FPL GW35 Strategy: Chasing Points vs Building Rank

FPL Gameweek 35 is where seasons are either recovered… or completely lost.

In this episode of the Triple Captains Podcast, we break down the real strategic divide in FPL right now — managers chasing points versus those building rank for the run-in.

After the fallout from Double Gameweek 33, where Bench Boosters came out on top and others were left questioning everything, the focus now shifts to decision-making under pressure.

Hots returns from holiday and finally gets to unpack his Bench Boost — a move that ultimately cost him 28 points — while Guffs continues to wrestle with form, captaincy calls, and whether his season is already gone.

We explore how to approach Gameweek 35 properly:
Do you chase what you’ve missed… or build towards what’s still to come?

Using projected data and recent form, we analyse:
– Captaincy options including Palmer, Haaland and Bruno Fernandes  
– Defensive stability based on projected clean sheets  
– Attacking upside across key teams :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}  
– Differential forwards and emerging trends in recent gameweeks  
– Players to lock, consider or avoid as the run-in unfolds  

This is not about winning one Gameweek.

It’s about understanding which decisions actually move your rank — and which ones only feel like they do.

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

📺 Watch more FPL strategy episodes:
▶ FPL Strategy Playlist: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqaS4SEX4KP27yxAxu6wnNr1ZJUwkSQcb]

Transcript

FPL GW35 Intro & Show Overview

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Right about now, there's two types of FPR managers. The ones chasing points and the ones building positions. The difference between the two, that's usually what defines the end of the season. So at this stage, the game changes. Early on, you can afford to experiment, mid-season, you just adjust. But now every decision has got weight behind it. Every move either compounds or corrects something that you did. And what we're seeing across the board is most managers are trying to fix last week. Buying the points that they just missed, taking hits to catch up, convincing themselves that they need to do something, anything to close the gap. And that's chasing. And chasing feels right because he's active. But more often than not, it's just panic dressed up as strategy. Building looks different, it's quiet, it's slower. It becomes comfortable holding when everyone else is moving. It thinks in blocks, not game weeks. And most importantly, it's accepting that you don't need to catch everything. You just need to catch the right things at the right time. So the question for this week isn't just who you're bringing in. It's which side are you on. Because one of them is trying to win the week, and the other is trying to win the running. Let's get into it. Oh, the buttons are loving it.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

What's that about?

SPEAKER_06 1:37

It's dark days, but it's dark days. It's dark days. Unfortunately, you've been out on the coast summing it up. You know, I've thought my change out, but for different reasons what's been atrocious. So uh yeah, you do your thing. I'm gonna lay back today and just chill.

SPEAKER_04 2:00

Because um yeah it's dark days. So yeah, back on.

SPEAKER_05 2:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 2:09

Anyway, um for those that would have witnessed last week, they'll have seen that I was missing. Um obviously I went away for my well, I went away for a couple weeks for my birthday. Um as Gov just mentioned, obviously I was in the sun, so time's fading out a bit, but may notice that I'm a bit darker. But yeah, um, it's good to get away. Um it's good to get a break from everything, but at the same time, my holiday was ruined. Um literally on the second to last episode, um big up Abador, the old seller. Um it was discussed that I was definitely bench boosting. And I did I actually did the episode while I was away. So I did it for my balcony on my ship and the cruise ship I was on. And in that episode, I said that I'm definitely bench boosting. Um I have to take it on the chin that the bench boost didn't activate, so I have to display myself. I can't use the ship's internet or any other bullshit as an excuse. Um basically I did. I I did guff it up. Um I wasn't gonna take a shot, but like literally I did. Um when I went to do my final double check, which I would do usually before the deadline closes, I missed it um by uh um an hour or so because of the time difference. So the deadline on my side was early in the morning basically, so it caught me off. But I still thought that my bench boost is activated at the time. How I'm probably explaining it now is a lot calmer than it would have been at um in the last episode. So I couldn't make. And if I did do social posts, but at that point I just had to accept uh fucked up. And yeah, it was a big one. Obviously, my aim we're talking in this episode, we're talking about chasing and what type of manager we're gonna be for to the woods towards the end of the season. And my aim has always been to climb rank. Um, I believe that I'll get in easily will get under a million because that's that's foreign territory to me. But eventually had a big impact on me. 28 points sitting there waiting after planning weeks upon weeks on what I was going to do and how long I was gonna execute it, all because of a pick of a button, and yeah, that that impacted my holiday. I can't lie, I was pissed for days. Um even in paradise, I was pissed. Um you know, move forward onto the last game week, and obviously sitting in the middle because I beat you to um there's an okay three hit. A lot of the players I put in gonna do what I wanted them to do. Um and I'm still thinking back about my bench boost 28 points. Um almost didn't even care about the three hit points this week and even being in the middle. Um have you done any kind of scenario modeling to see what where you think it would have taken you to yes, um, which makes it worse because obviously I've I'm up like I said, I'm out of the millions, so to speak, so I'm 900 and something now.

SPEAKER_05 5:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:43

Those 28 points would have shot me up. Still somewhere that I don't want to be, but in a much better place than I am now. So I'm not gonna I'm not gonna lie. I'm livid. Um it's we're another game week gone, and I'm still pissed about that game week because it's just a mistake that I've I've never it's the biggest mistake of my FBO career. There's four weeks left

Biggest FPL Mistake – Bench Boost Failure Explained

SPEAKER_03 6:09

for me to push.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Um I guess it's the strategy for you now is a big thing, right? Because obviously we've had the confirmation about the double game week and the lack of uh another double game week. So there's one double left, and then the rest is what it is, I guess. And you still got you still got a good couple of chips, right?

SPEAKER_03 6:31

Yeah. So what I was meant to have done is the wild card, so I could bench boost, then the free hit, and then be left with one chip. But unfortunately, even though I didn't bench boost, it made sense to use the free hit because my team was set up for that strategy, which is what pisses me off. So, um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:53

But see, even in that, right, because because you followed that process, it ultimately did end up with you back in the middle, right? And you did better than a lot of other people. Um, because the weekly average wasn't exactly high either, right? Um, I know it's scant constellation because obviously you had the process that you were following a plan and son, but um, in reality, like still following through with that process that you've got has kind of got you to where it got you back into the middle where you want to be anyway, right?

SPEAKER_03 7:22

Um I think that's what makes it worse for me. It's like over the last two weeks I've done well. Yeah. So everyone that didn't have a bench boost in the in that game week the points I got was was challenging that and it was it was a decent game week. But I had a bench boost, and that's what I was playing towards doing. So the fact that I it wasn't activated and I just got 28 points sitting on the bench, there's you know, we've had early in the season bench points where we're like, wow, imagine we did our bench bench boost in this single game week. We're talking 12 points or 14 points, and we would have been happy with that. But to plan it in a double and get 28 points and and put the players in that I put in for only for that double game week. So now it put me in a dilemma because now I need to start thinking about who I'm gonna put in, who am I gonna want a bench boost, how am I gonna get the players in that I want a bench boost with. So it's giving me more of a headache to use the fucking bench boost now. And usually I try to not swear and all of this stuff, but me swearing is my way of not doing a crash out, and I'm not doing a crash out on this episode. I'm not trying to go viral, I'm not trying to do gimmicks, I'm not putting shades on and all this type of shit. I'm just pissed off genuinely, and I just want the season to end. And 2820 is sitting there as a dickhead move, so I'm just fuming.

FPL Mistakes Continue – What Went Wrong in GW34

SPEAKER_03 8:47

Um, it's a good time for me to stop talking about it. I won this game week, my free hit was used, got two chips left, four game weeks to use them. My strategy is out the window. If you I'm obviously gonna provide the best advice possible and you know have common sense with it, but in all honesty, I'm nowhere near where I was before I went away because before I went away, my strategy was clear all the way through to the end. But because of what this extra chip to use, if you ask me when am I planning to use it, as you said, the announcement's come out is the double game 36, and that is it. So now it's a case of what two chips, which chip do I use in that game week, and then when do I use the other chip? And in my in the back of my mind, I'm always gonna think, where can I potentially get 28 points from when I use it? And that's impossible. If I somehow manage to do that, that'll be incredible, but I know it's not gonna happen. So I just want to use it in a week where I can get as close to it, so it just softens the blow. But yeah, I'm I'm absolutely livid. Um I hope that you guys, even though I, you know, it was a great intro, like I said, I hope you two dominate this um episode because yeah, everything's gonna come back to my pain and I don't want to be focused on that. Um but yeah. Anyway, another game week to me. Um I think I don't think I can be caught by you guys now. Um so even now, I haven't, even if I don't win the other four game weeks, I've still won between us. Um tally-wise, points-wise, I'm maybe I could get caught, I don't know. But with all these chips that I've got that I haven't used, I don't see how. Um obviously the man in the shades, it's doubtful you will catch me if I'm being honest. Um Ark, is it still still you got a couple chips yourself, so you yeah, you know what I mean? You got two chips on purpose, I haven't, so that's what's pissing me off. So you might have a strategy that might make you catch me on points, and I'm gonna be more vexed, you get me? But anyway.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Do you know what? I think that's I think I've got a strategy, however, I knew that last game week was gonna be quite low scoring for me anyway, um, because it was the blank and I wasn't um doing anything significant in it. Um but it's allowed you to accelerate that little bit too far for me, I think. Um because you're talking about an 80-point swing, but you still got a load of chips. Um so I think it's very unlikely if it happens. Obviously, I'll be spinning tea like this blues brother over here. But I love something to spin my tea for.

Lessons Learned – FPL Strategy Adjustments

SPEAKER_06 11:39

What can we say? Yeah, it's sad. But I do want to say this though, and I want to cast your minds back to the very opening game week when I made a mistake. And I played a bench boost by accident. Remember that? Was it a mistake though? Oh, oh, oh, it was a mistake. I'm asking. I think it was a mistake. Yeah, it was a mistake. I said it at the time was a mistake.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

You played your bench booth by accident.

SPEAKER_06 12:07

By m by accident.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Remember that? When you yeah, I remember you saying it, but obviously we questioned it at the time because you know you can cancel a bench boost.

SPEAKER_06 12:16

Well, you can cancel, you can activate the same thing, so press the button, it's gonna but No, it's not the same thing.

SPEAKER_03 12:22

You can cancel what you've activated when it's when it's not uh when it's not a wildcard. So therefore, if you've done it by accident, you can rectify it and correct your accident. So there is a difference, it's not the same thing.

SPEAKER_06 12:35

Well, either way, the bench boost wasn't meant to be played, and it was played. And I seem to remember a lot of hee-heeing going on at the time. So pardon me for you're not, you know, walling in your pain right now.

SPEAKER_03 12:49

But you know I don't I don't expect it, to be honest. You're trying to catch me, so why would you want me to extend my?

SPEAKER_06 12:55

Oh no, no, I've I've I've uh like I said the glasses are on for a reason. Um this season's over. I said it last week in last week's podcast that the white flag was fully f fully flown in. So I've got no aspirations to to win anything this season. It is what it is. I'm just simply making a point. You know, that when I played a bit of a chance.

SPEAKER_02 13:14

I didn't ask for your sympathy.

SPEAKER_06 13:16

I wasn't saying asking, I'm simply making a point. You know, yeah, but I'm I'm not asking for anything.

SPEAKER_03 13:28

Run my mouth or not.

SPEAKER_02 13:29

It was funny that someone ran their mouth. No, no, no, no. I'm not saying I'm I'm not saying you could laugh if you want. You can't laugh because I'm above you. That's all it is. There's a difference. If you were winning and I did this, you would you would be laughing. I'm simply making a shape.

SPEAKER_06 13:43

I'm simply I'm simply making a point.

SPEAKER_02 13:46

It's a dead point.

SPEAKER_06 13:49

I'm just saying it's a dead point. It's not really. I'm just saying, yeah, it's a dead point.

SPEAKER_03 13:55

It's not the same comparison. Well, it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_06 13:59

A mistake. A mistake is mess is a mistake, is it not? I made a mistake. I've got no problem coming in here and saying that I played a bench boost and effed up. God knows I've effed a lot of season. So I've got no problem at all manning up to mistakes because I made a lot of season. But that particular game week, I made a mistake. And there was a lot of laughing going on. So uh anyway. The game week was a game week. It was shoddy. I'm sure we'll get into the whole teams in a minute. Um it's very tough to to to carry on and to uh to be positive about uh games ahead. Um you know couldn't you're not playing was it was just like the further now and a a coughing that's way, way, way below ground for me right now. Um and it is what it is, you know. Um I think Jonas did say in a show a few weeks ago when I asked his advice, he said I need to have a lot of luck going my way.

SPEAKER_03 15:01

And yeah, I think he was being polite.

SPEAKER_06 15:06

He may have been polite. He may have been polite, but I also think he was accurate. I needed a lot of luck.

SPEAKER_03 15:11

No, he was accurate because while being polite. Obviously, for anything to be going for you, you need a lot of luck on your side and probably a lot of research behind what you're doing. So he was being polite and he was accurate, but it it's it's it is what it is, right? As you said, um you've made a lot of mistakes and you are where you are because of that. It is what it is, right? You just gotta try and do better next season, represent yourself better next season.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

Well, since we're kind of talking about what happened last week, and we know that the theme of the episode is us talking about whether we're chasing or building. Gus, looking at your team, what were you doing? Were you chasing or were you building? And where do you think things were driven by emotion rather than you being logical?

GW34 Team Review – FPL Guffs Analysis

SPEAKER_06 16:03

This particular game week was just about survival for me, really. You know, I was I was aware that I was aware that people were gonna be playing a free hit this game week, um, because a lot of people's strategies obviously was what Hot was trying to achieve, which was the bench boost followed by the free hit, which was the logical uh game plan.

SPEAKER_01 16:24

Um and yeah, but what about for you? I know you're talking about other people, but for your I'm getting I'm I'm I'm I'm getting I'm I'm getting onto that.

SPEAKER_06 16:32

So the point I'm trying to make is uh is that my team is always gonna be behind the eight ball because I'm competing against a lot of free hit teams out there, and I needed a lot of a lot of luck this game weekend. And you know, as I said to it a little while ago, little things like Cunya, who was in my team not playing, didn't help. Um I guess you know, the positives, because I'm gonna start there. The positives, Dewsbury Hall, I brought in as a little kind of uh you know, a curveball, and it worked out well for me. He got a goal, so that was quite nice. Um but the game week started badly and ended badly. It started with two defensive assets from Sunderland conceding five goals. They've been rock solid all season long. And the first time I do double Sunder Sun Sunderland, well, they have been pretty good at home all season long. They've had a couple of games where they've they've they've not done well, but by and large been very good at home. I don't think anyone's I don't I don't I don't think I don't think any I don't think anyone saw them conceding five goals, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_03 17:32

To not the first so no one saw them conceding five goals, but I don't think loads of people went out trying to double at the back to Sunderland when they started off this season on fire defensively at home, as you said, but um they've been conceding recently. So maybe that was just a slip on your side my play.

SPEAKER_06 17:50

Um it wasn't it wasn't a slip. I have I I I haven't got the option, I haven't got the opportunity to play three hit, like I said. My team was my team. So I had to make a choice in terms of the assets I had, given I haven't got free hit to play, and I chose to go for a Sutherland team against a struggling Nottingham Forest team at home.

SPEAKER_03 18:10

Hey, but I remember what you did say before, and since you were going to talk about previous seasons, what I remember you saying was that teams fighting for something and the team that you're gonna be looking for, right? And that you said to and you said so Nottingham Forests are fighting for survival and a bin just come off the back of another win. So Sunderland don't know what they're fighting for.

SPEAKER_06 18:36

Um like I said, I haven't got a free hit. Not really, I haven't got the ability to, I'm not gonna take minus two to take out Sunderland players on my team for a home game that's not in the forest. That to me doesn't make sense, right? If you've if you haven't got a free hit and you've got Sunderland players at home to not in the forest at fourth and bottom, you're gonna play Southern players. That's just what you're gonna do.

SPEAKER_01 18:55

Yeah, I guess well, the point is that you didn't buy them in, right? You already had them.

SPEAKER_06 18:59

Right. I had I had them players, right? Obviously, I I can rotate my goalkeepers and defensive assets. But you know, I given what the players I had in my squad, you you know, you you could have you could have made that choice of being, okay, they're home to something to not the forest. Hey, Forest can score a goal, right? That's that's fair. But consider five, that's that's ridiculous. So what I'm saying is is that, you know, even if Arsenal played Hunter Burnley and they could get a goal, that happens, but you know, I'd I'll get a complete annihilation of my defense, which was uh was hard to take. So the game week started badly from the get-go, really, and uh it was damaged by the end of the game week my United when Conya obviously didn't make the team. So that was my sort of player I had that most players didn't have in their team and he didn't play. So again, because I I had uh 11 players and four players on my bench who were ineligible to play because on a playing game week, uh I think you're playing playing with 10 players. So um it was a horrible, get a horrible game week all around for me. Um going forward, I mean, if it's a case of uh, you know, uh just doing the best I can week to week, really. I mean, uh that's all I can do. Obviously, I I do have my bench boost left, um, like the two of you. Um, but looking at the sort of the the whole game, there are lots of players who don't have the bench boost left, haven't played it in 33. So it's an opportunity to make up a little bit of ground at some point and get an F36.

SPEAKER_03 20:27

Um have you got uh um transfers with your team?

SPEAKER_06 20:31

I have one transfer available to me. So I haven't got much, just one, basically.

SPEAKER_02 20:37

Nothing built up.

SPEAKER_06 20:38

Uh nothing built up. Um I basically I made the transfer I I made the transfer sort of ahead of the ahead of the um 33, knowing that I was gonna obviously have a team on the pitch for this game week. So I had to use my transfer. Um but yeah, it is what it is. And we move forward uh and uh uh it's been away from the very beginning, you know, from the from from from you know the beginning of the season, it's been uh uh playing catch-up. And what this season has shown me more than any other season, I think, is that uh uh you know, and I think we spoke about it before and it's uh uh there's lots of players out there who know how to play this game now, you know, and I've and I think that's very difficult now to make up ground. You know, years gone by, you could fall behind 100 points, 200 points, and potentially eat it up fairly quickly. It's difficult to do that right now. Everyone is so well informed, so engaged, and even at this late stage of the season. Um and uh you know uh I think uh that that kind of like uh anxiety has been building as the season's going on, as I've been making changes and and not making those index into people above me. Uh and it's slightly eroded my uh decision making process. And this is where I am.

GW34 Team Review – FPL Arc Strategy Breakdown

SPEAKER_01 21:51

As for my team. Um I've uh suffered over the past couple of weeks from uh different actual variants. Um, so we see um the week before last we had effectively Chelsea every major asset before them either weren't injured or didn't even make the squad. Um and this week um the one of the punts that I made was Solanke, and he got injured um within the first half. Um so with Solanke I was playing the fixtures. Um the ideal is that you know Tottenham would have slipped up. Middlesex um ultimately had their um, they would have a lot of shots, etc., against wolves, and wolves have obviously their headers started to be come down over the past couple of weeks, and but it just didn't work out like that. Um I took a minus last week um because looking at projections and things that I could see happening with the team, I didn't think that I had enough. Um so I brought Ezra in um and obviously he got me the points. I wouldn't usually um go in for a one-week punt, but I all also knew that I was gonna be doing wildcard in 35. So um if that punt could do its job for me in terms of returning some points, it would make up. Um and yeah, I I guess um that's where I was. Um so I didn't expect to have um a high scoring week. What I would say is that um it was just one of those times and one of those moments where um I tried to remain logical and logic didn't repay. I mean, Tiago having literally five chances and still coming out of all of that with an XG of zero is quite phenomenal. Um I had Dango hit the post. Um good things were um Vertz. Wilson won't be with me for any much time longer. Um I think that waivers now literally gone. Um and I guess it's what it is. I've just got a lot of ground to try and make up within the next two weeks. That is I'll be using the wild card and then um clearly we've got a double game week, so I'll have to weigh up whether Trump Captain or Bench Booth is the way to go.

SPEAKER_03 24:17

What about you what's your game we

GW34 Team Review – FPL Hots Bench Boost Review

SPEAKER_03 24:21

um after the devastation? Yeah, well, after the devastation of not doing the bench booth, I was it took me a while to even do my free hits because I was um like I said, it might not sound like some something natural when you're on holiday, but I was pissed. Um so I sort of struggled to do my free hit until later. Um I had to not make sure I didn't miss enough a deadline. So um I sort of tried to do what I wanted to do with my bench boosts and not have the same players as everyone else. Obviously, there's gonna be some that everyone's gonna go for, i.e. I put Coro in. I felt that, you know, I wanted to put well, as you saw on the bench, I had the Spurs keeper, but you know, Raya was the right choice. But um, I pulled Spurs would keep a clean sheet, so I wanted to have one defender, but I didn't want to overdo it with Spurs. Um, I put Spirit back into my team again. Um because um I just thought that he could do something. Um, and obviously I believed Arsenal would hold a clean sheet, so I went to double at the back, which is what my team was before I did my workout. Um stayed in my team, um done what he's been doing. I guess the left downs were fella obviously we know what happened there. He got one. Um like you did Solanke got the one. I guess it was yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:08

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_03 26:11

Um and then what more what the Watkins and Roger one was the one that upset me because those are the two that I thought people might think about Watkins, but they're not gonna have Rogers, they're not gonna go to Villa. But I'm looking at Villa fighting for the Champions League spot, they're gonna go there and they're gonna get a result, and Rogers will probably be involved. So for them to just lose, it was like stick heads. Like it's the last thing that's needed after fucking wait, sorry. We go back to the 11th of 20s, but yeah, but like um after the bench boost, it was like at least my differentials come off this week and I have an amazing score line, it might make me feel better, which was a decent score line by you know, Rogers, Watkins flopped, Salah injured, Solanke injured. I put Rice in thinking Arsenal might up the levels a little bit, get a couple goals or something, and he might be involved. Um, but obviously that didn't work out either. But Boeing got me the assist that was that was that was decent, and I just moved forward, bro. Like um overall, three hit, can't really complain. I've got a green arrow. Um, like I said, I broke into the thousands and house, so I'm not in the millions, but uh yeah, it's very hard to be happy with anything at the moment. So I'll just gotta just see the next week's and follow. I mean, progress.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Fail to plan, plan to

FPL Strategy: Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail (Run-In Approach)

SPEAKER_01 27:40

fail. My nan must be still praying for me, eh? So, yes. This is very true in terms of FPL. Um, we are getting straight into our theme as it stands now. So, tracing, what are the common mistakes that we have made as well as what we see other managers make? Because a lot of times when people are chasing, they don't necessarily take the context of a fixture into account, right? Um, and this comes back to um the the phrase that you coined before hops about minutes, forms, and fixtures. Like, we do need to look at those things, but obviously when you start chasing psychologically, you start ignoring some of these things. There are any examples where you guys have seen that happen um for yourselves in terms of some of the picks that you've made over the past couple of weeks? Yep, for me.

SPEAKER_03 28:33

Um in my three hit, I decided to go with Watkins and Rogers to be like a differentials from um I didn't think no one would double up on Villa. And I felt that Villa would, you know, go out and win that game. I felt that they were fighting for the Champions League spot, so it'll be something that they'll go and have a good game, especially after Watkins scoring in the previous game. But obviously the form of um Rogers and Villa as a whole hasn't been that great. So I sort of went with a guess, like, oh, you know what? I believe Villa should do it, so I'm just gonna try to be differential. I was just trying to um be smart, I guess. Um trying to go against what other people are doing so I can just getting that way, which flopped. So um, if I just stuck to thinking about who's actually, you know, guaranteed to start, for example, who's gonna play 90 minutes and who was in better form, I probably could have made better choices and they were put in, and that's the absolute truth. Gibbs White is put is a perfect example of that. In my three hits, I was actually thinking Gibbs White or Rogers, and then I said, everyone's gonna put Gibbs White in. And then not everyone did. Yeah, which is disappointing. It's really strange. Disappointing me more because I was like, bruh, I went with Rogers to be different because everyone's gonna go for um Gibbs White, who's just done what he's been doing, and in crazy form, and no one put him in. And it was like Yeah. Um I know that's just one example, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:17

I know that I'm extremely guilty of when the player scores a brace, I I just automatically assume in my head that it's not gonna continue, they're not gonna be able to do that the following week. And it's bitten me with a couple of um players, um, the winger at Leeds and Gibbs White, obviously. But but the one key thing for everybody to also acknowledge with this, don't necessarily just go for the form pick. You also got to try and understand what their XGI trend is as well. Um, because somebody can be really overperforming against their XGI in a big, big way, which is more on overperformance and it will regress at some point. Um, so for instance, with Gibbs White, I know that is the case. I think he's like he's performing like two point something over um his XGI that was expected for the last five games. Um so it's a massive, massive overperformance. Is he going to be able to sustain that? Because also his overperformance is against a low volume amount of shots. Um so it's one of those ones where you'd actually look at it, but you also have to wait upright. Um, because as you said, have they got something to play for? Forests definitely have, right?

SPEAKER_05 31:29

They're not out of boards yet.

SPEAKER_06 31:38

Yeah, I mean I think you know, our friend FBR Seller mentioned this to me a few weeks ago and to what to to track uh the FGI um as a kind of a um a trigger for who you should play in your team. And um it's funny you mentioned gives why at heart because uh you know to go back to the question, you know, the mistake uh that I really made that's really hurting is just not going with the sort of like philosophy that uh I should have gone with, which is the philosophy that you were trying to go with, which is the bench boost free hit. And uh it all comes back down to the idea of uh play the game properly, play it safe, play it right. And in my mind, you know, I'm thinking that everyone's gonna free hit. That's not everyone's gonna bench boost in 33, right? Um that's not the case. And had I just played the game properly and played the chips where you really should have played them, which it turned out to be bench boost, free hit, I would have made huge gains. So, you know, um yeah. And in my bench boost, I would have definitely would have brought in um Gibbs White as part of my 15th night's work. So you live and you learn. Um and I think it's just uh further proof that this game is truly about uh playing the percentages and ensure and just play your own game, stop block out the noise, uh stop worrying about trying to go to to to uh deviate from the crowd. Um it's important that you know uh uh you listen to the uh to the stats and you ensure that you're maximizing what you can do for your team rather than trying to let other strategies and other teams affect what your path is. So, you know, that's a big takeaway for me, really. Yeah, it's when trading as well.

SPEAKER_01 33:31

Um one of the things that the worry is um people take hits. Now I know that's almost podcasting the kettle black as I took a hit last week, but I did that in the context of knowing that I was wildcarding. So um there wasn't anything to lose per se, as long as I came out of it with um sensible points from that hit that I took, which ultimately I was plus two um from the hit. Although it isn't something that I would recommend. Usually you should only really be taking hits if your team is that bad per se, as in it's been hit by a load of variants, you've got loads of injuries, etc., before a deadline, and you've got to do something and you run out of chips. Now, obviously, talking talking along those lines when we talk about something in the extreme. Um, but um I know for instance, Hots, your your approach is um different in some respects in terms of you will um you will take a hit where you think it is necessary. And um, interestingly, even in one of our leagues, that I was looking at a player that had taken a minus 24 in the week that everybody was doing a bench abuse, and ultimately he he still ended up like plus 16 um from where he would have been. So I guess he would feel that he was justified with it. Um, me being me and being so risk-averse, um, as you can imagine, that made my skin crawl, and I was like, wow, um, that's different.

SPEAKER_03 35:01

Um, of a bench boost, though that minus 24 is like I don't know where he is in the league, but he doesn't really care. He's just thinking, oh, I want to counter it and just did what he wanted to do. It's just a different position. But what I would say, as you mentioned there, is yes, I've been known as hardcore hot. I've done minuses, maybe not minus 24s, but I've done minuses that have worked in time. I would say if your approach, for example, was a bit like Gupta's, where you did your chips earlier than the let's say the templates, um, then if you didn't save up changes as part of that early strategy, then you put yourself in a position where you haven't built transfers, you've used your chips early, then you've got to be open to maybe doing a small minus, like you did on your side, Ark, and even though it wasn't a mega game, you still gain two points because the strategy you would have to do if you've got less chips and no free transfers, is whoever you're putting in, if you're gonna be a minus, they've got to be a minus, and they've got to be someone that you want for the rest of the season, so it's worth the minus. So, for example, we know that there's Palace is doubling, which was always doubling, and City was always doubling. If you've taken a minus for someone, let's say Munoz, because potentially most people are free city, I'm guessing. So let's just use Palace, because I don't think many people have three of them at the moment. If they're putting us in, who got six points this game week, then they might have taken a minus four to get him in, but they're gonna have tried to put him in anyway, because now they've got one person that's doubling in 36 already. So it's times to double, in my, in my in my opinion. But I definitely agree that the way that it is now, I wouldn't be going crazy on minuses going forward. But there's still a time and a place to minus an approach.

SPEAKER_01 37:13

Definitely with the last four weeks of the season, though. Say that again. It's it's it's funny you meant. No, it's funny, definitely it's probably not the time. It's funny you mentioned taking loads of hits. We've got four weeks left of the season. As much as it could create wonderful games for you, it's more likely to get you swinging back down the league, which is Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_03 37:36

I guess it just depends on the team you've got.

SPEAKER_01 37:38

Yep.

SPEAKER_06 37:42

It's fun It's funny you mentioned me. It's funny, it's funny you mentioned that because exactly what you said is exactly what I've done. I took a minus four this week and brought in Moonas, you know, and he got me six. Yeah, so you know, particular um transfer work to me in isolation. Unfortunately, other things went. Who'd I take out? Um I can't remember now. Can't remember now, but I brought in I brought in Moonas this week for the exact reason.

SPEAKER_01 38:13

You brought him in with the full process. Eventually over the next couple of weeks, he would give you more than the person that you exited, which is which is the right way to go, right, in terms of the way you look at it here. Because it it shouldn't be like the one week pun that I just did. It's got to be okay, what what is this player that I bring in gonna give me a yeah?

SPEAKER_06 38:41

Well, yeah, because I'm different to you, right? You've got you've got world cards, right? I haven't got a wild card. So any any any one week pun that you did can be sort of you know erased by your wild card. I I can't, so obviously obviously I've got to have to have a very different thought process as as Hott alluded to, which is why I brought a minutes into my team. Um and you know you need the larger reason about that, you know. Uh going forward, uh what I will say one thing I will say is this, yeah. Uh although although the minutes form fixtures is a very important thing to think about in terms of uh bringing in players and net players, I think at this stage of the season it's a very unique state of the game because at this stage of the season uh there is a lot of kind of like room for volatility. You're gonna have teams who potentially are not gonna get relegated, not going to Europe, might start bringing into play within the ring in given game time. Um there's a lot of injuries happening, there's a lot of teams who like United now who possibly be in the Champions League, will they start playing other strikers? Will they start giving players more table? Would they start having players play only our football? So I expect there's gonna be uh some room for um a bit more risk to be taken in a game if you are trying to really aggressively chase. Um and it's always it's always a thing every single season, there's always the last game season, the last two games where someone's gonna get hat trick or four goals. We see these huge scores on Game Book 38 often um in years gone by. So uh, you know, uh triple captain could be a really important chip. I mean, I know we've spoken in this game about that's probably the weakest chip in the game, but uh, but you know, is every potential that you know if you hold that chip for the potential of the last game where there's uh you know sun's shining and certain players uh are on the beach, there's always a high scoring game. So um look, all is not lost. I think it's it's it's always uh you know worthwhile to start to stay locked in and and don't give up and try to be as go as high as possible. Um but you know I'm gonna be aggressive and I'm gonna try to do some unique moves going forward. I'm gonna try and to to um mix things up. There's no point in me being safe at this point. I'm I'm so far behind now. I might as well sort of just have it a funny. I've been back a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

That's my first meeting. What you said, Hart, with regards to the way that we target teams. Like what teams are we looking to target now? Going forwards with four game weeks left, knowing that there's a double. Is it a simple template scenario? As in we want free city, free Crystal Palace, a couple of Arsenal, as defense looks like it's per

Best Teams to Target in FPL GW35

SPEAKER_01 41:33

a few of leagues are playing fixtures, or what we're doing because um probably useful for us to look at um fixture difficulty runs at one.

SPEAKER_06 41:42

I think it makes sense to go with um clearly free city assets, right? They've got the extra game. Um they have decent games as well. Um projected um returns for the attack suggest that man city are by far at the high potential for the turns. So uh you know it's a case of what free city players you want to go for. And it would suggest that maybe the balance of the players if you bring the team probably leaned against it, we have two attackers and one 30 and maybe three attack at City. Now, the question mark on the team with particular is uh uh as the games go on, depending on what the results are, uh that might outweigh what City do for two 37 or 38. For example, if they lose a draw game and suddenly the lead suddenly gets out of reach, what does it happen? Then maybe they sort of change a philosophy going to the FA Cup final.

SPEAKER_01 42:35

So it's there are sort of But wouldn't be the assumption with City B that you you'd want those free and just for the double game week that is coming up, as well as any other fixtures they've got. Right, as in what I mean because if you got to 37 and start and really started getting jitters about they're probably not gonna play certain players or whatever not, you'd have the opportunity to transfer them out, right?

SPEAKER_06 43:03

But what you have to be what you have to be mindful of is that they got a double game with then they've got an FA Cup final of 37, right? So you have to be careful about that second game in a double. Will they rest certain players ahead of the FA Cup final? Possibly. Um so just be careful about what you actually bring into your team, with that in mind. Um and also if they because if they are still nicking it with Arsenal, you know, he might still say, well, it's not going to, but he might suggest that the Chelsea game in Wembley is a slightly easier or less important game than a midweek game against Brentford. So maybe he you know, he's he's definitely gonna mix things around. He's got three or four games in a very tight span, he's definitely gonna have to sort of move his players around. So what are the players you want to go for Man City? You definitely want to go for the keeper, Donald Rumour for sure. You definitely want to go for Haaland, the other two. And I'll suggest what Donald Rumour or possibly O'Reilly. Uh O'Reilly has played a lot of minutes recently. Will he continue to keep playing him? You know, I Nori is obviously fit, can play left back. I know O'Reilly can play with midfield, but is he someone who's gonna play both games in double game week? I'm not entirely sure. Um but certainly Donald Roman and Harden are two players that can feel confident they're gonna play those games. Um you play Turkey, I don't know. Turkey has obviously been very good for him in the run-in, but they've got a lot of midfielders who can play his position. So it's a difficult one. And obviously they've got Palace, who also got a lot of games, five games, 59 in the season. They've got they've got European games coming up as well. They've obviously rested players ahead of like um league games, but they there's no league pressure for them, right? They're gonna go to Europe, they're not gonna get relegated. So you'd think that they're gonna go down towards a league.

SPEAKER_01 44:46

So yeah, Palace are a difficult one. Um because we we've seen every time they've been in Europe, every time they've come back, they've rested a number of different players. Um but for instance, there are fixtures

Crystal Palace FPL Assets – Are They Worth It?

SPEAKER_01 45:00

that you can also play. So you've got Leeds who have got, I think they've got Bournemouth next, um, but then after that, they've got Burnley and they've got Middlesex, right? Um, so they have winnable games where they still need to win. Um Burnley, you would you would presume that they could win there. Um, and then against Middlesex, that's going to be a relegation decider, I guess, um, to an extent. Um, and I mean, obviously, there is the usual of looking at Arsenal and Lennonis is also looking at other teams that have got something to play for. So it's looking in and around your Brightons, I guess. Um, and seeing what Forest are going to do. Liverpool and Chelsea seem to have difficult fixtures all the way through. Um, so if you are going to target anybody from them, maybe you target a differential attacker. Um the issue that you've got with Chelsea is because the managerial change, it now means that we we've got to suss out what the new manager is doing and what his favourites are, how he likes to play.

SPEAKER_06 46:05

Yeah, uh Chelsea, I think I'll stay clear of, if I'm honest, for that reason. Um there's too much uncertainty around around their line-ups and around just the club in general. So I would I would stay away from them. I think Leeds are are a good team to target defensively. I think they've been playing really well, they're playing in a lot of confidence. Um and you know, we've we've seen in recent weeks um Darlo do very well, uh, for example. Um and you know, I think if you're looking at the makeup of if you had a if I had a world card, I would definitely be targeting Arsenal at us at the back. You know, Arsenal, I get a build their title charge off clean sheets. That's gonna be a mentality. It's been that the whole way through. They're best they're the best offensive team in the league, and they've got good games, right? They've got Burnley at home, they've got a palace team who could be uh down in tools for European Cup final potentially. Um they've got West Ham away, which will be I think will be our Arsenal's toughest game, but nevertheless, West Ham are not necessarily the most potent of offensive team, and they've got Fulham at home. So you would you would assume that there's a lot of potential of clean sheets there for Arsenal. So for me, the graphics are different, right?

SPEAKER_01 47:24

The the predictors, the projections uh I'm not predicting that we're gonna have that many clean sheets before the end of the season. Well, you have to take into account.

SPEAKER_06 47:35

I mean I mean the only reason the only reason why City are

Best Defensive Picks for FPL GW35 (Clean Sheet Odds)

SPEAKER_06 47:38

above them is they have the extra game, I guess, right? So I think that's probably what swung swung why Arsenal not top at top of this particular league.

SPEAKER_01 47:45

Um but for me, I would be choosing one one, maybe two plain sheets, right?

SPEAKER_06 47:54

Yeah, I think I think a lot of this information is obviously based on historical data as well, right? In you know, recently Arsenal in the last sort of four or five game weeks haven't been as good as they have been over the course of the season in general. Um you would hope that with players like Timber coming back into the team, I think he's he's get come back to full recovery. That might help Arsenal's ability to keep things cheap for their running. So there's there's there's a number of things that can potentially uh help them and maybe push that you know uh projective numbers up a little bit once they kind of get their normal back five back together again. But you know, for me, I would definitely be trying to target two Arsenal defensive assets at the back. Um make up my team will be sitting at the front, Arsenal at the back, and probably making up the rest of my team from you know uh teams who've got things to play for. So as you've already alluded to, I'll be looking at leads, um I'll be looking at Aston Village still, uh I think they've got beating games, and I think they got their midfield back, as you mentioned last week. Um Forest seemed to have hit their groove. Um so there's a there's a there's a few teams out there that you there's some gems out there you can pick up along the way, but um the bases of my team would certainly be Man City at the front, Art of the back.

SPEAKER_01 49:15

Are there particular players that you're looking at in relation to all of this that you think will be the key ones from each of the individual teams? I mean, I look at the West Ham team, and even though they've been doing well over the past couple of weeks, their fixture run to the end of the season is it's quite torrid. They've got Brentford, Arsenal, Newcastle, lead. And there's no respite.

SPEAKER_06 49:40

Yeah, so I mean, if we want to deep dive into it a little bit more,

Lock, Hold or Sell? Must-Have FPL Players for GW35

SPEAKER_06 49:44

um there's a certain structure that you know, and and I don't know if you want to sort of charm in here in terms of who you would sort of slot into these holes, but there's there's probably five players I knew that I was gonna let that go.

SPEAKER_03 50:00

I said nothing, man. I said nothing. Yeah, I said nothing.

SPEAKER_01 50:07

Well, we're past watershed now, so so like yeah, games begin and stuff, but yeah, so so what is the team looking like? Um Gus, what where are you saying that what where are your locks? What are your locks for the team?

SPEAKER_06 50:22

So I mean if we look at the locks in the team, I I mean definitely you've got to be looking at probab probably Ryah in goal. That's that's the that's the starting point. Um and as I said, did you know you want two Arsenal assets at the back. And uh the two that I think were probably locks at this point will be Raya and Gabriel, for sure. Um if you're looking at uh a man's city tinted asset, I probably will be looking at O'Reilly. Um yes, there could be potential that he might get benched in one of the double game weeks, but I think he's been so good for them, has got so many attacking returns. I think he has to be the one that you've got to be looking at from their back four. Second and second behind that would probably be Gehey, but certainly from from Rob Riley being number one. Midfield Bruno has to be in your team going forward. He's he's chasing his assist, uh, he's the best midfielder in a game. Uh you've got to base your your your idol team with with Bruno in there. Uh and Haaland. You know, Harland has to be uh part of your front three for for a wild card. I mean yes, he's his form has been a bit up and down. Um but you know, he's got a lot to play for, and he's still the best striker in the game. And you'd be for Hardy to not include him in your team. But the question I have for you guys is that you know, looking at this sort of structure, A, do you agree with those five picks? And B, you know, if we were to sort of like go through the black black holes in terms of other players you feel are certainties for a wild card, who would you include?

SPEAKER_01 52:06

So for me, based on what we were discussing in the previous segment, I'm surprised that Raya's gone in as a lock and not done a rumor for you from your perspective. Um, especially as he's got the double coming up, right? Um, and then on the basis of um some of the projected um data that you were showing, um they're gonna be more returns city-wise, so um he should go there, I guess. Um, yes, I begrudgingly agree with Gabriel. Um, as many of you will know, Calibre is my favourite. However, because he's so bloody good, he doesn't get any DEF CON because he sees everything beforehand and he just points things out or positionally, he does what he needs to do, so he doesn't get that whereas Gabriel does. Um when I look at the mid, um, bearing in mind um the reality is that everybody that is doing the wildcard even, or whether they've got a transfer bank built up, they're not going to be able to fortify the team with um loads of um high-spent players, right? So I think if you're looking at budget midfielders, um you can't go too wrong with Tavernier simply because he's still performing quite well from a high attacking midfield point of view. And if the fixture is right where there's attacking volume in there, he's probably gonna get in on the act. Um, and he's not gonna cost you an arm and a leg. Um, weirdly, um, when looking at it, I've looked at um Wellbeck, Calvert Lewin. Calvert Lewin is strange, his data suggests that he's about to pop, but he's trending downwards. Um, so it's kind of a signal to say, you know what, hold off dependent on the fixture run. But as I alluded to previously, he's got two out of the next three fixtures for him are good on paper. Um, Wellbeck, a little there's more of a signal about regression around him because he's overperforming, but his minutes are starting to be unreliable. Um, so not necessarily that, but I do think that um it's between him and Calvert Leon for one of the slots up front. Um, and I would suggest that the third one, at the moment, you'd basically go for Boeing simply because he he's got lots of creator volume, so he keeps just bringing in those assists, right? Whether it is whether he's gonna bring in a whole from scoring a goal or not, he he's getting an assist. So um you kind of can't move away from him. Although we got to see over the next couple of weeks what happens now that Chris Wood is actually back. How much does that unlock Forrest in terms of what they do and how secure do his minutes become? Um, because he's obviously having an effect. Well, he had an impact last week.

SPEAKER_06 55:09

I would definitely look at Brighton assets at the back. They've been pretty decent, actually, by and large, the second half of the season. Um, they've got obviously wolves at home, uh which you know we have to we still have to target them in terms of if if a team's playing against wolves, you've got a fancier chance of getting some returns, clean sheets and whatnot. And their running isn't isn't bad at all, Brighton. So I think assets like Van Hecker, Cadioglu, who you I know who's been who's in your team, is is someone to look at. Um I do agree with you. I think Donna Rumer the reason why I haven't got Donna Ruma in this team is because uh I'm projecting that the third Man City asset is probably going to come in the midfield. So obviously, because you can only know three players in Man City, that's why I haven't included Donna Ruma in in this particular graphic. Um I I would definitely say Munos is one that you have to look at. Uh media in my team um there is a slight chance that he might miss a game uh uh on one of the five because they want to keep him ready for for Europe. But um he's so good going forward and um he's such a good FP or so he would definitely be one of my five defenders for sure. Um I'll also be looking at sort of uh potentially Isak, maybe you know, if you've got the funds. Um Liverpool are not so I mean they're pretty much secured of of Champions League, but they still gotta get another another win or two to to to finalise that. Um and they've got okay games in the running. Um and of course there's no real threat from from Ecate K taking minutes off him. So you know players that haven't got managers that haven't got their their um wildcard to hand haven't got the the versatility to to bring in uh an easy into the team because he's so highly priced.

SPEAKER_03 57:18

What apart from Munoz, would you be looking to if you had the opportunity to bring in to this drop chart? Is there any in the midfield? Is it just Munoz and the back line?

SPEAKER_01 57:32

I think Henderson's a good shot.

SPEAKER_06 57:34

Yeah, yeah, definitely. I think if there's three assets from Palace that I'll be looking at, it'd be Henderson, Munoz, maybe Saar, but even Saar have been getting benched a lot, you know. Um I did mention a couple of weeks ago that um Meteta, who was benched um recently against West Ham, I think, but he does finish season's off really well. Um he could just catch him in the right time and he could, you know, he could get a hat trick, you know, he's capable of that. So if you are really trying to chase him and be a bit dangerous, then he's someone that I would uh think about. But certainly two of the three Palace assets I would have would be Munos and Henderson for sure. I don't think there's anyone really in midfield from Palace that I look at and think, yeah, he's worth a shot. Um in my personal opinion, I don't know how you guys feel about that.

SPEAKER_01 58:28

No, I think that um I think that Sar is a difficult one to assess um because he's quite him, Mr. Zworth. Um yeah, yeah, so it's a hard one to um plumb with him. I think um the what do you from your perspective, Hots, do you see anyone in midfield for palace that you think actually they'll work for they'll work for Sharp?

SPEAKER_03 58:52

Um Saar is just one of those ones where you don't know what's gonna happen. Um in a double game week, you could get lucky. Yes, and if he starts one and plays um a part of the second, he could be the one to go for. He's their best midfield asset, I guess. So I'd consider him, but I think not I think everyone's gonna be considering Henderson, Munoz, and the back line. But it'll be four of Kazan. So I think everyone's gonna be looking defensively at Callis. But what's for sure is that after the last double game week, people are gonna want free. Um, and so I don't think he's gonna be favored. So he's someone that'll consider trying to be a bit different, but it doesn't mean I'm confident and I would recommend everyone do it. But he's someone that will consider doing um to make part of a free for Palace, like a good back file.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:05

Would you take a minus to bring in your team?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:07

I wouldn't take a minus to bring someone into my team that I don't believe is uh is guaranteed. I know you you you put down the minutes, fixtures, and form, etc. But I wouldn't do minuses for players that are minutes risks. It doesn't make sense to me. Even though you could say everyone's a minutes risk, I just wouldn't take minuses for someone I know is gonna I believe is gonna not play the full 90 minutes in both.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:43

Yeah, yeah, I agree. So I mean outside of the the the the doubles of City and Palace, uh are there assets that you're I mean, I mean I mentioned Leeds and Brighton. The thing is, I did my wild card, I mentioned Brighton.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:01

That's who's in my team already. So I've got the players from there, I've got the defense from Brighton. So when I did my wild card, like I said, I planned it for a reason. Um let myself down was with the bench booth. So I've got some assets that are now, for example, I've got Boomerough assets who were the ones that was on my bench. And even you can even see that I didn't even put Bruno or Gabriel on my bench as part of my um bench booth team. I left the boomer players on there because I didn't change it around. So they were literally just pull in just for the bench booth. So this assets I don't have a one anymore. Um I will change the assets for my one card, I don't have a one anymore. I've got the print um the print and the fence and force from the fence. Um got um the double in the back that I did before. So that's the shall move. Because palace is in the double and also no, I'm also got my my options now. Um as you said there's four games left. I was honest and open at the beginning of the show and I was like, I haven't really made a decision. But what I would say is I wouldn't care much about United players now. I wouldn't care for Chelsea players at the moment. I have two. Do we keep them as differentials? As you said, gosh, you wouldn't go name them now, blah blah blah. But maybe if I keep them and then you manage your best of problems and so and gives me that use that no one's got them. I don't know. It's a tough one at the moment. I was waiting for the announcement of doubles and hoping that Bullmoth would get a double because I've got free effects from them and then they haven't, I'm like more fish to fry or whatever you'd want to say. So it's like I just don't know. I've got like decisions to make. I'd say if you are looking at players and assets, look at Arsenal, which has been said, look at City and Palace, which has been said, and the teams fighting to have the better fixtures. So West Ham are fighting, but we know you know they've defensively been quite quite strong, but their fixtures are tough. So if you're looking at West Ham, I wouldn't only be looking at Boeing. I wouldn't be looking at defence, even though their defence has been doing okay. Um I'm not sure about Nolan Forest. Keeps Western form as the stat man himself has said, he's overperforming. Can he keep this up all the way for the end of the season? And realistically, now, not in a funny way, but it's West Ham and Spurs are the two teams that are fighting for survival, and Spurs is just getting injured more injuries um as the weeks go on. So, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:05

There's a potential differential from Forrester, um, defense-wise, Nico Williams. Um, so I think if I remember correctly, he's got what I think his 14 shots over the past five game weeks. Um so shot volume-wise, he's he's quite up there. And obviously the new manager has got them moving about a lot, so he could be potentially dependent on the fixture. Um, even is a very, very wild one, but even better. Like he's at 2XGI over the past five game weeks, um, which makes him relevant, not core, but somebody for you to look at for if the fixtures open up or if he's got a fixture where you've assessed that his opponent they're weak in the central area. He could be one because not many people are gonna go for him. But his underlying data is good as it stands at the moment. Um and you've even got Sesco, right? Um, that you could be looking at as well. But another one that is also under the radar, we've got to look at it. That the reality is Havertz is injured, so there's less of a minutes risk issue around Yokarez right now. Obviously, it matters whether um he is platformed correctly or whatever not, but we know that the season when he was platformed in a better way, when as they played closer to him in the sun, um he was scoring goals. So he's another potential, especially with some of the fixes that Arsenal's got coming up. And they've got something to play for, right?

SPEAKER_05 1:05:39

Well, you'd hope that I I think that's

SPEAKER_06 1:06:03

Yeah, he's definitely the chat. Um I think that what you don't know is uh United obviously uh pretty much assured of Tempest League football. So that pressure now of trying to uh achieve that spot is now kind of diminished. How would it affect them? You know, will that kind of like uh that weight or that burden uh be released now, release the team and they play in freedom and uh you know, or it could go away and they can make a you know uh down tools. Um but I I I mean you mentioned before Hot, you don't really like Man United Assets or you don't really fancy assets. I I disagree. I think that Man United Assets are pretty good still. Um and I think coming into the end of the season they're probably the freshest team in the league. I mean they've played fewer games than most teams in this league. Um and Bruno's got a lot to play for still. When I think they'll be chasing chasing their records and trying to break the records. Probably wanted to achieve that as well. So um I do think Cesco and Casemiro as well is another one who I think is is worth a shot.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:03

He's someone that's a month in a United team. Apart from that, for me, um, the reason I'm I'm looking at it and thinking I wouldn't go towards United assets, um, just to give it a bit of um clarity, is because defensively, um I don't know if they're gonna keep clean sheets for the the remaining fixtures. Um so I wouldn't know who I'd want to risk to put in the back line from United. Um Boma wasn't was yellow, but he made it in the last game. Cunha wasn't. But didn't play. Um remember correctly, you actually put Cunha in and he didn't play. Um Cisco started the last game, but they've secured Champions League. He might get a run on the team. He may do, may not. I don't think there's no guarantees really apart from Bruno. So because there's no real guarantees apart from Bruno, I just wouldn't want to put any that if Cunha's back, Cunha should start. I just don't want to risk it. Um Ahmed's playing again now, you know. They've let's be real, they've secured the Champions League. So, you know, the players that you want to put in, you get minutes from them, but it just might not be 90 minutes. And I just think there's um players that will be look, I'll put it this way Rogers and Watkins, for me, will have more minutes than those type of guys that are in the United team. The problem is I put them in in my three hit and thought that they'll be trying to fight for the top five, and they flopped. But that means they can't keep flopping. I'm not gonna be prepared to put more villa players in permanently for the rest of the season. But um, someone else might. But I would still prefer to go with probably one of their players. Oh, I'd rather go with Watkins over Cesco, for example. That's just how I look at it personally, because I know Watkins is more likely to play the full 90. And even if he doesn't, I think that, you know, there's United's in a better position than them. So I guess we'll see. But I'm not gonna do that anyway, because I'm not putting after they messed up in my free hit, there's no chance I'll put them in permanently.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:24

So who's playing first, right? Best way to put a good segue before the captain against in terms of the games.

Upcoming Fixtures & GW35 Outlook

SPEAKER_06 1:09:32

Um I mean I think Leeds looks like a really good game to target. Uh I know you mentioned before about uh Lewin, right? And um he's kind of falling off a cliff in terms of his uh he's got a ball in it.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:57

But that's definitely someone that you wouldn't be able to go for a lot of, right? But one question, you you're not gonna capture any of them.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:08

Yeah. I mean captain choices for me.

Best Captain Picks for FPL GW35

SPEAKER_06 1:10:21

It's a tough one this week. It's a tough one. I mean, I've I have said in previous weeks that uh Bruno Fernandez is uh is the locking pick. Um and for me is either Bruno or Harland. I think I think yeah, I I think uh I think it's a tough game for D. I know Everton have been better on a road than they have been at home. But you know, it's never tough, it's it's never easy going to to Everton. Um and it has been fairly decent in the lower. So you know can Harden go there and score a few goals? Sure. But would it be surprised if he doesn't score a goal? Not really. So I I would definitely have Bruno over Harland for this game week, uh especially because May United at home. Liverpool are not the most secure defense. Um these games are always full of passion and and I think May United be up for it. I can see Bruno being effective in this game and and and doing something. Um so Captain I think for me Bruno just about just about Bruno.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:37

Okay. I don't know. So my way forward at the moment is the for each um captain pick or choice that is out there. Um I also need to make sure that I have a look at the game space and understand the opponent and whether it's viable. Um for instance, we know everything goes through Bruno, so you will always be a captain of choice um for a united game there playing. Um but for instance I've been fairly against Palmer um for most of the seasons, and then obviously I've got them um when um I do my free kids. Um that said, they're at home. They clearly do respond to Freud and Pala. Um would it be that now with um Fernandez back and maybe Pedro's back as well? Um does that create a game state for Palmer against Forrest, bearing in mind they're at home. But likewise, um, I would do the same looking at Sacker. Um I don't know whether Salah's actually um they've confirmed where we are injury-wise with him, so we'll need to look at that on Friday. Um, but Salah's very unlikely to be somebody that I bring in on the Wild Cup. Um, it's just too much money. Um, and if I'm gonna weigh up who I'm gonna spend 14 million on, it's gonna be Haaland and not Salah, especially with his fixtures. Um, but my general lean at the moment is towards Haaland um for what can happen and actually the form that the rest of his teammates are in is the reason why I lean towards him and he's got something to play for. Um but likewise Bruno does, he's trying to break that record. Um the reality is, or the sad reality is that he is going to. And no, I'm not one of these Arsenal fans that is going to talk about you about what where are the non where are the non-set piece um um assist, etc., etc. an assist is an assist, as it stands. Um so if he gets the record fair play to him. But he's still a rat.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:58

Before Hot Smith is a choice to captain pick, I'll say one thing quickly. I do think Calvert Loon is a decent captain pick. I do.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:05

Do you think he plays nine minutes?

SPEAKER_06 1:14:07

I think that um he needs some penalties as well. Um I don't need to. That's a question. Does he need to?

SPEAKER_01 1:14:17

I'll remind you to get I'll remind you of what Sarah reminded us. You know, I think that's statistically the worst finisher in the whole of Europe. Um yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:28

You you have to yeah, you've got a bit more to have to um but yeah, but uh I I just think that How to Burney, Sunshine, leads are almost almost a you know I think they could put on a shelf for the potential to that and as well. So uh I can definitely get one or two goals. I mean, I don't think that's beyond the runs of possibilities, right? And I'm looking at that list of list of players we have on that thing. Am I confident that any of them would score two or two goals or more? I can't feel confident about any of them in this particular game week. So I think Kevin Lewin has any as just as good as a chance as any of those guys of scoring a couple of goals this game week. So I do think he's a decent captain chance for the game.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:16

But as someone that's got him in their team, um I'm not saying that isn't an option. Like um, I'm not saying that, you know, going with the captain season Dominic Calvin Lewin is ridiculous. But as someone that's had him in their team for a long time playing against opposition, I'd expect him to score in and seeing him fail to do so, and even seeing him not complete 90 minutes in some games, and they are I won't say safe yet, but they're in a good position now. This is the game when they should be looking at okay, beat Burnley, and I'm not saying they're safe, but they're gonna be in a very good position if they win this game too, depending on the other results. So they should be going to win this game, obviously. But um, having him in the team is one thing, captaining him if he does go and only gets one goal, and Haaland ends up getting two, or Bruno ends up getting two assists, or a goal and an assist, or a penalty himself, then any sort of chasing that uh uh manager may be doing, it's a very, very big risk and a ball risk. Maybe, as you said, you feel like you've got nothing to lose anymore. So maybe that would be a bold move for you, and it could pay off. And next week it'll be smiling thinking you've got the right captain. But I'm just doing the disclaimer now. It's not a case that I'm against someone in your position doing that. But I just don't know if I would say go out there and just go for Dominic Camello because I could do that myself, and I'm and I'm struggling to think whether I should do it or not. But um this week I've got Palmer as I said, I've also got Enzo. I think Norton Forest have been on a good run. I think Chelsea need to win. I know the top five is pretty much you know it's not secured, but it's it's fair. But I think Chelsea need to win the next game just to like make sure they remain within that top five because the team is chasing. If Chelsea don't pick up um the form they need, they could drop out of it. It's not impossible. So um seeing Palmer and the stats provided is like it's interesting because it could be a game where he steps up or someone from Chelsea steps up. Um so I'm I don't know if I would go a bit differential this week and consider uh Palmer or an Enzo. I'm not sure. But the defaults are Bruno and Haaland, and I'm um I just don't see I I my Arsenal heart tells me Everton can get a draw or something, but in reality, Cities don't play games when it comes to the end of the season, and I think that I'd um go with Haaland over Bruno, but yeah, just don't it's it's a tough game week to pick, and I think um a differential will probably outshine Bruno and Haaland. So if I'm honest, uh Dominic won. If he he's not done nothing for so long, it could it be against Burnley. So, you know, I just don't know if I have big enough balls as a to go and do that, considering um my 28 points that are wasted. I don't know if I'm prepared. See, if I did my bench boost, I might have been willing to do this right now and said, you know, some kind of Calvin, you get me, but after doing what I did, I'm like, I don't know if I'm gonna risk any more points. But um you've talked me into it a little bit, if I'm honest. Because I believe he's due at some point, but I've been thinking that for ages, and he still isn't done it, so anyway.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:16

I think all opinions, yeah, and I think with him, like um, he's definitely one that is, like I say, he'd fall into that about to pop category because he's involved in so much. So the expectation is there, it's just you know, trying to work out when's the right time, which is ultimately the anchor of what we're talking about here. Um, with regards to if you're chasing or whether you're building, the idea is that even if you are tracing, you trace at the right times, right? Um so and those fixes that are coming up for leads, definitely they are heartening um in terms of who they're playing. But like the banner says, I haven't done it all all of this session. Don't forget to like and subscribe. But seriously, um like and subscribe. Ensure that you get the updates from us in terms of what's going on with the Triple Captains League, as well as when new episodes are coming out, etc. Um, it's not hard to do click of a button.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:22

Indeed. Indeed. Um Yeah, very interesting game week. And um I I I I do think there'd be a lot of uh variants in terms of captain choices as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:35

Um describes and feel that you've got nothing telling you about effective energy or anything like that.

SPEAKER_06 1:20:47

No, I think I like this stage of the season because I think that uh you know uh there are so many different sorts of like game states going on right now, right? You've got uh they're they're they're clear tracers, there are clear people who want to sort of like uh uh builders um just calling both the film that the theme of the show, but uh uh yeah, and I think it's also the added added element of uh you know uh these teams are on different states you know where they are. So I think there's so much room for for a lot of kind of um uh volatility this in the game week. So uh I'm looking forward to sort of see how it all pans out. And ultimately, we've mentioned a few people for captain choices, but it could be some completely left field who'll come through and get a hat trick or get two goals. Could be Chris Wood, you know. It could be it could be something that we know discussing. Um there's always some.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:40

I actually think Chris Wood is a good striker, and being back from injury and getting his first well, he's been back, but getting his first goal, I think he's someone that potentially could score. I know you mentioned Leeds' defence isn't bad, but I think, you know, let's have it right. Gibbs White is overperforming, but he is in good form. But I think he's someone that you know he he he'll be assisting and doing stuff, so he can still get some points, but I think Christopher Wood is someone that is someone that can convert. So I think he'd be interesting if you've got him in your team as well. Obviously, Art's got a wild card, I'm not saying he's gonna pull him in on his wild card, but as we mentioned Dominic, so to finish off, have you got Dominic in your team, Govs? Because I've cut up, I don't know everyone's team, but you you've got him. And currently, have you got him, Mark, or not at the moment?

SPEAKER_01 1:22:39

Yeah, I've got him.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:41

Okay, so the three of us have him. It'll be interesting to see if any of us do actually captain Dominic and what he actually does this game week.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:50

Because um he he's likely disappearing for me. Like my heart can't take it. I'm trying to build and I'm trying to build a uh a squad for the rest of the season that I just don't have to worry about. Like I hear that. Yeah, the past couple of game weeks haven't been good for me. Like variants.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:08

Imagine having him since before game week 30.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:11

Yeah, well, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:13

This is what I mean. Like, uh, that's why I don't have the faith in captain and him. But you know what? I don't know. There's something that tells me I don't want Haaland because I really believe Everton are gonna do something, um, whether that's a draw or not. And Bruno, I don't respect Liverpool, so I believe he'll get an assist in that game. But Palmer and Palmer and Enzo in my team, and Calvin Lewis in my team, and those are three players that I've got to consider. But I'm not gonna be able to make a decision on that until closer to the deadline. So I might go differential, but um we'll see. Game week soon come.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:56

Um just letting you guys know, me and my superstitious stealth, um, I can't accept it every time we're on here you look talking about what's gonna happen in the result of our game or what you think might happen. So I'm just gonna start going like this. La la la la la la la when you're talking.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:15

I didn't I didn't mention Arsenal.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:17

No, he said, uh, but you know, ever and I'm expecting, yeah,

FPL Psychology – Belief, Hope & Superstition

SPEAKER_01 1:24:20

they can do something.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:21

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's it. But I ain't mentioning Arsenal, like in in regards to the Fix, I've got no comments. Like, um, it is what it is, man. Like I said, part of my holiday was ruined by my absent bench boost, which I'll take responsibility for. Um should have been double checking way before the deadline. So it is what it is. 28 points wasted. But the other part of the pain was Arsenal. So, like yourself, I will not be mentioning Arsenal for the rest of the I'll be talking about assets when necessary, but any sort of predictions on what they're gonna do, I will be wasting my breath. I'll just be waiting until the end of the season for that. Um, and going forward, as I'm not a person that makes mistakes genuinely, um I'm not gonna stop holidays in season. I'm still gonna continue to, but I'm just gonna make sure that I double check. Because that was such a shocker for me. Um, and I've actually got another holiday before the end of the season.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:33

The thing is, you shouldn't worry about it. It's what happens when you start getting on in life, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:40

Yeah, you get forgetful when you get that, but that weren't the case. It wasn't to do with old age, it was to do with you on a cruise. Do you know what?

SPEAKER_06 1:25:47

Old people what was the reason that I forgot?

SPEAKER_03 1:25:55

Is that the question? You know what I mean? Exactly. Come on, someone intelligent guy, you know what forget means, right? So it's not like you didn't mind. No, so what I did is I talked about the bench booths um an episode of seller, like I said on the show. And then after the episode, I was like, you know what? I need to do this. I swear I've done it already, but let me double check. I saw that it wasn't done when I was in England, so I thought, okay, let me activate it. When I activated it, I thought, yep, done. Before my deadline, I'll move players around and whatever I would want to do. So at that point, I thought, yep, activated. Then what's happened is when it came to the deadline, you saw me message on on social media that I missed a deadline. But when I said that, I genuinely didn't know that it wasn't activated. I just thought, who cares? I got bench boosts anyway. So when I saw seven air score, I was like, yeah, good start for my bench boost. Then when I said you really missed a deadline, that's when I was thinking, what do you mean I really missed the deadline? Like I'm sitting in the sun, like, what do you mean I really missed the deadline? I thought, hold on a minute, that's having a points for the for the for the goal. It's just showing in my fucking team. And my and you know, it's when I show the the bench and your team. Even when I looked at it, because man's obviously been having a bit of a dream, been dragged in that um having fun, I've just it slipped. So, like I said, um I have to take it on the chin, it is what it is. But what that shows me is even the managers who believe that you know you don't really make errors, you hardly make mistakes, don't get overcomfortable, don't forget yourself. And if you are gonna go on holidays during the season, which I've done many many times and will continue, make sure if you're serious as your manager, that you you you you you you know, you don't make That error that could be costly, and this error has costed me 28 points, and I'll never be in the situation again. But you know, it is what it is. Um, I have to move forward and I will. Well, yeah, hope that answers your question, Gus. And I hope you're still not answering that question for trying to compare it to what you said is a mistake, because I broke down it for both the phone and both are both down, and I'll break it down again. Something that you something that you forget to actually do, yeah, you can class it as a mistake. Something that you activate and you press them activate. They both are mistakes. That's very true. I'll I'll make it different because you see, when you didn't understand what the what the Christian was a forget.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:44

If you if you don't mean if you if you don't mean to do something, that's a mistake. Don't don't take that for price. Let's talk to the pearly gates. God doesn't look at all sinners the same.

SPEAKER_06 1:28:54

Yeah. No, that no mistakes, no mistakes.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:57

Let's pray for the next game.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:58

Let's leave it there.

SPEAKER_01 1:29:01

Indeed. Like and subscribe. See you later, folks.

SPEAKER_00 1:29:06

Truth be told, when I wonder what the future holds.