Community Team Reveal Gameweek 34 – FPL Shake n Bake

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 34, it’s the turn of FPL Shake n Bake (Brett) to tell us what is happening to his team.

Hi Brett and thanks for the team reveal. So how did Gameweek 33 go?

It was a shoddy FPL week for me, with just 63 points – 52 of which came from just three players! The remaining eight combined for a further 11. It means I just about managed to cling onto my top 100k rank, dropping to 99,537.

I was hoping to continue my recent climb but, as I have no chips left, this week and Gameweek 37 are more about trying to keep in touch with the masses rather than being able to attack them.

What does your defence look like?

With my Gameweek 30 Wildcard came the double Arsenal defence of David Raya and Gabriel. It had been working well for me until Aston Villa had other ideas last week, with Martin Dubravka sat on my bench with an unexpected clean sheet.

I also made a defensive transfer which backfired. Conor Bradley was on my Wildcard team but, knowing it was time to move him on, I targeted a Brentford defender for their nice fixtures. I spent the week deliberating between three options and somehow managed to choose the injured one – Kristoffer Ajer. Watching the Bees subsequently claim a clean sheet was extremely frustrating.

Alongside those four, I have Malo Gusto – one of last week’s few success stories – and the injured Rayan Ait-Nouri. The latter entered my team as soon as I watched him in the FA Cup against my beloved Coventry City. Hopefully, he’ll be passed fit for this week’s double.

Meanwhile, what about your midfield and attack?

I was busy last Saturday morning and therefore missed the false Phil Foden leaks. He’d been transferred out on Friday night for Luis Diaz. It formed a triple Liverpool attack with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez, just in time for them to stutter against Crystal Palace.

Other midfield picks are Son Heung-min, Bukayo Saka and everybody’s favourite – ‘Cold’ Palmer. So with a heavy-hitting midfield, I went with a budget 3rd forward in the form of Antoine Semenyo.

So what are your transfer plans for Gameweek 34 and beyond?

FPL has been a welcome distraction this week, helping me keep the excitement of Coventry’s weekend Wembley semi-final under wraps.

With my Wildcard coming after using all other chips, I decided to put most funds into the starting XI. Son has to go because he doesn’t have a match but will be back in for Double Gameweek 35. However, I am currently stuck between three options to replace him.

My original plan when selling Foden was to quickly bring him back in for Son this week, before selling Luis Diaz for Son next week, completing a three-week hokey cokey. I love Man City’s fixture at Brighton and Foden is in great form but I’m scared of ‘Pep Roulette’ – especially with an FA Cup semi-final beforehand. We also need to consider what effect last night’s Champions League elimination will have.

Option number two is Eberechi Eze. I love him as a player and he’s already been in my squad a few times this season. A pair of home games against West Ham and Newcastle put the Palace man firmly on my radar and, in my opinion, his penalty-taking status keeps him above team-mate Michael Olise.

Elsewhere, my third and riskiest option – one I can’t quite believe I’m considering – is Ben Brereton Diaz. The Stoke-on-Trent-born Chilean has been a breath of fresh air for Sheffield United with four goals and an assist in eight league games, while Sheffield United’s double consists of a must-win game vs Burnley then a trip to Manchester United’s defence – one that concedes a ridiculous amount of chances and will hopefully be despondent after being humbled in Sunday’s semi-final (I know, I know but it’s important to dream!)

I will continue to deliberate between the three, with the final decision depending on my desire to take risks on Saturday morning. Right now, I think I’m favouring Brereton Diaz.