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Happy New Year from Fantasy Football Scout

A very, very happy New Year to all of our readers and site users.

There’ll be plenty of us seeing in 2019 with one eye on the Gameweek 21 deadline, which passes at 11:30 GMT tomorrow.

I’ll personally be glad to see the back of this festive fixture period and the brutal turnaround time between Gameweeks, which leaves precious little time for meaningful analysis as both a writer and Fantasy manager.

And let’s not get started on those Yuletide pressers, which are variously embargoed, delayed until after a deadline or simply not held at all.

Bah, humbug.

As a long-term frequenter of these pages (the badge might say “1” but I’ve been a loiterer since the days of Puffinboy) I never quite understood the levels of work that Mark, Paul, Joe and the legions of freelance writers put into Fantasy Football Scout before I came on board and I have a new-found appreciation for the toil and time it must have taken to get this site to where it is now.

And where would be we without the mods (insert your own gag here) and tireless tech guys (Ed and Mat) who keep these pages working and swear word-free, round the clock, 365 days a year. I thank you all for your fantastic contributions and for making my life so much easier.

It’s been a mad old first seven months in the job and a steep learning curve but it’s an absolute thrill to be on board, doing something I enjoy and hopefully not completely undoing a decade of graft put in by Mark and co.

Most of all, I thank you the site users for first making myself and David feel welcome upon joining in May and for your suggestions and feedback (mostly constructive) ever since.

Without you, there is no Fantasy Football Scout, and there is no deputy editor’s job. I am massively privileged and fortunate to have ended up doing this as a vocation but I never forget that without someone to read the drivel I put out on a daily basis, I’m out of employment.

One of the things I’ve been most frustrated with so far is simply not having the time to be more hands-on with the community and responding to you more directly, due to the hours required to take care of the bread and butter of the site. Other than retweets and the odd Simpsons reference, I am not particularly active on Twitter either and both things are something I’m hoping to address in 2019.

I don’t want you to feel that any complaints and concerns about the site are falling on deaf ears (hopefully Geoff catches most of them – top work, that man) and I’m hoping that in the pre-season of 2019/20, if not before, we can really give a lot more attention to whatever irks you.

Here’s to a year of green arrows and top 1k finishes.

All the best, folks.

Neale

 

1,773 Comments Post a Comment
  1. fish66
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Play one of

    (a) Ings
    (b) Holebas
    (c) AWB

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I nearly always play the striker in these situations. City aren't exactly rock solid at the back right now either!

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Chelsea City 🙂

        1. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Oops. Been drinking

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B and not close.

    4. gbpearce - AMERICAN DYCHO
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B C A

  2. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Who to drop??

    Digne?
    Luiz?
    Doherty?

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Like transfer out, or bench?

      Ideally none of them!

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry should have said to bench!!

        Dilemma is who to drop out of:
        Digne - Luiz - Doherty - Kola
        Richarlison
        Jiminez

        1. BIG TONES
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Damn, that's tough. Probably Kola as ARS def is a shambles and Fulham is tighter now under Ranieri. Luiz is one of the strongest CS chance this week and Doh and Digne more consistent in attacking returns. Maybe sell Kola soon and redistribute funds offensively to avoid this headache moving forward? Just my 2c. Hope this helps

          1. Andy Mac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers Tones, it really does help, thank you!! 🙂 I think you may be right, just fear a rampaging arsenal against Fulham??! May even plump for Digne as Leicester likely to score and wipe his CS out?

    2. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Digne

    3. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      None

      1. Andy Mac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sorry 007, I meant bench not get rid of! See above for rest of team to choose from!!

        1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Wow will be a close call mate. I dont like ARS defense even vs FUL, so Kola.

          1. Andy Mac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Cheers mate. It’s pretty much between him and Digne....may switch to Kola on bench and hope rotation in the midfield sorts it all out for me....!! 😉

  3. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Start 1 please.

    A) TAA (mci)
    B) AWB (wol)
    C) Bennett (CRY)

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      TAA for potential attack returns. Also CS not out of the question (last game between LIV and MCI at Anfield was 0-0)

    2. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      C, not that close.

  4. Canary_Kid
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Use free transfer on:
    A) Holebas > TAA (already have Robbo)
    B) Rashford > Jimi (already have Martial and Pogba)

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      B

    2. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Deffo B

  5. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kane sane > Auba hazard for a hit?

    Mane sane son lingard snodgrass
    Kane rashford jiminez

    1. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Get haz without losing kane

  6. Scotty B
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    If Kane was at home to Cardiff tomorrow he would be everyone's captain but because he is away he isn't...have a little think about this as I just have over a whisky and coke...the man scores goals for fun and has blanked just once when he was benched in the last 6 games...we all know he is lethal, Hazard could be stuck out on the left....

    Get the armband on Harry you know it makes sense 😉

    1. Scratch
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      They both make sense and both of their respective teams should score fine. A matter of luck which player ends up with the points.

    2. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Plus Spurs are currently better away than home so makes even more sense! Despite the logic, still going hazard (C) though.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Are Cardiff better at home?

        1. Scratch
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Conceded slightly more at home. 2/5 clean sheets were at home

          1. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Comparison tool tells a different story.

            1. Scratch
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              No story just plain stats

        2. McGurn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yes, could be a tricky one for Spurs.

    3. Goonsquad245
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      He’s a good pick for sure.

      Hazard did OK ‘stuck on the left’ earlier in the season though....

    4. Klein
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Last time he played cardiff though

    5. TallestJohn
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Think I'm using Triple Captain on him. Reasoning:

      They'll want to bounce back from Wolves
      Cardiff conceded 5 last home game
      Spurs have Tranmere in the FA Cup on Friday, followed by the League Cup semi and MU in the league so Tramere seems the game to rest him
      If Spurs want 1st or 2nd place this week will be a great chance to make ground on either MC or Pool
      If he somehow doesn't play I'll VC Salah as I can't see City keeping Pool out in a crucial game

      Waited all season to use TC on Sterling in a DGW last season which was miserable

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I think your reasoning is sound, and am also going (K)ane; Salah(vc) this week, but no way would burn triple cap on Harry this week. Hear you that using in a DGW can crater, but Salah is getting my triple cap this season. Dude has looked his old self again of late and his hatters are worth more points than Kane’s.

        But welcome a massive Kane goalfest tmw!

        1. TallestJohn
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          First couple of years I used it on Sanchez in DGWs which went well. Can definitely see a case for Salah in a single GW too but my season needs a shot in the arm anyway

          1. Boxwoods
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Goal + assist + max baps not the worst use of a TC!

    6. Party time
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Missed you Scotty B 🙂

      • gbpearce - AMERICAN DYCHO
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        against "BIG" clubs Cardiff at home have conceded
        3 v Arsenal
        5 v City
        5 v United

      • 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Sell Salah and try to get Kane (C) at CAR last year is a big mistake and cause me to wc.

      • Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Are you saying Kane’s first hat trick of the season?

      • XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        This is your best post ever. Happy new year

        1. XabiAlonso
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Haz (c) though

    7. SaintMatt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Happy new year all!

      Two free transfers and not really sure what to do, any ideas would be appreciated, 0.0 in the bank unfortunately

      Hennessey, McCarthy
      Alonso, Digne, Robertson, Doherty (Bednarek)
      Hazard, Anderson, Sane, Lingard (Gunnarsson)
      Kane, Aubameyang (Success)

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Make Lingard into pogba

      2. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        How are you getting Salah next week?

      3. GBFC
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Rob to TAA
        Lingrard to Pogba

      4. GBFC
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Rob to Luiz this week

        Alonso + Lingard to TAA + Salah next week

    8. Firefoxed
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Bench 1 of the below pls
      1. Jimenez PAL
      2. Pererya LEI
      3. Richarlison bourne
      4. Martial new

      Captain 1 of the below pls
      1. Kane car
      2. Auba FUL
      3. Son car

      1. Goonsquad245
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yuck.

        1 and 2

      2. gbpearce - AMERICAN DYCHO
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        horrible choice
        not convinced Martial starts
        coin toss for all 4

        2

      3. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        2, 2

      4. elchilangles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        2 2

    9. flippetyflop
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Play Bennett (palace home) or Mitrovic (arsenal away)

      1. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mitro

      2. Scratch
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mitrovic. Arsenal defence is a joke

      3. gbpearce - AMERICAN DYCHO
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mitro by far

      4. derdourily
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        mitro

      5. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        The striker

      6. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Bennett. His predicted points according to the bookies odds is 3.9 yet Mitro's is only 3.4. So it's not really that close.

    10. ABCDEFC
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Start TAA or Robbo?

      1. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Rob

      2. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Impossible question. Flip a coin.

      3. elchilangles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        both

    11. derdourily
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Auba in for vardy (-4)

      yes
      No

      1. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yep

      2. elchilangles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        no

    12. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Bringing in Aguero. Disappointed not to get the 0.1 drop ;0)

    13. Gabriel Agbonlahor
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I’m on freefall..falling from 1k to 20k in 3 gameweeks with no Kane Son Salah Pogba.

      RMWCT

      Fabianski (Speroni)
      TAA Digne Doherty (AWB) (Bednarek)
      Salah Sterling Pogba Hazard Richarlison
      Kane Kamara (Ings)

      1. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Got all the key players but think you could make it slightly more balanced. Can save on one of Sterling/Pogba/Hazard imo. Speroni pointless if you can stretch to Button/Guaita/Lössl. Kamara a painful pick after the last match lol

      2. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I would go with Sane over Sterling and go Jimenez over Ings.

      3. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Big Midfield

    14. Nickofoz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Captain:

      A) Auba (FUL)
      B) Hazard (SOU)

      1. bigbudgie
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        B

    15. pressdpm
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Is Bennett > Jonny the most boring transfer ever? Can't see much else to do.
      2FT's and 0.9 spare.

      Fabianski
      Digne - Robertson - Kolasinac
      Salah - Hazard - Richarlison - Pogba
      Ings - Kane - Jiminez

      Stekelenburg - Bennett - Wan Bissaka - Biling

      1. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Stek → Button in case Fabianski gets injured in the warm up?

        1. pressdpm
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah thinking either that or Stek > Speroni, bank the 0.1

    16. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Sterling to Hazard. Yes or no? 1FT TIA

      1. Nickofoz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I would

      2. BERGKOP
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

        1. De Gea is GOAT
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks guys!

    17. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Any Arsenal mids worth getting in this gw? Ramsey?

      1. TallestJohn
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Basically no. They're all too rotation prone, the only one I'd consider would be Iwobi who was easily our best player against Liverpool but he could easily be rotated again. Would rather Doucoure/Brooks etc. budget, Richarlison/Maddison mid-range

        1. F_Ivanovic
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          If it was one week punt only, surely Ramsey though? He's nailed for this week with Ozil and Mhiki out?

          1. SpaceCadet
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            Is he nailed? Might get him if he is

          2. TallestJohn
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 5 months ago

            He will probably feature, I'd say only 60/40 that he starts though. We could go 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 and he could conceivably be left out of either formation depending on who's available

        2. SpaceCadet
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers mate

    18. Firefoxed
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Alonso > Digne?

      1FT and defence is
      Alonso - Robbo - Kola - AWB - Bennett

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'd keep Alonso for now unless it frees up funds for Salah next week

    19. De Gea is GOAT
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Any news on Rashford? Thanks guys

    20. FPL Maldini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Currently on Kane captain , should I ....

      A) Stick

      B) Switch to Hazard

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        B

      2. GBFC
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        you asking which of us can predict the future

      3. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I’ve changed a few times. I may just go for the televised game which for us in Blighty is Spurs but then again I’m chasing so Hazard it is. Saints missing a couple of players eh. I’ve got no idea. Let’s spin a coin and I’ll do what you do

    21. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Will Barkley start this gw? Might be a decent differential.

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I think he’s had his 3 weeks of fame. Although did not do anything wrong against Palace although be it a tad vanilla

    22. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Captain who
      Aubameyang
      Kane
      Son
      Hazard
      Pogba
      Start Bennett over Trent?

      1. XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Haz

      2. Srv210
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I too can't decide captain.. currently on auba but his minutes can be limited

        Start Trent imo ,wolves haven't kept too many CS

    23. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Start who?

      TAA or Wanbisa

    24. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Have the money to do Sane ----> Salah this week

      Would you do it?

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Not this week

      2. XabiAlonso
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

      3. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Yup for free

      4. Boxwoods
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mos def

    25. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      It's so hard to pick a Captain this week...any choice can go wrong (as has been the case with me past few weeks),who to captain?

      A) Auba (scared of his minutes)
      B) Kane
      C) hazard
      D) Pogba
      E) Son

    26. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Why does the RMT tool say Son will get zero points in GW22 when we're told he leaves AFTER this match?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Guaranteed injury on the way I guess.
        An error which should get updated this week, maybe before deadline.

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Thanks

    27. Aubamazette
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Chances of Son starting?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        High unless redlining towards injury.

    28. Osman
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Who to transfer Rashford for? with Lukaku's return and the Injury concern

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Wilson? Jimenez?

    29. liiusions
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Rashford-> who under 8.6? Has to be Arnie, doesn't it? Got Jimmy

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Wilson could come good again with fixtures

    30. pressdpm
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      My starting keeper is Fabiasnki. I have 2FT's and nothing else needs changing.

      A - Stekelenburg > Guaita (rotation with Fabianski, but costs me 0.2 value)
      B - Stekelenburg > Speroni (bench fodder, but gains 0.1 value)