FPL Gameweek 26 Preview – Manager Transfers and Fixture Pile Ups

Ahead of Gameweek 26 we have fixture congestion, an upcoming blank in GW29, and a double gameweek in 32 – there’s plenty to think about! 

Whether you’re eyeing an Assistant Manager switch, hunting for short-term bargains, or planning your transfers ahead of GW29 and DGW32, we’ve got you covered. 

Let’s dive in!

Friday Night Deadline and Midweek Gameweek Alert

Alert Alert

The deadline for gameweek 26 is 1830 UK time on FRIDAY.

And the deadline for gameweek 27 is 1800 UK time on TUESDAY.

Carry on.

Assistant Manager Transfer?

If you have played your Assistant Manager Chip, you probably have either Slot or Emery. Both Slot and Emery/Moyes have provided a good amount of points but with everyone having a single gameweek this week it is no longer super obvious who the best manager is.

Well, Slot’s Liverpool play Man City away. They will probably win and not keep a clean sheet. But, that isn’t certain. Despite City being terrible, they are 4th in the league and capably of beating Liverpool on a good day. Emery’s Villa play Chelsea at home. And its a similar story. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either team win.

The Best Assistant Managers This Week

Arteta is a much safer pick as Arsenal play West Ham at home. We fully expect a win and clean sheet – that’s something like 7 to 10 points.

McKenna or Glasner have much higher upside. That’s because they have a chance of the 10 extra points for beating a team 5 places ahead or 5 extra points for drawing. Mckenna’s Ipswich play at home against Spurs who are super inconsistent. Glasner’s Palace play against Fulham away. Either one of these guys could end up with 1 point or 18 points.

Should You Make The Transfer?

If you have Slot, I would not switch to Arteta. There isn’t enough upside to justify it.

If you are chasing your mini-league then it is a simple decision to grab McKenna or Glasner. If you are winning, you may consider not making the move.

If you need to take a hit then I wouldn’t get Arteta. I don’t hate the idea if you are getting Mckenna or Glasner but it changes their likely points from 1-18 to -3-14.

Double Gameweek 32 and Dead-End 29

Asyou have probably already seen, Newcastle and Crystal Palace now have a blank in gameweek 29 and double in gameweek 32.

If you are dead-ending into 29 like me, you have 3 more transfers (from gameweeks 27, 28 and 29) in order to rid yourself of Liverpool, Villa, Newcastle and Palace assets.

Having three in your squad (and therefore on your bench is fine). Just keep an eye on it.

Should I Sell Players Who Blank In Gameweek 29?

You can accumulate five free transfers this year so you don’t need to start your sell off yet. This year, we get to make a strategic decision as to whether we want to hold them.

I think you are perfectly fine to start selling off Liverpool, Palace, Newcastle and Villa assets but I would start with the Newcastle boys who have the worst fixtures.

And, as I said above, you can keep three players who blank in 29 and be fine. For example, if you kept Salah, Trent and Isak you could still field a starting eleven in 29.

Coincidentally, those would be the three I would be inclined to keep as you likely have some money tied up in them.

Are Trossard and Nwanieri bargains?

With Saka, Martinelli, Jesus and Havertz all injured then Trossard and Nwanieri look like they will get good minutes. That’s until Saka and Martinelli come back (probably next month). So, if you can afford to make a short term move to them, either because you have lots of free transfers or you plan on wildcarding soon, then you can make the move.

Best Attacking Fixtures

Here are the five sides with the very best attacking FPL fixtures, from FPL Gameweeks 26 to 30.

Over the next ten the following have the best fixtures:

1. Wolves
2. Arsenal
3. Bournemouth
4. Brighton
5. Leicester

If you are dead-ending into gameweek 29, these teams have the best fixtures:

1. Everton
2. Bournemouth
3. Fulham
4. Wolves
5. Chelsea

Best Defensive Fixtures

Here are the five sides with the very best defensive FPL fixtures, from FPL Gameweeks 26 to 30.

Over the next ten the following have the best fixtures:

1. Wolves
2. Arsenal
3. Brighton
4. Chelsea
5. Man United

If you are dead-ending into gameweek 29, these teams have the best fixtures:

1. Man United
2. Wolves
3. Brentford
4. Chelsea
5. Brighton

Should I Buy?

Looking at the most-bought players in FPL, ahead of Gameweek 26, and don’t know whether you should buy one? We will tell you!

• Marmoush – Ideally I would wait a week but I think it could be a very good move. Man City have looked a little better in the recent games and he costs so little in comparison to Haaland. Plus, you probably have a Gakpo problem to solve if you are looking at this.

• Kluivert/Semenyo/O. Dango – Yes. Good fixtures.

• Mitoma – No. The fixtures are fine but I don’t see why you would take him over the Bournemouth boys.

• Cunha – Yes. A good long-term hold with good fixtures. Wolves obviously suck but he’s on everything for them. 

• Mbeumo – Yes. Always a good option. Great stats, talismanic player and plays Leicester this week. I also still have faith in Wissa (just about).

• Wood – No. I cannot understand what is going on that Wood is the number one forward this year. He is good but he’s not this good. Last week was the epitome of Wood – xG of 0.14 from one shot and he scores. He is currently outperforming his xG by almost double. Either I am an idiot or this is variance and then I don’t want him for Newcastle, Arsenal and Man City next.

• Mateta – No. He blanks in four weeks.

Should I Sell?

And now let’s take a look at the most-sold players in FPL, ahead of Gameweek 26.

See the top for gameweek 29 blankers.

• Gakpo – Probably yes. He will miss gameweek 29 and probably will come off the bench this week as he hasn’t trained once with the team at the time of writing. If he doesn’t start this week then you will be worrying midweek next if he starts. Those of you that hit him out last week for Watkins look like mega geniuses right now (and you are).

• Palmer – No. I don’t see why you need the money and he is still one of the top five assets in the game. I don’t really care that Chelsea are shit.

• Luis Diaz – No. Gakpo might be injured, Jota will probably get injured the next time a butterfly lands on him and Slot doesn’t like Darwin. I’d be holding Diaz this week.

• Wissa – I get the temptation but no. He hasn’t scored in the last three but he has racked up 1.32 xG so its not that he hasn’t been trying – its just a bit of unfavourable variance. And he plays Leicester this week. And they are so bad he could hattie.

• Joao Pedro – Fine to sell as we can’t trust his minutes at the moment.

• Wood – Yes. I keep saying sell him because of bad fixtures and poor underlying numbers and he just keeps on scoring anyway. But surely the fucker can’t score highly in the next three? On the other hand you could captain him in 29…

Captaincy Corner

With Salah playing Man City there is potentially a chance to go for someone else. I still think Salah is the safest but I like Mbeumo because of the great fixture. Maybe one of the Bournemouth guys could be worth a punt but it makes me nervous.

I honestly think I’d rather just be boring this week with Salah and have fun in 29.

Captaincy Matrix

Final Thoughts

That’s a wrap for this week’s FPL dilemmas! Whether you’re playing it safe or taking a punt, make sure you’ve locked in your moves before those early deadlines.

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