Gameweek 5

After a challenging gameweek 4, many of us are relieved to see gameweek 5 upon us and are ready to bounce back. Unfortunately, its injuries galore for GW5 with many of our players starting to feel the pinch, Coutinho, Cazorla and Figueroa will all miss and hurt many teams.

The main dilemma for most fantasy managers this gameweek is in fact the injury of Phillipe Coutinho. Coutinho suffered a shoulder injury last week and will now have to be traded by his owners, so once again, we are looking for a new midfielder. Coutinho still obtains an 8.8m price tag so options are a plenty, Ozil, Eriksen and Ben Arfa are the three main options from my perspective and with value for money and fixtures in mind, Ben Arfa seems the obvious choice.

Hatem Ben Arfa is priced at 7.4m and with a home game against an undermanned Hull this week, he is sure to have a strong game. Ben Arfa is also a strong captain’s choice however, my main captain option for this week is Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.

My team for gameweek 5 has been struck down by injury, however with the one trade of Coutinho >> Ben Arfa I’m confident of a good week! Here’s my team for the week:

Good Luck Everyone!

Gameweek 4

The long-awaited Gameweek 4 is upon us, and boy is the FPL Insider excited. The transfer window has shut and the  that is the international break has ended, so it’s time to turn our heads to the greatest league in the world, the Barclays Premier League.

Gameweek 4 is proving to be the biggest challenge for FPL managers thus far with injuries and doubts starting to arise from everywhere. 20% of the community has suffered a major blow to their teams with David Silva ruled out and many of us will continue to worry about whether Daniel Sturridge will get himself fit for the trip to Swansea. However, there’s no reason to fear, because the FPL Insider is here to guide you through gameweek 4.

The biggest decision for FPL managers this week is finding a replacement for David Silva. With so many new midfielders to make their debuts this weekend, a wide variety of replacements are at hand. New boys Christian Eriksen and Willian are both valid options as well as Yaya Toure who has been deadly from free-kicks so far this season, in my opinion, Eriksen is the one to go with. Eriksen should slot straight into the Spurs’ side with a few injuries to players in the middle of the park and has been in blistering form so far this season, and even scored a mid-week international goal for Denmark. Yaya Toure is also a strong selection, however just loses out to Eriksen in my mind. Although Yaya has been in terrific form from the dead ball this season, he hasn’t seemed to have pushed so far up the park and has often just sat back in the middle with Fernandinho.

The other decision for FPL managers is (as usual) the captain choice. The obvious choice for me this week is RVP, who faces Crystal Palace, a side who are yet to keep a clean sheet. The other valid options for this gameweek are defenders. With many teams likely to dominate their opponents, players such as Zabaleta, Vertonghen and Vidic are all good options.

I hope all this has helped you prepare your teams for GW 4 and wish you all the best of luck! Below is my Gameweek 4 side.

New Transfers!

The Deadline Day doors have been slammed shut and the Transfer Window closed until January, so what’s that mean for FPL managers? Simple, a whole lot of new players to consider, and a heap of headaches. Don’t worry though, because the FPL Insider is here to help with a rundown of many of the new faces in the competition.

Viviano, (Arsenal)
Position: Goalkeeper
Price: 5.0
Comment: Not for mine, don’t think he will receive any game time with Szczesny remaining number one keeper at Arsenal.

Özil (Arsenal)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 10.0
Comment: With over 50,000 managers transferring him in to their teams straight away, Ozil will be a popular pick. He managed 13 goals and 30 assists in his last two seasons in the La Liga competition and will be the focal point of most Arsenal attacks, meaning he will definitely be one to consider.

Kozák (Aston Villa)
Position: Forward
Price: 6.5
Comment: An interesting one here, Kozak was the top scorer in last year’s Europa League competition with 10 goals in just 11 appearances for Italian side Lazio, but didn’t manage a goal in his 19 Serie A appearances. With up and down form like that, and a price tag of 6.5, I’d stay away for now!

Willian (Chelsea)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 8.5
Comment: Willian is an extremely classy player, he came onto the scene playing for Shaktar Donetsk and played his best football there, before a transfer to Anzi which didn’t really work out. Now, he has his chance in the premier league where I think he will have a good season, however, without making a massive influence on the FPL. With a price tag of 8.0, it’s a no for mine.

Eto’o (Chelsea)
Position: Forward
Price: 9.0
Comment: Eto’o managed 18 goals in 29 games in all competitions last season, which is very impressive. With the scoring record and career stats that this man has, he has to be considered. The question mark is over whether he will start, and with a price tag of 9.0, I’d wait a few weeks to see his form and position in the side. 

Mariappa (Crystal Palace)
Position: Defender
Price: 4.0
Comment: Not much to say about Adrian Mariappa, a cheap defender who will most likely start, one of the better players in the 4.0 price category. It’s a yes from me. 

Kebe (Crystal Palace)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 5.0
Comment: Priced at 5.0, Kebe is an exciting player with fancy footwork and a lot of pace. If you are after a midfielder in this price region I would definitely go after him!

McCarthy (Everton)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 5.5
Comment: A young talented midfielder who will most likely start under his old manager Roberto Martinez, quite cheap however, there are better options in this position.

Sakho (Liverpool)
Position: Defender
Price: 5.5
Comment: The former PSG man will slot straight into the ‘in-form’ Liverpool defence and will be a great selection for fantasy sides.

Ilori (Liverpool)
Position: Defender
Price: 5.0
Comment: Ilori is a young talented defender, however won’t get a start ahead of the likes of Sakho, Agger, Skrtel and Toure, it’s a no from me.

Arnautovic (Stoke)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 5.5
Comment: 5 goals and 6 assists in 21 starts last year in the Bundesliga, a good young player who is cheap and could score well, a definite yes!

Eriksen (Tottenham)
Position: Midfielder
Price: 8.0
Comment: Tottenham have got themselves a good one here. The 21-year-old is a class act and will slot straight into the Spurs side, with 9 goals in 14 games in the Eredivisie competition last year, you can’t go past young Eriksen.

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