GW34 -- HoF Review
TLDR
- Elite managers completely abandoned Bruno Fernandes as captain (100% to 0%) while Haaland reclaimed dominant 96% captaincy share
- Mass goalkeeper rotation as Karl Darlow (47 additions) replaced premium keepers ahead of favorable fixtures
- Bournemouth assets surged with Tavernier (+47) and Senesi (+43) gaining heavy investment for their strong run-in
- Gabriel dropped significantly from 92% to 18% ownership as Arsenal’s defensive appeal waned
- No chip usage indicates elite managers holding powder dry for final gameweeks
Top 3 Starters by Gameweek
Elite manager starter selections show dramatic shifts toward budget options and favorable fixtures. The mass adoption of Karl Darlow (47 new starters) and Bournemouth assets like Tavernier (+47) and Senesi (+43) indicates a clear pivot toward teams with better remaining schedules. Meanwhile, premium Arsenal assets are being abandoned, with Gabriel dropping 37 starters from his previous 92% ownership, suggesting elite managers no longer view Arsenal’s fixtures as compelling. Bruno Fernandes remains the only consistent pick across recent weeks, though even his ownership declined from universal selection to 74%.
| gw | Top1 | Top2 | Top3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (50, 100.0%) | Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães (49, 98.0%) | Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (48, 96.0%) |
| 30 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (50, 100.0%) | Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães (49, 98.0%) | Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (48, 96.0%) |
| 31 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (50, 100.0%) | Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (50, 100.0%) | Virgil van Dijk (39, 78.0%) |
| 32 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (50, 100.0%) | Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães (46, 92.0%) | Erling Haaland (45, 90.0%) |
| 33 | Erling Haaland (50, 100.0%) | Cole Palmer (49, 98.0%) | Marcus Tavernier (48, 96.0%) |
Top 3 Captains by Gameweek
Captain selection shows the most decisive shift of the gameweek, with Bruno Fernandes losing his stranglehold on the armband as elite managers moved unanimously back to Erling Haaland. The Portuguese midfielder had achieved rare 100% captaincy consensus in GW32 and maintained 96% in GW33, but dropped to 0% in GW34 as Haaland reclaimed 96% captaincy share. This represents one of the cleanest captain pivots seen all season, with Cole Palmer picking up just 2 captaincies as the only alternative. The move signals elite managers’ confidence in Manchester City’s fixture appeal over Manchester United’s upcoming games.
| gw | Top1 | Top2 | Top3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Erling Haaland (42, 84.0%) | Bruno Borges Fernandes (4, 8.0%) | Antoine Semenyo (2, 4.0%) |
| 30 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (38, 76.0%) | Mohamed Salah (5, 10.0%) | Erling Haaland (4, 8.0%) |
| 31 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (42, 84.0%) | Harry Wilson (8, 16.0%) | None |
| 32 | Bruno Borges Fernandes (50, 100.0%) | None | None |
| 33 | Erling Haaland (48, 96.0%) | Cole Palmer (2, 4.0%) | None |
Latest GW33 vs GW32 — Starters deltas (by unique teams)
Transfer activity reveals a clear strategy of fixture-chasing and budget optimization among elite managers. The biggest moves center on Bournemouth’s excellent run-in, with Tavernier and Senesi gaining 47 and 43 new owners respectively from minimal previous ownership. Goalkeeper rotation dominates with Darlow’s 47 additions suggesting a coordinated move toward Newcastle’s favorable fixtures while dropping premium options. The exit of Gabriel (-37) and Igor (-16) indicates Arsenal and Brentford assets are being jettisoned despite recent reliability. This transfer pattern shows elite managers aggressively repositioning for the final stretch rather than holding steady with proven performers.
Subbed IN (biggest increases)
| player | latest | prev | delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Darlow | 47 | 0 | 47 |
| Marcus Tavernier | 48 | 1 | 47 |
| Marcos Senesi Barón | 44 | 1 | 43 |
| Pascal Struijk | 40 | 1 | 39 |
| James Hill | 39 | 1 | 38 |
Subbed OUT (biggest decreases)
| player | latest | prev | delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães | 9 | 46 | -37 |
| Jarrod Bowen | 0 | 21 | -21 |
| Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues | 4 | 20 | -16 |
| Bruno Borges Fernandes | 37 | 50 | -13 |
| David Raya Martín | 0 | 11 | -11 |
Latest GW33 vs GW32 — Captains deltas (by unique teams)
More captained
| player | latest | prev | delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 48 | 0 | 48 |
| Cole Palmer | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Less captained
| player | latest | prev | delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Borges Fernandes | 0 | 50 | -50 |
