Say What

Possible DGW25 for Saints, why Lowton was benched and Salah’s penalty rival

The long-dormant ‘Say What?’ series is revived as we recap some key manager and player quotes from the weekend’s football, with the focus very much on what it means from a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) perspective.

A possible Double Gameweek 25 for Southampton, an explanation for Matthew Lowton‘s (£4.4m) benching, West Ham’s search for an alternative to Michail Antonio (£7.9m) and Liverpool’s penalty-taking pecking order are all discussed.

For a recap of the on-field action, check out our Scout Notes via the links below:

READ MORE: Dennis suspended for second Gameweek 23 fixture but Foster may return: Friday’s review
READ MORE: Broja dangerous despite blank as De Bruyne and Laporte continue fine FPL form: Saturday’s review
READ MORE: Alonso dropped as Tuchel opts for a back four: Sunday’s review

SOUTHAMPTON’S DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 25?

Having planted the seed that Southampton may have a Double Gameweek 25 in his pre-match press conference, Ralph Hasenhuttl teased us with the same thought when speaking after Saints’ 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Asked whether Kyle Walker-Peters’ (£4.8m) excellent performance at right-back lessened the need to hasten the injured Tino Livramento‘s (£4.3m) return, Ralph Hasenhuttl dropped another hint.

 “No, I hope he is soon back because we need every player at the moment.

“We have after the break I think five games in two weeks so we need every player, especially when you want to switch and a little bit take care of the workload then you need to have an alternative.

“Can you imagine that we have only one right-back this season, say Tino, and he is out? Then you are struggling like we have done in the last year, it would be horrible.” – Ralph Hasenhuttl

Currently, Southampton have only four fixtures scheduled in league and cup immediately after the winter break. As we’re already down the rabbit hole of conjecture, Saints’ run could look something like this if there was any substance to their head coach’s comments – the Newcastle home game being their only outstanding match so far:

  • Feb 5: Coventry (FA Cup)
  • Feb 9: Spurs (GW24)
  • Feb 12: Man Utd (GW25)
  • Feb 16: (Newcastle in DGW25?)
  • Feb 19: Everton (GW26)

WHY WAS LOWTON BENCHED?

Such is the absurd nature of this FPL season, Sean Dyche chose a Double Gameweek to bench a player who had started the last 51 Premier League matches in a row.

Matthew Lowton (£4.4m) was Burnley’s most-owned defender heading into Friday’s deadline and a cheap target for FPL managers who were aware that this was the first Double Gameweek of at least five for the Clarets due to their backlog of fixtures.

Perhaps Lowton was one of the many Burnley players who was affected by Covid-19 and was struggling for match-fitness? If he was, there was no mention of it in Dyche’s post-match presser, with the gravel-voiced nickname-conferrer instead hailing the attributes of Connor Roberts (£4.5m).

“Connor has done well, he’s only had 60 minutes of an under-23 game in weeks but he is a very fit lad.

“We’ve got to look at what we’re doing as a staff. What can activate a change and give you something different. Connor was one of them, we have to start using him and looking at him.

“We want that demand from the group. Bardo is right in the hat as well but he’d only trained for a day this week because he’d had an injection in his lower back.” – Sean Dyche on his decision to start Connor Roberts at right-back

LAMPTEY STILL HANDLED CAREFULLY

Tariq Lamptey (£4.5m) returned from a lengthy hamstring injury as a substitute in Gameweek 8 and here we are, three months on, with Brighton and Hove Albion’s exciting but fragile right-back still having his minutes managed.

This was his third benching in four matches and Brighton coach Bjorn Hamberg, who was deputising for the Covid-hit Graham Potter, hinted that the careful handling would continue – something to bear in mind, as if we needed reminding, for Albion’s future Double Gameweeks.

“There is still a little bit of managing his minutes. And after Chelsea (last Tuesday), a high-intensity game, stretching the backline a lot, we needed a big effort to go again.

“Sometimes we try to see is it the start of the game or the back end. We chose this time for the back end and I thought he had a good impact coming on.” – Bjorn Hamberg

SALAH’S CHALLENGE FOR SPOT-KICK DUTIES

With first-choice penalty-taker James Milner (£4.9m) granted less and less game-time in his dotage, Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) has been chiefly responsible for Liverpool’s spot-kicks over the last few years.

However, the premium FPL midfielder missed two of his last four penalties – against AC Milan and Leicester City – before departing for AFCON duty with Egypt earlier this month.

Fabinho (£5.4m) has been on penalties in Salah’s absence, scoring twice from 12 yards in cup and league over the last fortnight and taking his excellent historic conversion record to 95.8% (23 out of 24 scored).

“He works on them a lot and he’s good at them. Millie was stood on the sideline as well, probably eyeing it up ready to come on! But Fab did really well there. He’s scored a few now and he seems to have moved into that penalty spot.

“It will be interesting to see when Mo comes back if he’s still got that number two spot on pens! We’ll see. It was good, though, and we needed that from him.” – Alex Oxlade Chamberlain on Fabinho’s penalties

MOYES LOOKING FOR ANTONIO COMPETITION?

Owners of Michail Antonio (£7.9m) face a slightly nervy time over the next week or so – and not just because the West Ham forward has three stabs at picking up a muscle injury while he is on international duty with Jamaica.

David Moyes said after Saturday’s loss to Manchester United, a game in which Antonio again laboured up top, that the Hammers are once again renewing their so-far-fruitless search for competition in attack.

“I think in a perfect world that is what we would try and do. We have been trying for a couple of years to add a striker to the group but we have not been able to. We have had quite a few offers for players at different times that have not been accepted or we could not get or [they] have been too expensive.

“So it is not for the want of trying and not like we are not seeing the same things that others are seeing. It is trying to get in players that I think can help us and make a difference but we will continue trying to look. With a week or so to go [in the transfer window] we will keep looking.” – David Moyes on West Ham’s search for a striker

ZIYECH BENEFITS FROM CHELSEA’S TACTICAL SHIFT

Thomas Tuchel went with a back four for the fourth time in six matches in league and cup in Sunday’s win over Spurs.

Marcos Alonso (£5.7m) was benched as Malang Sarr (£4.9m) again started at left-back, as he had done against the Lilywhites in the mid-January EFL Cup semi-final.

“It’s one way forward. We tried a 4-1-4-1 formation today because we tried a 4-4-2 against them in the first match and that gave us an advantage but then they reacted to it in the second match.

“We thought maybe it could be an approach to give the players a solution after the last matches and we had the players for the formation, players in shape, players who wanted and should be on the pitch, and good positions for them.

“It gives us more options than only playing a 3-4-3 and we don’t decide now, but it was well done.

T”revoh [Chalobah] had only one training session and Andreas Christensen, a key player, was not available. For a back three, you need three central defenders and two wings backs.

“We thought today that we could play in a 4-1-4-1 to cause them problems. The deal did well and it gives us another option so well done.”

Hakim Ziyech (£7.3m) has been a beneficiary of this tactical shift and has scored twice in successive matches, which is no surprise given that he has been playing in his favoured right-wing position – a role that doesn’t exist in Tuchel’s usual 3-4-3.

“It was also maybe his best position to be on the wing. We had the wide position on the right wing, that position does not normally exist in that particular manner when we play 3-4-3, it is more of a wing-back.”

Chelsea now take a backseat in FPL with three blanks in four Gameweeks but it’s worth monitoring the Blues’ tactics at home and abroad over the coming weeks to see if Ziyech can remain on the radar for an excellent run of matches from Gameweek 28 onwards.

BAMFORD RETURN

Another Gameweek, another Patrick Bamford (£7.7m) absence through injury – and the chances of him making his first start since Gameweek 5 after the winter break still look in doubt.

“I have my doubts. I’m not sure. It’s not just about being able to count on him, it’s that he arrives in conditions to develop his game and a player who’s gone so long without playing, it opens up a question mark, after he is healthy, how long he needs to show his regularity.” – Marcelo Bielsa on Patrick Bamford’s chances of being back in Gameweek 24

GREALISH THROUGH THE MIDDLE

Lauded one week, benched the next: we’ve learned the hard way to take quite literally everything that spews out of Pep Guardiola’s mouth with a pinch of salt.

His latest with-a-side-of-sodium comments concerned his decision to play Jack Grealish (£7.6m) through the middle against Southampton, describing him as “the perfect player to play between the lines”.

The former Villa man is still on a poor four attacking returns from 15 starts this season and an FPL footnote right now but his starting position does have an impact on other City assets, with the more widely owned Phil Foden (£8.0m) stationed on the left at St Mary’s.

“At Aston Villa, he played wide and after he moved wherever he wants and came inside. I think he’s the perfect player to play between the lines.

“(He is) so aggressive, he made incredible runners, he dropped the Southampton team to the byline, his decision making is excellent.

“He had two almost clear chances to dribble and shoot that were blocked so I think he played really well. I was so satisfied today for the performance that Jack has done.” – Pep Guardiola

RASHFORD IN, ELANGA OUT?

Anthony Elanga (£4.9m) was handed his third successive league start in Gameweek 23 but had a quiet time of it against West Ham.

Were it not for the woeful form of his more senior positional rivals, and Marcus Rashford (£9.4m) in particular, Elanga may not have even had a chance at staking such a first-team claim.

Rashford has responded with two goals in as many substitute appearances and he may well have played himself back into contention ahead of Gameweek 24, with a possible Double Gameweek 25 to come for the Red Devils.

“We have a lot of wingers, we have a lot of outstanding players in that position. Jadon (Sancho) was not available today but we have a lot of players for those two positions (striker and winger) and Marcus is one of them.

“Right now, yes, he has scored twice in consecutive games when he came from the bench but, of course, his ambition is to play regularly from the start again.

“It is up to him. If he continually plays on a high level and keeps scoring goals, of course, this is the best way to get back into the team and play from the beginning.”

“We all know what kind of quality he has. He has got almost everything that a modern striker needs. He has got the pace, the skills, he has got the size, the physicality of the striker and in the end it is all about confidence for strikers.

“I am pretty sure that those two goals have raised the level of confidence within Marcus. Now it is about taking the next steps and showing that on a regular basis. It is about continuity now. I think he can play a very important role for the rest of the season for us.” – Ralf Rangnick on Marcus Rashford

217 Comments Post a Comment
  1. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Contrary to most views, I have a feeling Ronaldo would score more than KDB up until GW25. Fixture-wise this is the best time to have Ronaldo. Including the DGW in 25.
    Maybe I am a little biased as a Man Utd fan but heres to hoping. I will hope Ronaldo and Foden would be the better combo than KDB and Robbo

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      same reasoning for past 7-8 gws, mate he's the reason he is dragging our teams down......

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        So imagine selling him just when he is worth it

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

          but you don't know this

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

            form of the player and teams point to the contrary

            if form is the issue, bruno would be a better pick

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

      Love new ideas to freshen up my view, but nah man. I'm done with Ronaldo for now. I'm sure he scores a few over the next few GWs, but losing him on a WC gives me a much more better team.

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Since you mentioned WC

        De Gea Foster
        TAA Cancelo Digne Laporte -
        Salah Coutinho Bowen Gallagher -
        Broja Richardson -

        A) Robbo, KDB, Edouard
        B) 5.3, Foden, Ronaldo

        what is your idea?

        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          A mate. Looks solid.

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

          Looks like A gives you a pretty decent squad

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

          I'd be weary of LFC double d. They are all over the place.
          Rather a cheaper 5th defender for me, and a cheaper 5th midfielder, like Ramsay.
          And get Kane if possible.
          Foden is too much hit and miss for me.

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

            nah lad robbo and taa are worth it even if they concede assists and goals everything flows through them! son over kane

        4. Zenith UK
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Personally I don't like double Palace attack. Only one of Gallagher/Edouard for me

        5. WVA
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          One palace attacker is plenty
          One Liverpool defender also for me

    3. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Also a United fan, but no chance man.

    4. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      People holding Ronaldo are still gonna say “but he’s due” *after* GW 38

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

    Hello community!

    Slowly climbed into the top 50k now. How does this plan look to you:

    Lloris, Steele
    Laporte, Cancelo, TAA, Tierney, Ait Nouri
    Jota, Bowen, KDB, Martinelli, Mount
    Ronaldo, Dennis, Davis

    Next moves:
    Ronaldo to Watkins
    Mount to Salah
    then
    Martinelli to Ramsay.
    Dennis to someone.

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

    The way this crazy season is going, would be up there if Watford sold King before the second game of the DGW.

    1. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      🙂

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      King hat-trick incoming to punish the Dennis(c)

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

        Think us Dennis cappers have been punished enough already 😀

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

        I captained Dennis but still would welcome a King hat-trick!

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

      Nooooooooo

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

        Probably won't. Just a bit of a hypothetical scenario while there's no football on I guess 🙂

    4. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Haha this made me lol

  4. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    What should be the plan for this team?

    a. Alonso -> Digne
    b. Alonso + Jota + DCL -> Digne + Salah + Richardson for - 4

    Martínez
    TAA, Tierney, Cancelo
    Bruno, Jota, Maddison, Bowen, Raphinha
    Dennis, DCL

    Sanchez, Antonio, Alonso, Lamptey 2 free transfers, 0.5 million in the bank

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

      Alonso- Laporte/Digne

      When you want Salah, it is either Maddison or Jota and DCL out yes.

      1. fc_skrald
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

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

    Who would you bench among these 2 guys?
    A)King
    B)Gray
    Leaning towards A atm..

    1. fc_skrald
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      A just

  6. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Keep Dennis or King for the next GW?

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

      King

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

    Spurs close to signing Adama Traore for £20m

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

      Same old story, just another one of my players relegated to bench service then

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

      Happy that isn't LFC.

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

      So instead of not scoring or assisting for Wolves he will instead be not scoring or assisting for Spurs

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

      I don’t get that - won’t he just be on bench

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

      Awful transfer

      1. NorCal Villan
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        That’s why I hope Spurs do it 😎

      2. Don Van Vliet
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I wouldn't say that until he's had time under Conte. Could just as easily end up a huge success (albeit unlikely).

    6. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Gonna slot in at RWB then?

    7. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Traore isnt a terrible signing, he might surprise people. Even if he doesnt score, he draws defenders in, he is a good impact sub.
      I dont rate Traore, will not have him in fantasy, but I trust Contes judgement. Look at Lamela, he did a job same as Berg.

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

        Agreed, especially if it’s £20m as reported - that’s a low-risk outlay considering his age (25)

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Has there been any rumour of Doherty being part of a deal? Havent been following transfer rumours tbh. Wolves probably dont need him anymore though or want him (maybe thats why this is taking a while, Spurs want to offload Doherty).

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

            There was, but it seems to have gone quiet, and I guess Doherty has played a bit more of late. As you say, hard to see why Wolves would want him either

            1. have you seen cyan
              • 4 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Him playing could be akin to putting him in the shop window, meanwhile players like Doherty are trying to keep their place at Spurs, hence Bergs performance the other game as well. I want to keep Berg, but Doherty may as well go.

        2. NorCal Villan
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          He’d be an absolute beast in the NFL. Think a slightly smaller Earl Campbell

  8. HD7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Fab
    TAA Cancelo Rudiger
    Mount Bernardo Gray Bowen Saka
    Ronaldo King

    Steer, Keane , Livra, Scarlett

    I know my team needs an overhaul (WC). Question is should I wait for the ideal time to BB. Probably after GW30 somewhere?

    Have a feeling its better use it now because BB wont give me back the points missed up to GW30.
    I know Im not alone in this conundrum. Thoughts, mates?

    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Overhaul now

    2. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Similar team to mine and I'm hitting that WC button!

    3. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Now!

  9. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Comoros about to play like never before.....

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

    Evening all!! Anyone selling Jota for Salah next gameweek??? Between him and Maddison for me, or I could do DCL and Gray to Salah and Broja, have the exact money for that move!!

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

      I'd sell Maddison before Jota

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah leaning that way mate, fixtures for Leicester aren’t good and they have a blank coming too, saw something on here last night suggesting their matches they have to be replayed won’t be until gameweek 31 onwards, not sure how accurate that is however

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

          Liverpool next 2 fixtures are beautiful aswell. He's definitely due a big haul

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Norwich after Burnley too!! Jota stays!!! Bye bye Maddison haha

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

      Sell Maddison
      Jota is ahead of firmino and jota will start maximum games ahead of Bobby I’m certain.

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah think your absolutely right there mate!! Cheers mate!! Maddison will go!!

  11. Jacktastic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    New manager bounce for all us King owners!

    1. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Rejoice for the King ain’t lost his throne, he’s still here: you are not alone

  12. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is it time to move on Jota?

    1. Jacktastic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      If I didn’t have Mount to shift then yes

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

      Wondering the same mate, see my post above

    3. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I’m keeping as once Salah Mane are back he will deliver even more returns

      Unless you want Robbo then i think it’s unwise to move him on

    4. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah time to get rid mate.

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

      I am keeping as hsve other issues to sort eg mount

    6. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Nah keeping Jota for the foreseeable

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

      Nah

    8. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Robba/TAA/Salah is the way forward

  13. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    *LINGARD MOVING TO NEWCASTLE KLAXON*

    1. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      they have begun......

    2. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Confirmed?

  14. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I played my wildcard this week and made a mistake. I kept 0.9 itb for Bruno to Salah thinking Salah would drop again, but it looks like he won't. Now I'm 0.1 short

    Ramsdale Sa
    TAA Cancelo Laporte Tomiyasu Ait Nouri
    KDB Bruno Jota Bowen Raphina
    Antonio Dennis Broja

    Is going without Salah for next week a good idea? I could get him for a hit and do Raphina to Gallagher but meh.

    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Get rid of Dennis for the extra cash?

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

      Hold your FT.
      get salah back next week and captain kdb this week
      Not worth getting salah in for Bruno for now as united will double next week.
      Could you help me with my question below?

    3. Hktrader88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Tomiyasu to White let's you get Salah

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

      Salah might not even start if Egypt make the semis

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

    Bench one of these 3
    A)Raphinha
    B)king
    C)Gray
    Thanks in advance!

    1. SerieD
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      C

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

      B

    3. Hktrader88
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B. Easy. Watford are terrible. King hasn't scored in his last 7 games and has only scored in 3/18 games.

    4. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      B

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

    These guys consistently lucky.

    Just goes to show you some people get all the luck!!

    https://twitter.com/goweramg/status/1485675097813921795?t=h2lKvh0fg3meo7MQmJq-Zg&s=19

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

      It's definitely all luck when there's 10 seasons of data...

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

        It's incredibly lucky

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

        Time after time.

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

      Kabuk isn't lucky, he just single-mindedly plays for a top 10K finish. He has zero aspiration to win FPL and makes no attempt to do so. Everything is safety and waiting for others to make mistakes.

      OK, that's his bag and he likes playing that way. But it does indicate how the popular measure of success is skewed by things like the FFS HOF, which is the equivalent of Wenger's "4th place is a trophy" idea in practise.

      Finishing top 10k is an indicator of competence. 8 times in a row is serial competence. Seems to me to be a mediocre aim for your hobby, though, unless your primary aim is to win a specific ML or something.

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

        Tbf i was joking.
        The all luck claims.

        I've seen your play to win it line of argument before, these people do get pretty close on many occasions with their judgement and overall approach. I'd say they are doing pretty well, of course OR 1 is extremely difficult to achieve.

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

          150-200 points behind isn't "pretty close". That's the typical gap between OR 1 and OR 10k.

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

        How do you know that he doesn't want to win fpl? Being consistent puts you within range. Maybe the extra bit of luck to win it hasn't come his way.

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

          Wanting to win and playing to win are two different things. Playing to win means taking risks. Kabuk plays to avoid risk. Simple really.

          1. Lanley Staurel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Well said

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

            There is nothing in that tweet that proves that. Have you seen all this guy's moves over 10 years? Do you know him?

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

              He gave an interview to FFS describing exactly how he goes about things. Guess his own words are a good enough authority. 😉

              But hey, don't make Kabuk a proxy for yourself. It's your own approach and attitude you are defending, isn't it? Well, if you want to play FPL in a safety-first, EO-conscious, 4th-place-is-a-trophy kind of way way, be my guest. 😆

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Miss the days when a top 10k finish was a freebie

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

    Hi bench 1 of a)Dennis whu b) ESr wol c)gray new d)Dennis whu Thanks

    1. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Dennis

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

        Sorry d) is king ?!

        1. Fish up a tree
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Who you got on bench atm?

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

            Dawson livra mount* likely to do mount to salah though

            1. Fish up a tree
              • 2 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              I would play Dawson ahead of both a watford

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

                Ok cheers yeh good call

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

      Dennis or king
      Tough which one though

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

        Ok cheers yeh can’t really split them

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

      I'd bench Dennis twice after his antics this week 😛

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

        Cheers may bench king & Dennis & play Dawson instead

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

    My toughest decision now - stick with Ronaldo until GW25 or have both Salah and KDB…crazy tough call!
    Said that, have a gut feeling that DGW25 will be a trap again.

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

      I am in the same boat, I will get rid of Ron.

      Still wondering about who to have up front though, as a reshuffle would be needed to bring in Kane.

    2. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ronaldo has blanked in his last 3 & is getting injury prone so will he even start both?

      SGW Salah looks like the better option tbh

      Ronaldo has not had back to back GW returns since his first 2 games in GW4 & 5

    3. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Salah and Kev I reckon or maybe keep Bruno

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

    Some people that use FPL Reviews data for optimization now brag that they are very high on the FPL Review's fair rank estimates. But if the Fair Rank is using data from their model isn't it obvious that the people who optimize based on it will be the highest there? What do I miss here? Isn't it a competition on who has the better optimization algo?

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Is there a translator in the house? 😕

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

    2. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Never go full

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I think what he is saying is that people review teams and players on the fpl website? And then people make a scirpt to sort through those reviews and then pick the best incoming fpl teams or something.
      If thats the case, then yea it will be best algorithm, but thats not reliable when reviews are subjective.

    4. mox81
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Dear me, never heard of that site but just taken a look and it reads like FPL buzzword bingo! It literally uses the phrase "upside chasing".

      It's telling that XG is described as a player's goalscoring potential, somehow overlooking the fact that if given the same opportunity (what XG really is), not all footballers are equal. No worries, blame that on bad luck!

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

      Oh my. A bit of clarification. Maybe I will use simple words. FPL Review (a site) has a very complicated mathematical model for prediction of players' returns. On the basis of that model (although I don't know the full methodology) they are also calculating individual teams' estimates of a "fair rank" (although they seem to have changed the wording). It's based on the assumption that FPL is more or less a random game and that FPL rank doesn't well describe the true 'skill' of the manager.

      My understanding is that their xG rank is the rank based on the performance of players post-game: what would be your score if players were finishing their chances at the level of the average player. Massive data model rank on the other hand is the rank estimate based on the level of information that was available before the game. But to calculate it, as far as I understand, FPL Review is using forecasts from their model at the moment of the deadline before forthcoming GW.

      Now, there is some community on Twitter interested with the use of optimization algorithm for FPL. Optimization in regard to Fantasy football deals with maximizing points (or some other metric) limited by the budget vector. In the other words, finding the combination of players given their prices that will result in the highest possible points projections (usually over the next 6 GWs but depends on the forecast horizon). FPL Review seems to have the best projections (also freely available) and that's why it is commonly used by the community.

      My problem is that among them, there is a trend brag about their Massive Data Model 'true rank' estimates. However, if my understanding is correct, it is fundamentally flawed. If you optimize based on their data, or in other words find the best possible team based on their projections, you're always going to be very high in that Massive Data Model rank. That model is a nice approximation of a reality (as every model), but is not perfect, so if someone is 1st in a ranking based on it, doesn't necessarily mean he is the best player in the world. But I may as well miss some important thing here (and moreover, it's even very possible) and it makes more sense. I'm open to arguments.

      On the sidenote, the ignorance of some users still baffles me. You would have thought that people with a very high number by their name have more understanding of the game. I sometimes have an impression that some of them only come here to write negative non-FPL related comments just to bolster their self-esteem.

      1. mox81
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        It's an interesting topic, your last para is revealing because that overlooks the fact that people are human and have emotions and motives, so can't be defined wholly by data points such as length of site affiliation.

        Data points such as XG are put on a pedestal too much - what a good footballer converts with the same XG as a bad footballer is different; scoring based on XG is simplistic, my observation above is FPL review's definition of XG is almost a Freudian slip as they dehumanise it by citing "potential" whereas to actually rate potential you'd need to account for the player being presented with the opportunity that is XG, and that's much harder/ seemingly overlooked, but analogous to the position of the hypothesis.

        The big data approach is more interesting but still dependent on many assumptions, so helpful for projections, but not assessing results, which I think is what you're getting at - deriving an alternative rank from a model is essentially a game within a game, so yes it's only relevant in the context of the model's creators.

        Bottom line is FPL isn't more or less a random game, there is a lot of information parsing and decision making required, it's a game of probability. Models etc are helpful as part of the process, but anything pertaining to offer a "fairer" reality is naive or misleading.

      2. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        you lost me after Oh

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

        Gave up after clarification

  20. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Ddg foster
    Taa cancelo reguil cash livra
    Jota foden maddison bowen son
    Ronaldo king watkins

    2ft 0.2 itb and all the chips left..

    What transfers can i do…

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

      For me I’d clear out reggie you can never rely on his game time!

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Reggie to Digne or Livra to Kilman/RAN look to be the ones. King can wait but he ought to be on the list as well soon

      1. Yes Ndidi
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Sorry, just noticed you have Cash. Tierney then, perhaps

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

    Great goal!

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

      Comoros FK

    2. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Agreed!

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

      Dennis

  22. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Only 2 more Watford managers to go until GW38 now. Crazy!

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

      Yep. They get through more managers than Katie Price gets through boyfriends.

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Big Sam time

  23. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Play Antonio or Bilva?

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

      Neither they are both shooting blanks!

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

      Bilva with Antonio potentially playing 3 games for Jamaica. If West Ham sign a new striker in the next week this becomes a even easier decision.

    3. Fish up a tree
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio plays Watford!!!

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

        Possibly 3 international games during this break. Could play Bowen up top. Not saying it's a for sure but definitely possible.

  24. COLLIN QUANER
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Both ideally

    1. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      This comment was supposed to be a reply to the above post from BSO regarding whether to play Antonio or Bernardo Silva.

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

    So it’s roughly looking like Brighton united and Southampton will double in gw25? Which other teams look likely? Anyone?

    1. Meechoo115
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Assuming United play Brighton. Surely saints v Newcastle. Will be more im sure and suspect we know before 24 deadline

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

      Will Newcastle double too then?

  26. cigan
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Lovely week behind me - my lowest score ever with bench nearly outscoring my starting XI.

    - got 2 FT, 1.5 itb
    - Salah in is an obvious priority
    - want to ship Rudiger, Ronaldo, Dennis, Bernardo, Coufal and Dalot

    A) Ronaldo & Bernardo > Salah & Edouard/Broja
    B) Rudiger > Laporte/Digne & worry about Salah next week
    C) sth completely different?

    Lloris
    Trent Cancelo Rudiger Coufal Dalot
    Jota Saka Bowen Raphinha Bernardo
    Ronaldo Watkins Dennis

    1. Meechoo115
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      A. You have three defenders. I have two next week and only one FT. See below!

  27. Meechoo115
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Would you WC this?

    Ddg. Foster
    Livra. Lamptey. Alonso. Trent. Cancelo
    Foden. Martinelli. Jota. Bruno. Gray
    Ronaldo. Antonio. King

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Nah with 2 or 3 moves you can make that look pretty decent. We are ofc ages away from the new GW, but just use it to think.
      Identify the weaknesses, and the highest priority ones.

      Got players like Buendia, Edouard, Laporte etc which are easy moves. Plus Salah coming back if he is ready, maybe there is even a double.

      1. Meechoo115
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks. Good input

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Just plan Salah return. Ron out if you need to fund

      1. Meechoo115
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Maybe Bruno Alonso out to Salah and Ait Nouri

    3. Meechoo115
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      How’s this wc

      Ddg. Foster
      Cancelo. Robbo. Trent. White. Ait nouri
      Salah. Foden. Greenwood. Son. Ramsey
      Dcl. Eduoard. Broja

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

        I think I need to WC as I have Steele, Reguilon, Keane, Livramento, Bilva, Ronaldo and Antonio that need to go!

        Is Foster nailed?
        Still don't like the Pool double up in defense, prefer Digne.
        Richarlison over DCL?

        DDG
        TAA Cancelo Digne White
        Salah KDB Son* Bowen Gallagher
        Pukki/King/Broja
        Dubravka Guehi

        I may punt on Rashford over Son if United get the double.

        1. Meechoo115
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Wouldn’t you get Jota over Bowen if rashford over Son?

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

            No as I would need to keep the money for Son. Bowen is incredible value with good fixtures.

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    A bit early I know, but next GW who to play out of these?

    Ramsey
    Idah
    Dennis

    Im thinking that order of preference (Idah and Dennis on bench).

    1. Meechoo115
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Play Dennis imo

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I think his head is gone, and now Ranierie is gone I think its time to run for the hills lol.

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

      Yeah I'd play Ramsey

      Ramsey
      Dennis
      Idah

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yea sorry that is my bench order, just incase im wrong about Dennis he can be first sub.

    3. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ramsey

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        ty

  29. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    DDG. Foster
    Alonso. Trent. Cancelo Reguilon James
    Foden. KDB. Bruno. Bowen Brownhill
    Watkins. Dennis. King

    1 FT 0.8 itb
    WC or not??

    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      You've got 5 players I'd want out, 3 of them you could bench so I think you're good.

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Nah but the double wat doesnt look so appealing. Rest is ok for now, but you need to lose one of them (probably dennis). Dennis > Edouard 1 hour b4 deadline maybe.

      Good team tbh

    3. Meechoo115
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      The United likely double complicates things a little. Otherwise Alonso Bruno to Digne Salah is a good move. Liverpool probably double the week after

      1. Meechoo115
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Could do Alonso Kdb to Bruno Salah but you miss city Brentford

        1. Meechoo115
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Digne not Bruno

  30. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    On WC. How's this first draft looking?

    Sa Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo Digne Dalot Ait Nouri
    Salah Foden Raphinha Coutinho Bruno
    DCL Broja Edouard

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I wildcarded last week, a couple of things in hindsight:
      - Not getting Pope or DDG instead of Sa
      - Too early for Couts, consider Buendia (I didnt go Couts, but this is my thinking).
      - Bruno, you really want him? Too much empahsis on a Man U double, need we remind you they are terrible? Elanga might enter my head perhaps but that would be a change in formations. Dont let a double dictate your wc team, this team will last alot longer then one week.

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

        Pope looks poo at 5.4 with those fixtures, even those games in hand there is a maximum of one clean sheet surely?

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Its about time Pope starts trolling everyone isnt it? Not sure you would want him as first chocie, look at what Fabio Borges has done and copy that.

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

            What has he done?

      2. Gunners in Haaland
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks for your thoughts mate!