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. Ings on the up
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Very dirty from Arnie! What a clown.

  2. Viper
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    My knee jerk is KDB -> Pogba

    Pogba let off the leash could match KDB's value let alone keep up with him at 2m cheaper

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

      I think KDB is a different class creatively.

      I'll probably be proved wrong and cave in next week.

    2. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Like a good gamble and tempted to drop KdB this minute

      Mkhit/Pog looks to be siilar to a Mane/Salah situation. Still rater Mkhit since he's technically further forward

  3. Random Name
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    If you don't have pogba or mkhi in 3.5 hours - your fpl season ends here.

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

      Sure

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

      If you own Lacazette its already over.

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

      Massive overreaction.

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

        Yeah, 2 gameweeks in, sure pal

  4. popcoin
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    My 4.5 defender shortlist. Any additions welcome. Who would you pick considering fixtures and team form?

    A) Fernandez (cry, NEW, tot, WAT, whu)
    B) Britos (BHA, sot, MCI, swa, wba)
    C) Manquillo (WHU, swa, STO, bha, LIV)
    D) Fosu-Mensah (SWA, bur, SOT, mci, mun)
    E) Suttner (wat, WBA, bou, NEW, ars)
    F) Lowe (SOT, whu, LEI, bur, TOT)
    G) Manquillo (WHU, swa, STO, bha, LIV)
    H) Ward (tot, CRY, liv, HUD, eve)

    1. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Lowe

      Little information so far but maybe on some dead balls attacking fullback in a team with kind fixtures

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

      Suttner

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

      C) Benitez will tighten Newcastle up.

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

        or maybe G! 😉

    4. Gruu
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      C or G

    5. FlockofSeagulls
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      That's not a short list.

  5. Kaneyonero
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Choose one: Zaha to?

    A) Mané
    B) Myki
    C) Pogba
    B) Eriksen
    Have Alli Matic Lukaku Salah

    1. Egg noodle
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Eriksen

    2. Clintymints
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Mane for coverage purposes. Maybe flawed logic but I'd personally like to have a Pool attacker in there

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

      Without a doubt Eriksen

  6. Egg noodle
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    What is West Broms first choice back four? Does Hegazi fit?

    1. Guy Demel
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      2 clean sheets and a goal suggests he fits until form dips

      1. Egg noodle
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Alright cheers bud

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

    Any Advice or Gtg
    Took -4 last week for Bats,PVA to Morata & Hegazi Ft this week Daniels to Jones

    Elliot(Hart)
    Hegazi,Danilo,Jones,Alonso,(Mee)
    RLC,Alli,Eriksen,KDB,(Carrol)
    Morata,Kaku(Abraham)

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

    Choose one. Today (price changes). All for -4

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

  9. the vanisher
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Need to replace Arnautovic (7.0) and Lejeune (4.5) any suggestions?

    0 ITB

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

    So why no Mane bonus?

    And how was Gabbi today?

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

      Did very little BPS wise outside the winning goal which is worth 21 bps.
      Sold him last week.

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Not a bap magnet sadly

      Gabby took his goal nicely and smacked the bar with a cracking 30 yarder

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

      Cheers guys! Think I'll be keeping both then going forward

  11. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Which three midfielders should I have to fill the spaces now?

    1. Pogba
    2. xx
    3. Xx
    4. Xx
    5. Caroll

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

      How much money?

      1. Torres76
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Balance of 22m mate

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

    Has Mkhi already risen to 8.1 or is he going to rise to 8.2 tonight?
    FPL counter shows him at 105

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

      http://www.fplstatistics.co.uk/

      He's on 8.1 and not rising.

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

      going 8.2 tonight

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

        Are you using FFFix?

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

      It doesn't on mine

  13. Redbull Sucks
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    a. Jesus and Zaha to Pogba and Chicharito
    b. KDB and Zaha to Pogba and Eriksen
    c. Jesus and Zaha to Mkhitaryan and Chicharito

    2 FT, please help pick one option

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

      B by far for me

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

      B by a mile

  14. thepeen555
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Didn't realise little pea actually scored 2 what a doughnut

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

      A pea doughnut? Yuck!

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

    Is Trippier fit? Any info about him?

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

      Late fitness test so will know tomorrow

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

      cheers both

  16. Torres76
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Best three united players

    1. DDG
    2. Jones
    3. Miky
    4. Pogba
    5. Lukaku

    Cheers

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

      1 4 5

    2. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      If I could choose any right now it would be Jones, Pogba, Lukaku.

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

    What was Yoshida doing there to win that penno? Is he a forward?

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

      Pushing for a winner, last min vs 10 men.

    2. TMERC187
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Yes forward, Yoshida. OOP easy option.

  18. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    LOL @ Joe Hart

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

      Muggy lol

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

    That's not a red for Arnie; when did the sport become this? Grrrr

  20. Smoky Johnson
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    please help

    How do i delete my FPL account? Cant find the button.
    How do i delete my FFS account? Cant find the button.

    Wanna get out

    1. Smoky Johnson
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Whoever is +1ing me can go fook themselves

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

      you mean, cant find the cat flap 😉

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

      ...like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown, this time I'm going down...

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

      Use the WC.

      1. Smoky Johnson
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        Just tell me the buttons are god dammit

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

          Cntrl W

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

          Try Ctrl, Alt, DeLaet

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

          Easier to log out of both tbh.

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

        Prob has already

        1. Smoky Johnson
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 8 months ago

          havent actually

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

      Cool down, you still got Jesus captain left i guess..

      1. Smoky Johnson
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        arg o tappat suget - vägrar

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

          I know how you feel.
          Had one of those weeks last week. Parental leave with crazy kids, bad summer weather, 40pts in gw1. Beat that! 😉

          1. Smoky Johnson
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            We had the same team only you had dawson and i went for ritchie so i did beat that. Also you saved 1 which i didnt so u got pogba points today. Why am i even arguing? Nvm

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

      This cat doesn't have nine lives if getting out after two weeks.

  21. Ings on the up
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Does anybody know what "Expected Goals xG" means on the match of the day stats?

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

      The highest the xG, the more goals you should score. xG equals quality of each shot from the position on pitch. Shot outside box has low xG and one near the 6 yard box is high.

    2. Netley Lucas
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Well, you look at every goal and every shot and numberwang to get expectations based on what actually happens

  22. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Rambo over Tadic and Redmond as Zaha replacement didn't go well then...

  23. Egg noodle
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    West Broms first choice back 4 anyone?
    Sorry for repost, need an answer before I sleep so that I can rage transfer

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

      Dawson, McCauley, Evans, Nyom

  24. 824545201
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Evans a must have? A 5m City defender is pretty juicy.

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

      lulz

      1. 824545201
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        What's funny?

    2. Egg noodle
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      ?

      1. 824545201
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        30m pounds, done deal.

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

      No BPS for sitting down 🙂

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

        Better defender than Stones or Otamendi.

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

      Reckon he'll be first choice then?

      1. 824545201
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 8 months ago

        If City continue with 3 at the back i can see him being nailed. Otamendi playing CL and Evans PL.

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

          I'd be very surprised, but who knows.

          1. 824545201
            • 10 Years
            8 years, 8 months ago

            Kompany also sure to get injured sooner rather than later.

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

              Well, yes. But in the mean time I need to see some game time.

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

          He's a better defender than Otamendi. City will still concede goals though.

  25. arifv
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Who to replace linderlof with?

    1. 824545201
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      Jones the obvious choice.

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

    1) zaha + Alonso --->eriksen + trippier
    2) zaha + bailly---->pogba + trippier
    3) Zaha----> Richarlison?
    Leaning towards 1 atm....please help!

    1. 824545201
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 8 months ago

      2 if you don't have mkhi.

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

    What is Mourinho's record like in these Saturday evening kick-offs?

    Has not lost a game at home on a Sunday.

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

      I've always hated the days stats. I don't see how it's relevant at all.

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

        Yeah, they are meaningless.

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

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

    Any help appreciated!

  29. PMz
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 8 months ago

    Darmian > Jones or BDavies?

    Foster (Elliot)

    Mee Stephens Dawson

    KdB Phillips Richie Salah

    Gabi Lukaku Kane

    Subs Carol Darmian 4.0

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

      Bdavies

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

    Zaha to mkhi and Danilo to Jones for a hit?

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

      yes