2249
Podcast November 8

The ScoutCast – Episode Eighty Seven – The Hole

2,249 Comments
Share

We just won’t let it lie. Having rinsed through the idea in this week’s Digest, the prospect of dropping this new breed of “in the hole” midfielders into a new Fantasy position gets another airing in this week’s ‘Cast. Granville agrees but we still somehow manage to argue about it.

Around that particular hot topic, there’s our usual brand of regulars, plus a preview of the two sides that lie in wait for us in the Fantasy Football Scout Cup and the latest on Ed’s team and his work on the new comments system. “Mr Ghostship” had a bad week – could it be all the attention has piled the pressure on his big coding shoulders?

Take up the role in the hole by clicking this link, or just stream the business in your browser via the player below….

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,249 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What's this chatter about Ben Arfa being injured?

    Open Controls
    1. Elwood
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Indeed, where has it come from?

      Open Controls
    2. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      haven't heard this, what's the news?

      Open Controls
      1. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I saw a few posts on the last page, I don't know if it's trolling, speculation, or real.

        Open Controls
        1. RedForLife
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Hope nothing in it Pepin.

          Open Controls
        2. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          trolling methinks, first I've heard of it.

          Open Controls
  2. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Evening all, asked this earlier and didn't get the response I expected. Thought I'd ask the evening crowd.

    Would your rather have:

    A) Berba and Valencia (benching Sterling every week), or
    B) Suarez and Maloney (rotating with Sterling for home fixtures) + 0.9mil?

    Taking into account Fulham’s poor upcoming fixtures, and their surplus of strikers vying for a spot AND Suarez’s upcoming fixtures I’m really tempted by the latter.

    Liverpool/Wigan’s rotating home fixtures til Jan look like this:

    WBA, WIG, REA, MCY, SOU, QPR, AVL, FUL, eve/stk, qpr/asv

    What d'you reckon?

    Open Controls
    1. Elwood
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      A) for the short term B for the longer term.

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, this is for a couple weeks down line and will hopefully do me well until Jan. I'm just scared that Valencia will become an assist machine over United's good run.

        Open Controls
    2. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I think i'd go with A. Not sure bout doubling on Pool.

      Open Controls
    3. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I really don't think Fulham's 'surplus of strikers' will be an issue. Berbs is 100% first choice imo. Their fixtures though are tough though. They play the two best defences in the league next so that's not ideal no matter how good (or cool) the player in question is.

      Saying that, you are pairing him with Valencia who i fully expect to be right up their in the scoring over the next couple of months! Maloney simply won't come close to matching him and i doubt that Suarez will make up the difference

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, this is more like the advice I was expecting. I've just been wooed by Suarez of recent and how he IS Pools entire attacking force.

        Open Controls
        1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          He is not a bad option, far from it. But i just think that Valencia vs Maloney will be way more one sided that Suarez vs Berbatov... if you catch my drift

          Open Controls
          1. Eddie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I catch it... I can hold off for now and monitor. What I've seen of Maloney and Wigan, I've been impressed by, but will see how he does over next few games.

            Open Controls
            1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              I agree, he's great value (i have him!). But then Valencia is the best part of £4m more and rightly so i reckon. Very few better wide men in the league and Rooney (and soon RVP) must love playing with him. Strikers dream because he delivers the ball in so early with the minimum of fuss

              Open Controls
      2. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        You really don't think Berba will be dropped occasionally? With all 4 looking decent, I'm worried there may be some tinkering.

        Open Controls
        1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I can't see why there would be. They aren't in Europe and Berbatov is the best player at the club by a million miles

          Open Controls
          1. Eddie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            thanks, that puts my mind at ease.

            Open Controls
    4. Yossi
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'd go b

      Open Controls
    5. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B) definitely. Valencia isn't much better than Sterling or Maloney as an option imo, and certainly isn't a better prospect than Michu, Fellaini etc. So a home rotation of Sterling and Maloney is much better than Valencia. Then of course there is the proverbial Elephant in the room Suarez. It seems the Racist is having a great season and I'd say now is definitely the time to back him (or at least after his suspension)

      Open Controls
      1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Valencia will outscore everyone of those midfielders you've mentioned over the next couple of months.... you can buggumark the shit out of that too

        Open Controls
        1. Ryan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I don't need to. But tbf you could very well be right however I'm happy to be on the other side of the fence for this one.

          Open Controls
          1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            🙂 i'm a Valencia fan, can you tell?

            I don't actually own him although i'm very quickly convincing myself that i should do!

            Open Controls
            1. Ryan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              All right good on ya. I'm a United fan so I'll let you off 😉

              Open Controls
      2. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Aha, yes the suspension. In which case I can hold off on him til gw15.

        Open Controls
    6. lfc123
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B for me

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers all.

        Open Controls
    7. anyclues
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Think you would be better of with b looks a solid plan!

      Open Controls
  3. The Devil Wears Prada
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    think i'm done tinkering with my team. only question is kightly vs sterling, but i have kightly playing atm. this is how it looks so far:

    begovic
    baines (vc), ivan, rafa
    bale, mata, fellaini, kightly
    rvp (c), tevez, berba
    bench: foster, sterling, davies, nelsen

    bench order and the rest look ok?

    Open Controls
    1. Elwood
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Play Kightly

      Open Controls
    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Looks grand. That's one hell of an attacking defence.

      Open Controls
      1. The Devil Wears Prada
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        cheers. only problem is i don't like having 2 cheap mids who are kightly and sterling. might downgrade ivan to sagna and maybe upgrade one of them to a mid priced mid. not sure yet.

        Open Controls
        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Sterling + Maloney is the way forward. Maybe 🙂

          Open Controls
  4. @Team Shark FC
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    play Davis(Swan) or Cuellar(SUN)?

    Open Controls
    1. Deicide
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Swansea. Everton i believe, will score.

      Open Controls
    2. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Would play Davis. I expect Everton to score.

      Open Controls
    3. @Team Shark FC
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      thks

      Open Controls
    4. The Devil Wears Prada
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      last 4 matches between everton and sunderland:
      everton 3 - 0 sunderland
      everton 2 - 0 sunderland
      everton 2 - 0 sunderland
      everton 4 - 0 sunderland

      Open Controls
  5. Deicide
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    So since RVP didn't play 90' against Braga definetely he's my captain. Fella is my vc

    People, news about demel and ba?

    Open Controls
  6. RedForLife
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry, Repost from bottom of last page. Ok can’t decide & will no doubt pick the wrong option!!! RVP is coming in…. which combo is preferred:

    A. Bale & Pog/Rodreguez (Southhampton)

    or

    B. Suarez & Maloney

    If A which striker? Pog doesn’t look nailed now nor Rod…

    Open Controls
    1. Deicide
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B by far.

      Suarez good form and nice fixtures coming soon and Maloney will give you a lot of points this season imo

      Open Controls
    2. lfc123
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B

      Open Controls
    3. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks guys. Fair few going for option B. Will have to look at getting Bale back later, hoping not to lose to much value.

      Open Controls
  7. geez the cheese
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Kolarov or Gorkks to start?

    Open Controls
    1. Deicide
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Kolarov is not nailed on. Try to transfer if you can. He rotates a lot with Clichy.

      Gorkks

      Open Controls
    2. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I think if you have Kolarov you have to play him every week. Especially when the alternative is a Reading defender.

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        This^. Start Kol. He shouldn't come on for a cameo, if he doesn't start, no biggie.

        Open Controls
  8. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone waiting on auto subs points to be added in Europa FF? On a massive 28 points should be a massiver (?) 35 😉

    Open Controls
  9. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Had a read back through the pages here.

    This talk about Ben Arfa being injured is FFS hysteria at its very worst. He's perfectly fine, and I suggest you take my word for it 🙂

    Open Controls
    1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Garg, thoughts on my options this week if you are hanging around?

      http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/11/08/the-scoutcast-episode-eighty-seven-the-hole/comment-page-7/#comment-4282197

      Open Controls
      1. Gargamel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Of course. I'll reply here to increase my chances of finding my posts.

        It's certainly between 1 and 4 for me, and I'm leaning towards saving it altogether. I think you'll more likely be better off with two transfers next week and the options of reshuffle that gives you, if you want to bring in a City or Chelsea player or two. Actually if you really want a City player I'd probably look at Cazorla to Mata as an option. Not that I'd necessarily do it; I think your team is just fine.

        Open Controls
        1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers man. I think it's definitely 1 or 4 despite my love for Aguero this week. Two transfers are always nice, so many options open up.

          Not sure about selling Cazorla. Will see how he get's on against Fulham. I'm fully expecting another goal and BPs though tbh

          Open Controls
          1. Gargamel
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            That is most likely the wise choice. I kind of believe in Cazorla too, although I'm equally unsure about him. Really struggle to judge him still.

            Open Controls
            1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              I had a bit of a nightmare with him earlier in the season. Bought and sold him at just the wrong times but that late goal at Old Trafford was a huge boost. I'm hoping he can finally deliver a goal at the Emirates.

              Open Controls
      2. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Have you considered Bale --> Mata this week? (then again another look at Hazard/Oscar wouldn't be a bad thing)

        Open Controls
        1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Not really. I'm fairly happy keeping Bale. When i do finally get some Chelsea cover i'd actually prefer Hazard to Mata

          Open Controls
  10. Nemanja Vidic
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ramirez or lallana?

    Open Controls
    1. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      We wait to see. I believe the hype about Ramirez, but he did not look the part last game, perhaps just fitness.

      Open Controls
  11. ★A-O-Chamberlain★ COYG …
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Right, i really need to get this sorted once and for all!

    Is it worth getting RVP in for Rooney for a hit?

    Open Controls
    1. Back to Back Ballacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      possibly 🙂

      Open Controls
    2. Back to Back Ballacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'd sit it out one more week

      Open Controls
    3. anyclues
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes do it now captain him and enjoy his hat trick 🙂

      Open Controls
  12. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Vidic, Rooney,Van Persie and Valencia all top notch. Rafael, Jones,Buttner, Smalling,Cleverly, Hernandez,Wellbeck approaching top class status, barring injuries. This will be Fergies greatest side, a great treble shout.

    Open Controls
    1. Yossi
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Buttner, Smalling, Cleverly, Jones approaching top class status?? You sound uncannily like most Liverpool supporters :)......

      Open Controls
    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Big statement.

      Open Controls
    3. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      It must be said that Vidic hasn't been Vidic in a long time

      Open Controls
    4. lfc123
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Fuk me sideways

      Open Controls
  13. NotoriousDRE
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I saw Mike Williamson came off in the 58min in Newcastle's europa game? Was he injured?

    Open Controls
    1. China Mag
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I hope not!! Don't fancy simpson having top play centre back against carroll at the weekend!!

      Open Controls
  14. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    One thing I find funny in the Scoutcast is the way Mark says...'who is going to go with Pienaar/Osman/Mirallas with Fellaini around?' Up until 4/5 days ago Mark had Pienaar in his team. As did I...and I was pretty happy with his returns...despite being a winger and less likely to score goals than Fellaini...I got some steady returns off him when Fellaini wasn't delivering some games.

    It seems like it's a bit early to say these things are set in stone. And just because these guys are playing almost OOP as AM...it doesn't mean they score every single game. I don't think players like Valencia/Pienaar are suddenly cast aside and deemed valueless. There needs to be a little perspective. Michu and Nolan for example haven't scored in two games.

    Changing things to make DM's more worth owning has me snoring already. Taking away the simplicity of the game can only damage the game. And if I'm honest...those received ball points you get in UCL just do not get me excited.

    Things are subject to change too...Fellaini has not always been an attacking mid...and he may not be next year...who knows what will happen.

    I think DM's should be respected in real life for what they do...but this is fantasy football...and what we fantasise most about is goals goals goals! 😀

    Open Controls
    1. Twelve years a slave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Quite happy with Penaar, Other fella soon be carded , and people forget that he dosent play in the hole every week.
      He might of scored a couple but everton still didnt win , Manager might well decide to put him further back soon

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        That's why I went for Pienaar in the first place, thought Fel would be played deep as much as he is forward, but while he's doing so well upfront, I can't see him being pulled back.

        Now Pienaar is being moved around to make room for Mirallas, I'm concerned that he won't benefit from his partnership with Baines.

        Open Controls
    2. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'm keen for the Pienaar/Fellaini debate given previous fluctuations in FFS preferences. One thing I will say is that Everton have changed their formation in recent games and tend to be attacking on the right and up the centre a lot more (perhaps to mix things up and to keep the opposition guessing). Everton have been playing a 433 instead of the normal 4411. Pienaar has been more central and has become less effective whereas Jelly, Fellaini & Miralles has been up front getting all the points.

      Open Controls
      1. Eddie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Yup, while Moyes continues this formation, I really don't think there's a contest between them. Happy to wait and be proven wrong though.

        Open Controls
      2. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        yes, but how long will they keep up with the new formation? They not doing that well with it

        They have drawn their last four matches

        Open Controls
        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Drawn, but shouldn't have. They've dominated and been unlucky imo. (Only watched highlights of some though)

          Open Controls
        2. Ryan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          And this is why I'm keeping Pienaar for one more week.

          Open Controls
  15. ArseneLupin
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    evening all, doing a late-night triple transfer to beat the prices rises, gna get van persie in for lukaku and have to too make 2 transfers out to stump up the cash, currently thinking either

    colloccini > nelsen (mccartney/clyne better?)
    bale > sterling (routledge better op?)

    OR

    riise > nelsen again
    bale > hernandez

    what do u guys think?, any input would be hugely useful (huge decision imo)

    Open Controls
    1. ArseneLupin
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      anyone awake? xD, what u guys think of nelsen over mccartney, fixtures over strong defense tbh

      Open Controls
    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Collocini out imo, though they've tough fixtures, Riise is class and can get an assist from a corner etc, even against toughest opposition.

      Bale to Sterling I guess is a necessary evil. Though he doesn't rotate well with Nolan, who has appalling fixtures coming up. Consider Maloney for Nolan, then maybe upgrade Pie in time.

      Open Controls
      1. ArseneLupin
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        ok m8, ive made a plan, west ham have rly bad fixtures coming up (so nelsen over mccartney), i have some money in the bank after nelsen, sterling and van persie in, somehow lol, in 2 weeks, nolan and pienaar out and something like fellani and hernandez in, think its a good plan, nolan can always score no matter the fixture and next week he has stoke, that and sterling also has a good one too so spoilt for choice next week hopefully

        Open Controls
        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

          Next week. New plan.

          Open Controls
          1. ArseneLupin
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            rofl, right there

            Open Controls
  16. isacki: full casual
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A happy listener of the scoutcast but rather bemused and discouraged by chat of adding an attacking midfielder position, and also associating it so strongly with being in the hole. Firstly, the practical aspects. Dividing them into two categories clearly would relegate the defensive midfielder category to dirt without a major rules change in awarding points such that they get anywhere near the other categories. The beauty if FPL right now is that the different positions all have potential of scoring similar points in the best case scenario, hence Baines, Mata and RVP all being much desired irrespective of position. Hence people dithering about 3-4-3 v 4-3-3 on particular matchdays, etc. I would have scored more with a 4-3-3 two GWs ago for example. A defensive midfielder position as the rules stand would just be the bogey position. They couldn't even be value, in recognition of their reduced points potential they're already priced largely sub 6.0 but still no one buys them.
    Also, it gets arbitrary. It becomes another and even more subjective pigeonholing of players than the current three pigeonholes. People despair about mirallas and co being forwards, and may well profit this year from the increasing absurdity of michu, bale, walcott and even gervinho being classified as midfielders (in the same bracket as mikel and britton etc). Attacking and defensive midfield splits hairs further, but worse, because many players overlap both categories. Where would you place Dembele? Yaya? Sahin? Ramires? Wilshere? Osman? Sidwell? Will they oscillate backwards and forwards through the seasons as their managers subtly shift them backwards and forwards? There's also the argument of simplicity, that at least the existing three categories are very familiar and better-defined.

    Finally, there's an objection in principle. It discourages effort and research to label midfielders for the casual instead of get them to at least watch them and work out where they play, for starters. We all understand effort has to be worthwhile for us to put time into this; even with the existing categories we know not all defenders have the same attacking potential, nor midfielders, nor strikers. And we know if we watch them we can learn and possibly gain an edge. We don't suggest dividing defenders into defensive defenders and attacking defenders, or strikers into number tens and number nines (despite loads if arguments about which one RVP and Rooney are).

    Sorry had to rant, I just like it as it is. It's very well balanced.

    Open Controls
    1. Yossi
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I tend to agree with you, good comment.... Although in relation to the concerns about the "other" midfield category, FPL would absolutely have to introduce some sort of other way for them to score points, in order to prevent that complete category becoming entirely redundant...

      Open Controls
      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        If it had to be done (and I'm open minded enpugh to consider through gritted teeth :lol:) recovered balls might do the trick, just like the ucl game. I'm not totally against them though I am yet to really know what is a recovered ball and what isn't, and again the beauty of FPL is that largely what you see is what you get (apart from bonus which is very unpopular...)

        Open Controls
        1. Gargamel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          My feeling is that that would be a mess, with people counting them recovered balls all game

          Open Controls
          1. isacki: full casual
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I remember this happening in euro fantasy, people desperately counting busquets' rbs. Not quite what you were hoping would be the focus. Just playing devil's advocate in suggesting it. I don't want it added, really.

            Open Controls
    2. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I agree completely

      Open Controls
    3. Gargamel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'll sign onto this one.

      I don't think it's a big enough problem to warrant a fix that might just as well make the game worse. It's really just a few players that are killed off as it is, and even the defensive midfielders CAN work out if they have a knack of going forward, as Alex Song showed last year. A couple of posters on here actually did well from him.

      All that being said it has been refreshing to have a proper discussion on here about the 'technical' aspects of the game.

      Open Controls
      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah, Doosra did well out of stubbornly backing song. But for me it just shows that an am/dm division is too fluid.

        It's good to talk about the game design, I like it.

        I understand Allen, Britton, Mikel, Cattermole etc are always non options but for me no one gets them anyway, problem solved

        Open Controls
        1. Gargamel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah I think those are the only real no-gos.

          Midfielders being classed as attackers really isn't the end of the world, there have been plenty of them doing alright in previous seasons. Ashley Young at Villa springs to mind, and I have high hopes still for Mirallas this season.

          In the end I really don't think that is a problem at all, in fact I think it's fun to try and see if they can outperform their midfield counterparts enough to warrant buying.

          Open Controls
          1. isacki: full casual
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Yep, again it's an opportunity for differentiation, to pick up a good player where conventional wisdom is against it. Still, I really do think mirallas has been hamstrung by his forward classification. In midfield one goal in three is very good.at striker it's just about acceptable. I think he'd be very pleased to score double digit Prem goals.

            Open Controls
            1. Gargamel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Jury is still out on him, I definitely agree that he might be problematic. He's playing well enough - I study him every game - and the stats are good enough to at least give him a few more games. I do think he has potential.

              Perhaps that might also be more problematic if Everton decide to actually keep a clean sheet every now and then 😉

              Open Controls
              1. isacki: full casual
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                I also watch a lot more Everton games than I thought I would to monitor Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini and Mirallas. Mirallas really is the real deal, great technical player, great goal positioning, good dribbler and natural at shooting. He does play just off Jelavic and has to contribute to buildup too, so his goal involvement won't ever be dominant the way Ba, Berb or Fletcher are ...

                Open Controls
                1. SC not pearls before swine
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  Yeah but if there was an attacking midfield position he'd be a stud 😉

                  Open Controls
                  1. isacki: full casual
                    • 12 Years
                    11 years, 5 months ago

                    AHHHHHH 😆

                    Open Controls
        2. Ryan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Yet Allen had a hight ownership early in the season 😉 I guess the by keeping things the same the casual will always be behind the 8 ball.

          Open Controls
          1. isacki: full casual
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah, you can so see them having equally appalling taste in dms and ams though. Pick up the expensive dms for big teams...

            Open Controls
      2. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Daft idea

        Open Controls
    4. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I disagree with this part:

      'and may well profit this year from the increasing absurdity of michu, bale, walcott and even gervinho being classified as midfielders'

      It's not an absurdity that Michu, Bale or Walcott are classed as midfielders. Michu was signed as a midfielder and has played as a midfielder. The fact that he was put up front for the last few games doesn't all of a sudden make it absurd that he's classified as one. He may be a natural striker that has always played Midfield like Henry back in the day originally. But that is down to where the manager chooses to play them. If FPL were to muck about and assign players distinct roles then it would open a can of worms immediately and there'd be so many disgruntled by the definitions.

      Also, Bale is clearly a winger. And just because Walcott has aspirations to play up front doesn't mean we just suddenly call him a striker.

      Open Controls
      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Bale was used as a striker at some point in preseason, Michu now is, Gervinho infamously has been, Walcott wants to play center forward and his average position was ridiculously close to being a right forward for ages. Wide forwards are ambiguous but "midfielder" is plainly not very representative of what they do. Barca are always described as playing a 4-3-3 with Pedro and Villa/Sanchez wide forwards, not midfielders, and their average positions are similar to Walcott and bale if not wider. They're not wingers.

        Open Controls
        1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I suppose it's circumstantial. The reason Bale might have played up front pre-season was the lack of Adebayor/Dempsey at the time. And if Bale played for the likes of Swansea he might utilised in the same way as Michu is currently. And part of the reason Michu is playing there is lack of better alternatives and the abundance of options Swansea have in midfield. It makes sense to push him ahead as the lone striker.

          The same happened with Arsenal, another team who play one up front. Experiments are done with Gervinho and may well be done with Walcott later. But until it's written in stone and they still play games in midfield then it's also equally unfair to call them Forwards in the FPL game (you might argue)

          Open Controls
          1. isacki: full casual
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            What it's all pointing to anyway is the same thing: classifications are arbitrary to various degrees, therefore classify as little as possible to avoid cramping our style. 😆

            Open Controls
            1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Exactly! For me, part of the fun of analysing football is learning these little subtleties. It also means that FPL players who are more knowledgeable of these things will have a natural advantage...even if it's not always continuously represented in ranking/points.

              Bringing in DM and AM roles sort of spoon feeds the masses. It's almost condescending in a way...in my opinion. It takes away the fun of 'knowing that little bit more' as a result of analysis/stats research that most of the FPL fanatics on here like to focus on.

              Open Controls
              1. tm245
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Sorry to interject,, but I just read your interesting exchange and agree with may of your comments. I also wonder if this is a frustration with the power of this site to develop a core of fairly committed analysts of the game who are basically creating fairly similar teams because of their shared knowledge.

                The solution to the potential problem of 3-4 template mids, RVP, Baines in almost everyone's lineup? Instead of focusing energy on sorting out different lineup classifications, I would love to see FPL develop a platform where players are exclusively owned. Think about how many players frequent flyers to FFS know quite well, and how few we actually have in our squads and play? The pricing and the market would be a huge issue to manage, but a salary cap would probably address that somewhat. RVP and Baines would be massively coveted, but a stiff salary cap would prohibit the owner with them from having heavy hitter mids as well unless a trade was made. How awesome would it be to ask yourself if you would trade RVP, Gorkss, and Pienaar to another team for Ba, Baines, Mata?

                It works in American sports games extremely well, both with and without salary caps, but could be too difficult for this game.

                Open Controls
                1. Ryan
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  Are you saying that if your team value starts to get too high you have to trade out players to not go over the cap?

                  Open Controls
                  1. tm245
                    • 12 Years
                    11 years, 5 months ago

                    Maybe not. The league would have to be tied to the current FPL game, but would just have a small number if owners who would have squads they would draft at the beginning of the season based on the FPL prices. No two teams could own the same player, but if his price rose it would allow you to trade him at his increased value for a more expensive player in return.

                    Open Controls
  17. Aosni
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Had a dream....Baines 1 assist 1 goal in first 15 mins....!

    Open Controls
  18. RedForLife
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    How long approx until Price changes? Thanks

    Open Controls
  19. ★A-O-Chamberlain★ COYG …
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    If you had to have just one for the next 5-10 fixtures, who would it be?

    A) Tevez
    or
    B) Ba

    Open Controls
    1. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B if not injured.

      Open Controls
    2. Whirl
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'm stuck with this question at the moment. Gotta get RVP via one of them.

      Open Controls
  20. The Devil Wears Prada
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    just messing around with my team and came up with something. would you rather have

    1) tevez, kightly, ivan, foster

    OR

    2) ba, cazorla, sagna, tremmel

    i currently have 1, but 2 looks awfully tempting

    Open Controls
    1. Back to Back Ballacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Don't ever come on here without your grav again............ It's bad form

      Open Controls
      1. The Devil Wears Prada
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        i'm always on bad form, don't worry about it

        Open Controls
        1. Back to Back Ballacks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          http://media.beta.photobucket.com/user/_karma9_/media/everything%20deliciously%20DARK/Secretaryspanking.gif.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=spanking%20gif&filters%5Bprimary%5D=images&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=3

          Open Controls
          1. The Devil Wears Prada
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            harder

            Open Controls
            1. Back to Back Ballacks
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              That's all I got 🙂

              Open Controls
  21. China Mag
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Button pulled on Bale + Defoe > Maloney + RVP. No going back now!!

    Bizarrely, after compromising my balanced squad approach to get in RVP, I now have my first selection dilemma on the season! If Kolarov plays, then I will have Santon on the bench. Though probably not a bad thing with tiote and colo both out. Especially if there is any truth in the rumours of williamson being injured! NB until I hear anything different, I assume he was just taken off to make sure he is kept fresh for the weekend.

    Open Controls
    1. Twelve years a slave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Those who had Bale and Defoe , must feel a little peeved they saved all their point scoring for todays euro game

      Open Controls
    2. RedForLife
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Went for RVP & Maloney also for Tevez & Bale.
      The in's don't seem to match the outs but I guess it's the price u pay for RVP.

      Any truth to the HBA doubts?

      Open Controls
      1. China Mag
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Don't think so. No mention of it on any of the toon tweets or new I have read.

        Open Controls
        1. RedForLife
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers CM.

          Open Controls
  22. Alonso The Great Midfielder
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    bale (C) or baines (C)??

    Open Controls
    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Find a better captain.

      Open Controls
    2. सनकी
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      VPR(c)

      Open Controls
    3. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Baines... or Hazard.

      Open Controls
  23. Pepin - RIP Absinthe
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Players I want right now that I can't fit in.

    Explosion imminent: Walcott, Giroud, Aguero, Ba.

    Open Controls
    1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Ba...is walking away from an explosion in slow motion like in the movies...and heading towards another one as we speak 😀

      Open Controls
    2. Eddie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Giroud, one player who has made himself far too comfortable fitting in to my squad. If Ba's fit, Giroud is straight out.

      Open Controls
    3. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      70% agree, 40% agree, 60% agree, 50% agree

      Open Controls
  24. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Any major FPL injuries last night?

    Open Controls
    1. सनकी
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Bale

      Open Controls
      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Got a link?

        Open Controls
        1. Eddie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Bale's fine.

          Open Controls
          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Can't....click.....

            Open Controls
  25. सनकी
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Currently bale is out for the weekend. Have to wait for further news(press) to see if he's fit to play.

    Open Controls
    1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      really?

      Open Controls
      1. सनकी
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        😯 ..

        Open Controls
    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Another kid?

      Open Controls
      1. सनकी
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        😯

        Open Controls
    3. Grounderz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      And your source would be?

      Open Controls
      1. सनकी
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Myself 😯

        Open Controls
    4. Portuguese&Proud
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpxQOQUXehc/TiQ9v4dVhYI/AAAAAAAAAg0/jkC0GdGRyAc/s1600/yawning-baby-picture-5.jpg

      Open Controls
  26. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Looking forward a few weeks, are people planning on keeping all their Everton assets after GW13/14? I have Baines and Fellaini, and I'm certainly keep both right now, but with a run of fixtures (see below) from GW14 up to the Jan wildcard, it surely makes sense to ship at least one of them? If so, which goes first?

    ARS, mcy, TOT, sto, whu, WIG, CHE, new

    Open Controls
    1. anyclues
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Have the same thinking of keeping Baines for the season but will ship Fellaini as there fixtures get more difficult or a form in form

      Open Controls
      1. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Thats why i cant be bothered swapping Pienaar , in a few weeks fellani or pienaar suddenly dont look so good
        Moyes will play more defensively against that lot

        Open Controls
    2. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Tot, sto, whu, WIG, new are good fixtures imo

      Open Controls
    3. AB.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'll be looking to downgrade Fellaini to free up money for Suarez. Keeping Baines though.

      Open Controls
    4. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I will probably ship Baines and keep Fell

      Open Controls
  27. Bielsa’s bucket
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Budvar and chocolate hobnobs, not sure its a match made in heaven, but it will do for now...

    Missed a lot of the european action, so would appreciate any updates (where did Fosters Injury come from?). The team i'm currently sitting with is:

    Begovic
    Davies, ShawX, Baines
    Santi, Valencia, Michu, Pienaar
    Lambert, RvP (c), Tevez

    Bench: Foster, Morrison, Hughes, Demel

    Hoping no one is rested otherwise I'm in trouble, how does it look?

    Open Controls
    1. Bielsa’s bucket
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      ps. Choco hobnobs (vc)

      Open Controls
      1. Bielsa’s bucket
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        just providing some food for thought.

        Open Controls
    2. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Didn't see much myself, but I gather the only injuries of note were to JEvans and Nani, and neither is serious.

      Team looks good - I'd save the transfer if you haven't already used.

      Open Controls
  28. सनकी
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just providing some food for thought.

    Open Controls
    1. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      You're a troll.

      Just providing some food for thought.

      Open Controls
  29. tw
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Foster bego
    Baines sagna rafa Saylor kolorov
    Bale Valencia hba pienaar michu
    Ba berb Lambert

    does Kolorov + hba + berb > demel + Maloney + rvp for -8 sound good??

    Open Controls
    1. Bielsa’s bucket
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      i don't think id ever condone a -8 hit (barring dgw), so, no...

      Open Controls
    2. Deicide
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      How much in the bank?

      Maybe you could do HBA and Berbs to Maloney and RVP?

      Open Controls
    3. Yossi
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Too many names beginning with "b" imo....

      Open Controls
      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Ba berb sounds like a baby's first words or something

        Open Controls
  30. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Good transfers (is Demel expected back soon), but wait a week and do it for -4.

    Open Controls

You need to be logged in to post a comment.