Opinion
23 September 2017 4244 comments
Mark Mark
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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. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Time to dump the wingbacks?

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

      Last week it was all about getting wingbacks in. I hate posts like this.

  2. Rinseboy
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on saving an FT this week and then cashing in on my Man Utd assets and doing the followiing for week 8:

    Lukaku and Mikky to Moratta and Silva?

    Fabianski Elliott
    Kolasanic Bavies Ward Mbemba Rosenier
    Salah Mikky Gros Atsu RLC
    Lukaku Kane Aguero.

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

      Exactly my way

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

      Sure, but there's CL, international break and a whole.gameweek to be played, so chances are pretty good that you will have changed those plans by then...

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

      Risky getting rid of lukaku before playing Liverpool, not renowned for good defending.

  3. Bleach †
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    What pair would you prefer for ONLY next week 🙂 I want to ditch one of Silva or Jesus for next game

    A) David Silva + Lacazette
    B) Mkhi + Jesus

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

      Probably a

  4. ⚽️ 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. Jedi_Reed
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Naughton and Mee rotate quite well, but I don’t know how much I’d want to bank on playing both. You’ve got Cedric who could come in. Looks decent. Save transfer and reevaluate after Man Utd - Palace.

    2. minges
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Solid. Keeping mhiki long term?

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

        He's doing ok for now. May switch to SIlva.

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

      Mooy to CM for a punt IMO.

  5. Cok3y5murf
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone else not planning to wildcard in GW8?

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

      See above. I might try and hold as long as possible. It payed off last season for me.

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah I wouldn't WC that. Probably save FT, or sell Mooy

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

      Yeah I should have 2FT for the break so I can do some micro surgery if needed. 9/10 look much better weeks fixture wise to set up for the long term.

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

      I was all set to but reckon I wont. Try save ft this week and then if needed do 3 transfers over break

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

    Lost on last page...

    Mkhitaryan -> Silva?

    No other Manchester cover

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

      Not this week

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

        Thanks again mate. I'm always tempted my price rise influenced transfers early on. Think Silva will play more minutes overall and with City scoring so many... Feels wrong transferring Mkhitaryan out before Palace tho yeah...

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

      You only have Mkhi from the Manchester clubs...?

      Keep this GW, monitor and possibly change during the IB.

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

        Yup. Sold Lukaku and Jesus for Kane and Morata

    3. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Not yet

  7. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    How nailed are these players?

    Sterling
    Sane
    Mane
    Coutinho
    Son

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

      Mane and Coutinho are pretty safe, the others are guesswork

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

      Only mane and coutinho are certain starters

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

      50%
      50%
      100%
      100%
      50%

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

    What's the logic behind using the WC for IB..is it just cos of potential injuries during training/ quiet time.

    I tried to find articles in the search feature but they are ancient and not really demonstrating why WC could be good...

    Hopefully a hot topic or dedicated article in the pipeline...

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

      Herd mentality. Some ‘big name’ players say the best time to WC is during the IB and everyone take that as gospel. If you don’t need major surgery then save it as long as possible.

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

        This

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

      for me i wildcarded in gameweek 4 because without the wildcard i would be tempted to do crazy hits and it was fun changing my team around and trying to catch price rises although not many price rises happened.

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      My team really doesn't need it, so will not be using it now.

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

      Thanks guys had to google it as it sounds like spring break...but actually some folks still need to play.

      So I need to be wary of folks playing internationally who can get injured or likely to be tired or carded...

      Today’s football phrase is ‘the international break‘ which is used to describe the period during a season when clubs do not play regular league games as many of their players go and represent their countries. League games are suspended – clubs take a break – for a weekend as European Championship or World Cup qualifiers take place. The International Break.

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

    Try to save transfer here?

    Foster
    Alonso Jones Davies Naughton
    Eriksen Salah Mkhi Brady
    Kane Aguero

    Elliott Carroll Mee Quaner

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

      Save

  10. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Any idea why Cahill was benched yesterday? Looked great value at 6.3

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

      Wasn't Jonty talking about getting him in on the ScoutCast?

  11. Galza
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    40 points with Joselu, Dawson and Sanchez (c) to go....
    Do you think I can get a green arrow to go with the only other one I have got...? 😉

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

      Unlikely, hopefully Sanchez shows up.

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

        I'm sure he will...

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

      Sanchez wont start

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

        Disagree with that...
        He starts imo..

    3. Kun, Ayew Nigerian?
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Yes. Alexis usually fire against WBA

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

        Thanks..
        Great fully received. 🙂

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

      Green arrow depends on position. Alexis will need at least a brace and Joselu to score, both can happen but more likely you ll get about 20 more points and this week all the heavy hitters and the defences apart from Tottenham got a cs. Have 52 with Ozil, Ramsey and Ritchie and am prepared for another red arrow. Good luck

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

        Not looking good then..
        Cheers

  12. ChristoBisto
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Those of us who resisted the FFS herd mentality and captained Kane instead of bringing in Aguero were rewarded yesterday. Viva la resistance!

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

      Who are you captaining next week? I am going for Kane or Lukaku...

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

        Lukaku for sure

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      And will probably be rewarded next week too

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

        That was part of the decision to keep Lukaku / Kane too. People on here banging on about Kun scoring 5 was hilarious.

    3. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Fair play. I never had the confidence to captain Kane. Partly because I own Alli too. So glad he finally came good. Pitty everyone else delivered too, including Morata again!

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

        I know. He needs to get in my team soon. I guess for Lukaku, but I'm reluctant

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

      So nice with points plus 2FT. Luxury.

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

        Same mate, resisting the knee jerk is awesome. Now we can move a step ahead while others are using a transfer to bring Kane back in

    5. J T
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Hmm I dumped Morata for Aguero.. but captained Kane. I would be annoyed however I hit 80 points and sat at 600k. I also captained Morata last week rough with the smooth?!

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

    Antonio and Firmino to Atsu and Lukaku for -4? I would then captain Lukaku against Palace.

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

      Lets see what Atsu does today, but it certainly sounds good.

  14. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Good morning all. 🙂

    Decent start on the WC with 67 points and 2 to play. Could've been a mammoth score if Vardy and Alonso didn't mess up.

    Anyway, team atm -

    Elliot
    Alonso - Kolasinac - Bavies - Jones
    Alli - Salah - Carroll
    Aguero - Kane - Vardy

    3.9m - RLC - King - Hunemeier

    1 FT and 0.4m in the bank. Thinking of saving FT and doing Vardy + Kolasinac ➡ Mee/Fernandez/Martina + Morata for free in gw 8.

    Thoughts?

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

      think saving a FT is a good idea but getting rid of vardy and kolasinac isnt a good idea

      1. Jairzinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I’m bringing in Kola as my transfer this week!

      2. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Only way to afford Morata.

        Kola has tough fixtures from gw 9.

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

          Makes sense maybe wait a gw? cause morata has city

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

      Saving now seems ok, then you ll have time to decide about the transfers. Morata seems too good to ignore but with Hazard back they may share the points. Plus Chelsea will have to play difficult CL games from now on.

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

    Morning all! Happy my Lukaku to Aguero(C) switch paid off. Now to find the best route to get Lukaku back in. Easy option is to switch them back? Or is it time to ditch Firmino and Alonso?

  16. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    With Aurier out for a couple, is that good news for Trippier?

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

      A couple what?

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

        A couple game weeks.

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

      I'm tempted to bring in Trippier. I have a feeling that Poch might be inclined to play him in the premier league more than Aurier while the latter adapts to the game. His sending off yesterday was a combination of naivety and stupidity that only could have strengthened Trippier's case.

      1. The Wizard of Ozil
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Brilliant answer cheers.

  17. d_manga_fanatic
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    thoughts on the following:

    out: Redmond, Firmino
    in: Atsu, Morata

    i want to get in a liverpool mid to replace firmino but struggling to free up the funds and think morata has more consistency than all Liverpool mids except salah. thoughts?

    def: Stephens, stones, Jones, mee, suttner

    midfield: atsu, mooy, Carroll, Eriksen, Miki

    forward: morata, Kane, lukaku

  18. John t penguin
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is this the first time in a long while that the top five teams are 1-5 in the league so early?

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

    Can anyone link me to the mods league please?

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

    what more does ward have to do to get as much love as mee

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

      Score a worldy

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      If I was playing my wc he would be straight in . Mee was unlucky not to score vs Pool tbf

  21. Teror
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    It seems to me that the whole "year of the expensive wingbacks" theory is a load of right poppycock. Valencia aside, none of the predicted premium defenders have really been smashing it.

    Azpi is second but no one ever mentioned him in pre-season. Jones and Davies emerged from under the radar to provide great value and consistency, if not explosive returns (especially in Jones' case). Otamendi is up there because of his goal, but that says less about his potential than City's improved defence. Alonso has done nothing to justify his price tag, except for Spurs away, and Walker and Mendy have done nothing at all.

    I'm much more inclined to invest in three of the big four up front (Kane, Lukaku, Aguero, Morata) than I am in an overly beefed up defence.

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

      Ok

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

        Cool.

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

      Alonso has done nothing to justify his price tag? He is averaging over 6ppg and getting clean sheets. Will end up close to 200 points at this rate. Name another 7.0 asset who will come close?

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

        Alonso is the only defender priced at 7.0

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

          I said asset, not defender. He will beat everyone in that price bracket

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

            Ah yes, my misteak. You're right. But will he do that much better than Davies and Jones? He will surely do better but maybe that extra 2.0 would be better spent elsewhere, like up top or on premium mids. For what it's worth I don't have any 7.0 assets. Ritchie and Maguire are the only middle-of-the-road players I have.

      2. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        He's averaging 5 points a game.

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

          Yeah sorry typo. Would be close to 6 if he got the extra 90 seconds! 😉

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

    need 15 points from Lacazette+Ritchie to win my h2h game.

    Tough but not impossible!

  23. drav
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I've got Firmino at 8.7 but transfer value at 8.6, if he drops will his transfer value drop to 8.5?

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

      Yes

    2. Fitzy.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Yep.

    3. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Depends if you bought him for 8.5 or 8.6.

      1. drav
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        Cheers, got him at 8.5 so will get rid

  24. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Is Niasse an option on will he be on the bench most weeks?

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

      You Niasse to be joking?

      Bench soon enough

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        He is 5m

      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        He would be an enabler

  25. Greasy
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Do people prefer the new way of the wildcard or the old way with a January one and a whole season one?

    1. Mattias
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      The 2nd wildcard keeps peoples interest longer into the season. So I prefer it.

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

      New way makes more sense. Never understood the point of the January only one. It’s not like teams sign 5 new players and change their starting XI completely during that window.

    3. Greasy
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      That's makes sense I suppose, just feel like I'm going to use my first wc this season just to use it rather than actually needing it like I did with the old one

  26. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    What would you do here?

    Foster
    Alonso Bailly Bertrand Monreal
    Eriksen Alli Mkhitaryan Atsu
    Lukaku Morata

    Elliot T.Carroll Mariappa Quaner

    2FT 0.5ITB

    Cheers!

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

    Have 2 FT and seriously struggling to think of a transfer that's affordable

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Me to

    2. Up the tics
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      whats your team?

    3. Teror
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Take a hit my man

  28. Mattias
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I hate posting teams up, but should I wildcard to this team...

    Fab/Elliot
    Jones/Cedric/Monreal/Tarkowski/Mbemba
    Eriksen/Coutinho/Sterling/RLC/Carroll
    Kane/Kaku/Vardy

    0.2 ITB (but worried that if I wait for the break I'll lose out on value)

    Players that I'm selling are Aguero, Willian, Micky, Gross, Kolasinic, Bertrand, Naughton, Daniels, Foster,

    Thanks 🙂

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

    personally getting itchy feet on mkhitaryan, not because he's not really soon enough but I find it impossible to see him outscoring the now similarly priced coutinho

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

      *not really doing enough

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      After Palace he becomes D.Silva or Coutinho for me.

    3. Mattias
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      My thoughts exactly. I can see United grinding out more 1-0 wins and he'll not be as 'explosive' (hate that term!) as Coutinho.

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

      Me too. Looking for a way out, but Palace at home is too good to ignore.

  30. Captain Vantastic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    Thinking of saving my FT. Thoughts?

    Fabianski.

    Otamendi. Jones. Monreal.

    Silva. Eriksen. Mkhi. Atsu.

    Lukaku. Kane. Vardy.

    0.0m ITB

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Yes save.