FPL Gameweek 12 Preview – Let’s All Take a Deep Breath

Greetings all, and welcome to your full FPL Gameweek 12 preview. 

It’s a funny old time in football right now, and frankly a very negative one. Everyone’s moaning non-stop about VAR (more on that shortly). We’re also coming off a terrible Gameweek 10 for many players, with the average score being just 33. 

In short, having an international break is normally a pain in the backside… but this time, it might actually be good for everyone* to step back, take a breather, and come back refreshed.

(*Not including the players, who will be playing yet more football)

Gameweek 12 Talking Points

There’s a lot going on in football right now. And, as noted, a lot of it is negative. Let’s #StickToFPL, and run down three of the top talking points heading into Gameweek 12.

Internationals

Again, this doesn’t actually feel like the worst time in the world for an international break. Who’s actually playing in those internationals? Glad you asked, friend!

Basically everyone is playing, unfortunately. There’s Euros qualifying, and other European teams are playing in friendlies. We’ve got World Cup qualifiers elsewhere too, including for the South American teams. 

Injuries ahoy!

VAR-pocalypse

I’m sick of it. You’re sick of it. We’re all sick of it… until it involves your favourite team, then it’s THE WORST VAR CALL EVER.

We’re seeing more red cards, thanks to the super slow-mo replays and freeze-frames. Goals that would’ve been given a few years ago are chalked off for minimal offsides. We lose clean sheets, or simply points, for goals scored against our GK/DEF that look like they shouldn’t count! 

The double-whammy here, of course, is that this is coming with the new extra time rules. VAR is not only giving and taking away FPL points with its decisions, but then adding sometimes huge amounts of added time onto the game. This coming, of course, when players are more tired, more mistake-prone, and – often – more likely to concede goals. 

What’s the point for FPL?  

All this is making an already-unpredictable game even more chaotic than before. It’s easy to say ‘don’t beat yourself up’ when things aren’t going your way. But between this, and there simply being more players, FPL is harder than it’s ever been.

Taking the Long View

I saw a thread on FPL Reddit this week where people were lamenting playing their wildcards. Even plenty of those who haven’t played it are struggling right now. 

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there is still a huge amount of time to go! We’re not even 1/3 of the way through the season! We haven’t (really – no offence to Burnley or Luton) started with the double gameweeks yet. 

Again, it’s easier said than done, but you should still absolutely not be panicking yet. You had a crap Gameweek 10? So did most people! 

Just keep your head, back yourself long-term, and make logical choices (especially with an international break, and it’s usual injuries, coming up).

Fixture Ticker

With the obvious caveat that we have internationals between Gameweeks 12 and 13, here are the best fixture runs over the next five gameweeks.

(Home games are in caps)

Let’s break it down, Full90 FPL-style (of course that’s a thing, what are you talking about?):

• Brighton

Brighton are back! In FPL at least, who knows IRL. 

Annoyingly these fixtures are slightly better defensively, and Brighton’s defence is rubbish. It probably does mean we want Estupinan back after the break though. 

That said, they’re generally fine attacking fixtures too. I wouldn’t rush to get attackers in for them (well, Mitoma’s the only trustworthy option), but keep him/them if you’ve got him/them. 

• West Ham

Apart from Spurs, all of these are good defensive fixtures. I’d definitely consider Coufal at that price point, especially with question marks over Udogie and Digne. 

We’re not trusting any of their attackers anyway, apart from Bowen, who is obviously amazing. 

• Palace

The first four are great defensive fixtures, and we already know Palace’s defence is solid. Unfortunately none of their defenders really have any attacking threat, but I’m fine with getting the cheaper ones anyway and chase cleans here. 

It’s definitely tempting to get ahead of the curve and jump on Eze. He’s quality, came back for half an hour last week, and immediately got an assist. 

• Arsenal

They won’t actually be… but the next four games could all reasonably be cleans. Arsenal defenders are expensive, unfortunately, but I’m (probably) fine with taking a slight risk on Gabriel as the cheapest way in. 

Up top it’s just a load of question marks. Saka is constantly getting injured, Martinelli hasn’t hit last season’s heights, Nketiah might be injured now, Trossard is great when he plays but can’t be trusted… Odegaard is blanking even when he’s not injured. Bleurgh. 

• Forest

We’re not actually interested in Forest players. So I’ll just tell you the next name we actually are interested in on the fixture ticker is Newcastle. They have four nice defensive fixtures in a row coming up.

Should I Buy?

Do not go crazy this week! Don’t drop your wildcard or take a hit unless you basically cannot get a team out. 

A lot of these guys you’re getting will be playing three matches between now and Gameweek 13. Add in all the training and whatnot, and injuries are guaranteed to happen. 

Bearing that in mind, here’s a run through the most-bought players this week, per the official FPL website:

• Doku – No

The most predictable Most Transferred In player ever. I guess you could argue that he’s a fine punt at 6.6, but there are other more proven options in that price bracket. Mitoma has far better fixtures, for example. City now have Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs,and Villa in a row.

• Nketiah – No

He might be injured. This is why we don’t make early transfers

• Mitchell (Palace) – Yes

He’s this high because he scored last week, but he’s still a good pick for Palace’s excellent defensive fixtures (see above).

• Bowen – Yes

Obviously. Borderline must-own right now, with West Ham’s upcoming fixtures

• Anderson – No

You might as well just get Mitchell – he’s much cheaper

• Saliba – Maybe

Arsenal are a good defence, and have great defensive fixtures, and he’s nailed. He’s also just very expensive for someone who offers no attacking threat. 

• Saka – Maybe

Really tough call. Obviously he’s amazing, and almost always returns when he plays. But he’s just constantly getting injured at the moment, so I’d be nervous about getting him in, even with the great fixtures

• Son – Maybe

I do still think he’s very expensive, and wouldn’t get him personally. But he’s also got 8 goals in 11 starts, and plays for one of the best teams in the league. I will say that his fixtures are tough – Wolves away, Villa, Man City, West Ham, and Newcastle. He and Spurs do seem somewhat fixture-proof though. 

Overall, I still wouldn’t call him ‘must own’ because of the price. But he’s still one of the best players in the game, and I’d definitely have him if you’re going No Salah, for example. 

• Watkins – Yes

Blanks against Luton and Forest are obviously ridiculous and infuriating. But he’s still class, and Villa’s fixtures are fine.

• Trippier – Yes

He’s the best defender in the game, for an excellent defence, and Newcastle’s defensive fixtures are solid.

• Gordon – Yes

Still offers ridiculous value. 

• Salah – Yes

Always yes… even after a blank against Luton.

• Wilson – No

Isak will probably be back after the internationals.

• Alvarez – No

Three blanks in his last four games, and City’s fixtures are tough.

• Lascelles – Yes

Great value, at only 4.0, with Botman’s ongoing injury woes.

Should I Sell?

With the aforementioned caveat about not making loads of transfers this week in mind, here’s a look at the most-binned players ahead of FPL Gameweek 12:

• Burn – Yes

He’s injured for months. Him to Lascelles is an easy move

• Romero – Yes

Spurs’ defensive fixtures are tough after he gets back from suspension

• Maddison – Maybe

He’s definitely out this week… but will presumably be back after the international break? If you’ve got two free transfers, I’m fine with swapping him out for someone with a nice matchup this week, like Trossard/Martinelli or Mitoma, then looking to bring him back after. If not, I’d probably just hold, unless you’re binning him as part of a bigger move to someone like Son or Salah. 

• Odegaard – No

He blanked 4 of his last 5 games even before he was injured. That said, you can’t bin him before Burnley at home, if he looks likely to play

• Udogie – Yes

He’s suspended for the good fixture against Wolves then has tough games when he comes back

• Cash – No

His underlying stats are still fine, and he has Fulham and Bournemouth either side of the Spurs game. 

• Neto – Yes

Injured for a couple of weeks at least, and lots of other good midfield options

• Estupinan – No

Why would you bin him now, when he’s finally coming back and has great fixtures?!

• Isak – Yes

Injured for now, and a lingering rotation risk when he’s fit

• Alvarez – Yes

Form has dropped off, and has tough fixtures

• Rashford – Yes

Time to move on, if you haven’t already

• Mitoma – No

He returned again last week, after 4 blanks, and has great fixtures

• Mbeumo – Maybe

Really tough one. He’s been in great form (since I dropped him)… but now has Liverpool and Arsenal. I don’t think it’s ridiculous to hold him, if you’ve got more pressing moves to make, especially before the inevitable international break injuries.

• Watkins / Diaby – No

They’re both still very good, and have nice fixtures coming up

Final Thoughts

Well, that’s the end of your FPL Gameweek 12 preview. 

But fear not! We’ll be back as soon as tomorrow, with our usual round-up of all the most important news, including injuries, suspensions, and European performances. You can get that on our Latest Tips page, by following us on Reddit, or on Twitter. 

If you couldn’t care less about that, I won’t hold it against you. Best of luck in Gameweek 12 anyway, and I’ll see you on the other side of the break.