GW25 Preview: The Calm Before the Storm

📅 Gameweek 25 Deadline:
Friday, 6 February — 18:30 GMT
Set an alarm. Set two. One missed deadline and you’re captaining your bench defender again 😭

📅 Blank & Double Gameweek Chaos – Explained
The EFL Cup Final is set:
🔴 Arsenal vs Man City
What this means for us FPL degenerates 👇
👉 Arsenal & Wolves ➡️ DOUBLE in GW26 💥 and BLANK in GW31 ❌
👉 Man City & Crystal Palace ➡️ Likely to blank in GW31, but this depends on their European adventures 🌍
Translation: planning matters, vibes don’t.

🔄 Transfer Gossip That Actually Matters
👉 Strand Larsen ➡️ Officially a Crystal Palace player after moving from Wolves.
👉 Mateta ➡️ Failed his AC Milan medical 🚑 and stays put at Palace.

🚑 Injury Ward (Grab a Coffee)

Yes, that was a lot. Yes, it matters.

😏 If that didn’t scare you into planning properly, the next sections definitely will… keep scrolling.

🟢 Ekitike – KEEP
GW23: benched.
GW24: casually drops a 13-pointer.
If you held, give yourself a pat on the back 👏
City (H) up next isn’t ideal, but the fixtures after that? Very tasty 🍽️
⚠️ Slot did mention managing his minutes, so rotation risk exists.
📌 Verdict: Hold. Don’t panic sell. Don’t chase points either.

🎲 João Pedro – BUY (If You Like Living Dangerously)
Yes, he rotates.
Yes, he might play 45 minutes.
Yes, he can still walk away with double digits.
If you want safety, scroll on ➡️
If you want upside and vibes, this is your guy.
📌 Verdict: High risk, high reward. Know what you’re signing up for.

🟡 Thiago – HOLD
The next two fixtures aren’t great.
GW25 is less bad than GW26, let’s put it that way.
NEW (A) isn’t fun, but it’s not an auto-sell either.
📌 Verdict: Hold for now. Reassess later.

🟡 Wirtz – HOLD (Don’t Buy Yet)
Four double-digit returns in his last seven. That’s elite 🧠🔥
Unlike Ekitike, his minutes look far more secure.
City (H) is the issue — not the time to buy.
After that? Green lights everywhere 🟢
📌 Verdict: Hold if owned. Buy later, not now.

🔵 Palmer – THE HEADACHE
He started GW24. He blanked. Pain 😐
But here’s the logic:

At minimum, he probably starts 2 of the next 3.

📌 Verdict:

🟢 Rogers – HOLD (Even a Sneaky BUY)
Only 2 returns in his last 7, so yes, the numbers look ugly.
But…
📅 Great next 4 fixtures
🏠 BUR (H) in BGW31
📌 Verdict: Do NOT sell. You can even argue he’s a buy.

🔴 Saka – SELL
Very likely to miss the DGW26. That alone seals it.
Obvious replacement: Rice
Other solid options:

📌 Verdict: Easy sell. Don’t overthink it.

🔵 Chalobah – SHORT-TERM BUY
Chelsea clean sheets? Rare species 🦄
But Chalobah keeps ticking over with DEFCON points (5 in a row).
📅 Three decent fixtures coming up.
📉 After that? Fixtures fall off.
📌 Verdict: Nice short-term play. Exit planned.

🔴 Arsenal Defenders – READ CAREFULLY
Gabriel: Essential. No debate. DGW incoming 🔒
Timber: Great pick… but missed open training 👀 Rotation risk exists.
Saliba: Safer minutes, but offers almost nothing attacking-wise.
📊 Both Saliba & Timber are poor for DEFCONs, but:
Timber: 6 goal involvements
Saliba: 0
Calafiori? Only 60 mins since return + rotation risk = no thanks.

🟢 Senesi – DEFCON MONSTER
Clean sheets? Maybe not.
DEFCON points? 87% of starts — best among defenders 🧱
📅 Fixtures stay good until GW30.

💸 Hill – BUDGET HERO
Want cheaper than Senesi? Say hello 👋

📌 Verdict: Elite enabler.

🟡 Munoz – GOOD… WITH A CATCH
Fixtures are lovely. 3 of the next 6 are:
🏠 BUR
🏠 WOL
🏠 LEE
The problem?
❌ Blanks in GW31.


Stick around. Up next -
🎯 Captaincy decisions
🃏 Differentials that could ruin friendships
👀 And of course… the Team Reveal

Erling Haaland is NOT in the captaincy conversation.
I know. Sit down. Drink some water. We’ll get through this together.

🪄 Bruno Fernandes – The Spreadsheet Darling

Bruno is doing Bruno things again 😮‍💨

Now the fixture:
🏠 Spurs at home — a defence that treats away games like sightseeing tours

Every stat, eye test, and FPL neuron points to one name.
📊📈 Bruno is the sensible, beautiful choice.

If you’re feeling brave but not reckless 👇

Clean sheet + header threat = sneaky captaincy punt 👀

🔥 82 points
📈 Massive green arrow
❌ Only 2 blanks (sorry Dubravka & Wilson, we’ll talk later)
🚀 Rank: 38.5K ➝ 16.1K

Momentum? Secured. Confidence? Dangerous levels.

🔍 GW25: The Calm Before the Chaos

Here’s the squad before transfers 👇

I avoided the early transfer… and yes, I ate a Saka price drop 🍽️
Saw it coming. Made peace with it. No regrets.

Now comes the real dilemma 🤔

Going Rice means:
🧠 Only 1 FT used
💎 2 FTs saved for DGW26

That last part? Very tempting.

Here’s how the team looks after that move 👇

I’m taking my time on this one.
Spreadsheet open. Fixtures tab staring back. Tea going cold ☕

One thing is locked in though 🔒
❌ Saka is out.

What I replace him with?
You’ll find out in the GW26 Preview… where doubles, chips, and chaos officially begin 😈