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

14 August 2025 697 comments
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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. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    RMT guys, If you'd be so kind 🙂

    Sels,
    Porro, Ait Nouri, Cucurella,
    Saka, Wirtz, Reijnders, KDH,
    Haaland, Watkins, J Pedro

    Dubravka, H Wilson, Diouf, Esteve.

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

      Very good team

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    2. Football99
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Looks good.

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    3. Coys96
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      One too many punts for my liking

      Pedro is one poor performance away from a benching, Wilson not nailed. Don’t know how Reijnders will fit in

      Rest looks good. Unpopular but would fancy a bench boost GW1. Think Burnley will frustrate spurs, they’re gonna go and play 541, and they’re organised

      Also prefer others to Saka but the GW2 fixture is good so can see why you’d go that way

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      1. Wolfman180
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Thanks for your thoughts 🙂
        To be fair I haven't considered BB1 in a good while now. Just set it in my mind that I'd play it at some point where I had a really bad benching headache. Don't think Dubravka plays GW1 though so I'm gonna wait and see.
        Pedro could get benched but I think he gets enough time in squad until Mateta becomes a better option, after Europe games etc.
        I know Wilson ain't nailed but if he plays then he rotates well from what I can see.
        I'm just not that keen on Palmer (famous last words) and I think Saka is being slept on slightly. Even without pens he's a good option and with a decent number 9 now I think his assist tally will increase.
        I get ya that there are a few punts in there, but I think there are also quite a few template picks in there too.

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    4. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Big fan. I got Palmer over Saka, but very similar. Haaland is a great differential. Will be top scorer this year.

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

      Great team

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    6. Wolfman180
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Cheers Guys

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  2. Football99
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Sels
    Van de ven, wan bisska , de cuyper
    Salah , saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
    Bowen , pedro

    1m in bank- Possible change Bowen in GM2? Thoughts on team please and any suggestions

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

      Utd tough fixtures

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  3. Maresca–Ball
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Which £4.0 DEF is best to go for:

    A). Esteve
    B). Reinildo

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

      E

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      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Is he nailed long term?
        Dont suppose I could be cheeky and and hijak t ask the best 4.5 mid?

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  4. kings of kafiristan
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Ekitike or Watkins GW1 only. Have frimpong and wirtz. Thanks

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

      Watkins probably

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

    Someone RMT please

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

    Hegyi Isarr Esteve hoever

    Plan to sell Diouf gw2for konsa
    Wc7

    Good to go?

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

      Bad transfer plan

      Where did the money go

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

        Lol yeah it slipped through my fingers.

        The towards are not cheap, and nobody bought just for price

        I just can't resist Diouf honestly

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

        Spent some on Pedro, Ndiaye, booze and hookers, the rest he just wasted

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

      Is the bench alright?

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    3. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Massive lack of Liverpool

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

        Everton fan lol

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    4. Bored Ape Jota Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Silly transfer

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

        What would you suggest

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

          Maybe Ndiaye or Kudos to Gakpo and Pedro to JSL

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        2. Bored Ape Jota Club
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          11 months, 6 days ago

          Don't plan for a defense transfer in gw2. That is all.

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  6. Roshen
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Kelleher – Valdimarsson
    VdV – Nico – AWB – De Cuyper – Dorgu
    Salah – Palmer – Rogers – Reijnders – Xhaka
    Haaland – Solanke – Guiu

    gtg?

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    1. Manani
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      looks good for a Salah + Palmer + Haaland team

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

      Light at the back but no glaring holes

      Better options than Xhaka around though

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

        Xhala + Rogers –> Ndiaye + Wilson?

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  7. Manani
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    gtg?

    Sels Dub
    NWilliams Cucu Porro Diouf Rodon
    Salah Palmer Reij PMSarr Wirtz
    Watkins Pedro Guiu

    1mITB

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  8. hazza44
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    A) Rejinders or B) Anderson
    &
    1) Sels or 2) Sanchez

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

      A2

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    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A2

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  9. Football99
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Salah or haaland or both?

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    1. Sideways Backwards
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Neither for me

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

      I'm going with Haaland, not saying its right though.

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

      Neither

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  10. Sideways Backwards
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Play
    A) Kudus
    B) Reijnders

    Captain
    1) Pedro
    2) Wirtz

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    1. Coys96
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A (why have him if you’ll bench him in the best possible fixture)

      Oof.. you got anyone else? Probably 2 as more likely to play 90

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

      B2

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

    Which one is a better pick you think?
    Gakpo or Ekitike?

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    1. Mino Raiola
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Gakpo

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    2. Feed tha Sheep
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Both could be good but with Gakpo he at least knows the league

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    3. Coys96
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Ekitike

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  12. Feed tha Sheep
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Best way to save 0.5?

    A. Murillo > Williams
    B. Bruno > Wirtz
    C. Reijnders > Dewsbury-Hall

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

      Not a

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    2. Coys96
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B, don’t get the Bruno hype. Relying on pens, defcons and set pieces for 9 mil!!!

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

        Me either, he'll be playing deeper and until Utd sign a midfielder with legs Bruno is going to be chasing a lot of empty space rather than supporting the front 3. Good for Defcon maybe but 9m is a high price

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    3. Bored Ape Jota Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      A

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

      C for me Sheep. I'm convinced by Mr. DH

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    5. Manani
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      b

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

      I would do both A and B

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      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 13 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        You think Williams is a better pick than Murillo?

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

          Not necessarily, just dont think Murillo is worth 0.5 more

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  13. Coys96
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Bottomed

    1) Sarr & Ekitike
    2) Gakpo/Gordon & Mateta

    Like Gordon as on pens and likely starting up top at least for first couple. Don’t have Salah or Wirtz…

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  14. adstomko
    • 10 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    G2G? A bit different:

    Sels
    Romero - Lacroix - Collins
    Palmer - Saka - Fernandes - Wirtz - Rogers
    Watkins - Gyökeres
    (Turner* - Diakité - Bijol - Wheatley*)

    *Denotes player has left club - keeps their starting price.

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

      I would replace Turner with Dubravka. Should be 1st choice when fit.

      And Wheatly to Guiu, who apparently has assurances about gametime in his loan contract. Being the highest scoring 4.5m forward always stops price falls. It's the one everyone moves to.

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

        Is that true about highest scoring players at their price point keeping price?
        I didn’t even know that.

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

          It's not a sure thing in the rules, just something I've noticed with 4.5m forwards and mids. A behavioural pattern. When managers pick a dud player for their early WC or restructuring, they pick the 4.5m with the most points. Every time. It stops the rot.

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

            I see what you mean. Thanks for this.

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    2. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Not sure about both Gyokores and Saka with those fixtures

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

        Got Gyökeres in case he hauls in GW2 or 4, then I can easily drop down to any striker

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  15. Ubique_Ash
    • 4 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    How’s she looking?

    BB Active

    Sánchez
    Van De Ven | Gabriel | Aït-Nouri
    Fernandes | Palmer | Wirtz | Reinjders | Kudus
    Gÿokeres | Ekitiké

    Dúbravka | João Pedro | Williams | Andersen

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  16. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Georginio has finally crossed 1% ownership

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  17. cutch
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    I want a player for the Monday game. Is Ndiaye nailed?

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

      Yes

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

      He's virtually an anagram of the word!

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  18. Ray85
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Rate my team please - BB

    Sels
    Cuca Diouf De Cupyer
    Mo, Palmer, Kudus, Adingra
    Watkins, Gyokeres, Fullkurg

    Dubravka, VDV, Wilson, Reinaldo

    Thanks 🙂

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

    Help please. I will probably be travelling near deadline. If anyone gets any news on Rogers please notify meeeeeeee.

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    1. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      He's back training, that's all we will know

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

    Best use of 10.5 please

    a. KDH & Porro

    b. Rutter & VdV (or Diouf)

    All likely to have to play most weeks.

    TY

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    1. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B

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    2. Bleh
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      B with Diouf.

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  21. Bleh
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Would you change anything here? Feel like the only major punt is Cunha. Chickened out of Mateta for Pedro’s form/fixtures.

    Sels
    Murillo, Lacroix, Diouf
    Salah, Palmer, Wirtz, Cunha, Reijnders
    Watkins, Pedro

    (Dubravka, Guiu, Rodon, Esteve)

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

      Cunha could be inspired if the players around him click. Love him as a player. Should be nailed, and should score well. So no, not really.

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

    Thoughts on pedro neto?

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    1. Ray85
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Too much of a rotation risk

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    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Great but far from nailed imo

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  23. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    A or B? (Currently on A)

    A) Sels, De Cuyper, Neco Williams, Van De Ven, Saka, Wirtz, Kroupi Jr

    B) Kelleher, Munoz, Pedro Porro, Milenkovic, Bruno Fernandes, King, Joao Pedro?

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  24. Football99
    • 1 Year
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Team A, B or C

    A
    Sels
    Van de ven, diouf , de cuyper
    Salah , saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
    Bowen , pedro

    1m in bank - possibly change Bowen and upgrade in GM2

    B
    Sels
    Van de ven, diouf , de cuyper
    Salah, saka, Tielemans, reinjeers , 7m mid maybe neto
    Haaland , Pedro

    C
    Sels
    Van de ven, wan bisska , de cuyper
    Saka, palmer, mbembo, reinjeers
    Haaland , pedro, ekikite
    1m in bank

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    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      I like B - consider Rogers as your mid

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    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      Need more options 🙂

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  25. nico05
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Best 4.5 def (already have 1 spurs)
    Best 4.5 mid please

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  26. blacky7475
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Evening folks.

    The wait is nearly over and after a week of week of Mo Hokey Cokey, he's out again...I think.

    Any comments or suggestions before I shut the laptop and forget all about it...until Mo wakes me in a cold sweat at 4am, wheeling away in celebration of his first half hat-trick, despite Wirtz's early red card

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  27. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Best 4.5 Defender?

    1- Andersen
    2- Dorgu
    3- De Cuyper

    cheers

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    1. Football99
      • 1 Year
      11 months, 6 days ago

      3

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      1. nico05
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        11 months, 6 days ago

        Is he nailed though?

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    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      2. - consider van de ven?

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

      1 or Richards

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    4. Besaid_Auroch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      All decent at the price. I like 3 as a punt provided your team isn't full of punts. 1 is safer.

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

      Fixtures aren't easy, but Dorgu

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  28. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Would Dan James & Gnonto be too much for Everton's defence? Does it make Leeds attack including Piroe an under the radar pick in GW1?

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    1. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      its a good front 3 to be fair, they may sign a new CF though?

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    2. nico05
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 6 days ago

      who do you prefer James or Gnonto?

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  29. Dutchy
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    A. Cucurella Reijnders
    B. VDV Rogers

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  30. Besaid_Auroch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 6 days ago

    Here we go. Any thoughts welcome...

    Sels / Dubrav'

    Porro / Murillo / Diouf (De Cuyper / Esteve)
    Salah / Palmer / Ndiaye / Gakpo / Mitoma
    Watkins / Bowen / Giui

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