Podcast

Meet the Manager #3 – Will Thomas

4 October 2018 1996 comments
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Will Thomas is among Fantasy Football’s rare polymaths, with the ability to excel in two different formats, Fantasy Premier League and Sky Fantasy Football.

In FPL he has five top 10,000 finishes including overall ranks of 753 and 82, while on Sky he has breached the top 100 on four occasions.

But as Will explains in our latest Meet the Manager video interview, juggling two different formats can have its pitfalls as well as its advantages.

He chats to me about his strategies for success and how to achieve a top finish. We also look back on his 2017/18 campaign, in which hedging his picks across two formats cost him dearly in FPL.

In addition, he reveals how Sky’s patient approach, due to limited transfers, as well as its focus on fixtures with multiple captaincy selections allowed, has helped Will to excel across most of his FPL career.

Will’s views on the current season also prove illuminating, including why managers need to take advantage of an unusually high number of budget gems this term.

He also reveals why he is shunning Harry Kane and is instead pinning his hopes for success on another, far cheaper, striker.

With a current FPL rank of 26,711, he looks to be already on his way to another strong season.

The chat with Will is available to view on Youtube here and in the embedded video below.

The first Meet the Manager video, featuring Triggerlips can be viewed here, while the second, featuring Philman, can be seen here.

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1,996 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Sunday night rage transfer working out well. No injuries

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  2. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Know what I’m annoyed about?

    Mendy plays 4 games; City get 1 clean sheet.

    Mendy misses 3 games; City get 3 clean sheets.

    Bah. (Bitter owner here)

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    1. tafrère
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Just imagine when he will play and City will get clean sheets.

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    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Coincidence?

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    3. jtreble
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I think Pep's made that connection too. :). Mendy's not great defensively but it'll be good to see him back.

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  3. Jay_
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Score prediction for:

    CPL___vs___WOL

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    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      0-0

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    2. tafrère
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      2-1

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    3. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      0-0 points for everybody

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    4. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      1-1

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      1. Mysterion
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Ayew, Coady to score and disappoint everybody

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    5. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I think 0-2

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    6. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Low scoring draw is my prediction. I'm terrible at predicting scores though. Probably worse than lawro.

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    7. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      0-0

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    8. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      1-2

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    9. Jay_
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers all. Will come back to this. Horlicks esq got both Spurs and Arsenal right last week.

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    10. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      1-1

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    11. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      0 - 1

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    12. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      2-0

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  4. Winners900
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Pick one:

    A) Masuaku
    B) Obiang
    C) Same thing

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    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      None, Billing

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  5. Arsenal97
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    My team :
    Ederson hamer
    Alonso robertson holebas Doherty AWB
    Mane Richa Fraser Maddison Hazard
    Kane Mitro Wilson

    Who to bench ? Need 3 players next to hamer ?

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    1. Klaren
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Robertson Doherty Fraser (or Wilson)

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      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        I'd play Doherty over AWB

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    2. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Bench - Robbo AwB Fraser imo

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  6. sentz05
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Salah and Auba our for Kane and Hazard for -4, Salah out for Hazard or keep FT?

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    1. AC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good to me

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    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Do it

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    3. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      First

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    4. dr.No88
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Kane and Hazard

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  7. Don Kloppeone
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Help me pick 3 to bench please:

    A) Doherty
    B) Robbo
    C) Duffy
    D) Fraser
    E) AWB
    F) Hughes

    Currently on AWB, Duffy, Hughes

    So hard as all could be in the points this week

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    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Hughes, Duffy, Robbo

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      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        You’d really play AWB over Robbo? I love Wan-Biss but this feels a bit suicidal when Robbo can be so attacking and will be playing in such an attacking game

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        1. Hansel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          It's your call, but a CS and AWB tends to get 3 bonus. 32% chance of a CS roughly means 1 in 3 he will get 6-9 points, whereas Robbo might sneak in an assist but given no cleanie he needs 2 assists to match that, as (if as you say it will be high scoring) he most likely won't get bonus just for an assist

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          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            Thanks this is decent logic. I do agree that Robbo won’t haul as he won’t get a CS. However the WOL-CRY game could literally go either way and so it’s a tough call!

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    2. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Awb, Duffy, Fraser (just as i think watford win this game)

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  8. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    What to do with Firmino? Have Robertson + Mane for the good fixtures after City.

    Could go Lacazette or Arnie...even big Glen Murray.

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    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I think Arnie is a good pick. I’ve brought him in this week.

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      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Had him at the start. Fixture proof?

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        1. Smurf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          I’d say so but he doesn’t have to be this week against Brighton, it’s a nice fixture anyway.

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    2. Tommyg
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Like laca pick. Could be very profitable against Fulham.

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      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Agreed. Didn’t play much in the week either.

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    3. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Arnie and use money elsewhere

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    4. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Tough question.

      If I still owned him I'd keep as he now looks more physically fit than in early GWs. Being the no. 9 in Liverpool offense is enough to get a goal and assist just by being there. Easy fixtures coming up.

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  9. Mayo for Sam
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Best move here folks?

    1ft 2.8 itb

    Patrício
    Alonso TAA Trippier
    Richarlson Hazard Mané BSilva Pogba
    Agüero King
    Hamer Wan-Bissaka Kamara* Peltier*

    Going to WC next week

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    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      King -> Vardy

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  10. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play Foster or Fabianski?

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    1. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Foster (I have Fab, but can't see Bournemouth doing much at Watford).

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  11. That Fantasy Guy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    My could be team this week for -4:
    Fabianski
    Holebas - Wan bissaka - Bennet - Trippier
    Hazard - Salah - Richarlison - Frazer
    Kane - Aguero

    Stekelenberg - kamara - Hudson odoi - peltier 0.3 itb

    Would need me doing Aubameyang + Alonso -> Kane + Holebas.

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  12. BON
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    HELP! - I'm in a situation where I have 2 FT and I don't want to sell any of my players! ... I also have £1.8 ITB - yikes!

    Patrício
    Alonso, Mendy, Robertson
    Salah, Hazard, Masddison, Fraser
    Agüero, Mitrovic, Ings

    (Hamer, Wan-Bissaka, Bennett, Billing)

    I'm holding Mendy as he'll be back soon, and Wan-Bissaka/Bennett have covered well so far (9, 9, 6 points).

    I don't want to waste FTs on sub players when they're getting 90 every week, so that only leaves me with Ings who I would look at possibly selling.

    A. Zaha
    B. Wilson
    C. Arnautovic
    D. Murray
    E. Something else

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    1. dan_247
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C arnie 100%

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    2. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I still think given the complications that Mendy is a sell. But if you feel he’s a hold then Ings to Arnie is a nice upgrade.

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    3. jtreble
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Mendy -> Trippier for me. Doubt he's going to play soon.

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      1. jtreble
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        ... or Rose.

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    4. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      It's crazy to say "I don't want to waste a FT on a bench player" when you also scream "help (!!) I have 2 FTs and no transfer that I want to make". It's also crazy to consider Ings a player you don't want to trade..

      I would either do C or a punt on Aguero -> Kane

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      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        If you really like Ings then I would also consider Fraser -> Richarlison

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    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Yep agree Arnie seems the best shout

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    6. The Jackal
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Sell Aguero and Salah you didnt like them last week.

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      1. Not again Shirley
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Don't like Ings, never have.

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  13. dan_247
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play AWB or Trent?

    Current team

    Rui
    Shaw Alonson AWB
    Bilva Richarl Maddison Hazard
    Kane Aguero Zaha

    Subs: TAA Tomkins gunnaraon

    Thanks

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    1. Klaren
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      AWB

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  14. wildnothing
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Which two to play for this GW?

    A. Doherty
    B. Monreal
    C. AWB
    C. Dilva
    E. Wilson

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    1. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      AD

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    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      C, D

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    3. Rage Against The Raheem
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      A C

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      1. Rage Against The Raheem
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        A D i mean!

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  15. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Gtg?

    henny
    alonso - pva - awb
    hazard - moura - fraser - richarlison
    kane(c) - mitrovic - vardy

    hamer - doherty - robertson - guendouzi

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    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I don’t like the triple up on Palace. Especially as Doherty is a great pick this week.

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      1. #FPLBhuna
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Yep im umming and arring on that

        May play doherty over awb

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        1. Smurf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          I’m doing just that. AWB could do OK but I prefer Doherty. I also feel Wolves have more (albeit slightly) chance of a clean sheet.

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    2. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      would play Doherty over awb as you already have 2 palace defense

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  16. Powell
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Right then, it’s prediction time.

    Alex Iwobi will be borderline essential by Christmas

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    1. Jay_
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Just drafted him. And Kolasinac. Could be right.

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      1. jtreble
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Kolasinac - there's a name I haven't heard in a while. Interesting.

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    2. Four Hit Wonder
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Does Emery think highly of him?

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      1. Powell
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        Loves him.

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  17. Geoff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    New Community Article from SDC:

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/10/04/what-the-match-facts-are-saying-gameweek-8-part-1/

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  18. Puncheon Guly
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Salah and Wilson to Maddison and Kane? -4
    I was set for Salah all season, but he's just so much money for someone who isn't returning regularly.
    Breaks many FPL rules - don't dump good players from good teams, don't chase points from last week, don't take hits for players who aren't inelligible

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  19. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    is trippier really that nailed to start this week end ? thanks

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    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      80%

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      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        thank you

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  20. J to the T
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench one of
    AWB
    Doherty
    Zaha

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    1. madame shelly
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      im benching zaha. palace not scored at home

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  21. Sharpe Shuffle
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone know if Auba is likely to start this weekend?

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  22. Catsandhats
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Play 1:

    A) ings
    B) bennet
    C) Wan b

    Already have Hennessy and Doherty so it I would be doubled up on one of their defenceS

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    1. Merlinho
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I have that choice but without the double up and I’ve gone AWB.

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  23. Fantasynørden
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Salah and Aguero -> Hazard and Kane for free?

    Still got my wc as well. Do have Mané as Liverpool cover.

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    1. drughi
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      yes

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  24. JustPark
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Really appreciate. WC intact(probably activate later during IB)
    1) Salah + Mendy > Hazard + Trippier(442)
    2) Salah + Kamara > Hazard + Jimenez(343)
    3) 1+2 worth for a hit?(343)

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    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      2

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  25. NotsoSpursy
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Kun -> Kane ? Ft

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  26. Merlinho
    • 17 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Draft league fun: start 2 from Robbo, Dilva, Wilson.

    Is Dilva likely to be benched? I’m tempted to bench him if so (especially as I’m a Liverpool fan so it helps the conflict)

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  27. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on the following for a hit for a 1 week punt ?

    Zaha + B.Silva -> Lacazette + Gudmundsson

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    1. FantasyNik123
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      I like it.

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    2. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Don't like it one bit. A definite bad idea.

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    3. LSK
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Nah. So much talk about getting Kane in for a one week punt has people thinking it’s worth it for other players. It’s not. Just hold or make a long term transfer

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  28. FantasyNik123
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Considering I'm 100% WCing next week, does:

    Salah + Aguero -> Hazard + Kane

    for a hit seem good?

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    1. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good

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  29. CatMac
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    Bench one:

    A) Tompkins
    B) Bennett
    C) Pereira

    thks

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    1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 10 months ago

      Do us the favor of listing their matches. Caps for home game.

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      1. CatMac
        • 16 Years
        7 years, 10 months ago

        OK, although I thought it would be well known

        a) Tomkins (WOL)
        b) Bennett (cry)
        c) Pereira (EVE)

        thks

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        1. Gamst - Up (?) the Rovers
          • 16 Years
          7 years, 10 months ago

          ABC in that order. Bigger chance of a Wol CS than Cry.

          (Honestly I don't remember who plays who and if it's home or away. Tiring to switch tabs to give quick advice.)

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          1. CatMac
            • 16 Years
            7 years, 10 months ago

            You mean BAC then 😉 thanks for coming back to me Svasei

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            1. CatMac
              • 16 Years
              7 years, 10 months ago

              Sorry BCA :blush:

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              1. CatMac
                • 16 Years
                7 years, 10 months ago

                DOH. Ok Bench Tomkins, sorry it's late 😉

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  30. LSK
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 10 months ago

    For the people free hitting (I’ve seen a few) - assuming you have Trippier, make sure you put Kyle Walker Peters first on the bench on the off chance he is rotated. No need for a Spurs mid imo.

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