Podcast August 15

The ScoutCast – Episode 109 – Two Men

No thrills. Few spills. Just two men in a room talking about Fantasy Football.

Granville and I handed Jonty and the “Professor” an extended pre-season and rolled the ScoutCast back to its rawest form. Just myself and the Mancunian sharing our thoughts after a summer break and looking forward to another Fantasy campaign.

We talk double Gameweek assets, I roll out the van Persie duvet, Granville reveals more than he should about his team lineup and, around all that, we assess the early bandwagons and preview the weekend fixtures.

Forty-five minutes of two blokes talking about the stuff that’s rattling around in most of our heads right now.

It’s good to be back.

Eavesdrop on the conversation via this link or earwig via the handy player below.

5,171 Comments Post a Comment

@FPL_Chess
10 years, 9 months ago
Any thoughts on 'nailed on' 4.0 defenders? Baker looks like getting a possible double minus figure in wk1 (if he starts), Whittaker is competing with Ryan Bennett, and where's Garrido or McNaughton? I'm struggling to see them starting. I'm sure Ward will start but do you really want a Crystal Palace defender?
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1. dribbler
  10 years, 9 months ago
  russell martin is the first choice at right back for norwich
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anish10
10 years, 9 months ago
best long term striker to start with for £7mill?
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1. Sting
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Aspas and Lambert are 7.5m if you can push to that,
  
  Van Wolfs and Kone best at 7m
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  1. Cyril Figgis
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Aspas is 7m
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  2. mr gruber
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Uncertainty who will play between Kone and Jelavic, possibly with Jelavic to get the first game or so. Otherwise I think Kone would be a good selection once (if) he becomes preferred.
    
    I like Aspas, only dont have him as I have Sturridge.
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2. dribbler
  10 years, 9 months ago
  lambert and possibly berbatov are way better than anyone at £7.0m...if you really can't stretch to that get Jay Rodriguez
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  1. dribbler
    10 years, 9 months ago
    van wolf and kone are poor choices because they're not nailed on...aspas might be a decent gamble but he'll most likely play on the wing and your striker slots are valuable
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3. Tadic is the new Eriksen
  10 years, 9 months ago
  wolf
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4. dzonika14
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Aspas ....fantastic pre-season 🙂
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It Is I, Leclerc
10 years, 9 months ago
How come nobody has Gibbs as Arsenal cover. Everyone with an Arsenal defender has Kos/Mert. He has the left back spot nailed doesn't he?
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1. pompeyfan
  10 years, 9 months ago
  no, there's also Monreal to come back in
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2. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  For me, their first 7 aren't great for CSs. Apart from Stoke at home..
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3. Billy Gilmore
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Kos/Mert are more secure long-term.
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4. Nastradarmus
  10 years, 9 months ago
  He is till other defenders recover from injures
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5. Nomar
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Kos is more of a goal threat. Same price so better off with the one with attacking potential.
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6. Baby Face Nelson
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Gibbs wont stay fit for more than 3 games in a row
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7. It Is I, Leclerc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Cheers for the feedback guys, good insights.
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This!
10 years, 9 months ago
Feck. I just realized Couthino is playing Stoke and United in the first 3 GW. Can't expect a huge output here really. Silva on the other hand has Newcaste (h), Cardiff (a), Hull (h).
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1. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Could do Dzeko and Coutinho, cover both?
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  1. This!
    10 years, 9 months ago
    I'm not touching City's front line. Silva should be safe.
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    1. This!
      10 years, 9 months ago
      But I think City till crush their defenders and score 10 goals in 3 games 🙂 It's not unlikely. Liverpool on the other hand are more likely to score 1 against Stoke, 1 against United, and 2-3 against Villa.
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      1. Sir_Dunc
        10 years, 9 months ago
        I'm not so sure, without Suarez they might falter at the start of the season. Can see Silva playing deeper with the huge influx of attackers and, with Aguero not fully fit, the new boys will surely be rotated in for their first season.
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        Sir_Dunc
        10 years, 9 months ago
        If Aspas is a dud, that puts an awful lot of pressure on Sturridge.
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charliesanchez
10 years, 9 months ago
Will Soldado be nailed on from GW1?
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1. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Will surely start over Defoe and Ade
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2. dribbler
  10 years, 9 months ago
  yeah
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Bergkamp
10 years, 9 months ago
For GW1, three out of Sturridge, Soldado, Benteke, Lukaku...?

Rest of my team is, feel free to rate.

Migs (Marshall)
Iva Zab Murner (Clyne, Chester)
Haz, Wally, Miralles, Snoddy (Kim)
____ , ____ , ____
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1. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Sturridge Lukaku Soldado
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  1. dribbler
    10 years, 9 months ago
    this
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Wild Card this!
10 years, 9 months ago
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/premier-league-preview-where-team-finish-063228868.html
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1. Hamstergod
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Swansea is pretty low on their radar...
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2. Kostja
  10 years, 9 months ago
  horrible lineup predictions
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3. Kerrazy
  10 years, 9 months ago
  correction spurs will play 4-3-3 for most of this season. with addition of paulinho, capoue.
  
  Lloris
  
  Rose-Kaboul-Dawson-Walker
  
  Sandro/Capoue
  
  Dembele-Paulinho
  
  Lennon/Chadli-Bale/Chadli
  
  Soldado
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  1. Scratch
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Holtby will get games
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FORCA INTER
10 years, 9 months ago
join my league : 241-383153
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1. Yome
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Cheers Forca, I have just joined!
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Ryan
10 years, 9 months ago
Some interesting comments from Laudrup regarding Arsenals chase for Michu

"I think economically the club is very good. I know if they came in with a very late bid, the reaction from the board and chairman will be 'No', even if the money is ridiculous. You can say we would get a lot of money, but why be the richest club in the Championship? What is that worth?”

I wonder if they'd consider a ridiculous bid if Rosicky went the other way in a part exchange. He'd be more than capable of running the show.
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1. Kostja
  10 years, 9 months ago
  They will probably offer 7 mil
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2. @ImpressiveTackl
  10 years, 9 months ago
  One does not simply compare Rosicky to Michu.
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3. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I would then have to have three Arsenal midfielders. Not funny.
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Hamstergod
10 years, 9 months ago
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23001874

What do you guys think? And actually What do you think about McNulty's writing in general?

I found it funny he keeps putting Arsenal out of the top 4 each season for them to end in it. I guess the year he won't they won't either...
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I am not a fan.
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  1. McNulty
    10 years, 9 months ago
    😯
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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
      10 years, 9 months ago
      Sorry. 🙂
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  2. Hamstergod
    10 years, 9 months ago
    I agree, at least I find a lot of his articles poor in reasoning and more sensationalist than actually meaningful.
    
    Plus I noticed that he has some kind of bias against Wenger at least for the past few seasons.
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2. r0nh
  10 years, 9 months ago
  He said only if Bale stays though.
  
  He wont.
  
  And Spurs have already spent his transfer money.
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  1. HERECOMETHEBELGIANS!
    10 years, 9 months ago
    All the Premier league clubs got a windfall of 25m this season due to BT Sport... Of the 53m Spurs have spent this summer - only 28m has effectively been from their own coffers... Doesn't look like Bale money to me...
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3. BeachBadger
  10 years, 9 months ago
  It's all pure speculation, but sure what else can we do. I don't think Swansea will drop places. In fact I think they will kick on. Newcastle are a real unknown quantity but I expect an improvement from last year's direness. I think with all the other teams improving and making decent signings, I think the usual unspectacular but safe midtable team like Stoke, West Brom, Fulham could be in danger this year. Hull are certain for the drop I think and to a lesser extend Palace too.
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FatmanAndRobin
10 years, 9 months ago
Please RMT folks... finding it hard at the moment.. Im between two teams, what do ye think, A or B

A

Migs/Davis

Taylor S/Dawson/Ivan/Whittaker/Kosc

Silva/Nolan/Hazard/Mirallas/Coutinho

Benteke/Lukaku/Anelka

B

Migs/Davis

Taylor S/Yoshida/Ivan/Whittaker/Kosc

Kim/Nolan/Hazard/Mirallas/Coutinho

RVP/Lukaku/Anelka
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1. Doolittle
  10 years, 9 months ago
  A's a benching nightmare.
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  1. FatmanAndRobin
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Ya thats what I was thinking too.. any suggestions Doolittle???
    Too much money in DEF?
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Doolittle
10 years, 9 months ago
Bench fodder question:

A) Chester and Kim

B) M Turner and Jedinak
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1. SW6
  10 years, 9 months ago
  A
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2. Doolittle
  10 years, 9 months ago
  The rest of my defence is Ivan, Coleman, Collins and B Turner.
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3. FatmanAndRobin
  10 years, 9 months ago
  A
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FC Tinker
10 years, 9 months ago
Argh. As a Liverpool fan I really hated to see Coutinho play against Celtic. He was so wasteful.

Can anyone remind me why he should be picked for GW1. Youtube clips, statistics, anything!
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Match sharpness. Don't panic. Keep calm, and drink a CupOfTea™!
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Valar(Keith)
10 years, 9 months ago
a month of tinkering and i'm still not sure on my keepers.. may end up doubling up with Migs and Toure as i cant seem to ignore either
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I find it amazingly easy to ignore them! 😀
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FORCA INTER
10 years, 9 months ago
i dont get this youtube vidio posts

they can make any player to looks like Maradona

you have to watch player full 90 min every week to get real impression how he play

for me Aspas is the biggest flop
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  A good point, well made.
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2. Kostja
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I cant say if flop for Liverpool, but seeing people put him in their FPL teams makes me shake my head.
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3. Christina.
  10 years, 9 months ago
  At last I agree with my foe, Forca.
  
  Come on, someone hulk this post of Forca.
  
  🙄
  
  I'm out of here.
  
  The circus has started
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4. The Machine
  10 years, 9 months ago
  +1
  
  I see most of the people who post such stuff are United fans trying to convince themselves that Cleverley and Carrick and Xavi and iniesta of the premier league.
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5. Willis.
  10 years, 9 months ago
  What's more pointless is the wall of text that follows. I mean, yes, I can see that he volleys the ball at 2:04. I don't need someone to explain it to me!
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  1. FORCA INTER
    10 years, 9 months ago
    😆 eaxacly
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6. Tim Cahill
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Aspas has been the complete opposite in preseason Forca. Creating chances aplenty for people like borini / allen to miss them.
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  1. FORCA INTER
    10 years, 9 months ago
    he is just one of examples but we will see in season
    
    maybe he score some good pts since he is cheap but in reallity he is not good player at all
    
    i might be wrong but every time i watched him i wasn't impressed at all
    
    unlike Michu
    
    before he joined to swa i knew how brillinat he is
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7. GreenWindmill
  10 years, 9 months ago
  A fair few people seem to be really enjoying them. I'm not basing any decisions on them personally but there's definitely an appetite for them and if they help some posters come to conclusions about players then I'm all for it.
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Fernando Torres
10 years, 9 months ago
A) Zabaleta + Koscielny + Toure + Benteke + Mata
B) 4.5M defender + 4.5M defender + 4M defender + RVP + Coutinho

Is RVP really worth making the rest of the team much worse?
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1. It Is I, Leclerc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Not for me, especially given Utd's start, but we all know what RVP can do which is why we all have that nagging doubt about not having him!
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2. saata
  10 years, 9 months ago
  No!
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vinniebolton
10 years, 9 months ago
rmt/please b4 u ignore bear in mine if have neva ad a reply to rmt every1 deserves a chance lol

Mannone (Boruc)
toure merty johnson (chester,brayford)
hazard(C) walcott coutinho lamps (kim)
benteke lukkau giroud

i will sell 2 x che/villa gw2 and 2 x che/villa gw3, for whoever people are buying in a bid to increase capital
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Twelve years a slave
10 years, 9 months ago
Is Silva really nailed on? Im not so sure he is
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1. Doolittle
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I think he's the most nailed on of City's attacking players - I don't think any of them are completely nailed on. I'm very tempted by him because I don't want to miss out on City's opening fixtures.
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  1. Twelve years a slave
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Same, but i also dont want miss out on Liverpools
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    1. Doolittle
      10 years, 9 months ago
      Yep, that's the dilemma I have - classic case of "can't have them all". I think I'll be doing Lukaku -> Sturridge early on, so Silva over Coutinho probably makes sense.
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2. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  There's so much guesswork dressed up as fact on here..
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3. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Me neither.
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4. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Trigger I like you. A valued poster. But these sort of posts so near the deadline are infuriating and potentially misleading.
  
  Why exactly?
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  1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Because he wasn't always, towards the end of last Season.
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  2. The Machine
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Have you looked at City's midfield and the wingers they have?
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Lizard Lips
10 years, 9 months ago
Migs (Davis)
Coleman Terry Kos (Ward Brayford)
Mirallas Coutinho Wally Hazard (Thomas)
Giroud Sturridge Lukaku

RMT please 🙂
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Good team. Don't care for your keepers.
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2. dribbler
  10 years, 9 months ago
  thomas is injured
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Blind
10 years, 9 months ago
Will Nathan Baker play for Villa? Need a 4m defender who doesn't play for Hull, Palace or Cardiff
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1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
  10 years, 9 months ago
  You will find him at Norwich, but ... he won't last long.
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2. It Is I, Leclerc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I was considering Whittaker (NOR) but was told he was not going to be nailed on long term.
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3. It Is I, Leclerc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  I was considering Whittaker (NOR) but was told he was not nailed on long term, which is vital for a 4.0 defender.
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4. It Is I, Leclerc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Oops, I got a server unavailable error after the first post hence the double reply!
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Something Clever
10 years, 9 months ago
Negrado most likely to get the most game time in the first 3 weeks? Is he worth a punt?
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1. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  any evidence to show that?
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  1. Sir_Dunc
    10 years, 9 months ago
    I currently have Dzeko, but I'm starting to wonder whether the whole City front line is worth the risk..
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2. Kerrazy
  10 years, 9 months ago
  yeah think he'll start the first game..
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Ahh! Sister Assumpta!
10 years, 9 months ago
Goal.com have their own Fantasy Football Comp... Ive created a Private league for any FFS to enter... Bit of Craic...

http://fantasy.goal.com

Code: 1358867-10632
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1. Ahh! Sister Assumpta!
  10 years, 9 months ago
  no takers?!?!
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Beavis
10 years, 9 months ago
Buzzing for the new season! Can we get started already?
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1. Doolittle
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Hang on, need to finalise my team here!
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roscola
10 years, 9 months ago
Did Wenger say anything about Cazorla?
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1. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
  10 years, 9 months ago
  No reason. Not injured, always plays. No need to worry.
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  1. roscola
    10 years, 9 months ago
    It's just that he only flew back from Ecuador last night. Sorely tempted to get him instead of Theo but that's probably a mistake anyway.
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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius�…
      10 years, 9 months ago
      I have the same dilemma ... 🙁
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      1. roscola
        10 years, 9 months ago
        I honestly have no idea how to resolve it. Clearly Theo's going to score goals. But Santi is going to be a BAP factory this year.
        
        I think having both is the only option but that's very messy for my team and could only be achieved by GW2 and would mean missing out on Mirallas.
        
        Would you consider having him instead of Theo?
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TheManWithaPlan
10 years, 9 months ago
***Expert Advice needed!**

Mignolet

Ivanovic Toure Collins

Silva Nolan Hazard Walcott

Lukaku Dzeko (or Van Wolf) Sturridge

Boruc Turner Coleman Kim

Think of Van Wolfs over Dzeko, more nailed on and known as a goal machine.. Plus a good run in
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1. dribbler
  10 years, 9 months ago
  wolf is not nailed on
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vinniebolton
10 years, 9 months ago
repost...losing faith in this site is there sumthing that lets people know if u r a payin member and people only respond to them....reply if u wnt if not who cares gonna roll with it anyhows.

rmt/please b4 u ignore bear in mine if have neva ad a reply to rmt every1 deserves a chance lol

Mannone (Boruc)
toure merty johnson (chester,brayford)
hazard(C) walcott coutinho lamps (kim)
benteke lukkau giroud

i will sell 2 x che/villa gw2 and 2 x che/villa gw3, for whoever people are buying in a bid to increase capital
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1. gford33
  10 years, 9 months ago
  i found this too but really u dont need a RMT,do abit of reading add that to the knowledge u have n hope for the best...IMO ur team is pritty strong..is that glen johnson at the back aswell as kolo? if so i wouldnt double up on liverpool.maybe someone like coleman would do u good n ull save some cash aswell
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The Machine
10 years, 9 months ago
For the first 3 weeks only

A) Zabaleta + Burner

B) Lescott and Murner

I would go A all day long if i was convinced Zabaleta would start in week 3, but i have my doubts. What do you reckon?
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1. Billy Gilmore
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Well Burner won't play...
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leovesole
10 years, 9 months ago
Toure or Coleman?
Already have Mignolet & Coutinho. Might get Sturridge later on so wanted to leave some room.
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1. Sir_Dunc
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Coleman for the goal threat, just can't count on CSs.
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  1. leovesole
    10 years, 9 months ago
    Solid advice there.
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AK ⭐
10 years, 9 months ago
Benteke or Negredo/Dzeko?
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1. Beavis
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Bentekkers
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2. HurriKane
  10 years, 9 months ago
  benteke
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3. _nod
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Depends on the rest of your team, if you can free transfer or sub him for GW 3 then Benteke
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MountainBeach
10 years, 9 months ago
Thoughts on this team?

Mannone

Ivan Collins Coleman

Coutinho Hazard Michu Walcott

Sturridge Benteke Lambert

Boruc Chester Brayford Thomas
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1. HurriKane
  10 years, 9 months ago
  brayford not nailed on and collins and thomas is injured go for m turner ward and morrison
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2. Nastradarmus
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Good team ain't Thomas still injured see alot of teams with him in
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3. gford33
  10 years, 9 months ago
  thomas n collins deffo have to go...same goes for myself..brayford is bench fodder (i have him too) so theres no harm in keeping him imo
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4. _nod
  10 years, 9 months ago
  Lot's of people saying mannone isn't nailed on or even Di Canio's first choice
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  1. Baby Cuties
    10 years, 9 months ago
    sunderland's fixtures up to GW8 or so arent great either, especially the home ones which probably means few cleansheets
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