Captain Sensible

Who is the best captain for FPL Gameweek 3?

4 September 2026 357 comments
FFScout Tom FFScout Tom
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With the Gameweek 3 deadline of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) nearing, it’s time to have a good think about who to captain.

All three of last week’s top choices returned double-digit hauls, with Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m), Erling Haaland (£15.5m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) notching at least two attacking returns. The decision for Gameweek 3 looks slightly more straightforward, with most managers expected to look towards Manchester City’s home fixture against newly-promoted Coventry City.

Is Haaland the standout Man City option or can a cheaper midfield teammate rival him for consideration? For those foolhardy managers willing to back against FPL’s most expensive player, who is the best alternative armband option? Plus, there’s the looming spectre of a potential Triple Captaincy, with legions of managers set to activate the chip.

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We’ll consider all of that in the latest ‘Captain Sensible’ article of the season.

In this piece, we will assess the on-site captaincy poll, analyse myriad player and team statistics, consult the Rate My Team (RMT) points projections, and settle on a top three for the armband, ahead of Friday’s 6.30pm BST deadline.

Captaincy Poll

In a result that an authoritarian dictator would be proud of, Haaland has picked up almost two-thirds of the vote in the Fantasy Football Scout captaincy poll. Site users are unsurprisingly backing the Norwegian in their droves for Man City’s favourable home fixture against Frank Lampard’s Coventry.

In another site poll, 40% of users will be activating the Triple Captain chip. It doesn’t take a genius to work out who on!

Dominik Szoboslai (£7.0m) is the only other player to garner more than 5% support ahead of Liverpool’s away fixture against Ipswich Town – and that may be to do with him being the first option in the poll and picking up accidental votes! The Tractor Boys shipped five goals last time out, while Szoboslai appears to be on penalties for the Reds. His teammate, Alexander Isak (£9.0m), sits in third place after scoring his first goal of the season in Gameweek 2.

Player Stats – Gameweeks 1-2

FFScout Tom <p>Deputy General Manager. Forever chasing the top 10K. Chelsea fan.&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

357 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    How’s this for a free hit draft?

    Kelleher
    Collins / de cuyper / vuskovic
    Buendia / Bruno / cherki / foden / schade
    Haaland / Isak

    Forster / Egan / Thomas / walle egeli

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    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Good!

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    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Decent!

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  2. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Would you FH out of this team?

    Verb
    Muha Maguire Calafiori
    Le Fee Gross Bruno Mbuemo
    DCL Haaland Pedro

    Very tempted to to try and attack the Liverpool, City and Brentford fixtures (only have Haaland out of these in original team above)

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    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      No. Haaland most important you have already!

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    2. Gizzachance
      1 month, 16 days ago

      T/c haaland
      If need city/pool use transfers?
      Won’t get another transfer on fh

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  3. Rhae
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Which combo is better :
    Foden, Wirtz, White, Verbruggen vs Sangare, Gross, NOR, Raya

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    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A

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      1. Rhae
        1 month, 16 days ago

        yeah leaning towards that but template is forming for B.

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  4. Kodap
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Final decisions, do I just run this.. with TC on Haaland, do I FH to load up on City, Liverpool etc? Or, do I just leave it as it is with no chip played.

    Verbrug
    De Cuyper - Calafiori - Maguire
    Cherki - Bruno - Gross - Odegaard - Sangare
    Haaland - Pedro

    Kinsky - DCL - Ballard - Rodon

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    1. Warby84
      1 month, 16 days ago

      TC

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  5. Gizzachance
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Have sem & haaland, 2ft 1.0 itb

    A tzolis to foden
    B mbuemo to Cherki
    C bench tzollis play gross save ft

    Looking maybe w/c in 4 to target Chel, use transfers, w/c just after int break

    Cheers

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    1. Gizzachance
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Will t/c haaland

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  6. BR510
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Wildcard final thoughts?
    Verbruggen Lecomte
    De Cuyper Calafiori Dedic Konsa Egan
    Bruno Palmer Cherki Sangare Yalcouye
    Haaland Pedro Wissa

    Play Egan Konsa Pedro or Yalcouye? The other three benched

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    1. Ignasi M
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Yeah, I feel Arsenal will concede, so I'm starting Egan over Konsa

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      1. ebb2sparky
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I reckon villa beat hull but I guess Egan will be on for defcons

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        1. Ignasi M
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Yeah, although where are the goals going to come from? I think Hull have more of a chance keeping a clean sheet than Arsenal, and I'm a Gooner!

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    2. Gizzachance
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Pedro

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    3. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Nice team!

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  7. Anfield road 1972
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Play Davis (ipswich)or
    Shaw (utd)??

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    1. BR510
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Shaw

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  8. McSlu
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Please advise:

    A) Wirtz, slater
    B) Gross, Sangare

    Rest of team:
    Raya, 4.0
    Cali, konsa, dedic, RAN, de Cypher
    X, palmer, slobo, cherki, X
    Haaland, wissa, JP

    B is safer and Sangare is a better option than Slater, but how many games will I actually use him? Not many I recon.
    A takes advantage og Pool's next two great fixtures. Cherki will be Rogers in GW 4.

    Leaning slightly towards A at the moment.
    With B, I do have a benching problem every week (or maybe not since I prob. will put Sangare on the bench most of the time). So why not go for Wirtz over Gross instead since Gross will play the majority of games anayway, not Sangare?

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    1. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A for me!

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    2. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A with Ran to Ajer and Slater to Gross

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  9. Sloopy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On freehit: Gvardiol + Schade or Mbeumo + Robinson?

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    1. McSlu
      1 month, 16 days ago

      G+S

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    2. LWB
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Gvardiol Schade

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    3. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      G & S. Why not NOR on freehit, upside is much more than G?

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  10. The Wizard of Ozil
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Pretty set on Tzolis -> Foden but what's the best way to make up the 0.5?

    A) Maguire -> Dedic (Hume to Konsa next week)
    B) Maguire -> Konsa
    C) Kinsky -> Dub
    D) Le Fee -> 5.4 or under, most likely just a 4.5
    E) Mbeumo -> Wirtz

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    1. LWB
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Probably B.
      Or D to someone like Gomez

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  11. ENGLAND1966
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Dilemma I can’t get Haaland in without WC

    I have isak, Fernandes and cherki

    Which one to captain or WC?

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    1. The Knights Template
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Isak

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  12. FantasyFooty01
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Best 7.0 midfielder options and below

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  13. Tmel
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Start one:

    a) Egan (AVL)
    b) Palmer (ars)
    c) Pedro (ars)

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    1. boc610
      1 month, 16 days ago

      b

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    2. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Palmer

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  14. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Would you free hit or wildcard this, I’ve already used 2 transfers for the Bruno / haaland switch .

    Verbruggen
    Ballard / white / calafiori
    Le fee / mbuemo / semenyo / tzolis
    Haaland / Pedro / Isak

    Lammens / slater / Hume / rodon

    If free hit I would then Wc next week or use two frees, but means likely keeping the 3 Sunderland for longer

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  15. Dorse88
    1 month, 16 days ago

    What 1 of these 3 would you play this week?

    Maguire (Everton A)
    Gomes (Leeds H)
    Tzolis (Chelsea H)

    Currently lineup

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori Konsa Ajer
    Cherki Bruno Szoboszlai Tzolis
    DCL Haaland (TC) João Pedro

    Kinski Maguire Gomez Diop

    My transfers this week was Mbuemo>Cherki & Rodon>Konsa

    Thanks.

    Thanks.

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    1. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Tzolis

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  16. Emiliano Sala
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Cherki or semenyo on FH?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      https://x.com/robtFPL/status/2095765919435833715

      This is market goal projections if you put any stock in to that?

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      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Tzolis and Eze both on a low chance of starting… hmmm

        I guess ‘low’ for Solio can still be over 50%? I know nothing about it.

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  17. umerlfc
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Is Mbeumo -> Foden a good one week punt if I'm planning on WC in GW4?

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    1. Malkmus
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Not crazy, could be a rout for city

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  18. No_Mo_Salah?
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Morning. Would appreciate views on these two options please:

    A. Tzolis to Schade with 1 ft
    B. Tzolis to Foden and Maguire to Dedic/Ajer with 2 ft.

    Currently just have Haaland for Man City and will be my TC. Thanks!

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    1. Rhae
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Prefer B

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  19. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On a FH, who is the best pick this week?

    Saka or MGW?

    Thanks

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    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      1 month, 16 days ago

      MGW for me I think.

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        1 month, 16 days ago

        I was there but I'm skewing myself again with the Rob T crunched projected goal data.

        Also dropped Havertz on my FH who is right up there

        https://x.com/robtFPL/status/2095765919435833715

        It's good to have goal threat in the last match of the weekend

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        1. No_Mo_Salah?
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Interesting table that. I guess it depends a bit on your longer term plan and whether the extra money from MGW comes in handy. Saka the more exciting pick but MGW for 7.9m feeling pretty decent at the moment.

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    2. 17th Time Lucky
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I'm considering both as well. More likely going Saka than MGW, unless we hear from deZerbi that MFernandes is out

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      1. Jaws
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Have a look at Spurs defenders?

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  20. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Seems mad but I'm starting double Arsenal defence, benching JP, but starting Palmer.

    Seems even crazier when I say it out loud 😆

    Also have DCL starting with Verbruggen. What the hell is this GW bring me GW4 😆

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    1. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Triple Arsenal defenders here. Benching JP and Konsa.

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    2. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Do you always speak your comments aloud? Is it when you type it, when you re-read it (can’t be this unless you’re preempting your own reaction when typing commenting on saying it aloud), or do you say it really really fast when you hit the POST button?

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      1. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Are you OK?

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        1. Deulofail
          1 month, 16 days ago

          No

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          1. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            1 month, 16 days ago

            Hope you feel better soon 🙂

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            1. Deulofail
              1 month, 16 days ago

              Thank you 🙂

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  21. boc610
    1 month, 16 days ago

    football is a seriously grim place (not a hot take I know). with the exception of someone like Salah fans only remember your last game the amount of players who have left clubs they have been at for years and no fans bat an eyelid. Martinell has had great seasons at arsenal ( and as an FPL players we know he has) Watkins didnt leave on the best terms but has been amazing for that club. jones leaves liverpool and its like he wasnt even there. and it goes both ways. Enzo at chelsea for four years and just sh*ts all over the club on social media. Not so much as a thank you to anyone. they are just his 'previous club'. all the kissing the badge nonsense 99 percent of players dont mean a word of it.

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Lower leagues too

      Massive churn

      Loyalty lost as you say, which goes along way for team spirit.

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      1. Deulofail
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Loyalty is not a virtue

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        1. boc610
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Benoit Esso Ekotto was one of the most honest players when it came to interviews and I always remember his saying this 15 year ago. maybe he is right.

          "I have never bought into the hypocrisy of football but perhaps I'm more strident in my views now. I'm lucky and appreciate what I have, but football is just a job, a means to an end... there are more important things in life than kicking a ball around... Yes, I play for the money but then doesn't everybody who gets up in the morning and goes to work? They do it to provide for their family. It infuriates me when footballers go on about playing for the shirt. I think they should be held accountable for it when they kiss the badge and six months later clear off for a better pay day"

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          1. Deulofail
            1 month, 16 days ago

            I like the cut of his jib

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          2. Deulofail
            1 month, 16 days ago

            On the other hand, you can like something, love something, or someone, enough to kiss it, and still not have to be in that relationship forever. You can like and live other things and people.

            I do find the badge kissing a bit OTT, but don't want to generalise, since each badge kisser has their own character, experience and point of view.

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    2. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Arsenal fans will remember Martinelli fondly

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    3. ebb2sparky
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I dont think it's specifically football, more like society in general. Ultimately if you pay loads of money to someone of below average intelligence who thinks they're clever because millions of sheep follow them online then what do you expect.

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    4. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Not seen any Enzo sh*t but it sounds refreshing in the glossy curated and media trained world of football profiles. 99% of the time footballers do say thank you and do all the brown nosing linkdIn tosh that’s necessary to maintain a good look and gain social capital. Or their social media managers do it for them.

      I think your complain can be levied at globalisation, technology and capitalism. Not really a football thing people switching jobs even more often in other fields. Football is just a more visible version of many ailments in society. And some things that aren’t really all that bad either.

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    5. el polako
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I’ll remember him for his MMA moves on badly injured Conor Bradley.

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  22. Malkmus
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Morning all. On wc im going Verbruggen but is it a good idea to get Steele as second gk? I have de cuyper as well so can’t get any more Brighton players in as it stands. But if verb gets injured I won’t need to make a transfer.

    Ta

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      There you go

      It cuts both ways

      Loads of choices outfield so it's not a bad approach

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  23. sandman58
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On a Wildcard - which is best? - already have Sangare of Brentford
    A) Tzolis & Schade
    B) Szoboszlai & Gross
    Thanks

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    1. No_Mo_Salah?
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B as wouldn't go near Tzolis at the moment.

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      1. sandman58
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Thanks for the reply but can I ask why u wouldn't go near Tzolis?

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        1. No_Mo_Salah?
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Too risky for me as minutes aren't secure - could see Eze starting or coming on for him.

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          1. boc610
            1 month, 16 days ago

            one bad half v villa and he had got booked. look at chelsea's highline and how far up the wingbacks are. arteta might feel this is perfect for him.

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        2. Rhysd007
          1 month, 16 days ago

          Not nailed. Wouldn't buy him but I will probably keep him.

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    2. Woking Wanderers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B

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  24. pundit of punts
    1 month, 16 days ago

    On WC

    A. Szobozslai + 5m def

    Or

    B. Wirtz + Mykolenko

    1. Hornicek + Williams

    Or

    2. Trafford + Hall

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    1. Woking Wanderers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      A2

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    2. Bradleyfarrell
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Whats your team looking like?

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  25. Eightball
    1 month, 16 days ago

    A) Saka + Dedic + Cherki
    B) Szoboszlai + Gvardiol + Cherki (with 1.9m in the bank to be flexible with the Cherki position)
    C) Saka + Gvardiol + Szoboszlai

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    1. LeytonOrient
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B for this GW

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  26. BazingtoN
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Who to Captain?

    A. Isak
    B. Bruno F
    C. Semenyo

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    1. Woking Wanderers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 16 days ago

      B

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    2. Rhysd007
      1 month, 16 days ago

      poll says Isak, but form says Bruno

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  27. Woking Wanderers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Play
    a) Slater
    or
    b) Gomez

    Thanks.

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    1. Rhysd007
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Feel like Leeds at home is a better fixture. But Villa haven't looked great. Toss a coin!

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  28. Rhysd007
    1 month, 16 days ago

    2 FT

    I want Cherki in. I can switch A) Anderson > Cherki if I downgrade Maguire/White to a 4.0/4.5

    Other options are B) Tzolis out for Cherki, with the same downgrade in defence.

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    1. LeytonOrient
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Probably A) Maguire

      Tzolis was very easy on the eye GW1. Would hold for now

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  29. ididnt
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Maguire > Ajer or Dedic

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    1. LeytonOrient
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Both good options. I would prob go with Ajer because Ive been so impressed by Brentford

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  30. LeytonOrient
    1 month, 16 days ago

    Shaw, Palestra & Thomas flagged.
    Ndiaye unlikely to play.
    1FT.

    Didn’t plan an early wildcard, but this seems justified now?

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    1. Deulofail
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Depends on your team

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      1. LeytonOrient
        1 month, 16 days ago

        Raya Steele
        Calafiori O’Shea *Palestra *Shaw *Thomas
        Bruno Mbeumo Szobo Slater Ndiaye(?)
        Haaland Wissa JP

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    2. Shteve
      1 month, 16 days ago

      Just wait for press conferences. Shaw should be fine from what I've heard.

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    3. Rhysd007
      1 month, 16 days ago

      I wouldn't be using the WC here tho, maybe just Palestra out for someone nailed.

      United defence for me is still too leaky. I see Everton scoring so could bench Shaw and play Thomas (I don't see a flag btw)

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