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Summary for the lazy

⏰ Gameweek 30's deadline is Saturday 8th April, 11am BST

😑 Nobody doubles, nobody blanks

🤯 Two managerial sackings since our last email

⚽️ Erling Haaland back in training

🟥 Aleksandar Mitrovic banned for 8 games following referee push

We're trying something different...again. Read only the bits in bold for a mini-summary hidden within the newsletter.

Alright?

Gameweek 30. The big three-oh. If this season was a human, it'd be reaching the age of existential crisis. "Who am I?", "Am I where I want to be in life?", "Should I go for a fixed rate or a variable mortgage?".

I'm kidding, of course. Nobody turning 30 is in a position to even consider a mortgage.

Some FPL managers refer to Gameweek 30 onwards as the "final stretch". The point at which the last-lap bell rings and the race for the finish line kicks up a gear.

Luckily for us, this race is far easier on the knees. Let's look at how to win it without even breaking a sweat.

Your final call for Fantasy Football Fest

Right, I don't want to sound like your Mum, but this is your last warning.

Fantasy Football Fest tickets are selling fast - over 70 managers have already locked in a night of Fantasy Football frivolity for the cost of a couple of pints in a London boozer. If you want in, book your ticket now.

Date: Friday August 11th (probably Gameweek 1 deadline day)Time: 4pm - midnightDress-code: FPL-casualWhy you should go: Lloyd Griffith will be there doing some some stand-up, you'll be able to watch the first ever live FPL Blackbox and you'll even get a free drink with your ticket. There'll be loads more there too.

If you're going to trust anyone, trust Duncan, who is literally flying in to be there. Some managers are travelling from Florida and Norway, so don't think that living on the wrong side of London is an excuse.

Haaland returns in cinematic style

A player returning to training isn't normally worthy of dramatic slow-mo footage, but then again, Erling Haaland isn't exactly a normal player, is he?

Man City shared cinematic footage of his return to training that resembled something between a Love Island contestant intro and those clips you see of excited cows being released back into a field in spring.

The takeaway for FPL managers is that Haaland is back on the menu. Many top managers are planning to buy him immediately ahead of his visit to Southampton, which means you should probably buy him too. Particularly if you're using your Free Hit in Gameweek 32 (where Man City blank).

Like Rashford last week, Haaland currently sits within the top 10 of both the most transferred IN and the most transferred OUT players this week.

More manager sackings - what it means

Two managers have made way since we last sent an email. Graham Potter has left Chelsea and Brendan Rodgers has left Leicester, meaning this season's managerial death-toll now stands at 13 - a new record.

In a turn of events that must've surprised even the man himself, Frank Lampard has taken over as interim manager at Chelsea.

The rumour mill has churned out a number of names where Leicester's managerial future is concerned. Martin O'Neill looks to be a key contender to take over at the Foxes.

Is Kepa under threat?

One big question for Kepa owners is over whether he'll keep his place now that the man who championed his return to first team football has departed.

The answer? He's probably fine for now. Kepa has actually played well since coming back to the fold, and any petulance that might've been an issue in earlier years seems to have disappeared almost as quickly as Chelsea's hopes of a 23/24 European campaign.

So what's gunna happen to Chelsea and Leicester?

Whilst the new manager bounce is actually real, it's hard to say how, if at all, these clubs will benefit from somebody new at the helm.

Our guess, simply based on the fact that Chelsea have been consistently underperforming their xG for some time now, is that Chelsea will start putting away a few more of the many chances they create. Fans will start to wonder whether Lampard could, in fact, be the man for the job. Perhaps he'll even get an offer. But he, like so many before him, will be let go after the inevitable bad run of results eventually finds him. Probably by September.

The biggest beneficiary could be Mason Mount, who was a favourite under Lampard's last tenure at Chelsea.

As for Leicester, any change will depend on who they get. Don't expect either of these teams to be pushovers for the time being.

What are the best moves this week?

In terms of strategy, this week is about minimalism. Avoid hits, plan ahead, accept sub-optimal returns now for maximum returns in due course.

As we discussed last week, Brighton and Man United's deluge of fixtures between now and Gameweek 38 still make them the most desirable targets, but many of you are likely fully stocked already.

There's a bigger question here: aside from Luke Shaw (whose injury "isn't serious" according to The Times) and Marcus Rashford (who you already own), which Man United players should you even go for?

Rashford's dominance means none of the attacking alternatives are particularly exciting - a lesson that Bruno Fernandes owners had to learn the hard way this week. Lisandro Martinez and David De Gea are the two most reliable defensive picks.

The most-transferred in player this week is currently Ollie Watkins who will host Nottingham Forest on Saturday. He's likely to be a popular captaincy pick too.

Still, Haaland should probably be your priority if you don't already own him. Lest we forget that the Norse God is still owned by 72% of managers; a haul against Southampton could be devastating for non-owners.

Toney, Kane, Havertz and the now-banned-for-8-games Mitrovic could all justifiably make way for him.

Updates on players you're probably worried about

🔴 Luke Shaw - injury not serious. Keep an eye on pressers.

🔵 Erling Haaland - more footage of Haaland in full training has been released. He looks ready to go, but keep an eye on the pressers.

🇪🇬 Mo Salah was not in training this week, but apparently he's not injured. It was just a rest day.

We follow the excellent Colm Hayes for press conference news.

The best captain for Gameweek 30

Depending on the news we get between now and the deadline, Haaland will likely be the most popular captaincy pick.

It does feel like a gameweek ripe for a captaincy punt, but do so at your own risk. The ever-dangerous Marcus Rashford will play Everton at home and the aforementioned Ollie Watkins will host an out-of-form Forest.

Those are the two most viable alternatives for those of you who are fed up with adhering to the status quo, but don't expect any sympathy when Haaland, who scored seven goals in the two games prior to his injury, does so again against Southampton.

If he's fit, he's the best captain.

(Image courtesy of the fantastic RoryPaints.)

The key stats for Gameweek 30

Here they are. Drink 'em in.

The Professor's team

Our resident expert, the Professor, is practicing what we preach.

Haaland comes in at the expense of Toney and gets the armband on his return, providing we don't hear bad news from Pep. He's also starting Shaw on the off-chance he's fit (the logic here is that, if he is injured, he won't be in the squad anyway*).

Overall rank: 17,996 Captaincy: provisionally on Haaland.

*He's unsure on which defender he'll put first on his bench, but it'll probably be Estupinan.

Other tidbits

• Mitrovic is banned for 8 games. He won't return until Gameweek 38.

• Unbelievably, no team has conceded fewer goals at home this season than Man United.

• Mo Salah has 12 returns in 12 games against Arsenal.

• 86% of the managers in the top 10k have used their Bench Boosts now.

Lazy conclusions

🧠 it's a regular gameweek. Regroup, avoid hits, plan ahead.

🧢 Haaland looks to be ready for a return. He's your best captaincy pick.

⛔️ two managerial sackings could bring unpredictability, but don't panic yet.

🎟 remember to book your ticket to Fantasy Football Fest!

Okay, we're out. Enjoy your long weekends, and remember, stay lazy.The LazyFPL team.