Final Word Gameweek 24 | Supercoach EPL trades, captains, PODs

Hope you headed my advice on the Arsenal backline Playbookers!

I attempted to… And then Pep Guardiola decided not to start Foden and Haaland against the worst team in the Premier League.

That affected my team set-up and my score, but 90 in another wild week moves the Bolywood Bhoys a step closer to the Top 10% of owners.

Faith in Jarrod Bowen, despite my doubts last week have proved fruitful to the point where he seems a season-long hold from here. 

Rice was a disappointing captain, but he was playing for a disappointing team.

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Foden is the watch for a trade, but at this stage, I think he’s more likely to score big over the next month than any player at a comparable price – even if he is being rotated.

If you’re not a Szoboszlai owner, I would 100% encourage the move sideways, and may say the same about Jarrod Bowen, only because he’s the only midfield player playing as an attacker at the moment.

In the latter’s situation, I would encourage caution though – definitely need to be fixture targeting with a poor West Ham side.

The juggling act continues…

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Trade Plans

I wrote last week that Bryan Mbeumo would be a priority, but there’s now a choice between him and Bruno Fernandes and with the Portuguese midfielder playing in the #10 in a United team that finally looks to be firing – to the point they’re beginning to look fixture proof I think he’s the move I’ll have to make.

I’d still like to move in the Cameroon international at some stage in the near future as he solves the problem of too many Arsenal and City assets ahead of the empty Carabao and FA Cup gameweeks, and I think he will continue to score strongly.

I’m not yet willing to sacrifice more than one of my 10mil+ assets, which I would need to do to bring in both. So the Portuguese maestro wins out.

Bruno Guimaraes makes way – but it’s important to note that’s NOT because of the knock he picked up two weeks ago, which forced him to miss the loss to Aston Villa.

I expect him to be in the team to face Liverpool this weekend after travelling to Paris this week (albeit without playing).

It’s a simple case of thinking Bruno Fernandes will score more than he does for the remainder of the season, and with Gabriel and Declan Rice well placed, he is the most expendable of my high-priced assets.

I do still have pressing issues upfront, though – Nick Woltemade is out of favour at Newcastle & Jean-Phillipe Mateta wants to leave Palace, along with his manager Oliver Glasner.

Woltemade gives me more play money this week, and Mateta still looks likely to start until he does eventually depart, so we need to look for value upfront.

As much as Joao Pedro has been talked about, I’m happy to swing for the fences with a player I really believe in, and new manager Liam Rosenior seems to agree. 

Estevao is the risk this week, off the back of a goal and an assist against Crystal Palace on the weekend.

There’s a rotation risk, Joao or Neto are more reliable, but I’m due a big swing, and this guy is it – a nightmare for defenders in the way he runs with the ball, and I think critical for Chelsea when playing against set defences as they will against West Ham, Wolves, Leeds & Burnley over the next few weeks.

Morgan Rogers, who I was a long-time owner of, is the other option I’d be glancing at upfront with the worst part of Aston Villa’s fixture now behind them.

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Captaincy Plans

No loop potential for me this week, so we’re moving on face value.

Erling Haaland is still tempting even though he’s only scored once in his last 6 outings.

Given Tottenham’s form, but City’s record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since taking over isn’t great – to the point where they lost on 4 straight visits between 2019-2023, and while they’ve won on their last 2 trips, I’m still a little spooked.

The next best option is Bruno Fernandes particularly since we’re making the trade for him this week – I want maximum value heading into a game against a Fulham side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in 7 games.

United were irresistible at times against Arsenal – I’m hoping that they can follow that up again this weekend.

Gabriel on a trip to Leeds Utd is tempting, but Leeds’ home record this season just does enough to keep me away from taking that big swing.

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Molchiey’s GW24 Trades and Captains

Trades

IN: Bruno Fernandes, Estevao

OUT: Bruno Guimaraes, Woltemade

Captaincy

VC: Haaland

C: Fernandes