So the thing about Pogba and 10/team is he belongs on *a roster* but maybe not *your roster*. I’m shocked Armstrong is available and I’d be happy to drop Pogba at this point to add him. I would drop him for Gross only because they’re basically the same value proposition at this moment but Gross doesn’t have the potential upside of regaining his Pogba-level form.
Wrote about him earlier this week (and a little bit each of the past four). That spot is his. Rodgers only critique is his “fitness” which isn’t going to be a real issue moving forward. This team is legit loaded so he might not get in there every week but his upside is just short of top 20; does it all and does it all well. I doubt there is a better bench option you could own right now.
No, but I still probably would have done it. I love Pereira and he has massive upside for the minutes. On balance he and Auba may end the year fairly close on points with the Gunner forward bulk scoring coming in 12-15 games while MP will be consistent for 30 more weeks. Plus you didn’t need Auba at all w/ that trio
Hey John - I passed on a Son/Digne (my players now) for TAA/Ziyech this week. I wanted Jota from his end to spice it up, but he wouldn’t budge on that. Does the straight up trade make sense as TAA approaches a return?
I'd rather have Son/Digne in OFPL so I think you're in good shape. If they offered Jota it would be crazy to turn it down - Jota on his own is a top 40 player right now. I would consider doing the deal straight up anyway once Trent is back, but not before. I've written this before, but Trent's age, top-flight miles (both on the pitch and the actual travel) has me very concerned that this is an injury which will require load management to prevent recurrence and long-term negative impact.
I'm starting Mahrez first out of that group. Think about how abysmal his stats around goal creation have been (there just down the thread here) and then consider that with just 1g 1a he's averaging over 10PPM and 11.25 pp/90'. He's an outstanding fantasy asset and that Spurs matchup isn't threatening. It's Martial second if he starts, but with Utd playing later I'd begrudgingly start Bernardo if he's in the XI.
The second one is much more interesting because Klich is must-start. I also think McNeil with Burnley facing Palace at home is must-start. What sucks is not starting Martial or McGinn and hoping Adama goes in the week's final match. If my match isn't close on paper I might roll the dice, but if I'm worried about 7-9 points being decisive I'll start McGinn Saturday as long as he's in the XI. Brighton is a nice match-up for him.
All good points. I do hope Mahrez gets his spot back. Torres Jesus Sterling wasn't the most convincing front three against Liverpool (if anyone can remember that far back).
I think I have a commanding advantage (on paper) over my opponent and I have a Wolves defender for cover on the late game as well. So I guess Adama is a good risk to take here like you mention
I'm rostering both Saiss and Ait-Nouri, with Marcal available as a FA. My defense is notably covidy at the moment and fairly sketchy in general, with my other defenders being Fofana and Doherty. Any advice for what to do moving forward or once the wolves lineup comes out? Thanks as always!
Yeah any / all of those guys are droppable for a better streaming option which Marcal at LWB would be. You’re not in bad shape you’ll just need to be quick and ruthless when rosters are announced.
Q: Are Lo Celso and Ndombele doomed to rotate the rest of the season subbing for each other every match at 60 minutes, or could one or both of them turn into a worthwhile fantasy asset?
A: I think you've nailed it. I don't love either of them this season in any FPL format, but particularly in togga scoring draft leagues they're infuriating to own. Great points per 90' for Gio but doesn't get enough minutes to aggregate a big score. Ndombele needs 90' to break 10pts. That's fine for a MID4 in a 12-team league, but both are back-end options. Lo Celso with potentially more upside given that he is startable when he's in Spurs' XI - I can't really say that for Ndombele right now.
Even in OFPL it's still Riyad Mahrez by some distance. He's been, well, off a bit this season. His 0.16xG and 0.15xA / 90' is really poor and the counting stats have suffered as a result. That said, he's gotten 430' and only Raz and KDB are attacking players with more. If I'm looking long-term I can't look past that (or his exemplary track record). I will say this: Torres nearly made my list of trade targets. He was originally on my waiver pick list before I - stupidly - realized that he is of course massively owned already. He's been under my radar because I don't see the clear path to regular starts for him and I'm particularly concerned that this year is his 2018-19 for Mahrez where he might make 27 appearances but only 14 starts which really destroys any long-term value. Great streaming option, but you don't get that opportunity in OFPL.
Q: What do you think about Raphinha and Soucek for Lacazette and Trossard.
A: Trossard is the best player in the group and getting the start for Maupay only helps increase his value. I’m not the biggest Soucek booster but he performs fine for a MID3. Really this is if you trust Raphinha to supplant Harrison or Costa in that XI and I don’t see it happening right now. That means I’d be taking the Trossard side, holding Laca for those matches when he starts for Arsenal and using him as my FWD3 and feeling like I came out ahead. I’d also be throwing my phone across the room the next time Raphinha starts and scores (and those days are coming I’m just not sure how frequently).
Another week another selection question!! Hope you've been well John. So two selection questions for two different teams. Which one should I start out of Bale, Barnes, and Cairney for this weekend? And for my other team, which 3 should I start out of McNeil, Klich, Pereira, Barnes and Armstrong?
Unless you really need 7-8 points to win, you’re starting Bale and Barnes. Cairney is excellent at shoring up a lead and not costing you a win, but he’s not getting you the dub alone. The concern with Bale is always injury leading to limited minutes; for Barnes it’s a bit of rotation and since he’s the last one to start this weekend I might use Cairney depending on what the score looks like.
The other one is easier: using the first three starters from that group and no worrying about Armstrong late...my guess is the first three post the best points but given LFC’s DEF issues it’s more a hunch than a given that they’ll play with an eye to closing off the midfield and forcing the Foxes into a counter-attacking system which benefits Vardy / Maddison more than Tielemans / Barnes.
Q: Would you rather have digne M Pereira and Gross or Maddison Romeu and Marcal?
A: Maddison. The rest of the players here don’t matter, just the top two and it’s Maddison by a mile over Pereira. The reality is when your doing multi-player deals you either need to be getting the best player OR the best package. Here Maddison is the best player. Gross might not be better value than Marcal alone. I don’t love Romeu but he’s a fine bench option for those days you need a starter.
But to the point, you’d need to add another top 40 player to the Pereira side to even make this a conversation.
OMG I did! Man covid is doing numbers on my brain.
Yeah so that’s a dead even trade to me; I do believe in Marcal getting at least some starts and turning points in. Digne is obviously a big add and that is the other top 40 player you’d need to consider it. I’m probably taking that side in most of *my* teams right now because of roster construction but I wish I was on the side getting Maddison.
Would you hold pogba in 10 team togga league ? Free agents Armstrong , gross etc.
So the thing about Pogba and 10/team is he belongs on *a roster* but maybe not *your roster*. I’m shocked Armstrong is available and I’d be happy to drop Pogba at this point to add him. I would drop him for Gross only because they’re basically the same value proposition at this moment but Gross doesn’t have the potential upside of regaining his Pogba-level form.
trade offer of under for pogba....favourable to armstrong for you?
Hey boss.. what are we doing with under? Worth a hold or time to give up on him?
If you don’t want him I’ll take him 😁
Wrote about him earlier this week (and a little bit each of the past four). That spot is his. Rodgers only critique is his “fitness” which isn’t going to be a real issue moving forward. This team is legit loaded so he might not get in there every week but his upside is just short of top 20; does it all and does it all well. I doubt there is a better bench option you could own right now.
Traded Auba & Nat Phillips for Pereira. My strikers are Ings, Che, and Vardy. Was this enough of a return for Auba?
No, but I still probably would have done it. I love Pereira and he has massive upside for the minutes. On balance he and Auba may end the year fairly close on points with the Gunner forward bulk scoring coming in 12-15 games while MP will be consistent for 30 more weeks. Plus you didn’t need Auba at all w/ that trio
Hey John - I passed on a Son/Digne (my players now) for TAA/Ziyech this week. I wanted Jota from his end to spice it up, but he wouldn’t budge on that. Does the straight up trade make sense as TAA approaches a return?
I'd rather have Son/Digne in OFPL so I think you're in good shape. If they offered Jota it would be crazy to turn it down - Jota on his own is a top 40 player right now. I would consider doing the deal straight up anyway once Trent is back, but not before. I've written this before, but Trent's age, top-flight miles (both on the pitch and the actual travel) has me very concerned that this is an injury which will require load management to prevent recurrence and long-term negative impact.
OFPL
Hey John, need some start/sit help in a couple leagues:
Mahrez/BSilva vs Martial
Start three of: McNeil, McGinn, Martial, Traore, Klich
Cheers Gaff
I'm starting Mahrez first out of that group. Think about how abysmal his stats around goal creation have been (there just down the thread here) and then consider that with just 1g 1a he's averaging over 10PPM and 11.25 pp/90'. He's an outstanding fantasy asset and that Spurs matchup isn't threatening. It's Martial second if he starts, but with Utd playing later I'd begrudgingly start Bernardo if he's in the XI.
The second one is much more interesting because Klich is must-start. I also think McNeil with Burnley facing Palace at home is must-start. What sucks is not starting Martial or McGinn and hoping Adama goes in the week's final match. If my match isn't close on paper I might roll the dice, but if I'm worried about 7-9 points being decisive I'll start McGinn Saturday as long as he's in the XI. Brighton is a nice match-up for him.
All good points. I do hope Mahrez gets his spot back. Torres Jesus Sterling wasn't the most convincing front three against Liverpool (if anyone can remember that far back).
I think I have a commanding advantage (on paper) over my opponent and I have a Wolves defender for cover on the late game as well. So I guess Adama is a good risk to take here like you mention
I'm rostering both Saiss and Ait-Nouri, with Marcal available as a FA. My defense is notably covidy at the moment and fairly sketchy in general, with my other defenders being Fofana and Doherty. Any advice for what to do moving forward or once the wolves lineup comes out? Thanks as always!
Yeah any / all of those guys are droppable for a better streaming option which Marcal at LWB would be. You’re not in bad shape you’ll just need to be quick and ruthless when rosters are announced.
Which would you drop? Thinking Ait maybe because he looked a bit out of his depth last time out.
I think that makes sense; he will likely get the fewest starts this season and is the least likely to get scooped up by someone else in your league.
Q: Are Lo Celso and Ndombele doomed to rotate the rest of the season subbing for each other every match at 60 minutes, or could one or both of them turn into a worthwhile fantasy asset?
A: I think you've nailed it. I don't love either of them this season in any FPL format, but particularly in togga scoring draft leagues they're infuriating to own. Great points per 90' for Gio but doesn't get enough minutes to aggregate a big score. Ndombele needs 90' to break 10pts. That's fine for a MID4 in a 12-team league, but both are back-end options. Lo Celso with potentially more upside given that he is startable when he's in Spurs' XI - I can't really say that for Ndombele right now.
Hi John! Thanks for the open forum. Who do you like more long term in an official fpl draft league, Mahrez or Torres? Good luck this gameweek!
Even in OFPL it's still Riyad Mahrez by some distance. He's been, well, off a bit this season. His 0.16xG and 0.15xA / 90' is really poor and the counting stats have suffered as a result. That said, he's gotten 430' and only Raz and KDB are attacking players with more. If I'm looking long-term I can't look past that (or his exemplary track record). I will say this: Torres nearly made my list of trade targets. He was originally on my waiver pick list before I - stupidly - realized that he is of course massively owned already. He's been under my radar because I don't see the clear path to regular starts for him and I'm particularly concerned that this year is his 2018-19 for Mahrez where he might make 27 appearances but only 14 starts which really destroys any long-term value. Great streaming option, but you don't get that opportunity in OFPL.
Great. I have Mahrez but was wavering recently, especially after 0 minutes last gw and Torres' hat trick for Spain. Thanks again!
Q: What do you think about Raphinha and Soucek for Lacazette and Trossard.
A: Trossard is the best player in the group and getting the start for Maupay only helps increase his value. I’m not the biggest Soucek booster but he performs fine for a MID3. Really this is if you trust Raphinha to supplant Harrison or Costa in that XI and I don’t see it happening right now. That means I’d be taking the Trossard side, holding Laca for those matches when he starts for Arsenal and using him as my FWD3 and feeling like I came out ahead. I’d also be throwing my phone across the room the next time Raphinha starts and scores (and those days are coming I’m just not sure how frequently).
Another week another selection question!! Hope you've been well John. So two selection questions for two different teams. Which one should I start out of Bale, Barnes, and Cairney for this weekend? And for my other team, which 3 should I start out of McNeil, Klich, Pereira, Barnes and Armstrong?
Thank you for your help as always ☺️
Unless you really need 7-8 points to win, you’re starting Bale and Barnes. Cairney is excellent at shoring up a lead and not costing you a win, but he’s not getting you the dub alone. The concern with Bale is always injury leading to limited minutes; for Barnes it’s a bit of rotation and since he’s the last one to start this weekend I might use Cairney depending on what the score looks like.
The other one is easier: using the first three starters from that group and no worrying about Armstrong late...my guess is the first three post the best points but given LFC’s DEF issues it’s more a hunch than a given that they’ll play with an eye to closing off the midfield and forcing the Foxes into a counter-attacking system which benefits Vardy / Maddison more than Tielemans / Barnes.
Q: Would you rather have digne M Pereira and Gross or Maddison Romeu and Marcal?
A: Maddison. The rest of the players here don’t matter, just the top two and it’s Maddison by a mile over Pereira. The reality is when your doing multi-player deals you either need to be getting the best player OR the best package. Here Maddison is the best player. Gross might not be better value than Marcal alone. I don’t love Romeu but he’s a fine bench option for those days you need a starter.
But to the point, you’d need to add another top 40 player to the Pereira side to even make this a conversation.
I think you may have missed the Digne part Pereira side.
OMG I did! Man covid is doing numbers on my brain.
Yeah so that’s a dead even trade to me; I do believe in Marcal getting at least some starts and turning points in. Digne is obviously a big add and that is the other top 40 player you’d need to consider it. I’m probably taking that side in most of *my* teams right now because of roster construction but I wish I was on the side getting Maddison.