20 Sep, 2024

Game Week 5: Sam FPL’s Game Week Questions

GW5 Reactions

Wild card now?

Game week 6 is a better chance for activating your wildcard due to many reasons. Arsenal, Brentford and Bournemouth have amazing schedule while they face City, Spurs and Liverpool respectively in GW5. Most of us have loaded up on Liverpool, Brighton and Eze while they have decent home games this weekend. I’d prefer to delay it until GW6 for the fixtures swing. Waiting for another week gives you extra info and a little bit better sample size. We may get updates about the expected minutes of many players involved in the European competitions.

Haaland non owners. Should you bring him right now? 9 goals in 4 matches is massive, and make us consider him as perma captain going forward, but will you captain him against Arsenal low block? I think both City and Arsenal haven’t been changed a lot since last season when Haaland failed to score in both matches. A one nil win for the gunners at the Emirates and a goalless draw at The-Etihad would suggest a low scoring affair. Haaland was well marked with no spaces and I expect ARS to park the bus again. Getting a 15.2m asset require a surgery in your team and probably some -4 hits which can be delayed after Arsenal game.

Keep or Sell?

Rogers

He is just a 5.0m asset. What would you expect from a midfielder at this price tag? But honestly, he is very unlucky. He is still advanced as no 10 and involved. Last 2 GWs he has 3 big chances involvement, It should’ve been 2 goals and an assist for him easily. Wolves is a prime fixture for attackers, 11 goals conceded in 4 GWs. Rogers vs WOL(H) is a hold!

Eze

Glasner mentioned about penalties: “It’s [Mateta] and Eberechi. We always talk about it before the game. We say, ‘You two are the two deliverers and then you decide on the pitch, who feels better’. Mateta will share penalties with Eze and this may affect his value. Eze has taken the 3rd most shots this season and on another day, Eze should’ve got a goal and an assist Eze last game-week. He is just unlucky and selling him isn’t urgent at all. He has a home encounter with MUN that suffers defensively which makes me hold him and sell to Mbeumo in GW6.

Jota

Slot says he initially planned to start Gakpo against Forest, but Diaz came back from the international break in better condition which is a reg flag for Diaz or Jota owners. Jota subbed at 59 minutes and started in the champions league makes me worried about his start at the weekend. Even if he starts, he will be subbed early. BOU(H) is much tempting fixtures that makes me deal him as a non-buy non-sell pick, but he is a sell in wildcard 6 to be honest.

Isak

was subbed after suffering a toe injury and experiencing blurry vision after the 1st half. This culminated in a drop in price with more likely to come. Newcastle have 2 away games in next 3 GWs and the home game is against Man city which isn’t ideal for a 8.5m asset. I think it’s time to free up the funds and get some cheaper forwards that can get some decent points in next GWs

Muniz

Another easy sell. He dropped to the bench last GW, Raul started and scored. He started with the 2nd team in the midweek and is expected to be benched again this weekend. His price is going to drop. Many forwards have better form and fixture to target.

Joao Pedro

He is always trusted by his manager. As long as he is fit, he should start. It looks like it’s a minor injury for the Brazilian international. Personally, I expect him to start next GW but wait for the Friday press conference anyway. He is a hold if he trains.

Transfer recommendations

Isak to Watkins

Watkins finally regained his fitness and reached more than 80 minutes in last 2 matches for Villa. 3rd top forward for shots in the box by 10. Only Haaland (18) and Muniz (11) have more shots in the box than him and he is the top forward for big chances (8). A brace against Everton and an assist in the UCL make him more confident ahead of Aston Villa’s amazing run of fixtures till GW9.

The following two can be replacements for Muniz or Wissa who got a 2 month injury, You can deal them as a 1GW punt before wildcarding or long term picks.

Vardy

The 8-pointer last weekend has a home encounter with Everton the worst defensive team in GW1-4 conceding 13 goals! Only IPS has more xGC than them. Vardy should shine at King Power Stadium this weekend.

Apart from ARS in GW6, Vardy has very easy schedule in next 6 GWs. EVE(H) ARS(A) BOU(H) SOU(A) NFO(H) IPS(A)

Calvert-Lewin

It’s clear that Leicester city suffers in defending crosses and set pieces. The team with the most headers conceded in the league on 15, and 2nd top for set pieces conceded. Calvert-Lewin is currently ill but should be fit for Saturday. if he is fit, he should return. The England international is in great form with back-to-back returns last 2 GWs and amazing run of fixtures till GW14.

Check Sam out here

Last Updated: 20/09