So here we are…it all comes down to this! One final gameweek, where mini-leagues will be decided and overall rank concluded… and here’s the gameweek 38 transfer watchlist.
There’s so many interesting fixtures too. Some on paper appear like those which are no brainers to target but with so much on the line and the all important form of certain players and teams to be factored in, this week is anything but simple. Then there’s the FPL manager conundrum of whether you play it safe with the heavily owned players or do you go differential in one last effort to jump up the table? So much to consider and so much at stake!
Perhaps the only thing that makes this week easier is that there’s no long term view needed. Bring in or sell this week and it’s for this week only – you want (perhaps need) for it to pay off immediately.
The watchlist:
Joško Gvardiol
I only wish I’d taken my own advice and brought this guy into my team. 2 goals, 2 clean sheets and bonus points to boot, he had a wonderful double gameweek… as did the FPL managers who owned him.
However, it’s not too late. I still think he’s worth bringing in for the final week. He continues to take up ridiculously attacking positions for a left-back. In truth he’s basically playing left-wing! It’s actually a surprise he didn’t score again against Spurs. His ownership is still only 15% so offers plenty of upside against your competition so don’t be put off by the potential that it’s “too obvious” or “everyone else already has him” naysayers. Also, I don’t know if you’ve heard but Manchester City will win the league if they beat West Ham at home this week. Pretty big incentive to field your strongest team (which obviously includes Gvardiol right now) and will ensure plenty of motivation.
Trent
Now this is where things get a bit tricky. Sift through the fixtures and pick me a clean sheet…
- Arsenal at home to Everton has a good chance but will a title on the line in a must win game for the Gunners will they get a bit Spursy?
- Chelsea at home to Bournemouth is pretty decent but who would you pick? Personally, I would wait as late as possible and hope for early team news on Reece James. If he starts, he is so attacking and Chelsea are in great form so he would be a great differential…although he runs the risk of being taken off before 60 minutes to save him from injury given his record.
- Spurs away to Sheffield United looks good on paper but you have to go back 10 weeks for a clean sheet (that would be the 10th March) and there’s been some pretty horrendous displays of defending in that time – personally I’ve lost faith. Saying that, Porro offers great attacking potential in a very favourable fixture for the attackers.
This brings me to my pick for this week. As you can tell, it comes with some deliberating and it’s got some serious differential power behind it. Liverpool at home to a Wolves side that’s in poor form and has little left to play for makes them an obvious team to target. It’s Klopp’s final game too so emotions will be high in the stadium and expect a special atmosphere. Trent’s attacking threat and all-round quality make him a great choice. We know what he can do! For those less financially free, given his price is so high at £8.4m, I would seriously consider Andrew Robertson. He’s currently flagged with a knock so hold off buying for now but if the injury news improves or an early team announcement is leaked then Robertson could provide some serious differential points.
Mohamed Salah
Following on from the above logic, Salah is definitely worth the punt if you can make it happen. And especially if you’ve saved your free hit to the end. Weird to call him a punt, I know he hasn’t performed to his unusually high standard since his return from AFCON but from what I hear the injury niggles that were troubling him in that time have cleared up. Also, he’s not been so terrible that we should be looking at him in such a different light to previous seasons – he’s scored over 200 points this season (again!) which included 18 goals and 11 assists. We should hopefully see a fully fit and firing Salah this weekend. The usual great FPL qualities go with him – a midfielder playing as an attacker, on penalties and one of very few Liverpool attackers that you can be confident in their minutes. He’s an expensive though, so comes with a difficult decision of who to sacrifice for him!
Kai Havertz
Another return, this time with a crucial assist for the only goal of the game against Manchester United. To be honest, I expected more goals given United’s form but they have a weird habit of appearing like they were competitive against better teams if you only look at the result but under that is a poor performance where they rarely threatened Arsenal. The Gunners have a crucial final home game against Everton who have now secured survival. I wouldn’t expect a roll over from them but motivation is lower for the Everton players compared to Arsenal and at the highest level, that can make a difference. Havertz continues up front despite being classified as a midfielder which means even more points for his attacking returns, and I expect him to start up front again. Trossard also seems to being keeping hold of the starting berth on the left-wing and is perhaps the best differential in the Arsenal team, but you can’t have them all. Also Trossard’s minutes will likely be impacted by Martinelli’s likely introduction at some point in the game.
Michael Olise
His points per minute continue to be some of the best out there. Eze, Marteta and Olise, when all fit, can trouble any defence. High flying Villa make the visit for the final week which is far from an easy game but my general rule is form over fixtures. Another goal and assist to give him 12 points against Wolves continues to prove his credentials and unless the Palace players are already “on the beach” then I’m sure they’ll put Villa to the sword with Olise at the centre of it.
Ollie Watkins
After an entertaining 3-3 draw with Liverpool and being quite unlucky only to walk away with 1 attacking return in an assist, Watkins now has a tricky away fixture to in-form Crystal Palace. If the game is tricky, why pick him then? I’m also backing Olise to cause Villa problems. Well, he’s been phenomenal this year. As well as his 19 goals he’s also put up 18 assists. Aston Villa have shown that they can get at any defence so there’s no reason they won’t do the same against an in-form Crystal Palace. If Villa score, I’d be shocked if he’s not involved.
Ollie Watkins
After an entertaining 3-3 draw with Liverpool and being quite unlucky only to walk away with 1 attacking return in an assist, Watkins now has a tricky away fixture to in-form Crystal Palace. If the game is tricky, why pick him then? I’m also backing Olise to cause Villa problems. Well, he’s been phenomenal this year. As well as his 19 goals he’s also put up 18 assists. Aston Villa have shown that they can get at any defence so there’s no reason they won’t do the same against an in-form Crystal Palace. If Villa score, I’d be shocked if he’s not involved.
Conclusion
This season has brought a lot of excitement with it. There have been some outstanding performers, some of which surprised us all. There’s also been the more predictable; a Man City title charge, relegation struggles for the newly promoted, a Spurs side falling away despite early suggestions they’d be competitive at the top and a Manchester United who continue spend big but can’t turn that into success. From an FPL manager’s perspective, it’s been a great season with so many players providing amazing returns through the twists and turns of the season as we try to predict the unpredictable, to transfer in the Palmers and Gordons before everyone else. Kudos to anyone who managed to time their transfers of Nicolas Jackson and Darwin Nunez to align with when they actually scored. Good luck in the final game, and I look forward to seeing you again when we begin preparation for next season.
Who will you go for? Let me know on Instagram. Not sure who to captain? We have 5 options for you to pick from EVERY single gameweek of the season on IG!
