634x258 Members
9 December 2011 687 comments
Paul Paul
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The festive period can be the scourge of the Fantasy manager. While the man on the street concerns himself with Christmas roasts and present wrapping, we’ve rest and rotation to occupy our thoughts- those leftover turkey sandwiches won’t taste quite the same if ‘Arry drops Rafa for the trip to Norwich on November 27.

With the fixtures coming thick and fast, our next article for Members takes a look at goal threat from midfield. Examining the top ten for “Threat” in our very own ICT Index over the past six gameweeks, we scour the Opta stats and analyse each player’s upcoming “difficulty of schedule” according to our ticker ratings.

Taking each player’s possible game time into consideration over the hectic upcoming period, we try to pinpoint those who look likely to continue producing the goods and those who will, perhaps, struggle to maintain their current levels.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

687 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Carlos Danger
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Kompany or simpson, who to play?!

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    1. heartsattack
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Kompany.

      Just a few of the reasons are, more chance of a goal, Newcastle struggling to field a decent back 4, likely to be in the winning side And more likely to get bonus.

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      1. Carlos Danger
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        idk... Komps away to chels wouldn't be TOO sure he'd be on the winning side, and if he is I don't see a clean sheet, which means almost certainly no bonus unless he scores which is also not particularly likely

        however, newcastle back line is ravaged and you can usually count on norwich to bang in the goals... I guess it might just be komps goal threat that does it for me...

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        1. heartsattack
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          You're right of course, city may not win and may concede but I fancy Mancini to set up quite defensively. More like last years Man City. Kompany over Simpson still.

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      2. V-2 Schneiderlin
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        Yup I have both and am playing Kompany for those reasons

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        1. Carlos Danger
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          ok so heres another one: Neil taylor or simpson considering I've got vorm

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          1. heartsattack
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 1 month ago

            I think Vorm or Simpson is enough this week as they may still be recovering from the Yak attack. Spread the love and risk Simpson.

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            1. heartsattack
              • 14 Years
              14 years, 1 month ago

              Sorry should have said Vorm or Taylor.

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        2. Carlos Danger
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          Oh and something I hadn't considered: Torres could start, increasing kompany's clean sheet potential 10 fold! haha

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  2. The Yak
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Threat from Midfield,I've got Mata,Silva and VDV roll on GW 15

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    1. Carlos Danger
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      mata vs silva tho... stats are nice but I don't see city vs chels being high scoring

      heres hoping dvd starts

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  3. Hazardous Liege '76
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Play who out of Jags, Turner or Dyer - leaning towards Dyer but seriously tempted by Jags!

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    1. heartsattack
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      I'd say Dyer or Turner. Why you leaning towards Jags? Everton will play a defensive match but it's likely to be unsuccessful.

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    2. McEwan
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Jagielka away to Arsenal? Madness! Or do you know something we don't and i can take the handbag off RVP!

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    3. the axolotl
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      turner will be out to impress. everton v.unlikely to keep clean sheet no? dyer is up against mean-ish fulham defence. i'd go turner.

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  4. Raul Seleccion
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    just had a flash of inspiration. Bramble, at 4.2, rotates perfectly with any nufc defender, next 4 would be BLA SWA WBA EVE. surely Oneill wont hold a grudge, he will only care about sorting out a best first XI.

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Ermm... everyone knows Sun rotates with New. I have Brown & Simps.

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      1. Raul Seleccion
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        just inspired by the price tag, and Brambles a greater goal threat than Brown

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    2. the axolotl
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      hows turner been playing? is he likely to be dropped. then again o'neill isn't ex-utd so wont be blind to brown being a bit crap and might drop him instead?

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  5. Commander Makara
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Help! who to pick in defence?!
    1 from:

    R. Taylor A
    K. Walker A
    Woodgate H

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    1. gravless
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Taylor

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    2. Chicken Bouma
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Tricky one but I'd say Walker

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  6. Scroobius Mac
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Somewhat suprised Mata doesn't make it on there. I take it he's near top for Influence and rakes in the points that way.

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    1. Oldman Unathletic
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      he'll be on here soon enough, quality player - from next season onwards hes going to be in everyones fpl team no doubt

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    2. udit
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      I don't know how many shots he gets away, 😕

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  7. MrJefferson
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    anyone with a spare minute want to click on my link and suggest how i can fit nani into my team, dont want to sell vdv bale or silva and willing to take a hit

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      short of selling Ade to Yak/Ba and Jones to someone like Smalling, you're not gonna do it.

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    2. Hazardous Liege '76
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Sell Ade and Walters - buy Nani and a cheaper striker - Ba might work but think you may be slightly short - not ideal but can see no other way

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    3. Disco Pat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      MrJefferson/Jimmy, if you want nani, ade is going to have to go, along with walters, and ba/yak appears to be the best choice to bring in. if it helps i'm also thinking the same options to bring in. but i'm selling hernadez and drenthe, and maybe 2-3 others! ive 2 free transfers, so may make 4 transfers, as might try for jones/vermahelen

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  8. Chicken Bouma
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Cahill seems a good transfer this week all of a sudden (5.2m). I need to get rid of Saylor anyway.

    1) Ok Bolton don’t keep many clean sheets but he’s always a goal threat
    2) Villa keep getting caught out on set-pieces 🙁
    3) It often happens when a player scores against his old club
    4) Bolton’s fixtures are pretty good – Villa(H) Ful(A) Bla(A) New(H) Wol(H)
    5) Villa are woeful away from home and haven’t scored in the last 3 games 🙁
    6) Hold onto him into January and he might suddenly become a Man U or other top 4 team player!

    What do ya reckon?!!

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    1. kaz 96
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      ur basically looking just at tomorrow's fixture.
      my response:
      1 and 2) still higly unlikely he will score
      3)doesnt matter
      4) they dont keep cleanies
      5) u can't just be looking at one game, every club they face after villa have a good scoring record(of late)
      6)get him AFTER he joins manu, why now?

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  9. Connor's Calling
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    great article. tempted by O'HaHaHaHara again....

    also:

    Kompany -> ?
    a) Smalling
    b) Enrique
    c) Evans
    d) keep him

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    1. Noon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      I am doing Kompany to Enrique today.

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      1. Carlos Danger
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        might be rash, liverpool may not be as solid defensively without lucas

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      2. Carlos Danger
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        and QPR usually turn up for the bigger games these days

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  10. Noon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Surprised Walters not on the list.

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  11. Oldman Unathletic
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    the articles are coming thick and fast today, gotta love the friday before fpl

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  12. Puzzle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Afternoon lads. Not sure what to do this week, don’t really like the look of my team. Any help?

    My team atm, 1 FT and 0 in bank:

    Given, Ruddy

    Jones, Baines, Naylor

    VDV, Silva, Ramsey, Sinclair

    RVP, Adebayor, Bendtner

    Subs: Moses, Simpson, Ward

    I really want to get rid of Bendtner, but with no cash in the bank I cannot do a direct swap to Ba. Tempting to do a hit. I've been thinking Bendtner, Ramsey to Ba and a cheaper midfielder (Eagles?). The problem is that it would leave me with only Ruddy in goal and the annoying Given. Should I use a transfer on a goalie switch?

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  13. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    thanks sir paulos ...you've helped me make a decision about my next transfer. My member's fee continues to be well spent.

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    1. patshaw
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      who's gonna be?

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      1. J0E
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        not telling...would reveal the contents of the excellent article and alert my cup opponents to my moves.

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    2. Paul
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers Jonty 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the read.

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    3. Attila the Bum
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      £15 isn't a lot to ask for the quality of posts like this, to be fair. Nice to have a little edge over some of my rivals, not that it helps me much though 😛

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      1. Paul
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        Nice on Attila... I'll take that as a free pass into the knockout stages of the #FPLTwitterWorldCup shall I? 😉

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        1. Attila the Bum
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          I'll ask Applebonkers

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          1. applebonkers
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            14 years, 1 month ago

            free pass through the last 2 group matches is fine by me

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  14. Screaming Midget
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    The Skysports preview has Evans and Smalling starting, but no Jones in the starting 11 vs Wolves.

    Not sure how bang on they usually are though.

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    1. The Yak
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Nah Smalling was pants in the UCL game and i'm sure SAF will want a response after going out of the UCL

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    2. Oldman Unathletic
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      if anything i would have expected smalling to be the one benched after playing more minutes than jones and for being at fault for a goal against basle - but you never know with sir alex

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    3. Screaming Midget
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      But are SS good at predicting the lineups correctly?

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  15. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Vorm

    Enrique R Taylor Kompany

    Silva VDV Bale Ramsey

    Ade RVP Ba

    Given Moses Simpson Wilkinson

    2 free transfer, 0.4 in the bank.

    Thinking about one or two of these:

    1) Kompany -> Jones

    2) R Taylor -> Smalling (since I have simpson for their nice run anyway)

    3) VDV -> Nani (Since I have Bale and Ade)

    4) Ramsey -> Walters

    Thoughts?

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    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      5) Simpson -> Evans

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    2. The Yak
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      VDV ➡ Mata sound better if you look at Mata's influence in the Chelsea side and the chances he creates.

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      1. Hansel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        but mata's fixtures aren't the best..

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  16. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    also gomez is on penalties now

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  17. nik
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    My subs are Walters, Simpson and Warnock. Right order?

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  18. The Yak
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Guys, Double up on Swans with Vorm and N.Taylor or play Simpson away to Norwich

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    1. Oldman Unathletic
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      double and pray fulhams poor away scoring record continues

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      1. CarelessGenius©
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        Double. Swans tight at home.

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  19. Attila the Bum
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Very interesting. I do like a statfest, surprised by some of these numbers though.

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  20. The EJJ
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Krul/Given

    BAE/ShawX/Jones/Enrique/RTaylor

    Bale/Sinclair/Silva/Walters/Ferguson

    RVP/Adebayor/Bendtner

    3.0m in the bank 0 ft. Any transfer ideas? Help would be lovely! 😛

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    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Fergie out for Ramires?

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  21. Egg noodle
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Allen Hernandez Bendtner Drenthe Bale VDV Wilkinson. Should I suicide?

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    1. kaz 96
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      well, at least u don't have vidic

      on a much serious note, what are u going to do now?

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      1. Egg noodle
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        do three transfers and cross my fingers
        nani ba and someone else in

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  22. Surfreak
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    My Threat from Mid GW15 > Mata/VDV/Nani !!

    Friday best day off the week, roll on the scout picks 🙂

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  23. jamsiep
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Sinclair. 8)

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  24. Spencer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Vorm
    Simpson - Jones - O'Shea - Enrique
    Thomas - Mata (vc) - Silva
    Sturridge - Adebayor - Van Persie (c)
    Subs: Given - Johnson (Norwich) - Shawcross - Walters

    RMT please!

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    1. The Yak
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Thomas brings a shock to the system

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  25. JoeySamSam
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Who are the best two midfielders to get with £12.7m?

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    1. The Yak
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Dyer + Walters

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  26. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Quick poll - captain RVP, Roonmonster or Adebayor

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    1. JoeySamSam
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      RVP

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    2. CarelessGenius©
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      RvP.

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    3. The Yak
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      The Yak

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    4. Oldman Unathletic
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      rvp if you're comfortably ahead in your mini-league(s) - rooney if you're way behind and have nothing to lose - i understand the rhetoric that you could fall further behind if it goes wrong but if you're playing catch-up you need to take chances and rooney against wolves presents one

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      1. brianutd-why always we? 20
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        cheers do I have the bottle to gamble? Leading mini leagues

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        1. Oldman Unathletic
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          don't need to if you're leading, let the people behind you take the risks

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          1. brianutd-why always we? 20
            • 14 Years
            14 years, 1 month ago

            Thanks everyone RVP it is then

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    5. Carlos Danger
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      staple the captain band to RvP and watch the 30s roll in

      Not ade, away to stoke does not bode particularly well for his goal threat

      I would say gamble on rooney captain, but I would be saying that because he has been so terrible and I enjoy seeing people take 12 million dollar punts on him :p

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    6. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers its hard to be different and take that chance on Rooney comin good again

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      1. Carlos Danger
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 1 month ago

        Not that this is the best advice you'll ever read, but I find its usually safer to gamble on players after they've had a good game... it can be too difficult to predict the first game they come back into form

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        1. Carlos Danger
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          it worked with rvp anyway... lol

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        2. brianutd-why always we? 20
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 1 month ago

          Agree, play safe I think as RVP been rested all week too

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  27. Scratch
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Question

    Swap Suarez --> Ba now or wait until next week?

    Suarez 4/6 to score against QPR
    Ba 7/4 to score against norwich
    Ba has form and Suarez has been an eyesore to my lineup.

    Thoughts?

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    1. the axolotl
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 1 month ago

      leave it a week, pool will surely score a couple against qpr. i'm a bit worried newcastle will suffer with all their injuries

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  28. Incorrigible Brat
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    any news on bale??

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  29. ejpt123
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Vorm (Ruddy)
    Enrique, Jones, Kompany, Simpson (N Taylor)
    Bale, Pilks, Silva (Tiote, Ferguson)
    Rooney, RVP, Sturridge.

    Who to captain?
    Any Changes?

    Thanks

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  30. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 1 month ago

    Defoe is a striker
    Bale is a winger
    VDV is a central midfielder / supporting striker

    I can see how doubts over Defoe improve the chances of VDV starting. Surely doubts over Bale are unconnected to VDV’s starting chances –they don’t play anything like the same position. Or is that not true because the formation will change

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