634x258 Members
11 August 2014 6408 comments
Paul Paul
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There may be under a week left under the 2014/15 season gets underway but for many Fantasy managers, the midfield dilemma is yet to be resolved. In the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game, in particular, the player price list has handed us numerous options to consider for our five-man midfields, with ten players coming in at 9.0 or over:

In this, our latest article for members, we take a look at four of the main contenders – Eden Hazard, Aaron Ramsey, Juan Mata and Raheem Sterling – currently on Fantasy radars.

Sterling has netted in two of his last four appearances and, after notching nine times last term, is backed by many to step up for Liverpool after Luis Suarez’ departure. Ramsey’s 10 goals and nine assists in just 23 appearances last season has catapulted the Welshman into the premium bracket at 9.0, with his strike in yesterday’s Community Shield handing us a timely reminder of his talents. Mata (9.0) has been one of Louis van Gaal’s star performers in the role in “the hole” in a new 3-4-1-2 formation, whilst the 10.0-priced Hazard, despite only returning to pre-season action last week, sits in 22% of squads ahead of fixtures against promoted pair Burnley and Leicester in his first two fixtures.

Casting an eye back to last season, then, we delve into the data and compare their respective displays. First up, we assess each player’s creativity and distribution.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

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

    Mata or Silva?

    (I have no other City cover but given how they performed last week it looks like I shouldn't be bothered lol)

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    1. Moe Milan
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Mata..better pre-season and better fixtures

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

        The fixtures are what caught my eye just now.

        Cheers. #ForzaJuve 😛

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  2. mcsteely
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Feeling happy with this one, any thoughts?

    Krul, Mannone,
    Debucy, Wisdom, Lovren, Cahill, Hutton,
    Siggy, Ramsay, Sterling, Eriksen, Marney
    DCosta, Dzecko, Rooney

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    1. The Abusement Park
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I kind of feel like stealing this team 😉 Great team. My only worry is Mannone, with Pantilimon breathing down his neck he is not nailed. Also not crazy about Sterling but he might yet deliver.

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    2. Moe Milan
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Foster is a better rotation with krul than Mannone..

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  3. 50shades of o'shea
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Who is your favourite 4.5m def ?

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    1. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      sunderland def or chester

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

        Being pedantic but SUN's home fix and Hull's Europa is really off putting, although I agree that these are the best of a paltry bunch.

        Yoshida and Wilson look good but neither seem too secure.

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    2. JuveGeordie
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      colo

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    3. The Abusement Park
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      PvA or N Taylor

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      1. 50shades of o'shea
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I heard pva was injured

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        1. The Abusement Park
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Apparently it was precautionary, but I am keeping an eye on it.

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    4. 50shades of o'shea
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers

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    5. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Chester or Colo, but Hull have great opening fixtures.

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  4. UptheBlues
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    will Kaboul or Naughton play at the start of the season for tottenham? And if so how many games do you think they will get?

    because i am unsure whether it is a good idea to put one in my team

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    1. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      swans have bid for naughton, lazio have bid for kaboul

      poch wants to trim his squad.

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

        haha can't believe it, just as put Kaboul and then Naughton in my team...

        Back to drawing board!

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    2. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Dont know which is why I don't think it is a good idea to put one in

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

        i want a tot defender for the first 2 gameweeks at least I'm pretty sure.

        @snake juice if both happen to leave, then who will go in their place to start the season?

        walker still out for a few weeks

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    3. Siva Mohan
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Kaboul.. until they sign a proven CB
      Naughton.. until Walker returns from injury

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

        @ siva mohan

        is there only CB vertonghen at the moment who will play

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

          so are you suggesting that kaboul is a better long term option at the moment?

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      2. saata
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I'm getting Kaboul as well.. Good value for 5m.

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

          yeah i just put him in. but i am a bit scared. just looked at his history and he seems to love getting yellow and red cards

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  5. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    links to budget keepers & defenders rotation spread sheets please..

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  6. Fernando Torres
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Best 4.5M and 4M GK rotating combo

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    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      No 4.0 Is really nailed so they can't exactly rotate with anyone, I guess Krul and Elliot wpuld be yoyr best option at 8.5

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      1. Fernando Torres
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Not foster myhill?

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        1. Nice to Finally Michu
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Also not bad but Newcastle have slightly better fixtures don't they?

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

            Yes and Krul is recovering from saving all those penalties from the WC...

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

      Looks like Krul is the option at 4.5, Bego at 5 at first glance.

      I've gone for the former but pairing him up with Gilks/Hamer rather than Elliot as I think I'm more likely to want to use my 3 NEW spots (perhaps Dummett/Staylor emerges along with an attacker) rather than Krul get injured/sent off. Calculated risk but worth it all things considered I reckon.

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      1. Fernando Torres
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers buddy!

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  7. Nice to Finally Michu
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Here's my question to all of you since I got a split decision of the votes received on my question on the last page.

    Would you play Clyne or Siggy GW because I think if you'd play siggy over Clyne in that matchup then I think im better off going with Evans and Begovic so i have consistent starters each and every week

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  8. Corrigan
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Pretty set, but struggling on my 3rd defender (Naughton atm) and then whether to go for Hendy/Siggy/Punch + Jovetic/Dzeko/Ade OR Eriksen/Lamela/Nasri/Sterling + Wickham/Austin

    Can't call it and wondering what's best for flexibility..?

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  9. Rats Ass
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    What do people think about Vergini at Sunderland?

    He's scored a couple pre season, costs 4.5 and I think Sunderland could be quite resilient at the back, esp with Rodwell class in front of them and Pants / Mannone behind.

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

      Should be good - but Sunderland fixtures not that appealing in terms of cs potential until GW5

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      1. Rats Ass
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers, I'm thinking of having him as a fourth defender, rotating him in for Ward as nec.

        Currently have O'Shea in that role but noticed Vergini pre season goals and thought he might be better choice.

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    2. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      backup CB at best, to brown and o'shea (who are injury-prone anyway)

      love the value of sunderland assets but their early home games are awful

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      1. Rats Ass
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Ok thanks. Maybe I'll stick with O'Shea. Just thought Vergini might get a start given his pre season goals. Must be Sunderland top scorer!

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  10. kingofchicken
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    A)sterling and terry(already got hendorson to cover liverpool if that matters)

    B)ramsey and filipe luis

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

      A

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

    1. Nasri + Mutch
    or
    2. Coutinho + Siggy/Henderson

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    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      1

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

        Trying to keep your RED's to yourself Merseyside?

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        1. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Coutinho is a gun but we need proof of it transferring over to fantasy points first before we pick him imo

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

    moore from leicster, get much gametime? 4.0mil DEF

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

      will supposedly play, so best £4m pick along with Hutton I presume

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

        are people still gambling on Bartley to play?

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

          Too risky..
          Duff seems better choice..

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  13. Fernando Torres
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    A) Foster + Myhill
    B) Krul + Elliot
    C) Green + 4M

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    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Isnt Cesar back at QPR?

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

        Yes, released from loan at Toronto FC back to QPR - I doubt he'll usurp Green though, and wouldn't be surprised if he was off on a free to a Spanish or Italian club before the window closes.

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  14. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    What are your thoughts on Andre Wisdom? Where does he fit in once Gamboa is ready?

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    1. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      well west brom's injuries right now certainly help wisdom's case. he can slot in at RCB as well.

      will definitely start GW1 but going forward, who knows. it really depends on how irvine utilizes gamboa

      sunderland will beat brom anyway 🙂

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      1. 50shades of o'shea
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        This!

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

        I agree. Might be best to start without.

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        1. New Ghost
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          start with hutton and see how the west brom situation pans out imo

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

            I will. Cheers SJ.

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  15. JuveGeordie
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Heres a conundrum for you all!

    GK : Krul/Speroni or DDG/Krul or 4.0M

    However, at the moment, I already have Shaw, Rooney & Mata in my squad - who goes should the general feeling be DDG? I have a half answer in my head but not sure I like the sound of it!

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

      DDG more nailed on starter and cheaper than Shaw. Use 0.5m elsewhere

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  16. Damo.
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Man, Utd fans must be really excited now!

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    1. King H
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why is that ?

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      1. Damo.
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Draw for the 2nd round of the league cup is soon 😀

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        1. King H
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Man u gonna win the premiership.
          You heard it here first

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          1. Damo.
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            Ah that's even funnier than my joke

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    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why?

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

      ...because City lost to Arsenal?

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  17. King H
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    When u build a team.in Rmt .
    Is a score of 323 points after 6 gameweeks good ?

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  18. Fantasy Gold
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    I need 2 rotating defenders for 9 better than Coloccini/O'Shea?

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    1. King H
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Chester Naylor

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    2. The Brit.
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Colo/PVA

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

        This. I have Colo/Wisdom, though.

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      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks.

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  19. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    OUCH!! Just saw Villa's fixtures. GW 4-8.
    Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Everton.

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    1. Moe Milan
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      No more Vlaar?

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  20. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    How much of a gamble would a defence like this be?

    6 mil, or 6.5 whatever's

    Rotating pair of 8-9 mil

    Rotating pair of 8-9 mil

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

      It's good IMO.
      Should do the trick till January when usually team start being consistent at the back..

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  21. Pringle
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    What do you prefer?

    A. Fabregas and Krul+Elliot
    B. Sterling and Krul+Foster
    C. Sterling and Begovic+4.0

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

      C

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    2. Francescoli
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      i love eric.

      i'd go for B

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  22. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Stoke City: Mark Hughes steps up chase for Norwich's Nathan Redmond.

    STOKE boss Mark Hughes has cranked up his summer-long search for a new winger by tabling a fresh bid for Norwich's Nathan Redmond.

    A figure of around £5m is believed to have been offered as Hughes tries to solve his winger vacancy well before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

    - http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/

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  23. SaintBegbie
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    A) Debuchy, Caulker, Ramsey, Coutinho

    B) Lovren, Chambers, Cazorla, Sterling

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    1. Moe Milan
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

        A) Debuchy, Caulker, Ramsey, Coutinho

        B) Lovren, Chambers, Ramsey, Sterling

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  24. thorvaldsson
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Quick RMT

    Krul Mannone
    Baines Ferdinand OShea Wisdom Hutton
    Hazard Mata Ramsey Siggurdsson Huddlestone
    Sturridge Rooney Bojan

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  25. micsway
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    why is everyone going for cahill over terry?

    terry has the superior goal threat...

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  26. JuveGeordie
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    A) DDG/Krul, Debauchy

    B) Krul/Speroni, Shaw

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

      A

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    2. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A, think Debucy is going to do well

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  27. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Rosenior or Chester?

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

      Chester

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

      I'd have said Rosenior

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  28. theBoose
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    who to go with..?

    mata - playing behind rooney and rvp = assists, quality midfielder that has previously produced the goods in the past, on some set pieces, will start majority of the season.

    young - only 5.5 (extra 3.5 in the bank) which allows upgrades elsewhere, has looked impressive in pre-season, potential for gaining extra points under the new baps system.

    already have rooney and de gea.

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

      Juan

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    2. BigManBakar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      You know the answer already. Juan.

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    3. A.T
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Mata

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    4. Geordienufc1
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Juan de Mata

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    5. FantaCity
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      don't think you can really compare the two because of the price difference - it's like comparing hazard with Matic, of course you'd want the expensive player, but i think Young is a steal at that price

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

        cheers all, seems everyone is in the same boat, except fantacity and myself, haha.

        in saying that, it really boils down to this..

        mata + henderson
        or
        young + sterling

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  29. aussie
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    A) giroud + courtinho

    B) jovetic + sterling

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

      B

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    2. Francescoli
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      depends if you have any arsenal or city midfield.

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

        i have ramsey and nno city players at all

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

          B

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    4. A.T
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      B

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    5. SaintBegbie
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      A

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    6. Geordienufc1
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      B

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  30. Stuartalc
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Stuck on the Ramsey or Sanchez question so currently have them both. Not sure if this is the best idea for starting with. Taken the risk on Lamela as well, and hoping Targett starts getting a shot in the Southampton team. Not sure about Davis as my cheap mid though. I did have a forward line of Rooney, Costa and Diouf, but downgraded to get Jovetic. Please RMT anyway.

    Krul, Mannone

    Cameron, Davies, Chambers, Jones, Targett

    Sanchez, Ramsey, Siggy, Davis, Lamela

    Rooney (C), Costa, Jovetic

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    1. mcsteely
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      definitely don't need both arsenal boys. Consider dropping one of them for one of the chelsea mids

      Also foster probably a better pick than mannone, although I quite like him after his heroics last year

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    2. The Abusement Park
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Mannone not nailed, Cameron not nailed, Davies not nailed, Chambers not nailed (and won't feature when Per is back), Targett not nailed.......you get my drift?

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

        Cameron can get swapped for another Stoke defender on Saturday morning after I get a glimpse of the predicted team sheet on the Guardian. I will swap Mannone though, and I understand the gamble in Chambers and Targett. Do you think Davies won't start though? Thanks for the advice.

        What about the rest of the team?

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        1. The Abusement Park
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Look, Chamber will play until Per is back, and I understand the appeal in such a cheap Arsenal defender, so I'm not against you having him for the first few GWs. Davies has strong competition from Rose, I don't see him playing 60 every game. If I did he would be in my team. It's a gamble, in other words, and with the rest of your defense also not guaranteed game time it's a big gamble.

          I'm also really struggling with choosing between Ramsey and Sanchez, and have strongly considered fielding both. But I have decided to only keep Sanchez due to the fact that it's easy to downgrade to Ramsey if I don't see him delivering. Ramsey can't be upgraded without surgery. Lamela is a punt, but one I like given his pre-season. I also have Siggy and Davis so can't fault it. I would downgrade Jovetic (but don't ask me to who, everyone has Boruc, Nuggent is another good option), and maybe get in Cahill to give your defense some strength.

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

            Logic all makes sense there. I'm staying away from Spurs defenders for the minute then, again until I can get a bit more info on who they'll be starting. I've kept Sanchez, changed out Ramsey to Fabregas - though that could change to Mata - and downgraded Jovetic to Diouf from Stoke. Another punt that I'll be checking to confirm he'll start, but I think he'll go on to have a better season than Bojan.

            With the extra money I've swapped in Gibbs for Chambers, just to have some difference from Debuchy who I think everyone in my league has picked. For another defender, what do you make of Jagielka vs Lovren. Lovren is ridiculously popular obviously, but just not sure if I trust that Liverpool backline even with him.

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            1. The Abusement Park
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              Gibbs is another rotation risk unfortunately. But I love him so I would stick with him. Jagielka has awful fixtures right now so I would only bring him in after GW7. Lovren has that attacking flare that I love, but I tend to agree with you on Liverpool's defense as a whole. However, with great fixtures coming up he's hard to resist, I'm considering keeping Debuchy for GW1 - 3, and then switching to Lovren. I would go with Clyne though if I were you, I see big things for him.

              I agree with you on Diouf, and I am thinking of going that route too. Will see how I feel when I see the teamsheet.

              And I would go with Mata based on pre-season form and incredibly easy fixtures all the way to GW7.

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