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. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    What would you do with this team

    Foster Elliott

    Danilo Bertrand TAA Mee Dunk

    Salah Pogba Ritchie Milivojevic Carroll

    Kane Jesus Lukaku

    WC
    Sell Salah and Danilo
    Sell Salah, Danilo and Milivojevic (-4)

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. Roys Peak
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      keep salah!

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      No need to WC! Tidy up your defence I would say! Yoshida I personally think is a great pick

  2. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Initial thoughts on where to use my 2FTs this week? Thinking Daniels needs to go, and possibly like a Man U mid?

    Foster
    Daniels • Yoshida • Kompany 
    KDB • Willian • Atsu • Mané
    Kane • Lukaku • Gabbiadini
    (Elliot, Carroll, Suttner, Long)

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Hmm. Daniels to Jones one option. Wouldn't lose Mane or KDB though.

    2. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      KDB to DSilva and then Willian to Mkhy or Pogba

  3. Dynamo Fuchtherest
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Help much needed people...

    I'm thinking of doing Benteke and Willian > Pogba and Chicharito before tonight's price change??

    Sounds like a knee jerk but the gamble of Benteke from the start hasn't really paid off and after this week I can only see Willian playing one more game before becoming a rotation risk with Pedro and Hazard back.

    Should I do it??

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      For free? That could work out.

      1. Dynamo Fuchtherest
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah 2 FT

  4. Toast
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Who to sacrifice for Pogba as I need 1m or should I hold?

    JWP - lost his place so seems the best choice. But would need to swap for RLC and am a bit nervous having two 4.5 mids as it reduces my flexibility

    Kola - Arsenal can't seem to defend but Kosc is back next week so surely that will improve and he could move to wing back

    Who goes for Pogba?

    Willian - with Haz back soon will he lose his place? Hasn't played yet so seems silly to drop him so soon

    KDB - again could score tomorrow and then what do I do. Seems overpriced but would rather swap for eriksen

    1. StalkingDwarf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      JWP

      Willian

  5. Optimus.
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    I had 2 FTs but I just cut the brakes..

    https://media3.giphy.com/media/v51Os2sGBeZe8/giphy.gif

  6. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    - and I thought I was nuts. 😉

  7. anish10
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Martial anyone?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Not a starter yet

      1. Jolly Good
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        His points per minute though...

  8. No_Mo_Salah?
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Keep Ramsey or ship for Pogba -4 pts? Got Lukaku but no Mkhi Cheers.

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Why not?

  9. ooooo
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Hart
    Lowe Davies Stephens Ake
    Willian Mkhi Salah
    Kane Lukaku Jesus
    26 points...what should I do? Best to wildcard gw3?.

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      No just fix def

  10. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Oh. What a poor gameweek. Good to see Hegazi doing well again, I played him this time 🙂

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      I didn't. What'sa matter you? 😉

    2. KingNidge
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Look who is sitting pretty on top of the fook da maywedders league lol

  11. F4L
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Would it be so hard to lock price changes until all the given matches are done on a GW? Would love to see that implemented

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Me too.

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Same

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Game loses a lot if that occurred.

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        just an annoyance transferring out players before they have played. I get why it would have unwanted consequences however

    3. Sir Edo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Forget about price changes, start caring about points..

  12. Lone Wolf
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    Kola, Tadic > Jones, Pogba for -4?

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah

  13. â­ Bemba_Da â­
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 7 months ago

    If I want richarlison I need to get pogba in tonight, think it's too risky though

    1. Junior âš½
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Whats your moves

    2. thepeen555
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah just do it - it's a game. I'm in it to try win a league not the whole thing

    3. MTPockets
        8 years, 7 months ago

        I just did those moves. Slightly regretting it although really wanted Fraser out,

    4. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Who would you be looking to transfer out first ?

      A Daniels - fixtures turn sour, not in good form
      B Kolasinac- could either move to wing back when koscielny returns or is there a chance he could be dropped completely?

      Also, is Hegazi a safe option? or should I go with Nyom or Dawson?

      1. Roys Peak
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Keep kolasinic, sell Daniels

      2. StalkingDwarf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        A

      3. Yankee Toffee
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        A

        1. We Will Klopp you
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 7 months ago

          Defo A

    5. Roys Peak
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      I have 2 FT's - who to swap for Daniels and Gross?

      cheers

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        how much itb mate?

        1. Roys Peak
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 7 months ago

          nothing but might swap kdb for pogba

          1. F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 7 months ago

            Jones and Richarlison personally, if you can find that .5. See how Atsu plays tomorrow as well

    6. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Do we reckon Danilo will be dropped once Mendy is fully match fit ?

      1. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        He could be dropped before Mendy is back.

    7. â­ Bemba_Da â­
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Bournemouth are terrible defensively. can't believe I paid 5m for one of their defenders.

      Awful 2 fixtures to come too and im stuck with them

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        I would say they are worth shifting for a hit

      2. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Them & Palace have been two very annoying traps.

      3. thepeen555
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        I'm going to dump them

      4. Yankee Toffee
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Sell

      5. SADIO SANÉ
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        yeah I'm pretty annoyed with myself for doing that

        1. SADIO SANÉ
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 7 months ago

          I was blinded by the fixtures

      6. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        One reason I'm considering keeping Laca and maybe getting Ramsey

      7. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Poor management by Howe and the club IMO. Their pre-season was terrible. Apart from Napoli they basically played poor League 1 and League 2 clubs. Then they question why their players don't look up for it.

    8. Jairzinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      MOTD time

      1. thepeen555
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Yippe

    9. The Mighty Hippo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      FPLStatistics has Eriksen at 100.1. Do you think his price will go up tonight?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Decent chance.

      2. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Hope not...hopefully Pogba derails him a little 🙂

      3. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Don’t see why anyone would transfer him in today tbh. I’d say no.

      4. The Mighty Hippo
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Hmmm, I would really like to bring him in for GW3, but don't really want to do it before he plays tomorrow in case of injury etc.

        I may just have to do it early and hope for the best.

    10. KingOllie
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      When aguero bangs a brace tmoro and kane blanks there will be scenes

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        There really will be given that Aguero isn't supposed to be playing tomorrow

    11. WUSS
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Zaha to mkhi
      Or
      Zaha to pogba

      1. COYG
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        A imo

    12. Random Name
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Lacazette was onside

      1. F4L
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        foot was off

      2. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        When?

      3. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        But his foot wasn't?

        1. Random Name
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 7 months ago

          even if it wasn't by maybe an inch - would've made zero difference.

          Lacazette gained no advantage, he was on imo

          1. how now brown cow
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 7 months ago

            Sounds a bit straw-clutching.

          2. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 7 months ago

            Check the rules. He can score with his foot, hence the name 'foot'ball.

      4. VS10_
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        It's pointless to debate those type of calls when the linesman has to just guess because it's so tight.

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 7 months ago

          A linesman knows what to look out for, knows what players will try getting away with to get an advantage.

    13. COYG
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Early stages with good players to come, but have some very frustrating selections, would you WC this team?

      de gea
      monreal davies dann
      kdb mane willian jwp
      kane lukaku abraham

      1. Why Always Me
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        No

    14. Dutchboy
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Hegazi is a very short term option isn't he?
      Once Evans is back (GW 3/4) he'll certainly replace him..

      1. COYG
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        And mcAuley

      2. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Don't think Pulis will change a winning team. Coincidence that McOldman and Rondonkey are not in the team and WBA are winning with clean sheets?

    15. Dušan Citizen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      So, again me.

      Would you downgrade DDG to 4.5 or Firmino to under 7.5 striker?

      I don't have any Utd attacker and have Hegazi as WBA defensive cover for those who would recommend Foster.

      1. how now brown cow
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Popular knee jerk, but I guess Firm to Chicarito is a possibility.

    16. Foozeball
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      If Bournemouth play against City like they did against Watford, they'll be in for a drubbing. Might be a big mistake to cut loose KDB even if he blanks

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Man City always played good against Bou.

    17. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Which player is referred to as gross btw? Or is there actually a player named gross?
      Anyway,
      1)zaha + Alonso --->eriksen + Davies (-4)
      2)zaha + bailly -----> Pogba/mkhi + Davies
      3) Zaha ---->Richarlison (FT)
      Leaning towards 1 atm.
      help out!

      1. thepeen555
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 7 months ago

        Grob for Brighton

    18. Sonny “The Hitman&rdq…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Playing the anticipation game (don't tell Ruth)
      DSilva or Alli for Pogba... I have Eriksen who I think is the hottest Mid on Spurs and DSilva is my only City.

    19. Why Always Me
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Mane to pogba before the rise ? Considering pool tough fixtures ??

    20. Kanteisking
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 7 months ago

      Salah to Pogba?