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FPL Rate My Team surgery with five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman

26 September 2025 165 comments
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Five-time top 1k finisher Tom Freeman is here to help with your pre-deadline dilemmas for the next hour.

Whether itโ€™s questions on team selection, transfers, chip strategy or anything in between, Scoutโ€™s Deputy Editor will tackle whateverโ€™s thrown at him.

Heโ€™ll be on hand to first reply to requests from Premium Members in the Hot Topic below the line of this piece and will get through as many as he can until the next article goes up.

If there’s time, Tom will also turn his attention to other requests in the comments section.

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You can, as ever, chip in with your own opinions on the RMT requests filtering through โ€“ and naturally, youโ€™re free to ignore the article’s subject matter and talk about any other wider Fantasy Premier League (FPL) topics.

Donโ€™t forget that if itโ€™s an algorithmic answer youโ€™re after rather than an opinion-based one, we also have a โ€˜Rate My Teamโ€™ tool available in the Premium Members Area.

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165 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    13 hours, 8 mins ago

    A lot of Haaland + Salah teams. Personally don't see the value. Is Salah + fodder going to outscore Gyokeres + Bruno (or insert other combo of players in the 8-10 range) consistently? The answer to that is to me pretty clearly no. If you were to cap Salah all the time then the double points from cap can offset the lower value you get. But if you also own Haaland then it's not the case that you will be capping Salah much. And if you are capping Salah, the same value argument applies to owning Haaland.

    Anyone who has gone for both who would like to formulate a counter argument?

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    1. Swerve
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      13 hours, 4 mins ago

      Yeah I tend to agree. I went for both on WC last week. I quite liked the idea of owning the two most expensive assets and waiting a bit longer to see what emerged, and then cashing in. One plan I have for next week is Salah/Pedro -> Saka/Gyok for instance.

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    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 hours, 52 mins ago

      I can make a team I'm happy with that contains both Salah and Haaland without any big compromises (to me). If I want Bruno I can have him and still retain Defcon potential defenders.

      If I thought Gyokeres was good I would go with the template. But I am not convinced he's worth 9m based on his current performances and I'm happy to go without and fodder the forward slot since I've used my BB already.

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    3. GoonerSteve
      • 15 Years
      11 hours, 39 mins ago

      You don't really need any fodder in the starting 11.

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  2. Kane Train
    • 10 Years
    13 hours, 8 mins ago

    Thoughts on this team?

    Vicario
    Konsa / Senesi / Anderson
    Salah / Semenyo / Kudus / Tavernier
    Gyokores / Haaland / J.Pedro

    Bench: Dubruvka, Gudmundsson, King , Mukiele,

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  3. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    13 hours, 5 mins ago

    This feels mental but its really the only way I get Haaland in

    Salah, Ekitike out, Bruno and Haaland in? And then who to bench?

    Sanchez
    Truffert Gabriel Munoz
    Salah Semenyo Kudus Grealish
    Mateta Ekitike Pedro

    Dub Rodon Milenkovic Reijnders

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    1. Pedersen
      • 6 Years
      13 hours ago

      I would look into playing Reijnders this week. If Haaland score, then good chances of assists

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  4. Fly Away Peter
      13 hours, 4 mins ago

      Haaland (TC) Locked.
      At least for now.

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    • ran
      • 4 Years
      13 hours, 4 mins ago

      Sels
      Porro \ Senesi \ Milenkovic
      Semenyo \ KDH \ Salah \ Reijnders
      Pedro \ Wood \ Haaland

      Dubravka \ Stach \ Gudmundsson \ Diouf

      Have 2FT at the moment;

      1) Milenkovic > VDV/Guehi/Richards to avoid the price drops and price rises? Or roll the 2FT?
      2) Is the starting XI and bench order gtg?

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    • Catastrophe
      • 14 Years
      13 hours, 2 mins ago

      Bench one:

      A) Anderson (SUN)
      B) Senesi (lee)
      C) Gabriel (new)

      Thanks

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      1. Veni Vidi Vialli
        • 4 Years
        10 hours, 23 mins ago

        C

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    • Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      13 hours, 1 min ago

      Sanchez
      Porro Milenkovic Munoz
      Bruno Semenyo Ndiaye Reijnders Anderson
      Haaland (TC) Pedro
      Dubravka // Mateta Richards Esteve

      Don't like my back line this week, especially if Porro annoyingly gets rested. Any different benching decisions you'd take, or -4 anywhere?

      Cheers!

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        12 hours, 48 mins ago

        I had a similar team and hit WC. I think yours is more durable than mine which had Murillo, Tosin, Ekitike and Sarr who probably won't start.

        It's still kind of borderline with Munoz in the team. Wouldn't take any hits if you plan to WC and I think you have to hit the button next week or in GW8 latest.

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        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          12 hours, 22 mins ago

          In all honesty I've looked at plans that have me wildcaridng as late as 11 or 13, but I'm fully open to 7/8.

          Yeah, I'd have wildcarded away from what you had - but Sarr will start.

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      2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 8 Years
        12 hours, 11 mins ago

        Play Mateta over Anderson

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    • The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      12 hours, 59 mins ago

      People going for TC this week and the Count of Monte Hristo saying this week 13 (Leeds) or 15 (Sunderland) are the best options. I am not sure I agree - I think these teams will defend en masse and although City will win I do not think it will be the cricket scoreline people are expecting as they will struggle to break them down. I think West Ham (20th December) is a better candidate for the TC this half of the season, and only because Wolves at home is mid-January.

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        12 hours, 51 mins ago

        West Ham falls in the busy Christmas period though. Rotation will hit pretty hard.

        I'm personally hoping for weather postponements. I think it's possible and then we'd get a super obvious DGW.

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        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          12 hours, 35 mins ago

          These are rare though and may not even happen then you’re perhaps left with a load of suboptimal options, if it works out though you’re laughing!

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      2. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        12 hours, 50 mins ago

        Who is to say Potter will still be in charge of West Ham in December? Who is to say there won't be dodgy rotation around Christmas fixtures.

        The 13 & 15 fixtures have UCL around them too.

        Not saying either is the best - but this week is a perfectly logical choice.

        Top 2 attack in the league (with the forward with by far the best individual attacking stats) plays the team that is rock-bottom defensively, in terms of chances conceded from almost every areas & expected data points to it being the worst too.

        It might not come this week but the data points to a pummelling at some point.

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        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          12 hours, 36 mins ago

          I just think city struggle against teams that park the bus and can’t seem to break them down. True West Ham is not well timed in terms of fixtures but they’re still a shite team regardless of who is in charge and don’t have the squad to rotate much so players will be tired. Need to think on it.

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      3. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        12 hours, 49 mins ago

        Overthinking it

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        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          12 hours, 37 mins ago

          Possibly mate

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          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            12 hours, 34 mins ago

            I get what you mean, and we could easily end up with another performance like the Liverpool match, but imagine being sat here Saturday teatime while everyone's pulling their plonkers over Haaland's 17-pointer - you'd be absolutely kicking yourself

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            1. The Big Fella
              • 9 Years
              12 hours, 1 min ago

              FOMO and YOLO. I’ll have a few tonight and inevitably hit the button ๐Ÿ˜†

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    • MarcusAurelius
      • 9 Years
      12 hours, 59 mins ago

      No harder decision this week than to play Wood if you own him. At home to Sunderland but Jesus with a great showing midweek. Does Wood start? What we thinking. Cheers

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      1. Meechum
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        12 hours, 19 mins ago

        It seems like Wood has fallen out of favor since Ange came in. I just picked up Jesus in my draft league because I fear Wood's time is up. Hold Wood for 1-2 more weeks and watch his minutes. I think Ange is going through all his strikers to see who he likes best.

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      2. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        9 hours, 33 mins ago

        Even if he starts, might come off very early. I'm starting KDH over him. Though worried doing it!

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    • Kane Train
      • 10 Years
      12 hours, 59 mins ago

      Would you rather have Gyokores or Bruno Fernandes?

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      1. Meechum
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        12 hours, 17 mins ago

        Bruno. Whoever gets most minutes and touches the ball most. Also the attacking stats of United this year are nuts, they just need the final product.
        The argument for Gyokeres is simply that premium forwards are minimal and he could have an uptick in goals/touches now that Saka is back.

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    • rjcv177
      • 10 Years
      12 hours, 58 mins ago

      One week punt before WC

      Best 2 out of
      Wirtz
      Rogers
      Simmons
      Ndiaye
      Doku

      Thkx in adv

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      1. Steve McCroskey
        • 12 Years
        12 hours, 54 mins ago

        Simmons and Ndiaye

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    • Steve McCroskey
      • 12 Years
      12 hours, 55 mins ago

      Does this team leave too much of a benching headache?

      Raya / Dubravka

      VVD / Sensei / Andersen / Richards / Rodon

      Bruno / Ndiaye / Semenyo / Kudus / Reijnders

      Haaland / JP / Gyokores

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    • Panther FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      12 hours, 47 mins ago

      Hi Tom, start one of Gakpo, Mateta and Van de Ven

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    • Kaptenen
      • 9 Years
      12 hours, 34 mins ago

      Thoughts on Foden over Ndiaye? Easy to downgrade Foden to Ndiaye/Eze/Gordon etc if it doesnt work out

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      1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
        • 5 Years
        12 hours, 15 mins ago

        Yeah

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    • BazingtoN
        12 hours, 33 mins ago

        Who to play

        Eze vs Newcastle
        Wood vs Sunderland

        Both are not 100% starters i'm split 50/50

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        1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
          • 5 Years
          12 hours, 23 mins ago

          Probably Eze

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      • Saka White Rice
        • 11 Years
        12 hours, 33 mins ago

        Start Porro or Andersen? Porrro played 90 midweek

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        1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
          • 5 Years
          12 hours, 22 mins ago

          Porro

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      • Snoop Udogie Dogg
        • 5 Years
        12 hours, 25 mins ago

        Why's no one talking about the Brighton player that scored 4 this week?

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        1. Meechum
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          12 hours, 21 mins ago

          Has little to no minutes this season, and may have been a fluke chance he bagged that many. It was his first time playing on the wing too. Will definitely be keeping him on my radar now, especially if he gets minutes this weekend.

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          1. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            12 hours, 13 mins ago

            Did you see the quality of the strikes?

            The first 3 were all rockets

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            1. Meechum
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 2 Years
              11 hours, 57 mins ago

              Trust me, I saw them. Unbelievable quality and postioning. If he gets minutes, I will be the first person to pick him up, dont get me wrong.
              But lets not forget, we see all the time these insane performances in matches from guys we have never really seen before and then they fumble. Think Renato Sanchez for portugal or Julio Enciso a couple years ago for Brighton.
              This game is based on hard minutes, so if he gets them, clearly we see what he can do.

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            2. g40steve
              • 7 Years
              11 hours, 42 mins ago

              Remind me what league the opponents play in?

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      • Imber23
        • 3 Years
        12 hours, 21 mins ago

        Swap Wurz & Reijnders for Foden & Gravenberch ..

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        1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
          • 5 Years
          12 hours, 16 mins ago

          Nah, although do get rid of Wirtz

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      • Imber23
        • 3 Years
        12 hours, 17 mins ago

        .. and triple captain Haaland?

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      • Emmaloustanway
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        12 hours, 14 mins ago

        Start which 2 defenders of: -

        A Andersen
        B Milenkovic
        C Lacroix
        D Gudmundson

        Already have Sels and fearing double Forest blank again!

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      • rodzicsky7
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        11 hours, 28 mins ago

        Calvert-Lewin, Kudus > Foster, Xavi Simons ??

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        1. Gandalf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          10 hours, 37 mins ago

          As in are the first 2 better than the 2nd 2, or transfer the 1st 2 to the 2nd 2?

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      • thirddimension
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        10 hours, 34 mins ago

        I have both Gakpo & Wirtz in my FPL draft team. Should I keep both or swap one for any of these:

        Cunha
        Xavi
        Ndiaye

        I’m tempted by Cunha. But I already have Bruno so 2 Utd attackers is probably not the best idea.

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        1. Obi 1 Kenobi 0
            9 hours, 41 mins ago

            Wirtz to ndiaye

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        2. abaalan
          • 9 Years
          9 hours, 31 mins ago

          Palmer to who? can afford anyone except Salah

          Think Porro gets a rest?

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        3. DaveZubie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          8 hours, 55 mins ago

          On WC

          1) Ndiaye
          2) Grelish

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