Suspensions

The Suspension Tightrope: Which FPL players are nearing a two-match ban?

There isn’t a great deal to concern Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers as the next cut-off point for yellow card accumulation approaches.

Any Fantasy asset who collects 10 cautions in the Premier League before their team has completed 32 fixtures will serve a two-match ban in the same competition.

Beyond that point, the threshold moves up from 10 to 15 bookings.

There aren’t any players who are sitting nervously on nine cautions, with none of the group on seven or eight yellow cards owned by more than 6% of us.

After a frenetic first three months of the calendar year, the respite provided by the international break seems like a good time to take stock of the disciplinary situation around the top flight.

PLAYERS STILL AT RISK

Hector Bellerin (£5.1m) and Harry Maguire (£5.5m), owned by 4.1% and 5.3% of FPL managers respectively, are among the four players who are two bookings away from a two-match ban.

Bellerin hasn’t featured in the Premier League in the last four Gameweeks as his grip on the right-back slot at Arsenal has loosened considerably but Maguire remains an ever-present starter at Manchester United.

Isaac Hayden (£4.6m) and Conor Gallagher (£5.5m) round off this small group, with the former potentially set for a lengthy, injury-enforced lay-off anyway and the latter ineligible to face parent club Chelsea in Gameweek 30 – meaning that he’ll have to avoid a booking in just one of his two subsequent games to see off the threat of a suspension.

Those players on seven and (in Villa and Everton’s cases) six bookings will have to produce something from the Lee Cattermole playbook to reach the unwanted target.

Jack Grealish (£7.5m) and Matt Targett (£5.1m) are the only players in the above list with a double-digit ownership but would have to be cautioned in all four of Villa’s next matches to be handed a two-game ban.

WHEN ARE THE CUT-OFF POINTS FOR SUSPENSIONS?

As we mentioned in the introduction, the yellow card threshold is raised to 15 after 32 league fixtures.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Gameweek 32, however – Manchester City and Fulham are one match ahead of where they should be at this stage of the campaign, while Aston Villa and Everton are a game in arrears.

Barring any further postponements and immediate rearrangements (the two outstanding games are Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton and Aston Villa v Everton), the ’32nd fixture’ cut-off points for all 20 Premier League clubs are as follows:

ClubPlayers are no longer at risk of a one-match ban for yellow card accumulation after the completion of…
ArsenalGW32
Aston VillaGW33
BrightonGW32
BurnleyGW32
ChelseaGW32
Crystal PalaceGW32
EvertonGW33
FulhamGW31
LeedsGW32
LeicesterGW32
LiverpoolGW32
Man CityGW31
Man UtdGW32
NewcastleGW32
Sheff UtdGW32
SouthamptonGW32
SpursGW32
West BromGW32
West HamGW32
WolvesGW32

Players collecting 15 bookings between now and the end of the season will be handed a three-game ban – an unlikely scenario given that only four FPL assets have barely scraped half of that tally after Gameweek 29.

Punishments for yellow card accumulation are competition-specific, whereas suspensions for dismissals cover all competitive matches.


Keep your eyes peeled on our Suspension Tightrope widget on our home page over the coming weeks and months, as we’ll be updating that after every Gameweek to keep you informed on the latest disciplinary developments.

294 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    What do we do with Bale now folks??? Give him the Newcastle game???

    1. Reeker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Don't have him but I'd keep him for Newcastle

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        I wish I didn’t have him mate!! Haha 6.29PM panic transfer grrrr!!! Still annoying me!!

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

      Depends on the mins he gets with Wales. I don't expect him to start against Newcastle based on last night's game and the team Mourinho chose. Bale is on my bench

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Yeah he’s on my bench too at the minute mate!!! It’s doesn’t look promising to me!! Would you shift him to KDB?? And bench Grealish if you were me??

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Probably yes. Also I would've got rid of Grealish a long time ago. Smith is too cagey when giving injury updates

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Hahaha yes i certainly should have mate!! Haha that’s the thing tho with having 15 players that all play I never needed to transfer him out coz I was set up alright all the time so kept him on my bench!! Haha

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              Fair enough. Just a lot of cash to keep on the bench.

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 days ago

                Yeah I completely agree mate, so many cheaper players providing points like Raphinha and Bamford and Gundogan in my team meant it didn’t really compromise anything elsewhere in the team fortunately!!

    3. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Either bench, if Reguilon is out, I need a def, or if Reguilon is fine, sell for a Mount as a one week punt.

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Ooh I like the Mount pick mate!!! I shall give that one some thought too actually!!!

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Havertz playing false nine is one step ahead in same direction too. But I would go for Mount personally.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Yeah I like him too mate, I think I’d go for Mount as well tho

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Annoyed by my own decision, 50/50 him v Trossard 10 min before deadline ... he's on my bench for Gundo GW30. Unless feeling punty for a CHE mid.

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Exactly the same here mate!!! I panicked when I got home from work and new that all my mini league had brought him in!! Last Monday before the Liverpool game I posted on here ‘Anyone fancy a cheeky Trossard captain’ .... still haunting me !!! I went for Bale instead and captained Kane!!!!

        1. Nanoelektronicar
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          I just haven't had faith in Brigthon attack. I knew Bale is unsafe, but I thought he won't be dropped with Son and Lamela out.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Yeah same here mate and he has Newcastle next and Spurs will have a double gameweek too, so seemed logical at the time!!

            1. Nanoelektronicar
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              Cheers lad, hope it turns out good whatever you decide!

    5. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Might as well keep if you don't have anything pressing

    6. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Depends on your team. Probably a hold for me since:

      - If he starts, it's Newcastle.
      - If he's subbed on, it's still Newcastle
      - If he misses out, my bench is: Antonio, Stones, Dunk.

      I already have to chose one to bench from Fernandes, Bale, Lingard, Raphinha, Gundogan, Kane, Bamford, Antonio.

      If Bale misses out, it kind of sorts out the headache. Antonio's stats were great though - I still even would mind starting him...

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Great points well made mate!!! I’m in a similar boat too with Bruno, Bale, Lingard, Raphinha, Grealish, Kane, Antonio and Bamford!!! So makes complete sense too Keep and hopes for the best!!

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Cheers. I'm still a pretty apprehensive having sold Son for Bale, that Son will deliver - so I'd rather have him back... but it is what it is.

          I'd still bench Grealish ahead of Bale

          Give it the IB to think about. Injuries could crop up.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Yeah if there was any sign Son had a chance of making i would 100 percent gone for Son Over Bale which make it even more annoying haha. Would you? My relationship with Grealish is that I hated not having him in my team coz it was aweful to watch Villa without having him and others having him hit since I’ve got him in he did nothing and I wanted rid!! Haha

            1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              *him in

            2. Hazz
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              I sold Grealish for Raphinha back in GW15 and haven't looked back. Haven't really even been tempted by him at all.

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 days ago

                Yeah I certainly wouldn’t look to get him in when he’s back if I didn’t have him!! I have the armband on Raphinha for next gameweek atm!! Great player!!!

      2. Nanoelektronicar
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Sound logic, I think he could nick something if on the pitch, but I am dreading a cameo. I don't know if Antonio will have it easy with Boly and Coady, but Wolves haven't been that good at the back lately too.

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          I think West Ham will enjoy playing against Wolves especially with how Lingard is playing and Antonio may thrive in a battle against Coady and Boly!! I will started all 3 of my West Ham(Cresswell the other)

        2. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          To be honest Antonio seems to bully absolutely everyone. He'll be raring to go after a nice break.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Haha he does mate!!!! Nobody like in!! I think West Ham beat Wolves

            1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              *like him

  2. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Who do we think is the best one week punt before WC?

    Shaw
    Azpi
    Havertz
    Rashford
    Grealish
    JWP
    Salah
    Other?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I was thinking Havertz or Moura

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

      Alonso or Havertz

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Azpi

    4. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Marcus

    5. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Alonso I think

    6. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Havertz

    7. STONEROSES
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Chelsea match looks best one to target for me. As probs a defender - but with Alonso in and out is Rudiger or Azpi the most exciting 1 wk punt? Probably not. But might be the most sure fire.

    8. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Havertz.

  3. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Last Man Standing GW29 (325 teams)

    Safety score = 43
    Top score = 87
    LMS average = 52.91 (-1.97) = 50.94

    67 teams to be removed, 258 through to GW30.
    Up to 25% or minimum 65 out next GW.
    Congrats to all the final 258 🙂

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Getting excited now.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Are you still in? Have any chips left?

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Yep, still have WC, BB and FH so bound to go out next round before I get to use them.

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Wow! Still 8 rounds to go but if you can survive next round, you'd be one of the favourites.

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              Cheers TM. Thanks for organising.

    2. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Continuing to scrape through just... Cheers TM

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        😯

        Only 1 point between us now 🙂

        1. Rotation's Alter Ego
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Just biding my time, preparing for my late charge up M&Cs. All about timing 😉

    3. ARH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Dont think i ever got past week 3, so amazed im still going.
      Thanks for the effort in organizing.

  4. Ha.
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Martinez

    Dallas, Azpi, Cresswell

    Gundo, Bruno, Salah, Son

    Watkins, DCL, Kane (c)

    Meslier Canceo, ESR, Stones

    I know it’s early, but assuming Son is fit would you do Salah > Havertz with a FT? Will then be WCing and so it’s a one week punt.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Maybe Ziyech?

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Maybe.

      Watkins has done nothing of note for ages so Watkins > Bamford/Antonio could be better.

      But Grealish might be back, which is a factor.

  5. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    There I was, my 3 Hammers, 3-0, and I guess 2 goals and 2 assists all told at the end of it... but what a game. Anyway, Rapha has the Bus (c) I think.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Enjoying real football and enjoying FPL circles only sporadically intersect

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Bamford strong contender for me too.

  6. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Leeds fixtures don’t look amazing long term but I’m seriously tempted to just do souceck to Raph and captain him

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Compare Leeds at home and away

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Shef United though

    2. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Their last 5 games 4 of them are good

    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Only 31-33 are tough, and it's not impossible the forwards return in those fixtures.

      Beyond that the fixtures are quite good, although there could be a beach element by then.

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        I will do it but will be double parked with bam, can always ship him if need be, Raph looks a decent hold to season end

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Leeds pitch is the only thing preventing me doing similar... it's like trying to play on some farmer's unkempt cattle field

      An absolute disgrace of a surface & really holds them back believe it or not - surely some sort of massive re-dig happening over the summer

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Weather is making an up turn might firm it up a bit 😀

  7. STONEROSES
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    What are ppl thinking re: city players in their GW31 WC?
    Worth persisting with or is the rotation just going to increase to a prohibitive level

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Maybe an attacker & defender at most.

    2. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Even with roatation, Gundogan and Stones seem far too good value to sell. I haven't checked the fixtures list, but while it's important for them to be rested, it's also important to keep the rhythm, so it's difficult to predict rotation pattern anyway. Selling Gundogan who has been the main goal threat in top of the table team for someone like Neto in the struggling side just doesn't seem reasonable.

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Planning to have Dias KDB on WC 31

  8. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Taken a break from pretending to work

    H2H leagues are bonkers aren't they? I'm down in div 53 of league 7 in the FFS leagues. One of the teams there has an OR of 1519 and is only ranked 6th despite there being just 3 teams in the top 100k and one of those is well below him.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Mainly luck of the draw. Will probably drop another division despite being higher ranked than majority above me.

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I was 1 pt away from top 10k last year in the lowest league and 7th or 8th. Too much luck involved. Forgot to participate this year.

    3. ARH
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I once ran a H2H league of 10 teams and finished bottom despite the fact i would have beat them all individually H2H. Almost every week was drawn against one of the top 2 highest scorers.

    4. Athletico Underachieving
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Yep, I’m second out of 40 in my work ML, 26th in the H2H!

  9. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    47 points off top 10k with a wildcard to play......do I have a good chance of getting there or should I temper my expectations?

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Same boat, I think there is but, there has to be a differential captain success and/or nailing 2 or 3 differentials that will bring that 7 to 10 point advantage over the top 10k average.

      1. SimonOwen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Haha nice response beat me to it!

    2. SimonOwen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I think most people in the top10k have wildcards still, there is always a chance of getting there 47 points is easily catchable but you would need to differentiate your captain consistently I recon!
      I am just wondering if i try and push higher or consolidate 😀

    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Depends how well you nail it and the doubles/blanks.

    4. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Very good chance. I am also hoping for my 1st ever top 10k finish.

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Personally think it's a valid goal

      There's a quarter of the season to play with DGW(s) and BGW(s) to come. More importantly the template is blown apart right now. WC31 I suspect could be a poisoned chalice for a few. Also imagine several teams will implode by making big plays to get to top 10K.

    6. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Definitely doable!

      1. Nanoelektronicar
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Mark is aiming for you, is it doable? 🙂

    7. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      If you're lucky you'll do it, unlucky and then it's no chance.
      It's all about nailing the (c).

  10. Earn your Spurs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    My main rival is way ahead of me. Would you buy :-

    a> Kane - opponent has him so this would remove Kane as an issue
    b> Lacazette - differential heading into good fixtures, but may not always start

    Thanks 🙂

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I would try to get both going ahead. Probably Kane first for that Newcastle game, double is ahead too, and then Lacazette as a differential.

  11. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    88pts behind league leader. I have FH and WC and he has TC. Will be long 9 GWs...

    1. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      WC will be the key chip for you.
      Get it right and you will catch him easily.

  12. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Which two of these score more till the end of the season?

    A. Alonso
    B. Azpi
    C. Rudiger

    Looking to get in 2 of the above and thinking if Alonso is worth a punt

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      B C

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      AB

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      AC- As long as you have cheap bench cover for Alonso benchings

  13. Rotation's Alter Ego
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    New Community Article

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2021/03/22/learning-from-the-great-and-the-good-20-21-gameweek-28-and-29/

    Latest from Greyhead and it's a double feature. There's also a Hot Topic on there about end of season punts, so make sure to give the article a read and them let us know your thinking

  14. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    If you lost money with Football Index consider joining Leigh Day's pending legal action:
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/our-services/product-safety-and-consumer-law/consumer-law/football-index-group-claim/

    Good luck.

  15. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Inexperienced here

    Is it unusual for so many people to be looking to use second WC as early as 31? I appreciate the reasons for it but it feels to me that it makes OR much less stable - the template looks to be almost completely up in the air bar Chelsea defence, Bruno and Kane and maybe Gundo. Perhaps there's sort of a recent precedent from free WC last time out.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I think it's to fix team structure. A lot of us have really inefficient teams carrying the likes of Pope, expensive defenders and 8th attackers.

      I'm almost guaranteed to WC in 31 to fix this stuff and so that my WC has time to realize its potential.

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      When would you plan to use it? It's hard to get the full benefit of the WC if you save it until the last 3/4 gws of the season. 31 seems to make sense with a bit of a fixture swing for the likes of Leeds who lots will have loaded up on this week, plus it gives 8 gws to set your team up for the rest of the season and maybe pick a few differentials.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Not arguing against WC31

        Just curious about it's possible/likely effect on OR. As I say a comparative newbie and previous experience was that it was played late to hit DGWs.

        (Do feel it could be awkward given likely lack of information about DGWs and the form of the teams with fixture swings but that's not my question here)

    3. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Play your own game. If you feel your team is ok then hold the WC. I'm swaying towards playing it in 34 now, loading up on players for the last few fixtures that I maybe wouldn't want for the games before

    4. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      The whole season is unusual this year, especially the fact that the two biggest DGWs have already come and gone before the spring international break.

      If anything I would have expected wildcards to be used even earlier this season. But the late release of the DGW26 fixtures prevented a lot of people from playing it around that time.

    5. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      What else are you going to save it for? It’s the perfect opportunity to offload gw29 players if you’ve planned it right

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Not my point

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          If you think there’s going to be a set template before gw38 it’s not gonna happen. The later you leave the WC the less benefit you can get out of it before the season ends

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Still missing my point 🙂

            Until a couple of weeks ago there was an extremely strong template and that's already creaking and likely to be blown apart by 31.

            I'm simply asking whether we can expect greater flux in OR given this. I'm not making judgements on validity of WC31 or WC34.

    6. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I've already used mine in GW25

    7. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      All the big sgw and dgw came early this season which is why I used my WC early on gw18 to plan for bb19.

    8. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I read through the thread and I get your question. No doubt the free wc last season gave some a competitive advantage and effected OR.

      Usually, where you're waiting for the big dgw & blank later in the season, more experienced players will hold wc/bb/tc for this advantage. This season is different for obv reasons, but holding the wc chip or other for later, with much smaller doubles & blanks, may have less advantage and require a greater degree of good fortune.

      As in the gw just gone, those who FH rather than dead-end seemed to have faired better because it was more higher scoring than anticipated.

      1. FPL Theorist
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        "more experienced players will hold wc/bb/tc for this advantage."

        This is less and less of an advantage every season. These days, most casuals just look to content creators who broadcast their chip strategy well in advance, and then do what they're told.

        It's ironic to see pundits think that they are being so clever holding WC for the last big fixture swing. As long as they all broadcasted their plans weeks before, the advantage is gone. The days of springing a surprise late WC on their rivals are long gone. Meanwhile, someone like Andy uses the WC early, against the template, and makes huge gains when he turns out to have been right.

        1. Pep bites Kun
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Depends on each individual team where the advantage lies.

          What's your strategy?

          1. FPL Theorist
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Wildcarded in GW25. Trusted Crellin to be approximately right and set up for the BB26 as I'd planned, despite fixtures being released late.

            Worked fairly well, but no chips left now. Team is fine though. Not feeling like WC31 teams scare me.

            1. Kroos Kontrol
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              That's because a GW25 team is incredibly well-set for GW31 with a couple of transfers. You are vastly overrating how many people see those videos, then actually follow them to a tee. Even if they do, what if 2 different content creator say different things. Who do they follow?

              And even if they copy strategy, there can be massive swings. A lot of people follow the same chip strategy to massively different results (Antonio + Auba this week = 9 points. Laca + Lingard = 22 points). That is how many elite players get to high ranks despite podding for years. Or how two like-minded managers in a podcast end up with wildly different scores.

              Also, I can't understand why you went "Andy went against the grain" when he's literally one of the 2-3 biggest content creators out there, and spent a while broadcasting his strategy of doing a second WC in Christmas in his channel. Like he did literally everything you said and yet ran past everyone.

              Finally, GW25 was effectively you holding out your WC for the last-big fixture swing. Literally the biggest fixture swing was having a 17 DGW week drop in. It was also the most popular chip strategy for those who hadn't used their FH + BB.

              Also, WC31 is still a week + IB away. A lot can change in that template. A lot can scare you pretty soon there.

            2. Pep bites Kun
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              If you're happy with your team, then hold. Hold for a later date. All chips are valuable and can hold an advantage any gw (not just the most popularly played weeks). A wc badly played may lead you into directions you don't necessarily want to go, such as 'you need differentials' whereas you actually want the most on-form players possible, with the best run of fixtures, for the most gws.

    9. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      *I should add, the rest pertaining to earlier wc strategy has already been addressed by the more-learned of the community above.

    10. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Most people planned for this knowing there would be 1/2 small DGWs max post GW29 with not more than 2 teams involved. AVL vs EVE and TOT vs SOU are the only 2 games to be rescheduled. Now that the PL has said it wants to rearrange fixtures for the last 2 GWs, it has put some plans on hold. But most teams which were dead ending their teams have quite a few out fo form players and players who they don't want. So, it makes sense for them to set out their teams based on whatever knowledge we have and what Ben is predicting.

      Of course, at the end of the day, everything is team dependant. Many "veteran" players aren't doing as well as they would've hoped. So, they aren't goign to go for template picks anyway. With a WC, it gives them the opportunity to find the right balance between template players and punts. Also, a lot og them have used their BB. That's one of the main reason why people saved their WCs till the end, to maximise the benefits of BB.

    11. Kroos Kontrol
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      There's no real point waiting for a template, because it is always 2 weeks behind. The only time it works if it's a sturdy template (e.g. Bruno + Salah in GW14~), but there's no guarentee of that.

      Mostly people are going to attack the fixtures, and pray that it brings form. If you look at the past season, this has been the case.

      Man City had a fixture swing in GW9, and beat Burnley 5-0 (previously they went 5 games in a row where they did not score more than 1 goal), and then kicked on. This can apply to a lot of teams (Arsenal from GW16, Man Utd from GW13) etc. Of course there are false alarms (Liverpool during Christmas).

      But that's the underlying idea. If you look at the fixtures + motivation, the odds of Liverpool and Leicester improving are high.

      And second is team structure. If you can fix the defence (get man city + man utd + chelsea etc), then you raise the floor of the team. That way you can punt on Liverpool/Leicester, and if someone doesn't work out, you can transfer them out. It gives you less fires in the team, which allows you to attack more (double-ups triple-ups).

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Not disagreed but again not an answer to my query - obviously poorly stated.

        I was simply wondering whether we could expect more flux than usual in OR given the break up of the template. Not really interested in the defence of WC31 strategy.

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Is your objective to hold rank and go with the grain?

  16. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Cancelo to Azpi on the cards this week for a BB... is this good enough for a BB?

    Areola Dias Azpi Trossard

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Being pragmatic, I'd give it 50/50. 3 out of 4 of the players are strong. I'd run with it if I didn't have a better plan

  17. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Let's see some WC31 drafts then!

    I'll get started...

    Mendy Forster
    Dias Rudiger Shaw Tierney Konsa
    Salah Fernandes Gundogan Havertz Saka
    Kane Antonio Iheanacho

    I have 1.7m ITB with this lot.

    Thoughts...
    - Cannot have too many Spurs or City because of BGW33
    - Heavy Chelsea defense
    - Focus on teams with lots to play for hence no KdB
    - Konsa is in there for his good GW33 and because he has a DGW in hand.
    - Saka could become Neto, Lingard or Foden
    - Nacho could become Watkins for Villa's DGW or when Grealish is finally back

    I think this is the core squad though. I consider Havertz to be the key differential and I'm happy to take a risk on him at that price and with those fixtures. Chelsea also have a lot to play for.

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      People still following through with expensive benches? Wow

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Yes because of blank 33.

        Nacho barely counts. And what do you need the money for? If I streamlined the team a lot I could maybe get Aubameyang instead of Saka but I don't want to ignore some players because their price tag doesn't fit team structure.

        I'd argue you could build a competitive midfield with just Bruno + 4 other players under 8.5m.

        Bruno, Saka, Lingard, Havertz, Gundogan is extremely competitive imo.

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Yeah agree and I see where you’re coming from there, haven’t had time to plan my WC team yet but surely you need some Wolves given their fixture run home

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Like it a lot

      Bit dubious about Tierney but the upside is there for sure. Might be tempted by TAA instead. There's a team with a lot to play for.

      I'm guessing to Mo or not to Mo will be a big question for lots.

      Think I might be contemplating a Leicester mid. They have loads to play for - not sure Arsenal do until/unless they go out of EL and need to qualify for next season but that's possibly a long shot anyway.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        TAA as a differential 🙂

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        I don't think it's a question. You Mo.

        They play 7 of the 9 worst defenses to end the season. That's an incredible run-in.

        The more interesting question is if you add TAA or Jota in as well.

        1. pingissimus
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Perhaps - but not a slam dunk selection to me. Fixtures with zero form as it stands.

          Since Palace they have faced 7 of the 10 weakest defences on goals conceded and scored 5 goals in those fixtures. They haven't been putting away low liers for a long old time. It's not just Mo but the whole team. The attack isn't functioning.

          WBA one
          Newcastle none
          Southampton none
          Burnley one
          Everton none
          Sheffield two
          Wolves one

          (I've excluded Fulham there too as a really hot defence when Liverpool played them and perhaps only accidentally bottom ten for goals conceded given the start they made)

    3. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Get Jota in there.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Coady as well

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Yeah I guess. Coady over Konsa. But I like Konsa just a bit more because of that DGW he's sitting on and because I'm so rarely gonna need that 5th defender slot.

          Hard to argue over Dias, Tierney, Shaw, Rudiger imo. It's gotta be those 4 based on fixtures, value and attacking potential.

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Im going Coady AND Konsa. FT's though, no WC.

            Coady Konsa Cresswell Stones Dunk in def.

            1. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              Yeah if no WC the approach is different. Cresswell is an option too, yeah.

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        I want all the mids...

        Gonna be tough to decide on 2 slots from:

        Havertz, Saka, Neto, Lingard, Jota, Mahrez, Son

        And that's not even considering the secondary options to the ones above of:
        Mount, Odegaard, Neves, Soucek, Foden

    4. pjomara
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I expect Bruno to get rested occasionally from here on in.
      He's looked exhausted recently, and I think he'll get full 90 min in Europa League and less min in PL.

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Nah. I don't see it. Maybe the last 2 weeks if United are comfortable in the CL spots. But by then, I'll have time to make changes.

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Bruno is not restable

    5. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Assuming DGW32 for Spurs

      Mendy - Forster

      Tierney - Rudiger - Coady - Phillips - Coufal

      KDB - Salah - Son - Jota - Gundo

      Kane - Antonio - Iheanacho

  18. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Reckon Iheanacho will keep his spot for long ?

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      No way - 7 goals in his last 5 is terrible so he'll be dropped the instant Maddison and/or Barnes come back

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Yes. On current form, he's gonna be playing.

    3. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Not for long, form will dip sooner or later

    4. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Iheanacho xMinutes is in the 40s in most models for GW30-38. GL.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Link(s)?

        1. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          fplreview.com

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            Expected Minutes Model - I've seen it all now- not my cup of tea but each to their own

            1. jtreble
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 7 days ago

              Most of the analytics/modelling crowd is on Twitter. You can follow FPLReview here: twitter.com/fplreview. GL.

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                3 years, 7 days ago

                Cheers bud - don't mind me & my luddite ways standing in the path of progress 🙂

                But not even Rodgers may know for sure how many minutes Iheanacho will get - he probably has a good idea of where he thinks he fits in Leciester's attacking pecking order though - and I'm guessing it's somewhere towards the very top based on this recent ridiculous explosive form

                Remember Iheanacho as an 18 year old at city was already a prodigy - something akin to last season's Greenwood he had the X-Factor, great fixtures form & price tag make him a very valid FPL option for the next few weeks/months - that's generally about as far as you can look ahead in this game at the best of times

                1. jtreble
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 7 days ago

                  "... don't mind me & my luddite ways standing in the path of progress ...". No worries.

                  FYI: the FPLReview MD/Market models let you manually adjust player xMins up/down. I've found it to be a highly effective analytical tool. GL.

                  1. Pep bites Kun
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 7 days ago

                    +1 for an informative thread

      2. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Their is xMins as well? 😆

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          I'll give you a tip - pull a number - any number - directly out of your arse & simply put the letter "x" or the letter "i" in front of it & call it a model

          They'll lap it up & pay you for it

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 7 days ago

            lol - Not a believer of stats modelling then? 🙂

      3. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        It's not really a model - it's just a guess. FPL review use a 'hivemind' approach where people can submit guesses on xMins and they're aggregated. I guess the uncertainty is around Barnes/Maddison returning, but he's going to get a lot of minutes for at least the next few.

    5. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Until Barnes is back, certainly. After that it's a bit more uncertain. But when will Barnes be back and match fit? My guess is he may not be ready to start games until end of April, maybe May.

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Mar 19: "We said at the time we were looking at about six weeks to get back into training, so we're two weeks post-op, and it's all going well."

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 7 days ago

          Somebody's short term memory doesn't remember Ricardo "back in GW4" Pereira

  19. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Any reason to play wc now? Was set on it but have now seen my team and it looks solid for this week.

    Martinez
    Dias Stones Dallas
    Raph Son Bruno Lingard
    Antonio Bamford Kane
    (Johnstone, Bale, White,

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      Yeah most managers have already changed their minds about a GW 30 WC. 31 seems better.

  20. King Kohli
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 7 days ago

    Realistic target if ranked around 650k now with only FH left?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      400k?
      Thats 33 pts away

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        Surely he can make up more than 33 points in eight weeks?

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      I think top 200K is possible if you have a good squad now.

    3. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      250K anyway

      Plenty of teams ahead of you will implode by taking lots of punts and the OR around there is very mobile anyway.

    4. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 days ago

      You need a different team to do well for the biggest jump. Take that strategy and no reason you can’t make big jumps

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 days ago

        You need the 'best' team every gw for the biggest jump

        What's that team?