The Triple Captains Podcast
Triple Captains is a strategy-first Fantasy Premier League (FPL) podcast built for managers who want more than noise, hype or hindsight analysis.
Hosted by Arc, Hots and Guffs, the show breaks down decision-making, sequencing and risk through a lens of data, context and lived experience — blending analytics with honest conversation about the emotional side of the game… meaning slander is never too far away.
Rather than chasing trends, Triple Captains focuses on the thinking behind the moves: chip strategy, fixture swings, squad structure, ownership dynamics and the realities that shape outcomes across a season.
This isn’t about perfect picks. It’s about understanding the game well enough to make better decisions over time.
The Triple Captains Podcast
How an FPL Champion Thinks: Endgame Strategy, Doubles & Differentials ft. Jonas Sand Labaak
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What separates an average FPL manager from an overall winner?
In this episode of the Triple Captains Podcast, we’re joined by Jonas Sand Labaak (FPL Overall Winner 2023/24) to break down how he approaches the most decisive phase of the season.
With just seven Gameweeks remaining, we explore how to navigate the run-in, plan for upcoming Double Gameweeks, and make decisions that maximise upside while managing risk.
Jonas shares the decision-making framework that helped him beat the field — focusing not on isolated Gameweeks, but on likely outcome paths across the next 5–6 fixtures.
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🎯 In this episode:
– FPL endgame strategy explained
– How to approach Double Gameweeks
– Chip strategy for the run-in
– Differential captaincy thinking
– Key players for the final stretch
– Fixture analysis for GW32
– How elite managers think ahead
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If you’re chasing rank or protecting a lead, this episode gives you a framework not just picks.
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📺 Watch more FPL strategy episodes:
▶️ FPL Strategy Playlist: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqaS4SEX4KP27yxAxu6wnNr1ZJUwkSQcb]
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Intro & Special Guest
SPEAKER_00Truth be told, when I wonder what the future holds. It takes me up at the present. New mood, back to full mood, full present. That's like food. Teammates survived. Well, free the goals always survived. That's day to day your tone when you meet your mate. See you start chasing paper burden, trees or melting taste, but truth be told when I wonder what the future holds. It's impossible to process. So I'll stay focused on my progress.
SPEAKER_07Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of Ultra Captains. And yes, it's me hosting again. And there's some sour faces in the group, which we'll get into later on. But you know, I am catching someone, you know, the gap's getting closer.
SPEAKER_03I just thought you had a medical emergency with that briefing.
SPEAKER_07I'm speaking, my friend, right now. I'm the host, so you know, you have your time, so just chill, my friend. But anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway. Welcome, welcome, welcome to Triple Captains. Um, I'm of course one of your hosts, Gus, and we are joined by Hot's, of course, Ark. And as you can see on your screen, we have Jonas, which all you know did a big intro in a
FPL GW31 Winner
SPEAKER_07minute. Um, but Jonas, to some people who may know him, is the the winner of FPL in 23-24, I think it believes was Jonas. Um and not a winner of a mini league, as some of you people you know may have done in your in your short time playing this game, but winner of the actual FPL game, number one, many, many years, a couple of years ago. So, you know, we'll hear his thoughts and um opinions on on FPL, and of course that elusive double game we're coming up. Um, but before we get into that, hello. We'll start with the Sourface, the man with the Arsenal shirt. Hots, what's going on? Talk to me.
SPEAKER_04You've mentioned this Arsenal shirt offline and online. But like I said to you, offline. I'm an Arsenal fan when we win or lose, I'm not like you. But um, yeah, back to how I'm feeling, to be honest. Got a bit of a headache today. Um, but I was I've only missed one episode this season, and I wasn't gonna miss the one of our first parents for a guest, so you know, persevered in that. But um your hero. Yeah, that's right. I'm still your hero. Like, we'll go into histories of FPL if you want, but like, um, yeah. All jokes aside, long week, obviously, break from FPL. Um, needed for me. Not gonna bore you for a repeat of last week. Same, same feeling.
SPEAKER_07So, and yeah, stat man, man with a plan or no plan is why I had to call Ark. What's going on?
SPEAKER_03Not sure how you're speaking like this, considering where you are. Um that said, He who lasts last, my friend. He last last. No, you've been laughing all year, hence you're last. But um the situation is quite simple, to be fair. Um, last week wasn't too bad, but it wasn't too good. Um, so we are where we are. Um, lots of planning to do and working out what we need to do next. Perfect.
SPEAKER_07And of course, the new man, Jonas. How are we doing, my friend? Is it Jonas or Jonas? I mean, I'm gonna get it right. I don't want to offend you know Oslo, Norway.
SPEAKER_02I don't want to kind of so I I don't think anyone would be offended, but it's uh just say Jonas. It is you must, if if you're being correct, but you're not gonna say that now.
SPEAKER_01That's all right.
SPEAKER_07Okay, good to know. So, yes, guys, we are gonna get into it um very, very soon. Um of course we have uh 32 around the corner, which is a big week in many in many ways because uh lots of people obviously have their chips waiting. Um, some boo playing obviously their wildcard this game week ahead of the 33 double game week, um, and um lots of kind of decisions to make going forward. Um, but before we get into all that and we kind of speak about sort of our plans, I guess you know, there's a little chat with you, Jonas, in terms of your journey to FPL and kind of get to know who you are. So, I mean for those who don't know who you are, and maybe you aren't new to someone like yourself, can you explain to people like kind of you know, firstly who you are, where you're from, and sort of your journey in FPL?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, sure.
Meet Jonas – FPL Winner Insights
SPEAKER_02Um we can start with who I am. My name is uh, as you know by now, I hope, is Jonas. Uh I'm a 22-year-old from uh a place right outside of Oslo in Norway. Uh and my FPL journey started. I think I it was when I was eight or nine years old, I can't remember exactly, but it it started uh when me and my parents were at a dinner uh over at our neighbor's house. And then we're that it was this kid that was was about the same age as me there, who I talked with football about, and he told me about this game called Fantasy Premier League, which I didn't know anything about, and I thought, yeah, I must play this game.
SPEAKER_07Then I old are you then? I mean, because you're 22 now. How old were you at that point?
SPEAKER_02Eight or nine. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04I I thought you said that, but okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I did say that.
SPEAKER_04Oh, sorry, yeah. Someone's listening.
SPEAKER_02But anyway, and my first season, which me and Guffs actually talked about before we started streaming, isn't on this uh on this uh nice uh image here. Um because I at the time I didn't have an email account, so I signed up with my father's email.
SPEAKER_04Would that um change this break record here right now? Secret never to be told.
SPEAKER_02I guess we'll never know.
SPEAKER_04Nice, nice.
SPEAKER_02Uh and um yeah, I started playing. Well, seeing as I was somewhere between 8 and 14, 13 for a lot of these seasons, I didn't really have much clue what I was doing, but somehow ended with I think 181,000 as a nine-year-old is quite respectable. Um, but but then I I started to get more and more into it around 2022 and 2023, where I started using analytics, and I started using that actually in another fantasy game, which is the Norwegian League, Elite ZN. And then I thought, why have I not used this in fantasy Premier League? Because if it exists in the Norwegian League, it must exist in fantasy Premier League as well. So 2024 was actually my first full season of playing 100% or not 100, but 95% analytically, and turned out to go pretty well. And then we last season, which might be might be uh one of the nah it's not, but one of the worst title defenses.
SPEAKER_07I feel like your team is support, right? I mean, you know, we can say they run.
SPEAKER_02No comments. I I did, I did, yeah. Um but then again, this season again it's going much better. But that's quite short, or maybe not that short, about my story on FPL at least.
SPEAKER_07I'm sure the other guys will have questions on themselves, but the question I want to ask you, you talked about analytics, I mean that's quite a broad thing, right? So when you say analytics, I mean what specifically kind of talk to me about kind of how you use analytics. Do you sort of use a lot of the streaming services? Do you actually look at raw data? Is it from Optar?
SPEAKER_03Are you trying to work out if any science a subscription like you? Oh, but you're not doing that this year though.
SPEAKER_07Are you? I'm I'm I'm a pure. I'm a pure Resarch, as you know, you know. I'm fair, the straight, you know.
SPEAKER_02Well, to answer, I
How Winners Think Differently: Jonas' Secret Sauce
SPEAKER_02use um predictive models. Um and I also like stats, but mostly predictive models where um yeah, where where you get those uh expected values and stuff like that. That that's what I use, and I I I started integrating it into my decision making uh around 2023.
SPEAKER_07I mean, what's your sort of style? Are you quite conservative? Are you aggressive? How would you say you sort of attack the game?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I'd like to say I'm boring. I I approach the game quite boring. Uh and I think the picks that are boring are good picks, and they are boring for a reason, and then some a little bit of spice on top, but not a lot.
SPEAKER_04So are you like literally not following the transcript, but are you just following what's like what comes up on what you're using, and then just throwing your, as you said, spice into it?
SPEAKER_02No, no, I I think it's more so. I come up with an idea in my head, and it's more using the models to to kind of give me an idea if I'm totally wrong or not.
SPEAKER_04I I had to ask that question so it's clear. Because if you say you're using LX, people could just think you're just following the script. That's why I asked the question so you can clear that out. That record is very good. Like looking at that record is a very good record before you started using it, to be fair.
SPEAKER_07The season you won, obviously, you won a couple of years ago now. I mean, obviously your record outside of that has been a little bit up and down. Obviously, I know you you're quite young, so you learn the game, and I appreciate that. But what went right that season? I mean, is it just the stars aligned? Was you more patient then? I mean, I mean, is there anything you can remember from that season that kind of stuck out to you that you played a certain way? Was you leading from the beginning and maintaining? Sort of talk to me about that season.
SPEAKER_02Well well, it's hard to say because I I didn't really know it went that great until I realized like um your way. Yeah, just imagine every single 50-50 decision going right. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, but then you can't.
SPEAKER_04Next thing you know, you see your yeah, next thing you know, you see your rank and think. Okay. And you continue. Because this game has an element of luck. Obviously, your record shows their skill. Even like I said, um, okay, there's the first, but all of all of the positions that I saw were in the thousands, whether it's a hundred thousand or whatever else. And that's that's not easy with 10 million, 11 million, or um 12 million. I think without any luck and without having those 50-50 um chances going your way, to get first place, that's that is an achievement that you know you can't no one can say anything about that. Number one, like my highest finish is 4000, 4008. And that season obviously is my best season for me. But in that season, I start off badly. So it was like when I but because of how high I finished, I was I'm sort of proud of that as my best one. So hit to hear number one overall, I'm like that's very impressive. So and at a young age as well.
SPEAKER_02That's like but but but when you're well, usually when you're playing, you're playing for overall rank, right? So or at least I do. I I want my overall rank to be as good as possible. Uh, and if my overall rank is good, there's a high possibility I'm winning my mini leagues as well, right? Whereas when you're coming into the top
Endgame Strategy Explained
SPEAKER_02100 or top 20 or whatever, it's almost like you're playing a completely different game. The risks you have to take has to align with the other players' teams. So let's say you're top, let's say you're top five, the risks have to align with uh the other four over you or did the five above you.
SPEAKER_06No under you, behind you, yeah.
SPEAKER_02That's the word I'm looking for.
SPEAKER_04Um at the expense of a mini league, is you won't obviously if you win that, you will you could you'll win your mini leagues. But if you're chasing just the overall ranking, then if you get one, you're gonna be number one up in everything anyway. So I would assume so. Yeah, but if you come fifth, you could you could be in a league where you if you if you say you did come fifth, because obviously you've got the one where you've come first, but then apart from the one when you've come first, you've just been in a respectable ranking. It's not been like you've come first, fifth. And so obviously, in those seasons, when when you've come amongst maybe 100,000, for example, is it a case that while trying to get the overall ranking it's costed you in any of those seasons, is what I'm getting at, I guess.
SPEAKER_02Um no, I I don't really think so. Um I I think the main difference between my playing strategy now and how I played before is um I'm more risk-averse now. Years ago, I took many, let's call it stupid decisions, or if it looked stupid in hindsight and probably did before as well, but had the chance of a massive payoff. Uh whereas now I've I try to minimize that and don't have too many risks. But then I'd rather look at effective ownership, for example. Whereas one player on the model might be uh might have really good numbers and predicted to do really well, but then for some reason is only owned by the effective ownership of five percent. That's more of a a risk you can defend at least. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Very interesting story, and I'm sure we'll kind of get into it as we kind of get into the podcast and into the main subject, which um to remind people, we're actually talking about uh you know, double game week and decisions we make around the double game week. Um but before we get into that, I I first want to encourage people that are watching this podcast today, and we say this every week, guys and girls. I'm hopefully watching this podcast. Please do click on that like and subscribe button. Um, I know some of you guys are watching this and not doing that. It's very simple. Just a click and it's done. Very simple. So please do, you know, support the podcast um and show your love by just simply clicking that button. It is really appreciated. Before we get into the main part of the show, I think it's really important for us to sort of see where we all are all are after the last game week. It feels uh so long ago now. Something just happened between between then and now with the cup final, which we won't get into in this show because I'm still I'm still in pain over that. Um but uh let's have a look at I guess your team first, um Jonas. Um so far your
Jonas' FPL GW31 Team Review
SPEAKER_07season's been going pretty well. Um you're ranked in under 50,000, which is very, very good. I mean, talk to me a bit about your season so far. I mean, how's it gone? Um, did it start well? Has it been pretty consistent? I mean, sort of just have a little brief run through in terms of how things have gone so far.
SPEAKER_02Well, uh it didn't really start well. Uh I was ranked in the millions after probably like 11, 12 weeks or so. But in a game week, I can't remember exactly the game week, I used my free eight, and everything worked out on the free eight, or almost everything. It was a week where yeah, game week 13. Uh I I had a few Brentford players, Dango, Thiago, who all got double-digit hauls, Foden, Gakpo, actually, also, where I had a game week rank of around 5,000, which boosted my rank to 230,000 or something like that. And ever since that I've been kind of going up and down around the same. Um, like up to 100,000, down to 150, 120, 130. And then a few weeks ago, I think it was game week 28. Before the game week, I was ranked 100k on the dot. And I had a great game week. Uh boosted my rank to around 50,000. Week after, everything went wrong, back down to 100,000, and then week after that, everything went right again, up to around 49,000. And then last game week, which it was game week 31. Um I had a decent game week and barely moved. I think I moved up around like 460 places or something like that. So tiny, tiny green arrow.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I mean, it's interesting looking at your sort of stats overall. I mean, obviously the transfers sticks out. I mean, you made 29 transfers, and I think that I think particularly with someone like me and Hot, I guess, as an example, we've obviously made, you know, almost like eight or nine more than that. Um which kind of speaks to coming with your more conservative sort of approach to the game. You know, team value 104 million, which, you know, this is a thing that kind of I think is one of those really weird things in a game that people that are doing really well in a game you would think have a very high team value. Your team value is is is quite sort of um you know average, I guess. Um I mean, we had a show a few weeks ago where we talked about team value and and the importance of of having money in the bank. I mean, is it something that you you look at in the game? Do you are you trying to sort of build team value or are you just playing a game straight up straight up?
SPEAKER_02Nah, I don't really look at team value. Maybe in the start of the seasons, where an 0.1 change might uh set you out of a move. Let's say you have a player, you have nothing in the bank after game week one, have a player for 5 million and another rises to 5.1, you can't get him. Right? Uh whereas later in the season, as of now, I think uh the info we will get throughout the weeks, especially when there's midweek games like Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, uh even FA Cup, uh, which we will have uh next weekend. I I think the value of waiting and getting the information is greater than uh the team value.
SPEAKER_07I mean 59 points probably wasn't the the sort of total you're looking for, I guess. Um I think most of the sort of the higher scores in this game week were sort of mid-sixties and above. Um obviously we will all try and negotiate the the blank game week with Arsenal Man City assets, which I'm sure I'm you kind of owning your bench. Um what do you what do you think about the sort of ship of your team? I mean, uh are there people that you're happy with and maybe want to get rid of? I mean, we'll kind of get onto the the the um later on the show about potential wild cards, but in terms of you know performing assets, what are the sort of highs and lows?
SPEAKER_02Um well the highest is obviously Bruno Fernandez, who I've owned for a lot a long time now, almost all season, apart from the little spell he had injured. Um Slya also have has actually proven to be a quite decent asset. He does get def cons every now and then, has uh decent enough numbers, and looks like he's scoring free kicks every fourth week or so. It's crazy. Apart from that, um Tiago going early, Wilson has done well, and Elliott Anderson just consistently good. But I don't think there are a lot of people in this team that looks to survive uh a wild card if I'm going to wildcard this week. And I can also add that before last game week, my plan was to roll to five free transfers ahead of wildcarding. But uh see Goodmanson uh from Leeds got a red card, and I had to do another transfer to field 11, which I believed was valuable. I bought Hall, and as you can see, it didn't turn out that well.
SPEAKER_07It happens.
SPEAKER_02It happens, yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_07It's happened to me a lot this season. Don't worry about it so so.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it it could have been worse, it could have been Shaw. A lot of people bought him.
SPEAKER_07Well, bottom this wit game week was um the man who's been unusually quiet, you know. I don't know why why he's quiet.
SPEAKER_03Maybe you know he's still Well, do you want me to interrupt everyone?
SPEAKER_07No, I'm just you know I'm just I'm just curious.
SPEAKER_03I thought maybe a bit sore from from you know. No, not at all. Still above you, so that's always a good thing. Well barely, barely. No, no, no, no, it barely doesn't matter. It's binary. Above or below. I'm above.
SPEAKER_07So Ark, the man who's fanning his voice, talked about your team, your game week. How did it go?
Arc's FPL GW31 Team Review
SPEAKER_03Um, game week went how we expected when we discussed last week. Um, it was really the captain choice that hindered wherever I was. Um, I was chasing upside, so therefore went for someone that was a bit of a differential from Bruno. Um, bearing in mind, knowing that I had Bruno, so I expected that if he did get points, I'd be able to cover that. Um, however, Wilson only returned with one. Um, so it wasn't a bad decision, it was a good process decision to bring him in. Um, because who I had, um, instead of who I had replaced, I had Le Fay. Um, so that wouldn't have worked out well. Um, so generally um decisions have been sound, but my structure is still inefficient. Um I'm over invested in defense. Um, so like many of the players I've got, they're high in value, but their returns are low at the moment, and my midfield isn't carrying a consistent enough threat. Um so unfortunately, variance happens, um, and that's what happened with Dango. Um, so he didn't actually have any minutes. Well, he got 13 minutes, so um gave me one point. Verts also didn't return anything. Um, so I've got a couple of players in my midfield that have got a low floor, but they didn't convert their upside. Um, so that's reflective in the points that I got. And you always worry when you look and you see your strikers, the the actual returns that you got from your strikers are actually from DEF CON. Um, so you know, it's a lot to discuss and think about and kind of um put in the cauldron. Um I've been timing the idea of I was quite focused on yes, I'll go for wildcard 32, um, bench base 33, free hit 34, and triple captain after that. Um I've been bouncing around, do I do that, do I not? Um, but in reality, where I am positionally means I do need to be aggressive, so wildcard 32 is likely to be um where I've got to be.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, but we have we've all we've all had these rough weeks ago, you know, because before I've had many of them,
Hots' FPL GW31 Team Review
SPEAKER_07um I went for Walton Captain as well.
SPEAKER_04Um Jonas, I don't know if you've seen previous episodes, but um I'm in a situation where I've been trying to be more disciplined, um, so not taking minuses or take making changes and trying to go into 32 with a few free changes. So I've been stuck with people like Calvin Lewin, um Rogers, and guys that I've wanted to take out of my team, and which I will usually just take them out, and they would have been out a long time ago. But because they were gonna be playing in um 31, I thought, you know what, let me be disciplined, hold on to them, and just see it out, wait out until 31. And yeah, that didn't quite work out. Um but my season hasn't been working out in general, if I'm honest with you. Um this is gonna be my worst season ever. I've been doing it for as long as you have. And um, as you can see, I'm 1.2 million. Um it's it's they were getting on to me last week when I was saying that uh like if I wasn't, if we didn't start this podcast, I would have dropped it um for the first time ever. I've never felt like that before, if I'm being honest. Like even looking at your record, which is it's got that number one in there, which is amazing. But when I look at my record, I've got like 20,000, 30,000, 40,000. My record over the last 10 years has been decent. So it's not like um I look at it with any shame or anything, but this season is pissing me off, if I'm totally honest with you, and I don't know what to do at the moment. Usually, like I'll be I would have wild-carded already, even if I didn't I was gonna wait for the FA Cup games and internationals, I would have just put in the players um that I would have wanted in my team so that they didn't go up, i.e. Gordon or whatever I may have wanted to do. But because nothing I'm doing is going right, whether I'm being brave on captains, whether I'm trying to hold on or not, take make the check, the changes that I would usually make, nothing's working. So I'm literally done nothing so far. Um I'm just don't know what I want to do. I want to do the wild card because it makes sense, but I don't know if I will. But back to this team, as you can see, the strikers did Full. Um, Wilson got his goal. I thought Bruno would only get one one contribution and Wilson potentially would get one. But if I was lucky, he'll get two and Bruno will get one, but it worked the other way around. But because I want to sort of climb, I just didn't want to go for what I knew everyone would be going for, which was which I believed would be Bruno. Um didn't work out. Roger finally got me an assist. But after all this time of him getting me twos and ones, it's not good enough. Cash finally gave me something, but he's another one that's a spin there just because he would play in 31. Even when he was out, I kept him on my bench because I didn't want to waste changes. So yeah, I'm very disappointed. I can't lie. But 61's not too bad, considering if I had Captain Bruno, um I don't even know, I potentially would have would it have would I have been the same in points as you go?
SPEAKER_07No, I think you still would have slightly lost, but but you would have got maybe like 66 or something like that. I think you would have you would have had an uplift, but not quite where I'm at.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_04My maths may be wrong, but I thought it would be eight points extra. But anyway, um it's irrelevant because I went for Wilson, and yeah. And um yeah, second out of the three of us this week, whatever. But to be fair, I said it in the last episode. I'm not too fussed at the moment. Um, my mini leagues, I'm all every season I'm winning, I'm always in profit. This season, I'm gonna take an L. My only real, I'm not caring about overall ranking. I don't want to be in the millions though. But when it comes to this season, I just need to make sure that I beat these two in our first season. That's my only goal at the moment. So I'm on I'm on schedule for that. Um, hosting-wise, hopefully, points-wise, I remain there. And that's it.
SPEAKER_07So I think he's if I if I could if I could give you at your wing position and give your attention right now, you know. But um, as we as we just sort of dry our eyes for a second there.
SPEAKER_04My eyes ain't watery, bro. I'm just saying facts. That Jonas doesn't know all of us, and he's seeing 1.2, and that doesn't reflect anything I've ever done in my entire life. And I've said it on previous episodes, what I'm aiming to do. And in reality, at the end of the season, we'll see what I will end up, where I'll end up, and what I will do. So it is what it is. But well done, Mr. Guffs. You you you won this week. Let's go on to your team, which is
Guffs' FPL GW31 Team Review
SPEAKER_04how many points ahead? Oh, it it it is it's actually eight points ahead, so we would have better draw, but anyway, go on. We were not done, but anyway.
SPEAKER_07Um, yes, so yeah, I mean, look, uh again, my ranking is horrific. Um you know, it's been a real, real, real bad season. I mean, I was actually doing some calculations in terms of you know my score sort of post the turn of the year, and I've actually been doing really well sort of since since sort of January quite. But um my my business being.
SPEAKER_03So we're using stats to inflate ourselves now, yeah. Just stating facts, you know. You know, if we all what what facts are you saying? What have you moved to because of that?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's climbed, it's it's it dramatically climbed up into 2.5.
SPEAKER_07So suddenly you want to talk now, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Well, you know, you you're they're like waxing lyrical, like you you're on some kind of improvite. Do you want to talk or do you want to be quiet? Make your mind up, my friend. You know, what do we want to be quiet for? You know, like we're in the episode now.
SPEAKER_07So oh, oh, interesting.
SPEAKER_04Anyway, anyway, anyway. Um, where was we? It's a bit like this, to be honest, from time to time. Yeah, we have the back and forth.
SPEAKER_07The first half of the season was absolutely horrific for me. I was in the five millions or seven or things like that, and it's been a real tough slog to kind of get to this point, quite frankly. Um, I think when you made a point earlier on about sort of being boring, that kind of resonates with me a little bit because I think that actually um two things have kind of gone well for me. One has been the captain's choices have been going well for me, which is a big thing in this game, but also I have been a little bit more conservative and a bit more boring. That's actually worked for me. Um and uh Slow and City, I think, is is the is the way in this game for sure. But this game week, I mean, um actually in many ways, not a lot went that right for me. The captain choice was a big thing for me, right? So obviously Bruno was my captain and got me that that big haul of 26, which obviously was the foundation for my game week. But like most people, the strikers all around the ball did nothing at all. Gio Pedro has been a a real big winner for me, sort of the last four or five game weeks, getting big hauls, which has sort of helped me come up the league. Um but obviously his his run was bound to end at some point. Um, but I do still feel he's you know, in terms of point to to price ratio, he's probably the best trucker to have in the game at this point in time, given that Harlan's fallen off a cliff. Um has been a bit win, been a big win for me um since bringing him in. Um he's he's always very good in terms of his returns on assists and goals. Um I brought in Wilson this game week, mainly to cover the big haul of people bringing Wilson into their team. I thought I had to kind of cover Wilson um and it was a smart move because he obviously got it got a goal. Um but yeah, it's it's it wasn't a fantastic week when you look at sort of um the sort of team as a whole. Um, well, Kellehaha was going to come on to Keller has been a real big win for me. Um I kind of had a limited money at the time for a keeper, I had about 4.8 million or something to kind of spend, and there were a few keepers to choose from. There was Kelleha and it was the Brighton goalkeeper whose names escaped me right now, um, and a few others. And I thought I'd go over Keller because Brentford had a nice sort of patch of games, and he's done really well. He did a few sort of double digit hauls as well. So yeah, I'm I'm I'm fairly happy with the shape of my team. I think that you know there's some some good people to have. But you know, we'll come on to it in the next section. I haven't got my wildcard going forward, so I have to really be mindful about the about my changes going forward now, because I don't have that wildcard to sort of reset my team and hit those players who you're gonna want from here on out. So um yeah, I've got a lot to think about in the next few game weeks, especially after the FA Cup, to sort of see what players are sort of bringing, whether or not to take minus as going forward and be aggressive. But yeah, listen, I've got you know a fair bit above the back above the average, which is good. And um I can't complain with the game week as long may continue, I guess. So yeah,
Planning for Double Gameweeks
SPEAKER_07as we sort of start the show, this week we're gonna focus on double game weeks and specifically how we kind of approach double game weeks um terms of the players we look for. Um is it important to load teams of the double game week players? Um is it important to be aware of your team value? There's lots of decisions that kind of go into treating players around double game weeks. Um I guess the first point to really look at is uh let's have a look at sort of what we have left, right? Because we all have various different chips left for you, Jonas. We'll start with you. You've used your triple captain already.
SPEAKER_02Um I used it on Gabrielle in Game Week 26, was it?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, yeah. I remember that game week where lots of content creators did the same that you did. Um so how is that affected in terms of your decisions going forward now? I mean, obviously um most sort of people are going for the arc of potentially uh wild card, bench boost, free hit, and then obviously if we have a double game week in 36, I believe, will be the triple captain, you wouldn't have that. Is it just a case you should go follow follow the normal art of everyone else and then just try and get through the double game week in in 36? Is that sort of your your mind right now, Michael?
SPEAKER_02Well, first and foremost, I think triple captain is the weakest chip. So me not having it in game week 36, if that's the case, doesn't really bother me that much. And uh I I thought when I used it at 26, we we didn't have much information about the doubles. So it could have been a case similar to last season where we only get one big double game week, and that's about it. So I just thought Arsenal with two decent games. Um let's do it Brentford and Wolves, was it? I think so.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, quite a bit.
SPEAKER_02So so you you would have thought Arsenal would have got at least one clean sheet.
SPEAKER_04Thanks for my loss.
SPEAKER_02Uh and and then I just thought the potential with Gabriel was very high, and he got an assist, and let's say he they got a clean sheet in the same game as well. He probably would have gotten 11, 12 points, and on top of that, he got was it two or four, I don't know, the game before. And let's say 16, that's 32, 48 points, right? So I thought the upside was there, uh, and and I liked the decision. But in hindsight, it wasn't maybe the best. But based on the information we had at the time, I thought that was uh the best decision I could make, and I I believed it.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, look, it was it was it was the right the right um philosophy, I think. I think that um the upside was definitely there. I mean, I was thinking about it. But I mean, speaking specifically about sort of your your strategy going forward, I mean I mean, are you are you definitely going for the wild card this game week? I mean, is that sort of where your mind's at right now?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I think 95% sure I'm going with the wild card this week. What might change it if is if Liverpool end up beating Man City in the Cup, and then Liverpool will get a double game week, and Man City won't, seeing as I already have three Liverpool players and only one Man City players player. I I might want to change something, but then again, as a Liverpool fan and as pessimistic as I am, I don't think we will beat Man City in the FA Cup. So I think 95%,
Teams Likely to Double in GW33
SPEAKER_02and we might also get other upsets in the cup as we we talked about before starting this. With uh you never know, maybe Sunderland beats no Sunderland, Southampton beats Arsenal, and maybe Chelsea.
SPEAKER_07Don't put it out in the atmosphere, please.
SPEAKER_04You know, no, as uh well why why didn't you do Paul Bell or Chelsea? Remember, you're having three Arsenal fans right now.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I could press any minute right now.
SPEAKER_03I said, yeah, I mean because there is a combination that could happen where it's only City and Burnley that double. It is. So um yeah, there is a lot riding on watching the outcome of these games to see where we are.
SPEAKER_02So so a bench boost in Game Week 33 with three Burnley and three City doesn't sound that good, does it?
SPEAKER_03And I guess I guess that's one of the points, right? Because with double game weeks, like some people look at it like yes, you can bring in loads of players, but I suppose to to an extent I look at it that it just means that there's a lot more decisions you can get wrong, right? Because what do you do? Do you go with loading your team with double game week players, or do you go for a fixture that is more of a prime one, but a single-week player? Um and it's been proven right a lot of the times in the past that actually the single-week players have got more. I'm not not too worried about rotational risk with the um double game week. It's more about trying to price the risk correctly. And that's where you can go wrong. Which what we did earlier in the season.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I mean, so talk a bit more about that, Ark. I mean I mean, what's your philosophy? Are you I must you spoke a little bit about earlier on the show that you know you're probably leaning towards playing your wildcard? I mean, and you sort of touched on being more aggressive. What does being more aggressive look like for you?
SPEAKER_03Is it being more aggressive is using wildcard, um, because if I default to my usual I'll wait until 35. Um, but that would be me being more reactive than proactive, and bearing in mind what my overall rank is at this stage, um, I have to force the situation. That's what being more aggressive looks like for me as it stands. I guess because City are now out of Europe, um, there's also less of a rotation risk with them um in terms of their players, they're gonna go health a level trying to um climb up the league, and um it'd be subject to the FA Cup, but I think they can maneuver with that.
SPEAKER_07I mean, Hart, so what's your kind of like philosophy for this for this sort of upcoming game? I mean, it's obviously wise to wait until after the FA Cup before making making huge changes, but I guess you can initiate your world card now, right?
SPEAKER_04And just because it's no, so like I said in the last section, I usually would, and I already know the players, some of the players that I would have put in. Um, but even when you went when you were reviewing the chips we have left, and Jonas was mentioning the triple captain, I was going to the triple captain um dabs that week. And the only reason I didn't was because I thought where I am currently in the league, if I hold my chips towards the end of the season, that might be what can just give me them little boosts towards the end. Now I've got to where I am now. Normally, like I said, I would have activated my wildcard already. And now I haven't. I'm just not sure what I'm gonna do. Um, you know, obviously mentioned like a template of wildcard, bench boost, three hit, which still seems logical, but I'm not totally unhappy with my team for game week um 32. So I don't know if I'm gonna try to save that chip and just have four chips still, and then hopefully um if I can climb without using my chips, I've got chips, even if it's a single game weeks, that will just boost my rankings up a bit. So this is the first time I'm actually not sure what I'm gonna do, and just gotta be honest about it. Um, but yeah, I would say that the template of um wildcard, bench boost, and free hit would be the most logical for those of all their chips. Um, but yeah, for me, um I'm just not sure what the hell I'm gonna do at the moment. Nothing's working, so I don't know what to do. But best thing to do when you don't know what to do is take time and just wait. You know, there's international gun on and then the FA Cup, so I guess something will push me in one direction and I'll go with it.
SPEAKER_07Is it I mean, looking at the fixtures there, for the single game week teams? I mean, is is there certain games in there that you look at and think, yep, that's the game I want to target for that double game week? Obviously, we we have to obviously sort that there's certain teams that are gonna double. But I mean, are you sort of really looking at these sort of fixtures here, Jonas, in terms of like, okay, that's a that's a a game that I really like look of, and I'm gonna be trying to sort of know the players in that team. Um, given that we're now at that stage of the season now where I think the teams that were kind of being targeted earlier on in the season are like the Burnleys and the Wolves just picked up recently, right? And are no longer the whipping boys in the league. Um how do you how do you view a kind of a a a prime game now? Are you looking at teams who maybe are middle of the league and uh can't go into Europe and cut relegates or on the beach? What's your sort of your Your thought process?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think for teams that uh don't have anything to play for, it's a bit too early still. And I honestly think uh the best feature you'll get uh even if it's the last gaming of the season is Burnley at home. Might sound obvious, but that's what I think. Um, and also Sunderland right now aren't looking too good, although they beat Newcastle last week.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, Sunderland are a funny one. They've kind of been sort of teetering a little bit over the last sort of month or so. I mean here we can see Burnley are obviously away to Nottingham Forest. You mentioned you know home games Burnley is a very strong picture and FPL. But then you know, Nottingham Forest haven't been great, apart from putting three-part spurs, haven't been proficient in front of goal. Do you look at Forest and think, you know, yeah, that's a good game for Igor Jesus and and and Gibbs White, potentially, or is that game you're thinking that nah I'm not really fancying that one?
SPEAKER_02Nah, I've I Forest, I'm pretty sure Forest won't have any doubles uh for the rest of the season. And seeing I'm using my free thing every 34, don't really see the need to get them. And I'd rather you get other players, and I'd rather focus on doubles and players from teams that are actually good. Right? It's very logical.
SPEAKER_07Ark, what are your thoughts in terms of you know just the types of players you're kind of looking to target? Is it more of a balance of doubles and single um strong games, or is it really just going double heavy?
SPEAKER_03No, it it will really be dependent on who is gonna double. Like I the double fixtures this year don't look particularly useful. Um, so for instance, you look at an Arsenal that will have City and Newcastle if they double. Right. Um, there are a few others that actually you've got teams that are punching at relatively the same weight, which makes it harder to predict. Um, but like we will have to do what we need to do. To be fair, and um my focus is on trying to get through 32 as it stands, let alone um 33. But with 33, all I will do is I will just cluster some of the fixtures together. I'll be aiming for whatever fixtures it feels as though there will be high XG in. And that obviously that'll be dependent on defensive performances from the different teams around there. So Bournemouth are always good for that because they concede a lot of chances, but they're always involved as well.
SPEAKER_04Even with those fixtures there, you know, if you're using the bench boost or whichever way you're gonna go for it, Bruno Fernandez is in greatest form right now. Um obviously, you know my thing with minutes, form, fixtures, and he's got Chelsea. But a lot of people are gonna want to keep him, even though he's away to Chelsea, because he's their star man and everyone, everything goes for him. So um, you know, and there's other games in there that may like everton uh decent form right now. Um that ever might not be yeah, but but that's the we've uh like I said, we didn't think Wolves will score two and draw with Arsenal. Like this season's been a very weird season, and teams are just doing different things from than than is expected. So um, you know, I don't think it's gonna be an easy game for Liverpool, if I'm honest. We don't know who's gonna be fit, who's gonna get injured over these next few weeks, so it's difficult to even um talk now, but I just think that Everton's been surprising me recently. I don't think it's ever that easy um away for Liverpool.
SPEAKER_02So well, uh Everton away for Liverpool, especially, but almost every single team isn't uh an Eastern Nation. So I I agree with you there because they're tight defensively and but but you never know. Sometimes they just I have no idea what's happening, but they're losing 4-0.
SPEAKER_07Randomly, yeah. I mean, it looks to me that you know Man City obviously got a home game against Arsenal, which again they have to obviously win to have a new chance of winning a title, right? Um and they're potentially gonna have Burnley in the in the second game if they beat Liverpool, of course. So it feels like a potential, you know, obviously taking off my Arsenal hat for a second and looking at it from just a neutral standpoint, you know, they look like a team that's probably quite good to target, just simply off the back of the fact that they are our home albeit of Arsenal and they've got Burnley. Um what's your feeling with with Haaland right now? I mean, lots of people have unloaded in on Haaland because his form has been really, really poor. Do you think it's the time is now to spread the money across the team and get rid of him, or are you still confident that you can turn things around? What's what's where are you with now with him?
SPEAKER_02Um I think uh Harland is it's dependent on the Liverpool City game uh in the cup. Because if Man City win and get a double game week, um or they get two actually, um you'd have to go Holland. For me, you you'd have to go Triple City, and who do you even go if you're not going Holland? O'Reilly, Semenio, then who else is there?
SPEAKER_04There's no one really maybe maybe gay at push, but then that's about it. I think it's crazy to even think about not going off Harland once they've got a double, even though his form's not been there. Because at any time you just know he can it can just hit hat trick. He's their main guy.
SPEAKER_02So yeah. And then again, it's not only one double because the Crystal Palace game from 31 also needs to be rescheduled. So there's two doubles for Man City in the run in.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I I guess you know an issue I have specifically for this upcoming double game week. Um I think it's relative to Arsenal and probably City as well, is the potential of rotation, right? I mean, that's something that you need to kind of be mindful of and be careful of when we are making decisions about our double game week teams, because again, on paper, a team might have a decent double game week, but uh you know, there are still a few teams that are in Europe um in club competitions. Um and if you look across the board, lots of teams, even the teams that are sort of middle of the league, have been doing lots lots of rotation with their team. So is there is you know, there's very few guarantees of outside of you know uh your writers, your your addicts and you know, the people that play in game out game out. Can we can we be sure that your quote is gonna play both games for Arsenal? Don't know. You know, can we be sure that, you know, like you said, Church is gonna play both games? Not sure, but they vote in one game. So there is lots of risk out there in terms of trying to focus primarily on double game week players when you know we've seen already in the last few game weeks that rotation is ripe. So um I guess my my feeling is is yes, definitely try to sort of target double game week players, but I think you have to really make sure that you're going for players that like you mentioned before, Jonas, uh are pretty much guaranteed to play week in, week out, um and don't try to be too clever with it because you kind of find yourself unstuck. Um my question is to you, Hot, really, here. I I you've you sort of mentioned that you're not really happy with your ranking right now and and 1.2 is is not where you want to be, clearly. Has that sort of changed in terms of how you're going to attack this stage of the season? Are you kind of gonna go back to hardcore hot and be more aggressive? Um what's what's already changed, right?
SPEAKER_04It's already changed. Um the fact that I've kept Dominic Calvin Lewin, you see what I was doing in the beginning of the season when I wasn't doing as bad as I'm doing now. If I wanted someone out of my team, I'd just take them out like I would normally. Um, I'm not as disciplined as Jonas or Arc. I'm just a bit ruthless, a bit like. But um I've been trying to, but I understand um that you need to have some discipline in the game. And I've been trying to play the game that's not really my game. So I've kept plays. Like I said, Cash should have been a goner as soon as he was out. But I thought, well, you're back. You're definitely gonna be back for 31. I'll hold on to you. I'll do this. And yes, he got um the points in 31, but it wasn't worth the wait for me. Um, with who I could have put in and stuff. So I my regrets have already come to light. So, like I said, with this game week, I would have already done my wildcard. I would already put players in that I believed is gonna go up if they were gonna go in my team now. I would have been monitoring. I would have already had my team set, screenshot, so I remember what my team's gonna be for when the FA Cup happens. Um, I already know what team it right now. I don't even know who I want in my team. I'm not even I just said that when the FA Cup's over, I'll I'll think about it then. And that's not like me. Usually I'm weeks ahead. So I'm a bit, you know, you know it was winding me up, but I am a bit defeated. Um and everyone's with their own style. You mentioned earlier, stop laughing. Um you mentioned earlier. Um you mentioned earlier about um, you know, the amount of changes in the season when I got my highest that 4,000, I made loads of changes. That was a hardcore hot season where I was I did minus eight, I did minus 12s, I did whatever I wanted to do, like I would ruthlessly and then still get the highest scoring points in that game week. Minus that eight. So even though I've done like big minuses and did like my transfers way over 50. You you said it's something on 30 something now, and I'm thinking, well, is that it? So even though it seems like it's more than Jonas, for example, in the season I got my highest, highest ever um points. It's probably double that for my minuses. I didn't care because if it works, it works. But um it is what it is. Um I think once the FA Cup's over, I'll go for say I do my wild card, I'm gonna look to have three good weeks in a row. Um, haven't saved this chip to nothing, and then I'll just monitor from there, and that's it. But um, I definitely need to be hosting right very soon because you boys have been hosting for the last few um episodes, and I mean you've got a bit of a spring on your step, so gotta slap that spring away.
SPEAKER_03But that he's hosted like the last five times in a row. Listen, don't let me catch you, Hot.
SPEAKER_04Like this spring catch me in what you mean do you mean catch me in points or catch me in um game weeks? That we do Jonas understand what we do. Does Jonas understand what we do? Have you explained it to him? Okay, cool. So I don't think you're gonna catch me in that.
SPEAKER_07This spring will be a poll vote if I catch you, bruv. So just just be aware.
SPEAKER_04Like it's it's well, without your wild card and uh questions you're asking about Haaland, when you're asking, would you have Harland if it's a double game week? With those type of questions, I'm not really concerned about you catching me.
SPEAKER_07I think we've got to speak to the viewers too, right? Like not necessarily saying that's something that I'm considering, but my last question is to you, really, Jonas. In in in that, yeah, if if there are people, you know, they are watching you right now, thinking this guy won won the league you know a few years ago, you know, he's he's doing well this year, clearly knows what he's doing in the game. What kind of advice would you give someone? And I guess it's a twofold question, right? Because there are people that have their wildcards left, so I guess it's a bit different. You're obsessed with these wildcards, aren't you? Well, I haven't got one, so yeah, I am obsessed. If you know you've been talking about it for about six weeks. But but great, sorry. But I'm guessing that what advice would you give to someone who maybe is new to the game, you've played for a couple of years, trying to understand how to navigate this stage of the season um in terms of how to attack the next six to seven game weeks going forward, including the double game week. Do you have that maybe like you know two or three bits of advice that you can kind of give? And I I appreciate obviously we don't know what the doubles are gonna be, so we can't really be specific about what teams to target, but just a general kind of overview in terms of how to sort of think about navigating this period right now.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um well the the first tip is the first tip is uh the first tip is to be patient. So um especially right now, although you might see on Twitter people saying a certain team is going to double in 33 and whatever, uh there is no double announcement yet, so you'll have to be sure before you do something. And although it seems very likely that a lot of teams will blank, you just never know. Maybe they all of a sudden puts the the remaining picture in uh a week no one expects, although that might not be possible, but yeah, and when you're planning for doubles, I I might be a bit different to some of you guys, but I really like to attack the double game week players, even players from yes, for example, Brighton. Uh they will have a double game week. Um, in game week 32, they'll play Burnley, and then in 33 they'll most probably have a double. Talking for myself, at least, I have a few transfers so I can offload from doubles that I don't really see as very good assets um going forward for the rest of the season. If you think you won't go for a player, I've talked about me being boring, but I'll be boring once again. Uh if you're thinking of going of a player and you're thinking uh he's owned by too many people, I I I can't buy him. I I need to differentiate in some way, just buy him. Really? Well, but then again, it depends who it is. Is it I don't know who who's a player that's owned by a lot of people? Dubravka. You don't need to buy him, he's owned by tons. But um uh if it's uh Bruno, for example, go for it. Although it's boring and won't gain you much. At least you won't, it's at least you won't lose from it. And let the people ahead of you sell Bruno and you can you can get the points.
SPEAKER_07So it's funny because you're a Liverpool fan, but you're taking the arteta philosophy of you know, don't lose first, you know. Arteta philosophy.
SPEAKER_03Dear dear dear.
SPEAKER_02I I believe that um just doing the choices that you think are right and the data can back it up as well, uh, even though the given player might be owned by a lot of people, you can just continue doing the right decisions, and then someone ahead of you will do the wrong decisions.
SPEAKER_03Mm-hmm. Yeah, but um it's useful to hear what Jonas is saying because in reality, yeah, for instance, even when you're speaking about the predictive models that you use, ultimately your focus is on outcomes, right? So the outcomes you expect to get from particular players, and that's what you drive towards in terms of the way you play. And um, that's probably a better way to go by it than just chasing points from the previous week and things like this. So yeah, it's really useful to see it from that perspective from somebody that has ultimately won it overall. Um, because sometimes it's we can talk about these things and it just seems like um generic and boilerplate stuff to say, right? That it sounds good and things like this, but is it useful to hear it from somebody that's been in the mix and is doing that?
SPEAKER_07Well, what I find interesting is you know, maybe ARC is using a different model because you know, the self-proclaimed stat man who likes to use models.
SPEAKER_03I don't know why you're talking.
SPEAKER_07Where are you? So maybe you can you can point them in the right direction, Jonas. Well, what models why you need another subscription, D.
SPEAKER_06Wow.
SPEAKER_07Uh yeah, that that kind of nicely leads us on to um the next section, which is I guess looking at the games for 32, which obviously is before 33. Um, and I guess it's important because that's just yeah, no one no one worked that out cool. I'll give you that one. But I mean it's it's oh oh thank you. No the point I'm trying to make is that Yonah's made a good point in terms of like Brighton, right? In that the thinking behind bringing in players for for for 33 also is affected by potentially the games in 32. So if you're bringing in Brighton players, for example, you're looking at oh, I can get three good games here, not just good for 32 to 33, but actually 32 is also um quite handy. Um so you mentioned that, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_04So uh for when it comes to Brighton, um Wellbeck. Wellbeck's one of the players that's gone up recently. Brighton double, I'm gonna won Wellbeck. I would have put him in already in my normal, if I was playing how I would normally play, because I would think he's got Burnley, even if they don't get a double, who cares? He's playing Burnley and he's in he's just gone in, he's just gone and scored two goals. So I'm assuming, and I'm not second guessing the journalists, but if you've activated your wildcard already, because you're in a position you said you had um quite a few, you still got three changes, then you might have done that already, or people who know that they're thinking about well back might do one or two changes early and then wait for to see what unfolds. So it's you know, it's something that makes sense. If you look at what's gonna happen in 32, it's equally as important as the doubles because you could put someone in that we find out, we could find out someone doubles in 33, put them in, and they get injured in 32. So you've got to play for the game week ahead of you. That's just it's a standard, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_02And and I think a lot of people that are
GW32 Fixture Analysis
SPEAKER_02not using the wildcard can kind of defend it, and I could also defend not using my wildcard this week because um a lot of players that we owned last week have really good fixtures this week, so ultimately you're probably not going to gain a lot exactly this week by using your wildcard, but it's for the few game weeks, or not the few, but all the game weeks after that you're trying to set up for those.
SPEAKER_07So let's look at the fixtures, shall we? Um what kind of game on I'll start with you, um Arc, I guess. What game guess sticks out to you in terms of a good game to target, or um they're looking at thinking, oh, there's a few assets here that I think could could do pretty well. Is there is there a game you're looking at there that that kind of results?
SPEAKER_03There's three. So for all of the game weeks that we've got to the room until the end of the season, I've got a cluster of three fixtures that I think you know we can attack those. Um so for Game Week 32. So Arsenal, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Fulham, United v leads. And the reason for that is in all of them I can see the high XG. Um I think that there'll be a lot of upside with attackers. Um Liverpool v Fulham I expect to be fairly volatile. Um it can be transitional. I think it'll be fairly open. Um so the fact that I've still got Wilson, etc., means I'm I'm likely to keep, I'm unlikely to transfer out as it stands now. And I feel that when he is in form, he's fairly fixed to proof anyway. Um Liverpool assets that I've got, um, I'll look for more out of them. Um so but again, um I've I spoke about um the structural issues that I've got defensively. So for instance, I've got Van Dyke, he costs a lot of money. Um, but he's too reliant on clean sheets at the moment to provide me any kind of horse. And obviously Liverpool are not getting those clean sheets. Um United at V leads at home, United are strong. So obviously that points towards Bruno. It's a strong, safe fixture to um go for with him. And Arsenal, you'd expect an attacker, whoever that may be, to do fairly well against Bournemouth at home, especially with the way that Bournemouth played. It will be a back and forth game.
SPEAKER_07There's any games there that you look at and think, yep, that's that's for me.
SPEAKER_04Um I think Ark touched on the games like um I think Arsenal need to bounce back. Um obviously they've got the FA Cup, but I think they need to come beat Bournemouth before the next game against City. So I think they're gonna have to come out, come in the league, and just go strong. Bournemouth for a team that's quite you know attacking. Um so I think that's a game where I expect some goals. But I agree with what Ark said. I think the Sunderland game's gonna be interesting. Um like at the moment, I'm looking at those games like Sunderland and Spurs. I think that Spurs are in trouble. I don't know what they're gonna do um before their game week starts, but I think Sunderland, we mentioned, have been in a bit of a dip, and what better team to break that dip against at home to Spurs. So I think you know Sunderland might change their odds and get their first win. The West Ham and Wolves won. Wolves have been in very decent form. I think West Ham is a must-win for them. So I think people who've got Bowen will be happy with him in this game. Um, I'm not sure if I'd want to put Bowen in knowing that there's no doubles, but if you've got Somerville or Bowen, then you know that's a nice player, nice players to have in in that game. Talked about Everton's defence, but you know, I've still got Tiago, so if I didn't wildcard, um you know, he's always capable of a goal. So it's the old school, you know, penalty takers. I think for this week, it's it's just about going to steady players that you know guaranteed to start as well, apart from the fixtures Ark already mentioned.
SPEAKER_07Yannis, anyone sort of stick out to you right now? I mean, obviously you're probably looking to deal wildcards soon, but what's your thoughts in terms of the games?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think we've touched upon almost every single game. Um it's only the only games we haven't touched upon is Palace, Newcastle, Forest Villa, and then Chelsea City. Chelsea City will probably be a tight game. Um, and I think the other two also will be tight games. Now we've touched upon every single game.
SPEAKER_04Out of those games, yeah, which one do you think is gonna be the most high-scoring game?
SPEAKER_01The high scoring, like in FPL terms. Probably either Palace Newcastle or Chelsea City, but uh I'm inclined to answer Palace Newcastle.
SPEAKER_04The games that were left, they were left for you for a reason. Oh, oh, oh, oh, you're thinking out of every single game, yeah. Out of all of the games you said that you're because we mentioned all of them. I'm saying out of all of the fixtures in general, what ones?
SPEAKER_02Right. Um I'd go United leads then for United players. And for me this week, for for example, it's uh captain Z choice won't be very hard. And I I think you guys might agree as well.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I I I think I agree with lots of what's been said so far. I think Liverpool Fulham game is an interesting one. Obviously, Salah's come out with the news of saying he's gonna retire, he's been poor through most of the season. Um said he's retiring, he said he's leaving. Sorry, sorry, no time, but you he's leaving. Um, well, deciding that he's retiring in my book. But anyway, yeah, you're right. Um, but could it be a little renaissance with with Stella? Could he potentially kind of end in a bit of flourish? Um, this is one of the games when we look at the games between now and the end of the year, this is the game they kind of have to win Liverpool because they have tough games here on out. So you would think that they're looking at this game as as a as a win for them. Um, and also at the moment, I think Ekatique is currently injured. Um, I I own Gappo. He's playing for France. He's playing playing tonight.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, TK only had a dead link, right? He started for France, so he's definitely not injured.
SPEAKER_02Well I I've I found his reaction after being injured a bit weird. He was crying, walking off the pitch and stuff, and it just looks like he got a knee to his leg.
SPEAKER_04They don't make plays like they used to.
SPEAKER_07The Arsenal Bournemouth game, I mean I'm an Arsenal fan. I think that's it. Um I think it's it's it's one of those games that you know Arsenal have to be careful and um approach it in in the right way. Um you have any Arsenal assets? Um I currently have Gabriel at the moment. I I did get rid of Rice. Um I wouldn't be rushing to put Arsenal assets in for this game. Really, I don't really trust.
SPEAKER_03You're not that concerned about that fixture then.
SPEAKER_07Well, I just don't trust any of the offensive assets, you know. I think Saka's obviously been in the headlines right now for falling off Cliff in terms of his form. He's on he's on penalties, of course, that's always that angle.
SPEAKER_03But in terms of his Well, you don't you don't know that he's on penalty. Arson haven't won a penalty for a long time and they always mix it around, right?
SPEAKER_07Well, even more reason why Saka isn't necessarily as a reliable as has been in in previous years, right? Um will they play Trotsaw? Will they play Martin Lelly? Don't quite know. Um, they might play Havertz, might be Yokarez. There's a lot of question marks in terms of who they're gonna play, so it's a dangerous team to pick in terms of assets, I think, Arsenal Bournemouth. Um, but I think you've touched, you know, we touched in our head there in terms
Differential Captain Picks
SPEAKER_07of I think the clear person to look at in this game against Bruno Fernandes, right? He's informed I think he's got double figure returns, I think, four of his last five games. Um, he's you know, probably the most informed player in the game and the best asked to have. And I mentioned the show a few times, as it stands, he is now the clear um standard FPR pick for Captain Joyce. I think Haaland was that guy for most of his seasons, but I think that man has been part of the game.
SPEAKER_04He'll be the highest owned this game week. And I'm not doing any more risks. If even if he gets a zero, most people will.
SPEAKER_07Interestingly enough, you look at it. Look at the I mean, and Yonis Jonas mentioned it earlier on, right? If you look at the ownership of um Fernandez, you would assume he's like owned by most of the game.
SPEAKER_04I mean he has several weeks now, like he's not highly owned, uh, but so I mean I think people haven't been convinced with man you in general, but um, if you look at their rise since Carrick's come in, he's been a major part of that rise. So you are you've either had him in your team, and if you jumped on him as captain most weeks, you're the roles in the league, like yourself, cuffs, for example. Yeah, like um, you've got part of your rise to 2.5 million has been getting the right captains.
SPEAKER_07I think I think we kind of know the answer to this question. Obviously. I like that job. I'm gonna let's escape past that one hot, so I'm gonna let you let you get to me. But um obviously Bruno Fernandez, but what you're on, prof anyway, Bruno Fernandez sort of choice, but if we're looking beyond Bruno, are there any other people we're looking at in terms of uh category choices? You know, if you don't own Bruno, and obviously there are people watching this podcast, and it's not just about us, but may not have Bruno kind of for Bruno in their team, and obviously, Mag United haven't got double game either. So, you know, if you don't own Bruno at this point, who are you looking to sort of captain? And I guess I'll start with you, I'm Genness.
SPEAKER_02Um well, uh I I think my differential captain this week, because I I I believe everything that isn't Bruno and Haaland as of now is probably going to be considered this differential. Jared Bowen playing wolves at home. Uh West Ham have been better, wolves have also been better, but I think there's upside there. Um and then I'm not sure if he's on pens now. He might be. I don't think you have an indication of that, do we? I believe he is.
SPEAKER_04Um because yeah, yeah, forget it's long gone. So it's I think it's Boeing. But like with Arsenal, we haven't seen penny for them for a while, but I believe it's him.
SPEAKER_02Mm-hmm. Um I think it's a good fixture. And if you really want to go for a differential, he probably won't be owned by a lot of people.
SPEAKER_07Um, what's your sort of feeling outside of Bruno, cools? Who would you sort of looking at? It'd be Saka or Salah.
SPEAKER_03Like home fixtures. Um, I think they're both projected around about four four or five points. Salah's had underlying stats that should have got him better points or better output than he's had. So he's what he's the fabled about to pop. Like so he looks on the cusp and you know he hasn't caught up with his um with the underlying data. Um, but those are the two that I would look at and think, well, they've got differential potential. Um, but at the same time, because of where we are at this stage of the season and so um I wouldn't be looking to double differential.
SPEAKER_07And Hartz, I'll come to you come to you next.
SPEAKER_04I think I would have said Boeing because of what I said earlier regarding um West Ham having a must-win game. Um, obviously home to Wolves. And just looking at the games around them, you know, Sunderland Spurs, even if that's a little draw, it's those three points for West Ham could get them out of that bottom three. And I'm and obviously Norton Forest is playing. Um, so they need to, they need a win. So I I I see them being wolves. So he's their you know main man. So yeah, I'd think him. But just to be different from what everyone else has said, if I was going to just throw something random out there, it's gonna be one that could be Christian, but I'm gonna say Yokarez. Um I think Arsenal will score a few goals. Um and I think he will start. And as much as we may believe Saka may be on finities, as Ark said, we don't know. And I think um, you know, if he isn't, and if he keeps playing the way he's been playing recently, he might get a rotation or something because of the games coming up. So if Yoko Reserve stood on the pitch, he'll get that, especially if the injuries are how they are, with Eze out and old God out. It will be Havertz in the middle. So that means I believe Yoko Res all played uh 90 minutes. So I'll go with that. The differential.
SPEAKER_07I'm gonna go really far out there. Same game, Hots. I'm gonna go for Gabriel for Arsenal. I'm gonna go to Gabriel because it's been a while since he's done anything from a set piece.
SPEAKER_03Um, and I think that you know, you usually now gonna tell us that you've got a data to back that up, right? But Bournemouth are bad defensively, and that's the reason why you think at a set piece Gabriel's gonna score.
SPEAKER_07Well, it's a little bit of that, it's a bit it's a little bit of data, but it's also a little bit of I guess like um feel, I guess, in that usually when it was usual Can I can I can I talk or do what you know you are talking, I'm just saying it's vibes, right?
SPEAKER_03It's not data, it's vibes.
SPEAKER_07How is data doing for you? Better than you. Uh-huh. Next question. Okay. So yeah, Gabriel is an interesting one. Um, because usually when there are there's sort of large breaks of arsenal, they tend to come back with sort of new ideas and how to sort of um to score from set pieces. The set pieces haven't been working out for them recently, and I think that they might come back with um with something. I think Gabriel is is overdue a goal. Um, and um he's always pretty good for for DEF CON as well. Um yes, Bournemouth are are pretty good offensively, and there's every chance they might nick a goal. Um, but for Arsenal to kind of get over the line, they're gonna rely heavily on it on their defence. Um and as much as I think Bournemouth are very good at attacking, I can also see Arsenal in this game maybe 2-0. And if Gabriel gets a goal from a corner or or you know, Anna Clean Sheet, you could get some a healthy total. Having said that, I'll go for Bruno Fernandez, but he's someone that if you're looking for a real, real, real, massive sort of um differential is worth considering. That's my my choices. I can see Ark is desperate to sort of butt in there and say something.
SPEAKER_03No, yeah, I think you've said it all. The the world will be able to work out what they think what you said.
SPEAKER_07So yeah, listen. That brings us to the end of the show, fellas. We made it through. An interesting game week ahead. Obviously, we've got a fame weeks, a few weeks until the actual um game week kicks off with an FA um cup in between. Um so lots can change between now and then. I guess before we sort of head off, uh Jonas, I want to come back to you to sort of come to you for your kind of final thoughts in terms of not only just in
Final 7 Gameweeks – Key Takeaways
SPEAKER_07terms of the game week, but you know, I guess advice for for for me. Give advice to me.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_07Be real, that's it. Yeah. Advice to me. Yeah. Some someone someone who is struggling in the game, you know, and there are not many game weeks left, would you would you would you be saying, look, keep the faith, keep it simple, or would you be saying go aggressive?
SPEAKER_02You know, that's so no no no, uh what's your goal? To beat these two?
SPEAKER_07That's the first goal for sure, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um uh how many points is there? Do you know?
SPEAKER_07Well, I'm about seven points behind Arc, and I think I'm about 67 points behind Hots.
SPEAKER_02Okay. Um just have uh well, you don't have your wildcard, and let's say they are both playing their wildcard this week, you might have some gains already this week. And you'll probably have to get lucky, if I'm being honest. But maybe try and differentiate a bit from these two when it comes to chip strategy, at least. The week they're bench boosting. Maybe you can try and build up for a bench boost in 36 or something instead. That could be an idea, or using your free hit in uh in a double game week. That might also work out. So at the end of the day, it's just variants, so you never know.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, you might you might want to block him before he starts DMing you traveling advice every week.
SPEAKER_07Arkin Hotz, any any final thoughts before we um say goodbye to the people?
SPEAKER_04Not particularly. Gotta see what happens at the internationals and the FA break up. Um it was nice to have our first guest of the season as well.
SPEAKER_01Um that wasn't that being of.
SPEAKER_07So, what are you doing yourself now before we go? Obviously, you're studying right now, Jonas, right? So, um, you know, um what does the sort of the next sort of few weeks and months look for you in terms of your your your life outside of FPL?
SPEAKER_02Um honestly, I don't know. No, but uh I'm as a full-time student, I don't have a job yet. I'm looking for jobs. What are you working? What are you what are you studying? Economics. Uh so in three months I can still be looking for jobs, or I can have a job. I'm I have no idea. Am I going to climbing climbing this table?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Good luck for your exams and good luck with the future um in and outside of FPL. It's been a pleasure having you on the show and hearing your views in terms of you know how we should approach this game. And um, I look forward to sort of seeing how this is the end for you, you know, to see if you can rise from the 48,000 I think you are currently um and higher. Um maybe maybe we'll we'll touch base again, you know, in the future. Uh, hopefully we'll be meeting a bit better score at that point. For sure.
SPEAKER_06Sorry.
SPEAKER_03You you'll be in contact with him over the next couple of months.
SPEAKER_07But yeah, again, people, um, please like and subscribe. Um, I hope you enjoy the content. And we'll go again um when we'll be approaching essentially um looking at more focus on the actual game week coming up for 33 um and the kind of picks that you should be looking at for that very, very important double game week. Um, but for now, that's me out. I'll see you later.
SPEAKER_00Truth be told, when I wonder what the future holds.