Welcome back to the Hive FPL head to head blog.
We are very much into the final stages of the season and so the emphasis on these posts will switch to focus on matches that will define the relegation battle in Division 1 and promotion fight from Division 2.
We might include some of the key matches at the top of Division 1 too but only if Shamzy FC continue to drop points (they've lost their last 2) and someone else finds some more consistent form to close the substantial gap that still exists between them and 2nd place.
A late Cole Palmer double will have defined some managers game weeks. The Chelsea midfielder is now on 16 goals and 9 assists for the season and if you are still one of the 52% of teams without him in the squad then it probably suggests you've not been paying much attention over recent months.
Elsewhere, other popular picks including Saka and Haaland were rested for GW31 leaving many managers relying on the strength of their benches and indeed vice-captains to get points on the board.
With GW32 coming round very quickly and the return of European football next week for several Premier League sides then expect rotation to continue to be a factor requiring consideration between now and the close of the season.
In general GW32 looks like a tough one for managers to navigate. The top 3 of Liverpool, Arsenal and City all face potentially tough away fixtures this weekend at United, Brighton and Palace respectively.
The likes of Villa at home to Brentford and Spurs entertaining Forest might be where managers look to bring in point scoring differentials but the form of those 2 sides is not quite as consistent as the teams above them and Villa look likely to be without their main attacking threat in Ollie Watkins for at least this week.
Alternatively, managers could look towards some of the key clashes at the bottom of the league this weekend. Sean Dyche has the opportunity to nail another stake into former club Burnley's coffin and simultaneously take Everton one step closer to safety. I guess the big question is, who would you pick from that Everton side to get you points?
If goals are what you're looking for then Fulham v Newcastle might be a good bet. Fulham have scored in their last 9 Premier League fixtures but have only kept 2 clean sheets in that same period. While for Newcastle you have to go all the way back to December for the last Premier League match they didn't score in. During the same time, they've conceded at over 2.5 goals a game in the league. This wasn't doesn't have nil nil written on it...
Or how about Luton vs Bournemouth? We know that Luton will have a go and very few teams have come away from Kenilworth road with a clean sheet but time is running out for the smallest club in the Premier League to convert their efforts in to a run of points.
GW31 Results
Prizes for winners of last week's head to head matches will be sent soon.
Division 1
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legion Fc | @b0s | 59 | 39 | Shamzy FC | @shamzy |
| Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt | 67 | 41 | thoth442FC | @thoth442 |
| Content Creators | @Pvmihalache | 40 | 39 | YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 |
| Izanagi FC | @belemo | 64 | 42 | The Amirians | @amirtheawesome1 |
| I Feel Qatari | @deniskj | 66 | 80 | Augment Fc | @vickoly |
| Espada Numero Uno | @elmose | 59 | 44 | @BlockchainFPL | @blockchainFPL |
| Lazz | @Martinlazizi | 51 | 57 | Likodra FC | @teofilex11 |
| Hungry Lions | @GvKanten | 41 | 60 | Hiveheadz | @borran |
| Creekside FC | @pappyelblanco | 60 | 36 | Nonz FC | @nonsowrites |
| WhyteFC | @Ipalibo | 56 | 59 | FC McKane | @McKane |
Division 2
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folox fc | @thelonegreywolf | 82 | 57 | Mount Everest | @khaleesii |
| The inferno Squad | @jimah1k | 29 | 43 | SOLAT | @reservedsingle |
| Stevenson FC | @stevenson7 | 38 | 74 | Samostically | @samostically |
| Lens world fc | @Lensworld | 26 | 33 | Stevelight (Herbae) | @Herbae |
| Tengo Rangers FC | @tengolotodo | 51 | 49 | Rosh FC | @officialrosh1 |
| Twycejoy | @twicejoy | 60 | 89 | Apples and Pears | @stuartcturnbull |
| Uwabbs Fc | @uwabbs001 | 47 | 36 | Satoshi99 | @kraken99 |
| AVERAGE | n/a | 46 | 42 | EVIAN CF | @nasfyneboy92 |
| Stom FC | @stomade | 76 | 54 | HighWay2Anfield | @kenechukwu97 |
| Hivetastic | @acidyo | 40 | 43 | MUFC | @tiyumtaba |
| Skander TN | @skanderh | 36 | 29 | Michupa Brasil F.C. | @michupa |
| rubilu | @rubilu | 43 | 54 | Simcard fpl | @akomoajong |
| George Of D Jungle | @George-dee | 23 | 17 | Happy Fc | @Happy411 |
| Emeka4 | @Emeka4 | 14 | 50 | Tequeños United | @aaalviarez |
| abu78 | @abu78 | 9 | 65 | Unbothered | @Dapomolaaaa |
| BLAngechys Matildas | @blanchy | 31 | 47 | Formidable Milano | @Damolexy |
| racibo | @racibo | 33 | 66 | Roboski | @Gentleshaid |
| HappyBoys FC | @Happyboy1 | 33 | 45 | The Beast | @iamchuks |
| legaliza | @legalizabrazil | 36 | 59 | RHYDA1 | @rhyda1 |
| Testing FC | @sperosamuel15 | 54 | 63 | valchiz fc | @valchiz |
| Yahuzah | @yahuzah | 70 | 38 | Diistroyers | @diikaan |
| Smiley Team | @carita-feliz | 41 | 45 | Beyond Horizon | @beyondhorizonmm |
| adedayoolumide | @adedayoolumide | 30 | 33 | Praiz Empire | @praizking |
Key fixtures in Division 1
@talesfrmthecrypt v @pvmihalache
Both teams got invaluable wins in GW31. For Suffragette City, that's 3 in a row, a run that has moved them out of the relegation zone but not very far away from it. In fact, many of the sides around the relegation zone are showing good late season form making the battle to stay up even more intriguing as they look likely to pull some of the sides that were looking comfortable in midtable into the scrap for survival.
In that regard, Content Creators are just keeping their head above the water with 2 wins in their last 3 matches but this and indeed every match from now on becomes a must win for them if they are to make a late bid to stay in the top flight.
Injuries are the primary concern of Content Creators at the moment which is contributing to the fact that they only have a single differential in defence and no available goalkeeper. Suffragette City's option at keeper aren't the best either with Dubravka in goal while both teams will also need to consider a replacement for Watkins.
In midfield, Content Creators will be hoping for Douglaus Luiz to continue his good home form this season. The Brazilian has 9 Premier League goals to date, all coming at Villa Park. Otherwise you'd say that Suffragette City probably have the stronger options in that department assuming that Saka starts against Brighton and that Foden doesn't get rested against Palace.
Up front and Haaland will be keen to get his goal scoring form back for the run-in. I mentioned Semenyo in last week's blog as a player to watch and the Luton vs Bournemouth fixture could well be one where points are won for either him or strike partner Solanke.
@belemo vs @shamzy
Inzanagi FC's rivals at the bottom of the league might be looking at this GW as a chance to put to get 3 points away from them. However, ShamzyFC have lost their last 2 also coming against relegation threatened teams (Legion FC and Suffragette City) so this one is no certainty.
Both these teams ended up without the double points bonus of a captain in GW31 due their choices for both captain and vice captain not featuring at all. Inzanagi didn't pretty well in that regard to record 68 points anyway but they'll want to ensure the armband counts in this crucial game.
As for differentials, this looks likely to be a close fought game. Both sides have Spurs full-backs and both Arsenal defenders. Doughty and Luton have a crunch game at home to Bournemouth while Estupinan and Brighton entertain title chasing Arsenal. Neither full-back looks likely to get a clean sheet bonus out of those fixtures so points going forward will be key.
In midfield, Inzanagi certainly have the bigger names but Shamzy FC can benefit from all 3 of their differentials enjoying home advantage. Up front we wait to see whether Shamzy FC will opt to bring in a replacement for Watkins while Muniz and Fulham at home to a shaky Newcastle defence looks like a good opportunity for points from a budget player.
Key fixtures in Division 2
@herbae (7th) v @iamchuks (9th)
These 2 sides are currently sitting just outside the promotion places in 7th and 9th respectively but a win in this match would certainly boost their chances of going up.
The Beast have a variety of injury concerns to overcome including doubts over the fitness of both their keepers. They've opted to go heavy on the high price centre backs with VVD, Saliba and Romero in the team while in midfield, Bentancur and Chong certainly provide unique differentials. The former has just 4000 or so owners while the later is in only 0.3% of squads.
Herbae have gone heavy on Chelsea players and away to Sheffield United that might prove a good fixture for them but they are far too inconsistent to say for sure. Like most managers, they'll be hoping for a better return from the expensive Salah in his trip to Manchester on Sunday.
@uwabbs001 (2nd) v @sperosamuel15 (10th)
Currently sitting 10 points clear of 6th place, Uwabbs FC could all but guarantee promotion with a victory in GW32 and potentially make a late charge for the title with Skander TN slipping up in recent weeks.
However, they'll need to overcome a Testing FC side that still have their own ambitions of going up this season sitting as they are just 5 points off the promotion spots with 7 matches to play.
There is not a huge amount to choose between the 2 sides. Upfront, Uwabbs have the inform Isak who has scored in his last 4 games vs Ivan Toney who by contrast hasn't scored in his last 7 matches. Elsewhere, Testing FC opted for Odegaard over Saka who Uwabbs will be keen to see back in the Arsenal starting XI.
GW32 Fixtures
Division 1
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonz FC | @nonsowrites | v | Legion Fc | @b0s |
| Hiveheadz | @borran | v | FC McKane | @McKane |
| Likodra FC | @teofilex11 | v | WhyteFC | @Ipalibo |
| @BlockchainFPL | @blockchainFPL | v | Creekside FC | @pappyelblanco |
| Augment Fc | @vickoly | v | Hungry Lions | @GvKanten |
| The Amirians | @amirtheawesome1 | v | Lazz | @Martinlazizi |
| YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 | v | Espada Numero Uno | @elmose |
| thoth442FC | @thoth442 | v | I Feel Qatari | @deniskj |
| Shamzy FC | @shamzy | v | Izanagi FC | @belemo |
| Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt | v | Content Creators | @Pvmihalache |
Division 2
| Team | Hive Account | Team | Hive Account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folox fc | @thelonegreywolf | v | Michupa Brasil F.C. | @michupa |
| MUFC | @tiyumtaba | v | Simcard fpl | @akomoajong |
| HighWay2Anfield | @kenechukwu97 | v | Happy Fc | @Happy411 |
| EVIAN CF | @nasfyneboy92 | v | Tequeños United | @aaalviarez |
| Satoshi99 | @kraken99 | v | Unbothered | @Dapomolaaaa |
| Apples and Pears | @stuartcturnbull | v | Formidable Milano | @Damolexy |
| Rosh FC | @officialrosh1 | v | Roboski | @Gentleshaid |
| Stevelight (Herbae) | @Herbae | v | The Beast | @iamchuks |
| Samostically | @samostically | v | RHYDA1 | @rhyda1 |
| SOLAT | @reservedsingle | v | valchiz fc | @valchiz |
| Mount Everest | @khaleesii | v | Diistroyers | @diikaan |
| The inferno Squad | @jimah1k | v | Beyond Horizon | @beyondhorizonmm |
| Stevenson FC | @stevenson7 | v | Praiz Empire | @praizking |
| Lens world fc | @Lensworld | v | adedayoolumide | @adedayoolumide |
| Tengo Rangers FC | @tengolotodo | v | Smiley Team | @carita-feliz |
| Twycejoy | @twicejoy | v | Yahuzah | @yahuzah |
| Uwabbs Fc | @uwabbs001 | v | Testing FC | @sperosamuel15 |
| AVERAGE | n/a | v | legaliza | @legalizabrazil |
| Stom FC | @stomade | v | HappyBoys FC | @Happyboy1 |
| Hivetastic | @acidyo | v | racibo | @racibo |
| Skander TN | @skanderh | v | BLAngechys Matildas | @blanchy |
| rubilu | @rubilu | v | abu78 | @abu78 |
| George Of D Jungle | @George-dee | v | Emeka4 | @Emeka4 |
Good luck to everyone in their head to head matches this weekend.
Oops its gameweek again...
Fingers crossed
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