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Podcast February 7

Meet the Manager #14 – Simon March

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For the first time in our Meet the Manager series we chat to a prolific manager who has snatched the ultimate prize – winning the Fantasy Premier League game.

Simon March joins me to discuss the impact of his 2014/15 winning season, what it takes to conquer the game and how he dealt with pressure at the top. 

He also reveals how his victory has unlocked work opportunities and why avoiding watching matches proved a blessing in disguise in his title winning campaign.

With two top 10,000 finishes prior to his momentous victory and top 50,000 overall ranks in his subsequent three seasons he remains as committed to FPL as ever, with his masters degree in behavioural science at the London School of Economics now giving him extra motivation. 

His chat about how his academic work links up with Fantasy management proves revelatory, in particular how Swansea’s former striker Michu is still impacting on many managers transfer plans despite last kicking a ball in the English top flight five years ago. 

He also reveals his plans for the remaining Gameweeks of 2018/19, including the players he is looking to ditch and those he wants to bring in.

The chat with Simon is available to view on Youtube here and in the embedded video below.

Previous Meet the Manager interviews:

Sean Tobin

Aleksander Våge Nilsen

Mark Sutherns

Mark McGettigan

Marc Rubinstein

Kenneth Tang

Jay Egersdorff

Adam Hopcroft

Matthew Jones

Richard Clarke

Will Thomas

Philman

Triggerlips

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

682 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    FPL Winner. Nice. Cashing in on it too, which is also sweet.

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    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      the one person between me and OR 1 after GW31 in 2015. Not sure why I still bother as I will never be there again

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  2. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Does this aub illness put people off bringing him in this week??

    Emery suggests he should be ok?

    Will there be training pics or info tomoz?

    Thanks

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    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah, just wait to see if he trains tomorrow. Don't listen to those who have already bought him and are in denial he is even a 1% doubt.

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    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Went for Laca but not due to the illness. Reckon Auba will play tho

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    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe yes

      Interesting the scout tweets did not cover this at all

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      1. I Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Found this strange.

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      2. Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Very selective with the narrative they want to give.

        Funnily enough Sane is very popular on FFS, but not on Reddit.. sterling is the darling there.

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        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          FML FPL too

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    4. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      No chance I’m getting him now even if he trains.

      Kun much safer.

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      1. Whazza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, that transfer can wait another week.

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        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah I’ll prob do it next week too. Purely to have a captain !

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          1. ZimZalabim
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            hey flapjack

            cheers for convincing me to TC aguero last week

            tried to thank you the other day dunno if you saw the post

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            1. Richd
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Hey!

              I didn’t see the post but I remember our chat about the TC! Glad it worked out for us both 🙂

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              1. ZimZalabim
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                very glad
                ur reasoning was sound - now or single gw and both teams had weak defences.

                Any knowledge u want to drop this week ? 🙂

                Im planning on holding aguero and selling Sane for Pogba or rolling the FT

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                1. Richd
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 2 months ago

                  Sometimes the reasoning is there and it goes wrong! But it was a great opportunity and made for a great week.

                  I like Sane to Pogba and will also be holding Aguero myself. Pogbas on fire

                  I think captain I’ll be boring and go Salah although the Man Utd players are very tempting

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                  1. ZimZalabim
                    • 7 Years
                    5 years, 2 months ago

                    I mean the risk is always there that it doesn't pay off but it seemed worth the gamble.

                    Pogba has been hurting my rank (not that its great) but need to get him in, just worried about the blanks later on but there is still time for that.

                    Captain Salah for me too his EO will be so high its not worth not captaining

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  3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Play one:
    A)Richarlison(wat(a))
    B)Bednarek(car(h))

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    1. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Richarlison

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    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      rich

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  4. Bend It like Trippier
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Rashford,Rondon?Any other suggestions to replace Ings?

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    1. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Barnes

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    2. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I assume you have Jiménez.

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      1. Bend It like Trippier
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        From GW8.
        My Golden Boy!

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  5. tafrère
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is replacing Sané and Aguero by Son and Aubameyang (for free) too much and too sideways ?

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    1. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba is ill, would wait...

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      1. tafrère
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        If he plays ?

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    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      i would on auba till more news comes out

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      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        wait*

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  6. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    For the first time this season I have a real benching headache in defense. At the moment thinking about lining up like this:

    Robertson Doherty Kolasinac

    Bench Bednarek AWB Camarasa

    My thinking is that Kola trumps other two on bench with his attacking potential. Sounds right ?

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    1. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

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    2. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      yup gtg

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    3. Whazza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      you got it right

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    4. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks All !

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  7. cuppatea78
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking of selling Aguero for PEA.

    Madness or go for it?

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    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      wait for news

      auba flagged

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    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Srsly

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      1. cuppatea78
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        What?

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    3. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I thought you meant Chicarito at first!

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  8. Lucackadoodledoo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Who out there is doing a maverick captain choice this week?

    I'm considering Son instead of Salah.

    Reason being can lightning strike twice with another Salah haul against Bournemouth?

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    1. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      The risk far outweighs the reward

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    2. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'd be tempted by Son but if there wasn't Champions League midweek.

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      1. Lucackadoodledoo
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        That puts a bit of a downer on it I suppose.

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    3. cuppatea78
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      To risky I think.

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    4. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Leicester will frustrate Spurs

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  9. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone else think Kola is gonna smash it this weekend?

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    1. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It's Huddersfield, he has every chance of doing so but arsenal are also capable of conceding v anyone, even in the reverse fixture v hudds, they gave up a few good chances that a better team would've taken.

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    2. Lucackadoodledoo
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hope so mate. Just brought him in last week for Arsenals nice wee run of fixtures. He loves bombin forward so could be a good move

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    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hope so. That's why I got him.

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  10. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Any news on Ings?

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    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Broken again

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      1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Is he out this weekend?

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        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          2-3 weeks. See scout tweets.

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        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Yes for a few weeks

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        3. ZimZalabim
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          see scout tweets
          out for 2-3 weeks

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          1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Thanks all, damn

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  11. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Henderson, Wijnaldum and Alexander-Arnold are all back in full training.

    https://twitter.com/JackSear/status/1093573138355572736?s=19

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    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Trent!

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    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Bye bye, Digne

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    3. ZimZalabim
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      its good news but hendo trained till the last session before west ham also and ended up aggravating something which caused klopp to rest him.

      post match he said that the reason they were so poor at set pieces was because they had trained defending them with different players and had to change three of them(gini,hendo, lovren. i guess) for the line up and thats why the weren't able to hold the line or watch the runners

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  12. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Good to go?

    GK: Foster

    DEF: Wan Bissaka / TAA / Bennett

    MID: Salah (c) / Mane / Hazard / Pogba / Son

    FWD: Auba / Rashford

    SUBS: Button / Bednarek / Peltier / Kamara

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  13. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Worth bench boosting this week? Should i change who im benching?
    Cheers

    Patricio
    Robbo Doherty Digne
    Salah Sterling Son Pogba
    Rashford Jiminez Deeney

    Fabianski Holebas Rich AWB

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    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Everton will probably concede.
      Watford may not.

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      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

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  14. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What's the general consensus on this team.
    Ederson
    Robertson Doherty Wan B Benderak Kola
    Son Salah Pogba
    Rashford Jimenez

    Sane Ricky Ings Speroni
    Should I start Sane or Ricky ?

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    1. Lucackadoodledoo
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I've got Richa and startin him. Rested midweek and should start. Decent fixture for a comeback

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    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'd go Richarlison because I don't think Sane is going to start.

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      1. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Instead of which defender?

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        1. I Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Bednarek

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          1. THFC4LIFE
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            This

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  15. Pishpott
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    A Haz and Kun to Auba and Son
    B Kun and Rich to Laca and Son

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

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  16. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Which combo, need to lose a City mid and gain an Arsenal fwd:

    A) Sterling + Lacazette
    B) Sane + Aubameyang

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    1. Pishpott
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      A

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  17. fc_skrald
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What should I do with two free transfers:

    a. Sane -> Son
    b. Sane and Richarlison -> Son and Mane
    c. something else

    Foster
    Robertson, Pereira, Doherty
    Pogba, Salah, Hazard, Richarlison, Sane
    Rashford, Jimenez

    Speroni, Bednarek, Kamara, Peltier
    2.7 million in the bank

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    1. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

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    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Get shot of Sane and Kamara.

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      1. fc_skrald
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I have been thinking about selling Kamara but his price is nice and I will not leave points on the bench as long he is in the team (however I had Bednarek and Peltier 7 and 6 points on the bench this gw)

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    3. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B looks good

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    4. FFSbet.com
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

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  18. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Son, Sane, Salah, Mane, Pogba

    Nice midfield for the next few weeks!

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Aye

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    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Very nice, Rashford Jimenez up front?

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      1. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yup

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    3. EL_FENOMENO
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Until Salah hauls and Sane sits out another game

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      1. Burger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        And Aguero as cores a hattie against Chelsea

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  19. ZimZalabim
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can the scouts put the auba news in a hot topic or in the tweets

    literally every question is asking about AUBA

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    1. Mike82
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I want to know the truth!!!!

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      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        You can't handle the truth!

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    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      People post, they don’t read

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      1. ZimZalabim
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        seems like that
        I don't tend to read too many articles but always check the tweets and hot topics before i check out the chat

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  20. jam sandwich
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Snodgrass & Laporte -> Son & Bednarek -4?

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    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I would

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  21. JoeSoap
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    1. Sane>Son (save other ft)
    2. Richarlison/Sane>Anderson/Son
    3. Alonso/Richarlison or Sane>Pereira/Son

    Guaita
    Robertson, Doherty, AWB
    Salah (c), Sane, Pogba, Richarlison
    Rashford, Jiminez, Firmino
    FAB, Digne, Hojb, Alonso

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  22. Winter_is_coming
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Would you definitely prefer Son over Mane for game weeks up to 31? For me it's very close call and Mane have 3 next game games - Bou, Watford and Burnley. Your thoughts?

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    1. Fantasy Premington
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I'm rare but really not feeling the Son bandwagon. I don't think Spurs have played well recently, his fixtures are only good for 2 more, and his goal against Newcastle was ridiculously fortunate

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      1. Winter_is_coming
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Son was really dangerous and looks like main focus of all Spurs attack right now, but Mane fixtures clearly better and team tend to score more goals. So, don't understand why this choice looks so obvious for almost everyone.

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    2. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Son. Better finisher and nearly everything is going through him at the moment. You may also have Liverpool cover with Salah.

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  23. Winter_is_coming
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    3 next home games*

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  24. Burger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Am I reading this right, Pogba dropped in price this week and he is now about to rise in price. Has that ever happened before?

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    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It’s not that uncommon. Flags or fixture swings sometimes makes a player drop on deadline and then rise during the week

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  25. John3.16
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Best Wolves mid??

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    1. Mike82
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jota

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  26. chiragvirwani7
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Etheridge Mccarthy
    Robbo Digne Doh AWB Bednarek
    Hazzy Salah Sane Son Richar
    Jimi Rashy Ings

    1 FT 0.1 itb

    A) Hazzy --> Mane
    B) Hazzy, Ings --> Puncheon, Auba

    If i decide to do A, would do Sane and Ings to Puncheon and Auba on GW 27 given that there are no injuries or any other problems.

    Please kindly advice. Thanks.

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  27. Ciarant20
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Has anyone started prepping for GW31/32? If so what you planning? I’m not sure whether to start my transfers on GW31/32 next week or not

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    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wait to have definite fixtures list

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  28. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Hazard/Sterling >> Son/Mane

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  29. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Schindler to:
    A. Holebas
    B. Pereira
    C. Kolasinac

    Stats say Holebas but Pereiras fixtures are amazing, is he as attacking lately?

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  30. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Auba getting a bad case if the squits makes my decision on keeping Kun this week so much easier. Rich > Son will do me for this gw

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    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Looking at his injury history he's never missed a game through illness

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      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This could be man flu though.

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        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          And English man flu at that, none of that German/French stuff

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    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba got the sh1ts?

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