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

    So hyped for this DGW and the next 7 days.

    Can only end in postponements, wasted bench boosts and abject disappointment.

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That's the spirit.

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

    Freakish or Ziyech for this DGW only. Then set and forget to Grealish.
    Concerned about playing Grealish this week as playing MC, possibly recovering from COVID and being on 4 yellows.
    Any thoughts?

  3. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1) Play Son
    2) Transfer for KDB -4

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

      2

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

      KFB. 2 good games in DGW and should be back on pens.

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

        KDB!

    3. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Getting KDB who has additional game is worth the -4 I would say. He's predicted to get something like 7 points from that game

    4. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      get KDB esp If you want him long term - great fixtures coming up

  4. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio or Wilson? Don't you think Calum is a bit underrated after his blank? His fixtures are not great bit not that bad either. And unlike Antonio he's fit. Thoughts?

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      By underrated I mean under the radar

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

      Rather an unfit Antonio than Wilson

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

      Antonio - Newcastle look dreadful.

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

      Newcastle are terrible. Will sell Wilson right after this gw.

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah they are terrible but Wilson is still one of the top scorers. Even last GW he had so.ething like 0.8xG (But to be honest I didnt watch the game), had he scored I think the narration would be tottaly different now.

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

      Had Wilson for the best part of this season (ditched WC 16) and was a great steady flow of points, makes me wonder why I'm now leaning to Antonio!

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I am desperate to get rid of Wilson but who else is there at his price ? I do however go up to 7.1 but still hard?!

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Am i crazy because i want Sterling more then KdB?

    1. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

    If I took a hit to buy Antonio, who would you bench out of these?

    [a] Grealish (mci, NEW)
    [b] Son (shu)
    [c] Bamford (BHA)
    [d] Don't buy Antonio

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

      D and play Grealish

  7. 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
    thanks

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

    Wilson > Antonio for a hit?

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

      I'm not sure on Antonio. Good fixtures but no form and minutes in the tank.

    2. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah, not when Wilson has the double as well.

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

      No! are you crazy!??

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

      No.

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

    Who is taking hits and how much?!?

    -8pts for me...

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

      -4 for me gives 10 doubles plus Bamford

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

      I have gone from planning a -12 to maybe not even taking a hit at all.

    3. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      - 8 (Taylor, Lowton and Son -> Dias, Stones and Foden)

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

      -4 but will 99% be -8 in the morning

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

      Tempted by -12 to bb

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

    I'm thinking of going triple Leicester by bringing Vardy (for -8) and captaining him (Kane out). Good move?

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

      I thought about Vardy but made other changes and feel Kane will score Vs Sheff United.

  11. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi I know there is going to be another DGW26 but do we know when the next one is going to be? I assume if play BB DGW26 then can TC for another DGW?

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

      Yes they’ll be a few more but no one knows when yet

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Great cheers sounds like best to save then

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

          Personally I am yes ... keeping both in the bank.

  12. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane owners without Vardy. Keeping or selling?

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

      Just dold for vardy

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

      Keeping

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

      Swaying towards keeping currently.

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

    A) Shaw:
    Liverpool(A) Fulham(A) Sheffield Utd(H) Arsenal(A
    B) Pieteres:
    West Ham(A) Liverpool(A) Aston Villa(H) Chelsea(A)
    C) Targett:
    Man City(A) Newcastle(H) Burnley(A) Southampton(A) West Ham(H)

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

    Would you BB this lot ?

    Raphinha
    Dier
    C.Taylor

    1. Corona is not good 4 U
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No. Taylor will only play one game of two (Liverpool) and the oters have also only one game.

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

      No

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

      Get rid of Taylor then yes!

    4. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wouldn't be too confident bb that bench.

      I am finding it hard to decide whether to BB

      Bamford
      Dallas
      Walker Peters and
      Mccarthy

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

      No.

    6. somato
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nealy same bench
      Dier
      C.Taylor
      Mccarthy
      Dallas

      Plan not to BB

  15. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Salah or KDB captain?

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

      I'd go KDB if I had him

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

      Either but my gut says KDB

  16. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Taylor, Lowton and Son -> Dias, Stones and Foden for - 8?

    Thanks!

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

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

      If you are bench boosting then yes

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

      Usually I’d say no, but this feels like the sort of GW to do it. I’m considering similar.

  17. Diddi89
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi all!

    This is the team,
    Mccarty* johnstone*
    dias * cancelo* TAA* coufal * Holding
    Mane* salah* Bruno * soucek* raphinha
    Wood * bamford rodrygo

    Help

    BB active
    Thinking of raphinha > lookman
    Rodrygo > Antonio

    And Than add Two more dgw player for -4p

    Gtg ?

  18. Bonus magnet
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1.Salah Bruno coufal stones

    2.Mane Bruno creswell Dias

    3.Salah rashford creswell Dias

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

      1 I think.

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

      1

  19. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Stirling a reasonable alternative to KDB for this GW? Or just too risky with rotation etc?

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

      i'd rather have Foden than Sterling

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

    Would you do:

    Dallas (BRI) -> Ogbonna (BUR WBA) -4

    Yay or Nay?

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

      Nay

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

      nope

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

      Nay.

  21. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hi, would you do Son and DCL to Kdb and Antonio on -4?
    Second question would you trigger bench boost with that squad?

    Martinez
    Dier/Justin/Cancelo
    Son/Fernandes/Salah/Grealish
    Watkins/DCL/Bamford

    Bench: Forster/KWP/Anguissa/Coufal
    1ft 2.2 itb

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

      Maybe
      Yes

    2. osceola31909
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Any way to get KDB without getting rid of Son?

      1. konrad.sygula95
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Grealish & Dcl to Kdb & Fabio Silva?

        1. osceola31909
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          No, I wouldn't want Silva. If that is all of the options, then yeah, it might be worth it to get rid of Son for KDB.

  22. House Frey Wedding Planner
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son Grealish & DCL for Salah Soucek and Antonio (-8)

    Good move or not?

    Already have Kane for Spurs cover plus I think the upside is huge. The -8 hit and the team value I'm losing on Son are the only downsides I can see.

  23. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane
    Adams
    Raphinha
    Dallas

    To

    Antonio
    Watkins
    KdB
    Stones

    For -12

    Worth it?

  24. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    stumped on what to do with Charlie Taylor, is this silly for -8?

    Taylor + McCarthy > Dias + Johnstone

    ??????

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

      Hits involving the WBA keeper might be a touch silly tbh mate but in saying that Dias may make up for it.

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

        cheers, my exact thinking on both parts there

        what a week this is

  25. osceola31909
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What is the best option?

    Martinez
    Cancelo - Dias - Zouma
    KDB - Bruno - Son - Neto - Anguissa
    Kane - Bamford - Wilson

    Subs: Areola - Dallas - Mitchell - Anguissa, 1 ft, 1.8 itb

    A) Kane, Neto --> Antonio, Mane (-4)
    B) Kane, Neto, Zouma --> Antonio, Salah, Coufal (-8)
    C) Kane, Neto, --> Vardy, Grealish (-4)

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

      A

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

    Would you rather?

    A) DCL + Holding > Antonio + Stones
    B) DCL + Struijk > Antonio + Stones

    To BB or not to BB?

    Bench of McCarthy Justin Bamford and Holding / Struijk

    Anyone on that bench worth upgrading for -8? Or just no Bb?

    1FT 0.1ITB
    Martinez McCarthy
    Zouma Justin Holding Coufal Struijk
    Salah KdB Bruno Son Soucek
    Watkins Bamford DCL

    Thanks!

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

      B as I think Struijk will lose place soon.

      That bench does look healthy enough for a BB I think!

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

        Great, thanks

  27. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bought Son at 9.0. Would you sell him for KDB?

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

      same, i am not no

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

    Kane to Antonio just seems crazy but I'm tempted.

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

      Same. I’m debating Kane and Son to Salah and Antonio.

  29. tim
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone or Fabianski for DGW?

    Cheers lads!

  30. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What to do here lads? 1 FT

    Johnstone
    Coufal-Dallas-TAA-Dias
    Raphinha-Salah(C)-Soucek-Bruno
    Kane-Bamford

    McCarthy-Adams-Perez-Balbuena

    Thinking to do Kane and Perez to KdB and fodder for -4 and save BB chip.

    Thoughts?