🚨 Bruno Crisis & Boxing Day Prep: GW17 Review + GW18 Defensive Heroes

Welcome back to Who Got The Points! Thank you for subscribing and joining us for another crucial gameweek breakdown. With Boxing Day fast approaching and Bruno Fernandes in an injury crisis, there's plenty to cover before Friday's 6:30 PM deadline.

In this edition, we're reviewing Gameweek 17's defensive standouts, breaking down the Bruno injury situation that's causing mass panic, and setting you up perfectly for the Boxing Day bonanza. Let's dive straight in.

Bruno Fernandes is facing a hamstring injury with just a 25% chance of playing for Manchester United's Boxing Day clash against Newcastle. The Portuguese midfielder lasted only 45 minutes against Aston Villa before being withdrawn, and the damage is clear.

The FPL community has reacted decisively: over 848,000 managers have already shipped him out. At £9.3m, Bruno was a premium asset earlier in the season, but injury and United's difficult fixtures make him a clear sell right now.

Verdict: Sell immediately. Don't wait for press conferences or further updates. Use those funds to upgrade elsewhere—Liverpool and Villa attackers should be your priority. Even if Bruno returns, United face Newcastle away and then Wolves at home, hardly fixtures to inspire confidence.

While attackers grab the headlines, Gameweek 17 belonged to the defenders and defensive midfielders who quietly racked up points with clean sheets and bonus. Here are the standout performers who could shape your Boxing Day plans.

Arsenal's £5.5m defender topped the defensive charts with 10 points, delivering a clean sheet and maximum bonus points in Arsenal's 1-0 win at Everton. Playing the full 90 minutes, Hincapie showcased exactly why Arsenal's defence remains one of the league's best.

The catch? Mikel Arteta loves rotation, and Hincapie picked up a knock against Everton (though he's listed as 75% likely to play). Arteta's cup rotation suggests he'll manage minutes carefully through the festive fixtures. Monitor pre-match updates closely if you're considering him.

Verdict: Arsenal face Brighton at home on Saturday—a decent fixture for a clean sheet. At £5.5m with minimal ownership, Hincapie offers huge differential upside, but be prepared for rotation risk. One for the brave or those chasing ranks.

At just £4.5m and owned by less than 1% of managers, Tete is flying completely under the radar. The Fulham defender bagged 9 points with a clean sheet, full 90 minutes, and 3 bonus points in Fulham's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Marco Silva's Fulham have improved defensively, and Tete offers solid value if you need to free up funds elsewhere. Fulham's defence isn't elite, but at this price point, you're not expecting Arsenal-level consistency.

Verdict: Perfect budget enabler if you're restructuring your defence to fund premium attackers. Tete won't win you leagues, but he won't tank them either. A smart pick for those needing financial flexibility.

Manchester City finally kept a clean sheet, beating West Ham 3-0, and Matheus Nunes was central to it. The £5.4m midfielder scored 8 points with 90 minutes played and 2 bonus points, offering City defensive coverage without the premium price tag.

City have been defensively suspect this season, but signs of improvement are there. Nunes has been involved in much of that solidity. However, City's fixture swing gets tougher soon, with Forest away (who've been solid at home) followed by Chelsea.

Verdict: If you want City defensive coverage without paying premium prices for Walker or Dias, Nunes is your man. Just be aware the fixtures turn shortly, so this is more of a short-term hold than a season-long keeper.

Morgan Rogers exploded with 15 points in Gameweek 17, scoring twice in Villa's 2-1 win at Manchester United. The £7.2m midfielder is in blistering form and has become absolutely essential.

Rogers is undroppable under Unai Emery right now. While he's not a pure defensive contributor, he's bagging points consistently and is involved in everything Villa do going forward. Villa face Chelsea away on Saturday evening—a tough test—but Rogers' form suggests he can deliver even in difficult fixtures.

Verdict: Essential. If you don't own Rogers, you're missing out on one of the best midfield options under £8m. Villa's fixtures turn green after Chelsea, making him a must-hold for weeks. Get him in now before his price rises further.

1. Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) - £8.9m

Ekitike is Liverpool's focal point in attack and has established himself as the best forward under £9m. Liverpool face Wolves at Anfield on Saturday—a fixture they should control comfortably. With Arne Slot's side firing on all cylinders, Ekitike is the safe captain option this week.

Verdict: Essential. If you don't own Ekitike, get him in now. Liverpool's attack is clicking, and he's involved in everything. This is your last chance before his price climbs further.

2. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) - £7.2m

We covered Rogers above, but it's worth repeating: he's hitting peak form at the perfect time. Expected points for Boxing Day: 8.2. Villa's fixtures turn favorable after Chelsea, making him a hold for multiple gameweeks.

Verdict: Essential. Rogers is a must-own midfielder at £7.2m. His form, fixtures, and price point make him one of the best value picks in the game right now.

3. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) - £5.8m

DCL demolished Crystal Palace with two goals in Leeds' 4-1 win and is in red-hot form. At £5.8m, he's incredible value for a third striker spot, offering genuine goal threat without breaking the bank.

The catch? Leeds' fixtures get harder after Sunderland (they face Liverpool at home in GW19). This makes DCL more of a short-term option than a season-long hold.

Verdict: Good short-term option. Bring him in if you need budget flexibility or a third striker who can actually score points. Perfect for the next 2-3 gameweeks before fixture difficulty increases.

1. Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) - £9.3m

We've covered this above, but it bears repeating: sell Bruno immediately. Don't wait for press conference news or hope for a miracle recovery. The combination of injury doubt, poor fixtures, and United's terrible form makes this a no-brainer.

Verdict: Sell now. Use the £9.3m to double up on Liverpool or Villa attackers. This is where your season pivots—be decisive.

2. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) - £7.1m

Mbeumo started the season on fire but has cooled significantly. His expected points for Bournemouth at home: 4. That's... not great for a £7.1m midfielder.

Verdict: Hold if you own him. Bournemouth at home is a potential bounce-back fixture, and panic selling rarely works in FPL. Give him one more week. If he blanks again against Bournemouth, then move him on. But don't knee-jerk sell before a home fixture.

3. Malo Gusto (Chelsea) - £5.0m

Gusto's negative points in GW17 hurt, but context matters: Chelsea drew 2-2 at Newcastle, and their away form has been leaky. However, their fixtures improve, and Gusto offers attacking threat when fit.

Verdict: Hold. Don't sell unless you're desperate for funds. Chelsea face Villa at home on Saturday, and their fixtures get better. Gusto's attacking returns make him more than just a defensive asset. Keep the faith for now.

Chasing your mini-league? Need to make up ground? These differential picks could be the difference-makers—but they come with risk.

Kenny Tete (Fulham) - £4.5m, <1% owned

We covered Tete above (9 points with clean sheet and max bonus in GW17), but his ownership makes him a proper differential. Fulham face West Ham away, then Palace at home in GW19. At £4.5m, he's dirt cheap and offers clean sheet potential in Marco Silva's improving defence.

Risk level: Medium. Fulham aren't Arsenal, but for budget defenders, Tete offers high reward for those chasing ranks.

Matheus Nunes (Man City) - £5.4m, 2.2% owned

Nunes scored 8 points in GW17 with a clean sheet and is involved in City's defensive improvement (6 clean sheets this season). City face Forest away, then Chelsea at home. If you want City defensive coverage without premium prices, Nunes is your differential.

Risk level: Medium-high. City's fixtures turn harder, and Pep's rotation is always a threat. But at 2.2% ownership, he could be a league-winner if City's defence clicks.

Maxence De Cuyper (Brighton) - £4.3m, 2.3% owned

De Cuyper scored 6 points in GW17 with a clean sheet against Sunderland and has 2 goals this season—offering attacking threat from set pieces. Brighton face Arsenal away on Saturday (tough fixture), but at £4.3m, he's a budget enabler with upside.

Risk level: High. Arsenal away is brutal, and Brighton's fixtures don't get much easier soon. One for the very brave or those needing maximum budget flexibility.

Captain pick: Hugo Ekitike vs Wolves at Anfield. Liverpool dominate at home, Wolves are vulnerable despite Vitor Pereira's improvements, and Ekitike is in form with 8 goals this season. He's the safe captain choice for Boxing Day.

Alternative captain: If you're feeling brave, Morgan Rogers vs Chelsea could pay off given his current form (15 points last week). But Chelsea away is tougher than Wolves at Anfield, making Ekitike the safer bet.

One key tip: Don't panic over the Bruno Fernandes injury. Use those funds to double up on Liverpool or Villa attackers. The festive fixtures are where seasons are won and lost—be decisive, not reactive.

Deadline: Friday, December 26th at 6:30 PM

Boxing Day kicks off early, so don't leave your transfers until the last minute. With Bruno's injury situation and rotation concerns across multiple teams, you need to act decisively and early this week.

That's all for this edition! The festive fixtures are where seasons are won and lost—make your moves count. Good luck in Gameweek 18, and may your differentials haul.

Thanks for reading, and remember to subscribe at whogotthepoints.com for more insights every week.