Green arrows are green arrows and I’m certainly not one to complain about them, even if it’s only a small move up the rankings. 75pts in gameweek 6 has moved the FPL Updates XI from 1.7m to 1.5m so at least it’s a move in the right direction.
We’ve seen some really high scores this season, but this was actually the highest average weekly score so far with it ending up on 60pts. The 3rd time this season the average weekly score has been at least 58pts. I always used to say that if you average 55-60pts a week you will have a very high chance of winning your mini leagues but this season may be different. Bare in mind this is the fourth time we’ve broken 50pts this season and the second time we’ve broken 70 and are well outside the top 1m!. With that said let’s have a quick run through of our highest score of the season:
For the third week in a row we’ve got the keeper selection right! Yes I know it was only 2pts for Rob Elliot but I’ve made such a howler of the keeper picks that as long as it’s the right pick I’ll celebrate. In front of him we had strong performances from Phil Jones on 9pts and our fave Sead Kolasinac with 6pts. Unfortunately we had Kyle Naughton come into the starting XI with his measly 1pt instead of Harry Maguire’s 5pts.
In midfield we were very much David Silva reliant. His 11pts eclipsed the other three combined as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Matt Ritchie and Emre Can all blanked. His two assists helped put him just 1pt behind highest scoring midfielder Christian Eriksen. Not bad for a player that was written off as rotation fodder at the start of the season and not bad for a player that costs less than £8.5m!
Up top we knew our week would hinge on the performances of captain Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero. Two goals and max bonus reiterated why us and 1.4m other FPL gaffers have risked spending £12.5m on him. Bizarrely he actually had a GW6 net transfer total of -150k. Aguero complemented this nicely with a goal and an assist against Palace whilst Roberto Firmino blanked for the third consecutive week.One to monitor but we will cover that below.
What we had planned to do was to save this weeks free transfer ready for a double after the international break only for us to wake up to the Aguero news. Therefore we have no choice. What I would say though is that it really backs up the point that people really should wait until the end of the week for transfers. The amount of people now having to take a hit suggests we are very likely to see a move up the rankings just because we haven’t taken one.
(OUT) AGUERO – (IN) LUKAKU
Well it didn’t take long to get him back in. The initial move to drop Romelu Lukaku for Sergio Aguero was done in conjunction with a fixture turn for both players. With City’s fixtures looking pretty favourable and United starting to hit a tougher patch it seemed the move worth making. Especially given the ownership of both. If the goals dried up a little for Lukaku then him blanking would see huge potential gains for those without him. As it happens we are now bringing him back in for the one game I did want to own him for. Palace at home.
Oh it feels so good to write this. JACK BUTLAND starts for the FPL Updates XI! Managers shouldn’t have favourites but who cares. It feels an eternity ago since we were reaping the rewards of his masterful 2015/16 season but it’s great to have him back. In my opinion he’s the best keeper England have and in terms of FPL he’s absolute gold. Southampton are certainly no mugs but given that they have been a little shy of putting the ball in the back of the net this is a selection made with confidence.
In front of Jack we have named Phil Jones even though at the time of writing he is incredibly unlikely to play. When you have a home tie with Palace you name him anyway. Alongside him is Harry Maguire and Sead Kolasinac who face Bournemouth and Brighton respectively. What I do find very surprising though is the ownership of both. Maguire currently sits 6.8% whilst Kolasinac is owned by 12.5%. Both have a very favourable run of games upcoming and both are always a threat from an attacking perspective. I think we will likely see a sharp increase in both over the coming weeks.
Our midfield sees one change from last week with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting coming in to replace Emre Can. EMCM (I can’t keep writing his name) has never been a prolific scorer in his career but there is always something very appealing in FPL about an out of position player. Playing as an attacked for Stoke will always give him chances to deliver. Southampton is certainly not a walk in the park but the fact it’s a home tie gives him the edge over Can. Matt Ritchie starts again and faces Liverpool at home. Every man and their mothers know how woeful Liverpool are at set pieces so this match up always looks worse on paper than it is in reality. Following him are our two big(ger) hitters, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and David Silva but both with vastly differing fixtures. Whilst our Manchester United midfielder is at home facing Crystal Palace (I don’t need to highlight their woeful start) Silva is playing in the match of the week against Chelsea. Aguero will be a big miss for the creative Spaniard but I still see goals for both teams.
Up top we obviously welcome back Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian and his (unconfirmed) massive penis come striding into Old Trafford to look to fill their boots against Palace. Rom has scored in every game except one since his arrival and it would take a brave man, or a drunk one, to bet against him scoring here. Certainly a leading candidate for captaincy this week. Next to him we have Harry Kane fresh from scoring five goals in the last six days. His four league goals this season have all come away from home so hopefully Huddersfield way shouldn’t hold too many concerns. Yes they have started well but in my honest opinion I can’t see that continuing. They may have four clean sheets on the season but I’m pretty sure that will be the same come tomorrow afternoon. Last up is Roberto Firmino. Three blanks in a row has seemingly scared many FPL managers but for me I just don’t see the fear. At the time of writing he has a net transfer total of -180k but what needs to be realised is that those blanks coincided with Mane’s red and the two games he missed. When he is back and Liverpool have him and Salah either side of Firmino you see the best in him. If you have owned him through those blanks I’m not sure this week is the week to drop him. I realise he has United and Spurs after Newcastle but I’m keeping faith this week.
So there we have it. Shame to lose Aguero but we hope the injury is certainly not as serious as the pictures suggest it should and could have been. Here’s to a swift recovery!
Thanks for reading and don’t forget to vote below for who we should captain this week in the FPL Updates XI. Good luck all!
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Written by FPL Guru (@FPL_Guru)
