Selection November 21

Di Matteo Dismissed

Chelsea have this morning confirmed that they have “parted company” with Roberto Di Matteo, who leaves his position at manager of the London club with immediate effect.

In a statement issued this morning the club state…

“The team’s recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season…. The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager.”

The move follows last night’s 3-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin, which left the club on the brink of Champions League elimination – a season after Di Matteo led them to glory in the competition.

Although reports circulated this morning indicated that Di Matteo “expected” to be dismissed for last night’s result, the events will send shockwaves given that, up until recently, the Italian had steered the club to the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea now go into the crucial clash with Man City at the weekend, presumably without a manager. It seems likely that a replacement has been lined up in the background, with Rafa Benitez a popular name being discussed in the morning press. Pep Guardiola is the overwhelming fans’ favourite, though he is expected to remain on a sabbatical after leaving Barcelona in the summer, while Harry Redknapp’s name has been thrown into the hat this morning.

For Fantasy managers, this leaves us pondering all kinds of issues. Clearly we will now anticipate a fairly extensive overhaul of the team and tactics in the coming weeks, with our established thinking now in doubt.

Immediate changes ahead of the weekend would seem unlikely, although Chelsea’s preferred back four, their midfield formation and certainly the situation up front all now seem in flux while the dust settles.

512 Comments Post a Comment

GoonerByron
11 years, 6 months ago
Everytime Chelsea sack a manager, it reminds me how proud I am to be an Arsenal supporter.. They've won the Champions League and are still devoid of any class whatsoever.
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1. r0nh
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Id rather have a manager that wins things!!
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  1. Dogba
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Let's face it, winning is the most important thing. Having class, being nice, kissing babies on the head, that's all somewhat less important.
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    1. GoonerByron
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Do you really think Di Matteo deserved the be sacked?
      
      4 points behinds Man City with results that haven't been too bad at all in the Premiership and still possible to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.
      
      Can't wait for the inevitable article relating to Guardiola's sacking at some point in 2013.
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  2. lfc123
    11 years, 6 months ago
    +1000000000
    
    so you'd rather have the same manager and win nothing?!
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2. matthewhagon
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I suppose your right, why change a losing thing!! Nah i wish we could keep a manager, but have them win something
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3. AAAAA
  11 years, 6 months ago
  This is controversial but I believe Arsenal's board is worse. Chelsea sack managers because they believe that by sacking them they can get more success and win more trophies - however idiotic the logic atleast their intentions are good. Arsenal's board on the other hand proved this summer that getting any trophy is a bonus they just want 4th place and their money - their a club which is trying to maximize profit, not win.
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  1. GoonerByron
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Unfortunately for us, we are a club that relies on money that we get through the gates, commercial deals and through transfer profits.. We don't have a billionaire than can throw money at any player in the world or 72m just to pay off managers he's sacked in the last 4 seasons.
    
    Without the consistancy we have, we'd have never continued to qualify for the Champions League season after season. Unfortunately for us, this is an achievement as we are like the other 16 teams in the league now and can't really compete with City, United and Chelsea over the course of a whole Premiership season.. Fact.
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    1. r0nh
      11 years, 6 months ago
      You are soooooooooo gullable.
      
      And, you are wrong.
      
      Arsenal have 2 billionaire owners.
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      1. isacki: full casual
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Who don't put their money into the team as you rant in about just one post below.
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        r0nh
        11 years, 6 months ago
        What?!!
        
        He said Arsenal can't compete, as they do not have billionaire owners...
        
        I said, that is not true, as they do have billionaire owners.
        
        But the board are only interested in making money, that is why I think the board should be thrown out.
        
        This is always why I called the fans dumb, cause they just accept whatever they are told & still smile while buying all they products.
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        r0nh
        11 years, 6 months ago
        *also, not "always"
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        isacki: full casual
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Yep, my point is that we have no advantage from having billionaire owners, in fact it's a disadvantage because they're avaricious twunts. I agree on the board needing to be ejected as they are a parasite. Wenger has his hands tied, apart from being a bit daft sometimes tactically I don't blame him much.
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        AAAAA
        11 years, 6 months ago
        One thing for Roman - atleast he's passionate about his club. I don't think you can say the same about the board. If you want to see them not act in the interest of the club - just wait till the summer again.
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        isacki: full casual
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Tightfisted food manufacturers. We just need to see what avenues we can explore to remove them.
        
        I wish Wenger would speak out about it, he must know the pain more than anyone. Surely he is untouchable and can't be sacked.
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        GoonerByron
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Sorry, i know we have billionaire shareholders.. But they are not an Abramovic. They have no intention of putting their own money towards buying players. We rely on the clubs books for wages and player funds. We can't just inject an imaginary 100m sponsorship deal from our oil barron owner.
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        r0nh
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Most people have the opinion, that for any company to be successful, you need to invest money...
        
        Anyhow, my main problem with Arsenal is that they simply refuse to re-invest the massive profits that they have made from selling their best players!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        
        How can that strategy be a method for taking the club forward?!!!
        
        Another example is the Theo contract talks. There is about £10k a week between them, which is very little in football terms. They would rather lose our best performer this year on a free transfer?????? And then have to pay a transfer fee to replace him, that is IF they did get someone to replace him...
        
        JOKE.
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        GoonerByron
        11 years, 6 months ago
        I do agree with everything you've said in this post. If we lose Theo, it is a joke too far.. He is only just starting to look like the player he should have been 3 seasons ago!
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        isacki: full casual
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Yep. Walcott deadlock is fecking madness. Imbeciles would prefer to sell him and hope to get Zaha and wait another 6 years because that looks better in the accounts.
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        AAAAA
        11 years, 6 months ago
        There is a middle ground. And at the risk of repeating myself - the owners needn't put the money in themselves. They just have to stop treating this as a business - because it isn't.
        
        And about the RVP thing, thats exactly what I meant - let him go and spend that cash getting a real replacement.
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    2. AAAAA
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Its not about that. Go read up a bit - you don't need a billionaire to borrow money from the bank.
      
      I'm not advocating that Arsenal replace Wenger or go candy shopping for players. But what about having the courage to see of RVP's contract and not pocket a cool 24million pounds or actually having a net transfer spend? If the Arsenal doesn't have a clean balancesheet then the member of Arsenal's board don't get a healthy bonus.
      
      FACT: For his stellar financial performance Gazidis saw himself get a pay rise netting him around 2 million pounds. (This is the second highest pay for a chief executive after Man City)
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      1. GoonerByron
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Why keep an unhappy player when you can make that sort of profit on him? I am very happy they got rid of Van Persie. The problem as a fan, is that they aren't replacing these players.
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        r0nh
        11 years, 6 months ago
        RVP wanted to stay at Arsenal!!!
        
        He asked for a meeting, to discuss the clubs ambitions & transfer policy, he didnt like what he heard, so he said he would not be signing a new contract.
        
        Then, when Arsenal had bought those 3 new players in the summer, RVP said that he would sign a new contract with Arsenal, as those were good signings, then RVP was told, sorry, we only bought them players on the basis that you were leaving...
        
        GET THE SCUM BOARD OUT
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        SackWenger
        11 years, 6 months ago
        Not sure I buy that. I think it's somewhere in between - RVP wanted to leave and Arsenal didn't want to offer the big money it would take to keep him. This is what the Walcott thing is all about. I actually believe Arsenal don't want to offer the big money, make the right sounds that they won't sell him in the transfer window, but I bet he is sold in January if Walcott doesn't accept the offer presented (which will be deliberately lower than what Walcott wants). He can then be replaced by a younger player on less wages and the transfer fee is banked (even if only £7-10m as it at least gets their money back). A year from now Sagna will be gone and Jenkinson will be right back - it won't be to do with ability, but merely who they can pay the cheapest to play in that position. Obviously I'm not saying they will go to ridiculous levels and pay a 2nd division player £3k a week, but out of the two they will see a longer term future and possible future return in Jenkinson whereas now is the time to sell Sagna. This isn't new and is just one of the many ways Arsenal are currently more concerned with making a profit than winning titles - How else can Gazidis and Wenger justify the £10m a year they earn between them.
        In the meantime we are fed absolute waffle about how we will challenge. It buys time. However, once the Kronke/Gazidis/Wenger trio is out and Usmanov (hopefully steps in) we will see a dominating Arsenal once again and they will be in a very strong position. How long will it take to come into fruition is the big question. In the meantime I've got to watch Ramsey put on Arsenal shirt and it may as well be the chef!
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  2. r0nh
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Not controversial at all.
    
    It is common sense, factual.
    
    The Arsenal board's main interest is making money.
    
    They are content with winning nothing.
    
    Last year, they even said they are content with not even qualifying for the CL.
    
    And the dumbass sheep of "fans", with no brains, still pay the most expensive tickets in the world.
    
    I feel rather strongly about this.
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4. This!
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I can't see the sacking being of any other reason than that Pep Guardiola is available and ready to sign for them. Yesterday's loss and the consequences that follows are just an excuse. If that's the case, I understand it, if not - it - is- fecking - madness!
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bigdip
11 years, 6 months ago
Any thoughts on my WC team? I'm doing horribly in my league, need a miracle!

GK: Ruddy, Tremmel
Defence: Clichy, Cameron,Wisdom,O'Brien, Cuellar
Midfield: Mata. Sterling,Walcott, Bale, Puncheon
Forwards: Fletcher, Tevez, Van Persie
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1. matthewhagon
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Take out RVP and use the funds elsewhere? i havent used him and im on 705
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  1. bigdip
    11 years, 6 months ago
    What is your team? and who do i replace RVP with? Man utd have good string of games coming too..
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    1. matthewhagon
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Click on my name, all the info is there. I just wanted a change, hence no RVP.... not saying its for everybody, but it has worked up until now....
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Manani
11 years, 6 months ago
interesting stuff that evn though chelsea keep sacking managers, they still win trophies consistently.
Just show you that how good of a squad they get.

imagine someone manage them for a longer period.....
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Mr. Perfectionist
11 years, 6 months ago
Chelsea F.C. #jokeofaclub
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1. lfc123
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Did you really just use a hashtag on here..
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  1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    11 years, 6 months ago
    ##########
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    1. lfc123
      11 years, 6 months ago
      you just hashed... no tag!
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      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        11 years, 6 months ago
        🙂
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  2. Epic Fail
    11 years, 6 months ago
    😀 .
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  3. Mr. Perfectionist
    11 years, 6 months ago
    So??
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Timmy Cahill Rules
11 years, 6 months ago
Mata is now rubbish after RDM is sacked

Buy no chelsea players they are now rubbish over night

The fickle nature of FPL managers

love it
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1. onionbarje
  11 years, 6 months ago
  when a manager leaves, in general they don't get good results and it takes a bit of time for them to get resorted. I don't think chelsea will be different, should be back to normal by new year
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elkunaguero
11 years, 6 months ago
Bale to Silva?

YES / NO / WHEN?
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1. HelloSidney
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I'd want both
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  1. elkunaguero
    11 years, 6 months ago
    this would mean selling another of my big hitters, Mata or Cazorla
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    1. onionbarje
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Mata
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2. Joga Bonito®
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Nope, look at Spurs next 10 fixtures, I'm definitely keeping the Welsh Wizard.
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Hubert
11 years, 6 months ago
Just for the hell of it, I looked up Chelsea's EPL results for their first game with each of their last six Managers, since Mourinho left in 2007:

Grant - 2-0 loss to ManU
Scolari - 1-1 draw with Bolton
Hiddink - 1-0 win against Villa
Ancelotti - 2-1 win against Hull
AVB - 0-0 draw with Stoke
RDM - 1-0 win against Stoke

So 4 wins, two draws and a loss. What does this mean for this weekend's game against Man City? Stuffed if I know! 😀
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1. Podge
  11 years, 6 months ago
  3 wins
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  1. Podge
    11 years, 6 months ago
    City were gonna stuff them one way or the other, Silva is claaaasssssssss
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    1. Hubert
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Yep, it's looking that way. It'll be interesting to see how City go against Real Madrid tonight.
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  2. Hubert
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Sorry yes, three wins, cheers
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2. King Nil Miss ✩
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Tevez (C)
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  1. Hubert
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Tis tempting, probably still going RVP though
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andres
11 years, 6 months ago
Guys, really need some help. What would you do with this team…

Ruddy bego
Baines rafael simpson cuellar gorkss
Fellaini bale mata sterling mcAnuff
Rvp ba berba

1.5, 1 ft

Offload fellaini? Ba? Mcanuff or even mata?
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1. HelloSidney
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I'd get rid of Simpson and play 4-3-3
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  1. andres
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Who would you get? 4.8 + 1.5 = 6.3 max to spend
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    1. HelloSidney
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Hmmmm, probably a Stoke defender or Sagna/Mertesacker
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El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
11 years, 6 months ago
Latest on walcott?
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1. HelloSidney
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Well, yesterday he had a shoulder injury and isn't playing tonight. Do you really think anything's changed?
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r0nh
11 years, 6 months ago
OK, lets start & end this right now.

Henry WILL be having another loan spell at Arsenal.

He will be used mainly as a sub.

He will not be a good FPL prospect, regardless of his price.

NEXT!!!
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1. Bøwstring The Carp
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Could be a headache for Giroud owners though - huge concern
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  1. Paul Psychic Octopus
    11 years, 6 months ago
    not as big a headache as for Gervinho owners...
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2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Next..
  
  I suppose is
  
  Chelsea will appoint another big name manager
  At some stage he will lose a couple of games
  He will be sacked within 18 months it just depends when this occurs
  
  Next
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3. isacki: full casual
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Got to give you a +1 there ronny boy.
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4. Podge
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Perhaps prejudging things with only the use of your imagination is why you got all those red flags, lets just wait and see.
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  1. r0nh
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Actually, the reason I got all those red flags is because I was trying to play the fixtures...
    
    That failed massively.
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    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      11 years, 6 months ago
      I played the fixtures too and will continue with this approach.. You just need to make sure you have the right players in each fixture.. that's the tricky part
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Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
11 years, 6 months ago
Abramovich is a joke.... nothing further to add..
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1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  ok i had a couple of things
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2. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  you should probably add that he's a billionaire
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  1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    11 years, 6 months ago
    * Abramovich is a joke of a billionaire ?
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    1. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
      11 years, 6 months ago
      that's better 😀
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  2. r0nh
    11 years, 6 months ago
    You must be a woman...
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KING KOUNDER
11 years, 6 months ago
Now we all know whose the next manager at QPR is ?
**Wink wink**
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Owd Big 'Ed
11 years, 6 months ago
Begovic, Jaaskelainen
Baines, Cuellar, Hughes, Simpson, Nelsen
Silva, Bale, Fellaini, Maloney, Taarabt
van Persie, Suarez, Berbatov

1FT, 0.6 in the bank.

I am facing a CONUNDRUM this week whereby I'll either have to play Taarabt at OT or add Hughes / Nelsen for a four-man back line. What I was thinking was down-grading Taarabt to Puncheon and then possibly using that cash to upgrade Simpson --> Jose Enrique OR Fellaini --> Walcott

Alternatively, I could just get Sterling in, but I've now lost 0.1 million on him this week and I'd then be doubling up on Liverpool - away at Swansea...
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1. HelloSidney
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Taarabt to Puncheon is sound, he'll probably rise again this weekend too
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isacki: full casual
11 years, 6 months ago
Del Bosque managed to get Torres the golden boot. For that alone surely he should be Chelsea manager 😆
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1. AAAAA
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Chelsea Manager? He deserves The Nobel Prize 🙂
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2. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  😀 lol
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3. HVT
  11 years, 6 months ago
  A lifetime achievment award more like 😉
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4. BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Del Bosque is miracle worker to get that for Torres!
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rvp786
11 years, 6 months ago
thoughts on torres?? what went wrong for him? at liverpool he looked a world beater at the beginning. will he ever regain that same form or is he truely finished??
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1. Drogba "Unstoppable, U…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  if Rafa is back...then probably.....
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2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  he cut his hair... there is truth in the Samson story
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  1. rvp786
    11 years, 6 months ago
    jokes aside, it is interesting just how someone so talented and class can lose it so quick. its not as if he is in his 30s. its a shame really to see talent like that going down the drain
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    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      11 years, 6 months ago
      I wasn't joking 🙂
      
      seriously the minute he cut his hair it was over....
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3. King Nil Miss ✩
  11 years, 6 months ago
  It´s over for me, had plenty of time to prove himself.
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  1. King Nil Miss ✩
    11 years, 6 months ago
    And the only competition being Sturridge wasn´t good either.
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  2. rvp786
    11 years, 6 months ago
    it does seem that way.
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4. elkunaguero
  11 years, 6 months ago
  he lost his drive after he became a father... Gareth Bale is next
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  1. isacki: full casual
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Some say it's because they're missing spunk.
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UnitednationsXI
11 years, 6 months ago
got lost on last page.....
RDM gone…wtf!!!!!
anyhow, on to serious issues:)

Begovic (mannone)
baines rafael cueller (davies demel)
michu cazorla sterling nasri (fellaini)
berba ba rvp

0.7m and 1FT

So the main problems i see in my team are:
1) Nasri…he got an assist last week but i dont have the funds to transfer to silva without a hit
2) No tevez/suarez…how necessary are they in the coming gw..ba and berba are good but not explosive.
3) suarez is playing well but has two away fixtures and on 4 yellows
4) tevez is a good option i feel but who do i take it out and is it worth a hit.
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1. ILOVEBAPS
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Downgrade Nasri or your defence and use the funds to do Berba > Tevez.
  
  You could do it next week to be honest.
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Wings of Steel
11 years, 6 months ago
Whatever anyone says it must take the edge of the triumphs the way Chelsea go about their business to get them. What say you Chelsea fans?
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COMH
11 years, 6 months ago
Caretaker boss for Chelsea in the meantime? Can it be the sexy Physio?
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1. Bøwstring The Carp
  11 years, 6 months ago
  *drools like Homer*
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2. BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
  11 years, 6 months ago
  😀 that is Rich
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3. King Nil Miss ✩
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I believe Abramovich already had something up his sleeve when he took this decision.
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4. Wings of Steel
  11 years, 6 months ago
  http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/chelseachef.thumbnail.jpg
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5. stilicho
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I've got a spare 3 weeks, I'll give it a crack.
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  1. stilicho
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Do we think Redknapp is a serious contender? Seems like a very retrograde step.
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  2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    11 years, 6 months ago
    😆 🙂
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BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
11 years, 6 months ago
ROMAN KNEE JERKS AGAIN! 😀
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1. Joga Bonito®
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Can you imagine his FPL team. He'll be on about 45 transfers by now.
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  1. COMH
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Hahaha gasping on another wildcard.
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  2. BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
    11 years, 6 months ago
    😀
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  3. heartsattack
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Torres (C) every week. 🙂
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    1. BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
      11 years, 6 months ago
      Hahaha 😀
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  4. ronty
    11 years, 6 months ago
    El Berbossa=Roman by any chance 😛
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andres
11 years, 6 months ago
I live and work in Spain, thinking pf getting in all the spaniards that are playing in the PL.

They are creative players and score well, even players like cuellar or garrido!

This wouldnt involve torres 😉

Worth a try?
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1. MY DJ NAME IS PIMP CURRY
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Only problem is that RVP isn't spanish.
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  1. elkunaguero
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Robinio Van Perez
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  2. andres
    11 years, 6 months ago
    I would obviously keep him, you can make exeptions to the rule 😉 but when in doubt turn to a spanish player
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2. isacki: full casual
  11 years, 6 months ago
  De Gea
  Cuellar Enrique Azpilicueta Garrido Rangel
  Mata Silva Cazorla Arteta Michu
  Torres Suso?
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  1. andres
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Cuellar, garrido, enrique are good options, add to that baines and rafael and you got yourseñf a great defense
    
    Mata santi silva michu is a wonder midfield
    
    The strikers.. Well you could turn to other spanish speaking nations suarez, tevez 😉
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3. Damo.
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Big Andy Carrollos. Oozes Spanish flair
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4. Podge
  11 years, 6 months ago
  But ye keep the best ones 🙂
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Bedknobs and Boomsticks
11 years, 6 months ago
Has Terry Connor got a new job since leaving Wolves?
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BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
11 years, 6 months ago
This is the second most disappointing sacking i've had to endure. 1st will always be José Mourinho. Instead of providing the right eggs to make the perfect omelet. Abramovich keeps Sacking the Chef! 🙂
Torres Has Always been the problem. Not RDM!. Russians have a problem admitting mistakes when they make one. Roman Buys A striker in decline For an outrageous amount of money and tried to compensate for not admitting to it by doing everything else other than selling him!
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1. Mee and the Boys
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Nice analogy 🙂 Without a top-class striker (such as Drogba), Chelsea will never become a title-winning side.
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2. Podge
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Thats quite racist, are you sure you aren't Suarez ?
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  1. BLitZ MaFiA SQuAD
    11 years, 6 months ago
    🙂 yeah. Pretty sure. But i do have the Buck Tooth in my team 🙂
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3. artem.kz
  11 years, 6 months ago
  You kinda right.
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Owd Big 'Ed
11 years, 6 months ago
Thoughts on Puncheon as a budget option in midfield alongside Maloney?
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1. Joga Bonito®
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Considering the same thing by downgrading Taarabt. Seems a tad knee jerk though to me.
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festerme1983
11 years, 6 months ago
Cant believe anyone thinks harry is in the running

Will be pep
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1. King Nil Miss ✩
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Pep says he only picks up a team in the beginning of the project not in the midle of it.
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bigdip
11 years, 6 months ago
Guys,my WC team? I’m doing horribly in my league, need a miracle! Thanks

GK: Ruddy, Tremmel
Defence: Clichy, Cameron,Wisdom,O’Brien, Cuellar
Midfield: Mata. Sterling,Walcott, Bale, Puncheon
Forwards: Fletcher, Tevez, RVP

Should I consider:
RVP-> Suarez, Walcott --> Cazorla, Mata--> Silva

OR
RVP--> Suarez, Walcott--> Cazorla, Bale --> Silva

OR

any other tips
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1. big oak
  11 years, 6 months ago
  for a wc team i expect better
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  1. bigdip
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Ok Big Oak, what shall I do?
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roscola
11 years, 6 months ago
A bit more digging on my Arsenal defensive analysis. Yesterday I found that whilst they are second only to City for defensive solidity measures, they are top of the table for both errors and errors leading to goals.

The question I wanted to answer is whether this is intrinsic to the regular players or whether it's just a bit of random noise that will settle down leading to clean sheets.

First question: is it all Santos, who will be replaced by Gibbs? I looked a bit harder at who the offenders are. Amazingly, it's not Santos. Vermaelan is the main culprit with some by Mert and some by Koscielny. Those players are core.

Second question: will it continue or is it just random blips that will regress to the mean?

Most tellingly, we see the same pattern for last season: top of the table for errors. So yes, it will probably continue. But despite that they were 6th for clean sheets. Generally, errors seemed to correlate well with clean sheet numbers but Arsenal are a massive outlier. Loads of errors but also plenty of clean sheets. And the rate of errors per game looks about the same for this season as last.

So I predict a similar clean sheet performance this year. I'm investing.

** Scouts: please feel free to delete this post if you don't want this much members' data in the public comments. I'm not sure how you feel about this topic **
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1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Nice analysis there and thanks for sharing...
  
  personally I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole but I may be biased
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2. Podge
  11 years, 6 months ago
  They look a mess at the back and as you say errors are about the same as last year, without someone taking charge at the back they will continue to flounder and there are probably better cheaper alternatives out there.
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  1. roscola
    11 years, 6 months ago
    But also loads of cleanies last year despite the errors.
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3. HelloSidney
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I have Mertesacker and he's clearly a good buy at 5.2. Arsenal will still keep clean sheets and he will get goals
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4. AAAAA
  11 years, 6 months ago
  http://premierleaguefantasy.blogspot.in/2012/11/defensive-sib.html
  
  This sheds some more light on this.
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  1. roscola
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Blimey - posted today! What are the chances?
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5. Crouch Potato!
  11 years, 6 months ago
  As a non member find the final comment a touch patronizing. I am not a reader of stats, football is not an exact science, the reality with arsenal from just watching them play, is nothng to do with who plas at the back, it is how they are set up to play. Until that is altered everything remains the same, they will concede. Norwich are the perfect example,a complete change of structure, now achieving cs.
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  1. Crouch Potato!
    11 years, 6 months ago
    plays
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  2. roscola
    11 years, 6 months ago
    Sorry if you find it patronizing, Crouch but I don't see why. It's not directed at you but at the Scouts who charge for access to the data and might not want that data digested and published free. Plenty of people feel that stats are very useful for fantasy football, plenty of people don't. If you don't then just ignore it.
    
    But facts are facts - last year they conceded very few chances, had a huge error rate and still kept 14 clean sheets.
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    1. Crouch Potato!
      11 years, 6 months ago
      No probs, must say I'm starting to put most of my dosh in attacking areas right now, clean sheets and the PL are not a happy marriage these days.
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      1. roscola
        11 years, 6 months ago
        I can certainly see that argument but it's worth remembering that the big teams always improve their cleanie rate as the season goes on
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Crouch Potato!
11 years, 6 months ago
The bookies have made a killing on first manager out!
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Q
11 years, 6 months ago
Baines and herbs out for Suarez and wisdom

Or

Baines and Guthrie out Enrique and sterling
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Van Dal
11 years, 6 months ago
Harry Redknapp - REAL ESSEX BOY
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bdwhite91
11 years, 6 months ago
Mata > Silva anyone?
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1. andres
  11 years, 6 months ago
  Tempting...
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2. J0E
  11 years, 6 months ago
  I can't see Mata being dropped for such a crucial PL game by anyone, caretaker or not.
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