A goal in each of the last couple of Gameweeks has brought Andros Townsend onto Fantasy radars over the international break. Since arriving on loan at Loftus Road, the winger seems to have firmly established himself as a key member of Harry Redknapp’s first-team – starting five of the last six matches, he has also chipped in with a pair of assists and received six bonus points in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, averaging 6.6 points per game. In this latest article for members, we take a look at the underlying Opta statistics to see how he’s been performing and examine whether he really is a viable target for the fifth midfield slot in our squads.
Utd fans, what is the purpose of Cleverley? Genuine question, i remember when he broke into the team he was quite attacking, not he seems very withdrawn and 'safe'. No doubt England missed Wilshere' drive from midfield but surely we can't just rely on him.
Open ControlsI think he is a quality player, and SAF and Hodgsen obviously agrees. I remember him bossing teams at the start of the season before he got injured. Wilshere is better though...
Open ControlsNot comparing him to Wilshere, just expect more from him going forward.
Open ControlsHe just makes himself look busy, and is good when we're dominating games/on top. But when we're under pressure he looks lost and you're right, he's not got enough about him going forward. Used to say "oh give him time" but age really shouldn't be an excuse now, look at the likes of Gotze or Eriksen. Decent squad player, but i'm starting to think he won't cut it at United if we're going to compete with the big boys
Open ControlsSame goes for Welbeck, makes himself look busy, does some nice flicks but ultimately, doesn't offer enough, not to be starting upfront anyway.
Open ControlsDisagree with these comments. Welbeck and Cleverly are both extremely disciplined intelligent players. Wouldn't swap them for many players. Cleverly may never be a flair player but Welbeck has the potential to be truly brilliant. His recent form for united has been excellent.
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i don't really agree with this. he's not a bad player, but try comparing with him with mids from spain, germany, holland etc, and he's just not as good
Open ControlsHe is not World Class yet, no.
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Seems like someone searching for his identity. Looks much better when attacking in my opinion as well, in the hole or on the wing in part of the diamond. It looks like he is used as a defensive mid who recicles the ball, but should be able to carry it forward as well. A la Arteta or Xabi.
Open ControlsAgree with this. It was shocking today, even with Gerrard and Carrick he was still restricted.
Open ControlsI think he could have trouble adopting to this role where he needs to be more disciplined. Always at his best when given the chance to roam freely. I think at he is this kind of player who would look much better in a worse team as the main guy as for teams like England or United he wont get the freedom. But he is still young so he might figure it out eventually.
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I think he's a very versatile player but his issue is he's nearly too versatile, he doesn't have any single defining feature that can be focused on. I think he needs to be pushed into a certain direction, either attacking or holding and needs to go with it. At the moment he's kind of just a wildcard, very versatile but no defined role.
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"Spain are now unbeaten in their last 50 WC qualifiers, since March 1993."
Unreal stat.Open ControlsAnd how many WCs did they win?
Open ControlsWhat about this...
in the entire history of WC qualifiers...Germany have only ever lost two games!Open ControlsWhat about this...
Cows "moo" and use different body positions and facial expressions to communicate with each other.Open Controls
😯
Open Controlsthat's absolutely incredible. i'm going to have to start hating them
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Mata(c) anyone?
Open ControlsFor the life of me I don't understand how the England squad is picked
If it is on performance rather than reputation (as it should be) lambert should be given a chance as a striker. It obviously isn't as defoe was in the squad and he has hardly played for spurs the last few months.
Then you have Leon Osman picked whilst Downing is not? I am not saying either is international quality but surely based on performances Downing is warranted a shot?
Next thing, the cb pairing is embarassing. Lescott and Smalling are not even regulars for the club teams. I know we have injuries but the depth of our CB pool is pretty poor.
And why on earth is Baines not playing ahead of ashley cole? If you so adament in playing a cole then move baines onto the LW.Open ControlsMaybe you should be manager. I'm sure you are better qualified, Hodgsen wouldn't stand a chance.
Open ControlsStopped reading at for the life of me
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But seriously. Why is Baines suddenly some messiah. He's 28 years old, not better than Ashley Cole, and not quick enough to be a winger. His defending leaves alot to be desired too. Smalling and Lescott were both fine tonight. The injured defenders are hardly massive upgrades on them anyway so i don't see how that's an issue.Open ControlsDidn't Baines create 3 goals against San Marino? On form, he deserves to be in there ahead of Cole. Unfortunately, Cole offers nothing going forward anymore.
Open ControlsYeah but I created 6 goals vs San Marino by just scratching my arse.
Open Controls"Didn’t Baines create 3 goals against San Marino?"
You must know what is wrong with this statement?
Cole is and always has been on a completely different level to Baines as a footballerOpen ControlsDefensively yes, but in games like today, we should be dominating, pushing players forward.
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Thats got more to do with our useless wingers than with Baines.
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If you just pick players on form, you end up with Michael Ricketts playing for England.
I think (hope) the idea is to get a fairly settled, youngish team and give them time to gel.Open ControlsA Hole is the best LB in the world. Baines can't defend for shite. No point playing him OOP when England have plenty of LMs available.
Open ControlsHe is nearing his sell-by date and offers very little attack threat these days. When he started he his defending was shyte but he was given a chance because of his speed and attacking threat. The same courtesy should be given to Baines. Whether in front of Cole or replacing him.
Open Controlslol how many things wrong with this
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Any news on Theo?
And do u think these will all start:
Lamps
RVP
TheoOpen ControlsI see Lamps and RVP starting Monday, so they may well be rested saturday.
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Question : When does price changes occur? (English time)
Open ControlsBetween 2am and 3am
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Lacklustre from England second half there, really do miss wilshires energy in the midfield. As others have said, cannot understand what cleverly and Milner add to a team, passing back to gerrard is hardly a skill is it? I do rate welbeck though his attitude is excellent and he is fast improving. As you were...
Open ControlsSomeone give a bottom-table team to start a career with on FIFA.
Preferably Npower1 or Championship, but other low-table teams from abroad are welcome tooOpen ControlsPlymouth. Go on, give yourself a challenge 😉 I've almost got them into the Premiership, currently second in the Championship 😀
Open ControlsChallenge accepted 😎 cheers GB
Open Controlswhat difficulty do you play on?
I was playing professinal, but win 90% of the game, but when I switch up one level, I lose 90% of the gameOpen ControlsThe one above Professional.
Open ControlsThis happens to everyone apparently,including myself. Its to do with FIFA making a balls of the difficulty settings. Play with the sliders in settings. I usually change opponent's shot accuracy, pass accuracy and first touch down 2-3% and it seems to be about the right difficulty.
Open ControlsFormation i use is custom 4-3-3 freeform - creates so many chances with the front 4 and then just have 2 mids parking the bus, works a treat 🙂
Open Controlsi am playing 433 too, I don't know how to make the 2 mids park the bus though!
I am playing as Napoli, and Vargas, Inginse, Menez, Walcott. All 4 rotating as LW,RW, and Cavani as CF.
cut inside and pass to cavani is like the template goalOpen Controlssame way of scoring for me
custom formations -> base positions --> move your 2 mids back to jst in front of the back 4 is how you park the bus. I just hit on the counter so those 2 mids aren't very useful tbh in my attacking
---------Welbeck----------
Young Rooney Walcott
----Wilshere Rodwell----
is the best fifa front 6 i have hadOpen Controls
I have got Barnet into Europe on footy manager. Only took eight seasons..
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Mata being fresh has put some doubt in my mind for my planned transfer.
Must ... stay ... strong .... Rafa is only out to hurt us ....Open ControlsAs nailed on as any Chesea Mid. (away fixture and had adequate rest).
Open Controlsdo not sell!
Open ControlsMata was never going to play the France game so that's a bit of a non-even, imo.
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Hax?
Open ControlsGo on then.
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Dont know what people's thoughts are on the england performance but i know that from the game tonight, all my thoughts previous to the start of the match have been condirmed.
Firstly, why is James Milner in the side, a couple of years ago yes, but thats when he had regular first team football, now he starts for england more often than for city, meaning his crossing was woeful.
His tracking back makes him an asset but over the ox and over young, certainly not for me. Walcott obviously would slot in to the role on the right wing tho.
Secondly, Leighton Baines, cole is a world class player, but Leighton baines, has over the course of the season been the better left back, no doubts about it. A place should not be given on reputation. Why was baines missed? not because of cole, cole is not a problem in itself, but the delivery quality tonight aside from 1 (the goal) was shocking. IMO baines one of the best deliveries in the world, good on set pieces too which as england didn't have a specialist, he would be an asset.
Thirdly, Glen Johnson. An absolute mess for the goal, and is quite frankly lazy because he does not get back quickly after getting forward. He is good going forward, but he is caught out of position too often conceding a sloppy yellow on 1 occassion tonight. Walker performed excellently on Friday (although against SM) but still, should be given a start imo as GJ is becoming too complacent.
Dissapointed overall as you can tell. but its hard not to be when the team under achieves and
recognised players and poor management at times is letting us down.
COME ON ENGLAND tho , i keep the faith.
Thoughts, do you agree with his selection?Open ControlsHasn't Milner played the last 10-15 games for City? I stopped reading after that...
Open Controlswhat does Milner playing the last 10-15 games have to do with it?
Open ControlsDid you read his post? The one that i replied to?
His first point was that Milner doesn't get regular first team footballOpen Controlshe hasn't been a regular for city for the last few years but always plays for England - seemed like a fair comment.. or it did to me and funny that you stopped reading because of that
Open ControlsThis is getting even funnier...
"why is James Milner in the side, a couple of years ago yes, but thats when he had regular first team football,"Open Controls
I'd much prefer to see Baines start now. I also prefer Walker over GJ but not a lot in it. Welbeck isn't playing that well imo but not sure who else should start ahead of him.
As for Milner, agree he shouldn't be in the side but I expect he won't be once Walcott is fitOpen Controlslol Walker? He is terrible
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This is why snow is a good thing.
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/580796_368019013312380_1166855427_n.jpgOpen ControlsGerrard and GJ were just so bad throughout that game for 2 supposedly nailed on players in the XI
Open ControlsBaines is nowhere near the defender that Cole is, but I'm not having the idea that he is too slow to be a winger.. What is a winger anyway these days? Baines gets the crosses in with the best... which English 'wingers' actually run past defenders and get as many crosses in as Baines?
Open ControlsPeople seem to think that attacking full backs will automatically make a good winger.
I refer these people to the case of Benny Assou-Ekotto against Fulham last week.Open ControlsControversial, but I'd play Downing there. Square pegs in square holes for once.
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+1 whats wrong with being a left side midfielder? - he pretty much plays there anyway. i'd play cole and baines
Open Controlscan you imagine if United bought Baines
Evra and Baines on the left.
Of course I'd prefer Evra and BaleOpen Controls
Luiz likely to start v Saints?
i want to bring him in GW33, but he's on 9 yc, so if he doesn't and then gets booked in the replay and Chelsea lose, he'll miss 1 of the DGW games anyway.
*sigh* maybe I should play safe and get Azpi or CechOpen ControlsIn case you missed this short presser earlier:
http://sabgffs.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/food-for-thought/Open ControlsPlease do open the Trap Door.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dbAQJIu1oOpen ControlsHe can't come into midfield and play football, we have to play with the kind of movement van Persie and Rooney show at Utd.
Open ControlsRooney as a lone striker was silly decision to start with...
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You wouldn't see Big Dawg getting bullied like that.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmTV62mE1PA
link from comic relief - david brent. Best thing ricky gervais has done in along while.Open ControlsIt would be most helpful if the scouts could whip up a table of total minutes each player played over the internationals
Open ControlsIs Hernandez away on International duty with Mexico?
Open ControlsDifferent crowd on now so want to canvas some new opinions
a) Cech and Sagna
b) Fab and Azpi/Luiz
(if United have the DGW in 33 i may go DDG and Mert)Open ControlsIf United lose 🙁
I may get DDG and Mert, or I may still stick with Fab and Azpi to make 8 in GW33 and 10 in GW36.Open ControlsNo I'll have one or the other
my other keeper will be Boruc
If United have a DGW I'll either get DDG and Mert, or I'll get DDG, Azpi, and throw Giroud in, with Maloney as my bench playerOpen Controls
I'm so wary of getting Fab or Sagna/Jenks in now.
I'm waiting until GW33 before I choose.Open Controls
not a clue who to buy or captain this week!
Open ControlsDid Berbatov play today or was he missing? I can't find any report
Open Controlsdidnt he retire?
Open ControlsIs your SMB 12/13 league all love supreme 😉
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Retired.
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Evening everybody, i've just joined and wanted to see if my team links working. (Noob!)
Open ControlsShut it Noob, grown ups are talking 🙂
Open ControlsIt is indeed 🙂
Open ControlsThanks allot guys
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That grav is a work of genius!
Open ControlsIt is, you have a very...shall we say...consistent history 😛 😉
Open ControlsYeah i know, what can i say, i like to tinker with my team :0)
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England were fortunate to get the point and after the abject second half Dixon was spot on - it could prove a valuable point.
Hodgeson - he packed the side and put pace up top - initially it worked as a great start but as the first half went on there were signs that the Home team were pressing the English midfield deeper and 2nd half that become the norm.
The issue is the volume of players that are not their Clubs first choice, they started well but fizzled out and its not being anti Man Utd but Wellbeck was poor, Clerverly did OK but when pressurized was sloppy, Milner offered very little and where was the Substitutions? Did I really see Ashley Young come on?? The four players named are not regulars for their clubs & whilst the two centre backs were thrown together they did OK.
Point is that surely if players know they are not first choice at club level, their confidence has to be lower than those players nailing 1st team positions and when under pressure a confident player will perform better than a player that has self doubt.....for too many games England have suffered perhaps due to this same issue but why does the Managers constantly select players that are not in form?Open Controls

