Pro Pundits

Villa, Spurs or Man City players? My FPL transfer and Free Hit dilemmas

It’s the first time in a while that I’m sitting conflicted on a Friday in terms of where to take my Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team. I’m hoping that the next 24 hours gives me some inspiration in terms of where to move ahead because there are just so many options and directions in which one can go right now. All of it is team dependent and at the time of writing, I could literally Free Hit in Gameweek 36 (I own 13 Double Gameweekers but that includes only one Manchester City asset and three Chelsea players), Gameweek 37 (I own two Everton players) or Gameweek 38 (in case I add Aston Villa players this week).

The big thing in my head is that despite chip planning, I’ve seen so many FPL managers ignore Gameweek 35. Gameweek 35 is what we’re looking at first and foremost. There are some great fixtures to target this weekend and you shouldn’t be afraid of committing to your moves for the upcoming Gameweek instead of waiting and watching and getting the ‘ideal’ players for the imminent big double.

Each Gameweek is 25% of your remaining season now (33% if you have a Free Hit left), so don’t be afraid to go haul chasing before every deadline. Look for ‘brace potential’ in all your transfers. Now is not the time to make goalkeeper transfers or budget pick moves. Now is the time to chase potential monster hauls and see where that takes you.

This article is going to be a little bit of a free ramble, so off we go…

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Doherty and Son star as Spurs hit five past Newcastle 2

Firstly, I’ve seen some murmurings of people avoiding Tottenham Hotspur assets in Gameweek 36 because they have two tough games. In my opinion, both the premium Spurs options are really good picks in Gameweek 36 (and for literally every week until the end of the season) because you’re guaranteed minutes – and if the Lilywhites do score, the points are as predictable as they come for premium assets, unlike those from Manchester City.

I also think that the games against Liverpool and Arsenal are not bad for a team like Spurs, whose most potent weapon is to counter-attack. So yes, Spurs aren’t exactly reliable but still a good bet to make even in Gameweek 36 despite the fixtures. The reliability of minutes is a big factor and as we’ve seen with them, they don’t need many chances to haul. Even if they score two or three goals over Double Gameweek 36, the involvement percentage is very high for Harry Kane (£12.5m) and Son Heung-min (£11.0m).

ASTON VILLA

Thinking of hauls, I do think there are some potential big scores for the chasing in Gameweek 36. Just like unreliable Spurs, I’m going to talk about the inconsistent Aston Villa. Yes, they haven’t pulled up any trees of late but because of the quality of players they have, I am not surprised that even statistically, they are a little bit of a flat-track bully. If you do want to take a leap of faith there, I’m not against it at all.

There is immediate haul potential given that Norwich have been top of the expected goals conceded (xGC) charts whether you look at data for last six matches (literally at any point in 2021/22) or for the season itself. I do believe in strong fixtures being important and Aston Villa have some great matches in Gameweeks 35 and 37 and are a good buy this week whether or not you’re Free Hitting in Gameweek 36. You do need to be careful about how many you get, though, and keep an eye on Gameweek 38, since they travel to the Etihad on the final day.

There’s one stat from our own Stevie that he cited in his excellent Eye Test article which caught my, well, eye. With regards to Phillipe Coutinho (£7.0m), his penalty box touch count pretty much doubles per game when he faces the lower-table sides, while his rate of shots in the box almost trebles.

MANCHESTER CITY

Richarlison to miss Gameweek 13 as Cancelo keeps up fine FPL form 3

Another team I want to talk about targeting is Manchester City. Yes, relatively speaking, Gameweek 35 opponents Leeds United have tightened up a bit but the gulf in quality is still huge and Jesse Marsch’s side haven’t faced anything of the quality that City pose yet. Given that the reigning champions double in Gameweek 36, now would be a good time to invest in their assets.

Luke, who has done a really good job of predicting Manchester City starting XIs, did a great 25-minute pod on City assets for the rest of the season and I agree with his list of four assets that you want to bring in for now until the end of the campaign.

TEAM PLANS

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 32?

Now I don’t usually talk about my team but the direction in terms of where I use my pending Free Hit chip comes down to whether I invest in Spurs, Aston Villa or Manchester City assets this week. For example, I’ll not Free Hit in Gameweek 37 if I buy Spurs and Villa players before Saturday’s deadline, so it comes down to what I think the stronger fixtures are around these options.

The three teams to target this week are definitely the three I mentioned in this paragraph. What I’m wrestling with is that I really like the idea of Raheem Sterling (£10.5m) as a captaincy option this week given that he was rested in the first tie against Real Madrid but it is the riskier route for me, given his unreliability for the rest of the season. I am also wondering if I’m more inclined towards this move because of my muscle memory with Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United but irrespective of that, there is a big gulf in quality between both the teams. Jesse Marsch’s interview where he says he’ll “go for it” against Manchester City is also enticing me and there is definite haul potential there. I could just go Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) instead and rule out a Free Hit in Gameweek 36 but I’m not quite as confident that he’s a captaincy option this week as Pep Guardiola has mentioned that he’s been playing with niggles and I expect his minutes to be managed.

The other route at the moment involves Harry Kane (£12.5m) and Phillipe Coutinho (£7.0m) and means that I definitely don’t Free Hit in Gameweek 37 as I will own two Everton players, three Liverpool assets, two Spurs picks and Coutinho, which is a strong base for that round of fixtures.

I’m still open to Free Hitting in Gameweek 38 if I go down this path. There is a muscle memory attached here in my head where I just see Kane as someone who always finishes seasons strongly but I do wonder if Son is a monster haul away from getting penalties for the end of the campaign in an attempt to win the Golden Boot. It eventually comes down to whether I prefer Manchester City or Spurs assets in Gameweek 35 and Gameweek 38.

I’ve attached my current team (top) and my team for Gameweek 36 (middle) and Gameweek 37 (bottom) above so that you can see where my dilemma arises. Who knows, while I’m tinkering later tonight, another route may open up. As things stand, I’m looking to sell my Chelsea attackers for either Spurs, Villa or Manchester City assets.

Good luck this week and do check out our episode of The FPL Wire (recorded on Friday morning) where I discuss the run-in with my fellow Pro Pundit, Zophar.



360 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Malinwa
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    A) Werner > Jesus
    B) Werner > Watkins
    C) Keep Werner

    FH gw 37

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I would go Jesus.

    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I would keep one more week

  2. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Mount or Maddison to Coutinho?

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Maddison out.

  3. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Would you change anything on this WC? No BB and FH37.

    Schmeicel Foster
    James Robbo Trent Cancelo Laporte
    Saka Son Jota KDB Maddison
    Nketiah Gelhardt 4.5

    At 150k and chasing in ML.

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Similar to mine below. I think I'd rather alonso to james for fantasy points. Pukki and Dennis not bad alternatives up top

  4. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    best kane replacement for 36 and beyond?

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Keep your eye on Vardy vs Spurs - see where he positions himself.

  5. Edinho
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Coutinho or Zaha for 35, 37 and 38? (will free hit in 36)

  6. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    G2g guys?

    Ramsdale
    TAA Matip Cancelo Alonso
    Salah Son Saka Ramsey
    Kane* Toney
    (Bowen Ait Nouri fodder)

    1FT to carry in to GW36, planning to FH GW38.

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Sure

  7. niaz1982
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Current team any suggestions? BB & TC left, 1 FT, £0.0

    Schmeichel
    Alonso TAA Cancelo
    Salah Kulu Maddison Mount
    Kane Broja Weg

    Subs: Dubravka, Ramsey, Cash, Kilman*

  8. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Hi guys thoughts on transfers below? 1 FH left. 0.2 ITB

    Ramsdale
    Alonso TAA Laporte
    Saka Kulu Salah Maddison Mount
    Kane Adams

    Dubravka White Mateta Doherty

    A) Kulu + Adams to Coutinho + Dennis/Pukki-4pts
    B) Adams, Kulu + Ramsdale to Nketiah, Coutinho + Schmichael -8pts
    C)Adams, Kulu + White to Nketiah, Coutinho + Matip -8pts

  9. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Better option out of these?

    A)
    GW35: Sterling(c)
    GW36+38: KDB (NEW+wol, AVL) + Maddison (EVE+NOR, SOU)

    B)
    GW35: Son(c)
    GW36+38: Son (liv+ARS, nor) + Foden (NEW+wol, AVL)

    Appreciate your thoughts!

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A

    2. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A

  10. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Opinions please- will kdb start against Leeds?

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I think so

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Very tough to predict that. 50-50 honestly

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Check this account later: https://twitter.com/Jumpthewave

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Cheers

    4. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Yes 100%

  11. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Planning to play wildcard this week and filling up with 15 players who have dgw next week ie Liverpool Chelsea City etc, then playing bench boost for the dgw next week then if needed free hit last gw or last but one gw.

    Quick draft of wildcard is

    Kasper.S / Foster
    Trent cancelo Alonso Cash Tavares
    Salah KDB Mount Saka Ramsey
    Nkieitah Dennis Pukki

    Thoughts lads ??

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Looks decent for a BB.

    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Nice downgrade Mount to Coutinho or Kulu, downgrade Ramsey to KDH, upgrade Dennis to Richalison/Watkins

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        yea good shout, Watkins or Richarlison surely better bet than Dennis next two weeks.

  12. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Advice appreciated - 1 FT. 0.7 ITB.

    Pope
    Robertson, Cancelo, James, Matip
    Salah, Son, Havertz, Saka, Kulusevski
    Watkins

    (Foster, Pukki, Broja, White)

    Thinking save FT and James, Pope & Watkins -> Laporte, Schmeichel & Jesus (-4) for BB36?

    Cheers!!

  13. AutoFill 2021
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Sell Ronaldo and Maddison to Salah and Dennis (-4)

  14. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Any help here appreciated! Have BB left for either 36 or 37… don’t know. 1FT 1.4m ITB.

    Pope (Foster)
    James Cancelo Robertson (Schar Livramento**)
    Salah Mount Saka Martinelli Gordon
    Kane Weghorst (Cucho**)

    Obviously Cucho & Livra have to go pre-BB

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Cucho to Nketiah
      Schar to Cash
      Livramento to Sessegnon
      Not sure on the ideal defenders though

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I think that you need to sell Kane in order to get 4 decent players. Cucho, Schar and Livramento simply have to go.

  15. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Which one:

    a) Bruno to Son/KDB

    b) Bruno, Werner and Raphina to Son, Nketiah and KDB (-8).

    1. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      a to Son then to KDB

  16. Dion D's Solo Shower
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Have we heard from PepEye yet?

    He's been pretty spot on with his City team news lately!

  17. kanuforpresident
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Rams
    Rudi Matip Cash Davies
    Saka Salah (c) Madi Son Mount
    Kane

    Subs - Sanch Mateta Kilman Gelhardt

    A) Rudi -> Laporte
    B) Kilman -> Guehi
    C) Something else, or stay put

    1. Hart-ake
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Hold I think!

    2. Crunchie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Madi to Coutinho

  18. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Currently joint top in my ML with 4 teams in the mix to win it.
    I am predicting that the majority of my rivals will captain Salah.
    Mine is the only team of the 4 that has Kane - do I captain Kane and punt on getting the advantage of a haul from him, or play it safe and captain Salah?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I wouldn't care about what my rivals do

  19. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    WC last week was (with BB36 in mind only chip left - thank god Man City dropped in GW36)

    Ramsdale (Foster)
    TAA, Robertson. Laporte, Cancelo Davies)
    Son (C), Havertz, Salah, Saka, (KDH)
    Nketiah Werner (Pukki)

    AThinking of Havertz to Coutinho this week.? Frees up Son to KDB GW36? Good plan?

    B) take werner to Richarlison/Watkins GW36 for a -4?

    Cheers 🙂

  20. LC1
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Nketiah or Dennis for remainder of the season?

    1. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I feel that dennis is better also Nketiah rotate with Lacazette

  21. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    After only having 4 red arrows all season i've now had 4 more in last 5 weeks. A truly terrible score of 37 this week with captain Mount not coming through for me. On course for my worst finish out of 7 seasons, never finished outside top 100k but now dropped outside top 300k.

    Better luck this week? Had to use a transfer to switch Broja to Nkeitah and planning on taking some hits next week before BB.
    Like my 11 but who should i be considering for 36 (or bring the hit forward to this week?)

    Thinking Tavares, Forfana in and perhaps Mount to Foden for a -8 next week. Will just play the two Wolves lads now they have two games (even if they are difficult fixtures).

    Sa (Pickford)
    TAA James Cancelo (Doherty) (Livramento)
    Gordon Salah Mount Odegaard Kulu
    Kane(c) Nkeiah (Jimenez)

  22. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Play James* (eve) or Ramsey* (NOR)? If James does not start it's another disaster from him for few weeks now ...

    Sa (Dubravka)
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Laporte (James*)
    Salah Foden Kulusevski Saka Ramsey*
    Weghorst (Pukki Broja)

  23. Catalan Rangers
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Anyone else with 2 FHs left and 1 TC?
    I guess FH 36 and 38, and TC 37?

  24. ZLATAN 88
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    bench two
    mount - dennis - Emerson royal
    also any possibility to mount to start

    1. popey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      chasing 52 in ML, both will BB 36 and I have FH for 37...

      we have very similar attacking players - who to sacrifice first to try and differentiate;

      Same players - Salah, Saka, Maddi, Mount, Werner

  25. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    In your opinion who is the best 6m DF for the last few GWs of the season for this back 7

    Dubravka Ramsdale

    Matip Rudiger Cancelo White xxxxxxx

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Lolonso or Laporte