Having assessed the defensive data over the last four rounds of fixtures earlier in the week, we now turn our attentions to the centre of the park. We analyse a host of playmakers from Everton, Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham and City before casting an eye over the recent new arrivals at Sunderland and Newcastle, as the Wear-Tyne duo step up their battle to beat the drop.
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Which transfer do I make?
A) Firmino -> Payet & Ayew -> Khazri (-4)
B) Firmino -> Payet & Lukaku -> Vardy (-4)
C) Firmino -> Khazri & Lukaku -> Vardy (-4)
A, B or C?Open Controls -
Will there be a hot topic to get this place going?
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Expresso or double expresso is currently my hot topic. Although, machine takes way to long for a double. Hmmmmm....
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10.06 Members article.
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When could do a sweepstake on when LVG quits/gets sacked.
I'll start with Monday 29th after going winless vs Shrewsbury, Midtjylland and Arsenal.Open Controls-
Did you misspell Midtyjlland? Never heard of them. Can't be any good...
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Sorry, this has probably been discussed, but any clues or those in the know when to expect double game weeks to fall? Need to plan when to use these chips! Cheers
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Nope. Might have a clue after the FA Cup games.
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Lovely, cheers. Missed that one! Any one else got them all intact still?
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Most of ppl here have WC, BB, TC available
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Probably gw34 and gw37.
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Not pulling the trigger on Ozil > Sanchez has bode well for me to date. However, I think that's all going to change when he comes up against that Utd defence plus the possibility of no DDG..
I also dreamt that he got a hatty, so its obviously going to happen.Open Controls -
Alli, Eriksen, Arnautovic, Shakiri, Siggy, Khazri, or Other?
Mahrez, Sanchez, Payet, Firmino, Stanislas current mids.
Who would be your 1 and 2 to bring in.?Open Controls -
Hi all....any views on best Ddg replacement out of..
Schmeichal
Forster.
Butland
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How many dgw players are people planning to get for the motherload dgw? I might go for the full 15 and offload Lei assets for their tough last fixtures.
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Battling the blanks - FA Cup dream results
Fantasy Football Scout daily hot topic
Coping with the GWK 30 blanks
What is your dream scenario regarding this week's FA Cup ties, your squad and coping with Gameweek 27?
For me it is Man City beating Chelsea and the London side getting to play in GWK 30. Suddenly Willian and Costa become options and it means I can play Ivanovic. I'm also hoping I'm not restricted to Southampton and Stoke's rotation prone midfielders to fall back on.Open Controls-
Only 4 teams should play. My 2 FTs would be laughing at it.
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All I want is United to beat Shrewsbury for 'pride in the workplace'
I can't take it anymore 🙁Open Controls-
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Man Utd fans need to stop moaning. You're doing miles better than the average team.
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But we have a sense of pride, a sense of 'unbeatable', a sense of entitlement the greatest team in the world!
Average teams don't have this Shirley?Open Controls -
They are spoiled by SAF and the success they had last 20 years.
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Simon Gleave @SimonGleave
Under Ferguson, Manchester United were never outside the @EuroClubIndex top-3. They have now dropped to 19th place. pic.twitter.com/AuxxbsmlWo
😀 :Open Controls-
These haven't existed for too long time, but I wonder if that claim actually is true if that ranking existed last decade, because in UEFA club coefficient ManU only rose into the top-3 in 2010.
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100% agree. As much as I'm enjoying Utd's ennui, their fans need to realise that sitting 5th in the Prem is not the end of the world. The team I support, Chesterfield, are pap; perennial League One and League Two dwellers. I genuinely can't imagine us being the Championship even. It really gets on my tits when the bigger teams complain about this stuff after years and years and years of utter dominance.
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try being a chelsea fan...
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Indeed Jonty's scenario and any other that rewards patience in holding transfers. Make those early Lukaku/Aguero > Vardy transferors regret not holding out for Costa.
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You've got to think about what players other people have as well - e.g. The average person probably has more than my 1 City player
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With so many teams called City, this is more than likely.
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I need Everton to win. That's all
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Same as me actually. I am hoping MCI beat us so i can bring in Costa and play Ivanovic. Also, Everton to beat BOU because i have Stanislas as well. That would be a big boost for my squad in gw 30. Less transfers to make. Any draws and it would ruin my parade from those two. The rest is whatever happens, happens.
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Chelsea will win !!
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fingers crossed (no offence intended to Man city fans)
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Chelsea will. Pellegrini has already threatened to play a weakened team. I can see Kompany getting minutes, but the majority will be rested
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Lets see how it goes, but not sure Pelle wants to leave with nothing in his pocket. The issue is the players have 0 confidence and will to play. Maybe not 0 confidence, but you catch my drift.
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Yea, I get you... It's the travelling to Kiev for a Tuesday game after a 4pm Sunday KO that's the issue. I just can't see a full team being played with that game in mind
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I want chelsea to be knocked out and spurs, gives me an excuse yo lose Kane and get Costa. Plus palace go through. I also want the maximum number of premium teams to be eliminated so gw 30 is not so bad so I can wc gw 37 ready for gw 38 in which there is a 50 quid prize for best score in one of my money leagues
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Generally draws will be fun to catch people by surprise though I have fewer Leicester, Southampton and Stoke players than most of the FFS vets round here. I know Diva's already been bringing them in for the last 3 weeks 😮
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Well i am in a very bad position to be quite honest. I have a total of 5 players 100% at the moment in gw30 and i got 2 FT. Would like to get some help from MCI and from EVE. Also, due to high ownership it will be a blessing.
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Yeah I guess it depends on who you're competing with. I want more blanks for friends leagues but fewer blanks for FFS leagues. Tottenham losing will dig me out of a right hole here.
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Yea that makes total sense, to be quite honest all my ML players do not follow as close as i do, and i am ahead by some margin. At the moment i am looking at OR only i would say.
If Che have a game in gw30 that would be marvelous, means i would have 7 players and 1 FT left.Open Controls
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Believe it or not! Bournemouth to beat Everton!
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For my team, I would like Palace to beat Spurs, as I'm currently trippled up on Spurs. However, a few on here have pointed out that the 'casuals' would love that. So, maybe Spurs to blank and a bit of extra planning to pay off. Oh I don't know any more.
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Man City to win with Costa being red carded for violent conduct would be interesting 😉
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Noooo! Please no, that would be a nightmare scenario for myself.
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A City win
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United to win for pride's sake is top priority. FPL wise, I'd take a win Palace to have my Spurs players available and a win for City so I'll have both Ivanovic and Firmino.
Also in a long shot, Everton to lose and Oviedo to get a slight niggle(I know how terrible that sounds) so there will finally be a use for having got Baines a few weeks back.Open Controls -
Firstly, no draws.
Secondly, Chelsea to beat Citeh.
Otherwise I think I'm GTG.Open Controls -
I actually want as many blanks as possible for a big bumper dgw that I can wildcard and benchboost for. My main ml rivals have all used their wildcards so I'm in a good position. Most importantly I want City to beat Chelsea so that a) City have two dgws and I don't have to choose between TC and BB for the bumper DGW and b) I can load up on Chelsea players over the next couple weeks.
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Chelsea lose to City, Everton beating Bournemouth.
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I currently have 6 LEI/SOU/STK/NEW, 5 FTs left until GW30, and planning to WC 31, so maximum blanks/carnage would be absolutely awesome for me 🙂
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As an Aguero owner, who has not interest in buying Costa (unless "forced"" to), I really hope for a Chelsea win. Also have a fair share og Money on Chelsea as FA Cup winners.
As owner of 3 WH players, a Blackburn Victory Would give me some time to sort about shipping the 3...Open Controls -
What happens if there are draws?
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Want a Chelsea win so there's no Aguero blank, and Bournemouth to put Everton out so I can punt on Khazri. Chelsea win would leave another Liverpool blank, and I play in a Liverpool supporters ML and I don't believe any of them will see the double blank going.
Don't want both to happen,otherwise I won't be able to decide on Aguero > Costa or Firmino > KhazriOpen Controls -
everton to win, as i have francis and stanislas, and chel to win as i have aguero, no chel players
also chel are away to liverpool, while man city are away to nor in gw30, makes for a easier cap decisionOpen Controls -
All about the teams competing with me for mini leagues. I am currently 1st and 3rd in my (cash) mini leagues. I am hopeful that my rivals don't know how harsh GW30 may end up being.
I am hoping my differential players get games and their differential players don't, thus I hope they are forced to spend points on transfers in order to compete.Open Controls -
I'd like as few matches in GW30 as possible.
So wins for: Arsenal, Watford or Wham, Everton, (as I don't own Everton players) Spurs, probably go with City win (as I have Firmino, Moreno and Azpi versus Kun) and Utd.
Think that is quite a likely set of results. Cue pandemonium.Open Controls
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Must be fun being the guys with the green paint, our house wad looking very magnolia!
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Just seeing the results from last night. Lol at that Midtjylland win against United 😀 😆
But weren't that the team which pays attention to stats in detail and plays money-ball ? Fair play if that's the case. Love itOpen Controls -
Live Hall of Fame Update
Live Hall of Fame has now been updated - Members can see the latest post GWK 26 standings here.... http://members.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/hall-of-fame/live/
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I should try copying Ronka instead of Trigger! Be a fairly sure bet in mini leagues.
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Who is he?
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nice! Here I was happy at getting up to 338!
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TL down to 21!
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Damn, back on the second page now. I've been on the slide for the last few months because everyone else has been slowly recovering from terrible starts and I've been treading water. Need something special from the rest of the season to finish the season on the first page now I think.
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I had a kit kat yesterday that was all chocolate, that felt pretty special to me. I hope lady luck gives you the same type of special feeling
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Edging closer to the first page thanks to a good February so far.
Meanwhile, Villa Ronka continues to impress. Incredible FPL manager.Open Controls-
Ronka's fpl id?
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Such a shame he hasn't ever revealed himself here. Would love to hear his thoughts
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The irony of Vile Ranks name!
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S6 any good?
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cool, just upgraded my old S4
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Top of the pops mate. What is it?
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for free
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Not a good night for England in the co-efficient race last night. England is in effect 0.6 points behind Italy in the 'race' for the 4th CL spot.
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When would it kick in?
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It's my opinion England will reap the reward for looking down our noses at the Europa League whilst other nations treat it as a major tournament that they strive to win.
There are some weird attitudes to European football in England - clubs are desperate to achieve it then view it as a distraction when they do. All about the money I suppose. *sigh*Open Controls-
CL qualifying spot for winner negates that somewhat
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That's only just come about though and frankly the tournament should be sufficient incentive in and of itself. At least in my view, I know some people think differently, obviously.
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That's kind of my point really. It now has tangible value. I imagine few share your valuation of it prior to this.
It is a second tier competition, what ever way you look at itOpen Controls-
That's the English attitude - clubs in the rest of Europe have always taken it very seriously.
English clubs used to value the 'second tier' UEFA cup and Cup Winners Cup competitions properly - they were colossal tournaments, this 'prioritise the league' thinking is very modern.Open Controls-
No argument from me on that point.
The modern thing is the key though. The reward for CL and BPL position dwarfs the reward for Europa cup.....until now and the inclusion of the CL place. It is the money over glory (sort of glory)thing, but that's the way it isOpen Controls-
the sad thing is the English fans buy into this. It's almost understandable from a corporate entity perspective to focus only on money (because these owners earn more money in their pockets), but the fact that fans are also thinking this, when they don't actual derive any financial benefit from it is a sad state of affairs.
I guess it's a similar situation to English fans being stupid enough (generally speaking) to keep paying ever increasing ticket prices. Something that hasn't happened elsewhere in Europe - where fans don't stand for it.Open Controls-
I'm not championing an anti Europa cup stance. But I feel you seem to be separating clubs view from fan views. Who's view dictates?
They are one in the same.
Money is part of football now and you need it to be successful ( don't tel Leicester )Open Controls-
Clubs dictate certainly, but from what I hear quite a bit, English fans seem to just blindly follow the view. They could complain if the clubs don't take it seriously, and not go to matches etc..
Money is part of football, but fans shouldn't be celebrating Q1 profit announcements etc like they are wins or trophies.Open Controls-
I'll leave it there so, because I'm not necessarily saying that the way you view it is wrong. Maybe that should be the way. But it's not the reality. Bojan going to stoke was just an eg. Payet to West Ham, may have been better. Leicester giving Vardy 85k a week. Everton turning down 40 mill for stones...
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I agree with this from a clubs POV but fans should want a European trophy I just how they get whats coming to them.
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It's exactly a reward based attitude of the clubs/managers, which is why most big league clubs (not only English) play 2nd row in EL even if the players would prefer playing it.
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Not quite true. Aside from some German clubs playing the first team in EL for reasons difficult to understand, only big league clubs traditionally NOT rotating heavily in EL are the Spanish clubs that are left for small money in the domestic league (as Barcelona and Real Madrid hog the majority of all TV money).
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Difficult to understand? They want to win a European trophy.
All scottish teams take the competition very seriously. Looking at Napoli too, they tend to feild their strongest team and theyre in a bloody title race with JuveOpen Controls-
Difficult to understand when you take into account the fact that they play another, bigger competition (Bundesliga) and could get into the European top tier (CL).
Of course the Scottish teams field their best players there, but I talked about big leagues.Open Controls-
But they would win a European Trophy. If I was a Man U fan in 2011/12 I would have rathered have won the EL than finish in the top. Maybe im in the minority but I think football is about winning trophies
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Yes, if you were a fan, you'd like that. The players like it too. But see the big picture: you may compete for the league title (instead of being in the mid-table), having stakes in every league match of the week, and fight for a place in CL where you play Real Madrid or Barcelona, or you can field your first team in Azerbaijan in order to compete for the EL title with other "close to the top but not quite champion level" big league teams. EL is the competition for 4th-7th placed big league clubs. Odd "title" if any, when you start it by taking off some 30 best teams eligible for the competition. I understand perfectly that a club prioritises CL and domestic league, if it is a big one.
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German, French, Italian & Portuguese clubs almost always put out strong teams (obviously with some rotation), certainly much stronger than English teams have done over the past few years
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Are you kiddin? The Portuguese ones yes, because there's no money available in that league, but the German and even (and particularly!) the French ones almost always play the reserves in EL (maybe you're not aware of who are in the first team for French clubs?), unless it is a team that normally never makes it to the competition (Guingamp last season), but look at the likes of Schalke, Bordeaux and Marseille that are there almost every season.
They always play the bench and youth team (this season, though, in Bordeaux the youth team has gradually become the 1st team, but then they've fielded the older guys from bench in EL). Last time Marseille were in EL before this season they played almost only kids who had never played a single professional match before and even fielded an almost 30-year-old amateur footballer who had never even been in their club squad.Open Controls-
I don't watch a huge amount of French football but from the few EL games I followed with their teams I assumed they were fairly strong teams put out. Schalke's isn't 2nd string, just rotated, and the other German teams were similar from my experiences or sometimes full strength.
Anyway, England are the worst offenders historically, and that is obvious to see by looking at the coefficient.Open Controls-
Well, you can hardly claim Tottenham playing exactly 2nd string either, as their most played are such as Lloris, Aldeweireld, Verthongen, Alli, Dier, Eriksen, Lamela. All first team players. Definitely more so than Neustädter and Caicara for Schalke, and definitely closer to first team than what played Bordeaux who fielded 28 players in 6 EL matches. Some have never played another adult level match for them. And this has been a season in which French clubs have taken EL _more_ seriously than before.
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Point is, almost all big league clubs rotate in EL, prioritising the domestic league.
Also, see Inter and Fiorentina this and last season, played the bench for most matches. Only their benches are quite good.Open Controls -
But then you can easily say that PL teams are only rotating in the EL, they don't tend to play the full reserves like against lower division clubs. In fact, I've mostly seen Liverpool and Spurs playing almost completely their best team there this season. Whereas, some continental clubs do just that. (e.g. ASSE-Lazio was largely a clash of benches - but strangely enough, both teams played much more of the first team in their directly preceding matches; and Bordeaux and Napoli have been rotating at least half their team all the time, Bordeaux playing only 1-2 first teamers in some matches).
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Only England thinks of it like this. Every other country in Europe has been taking it seriously and racking up the coefficient points in it.
The fact that England will likely drop to 4th in Europe is quite frankly pathetic when you consider that their clubs have by far the most money.Open Controls-
Completely agree with everything youre saying. Italy need Napoli to overturn their 1st leg defeat and if Fio manage to get through its all but done
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Aguero still worth keeping?
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Villa Ronke only has 3 finishes in the x 4k to 6.2k range.
I have 5.
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...he only has 2, duhh..
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Scouts should track him down and force him to take part in scoutcast.
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he will probably sit there wearing a helmet like The Stig
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Wow! 😯
Haven't seen your rank history before. Great going potato!Open Controls-
... sad:
Still missing the "holy grail"...Open Controls
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But you've never finished in top 1000, let alone in top 100.
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🙄
*takes tongue out of cheekOpen Controls
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Chances of Lanzini starting against Sunderland next week?
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I'll raise your 43.8% and a kit kat to 44.5% and a tub of Celebrations
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Wenger: “Koscielny will be available. We has a test today. Gabriel is still out.”
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I thought Gabriel was nearly fit? Sigh.
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Can you search for members on here?
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Here's Kavali with his latest update on how the veterans fared in GWK 26.
http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2016/02/19/tracking-the-fantasy-football-veterans-gameweek-26/Open Controls -
I think all the injured United players are pretending so they don't have to play any more LvG nonsense.
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🙂
You mean like Chelski players did with Mourinho?Open Controls
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What if Ville Ronka was that QC guy...
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What QC guy?
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King. Kav. QC guy you mean? That one who had bit creepy grav?
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Have managed to track down Ville Rönkä on facebook but not sure if its too creepy to ask him if he is the one we are looking for.
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It is. Let him be, don't be a creep.
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2 on facebook...the older one his old man?
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Gimmick team - Who would you have with you in a brawl?
Gomes (Myhill)
Shawcross Morgan Olsson (Ivan Moreno (yes, as that little pekker who outruns everyone))
Dier Jedinak Wanya Clattermole Ledley
Costa Mitrovic (Chamakh (haircut distraction))Open Controls-
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And he still has his first teeth so obviously knows how to avoid a punch
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I fear Deeney will try to deescalate it. That's no good
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OTOH probably the best fighter I know is the guy that always tries to de-escalate when he can.
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Haha that's true for many people but honestly not for this guy and anyway if you avoid the fight you go undefeated right?
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Kompany?
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Wickham deserves a spot too
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Forster in goal imo.
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Size matters. Rest are just nasty.
Pantilimon
Zouma Kompany Shawcross Huth
Clattermole Colback YYT
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colback?
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You just know Costa would be a pussay in a real brawl.
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Wes Houlahan
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Lets have a quick poll on what chips and WC people have left....
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Me: WC & 3 chips all still intact
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Wilcard, Bench Boost, Triple Captain all left
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Everything except AoA
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WC, TC, BB
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Everything
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Seems liek quite a few AoA's gone.
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That's because it's crap and nobody really cares about it. It's the one chip that could actually lose you points when you play it.
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AoA, BB, TC and WC
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If l were to take out De Gea, who would you bring in?
Butland?
Forster?
Other?
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An offer they can't refuse?
Man Utd have received an 'incredible' bid for Wayne Rooney.
https://t.co/vZDGEMLwtX https://t.co/jtjVjxgJOYOpen Controls-
Would be mad to keep him. If a club is stupid enough to buy him then get rid !
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If the money is that 'incredible' then I would agree.
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I doubt he'd want to go anyway. He doesn't strike me as the type of person that would want to leave the UK let alone go to Asia,
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For 10M+ a year, he might reconsider.
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I'd say your right. Can't see him or the missus wanting to relocate the family to China.
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Yep.
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Rooney is done
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Would he want to go when he's so close to the goal scoring record at United?
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@Ozil
Nothing on Cazorla?Open Controls -
new article posted
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