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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

Palmer latest

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. Neto
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Big at the front draft:

    Ward - Iversen
    White - TAA - Cancelo - Walker // Neco
    Martinelli - Salah - Bailey // Andreas - Dasilva
    Jesus - Kane - Haaland

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

      I like it

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

      I don’t like it. You’ll be itching to upgrade midfield as soon as Kane / Haaland don’t score as expected

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    3. Indio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Looks good, and surprisingly balanced. You need Martinelli and Bailey to live up to their promise for that mid to work, but then again you can say same about most players outside a certain core. Good luck!

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    4. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      It’s the same team as me other than Walker / Trippier so love it

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

    Every season people talk up 5 at the back and every season they abandon it soon after season starts

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

      I think this will happen too.

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  3. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A. Ederson, Neto, Bowen + 0.5
    B. Mendy, Bailey, Sterling
    C. Raya, Neto, Sterling

    Currently on A

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    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I like B for the first few weeks

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  4. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    GK Ward/Iverson
    DEF TAA, Cancelo, Tripper, Dalot, Neco
    MID Salah, Son, Neto, Bailey, Andreas
    FWD Kane, Jesus, Archer

    Plan would be to sell Kane or Son to a KDB or Haaland perhaps for gw 2

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

    My team for the first 7 weeks, just getting my thoughts written out but please feel free to comment on or discuss my thinking...

    Pope
    TAA, Robertson, James, Doherty
    Salah, Aaronson, Bailey
    Kane, Jesus, Watkins

    Martinelli, Andreas, Neco, Ward

    Keeper choice - I prefer Pope to Mendy as I think he will have more to do, generating higher ppg, Newcastle were the 6th best defence from week 24 onwards. Would prefer Ramsdale but want to keep the 3rd Arsenal spot free in weeks 3 and 4.

    Defence - TAA and Robertson are the best two defenders in the game. James got similar PPG as Cancelo last season but cost £1m less. Doherty is a gamble but has great stats when he plays and the potential for some high scoring weeks.

    Midfield - Salah is my captain weeks 1, 3, 4 and 7. Bailey and Aaronson have great fixtures and the potential to outscore their prices. Martinelli looks like good value but unfortunately someone has to benched and Palace away isn't a great fixture.

    Forwards - Kane likely to become Haaland for the week 2 and 5 captaincy and will then switch back to Kane week 6 when he plays Fulham. Watkins has the best possible couple of starting fixtures after which I'm expecting to move him on for Nketiah (if hes getting minutes) and then Bamford's run of EVE, bre, NFO from week 5.

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

      Good solid reasoning, I like it.

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

      I don't like that you're booking in a transfer for GW2, GW6 (Kane hokey cokey); GW3/4 (for Nketiah) & GW5 for Bamford.

      Absolutely fine to have a rough plan and kudos for doing something a bit different - but to book in so many transfers is a lot.

      Keeo tabs on Doherty fitness. Might be worht starting Martinelli over him.

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      1. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        It's just a loose plan so that I know who to target in which week.
        Captaincy is the most important part of the game so I need a clear plan for the right premiums at the right time.

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

      A little bit too much cash on the bench for me

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      1. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        My bench is £0.5m over the minimum possible.

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

          Martinelli on the bench?

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          1. Snevitz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            But Bailey is only 0.5m over base price, I'm just choosing to play him week 1.

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  6. L S P
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Pick two for my team:

    A) Bailey
    B) Neto
    C) Martinelli

    Cheers

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

      Probably b and c

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    2. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I have a and c so I'll pick them

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

      A,C

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

      C first then it's close between A and B. I have A because I needed the 0.5 but otherwise I'd have B.

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  7. AJBucko
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    HELP please......

    A) Dias, Diaz, Neto (0.5 banked)
    B) Robbo, Mount, Bailey

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

      B no brainer IMO

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    2. agueroooooney
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      B because Robbo

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  8. tom66
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Gtg?
    1.0m ITB. Any suggestions or just keep it? (I am set on Sancho). Thanks!

    Ward
    TAA - Cancelo - Trippier - Digne
    Salah - Mount - Sancho - Bailey
    Kane - Jesus
    (Sanchez - Andreas - Williams - Archer)

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

      Trippier - > Perisic/James?

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

        FTFY

        Trippier > Perisic/James

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

      Good team. Digne & Bailey could be switched, but they have good starting fixtures so why not go with them.

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  9. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Just when I thought I was done...

    Raya
    TAA Robbo Cancelo xxx
    Salah Son Mount Bailey
    Jesus Johnson

    Ward Neco Andreas Archer

    Last spot, Cash, Gabriel or Tripper?

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

      Trippier for me

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    2. Peter O'Hanraha-hanrah…
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I'm on Gabriel

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  10. agueroooooney
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Best 4.5 mids other than Andreas Pereira?

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    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Not sure there are any unless you wsnt Colback

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

      Noone

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    3. Peter O'Hanraha-hanrah…
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Dasilva apparently

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

    I think I'm almost there

    Ederson
    TAA - Cancelo - VVD
    Salah - Mount - Martinelli - Neto - Bailey
    Kane - Jesus

    Ward - Neco - Patterson - Greenwood

    Kane > Haaland in gw 2

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    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I have a similar 3-5-2 that I’m really tempted by - same attack in fact.

      Are you 100% on the formation?

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  12. Defaid Daniel
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on Martinez as GK?

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    1. Snevitz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      He once got 186 points so definitely not bad...although Dele Alli once got 225.

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

    Have TAA, Salah, B.Silva and Haaland

    A)Robo
    or
    B) Cancelo

    TIA

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    1. jp99
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

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  14. Welcome to Har vitzvah
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Please tell which is better. Is White is nailed?

    a- Trippier and Jonny
    b- Walker and White
    c- Trippier and White

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

    Trippier or Walker ? Have Cancelo already, but City have great run of fixtures....

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  16. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Walker or Gabriel?

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    1. L S P
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Gabe

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  17. Jinkys Oars
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Which combination?

    1. Ramsdale and Bailey
    or
    2. Ward and Martinelli?

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    1. jp99
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 8 months ago

      def 2

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  18. DropkickMurphys
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is Gabriel Jesus worth downgrading two 6.0 midfielders to 4.5 ones to compensate?

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  19. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Who is best option pls?

    A..perisic

    B...trippier and 0.5m

    Thanks

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    1. Defaid Daniel
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Head says B heart says A

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  20. JariL
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Almost settled on the Saka-Martinelli-Jesus triple up. Jesus 75% ownership so I look at it more like Saka-Martinelli double up.

    In isolation Saka > Mount to start the season with IMO.

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

      Arsenal fixtures really good. This why I hate the Ramsdale pick

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  21. southernrocker1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Robertson or Diaz?

    Trippier or perisic??

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    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Robbo and perisic

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  22. Riders of Yohan
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    A) ward + Perisic

    B) sanchez + Walker

    Ward would be on the bench of B

    Thanks!

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  23. Indio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    How's this one please? And would it be better with Perisic > 5.0 and Ramsdale over Sanchez?

    Sanchez
    Trent, Cancelo, Trippier, Perisic
    Salah, Saka, Diaz, Bailey
    Haaland, Jesus
    (Ward, Andreas, Neco, Greenwood)

    Thanks, and good luck all.

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

      Great team.

      I wouldn't make those transfers, Perisic gives you more flexibility for price changes and the best 5.0 is Zinchenko – who you can't get with Ramsdale.

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      1. Indio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Thanks, was eyeing up Walker and Cash in that bracket, but take your point!

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

      Prefer Robertson over Diaz. And kane over haaland

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      1. Indio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Thanks for feedback, yeah I'm decided on Haaland after weighing that up, but may look at either Robbo, or just Mount over Diaz.

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

      I like it, the double 8.0 mids also offers a nice path to one of the City mids if one of them nails down a spot.

      Sanchez/Ward rotate nicely (if it's Ward who plays ahead of Iversen).

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      1. Indio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Many thanks, yeah that was the idea with the 8,0s. Good luck with your team!

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  24. KieranKA
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I think I'm locked in – at last.

    Ward // Sánchez
    Trent Robertson Cancelo James // Williams
    Salah(C) Saka Neto Bailey // Andreas
    Haaland(V) Jesus // Archer

    Any last minute changes needed?

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    1. Indio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      GTG, nice team.

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

    Someone please fault this!
    Ward
    TAA Robbo Walker White
    Salah Martineli Bailey
    Kane Jesus Haaland

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

      All the players are good options.

      I don't like threemium structure because it takes so much of your budget. White, Bailey, Martinelli, Walker and Ward are going to make it hard for you to move things around – especially when Bailey's fixtures turn, or if Tomiyasu displaces White (etc.).

      I love Robertson, but I think the best option is to downgrade him to James or Perisic and upgrade Bailey to Neto whose fixtures are good for longer

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

        I get what you're saying. The threemium is only for first few fixtures to find out who I like more between Kane and Haaland...then in gw3 I can use two free transfers

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    2. Indio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I think it's as good as it gets given cost of that front three, which you're obvs set on. Guessing bench is fodder?

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  26. MARVELLUS
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Apart from Andreas, who are the best 4.5m mids? DaSilva may not start.

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

      Colback is pretty nailed for a reliable 2-3 points per week

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

    Do we think Chelsea has an easy fixture against Everton?

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

      Absolutely – especially for defenders, with Richarlison gone and DCL out

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  28. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Rams ward
    Taa robo walker neco james
    Salah rash bailey son martineli
    Jesus green toney

    -0.5 short, which?

    A) rams to 4.5
    B) son toney to kane bsilva
    C) toney to mbeumo +0.5

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

      Bailey to Andreas. He's going to play but you won't need to start him

      Of those three options, C

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  29. Lav
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Good luck all 🙂

    Ward
    TAA Joao Botman Williams
    Salah(c) KDB Aaronson Bailey
    Kane Jesus

    Raya AP Zouma Archer

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  30. Sho-kun
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Gtg?

    Sanchez
    TAA/Robbo/Cancelo/Perisic
    Salah/Mount/Bailley/Martinelli
    Haaland/Jesus

    Ward/Neco/APereirs/Archer

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

      GTG. I have the same team except Saka/Neto/James over Mount/Martinelli/Perisic

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