Big Man Bakar Answers The Key Gameweek 36 Questions – Including Who Best To Replace Mateta With and Should We Plan For Haaland?

Big Man Bakar continues with his popular FPL tips as the Premier League action is entering the final stages – with Gameweek 36 next on his agenda.

The respected Fantasy Premier League tipping judge Big Man Bakar answers NINE key GW36 questions – including his FPL tips on who is the best player to replace Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta with and should we be planing to get City’s Erling Haaland back in for the final games?

FPL Tips From Big Man Bakar In The Form Of Nine Big Questions

Q) What to do with Mateta – who is the best replacement?

Mateta is a definite sell this week.

His minutes have seen a sharp decline in recent weeks and with better alternatives available, it makes sense to move him on. Wood and Wissa are the ones that appeal the most this week — there is barely anything to split them.

I slightly favour Wissa because Brentford offer more attacking upside, but Wood is a solid pick too—particularly if you’re trailing and your mini-league rival already owns Wissa. Evanilson is an option as well, but I think he’s best left till later given the superior fixtures for Wood and Wissa this week.

Q) Who is the best captain this week?

There’s a lot to like about Bryan Mbeumo this Gameweek. He’s firing on all cylinders, is the penalty taker, locked in for full minutes, and faces an Ipswich team that has been relegated and currently sits in the bottom three for xG conceded — a dream fixture.

As for the alternatives— Marmoush hasn’t shown any explosive upside this season, and Salah’s fixture against Arsenal combined with his recent form leaves me unconvinced. So Mbeumo gets the nod.

Q) Should we plan for Erling Haaland this week?

Currently, I have zero interest in buying Erling Haaland even if he is leaked to start.A lot of teams find themselves in a position where they neither have the funds nor the free transfers to bring him in. Mbeumo is a perfectly viable captain this week, so I see no reason to tear apart my squad to bring in Haaland — especially with a midweek Gameweek 37 fixture coming so soon after the FA cup final for Manchester City.

Q) What to do with the Palace mids this week?

I’m happy to keep my Crystal Palace midfielders this week — Glasner should aim to keep their rhythm going since the cup final isn’t until next weekend, and Spurs may be fatigued after their midweek exertions.

Q) What to do with the Palace mids ‘After’ this week?

With the FA Cup final taking place after next Gameweek’s deadline, Palace players could see reduced minutes, making it reasonable to sell next week with no certainty over their game time.

Additionally, with a tough fixture at Liverpool in Gameweek 38, my plan is to offload all Palace midfielders before the end of the season.

Q) Benching dilemmas – play the Palace mids or Rogers?

I’d play the Palace mids. A fixture away against a likely depleted Spurs team is potentially better than one against Bournemouth away. But then again I’ve benched Rogers for all his hauls — so don’t trust me on this!

Q) Best defender to buy this week?

For managers looking to bring in a defender this week, Neco Williams stands out as a top pick. With a favourable home fixture against a struggling Leicester side, Forest are backed by the bookmakers as the most likely to keep a clean sheet this week.

Forest haven’t been at their best at the back, but with Leicester bottom for xG, they should still hold their own defensively.

Neco Williams is my pick as he offers a budget-friendly entry into that defence with the bonus of attacking threat.

Q) Best Assistant Manager to use this week?

It’s a tricky week to figure out the best Assistant Manager with no realistic table bonus opportunities for the taking this week. If you have the funds and a third City slot available, then Pep is probably the safest choice.

If not, then Nuno could be a decent next best alternative.

Q) When is the best time to use the Free Hit?

I would probably wait till the end of the season. Gameweek 38 often brings chaos with rotation and goals galore so that is the week where the chip can get you the highest ceiling.

Using the Free Hit in Gameweek 38 could potentially allow you to save a transfer this week as well.