Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 133 – Beginnings

A new beginning. On the eve of a new campaign, two grumpy middle-aged has-beens gather in a studio to recall the summer’s feast of football and look ahead to another Fantasy season, full of hope.

There’s no frills. No live video cast. No special guests. Just Granville and I, stripped back and almost unplugged.

Don’t let that put you off, though. Even with our limited powers we at least attempt to cut through the issues currently rattling around in the minds of Fantasy managers.

We assess the Old Trafford revolution, the world without Suarez and the merits of the three-man strike force. We slice through the current transfer trends and weigh up matters such as the Sigurdsson/Bojan rotation, Fagregas vs Hazard and the Chelsea back four conundrum. We also manage to warm up with a nice little argument about the Alexis Sanchez bandwagon – the traditional pre-season barney.

Be there at the birth via this link, or witness the new dawn via the handy player below.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

7,186 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else going with a Cahill hazard Costa trio?

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    1. Nabs Kebabs
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      not quite..Cahill and Costa

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      1. Fernando Torres
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Why Cahill over JT

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        1. Az
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Younger. That's literally my only logic

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        2. Nabs Kebabs
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          JT will get rested more often.

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          1. Kerrazy
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            why cause he's older? lol nonsense he's the captain.

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    2. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      No, bit very good picks

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    3. elkunaguero
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      JT-Haz-Costa... makes it difficult to fit in Ramsey (Eriksen at the moment)

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    4. Kerrazy
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      JT Haz Cost

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    5. Proggy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Luis - Fabregas - Costa for me.

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      1. Az
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        3 Chelsea just feels so wrong though doesn't it

        I want mata, but I'm sure hazard will out score him so why pick him?

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        1. ViperStripes
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Just get both

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    6. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Terry hazard Costa here

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    7. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Cahill Fab Costa

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      1. Cristi@no R7
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Fab & Costa

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  2. Rex Lapis
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    is Naughton and Collins nailed on?

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  3. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Please help my Defence is
    Debuchy Chester Wisdom ?? ??

    Have 10million to spend?
    So
    A. Two 5.0 def
    B. 4.5 and 5.5 def

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    1. pompeyfan
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      5.5m & 4.5m. You have cover so i'd get Chambers and Jones. Go big or go home!

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      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers that would be doubling on utd and arsenal (as I have de gea and Debuchy)?

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        1. pompeyfan
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          a risk certainly, depends how you feel on doubling up. I'm doing it with Chelsea.

          Otherwise at 5.5m you only really have Lovren and Liverpool aren't the best defensively

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  4. elkunaguero
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Ramsey or Eriksen?

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    1. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Ramsey

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    2. Grimmaldi - Send in the Clo…
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I have both but Ramsey is certainly the better pick.

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    3. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      lol

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    4. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Both

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    5. Proggy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Ramsey

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  5. Messi & fabregas
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    please some help:

    A) Mata + Bojan + Rio

    or

    B) Giroud + 5mi mid + Debuchy ?

    rest of my team:

    Krul / eliott

    Jones, Lovren , xxx, duff, bruce

    Fabregas, Ramsey, Sterling, Siggy, XXX

    Rooney , Costa, XXX

    Thanks

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  6. pompeyfan
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    wow, every time I refresh there's a new page. This post isn't helping tho!

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      😆

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    2. AppleDunk
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      DZ is better to get feedbacks.

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      1. pompeyfan
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        agreed. But not looking for feedback. DZ isn't ideal for those working in Europe

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    3. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Neithers this one

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  7. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Jones or Blackett?

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    1. XhakaCan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Jones

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    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Be sensible and go for Jones

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  8. Mr Smith
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all, assistance on the following if you would be so kind:

    A. Caulker & Hazard
    B. Kos & Fabregas

    ?

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    1. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A

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    2. micsway
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      B

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    3. Mr Smith
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Yup pretty much my thoughts 😆

      Any more?

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    4. XhakaCan
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A

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  9. Cocky Spaniel Alves
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Which team is better?

    1)
    Bego
    Terry-P Jones-Chester
    Silva-Ramsey-Eriksen-Hazard-(Siggy)
    Rooney-Giroud-(Bojan)

    Subs: Gilks, Hutton, Moore + 1 of Bojan/Siggy

    2)
    DDG
    Terry-Caulker-Wisdom
    Silva-Ramsey-Mata-Henderson
    Rooney-Giroud-Costa

    Subs: Gilks, Hutton, Moore, Wanyama

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    1. ViperStripes
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      You'll more responses if you list the differences

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    2. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I just saw formations and said 2. 3-5-2 will quickly die out.

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  10. Almighty Juaan
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    just woke up lads
    what has happened to ward and the palace defence???? hearing stuff?

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    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Nothing theyre all safe and fit. Just they dont have a manager anymore

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    2. The Darkest Knight
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Nothing happens...
      captain of the ship left on the eve of war.

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  11. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Williamson nailed on? Decidin between him and Colo and realised he has a better goal threat. Colo's is non existent

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    1. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Don't like Colo at all. Williamson was excellent last season and seems to have edged Yanga-Mbiwa

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      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        just checked and williamson basically has a non existent goal threat too.. sigh

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        1. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Don't think you should be having many sleepless nights without any Newcastle defence coverage...

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          1. Valar(Keith)
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            🙂 .. im worried about the sleepless nights il have if i go with Rio instead

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    2. Ben Mee Over A Table
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Colo is a bonus point magnet though.

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      1. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        *was

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        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          😯

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      2. Valar(Keith)
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        *was

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        1. Giroud U Kidding
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          a

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        2. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          He's even better suited.

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    3. pompeyfan
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      they both go up for corners I think so both have some threat. Of the 2 i'd choose Colo

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      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        You've not seen us take corners have you 😉

        We scored from a corner last season and it was the first time in about 2 and a half years that had happened!

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        1. pompeyfan
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          I guess I'm getting over ambitious. Ajax never scored corners either but I saw van der Hoorn score one last week so now maybe expecting a bit too much!

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          1. GreenWindmill
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            We've offered almost zero threat from corners since Nikos Dabizas left, when we get one I tend to look to see who we've got hanging around the edge of the area in the hope the clearance falls nicely for them to hit 😆

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            1. pompeyfan
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 8 months ago

              he was fantasy gold!

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              1. GreenWindmill
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 8 months ago

                Indeed! Him and Matt Elliott from Leicester 🙂

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  12. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    How many games will Blackett play?

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Until Evans is back, don't know.

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    2. bazrah99
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      6

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  13. Kuqi Monster
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    A - stick with rio/ward rotation for 3rd defender spot

    B - get rio/clyne, play rio GW1 then just play clyne

    A or B?

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  14. jimlad
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Any chance of an cheeky early morning RMT/10?

    Im not so sure about the whole one team GK thing and is the defence a little weak?

    Krul (Elliot)
    Debucy Lovren Chester (Duff Wisdom)
    Sterling Ramsey Fabregas Mata (Siggy)
    Costa ROoney BOjan

    0 in the bank

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  15. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I have the holy trinity up front, and this is my midfield...

    Ramsey, Silva, Eriksen, Henderson

    too weak? No Hazard, Mata, Sanchez

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    1. micsway
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Drop silva for Mata

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    2. Wells - Anti-Dentite!
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Really don't want to see your defence...

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      1. Sting
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        It's functional!

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    3. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      looks fine

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    4. Ben Mee Over A Table
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Quite a strong midfield as well. Perhaps a different 9.0 than Silva...I'd say Mata and Fabregas will both outscore him early doors.

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    5. Timtastic03
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Dont see the point in getting Hendo generally, more so if you already have the Studge. Might as well get Siggy?

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    6. Moin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      still looks good...but don't want to know your defence though...

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    7. There's Always One!
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Holy trinity?

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      1. Timtastic03
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Rooney, Costa, Sturridge

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  16. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Do you think it is best to play the fixtures eg: treble United (DDG,Mata,Rooney) and Chelsea (Terry,Hazard,Costa) , or just get 'coverage' eg: 1 attacker from each of the top 6 (Rooney,Costa,Dzeko,Ramsey,Sterling,Eriksen)?

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    1. Sting
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I think I've ended going for the 'coverage' option

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      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        I may flip a coin.

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    2. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I'm facing the same problem (like everyone else I suppose).
      I think I'm going to have to go without cover in two of the top 6 and probably 4 of the top ten to afford the big hitters I want.
      If I'm right all is well. If not it will mean hits or in the worst case an early Wild Card.

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      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        I think City and Pool can be discounted for the first few weeks, it's just the price of Dzeko is so enticing and Sterling will be the highest point scorer for Pool this year imo with his assists. Also the coverage option means you have an interest in every top 6 game and are not bust after Chelsea and United finish their matches lol.

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    3. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I have double Utd for the fixtures, but covering the rest of the bases except Liverpool. Had Nasri in my thoughts all summer as he is fit and rested, but have a nagging doubt I should have Sterling! Mata>Sterling would give me full coverage of all likely top six bar Everton. I have 0.5m spare, and obviously 0.5m leeway anyway to switch Mata, or sell Eriksen if he doesn't perform... Relatively flexible. Though I may spend my 0.5m to get a Newcastle defender to rotate when it's clear which 4.0m is useless, or upgrade Luis to Cahill..

      DDG
      Debuchy Luis PVA
      Nasri Ramsey Eriksen Mata Siggy
      Rooney(c) Costa?(vc)

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      1. Well you know, Triffic
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        I'm contemplating leaving out a Chelsea midfielder aswell, and just getting Costa who I hope will be on the end of things. It would allow Dzeko and Sterling to be in my team. Only problem is Chelseas first 6 games are too inviting.

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        1. shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          It's very difficult!

          I figured lots of roatation with Chelsea mids, but Costa is nailed on. And has showed he can do it pre-season.

          With Rooney and Costa, Sanchez eats up too much budget, so Ramsey it is. Nasri avoids Dzeko/Jovetic rotation worries. So it's just Mata and Eriksen really. Can easily swap to Fab/Sterling if needed later, as I said the 0.5m fund gives a bit of leeway.

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  17. There's Always One!
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    What do you think guys? Is it crazy having no city? If so how can I get a city player in? 0 funds left

    Mannone ( kurl )
    Lovern. Jones. Simpson. ( Chester Hutton )
    Mata. Eirksen. Cesc. Ramsey (Siggy)
    Rooney. Costa. Bojan

    I might play 352 with Bojan dropping out.
    Cheers.

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    1. TheOneAndOnly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      This is my front 7 but I have Hazard instead of Cesc...

      Rest of team is DDG, Clyne nd a bunch of losers...

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  18. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Who is going to olay Rb for Spurs?

    A) Naughton

    B) Dier

    C) other

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      A

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  19. In Like Flynn.
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Ah The Scoutcast! Another Mark and Granville heated discussion. The new season is truly upon us.
    All Hail The Scoutcast.

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    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      +1

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    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      🙂

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    3. GreenWindmill
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hail Scoutcast!

      Doos is looking for you - some leagues to join I believe 🙂

      How's your Telegraph team by the way?

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      1. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Hi GW, he found me, MLs sorted, thanks.

        I'm quite happy with it, which is worrying in itself, means I've missed something.
        Do you have a ML in it?

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        1. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Ah, splendid, he will be pleased 🙂

          No MLs - I just signed up and knocked a team together after you gave me the sales pitch 😉

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          1. In Like Flynn.
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            I'll email them. That should be another .00002p commission. 😀

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            1. GreenWindmill
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 8 months ago

              Tell you what, if I win the competition I'll match that commission for you 🙂

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              1. In Like Flynn.
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 8 months ago

                😆 Gosh!! Thanks!!

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                1. GreenWindmill
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 12 Years
                  9 years, 8 months ago

                  I'm generous to a fault 🙂

                  Good to see you on the boards anyway - hope the season treats you well 😀

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    4. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Granville gets so tetchy :p

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    5. President John F. Keninnsie
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Looking forward to watching it when I wake up tomorrow 🙂

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      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        *listening to it

        It's classic scoutcast format 🙂

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  20. Cristi@no R7
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    RMT my team....!
    Begovic krul
    Davies Jones coloccini O'shea Wisdom
    Mata Ramsey Fabregas Henderson El Ahmadi
    Rooney Costa Giroud...

    Any thoughts..?

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  21. Giroud U Kidding
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    CAPTAIN FOR GW1???

    Rooney or Costa

    or

    Punt on Mata or ramsey??

    Any takers

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      the decision is yours pal

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      1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Did you just...kinda...quote Captain Planet?

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      2. Giroud U Kidding
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah. Probably play safe on Ramsey ;0)

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  22. Kerrazy
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    just realised the good rotation Swans & Sunder offers after gw2.

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    1. The Chosen One...
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Naylor and PVA 😎

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  23. hooi1983
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Eriksen + Sterling or Hazzard + Henderson?

    thanks

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  24. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling or silva?

    Team is currently

    Begovic

    Wilson debuchy terry

    Young silva mata Ramsey (vc)

    Rooney(c) Costa bojan

    Subs: Krul rio sigurdson naylor

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  25. Fray Bentos
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    so much for fortress pulis then

    everyone dumping palace players?

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  26. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    A) Austin and Sterling
    B) Dzeko and Siggy

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    1. Geo2jd
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Rooney or Giroud?

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      1. Nabs Kebabs
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        fek off

        😆

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  27. Proggy
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Does anybody know when the pressers will start?

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Good point. People here usually point us in the right direction when they're on.

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  28. Zipster00
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sorry guys stupid/ridiculous question, Who is 'Arnie' in the PL?

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    1. Proggy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Marko Arnautovic, Stoke player.

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    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Stoke mid.

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  29. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    R.Madrid ready to sell Sami Khedira for £8m instead of lose him for free in 2015. Claimed, the star can be signed on £110k pw. (AS)

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hello, mate. Please will you get in your H2H? Thanks.

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  30. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Morning all, finally picked a team for UFPL. Anyone know any leagues I can join?

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