Opinion
30 September 2017 3512 comments
Mark Mark
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Suddenly the field has cleared again.

Having appeared to be awash with options and configurations up front, Harry Kane is now surely established as the undisputed primary target in attack.

And while Romelu Lukaku toiled in another four-goal victory for Manchester United, the other contenders for our frontlines have lost some ground.

Alvaro Morata’s early withdrawal against Manchester City has temporarily de-railed his burgeoning reputation and Fantasy ownership.

Confirmed as a hamstring issue by manager Antonio Conte, we must now wait on a further prognosis before we can be clear if this is a setback that will knock the Spaniard out.

Thankfully, Conte appears to be playing down the problem but the Morata bandwagon has hit the buffers for now.

With Sergio Aguero sidelined with a rib injury, Kane and Lukaku seem largely unchallenged heading into the break.

Despite his seven goals in as many Gameweeks, that’s a scenario that flatters Lukaku.

With news breaking post-deadline that the Belgian was struggling with a knock sustained in training, the initial thoughts were that he could miss today’s meeting with Crystal Palace.

He started and completed 90-minutes, but was subdued and failed to deliver the anticipated threat to a beleaguered opponent.

Kane, in contrast, was a menace from the first kick against Huddersfield until Spurs shifted down the gears in the second period.

But, typically this season, Lukaku could and should have matched Kane’s two-goals. He rolled a big chance wide before converting a tap-in from Anthony Martial’s centre.

Maybe the Belgian wasn’t fully fit but, in terms of the “eye-test” and pure performance, Kane demonstrated that he is on a different level at present.

My captain selection – switched to Lukaku overnight – was steered by the fears that Palace would capitulate, with the Terriers perhaps presenting a tougher opponent to Spurs.

To an extent that was true. United had more shots and had five big chances to Spurs’ two.

But Lukaku simply did not expose the Eagles frailty and help himself to the big score that I and many others hoped for and expected.

With United’s schedule now stiffening, Lukaku will doubtless suffer some sales, but those losses would be far more severe were it not for the setbacks for Morata and Aguero.

He may well survive in squads with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus perhaps the most viable and “secure” alternative left standing to partner Kane in our forward lines.

With talk of Aguero returning in four weeks or less, a move for Jesus could also be a short-term measure, aimed at capturing Man City’s plum home encounters with Stoke City and Burnley.

But given that they sandwich a Champions League tie with Napoli, it will be interesting to see if Pep Guardiola attempts to manage the minutes of his only out-and-out striker.

Arguably, those jostling with Kane and Lukaku for our attention have failed to build their case heading into the internationals.

Kane looks untouchable, and while Lukaku is nowhere near as devastating, he continues to prove effective. That might be just enough for now.

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

  1. Demel
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Thank you Aurier. You gave Trips one last week. And what a great performance to bow out of my team with. Thanks for the memories Trips.

    1. how now brown cow
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Not sure I would be selling so quick.

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

      I think Aurier will start the CL matches and Trips on the PL ones, could be good for the Bournemouth match too

  2. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Time to WC?

    Foster/Elliott
    Davies Jones Maguire
    Eriksen Mhik Ritchie Mooy
    Kane Vardy Lukaku
    (Suttner Hunemeier** Carroll)

    1. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldnt - looks solid. I'd move one of the United options out and Mooy

  3. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this WC Team

    Krul Elliot
    Luiz Otamendi Cedric Fernandez Mbemba
    Alli Hazard Choupo Carroll RLC
    Kane Jesus Lacazette

    1. Lucky Z
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard and RLC => Coutinho and Ritchie, or any other similar combo

  4. SkeletONv01
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    From 1,5m to 870k! Success! Top 1k here i come LOL.

  5. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    This kind of makes me regret losing kaku on my wildcard earlier....

    Guess I can always get him back after his tough games..

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

      Liverpool and Hudds in the next two, neither can defend.

      GW10 and 11 are tough.

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      What tough games??

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

    wow 18,619 well happy

    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Wow, you must be 1st overall in the Scout League with that rank? 😯

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

        331 but happy with that

        1. Optimus.
          • 14 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          Nice work, 1.5m here 🙂

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

            cheers, but it a marathon and not a sprint

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Great position after 7 GWs

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

    There are three versions of Kane in fpl this season

    A) Blanks
    B) Blanks with a yellow
    C) Scores a brace and max baps

    Which one will we see vs BOU?

    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      D, Hat trick

    2. Goat
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      A probably

    3. DenDanskeDuo
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Fear it's time for a B)

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

    FirminMo better turn up tomorrow

    1. Demel
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I hope not after selling him for Vardy.

    2. Feloh
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      sold for vardy who blanked. I need ings to start

  9. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    The current world number one #stalkingskillz

    https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-barrick

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

      That's creepy. Now I wish I never reach OR1.

      1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        I think you'll be safe reading your posts 😉

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Alan Partridge room

  10. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    HUGELY IMPORTANT TRANSFER QUESTION:

    TAA to Wimmer?

  11. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Would you do Mkhi to Silva now or wait?

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

      Wait in most cases.

    2. FPL Panda
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I'm gonna wait too. But will be monitoring the price rises closely for the 2

  12. We Will Klopp you
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Will do Mkhi to Sterling after tomorrow's games as i cba to keep checking the price websites and or i'm far too impatient

    Team will be for gw8:
    Fabianski (Elliott)
    Davies Clark Naughton (Jones Rosenoir)
    Salah Silva Sterling Brady (Chalobah)
    Kane Lukaku Vardy

    Sound good?

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

      wait, i thought you couldn't understand why we was getting rid of Mkhi?

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        I expanded, I couldn't understand why everyone was desperate to get rid of him. Letting go of him if you have Lukaku for City cover is understanable. For me it's a pretty big decision cause it likely means I won't get him back (sv 8.2)

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

      24 Sep 22:11 Fellaini Atsu GW7
      24 Sep 22:11 King Cork GW7
      29 Sep 18:45 Sané Alli GW7
      29 Sep 18:45 Morata Agüero GW7
      29 Sep 18:45 Davies Alexander-Arnold GW7
      29 Sep 18:45 Trippier Long GW7

    2. SkeletONv01
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Newcastle supporter, didnt start Mbemba :/

    3. Pep says
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I hate to think how many teams you at look. You should set a stopwatch for every time you look through the ranks and record it for the season

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

        LMS team so no effort.

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

      Jammy git

  13. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Do we think Surman is a better 4.5 than Carroll?

    1. chelseabrad
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I went for Surman over Carroll.

  14. The Royal Robin
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Green arrow, up to 188,435. Wasn't expecting that.

    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      You ask so many questions and do so many RMTs: I think we can all take credit for green arrow.

      1. Pochecinno
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Lol. I was going to ask how many RMTs we can expect during the IB but decided to go easy on him.

      2. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season rc…
        • 16 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Shame RR team not linked 🙁

        1. Fred54
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          Its because RRs team can probably be found on the first page of the overall league.

    2. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Link youre team. We all think youre telling fibs.

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        You're a nice lot aren't you.

        1. Lanley Staurel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          Just nosey and keen to learn.

  15. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Went from >1m to

    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      3m?

  16. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    *strolls casually back into top 10k with WC still in back pocket. Can't believe I spent GWs 2 to 6 outside of it tbh.
    *nonchalantly kicks a pebble with hands in pockets whistling tunelessly.

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

      Personal best guaranteed.

    2. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      What on earth was that

    3. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season rc…
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Leap frogged you 😉

      1. RoysCallerAnne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        yeah saw that. Nice one!

    4. Patch
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Which players you going with for the next few GW fixtures? You still not WC despite IB?

      1. RoysCallerAnne
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        WC maybe GW12 after that IB.
        Or an injury crisis.

        1. Patch
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 2 months ago

          OK in a slightly vulnerable state...what would you do in my situation pls:

          Courtois (cry), Foster (lei). Dawson (lei), Mee (WHU), Danilo (STK), Zanka (swa), Adam Smith (tot). Mata (liv), Chalob (ARS), Knockaert (EVE), Alli (BOU), Shaqiri (mci). Firmino (MUN), Kane (BOU), Lukaku (liv).

  17. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    3 braces in 4 for one of the biggest FPL juggernauts of all time. Taking all that stick when he was blanking was hard, but boy, he has repaid the faith well and proper. He'll soon cost 12.9m in GW8.

    1. Fred54
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Yep so glad I brought in him for the 3rd time. This time he's staying for good.

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Wow, 3rd time? Yeah, I bought him in GW3. He always does this. Blanks in some home bankers and then boom. Same story last year too. I stopped captaining him after the Burnley, Hull blanks last time so only got VC points until I was more confident. This time I captained despite the blanks.

  18. Feloh
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    am I the only one who has been forced to stick with Eriksen's 3 pointer while doucoure's 10 is just staring at me from the bench

  19. Sánchez
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Woy is 6/1 third favourite to win the sack race on betfair

    That would be quite the achievement

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

    Have to give a shout out to the Tree with a brace earlier

    🙂

    1. fedolefan
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      I wish he were 4.5m. Would play him every week in the home games. Always a threat.

    2. makaveli123
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Confidence is a nice thing

  21. Salarrivederci
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Average this week?

    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      67

      1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        BS

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

      FPL site says 40

      1. Salarrivederci
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Right. Could not remember where to find it 😉

        Alright then. 54 with still 3 players left. Seems okay.

    3. CloudSky
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      40

    4. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      41

  22. Tim Canterbury
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Can man utd be a bit more consistent and forthcoming with their injury news going forward please. Especially if it involves 2 of the most owned players in fpl. Would like to know if Jones/Lukaku are injured and not be told they're out only for them to start

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

      Don't expect any clarity from Jose mate it is just not how he rolls

    2. Feloh
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Jones to baily?

    3. Salarrivederci
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Lukaku to Morata?

  23. KLOPPTOMANIA
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Time to WC?

    Foster/Elliott
    Davies Jones Maguire
    Eriksen Mhik Ritchie Mooy
    Kane Vardy Lukaku
    (Suttner Hunemeier** Carroll)

  24. FPL Emu
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    What would you prioritize?

    A) Mkhi to Sterling or Sane
    B) Alli to Sterling or Sane - to prevent losing value
    C) Same as A/B, but to Hazard instead
    D) Firmino to Vardy
    E) Firmino to Jesus, Mkhi to Sterling -4

  25. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season rc…
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Decent GW rank of sub 69k 🙂

  26. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    115th overall in SKY at least 🙂

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

      Go clean on mate

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

      If you're not 1st, you're last. 😛

      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 2 months ago

        Couldn't have said it better myself 😀

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Big Congrats!

  27. camarozz
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Elliot
    Davies, Jones, Cedric
    Ramsey, Antonio, Ritchie, Eriksen
    Lukaku, Vardy, kane

    (Ryan, Suttner, T.carrol, long)

    Longest iv ever gone in a season without using WC. Iv had two reasonably good gws just now
    Had planned WC and with a fixture shift and no city or pool coverage do you think I should save or WC??

  28. Weeb Kakashi
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one (On WC)

    A Alonso Vardy +0.8 ITB
    B Luiz Lacazette

    A Gives Fabianski
    B Gets me Krul.with Elliot

    But B Allows a direct swap from Lacazette > Morata (Wen he returns)

    Have Hazard though

    1. SkeletONv01
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      B

  29. Man Chest Hair United
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 2 months ago

    Obviously delighted with 10 points from Richarlison but how did he get zero bonus with a goal and an assist? He must give the ball away a lot

    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 2 months ago

      Mark told the towers not to give the bonus to owned players this week cos he's falling behind

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

      Shots off target don't help.