Wait, we have another Friday night kickoff?
Well, once again there is little time to waste as the season is quickly drawing to a close, and we have a Friday deadline less than 24 hours away. Still, some time must be set aside to mention what a monster of a gameweek we had in the last round. Normally, one would think 75 points in a non-double gameweek where there is less chip activity than in other rounds, that a healthy green arrow would be in the cards. Alas, the average score was a whopping 69 points, and I was struck with a sea of red arrows save for one mini-league that somehow went green.
Have we all finally figured this game out then? Of course not. It is still a wildly unpredictable league where we watched Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all drop points and City nearly did the same. My transfer in was a Tottenham player, so naturally that did not pan out. However, you will not see me complain this week. For once, and it happens about once every six years or so, my bench worked out in a good way for me. Naturally, I was crestfallen when Roberto Firmino was ruled out post-deadline, but in stepped one James Ward-Prowse to save my bacon.
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Right, so we are down to the stage of the season where it is time to go one of two directions - either you are in a high rank where every point counts and you want to make a prudent move or you are pretty much resigned to your fate in terms of rank and would rather go for a flair pick or two in the final weeks to try and strike fantasy gold. Let us see if we have an option or two that fits your specific need as we look ahead to Week 37:
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GOALKEEPERS
*Just as a reminder, keepers should always be the last position to think about using transfers for, unless there is an urgent need. So, when you see who I have listed here, bear in mind that my keeper advice does not carry as much weight as the outfield positions.
Player to buy: Ederson - Same as last week, City and Liverpool are each capable of clean sheets for their remaining games. Ederson gets the edge at keeper because the Reds are better suited for investment in their defenders.
Player to sell: Mathew Ryan - It looks like the only way Cardiff can knock Brighton out of the league is if they win their last two while the Seagulls cannot do more than draw once. Chances are, that isn’t happening. It is a good thing because Brighton will struggle for any positive result with a trip to the Emirates this weekend and then Man City on the final Sunday.
Player to hold: Neil Etheridge - The Bluebirds are at home and they have to win. Odds are, a path to three points will come with a clean sheet. Etheridge has been Ether-average in recent weeks but has it all to play for against Palace.
Player to avoid: Rui Patrício - Wolves are in form and at home to relegated Fulham. What is not to like? Well, Wolves haven’t really been very tight defensively this season, despite all of their success while the Cottagers have found new life, winning three straight. Add in that Wolves travel to Anfield on the final day and you have a recipe for hurt.
DEFENDERS
Player to buy: Trent Alexander-Arnold - Owned by 14% less managers and costs over a million less than “Mr 200 points” Andrew Robertson, it is Alexander-Arnold that has been hauling in more points lately. Three assists in his last four, odds are high of at least one more attacking return over the last two.
Player to sell: Ricardo Pereira - I blew it with calling Pereira’s name in this spot last week, but that is why it is all the more important to stick my neck out again. Leicester were fantastic in their defeat of Arsenal and I am still willing to back attacking options, mainly Jamie Vardy, but still find it tough to picture defensive gems, or many attacking chances for Pereira, against Manchester City this weekend and Chelsea the next.
Player to hold: Manchester United options - No matter which United defender you may currently have, chances are you are not pleased with recent returns. Were I to have the likes of Victor Lindelof or Luke Shaw in my side right now though, I think I need to stick and look for a transfer with more potential. Even though the form is not there, the urgency to finish strong is and having Huddersfield and Cardiff as opponents should help them do that.
Player to avoid: Marcos Alonso - The attack-minded left back returned to Chelsea’s XI last weekend and promptly scored the Blues’ only goal, so chances are he will keep his place this weekend. Home to Watford could be lucrative for Alonso and I have to admit, I would be okay with owning him already heading into this, but there is still risk with him and it seems more prudent, if one is going to pay a premium for a defender, to limit the choice between Liverpool and Man City options.
MIDFIELDERS
Player to buy: Luka Milivojevic - Two games without a penalty chance for Palace? That’s nuts. Hey, he can score from open play once in a while, too. Either way Milivojevic has gone three straight without a return only once in the last several months. The fact that he gets Cardiff and Bournemouth in the last two means you know one more spot kick. I am willing to bet it is against the Cherries but I would be thrilled to have him now.
Player to sell: Roberto Pereyra - I had a tough time finding a standout choice to drop from midfield this week, so I began to take a look at ownership % in the game right now. I was very surprised to see Pereyra so high up on the list. He had only recently returned from injury and has not producing fantasy numbers for pretty much the entire second half of the season. Probably a case of high ownership among “dead” teams, but it is odd to see him owned by more managers than Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Player to hold: Tottenham options - Last weekend was a complete dud for all Tottenham options and the likes of Heung-Min Son, Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura are seeing a massive amount of transfers out heading into this coming deadline but, as tough as it is with personal ties to the club, I have think Spurs will come correct against Bournemouth. A strong side should be named and the Cherries are usually involved in high-scoring affairs.
Player to avoid: Pascal Groß - It has pretty much been a lost season for Groß, but he managed to score his third goal of the season and grab maximum bonus last weekend, perhaps setting himself up for a strong finish. However, tough fixtures and an otherwise rather weak attack (have scored as many as two goals in a match once since losing to Fulham in Week 24). There are a ton of options at his price or lower to hitch your wagon to with a better chance of returns.
FORWARDS
Player to buy: Sergio Agüero - Yes, it is easy to nominate Aguero as a player to buy, he has been FPL gold for nearly a decade now. But it is something I rarely do because I try to avoid the obvious. This is a special exception, and applies to him at the end of every season. He is fit. He is in form. He is on a big stage. It is Aguero time. To the 59% of managers currently without him - you gotta get him and, in my opinion, give him the armband
Player to sell: Romelu Lukaku - Last week I advised dropping Rashford, which looked good after a non-return and 64 minute shift, but it is Lukaku, who is currently facing a hamstring injury that is putting his availability into question this weekend, that looks a more immediate need to drop. It is a shame because United have two favorable fixtures to end their campaign with, and goals will likely come from somewhere - perhaps Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford, Pogba...but likely not the most expensive option of the bunch, Lukaku.
Player to hold: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - April was not a kind month to the Gunners and there is little positive to prop up Aubameyang’s prospects over the last two games, especially with Unai Emery capable of moving pieces around. But, I will say this - Aubameyang, despite all the struggles, is still the second-highest scoring forward this season, so he is getting his points somehow. If he and Arsenal cannot find success over these last two games, after losing four of their last five, then it will be a long, tense summer for them.
Player to avoid: Callum Wilson - While it is possible to own the pair, along with Aguero, I am giving the edge to Raúl Jiménez over Wilson for the final two games of the season. It is another situation where I would be happy if I already owned him, but ahead of a clash with a Spurs side desperate to make good after losing to West Ham last weekend, I feel better picking on a more promising fixture.
TOP CAPTAIN CHOICES
3) Mo Salah
4) Sadio Mane
5) Eden Hazard
That’s it from me this week folks. Please, bear in mind much can change between the publishing of this column and the FPL deadline on Friday night. Remember, some injuries are not revealed until just before the deadline. Always try to refrain from executing your transfers for as long as possible to avoid wasting it on a player who turns out to have had a problem in training. That said, if you only have just enough money for the player you are looking to bring in and that player is at risk of rising in price, then sometimes you need to take a calculated risk and hope the fantasy gods will be kind to you.
Good luck, and may your arrows be green.
