Scout Notes

The Wan-Bissaka latest as van Dijk scores again

After a relatively uneventful opening day, the week of international football stepped up a gear on Thursday.

There were over 50 Fantasy Premier League assets scheduled to be in action yesterday, so we will be splitting our Scout Notes into two parts.

This first article deals with European Championship qualifiers for the Netherlands, Croatia, Northern Ireland and Slovakia as well as England under-21’s 1-1 draw with their Polish counterparts.

The Netherlands 4-0 Belarus

  • Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) – 90 minutes
  • Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) – 90 minutes
  • Ryan Babel (£5.5m) – 59 minutes
  • Davy Propper (£4.8m) – 45 minutes
  • Nathan Ake (£5.1m) – 0 minutes
  • Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) – 0 minutes

Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.5m) and Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) were on the scoresheet as the Netherlands got their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign off to a winning start against Belarus.

The Liverpool duo played the full 90 minutes, with Wijnaldum – playing in a more advanced role than we are used to seeing him for the Reds – also claiming a “Fantasy assist” after being fouled for the penalty that Memphis Depay subsequently converted.

Depay, the scorer of two of the Netherlands’ four goals, turned provider for his country’s other two strikes.

Wijnaldum was left with a simple finish from seven yards out after Depay’s backheeled pass set him free, while van Dijk capped off his nation’s victory with a header from point-blank range after staying upfield from a corner-kick situation.

The former Southampton centre-back now has seven goals for club and country in the last five months.

Fulham’s Ryan Babel (£5.5m) played the first hour of this most comfortable of victories, setting up Depay for a presentable chance in the first half with some tricky wing-play down the left flank.

Davy Propper (£4.8m) came on at half-time and slotted into the double-pivot in midfield, while Nathan Ake (£5.1m) and Patrick van Aanholt (£5.4m) remained unused substitutes.

Belarus had only one shot on target and this effortless win for the Dutch would be exactly what owners of van Dijk and co. would have hoped for going into Gameweek 32.

The Netherlands are likely to face a sterner test on Sunday, however, when they face Germany in another Euro 2020 qualifying fixture.

England under-21s 1-1 Poland under-21s

  • Angus Gunn (£4.3m) – 90 minutes
  • Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m) – 90 minutes
  • James Maddison (£6.8m) – 90 minutes
  • Phil Foden (£4.5m) – 73 minutes
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m) – 72 minutes
  • Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) – 72 minutes
  • Harvey Barnes (£5.5m) – 18 minutes
  • Dominic Solanke (£4.7m) – 18 minutes
  • Demarai Gray (£5,4m) – 18 minutes
  • Tom Davies (£5.1m) – 17 minutes
  • Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) – 10 minutes
  • Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m) – 0 minutes
  • Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.2m) – 0 minutes
  • Freddie Woodman (£4.0m) – 0 minutes
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) – 0 minutes

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) was the only FPL asset called up by Aidy Boothroyd who wasn’t involved in England under-21s’ matchday squad at Ashton Gate.

Reports in the media suggest Wan-Bissaka is on standby for a promotion to the injury-hit senior team should Gareth Southgate suffer any further withdrawals after Friday’s game against the Czech Republic but Boothroyd was quoted as saying yesterday:

I am expecting all three of those boys [Wan-Bissaka, Tammy Abraham and Dean Henderson] to be available to play against the Germans [next Tuesday].

James Maddison (£6.8m) played the full 90 minutes in Bristol but was relatively quiet in terms of goal threat, having started the match in a central midfield three alongside Phil Foden (£4.5m) and the more deep-lying Kieran Dowell.

Foden was excellent and created several presentable chances for his side, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£5.3m) wasting an early one-on-one opportunity following fine work from the City midfielder before missing Foden’s inswinging cross by mere inches 20 minutes later.

Reiss Nelson then skewed wide from Foden’s flicked header before the City prospect fired narrowly off-target just after half-time.

Calvert-Lewin, who has started Everton’s last four Premier League matches, tapped in England’s opener after good work from Nelson down the England left.

Poland’s equaliser was a spectacular free-kick from distance but Bothroyd expressed surprise that Southampton goalkeeper Angus Gunn (£4.3m) hadn’t asked for a defensive wall to prevent such a strike:

I was really surprised. More than surprised, you know, because of the size of their team. Obviously, the players decided they thought it was going to get flipped over to the far post where all the big guys were.

And we ended up not having a wall and it was almost a free shot on goal. I was very disappointed with that but it’s one of those things we can put right straight away.

Foden, Calvert-Lewin and Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) were all substituted just after the 70-minute mark, with Harvey Barnes (£5.5m), Dominic Solanke (£4.7m), Demarai Gray (£5.4m), Tom Davies (£5.1m) and Hamza Choudhury (£4.3m) handed cameo appearances off the bench.

Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m), Kyle Walker-Peters (£4.2m) and Freddie Woodman (£4.0m) were unused substitutes.

Apart from Gunn and Maddison, Jonjoe Kenny (£4.2m) was the only FPL representative to be given a full 90-minute run-out.

The Everton right-back twice went close to scoring, first seeing a shot brilliantly tipped wide and then later striking the woodwork with a deflected effort.

Croatia 2-1 Azerbaijan

  • Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m) – 73 minutes
  • Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) – 0 minutes

Dejan Lovren (£4.9m) wasn’t involved in his country’s matchday squad as Croatia edged past Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening.

Lovren was serving a one-match international ban but will be eligible to play against Hungary on Sunday.

The Liverpool centre-back hasn’t featured in a competitive fixture since being injured in the FA Cup tie against Wolves in early January but was on the bench in Gameweeks 30 and 31.

Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m) lined up in central midfield and played a more disciplined role in the double pivot, allowing Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic more freedom in the middle of the park.

Kovacic was culpable for Azerbaijan’s opening goal, however, having lost the ball before the visitors scored on the break.

The Chelsea midfielder, who has been substituted in every single one of his 18 Premier League starts this season, was withdrawn on 73 minutes.

Northern Ireland 2-0 Estonia

  • Jonny Evans (£4.8m) – 90 minutes
  • Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) – 90 minutes

Leicester’s Jonny Evans (£4.8m) and Watford’s Craig Cathcart (£4.5m) had a comfortable night at centre-back as Northern Ireland secured three points in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier.

Estonia rarely threatened apart from a two-minute spell midway through the second half, when Fulham youngster Mattias Kait (not listed in FPL) blazed over and Henri Anier got in behind the two Premier League-based defenders only to see his shot saved by home goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Cathcart had a presentable opportunity himself before the interval but could only head a Niall McGinn cross straight at Sergei Lepmets.

Slovakia 2-0 Hungary

  • Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) – 90 minutes

Martin Dubravka (£5.0m) kept a clean sheet as Slovakia kicked off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with a victory over Hungary.

The Newcastle goalkeeper made five stops in all – all of them in the second half – including a fine save to keep out Adam Szalai volley on 62 minutes.

535 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    It's like someone has now turned the lights on on this website

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Was just wondering the same thing, double checked my phone settings.

      1. Warbling Wendy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        It's absolutely fabulous !!!

  2. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Which formation (with the players available for the dgw) is best would u say.??

    3 strikers or 2 heavy hitters and 5 across the mid??

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      I'm on a 3-5-2 at the moment but toying with 4-4-2. I don't love/ have full confidence in any of the 3rd strikers I would get in so I don't think 3 at the front is an option for me

      1. L S P
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Same. Feel like you can fill out a 5-man midfield better than a 3-man forward line and retain some balance in the back.

    2. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Im going 343 but 352 could work equally well i think

    3. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      3-4-3.
      Having a hard enough time fitting in the four strikers I want.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        What four strikers do you want?

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Kane, Aguero, Rashford, Zaha

          1. WVA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            Fair one, just the first two for me

    4. Union_Jacks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Currently on 352

    5. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      I'm not Free Hitting this week because I don't have a wildcard to play later, but if I was I would go 3-5-2.

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Interesting RED, I'm actually Free Hitting because I don't have a wildcard to play later! Would rather get the points in the bag now, and not lose ground on those that do have a wc, and spend it on hits later. How have you worked 31-32-33 without using FH or are you going to use it in 33?

        1. RedLightning
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          I expect the Free Hit to be more profitable for my squad in GW35.
          Without taking hits, Free Hit should be worth about 30 points to my squad in GW32 but about 55 points in GW35.
          This also allows me to play my Triple Captain in GW32.

          My GW31 team will be fine to play again in GW33, so that's no problem (except that I will have to replace one GW31 player for GW32 and then change that position again for GW33).

          My present squad doesn't have enough DGW players for Bench Boost to have any advantage in GW32 or 35, so I'll probably play it in GW34 instead.

          If I play my Free Hit in GW32 then I will probably have to change all 15 players for GW35 in order to obtain my ideal first eleven for that game-week.
          It would also take a lot of hits to set up a 15-man GW35 squad suitable for a Bench Boost then, but perhaps I ought to investigate that option, which I haven't really considered yet.

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            Got it mate, I don't have BB or WC so makes it easier for me to just FH now with the WC crowd and react later! GL 🙂

            1. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              Thanks. In your case, it probably makes sense to take the points early, in the hope of topping the January to May League for a week or two.

              1. jia you
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 7 days ago

                Haha, cool, actually forgot about that league until you mentioned it and hadn't realised that I was flying so high!

    6. Eskimo Brother
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Currently 3-4-3; pretty settled at the moment.

      Things pretty template so hoping the Bilva differential pays off.

    7. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Only 2 strikers I want and can't afford 5 in midfield so going 4-4-2.

    8. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      I am going 4-3-3

    9. Another Hoops
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      I'm on 3-4-3 with a front line of...

      Hazard - Sterling - Pogba - Kante/ Townsend
      Kane - Aguero - Rashford

      Can't decide between.

      a) Kante & Lindelof
      b) Townsend and Tomkins

    10. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Kun Kane Kolin

      Then its a case of 4 or 5 mids...

  3. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    The Dutch have a solid defence for the next few years with de Ligt, van Dijk and van Bissaka. Favourites for the Euros?

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Van Bissaka is Norwegian

      1. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        English.

        1. Big boy Bowen
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Woosh

    2. pompeyfan
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      a midfield of de Jong, Wijnaldum & de Roon is better than most teams too.

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        And big Rom up top

        1. pompeyfan
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          what?

    3. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      The master in fishing in international waters strikes again 😀

    4. Greek Flair
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Van Bissaka?

      Does he also cost 4.0m?

  4. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    All good for DGW32?

    Ederson
    Luiz Lindelof Schlupp
    Pogba Hazard Sterling Milivojevic
    Rashford Aguero Higuain

    0 ITB

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Pretty good.

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Decent, capo?

      1. Bruno Bruno!!
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Sterling or Hazard, currently on Hazard

    3. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      That's the team most will have but I don't trust Higuain and Rashford, poor form, rotation issues and Rashford possibly has a minor injury.

  5. Afghanistanislas
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Which would you rather have:

    A) David Luiz and Milivojevic
    B) David Luiz and Batshuayi
    C) Azpilicueta and Deulofeu

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    2. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      c

    4. Bruno Bruno!!
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    5. POLSKA GOLA
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    6. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    7. anish10
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    8. Eskimo Brother
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      I'm likely going for B but with Rudiger

    9. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

  6. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Foster
    Schlupp Azpi Walker
    Sterling hazard Pogba delo
    Aguero Lukaku Bats

    Team looks stronger with Kaku in it (if he's fit). G2G?

    1. anish10
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Looks good, not sure on delo myself.

      1. PepSala
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Have no cash for anything else...what could I downgrade

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Walker to Laporte and Azpi to Luiz enough for you to improve Delo?

  7. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Chances of Higuain starting both games?

    1. anish10
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Reckon so

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Very high.

    3. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      He is a very interesting option for this week who I think some people have dismissed too quickly

    4. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Chances of him starting both his but chances of him scoring are pretty low!

  8. anish10
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Which team looks better:

    A)

    Kepa
    Laporte Duffy Schlupp
    Milli Sterling Hazard Pogba
    Lukaku Aguero Zaha

    B)

    Kepa
    Montoya Schlupp Boly
    Milli Dilva Sterling Hazard Pogba
    Aguero Lukaku

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    3. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    4. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A but I would triple up on crystal palace!

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    I'm doing Salah to Hazard, do I do it now or wait?

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      If no price changes on the horizon might as well wait.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Hazard 85ish and Salah -75ish so assuming I'm going to have to make it sooner or later

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          My understanding is that FH transfers don't make any difference on real changes, but do show up on FPL Stats numbers e.g. Valery, Simpson and Connolly have been at the top for changes imminent for the last few days without actually changing BUT I could be wrong. Belgium playing on Sunday so maybe hold on until then if possible.

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Just do it so you can stop worrying about the price changes

  10. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Who has more value if both fit, considering opposition ?

    A) Kaku
    B) Higuain

    1. FiddySmith
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Kaku

    3. the german
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    4. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      a

    5. Eskimo Brother
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    6. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

    7. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Higuain

      Obviously against the grain here but Kaku was very ordinary against Arsenal and I can see him being benched if Martial Lingard Rashford are fit.

      Also Watford and Wolves may concede but I don’t see bucket loads of goals. Chelsea are of course Chelsea but their ceiling is much higher

    8. Daghe Munegu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

    9. Bob Sacamano
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Lukaku for sure.

      Chelsea have failed to score in 5 of the last 10 league games, and have only scored more than twice on one occation (Hudds home) since GW 11. Also failed to score against the terrible Southampton and Bournmouth defence. Cardiff and Brighton both fighting for relegation, can't see Chelsea scoring more than 3-4 goals for those two games, and the way Higuain has played recenty I can't see him scoring a single one of them.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        This!

  11. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    All good for the FH gw?

    Ederson
    Smalling-Schlupp-Azpilicueta
    Sterling-Pogba-Hazard-Alli
    Aguero-Batshuayi-Jimenez

    0.4itb

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Good, I'd be very tempted to punt on Alonso over Azpilicueta with 0.4ITB.
      Risky though...

      1. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        I think Azpi is more secure

    2. the german
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Not sure of jiminez and ali. But can work out really well.

      1. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Thank you mate, appreciated...

    3. Rotation's Alter Ego
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Yeah looks good. Option is there to drop Azpi to Luiz to free up some more cash if you wanted Rashford or someone.

      In the future though, could you post this over on the RMFHT article, and help others out whilst you are there? Would be very appreciated 🙂

      https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2019/03/21/rate-my-free-hit-team-g-whizz/

      1. Bavarian
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        i will thanks

      2. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        would def help if mods didn't respond with 'looks good' and then go on to give options! 😉

  12. the german
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Would you sell awb at 4.2 to buy schlupp at 4.5?

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

      yes but leave it til the last minute

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      nope

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      No but I did sell AWB in error during the week which was funny as it then left me no choice 😉

    4. fenixri
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Awb better pick for me

  13. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    A. Kane + Schlupp + Guaita + Dunk

    or

    B. Zaha + Son + Kepa + Lindelof

    New conundrum today. Votes please. 🙂

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

    3. the german
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Im on b currently. Exact Same players.

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        We may end up with the same FH team. 😀

        1. the german
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Kepa
          Laporte azpi lindelof
          Hazard sterling son pogba
          Aguero zaha rashford
          😀

          1. pundit of punts
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            10 players in common.

            You have a higher TV. I can only afford AWB instead of Azpi. 😯

            1. the german
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              Cheers.

    4. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

  14. jia you
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Why is AWB black and white?

  15. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Which is best?
    A) Lindelof & Deulo
    B) Schlupp & Mili

    1. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B for me defo

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

  16. captainjilflex
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    I know they both carry a rotation risk, but who would you have out of Deulofeu and Moutinho? Just for DGW32.

  17. Avo24
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    A. Guaita, lindelof, higuain
    B. De gea, azpi, zaha

    1. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Uncertainty over Palace keepers at the moment.

    2. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

  18. The Ejiptian King
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Safe to assume Rashford injury only for Internationals?

  19. Tosa86
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    MY FH draft:

    ederson
    david luiz wba lindelof
    sterling(vC) pogba alli hazard
    kun(C) rashford batshuayi

    norris - schlupp - Schneiderlin - Connolly

    my doubts are:
    alli
    hazard
    rashford

  20. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    4/8 comments disappeared into the mist since I logged on. I think that's enough wasted time for the day. Thanks FFS

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Deleted?

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Naturally

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          yeah, respect the mods situation but then you have RAE above handing out advice on a RMFHT that's not supposed to be posted on this article lol

          1. Rotation's Alter Ego
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            Deulofail, this isn't really the place for political conversation, I understand that's why some posts have been removed recently.

            Jia, I chose to give feedback as well as redirect users because I believe it's polite. People complain if I don't include it, now people complain if I do.

          2. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            I think there the whole FH/WC/RMT article idea is silly, inconvenient and silly tbh, but apparently it gets a good reception from the old guard, so it's going to remain the best solution until they actually develop the site for better user interactions.

            I think there're better ways to deal with a long, but dying thread about Brexit than to pull the trigger on it. Just write "We appreciate this is an important issue for many users and have allowed some discussion on this thread, but the time has come to lock the thread as it is not relevant to FPL and has the potential for tensions to rise. Thank you for discussing the topic with respect to your fellow users." And lock the thread. ORjust let people use the old thread on an old article to have that off topic discussion, rather than letting it spill over onto a new article.

            Whatever, they have thr right to do what they like, but I just disagree with it.

            1. jia you
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              Deulo mate, I hear you, but it's a fantasy football forum to be fair...not really the place for a Brexit discussion imo. But there are better ways of handling it than locking/ deleting the thread for sure!
              RAE, with all due respect mate, it's either one or the other! Might as well scrap the RMFHT article if you're going to be hand out advice to posters that have posted their teams on this article?

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 7 days ago

                Yeah but depending on the mod, they might allow discussion on mental health, for ecample, or even make it a hot topic! Or otherwise it will be deleted. These judgment calls on "off-topic" bases are often wrong imo. And certainly inconsistent. It feels rude not to reply to people, and communication is the key to community. If that includes some off-topic questions and answers, then so be it. So long as we're not spamming the pages with off topic balls. This is the only advatage of having these "threads" in the first place. To keep things in their place, and in this case, demote them into oblivion by the passage of time, without the need to delete everything you don't like the look of personally.

                1. jia you
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 7 days ago

                  I agree, it's horrible how badly it's handled at times on here! I have been banned a couple of times, once due to my own stupid fake goal shout after a few bevvies then another time for what I see as nothing, a complete misunderstanding but I couldn't even defend myself. It def needs more transparency and more consistency!!

            2. Richd
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              You’re very naughty mate

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 7 days ago

                I'm not the Messiah tbf

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Those darn right-wing mods controlling our media again.

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      We discuss everything under the sun on these boards. We talk about,for example, music, other sports, even within football we discuss international football, and competitions which have little or no bearing on FPL.

      If you ban politics here you may as well ban any discussion which doesn't directly relate to FPL and have done with it. I have not seen your posts, D, but whilst the BBC and most other news agencies have taken it upon themselves to offer false editorial equivalence between leave and remain there is no need to do so here. By all means moderate out conversations that get too heated or unpleasant, but why not let us discuss the most important issue of our times?

      By the way, a no deal Brexit would have massive football transfer and registration implications.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        An 'off-topic' section would fix this. Like HTs but in their own section. Then, sure, off-topic conversation could be shut down and moved to the official threads.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Well said above.

          Not sure about an off topic section though. I would rarely visit it. The way the site currently works is all based on most recent updates. It's not subdived like a forum, besides community articles, which unfortunately get little traffic (much like the current FH RMT article). It's not a great way to do it, but that's how it is. I sort by rating sometimes to check out some more popular posts, but then back to sorting by time and day, and all that on the most recent article, for the most far. It's more like a chat room, so let us chat (until there's reet proper overhaul).

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            ....fair points, but an off topic forum (taken the site would need some serious sorting out) might take off as there seems to be a few characters on here.

            1. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              Right, I'm notagainst the idea if the site is organised differently. But as it is, it doesn't appeal to me. The homepage is confusing enough already, so where would it go? Regular community articles? I don't really like the idea of pushing genuine content from contributers off the widget in favour of banal off-topic or RMT headlines. Maybe we need a 'dark' mode, where you toggle the skin of the FFS to load the off-topic site: Exactly the same layout and site but dedicated to off-topic content 😆

              The site just needs work imo. If they've designed it for maximum clicks and interactions (refreshes) rather than quality of interactions, then they should hardly be upset with users for utilising it for general chat. It all gets lost in no time anyway, and they get their refreshes from it.

              1. jia you
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 7 days ago

                Yeah, you're right, it's dream worthy stuff the way the site is laid out atm. I just kind of like the idea of it and the prospect of less modding 😉

        2. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Love it mate! I really like the banter of some of the posters on here and an off-topic forum would be cool for discussion on real life football and various other interests 🙂

    4. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      All the forum needs is to be redesigned to immediately list several sub-forums.
      Like bodybuilding.com - the forum has several sub-forums to discuss nutrition, injury recovery, supplements etc.
      Just introduce something like that for - general FPL chat, RMTs, off-topic. Problem solved.

      ...and also genuine apologies to the mods for any bother I caused with my off topic discussion.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        weird flex, but bodybuilding.com just got another visitor

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Weird flex... excellent pun if intended....still pretty great if not XD

        2. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          I have a different user name on there, so images of me in a sequined red and blue posing pouch should be safe from FFS scout members.

    5. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      My call on all the Brexit content, not the mods.

      Sure I could have frozen it and maybe that would have been better, but I don't think anyone who was participating in it isn't aware of why it was removed. And anyone who wasn't participating in it wouldn't have seen the thread or known it was removed until it was talked about after.

      As you know the line on this stuff moves, and that's mostly on purpose. For example, after the end of the season in that weird 2-4 week period when the site is slow there's a whole lot of talk about people's favourite all time movies and other non-football stuff, and that's allowed and fine! Political content is more often than not removed, particularly when it's debating what is good and what isn't. A very productive mental health chat that was monitored throughout and (in my opinion) was directly relevant to a huge majority of people was allowed. No, it isn't a hard line; I think that's good. Ultimately these are judgement calls and the ones mentioned here are calls I've made and am happy with.

      That you didn't get a warning before the content was removed doesn't seem like a massive deal to me, as you know why it was removed, but I'm sorry if it's put you off.

      In terms of your comments about better ways to filter content, yeah I agree. Eliteserien and Allsvenskan have been nice testing grounds for me and now I'll give it a real think before the summer. Major changes to comments was always going to be hard to do in season

      1. HamezMace
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Hi Geoff,
        Again apologies for any grief caused, I hope you trust that I wasn't trying to be controversial, or stir up any overly heated debate.
        As you've referenced in this comment, was just a slow non FPL weekend so thought I'd offer another subject of conversation, and in general I thought it was discussed very politely and respectfully between everyone.

        For the record, I'm not worried about off topic conversations on here in general, if people don't want to engage in that subject of conversation, move on to the next comment, it's not like the pages aren't turning every 20 minutes or so.
        Offensive comments should be removed of course.

        Anyway, I respect the rules, and your decision, and I'll stick to telling people not to pick Watford players in GW32.

        1. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          Yeah, no worries and no hard feelings at all 🙂

          It was flagged by some users so I scanned it and decided to remove it, but then didn't give it another thought until this thread!

      2. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        If deleting comments is not a last resort, then you are in the business of censorship, which can be applied with a conveniently "moving line" according to the whims of moderators. It is simply not cool to remove comments in general. It annoys most people to contribute to a discussion, and then lose that contribution. Therefore, why not just remove comments when things are getting nasty, taking care to allow as many comments as possible to remain?

        In this case, it seems weird to have made the call based on Brexit not being "directly relevant to a huge majority of people", because of course it's relevant, even to FPL, as RedArrows points out. And if you don't have the resources to police these moving lines effectively (e.g. within minutes of the post being made), then why try to enforce it at all? There was an hour's worth of comments on that thread. Do you not feel even the slightest bit guilty that you've wasted all that energy which people have put into that discussion? Do it immediately or not at all, for me.

        I had another post deleted which was a short, consise reply to a direct question to me about prisoners voting in UK. If somebody from outside the UK is interested in know a little more about the country, I've been allowed to respond in the past. This helps form community bonds. Besides, I jokingly tied it to FFS, saying that the captain poll was more representative than the referendum. If I don't know what constitues a deadzone on here, then how can I know what I'm allowed to post? Traffic was moving at a snails-pace.

        "That you didn't get a warning before the content was removed doesn't seem like a massive deal to me, as you know why it was removed, but I'm sorry if it's put you off. "

        I didn't say anything about a warning before a post is removed. But an explanation for it being locked would be appropriate (actually just darn polite) imo. It was disussed about 2 years ago that we need a way to know when a post is locked or not (perhaps not possible with the current system) as you can lose paragraphs of writing if you are unaware of this. But at leastif there is acknowledgement that the thread is locked somewhere, more people will see that without wasting their time. However, if the whole thing is deleted, I guess it looks better for you, since nobody new will ever know you even intervened.

        I think mods don't think hard enough about the implications of their actions. It can annoy the shite out of people, and many see it as an abuse of power. It's hard to know by text exactly what people's intentions are, so the benefit of the doubt should always be given to the poster's imo. As little intervention as possible is necessary for a genuine community feel imo. I know you've heard complaints like this constantly since you joined, but it can't be without reason.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          I will say that in general I think you handle these complaints very well, and I'm not complaining about you or any specific mods. But these frustrations are avoidable imo.

        2. Geoff
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          There's so much there that I'm not going to try to respond to it all. Though there's one thing I feel compelled to say.

          You're way off saying that the mods don't think hard enough about what they're doing and the implications. The mods are very active in talking with each other and me throughout the day, discussing things on site, asking for opinions, trying to decide what to do in various situations, and discussing what's been done previously. You say you think the benefit of the doubt should go to posters and you say it's hard to know what people's intentions are - I agree completely, and that applies to your viewing of the mods too. Don't assume they don't think hard about the implications of their actions or that they act on a whim, which to me carries an implication that they don't care about what they're doing. Sure they get it wrong sometimes, of course they do. But for you to say they act on a whim or to say they don't think things through is to do them a massive disservice.

          I've said from the beginning that keeping intervention low is my goal and that's still true. I think that has happened, and will continue to happen. 🙂

          Oh and removing content, even abusive content, is censorship! That doesn't need to be a scary word. Moderating comments is censoring them. I am literally in the business of censorship 😉

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            Yes but censorship on a clear hard line of "abusive content" is less of a business, and more of an automated service. Subjectivity reduced to a minimum.

            Whereas a moving line which asks questions like "how political is this?" and "how political are we allowing people to be today?" is ripe for chaos imo. Everything off-topic will be political to some extent, so subjective decisions are made necessary and bound to introduce tensions.

            It's just weird that users have to keep complaining. To be frank, if you were keeping intervention to a minimum, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

            Fair play for protecting the mods. As I say, I'm not complaining about anyone in particular. But the more calls they are compelled to make, the more "mistakes" they will make, and the greater the buffer between the users than them. It would be nice to see more of the contributers from the Soutcast and staff writers in the community discussions too, but this is a mostly a separate issue.

            Cheers

            1. Geoff
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              I get that, I think it's partly a time thing for Neale and David tbh. They work all day and very long days a lot of the time writing articles and producing content and then after work they have lots else going on, families and life.

  21. fenixri
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Madness here when Doherty and Jimenez start both games.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Really? Hope they play One Step Beyond.

      1. Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Baggy trousers FTW

    2. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      not on a FH, so Patricio and Doherty are now my 'differentials'

    3. PastaFasul
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      And Hazard blanks again.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        That's the Smiths.

  22. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Which do you prefer?:

    A) 3-5-2 with Deulo 5th mid and defence of Luiz, Schlupp, Duffy
    B) 4-4-2 with defence of Luiz, Schlupp, Duffy, Lindelof/ up to 5.1

    Cheers

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      B

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Trouble is the complete unknowns....

        Deulo - will he start both? how many mins?
        Lindelof - will he even play cos of baby? Will he do more than get appearance points?

        So based on the above I'm finding it fairly impossible to know which would score more points over the double. The one minor thing in favour of the 4-4-2 is that it gives me Stephens first on the bench who is at least a covering player rather than the non-playing fodder I have on bench in the 3-5-2!

        1. HamezMace
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 7 days ago

          I don't consider the Deulofeu issue to be a complete unknown - the manager made wholesale changes to the team one full week before the QF, to think he won't do the same for a midweek game is beyond hopefully thinking, and in my honest opinion, people just kidding themselves because Deulofeu is a great cheap option with a DGW.

          Lindelof is a bit more of an unknown I agree.

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 7 days ago

            You are probably right re Deulo. It’s frustrating as he’s really had some great form for his price

            If I went 4-4-2 and didn’t change anything else then my budget for a defender to go with Luiz, Schlupp, Duffy is 5.1. So it’s really take risk on Lindelof or go big risk on double CRY defence!

            What would you do?

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 7 days ago

              What's the rest of your team?

              1. Don Kloppeone
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 7 days ago

                0itb
                Kepa
                Luiz, Schlupp, Duffy
                Sterling, Haz, Pogba, Dilva, Deulo
                Kun, Lukaku

                (Hamer) (Filthy fodder x3)

                1. HamezMace
                  • 9 Years
                  5 years, 7 days ago

                  Personally - D.Silva to B.Silva and Deulo to Milivojevic.
                  or...
                  Lukaku to Rashford/Zaha and Deulo to Son.

                  1. Don Kloppeone
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 7 days ago

                    Hmmm I really don’t like the Bilva pick. He has been awful imo. Dilva was my big differential for the week.

                    Obv Lukaku’s fitness could make the decision easy but he is def a better pick than Rash and Zaha imo

                    I guess it is weighing up the advantages of these two against the weaknesses of rest of the team: I.e Duffy and Deulo!

                2. joeydelucchi
                  • 7 Years
                  5 years, 7 days ago

                  you really convinced then that Del will play both? i really hope so...i mean they have 5 days rest after the tuesday so im not sure if he will get rested for Fulham tbh

                  1. Don Kloppeone
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 7 days ago

                    Not convinced no.

                    That’s why I’m flip flopping between 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 and 4-4-2!

                  2. HamezMace
                    • 9 Years
                    5 years, 7 days ago

                    If he, along with Deeney, was rested 7 days before Palace in the QF, what makes you think he won't be rested 5 days before the SF?

  23. MagicMessi
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Guaita
    Periera bardsley shlupp
    Sterling delofeo pogba milli hazard
    Kane kun (TC)

    Wikson daniels bednarek boruc 0.0 itb
    Thx
    G2g?

  24. Neetan
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    A) Smalling + Milivojevic + Higuain
    B) AWB + Deulofeu + Kane

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A although I am def not in favour of Higuain - it's more for the other 2

  25. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    I'll miss my FH team after GW32 !!

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      already got my FH33 draft team ready 🙂

  26. Cash'nBurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Ignoring injuries, which of the following looks gtg?

    a). Ederson
    Luiz - Lindelof - W-Bass
    Sterling - Hazard - Pogba - Milivojevic
    Aguero - Kane - Rashford

    b) Ederson
    Luiz - AZPILICUETA - SCHLUPP
    Sterling - Hazard - Pogba - Milivojevic
    Aguero - LUKAKU - Rashford

    c). KEPA
    Luiz - Lindelof - SCHLUPP
    Sterling - Hazard - Pogba - DILVA
    Aguero - LUKAKU - ZAHA
    ( Hamer, Stephens, Valery, Simpson)

    Thank-you

    1. fenixri
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      All three are gtg 😉

    2. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A for me.

    3. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      Wow your TV must be excellent!

      All options are decent. I am biased to prefer C as I am going for Dilva this week as my differential

      I am 1.9m short of your teams though - insane!

  27. Goat
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Brexit posts should 100% be deleted. Well done mods. Already had to mute the bloody word on Twitter

    1. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      What if PL clubs are no longer allowed to sign any foreign players without a work permit after 12 April? Will we no longer be able to discuss it?

      1. Goat
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 days ago

        Hopefully not.

  28. BulgarianOwls
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    RMFHT
    I will try to be a more or less differential
    Kepa
    Schlupp Azpi* Smaling*
    Hazard Sterling Dilva* Pogba
    Bats Kun* Deeny*

    *without international duties

    Any thoughts will be appreciated

  29. Sharkytect
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    A) kepa + schlupp
    B) guaita + luiz

    1. Dave Dreamer
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 7 days ago

      A

  30. Dave Dreamer
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 7 days ago

    Kepa

    Laport, Luiz, Lindelöf, Wan B

    Son, Hazard, Eriksen, Sterling

    Rashford, Agüero

    Thoughts?