Don’t ask why we’re being subjected to a three week international break just two months after the World Cup, but here we are with a conundrum just a few weeks into the club season. That conundrum is how to approach FPL Gameweek 5. With a long break and injuries possible, it probably makes sense to minimise transfers to ensure the wildcard isn’t needed in Gameweek 6. The problem is, my team needs a bit of work so it’s a delicate balance of finding a strong enough team whilst maintaining transfers. I have two in the bank, so in an ideal world, I only want to use a maximum of one.
Current Global Rank
2,175,931 (DOWN)
Goalkeeper
Both my keepers kept clean sheets last weekend, with Bart Verbruggen, who I started, outscoring Antonin Kinsky by eight points to seven. Brighton host Arsenal this week so I’m switching to Kinsky in goal for a home game against an out-of-sorts Aston Villa. Villa have scored just one goal so far this campaign and Spurs have kept two clean sheets in a row, so hopefully there’s more to come from the Czech stopper.
Defenders
Another Arsenal clean sheet meant six points for Ricardo Calafiori so he keeps his place in side, especially after being given a rest for the Carabao Cup game against Ipswich. I foolishly dropped Marc Guehi to the bench for the Manchester derby. He kept a clean sheet and almost scored, so that was clearly an error. He comes back in for a home game against Sunderland.
I’m taking something of a risk but Jan Paul Van Hecke has 16 points in the last two games so he deserves to keep his place, and the doubtful Luke Shaw also comes in. In an ideal world I’d transfer the United man out this week, but if he doesn’t play I’ll get a sub, and Fulham away is the chance for a clean sheet for him.
Bobby Thomas takes a place on the bench to round out my five defenders. Coventry look pretty hopeless, but he should pick up a couple of points most weeks, although I’m likely to switch when I wildcard.
Midfielders
It was a dreadful display from my midfield last week, and my theory is Manchester City will rotate between Iliman Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki, so Ndiaye has been sold and in comes Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The England man is a bit of a gamble but Everton have a couple of decent fixtures coming up and their midfield catalyst has looked in good form.
Cherki will of course be in the team for the home game against Sunderland, Bruno Fernandes keeps his place, as does Dominik Szobszlai after another goal in midweek. Let’s hope the Hungarian can start transferring his goalscoring form in other competitions to the Premier League, otherwise he’s also on the chopping block.
Diego Gomez drops to the bench as first sub. Brighton’s game against Arsenal looks a daunting prospect, but I’m happy for him to come in for Shaw if the United defender is out.
Forwards
No change here. Erling Haaland and Joao Pedro round out a 4-4-2 formation with Kaye Furo as third sub. The two starters have been elite so far, but it’s fair to say Furo has not worked out. He’s now been ruled out with injury so he’ll be heading straight for a swap when I wildcard in Gameweek 6-8.
FPL Captaincy
A straightforward choice here this week. After another goal last week Erling Haaland keeps the armband, that was a pretty straightforward choice this week, while Joao Pedro once again takes the vice captaincy after he scored and assisted again at the weekend to take his tally for the season to three goals and three assists.
FPL Watch List
Tarik Muharemovic – A lot of people will be looking at Omar Bogle after two goals in two games, but Muharemovic is probably the more consistent pick. Form figures of 6-4-4-7 look good to me and he also scored in the Carabao Cup, so he may come into the side at wildcard time.
Josko Gvardiol – No doubt about it. The Croatian is back to his best and his ceiling looks higher than Guehi’s, so he’s another who’ll come in at wildcard, if not before, and he’s cheaper than his teammate.
Ezri Konsa – A 4.5m starting Arsenal defender has to be in sooner rather than later.
Pascal Gros – Hard to ignore the form of the German midfielder. Two double figure hauls already this season and takes all the set pieces for Brighton
Morgan Rogers – Seems to be matching the output of his more expensive teammate Cole Palmer at the moment, so the Chelsea man is probably more of a priority for me at the moment.
Jorgen Strand Larsen – Tommy the Punter has been going well with three forwards and Strand Larsen was mentioned as worth a punt in last week’s FPL Gameweek 4 Preview. Palace have a good run of fixtures, so I’ve got my eye on the Norwegian.
Charalampos Kostoulas – Scored in the rout of Coventry and 0.5m cheaper than Strand Larsen, so the Greek forward is another on my list of considerations.
Check out more at For Foot Sake’s FPL hub here.