[sbu_large_image] Scout Picks
20 January 2012 620 comments
Paul Paul
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There’s no denying this week’s a tricky one. A glance at the Captain Poll on the front page sums up just how undecided most of us are. Nevertheless, the Scout Selection Committee have knocked our heads together and, after much deliberation, roll out our XI for the weekend ahead:

Simon Mignolet is the first of two Sunderland players to make their way into the Scout Picks this weekend. The Belgian looks to have established himself as the Black Cats first-choice between the sticks under Martin O’Neill and has conceded just 2 goals in three appearances since recovering from a facial injury. Swansea make their way to the Stadium of Light and with Brendan Rodgers’ side netting just 8 times on the road so far, a Sunderland clean sheet looks promising.

A home clash with Blackburn seems just too enticing to leave out Leighton Baines. The most reliable creator in the Everton set-up, Baines’ left flank delivery and set-piece prowess are always likely to cause problems for Steve Kean’s side. Rovers have failed to record a single clean sheet all season and with captain Chris Samba itching for a move away from Ewood Park, the problems seem to never cease for the Lancashire outfit, both on and off the field.

Martin Skrtel keeps his place in the XI after returning a clean sheet last week. With many of the top sides facing tricky fixtures, Liverpool travel to the Reebok, where Bolton have scored just 2 goals in their last four home games. Kenny Dalglish’s side have already picked up 5 clean sheets on the road and, with aerial ability always threatening at set-pieces, Skrtel offers a chance of points at both ends of the pitch.

We’ve opted for Robert Huth for precisely the same reasons as Skrtel. The Stoke centre-back has scored just once this term but has registered plenty of attempts and is always liable to find the back of the net- his 6 goals last season stand testament to that. West Brom visit the Britannia this weekend and with just a single goal in their last four games, have been particularly toothless of late.

Clint Dempsey gets the nod ahead of Fulham’s home clash with Newcastle. Alan Pardew’s visitors may be missing their first-choice midfield engine-room, with Cheik Tiote unavailable and Yohan Cabaye a doubt, and Dempsey’s predatory instincts could be set to make the under-strength Magpies suffer at the Cottage tomorrow afternoon. Though Fulham lost the reverse fixture back in late August, there’s no guessing who grabbed their consolation in the 2-1 defeat.

We can’t ignore Jonathan Walters’ home record. Helped by his spot-kick duties, the out-of-position midfielder has averaged 6.8 points per game at the Britannia and has returned double figures three times in front of his own fans. With strike-partner Peter Crouch scoring just 2 home goals in comparison, Walters looks the likeliest to net against a West Brom side that have picked up a single point from their last four fixtures.

Stephane Sessegnon’s upturn in form mirrors that of Sunderland’s more than any other Black Cats player. Flourishing up front since the arrival of Martin O’Neill, the Benin international has returned 2 goals and 3 assists in his last five appearances under the new boss. With the Wearsiders picking up seven points from a possible nine at the Stadium of Light since Steve Bruce left, Sessegnon seems primed for more attacking returns as Swansea pay visit tomorrow afternoon.

Our final midfield choice is Steven Gerrard. Last week saw the Liverpool skipper manage his first ninety minutes since gameweek 9, after a season blighted by groin and ankle injuries. Now fully recovered, Gerrard is set to lead the Reds into battle at the Reebok tomorrow evening against a Bolton side with a single home victory all season. With set-piece and spot-kick duties on his side, Gerrard has the perfect chance to kick-start his campaign into gear.

Arsenal are afforded a chance for vengeance this Sunday as Man United make their way to the Emirates. The Gunners will still be smarting from that 8-2 hammering back in August and Robin Van Persie will be keen to make amends after his spot-kick miss at Old Trafford last time round. Arsene Wenger will have his side fired up for this one and, with 18 goals in his last nineteen matches, the Dutchman is in the form of his life. Many of you agree with his prospects; he leads the way in the Captain Poll this evening, with 14% of your votes.

We draft in Sergio Aguero ahead of Man City’s home showdown with Spurs. He may have failed to score in his last six on the road but the Argentine enjoys home comforts more than most, netting 10 of his 14 goals at the Etihad. Aguero has failed to score or assist only once in front of his own supporters so far this season and is a strong contender to return attacking points yet again as the league leaders look to do the double over Harry Redknapp’s visitors.

Steven Fletcher is our cut-price forward option. The Wolves man has been in exceptional form of late, grabbing 6 goals in his previous eight league games and was afforded a brief second half sub appearance in the FA Cup defeat by Birmingham, with Mick McCarthy intent on keeping him fresh for the weekend. A home clash with Aston Villa is up next for the Scot and plenty Fantasy managers have backed him this week- he’s already risen by 0.2 ahead of the midlands derby.

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620 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ddp
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Huzzah!

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  2. Demí
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    4 of the picks

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    1. Jafalad
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      3...phew...well and truly saved this week πŸ˜‰

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  3. Attila the Bum
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Only one for me this week!

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      and me (unless you count Sturridge) looks like a good week.

      Just gotta find that last striker.

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  4. Cheggers
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Applebonkers about?

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  5. Jafalad
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Hmmm...not seeing a lot of Chris Glover influence in that dee-fence. πŸ˜•

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  6. heco87
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    8 in my WC team at the moment ... uh oh

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  7. Hate that rotation
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    No Torres in scout picks. πŸ™

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    1. Corrigan
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      May shake some into sense?

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      1. Hate that rotation
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Lol for some reason it seems sense to me to captain torres.

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        1. Corrigan
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Go for it...

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  8. Corrigan
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Seb Larsson is threatening to upset this Sess Party

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I'm guessing the differentials this week will be Lampard, Larsson and Crouch. What do you think they'll be?

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      1. Corrigan
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        Etherington Ireland Bent, could N'zog be resurrected?

        Mark Davies is my funny feeling

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        1. popcoin
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          +1 M Davies

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    2. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      very true

      and I am sorely tempted by a 2 week trip on the Bendy bus :o:

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    3. No1Joker
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      I'm all over the Lars this week. Even my 3 year old told me to pick Larsson.

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  9. joinho
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    No podcast this week?

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  10. Ibracadabra
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Looks a lot like the Never Captain Nicky Butt picks from last night... smart minds think alike!

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  11. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    4 picks (Senderos, RVP, Aguero, Sess)

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    1. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Mull are you captaining torres?

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      1. Mull
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        No, Lampard.

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        1. Hate that rotation
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          If that b*stard steals any of torres's goals....... πŸ™‚

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  12. heartsattack
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    3 scout picks. Anyone else doubling up on Stoke defenders?

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    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      i've gone shotton & sorensen.. so kind of

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      1. bring_on _the_fantasy
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        shotton wont play though?

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      2. heartsattack
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        That's what I meant I've gone Sorenson/Woodgate. Really fancy a Stoke clean sheet.

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  13. Mattymo23
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Best defender to have a one week punt on?

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    1. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone from Liverpool

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    2. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Baines

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    3. User
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Terry, I can see him scoring from a set piece.

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  14. patshaw
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    wildcarding, any comment on my back?

    vorm, krul
    cahill komp jenrique evans santon

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Lovely stuff

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      1. patshaw
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        thx!

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    2. Jafalad
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Gks great.

      A little too much money in Enq, Bad K and Cahill.

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      1. patshaw
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        but i dont know who else to bring in...

        the rest of the team:

        vorm, krul
        cahill komp jenrique evans santon
        dyer(or sigurdsson or Ireland) valencia sess bale silva
        stur rvp aguero

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        1. Jafalad
          • 16 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Boot Cahill for starters-CHS far too unreliable at present.
          JE has a poor run of fix soon so it might be an opportunity to bring in Shotton, McAuley, et al. Low budget I know but you are going to be playing Evans and Bad K every week.

          Use the saved money to upgrade elsewhere.

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          1. patshaw
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            i did the maths. they rotate well but the gw 24 and 25. but there is no one who has easy fixtures on that ones...

            so i prefer to keep the ones from the big clubs.

            I had jenrique since the begining and he has done well enough, liverpool def is getting lots of cs.

            i know the risk of cahill, i had choose huth at first. But it seems cahill will play on saturday, i will be checking the XI's.

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  15. My name is an echo
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Seriously, why would Cahill not be playing tomorrow and Sturridge for that matter? Please enlighten me.

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Sturridge may have been dropped as he didn't play last week. No idea about Cahill.

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    2. Corrigan
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Sunderland went through Chelsea like a knife through butter. Don't be fooled in thinking that CS will be start of a streak.

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  16. Declan
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Gerrard(C)

    "Gerrard has the perfect chance to kick-start his campaign into gear." I hope you're right Sir P!

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  17. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    A massive 11 green arrows in a row, can I make it 12 with this lot?

    Vorm
    Enrique - Simpson - Shotton
    Silva - Bale - Sess - Walters
    Rooney (c) - RVP (v) - Aguero

    Maybe.

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    1. pukey
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      depends on your rank I guess... I've had a couple of reds lately but my score has been above average (although still poor as of late)

      Team looks very good for this week imo...

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        80k mark (was 1.2m 11 wks ago - terrible start!)

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  18. AP
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Leighton Baines is this years Shorey.

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  19. SPorting
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    oh bugger, 6 picks for me.

    GW down the toilet again......

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  20. patshaw
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    how do you have 4 forwards in de scout picks???

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    1. pukey
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      good spot! wtf indeed

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    2. Hate that rotation
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      3 forwards. One back up. Simples.

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      1. pukey
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        impossible to have 4 forwards in a squad

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        1. Hate that rotation
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          They are just giving you three forwards and a back up. Its not formatted to FPL. Its to help players make decisions. Totalfpl is a site which give out a dream team in FPL format.

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      2. patshaw
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        what? ok im too tired or drunk. you can pick 5 def, 5 mids and 3 forwards

        there you have fletcher, aguero, rvp and sturridge!

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        1. Mull
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          It's not an FPL team, it is outlining the best fantasy picks in that position and offering a back up also.

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          1. patshaw
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            ah ok dindt know. i thought they choose a team that could be played in fpl

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        2. Hate that rotation
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Its too help players. Its not formatted to FPL. More names, more options.

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  21. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    I only have 2 Scout Picks - one is obviously RVP, the other...

    Baines

    So basically I'm playing with 9 men.

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  22. JUDGYJAY
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    8 in picks including Senderos!

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    1. pukey
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      unlucky πŸ™

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  23. mouldy_uk
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on my potential WC team please:

    Sorensen / Vorm
    Huth / N Taylor / Evans J / Simpson / Jose Enrique
    Valencia / Bale / Sessegnon / Walters / Dempsey
    Aguero / Van Persie / Sturridge

    Thanks

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  24. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Strikers scout picks are same for me. πŸ™‚

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    1. Guinney
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good, I'd rather Mignolet than Sorensen at the moment, but not much between them.

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  25. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Lost on last "article" πŸ˜‰

    For ALL of you in the Ships league (you know who you are!), I’ve created a new one that starts at gw21, whch I thought would be the case with Ships, as it seems a little farer.

    Code is: 800-569929

    This is only open to those in the Ships league apart from exceptional circumstances! Cheers.

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    1. Jafalad
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Joined up under "exceptional circumstances" πŸ˜‰

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      1. 4vets
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        You are more than welcome πŸ™‚

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        1. 4vets
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          Hold on... 62pts last week! I don't like that πŸ˜‰

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          1. Jafalad
            • 16 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            It was unintended! πŸ˜‰

            ...and acc to the sages on here:underserved πŸ˜•

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  26. Slaps
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Would someone post a decent w/c team on here, can't be doing with sorting my own so would just like to copy someones. Thanka

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      You're not rich enuff for mine πŸ™‚

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      1. Slaps
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        you sure you wouldn't like a RMT?!

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        1. 4vets
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          No, I really don't need one πŸ˜‰

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Ruddy
      De Laet A. Ferdinand Traore Wheater Tierney
      Alcaraz Agustien Dorrans Pennant Hunt
      Tevez Anelka Ba

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      1. Slaps
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        can't be worse than i've already got...

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      2. 4vets
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        How do you know my team????

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    3. borg001007
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      vorm,
      Enrique,R Taylor,Senderos,
      Silva,Bale,Nani,Dempsey
      Fletcher,Rooney,RVP,

      Sorenson,Cahill,McClean,Hanley

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      1. Slaps
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 2 months ago

        this will do nicely, many thanks πŸ™‚

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        1. Slaps
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 2 months ago

          well apart from Rooney of course

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          1. borg001007
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 2 months ago

            Rooney has 6 goals in his last 6 games against Arsenal so don't discount him that easily

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    4. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Al-Habsi, Kirkland
      Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Kelly, Kelly
      Fletcher, Smith, Ferguson, Morrison, Malouda
      Fletcher, Smith, Morison

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  27. borg001007
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    6 goals in his last 6 games against Arsenal and very few opinions on rooney as captain

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  28. rdb
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    one player to have this week regardless of the price and position?

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    1. Locarno
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Huth.

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    2. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Lampard.

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  29. Ferris Bueller
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    Which three defenders would you go with from this little lot (with Sorenson in goal)? Cheers

    1) Enrique
    2) Kelly
    3) Richards
    4) Williamson
    5) Evans

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    1. pukey
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Enrique

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    2. popcoin
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Richards, Williamson, Kelly

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    3. pukey
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 2 months ago

      Enrique, evans & richards

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  30. No1Joker
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 2 months ago

    With Orlando Sa out for Fulham, any change Dempsey might be pushed further forward?

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