Scout Notes

Scout Scribbles – Gomis Setback for Swansea

Bafetimbi Gomis is ruled out for a month for Swansea. City face an anxious wait over Vincent Kompany’s thigh scans, Bryan Oviedo and Peter Odemwingie step up their recoveries, whilst Enner Valencia could be fit in time for West Ham’s trip to City.

Gomis Blow for Swansea

Earlier this morning, Swansea confirmed that Bafetimbi Gomis is set to be missing for “around four weeks” with the hamstring injury sustained in the weekend home draw against Everton.

The Scout Says: Having scored four times in six prior to Saturday’s encounter, Gomis had welcomed the Toffees in his finest form of the season. The Frenchman lasted just 15 minutes before limping off and with Nelson Oliveira also missing out, Garry Monk was forced to turn to Marvin Emnes up top. The 4.9-priced Emnes provided the assist for Jonjo Shelvey’s late spot-kick leveler and, if Oliveira fails to recover, now looks in the driving seat to partner Wayne Routledge in the Swans’ front two as the short-term schedule smiles kindly. Monk’s men now face Leicester, Newcastle and Stoke before a tough looking final three matches (ars, MCI, cpl) sees the season out.

Oviedo targeting Black Cats visit for return

Roberto Martinez is optimistic that Bryan Oviedo can shake of his hamstring injury in time to make a return for Everton’s home tie against Sunderland in Gameweek 36. The Costa Rican defender returns to training this week and will undergo a two-to-three week fitness program before he’s back in contention:

”I expect him [Oviedo] to be training at the end of this week, so we are probably looking at two or three weeks before he is back – maybe the Sunderland game. It was a bad injury. The tendon got a bad tear. It wasn’t a pull in the belly of the muscle, it was a tear right on the tendon, really high up.”

The Scout Says: With Leighton Baines holding a firm grip on the Toffees left-back berth, Oviedo looks unlikely to forge a way back into Everton’s defence any time soon. Martinez has deployed the South American further up the field on occasion, though – notably, on the left flank in a 4-2-3-1 set-up against West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 22. With four home fixtures (BUR, MUN, SUN, TOT) allied with trips to Villa and West Ham to finish the season, our faith in Everton’ defence is on the up and for those unable or unwilling to fork out on the costly Baines and Seamus Coleman, the 5.2-priced John Stones has started 11 of the last 12 and offers a cheap route into a backline with four shut-outs in the last five in front of their own fans.

Valencia expected to start Sky Blues clash

West Ham United are hopeful that Enner Valencia will be passed fit for their visit to Manchester City on Sunday, after the Ecuadorian sustained a foot injury in last Gameweek’s stalemate with Stoke.

The Scout Says: Diafra Sakho – who also picked up a knock in the Potters clash – has been ruled out of the Sky Blues encounter, so positive news on the fitness of Valencia was imperative for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. The London club have struggled to make an impact in the final third over the last ten Gameweeks, with only seven goals to their name in that period. Valencia’s recovery from a foot injury last week allowed Big Sam to roll out a front two but, unless he’s prepared to hand Carlton Cole a starting role, the Hammers seem likely to return to a lone striker system once again. Once this week’s trip to City is out of the way, the final five fixtures (qpr, BUR, avl, EVE, new) certainly offer the Hammers hope but with just two wins in their last 15, a lack of form and motivation may persuade many to look elsewhere.

Odemwingie steps up rehabilitation

Peter Odemwingie is set to return to full training today, having been sidelined for six months following the knee ligament damage he sustained in West Brom’s clash with Manchester City last August. In an interview with the club’s official site, Odemwingie revealed that he’s been playing in a few practice games as he steps up his rehabilitation:

”Tomorrow I will start with the group. It has been tough but the medical staff have been brilliant and helped me enormously. Hearing the fans sing my song and looking forward to seeing me playing again is brilliant; that feeling that somebody is waiting for you is fantastic. It’s been just over six months now but these injuries can be nine months, so I’m really happy that I’m back training. I played a few small-sided games last week and yesterday and tomorrow I’ll be back in the fold and hopefully I’ll be ready as soon as possible.”

The Scout Says: In the wake of such a serious injury, the Nigerian international will clearly be nursed back to full health and is unlikely he’ll find himself in the matchday squad before the Potters trip to Swansea City in Gameweek 35. Having tallied seven goals and two assists in 2084 minutes of pitch time last year, Odemwingie had thrived under Mark Hughes last season and, with Victor Moses likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the current campaign, his return hands the Potters a welcome boost. Stoke have four home fixtures in the final six, though with three of the visitors sitting in the top seven (SOU, TOT, LIV), it’s unlikely that many will be looking to the Staffordshire outfit at a time where double Gameweeks are the priority.

City sweating on Kompany scans

Manchester City are fearful that Vincent Kompany could be ruled out for the remainder of the season following the thigh injury he sustained attempting a tackle on Daley Blind during the Manchester derby.

The Scout Says: Initial reports suggest the Belgian defender is set for a four-week spell on the sidelines, which would render him unavailable for the champions next five fixtures (WHU, AVL, tot, QPR, swa) and place question marks over his match fitness for the Gameweek 38 home clash with Southampton. In Kompany’s possible absence, City would be left somewhat short at the back; although Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis are the natural centre-back pairing in his stead, fourth-choice Dedryck Boyata is suffering from a knee complaint which leaves them light on the bench. City have racked up three successive clean sheets at the Etihad and have four home fixtures (WHM, AVL, QPR, SOU) to extend that streak, with Gael Clichy, at 5.4, looking the most budget-friendly option for those willing to bank on Manuel Pellegrini’s backline.

 

693 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shifty
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Wasn't aware Routledge is part of a front 2 now.

    Worth considering for a one week punt? Quite explosive on his day.

    1. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sure, why not.

    2. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Not for me.

    3. Spencer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I think I'm going to go with this. One week punt was going to be Shelvey, but Routledge *can* be much more explosive.

      1. Shifty
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yea, my main concern would be Swansea are just crap at creating chances. Very low in the league in the attacking stats tables at the start of season, still really low. should see where they rank for goal attempts and touches in the box over the past 4 games 😯

        1. Jimbo123
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          With Gomis out i don't see them creating too much!

  2. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    *lost on last page*

    There can't be much wrong with Remy if yeterday he took part in this football/car challenge.

    Watch the video, he looks fine.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3039995/Chelsea-target-Eden-Hazard-Willian-Loic-Remy-Nathan-Ake-Audi-s-football-challenge.html

    Good news for us foolish Remy owners!

    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Now just to see if he'll play both games in the double

    2. Patty
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      That video was made a week ago

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

        ^

      2. preseasonblues
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yep, was filmed before the QPR game

  3. Patty
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Bolasie or Murray for this game week only?

    1. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray

    2. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray.

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

      murray

    5. Demí
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray.

    6. Demí
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray

    7. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Comprehensive, and Demi's so adamant he posted it twice!

    8. Boyd to Sven
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray.

    9. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Bolasie

    10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Bolasie

    11. DannyBoy....
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Definitely Murray

  4. Shots in the Box v Accuracy
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Fantasy Football Scout daily hot topic

    Shots in the Box v Accuracy

    What is the better guide to goal scoring potential - shots in the box (ie quantity) or goal accuracy (ie quality).

    With those who are both shot happy and accurate rare, is it better to focus on the shot happy, or those quality strikers who only shoot when they know they have a chance of scoring?

    1. d1sable
      • Has Moderation Rights
      8 years, 11 months ago

      That last sentence blew my mind

    2. djenzio
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Accuracy is better because too many missed shots/chances looses you bonus points right?

      1. Guidinho
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yup as was the case with Sterling.

        1. J0E
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Sterling is a great example. He's just not accurate but certainly not afraid to shoot.

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Pelle is a perfect example of shots in the box being deceptive. Then again, Ulloa has a fairly high shot accuracy but a much lower amount of shots in the box than most other strikers.

      I think you need a mixture of the two tbh.

      1. Guidinho
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Snap.

    4. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Well Pelle just ends the argument really.

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

        >Well Pelle just ends the argument really.

        Pointing to an outlier does not *end an argument*, it just points to an outlier.

        There is an undeniably strong correlation between a player's ability to generate SiB & their ability to score goals.

        SiB = Goals
        http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/8118/

    5. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Quantity as there are often deflections/dodgy assists from shots

    6. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Probably shots in the box, inaccurate shot could easily take a deflection off a defender or beach ball and go in

    7. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Puncheon v Bolasie is a good example. But contrary to some posters who say that Bolasie is wasteful he is very accurate and shot happy, especially for a midfielder.

      Members can see here via this table - esp sorted by last six gameweeks

      http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/7519/

    8. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I tend to go for SiB/SoT over accuracy, in the hope that their accuracy improves. It shows they have an attacking mentality and get in the box more.

      The Yaya/Ramsey 'quality' type players seem to be harder to find than the Suarez/Sanchez type who take lots of shots. So your judgement is more likely to be correct when you chose volume of SiB over accuracy.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        choose*

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure about that last paragraph tbh...

      3. Carlos Kickaball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I kind of agree with this, one thing I've noticed is that shot accuracy is very prone to fluctuations, and sometimes is not indicative of shooting quality at all. For example imagine a scuffed on target shot that the keeper easily catches, vs a rifled shot that hits the post.

      4. Kalix
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        You go for SoT over accuracy?

        Shots on target IS accuracy! 😛

    9. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I always look at total shots first and then see how real they are by assessing how many of those are inside the box. Generally if more than half or ideally 3/4 are inside the box then I'll take notice.

    10. Ruth_NZ
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Shots in the box is misleading.

      I did a study about Aguero a few weeks ago and looked at his strike map for the season (where he has scored his goals from). Almost all were from the 6-12 yard range and central.

      Since Bony and the switch to 4-2-2-2 Aguero has been deeper and often wider as well. He is still getting shots away but many of them are from 12-18 yards (still in the box but not so deadly). Hence the reduction in goals.

      Before anyone points to his brace last weekend, City were back to 4-2-3-1 for that game. Aguero scored 2 goals from his favoured 6-12 yard range. Exactly the positions he hasn't been getting into so much. I actually predicted this in the small article I posted and suggested he would be a better captain option away to United than away to Palace. With Aguero it's all about position.

      That's why shots in the box statistics can be misleading. There is a big difference between shots from 6-12 yards and from 12-18 yards. The nearer in the less accuracy and/or quality of finishing matters. The further out the more vital it is. It is hard to miss a tap-in from 6 yards. It is much harder to beat the GK from near the edge of the box.

      One caveat... Psychologically it is also a human tendency that confidence affects performance and one factor that influences confidence is a history of success. I remember Shearer talking a while ago about certain teams he always felt he would score against and there's no doubt that many strikers have "favourite" opponents.

      Aguero has scored more PL goals against West Ham (this week's game) than against any other team. This is one week where 4-2-2-2 may not matter. 😉

      1. Nico.
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This is excellent 🙂 I've always thought shots in the box were overly general as well i.e. shooting from a tight angle etc. I think they need to be more specific in terms of distance (6-12 yards vs 12-18 yards) and also whether the shots were taken centrally or from a wide angle.

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

          Yep. People generalise about many things. For instance they say "Aguero is a great player" without defining what he is great at. He's not great at everything. 😉

          What he is exceptionally good at is sharp movement in front of goal and the ability to get on the end of opportunities in that 6-12 yard range and to finish them. He doesn't have an exceptional long range shot. He's not a creator (though he will get assists by virtue of his ability to receive the ball in the box).

          He's a classic poaching striker with quicksilver movement. He doesn't have the all around ability of Suarez, Messi or Ronaldo but at what he does best he may well be the best in the world.

          That's why it is so inexplicable that Pellegrini would build a team to play in a way that doesn't utilise Aguero's strengths to the fullest. Not a mistake Klopp will make, I'm sure. 😉

          1. Pep Gorilla
            • 8 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Totally agree with your analysis of Aguero's style and movement. One of the specialist of him is the body balance to hold stable position and shoot. Sometimes with 2-3 defenders trying to closing on him but he still get good balance and then scores. As u said, that's so important that his style suit City and the plamaker Silva who is best in quick sharp passing around the box.

            IMO the other only team in EPL that suit Aguero's style would be Arsenal. With Ozil support it could be a nice combination. Because Ozil and Silva have the same style of passing and movement to draw the opponent in and then release the ball.

            Cheers, mate.

          2. aflickering
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            this is a very well thought out couple of posts, but one thing I'd like to dispute is what I find to be a slightly limited description of Aguero. I mean, obviously you're right about his primary strength, but I think his all-round game is pretty great actually - perhaps not quite comparable to the three superstars you mention but I wouldn't rank him far behind Suarez in terms of all-round ability. on a related note, while I agree with you about the ineffectiveness of Pellegrini's 4-2-2-2 and its impact on Aguero's diminished returns, Aguero has nevertheless continued to arguably be City's star player in that position. I'm not saying he isn't wasted there, but I've lost count of the amount of times in the past few months I've seen Aguero carrying that team even from a deeper/wider role - again, I feel this is a testament to how well-rounded he is.

      2. Barry Woj
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Very interesting! I think I agree, but having watched most of the games, Aguero was incredibly close to scoring on many occasions despite his less than favourable shot locations.

        Have you ever read about "expected goals"? There are a lot of analytics people trying to come up with measures to work out how likely you are to score from any one position on the pitch.

        http://statsbomb.com/2013/08/goal-expectation-and-efficiency/

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

          Interesting article, thanks.

      3. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This then begs the question. What stats can we use?

        1. Nico.
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Making the stats more specific never hurts 😉 although it will be very difficult to measure the more specific stats

          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Will have to talk to Opta on that one. Sometimes you just have to make the most of whats at hand and be very shrewd about it. Healthy skepticism is always important when using stats.

        2. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Depends what you mean by "use".

          If you mean "rely on as a true guide" then the answer is none.

          If you mean "use as an indicator" then all stats can be useful.

          Stats will tell us what has happened based on specific metrics. We then need to use judgement to assess (a) why those things have happened, (b) whether they are likely to continue (is it a trend or an anomaly), and (c) how satisfactory the metrics being used are for our purposes.

          Basically what I am saying is that stats are a starting point, not an end point.

          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            So then the debate is not quality vs quantity. Its how much can we trust stats, thats a very different argument. I agree that stats are only an indicator, but when there isn't a lot of information out there apart from using your own eye by watching games I think its a very useful indicator provided we don't rely on it completely.

      4. Pellegrini Falcon
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Sorry, where did you get that piece of information about Aguero having scored the most PL goals against West Ham? Remember him scoring more goals vs teams like United and Newcastle off the top of my head.

        1. J0E
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          This official Premier League source says he's scored just three goals in five Premier League games against West Ham. So in terms of the PL it is not accurate to say he has scored more PL goals against West Ham than against any other team.

          It may be that Ruth was taking into account FA and Carling Cup games as well. Certainly doesn't indicate Aguero has a preference for West Ham.

          http://m.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/article.150415-matchweek-33-preview-five-players-to-watch.html

          1. J0E
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Aguero has scored seven Premier League goals against Tottenham in the last two seasons alone. I'd say if anything Spurs are a top contender for Aguero's favourite side.

            http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=44554&season_id=143

        2. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Oops. I made a mistake. Sorry.

          I have Aguero's goals v other teams by looking at City's record game by game for 4 seasons and counting them. It's called research. 😉

          Unfortunately I have Spurs next to West Ham on my list and misread it. It is Spurs that he has the best scoring record against (9 in 4 seasons), not West Ham.

          Which just proves that research is useless if you can't read your own results properly. 🙁

      5. Carlos Kickaball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Agüero's average goal threat per game is 80.6 playing upfront on his own, verses 61.4 playing with a strike partner. This difference is not particularly persuasive however, as it has a 27% chance of occurring between two random samples that are the same.

        1. J0E
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          If we get an indication that Bony is fit and raring to go I think Silva looks a better bet for the armband v West Ham. If Bony is out Aguero looks a better bet - as even if Dzeko plays its unlikely Dzeko will last the full game.

          1. Ryan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Will Bony start though do you think, even if he is fit?

            1. J0E
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Not sure. Its obvious to us lot that ManC are best served by playing Aguero up front with Silva et al ably assisting him. But Pellegrini may do something different and play Bony or Dzeko.

              Its odd as years ago I saw Aguero live at Atletico in a La Liga game playing with Forlan and Aguero's role there was completely different. He was a sort of Silva figure assisting Forlan....he was exceptional at it to. His game is completely different now, as Ruth points out he's much more about close range shooting.

              1. Carlos Kickaball
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                I think as a partner to Džeko and Bony, he does a bit of both, all three of them have the ability and tendency to drop deep. Never hurt SAS last season.

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

                  SAS were two very different players. Both quite suited to playing deeper or wider. I don't think Aguero is really.

                  1. Carlos Kickaball
                    • 9 Years
                    8 years, 11 months ago

                    You think Agüero isn't good enough to play #10 and can only lead the line? 😮

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

                      The short answer is yes, I do.

                      I think he is less outstanding and a less good FPL option when playing 10. Of course he can do it, he is very talented, but not as exceptionally as he plays 9.

                      Rooney is very comparable. He can play 9 or 10 very well but was stuck into central midfield. He's good enough to do it but was it ideal? And we all saw what happened to his FPL output as a result.

          2. Carlos Kickaball
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I think Silva is a larger benefactor of Agüero being alone upfront actually, as it allows him to play more centrally. When City play two strikers, I'd go so far as to say Silva isn't worth a place in the template team despite some good scores recently.

            You probably saw from the kerfuffle I caused by being slightly abrupt with my opinions in the other thread, but I do think that whether Bony plays or not Agüero will be the best captain out of the two.

            It would be interesting to see the differences in the creativity stats for Agüero when playing with or without a striker. Will he create more with a strike partner, or will his creativity stats be similar to the threat ones as they are both tied up with his involvement.

            1. J0E
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 14 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              In the end its penalties and that in the face of an unknown the upside of Aguero is strong...but Pellegrini's tinkering upfront is a worry. Against West Brom at home Silva's attacking stats went off the chart. We almost had to build an extension to the Members areas stats to accomodate him.

              1. Carlos Kickaball
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Yeah I remember, but that was because the WBA game suited him, I almost mentioned it in my previous post, but essentially WBA defending really deep and being a man down gave him all the time and space in the world to play his game. He was the main benefactor that day.

        2. Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I know better than to get into a statistical argument with you. 😉

          In the end I am saying that you need to apply judgement to the way you use stats.

          To me the difference is quite persuasive because other assessments I would make point the same way. But that is still a matter of judgement rather than fact, obviously.

          The facts we are interested in (who will score the most points next week or over the next month) are always uncertain till they have happened. The best you can do is to use whatever combination of statistics and judgement you believe to be appropriate in order to give yourself the best chance of success.

          In one way FPL is like poker, because luck can cause a "bad" decision to get a good result (or the reverse). In another way it is much harder because you don't get the possibility to play against your opponent's hand (or even to squeeze them out of the competition) - not unless you focus on head-to-head leagues.

          1. Carlos Kickaball
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Hehe, your first sentence amused me. 😆

            I agree, I think the statistics support the validity of your opinion and observations. They are just not quite strong enough to prove the counter argument wrong. I actually had a look yesterday as the same theory was mentioned in another forum.

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

              I totally agree with that. Proving the counter argument wrong is next to impossible usually.

              1. Carlos Kickaball
                • 9 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Not always, but usually it involves someone dressing up their opinion with falsifiable information. Actually this is when I find stats most useful, discrediting or confirming the validity of what has been said, or what I think I've seen watching a game.

      6. Carlos Kickaball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        PS Yes, all stats are misleading when the specifics are more important. If you can explain why the specifics are more important you can discard them, if you've watched the games and can't then they're usually reliable. I tend to look at squawka for shot positions.

      7. OShaughnessy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        >Shots in the box is misleading.

        There is an undeniably strong correlation between a player's ability to generate SiB & their ability to score goals, as we can see in the following table:

        SiB = Goals
        http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/8118/

        Shots on Target (SoT) isn't as good a predictor because, any attempt that didn't make it to the net is considered *off target*.

        More specifically, if a player's shot is blocked (even at the 1yd line) by a defender, it is not counted as a SoT but rather a miss which, we can see could be misleading.

        For example, imagine a player managed 5SiB & had 4 of them blocked.
        So, if we only looked at their 1SoT, we'd think they had a so-so week.
        Although, if we had a team full of players who somehow managed 5SiB per week we'd win this game running away.

    11. Carlos Kickaball
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      To be honest when it comes to statistics and match facts (from squawka), I tend to look at them to confirm what I have seen myself from watching the games in the majority of cases.

      Sometimes I will look at a player that I know less about and I'll have to rely on the statistics, but generally I think they are most powerful when you use the to supplement your opinions from watching games anyway.

    12. Kalix
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Pelle is the exception, not the rule. If you could only pick one, pick Shots in the Box.

      Accuracy from range usually means an easy save for the keeper, or a player taking low % shots (easy to get on target, but unlikely to score). And deflections and flukes are always in the mix.

      The obvious smartass answer is to find a player with both.

    13. Jönny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I think it's a classic case of having to look beyond the stats.

      Someone like Aguero you know is class, and if he's still having lots of shots then you can be reasonably confident that his scoring will pick up soon enough.

      I often cringe when I read some piece of analysis where the "high number of shots X has had without scoring" is used in a positive light to push a player as a good option, when a casual watch of them during a game can tell you they haven't just been 'unlucky.'

      In the first half of this season I did loads better than I have in the second half. I've been looking at stats throughout, but have watched far less football since the New Year and my 'form' has tailed right off. Not a coincidence.

    14. OShaughnessy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      There is an undeniably strong correlation between a player's ability to generate SiB & their ability to score goals, as we can see in the following table:

      SiB = Goals
      http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/8118/

      Shots on Target (SoT) isn't as good a predictor because, any attempt that didn't make it to the net is considered *off target*.

      More specifically, if a player's shot is blocked at the 1yd line by a defender, it is not counted as a SoT but rather a miss which, we can see could be misleading.

      For example, imagine a player managed 5SiB & had 4 of them blocked.
      So, if we only looked a their 1SoT, we'd think they had a so-so week.
      Although, if we had a team full of players who somehow managed 5SiB per week we'd win this game running away.

      1. Carlos Kickaball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Excellent post, part of what I said in one reply early but much better expounded. Are goal threat numbers not an even better indicator?

  5. Beavis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    My team is gash this week.

    1. d1sable
      • Has Moderation Rights
      8 years, 11 months ago

      🙁

    2. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Join the club.

    3. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah forced to play Myhill for impending Palace domination

    4. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I'm quite liking the look of my team for this week 😉

  6. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Armand Traore is only 25? 😯

    1. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Unlike wine or cheese he has certainly not got better with age.

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        😆

        I thought he is atleast 28. 😀

    2. d1sable
      • Has Moderation Rights
      8 years, 11 months ago

      He should of tried to be a 100m sprinter

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Same as Navas

        1. Shifty
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          with a head wind, Navas would slow down to the pace of a snail. lightweight.

  7. Patty
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Gomis > Murray for -4?
    For a one week punt, WCing next gw.

    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      If you have no subs then y not

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

        Will be played over pieters (been averaging 0-1 pts a game recently)

        1. Kings of Lyon ★
          • 13 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Na i think Stoke will keep a cleanie id play pieters

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

            Hes been coming off the bench

            1. Kings of Lyon ★
              • 13 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Ah, in that case id go for it 🙂

    2. djenzio
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      who would play if you didn't make the transfer? if it's no one then go for it as it would really be a -2 with appearance points

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

        Pieters (been averaging 0-1 pts recently)

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

          sure you may as well then.

    3. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Did that move for free 😀

  8. BIG TONES
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    DGW overkill?

    Migs
    Terry Clyne Bruce
    Hazard Sterling Hendo Punch
    Vardy Murray Aguero

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

      not really seen as you only have 2 chelsea players....wouldn't bother with Bruce though.

      1. BIG TONES
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        It's either Bruce or go double Soton. What do you reckon

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

          hmm not sure to be honest. can you get a 3rd Chelsea in instead?

          Saints are home to Spurs, CS is possible but even with two games I don't see Hull keeping a cleanie, to be honest I don't think Hull have one good DGW prospect

          1. BIG TONES
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah could double up with Ivan but that would hamstring me financially.

            Other options are remy and fab

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

              if Remy is declared fit he could be good, or get Fab instead of Puncheon maybe?

        2. DannyBoy....
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Not sold on Bruce!

    2. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      As long as you have plans & cash to get Silva/Giroud/Sanchez/Kane back then it looks fine.

    3. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Look for someone else other than bruce.

  9. Boyd to Sven
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Is Vardy a realistic option or are people being blinded by the DGW?

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

      good form and underlying stats for him and Leicester. plus they are a team fighting to survival so will be more attacking. he could pick up a goal and an assist or two which would be a very good return for someone so cheap.

      Nugent is an option too with pens

    2. Taffer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Look at the last DGW - plenty of unfashionable high scorers. Plus he has QPR the game after which is a must win for both sides. Good punt imo.

      1. AleksanderVN
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        *Newcastle

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Realistic

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

      For that price he's a great option

    5. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      8 goals in the last 3, enough said.

    6. Cesc, Drogs & Rock and …
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Also, good run-in of fixtures - not just because they're playing at home, but also who they are facing.

    7. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Been listening to too much Stevie Wonder imo.

    8. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      If you get him, he is a good option to keep for later weeks

    9. Odikostar
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Did Giroud>Vardu last night (y)

      1. Boyd to Sven
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This is what I'm considering at the moment. Then starting him over Boyd this week, but it would be for a -4. Worth it?

    10. Boyd to Sven
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers all, I might get him this week then and have an extra player for the double.

    11. DannyBoy....
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      If it wasn't for Pearson's cavalier attitude then I would say no, but given they aer going for goals....possible worth a punt, not defintiely

  10. Yome
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    What is the best midfield punt this week besides Haz, Silva and Eriksen?

    WC next week.

    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Bolasie or maybe yaya?

    2. djenzio
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Lennon, any palace mids.

    3. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Puncheon/Lennon

    4. Gooner Kebab
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Eriksen?

  11. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Any wildcarders next week considering shipping Kane?

    I think I might roll with a front 3 of

    Aguero. Murray. Vardy.

    Thoughts?

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

      yeah I am very tempted to ship him, gonna wait and see how Spurs play this weekend. Kane will score a couple more goals this season but think it could be wise to let him go with better options around.

      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I will have cash in the bank to upgrade vardy to giroud.

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

          same. I think it might be the way to go, Kane prob has one more big score in him but the way Spurs are playing you never know, might get another goal or two.

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah he's gone next week, bring him back for Stoke or Hull fixture

    3. Ksimparomenos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      not a wildcarder but kun giroud vardy/nugent is the way to go imo due fixtures and form

    4. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      toying with Benteke-Giroud-Kun. Personally works best for my transfer plans from then til GW37 if all goes to plan.

      I'd want to sell Murray and Vardy after GW34/35...too little FTs.

    5. Puyol Pants Up
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Murray has bad fixtures coming up.

  12. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Great, now I've got Jonty laughing at me on the Shoutcast too.

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

      ha!

      that's alright. Granville stole my question so I didn't get a mention 🙁 hahah

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Had Adrian Charles laugh in my face for no less than 10 seconds on Sunday.
        Why Lisa, whyyyy?

        1. Doolittle
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          There must be a story behind that...

    2. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Rupert, is your sister Ophelia Lovibond? Star quality on the blog 😉

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Ha, how on earth do you know that?
        Her and Emile are secretly doing a film together.

        1. Doolittle
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          You mentioned your sister and Emile Hirsch, so I guessed she was famous, and I saw on your FPL page your surname is Lovibond. From the hundreds of famous Lovibonds in the world, it was a stab in the dark 😉

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Blimey, wasn't aware she was that well known.
            Have you seen Troll 2? Ive heard its quite bad.
            Any other magnificent stinkers?

            1. Doolittle
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              I was going to recommend Troll 2! It's dreadful, I think The Room is more entertainingly bad but Troll 2 is a classic. There are a lot of plain terrible films, but being so bad it's good is a rare quality. Birdemic is a good shout, and Silent Night Deadly Night 2 is funny due to the horrifically over the top, ridiculous lead actor.

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

                you beat me to it

              2. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Ive now written those down.
                Have you seen Sharknado?

                1. Doolittle
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 11 months ago

                  I've seen a couple of clips but never the full film, I'll have to watch that. My girlfriend doesn't like terrible films as much as I do, she can't bear the cringe factor, so now that we live together I don't watch as many as I did in Uni. When I first showed her The Room she was practically hiding behind the sofa.

                  1. Rupert The Horse
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 11 months ago

                    Tara Reid looks 100 years old in it. Especially in 'Sharknado 2: the second one'.

                    1. Hooky
                      • 8 Years
                      8 years, 11 months ago

                      Quite ironic considering most parts of her body are probably only 1 or 2 years old!

                      1. Rupert The Horse
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 11 Years
                        8 years, 11 months ago

                        Ha.

            2. djenzio
              • 9 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Troll 2 is aweful...

              Birdemic is equally bad...couldn't get passed five minutes of it

              1. Rupert The Horse
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Birdemic has 1.8 on imdb. wow.

                1. Doolittle
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 11 months ago

                  Believe me, that's generous. It's more obviously bad than The Room - awful quality, shot like a home movie, incredibly wooden acting, mind-blowingly bad CGI, but I don't think it's as entertaining as The Room.

        2. djenzio
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          no way! wasn't she in Nowhere Boy? that's insane

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Yeah, thats going back a few years.

  13. Kevtheotter
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Hey lads g2g?

    Krul
    Terry Clyne Dawson Toby
    Hazard Boyd Silva
    Kun(c) Kane Remy

    Pants Sanchez Henderson Naughton ITB 1.3 1FT

    Worried about Remy...

    1. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      g2g. We'll find out about Remy tonight - but even then, I wouldn't shift him just yet.

  14. RSe
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Just looking ahead to the Arsenal dgw. Could be an absolute minefield if they haven't got many injuries. Can't see many of the mids/forwards getting 180 mins.

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah totally but is still light years away

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sanchez Ozil Giru

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Same as you, although Ramsey might replace Sanchez...

        1. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Could be a good option, has looked good recently right

    3. Misery Loves Kompany
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Agreed,

      I'll likely be avoiding the midfield entirely and opting for Ospina, Koscielny and Giroud. It's not like there's a shortage of nailed on midfield options in other sides.

      Even then, not confident of 2x starts all round.

    4. Kevtheotter
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sanchez will play both games for sure! Wenger has been going on about resting him all season and never does. And won't be doing it now. Ramsey I reckon the same

    5. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I would see how Arsenal are getting on against United. I think there is a risk of resting if there is nothing to compete for, if second place is up for grabs I really see us putting out our best team.

      The first player to be rested would probably be Sanchez as both Ozil and Ramsey have had on off seasons with injuries.

  15. Patty
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Point predictions for Murray this gw

    1. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      2 or 5 ?

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Pullis is bound to sort his defence this week. Palace may well find it tougher to score than in previous weeks. Of course they have pace; something that Lescott and McAuley do t have...

        1. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Everyone is saying WBA Will sort their defence every week. They are just not as good as advertised

          1. Guidinho
            • 13 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            There is the fact that Pulis is back as Palace but agreed they have looked absolutely dreadful since Foster got injured.

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I've got him and Punch. So I'm going with 15

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      3

    4. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      hopefully 2 since i'll be fielding double WBA defence 😀

      But that said, I will probably be buying him as I don't know who else to get in place of Benteke for a one-week punt.

      1. Big_Andy_GAWA
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Me too - Myhill and McAuley 😆 😀

        1. Shifty
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          ...for the last time this season. thank gawd i still have a WC. off they go! good riddance.

    5. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      8

  16. Big_Andy_GAWA
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Vardy a decent pick then, guys? I might ditch Austin for him so to get 11 out this week, then he has a DGW to follow. Leicester fighting for their lives. Seem to be playing well, and scoring for a change. Nailed, yeah? Nugent better potential option? Not as nailed though, right...?

    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I dont think so with all the strikers they have but maybe thats just me

  17. Shifty
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Quick poll for GW34

    A) Davis + Schlupp

    B) Schmeichel + Clyne

    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      B

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      B

    4. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      thanks all

  18. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Kasper
    Terry-Baines-Wollscheid
    Haz-Silva-Mane-Eriksen
    Kun-Kane-Remy

    Good to go?

    1. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Looks decent. Any bench players that have a game this week in case Remy is out?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Panti-Boyd-Hutton-Pva

        I haven't done the trades yet. I have 2 FT's...will wait on Remy news.

        Might even roll without a keeper...

        1. Hooky
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Boydinho is fine if Remy doesn't make it.

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            I don't expect much from boyd.

            Burnley has 1 goal in 6!

            1. Hooky
              • 8 Years
              8 years, 11 months ago

              Exactly. It's always when you don't expect it that he comes up with the goods!

    2. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Aye! Great team

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Don't you fancy getting rid of Mane?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, but not for a Leic milf

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Erik/Mane turns into Liverpool milfs next week...

        2. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Ah, 3 Chelsea. You're a bit stuck.

    4. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Your goalkeeper is a bit translucent. 😆

      Gtg

    5. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I don't think Mane will start

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Feck him then.

        lol

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Got rid of him for Cesc

          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            Good for you.

  19. fusen
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    I currently only have 10 players for this week, so I want to swap a defender to play 11.

    The obvious choice would be a defender who plays this week and also had a double next week.

    Most people are going to go with Chelsea but their fixtures for defenders are pretty bad. Leicester have much better fixtures but they very rarely get clean sheets.

    Anyone else in the same situation?

    1. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Just get Schlupp or Morgan

    2. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Same here. I'm edging towards Schlupp but have a feeling it will end in tears!

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Schlupp seems the obvious choice if you do go with a Leicester defender and it frees up cash to get in Pool players next week

    3. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      the harder the fixture, the more likely a CS for Chelsea.

      my 2 cents.

      1. fusen
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        There is this aspect, especially away from home against a team like Arsenal, I think Jose will just go super defensive like he always does.

      2. Nico.
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Not against Manu tho, they have the ref 😉

        1. Shifty
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          I hope you're right

    4. Bøss ⭐
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      just save the transfer and use it on liverpool players next week, playing with 10 is fine

  20. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Play Krul (TOT) or Myhill (cry) this week?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I would just about say Krul as Spurs are looking a little toothless.

      1. MMN
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Coin toss

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 11 months ago

          Not so much as Palace are pretty ruthless at the moment.

      2. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Yup, that's also my thinking.

    2. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Home keeper.

      and hope Krul repeats last season's performance against Spurs.

    3. MMN
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Prolly Krul for save points as spurs aren't very clinical

    4. Kevtheotter
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Krul...

      Have a feeling Newcastle putting in a solid performance

    5. Arrow Marked Drogba
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Krul

  21. MMN
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Do you expect Mane to start, yay or nay?

    1. Arrow Marked Drogba
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No one knows, any answer you get will be subjective!

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This.

      2. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Nay imo

      3. MMN
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        This forum is a platform of sharing opinions, everything is subjective.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I'm lost with that man. I got rid of him yesterday.

    3. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      i'm just expecting 1 point from him - don't have any one else to play ahead of him i'm afraid. been a disastrous transfer.

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Most are in the same boat unless one has a WC...

    4. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Yes

  22. Kings of Lyon ★
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone going to consider Costa or Sturr if theyre both fit? All my WC drafts have no DGW striker

    1. Spencer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Even if they're fit for the first game, I wouldn't be confident that they'd be fit for the second.

    2. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Nope.

      Would be silly to risk a) that amount of money on b) two players who are currently injured and have a history of getting injured.

      I recall a big name player a couple seasons ago having a dgw, everyone captaining him and went off in the first 15 of game 1.

      1. Shifty
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        That last point is enough to scare me off Costa and Sturridge.

    3. Barry Woj
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Very risky in my opinion unless either of them was confirmed to be starting the game before the deadline. There are plenty of options for Liverpool elsewhere and Remy/Fabregas could be alright for Chelsea.

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No Lisa, its way too risky.

  23. thegreathoudini
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Schmeichel
    Terry / Rose / Clyne
    Fàbregas / Boyd / Hazard / Silva
    Murray / Agüero (c) / Kane (vc)

    Pantilimon / Bellerín / Henderson / Bruce

    GTG?

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      nice, only thing is I think a lot of people will have very similar setups so it may be quite hard to score more points than the average

      1. thegreathoudini
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I only need to gain 15 points in one of my leagues to get into the cash prizes. Thinking for that not overall rank.

  24. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else worried Mourinho won´t give us a straight answer about Remy´s fitness?

    1. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Almost certainly, even more so with the opponents being United.

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Oh yes.

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Argh.. Typical Jose. And I got no subs this GW 🙁

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I think he will.

  25. Gigging Order
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    All 4 of last night's Champion's League Managers played in the same Barcelona side, managed by Bobby Robson and assisted by Jose Mourinho.

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Wow. Forgot Blanc played at Barca :/

    2. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      There was a good article by Sid Lowe on that in the Guardian last weekend, well worth a read if anyone finds it.

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I like that Lisa.

    4. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      WC team sorted. Just 3.8 short 🙁

      1. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Fail

    5. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Sir Bobby was such a legend and inspiration to everyone that he worked with. Anyone that could get Ipswich winning trophies had the magic touch!

  26. Norco
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    GTG for GW33?

    Myhill
    Terry Clyne Berty
    Haz Cesc Silva Mata
    Kun Kan Vardy

    Pants / Boyd PvA Yun

    GW34
    Yun > Skrtel
    Mata > Sterling (-4)

  27. Attaka
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    help?! Is there a Man City presser before this weekend, or any opportunity to find out if Bony is going to be fit for this weekend??

    I've literally theory crafted several out strategies for other players but i'm still waiting to hear news! I've kept Bony throughout the AcoN and all this bench time at City and I know as soon as I drop him he'll start playing and someone in my draft league will snap him up!!

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

      Liverpool defence all over the place at the moment - Moreno to be dropped apparently - he has been shocking

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

        reply fail !!

      2. Nico.
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Link? I have scouted Liverpool forums and found that Mignolet, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho and Sturridge (when fit) all secured spots in the team regardless of the formation played.

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

          Agree about all, but not Moreno...

          Fans (at the games) have been on his back due to his poor defending....depends what Brendan does re: formation.

          Source: ME (i go to most home games)

          1. Nico.
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 11 months ago

            But who's the alternative and what will the lineup look like then?

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

              He could go back to Markovic at LWB or play Johnson/Toure/Manquillo as fullbacks.

              Moreno is just constantly out of position...headless chicken

              1. Nico.
                • 10 Years
                8 years, 11 months ago

                Hmm interesting, certainly not Toure tho 😛

                Thanks!

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

                  Trust me, Toure wouldn't be my choice, but it has been known! 🙂

                  1. Guidinho
                    • 13 Years
                    8 years, 11 months ago

                    For GW 34 and 35 assuming Sakho will be out, if Moreno is not nailed who is the best avenue to the back line for 5.3 (exc gk)?

                    Cheers

      3. Nico.
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        All have*

    2. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      At which point does loyalty become blindness? Anyhow I think that is well in the distance if you have kept Bony this long.

  28. Barry Woj
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Assuming Mourinho is cryptic and doesn't say "Remy is fit and will start against Man Utd" are people going to transfer him out?

    1. Blue Lion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Remy is fit. Trust me! He'll reward us.

      1. Barry Woj
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        haha I hope you're right!

      2. Norco
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        I'm fretting this, hope he isn't lol

    2. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No.

    3. Doolittle
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Keeping.

    4. Barry Woj
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers all. Looks like holding is the best decision if he's not confirmed out.

  29. Blue Lion
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    How many DGW are you planning to have? If you can get 6 DGWm would you Wildcard?

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

      Can't get six or can get six?

      1. Blue Lion
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        6 DGW,3 Chelsea(Haz,Ivan,Remy) & 3 Liverpool(Skertel,Hendo & Sterling/Coutinho) without hit.

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

          6 is decent. Wouldn't want any less. Probably no need to WC unless the rest of your team is poo and won't help in setting up the run to the end.

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      No Lisa I wouldn't.
      6-7 is fine.

    3. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Thought Billy changed his name or something.

  30. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 11 months ago

    Planned DGWer's for each team?

    Mine:

    Chelsea: Ivanovic, Fabregas, Hazard
    Liverpool: Skrtel, Henderson, Sterling/Coutinho
    Leicester: Vardy, Schmeichel
    Hull: None

    Arsenal: Ospina, Sanchez, Giroud
    Sunderland: PVA

    Anyone else have a plan?

    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Terry, Haz, Remy
      Skrtel, Hendo, Sterling
      Huth/Schlupp
      N/A

      Ramsey, Giroud + Sanchez/Ozil/Kosc
      No idea yet.

    2. Norco
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      I have a plan, but no clue if I'll stick to it lol.

    3. Guidinho
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea : Ivano, Terry, Hazard
      Pool: Moreno, Henderson, Sterling
      Leicester: would rather stab myself in the eye
      Hull: Read above

      Arsenal: Giroud, Sanchez, Ramsey
      Sunderland: Pull your pants down

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea: Terry-Fab-Haz
      Liverpool: Migs-Skittles-Cout
      Leic: Vardy

    5. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      That leaves you with 3 SGW players in Gw 34...who are they? Kun/Silva/Boyd?

      1. Puyol Pants Up
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 11 months ago

        Kun, Silva, Alderweirald

    6. Patty
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Che: Terry Haz Fan
      Liverpool: Moreno/Skrtel, Hendo, Sterling
      Leic: Schmeichel Vardy
      Hull: none

      Arsenal: Ospina, Giroud, some mid
      Sunderland: no plans atm

    7. Shifty
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 11 months ago

      Chelsea - Ivan Fab Haz
      Liverpool - Skrtel Hendo Sterling
      Leicester - Schmikes
      Hull - 0

      Arsenal - Ramsey, Giroud, Ozil/Sanchez
      Sunderland - PVA + maybe Pants if I have a transfer to spare

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

        Chels: Fab, Ivan, Haz
        Liv: Moreno, Hendo
        Lei; Cambiasso, Shlupp