Final Word Week 19 | Supercoach EPL trades, captains, PODs

This game… After a week of excess and bathing in big performances, a week later, I come to you humbly – without one player scoring in double figures and a grand total of 46 GW18 points.

A shambles.

A drop of just over 1k and in the short term the look of a manager who has missed the boat on Ekitike, stuck for too long with Woltemade and been hamstrung (pardon the pun) by an injury to Calafiori – further worsened by the loss of his teammate Jurrien Timber – meaning a reliable sideways Arsenal move is also out of the picture.

How the tide turns.

All that after holding with captain Haaland for the first time in nearly a month, to be rewarded with a miserly 3 points – his worst return since Gameweek 2 against Spurs, while Ekitike captainers triumphed.

But, it is 1 week – it is in the past, and our average for the 4 prior to that was 126.

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Having said that, there are issues to address – most notably in the backline, where 1 of my trades will certainly be going this week.

I’ll discuss with you my conundrum in the forwards, where it is not Nick Woltemade on the chopping block.

Not this mid-week round anyway.

Unlike some of my esteemed (and higher-ranking colleagues) at SCPlaybook, I still have the luxury of 20 trades over the remaining 20 weeks of the season.

While I doubt I’ll be able to chase the top boys down, I’ve got 150 points to make up to finish in the top 2k overall (and catch my regular podcast colleague Matt Jurman).

It’s still achievable.

We’d have 3 weeks to go until Supercoach Finals Series if this were the NRL – We’re less than halfway through the Premier League.

Football is a fantasy sports marathon.

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Injuries at the back

Arsenal’s duo of Calafiori and Timber are under big injury clouds heading into the hectic period of Christmas/New Year…

This is a particular nuisance because, as Mikel Arteta’s preferred full-backs, one for the other in case of an injury would be an ideal move sideways that has been plucked away.

Fortunately, the straightforward replacement of Patrick Dorgu has emerged as a get-out card for those wanting to follow the pack and be near certain that he will take you to approx 11.5mil over the next 3 Gameweeks as a certain starter for United who face Wolves (H), Leeds (A) & Burnley (A) before either a move to Gabriel who should cement his place in the Arsenal team after returning from injury or if you held the Brazilian – a return to one of his defensive teammates and a small upgrade elsewhere in your midfield or forward line.

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I will be going for Dorgu but will be sticking solid with Calafiori as I’ve completely lost faith in Bournemouth and Marcos Senesi after a stinky run at the back, despite what was a decent 7-week stint in my side.

It could have been better, it could have been worse.

I’ll wait for news on Calafiori before moving on him.

Forward Foibles

There are a few of the big boys up front who are worth considering a move on this week. Relevant to the Bolywood Bhoys…

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Nick Woltemade (6.46mil)

There will be plenty that jump off this week – I can understand why.

Wissa is waiting in the wings, having been brought off the bench for him in the last two weeks, and 2 poor returns from his last 3 games.

I’m not encouraging anyone who isn’t an owner to jump on board at this juncture.

Here’s the counter as an owner as to why he’s a hold – he should have had a hat-trick against Chelsea, that game spoke to the outstanding goal-scoring positions the German puts himself in & while the performance against United was poor – they now face the uninspiring opposition of Burnley, Palace (who’s form has fallen off a cliff since Munoz’s injury) & Leeds.

Crucially, the latter 2 are at St James Park, where Woltemade has scored just shy of a goal a game since his move to the Magpies.

There are no better options out there at his price, and the best I can do with 1.2mil in the bank is Thiago, Joao Pedro, or Watkins.

My faith is staying with the German.

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Morgan Rogers (12.7mil)

I watched Pretty Woman this week, and there is a line in there somewhere about staying unemotional about business – Matheus Cunha (10mil) is the new face of Manchester United with Mbeumo on International Duty and Fernandes under a big, grey injury cloud.

That means penalties and responsibilities for the Brazilian ahead of a trip to his old club.

It also could mean more cash to get me to Gabriel, upgrade Woltemade in a week’s time, or capture the next big thing if I’m a week late, as I have been a few too many times this season.

Villa’s fixture goes – Arsenal (A), Forest (H), Palace (A), Everton (H).

It looks okay on paper – if you’ve watched their last 4 games as I have, you’ll know they’ve been fortunate – and if I’m the house, I might be inclined to think their luck is about to turn.

I’m not set yet, though.

Elsewhere…

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Igor Thiago (7.5mil) – played like Harry Kane on the weekend – dropping into midfield, providing for Kevin Schade, who was the beneficiary of a mercurial ball-playing performance.

Great for Brentford, but until Outtara returns, he might be asked to do that a little too much for my liking if I were an owner.

The price is dropping too, with a BE of 9 again this weekend ahead of Spurs (H), Everton (A), and Sunderland (H).

Particularly if you can get to Cunha (or even better, Ekitike) – make the move!

Trade Plans

Dorgu IN Senesi OUT

Deep in thought on Rogers to Cunha, but thinking less likely than more on Tuesday Morning.

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Captaincy

Tricks here with injury clouds over Szobozslai and Calafiori.

Szoboszlai, my looper, if he’s not fit for Leeds. Regardless, likely Foden holds the C against Sunderland – I like him ahead of Haaland here because of the relative inexperience the Black Cats have in wide areas with players at AFCON – I think the Mukiele-Alderete attention on the big Norwegian might create space for teammates.

Dorgu VC at this point – that may go to Cunha if I make the trade.

VC: Dorgu

C: Foden