FA Cup & BGW34: Forest Win Raises FPL Questions
Summary
Nottingham Forest’s surprise win in the FA Cup has sent ripple effects throughout the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) landscape, causing serious strategic headaches ahead of Blank Gameweek 34 (BGW34). The result further muddles the already unpredictable fixture schedule, particularly for managers relying on chips like Free Hit and Bench Boost to maximize points in upcoming weeks.
The FA Cup result means that Forest progresses to the next round, triggering postponed Premier League fixtures in Gameweek 34. As a direct consequence, teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and others who either played or were impacted by the cup results will now miss their league fixtures in BGW34.
For FPL managers, this means immediate strategic adjustments:
- More Blank Fixtures: BGW34 will now feature fewer Premier League matches, limiting the player pool.
- Chip Strategy Shift: Many had intended to deploy chips like Free Hit or Bench Boost this week. Plans may now need recalibrating.
- Player Rotation: Managers must carefully consider rotation risks and fixture congestion as clubs balance cup and league commitments.
Popular assets like Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Bukayo Saka face uncertainty—not because of form, but simply due to match availability in BGW34. Those caught unaware could be fielding less than 11 players in this pivotal gameweek.
With just a few gameweeks left in the season, every point counts, and Forest’s unexpected progression sharpens the focus on planning. Managers are urged to stay flexible, monitor fixture updates daily, and consider holding off on transfers until more clarity emerges around confirmed fixtures. Chip usage could now dramatically differ from one team to the next, depending on how saved or used the chips have been and how each squad is currently structured.
