Your level of anticipation/apprehension for Gameweek 12 depended on how you were doing in your OR or mini league.
If you were doing great, having to bin or bench your Arsenal and City assets was a massive pain in the arse. If you weren’t particularly happy with your first 11 weeks (like yours truly), it was more of an opportunity.
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Before we get into all that, however, let’s take a moment to show your favourite Serbian striker and mine some love.
Mitrovic is big, and slow, and he was rubbish last time he was in the Premier League. This season he’s been absolutely bloody brilliant in FPL terms. Despite missing basically two games, he’s still the sixth-highest scoring forward. He has an absolutely elite eight goals in 10 starts.
What I love most about him, however, is his consistency.
Look at the end-of-season stats for a Vardy or a Maddison, and they’ll seem impressive. Their returns tend to come in bunches though, either in one-off big games for players like Maddo, or brief super-hot streaks for players like Vardy. In FPL terms, this isn’t actually that useful. Try and target these players, and you’re much more likely to bring them in a week after their hot streak/big game has finished, suffer through several blanks, then finally bin them for someone. At which point, they’ll immediately start scoring again.
Mitro is the opposite. In the 10 games he’s started, he’s only had two blanks, making him an easy set-and-forget, headache-free option for FPL managers. He’s fulfilling the old ‘Good Honest Work’ role that Jimenez had for Wolves in years gone by. He’s hitting Harry Kane-levels of consistency this year… and he still only costs 6.8.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, ladies and gentlemen – let’s give that plodding, violent, brilliant striker the credit he deserves.
Mitrovic turning up for an interview on a cold October night dressed like he’s off to the breakfast buffet in Benidorm. pic.twitter.com/MTbIdPrBgX
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) October 20, 2022
Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 12 Review
In the last gameweek review I wrote – my Gameweek 10 epic – I sorted the games by how important I thought they were. This time though, we’re going to try something really crazy – we’re going to go in chronological order. I know. I’m a madman.
Brighton 0 – 0 Notts Forest
The best thing you can say for Forest is that at least they kept a clean sheet. It was their first since Gameweek 2, when they scrabbled past West Ham 1-0 and everyone thought they might be quite good.
Well, they’re not. Neco Williams (4.1) is so cheap that – if you’re on a wildcard – he’s probably still worth it as an enabler who is almost-nailed.
Apart from that, Forest are a wasteland. Hilariously – considering he’s part of the second-worst defence in the league – Dean Henderson (4.7) is the joint-second highest scoring goalkeeper in FPL this season. This has been driven by a couple of games with lots of saves and a couple of penalty saves – don’t fall for it.
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Brighton… sigh. For the past couple of years under Potter, they famously underscored their xG to an impressive degree. Well, now they’re up to their old tricks again:
Brighton have scored 0 goals from 4.53(xG) in their last three games.
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) October 18, 2022
Luke Trossard (6.9) reminded me why I try never to join FPL bandwagons. After scoring against Leicester, then exploding for a hat trick against Liverpool, he’s promptly blanked three times in a row. He has City and Chelsea next, and there are a ton of great midfield options right now. Bin him.
With those fixtures coming up, you don’t want any other Brighton players either.
Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Wolves
Legendary FPL troll Wilf Zaha (7.5) finally came good, after one return in his prior four games. He’s got a decent run of fixtures up to the World Cup (see below), so hold him if you’ve got him.
I mentioned Eze (5.6) a couple of weeks ago, and he’s getting harder to ignore. He scored in this game, and starts every match. Wilf might be the sexier name and the #Talisman, but Eze only has 2pts fewer across the season.
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Wolves continue to have no attackers you’d want. They also continue to be solid at the back though, and have three nice defensive fixtures in a row now (see below).
James and I backed Kilman (4.6) for the Forest game, and he duly delivered a clean. He’s the only completely nailed-on starter in the defence, so I’d recommend him if you’re going budget at the back (which I would also recommend right now).
Liverpool 1 – 0 West Ham
This is back-to-back 1-0’s for a Liverpool side which has left me utterly befuddled. It seemed like they were rubbish, and we had to drop all our assets like there was no tomorrow. Now… are they good again? Or are they just grinding out wins?
They have Forest next, which is a mouth-watering fixture. If – like me – you brought in Salah for De Bruyne in the blank gameweek, you have to hold him for that, along with basically any other Liverpool player you have.
If you don’t already have Salah, I wouldn’t really be rushing to bring anyone in. Trent is expensive, Firmino and Nunez are inconsistent, and there’s nobody else I’d want with an away game at Spurs looming.
I don’t mind taking a Forest-based punt, but you’d need an easy way out (e.g. Mo straight back to Kev) if it doesn’t work. Mo (to Kev or Foden) or Nunez/Firmino (to Mitrovic or Toney) would work for this, but Trent wouldn’t (assuming you’ve got Joao and Trippier already).
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After a fun season last time, in which Antonio then Bowen were borderline must-own, West Ham have fallen off an FPL cliff.
I guess Bowen (8.2) is still relevant, since he got (and missed) a pen in this game, and did well against Wolves and Fulham before blanking away to Southampton. There are other players I want more in that mid-priced midfielder bracket though (Saka, Martinelli, Foden, Zaha… probably Mount), and West Ham have Bournemouth (solid) and Man U (solid?) next.
Newcastle 1 – 0 Everton
Oh my God, Newcastle are finally keeping cleans. I lamented in recent columns that they kept conceding stupid, pointless goals while getting easy wins. The many Trippier/Pope doublers have finally been rewarded though, with two clean sheets in a row against Man U and Everton. Admittedly, this clean sheet came because Everton literally didn’t have a shot on target all game… but still!
Trippier (5.7) is must-own. Pope (5.3) is a hold if you’ve got him, but there’s a better option if you’re on your wildcard.
Is it finally time to look at Almiron (5.3)?
Jack Grealish criticised Riyad Mahrez’s performance against Aston Villa back in May, declaring that he “played like Almiron”.
Little did he know he had inadvertently provoked a positive reaction from #NUFC's Paraguayan.
So what is it 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 like to play 'like Almiron'? pic.twitter.com/4RY1xTi0dL
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) October 20, 2022
I keep dismissing him – he’s never done anything remotely like this before for Newcastle – and he keeps on delivering. I respect it, since he’s in-form, and playing as a forward for a good side… but I still don’t think I’m interested.
That’s not because of him specifically, but simply because I’ll already have Foden, Saka, and Martinelli in my team. Since we’re all playing three forwards, that means I only have one midfield spot available, and I’d prefer to give it to a more proven FPL player like Zaha, Bowen, Mount, etc. Sorry, Migs!
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One shot on goal, zero shots on target, and they aren’t even keeping cleans now… I’m not exactly rushing to bring in Everton players.
Brentford 0 – 0 Chelsea
Brentford have now kept three clean sheets in their past four, with their 5-1 hammering by Newcastle looking like a simple aberration. They’ve got Villa, Wolves, and Forest next, meaning their defence is starting to look very tasty indeed. Mee and Henry are nailed-on starters who both cost 4.5. Zanka is a budget option at 4.0, and started the last game, but only started two games before that.
Toney blanked here against an excellent defence. He’s the third-highest scoring forward in the game though, and is on penalties, so you’re obviously holding him.
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I love Graham Potter in real life, and hate him in FPL. This is just Pep Roulette 2.0.
I immediately bought into Chelsea’s defence when he joined, with both Reece James and Thiago Silva. James was immediately benched against Wolves, missing out on a clean, before getting injured (not necessarily Potter’s fault). Silva (5.4) is getting cleans when he plays… but only playing half the games.
Chelsea’s defence was always great on paper to start the season, and now it’s playing brilliantly too. Unfortunately none of them are nailed. Koulibaly (5.5) seems the safest of the defenders, but even he’s a rotation-risk.
The only reliable way into all these cleans right now is Kepa (4.5). I don’t really see him as a risk in the near future – Potter’s not bringing Mendy back in when they’re getting clean sheets every week – and he’s an easy choice on your wildcard.
Mount (7.7) has been in good form. His upcoming fixtures aren’t great though, with Man U, Brighton, Arsenal and Newcastle all looking good right now.
Bournemouth 0 – 1 Southampton
I’m not interested in any Bournemouth players. Solanke (5.8) was starting to pique my interest. Then he blanked at home in a decent matchup, and has West Ham away then Spurs coming up.
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Southampton are still FPL-irrelevant.
Man Utd 2 – 0 Spurs
Man U have now won four and drawn one in all competitions since their 6-3 pasting by City. They’ve also kept three cleans in a row, with Dalot (4.6) being a cheap and reliable option back there. Chelsea away isn’t a great next fixture (although not terrible, by any means), and Man U then have West Ham, Villa, and Fulham. That’s a decent run, so I’d hold Dalot if you’ve got him and definitely consider him on a wildcard.
Nobody else interests me. Rashford keeps getting chances and keeps failing to impress. Antony has dropped off after a hot start.
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For Spurs, it’s the same old story, even after a loss.
Kane (11.5) is great, and I’m bringing him in despite the blank (his first since Gameweek 1, by the way).
People keep bringing in the defenders, because of Conte I suppose. Perisic (5.5) has one return in his last seven games… and a 25% ownership. I continue to be baffled. Dier (5.3) is cheaper and a more reliable starter. He has Newcastle and Bournemouth next, which is fine, but I’d rather have cheaper defenders instead and spend the money in midfield and attack.
Fulham 3 – 0 Aston Villa
Mitrovic (6.8) is just great. He comes back from injury and immediately returns in two straight games. I’ve got Toney already, and have money invested in him, but – if I had the choice – I guess I’d slightly prefer Mitro.
Pereira (4.6) continues to be a good bench enabler. He starts every game, and is heavily-involved in the attack.
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I’m starting to think it’s actually quite impressive how irrelevant Aston Villa are in FPL terms.
This is a team with Martinez, Digne, Cash, Ramsey, Bailey, McGinn, Buendia, Coutinho, Watkins, and Ings… and none of them are doing anything. Incredible!
Leicester 2 – 0 Leeds
I’m not buying into Leicester – I still think they’re rubbish. Barnes (6.9) is talented in real life but as inconsistent as they come in FPL. Maddison (8.2) has been a popular pick for weeks now… and has promptly delivered two blanks and a missed game. He also has Wolves and Man City next, which are both stay-aways.
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Leeds have absolutely nobody even remotely worth considering.
Gameweek 12 – Final Thoughts
As noted, some would have seen Gameweek 12 as an opportunity, and some as a pain in the arse. I’m firmly in the ‘pain in the arse’ camp, and I’m glad it’s over.
Thiago Silva missing Chelsea’s latest clean is very frustrating, and my one-week Salah/Firmino gamble – after their good performances against Man City – didn’t work.
Now I’m finally dropping my first wildcard, so I’m hoping for a surge. If you’re doing the same, don’t forget to check out James’s excellent wildcard guide here.
In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Twitter for all our latest pieces, including a full Gameweek 13 guide.