Opinion
19 August 2017 4746 comments
Mark Mark
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So far, it all seems pretty simple.

Manchester United are walking through teams and all we have to do as Fantasy managers is back them and count the points.

Romelu Lukaku – while wholly unconvincing throughout against Swansea City – again managed to earn his 53.5% of FPL managers points, with 67% of those owners backing him with the captaincy.

For all the naysaying that took place during today’s display, the fact remains that the Belgian is now three goals ahead of both Harry Kane and Gabriel Jesus – perhaps his most likely rivals for a spot in our forward lines.

Should they dare to blank in Sunday and Monday’s matches then further sales of both will follow, with Lukaku hoovering up yet more owners.

But the day truly belonged to Paul Pogba.

A 15-point haul in South Wales saw him reach new heights to follow his eight points gained in the opening weekend victory over West Ham.

A lot has been said and written on the presence of Nemanja Matic and how this has unleashed Pogba’s attacking talents. However, when we look closer, there is perhaps another individual key to Pogba’s recent boom.

In truth, Jose Mourinho’s side seemed to huff and puff through most of today’s victory, and Pogba cut a frustrated figure at times – indeed, he walked a disciplinary tightrope in the first half.

But late on, the introduction of both Marouane Fellaini and Anthony Martial seemed to galvanise matters. On their arrival, United simply eased through the gears and tore the Swans asunder, with Pogba the main benefactor.

United have now scored eight goals over two matches, with six of those strikes arriving after the 75-minute mark with Fellaini on the pitch.

When he arrives, Pogba appears unshackled to run at tired legs and spread devastation. Notably, his only points earned without Fellaini on the pitch so far has been his assist for Bailly’s opener today.

So while it’s difficult to question the thousands of FPL managers that are now flocking to Pogba, we still need to consider that, to this point, the influence of Matic has perhaps not been as significant as billed.

It’s only when Mourinho reinforces his midfield further that Pogba has proved unstoppable.

Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan quietly gained another two assists without taking control of the game or matching Pogba’s impact.

He is undoubtedly the creator to Pogba’s destroyer. The question is, are we forced to choose between them and if so, is it as straightforward as opting for the Frenchman?

Having just taken a points hit to acquire Mkhitaryan, he’s going nowhere. And with Phil Jones available for just 5.0 in a defence that’s already kept two shut-outs, this Fantasy manager can’t currently find a place for Pogba.

That’s a worry. Potentially, Pogba is transformed and, match after match, he could prove untameable for opposing defences.

But the Fellaini factor is interesting and we perhaps still need to show some caution. Leicester City in Gameweek 3 will likely provide a sterner test which may yet slow the United and Pogba juggernaut.

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

4,746 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Tmel
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Would you rather have Pog or Mkhi?

    1. darrellb
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      ideally miki, but i just got pog coz hes 0.1 cheaper

      1. Lone Wolf
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        this. plus Pogba may rise 0.3 this week

        1. markmcr
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          .3???

    2. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I think Pogba will earn more money, score more goals, and get same or fewer assists. They are both value pix with good schedules. Gotta have one now, I think. I'm way late, but not holding off.

  2. Netley Lucas
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone getting Antonio? With the 15.5 that KDB/Fraser gives post-Pogba?

  3. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    TAA > Hegazi for free to catch the price rise?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah I would, Liverpools next 2 fixtures are difficult

    2. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Not for that reason, no.

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Ok the price rise and also because he didn't play today

  4. johnnybeefcake
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A) Jones and Atsu

    B) Bailly and Carroll

    1. WUSS
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

    3. Legomane
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      A

      1. Legomane
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Jones + Carroll?

  5. Atimis
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    1) JWP Kolasinac to Richarlison Trippier -4
    2) JWP Willian to RLC Pogba -4

    Or save FT?

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      2

  6. Zero
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Answer me this. What's the point in playing Yahoo dfs when the fuy in first puts five identical lineups with Klavan and Matip (with no previous data) Albrighton and Vardy in his team, and flukes it past the guy with Gabbi, Chicha, Mahrez, Mane and Tadic?

    Seems like there's little to no point in playing.

    1. Tactical Nuke
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm more shocked that Yahoo is still a thing.

  7. popcoin
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Manquillo or Britos?

  8. StalkingDwarf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Dawson or Mawson?

    Battle of the -awson's

    1. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Dawson easily.

      1. StalkingDwarf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        He does seem to be the clear option, but I'm being swayed by Swansea. They held up pretty well against United until Clement switched it up.

  9. WUSS
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    A. Mkhi and Jones
    B. Pogba and Bdavies

    Choose one

  10. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    With so many people looking to wildcard I am unsure what to with this lot

    Foster Elliot
    Stephens Kolasinac Daniels Mee 4.0
    Mkhi KDB Willian Atsu Carroll
    Kane Kaku Firmino

    Thinking of using my FT on Daniels to Jones/WBA defender. Do I need to WC this messed up team?

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      You're fine personally

    2. Epic Fail
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Nothing much wrong with that team.

    3. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      This is a great team and wiTH that FT- gtg

  11. Lord of Ings
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Eriksen/Alli or pogba/mkhi?

    1. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Anyone?

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Eriksen and Alli?

    3. BlzE_94
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm going with Eriksen, Alli AND Mkhi. I don't know if that helps sorry!

    4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Eriksen > Alli
      Personally prefer Mkhi over Pogba but both are in for good seasons imo

    5. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Pogba

    6. Pierce34
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Eriksen and Mkhi if you only want 2.

  12. Lone Wolf
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Sell one each

    Tadic or Willian
    Kola or Daniels

    1. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Willian
      Kola

  13. England23
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Bench either:

    A) T Carroll
    B) Daniels

    For next week, cheers

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B

  14. BlzE_94
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    What's the difference between Wildcard and Free Hit Chip?

    1. Netley Lucas
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      wc changes are for real, hit chip is just for a week, then you get yer old team back

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      WC is keep team after.
      Free hit = gets old team back.

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Free hit means you make free unlimited transfers for 1 game week and your team then reverts back to the same team you had before that GW.

      Wildcard is unlimited free transfers in one gamweek and you keep the same team after that game week.

  15. TooDifficuIt
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    ake owners are you going to keep him?

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Gonna turn him into Trippier methinks

      1. SADIO SANÉ
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        same

      2. TooDifficuIt
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        i left 0.5m itb for this move, but maybe ake scores from a corner next game

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Shipping for Hegazi

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Keep him until a suitable replacement emerges.

    4. Legomane
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Slipping in Carroll for a couple of weeks

  16. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Pogba Mkhi Lukaku triple up seems dangerous 😐

    1. Netley Lucas
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      The new Kane, Eriksen & Alli...

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        maybe; 4 mil cheaper as well 😛

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        While Lukaku can match Kane, and Mkhi could (at a stretch) match Eriksen, Pogba ain't no Alli

        1. Netley Lucas
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          Pogba is like Alli, poor game then punishes near the end... how many times have we seen Alli do that?

          1. Business Cat
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 1 month ago

            Pogba's like Alli when Son is playing...a bit deeper and Son stealing all his goals.

            Alli unchained is better than Pogba unchained for me.

            1. Netley Lucas
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 1 month ago

              8.0? You tempted?

              1. Business Cat
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah, but already got Lukaku and Mkhi.

                I'd be shipping KDB...don't want to do it tonight to catch the space rocket, would rather wait for the games to finish this week.

                Plus I want Eriksen more than Pogba

  17. Werkself
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Who to ship for Pogba?
    a. Ramsey
    b. Willian

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      not easy one. 50/50. maybe willian as he may be dropped when hazard is back

  18. Lone Wolf
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Best one:

    A) Kola, Tadic > Jones, Pogba
    B) Kola, Willian > Trippier, Pogba
    C) Daniels, Willian > 4.5, Pogba

    1. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      B

  19. Cojiro
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Salah to pogba now then? My front three are fine. Other surgery required is JWP, Ake, Willian and Danilo (potentially). 2FT

    1. _figu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I did that exact same move. Idk what to do with my another.

  20. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone bought Davies? No? OK. 🙂

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      When are you getting him?

      1. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Just now. 🙂

        1. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          PS - have you slung me out, yet? 🙂

    2. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Drafted him. Those good feelings gone though after a poor start (20) to my gw this week.

    3. Alan_T
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Who?

  21. Puyol Pants Up
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    How did everyone score?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      37 with kane aguero ince and ritchie

    2. Viper
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      20 points.

      Yep, 20.

      1. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        With you, bro. See below. Let's have a beer!

    3. Puyol Pants Up
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      I'm having a fairly poor GW myself

      24 with Kane(C), KdB, Ritchie and Mooy

    4. The Tinkerman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      33 with 4 to go.

    5. 9I6
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      13 point, kill me.

    6. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      32.
      Kun(C), KdB, Jesus and Luiz left.

    7. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      20 from six. KDB, Willian, Kane (c), Danilo and Davies remaining. Thin ice for LMS!

    8. FlockofSeagulls
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      41 with Kane Bavies and KDB.

      Meh but not meh-meh.

  22. willl
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Firmino + Ritchie/Tadic + Stephens
    to
    Hernandez + Pogba + Trippier

    Would you make this move for -8?
    And who of Ritchie or Tadic would you rather have?

    1. Roys Peak
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      probably would

    2. Meppelfield
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      And when firmino scores next week, hit to get him back?

      1. willl
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        Two tough fixtures and likely to be rotated if todays anything to go by.
        Don't think he's a much better option than Hernandez for 1.5 cheaper.

  23. Roys Peak
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT's - too knee jerky?
    KDB --> Pogba
    Daniels --> Trippier

    1. Netley Lucas
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Sometimes you have to move fast

      *hit taken already*

  24. F4L
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Front 7:

    Mkhi Pogba Mane Eriksen Salah

    Lukaku Firmino

    Too risky? All seem good options at their respective price points

    1. Roys Peak
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      don't need pogba and mhki, man united won't score 4 each week.

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 1 month ago

        will score a few in the next 5 GWs imo

        1. Roys Peak
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 1 month ago

          yep I have opted for DDG, Lukaku and Pogba

  25. tissae
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Salah + Daniels + Foster ----> Pogba + DeGea + Hegazi

    Yay or nop?

  26. johnnybeefcake
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Any United fans, can you guys tell me how you expect to line up defensively for the next few weeks. I need a United defender and i'm not sure who is nailed other than Bailly and Valencia

    1. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Jones is.

  27. The Tinkerman
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Not sure I want to WC yet, but I could lose 0.6m and upwards this week on price rises on those I want in and drops on those I want out. Only have 1FT and want to keep about 4 of my current squad after GW3... Key long term picks (or so they appear now) are rising and I don't have them.

    Tough decision. Poor start.

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Team?

  28. thepeen555
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Jenas has a point

  29. L9
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    searching for zaha replacement with 0.5m in the bank. any ideas ? thinking of antonio or richarlison to save some money

    1. Legomane
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Like Antonio, good times

    2. The Tinkerman
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 1 month ago

      Both great options

  30. Legomane
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 1 month ago

    Going bandwaggoning tonight :

    Wijnaldum to Pogba is the aim...which facilitating transfer? Cheers 🙂

    Kompany (bou LIV wat) >
    A. Jones (LEI stk EVE)
    B. Yoshida (hud WAT cpl) - double SOU...

    Or,
    C. Firmino (ARC mci BUR) > Chicarito (new HUD wba)

    Foster
    Kompany Bertrand Davies
    De Bruyne Ramsey Wijnaldum Carroll
    Kane Lukaku Firmino

    (Myhill Romeu Ake Long)