FPL Q&A: Enzo, Haaland + replacing Ait-Nouri
Ahead of Gameweek 17, our Q&A covers the biggest Fantasy Premier League (FPL) topics being discussed within the community.
This time, the chat is dominated by forwards, at a time when going cheap is trendy.
Q: Who are the best Rayan Ait-Nouri (£4.8m) replacements? What if Matheus Cunha (£7.1m) also gets a ban?
A: The Wolves left-back has been a popular pick from Gameweek 10 – well, popular in terms of ownership, not goodwill. Because he’s been a frustrating figure, with attacking returns suddenly drying up and the team being notoriously poor at the back. Saturday’s post-match red card will be the final straw for many.
Jumping onto Lewis Hall (£4.6m) might be considered points chasing after his 15-point haul and rare Newcastle clean sheet. Maybe Levi Colwill (£4.6m) is a good replacement, considering Chelsea’s strong upcoming fixtures.
Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz (£4.7m) is an attacking wing-back with two recent goals – if you can bench next week’s suspension, he’ll be handy afterwards. But community vibes suggest Antonee Robinson (£4.8m) will be the favourite. No defender has more assists (six) and Fulham’s next four fixtures feature home meetings with Southampton, Bournemouth and Ipswich.
Up front, Cunha was very actively involved in the scuffle after full-time. Should he get in trouble, similarly-priced forwards include Chris Wood (£6.6m) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.2m). There’s the cheaper Evanilson (£6.1m) leading a positive Bournemouth attack, while Raul Jimenez (£5.5m) joins team-mate Robinson in having attractive fixtures.
Q: Is Enzo Fernandez (£5.1m) now a genuine option?
A: Over 500,000 noticed that Chelsea’s cheap Argentine midfielder had delivered an attacking return in five successive matches. And they were instantly rewarded with an assist versus Brentford, meaning his last half-dozen outings have three goals and four assists.
What could make him a true option is that he’s played all 90 minutes of the latest five. While that could mean he’s almost due for some festive rotation, it’s more likely that Enzo Maresca sees him as an important part of a team in form. Matches are spread ok between Gameweeks 17 and 20, making him a legitimate fifth midfielder for your squad.
Q: Should we plan for Erling Haaland (£14.9m) and Manchester City’s improved fixtures from Gameweek 18?
A: Quiet in the Manchester derby, the expensive Norwegian now has just four attacking returns from 11 matches. He’s been ditched by millions and an immediate resurgence seems unlikely, despite the champions having a run of Everton, Leicester, West Ham, Brentford and Ipswich between Gameweeks 18 and 22.
Firstly, it’s not easy to buy him back. It’d need multiple transfers and lots of money. Secondly, fellow heavyweights Mohamed Salah (£13.4m), Cole Palmer (£11.1m) and Bukayo Saka (£10.6m) also have good fixtures.
The other issue is that Man City’s crisis is still taking place, having somehow found a way to lose that Manchester derby. In all competitions, they’ve registered one win in 11 matches.
Q: Looking ahead, is having double Arsenal defence a good idea?
A: Three consecutive home clean sheets do seem to suggest that last season’s best backline is worth investing in at least once, maybe twice. No side has conceded fewer big chances (22) so far.
Then again – looking at the above fixtures – managers may feel the optimal time for a double-up has already passed. The four opponents after Gameweek 18 are all attacking teams, with Aston Villa a Champions League outfit and the North London derby capable of being anything.
Those on just one Arsenal goalkeeper or defender may want to look elsewhere for investment.
