Here’s part 1 of our FPL teams GW7 article where 3 FFGeek Contributors show their teams. There’s Andrew Whitfield, Kev in Canada and Alex Ball. Between them they have 8 top 1% finishes in the last 4 competitive seasons. There’s also a wildcard team in there.
FPL Teams GW7 – 3 FFGeek Contributors With Their GW7 Teams Part 1 – Including A Wildcard
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Andrew Whitfield
Andrew’s last 4 seasons overall ranks were 34k, 132k, 6k and 19k
GW6 Points: 44 on Wildcard (FPL average 43) Total points: 432, Overall Rank: 84k, red arrow: 31k Team Value: £101.5m
Gameweek 6 review:
A difficult and low scoring week in FPL world, but no certainly no shortage of drama !!
The game of the season saw Liverpool held 3-3 at Brentford but Pool are top and the only unbeaten team. Man City won at Chelsea to go above them and sit 2nd. Arsenal completely bossed the North London derby. Brighton fluffed their lines and missed their chance to go top, but did salvage a 96th minute draw to cruelly deny the Palace clean sheet.
Man Utd were surprisingly beaten at home by Villa and Bruno missed a last minute penalty. Vardy scored three but one at the wrong end, Jimenez heartwarmingly scored for the first time in a year after his horror injury, Antonio netted a last minute winner. And Shaw and Reece James got crocked !!!!
The big three of Ronaldo, Lukaku and Salah only scored once between them, reigniting the “two premiums or three” debate. Captain favourite Ronaldo blanked, so Salah and Antonio won the battle of the popular captains.
My GW6 score and rank:
44 points with a Captain blank and just 4/11 “returners” so a disappointing and slow start to my wildcard but the team is well set up and I beat multiple price changes by “going early” . Three of my wildcard signings found the net which was nice.
A rank fall from 51k to 84k so a slip back after last weeks “rank halving” week. But still in a great place to be hovering around the top 1% so early in the season. I would have taken that all day long at this early stage. To show how close it is, I am only 20 points off the top 10k !!
My GW6 talking points:
I didn’t get a spectacular wildcard bounce but I did gain 5 points overall compared to if I hadn’t played it. I gave up the return of Raphinha but gained those of Sarr and Jiminez instead, both of whom came in very late for Bamford and Raphinha after that Leeds press conference.
I did beat six price rises on players I bought and three price falls on players I sold, so if I was playing the same wildcard now, it would cost me almost 1M more to put together. That’s a great uplift in team value by going early. It also appears that most planned wildcards in GW7 and GW8 that I have seen in drafts are very similar to the one I put together, so “going early” looks to have definitely paid off.
I played the wildcard a week earlier than planned for a few reasons. I had switched the suspended Antonio out for Bamford the week before, which gained me 5 points but left me spooked without him on a high top 10k ownership v leaky Leeds. I wanted both Bamford AND Antonio. As it happened Bamford was ruled out late and I would just have flipped back to Antonio anyway. I also had concerns about Greenwood and Torres in my team, who as it happened scored only 2 points between them and Torres has now played back to back zero minutes, so further justification for going a week early.
Choosing Jimenez over Armstrong on wIldcard was gutsy, given “Jimmy” had not scored for a year. That Jimenez goal was satisfying and he has Newcastle at home next. Sarr 9 points was nice too but that was to the exclusion of Raphinha who I sold who also returned and I am uncomfortable being without him now. I could have had both Sarr and Raphinha in a 442 if I had not chosen Jimenez, so swings and roundabouts there.
I gambled on getting Alonso and Rudiger in early to double up on the Chelsea defence ahead of those favourable fixtures. Both have now risen in price. I also gambled on playing them both v Man City. Their ownership at my rank level were only 9% and 12% so the double clean sheet would have been a huge rank boost. Chelsea are capable of shutting out anyone. They held firm into the 2nd half but it wasn’t to be. If I had hedged my bets and played just one Chelsea defender, Gallagher would have stepped in for an assist but he only scored 4 points.
Owning just one Chelsea defender isn’t going to help much going forward, other than a mini shield. Clean sheets for Chelsea might even lead to rank drops with only one Blues defender if many managers are doubling up in defence. That’s where the differential opportunity lies. The fact that Reece James went off injured means it’s Rudiger and Alonso who are getting the attention and being snapped up which is good for my team value when I already have them in place.
For once, my captain choice didn’t work out, with Ronaldo blanking and both Salah and Antonio scoring, so a loss of 5-6 points there but I was always going with a premium captain playing at home. Annoying that United were awarded a last gasp penalty and instead of Ronaldo stepping up for a captain goal and bonus points, Bruno Fernandes stepped up instead – and missed !!
Blanks for Shaw, Alexander Arnold and Sanchez added to Rudiger and Alonso meant my back five yielded just 5 points !!
So what next ??
I have one free transfer and 0.5M in the bank.
As usual, I am drafting these notes early, before the European games, where anything could happen, so I won’t be taking risks with early moves. A significant injury midweek changes everything.
I had an opportunity on Saturday night with the exact money before an imminent Cancelo price rise, to swap Shaw to Cancelo, but passed up the chance. I will have to wait now until GW8 which is when I had this move planned for anyway before the Shaw injury. It’s not worth a hit now this week. I could have done it for free this week but Cancelo has Liverpool away so it wasn’t a great entry point. I know Man City shut Chelsea out and could shut Liverpool out too. It’s a move I wanted GW8 anyway, so maybe I should have just gone for it but I held off. I don’t like committing so far out. I will lose money on both Shaw falling and Cancelo rising too by waiting until the latter days of the international break before GW8
If I roll the transfer this week, I have plenty double moves in GW8 that can facilitate the funds to do the Shaw to Cancelo move for free. That’s my plan.
Until two days before the deadline, I had Bamford and Raphinha in my team. I wanted the Leeds double up for some great fixtures. It’s hard to select red flagged and yellow flagged players on a wildcard. Bamford ownership has really dropped off even though he could be back this week. But Raphinha is a player I really want. I held him from GW1 and it was a tough sell. Back to back goals. I prefer him to Benrahma and Sarr, but Benrahma has Brentford at home, Sarr plays Leeds, both have higher ownership than Raphinha in the top 10k so are difficult sells. Both involve hits too.
Ideally I want Benrahma, Sarr and Raphinha in a 442 with Salah but I can’t give up Jimenez ahead of Newcastle at home. So it looks like no Raphinha again this week. I can see Jimenez possibly downgrading to an Armstrong or Toney in the short term and being the cash cow to get Raph back in a four man midfield. I might just about be able to get Raphinha in for Gallagher and keep Jimenez once I do some “premium hopping” of my strikers !!
The Ronaldo / Lukaku debate:
The huge question now, for those commited to the two premium approach, is when to make the Ronaldo to Lukaku switch. They both have similar fixtures GW7 and GW8, but then it turns hugely in GW9 when Ronaldo plays Liverpool, Spurs, Man City and Chelsea. From GW9, Lukaku plays Norwich, Newcastle and Burnley, and Lukaku becomes essential. That was my planned switch point in GW9. But I could do it earlier than that. I suspect GW7 and GW8 wildcards will speed up the Ronaldo to Lukaku train, especially in GW8, forcing me to do this move earlier than GW9.
The captain polls seem to swing heavily towards Lukaku this week, despite his ownership in the top 10k being under 20% at GW6, compared to 91% for Ronaldo. So there lies the anomaly and conundrum. Lukaku seems to dominate the captain polls but Ronaldo will represent the greater ranking risk based on his higher ownership, particularly in the upper reaches. Both have similar home fixtures. It’s not an obvious switch this week.
So I will be following closely on Twitter what the elite managers and my trusted group of managers will be doing. That will play a big part in my decision, whether to do the Ronaldo to Lukaku switch this Gameweek, or wait until GW8 or GW9.
Those adopting the three premium plan can at least own both and cover the position. I still feel the extra 4-5M spread across the rest of the team, by going two premiums will provide better value but it’s one that divides opinion. By going only two premiums, I do get four “premium defenders” from top teams ,which look locked in for multiple clean sheets in the next few weeks. And I get the likes of Antonio and Jimenez up front. And a solid mix of mid priced midfielders. Those on three premiums don’t get all that. An extra 5M goes a long way.
My transfer plans:
I am currently rolling the transfer this week but that could easily change.
If I roll the transfer this week, I will have two in GW8, when I will do Shaw to Cancelo. If I hold off the Ronaldo to Lukaku move until GW9, I can fund the Shaw to Cancelo move ( I have 0.5M ) either through MacArthur to Brownhill, or I suspect by then it will have to be downgrading Jimenez after his plum Newcastle fixture. That also gets me a route to Raphinha too if I downgrade Jimenez from GW8 onwards.
If I end up doing Ronaldo to Lukaku this week, or in GW8, I then have loads of money to do Shaw to Cancelo in GW8. And get Raphinha in from GW9 too.
So I am currently planning to roll the transfer for flexibility. But Ronaldo to Lukaku will happen either this week or GW8 or GW9. Shaw will go to Cancelo GW8 regardless. And Raphinha will be in my team from GW9 through one way or another.
I aim to have Lukaku, Cancelo and Raphinha in my team in the next three weeks. That’s the plan.
My GW7 line up:
It’s actually looking healthy with 10/11 players on home fixtures. My strikers all have tasty games with Jimenez v Newcastle and Antonio v Brentford. Alonso and Rudiger v Southampton is good if they survive any rotation. It looks a good GW7 set up on paper. I am awaiting Shaw news while drafting this but Gallagher is a nice first sub
I am concerned that If Shaw is still injured and there is rotation with Chelsea defenders, Livramento might end up auto subbing into my defence away to Chelsea. Not the best fixture for him to cover if called upon.
Captain will be Ronaldo if I keep him, and Lukaku if I were to make that flip this week.
Transfer summary:
Rolling the transfer or Ronaldo to Lukaku. I will confirm on Twitter on Saturday morning
Here is my GW7 team with no transfers made:
Happy tinkering !!!!
Alex Ball
Alex’s last 7 seasons overall ranks were 3k, 312k, 523k, 17k, 10k, 28k and 3k
GW6 Points: 44 (FPL average 43) Total points: 413, Overall Rank: 301k, red arrow: 69k Team Value: £101.5m
Wildcard activated
So I decided to push the button. My original team was ‘OK’ but I just felt I was falling further and further behind. I’ve had to use a number of transfers on my third striker spot (Toney to DCL to Bamford to Adams) which has meant I haven’t been able to address other issues in my team. This combined with Shaw and Ayling injuries, Gilmour being dropped and poor fixtures for Livamento and Adams meant it felt the correct time. On to my wildcard team:
With the good value mids and forwards currently on offer and the upturn in attacking defenders, I’ll be looking to have 13 solid outfield player with one good bench option each week.
GK’s
Foster at £4.0m is a playing keeper and good back up
Ramsdale seems to have nailed down the number 1 spot and with the Gunners upturn in fixtures and form could be good value at £4.5m.
Defenders
Alexander Arnold – nailed (unless the rumours of an injury are correct and its long term in which case I’ll sell him)
Alonso and Azpilcueta- With James’s injury Azpilcueta has a chance of playing in the wingback position and seems nailed. Alonso is high risk, high reward. If he starts to share minutes with Chillwell I’ll sell to Christiansen/Rudiger (Rudiger could also come in, yet to decide on that)
Cancelo- has played all games so far this season and seems to be playing quite far forward
Livramento- £4.2m bench fodder
Midfielders
Smith-Rowe- Great value at £5.3m with the Gunners upcoming fixtures
Grealish- Stats wise he is starting to look more dangerous and I want him for Burnley, Brighton, Crystal Palace
Salah- good captain option most weeks
Raphinha- if fit, one of the best options in the game at that price
Brownhill- £4.4m bench fodder
Forwards
Antonio- performing like a £10m forward
Lukaku – perma-captain for the next 5 weeks
Toney- is starting to look like a really good premier league striker- nailed and on pens. I’ve been very impressed by him and Brentford in general.
Things will no doubt change as I tinker through the week so stay tuned! I am thinking about a one-week punt on Sarr for Grealish but I don’t like booking in a transfer.
Transfer summary: Wildcard activated
Here’s the latest draft
Kev in Canada
Kev’s last 3 seasons overall ranks were 52k, 48k and 6k
GW6 Points: 49 (FPL average 43) Total points: 419, Overall Rank: 213k, green arrow: 6k Team Value: £101.4m
Follow Kev on twitter here
Transfer summary: 2 free moves completed:
Reguilon to Alonso Shaw to Rudiger
Double Chelsea D time.
Cap: Ronaldo Vice: Antonio
Good luck.
Here is the team with transfers completed
The FFGeek Contributors League
The highlighted FFGeek contributors combined team finished with an overall rank of 8k last season and 52k the season before. It started ok in 9th place with total points of 428 and an overall rank of 114k. You can follow that team, including live transfers as well as the FFGeek team, on our subscription Patreon site
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