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Moneyball – Esteban Granero

This is very likely the first and last time a former Real Madrid player graces the pages of the Moneyball series. Esteban Granero made an astonishing 31 appearances in the league in 2009-10 for Los Blancos, more than Guti, Rafael van der Vaart, Kaka and even Cristiano Ronaldo. The arrivals of Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil pushed Granero out of favour in future years, though he still managed to finish his time in Madrid with almost 100 appearances in three seasons before making his way to Loftus Road this season.

Despite that pedigree, his arrival in England barely registered on the transfer radar and he’s hardly captured the collective eye of Fantasy managers – Granero has just a 0.5% ownership in the Fantasy Premier League game, which has risen by just 10,000 or so transfers all year. Given that this is a Moneyball piece, though, we’re not going to settle on a player based on his CV: it’s when we delve into his statistics so far this term that Granero really catches the eye.

Chris Glover Creator of the plfantasy blog, providing a stats focused approach to fantasy football. Exiled to Canada but still prefer my sports played on grass rather than ice. Follow them on Twitter

1,352 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GYM JUNKIE
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    anyone selling bale or keeping?

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    1. Dago
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      keeping this week.

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    2. chel5eachris
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I sold Bale and am regretting it.

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    3. LJJM Duckies
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Keeping. Sold him once already this season, fingers still hurting from being burnt

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

      keeping unless Silva can convince me he'd be a better pick

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    5. Timmy Cahill Rules
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      season keeper

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      1. cruzex
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Bale = Points

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    6. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Keepin'

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  2. Dago
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Is there going to be a press conference for Newcastle today? Did Hughes mention anything about Ryan Nelson?

    Thanks.

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    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nelsen was given the all-clear.

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      1. Dago
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers man.

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    2. Crouch Potato!
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nelsen will play.

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      1. Dago
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        thanks Crouch Potatoe.

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    3. roscola
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Newcastle was yesterday.

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      1. Dago
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        what was the Ba info?

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  3. Ravanelli
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Can anyone hazard a guess at the West Ham defence this weekend, I've got Demel and Mccartney, and not sure which to play, tempted to play both if they're both fit. Thanks

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Play both. doubt either will come off the bench

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      1. Ravanelli
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        right yh good thinking

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    2. Home Run Baker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Doosra's your man, and he likes the attention 🙂

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      1. Ravanelli
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        ok I'll ask him if I see him, got sme answers but guess he could confirm theyll both start

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    3. Round and Round
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Demel will play if fit. McCartney's only in the team at the minute due to injuries. Both should start at the weekend

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      1. Ravanelli
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        thank you very much, I'll play both

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  4. Home Run Baker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Something for the weekend. How's this looking?

    Begovic
    Baines - Rafael - Simpson
    Mata - Fellaini - Michu - Morrison
    RVP (c) - Tevez (vc) - Berbatov

    [Jaask - Clyne - Davies - Kebe]

    Thanks

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    1. Bullet Tooth Bony
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Are you sure about Stoke over West Ham? (in regards to the keeper pick)

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      1. Home Run Baker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        no - not sure

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        1. Bullet Tooth Bony
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          I have both and I'm going with Jaask. That's mainly because I'm playing Nolan, though.

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    2. Home Run Baker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone else?
      Not that I really need the replies - I know it looks good 😉

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  5. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    ok lads who do you all think is the better option?

    Nelsen - 4.0. Cheap, slight CS chance

    Gorkks -4.0 Cheap, very little CS chance, decent goal threat

    Shorey - 4.1 same as Gorkks but more assist threat and set-pieces

    Fabio - 4.2 same as Nelsen but perhaps more attacking threat

    Turner - 4.2 decent CS chance after this week and a goal threat

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    1. Home Run Baker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Gorkss, then Shorey

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    2. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Shorey, Gorkss, Nelsen, Turner, Fabio

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    3. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Fabio for attacking threat, and then shorey. Doubt Gorkks is going to score many more

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  6. PB-THE-VET
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    My week off has flew by! Ah well its weekend time aka fpl time 🙂 my life sucks

    How my fixed?

    Bego
    Rafael cameron hughes
    Santi mata bale pieneer
    Rvp(c) ba berb

    Manoone sterling fonte mert. 1 ft

    Tempted to play sterling but head says pieneer. Not looking great in defence for points either but hope to get a bit of att point . . . . . .hopes being the word there. Fpl loves kicking me in the teeth

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  7. anish10
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    hows my team looking for this weekend guys?

    begovic
    rafael baines hughes
    walcott fellaini mata ben arfa
    Rvp(C) suarez berba

    bench: tremell, sterling,clyne,figeroa

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    1. PB-THE-VET
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good, similer enough to mine actualy.

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    2. Home Run Baker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Looks good. Not sure about HBA, but sound.

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  8. Beautiful Game
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    repost:
    when is arsenal,west brom,newcastle’s press conference???

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    1. si
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely worth a repost.

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      1. Daniel_tsl
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        😆

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    2. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      All 3 done yesterday, I think.

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  9. Timon
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    what happened to Giroud?

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  10. si
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Surely Newcastle revert to 4-3-3 now? Ben Arfa excels in this position and is totally wasted in 4-4-2. The only reason Newc referred back to 4-4-2 was to keep the Senegalese boys happy but now that Cisse is injured/out of sorts surely the priorty is getting the best out of Ben Arfa. I would even rather see him playing off Ba so long as he is central and in an area to cause real damage.

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Doubt hell change the system for one game.

      If Cisse dosent play, Shola will come in.

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      1. si
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Shola can play 4-3-3

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    2. anish10
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      exactly why i transferred him in this week

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    3. Round and Round
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Barfa isn't wasted in a 4-4-2 at all. They do look a better side with 4-3-3 though

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      1. si
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        It is like Barca playing Messi wide left in a 4-4-2 (ridiculous comparison I know, but he really is the that important to Newcastle's creativity now)

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        1. Round and Round
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          No its not

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    4. PB-THE-VET
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Be a bood week foer barfa id say. Im hoping ba is involved in his points

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    5. heco87
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Hopefully ... could actually be something in it, according to local journalist Lee Ryder on Twitter (@lee_ryder)

      In truth I think AP has listened to fan questions about tactics this week. Some previous managers wouldn't have done that. Trust me.

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      1. si
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Pardew is a smart cookie, he doesn't need supporters to remind him of this.

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        1. heco87
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          He's smart but I think he's been too concerned about upsetting Ba or Cisse by reverting back to the old formation. I hope that hearing it from the fans reaffirms what he was probably feeling needed to be done.

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  11. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone reckon chelsea will rest mata/Haz on sat with juventus duri the week?

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Possible. Mata owner here, and worried because he travelled and played 45 odd mins in Panama!

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      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        How many mins did Haz play?

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        1. Tommyboy
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          0!

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    2. Tommyboy
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard didn't play midweek although he did travel...FYI

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    3. Timmy Cahill Rules
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      no

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    4. si
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard is a certain starter. Mata likely starter. I think Oscar will make way having played 90 mins in the US. Moses very likely starter.

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  12. ruud gullit sitting on a sh…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    What do you think of Hernandez for a one week punt? Fergie said he should start

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    1. MDK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Fergie says a lot of things

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    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      He is better off the bench imo

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    3. Round and Round
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Very nice if you captain him

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

    how many percent do you think sergio aguero will start this weekend?

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    1. MDK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      18.7256 give or take 0.001%

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      1. footyjuana
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I just changed my mind to no, so you got to reduce a milli percentage point there

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  14. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Pick 2 please.

    Dempsey (A) Arsenal
    MIchu (A) Newcastle
    Sterling (H) Wigan

    I am starting Pienaar and Mata for certain.

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    1. MDK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Dempsey's not been on form, so I'd go with the other two

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    2. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Dempsey and Michu

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    3. LJJM Duckies
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why do you have Dempsey?

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  15. takemehome
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    play Kacaniklic or Sterling

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    1. boro_faithful
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Depends on whether you have Berbs, Suarez, or both.

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    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Tough call....Sterling by a nose (especially if you have Berba)

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  16. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    ooh main rival has -4 this week. Just need to outscore him by 2 to go top

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  17. Dimitar Tekkertov
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Thoughts on my team?

    Howard

    Rafael | Sagna | Ivanovic

    Pienaar | Fellaini | Hazard | Sterling

    Suarez | RVP (c) | Berbatov

    Any ideas on Guy Demel starting?

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    1. Ravanelli
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I asked the same question above, apparently Demel will be starting. Your team looks good, but I'd rather have just Fellaini and would swap Pienaar out, also Hazard to Mata would be a good move.

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    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Think you need to downgrade in DF and upgrade pienaar to an elite MF. I'd personally lose Ivan for a cheapie (Wilko) and do Pienaar to Walcott/Valencia/Bale.

      I also would try to do Haz>Mata at some point too when you get a free transfer and have no other pressing issues

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  18. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Apologies for re-post. Last comment on previous article:

    Can I get some opinion on my WC team pretty please

    Bego Tremmel
    Baines Caulker Cuellar Wilko McCart
    Mata Bale Felliani Sterling Maloney
    RVP Suarez Berba
    Bank: 0.1m

    Am thinking people will think the DF is a bit weak, but I don't have much cash to do anything about it. Could swap Caulker for Hughes just to be safe but looking at the fixtures he won't be playing much anyway

    Also is Sterling and Maloney too weak? They rotate perfectly and only one of them will play every week so I'm pretty comfortable with it.

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    1. MDK
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Defense may seem a little weak but you're only going to ever play 3 of them anyway given that front 3.

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    2. China Mag
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Very similar to what I am working towards. Doesn't mean its good though, as I am doing terribly! Do you have money tied up in Mata. If you don't, then I would consider holding off until after their blank. Could well be rested this weekend too.

      I'm on sterling/ maloney. I love the idea of rotating 2, 5m mids. Its not something you can do from the start, as its difficult to identify the bargains that should score well, but now we know that both of those have the potential to score well in the games they play,

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  19. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq2WJz2fv_Y

    RVP goal...I love this one for some reason.

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  20. The EJJ
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    which 2 to start?

    Simpson, Hangeland, Demel, Nelsen

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Start all 4!!

      If no, Hangeland and Demel for me. First sub simpson, 2nd nelsen

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  21. boro_faithful
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Afternoon, lads. Demel in line to start this weekend?

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    1. Ravanelli
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      yes I asked this question at atop of page and yes apparetly he will be starting

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  22. Lawrø
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Does anyone know if Walcott will start against Spurs?

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      He should, if Arsene is not an idiot.

      Oh...wait....

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  23. footyjuana
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Nelsen yellow flag removed.

    RVP, Theo, Ba and Maloney still flagged at 75%. I hate these fake injuries, makes me worry unnecessarily!

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  24. Timon
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    was going to bring giroud or walcott
    now that both are yellow flagged
    what to do? 🙁

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    1. footyjuana
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Benteke!

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  25. @theTinkermen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Was talking bout Granero the other day. Not going to get him tho.
    Im either saving transfer or geting Felainni for Hazzard.

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A great differential for sure at that price, but there are better mids to get imo. If QPR find some good form he could end up being a bargain.

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      1. @theTinkermen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        yeah well im top of most of my leagues so no need to do anything crazy. Ill look at differentials when the time comes

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  26. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Chris Glover on Suarez:
    "Liverpool have been on a steady decline in terms of generating chances each week and they don't forecast to do too well in the coming weeks. While we all know that Suarez accounts for a substantial portion of his teams' shots and goals, at a certain point the pie becomes so small that even a large slice becomes a meagre meal and might not be sufficient to justify his lofty price tag. "
    Status: Hold (I'd like to say buy but those team stats are very troubling)

    Interesting, and as he said, after Wigan they do have three difficult away games in the next four..

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    1. In Tommy We Trust
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      10mil is too much now.

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, i won't be buying him back. I want Giroud after i'm done with Ba.

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        1. In Tommy We Trust
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Replace Ba with Jelavic for me 😉

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            and me.

            Jeez, are gonna end up with the same team here? 😛

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            1. In Tommy We Trust
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Seems like it 🙂

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          2. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            No way, i have Fellaini and Baines, that's more than enough. I'm really excited about Giroud as a future prospect 😀

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    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I see what he means but just looking purely at Suarez scores, I don't think there is any reason to be concerned

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    3. boro_faithful
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      You would expect him to regress at some point, but his form is too good to ignore atm.

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  27. Mogs
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Federici
    Baines, Cameron, Hangeland
    Mata, Cazorla, Bale, Sterling
    RVP, Tevez, Berba

    Foster, Kaca, Nelsen, Cuellar

    2FT, £0.2m

    Need to use at least 1 FT but stuck on what to do.

    Foster - Bego/Jussi (leaning towards Jussi as I have no other West Ham def)
    Mata/Cazorla/Bale - Fellaini

    I feel like I should have Fellaini in there but any of the above could score big this week. Whaddya reckon?

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  28. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Jones from WBA nailed-on at RB?

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  29. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    really need to know what the status of Morrison is 🙁

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Same, i want to play him over Sterling, but if he might get 20 mins it's not worth it.

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