Podcast
14 August 2014 7186 comments
Mark Mark
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A new beginning. On the eve of a new campaign, two grumpy middle-aged has-beens gather in a studio to recall the summer’s feast of football and look ahead to another Fantasy season, full of hope.

There’s no frills. No live video cast. No special guests. Just Granville and I, stripped back and almost unplugged.

Don’t let that put you off, though. Even with our limited powers we at least attempt to cut through the issues currently rattling around in the minds of Fantasy managers.

We assess the Old Trafford revolution, the world without Suarez and the merits of the three-man strike force. We slice through the current transfer trends and weigh up matters such as the Sigurdsson/Bojan rotation, Fagregas vs Hazard and the Chelsea back four conundrum. We also manage to warm up with a nice little argument about the Alexis Sanchez bandwagon – the traditional pre-season barney.

Be there at the birth via this link, or witness the new dawn via the handy player below.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. Painter
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Can't decide on vlaar, Kelly or Chester (will be playing as 3rd defender)

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    1. Abusement Park
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      chester

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    2. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Chester

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  2. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just read Tony Pulis has left!!! No Palace players in my team now!!!

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    1. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      U & everyone else.....

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  3. Fernando Torres
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lovren or Debuchy

    Terry or Cahill

    Thoughts

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Debuchy and Cahill is what I have.

      But considering terry

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    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Dt

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    3. waitinginthelonggrass
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Debuchy and Terry

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  4. Schurrle you must be joking
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    DeGea / Mannone

    Ivanovic / Coloccini / Taylor / R James / Dann

    Ramsey / Lamela / Coutinho / Barkley / Mutch

    Dzeko / D Costa (c) / Welbeck

    Anyone care to slaughter this setup for me, please?

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    1. Your Man With The Hair
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Get dzeko and welbeck outa there

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  5. @ocprodigy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Manchester City are going to be the cause of many wildcard triggers.

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    1. Nabs Kebabs
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      lol unlikely

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      1. @ocprodigy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        As soon as they start free scoring/Aguero returns, wildcards will be going off like crazy.

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        1. Nabs Kebabs
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          or you could just buy aguero for 4 points... unlikely he'll start a game till week 3 or 4 anyway.

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          1. @ocprodigy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Not so easy in most teams tho! And I hope so I'm braving out Dzeko + Jovetic.

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  6. Cooper123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    As I suspect a number of others are, I'm struggling between Giroud and Dzeko;

    Giroud:
    - Arsenal tend to be quick out the blocks
    - They looked sharp in the CS, moreso that City
    - Giroud himself scored a wondergoal whereas Dzeko seemed sluggish
    - Giroud got 30 points more last season

    Dzeko:
    - City score a lot of goals at home, even against big teams
    - Dzeko scored the same goals as Giroud last year in 1000 fewer minutes
    - Dzeko has secure place in the team for a while
    - City will turn it on after last weekend, the league matters more

    Also for me personally:
    - Having Giroud would mean having 2 attacking players from United, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Is this excessive and going to restrict my team's performance?

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    1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Giroud

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    2. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Toss a coin. Going Giroud myself.....arse normally quick starters.

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      1. Owd Big 'Ed
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Will he start? Are you having any City 'coverage'?

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        1. CarelessGenius©
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          No. Am nervous but would only consider Dzeko. They might hammer the toon. But arse v Pulis-less Palace......

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    3. Abusement Park
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Dzeko.
      I went into last season thinking Arsenal would be quick out the blocks, but they lost 3-1 to villa.

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    4. Grimmaldi - Send in the Clo…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I've gone for a City striker (Jovetic) myself, it isn't that Giroud is a bad pick it's just that City have the capacity to absolutely demolish teams home and away.

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      1. Rhinos
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Arsenal quick out of the blocks? They haven't won opening game of season for 5 yrs

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        1. Grimmaldi - Send in the Clo…
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          That's true enough but I try not to read too much into statistics such as that, for some reason it seems a bit flaky. More coincidence than a true issue.

          I certainly believe you can get better Arsenal players elsewhere than Giroud - I've gone for Ramsey as he seems a pretty much guaranteed points gatherer.

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  7. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    i think ppl are really missing a trick ignoring the new bonus points system and how keepers will be affected. the budget ones kept pace with the premiums with the help of baps and fully expect them to get less this season. Remove the bp points from their scores and they aint so pretty any more. DDG go zero bps last year and fully expect 0 this year. Outscored most budget GKs by 10+ points once you take out their bonus. and that was under the moyes regime with just 12 CS's

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    1. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Good point

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    2. Cooper123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Good point. There's still the additional save points though.

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      1. Ryan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I'd expect DDG to make plenty of saves with their current defence.

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        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          this

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      2. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        most budget keepers made say around 2.5 saves a game based on the fpl website except for a few exceptions which made 3. just about 10 points in difference in the end between saves made by mannone and saves made by DDG for eg

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          To put it into perspective, De Gea got 20 save points in 37 games. Mannone got 32 in 29 games. That's more than double the rate of DDG. Top keepers tend to get stranded on 2 saves A LOT

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    3. Ryan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yep I fully agree with this. Bps will affect GKers badly so now its more about clean sheets.

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    4. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'm not expecting much better if they don't sort out the defence. Playing the three stooges will be very leaky imo.

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      1. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Not to mention he hardly outscored Mannone after removing his lost baps and he only played 2/3 of a season.

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        1. Valar(Keith)
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          the odds of picking a mannone esque keeper this year from the start is very low. they normally show themselves later in the season. even mannone has doubts

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          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Yes, but there is ALWAYS a cheap keeper or two that emerge and getting DDG will make you hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. You'll miss out on masses of price rises and likely similar points.

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        2. Ryan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          United will be a different beast to last season though. I think Van Gaal will have better defensive management.

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          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            From what I've seen in the last couple of games I am far from convinced. You've hardly improved your defensive personnel, in fact it's probably worse, and 3 at the back has never worked for the top teams in the PL (I've seen plenty of problems reminiscent of those that troubled City and Liverpool playing the system)

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          2. Nabs Kebabs
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            feel like your contradicting yourself a bit here..slammed their defence above but still still think they'll be a different beast?

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          3. Sean.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I'd be surprised if DDG wasn't the top points scoring keeper by GW8

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  8. Your Man With The Hair
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry if this has been askee a hundred times already, on holidays and only catching up now,

    Is JEvans an injury doubt for tomorrow then? What happened him?

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Has a knock. Could still play

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      1. Grimmaldi - Send in the Clo…
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        But Jones is a better option for the security of starting.

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  9. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A) sturridge, Henderson, marney and Bruce

    B) bojan, hazard, sigurdson, naylor

    B looks better but think Liverpool will smash

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    1. The ghost of a Pug's g…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Anyooooone?

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    2. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B

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    3. Grimmaldi - Send in the Clo…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I don't think it's worth weakening your team to such a degree to get Sturridge in - B

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  10. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Cahill is 100% nailed, right?

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    1. Cooper123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes.

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    2. Your Man With The Hair
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      110

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    3. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Would have thought so but.......

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    4. The Chosen One...
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I don't think anyone in the Chelsea defence is 100% nailed on. Although I would say Cahill is 90%

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  11. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone cares to share an uber defence

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Wisdom. Moore. Hutton. Bruce. Chester

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      1. Christina.
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        lol

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        1. Exilizer
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          What?

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      2. Exilizer
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Looking good. 5 way rotatiob?

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      3. CarelessGenius©
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Like it. Bent, Crouch & Bojan up top then?

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    2. thattreblefeeling
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      mine as it stands is

      Bego/Krul Terry/Debuchy/Chambers/Blackett/Baird

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  12. Always (C)ane
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    front 8

    Ramsey Mata Fab X X
    Rooney Costa X

    which one guys?
    A. Sterling Siggy Bojan
    B. 4.5mid Siggy Dzeko/Giroud + 1m for upgrade def
    C. Young Siggy Dzeko/Giroud

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    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B!

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  13. The Dude
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Has anyone ever bought a fantasy team of their friend (or ebay!) because it has an awesome rank history? My friend with a history of 950th, 4500th & 1300th is not playing fantasy football and is trying to sell it to one of us. Surely no one would buy this?!

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    1. Lazarus Star
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I admire his optimism of a business venture....but I'm out. No season has ever been one with a team selected on day 1. FPL is a dynamic season long game.

      is he offering a service where he suggests transfers and substitutions gw by gw?

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  14. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Best fillers here chaps?

    A) Nayler, Mata & Dzeko

    B) Clyne, A Young & Sturridge

    Krul, Elliot
    Terry, xxx, Rio, Wisdom, Hutton
    Hazard, Ramsey, xxx, Siggy, Marney
    Rooney, Costa, xxx

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      A

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    2. TheOneAndOnly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      b

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  15. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    anybody got that rotation spreadsheet link?

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      1. Birds of Prey
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        http://allthingsfpl.com/2014/06/fantasy-football-rotation-pairs/

        two should make your head hurt

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        1. Moin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks!

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      1. Moin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks bro!

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  16. super zlatan
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Siggy owners...u starting him vs united?

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    1. Exilizer
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Nah. Benched.

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    2. Christina.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I don't own him.

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      1. super zlatan
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Neither do I. (At the moment)

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      2. Nabs Kebabs
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        😯

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        1. Christina.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Much bigger fish to fry.

          😉

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          1. Nabs Kebabs
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            cue siggy playing in the hole and scoring against depleted united def

            😉

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            1. Christina.
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Siggy will be a classic FFS bandwagon.

              Everyone is caught up in the "hype".

              Crash and burn baby.

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              1. Christina.
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Same with Dzeko.

                Let's just say mine is different.

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                1. Nabs Kebabs
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  agree with dzeko..have him atm but been looking at a replacement all day..thinking austin and beef up elsewhere

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    3. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yep, fancy Swansea to score at least 1.

      3-2 United (Rooney x 2, Young, Siggy, Bony)

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    4. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      i have him in my team but not sure against united..so thinking of henderson for 1st week...
      Is henderson going to start...?

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      1. Abusement Park
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        yes

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    5. Abusement Park
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yes

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    6. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes. And I've got Rooney+Mata as well.

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    7. waitinginthelonggrass
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Bench

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    8. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Switched him for Young.

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      1. super zlatan
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        U have mata and Rooney too careless genius?

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        1. CarelessGenius©
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I do. Had DDG but waiting to see if the cleanies come before getting a Manu def. young too tempting at 5.5 and not sure about Siggy.

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  17. Exilizer
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    would people tend to agree that if Cameron doesn't start this week he will become a regular starter regardless?

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    1. Birds of Prey
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      he's versatile played an outside mid even off the bench in the WCup.

      he had 3000 mins last season so yes

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    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes.

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  18. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    So this is the point at which I resist the urge to knee jerk Ward out.

    Partly because I have nobody else I want at 5.0.

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    1. Red Devil Swede
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Chambers.

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    2. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Caulker?

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  19. The Chosen One...
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Giroud to get a brace against coach less Palace

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  20. Reckoner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A or B for you chaps:

    A) Ferdinand -- Pelle -- Krul (as 2nd keeper to Bego)
    B) Wisdom/£4m def -- Dzeko -- £4m keeper

    Cheers for the help.

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  21. Owd Big 'Ed
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Caulker, Ward, Clyne or Pieters?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Clyne.

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    2. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      caulker

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  22. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    TM™? I am looking for:

    Eunuch Jelly
    Saniul
    Wakey
    Coldplay
    Siva Mohan
    Spondon Basu, and
    Demented Flamingo

    Thanks. 🙂

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Check letterbox.

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    2. Dr Dream
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      That was lucky...on my hols but just found a wifi spot...

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  23. Mr Chadwick
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Clyne a better option than Ward now Pulis has gone?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes. And Fonte even better.

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    2. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Wouldn't touch SOU early doors....

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  24. Slyder93
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A

    Foster / Krul
    Wisdom / Cahill / Caulker / Kelly / Bruce
    Ramsey/ Hazard / Henderson / Eriksen / Wanyama
    Sturridge / Rooney/ Bojan

    2.0mill in the bank

    B

    Wisdom / Cahill/ Debuchy / Lovren/ bruce
    Ramsey / Siggurdson / Eriksen / Sterling / Wanyama
    Costa / Rooney / Dzeko

    any suggestions?

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  25. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Already got Rooney. Do I get Mata too or spend the cash elsewhere?

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    1. Overlordleo
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Get Mata

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    2. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Get mata.

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    3. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      get him... will be getting more assists..!

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  26. Overlordleo
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A) Playing Caulker nearly every match.
    B) Coloccini + Van Aanholt rotating.

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  27. Lallana_
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Best 8.5M striker or cheaper, and why?
    Leaning towards Dzeko at the moment...we all know how attacking City are

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    1. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yes if Dzeko is going to start for sure...if not Giroud or me...

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    2. Abusement Park
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      jovetic

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  28. Nolberto Solano
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Poll: Best 4.5 mil defender out of the below

    A) Naughton
    B) Kelly
    C) PVa
    D) Naylor
    E) Cameron

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    1. Birds of Prey
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      chambers

      Naughton if he makes week 2

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      1. Nolberto Solano
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        So chambers for short term? Heard he will only play in GW1

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    2. ChampionoftheWorld
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      PVA followed by Naylor

      Others not really

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  29. Kevtheotter
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Finish my defence

    Cahill Clyne and 13m to spend....GO!

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    1. Overlordleo
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Coloccini + Van Aanholt rotating and a 4 mil.

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    2. Birds of Prey
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Chambers Naughton Wisdom

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      1. Birds of Prey
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        those are also good more permanent

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    3. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      jones baines

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  30. Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Who is going with 3 *4.0 in defense? Do u trust this defence.. Terry clyne (Hutton, moore, duff?)

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    1. Birds of Prey
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      get .5 from keepers gonna be tough otherwise

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