CJ: Fantasy Friday with Ben Watts and me, CJ Hooker. Yes, I'm back from my sabbatical. And yes, I do want I do over Stephen Winch an apology, actually, I think, just to firstly get this pod off and running. I did Ben: Yeah. CJ: slate your team to the boys. I did say it would be an easy win, and you've actually handed my arse to me on a plate. So massive, massive congrats, Stephen Winch, because how you pulled Ben: Ha ha. CJ: that off. Fair, fair play. I heard I actually listened to the pod. Today, you boys absolutely to be fair, you had to rinse me and you did. You did do that. But how are you how Ben: Mm. CJ: are you, Benny? How are you? Ben: I to be fair, I also wanted to go into hiding. CJ: Ha ha. Ben: just not not fantasy related but Newcastle related. So yeah, watched us on Monday night and I was That was a rough watch. I mean leads to be fair were really good and I was reading about their record afterwards, like Monday evening games, they're unbeaten in like sixteen games or something like that, and Farquay's doing an amazing job, so I should just take it on the chin, but I was very, very grumpy. No. CJ: stop, save as it save here. I didn't I didn't think Leeds were gonna do that, but they're a bit of a for they're a bit of a force at home, aren't they, as well? Like Ellen Road seems to be a fortress. Ben: They are, they are. And it's that whole that thing as well. Like I I literally had the money between Barry and Calvert Lewin for fantasy. And I thought CJ: Yeah. Ben: form-wise, sorry, fixture-wise, Barry had like Ipswich at home and then somebody else. And I was like, Yeah, Barry's the one. And then DCL just tore us to shreds. And did you see as well, actually, he originally He he got two goals and then one got CJ: Yeah. Ben: taken away because it bounced off Bogle. CJ: Yeah. Ben: 'cause it's like he he he the both of them went up to head it. Calvert Lewin got the header, but it took a nick off Bogle, who then got credited the goal. So Bogle for a time or is the highest scoring fantasy player at the moment. He's CJ: Okay. Ben: the top scorer, Jaden Bogle, for Leeds, because he It's like a rampaging fullback, he got a goal. It CJ: Yeah, he is. Thirty seven points. We did we mentioned him in our wildcard, didn't we, as well? The two lead fullback. Ben: We did. And I it's it's my fault for not 'cause like it's my fault for not considering Leeds assets 'cause I just thought you know, like like he was saying when you were like, talk me through the Ampedoe pick, I'm like, Yeah, it's just CJ: Yeah. Ben: it like I've I would never pick Ampedoo. I'd never think to have him on my radar. Of course he goes and gets some points. DCL bags ten ten points against Newcastle. They they should have had a clean sheet. The fact that they like conceded CJ: Yeah, I know. Ben: a ninety minute you know, goal Bogle's a return would have been even bigger. But anyway, I think the GBS Goals panel or whatever gave it back to DCL. But people be b because fantasy is settled, DCL stays on ten points. So yeah. CJ: Yeah. I saw that. I saw that. It's cra it's crazy that I've it's a lot so many things because now I think like Butler and you boys were saying it actually takes I think till nine AM on the Tuesday Ben: Mm. CJ: morning now if there's a Monday game. So it's a long time now to wait for all these points and like head to head is updated, but even that wasn't even sorted before the fantasy deadline, which is which is crazy really, because DCL would have been on for almost a twenty pointer there, realistically, wouldn't he? Ben: Yeah. Mad, mad. So yeah, I hope we I hope we don't get mauled by the Tigers this weekend, 'cause that was a very, CJ: Ha ha ha. Ben: very concerning showing. We got absolutely dominated. Yeah. CJ: I really, I really hope not. We'll talk about actually Newcastle assets a bit later on, but we just want to go through what we're going to talk about today. So we're going to get on Ben: Mm. CJ: to Giao Pedro in a minute. So what to do with Giao Pedro? Should we keep him? Should we sell him? We'll get onto that in a sec. Then we're going to look at assets for Game Week Five, particularly Everton, Newcastle, and Forest assets, as they have Ipswich at home, Hull at home, and Coventry at home, respectively. And then just a little Session at the end on Fernandez. Is he worth keeping or not? But let's get on to JP. Let's get Ben: Looking forward to that. Yeah. CJ: on to JP quickly. So, more than 74% of fantasy managers have a decision to make over Chelsea for Jal Pedro, who is in injury doubt for the Blues Game Week 5 fixture away to Brentford tonight, following his withdrawal from the Brazil squad before the upcoming international break. So, however, it's unclear what injury Jal Pedro has after Jabi Alonso suggested yesterday. It is a possibility that he features for Chelsea against the Bees. The striker is the most owned player in fantasy due to his kind price, an excellent form under new manager Alonso. So he scored three goals and already got two assists this season with thirty-three points. is joint second among all fantasy assets. Just before we get into a few bits and Bob Zajal Pedro. How did you take that news, mate, after his start when there was news about him being injured or not I heard a first I heard he didn't train this week, then I heard he Ben: Mm. CJ: pulled out the Brazil squad and I was thinking, What is going on here? Ben: Yeah. I've I've only really seen it come through this morning on my end, but it's funny 'cause like ESPN Brazil tweeted about it and they said he's out for three and a half weeks. Which is like CJ: Mm. Ben: Oddly, oddly specific, three and a half, that you're you're CJ: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ben: you know, you're putting it to literally like three or four days or whatever and you're calling it then. I do suspect it might be a little bit of a case of international brake itis where he's totally CJ: Yeah. Ben: fine, and he might feature for Chelsea, 'cause i Brazil Brazil didn't take him to the World Cup and I think they're just playing a couple bum friendlies, aren't they? So I mean I'm sure I'm I'm sure he just needs a bit of rest. CJ: Yeah, I think so. But you're right though, it could it could be a little I haven't actually thought about it like that. It could be a little fingers up to the Brazilian Football Federation after him being Ben: Mm. CJ: left out of that that World Cup squad, which is absolutely disgraceful, by the way, that how he got left out of that squad is actually but Ben: Yeah. CJ: to be fair, I suppose if he's got a little niggle, n he doesn't necessarily have the right to put two fingers up, but I do see why Ben: Yeah. CJ: potentially he has. But It's one of those. Just got a few things here before we get into it. But as Ben: Mm. CJ: well as his fine form, there are a few reasons why. I think we're going to talk about keep or sell, but to start with keep, so why should you keep Ben: Mm. CJ: him and simply bench him for game week five? So firstly, there is obviously like Ben said, a three-week break now before Chelsea's game week six home match against Bournemouth on Saturday, the tenth of October. So which would give him plenty of time to recover from any potential knock or injury. And then secondly Chelsea have one of the best long term fixture schedules to invest in from game week six to game week thirteen. I'll just go through those quickly. So Bournemouth at home in six, Everton away in seven, Spurs at home in eight, United at home in nine, Sunderland away in ten, Leeds at home in eleven, Forest away in twelve, and Palace at home in thirteen. What do you think about keeping him? Like for me, my honest instinct is right, I'm going to keep him. Because but Ben: Yeah. CJ: I'm just looking at my bench, my bench is absolutely shite after that wild card. Ben: Yes. I am in in exactly the same boat as you. I am definitely going to keep him. I'm not gonna sell him because I think he'll be fine post-international break. Their fixtures are really good after the international break. There's absolutely no reason in my mind to sell him. But do you bench him or not? Because yeah, like you, mate, my bench is looking very, very dire. In fact, two of my three bench options are red. Like no chance of playing. So yeah. CJ: It's how after a wild card as well. Ben: That's after a wild card. Mendy got taken off, didn't he? in CJ: Yeah. Ben: the whole game. Not halfway through, so that's an injury. And then apparently Dedic has got a hamstring strain. so he's out for a couple of weeks. So I literally got him in. Had that awful showing against Leeds. I benched him anyway, so it didn't matter. And now he's he's out for a couple of weeks. So yeah, the bench is looking really ropey. So I think I'm just gonna I'm just gonna start Jal Pedro on the CJ: Yeah. Ben: on the hope that he's going to feature and score. 'Cause I I think a lot of people like of seventy four percent, at least half of that seventy four percent is gonna be playing it safe and benching him. So you've got no you you've got some upside potential there if you just play him. CJ: It's so true. I think I'm gonna do exactly the same. It's funny because when I was messaging one of my mates earlier, Connor, shout out to Con John. Like hopefully get him in. He's he's one of the boys from back in back in England, Hayes Mid Cricket Club, absolute legend. But he was saying that he was doing his wild card today and actually taking him out, you actually lose that point too. Trying to get him back in is almost impossible if you're trying to with those funds. So now he's up to I think he's up to 7.8, is he now? He's yeah, 7.8 mil. So Ben: Ooh. CJ: actually, if you're taking him out. It's so, so hard to get him in with the likes Ben: Yeah. Yeah. CJ: of Palmer. And if you're gonna go for these because with a wild card, you're probably gonna pick these informed players. So a lot of them now Ben: Mm. CJ: are above their initial start prices. So I think it's it's so hard. And actually around his price point, there's not actually many forwards of that level at all, is there, to to get in. Like Easex nine Ben: No, no. CJ: point one, there's no one around that eight million mark realistically, apart from like Tiago, but he started the season off in Ben: Hmm. CJ: incredibly poorly. But Just to move on quickly as well. I know we mentioned Ben: Mm. CJ: two of these lads last week, but if you do want to replace him, there's probably four to look at, particularly with this game week in mind and maybe game week six in mind as well. But we've got obviously Barry from Everton, United's, sorry, Newcastle United's Wissa, Nottingham Ben: Mm. CJ: Forest, Liam DeLap as well is probably coming into the conversation now. And Fulham's Gonzalo Garcia, because all of these players. play a promoted club twice in the next four weeks. So that Ben: Hmm. CJ: was really, really interesting. So Barry has Ipswich at home, Hull away, Chelsea at home, Arsenal away. So very, very hard fixtures after the next two. Then Wissa has Ben: Yeah. CJ: Hull at home, Covaway, Villa at home, Palace away, quite nice fixtures. And then DeLap has Coventry at home, Palace away, Arsenal at home, Ipswich away. And then Garcia has Fulham, sorry, Man United at home, and then Ipswich away, Hull at home, Hove away in the next four. So there are some nice things. I've got Ben: Hmm. CJ: Barry. I know have you got Barry as well over Calvert Lewin. So actually I'm I'm quite happy Ben: Yeah, yeah. CJ: with Barry this week and the next two weeks, to be honest. Ben: Yeah, agreed. CJ: it's hard to know what to do, really, mate. Like it's funny because they've only scored one each since the start of the season, but their underlying Ben: Yeah. Yeah. CJ: data actually looks pretty good. So I'll just go through it and we can discuss it, mate. But Ben: Yeah. CJ: Barry's had 13 shots in the box, five big chances. So like a big chance is where a player is expected to score only second Ben: Mm-hmm. CJ: to Haaland this season up front. Wiss has been involved in five big chances. However, his only play only has an average of 50 minutes per shot. Garcia's got 10 of his 10 of his 12 shots have come from inside the box. However, he's only played 188 minutes in total this year, which actually surprised me. 140 Ben: Mm. CJ: fewer than the other three. And then Jalap Delap, sorry, is showing plenty of all-round threat. His 23.5 minutes per shot is just behind Haaland's 22.5. he's also created four big chants as well. So it's it really is a discussion. I'm going to open it up to you, mate. I know we've both got Ben: Mm. CJ: Barry, so we we don't necessarily have to talk about him, but just get me, I want to get pick your brain on Whissa to start with before we talk about the other two. I know he's a newcaster. We started the season really well, but what are Ben: Yeah. CJ: your honest thoughts about? the eye test as well as as well as the stats. Ben: Eye test, yeah, I mean he looks good. I think Newcastle will have a problem getting him involved. Like you said, he's only averaging one shot per fifty minutes. I'm still trying to figure us out because, you know, the opening three games we looked quite good, you know, that first half against Bournemouth aside, and then that game against Leeds. Butler will I can hear Butler in my head right now saying, see, I told you, I told you, they haven't played anyone good yet. So I CJ: Yeah. Ben: don't know, like I'm still figuring out this there's two of those actually, Wissa and Garcia. I'm figur I'm trying to figure both Newcastle and Fulham out. Like I CJ: Yeah, agreed. Ben: don't know I don't know. yet how Newcastle were gonna play against Hull. I could you know it could be very that classic like one nil away win, couldn't it, where Hull just a smash and grab. CJ: Yeah, yeah. Ben: And then for Fulham as well, it's like they look good going forward, but they're diabolical at the back. So it's like, do you although and then and then s and I'm saying that and they also kept a clean sheet against Liverpool last game week. So it's like, are they figuring it out? Are w are Newcastle regressing? I really don't know. But Whissa Whissa is like I think he's a fairly safe bet. He's gonna get lots of minutes. Like you said, he's got five big chances. I think they'll start he'll start going on a purple patch soon, I think. I just don't know when. Not that that's very helpful or like me not sitting on the fence, but like he's guaranteed minutes. Yeah. CJ: Yeah, he is he's definitely involved, isn't he? He's de yeah, and I'll just look in here. He's played ninety pretty much in every game, which I think we said Ben: Yeah. CJ: about fantasy this year, that's actually huge, I think, with particularly Ben: Mm. CJ: with the strikers. Like Barry obviously is guaranteed start. Yeah. Gonzalo Garcia as well. He's he I definitely wouldn't get him in this week with that Ben: Mm. CJ: United fixture, but the three promoted teams in three weeks from Ben: Would you not th would you not though, cause Manchester United not looking that great either. CJ: True. Ben: And I suppose we'll talk about them a bit later when we talk about Bruno Fernandez, but like collapsed at home against Brighton after being 2-0 up in in ten minutes. really poor against City in in like the ten man derby as well. So it's like CJ: Yeah. Ben: yeah, I don't know. It's I don't know, it's really tough. It's lots of options. CJ: It is true, it is true. It is I think again, like we said last week, I'm very much loyal to the fixtures, which is as which absolutely fucked me up last week with that wild card. Do you know what I mean? So and you're right, you you Ben: Yeah. CJ: I think you probably have, and I think is the the Gonzalo Garcia one is is a hard one because w like you said, we can't actually work out what Fulham are gonna do yet. They are really Ben: Yeah. CJ: all over the place. I think under our below, they don't really know his strongest team. They had a good win Ben: Hmm. CJ: in the Carabao Cup, I think, against West Ham the other night, but I think that was only 3-2. So it was strange. Shipping Ben: Mm. CJ: goals, then Gibba Clino Anfield probably should have won, should have had a penalty realistically. Ben: Mm. CJ: and then just before we move on, Liam DeLap. Ben: Mm. CJ: Forest fixtures are good going forward. He's probably going to start over Igor Jesus, it looks like, which I think is. For his owners, quite a nice thing if you're gonna bring him in. He's very, very cheap at five point five. Ben: Mm. CJ: what do you think about DeLap moving forward? Ben: D do you know what? He hasn't been on my radar. I know Alex will claim that he is. 'Cause CJ: Yeah. Ben: he said, I almost put him in but I d I just yeah, he just I just haven't really considered him, to be honest. Is he for sure taking in over you know, like starting over Igor Jesus? 'Cause didn't I guess I they both scored at the weekend, didn't they? Yeah. CJ: Well he yeah, he's he started the last two. Yeah, they did, they did. They started the last two. and he played ninety against Villa, which does make me think he's gonna start, particularly in the Prem, and then he's gonna maybe use Jesus in the cups and things. But it's one of those. They can be I'm I wouldn't put him in because Jesus is they're almost light of alike, aren't they? Like he could start in one week, Ben: Yeah. CJ: he could start him another because like Jesus came on and scored, and I'm sure Delat would do the same. So It's not a bad shout for like a not a dead spot like that third forward who you're gonna rotate in and out. I probably wouldn't have him as a forward that's gonna play week in, week out. But he's only he's only five point five. I suppose and then you've got Barry at five point six, who's guaranteed ninety. Like it's probably Ben: Hmm. CJ: more Barry. But then if you want to say point one, you probably can. It's it's a it's a funny one, Delap. I'd I'd like to see a little bit more from him before I before I bring him in and be like, right, have ten weeks if you 'cause I want to If I was gonna bring someone like him in, I'm like, right, I'm gonna not set and forget, but if he's gonna be my third forward, I want him to be able to come in and out when I please, if you know what I Ben: Hm. CJ: mean. Ben: Yeah, yeah, agreed. Yeah, Delap and Garcia like you say, see how the season pl plans pans out a bit more and then take it from there, 'cause you're just not sure of their minutes, you're just not sure how exactly they're gonna play. So I'd avoid both of them for now. So yeah. CJ: Absolutely. For now, absolutely. And look ahead towards game week six, definitely. right, so there's three teams particularly. I know a theme now in fantasy is becoming, and it seems to always does, is about picking those players who are playing against the promoted teams. And at the start of the season, people did that and actually didn't do very well because Hull went on a little Ben: Mm. CJ: run. Ipswich won the first game. I know they got pumped by United, but then came back quite strong. But they All the promoted teams are away this weekend. So they are Ipswich are away to Everton, Huller away to Newcastle, and Coventry are away to Forest after losing five nil at home to Brighton. So I've just picked Everton, Newcastle and Forest assets to look at. Let's just Ben: Mm. CJ: start with Newcastle for yourself, Ben. I know you bought Dedic in, which is a shame he's got that hamstring injury, but Ben: Yeah. CJ: I know we talked about Whissa, so let's leave those two out. Any more Newcastle assets that you like the look of? moving forward because they do have a nice little fixture run coming up. Ben: They do, and do you know what? Who got who started at the week it started at the Leeds game, I was really surprised by Fernandez Pardo started and CJ: Mm. Ben: he's six mil, I believe. Now, he had absolutely no impact on the game and was hooked after like sixty odd minutes. so again, not someone I'm rushing to get in, but if Yesler's gonna start him you know, more sooner than I expected, then he's one to watch. And since I'm putting this out into the universe right now, hopefully he'll score against Hull and I'll curse myself for not gambling on him. CJ: Mm-hmm. Ben: But Fernando's Pardo is one to watch. If you're looking at a striker and we've got question marks over DeLap and Garcia, he's six mil. He's gonna play a lot this season. It's just a question of when. terms of other players, I know Lewis Hall is a popular pick and probably one of the best left backs in the Premier League at the moment. just signed a new contract. He's got like attacking potential. Don't know dunno how he is on DEF CON. He's just a little bit expensive, isn't he? He's like five point one or five point two or something. CJ: Yeah. Yeah, he is. Ben: and and again I just can't work Newcastle out at the moment in terms of like clean sheets and how we are defensively 'cause we looked absolutely awful against Leeds. So I'm gonna stay away from from Hall having already committed to Dead Itch and now got a injury headache with that one. But Fernandez Pardo Maybe at some point in the season, a little cheeky differential. CJ: Yeah, I lo I don't I don't I didn't actually I didn't actually watch the game on Monday night, but just what about Harvey Barnes though? And I've got him in my team. just Ben: Mm. CJ: after I but he's he's gonna play. Now Gordon has gone Elanga's injured. Ben: Yeah. CJ: Like what's what do you honestly think on Barnes? I didn't I didn't actually watch the game Monday night. What was he like Monday night? Ben: Barnes is a really funny player to me because like this is like this is gonna sound really stupid. Barnes doesn't do anything except get you goals and assists, which is like CJ: Ha ha. Ben: the whole point of football. But like and and I guess as a as as a fantasy player, he's a he's a bit of a dream, right? Because if all you're interested in is is point returns and he gets goals and assists, then obviously you'd want him in. But what I mean by that is like he can completely like go through games. Like CJ: Yeah. Ben: He can have an awful game and then pop up with a with a goal and everything is forgiven and forgotten. Like that that goal he scored against Bournemouth was top draw where he just cuts in and like slams it into the corner. But CJ: Weldy, yeah. Absolute worldie, yeah. Ben: he didn't really do anything else that game, if I'm honest. Like he doesn't contribute that much outside of like these worldly moments, you know? So how much is he? Six mil. CJ: He's six mil, he's six mil, so he's not bad value. I just looked at the fixtures Ben: Mm. CJ: and thought, do you what? I'm gonna take a punt on him. Obviously didn't come off. Ben: Yeah. CJ: But his actual I actually got him in before the Leeds games because his stats against Leeds were actually amazing. I think he's got six six six goals in Ben: Yeah, he's got a really good record, isn't he? Yeah. CJ: seven games against Leeds, so I thought here we go. But again I didn't I d I underestimated Ben: Yeah. CJ: the stat that Leeds had had won the last sixteen at high one on Monday night or something stupid like you said, but but Ben: Yeah, it was crazy. so yeah, I think Barnes is just such a purple patch of a player that it's almost impossible CJ: Yeah, yeah. Ben: to predict when he's gonna go on and run and when he's not. So good player, good for us, guaranteed minutes, but I d yeah, just like six mil. I I feel like my sort of like, you know, fifth midfield spot I'm capping at like five or five point five mil, so I just couldn't fit him in. CJ: Yeah, no, I agree with that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I agree with that. I agree with that. Absolutely. Right, let's move on to Everton. Just got a few assets here to throw at you, mate. So two defenders. So James Tarkovsky. So he's returned in all four games this season. He's got DEF CON in two out of the four, but in the other two he's got he had eight and nine, so very, very close. got a goal Ben: right, okay. CJ: and an assist this year, like six mil, but but serious, serious value. And then you've got Mikolenko. So off the back of an eleven-point haul against Spurs, he's played nineteen every game, four point five mil, excellent price. We were looking at four point five mils last week. And then one midfielder to throw at you, obviously, is Keenan and Jewsbury Hall. Personally, I think six point five mil this year is a slightly too expensive. He had an unbelievable start with an eleven point haul in game week one, but his points have dried up a little. I was actually interested, he he ranks tenth in shots this season with twelve, so Could be I put here actually yeah out of mid out of everyone. Out of everyone. Ben: Out of midfielders or out of the whole league? Wow. CJ: So he's tenth in in the amount of shots he's had. I just said here if you're three hitting this week, I think he's a fantastic shout. But Ben: Mm. Mm. CJ: I wouldn't be moving things around to get him in. What do you think about those three? Let's start with the defenders, mate. I know we talked about Mikhailenko last week. What a classic. Yeah. Ben: Mikalenko's the big regret, isn't it? Because as you said, we were looking at four point five male defenders. I went I ended up going with Deaditch and CJ: Yeah. Ben: I sh and I've and I have buyer's remorse. I should have gone Mikalenko. Eleven points against Spurs, clean sheets, four point five, plays ninety minutes every week. Should've gone with him, man. And in fact, I might use a free transfer to get him in. Cause they've got a decent run, haven't they? Everton. CJ: Yeah. They have got a decent amount of victories, they have they have. Ben: So what have they got? Ipswich Hole, Chelsea Arsenal. well, Chelsea Arsenal CJ: Yeah. Ben: obviously not great, but Ipswich and hole. Maybe, maybe I'll use one of my free transfers to get Dedic out and Mikeloku in just for a couple of weeks while Deddich is recovering. But yeah. CJ: Yeah, yeah. Ben: Tarkovski is one of those that like I just never again, never on my radar, but The stats there are great that he's getting DEF CON every week and, you know, hauling every now and then. Return in all four games. Return what? Like a minimum of DEF CON. Yeah. CJ: Yeah, so he got where is he? Let me just find him. He got so six in the first game, just a clean and then twelve Ben: Yeah. CJ: against Bournemouth with the goal. and then Ben: With a goal. CJ: three against United, but that was DEF CON. And then he got eight against Spurs with a clean sheet in DEF CON. So pretty steady, but he's one of those. Again, Ben: Yeah. CJ: I think I had him at one point last year. He did absolutely nothing for ten weeks, and then I took him out. Ben: Yeah. CJ: And then he started scoring and getting cleanos again. So I think he's gonna be one of those. A bit like I think Van Dyke's gonna be a bit like that this year. Like gonna Ben: Yeah. CJ: get his eight points or nine points like he did at the weekend. But then they're gonna ship so many goals, I think. But I just I I just I just worry about Ben: Yeah. How much is Tarkovsky? CJ: he is has he gone up? So he is six point one. So yet again, now six point one. It's very hard to get him in. It is spenny. Ben: Spanny Spanny Yeah. CJ: It is spenny. It's one of those. I think you've got to sacrifice something in your back line whether it be the keeper or someone or a midfielder to get him in your back four. But to be fair, I Ben: And it's just not worth it, is it? 'Cause Everton are not. Yeah. CJ: know, but to be f yeah, to be fair, he's got 30 points across a lot his first four games. So Ben: Mm, that's probably pretty high up there, isn't it? CJ: he is pretty high up. Where is he? He is about tenth in overall points. He is, he is at the moment. I know. Ben: Yeah, so if he's he's top ten player in the game and I'm sniffing at six point one turning my nose up at six point one mil, it doesn't I just for some reason I'm just like, nah, I don't want Tar Cos, he's not a glamour name, you know. I want a team of superstars. CJ: So am I. Yeah, completely agree with that. I completely agree with that. just to finish this little section, we got Forest. So they're home to Coventry after Coventry getting absolutely battered by Brighton at the weekend and then losing 3 1 again to Villa on Wednesday night. But just got two names for you. So we talked about Nico Williams last week. I do think he's a really good pick, but Ben: Yeah. CJ: We I've gone for Murillo, so he's five point five mil. Again, a little bit more expensive. Two percent own. So he's an elect an excellent differential going into game week five. So he's achieved DEF CON in three out of the first four games, and he got an assist in game week four against Villa. Again, that's probably slightly overpriced for Forrest at the moment, but they do Ben: Mm. CJ: have a nice little run. And then the other is obviously Morgan Gibbs White, so he's eight mil. Twenty-six Ben: Yeah. CJ: points already this season, a goal and two assists. I think everything goes through him at Forest. Like he's on pens. That price point just just deters me from him. If he was seven, it would be a dream. I just don't like the eight mil. Ben: Well do you know what, mate? Like when I was doing my and I don't know why I do this, but when I was doing my wild card, I had like the final I had the final spot with about like 8.7 to spend or something like that. CJ: Yeah, yeah. Ben: And I was looking between him and Embuemo and I I thought to myself, I've got the money, so go for Embuemo 'cause he's higher priced and and I don't know why I think like that, because there's no it's nothing wrong with having CJ: No. Ben: money in the bank, but like I should have gone Gibbs White, because why did I double up on Man United midfield? I've got Bruno F and we'll CJ: Ha ha. Ben: come on to it. Got Bruno Fernandez and Embuemo at home to City CJ: I know. Ben: in the Derby. Like, why did I do that? I could have just balanced my team out a bit more and gone for Gibbs White. Cause like you say, everything goes through him. Unbelievable player. So good. And at eight mil, you might be getting more value from that than you are from someone like Embuemo 8.4. Or Semeny as well, I think, is around that sort CJ: Yeah. Ben: of like price price bracket as well. So like CJ: Yeah, it is. Ben: it it it does like you realistically you're not really gonna have another Forest midfielder, are you? He's really the only one that you'd you'd consider. So actually, as as much as you're saying you don't like the eight mil, he's cheaper than someone like Mbuemo and maybe more more influential for Forest than Embuemo is for Manchester. CJ: Yeah, complete I completely Ben: If that makes sense, I don't know. CJ: agree. I completely agree. But like he got obviously at a thirteen point haul against Liverpool in game week two, and then an eight week an eight point haul, sorry, against Villa in game week four. Like they've got Coventry at home, Palace away, Arsenal at home, Ipswich away. It's not a bad run and they seem to actually Ben: No. CJ: do well against the better teams. I think he's one of those players that always steps up and I think he literally is Ben: Mm. CJ: the main man this year, so He must be full of confidence in that forest side, especially with Glasnar now. They seem to be settling down a little bit. Ben: Yeah. And Moon Oz is another one to consider maybe along with Marillo. CJ: He is Ben: I think is it point one cheaper than than Marillo maybe last time I checked, he was five point four. It's tempting. CJ: Yeah he is, yeah, he is. Yeah, he is. Ben: It is tempting to get someone like Moon Oz in. 'Cause I so they play CJ: Yeah, he is Ben: so attacking with their wing backs, he's involved in all the attacking. It's a good it's a good shout. But I CJ: Yeah, he is a Ben: I'm warming up to Gibbs White. I've never actually owned him. I don't think I had him at all last season, so It's it's very tempting considering what we're gonna talk about next. CJ: I think I think for again if you're free hitting in game week five, him and a forest defender are essential. You could even go sells in goal. If you I think a forest triple up Ben: Hmm. CJ: against Coventry, I Coventry are definitely the team out of the newly promoted sides that people should be targeting at the moment. They are they scored their first goal of the season against Villa last night. So I Ben: Mm, mm, mm, yeah. CJ: think they're the team. I think Everton, I think Harla, I know they're doing really well, but They're gonna run out of steam at some point. It's just when and Ben: You reckon. CJ: then, yeah. And I think Ipswich are very gonna be very good at home, but I don't think they're gonna travel very well. So again, it's Newcastle, but again, Newcastle coming off that that loss at Leeds. It's gonna be really interesting. It's it's it could be one of those people who are free hitting target those teams and it does a game week one and it goes completely against them, but but we'll see. But just to finish the ep then, just quickly, Bruno Fernandez We both kept him in for our wild cards. Loads Ben: Yeah. CJ: of people, including loads of the experts, got rid. Like I I definitely Ben: Mm. CJ: still see him as a really, really good asset if you kept him for the whole season. But just for now, mate, what are you thinking with Fernandez? Honestly. Ben: Mm very tempted to drop. Very tempted CJ: Yeah. Ben: because he's only returned once and that was against Ipswich at home. He's blanked every other week. And he is a notoriously slow starter to the season. And And I've noticed the media is ramping up the whole narrative of like, you know, Carrick has got a massive job on his hands and think turn the the tide is turning against him, yada yada yada. So I'm very tempted to drop both him and a buemo and free up some serious funds. CJ: Yeah. Ben: I d I I don't think I'm gonna pull the trigger on it this weekend. I'll give him a bit more time, but He's on he's on my he's on my my red list, yeah. CJ: It's very tough. It is very tough. Even like Saka, I think a lot of things, even with our wildcard, particularly mine, so many things went against me this week. It was actually scandalous. Like even Saka getting that Arsenal getting that last minute penalty, Ben: Yeah. CJ: I was thinking, I was cracking up. I was like, people who have gone for Saka instead of Fernandez, they've blanked. And then even with like the if Sunderland scored that pen, the whole thing gets wiped out. Even with the Ben: Yeah. CJ: double defense. I know I had a double defense, but that the whole thing I'd have won my match if that goal doesn't go in. Yes, Brighton did a job, but you're probably not expecting Brighton to win 5-0. And then obviously Harden scores a goal Ben: Yeah. CJ: that should be disallowed. So there's loads of things that went wrong this game week. But Ben: Mm. CJ: yeah, I I I I think Fernandez de Saca is definitely the the one I think to look at. But again, I think I want to I want to keep him. I think if you want to captain him this week, he's going to be a good differential captain. I'm not sure that's a good shout considering their their form when they lost on Wednesday night against Brighton being tunal up at Old Tra I that's the first time they've actually in 145 games lost a game at Old Trafford after being tunal up. or something stupid Ben: Yeah, saw that. CJ: like that. It was it was mad. but I'm gonna keep him for definitely this game and then maybe roll a transfer and see what I'm gonna do. But the the r ridiculous Ben: Yeah. CJ: thing with him, I know he's got he's blanked in three out of the four games, but he got twenty-three points in that second game week. Do you know what I mean? So like if he does that one in five, realistically, I think if if you the I th Ben: Yeah. Yeah, so i he's almost better as a set and forget, isn't he? Yeah, because you know he's gonna CJ: I think you either set and forget him and you say, right, he's gonna get over two hundred points, or you snip him and and don't go anywhere near him after that. I think you either gotta Ben: Mm. CJ: take him out and then that's it, or you Ben: Keep him all season. CJ: You keep him all season. So it's it's really, really hard. I think now we've wild card and we probably have to keep him. But the only good thing about keeping him, it's so easy to get to any other player. That's why I liked Ben: Yeah. CJ: I liked having him as well. I thought if I take him out, it's gonna be almost impossible to get him back in, realistically. Ben: Yeah, yeah, agreed. Yeah, keep for now, see what he does. And then in a couple of weeks I'll get really frustrated, call him a fraud and knee jerk him out, and then he'll go on a great run. That's probably what will happen. CJ: That's yeah, absolutely. Completely agree, mate. Completely agree. right then. We are not sure. Do we want to have a quick look at we actually probably haven't really got time for the we'll just have a little look at game week five? Shall we in the Sony and Share Leagues quick? Ben: Yeah. Yeah. You mean the FPL Rivals League, mate? CJ: the FPL Rivals League. Absolutely sorry, mate. What did I say? Sony and Shah League, did I? Ha ha ha. Ben: You did, you did, yeah. CJ: Right, FPL Rivals League. just having a look at the fixtures Ben: It's old school. Yeah. CJ: here. Let me share my screen actually, just quick. entire screen. Ben: Who have you got up this week, Siege? CJ: So I have myself, let's have a look. Ben: You've got Trav. CJ: I've got Trav, which is again an absolute that's gonna be an absolute battle, but just having a look, you and Rafaro is a naughty little fixture, actually. Let's get that up now. So I think this definitely Ben: Yeah. CJ: could be one of our key battles this week. So Liberman Ilit Ben: Yeah. CJ: Il against Iwo behaves. So you against Rafaro. So yeah, key differentials here. I like Greg's new thing. I listened to your your your pod the other night. It was really, really interesting. Ben: Yeah. CJ: But so you've got two free transfers. Differentials Ben: Mm-hmm. CJ: quite a few differentials in the old team after you've done your wild card now. So how many have we got eight differentials Ben: Mm. CJ: in your team? Which I quite like. It is Ben: That's a lot, isn't it? Yeah. CJ: a light. He's got Nico Williams. You've got De Koyper, Diop, mm, he's got Whissa. Ben: He's got Pascal Gross, who's one of those another player that I never go near, even though he's an absolute point monster at some point during the season. You he just hauls, doesn't he? Like we were talking Gomez CJ: I know. I know. It is Ben: versus Gross, weren't we, the other week? And you like, I'm sticking with CJ: It is Ben: Gomez and then Gross goes and s does that. Seventeen points, and you're like fuck, I'm gonna get him. CJ: Ridiculous. Ridiculous. And then I would say Ben: Look at mo look at look at Rafaro's average though, eighty one point eight. And mine's seventy CJ: Yeah, it's Ben: three point five. So Rafaro I think is a heavy favourite. He's started the season really well. Mm. CJ: He's f he's flying. He I think he's got almost I think he's got three hundred and thirty overall points or something scary, which is which is ridiculous. Ben: Yeah. Yeah. He's up there as I think he's the second highest. Let me just check on the overall points. CJ: Is he, yeah. Ben: Yeah, he's second with three hundred and twenty seven. And then Mike's in first, three hundred and thirty CJ: That's excellent, isn't it? That is unbelievable. Ben: five, so yeah, flying. CJ: Absolutely fine. But again, you've won four out of four, so Ben: Mm, but I think that'll come to an end this weekend. CJ: Mmm, it's gonna be a tough one. That'll be a good that will be a good one though. And then let's probably Ben: Yeah. CJ: I like the look of this one at the bottom actually. We haven't really mentioned Dave at all on this pod. So Dave Ben: Yeah. CJ: against Matt, very, very different teams. to be fair, only five differentials between them. We've got ten shared players, so two Ben: Mm. CJ: very similar, similar teams actually now. Dave averaging 69.5. Matt averaging a fantastic 79.5. Matt's up there in the league as well, I think, isn't he? Ben: Yeah. CJ: recent captains. They're both captain Palmer. Dave's really stuck with Haaland. Matt had Bruno Fernandez for the first two. Yeah, interesting one. That that's that's again another one. What that where are they in the league? So Matt is fifth, Dave is twelfth. So again, Dave needs to win really to get his season going. what has Dave done so far? Dave has one, two, drawn one, and sorry, one one, drawn one, and lost two. so Ben: Yeah. Only one only one win, but th the the draw is funny, isn't it? Yeah. CJ: That was that was mad. That was against Peaks, I think, as well. But Ben: Yeah. CJ: that is that is FPL Rivals Div one. Let's just have a look at I quite I love this. this app is absolutely unbelievable, isn't it? Ben: Mm. Mm. Yeah. CJ: let's look at I'm just gonna go in as Alex Butler, shall I? Where is he? Here he is. no. And then so Ben: So it doesn't matter. Yeah. CJ: let's have a look. Game week five. Wow. lots of names in here we haven't really talked about. To be fair, Butler Charlie is a fantastic fixture, isn't it? To be fair. Ben: Yeah. Yep. Charlie's already messaged me being like, Has has Alex spilled any beans? 'Cause you need to spill them to me and I'm like, I'm not getting involved. CJ: Mad, mad one again. So seven differentials, eight shared players. Obviously Charlie's got off to an absolute flyer, both averaging pretty much the same. Butler seventy-three point zero, Charlie Ben: Mm. CJ: seventy-four point five. Charlie sits in second in the league, and Butler is in sixteenth. So what Charlie's overall point's two nine eight and Butler's a two nine two? Ben: That's harsh. That's why yeah. CJ: And there's fourteen places between it, which is which is absolutely scandalous. And then Ben: That's why Alex is last on the luck index for sure. CJ: That's it and then let's what else should we look at in this? Let's have a look at Ben: Well, I do wanna see Dilly's playing Paul, but we I mean, I know we did CJ: He is Ben: a key battle for Dilly, but I just am really curious to see whether he ends up letting Andy pick his captain 'cause he lost the bet. So CJ: It's mad as well that game. They've got 12 differentials and only three shared players. So that could be absolute carnage. The only thing with with Dilli's team, it's quite steady. Like he's Ben: Mm. CJ: got that Gonzalo, Garcia up front, Jal Pedro. Ben: Yeah. CJ: so yeah, it could be really interesting. So Dilly averaging where is he? Dilly averaging 80 points. Paul Beach 73.3. Paul's fifth, Dilly is first in FPR Rivals did two. Yeah, Ben: That'd be a good match. CJ: so Dilly 320 points overall and Paul with 293. So there's some really, really good scores points wise at the moment, but it is crazy to be fair to see where Jennings and Butler are on. So Jennings is 17th with 290 points, and Butler is 16th of 292, which is brilliant. So they Ben: Yeah. CJ: are, let me come back to you there, mate. They are the key battles in FPR Rivals one and Rivals Two. So it'll be a big game week actually before the international break. Ben: Yeah. CJ: but yeah, looking forward to it. Actually looking forward to having a settle after I'm actually gonna settle myself this week and not transfer even. I'm not I think I'm just gonna bench yell Pedro and just settle down and just reassess for a couple of weeks because I had a horrible week this week. Ben: Yeah. That's it. CJ: It was not fun at all. But yeah, you planning on making any transfers, mate? Are you just gonna go settle down as well? Ben: I think yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna sell as well. And I'm actually quite looking forward to the international break. I think it's it's quite long, isn't it? Three weeks this time. CJ: Yeah, three weeks I think is crazy, isn't it? Ben: which I think is it's good for Newcastle 'cause getting some injuries back in Langer hopefully might be back and a couple of others. But yeah, looking forward to getting this weekend out the way and then seeing what happens. CJ: Absolutely, 'cause it is starting to heat up. Like we'll go through the table probably next week after we've had Ben: Yeah. Yeah. CJ: five game weeks and then we'll sort it's really starting to shape up, which is class. So Ben: Yeah. CJ: but yeah, mate, right, do the honours for us. Ben: May the fancy gods be with you. CJ: Good luck this game week. Ben: Yeah, you too, mate. Bye-bye.