🔒 Here’s my Gameweek 17 Team

Transfers used: None
Rolled → 5 Free Transfers
Rank: 4,052
Captain: Haaland
Chip active: Triple Captain
Chips left: None

From 550k → 3,117 in 7 gameweeks

8 green arrows in a row 🔥

Didn't think I'd ever beat my 499th finish in the 23/24 FPL season but maybe it's possible.

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Merry Christmas to all! Wishing you a great one, and may the green arrows be with you! 💚

Reminder: FPL Deadline Today 18:30 PM UK Time

GW18 Community Discussion 👇

Today's Injury Updates:
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🔴Bradley and Gakpo could be involved this week, and their return is close.

🔫Havertz could return in as little as a few days, Gabriel still hasn't returned to training. Nothing new on Hincapie.

👿Amorim didn't give a timeframe for Bruno's return, but he's expected out for around a month.

🦅Richards should miss GW18, but is expected back for GW19.

⚫️Nick Pope is expected to be available for selection for Newcastle tonight.

🏡Harry Wilson took a 'big knock', but Silva hopes he can be available, although it looks like a 'wait and see' situation.

[LazyFPL]

Here's my Gameweek 18 team.

Rank: 3,117 🌍
Free Transfers: 5
Transfers: Bruno, Szoboszlai → Cunha, Wirtz
Captain: Haaland
Chips left: None

I used one of my five free transfers early on Bruno to Cunha. I also wanted to avoid starting Minteh in a tough fixture, especially as he would be facing my double defence. While Ekitike is tempting, he’s very expensive, not on penalties, I’m not keen on heavy investment in forwards and he would require two transfers.

With future midfield moves in mind (Bruno, Palmer), I’d rather keep funds there. Szoboszlai to Wirtz uses just one transfer and keeps flexibility, which I value highly. I’ll probably bring Szoboszlai back in next week too via Saka or Wirtz (one week punt). I’ll continue to ignore covering high ownership players until later in the season.

🚨 Gabriel is with the Arsenal squad ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Decision to be made tomorrow if he is on the official match day squad list.

🚨 Chiesa Starts ✅

🚨 Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie & Gabriel Magalhaes are with the Arsenal squad on their pre-match walk today. ✅👀

One thing that stood out to me this gameweek is how much managers undervalue their free transfers.

Many have already burned through their 5 AFCON transfers and even taken hits. This is a chaotic part of the season. Fixture congestion brings injuries, rotation and short turnarounds, so situations change fast.

Free transfers are your in-game currency. Spend them too cheaply and you lose flexibility. Patience keeps options open, improves decision making and allows you to make more rewarding moves when others can’t.

This gameweek is a real Analytics FC vs Grass FC moment for captaincy.

Haaland will top projected goals. But Cunha carries value across far more routes to points: higher assist probability, defensive contributions, a chance of a clean sheet point, an extra point per goal and stronger bonus potential.

Analytical models don’t just chase goals. They add up all of these factors, which is why Cunha projects higher points overall than Haaland, even if he’s less likely to score.

My captain will be Cunha.

Bruno Fernandes is already asking to return to training 😂

but Ruben Amorim says 'no chance' he is involved against Wolves

🚨 Declan Rice expected to miss Arsenal’s match against Aston Villa tonight after sustaining a knee injury in 2-1 victory over Brighton.

Last chance to take up the offer! 🙏

🚨 Timber is with the squad ✅

I'm seeing strong rumours that Keane is not in the Everton squad tonight.

https://x.com/efc_home/status/2006049665087676500?s=46