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Podcast January 19

The ScoutCast – Episode 211 – Beleaguered

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It’s quite ironic that, in an episode that focuses on our experience and strategies of mini-league management, my long-term rival on that score goes awol.

Granville is waylaid by “homework” and misses out, but Luke crashes in mid-cast to join Jonty, Andy and myself as we deliver an 80-minute episode, which includes our dubious insights on navigating a team to mini-league glory – mind games and all.

Once again guided by your community questions, we take on the Diego Costa fall-out, the rising stock of Spurs on form and Everton on fixtures, while finding time to wade in on the demise of former darling Sergio Aguero under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola.

This episode of the ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Tuesday night. Be sure to subscribe to get notice of future live episodes.

If you’re a traditional type, you can acquire the mp3 audio version via this link or the first player below, or take in the full visual experience via the second player below.

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

1,731 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kuqi Monster
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    Holgate to nail down a spot or will be rotated?

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    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      I think he'll be rotated so is a risk

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    2. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Rotation seems likely

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    3. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Is he Baines' replacement if he doesn't play?

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  2. dmenezes
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts for this game week?

    Boruc
    Valencia Walker Baines
    Sanchez Lallana Alli Pedro
    Defoe Rondon Kane (C)

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    1. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Lallana captain 😉

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      1. dmenezes
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        You smoking funny stuff pal??

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        1. WDT
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          I don't think Kane has a great fixture to be honest so not really

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  3. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 5 months ago

    Baines to Coleman too sideways? Worried about the injury

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    1. dmenezes
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      I've kept Baines. Koeman reckons he'll play.

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    2. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Baines is always almost injured don't worry

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    3. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Think I'd keep Baines if I had him. I was going to get Baines but by the time I went to do it he had risen and I was 0.1 short so I got Coleman instead.

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      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Okay thanks for your help guys

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    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Coleman is the one to get 😎

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    5. FPL Wisdom
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      wait for the presser to be certain.

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  4. MTPockets
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Just me or anyone else unable to access site earlier (about 45-hour ago)?

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    • WDT
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      I hate saving FTs. Feels illegally dull.

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      1. Hurricane Gilbert
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        It's a luxury. I envy you sir. Don't remember the last time I did that.

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      2. Pasqualinho
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Interesting. Normal emotions to doing something illegal are fear or excitement. You might consider therapy.

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        1. WDT
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          I am a therapist.

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      3. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        you'll thank dull you next gw.

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    • Barmak
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Keeper dilemma - start Heaton away to Arsenal or Grant at home to United?

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      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Grant

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      2. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Grant. Sou love to draw out a 0-0. Heaton is facing an explosive attacking team away. tons of save opps but little chance of a cleanie.

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    • BilalM
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      What to do with this lot?
      2FT, 0.6itb

      Heaton
      Holebas, Brunt, Jones, VVD
      Sanchez, Firmino, Stanislas, Philips
      Ibra, Costa

      Pickford, Carrol, Amat, Sigurdsson

      thinking siggy and holebas out

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      1. Cilly Bonnolly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah that's the two I'd probably shift. Who you looking at? An Everton defender maybe?

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      2. Carlton P
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Coleman + Pedro

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      3. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        HKeep Holebas for one week. lose Siggy asap.
        maybe punt on Amat >Holgate if you want to burn both transfers

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    • Aditya K
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Hi there.. Looking for some changes to the team... Or not?
      Foster
      Cedric, Smith, Chambers
      Hazard, Sanchez, Eriksen, Philips
      Ibra, Giroud, Carroll.

      Subs: Pickford, De roon, Holebas, Pieters.

      Itb: 3.6 1ft.

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      1. Roberto Baggio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Carrol > lukaku

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        1. Aditya K
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers...but I'd ideally want someone like baines, alonso etc in the defence.. Don't you think?

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      2. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Is Giroud fit? keep an eye out.
        Otherwise lose Carol, Pieters or Cedric.
        Carrol > lukaku best move you can make. If Baines is fir maybe him instead of Pieters or Cedric.

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    • The Mighty Whites
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      1FT - 1.6 ITB

      Valdes / Pickford

      David Luiz / Lovren / McAuley / Holebas / Pieters

      Sanchez / Lallana / Sigurdsson / Stanislas / de Roon

      Ibrahimovic / Costa / Defoe

      Costa going to start? If so Sigurdsson to Alli/ Eriksen?

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      1. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Keep costa, till the presser say otherwise. Go Sigurdsson to Eriksen otherwise yeah.
        could go sideways with David Luiz to Alonso or just get in baines (if fit)

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    • Yogi_mike
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      How do change ur profile pic..or add I should say

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      1. Kuqi Monster
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        FAQ

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      2. Dreams
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Head on over to http://www.gravatar.com and register for an account (make sure you register with the same email as the one you are registered with here). Choose an image, and this will be associated with all of your comments on site. Your gravatar image should appear next to your comments within roughly 24 hours.

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        1. Yogi_mike
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Thnx mane

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    • Gazpilicueta
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      any advice on my team would be greatly appreciated...

      I need to regain 120 points on my league opponents.
      My plan is go super safe, I want ALL the easy points, and maybe 1 gamble. but maybe 0. then I will use my chips (all three) to close the gap.

      HELP PLEASE>!

      Heaton, Pickford
      Holebas, Azpilicueta, Friend, McAuley, Amat
      Hazard, Sanchez, Allen, Capoue, Rodriguez
      Defoe, Costa, Zlatan

      £1.1 in the bank and 2 free transfers.

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      1. Barmak
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Get Holebas out, maybe look at Baines?
        Upgrade midfield, Allen/Capoue/Rodriguez out for someone like Stanislas/Phillips..

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        1. FPL Wisdom
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          this

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    • Time for double baggies at the back?
      Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      West Brom have only kept 3 clean sheets all season. A ratio of 1 clean sheet in 7 games. So forget about the fixtures it looks like it is best to stay away from West Brom defenders.

      But I am looking to double up. Why?

      Let's break down the numbers..

      Number of occasions WBA have concded..

      0 goals = 3 times (Burnley, Palace, Boro)
      1 goal = 12 times
      2 goals = 4 times (Liverpool, Man U, Everton, West Ham - who they beat 4-2)
      3 goals = 0 times
      4 goals = 2 times (Spurs & Man City)
      5 goals or more = none.

      So 15 times out of 21 West Brom have conceded 0 or 1 goal. That indicates a very resolute defence contradicting popular belief that they are too attacking.

      Even better their defence do well against teams outside the top 7 and not against teams inside the top 7. West Ham are the only team in the top 7 who could score more than a single goal past them and they beat them 4-2. The next 6 games are all against teams outside the top 6.

      The tight nature of the defence against non top 7 teams, coupled with the attacking upside of Brunt and McCauley and the fixtures makes me think that such a double up is a great option and owning at least 1 is recomended.

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      1. Hurricane Gilbert
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Yes but they need Evans and Nyom to be available, especially Evans.

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        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          I can't see any statistical evidence to back that up.

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          1. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 5 months ago

            Need for Nyom as Brunt owners is pure logic.

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          2. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 5 months ago

            He's simply saying their first choice back 4 is clearly stronger than second choice. Logic again.

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      2. Jafalad
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I've only done two things that come off this season:

        Owning McAwful.

        Heatster.

        Everyone should have at least 3 WBA defenders in their team.

        (Btw. Good post - where were you last season when I needed you?)

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        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks. I had a lower rank (I was probably hiding in the corner).

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      3. QPR expects... glory!
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Interestingly they also only had 3 Premier League clean sheets in the second half of last season too. I spot a trend 😉

        Personally I think that it's a combination of mistakes - mainly from the ageing McAuley - and a more attacking team allowing more space in central midfield leading to the odd clear chance per game that is put away.

        I've put my money on things not getting better by getting rid of WBA defence in my WC.

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        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Now that is a fair point. I would suggest that the low goals conceded figure per game correlates to likely regression to the mean and therefore more clean sheets. But you have a point.

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      4. Live Lad
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I played Foster most weeks and know WBA do not concede a lot. But somehow let in 1 goal in many games.

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      5. Speédy
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        i hope they get the 4 th cs against defoe

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      6. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        My review of the underlying stats has them with a good shot at a clean sheet this week and next but I don't much fancy their chances for STO, whm, BOU unless they improve sharply or their opponents decline.

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      7. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        they have a nasty habit of letting in 1.

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      8. Mikeharbrw
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Livermore should help tighten it up no?

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      9. Forza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Nyom could be good, if the staff at his national team could stop being ridiculous.

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      10. Pep says
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I own McAuley and Brunt so is this good?? I'm confused, I was planning on ditching one over the next few weeks.

        Heaton Pickford
        Alonso Brunt McAuley Cedric Azpi (out next week for??? )
        Sanchez Stan Phillips Lallana Haz (out next week for Alli/Erik)
        Ibra Kane Campbell

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        1. joeydordon
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Surely if you kept 2 until now this is a possible good streak fixture wise! I feel they are due a few cs but ive foster as 1 of mine so im defo keeping could understand getting rid if its to a premium def

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      11. Bird Raymond
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I think you are trying to be too clever. West Brom's defensive prowess is over egged. 3 clean sheets all season is the only stat I'd be looking at. I've had Foster all season and I'll likely stick with him until I wildcard, but certainly wouldn't be looking to double up.

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      12. The Desi Messi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I have had Foster all season and it has been painful seeing Heaton score well whilst WBA offered few clean sheets.

        This has not stopped me from doubling up on WBA however, for the last couple of weeks with Brunt added to my back line.

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      13. baldyweev
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Have doubled up all season and now trebled up. Convinced it will all come good soon.

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      14. Trading Bear
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Deserves a bump this. First match after this hot topic:

        Foster = 7 points
        Mcauley = 12 points
        Brunt = 13 points

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        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks Hooperman.

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    • RohanVaswani
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Lallana Baines

      Or

      Coutinho Mori?

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      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        A by a mile!

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

        Not sold on either.

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    • ShaunGoater123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      I have Evans, Barragan & Amat so through injury / out of favour unlikely any of them will play. Assuming Evans is ruled out any suggestions on what to do?

      1FT 0.1 ITB so i'm a bit limited!

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      1. Rhodes your boat
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I did Evans to chambers last week

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        1. ShaunGoater123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          yeah chambers or friend is what i'm looking at i think.

          Would probably do Barragan to them though so that i don't have double Boro, and also in the hope that Evans gets back at some point for Broms fixtures.

          Alternative is maybe Amat > Holgate although seems one rotation risk for another. I'm 0.1 off from Yoshida which is frustrating

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    • Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      So today is the Big Day

      A momentous occasion

      Will he ? Won't he ?

      Will he tell us the Truth

      Contes Press conference at 2pm - Will it be another Costagate

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      1. Jafalad
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I'll tell you the truth.

        Anyone owning Kun will not finish in the top million this season.

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        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          I better build my slide.

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        2. Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          West Ham, Swansea, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Stoke in the next 7....I can tell you're worried

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        3. slamdunk
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Top 100,000 here with kun but i am shipping him out haha

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      2. Pasqualinho
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I can't handle the truth.

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    • Yome
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Any news on Nyom?

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

        Should have news on Nyom and Matip today I think.

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    • Extreme ways
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      what's your thought on captaining philips this week? SUN are bad and even Burnley scored 4 against them last week. Given how WBA have been playing attacking football at home , I think Philips could be decent captaincy pick .But I'm feeling this strong temptation to strip Philips of armband and slap it on Lukaku.

      This how my team looks :

      Forster
      Koscielny - Alonso - Brunt
      Stanislas - Philips(c) - Hazard - Sanchez
      Giroud - Ibra - Lukaku

      Zero FT.

      Any suggestions/thoughts welcome. Thanks!!

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      1. DRYACID
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        It's Sanchez or Phillips for me,just gone with the latter. Have a feeling he could get a haftull against Sun.

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    • villian-ty
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Evans out?

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    • Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Start Rose over Chambers and Yoshida?

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    • Yogi_mike
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Good week to use "bench points"? Or who to start in mid

      Courtois Boruc
      Azpi Lovren Mc Auley Hobleas Friend

      Sanchez lallana eriksen stanislas Fletcher

      Lukaku Giroud Defoe

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      1. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        double gameweeks are around the corner... wait

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        1. Yogi_mike
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Fairly new to all this ..how does double gameweeks help, y use it ther?

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    • Dutchboy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      You think Giroud will be benched when Walcott's back?

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      1. Sp0rting
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        When is Walcott back?

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        1. JJO
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          And no

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    • DRYACID
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Morning all.

      Pogba > Coutinho for a hit??

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      1. Chris_White
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        no

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        1. DRYACID
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks man. Not happy having no LFC cover tomorrow but reckon it's a bit too soon to get Cout back.

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    • Sp0rting
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      AOA away!

      Grant
      Brunt, Friend/Holgate
      Haz, Sanchez, Lallana, Philips, Davies
      Kane, Ibra, Rondon

      Jaku, Robertson, Ake

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    • Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      There's some juicy-looking fixtures this week. Who fancies an 8 pointer?

      Thinking of bringing Hazard back in for his 10 point haul.

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    • Live Lad
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Those who have Sanchez and Hazard, who will be your (c)?

      (1) Hazard
      (2) Sanchez
      (3) Hazard (if Costa is out)
      (4) Sanchez (even if Costa is not out)
      (5) other option

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      1. AlrightGuvnor
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I've gone Sanchez

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      2. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Sanchez no matter what.
        Hazard for the brave, Costa for the maverick.

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      3. Mr. Blonde
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        If I had hazard I would certainly be on him. Think he's the stand out choice as coutinho not fully up to speed yet

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      4. LC1
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Costa if you have him.. If not go with Hazard

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      5. Ridcully
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Ibrahimovic. Although there is a chance I may change choose Sánchez or Hazard instead.

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    • Eden ACCOUNT CLOSED
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      If Baines doesn't play, is Holgate the likely stand in? I'm on wildcard and may cover Baines with Holgate...

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    • La vida FPL
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Baines injured?

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    • Friday's press conferences
      Yome
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Pressers today:
      8.45am: Stoke City, Mark Hughes
      9.00am: West Brom, Tony Pulis; Hull City, Marco Silva
      9.00am: Bournemouth, Eddie Howe; Sunderland, David Moyes
      12.30pm: Manchester United, Jose Mourinho
      1.00pm: Chelsea, Antonio Conte; Liverpool Jurgen Klopp
      1.00pm: Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri; Crystal Palace, Sam Allardyce
      1.15pm: Burnley, Sean Dyche
      1.30pm: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola

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      1. Mr. Blonde
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Come on JEvans

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        1. Yome
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 5 months ago

          Come on Nyom!

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      2. Individual
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Come on Nyom.

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      3. A.T
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks Yome 🙂

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    • Mr. Blonde
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Which arsenal defender to get for the next four? No real issue with budget so can go Bellerin/Kos. But any reason not to get Monreal? Don't like the sight of that 20min cameo against West brom

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      1. FPL Wisdom
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        I went Kos; for the small monetary saving he delivers basically the same.

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      2. LC1
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Bellerin will score the most points.

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      3. grapesland
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Would go Belly is possible, quite far ahead of Kosc in terms of penalty area touches, attempts on goal and chances created

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    • Shirokov(c)
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 5 months ago

      Foster
      Alonso, Rose, Jones
      Sanchez, Pogba, Lallana, Phillips
      Ibra, Giroud, Defoe

      (Pickford; Capoue, Pieters, Amat)

      Save the free transfer? I have 2.1m in the bank.

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      1. Sjaugen
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 5 months ago

        Pogba to Eriksen in the cards

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