Well, we’re getting towards the business end of the Fantasy Premier League first half now. On behalf of both myself and Joe – thank God. This hasn’t been a vintage season for us so far, or most other FPL content nerds for that matter
There is only one more gameweek until the World Cup, and the fantasy World Cup is now live. We’ve already been busy bees on this front, and you can check out rules explanations, World Cup fantasy strategy tips, and more here.
In the meantime, let’s get on with our Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 15 review. This week we take a quick look at some top talking points in FPL, before reviewing the Premier League games and looking at my own moves.
Top Talking Points
This was a turbulent week, in both Fantasy Premier League and the real things. Let’s take a quick look at four of the biggest stories for fantasy managers.
FPL Down
It happened again.
The official Fantasy Premier League site crashed 15 minutes before the deadline, after team news on Haaland and Foden emerged. I was one of many managers refreshing the site to try and get my moves in. Fortunately, I managed to do so. Unfortunately I went Rashford over Trossard or Almiron, and I got Wilson. I think I actually lost points…
Nothing is going to change here (it hasn’t for years), but I am going to whinge about it anyway. Joe and I also play Fantasy NFL, which has far more players than FPL, and you can make moves up to the last minute and when the games start. It’s simply unacceptable that this game of 10 million players cannot cope with people… logging in.
Auf Wiedersehen, Ralph
After a topsy turvy few years, Ralph Hassenhutl has got the boot from Southampton.
What does that mean from a fantasy football perspective? Very little right now.
We weren’t in on Southampton assets anyway, because they were all terrible. Plus, there is only one week until the World Cup break, where we get unlimited transfers. Basically, let’s wait and see who they appoint, and whether they can actually play good football afterwards.
Midweek Games Alert
Every Premier League team has a mid-week EFL cup game.
Injuries and suspension will happen.
Hold those transfers.
Cancelo and Dalot – Are They Suspended for Gameweek 15?
So, this is ridiculous, but Cancelo is available and Dalot is not.
Cancelo got a red card against Fulham. A red card ban is served in the next English game (so, the EFL cup).
Dalot got five yellow cards in the Premier League, and when this happens he is banned for the next Premier League game. So, Dalot can play midweek but cannot play in Gameweek 16.
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 15 Review
Let’s get into the meat of our FPL Gameweek 15 review. Here’s a speedy rundown of all the weekend’s action.
| Leeds – 4 | 3 – Bournemouth |
| Leeds defence left a man open in the box for the first goal, and then just carried on from there. They were so open at the back, particularly to the counter. Summerville looks so good. 4 returns in 3 games for 4.4; it’s just a bit unclear whether he keeps his place after everyone is fit
| Bournemouth defence just put ten men behind the ball, and Leeds did well to break them down Billing and Solanke remain the attacking threats. Kieffer Moore is a worse finisher IMO.
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| Aston Villa – 3 | 1 – Man United |
| Leon Bailey again. Looked very good. Digne might actually become an option again, which is exciting. Ramsey ran the game. He was a nice enabler in FPL late last season. Basically, everything Joe said his Emery piece was correct.
| Injuries forced a less than optimal starting XI with, Antony and Bruno Fernandes both out. Ronaldo just showing again why he is a bad FPL asset. Normally selfish players are good, but he is super expensive and somehow cannot finish. Kind of sad to see from one of the all time greats. If he was less of an idiot, I might feel sorry for him.
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| Man City – 2 | Fulham – 1 |
| When Alvarez scores that early you think it’s going to be a demolition job. In the end City had two goals ruled offside (Stones and Haaland), but still got lucky to get a penalty at the end of the game. Haaland, of course, eventually gets a goal. He’s even a good captain when he doesn’t start, apparently. Cancelo red card doesn’t matter because of the midweek cup game, so don’t rush to bin him. In fact, this probably just guarantees him a start at the weekend. | Mitro out. Andreas just doing Andreas things and returning. Incapable of keeping a clean sheet, but we didn’t expect it. |
| Wolves – 2 | 3 – Brighton |
| Guedes did so well to score. They needed a penalty to score the second because their attack is woeful. Remember when Neto was the hot tip to start the season? That seems like a long time ago.
| Welbeck was supposed to be fit again, so I didn’t think Trossard would be OOP striker in this match, but he is so good there Lallana’s first goal in 44 PL games. Nice to see, but obviously not an option.
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| Forest – 2 | 2 – Brentford |
| Forest were completely robbed by the ref here. I still don’t like any of them, but I feel for them. | Toney suspended but back for next game. A story broke that he was gambling, so potentially could be out of World Cup contention and might face some sort of punishment afterwards. Lovely finish from Wissa. Their defence was crap. It’s been all over the place throughout the season.
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| Everton – 0 | Leicester – 2 |
| Lacklustre performance from Everton. I really hope DCL still isn’t fit, because he needs to score that chance. | Tielemans’ goal was insanely good. Nice assist for the Maddison FPL owners. Shocked to see Barnes score a goal not off the left wing. He’s fine value in FPL, but I’ve been hurt too many times before. |
| Southampton – 1 | 4 – Newcastle |
| They look terrible. No fantasy considerations for now, and there probably won’t be after the new manager comes in either. | They look fantastic. I can’t believe a Newcastle triple is so good in FPL, but it is. Trippier is essential. I said it. The highest scoring defender in the game for less than 6mn, and he’s consistently been doing this all year. Almiron did it again. The bandwagon rolls on. Wilson went off injured at half time. We will have to wait and see how serious that is. |
| Chelsea – 0 | Arsenal – 1 |
| Looked clueless and completely outplayed. Nobody jumped out as a fantasy option. Chilwell is injured and out until at least after the World Cup. | They looked excellent once more, creating a lot of chances. Jesus once again was brilliant at linking up, but (as usual) just missed that killer instinct to get himself a goal. In the end, the goal they scored was scrappy but fully deserved. Saka crossed the corner and Gabriel just poked it in. It was probably going in anyway, much to FPL owners’ annoyance. Martinelli also could have had one. He remains a fixture of my team. |
| Spurs – 1 | 2 – Liverpool |
| Absolutely awful mistake from Dier for the second goal. Kane unlucky not to have an extra assist and a penalty goal. BUT, he did get one. He’s super consistent, which makes him great to own in FPL. Kulusevski made an appearance off the bench and set Kane up for his goal. They’ve really missed him. He’s already a popular punt for GW16 for some players.
| F**king Salah. 5 goals in 4 games. God, this season is confusing.
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| West Ham – 1 | 2 – Palace |
| Just a bit dull. It’s strange, especially considering how many supposedly-exciting players they have. Nice to see Benrahma, grabbing a goal but don’t think he is a viable pick. | Zaha back to playing OOP striker and scores immediately. Viera has ruined my FPL season. Anyway, Wilf got a goal and an assist and looked brilliant.
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My Moves
So, I managed to move out Foden and Toney for Rashford and Wilson, despite the app’s best efforts to stop me.
I got scared of tripling up on Newcastle (i.e. getting Almiron), so was pretty much picking between Rashford and Trossard. I just went with Rashford because I like him personally – not a bad reason to pick someone, but was probably a bad fantasy decision. And, as expected with my moves at the moment, Trossard returned and Rashford didn’t. That’s FPL for you!
The only other striker I was thinking about was Solanke, but I didn’t seriously consider him over Wilson. And obviously Wilson only managed 45 minutes, before having to go off.
57 points all out is okay, but again I called my defensive rotation incorrectly.
In terms of the moves I will make, I think it will all depend on Wilson. If he isn’t fit I will probably sell him for Nunez or Firmino. My logic being that this is just a one week punt, so I may as well go for a good attacker and hope that the inconsistency of Liverpool goes in my favour. Annoyingly, they play Southampton who might get a new/caretaker manager bounce.
Watch this space, and wait for Joe’s Gameweek 16 preview (coming soon).