Bruno Fernandes: A Debate Among Fantasy Premier League Managers
Bruno Fernandes' performance is a significant topic of discussion among Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.
The midfielder, owned by over 20% of players, has come under scrutiny following his missed penalty last weekend and Manchester United's unexpected defeat to Grimsby earlier this week. This has led many managers to consider transferring him out.
So, if you have Fernandes in your squad, should you keep him?
FPL Heisenberg and the team from The FPL Podcast by BBC Sport delve into this week's debate.
'He’s going to get a lot more points' - The Case for Fernandes
Statman Dave: It would be unwise to sell him. Despite missing a penalty against Fulham, he remains the designated penalty taker, and only Leeds' Anton Stach has created more chances in the Premier League. Fernandes is crucial to United's setup, taking set-pieces, free-kicks, and corners. I anticipate he will earn significantly more points moving forward.
I believe he is a player worth holding onto right now. His upcoming fixtures are relatively favorable: Burnley at home, Manchester City away—where he has a strong record—Chelsea at home, Brentford away, and Sunderland at home.
FPL Heisenberg: Deciding what to do with Fernandes is a challenging dilemma in FPL at the moment. While his deeper role has diminished his attacking potential, it has enhanced his defensive contributions. Had he scored his penalty against Fulham, he could have finished with 12 points, factoring in defensive contributions and potential bonus points.
I believe Fernandes will be eager to redeem himself following his penalty miss, and facing Burnley at home could present the perfect opportunity. If he can push forward more this gameweek, as I expect, he will likely create significant chances for teammates like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and take shots from favorable positions at the edge of the box.
Clinton Morrison: I believe he will provide both assists and goals. I would recommend sticking with Bruno Fernandes. Regarding the penalty miss, one could argue that the referee's actions were questionable. The ball is still soaring over Fulham Palace Road—it was that far over the bar.
'Can you trust Man Utd assets?' - The Case Against
FPL Heisenberg: While I see more reasons to retain Bruno Fernandes than to sell him, if you're reconsidering, here are some factors to ponder.
Firstly, there are many viable alternatives at a lower price point, such as Mohammed Kudus and Brennan Johnson from Spurs, who could serve as competent replacements. Additionally, players like Cody Gakpo and Antoine Semenyo have also started the season strongly.
Secondly, you might contemplate selling if you wish to reallocate funds to another position, such as the expensive forward Erling Haaland. In this case, players like Elliot Anderson or Tijjani Reijnders could free up substantial funds for your Haaland investment.
Lastly, with Manchester United's recent loss to Grimsby in the EFL Cup, you may feel hesitant to trust their assets, even in their upcoming home match against Burnley in gameweek three.