World Cup 2014

World Cup 2014 – PlayON Quarter-Finals Picks – £2,500 Pot Today

With just a few hours remaining until the quarter-finals of Brazil 2014 get underway, we turn our attentions to PlayON’s World Cup Game this morning. Bearing in mind that all eight group winners are still in with a chance of winning the tournament, there are plenty of in-form options for us to consider in our assessment of the PlayON Player Price List:

There’s a MASSIVE £2,500 POT on offer today just for the Quarter-Finals Gameweek. You can enter up to three different teams into the game, with the deadline for entries closing at 15.00 today. You can enter the £2,500 game here.

Goalkeeper – Jasper Cillessen
Available for £8.4m, the Holland number one is the fifth most expensive keeper remaining in the tournament ahead of a clash against Costa Rica. Granted, Louis Van Gaal’s side have managed just one clean sheet thus far but with their opponents mustering a mere two goals in their previous three fixtures, hopes of a Dutch shut-out are high heading into tomorrow’s match. With most of the eight sides looking likely to score, though, price may be the overriding factor when selecting our stoppers. In the same showdown, Keylor Navas comes in at just £7.8m and is poised to shrug off a shoulder problem to continue his heroics between the sticks for Jorge Luis Pinto’s side. Elsewhere, Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois has conceded once from open play in four games and sets you back £8.0m for a testing clash against Argentina.

Defender – Mats Hummels
Having missed the Matchday 4 win over Algeria due to illness, the Germany centre-half is fully fit for a showdown with France. Available for £8.7m, Hummels’ return at the heart of the back looks vital for Joachim Low’s side as they attempt to keep Karim Benzema and co quiet, whilst his attacking threat in the opponents’ box has already served up a goal against Portugal in the group opener. Holland’s clash with Costa Rica brings Daley Blind back onto our Fantasy radars. Setting you back £8.6m, the versatile Ajax defender has already provided a trio of assists and could be shifted into central midfield this time around if Nigel de Jong fails to recover from injury. Marcos Rojo’s one-match suspension looks set to bring Jose Maria Basanta into Argentina’s starting XI for the first time in the campaign. Coming in at £8.7m ahead of a showdown with Belgium, the left-back affords us the cheapest route into a defence that has two clean sheets in the last three.

Midfielder – James Rodriguez
We keep faith in our pick from Matchday 4 ahead of an all-South American showdown against hosts Brazil. The only player to have scored in all four rounds of fixtures so far, the £9.4m-priced Rodriguez leads the way for the Golden Boot with five strikes and a pair of assists to his name – bearing in mind that Jose Pekerman’s side have scored at least twice in every match to date, they’ll be far from intimidated against a backline that has mustered a single clean sheet in their four fixtures. Arjen Robben cannot be overlooked for Holland’s clash against Costa Rica. The priciest midfielder in the PlayON Player Price List at £9.5m, his role up top in a 3-4-1-2 has already brought three goals and an assist, with Robben also earning the penalty that led to the late winner over Mexico – if Louis Van Gaal’s side are to prevail, he’ll surely have a major say. For those eyeing up a midfield budget enabler, Costa Rica’s left winger Christian Bolanos is available for a mere £8.0m and has assisted two of his side’s five goals in the tournament to date.

Forward – Lionel Messi
One of only two forwards to produce returns in every round of the tournament so far, the Argentina striker is the priciest option around at £12.0m for a crunch encounter with Belgium. With four goals and an assist to his name, though, Messi has played a part in five of his side’s seven strikes – as his assist for Angel di Maria’s winner over Mexico showed, his contribution will be essential to the South Americans’ chances of getting the better of an obstinate Belgian rearguard. Thomas Mulller has also scored or assisted in all of his four fixtures, yet is only the fifth most expensive forward at £11.4m. With four goals and a pair of assists accrued, the Bayern man is the only Germany player to have had a hand in more than one of their nine strikes ahead of a difficult clash with France. Finally, Belgium’s Divock Origi could be one to consider. After catching the eye with a couple of impressive displays off the bench, the youngster was handed his first start of the tournament last time around and sets you back just £10.1m for the game against Argentina as Marc Wilmots’ side attempt to justify the pre-tournament hype and earn a place in the last four.

The quarter-finals deadline arrives at 15.00 today, so get picking for the £2,500 game at www.playon.co

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1,398 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    So guys hit me with your predictions:

    France v Germany
    Brazil v Colombia
    Argentina v Belgium
    Netherlands v Costa R

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    1. The Machine
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Germany 1-0
      Brazil 2-1
      Argentina 2-0

      Costa Rica on penos

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    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      0-1
      1-1 (Colombia in ET)
      2-1
      2-0

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    3. Yome
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      2-1
      3-2
      1-0
      1-2

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    4. Yome
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Shaheen and predictaroo predicted France and Brazil winners. Predictaroo aslo picked Costa Rica winners

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    5. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Germany on pens after 1-1 draw
      Columbia 2-1 in the 90
      Argentina on pens after 1-1
      Holland 2-1 in the 90 Costa rica are only scoring to troll all the multiple dutch def/GK owners

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    6. The Sarjeant
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      France 2-1 Germany.
      Brazil 0-2 Colombia
      Argentina 1-0 Belgium
      Netherlands 2-0 Costa Rica

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    7. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      2-1
      1-3
      1-2
      3-0

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    8. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      2-0
      1-3
      3-0
      1-0

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    9. Jackson123
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      1-2
      3-1
      1-0
      2-0

      All in full time.

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

    Another great community article from Balotelli's Bib - this time a look of the previous round and what we can learn from it ahead of the quarter finals.

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2014/07/04/world-cup-matchday-four-lessons-learnt/

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  3. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Do you think Brazil v Colombia BTTS is nailed on?

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    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nothing is nailed on when it comes to betting. Don't fall into that trap.

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    2. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      no such thing as nailed on but I would rate it 80% +

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    3. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      It's a great bet.

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    4. Gimli son of Gloin
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Nope. Depends how fit Neymar is.
      I think Columbia should win by 2 goals though, Brazil are crap.
      Columbia (-1) @10/1 looks very nice to me,
      JRod anytime goalscorer @3/1 also

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Brazil really don't look great

        Colombia and BTTS is 9/1

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  4. nevertrustbony
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is there a predicted line ups thing for the quarter finals?

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

      Check the Articles tab.

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      1. nevertrustbony
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        got it thanks

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      2. GOONER
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        where is the articles tab?

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

          top of right column

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  5. MB10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    FPL site down for maintenance. Just saying!

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    1. Irish Madridista ⭐
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Will be for weeks..

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    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Two weeks to go then. Then another week after it crashes. 🙂

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  6. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    How many players for each position is everyone going for?

    Currently on 1-5-5-3, but will be changing to get more DF's.

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    1. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      1-5-5-4

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

      1-6-5-3

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  7. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    hey guys cant hang around along - is there any team news from this morning?

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  8. seanie3
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    which trio should I pick

    a) varane + hummells + wijnaldum
    or
    b) fernadez + boateng + KDB

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    1. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A for sure

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  9. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is it overkill to go Cillessen & 3 Dutch defenders in the Mirror game? Not hugely confident of Holland keeping a clean sheet but chasing a lead and they sure have the best CS chance...

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    1. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I'd be interested to see a list of best to worst odds of keeping a CS. You'd think it'd have to be Holland though, so might be a risk worth taking.

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    2. Tmel
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      *surely

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  10. Kevin Twine
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    How many players do you have playing today (McD's)?

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    1. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      9 😀

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    2. Jebus Saves
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      7

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      1. Kevin Twine
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Same, so far...

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  11. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone thinks Benzema will perform purely because of Ramadan? He looked a bit exhausted during last game.

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    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      *perform poorly

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      1. Joey Barton and Friends
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        there are exceptions for Ramadan so no he wont

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    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Is he fasting for the full 22 hour period or is he less strict given he is competing?

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    3. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Don't think anybody at the WC is on Ramadan. If I understand correctly they can be excused, and do it at another time.

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      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Yeah I think December they have a second window to do it.

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        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          😆
          There is no other window to do it.

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    4. Yome
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Depends on his partnership with Giroud.
      Benzema has delayed his ramadan because of the world cup

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  12. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Fox

    a) Oscar

    b) Di Maria

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    1. Messiah Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Di Maria

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  13. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    If Fernandez is out. Is great or basanta the better pick

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      *garay

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    2. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Garay scored a lot of goals for his club this season. Depends if you can do anything with the extra money.

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Not really rosc. Could change lahm to Oscar but not really interested

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        1. roscola
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 9 months ago

          Sounds about right then - grab Garay. I actually hadn't realised how well he'd scored.

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  14. bigdon
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Am I being an idiot by owning 3 Colombians and no Brazilians, I'm not convinced by Brazil and most of there players are overpriced (Mcd's)

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    1. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Neymar is the only Brazil player I'm considering. Though I do think they'll win tonight.

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      1. djenzio
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I'm going with Luiz too....i think brazil have to perform and the pressure is somewhat off them after the last game

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  15. juvelova
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Cillessen
    Zapata/Fernandez/Van Buyten/De Vrij/Diaz(sub)/Gamboa(sub)/
    Cuadrado/JRod/Valbuena/Di Maria(dub)
    Neymar/Benzi/Messi/Robben(sub)

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    1. juvelova
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No German cover but can't see them pulling anything this QF

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      1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        2-0 Germany imo (providing their team isn't decimated by flu)

        I'd far rather stock up on Germans than French

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  16. Reckoner.
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    How's this look for McD's?

    Ospina | Cillessen | X
    Hoewedes | Debuchy | Garay | Yepes | Alderweireld | X | X
    Oscar | Rodriguez | de Bruyne | Valbuena | Bolanos | X | X | X
    Neymar | Robben | Benzema | X | X

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  17. cruzex
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is Rojo suspended?!

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    1. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yes.

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    2. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Yep. Basanta is expected to come in

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      1. cruzex
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        ty

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  18. Big dongle
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    This probably been asked but is rvp still injured any news?

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  19. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Cillsessen

    Varane - Mert - Zapata - Fernandez - De Vrij - Van Buyten

    Lahm - Jrod - Valbuena - Mascherano

    Muller - Messi - RVP

    .
    .
    .
    .
    Any problems with this team? I heard Fernandez is a doubt so should I take him out? Also, is it worth finding .5 to get Robben over RVP?

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    1. bigdon
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I got Robben over RVP, I think he's more likely to play the whole game and also more likely to get assists

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    2. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      KDB should be in midfield too

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  20. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    What do you think about this McD team chaps?

    Cillessen
    Van Buyten - De Vrij - Hoewedes - Zapata
    Rodriguez - Cuadrado - Valbuena - Di Maria - De Bruyne
    Messi - Neymar - Benzema - Muller

    Defence too weak? Swap Benzema for another defender?

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    1. Madderegern
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Let go of Muller and backup your def and mid...

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      1. rozzo
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        Muller? Really? Would rather lose Benzema to be fair

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

          then lose bezy. 4 attackers is one too many. use the money to get 2 more defenders.

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          1. rozzo
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 9 months ago

            i hear you, shame to lose Benzema, will probably score a hat trick now

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    2. r0nh
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      No Mata 😯

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    3. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Swap out Benzema and get Varane

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      1. rozzo
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        interesting, i like Varane, i'll see what i can do

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    4. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      You're prioritising goal-scoring over defence. That worked in the group stages when teams were scoring for fun but most people are expecting things to tighten up a lot. The herd might be wrong, this *could* be a high-scoring set of QFs. But I don't think so.

      An attacker needs to score roughly a goal+assist to match what a decent defender or DM can expect. That's not hugely realistic at this point. So I'd say, at the very least, swap one or two of those attacking mids for defensive ones e.g. Cuadrado & Di Maria > Mascherano/Lahm

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      1. rozzo
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        interesting, thanks for the reply, will beef up my defence a bit

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  21. Grounderz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hey guys, what's the word on Fernandez?

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    1. Madderegern
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Id like to know too... !

      Considdering Garray instead...

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  22. Pinturicchio
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Is it foolish to go 2-6-5-3 (GK/DEF/MID/ATT)? I can reconfigure it to be 2-5-6-3, with Aguilar coming in for Yepes, but it just seems like defenders are more reliable in this game, and especially in the knockout rounds.

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  23. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    F.Fernandez a doubt? injury or dropped due to form?

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  24. Madderegern
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Cuadrado or De Bruyne ??

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    1. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Cuad

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  25. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Sky Sports understands that Burnley are set to sign former Bolton player Matt Taylor

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  26. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    mascherano or kroos?

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    1. djenzio
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      lahm

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    2. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Masch

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  27. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    RVP, Neymar or Benzema?

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    1. More Cowbell
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      I went Neymar

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  28. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Hi All,

    I've created a captain poll for France vs. Germany. Keen to get peoples' thoughs.

    http://strawpoll.me/2044358

    Thanks.

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  29. Alan Patridge
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    My current backline

    Alderwield, Vlaar, Virji, Blind

    Do I?

    A) Replace Vlaar with Howdes
    B) Replace Alderwield with Howdes
    C) Replace with someone else

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    1. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      A. Tho id stretch to Mert if you can.

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      1. Alan Patridge
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 9 months ago

        I can apparently stretch to Hummels if needed, didn't realise I had that many funds!

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  30. Pards Against Humanity
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    Will Janmaat start?

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    1. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      This is a very good question.

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    2. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Demi, do you know anything about this?

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