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

    Who would you keep from now onwards?

    Son or Rash

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

      Son

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

      Son

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Son out of the 1

      1. Mufc202020
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        2*

  2. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is this move worth a -12 or just avoid BB completely?
    Out: Fabri Taylor Balbuena DCL (my whole bench)
    In: Johnstone Stones R.James Antonio

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Save BB

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

        BB not worth using -12 on IMO

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

      No bb

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

      I think -12 is too much. Even -4 is risky.

    4. Charlie&TheLads
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      -12 is a bit much
      Like your style though and could be a master stroke

  3. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Stones and Robertson
    B. Cancelo and Zouma

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

      A

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

    3. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thank you

  4. EIE
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Why are people taking Grealish out? Hasn't been confirmed as having Covid, has he?

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

      Nope, probably just one of the many make-weights for the likes of KDB, Rashford etc.

    2. Long ago I drew a walrus
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Team potentially hit by COVID, poor initial fixture, loads of other options. If I sell him he's going for KDB. Hard to argue against that, really

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

      He has been posting on social media with him training so should be fine bur he has 4YCs and has 4 games until it extends to 10

    4. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      easy transfer to Soucek

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

    Is starting DGWer Kelan Davis over injury doubt SGWer Neto mad? I can see Davis getting playing time with the Covid hit squad?

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

      Unless he has covid

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

        No one knows which villa players have it?

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

          True. But starting him would still cover me as if he doesn’t have it, I reckon he will get game time. If he does, he won’t feature.

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Playing WBA is about as good as a DGW.

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

        Neto is triangled. 75%

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

      If he's not out because of covid himself

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

    BOTTOMED

    Final, big call:

    A.
    On currently:
    Martinez
    Dias Cancelo Tierney
    Son Bruno Madisson Neto KdB(TC)
    Kane Bamford
    6 double gameweekers

    Would you stick or FH to this:
    B.
    Martinez
    Stones Bailly Shaw Dawson
    Salah KdB Soucek Bruno Sterling(C)
    Vardy
    11 double gameweekers

    Thanks

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I do like the FH option this DGW, but whatever you do, don’t captain that utter Easter Sterling, it will only end in tears imo. I always tell people to stay away as he does nothing and still people buy, it’s mind boggling stuff

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

        Cheers bud. Anyone else, please?

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

    RP - Which option would you go for?

    A. Balbuena and Kane to Cresswell and Vardy (-8)
    B. Balbuena to Dawson (-4)

    Martinez
    Stones Cancelo Coufal Balbuena*
    KDB Bruno Soucek Salah
    Bamford* Kane*
    (Johnstone Raphinha* Rodrigo* Holding*)

  8. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Blimey, spent that long deciding which extra DGW’ers to bring in I’ve totally neglected what usually takes me days to decide on, the captain choice!

    Really it’s only between Bruno, Salah, & KDB for me.

    There’s arguments for and against any of these three but what is your gut feeling for captain here?

    Cheers guys

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

      I'm going salah but dont have kdb. Would go kdb

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cool cheers bud, yeah certainly tough between the two, been on KDB by default all this time, probs stay there 😉

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

          I would. Great fixtures

          GL

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

      Bruno on 4YCs rules him out for me. Currently on Salah due to the extra rest

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cool thanks Tony, yeah actually briefly forgot about the 4 YC’s from Bruno haha. Tough choice

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

      I'm going KDB. He looks hungry right now. He really should scored at least 2 goals over the past 4 games.

      If he the took & scored the penalty on Wednesday, it wouldn't even be a debate 🙂

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers Viper! Yep, couldn’t agree more. He’s certainly had the chances being attacking, if only for a lack of finishing and not taking the pen it’s a plain straight decision like ya say.

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

        I don't think he has scored a 1-1 with the GK this season. Very frustrating but as you said he is getting the big chances and has the better fixtures

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

      KdB

  9. Awesomeness
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need a 4.4 defender to fill in the last spot on my bench boost team, I guess Lowton is the best?.. Or any better suggestions?

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

    Meslier; Giroud, Bamford, Alioski

    Is this worth bench boosting?

    With what amount of points on bench would you be happy when BBing?

  11. EIE
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mahrez to...

    A) Sterling
    B) KDB

    First to 3 wins!

    1. Amans94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

    2. janlu0
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

    3. JoeJitzu +42
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB

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

        Ha ha cheers all. A clean sweep!

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

      KDB

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

    Son dropping. Antonio rising.

    Son and Adams to Salah and Antonio -4?

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      Prob would

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

      ignore prices - follow points.

      but that move looks good (probably as the 2nd option is 2-3 mill more than the 1st one)

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

        Thanks will have 1.3 ITB aswell

  13. janlu0
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    1) DCL to Antonio for free
    Or
    2) DCL to Vardy and Robbo to Coufal for -4

    1. gart888
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      1 for me.

      I'm not sure Vardy+Coufal outscore Antonio+Robbo this GW, nevermind having to outscore them by 4.

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

      1

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

      1

  14. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Move made - BB activated

    DDG*
    Zouma* - Cancelo* - Dias* - AWB* - Cresswell*
    Kdb* - Bruno* - Soucek*
    Wilson* - Kane
    Martinez* - Bamford - Saka - Son

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

      No LIV same here, GTG BB!

  15. gart888
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How many extra points does one usually want to get out of a bench boost? I'm estimating it would be worth about 18 points for me to use it this week, and am tempted to just get it done.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well you get 16 if they just turn up twice, so I'd want more than 18

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

        How is it possible to have 4 DGWs on bench with all these postponements? I would have it if Leeds game did not get cancelled. Would you bench boost triple Leeds in Meslier, Alioski, Bamford with Giroud in this situation?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Fair comment, I only have 3

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

            Nice, gl!

            1. Wild Rover
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Ta. 🙂

        2. gart888
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I think he's saying wait for another week, but there's no saying that the next DGW will actually have fewer cancellations.

      2. gart888
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        But that's assuming you have a bench full team of DGW guys, which I don't. 3 of them are Leeds/Southampton.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I wouldn't be playing it in that case

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

        That's assuming you have 15playing twice, and haven't gone for a few decent SGW players. I'd say 16 is okay

        1. gart888
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          For reference, I'm looking at running Johnstone, Bamford, KWP, Adams on the bench this week. My starting 11 are all DGW guys. Think that's worth a go?

  16. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would you bench boost the following:

    McCarthy Dallas Raphinha Adams

    Thanks!

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

      I am

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

      I wouldn’t tbh

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Could get better later down the line

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

      I'm contemplating McCarthy-Dallas-Holding-Adams

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

      No.

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

    Play 2

    Targett
    Dallas
    Holding

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BC

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

        Thanks. That’s where I started, but questioned the dgw potential for Targett.

  18. farqy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Neto to Soucek worth a - 4pts d'ya think?

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

      Yes with Neto doubt

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably not, unless you are confident of attacking points

    3. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Na I wouldn’t say so

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

    Play Raphinha over Anguissa?

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

      Yes

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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

      cheers both

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

    Alioski to Sfones for -4?

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

      Yes imo

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

      Yes

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

      yes

    4. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

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

      Don’t think Leeds vs Southampton will be put back in gw19?

      1. Charlie&TheLads
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Mike Dean told me it’s back on

  21. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think Coufal outscores Adams this GW by at least 4 pts?

    1. gart888
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think it will be close. fix have Coufal estimated at 9.2 and adams 4. Touch and go.

    2. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I would say yes.

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

    Repost soz

    What to do here lads, cheers! 0.1 itb, 1ft

    Meslier, Button
    Coufal,Justin,Chilwell,KWP,Mitchell
    Salah,Kdb,Bruno,Son,Soucek
    Wood,Bamford,Che

  23. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    3 votes please

    McCarthy
    Cancelo Chilwell Coufal
    Salah (TC) KDB Bruno Soucek JWP
    Kane Bamford

    Steer Dallas JLewis Brewster

    A)Bamford to Antonio
    Or
    B) Kane to Vardy

    -4 (other transfer JWP to H Barnes)

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Out of the 2 I would pick A

  24. JoeJitzu +42
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Stones & KDB (-8)
    Or
    B. Zouma & Son

    Thinking of next three GWs

    1. Mufc202020
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

  25. Mufc202020
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Would any of you take a hit for either

    A)Kane to Vardy
    B)Neto to Barnes
    C)Both
    D)Neither

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

    What move would you make with team below please? Really going around in circles on this one!

    A) DCL and Adams > Vardy and Antonio -4*
    B) DCL > Vardy
    C) Son, DCL, and Bamford > KDB, Vardy and Brewster -8
    D) Son and DCL > KDB and Antonio -4
    *And play BB

    Martinez, Forster
    Chilwell, Robbo, Cancelo, Coufal, KWP
    Salah, Bruno, Soucek, Son, Raphinha
    Bamford, DCL, Adams
    (1 FT; £3.1M itb)

  27. Shark Team
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Buy Stones and play him instead of Raphinha or roll the FT?

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

      Stones

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

    Would you keep Son + Lacazette in starting 11 or remove (hits required for each)?

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

      Probably keep. Depends how much in the bank though. Laca to Vardy or Son to KDB/Salah probably worth the minus.

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

    Sounds like everybody on MU is wound up about something. (Multiple Twitter)
    Seems to be working. OGS Genius.

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

      What?

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

        lot of Pogba +/-

  30. John78
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    sorry for the repost, keep getting lost on pages.

    BB team

    Johnstone (McCarthy)
    Justin Stones KWP Coufal Dallas
    Salah Fernandes Son Soucek Foden
    Bamford Adams Vardy

    Did Kane & Rapinha to Vardy + Foden (-4), going without KDB, what do you think?
    So that i can keep Son

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

      Well you've done it now lol, doesn't matter what we think.

      I think the team looks good.