The Community Round Up

The availability of Diego Costa, European exertions and the impressive Gameweek 8 points hauls of the likes of Dusan Tadic and Sergio Aguero were among the key topics under discussion this week. In this latest round-up we look back at all the best community chatter as well as look back at this week’s community articles, members tables and star turns in our various leagues and tournaments.

The Community Articles

Our community writers hopped over the English channel this week to investigate how European competition involvement influences Premier League sides. Kesh took a look at the lessons to be learned from Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Anderlecht, while Ludo published this excellent analysis of whether there really is such a thing as a Europa League hangover.

West Brom may not have European involvement but are still a side to interest our community scribes. Among The Puntmaster‘s trio of punts this week is Baggies defender Sebastien Pocognoli. Meanwhile, West Brom were among the hottest properties going into Gameweek 9 in both attack and defence, according to The Sarjeant’s latest form gauge.

Don’t forget, if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.

The Hottest Topics

Will he or won’t he? This is the key question being asked on Diego Costa’s chances of making this weekend’s clash with United. Chelsea boss Joe Mourinho has been known to favour more than just the occasional mind game and revealed earlier today that his star striker has “a very little chance” of making it. Given the uncertainty, some community managers, such as Chris_ White, have already transferred out the striker as we discovered in our discussion on the Costa dilemma.

Rickardinho has also been looking at Costa exit strategies and served up this excellent pros and cons post on ditching him and drafting in Sergio Aguero for a hit. Dusan Citizen was another to sing the praises of City’s Argentine this week. He wonders whether given his startling recent form he could even be granted the accolade of being this season’s version of Luis Suarez.

If Diego Costa fails to make this weekend’s game his price will surely plummet, although it may take quite a few more absences to qualify for Wakey’s Falling Stars team, made up of those whose price has fallen below their initial price tag. Wakey gave us an update on how his falling stars from Gameweek 8 performed and showed that there are plenty of bargans to pick up. His Gamweek XI achieved an impressive haul of 70 pts, 21 above the average with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Phil Jagielka among his top performers.

Southampton’s Dusan Tadic was another to enjoy a stellar Gameweek 8: he duly delivered on his promising underlying statistics with a 23-point haul. Such was his impact that Seb 10 asked whether Tadic now deserves “essential” status. Demi is not convinced and wants to see further evidence, while O’Shaughnessy believes he is the best mid-priced midfielder based on his data and last weekend’s tally.

Another player to flirt with that hallowed essential status is Everton’s Leighton Baines. He was also a principal guest the points party, notching an impressive haul of 15 in Gameweek 8. However, Costra Nosta warns against forgetting the attacking threat of his fellow Everton full back Seamus Coleman.

For those that had Aguero, Tadic and Baines in their team a bit points total was inevitable, prompting E6 Hammers to take a stroll down memory lane to look back on some similarly impressive high-scoring game weeks of yesteryear.

Saniul was the winner of this week’s search for a community Scout Pick champion and has a huge gap of more than 100 points to help the community make up over top placed Paul.

This week we also announced that the champion who manages the best Gameweek score (or best score from the first ten matches in a double Gameweek) will win a £100 Amazon voucher. While we’re at it, a reminder that, from Monday, our weekly search for a champion will be via a community article rather than a hot topic.

The Members Tables

Goalkeeper’s prowess was the subject of 46612’s table, which is filtered by “saves made”, while Doosra has been looking at fierce foragers, his term for forwards that hold onto the ball.

Meanwhile, Sleep Talk has been assessing goalscoring defenders over their last four matches, a table sorted by shots in the box.

If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.

The Community Tournaments

The Tinkerman is clinging on to the lead of the Fantasy Football Scout moderators and contributors league and now sits in 439^th overall in FPL. Mark is closing in and is now just two points off the lead after his strong post-Wildcard Gameweek.

Rasping Drive was another to enjoy a bountiful weekend. He is in 32^nd overall in FPL and sits proudly atop the Puffinboy Memorial Cup for veteran posters, the FFS Old Farts Club for our posters of advancing years as well as the FFS Dead Zone league.

In TorresMagic‘s Last Man Standing competition, ADAMS_6  hit the top score in Gameweek 8 with 127. There are now 1054 teams left after 63 were eliminated.

Elsewhere, ENR dropped by to deliver this update on all the latest ups and downs in the FFS UEFA Hockey World Cup themed tournament.