The Current FPL World Number 1’s Team

Normally, the FPL world number 1 bounces around a few people near the top. However, Luka Ortulan from Croatia, the current world number 1, has now been sat a top the rankings for the last 3 game weeks in a row, and looks set to stay there following the Tarkowski haul. What’s even more surprising however, is that THIS IS HIS FIRST SEASON PLAYING FPL!

Now if there were a few takeaways I could say from analysing his Gameweek on Gameweek performances it would be these.

• Minimal use of transfers – 1 hit all season.
• Elite Chip usage
• No issue with benching headaches
• You do not need to hit on captaincy every week
• Extra cash in the bank does not mean less value in the team

 

Team Composition in Gameweek 29

We will start with his team composition and set up as of Gameweek 29.

One key element that immediately jumps out is the fact that no bench spot is wasted. He has 14 key starters and contributors in his line-up at all times. He is willing to leave points on the bench and live with benching dilemmas if it allows him to cover multiple solid players and teams for great fixture runs.

In the long term, this has massively benefited his Free Transfer economy and has left him in really good stead for the BGW in 31. In fact, he has already transferred out Haaland, even with fixtures against West Ham and Forest. Which I suspect has something to do with Haaland’s injury status and Ekitike’s favourable upcoming fixtures. Moving early allowed him to cover Ekitike’s fixture against Wolves where Haaland may have not played. Which is paradoxically risky and risk-averse at the same time.

The next key element is the amount of cash he is prepared to sit with in the bank. If ever you needed a reminder that just because you have cash in the bank doesn’t mean you should spend it. He currently has £7.0m extra in the bank, which even pre Haaland transfer would’ve meant he had £1.5m+ in the bank. When premium assets are underperforming and mid and cheap assets are performing well, leaving cash in the bank is the far better strategy. Do not feel pressured to use all your budget.

The 3^rd and final key element is his fixture targeting. Now obviously we all know how important fixture coverage is, but his FT economy allows him to target runs of fixtures with multiple assets not just 1. He had Mbeumo and Fernandes for United’s, Kroupi and Senesi for Bournemouths, Schade and Thiago and Virgil and Ekitike. He seems to avoid the triple up but love the double up for these fixture runs. Often a 1 Def + 1 Attacker combination.

 

The Pivotal Gameweek

Gameweek 9 – Bench Boost – 85 Total Points

Anytime you get around double the average points for that week you are going to be in good stead. This bench boost catapulted him from 56k to 3.6k in 1 week. A near 95% jump in rank.

Nowhere is the philosophy around when the best time is to use the bench boost illustrated better than right here. Now, towards the end of the season amidst doubles etc, a bench boost can definitely have more value. However, even still, the best time to bench boost has been, is, and always will be, whenever you feel like it.

 

He had plenty of good match ups across the pitch that he didn’t want to miss out on and who otherwise may have been benched. Now of course he was lucky than Van De Ven bagged a brace and a clean sheet, no one is denying that. But if you sit around and wait to use your BB for the perfect week, sometimes it may never come and you end up with a worse situation than you may have had otherwise. He followed his gut and it paid off. So the next time you’re thinking about Bench Boosting and a creator or a friend tells you its not opportune, ignore them. Especially if it is profiling to be a low scoring week, it can help you cover some extra points to stay in the chase.

 

 

Template vs Differential

Unfortunately, if there is one side this team lands on, it is certainly that of the template. There are not a huge number of differential picks amongst his transfer history but the ones he has gone for have all fired. He actually has quite a good balance in that sense between the 2. All season it appears to be around 9 or 10 template starters and 1 or 2 differentials at all times. With Schade being his latest escapade into the differential market.

Now of course, any FPL veteran could’ve told you this. But, that doesn’t mean that sometimes people can get too carried away with differential options, especially if they are chasing. It is almost a defensive brand of FPL, but one which if leading, is certainly the route to pursue.

That being said, the Haaland transfer out is certainly differential. But is definitely the sort of gamble that can win you the competition if it pays off.

 

The Conclusion

To summarise what we have learnt from the world number 1. These are perhaps the main takeaways that you can bring to your own FPL team, and help catapult you up the rankings.

• Do not be afraid to have 3 starting calibre players on your bench and occasionally leave some points on the bench.
• Do not go crazy with FTs, be disciplined and use them to attack fixture runs and take out injured players.
• It is ok to miss on your captain. Do not try to overcompensate the next week if your captain misses the week before. There is a reason Luka is world number 1 and FPL Olympian probably still has a higher rank than you.
• Target a ratio of around 9/10 Template players to 1 or 2 differentials.
• Extra cash in the bank does not mean less value in the team

 

Check out our Game Week Tips section for more!