With Manchester City playing Norwich in FPL GW38 their lineup will be the most important factor in the decision on your free hit or transfer for FPL GW8. Here we look at the lineups for the last 3 games, overall minutes played and PL starts and sub appearances to make an assessment on which players could start
Thinking about Manchester City’s FPL GW38 lineup
I outline my FPL strategy along with 10 other FFGeek contributors in our new EBook.
Join the FFGeek FPL Patreon site
* access to the FFGeek Contributor tracker team incl live transfers (37k OR)
* Weekly podcasts
* Joe’s interactive transfer planner & team incl live transfers (48k OR)
* imaginary wildcard articles
* Slack channel access
$2 & $3 tiers.
No commitment beyond 1 calendar month
https://www.patreon.com/fantasyfootballgeek
Man City play Norwich in GW38 which is just about as a mouthwatering fixture for a free hit as you could get. However who knows
Firstly it’s important to say that no one can predict what Pep will do with his team selection. Secondly although I am a very sceptical person about the information in his press conferences it is still worth waiting until then to see what he says about a possible lineup. Lastly I imagine their will be the usual twitter “leaked news” before the lineups are announced shortly after the gameweek deadline.
Any useful quotes from Pep?
This is the only 1 I could find of note which is before the Watford game. It is of limited use for the Norwich game but I guess shows something of his mindset
New players who will maybe come or maybe not will change the freshness of the team completely.
If you bring in nine players – that’s impossible – it changes the mentality, the freshness and quality. I think 80% 85% of the team will be the same. It will depend who is here.
Who has played in the last 3 games plus other info?
The only way I can make an assessment is look who’s played in the last matches as well as their all competition minutes plus their Premier league starts and sub appearances and then make an assessment from there. The time on the schedule refers to when they were subbed
So here’s a schedule with that information.
So what does this potentially mean?
Just a reminder that no one can predict Pep but here’s some thoughts.
Firstly were not interested in the CDMs. Primarily the attackers but secondarily the defenders.
Mahrez
Surely if there is any logic to selection, given his miserly gametime over the last 3 matches and over the course of the season he will start?
I think Pep could play 4-2-3-1 which would give 4 attacking positions.
It’s difficult to know if he will approach the game with an overall strategy of say the strongest team or a heavily rotated team. He may say something in the press conference but who knows. So I’m approaching this on a player by player basis
David Silva
Last Premier League game for Man City and he missed the Watford match in GW37. Again surely he will start. I have heard some theories that he could be subbed at 21 minutes to match his shirt number. There was a precedent with John Terry but that was very different if I remember as I think he was fringe first team. Also it was pretty roundly criticised and it doesn’t seem Peps style. Plus they still have the Champions League to go.
De Bruyne and Sterling
Both missed the Bournemouth game but played the next 2. Even against Norwich Sterling is 4 goals behind Vardy so it would seem difficult to imagine that that could be a sole reason to start him. He is only 2 goals behind Ings if you strip out penalties but I’m not sure that counts.
Foden
Played 2 of the last 3 so could in theory start as had 1 game rest.
Mendy
Seems the favourite defender to start given he missed the last game. Should be a fairly nailed clean sheet.
Jesus
Started the last 3 and 90 minutes in the last 2. Could easily see him benched for say Sterling as a CF but the advantage he has is that he has played a lot less minutes than some and a few goals v Norwich would do his confidence a world of good.
Otamendi
Otamendi has the best xG of any of the defenders and also has scored 2 goals this season in the PL compared to the other defenders where the most is 1. His aerial ability would be useful against Norwich It would be a massive gamble to think he will start though given that he has been out of favour when there are alternatives. A good bet for a goal and clean sheet if he does start
Who would I pick on a free hit?
Mahrez and David Silva I think. Then I might just look at the Captain Polls and see if they gave me a clue where everyone else was going? Without that I’m not sure. Maybe Sterling as he has the potential to do the most damage.
The FFGeek contributors picks will be interesting
Many of the Contributors have saved their free hit for GW38. Alas I am not one of them. There will be articles coming out. Also on the FFGeek Patreon site the FFGeek contributor tracker team will also be free hitting and will include the players most favoured by the FFGeek Contributors
Best of luck whoever you choose.
Other posts
For more fantasy premier league forwards GW38 articles follow FFGeek on twitter and facebook and instagram for article updates and news
