***GAMEWEEK 14 DEADLINE: SATURDAY - 13:30 GMT***
When in doubt, captain Haaland. That seemed to be the underwhelming lesson from an underwhelming week in FPL. Haaland (7) was the popular captain pick that did the best, though by a quirk of the bonus point system, he lost points right at the end by “missing” a headed chance that most others wouldn’t have even got their head to. And no question that Son captainers are the unlucky ones this week. I’m not sure how many disallowed goals he scored, but I stopped counting at about eight.
I said last week that it was feast or famine in FPL. Well, now it’s pasta-eating season. You’ll need carbs to get through this period as we’re hit with an insane amount of games - another Gameweek comes next midweek. It’s a slightly shorter FPL Is Life as I’ll try to do an Extra Life ahead of the midweek games. Remember to wait for European games before making transfers. Oh, and have a lie in - the deadline’s not until lunchtime.
FPL transfer question? Got an idea for an item? Email me: fplislife@substack.com
We’re heading for this five in midfield
A pretty clear midfield five has emerged for this Christmas period, who combine the qualities we need - reliable minutes, routes to points, decent games/value. Son, Saka, Salah, Mbeumo are relied on by their managers and all on pens - as is Palmer, who seems to have become integral to Chelsea’s attack. His price tag (now £5.3m) makes it all work. It all means teams are converging at the moment - it’s bound to happen at points during the season.
We all want Brian
I wrote an item in praise of Mbeumo last week as he’s delivered even in hard games. Against Arsenal, he would’ve scored but for a miraculous goal-line clearance from Declan Rice. In the last six, he’s the top midfielder for Expected Goal Involvement - and now his fixtures are good. Penalties, too. He’s already up to £6.9m having started the season at £6.5m. Of course, he’ll probably now get injured vs Luton next, but that’s why we love FPL. Bowen and Mitoma owners will be looking at Brian, and I can’t blame them. Eze is also out injured now, so an easy move there.
It’s been tough to find defenders
It seemed like everyone was searching for a decent defender to bring in last week. Saliba was a solid pick and got the clean sheet, but he is very pricey for a CB at £5.5m - Arsenal have the best defensive data in the league, so Gabriel is also popular now. Zinchenko doesn’t get talked about enough - he is very involved if you can take the extra minutes doubts. I’ve hunted out four other options across the price range:
Trippier (£7m) - Dead balls, crosses - top for points. Worth the cash if you have it.
Porro (£5.3 ) - Has been raking in the points in an attacking side.
Pinnock (£4.6) - 3rd for expected goals for defenders and reliable. Great value, but Blanks in GW18
Livramento (£4.3) - Playing so well, hard to drop. So attacking - and very cheap.
Chelsea make the Champions League?
Just a bit of fun - this is what the betting markets are saying will happen at the end of the season. Congrats to Man City! This tends to underline that Chelsea’s data is there and the markets are expecting a run. The three relegated teams go back down. Villa have a poor run so you may be moving out Matty Cash (one clean sheet in six - remember it’s Bournemouth this week though) et al now… but they’re up there. I still struggle to recommend a City player beyond Haaland. Hope that changes.
Palmer vs Gordon is a thing
A player who could break up that Favourite Five in midfield is Anthony Gordon, who remains cheap at £5.9m and the return of Isak arguably makes him a better pick - it didn’t work with him through the middle. So there are choices out there. Isak, too, is worth looking at - Wilson remains on the sidelines. It all depends on whether you think Newcastle will manage the workload, given how injury-hit they are. Trippier continues to be Trippier.
Can we rely on Chelsea?
If we’re looking for to be a bit different, then there are plenty of teams coming into good fixtures now. Chelsea jumps out - playing an injury-hit and tired Brighton side, and then Man Utd, who by some miracle sit sixth in the table. Then things get even better. Beyond Palmer, Reece James managed to get sent off in the hammering to Newcastle - so we don’t have to consider him this week. He’ll be very popular come Gameweek 16. Other than that, there’s a high risk/reward pick in Sterling.
You’ve got to question the keeper there.
This was in injury time - a winning goal. Not quite sure what the plan was, but the striker says it all by having no clue how to celebrate.
I’ll TRY to do a quick email ahead of the midweek games. Please forgive me if I don’t make it. Please get in touch with any FPL dilemmas or general football internet gold. PS - I’m on Twitter here. Please help me grow FPL Is Life by sharing… thanks! Typos entirely deliberate, but thanks for noticing.