Final Word Gameweek 28 | Supercoach EPL trades, captains, PODs

Back to the battleground – a low-scoring weekend left the Bolywood Bhoys with 86, ending a 4-week run of triple-figure scores – dropping the overall ranking 80 spots and, more importantly, seeing us fall to Matt Jurman in a H2H.

Time to regather ourselves for one more run – 11 games to go – trades down to 9, and knowing the blank gameweek is ahead.

Particularly heartbreaking to watch Viktor Gyokores score a brace against Spurs after his non-return and my decision to trade him last weekend, but the move was always going to happen if he didn’t score against two teams where there was ample opportunity.

One thing that has bedded in is the importance of targeting teams playing against Tottenham on the run-in – as discussed on the podcast – I think they’re the lowest performing team in the competition at the moment – it’s going to take 4 weeks for new manager Igor Tudor to bed down a new formation as he looks set on doing – so late in the season.

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On the chopping block for the final quarter of the season – Foden heavily, heavily rotated, but I’m reluctant to trade yet, given 1) their run for the next three weeks is as soft as it gets, you’ll need to be awake for team-lists to make the hold worthwhile though. 2) The player I’d like to move to Emi Buendia is still under heavy rotation threat from the likes of Barkley, Sancho & even Abraham.

(Side Note – Villa are going to finish this season strong – mark my words – but just who is making up the team each week is up in the air – aside from Matty Cash & Morgan Rogers).

Saliba and Raya are likely the others to go – not because I don’t still trust Arsenal’s defence – but I certainly don’t trust it to the extent I did two months ago, and ultimately Gabriel & Rice are the more consistent scorers.

Cole Palmer would be out this week if I had the trades, but while he’s playing, I can’t justify a trade when I already own Fernandes, Rice & Szoboszlai.

I may think about re-investing some in defence after the blank gameweek, but it’s not part of my immediate planning.

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Map to Gameweek 31

I still hold 4 Arsenal assets and 3 from City – the way I’m sitting, I need to clear 3 of them in Total over the next 3 weeks to ensure I have 11 players ready for GW31.

That means 11 fit starters & we re-assess again before the FA Cup blanks late in the season.

So the 3 mentioned above look to be moved aside… but not yet.

Aside from Foden, none are rotation risks & Arsenal did look an improved side against Spurs.

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Trade Plans

My view is further forward this week – and after discussing last week with Niko & this week with Matty, how soft Brentford’s run-in is (at least until they visit United in GW34) – Igor Thiago is back at the top of my shopping list.

He scored a brace against Burnley in their earlier meeting and has a goal and an assist in the two games (1 in the league, 1 in the EFL Cup) where Brentford have met Bournemouth already this season.

Estevao’s return to Brazil came at a really inopportune moment during the season and meant he hasn’t been able to break into the first team.

I’m sure he’ll be featuring in the season previews for next season, though – if he doesn’t burst through with a goal and an assist in 3 weeks time against Newcastle.

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Captaincy Thoughts

No loop this week with no players in either of the Friday or Saturday early kick-offs, so it’s a straight toss-up between Bruno Fernandes and Erling Haaland – the City centre-forward has looked improved over the past couple of weeks and scored twice on his only previous visit to Elland Road a few seasons ago.

Fernandes and United looked a little sluggish against Everton on Tuesday Morning but were professional enough to come away with a result anyway.

More than happy to stick the VC next to the Portuguese maestro, just in case Haaland is rested.

Palmer against Arsenal is a no-go, and Szoboszlai continues to score but also continues to be utilised by Arne Slot as a right-back.

Arsenal’s recent dip at the back means I’m not going back to the well with Gabriel just yet, either.

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Trades/Captaincy

Thiago IN

Estevao OUT

Captaincy

VC: Fernandes

C: Haaland