2001
Captain Sensible August 13

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 1?

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Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers face a number of selection dilemmas as they put the finishing touches to their squads ahead of tonight’s 18:30 BST deadline, one of which, of course, concerns who to captain.

While one, all-too-familiar name leaps out as the leading candidate for the armband this week, there are other FPL assets whose cases deserve examining.

First, we will assess the fallout of the Gameweek 1 captain poll, then analyse the leading candidates and Rate My Team (RMT) ratings ahead of this evening’s curtain-raiser in Brentford.

THE CAPTAIN POLL

As you can see from the current results, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) is the runaway leader of the Gameweek 1 captain poll. The Egyptian midfielder has accumulated 61.95% of total votes from our users at the time of writing.

Only one other player has garnered more than 10% of votes at this stage, with Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) currently in second place, backed by 14.68% of users.

There is also a surprise inclusion, as Ivan Toney (£6.5m) occupies third place with 4.62% of votes, with Sadio Mané (£12.0m) and Kai Havertz (£8.5m) just behind the Brentford forward.

MOHAMED SALAH 

The Complete Guide to FPL Pre-Season 2021/22
2,001 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    These week 1 chip shouts are bizarre.

    Anyway

    1) Raph/Watkins/Oba in a 352
    2) £4.5/Watkins/Toney in a 343

    Raphina has done it against United, Toney a bit of an unknown quantity. Been spooked by calls of a Toney price drop if he blanks tonight. Raphina second fixture isn’t great either. Could always bench him this week for Coufal and do a 442 for this week.

    Thoughts?

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    1. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Do you think Watkins will start?

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  2. Miami Monkey
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Amartey or Omo if have to pick one?

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    1. Phlajo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      omo

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    2. Aubamewho
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Are we sure that omo is nailed tho?

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  3. Mr. Mystic
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Is Amartey nailed?

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    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      No. Leicester have agreed terms with Southampton for Vest

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

      For gw1 then its Vestergaard

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    3. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Not even close. Likely plays this week but will d be dropped after Vestergaard settles in

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

        Yep , Amartey out Kiko in , lets go

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  4. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez or Greenwood?

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  5. Codetto
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez (steele)
    TAA Tsimi Shaw Coufal (White)
    Bruno Salah Barnes (Raphinha Brownhill)
    Antonio Ings Toney

    0.5 ITB

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  6. gunner1994
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Buendia and Antonio

    or

    Benrahma and Watkins

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    1. Thinkering like a Boss
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I like Watkins, Benrahma....but will Watkins play?

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  7. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Anything to tinker with here? Bench worries me.

    Schmeichel
    TAA, Shaw, Coufal, Tsimikas
    Salah, Bruno, Mahrez, Barnes
    Ings, Antonio
    (Foster, Brownhill, Omo, Perica)

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

      Tsi and Omo is very risky

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

      I'd downgrade Schmeichel and upgrade Omo.

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

    Mahrez or son? I think mahrez?

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

      Son for me.

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

        And that is because I love nailed players. I hate waiting for Man City team news and hoping my player starts

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

      Son surely. Mahrez may not even play gw2 v Norwich. Son nailed as any player in the game

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    3. altan8797
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      mahrez

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    4. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Son

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    5. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Both are very goog options

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  9. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    A) Greenwood + Cancelo + 2.5m ITB

    B) Bruno + Omobamidele + 0m

    Bruno vs Def & $$ to upgrade mids to Son + Grealish etc.

    Thoughts?

    Cheers 🙂

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  10. altan8797
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    So I see most teams have both mo and bruno in their team. Why is Salah leading the captain poll by so far? especially given his away records

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

      Because it's the first game of the season. He always scores first day of the season. I don't make the rules.

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      1. altan8797
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        fair enough

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    2. skybluecam
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      First game of the season vs Norwich. Plus he’s had a proper rest, Fernandes looked worn out at the euros.

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      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        And yet he looked fresh against Everton

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  11. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez Foster
    TAA Shaw Ayling Tsimikas XXX
    Salah Fernandes Greenwood XXX Gilmour
    Ings Antonio Toney

    A) Coufal and Raphinha
    B) Amartey/4m and Gundogan

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

      A

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

      A and consider the fit Buendia for the first week as Raphina has a difficult fixture, and then consider Raphina GW 2 or 3?

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    3. Stewarts11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      A
      amartey likely only playing GW1 by what other comments are saying means your stuck with two 4m non playing defenders after gw3/4 when robbo and vestergard are in.

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  12. More Cowbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Man, the midfield 8.0 - 9.5m bracket is awkward isnt' it.

    Unsure whether to leave cash in the bank to potentially upgrade a 7.5 to one of those players or accept that it'd need to be a hit

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    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Feeing the same.

      I’d even go as far to include the 7.5m too. Such uncertainty among the lot.

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    2. Gabbiadini
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      rather than leave cash in the bank you could just go for a stronger bench.
      tsimikas is eventually fodder.

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

        Nah, always keep something back GW1

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  13. Phlajo
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    GTG here? Just planning for the first 3 GWs, and then I'm probably gonna WC over IB...

    Buendia probably a better pick than Raphinha from GW 1-3, right?

    Sanchez (Forster)
    TAA Coufal Shaw Tsimikas (Omobamidele)
    Salah Bruno Son Buendia (Brownhill)
    Ings Antonio (Perica)

    I know bench is really week, but starters (apart from Tsiikas) should be pretty nailed for GW 1-3

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  14. Gabbiadini
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Sanchez
    TAA | Shaw | Tsimikas
    Salah | Fernandes | Raphinha | Buendía | Benrahma
    Ings | Antonio

    Foster | Toney | Veltman | Ayling

    0.0 ITB. Should I bench Toney or one of Raphinha/Buendia/Benrahma?

    Why I like the stronger bench,
    - It allows me to only play one WHU (Antonio) against Leicester
    - Aston Villa's fixture swing coincides with Robertson's potential return and thus I have the ability to downgrade Buendia to a 4.5 and upgrade Tsimikas.
    - Covid uncertain times

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Bench Raph for me

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      1. Gabbiadini
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        what do you make of the team and my thoughts listed above?

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        1. Fatboy_Slim
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 8 months ago

          Although having a strong bench leaves you with flexibility I will out down 3 points below myself, and do have a think in it:

          1) I'd say almost 60% of managers will play the wildcard during the international break after gw3, or take point hits...since lots of unexpected gems and form players will turn up...so keep that in mind and don't leave your main 11 weak by unnecessary funds on the bench

          2) at the beginning of FPL you are looking to come out strong and take a lead, which means your 11 need to have maximum points potential, so again having a strong bench is a waste of funds

          3) more playing subs and funds in bench means more chances of heartache as at least one of the bench players is bound to outscore one of the players in your 11...and if you Bench boost it is a waste of the chip as you will need it for double gameweeks

          Keeping the above in mind I went with a 12 playing players system with only one sub (gundogan) benched for this week...next week he comes in for coufal and I save a transfer...
          Just my opinion but your team is leaving you very open to a lot of heartache

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          1. Gabbiadini
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 8 months ago

            Thanks for your thoughts.
            I agree with most of what you say but this is only short term (3 weeks), something that has been brought about because of Tsimikas.
            I don't like the options slightly more expensive than Raphinha/Buendia/Benrahma so the alternative is money in the bank.
            Bamford, I considered but with Raphinha, I would prefer to only have one Leeds player for their initial fixtures.

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  15. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Repost
    A) Son + Tsimikas
    B) Rafinha + TAA

    Which one ?

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

      A

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

      B. Dont like Tsimikas pick at all. Milner lurking

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    3. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      if those are your options then B. Currently I have all of those guys

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

    Best striker for a draft league?

    Watkins or Wilson?

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    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Watkins

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    2. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wilson

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    3. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Wilson

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  17. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Bachmann will outscore Sanchez guys

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  18. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Anything worth changing here or nice and template?

    Sanchez
    Taa Shaw tsi
    Salah bruno gundo Greenwood
    Ings Antonio Toney

    Steele white Gilmour omo

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

      I wouldnt have Tsi and Omo

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

        Any good replacements mate?

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    2. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Very template. Looks ok

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  19. DavvaMC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Hi

    Do you think it is OK to have one nailed bench player?

    I was thinking of a bench like this

    Veltman | Omobamidele | Perica

    Thanks

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

      Yes

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    2. aapoman
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Should be fine. But if one your starters is Tsimikas then that is a rally weak bench

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

    Pickford (Foster)

    Shaw - Digne - Targett (Tsimikas - White)

    Salah (c) - Fernandes - Bailey - Soucek (Dallas)

    Werner - Richa - Toney

    Thoughts? A few punty picks. Might swap out Dallas, but for who?

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    1. bixie11
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Werner? Im not sure on that one

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

        I just like him. Think there’s a 20 goal a season player in there. Lukaku signing could either make or break him.

        9m is a bit steep though after only 6 goals last season.

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

      I wouldn't swap him about at all, he's on my bench too. Everyone bangs on about Raphinha and rightly so, but for 5.5 Dallas is a great pick for when their fixtures pick up.

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  21. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    A) Bruno, Buendia
    B) Son, Mahrez

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

      A

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

      A

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  22. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    A. Jota, Greenwood, White
    B. Mahrez, Buendia, Tsimikas

    Sanchez Steele
    TAA Shaw Amartey Ayling XX
    Salah(C) Bruno Benrahma XX XX
    Ings Antonio Perica

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

      A

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      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers mate

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    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B brother

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      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Okay brother xD

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    3. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      A

      …or what about
      C. Greenwood, Barnes, Coufal ?

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      1. Pep Roulette
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers mate! This sounds good tbf!

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  23. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Which option:

    A. Mahrez Raphinha Benrahma (3-5-2)
    B. Greenwood Barnes Benrahma (3-5-2)
    C. Greenwood Barnes Toney (3-4-3)

    Thanks.

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  24. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    how confident Torres starts first 2 games for City?
    Same for Greenwood

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

      Greenwood more likely. City midfield is a avoid for now for me

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      1. FPL_Crisis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        feels about right. the norwich game in wk2 is the one that scares me

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  25. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Chelsea rule Romelu Lukaku out of the Palace game

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    1. DavidHopkin
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Are people thinking of leaving budget to bring lukaku in for gw2 or wait until after their city game in gw6 and bring in then?

      Planning now would mean I could bring him in one transfer without sacrificing Bruno or salah too.

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  26. Oh Mane Mane
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Would you rather have:

    A - Coufal, Son, Raphina

    B - Barnes, Grealish, Toney

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    1. Sulley
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      B although to start I would probs prefer Jota to Grealish whilst City find their feet

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  27. Bojan Horsemack
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Any 4.0 options emerged other than Tsimi and Amartey for GW1? Cheers!

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    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I've gone Livramento, but he's still not certain to play.

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

      Omobamidele

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

        You just advised me not to have Omo

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  28. Bob B
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Best 4.0 defender (after Tsimikas)

    A. Omobamidele (Norwich)
    B. Amartey (Leicester)
    C. Livramento (Southampton)
    D. Duffy (Brighton)

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  29. Atimis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on Benrahma over Raph?

    Better fixtures for sure, just the ownership of Raph is scary and he was good last season.

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    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Raphinha isn't explosive so u don't really have to worry that much.

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    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      it's not scary if you don't focus on ownership.
      there will always be preseason bandwagons

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  30. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Klopp: *talks very specifically about Billy Gilmour and other relevant Norwich signings*
    Also Klopp: The Little Greek Boy who came in last week

    Haha made me laugh

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