Captain Sensible

Who is the best FPL captain for Gameweek 1?

4 August 2022 1189 comments
Hibbo Hibbo
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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

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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 Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    8 players from LFC, Arsenal and Spurs too much?

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    1. BeWater
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      No.

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    2. Bobby Crush
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      In the 11, you need two city players though.

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  2. dansully3
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    United are a shambles, it's fantastic

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    1. Bocaginge
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What’s happened now?

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      1. dansully3
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Just the Ronaldo circus really, watching Neville crying about it is primetime tv! Tony looks to be out injured now too.

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  3. BeWater
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    A. Haaland + Neto
    B. Darwin + Foden (captain Salah every week)

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    1. dansully3
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A all day long

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

      A

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  4. Saka White Rice
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mount, Kulu, Sancho or Rashford?

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    1. BeWater
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mount.

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    2. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mount

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  5. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    **Message to Admin** So I log on to discover that I no longer have access to member benefits - despite paying my membership fee last week. Request to mods - please can you reinstate my account and benefits asap?

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    1. jason_ni
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Email to customers services prob get you results quicker than message on this chat.

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    2. MJF
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Trying emailing. I’m having issues too - can’t find anywhere to update my payment details.

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    3. Sal8
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thoughts?

      Ward
      Taa robbo cancelo james trippier
      Salah bailey kulu
      Jesus haaland

      Meslier pereira neco dasilva

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      1. BeWater
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Looks good to me. I like Mount for the 8M mid spot.

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      2. dansully3
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        The Son/Kane will snuff you!

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    4. Defaid Daniel
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A)Sanchez and Perisic
      B)Pope and Zinchenko
      C)Ramsdale and Trippier

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      1. BeWater
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        CAB

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    5. FPLFrontline
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Good to go… slightly off template

      Ederson
      Trippier, James, Cancelo, TAA, Perisic
      Salah, Neto (or Bailey first sub)
      Wilson, Haaland, Jesus.

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    6. Bob B
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Any changes here?

      Ward
      TAA Cancelo James
      Salah Diaz Saka Neto Bailey
      Haaland Jesus
      (Iverson - Neco Patterson Archer)

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      1. frenchfries
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Would go Robertson over Diaz personally. But great team

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    7. frenchfries
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A) Saka, Bailey, Raya
      B) Martinelli, Rashford, Ramsdale

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      1. dansully3
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B, Saka is off pens to Mart. Rashford will start up top and could stay there going forward.

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      2. Bob B
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A from those, Saka is a quality pick but also gives you room to manoeuvre

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    8. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      When Tomi and Tierney are healthy, what Is Arsenals starting back line?

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      1. FPLFrontline
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        When (if) they’re all fit ask…

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      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Tomi Gabi Sali Tier

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        1. dansully3
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Zinchenko will start. Possibly 3 at the back with him left wing

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      3. Tabasco
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Would have been (left to right) Tierney Gabriel White Tomiyasu but Saliba and Zinchenko are in contention now and may go 3 at the back 2 wing backs…

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      4. ArseneAllTheWay
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko

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    9. TONEY HONEY
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Tough question:

      A: Robertson
      B: Cancelo

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      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A

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      2. Mainoo Magic
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B

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      3. ZimZalabim
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B

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      4. Snevitz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A

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    10. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wonder who'll be the best 5.5 mid then if MGW goes to Nottingham. Netos not an option if it happens. I'm assuming MGW will be rotated or does MGW displace someone from Lingard, Johnson, Awoniyi completely?

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      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Why won’t Neto be an option ?

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        1. Zimo
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Wolves attack will take a drastic fall. Him, Neto, and Podence are integral to how they've been playing in preseason. Like how United are absolute shite when one of Sancho, Martial, Rashford is missing.

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          1. Stranger Mings
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Ok noted

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      2. Bob B
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        MGW wasn't at the club last season, why does him leaving mean Neto isn't an option?

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        1. Zimo
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Wolves attack was horrible last season. They've been playing fluid attacking football in preseason. Jimenez is already injured as well. Do u really expect Neto to be able to do everything himself?

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      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Would be weird for Wolves to sell MGW no? Seems like they don’t have an amazing depth of squad already with a few injuries

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        1. Bob B
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          If it happens it's because he wants to leave, he obviously had a good time out on loan last season with increased playtime and wants the same

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      4. F4L
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        MGW must be coming in to play CM, isn't Lingard in £200,000 or something ridiculous he must be nailed

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        1. Zimo
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          2 good options ruined just like that. I'm praying it's not real and Wolves don't sell.

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    11. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A. Ait Nouri, Bailey, Haaland
      B. R.James, Perisic, Luis Diaz

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      1. ZimZalabim
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A

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

        B

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      3. dansully3
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B. Someone please say A to complete this!

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      4. DIMITRIS
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        B

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        1. dansully3
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Meh

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    12. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Very confused at this point, which team should I pick ? Balanced or Threemium ?

      Ward(Iversen)
      Trent Cancelo Robbo Perisic (Neco)
      Salah Martinelli Bailey Mount (Andreas)
      Kane Jesus (Plange)
      0.5 itb and booked Mount to a City Mid

      OR

      Ward(Iversen)
      Trent Cancelo Cash White (Neco)
      Salah Martinelli Bailey (Andreas, Dasilva)
      Kane, Jesus, Haaland
      0.0 itb and no booked moves

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      1. Bob.
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm beginning to like the whole threemium thing!

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        1. ZimZalabim
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          with the Leicester Keepers coming into play and losing perisic its become viable without overly weakening the rest of the team. but no flexibility without losing a premium

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

        B, easier to downgrade than to upgrade to premiums

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        1. ZimZalabim
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          cheers. that is true but does mean surgery if there are a couple of bandwagons in midfield.

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      3. Q
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        1 for me but that is my team bar James for perisic so I may be bias

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        1. ZimZalabim
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          cheers, it does have a lot of appeal, very difficult to decide

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    13. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Thoughts on James ?

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      1. FPLFrontline
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Class act. Keep

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      2. BeWater
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        He's in my team. His underlying numbers across all stats are really good.

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    14. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      A) Perisic, James, Rodrigo
      B) Perisic, Bailey, Bamford
      C) Trippier, Bailey, Kulu

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      1. BeWater
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        A

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      2. MJF
          3 years, 8 months ago

          C

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      3. MJF
          3 years, 8 months ago

          How do you update your card details on this site?

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        • DIMITRIS
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          What do you think of my team :

          Ward (Sanchez)
          TAA / Robbo / Cancelo / Trippier (Neco)
          Diaz / Sterling / Martinelli / Kulusevski (Bailey)
          Haaland / Jesus (Greenwood)

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          1. BrockLanders
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Looks good

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            1. DIMITRIS
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Thanks

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          2. Collie01
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Interesting Salah-less team. Sterling could be a great differential, but I can't bring myself to spend the extra 2mil on him over Mount. Overall I like it, only weaknesses really are in the players you don't have but can't have them all.

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            1. DIMITRIS
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I can get Mount over Kulu, but on the other habd I want at least some Spurs cover. Sterling could be great at Chelsea, but if he fails, than it's an easy downgrade or upgrade at his price point.
              Cheers and thanks for answering!

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        • Collie01
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I'm trying to remind myself of some of the traditional guidelines for FPL that can get lost in amongst all the tinkering. Some of these tips are helpful to keep an eye on the big picture.

          1) Pick nailed players. Now, not many players are going to play every single game, and the 5 sub rule will have an impact on sharing minutes more. But in general, I think the idea to pick players who are firmly first choice in their team is a good one.
          2) Set pieces. Penalty takers, free kick and corners are all important routes to points.
          3) Proven players. A factor I think I used to see more emphasis put on. Players who are proven performers (preferably in PL) are generally worth their weight in gold.
          4) Fixtures. Self explanatory really.
          5) Form. Tricky one at this time of year: how much emphasis do we put on pre-season form? I think each manager will have their own ideas here and it is often player dependent.
          6) Avoid too many short term picks. As a guide, I think that you should be comfortable holding onto most players in your team for 6GWs.
          7) Talisman. Less important this season as pricing has meant that managers are able to fill their teams mostly with players from top 6 clubs. But players who are central to their teams fortunes and who have a high involvement. Someone like Mitrovic at Fulham this season might fit the bill.
          8) Value. Identifying players who you think are undervalued and avoiding those who are overpriced.
          9) Injury status. I guess this one refers to not having a lot of injury prone players in the team, or getting a player coming back from injury straight away without giving a few games first to assess.
          10) Squad balance. Does a player fit your team structure or are you taking -8 to get him in? Are there any teams you don't want to be locked out of? Is your bench decent without being a waste of money?

          I'm sure there are plenty more, feel free to share!

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          1. MJF
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah all good points.

              I also like remembering at the start of the year you don’t need to have a flying start - just not a horrific one - and there’s no need to panic on the day of the deadline either and make last minute changes.

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              1. Collie01
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Yeah I think this is a very good point. It's why you can't go too far wrong going with the template early on, even though that may be a bit boring.

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            • walkman666
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Excellent recap

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            • Taff
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 16 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Don’t be shy of taking hits early doors to get on bandwagons to accumulate team value in first half of the season, to be spent on mega-team in the second

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          2. BrockLanders
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Ward
            TAA, James, Trippier
            Salah, Diaz, Foden, Martinelli, Bailey
            Kane, Jesus

            Sanchez, Walker, Neco, Greenwood

            Quandary: Tempted to swap Foden to Neto and Walker to Cancelo!!

            Stick or twist?

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            1. FPLFrontline
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Twist

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              1. BrockLanders
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Just know I'm gonna regret selling Foden..

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                1. Defaid Daniel
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  Torn between foden and mount

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            2. jonnybhoy
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Twist

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          3. MGD
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I think this is it:

            Ramsdale
            TAA - Cancelo - Walker - James
            Salah - Diaz - Rashford - Neto
            Haaland - Jesus
            Ward - Andreas - N. Williams - Archer

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            1. Q
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Like it

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            2. BrockLanders
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Looks good

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          4. HD7
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Digne/Cash Saka or Robo Martinelli ?

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            1. BrockLanders
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Robbo / Martinelli

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          5. jason_ni
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Would you downgrade cancelo to likes of James, to upgrade 4.0 to sanchez to rotate with ward?

            A) cancelo with ward set and forget
            B) James and rotate ward and sanchez

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          6. southernrocker1
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Last decision for me: Perisic or Trippier?

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            1. jonnybhoy
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I prefer trip

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            2. Old Bull
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Tripsey

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            3. WVA
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Also debating this, why risk Perisic, not in predicted starting line up, away at Chelsea next week and Trippier has two great fixtures!

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            4. Hansel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Perisic

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          7. Gudjohnsen
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Managed a team with TAA,Cancelo, Salah, Jesus, Kane and Haaland

            But I have Ait Nouri, Neto, Bailey, Raya and Martinelli as the other starters

            Too unbalanced?

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            1. BrockLanders
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Not really. Decent options

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          8. jonnybhoy
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Evening guys any changes or GTG?

            Ederson
            TAA Cancelo James Trippier
            Salah (C) Diaz Martinelli Bailey
            Haaland Jesus

            Ward Patterson Archer Periera

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            1. BrockLanders
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Nice

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              1. jonnybhoy
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Changes?

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                1. BrockLanders
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  No. I'd be settled on that

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          9. Dynamic Duos
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            A or B?

            A) 3 goals, 11 assists, 17 clean sheets, 23 bonus, ppg 6.4, mins 2537, ownership 12.4%
            B) 1 goal, 11 assists, 19 clean sheets, 27 bonus, ppg 5.6, mins 3227, ownership 45.3 %

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            1. Zimo
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Robertson

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          10. Casualspotted
            • 3 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            What would you do change here ?

            Ramsdale
            Trent-Walker-Cancelo-James
            Salah(C)-Martinelli-Aaronson-Diaz
            Jesus-Kane

            0.5 iTb

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            1. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Aaronson. Leeds suck

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          11. Ronnies
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Which one is best ?

            A) Start with Perisic
            B) Start with Trippier + 0.5m ITB to swap to
            Perisic GW3 ?

            Cheers.

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            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              B

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            2. WVA
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              This is the big question, B is the most sensible

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            3. jonnybhoy
              • 13 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              B

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