Scout Reports

Scout Report – Antonio Luna

Aston Villa’s summer spending spree shows no sign of slowing down after they landed left-back Antonio Luna from Spanish club Sevilla for a fee reported to be in the region of £1.5m. The 22-year-old arrives on a three-year contract and is Paul Lambert’s fifth signing of the close-season, following the acquisition of Aleksandr Tonev, Jores Okore, Leandro Bacuna and Nicklas Helenius to Villa Park over the last few weeks.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Luna admitted that Lambert’s decision to freshen up his first-team squad by focussing on youth was a key factor in his decision to move to the midlands.

“The manager explained to me that it is a young squad but also one with good experience and everyone is hungry, everybody wants to succeed here. This is perfect because I am keen to make progress myself and I want to be part of this…Obviously, I have watched Premier League games and I am totally aware of the pace of the game and that the challenge is to constantly be at the maximum and top of your performance…I really can’t wait to get started and to play my first game. I have a great expectation coming here.”

The History

A product of the Sevilla youth system, Luna made his debut for the club’s reserve team in 2009/10, making 32 appearances and finding the net once. The following year, he featured for the senior side on a couple of occasions but was farmed out on loan to La Liga side Almeria midway through the campaign, where he produced a single assist in 13 league matches as the club slipped out of the Spanish top-flight.

Returning to Sevilla, he featured 14 times in the 2011/12 campaign, producing a goal and assist but, after making four first-team appearances last term, Luna was once again sent out on loan. Staying in Spain, he temporarily moved to Mallorca, providing one assist in 13 games, but he once again suffered the ignominy of relegation before returning to his parent club at the end of the season. Luna has also represented his country at youth level, featuring for the Spain U19 and U20 sides on a total of seven occasions.

The Prospects

Certainly, Luna’s chances of nailing down the left-back berth look strong for the season ahead. Last time out, Lambert seemed unconvinced by the likes of Joe Bennett and, while Matt Lowton was quick to nail down a role on the right after moving from Sheffield United, the Villa boss utilised four different players on the opposite side of his defence, with Nathan Baker, Enda Stevens and Eric Lichaj all handed a chance.

With Lichaj now released and Baker more comfortable at centre-half to compete with the likes of Ciaran Clark for starts, Luna is likely to get the nod over Bennett for a regular role, though it’s fair to say Villa’s lack of resilience remains a concern. Lambert’s attacking policy – which saw former club Norwich register just three clean sheets in 2011/12 – was again in evidence last term, as the midlands outfit nullified their opponents on five occasions and conceded in every match from Gameweek 17 onwards.

On the positive side, a total of 69 goals against – only less porous than relegated duo Reading and Wigan, with 73 goals conceded apiece – will ensure Villa’s defensive assets remain firmly in the budget bracket, with a price of 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) looking the likeliest scenario. While Brad Guzan’s propensity to rack up the save points and Lowton’s attacking instincts are likely to keep them ahead of the new boy on our Fantasy radars, Luna may be one to watch if he can replicate the latter’s impact and perhaps present an even cheaper alternative.

Villa’s opening three fixtures, which pit them against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, are enough to deter initial backline investment, though – furthermore, while the trip to Stamford Bridge, originally schedule for Gameweek 3, could be moved to an earlier date and hand Lambert’s side a double, their defensive record is hardly persuasive. With matches against City and Spurs also in the opening eight Gameweeks, Lambert’s men have one of the trickiest starts to the season of any side – Fantasy managers will no doubt be happy to steer clear and allow Villa time to settle before contemplating Luna and his fellow defensive options.

Further Reference

Antonio Luna Wikipedia

Antonio Luna Transfer Markt Page

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

816 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Comment removed. Please refer to our terms and conditions on posting comments.

    1. Lateriser 12
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Wow top of the page too

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      We did good business overnight 🙂

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Really? Show!

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Got Nkoulou and Alex Sandro for 1 token each.

          25m for 2 tokens puts us top for value 😀

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          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Means little. No point being stuck with tokens. 😛

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            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 11 Years
              10 years, 9 months ago

              Like FPL, the big points are up front 😉

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              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 9 months ago

                We are all waiting for these 2 rounds.

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              2. HVT
                • 13 Years
                10 years, 9 months ago

                And villa has the money for it 🙂

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                1. TorresMagic™
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  10 years, 9 months ago

                  We all do tbh.

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                  1. HVT
                    • 13 Years
                    10 years, 9 months ago

                    Thought you weren't playing ?

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                    1. TorresMagic™
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • Has Moderation Rights
                      • 14 Years
                      10 years, 9 months ago

                      I am the caretaker coach for WBA. Happy to give someone else the ruins. Only filled in after an owner pulled out. 10 minutes a week is plenty.

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                      1. Get up ya bum
                        • 14 Years
                        10 years, 9 months ago

                        "The ruins" Freudian slip?

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                      2. TorresMagic™
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 14 Years
                        10 years, 9 months ago

                        Edit time*

                        reins*

                        Wish I wasn't involved now. You want to take over Champ 🙂

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                      3. Get up ya bum
                        • 14 Years
                        10 years, 9 months ago

                        🙂 nah I'm full time mascot for man city. It's hard work I tell ya 😉

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          2. Lateriser 12
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Boom. Well set up for the next round 😀

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        2. HVT
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Seems arsenal and villa are off the bottom
          🙂
          http://www.precisely.me/tws/

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    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Morning guys works better. 😉

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      1. Lateriser 12
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Hangover and all that. still buzzing i think

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          At least you know now. Hope you had a good time.

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  2. HVT
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Are they gonna do anything with replies stamp ?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/wp-admin/profile.php

      You can change a few things including timestamps.

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  3. HVT
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I'm going with bale and Rvp a cheap def and a cheap gk rotation ,
    This is gonna be easy 😉

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    1. Twelve years a slave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      How will you fit in 3 chekea for the DGW?

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      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Easy I just put them in 😉
        don't be over complicating things , my dear ol mum used to say "be patient -things have a habit of working out"

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    2. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      here's my thinking:

      I think Aguero + Higuain should outscore RVP + 6-7m striker

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      1. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        I would agree with that , but captaincy an issue, RVP so reliable.

        But maybe RVP nothing left to prove , might not be quite that great again

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        1. HVT
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          I've had rvp last few seasons , I ain't changing now if it's not broken there's no need to fix it . Rvp would score goals anywhere and at utd it's even easier ,
          Let's not forget on penos /corners / frees and tends to score points most games he makes your captaincy that little bit easier.

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          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Having him might stop you captaining Bale and that'll hurt 😉

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    3. ...---...
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      RVP & Bale are so passé.

      Fortes fortuna adiuvat don't you know!

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      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Pride comes before a fall

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    4. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Bale hells yeah. Rvp no thanks. Bale, Mata and Hazard are almost certain to be in my gw1 lineup

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      1. SuperOsçarBaby
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        what if Bale doesn't find his form in early season? waste money?

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        1. Get up ya bum
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          That's a big if imho

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  4. Attacking Defenders
    teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Ok, so in conjunction with fixtures and rotation, which defenders have the best attacking potential?

    Firstly, these are the defenders who scored 3 or more goals last season:

    Big Hitters

    Baines
    Ivanovic
    Terry
    Vertonghen
    Evra
    Evans
    Rafael
    Mertesacker
    Agger

    Budget

    Boyce
    Bassong
    Turner
    Martin
    Rangel
    MacAuley

    And those with four or more assists:

    Big Hitters

    Baines
    Azpilicueta
    Enrique
    Evra
    Walker
    Gibbs
    Johnson
    Rafael

    Budget

    Reither
    Riise
    Lowton
    Santon
    Harte
    Shorey
    O'Shea
    O'Brien

    Of course the Reading and Wigan representatives have been relegated, but the likes of Reither, O'Brien, Lowton, Rangel, MacAuley and the Norwich defenders might offer some fixed points in a rotation schedule.

    Are there any obvious additions? New signings? Sleepers due some attacking dividends?

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    1. SuperOsçarBaby
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Bassong & O'Brien if nailed on

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    2. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I definitely want reither this season. Though first three though

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    3. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Debeuchy for Newcastle should be in the mix

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      1. tw
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        good call Ryan. Santon too perhaps?

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    4. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Ivanovic, Coleman, Clyne, Garrido,, Rat

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      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Who is rat?

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        1. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Răzvan_Raț

          Hammers newbie...Demels nemesis

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          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            Razvan! An old favourite from my football manager days 🙂 didn't realise hammers got him. Is O'Brien's position safe?

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    5. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      the problem with attacking defenders (even the cheaper ones) is they often seem to come up with attacking points in the games that you would bench them in a rotation

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      1. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        That's not that much of a problem. Having them score on your bench is better than not owning them at all

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  5. Geriatric Unathletic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    New name testing.

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    1. Bootsy: Snoddy's Reven…
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Smiley things testing: 👿

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  6. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Ta pian i mo cheann

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  7. Sheep
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I was grazing in a field yesterday watching some kids play frisbee, and I was wondering.... why does a frisbee get larger the closer it gets?........ and then it hit me.

    I also went to cinema, and at a sad part, this guy behind me started wailing. I was hit in the back of the head by a harpoon.

    Fair to say it wasn't a fun evening 🙁

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      jimmy carr wants his joke back but ill give you a +1 for making me snigger 🙂

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      1. Sheep
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        I've never heard him say that, it some other comedian 🙂

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        1. Optimus.
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          actually it was Stewart Francis off mock the week 🙂

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    2. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      A dyslexic man walks into a bra

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    3. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I caught my wife picking her nose earlier.

      "That's absolutely disgusting" I said.

      "I'm in the bath" she replied. "It doesn't matter."

      "Of course it matters" I snapped. "You've put me right off my sh!t."

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      1. Sheep
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        My therapist says I seem hell-bent on vengeance ............. we'll see about that.

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  8. Geriatric Unathletic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    My old grav appears to have dissapeared. How does one retrieve/insert a new one?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      http://www.gravatar.com & change it to a "G" rating.

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      1. The92nd
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, had been wondering about this, didn't cop you needed to change the rating.

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          No problem.

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    2. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      By paying Mark £2.50 to have it unlocked again.

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    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      😯 😀

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    2. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      😆 Bad decision, at least he save the wiper 🙂

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        😀 yep saved 2euro there

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  9. Crystal Pulis
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Test

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      arossa

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    2. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      osterone.

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  10. Geriatric Unathletic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    testing grav

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      oooh i like

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        whats the inspiration or cool story behind it?

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    2. Geriatric Unathletic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Feck sake wheres my grav?

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      1. Sheep
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Did you pay mark the grav fee?

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    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Give it a few minutes.

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  11. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    morning folks

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    1. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jTHNBKjMBU

      Morning 🙂

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      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        nice 🙂

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  12. Top managers' cash allocation revealed
    Lanley Staurel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Further to my previous post a few days ago on the Top 10 overall in last seasons FPL and how the cost of their teams at GW2 divided up across Goalie, Defence, Midfield and Attack here is an overview which incorporates a view on player values in each position. At times 7 or 8 of the 10 were very close in terms of correlation of values.

    5.1 4.4
    6.4 5.8 4.9 4.2 4.0
    9.5 8.9 7.9 6.5 4.8
    11.5 9.1 6.5
    0.8

    Or to round them up/down its as near as damnit....

    5.0 4.5
    6.5 6.0 5.0 4.0 4.0
    9.5 9.0 8.0 6.5 5.0
    11.5 9.0 6.5

    Given this years big hitters Im not so sure this balance will work but its a guide in any event.

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    1. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Cheap cheap
      Expensive Mid (cheap/cheap/cheap)
      Uber Expensive mid (cheap/cheap)
      Uber expensive cheap

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      1. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        I tend to agree. You've effectively downgraded in a couple of places from the template cost split above to accommodate the two huge big hitters in midfiled and up front.

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        1. Sheep
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Pretty much, it's difficult to give any figures without seeing the prices. If Heno and Kagawa are nicely priced, I'd like both.

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    2. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Teams with solid defences are a bit of a headache. Do you go with a Cech/Hart where there is no roation risk but very little save/bonus points or a Zaba/Azpi where there is rotation risk but plenty of attacking points

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    3. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Great post. Shows how they took advantage of last season's array of good 8-9.5 mid options. Bale's price tag this year will make the allocation very different.

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  13. Solving the redundant midfielder problem.
    Damo.
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Redundant Midfield Problem

    I think FPL are facing a real problem here. That position is the only one where bar a group of 10ish players the rest were completely redundant due to such a massive switch to "in the hole" kind of tactics. What if any changes would ye do to try and fix it?
    For me I think a sub classification within it might help or maybe classifying a few as forwards a la UCL.

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    1. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      i wouldnt change a thing

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    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      I would leave it how it is. You don't want to start alienating the casuals.

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    3. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      They just need to be priced higher if other players are redundant.

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      1. Damo.
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        It's still gonna be the exact same group of players that evreyone will want though no? It just means people will have to sacrifice more at the back or up front.

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          FPL players are on tiers. Price them accordingly then it becomes a balancing act. Underprice & FPL becomes boring.

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        2. FPL price manipulators are …
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          What if clean sheets went up to 5 points? Would that seriously change things?

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          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 9 months ago

            10-15 points more for defenders. Not really.

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      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Alternatively, some of the currently redundant players could be priced lower.

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    4. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Add points for completed passes as some other games do. That would beef up the potential of the CM and DMs.

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        1 foot passes are boring though. Tackles would be a better place to work.

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      2. Get up ya bum
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        Nooo. Keep it simple IMO. It's what makes this game the best. If they get the pricing right it will stop the template mids. Michu and Fellini were too cheap hence their big ownership

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        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          +1
          No point in overcomplicating the game. The casual player makes up the majority of this game and most of them wouldn't want that.
          When my missus picks her players she spends about 10 seconds thinking about it. RVP scores lots of goals, Hart doesn't let goals in.... Team chosen.

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      3. Damo.
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        I'd like this too or what TM suggests but, as Epic said, they won't want to alienate the casuals. So classifying some as fowards, while mixing things up, doesn't really require any rule changes or points added. I wouldn't want this now like but it could be a solution.

        But tbh, they're prob not even thinking about it

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    5. Manani
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      recover balls like they did in Euro.

      easy to understand and won't deter the causuals

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  14. Jax
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    ThIs day 8 weeks...

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  15. Manani
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    new post alert

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 9 months ago

      Cheers.

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  16. New Post!
  17. tw
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    besides the 3 promoted sides, which other teams do you think will have the cheapest defenses?

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  18. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Dont understand the scout poll question. Why is there a bale v van persie problem?? Why is having both a risk??

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      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 9 months ago

        What does that article have to do with bale and van persie???

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        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 9 months ago

          Everyone is there apart from me.

          More about budget.

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