Watchlist

The Watchlist – Adel Taarabt

As QPR basked in the sunshine of their deliverance and waves of summer signings lapped the Loftus Road shore, a long-levitating penny seems to have dropped in the mind of Adel Taarabt – that to establish himself in the Premier League, he must shake off his reputation as a luxury player.

His virtue, or rather virtuosity, was well known to Fantasy managers following his 19 goals and 16 assists in QPR’s 2010/11 promotion push, but it quickly transpired that the mercurial Moroccan was bereft of his manager’s trust in the unforgiving air of the top flight. Frequently benched, occasionally omitted from the squad entirely, a reluctance to degrade his art to a trade tried the patience of his embattled boss.

Handed a fresh start and a new three-year contract, Taarabt was conspicuous in the starting 11 for QPR’s opening day pasting at the hands of Swansea, but Mark Hughes’ explanations for his subsequent banishment carried a decidedly familiar tune. Exiled throughout September, Taarabt came off the bench to score against West Ham on October 1 and notched again the following week at the Hawthorns. Playing every minute since, including an excursion to The Emirates in which he recorded twice as many tackles as his nearest midfield competitor, his all-round displays seem to be finally cementing him a starting berth.

With still no wins to his credit and little to show for his summer expenditure, the vultures are starting to circle for Sparky – and his future may well depend on the outcome of the next three games (RGD, stk, SOT). Hosting two of the Premier League’s most porous defences in the next three, attacking returns should be on the cards for the twinkle-toed Taarabt; and whilst Esteban Granero has usurped a portion of the set-piece patrimony, the Moroccan magician is still assured a substantial share. Importantly, with direct attempts his particular penchant, he may have the best chance of breaching the Britannia barricades come Gameweek 11.

In terms of competition for investment, the aforementioned Granero offers assured starts and a share of set pieces at 5.5 in FPL and 6.5 in Sky Sports, and Junior Hoilett offers good open play threat with less security of game time at 5.8 (7.1 in Sky Sports and listed as a forward). Up top, Bobby Zamora has a consistency of starts at 6.4 in FPL and a hefty 8.2 in Sky Sports, but with forward line spots ever at a premium and no goals in four, the smart money looks to be in midfield. Tipping the scales at 5.5 in FPL and 5.2 in the Sky Sports game, we’re backing Taarabt to offer the most bang for your buck from the QPR ranks over the weeks to come.

stilicho I never make predictions and I never will

825 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus, maybe we shouldn't joke in future about heads falling off...

    We brought this on ourselves.

    http://cahill95ta.home.comcast.net/~cahill95ta/stuff/picard_shame.gif

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      He's actually dead as well. We're joking about it, but he's actually dead.

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      1. ColeHole
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        The Hammy problem was just the last involuntary twitch of the corpse.

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        1. isacki: full casual
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          lol, it's a very stiff hammy.

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          1. Dark Mata
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Rigor Matas

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            1. isacki: full casual
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Oh well, at least he died in peace, he was given the Luiz Rites.

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  2. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    whats the deal with Mata? bench him?..

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    1. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I would still start him. I'd assume he'd start or not be risked at all.

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  3. kingarthur
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Don't know if this has been asked recently, but what anyone hazard a guess at the likely Man City front line, bearing in mind they play big Champs League game Tues evening?

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I would guess

      ------- Yaya -- Garcia/Barry -------

      Milner ---- Tevez ------ Nasri

      ------------ Balotelli ------------

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    2. Round and Round
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Tevez + Dzeko

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      1. kingarthur
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Damn, I still have Aguero - Still keep thinking he will reproduce his form from last year, but he never seems to get a regular spot anymore !
        Could Tevez be rested this week, as he seems to be the main man at City now.

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  4. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    so and Berba looking OK but now Mata a doubt?

    still means Sterling comes off the bench. no change there. Carry On!

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  5. Hank Scorpio
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Got 2fts, 0.0m in the bank, was all set to go:

    Wilson ---> Cameron
    Dyer -----> Sterling/Taarabt

    Seems kind of stupid now to use one of the transfers on a fit player (Dyer) when I've also got Cuellar, Demel, Mata and Ba injured.

    Question is, what to do instead? Demel or Cuellar ------> to a fit, playing defender and at least get 11 men out? Don't want to shift Mata or Ba, even if they miss this week.

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    1. Kuqi Monster
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I'd shift wilson and demel

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  6. bantamdave
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    What chance RVP going up to £13.5m tonight??

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    1. ColeHole
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      unlikely.

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  7. Parm
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Di Mateo is a massive !"£$%^&*()(*&^%$£"$%^&^%$£$%^&%$£$%^&^%$£$%^&

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    1. Daniel_tsl
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      He's a massive equation?

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    2. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why's that?

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      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        He played Mata in a pointless cup tie 👿

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        1. Dark Mata
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Why did he play Mata for 120 minutes, his most inform player - madness.......

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        2. little_wizard123
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He will still start.

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          1. lightspeed
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Not looking likely at all

            It's was doubtful anyone following 120 mins mid week. Now he's carrying an injury I'd say his chances are extremely low.

            I guess that you brought him in like me lol

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    3. Timon
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      is it olchiki that i cant understand?

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

    Ok guys, after the Demba comment from Pardew should I….

    A – Ship Wilson for Cameron, even though he’ll be 1st sub to cover Cuellar not playing. Mertesacker would be my 1st sub defender in if I don’t make this change.

    B – Ship Podolski to Ba, hoping Ba will play but if not have Kebe playing where I could have had Podolski

    C – Keep Wilson and Podolski and make both changes next week

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    1. Round and Round
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A

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    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I would go B purely as i think Ba and/or Kebe will have a better week than Pod. A can be done anytime (and with Wilkinson if somehow Cameron rises).

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  9. @ImpressiveTackl
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    So who brought in Mata this week?

    I feel a Nelson Muntz haha coming on.

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Ironically, I have Nelsen (Kuntz) coming on for me now in place of Mata

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    2. ColeHole
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I have both and was about to sell Hazah. Finally, everything's coming up ColeHole.

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    3. lightspeed
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Me,

      Very tempted to now spend points to get him out. Have demel, Wilson, ba and saylor as doubts too.

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  10. iain_90
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Rival has Mata, Gibbs, Cuellar and Ba.

    And he'll still probably outscore me.

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  11. meltedman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    How's this looking?

    Begovic (Jaaskelainen)
    Baines Bosingwa Clark (Clyne Jenkinson)
    Hazard(c) Bale(vc) Michu Cazorla (Nolan)
    Berbatov Ba Jelavic

    0 FT, 1.8 in Bank.

    I think i'm gonna roll with this team for this week, and over the next few weeks do Jenkinson/Clark --> Sagna/Cuellar. Sound like a good plan? What would others be doing?

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  12. DRIZ ✅
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    - NEW POST -

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  13. KJ-
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    I'm racking my brain as to what to do for my two FTs...

    Foster (McCarthy)
    Ivanovic - Saylor - Williams (McCartney, Clyne)
    Michu - Dempsey - Fellaini - Hazard - Nolan
    RVP - Tevez (Long)

    I'm thinking that even though I would love to make a change or two to my midfield, I need to address my defense.
    Saylor > Cameron and Williams > Baird make sense? Trying to free up cash but still get defenders that will play.

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  14. सनकी
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    So will we receive any confirmed news that he's out rather than hes a doubt?

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    1. lightspeed
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Mata?

      If so, it looks highly likely that he is out.

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  15. Fantasy-er
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    So I use my free transfer on Mata early, and get ****ed for it.

    And just to rub salt into my wounds, I'm 0.1 short of being able to afford a straight Mata > Hazard swap.

    FPL why do you hate me?

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  16. Agbonlahorse
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    2 free transfers

    I'm thinking

    Bale to Mata (Chelsea are on fire)

    and

    RVP to Ba (He can't stop scoring for Newcastle)

    Possible 4 point hit as well to swap Baines to Cuellar as Sunderland look amazing at home

    Thoughts?

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    1. Fantasy-er
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      3 VERY, VERY good shouts.

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    2. Magerost
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Mata a big doubt with a hamstring and Ba also a doubt.

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      • GordonGekko
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        If that's an injury joke, good one, man. 😉

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    3. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      So.. Still have problem with DF. Attacking could be short too.. 🙁

      Berbatov .. fit to play
      ==
      Ba .. wait for AP to think tomorrow
      Mata .. very doubtful
      ==
      Jenkinson .. should be benched according to Cazorla's post
      Demel .. injured
      Wilson .. injured

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    4. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Bringing in Mata for his goal last GW has either worked out well or badly depending on how you look at it. SO tempting to do Mata > Oscar this week, but such a bad idea.

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    5. Beautiful Game
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      so many people confidnt abt rvp!!!

      anyone feeling scared???that he might disappoint us big time???

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        If he disappoints us big time, he will make me very happy. I'm a Gooner.

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      2. thetinkerman
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Na, (c) Bale 😉

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    6. 5678
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Yo, what was said about Mata? Source?

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      1. Dark Mata
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Tomata Source

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      2. Dark Mata
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Not read but think he has a hamstring pull

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        1. 5678
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Thank you.

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      3. An Púca
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        RDM shoudl apologise for playing him and so many other 1st teamers for 120mins in a worthless cup match

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    7. little_wizard123
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Did Cazorla to Mata but now tempted to do Mata to Bale as I had 2 FTs. Eurgh.

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    8. FC1999
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      What's the Mata everyone?

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

      Attacking Midfield Threats -

      http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/my-stats-tables/view/717/

      There a probably a million tables like it but this one is mine ....

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

        Please note they are not 'Mid Priced'

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    10. The Team Principal
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      If anyone has any Fantasy League questions or needs help with their team, leave your questions here.
      Only comments/questions submitted before 10pm Friday will be answered.
      I will give my honest opinion and a detailed answer.

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