Brexit, Fantasy Football and a Marauding Wolves Full-Back

Nov 21

Gameweek 13: #FPL Preview – Written by @NiallHawthorne

We’re back! The fourth (and final) international break of 2018 is finally behind us, and we now hurtle headlong towards an uninterrupted 14 GW’s of FPL chaos and carnage. But before you gird your loins, it’s time for the now customary review of what you may have missed while we were away.

Scenario 1:

Imagine you log into your FPL team for GW13 and you find that you’ve been kicked out of your mini-league. You’re only allowed transfer in British players, your chips have been removed, your substitutes are gone, four players are out for the season, but you still have to compete to the very best of your ability. That’s a ‘No Deal’ Brexit.

Scenario 2:

Imagine you log into your FPL team for GW13 and you find that you are still in your mini-league but you no longer have the power to choose your team. Other players in your mini-league can choose who plays for you each week. They also decide which players you can transfer in and out, and on what weeks you get to play your chips. That the ‘Current Deal On The Table’ Brexit.

Scenario 3:

Imagine you log into your FPL team for GW13 and everything is exactly as it was in GW12. You are competing in your mini-league, you have full control over transfers and when you play your chips, you can choose your starting line up with full autonomy, and you can even contact FPL directly to make suggestions as to how the game could be improved in the future. That’s the ‘Cancel Brexit’.

Now onto the really important matters, and tips for GW13!

Defender: Matt Doherty, Wolverhampton Wanderers

While almost 33,000 FPL players have taken Doherty out of their squads since GW12 ended, I think they may have jumped the gun a little too hastily. Young Matt has a double-header against the mighty Huddersfield and Cardiff over the next two weeks, both games offering a reasonable to strong chance of a clean sheet. Add in the average position Doherty occupies in his advanced wing-back role, and the next fortnight could still be profitable for the Irishman. Speaking of which, he cried off international duty with a ‘facial injury’, which is right up there alongside ‘my dog ate my homework’ in terms of excuses. Did he nick himself shaving? Shove his finger too far up his nose while having a pick? Poke himself in the eye inserting a contact lens?

Who cares. He’s rested, he’s a threat going forward and he’s facing two of the worst teams in the league. On the ‘face’ of it, he’s a must have.

Midfielder: Richarlison de Andrade, Everton

A home game in which a talented international Brazilian midfielder plays up front against Cardiff City?

Yes please!

While Richarlison has blown a bit hot and cold thus far this season, he’s still managed 6 goals and has scored 1 point less than Lacazette and 2 points less than Harry ‘Nations League Hero’ Kane (which incidentally is equivalent to Iron Man being lauded for apprehending a jaywalker). He also made a brief appearance as a substitute for Brazil in their victory over Uruguay, and while he may appear in their friendly against Cameroon, the match is being held in Milton Keynes, so the jetlag should be negligible.

Forward: Glenn Murray, Brighton & Hove Albion

The search for a reliable budget forward who will churn out points for you week in and week out is akin to the search for the Golden Ticket in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. You might think that you’re Mike Teavee or Augustus Gloop, but you know deep down that you’re Veruca Salt. You want it all, and you want it now!

While Glenn Murray has been disappointing away from home, you must give credit to him for his performances at the AMEX stadium. He’s shown himself to be a friend to FPL owners with 5 goals at home this season while his price tag makes him flexible enough to bench on weeks when others attract higher interest. You might think you’re a plastic fan of Murray by bringing him in for this week but you could be handsomely rewarded if he plays his cards right.

Captain: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

A moral dilemma faces all FPL players as “we” (Niall) decide if “we” (Niall) should select players from a football club that has allegedly flagrantly flouted FFP rules to leverage their lavish wealth to gain an unfair advantage over their competition. (Ed: We should! FYI – Off Topic, but FantasyYIRMA.com should not be considered an anti-city “hostile media outlet” ha!!….or hostile…. or actually a Media Outlet… we’re a two-bit fantasy blog!)

To those of you that are ok (YIRMA) with that then this week is when Aguero finally starts enjoying himself away from home and puts a goal or 3 past West Ham.

Outsider: Denis Odoi, Fulham

I’ve gone out on a limb a few times this season in this particular section. Junior Stanislas bore immediate fruit, as did Michail Antonio. Of course, I’ve had a whiff or two as well, notably Brighton’s Bruno last week. When he was dropped my phone lit up with all manner of personal abuse from ungrateful sods with short memories. They know who they are. B*stards.

Anyway, this tip is more to do with the return of Mr Dilly Ding Dilly Dong who now takes charge of Fulham and their slapstick defence. While a few of his players will have been away on international duty, those who stayed behind will have been locked in the cottage and drilled defensively to within an inch of their lives. The good news is they face one of the most toothless forward lines in the league in Southampton. While it may be a lottery as to who will get the Ranieri nod this weekend, Odoi has appeared with regularity, and he’s my punt of the week.

Draft: Robbie Brady, Burnley

That left foot.

That’s it. If you don’t have him and you can get him, get him for that left foot.

Written by Niall Hawthorne.