FPL Tips Gameweek 3
Welcome to FPL Tips Gameweek 3
Hello.
This was going to be my first dabble at Tips this season and ahead of GW3, I had planned to furnish you all with players I already owned as they were the ones that had gotten me off to such a good start and looked good for the foreseeable… and then FPL Gameweek 1 happened.
After a poor and below average week 1 I recalibrated and prepared myself for the weeks ahead with a -4 by removing Son and Havertz for Rodriguez and Bruno. I was going to just go Havertz to Rodriguez but that wasn’t to be. Oh how I wish I could talk to ‘week-old-ago’ me!
We’re now in a position at the end of Gameweek 2 where I am (yet again) below the weekly average – having mustered just 95 points in total – and have managed to escape the house and find myself off to the quiet corner of my local pub to talk myself either into, or out of, an earlier than planned wildcard. I must admit, I fancy it. Two below average weeks, players I don’t have (or have sold!) going off all around me. I just know I’ll be happy if I wildcarded.
Hang on! I spent hours preparing my team in pre-season and planned for the first number of weeks of FPL – I can’t throw all that away after a couple of unfortunate weeks that could happen to anyone. I am an experienced and usually calm FPL player. No this is crazy. Yeah – let’s put this down to experience, use my one free transfer and think positive about Gameweek 3 and beyond. After all just as Rome wasn’t built in a day; FPL isn’t won in a day.
I’ll finish this pint and get myself into the fresh air and home for dinner. I feel much better now.
Oh hey, there’s Cookie! “Watcha fella, fancy seeing you here! I’ve just been sitting here having a couple of beers thinking about a wildcard and how….”
*COOKIE INTERUPTS* “YEP! That’s definitely the way to go right now. I’ve activated”.
Me sighing: “I’ll get them in shall I? What you having . . . “
As I head for the bar I tell Cookie to turn over my facedown notebook which will reveal to him my proposed wildcard squad.
“Be gentle”, I say with a pause …. “but be honest”.
My pal peers over his glasses, nods and requests I get two food menus whilst I’m up there and a packet of dry roasted nuts for the interim.
Whilst I request the specials, Cookie sees this:
My POTENTIAL WILDCARD by GP
Goalkeepers (SAF – Set and Forget)
Emiliano Martinez/Jed Steer – should completely cover Villa for 8.5mln. Villa have retained Konsa and Mings who have another season’s experience and along with Martinez have added Cash to their defence. Literally. I’m also smarting from using McCarthy instead of Ryan GW2. Rotating GKS Grrrrr..
Cookie: Agreed, they’re my two keepers also so no arguments there. And did you see his penalty save vs Sheff Utd? We should have wildcarded last week!
GP: Stop it!
Defenders (First three are main three but the latter two rotate in well when the main boys have toughies)
Seamus Coleman – 5.0mln and looked very good against West Brom. Could easily be Keane who has two goals so far in league and cup. I’ll take Coleman for crossing though.
Cookie: An Everton defender – seriously? You best get another beer in mate, this could be a long night. Well till 10pm anyway!
Roman Saiss – want a bit of Wolves for their fixtures and they are about the most solid and settled defence in the league.
Reece James – trusted in Chelsea’s first two – think Lamps has given him the spot. Great attacking play.
Tariq Lamptey – Absolutely wowed by him against Newcastle and should shake off the slight injury easily enough. Won the penalty. 2 in 2 for assists.
Tyrick Mitchell – Palace have a great run – one assist for him and he’s 4.0mln.
Cookie: I love the final four mate. Lamptey is an interesting one, I’ve still not seen him play but everyone raves about him. I may well steal that idea – I have Justin of Leicester in that spot at the moment.
I have Robertson instead of Coleman. Don’t you want a Liverpool defender in there?
GP: I’ve gone from having two to none. When what I really want is one. That’s life, that’s FPL!
Midfielders (Usually use the first four in a 3-4-3)
Wilfried Zaha – playing as an attacker and should have PENALTIES now that Ayew missed his and Milivojevic is on the bench. Even if not, he’s looking very sharp. Great fixture run.
KDB – My City cover of choice. PENALTIES, reliability and determined (unless injury bites) to have faith for the duration to lessen the City headache. *CAPTAINCY OPTION*
Mo Salah – See above. I think it’s about time I just stuck with him and took his hauls when they come. PENALTIES edges him over Mane for me. *CAPTAINCY OPTION*
James Rodriguez – Got him after his threatening performance in GW1. GW2 he lands. Everton hugely improved with their signings, good fixtures and this guy is the bomb. Sticking.
Back-up is Fulham’s Anguissa. Don’t fancy many of the 4.5mln players but if I need a back-up I think I would like it to be a guy who grabbed an assist last time out.
Cookie: I also have Zaha, KdB & Salah. But instead of Rodriguez & Anguissa, I have Podence and Burke. Has Init put you up to this Everton love fest?!
GP: I recall me swearing towards the end of last season after a disastrous Richarlison transfer never to touch Everton again but you know what it’s like after one or two – the nostalgia; the bad times were never really that bad. Were they?
Best have another and quick ….
Forwards
Harry Kane – Like KDB and Salah, a guy who I’ve had land for me in the past and I think I would like to have faith in and just take the rough with the smooth. Of course he also has PENALTIES. *CAPTAINCY OPTION*
Raul Jimenez – Mr Consistency who looked very sharp against Sheffield United in GW1. PENALTIES will fall to him and Wolves have no Europe this season. May be subbed to allow the new signings time but as close to guaranteed starter as you’ll find.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Didn’t start GW1. Started GW2 and landed 12 points. Says it all. Will be on Fulham’s PENALTIES and they have a decent little fixture run which they’ll need. Talisman for them.
Cookie: Well we differ here aside from Jiménez who has started where he left off last season. As you say, no Europe for Wolves means the side will be fresh each week and he hardly gets rested anyway.
As for my other two I’ve gone for Werner & DCL. I’m surprised you didn’t pick DCL given you’re sudden adoration for everything Toffee.
GP: Forgot about DCL!
Cookie: Werner I am not sure about but he’s got West Brom this weekend and that’s as good a fixture as you can get right now. He could easily become Jesus next week if he fails to impress me.
DCL is insane value as long as Everton keep creating him tap-ins.
GP: Damn! DCL eh? But surely having him together with my other two Everton is like signing a 100% mortgage with a psychopath?
Cookie: I see you’ve gone heavy on penalty takers, that’s actually a really smart tactic.
GP: Aye, I make that six penalty takers (under normal circumstances) and three Tier One captaincy options. Tier two includes Raul and Mitro and they’ll be considered.
I’ve simulated this out until GW16 and I’m happy that I have good defensive rotation and a good captain each game-week.
Cookie: I won’t lie to you mate, I haven’t thought that far ahead, I’ve gone much shorter term, but that won’t surprise you.
GP: No pal it doesn’t. Seat of the pants is the only way to fly!
Cookie: Is there anyone you’ve not been able to include that you wish you could have got in there?
GP: DCL! No, to be honest, Werner is a worry and that is where, if I go rogue; it’ll be there.
Cookie: Nice pint that, shall we have one more?
GP: Oh yeah – especially as it’s your round! Whisky Chaser with this one? And sod the menus and get some smokey bacon…
Thanks for reading FPL Tips Gameweek 3. This article was written by GP (and Cookie).
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Thanks GP (and Cookie) for the article. Interesting choices there especially w/o a Pool def. Currently on a WC and this what I can come up atm. Appreciate some thoughts.
Hi coys9 – think I’d prefer someone over Ceballos if you don’t have 3rd striker. Maybe Podence/Zaha/DCL in for Jimi/Rodriguez/Caeballos? I’m sure you’ve thought out VVD over TAA 😉
Hey Colriles, thanks for ur inputs, yeah Ceballos is more of the enabler for this team and I thot his XG/XA stats is quite decent. I actually have DCL and Zaha in my current WC so it’s possible to switch back but there’s some valid points made about Zaha’s consistency and DCL vs James.
Hi all, mulling over some moves and would love your thoughts. Doing my head in!
1- Werner > DCL, Adams > Davis, Saint-Max > Foden for a -4
2- ASM > KDB and Werner > 6.5 fwd (Wood, Bamford, etc)
3- Adams > DCL, ASM or Soucek > Foden or Podence (or both for a -4)
Fck! Not sure what to tell you.
Look I would want Werner for this week at the very least if not going forward. So guessing I go for 3 with Soucek to Foden unless ASM is ruled out for the GW. Part of the reason I am struggling here is because Adams seems on the verge of a nice GW, he was really unlucky last game to not get a goal or two. Timo is a guy I am mulling about right now as I am actually thinking about taking a hit to get him in. So you can see where I might have a conflict in the options you presented.
Cheers Mito. Yeah bit of a head-scratcher. My plan all along was keep enough $ in the bank for Son > KDB this week but that seems just wrong!
So no real way to reach KDB without sacrificing another big mid. So that’s why I’m thinking about offloading Werner at all. Agreed, ideally I’d keep him for the long haul. If I had a better way to turn ASM into KDB I’d jump at it!
Could always keep Adams and do Soucek > Foden and stop there!?
Yeah, doesn’t seem a bad idea. Give some of the guys a chance to get going. Foden does look a good option if he can retain his minutes, that of course is my one worry with him.
I didd KDB → Auba on Monday night but now starting to have doubts about this move. Playing the WC this week is becoming more likely and think will change to Sterling. Most likely Kevin will go back deep and we’ll be lucky to see a goal from him :scratch_one-s_head:
Based on what evidence?
GP, he said it himself in the interview after the game. Pep went for this formation because Wolves had the big 3 at the back and wanted to push them high and play safe with two defensive mids. Therefore Kevin played as number 10 in that game.
Here is the thing we do this every season with him. Every season he plays a game or two deep and people drop him next game he looks he is playing as a CF and everyone wants him back in, think if you own him you just accept that sometimes he will sit real high and other times he won’t.
Agree with Mito.
If KDB played in goals as an emergency back up I’d probably still give him the vice captain.
KDB has pens too, so he can get a goal in a game in which he plays deeper quite easily
Plus he took all 6 corners and both direct free kicks on top of the penalty last game.
Jerry Garcia told him.
Hes on penos and can still assist from a deep cm role. I’d still want him in my team
Anyhow, I am on Werner (C). This will be the GW when we’ll see the real Timo :yes:
I think the same.
KDB’s stats from last year in each position:
Attacking Midfielder: Appearances – 21, Goals – 7, Assists – 16
Central Midfielder: Appearances – 13, Goals – 4, Assists – 4
Right Winger – Appearances – 1, Goals – 2, Assists – 0
So yes, he is not as good an FPL prospect when he plays deeper. But he also plays further forward in more matches, and has played as an Attacking Midfielder in every game since GW26 last season. Also on penalties now.
Sterling is a great FPL option, but I wouldnt play a WC to switch him in for KDB.
OK GP, Mito, Zed and Gavy, I am convinced.
Still, think Timo is a better captain choice for this GW. That is if you don’t have Kane or Son.
Thanks GP (and Cookie)
I’ve never used WC this early but my word I’ve got a bit of a mess in my hands. Doesn’t help when someone in my league got 124 points this week
Can I have you opinions on this please
Current team
Not too convinced with McCarthy and Southamptons defence right now, you can consider getting Martinez from villa. If you like Southampton and Sheffield, I will prefer Ramsdale and KWP rather than McCarthy and Egan. KWP looks like he will get some attacking returns. Or James from Chelsea instead of Egan looks like a good swap too, Chelsea just got a new keeper, so hopefully their defence will be better now. Also consider getting in Podence at 5.5m instead of Saka or Saint-Maximin. You probably want a City mid in there, Aubameyang change to Sterling/KDB probably a better option I think.
Thank you x
@Joanne, have you actually activated your WC? If you have no point in wasting time on the bottom team.
On the top team I see a possible issue on your back line. Justin, Mitchell and Dunne are replacing someone in their team’s XI, so they might lose their position and you could end up with only 2 starting defenders. You could contemplate taking someone at the 4.5 bracket that’s a more secure starter.
No I haven’t activated it yet I started to panic today
Thank you x
Hello
I activated my wild card this week.
I went with the 4 5 1 system for two weeks and got good results.
Despite the good strikers, I still decide to play with a striker. What are the comments?
Your bench will kill you if one of your starting 11 is rested. If you did Salah or mane to son 3m is a lot to play with.
Lamperty might not start this week, and surely manu will come out better then last week.
Could to wick to Bamford and play a 3 5 2?
Currently, Southampton has weak defance. So you should change Walker-Peters to one of Burnley defander.
Not enough in the attackers department for me.
I’d rebalance.
I wouldn’t have KWP on a wildcard. Also don’t like the idea of having to play both £4.5m defenders week in, week out.
I would drop one of the big three midfielders and consider a second playing striker, so you can rotate your defence on form and fixtures.
Hello everybody – I see it’s all hands on deck for WC options. I hope they all work out for you. I don’t want to do it and will probably get left behind over the next few weeks, even tho’ I did a -4 pointer this week (hedgin’ againts price rises/falls – bit silly really.). We’ll see how the old cookie (not our Cookie, but the metaphorical cookie!) crumbles. I don’t have a team that is radically different to many of the models we’ve seen before, so it doesn’t need to be shown here.
Hope everyone is okay. Thankyou very much to GP and the non-crumbling Cookie for this.
A big shout out to Kralin wherever he is – maybe working hard on an article, maybe heavily involved with work, or some other occupation. In any case howdy!
Congrats to all of you who are doing well – and for those who are in a ‘middling’ position (like me!) , don’t worry – just stick to your guns and things will turn out alright. Be confident in your selections!
Hi AJW.
Glad you enjoyed the article. Hope you’re well.
Yeah mate – going well – gotta concentrate a bit more on professional pursuits this year, but prepared to give FPL a good shake! Catching more football on weekends, so that’s a positive thing! How about yourself?
You’ve become a veritable man of wisdom this year – really like your advice! Good stuff GP!