Scout Notes

Scout Scribbles- Ba Happy with Wide Role

Demba Ba maintains he has no problems playing on the left for Newcastle. Gary Cahill joins David Luiz as an injury worry for Chelsea. The injuries rack up for Blackburn, Everton are sweating over Leighton Baines’ fitness, while Royston Drenthe’s disciplinary problems raise their head once more:

Demba Ba has spoken out on his new role at Newcastle following the arrival of Papiss Cisse and the recent emergence of Hatem Ben Arfa. Ba has been stationed on the left-flank in recent matches and, resultantly, has scored just a single goal since January. Ba, for now at least, seems content with the situation…

As a striker you like to be in the striking position but now the coach has made a decision. He has decided for Papiss to be there. I do what I have to do to balance the formation for the good of the team. If I can be in the finishing area I do everything to be there, if I cannot, we do the work for Papiss….I like to be up front but lately the coach has decided to play with three strikers (Hatem Ben Arfa is the other) and I do not mind playing on the side….If I score, that’s great, but if I don’t score there is someone else who does.

Ba’s decline in Fantasy terms have been stark. He’s failed to return a goal or an assist in nine matches, whilst Cisse has flourished into a prolific scorer and top Fantasy target. Ba’s FPL price has dropped through the floor having peaked at 8.0 in Gameweek 26 – he is now available for just 7.1 with few considering him an option following Cisse’s stunning run that has brought him eight goals in his last five league outings with maximum FPL bonus in every one of those matches.

Royston Drenthe’s days as a maverick Fantasy pick look over. Everton have revealed that the Dutch winger was omitted from their semi-final squad for the clash with Liverpool due to a “disciplinary matter”. Reports claim that Drenthe failed to turn up for a training session on Friday, with the suggestion that his future at Goodison may now be over. The Dutchman has struggled to win the trust of his manager David Moyes, despite producing some effective displays which have brought him three goals and six assists in the Premier League. His direct attacking play had, for short periods, seen him flash on the Fantasy radar but given these latest developments, he looks unlikely to be seen in Everton colours in the remaining four matches.

Everton have more pressing concerns involving the fitness of Leighton Baines, after the left-back was forced off late on in the semi-final defeat suffering from a hamstring problem. The club have revealed that Baines will now undergo a scan ahead of next weekend’s trip to Old Trafford. Baines himself brought us this hopeful prognosis…

We’ll do a scan in the next couple of days…I don’t think it’s going to be too bad. We’ll just have to wait and see.

While Fantasy managers won’t be overly concerned on Baines’ fitness ahead of the United clash, he is, nonetheless, a prime target for transfers for the Toffees double Gameweek fixtures with Fulham and Stoke.

Gary Cahill is another defender firmly on the radar for the double fixtures in Gameweek 36. He will face two home encounters with QPR and Newcastle and, with David Luiz picking up a hamstring injury in Sunday’s semi-final, would seem set up to play both games, given the rib problems still endured by skipper John Terry. Our enthusiasm for Cahill should be tempered somewhat, however, with news that the former Bolton man left Wembley with an injury of his own. Reports are vague but suggest that Cahill has a foot problem which adds him to the list of doubts for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Steve Kean’s troubles are mounting on and off the pitch once again. Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Swansea left them floundering in the bottom three and counting the casualties. Grant Hanley, Yakubu and Junior Hoilett all picked up problems. It’s feared that ankle ligament damage may have ended Hanley’s season, with Steve Kean giving us a gloomy prognosis post-match…

Grant Hanley has quite a bad ankle injury, Yakubu is feeling his patella tendon on his knee so he had to come off and also Junior Hoilett has come off with a hamstring injury. Grant Hanley could miss the rest of the season, and we hope that we’ve caught Yakubu and Hoilett in time, but Grant is a huge doubt.

Hanley’s potential absence is compounded by off-pitch wranglings with Gael Givet. Reports suggest that he was fit and able to take part at Swansea but was left out of the Rovers squad by Kean who revealed outside factors were at play…

I spoke to Gael this morning and after having a chat with him it was very apparent to me that he was nowhere near in the right mindset to be involved in this game…I don’t want to go into the reasons why, we’ll keep that private, but there was no way he could have been on the pitch today.

Rovers are now three points from safety and face crucial home encounters with Norwich and Wigan, with testing trips to Spurs and Chelsea also ahead of them. Next weekend’s meet with the Canaries is surely pivotal – fail to find three points in that one and Kean’s sideseem doomed.

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

1,966 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Spencer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Theo!

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  2. Nopli
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    FT Score Prediction:
    ARS5-2Wig

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    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      1-0

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

      4 - 0 Arsenal. RVP hat trick & one for Rosicky. 2 Theo assists, one for song and one for Ramsey.

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      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Great result, leaves me on 90 + pts, I wish every week had only 6 fixtures much easier !

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  3. Pinoche
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Prediction Time :
    Arsenal 3 : Wigan 0

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    1. Djerbil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      ^This

      RVP*2
      Rosicky

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  4. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    come Vermy. first time i've had him this season and I'm strangely excited.

    I would love it, love it if he scored

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    1. Yes Don
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Ditto

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    2. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Second time for me. Enjoy the ride. He's one of my favourites in fpl and real life football.

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  5. Djerbil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Come on Sagna...

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    1. Balotellitubbies
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      +1

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  6. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    29 points gives me 100 for the week. 37 gives me 2000 overall.

    Verm, Walcott and RVP(c) all present. 40 points please boys. Don't ask for much do I?

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      28 gives me 100 for this week, 144 gives me 2000 overall 😛

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      1. tangtastic
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        You have the exact same score as me 😀

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        1. Somalion
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          😀 Yay!! I'm not alone 😛

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    2. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      31 to 100.. Hope for RvP's hat-trick + Verm's goal.

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    3. ksmith5666
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      31 gives me 100 for this week, 21 gives me 2000 overall

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  7. thatasiankidwhomeveryonelov…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Quick question, which is better for the rest of the season:

    A) Vermaelen, Valencia, McClean

    B) Vermaelen, Dempsey, Ben Arfa

    C) Simpson, Valencia, Dempsey

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      B

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    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Simpson Dempsey Barfa ?

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      1. thatasiankidwhomeveryonelov…
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        well that would push my newcastle player limit, as I already have krul and cisse

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        1. Podge
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Ah B then

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  8. Balotellitubbies
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Ah Santos, looks bad for Arsenal clean sheet. 🙁

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    1. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Looks good for Arsenals attack though.

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      1. Balotellitubbies
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah 😆 he just bombs forward whenever he wants and doesn't bother tracking back

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  9. kaz 96
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    c'mon sagna, ur 2 assists will help me get over my h2h troubles

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  10. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Hey Kirby

    We have exactly the same 11 playing, even down to Capt and vice!

    Difference is, I'm going to enjoy Wigan getting destryed a lot more than you! 😛

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    1. Kirby
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Hahaha don't count on it just yet 😉

      We dominated Arsenal at the DW...all be it for only the first 15 minute minutes after which we crumbled and lost 4-0...but things will be different this time 😀

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      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Good luck tonight , Kirkby !

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        1. Kirby
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers pal!

          Should be a good match, very excited 😀

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  11. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    lol at the new espn add..very good

    http://www.balls.ie/2012/04/16/espn-advert-win/

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    1. ★FC Borecelona★
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      😆

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    2. Fred the Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      hahah

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  12. Corrigan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    It's GBM time! Essential viewing...

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    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      OK I'll bite. What is GBM ?

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      1. DLL18
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Great British Menu of course

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        1. Podge
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Jees is that still on, I watched an episode last year and wasn't too pushed about it, 7/10ish.

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  13. Demí
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    😆

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    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      *reply fail to Corrigan on the previous page

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  14. crystalpalaceRus
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Please be easy on me RVP

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    1. Puzzle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      You know he won't be. I can feel it!

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  15. HVT
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    C'mon van, 2 would be nice

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  16. tangtastic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    I am expecting a full blooded attacking game tonight. Wigan to try very hard to score in the first half.. Arsenal to hit them on the counter attack.

    It'll be a high scoring game, albeit mainly for one side I expect.

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  17. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Any Newcastle fan here ?

    Could you please advise about the situation of R.Taylor?

    Has he been injured or dropped? He hasn't started for a while.

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    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Not a fan, but he was ijured and is now struggling to get back in the team

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    2. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      He was injured and Barfa stole his midfield spot and he isn't looking like getting it back too soon.

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

      Wasn't he also played as LB?

      Is that place also given to Santon..?

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  18. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    LINE-UPSArsenal v Wigan (2000 BST)

    Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Song, Arteta, Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Squillaci, Gervinho, Gibbs, Chamakh.

    Wigan: Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses, Di Santo, Gomez. Subs: Pollitt, Ben Watson, McManaman, Sammon, Jones, Diame, Stam.

    Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

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  19. Beamer
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    How many of you think/want RVP to score more than/equal to Rooney's 2 goal

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    1. Hakuho FPL
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      2 goals and and assist i hope

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    2. som3awy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I don't want him to.

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      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        me either

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I chose to captain RVP over Tevez. He has a lot to live up to.

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      1. Beamer
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        RVP atleast 10 point today.... I am chasing my opponent by 18 points

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

      1 goal and an assist, but Walcott to outscore him 10 to 9.

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  20. FORCA INTER
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Cmon Moses it's time to score ur first hattrick of season 😉

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    1. crystalpalaceRus
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I reckon he could have a good game

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

    Wishlist for tonight. No CS for either team. RVP hatrick, at least 2 assists for Walcott. Plausible 🙂

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    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I'll take that with a goal for Verm, assisted by RVP 🙂

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    2. HVT
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Thought somebody already said 4-0, 2 rvp, 2 wally assists , I mean what have things come to when guys are fantasising about football- it used to be Bridget Bardot. !

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  22. Mull
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Moses is going to screw up the Arsenal clean sheet tonight.

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    1. Stern John Terry Wilson Pal…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      How convenient for you 😉

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      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        🙂 I feel he might though, Wigan bossed United last week.

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    2. FORCA INTER
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Hope so

      Rival has Vermalen

      me: walcott and Moses

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    3. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      so you keep saying. wishful thinking

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  23. Carlos Danger
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    What the f*ck how did odemwingie not get a single bp... differential captain punt fail

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    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Surprising alright, Yellow cards must not make much difference to BP system.

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  24. ★FC Borecelona★
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Today in England training, Heskey’s 1,000 shots all hit the net. Shame they were playing tennis.

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    1. Kirby
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      😆

      A spectator got into the England dressing room after the England v Algeria game. A few unsettling minutes passed before the team realised it was just Emile.

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      1. ★FC Borecelona★
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        😛

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  25. Screaming Midget
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Remind me, will any players come off the bench tonight, or will it be tomorrow morning?

    One of those things I should know, but not 100% sure.

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    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Tomorrow morning

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    2. Mull
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Probably be about 2am when auto-subs come in knowing FPL this year.

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    3. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Tonight

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    4. The Assassin-Faced BabyDave
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I can't wait - DBT'd it so green arrows ahoy when the subs come in.

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    5. Screaming Midget
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I have quite a lot coming off (28 + Walcott), so be nice to see the red arrow hopefully turn to a green!

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      1. Mull
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        I only have 25 and Walcott from Vorm, Rooney and Valencia. Who've you got on the bench?

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      2. Screaming Midget
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Sig, Walcott, Mig, Caulker

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    6. Wuffs
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Haven't FPL towers banned auto-subs this GW? Because of the lack of games, they thought it would be a good opportunity to save some bandwidth...could be wrong. 😀

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  26. Kirby
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Tonight.

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    1. Kirby
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      reply fail @ KC

      And it looks like I might be wrong too...sure it's tonight though 🙂

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  27. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Both teams to score @ Evens looking so tempting at the moment...

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    1. Screaming Midget
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah I can see Wigan scoring... mainly because I have Vermaelen lol

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    2. The Assassin-Faced BabyDave
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      2-2

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  28. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    COME ON WIGAN!!! I actually quite like Arsenal but would really like for Wigan to stay up.

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    1. The Assassin-Faced BabyDave
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      yep - and see QPR buried

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      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        I'm with you there, even if you are just a storm trooper 😉

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        1. The Assassin-Faced BabyDave
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Watch it - I'm a little short for a stormtrooper...

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    2. Screaming Midget
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I'd love Rovers and Bolton to join Wolves, but I'm playing Vermaelen, so a 5-4 win for Wigan, with Vermaelen grabbing 2 goals.

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      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        See I'd prefer QPR and Wolves to go down. The choice between Blackburn and Bolton is a tough one, I like Coyle more than Kean but if Blackburn do go down it'll just give their horrible fans a justification for being so disloyal.

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    3. Scratch
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I think they'll be safe. The form side of the relegation candidates and looking at their fixtures compared to Blackburn and QPR there's no comparison

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      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Very true, going to be an interesting end to the season I think.

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  29. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Getting back to those PFA nominations it is really quite strange.

    Nominees for Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award 2011-12: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Joe Hart (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), David Silva (Man City).

    So 3 Man City players even though they're not going to win a single trophy this season AND failed to even make the knock-out stages of the CL.
    Hart? Pfftt Krul's been the keeper of the season. I'd even put Vorm as high as Hart.
    Parker? Can't really argue his performances but Bale's been Tottenham's player of the season by far. I'd also rate Yaya's overall season perfmorance ahead of Parker.
    Not sure i'd have Aguero in there either, he's been good but not crucial since City have several other decent options, someone like Kompany's been more important and consistent.
    As previously mentioned, Dempsey should surely be in there he's been quality and consistent throughout. Even Song could've been considered.

    Not that any of this matters, RVP will win.

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Man City have had the best individual performers this season. Utd are the best team, though.

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      1. Scratch
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        I agree but I presume the basis for not including Dempsey was that his side are drifting around midtable obscurity and won't win anything. But the fact that only 1 nominee is actually going to win anything this season would contradict that.

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  30. Messi & fabregas
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    has ever walcott scored a hat-trick?

    if no, then if he doesnt score in arguably his best season so far, when would he ?

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    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Against Croatia and Blackpool

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    2. Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      he did last year

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    3. Tim Canterbury
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      What?! are you trying to say he's shit. He's been scoring for fun

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      1. Messi & fabregas
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        no i mean maybe it is time he scored one tonight 🙂

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    4. Kirby
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Against Croatia... 😀

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    5. Nice1Cyrille
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      you have a short memory sir...
      http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7602774.stm

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    6. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      He got an England hatrick in Croatia

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