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.

  1. Fantasyamateur
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Devasting.. 25p with Kane, Willian, Davies and KdB to play. Time to WC with this squad?

    Foster - Elliot
    Davies - Bertrand - Daniels - Mee - Mbemba
    KdB - JWP - Willian - Ramsey - Carroll
    Lukaku - Firmino - Kane

    Feeling tempted to do:
    Ramsey, Firmino, Willian, JWP, KDB, Daniels, Bertrand to:
    Pogba, Chicharito, Mané, RLC, Eriksen, Jones and Yoshida..

    Thoughts?

    1. supersham
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I would.

    2. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No. Wc is precious and two weeks is too early to establish clear trends. Get a Utd mid and maybe Jones, too, and be content for the time being.

    3. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No

    4. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Team is not bad... 2 transfers and gtg imo

      1. Fantasyamateur
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Which two transfers? Thinking of just doing KdB to Pogba tonight to get the first price raise. Only 0.5 in the bank, so thats the only transfer I can do without a hit..

        1. walkman666
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          Take a risky hit and hold KDB. He gets hauls, and you don't want to miss it if its next week at weak Bournemouth. How about Daniels to some 4.5, and Willian to Pogba?

  2. tarantino2005
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Can somebody advise if zaha's price will drop tonight even though he is red flagged?
    Cheers

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Prices aren't frozen until the flag is removed.

    2. More Tragic
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      If he doesn't drop tonight then the whole rise and fall thing is fixed.

  3. supersham
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    When is international break?

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      After gameweek 3

    2. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      After week 3

    3. StalkingDwarf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      After GW3

  4. CelticBhoy1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Is Jones nailed?

    1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes

    2. Sarri-ball
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Short term yes

      Long-term would imagine boy from benfica will get in or jones injured but for

      5.0 I think worth the punt

      1. CelticBhoy1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Do we have an estimate for when Lindelof will be in the team?

  5. Salahbrate
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    phil jones nailed??

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No

    2. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes... as long as he is not injured

    3. @fpl_phenom
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes plus is he suspended in the champions league because of red in Europa league game?

  6. Alex1111345
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    DDG and KDB out
    Forster and pogba in

    To catch the price rise of pogba and just hope Erikson doesn't explode
    I'll WC next GW on the first day

  7. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    JWP (4th mid) and Tadic (3rd mid) to RLC and Pog ?

    1. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I would

  8. Ibracadabra
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Considering Wildcard but KDB, Jesus have Bournemouth next week...

    Would you WC this team (Y/N)? Minimum 6+ moves. Maybe 7-8.

    Foster - Elliot
    Alexander Arnold* - Danilo* - Stephens - Jones - Long*
    KDB* - Eriksen - Iwobi* - Atsu* - Carroll
    Jesus - Lukaku - Firmino

    1. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Pool didn't look good today... so I would think TAA with a full rest today is a good bet next Tuesday and Gw3

  9. Squires FC
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Jones or jese likely to rise this weekend?

  10. NestorC
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Would you do?

    Kola, Fraser and Firmino
    to
    Jones, Pogba and Chicha

    Cheers

    1. AdemolaLookman
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      No

  11. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Seems FPL isn't the only site going down today 😉

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      503 the number of the day

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      😆 glad it wasn't just me!

  12. Mockingbird
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    KDB+Atsu->Eriksen+Pogba good move? cant do this if Pogba raise today

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      dont sell KDB. find other way

  13. Gabbiadini
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone tell me whether Daniels is close to dropping 0.1?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      nope

    2. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      probably..not tonight imo

    3. Gabbiadini
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Thinking of going Daniels > Bertrand and KDB > Alli but can't do that until City play and whether KDB fails again :/

      1. Gabbiadini
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Will he of dropped by the end of this round..?!

  14. Lone Wolf
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Kola + Willian > Trippier + Pogba for -4

    yay or nay

    1. Jolly Good
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      You think trippeir will be back by next week?

  15. Hasselbaink Forever
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    JWP & Firmino > Pogba & Chichirito?

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Liv cover may be useful so no. can backfire

  16. Ode
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    8/10 of the scout picks have blanked so far

    FPL is a game of luck

    1. Lone Wolf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      yyy of course

    2. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      There is another possibility..

  17. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Hi guys can you help me with my 2ft? Unsure what to do..

    Heaton, Elliot
    Walker, Bertrand, Daniels, Moreno, Dann
    Mane, Salah, Mkhi, Ritchie, Carroll
    Lukaku, Aguero, Quaner

    Would like Spurs cover for gw3. Should I do Salah to Pogba to catch the inevitable price rises? Or get in Jones...

  18. COYS Down Under
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    It's all down to my captained saviour to save this GW.

  19. Why Always Me
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Anyone else has gross ? Lol

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Me, not for long though if I can decide who to get out of Jese or Richarlison

      1. Why Always Me
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Gross has good fixtures though lol

    2. Loonie1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      He was in my team pre-season due to accolades on here, but luckily I remembered that I've never seen him play, and kicked him from my team.

    3. Roys Peak
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      yep thinkin of swapping for 7 mid

      1. Roys Peak
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        if brighton score a goal he could be involved???

    4. Reedy
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, and it'll be interesting to see how he fares against Watford. First two fixtures were tough tbf

    5. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      grosse pointe blank

  20. Loonie1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Time for Daniels to go. Bournemouth looks weaker than I thought, and with games against Man City and Arsenal coming up, I see no reason to keep him. But who to replace him with?

    I have Foster, Elliot - Bailly, Yoshida, Dunk and Löwe. Straight swap for another £5 mill defender (who), or downgrade to Mbemba and upgrade elsewhere? Rest of the team is De Bruyne, Alli, Willian, Tadic, Carroll - Lukaku, Jesus, Chicharito.

    1. Loonie1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      2 FT, btw

  21. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    For next few games

    A Firmino or
    B -4 to Chicharito

    1. Loonie1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Firmino.

  22. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Suggestions please? Looking at losing Daniels and/or dann mainly. 1ft, 0itb

    Forster, Elliott
    Bertrand, Daniels, Dann, Suttner, Long
    KDB, Mkhi, Wijnaldum, Atsu, Carroll
    Kane, Lukaku, Firmino

    Daniels > hegazi before his rise?

  23. Karan_G14
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Already 37 points behind ML leader. 🙁

    He sold KDB for a hit and has no Kane!

    1. StalkingDwarf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      37 points is nothing in GW2

  24. Tomas Brolin ate all Depays
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    How does RLC look viable fourth mid ?

  25. Spab
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    How do price changes work when you are on a wildcard? Sorry if this has been covered before, but if I get a player in on a wild card on a Sunday and his price rises 0.2 by the following Friday, do I get the 0.1 if I swap him out on Friday night?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      yep, just pretend you aren't on WC.

      1. Spab
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Thank you. That is very useful to know.

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes. But if he rises by that much he's probably worth keeping. Two weeks in is too early for a wildcard.

  26. 9I6
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Trying to figure out the best way of getting some UTD in here:

    Foster, Myhill
    Azpi, Kola, TAA, Fosu-Mensah, Dummet
    KDB, Salah, Alli, Carroll, RLC
    Kane, Firmino, Mounie

    Really not liking the defence, and it'd be good to get Lukaku in before he becomes unaffordable. Pogba & Mhiki look good too and could help save a bit in midfield.

  27. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Worth doing Willian to Pogba/Mkhitaryan tonight? Money isn't an issue.

    1. StalkingDwarf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I think so.

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      I have done Willian to Pogba based on fixtures and likelihood Hazard and Pedro returns

  28. Foozeball
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Stats on Okazaki? Looks in good goalscoring form, but I would presume it's not sustainable given his past two seasons for Leicester, right?

    1. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Ihenacho bump...

  29. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    A. Phil Jones
    B. Maya Yoshida

    Yoshida wins the head to head stats comparison...don't have any UTD def cover, but Yoshy would be my 2nd SOU defender. Thoughts?

  30. bojack
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    I bloody love Leicester. Vardy and Okazaki work so hard, and when Mahrez can be arsed he's class.

    1. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      ...."when Mahrez can be arsed." We never hear that kind of phrase where I live. It's great.