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5 September 2015 1259 comments
Paul Paul
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After assessing the Defenders, our series of members articles analysing the opening month of fixtures continues with a look at some of the stand-out statistics in midfield. Summer signings from Swansea, Crystal Palace, Man City, Chelsea and Norwich come under focus, whilst Arsenal’s premium big hitter offers many reasons for optimism.

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

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  1. Rhinos
    11 years, 1 month ago

    AOA chip is so easy to overthink.
    Next week i have 2 hammers at City, Kolarov, Huth at Stoke and Cedric playing Man U, hard to see 2 let alone 3 clean sheets there. Could do Wanyama to Ritche (Sunderland) and use it but no guarantee he outscores Cedric

    1. 32chickens
      11 years, 1 month ago

      wow i'm confused

      1. Rhinos
        11 years, 1 month ago

        ill let you off its sunday morning. Play kol and cedric and 8 attackers

    2. THE Wild Rover
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Cedric is at WBA

      1. THE Wild Rover
        11 years, 1 month ago

        In fact all your fixtures are wrong 😛

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          😆 lol: im thinking a week ahead

          1. HVT
            11 years, 1 month ago

            At least they're awake!

    3. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I think all the chips incl the 2 WC should be banned.
      Fpl should try mimic the real game more, if that allows a jan WC so be it.

    4. Whazza
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Cedric not playing Manu tho

      1. Rhinos
        11 years, 1 month ago

        where is epic fail when you need him

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          for next week read gw6 and it makes more sense

        2. Jøssy ⭐
          11 years, 1 month ago

          I think epic fail is right here for now ^

      2. Whazza
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Ah you're a week ahead. Anyway, I don't rate the AOA chip at all! How often does your 5th mid actually outscore your third def anyway...

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          yeah thats my point, all the planning for it and your benched defender could easiy get more points, maybe best strategy is to wait till you have injuries

          1. Whazza
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah, it's nice to have as a back-up. Might not even use it.

        2. meerlight
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          11 years, 1 month ago

          That's why I played it GW1. played mahrez, benched cedric. got away with it, and moved on -- benched mahrez in gw2, but benching in gw1 and 2 may have been too much for me 🙂

    5. Skipdipper
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Played mine gw1 as figured it was a bit pointless

      1. Boris Bodega
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 years, 1 month ago

        if i had played mine in GW1, i would be 15 better off

    6. FrankieTheGent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Save it for when the defenseless is decimated through injury, suspension or they're playing in a cup game

  2. Skipdipper
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Courtois
    Darmian kolarov ogbonna
    Silva Sanchez mahrez payet
    Aguero (c) gomis Wilson

    McCarthy Richards Westwood Gomez

    1FT 1.3ITB

    Anything pressing? Or save

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Save

      1. Skipdipper
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

  3. HVT
    11 years, 1 month ago

    No injuries so far of note?

    1. Whazza
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Ibra

      1. Whazza
        11 years, 1 month ago

        and Robben is out for a month

      2. HVT
        11 years, 1 month ago

        himavich?

        1. Whazza
          11 years, 1 month ago

          himovic yes, who else

    2. Billy Gilmore
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I banged my knee on the table earlier.

      1. Skipdipper
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Yellow or red box?

      2. HVT
        11 years, 1 month ago

        What were you doing at all?

        1. Billy Gilmore
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Having lunch. 50% chance of playing.

          1. Skipdipper
            11 years, 1 month ago

            I'll wait for the team news

          2. HVT
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Oh right I thought you were just knocking about 😉

      3. QPR expects... glory!
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Knee jerk transfer? 😀

    3. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Just rooneys form still...

  4. Transient Anus
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Gloria you won't understand what I'm about to say but just know, the books are opening soon. You are a friend of mine. Time will tell if you are a friend of ours. Be ready brother.

    1. Gloria Kanchelskis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      You're right - I don't understand 😆

  5. Nabs Kebabs
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Good to save here lads?

    Schmeichel
    Kolarov, Cedric, Prodl
    Sanchez, Pedro, Yaya Toure, Mahrez
    Kun, Benteke, Wilson

    Butland, Francis, Anya, Gomez 0.1m

    1. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Yea

      1. Nabs Kebabs
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers man

    2. Transient Anus
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Hells yeah.
      Btw I think your mate Ruth has finally cracked it

      1. Nabs Kebabs
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Champ, even in a season like this your flying mate!

        Lol, have been away for a while, what have i missed?? I just find it's one complaint after another with the bloke.

        1. Transient Anus
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Haha don't have the links but yeah 🙂

  6. THE Wild Rover
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Kolarov, Azpil, Targett (wba), Richards (lei), Ward (MANC) Sinclair 5th mid.

    Probably as good a week as I'll get to try AOA

    1. Skipdipper
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah go for it

    2. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      maybe but theres bound to be a week you cant field 3 defenders due to injury or suspension, id wait unless your 8th attacker has a fixture too juicy to resist

      1. THE Wild Rover
        11 years, 1 month ago

        I can see loads of goals in Leic v Villa while I see nothing for Targett

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          go for it then, v unlikely to be a massive points differenial either way, thats why its like lidl fries, an underwhelming chip

        2. 32chickens
          11 years, 1 month ago

          interesting
          i see it 3-0 to leic
          tiny tim will play plan A-Z =gungo and the old tinker will pickem off
          leic defence too savvy for AV lightweight forwards(sinclair included)

          1. THE Wild Rover
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Even Sunderland put two past them and they have no cs yet.

            1. 32chickens
              11 years, 1 month ago

              fair
              i just see them doing a number on av

            2. DVassell
              11 years, 1 month ago

              Rover- believe in Sinclair, you brought him in for a reason and yes that lest a def stat gives more reasons to believe

    3. DVassell
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Yeh stick with your AOA plan

      I am with: Kolarov, Shaw, Targett (wba), Gomez (mun), Ward (MANC) Sinclair 5th mid

  7. Whazza
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Why is Benteke flagged when he was confirmed 100% fit by the Belgium coach?

    1. THE Wild Rover
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Offside again

      1. Transient Anus
        11 years, 1 month ago

        😀

      2. 32chickens
        11 years, 1 month ago

        nice-born offside,and still disputing it
        overhyped and over here-another brodgers special

    2. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Fpl Towers on holidays in Ibiza!

      1. Rhinos
        11 years, 1 month ago

        probably chilling at cafe del mar

  8. COYS Down Under
    11 years, 1 month ago

    RMT if you would be so kind!

    Romero McCarthy
    Targett Kolarov Richards Azpilicueta Gomez
    Pedro YYT Mahrez Ayew Westwood
    Benteke Wilson Aguero

    No FT 3.1 ITB

    Probably move Romero out after this week.

    1. olidooley
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I like it....9/10

      1. COYS Down Under
        11 years, 1 month ago

        thanks

    2. DVassell
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Looks good- DDG might force your hand for a GK transfer like you said, but you should be OK for now

      1. COYS Down Under
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

    3. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Good, Romero and Tekkers have ? Marks.

      1. COYS Down Under
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed. Tekkers will stay for the next 3 matches given the fixtures but after that its questionable if he isn't scoring.

    4. Arn De Gothia
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Targett needs to go soon

  9. Skipdipper
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I have Gomis up front. Is Payet to Ayew a bit knee jerky with Payets nice fixtures coming?

    1. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      yes but i do like Ayew 🙂

    2. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Probably, Pedro/Ayew/Payet may be profitable in the next few-hard to call and you can't have em all.

    3. DVassell
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Stick with Payet for now and see how he does in this next fixture (easy on paper) with the new team in place. If he looks uninvolved then get rid imo

    4. Skipdipper
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all

    5. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Wait this week at least

  10. Rhinos
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I think fpl should give us the salad option, dont use any chips and get a 5% rank boost

    1. DVassell
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Wcs included?

      1. Rhinos
        11 years, 1 month ago

        no, need that badboy

        1. DVassell
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Then I would pick the salad option anyway

          1. Woy of the Wovers
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Need more than 5% OR improvement. I can get 10-20 points easily from those chips.

            1. Jøssy ⭐
              11 years, 1 month ago

              5% by the end of the season is a significant bump. It may not be now when you've able to leap 500k - 1M with one good week, but that's not the case in the latter stages of the season.

    2. Jøssy ⭐
      11 years, 1 month ago

      ...so what happens for players like me, who are often in the top 5%, but not quite as close as I'd like to the top, I win!?

  11. HVT
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Has Ddg played for Spain?

    1. HVT
      11 years, 1 month ago

      No to answer my own Q.
      Casillas played the 90.

    2. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Bench. Cassilas played

  12. Scoredelario
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 1 month ago

    The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes.

  13. DVassell
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Is Bennett the next transfer Targett?

    1. DVassell
      11 years, 1 month ago

      After all they share the same number of charecters and both end in ett

    2. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Alan?

    3. QPR expects... glory!
      11 years, 1 month ago

      No, Smith is.

  14. Couti & the Below5th
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Probable Starters Update https://goo.gl/zn1Wyp

    1. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Aha, great name. Kudos!

  15. COYS Down Under
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Any thoughts on Rondon? WBA have good fixtures and so far he's impressed points wise.

    1. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      good pick probably but i just cant get excited bout a Pulis attacker, especially as they only put 1 past a nine man team

    2. Murder on Zidane's Flo…
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Good player but he'll be feeding on scraps at times. If they get ahead Pulis instinct is to preserve what they have and that just is t good for one of those three coveted striker spots. They fixtures are pretty ripe but in not quite convinced

    3. Jafalad
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Hard to look beyond Kun, Gomis and Vardy at present.

  16. Whats the Huth
    11 years, 1 month ago

    would you play Prodl Away to Swans. Or Shaqiri home to Arse

    Thanks guys and gals

    1. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      are you in a parallel universe?

      1. Whats the Huth
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Haha.
        Got the two mixed up.

        Prod Home to Swans or Shaq away to Arse

      2. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 years, 1 month ago

        The one you were in 10 minutes ago

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          actually I exploited a gap in the time space continuum and am now a week ahead of everyone.
          Lol @Aguero captainers

          1. Annie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Can you confirm another two pointer for Costa?

            1. Rhinos
              11 years, 1 month ago

              Red card for headbutting Stones

              1. Annie
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                11 years, 1 month ago

                Did I transfer out in time?

            2. QPR expects... glory!
              11 years, 1 month ago

              And tell us which players scored 10+ so we can captain them?

              1. Rhinos
                11 years, 1 month ago

                sorry off to meet marty mcfly

      3. Whats the Huth
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Leaning towards Prodl.

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          id go prodl too

    2. Jafalad
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Shaq. That's the honest Huth 😉

  17. Ian Davis
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Westwood as 5th midfielder or Sinclair for an extra 0.4?

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Westwood. If you want to go down the fifth mid route don't spend more tan 4.5.

      1. Ian Davis
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Mainly to save the 0.4, even though he could sometimes be rotated with Mahrez/Wilson?

      2. Jøssy ⭐
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Depends what you mean by, "go down the fifth mid route", because everyone has to buy a fifth mid!

  18. Bøwstring The Carp
    11 years, 1 month ago

    If you feel bad about your team/ rank just remember the world number 1 played his triple (c) chip this week and benched two clean sheets

    http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1717621/event-history/4/

    There is much hope ahead

    1. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      if anything it should make me feel worse, shows the ultimate futility of the game

    2. Meinhoff
      11 years, 1 month ago

      He played Gomes over Howard, ok...

    3. Over Midwicket
      11 years, 1 month ago

      That GW2 was unbeleivable.. Everything that could go right did go right.

  19. LewanGOALski
    11 years, 1 month ago

    AOA and play Hoolahan (BOU) over Huth (AVL) ?

    1. Rhinos
      11 years, 1 month ago

      no

  20. Skogen89
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Where do you see who's gonna rise\drop in price?

    i used this site earlier http://development.totalfpl.com/pricechanges , but dunno if its reliable ?

    1. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I've been using FPLstatistics. There's also fantasyfootballfix

      Problem at the moment is there's quite a few wildcards being used and it's early in the season so none of them are completely accurate. That should change as the season goes on.

      1. Skogen89
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 years, 1 month ago

        thank you!

  21. andy85wsm
    • Has Moderation Rights
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Might change later in the season when we have more team value (although I tend to stick to 4.5m bench fodder even then) but I just can't see why I'd use the AOA chip unless I had injuries....

    Long way to go but I reckon there's a high chance I finish the season without using it.

    1. QPR expects... glory!
      11 years, 1 month ago

      AOA for me is to be played purely when fixtures mean your 3 man defence are odds on for

      1. andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Even then it's likely that my defender is a better option than my bench fodder

    2. Jafalad
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Dgw?

      1. andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Depends how many there are but triple captain and bench boost will be used before AOA.

        Even in a double it would depend on that 5th midfielder I have, likely that I'll still just want to play my defender.

        1. Rhinos
          11 years, 1 month ago

          dunno whether to gamble with it on a juicy fixture week for my 5th mid (eg Ritchie v Sunderland gw6) or leave it till get injuries

          1. andy85wsm
            • Has Moderation Rights
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah it's a weird one alright. Will probably be this time next season that we'll know how to play it 🙂

            1. Scoredelario
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              11 years, 1 month ago

              Week before wildcard you can use your transfer to boost the front 8 maybe

              1. Pasqualinho
                11 years, 1 month ago

                Best idea I've heard for it.

                1. THE Wild Rover
                  11 years, 1 month ago

                  You would likely need two free transfers otherwise you would be buying another cheap mid. Also you would need three of your defs to have bad fixtures

                  1. Rhinos
                    11 years, 1 month ago

                    its what im doing i think, wanyama to ritchie

                  2. Pasqualinho
                    11 years, 1 month ago

                    Yes - you'd need two transfers or cash in the bank to make it work. Don't know about you, but I often have 3 defenders with bad fixtures, so I don't see this part as much of a problem.

              2. Numb
                11 years, 1 month ago

                Do we really know when we are WC'ing a week in advance? Unless we leave it till the last possible week

      2. Numb
        11 years, 1 month ago

        More likely the opposite - blanks week

    3. Woy of the Wovers
      11 years, 1 month ago

      I'm of a similar view. I expect the AOA chip would lose points.

      1. THE Wild Rover
        11 years, 1 month ago

        I'm playing it this week as I expect Sinclair to outscore Ward, Richards and Targett. It will a gamble whenever you play it unless you can't put out three defs

      2. Pasqualinho
        11 years, 1 month ago

        It's a GW38 topic for Jonty to run. We might get a big enough sample to see if it was useful or not.

        1. andy85wsm
          • Has Moderation Rights
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Sounds like a good idea to moi

        2. Woy of the Wovers
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Those samples tend to be self-selecting. An FPL discovery-like data trawl would be more reliable.

          1. Pasqualinho
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Maybe. It would have to make a guess on which defender would have played, though. There's no real way for a script to know that.

    4. THE Wild Rover
      11 years, 1 month ago

      AOA is more appealing to those with the likes of Sinclair or Albrighton as fifth mid than to those with a 4.5m

      1. andy85wsm
        • Has Moderation Rights
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Definitely - good luck with it this week

        1. THE Wild Rover
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks, another reason for me to play it this week as Sinclair is less likely to be benched this week than usual

          1. Whazza
            11 years, 1 month ago

            It's between Huth(AVL) and Sinclair+chip for me.. I reckon there's a better chance of a Huth CS than attacking returns from Sinclair.. Or at least good enough chance to not warrant using the AOA.

  22. Woy of the Wovers
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Here's a happy thought - we're closer to GW5 than GW4.

      1. Woy of the Wovers
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Is that one of Lewes FC's new sponsors? 🙂

        1. andy85wsm
          • Has Moderation Rights
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Quite possibly!

  23. Concrete
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Schmeichel
    Kos Prodl Kolarov
    Sanchez Chadli Yaya Mahrez
    Aguero Gomis Wilson

    But,and Wanyama Williams Francis

    Need to shift Wanyama, he's already dropped in price and may do again

    A Ayew - benching headache?
    B Sako - same as above
    C 4.5 - Westwood
    D Leave

  24. _Gunner
    11 years, 1 month ago

    1 FT, 0.2 itb
    Any transfers needed or save?

    Schmeicel

    Cedric Francis Kolarov
    Hazard Sanchez(c) Yaya Mahrez
    Aguero (vc) Diouf Wilson

    subs:Butland Westwood Gomez Saylor

    1. Concrete
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Looks decent

    2. Woy of the Wovers
      11 years, 1 month ago

      As good a time as any to save FT.

    3. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      looks good, save

  25. Numb
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I'm hoping for an FPL relevant international injury or two to mix things up a bit

    1. THE Wild Rover
      11 years, 1 month ago

      More likely to make teams even more template than to mix it up imo

      1. Numb
        11 years, 1 month ago

        True. Although, I don't necessarily mind that

        1. Jimbo123
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Why do you prefer the idea of template teams? Less to think / stress about? :/

          More FPL options makes for a more interesting journey !

  26. Arn De Gothia
    11 years, 1 month ago

    To Kun or not to Kun?

    Butland / Schmichel Butland / Schmichel

    Ward / Shaw / Sagna / Bellerin / Targett Kolarov / Shaw / Sagna / Bellerin / Cedric

    Ayew / Pedro / Silva / Mahrez / Sanchez Ayew / Pedro / Silva / Mahrez / Sanchez

    4,7 / Kun / Wilson Gomis / Lukaku / Wilson

    One more week to overthink

    1. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      i honestly think Aguero is going to explode soon, and regularly score 6+ points a week. It's a tough call, for me the stats are enough to invest sooner rather than later.

      And ppl say the same about Hazard, but the stats dont really back it up.

      1. Arn De Gothia
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Thats what im afraid of also... Going the Kun way. Thnx

    2. Jafalad
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Kun. Possibly the biggest no brainer there has ever been.

      1. Arn De Gothia
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Thnx. Sorry to agree 🙂

    3. Jimbo123
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Kun

      1. Arn De Gothia
        11 years, 1 month ago

        Sadly so, thnx

  27. SpaceCadet
    11 years, 1 month ago

    If Montero is ruled out who is the best replacement?

    A. Shelvey
    B. Redmond
    C. Kouyate
    D. Westwood

    1. Numb
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Is it your non-playing emergency sub?

      1. SpaceCadet
        11 years, 1 month ago

        I have ighalo as the third striker. So either save ft and play ighalo or get in one of the above.

        1. Numb
          11 years, 1 month ago

          I would be more interested in replacing Ighalo unless Montero is out long term

          What about Sinclair? Or Shelvey out of the above

          1. SpaceCadet
            11 years, 1 month ago

            Yup Sinclair also a good shout. Probably between him and Shelvey. Cheers mate

        2. Jimbo123
          11 years, 1 month ago

          Play Ighalo

  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Wales to get the win tonight?

    1. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      11 years, 1 month ago

      With Gareth Bale they can do anything 🙂

      I hope they get it.

    2. Whazza
      11 years, 1 month ago

      They should, a win makes them a top 2-4 team in the Fifa rankings 😯
      Should motivate them

    3. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      Wales for the cup!

  29. Jimbo123
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Mings -------> _________ ???

    A.) Sagna

    B.) Naylor

    C.) Jevans

    Not many other options available in my 8 team draft league :/ 

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      B

    2. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Numb
      11 years, 1 month ago

      B

  30. New article