The Saturday Surgery

This is no ordinary Saturday but, while a Wembley showpiece and the offering of just a single Premier League match provide distractions, we can’t allow ourselves to waver ahead of the penultimate Fantasy deadline of the season.

There is still much at stake throughout the mini-leagues and, indeed, at the very top of the Fantasy Premier League and Sky Sports standings. Wrestling with doubts, suspensions and the continued threat of chop and change amongst the Chelsea and City lineups, Gameweek 37 is far from routine.

As always, we’ve prepared a suite of articles offer some assistance, including last night’s Scout Picks and Differentials. The team news, together with our take on the Gameweek lineups can be found here, while this week’s ScoutCast also has a view on what may lie ahead.

Our Matchday Surgery chatroom is now open for those who require more immediate feedback. The Dugout Discussion on today’s single league match will follow around 12.30, with the Pre-match Preamble stripping off for its warm-up as this is typed.

638 Comments Post a Comment

sando
10 years, 11 months ago
Cazorla or lampard in for michu? Have mata and Theo already.
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Declan-
10 years, 11 months ago
Mata to Lamps done. How bad can it be? 🙂
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1. Epic Fail
  10 years, 11 months ago
  As long as it's for free.
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  1. Declan-
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Nope. I was about to confirm Mata out but I may just get rid of Silva instead. He has caused me nothing but unhappiness
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2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
  10 years, 11 months ago
  😯
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3. Declan-
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Scratch that. Do you prefer Silva or Mata to Lampard?
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4. Dogba
  10 years, 11 months ago
  To be frank, Lampard could be a brilliant transfer this GW.
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  1. Declan-
    10 years, 11 months ago
    I see what you did there 😉
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  2. Mark
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Yep, he'll be going all out for goals. Not sure he'll get the Everton start if he blanks today though.
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    1. Steve
      10 years, 11 months ago
      Mata to Lampard for -4 Mark?
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      1. Mark
        10 years, 11 months ago
        Personally, I wouldn't for a hit because I'd want Mata for the final game which could be must-win. As I mention in the preamble, Rafa might approach today's game with a point in mind which won't lend itself to anything but disappointment given that Villa will settle for that.
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        Steve
        10 years, 11 months ago
        thanks
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    2. Lizard Lips
      10 years, 11 months ago
      All but certain to get the Everton start if they've guaranteed top 4, imho. Can't bring myself to do Fellaini to Lamps for -4. Maybe shouldn't have done Berba to Sturridge.
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    3. Mílanista
      10 years, 11 months ago
      If Chelsea win today they are guaranteed CL football. If this happens surely Lampard will start the last home game?
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    4. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
      10 years, 11 months ago
      Did you get my email Mark?
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      1. Mark
        10 years, 11 months ago
        Yep, I'll get that sorted.
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        Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
        10 years, 11 months ago
        Thanks. I'll shut up. 🙂
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K3lviN
10 years, 11 months ago
Evs, are you feeling under any pressure this week, I've seen a few comments earlier in the week saying "I bet the guys at the top are feeling pressure", but I'm not feeling any and wondered what everybody else was like up there.

I'm just approaching this week like any other, it's so tight, I'm actually enjoying having an end of season battle, hope it goes down to the last week with at least 5 or 6 of us still battling away and only separated by a few points!
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1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
  10 years, 11 months ago
  show off
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2. Twelve years a slave
  10 years, 11 months ago
  there a few gaps right at the top , im 36th and worried about capt
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3. Pratik
  10 years, 11 months ago
  How much time are you honestly spending on FPL?
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  1. K3lviN
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Probably a lot less than some people on here, I've been lucky this year and I know it
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    1. Mark
      10 years, 11 months ago
      We'll throw you an email when this is all over Kelvin - get you and the "big four" covered in some interviews if you're up for it.
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      1. K3lviN
        10 years, 11 months ago
        Yeh definitley
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4. Mark
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Blimey. To be honest, I can't imagine how I'd feel in your position. I suppose you can justify playing it straight and not taking risks but surely you're refreshing like mad to see if any of the chasing pack have made their move with something out of the ordinary?
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  1. Lizard Lips
    10 years, 11 months ago
    I'm 20,000 and can't sleep over my captaincy decision, if I was 1st I think I'd be looking at permanent state of insomnia. It's a blessing I'm not good enough really!
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  2. K3lviN
    10 years, 11 months ago
    I won't even look at what anybody else is doing pre deadline as I don't want it to influence my choices in anyway. I think next week might be the only time I do depending on where I end up at the end of this week. I think come 4pm next Sunday when I'm in the pub with a beer that's when I'll start to get nervous!
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    1. Mark
      10 years, 11 months ago
      Hehe...and Julian will be in the pub on the other side of the world at 4am ish.
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      1. K3lviN
        10 years, 11 months ago
        Yeh I bet! I've been chatting with him on Twitter, seems a decent bloke
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5. Evs
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Nah mate, I've even taken a hit 😯
  
  I'm just playing the game as I've always done, in ml etc and see what happens. Can't influence results. Be different if there was big cash at stake 🙂
  
  I think I'm a little out of it now, but top 3 - wow - close !
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  1. Evans
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Good luck Evs
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  2. K3lviN
    10 years, 11 months ago
    No way are you out of it. If I was only 15/20 points behind I'd still believe. I dropped about 30 points behind Julian a month or so ago and clawed it back in one week with Berbatov (c), nothings over when it's this tight.
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    1. Evs
      10 years, 11 months ago
      I suppose so, captain is key choices as per normal. Could give huge swings.
      
      Especially this week as I think there a few split choices?
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6. Baines on Toast...
  10 years, 11 months ago
  I'm looking for a 50 point differential 😀
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7. La Roja
  10 years, 11 months ago
  so it seems u're chilled about it all
  
  why dont u reveal ur captain here ?
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  1. K3lviN
    10 years, 11 months ago
    I'm chilled not stupid 😉
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    1. La Roja
      10 years, 11 months ago
      nobody said u are mate
      
      but u're kinda contradiciting yourself with ur statements
      
      anyhow, best of luck fella
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8. elkunaguero
  10 years, 11 months ago
  now, why don't you tell us your captain pick for this week?
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9. Gargamel
  10 years, 11 months ago
  It would be a Traversty if you slipped up now
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Dogba
10 years, 11 months ago
So, who to get in for the last 2 GWs? As a Chelsea fan I'm thinking Lamps, but it's hard to judge if he'll play both league games. His potential haul this GW might be worth it though. Logically I'm thinking Caz.

A) Lamps
B) Cazorla
C) Coutinho
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1. Epic Fail
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Id do it, because if he does miss the final game it's because he scored vs Villa, if he doesn't score vs Villa then he will play the final game.
  
  Flawless logic.
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  1. Dogba
    10 years, 11 months ago
    That's my thinking. He'll want to beat it as well, not level it.
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    1. Granville
      10 years, 11 months ago
      I didn't realise Lampard was the player-manager at Chelsea.
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  2. Granville
    10 years, 11 months ago
    He wont necessarily play the final game just because he didn't score against Villa.
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2. Hamstergod
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Cazorla is also a good option as they do have a lot to play for and less rotation.
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Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
10 years, 11 months ago
Tevez > sturridge (-4)

no guts no glory??

or Michu > Lampard and bench Tevez?
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1. /
  10 years, 11 months ago
  The Lampard 1
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2. Hamstergod
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Very risky in the first case.
  Second is reasnoable, and you can get away with it as Man City don't tend to score much.
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3. TorresMagic™
  10 years, 11 months ago
  yes
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FMCrazy
10 years, 11 months ago
Start Remy or Kone?
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1. Hamstergod
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Kone has something to play for, altough just based on the defenses their facing I'd go with Remy
  
  So I guess flip a coin
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Jafooli
10 years, 11 months ago
Michu, Hazard, Defoe, Tevez, Wilson........you are all giving me a headache. and don't mention Sissoko.

Hazard to start
Michu not to start
Tevez to start
Defoe not to start
Wislon to start

That is the remedy.....
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Hamstergod
10 years, 11 months ago
Hi All,
I took a -4 hit to have this team.
Do you think its good to go?

De Gea
Zabaleta, Vertonghen, Sagna
Mata, Snodgrass,Bale,Walcott(C)
Benteke,Tevez,Van Persie

Foster, Maloney,Demel,Boyce

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
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1. Little Dancer
  10 years, 11 months ago
  I have pretty similar. Seems decent and there are always going to be niggly doubts this week but there's only so much we can do.
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@FuzzyWarbles
10 years, 11 months ago
% chance of Oscar starting?
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1. Dogba
  10 years, 11 months ago
  60%
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2. Pratik
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Just put him in your starting 11, and hope for the best.
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  1. @FuzzyWarbles
    10 years, 11 months ago
    was actually thinking of bringing him in for michu, but 60% dosnt sound too appetizing.
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Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
10 years, 11 months ago
Leading ML by 19pts...
Rival and I both have Wally and Bale...I have RVP...

Captain RVP or safe with Wally (in a lead protecting sense)
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1. HuttonDressedasLahm
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Protect it with Theo
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2. drughi
  10 years, 11 months ago
  and he goes captaining someone else and wally gets 2 points 🙂
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HuttonDressedasLahm
10 years, 11 months ago
Play Lukaku(nor) or Maloney (ars)??
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1. Liastro ⭐️
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Lukaku
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  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
    10 years, 11 months ago
    That's what I'm on currently, however I have Bunn in goal
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2. Voodoo
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Maloney
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Pratik
10 years, 11 months ago
Michu to Lampard for -4 ? Yea or Nay

I will be benching Maloney
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1. Declan-
  10 years, 11 months ago
  YES!!!
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Liastro ⭐️
10 years, 11 months ago
Bale or Walcott or RVP as captain?
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1. Yome
  10 years, 11 months ago
  RVP
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2. drughi
  10 years, 11 months ago
  bale
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3. Little Dancer
  10 years, 11 months ago
  I'm going Walcott but it's a huge dilemma.
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/
10 years, 11 months ago
So literally 2 minutes after I sell Hazard, a tweet from physio room appears to tell me Hazard is 100% fit.

**** off.

I'm leaving FPL right now. I'm deleting my account.
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1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
  10 years, 11 months ago
  🙁
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  1. /
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Thanks Bemba
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    1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      10 years, 11 months ago
      😆 😆
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2. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Doesn't mean he'll play. Probably won't. Why risk him?
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  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
    10 years, 11 months ago
    ^^This
    
    Last two games he's gone off early with the same injury. He won't be risked IMO
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3. elkunaguero
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Link?
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Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
10 years, 11 months ago
Morning fellow FPL'ers!

I'm in squad rotation hell! Should a -4 to get rid of one or stick with this?

DDG (ANdersen)
Baines Zabaleta Mertesacker Vertonghen
Walcott(c) Mata Bale(vc)
Aguero Tevez Sturridge

Subs: Michu Maloney Pearce

Mata/Michu -> Lampard/Felliani/Coutinho
Aguero/Tevez -> Ade/Benteke

Any thoughts guys. 20 points ahead in my cash ML.
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1. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Michu out first...
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  1. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Isn't he back again now? If not this week then probably for next week against Fulham(h)?
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mgrea
10 years, 11 months ago
Hax

FFS
123
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Lizard Lips
10 years, 11 months ago
THE CAPTAINCY CURSE

Pick RVP
I'm simply not convinced on the attitude of the United match, and whether RVP will play more than 60.

Pick Theo
I'm convinced United will go all out attack and RVP plays a full match netting a hat trick.

Seriously, this is hurting my head! What are those with RVP and Theo doing.
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1. SpinyNorman [*_*]
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Sturridge.
  
  Fulham conceded 4 to one of the worst teams in the league.
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  1. Baines on Toast...
    10 years, 11 months ago
    look at their other results lol
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2. Hamstergod
  10 years, 11 months ago
  I'm going Theo, more to play for. He does tend to disappoint more than RVP in these situations but what the heck 🙂
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Mavric Marco
10 years, 11 months ago
new post
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Sheepman01
10 years, 11 months ago
Need help in my head to head league semi finals!
Begovic Vs. Begovic/Foster
Zabaleta, Wilson, Vertonghen Evra, Gibbs, Cameron/Davies/O'Brien
Santi, Bale, Walcott (c), Yaya, Oscar Bale, Lampard, Yaya, Carrick, Gerrard
Rodriguez, Tevez Benteke, Lambert, Tevez
Fabianski, Kone, Davies, Harte Don't know his subs/1 transfer

Already used my free transfer, any hits worth taking? Need to win
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1. Sheepman01
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Well the spaces didnt come out as intended there...
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2. Sheepman01
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Begovic Vs. Begovic/Foster
  Zabaleta, Wilson, Vertonghen Vs. Evra, Gibbs, Cameron/Davies/O’Brien
  Santi, Bale, Walcott (c), Yaya, Oscar Vs. Bale, Lampard, Yaya, Carrick, Gerrard
  Rodriguez, Tevez Vs. Benteke, Lambert, Tevez
  Fabianski, Kone, Davies, Harte vs. Don’t know his subs/1 transfer
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  1. La Roja
    10 years, 11 months ago
    reported
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richardpwbarnes
10 years, 11 months ago
Giggs is in done
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Burly - swear i wont ever (…
10 years, 11 months ago
Who is more likely to be rested, Hazard or Mata?
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1. richardpwbarnes
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Hazard
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sando
10 years, 11 months ago
cazorla or lampard in for michu? Have mata and Theo already
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1. mgrea
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Lamp
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2. richardpwbarnes
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Zola
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Del Griffith
10 years, 11 months ago
Big decision, any comments welcome, thanks, cant decide on....

Hazard to.....

A>Lamps
B>Fellani
C>Coutinho

Already got Wally Mata Bale and its for a 4 point hit. Rival has already taken a 4 point hit and I'm 20 infront

Lamps is a rotation threat next week but is going for the Chelsea scoring record
Fellani has not scored or assisted in 5...not good: 2,3,2,3,3 but can be explosive
Coutinho is going to be Mr assister for Sturridge against a poor Fulham and has a good fixture next week against QPR

Plenty must be in the same position here, any comments? Thanks !
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Indio
10 years, 11 months ago
How come so many posters say they know who their ML rivals are captaining?

(I've got wafer-thin lead in my ML, and wish I knew what my rival was doing!)
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1. Chrissy Waddle - 2023/24
  10 years, 11 months ago
  They don't for sure. But their are obvious choices based on their squads.
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2. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
  10 years, 11 months ago
  A lot of people on this site are apparently clairvoyant. They can see the future as well. 😉
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Burly - swear i wont ever (…
10 years, 11 months ago
Has anyone ever created a spreadsheet or anything for figuring out who your rival had transferred in based on his new team value on the right hand column of the page, and the team value of the players you can see on their team sheet?

There is a way of figuring it out albeit a bit tedious right?
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Wings of Steel
10 years, 11 months ago
RVP v Walcott

Consistency roughly equal
Form - equal
Fixture - Walcott by a long way

There is also the slight possibility that some of RVPs game time will be stolen
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1. Indio
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Nice analysis, but just settled on RVP so wish I hadn't read it!
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2. La Roja
  10 years, 11 months ago
  agree
  
  there will be too many emotions tomorrow
  
  I went for Theo
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3. Baines on Toast...
  10 years, 11 months ago
  theo plays last 😀
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4. MCH
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Wish you had posted this at 1131. Making me doubt myself!!
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asyrafdanial
10 years, 11 months ago
Aguero > Dzeko anyone ?

worth or not ?
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1. Joga Bonito®
  10 years, 11 months ago
  No.
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2. Dr Dream
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Do you think Aguero will need a rest after playing one game in a row ?...I bet Mancini does.
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hillbillypete
10 years, 11 months ago
rival has made his transfer and his team value has gone down 0.8........sold michu hasn't he?
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1. Gamoriola of the Galaxy (Eu…
  10 years, 11 months ago
  Bingo
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  1. hillbillypete
    10 years, 11 months ago
    yet he has spent money on his transfer....so someone between 7.5 and 8...any ideas?
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    1. Konig Luther
      10 years, 11 months ago
      fellaini, arteta, oscar
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Thomass
10 years, 11 months ago
I've actually put 20 teams in and 3 groups
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1. Konig Luther
  10 years, 11 months ago
  why you don't have ranking between gw7 and gw15?
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  1. Thomass
    10 years, 11 months ago
    Because I deleted it
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  2. MCH
    10 years, 11 months ago
    I've never seen that before so weird!
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Baines on Toast...
10 years, 11 months ago
Right, Mata to Lamps is happening. Hopefully Kone manages something at Arsenal.
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