FPL Gameweek 21 Tips

Hello

Welcome to the first Let's Talk FPL newsletter.

This is an idea I've had for a while but have never gotten around to actually starting. The plan is to produce an overview of the upcoming Gameweek and generally just see how things go.

I'll look to improve the layout, design and content as I do more and more over the rest of this season and hopefully into the next. It's going to be a bit of a learning curve for me, just like FPL videos 6 years ago...

If you have any feedback, feel free to let me know at [email protected]

Gameweek 21 - Hot Topics

Double Gameweek 22 - CONFIRMED

Manchester United will play Crystal Palace (h) and Leeds (h)

Leeds United will play Nottingham Forest (a) and Man United (a)

The only way this Double won't happen is if Man United or Leeds United have an FA Cup 4th round replay. We'll know this for sure by the Gameweek 22 deadline anyway.

There's no real rush to bring in Manchester United players in Gameweek 21 as they have Arsenal (a). The top 3 options are probably Marcus Rashford (£7.1m), Luke Shaw (£5.2m) and Bruno Fernandes (£9.8m).

As for Leeds, they have a pretty nice fixture run, starting with Brentford (h) this week. I like the look of Wilfried Gnonto as a £5.0m forward, or potentially even Rodrigo in midfield at £6.4m. Again though, no real rush to bring them in this week.

Carabao Cup and FA Cup Thoughts

The gap between the Gameweek 21 and Gameweek 22 deadline is 14 days. This is because there are lots of FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures to play.

Once those matches have been played we'll have a lot more information about the coming weeks in terms of more Double and Blank Gameweeks.

If you can, I would try and save a transfer in Gameweek 21 to give yourself lots of flexibility in Gameweek 22 (plus confirmation of the Man United/Leeds United Double).

Mitoma vs March

Brighton have some great fixtures coming up - Leicester (a), Bournemouth (h), Crystal Palace (a) and Fulham (h). This plus their recent form has a lot of people eyeing up one of their cheap midfielders.

My personal preference is Kaoru Mitoma (£5.0m), who at 0.53 xGI per 90 is slightly higher than Solly March (£5.0m) at 0.38. On paper they are lining up in similar positions on opposite sides of the pitch.

March has outscored Mitoma over the last few Gameweeks but I'm putting my money on Mitoma for the upcoming fixtures.

One quick note - Brighton are playing Newcastle (a) in Gameweek 25 and there is a chance it's a blank Gameweek. Keep that in mind when you're planning moves.

Triple Arsenal

With a Double Gameweek 23 and generally just being top of the league, Arsenal players are more popular than ever right now.

If you're not already tripled up I'd look at doing so sooner rather than later.

For me the best midfielders are:

1. Bukayo Saka (£8.1m)

2. Martin Ødegaard (£6.8m)

3. Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8m)

Now that Leandro Trossard (£6.7m) has signed it does add another player to think about. I think Saka and Ødegaard will continue to be safe for starts and minutes no matter what.

Martinelli may be at risk as that's a position Trossard can play, and he has Premier League experience. If you're a Martinelli like me, I wouldn't panic just yet. If you're not, I'd likely just go for Saka and Ødegaard and use the third spot on a defender.

Just keep in mind that Saka is one yellow card away from a suspension, he just needs to get through the match in Gameweek 21 and the limit will rise to 10 yellow cards before suspension.

In defence:

1. Gabriel (£5.2m)

2. Ben White (£4.7m)

Gabriel has superior attacking threat which makes him the better choice, but there's nothing wrong with Ben White if you want to save money. I'd ignore William Saliba (£5.3m) as he's more expensive than both but doesn't really offer more.

Kepa vs Ward

Lots of managers have this goalkeeper combination for this week.

I think it's likely that both concede but I'd play Danny Ward (£4.1m) who has the easier fixture (on paper at least!).

Martial woes

We haven't had a press conference from Erik Ten Hag today, but there are reports that Anthony Martial (£6.6m) missed training on Thursday.

For anyone that owns him, he may be worth holding onto. Arsenal (a) isn't a great fixture this week anyway, but if he's fit for the Double in Gameweek 22 he's a nice value pick.

You can always play someone off your bench instead in Gameweek 21. The only way I'd sell Martial is if you had a good route to Fernandes in Gameweek 22.

Transfer Activity

Ivan Toney (£7.5m) is the most transferred in forward. With Leeds (a) and Southampton (h) as his next two matches he looks primed to add to his 109 points already this season. After that the fixtures get a bit tougher and we haven't heard any more about the charges brought against him, so there is some risk of picking him as a long term move.

João Cancelo (£7.2m) continues to frustrate managers with just one start in Double Gameweek 20. He didn't even get on the pitch against Spurs! He's been sold by 211,807 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 21. I think at this stage he's someone you need to sell. He's too much money for not enough certainty.

Captaincy

Despite a fairly disappointing Gameweek 21, I think Erling Haaland (£12.2m) remains the best captain this week with a game against Wolves (h).

In a week where Arsenal play Man United at home, and Liverpool host Chelsea, there aren't a huge amount of standout options.

If you were someone who likes to do things a little differently, then Harry Kane vs Fulham (a) could be a nice differential option.

My Team

As mentioned above, it's a really good week to roll a transfer if you can, so that's what I plan on doing.

I'm fortunate to be well set up for Double Gameweek 22 with Shaw, Rashford and Fernandes already in my squad.

I may look to bring in at least one Leeds United player, likely to be Gnonto to add to my Double Gameweek players, but that's one to worry about for next week.

It's not ideal that five of my players are in the same match, but they're good long term options.

I can't see a good replacement that I like for Aleksandar Mitrović (£7.1m) and although Ederson is hugely frustrating to own sometimes, he has a good fixture this week. I just have to hope that Nathan Aké (£5.0m) keeps starting.

I must admit, Gameweek 21 already feels a bit like a damage limitation week before the fun starts with back to back Doubles in Gameweek 22 and Gameweek 23.

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