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. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Start 4...
    A - Son (shu)
    B - Soucek (BUR, WBA)
    C - Antonio (BUR, WBA)
    D - Bamford (BHA)
    E - Watkins (mci, NEW)
    F - Targett (mci, NEW)

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ACEF

    2. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      ABCD but mainly cause I feel paranoid about Aston Villa.

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

      ABCE

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

      B,C,E, and tougher for the 4th slot

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

    What would your bench be for this team? Decided not to BB or TC as I’m not 100% sure on either

    Johnstone* - McCarthy*
    O’Shea* - Coufal - Justin - Alioski* - Balbuena*
    Salah - Kdb - Rashford - Bruno - Raphina*
    Bamford - Watkins - Adams*

    *doubts for the XI

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      McCarthy - Adams - O'shea - Balbuena

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      McCarthy Balbuena O'Shea Adams

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Alioksi instead of O'Shea if O'shea is nailed

  3. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone here using TC this gameweek? Interested to know how popular it actually is

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pretty sure I’m going through with Salah...

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Beat me to it. 😀

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

      Too risky
      All the “big 3” have “issues”

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

      No. My hunch is that Utd and Burnley will keep out of form Liverpool down to 3 goals total with no guarantee of them being Salah. Considering KDB but City also struggling for goals

  4. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    TC KDB?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      no imo

    2. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Considering it, looking for opinions above

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

    Bench boost the following

    Johnstone - Bamford, Dier, Smith Rowe
    All of the others are Double Game week players

    Yes or NO?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      other options are
      1. TC KDB
      2. Dier to Chilwel for a hit
      3. Smith Rowe to El Ghazi for a hit

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

    Will Fabianski start? Thinking him over Johnstone.

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

    Would you do TAA and Brewster to Stones and Antonio for a -8 to BB the below?

    Johnstone
    Justin TAA Dias Justin Maguire
    Salah Sterling Bruno Soucek
    Vardy
    Meslier Bamford Raphinha Brewster

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

      Ya

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

      Don't think losing a pool defender for a hit is worth it at all

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

        I reckon Stones will outscore TAA by at least +4 over the next few.

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

          me too Epic lad me too

  8. Ronaldo 7
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wan bissaka or Wilson?

    1. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wilson

    2. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely Wilson

  9. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son -> Rashford
    A) Worth it?
    B) For a hit?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      yes , did it myself and stuck on the armband too

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

      A) yes; B) no.

  10. JAYPEE
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should I BB this team?

    Martinez Forster
    Dias Justin Dallas Phillips KWP
    KDB Salah Son Fernandes Soucek
    Antonio Bamford Watkins

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

    Best gameweek 19 defender for 4.9 or less?

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

      And is he worth a hit or just play Walker-Peters?

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

        I'm about to take a hit to move KwP out for a DGW player. Though I won't pretend not to be slightly worried by the fact that he's on the back of three successive clean sheets & will have a catchup double vs Leeds at some point.

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

    Sterling T, thank me later

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

      *TC

  13. Meme2011
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    is it ever worth taking a -12 in order to use the BB

    for some context it would gain me 7 x 90 mins

    lots saying there will be other opportunities to use BB but i'm not so sure

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

      Yes.

    2. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not for the sake of it. 7 x 2pts?
      I'm saving mine ... crossing fingers the right opportunity is yet to come

      1. Meme2011
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        haha 1 each...

  14. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Think I must do -4 to get another DGW player in. Already playing Kane & Son. Salah (TC). Saka out to...?

    A. Maddison/Barnes
    B. Mount
    C. Cavaleiro/Lookman
    D. Soucek/Bowen

    Any opinions?

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

      Soucek or Barnes (probably Soucek)

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

    Cap Mo or Bruno?

    Bruno a risk with 4 yellows but more upside?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mo

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

      Going Salah myself

    3. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'd go Salah over Bruno

  16. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What is the probability of the Leeds DGW being back on with the Shrewsbury news today?

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

      I also wondered this.

    2. FPL Bargain
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Could you link me the Shrewsbury news please?

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

    Talk me out of TC Soucek please

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

      It’s late, get some rest

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Use RMT.

    3. Shatner's Bassoon
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You'll regret it when your big hitter is on fire and has a DGW

  18. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DGW Striker up to 9.8
    Got Watkins and Bamford

  19. Oldie99
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How’s this for go big or go home:

    Bruno Son Dallas out,
    KDB Ziyech Matip in

    Salah TC?

    -8

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

      KDB and Ziyech looks very good. Matip, however, a bit too risky and there are better defs in his price tag

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

      That’s a go home 🙂

  20. revelc
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    New try

    Free hit?

    Johnstone
    Cresswell AWB Cancelo
    Bruno maddy Sterling kdb(c)
    Vardy Watkins Wilson

  21. vandebeek
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth to transfer out Lacazette for additional hit for DGW players Werner/Firmino/Watkins or just stick with Laca and hope he starts and plays well..?

  22. boroie
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A - TC Salah
    B - BB (Forster Bamford Targett Struijk)
    C - Save TC & BB

  23. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    a) Get Antonio & bench Bamford
    b) Get Watkins and play BB with Areola, Bamford, Adams & Mitchell (-4)

  24. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mane captain?

    1. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Great shout

  25. Tross007
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo or Dias?

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

      This

    2. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias more nailed, Cancelo more points potential but maybe less nailed

  26. mgilbert86
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Keep Lacazette and Son or bring in Pulisic/Ziyech and Vardy?

  27. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Better option for next few weeks:

    a) Antonio (BUR + WBA, cry, LIV, avl)
    b) Wilson (avl + ars, LEE, eve, CRY)

  28. Luton_Fan
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is fabianski fit to start?

  29. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For managers doing BB, are you worried about AVL players if they are out with covid, like Martinez, El Ghazi ir Grealish? Any news on who is out?

    1. Mr.K
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm staying away from AVL.

  30. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dier + Wood >>> Stones + Antonio - worth a hit?