Pro Pundits

Navigating the end of the FPL season with three-time top 200 finisher Lateriser

The reigning FPL champion of India talks both Manchester clubs, Everton, Michail Antonio and Gareth Bale in his musings on the season run-in.


A big Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Double/Triple Gameweek is here, the end of the season is on the horizon and we all have very few transfers left to play with.

In this article, I’m going to discuss a few factors that should be in your consideration while you’re planning your team for the weeks to come.

Third straight league start for Bale as fit-again Zaha returns on Palace bench 3

Let’s talk about Manchester United first. One thing that you should take into account is estimating how reliable they are going to be in Gameweek 38. They play their final game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 23 when the Europa League final will be only three days away. Keeping this in mind, I would think that the main United assets will play either 60 minutes or will be rested in that final round so if you are looking to shift them after the triple-header in Gameweek 35, that isn’t the worst idea in my opinion.

When it comes to predicting the Red Devils’ teamsheet for the Triple Gameweek in 35, I am hoping that the 6-2 advantage over Roma leads to some of United’s regular starters either getting some rest or playing limited minutes in the second leg, which increases their chances of more action in the Premier League this busy week. When it comes to Mason Greenwood (£7.1m), Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) and Paul Pogba (£7.6m), the emergence of the French World Cup winner as an option on the left of midfield has made all three of these players prone to rotation – but you’d think they’d be good for at least two starts in the Triple Gameweek ahead, even allowing for a benching.

Calvert-Lewin offsets longest goalless streak with another Fantasy assist

One team that seems like a good buy irrespective of form at the moment is Everton. They have a good-looking double in Gameweek 35 and, yes, I know their home form is poor but facing Sheffield United and Wolves on their own turf in Gameweeks 36 and 37 just seems like a great opportunity to invest again in Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.5m). One thing that doesn’t change with him is that he is extremely talismanic for Everton.

I looked into the numbers and 46% of the big chances that they have created this season have fallen to him. Despite their perceived lack of form, only five teams have created more big chances than Everton in the last six matches (2.33 per game).

It is also worth noting that Everton’s next four opponents conceded 2.45 big chances per game on average in their last six matches, which bodes well for Calvert-Lewin. He could have easily have had a brace against Aston Villa in Gameweek 34, as well.

Injury updates on Gundogan, De Bruyne and Calvert-Lewin ahead of midweek matches

A lot of us don’t currently own Manchester City assets, but I think they are well worth a discussion. After they host Chelsea on Saturday they have a six-day break before they face Newcastle United at the start of Gameweek 36 and Pep Guardiola on many occasions has spoken about rhythm. I am expecting the first-choice team to feature more in the last three Gameweeks of the season where they face Newcastle United (a), Brighton and Hove Albion (a) and Everton (h). I expect that Pep will play strong sides in these fixtures as he builds ‘match rhythm’ for his players before the Champions League final. Currently, in the FPL top 10k, the highest owned Manchester City attacker is Ilkay Gundogan (£5.6m) who is only rostered by 4.3% of managers. Here are the top 10k ownership figures of other prominent Manchester City attackers:

Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9M) – 0.87%
Riyad Mahrez (£8.0M) – 0.31%
Phil Foden (£6.0M) – 0.39%
Sergio Agüero (£10.3M) – 0.01%

There is definitely an opportunity to indulge in some ‘Pep Roulette’ at the end of the season and make some quick differential gains. It is also worth noting that the Champions League final is six days after Gameweek 38 so there isn’t as big a worry about rest as there would be for Europa League finalists.

Latest on Antonio, Lingard and Soucek as Masuaku enjoys advanced role at Wolves

The ever-enticing battle to make the top four is great news for Fantasy Premier League managers. None of Leicester City, Chelsea, West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur can afford to take their foot off the gas. Players from three of these clubs are options in my opinion. Leicester do have the FA Cup final blank in Gameweek 36, but Chelsea are the exception for me here given the sheer number of games they potentially have until the end of the season.

The return of Michail Antonio (£6.4m) to West Ham’s attack comes at a really good time as many FPL managers will be looking to shift Kelechi Iheanacho (£6.3m) out in Gameweek 36 when Leicester City blank. The Hammers’ striker had five shots in the box against Burnley and looked really, really good. He has a great end to the season and should definitely be in your consideration when Gameweek 36 arrives.

I was fortunate enough to get Gareth Bale (£9.1m) in my team this Gameweek and, given their fixtures and attacking style of play, I think all the main three Spurs forwards as well as both their full-backs (who were bombing forward on every occasion) are good options for the season run-in despite having only one fixture in Gameweek 35.

The thing I love about Bale is that he’s an elite level finisher and whatever chances he does get, you just expect him to bury them. Tottenham have good fixtures right until the end of the season, and something to play for, so their players look like good purchases especially after this Double Gameweek.

Selling Spurs assets for any Double Gameweek alternative would be very, very difficult especially if Leeds are again going to play without Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m). In his absence, they conceded four big chances against Brighton at the weekend.

That’s it for me for this Gameweek. I’ve been fairly pleased with how the last three rounds have gone for me where I’ve climbed from an overall rank of 1.13 million in Gameweek 31 to 804k at the moment. I’m hoping to finish on a strong note and carry a bit of momentum into next season. I’m certainly looking to do a reflective article at the end of this campaign or before the next one so look out for that. I made so many bad decisions at the start and one common factor stands out to me – overconfidence.

For now, I’m deciding whether to Free Hit in Gameweek 35 or Gameweek 36 and had been waiting on news about the Liverpool double. Now that it’s confirmed that it’s Gameweek 35, I have eight players with two or more fixtures and I might instead be happy to Free Hit in Gameweek 36 where I can target Manchester City, Everton and Spurs players.

I hope you find this article useful. FPL Wire did our longest pod of the season this week with Tom Freeman (who in my opinion is the best FPL manager in the world) and Zophar. You can watch below.

Pro Pundits 27
1,025 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL AXE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What are we thinking about Edouard Mendy? is he going to play in this double GW?

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      The fixtures might help here, with it being city and Arsenal I’d guess he plays both but hard to predict

      1. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Would you play Forster over him?

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Tough one. I think I’d still play mendy as these big games could be low scoring

  2. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lingard Rudiger to Greenwood Struijk or maybe Zaha Phillips?

    Or move out Kane?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      dont like struijik as a pick, mitchell or philips instead?

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Would have 4.0 only

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

    Who scores more Maddison & Maguire or Greenwood & Castange?

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      GC

  4. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What a crazy season this has been. From Friday we now have at least one game every day for next 12 days (apart from Monday 17th May) which will take us up to the end of gw37!

  5. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Only have one United player

    A.Dunk to Lindelof
    B. Dunk to Maguire for -4

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Depends on line up tonight but probably maguire

  6. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Why Rudiger out?

  7. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    FH active - whatcha reckon?

    Guaita
    Trent, Robbo, Shaw
    Bruno(c), Salah, Greenwood, Zaha
    Vardy, Nacho, Watkins

    Button, ESR, Mitchell, Dunne
    Bank 0.1m

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good. Depends on line up tonight but shaw might play 2 at best

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Most Man U will play twice I reckon

        That y Salah could be better captain option

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Potentially he could be but I’d still go Bruno and hope he gets 200+ mins over the 3 games

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not sure on Zaha. Would want DCL in there too

  8. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    REPLY FAIL

  9. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Are folks going to risk it starting Rudiger/Mendy? Rotation threat is weighing me down

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Don’t think it’s worth a transfer out unless you’re fully loaded with double and triple gwers. Just got to hope for the best

      1. DannyDrinkVodka
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers, I could start Forster for instance, or even Holding/Mitchell

        1. Pat Bonner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Maybe spread the risk then and play mendy and holding

  10. rokonto
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I'm still itching to tell everyone i captained Bale for his hatty.... call me Belinda

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hi Belinda

  11. krishgorwani
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy
    Holding Mitchel taa
    Bruno(c) salah jota lingard son
    Kane nacho
    Forster Dallas struijk vydra
    0 in the bank

    Son struijk vydra to jwp dcl lindeloff -8
    For bench boost?

    Team would look like this
    Mendy Forster
    Taa Mitchell holding Dallas lindeloff
    Bruno salah jota jwp lingard
    Kane dcl nacho

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looks decent

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

      More or less on the same boat, just can’t decide between JWP or Zaha.. In general I would say yes.

  12. caldracula
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Haven’t been playing properly for a little while now and have my wildcard left, any players that you think are a must have for the rest of the season?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      - Salah, Trent + 3rd Liverpool?
      - DCL until 38
      - MUN defender

    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Problem with using wc now is you might struggle to get a team out in 36. If you have a few utd players when I’d be tempted to use transfer this week and wc next gw

  13. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    if you had to (i say had to, it the only way to get in a United defender) move Mendy on for one of the following for the rest of the season who would it be:

    A) Areola
    B) Ramsdale
    C) Sanchez
    D)Johnstone

    Other keeper is Forster so its also to get a keeper for next week

    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      D

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Out of those, D

    3. BullDogTevez
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      D

  14. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Would you do Kane to Cavani?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nope

  15. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who's the best Coady replacement, up to 4.9m?

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Coleman?

  16. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best GK alongside Martinez for BB?

    A) Schmeichel
    B) Mendy
    C) Leno
    D) Guaita
    E) Pickford

    Have Rudi & Digne.
    A bit worried about rotation with Leno & Pickford.

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hmm D

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Agreed

  17. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy Forster
    TAA Shaw Castagne Veltman Holding
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Jota Lingard
    Kane Nacho Vydra

    2ft, 0itb.
    A) Kane to DCL
    Next: Castagne and Nacho to Dallas and Aguero

    B) Lingard to El Ghazi/JWP
    Next: Castagne and Nacho to Dallas and Antonio

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B for me

    2. JabariParkersEyelid
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't want to lose Kane or Lingard tbh.

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Hmm, burn a free? Or Mendy to a gk?

  18. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    5.7 mill to spend on a dgw defender who is not pool/United. Anyone got any bright ideas?

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Castagne?

      1. FF Dirtbag
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Is 5.8 🙁

        1. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Evans ? Not sure if he is out as if msg effect on defence

          Remember last year that fell short out on the run in

        2. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Hmm Villa? Or maybe James/Rudiger?

          1. FF Dirtbag
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 10 months ago

            Is Mitchell nailed on nowadays?

    2. Abaddon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Evans?

  19. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mendy, Forster
    Shaw, Holding, Coleman, Philips, Coady
    Salah, Jota, Son, Bruno, Saka
    Dcl, Ihenacho, Kane

    2ft 0.5m itb, Will BB.

    A. Coady to Lindelof (roll other ft)
    B. Coady, Forster to Henderson, Mitchell

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A

  20. JabariParkersEyelid
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who scores more over 35 & 36?

    JWP
    Maguire

    I'm leaning getting JWP, have Bruno & Shaw.

    1. FF Dirtbag
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      JWP

  21. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    priority to get:
    a. Shaw/Mag
    b. Greenwood
    c. DCL

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  22. The Son-dance Kid
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    The only time I can remember a team with a triple GW was Middlesbrough when they made the uefa cup final. From memory, none of their players played 3 times, even the GK got rotated.
    Do we really think any player will play all 3 games?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nope, we dont

    2. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Maguire Henderson AWB will imo.

  23. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best cs chances this week?

    A) Leicester
    B) Everton
    C) Crystal Palace
    D) Manu
    E) Liverpool

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      F) Avl

  24. Dreaming of glory
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Kepa the cup keeper? If so Mandy plays both league games and kepa gets cup final next wknd. Otherwise kepa may get a league game

  25. boogle
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Start Son or Martinelli?
    Start Mendy or Forster?

    thanks!

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Martinelli, Mendy

  26. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I would actually be chuffed with a top 500k finish 😀 - where are you hoping to finish ?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      top 200k

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Top 100k would do me 🙂

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Top 200k 😛

  27. Netters2018
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Do we think rudiger and mendy just play the one? Fa cup final is a few days after and last time kepa played to get a warm up

  28. Dreaming of glory
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Kepa the cup keeper? If so Mandy plays both league games and kepa gets cup final next wknd. Otherwise kepa may get a league game I think

  29. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good morning everyone!!! What do we think to the chance of Azpilacueta starting both games??? He will start vs City for sure, but the Arsenal game?? What do we think?? He is the captain and they still need to clinch top 4, so I’m not sure either way!!

  30. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What do you mean?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nothing