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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. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Sterling-> Richarlison before price rise?

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      why sell sterling

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

      I rather took a hit and did T.Carrol and a def to Rich and dunk

  2. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Managers thoughts on:

    A) Stirling and Bavies to Salah and Ward
    B) Stirling and Fabregas to Salah and Goss
    C) other ?
    (0.1 short of Stirling and Jesus to Salah and Morata)

    Fabs/Elliot

    Luiz/Bavies/Maguire/Cedric/Mbemba
    Stilring/Silva/Richarlison/Fabregas
    Kane/Jesus/Vardy

    2 FT, 0.8 ITB

    Advice greatly appreciated

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      a

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

      Keep Sterling

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

      A

  3. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Another new community article

    Here's Hutch James with a look at what the crowd have to say about GWK 10's fixtures

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2017/10/26/wisdom-of-the-crowd-gameweek-10/

  4. ONE PUNCH MAN
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Best Cedric replacement? Currently on Duffy
    And anybody else captaining Vardy? best time to captain him is after a sacking,I guess. 😛

    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      I like Duffy for this too.

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        But I already have Daniels. Deserves a look if you don’t.

        1. ONE PUNCH MAN
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          Brighton are looking solid at back,Bournemouth is wait and watch for me.

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 6 months ago

            Can’t argue with that logic. Best of luck!

  5. Tabbara
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Get Dunk for Mbemba (-4) or play abraham
    Have also aguero and davies who could miss out

  6. The Colonel
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    So:
    A) Silva + Bavies > Salah + Daniels
    B) Sterling + Bavies > Salah + Gomez

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

      a for sure. but why not gomez aswell

  7. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    A) Mikhi & Mariappa- Richarlson & Ottamendi -4

    B) Mikhi & Davies- Salah & Cedric -4

    C) Richie- Richarlson-FT

  8. Art Vandelay
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone have a sense as to whether Hemed will slot back in a BHA or whether Murray's heroics will see him stay in the side. Will both play, perhaps?

    Cheers

    1. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Just Murray imo.

      1. Art Vandelay
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers MH.

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

      Team news is going for Murray.

      1. Art Vandelay
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers TM. What are your thoughts on the medium term? Is Hemed a dead duck? I was hoping to do Redmond + Hernandez (vomits) > 5.0 + Salah.

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

          Murray was the main man last season. I wouldn't trust Hemed now and don't expect them to play 2 up front unless they are chasing a game.

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

            Would'nt consider either , Brighton unlikely to score many whichever way you cut it,

  9. SUPER MOKH
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Pope-Elliot
    Ota-Luiz-Moreno (Kiko, Hunemeier)
    Alexis-Sane-Silva-Salah-Richarlison
    Kane-Diouf (Ayew)

    or

    Pope-Elliot
    Ota-Azpi-Yoshi (Moreno, Hunemeier)
    Hazard-Sane-Silva-Salah-Richarlison
    Kane-Diouf (Ayew)

  10. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Hows this look???

    Elliot
    Valencia, simpson, Azpilicueta
    David silva, coutinho, atsu, moting
    Aguero, kane, firmino

    Bench. Foster, naughton, mbemba, chalobah

    Who to captain???

    1. SUPER MOKH
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Can you do Firm > Morata? You dont have Chelsea cover there i think you need one.

  11. Lallana Del Rey
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Elliot
    Yoshida - Cedric - Cresswell
    Sane(c) - Eriksen - Choupo-Moting - Ritchie
    Kane(vc) - Lukaku - Vardy

    Subs: Foster, Clark, Fernandez, Tom Carroll

    1,8 in the bank and 1 Free Transfer.

    Thinking about using my Wild Card after the next two gameweeks.

    My thoughts on transfers before saturday:

    1) Lukaku --> Laca/Morata
    2) Clark --> Bellerin/Kolasinac (to play against swans and transfer out next week)
    3) Carroll --> Richarlison
    4) Lukaku + Ritchie --> Diouf + Sanchez (-4)
    5) Wait and pray

    Thoughts?

  12. Henning
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Yes or no?

    In Azpilicueta Salah Jesus
    Out Davies Sterling Lukaku

    P.s sorry for The post JONTY

  13. Sweetboi
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Start 1:

    a) Jones (TOT)

    b) Davies (mun)

    c) Cedric (bha)

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

      Cedric

    2. william prunier
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      All of them

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

        Other defenders are Mee and Otamendi.

  14. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Will Daniels go 4.8? Really want him after that great article

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      have been waiting for weeks,probably will have to wait weeks.

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Duffy if not?

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

          He has been at 98% to fall for 3/4 weeks now.

        2. ONE PUNCH MAN
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          yup ,I just bought Duffy for Cedric.

    2. william prunier
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Sadly not before cedric drops

  15. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    What would you do with this ?

    Foster - Elliot
    Davies - Jones - Otamendi - Mee - Long
    Salah - Eriksen - Sterling - Choupo M. - Carroll
    Kane - Lukaku - Abraham

    2FT 0.7 ITB

    1. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Choupo to Richarlison

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

        this

      2. Gazza2000
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        Keep Davies ?

    2. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Thoughts on Davies and Carroll to Duffy and Richarlison ?

  16. RSS447
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    is lanzini a good option against palace ?
    pls rate my draft team !

    pope/foster
    kola/rudiger/trippier/valencia/azpilicueta
    zaha/grob/lanzini/choupu/ramsey
    diouf/firmino/okazaki

    looking to drop stoke players vs watford

  17. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Help is needed please

    Which DF 2 wk punt is best for this team

    Elliott Foster

    Maguire Bertrand Mee Dunk xxxxxxxx

    Salah Silva Coutinho Carroll Gross

    Kane Lukaku Diouf

    5.2 ITB

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Jones ,Mourinho will probably have a double decker for Spurs and Palace after that without a striker.

  18. el polako
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Scheisse just realized that I have missed Alonso's price drop.
    Might aswell keep him now and hope for another Leicester like performance.

  19. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    how often are the shoutcasts?

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      once a week.

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

        every Thursday?

        1. ONE PUNCH MAN
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 6 months ago

          tuesday.

  20. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Guys,

    I really want Richarlison.
    Is this worth a -4 ?

    chalobah > richarlison
    foster > speroni

    Tnks.

    1. william prunier
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Palace fixtures turn good soon so...

  21. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Arsène Wenger:

    - on the general team news (https://www.arsenal.com/news/who-might-play-against-swansea-city)
    "Well, basically the squad that was available against Everton is available and, for the rest, decisions will be made if they will come in or not. I will make that decision tomorrow [Friday]. But overall everybody is available [from last weekend], and everybody who played on Tuesday night is available as well."

    - on the absentees
    "The only players who are not completely back are Mustafi and Welbeck. Calum Chambers is back in full training on Monday and Ospina has a chance to be available against Belgrade. He will not be available for Saturday."

    -on attacking trio (https://www.arsenal.com/news/wenger-what-alexis-ozil-and-lacazette-need)
    "Ozil, Alexis and Lacazette were very efficient at Everton, and they have to be efficient on Saturday. There is no definite solution, we are in a job where competition counts and, if it works, they have to make it work to keep their position."

    - on Özil (https://www.arsenal.com/news/mesut-ozil-back-his-brilliant-best)
    "He is in very good shape physically, and he is focused, motivated and I would say yes [he is back to his best]." 😉

    1. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      still regretting benching Ozil in my draft because of fitness concerns this week.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      hmm, cheers Ozil

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Ozil is going to be the big hitter this week

      Sanchez probably too, he goes on runs once he scores the first

  22. Fantasyamateur
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Currently on this team:
    Elliot
    Davies - Jones - Bertrand
    Sterling - Carroll - Eriksen - Salah
    Kane - Lukaku - Chicharito

    Bench: Foster, Hegazi, Mbemba, Chalobah.
    0.5M ITB and 2FT.

    Thinking:
    A: Hegazi, Chalobah, Chicharito --> Mee, Richarlison, Abraham for a hit.
    B: Davies, Eriksen, Chicharito --> Mee, Richarlison, Agüero for a hit.
    C: Other suggestions?

    But honestly I have no idea what to do with this squad. WC used. Would really appreciate some advice guys!

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

      Davies + Chalobah ---> Duffy + Richarlison?
      Might be just too expensive?

  23. fplking14
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    salah or coutinho

    1. william prunier
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Salah will get more goals

    2. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      salah for me.

  24. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    So round 2 of the Daniels bandwagon begins

    Huge failure start of the season, let's see how it goes from here

    Are people living off the season where he was on pens?

    1. McNulty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      How many of the goals that he scored came from penalties? I have it in my head he didn't actually score one, not sure if that is correct?

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

      He did better last season without pens.

    3. ONE PUNCH MAN
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      He would still end up with 130 points,which is not bad for his price.

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

      Mark has talked me into getting him over weeks now 😉

    5. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      I have been waiting for gw 11 to finally get him in. His current plus team form is a worry.

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

    Pope, Elliot
    Alonso, Davies, Cedric, Ward, Fernandez
    Eriksen, Silva, Choupo-Moting / Loftus-Cheek, Carroll
    Kane, Jesus, Vardy

    2 FT, 0.9 ITB

    A) Davies + Eriksen ---> Otamendi + Salah
    B) Davies + Eriksen + Carroll ---> Daniels + Salah + Richarlison -4
    C) Alonso + Eriksen + Carroll ---> Otamendi + Salah + Richarlison -4

  26. Modvac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Which one of the following to bench?

    a) Mee (NEW)
    b) Jones (TOT)
    c) Abraham (ars)

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

      B

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

      I don't like benching an attacker but probably still c.

  27. Erez Avni
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    elliot (foster)
    alonso, jones, cedric (rangel, rosensior)
    salah (C), sterling, silva, atsu (carroll)
    kane, morata, vardy

    a. sterling < richarlison.
    b. alonso + atsu < richarlison + stones (-4)
    c. GTG.

    Cheers!

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

      C

  28. GE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Play one of these:

    1) Davies
    2) Daniels
    3) T. Carroll

    1. McNulty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Play them in that order

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

        😉 Thanks

  29. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Is anybody worth a -4 for Gross over the next 2 gws. Going to wildcard after that

    Would have 10.5m to spend

    1. Annie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Cout/Salah?

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

      Not when WC soon

      1. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 6 months ago

        you can't see Coutinho outscoring Gross by 4 points in two weeks? (sorry Az)

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

      Salah and co

    4. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Salah/Coutinho

    5. fancy111
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Hazard as a differential

    6. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Guess you have Salah , Sane ?

    7. Monkey Hanger
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 6 months ago

      Could go Ozil, then transfer to a Spurs mid.

  30. fancy111
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 6 months ago

    Pereira, Elliot
    Duffy, Alonso, Kola, Stones, Mbemba
    Hazard, Salah, Gross, RLC, Sane
    Kane, Jesus, Quaner

    .2 ITB and 1FT

    Which of the below seems the best option?

    A) Kola - Moreno and Gross - Richarlison
    B) Kola - 5.5 and Gross - Richarlison
    C) Neither and hild on to FT
    D) Any other thoughts?

    Im leaning towards A as that leaves me with some cash to upgrade Jesus to Aguero in a couple of weeks.