Captain Sensible

Who are the best FPL captain options for Gameweek 1?

13 August 2021 2001 comments
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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 Login to Post a Comment
  1. pablo discobar
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Down to the final decision! Its this -

    A Saar + Digne or

    B Barnes + Lowton.

    B means starting TAA and Tsimikas, A means benching Tsimikas. No doubt B is better when GW 3 comes along

    Rest of team

    GK Sanchez
    DEF TAA, Shaw, White, Tsimikas, ??
    MID Salah, Bruno, Greenwood, Brownhill ??
    FWD Antonio, Toney, Ings

    Now if only Watkins was fit cos then I'd get Barnes + Digne with Watkins instead of Ings!

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    1. hogree
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Think watkins likely to be fit

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    2. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I think he will be

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  2. More Cowbell
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Too risky to have both Tsimikas and Amartay in defence?

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    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Yes imo

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    2. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Yep just Tsimi

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    3. fish&chips
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I think Armatey is a price drop waiting to happen. I'm personally going for another 4.0 option

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    4. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      unless you are planning early wildcard. they are probably 1 and 3 week options.

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    5. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Yes, I’ve just got a 4.5 to cover this. One is fine but 2 looks a gamble that I don’t need to take at this stage of the season

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  3. fish&chips
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Toney in a 3-4-3 or Buendia in a 3-5-2?

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    1. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Toney

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    2. Gabbiadini
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Buendia, just.

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    3. Kitman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Buendia is potentially injured so I’d go raphina or benrama in a 3-5-2

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    4. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I said this should be a hot topic earlier

      Buendia/Raph in a 352 for me

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    5. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Buendia

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  4. JoBro
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Benhrama or greenish?

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    1. JoBro
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      By which I mean grealish

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      1. fish&chips
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Depends what you do with the 2m

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      2. altan8797
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        greenish then

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    2. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Massive price difference between them

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    3. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Ive got both but i would rather have benrahma

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  5. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    My team is very template- thinking of punt in Raphinha slot of Dele Alli - what are thoughts? Any other max 6.5 you would suggest or just stick on Raphinha

    Sanchez
    TAA Tsimikas Shaw
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Raphinha
    Toney Ings Antonio

    Foster Coufal White Brownhill

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    1. lilmessipran
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Looks good.. although I'd rather Coufal to a 4.5 and save 0.5 with your team

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    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Stick to the template, Dog!

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    3. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Coufal to Ayling, Toney to Barnes? If Raph plays like he did last season he is insane value

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    4. Khark
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Alli has looked very good this pre=season but im very sceptical he's so inconsistent. If hes the player of 3/4 years ago then 6.5 is a criminal offence.

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      1. Flynny
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Barnes?

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      2. Pegboy
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Avoid Alli. He's still nowhere near the player he was. Hopefully Nuno can get the best out of him, but if we stick with 433 he'll also be playing much deeper.

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      3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Yeah if Nuno manages to get a tune out of him they’ve a hell of a player there

        But that’s Poch, Mourinho, and now Nuno making the latest tempt at trying to motivate the lazy shite, eventually it’s obvious that it’s the player and not the manager or the system

        Feels like he’s edging towards the last chance saloon already which is a crying shame for such a talented (and still relatively young) guy

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  6. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Really don't understand the Barnes hype, he might start but will definitely get subbed off early as talked about by the manager ..with Nacho and Daka on the bench, he is one bad game away from a benching imo

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    1. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      One of the highest ppm going in a very attacking Leicester team for 7m

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    2. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I agree with the first part, but don't think he is a bad game away from benching. He's pretty important to their 4-2-3-1.

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      1. lilmessipran
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        I really don't see Brendan sticking to a 4-2-3-1 for very long though with Nacho and Daka on the bench

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        1. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Central defenders are the issue. Rodgers not gonna play 3-4-1-2 as in the last season as long as Evans is out imho.

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    3. PapaWengzz
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Dont mind the early subbing but hes nailed imo

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    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      He’s a fantastic little/(big) player - but no one in that Leicester attack is getting 90’s regularly this season, not even old man Vardy

      If it’s 90’s your after, you need to swerve Leicester altogether

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  7. Darthshearer
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Does Kane start?

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    1. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      no

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  8. Rigid Digit
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Not much time left to do tinkering - think I'll leave this now (and damn the consequences)

    Pickford
    Dias Wan-Bissakka Coufal White (Amartey)
    Salah Son Havertz Barnes (Gilmour)
    Aubameyang Antonio (Rodriguez)

    At some point, Lukaku (or Kane?) will replace Auba.
    Plan is either to downgrade Son to Sancho and/or Havertz to Dele Alli (but let's see what happens)
    (Rodriguez to a non-playing 4.5 / 5.0 could also do the job)

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  9. VaVaVoom
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Sanchez
    Trent Tierney Shaw
    Salah(c) Fernandes Barnes Buendia*
    Ings Antonio Toney

    Foster Coufal Gilmour Amertey

    Ready?
    Buendia with an ! We know yet if he will play? If not who shall I replace with?

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    1. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Raphinha

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  10. clarkey_2000
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Sanchez (Raya)
    TAA Veltman Tsimikas (Shaw, Firpo)
    Gundo Havertz Salah(C) Barnes (Harrison)
    Watkins Ings Antonio

    G2G??

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  11. Aleksei
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    here we go again! pre season excitement, feels like Christmas shopping:)))) but few GW later we will see which gifts were most valuable!

    I am down to two big tinkerings

    a)Sancho
    b)Greenwood
    c)none of them

    1)Son+Toney
    2)Mahrez + Antonio

    give me your thoughts!

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    1. Pegboy
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      B2

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  12. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Hey fam! Please choose!

    Sanchez (Steele)
    TAA Shaw Tsimikas (4.5 4.0)
    Salah Bruno Mahrez Buendia Benrahma
    Ings Antonio (4.5)

    4.5 def - Ayling or White
    4.0 def - Omabamidele/Amartey/Livromento
    4.5 fwd - Scarlett/Perica/Obafemi

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    1. CRAZY TRAIN
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      White
      Amartey
      Scarlett

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    2. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      White
      Oma
      Perica as Scarlett will take a spurs spot if you need it

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  13. CRAZY TRAIN
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Current team with 2.5m itb

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Tsim
    Salah Bruno Barnes ESR
    Ings Antonio Toney

    (White Amartey Gilmour)

    Keeping that 2.5m with the prospect of bringing in City MFD for GW2, but unsure whether it will be Mahrez, Gundo or Jack.
    some may question my wisdom in holding back 2.5m, but I just feel for City mids its a wait and see (and that Norwich fixture could be a massive haul with the right pick)

    G2g or refinements needed?

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    1. mlm
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      same here, I play coufal over ESR and keep 3m for next GW

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      1. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        3m is a tidy contingency pot

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    2. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Good to go, personally not a fan of EsR would rather Buendia but ghost down to preference

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      1. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        I'm waiting on Buendia or Bailey but I doubt either will play GW1

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      2. ☈☾
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Hey mate where will Buendia play and is he on set pieces?

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        1. Zimo
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          You'll find out soon enough. He's only played the one preseason match so no one knows yet

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  14. Puyol Pants Up
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Any Gundo owners getting cold feet in the last few hours?

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      No, I just put some socks on

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    2. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      no point. I'd probably prefer Jota but Tsimikas makes that hard.

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    3. Pegboy
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I'm sticking. Spurs still look shaky and I expect City to run riot in GW2. Don't see any competition.

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  15. PapaWengzz
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Final team, hows she looking?

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Tsim
    Salah Bruno Grealish Barnes Raph
    Ings Antonio
    Steele Ayling Amartey Scarlett
    0ITB

    Thoughts appreciated

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    1. The Pesci challenge
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Pretty much my team only that i got benrahma & veltman to your Raphinha & amartey so GTG

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    2. Pegboy
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      2 £4m defenders and probably only 30-60mins out of Grealish. Not a fan.

      I'd probably do Amartey + Grealish > White + Greenwood/Gundo

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  16. Tinmen
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Folks. Is Barnes a risk ?

    I was in the process of ripping up
    My team to get him, but I see people
    removing him on here

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    1. PapaWengzz
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Why would he be a risk?

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      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Not nailed

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        1. PapaWengzz
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Dont think they have too many wingers

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          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 14 days ago

            News just in: number of wingers in squad determines nailedness!

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            1. PapaWengzz
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 14 days ago

              *Nailedness of a winger and yes. Also hes class whenever hes fit, and is a regular starter...so not sure what you're on about

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              1. Deulofail
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 14 days ago

                You can be the only libero in the league and not play a minute

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    2. Pegboy
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I didn't follow them closely, but I thought his injury coincided with the switch to 2 upfront and bringing in Nacho. Feels like Barnes is definitely the starter but at risk if they switch formations.

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  17. Chilli Heatwave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Finished my team and happy with 1.5m to spare, worth keeping in reserves for changes or just find a way to spend? My preference of Buendia over Barnes is the cause for the free funds

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    1. CRAZY TRAIN
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      I think a contingency budget at the start of the season is wise

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      1. Chilli Heatwave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Might well do that then thanks

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      2. Khark
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        amen to this. 1.5m though is a bit extra

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  18. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Chances of Grealish starting?

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    1. Flaming Flamingo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Good, imo

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    2. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      35%

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    3. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Conflicting reports! Haha

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      1. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        He's barely trained before his arrival a week ago so I'm not so sure Pep starts him.

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        1. Arvin-ation
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          1 week of individual training and no team training at Villa. Just a week at City now.

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        2. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 14 days ago

          Thanks. Who would you expect to see in the front 3 then? Mahrez and Bilva both like the right-hand side

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    4. Dr. Rog
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      against Norwich 100%, which is why im going with him

      against Sp*rs, 50%

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      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        K gonna bench him, thanks!

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    5. Miguel Sanchez
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      60/40

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    6. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      He will

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      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        Oh no!

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      2. Arvin-ation
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 14 days ago

        I rang him, he said he's got the day off. Sorry.

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    7. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Just check @FPLmeta on Twitter. 80%

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  19. M2.0
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    a) Barnes
    b) Buendia

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    1. Chilli Heatwave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Gone B and keeping the money. Alternatively considering replacing raphina with barbed and then having them both

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  20. Alejo - CFC
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Why so much love for Benrahma? Has he had a great pre season?

    Why not Soucek?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      It's a fair question.

      Yes and yes, he's in the hole but Soucek will be a consistent pick again.

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  21. Nedvěd11
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Salah, Havertz, Barnes, Greenwood, Mahrez

    Too punty for GW1..?

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      its fine

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    2. DivocksHighSocks
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Hope not, that’s my exact midfield. Bar Bruno, pretty easy to move to other assets as well if Raphinha, Son, Sancho etc explode

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  22. D.Glynn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Last decision,
    A) Gundo
    B) Greenwood

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      B

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  23. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    At what point does Saka become a good option again?

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      GW4

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    2. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      When he signs for City for 100m

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  24. Fatboy_Slim
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Please rate my final template for gw1 and 2, also please suggest if you would change anything:

    Sanchez
    TAA, Tsimikas, Shaw, Coufal
    Barnes, Bruno, Salah (c)
    Ings, Antonio, Toney

    Subs: Foster, Gundogan, brownhill, 4.0

    Thanks in advance!!

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  25. WVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Pages flying too fast, same people reposting same stuff

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    1. No Professionals
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      yep, wait til later...

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  26. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Ok, another question. Is this even close:
    Tsimikas + Son
    Jota + Barnes

    Certainly first option is more safe regarding minutes played.

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    1. The Legend Squad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      This question is only relevant for a few weeks, but B definitely

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  27. The Legend Squad
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    I’m going Grealish. Think he starts and will be an assist magnet at City.

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw White
    Grealish Salah Jota Bruno Barnes
    Ingo Toney

    Steele Amartey Manquillo Scarlett

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    1. PapaWengzz
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Almost the same team as me, I have Antonio + Raph instead of Toney + Jota. Your choices are pretty solid too

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    2. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      How long is KDB out? I wonder if Grealish won't play his role with Gundo by his side. But even when KDB is back I think they can play together in a midfield.

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  28. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    2 spots to fill..14m left. Which combo from the following would you get?

    A: Raphinha 6.5m
    B: Toney 6.5m
    C: Benrahma 6m
    D: Greenwood 7.5m
    E: Gundogen 7.5m
    F: Wilson 7.5m

    Salah Bruno Barnes
    Antonio Ings

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    1. The Legend Squad
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      Toney Greenwood

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  29. McSlu
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Quick one gents;
    a: raphina and toney
    b: mbeumo and ings

    sanches(foster)
    TAA, shaw, tsim (white, amarty)
    salah, bruno, son, benrahma, X
    Antonio, X (perica)

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    1. Fatboy_Slim
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 14 days ago

      B as you do not need to worry about Ings for 3 gameweeks, and mbuemo may well be the 2nd forward after toney in the Brentford system

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  30. CRAZY TRAIN
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 14 days ago

    Vestergard move to the foxes just confirmed

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