Cianan’s Column: How to navigate blank GW31

Blank GW31 is upon us, and many managers will be looking at a starting team without enough playing assets to field a full 11. That’s where this article comes in. We still don’t know the guaranteed doubling and blanking teams for GW33 and GW34, respectively, so I’ll discuss that at length in the GW32 column. All you need to know for now is if you’re free-hitting in GW34, as you should be, you’ll want to maximise doublers, so you need to consider those who don’t blank this week and could double later on. How can you tell? Well, if a team is in the FA Cup quarter-finals, or the team they should play in GW34 is, then a double then and a subsequent blank could happen if said team make it through to the next round. If you’re wildcarding in GW32, like many will be, you only need to worry about this gameweek and this gameweek alone for your moves, while everyone else will need to consider longer-term options. An added benefit to the wildcard GW32 strategy is that we’ll have a far better idea of which teams are set to double and blank, so I’m sorry, early wildcarders, you’ll just have to wade through the FPL dark.

Fulham assets, for example, face Burnley (H) this week. Hence, they’re ideal one-week assets. Andersen and Wilson are the players to own for GW31; the former is a DEFCON machine against one of, if not the, worst attacks in the league, while the latter has been a keen point-scorer all season, especially against the lowly-ranked sides. But if you need longer-term moves, they aren’t going to cut it, as they face Liverpool, Brentford, and Arsenal away from home in three of their next four matches.

If you’re scanning for a defender who offers immediate puntability and points prospects going forward, look no further than Newcastle’s Thiaw. Respectable DEFCON numbers, a high percentage chance for a clean sheet against a Sunderland side that doesn’t put up substantial xG, and an eye for goal with a more than playable fixture run until the end of the season. Plus, he’s got a chance to play twice in double GW33, though in that case, he would cause an issue for free-hit-less managers in GW34, where he’d blank. Hall from the Toon also offers similar benefits, minus the DEFCON potential. In general, you should just bring Thiaw in unless you’re chasing rank or want to double-up for one week only.

While a lot of managers are flocking to another Magpie asset, namely their £7.3m winger Gordon, I can’t say I fully support such a move. The fixtures for Newcastle are, as discussed, agreeable, but he’s had stellar fixtures before this season and failed to haul. Plagued with minutes inconsistency and an insatiable appetite for picking up cards, he’s perhaps not who I expected to see as the most bought player ahead of GW31. He could easily haul against Sunderland (H), but will he continue that form, given he’s failed to produce much of substantial note this season beyond the odd goal contribution? Colour me unconvinced, but for GW31 in isolation, he may be worth the punt at only 6.5% ownership.

If you are free-hitting this week, and are confident you won’t need it for the larger blank GW34, then I’d opt for a side including the players that follow (and for those who want other potential assets to consider, particularly for the short-term, feel free to check these players out too). Leno in between the sticks offers a high chance of a clean sheet, and it’s worth having him and Cottagers colleagues Andersen and Wilson. Thiaw and perhaps Hall for a Newcastle double-up have potential, though Van Dijk will likely get DEFCON points against Brighton, and you never know when he’ll pop up with a header. Moving up to midfield, Fernandes is essential, having averaged 10.3 points per game over his last three matches. Ouattara off the back of his eight-pointer last week is similarly a no-brainer, as is penalty-primed teammate Thiago against a sturdy but by no means impenetrable Leeds (A). Palmer could similarly thrive off penalties against an Everton team that seems far worse at home. At face value, even entertaining Richarlison/Solanke seems absurd given Spurs’ form, but they seem to be turning a corner, and will want to continue to do so against Forest (H), a winnable fixture. Pedro is probably safer, though; 7 goal contributions in his last five says it all, while Ekitiké will no doubt return to the Liverpool starting lineup eager to address last week’s Tottenham-induced woes.

Rapid recommendations

● The optimal captain choice is probably Fernandes v Bournemouth (A), with Wilson v Burnley (H) a suitable differential option.
● Jiménez is on penalties for Fulham, but rarely gets far into the second half before being subbed. Still, he could come up with the goods – he scored 11 points against fellow newly promoted Sunderland only four weeks ago.
● To add to the (seemingly-endless) Fulham discussion, you can double-up on the Fulham midfield by giving Iwobi a shot. He’s averaged 7 points per game in the last four gameweeks, so I don’t hate it, even if, given his remarkable inconsistency in terms of end product, I don’t love it, either.
● Is it worth using banked transfers to gain starting players, even if only for one week? Yes, to a point. If you have many banked transfers, 4 or 5, let’s say, sparing one into next week so you can carry two forward post wildcard makes sense (even if it means having 10 players this week). But, in general, just get a full outfit on the field, it’s why you have transfers in the first place!
● Chalobah would have featured in this piece as a lucrative possibility for GW31, but is set to be sidelined with an injury, highlighting the ethereal wisdom in not making early transfers and checking fitness news when and where available.

The Boar Standings

1st: Dwight Club (1757) – managed by Cianan Sheekey
2nd: parths11 (1742) – managed by Parth Malik
3rd: Meganerd FC (1735) – managed by Megan Green