Team Reveals

My Jota v Son dilemma and future FPL transfer plans

We hear from one of the most successful Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers in the world ahead of Gameweek 12: the Fantasy Football Scout Hall of Fame number seven, Jon Ballantyne.

Jon has remarkably finished inside the top 1,000 in each of his last three seasons, having posted a further three top 20k overall ranks across his five other campaigns playing FPL.


Since reaching the dizzying heights of 3,740th in Gameweek 7, I’ve dropped back to 68k as we go into Gameweek 12 – still a position I’m very grateful to be in with over two-thirds of the season left.

In the run-up to Christmas, we observe some dramatic fixture swings for certain teams, which presents an excellent opportunity to target key players. Below I’ll share my initial transfer plans with the logic behind them and some further thoughts as we look ahead. I hope you enjoy it! 

228 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    The article above is almost identical to my train of thought.
    My greatest concern is no ManU assets and I hope the 10 gameweeks and rotation in the United camp will punnish them and not me.
    Guaita Foster
    Rjames Chilwell Cancelo TAA Livramento
    Foden Son Salah Mbeumo McArthur
    Antonio Watkins Jimenez
    .4 (ITB)
    my concern lies with 3 up top taking to much funds. It will cost me -8 to change one of them to go Mbeumo to Jota.
    I hope my strong bench will support me and it is decision time for my moves above or go the alternative route and take out Livra for a Citeh back. Even, dare I say it a United or Spurs back.
    Your thoughts gents?

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      2 n's in punish (whoops)

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Mbuemo out. Maybe consider Watkins -> Wilson?

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        A thought of mine too. I chose Watkins over Wilson initially. I will give it this week I think

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

    Is Origi a good 8th forward option for the festive period, thinking I might go for him instead of Jota!

    1. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      No seems too punty to me, Jota definitely the better option

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

        Fair enough, the thing is I want to use the Jota slot on Foden......

    2. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      No

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      If Mane is genuinely injured then yeah I think he'll possibly emerge as the best cheap bench forward, ahead of Broja & Dennis (although that's not saying much in & of itself)

      Should mean he'll get games (or at least minutes) for the duration of Mane's injury, then get a more minutes in the Christmas schedule crunch, and then same again for a couple of weeks in January depending on how Senegal & Egypt do in the ACON

      Don't think you could ever rely on him as an XI member though, far too dicey

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

        Cheers, Origi would always be the bench forward.....and with TAA Cancelo Chilwell James Livramento, I will be rocking a 4-4-2........

  3. nolard
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    LIke you say, maybe downgrade one up front to upgrade Mbuemo.

    Not keen on your GK as well.

    Apart from that, looks good. With a slight punt on Watkins.

    1. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      that is to caveat king

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      The goalie situation can wait and see. Mbeumo is the eyesore.

  4. Arfaish
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Ive got 2FT's this week with Saka > Son earmarked but unsure if it is worth using one on Sanchez:

    Sanchez, (£4m)
    Rudiger, James, Cancelo, Livra, (Duffy)
    Son, Salah, Raphina, Foden, Benrahma
    Jimenez, (Vardy, Archer)

    Is it worth switching from Sanchez to McCarthy/Guita/Ramsdale and if so which? Probably leaning towards Guita

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Is your 4m GK Foster? If so play him, if not then sign Ramsdale or Guaita

      1. Arfaish
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        No non-playing £4m sadly.

  5. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Foden or Jota?

    1. Arfaish
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Jota

    2. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      jota

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Foden

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

      Jota seems like the straightforward play, however, I am considering Foden with Origi as the third Liverpool slot (a couple of weeks from now)

    5. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all

    6. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Going both, but Foden this week and Jota next

  6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Any ESR & Mbuemo owners deliberating bench/play decisions for this week?

    Kind of thinking it's time to sit ESR on the pine for this one:

    Mbuemo - 10 apps, 4.68 XGi = 0.47 XGi per appearance
    Vs. Newcastle: 21.7 XGc in 11 games = 1.91 XGc per game

    ESR - 11 apps, 3.34 XGi = 0.30 XGi per appearance
    Vs. Liverpool: 12.3 XGc in 11 games = 1.18 XGc per game

    Might not go right on the day with variance/luck etc - but looks like statistically the correct call... If you ran the scenario 100 times for example, you'd expect Mbuemo to be outscoring ESR in the majority of those

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

      Agree that Mbeumo is a fairly straightforward call over ESR - I am having more difficulty playing Mbeumo over Raphinha but I think it's the right call nonetheless

    2. John Colby (Capt)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Saka owner here Maximus - very envious of ESR owners as he’s been outstanding this year. Yes I’d still bench him for Mbuemo for GW12. Who do you think we should target in United’s attack come the fixture swing though? Ronnie is too expensive - what about Rashford or Greenwood?

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I think there's definitely a set of circumstances where Bruno & CR7 have an absolutely explosive 4-6 weeks from GW15 onwards as utd try to salvage this disaster of a start

        It just depends on whether utd turn the corner under Ole, or whether Ole gets the boot and a new manager bounce kicks in

        Genuinely looking ahead at the possible optimal times to do Salah > Bruno for this reason

        (Salah's GW18, GW20 & GW21 aren't great, I think he's gone for GW22, probably GW23 , and possibly even GW24 if Egypt make the final... GW15, 16 & 17 all look plum fixtures - but 16 & 17 are actually new manager bounces as well so you never know what might happen there)

        1. John Colby (Capt)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers for your insight Maximus! Great point about Salah too!!

  7. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Havertz + Jimenez + Toney
    》》》》
    Bowen + Kane + Hwang/Armstrong

    For a -4, Y or N?

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Y with Armstrong

  8. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo James Livramento
    Salah Foden Jota
    Vardy Antonio Toney

    (Gunn Saka Semedo Sissoko)
    1 FT & 0.0m

    Saka & Vardy ➡️ Kane & Brownhill for -4?

    Will do Semedo to Regulion/Royal in GW13 and play 4 at the back.
    Kane opens the door for CR7 in GW16 as well.

    Thoughts?

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

      Only if you captain Kane - great team!

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

      whoa whoa whoa.....you've got no keeper!

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Only for a week though.. hardly matters!

  9. Jimbo-Jones
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    On WC:

    1. Kane, (Brownhill)
    2. (Hwang), Son

    Sanchez/Steele
    TAA James Cancelo Reguilon (Livra)
    Salah Foden Jota Gallagher ****
    Antonio **** (Davis)

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      2 looks stronger

    2. Kloppage Time
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      With that set up 1. looks better to me.

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

    Exact money for Benrahma to Jota (-4), would you do it or risk being priced out by Benrahma dropping?

    1. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'd do it.

  11. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Am I the only person that can see Arsenal getting a decent result against Liverpool??

    Mane a doubt, Firmino out and players all coming back from an international break. I must point out I'm an Arsenal fan too.

    But got a feeling

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure. Their record isn't great at Anfield tbf

    2. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Could pull off a draw, maybe. I can't see it though. Yep, Liverpool have a few missing but can see Arsenal struggling to score and eventually conceding one or two.

    3. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I can’t see them winning but I do see a goal or two for Arsenal. Have a feeling ESR is going to score again because Liverpool are looking very vulnerable down their right side.

  12. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    0FT..... Any hits needed or GTG?

    Ramsdale
    Livra Cancelo Chilwell
    Mbeumo Gallagher Salah(c) Benrahma
    Toney Kane Ronaldo

    Foster Coady Gray Duffy

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      GTG

  13. Hint
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Play bench boost for Raphinha (Tot A) Mbuemo (New A) Toney (New A), or just leave them on the side...

    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nah, a bench boost after an international break is asking for trouble.

  14. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Which is better?

    A- Antonio + Mount > Son + Pukki (leave Ronaldo)
    B- Ronaldo + Mount > Son + Wilson (sell Ronaldo)
    C- Ronaldo + Mount > Kane + Foden (sell Ronaldo)

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

      Just Mount to Foden possible?

      1. _Gunner
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        possible yes.
        But am afraid of not getting any spurs assets for their amazing run

    2. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I wouldn’t do any of those this week. Both Ronaldo and Mount have good fixtures and it will suck if you sell them and they haul. I sold Ronaldo before the Spurs game and I got punished.

      1. FantasyClub
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Even if Mount plays I don’t think he starts

        1. Amartey Partey
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          I think he will start. He only had his wisdom teeth taken out.

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B or C

    4. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

  15. Respect My Authoritah
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Captain choice looks interesting this week.
    Not sure I trust Son/Kane with the armband.
    Happy to stick with Salah but I'm quite tempted by Foden - Everton look like the type of side City will beat 4 or 5-0.

    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah I’m thinking of Cancelo or Foden.

    2. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Son and Foden in my thoughts too. Though Pep's lineups a bit more predictable this year, just cautious of the off chance Pep pulls out his roulette and benches Foden.

    3. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Salah is obvious choice this gw

  16. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Play Rudi or Vardy?

    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy

  17. Chip Butty
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Looking at a few different options, really comes down to James or Jota

    a) Christensen + Semedo > James + Lamptey
    b) Raphina + Semedo > Jota + Lamptey
    c) ESR (or Raph) + Antonio > Jota + Armstrong

    0.5 itb

    Steele (Sanchez)
    TAA / Cancelo / Livramento (Christensen) (Semedo)
    Salah / Foden / Raph / ESR (Sissoko)
    Kane / Antonio / Toney

    1. Kloppage Time
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Keep Raph & ESR, a) looks better

    2. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      a

  18. dbeck
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    bit stuck on starting 11 and i have 2ft (0.1itb) and unsure where best to use, can i grab some opinions on this?

    Foster
    Chilly Cancelo Trent
    Salah Son Foden Jota Mbeumo
    Toney Antonio

    Sanchez Livra Jansson Hwang

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Downgrade Hwang to fodder to get money for later use?

  19. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Havertz > Jota for free or wait a gw?

    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I’d wait. Havertz has better fixture and arguably better form.

  20. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Better option for the coming weeks?

    A) Son & Saka (352)
    B) Kane & Regulion (442/433)

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

      B

      Not a fan of Saka's upcoming fixtures though

    2. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B

  21. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Any merit in holding off Dias>TAA due to the clean sheet odds this week?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Defintely wouldn't do it for a hit. For free is more difficult to call this week.
      Dias very likely CS (so 6 points), and TAA could easily concede.
      But it's TAA, he can get double figure hauls without even getting a cleanie...

      I'd do it and then set and forget....

  22. Hangman Page
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    With all due respect to the author of this piece, come on FFS give us some actual interesting content. There's been a fortnight's break during which you could've posted some interesting analysis using all the data you have.

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Posting content that helps you make better decisions
      *We don't do that around here meme*

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Oof

  23. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    RMWCT?

    Sanchez ¦ Steele
    TAA Cancelo Chilwell Reguilon Livramento
    Salah Son Raphinha Gallagher Mbeumo
    Vardy Hwang Davis

    1. Kloppage Time
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Not sure about bringing in vardy on a WC, Vardy Hwang could be Wilson & Antonio?

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Vardy and Hwang out, Jota and Wilson in.

  24. Si_Sinor
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Really struggling here with my 2 free transfers. What would you do here, please? Have £0.4m ITB.

    Steele - Sanchez (!)
    Chilwell - TAA - Dias - Livramento - Williams
    Salah - Raphinha - Foden - Sarr - Sissoko
    Vardy - Antonio - Jimenez

    Vardy & Sarr the two obvious transfers? Or would you do Sarr to Gallagher/Bowen/ESR & save 1 FT (gamble on Vardy and no Spurs)..

    Thanks all!

    1. Good Times
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Can you down sarr to a 4.5 and up vardy to Kane?

      1. Si_Sinor
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        yup but down sarr to who (£5m available) as i already have x1 £4.5 in Sissoko who is bench fodder

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Sarr to 4.5 mid, Vardy to Kane, then look to downgrade Jimmy after his games vs Norwich and Burnley

      1. Si_Sinor
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        If i do Vardy to Kane it leaves me with £5.0m to swap Sarr for someone but then I would have x2 less attractive £4.5m midfielders... would this be unbalanced? or play 4-3-3?

        1. internal error
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          I'm playing a 4-3-3 formation atm but waiting for Jimmys two fixtures before I switch to 4-4-2

    3. Blunder fc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Use money in vardy to get son or jota in for sarr

  25. Good Times
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Out of TAA and Jota who would you first priority to get in?

    1. Good Times
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Be your*

    2. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      TAA

    3. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Trent

    4. Kloppage Time
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Easy TAA

    5. Si_Sinor
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      yup TAA

  26. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Salah make FPL so boring, both in terms of budget and captaining issue. Will spend these 12.7 with pleasure.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yes, but he will go to Africa. And there is a lot to do elsewhere.

      1. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        When

    2. FantasyClub
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hahah you could do Salah to Jota and spend rest elsewhere if you’re serious bout that

  27. Elmozemuppet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    First time poster - I lurk usually but I have got such a headache with my team and been pulling all sorts out of my head.

    Sanchez / Carson
    Duffy / RJames / TAA / Dias / Williams
    ESM / Raphina / Salah / Foden / Gray
    Antonio / Pukki / Vardy

    1m ITB.

    Do I target a keeper - Lloris, Guita, Ramsdale?
    Do I target a mid with Raph and Gray both looking to get dropped?
    Do I -4 and make a few changes?
    Any tips or nods welcomed 🙂

    1. Blunder fc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Keepers generally average just under 4 pts a game so unless you want to change longterm leave it. But if you think there's a better option than Sanchez that you prefer take the hit.

    2. Blunder fc
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Otherwise can you afford pukka>a 4.5 and gray to jota for a hit?

      1. Elmozemuppet
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah I've thought just leaving the keeper for 1 game, not the end of the world.
        Pukki has a few decent fixtures coming up but could be tempted to drop him.
        Jota looks like my goal but just trying to slot him in...

    3. Lucky Z
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Why Raph is going to be dropped?

      1. Elmozemuppet
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Not for defo, but with Spurs and Brighton then Chelsea, City, Arsenal, Liverpool it's hard to think of reasons to keep him for much longer

  28. Jones Kusi
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    What would you do here?

    2 FT 0.1 ITB
    Sanchez Ward
    Rudiger Cancelo TAA Livra Semedo
    Rapinha Salah Saka Havertz Bissouma
    Toney Antonio Vardy

  29. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Have the same Son vs Jota dilemma, will probably get both by GW14 but who would you get in first?

    2FT 2.1 ITB

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo Dias
    Salah Raphinha Foden Mbeumo
    Toney Jimenez Antonio

    Foster Livramento ESR Azpi

    Was thinking Mbeumo/Jimenez to Son/4.4 Fodder and could get Jota in GW14 for Raphinha by selling Azpi to Reguilon.
    or just do Mbeumo to Jota now and get Son in GW14 for Raphinha?

  30. pBelck
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    thoughts on Zaha to Jota?

    I am considering waiting til next gw based on fixtures

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

      Hold for next 2

    2. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Luxury transfer given Palace's run. I don't think I would bother, I'd like both if possible though.