do Adams to Antonio?

  29. 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

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

      Possibly Ziyech. They're definitely a better team with him in it, I don't know how often he'll go mad but he should plod along with a steady stream of points through assists. If you regularly watch games then Pulisic is more exciting

  30. dylano21
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How many games will James/Zouma Start each ? 0,1,2 ?

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

      I assuming both play 2 matches