Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Monday

An all-London affair at the Emirates brings the curtain down on Gameweek 17 this evening. Plenty of Fantasy favourites are on show as the Gunners look for the win that would extend their lead to four points over the chasing pack:

For the hosts, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are the main protagonists for Fantasy managers, whilst Theo Walcott will be looking to maintain the form that saw him score twice at the Etihad last weekend.

Jose Mourinho’s side roll up on the back of a poor form of form on the road. The Blues have been beaten in three of their last four away games in all competitions but know that a victory will draw them level with the Gunners on 36 points. Eden Hazard will be desperate to have his say before Fantasy managers turn our attentions to the Gameweek 18 fixtures on Boxing Day.

The team news sees the hosts make four changes from the side that lost 6-3 at City last time around. Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen are drafted in for Nacho Monreal and Laurent Koscielny at the back, with the Frenchman sidelined due to a knee wound. Mikel Arteta partners Aaron Ramsey in the double-pivot, with Mathieu Flamini dropping out, whilst Tomas Rosicky gets the nod on the left, replacing the suspended Jack Wilshere. Lukas Podolski warms the Gunners bench along with the likes of Santi Cazorla.

The Blues make three alterations from the XI that edged past Palace. Gary Cahill replaces David Luiz in defence, whilst John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard are drafted into midfield – Michael Essien drops out through suspension while Juan Mata takes his place on the bench, allowing Ramires to move onto the right of the attacking midfield three. Oscar, Andre Schurrle and Samuel Eto’o are also amongst the subs, with Fernando Torres leading the line again.

Once again, we’ve opened the Dugout Discussion chatroom for those partial to some real-time reaction.

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4,978 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Hot Sauce
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Go ahead. Check it out!

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  2. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Who should I play this GW:

    Whittingham (SOU) or Redmond (FUL) ?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Whitt

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    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Redmond

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    3. Efan Ekoku Pops
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Whittingham

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  3. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Bench one out of.. Burner (SOU), MOlsson (FUL), Evans (Hul) and Baker (CRY)??

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    1. Davids_Semen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Burner or MOlsson IMO:

      Southampton are the best team out of the lot, and Fulham have looked good recently, scored a couple against City so can't seen a Norwich cleanie

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      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah I'm currently on Burner as Soton always seem to score.. MOlsson has got me 2 cleanies when he's been 1st sub in the last 3 weeks so tempted to start him..

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        1. Davids_Semen
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          Stick with that I think, I just fancy Fulham to get some good results over the the next few weeks, 4 pretty important games for them

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  4. Davids_Semen
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lost on bottom of last page:

    What do we think is the rank of the highest ranked player without Suarez?

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  5. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Current Team

    Krul (Marshall)
    Jagielka Coleman Ward (Chester Flanagan)
    Ramsey Ozil Hazard Silva (Morrison)
    Lukaku Negredo Suarez

    Choose 1:
    A) Januzaj IN Morrison OUT (to play in case one of the other mids are rested)
    B) Mertesacker IN Jagielka OUT (to spread the risk and not have 2 Everton defense)
    C) Any other transfer
    D) Save FT

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    1. Hot Sauce
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      save

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    2. Davids_Semen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      A just about, Jan has looked good the past few weeks, and just got on the scoresheet last week!

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    3. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Looks great. Save the transfer

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    4. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all

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  6. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Had another poor week. 100 points off the pace in ML! 2ft and thinking of doing ozil & shelvey to Walcott & silva. Will give me:

    Howard
    Evans kos burner (Chester Williams)
    Haz (c) silva Walcott bark (jwp)
    Rooney Suarez lukaku

    How does this look?

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    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      good to go
      but captain ?!!

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    2. Mr F Gallagher
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      100% YES FOR ME!!!

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    3. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      How many different players from those above you?

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      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        No one has Walcott or silva in my league but a few have ozil so trying to mix it up a bit!

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    4. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Yay go for it

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    5. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely!

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  7. purav
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Captain choice apart from suarez---
    1-Rooney
    2-hazard
    3-Yaya
    4-walcott
    5-Lukaku

    I dont want to captain suarez i have decide that...since everyone has him captain...i am thinking of Rooney...^_^.. suggestions?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I'm tempted by hazard

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      1. purav
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Chelsea has been inconsistent....and i have kind of given up on mourinho.....Yesterdays game would have been so different if he had played mata.......(chelsea fan here)

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  8. hibster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    not sur eif it's been asked before, but could we see man u turn it around at the end of the season the way everton always did under moyes?
    are man u this season fitting into the pattern of his recent teams?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      They def have the fixtures to go on a run.

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    2. Efan Ekoku Pops
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      United usually do better in the second half of the season and they've got players to come back from injury. Onwards and upwards!!!

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  9. Terry_McCat
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    How's my team looking lads?

    Mcgregor

    Terry / Evans / Distin

    Hazard / Walcott / YaYa / Cabaye

    Suarez(c) / Lukaku / Rooney

    4.0 Januzaj Baker Rosenoir

    Bank: 0.4m.
    Subs in the right order?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Looks great. Subs in right order

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    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      great
      McGregor vs utd? sure!!

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      1. Terry_McCat
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Have Steve Harper as my other keeper. Used my FT too,
        Need to take a hit to transfer out Harper?

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        1. hibster
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          wait til the jan wc to change keepers

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  10. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Oscar (c) anyone? 🙂

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    1. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      no-_-

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  11. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll to Mourinjo statement. Traditionally whipping hahaahahha

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  12. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Happy with this week, 88!
    Really unsure what to do now though

    Krul Marshall
    Terry Coleman vlaar Olsson Davies
    Hazard Nasri Ramsey Cabaye Morrison
    Rooney Suarez lukaku
    0.4 in the bank

    I would like either Walcott or Silva (which one?!). Would have to downgrade terry and then upgrade Nasri.
    Or something else?

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    1. pompeyfan
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      tough one. Might just lean towards Walcott, but I would worry about no City attackers, just like I am worrying about having no City attackers

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  13. Kerrazy
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    1 ft. 2.1 itb. how would you improve this team ?

    Marshall (Kdavies)
    Walker Gabiddon Jagielka (Chester Rat)
    Ozil Ramsey Silva Redmond (Colback)
    Suarez(C) Rooney Lukaku

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    1. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Rat ➡ Mertesacker

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    2. Terry_McCat
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Maybe Jones of ManUtd ? currently OOP. Good looking fixtures too.

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  14. pompeyfan
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    75 points and a red arrow this gw. No City coverage obviously hurt me.

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    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      78 and a tiny green here. It was the 0-0 last night. Was on for a decent green before that.

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    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Same issue, my fellow Soton scout. And you know what? I went the casual way and bought Yaya.

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      1. pompeyfan
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Think it's a bit too late for Yaya for me.

        That 0-0 last night actually helped me massively, 21 points 🙂

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  15. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Lukakaaaaa (c)

    Risk it for a biscuit 😉

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Nearly risked it before, I wonder if he's gone off the boil.

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    2. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      What do you think of hazard as (c) option this week evs?

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Unless it's Bale (or Lampard back in the day) always prefer a striker.

        Haz could be good, he may also be on pens as I doubt lamps will start 2 games in a few days.

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      I see a weakness for certain players will be your downfall again 😉

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Yep, Lukaka does fall in the 'Michu' category for me I think 😆 !!!

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    4. Kudo Warrior
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Hands not burned enough? 🙂

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    5. Bollard
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Until Everton start passing to Lukaku, no way am i captaining him. He is working his socks off getting into great positions but gets ignored by all and sundry wanting the glory. Jus the way Everton are at the moment with everyone confident.

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Too much tippy tappy?

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    6. Champy
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      No one is feeding the beast though.

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    7. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      And?

      Managed to put bike together?

      I'm not good with those things....I have an air hockey table to assemble for the kids tonight.

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Scooter, yes sorted 🙂

        MGP - but nothing to do with the ex-Blackburn rovers player 🙂

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      2. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        I had to put together a table football thing for him once (like the ones you get in the pub)

        Put it all together and notice the Chelsea back 4 were facing the keeper 😯

        I had to dismantle the lot 😆 !!!

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        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          Same happened to me a while back.

          Put together a foosball table. One set of players were facing the wrong way. They were skilled though...all their passes were back heels!

          lol

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          1. Evs
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 4 months ago

            Lol. Yep that's the one.

            I had to take the side back off and everything.

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    8. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      The more I think about it, the more I think lukaku will get a haul. Martinez would surely have noticed how wasteful Everton was. A screamer and a free kick winner aren't good enough for him and I'm sure he has a game plan for lukaka.

      Someone earlier mentioned jelavic might get a start. Scaremongering surely...but jela is injured (and crap) right?

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  16. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Bench?

    Mertesacker-whu

    or

    Dawson-WBA

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    1. tw
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      dawson

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    2. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Dawson....

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      1. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Mert plays ,cheers lads...

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  17. tw
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Ravel + GJ > Walcott + Ward (-4)

    yay or nay?

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    1. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      looks good...thumbs up....

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    2. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Do it

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    3. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      $ ??

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  18. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    play?
    a- sterling 70%
    b-Oviedo 30%
    ideas ???

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    1. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      A-

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  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Worth Ozil ->Wally to upgrade Gabbadon to JEvans?

    Would be -4, Thoughts?

    Mignolet (Lewis)
    Evans / Coleman / Mertesacker (Chester / Burner)
    Yaya Touré / Walcott / Ramsey / Hazard (Whittingham)
    Rooney / Suárez / Lukaku

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    1. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Yaya ramsey walcott hazard along with your fowards....looks quite deadly...whats your team value by the way?

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  20. JUST W
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Would Speroni being your only GK and away to City next Gameweek worry you guys too?

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    1. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      He should rack up the save points as his goal is peppered, you will be fine...

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  21. crazysnakeman
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Thinking about taking out migs for mannone which would give me enough money for brunt > cabaye but it would be for -4. Thing is I have brunt and morrison who are both playing badly atm and mannone could get a clean sheet next week.

    Well, that's my logic, so is it worth it?

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  22. Top Drawer Jeff
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    We both know this question is coming....we have buried it in our subconsciousness for the past 2 weeks.....we need to face reality....is it time to ship out Ramsey in the Jan WC.......methinks he's on a downward curve !!! Will chew on it over the festive season !!! You might do too !!!!

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    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      It could be a season defining moment. Especially if you were "unlucky" enough to buy him at 5.5m

      Those owners will prob never sell and might shoot themselves in the foot.

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      1. Top Drawer Jeff
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Good point...I'm going to give him another 2 games myself...I ditched Michu too early last year and it cost me....The Gunners are going through a sticky patch so it will be interesting to see how they get on...but CABAYE is the one to get for Ramsey ...if I decide to pull the trigger 🙂

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  23. white lightning
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Which option for gw18. Thanks.

    (a) Terry out, Coleman in
    (b) Oviedo out, Barclay in
    (c) Remy out, Rooney in

    Mignolet, Boruc
    Terry, Mert, Jags, Clyne, Burner
    Ozil, Ramsey, Hazard, Cabaye, Oviedo
    Suarez, Remy, Welbeck

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    1. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      terry have 2 home games.

      c or b

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    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      b or save ft

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    3. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      c although a is a worthy trade too.

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    4. white lightning
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers boys. The sensible one is (b) as Barkley will be auto-sub if Ozil/Ramsey rested. But both (a) & (c) are tempting.

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  24. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    ivanovic or terry for the next 2 games ?

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    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      ivaaa

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    2. crazysnakeman
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Imo, ivanovic, seems to be more of an attacking threat than terry

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      1. Davids_Semen
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Go with Ivan, more likely to score.

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Terry

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  25. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Will Everton be top of the league by the end of January. They have a LOT of winnable games but then so do Arsenal...

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    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Unlikely - no depth to their squad will find them out I suspect.

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    2. purav
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      The only team right now that looks scary is man-city...they just cant stop scoring...

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      1. Professor Abel X
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        At home. I would like to see greater consistency away from home before I got too excited

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  26. Matt
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Which team would you most prefer to have a defender from for the upcoming weeks apart from Everton?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Man u

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    2. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Palace/Cardiff/Norwich. Purely price and fixtures to allow three heavies in midpark and two heavies upfront.

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      1. Professor Abel X
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed

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      2. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        Hi, a -4 for you this week?

        Trannies?

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        1. Jafalad
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 4 months ago

          Hey fella,

          Yaya and Ruddy in; Brady and Borat booted.

          What you doing?

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          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 4 months ago

            Nice. I had to choose between Ruddy and Krul 2 weeks ago. Went Krul.

            Yoyo keeps on scoring.

            Selling Sesspool.

            👿

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            1. Jafalad
              • 14 Years
              10 years, 4 months ago

              Good move.

              After agonising over the gk situation, I've plumped with Ruddy purely for price and fixxies till w/c.

              Have a great Christmas!

              Best of luck over the festive period. 😉

              Off to bed - speak soon.

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    3. Terry_McCat
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Evans I guess

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    4. Something Clever
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      City

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    5. Davids_Semen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Arsenal, United, Fulham

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  27. Professor Abel X
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone know any good betting tips websites? I go on punterslounge a fair bit, but find with that site there's only a select group of punters I'd be willing to follow

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    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      This is not the time of year to be indulging in pagan activities.

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      1. Van Dal
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        haha

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  28. Van Dal
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    SHEATTT! 72pts an still went down 15k places! standards gone up this year big time.

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    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      If you are game active over Xmas, you'll move up again over this period. Stay focused.

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      1. Van Dal
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        hope so pal. you reckon you can still finish in top 1k?

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  29. Pack The Ripper
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Ban nan to Januzai worth a 4 point hit?

    Gives me

    Januzai Hazard Yaya Ramsey
    Rooney Suarez Lukaku

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    1. Terry_McCat
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Not worth it IMO.

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    2. Professor Abel X
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      Although ive got Januzaj I wouldnt recommend getting him in. Its a rotation nightmare waiting to happen

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    3. crazysnakeman
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      No, don't think he is worth it

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  30. Tim Canterbury
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting that me and my rival are both on 1076 points but I am top on our ML. Is this because I've taken less hits or I was there first?

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    1. Van Dal
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      cos your cooler

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    2. adams_6
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 4 months ago

      You must have done fewer transfers

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      1. Champy
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 4 months ago

        ^^^ this is correct ^^^

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