June
14

Captain Poll – Matchday Two – Day Four

Filed under: Euro 2012 - Posted by: Paul

With uncertainty surrounding his starting role this evening, Fernando Torres had just 4% of the votes in the Matchday 2, Day 3 Captain Poll heading into the match with Republic of Ireland. A double from El Nino handed those Fantasy managers who gave him the armband a 20 point return, though it was David Silva who stole the show with a goal and two assists in the 4-0 rout:

Andres Iniesta was the runaway winner of the Captain Poll with 42% of the votes cast but, somewhat surprisingly, has not been awarded an assist for his role in Silva’s first goal. The below quote from the McDonald’s site would suggest Iniesta should have been handed the assist after Shay Given parried his effort into Silva’s path – perhaps the fact that Silva had a couple of touches before netting has gone against the Barcelona man.

An attempt, which rebounds from the goal frame, the goalkeeper or a defender, can be considered as an assist, if it leads directly to a goal.

This evening’s early kick-off saw the forwards draw a blank in the McDonald’s game. Mario Mandzukic’s classification as a midfielder helped the Croatian to a 14 point armband haul after he grabbed the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Italy, while the Azzurri’s Andrea Pirlo picked up a 16 point captaincy return due to his free kick opener and eight recovered balls. After disappointment for many this evening, it’s stick or twist time again tomorrow, then…

Tournament co-hosts Ukraine will be seeking their second Group D win in the early kick-off against France and Andriy Shevchenko offers a decent differential candidate, with an ownership of less than 5% in the McDonald’s game. The skipper arrives on the back of his double against Sweden, while Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka both picked up assists in the 2-1 win over Erik Hamren’s men, with the latter also firing five shots at goal.

For Laurent Blanc’s side, the front three are the main protagonists. Samir Nasri grabbed a goal and created eight goalscoring opportunities against England, Franck Ribery provided his team mates with six chances to find the net and resultantly picked up an assist, while Karim Benzema had six shots against Roy Hodgson’s side.

England and Sweden square up in the later encounter, with the former having conceded just once in three games under their new manager. For England, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck are likely to carry the threat up front, though Steven Gerrard’s set-piece duties and likely points for recovered balls – given his side’s tactics – makes the Liverpool man another armband alternative.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the obvious captaincy choice for the Swedes – despite returning a single goal in his opener, he had four shots and provided four goalscoring chances against Ukraine. Seb Larsson and Kim Kallstrom’s creativity could see them both play a part as the Swedes attempt to hand Hodgson his first defeat in charge of the national side, though doubts remain over who will lead the line, with Markus Rosenberg, Ola Tiovonen and Johan Elmander all vying for the lone striker role.

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paul

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  1. Any thoughts on Lewandowski or Cassano > Torres for GW3?

    1. For a 3 point hit

      1. You get unlimited transfers at the quarter-final stages. Stick to Lewandowski because Poland need him to score and qualify. Basically, all in.

    2. Maybe not for a hit, but otherwise yes.

      I think keep Lewandowski anyway. He's dangerous and will probably score against the Czechs.

  2. Arsenal are interested in signing Russian international midfielder Alan Dzagoev, 21. The £13m-rated CSKA Moscow player is out of contract in December. Daily Mail

    ...hmmm, join the queue Wenger.

    1. Rather unusual for Arsenal to be linked with so many players eh?

    2. Who isn´t?! Him and Mandzukic are major targets atm.

    3. Maybe Arshavin will sell it to him......oh wait!

    4. Well said! :)

    5. All just for one man to stay - Ruud van Persie.

      1. That's an interesting angle, I suppose that makes sense, it's so un-Arsenal to be buying players.

        1. Ruud van Persie is an Arsenal player? ;)

          1. Ho' shit, Robin. Goddammit, ROBIN!

  3. Nasri or Benzema for captain choice? Fingers on Benzema.

    1. Without a doubt, Benzema but Nasri is worth a gamble.

    2. go for the midfielder ...far more chance of points. If Nasri scores a brace and France keep a clean sheet he gets 13. If the same happens for Benzema he gets 10.

      All three of Benzema, Nasri and Ribery look dangerous...anyone can score two out of them.

      1. Nasri has scored 4 goals for France since 2007... I wouldn't be too confident in him scoring any, let alone 2!

        1. Nasri is on penalties and has assist potential....a far greater assist potential than Benzema. I'd still go for Nasri.

      2. Forward is more likely to score though.

        According to the bookies:
        Benzema 15/8 ~35% chance
        Nasri 4/1 ~20% chance

        To score 2 or more:
        Benzema 9/1 ~10% chance
        Nasri 33/1 ~3% chance

        1. Yep, despite his poor goalscoring record for France, Benzema is definitely more likely to score more points than Nasri.

    3. This might help you decide:

      Benzema’s appearances for France since 25/03/11:

      11/06/12 EUC France 1 – 1 England (0)
      05/06/12 FRI France 4 – 0 Estonia (2 goals)
      31/05/12 FRI France 2 – 0 Serbia (0)
      27/05/12 FRI France 3 – 2 Iceland (0)
      15/11/11 FRI France 0 – 0 Belgium (0)
      11/11/11 FRI France 1 – 0 United States (0)
      06/09/11 ECQ Romania 0 – 0 France (0)
      02/09/11 ECQ Albania 1 – 2 France (1 goal)
      10/08/11 FRI France 1 – 1 Chile (0)
      06/06/11 FRI Ukraine 1 – 4 France (0)
      03/06/11 ECQ Belarus 1 – 1 France (0)
      29/03/11 FRI France 0 – 0 Croatia (0)
      25/03/11 ECQ Luxembourg 0 – 2 France (0)

      Nasri's record is not great either though!

      1. But then who has the highest no. of assists ?

        1. I haven't been able to find decent stats for assists, but if anyone can find some I'd be very interested to see them.

    4. Hold out for a bit man. L'Equipe saying Blanc is contemplating making 3 changes with Nasri one of 'em.

      1. Noooooooo

        1. Ah, that's a pain!

          1. I should have stuck to my guns and picked Ribery, Pirlo and Silva instead of Iniesta, Nasri and Benzema.

      2. oh, merde!

      3. Although I've just been reading that L'equipe appear to have it in for Nasri. There's bad blood between the player and paper so I'm not sure you can entirely trust what they say about him

        http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2012/jun/130612-Nasri-vents-fury-at-journalist.htm

  4. Just a quick one as am in a rush, and no time to read other threads but.....

    Shouldn't Iniesta have an assist for the second goal yesterday?

    1. Apparently, a solo/dribble will cancel off the assist.

      1. Surely RVP's goal the other night was a solo effort but Sneider got the assist for it. Silva's was less of a solo goal than that.

        1. Fabregas received a corner pass from Silva and he too dribbled off a defender before finishing it off. Silva's assist was given.

          1. Exactly. Inconsistency if you ask me. I'm going to wait for them to do the right thing and credit Iniesta with the assist.

    2. The rules say he should but it hasn't been given.

      1. Think I'll hang on before changing my captain.

        1. Well they live in the past. They think that still the old rule is in place and dribbles cancel assists

  5. is the freest scoring club team in europe yet to have one of their players score in the euros??

  6. So glad I went for CR7 over Silva last round....anyways on WC. Who do you think are the essential players this round? Rooney, Torres, Pirlo, Silva, Ineista, Benzema? Thinking should have some dutch/germans in there too?

    1. Tooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrressssssssssssssssss

      That is all.

    2. Silva.
      That is all :)

      1. Not think that could be overkill? Surely croatia will put up more of a fight than ireland!

    3. Torres + Pirlo + Gomez

  7. So what's the e-mail to send them complain about Iniesta?

    1. someone posted it on the last page

    2. Oh yeah... just realised he hasn't got an assist?? What's that about! My captain as well as I'm sure a lot on here had too! :(

      1. Already Mailed Them.

      2. Yes, let us all lodge a complaint.

  8. Is it worth doing Fàbregas + CR7 out for 3 point hit or just one of them?

    Would bring in torres/dzagoev for the hit

    1. oooh actually Gomez/dzagoev is also in budget

      1. Gomez might be rested for Klose as Germany have already qualified so be wary

        1. false! germany have certainly not qualified!!!! if they lose by two and holland lose then portugal and denmark will go through. if they lose by 1 and holland lose then I think they still would get knocked out unless it was like 3-2 or something...

        2. Germany still has alot to play for.

    2. Who will Fabregas replace? Not Torres, he scored twice, not Silva, he had two assists and scored, certainly not Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets unless they're rested which I don't see happening. Cesc on the bench IMO

  9. Who do you think from the german players will get rested?

    1. I think gomez could be for klose but the group isn't won yet...is it?

      1. Gomez

  10. I can't wait for the next season already....

    Torres back in form, the influx of quality signings, playing like defending champions & continue to watch.....

    ........"same ol' same ol" Pool & Spurs.

    1. Not exactly back in form. Back in form would mean scoring consistently for a fair few weeks.

      1. Scored / shone in the last 10 games (incl PL/CL SF/Finals/Euro friendly/Finals)

  11. just scored an awesome bent fk from about 25 out with my keeper in fifa :D

    1. Upload it and let us have a gander ;)

      1. wtf!? it was an ultimate team match and i was up 2-1 with 5 min left and then it disconnected me from the EA servers.... dont get my deserved coins from the match nor can i save the replay! gahhh :( .

        1. super frustratting! i've been disconnected from the servers like 4-5 times in the last couple days and mostly at the very end of my matches when im winning and then i lose all the points i should get but it still burns up a match on all my players contracts

  12. Here's my WC team so far

    Malafeev | Andersen

    Alba | Bonucci | Limbersky | Piszczek | Strinic

    Pilar | Pirlo | Sneijder | Kuba | Dzagoev

    Benzema | Muller | Torres

    Any thoughts on it?

    1. I wish i had a WildCard. I'm f*cked in this competition :(

      1. Hey Beric

        You cant be doing worse than me, look at my rank :(

        1. I'm down to 64.000 ish. Thanks god no one in my private ML's have a clue.

    2. Same frontline as me apart from I've stuck rooney in there for muller.

    3. Looks good, I wouldn't have Muller, I don't think he's looked very threatening in the last 2 games.

  13. Liklyhood of Toivenon starting tonight or will he be dropped fro elmander?

    1. BBC have Elmander to start but Rosenberg dropping out.
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18181790

      1. Cheers mate. Might as well take a punt on a 2pt player out. Not exactly much to lose!

      2. would make sense as he has experience of the English game...plus has scored one of the Premier League's best ever goals.

  14. FPL questions guys. The administrator of our mini league has left the company, how do we cancel this league so we can start a new one with new peple joining next season?

    1. Just start a new one.

      Only the admin cancel their own leagues.

      1. I was told the old league will start again next season though if we dont delete it?

        1. It will if he allows it to.
          Either ask him to delete it, ask him to transfer admin, or just start a new league.

    2. You have to ask him to change the administrator to one of you.

  15. Morning gang

    1. Morning our kid

      1. How's things, me claret and blue mukka?

        1. Not too bad kidda. How's your team getting on?

          1. Awfull this week. I'd have been doing better if I didn't wildcard :( but only just. How about you?

            1. I'm doing pretty average (40 points). Luckily my co manager has had a blinder though.

              1. I know he has, hes my H2H opponent this week :(

  16. In your face. First time e-mailing will tell u if there is reply.

    Dear all

    Can u please be consistent and follow the rules that u have created. Please remember your self that u've changed the assist rule before the tournament. If someone dribbles now the assists aren't canceled.

    Please don't live in the past and read what u have written.

    "An attempt, which rebounds from the goal frame, the goalkeeper or a defender, can be considered as an assist, if it leads directly to a goal."

    Anxiously waiting for my deserved assist.

    Regards,
    Your faithfully Daniel

    1. Man dont use 'u' instead of you :-)

      1. Yep, now we won't get the assist because of that. ;)

          1. yep rly

            1. Its in the topic of the mail. Its called Iniesta assist

    2. You should have mentioned it was the Iniesta assist! :)

    3. you haven't mentioned what assist you are referring to

    4. Ur gonna h8 the nu rtickl

      1. Its in the topic of the mail

    5. They're just gonna think a 12 year old retard wrote this

      1. Hahahha thanks Sammy helpful as always.Well I was annoyed and could care to be polite ;)

    6. Its the word 'can' that is key here. They should really alter that and say will be considered an assist. It already starts with ambiguity. Who decides whether its an assist. The BBC and press association say it was, so why does Macdonald's think it isn't. They can flip burgers, for sure (tm Redknapp), but can they decide on what is an assist or not?

  17. Stick or Twist on Alba C 12 pts?

    other options are Ribery and Benzema

    1. Stick

    2. Probably depends if you're behind in a mini league, if so then I'd twist.

      1. it's close- I'm about 6 points behind

  18. Iniesta looks like a big waste of money at the moment, especially if he's not even getting FPL level assists!

    Great player but no good if only picking up 2/3 points per game.

    1. I'm stuck with him now though, and a bunch of other useless pieces of crap.

      1. As long as you haven't got Balotelli up front!

        1. I have Robben :?

    2. same as Ozil...

  19. For my free transfer:

    A) Podolski -> Rooney (as I had planned to)

    B) Meireles -> Dzagoev (already have Shirokov)

  20. Morning all,

    Used my WC last week and things have been less than impressive, any thoughts on possible transfers this week (don't mind a -3), thanks:

    Chalkias / Anderson
    Alba / Bonucci / Perquis / Maniatis / Lescott
    Nasri / Iniesta / Dzagoev / Shirokov / Young
    Benzema / CR7 / Jelly

    Currently thinking of ditching CR7

  21. Team for MD3
    Chalky Anderson
    Lescott, Debuchy, Bonucci, Alba, Strinic
    Nasria, Iniesta, Sneijder, Konyplyanka, Shirokov
    Arshavim, Cassano, Lewandowski

    Suggestions for my FT ?

    1. Sifakis starting for Greece and not sure about Iniesta and Cassano, go for Kuba and Torres

  22. tough one, feel he'll bounce back vs Dutch, i will stick with him

  23. Quick question for those doing the Euro Pro game. I have a deadline for sealed bids today at 3pm, does this mean that i can bring in players for todays 2 games and play them today? Effectively gaining extra games by selling people who have already played in matchday 2? Hope that's not too confusing!?

  24. I have Dzagoev as captain.I still have benzema, nasri - do i hand it to either of the two or just stick with Alan D?

Scout Picks

Team of the Season 2012/13

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

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