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The Technical Area – Assessing Budget Defenders

With nine Gameweeks now behind us, we’re already nearly a quarter of the way through this season’s Premier League campaign.

While surprises have been thrown up across the board – particularly in midfield – the primary concern now facing many managers has to do with their defence.

Big-ticket, fire-and-forget options in the form of Marcos Alonso and Ben Davies have stuttered of late, leaving many of us eyeing exit routes into more reliable sources of points.

This week’s Technical Area will be taking stock of the defensive situation and mapping out paths for success between now and the mid-point of the year.

Given the heavy fixture congestion facing sides over December, reliability of starts – as well as a deep bench – becomes more important than ever. As does wringing the most out of our already strained budgets.

1,007 Comments Post a Comment
  1. RD
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Is Daniels a viable option after this week ??

    1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      read the article

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        He can't

  2. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    great post - think will have dunk/duffy and daniels in over the next few gws

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Don't
      It fools you
      Buy premium defender

    2. RubberDucky
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Yep looking at Dunk and Daniels

    3. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Richarlison or Salah best option for this week? Will likely captain Salah if I bring him in. Have Coutinho.

      1. RubberDucky
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Would you not go both and drop Coutinho?

      2. RubberDucky
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Scoutcast 237 audio ????

        • Lovren an elevator
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Forster (bha)
          Or
          Gomes (STO)
          ?

          1. lugs
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            50/50 imo , prediction Bri 0-Sou 0 , Wat 2 Sto 0

        • RubberDucky
            6 years, 6 months ago

            I think I considered all the defenders mentioned this week.

            Resins tontge fact the Daniels drop is never going to happen.

          • HD7
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            Think that having a Spurs full back from now on will be like having a Man City forward... uncertainty

          • martyhan
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            On WC

            A. Ward,Duffy,Cedric
            Or
            B. Mee,dunk, Jones

          • Duffy Dunk
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            Captaincy thoughts:

            Kane: against a good defence, midweek match vs Real
            Aguero: played 120 minutes, midweek match at Napoli, big rotation risk
            Morata: form not looking great, midweek match at Roma
            Salah: team usually struggles to break through HUD type of teams at Anfield, midweek match but vs minor opponent
            DSilva: has not suffered from rotation so far, we could see him subbed early for their match at Napoli since MCI have so many alternatives
            Richarlison: could he be a safer captaincy pick compared to all the above who may be rotated/rested?

            1. Pierce34
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              Morata hasn't done anything since the injury, I don't see how he's even in the conversation. Sure, he may score but it would be foolish to captain him without evidence he's back in form.

              Jesus could be the better City pick out of their strikers but nobody knows for sure.

              I would not describe Richarlison as 'safe'. Happy to own him though.

              Armband is on Salah right now, but will switch to Sanchez if I buy him.

              1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                Morata has only been back for 60 minutes of play since his injury. Thats not exactly a disaster, and not enough information.

                Having said the above, I'm on Salah captain too, good luck us!

                1. Pierce34
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Yeah I'm not saying he won't turn it around, just that there's not enough evidence to captain him this week.

                  Good luck!

            2. RubberDucky
                6 years, 6 months ago

                Jesus?

                Out of that list it's Morata

            3. #FPLBhuna
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              Assistance greatly appreciated guys

              Davies and Carrick >> Richarlison and Marriappa (-4)
              Davies >> Mee, Ward, Kiko (ft)
              Davies, Carrick and Trippier >> Richarlison, Ward and Kiko (-8) - longer term transfers

              1. Pierce34
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                Definitely not to Kiko for -8 😆

                Does the first one mean a change from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3? And the second one 4-3-3?

                1. #FPLBhuna
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Actually from 5-2-3 to 4-3-3 bud

                  1. Pierce34
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    I'd be leaning towards that, Richarlison could pay off the hit nicely.

                    1. #FPLBhuna
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 6 months ago

                      The team would look like this

                      Forster
                      Walker, Cedric, Maguire, Trippier
                      Sane Hazard(c) Richarlison
                      Kane Morata Vardy
                      Bench: Marriappa Surman Carroll Elliot

                      Or would you play marriappa

                      1. Pierce34
                        • 8 Years
                        6 years, 6 months ago

                        Looks good, I wouldn't play Mariappa.

                        1. #FPLBhuna
                          • 7 Years
                          6 years, 6 months ago

                          Cheers mate

            4. Lyonnais
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              Who to sell first...

              A) Alonso
              B) B.Davies

              1. KJT123
                • 13 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                davies imo

                1. Lyonnais
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  thanks!

              2. bananarangers
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                probably davies. I sold alonso but just depends what you're doing with the extra funds

              3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                B

            5. KJT123
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              dunk or daniels

              1. Lyonnais
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                I'm looking at Daniels from next GW onwards.

            6. Kun Tozser
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              No mention for Sakho?

            7. @fpl_phenom
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              Elliot
              Ward Jones Kolasinac
              Salah Sterling Richarlison(V) RLC
              Kane Lukaku Jesus (C)
              ------------------------------------
              Fab Carroll Naughton Hunemeier

              GTG?

            8. Dazzrb
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              What to do with this lot?
              2ft.. 0.3ITB

              Pope
              Jones Cedric Maguire Otamendi
              Hazard Silva Richarlison
              Vary Kane Jesus

              Elliot Carroll Atsu Mbemba

              Thanks in advance!

              1. Arn De Gothia
                • 13 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                Haz & def ->Alexis &what u can afford

              2. Strchld
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 6 months ago

                Have some kind of team and excatly the same front 6.
                Maybe going to do Vardy > Firmino and hope the best.

            9. Rhodes your boat
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              Team is
              foster elliott
              Kola bavies otamendi jones long
              Eriksen sterling ritchie t.carroll king
              Kane kaku firmino

              0.1 ITB 2 FT

              Was thinking kaku to aguero and bavies to other (maybe trippier) for free?

            10. shearer9
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 6 months ago

              West Brom defence decimated. Jesus taken off early, Aguero played 120 mins. Jesus captain for me.

              1. RubberDucky
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  This is where my thoughts are at

                • @fpl_phenom
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  yep easy one this week... guys overthinking it. worried Sterling might be rested too

                • Optimus.
                  • 13 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  I brought Sterling in last gw because he was taken off early vs Napoli.. Look how that turned out

                  1. RubberDucky
                      6 years, 6 months ago

                      Maybe Pep believes in 2 game rests rather than everyother

                  2. Syd.
                    • 14 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    1-0 WBA victory confirmed

                • Scout Pics
                  • 6 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  A. Diouf, Salah, and Atsu.
                  B. Firmino, Choupo-Moting, and Richarlison.

                • Stimps
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Duffy or Mee?

                  1. The Wanton Trader
                    • 6 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Mee from those but I have Tarkowski..

                • Henning
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Yes or no?

                  In Azpilicueta Salah Jesus
                  Out Davies Sterling Lukaku

                • martyhan
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  A. Ward,Duffy,Cedric
                  Or
                  B. Mee,dunk, Jones

                • @fpl_phenom
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  who out of these 3 captain options this week?

                  A:Salah
                  B:Jesus
                  C:Richarlison

                  1. HD7
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Xmm I will C Jesus but I dont have Salah... maybe I would have gone with Salah

                • Syd.
                  • 14 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Was going to captian X but after the midweek game I think I am now going to go with Y

                  1. fedolefan
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Similar situation here. X playing T minutes and Y playing T-N minutes has just made Z the best captain choice in my view.

                  2. Holmes
                    • 10 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Y

                • HD7
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Do you plan to have a Spurs full back... it seems all four are now going to be rotated

                • Sims
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Moreno nailed on?

                  Him or gomez?

                  1. Johqvist
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    You would think Moreno is nailed, he's been good. He was rested against the lesser opposition early in the season but I think Klopp hadn't settled his defence back then.

                • YoungPretender
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Mooy > Zaha (-4)?

                • JJeyy
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Who other than Sane can play lw for city?

                  1. HALFSPACE
                    • 6 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Sterling and Jesus

                    1. Arctic_Orangutans
                      • 8 Years
                      6 years, 6 months ago

                      Sane should be nailed in that position and Jesus is better central striker but he does what he wants

                • Brehmeren
                  • 13 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  When using the Free Chip, do you keep your transfers? Or is it like the wildcard in the sense that you can't carry over a FT.

                  1. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 14 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Same as WC

                • HALFSPACE
                  • 6 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  Salah or Jesus capt?

                  1. Dannyb
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    I don't own Jesus but even if I did I think I would still go with Salah.

                  2. @fpl_phenom
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    this is the £1,000,000 question this week.

                    At least we know Salah will start and Liverpool will attack recklessly.

                    Jesus has a slight risk of not starting but whats worse is he always gets a cameo performance when he is benched.

                    I still want to captain Jesus though.

                    1. HALFSPACE
                      • 6 Years
                      6 years, 6 months ago

                      Salah is the low risk option, but Jesus is a forward and I prefer capping fws

                • Legomané
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 6 Years
                  6 years, 6 months ago

                  What do we do with Hazard?

                  Disappointing GW8 WC acquisition - brought him in fully anticipating such, and planning a swift switch back to Coutinho this week (2FT saved to facilitate). However, almost unanimous responses here indicate I should keep...

                  What to do?!

                  1. The Wanton Trader
                    • 6 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Still keep.

                  2. @fpl_phenom
                    • 8 Years
                    6 years, 6 months ago

                    Keep... class is permanent