Continuing our members articles which examine the numbers behind the previous four Gameweeks, we now switch our attention to the midfield area. With a packed festive programme providing hat-tricks for Santi Cazorla, Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, it was a period which again saw the heavy-hitting midfielder come to the fore. Incredibly, however, that trio were surpassed by the performances of a player who has rolled back the years to recapture a level of returns and consistency that we perhaps thought were behind him.
I would love both in my team! It can be done and still have a good team but most likely i wont on balance
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That's where I'm at McGurn.
Which one would you drop? As it stands I'm thinking I'll let Ivanovic go and have Ba and Mata as Chelsea coverage.Open ControlsCurrently on a wildcard so going with Ivan for the Double but gutted that i cant get Baines aswell. He could score big over the next 4
Open ControlsInteresting... I would love Ivan in my team. You getting three Chelsea players in then?
Open ControlsMata definitelyfor GW 22 but its then a choice between Ba as well (then switching Mata to Walcott for GW 23) or keeping Mata beyonf GW 22 and going for something like Ruis instead of Ba. Cant decide yet
Open ControlsYeah I'm active.
First draft is looking something a little like:
Jaask, Mig
Baines, Demel/O'brien, Cameron, Davies, Cheapie
Walcott, Mata, Michu, Fellaini, Puncheon
RVP, Ba, Lambert
I have reservations about Ba and it pains me to leave Ivanovic out but I think Baines has longer term potential. Still, plenty of tinkering time left!Open Controls
Why wouldn't you?
Everton & Baines have great form and fixtures & Chelsea have a double!Open Controls
I do and no. My midfield is Lennon, Oscar, Taarabt, Fellaini and Young.
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yeah go on my link go to the campeon league and check out "rvp led destroyer" she started plsying late and as stopped playing now
Open ControlsSolid front line!
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😉
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That's 4 DGWers now...
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7 / 8 points is all I'm expecting.
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10
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(2+4+3+2+4+6+6+3) x 2 = 60
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I like a guy who's specific.
Open ControlsHey, you can like a guy without it being that way. Wash your mind out 🙂
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4 - 7 points
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How many hits in points have you guys taken this season?
Just the one hit = 4 points for me, quite proud of myself!Open Controls
Only one so far ... went without any last year.
Open ControlsWow, where did you finish?
I used to take hits fairly regularly, I don't think there's much difference or a 'winning formula' but I've been more comfortable in my team this time around.Open ControlsFinished top 1500 (#1495) ... was top 500 before I hit the drink the last two weeks, though that's an excuse.
Open ControlsAnd I think you can do quite well or quite poorly by taking no hits or lots of hits.
It's all who you pick. Dig?
It's a Zen thing. 😛Open Controls
Just one
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28
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17 hits (-88 pt) here, no biggie 😉
Open ControlsTwo hits for me
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24
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-52
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32 🙂 😐 😕 😮 😯
Open Controls16.
That said the season I finished in the top 1k was my heaving points hitting season ever. Guess it comes down to how well you spend them!!Open Controls
What to do with Defoe?
Currenly own him, was going to shift, but may keep now Ade is gone, as well as my defensive nightmare (Cuellar, OBrien, Nelsen....)
Worth giving a few weeks, or shift out?Open ControlsI'd sack him off. He's too hit and miss for me as it is. Spurs fixtures don't blow me away and frankly I don't fancy them to cruise past QPR! Harry factor and all that...
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I cant decide whether I want BA or LAMBERT for my hit this week.
Lambert I would need to do tonight really.....
Ba could wait.Open Controls
I'd prefer Ba. I'm trying to have both but means losing Suarez
Open ControlsI keep deciding not to WC tonight, then not being sure about it at all...
Open Controlsif your not sure then its best not to do it. I'm too far behind in money leagues not to take this chance though
Open ControlsYeah probably right - just think I may look back on this GW and see that not doing WC was what cost me season.
Though EQUALLY could look back and see taht saving it for GW25 was what WON me the season...
Basically revolves on Lambert tonight. If I did it now I could have:
Ba,RVP,Lambert
Michu, Mata, Walcott, Bale, Cole/Puncheon
Could still probably wangle that in but would mean sacrificing O;Brien for a cheaper WHU defender, which might be needed anywaysOpen Controls
Ba will play one game at best most likely. Lambert is on pens but may not score at all
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I mean, it's all just speculation isn't it? But I have to say, I think he's right. I don't think Torres and Ba will play together, and I don't think Rafa will be so quick to relegate Torres to the bench. I think expecting more than 120 minutes from Ba is overly optimistic.
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He is more likely to play 3 games than 1 game IMO!!
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its a tricky one lambert guranteed starter, both ba more explosive but riskier gametime!! Id sway for ba and take a punt
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Who to drop this weekend: Walcott, Michu, Suarez
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Suarez, he wont do anything against united, although i believe walcott will against city, city aint this indestructible team, their weak at teh back, he will get something.
Open ControlsThanks all for the replys. Might do Michu (or might go Suarez as a United fan I dont want him doing anything!!!!) 🙂
Open ControlsActually as I'm on a WC I could get rid of Suarez for another Arsenal player for the double .... hmmm (could get him back for Norwich)
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Which combo do you guys prefer?
1) Suarez, Marveaux, Sagna
2) Lambert, Michu, GibbsOpen Controls2 by a mile for me
Open ControlsLooks like I'm gonna say goodbye to Suarez for his tough fixtures then. Hopefully he doesn't rise too much in the next 3 weeks
Open Controlsim thinking same hope he hasnt rose above 10.9 after gw25 so i can get him back in, we will cry if he gets another 20 points against norwich
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i've seen some comments about terry playing u21. isn't he like 50 years old or something?
Open ControlsThe day Gary Neville stole Oliver Hardy's moustache... 😀
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/ts_news_article_header_image/blog/IMG_131411.jpgOpen ControlsRemarkable likeness.
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Who best pick for rest of season
Walker
Zabaletta
Or
RafaelOpen ControlsWhat's your biggest mistake of the season so far?
I think mine would have to be deciding to go with Danny Graham instead of Michu in my opening team of the season. If I'd have gone with Michu, I'd probably be in the top 5,000 by now.Open Controls
Not captaining RVP on a few occasions, and not investing in Stoke defenders throughout the early part of the season
Open ControlsOh.. and I decided for GW I would keep a defender from Chelsea.
Went for Terry over Ivan. Terry got 6.. Ivan got 24Open Controls
keeping yaya toure for so long when i shoulda got fellaini - never owned fellaini until possibly this week
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How many Chelsea/S'hampton players are you planning on having this week?
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I can't forgive myself taking Ruiz instead of Petric for GW1, and captaining Torres over Ivanovic.
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Mata instead of Hazard from the go
Selling Mata just before he came good
Buying Hazard just as he stopped his run
Selling Bale just before his run (for Hazard)
😀Open ControlsGetting bale in when he's done nothing, and getting rid when he's done everything, although he's now in my team for the rest of the season in WC team.
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No Stoke defence (bar Wilson who got crocked in his first week), Graham over Michu and not having Mata for his nice form.
Open ControlsDumping Defoe for Adebayor athe verrrry last second on my WC GW3. Defoe scored twice and racked up points for about a month.
Adebayor didn't play...........at all.Open ControlsBuying Taraabt for the 8th time in various seasons. God how that potential disappoints.
Open ControlsSelling Rooney for Suarez for a hit before Rooney got 35 points in 3 weeks while Suarez got 2 over the same span. But I learned to never sell a nailed on big hitting striker who has decent fixtures. Naturally, I sold Aguero the week before last.
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Morning of gameweek one changing hazard to mata, ivan to cole and going with graham as swansea coverage for first 6 gameweeks
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Getting Rafael if for an injured Enrique, only for Rafael to be subsequently injured that week, and Enrique returning the following week with an assist and clean sheet, subsequently Rafael left my team without ever making an appearance
Open ControlsBale out gw4. Should have known better. Lots of others I can attribute to ignorance.
Did the same as you, fixed it on the Sat night 🙂Open ControlsDamn, forgot - Walcott, Bale, O'Brien in this month, all planned moves, all a week late 👿
In fairness Graham was a decent pick in gw1 - good preseason form, value pick last season. The problem was both he and Torres scored in gw2, leading many of us to keep them far longer than we should have.Open Controls
Looking forward to tomorrows game. In paticular looking forward to seeing how Ben Davies does against the big lads again..gonna have a few clubs reaching for the cheque book that lad if he carries on as he is..
Open ControlsHe looks like a cracking young full back.
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Anyone thinking about a punt on Ramires? Gotta be set for some game time with no Moses, Romeu or Mikel..
Open ControlsI have a funny feeling we may see Ba played in that position for part of a match over the next three games...we'll see...
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in all likelihoood the 2 CM positions will be Ramires and Luiz for one game and Lamps and Luiz for the other. Only other option I can see is Oscar playing deeper with Luiz. Ramires can play further fwd so may see more gametime than Frank.
Ba will not play in midfield. I also dont see him playing as one of the 3 Attackin midsOpen Controls
Begovic / Federici
Davies / Mariappa / Demel / Luiz / Azpilicueta
Mata / Bale / Walcott / Fellaini / Michu
RVP / Suarez / Pogrebnyak
How is she looking? Azpi --> Gibbs next week...Open ControlsVery nice.
You haven't overdone it on SOT/ WH, so team should be looking strong after DDGWsOpen ControlsCheers RCA, not tempted by Soton at all tbh. And for West Ham, Nolan (which would be the only one I would consider) is not exactly producing the goods at the moment...
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Haha chris bar azpi it was identical to my team earlier today!!! Looks good and yes azpi to gibbs nxt week looks good
Open ControlsWow great minds eh 😉 Yeah I just have to hope he plays both games and then get rid. Fingers crossed!
Open ControlsChances are he will and gibbs is a keeper for a couple of gameweeks after dgw so good thinkin i would probably stick with wat u have now and wit transfer next week
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I don't like double Reading.
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On WC. Am I crazy to ignore sot/WHM players and focus on playing the big guns (Aka avoiding benching issue)
Bego Bunn
Baines Luiz Gibbs (Demel mariappa)
Bale Mata Walcott Fell (Guthrie)
Rvp Suarez Ba (becomes Pod)
Like or unlike?Open Controls
Not crazy, but there are some that will inevitably get decent scores.
Open ControlsIt could easily work. There's gonna be a lot of folks offloading WHM and SOU players for hits in the next few weeks.
Open ControlsNope. Doing the same.
Open ControlsI like it a lot actually. Suarez has the potential to keep bringing home the points, even with the tough fixtures. But I couldn't afford your team, so I think I'm going to lose him and hope he doesn't produce for the next month.
Open Controlsserious time very much like
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Keep ba omg
Open ControlsGreat overall rank after all those hits!
Means you have a very impressive team value for the WC. Well played sir!Open ControlsWow. That is some team.
Open ControlsCheers guys
Open ControlsYour team value is way higher than mine. I can't afford that team.
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Ba must be guaranteed a start against Soton no?
First home game at Stamford Bridge they will all want to see him.Open ControlsHow ma team look for the coming week? 2 ars 2 che enough cover?
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Who to bench this
Mata Bale Michu Fellaini Puncheon
RVP Suarez LambertOpen Controls😯
Open ControlsHow do you do that smiley?
Open Controls: shock :
Without the spaces.Open Controls😯
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: shock :
Open Controls: shock : w/o the spaces
Open ControlsUse this with care ...
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_SmiliesOpen Controls
in exactly same situation, no idea
Open ControlsPuncheon
Open ControlsSuarez
Open ControlsMichu or Punch
Open ControlsThis question has been asked so much, and there's never a conclusive set of answers. Personally, I'd bench Puncheon.
Open ControlsPuncheon
Open ControlsMichu
Open ControlsPunch/Michu?Suarez. Toss up.
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Yup
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If Terry comes back this GW who will be dropped, Cahill or Azpilicueta?
Open ControlsHave to wait and see. I personally am thinking Cahill but they'll all be rotated.
Open ControlsI think Azpi, because of Stokes physical presence.
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Azpilicueta. We'll need to be full strength for them away.
::STOKE::
Turnbull
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole
Lampard Luiz
Ramires Mata Hazard
Ba
ENjoy 🙂Open Controls^This
Open ControlsThanks CH. No Torres eh? 🙂
I guess Cahill and Ba will likely be switched out for Azpi and Torress for the next game?Open Controls
Not even a nod to Tevez for the armband with Aguerro out for awhile? Obviously has gone a bit cold lately, but he has better fixtures than Suarez.
Open ControlsWho would you play this week
Demel (sun)
Mariappa (WBA)Open ControlsRafa Benitez has single handedly created a wave of paranoia that is sweeping through FFS.
Open ControlsRVP is now £14m. Madness.
Open Controlssoon to be 14.1 😀
Open Controls*soon to be 14.1.
Open Controls😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯
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Quick question set my wildcard up with the rest of the season in mind, unfortunately the fixtures don't fall kindly for my defenders so which 2 should I play alongside Azpi?
Zabaleta
Gibbs
Demel
MarriapaOpen ControlsAny news on shorey? will he play?
Also is cuellar actually injured? Not been flagged on fplOpen ControlsWasn't Harte made captain? The mysteries of the Reading defence elude me anyhow. Buyer beware.
Yes. According to O'Neill, he's expected to miss the West Ham game and maybe more.Open Controls
Gotta hate that ominous feeling that all our best laid plans (to WC or not to WC etc) could all blow up in our faces after this weekend. Nothing worse than that regretful feeling knowing you should have done the other thing all along.
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Whilst Rooney is out, RVP is essential. But when Rooney is back, the 14m price tag is up for debate imo. They like to switch places now and again during the match, and of course, Rooney will get pens.
Open ControlsOnly when Rooney finds some consistency or hits one of his purple patches. RVP like a juggernaut atm, attacking points every single week.
Igave the RVP/ Rooney double-up a go (like yourself) but injury thwarted that. The first week looked promising, when both scored well.Open Controls
Just thinking about my genius plan to take 12pts of hits over GW22&23, then play WC for GW25.
Its dumb isn't it?
If I just go ahead and play WC now, then I have 12pts "in hand" that I can use up to sort team out until GW25 and I will be even, with good chance I wont want to make the changes at all.
Or should I just go to bed.Open Controlsid play wc rather than take 12 points of hits, but maybe go to bed and sleep on it
Open ControlsOption B.
Open ControlsBed.
The market is very slow anyway, so you've got right up til friday night to decide whether to WC.
I'm similarly tempted but holding firm.Open Controls
11 years, 4 months agoHas anyone got Ivanovic & Baines in their team? Is it possible without weakening too much elsewhere?