Having cast an eye over the Defenders yesterday, we roll out the second in a three-part members series with a look at midfielders. Assessing the key attacking statistics, we analyse the chief creators and major goal threats over the first three Gameweeks of the season.
Quick poll: What major fantasy talent(s) of the past few seasons have you never once had in your team?
Tyrannosaurez Rex for me. Regrettably.Open Controls
The Soldado love seems to be fading?
Got Norwich at home....service should be good with Eriksen and Lamela...he is rated very highly on the RMT.
Sturridge in comparison has Swansea away....decent defensive unit there.....could keep it at 0-0 ?Open Controls
i still have him. he is the focal point of the attack and on pens.
Open Controlskeep Soldado longterm over Studge?
Open Controlsdepends who is number #3 striker and if you have countinho.
Open Controlsi dropped Countinho for Ozil.
got Giroud and BentekeOpen Controls
wouldn't be thinking about transferring in Sturridge until he's fully healthy again
"Gutted I'm not fit for Ukraine. One of those things I guess. God willing I can make it back for Swansea #Godisgood"
https://twitter.com/D_SturridgeOpen Controls
For me, when sturridge is fit he's in my team regardless of fix.
Soldado I will keep until his fixtures decline, unless he does too well to ignore.Open Controls
Ain't going nowhere in my team. People seem to think that just because his 2 goals so far have been from the spot and not open play, he's somehow not at the same level as Sturridge and co. They'll be eating their words while Soldado eats up Spurs' delicious fixtures.
Open ControlsI agree. Spurs are finding their feet but they will score a lot, and being a clinical penalty taker has never been a negative in my book!
Open Controls
Not fading for me. I've got him and keeping.
Open ControlsThe problem with Studge is that he gets crocked way too frequently.....
Soldado seems a tougher character and he's got a very impressive track record.Open Controls
having watched the 21 minutes that lamela played and coupling that with eriksson's arrival and chadli's form on the left, i think soldado should be on just about every teamsheet in FPL.
he's been starved of chances so far this season as spurs have struggled to get in behind defenses and provide soldado with the sort of support and balls into the box from which he most prospers.
hopefully AVB will have had a quiet word with chadli telling him to hug the touchline a bit more and use his pace to get past the right backs rather than cutting in. my own viewing of spurs matches suggests that this has happened, as he spent more time on the wing in GWs 2-3 than in GW1.
lamela is far more disciplined than townsend and lennon and should give spurs more width now that he's looking likely to start.
all signs point to big points for soldado over spurs' great run.
for me, the attacking 8 over next 6-8 GWs must contain:
coutinho / walcott / lamela / ozil / 5.0
giroud / soldado / welbeck
welbeck/coutinho could be replaced with kagawa/sturridge (assuming kagawa starts getting time on pitch) and one of ozil/walcott could be michu, but coverage of liverpool/united is key. 2 ars/tot in there is imo esential.Open ControlsGood points.
I especially like your team of essentials....got 4 or 5 already. Not entirely sure about Welbeck though...Open Controls
I'm all for Soldado too, but I don't see Lamela giving them more width. He'll almost always look to cut back onto his left peg. You would have noticed that by now in that 21 mins he played against Arsenal. Lamela will score more than he will assist, by far.
Open Controlsi agree and yes, i saw him cutting in. i guess that's why his touches in the box were so high for his limited time.
i suppose it's a 6/half-dozen situation for him vis-a-vis soldado if lamela can force a few parries from his shots, leaving soldado to stab in the scraps.
AVB seems to know his tactics, though, and he'll know that getting those crosses in from the wings is a sure-fire way to help soldado prosper.Open Controls
I took Soldado out for Benteke who is .6 cheaper
Instead i bought in Lamela , Lamela is more a scoring than assisting type . Im sure Soldado will do well but had to sacrifice him for RVP Benteke GiroudOpen Controlswelbeck is there because there's no way i can stomach spending 14 on RVP and, until we see evidence that rooney will displace welbeck from the side, his form is enough to suggest that we can build a far better team including legitimate united cover with welbeck.
we really have to wait and see how moyes plays rooney. i'd be interested to get some feedback from united fans on the most likely setup in midfield/attack.
4-3-3 doesn't seem to fit (i think moyes would be looking at fellaini/carrick in a double pivot), so that leaves us with:
4-2-3-1
fellaini/carrick
welbeck/rooney/nani
rvp
(valencia/welbeck rotation; nani/young rotation; rooney/kagawa rotation)
4-4-2
valencia and nani/young flanking fellaini/carrick double pivot
rooney/rvp (with webleck as cover)
4-4-2 diamond (though i understand that isn't used much anymore, right?)
carrick/fellaini rotation
valencia/nani
rooney (kagawa rotation)
welbeck/rvp
4-4-1-1
valencia and nani/young flanking fellaini/carrick double pivot
rooney
rvp (welbeck rotation)
i don't know. the more i look at it the more it seems that welbeck is about to drop out of the starting XI at the expense of rooney/kagawa/valencia. again, united fans: what's your position?Open Controls
Finally done with my final WC draft. Opinions?
Mignolet / Boruc
Vidic / Zabaleta / Coleman / Collins / Chester
Walcott / Lampard / Hernandez / Brady / Mirallas
Giroud Sturridge Soldado
Lamps is my punt in midfield with mirallas given his last few gws to prove to me he deserves a spot. sturridge monitored for a potential switch to benetekker.Open Controlssorry, missed this last night before going to bed
Template Template
Template Template Template Template Template (well done!)
Template TemplateDisappointmentToBe TemplateButTop10,000FinishersNoLikey Template ExTemplatePeopleAlreadyDisappointedBy,GetAt7.4
Template Template Template
Template is fine. Means most people on the site are picking this way and the pick is not controversial.
I like the Mirallas pick, but don't put him in your WC team until his price drops to 7.4 or Saturday morning, whichever comes first (pretty sure 7.4 is coming first; he's 92.7% of the way to a price drop).
I'm good with the Hernandez pick. Like Swansea's schedule until week 17. Just a word of note that people who have finished with high scores in past don't seem to trust him and are just investing for price rise over international break. They seem to believe Michu is the one to own at Swansea, but there is a big price difference.
Not a fan of Lampard. He's 35. Not going to get as many goals as last year (he doesn't bag those kinds of totals two seasons in a row historically). You'd hope he could get as many assists as last year (1). His minutes the last two seasons were around 2000. I don't care how much Mourinho loves him. Fergie loves Giggs, doesn't mean Fergie ever played him 3000+ minutes in a season since he was 35.
Not sure who you'd replace Lampard with. Nolan would be the solid boring pick.
I'd rather Bentenke than Sturridge due to Sturridge fragility, but both are template and fine.
Consider if you want to set aside money and/or develop a plan to get Suarez for GW6 or not while you are on WC.Open Controls
As good as it gets, if you have decided to go without RVP.
Only concern is Mirallas, not particularly sold on him.
Try and get Michu if you can by downgrading the 2nd gk & defence.Open Controlsi got hernandez so michu is a luxury i can't afford. mirallas is on its final life. his stats and chances are looking really good but he doesn't produce. frustration
Open Controls
while you're hoping on Mirallas. he will drop once more if he fails to deliver next game though. soo yeah just telling.
Open Controls
Nice team. Very similar to mine but I've gone for Lambert instead of Sturridge, Evra at the back over Vidic and Yaya as city cover over Mirallas
Open Controls
I'm sure this had been discussed to death lately, but does Kelly/Wisdom become a cheap option into Livepool's defence with GJ out? I haven't been on over the last few days so will have missed all the chat on this.
Open ControlsPotentially yes but which one of the two? Wisdom perhaps... just wondering is rodgers will pull a stunt on all of us and go 3 centre backs. 😛
Open Controlsi think Toure will move over.
Open Controls
Wait for confirmation.
If GJ is out for more than 4-5 weeks, I would wait for the 1st team sheet to see what Brenden does.
There is a chance he might go 3-5-2.Open ControlsCheers fellas, will stick with Mig
Open Controls
RE-POST!
Doosra posted this earlier, thought I'd re-post it as it's too support my home town football club!
OK - A VERY IMPORTANT HEADS-UP.
I am calling on all of you - particularly our betting fraternity - to donate a few pounds to Kettering Town FC. For our punters, all I am suggesting is that you donate the same amount of just one of your average bets. No pain!
For our non-punters - well, you will have more money! Let your conscience be your guide ...
Every now and then, these things happen. There, but for the grace of God, goes our club.
https://www.justgiving.com/local/project/savekettering
Please give generously - but more importantly - give. A pound will do.
Thank you all for your consideration ...Open Controls
Best option?
on WC, doing 5-2-3
Migs,Daniels
Zabaleta Enrique Coleman #4Def #5Def
Walcott #2Mid (Ward-Prowse, Lucas, Pennant)
Benteke Giroud RVP
A--Merts + Collins + Lampard
B--Vidic + Walker (or Agger) + PHernandes
C-Vidic + Ivanovic + Jarvis
D--Evra + Ivanovic + Barkley/WhitsOpen ControlsAppreciate thoughts on my team / transfer plan.
Mignolet / Lewis
Touré / Moxey / Lescott / Chester / Collins
Walcott / Lampard / Whittingham / Ben Arfa / Williams
Benteke / Soldado / Sturridge
1 FT, £6.0m in the bank.
GW4: Sturridge---RVP
GW5: Toure/Lescott---->Mertesacker (Toure is he doesn't play)
GW6: Toure/Lescott---->Man Utd defenderOpen ControlsToure might be back soon if you're lucky. would rather you sort out your backline. Lescott will play for now.. toure is out.. are you okay being without coleman?
Open ControlsDon't see too many cleanies for Coleman in the short term and it feels like I have missed the boat in terms of his price. Hence not too keen on him
Open Controls
Boruc (KelvinD)
Ivanovic Zabaleta Coleman (Chesterc Brayford)
Silva Walcott Nolan Lampard (Colback)
Bony(i know) Sturiddge(C) Soldado
itb: 1.0m
0ft : Miralles > Lampard
anything you would do with this team ?Open Controls
ENR, you are a scammer. How can Ronaldinho not even make the round of 16? #scam
Open Controls
Agreed
Open Controls
Easy you guys. Blame yourselves, I'm a mere lay man counting the votes.
In democracy we trust!Open Controls
Well done on the CL of movies yesterday ENR. It was a blasty blast to have a distraction during an international break that feels as if it's going on forever.
What is this latest competition? I'd like to go back and check out the matches 😉Open Controls
Lost at the bitter end of the previous page:
Quick poll: Which major fantasy talent(s) of the past few seasons have you never once had in your team?
Tyrannosaurez Rex for me.Open Controls
Starting 11 if no financial constraints?
Mignolet
Baines Ivanovic Evra Zabaleta
Walcott Hazard Lamela
RVP Benteke SturridgeOpen Controlswhat a well balanced team. i would Hazard>Lampard tho. just fancy the penalties even more with Hazard on the wings.
Open Controlswith no financial constraints?
at back, think you have to get Vertonghen in there, might replace Zabaleta with Vertonghen
mid, agree on Walcott & Hazard, jury is out on who the third one should be, Lamela or Coutinho or MIchu, but not sure which... leaning toward Michu from now now until GW17, and Lamela for GW18 forward
forward, with price no object, Sturridge will become Suarez (otherwise Sturridge has to become either Soldado or Giroud; not a Sturridge fan)Open Controls
Ah. A Norwich fan.
Some questions.
Hooper going to be better FPL value than RVW you think?
Which do you think will be best: Fer or Snodgrass or Redmond?
(I'm thinking it's Hooper and Fer, but you'd know better)Open ControlsTough questions.
- Hooper long-term and better value.
- Snodgrass long-term, especially away. Redmond more prone to explode and better value.
- Fer to be best overall but not for FPL. Will pop up with the odd goal.
With money:
Bassong (5.0)
Snodgrass (6.4)
Hooper (6.3)
Without money:
Whittaker (4.2)
Redmond (5.0)
Elmander (5.5)Open Controlsno
Open Controls
the first person i encounter that took -8 and still sees a green in OR. put aside where he stands before the green tho 😆
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/55797/history/Open Controls
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5066/q56v.jpg
Morning gents,
I'm on my Wildcard at the moment, and I'm beginning to start thinking about how my team might look come the Saturday morning.
This is how I'm currently looking, but I'm likely to change my mind again.
I plan to play two of Barkley, Brady and Redmond depending on fixtures.
There seems to be more value at the moment in the 6.0 defenders than there does in the 6.0 midfielders.
Any thoughts on this strategy would be great. 🙂
Cheers.Open Controls
My whole commentary hinges upon the RVP debate -- I'm of the contrary camp.
I think 4-3-3 may be viable, but not with a 3-man rotating 3rd mid. I just don't see it.Open Controls
highest ranked player that you knew went without RVP for whole season, last season?
Open Controls
I had my FIRST FPL related dream last night 😳
Open ControlsUmlaut fantasy?
Open Controls
was it ffs related? i dreamed about rbi couple of years ago
Open ControlsInception 😯
Open ControlsActually it was purely FFS related. I was running away from something (I don't know what) and hid behind a rock where I checked FFS and all I saw was posts like NANI!! OMG NANI etc. 😆
Open Controls
I had an FPL related dream on the day before the Premier League started where I missed the transfer deadline and my team was shit...
I didn't miss it in real but my team still shit. :/Open Controls
Was it Mignolet scoring a hat-trick?
Open Controls
Coutinho is the 2nd highest scoring midfielder according to RMT.
That surely can't be right?Open ControlsIt could be. Time will tell
And, it's 3rd. Bale was first when RMT was originally designed for this season 😉Open ControlsYeah but nah I mean after the RMT update few days back which supposedly has integrate the recent form into the crunching numbers.
I though Coutinho would be further down considering his 3 blanks and a rather disappointing performances and stats other than GW 1.Open Controls
I know this team will get slated, but I really like it!
Mignolet Boruc
Vertonghen Evra Riether Mertesacker Ward
Walcott Hernandez Eriksen Brady Ward-Prowse
Giroud Benteke Sturridge
4-3-3 most weeks.
£1.9M in the bank, tempted to do Sturridge to Suarez once he's back.Open ControlsAs I was reading through it, I didn't notice how cheap it was... which I think is a compliment (though who am I, in the end).
Will have some really nice weeks...Open ControlsThanks!
Open Controls
Migno and 4.0 is enough.
Who's your 4th defender? Riether? Fulham got one of the worst defensive record this season.
Davies + Chester rotation is a better bet.
Lamela > Eriksen. But if you want to save up for Suarez then.. okay. 😉Open ControlsYeah Riether. They have some nice fixtures coming up. Plan is to swap him for Williams GW10. And if Lamela starts taking the PL by storm and Sturridge stays on form I could use my money to upgrade to Lamela
Open ControlsAh if that's the plan than okay.
But I would still gonna play around and turn your attention to Shaw / Fonte instead of Riether, since you have Ward (or Gabbidon) anyway.
WHM SWA CPL SWA FUL FUL from GW4-9.
And Southampton's a better defensive team than Fulham.Open Controls
Replace one of these to get RVP
A) Benteke
B) Soldado
C) SturridgeOpen Controlsyou must mean giroud. b or c, imo
Open Controls
Yanga-Mbiwa not much love , good fixtures and Newcastle appear to be sorting themselves out , managed to hold onto Colochini and Cabaye over the transfer window for 4.5 think he resonable choice of centreback
Thoughts?Open ControlsI agree
Open ControlsIf I was going to get a Newcastle defender it would've been 2 games ago, and that's not hindsight talking, honest!
Open ControlsJust checked the season ticker. Seems to rotate nicely with Shaw apart from 2 GWS, between now and GW21. Where they both play top teams. But one team is at home for each GW's
Open ControlsNot convinced yet myself, I would like a few more games to see. I just feel there are better defenses out there offering enough value/cs potential to skip Newcastle for now. I could be wrong of course.
Open Controls
He's in my team.
Open ControlsIs he nailed on?
GW1 he played because Santon was injured and since then Taylor has been suspended.Open Controls
Quick RMT, was planning on going big at the back but have decided to try and get some balance. Couple punts in here too.
Mignolet Etherigde
Vertonghen Vidic Chester Turner Gabbidon
Walcott Lamela Moses Brady Ward-Prowse
RVP Giroud Sturridge/Benteke
What do you think?
Would you go sturridge or tekkers? Ive had sturridge all along and hes done me proud so far, but if he is injured then he is out.Open ControlsTekkers should be way solid if Sturridge isn't fit, and I've a hunch that balance is the way to go and that will bear out as the season unfolds. I would be hesitant about Moses until we see what his role will be and if he'll actually get minutes.
Open ControlsI anticipate moses will start some and come off the bench for other. No way he goes on loan and doesnt play at all. At 6.2 a cameo occasionally for liverpool with their fixtures is not a bad option. Plus, Aspas has looked poor imo, he might be a decent striker but a no 10 he is not! Sturridge central, coutinho no 10 and moses on the left at least until Suarez is back.
Open Controls
Is anyone else playing Brady this weekend because they want to, not because they have to?
Open ControlsMoses anyone?
I know he rotation risk but at 6.2 could be usefulOpen ControlsIf he starts a couple I'll be interested
the next few weeks could be key: so many new players to keep an eye on.Open Controls
Am I the only person round here without giroud?
Open Controls
Not sure yet.
Open Controls
I'm tempted to bring in Benteke this week over him. I'll prob bottle it though..
Open ControlsThat's the missing piece of the puzzle for me.
Which one of the two...Open ControlsTricky isn't it.
I'll be bringing in one of the 2 this week for Dzeko. I think Benteke will score higher this week but Giroud is shirley the better long term option now with Ozil supplying him. Plus, that 0.3 could come in handy..Open ControlsYeah Benteke + 2 x 4.5m OR
Giroud + 5.5m + 4m def
😕Open Controls
Over Giroud that's being supplied by Walc/Ozil?
Open ControlsI think Benteke will score higher this week, but surely Giroud is the better long term option? Now with Ozil supplying, he could rack up a huge tally this season. Plus, he's 0.3 cheaper..
Open ControlsI've looked at it Lt and just over the next 4-5 fixt, and I still can't make up my mind.
I just have a bad feeling about Giroud. Prob since I have never owned him.
Benteke will shirley rack up 20 GLS this season.Open ControlsGiroud I suppose will to.
Open Controls
Why not have both? That's my plan and maybe lukakku if he starts well. 3 big units up front
Open ControlsNo can do.
Need space for Die Vlieende Hollander.Open ControlsKorrek, maar ek gaan nie snags slaap nie.
Open Controls
Sleep is overrated Christina.
Open Controls
RMT over the next 6 says Giroud if that helps...
Open Controls
I don't have him.
Open Controls
Wisdom or Kelly for the next couple of months?
Open ControlsTricky one that , wish knew the answer
Open Controls
Hey, DZ'ers!
In a panic over a totally awful week, I WC'ed. I have a preliminary draft of a team that I would totally appreciate some feedback on. I figured that some of the picks are either too risky or might be jumping aboard people way to early. So, this is why I am running it by y'all.
Mingolet-Daniels
Evra-Koscielny-Coleman-Sakho-Chester
Walcott-Lamela-Lampard-Nani-Brady
Benteke-Giroud-Lukaku
Thanks!Open Controls
As my name suggests, I'm a Spurs fan ; therefore it naturally follows that I detest Arsenal & Chelsea. Now I look at my WC team and it contains no fewer than 3 scummers and 2 Russians !!
I guess my question is......how do you lot "celebrate" a clean sheet, assist, goal from one of your arch enemies ?? Is it a little secret fist pump ? Maybe an even more "disloyal" shout of some description.
It just feels a bit like taking the missus out and hoping she'll end up getting shagged by someone else - does anyone else have this dichotomy of emotions......and if they do, how do they cope ?
(btw - the wife looks like a cross between Koscielny & Mertesacker so I think I could be waiting a long time for my worst nightmare to be realised........)Open Controls
Morning Dzz, how we doing?
5 more days...this intl break has felt soo long 🙁
A: Ivan + brady
B: Koscielny + P.hernandez
I think B is faaar better option but it requires an additional hit...Open ControlsEarly Bird Update
For those who have had a good start this season, this league is for you.
To qualify all you need is to have scored:
67 in GW1
49 in GW2 with no hits or 54 with a hit. More hits equals higher score needed.
48 with no transfers in GW3 or 54 with a hit.
Code is 58-338 for those who pass these three points.
227 qualified. Plenty get knocked out each week.
http://torresmagic.webs.com/earlybirdmillionaireclub.htm for more details.Open Controls
Is Ozil worth 10.0? I used to think so but not so sure now...
Open Controls
