Pro Pundits - Tom

Five-time top 1k FPL finisher Tom Freeman’s Gameweek 13 plans

Gameweek 12 has drawn to a close, and all in all, it was a pretty good one for me.

A total of 75 points has seen my overall rank rise to 57,377, and though it’s early days, it’s been a positive start.

Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) led the way with 16 captain points but there were also returns for Ben Foster (£4.1m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m), Antonio Rudiger (£5.9m), Joao Cancelo (£6.6m) and Adam Armstrong (£6.0m), who has started to pick up some form in recent weeks.

Now, as focus shifts to Gameweek 13, I thought I’d write-up some observations from Steven Gerrard’s first match in charge of Aston Villa, plus my own transfer/team plans for the weekend.

VILLA UNDER GERRARD – FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Steven Gerrard got off to a winning start at Aston Villa on Saturday, with a 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation, Gerrard’s preferred shape during his time at Rangers, Villa were much improved, especially at the back. As a result, they limited Graham Potter’s side to just 0.52 expected goals (xG) – their second lowest xG total of the season so far – with 0.28 of that figure arriving from one Tariq Lamptey (£4.4m) attempt during the first-half.

While Albion had a lot of the ball with 63% possession, they rarely looked like scoring, something Gerrard touched on after the game:

“Brighton had a lot of possession, but it was in the areas we wanted them to have the ball, so I’m really pleased for the players, proud of them, but it’s only a start, we need to go and back it up now.”

Ollie Watkins (£7.3m) and Tyrone Mings (£4.9m) got the goals on the day, but which players could benefit most from Gerrard’s appointment in Fantasy Premier League (FPL)?

Five-time top 1k FPL finisher Tom Freeman on Villa under Gerrard and his Gameweek 13 plans 1

Aston Villa’s average position map v Brighton and Hove Albion in Gameweek 12

1,026 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Grande Tubarão
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone want to start an FPL podcast with me? Feel like there’s a gap in the market?

    1. Warbling Wendy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Hehehe

  2. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    JAMES goal

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    OMG JAMES

  4. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    James uses up a goal in UCL...

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

      He looks like he'll score every game and in this form I wouldn't put it past him.

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

      Nah, he's just getting into gear for the weekend

  5. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Worth buying Jota this week?
    Will he start the next 3?

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

    JAMES F ME!!!!!!

    What a goal

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Southgate can build a team of right backs for Qatar.

  7. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    CHO goal

  8. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    OK CHO
    Nice Ruben

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

      *OMG

  9. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Glad I got him in before last price rise. James to skyrocket.

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

    Off with the wingbacks

  11. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Tuchel's Chelsea is a scary machine

  12. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    James Chilwell Rudiger essential

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

      Two thirds right

  13. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Juve aren't great are they, no wonder they're eighth

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

      It's not fair they should be in the vets league

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

      Tons of injuries to be fair

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

      Can see why they were desperate for the Super League.

  14. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Rüdiger to James?

    1. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Try to get James another way.

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

  15. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    What is it with England and right backs? They probably have the two best right backs in the world.

    1. Boss Hogg
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Play em all.
      Team of right backs.

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

      Walker is not that good anymore

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Walker is having his best season for a while

      2. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Walker and Trippier are the two best and Trent and Reece are not far behind!

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

      Along with Walker who fits Southgates system perfectly.

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

      Wan B says hi

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Time for subs, TT!

  17. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Sanchez foster
    TAA rudiger cancelo James livra
    Salah son ESR mbeumo bissouma
    Vardy Antonio ASM

    2ft 0m itb. Any changes? Feel like letting a transfer go to waste as still have faith in vardy and antonio over the coming weeks.

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

    Wouldn't even surprise me if James scored a hattrick against United this weekend.

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

      Must have missed United earlier... second half of the season title charge is on!

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

        Haha! No I watched the game. United were poor in the first half and De Gea kept them in the game. Much better once Bruno came on but they have nothing on Chelsea. Going to be torn a new one.

      2. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Carrick at the wheel!

  19. Gross Blank Point
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    So 1/5 of all the goals Chelsea have conceded under Tuchel have been scored by West Brom!!

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

    Ziyech finally coming good.

    Livramento and Wilson to James and Dennis done.

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo James Chilwell Rudiger
    Salah Son Gallagher ESR
    Ronaldo
    Steele Dennis Sissoko Scarlett

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

      I like that team. Hope ronaldo comes good for you but if not then lot of money in him to improve elsewhere

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

      Nice transfers. For free? Thinking of doing Antonio/Livra or White -> James and Dennis. Tempting!

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

    When the CHO goal went in Chelsea had 7 in the box

  22. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Can't recall a team that has had this much goal involvement % by defenders like Chelsea has had this season.

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

      Robbo and Trent the past couple of seasons?

  23. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Is Reece James even human? Think he needs to be drug tested!

  24. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Thinking of getting James GW14 but isn’t there a risk get rested / rotated soon?

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

      Watford a worry for him & Chilwell.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeh that’s my concern

      2. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Why is that? Do they have some important game after or before the Watford game?

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Tuchel rotates

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            And it's based only on that?

            1. Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Yeh as I have city players too who prone to rotation- but May get anyway wirh chilly injured

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

      I would get a James before they all sell out.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Yeh got a chilly and need a pair

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

          His price has been sky rocketing. Have you got s decent bench to cover if one or both get rested?

  25. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I find it interesting how the narration regarding formations changes depending on recent results. There are weeks when both Ronaldo and Lukaku score double digits and then people drift to triple premium in 3-4-3, then defenders do well and people consider 5-4-1, soon midfielders will start firing again with most popular defenders conceding some unlucky goals and it will be 3-5-2 or some other formation.

    Of course, there are seasons where some formations have more great value players, but there is also a lot of variability in single GW scores and by pure probability there will be weeks when most of popular players from one formation run riot and popular players from other formation blank.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Triple Chelsea defence and 5 atb is not out of the question...

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I'm usually very rigid when it comes to formation. Have played 343 more or less for 10 yrs. Changing to 433/442 few gws ago has shoot me up in the rankings. 100k -> 11k.

      Ain't going to sell/bench my precious wingbacks anytime soon.

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Well that aged quickly. Chilwell -> Alonso coming

      2. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        I was considering 4-4-2 myself (until Chilwel got injured at least), but I also understand that they won't be scoring 12 points every game. Chilwel is on 9 ppg, James on 8.3 ppg, TAA on 7.9 ppg. They are a still great value and pretty much essential, but there is no way that is sustainable, if they played every game we would be talking about 300+ points in the course of the season.

    3. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      herd mentality... its basically what crypto is to the stock market

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

    Toney, Semedo > King, James (-4)
    Yay or nay?

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

      Without a doubt.

  27. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell down … looks in agony …..

  28. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell hurt.

    1. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Chilly taken off …for Alonso on …. Right knee appears to be the problem.

  29. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell hurt badly

  30. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell injured :/