As predicted last week, it was a fairly low fantasy premier league average score and bizarrely enough, after saying we wouldn’t be happy with anything less than 45, we ended up finishing on exactly 45!
We made the decision to run with no new transfers and to save them for GW11. A decision I’m very pleased we made, even though we had no real stand out performers last week.
So let’s have a look at how our team performed last week.
Jack Butland, what happened?! Coming off the back of back to back clean sheets Stoke welcomed lowest scoring Watford to The Britannia. Absolutely locked in clean sheet surely! Nope! Troy Deeney scored his first of the season and bang went our sure fire Butland cleanie points. Don’t worry Jack, we still love you!
In front of him was our new(ish) back 3 and after checking, double checking and then probably about 17 refreshes of the site it hit home. An FPL Updates XI clean sheet!! There’s been more sightings of Daniel Sturridge playing competitive football than there has a clean sheet in our line up. Step forward Craig Dawson. We only just stopped short of erecting a statue of him outside of the Updates HQ. Next to him we had Cedric and Martin, who picked up 3 and 2 respectively.
In midfield we saw just one attacking return, a Riyad Mahrez assist. His 7th game out of 9 this season with a return. The other 3 flattered to deceive and returned 3’s and 2’s. I’m confident enough to predict we will accumulate more than 14 total points from our midfield 4 this coming week.
So to the front line. Jamie Vardy. Every single week he scores I become both less surprised and more surprised at the same time. It’s a confusing mixture of emotions. 10 goals in 10 games. Goals in 7 consecutive games, doubled his 14/15 tally already. The superlatives can go on and on, yet at the same time I just don’t get it. Either way he’s in the line up and long may the goals continue. Even if he faces our very own brick wall Craig Dawson this week! Alongside him was Costa and Pelle. Granted, Costa was brought in short term but the 1pt return in a completely uninspiring Chelsea defeat means he’s now coming out the line up for GW11. Pelle on the other hand is in for a longer plan. 2 points was disappointing but his purpose is with the next 3 games in mind.
So let’s have a look at what we are running with for GW 11.
2 free transfers available this week and 2 I’m feeling very confident about.
Zabaleta (out) – Kolarov (in)
Costa (out) – Lukaku (in)
Starting with the GK and it’s our boy Butland. Away to Newcastle is one of those fixtures that could easily end 0-0 as as it could 4-2, such is the unpredictability of the league and these teams this season.
In front of him is Cedric, home to Bournemouth. A fantastically favourable home tie, I can’t help but feel he is due his first attacking return since GW 1. Next to him is Dann and Kolarov. Due to Zabaleta’s injury and potential for rotation we have decided to bring back a favourite of ours. Kolarov returned from injury far quicker than expected and with Clichy still out and Norwich up next he seemed the perfect swap.
In midfield there’s no prizes for guessing our 4. We have Ayew and Sanchez against each other, so fingers crossed for a 3-3. De Bruyne is home to a Norwich team that City generally dismantle with disconcerting ease and Mahrez faces WBA. Not an easy match up but who benches Mahrez?? As stated earlier, I fully expect more than last week’s 14 midfield points.
Up top we dropped Costa and brought in Big Rom. The Everton striker is well known for his inconsistency in FPL circles but with a run of SUN, whu, AVL, bou in the next 4 I can’t see many better options past him. Beside him is Jamie Vardy. We have already touched upon his form and with the consecutive games goal record in his sights it would take a brave gaffer to avoid owning him. Lastly is out GW 11 captain. Graziano Pelle. 5 goals and 5 assists this season, Pelle has picked up a healthy 32% ownership. His upcoming run, like Lukaku, is hugely positive. BOU, sun, STO in the next 3 make him not only a solid pick but a potential captain choice in all 3. My prediction of the week is that he hits a brace, 3 bps and has us surging towards the top 500k.
With some great match ups this week I fully expect the average score to be higher than last week’s 42 so let’s aim for 55+ and an abundance of green arrows. Good luck to everyone this week, except any of you involved in the FPL Academy Cup!
By FPL Guru
