Fantasy premier league team tips GW4 – FFGeek contributor’s teams part 2

Contributors, Fantasy Premier League

Here’s our fantasy premier league team tips GW4 article where the 2nd group of the FFGeek contributors show their teams for GW4. In this part there’s 6 with Ben Wooton, Andrew Whitfield, Alex Ball, Rob Cosgrove, Costas Chari and Yaniv Salomon

Fantasy premier league team tips GW4 – FFGeek contributor’s teams part 2

This is part 2 of the FPL managers who contribute to the FFGeek site with good histories who show their teams each week. This will give people a feel for what other managers are doing. It’s a fairly informal thing with no obligation on anyone and these teams may change at anytime before the deadline without further notice. In the future it also wont cover early transfers. It’s just to give an idea of the trends for the week no more.

See the part 1 contributors teams article here

Yaniv Salomon

Yaniv finished with an overall rank of 4k last season and 8k in 17/18

GW3 points: 45 -4 (average 44) Total points 159 Gameweek rank 3,100k, Overall Rank: 1,953k, red arrow 552k, Team Value: £100.1m

Last chance before WC, disastrous start of tje the season, 2 early subs to catch the price train- Pukki and Lundstrom for Jota and El Mohamady (wrong guess for me, it was him or Mings, another bad 50/50 call).

Hope for first CS for Liverpool in their 4th match (still have patience with the double CS), Raheem with the armband easily, and Perez who is not good at all gets the last chance

Taking a punt on Greenwood, as he may start after Martial injury (plus Rico supposed to return to Bournemouth starting lineup after Daniels is out probably for the season, so another one again for the rotation its always good)

Good luck all (for me I just hope for a first green arrow)

Pukki and Lundstram for Jota and El Mohamady)




Fantasy premier league team tips GW4

Andrew Whitfield

Andrew finished with an overall rank of 6k last season and 19k in 17/18

GW3 points: 60 (average 44) Total points 187 Gameweek rank 815k, Overall Rank: 332k, green arrow 423k, Team Value: £100.4m

Geek note this was written before Martial was confirmed as out for GW4

I am happy with a GW3 score of 60 points – against the average of 44 – a green arrow and rise in rank from 770k to 332k – top 5% .. a step in the right direction .. it’s all about momentum and green arrows !!

Five “returners” included a goal from my captain, with three players contributing double figures – Sterling 16, Salah 15, Pukki 11. I got the captain call the wrong way round again with Salah outscoring Sterling 15-8, but I was always going with Sterling and I feel like I dodged a real bullet as a non Kane owner and him blanking v Newcastle with 1.1M armbands on him !!

My two free transfers worked out well with Pukki and Martial both returning and outscoring the two players they replaced which always helps.

The lead up to GW3 was nothing short of anarchy, with half a million people hitting the wildcard button , leading to player prices going up and down like crazy. Those acting early with transfers made good gains in squad value, by catching the risers and fallers early, while many delayed and missed out on intended deals and targets. I hate going early on transfers but unusually for me, I did my two free moves by Tuesday, with price movements forcing my hand.

Whilst many wildcards will have been carefully thought through and well executed, I believe that a fair few were not, people ripped up squads that had been carefully constructed and thought out for six weeks, players who had been brought in for very good reasons that probably remain very valid, and replaced them instead with players who had caught the eye in just two games. An impulsive response to a low scoring week two. Some wildcards worked but many didn’t.

I also see a lot of people wildcarding who hold strong looking teams, where in practice, a couple of changes would be just as effective and save that wildcard for weeks when you have many more fires to put out.

If there is one thing that I have learned more than anything in FPL, it’s patience….the biggest tool in our FPL box. I held on to Salah when 400,000 jumped ship after one blank, many switched to Mane after his double. Its so easy to get caught up in the last match. I also showed patience to resist the jump to accommodate Kane which would have meant big compromises. My patience was also very nearly rewarded by a double Liverpool clean sheet that many had abandoned in droves. I am very happy to have emerged with a green arrow with my wildcard firmly intact when so many were played.

What went well :

1 – Salah and Sterling continue to underpin the team, which is based around a “two premiums “ strategy. They are both on fire. They have banked me 64 points between them in just three weeks. I am glad I didn’t switch plan to three premiums and disrupt the balance of my team after how poor Kane was this week.

2 – My two incoming transfers, Pukki and Martial, both returned and outscored my two outgoing ones, Wilson and Fraser by 16-7. Very pleasing to get on the Pukki train early as he does look like he is almost fixture proof and can score against anybody after his 29 goals last season.

3 – Two assists in three games already for Trent who looks a real threat going forward. He was camped in the opposition third and always a danger with his crossing. Once the clean sheets start to follow, which they will, I can see double figure hauls ahead.

4 – There is no doubt the Kane blank did wonders for my rank.

What didn’t go as well :

1 – I played five at the back and didn’t manage a clean sheet !! Only three in the Premier league all weekend though so most people in the same boat, with only Villa, Southampton and Newcastle obliging. My choice to start Lundstram over King only cost me 2 points. Lundstram nearly scored for the second successive week. I might have to start him more often, particularly at home. I remain very happy with Lucas Digne, plus City and Liverpool defensive cover. And Ryan is keeping the gloves warm for Ederson when I wildcard. My defence is very settled.

2 – The Liverpool defensive double up . This is a real hot potato now but I am keeping the faith. The clean sheet has been thwarted in the 83rd minute in the last two weeks so fine margins. They don’t look as secure right now, granted, but I don’t see reason to panic. Where would you switch your other Liverpool defender to anyway ?? Man United have kept 1 clean sheet in 18 games ( !! ), Spurs and Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet all season, you can’t trust Arsenal defensively, and then you have game time risk with City who only have one clean sheet too, plus with Trent, Robbo and VVD you are getting a goal and assist threat that you just don’t get elsewhere. Keep the faith and be patient and the returns will come. I am quite happy people selling Liverpool defenders as my rank will rise more when the clean sheets return.

3 – Three blanks for Perez who doesn’t look like the player we saw in pre season. He blanked in another 90 mins of the EFL cup midweek too. Maddison looks the best midfield option for the foxes but the fixtures aren’t great either.

4 – An injury flag on Martial. Watching that one closely. I might ride it for one game. If it’s likely to be more than one game, it will change my plans . (Geek note:  now confirmed as out)

What next:

Well Perez and Robertson have blanked three times, so are the obvious ones in the firing line. You know my views on Liverpool, which puts Perez in sharp focus. He has a good fixture this weekend so I probably value carrying two free transfers into the international break more than selling Perez v Bournemouth.

I also have Martial flagged. Unless he is diagnosed as serious this week, I am happy to cover him with my bench this week as it’s only one game and then a long International break. Particularly so if I can position Greenwood as first sub, given his improved game time possibilities in Martials absence. I am writing this on Wednesday night so it depends what news emerges before Saturday.

I would really like De Bruyne which I could do in two moves if Martial is out longer, for a hit, losing Perez in the process. I don’t like hits if I can help it. I have 1.1M banked so could go King to Jimenez or Barnes. I am inclined to give Perez another week at home to Bournemouth and carry over my transfer to have TWO free in the International break, to cover injuries and provide maximum flexibility. Two transfers in the International break is like gold. That’s my preference and a strong position to be in.

I don’t see the need to wildcard in the first break when I am happy with the core of my side. I still could if things go wrong in GW4, but much prefer the second break after GW8. I love two weeks of tinkering time and by then, I can choose a wildcard with more knowledge than in the first break and infinitely more than those reaching for the button after two weeks. We should have a much clearer picture by then.

Captain this week is firmly on Sterling at home to Brighton. Hopefully they can pepper the goal too and provide Ryan with plenty of save points. King comes back into the side as I revert to my favoured 442.

Fingers crossed for a successful GW4 for all fantasy geek readers and may all your arrows be green !!

transfer summary:  carrying over a free transfer

Fantasy premier league team tips GW4

Ben Wooton

Ben’s last 3 seasons overall rank were 61k, 26k and 31k.

GW3 points: 64 (average 44) Total points 201 Gameweek rank 455k, Overall Rank: 73k, green arrow 214k, Team Value: £100.5m

Up around 75k so feel okay with team at mo.

That said it would be nice to see a Liverpool clean sheet this week.

I was resisting a transfer this week, but with Martial definitely out I feel my bench is light especially with Walker Peters also a doubt. I have decided to hold Martial for the break and assess , so will now drop KWP.

The man coming in is Zinchenko for a run of games that look okay. Be happy playing that back four every week for foreseeable.

Think the obvious moves next are Tielemans or King out for Mount, Barnes or maybe a West Ham asset but these breaks usually bring a crock and Martial could be crocked longer.

If it all goes bad I have wildcard but prefer to keep if I can.

Anyway capt Sterling again tempted with Pukki but no need to take any big risks for now

Thanks have a good weekend

Ben

Transfer summary:  Walker Peters out and Zinchenko in




Fantasy premier league team tips GW4

Alex Ball

Alex’s last 5 seasons overall rank were 523k, 17k, 10k, 28k and 3k

GW3 points: 52 on WC (average 44) Total points 167 Gameweek rank 1,775k, Overall Rank: 1,301k, green arrow 411k, Team Value: £101.0m

So as has be the story of my last season, 50/50’s go the wrong way, one day it’ll come right! Geek gave me the heads up on the pod to go Haller over Rashford, his call now looks to be spot on and I’m scrambling to get him like everyone else. On a plus, Cantwell came in for me which was nice. Salah punishes his sellers but hopefully Mane can match him.

Sterling capo. Will either roll transfer or (if Martial is out) move him to Douglas Luiz and Wickham to Haller. One to mull over. Good luck all.

Transfer summary :  TBC on twitter

Fantasy premier league team tips GW4

Costas Chari

Costas’s last 3 seasons overall ranks were 84k, 29k and 27k

GW3 points: 49 (average 44) Total points 181 Gameweek rank 2,366k, Overall Rank: 547k, red arrow 65k, Team Value: £100.4m

A bad week with red arrow for my team this week. Could have been worse if Kane scored but still a bad week.

My rank has been taking a dive everytime KDB and Pukki deliver so I had no choice than to bring them in. I had 2.4 in the bank so its Siggy out for KDB and Deulofeu out for Pukki. I am left with 0.1 itb.

I have to say that i really wanted Abraham instead of Pukki as I can see Abraham getting in form and Pukki getting a few blanks but 33% ownership is too much to ignore. Although Pukki hasn’t got great short term fixtures , due to the positive football Norwich play he is in the team for the long term.

Although I support making transfers in the last day I did these 2 early as the market is crazy at the moment and we have loads of price changes. If I waited then with the Pukki rise and Deulofeu fall I wouldn’t be able to make it!

My team is fairly template at the moment and unfortunately my differentials Ryan, Trossard play City so I am left with King to make a difference.

Captain- cant see anyone past Sterling

Rob Cosgrove

Rob’s last 3 seasons overall rank were 45k, 40k and 23k

GW3 points: 51 -4 (average 44) Total points 172 Gameweek rank 2,066k, Overall Rank: 1,031k, red arrow 141k, Team Value: £100.3m

Good reception and free data roaming mean I can do my team this week!

I have activated the early wildcard this week due to injuries: Deeney, Shaw & Martial! I am not prepared to take another points hit so the wildcard was the only way out. It also allows me to change more than just injuries. I wanted to wait until after the international break but I don’t think I could field a full team this week! Overall, an unlucky start for my team.

First of all, the 4.5mil GK rotation failed me 2 weeks in a row so I am just sticking with Pope. Next, TAA has 2 assists VS Robertson’s 0 so I have made the switch. To replace Shaw I could stay at Utd with AWB but I am not convinced by their defence. I like Crystal Palace’s fixture so have chose PVA for both CS and attacking potential. The fixtures I also like the look of are West Ham, Bournemouth and Burnley so my final changes bring in Lanzini (I looked at Haller but will explain why not shortly), Harry Wilson and Barnes. I originally had King of Bournemouth but wanted Barnes so settled for Harry Wilson as Bournemouth coverage.

My final change, obviously, is Pukki. He is essential right now so that was why I couldn’t bring in Haller! Knowing my luck, this will be the week where Pukki blanks (apologies in advance everyone!).

Captain Sterling. Wildcard activated.

Transfer Summary:  wildcard in play

 

Other posts

The FFGeek captain poll

The FFGeek contributors show their teams for GW4 part 1

GW3 review from an underlying stats perspective

Analysing the teams of 10 top FPL managers

The transfer in and out polls

Early thoughts on the FFGeek team

GW4 fixture ease article

See our GW4 bandwagons and sinking ships article

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Joe’s interactive transfer planner and points projection tool

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