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The Numbers Game – 2014/15 Review – Stoke City

22 July 2015 2453 comments
James H James H
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Following a successful first season at the Britannia for Mark Hughes, in which he guided Stoke to a ninth-place finish, expectations were high as the Potters headed into the 2014/15 campaign. The former Blackburn boss continued his side’s evolution, bringing in the likes of Bojan Krkic from Barcelona and Victor Moses on a season-long loan from Chelsea, while Phil Bardsley and Mame Biram Diouf added physicality at both ends of the pitch. That balance of style and substance ultimately proved successful, with Stoke finishing in ninth place once again.

In this members article, we will take an in-depth look at Hughes’ second season in charge, analysing the main goal threats and creators and comparing the numbers from the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns under the Welshman.

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  1. Acquafresca
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Didn't Tekkers only score like 3 headed goals last season?

    All this nonsense about him being an aerial player is just rubbish.

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Too slow IMO for modern football

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      1. Acquafresca
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Bullocks. He has pace. He is strong. He is good in the air. Good on the ball

        C'mon Daniel.

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      2. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        What era of football would you think he was quick enough for ?

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      3. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Yeap that's why other slow players like Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni (this season) have also flopped in recent years.

        Here comes the Serie A is crap argument.....

        Can then go on and mention Rickie Lambert Zlatan Ibrahimovic, etc..

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        1. Beavis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Not to mention Benteke isn't even slow.

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    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      5 I think.

      People chat shoite.

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    3. get_in
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      He does score a few in fairness - 4 last season (out of 13) and 5 (out of 10) the season before. That said I've no doubts with a bit of service from a midfield worth a damn instead of long balling it up that he should be good for 15 - 20 this season

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    4. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      If I think of some of his best goals off the top of my head, most of them were goals he largely made himself.

      Skinning of Gary Cahill before slotting past Cech with his weak foot.
      Free-kick top corner, against QPR.
      25 yard (or so) right foot missile, at West Brom.
      Left foot curler in top corner, against Man Utd.
      Powering through centre of Liverpool defence before finishing, at Anfield.
      One of the best team goals of that season, at Anfield. Same game as above.

      Not bad for a limited target man. 🙄

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    5. Heytch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      He's got some crazy aerial duel stats. Not just about goals but style

      I'm not getting caught up in it but you have to at least agree he's a very different proposition to the SSS that worked there

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  2. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Who is staying late to watch Chelsea later? I know I am. Can't wait 4 it 2.

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      What time/channel/team?

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        http://www.flashscore.com/match/nsdEUWg6/#match-summary

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    2. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I would stay if it's City.

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  3. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Nobody punting with Bony?

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Shhh....

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      1. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Ti? 😀

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    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      You might catch something

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    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I don't want to be forced into an early transfer.

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  4. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Having spent 77m and only addressing 1/3 defensive, arguably 4 positions. Liverpool still need a RCB, DM and a cover LB. Won't happen under BR though. Pity really.

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    1. Run of the Milner
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      DM being the most urgent I feel, can take so much pressure off a defence

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    2. Lawrø
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I disagree on the centre backs, as you should know by now I too think Skrtel's a donkey but I actually think Lovren could be a good defender for us as well as the man-mountain Sakho... Ilori and Gomez also waiting in the wings... it doesn't seem necessary...

      As for the DM, we've needed one for a few years now! 😀

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      1. Run of the Milner
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Nah come on now Skrtel's class! Such a presence in the air and always putting his body on the line. But I agree given time Lovren should show his class, Sakho too to a lesser extent.

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  5. DVassell
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A) Milner + Williams

    Or

    B) Payet + Francis?

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  6. It's only Carlton Cole…
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    When West Ham sign another striker are people sticking to Sakho? If not who are you planning to bring in?

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Valencia, Sakho and Carrol is enough attack cover imo

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      1. It's only Carlton Cole…
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I would be surprised if they don't sign another. Carroll out till October and I've heard that before and he ended up playing a handful of games all season. Plus the owners are keen

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    2. Aurora
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Do we know they are signing one?

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      1. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        David Gold confirmed they are looking for another striker.

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      2. Theatre_Of_Screams
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Austin rumours

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  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Brilliant goal by Holebas, but wtf is going on in the goal celebration 😯

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX_m1wgsiLY

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    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Lol

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    2. BRONALDINHO
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Looks like he's being mollested

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    3. Sparrer
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      What the hell?

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  8. Aurora
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Who will be playing striker next season for Arsenal, assuming its still one striker?

    Theo or Giroud? Is Giroud a risk from the start

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    1. Shipstontrev
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      It's Wenger who's the risk, you just can't tell what he's going to do.

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    2. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Giroud, with Wally RW

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    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Giroud or Wally long term.

      GW1, Giroud and Wally should both start. Giroud seems to always do well against West Ham as well.

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    4. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Arsenal's style needs someone up top who can hold the ball up and bring the midfielders into the game. Theo's better for a counter-attacking style.

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      1. Evs
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Like Benteke ?

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        1. 1966 was a great year for E…
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Yep, the way they play atm.

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    5. AlCapwnUK
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Horses for courses.
      Perhaps neither will fully nail the position down - barring injuries moving Theo more permanently into the midfield

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    6. Colonel Klink
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I really doubt it's Walcott. People have been saying it for what, 6 years?

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  9. Zoom Tiger
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    1 - Mane + Giroud
    2 - Walcott + Pelle

    ?

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    1. Run of the Milner
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      1

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  10. Aurora
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Don't people think that once Aguero is likely declared fit for the first game, we will all be changing our teams?

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    1. stilicho
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I never got round to taking him out

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    2. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Rooney / Costa to Aguero / Benteke. No problemo.

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    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      If I don't start with him I won't get him until GW4.

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    4. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I'll leave you to worry about this.

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  11. cheeky_ash
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Chaps.

    This is my 2nd draft after some of your input and a bit of a rejig - 0M ITB!
    =======================================================

    Speroni Butland

    Bellerín Lescott Richards Azpilicueta Targett

    Depay Yaya Touré Wanyama Walcott Hazard

    Benteke Sakho Giroud

    Thoughts???

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      How did you do that formatting?

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      1. cheeky_ash
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        on PC?

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

        Copy and paste

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        1. cheeky_ash
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          yep...

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    2. Harper_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      bellerin, giroud, targett not nailed on
      prefer 8.5 alternatives to Depay and Yaya
      AVilla defence too shaky

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      1. cheeky_ash
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Agree with comment re: Arsenal players...I'jll have a think!

        Depay could be a monster...YaYa may now be let loose in the hole now that Delph has joined.

        AVL defence is poor agree - but a great rotation with West Brom (Lescott)

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    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Very uninspiring. Looks like you've left 5m itb

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  12. Scotty B
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Benteke or Costa?

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    1. cheeky_ash
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      at 8.5M - Benteke - and now a Liverpool player!

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      1. n-doggg
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        the last bit of that sentance is a negative

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    2. kalmoffit
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Both. Costa is settled so him.

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  13. Gazpilicueta
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    New posty posty

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Link?

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    2. New Post
      Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2015/07/22/scout-report-jordan-amavi/

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  14. Pope_marmalade
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Does anyone have any info on Baines injury ?

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  15. Numb
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A. Mata or Depay
    B. Milner or Chadli

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    1. MeloZola
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Deepay/Chadli

      Mata has to prove his starting position to LVG. Which he should have too. Depay will be pushed up top a bit too. Also Chadli just better than milner

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  16. sttewwizza
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Schmaichel / Hammer

    Toby / Richards / van Aanholt / Francis / R.Bennett

    Hazard / Walcott / Silva / Henderson / Anya

    Costa / Rooney / Ighalo

    Big question is:

    A: Hazard, Anya , R.Bennett

    or

    B: Fabregas , Redmond , Clyne

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  17. SanchezBuddy
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Ki + 0.5ITB
    or
    Ritchie, rotatable with Deeney

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  18. Slash
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I read WhoScored.com's take on Wijnaldum and based on pre-season form I think he could be a decent acquisition. Anybody else thinking of him as a punt or going Hendo/Milner for the 7m range MF?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      They're not playing for Newcastle for a start. As of yet I don't see either of them a good pick but I'd have Henderson over Milner.

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  19. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    El Romperedes :

    Courtois
    Huth, O'Shea, Clyne
    Toure, Mane, Cazorla, Hazard
    Benteke, Adebayor, Costa

    Hennessey, Ibe, Staylor, Williams

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  20. Shaw must go on
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Can you make it without Hazard,Sanchez and Aguero???? 🙂

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  21. fuweidavid
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I modified my team:

    Panti/Henn

    Kos/Azpi/Targett/Huth/Saylor
    Fab/Sterling/Hendo/Ozi/Wanyama
    Sakho/Rooney/Costa

    I have JRod+Silva+Haz-->Ronney+Sterling+Fab

    Looks like upgrade 1 and downgrade 2

    But the flexibility is, I can choose whether I go Rooney-->Agu or Costa-->Agu in GW3, then I will downgrade Sterling-->6.5m or 6m

    Like the idea or not?

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  22. MeloZola
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Last one. How badly is the Saints D going to drop off after an amazing season last time out?

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    1. fuweidavid
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I think they will only get 1/2 CS than last season. For me, I have Targett for the first few games

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  23. Gomolon
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Hi everyone, could you RMT please ?

    Butland | Speroni
    Ivanovic | Koscielny | Mings | Bassong | Angella
    Hazard | Walcott | Chadli | Milner | Ki Sung-Yeung
    Roony | Benteke | Deeney

    £0 ITB

    Personally, I'm still trying to decide between Milner or Henderson, and I'm not sure if Ki Sung-Yeung will give me the best bang for my buck (£5.5) for a 5th midfielder. If I drop Ki to Wanayama, and Ivanovic and Koscielny to Azpi and Mertesacker, it leaves £2.5m ITB (enough to do a one transfer Rooney - Aguero upgrade, provided their prices don't shift further apart due to rises/falls)

    Also - best striker for £6.5 or less ? (Sakho/Berahino spring to my mind 1st)

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  24. 11SPECIALONE11
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Cech
    Ivanovic-Koscienly-Clyne
    Hazard-Cazorla-Depay-Henderson-Wanyama
    Costa-Benteke

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    1. Girls like Cars and Man&eac…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      3 Liverpool players is not a good idea with the tough schedule they have.

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  25. buzzkill
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I've been just staring at my team so long now I can't even decide if it's decent or not.
    Would love to hear your thoughts gentlemen...

    Guzan - Schmeichel
    Azpi - Kos - Ward - Targett - Mings
    Walcott - Herrera - Cabaye - Schneiderlin - Silva
    Rooney - Costa - Sakho

    Is no Kun/Hazard ff suicide?

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    1. Girls like Cars and Man&eac…
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Defence and strike force looks great!

      However, I think your midfield needs a major, major makeover brother!

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      1. buzzkill
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks, I really want Walcott and Silva, I can just see Theo exploding at the start of the season.
        Schneiderlin seems decent for 5.5

        That leaves me 13.5 to spend on mids.
        or 14.5 if I downgrade Silva to Sterling.

        What would do you with 14.5 in midfield?

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        1. Girls like Cars and Man&eac…
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I can understand your point with Walcott and I fully agree with you. However, I doubt Silva will score nearly as many points as last season now with Sterling in the side. Not to mention that Silva played as a false 9 in many games last season due to Aguero's injury - and that was when Silva got many of his points.

          I understand you like Herrera and all, but I'd recommend you wait until he nails down a spot in the team, eventually I believe he will he's a class player. But as it stands it's not guaranteed 100% that he will be a starter.

          Cabaye is a good choice. However, I think you can replace Morgan with a 4.5 like Bentaleb or Wany someone guaranteed to play week in and week out to warm your bench. Also that extra 1 from Morgan can take you to the next level like upgrading Cabaye to Siggy or West Ham's Payet who had the second most assists in all of Europe's top 5 leagues only coming behind someone that's out of this planet - Messi.

          I hope I helped you somehow 🙂 even if just a little bit.

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          1. buzzkill
            • 10 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Thanks, mate I really appreciate your thought and the time you took to type this. Honestly I do. I will take your points and go over my team with a fine tooth comb and come back with a title winning midfield 😉
            Payet is a good shout, liking the look of him, might wait to see him play first though but then again when he bangs I want to already be on the bandwagon!

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  26. luckyflames1897
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I am starting up a mini league if anyone is intersted in joining.

    The leagues code is 53668-161744

    Entry is £10

    money to be deposited via paypal waassuupp@btinternet.com (friends and family)

    Or to account no 52228581 sort code 090134 Santander

    if money isn't deposited before 5th August you will be removed from the league

    Depending on entries. will be.

    1st 50%
    2nd 30%
    3rd 20%

    depending on number of entries will try to give a bonus highest gameweek score.

    should get 50 plus easy. Pleaae leave your name as reference

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  27. Rods Funderbyl
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    983-728 CHASING PAPER 2nd season players come join us for a chance to dominate a league

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  28. DuckDuckGoose
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone on Gayle & ighalo ??

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  29. Nikodemus
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A: Sterling / Ki / Costa or
    B: Silva / Walcott / Deeney?

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    1. Nikodemus
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Sorry, Azp should also be in A and Ivanovich in B

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  30. pmletch
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Please RMT & suggest alternatives? 🙂

    Pantilimon (4.0)

    Azpi, Amavi, Francis (Prodl, Steven Taylor) - all except Azpi are for rotation

    Depay, Walcott, Firmino, Payet (4.5)

    Aguero, Ighalo, Costa

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