Blanks, DGWs, and those pesky chips (18/19) - Summary in OP

[swadd1er]

How is everyone looking for GW33 with all those blanks?

Currently have the following;
Fabianski, Schar, Robertson, TAA, Pereira, Hazard, Billing & Rondon with a fixture.
Sterling, Pogba, Shaw, Aguero, Jimenez & Jota without a fixture

So with a -4 i’ll have 10 players with a game. I’ll probably shift Jota and Sterling even though i’ll probably want both back. Will only be losing out on 0.2 as it stands

[Chinese Whisperer]

I currently have a full team available for BGW33. A bit of planning ahead, even without my WC or FH available .

[fairfranco]

thinking i'll go triple captain this week, likely sterling.

for 33 i think i'll use my free hit.

bench boost for 35 and if required a wild card in 34.

just trying to decide if i can afford to stick with higuain brought in for 31 over aguerro who made way. many a season has been won or lost by Aguerro on a DGW!

[brencarr]

thinking i'll go triple captain this week, likely sterling.

for 33 i think i'll use my free hit.

bench boost for 35 and if required a wild card in 34.

just trying to decide if i can afford to stick with higuain brought in for 31 over aguerro who made way. many a season has been won or lost by Aguerro on a DGW!

IF he plays both I can see him scoring very well but the FA Cup semi-final is 3 days after the Cardiff game so I can see a rest for that one maybe.

[Stevieste]

thinking i'll go triple captain this week, likely sterling.

for 33 i think i'll use my free hit.

bench boost for 35 and if required a wild card in 34.

just trying to decide if i can afford to stick with higuain brought in for 31 over aguerro who made way. many a season has been won or lost by Aguerro on a DGW!

IF he plays both I can see him scoring very well but the FA Cup semi-final is 3 days after the Cardiff game so I can see a rest for that one maybe.

I doubt it, he not played his strongest team in Fa cup all season and its only Brighton so not like he cant get away with playing Mahrez, Sane, Jesus etc and then bring on Sterling if its going wrong lke against Swansea.

Think Pep prefer to win Prem over Fa cup imo

[snout]

I doubt it, he not played his strongest team in Fa cup all season and its only Brighton so not like he cant get away with playing Mahrez, Sane, Jesus etc and then bring on Sterling if its going wrong lke against Swansea.

Think Pep prefer to win Prem over Fa cup imo

That's my thinking too. Pep would rather be making excuses for why he lost an FA Cup semi, than for dropped points in the PL. Also an FACSF can go to extra time and pens; if he starts Sergio, cirucmstances (injuries/cards) may dictate that he needs to play 120 mins.

Going on gut, I'm not as sure about this as I was over Sergio starting both games in the first DGW though. Then I was about 90%. Now I'm more like 75%.

[Vsz]

For GW33, I think I will be taking a minus 8 to get 9 or 10 out, so not ideal, but it's the strategy I went for, with FH last week and TC this week, most likely on Aguero.

I will keep in my players that I got in cheap and have a lot of value tied up in, i.e. Pogba, Rash, Jiminez and Doherty (so they'll be on my bench, with Hamer). Players out will be Shaw, Sane (annoyed I still have him but haven't had a chance to ditch - would love Raheem for this DGW but cannot get him in), Ederson and Aguero.

Will leave me with for 33:

GK
Kola, Robertson, TAA, DEF
Mane, Hazard, MID, (Schneiderlin boooo)
ATT

Bench of Hamer, Pog, Rash, Jiminez, Doherty

For DGW32 I'm currently on (and I think likely to stay as):

Ederson
Shaw, Doherty, Kola
Pogba, Mane, Haz, Sane
Aguero (TC), Jiminez, Rash

Bench of Hamer, Roberston, TAA and Schneiderlin (booooooo)

Will WC34 and BB35.

[swadd1er]

I only have 7 DGW players for 32. Wishing I fielded 9 in GW31 and kept the FH for GW32 but here we are

[Stevieste]

I only have 7 DGW players for 32. Wishing I fielded 9 in GW31 and kept the FH for GW32 but here we are

Ditto

[raoul]

Still plenty of time for FH32 to fail for everyone just as bad as FH31 seems to have done.

Pep rotates and MC grind out two 1-0 wins with own goals and Aguero missing a penalty. Salah hat trick v Southampton etc etc

[Stu255]

I only have 7 DGW players for 32. Wishing I fielded 9 in GW31 and kept the FH for GW32 but here we are

Ditto

[Oxford NZ]

I only have 7 DGW players for 32. Wishing I fielded 9 in GW31 and kept the FH for GW32 but here we are

Ditto

I have 8 doublers for a -8. Not sure if that will work out. 3 United, 2 City, 1 each from Chelsea, Spurs and Wolves. No Kane or Hazard so we will have to see how it pans out.

[Tuttifrutti]

Used my FH in GW31 with the amazing score of 29.

Able to field 10 players with DGW32 which I'm quite pleased with. GW33 is currently looking like I should be able to field 8-9 (-4 hit). Most of the players already have DGW in GW35 so I'm not going to bother trying to field 11 players in GW33. Too much value invested.

Current team:

GK: Ederson (FUL, CAR)
DF: Wan-Bissaka (HUD, TOT), Shaw (WAT, WOL), Kolasinac (NEW)
MF: Hazard (CAR, BHA), Sterling (FUL, CAR), Pogba (WAT, WOL), Moutinho (BUR, MUN)
FW: Agüero (FUL, CAR), Jimenez (BUR, MUN), Rashford (WAT, WOL).

Bench: Fabianski (EVE), Mkhitaryan (NEW), Robertson (TOT), Bennett (BUR, MUN)

[SteveieB123]

Free hit 31 here. Currently have 8 doublers and 9 for 33.

Could bring in a Chelsea player this week and have 9 this week and +1 transfer next week means XI for 33. May even take a hit this week as still have Pereyra or Felipe....decisions decisions.

Template player Hazard would be a -8 move but would ensure 10/11 doubles with 11 next week. Sounds very tempting As I'd expect him to outscore Pereyra by minimum 8!!

[Sutter Kane]

Free hit 31 here. Currently have 8 doublers and 9 for 33.

Could bring in a Chelsea player this week and have 9 this week and +1 transfer next week means XI for 33. May even take a hit this week as still have Pereyra or Felipe....decisions decisions.

Template player Hazard would be a -8 move but would ensure 10/11 doubles with 11 next week. Sounds very tempting As I'd expect him to outscore Pereyra by minimum 8!!

Wait until press conferences but it sounds like it's easily worth it.

[raoul]

Mrs R has been slowly creeping up on me in the OR (49pts behind), and unlike me still has all 4 chips left.

Allison (Button)
TAA, Rudiger, Doherty, AWB, (Pereira)
Sterling, Hazard, Pogba, Kante, (Fraser)
Vardy, Jimenez, (Rondon)

There are 8 doublers above for DGW32. If she wants more it would cost hits. She has 10 in place for GW33.

Any thoughts on where to use those 4 chips? With only 7 GW left she needs a plan.

I reckon TC32, WC34, BB35, FH36/38.

She could still decide to FH32, but she knows I am doing that and given she is keen to catch me is thinking she wants to differ. I have suggested this might be the week to match not catch, given she would then hold 3 chips for GW33 onwards to my 1 chip.

Any thoughts?

[ajcairns]

Yeah raoul. I’m TC32 FH33 WC34 BB35

Not many FH33s out there as most will have been used in 27 31 and 32 due to the various strategies. If you can get a good set of doublers in 32 and hit the right TC then my thinking is that you won’t lose much (any) ground. Then stride ahead in 33 when a lot of teams are weak or just managing. WC and then BB along with everyone else.

[raoul]

FH31 turned out badly for most. You not worried of a repeat in GW33?

[ajcairns]

Yep! Haha, but i think with the fixtures in 33 there is the ability spread the risk a little wider. There are six fixtures as opposed to 5 and FH31 failed essentially because the obvious picks (which were quite limited) all failed. If it happens again then at least I have FH in the players that most have got lined up already (so wont lose ground) and also should be ahead of those that haven't planned it so well and are either taking lots of hits to get 11 or are only getting 7/8/9 out.

[fairfranco]

Spent an hour staring at my possibilities some more and still can't decide how to do this.

was set on a triple captain of Aguerro or sterling this week but looking at the other games I just can't decide if it's the best move.

First thing is after ditching aguerro for Higuain last week I would need to use my first transfer to bring him back for hig.

I feel like i need a chelsea attacking option and hazard seems the most likely high scorer. i'm 1m shy of a mane > Hazard swap so would need to make 2 changes but the only player i could remove to free up 1m would be to remove a player who i would want the following week like Robertson or possibly a doubler like Jota.

one possible is

Hig > Aguerro
Mane > Hazard
Jota > Kante

that would give me

8 doublers for this week with Chilwell, Vardy and Robertson as singles

gw 33 would give me 11 with a likely free transfer used to bring mane back in.

gw 34 I'd like to find room for kane and use the bench boost but i could plump for wild card

gw 35 free hit for best possible dgw side

what's your thoughts?

too many options!

[Tony Towners Tache]

At this too late a stage it will help me (if no one else) to clarify my thinking. Essentially it is a game of statistics based on a DGW sandwiched in between two blanks. The best we could hope for by free hitting a blank would be 11 x 90 mins whereas the best we could hope for by free hitting a double would be 22 x 90 mins. So FH the double appears to be the clear option. This is helped by the first blank also having similar teams playing as the second so, barring injuries, if with a little foresight the original BGW team fielded 11 players then the second BGW team should look after itself.

The above strategy then leaves the fun of wildcarding for a bench boost in the next double which if played right could yield 30 x 90 mins. The downside/tricky bit being the WC must also be sympathetic with the remaining game weeks.

This leaves the triple captain which is by far the worst of the chips and pretty much a gamble whenever it is played.

Sadly I have joined the chips league so there will be nowhere to hide when all of the above is exposed as nonsense.

[ajcairns]

I think the premise of your theory and plan is spot on Tony apart from the detrimental effect of building the team for the two BGWs when you only have 10-12 teams to focus on. Liverpool have been there this year but that is only 3 players so the rest of your team is going to be compromised somewhat.

You could just use the TC when one of the best teams (MCI, Liv) is playing the worst (Ful, Hud) so long as there is an obvious C and VC selection that is not going to be rested.

[Tony Towners Tache]

AJ I agree. Building a team over say 4 or 5 game weeks with two specific BGW's in mind runs the risk of potentially weakening the squad overall. still all good fun.

[pokeface]

I’m planning to WC 34. Looking ahead to DGW35. Does anyone think Aguero is worth keeping for that? Given he’s injured right now and City’s fixtures that week aren’t the best. Tempted to transfer him out for someone like Vardy this week, but a bit hesitant as he is the in form striker in the league if he’s actually fit.

[Aldershot Rejects]

I’m planning to WC 34. Looking ahead to DGW35. Does anyone think Aguero is worth keeping for that? Given he’s injured right now and City’s fixtures that week aren’t the best. Tempted to transfer him out for someone like Vardy this week, but a bit hesitant as he is the in form striker in the league if he’s actually fit.

I'm going to go without and doing the Vardy transfer this week.

[pokeface]

I feel he won’t be the main captain choice for DGW35, although not looked at the fixtures in too much detail. I’m planning a BB so I think my funds could be better distributed elsewhere in that week.

Anyway, pulled the trigger. No going back

[DUDLEYTO]

Quick question i have WC BB TC chips left, was going to wc34 bb35 which would leave TC for single game 36. Anyone do it different if you had these chips left?

[Aldershot Rejects]

Quick question i have WC BB TC chips left, was going to wc34 bb35 which would leave TC for single game 36. Anyone do it different if you had these chips left?

I was originally going to do that, but I'm now wondering about TC35 BB36. It probably all depends on what players you fancy. I'm choosing players and then seeing how the chips fall.

[mikek2010]

Hey All, can you play a regular transfer and then do a free hit?? or will the FT deactivate free hit for this round?

wanting to get rid of Shaw for TAA but also need to do a FH for GW33

[From4corners]

Hey All, can you play a regular transfer and then do a free hit?? or will the FT deactivate free hit for this round?

wanting to get rid of Shaw for TAA but also need to do a FH for GW33

Yes you can. Just make another transfer and when wanting to confirm the FH will make itself available to you.