Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s prolific forward, has raised eyebrows in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) community recently after failing to score in his last two Premier League matches. As the top scorer in the Premier League for the past two seasons and the current frontrunner for this year’s Golden Boot, the 24-year-old Norwegian is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous forwards in football. However, his brief scoring drought has caused some FPL managers to reconsider their strategies. Are those leaving him out of their teams being tactically astute, plain lucky, or simply reckless?
With a staggering 10 goals in his first seven matches this season, Haaland remains one of the most feared strikers in the league. Yet, following back-to-back blanks in City’s matches against Newcastle and Fulham, his status as an FPL “must-have” is suddenly under scrutiny.
Haaland’s FPL Dominance
Erling Haaland’s credentials in the Fantasy Premier League are unmatched. Selected by a whopping 73.3% of FPL managers—more than any other player in the game—he is a foundational pick for the vast majority. His incredible consistency last season, where he scored 36 goals in 35 league matches, has made him a cornerstone of many fantasy teams. This season, he hit the ground running with 10 goals in his first seven games, making him an automatic captain choice for many.
Haaland, was valued at £15.4m, he is the most expensive player in the game, which leaves managers with tough budgetary decisions. However, with his scoring record, many see him as worth every penny, a “set-and-forget” player who consistently racks up points.
But with no goals in his last two games, FPL managers are facing a dilemma. Could dropping Haaland, even temporarily, be the key to unlocking a better-balanced squad, or would doing so be a reckless gamble?
Tactical Geniuses or Risk-Takers
The decision to leave Haaland out of an FPL team is not one taken lightly, but those who have done so might consider themselves tactically astute. FPL is as much about finding value in players as it is about star names, and some managers argue that spreading the budget across multiple lower-priced players could yield better returns than holding on to one expensive star.
For instance, with Haaland costing £15.4m, managers who have chosen to offload him could reinvest that budget in multiple in-form players.
There’s also the factor of managing FPL chips, such as the wild card or free hit. Some managers may have played these chips to restructure their squads, betting against Haaland and focusing on teams with favorable fixtures. In doing so, they have hedged against what could be just a minor blip in Haaland’s form. In FPL, timing is everything, and predicting when to hold onto a player or drop them can be the difference between gaining and losing crucial points.
Haaland’s Brief Drought
On the flip side, dropping Haaland based on just two games without a goal might seem reckless given his overall form. After all, he leads the Premier League’s Golden Boot race and is still a constant goal threat in every game. His price reflects his consistent production, and his underlying statistics—shots on target, expected goals (xG), and involvement in City’s attack—remain strong, even in his recent dry spell.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester City’s next two fixtures after the international break are against Wolves and Southampton, the two teams currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table. Both sides have been defensively fragile this season, and many FPL managers will likely view these matches as prime opportunities for Haaland to rediscover his scoring touch.
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