[sbu_large_image] Scout Notes
4 December 2010 261 comments
Mark Mark
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There’s a change of format for this morning’s “Preamble”. With few pressing issues clattering around in my head, I’ve opted to give you an information blast, marrying up some of the noteworthy elements from the morning papers with some of my random thoughts on the Gameweek ahead. It might just work…

All four papers, apart from The Times, go with Marouane Chamakh up front for Arsenal against Fulham. That particular broadsheet has Robin Van Persie starting with the unlucky Chamakh presumably benched. Samir Nasri owners need Van Persie off the pitch to keep the Frenchman on set-piece and spot-kick duty.

Intriguingly, three of the four papers this morning feel that Seamus Coleman will be recalled to the Everton starting lineup on the right of midfield. A strange one this considering that he lost his place to Victor Anichebe against West Brom last week and was an unused sub. I’m not sure I see the logic in this unless it’s felt that Coleman gives better defensive cover against Ashley Cole – a possible consideration.

Craig Gardner is a starter for Birmingham in just two of our four papers this morning. I feel he will come in for Lee Bowyer in midfield and the stats show that, when he plays, he is by far the most threatening player on the pitch for Alex McLeish’s men. I think he’ll be a factor against Spurs.

Tom Cleverley is another one to watch – mentioned in last night’s “Spot The Differential” by Big Dunc, he’s a starter in all four of the morning papers and I see him being an influence for Wigan. Plenty will back Charles N’Zogbia in this one but I feel Cleverley could be a factor if the Latics do breach the Stoke defence. That’s a big “if” however – Stoke have conceded just 3 goals in their last 4 which is why I’ve backed Ryan Shawcross for my Scout Picks bench.

There should be goals in the Sunderland vs West Ham clash. The Hammers have confidence and attacking players on form and the same could be said of Sunderland, despite last week’s defeat at Molineux. The reshuffled Black Cats’ defence will get a thorough examination here and Steve Bruce may need a couple from his strikers – Darren Bent and Danny Welbeck. It’s hard to spot a goal threat elsewhere in the Sunderland side, although I’m monitoring Kieran Richardson. The stats show that he’s firing in shots and he’s their key man on direct free-kicks.

The City vs Bolton fixture looks one of the most difficult to call. In Fantasy terms I’ve a feeling we will see plenty of goals shared out here. Bolton have kept just one clean sheet but they’ve also only failed to score twice all season. An early strike from the visitors would ruin City’s clean sheet prospects but it would surely bring Roberto Mancini’s men out of the shell; a good thing for Carlos Tevez owners. The Telegraph have predicted a 3-2 – they might be on to something.

Mike Dean is the referee for the West Brom vs Newcastle clash. Mike Dean likes a penalty. That could be good news for owners of Peter Odemwingie and Shola Ameobi who will likely be on duty for those sides at the Hawthorns today. Graham Dorrans could be a starter for West Brom though (all four papers agree on that) and he could possibly take duties from Odemwingie. If he does and he enjoys a decent game, we could see the midfielder pick up some interest at last.

Predicting clean sheets is possibly the most difficult task in Fantasy Football right now. I’ve been pondering this a lot over the last 24 hours and I still see Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool as the strongest options – simply because their opponents are low on confidence and dealing with injuries. We could be relying on attacking returns from Blackburn, City and Birmingham defenders this week, and if you want a couple of dark horse options then Stoke at Wigan and West Brom at home to Newcastle appear to present them. The Newcastle attack has stalled somewhat of late, with 4 goals in 5 games, all scored by Andy Carroll. If they can keep him quiet (another big “if”) then the Baggies could surprise us with a shut-out.

Finally – a shameless plug. Fantasy Football Scout has had the honour of being nominated in the Soccerlens Awards this year – we’re in the “Best Niche Website” category amongst some other great websites. We’d obviously like you to vote for us though, so if you feel inclined, go visit here and do the necessary. Voting closes tonight apparently. We were going to send Prince William and David Cameron to chat up the judges but thought better of it.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

261 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. applemanthai
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    first?

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  2. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Vote for scout 🙂 !

    http://soccerlensawards.com/best-niche-website/

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    1. applemanthai
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      voted

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      1. In Like Flynn.
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        Voted.

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    2. gooner dave
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Done. And to all that run/post on this site, keep up the good work!.

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      1. Retro
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        Hey GD, if you have a good week does your gravatar turn into a green arrow?

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        1. Egg noodle
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 4 months ago

          he always has good weeks. incase u dont know, he plays in the FFS Cup finals today! goodluck with that GD

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      2. Rawles
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        +1, voted. Good luck this weekend aswell GD.

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        1. gooner dave
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks lads

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    3. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      done. Hope it's more "transparent" than the WC voting.

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    4. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      voted, hope we gonna win it.

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  3. Jas aka The age of Ozil is …
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    out clear!

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    1. Jas aka The age of Ozil is …
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      doh!

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  4. Googly
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Who for captain nasri or toreros?

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    1. Googly
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Torres stupid autocorrect

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      1. zøphar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        torres nasri might not play 90

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  5. Downtown
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Who to play, out of these three:

    Odenwingie, Brunt, Elmander

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    1. Daniel777
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Odemwingie

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  6. zøphar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Tevez or drogba captain?

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    1. Jas aka The age of Ozil is …
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      tevez

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    2. Evs
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Drog 😉

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  7. Commander Makara
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Commander Makara says:
    December 3 at 8:32 am
    So who’s holding out till we know if games are called off?
    -------
    Reply
    daniel.mf says:
    December 3 at 8:34 am
    No games will be called of, not this GW. Sorry.

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      ahhahahaahh 🙂 Below I commented once more that only Blackpool game is in treat.

      Cheers,

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      1. Commander Makara
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        🙂
        Don't doubt the Commander!

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  8. Ye
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Need some advice....

    should i go for someone like etherington or brunt for a 4 point hit this week or should i just play simpson for no hits and have no subs?

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    1. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      dont go brunt.he's on 4 yellows

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      1. Commander Makara
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        And a doubt with a groin
        No one seems to have noticed this?

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  9. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting Papers have Coleman to start for Everton.

    Any toffees here that have a view?

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    1. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      I am itching to swith Foley-->Coleman in my starting 11. Stupid?

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      1. Christina.
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        What you think Evs?

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        1. Evs
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 4 months ago

          I think Coleman may well start inalize...

          I have him in my 11.

          I belive Fellaini is out plus arteta?

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  10. m165
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Stuck on transfer options this week! I need to pick one of:

    1) Nolan > Bale (4pt hit)
    2) Nolan > Brunt (4pt hit)
    3) Nolan > Pederson (4pt hit)
    4) Nolan > Jarvis & Elmannder > Tevez (8pt hit)

    Any opinions? Cheers!

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    1. Jas aka The age of Ozil is …
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      why do you want nolan out so badly?

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        Nolan is out. Might be a reason.

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      2. Tin of Directors
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        Says the man who wants to pick Spector on another thread??

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    2. fabiolanzoni
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Brunt with 4 yellow..

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    3. Daniel777
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Jarvis & Tevez

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  11. fabiolanzoni
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys!

    Only 11 available players this gameweek. Including Simpson(wba) and Distin(che).

    Worth a 4 point hit for van der Vaart -> Nasri (or someone else?) and bench Distin?

    Cheers

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    1. Daniel777
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      yes

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  12. Crushing_It
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Is Silva and meireles in for vdv and Nolan worth a 4 point hit?

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    1. deckybhoy
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      I would keep Nolan

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    2. fabiolanzoni
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Not in my book.

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  13. Ronnie
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Hi guys, I can't decide which to bench - Jara or Lee? Opinions?

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    1. deckybhoy
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Jara

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    2. Daniel777
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Jara as I can't see West Brom keeping a clean sheet and Bolton will probably score at Eastlands

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  14. pyrohippy
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    so i can take knight out of my team...

    VDV out for milner/MGP (4 point hit)??

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  15. Daniel777
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    nightmare two weeks for me I have had to make 5 transfers as Fabregas,Van der Vaart,Bramble and Albrighton got injured while Coleman lost his starting place and now Nani and Rafael aren't playing , i'm gettin sick of this ff, how do I link my team anyone

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Faq top of page.

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  16. kiko time
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    my midfield is a disasterzone!

    nani arteta fabregas vdv adam

    not a single starter!

    plus i got berbatov up top...

    got two free transfers because i was away last week, and was planning to ditch arteta and vdv until until the postponement at bloomfield messed things up, so do i take hits to get ten or eleven on the field or grow some balls and hold tight?

    i've had green arrows for the last five weeks and sitting in the top five thousand, but the dreaded red is lurking and looking ominous...

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    1. daphne
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      kiko - what is happening wih the postponement - what implications?

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      1. kiko time
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        not entirely sure what you mean, but short-term it takes three players away that i was planning on starting, and i suppose long-term it all depends on who i bin and who for

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    2. Sputnikboy
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Ive asked the same question a couple of times but no responses really.

      Im swaying between an 8 and a 12 as ive only got 6 fit players who are definately playing. I need to do 3 mids.

      The way I see it is that its only really a 2 point hit as i would have 0 points for those not playing. Still struggling over whether its worthwhile doing the Kolarov transfer to give me 10 players.

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      1. kiko time
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        fair point i think i'll almost certainly take at least one hit, problem is i wasn't planning to and have no ideas of who to bring in - most of those i'd consider are either injured, in terrible form, or have hidious fixtures ahead

        who you bringing in?

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  17. Crushing_It
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Is there any chance of an other games being postponed?

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  18. Jazzy Jeff
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Is MGP gonna play?

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  19. da_rusty_trombone
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Who to play - Robinson or Foster?

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Robinson for me.

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      1. Ole Gunnar Kush
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        yup

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  20. Commander Makara
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Brunt

    - doubtfull on yellow?
    Anyone know any more info?

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  21. mannaggia
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Who to captain?
    A. Torres vs a decimated Villa, at home
    B. Chamakh vs a dodgy Fulham, at home
    C. My granny, vs a hard boiled egg, away

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Chamakh purely due to form.

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  22. Dimitar
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Think I'm definitely bringing in Arshavin for VDV,
    somehow I doubt I'll get more than 4 points with Jara&Enrique plus it's a free transfer.

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  23. daphne
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    what is the fall out of the postponement at Blackpool? I have 3 Utd players!

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  24. zotter
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Who best captain choice?:

    Tevez, Torres, Nasri

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      On your own on this one.

      All I will say is not Torres.

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  25. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Bare 11 that includes coleman...

    Toying with 4pt hit to bring in Kolarov for Elmo Fudd.

    Any thoughts?

    Team on link.

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Not worth it.

      It's said here every week that taking a 4 point hit to change a defender is very rarely worth it, it's a -EV move in my opinion.

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  26. GinjaWhinja
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    VDV out for Dunn or Brunt?
    Also considering Coleman to samba! Thoughts?

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Both sound moves.

      However I wouldn't take a 4 pointer to bring in Samba for Coleman. Long term it's a good move but if you're taking a hit I'd just hold off this week.

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  27. Egg noodle
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Hi Mark, thanks for the post. you still feel Balotelli will play? I feel so just on the fact that he was subbed at 70 in midweek.

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    1. Ole Gunnar Kush
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      subbed due to injury

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      1. Egg noodle
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 4 months ago

        oh damn lol thanks

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  28. Ye
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    i'm not thinking to bring in a man city midfielder for 2 weeks or so....who do people think is the best shout....milner or silva? or someone else?

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    1. Egg noodle
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      better options in attack and defence imo.

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  29. Spud
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    All my midfield out so was thinking of doing VdV to N Zogbia and Fabs to Nasri

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      Yep,they can come back when fit.

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  30. Dimitar
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 4 months ago

    Something's definitely not right with drogba, looking at last season I think he went without a goal for 3 matches longest, so far he's not the drogba of last season.

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    1. In Like Flynn.
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 4 months ago

      You'd almost think he was suffering from Malaria. 😉

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