Community Team Reveal Gameweek 16 – Marc Jobling

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 16, it’s the turn of Marc Jobling to tell us what is happening to his team.

Hi Marc and thanks for the team reveal. So how is Gameweek 15 going?

With two Thursday matches left to go, I’m on 29 points and the smallest of green arrows from 361k to 340k. Expectations were low for this one and it’s tinged with disappointment so far. I recently bought Bryan Mbeumo and he departed early with an ankle injury.

It’s also been frustrating to see Kostas Tsimikas and Matty Cash both unused as their teams secured clean sheets. Gabriel flopped, Mohamed Salah failed as captain but still pipped Erling Haaland by one point.

Cole Palmer scoring was nice. Let’s just hope that Jamaal Lascelles, Son Heung-min and new transfer Martin Dubravka ensure it’s seven rises from the eight Gameweeks since by Wildcard.

What does your defence look like?

My strategy is usually to pick a long-term defence that allows such precious free transfers to be used further up the pitch. Yet it’s the reverse right now, in that I need to rectify the uneasiness that exists around a few defenders.

Thankfully, the Dubravka transfer has sorted out Alphonse Areola. But Tsimikas is a rotation risk, Cash has been benched twice in a row and I just know Gabriel is on the verge of another benching – he’s caused plenty of pain already this season!

Furthermore, I believe that Sven Botman will soon be back, endangering Lascelles. With Newcastle’s defensive coverage now sorted elsewhere, I think the £1.7m in the bank will first go towards upgrading him.

Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?

For the next few weeks, I’m pleased with this template front eight. Such safeness keeps me warm over the festive weeks – after all, it’s a template for a reason. But an Mbeumo update is desperately needed.

There’s perhaps slight concern over Palmer’s festive game time, knowing Chelsea have such tiny gaps between their Christmas trio of matches. The rest are fine until three of them go off on AFCON and Asian Cup duty – Mbeumo will depart ahead of Gameweek 18, with Salah and Son replaced for Gameweek 21.

So what are your transfer plans for Gameweek 16 and beyond?

My initial plan is to upgrade Lascelles or Cash but Mbeumo’s sale may have to be brought forward. Possibly moving to Anthony Gordon or Raheem Sterling.

One problem is that I really don’t like the defensive options – so little is out there. I can afford Pedro Porro’s attacking tendencies and Reece James, when fit, may cover Chelsea’s fixtures rather than Levi Colwill.

But honestly, what else is there? A cheap Harry Maguire at home to Bournemouth? I think the Cherries will score, therefore no.

Finally, what about captaincy?

In the same way that Salah had to have the armband for Sheffield United (a), it will definitely be Erling Haaland versus Luton (a). I suppose there could be a potential trap with the Hatters. Recent weeks have seen Salah, Son, Mbeumo, Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka all fail to score past them, with only two assists between the five.