Community Team Reveal Gameweek 14 – FPL Inzaghi

Each Gameweek brings an FPL community team reveal. As a result, that person gives insight into their transfers, captaincy and future plans.

Ahead of Gameweek 14, it’s the turn of FPL Inzaghi (Ryan) to tell us what is happening to his team.

Hi Ryan and thanks for the team reveal. So how did Gameweek 13 go?

42 points and a small red arrow from 900k to one million. It was my first red arrow since my Gameweek 8 Wildcard – one that is without Erling Haaland and initially launched me up from around five millionth. I was expecting a red arrow with there being so many difficult fixtures and, after Son Heung-min’s offside hat-trick, I knew it was going to be one of those weeks where you take your medicine and move on.

What does your defence look like?

I think my team is well set up for Gameweek 14. After being ineligible to face Brentford, David Raya returns in goal for Arsenal. Aaron Ramsdale didn’t cover himself in glory, surely cementing Raya’s place as first-choice. In fact, I have an Arsenal double-up with William Saliba. He’s the safest pick in their defence and I’m glad to have him for the congested Christmas period.

At the moment, I’m starting Charlie Taylor. Being at home to Sheffield United is the best fixture around, even if we can’t fully trust Vincent Kompany’s men. Kieran Trippier has been performing well for me this season but I do wonder whether the amount of fixtures is catching up with Newcastle. Perhaps there could be an opportunity to move away from him in the short term.

Matty Cash and Pedro Porro are both on my bench. Cash can still come in for Taylor, depending on who starts for Villa in their midweek Europa Conference League outing.

Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?

I’m really happy with my attacking lot. The obvious omission is Haaland and it’s a little concerning that he faces a vulnerable Spurs defence this week. However, Darwin Nunez and Ollie Watkins have great fixtures and I’m sticking with the plan to get Haaland back in for Gameweek 16.

My only question mark in midfield regards Jarrod Bowen. If any doubt is cast on his availability this week, I will sell Bowen for either Phil Foden or Cole Palmer.

So what are your transfer plans for Gameweek 14 and beyond?

I’ve got two free transfers and £1.1m in the bank. If Bowen is fit to start, I’ll likely sell Trippier for Trent Alexander-Arnold, having the luxury of being able to afford this in one move. It sounds crazy selling Trippier but he is on four yellow cards, as Newcastle struggle with injuries and a busy schedule. Their bench versus Paris Saint-Germain revealed a lot about what Howe has available right now. I’m hoping Trippier is due an imminent rest or soon picks up a fifth yellow.

The appeal with Trent is primarily fixture-based. Liverpool have Fulham (h) this week before Sheffield United and an Eberechi Eze-less Crystal Palace. I think he outscores Trippier across the next three and, as things stand, I can easily go back to Trippier from Gameweek 17 if the experiment fails. By that time, Trippier may have served his ban or been rested, meaning I can have the Newcastle defender for their run against Fulham, Luton and Nottingham Forest.

As for Foden or Palmer, the Man City playmaker has been excellent recently, starting nine of the last 10 and playing 90 mins in five of the last six. His underlying stats are impressive too, putting in an incredible performance during their dramatic Champions League turn-around vs RB Leipzig. Having some sort of Man City coverage is tempting while I don’t have Haaland.

But Palmer, with a depleted Brighton up next, may prove too good to turn down. I want him by Gameweek 15 or 16 anyway, so making that transfer immediately saves me another down the line.