January
28

With a stork delivery just around the corner, I drag Mark, nappies and all, into the studio for one more ScoutCast before the little time thief bundle arrives.

Keeping my distance, despite getting over the worst of my stinker that had me bed-ridden last week, I find time to lament my latest “miffed”, torment Mark about his belated sale of Victor Moses and gloat just a little about closing the mini-league gap via Clint Dempsey’s haul.

The regulars are all present and partially correct, delivered in husky tones, fuelled by Lemsip. Other cold cures are available. Other chaotic Fantasy Football podcasts aren’t.

Get the this latest episode without the help of midwife via this link.

  1. goooooood mornin'

    fantasy ACON Rd 3, how do i look? 75 people in FFS mini league and Im 33rd, NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!

    Diakite (BOT) [Ovono (TUN)]

    K. Toure (ANG), Paintsil (GUI), Kante (BOT), Kily (ZAM) [Ifa (GAB)]

    Y. Toure (ANG), Ayew (GUI), Keita (BOT), Zita (TUN) [Korbi (GAB)]

    Drogba (ANG), Gyan(C, GUI) [Msakni (GAB)]

    anyone here playing? if not, dont hate me if i repost in a couple hours.

    1. can you give me the link for the league FW?

        1. my bad the code for the league.

          1. League code for "This is Africa FFS": 11279247740061

            1. danke schoen sleep talk, much appreciated

    2. How many points you got?

  2. 1) aguero + McClean or
    2) Dzeko + Sess ?

    Rest of mids and forwards are:
    Silva, Bale, Valencia , Dempsy
    RVP & Ba.
    Thoughts appreciated.

    1. Numero Uno.

      1. Why ?

        1. after this week you will probably bench sess over your other options anyway. may as well use mcclean in that role and get the better quality everyweek striker.

          1. Thanks man.
            done.

    2. HVT
      • Reputation Level: Scout

      Aguero IMO safer and I feel he has a lot of opportunity to score over next few wks, your mf is strong anyway so you'll need a bencher, no point in trying to bench a heavyweight each week, it'll wreck your head esp if there's pts on that bench .

      1. i am thinking along the same lines as well.
        and Aguero is worth the armband, but Dzeko ??

      2. HVT
        • Reputation Level: Scout

        Rvp untill aguero shows us different , that's where im at.

    3. 2 Definitely!

      1. Why?

        1. With Balotelli sidelined Dzeko will get his playtime, and he can score as many as Aguero. Sessegnon is even better value at the moment!

  3. Can u all gv some opinions on my team for tis week... Not a WC team..

    Mignolet

    Richards Evans Enrique

    Bale Silva Valencia Sess HBA

    Aguero RVP(C)

    Vorm Simpson Morison Caulker

    1. change your subs order.
      Morison should be first. ( Norwich can score goals and Morison is always in the mix)
      And i fency Swansaa to shout out chelsea more than Newcastle aginst Blackburn).
      You may even play morsion ahead of HBA.

      1. So my sub order HBA caulker Simpson??
        Put Morison in for HBA??

        1. its a tough call, Blackburn are leaky at the back, so probably play HBA.
          and Morison as first sub and caulker ahead of simpson. ( Blackburn usually score at home).

      2. if hes starting mignolet, then morison would counter that CS potential. Id play bafa, may as well try to get use out of him while you can.

        1. Mike I dun quite rly und.. Can u explain again too me.. My english is bad.. :(

    2. HVT
      • Reputation Level: Scout

      Not bad go with your gut , the crystal ball can be quite difficult to read at times anyway.

      1. Wat is liv chance of getting clen sheet? :) Shud I put Enrique in??

  4. So, barca are now 7 points behind madrid, obviously too early to write them off but if barca only win the copa del ray, I don't think messi will win the ballon'd'or or at least I hope not.

    1. not too happy with that 7 point gap... especially with the madrid not dropping many points.

      copa del rey + champions league + club world cup + european super cup + spanish super cup = he will probably win it again.

      even without the champions league he could still win it. who else would you give it to? Ronaldo?

      1. sure.

          1. give it to Ronaldo.

  5. Rooney > Welbeck???

    1. yep

  6. Adebayor is the Schrödinger's cat of players, isn't he.

    I know for sure that if I put him in my team against Wigan he'll do feck all, but if I don't he'll play the game of his life and score a hat-trick.

    1. Well just do me one favour, tell me your decision :)

      1. You'll be the first to know, Udit. ✔

        1. thanks billy :)

    2. Also you can't tell from his goals scored if he's dead or alive...

      1. What if he's simultaneously dead and alive? :shock:

        1. You mean like a Zombie?

        2. I'd believe that if he were in a box and hence he could not be observed, unfortunately he doesn't go into the box anymore :D

  7. Call me a sadist, but I can't wait for Tuesday night to blow away our carefully laid plans. This week has been just too comfortable...

    1. Yeah the WC teams are almost all identical. The only debate is whether we chose the correct defensive rotations. I imagine the fantastic 5 will stick around for a few weeks but who knows.

  8. How is my team looking for next few weeks??

    Stockdale,

    Enrique, Bae, Evans

    Silva, Bale, Valencia, McClean

    Torres, RVP, Aguero

    Vorm, Senderos, Ben Arfa, Simpson

    I hv 2.4M and 1 FT , any changes shud i make??

    1. i like ur team..nice team value and i would bring in kompany this week

      1. thnx Bsal, who should i drop for kompany??

        1. enrique probably...liverpool some tough fixtures ahead and also will be tired playing against wolves

  9. Morning all

    While it's fairly quiet on here can I get some opinions on my current dilemma. My team for this weeks currently looks like this:

    Vorm
    Evans, Enrique, Skelly
    Gerrard, Sessegnon, Silva, Mata
    RVP, Dzeko, Best

    Subs: Krul, Walters, Santon, Shawcross

    4.2m in bank, WC played last week, FT already used to do Rooney > Dzeko. (Dzeko is a short term punt for 2/3 weeks)

    Should I

    a) take a 4pt hit this week and do Walters to Valencia this week, play 5 in midfield with Best as first sub and just do Best to Ba next week for no hit or
    b) leave as is this week and take a 4pt hit next week to do Gerrard to Valencia and Best to Ba

    Option a) I keep Mata until GW29 and take a hit this week and option b) I keep Walters until GW28 and take a hit next week.

    muchas gracias

      1. Cheers TW, anyone else got any thoughts?

          1. Morning Doos and thanks. So I now have a fifty-fifty split :)

            1. Actually, as my brain slowly wakes up, may I enquire why you don't do a Gerrard to Valencia move now?

              1. Stoke have three lovely home games in the offing ...

                1. I could do the Gerrard move now, but Liv have a good fixture this week which is why I thought of keeping til next week.

                  And Stoke's lovely fixtures are part of the dilemma and Walters rotates well with Sess.

                  My original plan was no hit this week and then b) next but Rooney's potential absence forced my hand somewhat this week as I couldnt afford to have him on the bench.

                  I dont think Best will do anything, he was just a placeholder until Ba came back.

                  Are you now thinking b)?

    1. HVT
      • Reputation Level: Scout

      Avoid hitsmac IMO you don't need to, true Toni is on fire but not sure if you'll get the desired outcome against stoke/Chelsea

      1. Hard Van, you dont think that playing Valencia this week as opposed to Best will offset the 4 points?

        1. Actually, thinking about it you may both have good points there. I could leave as is this week, just do Best to Ba next week and then Gerrard to Valencia the following week for no hits.

          Thanks HVT, Doos and TW, I think I'll do that :D

        2. Possibly not, now that Rooney is out.

        3. HVT
          • Reputation Level: Scout

          Play 5 mf, and after a lot of thought best>ba next and monitor gerra for returns. Your team is solid mac, you know more than most what your doing stick with your gut, it's usually what I do and I find things have a habit of working themselves out.

          1. My problem is that I get side-tracked with price rises and fixtures and sometimes cant see the wood from the trees which is why I value opinions on this site. It helps me to keep a proper perspective.

            And I may well yet end up keeping Gerrard, after GW27 their run until the end is pretty sweet.

            Many thanks HVT, Doos - invaluable help!

            1. HVT
              • Reputation Level: Scout

              IMO this strategy of 5 strong mf is causing a lot of consternation out there, peeps are struggling with who to bench , hell a lot benched bale last wk against city and we all know how that went , I think a weak 5th man is the order of the day unless you go with a very weak 3rd striker and bench him, I think this is your wood from your trees , jus need to work out which seed to sow, - ultimately Mac " the holy grail "

  10. can someone explain to me why most don't think newcastle will get the cs vs blackburn?

    1. Syd
      • Reputation Level: Scout

      Because Blackburn always score at home...

    2. Because blackburn have never failed to score a goal this season in the PL

      1. ahhh, that explains it. didn't realize that was the case. you don't think no yak and going against a usually tight defense will change that though?

        1. Anything is possible, it wouldn't surprise me if Newcastle kept them out

  11. apparently Liverpool offered Citeh Andy Carrol in exchange for Tevez??? :lol: :lol: :lol:

      1. Syd posted a Guardian link a few posts up - interesting!!

        1. HVT
          • Reputation Level: Scout

          HVT joined debate ^

    1. lol at carol!!!! :D

  12. r taylor or jose enrique wom shud be the first sub if bale does not plays???
    i already have krul!!!

  13. is Bogdan bound to start all the matches now after recent results nd performances ?

    1. Jaaskelainen is still injured ...

  14. Another slow day with the GW nowhere in sight... what better way to make it worse than posting a RMWCT :D ?

    Krul/Lindegaard
    Richards Evans Brown/Santon/Rangel
    Silva Bale Valencia Sess/Walters
    RVP Aguero Ba

    1. Interesting that you have gone for Walters over Dempsey but I can see why. Your defense is very similar to what my WC defense will be, although I see you have gone for triple rotation with Evans playing ever game, not a bad option.

      1. Yep Walters for their home fixtures coming up, and he rotates perfectly with Sess - - so long he stays on pens obviously - Evans and Richards always start as their teams have the best CS records in the league, if Evans is ever dropped should be able to find another defender from the 3 rotated.

        Main doubt for me is Walters, is Sinclair or indeed Dempsey a better bet?

        1. Rule Sinclair out imo. Its either Dempsey or Walters, obviously you save money with Walters so it depends if your happy with where that is spent. I have gone for Dzeko over Aguero in order to afford Dempsey.

          1. Yep, could be pretty close between both options. I hear Aguero will be on pens though if it helps.

            1. Here is my effort, its similar to yours but with two double rotations

              Krul/Linde
              Richards, Evans/Santon, Shotton/Kelly
              Silva, Bale, Dempsey, Sess, Valencia
              RVP, Dzeko, Ba

              1. Nice, eleven of fifteen the same! MUN/NEW and STO/FUL both rotate very well. Only avoided STO/FUL because I see both Shotton and Kelly as not entirely nailed on.

                1. Fair enough, I am willing to take the risk as I will be happy for Evans to fill in if necessary on a permanent basis so that limits the risk a little for me. The other issue is choosing who to bench. Ba this week and probably Dempsey the following week as they play City. It could be problematic but it means I have a descent player who can play if someone gets injured or is a doubt

                  1. Yep more options are better than none.

            2. Just realized you might be wrong about Aguero being on penalties. Surely it will be Milner, no?

                1. How can you be so sure?

                  1. Milner's penalty was with no Aguero on the field, but Milner was on when Aguero took his.

                  2. Fair enough

                  3. Liverpool and Newcastle games btw.

        2. Sorry, I meant Walters rotates well with Sess to GW28. Awful after that.

        3. I believe that Dempsey is better. I prefer Etherington too ...

          1. There's apparently a possibility Walters might have to give pens over to Etherington in which case I will definitely consider him...

    2. Like it a lot, although I'm not sure about Rangel - or any Swansea.

      1. +1 I wouldn't have any Swansea although with the triple rotation he could fit in. Not sure I agree with that policy though

        1. Dunno. I have a pair as well - Koscielny and Assou-Ekotto. I like the run ins of their respective teams.

          1. Yeah Swansea coverage is only justified for me by the triple rotation. On the few occasions the other two are bad fixtures, playing Rangel at home is a nice thought. Have tried to make my defenders as attacking as possible.

            1. Change Brown to Bardsley?

              1. Yeah I considered that, can just about afford that ... I know he has assist potential although it's not materialized to much... why not! Brown to Bardsley.

          2. BAE Doos? Don't Spurs have tough fixtures for a while

            1. Yep. He may become Clichy temporarily, who goes well with Koscielny - but I am tempted to let it ride and swap Shawcross out ...

            2. I'm with you on that one Ryan. Barring mishaps, I'm planning on Shawcross to BAE in GW28. After that they only have Chelsea in GW30, then they have a great run right through, so avoiding Spurs until then.

              1. I rather enjoyed his point's haul the other week ...

                  1. Also, if I do McAuley to Santon GW 26, I will be pretty secure ... hmmm that is a plan ...

                1. I reckon you have a crystal ball Doos ;) BAE and Dempsey with their points hauls. I seem to manage to miss them :)

                  1. Unfortunately, it seems to malfunction at crucial moments - misty, and too much in love ... ;-)

                2. Likewise, I would keep him for another week but I'm on WC now so can't really

    1. rooney a better gk than de gea

  15. aguero taiwo mcclean or dzeko sess dawson for 3 weeks then swap the first combo? I think its worth getting dzeko while balo is out.

    Thoughts?

    1. Yeah a few people are looking at Dzeko. He may not start though as Johnson could always play with Aguero as the striker. I however have taken the risk and bought Dzeko in

  16. I've been monitoring Rooney this week.

    Thinking of doing Rooney and Walters ---> Valencia and Welbeck leaving me spare cash to bring in Demba Ba next week -4points tho this week.

    Thoughts?

  17. I'm very happy about that I am the only one in my ML whos the big 5 in midfield! :D

    1. Likewise, most casuals don't really know the big 5 midfield

      1. Bale, Silva, Walters, Dempsey and Sess?

        1. Replace Walters with Valencia and you have the big 5

  18. A. Valencia and dzeko or
    B. aguero and Walters?

    1. A

  19. Morning guys.

    Got 2 FT before i can wc the following gameweek.

    Seems like Rooney and Nani cant make it. So which option should i pick?

    A. Rooney, Nani -> Aguero, Valencia
    B. Rooney, Nani -> Adebayor, Sessengon
    C. Rooney, Nani -> Aguero, VDV
    D. Different combination of the above

    Team
    Vorm (Krul)
    Evans BAE Senderos Brown (Simpson)
    Walters Silva Bale (Nani Moses)
    RVP Rooney Sturridge

    1. Can you afford Adebayor and Valencia?

    2. A

      Adebayor doesn't look like a good investment now, many owners have already got rid or looking to do so after the Wigan game.

  20. New post gents, and ladies

  21. Morning fellas... Krull or vorm ?

    1. Krul.

      1. Cheers nomar Krul it is

  22. Guys, please can I have some help with my wc team. A or B

    A. Lindy, Krul,
    Kompany, Evans Enrique, Sendors, Simpson,
    Bale, Dempsey, silva, Valencia, McLean
    Rvp, aguero, Ba

    B. Lindy, Krul,
    Richards, Evans, Simpson, Kelly, caulker
    Bale, Dempsey, silva, Valencia, sess
    Rvp, aguero, Ba

  23. All of David Silva's assists this season: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Features/2012/January/Silva-service

    Also another reason to have both Silva and Aguero in your team :)

    Enjoy!

Scout Picks

Team of the Season 2012/13

  • Jääskeläinen
  • Baines
  • Vertonghen
  • Zabaleta
  • Davies
  • Walcott
  • Mata
  • Michu
  • Bale
  • Suárez
  • van Persie
  • Evra
  • Cazorla
  • Benteke

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“I love to attack and I love to go up front...It is a little more difficult than when you are playing centre-back. If you play the way that I want to play, I think my influence is better as a left-back. For the team, it is best that I play as a centre-back. I like to bring the ball out. You need to move the game quickly, and that is one of my qualities as well.”

Jan Vertonghen outlines what he feels is his best position for Andre Villas-Boas