Pro Pundits - Lateriser

Which FPL forward should we choose to replace Harry Kane?

It’s been a while since I did the Burning Question format so I thought it would be a good time to revisit it. I asked the community to send me some questions and I’ll be answering a few here. Let’s get stuck right in.

Q1) What is the ideal front three if no budget constraints? @pras_fpl

Hi Pras, thank you so much for the question. Hope you are doing well. The injury to Harry Kane (£11.3m) and the lack of form of Patrick Bamford (£6.7m) has opened up the striker positions. Just a small note on Patrick Bamford, in the last four matches, he sits outside the top 30 players in the league for expected goals (xG). It’s easy to forget that he is still fairly cheap and offers value but he has a mixed bag of fixtures in the next five Gameweeks and doesn’t make my list for the ideal front three. So who does make my list?

Calvert-Lewin and Bamford the Fantasy focus as Everton host Leeds

First up, it’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.6m). Yes he has had four blanks in a row but it is worth mentioning that his merry men are back and as noted by Tom Freeman in his excellent article, Everton are a different beast when all their main players are playing together. Here is what Tom cited:

“Everton are a different proposition when they can get Lucas Digne (£6.0m), James Rodríguez (£7.7m), Richarlison (£7.8m) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all on the pitch at the same time. In fact, in the six league games they’ve started together this season, the Toffees have scored a massive 17 goals.”

Tom Freeman

That is an average of 2.83 goals per game. In the next four Gameweeks, Everton face Newcastle (home), Leeds (away), Manchester United (away) and Fulham (home). Three of those teams are in the bottom six of the league for expected goals conceded (xGC) in the last six matches. Fixtures and the calibre of opposition when they have all their main attackers fit are the reasons why DCL is top of my list of strikers at the moment.

The next two forwards who make up the ideal strikeforce for me are Michail Antonio (£6.4m) and Ollie Watkins (£6.2m). Antonio just makes West Ham better as an attacking outfit and owners were extremely unlucky to come away with just an assist against Crystal Palace.

He should have had a lot more from the game but he looks very sharp on the eye-test, has good underlying numbers, and has a fairly decent fixture run as well. Also worth noting that in the last four matches, West Ham are in the top five in the league for Big Chance Threat (BCT) and for attempts in the box which further justifies the presence of Antonio making the Hammers a much better attacking unit.

The same can be said about Aston Villa who also find themselves in the top five in the league for big chances and shots in the box in the last four matches. They also look like an excellent outfit in attack and are capable of scoring goals against any opposition. Watkins has great underlying numbers as well. He is second among all strikers for BCT in the last four matches and sits third in the league for shots in the box in the same period.

Q2) If someone wanted to take a punt on Chelsea now, with good fixtures and a possible manager bounce, which two or three Chelsea assets would you suggest? (@PierreM80702057)

Hi Pierre. My fellow Pro-Pundit and co-host Zophar always says it is better to be late to the party rather than arriving early and realising it is a dud. As you already know, I’ve been guilty of this crime quite a few times this season and it’s one of the big reasons I’m having a poor campaign.

When it comes to Tuchel’s Chelsea, simply put we just don’t know anything about them right now. I would suggest keenly monitoring them for the next two-to-three games before jumping in because the manager is just getting to know his players right now. Let me quote from this excellent piece on Tuchel on FFScout:

“Whatever system and style Tuchel chooses to deploy at Chelsea, he always tailors it to the players he has at his disposal.”

“My role is that of a service provider, I’m here to help and support the players.”

Thomas Tuchel

It’s very early to tell who is going to benefit from having Tuchel as a manager but I’ll just say that the first game against Wolves looked really encouraging for Kai Havertz (£8.2m) who played a lot closer to goal than under Frank Lampard. That said it is very early to draw any conclusions and I’d urge FPL managers to keenly observe for some time before jumping in.

Q3) Is Man City double defence a risk now with Laporte back and raring to go? (@fpl_saffer)

Hi Kevin, thank you so much for the question and first up huge congratulations for the season you’re having. I know you’re currently in the top 50 Overall Ranking at the moment so you definitely don’t need to be taking any advice from me.

→ How many FPL points did Aymeric Laporte register across Manchester City's three Double Gameweeks?

With regards to the Manchester City centre-backs, I see no reason for Pep to change the partnership he has at his disposal right now which is why both remain good picks. I think he’ll persist with the same two in defence and you’ll probably only see a little bit of rotation due to fixture congestion and that’s about it. I wouldn’t worry about them until Pep actually makes some changes.

Q4) Who are the second best premium defensive assets (with some attacking output) behind the City boys? Liverpool, Leicester, United, Chelsea, Spurs? Or just go budget? (@FPLAlternative)

If you’re looking for a defender to pick outside of the Manchester City names, the one I’d like to recommend is Lucas Digne.

Returning Digne can help Everton's attacking assets return to form in Gameweek 20

Like I mentioned earlier in the article, Everton have a great bunch of fixtures coming up. It is worth noting he was played as a left-winger in the previous game which makes him a very enticing option and even if he isn’t out-of-position (OOP), his numbers this season have been really good.

He’s top of the league for assists per 90 (0.49 assists per 90mins) and especially with James Rodriguez back in the team and in form, I think it increases his points potential a lot. Ben Godfrey’s (£5.0m) form also means that he could potentially still be OOP for a while. Only two teams have conceded fewer goals and big chances than Everton in the last six matches so that is very promising as well.

That’s it from me for this week and I hope you enjoyed this article. Our latest episode of The FPL Wire has some more detailed information as well which you can view below in case you fancy it.

3,541 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Best option here folks???
    A- Saka to Rodríguez
    Or
    B- Holding to Digne(would mean putting Dier on the bench)

    1. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

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

        Cheers mate!!

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B

  2. The King
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    What time are the price changes please

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      5 mins ago

    2. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      exactly at 1:30am GMT / 7am IST

    3. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The old ones are the best 😉

  3. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    (-4)

    Martinez
    Robbo | Dias | Bednarek
    Sterling(c) | Soucek | Gund | Bruno | Salah(vc)
    DCL | Bamford
    Forster | Dallas | Coufal | Brewster

    2.9 ITB

    Good to go?

  4. sthelenslad92
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Salah & Tielemans or Mane & Barnes?

  5. MikeLowrey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Current GW lineup:

    Martinez
    Robbo Dias Mitchell
    Salah Bruno Son Grealish Gundo
    Werner Bamford

    (Forster Coufal Brewster KWP*)

    A) No change - play Mitchell
    B) KWP to Stones (-4)

  6. 1984 TC
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Start:

    1. Coufal
    2. Soucek

    I’m 100% leaning towards Coufal, hehehe

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      2

      2 points are better than 1 or 0

    2. Garth Marenghi
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

    3. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would say Soucek

    4. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Both will have alot of defensive responsibilities

    5. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Just sold Coufal because have Cresswell as well and also Soucek. Playing Soucek benching Cresswell fwiw

    6. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Surely Soucek.

    7. leeboy104
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek no question.

  7. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which 2 to bench?

    Thanks...bottomed on last page

    a) Wilson (eve)
    b) Bamford (lei)
    c) Soucek (LIV)
    d) Mitchell (WOL)

    1. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A C

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks
        It would be painful to see Wilson bag one or Soucek head a goal but Newcastle are poor and Liverpool should keep Hammers busy in defence

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D and tough to call the other one.

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      B and D

  8. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Narrowed down the transfer options to these 3. Would love some votes and reasons to help me decide which one to go for.

    A: Bamford > Antonio
    B: Kane > Antonio
    C: Kane > DCL

    Martinez
    Cancelo Chilwell Dallas
    Salah Bruno Son Barnes
    Kane Bamford Watkins

    Forster Coufal Riedewald Neco

    1FT 0.2ITB

    1. MikeLowrey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C for me

    2. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Id do A and C or Kane to DCL

    3. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C

    4. ball c
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Go with C..
      Everton - favourable fixtures.
      Everton are at full strength.

      Do replace bamford soon enough for Antonio

    5. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks guys I was leaning towards C this week and A next so I'l go with that!

      1. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sensible..

    6. Uncle Gamst
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      C
      Antonio playing Liverpool and Villa next 2
      Kane is out
      DCL has potential to explode now his buddies are back and Newcastle are abysmal

  9. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just realised I have a bit of decision to make:
    Who to start:
    A) Martinez
    B) Johnstone

    Current team:

    Martinez
    Cancelo - Stones - Justin
    Salah (c) Bruno - Barnes - Grealish - Gundo
    Watkins - DCL

    Johnstone - Antonio - Dallas - Coufal

  10. Blue Gaffer
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Soucek.to Son worth it-yes or no?

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe. Are you playing Soucek otherwise?

  11. highsguy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Areola
    Dias Cancelo Justin
    Salah Bruno Son Raphinha
    Kane* Antonio Watkins
    Bench: Johnstone Soucek Dallas Coufal

    Did Bamford to Watkins
    Don't know what to do with Kane (10.8 value)?

    A) Kane to DCL(c) -4
    B) Hold Kane and play Soucek

  12. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    Chilwell Cancelo Dallas
    Salah Son Bruno Barnes Gundo (c)
    DCL Antonio

    Steer Coufal Lewis Brew

    4.9 itb g2g?

    Can’t believe I’m (C) Gundo but they’re playing Sheffield and scoring a lot of goals

  13. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Which one to play:

    a) Mitchell (WOL)
    b) Dier (bri)
    c) Coufal (LIV)

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      b

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        b

  14. Rahul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Lookman or Grealish?

    1. Party time
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lookman

      • Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Grealish, easy.

      • Muscout
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Easy mate Grealish

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Captain Salah?

      I feel its time

      1. thepuntmaster
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I feel this too. Stats say otherwise but just feel he’s had a haul coming

      2. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Just brought him in and torn between him and Gundo

      3. FPL Bond @ Twitter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think this is the week Salah explodes..

      4. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        So do I. One difference I noticed in last match was that Salah and Mane acted as team mates again and passed to each other. Or at least Salah passed to Mane. After not either of them scoring for so long that had to happen. Cancelo would be tempting C option, but don't want to sell Dias for him for a hit just now.

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

      Which transfer is better:

      A) Dallas -> Digne
      B) Raphinha -> Son

      Thank you!

      1. Rahul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

    4. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who to play?

      Choose 2

      A) bednarek
      B) holding
      C) coufal
      D) taylor

    5. Woy_is_back
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Soucek -> Maddison /Barnes for a hit?

      1. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I just did it. Hoping it pays off over the next two weeks.

        1. Woy_is_back
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Maddy or Barnes?
          Barnes feels more explosive

          1. thepuntmaster
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I’d go Barnes, think he’ll be more dangerous with no Vardy

    6. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Best option:

      1. Raphinha / Soucek >> Son
      2. Vardy >> DCL
      3. Both the above (-4)

      Thanks all

      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        3

      2. Hart-ake
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        3,

    7. Siva Mohan
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      play Soucek or Dallas?

      1. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Soucek

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          cheers WOY

      2. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Soucek...you know what he's capable of when benched

    8. Alisson WondHaaland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bench 1:

      A) Antonio vs LIV(H)
      B) Watkins vs SOU(A)
      C) Robbo vs WHU(A)

      1. sthelenslad92
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

      2. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

      3. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        C

    9. sthelenslad92
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Which would you go for?

      A) Salah & Soucek
      B) Salah & Tielemans
      C) Mane & Barnes

      1. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        C

      2. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        B I’d you have the extra mil over A

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

        A

      4. Party time
          3 years, 1 month ago

          C

      5. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Start Soucek or Bamford?

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Bam

        2. Dannyb
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Bam

        3. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Soucek maybe

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Liverpool are quite a short team without Van Dijk and Matip

        4. Party time
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Bamford

          • Stupendous
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Bamford it is then!

            Unless I sell..

        5. Ange Ball
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Abraham or Werner worth a punt for minus 4 Kane replacement?

          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            serious considered Werner but went with crowd fav DCL

            TT need Werner against Burnley and I feel he will start as per recent presser

        6. Dannyb
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Soucek to Barnes and bench Antonio?

          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I would start Antonio .. look at LIV CBs

        7. Gabbiadini
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Soucek to Mane/Salah for a -4 worth doing?

          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            S to M

            1. Gabbiadini
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Why Mane over Salah...?

              1. Baps hunter
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Mane looked better in last match (after having looked very poor many times before that...).

        8. storr84
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Start -

          A, Raphina
          B, Bamford

          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            A

          2. School of Poch
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            A

            1. storr84
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Thanks, lads.

        9. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Who to captain

          A: Cancelo
          B: Son
          C: DCL

          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            A risky but exciting

            1. School of Poch
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              That's what I'm currently on. Attacking returns in consecutive games is a big ask for a defender though!

        10. ball c
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Whose everyone captaining?

          I have some of the popular picks in
          my team for the Armband: Gundo, Barnes, Bruno, Cancelo, DCL.
          But... it’s time for another Salah haul.

          1. storr84
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Gundo, then DCL (vice)

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

            I would captain Gündogan. Salah has problems with the witch doctor from Zambia. Maybe the next Salah haul will come next season.

            1. leeboy104
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Witch doctor spell is over, so if Salah performs badly it's on him now!

        11. Corona is not good 4 U
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          How many points will get

          A) Digne
          B) Son
          C) Foden and
          D) Gündogan

          this week?

          Thank you!