Opinion
23 September 2017 4244 comments
Mark Mark
Share:

Quite simply, we can’t have them all.

On a day that began with us fixated on the fortunes of Sergio Aguero, it was perhaps fitting that almost every other big striker produced their own bid to steal his thunder.

Aguero was a slow starter but eventually found his gear to take his turn in Manchester City’s mauling of Crystal Palace.

A goal and an assist were his reward, with two bonus points ensuring that the Argentine avoided being dwarfed by the double-figure blitz from Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane from midfield.

Again, there was evidence that Pep Guardiola’s attacking riches border on the ridiculous. Just ask Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian sat unused on the bench, forcing his 678,000 owners – not least the 183,000 who acquired him with Palace in mind – to choke on a bitter pill.

Pep’s Jesus decision was perhaps signposted by 90 minutes in midweek. But it’s no less confusing for us Fantasy managers, who must now wonder if Guardiola will toy with ongoing rotation of his strikers, with Sterling and Sane building compelling claims for regular starts.

Chelsea in Gameweek 6 will tell us more, although it’s City’s meeting with a beleaguered Stoke City defence that we really care about now.

We can, of course, opt out completely. It’s not as if our options are limited.

Harry Kane’s brace at the London Stadium offered a reminder that he will not surrender the Golden Boot, or his place in squads.

Sold by 196,000, with 141,000 of those swapping to Aguero, the Spurs striker set the bar for the City man with a 13-point return in the early kick-off.

Kane remains a force of nature, with the talent to circumvent Spurs’ woes on the Wembley turf – he now has 11 goals from his last five away matches.

Romelu Lukaku wasn’t to be put in the corner. He picked off his sixth goal in as many Gameweeks, as Manchester United endured a hard-fought victory at St Mary’s.

But Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata won today’s battle.

He ruthlessly exploited an ailing Stoke City defence to punish the 148,000 who had disposed of his services amid the clamour for Aguero.

Chelsea and Morata won’t play against a centre-back pairing of Darren Fletcher and Glen Johnson every week, but the Spaniard’s haul was nonetheless telling.

It offered a reminder that this is a season awash with goal scoring riches.

Our midfield firepower may have stalled – thanks in no small part to the absence of Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez. But that’s allowed the strikers to roll back the years and reinstate themselves as the critical position in our squad.

This could have a marked impact on our squad construction, particularly for those still with Wildcards to play. Funds in midfield will surely be scrutinised, monies in defence squeezed.

This could be a season where the big-hitting forwards take turns to dominate. Restricting ourselves to just two may no longer cut it.

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

  1. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Coutinho or Mane from Gw8 onwards when you have Salah?

    1. aleksios
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      hard to say...Cout.

    2. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Is there no non-Liv players? I don't like doubling up in same position myself. But at a push Couts

    3. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      mane if you dont care about price

    4. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Coutinho seems the Eriksen while mane is the alli, here however there is almost 1mil difference.

    5. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Why double up for fixtures against MUN & tot? I don't see Pool scoring highly in those matches. Salah is enough.

    6. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Neither. GW10 double up if so inclined

      1. Weeb Kakashi
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers all

  2. aleksios
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    How does this team look for coming week?

    --Elliot--
    -Alonso-Davies-Kola-Jones
    -Eriksen-Richie-Gross
    -Kane-Luk-Morata
    -----Foster---Mbeba---Chalobah--King
    0.3itb.

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      looks great captain lukaku and good to go

  3. Patch
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Hi guys is international break after GW8?

    Just wondering whether I have to last one more week with the current setup or is it after GW8 that we have IB (I.e. I have to wait 2 weeks which is not ideal)...

    My current team will die for the immediate fixtures ahead:

    Courtois (MCI), Foster (WAT).

    Dawson (WAT), Mee (eve), Danilo (chel), Zanka (spurs), Adam Smith (LEI).

    Mata (CRY), Chalob (wba), Knockaert (ARS), Alli (hud), Shaqiri (SOU).

    Firmino (new), Kane (hud), Aguero (chel).

    Currently on 73 points for GW6 with Knockaert left to deliver a Knockout today.

    1. Scout Pics
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      International break is before GW8

      1. Patch
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks Fidge I may last it out another week then just conscious that Firmino and Mee will drop like lead, similar to many others I have...

        Will for now swap Aguero with Lukaku and hope that Chalob stops pulling a sickie

  4. manu4life99
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is there a GW most are targeting to use WC (for those who haven't used yet)?

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

      GW8 (literally after the GW7 deadline is over)

    2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      It depends. I'd rather save my WC as long as possible but it depends what happens next week and during the int. break. I think weeks 9/10 actually look better for setting up a long term team rather than 8.

  5. Scout Pics
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Best one week punts for MID/FWD in GW7? I'll be WCing in the international break.

    1. Turns
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Vardy

      1. Scout Pics
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I think he'll be in my WC too, tbh

    2. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Niasse

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

    2 FTs: Current team is:

    Fabianki
    Jones - Cedric - Dawson - Naughton
    Miki - Alli - Salah
    Kane - Kaku - Firmino

    I'm tempted by Firmino -> Vardy and Dawson -> Maguire? Would ideally wait to next week but can't afford the change if Bobby drops in price.

    Views appreciated.

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Do it

  7. Ron_Swanson
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any suggestions for best two defs totalling £9m? Thanks

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      mee and naughton maybe clark

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Mee and Naughton is £9.1 sadly

        1. Pranav Santhosh
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          oops forgot about price rise my bad maybe clark instead of naughton?

    2. Turns
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Simpson is a good shout at 4.5m given fixtures. Do you already have naughton?

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        No I don't but he's 4.6 which is a bugger

        1. Turns
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Mee or Clark then

    3. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Simpson and clark?

    4. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      No love for Femenia?

    5. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Good rotation on Burnley/Newcastle defenders.

    6. A.J.
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Burnley and Newcastle have a nice rotation from gameweek 8.

      WHU, CRY, NEW, BOU, SWA, WAT, bou/wba, lei, WAT, STO.

      1. Four Letter Wirtz
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Yes, and you don't necessarily have to do it only with defenders. It's so good that I have set up a Mee-Atsu rotation!

  8. kennethrhcp
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Just watching motd... was fair disappointed yesterday knowing alonso came off a min or 2 early for cs points... think we're lucky it wasn't minus points. Shoulda saw red.

    Are ye keeping vs city or switching to someone like kola/valencia?

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Did he come off as Conte wanted to avoid a red then do you think?

      1. kennethrhcp
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Looking at the tackles I thought so... I might be well wrong tho!

    2. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Keeping, he's long term

      1. kennethrhcp
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I think you're right!
        My knee is bouncing here 🙂

  9. Poison Apple
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Kola otamendi davies simpsons clark
    Salah mkhi atsu chupo carroll
    Kane morata jesus

    2FT
    What would u do?

    A. Jesus to vardy which will fund davies to azpi next gw
    B. Mkhi to silva
    C. Mkhi to ramsey
    D. Jesus to kun, davies to duffy
    E. Others
    F. Nothing

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      What's wrong with Mkhi?

      1. Poison Apple
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Nothing major. Just gt a free transfer too much and fixture getting tougher for him

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      if your going to do A upgrade midfield instead of defence
      dont do b and c and if your doing d maybe mee or naughton instead of D.
      tbh you can get away with only 1 transfer this week as your team looks strong and it will give you 2 FT again next week or international break

      1. Poison Apple
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Dont see much candidates worth it for midf upgrade. Fancy the bigger forwards n defenders over mid price mids

    3. Turns
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Getting rid of Miki when they are playing leaky palace next seems crazy?

      1. Poison Apple
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Yea. I figured. Getting funds out for the kun move in 2 gws

  10. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    glad the stoke CB context was mentioned for morata, as it really wasn't for aguero last week. Also see kane's monster haul v leicester end of last season.

    1. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Kun was playing against CB's last week though. Fletcher and Johnson are not CB's!

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Nor is Mariappa a CB.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Kun and Kane are immune against any sort of criticism. When they blank they’re just unlucky, they are denied penalties, hit the post etc. When they score hat-tricks it’s supposedly just a normal day at the office.

      Lukaku and Morata haul and the only thing they talk about is the poor defence and how they won’t play such defenders every week.

  11. Cookie Kid
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else notice this week's current top scorer took a 68 point hit to get his 131 pts?

    He has form having also taken a massive hit 2 weeks ago

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/373258/event/6

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      All about those weekly prizes!

      1. Cookie Kid
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I think hits should be taken off the score...

        To be fair he's not edging towards the top 3k in Mongolia so his plan is coming together

  12. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any news on Antonio's innury? Will he be available next weekend?

  13. J.Litmanen
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Use my FT or gtg?

    Elliot (Foster)
    Alonso Davies Kola (Mbemba Simpson)
    Mhkit Eriksen Silva Ritchie (Carroll)
    Kane Morata Abraham

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      gtg

  14. FPLAdmiral
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Really want Kane, Kaku, Aguero front line. Only way is to lose Eriksen -

    Eriksen + Firmino > Ritchie + Kane

    Worth a -4?

    Elliot
    Jones, Davies, Naughton, Cedric
    Eriksen, Mkhi, Salah
    Aguero (c), Lukaku, Firmino

    (Foster)(RLC, Carroll, Rosenior)..

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      i think kane is essential but i would downgrade lukaku or aguero to fund the move maybe wait another week to get lukaku fixture against palace. but if you are set on kane kaku kun eriksen firmino to ritchie and kane is the best thing to do imo because kane is essential and ritchie is only player with free kicks corners and pens

  15. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Have Kun/Vardy/Kane up front after WC. Was planning Kun out for Kaku this week for CPL then reversing the transfer, but it feels wrong considering Kun's form and the fact I got him in for 11.5 and he could easily double rise again this week.

    Do I just hold and hope Mkhi is enough Utd cover?

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Lukaku could go absolutely mental against palace

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I'm holding. For all we know Lukaku might blank, he certainly hasn't looked fantastic on the eye test.

  16. skodaole2
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any hits worth it here? Thinking about Ozil + Wood -> Richarlison + Morata (-8) or Ozil + Ramsey -> Hazard + Richarlison (-8) since i can see both 2nd pairs outscoring the first by far. On the other hand Arsenal have a nice fixture and both moves seem like chasing lost points. Thoughts?

    Pickford (Elliot)
    Davies, Maguire, Reid, Holgate (Tuanzebe)
    Alli, Ozil, Ramsey, Ritchie (Cork)
    Kane, Aguero (Wood)

    0,4 itb, 0 FTs

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      id go the first one

  17. wolves_simmo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I thought I've had an ok week but gone nowhere in any of my leagues.

    1 FT 0.0ITB.

    What can I do with this lot?

    Elliot - Pereira
    Davies - Duffy - Maguire - Daniels - Wimmer
    Salah - Alli - Choupo - Chalobah - Mcarthur
    Kane - Jesus - Aguero

    1. Cookie Kid
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Jesus > Morata

  18. Sims
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Gomes (Elliot)

    Jones Kola Bavies Naughton

    Ali Mkhi Salah Moting (carrol)

    Lukaku Kane (Hemed)

    Can obviously think of a transfer or two but surely better to save with the inernatonal break coming up? 1m ITB

    1. Rash
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Think you can save barring injuries

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      save with international break coming up is your best bet imo

    3. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Good team. Save

  19. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Did Firmino -> Vardy last night.

    Thinking Firmino drops to 8.6 minimum, maybe 8.5 by next Saturday morning Then if he doesn't get 6+ pts vs Newcastle he'll be heading straight down to 8.3 with Man U and Spurs thereafter.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      But Pool love playing big teams.

      It's their specialty

      1. Differentiator
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah but thinking the likes of Mane and Salah (with their pace) and Coutinho (skill and set pieces) will be the ones hurting the big teams, rather than Firmino.

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Should still be on penalties and Mané being in the team increases his points potential

    2. Four Letter Wirtz
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      I pulled the trigger on Firmino too, but mainly because Klopp was talking up Sturridge.

  20. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is Sane a good pick now? Seems to be getting more game time.

  21. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any idea what to do with Firmino right now? Wait till UCL?

  22. TyroneGAA
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    The next game week counts as September? Sunday is the first of October so just wanted to know if it still counts to the September month?

  23. Fantasy Gold
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Firmino.

    What's going on. Keep or sell?

  24. Rash
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Lössl (spurs H)
    Or
    Elliot (Liverpool H)

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Both on for save points but i see both conceding so...

      1. Rash
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        My thoughts exactly think I'll go with Elliot and the rafa effect

  25. Our Man Charlie
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Just noticed top scorer this gw 131 triple captain but with -68 hits 😆

    1. Sims
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Still more than me with the hits

    2. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      No. 1 in the world shows loads of hits, No.2 has only done 1 transfer and no chips.

  26. ILOVEBAPS
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Hi all, any ideas for my FT? £0.0 itb
    Will WC before GW 8 I think.

    DDG Elliot
    Cedric Hegazi Bavies Mee 4.0
    Erik Silva Mooy Salah TC
    Luka(C) Kane Joselu

    Defence is a mess but hard to repair with no ££ and only one ft.

    1. Our Man Charlie
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Looks ok .. difficult to change with no money itb maybe salah to Miki for the palace game

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers. Be more inclined to shift Silva this week than Salah.
        My WC means all moves this week can be corrected next.

    2. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      downgrade mooy to rlc and then upgrade hegazi or maybe downgrade de gea instead to fabianski or foster and upgrade hegazi

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        And take a hit to do so?

        1. Pranav Santhosh
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          thought you had 2 FT if only 1 FT and going to wildcard maybe just go for a one week punt before the wildcard maybe what the guy above said salah to mkhi for one week punt. dont do it if you plan to have salah in your wc team because it will cost an extra 0.1 or 0.2 to bring him in assuming you bought him at 9.0

  27. HD7
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    A) Do Kun back to Kaku and then have to do Kaku to Kun again

    or

    B) Have two FT in Int break and do Firmino Miki Ramsey to Morata Salah Atsu for -4

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      B.

  28. POGLU
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone thinking of getting Sane or Sterling after the Chelsea game? Will Sane start?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Considering Sane mysekf.
      Played more minutes recently.
      Will wait til after Chelsea game

  29. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Early thoughts on this lot.

    Elliott
    Davies / Naughton / Mee
    Salah / Mkhi / Ritchie / Mooy
    Kane / Lukaku / Morata

    Hart / Cedric / Carroll / Long

    1ft, .5itb, WC available.

    1. Pranav Santhosh
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      would personally downgrade mooy and upgrade naughton or mee to a kola if possible

  30. nelluckram
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Mkhitaryan -> Silva...?

    No other cover from either Manchester team...

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Cover is a myth.

      Keep Mkhi. Palace next

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Not this week.
      Man u got palace this week

    3. nelluckram
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers lads

    4. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Not this week