Dilemmas of the Week - GW9

  

Every week, we need to take a long hard look at our squad, and ask ourselves if we want to make any changes....

If we do see a pressing case for a change here or there, we then need to weigh that against the possible advantage of saving our transfer - 'rolling' it over to use in a future week. This option achieves greater tactical complexity this season with the new rule that allows us to save up as many as 5 Free Transfers to use at one time. If we ever manage to do that, it would in effect be a 'mini Wildcard', enabling us to conduct a major squad overhaul in one fell swoop (particularly useful as there are a handful of 'premium' players who cost so much more than everyone else that you can't conveniently move them in and out of your squad without making multiple other changes as well).

Then, of course, occasionally multiple changes may seem so inescapable that we have to consider whether it's worth spending points on 1 or 2 extra transfers (a tactic which obviously deserves a whole post of its own one day).

So, what are the conundrums we face ahead of Gameweek 9?

Does anybody need to be moved out because of injury?

Saka continues to be the biggest worry for FPL managers, having missed out on the Bournemouth game last weekend and the midweek European tie. Arteta has been making positive noises about his problem not being too serious, and his having been able to take part in some training (even last week?), but many are suspicious that this might be wilful misdirection. It looks to me as if, at worst, he's only going to miss one more week, so it's really not worth using transfers on - if you want to get him back as soon as he's fit again.

Son, who was the most strongly favoured alternative to Saka (among those who spend their transfers like water...), also took the night off in Europe this week, so must be considered a doubt for the West Ham match.

Luis Diaz might have some sort of injury too? Slot seems to be very tight-lipped about the condition of his squad, or the reasons for his selections.

Calafiori and Trippier and Doku and Grealish have also apparently picked up problems which may keep them out for - who knows how long?

And we still seem to have no timeline for the return of Alisson or Odegaard or Joao Pedro.

However, it seems as though Danny Welbeck (who looked to have possibly broken a vertebra in last week's match, like Neymar did in the 2014 World Cup; but apparently it was just a 'nasty bruise'), and DeBruyne, Timber, Branthwaite, Minteh, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Callum Wilson, Sugawara, Luke Shaw and Sam Johnstone are all 'near' to a possible return this weekend. That is rather a lot of uncertainty to be dealing with - for anyone who owns any of these players (or, more probably, anyone who is interested in acquiring any of them: DeBruyne and Branthwaite, in particular, are likely to be highly desired assets if they regain a regular start and are quickly back to their best.)

Do we have any players who are dropped, or not looking likely to get the starts we hoped for?

Quite a rash of red cards last week: Saliba, Andersen, Philogene and Ryan Fraser are all serving one-match bans, while Kudus is starting a three-match suspension for 'violent conduct'.

There must now be serious doubts about what the heck is going on between Pep and Phil Foden, after last year's 'Player of the Season' was again left on the bench for most of last week's game against Wolves. And sure, he started in the Champions League this week, and got a goal; but that might be seen as a grudgingly forced selection from Pep, as he was nominally starting on the left flank - filling in for the unavailable Doku and Grealish. And if that's the only position he's likely to play in the Premier League, even if he is now back to regular starts, he's a much less attractive FPL prospect than if he's being allowed to play his favourite, freeer role in the middle. (And I've always felt that he tends to be less productive when DeBruyne is also on the pitch, inevitably allowing the silky veteran to take on the lion's share of the creative duties most of the time.)

Did anyone give other cause to consider dropping them?

I daresay this is likely to be an unpopular call, as he's currently the sixth most popular keeper in the game, with very nearly 12% ownership, but.... I've had serious reservations about Robert Sanchez since pre-season. He is absolutely dreadful on the ball, and opposing teams are increasingly targeting him because of that - which unsettles the whole of the defence; and it leads to him often slugging the ball long down the middle when he's put under pressure, and of course these panicky long balls almost invariably get picked up by an opposing player - conceding possession cheaply. This must be particularly vexing for a coach like Maresca who sets such store by his goalkeepers being able to step up between the centre-backs to play a full part in the early build-up. Moreover, although he's very agile for a big bloke and is regularly pulling off spectacular saves, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are other defects in his game: he really doesn't command his six-yard box or his penalty area very decisively, often fails to claim aerial balls or to rush out quickly towards an opponent getting set to shoot. My mate Adam Clery of FourFourTwo magazine (himself a goalkeeper - only in a Sunday League, I think; but he's knowledgeable and passionate about the craft) just called him out on this in his excellent summation of the Liverpool v Chelsea game... and suggests he's likely to be replaced in the winter window.

Chris Wood, despite claiming the late winner against Palace with a slick strike from just outside the box, actually had a bit of a stinker on Monday night - spurning four or five good chances before finally converting one. I suspect that his 'hot streak' may have just about run its course (and Forest are facing some much tougher fixtures over the next couple of months!).

Many people might also be alarmed that that Forest goal depended on a bit of a howler from Dean Henderson in the Palace goal (saw it early, got down to it smartly,.... somehow forgot to put his arm in the way??), and that, combined with Palace's poor overall form and continuing leakiness in defence, may prompt people to move away from him (and Guehi and any other Palace defenders too!). I had fancied him as one of the most promising 4.5-millon goalkeeper picks at the start of the season, but dropped him when I did my Wildcard reshuffle a few weeks back.

Did anyone play so well, you have to consider bringing them in immediately?

Manchester United were - strangely, unexpectedly?? - rejuvenated by the news that Schoolmaster Erik is going to stay in charge for a while longer; or perhaps just by the return of willing battering-ram Rasmus Hojlund to their front line.... Rashford and Garnacho were suddenly giving hints of getting back to their best too. I wouldn't get too excited too quickly, but... there are perhaps 'green shoots of recovery' starting to appear at Old Trafford.

Buonanotte and Ndiaye continue to impress - now very much in the conversation for those budget picks in midfield and attack. And Jarod Bowen (despite West Ham's extremely indifferent form) might now be putting up some competition to Diaz/Jota/Mbeumo for the mid-price midfielder slot?

And the performance of the week came from.... Curtis Jones; but, unfortunately, he can't be expected to get a regular start at Liverpool. Crying shame, that; he is, for me, looking better than Macallister or Gravenberch; but they are established internationals and expensive signings - so, difficult to drop.

Son Heung-Min had an outstanding game also - but immediately became an injury doubt again.

And of course The Sheep are all rushing to sign Gvardiol and Keane after their wonder-strikes last week.... apparently not realising that defenders only score once-in-a-blue-moon, and only score goals like that (in Michael Keane's case, anyway...) once in a lifetime. City are lookng utterly incapable of keeping a clean sheet at the moment, and I fear Gvardiol might not even be an invariable starter now that his able alternate Nathan Ake is fit again. Everton have been pretty woeful in defence for most of this season, and Keane has often been part of the problem; he surely won't keep his place once Jarrad Branthwaite is available again. So, sorry, Sheep - those are two daft picks. You should not go chasing last week's points!!

BEST OF LUCK, EVERYONE!