If ever there was a team to scrutinize for a Moneyball piece, it is Stoke. They’re unfashionable and uninspiring with a reported philosophy that is about as far from Fantasy Football as one can get. Such characteristics, though, give us an opportunity to find value, and it is to the Britannia where we’ll turn our attention this week.
There's still 21 hours to go. Plenty of time to bottle it back 😉
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Not captaining RVP at home agaisnt bottom half sides the weekend before Champions League games anymore, Suarez is the man this week!
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I agree with this, Henry. I would def captain Suarez if I had him even if I had RVP as well.
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Anyone gettin Mata in this week? apart from Bale and Cazorla there really are'nt any standout premium mids are there?
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What about Hazard?
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Done my WC and have attacking cover for Utd, City, Chelsea, Arsenal but not Tottenham atm not sure if I should be trying to squeeze in someone from Tottenham, Lennon maybe as don't really have the funds for Bale, also not sure if I've got the best cover as have Kags rather than RVP or Rooney.
Jussi Foster
Baines Cahill Wilson Hughes Clyne
Kagawa Cazorla Mata Sterling Pienaar
Berba Ba TevezOpen Controls
I have a similar dilema and am looking at bringing in Bale for Ben Arfa this GW. I have no Chelsea cover though. I think it is pretty tough to tick all the boxes this year, unfortunately. Unless you have RvP/Rooney (or Rafael) I wonder if Man Utd coverage is worth it until one of the midfielders emerges as a consistent starter with consistent FF points. I might look to move Kagawa for Bale, and since you have Baines, maybe downgrade Pienaar to make the cash available.
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any money in the bank? could do huth instead of cahill and bale instead of kags?
Open ControlsI missed that you have Cahill in. With Terry out, Cahill probably gets the next 4 starts but he is not nailed on after that. CHE have a tough little stretch here too. I might think about someone who rotates with Wilson, i.e., a West Ham defender. That might give you the cash to upgrade Kagawa to Bale.
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RP
Who to start in the front 5? I guess I have to take out Duff to fit my new signing Gervinho in. Or take out Defoe against the tough Chelsea defense since I’ve got Bale to cover?
Jask (SOU)
Cole (tot), Baines (qpr), Rangel (WIG)
Bale (CHE), Michu (WIG), Duff (AVL), Hazard (tot)
Defoe (CHE), Tevez (wba), Fletcher (NEW)(c)
Subs: Gervinho (nor), Demel (SOU), Clyne (whu)Open Controls
With 2 FTs and 1mil in the bank I’m considering the following transfers:
Lambert to Berbatov
Hazard to Mata
Kagawa to Carzola
Would mean -4 hit.
Worth it? Any thoughts?Open Controls
5/11 goals conceded by Swansea are directly due to mistake. Neil Tate and Ashley WIlliams have a lot to answer for.
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One of Ashley's was actually Michu giving the ball away ...
Open ControlsRangel has caused problems as well hasn't he?
Open ControlsNo idea, I'm looking at my new Team defence form guide table
Open ControlsThat post McNulty wrote yesterday was actually backwards and all the chances were coming from Rangel's side and not Davies'.
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+1. Bombs forward and doesn't bother retreating.
Ben Davies is probably another culprit. Might as well be off the pitch.Open Controls
Ashley Williams has made the same mistake 3 times this season...against West Ham, Villa and for Wales the other day...Will be interesting to see if Chico improves the Swansea defence. I think Caulker was a lot more important last year than people might realise?
Open ControlsSome of us realised the importance of Caulker, and thus did not rush to buy Davies when Chico was banned for three matches. Though I am not happy that Chico has not sorted it out on his return.
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Help please.......
Jaaskelainen (SOU) Howard (qpr)
ivanovic (tot) Rangel (WIG) Vermaelen (nor) Demel (SOU - Injured) Hughes (AVL)
Santi (nor) Pienaar (qpr) Yaya (wba) Michu (WIG) Sterling (RDG)
Suarez (RDG) Fletcher (NEW) Tevez (wba)
What subs this week?? So far thought Sterling Demel, but who else??Open Controls
Starting Jussi and benching Lambert.
A Lambert hat-trick is NOT going to be good for my blood pressure.Open Controls
s there anyone not picking carzola and berba this week
i have hazard and thiknig now should i swop for Carzola
and should i drop ba/suarez for berba
what people thinkOpen Controlsall this berba love.. even though the sensible thing for me to do is Dyer to Sterling, Mata and Berbs in for Tevez and Fellaini is mighty temptin(for free).. dont really need the extra free transfer as my team pretty ok
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If I'm going to play my WC next week, who would be the best 1 week PUNT to make using my freebie on this squad:
Foster - Henderson
Baines - Ivanovic - Cuellar - Hughes - Demel
Mata - Bale - Noble - Johnson - Dyer
RVP - Tevez - Graham
0.2m in the bank.
All ideas welcome.Open Controls
Tevez > Suarez.
Open Controls+1 Wouldn't want to rely on him all season, but a one week punt might work.... I've got him (C)
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Giroud In Tevez out...
Against Norwich, Giroud should score many...Open Controls
ANDY CARROLL AND CAPTAIN HIM!!
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Afternoon all,
What do people think of Ivanovic, Snodgrass and Torres to Rafael, Cazorla and Giroud (-4)??Open Controls
Id just do snodgrass and Torres to berba/ba and cazorla
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Which is best?
A)Cazorla/Nolan/Lambert
B)Nolan/Mcclean/Giroud
C)Cazorla/Mcclean/Berbatov
Please Help lol!!Open ControlsA as Sunderland is all about Fletcher.
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Hey chaps,
My defence is currently
Foster, Mannone,
Wilson, Rafael, Baines, ...................., ....................
Any suggestions to fill the blanks?
£8.2 to spend,Open ControlsYou need West Ham coverage.
Open ControlsI have Demel but he is off sick
Open ControlsI read in a previous post that Demel has been passed fit and confirmed in the Presser...
Open Controlsnot according to big Sam,
he is a doubt for this week,
West Ham reveal Demel and Reid face a race to be fit in time for Southampton clash. O'Brien fit after hamstring problem http://goo.gl/rKwHEOpen Controls
So here's the final draft of my WC team:
Begovic/Foster
Hughes-Wilson-Cuellar-Demel-Baines
Nolan-Bale-Mata-Cazorla-Sterling
Jelavic-Ba-Berb
Anything wrong with it? How is it?Open ControlsGet Vermaelen/Vertonghen/Ivan/another goal-scoring defender in for a cheap defender.
Open ControlsNolan's fixtures get horrible in a few weeks time. Now is not really the time to get him in if you are using a precious wildcard.
Personally I would get Pienaar for Nolan and upgrade Jelavic to Kun. Or downgrade Nolan to Taarabt and see if you can get RVP instead as Baines gives you plenty enough Everton cover.Open Controls
No RVP and low priced defenders (except Baines), where is all your money....
I also got rid of RVP and have the same forwards...Open ControlsRVP is missing,
what of Rooney or Giourd long term?Open Controlsalso consider Aggy as well for city cover?
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Berbatov passed fit!!
Bye bye Fletcher and HELLO Berbatov 🙂
http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/october/19/team-newsOpen Controls
I just love the blase attitude of the guy sat next to me at work. Makes his impulse transfers every Monday morning on the back of the weekend's activity. "saves you money don't it"
My heart still always stutters at his nonchelant "confirm transfers" each week.Open ControlsWhere is he in your mini league?
More often than not he's right though. The number of times I've waited till Friday to make a change and then found out I no longer can afford it without taking a hit because the players involved went up/down or, invariably in my case, both!Open ControlsBut it does save you money! (Unfortunately the game is about the points.)
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Last season I followed a policy of making my planned transfers as early as they need to be to avoid ANY price rises/falls that would cost me money. In doing that, I probably saved around 1.0m - 1.5m over the whole season. I also got bitten twice by subsequent injuries that forced 4 point hits to put right.
So I paid 8 points for 1.5m. I almost certainly got more than 8 points out of that 1.5m by getting better players. Maybe I got lucky with the injuries but that's a good deal to me.Open ControlsAfter all that success, i can guarantee that the feeling of selling RVP is still better...right?
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i did similar last year for similar results, most people know who they would like a few weeks in advance. By delaying transfer too long in week you can easily be talk out of it or follow silly wagons, then you end up with 3 or 4 players you dont really want.
this is what wenger did last yearOpen Controls
Please RMWCT
Foster-Begovic
Baines-Rafael-Demel-Cuellar-Nelsen
Nolan-Morrison-Cazorla-Bale-Pienaar
Aguero-Ba-BerbatovOpen Controls
Nolan > Morrison in two weeks. downgrade him to a Sterling and bank the rest for a rainy day.
Open ControlsNice idea but I don't like those plans because you could end up getting a few injuries or suspensions that you need to use that transfer for.
When I use my WC its usually because its for players I intend to keep for a long time.Open ControlsLook at his current team. WC must go!
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gentlemen please be of my assistance (team linked)
tevez > berbs (with FT)
then considering:
yaya > nolan (4 point hit)
and
Pogrebnyak > Giroud
or
jst stick with the FT
your assistance will be sincerely appreciated thanks in advnce!!Open ControlsStick with the FT. I might instead think about downgrading Fellaini since you already have Baines and then add Berbatov for Pogs next week. MNC have a pretty good schedule ahead and I would be reluctant to drop Tevez.
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That was: *heart* Fletcher
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Really struggling with my captaincy choice this GW. I had been fairly set on Cazorla but with the Berbatov confirmation, I am now seriously tempted to give it to Berbs. Whichever I go for, RVP will inevitably score more.
Anyone want to give me some confidence with Berba (c)?Open Controls
I think both berba and RVP are better than Caz. he is not an explosive player
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+1 (except when he is)
Open ControlsI think you are probably right, but Norwich are so village at the back. Cazorla also has most shots on target away from home than any other player in the league.
Having said that I reckon Berbatov could explode back on the scene. Training for 10 days so should hit the ground running.Open Controls
Decided to plat Sterling this week so who to bench out of:
Pienaar
KagawaOpen ControlsI would bench Sterling. Not very helpful I know, but if you have decided to play Sterling, surely you have thought about this already.
Open ControlsSterling's already plated so I'll just PLAY him instead! 🙂
Open ControlsSterling against Reading at home with very promising stats to me is a higher ceiling than the other two with their fixtures and doubts on Shinji's role/game time.
MIDS are Santi, Michu, Sterling, Pienaar, Kagawa with a front line of
RVP, Tevez, FletchOpen Controls
Wow1 Berbatov up from -50 to +1 on FISO, 9k transfers in! Hope he rises:D
Open ControlsThat's because the flag was removed.
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About to spend 4 to bring in Rvp and Nolan for Torres and Hazard,
Team will be
Friedel
Hangeland Mcartney Cuellar
Cazorla Kagawa Sterling Nolan
Rvp Suarez Tevez
Bego - Pienaar Neslen Gallas
Should I Do it??Open Controls
Quick question please. RVP or Suarez for captain this weekend?
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2FT: Hazard to Bale & Tevez to Berbatov? Leaves me with no City cover, but I think I can live with it...
Open ControlsJust do one of them and save a transfer? Im all for Berba this week, but Tevez is not bad to have considering hes got the most chances of starting up front for them.
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Nomar, please talk me out of Taarabt. I already made the mistake of putting in Hoilett on the back of some lively performances and a goal v Reading.
Open ControlsIf Silva is fit for Swansea:
Silva or Bale for at least 4 or 5 weeks?Open Controls
Off to Newcastle (Australian version) all day/night tomorrow so I probably won't be on until late night over here, which is afternoon/night over there soooo....
To cut a pointless story short, who would you captain?
A. Nolan (SOT) - this is what my gut tells me...or maybe it's just gas.
B. RVP (STK) - Stoke are tough, but have conceded 22 goals in their last 8 @ OT and RVP is virtually fixture proof
C. Suarez (RDG) - easiest fixture and main Liverpool man going forward, but how many times has he and Liverpool failed miserably against shite opposition?
D. Cazorla (nor) - Should be good for an assist or three but is arguably not very explosive. Norwich are pants but he did only score 5 points in a 6-1 win earlier on..Open Controls- Open Controls
CBAD
Open ControlsBADC
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will feel sick when Tevez gets a 2 pointer and Berbs gets a brace and i dint make the swap and decided to save my transfer 🙁
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11 years, 6 months agoBottled it.
RVP (c) instead of Nolan. Playing Noble is enough of a punt. Come on Robin!