Scout Notes

Scout Notes – Key Men Rested in Spurs Win

There are no alarms for Spurs and no surprises for Fantasy managers as League Two side Newport County are beaten 2-0 in the final replay of the FA Cup fourth round.

After needing a late goal from Harry Kane to keep his side in the competition when the teams first met late last month, Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t inclined to risk many of his big names for the Wembley follow-up.

The coach made ten changes to the side that drew with Liverpool on Sunday, with Ben Davies and Jan Vertonghen rested, Kane and Kieran Trippier left on the bench and Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli only introduced in the second half.

Just Son Heung-min remained from the Anfield epic and he was a lively presence throughout, setting up Spurs’ second goal before being taken off on the hour with Saturday’s north London derby presumably in mind.

If Newport were daydreaming of a cup upset, an own goal in the 26th minute injected a dose of reality as Moussa Sissoko’s cross deflected off a defender and left visiting keeper Joe Day high and dry.

Spurs never allowed complacency to creep into their game and it was only a combination of Day’s heroics and Spurs’ profligacy – Fernando Llorente missed a range of big chances and Alli hit the bar when put clean through – that kept the score respectable.

But in truth, the tie was over once Erik Lamela had steered home Son’s pass in the 34th minute.

The Argentinian’s career has been in limbo for over a year since picking up a serious hip injury and last night’s goal was his first in 17 months.

He remains unsurprisingly rusty and poses little threat to Spurs’ established attackers for now. New signing Lucas Moura, another possible midfield rotation option for Pochettino, wasn’t eligible for the tie as he signed after the first match in Wales.

The League Two side refused to give up the ghost, but only had one shot on target all night – and that came in injury time at the end of the match – as a Spurs defence which included Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose made it four consecutive home clean sheets in all competitions.

The experienced pair, out since Gameweeks 11 and 22 respectively, will intensify the risk of rotation among Spurs defenders, although it would be a surprise if either featured in this weekend’s clash with Arsenal.

Alderweireld is perhaps the more likely to be used against the Gunners, but only if Pochettino opts for three centre-halves for the derby.

And with Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier all currently available, the Belgian can afford to be eased back into the fray.

Spurs’ reward for last night’s win is a fifth round trip to League One strugglers Rochdale.

Unless there is a major upset in that tie, a quarter-final place beckons, which means Gameweek 31’s home match with Newcastle will have to be rescheduled.

Little by little, Spurs’ squad is now returning to full strength, which is well-timed with league, FA Cup and Champions League fixtures to fulfil over the next month.

Then again, the six matches to play from this Saturday to early March are sufficiently well-spaced not to demand excessive rotation from Pochettino, with Alderweireld and Rose the most likely to upset the status quo, while the potential impact of Moura is yet to be gauged.

FA Cup Fifth Round Draw
Leicester vs Sheffield United
Chelsea vs Hull
Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea
West Brom vs Southampton
Brighton vs Coventry
Huddersfield vs Man United
Rochdale vs Spurs
Wigan vs Man City

At present, we have just two confirmed fixtures for Gameweek 31 – Liverpool vs Watford and Stoke vs Everton, though this is, of course, subject to change.

For example, the loser of the Huddersfield vs Man United match will have a Gameweek 31 fixture, as both their respective opponents (Crystal Palace and West Ham) are already knocked out of the FA Cup.

Although the outcome of these results will mainly affect the Gameweek 31 schedule, then, it’s worth bearing in mind that Man City’s trip to Wigan may yet influence the Gameweek 28 calendar.

This is due to the knock-on effect of City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, which takes place on the weekend of Gameweek 28.

That Wembley Stadium match has forced Arsenal’s home clash with Pep Guardiola’s side to be moved to Thursday March 1, keeping it in the same round of fixtures.

However, should City draw away to the Latics at the first attempt, their replay would take priority over that league encounter with the Gunners and force it to be again rescheduled to another date, moving it out of the Gameweek and leaving both with a blank.

A reminder that Ben Crellin’s Twitter Moment provides full detail on the scenarios that could develop for Gameweek 31 and beyond.

555 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make Arrows Green Again
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    BBC: "Unsworth out of running for Oxford job"

    They gave him a bleep test and he nearly managed to get to level 2.

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

      Ha.

    2. Planet Head
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      As an Oxford fan, that sounds like good news to me!

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

    Repost

    Otamendi > Bauer
    Ox > Walcott

    ?

    DDG
    Otamendi Jones Alonso
    Milivo Salah Sterling Sanchez
    Aguero Firmino Ayew
    --------------------------------------
    Elliot Ox Ogbonna Holgate

    2FT's £0.1M ITB

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

      Good strength throughout

      I do think Sanchez is currently expensive though, but it's a mute point unless you can upgrade elsewhere and like I said, your team looks good throughout. Possibly Mhki for Sanchez and upgrade to Milivo to a Walcott of even Ramsey

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers for the feedback

  3. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    Loving the references in that article...I mean, good to see everything in its right place for the next round of FA Cup fixtures...

    1. MTPockets
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Expecting a let down.

    2. kinghenry14
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      what to do with this lot? 1FT 1.4ITB

      pope
      alonso jones duffy
      salah sterling son miki walcott
      kane firmino
      subs: eliott kenny quaner hünemeier

      probably get a defender instead of kenny or duffy, best option up to 5.9 max? maybe mee?

      cheers

      1. Evil Genius
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Bauer is all the rage at the moment.

      2. Woy of the Wovers
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        You should probably save. Wait for the FA cup matches to give you a better picture for how bad GW31 will look

    3. fkmzcgp
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      g2g?

      Pope
      Alonso, Jones, Ogbonna
      Salah(C), Sterling, Son, Shaqiri
      Aguero, Kane, Wilson

      Subs: Elliot, Ibe, Long, Kabasele

    4. daviyb
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      didn't see the game, but I assume Spurs were up to their usual diving tactics?

      1. Evil Genius
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        No, they only do that against Liverpool. Those suckers fall for it every time.

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

          I think refs and FA in general are quite negative towards Liverpool. Anytime Pool look to be in ascent anyway...

    5. Dr Dream
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Just to break it up and for the sake of conversation.

      I'm watching The Tour of Dubai cycling and cheering on my fantasy cycling team. The game I'm playing has a really snappy captain game.

      You pick a squad and then get a number of stars to alot to whichever rider you like to double or treble their points. It's a little more complicated than that but it's the general jist of it.

      In fantasy football terms, and keeping it simple, it would be like getting three captain stars which you could choose to apply one each to three players (and double points to all three) two to one player (Triple) and one to another player(double), or go balls out and put alll three on one player (x4)....

      It works really well...do you think similar would be good for FPL?...

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

        You should see my fantasy bowls team; having a bumper season

      2. MTPockets
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe. I do think captain pick in FPL at 2x points is too high / randomly influential vs broader team.
          (yes I'm having a bad season so perhaps opinion is skewed)

          1. Dr Dream
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Mind you FPL are bit stuck with keeping the game as simple as possible....maybe for SKY fantasy or something similar would be a better ask...

            1. MTPockets
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Yeah I don't see fpl changing it unfortunately.

            2. daviyb
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              I think 1.5 points would be better also for captain. Double is disproportionate and is unfairly punitive to players who conscientiously construct a solid team with strength throughout

              1. MTPockets
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Agreed.

            3. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              I like that idea ... a whopping 'all in' gamble on one player or spread the risk. Sounds fun.

              1. Dr Dream
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                It is fun. You can actually reduce the number of picks per day (couldn't do it for footy) and only have as few as two riders with five and four stars each...That really is the balls out gamble...

            4. Kryten
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Interesting concept adding captain x2 and vice captain x1.5 points is a good concept to break templates

              1. Holmes
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Scoring and calculating 50.5pts wont be fun 😛

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

                  Winning fpl or mini leagues by half a point imagine it

              2. Dr Dream
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Yeah, that's similar, although the star thing really allows for bigger gambles, or not gambles...

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

              That does sound fun.

            6. Dr Dream
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              WOW....CAV'S BACK....!!!.....great win....

              1. FC Lackless [BALEGIUM]
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                The Kittel to Cav move paid off nicely !

                1. Dr Dream
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Yeah it did....Like a boss....

          2. Player blinkers
            J0E
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Fantasy Football Scout daily hot topic

            Player blinkers

            There have been a number of players this season that look great captains and transfer targets, but are being ignored by many.

            Take Mohamed Salah for example, this year’s best FPL player – top scorer and consistent scorer. Yes he is highly owned but he is rarely the top captained manager each week.

            Indeed among the top 10K in Gameweek 26 more than a third (36%) captained Aguero, while less than a fifth (19%) handed the armband to the Liverpool man.

            Another is Kevin De Bruyne. At home he has registered five double digit scores and is the joint third highest FPL scorer, alongside Harry Kane. Yet this week it will be the Spurs man, with four double digit scores at home this season, who is likely to garner far more armbands. In the captain poll one in ten favour Kane, while just 2% back KDB.

            Arguably De Bruyne is a great captaincy pick this Gameweek and even better than Kane.

            Which players are you ignoring – either in your team or as captaincy picks?

            Also which players are in your team or your watchlist – even though the evidence suggests they will not do well? Should you be deploying blinkers when looking at these players?

            1. Pras (FPL)
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Have not had any Arsenal players, for good or for bad, all season. This may change in 2 weeks though.

            2. FPL ZB
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Haven't had Alonso or Aguero all season. Just seem so expensive to bring in, when I seem to be covering their points elsewhere

            3. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Have "ignored" KDB as have had Sterling all season and Aguero for most of it. Can't have them all unfortunately! Otherwise, think I have owned all the bug guns at one point or another (usually during a patch of bad form).

              Sanchez is the main ignored one I think - with good cause though.

            4. Kryten
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah price is biggest blinker it's why salah this season and mahrez in 2016 was never captain even though the form and stats are so consistent.

              I always feel compelled to captain my most expensive player or I don't get good value and no point owning him

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

                Yeah very true. I always feel more likely to captain Hazard than Salah.

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

                  I know I would on paper too.i think Its something to try improve on in my own game style. To be fair I think it's able case that there's been fewer weeks with nailed captains this season no suarez or rvp of previous years

              2. J0E
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 15 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                That's a great point. Price really does effect things and we are programmed to captain the most expensive. I've started captaining Salah much more recently and admit I didn't before partly as in my head I thought the more expensive Kane or before that Lukaku would do better.

                Should have learned the lesson from that Mahrez season really.

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

              Ah good idea, I'll check my watch list.
              Be like the other day when we dug out 7 old phones from the man draw and someone gave us the idea to read the old messages.

            6. JasonG123
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Valencia, Eriksen, Doucoure and Vardy are others that have been ignored but have produced consistently.

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

                Doucoure a great example. Everyone clambered to get Richarlison and now Deulofeu is interesting people....yet its 'the Duke' who is arguably the better option.

                1. Numb
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Again, Doucoure is (and has been all season) very highly owned in my minileague.

                2. JasonG123
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Doucoure reminds me of Ramsey/Yaya in 2013/14 - defies all logic but keeps going.

                  I still won't be getting him though.

                3. ⓙⓚⓙⓚ
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  This Doucoure guy. Just don't understand how he keeps it going.

            7. MTPockets
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Not sure about blinkers. More a case of risking others to try gaining rank, even knowing it seldom works out.

              • Tazah
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                think the reason for ignoring kdb is most people dont have him but they should

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

                  I've only recently got KDB in....after ditching him GWK 3.. Missed out on all those points in between as in my head I told myself that he wasn't worth that money....yet I thought Kane - who is level on points with him and is less explosive at home -is worth 2m more.

                  I think Ozil could be another that gets overlooked unfairly.

                  1. UCL Fantasy
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 14 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Think Jarvish put it well above. KDB ignored because of Sterling for the most part, although of course in hindsight it would have been good to get KDB as well.

                    Same with Ozil - at that price he'd have to be really consistent over a number of weeks. Ramsey and Mkhi better value most likely.

                  2. Donblaster
                    • 10 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    But Sterling, Silva and Sane all offered better vfm for most of that time right? he only scored once in first 10 gwks.

                    I imagine for people now it's a choice between Ageuro and KDB, especially if they already own Sterling from a low cost price.

                    For me it was pretty much 50/50 but went with Ageuro because there are those games where City win big (5-0, 6-0) and KDB could get MOM but only get 3 pts. I think it's less likely City win big without Ageuro racking up the points.

              • how now brown cow
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I have never owned Alonso or kdb.

                I feel ashamed.

                1. Holmes
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  same, no regrets...

              • barracuda
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Got to be Sanchez

                1. UCL Fantasy
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Not sure he counts - ignored for a good reason

                  Unless you mean the reverse blinkers - getting him in when we shouldn't have 🙂

                  1. barracuda
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Tell me about it Andy..I shall keep for a bit and then get rid. I regret bringing him in massively. Too expensive

              • Numb
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Isn't Salah very highly captained each week? I certainly get that impression from my main mini league where a lot of people just captain him every week. Overall stats are probably skewed by lots of dead teams.

                1. UCL Fantasy
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 14 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Aguero captained by more live teams in the last GW

                  Salah the same % as Kane

                  https://twitter.com/FantasyFootyFix/status/959772391294500864

                  1. Numb
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    OK fair enough

                  2. Numb
                    • 9 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Still, seems that Salah is consistently in the top 2 or 3 every week (apart from when he was injured that week) - that's hardly being overlooked.

              • Hotdogs for Tea
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                you can't have them all, and you can only have a few over 10 mill so some are going to miss out

              • ZeBestee
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                The fear not to captain Kane, more so in those 'easy' games cost many early on in the season. I had a terrible score because i ended up captaining Kane at home in those blanks. I think many have overlooked Sterling because of the notion that there are 'proven' goalscorers in the form of Kane and Kun and him being his first consistent scoring season.

              • drughi
                • 15 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I think many people including me expect a decline of some sort. We do it season after season. One season it was yaya and ramsey and one season it was vardy and mahrez. This season it seems to be salah captaincy. I have captained kane 17 times and salah 1 time which is odd considering how solid salah has been and how many times kane has blanked.

                1. drughi
                  • 15 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  *sterling is another player overlooked as far as captain this week.He has 5 double digit scores at home this season and very few blanks, yet I'm considering aguero far more then him.

              • Hy liverpool
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Arguably "Hazard" is a great captaincy pick this Gameweek and even better than De Bruyne and Kane.

              • Veezeeboy
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Sanchez possibly if you want to get the rank boosts
                I am in top 10k and dont know how should i get near 1k. At this time sanchez could be the player to get me that boost.

                1. Andy_Social
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  I'm nervously sticking with Alonso and Azpi since I've had them so long as part of a back 5 and they've done so well for me. I've a bad feeling Chelsea are imploding and my top 5K position is gonna go south with them.

                  I've been convinced all season that the 3 that came up from the Champo will go straight back down and this has caused me to curse myself for ignoring Gross all season. I still think Brighton will run out of steam, so I'll continue to ignore him except to grimace every time he nicks more points.

              • Make Arrows Green Again
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                The player that I have been ignoring at my peril is DDG. The fact that he's a little more expensive than my current pick (Pickford) seems to mean that I can't or won;t make the step up, despite the fact that he's clearly worth every penny. I will probably get him in on WC.

              • mookie
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I'm doing the Kanexit 2,0. Only moved from 34k to 24k so far but i expect Kun to outscore him this week.
                Kanexit 1,0 was much better, moved from 125k to 87k.
                Might ignore him a little more with Palace next. Poor record against them and since Palace stopped City they can stop Spurs as well.

              • tisza
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Shaqiri- never getting anywhere near my team. Can't stand him.

                Promoted sides defenders rarely feature in starting team. Really blinkered considering how few strikers there are in bottom half of table.

                Haven't owned Alonso this season (despite having him nearly all last season). Went Christensen which was going alright until his injury run etc. started. Alonso wasn't doing anything GW3-17 (apart from 1 GW).

                Salah captained just 3 times despite being in side since GW1. 2 of those times he was highest scorer in my team but only 3 other occasions he's been the highest scorer in my team.
                Always seemed (without hindsight) to be a marginally more attractive option - 437 captaincy points is still pretty good.

              • The Hindu Monkey
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I still haven't had a Burnley defender/keeper all season. I kept assuming their run would end

                I mean it has now, but I lost a ton of points getting to that stage.

              • The Rumour Mill
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Ederson, Walker and Valencia all good, but pricy options. I think Ederson has sufferred from having DDG as his rival as a "premium" option for FPL managers, and from Otamendi as coverage of the City defence. He may be an option for the GW32 wildcard though as a "nailed" option, now that Stones, Otamendi, Laporte and Kompany are all competing with one another for the 2 CB positions. This might promote Walker too as a safer option.

                I think with Valencia its a similar story - DDG and Jones are cheaper. With Jones though we might see more rotation as the Champions League has an effect. De Gea is probably my preferred option here still, although its worth bearing in mind that despite people saying 6.8m is too much money to pay for a defender with little threat of attacking returns, Valencia has scored 3 league goals this season. That is only one less than Otamendi, 3 more than fellow right back Walker, and more than Bellerin and Davies too (although all these better Valencia for assists).

              • The Non Flying Dutchman
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I think people choose Kane/Aguero captain over Salah/KDB to minimise risk... rank isn't materially impacted when they fail because a significant number of rivals will also captain them.

                I captained Mkhi last week as I wanted to take a calculated risk in a week where there was no obvious captain choice.

              • Feyzi
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I have read this post, göne back to my team, and now find myself in horror... I captained Salah 5 times and got 124 points. I captained Kane 12 times and got 168 points. (Lukaku 70 points in 5 games, Hazard 14 in 2, Vardy and Agüero 16 and 4 in 1 each). The end result is not surprising. But the point I take from Jonty's post is; is the maxim "Don't invest in Kane if he is not your captain" and vice versa "if you have Kane, you captain him" false? I would not want to part with Kane (and only did so for a single GW), and if I did not have him, would be worse off, possibly, in all truth, but had I treated Kane just like any other player and not the star of my team, I would have dared captain Salah more...

                1. Make Arrows Green Again
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  I think the maxim is true since his points return per million is not as good a a whole raft of other players. Now, if he were either the highest-scoring player or the most regular returner of attacking points then he would be an obvious captain pick, but with Salah outscoring everyone, is there any point in having either Kane or Aguero?

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

                    I agree that this is exactly the question. Simple mathematics would presumably yield a "no point" reply. Yet, that should be true, if and only if, I can find better per million replacements. With Salah and Sterling I am comfortable and guaranteed, but what about the others? A team composed of guaranteed "best value" players but with a team value of 90.0 would be beaten by a team of value 100.0 who improves on a player with less value but more points. So am I secured to get de Bruyne, Ramsey and Eriksen, whose value is less than 2.0 better than Kane. Even if they maintain the same form, I may be beaten. You see my point hopefully.

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

                    You have to include at least one forward in your starting eleven, and Kane and Aguero are way ahead of the other forwards (although Aubameyang may possibly become a third option).
                    Your budget should be sufficient to easily afford one of them, so it is well worthwhile to own one even if you captain a midfielder instead.
                    Your captain should be the player whom you expect to score the most points that game-week, a safe choice to preserve your lead or ranking, or a differential captain who gives you a chance of catching a rival or of gaining a rankings boost.
                    Price should only be a consideration when deciding whether a player is worth including in your squad. If you do intend to captain him then that would be a plus point in his favour, but you should not feel obliged to captain him just because he's expensive.
                    A player's high price should not be a consideration when deciding who to captain, nor should the fact that he is a new recruit to your squad, or that he is a forward rather than a midfielder (or even a defender or goalkeeper).

              • the Penman
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                The answer's easy for Salah: rotation fear.

              • Bragazeti
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I have completely ignored Sterling. It just feels weird cheering him and I don't rate him as much as others

              • Kalou
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I think too many people play with fear.Fear of missing out on a haul from one of these highly owned players, Salah,Kane.Game is meant to be fun,let the horses run free!

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

              Sorry kind of similar question to what I have asked before. But who can I get rid of first to stop myself having a benching headache each week?

              Pickford, Elliott
              Alonso, Jones, Bauer, Maguire, Hunemier
              Salah, Sterling, Mkhi, Shaqiri, Pogba
              Kane, Firmino, Wilson

              I'm thinking I need to ditch Pogba > 4.5 fodder?

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

                I would hold unless you need to use a FT could change Elliott out to. Also I suggest liews cook at fodder as nailed and cheap

              2. fkmzcgp
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                I'd change Pogba to a bench fodder, then hold on to the money atm because nothing desperately needs upgrading..

              3. Hotdogs for Tea
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                midfield fodder is cheaper, just get a 4.5 with the most playing minutes recently but otherwise you may want to consider Milijo for a bit of oomph of the bench and a price rise soon.

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

                  Thanks for the advice all! I think next GW I’ll switch Pogba to a decent benchable midfielder.

                  1. Andy_Social
                    • 12 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Eliot for sure, and the Honeymonster. But I'd want a bench due to European games and later-stage cup ties lead to rotation.

            9. FF Dirtbag
              • 13 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              What needs to be done guys? Got 0FT and 0.3 in the bank.

              Courtois
              Alonso Jones Duffy
              Salah Sterling Walcott Lingard
              Kane Aguero J.Ayew

              Elliot; Kenny, Masuaku, Loftus-Cheek

              Anything worth a hit?

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

                seems like you've already done what needed to be done

            10. Tazah
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              alright then so seeing as kane, kun, salah all have matches midweek too i can see their minutes getting limited or even rotated..... does captaining hazard make the most sense then?

              1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Seems Chelsea players are going to do what they did to Mour, they just don't want to give their best on the pitch. I wouldn't cap him, owning itself is a differential.

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

                  would you swap him for kdb this week? have 2FT

                  1. Pras (FPL)
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    LOL..you go from captaining a guy to transferring him out in 7 mins?

                    Keep Haz dude.

                    1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                      • 7 Years
                      6 years, 8 months ago

                      😀

                    2. Tazah
                      • 6 Years
                      6 years, 8 months ago

                      hahahha fair enough

                  2. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    No, tbh. I have KDB, and most probably will ditch him next week. Tougher fixtures in EPL while title almost won, his gametime comments with CL, Cup games upcoming, rotation, BGWs..
                    Will swap him for one of these: Walcott, Ramsey, Mkhi, Mane.

            11. AnderEstimatedHerrera
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Looking at G's weekly post, CS odds surprised me a bit. Do you think City can keep a CS against Leicester? Vardy usually loves such games, and with City players' form and gametime problem..
              Is it the right time to ditch Otamendi? Have 2 FTs.

              1. Mayor of Flair
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                City always seem to inexplicably play a high line against Leicester which always suits Vardy

                1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  That's right.
                  If I'd only know that Mahrez will start..maybe presser will give more information.

            12. Fpl Richie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Currently playing...
              Jones Alonso Duffy
              With Ogbonna and Kenny benched.

              A. Correct order and save 1ft.
              B. Change order
              C. Transfer Kenny or Og to Bauer/Swansea def.

            13. Team Cruel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Salah: "I'm in the best moment of my career and I want to beat Kane"

              Seems like a man on a mission. Never bet against someone obsessed with winning the golden boot. Think I will be captaining him for the first time ever this weekend.

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

                Woh, first time?

              2. Alexis Nonsense
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Don't you think Kane picks up on that too ?

                I agree with the captain pick, just sayin that Kane want's the boot as much as Salah I guess

            14. ZeBestee
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              best cheap defender to bring in for Christensen?

              Have Alonso, Ota, Jones and Hunemonster!

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

                TAA - Pool's best RB clearly and arguably one of the league's best RBs... obviously a rotation risk but the more he continues playing as he has been, the less of a rotation risk he becomes

                1. ZeBestee
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  thanks mate. The last thing i want now is getting a player with rotation doubts. Cheers

                  1. Alex_thekid
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    VVD also definitely plays in the bgw 31

                  2. Alex_thekid
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Cheap def
                    Bauer 31 plays also Zeegelaar

            15. Karan14
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Pope
              Alonso • Ota • Jones
              Salah • Sterling • Son • Lingard • CM
              Kane • DCL

              (Elliot / Niasse / Dawson / Wimmer)
              1 ft & 4.4m itb

              A) DCL ➡️ Firmino
              (Walcott for Lingard next week( )

              B) Lingard & DCL ➡️ Mane & Wilson (-4)
              (Walcott for CM next week)

              C) Lingard & DCL ➡️ Walcott & Wilson (-4)
              (Mane for CM next week)

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

                Would say A because Everton confidence is low and wait a week for Walcott 🙂

                1. Karan14
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Agreed I’m leaning towards A only. Seems the safe option.

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

                    Also fewer balegium hits 😉

              2. arndff_
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                A

              3. 007 [RoboKlopp]
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                A imo

            16. nelluckram
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Start Bauer or Francis?

              1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Bauer

            17. Mayor of Flair
              • 10 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              This Bauer chap the best Stoke defender to get? Probably as a sub.

              1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                He can return CS points against Brighton side this week actually.

                1. Mayor of Flair
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Start him ahead of Mustafi?

                  1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                    • 7 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Hard to choose tbh..
                    If it was only CS points, then definitely yes.
                    But Mustafi has goal threat, maybe just because ot this I would start him.

              2. MTPockets
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Not sure. I only picked him as reasonable at getting fwd & cheapest that looked nailed.

                • Kryten
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Problem is you may have missed most of the good Stoke fixture already

              3. Tazah
                • 6 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                sooooooo fabregas just beat willian and pedro in a speed test

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfPedRTnhSw

                1. Holmes
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  smart

                2. Kryten
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Willian hair has poor aerodynamic tbf

                3. ZeBestee
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  he simply calculated where to go first beforehand. there were no handbrakes.

                4. Hotdogs for Tea
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  all to do with the order that they picked up the cones, Fab didn't have to stop and change direction 🙂

              4. Dele
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Joe Gomez > Bauer

                or

                Pogba > Walcott

                1. arndff_
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Wait for more info on Gomez's injury. If he's OK, save the transfer.

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

                Play Choupo (BHA) or Ox (soton)?

                1. Karan14
                  • 8 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Choupo-Moting

                2. ZeBestee
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Choupo

                3. arndff_
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  CM

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

                  Cheers

              6. Ten Season Wonder
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Currently on Pope & Adrian

                Is it worth bringing in Fabianski (for Adrian)? or shall I look at Fernandez? and then replace Adrian at a later date for a different keeper?

                1. AnderEstimatedHerrera
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Fab out of them: saves, baps

              7. Jayben23
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Fabianski
                Mee Jones Kenny
                Pogba Salah Sterling Son Mikitarian
                Firmino Kane (c)

                Adrian Quaner Monreal Mbemba

                Gtg?

              8. Pariße
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Lössl
                Otamendi Jones Alonso Davies
                KDB Sterling Salah Shaqiri
                Firmino Kane

                2FT Would you use it on any of these players?

              9. SpaceCadet
                • 10 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                More points potential this gw?

                A. Alli
                B. Wally -4

                1. Lingardium Leviosa.
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Alli is a relatively safer pick given how bad Ars are and the hit you would need to take to get Walcott

                2. Pariße
                  • 9 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Still probably Alli.

              10. DenDanskeDuo
                • 7 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                best mid up to 5,5m?

                1. Lingardium Leviosa.
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Miliwhatshisname from Palace

                  1. Lingardium Leviosa.
                    • 10 Years
                    6 years, 8 months ago

                    Actually. Palace fixtures are torrid. Get the Duke

                2. DenDanskeDuo
                  • 7 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Cheers Lin

              11. The EJJ
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Thoughts on Lingard's starting chances this week? Tempted to get rid for Deulofeu

                1. Lingardium Leviosa.
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  I'd do it. As a Lingard owner you've suffered enough.

              12. Whits
                • 8 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                A. Pogba to Walcott
                B. Save FT

                1. arndff_
                  • 12 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  b

                2. Lingardium Leviosa.
                  • 10 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  B

                3. Gooner97
                  • 11 Years
                  6 years, 8 months ago

                  Save

              13. Gooner97
                • 11 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                Are you captaining Salah or Kun?

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

                  Mo

              14. Laurel and Vardy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                2FT. 2.6m ITB. Please pick one:

                A) Niasse->Wilson (bench Mili)
                B) Lingard -> Shaqiri/Ramsey/Mkhi/Deulofeu
                C) Both

                Adrian (fodder)
                Alonso-Ota-Jones (Dunk-Ogbonna)
                Salah(C)-Son-Lingard-Sterling-Milivojevic
                Kane-Firmino-(Niasse)

                Thank you!