We roll out the next instalment of our weekly article for Members this evening, offering an in-depth statistical analysis of the main captaincy contenders for the set of fixtures ahead. This week, more than most, getting the armband call correct looks crucial – given that all of our featured five have acquired at least 12% of the votes cast in the Gameweek 16 Captain Poll, opinion looks split right across the board. Time to delve into the data, then…
No kids around, nothing to do, time to re-watch the greatest gangster flick ever made. Once upon a time in America. All 3 hours and 40 mins of it 😀
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Eriksen to come straight back into the starting XI for Spurs?
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He wasn't nailed on before he got injured and spurs are winning so I would not count on it
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Christian Eriksen is back. Worth monitoring for jan WC,I rated him better than ozil due to price difference. At 7.1 player of his caliber is a steal and a viable 4th mid option with 3 big hitters in mid. My thoughts in earlier post.
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Where do you live in India? 😀
Open ControlsMumbai. You're a Bengali?
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Ina I knew I liked you but now I know you have taste. Raging Bull is the greatest movie ever made, bar none.
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Send an email. 🙂
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Billy , dont get me wrong but doesnt Ketsu mean "Arse" in Japanese?. Just curious.
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Yes, it does! The "biri" is the person, group or team who comes last in an event, a bit like the "wooden spoon" in English. So biri ketsu means butt last, or arse last. Well spotted.
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Ketsu - Japanese
(n) ass; arse; buttocks
rear; end
acupuncture pointOpen Controls
I am wondering if nasri is worth his price tag, shoukd i transfer him for a -4 hit? And who would you recommend over nasri for 8.2
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Film guys, i take it you know how to play the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon?
For those who don't, KB can be linked to virtually any film actor within 6 steps.
Eg (and this probably could be done in fewer steps)-
HOLLY VALANCE
in Taken with liam neeson
who was in A team with Bradley cooper
who was in limitless with de niro
who was in Sleepers with Kevin Bacon.
Try it, it's surprisingly addictive when you have people challenging youOpen Controls
I think i am bringing in Oscar ...
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He's fine, played in midweek
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Now would be nice 😉
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After December ... but make sure you use it before February!
Open ControlsDepends where you at.
if your team is a mess like mine go straight away before GW21
If you want to build value I think generally wGW21 is also best
If you in good shape leave it as long as possible to factor in late transfers and new injuries
The only other factor which I have not looked at is if there is a good fixture combo that would change the above I.e a few teams transitioning from bad to good (a la Everton this week) or vice versa. Anyone looked at this?Open Controls
Nasri owners, what are you doing? I'm keeping at least this week since he didn't play in the CL so should be ready to go against Arsenal.
Open ControlsKeeping. I have more pressing issues in Remy, Amalf and Boruc plus only 2ft
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Keeping this week, trading for Silva next.
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Keeping for now. Still has great stats. I have 1.3 banked to upgrade when someone starts standing out
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I'll start with my usual disclaimer, I'm American and have only watched football for 5 years, so please correct me if I'm missing something obvious.
How am I not reading more about Cahill being at fault for all three stoke goals?
He failed to close down Crouch, who shot around Cahills outstretched leg.
He didn't get a tackle in on Ireland, allowed him to run right across him.
He ducked out of the way instead of lunging into he line of fire for Assaidi's 3rd.
I hold him least responsible for the third, but I'm ready to see a little Terry/Luiz myself...
Why is Cahill still being praised outright and not called out for his howler Saturday....?Open ControlsStopped reading after "I'm American" 😛 jk
Cahill is average imo. Luiz is much better, but I think Cahill is more a Mourinhou type of defender unfortunately.Open ControlsCertain players can do no wrong.
For further reading see:
Gerrard,steven
Wilshere,jackOpen Controls
You are right imo SBS, the reason,
I think this year in particular, far too many defenders are failing to defend as they are;
1. Getting too old and slow to catch the very fast youngsters,
2. Think of themselves as primarily goalscorers so are too far forward most of the time, so often all the lofty defenders are looking to score from corners and simply don't have the speed to get back and into position if there is even a slight break back.
3. Have no guts to get in the way of free kicks and shots, watch for how many duck out of the way. This is leading to direct goals or goals from those FKs getting through for someone else to score from.
4 Run out of steam or concentration at the end of games. Man Utd late goals of the last ten years in particular highlight this.Open Controls
Off topic post
While talking with some friends I realized why I started watching football In 2003-04.It was because of one man RuudVanNistelrooy ,that is when I started supporting ManUtd and Dutch team. For me history didn't matter nor does any other player of same or different club. How did some of you choose your favorite team which you would support no matter what.Open ControlsCardiff. My home town even though I've lived in Swansea since i was 5.
School was fun...Open ControlsMan Utd but a huge bandwagoner: when I was 8, I saw the most memorable comeback in the CL final. That's when I knew 😛
Open ControlsI have watched that match many times and still same feeling.
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ah the feelings that season. I was a kid back then, and the FA cup semis when Phil Neville conceded the last min peno, i turned the tv off. Went back to bed but had a sneaky feeling the game wasn't over. Turned on to watch extra time and that Giggs goal...!
Not long after that, the euphoria of the CL final! Watching in my parents room at 4am in the morning and shocked the beejezus out of them when i yelled.Open Controls
Leeds. Don't need a reason.
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I started properly following the EPL in 2003 when I went to Uni in Aberdeen...
I arrived in early September to start my first semester, and one of the guys in my flat at the student halls of residence, supported Arsenal and he took me along to watch one of the games...
It just happened to be THAT ONE v United that went on to become the "invincibles" season...
I was hooked after that game...Open ControlsAlways liked a little about a few teams, but didn't lock in with one until Chelsea's CL run. I love Mourinho and Terry; so I'm pretty locked in now.
LOL growing a Cardiff fan in Swansea. Must have loved when Swans got promoted, huh..Open ControlsAnd all you got was Craig Bellamy
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i watched the fa cup final MU v liverpool 95/96..when eric cantona scored the winning goal 5 min before the match ends, i know i'm going to support this club through thick n thins 😀
Open ControlsBecks' goal from half field captured my imagination. Loved the colour red and the word "United".
Haven't looked back since.Open Controls
I support West Ham because of my Dad. I've been watching football since World Cup 90 captured my imagination.
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Battle of Old Trafford , that match turned me into a utd fan , although RVN missed a penalty but I don't know why but since that match I knew which team to support for life.
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It all started with pirated version of EA sports FIFA World Cup 2002.. summer holidays and borrowed the game from my friend after finishing Max Payne.. didn't know what football is.. played it and liked it.. Crespo, Raul etc were my fav strikers & France were my fav team..
One fine weekend spotted Desailly & Petit in Chelsea team and then Crespo the next season.. no idea what transfers were and what owner does..
my love for Chelsea started that day.. and will die with me 🙂Open Controlsi remember a ucl match between chelsea beat barcelona 3-1, only to get hammered 5-1 in the return leg..that time i really like the partnership of zola-tore andre flo
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Italy are my favorite team since 1994. I played with Italy in Fifa 1998 and Zola was my favorite player and still is my all time favorite. I started supporting Chelsea because of one and the only Zola back in 2001-02 season.
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Reading. I was born there and started to go to home games from age 5.
Brief flings with Chelsea and Citeh in the 70s when they were both shite, but Reading forgave me and we've been together ever since. Whilst she may not be very easy on the eye, I wouldn't swap her for anyone. 😀Open Controls
all these silly reasons for supporting teams. now when i was a kid i gave my mom a list of my favourite premier league jersies and asked her to buy me whichever she could find. i've since been a newcastle fan. and there, my friends, we have proper motive
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Born here, no other league club within fifty miles even if I wanted to support anyone else, which I don't.
Stuck with the Seagulls through thin and thinner.Open Controls
Much of a muchness this chaps but this is for my draft league team. Would you start...
1. A) Bony or B) Crouch?
2. A) Shawcross or B) Rat?Open ControlsWait to see how Bony looks tonight if he plays, Shawcross.
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Banna (che) over Clark (MUN) on the bench?
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Howard davies
Walker chester coleman (williams merte)
Sess shelvey hazard rambo (jedinak)
Lukaku kun suarez,
1.2, 1FT
Should I do williams to burner (and bench walker)??
Any better option?Open ControlsWho would you play?
Turner (SWA)
OR
Mertesacker (mci)Open Controlstough one, but i'll choose mert
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is this crazy?
YaYa to Fer
Remy to ROOOOpen Controls
As informative as this article is, it really hasn't helped me decide between Aguero, Lukaku and Suarez!
Gut says Aguero thoughOpen Controlsfor me its between rooney and aguero. not really keen with suarez, as capoue/sandro/paulinho will definitely marks him tightly
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Lukaku and oviedo (or 4.6mid) in
Remy and barkley out...worth 4pt hit?Open Controls
No, Oviedo might only have a couple of games before Baines is back.
Open Controlsnot sure mate, newcastle has nice fixtures and remy could turn out scoring the same points as lukaku
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Redmond is gold
Open Controlsso you think gerrard -> redmond @ fer is worth a hit?
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weighing up my captain options..
perhaps it is best to captain Hazard and VC Oscar as one will surely playOpen Controls
Who would you rather have long term?
A) Szczesny & Debuchy
or
B) Krul & Koscielny
I guess it comes down to which defender has the greater goal threat. Suggestions?
Cheers 🙂Open ControlsI prefer B
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Oh my!
Just looked at the upcoming schedule. This weekend's clash between West Ham and Sunderland is a genuine 6 pointer.
If West Ham lose they'll almost certainly be in the bottom 3 after the Xmas schedule as they have some nasty games coming up that you can't see them winning.
If Sunderland wins on Saturday they go into a set of games against fellow strugglers with a newfound confidence and belief in themselves that could see them catch up and overtake some of the teams around them.
If Sunderland lose I think that may well be the defining moment of their season and, really, I'm not sure that a point from these games is much good to them as it doesn't close the gap.
This game at The Boleyn looks like a massive one in terns of who w8ll end up staying up and going down.Open Controls
Agree massive game. Though blunderland have less points i think whu are the worse team. Away win?
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So i'm doing Gerrard and Brady out for Silva/Oscar and Redmond over the next 2 weeks.. Problem is which one would you get first?
A) Gerrard to Redmond (Next week Silva/Oscar)
B) Gerrard to Silva/Oscar (Next week Redmond)
Decidin between Oscar and Silva seems impossible too(i got Terry, Hazard and Aguero btw)Open ControlsA) Gives me one more week to assess since tehy are just back from injury
Open ControlsI have to decide between Silva and Oscar too this week and i have same players that you have i.e. Terry, Hazard and Aguero. I am edging towards Silva at the moment because of his consistency this season. Oscar is not consistent enough. Silva will give steady stream of points, he is not explosive at all though.
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To back this up, silva has an assist/goal every 90mins
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Silva
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McGregor
Santon Mertesacker BenDavies
Hazard Ramsey Yaya Oviedo
Lukaku Suarez Giroud
Benched: Mignolet Ward-Prowse Lovren Distin
I can not guarantee any cleansheet from my Defenders, so let's see the contribution from midfield, and Suarez too. Any suggestion for the captain? Can not choose between Lukaku, Ramsey, or Suarez.Open ControlsRight, so how many of us are going in without Everton defensive cover for the week?
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Who to play next gw: Paulinho (LIV) or Ramsey (MCI) ?
Also, Benteke -> Lukaku reasonable?Open Controls
Oh Tekkers what have you done? so long without bagging and now no love on here at all,given that FPL is a game of great patience 12 points in 8 gwks is rubbish ,so probably 3 or 4 weeks too late and its bye bye and welcome Pig,i just know tekkers is going to score Saturday aaaaaaarrrrgggghh.......
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Tekkers, what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Xmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Xmas
And a happy New YearOpen Controls
10 years, 4 months agoSo how many of you think that Hazard will get rested?