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22 July 2015 2453 comments
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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.

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

    How r we looking with this lot?
    schmeichal. Hennessey (hopefully wba)
    azpi Merresacker. Oshea. 4.5 Saylor
    hazard Walcott depay mane Wanyama
    Rooney Benteke sakho

    Kun to come in somehow gw3
    Any advice on who spare 4.5shd be....currently on collocini
    Thoughts?

  2. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Bolasie or Cabaye??

    1. Harvey 1950
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I think Bolasie will be more fun to own!

  3. Huddersfield
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Guzan Hennessey
    Iva Kos
    Milner Silva Ozil Fab Mané
    Rooney

    + 2 of Ade + Bertie + Clyne every GW ???

    Top OR Flop

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Where are your other strikers? Are they just 4.5 filth
      This seems madness..

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

        Adebayor & Hooper

  4. Sverdet
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Azpi/Kosc and 4.5 defender, not oshea
    or
    5.5 def and cedric

  5. passdpuck
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    best 4.5 defender option?

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Huth or someone from Sunderland once we know who will start

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

        Huth Coates for me

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

      Francis, Huth, Coates/Kaboul, Whittaker. Generaly try to rotate NOR-WAT-BOU

  6. The Hindu Monkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    People seem to argue over defenders no matter who you pick. As such, please just assume I have Ivan, some filth, and rate this front 8. Ta!

    Theo. Fab. Sterling. Mata. 4.5
    Costa. Benteke. Sakho.

  7. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone bothering with Van Ginkel? Just thinking of a good 5.5 mid

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Stoke do have nice fixtures but I;m not sure how good a record he has

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

      No thanks.

    3. Kip
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Look for an extra 0.5 and go for Ritchie imo

      1. FPL Maldini
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        I have Ritchie already

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

      Mahrez

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

    Alrighty Roo... which of these options do you prefer?

    A) Mata and Pelle + £2 mil

    B) Rooney and Mané

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

      I'm very tempted by A. You can't really go wrong with B. Pelle somewhat of a risk, but if he can keep up with Rooney or can get a rotation going you could gain some valuable points and money in the process. Who do you think is on Man U penalty duty? How do you rate Southampon's first fixtures?

      09 Aug 13:30 Gameweek 1 Newcastle (A)
      15 Aug 12:45 Gameweek 2 Everton (H)
      23 Aug 16:00 Gameweek 3 Watford (A)
      30 Aug 13:30 Gameweek 4 Norwich (H)
      12 Sep 15:00 Gameweek 5 West Brom (A)
      20 Sep 16:00 Gameweek 6 Man Utd (H)

  9. Devils Hunter
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    RMT please..

    Keeper:
    Speroni,Hamer

    Defense:
    Clyne,Williams,Morgan,Baker,Steven Taylor

    Midfield:
    Hazard,Henderson,Sterling,Cazorla,Bolasie

    Forward:
    Costa,Rooney,hooper

    Formation:3-5-2

    Any suggestions?

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

      9/10 morgan may not start due to gold cup

      Hugh looks nailed

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

        #huth

        1. Devils Hunter
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          Got it.. Thanks..

    2. gdog2244
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Not a fan at all, what if someone gets injured or doesn't play?

  10. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    who is your 4th mid?

    so many options in the 7-9m range

    Currently torn between Chadli/Hendo/Milner.Ritchie and between Sakho/Wilson and Tekkers

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

      Ritch

    2. The Light Knight
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Currently my 3/4/5 mids are Payet/Chadli/Cabaye

    3. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Payet

    4. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Gonna go with four strong mids (Hazard + 9.0 + 9.0/8.5 + 8.5) and wait to see which of 6m/7m mids are looking good before making a decision. I'll then downgrade someone and free up cash for Aguero that way.

    5. Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Puncheon

  11. Brian (Not the Messiah)
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    For everyone planning an early WC. does it makes sense to get 2 4.0 defenders and make sure the rest of the team is nailed on?

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

      Bit too risky imo

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      If you are planning to WC after GW3, yeah, why not.

  12. Lallana's Bananas
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Stekelenburg
    Ivanovic / Clyne / Jenkinson
    Hazard / Coutinho / Payet / Mané
    Costa / Gomis / Bamford

    Thoughts on this team?

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Why Steke?
      Forwards punty apart from Costa

      What's the bench like?

      1. Lallana's Bananas
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Fantasy iteam = no bench.
        Southampton usually have good defence and especially with their opening fixtures.

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

    Something (slightly) different, not necessarily my own team but what do you think?

    Panti / 4.0
    Azpi, Cedric, Williams, Huth, Targett
    Cesc, Walcott, Mata, Chadli, 4.5
    Costa, Giroud, Benteke

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Bar Targett I quite like it.

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

        Don't really think a full bench is that important bearing in mind a WC is (let's be honest) probably gonna happen by GW 6-7 at the very latest.

    2. Tommytour
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Similar set up to mine

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

        Schmeichel Hennesey
        Azpi Kos Cedric Huth 4
        Depay Walcott Mane Ritchie 4.5
        Costa Rooney Tekkers

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

      Cedric and Targett? Think I'd prefer another rotating pair of 4.5s.

      I like it otherwise. Think that Giroud is a better bet than any Arsenal mid if he's starting, but we'll have to be on Theo watch for that... Still, if Walcott is supposed to be nailed on to play from the left with Sanchez out, you could argue that means Giroud is guaranteed to start up front.

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

        Just threw some defenders in there. Could do Mertesacker and 2 rotating 4.5s with Targett maybe starting GW2 if Berty is still out.

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

        BOU/NOR, LEI/STO, NOR/STO, BOU/WAT

        avoid Targett

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

          Im doing the same because I think Cedric is a bargain

  14. Reus Crispies
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    What do you think of this?

    Schmeichel/Ruddy
    Ivan Huth Darmian Alderweireld Turner
    Haz Theo Mane Cabaye Behrami
    Rooney Lukaku Deeney

    1.5 itb for post gw1 bandwagons! Thx !

  15. Debauchy
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    @ Ludo , have always appreciated your posts, amongst others . Now I look at your history , and even more impressed. First time in FPL and a 556 or so finish . Will not invite you into any MLs though

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      was very happy he came into Team Bangladesh, though oddly his worst run of the season co-incided with the tournament.

      His input was much appreciated regardless.

      1. Ludo
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        7 red arrows in 8, I think it was!

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

      One of my fave posters as well

      1. Debauchy
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Take yours and JK;s on board also Beavis, But Ludo a great read

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

      Haha, cheers. I found this place very early in pre-season last year, when my friends were talking about the game - think it was so early that the World Cup was still on! Certainly couldn't have got off to such a good start otherwise.

      1. Debauchy
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Selling yourself short Ludo. Dont let me down , Nah , just appreciate your posts , cheers

  16. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Is Ritchie and Wilson actually nailed?

    1. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Yes, easily

    2. Tommytour
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      LOL Yes

  17. Sadio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    A) Lukaku Sterling
    B) Costa Ritchie

  18. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Schwein or Bolasie/Cabaye?

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

      Palace mid for now.

    2. Tommytour
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Yannick, he tempts me

    3. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Not Schweinsteiger.

  19. Jazz!
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Ozil / Fabregas / Sterling / Wally / Mata
    Rooney / Sakho / Wilson

    How's that for a front 8? If Aguero is fit: Sterling/Wally + Rooney for Milner + Aguero 🙂

  20. Bartowski
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Which player, in their first season in the PL, do you think could have the biggest impact this year?

    For me I think it might be Payet.

  21. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Any 4m defenders revealed yet?

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

    what would you give this Midfield out of 10?

    Mata, Fabregas, Cazorla, Yaya, Mane

    clearly it has 5 people, so it would be an abnormal team, but what do you think?

    1. Mav3rick
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Depends why you're going with Fabregas - if it's "cover" for Hazard/Costa then I'd say it needs a rethink...

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

        I like Fabregas for what he does, and the points he gives for his price. I also have costa

  23. Mav3rick
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Who would you pick at 7.0 - A Milner/Henderson type midfielder or JRod (assuming he starts)?

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

      Milner for me, J Rod will play 60-70 minutes max to start the season

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

      Depends on what formation you play. Getting the form 3rd forward may be better.

  24. Jonny Sutt
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Pantili Myhill
    azpili mert shaw bacuna targett
    Hazard ozil mane cabaye fletcher
    Rooney benteke sakho

  25. Wirtzle Gummidge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Anybody play the Telegraph Fantasy?

    My team:

    Schmichael
    Ivanovic // Fonte // Williams
    Hazard // Walcott // Depay // Mane // Ritchie
    Aguero // Benteke

  26. FPL Maldini
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Has Cabaye played in any of the friendlies yet? Is he nailed?

  27. Feeling_blue
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I really hope one of the weaker teams signs someone wholl be 5.0m on fpl... running out of ideas for the fifth mid

  28. Brian (Not the Messiah)
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Do we expect Southampton to be as solid defensively this year?

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

      I don't.

    2. Adderz
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      No, but then on we all thought they'd be terrible last year...

    3. Frank Black
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      They won't be as solid as last year but Koeman knows how to set up a defense so they'll probably still be a fine option, especially with those fixtures at the beginning.

      1. Claudio With A Chance Of Me…
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        +1, first 5 weeks look pretty nice

    4. Ludo
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Nope.

      But - part of what has made them so great has been the predictability of their clean sheets - I think they got something like 8/10 CS at home to bottom half teams, and only conceded twice. A large part of that was down to their ability to dominate possession and completely control games against weaker opposition at St Marys.

      They might not have players with the same raw defensive qualities as Clyne, Alderweireld and Schneiderlin, but they will keep playing the same way, and I think it will be great news for fantasy managers - they may concede more goals this season, but they'll still get clean sheets when we expect them to.

      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        excellent point

        this is something Ginkapo and I discussed a while back

        Teams that are predictable for CS are great value for FPL. Swansea used to be another one like that

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

          - and will be again.

          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            I owned a Swansea defender virtually all of last season (Naylor then Naughton) until Naughton got injured

            I may go Ritchie and Sakho as it allows me to

            a) upgrade Ward to a 5.0 (Cedric, Jenks, Williams)
            b| switch Henessey to a 4,5 if needed
            c) still keep 2.0 banked for a straight Costa to Aguero move

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

              Good man. I like all that. 🙂

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

          Still are really. Those possession-based teams tend to get most of their CS against weaker opposition. Arsenal and Liverpool also follow that model, to an extent.

          Teams who park the bus though, like Chelsea in 13/14 or West Brom under Pulis, may get lots of clean sheets, but they're hard to predict - they quite often concede more against teams who coax them into attacking, whilst they keep a CS more often when playing for 0-0.

          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Swansea kept a surprising amount of away cleanies last season (I benched enough of them to know)

            1. Ludo
              • 12 Years
              10 years, 5 months ago

              Hmm. 6 at home, 7 away.

              But, against the bottom eight they got 9 CS in 16, which is a pretty impressive number.

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

    The problem with planning a wc in GW4 is that no teams really have more than two good games in the first three 😐

  30. The Hindu Monkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    At the risk of being last season all over again. Ashley Young is 6m and has started pre-season with a bang again. Plus this time he was also the best player for the last 10 games of the old season as well.

    Van Gaal is an incredibly loyal coach to people playing well and I think Young will start the first match and the left wing spot is his to lose. Playing Depay in the number 10 role in both games already is telling me that the front three is Young, Rooney, Mata until further notice.

    6m people...

    1. Jazz!
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Not bad, but he is hugely vulnerable to rotation. Di Maria and Depay could easily steal his spot. I'm not sure the risk is worth it; but your argument is valid

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

      If I go for any MUN, it will be him. Or Schneiderlin.

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

        Doos West Ham defender good for baps? Bar Cresswell, was going to go Jenkinson but only had 2 baps last year!

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

          Well ...

          I think it will be Tomkins. But don't quote me on that! 😀

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

            🙂

          2. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            10 years, 5 months ago

            Tomkins

            Another that burnt me badly

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

              I got lightly singed ...

              1. JK - Cønt ⭐
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                10 years, 5 months ago

                oh no, full thickness burns here

                Misses a game you get a CS in

                Comes on after 23 minutes in game you don't and keeps a CS on my bench

    3. Brian (Not the Messiah)
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I'll consider in my early WC.

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

      I brought this up last night 🙂

      And started with him last year too haha

      1. The Hindu Monkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        so did I...

        he's still in my good books for that arsenal match a few years back though...

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

          Currently have Depay and Rooney but I really like our first 3 games

    5. Feeling_blue
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      If they sell Di Maria and sign noone else Ill consider him