FPL Blank Gameweek 34 Strategy: 11 Players or Quality First?

Blank Gameweeks in Fantasy Premier League can define your season — but only if you approach them with a clear strategy.

After a Double Gameweek 33 that didn’t quite deliver, where Bench Boosters edged out Free Hitters through a number of unlikely heroes, attention now turns to Blank Gameweek 34 — and a very different kind of decision.

In this episode of the Triple Captains Podcast, we break down how to approach a blank properly, balancing squad structure, captaincy, and overall game state.

Do you prioritise getting 11 players out… or focus on owning the right quality assets?

Is chasing a full XI actually a trap in a low-scoring Gameweek?

And are you optimising for this week… or positioning for what comes next?

We also analyse the key fixtures in the blank, assess the best captaincy options, and debate what is expected to be a tighter, lower-scoring Gameweek than many anticipate.

Plus the usual host rivalry — including unresolved tension from GW33 and questions around who actually came out on top.

🎯 In this episode:
– Lessons from DGW33 (Bench Boost vs Free Hit outcomes)
– 11 players vs quality players debate
– Why chasing a full XI may not be optimal
– Strategic approach: optimise, plan ahead or survive
– Fixture analysis for Blank GW34
– Captaincy discussion and protection

If you want context over noise and strategy over panic… this is the episode for you.

📺 Watch more FPL strategy episodes:
▶ FPL Captaincy & Decision Framework Playlist: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqaS4SEX4KP30gUmfRp12-xDw7GlR73uN&si=fMWkLmLNH110a2Rb]

Transcript

Intro & What This Episode Solves

SPEAKER_01 0:00

So, the season's drawing to an end and the game week's becoming thick and fast. This means one thing time's running out for us to make a difference to our overall ranks and ultimately to win our mini leagues. So, if this upcoming blank game week has got you feeling confused and you don't want to end up another game week where you're like an angry Viltroman that's just lost his home, give us 20 minutes of your time for us to run through how to optimize and strategize for the game week ahead. Without further ado, let's get into it. Now,

DGW33 Fallout – Why It Didn’t Deliver

SPEAKER_01 0:38

for fans of the show, you would know usually your man in the middle is the guy that won. Fortunately, we have a game week that is still ongoing and everybody's on tenant hooks in terms of what could happen, what couldn't happen. Bournemouth blank and both them and Leeds get a clean sheet. That could ultimately mean that whoever's third right now ends up first. And likewise, if the captains, I don't want to get into captains, but if the captains do um get what they need to get, that again could have a big um difference on it. Plus, the person that's most likely to win is off somewhere in the Caribbean sunning it up at the moment. He may or may not join us, and he thinks he's got it like that. But it's his birthday week, so we'll leave him to me. Anyway, you've got me for now and my glamorous or not so glamorous assistant, Guff. Anyway, Goff Meister, how you doing?

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Yes, this is the week where my season ended. That's that's what this week is. This is the this is this is the week where it was like they're now in the coffin for me. You know, it was it was a final roll of dice, and when I saw that Chelsea team lineup and I saw Palmer was not playing, I knew then it was over. I just knew I had a near crash out myself on the back of that. Yeah, I was like, really? Okay, cool. Um, and to compound that, you know, we'll get into it in a show, I'm sure, but you know, Brighton obviously had a field day with you know, everyone that kind of put in bright and assets at the back, which I haven't got any. Um and that was just you know another sort of kick in the teeth. So FPL wise, it was an absolute shit show yet again, and in some ways it was a microcosm of my season, really, in one game week, in that bad choices, bad luck, and just you know, one of those years that want to just end and finish at this point.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

But I would say one thing, I agree, like on the face of it, it feels like bad choices. Um, but variants can happen, right? I mean, had how'd you how'd you write that in? Palmer, who hadn't been injured for a number of weeks, he'd finally started showing his fitness randomly. He is out. Pedro out for one game. We're told that he might be back for the Brighton game. No, out for that as well. To compound it, because I was chasing ceiling, I had Esteval as my first sub with Codiloglu right behind him, who is now on 16. Um, so yes, this was my final lesson from FPL this season. The process was largely right, but chasing ceilings ultimately meant that my decision making got skewed and I went for broke with things. And clearly, if if the gamble between the week was were three hitters gonna win or bench boosters gonna win, the bench boosters was definitely one.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

Oh, yeah, easily, easily.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

But when when I look at things, I'm the I'm more upset because it would have been the first time this season that I got close to triple figures, and now um definitely not. I was hoping against hopes that um Pedro was gonna make it, um, but I almost crashed out when I heard that Palm was out, bearing in mind he's my captain.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Yeah, and look, I think you know, last week we, you know, we spoke with um you know FPL Sunnah and obviously we spoke to obviously um Jonas, and they both kind of reinforced the idea that play it safe and boring and sensible, and I pretty much ignored that advice. And you know, it was one of those game weeks for me where once Haaland scored, I thought myself, why did I not go with Haaland? Like it's just I just instantly felt stupid. Like obviously Haaland's the guy to go for, you know, and I think that this is a kind of a lesson for anyone out there who is in my position, who is too aggressive at times. Sometimes the obvious pick is just the best pick. And sometimes the obvious pick is the pick that actually is going to give you the most gains, you know. And I think that uh despite all the bad choices I made with the Brighton picks as I alluded to before, if I just went Captain Haaland, I could have probably saved my game to some point. Um it is what it is, we move forward. Um I think for me it's just a case of just trying to get to the end now and trying to get some sort of decent score, which has been becoming very, very unlikely now. But live and you learn, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Very true, very true. Well, there

Blank GW34 Strategy Explained (Core Approach)

SPEAKER_01 5:31

are a number of game weeks left, um, particularly interesting ones to navigate, and there are a few curveballs that I think could still um come about. This week we know that 34 is a blank, um, blanking because of the FA Cup. Now, interestingly, if City win against Southampton, it probably means that they double with Bournemouth in 36. Is it 36 or 37? And or they double in 36 and then Palace double in 37. Um, so there are some twists, depending on the chips that you've got left, that will allow you to try and optimize as best you can. Um, but yeah, uh it's definitely a game week that has just passed that just leaves the south aftertaste. Um but focusing on um 34, I guess we need to get into looking into how the best ways are to navigate the game week. Um we know that the thing most people do that sends them into the wrong kind of areas is to run out and try to see what they can do to get 11 starters. And there's always the debate every season over well, should I get 11 starters, etc.? Bearing in mind the teams that we'll be playing doesn't necessarily mean that you can get the best assets from each team, especially if you haven't planned things in correctly. So, yeah, what we'd like to focus on today is one, what the best strategy is for attacking a blank week. Two, having a look at some of the assets that are out there that are probably the go-tos for your five or six positions and seeing where that can end us with.

SPEAKER_00 7:12

Yeah, I think a good place to start, I guess, in the show is to sort of pick it back off what I was just saying a little while ago in terms of where we all are trying to finish right now. And um, you know, we've all got our own targets now. Some people are are targeting top 1000s and top 100,000s, clearly I'm not targeting those. But if we look at sort of starting, beginning of

Current Rankings – Who’s Actually Winning?

SPEAKER_00 7:36

this game week, sort of where you kind of had to be, right, in order to kind of reach your targets. This is kind of where we were, right? And um looking at this is on a personal note very embarrassing because I'm nowhere near this point. But for those watching this show, you know, this is kind of where roughly you should have been coming into this game week, right? And you know, I think everything's still possible, right? I mean the gaps between each level are are not huge between you know the many and the 500. Um, and as you've really pointed to, there are still opportunities ahead with you know both City and Palace have got one more game than most teams in the league, right? So there are opportunities ahead to kind of pick the right players. Um we'll come into obviously later on the show, but you know, I think there are some some dangers, particularly with the Palace players who are who are in Europe. I've already seen that they place Dren Larson um against West Ham um and rotated Metetta and others as well. So you have to be careful about maybe trying to overload on certain assets, but where are you? You know, are you are you are you anywhere near these scores? Uh I'm not.

SPEAKER_01 8:46

I mean yeah, it's so destroying um having a look at them to be fair. Um you look at number one spot and you think about the figures that would be required for you to get there. Yeah. Ouch, it's a madman. It's a madman. Um I mean, even for your top 1,000, even top 10,000, like you're talking about some serious points gains and that would be necessary. And the only thing that any of us have got in our hand for this realistically, with the only four weeks remaining per se, four or five weeks remaining, is chip equity, right? Um, and

Chips Remaining – What It Means for Your Strategy

SPEAKER_01 9:32

it's also dependent, as we've heard over the past couple of weeks with the different guests that we've had on different ones have different views and thought processes on the strength or the importance of particular chips. Um, so for instance, Jonas he thinks that the triple captain chip is the weakest one. Not not that we picked up on it at the time, but uh that that was that was hurtful because what's it mean for for our podcast as the triple captain podcast? But um that all that said, um um, as I alluded to, it's it's possible that there are gonna be another two um double game weeks, um, which means it does open up opportunities for the bench feast, um but it also gives opportunities for anybody that's got the free feature trips remaining. Um so it's gonna be really interesting because now it becomes really technical in terms of where we can go. Now, um you will have seen, um, Gus, that I've had a strategy out there for a while um in terms of what could I do to get to a number that we will not even speak about that was shown on our slide. Um but in reality at the moment what I'm trying to do is um get into that top mid-lim. Um in reality, if I can do that, still puts me in the top 10% of what's in the game. Um, bearing in mind there's 30 midland players. Um but um it's clearly not where I'd want to be. Um but it is a good reminder and a benchmark to see um the kind of gaps that we need to make up. Um and I've got a lot of food for thought with regards to what I do with the remaining chips that I've got. Um in reality, the wildcard chip, having it, it becomes less and less valuable the longer the weeks go on. Um so I'm almost um forced into an ultimatum of using it either this week or next week. Um, anything after that, you're almost um making the wildcard become a free hit, which is is not the best use of it. Um it should be the strongest chip, I guess. Um in terms of setting up. Last question, actually.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Yeah, do you regret not using the wildcard earlier?

The Big Question: Do You Really Need 11 Players?

SPEAKER_00 11:44

Because I mean I'm asking that for two reasons, right? One, because you know, I'm guessing you haven't made the gains you wanted to in the last few game weeks to kind of get into that minimum spot. So potentially a wild card might have done that for you. But also, do you think using the wild card, there's like some residual effect of that? So, therefore, you know, you can get some impact over four or five game weeks, and now to your point, the effect of the wild card in gimmick 35, which is gonna be for in your case the earliest you can probably use it, given that you're not using it in game week, you're not gonna have much residual kind of effect from the wild card. So, had you had you decided again, would you would you do it differently next time um last again, or would you do the same thing?

SPEAKER_01 12:25

I for the way that this season has worked out, um probably not. Um because when I've looked over when you go through planning and so on, um there are times where I've looked at, well, what could I do to my team, etc. And because I didn't do enough in terms of value in the first half of the season, if I had wildcarded, uh I still would have been outside of some of the um some of the individuals that I'd wanted to have got. So the wildcard didn't make any sense. So the the main lesson for me is that actually I'll pay attention to becoming Delboy next season. Um whereas this season I didn't. Um I still think there are um gains to be made um with using wildcards with the last three weeks, but ultimately when I do that, I've got to look at the wild card as, you know, um doing something for me within two to three weeks because I need to use that to set me up for a bench release. Um so that's the reason why it's um one where you'd ideally think, well, 35 is when you do that. But then depending on what they announced around those games, if for instance City does double and Palace do double in 37, um, it may be that wildcard in 36 to go into 37 is the right thing to do. Um however, like you've like you've already mentioned, Crystal Palace are a big, big worry um in terms of trying to load up with them. As we've seen two times in a row after Europe, Sarah started on the bench. Um obviously Tran Larson, he's um now kind of relegated um once Mateto has come back. And in reality, Glasn's on his way out, so he has no reason to start showing any loyalty or whatever not. He just needs to get them doing what he needs to get them do. Um so yeah, you see it's really interesting to know the ways in which um we attack any of the chip equity. But um the most important thing at the moment is the blank game week and how we start looking at that.

SPEAKER_00 14:29

Yeah, I think maybe

Blank GW34 Fixtures Breakdown

SPEAKER_00 14:31

it's good to start with the beginning, right? Which is who's playing the blank game week. And I'm sure most of the people that are watching the show are aware of this anyway. Um the information is out there, we're all clear on who's playing, but it's good to remind ourselves about the the matchups and and where the possible games lie, right? And um, you know, for those that are not in gym, obviously the the teams that double disc game week don't play in the 34 game week. So, you know, if you haven't got your your free hit in your pocket, you come into this week like myself with some problems to solve. Um luckily for me, I kind of was was aware of this and made sure that my actual main team before my my free hit team, which I played this game week, was was pretty much in shape, so I'm I'm okay. Um but I am exposed to people playing their free hits who can load on players like Bowens and the likes of Gibbs White, who've shown a bit of form in the last couple of game weeks, which I hadn't had considered coming into this game week. So um looking at his fixtures, does anything sort of jump out to you, Ark, in terms of that's a great fixture to sort of look out to learn upon?

SPEAKER_01 15:42

So I have a feeling that there's a lot of upside in the Wolves Middlesex match. Um, however, you'd be brave because this is more a feeling than it is um anything else. Now, obviously, we know that wolves are struggling and they are down. We know that um from what we've been saying over the past couple of weeks, it is about finding teams at the moment that are either informed or they've really got something big to play for. Obviously 506 they do. Um what I would say is that since Despersy has gone in there, he you can see that they are creating more. Um now, the issue that they've got is that they've been creating chances and they're falling to Richard. They need to fall to Solanke. Um, Solanke is clearly a better goal scorer than Richard, but he's not the one that's getting on the end of things at the moment. Um, I also think that um Villa are always going to be interesting now as well. Um I alluded to this um online, their midfield is back, and now Rogers and Watkins become assets that you can look at. Um and in terms of other fixtures, um nothing jumps at me. It's obvious that um in the main people will be going for Bruno as captain, um if you knight at home, um, although Brentford are no easy feat, and there's loads of narratives within that game as well, right? And Boomer will be playing them, etc., that kind of thing. Um, but um yeah, if I was looking at um two fixtures for me to attack per se. Um the Walls, the Middlesex one, and yes, I would also look at the Arsenal versus Newcastle game. Um simply because Arsenal have also got something can be to play for now as well.

SPEAKER_00 17:28

Yeah, I I agree. I think definitely the Spurs game is one to talk. I mean, Spurs, you know, it's been documented they haven't won all year, right? Um and then it's terrible run, but the odds would suggest that that's gonna change at some point. Um and although Wolves have improved, you know, second half of the season, their recent form hasn't been great. Um and you know, Tottenham have to win this game. They have to win this game, and I think sometimes when a team really, really has to win a game, somehow, some way, it probably is gonna happen. Um and you know, I think if we're looking at targets, I think probably Poro

Best Targets for Blank GW34 (Quality Picks)

SPEAKER_00 18:11

is definitely one you want to look at. Um not that I think that Spurs are going to necessarily keep clean sheets because they've always struggled all season long to keep clean sheets, but he's someone you know with with massive upside in terms of his attacking returns. Um and you know, we've we've seen wolves do struggle from from from sort of wide players all season long. Um he's someone obviously gets forward quite a lot. So um he's definitely someone to look at. And I'd also look at probably Shadow Simmons. Um and I say this if you've got a free hit, which I don't, um I wouldn't bring him into my team. So I think it's it's important to caveat you know these choices in terms of where you sit. For me personally, I haven't got that card to play, so I'm not gonna bring Simmons in for the rest of my team to play for the game weeks, but just for a a single game week, he's something to sort of to look at. Um he's got good upside, he you know, obviously he can shoot from range, he scored last week. Um and I do know obviously the they they had um Madison back in their squad last week week to clearly go to find his feet. Yeah, Madison was on the bench against um Brighton. So he's back in training and back in the squad, but he's been there for so long. I don't see him coming to the team and making any meaningful impact anytime soon. So I think Xavi Simmons at this point is still gonna be their starter and mainstayer for the next couple of games.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Um You just saw what he spells the eye test when I watch him. Um just always comes across really weak. Um but like I say, you you come to this part of the season and it's really about a foreman mentality rather than so it's about trends rather than what they've done. So if we can see that the trend or the underlying data within the and the game environment that they've got suits, then yeah, they're good to go. Um so I do co-sign um what you're saying here. Um I do think you look at their assets and you do you think there are only two or three that you could really go for, i.e. him, um maybe Solanke and and Porak.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yeah, and and I'm also looking at Palace as well, because yes, there are some real red flags in terms of some of the rotation because of Europe, but you know, they do have that extra game, and um I think for this particular game week Munos is obviously an interesting one, um, but I do think the Teta is an interesting one. He didn't start against West Ham, so I would think that he'll probably start this game. Um he caused Liverpool all kinds of trouble in the reverse fixture early the season. I think from memory, I think that was the highest XG at that point from any team.

SPEAKER_01 21:06

Yes, yeah, yeah. Remember the match well. I really hope he does it this week because I've got Van Dyke at the back.

SPEAKER_00 21:12

And Matetta always seems to finish off seasons well. Um, he seems to have these flurries towards the end of the season. So he's someone that is worth considering just as a kind of a you know a Hail Mary. Um he is capable on his day. Yep, there's that, and he's trying to play himself into the France squad as well for the World Cup. Well well, there you go, right? Obviously, Echo TK is now not in a squad and there's a spot that's opened up, and I'm sure he'll be looking at it thinking, well, there's a spot potentially for me to fill. So if he can finish off the season strongly, then he's got every chance of making that World Cup squad, and I'm sure he's looking at that. So I would definitely look at him as well as someone to to look um that is very lowly owned and could be a real sort of um game changer if you're trying to make big gains.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

Um the only caveat would be How much of this is adrenaline, right? He is only just back from injury. Um, clearly he's scored it, so as he's come back, will he be able to keep it up? But but you can only go with form. Like I say, I'd be undoing myself if I didn't say that the form matters right now. And it does.

SPEAKER_00 22:20

But yeah, I mean you spoke about the Arsenal game, and I'm just not sure about Arsenal in terms of where you would go with assets, right? Um am I confident at this point they're gonna keep clean sheets? Potentially, potentially. Um I'm I confident that I'm gonna know who's gonna start that game for Arsenal in terms of the attacking assets. Just don't know, right? I thought Havertz played pretty well against Man City, or beat him missing some chances. Um but Yokohitch has been the main guy for most of the season. Um, you know, would he bring in Trossard? Would it be Martinelli? There's so many kind of questions up in the air right now in terms of who's gonna start that game for Arsenal that it's a difficult one to kind of load up on with Arsenal. Um having said that, you know, they do have some really good fixtures off the back of this game. They run in is pretty good, right? It's a good game. So they are someone to watch. Um, if you do have you know a wild card like you have in your pocket left over, I probably would be loading up on some Arsenal assets because they they're running, it's favorable, right?

SPEAKER_01 23:26

Um Yeah, I guess it's largely depends on um who they've got coming back from injury, right? Um so if Calaforward is back, if Timber is back, um then it makes the Arsenal defence a lot different proposition to um the makeshift version that there is now. Um ultimately as they is back and is playing now. Is he the starter rather than um Trossard coming in for the left or Martinelli? Um and also um there's lots of rumors about Saka potentially being back happen for this game week or the next, um, which in itself is a boost. Um you all know my thoughts personally, um, because we speak about it offline and in the Arsenal groups that we are in. If it was down to me, um Havertz would be the start for the remainder of the year. Um I think there is a stat that um for the 36 games that he has started as a striker, we've only lost three, and I think those are favourable enough terms that I would be pushing for that to be the case. Although to the point that you made, he does miss, right? Um I think his conversion is like one in three or one in four, so you have to take the rough with the smooth with him. Um you'll either be involved in a goal or he'll score. But um, you're not gonna get loads of double-figure hauls from Havertz. Um, but what you will get is a steady-eddy that brings you in stuff and will give you the encouragement or haul.

SPEAKER_00 24:55

Yeah, I think for me, and I think again at this stage of the season, everyone's on different philosophies right now, different chips in their hand in the pocket. Obviously, there's lots of streamers out there right now who are kind of giving you what the free hit team should look like, and you know, I think it'd be kind of a waste of time for us to sort of do our version because there's so many of those versions out there on the internet. But what I will see is that if you're like me and possibly like yourself, who has a wild card, isn't a wild card, and wants to sort of build a team from now going towards the end, there's two teams that I would look at. And the the first team that I want to sort of talk about is is Everton. And I mention Everton because you know Everton's away form has been, I think, the second best in the league ever last year. Although West Ham have been pretty good, um, Everton's got a quite good record over West Ham. Um, and they've got a number of assets that I think are really interesting going forward. And the three assets that I want to sort of talk about here is Pickford, who you know the last three years has has been sort of up there as one of the best keepers in the league, and I think he's second again behind Raya in terms of um clean sheets and points, I think. So, you know, he's someone that is worth looking at. And Dai, obviously, he's on penalties, um, someone who's who's generally sort of involved in all good things that Everton do. And Tarkovsky, who started the season really well with a lot of DEF CON points, was up there, has sort of faded a little bit as Everton kind of went to slump, but has picked up a little bit recently. So those are those are sort of three assets from Everton that I would be looking at in putting your team going forward, and a fourth one as well will be possibly Goodbye Hall, who I think is a really good asset at his price point.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Yeah, I was gonna mention him. Um, the like you say, his price point, he's quite involved in any of their goal scoring opportunities, and he does put in a shift. Um and obviously, as you've outlined with N Dye, um he he's got various different routes to go, and he's a joy to watch as well. Um he just needs to put more of his chances away. Um, but yeah, I mean they they've got quite a mix, um, we want them to have better home form. That's what I'd really like from them, bearing in mind they've got for each. Um but yeah, they um no, Everton have done well this year, and um yeah, as has been.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Yeah, that's another thing. Yeah, so well uh it seems pretty obvious, but Man United, I think that they're the other team to watch. I think they're you know it's been documented as well. Bruno Fernandez is very close to breaking the assist record, and I'm sure that that's something that's on his mind. You know, he's he's clearly one of the players of the season, the season. Um he's been brilliant for a large part seems Man United. Um they seem to have clicked Man United over the last sort of you know three or four months. Um and uh they're looking fresh, which isn't a bit of surprise given they were out of the conditions pretty early on. And if we get to the back end of the season where teams start to sort of fade and be a bit tired and thinking about World Cups and and whatnot, Man United have kind of come into this stage of the season looking pretty good. Um and I I think that they'll cement in that third spot. You've got a good game this weekend. Um I expect goals this weekend from from Man United. Um so at this point, you haven't got brilliant friends on your team, what what are you doing? And I do think people like Conya are are good assets to have at this point. So those are the two teams that I'm kind of looking at in terms of potentially loading up on um if you have the transfers in hand and if you have the wild card in your pocket.

SPEAKER_01 28:52

And in terms of the actual blank game week, we got any rules that we believe people should try and follow or at least stick to.

SPEAKER_00 29:02

Yeah, I look, I think it seems a bit like weird someone like me giving advice on rules given my my my season, you know.

SPEAKER_01 29:12

Um, but you know, I I I you know I do think that by to that point, you you probably are in a good position as well. Uh all of us are the ones that haven't done as well as we would want to, simply because you unfortunately we have made the mistakes, right? So, um in terms of the blank game week, what's the usual thing that um people do? They do run for all let's try and get 11 assets in. We've looked at the fixtures. Do we see from those fixtures 11 players that we all think are gonna haul? I'm not sure that we do. So is it more important for us to make sure that we've got a core set of players that we know do well in those game environments? That's probably where we need to start anchoring the way that we look at the game week.

SPEAKER_00 29:58

I think the beauty of this game is that no matter where you sort of sit, whether you're someone who's consistently great at the game or someone that myself is up and down, we all have the best intentions, right? We all are football enthusiasts and understand who the good players are. Um often the difference between the good players and the bad players is just a case of just patience and understanding how and how the how the numbers work. But when we get to this stage of the season, I think it's less about analytics. I think there's lots more that come into the melting point in the sense that we do have to sort of factor in who's on the beach, who still have to play for. We've got a World Cup year, certain players probably don't get injured at this point, so while they're playing at at full steam, um certain teams are in Europe and you know Paderaya and or the glory, like Palace, and potentially don't really care about elite position because they can be a hero for Palace or for Forest or whatever. So there's lots of things that kind of go into this right now, and I think it becomes less about um analytics, and I think my philosophy, which is which is let's be honest, mainly based on Phil, I think is a bit more relevant at this stage of the season. Um but yeah to your point, uh

The Rules for Navigating Blank Gameweeks

SPEAKER_00 31:18

rules you know what I would say is some of the rules that you should probably follow as a player at this point is I think you mentioned about 10 minutes ago about getting lemon players on the pitch. Chase quality, not quantity. If you have got if you have used your your free hit already, and you come into this game week struggling to put 11 players on the pitch, I wouldn't be taking you know huge gambles right now. I would make sure that you have the right players in your team. And to me, some of those players you could look at is like so Bruno Fernandez, maybe Ollie Watkins, um, maybe a Salah if you can afford him. Um so there's a few players that you know if you can get one of the two of them into your team for this game week without taking huge hits, then I would focus on that rather than trying to focus on taking massive hits and and getting 11 players on the pitch. I'd also would say that another thing to kind of pay attention to is to protect your captaincy. So pick the right captain. Generally speaking, no matter how bad your game week is, if you have the right captain, then you usually salvage a decent game week. So the focus should really be on making sure you get the right captain, and if you get that right, that can almost kind of you know cover up any problems you have in terms of getting 11 players on a pitch.

SPEAKER_01 32:40

Um and in reality, what that actually means is trying to understand effective ownership and where people are likely going for that. As as we alluded to previously, um, in all likelihood, most people will be heading towards Bruno as the captain. There is no Haaland, right? Um, so I mean we will get into captain choices at some point um as we get further into the episode, but your captaincy is really going to be a game changer for you in a blank game week, in a week that is expected not to be high scoring. 100%.

SPEAKER_00 33:12

And again, to sort of Hamahamna's sort of point of um making big hits, I think a minus four is probably okay, you know. I think that's something that is acceptable in a in a blank game week if you want to get them pleasant a pitch or or close to it. Um but I think once you start getting into sort of the minus eights and the minus twelves, you do start have to ask yourself the question is this worth it? Am I gonna get those upsides? I always feel, and I think Hot, if Hotz was here, he'd probably be saying, Oh god, Hots, you know, I have done minus eight, minus twelve in the past and still won game weeks. And some people do that, but I think if you're looking at it from the chance that you get those are normal game weeks, uh does that in a blank exactly, and I think you have to pick your moments for your minuses, right? Why are you taking the minuses? Is it is it to chase a blank game week, or is it with a view that you're trying to get your team right for the game weeks ahead? Are you taking double um the minuses because you've got a double game week and you could potentially make those those big gains because it's double game week? There's reasons why you do that. In this particular game week, I don't think it makes sense to sort of go bigger than minuses personally. Um Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:21

To just build on your point, um for me, a hit you only ever do if you can justify that hit over a two, three week period. Um, there's no point taking a hit and thinking, well, that will give you um a wonderful uplift for one week. You don't do one week punt minuses. Yeah. Um so if you take a hit this week, it would be with the view for taking that player on for the next three to four weeks. And that would be on the assumption that you forecasted that that player would bring you in more than the person that you're actually getting rid of. Um so that's the other thing for this week. As well as trying to protect your captaincy, it's also don't for the sake of having um 11 players out there, um, do something that means that you have to then make two or three other manoeuvres. So you waste transfers um just to cover this game week. Um that won't be useful for anybody.

SPEAKER_00 35:20

Yeah, I I agree totally. Um, so you know, I just I just think that you you've got to be sensible, right? I think that you have to just make sure that you um this isn't the week to chase. That's that's the kind of overriding thing I would say in this particular game week. Um, just be mindful of that. But also, I think other sort of rules that you probably should be looking at this game week would be um if you're someone like me and hasn't got their their free hit, whatever players you're bringing to your team, make sure you're buying players that you still want after the black game week. So kind of keep that in mind. Um, you know, I alluded to the fact that there are some teams with some decent games coming up. Arsenal is one of those teams that has decent games. Um obviously we said already that Palace have have one more game and are a team to target. Um so just make sure you're not just kind of like focusing solely on just the game week and thinking beyond that. Um I'd also say that it's probably better to prioritise attackers over defenders generally, although this game week this this season, should I say, has been a bit of an anomaly in that respect. Um obviously we've seen the impact of of DEF CON. So I think in previous years that probably would have would have been a bigger impact. But um, yeah, just play smart is what I would say.

SPEAKER_01 36:41

Yep, and and one of the one of the best pieces of advice that you can chew over is not to rip up a relatively strong team. Um if your team is strong but for this game we it won't particularly be um but it's survivable, then survive, be boring. It's it's fine. Remember that there will be many other people that are in the same position or worse. And there will be people that will not to have a dig at you gus, but there will be people that will be going fulfill, right? They they will be saying, oh well, I'm gonna do this, and if this comes off for me, then you know I'll fly up the league, which is true. Like if it comes off for them, it they'll fly up the league. But the likelihood of that happening is is less than if you hedge your bets and you're boring for the week. Like it will mean you survive into 35, which will then give you other options in terms of what you do, and you'll have more information, so you will know are we gonna have two double game weeks or are we gonna try and fit everything into that that one double game week? Um so don't, I suppose don't, you know, um I don't even know what the best term for it is because we're not past watershed. Um, but yes, don't go to what I say. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:06

Well, let's look at captain, shall we? I mean, I think it's it's probably a good sort of time to have a

Captaincy Strategy for Blank GW34

SPEAKER_00 38:11

look at that. Um obviously we you know we've we've used kind of the projected points um in terms of sort of listening this. Um Salah, interestingly, is is projected to have the the most points, which I find quite interesting. I mean, I know he scored the other day.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

Um it's because his underlying data is still good. It's just he it just seems like he just doesn't have that snack that will allow him to get the goals that he usually does. Um so I would imagine that's uh ultimately that's how you start forecasting. Um but yeah, he I mean he's up there. For me, the obvious will be um going in for Bruno. Um it's a home fixture. It's um they they are third against, I don't know, like the eight, four, ninth team. Um, I mean, there's not many times that a decision jumps out and slaps you in the face as much as that would be. That said, if you are going for the chase because of where you are. Remember, um I think Salah alluded to this last week. Um, he was talking about the fact that, you know, if he finishes 600,000 or 200,000, there isn't a crazy amount of difference. So on the back of that, he would pivot to or work out, you know, um, do I want to chase here or don't or don't I want to chase? I mean, um, for instance, looking at people like Dan for Boeing, clearly you'd be chasing where some are lower in the league than the team that they'll be facing. Um but you know, it's um we have seen that he has been returning um for the past um couple of weeks, for instance. Um his trend is there, he's not he's not declining. Um and die is more of a um is also more of a punt. Um but bearing in mind we know Everton's away record, we know he's got different routes to goals, and he's a creator. Um he's always got to be in the mix, I guess. The interesting thing is my wild card is language.

SPEAKER_00 40:26

The interesting thing about salaries is that if you do have a free hit, you have a big opportunity, right? Because you're essentially gonna have an asset that almost half of the game won't have. Because if you haven't got a free hit, you're not bringing Salem into your team. So therefore, straight away you you have a a window of opportunity here to not only put Salim in your team, but to double that paying for people that don't have a free hit and captain him. And if he if he if he does get a good return, you could get yourself some big gains. Um, of course, it's a big if because Salah has been, let's be honest, trash all season long. Um but you'd think I mean that's harsh, but yes. Well he has he has been, let's be honest.

SPEAKER_01 41:13

Like, but you know he he has been for his high standards. But I think that's the politically correct way for us to put it.

SPEAKER_00 41:20

Yeah, he's been trash, you know. I mean I think even Liverpool fans would say that. But the the the amount of home games they will have left is is dwindling, right? And I'm sure he'd want to kind of put on some kind of show before now and to towards the end of the season. Um and given sort of the the you know the career he's had at Liverpool and what he's given to that fan base, you think that he wants to sort of finish in the right way. So I'm worried about Sanner because I can't get him to my team. Um he's someone that um is definitely you know, if he had the free hit, would be my choice of captain. To me, uh you know, it's something I should have done this game week, gone with a safe choice, and this game week I will be gone with a safe choice, and that's Bruno Vanders. Um as much as I would like to chase some of those names in the list, Fernandez just gets points week in, week out. Um and whenever Man United do score goals, he's invariably involved. Um he's just such a such a great player right now. Um playing with such such confidence. So it would seem foolhardy to go against that, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

Um yeah. No, but as as you said, you can't um take away from what he's been doing. Um and unfortunately, he likely is going to finish the season with the record.

SPEAKER_00 42:50

Yeah, you would have you would have thought so. Um so yeah, I mean that's where we are this game week. Um how are you feeling about the sort of game week um overall? Are you or should I say, how are you feeling about the end of the season? Are you are you sort of resigned to just it's over now, rush to the end? Are you still harbouring any feelings of potentially getting to

Final Thoughts – Strategy vs Survival

SPEAKER_00 43:16

that golden one million and below? Where'd you head on you?

SPEAKER_01 43:20

I need to get into um the top one million or die trying, um, as they say. Um so I do think there are opportunities, but obviously where where we are at the moment is we're actually playing against the people that are really serious about FPL. So this is not the people that have forgotten about their team, etc. So it's easy to make gains on them. Um and like I say, um for me there were some real big missed opportunities um with my own team um for this game week. Um, like I say, I had Esteval on my bench um because I had this the process seemed um right to me in that with the Chelsea assets that I went for, and also hearing that Man United um all the centre backs were out, etc., I thought, okay, this could be put in time as they're at home, etc., and that kind of thing, and they've got to go for Champions League. Um, but it just didn't happen, and I really got a slap back in the face from variants. Palmer, Pedro, and then Estevel all out. Estevel being my first sub. Um, Codalogli was on my bench with 16, and if he had come in, I'd have made the the holy grail triple figures, um, which I haven't done now. Um, and I think if I'm not right, that ultimately the game week has gone to hot. Um, I think he's won it by about two or three points, um, which again is frustrating. But also, I'll allow him to explain. But I would imagine that he's mega frustrated at the moment as well because his game didn't go to plan, although he has won it amongst us three. Um, but in terms of your question, yes, I will keep going. Um, I'm on that hamster wheel. Um, and we go again, as they say.

SPEAKER_00 45:14

Yeah, just to say my point in this game week, I've just seen the scores come in. Um, and just to kind of like add and compound how shit this has been for me, Hill, who put my team, gets an own goal. Thank you, Hill. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, like no clean shoes and the own goal. Well done, mate. Well done. So yeah, that that just kind of you know underlines how what a joke it has been. But um, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:45

It is winning, it is, man. I think I've ended up on 96. Um but definitely the bench booster were the big winners this week. Um, I've seen loads of scores of 130 and beyond, um, which is upsetting, um, as it's not for my good.

SPEAKER_00 46:01

Oh, I had Gross on my bench. I had Gross on my bench with 16. Um, I had Van Hek on my bench with 13. Um, so yeah, a bench boost would have really, really given me a good score this week, but yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_01 46:18

But like I say, there are opportunities coming. Um there are opportunities coming definitely. So it'd be interesting to see what what the final couple of weeks um can get. Um but yeah, definitely um be back to the drawing board. Although, um, to be fair, I think um, for instance, the performance for me in the game week were Truffett and Hintlewood. Um Hintlewood, he actually upset me because watching the Chelsea game, he had a guilt-edged one where Sanchez had flopped in goal, and um ball came out to him and he he done a Kai Havertz special, proper peace shooter, and um he ended up being saved on the line. Um, but um he redeemed himself, he did get another goal. Um however, if he had got that one, I'd have won the week. Not that I'm bitter or anything like that.

SPEAKER_00 47:15

Well, you knew it was a bad news when you saw that you know Webwick scores in the 89th minute, you thought, oh okay, Hotz has got this. Do you mean squeeze out a little little girl for anyway? I'm not hating, I'm gonna let it go. Do you mean well done, Hotz?

SPEAKER_01 47:31

Well done, indeed, especially in his birthday week as well. So he I mean, not much more else he could ask for, right? Sun, FPL, and bragging rights. But I'm sure Hots being hot, you won't be happy.

SPEAKER_00 47:51

That's for sure, that's for sure. But anyway, um, like always, people, please, you know, like, subscribe, share. Um, the support obviously is always loved, always appreciated. Um, we are one done um to end of the season. Um, we've got some some some guests hopefully lined up between now and the end of the season, which we'll reveal when the time comes. But until next time. Truth be told, we're out.