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Captain Sensible August 4

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

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Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are mainly looking to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur for the Gameweek 1 captaincy, and for the first time this season, the Captain Sensible article is here to highlight which assets have the best chance of hauling.

First, we will assess the fallout of the captain poll, before then analysing the best options, Rate My Team (RMT) and the Premier Fantasy Tools ratings ahead of Friday’s 18:30 BST deadline.

THE CAPTAIN POLL

Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) is the clear winner of the captain poll, with just over 60% of total votes from users in the inaugural vote of the season. 

No other player has garnered more than 12% of votes at this stage, with Harry Kane (£11.5m) currently in second place.

Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) occupies third place with just under 10% of votes, followed by Son Heung-min (£12.0m) and Erling Haaland (£11.5m), with 4.74% and 4.53% respectively. 

THE CANDIDATES

MOHAMED SALAH

Who are the best FPL captain options for Double Gameweek 36?

Mohamed Salah underlined his captaincy credentials by scoring 23 goals and providing 14 assists last season cementing his status as the highest point scorer (265) in Fantasy Premier League.

The Egyptian started in an empathetic fashion, and temporarily ended the captaincy conversation, by registering six double-digit hauls in his first nine matches. 

Early-season verve was replaced by late-season lethargy as the performances of Salah slumped below his gold standard levels. 

Following Double Gameweek 26, Salah blanked in six of his 11 Premier League matches, registering a solitary double-digit haul. 

Despite the peaks and troughs, Mohamed Salah produced division-leading underlying numbers, ranking first for non-penalty expected goal involvement (26.40) last season.  

Salah produced his vintage best against defensive-juggernaut Manchester City in the Community Shield, providing an assist before expertly dispatching from the spot. 

A visit to newly-promoted Fulham provides the perfect opportunity for Salah to continue an opening day goal-scoring record which dates back to 2017. 

Fulham boasted the third-best defensive record in the Championship last season, registering a respectable 17 clean sheets, and allowed the least open-play expected goals conceded (xGC).

But in terms of playstyle, the Cottagers ranked best in the division for build-up attacks and produced the second-most goals scored from high turnovers. 

Should Fulham stay true to their football philosophy and try to outplay Liverpool then expect goals, and a Mohamed Salah haul.

HARRY KANE

Auto Draft 32

Haaland Foden


Hibbo Author of Captain Sensible. I write Fantasy Premier League articles, focusing on stats and strategy. Four top 10k finishes. 22/23 Rank - 6123.  Follow them on Twitter

1,189 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Ward
    Cancelo TAA Robbo James
    Salah(C) Sancho Martinelli Bailey
    Jesus Kane(vc)

    Sanchez, Andreas, Greenwood, Williams.

    Thoughts on this Template?

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    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I'd go Rashford over Sancho and upgrade ward

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      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate! Will consider

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    2. mvtaylor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A+ as you've named the vice captain.

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    3. Tdswan1991
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Biggest issue I see is being able to tap into an 8m mid who's popping as you'd have to make 2 transfers to get Sancho transferred to one. Otherwise a solid draft.

      Could switch Sanchez for Iverson to give you that extra 0.5m. That said Sancho is a nice differential seeing as we're all running templates. Rashford is also a tempting value pick from United.

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    4. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I'd do James-Trippier and one of (a) Sanchez-Ederson or () Sancho-Bowen.

      Great team though, good luck!

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  2. Tdswan1991
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 9 months ago

    A) Ederson - Ward - Perisic
    B) Ward - Iverson - Robertson

    I'm running a draft with only 2 LIV players if I go with A. Tripling up on ARS instead (Gooner here playing with my heart).

    Thanks!

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    1. RomeluStormzy
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      B

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  3. iL PiStOlErO
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Final questions:

    A) Robertson Perisic
    B) Trent Dier

    1) Mount
    2) Mahrez
    3)Saka

    Have Jesus and Haaland

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    1. mvtaylor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A1

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    2. Tdswan1991
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A3

      Saka looks to be on penalties so I see him outscoring the other 8m mids.

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      1. dimo_fpl
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Looks to be more of a whoever wins it takes it type deal

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    3. Front 442
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Foden

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  4. mvtaylor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    At this point would basically give my first born child for advance knowledge of which starting FWD we'll all want in our teams come GW3 who isn't called Jesus, Haaland or Kane.

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    1. CornerTakenQuicklyOrigi
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Sir Patrick of Bamfordshire as I live and breathe.

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    2. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Brennan Johnson is my bet.

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    3. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I think Wilson will start really well but fixtures get tough

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  5. Big Ronnie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Best option here? Was on A but B looks better now.

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Robbo, Cancelo, ***
    Salah, ***, ***, ***
    Kane, Jesus

    Ward, Neco, Andreas, Greenwood

    A) Digne, Sancho, Martinelli, Neto
    B) Perisic, Saka, Bailey, Neto
    C) Digne(any 5m Tripper?), Mount, Martinelli, Bailey

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    1. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      C

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      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers

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    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      C Tripp

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      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers

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    3. sulldaddy
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      C with Trippier

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      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers

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    4. Tdswan1991
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      C

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      1. Big Ronnie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers

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    5. Big Ronnie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Cheers all. Pretty conclusive

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  6. ArseneAllTheWay
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    *** (Ward)
    TAA, Robbo, Cancelo, Trippier, ***
    Salah, Mount, Martinelli, Bailey (Andreas)
    Kane, Jesus (Archer)

    A) Ramsdale + Neco Williams
    B) Sanchez + White

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    1. The Wizard of Ozil
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A

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    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A

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      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Or Iversen and Gabriel

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  7. N00B
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Newcastle fans: will Elliot Anderson play in the future? I heard he is good.
    It's between him and Da Silva, I already have Pereira.

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  8. boroie
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    A - Perisic
    B - Walker +0.5

    * Have Cancelo already

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    1. RomeluStormzy
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A

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    2. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A

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  9. AD105
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    No time to spare tomorrow lads, am I G2G? Last minute (essential) changes welcome - 0.5 ITB

    Ederson
    TAA Robbo Cancelo James Perisic
    Salah Martinelli Bailey
    Kane Jesus

    Ward, Neco, Pereira, Archer

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    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Looks good

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    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      4 mids and 6 defenders?

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      1. AD105
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Sorry, SaSilva over Archer

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        1. AD105
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          DaSilva? There isn’t a new saucy 4.5 I’m afraid

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          1. dunas_dog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            So if Da Silva over Archer who is your third striker?

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    3. MFC86
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Very nice. My team is basically the same but went Trippier over Perisic because of his fitness or lack of

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      1. AD105
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        This is my final dilemma I think

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    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Assume you mean Neto on bench but that works out at .5 m over so bit confused

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      1. MrCloppity
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Iv got ramsdale which leaves me with 1 mil. I just don’t know what to do with it.

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  10. RomeluStormzy
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Which of the three;

    A) Iversen and James (got ward)
    B) Sanchez and Perisic
    C) Mendy and Trippier

    Cheers.

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    1. Tdswan1991
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      B

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  11. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Fabregas or D Silva?

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    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      You, Biffas and Q peaked too early.

      Today / tomorrow would have been your time to shine.

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  12. Bobadoba
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Kane or Haaland?

    West Ham away maybe a little tricky for Harly?

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    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Kane then switch

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      1. sulldaddy
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Cheers...same note I just wrote

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    2. sulldaddy
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Kane.
      Better matchup
      Easy switch for GW2 matchup if you want

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      1. Bobadoba
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Ok then thanks will stick to Kane which is probably the safest pick

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  13. LLoris
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    A) James Diaz
    B) Robbo Mount (Tougher to bring in Perisic or Nunez if he does well but Robbo is better than all 4)

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  14. caddy118
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    What we saying, template but ok?
    Mendy (ward)
    TAA, Cancelo, Trippier (Williams, vest)
    Salah, Sancho, 7.5 Andreas (Bailey)
    Haaland, Jesus, Mitrovic

    Not sure i like any 7.5 mids, so tempted to do mitrovic > 4.5, then 9.5 opens up mount/saka

    Any feedback?

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    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Bailey to a 4.5 pop in a 8M mid

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    2. Tdswan1991
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 9 months ago

      FUL have difficult opening fixtures. Would agree with your plan to change and get Saka

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  15. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    If your playing bench boost, show me your team!

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    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Ok, it's in the post.

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  16. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Can't decide whether to have KDB or Haaland. Can't have both.

    Head says KDB
    Heart says Haaland

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    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Haaland surely because he’s a better gw2 captain right?

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      1. Paqueta Rice
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Why is he a better gw2 captain?

        Haaland for me but more due to the .5 difference. Both great options.

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        1. dimo_fpl
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Just more of a gut feeling than anything concrete tbh. Can genuinely picture him scoring 3-4 against them

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  17. dimo_fpl
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Which 4.5m defender?

    A) Dunk
    B) Ait-Nouri

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    1. jumbob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      B).
      Bissouma gone, if Cucc leaves as well that is two major hits to Dunk’s CS potential. Imo Ait-Nouri has more explosive potential

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  18. boroie
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Right FPL experts, need your feedback on this…

    Ward
    TAA Robertson Cancelo James Perisic
    Salah(C) Martinelli Rashford
    Haaland(VC) Jesus

    Iversen; Bailey Andreas Greenwood

    Absolutely hate the thought of starting the season with a 5-3-2 formation but I think the best value is in defenders this time around…

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    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      G2g

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    2. 0james0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I've chopped Perisic for walker, for gw1 at least.

      I'm torn between this same team, or the big up top option

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      1. Bobadoba
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        You don't fancy having Kane instead of Harly?

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  19. boroie
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Best £4.5m striker?

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    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Greenwood/Archer most likely to get minutes… but I’m going for Plange because low ownership (means price probs won’t change)

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  20. F4L
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    how long is Jota actually going to be side-lined for ? can't find anything definitive

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    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      He said himself it'll be a few weeks

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  21. jumbob
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Do I need someone to talk some sense to me or is this solid?

    Ward
    TAA Cancelo Trip Dalot
    Salah Martinelli Bailey
    Haaland Kane Jesus
    (Iversen, Neco, Andreas, Dasilva)

    G2g?

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    1. 0james0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I'm in the same boat, it excites me far more than my other team sheet of big back 5.

      My back 4 slightly different than yours with TAA, James, Walker, Zinchenko

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      1. jumbob
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        The 5’s are up for discussion ofc, but are you set on going w/o Cancelo?
        I’d assume u have 0.5 ITB so it’s basically between
        A) James + 5m
        B) Cancelo + 4.5m

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        1. 0james0
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Nothing in the bank.

          Sanchez
          TAA, James, Walker, Zinchenko (Williams)
          Salah, Marti, Bailey, (Andreas, Reed)
          Haaland, Kane, Jesus

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  22. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Kulusevski nailed??

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    1. LLoris
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      For the fist couple weeks

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    2. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      For gw1 100% because Richarlison is suspended… past that who knows

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    3. jumbob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Rich suspended first game, so should play.
      Toss up after, but you could consider Kulu->Saka from GW2/3

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    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Pretty much even with Rich there, Rich will sub in for any of the front 3. Even then, they get like 66 mins or something.

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  23. Carroll to the rescue
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    2 questions for you lot:

    1. Bailey or Neto
    2. Is Walker nailed?

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    1. jumbob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Bailey
      Should be till Laporte is back. Or whenever Pep decides Stones is fit and Aké plays LB

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  24. just a man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Currently got Ward.

    A: Iversen + Perisic
    B: Sanchez + any 5.0 def

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    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A. Leicester keepers have as good a points potential as any of the 4.5s imo.

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    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A

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  25. RWB_1991
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    A) Dias, James & Diaz
    B) Trippier, Robertson & Mahrez

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    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A, purely because I was really put off by Mahrez after his performance against LIV

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      1. RWB_1991
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Fair play

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    2. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      B

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      1. RWB_1991
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        I’m currently on B

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  26. ZiZou10
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Is there an Arsenal bandwagon forming? There first two games not necessarily nailed on wins. I’m sure palace beat them (& held City) last season.

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    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Arsenal bandwagon has left the station and is heading full steam ahead to GW1, no stopping it now!

      Palace is not an easy fixture but it's not awful either. Palace had quite a disrupted pre-season iirc also with split squads etc.

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      1. ZiZou10
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        This time tomorrow we’ll either be laughing or crying at the returns of Jesus, Martinelli and co …

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  27. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Raya Ward
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Saliba -- Nico
    Salah Son Mount Aaronson -- Andreas
    Jesus Johnson -- Archer

    I am finally done!

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  28. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    A. Ederson + Wilson

    Or

    B. Mount + Ramsdale

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    1. ZiZou10
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      A for GW1 at least

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  29. RomeluStormzy
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    What's the news on perisic? Likely to start?

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    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Unclear but having listened to Conte’s press conference I think he will but will be subbed off early ( danger is may be before 60 minutes)

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  30. Boss Hogg
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Gabriel or Perisic?

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    1. dimo_fpl
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Perisic much more explosive

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