from the previous post:

OK, there will be a thousands of of questions about Lukaku replacement:

- Lambert - he'd be most popular choice I guess, but Soton have just signed a new striker, Osvaldo. He may limit Lambo's minutes somehow, but I don't think it is the main "minus" of this. J-Rod or Ramirez to be dropped first IMO. But Lambo's potential can be cut, as Osvaldo will be scoring and assisting.
On the other hand, Lambert should keep his penos and FK duties. And Osvaldo may not jump into the team just like that.

- Giroud - as Arsenal haven't signed any new striker, he is the obvious nailed on one in the CF position. Plus as we saw tonight, he is on penos now when Arteta out. But Arsenal as a team is a main concern here IMO. Plus most of us have Wally and may not be keen to double ARS attack.

- Dzeko - he was VERY unlucky not to score vs N'castle. He had 8(!) shots and he was really great in that game. But still there are other class players waiting in the line to get their chances. Especially that Negredo was good for that just couple of minutes and he was denied a right goal. But City is in an amazing form and fixtures are incredibly favourable for them. But will he start? If so, I doubt he will start both Cardiff and Hull games.

- RvW - Hooper and now Elmander are knocking in the door for the spot. I can see some rotation here unless one of them shows some incredible form.

- Bony - he has too tough fixtures for me for now. Plus he hasn't even been a starter in the opening game.

Have I missed something or somebody here..?

From the FPL status page "After review of TV footage and the game rules an assist has been awarded to Eden Hazard as his shot was saved by the goalkeeper and a goal was scored from the rebound."

"@GuillemBalague 2m
The Bale deal will confirmed in the next few hours"

Just thoguht I'd share from my new blog:

To WC or not to WC?
( may as well keep with the Shakespeare theme)

This is a short article on my philosophies concerning the elusive, or not-so-elusive for some, wild card that seems to dominating recent discussions on the EPL Renegades facebook page. And for good reason really, it’s always a hot topic and one that should be given deep thought before using. I will delve into reason as to why it should be used and reasons why it shouldn’t be used.

Why and when it shouldn’t be used:

1. When 2-3 three of your big hitters don’t return: this GW some big hitters that we all expected to come away from their games with point simply didn’t. The key here is patience and don’t knee jerk. Players like Coutinho, Mirallas and Walcott didn’t get the returns we all craved. If you have a quick look at the stats and engage in some personal analysis, you will realise that these players are likely to return in the next few weeks with their kind fixtures.

2. When the market is not volatile: Playing the prices in FPL is just like the stock market. The more managers trade a player out/in, the quicker their prices will decrease/ increase. This first GW has not been a volatile one. Meaning prices are not fluctuating like they will in the next few weeks in my opinion when ‘value’ players begin getting returns and begin turning into ‘bandwagons’. I have seen people talking about the winner of last season using his WC before GW2 but the difference between this season and last season is that the market in GW1 last season was very volatile. We had managers scrambling to get players in like Hazard and Michu. We don’t have such circumstances like that this time. If you go to this website, you start to get some idea of what I am talking about: http://totalfpl.com. Michu and Hazard’s prices rose by 0.3 in the first week. No players have risen past 0.2 yet this GW and none will by the beginning of the next. So far only Seamus Coleman, Ross Barkley and Luke Shaw have risen by 0.1. Coleman needs another 56% of his cut-off to rise another 0.1, thus pocketing 0.1 yourself. Coleman will be lucky to pocket this for you. Barkley needs another 25% or so to rise 0.2 for the week thus you pocket 0.1 for the week. Barkley might get increase your team value by 0.1, but there is question of whether he will retain his spot once Gibson. I wont even ask if this is worth a WC.This is not a volatile game week so I suggest you don’t use your WC yet for these reasons. I’m not suggesting you don’t use your wildcard at all; there are other reasons you might. But if you have used your wildcard to ‘make money’ already, then you have made a big mistake.

Why and when it should be used:

1. When the market is volatile: you will know when it is volatile. When players like Coutinho, Walcott and RVP all score hattricks in one GW (or something to that effect then it is volatile) and 10,000 managers trade these players in in the first 2 hours each, then that is a volatile player market and that is when it would be a nice idea to WC. If you just follow totalfpl.com or fiso.co.uk, you will get a feel for the market and when it is best to be used. There is definitely a craft (I don’t use the word ‘art’ in these instances) to it. Familiarise yourself with the literature and you will eventually get a feel for the market and when it is best time to use the WC.

2. When there is a double gameweek: If you have wildcarded to get rid of your DGW players before the GW3 blank then I guess I can forgive you. But if you were smart, you would know only 4 DGW players would have been viable (3 chelsea and Benteke) thus the WC would not be needed to offload these players. Careful planning is all you would need maybe a hit or two. But yes, saving your WC for a DGW later on in the season is a very intelligent thing to do. As with most seasons, DGW’s present themselves later on in the season due to reshuffling of fixtures due to European commitments. It happened last season and WC’s decided mini leagues and overall rankings for some.

3. Before International Breaks where teams have the weekend off: This is probably the time to use it if you intend on using it early on in the season. If you can time this with RVP in before GW4 and the closing of the transfer window you are laughing. Between GW’s 3 and 4, there is an International Break where you will get two weeks to ‘play the market’. You can get those players in just before they increase and pray they increase by 0.2 and sell them for someone else. I have had success with these international breaks past, but I have also experienced failures.

4. Once the transfer window has closed: The transfer window closes on 31st August. WCing after the window closes gives you some scope to analyse signings make the adjustments required to accommodate those signings, fixtures and form of the players. WCing in GW1 seriously hinders the potential if you getting on these last minute signings. There are still big hitter clubs looking to sign players (Arsenal for one). Waiting to WC between GW3 and 4 looks ideal.

5. If you’re team is completely crocked: If you had Koscielny, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlein, Steklenberg, Szczesny, Lukaku, Jovetic, Kompany and Steve Taylor then WCing now would be a wise move.

Conclusion: if you are hell bent on using it early, do it after GW3 and before GW4 to beat the transfer window and scope signings, play the market in the international game week and to get RVP for Crystal Palace and Man United’s subsequent good fixtures. Or save it for a future double GW.

I just made my FT while laying prone on an acupuncturist's table, with assorted needles stuck in me and some bloody machine giving me electric shots.

IF THAT DOESN'T GET RESULTS THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TRY NEXT!

DZ.....

Cant believe the number of Lukaku > Dzeko transfers.

Okay it might pay off in the short run, but you are surely going to be in the same predicament in the weeks to come.

honestly think Haz>Silva is a better play

who will be your C in gw2?

This game is a marathon, not a sprint.

Other than Lukaku, which is understandable as it was always a punt, the top transfers out so far are Koscielny, Snodgrass, Mata and Luiz.

People need to remember the season is 38 weeks long. Over the course of the season all 4 of these players will score big.

I had an Ok first week, but made mistakes. Finished on 80 points, but had Coleman on my bench, who didn't come on. I also have Koscielny, Downing and Walcott, who didn't score big. Despite having a plan for the first few weeks my initial knee-jerk thought was to ditch Walcott and drop my plan. But I've had to take a step back and not react to one poor result and I think Arsenal justified that last night.

As it stands. I will not be making any transfers this week and save a double for next week.

144,000 people have used their first GW transfer to sign Barkley, who isn't a nailed-on started for Everton!!

Stay disciplined folks!

Mauricio Pochettino: "We've achieved what we wanted to achieve in the transfer window, improving out first eleven"

Not the endorsement Lamberts owners would be looking for