Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 38
Welcome to Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 38.
On the face of it, writing Tips for the final gameweek of the season should be quite straight-forward. I just look at who has done well recently, who is fit at the time of writing and who has an easy fixture. Right? I donât have to worry about whoâs âaheadâ for the players in terms of fixtures. This coming week presents the last hurdle (for some) and final nail in the coffin (for others). After this, this is it. Finito. The End. The Last Act. Do Svidaniya, Auf Wiedersehen. Arrivederci, Bonjour – as Del Boy would say.
Then why did I sit down to begin this on Friday and I am writing this very first paragraph at half time of Monday Night Football as a form of panic and therapy combination washes over me? The main reason – which is my excuse and Iâm sticking to it â is that the final gameweek is a crapshoot and you can bet your last dime thereâll be a 3-3 somewhere but where, and who, more precisely, will get the hat-trick? I remember in Fergieâs last ever Manchester United game they drew 5-5 at West Brom where Romelu Lukaku scored 3 I think*
(*For the kids, he was at West Brom at the time so that probably answers your question and you can put your hands back down now thank you).
Basically, Iâm to assume you have somewhere between 4-6 Manchester City and Liverpool players and weâre going to skim over these as Iâm sick of hearing myself talk about them and I can only imagine you are fed up reading about them too.
But for what itâs worth, I have: Trent Alexander-Arnold MBE, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Aguero with no plans of changing any unless injuries occur. Make of that what you will.
[2200hrs Monday edit]
Kompany has just scored a goal of the season contender with his first goal from outside the box since school to take Manchester City a step closer to the league.
[2200hrs Tuesday edit]
Liverpool have just overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit to knock out Barcelona 4-3.
(2200hrs Wednesday edit)
Spurs have just overturned a 3-0 deficit to knock out Ajax and set up an all English Champions League Final.
OK, so now you expect me now to predict anything….?
4, 8, 17, 31, 44, 45 – those are this Saturdayâs lottery numbers and I bet I know which predictions Iâll be closer to!
Excuse the lack of the usual detail but hereâs a few of players in each position who might/might not go off like a rocket on SundayâĻ.
Goalkeepers
David de Gea (home to Cardiff City)
Kasper Schmeichel (home to Chelsea)
Lukasz Fabianski (away to Watford)
The goalkeeper pool is a bit of a âthrow three darts at the boardâ game. Is there anyone out there seriously considering using their last free transfer on a man between the sticks I ask myself. If so, then I suppose I need to look at who I think might get a clean sheet seeing as you canât predict penalties (well you can if itâs against Palaceâs Zaha, but then Milivojevic always scores them anyway) so therefore I fancy United and David de Gea to keep Cardiff out as they have only scored 11 away goals this season – a league low for the season.
Now assuming Chelsea take care of Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday and with Champions League qualification via the league assured, I think Chelsea will take it easy on the final day. Leicester and Kasper Schmeichel appeared largely well assured in defence on Monday for the most part and it wouldnât surprise me at all if they finally got the clean sheet they deserve in this one.
I see Lukasz Fabianksi of West Ham in with a decent chance of clean sheet on the final day as the Hammers travel to Watford who will be wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the FA Cup final. Pellegriniâs charges last away trip was a first ever away league win at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (1-0) and they followed that up with another clean sheet in the 3-0 stroll against Southampton. Three in a row?
Defenders
Lucas Digne (away to Tottenham Hotspur)
Ryan Fredericks (away to Watford)
Fabian Schar (away to Fulham)
Lucas Digne, the Everton left back, is having one this season. He is in his debut season and already had four goals and five assists including an astounding run of recent form dating back to GW 28 where he has scored 5, 7, 4, 6, 6, 8, 1, 14, 8, 12. Wow. The ex-Barcelona player is playing as much as a left winger in Silvaâs Everton system and his crossing is lethal at times and weâve also seen his ability from free kicks. Spurs have lost three of the last four in the league and so the Toffees cannot be ruled out of winning here and securing eighth place. The Frenchman is one for next seasonâs shortlist surely.
Ryan Fredericks was interviewed after his sideâs win over Southampton where he scored his first West Ham goal and he said refreshingly that he hopes he is doing enough to convince his manager to have faith in him next season. Gary Lineker picked up on this on Match of the Day and I agree. Anyway, as I say, West Ham go to Watford and I think they will win. 0.2% ownership and who says goals arenât like buses and two canât come along at once? You could look to the ÂŖ4.5mln right back as a last day fling.
Finally, Fabian Schar has impressed me on multiple viewings this season. Whatâs also impressed me is the fact he was a bank manager before he became a footballer and heâs already from a defenderâs position got three goals in the vault this season. Away to Fulham on the final day for the Geordies is one where you could see their back three soaking it all up and keeping out the Whites. As mentioned, itâs last day so donât blame me if this tip isnât exactly money in the . . . . . . (too easy).
Midfielders
Nathan Redmond (home to Huddersfield Town) James Maddison (home to Chelsea)
Ryan Fraser (away to Crystal Palace)
Like everyone else I have checked every week where Huddersfield are going to see if I have cover from their opponents. This week itâs Southampton away and Iâm planning on playing my âfifthâ midfielder instead of my fourth (Hojbjerg instead of Richarlison – the Brazilian a potential injury doubt I give you but nonetheless). However, my tip is probably the more attacking Nathan Redmond. Heâs already one point ahead of his best tally in terms of FPL points on 127 and this has been made up of equal number of goals and assists (5) and although he has never been Mr Consistency, he is the most attacking outlet from midfield in this Saints team. For ÂŖ5.5mln as well he is one of the best downgrades for those offloading Son and spending money elsewhere.
James Maddison has had a very good debut season in the Premier League and is a mainstay in this current Leicester side. Seven goals and seven assists with 12 bonus points with only that red card earlier in the season thr only blemish on his record. I fancy Leicester will get a positive result on the final day. The midfielder begun the season at ÂŖ6.5mln and raised as high as ÂŖ7.0mln and Iâm very interested to see where heâs pitched next season. This one feels a bit âpuntyâ but with corners and set plays sometimes finding his feet, there surely have been worse ideas. Back at ÂŖ6.6mln now he is another potential Son replacement.
Ryan Fraser is on the verge of a move to bigger and better things apparently and could be playing his final game for the Cherries this Sunday. The Aberdonian finds himself the fifth highest scoring midfielder heading in to the final gameweek ahead of such luminaries as Pogba, Son, Sigurdsson, Sane and Eriksen. Perhaps you can see therefore why there is rumoured Arsenal interest in him. Anything can and probably will happen in Bournemouthâs last match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and whoâs to say that there wonât be a repeat of Bournemouthâs superb attacking display as shown in their wins at Huddersfield (0-2), Fulham (0-3), Watford (0-4) and Brighton (0-5)? In a game where a team set up to play better away from home meets a side usually also better away, I expect goals on both sides and could see Fraser adding to his tallies of goals (7) and/or assists (14). Fourteen assists everyone – only Hazard can better that and by only the one more. *clap*
Strikers
Ayoze Perez/Salomon Rondon (away to Fulham)
Wilfried Zaha (home to Bournemouth)
Marko Arnautovic (away to Watford)
Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon come as a pair in this weekâs Tips as Newcastle round the season off by the Thames. I thought Rondon lead the line superbly against Liverpool where he was rewarded with a goal bringing up his tally to ten for the season, just one behind his strike partner Perez. Being the foil for others in the team can be seen with his eight assists and I think that if you are after one, then Iâd side with the Venezuelan however itâs the potential of the splurge of a two or three goal display by Ayoze – like his hat trick against Brighton –Â which makes you think he could be a great last day punt especially where thereâs a mini league on the line.
Wilfried Zaha and the last day hold great memories for me. I brought him in on the last day last year and he instantly rewarded me with a goal and an assist and bonus points too if I recall correctly in the Eagles 2-0 win over West Brom. This helped me to my greatest ever finish and luckily this year I already own him and have done for a few weeks. Taking sentiment out of it, I would advise you could get him based on two goals in his last three and a home game against Bournemouth who have a tendency sometimes to let in threes fours and fives at a time.
Marko Arnautovic has scored well in recent seasons on the final day. He scored and assisted last season against Everton with his current employers. Going back to May 2015, the Austrian posted a hat-trick of assists in Stokeâs 6-1 thrashing of Liverpool in a game where Stoke were up 5-0 at half time. Crazy times. Again, I donât expect Watford to be 100% focused on this final league game as they have bigger fish to fry at Wembley so this is the transfer I have my eye on. It could be a gut feeling, in fact it IS a gut feeling, but I definitely can see Arnie getting some FPL points here and Iâll put my money where my mouth is. Oh yeah, he scored two last time out against Southampton so knows where the net is right now and I’m backing him to score in consecutive games for only the second time in the league this season. Load up!
Summary
My time here is done, for this season at least and I wish you all the luck in the world for the final day, that you all win your mini leagues, achieve your highest ever rank or at least achieve your adjusted targets.
Great to speak to you all again this season – Iâll be about all summer in preparation for FPL 2019/20.
Iâm now off to unearth the Sheffield United âgemâ I always knew about and in doing so, pretend all over again that I know what Iâm talking about next season!
Thanks for reading Fantasy Football Tips Gameweek 38. This article was written by GP.
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Prob going to bring in either Arnie or zaha for Jiminez. Leaning towards Arnie but does that make sense seeing as I have foster in goal?
Same dilemma here. But I think it still makes sense…. somehow
Makes no difference who you have in goal – I’ve never gone for that whole avoiding players because you have another player up against them. AT least if one blanks you might get some points from the other.
Iâve never bought into that either. Itâs not like youâre deliberately picking the keeper against him, heâs almost incidental in the equation given as heâs there already and presumably heâs your best option out of the two keepers you own right now. Youâre picking the forward this time and if thatâs Arnie vs him then so be it.
Thanks for the tips GP, and all others who have managed to try and guess what will happen in the final GW, which is always full of weird shit happening.
2FT, ÂŖ0.3m ITB. I’m thinking Son & Gray to Redmond and Vardy, Jiminez on the bench. Any better ideas out there?
I like those moves Robbo and am thinking of something similar ! Tired Chelsea legs with nothing to play for could be great for Vardy.
That’s the logic I’m using as well Brookyboy, so thanks for the reassurance. WIll probably go for that, subject to prezzers of course.
Good moves.
Bit of housekeeping just so that everybody is aware of what the plan is for articles for the last few days / week; we are going to publish the Site Team shenanigans tomorrow night (Friday) and then end with Team News and Predicted (laughably, given as it is GW38 and all that) Line-ups on Saturday afternoon.
And then of course Live Match Chat etc on Sunday.
And then next week weâll have a few round ups with the H&L and Site Team results etc. And a final diary entry from the gigolo. And then Iâm absolutely certain weâll all take about a month off to sleep!
Hi lads,
Thanks so much for your help so far. Iâm finalising my last transfers for he season. FREE HIT played, anyone can come or go. What are your thoughts on my team as it stands?
Howâs the cash situation? Iâm not sure on De Gea if heâs worth it. The rest makes sense. Guaita and Speroni in goal would save some money and cover GK potential rotation on last day
One of the first names on my hypothetical FT team this week would be Vardy given Chelseaâs long and arduous and injury hit exploits last night.
I think I mumbled something the other day about de Gea. If you want Man U defensive coverage you could just get Shaw, who may get you more points. And the Palace goalie. The rest of the side looks fine to me.
Morning
Any ideas here? I have two free transfers. Current thinking is this. Quite like the idea of Vardy now against tired legs of Chelsea. Prob a better bet than Pog. Though no United coverage against Cardiff seems weird. Iâm leaning towards Vardy and Fraser.
A) Hojberg and Son to Moura and Mata
B) Son and Jimenez to Pogba and Wilson
C) Son and Jimenez to Mata and Vardy
D) Son and Jimenez to Fraser and Vardy
E) Anything else
I like D with B a close second!
Smash, Iâd go C mate – if gets you Vardy plus the United coverage you were after. Mata is on some set pieces and has scored on the final day before, for what thatâs worth.
Yeah Iâm tempted by Mata. Heâs suddenly seen some minutes. Will have to check on United presser to see what Solskjaer says. Oh wait thatâs me. Vardy seems an obvious option now and my rival has him so will cover that as well
Sounds perfect then but yes, wait for Solskjaer- there is a lot of chat that heâll play some of the kids but that may just be 1 or 2.
Yeah there has been. Thereâs a lot of injuries. He also really needs a win to sign off the season. Otherwise he might even be in trouble already.
I see now why you threw my Redmond idea over; I should have been paying more attention.
But yes re Vardy.
Yes Kralin. Wish he was an option. Think my decision is now Fraser or Mata
I think I’d be faintly worried about Mata’s playing time but it’s not a bad punt.
Suspect Babel is a bridge too far for you. He’s one I’d consider if chasing. Milivojevic is worth a ponder, too.
Just checked on Mili. Iâm 0.1 short that was a good shout. Yeah I can do Babel. Think Iâm leaning towards Fraser but will see what Ole says and what happens with team news
I like D Smash.In fact they are the exact moves i’ve been mulling over all week.I can see why you are tempted by a United player,but with the threat of a few players being dropped and the fact that,to be honest,Mata was crap on Sunday,i’d avoid !
After that United presser Iâm certainly going to go with Fraser and Vardy. That United team looks like a lottery
Morning all
What a cracking week for the premier league hopefully GW38 finishes off the same!
Got a few ideas on what to do this GW but what would you do with this lot? Do you think hazard plays?
Anything in the bank?
0.1 mate
Prob Wilson in for Jimenez or Fraser in for Jota
I can’t remember what I recommended the other day – but I’ll stick with whatever that was. If you stick your subs on your side looks all right. I may have suggested another striker for Jiminez.
Why is Valery still on your bench ? Stick Hojberg first sub ! đ