Digest

The Digest- Gameweek Thirteen

The Tottenham juggernaut rolled on relentlessly at the Hawthorns, once again providing Fantasy managers with plenty of attacking options to consider. Newcastle showed their steel at Old Trafford and now have their sights set on Chelsea, ahead of a kind run of upcoming fixtures…

The Player

For the past few weeks, the vast majority of the Tottenham focus had been on Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale as the midfield duo racked up the Fantasy points. When fit, the Dutchman’s consistency is never in question but Bale’s continually impressive returns presented many Fantasy managers with a quandary- acquiring both players seemed a viable proposition, given the club’s run of fixtures.

Saturday’s win at West Brom brought Emmanuel Adebayor firmly into our thinking once again. The Togo international had drifted off the radar slightly after a six game scoring drought but a brace against Aston Villa last Monday was followed by another double at the Hawthorns- in the space of five days, then, Adebayor bagged as many league goals as Luis Suarez has all season.

Harry Redknapp’s acquisition of both Adebayor and Scott Parker has turned Tottenham into one of the most lethal attacking sides in the Premier League- of the ten games the duo have played, the club have won nine and drawn one. Adebayor has now returned more Fantasy points than both Van der Vaart and Bale and is the sixth top scorer in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game with 75 points- priced at 8.8, he still looks a bargain right now.

A closer look at his points sums up his consistency- only twice in those ten appearances has Adebayor failed to either score or assist and with Spurs’ upcoming schedule still looking promising- added to a double gameweek 20- a move for all three of the Tottenham “Holy Trinity” over the next couple of weeks doesn’t seem such a bold move after all.

The Team

While there’s little doubt they led a charmed life at Old Trafford on Saturday, the bottom line is that Newcastle came through unscathed. Many had expected a result similar to the previous week’s trip to the blue half of Manchester but Alan Pardew’s side clung on and remain in the top four.

This week’s home clash with Chelsea should hold little fear for Newcastle; with that 3-1 defeat at City their only loss, a defeat to Andre Villas-Boas’ side would be a far bigger shock that we could have possibly perceived at the beginning of the season. Yohan Cabaye’s guile and steel, Demba Ba’s goals and Gabriel Obertan’s pace and directness have added to the solid foundation and work-ethic already in place and Newcastle look ripe for Fantasy investment once again after what many had expected to be a tricky three-match period.

With Hatem Ben Arfa returning from fitness, a defence that has conceded just 12 goals this season and includes, in the shape of Ryan Taylor, the second-top scoring FPL defender, there are plenty of options available ahead of a run of four games that sees Pardew’s side face (nor, SWA, WBA, bol). Ba, in particular, should see plenty of Fantasy managers acquiring his services for that stretch- similar to Emmanuel Adebayor, he’s proven to be one of the most consistent Fantasy performers this season, scoring or assisting in seven of his previous eight gameweeks and at 6.8 continues to offer outstanding value.

The Talking Point

Yesterday’s off-field events concerning Gary Speed put everything into perspective. At times, football can bring unbridled happiness and fuel the passion of millions around the globe but Speed’s untimely death served a harsh reminder that, essentially, it’s really nothing more than twenty-two men kicking a ball about a patch of grass.

Clean sheets and points accrued have never seemed so insignificant with the news of the Welshman’s heartbreaking passing. Swansea took the decision to play their game against Aston Villa but with many of the protagonists clearly affected, the game itself seemed a secondary matter, dwarfed by the horrifying circumstances that had gone before….

The action moved on to Anfield, where Roberto Mancini adopted a far more conservative approach than many had expected. We can only speculate, but the previous day’s result at Old Trafford may have affected the City manager’s thinking. With a draw at Liverpool enough to preserve a five point advantage over United, Mancini adopted a 4-5-1, with Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko both benched.

Their attacking edge blunted, City were fortunate to escape with a draw; their average shots per away dropped significantly, Sergio Aguero could barely get into the game and in the end, only Joe Hart’s heroics kept their unbeaten record intact. The decision to rein in their attacking tendencies almost backfired yesterday and Fantasy managers will be hoping Mancini banishes such notions with immediate effect.

With 9 goals in his previous ten games, Balotelli was City’s form striker coming into this game and his frustration boiled over when Mancini finally introduced him to the proceeding halfway through the second half. Two yellows in quick succession saw him dismissed- he will now miss the Carling Cup match with Arsenal tomorrow evening.

In a sense, this could even boost Balotelli’s chances of a start against Norwich next weekend; with Dzeko likely to start against the Gunners on Tuesday evening, the Italian will be the fresher of the two come the weekend. City’s crucial Champions League home clash with Bayern Munich next midweek could also play a part in Mancini’s thinking, though- Sergio Aguero seems the likeliest starter of the trio against Paul Lambert’s side and a viable captaincy option, at that.

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1,919 Comments Post a Comment
  1. SavageCabbage
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Keep.
    Mata is fixture proof.

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  2. everyday, i'm shufflin…
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    What do you prefer .. A or B ?

    A: Rotating GK
    Vorm - "Krul"
    Richards - Simpson - Naylor - Enrique - "Brown"

    B: Mostly starting Vorm
    Vorm - "Ruddy"
    Richards - Simpson - Naylor - Enrique - "Jagielka"

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    1. gravless
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      A

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      1. frankiefernandez
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        A for me too.

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      2. everyday, i'm shufflin…
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Don't you think the better defense of B would outscore A?

        I tried to calculate with my history and found the rotation would outscore "Always Vorm" just 3 points. Anyway, I still not sure if Jagielka is worth to be 0.8 more expensive than Brown .. in terms of FPL points.

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  3. liamhennessy
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Any resurgencies on the cards?

    I can see Suarez, Young and maybe even Rooney getting back in form over the next few weeks. Anyone thinking of bringing one of them in when they drop again?

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    1. gravless
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Suarez for Adebayor next week

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    2. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      i had Rooney from GW1 and said that he was a season keeper....until SAF had a midfield crisis.

      so out he went and in came RvP. been happy with that so far.

      if Rooney had been left up front, he might still be in my team and when he gets a few goals, he may well come back.

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  4. Screaming Midget
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    If you could select 3 forwards from now until Winter WC time but had to stick with them, which 3 would you select?

    I'd go, Adebayor, RVP, Sturridge

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    1. Bubbles
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I wouldn't change what I've got at the moment, even if I was given a free WC to use this week.

      RVP, Adebayor & Hernandez.

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      1. The Finnisher
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, what he said ^

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    2. MCM
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I think I'd go for RVP, Hernandez and Sturridge.

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    3. gravless
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      RVP Suarez Ba

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    4. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      studge,klasnic,vellios

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    5. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      that's what i've got...and sticking with it.

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      1. Fratboy
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        samesies

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    6. SavageCabbage
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I'd go with exactly what I have: RVP, Ada, Hernandez
      To be honest I've never really bought into the Sturridge thing. He's a constant rotation risk as AVB has shown himself to be rather unpredictable. Secondly Chelsea have tough-ish fixtures coming up, and as I stated earlier, the only Chelsea player I believe to be fixture proof is Mata.

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      1. Screaming Midget
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Hernandez is also a rotation threat with Welbeck back.

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        1. SavageCabbage
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 4 months ago

          To be honest, I don't really think so.
          When Hernandez is scoring the way he has, Fergie can't afford not to play him. So Welbeck will need to find another way in, or the rest of the team ( i.e Pooney, Nani) will need to show a significant improvement in form before I believe it to be a real threat.

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      2. Mihai Roman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, but he seems to have the ability to score coming from the bench. I'm happy with that for his price.

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    7. redknapp_junior
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      RVP, adebayor and Ba

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      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        I've had RVP, Adebayor and Rooney for a long time and am happy enough with them going into the xmas period..

        Ba and Sturridge are options if Rooney doesn't do something soon though!

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    8. Mihai Roman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Also have the 3 you mentioned, and feel pretty good at the moment. Bought Studge for 6.6 and I'm satisfied with 2 goals about every 3 GW's.

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    9. Dale Cooper
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      RVP, Adebayor, Ba and Mata in midfield (so you don't have to double on CHE offensive players).

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  5. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Which three to play this game week -

    Jones, Enrique, Naylor, Simpson, Wilkinson

    Also Vorm or Krul??

    Cheers!!

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    1. The Light Knight
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      krul,jones,enrique,naylor

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    2. Fratboy
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      First 3 and Vorm.

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      1. The Finnisher
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        +1 definitely.

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    3. Bubbles
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Krul
      Jones, Enrique & Simpson

      is what I'd do, but wouldn't expect to many points from them.

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  6. SPorting
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    OK folks, it's time for my first GW14 cry for help:

    keeper - Vorm or Krul?

    captain - RvP or Ade?

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    1. Bubbles
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I'd play Krul and captain RVP.

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      1. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        kinda ruins my Vorm/Ade plans.

        oh well.

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        1. Hello. Yes, This is Dog
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 4 months ago

          i'd play vorm and capt RVP. Wigan defence is shocking, their morale is good after their win but they will leak goals against arsenal.

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        2. Bubbles
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 4 months ago

          You want Vorm and Ade, you go for it boyo!

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    2. FBI Man
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      R
      V
      P

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    3. gravless
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Vorm

      Neither

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      1. SPorting
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Torres?

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        1. gravless
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 4 months ago

          He's gone and there's a new kid on the block.

          It has to be a Citeh player to cap this week and I'm gonna try Adam Johnson.

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          1. 1966 was a great year for E…
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 4 months ago

            Even if he plays 90 mins tonight/tomorrow night?

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      2. Duane Dibbley
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        ADE for captain - home to Bolton come on

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    4. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Has to be Vorm.

      Captain.. probably RvP, although he might not play this game (potentially rested) - so I think Ade is a decent vc.

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      1. Dale Cooper
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        He should play. He will have this whole week to rest and the another one after Wigan game (because Arsenal are already in the CL knockout stage).

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  7. Linca - TerribleFromKepa
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    not sure weather or not to start Simpson over Brown.. Sunderland struggling and i can see wolves scoring..

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  8. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Vorm
    Richards Jones Enrique
    Dyer Lamps VDV Silva
    Bendtner Ade RVP

    Nothing this week, correct? Save two transfers to get Demba Ba in next week?

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    1. Hello. Yes, This is Dog
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      great team for this week, i'd keep the transfer

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    2. Bubbles
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      What happened to the 12 or 16 point hit plan? 😛

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      1. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        I thought better of it. Had a bad GW and was getting drawn into the Baines and O'Hara bandwagons!

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    3. weetonyharris
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      swap VDV with Bale, will get you more points

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  9. FBI Man
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Lie in 182,000 overall..

    Got VP in last nite

    Jones to Taylor Swan

    Aguero to VP

    -4pt hit !! Hope its the right move. Amen

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    1. heartsattack
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I`d leave it 'till you see what Mancini, Wenger and 'arry have got to say on Friday but could work out well. Who are your other mids/strikers?

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      1. heartsattack
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Oops! Just noticed you`ve already done it. Good luck,

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  10. Christina.
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    ZZZZZZZ....

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  11. Mbiz
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    The bendybus was a complete waste of time and i've got a feeling VDV won't start at the weekend so contemplating:

    Bendy > Ade
    VDV > Bale

    Worth a 4pt hit?

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    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      No one else you can sell to get Bale?

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      1. FBI Man
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        I agree

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        1. Mbiz
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Only Silva... and thats not going to happen!

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    2. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      As long as VDV doesn´t play I say it´s worth but would wait a couple more days for more info.

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  12. Screaming Midget
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    The reason why I think Sturridge is a better pick than Ba is 2 reasons really.

    1: Ba is off to the African Cup of Nations and as things stand will have his last game in GW20 and therefore miss 3 kind fixtures of: QPR Fulham Rovers. Before then he also finishes with: Liverpool MAN UNITED

    2: I'm not sure Sturridge is all that much of a rotation risk now. He was benched, came off and scored. He was started the last match and again, he scored. Add that to the fact overall Chelsea have a nice run of games especially from GW18: FULHAM ASTON VILLA Wolves SUNDERLAND Norwich Swansea.

    I'd possibly have Ba as my 4th forward, but think RVP, Sturridge and Ade come in, infront of him based on him really only having 2 nice games coming up: SWANSEA WBA with 2 semi decent ones: Norwich Bolton

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    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      so Ba > Studge in GW21.

      thanks for the heads up!

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    2. matiakez
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Sturridge is a good back for his price, I think at times the expectations are slightly high fo him. Fro a guy costing 6.5 million he has got to be a great option and as you mention he is likely to start most games.

      At the moment RVP, Ade and Hernandez look the star 3 though.

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    3. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I dont agree on Ba vs Sturridge. Gw14-17 I think Ba has the better fixtures. I would not want Ba anyway come gw18 when Hernandez/Klasnic are alternatives.

      Ba has 3/4 at home and is no rotatin risk at the moment while Sturr has1/4 at home with New/CITY/Spurs def not easy.

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    4. The Finnisher
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      How are Bolton/Norwich semi-decent? And how is Swansea/WBA are considered better ?
      Bolton have the worst defence in the league, Norwich can't by a cleanie, Swansea have the most cleanies in the league and WBA, meh.

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    5. Scroobius Mac
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Thing is Ba is the main focus of his teams attacks and takes penos. I think if I were WCing I'd have Ba (Or find the cash for Hernandez) but as I have Sturridge then I'll hold tight.

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    6. Screaming Midget
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah, I agree with that point Mac. He is more nailed on.

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      1. matiakez
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        well i have holliet so!

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  13. Schwarzer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys, what would you do?

    A) Shawx > Baines & Ramsey > Pilkington
    B) Shawx > Ferdinand & Ramsey > Bale

    Baines and Bale were pricey, hence the cheap 2nd transfers.

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    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      i'd wait a few days for more VDV news. if he doesn't play then it's VDV > Bale

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      1. Schwarzer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers. I was only considering the early transfer because of Bale's imminent price rise.

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  14. udit
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    worth doing,
    rooney->Hernandez
    shawX_> Baines
    Drenthe-> Ben arfa for a 4 point hit?

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  15. Bubbles
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    New post.

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  16. Mihai Roman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Reo Coker>Ben Arfa, yay or nay?

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    1. udit
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      definitely yay

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    2. frankiefernandez
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Hell yes!

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  17. Screaming Midget
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    OK... had another look at the fixtures.

    If I was picking between Ba vs Sturridge and it was a long term plan to leave him in until Winter WC time then I'd select Sturridge.

    However, if I had neither at this point and was bringing 1 in, with a transfer in mind in a few GWs then it would be Ba now and then Ba > Sturridge from GW1819.

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    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Exactly what I'm doing. Brought in Ba for Suarez a few days ago, and will probably ship him out for Sturridge in gameweek 18.

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  18. 1mills
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    I'm thinking VDV is on his last chance for me.

    Next week I could do VDV > Mata
    Ramsey > Nani (assuming Nani's falls to 9.9).

    The Mata price rise, VDV fall could kill that option though, but fixtures are in my currents favour for the weekend.

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  19. woodenarmadillo
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    I have 7 mil for a 5th mid... any recommendations?

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    1. weetonyharris
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      eagles from bolton, but not till next week

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    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 4 months ago

      7 mil for a 5th mid, you're Abramovic?

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  20. Arselona
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Two things...

    1. Bench Agbon or Dempsey?
    2. Field one of Simpson, Ward or Brown

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  21. AgentMZK
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    RMT + Suggest captain for this week:

    Westwood – (Given)

    BAE – Jose Enrique – Wes Brown – (Simpson, Bosingwa)

    Cabaye – Bale – Adam – Silva(v) – (Moses)

    RVP – Adebayor(C) – Sturridge

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  22. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Stuck swap option 1 or option 2

    VDV,RAMSEY,STURRIDGE to MATA,ADEBAYOR,BENARFA for 8 hit

    OR COULD DO

    Rooney, Sturridge to Hernadez,Adebayor for a 4 hit

    Better swap out the 2 choices?

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  23. Incorrigible Brat
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    hernandez dilemma
    ba and rvp are the other 2 strikers
    hernandez>ade ??
    one free transfer left.

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  24. WOLFESH
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Stuck in a mindfield of options and need some advice. Team is..

    Vorm - Begovic
    Komp - S Taylor - Simpson - N Taylor - Walker
    VDV - Sinclair - Walters - Larsson - Drenthe
    RVP - Rooney - Bendtner

    Stupidly dropped Ade for Bendy the other week and wanting to get him back in. Got 1.9m in bank and a FT. Should I get rid of VDV and Rooney and take a 4 point hit to make some changes? Advice needed before I drive myself mad.

    Thanks!!!

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