[sbu_large_image] Scout Notes
22 February 2011 71 comments
Mark Mark
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The bubble-blowing faithful had been waiting months to see Thomas Hitzlsperger make his full debut in the claret and blue; the German didn’t disappoint. His opening goal in the 5-1 mauling of in-form Burnley booked West Ham’s passage to the last eight of the FA Cup and, after all the pre-season hype, put Hitzlsperger back on our Fantasy radars.

Hitzlsperger’s thunderous left-peg had earned him the nickname “Der Hammer” and it took the former Villa man just 24 minutes to illustrate this with a stunning strike from 25 yards. Hitzlsperger started in a midfield three and lasted just over the hour but, with the game won, Avram Grant wisely chose to preserve his returning midfielder with Sunday’s Upton Park clash with Liverpool in mind. Grant was understandably delighted with the impact made by the German and excitedly emphasised his qualities post-match

“He can score from anywhere, he has good movement, he has good passing. He is a very intelligent player. We have been waiting for him. He will improve as well as he gets fitter.”

Hitzlsperger is available as a 5.0 midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, a price which earned him some attention in pre-season and will surely see him gain some suitors for the remaining matches. West Ham’s opponents over the next four gameweeks look fairly stiff however, with Liverpool, Stoke and United due at Upton Park – a London derby trip to White Hart Lane is sandwiched between that run. Interest in Hitzlsperger will be tempered then, at least until we’ve seen him on the Premier League stage and can assess his fitness and draw when it comes to FPL Bonus Points.

Carlton Cole’s confidence should also be high going into Sunday’s clash after a brace of goals in last night’s game. Both came from Mark Noble assists – the first somewhat controversially with claims of handball and offside both appearing to carry some weight. There was little doubt about the finish for Cole’s second however, and the striker will surely find a starting role in what could well be another attacking lineup for the visit of Kenny Dalglish’s side. Liverpool’s new resolute back four is set for a stern test – West Ham have scored 14 goals in their last 5 league and cup matches.

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

71 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. H Dog
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Hitzlsperger Helicopter anyone?

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  2. Gargamel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Hitzlsperger also got the assist for the Reid goal from a right side corner, I didn't watch the whole game but it suggests he's already hogging some set pieces.

    If fixtures were better I'd have a punt I think.

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    1. Johnny Unitas
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      what was this talk of you being banned last night?

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      1. Gargamel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Oh I had not even seen that long discussion about me in the last thread. Hahaha.

        Well I couldn't post here yesterday for some reason, probably some filter not allowing me to. I was not really banned I think.

        The Gargamel who posted yesterday in that thread without team link was not me though, wonder who that was.

        Oh and I don't hate Everton jamsiep, I just don't like them!

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        1. jamsiep
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          😆

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  3. Milky
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9404265.stm

    A few ManU players not making the CL game, could we be talking injuries here?

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    1. Johnny Unitas
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Rio is injured, Ando limped off at half time at the weekend, so I would say, most definitely yes injuries.

      Ando one really worries me, he has grown as a player this season and is no longer just a squad member that comes in to do a job. His energy has been crucial for us a few times this season, I hope it is not serious, he has had some knee problems.

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      1. Milky
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        With Rio out, does that improve Rafaels chances of playing both GW28 matches or would it make no difference?

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        1. Johnny Unitas
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          Makes no difference to his chances, Brown played well the other day, O'Shea is playing well, so there you have a replacement CB together with Smalling in Brown and a replacement RB in O'Shea.

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  4. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Tom for fantasy cricket pak vs kenya ?
    Who are you going to play ?
    Who to cap ?

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    1. Johnny Unitas
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      ugh, I would rather play Fantasy "stick needles in my eyes", Old Fella loves cricket, which is a bit odd in Ireland, never warmed to it myself, but I did quite like rounders back in the day.

      Must.not.get.addicted.to.another.fantasy.game.

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      1. jamsiep
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Boo!!!!

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  5. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Beckham
    Could Make Tottenham
    Return http://bit.ly/hdAQFB

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    1. Bubbles
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Sky Sports News boner alert.

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      1. njfsdkffslkf
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Remember the fun when people said he could "coach" or play instead of lennon

        Same lennon who won them the game in Milan. The Milan team Beckham couldnt get in last year.

        lols

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        1. Christina.
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          Db - you replacing stockdale this week?

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        2. jamsiep
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          Indeed.

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  6. neopaint2005
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    I wouldn't want to take a punt on this just yet, although it looks interesting to find a replacement for Adams (if he get another yellow) 🙂

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    1. Johnny Unitas
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      "when" he gets his yellow tonight.

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    2. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Neo - how you doing friend? I asked on here the otherday where are you?

      All well in my favourite country?

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    3. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      *adam.

      prefer barton to hitzls ..

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  7. tosey
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    hitzelsperger will probably be in my team start of next season!

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    1. Boom!!!
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      next season...u mean in the championship fantasy... 😉

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      1. tosey
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        haha good point! i want west ham to come down as ive never been to upton park

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      2. Kings of Lyon ★
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        beat me to it... dam

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    2. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Championship fantasy footy? :p

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  8. Soop
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Morning, morning

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    1. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Mornin soop, hows things?

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      1. Soop
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Good thanks - you?
        Lunch today is innocent smoothie, and I cooked a gammon joint for sandwiches - so gammon on wholegrain with mustard mayo.

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        1. Kings of Lyon ★
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          Aye no bad bad mate, no complaints.
          You lost me at the mayo.. I cant stand the stuff.. i made some extra mac cheese last night so just going to get in about that. not very exciting but does the job.

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          1. Soop
            • 16 Years
            15 years, 21 days ago

            Bloody love mac and cheese - goes great with some good bacon.

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        2. Attila the Bum
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          That sandwich sound freakin lovely. Give me some you mean swinehole!

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          1. Soop
            • 16 Years
            15 years, 21 days ago

            I've already eaten one already! One left 🙁

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  9. carlo45
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Morning soop morning every one.

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    1. Soop
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Morning 🙂

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  10. MADE IN CHARLTON
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Why why why did I captain Broad in the Telegraph fantasy cricket game...

    Pietersen will probably go for a duck now as well. 2 transfers wasted when I was 738th overall, despite having no one playing in yesterday's games.

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    1. Boom!!!
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      do u get points for maiden over in telegraph fantasy?

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      1. MADE IN CHARLTON
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Nope and Broad's economy rate is currently too high (over between 3.00 and 3.99 runs per over) to gain any bonus points on top of the -1 points for each 5 runs conceded!

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    2. Demí
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      atleast you never missed the deadline I did

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      1. Boom!!!
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        😆 demi u need to see the time along with fixtures... 😉

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    3. Fratboy
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      ergh cricket

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    4. jamsiep
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Captaining, nay, having Broad goes against all of my beliefs....

      Looks like those beliefs were right at least. 😉

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      1. Demí
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        he's only on for 27 points so far.

        England finding it hard to break this partnership atm

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  11. Squerly4568
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    what players are people looking to have for the bir/eve dgw?

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    1. Soop
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      I'm probably gonna stay with Foster and Coleman, unless Cahill wakes up.

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      1. Squerly4568
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        so just the two for you then? I got foster, coleman and bentley, not sure if thats enough though would feel better with five. everton have a great run after as well so maybe tyour right with cahill?

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    2. Kings of Lyon ★
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      cahill coleman carr and ziggyziga

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    3. mikess
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      i'm having punt on felliani as i can't afford cahill

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      1. mikess
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        just hope the woolhead doesn't get sent off

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  12. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    My team for gw28

    Begobitch(if dropped)
    Djorue, R.Johnson,
    Fab, VDV, Ferguson
    Rvp

    Sub: Adam waiting the faith to happen..

    So what do you think, should I use both free trasfers or maybe save one for gw29?

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    1. Fratboy
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      surely you have to use both, otherwise you're looking at like 30 points max

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    2. Mr Sarcastic
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Irony - failed!

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  13. jamsiep
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Looks like spinners are the way forward in this game... Their economy rates have been consistently below the pacemen all tournament, and the game heavily favours those bowlers who keep it tight.

    Hopefully Saeed Ajmal does the business tomorrow against Kenya.

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    1. MADE IN CHARLTON
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      True to an extent, though wish I went for NZ pacemen instead of Vettori given Sunday's game against Kenya. I also expected more returns from Mendis also, given he was first bowling change against Canada.

      I should add it's 25 points for a wicket in the Telegraph game though.

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      1. jamsiep
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Against the real minnows then pace is probably the safest option, because - like the NZ vs Kenya game - it can be all over inside 20 overs.

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    2. Bouncebackability
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Not playing the fantasy game personally for fear of never leaving the computer..

      Sub continent spinners plus Swanny. Not many others of note around. All medium and fast bowlers may get some tap on the batsman friendly tracks as they'll open the bowling. In the 50over form of the game there is the inevitable lull in scoring in the middle of the innings, which is when the spinners are generally on. I haven't even looked at the game but from the comments I'm reading saying there is too much emphasis on points for economy rate so I'd have a bowling attack of spinners pretty much.

      Although obviously worth investing in real pace with Tait capable of blowing away a top order against the lesser sides.

      While we are on cricket, anyone else find Hamish Bennett's action incedibly annoying or is it just me?

      England will be chasing... 258 to win?

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      1. Boom!!!
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        Hamish Bennett’s action is not annoying, it is one of the best bowling action i have seen...altho it looks like he could be injured any moment in his follow through...

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        1. jamsiep
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          😯

          It's all over the place! I hate it too bouncebackability....

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        2. Bouncebackability
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          15 years, 21 days ago

          Defended by an Australian, who would have thought! 🙂

          Well its annoying in my eyes anyway (not to the level of Paul Adams or even big Daffy DeFreitas of yesteryear but still). You are right about the possible injury, each delivery should come with a health warning!

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  14. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Played footy last night in one of those FA Football Mundial 6aside leagues. The ref let absolutely everything go it was crazy – Normally I’m quite keen for the refs to let the game flow as much as possible, but last night we were playing a side made up of six Lee Cattermole’s with a couple of talentless Kevin Muscat’s ready to come on and cause some trouble as roll on subs. I didn’t get a free kick for one ‘challenge’ on me that left me with two stud marks in my THIGH. The ref just shrugged when I showed him the blood trickling down my leg. Two teammates had cuts around an eye after aerial clashes. Nice bunch. Having said all that I’d go through it all again, we’ll take the 3-1 win thanks very much.

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    1. Fratboy
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      +1 cool story bro

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      1. jamsiep
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        +2

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      2. Bouncebackability
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 21 days ago

        'Story' Fratboy? This is real life blood, sweat and tears I'll have you know! 🙂

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  15. Attila the Bum
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Why hasn't Broad been awarded the 6 wickets he took? Some sort of clerical error?

    🙂

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  16. Boom!!!
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    KP please don't bowl 3 overs 🙂

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    1. jamsiep
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      No do... I bet he forces a false shot from ten Doeschate here.....

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  17. Boom!!!
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    new post!

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  18. jamsiep
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    "29 - Cesc Fabregas has created a chance from open play every 29 minutes, the best rate of any player in Europe's top 5 leagues. Playmaker."

    All this chat about how Barca should sign Wilshere instead of Fabregas does tickle me a fair bit. Granted little Jack played better last week, but that doesn't alter the fact that Fabregas is a vastly superior footballer, at least for the time being.

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    1. Marknlard
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      Wow, that is quite a stat. With the Cahill 'news', I'm rethinking the sell Fab for Nasri strategy.

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    2. Attila the Bum
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 21 days ago

      A lot of the shite about Fabregas lately is purely to do with his low FPL returns not his actual performances. He ran the game against Wolves and could have got a monster score, he was extremely unlucky so all the talk on here was "get rid, get rid". He's still the best diff I have in my private leagues.

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  19. PlayPercentage
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 21 days ago

    Can't wait to get back to the cut and thrust of FPl tonite.

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