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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. RWB_1991
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Iversen/Ward, James & Saka
    B) Ramsdale, Trippier & Mahrez

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    1. RomeluStormzy
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

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    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Hard but maybe B, lei defence is not the best

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  2. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Kane or Haaland for first few GWs? Already have Son

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    1. MrCloppity
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland

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    2. iL PiStOlErO
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Haaland then

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  3. MrCloppity
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Cancelo, Robertson, James, Perisic
    Salah, Bailey, Martinelli,
    Jesus, Haaland

    Ward, Andreas, Dasilva, Greenwood

    1M in the bank

    What to do with that 1M tho?

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    1. MrCloppity
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Cheers

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    2. Markanmies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I would save it, it could be gold after first weeks. Or downgrade Ramsdale to Iversen/Sanchez and upgrade Bailey to Rashford

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  4. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Final questions:

    A) Robertson Perisic
    B) Trent Dier

    1) Mount
    2) Mahrez
    3)Saka

    Have Haaland and Jesus if that helps.

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    1. MrCloppity
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka

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      1. MrCloppity
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        And A sorry

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    2. EffPeeEll
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      pick your own team ya wimp

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    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B and Mount to start the season

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    4. jumbob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B, but would not go for Dier as the 2nd.

      4) Kulu GW1, Saka GW2 ->, if you dont fear booking a transfer early on

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    5. Goonerette
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A3

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  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Coutinho or Grealish?

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    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      C

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    2. Live4pool
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Neither imo

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    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      neither, Zaha's first 2/3 are decent enough , plus he started upfront vs City away last year because of high line, could do the same early on vs Liverpool/City away which could give him a chance of returns in those fixtures

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    4. Goonerette
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Coutinho wasn't as good as I though he'd be last season.. Gotta be Grealish for me played every pre season match too

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

      As a Villa fan I wouldn't even start Coutinho every game.

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  6. F4L
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Ward
    TAA Perisic Robbo Doherty
    Mount Bowen Diaz
    Haaland (c) Wilson Jesus

    Iverson Lingard Walker Andreas

    All set, looking forward to the season 🙂

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      @Salah, make this manager suffer!

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      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        😀 Diaz will cover.... 😉

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          You need to shake this off, deadline tomorrow

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          1. F4L
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            tbh i went no Salah for most of last season and it was alright

            he will 100% get the most points in the game if he stays fit, just don't think he's worth 13mil, even with captaincy taken into consideration

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            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 10 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              OR finish last season without Salah?

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              1. F4L
                • 9 Years
                1 year, 8 months ago

                71k, hardly groundbreaking but not having a better rank wasn't because of lack of Salah imo, just made a few bad choices towards the end/and all the Covid affected matches really hit hard in the middle of the season

                anyways, good luck for the season, i fully expect a Salah brace first GW fwiw 😆

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            2. Saka Rice
              • 9 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              When you say it was alright what does that mean? If it wasn't top 50k or 100k...yeah that's not that great

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            3. Steve Stiffler
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              Lay off the smoke mate

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  7. Goonerette
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Tough pick this year what are thoughts on the below?

    Ederson
    James Roberton TAA Trippier Cancelo
    Martinelli Salah Bailey
    Jesus Haaland

    (Ward Neto Andreas Greenwood)

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    1. thattreblefeeling
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Great team

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  8. Live4pool
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Whos gonna score more points first couple of GWs

    A) Kane & Martinelli
    B) Son & Zinchenko

    Ty

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    1. Apollo Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

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    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

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  9. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A. Ederson + Wilson

    Or

    B. Mount + Mendy

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    1. Apollo Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Wilson the striker or midfielder?

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

    Saka or Mount? Got Jesus.

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    1. Apollo Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka if you don't have other Arsenal

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    2. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka

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    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Mount

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    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Mount

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      1. Saka Rice
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        First two fixtures arent good though..

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Everton away hahaha

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          1. Hits from the Bong
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Haven’t they won last 4 against Chelsea though?
            But then haven’t Spurs only won at Stamford Bridge once in about 40 years?

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            1. Amartey Partey
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              Have you seen the current Everton side?

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              1. Hits from the Bong
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 8 months ago

                It was almost as bad before. History has a strange way of repeating itself

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                1. Amartey Partey
                  • 4 Years
                  1 year, 8 months ago

                  True. I wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea win something like 4-1 though.

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                  1. Hits from the Bong
                    • 5 Years
                    1 year, 8 months ago

                    Hmm Chelsea appear in much more of a mess this time around, but I’ll take that if James hauls

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    5. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Saka

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  11. Xna
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Ward
    Cash - TAA - Walker - Trippier
    Salah - KDB - Rashford - Bailey
    Jesus - Kane

    Almost set, although worried not to have an 8.0m slot in the mid

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    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I like it! Don't love the defence... But it's solid... Can always go KDB>£8m then upgrade defence if it's starts goin pearshaped

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

      You can't have 8m mid and KDB and Salah. KDB is the 8m mid slot

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      1. Xna
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Yeah, good point, I really don't want to start without him, so I will likely leave it for now, and see how it goes.

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  12. Boofhead
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    It's getting sillier and sillier and sillier.

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  13. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    anyone else going with 5-3-2 formation?

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    1. just a man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Currently yep

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    2. Goonerette
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yea there's big points in defence this week potentially

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    3. MrCloppity
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yeah and it makes it hard to look at the midfielders playing alongside Salah

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    4. F4L
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      do you not find that boring though ?

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    5. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yup

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    6. Gross Blank Point
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      5-5-3 for me this week!

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  14. Casualspotted
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Right now I'm on this, what would you change ?

    Ward
    White-Trippier-TAA-Cancelo
    Diaz-Mount-Salah-Martinelli
    Kane-Jesus

    Sanchez-Neco-Pereira-Archer

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    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Diaz>Rashford
      White>Robbo

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      1. Casualspotted
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 8 months ago

        really dont fancy united assets.

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        1. DeathoftheParty
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          £6.5m mid starting as a sole striker... Not worth a pint for two weeks?

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          1. bunglebungle
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Nah, maybe half a pint

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    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      What does that look like without Salah, out of interest ?

      Salah to Bailey
      Archer to Haaland
      Trippier to James or Sanchez to Ederson

      Ederson
      Trippier-TAA-Cancelo
      Diaz-Mount-Bailey-Martinelli
      Kane-Jesus-Haaland
      Ward-Neco-Pereira-White

      Ward
      James-TAA-Cancelo
      Diaz-Mount-Bailey-Martinelli
      Kane-Jesus-Halland

      Sanchez-Neco-Pereira-White

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  15. Didier Drogba
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Cash and Tripper or Robertson and Bailey??

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    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Robbo/Bailey

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  16. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Think I'm pretty settled on this.

    Iversen
    TAA Robertson Cancelo James
    Salah Mount Martinelli Bailey
    Haaland Jesus
    Ward // Archer Neco Andreas

    8 mil spot with Mount the only thing up in the air. Kinda want Saka. Could have both with Cancelo > Walker (or other 5m). Despite my profile pic rarely ever had Mount, so maybe now's the time.

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      This is pretty much the exact setup I'm debating at the moment. Having Robbo, James and 8m mid in a 442 setup. Uncomfortable with the 2*4.0m GKs

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      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        For me, I don't love the 4.5m GKs tons & tons & the WC Wildcard gives you the opportunity the WC them away after 5-6 weeks if you have to.

        Should be a safe pairing for that period. Yes the fixtures are meh but there's no guarantees with keeper. Should at least make saves, even if Leicester not amazing.

        Have a tenancy to get jumpy on keepers so having those two to just leave alone and focus elsewhere is good enough for me.

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        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          As you said LEI fixtures beyond GW1 aren't great from a CS POV. Also the transfer window is still open.

          I was previously on Sanchez and Ward but no standout 4.5m GK. Maybe buys time to collect info then switch to the best 4.5m GK on WC

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    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Nice, but Haaland could be scoring a hattie every second game week

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  17. Live4pool
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Remember when 343 was the common lineup lol. Now i feel like i'm the only one using it

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    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Would be more popular if Jesus didn't go HAM in preseason. Same for Kane. And if course City finally getting rgiwr centre forward. Basically, the premium forwards fixtures are too good.

      Will no doubt become more popular later once we get a chance to see the more affordable players in action.

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    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      433 for me because Robbo, TAA, James & Cancelo will outscore any mids at their price

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

    I’ve been through a lot of teams but settled on this remembering it’s a marathon not a race…

    Ward
    TTA Robbo Cancelo Trippier Jonny
    Bailey Salah Saka Neto Dasilva
    Kane Jesus (4.5)

    As template as it gets !

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    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Too many Wolves

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

        Mid playing as striker and defender on bench, not so bad

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  19. Captain Hindsight
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) Watkins, Sancho & James
    Or
    B) Kane, Bailey & Zinchenko

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  20. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Any indication from Arteta today that Saka is on pens? If so surely hes as essential as Jesus

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    1. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Looks like it's Saka... Not 100% sure... I have both and will work it out from there...

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  21. Casualspotted
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Mount or Reece James ?

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    1. Captain Hindsight
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      James

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    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      James + 2m

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    3. DeathoftheParty
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Hamez

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  22. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    GTG?

    Ederson
    TAA, James, Walker, Trippier
    Salah, Saka, Bowen, Bailey
    Jesus, Kane

    (Ward, Neco, Andreas, Archer)

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

      It’s a good team

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      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Thanks! Anything you’d change?

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

      I think going without triple pool is a loss though

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      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Yeah hurts me too (Pool fan), I just don’t see us keeping as many cleanies this season for some reason. Robbo is always a strong option though.

        Could do Ederson & James > Sanchez & Robbo?

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  23. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on the Ward/Iversen double up?

    Would give me this squad:

    Ward, Iversen
    TAA, Robbo, James, Cancelo
    Salah, Mount, Martinelli, Bailey
    Jesus, Kane, 4.5

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    1. jumbob
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Solid. All good

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  24. Muscout
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I know they prob won’t play but who’s best 4.5 Forward for bench fodder?

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    1. Moxon
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Archer

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  25. Powerplay
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Looking at AV's first two matches (Bou & Eve) ....Which is the better option:

    A: Coutinho (Paired with Martinelli)
    B: Bailey (paired with an 8M)

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    1. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Bailey & Martinelli and use the cash elsewhere

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  26. jumbob
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Who scores most points in GW1-GW6:
    A) Jesus (cry, LEI, bou, FUL, AVL, mun)
    B) Robbo (ful, CRY, mun, BOU, NEW, eve)

    What’s your opinion?

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    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Historically not close

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    2. ambergamer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Coin toss I reckon. Robbo could easily have clean sheets, bonus & occasional attacking returns in all of those. On the other hand Jesus might blank in one or two but score multiple times in others.

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    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Jesus

      Over the season though Robbo will be 180 - 190 points & Jesus will be 200 - 220 points or more … imho

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  27. 1314
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    is Walker nailed ?

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    1. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Looks like it for now

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    2. just a man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Sort of. Right now with Zinchenko gone, it’ll be Cancelo left and Walker right. But you’d imagine they’ll get another fullback in before the window closes

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  28. Casualspotted
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Pick one
    A : Sanchez (with Ward starting 1 GW), White, Mount
    B: Ramsdale, James, 5.5. MID

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  29. Clintymints
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    First draft, prob basic

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo James Perisic
    Salah Mount Martinelli Neto
    Kane Jesus

    Ward - Andreas N.Williams Archer

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    1. EffPeeEll
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      template 101

      good to go

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      1. Clintymints
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Cha ching

        Couple of alterations at the back, prob got it down to 3 teams atm

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  30. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Not much love for Coutinho at 7m
    ...how come?

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    1. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Because of Bailey who is 2m cheaper and in-form.

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