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. Kiwivillan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 6 months ago

    I was worried about selling Alonso and Firmino to get Aguero 😆

    1. Homer21
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Yep, its all about who you sold to get him in, there are many stories with varied results!!

  2. stat
      8 years, 6 months ago

      Anybody doing Aguero -> Lukaku for next GW?

      Both in great form, but obviously one of them is pretty much guaranteed to play 90 mins every week and the other isn't. Also, Palace at home seems like the kind of game Lukaku could score a hattrick in and I'm scared about not having him especially for that fixture.

      Still not 100% sure on it but Lukaku seems like the safer option.

      1. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 6 months ago

        I have Lukaku Kane Aguero

        1. stat
            8 years, 6 months ago

            I was tempted to go down that route when I WCed but I really wanted Alonso as well, as they have a decent run of fixtures coming up and he could pick up some attacking returns.

        2. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 6 months ago

          Already did this. And reverse gw8 again

          1. stat
              8 years, 6 months ago

              I'm tempted to just get Lukaku and then bring in someone like Silva who will probably pick up points in those decent City fixtures as well.

          2. F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            god no

            1. stat
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Why not?

                1. F4L
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  If Kun doesn't play midweek, id prefer to captain him over Lukaku . If kun does play, then maybe I would consider this transfer, but lets wait and see

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

            Elliot | Foster
            Alonso | Kolasinac | Davies | Bertrand | Hune
            Eriksen | Mkhi | Phillips | Atsu | Carroll
            Aguero | Lukaku | Chicarito

            I want to avoid Phillips' price drop. And he's useless, benched for Carroll this GW. Who should I get? 6.1 moneyyyyyy.

            Shaqiri / Jese / C-M
            Brady
            Richarlison
            someone else?

          4. My heart goes Salalalalah
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Newcastle and ARS cleam aheets will take me over 90. Kola assist might get me 100

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

              Sweet

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

            How the hell did maguire get that assist?
            Does mark own him?

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

            Should I do Hart to Elliot now as he’s going to drop tonight?

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

              Yeah

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

              Hart's got a nice run of fixtures coming up.

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

                Don’t want the 4.4mil keeper wildcarding next week

          7. RÏɠBY
            • 14 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            tempted by sterling though i know how rubbish he is* pure ff player
            worth it?

            *any other team he wouldn't be gifted goals (because he can't do anything on his own)

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

            Considering i got Firmino 8.5 and hes now valued at 8.6 for me after rising 0.2, will he stay at 8.6 for me if his value goes down tonight?

            1. F4L
              • 11 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              no

            2. Kip
              • 12 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              nope, selling value will be 8.5 again

            3. Yellin' in my Ear
              • 10 Years
              8 years, 6 months ago

              No

          9. F4L
            • 11 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Matip would be a decent defender if Liverpool had any other defenders

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

              Look out there and tell me five that would make Liverpool stronger. Five. Then you win a prize. It’s difficult how it is.

              1. Bunk Moreland
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Cahill Luiz Azpilicueta Christensen Rudiger Zouma. 6 for the price of 5.

          10. ABCDEFC
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            A) Jesus + Firmino >> Vardy + Morata
            B) Jesus, Alonso, JWP >>> Morata, Azpi, Gross (-4)
            C) Firmino, Alonso, JWP >>> Vardy, Azpi, Gross (-4)
            D) Jesus, Firmino, JWP >>> Morata, Vardy, Gross (-4)

          11. immybob
            • 16 Years
            8 years, 6 months ago

            Currently have Kane Kun Luk
            Thinking about Luk - Morata/Vardy

            1. stat
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Currently have Kane Kun Vardy
                Thinking about Kane Luk Vardy

                1. immybob
                  • 16 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Man U weren't great today and the fixtures are tricky for the next 4.

                  1. Yank Revolution
                    • 14 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Erm, next week is Palace, HOME!

                    1. immybob
                      • 16 Years
                      8 years, 6 months ago

                      Yeah... Missed that one..!! Be keeping him for the moment.

                  2. stat
                      8 years, 6 months ago

                      Palace (H) is the kind of fixture Lukaku could score a hattrick in. Liverpool's defence is dodgy, Huddersfield are an unknown quantity against bigger sides and Spurs is a tough match up.

                      I could always go Aguero -> Lukaku for this GW and then dump Lukaku for Morata. Doesn't seem like a safe thing to do but this game is driving me crazy.

              • Yellin' in my Ear
                • 10 Years
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Is niasse worth a punt, two goals in 35 mins today. May lead the line if Rooney can't play next week...

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

                  Marlon Harewood mkII

              • InSaneMan-e
                • 12 Years
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Any ideas on what to do? 2FT and 0.2 ITB

                Foster (elliot)
                Kolasinac TAA Bdavies (simpson) (naughton)
                Mkhi Salah Alli Choupo
                Kane Carroll Lukaku

                Any help much appreciated

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

                  TAA/Carroll > Jones/Aguero?

                  1. InSaneMan-e
                    • 12 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Affordability. Carroll will probably be a failed punt but with Swansea at home surely deserves chance there

              • Aston-villain
                • 10 Years
                8 years, 6 months ago

                Best defender for 5.5?

                1. stat
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Jones

                  • immybob
                    • 16 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Got to be Jones

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

                  Alonso owners crying about the CS should consider themselves lucky he wasn't sent off. Never mind a zero, that would have been a negative score, a ban and price drop.

                  1. F4L
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    agreeeeeed. Shoulda walked

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

                    Ban

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

                    I sold him for -4 this week so a CS for Kolasinic and its all gravy

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

                    What about my mendy pick?

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

                      You're entitled to cry. That was harsh.

                3. OLLY G
                  • 9 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  On Luk, Kun and Firm

                  Anyone seems to be agreed on Luk as an essential, but what about the other two places?

                  Luk, Kane and Morata?

                4. F5jason
                  • 15 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Current team:

                  Foster, Elliot
                  Stephens, Rangel, Lascelles, Francis, Dunk
                  Eriksen, Salah, D. Silva, Mkhitaryan, Carroll
                  Lukaku, Abraham, Kane

                  Potential WC team

                  Foster, Elliot
                  KIKO, MBEMBA, Lascelles, Francis, Dunk
                  COUTINHO, GROSS, D. Silva, Mkhitaryan, Carroll
                  AGUERO, MORATA, Kane

                  What do you think??

                  1. FC Hakkebøf
                    • 9 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Defence is really bad

                    1. F5jason
                      • 15 Years
                      8 years, 6 months ago

                      Agreed, but it's getting me enough points, any team can keep clean sheets, on any given day... individuals get goals.

                    2. F5jason
                      • 15 Years
                      8 years, 6 months ago

                      The opening line of this arrival sums up my team..."Quite simply, we can’t have them all." The defemce is where i dont have it!

                5. FC Hakkebøf
                  • 9 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Im seriously tinkering like crazy. I need some advice - the more the marrier. Firmino is dropping before deadline and Morata will most likely rise. What to do?

                  A) Firminho + Miki --> Morata + Jese/chopper/shaqiri/other 6.8 mid (-4) to catch price changes even though the former pair will probably outscore the latter pair especially given the hit.

                  B) Do the transfer on two ft after gw7 and loose 0.2 TV

                  C) Burst into panic

                  In any case, do you have any suggestions for a midfielder to replace Miki?

                  1. Puyol Pants Up
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    D) do nothing

                  2. FC Hakkebøf
                    • 9 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Hmmm..

                  3. FC Hakkebøf
                    • 9 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Dont like Miki with Uniteds incoming fixtures

                6. Puyol Pants Up
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Anyone have Marks team link?

                  1. Puyol Pants Up
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Cheers

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

                    370

                7. Albrightondknight
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  21 scored and 2 conceded. One City in each line I think for the triple up. I will deal with the benching when they happen and they will.

                  1. Puyol Pants Up
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Aguero + Silva + Walker/Mendy the best 3

                  2. F4L
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    possibly. Silva and Kun are nailed in my team

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

                    Kun silva mendy in my team and staying there. Praying mendy isnt broken

                  4. Albrightondknight
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Probably could only afford Kun Silva and Otamendi.
                    Only have Kun right now but 2FT next week and it will need a -4

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

                  Fabianski
                  BDavies Jones Mbemba Kola
                  Miki Ramsey Eriksen
                  Kane Aguero Firmino

                  Subs: Elliot, Carroll, Simpson, Chalobah

                  A) Make Kun back to Kaku ( he can score a lot vs Palace)
                  B) Firmino Ramsey to Morata Atsu ( before Morata rises)

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

                  Lukaku, Kane, Morata
                  or
                  Kane, Kun, Morata

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

                    I think for the next 5-6 games the best option is KaneKun,Morata the only problem is to go against the Lukaku ownership

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

                    Kane Kun & Morata.

                    Lukaku will be a consistent scorer, but I think these three will get more double figure hauls.

                10. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
                  • 14 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Assuming my first keeper is Elliot, who is everyone getting should they wish to have another 4.0 keeper. Have Foster, but thinking of freeing up 0.5

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

                    Tim Krul

                11. noquarternt
                  • 10 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  What happened to Mendy?

                  Kane Lukaku Agüero (c) and Salah and still got a red arrow.

                  Must be some huge scores out there.

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

                    Tweaked his knee. Tried to run it off but could'nt.

                12. villian-ty
                  • 16 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Holgate anyone?

                  1. F4L
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    nope

                13. FPL Maldini
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  Morata is looking very hard to ignore at that price, think I might swap Firmino to Morata after next week and have Lukaku, Morata and Kane forward line

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

                  How do Liverpool line up in attack when Mane is back?

                  1. F4L
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Coutinho in for Wijanldum, Mane Firm Salah up top

                  2. bitm2007
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    Salah, Firmino and Mane up top, with Coutinho in midfield.

                15. bitm2007
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  DDG, Elliot
                  Alonso, Cedric, Dawson, Mee, Long
                  Alli, Salah, Choupo-Moting, Carroll. RLC
                  Jesus, Morata, Kaku

                  1FT, 0m

                  I've been stuck around the 1m mark since GW1, what's my best option ?

                  A) Alonso and Jesus to Davies and Kun for a hit.

                  B) WC (DDG, Dawson, Long, Salah, Choupo-Moting and Jesus to Foster, Jones, Mbemba, Coutinho, Grob and Kun)

                  C) Save FT (and find a way of getting Kun for Jesus after Chelsea game, for a sizable TV loss)

                16. johnnybeefcake
                  • 8 Years
                  8 years, 6 months ago

                  is it worth a -4 hit to take out Mendy (injured) and Firmino (Out of form) for Jones and Morata?

                  1. FC Hakkebøf
                    • 9 Years
                    8 years, 6 months ago

                    I think so yes..though United have tough fixtures after gw7... Maybe go for Cedric instead?