Need some last minute advice and transfer tips ahead of gameweek 12? We’ve got you covered.
Haaland – keep or sell?
There’s been a mass sale of Haaland this week driven by many playing their Wildcard (myself included). There’s obvious frustration with the big man but it’s still not totally clear cut that he’s a sell this week if you’re not Wildcarding.
Spurs at home looks hard on paper but could they play into City’s hands. The international break has probably given them time to take stock and come back with a refreshed mindset, ready to begin a good run of results – it would be very like them.
Spurs play a high line and have shown they concede chances and goals. They only play one way and I fully expect an open game which could really benefit Haaland owners.
If I wasn’t Wildcarding, I would likely hold him this one week and then shift him out next.
Haaland is also just off a hat trick with Norway which might also do his confidence some good…
Image source: goal.com
The main issue is his price tag – at over £15m he’s got to produce a lot of FPL returns to justify the budget allocated to him. That’s not been the case for a good period this year so a sale makes sense…I’ve sold him but I do fear a resurgence.
It all depends on what you can do with those funds – there’s plenty of options like Isak and Jackson who are much cheaper and have good fixtures and would allow for more funds to be spread across your squad.
Injury updates from Ange have confirmed that Romero and Van de Ven are both out which is another boost to Haaland owners; it won’t be the strongest Spurs defence.
Trent replacements
Trent Alexander-Arnold is orange flagged and not been seen in training over the international break. I don’t expect him to feature.
The latest update from Slot’s press conference confirms he’s still not been ready to train as of Friday. So should you sell?
It’s also worth noting his premium price tag and his role in this Liverpool team is bearing less fruit for him personally – less assists and chances created.
Image source: malaymail.com
Given the following fixture is Man City, it’s likely it’ll be two blank gameweeks for him so seems an easy sell.
Konate is the obvious, and much cheaper, alternative route to the Liverpool defence. Van Dijk also is a great option. Southampton up next and they’ve conceded the most set piece goals of all teams so far this season which bodes well for these two!
There’s also plenty of other options outside of Liverpool. Of the more premium options, if you don’t already have him, Gabriel of Arsenal is a great shout. The other Arsenal defenders except Saliba, like Timber are more of a risk for minutes. It’s hard to know who’ll get the most minutes of the full-backs.
In the price bracket below (£4.6m – £5m) I’d say Rayan Aït-Nouri of Wolves, Robinson of Fulham or Lucas Digne of Aston Villa top my best picks. Personally I’ve chosen Robinson in my Wildcard (partly because I already had him) but Rayan Aït-Nouri has been in my thoughts for a while given Wolves’ fixtures and his attacking style. Villa have been inconsistent but Digne is very attacking also so could work out well as an option.
If you wanted to release even more funds, then the best budget picks start with Lewis Hall of Newcastle. He’s made my team but I have my reservations about just how good he’ll be. He’s cheap and seems to have nailed down the starting spot at left-back in an improving Newcastle. Do I expect lots of assists, or even clean sheets? Probably not but at his price and with the ability to rotate him in and out for good fixtures, he’s a solid choice.
Brighton are another team to target with good upcoming fixtures. Van Hecke seems the most nailed on, even if a little bit of a boring pick. Searching for clean sheets with him rather than attacking returns I expect. If you want to go a little rogue, then Estupiñán is a good shout. A little more expensive at £5m and less secure for minutes but he’s historically been a great FPL pick for his attacking output and link up with Mitoma of the left.
Injury updates
There seems to be so many flagged players right now. Going into the international break lots of players have pulled out of international duty which from one perspective is a bad sign for the extent of the injury but on the other gives them time to recover and be fresh for the next game.
Arteta often plays games with his press conferences so take his comments with a pinch of salt.
However, he has said Ben White is out for “months” which I’d say genuinely rules him out. It makes other Arsenal defenders better assets in terms of game time, in particular Timber. Calafiori is on his way back but unlikely to start the next game. If you bring in Timber, be prepared for potential rotation soon but he’s a great short term option.
On Saka (and Rice) Arteta said that they both took part in “partial training” for the first time on Friday. I think that means they’re both a risk in terms of minutes and it doesn’t sound like they’ll start but given Arteta’s history in press conferences and that he’s not ruling them out I think they could start. It’s not ideal but I would expect Saka to start…it’s down to whether you already have him; I probably wouldn’t buy him but I also wouldn’t sell him.
Maresca has confirmed Palmer is “better” after the international break. I’d suggest that means he’s pretty sure to start. Fixtures are great for Chelsea so I’d happily bring him in this week (I have).
Image source: independent.co.uk
Palmer has been seen back in training so he’s less of a doubt. I’d hold him if you have him – Chelsea fixtures are good for a long time to come.
Semenyo and Kerkez have been confirmed as “available” but that precautions have been taken in respect of their injuries. I’d say that means they both start. Note that Semenyo is on 4 yellow cards so could miss a game soon if he picks another one up. That could cause an unwelcome problem in the coming weeks.
No news on Wissa and Mbeumo who are both flagged but I would expect both to play. However, keep an eye out for any leaks about either. It’s unlikely you’ll be buying them as their fixtures turn quite difficult in a couple of weeks but owners probably don’t need to panic and sell.
Is Salah a must have?
What’s made Salah so good is not just his consistency this year but the fact his returns have yielded more points. Let me explain, as a midfielder his goals get more points and he’s also acquired more bonus points (21 so far) when he has returned.
He’s also had a rest over the international break so he should be fresh. On penalties, in a team which is firing with pretty good fixtures ahead and he’s the main man in their attack, i.e. he’s not getting dropped! There’s barely a downside.
The only issue is his price means there’s other great FPL picks who have to be rejected in favour of him.
Image source: BBC Sport
Man United resurgence?
We’ve been here before – the 2.5 year manager cycle at Man United continues. There’s lots of parallels to Ten Hag; a manager who dominated a smaller European league with attacking football and a set style of play. But there is a feeling that Amorim is different.
Saying that, he’s inherited a squad with some real talent but also a lot of issues. His now well-talked about 3-4-2-1 / 5-2-2-1, or whatever you want to call it, will suit some of the players and not others. There’s a lot of speculation about who will play where, especially at wing-back and attacking midfield.
The only player (other than Onana) who is on the team sheet and will feature in an attacking role is Bruno Fernandes. Everything else is up for grabs, or not particularly FPL worthy. For example, De Ligt, Yoro and Martinez are probably getting the centre back slots but I’m not totally sure and there’s other options like Maguire and Evans who could take minutes off them.
Where will Garnacho, Amad, Rashford, fit in? We don’t know until we start seeing some team selections. I also suspect the new manager will take some time to figure out his starting 11 so I can’t see any Man United players beyond Bruno being serious options.
Is the time of Wood over?
Statistically speaking, Forest have had one of the easiest fixture runs so far. The idea that they’ve overachieved is a bit unfair but it also means they may now fall off a little.
Wood has been incredible value so far but the upcoming tougher fixtures brings into question his ongoing value. Personally, I wouldn’t sell him – he’s shown to be capable of scoring against good teams (see his hat trick last year against Newcastle). Forest’s style also doesn’t rely on Wood creating chances himself or scoring low XG chances, it’s all about providing him with high value opportunities near the goal.
Perhaps there’ll be less of them with more difficult teams but he’ll still be in and around the box when the ball comes in.
Image source: skysports
On the other hand, if you don’t own him you’ve missed the boat. There’s better options now in that price bracket. Cunha and João Pedro to name my top picks. Better fixtures and solid performances so far this season make them both likely to outscore Wood in the next 5-6 weeks.
Get your thoughts over to us, tell us what you plan to do and any questions you want answering to @FPLwithStu on X.
