Considering I was in the process of reviewing my team, coming off just 49 points and my sixth red arrow of the season it seems fitting I didn’t do a damn thing to my team ahead of GW8. While it was my intention to go into the break with a FT, it appears I will have that chance now, as the game is locked and my team is unchanged from last week. In all honesty, there wasn’t going to be any changes. I had thoughts of jumping back in on James Rodriguez, but talking to our resident Everton supporter and co-host of the FPL Roundtable, Casey, I decided to hold off bringing him in and holding Wilf Zaha for another week. Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW8 Starting XI”
Think Different: GW7 5Man Defense Starting XI
Thinking different last week didn’t really help my overall performance. It was a late roll of the dice, because Sheffield United defense is so bad this year, I decided to activate the triple captain chip. We know how that worked out. A whopping six points. Thanks Mo. However, one week doesn’t make a season and honestly it’s no worse than playing one of two games in a double game week and picking up an assist. So while it was a massive fail, I tried to make it look not so bad. This week, after my first red arrow, I do think this team will rebound. Continue reading “Think Different: GW7 5Man Defense Starting XI”
2020/21 FPL GW7 Starting XI
This week has been a blur, for the most part I’ve not followed a damn thing as it relates to FPL. That’s not always a bad thing, especially coming off my worst ever score of 22 points on the back of a -8 point hit because of injuries, suspensions and ineffectiveness. Lesson learned, but continuing to participate in this game, I have no doubt it could potentially happen again. This week, I missed the transfer article, so I’ll include my team changes and thought behind my starting XI, as GW7 kicks off today as Crystal Palace visits Molineux. Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW7 Starting XI”
2020/21 FPL GW6 Starting XI
This week I’ve used my free transfers and two additional, sitting on a -8 points to start the game week. Not how I really wanted to start out or was that end last week. Both hits were done and dusted before the conclusion of the Merseyside Derby. Knee jerk? Oh yeah! No other way to describe it, but Virgil van Dijk, who was “pickforded” is lost for months, while Richarlison was awarded a red card for dangerous play and will miss the next three games. Both players needed to be sorted out ahead of GW6 and I wasted no time resolving the problems. That was before the rumored injury to James Rodriguez, which may have been to deflect the negative attention from his teammate. Maybe this week they have taught Pickford how to slide tackle better. Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW6 Starting XI”
Think Different: GW6 5Man Defense Starting XI
Oddly comforting is how I describe this 5-man defensive adventure I have set out on this season. As I’ve mentioned all week on the Pitch & Pint Podcast, as well in numerous articles on 6thGoal, this team is playing well. Honestly, can you ask anymore from a week to week than green arrows? Four of them! Count them, four with very little thought or effort, one would think this game was easy. Okay, I won’t go that far. While OR is the indicator FPL managers base their team success on, one could argue this team isn’t successful because of their 1.5M rank. Honestly, that’s one week of good football and remember we’ve been without Kevin De Bruyne, who missed GW5 and who’s two prior games were both no returns. This team isn’t that far off from where my expectations lie. Continue reading “Think Different: GW6 5Man Defense Starting XI”
2020/21 FPL GW5 Starting XI
Is this the week it really starts to go all wrong for my squad? Out of the break I thought I was fine, but Pep, talking as if KDB won’t be around for some games in the coming weeks and I am reconsidering my position, as I don’t want to fall further behind in some important mini leagues I’m involved in. Rest assured that Son’s ownership skyrockets this week as MANY managers move off the City midfielder and to the Spurs, but is that the right move or a trap for a one or two week punt? Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW5 Starting XI”
Think Different: GW6 5-Man Defense Starting XI
Everything appeared to be going well over the break, taking time away from the FPL game to relax and not worry about who to captain or what transfer to make. Then we got word that KDB came off as “a precautionary change.” Still being assessed he could be a game time decision. On Wednesday, it was Luca Digne coming off during France’s match with Croatia in the 83′ minute. Thankfully I do have two free transfers to use as I look to the best options to resolve some player issues. As it stands now, I don’t plan on shipping KDB, he will make the starting XI, but have an alternative if he doesn’t get any minutes. Continue reading “Think Different: GW6 5-Man Defense Starting XI”
Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW4
Can’t argue with two green arrows to star the season, but there is a bit of disappointment having scored just 153 points (51 average) over three weeks, which is well off my goal of 60 points per week. This COULD be the week that figure changes, as I really am backing many of the matches this week. The wild card was beneficial last week and allows me some flexibility as I roll into the weekend knowing I will have two transfers, if I need them out of the break. This week will be unchanged in my starting XI, playing a 5-3-2 formation and looking for the premiums to have a banger of a weekend. Continue reading “Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW4”
2020/21 FPL GW4 Starting XI
Gameweek 4 is closing in and I am still holding my transfer, reconsidering my options as I prepare to set my starting XI. Two concerns ahead of Saturday, the first, can Villa score on Liverpool? The second, what concerns do we have with Richarlison, who is flagged, being a late fitness test ahead of their game. While the move was going to be to Phil Foden and off Grealish, the concern is over the Brazilian not starting, which means Man City’s, Liam Delap would be my first bench. Not the quality of Richarlison but the Sky Blues could post a big score this weekend against a poor Leeds United defense. Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW4 Starting XI”
Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW3
This team just scraped by in GW2 with 61 points, enough to give me a small green arrow but green is always better than red. With just 108 points from two weeks, this team is struggling, yet could be the underlying theme all season long, as I need the defenders to pull their weight with clean sheets. Coming out of GW2, I was running with treble Liverpool that will really make or break every week, but looking ahead I feel there is a big need to get Manchester City defenders in. More importantly, this team started without Mo Salah, which I felt was a mistake, even though I attempted to convince myself it was okay. It’s not and while Arsenal’s fixtures are turning and we roll into fall, it was time to make some big changes ahead of GW3. Continue reading “Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW3”
2020/21 FPL GW3 Starting XI
It’s Friday and I’ve got “wild side” lyrics from Lou Reed to Motley Crue running through my head as I have activated my wild card ahead of GW3. Surprising? Not really, as this is the third year in a row that I’ve made this decision. Hasty? Maybe? Well played? Not sure, as it will be 8-10 weeks before I know the ramifications of this decision. As they say, “if it feels right, do it!” I’ve been doing work all week on a reworked squad that removed players going into poor runs, as well as any flagged or injured players, which shuffling some budget players around. Continue reading “2020/21 FPL GW3 Starting XI”
Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW2
So the 5-man defensive strategy didn’t get off to the best start, stumbling in GW1, while backing treble Liverpool. Yet, their attacking returns helped to offset their lost CS points to some degree. Even more disappointing was the fact I missed out on all clean sheets for my defenders and came up short on the GW1 average points, by just three points (47 vs. 50). I’ve had a flurry of thoughts ahead of GW2. I can’t say I have ruled out a hasty wild card to shuffle players around, but that would be me failing to practice patience. If I ask myself, “do I really need to WC?” The answer is “no” however there is always a but. As in, “but I don’t own Salah.” Continue reading “Think Different: 5-Man Defense GW2”