FPL Gameweek 14 Preview - Mid-week Madness

This is a really quick turnaround for us as FPL gameweek 14 starts on Tuesday night.

So, buckle up for this quick preview!

Don’t Forget About AFCON

This is your now constant reminder to remember that AFCON starts in gameweek 17 and some AFCON players will leave ahead of gameweek 16.

You will also ALL get five free transfers in gameweek 16. So make sure you are using the ones you have now.

Who’s going to AFCON, you ask, and therefore will definitely be binned from our teams? See our piece on that right here!

Best Fixtures

I’m sure you’re all familiar with our ticker but just in case you aren’t, check it out here.

You also probably all know that fixtures are one of the best indicators we have of future FPL points – getting a goalscorer, a creative player or a good defender with good fixtures is a tried and trusted shortcut to success. So, let’s see if we can identify some of those players.

Best Attacking Fixtures

• Liverpool: If I had Salah I would hold him until AFCON. Gakpo is the only other one that I could conceivably consider buying and only because Wirtz and Ekitike appear injured and we have five frees in 16 which is a useful get out.

• Man City: It’s basically just Haaland who I trust. I don’t absolutely hate Foden as a pick but I just don’t know why you would bother with the rotation risk.

• Crystal Palace: Mateta remains a good pick, although him coming off after 59 mins last week has me worried that he is knackered so I wouldn’t rush to get him. Sarr is fine to hold, even though he has blanked five times in a row, but I wouldn’t buy him as he is off to AFCON. I think your best bet here then is Munoz. I know he is technically a defender but he is super attacking.

• Newcastle: I think Woltemade is fine to pick up. For that price, I would really rather a guy that shot more or I just go cheaper (Thiago). However, he should certainly be in the conversation at the moment. 

• Arsenal: In theory, it’s just obvious to get Saka but he feels a bit expensive for what he is delivering these days. I don’t think you can trust the minutes of the rest of the guys.

• Bournemouth: Semenyo’s fitness has obviously been a bit concerning the last few weeks but I still think he is good to hold for a few weeks – Joe wrote extensively about this a week or so ago. Evanilson is fit again and probably going under the radar a bit. I was super hot on him to start the season and, whilst that enthusiasm has died down, I still rate him as a player.

Best Defensive Fixtures

• Arsenal: You’d have to be crazy or an idiot to not have an Arsenal defender given how good they have been. I am currently one or both of those and think I should be focusing on rectifying that mistake but I currently don’t have the money.

• Man City: Personally, I will never trust a City asset but if you want to go there then I recommend O’Reilly because Ait-Nouri should be going to AFCON soon. Ruben also an acceptable pick and mostly nailed.

• Liverpool: It’s Virgil or nobody. I own him and fine to hold him but I wouldn’t rush to get him given how bad their defence has been this year.

• Bournemouth: With Senesi banned because of his yellow card, Truffert is the man to look at. Only because he is cheap and has attacking threat. Still, I would rather have the next guy…

• Crystal Palace: Did I mention Munoz? Yeah, he is great. Lacroix also good but if you have the money get the attacking guy.

FPL Transfer Tips – Gameweek 14

Should I Buy?

If you are asking the question, should I buy this player? Then this section is for you.

Thiago – No. Not this week away to Arsenal – that’s the hardest fixture in the game. Still don’t mind this move if it helps enable something else good.

Eze – No. Came off on 71 mins. We know he isn’t nailed for 90.

Foden – No. He is fine as a pick and is getting pretty good mins but he has also only returned two games out of ten played. His xG over that time is 2.5 so he hasn’t been unlucky. I don’t hate it as a short term punt but don’t kid yourself that this is the best pick.

Munoz – Yes. See above. Great fixtures, great attacking threat.

Timber – Yes. Can’t believe I don’t own him.

Rice – Yes. Pretty good pick and never not an option this season. I wouldn’t rush out to buy him though.

Bruno G. – No. Top 25 midfielder last two years running with added defcons but he doesn’t hit the threshold frequently enough and his attacking returns are few and far between.

Mateta – Maybe. I feel very uninspired with the guy but he does have a plum fixture this midweek.

Should I Sell?

If you are asking the question, should I sell this player? Then this section is for you.

Senesi – He is only banned for one week so if that is the reason then no. But I think you are fine to part ways with the guy. Bournemouth look pretty cooked and I am fairly certain they died down around this time again last year because Iraola ball is just so intense.

Semenyo – No. The fixtures are still pretty good and so is he. I just don’t understand where you get better value.

Joao Pedro – Yes. He isn’t as good as people thought he would be. And, you can say Chelsea keep having 10 men so this isn’t representative. But also, Chelsea keep having ten men and have a HUGE discipline problem.

Caicedo – Yes. I have always disliked this pick and I this red card is the perfect time to jump off.

Van de Ven – Yes. Spurs defence is bad.

Mo Salah – 0 mins played and Liverpool finally won a game. I can no longer absolutely defend holding him. But, if I had him, I probably would irrationally hold onto him for this midweek game.

Mbeumo – NO! The fixtures are great and then you sell him in 16 ahead of AFCON.

Sarr – Yes. He went off injured really early against Man United. He probably won’t start this week and you will have to sell him by gameweek 17 anyway because of AFCON. Remove this headache from your life.

Captaincy Corner

It’s still hard to look past Haaland in my opinion. A couple of blanks were inevitable. Still, I don’t love the fixture because Fulham don’t give up a tonne of goals at home.

Saka at home to Brentford is probably fine, as is B. Fernandes at home to West Ham but I don’t trust these guys anywhere near as much as Haaland.

That’s It.

Hope your week goes better than my recent form.