Grab, Avoid or Bore Off! – Fantasy Premier League 2019-20
With the resumption of the Premier League, and of course FPL, things are finally back to normal, right? Well, not quite! That said, what is normal these days?
Whilst we have all been diligently following government legislation for what feels like an eternity, football of any description feels like a welcome distraction for some, and others an unnecessary risk. Wherever you sit on that debate we respect your opinion. Whether you’re for or against football without fans matters little, that’s how it’s going to be, so let’s just suck it up and get back to why we’re here; FPL.
Maybe you used a Chip for the DGW that never was, blew your Wildcard preparing for fixtures that didn’t happen, or used your weekly FT’s during the lockdown perfecting your team only for everyone to be given unlimited Free Transfers. Dems the breaks kids.
With unlimited Free Transfers, Chips still to play and a whole host of changes to football that will likely have ramifications for our FPL season finale, we thought what better time to turn to our Amigo’s and see how they plan to see out their season in style before riding off into the sunset… ready to come back again a few weeks later.
Thanks for reading Grab, Avoid or Bore Off!. This article was written by Rosco.
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Thanks for the GABO – absolutely loved it! Really missed these articles. And thanks for the fixture tracker – so helpful.
Thanks too for the excellent posts – so many team permutations and chip choices it’s been great reading all the different angles from which we can attack the rest of the season.
Initial thoughts for my team are to play it a bit defensively and give myself some time to gather some data, so use the FH for GW30 and pick the players I think most teams will have, just so I don’t get buried by hundreds of thousands of teams if the template turns out to be the right choice. Then GW31 I’ll get back my original squad which I’m quite happy with, and I’ll be able to make one free transfer based on the GW30 data. Then go from there – maybe a WC in GW32 based on two weeks of data, or GW33 based on three weeks of data, etc., etc., maybe a bench boost immediately after the WC or maybe a bench boost on the final day of the season just for shits and giggles, who knows.
Just did a bench boost team to stress test my above initial view. I really like it so now considering to use bench boost instead of free hit.
Looks great, Ben! :good2: . The 3 big guns from MCI will serve you well! Triple AVL might be a bit much, but I can see that you’re maxing your DGW options.
The more I think about how best to play this BB, the more I’m considering a slightly reduced number of DGWers – too many spoils TV and makes it hard to buy back the LIV/decent players.
Cheers Loud Atlas. Yes I don’t see my triple City changing as it has the highest ceiling in my opinion. Triple Villa is as you say, a bit much. I have a slightly tweaked draft where Douglas Luiz is replaced by Traore, PvA makes way for another SHU DEF, and Hendo is downgraded to Reina. Having the third Villa player hidden in the bench keeper spot feels more comfortable.
I agree that an all-out DGW strategy comes with huge risks. I’m losing serious value on Salah, Mane, DCL and Pope. Clearly my WC team in GW31 is going to have a threadbare (possibly non-playing) bench.
Decent team. It’s quite big at the back and there might be more goals but then they all offer an attacking threat
Cheers Smash. Yes I’m hoping to spike ceilings with PvA, TAA, Alonso and Doherty. Given they are up against Bournemouth, Everton, Villa and West Ham respectively it’s possible. Although maybe a bit too aggressive, hence my PvA tweak as mentioned above.
Interesting that you’ve largely ignored Arsenal players – presumably down to their games not being the best on paper and the gap between games not being huge?
Hi Kralin, definitely the two reasons you give are the main ones, plus the tricky price points. Having read all the comments, I’m not convinced who is likely to start and who is likely to grab the goal or assist, and they’re not worth a punt at their prices in my opinion. The clear omission in this team compared to most is Aubameyang, but £11.1m for a guy who is playing City seems crazy to me. His other fixture is Brighton, fair enough, but he blanked against City and Brighton earlier this season. I wouldn’t captain him, and for me that’s the main question when I’m looking at my £11m+ players.
I think I read somewhere that Arsenal haven’t been too impressive v Brighton recently, but I haven’t bothered checking if that’s true.
I think on a FH / unlimited transfer one off BB type week then the ‘would I captain him’ argument isn’t as strong as normal – though I know what you mean – and I think Norwich loom for Arsenal so he may not be a bad pick for a week or two. I can’t make up my mind. The only Arsenal player I think I’m definitely getting will be their goalie and I have Saka somewhere in my team.
Yes I see your point. And Saka keeps on finding himself in the team every so often within the tinkering.
Stay away from Alli :laugh2:
He’ll learn one day! :punish:
I’m not sure he will Atlas! :slaphead:
Here are my views on the double teams.
I like the two City fixtures personally. All their players will be fresh. The no fans in games should see more goals as defenders might be prone to more mistakes. Attackers can practice shooting in the garden defenders can’t practice defending so easily. Aguero, Jesus, Sterling, KDB, Mahrez, the Silva’s are all good options. They will all see minutes and the five subs makes them all more likely to show in both games. Ederson is the safe option for defensive coverage. Laporte has not played much I think it’s a bit presumptuous he starts both.
I’m not a massive fan of Villa assets. They need to go for the wins though. I’m not sure their defenders will get much. Targett might get an attacking return and Mings will play both. Reina should make some saves and get lucky. Grealish is great fixtures are t that bad and everything attacking goes through him. Samatta, Mcginn and El Ghazi are punts and you would not want them outside the double.
Sheffield United it’s all about their defence. They have a great defensive record and have two relatively soft fixtures that are away from their home ground. Henderson, Basham, O’Connell, Egan, Stevens and Baldock will likely get both games. Lundstram will he start but certainly has attacking pedigree he’s worth the risk for me. They don’t score many goals. Fleck is an option in midfield.
Arsenal for me the options are not great outside the obvious Auba. Nketiah is a cheap punt and should at least see minutes in both and because he’s so cheap is worth a punt. Same can be said for Saka and even Ceballos. Lacazette and Pepe are very expensive for what they offer as they are not guaranteed to start. Leno might offer some saves in the City game but they will almost certainly concede. I think there might be goals in that one. All their defenders are pretty expensive for what they offer. Brighton is certainly a decent fixture. Ozil has created the most chances in the last 10 games but hardly has any attacking returns and is not cheap
Smash,
A fine summary of our prospects. I don’t much trust Pep, and am inclined to go Ederson-DeBruyne-Aguero, but I’m not sure about El Ghazi v McGinn. I appreciate your earlier comment about El Ghazi’s positioning, and I’m torn about McGinn. He’s a fine player, and they may need to throw him in, given the dire situation they are in. But he’s just coming back?
Yeah that’s probably the safest City trio I think. I mean I’m not sure either El Ghazi or Mcginn are great options. Probably not much in it. Mcginn was close to being fit before the break
Thanks, Smash. I’ll probably get my trusty Canadian “toonie” out Wednesday morning, and give it a toss.
😯
lol ^
I know we’re all friends here but we seem to get a bit too information sometimes Dale :rofl:
Totally agree with everything you say Smash. Have included Pepe in my team (see below #46, would love your opinion?). Would get someone different if I only knew who would be worthwhile.
Could not bring myself to buy a AV def. How is your team coming along?
Looks like this currently. I would like Lundstram instead of O’Connell but I can’t get the 0.2. Mcginn in instead of El Ghazi is an easy 0.1.
Smash – how about downgrading Alonso to Azpi to get the cash you need to upgrade one of your SHU boys to Lundy?
Yeah thanks that’s a decent suggestion I’d much prefer Alonso though so it’s tough
Thanks for the summary Smash
Thanks Smash – you’re right, things aren’t as clear cut as we’d hope, aside from City…maybe? Villa, apart from Grealish, aren’t attractive at all and doubling/tripling up on SHU defence seems mad too. That said, it’s a DGW: anything could happen!
I’m currently seeing Man City attackers and Sheffield United defenders as being the most appealing players to binge on; Grealish from Villa and Auba the most appealing from Villa and Arsenal and everyone else pretty much punt city.
Good summary. Like you I’ve been
over-thinkingcooling slightly about Arsenal players.Am I good to go? Any ideas anyone? Not going full throttle on doubles or I won’t be able to afford getting my favorite players back
WC GW31 – Jimen-Auba-Vardy. Fernan-Salah-KDB-Cantw-Traore. Pope -Martin.
TAA-Lundy-Ward-Lascel-Saiss
Thanks!
Looks good to me
I like the Jesus pick. Pepe I’m not sure about because he’s an expensive punt and one of the fixtures is City. He’s capable though I must admit
I would change him if I had a better option
Dangerous single GW players to think about:
>40% ownership – Salah, TAA, VVD
~30% ownership – Jimenez, Vardy,
~25% ownership- Mane, Ings
We can’t fit many with the DGW players, but it’s likely at least 1 will haul.
Good point SF, I guess one approach is to keep whichever one(s) you already own and have lots of value built up in.
I’ve got 5 of those. Tempted to keep at least 2 or 3. I don’t think I’ll be able to buy them all back on the WC.
This DGW is a trap, isn’t it? :rabbi:
Very good point SF. There is some danger out there and I’m wobbling slightly about whether Auba is worth it or not.
My thoughts on the single GW players.
Liverpool are going to win the league with good reason they are the best team in the league. First game back they will play their full strength team and that might be done until it’s done. Everton probably not the easiest game. Salah, Mane, Firmino and all their defenders are still great options.
I like the Norwich v Southampton fixture. There could be goals in that one. Pukki, Cantwell and Ings are all great options. Villa for Chelsea is a good fixture. Abraham going back to his former club and Villa lean goals. Alonso could be a good bet. His points per game ratio this season is as good as ever. James looks likes he’s injured currently which means Azpil will play at RB which should mean Alonso starts. Mount is on set pieces and Villa concede a lot from them. Pulisic is now back after a long rest and does get in the box a lot when he plays. Wolves are away at West Ham which is a pretty decent fixture for Jimenez.
The fixtures I don’t really like are Spurs v United. Mourinho wont want to lose to his former club so we could see a more cagey affair. Spurs might have had time to work on the defence. I like their players after this week though. Kane and Son being back for Spurs will make them a much better team. Rashford and Pogba are now both fit. Fernandes is a great option regardless. I think Watford is a tough game for Leicester as they are much improved under Pearson and need the points.
Great thanks Smash. I’m currently covering Pool. I’m a bit uneasy about having no Wolves or Chelsea as both could perform well this week. That said Jimenez is Wolves best option, but tends to be consistent rather than explosive and Chelsea spread the points around.
Thanks Smash. Agree with all of that.
Nice overview – I think I’m keeping 2/3 of my LIV players his week (probably doing Mané to KDB). TOT/MNU assets should be shifted for this GW, I think – other fixtures are tastier. Wolves will definitely be striving for a top 4 spot and their remaining fixtures feature only one ‘hard’ fixture (vs CHE on GW38+).
Good analysis which combined with the chilling ownership stats of the likes of Salah, Vardy et al should give pause for thought.
I’m planning to play a bit with my side this weekend and will prioritise City attackers and Sheffield United defenders and will take it from there.
Son is blipping around crazily on my post-DGW radar.
Nice shout that although not for me. Last two times I’ve had him the fecker has been sent off!
It may be false-memory but I think I had him during one of his hot spells.
I’ve been looking at Wolves’ fixtures and trying not to drool too much.
Yeah I’ve got 3 Wolves at the moment.