FPL Gameweek 4 Roundup – Oh My Fucking God

We are coming off the international break which can tends to throw up some odd results and FPL gameweek 4 was no different. Still, I didn’t expect to be sitting on 30 points with only one return from my starting eleven.

I’m not going to go team by team this week. Partly because it’s less interesting and less valuable the further we get into the season.

The other reason is that I am on the beach in Croatia. Which is also the only reason I’m not more upset after this woeful week.

Hold those Knees!

Champions League and Cup football this week. Avoid making moves early!

Haaland is the King – Premium Watch

To make matters worse, Haaland continued to demolish and break the PL and FPL. It’s absurd. I will not buy him this week because of Arsenal but he’s going to have to come back on the wildcard. I know this ludicrous run cannot continue (9 goals in 4 games). He is overperforming his xG by 4.13 but he’s back to being the absolute best asset in the game by far. That wasn’t always true last year which is why I attempted my aggressive premium switch between him and Palmer. It’s hard to argue that was not a mistake now.

I love Mo Salah but his passing was woeful this weekend…

Chelsea were actually crap. I feel like a fool for backing a team with a new manager. We know not to do that. They are currently sitting 8th for xG with 5.84 xG and in that time they went up against a suicidal wolves. I’m starting to think they aren’t good enough for me to be spending 10.5 on Palmer.

I’m not reading too much I to Son over the weekend. Arsenal are the best defence in the league. Saka is just Mr. Reliable though and I cannot wait to own him. Arteta always says he’s injured, don’t worry too much about that.

Sell Foden. Sell KDB.

Forward Woes

Watkins was a little lucky to double return. However, he’s been unlucky to not get more before now. It is classic variance. If you held him you made the right call, if you sold him you panicked and made a mistake.

The only thing to keep us worrying is how good Duran has been off the bench and Watkins hasn’t played a full 90 this year. Although, he did last 83 mins this year.

Isak owners were unlucky that he was forced off at half time because of an eye issue. It’s slightly concerning but wait as late as for news on him.

Pedro and Muniz didn’t start. Personally i am glad I didn’t sell Muniz for Pedro. But that was all luck. If you have Pedro don’t be too angry. There was nothing you could have done and no way you could have known. The FPL gods giveth and taketh away. Muniz is looking like a sell at the moment.

Wissa was probably the one you want at this price bracket going forward (as previewed over the IB). BUT! He’s now injured for months after a horrible challenge from Kovacic.

The 5.5 Cheapies

Unlike Pedro and Muniz, Smith Rowe and Minteh continue to offer value. Minteh created a couple of big chances and Smith Rowe assisted a Jimenez goal.

Rogers did Rogers things. He looks incredibly talented for a young guy but that’s what he is. A young guy. He lacks the composure of a more experienced guy. He missed that one on one and weighted a pass poorly otherwise he’d have two returns. I’m still not that interested in him. As I’ve said many times before, sure he is value but I want points!

I still back Semenyo as my favourite pick in this bracket after he took another three shots. Of course, I probably wouldn’t buy him ahead of Liverpool away but I might wildcard him in in 6 for Southampton at home.

The Mid-Priced Mids

Palace have been a bit of a disaster. Or maybe I just feel like that because I’m tripled up. I did not expect Mateta to take penalties over Eze. obviously it was a possibility but its one of those things i wasn’t counting on. I still like Eze but like his colleagues he’s just not been as good as I wanted him to be.

Gordon having one return from this set of favourable attacking fixtures has disappointed me. Again, I think there are some exigent circumstances with Isak going off. But, he’s on the chopping block for me. Barnes remains not an option if he continues not to start consistently.

Joe’s bae Bowen continued to show his value as a consistent good option. He has returned in 3 games. He’s been a little lucky on the xGI front but the fixtures are going to improve.

I’m reading nothing into Mbeumo not returning against Man City.

Bruno continued to frustrate but at least he got a return against the poor Saints team. Odegaard was obviously injured and if that continues then I’d be selling.

The Premium Defenders

I’m officially out on Munoz. He’s too expensive if they can’t even get close to a clean sheet against Leicester. And, as covered during the IB, I was already concerned about his lack of attacking ability without Olise this season.

Trent is still an excellent pick and us non-owners are sooooo fortunate not to have him killing us. Robertson has been a brilliant buy for me and his xGI is equivalent to some 5.5 mids which is great. But I know which one id rather have.

Most FPL managers started the season with Saliba where they were after an Arsenal defender and of course that meant Gabriel gets the first attacking return for them. I think we can probably say that Gabriel is nailed now and our panic at the start of the season is over. But both he and Saliba are great. I like White but I’d rather have one of these for 0.5 cheaper or Trent for 0.5 more.

I’m firmly out on Gvardiol.

The Other Defenders

I am likely to buy a Forest defender for my wildcard 6 team. Holding Liverpool to less than 1 xG at home is a formidable feat.

At the start of the season I planned to get Everton in from wildcard 6. I said It last week but they are really really bad and I’m seriously concerned about that defence.

James Moves

Naturally I am waiting for the midweek games before making moves.

I will try my hardest to hold my transfer as I am very sold on wildcard 6 after this abysmal week. If the fixtures were there I’d probably pull the trigger now but they aren’t.

Holding transfers before the wildcard now is a good idea because the transfers immediately before your wildcard diminish in value as they have fewer weeks to pay off.