FPLRunningPharmacist

A longggg never-ending gameweek 21, with us unable to do anything to our team other than wait. So while waiting, hope you can give this @fplchasing Podcast Episode a watch! Last month I recorded a chat session with Ben, a very different chat from the usual week to week Podcast I do with @tgn_fpl. It's about looking at #FPL in a different perspective, a more mental, humane side I would say.. Thanks Ben for the "philosophical mastermind" label, I would say I am just a normal FPL manager who sometimes think too much! He also said, "If you're not a better FPL manager after this conversation I'll eat my hat!" Hmm.. I don't know about that, I always feel awkward rewatching myself speaking, so you tell me what you think after watching! Hope Ben doesn't have to eat a lot of hats! 🎩🥶 Anyways, I had lots of fun sharing my experience and hope you guys have fun watching it too! Appreciate any like, share, and support given. Also please follow the YouTube channel! I find it a very interesting and unique Pod, as every week he chats with different content creators about hidden aspects of FPL. #FPL #FPLCommunity

@officialJoecool Yup remember i mentioned i picked based on vibes, rather than purposely avoiding the template… so there is no intentionally going different unfortunately, which is why i mentioned from the start i contributed nothing to helping people pick their team.

@FPL_Runpharm Bro, outside of Gibbs white this is a template team 😂 more than half the FH managers have 90% of these players. If you really wanna go differential Xavi should be Sarr, Solanke should be Brobbey, Gabriel should be heaven... Now that's going different. 😂

FH34, almost every engaged manager I know is on it. Which means you’ve got two choices, play it safe and follow the template, or go your own way and back your one-week calls, regardless of ownership or popular opinion. If you know me… you already know which route I’m taking. So if you’re looking for “optimal” picks, this post won’t help you at all 😅 Because this week, I’m going full vibes picks. First name on the sheet: MGW. A hattrick to save my GW33? There’s no way I’m dropping him now. Second: Bruno. Probably the most in-form player in the game right now. Third: Salah. Final stretch to honour the king, All the memories, all the past hauls.. Then I looked at the big teams: Arsenal, United, Liverpool. Despite being a Newcastle fan, Arsenal just gave me the best feeling defensively. Rice… I don’t know what it is. Maybe the “it’s not done” moment. I get it’s more of a PR stunt, but I bought into it. So I’m going Gabriel, Saliba, and Rice. No Raya though. Why? Because when else do you get the chance to pick the cheapest starting GK this week, who also happens to be former Newcastle wonderkid? So I took Freddie Woodman instead. And if I’m doing that… I might as well back Van Dijk for a CS too. That’s 8 players locked. Still left with Spurs, Sunderland, Villa, Fulham, West Ham, Everton… While a lot of people are hoping Spurs collapse… I actually want them to do well, and smash Wolves. Xavi Simons gave me good vibes, Porro too. I need a striker in the 4-5-1 system, so why not Solanke? Captain? Probably Bruno or Salah. I’ll decide closer to deadline… So don’t ask me why I picked this player or ignored that one… Because this GW, I’m not trying to justify anything. Just vibes. Not the best way to play FPL but honestly… I’m loving it. #FPL #FPLCommunity

@FplCrisis Hmm like i say i just picked based on vibes… rather than looking at defcon date 🤣 this gw i am just a casual player

@FPL_Runpharm Some good food for thought and glad there’s no blue in this FH team! VVD has missed defcon in 7 of last 10 at home, have you considered Frimpong for the Hail Mary goal and could bank CS assuming he comes off 60-70

@Fplrotation Thanks, lots of luck needed

@FPL_Runpharm Just vibes is exactly how Spurs have played football this season. Good luck 🙏

@FPLPapa Yeah if the end product turned out that way, then you can labelled it that way too.. i have no problem with that…

@FPL_Runpharm Wow All that when you could have said I’m going same as everyone just swapping template bowan for MGW which changes formation Other than that it’s template

@lentildahlmash You sure love your couples

@FPL_Runpharm Couple defconners. Couple highly owned. Couple goal scorers. Couple punts. Easy

FH34 might look like one of the most “template-heavy” GW of the season… but I’m not sure it’s as straightforward as it seems. 14 teams and 7 fixtures, which means a smaller pool of players to choose, but still plenty of room for different interpretations. -On paper, Spurs away to Wolves looks like the standout. But this is a team that hasn’t won in like forever… are we really that confident going triple Spurs? -Bruno will likely be in every team, but Brentford are still pushing for Europe. Is there really space for 2–3 United? -Arsenal has strong defensive appeal, but we’ve also seen them bottled it before, a few time now. Do we trust the attack as well, now that they actually need goals? -Palace might have Europe in mind, doesn't change the fact that they have a strong defence. Liverpool haven’t exactly been free-scoring either. -Sunderland is tough to beat, and Forest are fighting for survival. Could go either way. -Same for West Ham vs Everton, both needed the points for different reasons. -Fulham vs Villa, with interesting attackers from both sides, could be a complete goal fest. So the more I look at it, the more I feel this isn’t a GW to blindly follow a template. Yes, the pool is smaller, but it’s still big enough for completely different interpretations. You can build narratives for almost every match. FH doesn’t just mean you’re “free” from taking minus points… It also should mean you’re free from the constraints of herd thinking. Build your own draft first, based on how you think these games will play out. Back your own reasoning. Then if you really need to listen, or use models, by all means do it. But use them to compare, use them to see what you missed out. Don't assume that because everyone FH and there is a template, it's impossible to use this GW to gain rank, every pick is a possibility! #FPL #FPLCommunity

@rodge_____ Sure mate… i hope we do well

@FPL_Runpharm You talk in ”we terms” - play your own game!

@andykasp Yup… it’s just became a good bb team without able to activate the bb 🤣

@FPL_Runpharm And then Henderson & Ricchard CS too 🤭

This is not something I usually do… a mid-GW review. But this GW has been a bit of a rollercoaster, so just wanted to share the thought process (and chaos) behind it. After deciding NOT to wildcard in GW32 (which thankfully worked out), I came into GW33 fully expecting to get hit hard by those who WC32 + BB33. So when I hit my WC this week, I knew one thing, it couldn’t just be the same template everyone use in 32. Yes, I targeted DGW33 players… but I also deliberately brought in single GW players with strong fixtures and form: MGW, Bruno, Thiago, Rogers. The thinking was simple: if I can’t BB this week, I might as well maximize quality in the XI. I also made future plans with carrying 2 Palace players on the bench (Henderson & Richards), planning ahead for GW36 double. And just for a slight edge, I went Cherki over the more popular Semenyo. Then came the hardest part… the benching headache. MGW was brought in specifically for Burnley, so he starts. Bruno's form can't be ignored, so he starts. That left Thiago and Rogers… and the temptation to squeeze in one more single GW player meant I started Thiago, benching Rogers (and Justin with the double, I am out of my mind!). We all know what happened next. Justin goes absolutely rogue. What a start to the GW! Thiago blanks. Rogers returns. Another wrong choice. Ouch. But then… somehow… things flipped. MGW scores his first ever hattrick (what are the odds?!), and Cherki edges the Semenyo battle. Just like that, the damage was softened. So here I am, somehow still doing alright halfway… even though the second fixtures for doublers could still swing everything. From choosing when to WC, to building the WC, to the benching calls...this week has been pure chaos. But honestly, I’m enjoying the ride on the road less taken. Call it luck, call it variance… but I am truly grateful, this is the magic of FPL. #FPL #FPLCommunity

@FPL_BOS Yea am a big fan of both players as well… starting Justin would be great but.. i don’t wanna dwell on it… sometimes you win some you lose some 😅

@FPL_Runpharm Some great calls with MGW and Cherki, very unlucky not to start Justin 👏👏

@FPLGee Oh that’s a huge make or break thing…. Hope your prayer comes true

@FPL_Runpharm I am praying Joao Pedro misses the Brighton game. Praying. This could make or break my season. MGW is seated 1st on my bench 🫠

@norway_fpl Thank you, you too!!

@FPL_Runpharm Looks great, good luck!

With all 4 chips still intact I’ve decided to go down the road less taken... NO WC32, just a simple Ekitike >> Bowen move and backing the team for this GW. The starting 11 looks solid enough despite the obvious lack of bench cover. The plan is clear: WC33, FH34, BB35, TC36. Taking on the wildcarders this GW with double Brentford at home, double Fulham against an off-form Liverpool side with one eye on Europe, Rogers vs Forest, Bowen at home to Wolves, and Alderete at home… #FPL #FPLCommunity

@FplTiggy Yup good one

@FPL_Runpharm I stuck with my plan to BB. You are 100% correct Protect your peace. If I get Big red Arrow then I am ok If I get Green Arrow then great

Don’t underestimate the power of Twitter. If you’re still undecided about TC Gabriel in DGW26, log off now. Yes,NOW. No matter how hard it is. There are other ways to get team news and press conference updates. Don’t use “I need updates” as an excuse to keep scrolling. Knowing the algorithm, the more you read about TC Gabriel, the more you’ll be fed on similar takes. Before you know it, you’ll think the entire world is TC-ing him! You might think you’re mentally strong enough to resist. But once your mind is flooded with different opinions and narratives, subconsciously, you’re already compromised. Protect your initial decision. Protect your peace. Not long to go till deadline. #FPL #FPLCommunity

@FPL_Pages Yea which makes it even better coz if didn’t sell Keane i would have gotten 1 point, rather than having Andersen autosub in. That would be sad

@FPL_Runpharm Hate to break it to you but Keane was subbed on 90+3

The initial plan was to roll, since I only have 1 FT and already tripled up on Arsenal. 2 hours before deadline, I had a hunch that Keane might not be starting (and I dont like starting Andersen away to City or Rodon away to Chelsea). So I sold Keane and bought Hill. The plan was not to get an instant impact, because Bournemouth will probably concede anyways. But from 27-31, I will have a defender with good fixtures and high probability for defcon, plus extra 💰 to spend too. Then Keane really didn’t start. Then Hill got an assist. Then 2 bonus. Those are really pleasant surprises. And as usual, defcon. Appreciate small moments like this. I don’t have Palmer or Pedro or Mbeumo, so naturally the rank drops, but I am just grateful I had that hunch. #FPL #FPLCommunity

@TehTarikFPL I think Thiaw is fine after the City game, probably just bench him for a week

@FPL_Runpharm Best Thiaw replacement next gw?

@geoffreytahir Nope, just normal cap

@FPL_Runpharm Are you TC Gabriel this week mate?