Yesterday, we rolled out the first in a two-part series of Members articles focussing on team stats over the first three Gameweeks so far. Having assessed the performances from an attacking perspective, we turn our attentions to the men at the back, analysing a variety of key performance statistics from a defensive point of view:
Evening folks..
Really anxious not having Cazorla in my team, as most ML opponents have him.Open Controls
*Don't get rid of him before double figures vs Liverpool 😉
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I would be as well. I think he may well be a candidate for top scorer this GW
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I'm keeping it all crossed.
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I dont have him either, I'm riding it out for a little bit and hoping he does nothing too spectacular.
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Don't have him, but I do think he's gonna scoer some points this gw. Anyway, lets keep our fingers crossed.
Open ControlsCheers guys. I have Hazard as a differential but 1st place has activated his WC 🙁
Being a Gunners fan doesn't make this any easier...Open ControlsHazard really isn't a diff anymore.
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I've taken Cazorla and made him my captain. Next gameweek, we're going to go far apart in the rankings that's for sure.
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Best UCL midfielder for 7.0?
Thinking...
Blaszczykowski
Lampard
Nasri
Pirlo
Moutinho
Schweinsteiger..?Open ControlsOut of these, Moutinho, Schweinsteiger.
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Not Blasz. Not after gw1 anyway.
Open ControlsMenez another possibility.
Good ol Blaszczykowski... Could be in line to step into Kagawa's boots? I know it's a tough group, but there's gotta be some goals in it somewhere.
Nasri & Lamps both quality goal-scoring midfielders, just unsure about rotation prospects. Lacking insight into their managers' mentalities.
Schweinny plays the more attacking role for Batern than he does for Germany, right?Open Controls
Additional question:
Is it worth keeping Zabaleta for a while or get him out next week?Open ControlsId get him out with Maicon lurking, plus City backline look unstable atm
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wowzer, Serena Williams might actually lose the final!?!
Open ControlsGetting Close.
Open ControlsWow.. 5-3 Azarenka
Open Controls...or maybe not
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Consider this my invitation to my gangster nation
http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/serena-williams-crip-walk-2.gifOpen Controls
night folks!
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Lionel Messi @LeoMessiParody
How do I pull girls? Iniesta flirts, Xavi brings them home, I finisher them off.. Tiki-Taka!
love that accountOpen Controls
Even the WC is boring now.
Is it Saturday yet?Open Controlstell me about it. I cant stand int week
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does the CL game have rb's? could change my thinking if it does
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Cozorla + Jelavic
or
Guthrie/Sterling + Van PersieOpen ControlsCazorla is a better bet.
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As a Bale owner (i.e. man of faith) I feel that I and other Bale owners should do out part and talk up his prospects against Reading. Because I for one feel it is our moral imperative to help guide our fellow FPL devotees towards such a promising source of points this coming gw. Nothing to do with staving off a second price drop.
Ahem. I'll start us off.
Bale is going to get a MONSTER score against Reading. Bookmark it.Open ControlsBale hat-trick, Tang. I can feel it baby.
Open ControlsThat casual sequence that he 100% sticks by in FPL is 2, 2, 1 15 ... It is gonna happen and everyone is gonna want him!
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Bale Hattrick and 2 assists. IMAGINE.!
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Berbatov wont be playing internationals anmore 😀
http://www.london24.com/sport/fulham/berbatov_s_bulgaria_snub_causes_uproar_1_1506011
Now he can concentrate on Fulham and exploding.Open ControlsIt'd be better from an FPL perspective if he scored goals.
Spontaneously combusting his guts all over Craven Cottage isn't gonna earn him much ppiOpen ControlsSo, on that basis, Damien Duff becomes a must have too.
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Which one
A) Gibbs. Saylor. Cuellar
or
B) Baines, Cuellar, GunterOpen Controlsa
Open ControlsB
Open ControlsComments to make final decision?
Open Controlsin B you only have 2 defenders capable of getting cleanies. In A you have 3.
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Hey guys, sorry to spam with a link but thought it was better than a really long post. Just finished my overview of the budget options in UCL fantasy in my small fantasy diary, even found some nailed on 4 mil mids. Check it out and let me know if I am missing some options, or if there are any mistakes.
http://fantasyfootytips.blogspot.com/2012/09/uefa-champions-league-fantasy-budget.htmlOpen ControlsGot to love wiki:
Before signing for Zenit of Saint Petersburg, Shirokov played for FC Khimki, Rubin Kazan, Saturn Moscow Oblast, FC Vidnoye, FC Istra, Torpedo-ZIL Moscow and CSKA Moscow's farm club. He can't stay in one club because of his problems with alcohol.[2]Open Controls17 years since a women's final went 3 sets?? Blimey.
Open ControlsIn the U.S. Open or in Grandslam Finals in general?
Open ControlsAll slams. Last one was at US Open 17 years ago.
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Us open
Open Controlsjust US open
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Ok thanks. I misheard then. Soz.
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Lampard for cazorla for a hit yay or nay ? Could be usefull for captain choice too because i don't have RVP.
Open ControlsWHY NO RVP!?
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how does this look for this gw (pretty standard team):
foster
baines, rangel, jenkinson
hazard, cazorla, yaya, michu
rvp, tevez, graham
subs: begovic, sterling, demel, clyneOpen ControlsIt looks good. Have you WCed?
Open ControlsLooks good. Don't have to worry really. Captaining RVP?
Open ControlsCaptain Cazorla.
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pretty standard
Open ControlsLooks good.
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You still have Yaya!? After all your posts the last week.
Open Controlslol ya, i just couldn't get rid of him yet. if i need to, i will downgrade him to hba and use the funds elsewhere
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I see Cazorla is second most popular for the captaincy so far. If people think he's going to do so well then surely that means some points for Giroud...but how I wish I had Cazorla instead...:D
Open ControlsYeah, Giroud will get a goal I feel. But Cazorla will create pretty much everything.
Open Controlshttp://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/fantasy-football-injuries/
Says here Giroud carrying an injury. I'm not sure if it will keep him out this week.Open ControlsSomeone told me that he was fit for the next international, will keep an eye on it, thanks
Open ControlsThe source says Deschamps hopes he'll be fit for Tuesday's game.
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http://www.supersport.com/football/france/news/120908/Giroud_resumes_France_training
He's training again and will probably play against Belarus.Open ControlsThanks.
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ILF, how comes you WCed? Just to get RVP? Your team looked pretty sweet and you've had a good start!
Open ControlsBored RCA. 🙂
It also gets me out of always wondering "If this is the week to WC" Now I'll just take hits.Open Controls
Having an injured Giroud would be like being presented with a Hollyoaks boxset. That someone has used to wipe their arse with.
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Caz is a good shout for both goals and assists. Finally an Arsenal player who can shoot from distance!
Open ControlsYeah, luckily at Arsenal there's always an explosive fantasy potential, yourself included.
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I'm absolutely wrecked. But like to log on and help the unhinged - like my mate who had both Lampard and Hazard in midfield... plus an injured Rooney upfront.
After my advice he did Lampard > Michu + Rooney > RVP. I'm a nice guy, I know,Open ControlsI'm wondering exactly how hard you'd kick yourself if he won the whole game and you came second? 😉
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Well you know what they say... Nice guys finish last.
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Who is the best keeper at 4.5 for UCL? I'm looking at:
Pyatov, Diego Alves, and Helton
I've got Malafeev as my other keeper.Open ControlsNot Helton, they play on the same day. Artur for Benfica maybe?
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Im hoping that everyone buys RVP on Friday... and bumps him up some more!
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After some tinkering, I'm quite happy with this team. Any thoughts?
Foster, Jaask
Baines, Gallas, Cuellar, Hughes, Demel
Cazorla, Michu, Ben Arfa, Sterling, Hazard
Tevez, RVP, LambertOpen ControlsGreat team. Just don't make the mistake of captaining RVP when you have Santi.
Open Controls(IMO)...Begovic instead of Jaask (to avoid the WH double-up)
and Guthrie instead of Sterling.
And I'd worry about Gallas too.Open ControlsVery standard. Dislike Hughes as a pick because Fulham aren't fantastic at the back.
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Begovic over Jaask as you have Demel, 4/5 same mids as me. Not certain if Sterling will keep his place. Gallas could be a steal if AVB sorts it out..
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who will be the starting back 4 for swansea and newcastle?
Open ControlsWill gibbs rise this week. I hope NOT!
Open ControlsNight lads.
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I thought I saw a RMWCT that didn't include
Baines
Michu Hazard Cazorla Yaya/Ben Arfa
Tevez RVP Lambert
maybe I was mistaken... 🙄Open Controls
2 Mid Table keepers
4 mid table defenders and Demel
That midfield plus a 5.0
That frontline.
Something tells me they'll regret WC'ing when the defences of the top teams start doing well.Open ControlsHey Mull. I'm avoiding MC/ MU/ Chel/ Ars defence on my WC.
The CS don't start rolling in til the clock goes back 😉
I can adjust accordingly then.Open ControlsI can see MC, Chelsea and Arsenal keeping a clean sheet this week. I'd advise you to get one of their defenders over Baines. Don't tell me I didn't warn you 😀
P.S. Take my advice with a pinch of salt as you don't want a repeat of what happened last time I gave you advice on a wildcard 😉Open Controls*throws pinch of salt over left shoulder 😉
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Have you actually called a professional?
Sorry for your troubles but...call someone in...nobody on here is gonna be able to help.Open Controls- Open Controls
Just had a thought. Would it not be an idea to WC when not many others are using theirs. This would make your WC team different. Many people on here tend to WC around the same time resulting in a template team. Surely you couldn't expect a dramatic rise in the rankings as the other 200k who used their WC would have a similar team.
In summary is it better to WC at the same time as everyone else or when hardly anyone is using their WC?Open Controls
People WC at the same time because it makes sense to WC at that time for all of the people.
Open ControlsSurely the point in Wild carding is to improve your ranking? I understand others simply want to chase value.
Open ControlsI think you underestimate how much flexibility the WC gives you. It's not like you have to get the same team as everybody else. Early on you are also likely to not have any players that have risen by so much that you can't sell them.
Open ControlsI don't quite get your point but it seems you are being specific about chasing value. As I said, this is one way to utilise your WC. The downside though is that everyone will have roughly the same players as Wild Rover mentioned above.
Open ControlsWhere am I talking about chasing value? I'm talking about you being completely wrong about the "generic" team. A WC does not give you a prefixed team. There's hundreds of different ways to put up your team while you are on a WC. You don't get more of a differential side by putting up your team in GW5 in stead of GW4, given that the players's form don't suddently change. Your team might be based a bit more on performing in GW5 than the team set up in GW4, but you wont see a drastic change in how you put up your team.
You need a good reason to use your WC. Reasons being things like:
1) Your team is screwed
2) Some sides suddently get a run of great/horrible fixtures
3) Double GW(Or no game)
Also you should take into consideration how long it is between two GWs, the longer the better.
You don't use your WC to hunt down differentials. You use your GW to completely change your team to maximise the long term return.Open ControlsOk you 3 points are completely correct. What if this occurs in GW12 or something like that. I imagine not many others would have a WC by then or may be in a better position.
Open ControlsPoint 1) is most important. If your team is screwed up at the beginning, then it will carry on like that for many, many GWs. It's also a point where you know for certain that you will make a lot of changes. So most people who use their WC at the beginning, does it because their team is awfully composed. The transfer window closage and the international breaks are the reasons most people waited to exactly GW4 before putting the card on the table.
If you actually have kept an eye on the comments regarding WC, you would have seen that most people recommend others to not use their WC unless they can see that the team need a lot of changes.
Right now nobody can see that GW12 will be a good week to use the WC. Anyway when people realise that certain GW is a good time to use the WC, you will see people use it. Then suddently it's not really a differential to use the WC that week...Open ControlsPerhaps you're right but surely it will be more of a differential than early in the season . Point 1 may be particularly the case for you're specific team at that time (say somewhere between GW8-12), and others who are in the same position may no longer have a WC available. In these early weeks over 100k have used their wild card each time. It may only be 30k if you choose it at an opportune time based on minor fixture swings and if you have injuries etc. It may be unplanned but circumstances may align that warrants the opportunity to wild card
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Even if you gave 100 people exactly the same team, you would have a number of different captain selections, and within 4 gws, few teams would still be identical. Wildcarding early gives people the chance to get the likes of Hazard, RVP, Tevez, who will be near the top of the points charts come the end of the season, all for no hits or before they become too expensive
Open ControlsYes this addresses my other point about fixing a poor team. As I said below my argument is not about wildcarding out of need to fix a poor team and chase team value. Its an argument about the merits of having a differential Wild card.
Open ControlsI would say almost everyone on this site, If in any 1 gw were the only person to play a wildcard, you would expect them to rise up the rankings. The problem of not playing it in a popular week, where form and fixtures are apparent, and your team doesn't have a few of the main bases covered, then the slide down the rankings will be pretty big. Of course from a lower rank, and playing a wildcard later when there is less activated, you can make a march up the table. Just think to win the game, you can't afford to slip too far off the pace
Open ControlsFor me personally I've got off to a good start so can therefore afford to wait. You raise a fair point for those that are off the pace early on.
Open ControlsI am the same. Decent start so willing to hold off. With probably about a quarter of wild cards played already, we have an advantage of changing the side at any point, hit free.
I also think that most of the "generic" teams going about, are close to the team I would pick if I was on wildcard. In the next few gws, I will see how much damage it's done. Out of interest, I played mine in gw8 last year, was top 7.5k in gw10 and never dropped below that all season.Open Controls
Just to be clear I'm not having a go at people using their wild card now to fix a poor team or to chase value. Rather I am exploring the idea of using a WC as a differential by using it when not many others are. Or when virtually everyone has use theirs. Eg. after the first 8 weeks? and not in an international break
Open ControlsThere's a reason why people use their WCs at the same time....
Open ControlsFor sure. All I'm saying though is that it could also be a good reason to not WC at the same time as everyone else.
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i used my wc rite after kick off on gw3 to both improve squad and chase the cash. av only been doing fpl since gw2 last season. i decided to use bandwagons to improve cash then at 4am on 15spt get as best team as possible. it just seemed like the best time to use it. 2 weeks for 2.5million people to figure out what to do in gw4. means alot of transfers for the "top" players
Open ControlsI'm asking you to think a bit more critically about the tactic. As I mentioned chasing value and fixing a poor team are good reason's to WC, however the flip side is that many do this resulting in a template team. In the short term do you see yourself rising up the rankings a lot if most have this same template team? or could the use of a differential WC possibly produce better results?
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Yes Ryan you can wait for a good double game week and get a massive score.
Open ControlsYep, a fair tactic. I would even say though that many will WC at this time as well. Its probably still more of a differential than an international break or a WC in the first 8 weeks. However lets say a random WC in an ordinary GW such as GW14 or something like that. A week when few would use their WC. Could this produce good results?
Open ControlsYes its possible but unlikely to produce a massive score and would not maximise the potential of the wildcard
Open ControlsHow can you say that for sure. Yes when compared to a DGW wildcard (although the downside of that is getting rid of your DGW players). A GW14 wild card could see you at the start of a series of good winter performers? over the course of several GW's you could dramatically rise up the rankings if you get on the start of a series of new bandwagons.
Open ControlsNot necessarily Willis. When I mean using it when few are I mean its still a good time to use it due to a swing in fixtures, injuries, change in form. Also it can be a differential because most have already used their wild cards so can't capitalise on the opportunity.
Open ControlsWhat do you think... that we're all retards? That despite there being "swings in fixtures, injuries, changes in form," we choose not to use our WCs? Trust me. Whenever the aforementioned things occur, MANY WCs will be used. You can't have a week where there are swings in fixtures and changes in form and people not using their WCs.
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Really are you saying then that in a random game week such as GW14 where there there may be a slight swing in fixtures and a couple of injuries happen everyone will use their WC? Get real, most would have used theirs by then and others will be holding out for DGW's.
Open ControlsMost people wouldn't be silly enough to use a WC in such a short time before they get another as there isn't much of a chance to benefit is there?
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i expect its a better thing to wc and not get a template team (this is what i hope to do).
although a dgw could be very usful but then u may end up with a template team again. a random wc would only be used to fix massive problem and not to gain any real value.Open ControlsAbsolutely, the point is not to necessarily gain value but to get the jump on the rest of the field by doing it at a point when comparatively few are Wild carding resulting in a non template wild card. I have a feeling this is a viable tactic.
Open Controlsi agree. i'm not sure if the tactic is more valuable than the price-rise/DGW tactic tho. i personaly believe the price rise tactic is the best way. more cash means better players + not left behind on players ie rvp
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Using your wildcard at a random time for the sake of using it at a different time to anyone else, err...
Throughout the entire year there will be a "generic" team floating around.Open ControlsRead the rest of the posts and you will get a more thorough understanding of my thought process. Thinking out load in the initial post.
Open ControlsMy second point still stands. The people that you 'jump on early' will either be in plenty of teams (through anticipating fixtures/showing good form) or rubbish (ie other people not having them)
You might be able to get 1 or 2 differentials, but they won't be differentials for long and probably not worth a WC.
If I didn't plan on using WC early, I'd use it where there is a big swing in fixtures or a big DGW.Open ControlsFair enough. Your last sentence resonates with my idea although big fixture swings are hard to ascertain at this early stage in the season. Perhaps closer to the appropriate time fixture swings will become more obvious. I would add there may be weaknesses in the current team and possibly injuries. A general feeling of stagnation and need for a change based on strong hunches etc. Its a big vague but several factors may come together that could result in the chance to cash in on an opportune moment when many have already used their wild cards or are holding out for a specific DGW opportunity.
You may get the jump on the current generic team to get ahead and be at the start of the new generic team early on.Open Controls
Ryan.... let it go... it's a stupid idea. I can see why you're so bad at this game...
Open Controlslol
...bit harsh.Open ControlsSays the person with an unlinked team and closed mind.
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I see some things never change.
Open ControlsI'm the one with the closed mind? You're the stubborn nitwit who can't and won't admit that your idea is just plain idiotic.
Open ControlsI'm sorry but I feel I have conceded a lot in understanding that Wildcarding early is perfectly reasonable and gaining early team value and fixing a poor team. In no way am I insinuating that this idea of mine is the best way. Rather I am interesting in discussing the idea and you simply refuse to engage in a reasonable discussion.
Open ControlsThat's because there is nothing to discuss. Any logical, rational person with any bit of common sense would see that your idea is flawed in every single aspect. It's the most idiotic idea that I have ever come across in my entire life.
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Really harsh. wake up dude.... You're not that good. No one is that good to dive in such hyperbole.
Open ControlsSorry.... do I know you? Was I talking to you?
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If you are posting on here you are 'talking to' everyone who happens to be reading.
I think you've been too harsh as well. Ryan made it clear in his initial comment that it was 'just a thought'. Sharing ideas is what this forum is suppose to be all about.Open Controls
a question from earlier that i think is a lil intresting.
is it better to have 1 awesome DEF (ie kompany, baines, vidic etc…)
and four nailed on 4m defenders.
or to have 5 rotatable 4.5m nailed on defenders?
which defence would get the highest total score?
in a 3-4-3 formation and no captaincies includedOpen Controls
