FPL GW19

Tight schedule

Quick turnarounds between the games mean that now the teams not playing in Europe are also facing a tough schedule, which is more "business-as-usual" for the teams with UEFA games too. This results in at least two things:

1) It's harder than normal to predict the lineups for teams such as Manchester United, Brentford, Everton, Bournemouth and the likes with relevant FPL assets

2) We usually see more injuries

Injuries we are already having a lot of fun with (hello, Arsenal defenders!), and this also means that going for the most nailed players in the teams or those who have just had their rest is preferable.

Bring out the centerbacks, talisman of the team and those players who literally have no competition.

And who are those?

I think the timing is great for Szoboszlai, "rested" (by suspension) and Slot talks of him as one of his "starters", there are two right backs available now for Liverpool meaning he is more likely to play as one of the 4 in front, and last but not least he is the expected penalty taker in the absence of Salah, as he was the most recent taker.

In defense, Lewis Hall looks extremely good as well. There is currently no competition at left back, the fixtures for Newcastle are amazing and he has great history of delivering both underlying numbers and great FPL points.

Minteh was just rested, and the fixtures look good, but there has been a few shaky comments by Hurzeler, so I don't think he is a buy (but neither a sell).

The Bruno injury could not have happened at a worse moment. I would always miss him, but this GW and next will be terrible without him.

Arsenal defenders

I want to keep this simple.

If you own Hincapie, you should probably sell. If not this week, very soon he will not be in the starting lineup.

Timber you keep. He may not play, but you want this guy in your team as soon as he is back, and I expect that sooner rather than later. Probably already this GW.

Calafiori is neither a buy or a sell.

Gabriel is harder, but if you can manage a direct swap from Hincapie to Gabriel, I think you do it and hope it works out. I think Gabriel starts this GW, it's more about the next one where I could see him on (or worse, from) the bench.

Saliba is just a keep and can become Gabriel/Timber if you ever get enough comfort that you can spend a free transfers or when you wildcard.

I think Raya, Gabriel, Timber is the best long-term setup you can get defensively.

Team selection

I have 2 free transfers and I am sticking to the plan from last week. Semenyo to Szoboszlai will be made tomorrow right before the deadline unless we get new information I have to act upon.

Semenyo leaving Bournemouth (to City, it seems) will always make him a worse FPL asset, and integration to a new team takes time, so he is now a must sell in my eyes, especially with Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.

Szoboszlai is everything we need right now, good fixtures, penalties, secure minutes, decent underlyings and many routes to points. It's almost a Bruno Fernandes at a cheaper price. Almost, don't get yourself too hyped.

I will roll the other free transfer, and my plan is to roll next GW to have 3 FTs for GW21. GW21 looks a bit bad for my team, but currently I'm looking at Minteh to Tavernier. Timing seems good, and Semenyo leaving Bournemouth will be official by then. Tavernier will now have room for an even bigger role and likely be their penalty taker after Kluivert.

Cunha will captain the side. As I wrote this, I had to dig into the numbers a bit, and now I'm less certain.

I've been on Cunha all week, and United created more than 4 xG against Wolves only a couple GWs ago. Sunderland have been great defensively at home, but they have started to crumble a bit after GW10. I think it's a tough call between Cunha and Haaland, but when it's really close I like to go against the crowd, so I will probably end up on Cunha.

Good luck everyone!