- Another interesting week flies by – A lot to take in with some shock results as this crazy season continues to take shape.
Here are my early thoughts ahead of gameweek 11 and I attempt to make sense of last week!
As always, if you have any FPL questions you want us to address, message @FPLwithStu on X.
Is it too late to buy Forest players?
In short, yes. They’ve been great and there’s a lot to be said for confidence and form but look at the upcoming fixtures:
This probable gives some strength to the argument that their league position is a bit of a reflection on their fixtures being easier until now. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve been really good and there’s no easy games in the Premier League. Regardless, if you looked at that fixture list would you target a player in that team?
Wood has been amazing and his goals are sustainable in that he’s finishing a lot from close range which means he’s not scoring worldies from 30 yards out. He’s a good finisher but I think the teams ahead will restrict those chances now. I’d be tempted to hold him (that Ipswich game is the one positive in there) if you have him but I wouldn’t buy.
Aina may have top scored with 15 points against West Ham but clean sheets are going to be harder to come by. I wouldn’t buy him now either.
Image source: thisdaylive.com
Time to sell Haaland?
I get it, 1 goal in 5 games is shocking. I’m an owner and if I could turn back the clock I would have sold him ages ago but this return is way worse than expected. It’s out of the ordinary and we all know it’ll turn at some point.
Haaland is still getting chances but the midweek game against Sporting doesn’t fill you with confidence – no goals and a missed penalty. It makes you wonder where his head is at – strikers feed off confidence and it can’t be too high right now.
The fixtures don’t get any easier and Man City do look like they are struggling. There’s little back up up front to take the pressure off and the whole team is a bit thin due to injuries. It’s not only Rodri missing but he’s a key part and must be impacting the team.
The fixtures look tough but we all know that City handle it usually. Are City just running out of steam after 4 successive titles and many more long title races and later runs into the cups.
I’m not one to sympathize too much with the managers and players moaning about fixture congestion (more games = more money…for them) but the players aren’t machines and it looks to be taking it’s toll.
Many are pivoting away to Salah but the longer you hold off the more likely it’ll switch – Haaland will start scoring and be must have again.
Chelsea players are in doubt
Chelsea have Arsenal away so it’s not the week to buy, even if Arsenal have struggled of late. However, after week 11 Chelsea’s fixtures look nice and I’d strongly advise to have a look at some of their players.
Saying that, Palmer picked up a knock and so is a doubt. I would wait until we hear more before making any early moves.
Image source: therealchelseafans
Jackson picked up his 4th yellow card, 1 more and he misses a game. Something to keep in mind which makes him a worse buy this week – he could easily blank against Arsenal, pick up a yellow and miss the next match. Probably best to wait.
Spurs have the fixtures but do they have the players?
Another 4 goals for Spurs (the 3rd time they’ve scored 4 this season). 2 for Solanke to reward those who have held him despite his modest goal return before.
Son came back from injury but only got 55 minutes. The word from Ange is that it was planned and he wasn’t ready for 90. He should be good for Ipswich at home this week. He’s a definite captain option too!
The problem with Spurs is you don’t know who is going to be the one…last week Solanke, other weeks Son and Johnson. When one pipes up, the others seem a bit quieter whereas Salah and Haaland for example typically feature when their team does well (expect obviously the way Haaland has been the last 5 weeks!!!).
Image source: theguardian
Johnson is the budget option for midfield and provided good return for the price while Son is the premium who in theory should be more consistent. I’d back Son over the others but as ever, there’s no guarantees.
Maddison didn’t start and ordinarily I’d say it’s time to sell. Just maybe don’t right before Ipswich at home in a free scoring Spurs.
Wolves are the opposite of Forest
While the fixtures have been kind to Forest, they’ve been harsh on Wolves. That’s switched now so we should be looking at their players now.
Confidence is probably not too high and so even though they’ve got better fixtures, damage has been done. Saying that, Strand Larsen has 3 goals in 4 games while Cunha has 2 and an assist in the same time. If you can afford the extra cost, I think Cunha is worth it but both should be in your thoughts.
Rayan Aït-Nouri is the defender of choice but without a single clean sheet this season, the best chance of returns seems to be attacking ones (of which he has 5). Obviously with nicer fixtures, the clean sheet chances increase.
Calvert-Lewin has got to go
Another blank week. Even with good fixture on paper, he’s just not worth it. At £5.9m there’s the Wolves boys, Wood, Wellbeck, Raul Jiminez and Vardy to name just some I’d put above him. Sell, sell, sell!
Time for Bruno and co?
Fernandes finally got a decent return. Scoring a penalty and a 10 pointer for those who still have him.
Is it time to jump on Man United assets…well it’s a punt. They’re between managers and they looked a little lost in attack against Chelsea. What a boring game by the way!
With a new manager confirmed and a specific formation expected to be deployed there’s a lot of talk about who will play where and who will benefit.
Image source: skysports
Firstly, the new manager hasn’t started yet. We also don’t know who he’s going to shoehorn into what position and how they’ll get on individually and collectively. And we’ve seen Man United for a few years now, they’re painfully inconsistent.
The fixtures are kind with Leicester at home this week. They beat them 5-2 in the cup last week but that was a second string Leicester side so I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Garnacho is the best option for price but where he’ll fit in and how much game time he’ll get is an unknown.
Fernandes will almost certainly play but will he really produce enough to justify the price tag. Unlikely.
Højlund is touted as someone who will benefit from the new manager but I got back to my point above, the manager hasn’t started yet. Also are we expecting instant results or will this realistically take time?! Anyway, he’s a potentially good differential but like all 3 options the truth is it’s a punt.
Should we hold Villa players?
Away to Liverpool is a toughy. Rogers got a knock against Spurs but played on (apparently because he wanted to) so I’d expect him to be ok. He scored against Spurs despite the 4-1 loss and something similar against Liverpool wouldn’t surprise me.
Image source: birminghammail.co.uk
Ollie Watkins isn’t justifying his £9m price tag but I’d probably hold. Villa’s upcoming fixtures are good. Saying that, his role seems to be to play 60-70 minutes, wear out the defence for Duran to come on and get the goals later on. Obviously that’s not a genuinely consistent tactic that Emery is deploying but it’s unfolded that way quite a few times.
The rise of Duran is definitely hitting Watkins’ returns. If you’ve held him this long, why not see out this week and hold for the better fixtures but I wouldn’t go out an buy him.
Are Newcastle back?
A tactical masterclass to beat Arsenal 1-0 but the jury is still out. Isak scored but he’s another one that it’s hard to pay for when his returns have been so few and far between.
Newcastle look a little better and a good fixture run ahead…I’d probably just keep my eye on them for now.
Lewis Hall at £4.3m is regularly starting and could be a great cheap defender with good minutes. As a full back he’s also in with a shout of attacking returns. Wouldn’t be a bad move.
We’ll be back with some more ahead gameweek 11, including our team reveal. If you have any comments or questions you want us to answer message us @FPLwithStu on X.
