As we sit here surrounded by a swanky fresh logo, a make believe new office and a smart looking website, I am saddened to report my FPL team is still the same old terrible mess it was in the old place. In my defence there were only a handful of games last weekend and my score fo 38 just about beat the average of 30 but still I tumbled down to 221,963rd. It’s nearly over. Let’s see if we can put lipstick on a pig and plot our way to some green arrows.
The Essentials
It’s fairly annoying that there is remarkably little play for at the top of the table but I’m only expecting Liverpool out of the top 5 to actually rest players this week ahead of their Champions League semi final second leg. They have a home game with Stoke and with Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain already ruled out, it remains to be seen if Klopp plays a team similar to their trip to Goodison earlier in the month. Salah’s golden boot hunt may seem get an hour but really, the top 4 is all but secured and an injury to him at this stage would be a disaster.
Arsenal have been in rotation mode for a long time now and with this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford coming between the first two legs of their Europa League semi final, it actually makes Man Utd a more attractive proposition. An inconsistent attacking unit has made Man Utd defenders a more sought after commodity this season but Lukaku up against a Holding or Chambers might change your opinion.
Tottenham are at home to Watford on Monday night, the ideal game at this time of year for somebody chasing the golden boot. Watford like to throw in a heavy defeat against the big lads and given they’ve been on the beach for months, Harry Kane looks like the ideal captaincy candidate this week. He has looked a little out of sorts since his injury admittedly but Salah got 4 against these lads and Harry will fancy doing similar if he is to retain the golden boot. Elsewhere, Chelsea travel to a Swansea side in need of all the points they can get on Saturday evening. The Blues have lacked consistency and anybody other than Hazard seems like a gamble at the moment. Meanwhile, Champions Man City are off to West Ham. Man City’s desire for goals was evident last weekend as they go chasing various records and Aguero’s continued absence should mean Gabriel Jesus is a safe pick. The wide men seem to be on rotation at the moment though which was to Sane’s cost last weekend.
Best of the rest
At this time of the season you’re really looking to pick players from motivated teams. Southampton are in great need of a win and they will likely fancy their chances at home to Bournemouth in the “is this a derby?” derby. Bournemouth have been midtable since about January so whether their motivation is quite as high will depend on how much they care about being the pride of the south coast. Charlie Austin must start you’d think and he’s usually good for a goal. Crystal Palace have been fighting relegation forever too but thanks to Zaha they’re nearly safe and a home game with Leicester looks like a chance to rubber stamp it. Leicester’s season is petering out after losing to Newcastle and Burnley though Jamie Vardy has been in good form for the last few months. With Palace’s defensive record fairly woeful, you’d probably keep your Leicester attacking options around if you still have them.
Also Consider…
There are only three weeks to go and remember you can’t combine chips, it’s strictly one per week. It’s a double game week next week so I’d advise you check anybody you bring in this week is playing twice next week to maximise returns.
Captain
Personally I’ll be going with Harry Kane. Watford are leaky at best and I can’t imagine that will improve any time soon. On a normal week you’d say Salah at home to Stoke but his minutes will be managed to the point where he may not even start. Take your pick from Man City’s front line and I have to say I fancy Lukaku against Arsenal depending on how strong a team Wenger plays.
My Team
Things are still rough in Dave town, though my team this week isn’t too bad:
De Gea, Van Dijk, Mee, Dummett, Kenedy, Zaha, Sterling, Salah, Kane, Jesus, Vardy. Subs: Ogbonna, Wimmer, Van La Parra, Elliot.
Ben Mee seems to be out this weekend so he’ll probably be my transfer. I’ll be hoping Van Dijk isn’t among those rotated but sadly I think it is his time, everybody else in the backline has had a rest. I don’t really want to rely on Ogbonna against Man City. It’s fair to say that’s where my transfer will be used.
Well that’s it for the first update from our new home, what doesn’t change though is that I wish you luck and may all your arrows be green. Toodles!
