Fantasy Premier League

FPL experts' squad: Kelly in as Vardy keeps the armband

By The Scout 13 Dec 2019
Martin Kelly, Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace defender replaces Benjamin Mendy as we check in on what The Scout's Panel of experts are doing in Gameweek 17

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Wondering what to do with your Fantasy Premier League ahead of Gameweek 17? Well, the FPL experts have made a move in defence. 

They have used one of their two free transfers, replacing Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) with Martin Kelly (£4.3m).

A graphic of the FPL experts panel team for Gameweek 17: Henderson; Lundstram, Alexander-Arnold, Soyuncu; Grealish, De Bruyne, Tielemans, Mane; Jimenez, Vardy, Abraham. Subs: Gazzaniga, Kelly, Dendoncker, Rico

Kelly joins the FPL Experts Panel Team after helping Crystal Palace to three successive clean sheets ahead of Monday's home match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

And his schedule looks encouraging for further defensive returns. According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of the Eagles' next five matches score only two.

The experts roll their second free transfer as they plan ahead for Gameweek 18 when Liverpool and West Ham United both blank.

The Reds' participation in the FIFA Club World Cup means their match against the Hammers has been postponed.

This week's transfer also increases their money in the bank to £1.8m.

Vardy over Mane

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) retains the captain's armband for Leicester City's home encounter with Norwich City.

The Foxes forward has scored in the last eight Gameweeks, totalling 11 goals and three assists in that run. 

Sadio Mane (£12.3m) is handed the vice-captaincy for the visit of Watford. The Liverpool winger matched his season-high haul of 15 points in his previous home appearance. 

Tammy Abraham (£7.9m) could also bring in a big haul for the experts at home to AFC Bournemouth. The Chelsea forward has scored in his last two Stamford Bridge appearances, accumulating 20 points. 

FPL Cup

The Panel Team qualified for the FPL Cup and will face Randi Ricca's "NuMBeR OnE FC" in the first round.

In Gameweek 16 Manchester City fan Randi captained Harry Kane (£10.9m) for a 32-point haul. With Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) lining-up for the experts, Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers could have a big bearing on the outcome of this tie.

What the experts say

Holly Shand (@FFCommunity_): Mendy out is a no-brainer given the state of the Man City defence right now. Getting Kelly frees up valuable funds and we have flexibility for Liverpool's blank Gameweek 18 with two free transfers.

Ash (@FPLHints): Kelly for Mendy makes perfect sense. The Palace defender has a good run of fixtures and we can use the extra cash to improve other areas of our team.

Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily): Mendy has been really disappointing. Kelly looks a good option. Serge Aurier (£5.0m) could have been a great replacement, too. He's far more attacking under Jose Mourinho and I expect clean sheets from Spurs over their next few fixtures.

Mark McGettigan (@FPLGeneral): Having two free transfers for Gameweek 18 is a good idea with so many unknowns, particularly the players currently on four yellow cards.

Chuck Booth (@ChuckBoothSport): Moving Mendy to Kelly means that the budget defence is officially on. Aurier was considered but this move will allow major upgrades in the midfield sooner rather than later.

Ben McNair (@drbenmcnair): John Lundstram (£5.1m) and Jack Grealish (£6.1m) are one yellow card away from a ban, while Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.3m) have no fixture in Gameweek 18. Saving a free transfer will give us the best chance of fielding 11 players next week. Mendy's been sharing minutes with Angelino (£4.7m) and now Oleksandr Zinchenko's (£5.2m) return from injury adds an even greater rotation threat.

Can you do better?

Managers who want to take on the panel should enter the private classic league "Beat the FPL Panel".

Join: FPL Panel mini-league (insert code: 3hdr4s).

Remember to select your Gameweek 17 team before the Saturday deadline of 11:30 GMT.

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