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Oct 26

Saturday’s Scout Notes

Hull’s unlikely march towards a European place continues at the Hawthorns. United stutter at Goodison and Richardson blasts Sunderland fans into delirium at the Stadium of Light.

There’s a change of format for the scout notes this week, as I gear up for the midweek schedule. I’ll be structuring things differently from now on, giving myself a little more freedom to focus on the things that matter - rather than who Southgate picked at left back. Not that Gareth and his team aren’t interesting of course…

The Lineups

Santa Cruz is back in the fantasy equation after he returned from injury against Boro yesterday. Given his inflated value this season however - he will need some impressive form before any fanatsy manager will look his way. McCarthy’s late equaliser for Blackburn will surely put him in the frame for a start at Villa on Wednesday. He was a fantasy favourite the season before last of course, but it’s very early days before we can consider him as a prospect for this term. A price tag of just 7.2 in the FPL will make him an interesting proposition should he establish himself and find some form.

Samba missed the game yesterday so will remain a doubt for the Villa game. Warnock kept his central midfield role and looks set to do so long term - Olsson is becoming established at left back but is classed as a midfielder across the games so offers little value.

Yobo returned to the Everton defence against United. That meant that Baines dropped to the bench yet again, with Lescott shifted to left back. Cahill is back from suspension for Everton’s trip to Bolton on Wednesday so I’m expecting a change to 4-5-1 with Saha making way.

The right back situation is no clearer for United. Brown started yesterday with Neville benched. I expect that to be reversed against West Ham on Wednesday. The situation is far from predictable so both Brown and Neville look no-go in fantasy terms. Tevez was again on the bench at Goodison - he will surely threaten a start against his former club. Rooney would be favourite to get a rest.

Jones returned to the Sunderland bench against Newcastle. His partnership with Cisse looks potentially fruitful for Keane and fantasy managers. Both are mid-price options - Cisse at 6.8 in the FPL, Jones at 6.9 currently. Both represent decent options for those looking to downgrade their strikers and could provide a decent supplement to Zaki. Expect to see Cisse and Jones lineup together at some point at Stoke on Wednesday.

The Form

Hull stole the headlines again with another superb win and their players will get further attention this week. Another clean sheet makes it just one goal conceded in the last four games. Myhill and Turner continue to present outstanding value then. Zayatte is now offering strong value at just 4.0 as a further option - his goal and bonus will bring him to the attention of many then, including owners of Dawson who suffered an injury yesterday.

In midfield, Marney left with a fourth assist, while Geovanni was bombing beyond the strikers and always looked a threat - scoring his fourth goal of the season. Both will surely see FPL price rises again this week. Up front meanwhile, King is presenting himself as an excellent budget consideration with three goals, an assist and six FPL bonus to his name thus far.

Hull’s fixtures do get even tougher however - it’s Chelsea, United and City over the next four. Clean sheets look unlikely then, while you’d expect their attacking potential to be muted by the United and Chelsea defences, but it’s clear you underestimate Hull at your peril.

Richardson’s form for Sunderland warrants some attention. His fixtures are a mixed bag but his emerging threat from set plays makes him a decent alternative to Ireland or Geovanni. He is sitting on four bookings however. Staying in midfield, Fletcher grabbed a third goal of the season for United - his place will be under threat with Carrick’s immenent return from injury but he could warrant another look in the short-term.

There was lots of talk on the comments, as always, on Ronaldo. Just a single FPL bonus point for him this week will bitterly disappoint many who turned to him for their captaincy. He looked lively in a strong first half for United but faded badly and missed chances in the second. While he is clearly struggling to find the form and influence of last season - it’s clear to me that he remains central (quite literally at times) to United’s attacking play.

United stuttered at Goodison and therefore so did Ronaldo. I personally feel that when United click, he will bring in the kind of points that come close to justifying his price tag. if Chelsea get three points today, then Ronaldo should start against West Ham and Ronaldo owners should profit if the Hammers get the backlash from yesterday’s draw.

Injuries and Bans

Just one injury of note - Dawson picked up a knock for Hull against West Brom and was subbed on 10 minutes.

Still with Hull, and skipper Ashbee became the first Premiership player to reach five bookings. He’ll miss the game against United at Old Trafford next weekend so he will be available for the home game with Chelsea on Wednesday.

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There are currently 469 responses

  1. Enjoy the games today lads…… hope you get some more points than yesterday!

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    I don’t care what others say, I think you’re f***ing genius, To paraphrase yourself: A Chelsea Liverpool game will be a tight affair settled by an odd goal and I think Liver will win 1-0. Once again, as someone who risked with Reina and Agger, you’re a genius

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    It’s funny to think now of all the bile that was disgorged in response to fran’s reasonable, if bold prediction of a Liverpool win.

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    Thanks everyone including Dimitrije and dunk who had faith with Liverpool and me today. And shame on those who had 2-3 Chelsea players even as captain! However, I thought it was wasy to work out as both clubs are top of the league so you would expect a tight game and when they have played in recent times they have been tight games anyway. Liverpool beat Man United without Torres and Gerrard so why the problem with Chelsea? I did manage to watch the game and Lampard often does not show up in these tight games. Now that Chelsea have been hurt and Hull is on a roll. The problem with Hull now is that I heard they have lost some players, maybe at the back. But I still expect Hull to win in one of their next 2 HARD games. Hull also beat the great Arsenal this season too. If Hull wants to show that they are really good and not a flash in the pan then this is their BIG opportunity! I think as I have mentioned before Liverpool will be under pressure now they are top but they don’t want United getting 18 league titles to draw with them so they will fight all the way with blood and guts. Many people who come to this website do not remember when Liverpool were the best team in the world!!! All they have been brought up upon are Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United. They don’t realise Liverpool’s great teams in the 1970′2 and 80’s, traditions and history - basically they are ignorant!
    I hope everyone got some good points today, it was hard going especially without Zaki scoring…… but we all know he won’t score every game even when he is playing well but he is still on course to be the league’s top scorer barring any injuries.

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    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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    Hear, hear!

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    Fran, so you remember when Liverpool were the best team in the world? No one else here does neither, because on our planet Liverpool never won the Intercontinental Cup. Please don’t come on here and call people ignorant.

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    I’m not reading all that.

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    I tip my hat for the the prediction, but maintain that Chelsea were favorites. A great result for Liverpool, and could shape the season.

    I played a ‘defender’ from each.

    Cheers;

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    I don’t see how a single prediction right makes Fran a genius. After all, she has made mistakes before, example being her wild support of Zaki one GW, where he then proceeded to score 2pts, then subsequently advising giving up on him against pool, where he went on to score 2 - 2 goals this time.

    But Kudos to Fran for actually predicting this one right. I as one of the “Liverpool beat Chelsea away? Never!” voice have been silenced by this one.

    I think it’s unfair for dunk to call it “bile” that has been “disgorged”, though. Most of the replies I read were all reasonable, and well-explained with evidence or explaination. That’ more than you can say for Fran’s statements sometimes.

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    Fran is a bloke.

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    I switch between using ‘he’ and ’she’ here and there. None of us know for sure, you know, Fran him/herself said before that he/she “wonders, too.”

    Which led me to wonder how much we can trust the opinion of someone who’s unsure of their own gender.

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    I think you should respect her choice of online personality.

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  2. Does anyone know when Ashbee will have to serve his ban? If i’m reading things right, his booking yesterday means he will have to miss one match. I’m just hoping it isn’t the game mid-week…

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    Bans from 5 yellows come 7 days after the 5th booking so he’ll miss the United game.

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    I’ve added this to the notes now.

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    Awesome, thanks Mark - as always you are a legend. I was beginning to worry as I had set him up in my guardian team for the week (can’t make any changes till next weekend can we?), taking a risk on him not getting himself into anymore trouble (shortlived hope). At least he’ll play the Chelsea game, although not sure how profitable it will be for him…

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  3. Ashley Cole is playing :) Come on really need City and Chelsea to keep clean sheets tonight !

    Lamps score mate you can do it ………

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  4. There goes 8 points :( DAMN IT !!!!!!!!!

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    bugger…not another 1-1 surely?

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    Are Liverpool going withstand all this pressure. Let’s hope so, not that I want them to win, but no points for Chelsea would be great news for United.

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    Scrappy equaliser from Chelsea on the cards for me..bundled effort from Carvalho or something similar.

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  5. 10 points actually I have Cech, Cole and Lamps. I will get over it though :)

    Kalou just missed a golden chance !

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  6. Damn. First Dawson, now a goal deducts points for Cech and Bosingwa.

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  7. Carew not playing today then? This is good news for me as I have marney to come off the bench.

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  8. .

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    I know what you mean Ronaldo Lover!… Frans correct Liverpool prediction has left us all speechless! lol

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  9. Anelka and Di Santo up front. Lets hope Frank can get one otherwise we’re buggered! Anelka is the biggest waste of space, even Chris Sutton was better.

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  10. Come on Liverpool you can do it lads. 15 mins left.

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  11. Mark, cheers again. Reading your piece on Harry Redknapp, still in shock and Im not even a Portsmouth fan, it seems so sudden I didnt even know he had been linked with it. Reckon Bentley could be the number 1 transfer target in the next couple of weeks.New Coach, new confidence and I have heard Redknapp talk of Bentleys “quality” before. Dont rate him that highly, last season he never seemed to do it for me in fantasy terms I would bring him in and he would start getting 2 points per week, but now with a potential monoply on set pieces, it might be a good time to buy!

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  12. Dear all - would really appreciate opinions on these teams:

    Cech
    Bos Evra Garrido Fig Zayatte
    Ron Young Lamps Ireland Delap
    Defoe Zaki (Zam)

    OR

    Cech
    Bos Evra Agger Garrido Fig
    Ateta Young Lamps Ireland Delap
    Defoe Berba Zaki

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    dont think theres much in them, it pretty much all focuses around whether Ronny will do it again this year. or if berba willscore well, which he should i guess!

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    Defoe Berbatov Zaki = win.

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  13. adebayors on the bench

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  14. oops my bad anyways … adebayors on the bench

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  15. i have evra and reina, can anyone see any points difference if i transfer both for VdS and Agger?

    Arguaby Agger will be rotated a bit, but i think rafa is starting to learn he can change the whole team every game! I think Skrtl started every game when fir, for example (as, of course, does Carragher).

    The transfers would free up 0.7 million, thats my reason for comtemplating it!

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  16. Riera having a great game.

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  17. Looks like no Adebayor for Arsenal - Bendtner starting. Didn’t see that coming - Bendtner’s sitting on my FPL bench.

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  18. basically zayette, ronaldo and zamora or agger, arteta and berbatov? id go the 2nd team but i prefer cahill to arteta

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  19. sorry that was a reply to denial

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  20. Second team Hull have a tough month and go Robinho not Berbatov.

    I don’t liek Young either but your team :)

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  21. Have to agree denial, hats off Fran, good call.

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  22. No Adebayor?!?!? What? Aaargh!

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  23. i was looking at the top teams in the Scout league and they all have Ron and Lamps - but i agree ivan, I prefer the second option and Cahill may well be better option, thanks

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    2nd team just looks more solid and cahill over arteta is just a preference thing … no worries though :)

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  24. Thanks lads!!!
    4.5 year Chelsea gone. Now let’s all see what Hull can do?

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  25. Why is Crew on the bench? :(

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  26. Excellent Liverpool win, makes United’s 2 dropped points less of a problem. Don’t buy anything into this game, both sides looked off the pace.

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  27. I’m expecting Hull to win at least one of their next 2 games.
    Just checked - in my private league I’m the only one who had Lampard who put him on the bench.
    Ok, now everyone check the other results today. Good luck everyone!!!

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    Lamps on bench and Pool winning 1-0… Brave but you got it 100% Fran. Credit where credit is due!

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    Thanks CK - I hope you do well this weekend with points if not there is always mid-week!!! Many Thanks, Fran

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  28. its a messed up gameweek points wise so far

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  29. hahaha i knew it was the right time to sell adebayor! for those still hanging on to him stubbornly ala bentley style, u shld know he is not starting today. even if he did start i doubt he would score, looking at his record of scoring in 1 game out of 8 EPL games. thats horrendous (even though he may get assists and bonus hes not vfm i.e u could’ve changed to berbatov or van persie and spend 1.5 million elsewhere and get a higher points output).

    but who knows, it may be good for u if u had marney/geovanni as ur 1st sub and can only pray arsenal doesnt fall to an early sucker punch so ade wont play any part in this match..

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    I don’t suppose your laughing now mate, I’m afraid game can make people look so foolish.

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    That made me laugh so much!

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    ha ha hehe! 11 points from Ade and captain as well = 22 points ha ha hehe

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  30. Can someone please explain why Jo is not playing?

    He was my gamble as captain against the worst defence in the league!!!!!

    Is he injured?

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    Not surprised at all, Jo has looked anything but an 18m striker.

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    According to BBC updates Jo has a cold. I don’t think they would drop even an underperforming 18m striker for a youngster.

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  31. No Idea that would suck though ………

    Man city will put 5 or more past Stoke you can feel it.

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    i hope so…i’m not doing great yet this week - have taken a gamble on having 3 city players in team…and also COME ON YOU SPURS!

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  32. shthousssseeeeee

    there’s more strategy to who is playing and who isn’t than the actual game

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    That’s part of the game! I say that as one who sent out Gordon and Woodgate this weekend. A good football manager stays on top of everything, all the time. I let my boys down this week.

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  33. Dunner, Garrido and Ireland. Clean sheet is a must after Chelsea conceding otherwise I won’t crack 30 !

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  34. will be lucky to get 20! - and was 1,300 in world - end of my grand ambitions now - anyone know the price website address as isnt loading for me? (wholescale changes needed)

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  35. Please let Chelsea score, I really don’t care who wins, I just don’t want to live in a world where Fran is right…

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    LMAOROFL :)

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    I have to say that for all the stick (sometimes quite rightly) Fran gets on this site, it looks like he got the Liverpool win/Lampard not captain shout spot on.

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    hull are going to win the league! think i can still get 500-1 :)

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    Have to agree denial, hats off Fran, good call.

    *not sure why this posted half way up the page first time

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    He captained Berbatov.. 2 pts!! haha

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    Giving the captain hand band to Berbatov was a fail safe move just in case something happened in the Man Utd game. However, I made tons of points for my 3 Hull players! Good weekend so far….bring it ON!!! PS: Correction, Berbatov 4 points for Captain, they all count in the end!

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    Well done Fran you were dead right about Lampard he looked tired today, but made a mistake with United’s most ’skillful’ player Berbs. BTW 2 points is considered a failure.

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    3 Hull players.. Blablabla.. U only talk but we can never see ur team!!!!! hahaha

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    But she is wrong most of the time, so there is no credibility there. She’ll be on here very soon telling everyone I told you so.

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  36. adebayor benched

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    Yep…didn’t but should have seen that coming. He’s spearheading my guardian team this week and I’ve left Bendtner on the bench in the FPL. Not happy with myself or Wenger.

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    Can’t believe it. I captained him this week, and I was just starting to feel smug after poor performances from Ronaldo and Lampard. Doh. All I can say is Ade better come on for a decent amount of time and score!

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    but then he came in and scored a goal and get the assist for faubert own goal…how great is that…especially when i pick rooney instead of him…aarrgghhh…

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    and i even had a little tiny very small thought on robinho and there he is…a hatrick…hahaha

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  37. Fran is 45 and still lives at home with his mum and comics

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    Not sure where the offence is meant to be in that comment? Comics are cool, everyone gets to 45 eventually and its hard to get a mortgage these days. What’s your point?

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    who said it was supposed to be offencive?????

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    Was it supposed to be positive praise then?!

    Viva la Fran!

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    Obviously

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  38. city game is a good game to watch. entertaining

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    glad i took out denilson and etherington before this weeks games - possibly only positives from a dire week so far!

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  39. Bentley playing very well. Good be a good pick now that Harry is on the case.

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  40. Villa vs wigan is confusing atm, check out the stats - all in wigan’s favour apart from the scoreline :P

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  41. Q mass Denilson transfering out

    Not even on the bench

    No Adebayor either, bendtner and Van persie up front

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  42. Denilson goes tonight!

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  43. Zaki is rubbish

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  44. Zaki really is rubbish

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  45. My team is rubbish
    Cech
    Boswinga,Traore,Carvalho
    Ronaldo,SWP,Denilson,A Young
    Carew,Cole,Zaki
    Subs
    Schwarzer
    Figueroa,Robinson
    Arteta
    HELLLLPPPPPP

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    Dude, You have a Good team but You’ve had a BAD Gameweek. Don’t PANIC
    Just sell Denilson…

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    Thanks mate-I am falling behind in my league and I am starting to question my own judgement

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    Agreed don’t panic at this point and remember the games are coming in thick and fast so would be an ideal opportunity to use some free transfers in quick succession.. some comments on your team, it’s good but given the result today you’ve scored low in defense I would seriously consider brining in 1 pool or 1 utd defender and replace Carv (3 defenders from the same team is sketch) decent midfield but as Moz rightly suggests Denilson is probably the weakest link if you readjust I think Lampard is a must this season so switching out 1 Chelsea def for 1 mid is the best move you could make really.

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    Dude… how about
    Carvalho for Agger
    Denilson for Ireland/Agger/Cahill if you have cash
    Young for Cahill if you need moneys
    Robinson for a Hull/Fulham/City defender?

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  46. robinho again

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    Great. Can’t believe Ireland or SWP has neither a goal or assist to their name. What is with that.

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  47. Anybody else rapidly losing patience with SWP?

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    Hang on. Correction. It’s showing up on FPL that SWP got an assist?

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    a guy from my legue Has Kompany, Ireland, SWP and Robihno, I really hate him, Only thing that’s gonna save me from plunging 3-4 places down the rankings is Defoe getting 2-3 in with Traore keeping a clean sheet, fingers crossed

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    Is it possible to have 4 players from the same team?

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    No the max is 3

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    If you had all of them before one gets transferred and then don’t subsequently make any transfers of those players, I think you could have more than 3. For example, if you had 3 ManU players and Berbatov at TH, I won’t think you’d be required to drop a player when Berbatov got transferred. But, when you transfer one of the four, you won’t be able to acquire a ManU player.

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  48. Is SWP actually still alive?

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  49. he says, not noticing he’d got an assist for Robinho’s second goal…

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    From what I gather it wasn’t SWP it was Evans or Sturridge, depending on which goal they got wrong. At least that’s from what I can tell from reading online live reports.

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  50. gareth barry gone off injured

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  51. young assist!! boooh ya!!!

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  52. correction. carew got the assist and not young. dang

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    Well seeing as Carew is now on, Marney wont be coming off my bench. Ah well, I guess I’m going to have to do with Carew’s goal and assist, and probably bonus points, lol.

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  53. carew goal yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  54. THANK YOU SWP AND YOUNG!!!!

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    Why are you thanking young?

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    IM HAVING A BAD WEEKEND- JUST BY MAKING AN APPEARANCE HE MAKES IT LESS PAINFUL. :)

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  55. All aboard the Robinho bandwagon, next stop 10 mil

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    Be a good one to join. Man City have good games, Robinho will play and bound to make some money as well.

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    Robinho is a world class player that’s why he costs so much 32M in reality!

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    Question is who would you rather have berba or robinho?

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    Well he’s still yet to prove himself, if he was the real deal, why would Madrid let him go. 32m is ridiculous.

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  56. I knew it would be a crap gameweek after yesterdays debacle. At this rate ill be lcuky to hit 30 odd, and i think a fair few will be in the same boat. Unpredictable cleansheets (and lack of predictable ones too), goals coming from unusual quarters, and the assists too in many cases.

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    This has been a really tough week. I was worried beforehand because there were a lot of games which were tough to call. I didn’t think it would be this bad though. I’ll be lucky to get to thirty too. Here’s hoping Villa and City hold on to their clean sheets.

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    You are right. I guess Robinho stole the headlines as did Liverpool and Hull. Fantasy wise not the best of weeks choosing ron as captain and leaving out players like Traore who I thought wouldnt be playing! Had i not sold him I could have sold Etherington who only got 1!

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    yes…it is a crappy week…only got 40…and the others are catching up…musttt…gettt…moreeee…moreeee!!!!

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  57. When do people think Adebayor will come on for Arsenal? If they can’t score in the first half without him then they better bring him on! I desperately need some points this weekend.

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    There you go comfy, your prayers are answered in stunning style :)

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  58. Adebayor is carrying a slight thigh injury so probably wont play

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    Injury? When did he pick that up? I thought Ade was just being rested?

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  59. if they don’t score, he’ll be on.

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  60. Risky with that injury

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  61. 4 goals from Villa now, and not one of them involve Young! Dont think i would ever have believed it.

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    Yeah, a little irritating!

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    I too was astonished at that! Maybe the FPL bonus crew can give Young the 3 bonus points to make up for it? (here’s hoping!)

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  62. Villa 4 up

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    Who got the fourth?

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  63. Hey, is someone else being me?

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