Scout Reports
20 November 2010 2258 comments
Mark Mark
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Bolton’s rise to the Champions League places was once again orchestrated by the performance of a strike pairing who are becoming the most feared double act in the Premier League. I can barely believe those words as they are typed.

Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies justified the oxygen we’ve been feeding them on these pages but sharing four goals in the 5-1 dismantling of Newcastle at the Reebok today. Throw in one assist each for the pair and you’re left with points totals that see them both take up places amongst the top four Forwards in the Fantasy Premier League game. Elmander, incredibly, is now at the top of those rankings and if Bonus Points fall kindly, he could rank as the top scoring player in the entire game. Astonishing.

Currently owned by just under 14% of FPL Managers, the Swede enjoyed a price rise this week. Get used to it – Elmander’s value will surely soar with Bolton facing the porous Blackpool defence in a week’s time. At just 6.1 in the FPL, the lure will surely prove too much and already there’s talk of the armband for Gameweek 15. Rewind 12 months and such an accolade for Elmander was simply unthinkable – he was lucky to experience the warmth of a crowded bench, let alone that of the Reebok faithful.

Poor Kevin Davies is having the season of his life but even his substantial contribution looks likely to be overshadowed; Elmander’s seemingly relentless rise to prominence is looking just too irresistible. Owen Coyle’s prize asset will be a hot property in January – even hotter in the Summer. Right now it’s Fantasy Managers who will be shopping at the Reebok and they’re likely to come in droves.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. Somalion
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Haha so I send the fantasy towers a little e-mail last week just asking them to keep an eye on the bps because lots of people dont think they're being judged fairly. This week 6 of my players get Bps, I think they're trying bribe me 😛 Really chuffed with the week so far!

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  2. RottenTroll
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Potential trsf Out Adam In Etherington or Henderson?

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    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Not Henderson - good fixtures, but he's played every game this season and done f*ck all.

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  3. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Nice reoly Andy

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  4. Nibbsy
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Sorry for the repost, asked this on the previous page but didn't get a reply.

    Can anyone tell me what's going on with Salcido? Is he dropped or injured or what?

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    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Injured.

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    2. Goodfish
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      He's in jail, mate. He was on international duty last week in Mexico, and he was arrested for having sex with a minor. Google it - 'Mexico sex with a minor'...

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      1. Nibbsy
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers mate. I did google it and I've now discovered that sex with a minor is actually legal in Mexico! So he's been released.

        Ironically, sex with miners is illegal in Mexico.

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      2. soccercards.com
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        You must mean Mex with a signer.

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  5. Goodfish
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Hello, yes.

    Anyone know what the krunk happened to Berbatov? Has he been vaporised?

    My front 3 are Tevez, Elmander and Berbalatov...Who should I swap the Berb for?

    Thanks, no.

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Berbatov is the clearest example of people jumping on a bandwagon if I ever saw one.

      Ship him out for any in form striker, there are so many cheaper and better fantasy football alternatives

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    2. Katie
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      He was 'tactically' vaporised, according to reports.

      Changing tack.
      This Chelsea/Wilkins thing - there's more to this than meets the eye. Abramovich can be a real c*ck on times. He seems to enjoy pushing it to the limit every now and then, even when things are going good.
      Wouldn't be surprised if Ancelotti walked.

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  6. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    What's better:

    a) Bale & RVP
    b) Arteta & Bent

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    1. jpoler1
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Bale and RVP....but I would be worried about RVP. I know he is back healthy again, but would wait a couple weeks until he gets into form before bringing him in.

      Also, do you really want both Bale and VdV in the same team?

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

        yeah, i think my current plan is Malouda -> Bale this week and then Hernandez -> RVP next week (assuming he plays > 60mins against villa and looks sharp

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  7. jpoler1
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    What do you think I need to do with my team?

    My team is linked.

    I was thinking Mignolet>Jaask

    But wanted to do more, like Torres>Elmander and upgrade somewhere else.

    Thanks in advance!

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  8. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Just did the math.

    If Messi was in FPL this week, he would have scored 23 points!

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    1. Captain Remorse
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      But he would be playing for Man City, so he would score the same 2 points that Tevez does tomorrow!!

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

        Tevez is going to score a brace tomorrow and lift me over 70 points. Just you wait!

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  9. Churchill
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal got what they deserved today. Two - nil up & let it go to pot.

    Hoping Tevez has a cracker of a game. As he's something of a differential in my mini-leagues.

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    1. DeathAngel
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      And yet despite losing three home games, against two promoted sides and 2-0 up in the other, they are STILL well in the title hunt.

      They have been good on the road this season, and that is compensating for their terrible home form. It must be annoying for Arsenal fans as if they'd picked up those three wins, they'd be 7 points clear, have better team morale, and they'd be looking good.

      Did you notice how dismayed and dejected Fabregas looked after the third Spurs goal went in. I felt sorry for him, having to play with a team of numptys like he does.

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      1. DeathAngel
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        Also, I've noticed that when Arsenal NEED a goal in the last half hour or so, and they're chasing games, like versus Newcastle and Spurs, they almost seem to try to hard, and you don't really feel when watching them, that they can get back in it.

        When they are playing during the first half of matches, they play much more relaxed, and the opposition isn't playing 10 men behind the ball, and they seem to be able to create decent chances a lot easier. Against Newcastle, and the second half against Spurs, they never really created any chance that you could call decent, where you would favour them to score.

        When Man U need a late goal or two, you feel they can get it. I don't feel that with Arsenal.

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  10. Cormac_LFC
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    What is the code to join this League ?

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    1. Somalion
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Check the FAQ mate I think its about half way down.

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  11. DeathAngel
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone think that they may swap Nani to Valencia in February in order to free up cash?

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    1. Churchill
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Nani may well have worn himself out by then. Not a bad idea to stow away for then.

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    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Now that's long term thinking.

      I wouldn't waste my time with that. Thinking week to week is already tough, so why think months in advance? We have no idea what could happen before then.

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      1. Random_Guy
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        I never plan 2 weeks ahead, because I don't know what's going to happen this week yet.

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      2. DeathAngel
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        I was just throwing it out there to liven up discussion a bit. I haven't thought that far ahead as I leave my thinking strictly for the next 3 or 4 gameweeks.

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

          Re: your post on the last page.

          Confident of turning around 82 points? I like your optimism.

          Ultimately though, this game is still largely luck based, and I don't pretend otherwise despite my high ranking. We're all taking guesses really.

          Can I have your id to track your progress?

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          1. DeathAngel
            • 16 Years
            15 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah, no worries, my id is 909. (A low id number as I was desperate to set my team up early!)

            It is largely based on luck, hence why I use the fixtures mainly to base my decisions on. Not all the time though, hence why I am hanging onto Malouda despite his dire run of fixtures and terrible form. The problem is, that I have committed to keeping him now, and I can't just drop him else I would have taken all his bad scores for no reason, and I then wouldn't have him for when Chelsea start scoring goals again, so I am stuck with him! 😀

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            1. DeathAngel
              • 16 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              *Hence why I use the fixtures mainly to base my decisions on... so that it doesn't feel like blind guessing and that there is actually method to my madness!

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            2. Camzy
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              Ooh emotional attachment!

              That's tricky. I'm very wary of it. I love my front 3 of Drogba, Tevez, Carroll who I've had since the start, but I'm worried that I'll have difficulty dropping them from my team. In fact, those 3 and Foster are the only 3 I've had since GW 1.

              Don't feel obliged to keep Malouda. If it isn't the logical choice, bin him. I binned him GW 10 and it was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. Emotional attachment is really challenging, and for that reason, I'm glad I support Rovers. Our players are fairly poor FPL prospects, so I don't feel inclined to pick them. Although it did stop me from (c) Van Der Vaart last week...

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              1. DeathAngel
                • 16 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah, hanging onto Malouda was a poor decision, but now that I have held onto him, I feel I need to keep him and go the whole hog, as I will be more annoyed if I drop him and he gets 12 points and then 15 points in the next two games.

                Similarly with Bale, I dropped him and he scores 2, 2, 18, 7. That is not something that I want to happen with Malouda too. 😀

                You mention about 82 points being a big gap, but then you have pulled that out in 14 weeks, whereas I still have 24 weeks left to haul you in.

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

                  Or 24 weeks to increase my lead 😛

                  Playing FPL is a lot like playing Poker to me. You've got to play the statistics, and if they don't come through for you, don't mope, know that you made the logical choice and that you didn't get lucky. Can you honestly say that holding onto Malouda at this point is logical fixture wise, player wise, value wise?

                  On yet another separate note, I've been critiquing lots and lots of teams since the season has started and taken aboard what I like from other people's squads, and noticed what I think is a weak squad or area.

                  Watch this guy (greghammer95) ID: 10093.

                  Looking at his squad, I legitimately feel he can beat me on a weekly basis (and he has been), and I can't say that for many other teams I've run into.

                  Maybe Granville's team as well. I really like the balance of it.

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                  1. DeathAngel
                    • 16 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    I take it my squad is not that great then?

                    I have looked at my scores each week, and other than GW1 where I kicked ass, I haven't really had a good week, and yet I am up there in the top 20k, as my weeks have been fairly consistent in the high 40's and 50's mostly, despite having awful captains and rubbish goalies constantly.

                    How do you mean about liking the balance of these teams? Like do you mean the correct amount of money split between defence and attack?

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                  2. Camzy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 15 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    There are loads of little things that I think add up to what I think is a balanced team.

                    Here are a few that are often overlooked:

                    Defense - 3 Homes 2 Aways. One 3.9m defender.

                    Midfield - Setpiece takers? (mostly just Van Der Vaart, Nani, Fabregas)

                    Attack - 3 proven, reliable strikers

                    Differentials (3 def slots usually, 2 mid slots, 1 striker slot) - These count a lot. Do your differentials make up for weaknesses/over-reliance on a few teams? Do they have potential to take advantage of the coming fixtures?

                    Then there's an overall balance question.

                    Which players have you chosen as the backbone of the team? Will the hold up? You've got to have a backbone or a set targeted structure for your team. I could explain them all, but it could take me ages and I'm about to go to sleep.

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  12. Random_Guy
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    I don't think Drogba will do anything until Lampard comes back.

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    1. DeathAngel
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, he missed that header against Birmingham as Lampard wasn't playing. 😉

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    2. rabm122
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Did you see the game today? He played much better... more active and some narrow misses.

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  13. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone see how Malouda played yesterday? Still worth getting rid?

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    1. rabm122
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      He played further back... Kalou played up front. He had a few good passes, through balls, etc. Not bad really. He was also on corners.

      I got rid today. Keeping Drogba.

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

        Toying with the idea of Malouda/Hernandez -> RVP/Bale over next 2 weeks. I guess once Lamps and essien are back Malouda will be up top with Anelka & Drogs though, so not convinced to get rid. On the other hand tough fixtures may swing it. In summary, I don't have a clue what to do.

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        1. rabm122
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 1 month ago

          Join the club. You did well today though. We both missed the Foster boat however. I'm still amazed that anyone without a crystal ball started him today.

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

            I could understand if you had Hart, Carson, Jaaskelainen or Robinson as your keepers, I would have played them over Foster. But if you had Krul or Hahnemann, there are no excuses for playing the wrong keeper.

            Foster was at home against an out-of-form Chelsea team.

            Krul was away at Bolton without Tiote and Barton, key holding mids.

            Hahnemann was away at Blackpool who have scored in every home game they've played this season, and Wolves haven't kept a clean sheet all season.

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            1. rabm122
              • 15 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              Wasn't aware of Barton Tiote situation and would have never guessed Foster would even get a clean sheet much less the saves and BPs.

              Guess that's why your 100 points ahead of me. 🙂

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            2. DeathAngel
              • 16 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              Haha, I played Hahnemann like an idiot!

              If I just played Foster every week, instead of rotating them, then I would have at least another 20 points, it's getting really annoying as my keeper position has been low-scoring for me all season. I think I have only had 2 cleansheets from my goalies in 14 weeks, despite Foster getting 4 cleansheets, as I missed the ones he picked up against Liverpool, Aston Villa, Man City and now Chelsea.

              Fuk!

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              1. DeathAngel
                • 16 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                *despite Foster getting 6 clean sheets, I have only got the Blackpool and Wigan cleanies, plus his penalty save against Blackburn. What a joke!

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              2. rabm122
                • 15 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                Foster has outscored Krul 47 - 24 over since Krul started GW 6.

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              3. Camzy
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                Doesn't this give weight to my method of choosing players?

                I think that rotation will cost you loads of points and money sitting on the bench in the long run.

                It's kind of hypocritical from me though, because I still rotate my keepers and occasionally my defenders.

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                1. rabm122
                  • 15 Years
                  15 years, 1 month ago

                  What do you mean... about your method? I'm not sure i follow.

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

                    Sorry rabm, it's a long discussion that starts on the last page between DeathAngel and I discussing team selection methods.

                    Basically, I like having the best XI that money can buy and a dead bench whereas DeathAngel believes in a rotatable team where you can play the fixtures every week.

                    Mind you, I play the fixtures with goalies and defenders most weeks too though.

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                  2. rabm122
                    • 15 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    Right... seems like it's somewhere in the middle. I know what you mean about a dead bench. I just made my life harder earlier today by bringing in a Elmander for Campbell as a third striker. Now I'll have to rotate rather than always have a set bench player.

                    Just couldn't resist the points potential at that price.

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                  3. rabm122
                    • 15 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    Or should I say "couldn't resist the bandwagon" .

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                  4. Camzy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 15 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    It's probably somewhere in the middle, but I don't literally have "dead" players on my bench. Just the cheapest starters available.

                    So the likes of Simpson, Foley, De Jong, Emerton, Ferguson, players you wouldn't have in your first team, but who could come in and do a job in case of emergency.

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                  5. DeathAngel
                    • 16 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    Yeah, well summed about our discussion Camzy. It will be interesting to see which method wins out, and to be consistent, we both have to stick to our guns in the way that we play the game, there can be no switching tactics as we won't know which is the best way then! 🙂

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                2. DeathAngel
                  • 16 Years
                  15 years, 1 month ago

                  The method of rotation hasn't worked out too well so far, as Wolves have been shite at keeping clean sheets, (unlike last season where they kept a decent amount), and Foster has been getting a lot of unlikely clean sheets.

                  The rotation method could easily work in the second half of the season where I take all of my keepers' good scores and none of the bad, as opposed to the first half of the season where I've taken most of the bad.

                  Basically, I keep playing the keeper that has the best chance of a cleanie, and I keep getting screwed over, against the odds! Surely this can't carry on long-term.

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    2. DeathAngel
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Keep him, I want him to stop going down in price!

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  14. Anti-Ipswich
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Weren't we making fun of Prince William having a stag party at Blackpool aand made up stories of what would happen on the dugout discussion? Turns out it was actually true

    http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/163901/PRINCE-S-BLACKPOOL-STAG-DO-EXPOSED/

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

    Do people think I can get away with saving the transfer this week?

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

      either gonna do that or Malouda/Hernandez -> x & y

      Any ideas for a midfielder/striker combo for 16.8m?

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  16. IanC
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Need to drop Elmo, who'd be a good replacement under 6m?

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    1. rabm122
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Hangeland... see scout article.

      Konchesky after the next couple weeks if you can wait. If you can wait to see if Elmo starts this week.

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      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        psst.. Samba after this week.. trust me.. konchesky in 3 weeks.. but boy oh boy samba's fixtures are pretty impressive

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  17. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    a) RVP & Bale

    or

    b) Tevez & N'Zogbia

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    1. rabm122
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      b - MC has a good run. Would wait on RVP to prove form.

      I just brought in N'Zog for Malouda and Elman for Campbell (since I already had Tevez)

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  18. Eedee
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Berbatov>Gyan
    Jarvis>VdV
    worth for 4 point hit?

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  19. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Best midfielder for 5.8m or less?

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

      These sorts of posts are pretty useless.

      It depends on your team.

      I could list a few, but that's not really that useful becaue presumably, you want to have a one player answer.

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

        Team is linked - looking at doing Malouda & Hernandez out for mid/fwd combo.

        Tevez and N'Zogbia likely candidates at the moment. Any better suggestions?

        Thanks

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

          also considering Song given his attacking play this year...

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        2. Perthite
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 1 month ago

          I think the most common picks for that price or less would be Adam (who I have), N'Zogbia (who has done equally well) or Jarvis (that people on here have mentioned occasionally)

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      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        +1, Watchlist on home page is the best answer. There are plenty of useless posts.

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      3. Murmuring
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        Top-100 Camzy? My aim for this season was the top 100,000. Cheers for your help again. I'm well happy with my team despite being told yesterday on here what an idiot I am for not having Elmander.

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  20. Perthite
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    My trade for the upcoming GW will be to get rid of Elmohamady and start beefing up my puny defence. (Elmo, Jara, Coleman, Simpson, Dann). 6.9m in bank (from trading Drogba->Elmander last week)

    Am thinking possibly Vidic or Kolarov, but there could be other options that people might like to suggest. It looks like Man City and Liverpool have a fairly nice run in the next 6 games. To put it in perspective here is my team:

    Foster, Krul
    Elmohamady, Jara, Coleman, Simpson, Dann
    VdV, Bale, Nani, Fabregas, Adam
    Carroll, Elmander, Tevez

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    1. Perthite
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      I guess Toure, Konchesky and Samba (after the upcoming week) would be options too.

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  21. I Hart Van Der Vaart
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    every1 look at me I scored 100 points this week but if I hadnt benched Davies I would have scored 140 points and OMG I'm 400,00rd in da world!

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      I'd like a rank of 400,00rd in da world!

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  22. Khazana
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Everybody in my league has a drogba or/and tevez.
    So I've decided to take a punt on Rooney, and elmander

    My attack team:

    Dempsey/Nani/Fabrgas/VdV/N'Zog
    Drogs/Carrol/Tevez

    Thinking of removing Drog and/or Tev, then accommodate either/both of rooney & Elmander. Got 2 freebies this week.

    Anybody here to convince me not to?

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    1. rabm122
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      1) Tevez has a good run coming up.

      2) Drogba has been playing with Malaria and looked much better today. Could have been a much different result had Foster not been so outstanding.

      3) Rooney has not proven form yet.

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      1. Khazana
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        I cant argue with that!
        Mission aborted.

        Ok. I'll do Carrol-->Elmander for now. Better fixtures

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      2. ChuckN
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        bah sick of Drogba, had him since day 1 but this run of form is not doing 12.8m of my money any favours. Enough's enough.

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        1. Murmuring
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 1 month ago

          Did you see his performance yesterday? He hit the bar and would have scored if Foster hadn't made a breathtaking save. Chelsea would have won comfortably yesterday had it not been for Foster and bad luck.

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  23. jpoler1
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    My team is linked.

    I was thinking Mignolet>Jaask

    But wanted to do more, like Torres>Elmander and upgrade somewhere else.

    Thanks in advance!

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  24. DementedFlamingo
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Well Chelsea's form got me into the top 100k and it's getting me out of there a lot quicker!!!! Gee I wish I had been brave enough to Capt VDV against Ars!!!

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      Carroll on bench sucks. 3 Chelsea players seems too many with all the trouble going on.

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      1. DementedFlamingo
        • 16 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        Agreed. and I spat the dummy after last week and didn't look at my team this GW lol... So leaving Simpson in my team was not the best to do 🙂

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  25. Murmuring
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    I see there's some intelligent conversation on here first thing as usual. Good to know that the answer to yesterday's question of 'who should you csptain: Fabs or Nani?' was Van der Vaart. Naturally the steamer in my mini league did just that.

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

      At least neither Nani or Cesc were disasterous picks this week. I'm kicking myself for not having the balls to captain Elmander though...

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  26. Paul
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    2nd week in a row i miss foster's cleansheet.....damn u jaask!!!!!!

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    1. Paul
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      hey camzy u around???...can u suggest some changes in team???

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

        Your team is actually very good.

        Parker is your weak link. He's a good player, but West Ham are rubbish. I'd look at getting VdV in ASAP.

        This week just do Parker > VdV, but since you missed the rise already, wait until after the CL matches to see if he gets an injury.

        After sorting that out, you need to get Elmo out asap as well. He's not playing enough games, and I highly doubt he'll get back in the team. His bandwagon is over imo.

        You don't need to take a hit for Elmo though. Slowly, slowly.

        You'll do great with just those changes. Doubling on Bale + VdV could be amazing.

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    2. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      I stupidly looked at Foster's run of games over the next few weeks and transferred him out two weeks ago. Not my best move 🙂

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      1. Paul
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        feel for you man....

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        1. Murmuring
          • 15 Years
          15 years, 1 month ago

          I've just shipped him out in my wild card because Birmingham give up so many chances, I felt that it was going to get more difficult for him to keep clean sheets. However, this is a team which conceded five against West Ham (H) and Stoke (A) and kept two clean sheets against Man City (A) and Chelsea (H) so who can judge when to rotate him?

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  27. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    Fabregas or Nani captain?

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    1. Paul
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      how about rafael or song???

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  28. Murmuring
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    What do you guys reckon the ratio is in terms of luck and skill in this game?

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

      What do you think the ratio for poker is?

      That's what I think the odds for this game are.

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      1. Murmuring
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        50-50? I don't play poker much.

        The selection of Tevez and Drogba as two of your strikers were statistically a good selection at the beginning of the season whereas Carroll was more of a punt which has come off.

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

          There's a skill element for sure, the economic side as well with price rises and drops and commission, but ultimately we're essentially betting on who is going to score or assist or keep a clean sheet in any given match.

          60:40 luck based.

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          1. Murmuring
            • 15 Years
            15 years, 1 month ago

            Interesting. Í'm very interested to see now what happens with Johan Elmander. His home matches are nice in the next few weeks but Bolton have four straight tough away games (I count Sunderland in that because they have been solid at home and Liverpool because I feel they turned a corner a few weeks ago). Elmander's best ever goalscoring season was five years ago with Brondby when he scored 13 times. He's obviously in the form of his career but I wonder if his buyers from now will be disappointed.

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          2. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            15 years, 1 month ago

            Don't agree with your 60:40 luck based ratio. Over 38 weeks skill makes up for a lack of luck. Plenty of good players get high ranks every year & you can't say luck is the major factor.

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            1. Murmuring
              • 15 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              What would you make the ratio?

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              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                Skill overweighs luck in FPL & Poker. In Poker, you only need to bet to win & can win by betting & not showing your cards. Skill is involved especially when it's head to head. FPL is a game where you can make sure you go bad by benching your best players therefore luck is less than skill as the skill is limiting the bench points & getting your best 11 on the park. Some players use betting odds like paddypower etc for their decisions. This is a debate that can go for days but I'd go 70:30 skill based. Timing in getting players in is also a skill rather than luck, fixtures & form dictate good managers bringing players in.

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          3. RogerC
            • 16 Years
            15 years, 1 month ago

            80% skill, 20% luck

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            1. Murmuring
              • 15 Years
              15 years, 1 month ago

              Phew. Don't think so. Anything from 60:40 to 40:60 I could accept but that is giving ourselves far too much credit.

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              1. TorresMagic™
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                15 years, 1 month ago

                This is the history of the guy leading FFS.

                http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/entryhist.mc?id=22405

                Pretty sure luck over skill wouldn't get him a history like that.

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                1. RogerC
                  • 16 Years
                  15 years, 1 month ago

                  +1

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                  1. Murmuring
                    • 15 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    As I say 60:40 is skill over luck. Some people have to do well in this game and while this is impressive, I'm not convinced that it is more than 60:40.

                    You can do sensible things in this game - ie pick proven performers (Tevez, Drogba, Fabregas), select the key new players who will do it all season long (this season Nani, Van der Vaart) and get in and out of players at the right time.

                    This is the first season I've really taken it seriously and I've learned a lot. I started with a cheap defence but I have since been convinced that you need one top defender.

                    There are too many luck factors involved. For example, a few weeks ago I played Simpson against Sunderland. In the last few minutes, he crossed for Carroll who hit the bar and then Sunderland scored a late goal. So I went from 9 points to 2. Luck can also work the other way too - Mummy being substituted at West Brom before Sunderland conceded.

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                  2. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 16 Years
                    15 years, 1 month ago

                    You can't control a player getting injured/subbed off before 60 mins so that part is 100% luck. Bonus point are luck also. Things that happen in a game like misses are fate/destiny. Picking a safe team & making safe trades/captain picks every week would get you an overall rank of less than 50K. Plenty here won't achieve that due to taking hits & making bad decisions.

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    2. Monklane
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      50/50

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  29. Murmuring
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    I'd also say that the luck factor is greater in the initial selection of players and can be reduced as the season goes on. Having seen Drogba's performance yesterday, it seems insane to transfer him out but that is exactly what some people are doing. The sensible thing, having kept him for so long during a barren spell, is to keep him.

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

      That's one of the things I've learned from Poker.

      "The sensible thing, having kept him for so long during a barren spell, is to keep him."

      The past results don't matter. How much you bet in the earlier rounds/in the pot doesn't matter. You've got to look only at what's in front of you.

      So for Drogba. Consider:

      - His form
      - His fixtures
      - His value (price versus potential points)
      - What you might gain with the money saved

      It doesn't matter that you had him for 6 weeks where he did nothing. That's not going to affect how he's going to score in the next few weeks.

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      1. Murmuring
        • 15 Years
        15 years, 1 month ago

        Well, I am a statistician by trade so I'd agree with all of that. Point 4 is my biggest questionmark with Drogba. I'm not interested in having a strikeforce of Gyan, Carroll and Elmander because I think it will come back and bite me. My plan has always been to have Van Persie in the Gyan slot once he is back fit and playing. The Drogba slot can always be opened up to a Tevez, Rooney, Torres or whatever once I am happy that one of them will score enough points.

        In the end, this may prove to be the wrong strategy but it's one I'm happy with.

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    2. MUfan
      • 16 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      and to be more logical. Having subs that are worth having.

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  30. yarkiebrown
    • 15 Years
    15 years, 1 month ago

    so does it look like joe hart is going to play today! Could really do with him not!

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    1. Boom!!!
      • 15 Years
      15 years, 1 month ago

      same with mark schwarzer mate!!!

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