If ever there was a team to scrutinize for a Moneyball piece, it is Stoke. They’re unfashionable and uninspiring with a reported philosophy that is about as far from Fantasy Football as one can get. Such characteristics, though, give us an opportunity to find value, and it is to the Britannia where we’ll turn our attention this week.
-
WC Done and dusted:
Jussi / Begovic
Baines / Rafael / Cuellar / Wilson / Fonte
Bale / Cazorla / Pienaar / Nolan / Sterling
Ba / RVP (C) / Berbatov (VC)
If this doesn't beat my ML rival who hasn't made one transfer or captain change all season, I quit.Open Controls-
-
I think he's forgotten all about his team to be honest...I hope.
Open Controls
-
-
i'm honestly lookin at gettin rid of Rafael next week.. maybe you should jump the gun and go for Saylor instead and pocket the cash? che ARS and smallin/jones returnin makes me wanna jump ship
Open Controls -
Not on my watch, you won't. 😉
Open Controls-
Haha, an empty threat if there ever was one! It is a marathon, not a sprint... the wheat will be separated from the chaff...one could even call it a long and winding road ;).
Open Controls
-
-
Start with Aguero now, and after gw12 switch to RVP.
Open Controls-
Those who have RVP don't care about his fixtures.
Open Controls-
I knw but what I was hoping for was they would care for Aguero's fixtures. They are delicious...
Open Controls-
Which is why i have not yet sold Yaya or Tevez. Plus i'm a United fan, owning RVP is just so much fun!
Open Controls-
I had Tevez and Yaya all season until this GW, but felt it was time to let go for some more in-form players. I'm a United fan myself, and could never not own RVP!
Open Controls
-
-
-
-
-
By the way - tremendous team. Fit Saylor in, somehow.
Open Controls -
Perfect, i love it.
Open Controls -
That is a massive team btw. Love it.
Can i though, interest you, in a certain 2 week punt?Open Controls-
Go on...
Open Controls-
Thanks by the way 😀
Open Controls -
Open Controls
-
Sorry pal, Youtube is banned in my office 🙁
Open Controls-
Olie Olie Olie Olie girouuddd
Open Controls-
Hahaha! Tempting as it is, I can still see those squandered chances from his first couple of matches in my head and it's putting me off. Plus my balls are the size of raisins for doing punts at the moment!
Open Controls-
Ah fair do's. You already have Santi, but i just get the feeling, nor & QPR could be the right time to punt. Instead of Ba. The Giroud -> Ba transfer also is a straightforward one.
Open Controls-
You could be on to something there, pal. Good luck if you go for it. I'm backing Ba to spoil the party at the derby!
Open Controls -
As much as i want him, cant drop RVP Tevez or Berbatov.
Open Controls -
That's a decent front 3. No need to change it up. RVP (C)?
Open Controls -
Yep.
Open Controls
-
-
-
-
-
-
Open Controls
-
-
-
-
Jussi (Foster)
Baines Hangeland Demel (Ivanovic, Naughton)
Cazorla Mata Pienarr Michu (Sterling)
Aguero Ba Berbs
1 FT and 1.1M in the bank.
Can't see much sense in a transfer, although I know Naughton needs to go. I would be moving him for Wilson, but Wilson would be sitting on the bench this week so thinking to hang on and have 2 FTs for next week.
Thoughts?Open Controls -
-
High, with Ruiz out/doubt
Open Controls
-
-
So, since Demel is "probably" out, is it safe to play Clyne, or shall I get a defender in for Gunter??
Open Controls-
I thought it was more he is probably IN
Open Controls
-
-
...and there goes Berbatov's flag :D.
Open Controls -
Afternoon, post got lost on the bottom of the prior page.
Have made an ass of my transfers in previous weeks and now have only 1 FT to play with…. and I still somehow have Danny Graham.
Really want to get Berba in, however will need to be funded by downgrading my midfield. What are the best options:
A) Bale > Yaya
B) Bale > Nasri
C) Hazard > Mata
D) Ben Arfa > 6.6 or less
E) Pienaar > 5.6 or less
Any other shouts would be muchly appreciated.
ThanksOpen Controls-
Hazard > Mata. If you take the long view, at the end of the day, those 2 will probably have very similar FF point totals. Save the money here. I think dumping out Bale is crazy and Pienaar and Ben Arfa look good value, although my view on Ben Arfa is a bit guarded in that he looks a bit pricey for a guy who only seems to produce at home.
Open Controls -
I agree Hazard to Mata is only move that makes any sense to me.
Open Controls
-
Foster (Man City @ home)
Williams (Swansea @ home), Baines (QPR away), McCartney (Southampton @ home)
McClean (Newcastle @ home), Hazard (Spurs away), Michu (Wigan @ home), Pienaar (QPR away)
RVP (Stoke @ home), Fletcher (Newcastle @ home), Tevez (WBA away)
Subs: Federici, Noble, McAuley, Clyne
Which transfer:
a) McClean out for Nolan
b) Tevez out for Suarez
Wildcarding next week.Open Controls-
a. Nolan at home v. SOT presents a good opportnuity for points. You never know about Suarez and Tevez is a player who could score anytime, anywhere.
Open Controls
-
-
If you were on a WC who would you put in and why?
Nasri or MataOpen Controls-
I don't think I'd put either in.
Mata - tough fixtures in a team where many players could score / assist.
Nasri - Nailed on this week with no Silva but after that, subject to a rotation lottery.
I think there's better options out there; Bale, Cazorla, Ben Arfa, Yaya among them.Open Controls -
Mata easily
Minimal rotation risk tbh and frankly is betterOpen Controls -
well, i was certain on getting silva actually - now he's injured I may go for Nasri. Depends how long silva is out for.. I can't see Mata returning huge hauls over the next few games, fixtures are quite hard.
Open Controls
-
-
The difference between WIlson this year and Wilson last year is not any greater involvement or attempts at goal. The change is that his crosses are more succesful this year, suggesting a better footballing understanding with Crouch.
End offOpen Controls-
He is also 25 and improving. His goal against Faroe Islands was something special...I know it was a freak accident probably but still!
WILSOOOOOOOONOpen Controls-
I might get him instead of Davies, but we shall see
Open Controls
-
-
If I'm not mistaken, Wilson was listed as a midfielder last year, so he was not good value as a FF asset. Different story this year.
Open Controls-
I posted on the previous page that he has 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 years. Something has to have changed for him to be a prospect for something other than being a member of a tight stoke defence.
Open Controls
-
-
-
Demel to Saylor for my free transfer? goal threat and sunderland not creatin many chances.. other option is to play Clyne/Gorkks and save my transfer
Open Controls-
Yep.
I'm gonna do the same thing, prob. Clark's flagged too now! Picking between him, Santon and Hughes.Open Controls-
and Martin even made me look at Santos 😯 I won't!
Open Controls
-
-
Surely the other option is to play Demel!!
Open Controls-
if i dont get Saylor i'd play Demel with Clyne and Gorrks on the bench. Doubt he'll play though
Open Controls
-
-
All this talk about Giroud, does no-one prefer Podolski instead?
Open Controls -
Won my home match! 3 - 1!!! 😀
Open Controls-
You sound surprised... Do you not have a fortress at home?
Open Controls -
Well done! Does this mean you win everything?
Open Controls-
Nope. €100,000 bonus for next league up! 🙂
Open Controls
-
-
Good. So all done now?
Open Controls -
Congrats!
Open Controls-
Cheers, guys! 🙂
Open Controls
-
-
-
Three to bench from the following. Which ones?
Saylor(sun)
Cuellar(NEW)
Demel(SOT)
Hangeland(AVL)
Pienaar(qpr)
Noble(SOT)
Barfa(sun)
Jelly(qpr)
Torres(tot)Open Controls-
if i had to it would be saylor, cuellar and barfa. hard to call the derby, could be some cards there too. or maybe saylor, cuellar and torres
Open Controls
-
-
Who to start, Cuellar or Ridgewell? I can see both games been pretty tight..
Also, Sterling or Yaya to start? Leaning towards Sterling (Other mid/fwds are: Michu, Pienaar, Hazard(will Cazorla), Berba, Tevez, RVP..Open Controls-
We still have the same front 8 i see. Already did Hazard->Santi. And i am starting Sterling. 🙂
Open Controls
-
-
Will Berba rise before the deadline? That would be some feat!
Open Controls-
Impossible
Open Controls
-
-
Jask, Bego
Baines, Gibbs(INJ) Ridgewell, Gorks, Clark
Hazard, Nolan, Ben Arfa, Yaya, Michu
Berb, Tevez, Torres
I want Cazorla in and a new defender?
who do I transfer out?
I have two free transfers and .6 in the bank.Open Controls-
Hughes for Hughes/Riise for Gibbs/ridgwell.
Caz for HazOpen Controls -
I would downgrade Gibbs to possibly Mertesacker/5.0m and you should have enough for Yaya to Caz. Otherwise just put Caz in for Hazard.
Open Controls-
That was my thought also, just not sure what defender.
merterzaker over jenkinson?Open Controls
-
-
How about Torres to Ba? Ba has better fixtures in the upcoming weeks and it allows u to go HBA to Cazorla or YaYa for Caz if u want some more money leftover. It solves a couple of things If u transfer Torres, it gets rid of your double Chelsea coverage through tough fixtures and if u get Ba then transferring HBA would get rid of double Newcastle coverage even though their fixtures are not bad. Don't blame you if you keep YaYa with Tevez through this run of nice games for City. Another thing is if you do move YaYa for Caz instead of HBA then there will be even more money left over to add to your .6 in the bank which gives you more options in the upcoming week or weeks. I know you said you wanted a new defender and you need them, but i figured i throw a different option out there. You could upgrade your defenders with the extra money in the next week or two. If you get rid of Gibbs you will probably want him back next week. Ridgewell is good at home 23 points in 3 games there you might want to keep him for home fixtures and maybe you can get a cheap stoke defender like Wilson for next week when their fixtures get real good. Gibbs, Ridgewell, Wilson, Baines and a cheapie like Gorks sound very sound going forward.
If you do not like this then Eddie's suggestions do the trick.Open Controls
-
-
PP's team of the season. Not sure i agree with a few of them:
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404713_10151206289829914_751488763_n.jpgOpen Controls-
Yeah Fletcher should be playing up front on his own...
Open Controls -
Bit Garth Crooks but looks about right to me.
Probably pick Tevez over RVP though.Open Controls -
Disagree on Fletch and Jags.
Open Controls-
Me too, and Vertonghen...though who replaces them??
Open Controls
-
-
who is the grav?
Open Controls-
Open Controls
-
Oooh, custom-made photos now. Nice!
Open Controls
-
-
-
-
Im desperate to get Berba in, but with a defence of
Baines Saylor Clyne Demel Gunter, i surely need to sort that out first right??
I have 1.9 spare so which defender to get in for Gunter 5.8 mil or Demel 6 mil??Open Controls -
Knocked an option out.. now it's just 2
A) Dyer to Sterling
B) Fellaini to Nolan
A) let's me keep Fellaini for his game next week, so i wont have a transfer priority there(though i could get Lallana/Morisson/Walters for him next week). also, sterling should do ok
B) leaves me stuck with Dyer for the foreseeable but gives me nolan who should do well the next 2 weeks(too short term)
Also
C) Yes or No .. Use my 2nd free transfer for Demel to Saylor(if no i'll have to play Clyne/Gorkks)Open Controls-
a
don't knowOpen Controls
-
-
Having really tough times with my front 3; RVP Jelavic Ba. I already had Berbatov before his injury and now want him back. Worth doing Jelavic -> Berbatov? Or save ft?
Open Controls -
Get berb in for fletcher?
Or get bale in for hazard?
Or save FT?Open Controls -
With Gibbs out for just one game, it doesn't make sense to get rid if I have other defensive options, does it? And with Wilson having (mun) this week, my potential replacement isn't a good one THIS week anyway. I've just convinved myself, so yeah, I don't require any help... 🙂
Open Controls-
One thing... would people start Gibbs, or Demel, incase either plays?
Open Controls
-
-
I have 7.2 to replace Fellaini any suggestions?
Looking at Pienaar and Nolan.Open Controls -
Ignoring what Mark says on the poddy,
is Routledge good enough cover for Swans or is Michu the sensible option?Open Controls -
So is it reasonable to assume that Berba isn't going to drop below 7.0 before the deadline? (currently sitting at around 50% on fiso when I last looked)
Open Controls -
1.7M in bank and 1FT
shall i get rid of Demel?
i got Nelsen at benchOpen Controls -
2 FTs, how to fix this. I have the following defensive lineup and I've planned to get Wilson in all week, just waited for now.
Gibbs (injured, not playing this week) Baines Demel (doubtful, will probably play?) Naughton (doubtful, plus might not get even if he's fit) Davies
I have 0.0 in bank so I'm missing 0.1 to do Naughton -> Wilson. I was thinking Davies -> 3.9 to raise the money for Naughton -> Wilson, since Davies is someone I don't want in the long-run. But that would mean I would have to play Wilson (manu away) and the 3.9.Open Controls -
2 FT Guys,
Foster,
Cashley,Clichy,Jenkinson (Davies) (Gorkss)
Yaya,Santi,Kags,Michu (Guthrie)
RVP,Tevez,Fletcher.
Thinkin of Clichy-Rafael
Maybe Fletcher -Berba.
Also Kags to???
Any ideas fellas?
CheersOpen Controls-
I'd go Clichy to Rafael, and Kags to Mata if affordable.
Open Controls
-
-
Feck, BOTH!
Open Controls
-
-
*Who to start, Cuellar or Ridgewell? I can see both games been pretty tight..
Also, Sterling or Yaya to start? Leaning towards Sterling (Other mid/fwds are: Michu, Pienaar, Hazard(will Cazorla), Berba, Tevez, RVP..Open Controls
