Things to monitor during the international break

Yes its that time of October when FPL takes a break but the work never stops for some of the most experienced managers in the game. In this article we take a look at some of the things to monitor during the international break.

The break can seem like a time to rest up for managers. However it can also be a great time to get ahead of your rivals with planning. Looking at things to monitor during the international break can be extremely important for FPL so lets find out why.

Injuries

The international break can be one of the worst times for FPL managers due to injuries. Many fantasy managers believe their players will come back and be ready to play as soon as the Premier League resumes but playing international can be as intense as playing for their club.

Knowing which players are injured is really important for planning. Depending on the severity of an injury managers need to have a back-up plan in place in terms of replacement if it’s a worse case scenario.

Minutes played

Monitoring how many minutes your assets have played could also be very important. Some countries are heavily dependent on certain players. That reliance can be reflected in how many minutes they have played during the break.

For players who have played close to 90 minutes in all of their countries matches then that could be cause for concern. This is because it indicates they could be tired when they return and mean they are less likely to bag points. For players who play less minutes or none at all then this is of course a huge bonus for players within your squads as they will likely be fresh and ready to go.

Distance travelled

Another really important thing to monitor is how far players have travelled. If a player in your team has travelled a huge distance then is it very likely that they could become a risk to start the game depending on when the next Premier League match is.

A good example of this is Darwin Nunez. The Liverpool striker faces a fixture against Brazil at one o clock in the morning (UK Time) on the 18th of October. The issue with this is that Liverpool come up against Everton on the 21st of October. This could be a serious concern for those that own Darwin Nunez.

Player form

Form can be another big factor when considering the international break. If players perform well during the break, for example, whether that be scoring goals, creating assists, keeping clean sheets or even just their side winning it can be a huge boost in confidence. The players can then take that form and confidence back to the Premier League where they could perform better.

Players struggling for form and players that, for example, don’t score, don’t create assists, don’t keep a clean sheet or lose their games could also come back to the Premier League in that same form. This could then decrease their chances of returning points.

Players returning from injury

The international break is a great time for players with injuries to recover, rest up and get ready for the return of domestic football. This could mean the return of key players for some teams which could then in turn improve other assets or team performances in general.

Price rises and falls

The international break could also bring about price changes. Whether that be price drops or prices rises it could be very important to know them as and when they are coming. Team value can be extremely important as we progress through the season.