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Welcome to the Gameweek 10 FPL Staff Roundtable, RotoBallers! There were some disappointed Triple Captain managers in Gameweek 9. Our own Jamie Steed was not one of them, though, as he made the bold move of giving Bryan Mbeumo the armband for 45 points!
Gameweek 10 has some tasty ties, with Spurs hosting Aston Villa and Manchester United starting a new era versus an old foe in Chelsea. This week's answers were all given prior to the EFL Cup ties played on Wednesday evening.
The Gameweek 10 deadline of the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season is Saturday, November 2, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, when Newcastle welcomes Arsenal up north. Also, check out the rest of our excellent soccer coverage as the squad gets you all set for every EPL and UCL slate with our DFS lineup picks and betting picks.
Fantasy Premier League Staff Roundtable - Gameweek 10 Preview
The Staff Roundtable is an attempt to get you inside the minds of our FPL writers. Our top soccer writers will answer questions each gameweek to give you an idea of how they view the games. So, without further ado, let’s kick off Gameweek 10!
Despite producing 2.33 xG, Erling Haaland only bagged one goal against Southampton. What would you say to those unfortunate Triple Captain managers?
Euan Leith: Hello, darkness, my old friend. Nah! It was a good process, and the points didn't shake your way. If FPL managers keep making correct decisions, good results will follow. I pulled the trigger and couldn't believe Haaland only came away with six points.
Jamie Steed: Process over results. You’ll get some rough breaks throughout the season, but as long as you make the correct decisions based on the right processes, you will, more often than not, get the best outcomes.
The FPL Manual (Wale): It was an unfortunate situation to witness the Norwegian not convert those big chances, especially at the Etihad Stadium. My only advice to Gameweek 9 Triple captainers would be - Chin up! Better days are ahead, there is still room to maximize other chips in the long-run and win those mini-leauges.
Erling Haaland was Triple Captained by 308,746 managers in Gameweek 9 3️⃣
Are you a fellow non-Haaland Triple Captainer like Lee, from @FPLFamily, who feels lucky that the Man City forward didn't haul? 🤔#FPL #OffTheBench
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 29, 2024
Bukayo Saka returned to Arsenal and grabbed a goal. Should he go straight back into our FPL squads?
Euan: With Cole Palmer (£11.0m) firing on all cylinders, FPL managers can be patient with Bukayo Saka's (£10.0m) return. Arsenal has a bit of an injury bug roaming around the club this season, and it seems to be hampering the overall flow of the squad. I'm looking to bring Saka back in around Gameweek 13.
Jamie: Absolutely. He’s easily a top-3 midfielder and not someone I’d have dropped anyway. Admittedly, I did leave him on the bench with the uncertainty around his availability. But he’s straight back into my starting XI this weekend.
Wale: Not for now. I recently shipped our Saka to fit in his English teammate Cole Palmer. Arsenal is lacking a few key players due to injury and has a rough patch of fixtures on paper. I will ignore Saka for now but will find a way to bring him back in future weeks.
Back from injury with a bang 💥
1,177,491 managers sold Bukayo Saka in Gameweek 9, did you stick with the @Arsenal midfielder? 🤩#FPL pic.twitter.com/4XU4PnLeIa
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 28, 2024
Tottenham is struggling, and Dominic Solanke only has two goals and one assist this season. Does he still deserve a spot in FPL teams?
Euan: I believe in Dominic Solanke (£7.7m), but he has to get it done over the next two fixtures. A home tie with Aston Villa and an away match versus Ipswich Town must produce at least two attacking returns to make the transfer worth it. If I didn't have him, I wouldn't bring him into my squad, but I'm keeping the faith until Gameweek 12.
Jamie: He wasn’t a target of mine before the season, so I was already out. I believe there are better days ahead but Solanke did get excessively hyped-up following his summer transfer. There are better options, especially given his price.
Wale: Nope! Within the first six weeks, his underlying stats looked quite promising for Tottenham but with majority of goals scored around Son Heung-min (£9.9m), and Brennan Johnson (£6.7m), it’s getting frustrating to vouch for Solanke. I suggest that FPL managers switch to other promising forwards, like Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest, who is in better form.
Bryan Mbeumo scored his eighth goal of the season. Is he the best midfielder in the game under £9.0m?
Euan: Bryan Mbeumo (£7.7m) isn't just the best midfielder in the game under £9.0m; he's the best asset in the game under that price. If you've had him since the beginning of the year, you are loving life, and I don't see a reason to sell him before a fixture swing in Gameweek 14.
Jamie: Yes, and I’m not just saying that because I triple-captained him! Mbeumo managed 16 goal involvements in just 22 starts last season. Only Mbeumo and Jarrod Bowen (£7.4m) came into the season with the guaranteed minutes, as a penalty-taker, and as an impressive track record among midfielders at that price.
Wale: I’d tag him as the next best forward to Erling Haaland (£15.4m). Brentford’s talisman Bryan Mbeumo has been instrumental for the London side, particularly in home fixtures, and looks set to be a mainstay in my FPL team this season.
Manchester United fired Erik Ten Haag on Monday. Which Red Devils could benefit from a new manager bounce?
Euan: It's tough to know how a new manager's system will fit with this group of players. However, Diogo Dalot (£5.1m) has been on my radar for a while. The Portuguese defender produced 0.53 xGI on Sunday versus West Ham, and a new manager bounce may be exactly what he needs to make his way into my FPL squad.
Jamie: Bruno Fernandes (£8.2m) will be the obvious choice. But Rasmus Højlund (£6.9m) has flashed his potential upfront. He likely needs a fresh approach to really excel. That could come from a more attack-minded head coach and approach.
Wale: With Manchester United reportedly eyeing Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim as their next manager, the club might be primed for a turnaround from their current 14th-place league standing. One player who could thrive under a potential new manager bounce is Bruno Fernandes (£8.2m).
United's captain, though recently out of form, may have a fresh opportunity to capitalize on his creative prowess in midfield, making him a valuable FPL asset capable for Man United.
Who is keeping a clean sheet in Gameweek 10?
Euan: Nottingham Forest is fourth for expected Goals Allowed this season, and their defense is starting to get the credit it deserves. West Ham should consider themselves lucky to have all three points versus Manchester United on Sunday. The Trees will keep the Hammers off the scoresheet.
Jamie: I’ll take Wolves this week. While Crystal Palace finally got their first win of the season on Sunday, they still only managed to score once. Palace have blanked four times and only scored six goals in nine games this season. This week is Wolves’ turn to get their first win of the season, and they will shut out the Eagles in doing so.
Wale: Liverpool is the team with the cleanest sheet this season. With only two goals conceded in their last four home games, the Reds have a high likelihood of keeping a clean sheet when they host Brighton at Anfield this weekend.
What defensive player is providing attacking returns?
Euan: Jarrad Branthwaite (£4.8m) has only played 94 minutes this season but should be back in the Everton side for an away match versus Southampton. The Toffees defender bagged three goals last season, and he'll announce his return in a big way with an account-opening strike on Saturday.
Jamie: Leif Davis (£4.5m) picked up a second assist of the season last weekend. His 2.21 xGI (expected goal involvements) is the second-most among all defenders. He leads the position in shot-creating actions (36) and gets a home game against Leicester City this weekend.
Wale: Despite Wolves conceding 25 goals this season, Rayan Aït-Nouri (£4.6m) has continued to reward FPL managers with solid returns, contributing four attacking involvements over his last four matches.
With a home fixture against Crystal Palace up next, Aït-Nouri could be vital in helping Wolves secure their first win of the season and is an asset I tip to get an attacking return in Gameweek 10.
A defender who scores goals 🤩
Rayan Ait-Nouri has found the back of the net three times in his past four matches but will he find his way into your team? 💭#FPL pic.twitter.com/W4a1WKgQji
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 29, 2024
Who's a midfielder or forward rostered on less than 10 percent of teams that will grab us those FPL points?
Euan: Wolves had a brutal start to the campaign, but it looks like the tide is turning. Matheus Cunha (£6.5m) has three goals in his last five games, but they've all been on the road. The Brazilian will look to make 3.6 percent of FPL managers happy on Saturday with a goal against Crystal Palace.
Jamie: If I’m backing Leif Davis to bag an assist, it makes sense to back Liam Delap (£5.7m) to find the back of the net. Delap has scored four goals in his last four games and was on target against Leicester last season when playing for Hull City. Delap is a very solid upfront discount option.
Wale: This might be a bold choice, but Cameron Archer (£5.0m) from Southampton is my top differential for the week. The English forward was quite an attacking threat in the matchup against Manchester City in Gameweek 9, and with two goals in his last three matches, Archer is building up form for the Saints.
Facing Everton at home, Archer could be right at the heart of the goals, making him my standout differential pick.
A differential in scoring form 🔥
Owned by 3.6% of managers, is Matheus Cunha a forward you are considering bringing in with upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace and Southampton? 🐺#FPL pic.twitter.com/2sQswEmgxE
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 30, 2024
Who is one player you want to have but can’t for the Gameweek 10 fixtures in Fantasy Premier League?
Euan: Yoane Wissa (£5.9m) has four returns in the four games when he's played at least 45 minutes. An away fixture versus Fulham isn't ideal, but he has three strong games after that London derby. I'd love to get him in as early as possible to increase my odds of catching another FPL haul.
Jamie: With four transfers available to me, I can bring in anyone I want. The only issue will be affordability, and with that in mind, there’s no way I’ll be able to bring in Mohamed Salah (£12.6m). He’s got nine goals and six assists in 14 EPL games against Brighton, including three goals last season.
Wale: Currently content with my FPL team this week. However, I feel a bit frustrated I can’t bring in any Liverpool attacking assets cheaper than Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) either due to lack of funds or, in the case of Luis Diaz, a certainty of guaranteed minutes, and I am afraid this will negatively affect my rank as I expect the Reds will do well against Brighton this weekend.
Mo Salah's Gameweek 9 goal saw him pass the 100 points mark in matches against Arsenal 🇪🇬👑
Next up for Salah is the side he has the second-most points against, Brighton 👀#FPL pic.twitter.com/12p6VluU1H
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 29, 2024
Who’s getting the Captain’s armband?
Euan: Like the first question mentioned, Erling Haaland produced 2.33 xG last weekend but only grabbed one return. These things have a way of balancing out, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Norwegian walk away with a brace. Haaland gets the armband for my squad.
Jamie: After gambling with Bryan Mbeumo last week and being rewarded, I want to go with Emile Smith Rowe (£5.7m) this week. He faces a Brentford side that’s conceded eight goals in their last three games and at least two goals in each of their four away games. Smith Rowe’s only blank at home came against Aston Villa, so I fancy his chances of picking up an assist or a goal this weekend.
Wale: With Haaland’s recent dip in form, I’m opting for a different approach this week by captaining Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.0m). It’s a bit of a gamble, but with Trent’s impressive 2.87 expected assists (xA) and the potential for a clean sheet, I’m banking on him to deliver the captaincy points.
What’s your bold prediction for Gameweek 10?
Euan: Can a team get a new manager bounce before announcing a new manager? Regardless, I can see Man United being galvanized by a supportive home crow and disrupting Chelsea's early-season momentum. Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest ends the weekend inside the top four.
Jamie: The three winless sides all pick up three points this weekend. In Wolves’ win, Jørgen Strand Larsen (£5.5m) tallies double-digit fantasy points.
Wale: Salah scores for Liverpool, producing yet another attacking FPL return for fantasy managers, and Newcastle secures a victory at St James’ Park, ending their five-game winless win against Arsenal.
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