Scout Notes

Martinelli’s form, Covid latest, Tomiyasu injury news: FPL Gameweek 18 review

Arsenal breezed past sorry Leeds United in the only Gameweek 18 match of the day to survive a postponement.

Our Scout Notes article reflects on the key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points from the fixture.

MARVELLOUS MARTINELLI

The Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m) train just about keeps chugging along, with back-to-back goals helping to gloss over three successive benchings, but a separate budget Arsenal bandwagon is gathering momentum.

A Smith Rowe injury ahead of Gameweek 15 paved the way for Gabriel Martinelli (£5.2m) to establish himself on the Gunners’ left flank and the young Brazilian has effectively kept his teammate out of the side ever since, although alternative routes back into the starting XI at least do exist for Smith Rowe.

Martinelli made it six attacking returns in as many Gameweeks at Elland Road and while he’ll not sustain an average of 7.0 points per match over the season (he scored from his only two shots of the match on Saturday), he’s keeping company with some big midfielders on the underlying stats front over his last half-dozen appearances:

Above: FPL midfielders sorted by expected goal involvement (xGI) over their last six matches

Martinelli has historically posted some good numbers (he had the best rate of xGI among Arsenal players last season) but the issue with the budget midfielder has always been game-time, which he now has for the time being.

Bukayo Saka (£6.2m), Alexandre Lacazette (£8.5m) and Smith Rowe also chipped in with attacking returns against Leeds, too, but spurned big chances from the French striker in particular left a feeling of ‘what might have been’ for owners of the Gunners’ other attacking assets.

Unsurprisingly, Martinelli is now the most-bought player of Gameweek 19.

If you’re thinking about joining his growing band of owners, first consider that Arsenal’s Boxing Day opponents are Norwich City, a side whose Gameweek 18 fixture was called off on Thursday because of a coronavirus outbreak among the squad – and a 10-day isolation period would just about cover Gameweek 19 as a result. That fixture, then, must be in some doubt.

LEEDS DEFENCE A MESS… AND LIVERPOOL UP NEXT

Having started last season looking shifty (the fourth letter can be interchanged for another consonant) at the back but showing signs of improvement as the campaign went on, Leeds have come full circle.

Marcelo Bielsa’s troops have now shipped 16 goals in their last four Premier League matches and as many big chances – both, unsurprisingly, are league-worst totals.

Above: Premier League defences sorted by shots on target conceded over their last four matches

They allowed 11 shots on target in the first half of the loss to Arsenal alone, a record in the Opta era.

The absurd injury crisis is a huge contributing factor, of course. In the defence in Gameweek 18 were centre-halves Luke Ayling (£4.3m) and Robin Koch (£4.3m), better at right-back and in front of the back four, and Cody Drameh (£3.9m), barely out of his teens. Unavailability further forward was just as key: 10 first-teamers were sidelined in total, while Jack Harrison (£5.6m) limped off after half an hour.

Whether or not any Gameweek 19 fixtures go ahead is another question but if Leeds do make it to kick-off on Boxing Day having swerved a postponement, their next opponents are the Premier League’s top-scoring side, Liverpool.

RAPHINHA AT LEAST SECOND ON PENS

Raphinha (£6.6m) seems to be at least second in command in the Leeds United penalty-taking pecking order.

The Brazilian had scored twice from the spot already this season but both Patrick Bamford (£7.7m) and Mateusz Klich (£5.2m), the Whites’ primary takers in 2020/21, were off the field in those instances.

Klich was on the pitch for the Brazilian’s latest success from 12 yards this evening, however, an emphatic effort that moved him onto eight goals for the season – a total that only two FPL midfielders can better.

Budget FPL forward Joe Gelhardt (£4.6m) bagged the assist for the penalty, his second return in three Gameweeks.

COVID WATCH AND INJURY LATEST

Smith Rowe on bench as unchanged Arsenal face injury-hit Leeds

Nine Leeds players were known as being unavailable going into this match but a 10th, Diego Llorente (£4.5m), also didn’t show up. It was later revealed that the centre-back had tested positive for Covid-19, and he will now sit out Gameweek 19 as a result.

Arsenal also have their first cases of Covid-19 in a while, with Albert Sambi Lokonga (£4.8m) and Pablo Mari (£4.2m) contracting the illness.

The Gunners shut their training ground as a precaution on Thursday but returned thereafter.

“We had another player, as well, Pablo has Covid, so unfortunately they [Mari and Lokonga] will be out.” – Mikel Arteta

Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.7m) banked a clean sheet for his owners before limping from the field of play but Arteta wasn’t too concerned after the game.

“It was more a muscular issue. He’s got a big load on him, he’s played every single minute since he joined us and this week he’s been a bit struggling. We decided to take him off. He wasn’t 100% confident to finish the match and hopefully he’s not injured.” – Mikel Arteta

Bielsa gave an update on the limping Harrison after full-time, as well as some of his other absent players:

“It’s just a big knock [for Harrison], a very painful one just below his hip. It’s just knocks that prevent you from continuing to play, but they’re not injuries that take long to recover from. What was, was that he was on the pitch for thirty minutes where he really couldn’t play. Until the player convinces himself that he can’t play there are moments where he can’t do anything.

“Cooper has a long period of recovery, Phillips has a long period of recovery. Cresswell has a long period of recovery, Bamford and James no – they’re not that long but I can’t tell you if they’re going to be available for Liverpool. Rodrigo Moreno has a problem in his heels and this has made him inactive in the past two weeks. The way to heal or cure this injury is to manage the pain so it disappears.

“The injury of Rodrigo is something that’s not very frequent. In Pascal’s case in the Premier League you have this injury once or twice a season, it also demands the pain disappears for him to be able to play. With respect to Rodrigo he’s not going to play against Liverpool and Pascal I place him on the same range as Bamford and James. They are all subject to the evolution, I never not give up information that I possess. What I try to avoid is to not say something I’m not sure of. I take advantage when I made a reference to the operation of Phillips – I thought you were talking about the possible surgery to his shoulder, and the expression that was understood, perhaps I expressed myself wrong. I didn’t know whether he was operated under on the back part of his knee.” – Marcelo Bielsa

1,517 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Will Kane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Hello?

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Hello sweetie

      1. Will Kane
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Hi.... um... poppet?

    2. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Evening

      1. Will Kane
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Ok, other people are here now. Felt like I'd arrived super early to a party

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

      Hello, is it me you’re looking for?

  2. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Ben white cost a double clean sheet tonight 🙁

    1. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Just a single for me as I had Tomiyasu 🙂

  3. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Can't believe it, my main rival in one league, currently on 1180, bought in Martinelli this week!

    The man has a crystal ball!

    1. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Martinelli was a good call, I was slightly worried he might get a rest after going off with cramp last game so went safe with Saka instead, which at least turned out ok, if considerably less spectacular

      1. GoonerSteve
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I went Saka also, Martinelli was a good but brave call.

        Don't get me wrong though, I'm impressed not bitter.

        Honest.

        1. SouthCoastSaint
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Got to applaud that pick given the attacking offerings we had to pick from!

          Brought in Tierney Laca and ramsdale here for -8…

          +1 glass half full and all that!

          1. GoonerSteve
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Yeah exactly. I was really cautious and only bought in Saka. Leaves me with 9 players max and no Foden/City midfielder.

            Tomorrow could be painful!

          2. Dammit_182
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Measure that particular glass over the next t few weeks. If they bang vs Norwich your laughing

      2. SouthCoastSaint
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yep the cramp thing done for me too. Thought ESR would start, thought odegaard was due a rest and fell into the Laca trap
        Like a lot of people. He played so deep at times Martinelli was way more central

        1. Will Kane
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I was very tempted by Laca as well, it was just a case of priorities for me - the two players I really wanted rid of were Livra and Brownhill so I went for Tomiyasu and Saka. In theory I was happy with my forwards so that's the only reason I didn't go for Laca. But he got an assist, at least not a total blank, pretty valuable in this GW

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

    I know there are more important things, but surely given the next games after tomorrow are a full week away, FPL should provide free transfers for everyone?

    Game just isn’t fun without 11 ish starters and surely it’s fair across all of us?

    1. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      For context I’ve not suffered too horrifically from the postponements so I’m arguing for people way worse off than me that I’m competing with in mini leagues

    2. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A week til the next fixtures, hopefully enough time for teams to get a handle on things and tighten up on Covid restrictions.

      1. SouthCoastSaint
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Don’t think that’s the case though as Norwich for example had injuries and Covid has wiped half their squad. Isolation would mean no training so there’s no way arsenal game goes ahead under current guidance?

        1. BENOIT
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Weren’t most of their cases prior to their last fixture that they actually played though? In which case, there will have been 2 weeks

          1. SouthCoastSaint
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            No way of knowing but article suggests gw 19 would be at risk with training grounds closed

    3. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Could not sound more patronising if you tried.

      1. SouthCoastSaint
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        For suggesting we should be playing for fun?

        I was at 64k I’m hardly setting the world alight

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Just joking, mate.

          1. SouthCoastSaint
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            I just wanna have fun?

            😉

            1. Drexl Spivey
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              I just want my Watkins transfer back.

              1. SouthCoastSaint
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 3 months ago

                Ditto want my Antonio transfer back

        2. circusmonkey
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Unsubtle brag.

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

      Everyone is free to make as many teansfers as they want and play for fun. Transfer is cost us in the rules.

    5. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Football isn't fun without fixtures which is sadly what's likely to happen over the festive period. You will probably get your wish when the season resumes a president was set for this last year.

      1. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        One term of Donald was quite enough thankyou

    6. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Fpl Scotland has confirmed that unlimited transfers will apply in their game where more than 50% of teams have games postponed - so if half teams not playing you can transfer out players from those teams to players in teams that do play

    7. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No. Play as is.

    8. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Do you mean a free wildcard?

      I am not sure whether I am in favour of that.

      I don’t have my 1st wildcard but if I did I’d be frustrated if people were given one now.

  5. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I reckon next weekends schedule will be called off.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Me as well see above.

    2. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Lokonga positive so you imagine others at arsenal now at risk given what happened at spurs and Chelsea. Seems worse with london clubs.

      Feel so sorry for Leeds and Norwich with already depleted squads

    3. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      They released a statement saying they will stick to the schedule. i.e. it's up to the teams to sort their **** out

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        This

  6. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Some help & advice please guys
    Jota & Bernardo out
    Ramsey & DeBruyne in
    Yes or No please???
    Leaves me mid 4 of Salah KDB Gallagher & SmithRowe.

    1. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Do nothing

      1. sandman58
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        No worries
        Thanks
        Just afraid of an increase and have exact funds

        1. SouthCoastSaint
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I was priced out of Watkins to Laca and regretfully booted Antonio instead but think over the next few weeks you have to hold .

          No way would I lose Jota with AFCON looming and KDB could get injured tomorrow or have his minutes managed

        2. SouthCoastSaint
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Think any two of foden gundogan and bernardo is a better play

        3. Dammit_182
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          This is ok the week to go early.

          1. Dammit_182
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Not even

    2. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No!!!!! Don't make early transfers!!!!

      1. sandman58
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers guys

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Way too early

  7. GoonerSteve
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I only made one transfer this week, Saka in for Gallagher, which worked out OK.

    Problem is I've only got Cancelo in the City Newcastle game, no Foden/Silva which could hurt.

    Hopefully having Ronaldo still will make up for it.

    1. GoonerSteve
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      *make up for it next week

  8. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Was Martinelli a forward in FPL at some point in the past or am I remembering that wrong? Would be great this season given the lack of options!

    1. Will Kane
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I have a vague recollection of him being a 4.5m forward....

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, this is his 1st season as a mid I believe.

    3. SouthCoastSaint
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He’s a fantastic finisher. Took his second goal delightfully

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

      Yes he used to be a 4.5m FWD.

      1. Dammit_182
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Then with then a man down up front he’s a bargain out of position mid I guess..poor auba

  9. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Guess for least risk have to target players playing in 12:30 game on Boxing Day otherwise 3pm game

    1. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      But not until 10.59

  10. Goooo Rickie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    He was listed as a mud last year as well.

  11. EffPeeEll
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    scenes tomorrow when freehiiters see B ilva benched

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I'm sure they'll be devoed.

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

      Why would FH-ers have Bilva over Foden, KDB and Sterling?

    3. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      So you don’t have BSilva is what you’re saying?!?!...

    4. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’m sure we all have deep benches

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

      I would have thought it would be the other way around.

  12. Jump in Micah
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Transfer early to catch Martenelli before the price rise?

    1. Jump in Micah
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      This was a joke before people get angry emoji dropped off

      1. Dammit_182
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        2 mins after the lost you had to clarify. Thats how on edge people are right know!

        1. Jump in Micah
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          🙂

  13. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Time to watch a bumper motd

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

      Hard to pick a best game.

  14. Dammit_182
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Maybe this week is ‘match of the day’ but every other week is ‘matches of the day’?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Wow, possibly the worst post I’ve ever seen on here, and that’s saying something!

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Well played!

  15. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Evening everyone.

    Please predict which one of us you think will advance to round 3 of the Overall Cup. (Without postponements)

    Points:

    Me: -3
    My opponent: 14

    Players left (we both have The Liverpool 3, TAA, Jota and Salah):

    Me: James, Cancelo, Manquillo, Foden, Jimenez
    My opponent: Dias, Ruediger, Mount

    Captains:

    Me: Salah (c), Saka (vc)
    My opponent: Salah (c), Sanchez (vc)

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      23 vs 18 tomorrow excluding Salah imo

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

      Evening everyone.

      Please tell me that I’m going to win my cup match so that I can feel better about myself.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Rude.

        1. CoracAld2831
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          But partly true.

  16. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    When is best time to use WC?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I am leaving to last possible time-week 20 and hope we may know if there may be doubles in 21 which Ben Crellin thinks is possible

    2. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      If you still have it then right now as late as possible

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

      GW2

    4. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      In all fairness you only have 2 GWs left to use your first one.

    5. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn’t want to be using a wildcard right now but just save it for the final week (I think it’s gw20) and hope for the best!
      And yes, 3 playing bench is ideal

  17. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    What's the go with price changes, a lot of Villa players are still showing three arrows upwards, is this correct?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, people have been transferring them in a lot today before the news.

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yeh, it's quite odd. All Watkins, Cash and Ramsey are showing at 95.2 / 95.1

    2. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Many thought they had a game and brought them in before the late news.

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Do you think a lot will trade them out then?
        Those Villa players with their fixtures are still not a bad selection apart from the fact it's Chelsea next week.

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Would be amazing to get a double rise out of Watkins

      1. Grande Tubarão
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Doesn’t look likely - I got his 12 points from last week and took the double price rise I’d already got. Did well out of him

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          +95% on FPLstats but yeah doubt it
          Would like to be able to reverse my terrible Antonio to Watkins transfer which I am currently priced out of lol

          1. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            It’s pretty unlucky - Watkins wat at 178% when I checked at one point earlier

            1. Gabbiadini
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              Yeh, hence why I'm surprised it is not a downward arrow.

  18. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Seagulls do not mess about.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/Todd_Spence/status/1470815459352055814

    1. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Nature u scaaaary

    2. Casual Player
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Thought this was going to be covid news about Brighton

    3. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Whoa

  19. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I know this is going to come across as annoying… but I’m currently sitting at 6k - was comfortable with my squad before this COVID mess, now just feel like we’re all shooting from the hip with transfers and it’s just luck on a week by week basis.

    Not to mention many managers live on the other side of the world and so a deadline transfer is almost impossible (I transferred in Watkins during daylight hours in Australia only to find out that the march was postponed at the last minute)

    feel like planning is out the window now and seeing huge points swings for no real logic.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed

      1. The Knights Template
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It's annoying?

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      It’s just reality. I’ve owned Watkins for 2 weeks now and put the vc on him. Also in Aus and changed to Foden as I woke up at like 2.30am (yep checking FPL is the first thing you do on weekends).

      I feel for the guys still yet to use wc. You try and plan for the team you want but it’s all out of our control right now and lots of talk/reasons why an extended winter break or circuit breaker isn’t the answer.

      People are forced into bringing in the likes of Laca to field more players but I’m personally only bringing in players I would normally want to play

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Unfortunately I woke up at 4am in Aus. Check FPL and it’s still updating for the GW… cool way to work out the AVL-Bur match was called off and deadline pushed back. Probs would’ve done a -4 after wasting the free on Watkins. As it is, 50/50 I reverse the Watkins transfer next week lol

    3. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’d be gutted in your situation. I’ve done fairly well out of the carnage but it’s been entirely luck. You got to 6k when the game was at least proportionately more about skill.

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

      Translation: when things run for me, it's skill. When things run against me, it's luck. 😆

      Play the game as it stands. It's all about reactivity and adaptability right now. If that finds you out so be it, you will become a better manager as a result. 🙂

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I think people need to recognise the edge for engaged/serious players over the “casuals” is much greater in these circumstances. Yeah sometimes you get rocked - and often time zones don’t help - but literally millions of players wouldn’t have even waited until the last hour before the deadline.

      2. FPL Doctor
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry - disagree here.

        The game is about planning over 38 gameweeks. There’s plenty of evidence to suggest FPL is about skill over this period of time (of course you need luck to win it)

        But what I’m saying is that the game is purely about luck on a week-week basis like this.

        Agreed that experienced FPL managers need to adapt… but you’re adapting by making 50:50 calls on whether games will get postponed last minute or even after the deadline…. Not to mention the flow on effects of the next gameweek. Pure luck at the moment - even for seasoned managers

        1. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Yeah, but you see, you are defining what the game is - "about planning over 38 gameweeks" - in a way that describes your approach. It isn't the only approach and it isn't a neutral description either.

          A friend of mine (who has two top 1k finishes including one top 100) is an almost entirely reactive manager, He seldom looks more than 3-4 weeks ahead and everything is always about maximising his points potential this week and the one after. It's very different to how I tend to go about things and I have learned a fair bit from him.

          Not to say that I want to copy him. He takes risks that most wouldn't and he worries less about hits than most do (though he doesn't take all that many). He is always about the players he wants in. I am often about what the weak links are in my team that most need replacing. He is short-term, I often look 8 or 10 weeks ahead and always consider at least the next 6. All these conflicting aspects and approaches have their place, of course, and the real skill is to switch gear or switch approach at the right times.

          That reactive approach is what is needed right now because you can't plan. If you are really good at this game you will adjust and handle that fact. If not, you will complain that the game has swung outside of your comfort zone. But that is all it will be. It's the same situation for everyone.

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            I think that's close to the truth. We can't define this game from our personal point of view. And since the situation in the game has changed, all we can do now is our best in this current situation. This is not first season when unforeseen events happen or cancellation after deadline.

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          This chaos is an issue for everyone. How to handle it is still combination of luck and skill. And also about dedication and good time zone helps, yes. Unforeseen events happening again.

      3. Grande Tubarão
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah, the more I read the more accurate your post actually appears Ruth. Does seem to be a classic case of ‘it’s skill when I’m doing well and here’s my list of excuses when I’m not’

  20. MOZIL
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Predicted score these games?
    Wol vs Chel: 0:3
    New vs MC: 0:4

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-0
      1-2

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-1
      1-3

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Post
      0-3

      1. MOZIL
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        lol

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          ?

    4. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-1
      2-5

    5. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0:2
      1:4

    6. The White Pele
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-0
      0-5

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

      P-P
      P-P

    8. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Liverpool needed 94th minute goal and City needed a dubious penalty. What makes you think the great Chelsea will score 3?

    9. _Gunner
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      0-1
      0-3

    10. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      This is a very good post. My guess is cancelled

  21. Thomas Jerome Newton
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    So the teams hit with Covid, they likely to miss next week's games also?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No not all

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I get the theory but I don’t think we can work to that assumption

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Maybe Villa - Chelsea most likely to be off?
      As their cases were discovered this morning and there is less than ten days until the next fixture
      Anyone’s guess though really

      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        That doesn’t mean all of the positive cases were today though right? It just means some additional cases were discovered this morning which have sent them over the threshold?

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

      Likely yes

    5. Vinyl78LP
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      These clubs are more than happy to throw their U-23's in for League Cup, FA Cup games or European Dead Rubbers - but these same players strangely vanish when the first XI cant be fully fielded for a PL game ?

    6. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No, but the players contracted with the virus wont play. That will be another level, when games are called off you can try to adapt that into your plans but when you dont know which players missing out ut will be another level.. Just have to adapt

  22. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    A bit gutted I didn't get martenelli in. Was so close to bringing him in for a hit but in the end I decided against it because of the risk of benching and went for tomiyasu instead. I guess it was the right move logically but stings a bit. At least I got tomiyasu clean sheet points

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      You were blessed with those cs points.

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

      Total jam ; should be loving it

    3. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I’d be over the moon with that luck!

  23. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    One of my cup opponents (Manchester United cup) is ranked 5.6m yet used his FH this week ffs

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Feel like I’m the only player in the world not in the Man Utd Cup

  24. putana
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    who wins:

    A) james + foden

    B) rudiger + 9

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      C) Covid and postponements

    3. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t know

    4. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      c) Covid

  25. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Last Man Standing Update (999 teams)

    Current safety score = 1 with autosubs.
    Top score = 34
    LMS average = 9.33 (-2.44) = 6.89
    Players left = 9.83/12
    Captains left = 99.6%

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

    1. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Over 9 players left is pretty high.

  26. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    In my mini league, something happened to me and something different happened to my rival, just keeping you all in the loop.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Can you link the league so we can follow the story?

    2. BROOKLYN GOONER
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      No way, same exact thing happened to me and my rival! It's a little spooky.

    3. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I had a player ruled out due to postponement. And I thought about transferring in that player who scored big but went with someone else.

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Grabs popcorn…

    4. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Something didn’t go my way and I’m in the wrong timezone. This game’s all luck.

      1. Sheffield Wednesday
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Mind read.

    5. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Cool story

  27. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/16583/transfers

    This guy bought AMN by mistake it seems lol but then made a great correction for a hit

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He’s ranked 39 overall as well!

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Would have been joint 24 if he hadn’t taken that hit

        1. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          ya and its his only hit this season but such an odd mistake to make

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Nice little story.

    3. Casual Player
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Whoa clicked the link and recognised the team… becuase I looked him up last week as he was the only player in the top 100 to captain TAA instead of Salah. Dude is a maverick

    4. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      He's gonna miss winning the overall title by three points. You read it here first.

    5. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Lol, nice save

    6. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      When you’re luck is in ..

  28. jia you
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    23 with 7 to play including captain...is this the GW I finally get back inside the top 2 🙂

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Think link is wrong - says you’re a Man Utd fan in China and highest rank is just inside top 300k - certainly nowhere near top 2

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        sry top 2m I meant 😉

        1. Sheffield Wednesday
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          lol

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            haha I can't even blame Covid

        2. Bggz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          Lol same same

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      The No Salah League going well? 😉

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        A rough start lets just say mate!

  29. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    In hindsight I'm regretting selling Antonio over Watkins this week, didn't think about the fact that Villa would have found out today and their game vs Chelsea is likely going to be off next week.

    I just felt that Watkins and Villa are in better form than Antonio and West Ham and even though West Ham have better fixtures its not by much.

    Might just get Antonio back in for Laca after Norwich now

    1. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Watkins' fixtures post-Chelsea are pretty good. I think you can hold.
      Also, I think yes, a lot of people make the quick assessment that the game is off but you just can't be sure. Who knows, the first tests may have been positive/inconclusive and a second test showing as a negative.

      We also don't know whether maybe the leniency may decrease the more games a club has to postpone because at some point all these games need to be played. Maybe we'll see a few clubs recall loan players for this very reason.

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        hmmm ya we don't know as yet and lets see what happens over the next week and false positives are massive factor.

        I do think Watkins form is better as is villas in general, West Ham were looking quite knackered vs Arsenal but they do have some good fixtures and im def going to have to get him back I think or get Bowen or another mid, depends on what happens over the week and if I want Ronaldo back or not.

  30. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Is Martinelli a better option than Saka going forward ?

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

      Probably. Why he’s listed as a midfielder is bemusing

      1. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Loads of midfielders that shouldn’t be. Jota is the obvious. Could argue for Salah and Mane too, as I’d say they play up as wingers/wide forwards and not in a 4-5-1.