Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 1 Scout Picks: Four double-ups

14 August 2025 469 comments
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With Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2025/26 getting underway tomorrow, it’s time to finalise our Gameweek 1 Scout Picks.

As usual, our Scout Picks selection is influenced by the Scout Squad submissions made by Neale (Editor), Tom (Deputy Editor), Sam (General Manager) and Marc (Staff Writer).

There are certain restrictions for our picks, however:

  • An £83.0m budget for our starting XI
  • An overall squad limit of £100.0m
  • No more than three players per team

GAMEWEEK 1 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

Robert Sanchez (£5.0m) gets the nod in goal after being chosen by two of our Scout Squad pundits. The FIFA Club World Cup champions, Chelsea, are set to face Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. Oliver Glasner’s troops have plenty of firepower, but the Blues enjoyed the third-best home record in the Premier League last season, conceding just 18 goals. The Club World Cup was a clear mark of progression, too, with Paris-Saint Germain among four clubs shut out.

With Marc Guehi (£4.5m) and Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) both linked with moves away from Selhurst Park this week, we’re hoping Palace are sufficiently disrupted to allow Sanchez to bag us a clean sheet as well as save points.

DEFENDERS

FPL notes: Why Porro was benched, in-form Chelsea, Martin sacked

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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  1. Dickie1898
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A) Saka, Mateta, Writz, Gakpo
    B) Salah, Evanilson, Sarr, Reijnders

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Can you do A with Bruno?

      It's close otherwise.

      Probably the Salah one edges it but the other 3 are better in A.

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      1. Dickie1898
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Can do either with Bruno+Palmer+Watkins. So tempted to go without Salah, feels wrong though lol.

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        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          I know but it's possibly worth the edge...

          Until he assists and scores late on!

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  2. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Wood over Joao Pedro anyone?

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    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Not for me. Wood is absolutely fine, but they've already signed Igor & are signing another forward too. Obviously expect Wood to keep starting - but he already got plenty of early subs around 70-80 mins or so last season. If Wood might get early subs too, why not go for the guy playing in the better attacking team, with better recent form? (Pens aside). Plus I like the Forest defense better.

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  3. RealSocialDads
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Hello and welcome to the winner of today's most boring question:

    A. KDH as 8th attacker, 0 ITB
    B. 4.5 fodder, 0.5 ITB

    A allows for an early bench boost whenever it looks decent, B gives flex for transfers

    Team is:

    Sanchez
    Porro Williams Diouf
    Salah Wirtz Palmer Rejinders
    JSL Watkins Bowen

    Dub KDH* Gudmonsson Richards

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    1. tsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      If ya went Sanchez to a 4.5, and a kdh as 8th attacker you would have the cushion too.

      Sanchez is error prone I don’t see che keeping cs, it’s a wait and see for me on him

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  4. ididnt
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Anderson or Reijnders for the 5.5m slot?

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    1. RealSocialDads
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Rejinders is more fun

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    2. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      It's probably Anderson, but Reijnders seems more fun.

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    3. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I've got both, with is probably a mistake - but appreciate the potential value at that price point.

      Why? To benefit from Anderson's DefCon, you're just gonna have to start him. So he'll start in my team most weeks (unless it's like 3-4 of nothing...). Reijnders for me is the punt. Believe he starts, has a good recent goal record last season & is playing in a team that scores plenty.

      If either of them flunk, I can move them out to an alternative 5.5m, or even a 5.0m. Or upgrade, if I decide to ship off Pedro or a more expensive defender after a couple of weeks.

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      1. Zoostation
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        You going with Salah, Palmer and Haaland?

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        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Sanchez / Dubravka
          Porro / Murillo / Milenkovic / Richards / Esteve
          Salah / Palmer / Fernandes / Reijnders / Anderson
          Watkins / Pedro / Guiu

          For now, anyway. It may change.

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  5. The Casuals Template
    RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    The current casuals template (highest combined ownership costing 100.0 and with no more than 3 players per team) is something like:
    Sanchez(CHE,5.0, 21.9%), Dubravka(BUR,4.0, 29.6%)
    Frimpong(LIV,6.0, 30.4%), Wan-Bissaka(WHU,4.5, 28.1%), Van de Ven(TOT,4.5, 25.1%), Konsa(AVL,4.5, 24.0%), Ait-Nouri(MCI,6.0, 20.8%)
    Palmer(CHE,10.5, 60.5%), M.Salah(LIV,14.5, 53.3%), Wirtz(LIV,8.5, 34.9%), Kudus(TOT,6.5, 24.5%), A.Ramsey(BUR,4.5, 11.1%)
    Joao Pedro(CHE,7.5, 55.3%), Gyokeres(ARS,9.0, 26.0%), Marc Guiu(4.5, 15.1%)

    The casuals do not appear to be very aware of Defensive Contributions points!

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    1. x.jim.x
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Good - the thought of having to listen to my dad talk about "DEFCONs" at Xmas makes me feel physically ill

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    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      5/15... i bet we will still end up cursing the casuals :mrgreen:

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    3. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Or should this really be called the overall template, since it is based on ownership by all players, including non-casuals as well as casuals?

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    4. The Train Driver
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Only have 3 of those and on a BB.

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      1. dabber7
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Same

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    5. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Kudus the biggest surprise for me

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    6. madhatter_129
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I've only got 2 of those... I must be doing something right!

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    7. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      There is someone in my ML who plays this way. They start with the highest combined ownership team and then look at the most transferred in or out player each GW to determine transfers. They don't do that badly in OR tbh for what they say is about 5 mins work a week. They started with this team as I believe Porro and Watkins replaced Ait-Nouri and Watkins at the deadline:

      Sanchez
      Frimpong Porro VDV AWB
      Salah(c) Palmer(v) Wirtz Kudus
      Watkins Pedro

      Dubravka Konsa Ramsey Guiu

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      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        * Porro and Watkins replaced Ait-Nouri and Gyokeres.

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      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Interesting.
        What was their final OR last season?

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        1. diesel001
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          They finished just inside 300k. I accept it isn't stellar, but this is someone who spends like 5 mins a week on FPL and generally makes their transfers on a Friday afternoon.

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    8. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      With Salah as captain, a 4-4-2 formation and Dubravka, Konsa, Ramsey and Marc Guiu on the bench, this squad would have scored
      8+1+1+6+9+3+(8*2)+2+10+2+1=59 points in Gameweek 1.
      Only one point less than the best of The Great and The Good, and a lot more than I got myself (I didn't have Van de Ven, Ait-Nouri, Salah or Kudus).
      But the bench would only have scored 2+3+0+0=5, so it wouldn't have been good for a Bench Boost.

      As Diesel101 points out below, the template had changed slightly by the deadline, with Pedro Porro (6) and Watkins (2) replacing Ait-Nouri (9) and Gyokeres (1), which would reduce the total by 2 points, but still not bad.

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  6. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Suddenly I’m stressed and a little heart beat thinking about fpl starting tomorrow
    I overthink that I need to change my players

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  7. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    In your opinion what is the best 4/4.5 GK and 2 x 5.0 MFers for this team

    Verbruggen xxxxxxxx
    Tarkowski Williams Rodon Andersen Konsa
    Salah Palmer Saka xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx
    Bowen Mateta Evanlison

    No BB GW1
    FH GW4 following IB

    Any ideas would be appreciated

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  8. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Which one seems better for gw1 BB? FH gw2

    A) J.pedro + PMS(bench gw3)
    B) Kudus + Fullkrog(bench gw3)

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    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      A

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  9. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Been busy panicking. Thought today was deadline for whatever reason. Now feel relieved because I will be ready come gameweek 1

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    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I’m panicking right now
      Don’t know why

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      1. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Ha! Deep breath

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  10. Bambi
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Double up palace with Munoz and Mateta may be a little too much?

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    1. Big Mike
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      From game week 1, yes. I'd just start with Mateta and then move to Munoz when Palace's fixtures improve,

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  11. Vote Joke
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Here’s a bit of a challenge for you (and a help for me): can you pick 3 midfielders who have home games in GW1, for a total price of 17.0?

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    1. The Train Driver
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Sarr, Caicedo, Rogers or Kudus and save 0.5.

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      1. The Train Driver
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        My bad, remove rogers.

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    2. Zimo
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Rutter Anderson Caicedo

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    3. Vote Joke
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Thanks all

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  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Any big flaws in this? Thrown together rather hastily. Also, any reason Brendan Johnson isn’t a pick I’m seeing?

    Kelleher
    Aina Ait-Nouri Porro
    Palmer BrunoF Salah Reijinders
    Watkins Pedro
    (Dub. Thiago. Ramsey. Esteve)

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    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Missing a defender. Consider J. King over Ramsey (assuming it's A. Ramsey).

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      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Sorry it should be Andersen.

        I did say it was thrown together quick haha

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        1. Boxwoods
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Great team. 4.5 mid doesn't matter much, obviously, but it's been suggested King more likely to get mins.

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  13. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    4-4-2?

    Sels
    Frimpong Cucu RAN Porro
    Palmer Saka Bruno Wirtz
    Watkins Pedro

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    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Or,
      Saka -> Reijnders
      Guiu -> Gyökeres (bench GW1?)

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  14. waltzingmatildas
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A) Konsa and I.Sarr
    B) Porro and KDH
    Have Guiu so midfielder will be played most weeks

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  15. Bob B
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A. Sels & Tarkowski
    B. Verbruggen & RAN/Cucu

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  16. x.jim.x
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    I think I'm actually going to drive myself insane trying to choose between Salah + Bowen or Haaland + Wirtz

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    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      H + W

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      1. x.jim.x
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        That's what I'm on - also considering Salah + Watkins, but would have to faff about with the defence. Very upsetting.

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    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Salah

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    3. the FPL Derby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      With Salah's ownership, you don't want to miss out on a haul. It will be more painful that him blanking and Haaland hauling.

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      1. x.jim.x
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        But the reward if he flops will be so much sweeter

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        1. the FPL Derby
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Nope. I think you're looking at it wrong. If he flops, it just means our Captain flopped this gameweek. No great shakes... The only way you can profit from it, is if he flops AND your chosen Captain hauls.

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          1. x.jim.x
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 1 month ago

            When the other captain would be Haaland, that’s hardly unlikely

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            1. the FPL Derby
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 1 month ago

              If the ownership wasn't 53% vs 23% I'd think it was worth the gamble, but that divide is a bit too big. Buy hey, play your own game. You came on to ask for an opinion, and I gave you mine. Best of luck.

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              1. x.jim.x
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 1 month ago

                Ownership doesn’t mean anything to me really, I’m only playing against like 15 people

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  17. the FPL Derby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    We have a Derby at Epsom, a Kentucky Derby, a Greyhound Derby..and now we have the inaugural running of the "FPL Derby."

    700+ runners.
    Code xac8c0

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  18. leo_messi
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ready to go, good luck everyone!

    Sanchez
    Williams - Vdv - Diouf
    Salah(C) - Palmer - Wirtz - Reijnders
    Bowen - Pedro - Watkins

    Sub : Dubravka - Potts - De Cuyper - Konsa

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  19. Yank Revolution
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ok, a Salah-less team, check it:

    Sels (Dubravka)
    Gabriel, Porro, Diouf (Konsa, Rodon)
    Palmer, Bruno, Wirtz, Reijnders, Kudus
    Haaland, Bowen (Guiu)

    Any thoughts? Im surprised how STRONG it looks w out Mo.

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    1. the FPL Derby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yep, I have thoughts... I hate it. If you put Salah in you're not married to him... You can drop him for Saka for GW2, but with his ownership, if he hauls... I'll put you at the 4m mark to start the season at!!

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        FOMO owner spotted

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      2. Yank Revolution
        • 15 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        I just think he is going to fall off, I know that goes against precedent, but...I realize I'd be in the dumps if Mo hauls GW 1, of course. But, that's the risk I'm aware of that I am running...

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    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Watkins missing, also don't like Gabriel but yes its a nice team!

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      1. Yank Revolution
        • 15 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Watkins is 1.0 mil more tho, that's a lot. Thx for feedback and how can you not like Gabriel? Best D in the league, starts almost all the time and a definite goal threat and BAPS magnet!

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  20. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Who is the best 6mil ish striker?

    Thanks!

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    1. the FPL Derby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I don't think there is a best 6m striker. The 'best' ones start at 6.5m.

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      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Who’s your pick from that lot?

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        1. the FPL Derby
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Actually, as Jim says, Fullkrug is gaining in popularity... He could be worth a shot if you've only got 6m.

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    2. x.jim.x
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Fullkrug

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    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Fullkrug

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    4. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Strand Larsen?

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  21. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Anyone worried about a Friday night captain to ruin your whole weekend?

    Awaiting the "season over" posts at 8.20pm tomos.

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  22. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Still on this. Tempted to do Bowen > Gyokeres in GW2, though.

    Kelleher
    Cucurella Porro Rodon
    Salah Gakpo Rutter Carvalho
    Haaland(C) Gyokeres J.Pedro

    Valdimarsson King Gudmundsson Hartman

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  23. DavvaMC
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    For a few weeks now I have been on defense number 1. But now thinking of defense 2? Which one?

    1.
    VDV | William | Ait-Nourri | Andersen

    2.
    Murillo | Porro | Andersen | Dorgu

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  24. sirmorbach
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ok, can I keep Rogers?

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  25. Tomerick
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A) Palmer, Fullkrug
    B) Gakpo, Gyokeres

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      B

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  26. Atimis
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Cash or Maatsen?

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  27. OptimusBlack
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Can you rate my team out of ten would use BB

    Sanchez
    Van de Ven / Porro / Frimpong
    Salah / Wirtz / Ndiaye / Rutter
    Gyökeres / Füllkrug / Watkins
    BB : (Verbruggen) / Reijnders / Neco / Diouf

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  28. rokonto
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Are we liking the new FPL site?

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    1. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      No. Have to do unnecessary clicks to get any relevant info. Bad design

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    2. the FPL Derby
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yep, now that we're no longer doing an impersonation of someone watching tennis, when we want to do anything, I'm quite happy with it.

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  29. twisterteo
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Bench boost in Gameweek... Bad decision?

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    1. Blueberg
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Nah its always a good decision to bench boost in a gameweek.

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    2. OptimusBlack
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Not bad at all see my post

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  30. BerryMaze
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    A) Bruno, JP
    B) Wirtz, Bowen

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    1. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Tough one. I am on B, but would love to have Bruno too.

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