Pro Pundits

Is a triple-up on Chelsea’s defence a good idea and do we need three Spurs assets?

Sitting just outside the top 1k heading into the final quarter of the season, Let’s Talk FPL’s Andy looks at a number of burning questions facing FPL managers after the March international break.


Chelsea Defensive Triple-Up

Who are the stand-out FPL assets at Tuchel's Chelsea? 7

Given their recent defensive returns, it’s understandable that FPL managers are looking to double, or even in some cases triple, up on Chelsea’s defence.

Their upcoming fixtures are certainly looking appealing, with West Brom (h), Crystal Palace (a), Brighton (h), West Ham (a) and Fulham (h) to come.

For my own team, I already own Antonio Rüdiger (£4.7m) and am looking to add Edouard Mendy (£5.2m) to my squad. I’d provide a word of caution on the triple-up, though. While it looks good for the next few weeks, and I’m sure it’s something that Gameweek 31 Wildcarders will consider, you also need to think ahead about how to get out of it when the fixtures turn in Gameweek 35. You may not want to be lumbered with three defenders at that point and it might be easier to manage by avoiding it right now.

There are lots of other teams and players with good fixtures both in the short term and up until the end of the season which might work well, without getting stuck on a defensive triple-up on one team (something that also blocks the potential for bringing in an attacker, should you want to).

Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) is someone that I’ve already added to my team. Between Gameweeks 31 and 38, Arsenal play six sides that are in the bottom nine for expected goals (xG) so far this season.

553 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Hi..what would you do here, ahead of gw31 wildcard?

    Martinez
    Dias cancelo dallas (coufal dunk)
    Son bale mount raphinha (lingard)
    Kane dcl watkins

    A....Bale to bruno

    B...dunk to alonso bench a city player....start bale

    Thanks

    1. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Dunk to Alonso and and bench Cancelo

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Thanks

      2. jimmyharte
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Why you buying alonso. Non guarenteed starter

        1. Inter Me Gran
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Alonso for greater chance of attacking returns or Azpi for security?

          1. jimmyharte
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            What about next week

        2. gaurava1216
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          This week with chillie playing tonight and saturday lunch time KO + emerson playing for country. alonso looks odds on to start

    2. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      B

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I think alonso odds on to start

        I also expect bale not to start tho....cheers

    3. gonzalocampos
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Take out Watkins and Mount.

  2. gaurava1216
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Major Benching Headache this week!

    Martinez Foster
    Konsa Dias Alonso Dallas Creswell
    Bale Son Bruno Raphinia Lingard
    DCL Bamford Kane

    Any advice?

    Current Bench: Foster Dias Lingard Konsa

    1. 2999 - Lady of Legend
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Still got bench boost?

      1. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        No 🙁

        1. 2999 - Lady of Legend
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          🙁 would stick with current bench, might be needed if Son still injured etc.

  3. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Loving Chilwell starting another match as an Alonso captainer.

    1. Inter Me Gran
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You reckon it’s a dead cert? I’m either bringing Alonso or Azpi in this week

  4. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Kane Foden and Sterling front 3 for England. And maybe Man City next season?

    1. jimmyharte
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No

  5. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    And Grealish !

  6. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    How on earth is Poland ranked 19th in the world? I know they are missing Lewa, but they look like a pub team against England.

  7. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Andy has got it all wrong.

    People are considering delaying their wildcard because there could be a double with 8 teams in 35.

  8. GlasgowFF
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    How does Mount get in the England team when there are so many better players not getting in? It's really weird.

    1. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Because he’s a very good player.

  9. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Why has the free ticker been updated before the members ticker?

    😡

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Chill out.
      All you do is complain, critisise, and pull others down.

      Try to be positive to others.

  10. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Everyone’s got a different opinion when it comes to the national team !
    Arguably Mount’s the player most in form

  11. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    God know how Gareth’s going to fit Rashford, Sancho & Grealish in..!

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      He isn't. Maybe Rashford over Foden but that's it. The other two will be on the plane but I don't think they'll start.

    2. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Only needs to worry about Grealish of those three.

    3. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Fit them oncthe bench

      Can only see rash starting....and maybe not even him

    4. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      I would love to see an attacking set up from England rather than playing 2 x DCMs and four at the back. Something like this:

      Pope
      Trent Maguire Stones Shaw
      Grealish Rice Maddison
      Foden Kane Rashford

  12. jimmyharte
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Dias to Azpi? To bench Bednarek at home vs Burnley?

  13. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Have all viable formations on the cards this week bar 5-2-3 and may well run with 4-5-1.

    Looking ahead I can see myself possibly running with that a good deal to season's end depending a bit on Antonio. Anyone else in the same boat? Heaps on potential and not just value in midfield and at the back.

    A combination of Maddison/Barnes Lingard Raph Jota Gundo alongside a couple of premiums renders the need for a budget forward starting unnecessary except perhaps in DGWs and BGW33. I'm thinking that for certain key teams the budget mid options simply look better than the forwards.

    Lingard > Antonio
    Maddison/Barnes > Iheanacho
    Raph > Bamford

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      No way on 4-5-1. It's always 3 at the back for me and I gotta back my own ability to pick good attackers. 3-5-2 or 3-4-3

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Not wholly sold on 4 at the back

        No WC and need to think through transfers in next couple of weeks. But I'm fairly bullish about starting City defence and have Shaw already and one logical move is simply to double Chelsea (or United come to that) to sit alongside them. They may not always start of course.

        Part of the impetus here is that it feels easier to select a defence to run to season's end right now than an attack. I'm also thinking that the teams with fixture runs are going to be more reliable in defence against teams such as Palace WBA Newcastle than in attack.

  14. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    The exclamation mark was the give away !
    It’s Southgate, he won’t rock the boat, and has said he knows his
    starting Xl for Euros.. I agree Grealish has the ability to claim a place

  15. FPL_Hazards
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Which transfer, wildcarding next week...

    A)lonso
    B)runo
    C)alvert-Lewin

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      A

  16. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Any Spurs fans with info on when Son is likely to be back? Cheers!

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Expect him back on Sunday

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        I need to sell Bale for Son...worth the risk?

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Unless your bench is awful, I'm not sure you 'need' to.

          Bale has been playing well for Wales - he could also be in line for a start against Newcastle.

          1. A. PRISE
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Bale is sh*t and Mou hates his guts. Absolutely no way he starts. Unless all other players are injured, including U13 players

        2. THFC4LIFE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          I’d probably do that move tbh. I have Bale and plan to use BB not sure what to do

          1. bso
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Bale is a dilemma. I think he has a good chance of not starting. Not just this week but every week, so may be better to be rid of him?
            All the best mate!

  17. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    It will be 2 holding players though I assume..
    He’s only got Austria & Romania ( tbc ) before start of Euros
    And 2nd half..

  18. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Crellin DGW35 update:
    https://twitter.com/BenCrellin/status/1376934832425603078

    GL all.

  19. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Interesting to check out defensive form in the second half of the season.

    Picking a Chelsea attacker - or Alonso for that matter - doesn't add up really if you're expecting WBA to be very leaky. Top half XGC and on a par with Spurs and Arsenal for actual goals conceded, Not taking fixtures into account there but that defence doesn't look to be one to target right now.

  20. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Tierney with a couple of assists, hopefully does the same at weekend

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Playing the Faroe Isles is the equivalent of playing Accrington Stanley though.

  21. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Which is the better one week punt?

    A) Reguilon > Alonso
    B) Aubameyang > Mount/Havertz

    1. Nimby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      A mainly because Reguilon is probably injured.

    2. schlupptheweek
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      A is fun and worth the risk. Have you got good cover for Alonso?

  22. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    I like Alonso this week, tempted to punt with captaincy also

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Amazing option if he starts - that the gamble

      1. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        You would think he would start though as well rested plus Chilwell plays tonight and you would expect Champs League next week.

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Agreed- I think he does but it’s not guaranteed

  23. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Hi guys
    What would you change in that team?

    Martinez
    Cancelo Shaw KWP
    Salah Gundogan Fernandes Lingard
    Bamford Kane Watkins
    Bench: Pope Anguissa Coufal Dire
    2ft 2.6mln

  24. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Stones up to his old tricks again.

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Thing is, with the Champions League games coming up I think it is more likely he will get PL game time. No point getting him though if he plays like that though.

  25. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Get Moder in the BHA midfield

  26. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    England won’t win a major tournament in our lifetime will they?

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      If we assume the average age on here is about 30 then they should have another 20 major tournaments to play

      You are correct

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      More likely the American will land on the moon "again"

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      They definitely can. It ‘only’ takes a team like England to have a bit of luck along the way. You really don’t have to win many games to get to a final.

      1. TheDragon
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        They ‘can’ but they won’t.

        ‘An exciting young squad, the tournament has come just too soon for them but will be a real force at the next one’ - repeat narrative every 2 years after a turgid quarter final defeat vs a reasonably decent team

        1. Isca Extremadura
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          I just laughed & switched off v Iceland !
          To be fair, Croatia were a decent side in 2018
          Yep, fruition could be in 2024

        2. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          Yeah I agree they probably won’t I just wouldn’t say it with such definitive words. It wouldn’t be a complete shock for them to ride their luck and win one. It happens.

          1. TheDragon
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            Ye I guess statistically must be a reasonable chance they win a Euros at some point.

            A World Cup is highly improbable

  27. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Any takers for Moder ? £5.0m Brighton midfielder scores goals against Man City defenders.

    1. TheDragon
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Dias would’ve got back and blocked it 😉

  28. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    He played well at wing back recently, put in loads of quality x A

  29. Isca Extremadura
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Ha ha, doubt it, still get excited watching England
    In tournaments, but after watching 18 / 20, you know what’s
    Going to happen now ! 1990 / 1996 / 2018 aside

  30. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 26 days ago

    Who is Chelsea’s first choice left back?

    Whoever it is will surely play in the cup against Porto twice and city leaving the other to play the next 3/4 league games on the bounce

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Tuchel has been verbally preferring Alonso, but Chilwell has been used a little more of late - also out in some decent IB performances thus far.

      I personally think its a guessing game & not one I want to bet on, and I say that as a Chelsea supporter.