Supercoach EPL Strategic Downgrades | Finding gold in the bargain bin

Up and down season, but a decent week has me climbing to 1,267 overall.

Want to be inside the top 1k soon.

My team value stalled last week at £124.2m – happy the squad is worth almost 25% more than the start of the year, but I need to keep building.

The trades have been solid overall, though Thiago this week hurt badly.

Missed out on a massive 22-pointer and loads of cash.

The decision to sell was sound, with him losing minutes prior to this week, but wow, did I get punished.

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The Immediate Problems

Ballard has to go – no idea why he didn’t start on the weekend, but that’s the final straw.

Dewsbury-Hall is suspended for the weekend match due to five yellow cards and has made his money.

Time to cash out.

Looking at replacements, I’m hunting for three types of players: those making money fast, those who’ve lost value and might rebound, or reliable base point scorers who tick over consistently (check last week’s article for the full breakdown on base stats strategy).

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Defenders: High Risk, High Reward

The Wolves Gamble

Hugo Bueno (£5.64m) is a base stats monster.

When playing 90 minutes, he’s delivered 9 and 8 points.

The problem? He’s only done that twice in six weeks.

Still managed 34 points across six gameweeks despite playing over 70 minutes just three times, with zero clean sheets or attacking returns.

If you could guarantee minutes, he’d be massive.

Santiago Bueno (£5.80m) exploded for 24 points last week – 12 from a goal plus heaps of base points.

Similar minutes risk to Hugo, starting only twice.

The upside is huge if he nails down a spot.

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The Risky Guys

Quiindschy Hartman (£6.19m) offers great base stats, averaging 6.7 points per game, including all the points lost from Burnley’s leaky defense.

My worry? More games like the City hammering are coming.

At £6.19m, you need more security.

Maxim De Cuyper (£4.89m) had loads of preseason hype for his attacking potential rather than defensive solidity.

Got a goal on the weekend, but that accounted for 12 of his 14 points.

Would need a big uptick in attacking stats or clean sheets to justify the spot.

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Sven Botman (£6.46m) represents my dream scenario – access to Newcastle’s defense, looking like one of the tightest in the league.

But he comes with risk, only really playing when they go three at the back.

Was massive against Arsenal though, so maybe he starts more often and becomes a genuine bargain.

The Fallen Premiums

Milos Kerkez (£6.36m) has dropped £2.1m but is not picking up the stats he had last year.

Avoid for me.

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William Saliba (£6.51m) is down £1m due to a 5-minute appearance in week 3.

Also, only played the second half on the weekend.

He’s tempting with Arsenal’s upcoming run.

Won’t get the same points as Gabriel, but could see him averaging 7-9 points, making him undervalued.

The question: can he play Premier League and Champions League?

Nathan Collins (£5.74m) has crashed £2.5m thanks to shipping goals against Forest and Fulham (random teams…) and conceding a penalty against United (sorry Bruno owners).

I’m not buying with City and Liverpool in their next three, but one to add to the watchlist.

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Midfielders: Slim Pickings But Some Potential Gems

The Money Makers

Sean Longstaff (£6.56m) has a -20 breakeven, so he’s about to skyrocket in price, having gone up £2.5m last week.

Not bad base stats in the last four games he’s started, with only 16 of his 33 points coming from 1 goal and 1 assist.

He isn’t a long-term hold, but you might squeeze a couple million out of him – just might be banking another trade.

Daichi Kamada (£5.49m) is up £1.5m and scoring solidly around the 7-point mark without any attacking stats yet.

Won’t be a huge scorer, but should make money over time.

I’m interested.

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The High-Risk High-Reward Options

Jhon Arias (£4.56m) – Now we’re getting spicy.

Big signing for Wolves, but his minutes are being eased in as he gets used to English football.

But what a game against Spurs – 10 points without attacking stats, someone who gets back on defense to help out equals SuperCoach points.

Took 7 corners and got positive words from the coach.

I’m tempted, but so risky.

Mathias Jensen (£5.03m) – Ignore the juicy breakeven, he played 9 minutes on the weekend for that 12-pointer.

No thanks.

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The Fallen Premiums

Martin Ødegaard (£5.19m) is down £2.7m, and I won’t be rushing back.

Got 6 points for an assist, but still only 9.

Imagine without the assist.

Harvey Barnes (£4.32m) has dropped £3.7m due to poor minutes played.

I would need to see him start a few before launching, but so cheap for his ability.

Wait and see.

Rodri (£4.20m) – Highly owned, clearly underpriced, yet only gone up £450k with a top score of 5.

Averaged over 10 two years ago, so there is value there, but not showing it yet.

Wait and see for me.

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Making The Moves: My Current Plan

Unfortunately, Dewsbury-Hall to Arias doesn’t make me enough on top of Ballard to get anyone I’m desperate for.

So thinking maybe a fly at Saliba for points with Arsenal’s schedule and/or Longstaff to make some money for bigger moves later.

The Saliba play is purely for points – Arsenal’s fixtures turn golden, and even without the ceiling of Gabriel, he should tick over nicely.

Longstaff is the cash generation play – that breakeven is too juicy to ignore, even if I’m just holding for 2-3 weeks.

Remember: the deadline is Saturday 5am this week due to the Friday night fixture.

Don’t get caught sleeping on these moves.