Pro Pundits

FPL Gameweek 22 opinion: Time to Triple Captain Rashford?

Throughout the 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, our team of Pro Pundits, Hall of Famers and guest contributors will be sharing their thoughts, tips and own transfer plans.

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Here, five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman tackles some of Gameweek 22’s hottest topics.

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SALAH’S FORM

Mohamed Salah (£12.8m) has now blanked in four straight matches, a period that has seen Liverpool score just three goals.

No Reds player has accrued more minutes (450) than the Egyptian since the Premier League resumed in Gameweek 17, yet he is averaging just 4.2 points per match.

There has been a notable drop-off in the number of shots he is taking, too, which also extends to his rate of non-penalty xG (NPxG).

  • GW17-21: 2.00 shots / 0.39 NPxG
  • GW1-16: 3.65 shots / 0.51 NPxG
  • 2021/22: 4.51 shots / 0.62 NPxG

(all stats per 90 minutes)

Above: Mohamed Salah’s shot map (shots on target in green) since the Premier League resumed

Five games is too small a sample to draw any lasting conclusions, but Salah and Liverpool are undoubtedly in a bit of a slump.

The returns of Diogo Jota (£8.8m), Roberto Firmino (£8.0m) and Luis Diaz (£7.8m) should help, plus more training time for Cody Gakpo (£7.9m), but for now, transferring Salah out for Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m) is an option I’m strongly considering if Man Utd double in Gameweek 22.

RASHFORD TRIPLE CAPTAIN?

With five post-World Cup goals in six Premier League games, Marcus Rashford (£7.2m) is officially back.

From Gameweek 17 onwards, he is averaging 8.2 points per match, a figure only beaten by Solly March (£5.1m, 9.2) and Kieran Trippier (£6.0m, 9.0).

His rate of 3.15 shots/0.61 NPxG per 90 minutes offers further encouragement, but for those of you – including myself – who haven’t already used the Triple Captain chip, is he a viable option if Man Utd do get their double?

Firstly, Rashford is clearly in a very good moment and looks back to his best in Erik ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1.

“Marcus is doing really well but also [important] is the team to get the right shape so he can bring his strengths in and then he’s unstoppable with his speed, with his dribbles, with his directness.” – Erik ten Hag 

“I believe when Marcus’ positioning is on the back of the defending line, there is almost no better player in the world.” – Erik ten Hag

Rashford might not be on penalties, which I do like my Triple Captains to have in their locker, but all in all, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

So, I have no problem with Rashford himself, but will he play both games?

Ten Hag hasn’t tended to rotate his line-ups too much up until now, but Man Utd are about to enter a period of fixture congestion:

  • Wednesday 25 January: Nottingham Forest (a) – League Cup
  • Saturday 28 January: Reading (h) – FA Cup
  • Wednesday 1 February: Nottingham Forest (h) – League Cup
  • Saturday 4 February: Crystal Palace (h) – Gameweek 22
  • Wednesday 8 February: Leeds United (h) – Gameweek 22*
  • Sunday 12 February: Leeds United (a) – Gameweek 23
  • Thursday 16 February: Barcelona (a) – Europa League

*This match will only go ahead if neither Man Utd/Leeds need FA Cup fourth-round replays

In an ideal scenario, Rashford will sit out one of the next three cup ties, which would boost his expected minutes in Gameweek 22. However, even if that doesn’t come to fruition, a Saturday-Wednesday-Sunday turnaround of league games isn’t the worst.

Now, let’s take a look at the opposition.



195 Comments Post a Comment
  1. slashjb007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    H2H vs co-top of my FPL $ League (only one that matters). I lead on pts and have all my chips left. He has none left. Do I play a chip to ensure victory with so long to go in season? My only other matchup with him is final GW

  2. Bobby Digital
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    So question is:

    Which is better for TC?

    A. Rashford (CRY LEE)
    B. Haaland (AVL ars)
    C. Future DGW

    1. BUZZBOMB ♡
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Well clearly the poll says C

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        It's close though

    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A.

    3. Olaf Sabres
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Fernandez DGW22

  3. RICICLE
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Hi guys, some early thoughts here on who would you bench here guys for next GW? Maybe for Gnonto if got the double?

    Kepa
    Trippier - Shaw - Schär
    Saka - March - Rashford - KDB - Odegaard
    Haaland - Kane
    ___________________________________
    Ederson: Gnonto: White: Aurier

    1FT, 0.2 ITB

    Got KDB > Bruno pencilled in but obviously just waiting until nearer the time.

    Help most appreciated, cheers chaps!

    1. Fellaini's Fro
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Has to be March for gnonto, unless you fancy benching Kane

      1. RICICLE
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers bud! Yeah it’s hard to bench Kane, other than that March against BOU, which will be scary haha!

  4. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Carabao Cup Team News
    ManU Team to play Notts Forest:
    De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Weghorst

    Nottingham Forest Team to play Manchester United:
    Hennessey, Aurier, Worrall, McKenna, Lodi, Freuler, Scarpa, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Johnson, Surridge

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Boy, do I hate this cup competition (each nation only needs one domestic cup comp), but it would be nice to grab some silverware this year.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Shaw rested?!

      1. ClassiX
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Think so. He's not on the bench, either.

  5. Bartowski
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Score prediction for Forest Man U?

    Have a feeling it's going to be 1-1 personally.

    1. JBG
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      0-2

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      1-2

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      1-2

  6. CrouchDown
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Any info on Shaw?

    1. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Illness according to Ten Hag.

  7. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Is Gnonto a strong pick for DGW22 if it happens or meh? Is Toney (h) to Southampton a better choice?

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Or Nketiah better than both?

      1. Fellaini's Fro
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        All three are excellent choices

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Who do you have atm, or are you on a wildcard?

        1. Count of Monte Hristo
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Not on wildcard. Mitrovic currently but not enjoying owning him.

          1. Ze_Austin
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Okay, this means the next buy can be one that's an easy mid to long term hold, and I think that's Nketiah. Love his stats, form, positioning and confidence level

            FTs can focus elsewhere after. I like Nketiah vs Everton next, then a host of good fixtures and a DGW before Jesus returns

    2. space mercenary
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I'm actually swapping Tony for Nketiah for 22. Arsenal just score more and he is getting better every game. Still no Jesus for a while either.

  8. Steevo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Best option? Considering different routes to Fernandes/Odegaard & currently on C.

    A) KDB(tot) + Gnoto(nfo, mun, MUN)
    B) Kane(MCI, bou) + Almiron(WHU)
    C) Kane(MCI, bou) + Odegaard(eve)

    1. Big Mike
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Bit confused with your options b and c - just checked the schedule and Spurs don't have a double game week. Spurs don't play Bournemouth till game week 31. So it's A) for me.

  9. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    anyone looking at Anthony for the DGW? Kulu ~> him as a 1 week punt before turning to Odegaard? Or just go straight to Odegaard?

    1. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Odegaard faces relegation-battling leaky Everton before facing two better defences in his DGW

      Antony hasn't benefited much in his stats or form from Man U's many decent displays, so I'm not sure having a DGW will change that. It's like keeping Salah for a DGW right now

      I'd go straight to the form guy with a good fixture, so it's Odegaard for me

  10. Jimjam
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Which is the better pairing?

    (A) KDB & Nketiah
    (B) Saka & Kane