Pro Pundits

Seven-time top 10k finisher Zophar on Man Utd’s best Triple Gameweek 35 players

One of the most consistent FPL managers in the game, Zophar, is on course for his eighth top 10k finish. Here, he takes an in-depth look at Manchester United’s assets ahead of their Triple Gameweek.


It’s been a surreal 12 hours.

My own team, Chelsea, have trounced Real Madrid and progressed to the Champions League final, a scenario that many of us would have deemed impossible midway through the season.

As tempted as I am to wax lyrical for another 1,000 words about the Blues, I cannot ignore the elephant in the room: Manchester United’s TRIPLE Gameweek!

The Manchester United v Liverpool fixture being postponed in Gameweek 34 hit all of us hard and myself included, as I had five players in that fixture. While this immediate, surprise rescheduling gives us an opportunity to get some of those points back, the schedule indicates that it might not be that simple. Let’s get stuck into it.

I’m writing this piece before United have played in the UEFA Europa League, and while the Red Devils carry a four-goal advantage going into the second leg, I don’t see them fielding a weakened team as that would offer Roma a glimmer of hope – which is the last thing they’d want to do. I expect the likes of Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m), Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) to start, with early substitutions the likely route to rest.

The Red Devils play a total of four games in a space of seven days, a schedule that is largely unprecedented and given that it is at the tail-end of the season, when players are already mentally and physically fatigued from a congested schedule, rotation is inevitable. 

Motivation

Manchester United are in a firm position to clinch UEFA Champions League qualification, sitting nine points clear of fifth placed West Ham. With their superior goal difference, the Red Devils effectively need just three points to seal it. So there’s no real need to flog players and risk injury with such short turnarounds. There is some merit to finishing as high up the table as possible, too, so that has to be factored in as well. 

Scheduling

The turnaround time from the Europa League to the Villa fixture isn’t too bad. After all, it’s the usual Thursday-Sunday schedule that they’ve handled all season. A full rest since their last Europa League game due to the Liverpool postponement would also help in terms of energy levels.

The curveball here is the next two fixtures, against more formidable opposition on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Now, do United consider resting players for Villa to prioritise the Leicester and Liverpool games or do they go for the more ‘winnable’ points? I think they go for the former as the game against Leicester is almost a six-pointer, as it would open up the gap against the Foxes. The Liverpool fixture is always a big one too because of the rivalry. It’s not ideal when you think about captaincy for Fernandes, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he played all three. 

Which players are the most likely to see minutes?

Harry Maguire (£5.5m), Fernandes and Rashford are the only players to feature in every single league match for United this season, while only Maguire has played every minute. 

On this basis, you would assume that the most nailed-on asset in defence is obviously Maguire. I think Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.7m) is also relatively safe for starts but I would worry about Luke Shaw (£5.4m) with Alex Telles (£5.3m) available and the Englishman’s past history with muscle injuries. Victor Lindelof (£4.8m) doesn’t fill me with confidence with Eric Bailly (£4.8m) around, either.

Fernandes is the obvious attacking pick, having seen the most minutes of any of their attackers. For the next best pick, let’s have a closer look at the minutes over the last seven Gameweeks rather than the season.

The likes of Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Lindelof, Maguire and Dean Henderson (£5.2m) have played the entirety the last seven Gameweeks, with Fernandes missing out by just one minute.

Rashford’s game-time has been managed to an extent due to the niggling injury he has been carrying and he’s struggled to play two games a week, let alone four, so I am not tempted by him there. We have often seen Paul Pogba (£7.6m) play on the left, as well, which reduces the appeal of Rashford on the right.

It is encouraging to see Mason Greenwood (£7.2m) feature in all five of their last league matches for an average of 75 minutes each. At just 19 years of age, the youngster can recover quicker than most in the United squad and should see a decent amount of minutes across the three matches, especially given Rashford’s struggles. 

Attacking stats

My team

I’m sitting with two free transfers and £0.2m in the bank. As it stands, I have four players who will blank in Gameweek 36, and Rhian Brewster (£4.3m). 

My plan is to sell Son Heung-min (£9.6m) for Greenwood this week and roll the other transfer. Then, next week, I plan on reversing that move and bringing Gareth Bale (£9.1m) in for Fernandes. I do think the Red Devils will play a weakened team in Gameweek 38 with the Europa League final in mind, so I might get only the Fulham fixture out of Fernandes. This would also allow me to fund Brewster to Michail Antonio (£6.4m) for a -4. This would allow me to bench Kelechi Iheanacho, Shaw and AntonioRudiger and have a strong squad for any unexpected rotation in the final weeks. 

I know there’s talk – and justifiably so – about this Triple Gameweek being a trap and whatnot, but this is only the second time I’ve seen it happen in my 12 years of playing FPL and I just cannot bring myself not to max out on it. In five years’ time, I don’t want to be saying that I had only two players when Manchester United had a Triple Gameweek, irrespective of the outcome. 

Enjoy the chaos. One thing is for sure, there will never be a season like this again.

Thanks for reading. 

THE FPL WIRE PODCAST WITH ZOPHAR, LATERISER AND TOM FREEMAN


Pro Pundits 20
1,947 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Little Frank
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best option (on a FH):
    1. Pickford Maguire Ward
    2. Guaita Shaw Rudiger

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

      1, not mad on either tho (Pick/Ward/Rudi)

    2. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Can you do 2 but with an Everton defender (Keane if Digne too expensive?) instead of Rudi? Not a fan of him or Pickford due to fixtures/possible rotation.

  2. Gideons Rolling Another One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lingard + Welbeck to bench fodder + DCL for -4 or hold and play one of welbeck or lingard?

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

      Hold

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hold

    3. Gideons Rolling Another One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers both

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

    best captain choice this GW (not Bruno)

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

      Salah

    2. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah

    3. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Salah or outside punt on Greenwood as I am doing, cannot go united this week

    4. Mince n Tatties
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Is that because you don’t have Bruno?
      I have Bruno and Salah - but seriously considering putting the armband on Salah

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I am on FH but don't know if Bruno is the right choice

        1. Mince n Tatties
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I"m with you - Salah will play both - and Man Utd will be knackered by Thursday

  4. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Morning, which one should bring me points galore this week?

    A) Bruno & Ward
    B) Rashford & Digne

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A for me

    2. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't like to go without Bruno this week so A

    3. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A cos Bruno

    4. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      After rash rested yesterday I would go rash for a differential

  5. antis0cial
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    G2g or do I need a United def? Only option would be Dallas to lindelof for a -4

    Areola
    TAA* Digne* Dallas
    Bruno** Greenwood** Salah* Jota*
    Nacho* DCL* Kane

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I wouldn't say for a hit as you'll most probs want Dallas back next week and for the rest of the season

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      G2G

  6. LC1
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anything worth a hit here for my bench boost team;

    Martinez
    Maguire Holding Rudiger Castagne
    Bruno(C) Zaha Lingard Salah
    DCL Iheanacho

    Forster Kane Lingard Phillips

    Good luck everyone - It's going to be a crazy one!

    1. antis0cial
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good, good luck!

      1. LC1
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Ta pal

  7. n14mul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Morning,

    I'm lucky enough to have a fh this week and stuck between 2 drafts. Only difference is

    A. Mane & Godfrey
    B. Vardy & Digne

    Which is the better?

    1. LC1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B for me mate.

    2. You've got red on you.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  8. You've got red on you.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Any free hit tweaks you would recommend?

    Henderson
    Maguire - Robinson - TAA
    Bruno (C) - Zaha - Salah
    Vardy - Iheanacho - DCL

    1. n14mul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Nice team

    2. LC1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'd recommend an extra player 😉

      Looks a very good team!

      1. LC1
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Is Robinson, Robertson? Or Fulhams Robinson?

      2. You've got red on you.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Haha! Very confident - dont need 11 players.

        It's Robertson and Digne should be in there.

        1. LC1
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Pretty perfect then with Digne and Robertson! GL mate.

  9. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Gundogan out to?:

    A) Zaha
    B) JWP
    C) Jota

    1. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'd plump for B

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

    Looking at current team for 36 using FH this week makes way more sense than WC and could still use WC for 36 or 37. FH looks quite powerful this week. Sound good?

  11. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    How’s my Freehit team. Tried to differentiate against ML leader

    Guiata
    Digne AWB Castagne
    Salah Mane Fernandes Greenwood
    Vardy DCL Iheanacho

    1. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good! Similar to mine.

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Awesome

    3. Reece’s Pieces
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Very similar to mine too. Mane is your key differential I expect

    4. GinjaWhinja
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Only player I’d fear going without is Trent. But I think that team probably makes up for his absence. Great line-up.

  12. Tubayyeb
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pick ONE to Start GW35:

    A) Lingard
    B) Rudiger
    C) Holding

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

    2. LC1
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      B

  13. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lloris, Son, Lingard, Kane ->
    Henderson, Bruno, Zaha, DCL -8

    Sound okay?

    1. Mike82
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'd worry that son and kane will haul personally

      1. n14mul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Agree, only worrying factor this week

  14. Mike82
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is a -8 worth it if using bench boost?

  15. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    G2G or need more dgw players?

    Martinez
    Shaw, reguillon, TAA
    (B)runo, son, lingard, greenwood
    Kane, Watkins, nacho

    Dias, raph, Dallas

    1.2 ITB

  16. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What do I do here!?
    2 FT 0.1 ITB
    No chips left.

    Forster Mendy
    Rudiger Philips Fofana Coady Holding
    Lingard Jota Salah Son Bruno
    Nacho Kane Davis

    1. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Bring some UTD in

  17. tommo123
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Martinez, Johnstone
    TAA, AWB, Digne, Targett, Dias
    Siggy, Fernandes, Greenwood, Traore, Lingz
    Kane, Nacho, Watkins

    G2g with BB ?

  18. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    1FT, 0.1 ITB, thoughts? Playing BB

    Mendy / Forster

    TAA / Shaw / Ward / Holding / Coufal

    Salah / Fernandes / Greenwood / Son / Lingard

    Kane / Iheanacho / Vydra

    Thanks

    1. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hold

  19. Oscar Slater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Could I have a couple of opinions please?...

    I'm bench boosting this weekend and I'm thinking of going in ball deep with 15 DGW players (two TGW) for a 24 point hit. One transfer next week gives me 11 on the park. PPG & RMT suggest I'll show a profit. Currently ranked 81k and miles clear in my mini league fwiw.

    Out: Fabri, Dallas, Lingard, Son, Bale, Kane, Bamford
    In: Guaita, Robertson, Zaha, Salah, Greenwood, DCL, Watkins.

    Yes?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No.

    2. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      NO

    3. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Oh, and we also have a cash monthly league and points hits don't count in the first GW 😉

    4. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A couple of opinions I asked for and a couple of pretty emphatic one's I got!

      I might reassess things then! 🙂

  20. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best keeper on a fh? Schmeical?

  21. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Good article.

    Just what we need.

    So Maguire over AWB.

    I have Greenwood and will get Bruno back in.

    So the final question is the class of Cavani likely to shine better than Watkins up front?

    1. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I've gone AWB, I think if he plays two and maguire plays three his returns could still be better

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I can just see Maguire heading in a corner against Leicester and perhaps Villa too?

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If Cavani can get around 160 minutes or so over the 3 games then yeah I reckon he does quite easily.

    3. zøphar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks mate , glad you found it helpful

  22. lewis274
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    jota -> zaha done

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why?

      1. lewis274
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        why not ? jota won’t start

        1. waldo666
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Possibly but with fitness concerns around Zaha either may he. Pretty low risk if for free though, I suppose.

  23. Aster
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Zaha or Ward

    Greenwood or Rash

    1. tommo123
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha + Greeny

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Zaha and Greenwood

  24. ZAWAd25
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Son + Rudiger >> Maguire + Zaha (-4)? (Have Mendy)

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not convinced but Zaha could do something and Rudiger could be saved for the finals too.

  25. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Repost. Was bottom sorry.

    Morning all. Thoughts on this? I will be Bench boost. One downside is only 7 (plus 1FT) for GW36.

    Lingard+Coady >> Greenwood+Ward (-4)?

    Mendy
    TAA. Shaw. Rudiger. Holding
    Salah. Bruno. Jota
    Kane. DCL. Nacho
    (Forster, ASM, Lingard, Coady)

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Is Jota going to get sufficient time on the pitch to do anything?

    2. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wouldn't go into GW36 with only 7 , so I think I'd pass on Greenwood in your situation and get Zaha or JWP instead.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah it’s a tricky call. Zaha could work I guess. My only small worry is two main rivals have Greenwood who are trying to catch a 30pt lead off me

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

          Don't think Zaha vs Greenwood delta will be as big as 30 pts. And as I went with Greenwood over Zaha, that should mean Zaha smashes it 😉

  26. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Cavani is a class act and more suited for the European opponents too.

    His rotation on 71 mins helps last night.

    But his normal pattern is 90 mins, 45 mins, 90 mins.

    So is 2 games for Watkins better?

    Will Cavani be saved for the final more than most of the others?

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Watkins fixtures aren't that crash hot, I have him but if I could have Cavani over him for free this week, I absolutely would.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Means sacrificing Maguire then.

        1. waldo666
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Hmmm, that does change things somewhat. If it ends up costing a hit I wouldn't do it and not even sure I would if it means losing another TGW and probably the one most likely to get the most minutes.

  27. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Always like Zophar's articles, which are reasonable with logics behind, and clear mind path for steady substitution.

    Pleasure to read.

    1. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Substitution I mean transfers planned/made.

    2. zøphar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Appreciate the kind words Salan, thank you

      1. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Morning Zoph. Following on from last night, would you consider Pogba, ahead of Rashy and Greenwood...........Love the wire by the way and your laugh always makes me laugh.....

  28. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Martinez, Forster
    Shaw, Dallas, Rudiger, Saiss, Coufal
    Salah, Bruno, Bale, Jota, Lingard
    Kane, Iheanacho, Bamford

    1FT, 0.3 in bank

    Saiss & Bamford --> Mitchell & DCL (-4)?

  29. juanmata8
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    WC. What do you think?

    Guaita (Mcgill)
    Digne TAA Shaw* (Philips, Dallas)
    Bruno* Salah Zaha Greenwood* (Burke)
    DCL Nacho* Kane

    The idea is to navigate the 4 blanks by doing Greenwood > Lingard & Nacho > Antonio next week to field a full 11 (excluding Burke)

  30. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Those playing Forster in goal worried? I'm probably doing son to Greenwood & might use those funds to upgrade Sanchez to Schmeichel, thoughts?