Continuing our members articles which examine the numbers behind the previous four Gameweeks, we now switch our attention to the midfield area. With a packed festive programme providing hat-tricks for Santi Cazorla, Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, it was a period which again saw the heavy-hitting midfielder come to the fore. Incredibly, however, that trio were surpassed by the performances of a player who has rolled back the years to recapture a level of returns and consistency that we perhaps thought were behind him.
Need some help guyz. Current team.
Begovic, Tremmel
Bassong, Huth, Gibbs, Morrison, Gorkss
Michu, Fellaini , Yaya Toure, Morrison, Nolan
Suarez, Berbatov, Van Persie
1FT. 0.1 Bank.
A) Wildcard
B) Toure+Morrison--->Mata+Guthrie -4 hit?Open ControlsLR
Who do you prefer of Mata / Bale? I can only afford one.
CheersOpen ControlsBoth undroppable, but if i had to choose, Bale.
Open ControlsSo if I could find the cash for Bale, who would you drop of Michu, Fellaini, Walcott?
Open ControlsMichu. Taking the predictions for what they're worth (Fellaini outscores Michu by 3.5 pts over next 9 GWs, so basically a wash), the extra 0.8 could be quite useful elsewhere.
That's what I've done, anyways, after a few hours spent poring over the Rate My Team data. May well end in tears, though.
Also, would drop Bale before Mata. Spurs side has done well lately, but with Ade's on-again-off-again ACoN business and rumors of Damiao coming in, things might go sideways, especially with their upcoming fixtures.
Chelsea 4th best fixture list over next to GWs, Spurs 3rd worst.Open Controlsnext 10 GWs, i mean
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I would go with Mata,maybe I am blinded by the DGW but if you haven't played Jan WC yet can easily switch back.
Season long would say Bale
Short Term mataOpen ControlsThis.
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Thx all
Open ControlsPersonally Mata, I find him less frustrating. The will probably bring in similar points over the rest of the season but Bale will do it via a few low scores and then one big hawl. Whereas Mata will being in consistent 6-12s.
Should get less of an itchy finger with Mata is my thinking, would like both if u could though.Open Controls
Bit of advice if you would guys:
Have Azpillcueta/ Mata for this DGW
is Berb>>>Ba for free a sensible idea?
Or Pienaar>>>Fellani.
So unsure of Ba's game time.Open ControlsOn a wc I took the punt on Ba, taking out Berb. Not sure I would do it with a precious ft. My whole logic is that Ba is a DGW punt. I would not be ready to commit to him over Berb long-term without seeing more. But if you are planning to wc straight after it might be a good punt.
Open ControlsI'd rather Pienaar to Fellaini
Berb might just outscore BaOpen Controls
Currently have 4 x Chelsea (Turnbull, Mata, Hazard & Ba).
What would you rather?
A) Lose 0.1m value on Hazard over the GW but keep the 4 x Chelsea
or
B) Change Turnbull and transfer Hazard out until he drops and then get him back in before the GW deadline (Currently on a WC)Open ControlsEr.....you can't physically have 4 x Chelsea!!!! :o)
Open ControlsOr can you....given Ba has just transferred. My apologies......
Open ControlsNo problem, yeah got him in before he move.
That's the issue can't take Hazard out and then put him back in without having to get rid of one of the Chelsea players.Open Controls
Ba transferred in last week...
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What's the plan to clean up afterwards? I wouldn't want Turnbull, Hazard, Ba long term at this stage.
I'd probably just take the 0.1m hit though.Open Controls
Turnbull:
Around about 2 Jan Rafa said Cech would be back in 2-3 weeks. Chelsea-Southampton is on the evening of 16 Jan which is two weeks from that statement. We know Cech is in "light training". Am I wrong to be really nervous about having Turnbull as my Chelsea def cover? Luiz goes up tonight so the time to decide is now.Open ControlsI'd be a little nervous about it too. I also think he lacks any upside compared to a defender. If he concedes one goal then you are looking at say 8 points which one of your keepers might match in one game. It's not hugely worth a transfer.
Open ControlsI think definitely not worth a transfer, but I'm on a wc. But Turnbull becomes useless as soon as Cech is back, so his only reason for existence is to get two matches this GW. I can't face him playing and letting one in against Stoke and then Cech getting a nice cleanie against Southampton!
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Unless you're wcing after, I don't even rate the move... He may well end up with 4 and costs a transfer down the line
Open ControlsLuiz is your man!
Open ControlsWorried about this as well; but I think the best time for Cech to return is at home to Arsenal, wouldn't you agree?
Open ControlsI think it's best, but I ain't making the decisions. 🙂
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Who is going to be the DGW hero?
Could be anyone...
Even Hooiveld?Open ControlsA) Lambert + Ruiz + Hazard + Gibbs + A.Cole/Luiz
- Lambert & Hazard to Podolski & Fellaini next GW, play 3-5-2 with Ruiz benched
- 2.1m spare to upgrade Podolski after GW23
B) Suarez + Ba + Ramirez/Punch + Sagna + Azpilicueta
- No money to upgrade the Ba slot in the near futureOpen ControlsMorning!
Open ControlsTeam is
Bego bunn
Baines Gibbs cuellar demel wisdom
Mata Walcott silva Santi sterling
Defoe Berba Suarez
1.2 in the bank 2ft
Defoe to ba and silva to hazard/bale?
Silva to hazard and cuellar to azpiliquetta?
Or another option?
Not using my wildcard til after the arsenal dgw so will be putting rvp in then.x
Cheers to everyone tht answered before.xOpen ControlsWith Terry set to be back soon, maybe as early as Stoke, will it hurt Azpi game time or Cahill game time...
Open ControlsKind of tasteless of QPR to drop Dyer after he scores his first goal for them. I get it, they're desperate but it seems excessive, especially with Nelsen leaving to coach. They can't keep letting players go for nothing.
Open ControlsTBF they got half their players for nothing
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Suarez and the Cigarette Smoking Man?
Or Ba and Tevez and let God sort it out?Open ControlsI think captain racist will play some part in the DGW fixtures hence the reason am not banking on azpli for too much gametime ! luiz is a much safer bet with mikel on international duty !
Open ControlsWho to Start
Demel or Sterling??Open Controlsyea agreed
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Amidst all these DGW plans I'd really like to get in Dzeko or Tevez for that Fulham home game...think it might be a rout.
Open ControlsWhich team is less likely to lose this weekend.
Man Utd at home against Liverpool
or
Tottenham away to QPR
Just finalising some bets for the weekendOpen ControlsLiverpool usually turn up against United and are in fairly decent form. Spurs are in good form but you can bet 'arry will have them fired up for this one. Hard to pick really.
Open ControlsPretty even
Maybe United?Open ControlsMU 8/9 Tot 7/8. Spurs slight favs.
Open ControlsLooks like 3 legs will be Denver Broncos - New England Patriots - Man United
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Berbilly: updating the bales could be a sign 😀 ;). can you check back real quick to see what I said
Open ControlsSorry, was just preparing dinner. I'm back on now.
Santi. Pienaar –> Bale is a go... 😀Open Controls
So...
Cech may well be back for the second game.
Any of the defenders *could* have been rested anyway, and now Terry is likely to be back also.
Any of the midfielders could be dropped/rested.
It will be one or the other with Ba and Torres.
Rafa Benitez is the manager.
They have a shit load of games coming up.
The line-up tonight will give us some clues, but basically...no-one is certain to start two games, right?Open ControlsI don't think Terry will be back. The defenders are safe for the DGW. Ba and Torres will def be rotated and who knows with the mids. All or some at least will
Open ControlsDon't think Cech is expected back - all of the talk seems to be about Terry. But even then, I doubt he'll be ready for a full game next Wednesday. I think that both DGW punts of Turnbull and Azpi will be ok - but are obviously not long-term picks and you'd want both out sharpish. Probably not worth taking a risk on both but either of the two should be ok.
Open ControlsThere's no "expected" with Cech. Rafa said 2-3 weeks on 2 Jan and 16 Jan (CHE-SOU) is two weeks from that (and Cech is already in light training). It is clearly possible he would be back for that match. And see SantiagoUnreal's (possible specious) post below.
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begovic (mannone)
rafael hughes cueller (demel davies)
michu bale fellaini walcott (sterling)
rvp suarez berbs
1Ft and 1.3m
I just cant think of a way to bring in mata and luiz without taking a 8 point hit unless i drop bale which i dont want.
A: rafael >> luiz
B: cueller + suarez (or berbs) >> luiz + ba (or lambert)….for a hit (-4)
C: rafael + sterling + suarez >> luiz + lambert + hazard for two hits (-8)
D: sterling + suarez >> mata + ba/lambert for a hit (-4)
A is a risky option as i will have no chel attacking cover but with so much rotation, it might work in my favour and no hit involved
B, am leaning towards this option. fulham play wigan@home this week and lpool play norwich@home next week so not sure who to drop but leaning towards suarez as next week i plan to bring in nolan + podolski and play 3-5-2 with rvp and pod upfront with berbs on bench
C is a good option as it covers all bases but taking a 8 point hit and then will end up benching michu so thats a risk
D gets me the chel mid i want but no defensive cover and i think chel might keep 2 cs
using my WC in gw24 so not thinking long term.Open ControlsA:) but consider Ivan. Nailed on for both id imagine.
Dont drop Suarez for me. Id be looking to move Sterling on with the arrival of Sturridge & form of DowningOpen Controls
@ChelseaFC
Rafa: 'Now is Hilario's time'
😯Open ControlsIs that twitter or the official website?
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L'Equipe is reporting this morning that Fellaini will move to Chelsea "before the end of the week". Not clear what their source for this is though.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Fellaini-vers-chelsea/341014Open ControlsThis would certainly put the cat amongst the pienaars
Open ControlsYeah, they clearly do not have enough midfielders.
Open ControlsRight then, who has 5 Chelsea players for the DGW?
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If this happens by end of this week some lucky person might have 5 Chelsea for the DGW...
Open ControlsThey need physicality. Why not.
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shud i get puncheon/ramirez for a hit this gamewk???
i already have 3 chelsea playersOpen Controlsan extremely risky idea. wouldn't touch it.
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I think I'm all set on my WC team, if you all could share some thoughts it would be greatly appreciated.
Bego / Bunn
Luiz / Wilkinson / Turner / B. Davies / Demel
Michu / Walcott / Fellaini / Bale / Mata
Ba / Lambert / RVP
0 left in bank.
Thanks in advance.Open ControlsVery similar to my team.
I looked at the front 8 and couldn't decide who to bench so I downgraded Lambert and upgraded a defender to Gibbs.
Are you making a transfer next week? I was going to do either Bale/Mata to Cazorla or Ba to Podolski.Open ControlsProbably do Luiz to Gibbs and maybe Bale to Santi too, the latter just for one week though and then straight back.
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The Times is saying Welbeck is linked to Reading. Wow. BS
Open ControlsOnly on loan, I believe. Which makes it more plausible.
Open ControlsFergie would be doing them a huge favour...
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Cole / Luis are the only certs for Chelski - correct?
Open Controlsmeant defense.. turnbull has cech lurking, Ivan is in competition with Azpi if Terry returns.
Mata could be rested... i doubt but you never know
So again I ask Are Cole and Luis the only nailed on players in Chelsea's (defence 😉 )Open Controlsif terry returns i think cahill would be dropped and ivan would play cb with terry
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Question earlier, i have dropped Fellatio.
Open ControlsLuiz too... But he will play OOP
Open ControlsI think this is correct. Turnbull could--I only say could--easily play only one match.
Open Controlsnot worth the risk... changed my plan now... have cole, mata and ba
bloody expensive defence with Baines and Gibbs not really what I wanted but will sort it out laterOpen Controls
Which 3.8 RDG defenders are the most nailed on?
Mariappa, Pearce, Harte
Shorey has recovered from illness and played 90mins for reserves game yesterday. The new signing Carico from Sporting Lisbon played 75mins (maning match fit)
Still can't believe I am actually looking at Reading's reserve game report !Open ControlsPearce imho.
Open ControlsI'm starting to think Mariappa...
Open ControlsInteresting. Lots of RMTWC posts here have Mariappa...
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This is the way the season started:
Gunter Pearce Gorkss Harte
Then
Gunter Pearce Gorkss Shorey
Then
Cummings Mariappa Gorkss Shorey
Then
Gunter Morrison Mariappa Shorey
Then
Gunter Mariappa Gorkss Shorey
Then
Gunter Mariappa Pearce Harte
As you can see it's a very complex situation and the mind boggles.Open ControlsThanks for the analysis Santi
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Can anyone tell me whether Hazard is due to drop anytime soon? Thinking of bringing him in for the DGW and will hold off if so. Thanks
Open Controlshttp://www.fiso.co.uk/crackthecode.php
He could drop tonight, but too soon (in the day) to tell if the transfers out are moving fast enough.Open ControlsI've been keeping an eye on him and he's been having about 100-300 transfers out a day since the last GW so it'll be tight whether he'll drop or not I think.
Open ControlsThanks all
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11 years, 8 months ago
Wildcarding.
Mon - Fri - Studying for an Exam
Saturday Morning - Giving the Exam
Saturday Afternoon onwards - Watching your result. Live.