Scout Picks

Scout Picks – Gameweek 4

Finally, the international break is now behind us. A fortnight filled with injury doubts and player price rises as many wield their wildcards is out the way and we can get back to business. This time out, we’ve opted for a 3-5-2 and filled our 15-man squad with three of David Moyes’ Everton side as the injury worries rack up for visitors Newcastle on Monday evening:

John Ruddy gets the nod between the sticks for Norwich’s home clash with West Ham tomorrow. After shipping five in their Gameweek 1 opener, the Canaries have tightened up considerably since bringing in Javier Garrido and Seb Bassong at the back and have conceded just two goals in their last couple of matches. The Hammers failed to score in their only road trip so far and with Carlton Cole up top instead of the injured Andy Carroll, the chances of a home clean sheet look a little better.

Thomas Vermaelen is an obvious option for Arsenal’s home clash against Southampton. Three back-to-back clean sheets have afforded the Gunners the best defensive record in the Premier League and with Vermaelen’s eye for goal always liable to find the net, tomorrow could well be one of those Gameweeks where the Belgian helps himself to double figures.

Leighton Baines looked a strong option to begin with but the injury problems at Newcastle boosts the left-back’s chances ahead of Monday night’s showdown. Baines’ consistent delivery from the flank has been a real threat over the first three matches and his creativity may well prosper against an under-strength Magpies. Factor in his clean sheet potential and set-piece duties and one or two of Baines’ owners are even contemplating a punt on captaincy, according to comments on the boards.

Rafael makes up a trio of defenders with potential for points at both ends of the pitch. United’s raiding right-back has already found the net in his only home game of the season, with a goal in the 3-2 win over Fulham in Gameweek 2. Offering a relatively cheap route into Sir Alex Ferguson’s defence, the Brazilian looks a strong candidate ahead of the visit of Wigan.

With double figure FPL points hauls in all three of his appearances so far, Eden Hazard barges his way back into the Scout Picks. The Belgian makes his way to Loftus Road looking to heap further misery on a QPR side that has lost its only home game of the season 5-0 to Swansea; his display will be crucial to the Blues chances of keeping their 100% league record intact.

Santi Cazorla finally produced the goods at Liverpool last time round after a couple of promising appearances for Arsenal. Already, he’s settled in “the hole” and is central to the vast majority of the Gunners’ attacking forays –Cazorla is picking up plenty Fantasy investment as he squares up to a Southampton defence that have shipped three goals in two of their opening trio of matches already.

Having shaken off a knock that forced him out of South Africa’s recent internationals, Steven Pienaar grabs a place in our five-man midfield. With an injury to Darron Gibson possibly seeing Marouane Fellaini drop deeper for the Toffees, we’ve opted for Pienaar instead – his partnership with Leighton Baines on the left should provide plenty problems for Newcastle stand-in right-back Vernun Anita on Monday evening.

A home clash with West Ham offers Robert Snodgrass the chance to continues his recent good form. Norwich’s summer signing from Leeds United has already looked impressive and returned 10 FPL points in the 1-1 draw at Spurs, with a goal and maximum bonus points. With a fair share of set-pieces and corners in his locker, Snodgrass could be a decent mid-price differential ahead of Saturday’s Carrow Road encounter.

Michu keeps his place in the Scout Picks after continuing his scoring spree in Swansea’s draw with Sunderland a fortnight ago. The Spaniard takes his goal-a-game record to Villa Park this weekend and with Paul Lambert’s side yet to register a single clean sheet, Michu’s irresistible form could well see him plunder the Fantasy points yet again.

The thigh is fine and Robin Van Persie is fit and available for the visit of Wigan tomorrow. After a couple of days’ worry, Sir Alex Ferguson finally put our minds at rest in this lunchtime’s press conference and, with a hat-trick in his previous match, the Dutchman is the overwhelming favourite in the Captain Poll for Gameweek 4, with 48% of the votes cast so far.

A trip to Stoke is hardly a walk in the park but we’re opting for form over fixture in the case of Carlos Tevez. Finding the net in all three of his opening fixtures, Tevez has stepped up in light of Sergio Aguero’s knee injury and with three assists also accrued, he has played a part in six of his side’s eight goals thus far. Roberto Mancini will be expecting a scrap but Tevez looks in the mood to deliver right now.

Carlos Cuellar takes his place on the bench as Liverpool roll up to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland’s first home match of the season pits them against a side that has scored just twice this season – a clean sheet could well be on the cards for Martin O’Neill’s men this weekend.

Subject of a recent Watchlist report, James Morrison continues to fly under Fantasy radars despite a strong start to the season. While a trip to Fulham is far from straightforward, Morrison’s role in “the hole” for the unbeaten Baggies has the potential to prosper once again at the Cottage tomorrow afternoon.

Nikica Jelavic is perhaps a little unfortunate to find a place on the bench. The Croatian has already found the net this term against Villa in Gameweek 2 and, after drawing a blank away to West Brom, he’ll fancy his chances against a depleted Newcastle backline on Monday evening.

** Just a heads-up regarding our Scout Picks graphic for this week. We’ve been struck by a technical glitch behind the scenes and are currently working to sort the problem as soon as possible. Hopefully it’ll be up and running again shortly.

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2,401 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Scroobius Mac
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Oh dear only 3 picks. This could be a long gameweek.

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      The Owen-wagon has begun. Nothing changes the performance of a player, quite like a haircut 😉

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  2. LJPF
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Guys any UCL leagues I can join?

    Anybody got the codes?

    Cheers. 🙂

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    1. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      In my name, Swanny.

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      1. LJPF
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks Marou

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  3. Henry Hill
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    What 3 defenders would you start from these options: Zabaleta Cole Fabio Cuellar Hughes

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Zabaleta Cole Hughes
      Cuellar 1st sub

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  4. 1966 was a great year for E…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Where are the picks?

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    1. fred1266
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      i was not wondering the samething

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    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Read the bottom of the article 🙂

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    3. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      See note at the end. We have a bug with the 3-5-2 formation in the graphic which we will get fixed tonight. Apologies.

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      1. 1966 was a great year for E…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Oh yeah, I always look at the graphic before I read the article!

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    4. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Just a heads-up regarding our Scout Picks graphic for this week. We’ve been struck by a technical glitch behind the scenes and are currently working to sort the problem as soon as possible. Hopefully it’ll be up and running again shortly.

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  5. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Snodgrass, as predicted

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  6. blue cheese
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    That's all you could think of?

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    1. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      This was a reply to Djerbil's post. Now it's vanished! 😕

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  7. Djerbil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Mark, can u do anything about the Advert on the place that is Blocking the Scout Picks??

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    1. Djerbil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Ok, just seen above

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  8. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Wow 6 of them this week. That's a good number 😀

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    1. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Ditto.

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    2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Me too. Happy.

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  9. Screeny
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Any tips for my WC team are very much appreciated

    Foster (Beg)
    Baines, Cuellar, Hughes (Demel, Fig)
    HBA, Michu, Hazard, Caza (Guthrie)
    RVP(c), Tevez, Lambert

    cheers for any response

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    1. Samwise the Brave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Fine

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  10. jdogg
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    cazorla or podolski el capitan?x

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      caz... coin toss prob the best bet

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      1. jdogg
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        ye tis a toughie i dont hav rvp which would make the decision alot easier.who do you have?x

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        1. kennethrhcp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          no rvp either, @ the mo capt is on tevez but im thinking of a gamble on baines

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

    a) It is better to do nothing, than the wrong thing or;

    b) It is better to do the wrong thing, than nothing.

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      indecision is the worst decision 🙂

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

    HBA or yaya or pienaar ¿?

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      to buy, play, bench...

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      1. patshaw
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        buy and keep for the long term!

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  13. theBoose
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    HBA or Pienaar?

    Think more long term than just this weekend?

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    1. A.D.D
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      5050 on both, have to wait for true form.... hba just atm....i have pienaar

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    2. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      hba

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  14. steevouk
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    De Gea > Howard a good idea?

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    1. A.D.D
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      yep

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  15. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Foster & Ruddy are good combo GK for WC team? just see Ruddy on Scout Pick this week

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I fancy Norwich's defence to do well. their stats are actually quite good. Do they rotate well?

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        10 H/A

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  16. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    4 picks. 😀

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    1. Efan Ekoku Pops
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Same, and that's counting DDG as Rafael!

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      1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I don't think that works, as Rafa will get a yellow and an assist. 😉

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  17. A.D.D
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    hey dudes, sorry to ask

    how do i link on my user name?

    cheers!

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    1. A.D.D
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      please?

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      1. kaz 96
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        read the FAQs

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        1. A.D.D
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          cant find it in there 🙂

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          1. kennethrhcp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            go to your profile & paste the link from your fpl team. you'll find it in team history

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            1. A.D.D
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              ledge

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              1. kennethrhcp
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 6 months ago

                that aint your team 🙂

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      2. kennethrhcp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        check faq's on homepage

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      3. blue cheese
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        FAQ at the bottom.

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  18. kaz 96
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    8 picks for me

    with the 9th one on the bench(cuellar)

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Ouch.

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    2. Djerbil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      ur Doomed

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  19. theBoose
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    This is the only thing I can't decide...

    Clyne or Davies?

    HBA or Pienaar?

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    1. DRIZ ✅
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      clyne pie

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    2. A.D.D
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      no and no

      HBA

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      1. theBoose
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        who would you guy for a defender at 4 then? already have demel...

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  20. Djerbil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    4 on the Field

    2 on the Bench

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  21. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Where's Bale in these picks?

    Tut, tut.

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    1. A.D.D
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      he iz a poo

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Careful...

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      2. Captain Shirokov
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        *is

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    2. Cheggers
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Come on son - he aint scored in the league since Jan! No form, away game, shouldnt be anywhere near em!

      Saying that - I took him out for Carzola so expecting a goal

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    3. Efan Ekoku Pops
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Bale is too good for the Scout Picks. Keep the faith!

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I am keeping it.

        Bale points in double figures this week 🙂 !

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        1. Efan Ekoku Pops
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Another free kick like on Tuesday please, Gareth :D!

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          1. Evs
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            🙂

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    4. sumatera
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      he's shite

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  22. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Cant afford all six so which one of the following would you take out and why?

    RVP
    Tevez
    Torres
    Hazard
    Cazorla
    Yaya Toure

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Torres because Hazard is enough.

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    2. Djerbil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Yaya

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      1. theBoose
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        +1

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    3. The Shadow
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Yaya. Had him last year, too many 2s and 3s between the good streaks, frustrating.

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  23. Parm
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    7 including subs 😕

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    1. kaz 96
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      9 inc. subs
      uh-oh

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      1. Phoenix Wright
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Why "uh-oh"?

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    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I've always thought highly of the picks. They don't just pick the best players like TotalFPL, they try to find different players as well like Snodgrass, Ruddy & Morrison. They always do reasonably well.

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  24. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    In your opinions who is the best trio to have for GW4

    A Jenkinson, Ben Arfa and Morrison
    B Ivanovic, Duff and Nolan
    C Gibbs, Hazard and McCleary

    Rest of Team is

    Schwarzer Al-Habsi

    Cuellar Gunter Saylor Ridgewell

    Michu Yaya Toure Pienaar

    Graham RVP Tevez

    Any help and advice would be appreciated

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      think long term not just gmwk4

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  25. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Play Vertonghen or one of HBA/Maloney?

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    1. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      HBA.

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      HBA clearly imo

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    3. Parm
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Go for Vert, I have a feeling he'll do something going forward this week.

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  26. Stevee10001
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Got 5 of them beauties i just have a horrible feeling Jelly (my main rivals big diff) will score big! Then again he doesnt have Michu or RVP...

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  27. palalmas
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Need a 5,4 defender.

    DDG - Federici
    Clyne - Demel - Hangeland - Ivanovic - ???

    Dont want Swansea becouse of Michu and Graham.

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Ridgewell

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      1. palalmas
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Is he nailed on with Popov in town?

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      MaCauley/Ridgewell.........obviously!

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    3. WithEase
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Mertesacker?

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    4. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Or an Everton actually

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  28. WithEase
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Is Jonas Olsson worth a 4 point hit when my defence already consists of:

    Mig
    Cashley, Lescott, Rangel, Demel and Clyne

    I would be swapping Rangel for Olsson

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    1. WithEase
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      actually, scratch that.

      Is Lescott to Rafael worth a 4 point hit?

      Thanks!

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  29. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    5 this week

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    1. WithEase
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      same here.

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Me too. Though I'd consider a hit on my defence, but probably not worth it?

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