Pro Pundits

Zophar’s FPL Gameweek 1 team reveal: Salah + Wirtz but no Bruno

14 August 2025 697 comments
zøphar zøphar
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With the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweek 1 deadline just a day away, our pundits are sharing their teams with us.

Here, eight-time top 10k finisher Zophar talks us through three-way defensive rotation and reasons for overlooking Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m).

Make sure you sign up for the new season to get all the Member-only articles, tools and features to make 2025/26 your best FPL campaign yet!

FPL 2025/26 first draft team reveals: DC magnets + Bench Boost 1
 

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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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FPL pre-season: Malen + Watkins again, Xhaka debut, secretive Man City 2
697 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Weak Become Heros
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    How is she looking?

    Kelleher
    Virgil Nico Diouf
    Salah Palmer Wirtz Rogers Anderson
    Watkins Bowen

    Dub / Konsa Guiu Esteve

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Better than zophar tbh

      Why start rodon?

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        It's against Everton

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      2. Kiwivillan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        At home vs Everton

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        1. AAAFootball
          • 1 Year
          11 months, 6 days ago

          No cs and probably not much defcon

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Virgil & Williams to Porro & Murillo

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      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Ohhh, I like that, thanks.

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        1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          Virgil to Porro, Kelleher to Sels

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          1. FC Hakkebøf
            • 9 Years
            11 months, 6 days ago

            This

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    3. Swills
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Solid

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  2. Ian Davis
    • 16 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    A) Frimpong/Ait-Nouri / A Ramsey (bench) / Mateta

    or

    B) Aina / KDH (5th mid on bench) / Bowen

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    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B with Murillo and Mateta

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  3. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    No way it will be the final team
    Classic team reveals

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    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Yeah looks distinctively average.

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      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Over thinking it

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    2. Boxwoods
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Which pics do you disbelieve?

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  4. adidasOriginals
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Konsa isn't a good pick is he really?

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    1. Winston.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Good fixtures but no defcons… so probably not. Some models still rate him at that price fairly ok…

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Agree, staying away.

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    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Konsa always does me well.

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  5. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Which one ?

    A. Sarr, Reijnders, Watkins or
    B. Eze, Rogers, Evanilson

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A

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    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A

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  6. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Selz or Sanchez?

    Torn between those two. My last decision.

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Yeah same

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    2. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Sels

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  7. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Your help is needed please

    KDH or Reijnders for this team

    Verbruggen Dubravka
    Porro Murillo Rodon Konsa Andersen
    Salah Palmer Anderson Rice xxxxxxxx
    Watkins Mateta Bowen

    No BB1
    FH GW4 after IB

    Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

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    1. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Both fair picks tbh, r more threat but k more nailed

      Not much in it

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    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Reij has bigger upside and you have good bench cover.

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  8. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Might play Pep roulette with Reijnders over Anderson...

    Nottingham Forest looking to finalise FOUR deals as we approach first weekend of the season; Arnaud Kalimuendo, James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson and Douglas Luiz

    https://x.com/SkySportsLyall/status/1956076135550509218?t=i_NdCcJJe1SSZ8DD006vSg&s=19

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    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Do you think Luiz would affect Anderson?

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    2. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Quality signings.

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    3. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Doug Luiz is a worry as an Anderson owner. Maybe I’ll look to go Reij.

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    4. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Forest have been rotating between 4231 (usual setup) and 442 in preseason. These are the options I think Nuno has for each setup.

      4231:
      CM - Anderson, Yates, Singare, Luiz, McAtee (8)
      CAM - MGW, McAtee

      442:
      CMs - MGW, Anderson, Yates, Singare, Luiz

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  9. Vague88
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    A) Rejnders, Fullkrug, Haaland

    Or

    B) Gakpo, Gyokeres, Watkins?

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    1. Swills
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A

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    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A!

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    3. FC Hakkebøf
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B

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  10. Swills
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Final RMT
    Kelleher / Dubravka
    Milenkovic AWB VDV Konsa Esteve
    Salah(c) Bruno Palmer Ndiaye Adingra
    Watkins Mateta Fullkrug

    Thanks for any replies

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  11. Skout
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Is Bowen worth the 0.5 over JPedro?

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    1. Swills
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Less rotation risk

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    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Star man.

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  12. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Watkin and Bowen or Gyokeres and Pedro?

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    1. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      WB

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    2. FC Hakkebøf
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Watkins and pedro

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  13. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Best 2 rotating 4.5m defenders?

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  14. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Which one?

    A) KDH, Sanchez, Aina
    B) Reijners, Sels, Diouf

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B for me

      Reasons:
      - Hard to move away from KDH
      - Chelsea in the market for a GK

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      1. Emiliano Sala
        • 10 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Second is not right tbh
        Agree on first one, but consider I’m playing wc early
        What now?

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      2. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Are Chelsea really in the market for a GK? I thought they declined on Donnaruma?

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        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          I read today they were in the market for one

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        2. Emiliano Sala
          • 10 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          They are not, as latest news

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  15. LangerznMash
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Here's a tricky one for ya...
    a) Gakpo
    b) Pedro

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    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A

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    2. Tomerick
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      I have Gakpo and no Pedro but I’m surprised that others agree. Gakpo seems to have high potential as a bargain now there is less competition for the left wing.

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    3. Steirish
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B

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  16. Skout
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Any changes recommended? 0.5itb
    A) Verbruggen could be Sels/Sanchez
    B) JPedro could be Bowen

    Vebruggen
    Porro Milenkovic Diouf
    Salah Palmer Wirtz Kudus Ndiaye
    Watkins JPedro

    Dubravka Guiu Reinildo Esteve

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  17. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Which combo?

    A) Porro & Richards
    Or
    B) Munoz & VDV

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      I like A.

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  18. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Porro and Munoz is basically all out attack

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Can't wait to own both at some point. Munoz is my kind of FPL pick.

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  19. DennisTheMenace
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Thoughts?

    Sanchez Dubravka
    Gabriel RAN VVD Neco Richards
    Salah Bruno Wirtz Reijnders King
    Watkins Bowen Guiu

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    1. Steve McCroskey
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Assume this means you're playing 442 most weeks, which statistically is likely to lead to fewer points that 352 or 343

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      1. DennisTheMenace
        • 4 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Yes but i feel defenders will be more important this year due to change with defensive contributions and bonus points. Also there is less money in defence in order to get a top player in that position compared to a poor defender. Only a 2m margin compared to much larger in other positions

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  20. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    U think Kalimuendo may be a threat to wood?

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      £42.5m, he's definitely starting once integrated

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      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Sorry that's Outtara price to Brentford

        I think Wood is nailed tbh

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        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 10 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          He is 30m€ joining forest

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  21. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Ki Jana however anyone?
    I have him as a 5th bench def but could play once it twice if I need it

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Wolves signing a right back

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      1. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Who

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  22. Captain Beefheart
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Bowen or Wood? I am currently on Wood but the consensus seems to be Bowen

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Mateta above both

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    2. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Bowen.

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    3. Steve McCroskey
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Bowen comfortably

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    4. statenisland
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Definitely Bowen, but Mateta could free up £0.5.

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  23. Steve McCroskey
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Can anyone explain the logic of picking Guehi as your 4.5 striker when he's very likely to drop because of high ownership (recall a similar issue with Quansah at the start of last season). Why not pick another 4.5m striker with a lower ownership?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Guehi the CB? Or Guiu the forward? Kroupi Jr an option

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      1. Steve McCroskey
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Sorry Guiu the FWD.

        Can tell it's my first post of the season...

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        1. Yes Ndidi
          • 6 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          Looks like you picked the wrong week to start posting....

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    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Why would folks use a FT to sell their fodder 4.5m FWD?

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    3. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Massive myth. Ownership does not affect price changes because it's percentage based. If a player is owned by 2 players and 1 sells they'll fall in price, because they've lost 50% ownership.

      Every season after GW1 a metric butt ton of 0.1% players will drop 0.1m. Happens every season.

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      1. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Gotta hope 99% of owners have more important fires to fight.

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  24. SalahFingers
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    How nailed are Esteve and Rodon?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Nailed on

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      1. SalahFingers
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Thanks

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    2. AAAFootball
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Esteve 100%
      Rodon likely as well

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    3. Ball Ake
      • 2 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Esteve yes, Rodon not so much when all Leeds defenders available

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  25. #1 Arne Engels Fan
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Any thoughts on this BB1 team would be appreciated:

    Sanchez // (Verbrug)
    Aina - Neco - Porro // (VDV, Diouf)
    Wirtz - Palmer - Reijnders - Gakpo // (KDH)
    Watkins Haaland // (Fullkrug)

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  26. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Alright lads, this looks like my last craft.
    Wc7 and konsa for Diouf gw3

    Sels
    Porro Murillo Diouf
    Palmer Rogers Ndaiye Kudus
    Haaland Watkins Joao Pedro

    Hegyi Isarr Esteve However

    Gtg?

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  27. tristanabc
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    G2G with this BB1 team?

    Perri
    Murillo Tarkowski Williams
    Palmer Wirtz Gakpo Xhaka
    Haaland(c) Watkins Pedro

    Dubravka KDH VDV Rodon

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  28. statenisland
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Final draft

    Sanchez (Dubravka)
    Porro, Aina, De Cuyper (Guehi, VDV)
    Bruno, Wirtz, Palmer, Reijnders, Kudus
    Haaland, Ekitike (Guiu)

    Feel like it’s balanced, decent bench.

    Any improvements? Decided to go Haaland over Salah but could switchback relatively easily.

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      See I think I like the look of that better than mine with Salah, yet I’ll never do something like that out of fear of that initial Bournemouth game and being behind from GW1!

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  29. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Misery season is nearly upon us again. Normally don’t do RMTs but I’m going to now anyway for the start of the season.

    Sanchez
    RAN, Aina, VdV
    Salah, Palmer, Wirtz, Rogers, Wilson
    JP, Beto

    Dubravka, Mateta, De Cuyper, Dorgu

    Was seriously toying with the idea of Haaland over Salah and then with neither and getting better forwards (and another premium defender even), but was too scared. Seems wrong benching Mateta for Beto too.

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    1. statenisland
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Yeah, I’d go Mateta over Beto

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Ya, seems like if I don’t play Beto this week I might as well just get Guiu and save the money though.

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        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          Which could be a shout

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  30. Pedram
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Is VVD safer than Frimpong?

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    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Yes

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    2. #1 Arne Engels Fan
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Long-term yes. Unsure when Bradley returns.

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    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Ya but no fun

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    4. Ady87
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Both nailed I’d have thought

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