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.

3,512 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Sterling is £11Mill..…
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    what position was Sterling playing today?

    1. SkeletONv01
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      goalie

    2. Yav
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Right wing mostly.

  2. SuperMario
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Evening all, not a great day, trying to decide to WC or not to shake things up..
    Those above with * would be the players to likely move on.. Would appreciate some feedback. Have 1FT and 1.3 banked..

    Foster* - Elliot
    Daniels - Naughton* - Mee - Suttner* - Long*
    Eriksen* - Salah - Richie - Carroll* - Chaloba*
    Lakaku* - Kane - Morata

    1. SuperMario
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      its time to pull the WC trigger isn't it....?

    2. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      If you're not happy with 8 players then yeah sure. None seem pressing though so would be tempted to leave the WC until you have problems and maybe take a -4 at most

      1. SuperMario
        • 17 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Just seem to keep getting killed by not having the explosive defenders in my team..
        Tempted to go Salah/ Sterling in mid with 2 x 6.0m

  3. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    am I the only one having doucoure's 10 pts on the bench

    1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Bloke in my ML does.

      1. Feloh
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        which ml?

  4. Freddo
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Lukaku to Vardy and move the money into midfield/defence, why chase a 10m+ striker if you have question marks?

    Kane will be the default C now, no need to overspend in that area.

    1. SuperMario
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Kane, Morata, Jesus...?

    2. _figu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Who would be your third striker? Kane Vardy xxx? I'm between Jesus/Morata/Lukaku atm.

      1. Freddo
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        I'm going to be playing 532, been on and off that for a few weeks but will commit to it fully now until it's time to bring Lukaku back in.

        Have Alonso, Davies, Jones, Cedric, will add Walker or Kolasinac.

        Have Eriksen, Salah and Mkhi in MF (who will become Sterling or Sane)

        Kane as the default C changes everything.

  5. Pochecinno
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Haven't seen Pundit of CPunts on here tonight? Everything OK?

    1. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Great score with plenty to play. 😎

      1. Pochecinno
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Bloody hell, you really have toned it down

  6. FPL Panda
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Miki to silva this week a good move ?

    Was all set on lukaku to morata instead but I suppose that can wait for now?

    Thanks

  7. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 17 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Highest bench points in LMS of 20

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/2355271/event/7

    Richo waiting for Moreno, Firmino or Salah to miss out.

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Wow! Playing moreno over richarlison.

      Could still pay off I suppose...

  8. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Willian bye bye. Now that is patience

  9. arndff_
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Sad to see that Otamendi received an yellow and lost his two BPS.

    1. Pochecinno
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Can't argue that he didn't deserve it though. On the plus side, he looks the most likely of the City defenders to score.

  10. Ed
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Foster Elliot
    Davies Kolasinac Mee Suttner
    Mikhi Ritchie Alli C-Moting Carroll
    Kane Lukaku Firmino

    Keep the WC?
    Leaning towards yes, as I have exact Money for Mikhi > Silva.

  11. Goat
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    "To an extent that was true. United outscored Spurs....."

    No they didn't lol

    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Marks gone to bed

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Posting from a night train.

  12. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Choupo Moting owners- keeping or selling?

    1. _figu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Why would you sell? I think getting him in if I WC which seems likely.

    2. SuperMario
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      id be considering buying him.. stats are great?!

      1. Digital-Real
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        watched him against Southampton today, doesn't fill me with confidence.

    3. Boydinho
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Will bring him in soon

    4. Scout Pics
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Selling

  13. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Is this squad worth a wildcard:

    Foster Elliott
    Jones Bavies Mee Lowe £4m
    Eriksen Mkhi Salah Ritchie Carroll
    Kane Lukaku Joselu

    Opinions appreciated! Was all set to wildcard but not sure now..

    1. n-doggg
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      It looks good to me. I would be tempted to try and get Jesus as per the below and downgrade Mkhi

    2. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      No definitely not.

      You need city. One of your utd attackers to a city attacker and you are sorted.

  14. n-doggg
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Thoughts on this WC

    Foster, Elliot
    Davies, Monreal, mee, suttner, 4.0
    Mane, sterling, Ritchie, choupo, Carroll
    Kane, Lukaku, Jesus

    0.0 itb

    3.4.3

    1. Goat
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Get rid of foster. Right now

      1. n-doggg
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        For who?

        1. Goat
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 15 days ago

          Fabianski

    2. _figu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Foster useless. Get Fabianski.

      Sterling nailed now that Aguero is out?

      1. n-doggg
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Not nailed but worth the risk for the potential points

    3. Goat
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      I'd also take out mee. Looks like he's gonna drop and just get him straight back in then at 4.4

      1. n-doggg
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Good shout, thanks

    4. SuperMario
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Not think you need a city and Chelsea defender on a WC??
      Happy with Mee and Suttner??
      Id go RLC over Carroll..
      You set on Lukaku over Morata??

      1. n-doggg
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Lukaku now pending morata news. Finding it hard to fit in Chelsea or city defender. Would need to chop choupo for RLC and go 4.3.3

    5. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      I like it actually, it looks surprisingly good for having that much £ up front. I also don't like Foster but dunno who else to have.

  15. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Is it an international break between GW11 and GW12?

    1. the snazzy viking
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      FA Cup break

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Lol, FAC doesn't start until January.

        1. the snazzy viking
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 15 days ago

          Lol, it's already in the 3rd qualifying round

          1. the snazzy viking
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 15 days ago

            Lol, I'm wrong

      2. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Wildcard looking nice around then.

        1. the snazzy viking
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 15 days ago

          Just checked again, I think it's just a random break because of Remembrance Day

    2. Big Mac 24
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      World cup qualifiers PLAYOFFS, 2 legs over 4 days

  16. Tim Canterbury
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Granville 30 points ahead of Mark. Time for some #bantz

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Still don't own Kane.
      Everytime I mention this, I get load of negative comments. "You don't own Kane". "Are you crazy", as if there's just one way to play and we all must follow.

      The lack of free thinking on this page is very strange

      1. Scout Pics
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Why tf do you not own Kane?

      2. Francescoli
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Love it. Hope you're on this week's scoutcast

        1. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          9 years, 15 days ago

          Probably not. I'm fighting a by-election and the poll is on Thursday

          1. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 15 days ago

            Good luck 🙂

            1. Granville
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 17 Years
              9 years, 15 days ago

              Thanks

      3. JurgenRodgers
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Last years winner won without Liverpool players...
        Its your team play it your way

        1. Granville
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 17 Years
          9 years, 15 days ago

          Exactly. There are alternatives. I'll probably get him now because his form is so good, but it's only harmed me 1 week out of 7.

    2. theroadrunner
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      link?

    3. Ryan Naysmith
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Mark needs another wildcard

  17. AttackAttackAttack
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Evening folks. Where do i found about about price changes? Wondering if any price rises tonight before I wc. Thanks

    1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Have a google.

    2. AttackAttackAttack
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Thanks folks 🙂

  18. UnitedFan
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Is Davies' chance of the odd rest long-term a deterrent, or will he score enough to compensate, especially if you have a good back-up on the bench?

    1. how now brown cow
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      until rose is fit in 2023 it will be a very rare rest.

      Backup options haven't worked out too well.

    2. Yank Revolution
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Dont sweat it

  19. The Left Duke #3
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    60 pts with 3 to play (Ramsey, Ritchie and Mee to come in for Bailly).

    Think it's time to ditch Bailly with MU fixtures. Otamendi the best replacement in that price range right?

    1. Feloh
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      kola

    2. Big Mac 24
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Kola or Ota

      1. Big Mac 24
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Or if you need a 1.0 elsewhere, Cresswell

  20. EDEN THE MAN
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Would you change anything in this team other than Mkhi to Silva?

    Foster-Elliot
    Azpi-Jones-Cedric-Mee-Naughton
    Eriksen-Salah-Mkhi-Ritchie-Atsu
    Kane-Morata-Quaner

    Any response would be greatly appreciated..

  21. camarozz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days 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 for weeks over IB and with a fixture shift and no city or pool coverage do you think I should save or WC??

    1. Francescoli
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      No need to wildcard that

  22. how now brown cow
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Any know how Abraham played today?

  23. Geezer
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    De Gea only 3 points behind Eriksen. Is he worth the extra cash over Fabianski?

  24. Francescoli
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Chuffed to enter the top 100k. Now I just need to deal with Mhiki and Xhaka.

    Two transfers I'll be stewing over during the international break:
    Mhiki to Sterling
    Xhaka to Doucouré

  25. camarozz
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 15 days 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 for weeks over IB and with a fixture shift and no city or pool coverage do you think I should save or WC??

    Sorry for repost.

    1. Man Chest Hair United
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Midfield could be better rest looks good Antonio and Ramsey to Salah And cheap might.m be good

  26. JurgenRodgers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    200K rise after a -8 ..
    3 to play 🙂

  27. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    On WC, is Silva worth the extra 0.5 over Sterling?

  28. Dream Killers 2.0
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    Rank from 1.8 million to 771k to 106k in three weeks.

    Just goes to show how quickly things can change in this game...!

    1. Man Chest Hair United
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      Well done mate

  29. REMILAN
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    I am wildcarding and would like to up my TV. Where can I find the likely prise rises and falls?

      1. REMILAN
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks!

  30. Sterling is £11Mill..…
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 15 days ago

    if all goes well for Laca then Morata > Laca looks pretty obvious

    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      9 years, 15 days ago

      cpl // WAT // bou

      I think I'll stick thanks 😉