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. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which combo scores more?

    A) Soucek & Son ((salah C))
    Or
    B) Raphina & Kdb ((Kdb C))

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

      A

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

      A seems like

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

      A

    4. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wait you're basically asking Soucek, Son and Salah vs Raphinha and KDB...

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I have salah for B aswell but will probably captain Kdb over him

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

        or maybe Soucek, Son vs Raphinha, KDB

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

    A) DCL, Son, KWP -> 4.3, KDB, Cancelo/Dias (-8) and play no chips.

    B) DCL, Mitchell -> Antonio, Stones (-4) and BB: Johnstone, KWP, Anguissa, Antonio

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

    I need help lads...

    A) Sterling & Cavani
    B) Vardy & Soucek

    Cheers!

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

      B all day

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

      B

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

      A looks a good gamble

      B feels safer

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

        That’s what I need actually... I’m behind 100 points in my ML

    4. Kay317
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A is more exciting. B is more reliable.
      I'm a gambler so id go A.

    5. BremerHB
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

    6. Nat89
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      depend on the OR. Chasing go A, maintain? you guess

    8. Orion
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks guys 🙂

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

    Sorry to ask again... but need help

    A. Raphina
    B. Foden -4

    1. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Foden is probably worth a punt I think.

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

        Thanks Hulk. Thinking the same

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

      A. Foden would need to start both games just to break even. Bit too risky for me at least.

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

        My thoughts are I'd nearly take a start and 20min run out

        But fear leeds dgw

    3. milanista10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’d go Foden

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

        Thanks milan!

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

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

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

      Pulisic is the most explosive

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

    Kane, Brewster and Taylor to Antonio, Watkins and Cancelo (-8)?

    Would mean BB of Bamford Dallas KWP?

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

      Oh and martinez.

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

      looks good

  8. Pulp Minion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I have Cancelo so B/C would be double up.

    A) Maguire
    B) Dias
    C) Stones

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

      C.

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

      B

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

      Money no option B. Otherwise C.

      Man City great fixtures in next 5 so he'll be good for those

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

    A) Martial Rodrigo
    B) Pulisic Bamford

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

      B

  10. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to sell for Kdb? Thinking long term too

    A) Son (will lose 0.4 value)
    Or
    B) Rashford (will lose 0.1 value)

  11. milanista10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it risky to keep Neto on BB?
    Would you do Neto to Maddison for -4?

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

      Who are your other mids and how much itb?

      1. milanista10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Soucek
        Can spend up to 7.1

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

          Double city defence?

          Foden worth a gamble?

          1. milanista10
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Yes got Cancelo and Dias already so that can’t happen

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

              Maddison or mount are your only real options so

              Ya Madison-4 looks good

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

    Best enabler? They will be playing in my bench boost and then spending the rest of the season 3rd on my bench.

    A) struck
    B) mitchell

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

      Mitchell, I'm sure Struijk will lose his place when everyone is back. PVA is fit at the moment but Mitchell is still preferred

    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mitchell - that’s what I’m doing

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

      B

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

      Mitchell

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

      Struijk gets more points this week

      But think prefer mitchell palace got ok run after this week aswell

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

      Thanks all. Should catch a price rise as well

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

    Would you BB Johnstone, Dallas, Mitchell and Bamford?

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

      That's a hard 1... probably would with leeds good fixture

      Slight slight chance of a dgw still for them... slight

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

        Cheers. I’m leaning towards BB’, but really tough.

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

      Don't think I would.

  14. Greenbob
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Have Dias, worth taking a -4 to get another City defender in or play Targett?

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

      Play Targett

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

        My thinking too. Only concern is Targett, if he has covid then just Mitchell to come off the bench. But a -4 might not pay off for another city defender

  15. 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. BremerHB
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Would prob look to bring in Stones for Balbuena, maybe Adams to Antonio and then BB.

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

        That is what Im looking at rn. But no Kdb is a bit of a worry..

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

          Oh Taylor a worry too, if he will start... Or is he fit again?
          Yep, I'm also trying to decide between KDB or BB essentially.

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

    GW 19 (BENCH BOOST) (*= dbl GW)
    £1.2 Bank - 0FT - £105.1 TV
    Martínez* - Button
    Robertson* - Bednarek - Stones* - Coufal* - Holding
    Son - Salah* - Fernandes* - Raphinha - Soucek*
    Bamford - Kane - Antonio*

    either option look good to add a MC DWG player?
    For a -4
    A - Bednarek to Dias £0.1 Bank
    B - Raphinha to Foden £0.4 Bank

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

      A out of those - nice team too.

  17. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio or Watkins ...

    Antonio has better fixtures this week, but Watkins has more DGW coming up....plus I rate Villa attack more

    1. Bubbles1985
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's just the covid issue...

    2. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      The problem with villa is that we have no idea who has covid. So antonio imo

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

      Leaning Watkins (can use the extra 0.1m) - Would be lucky to get anything v MCI but the NEW match is far enough away that Covid should not be an issue

  18. TJ
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    BB Johnstone, Bamford, Raphinha, Mitchell?

  19. Bubbles1985
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Sterling to Salah for -4 risky?

    Also have KDB

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

      Yes, I'd stick with Sterling because it could reap rewards with his low ownership

      1. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That's what I thought too.

        Thanks!

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

      In the same position, but my feeling is that Sterling will play both games and could easily score more than salah so I’m keeping faith in Sterling

      1. Bubbles1985
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Salah form is a concern too!

    3. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Sterling for sure. Capt him

  20. MysticMac17
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench boost with this bench:
    Johnstone, Bamford, Raphinha, Brewster

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

      Probably not. Don’t trust WBA nor Brewster

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

      No, Brewster kills it.

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

      Not with Brewster.

  21. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need to make the call soon, of course I want KDB but maybe not at the cost of a hit plus Robbo and Son.

    1FT 0.3m ITB

    Johnstone
    Robertson Justin Lowton Coufal
    Soucek Bruno Salah Son*
    Vardy Bamford*

    McCarthy* - Raphinha* Dallas* Adams*
    * SGW

    A) Dallas > Stones
    B) Robbo + Son > Stones + KDB (-4)
    C) Robbo + Lowton/Dallas > Double City def (-4)

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

    If I don’t use BB, I’d have DCL missing maybe Taylor and would need to bench 2 of 3 Leeds players.
    In this case, could -12 be justified and play BB given a couple of players out anyway?

    Taylor to Stones
    Son to Kdb
    Steer to Areola
    DCL to Antonio/Watkins

    Benching headache for a few weeks until next wildcard but could probably live with that and use of free transfers

    1. mr messi
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think .-12 is too much to guarantee you will at least get that back

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

        Agree on face value
        But if DCL is missing post this gameweek and Kdb next week as Son plays Liverpool it factors in future transfers
        Hard to know. -12 doesn’t feel great but very tempted as you can tell

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

      -12 & BB is the way to go 🙂 ... I need to take a -8 to get Salah, so I might as well go -12 and get 2 additional matches (over the -8)

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

        Confirmation bias 🙂
        In Leeds we trust!

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

    A) Raphina + Cancello
    B) Son + Pieteres
    ?

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

      A for me. Cancelo is a medium-term keeper as well.

  24. dillydally1982
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which pair to pick?
    a) Salah & Jesus
    b) Sterling & Kane

    (I already own KDB, but not Son)

  25. Teomi
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A - Should i take a -4 to bring in mendy for steer and bench boost?
    B - TC on kdb and no hit

    Martinez
    Coufal stones Dallas
    Kdb Sterling fernandes ESR
    Kane bamford Antonio

    Steer* rapinha holding dier

  26. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    If you plan to use your BB in GW26 and FH in GW29, will there be another good gameweek to TC? I was thinking of just putting it on KDB in this GW, that's all.

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

      given how the season is going. I would expect more DGWs

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

        This. Also you don't need a big group of fixtures / DGW to use TC.

        A great option may random have two perfect fixtures in any GW until the end of the season.

  27. FantasyHero
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    alright need help in final decision:

    1. Ederson, Ogbonna, Zouma
    2. Fabianski, Coufal, Chilly

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

      1

  28. MGD
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Keep and save BB

    B)
    Mitchell -> Chillwell (another -4)

    BB this bench:
    McCarthy (lei)
    Chillwell (ful, lei)
    Bamford (bha)
    Smith-Rowe (new)

    -

    Doubt I’ll have a better bench anytime this season with a playing keeper and so on.

    Thoughts?

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

    Struijk gets more for this week

    But mitchell actully got nice run coming up.

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

    a - Darlow (or other sub 5.1 keeper) & Antonio
    b - Mendy/Martinez/Fabianski & Watkins