Members
28 October 2022 493 comments
Lateriser 12 Lateriser 12
Share:

Throughout the 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, our team of Pro Pundits, Hall of Famers and guest contributors will be sharing their thoughts, tips and own transfer plans.

Only Premium Members are able to read every single one of these pieces, so sign up today to get full access not just to the editorial content but all of the other benefits, from hundreds of Opta stats to a transfer planner.

Here, two-time Indian FPL champion Lateriser assesses the Manchester United squad ahead of a favourable fixture swing.

The FFS Pro Pundits 34

Not often in the last few years have I been asked to write specifically about Manchester United, which in itself is quite encouraging.

In the next three Gameweeks, the Red Devils face West Ham United at home followed by two trips to Aston Villa and Fulham.

It’s worth noting that both West Ham and Aston Villa have the best expected goals conceded (xGC) record over the last six matches. So, if opting for a United attacker, the expectation should be more ‘steady stream’ rather than an explosion of points. Their underlying attacking stats haven’t been great (ranking near the middle) but it is worth noting that a bad start was then followed by better results against tougher teams.

The last five games have been against Manchester City, Everton, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, a selection of the league’s stingiest defences.

READ MORE: FPL Gameweek 14 live team news: Haaland injury latest

THE ATTACK

Gameweek 9 brought Antony‘s (£7.6m) first full game, so it’s worth looking at the data since then to identify trends as Erik ten Hag’s side has finally settled into a rhythm.

Let us look at goal threat first.

For more on Gameweek 14, my fellow Pro Pundit Zophar and I did a short comprehensive podcast where we discuss Liverpool, Arsenal and the short-term flings we like for the final pre-World Cup weeks. You can watch it below:

493 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Mirror Man
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Arteta's head has been tarred for quite some time now. Why has nobody feathered it?

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        For quite some time?

    • tryf88
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Mount to Martinelli or Almiron?

      Have Trippier, Zaha, Saka, Foden

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Rashford.

    • Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Guardiola on Haaland foot injury: "...[it won't be] 24 hours [when I know if Erling is available or not].

      "I will know it in two hours if he is able to play [against Leicester] or not."

      1. GENERATION X
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You know when you've been Pepped...

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

    • Zidane's Floor
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      When is Arsenal's presser?

      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Last night

        1. Zidane's Floor
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Wasn't that post match for PSV?

    • Shultan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pep comments
      He feels better, we have training this afternoon & we will assess. We will see how he feels in his foot & after we will decide

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good ol’ Pep.

      2. Shultan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        *pep comments on haaland

    • Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Anything on Cancelo?

    • Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      https://mobile.twitter.com/SamLee/status/1585971941428453377

      @SamLee

      Guardiola on Haaland: "He feels better, we have training this afternoon and we will assess. We will see how he feels in his foot and after we will decide."

      As expected

      1. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers, the vagueness bodes well for me.

        1. Deulofail
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          So, should I sell? 😀

          1. FPL Brains
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Oh crap haha. I'd wait till 10mins before the deadline to see if there are leaks.

        2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah I think I'm just going to stick on captaincy and see. Would be surprised if he's benched and comes on if there's any risk

      2. Bavarian
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        so he's fine apparently

      3. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Pep Can't give a straight answer Guardiola

    • banskt
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Roll FT?

      Pope
      Saliba, Trippier, Andersen
      Salah, KDB(vc), Saka, Martinelli
      Haaland(c), Toney, Mitrovic
      (Ward, Andreas, Struijk, Webster)

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Good as it gets! GL

        1. banskt
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks mate. Good luck to you too.

      2. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        looks great

        After your advice last week i ended up in the hospital high on morphine and took Kane out for a -4 ouch!

    • Zidane's Floor
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Erling Haaland "feels better" and will be assessed after today's training session. A decision will then be made on his availability, according to Pep Guardiola.

      https://twitter.com/FFScout/status/1585973270809292800

      Are you capping him?

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes. Salah VC.

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No. Even before his injury I was thinking of going Salah. This has 0 chance of backfiring ofc.

      3. Stimps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Salah (c)

      4. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nope, I'll be swinging towards Salah this week. Feel like if there is a week to do it, this is the one. The last time I deviated away from Haaland (when he had a game), I picked KDB in GW8. Let's see if go 2 for 2.

        1. Zidane's Floor
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Was frightening to not (C) Haaland even when he had a blank GW... Imagine this

          Do you think it would be worth being around before the deadline for early team news?

          1. FPL Brains
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Definitely mate. Not sure if the reliable leak was a Liverpool based one last time, but we got some good information about Darwin 10mins before the deadline. Natedog is usually pretty good at finding it (among some others).

            1. Zidane's Floor
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Thanks champ - big decisions ahead

            2. El Presidente
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Yeah but that's LIV. I don't think we will have the same reliability with City

      5. Crunchie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I may go Jesus

    • Zidane's Floor
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Clear as mud, cheers Pep

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Pep Guardiola: "Play 90 minutes every game and he [Julian Alvarez] will score goals, maybe not like Erling [Haaland], but he will score goals..." @City_Xtra

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Missed the first part of the quote:

        Pep Guardiola: "If [Erling] Haaland doesn’t play, then [Julian] Alvarez is the natural first option to replace him. I don’t judge Julian on how many goals he has scored..."

        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I snapped up Alvarez in my draft league, hopefully this bodes well.

      2. banskt
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Does Alvarez gets minutes in the next 3?

        How about him as the third City slot? Haaland - KDB - Alvarez?

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I think only a good FPL option if Haaland gets injured (in which case he looks great). Otherwise hard to argue better value than KDB/Foden/Cancelo.

          1. banskt
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I am thinking he will start getting more game time instead of Foden...

            Pep good at smelling, Foden mysterious benches, I am starting to think something is off about Foden. Too eager to play world cup and sidelined? Disciplinary?

    • Phil Pino
      • 16 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any and all suggestions for what I should do this GW are appreciated:

      a) play Andreas (roll FT)
      2) play Tross (roll FT)
      iii) Tross -> Rashford / Antony

      Currently on a) but feels like wasting an opportunity to be benching Tross

    • nerd_is_the_werd
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Perisic starts v BOU (a), yes no?..

      1. Shultan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No

      2. Rodney
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No

      3. nerd_is_the_werd
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ok great, thought that would be the case, 3rd on the bench he goes...

    • Rodney
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Sanchez

      TAA - Cancelo - Trippier

      Saka - Martinelli - Foden - Andreas - Maddison

      Toney - Haaland

      Ward - Scamacca - Dalot - Patterson

      £3.3m itb

      A) Roll
      B) Sanchez to Allison
      C) Scamacca to Nunez

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I've got the armband back on Salah and it feels good!

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Shame on you... It had to be already on mo.

    • Zidane's Floor
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can we reset the captaincy poll?

      Stop the count

      1. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well nothing substantial has happened tbh

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Best 4.8m defender? A few on my list are Shaw, Dalot and White.

      Thanks

      1. PompeyUpNorth!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cresswell

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Decent shout. Better than the 3 I mention?

          1. PompeyUpNorth!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes I think so. I got him 2 weeks ago n am happy. His underlying stats are great as well

        2. banskt
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This. If I was buying a 4.8m defender, I would definitely go with Cresswell.

          But, O wouldn't spend my transfers on defenders unless absolutely required.

      2. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Tarkowski

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Interesting! Thanks

      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If you can bench this week, Castagne looks good going forwards

        1. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          This is the team so I’d probably save the FT if I could play one of the final defenders but they all look poor

        2. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Guaita
          
Cancelo - Tripps - Kilman
          
Salah - Foden - Saka - Zaha
          Haaland - Toney - Mitro
          (Ivo | Andreas - Webster - Neco)

          1. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Looks fine? Kilman not amazing but for some reason I don't think there are that many CSs this weekend

    • Letsgo!
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So will u still start haaland or bench?

      1. FPL Brains
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Won't bench, will take the 1pt if needed.

      2. Hy liverpool
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        City first game tomorrow.. This might help.

      3. N00B
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        so Haaland cameo or Andreas full 90?

        1. Letsgo!
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Of course andreas full 90

      4. Stimps
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Start and Salah (c)

      5. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Think I'll sell with Antony for DCL and Dé Bruyne - 4. Will lose value but get back in WC break.

        1. Hy liverpool
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Fulham and Brentford at home are scary.

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah. Andreas in form in a good time if Haaland doesn't start and just Antony to Almiron.

    • The Mandalorian
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Based on Peps comments Haaland is deemed fit enough to train.

      Haaland must be close to a return either as a starter or as a sub.

      1. Zidane's Floor
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        My thinking too... He is a bit of a cyborg

        If he can train, surely he is within a shout

        Even if he is on in the 2nd half, wouldn't go against him

      2. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Or neither. They don't need to risk him if there's any doubt he's not 100% why would they risk him starting or from the bench?

        1. Zidane's Floor
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Well, Pep did start him in the CL vs BVB when he was fatigued and a slight fever

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Another game he didn't need to be risked for. He could come on for 10 mins and get a long term injury and for sake of that game and CL midweek which he'll miss anyway, it's an unnecessary risk. I'd love him to play like but if he was my player wouldn't play him unless he's 100% then start him. Should be a Doctor deciding anyway not Pep.

        2. El Presidente
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Pep referred to next 3 PL fixtures as "finals" before WC break. So, if there is a player that can be "risked" is Haaland. I bet he will start every single one.

      3. Boss Hogg
        • 16 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Haaland will be doing some solitary in-the-woods training like Rocky in Rocky IV.

        1. Nanook
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You’ve got it backwards there. Halaand has access to the best medical and training staff in the world, and he even resembles Rocky’s archenemy. The real life Ivan Drago . . . . he’s “not human”.

    • Shultan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With city playing away surely we should know by tomorrow morning if haaland has travelled or not?
      If he's genuinely injured surely they wouldn't bother taking him to Leicester

      1. Shultan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If he travels then I think he starts

        1. Zidane's Floor
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          My thinking too

          Worth being around to see any early news before KO

          Even if he is on in the 2nd half - he can do damage

      2. banskt
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I believe we will definitely know whether he is traveling or not.

        We wouldn't know whether he plays or not.

    • GENERATION X
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Darwin (C) ftw...

      1. SammoUK111
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        +1

    • Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The cool kids are selling Haaland.

      1. SammoUK111
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Madness

      2. Merlin the Wraith
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well your 'cool kids' might just get their fingers burnt. You one of them? Singed fingers plus profit loss? GL with that

      3. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Cook kids are getting wrecked

    • The Mandalorian
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kane is going up against a Bournemouth who have lost their keeper due to injury.

      Great pick this week.

      1. Zidane's Floor
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Potentially scary

      2. Hy liverpool
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Tottenham have to attack and shoot first before they test the new GK, awful to watch atm.. But still would be tempted with liverpool and leeds high lines.

      3. TheTinman
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Spurs struggle vs low blocks

      4. Caravagio
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Moura likely to be played between now and WorldCup with Richarlison and Kulu out?

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Gil should get some decent gametime.

    • Boss Hogg
      • 16 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Any chance of Tsimikas starting against Leeds this week?

    • Letsgo!
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Haha start haaland or bailey(really tempted to start bailey

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Great banter

        1. Letsgo!
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Whats wrong?

    • Caravagio
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are we getting a presser from TenHag today?

    • Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Jack Grealish: “[Using statistics] is the worst argument you can use in my case. As a winger, I've never scored many goals. During my final season with Villa, I only scored six in the #PL and before, I scored eight in the PL [2019/20] and six in the Championship [2018/19]..."

      Almiron is clear, you overrated b**ch

      1. Zidane's Floor
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        LMAO Almiron got him scrambling

      2. TheTinman
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Almiron living in his head

    • NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Play Dier or Guehi (or use ft to bring someone else in)?

      Not the most exciting question I know...

    • DandyDon
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Travers last game the 9-0 loss against Pool...

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A bit better organised now under O'Neil. Best of luck to the Maynooth man.

    • Letsgo!
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Start eduoard or bailey?