The Knee Jerk

The Knee Jerk – Everybody Hurts

It didn’t take long. As the template squad took shape over the international break, it has taken just one day of Gameweek 4 for it to show cracks.

The script seemed very unlikely. Robin Van Persie rested. Carlos Tevez withdrawn on the hour mark. Eden Hazard and Michu traveling home empty-handed. Santi Cazorla delivering just a single assist amongst an Emirates goal glut. Form was on their side but today’s failure of fancied “big guns” offered a rapid reminder just how fickle Fantasy fortunes can be.

To compound matters, some notable differentials stepped up. Dimitar Berbatov delivered on his full debut. Steven Fletcher scored his third goal in two games. Gervinho tempted us with a brace as the Gunners ran riot and, in the same match, Lukas Podolski notched his second in consecutive matches. We just need the likes of Gareth Bale and Nikaca Jelavic to break the shackles and we’ll have real movement; real discontent amongst the pack who threw Wildcards at the two-week break only to find the humblest of returns at the end of the rainbow.

It was inevitable that the cast would be extended, that we’d have new names to add to our watchlists and edge their way into our thinking. The failure for the early season form players will doubtless spark reaction – the pace of Berbatov’s bandwagon will be interesting and likely to be fuelled by those looking for an immediate fix to a hugely disappointing day.

Of course there should be faith that class will win through, that today’s events will be a rarity, but the timing is poor. Having procrastinated and tinkered over the break, the expectations were high and that will doubtless find knees jerking and cats kicked. For the majority, it’s been a day to forget but then perhaps we got what we deserved.

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

1,744 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Fergie u git!

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    1. gruffyboy
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      +1

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  2. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Looked like the soton defender touched the ball and not santi for Walcott's goal.

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    1. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Don't try to take the little I have this week away from me 😉

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      1. Pat Mustard
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        +3

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  3. Red-United
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    On 40 points so far this week, with only Adebayor left to hopefully save me from disappointment 🙁

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    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Decent score this week tbh. Wouldn't be too disappointed

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  4. Gavin - Gers in turmoil!!!
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Bad week but saving my transfer this week

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  5. The Pep Revolution
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    For Arsenal cover would you prefer Cazorla or Podolski?

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    1. Red-United
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Caz

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    2. MJ6987
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Podolski, but those 3 striker spots have a lot of competition

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  6. HVT
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    If Rvp didn't come on my score would have been +11 - " The Hardest Van Toulouse "
    Diabolical week, tho I did predict Chelsea not scoring.

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  7. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Terrible defending from Wigan today

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  8. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    There are a lot of empty seats at OT...

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    1. Zep
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah, the fans tend to go home after the match... 😉

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      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Lowest gw rank in 7 yrs for me.

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        1. HVT
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          + 1 🙁

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        2. Chu Young Ping Pong
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          You said that already!

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        3. Zep
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          I can't remember scoring any worse tbh...

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  9. HVT
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Who would you chop first : Ddg , Kags , Rvp - no I'm keeping him !

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    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Ddg

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      1. HVT
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Yea his gloves will no longer grace my bench .......

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      2. Chu Young Ping Pong
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Lowest gw rank in 7 yrs for me.

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  10. Midtable
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Does Buttner have the same hairdresser as Clichy

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  11. bdwhite91
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    So I got the highest total I've ever had last week (96), and I believe I'll get a new low this week (below 45). This game is cruel!

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    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Not a massive drop in rankings considering. If ever there is a week for a low score, this is it

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  12. bolexio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    I realise I'm a bit late to this party, but I don't have Hazard in my team yet. I have two free transfers for next week, and I'm planning on using the to get him in.
    I'm planning on taking Torres out and replacing him with Fletcher to free up money for this.
    To do, so would you take out:
    A. Toure
    B. Michu
    C. Pienaar
    D. Leave Torres in and not get Hazard

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    1. Red-United
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      I would probably get rid of Toure out of those.

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    2. HVT
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      A

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      1. bolexio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        That's the way I'm leaning. the other two are cheaper and less likely to be subjected to rotation.

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        1. HVT
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Have you enough for DB ? , he should do well in home games , but tbh I like Fletch - have a good look at fix B4 you call it.

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          1. bolexio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Berbatov is actually cheaper than Fletcher (only by 0.1). I reckon Berbatov is more explosive but Fletcher more reliable. Also, think Flecther has slightly better fixtures.

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            1. Trilogist
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              berba will comfortably outscore fletch come end of season. looks like pens aswell, whislt larsson has them at sunderland.

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    3. SC not pearls before swine
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      That's a tough one. Michu and Pienaar still have amazing fixtures so I guess I vote Yaya, which will also leave you with some cash to burn on defense etc. The other option would be to go with Adam Johnson and stick with Torres, saving yourself a transfer, but Fletcher looks a really good option right now.

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      1. bolexio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I like your thinking there. The problem is that so many people have Hazard, I'll really suffer whnever he hauls in a big score. I would only compensate for that if Torres scores as much as him across the season.

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  13. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Any south fans...any chance lambert gets dropped after today?

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    1. Trilogist
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      not that im a saints fan. but there aint many options. jay rod, but he wasnt even that prolific for burnley.

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  14. Moves Like Agger
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Quick vote. First option to 3

    (A) Collocini ➡ Baines
    (B) Ireland ➡ Barfa
    (C) Graham ➡ Berbatov
    (D) Graham ➡ Fletcher

    Any advice would be much appreciated.

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    1. McEwan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      C but also like A

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    2. Midtable
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      a newcastle looking threadbare
      c better options in swans midfield if you want a share of their points

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    3. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Ireland to barfa looks the best .

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    4. Lucinda Williams
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      D. Fletcher is lethal.

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    5. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      C for sure.

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    6. MJ6987
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      C

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  15. Kanus hat trick
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Mourinho looks like he's chewing a wasp- beautiful sight

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  16. Seamy
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Ridiculous by Peter

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  17. Red-United
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Buttner looks like a very exciting prospect fantasy football wise, decent goalscorer from defense. If he starts getting regular games I'm gonna take the punt.

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    1. Kanus hat trick
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      If you learn one thing from today: never trust SAF

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    2. Seamy
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      ... Like a dog to shit

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      1. Red-United
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        ?

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  18. little_wizard123
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Odemwingie deserved that read. What an idiot.

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    1. little_wizard123
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Red. Deary me.

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  19. Red-United
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Berbatov on pens...interesting. He took a few dodgy ones for United over the years.

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    1. Trilogist
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      so did rvp and hernandez 🙂

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      1. Red-United
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        True, just wondering if Berbatov will actually be Fulhams 1st choice penalty taker or if he took it simply because it was his debut and he was on a roll.

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        1. Trilogist
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          hope so...decent fixtures coming up bar the city game, even then you'd still play him. bandwagon has merits.

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  20. itstimmehc
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    I want to see Buttner on the Captain Poll this week.

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  21. Kanus hat trick
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Madrid beaten- Ronaldo looking out of sorts

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    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      He is sad 😆

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    2. Red-United
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      He's too busy thinking of Manchester... (no, not city! :D)

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      1. The Mighty Slovenian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        He'd probably be benched today anyway 🙂

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    3. The Mighty Slovenian
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Too bad he didn't score, so he could show how sad he is. He's probably a bit sad because of this. Poor lad.

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  22. MJ6987
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone know how likely Ridgewell is to keep his place ahead of new signing Popov?

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  23. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this potential wildcard team please .9 to upgrade with suggestions, is the defence too weak?

    Jaask/Foster
    Baines/Hughes/Davies/Bertrand/Demel
    Carzorla/Michu/Hazard/Nolan/Kacaniklic
    Rvp/Tevez/Berbs

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    1. MJ6987
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Nolan
      Bertrand
      Kacan

      I would not include these personally

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  24. Hect.OR 98th
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Someone in my work league who has no idea about football out-scored me today. Sidwell(C).....

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    1. Red-United
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Ouch...

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  25. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    35 with Baines and HBA left. Pretty poor.

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    1. MJ6987
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Seen many worse on here. I am similar with 33 (Baines, Ba & Pieman to go)

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    2. Hect.OR 98th
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      22 and with 9 to come from Demel and Noble plus Federici's likely 2 points tomorrow I'll still be beaten by you. Quit moaning!

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    3. Trilogist
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      above the real average.

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    4. Seamy
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Well above average. Don't complain.

      Im 36 with Baines left and I've learned to accept its a decent score this week

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    5. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      You know it's not poor.

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    6. Zep
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Seriously?

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  26. Kanus hat trick
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Real Madrid league record last season P38 W32 D4 L2
    This season so far: P4 W1 D1 L2

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  27. B.P.R.D.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    So I could do Tevez->Berbatov and go in to the Arsenal game with no City cover, then do Routledge->Silva the week after.

    Am I crazy?

    I'm crazy, right?

    (Berbatov looked amazing, and he's so damn sexy)

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    1. B.P.R.D.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Tevez could also be RVP, just sayin'.

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  28. HVT
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Looking forward to Fediricis CS tomorrow and a brace from Pog who's with me ???

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    1. Midtable
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      50% with you. got Fed coming off bench, dam you SAF

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  29. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Will Lukaku start now since Odem's banned?

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  30. Willis.
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Puncheon you assist machine!

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