FPL - GW35 Review / GW36 Preview

Thanks to having a fairly solid bench boost I'm now at the highest rank I've been all season. If I finish with this rank I'll be quite pleased and will consider it a very successful season. So I'm hoping to consolidate things in these final few weeks. Saying that however I'm obviously secretly hoping to get even higher. I think I'm probably getting a little greedy now though.

Gameweek Points: 103

Gameweek Rank: 143,112

Overall Rank: 24,447

(click to enlarge)

Breaking the 100 mark this week was great. It felt like a very solid and stable week. Not especially lucky, not especially unlucky. No massive hauls, no zero point players. In fact, my lowest scoring player was Valery with just the one point. However, given that he missed the first game and didn't start the second that single point felt like a nice little bonus in the end. It would have been nice if Aubameyang hadn't missed the second game, but overall I can't complain. Sané's goal was a huge bonus too really.

GW36

Looking at this week I feel my team is a little bit weak in places - Camarasa and Duffy starting isn't optimal. However, thanks to the bench boost at least I can be fairly certain of having a full eleven if players drop out. The respective games for Camarasa and Duffy are also pretty decent too. So there's reason for hope.

I'm bringing in (and captaining) Mané. Taking out Sané. I'm a little bit disappointed to be taking him out as I think he's looking sharp when he actually plays. He was a very nice differential too. However, the Mané move just makes perfect logic. Home to Huddersfield this week. Pretty much guaranteed to play. So it's an easy move.

Hopefully it'll be another good week :D

(All set for GW36!)

Overall Points: 2,145

Overall Rank: 24,447

GW35 - Bench Boost (!)

All set. Aubameyang in for Deeney. Camarasa stays.

(Bench Boost Activated)

Even though I'm bench boosting I've still symbolically benched all my Brighton players after last week's performance. They simply don't deserve a place in the first eleven. I actually have more faith in Camarasa at this point. Even though he has just the one game against Liverpool.

Joking aside though, I'm actually quite looking forward to this week. I'm not expecting a huge points haul, but it feels like I have quite a diverse line-up with plenty of potential for returns. So it'll be interesting to see how well I do.

With just three weeks left after this one, and likewise just three free transfers, I feel like there's little I can do going forward to change the team now. So I'm just laid back and strapped in for the ride.

I'm going with Sterling for the armband. He seems like the obvious choice looking at the options. I'm a little tempted by Son given that Spurs have so few options - plus he's now suspended for the first Champions League semi final game. So he'll have to get a rest then. Perhaps meaning he'll get a decent number of minutes in the upcoming games. However, Sterling just edges it for me.

I'm now just hoping as many players as possible get both their games.

FPL - GW34 Review

Bit of a disaster with the old captain choice once again. Duffy getting just one point from his two games. Brighton conceded seven goals and scored zero. Meaning my three Brighton players brought in just 6 points over the two games 😢

Gameweek Points: 51

Gameweek Rank: 3,472,229

Overall Rank: 32,520

(click to enlarge)

All in all it wasn't too bad though. I don't regret the Duffy decision the way I regretted last week's Mané choice. It seemed a decent punt. I only dropped about a thousand places as well, which is pretty good considering I came in three points below the average.

Deeney getting sent off was a bit of a blow. Meaning he'll now probably miss the next three games. However, where there's crisis there's opportunity. So I'm changing my transfer plans to bring in Aubameyang. Might even captain him. It does mean I won't be able to bring in Pogba though.

I'll then have the choice of whether to leave Camarasa in, even though he has just the one game - and a difficult one against Liverpool at that. Or to take a minus 4 to bring in a player with a double. It would have to be a cheaper end player. They would need to get 6 points over the two games to make it viable as well. Assuming Camarasa gets at least two points against Liverpool.

Overall Points: 2,042

Overall Rank: 32,520

Fantasy Premier League: GW34 Preview

Quite boringly my team remains identical to how it was in my last post. This is probably for the best really considering the effect late changes had on my team in the last gameweek :)

(click to enlarge)

I've got Duffy captain. With two games I just couldn't resist. Assuming he plays both games even a pair of blanks should be 4 points, which is just a point less than a single game-weeker with an assist, so it seems a fairly safe bet.

The main hope now is that all my players come through this week uninjured for the bench boost in GW35. I could really do with having next week's free transfer available to upgrade Camarasa (probably to Pogba). I've currently got 6.2m sat in the bank, so if I do get an injury it'll probably be worth taking a minus 4 to make that move to get maximum value from my squad. Plus the extra game of course (Camarasa not having a double in GW35).

I also like the idea of having cash in the bank to upgrade some of my cheaper options following GW35. Making the Pogba move will leave me with about 2m, which should give me some leeway with my final three transfers of the season.

I'm very happy with my game rank at the moment; 31,375. My highest rank so far this season. So a good week this time out would be excellent.

The World's Hottest Wildcard Team

First up, a quick review of GW33. I made a big boo-boo. About half an hour before the deadline I switched my captain from Hazard to Mané 😭 ..costing me 15 points. Normally I'm never too bothered about making mistakes, but this one niggled me quite a bit. I think it's because I made it in such a spur of the moment way. So it was a little bit of a window into the psychology of playing the game. Plus I think there's also an element that making the change publicly on this blog made it feel more embarrassing than it otherwise would've been. My ego!!!!

I made a few other mistakes this week too. I had Guaita sat on my bench with a huge 10 points. In comparison to Dubravka's measly 2. Likewise I brought in Kolasinac for Anderson, which cost me another point. However, these decisions, as per usual, didn't bother me in the slightest. Guaita versus Dubravka was a 50/50 call and I went with the home side. Kolasinac versus Anderson likewise was a toss up. So I'd probably make the same decisions again if I had the same choices this week.

Even if they were total gambles though, they still wouldn't have annoyed me like the Mané move annoyed me. I think because they were my considered choices. I think the emotional, panicky style of the Mané/Hazard switch was the real, deeper reason for my annoyance. Again, a real insight into the psychology of playing. Making last minute, near deadline decisions, definitely isn't my natural playing style.

However, saying all that, I still actually had a really decent week; 69 points. Very nice.

Gameweek Points: 69

Gameweek Rank: 309,533

Overall Rank: 31,375

GW34 ..WILDCARD

So, onto the wildcard. Three Brighton players, plus Camarasa from Cardiff. Who I plan to transfer out next week for Pogba. Pogba isn't playing great, but Man Utd have a double in GW35, then two superb looking final fixtures in the last few weeks. So I really want someone from Untied, and I still feel Pogba is the best option. Primarily because he seems the most guaranteed of a place.

I've went light up top and heavy in midfield, so in many ways I'm beginning to implement my philosophy for next season. Though I'll be starting next season heavy on defence at first, and only then transferring that into midfield as more information comes to light.

We still have European games this week, so the team below isn't quite set in stone as of yet. I'm pretty well nailed on with the general set up though ...I think. I'll post my final team on Friday.

(My wildcard side as it stands)

Overall Points: 1,991

Overall Rank: 31,375

GW32 Review / GW33 Preview

Not exactly a breathtaking points haul from my double gameweek side. 85 points - 12 above the average, but a rank drop of about 3k.

Gameweek Points: 85

Gameweek Rank: 1,350,786

Overall Rank: 38,798

(click to enlarge)

I was hoping for a bit more, but can't complain too much. The main disappointment was that Sterling played just one game, so as my captain only got me 6 points :(

A few of my differentials paid off though. Notably Son and Sané, who both got goals.

GW33 - blanks

So, into GW33. Just six games this week due to the blanks. I'm fairly happy with how I'm set up. I'm just currently sat contemplating how to use my free transfer. I'll either be going sensible and bringing in Bournemouth's Fraser, or having a little bit more of a gamble and going for Arsenal's Iwobi (West Ham's Anderson going out).* I quite like the idea of having an Arsenal player this week, mainly due to the fact that they'll be so low owned with Arsenal not having a corresponding fixture in GW31.

For captain I'll be going with Hazard this week. Mané is tempting, but I really fancy Southampton to give Liverpool some problems in that fixture tonight. I'm guessing Salah will be the most highly captained, so that's a minor worry. Hopefully this won't be the week he finally finds his boots.**

*So much for Fraser and Iwobi. Having seen Anderson is now fit I've decided to bring in Kolasinac for Luke Shaw. I'm benching Anderson. So I'll be going into GW33 almost with a full strength squad it seems o_O

**Late change!! - half an hour before deadline - Mané armband. The fear of rotation got me.

(Line-up for GW33)

Overall Points: 1,922

Overall Rank: 38,798

Free Hit GW32 - My Team As It Stands

I've got my free hit side set in place for the coming gameweek. Obviously with a few more days to go things could change so it's not set in stone. It's quite heavy on midfield and a bit shabby at the back, but it includes most the players I wanted so I'm fairly happy as it stands.

(GW32 free hit side)

I said in the last post I'd just list the players and state my reasons for the choices, which seems nice and simple. So here we go.

Ben Foster - Watford

This is kind of a boring choice. He's basically the keeper I can afford who looks nailed on to play, with half-decent games. It'd be nice to have brought in Chelsea's Kepa, but the price is beyond me.

Willy Boly - Wolves

This is my most recent addition. I brought him in last night for Brighton's Lewis Dunk - my original choice. Dunk seems more guaranteed to play his two games, mainly due to the possibility that Wolves could rotate a lot before their FA Cup semi final. So I'm mildly worried about this move.

It's another cheaper option too. Again, mainly because I'm so cash limited having spent big on midfield. I'm not expecting too much here. Just hoping to get two starts really. Though saying that he does tend to be one of the more fixed assets in the Wolves starting line-up, so it should be fine.

Jeffrey Schlupp - Crystal Palace

Schlupp seems an obvious choice this week. Great value, attacking threat. Great first game against Huddersfield. Even the away fixture to Tottenham doesn't look too bad. For a start it's in London, so not too much travel. Plus, with it being Tottenham's first game at their new stadium it's a total unknown.

I'm actually expecting Spurs to do well. Wembley is an awful stadium to play your home games at, so this should be a huge improvement.

Normally when teams move stadium they tend to move from a smaller stadium to a big brand new one. Large stadiums can be hard to adjust to, partly because of spacial awareness. It takes the eyes quite a while to get used to such an unfamiliar landscape. Anyone that's been to Wembley will know how dizzying it can be watching a game in such a big arena for the first time.

It's a similar experience when you're used to playing 5-a-side football and you then go and play 11-a-side for the first time in a long while. In your head you imagine yourself effortlessly pinging the ball the length of the pitch, however in reality you find yourself struggling to hit a 40 yard ball past the halfway line. It takes time for the eyes and other senses to adjust. Moving into a big stadium for the first time your visual reference points are all over the place. So it can be harder to judge distances. With Spurs being so used to playing at Wembley though, perhaps it will be a doddle moving to their new, more homely, ground.

Still though it's a really hard game to predict.

James Tomkins - Crystal Palace

Tomkins is like a poor man's Schlupp really. I'm not too sure about doubling up on Palace at the back, however, at 4.3m Tomkins seems like decent value.

David Luiz - Chelsea

This feels like a great option given the games Chelsea have (Cardiff away, Brighton home). Again, I would've loved to have doubled up on Chelsea's defence, but it's so expensive getting into their back line. So Luiz is holding the fort.

Heung-Min Son - Spurs

Son hasn't looked great in his more recent performances, plus he isn't guaranteed to get two starts. However, he's very, very capable of getting big hauls, and with two games, including the first game at the new stadium I really want to own him for this week. Kane is probably the only Spurs player I'd rather have, but at his price I just couldn't get him in and make my team work.

Eden Hazard - Chelsea

Another quite obvious pick for this week. He gets a bit of a bad rap, but he's actually the 4th highest scorer in the game this season. With those games I'm very pleased to own him, even though his form isn't spectacular. The only disappointment is that he'll be so well owned.

Paul Pogba - Man Utd

Similar to Hazard. Highly owned, highly effective, but also slightly out of form. At least for club anyway. He seems like the obvious United player to own. I'm slightly concerned that I only have one player playing for them, but with the various injury niggles I feel comfortable just going with Pogba.

Raheem Sterling - Man City (Captain)

Superb form. Player of the season so far for me. Owning both him and Agüero seems like a no-brainer. The only question is which one to captain?

I going with Sterling. Again, for the same reason I chose him ahead of Sané during the last double gameweek - he has more points. Both this season and last. It's a bit of a crude methodology, but I really expect Sterling to finish the season top points scorer. So in that case why not captain him.

Obviously with Pep there's always a huge risk of rotation. Normally with Sterling you have to captain him for a series of games to get the benefit. Over a five game period he may get one benching, two blanks and two huge hauls. So if you consistently pick him you do get the points. With City having two games it feels like even less of a gamble as he's more or less guaranteed at least one start.

After City play Fulham (A) then Cardiff (H) this gameweek they then have an FA Cup semi against Brighton. Following which they then have a period of five games where they play Spurs three times (twice in the Champions League), Crystal Palace and Man Utd. So five very tough games.

So perhaps the semi final against Brighton will be the perfect time for players like Sterling and Agüero to get benched. Especially given it could potentially go to 120 minutes. Plus six points from Fulham and Cardiff is essential given the more difficult games following. So perhaps they start both with a full strength eleven to get the job done. Taking players off later in the game when/if the scoreline is comfortable.

It's all speculation though 😬

Leroy Sané - Man City

This one's a huge differential and a huge gamble. I saw Sané play in Germany's 3-2 victory over Holland. He looked like he really had a spring in his step. Sometimes with players they have that look about them where they just look bigger, stronger and faster than the other players on the pitch. Son had this look about him earlier in the season when he went on his run. As did Pogba when he hit form. I don't know if there's a name for this "look". It's like playing FIFA when you have a fast player up against a slow team and it just looks too easy. So Sané had this FIFA factor about him it seemed.

Over the last six Premier League games he's only gained 3 points in total though, so he's a terrible choice in that regard. However, I really wanted three attacking City players for these games, and I really like the idea of having players capable of big hauls. So hopefully he starts at least one game.

Sergio Agüero - Man City

A very obvious choice. I think he'll be the most captained player this week, so as I'm going with Sterling for captain I'm little bit worried Agüero might just blow him out the water. Hopefully he has an incredible gameweek, but a slightly less incredible one than Sterling.

..and My Bench.

With all my players having two games my bench should be a complete irrelevance this week. However, there could be a late injury before one of the games, so it's always worthwhile having some sort of back up. My bench players are all super cheap for obvious reason. I've went with Peter Crouch as my first choice to come in. He's came on for 10 or 15 minutes in each of Burnley's last four games. So he looks good for at least a point. I could tweak my bench a bit closer to the date, but at the moment Crouchy seems a fine choice.