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The 13.5 Three-Way Defensive Rotation

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This season I have made the decision to go with Branislav Ivanovic. Every year I say I’ll start with him and this time I mean it. I have also decided to go for Laurent Koscielny. An expensive base but, quite simply, I believe these two defenders will bring in the greatest number of points.

As a result I wanted to explore the best possible option for rotating the other three defensive spots around these two premium priced players, who I will start most weeks.

I have analysed the first 10 Gameweek fixtures for the best three-way, starting, budget, defensive rotation (4.5, 4.5, 4.5). I have not explicitly set out to align it to the Chelsea and Arsenal fixtures but that does play a part.

Fixture difficulty is subjective, so feel free to use as you wish. Player suggestions based on information gleaned from this site.

Top pick:

1. BOU/WAT/NOR – Suggestion Mings/Angella/Bassong

Rotation: AVL, WBA, STO, LEI, BOU, SUN, PAL, WAT, new/STO, WBA

This was a surprise as it is not the most glamourous of arrangements, but it turns out this rotation gives what appears to be a really strong set of fixtures for the first 10 Gameweeks. There is only one away tie (new GW9), though this could be changed to Stoke at home. Additionally in Gameweek 6 with Koscielny at Chelsea, this rotation offers (NEW, SUN). In Gameweek 2, with Ivanovic at Man City it provides (sun, WBA).

 

Other options to consider:

2. NEW/SUN/WAT – Suggestion Coloccini/O’Shea/Angella

Rotation: lei, NOR, SWA, avl, SWA, WAT, CPL, bou, NOR, NEW

This one offers fewer home ties, but still a very strong set of fixtures. There’s a worry about the Newcastle defence, but hopefully it can only improve under Steve McLaren.

3. CRY/AVL/SUN – Suggestion Ward/Richards/O’Shea

Rotation: nor, NOR, SWA, SUN, lei, WBA, wat, WBA, WHU, NEW

The away ties in this one look problematic. Plus, putting trust in the Villa defence is a risky strategy, however, it gives a strong three-way rotation for the first ten matches, with West Ham at home in Gameweek 9 perhaps being the most difficult fixture. To support my Premiums, in Gameweek 6 it gives (WBA, bou).

4. LEI/BOU/NOR – Suggestion Morgan/Mings/Bassong

Rotation: AVL, sun, STO, LEI, BOU, SUN, sto, WAT, new, WBA.

Sunderland and Stoke and Newcastle away make this potentially tricky, however, it still offers a strong rotation with budget defenders who can get points at both ends of the pitch.

However, it doesn’t offer strong cover when Arsenal and Chelsea have tougher fixtures.

Conclusion:

I believe there are a few defensive strategies that work, and that this is one of them. If you get the 4.5’s right you can make some good price increases and the premiums will hopefully take care of themselves. 

 

My backline at the moment looks like; Ivanovic, Koscielny, Tyrone Mings/Gabriele Angella /Seb Bassong.

It compliments my GK rotation of Jack Butland/Julian Speroni.

I must admit it isn’t what I thought I would start with, but I believe it has great potential and would be interested to share options and views.

Mouldmaster http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/174118/history/

62 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Great article. May end up with one of these.

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  2. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Good work, I'll be having 4 of those maybe even 5. Prefer Kaboul over JoS though.

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    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Might be trying this myself.

    It'll be important to know which plays each week in #1. I wouldn't want a CRY or NEW defender, but #4 also looks decent.

    Thanks Mouldmaster.

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

      No probs. Agree re #1, however the rotation looks really promising. #4 might end up tempting if I can't resist the lure of Captain Morgan and Leicester.

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

        Great article..

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  4. Fiona B
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Thank you! Been looking for something like this.

    Gone Francis instead of Mings though.

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

      Yea it's a tough choice; going to assess the rest of pre-season and then decide which one to go for.

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

        You will have to post an edited version nearer GW1 to let us know if you have changed your mind based on Pre-Season. Very good article though and #1 interests me the most.

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  5. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Has anyone considered having 4 defs costing 18m? You play one heavy defender and 2 out of 4 budget defenders

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

      This

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    2. Jonny JAB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      You could have Ivan, 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 that rotate, definitely a viable tactic! Personally I prefer 2 strong defenders like this article suggests though

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  6. Monsieur Cantona
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Great article, I would like to throw Micah Richards u to the mix as another 4.5 option. Granted Villa are a bit tentative at the back to say the least. But a real goal threat which I think is always a good thing. my back one is Ivanovic - Cedrick - Bassong - Mings - Richards ? Or is Richards a really bad idea ?

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

      You're right, Richards is one to watch, just depends on whether you think Villa have any chance of a clean sheet, however in that rotation (AVL/BOU/NOR) there are actually no weeks where I would choose the Villa fixture. You could make a shout for GW4, 6 or 10, but the NOR and BOU probably have better.

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

        Hadn't thought of it like that, thanks for the insight

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

    Been searching for a good article on Three-way-rotations, so this was really great.

    However I can't belive I haven't seen the TWR I've gone for mentioned anywhere:

    BOU/SUN/NEW:

    AVL, NOR, SWA, LEI, nor, WAT, stk, WAT, NOR, NEW

    Okay, so there's that one tricky away game at Stoke, but you get 3x Norwich and 2x Watford in the first 10 GWs.

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

      Yep like this one too. I think there is a hesitancy to include a Newcaslte defender, which is why I didn't focus too heavily on them. However if they start to look tight under McLaren then this is a great rotation and covers GW6 nicely when Arsenal play Chelsea.

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  8. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Worth looking at Leicester too as they seem to have a nice opening set of fixtures......

    I'm on azpi and Merresacker.....and then looking at a huth and michah Richards rotation.....its not too bad.....fifth defender is saylor....he will be my 3rd sub who I almost never play in any case..

    Anyone gone for similar?

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

      Would try to find the 0.5 Mert > Kosc if you can/haven't! Huth is a good shout and Richards is one to watch IMO. I'm personally staying away from Newcastle but if he's your 3rd sub then go for it

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  9. Merterscielny46
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I don't trust the defensive capabilities of the promoted clubs and so have SUN/STO/WBA at the moment. Lei, NOR, SWA, WBA, SOT, LEI, BOU, WHU, SUN, WAT/NEW

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  10. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    great article thanks!

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  11. The Last Timelord
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Appreciate the time and effort put in to this thanks!

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  12. blank
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I started last season with 5-way defensive rotation with decent results. I think I'm going for it again. This is before all a budget decision. All the defenders are 4.5 except Lescott who is 5.0. After a bit of tinkering I have this: O'Shae-Ward-Lescott-Morgan-Yoshida. Everyone of these players is pretty much nailed on (apart from Yoshida who is uncertainty still) and well capable of getting bonus points. Most got +8 last year and with the new BPS system favoring centre backs even more you should see some returns. Teams aren't the weakest defencive sides of all either. For the first 18 GWs my fixtures are:

    1. SUN-nor-new
    2. NOR-whu-wat
    3. SWA-AVL-wat
    4. NOR-avl-sto
    5. AVL-SOU-wba
    6. bou-sto-avl
    7. SWA-wat-EVE
    8. WBA-WHY-nor
    9. LEI-SUN-WHU
    10. CRY-NEW-nor
    11. BOU-LEI-wba
    12. WAT-SOU-sun
    13. SUN-STO-new
    14. STO-NEW-whu
    15. AVL-swa-eve
    16. WAT-SOU-cry
    17. BOU-sto-eve!
    18. bou-swa-liv

    Not so many home fixtures I'd like to have but do notice that with this rotation you'll be facing last year's top 6 teams only ONCE the whole time with GW18 liverpool game. Apart from this you'll face Southampton 3 times but every occasion it's a home game for your defender. I'd like to think that otherwise all the games have potential to award your players with clean sheets. With this setup I'm able to afford such heavy hitters like Hazard, Costa, Walcott, Aguero in the same squad.

    Any opinions on this?

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

      I would think about doing WHU / BOU rotation for the first 8 GW, since its really really good. Its only 9.5 in worth and gives great games and than u can do 3 way rotation for 2 spots for 13.5. Think that would be my suggestion. Should look into it, but other than plan looks solid but i wouldnt go thru with it due to being set on a CFC defender.

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

        Not a big fan of getting a defender from a promoted team, but will take a look into it. Thanks!

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    2. sindriseagal
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      dosn't this sort of stop you from jumping on defenders bandwagons when all your defenders are tied up in a rotation?
      I'd like to have room to buy inform players and maybe if there will be starters at 4.0 without it ruining all that planning.
      just a thought.

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

        It is a bit of problem yes and I did suffer from it a bit last season too. At least I have possibilities to jump to another in form defender from the same teams but if someone exceptional comes up from a different team getting him would somewhat ruin the rotation, yes. Can't get everything with 18.5m budget for 5 defenders though. I still think it might just be worth it.

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    3. Super_rabbit
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Who did you start last year with? I feel this could be a good option if you can find the right teams to rotate. At this stage I am leaning towards a double rotation pair with Ivanovic the big hitter.

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

        If I can remember correctly I had O'Shae-Coloccini-Neil Taylor-Collins-Pieters or something like that, the latter two could've been Southampton def and/or West Brom def.

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  13. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    No love for

    SUN/BOU/LEI

    ?

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

      Yep was the first one I looked for as intuitively it felt good, gave:

      AVL, NOR, SWA, LEI, AVL, SUN, sto, WAT, wba, PAL.

      So really strong start, which would give time to asses the prospects, gets a bit trickier with sto, wba and PAL though.

      Avoids the three promoted clubs problem.

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    2. AllINeedIsCoffee
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      Would go for this if I wouldn't be going for Pant as a lone keeper.

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  14. Claudio With A Chance Of Me…
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Great article Mouldmaster. I have been looking at similar rotations myself.

    My only worry is with picking Ivanovic and Koscielny. Having had those two in my initial squad, with 3 x 4.5 around them defensively, (and only having a keeper cost of 9.0), I do struggle to pack my front 8 with big hitters, I have experimented a bit, especially with dropping Ivanovic and Koscielny down to Azpi and Mertesacker and saving a bit of ££. It helps especially if you want a slightly better front 8 or if you do want to take some spare ££ into the first few gameweeks.

    What are your thoughts on this?

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

      I think it's a sound strategy, one that I have probably done in previous years. Then I've used 0.5 of that extra cash to upgrade one of my 4.5 defenders and all of a sudden I'm back to the solid looking, sensible, balanced, but average defence I always have.

      It could be that a 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.5 turns out to be a brilliant option, but I will try to stay strong on my Ivanovic pick for as long as I can!

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

        Exactly the dilemma I face now too! Hazard has to stay and I feel the ability to draft Aguero in come GW4 is essential so Rooney for the first few weeks. Having Azpil and Mert instead of Ivan/Kosc makes getting Aguero in just that tad easier.

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

          Agree; the temptation will be to go 6.0, 5.5, 4.5, 4.5. 4.5 (or 4.0). Spends 25m and gives a really solid back line.

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  15. Chicken-Mandy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Very good article, defensive rotation is my biggest problem so far. However is picking defenders from all 3 promoted teams actually going to pay off?

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

      You could go SUN/BOU/LEI, CRY/AVL/SUN or NEW/SUN/WAT, all good rotations but I guess the issue with any 13.5 defensive rotation is that it is probably going to be from the bottom clubs and therefore somewhat of a risk.

      Remember though, it is only one def slot of three, and potentially facilitates Ivan, Kos in the other two.

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  16. Amateur Pundit Zan
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Thanks for the article. The only problem with basing this purely on fixture is it ignores the relative ability defensive ability of the teams. I'd argue Sunderland and stoke ( if we can get a nailed 4.5m) offer better chances of CS from the 4.5m option teams.

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  17. dribbler
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    "This season I have made the decision to go with Branislav Ivanovic. Every year I say I’ll start with him and this time I mean it. I have also decided to go for Laurent Koscielny. An expensive base but, quite simply, I believe these two defenders will bring in the greatest number of points"

    I think I'll have a crack at playing devils advocate here so let's try an experiment:

    (a) think carefully which teams you think will score most goals this season
    (b) pick 3 forwards from these teams
    (c) again think carefully which teams you think will score most goals this season
    (d) pick 4 goalscoring midfielders from these teams
    (e) pick a £4.5m midfielder who'll play every week
    (f) if you have spent more than £70m you'll need to pick cheaper players...but stick to the best attacking teams
    (g) now pick your 7 defenders

    It's perfectly possible to pick a £30m defence...with only experienced premier league players...from lowly but solidish premier league teams...with 90% good fixtures for 10 weeks or longer

    so how many points could we expect from a defence like this?...let's say an average of 4.0 per game from our keeper and 2.5 per game from our defenders...so we'll be a little cautious and say 10-12 points per game from all four of them...of course you're trying to get somebody who might get a goal or some bonus here or there but I'm predicting 10-12 points per game without attacking points

    now remember it's a perfectly legitimate tactic to play an early wildcard if everything goes pear-shaped

    now look at the defence you've got at the moment...how many points per game are you predicting for your defence?...it's going to be more than mine for sure

    but is it really worth the money?

    because I've got 7 attacking players who could all score a hat-trick...and they all play for clubs who should be expected to score lots of goals...and they don't have too many tough fixtures...and I can switch my underperforming attackers to whoever's hot more easily than you can

    just thinking aloud that's all

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  18. Waterboyd
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Playing Ritchie or Wanyama first week?

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

      Ritchie

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  19. Limbo
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Great ideas. Cheers.

    I'm trying to nail down Ivan too. With Cedric (like Southampton's opening fixtures)+ LEI/SUN/BOU

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  20. Twelve years a slave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    The title of the article is slightly misleading.
    Your dwfence is actually very expensive. 26.5m is at least 2.5 million more than most

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

      Do you have a specific number in mind when you're spending on the whole defence (keeper included)?

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    2. Mouldmaster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 9 months ago

      True I have chosen to use the base the 13.5 three way rotation gives me to add cash to my defence, but you could easy choose to spend it elsewhere.

      I'm not sure I was extolling the virtues of a budget defence so didn't mean to mislead. If you did go for a 24m defence, or cheaper, ("at least" 2.5 less than 26.5m) would you be looking at 6.0, 5.0, 4.5, 4.5, 4.0?

      This is definitely a decent way to distribute funds, but I wanted to explore a really strong defence incorporating the 13.5 rotation. You could luck out, but chances are you might get what you pay for with 24m.

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  21. Fordie
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    I wanted to go with Alderweireld and two 4.5 defenders. Was thinking Morgan and Richards.
    Could you suggest any better rotation options to accommodate Toby?

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

      Apologies for the delay; Yep I would go for Spurs, Leicester and then STO/NOR to cover game weeks 7 and 9.

      Check it out. There are more away ties than with other rotations, but if you really want Toby, I'd forget villa and go for one of these.

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      1. Fordie
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Apologies, I hadn't realised I'd had a reply to this! Many thanks.

        I've gone for Rutland and don't fancy doubling up in defence.
        Ironically I'll bench Toby for gw 1 but I'm pretty set on this team now.

        Ruddy // Butland

        Coates // Koscielny // Ivan ( Toby // Mings )

        Mane // Siggy // Silva // Hazard ( Wanyama )

        Sakho // Wazza // Wilson

        I plan to bring in Aguero & Sanchez + a 4.5 mid (or I could downgrade Ivan for Azpi and get a 5.5 mid) for Wazza, Ozil & Mane.

        My only other debate was Mings, Francis or Huth.

        Any thoughts feedback or criticism would be greatly appreciated!

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  22. Leeroy357
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    The SUN/LEI/BOU rotation looks good as well

    SUN NOR SWA LEI AVL SUN stk WAT

    I only look at the first 8 but I don't think it gets much worse

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

      Good shout, that's my choice at the moment. You going Huth or Morgan? (After Morgan's fitness issues)

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      1. Leeroy357
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        I am currently on Huth but if Morgan can get some minutes under his belt then I will change it back. I suppose that with the 3 at the back that they play, both should be playing 90 mins every game with teh 3rd CB rotating around

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      2. Jøssy ⭐
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        Even though you didn't suggest that as an option in your article??

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      3. Wimmer winner chicken dinne…
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 9 months ago

        I was also going to go for this, but I've just looked at BOU/SUN/WHU

        Francis/Oshea/Collins - this gives fixtures of VIL
        NOR, BOU, LEI, NEW, SUN, NOR, WAT, wba/cry, NEW

        My main concern is Collins starting

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  23. juggos
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    First time poster here. But I'd love to get everyone's opinion on Bacuna. Listed as a 5M def but prob will play in mid and may have pens since benteke left. I am considering the CRY/AVL/SUN rotation however leaning towards having Bacuna, O'Shea and mariappa who is far from nailed on and may just be a transfer waiting to happen. At least I get to observe things until gw 7 presents problems if mariappa doesn't get regular starts. Thoughts?

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  24. v31mn
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Hello!!! Great article, really enjoyed it! Nice comparison over the game weeks and perspective thinking....

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

      Cheers V

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  25. KingMaalik
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    hi, nice article
    how about Prodl ?? Angella better ?
    Thx

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  26. Costa in Wengerland
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Very helpful article 🙂

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  27. Sipi1994
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 9 months ago

    Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
    http://imgur.com/P8NAWiv

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  28. fourtynine
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    I went with option 1 and it has failed miserably GW 1 ... No Mings, no Angella either...

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