Scout Notes

Antonio reminds Fantasy managers of versatility

Liverpool and West Ham began their pre-season campaign on Thursday with mixed implications for Fantasy Premier League managers.

Obviously, we are still at the early stage of summer friendlies so a lot of our observations should be taken with a pinch of salt, to some extent.

However, both of Thursday’s matches threw up talking points that we have to make sure we stay on top of.

Tranmere Rovers 0-6 Liverpool

Divock Origi (right) will be on plenty of Fantasy radars this summer

Goals: Nathaniel Clyne, Rhian Brewster x2, Curtis Jones, Divock Origi (£5.5m), Bobby Duncan

Assists: Brewster, Harry Wilson, James Milner (£5.5m), Ben Woodburn, Paul Glatzel

Jurgen Klopp mostly used the kids as his side began their pre-season campaign with a 6-0 win at Tranmere, a match that featured two Liverpool teams getting 45 minutes each.

However, there were still eight senior players with FPL prices who were involved for the Reds.

Divock Origi (£5.5m) has already been discussed as a potential budget differential for the start of the season as Sadio Mané‘s (£11.5m) involvement at the African Cup of Nations goes on.

The Belgian forward was used as the centre-forward in a front-three for the second 45 minutes and came away with a goal to his name.

He was also credited with his ability to hold the ball up for his wider colleagues.

“Sadio Mané is in the semi-finals [of the AFCON], so that means he has two more games for sure and will come [back] late.” – Jurgen Klopp

With Mané’s Senegal team now the favourites to win the African Cup of Nations, there is definitely a chance that Origi may have to come into the team for him either in the Community Shield or in Gameweek 1.

Furthermore, Roberto Firmino (£9.5m) is also expected back late after his Copa America involvement, as is Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), although their international duty is already over.

“The Brazilians have finally finished their 30-month season, exactly like Mo, and they will come but we will not have a pre-season together, we will only have a week before we start with the games. Tonight it looked like we can find some solutions” – Jurgen Klopp

Either way, Origi will be using pre-season to stake a claim for a place in the Liverpool starting XI so we should continue to keep an eye on him.

Against Tranmere, Joe Gomez (£5.5m) and Joel Matip (£5.5m) both played but not together. One was used in each half, the England international in the first and Cameroon defender Matip in the second.

Both centre-backs have the potential to offer a budget route into the Liverpool defence alongside Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) this season but at this early stage, it is still unclear which it will be.

Dejan Lovren (£5.5m) did not get any minutes although there is plenty of the pre-season campaign left to play.

Fabinho (£5.5m), Adam Lallana (£6.0m), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£6.5m) and James Milner (£5.5m) were also treated to 45 minutes against Tranmere, the latter claiming an assist.

These players are all likely to be gunning for a place in the starting XI for Gameweek 1, with a particular interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain as he makes his return from injury.

Several options in the central midfield position may struggle to be fit for the start of the new campaign.

Naby Keita‘s (£6.0m) Guinea were knocked out in the second round but the central midfielder also aggravated an adductor injury whilst in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.5m) is out for “a while” according to Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool first-half XI (4-3-3): Mignolet; Larouci, Gomez, Phillips, Clyne; Milner, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Kent, Brewster, Wilson.

Liverpool second-half XI (4-3-3): Jaros; A Lewis, Matip, Johnston, Hoever; Fabinho, C Jones, Woodburn; Glatzel (Atherton 78′), Origi, Duncan

SCR Altach 2-3 West Ham United

Manuel Pellegrini has a vacancy up front at West Ham and Fantasy managers will be keen to know who will fill it

Goals: Carlos Sánchez (£4.5m), Michail Antonio (£7.0m), Issa Diop (£4.5m)

Assists: Robert Snodgrass (£5.5m), Mark Noble (£5.0m), Jack Wilshere (£5.0m)

There is keen interest in who will occupy the number one centre-forward slot at West Ham this season in the wake of Marko Arnautovic’s departure.

Michail Antonio (£7.0m) drew first blood in the race to replace the Austrian as the Hammers began their pre-season campaign in Arnautovic’s homeland.

The FPL midfielder was deployed up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation against SCR Altach and also found the back of the net too.

After Carlos Sánchez (£4.5m) had headed home a Robert Snodgrass (£5.5m) corner, Antonio made it 2-0 with a smart run to fool the Altach defence.

Mark Noble (£5.0m) played a long ball from deep to the pacey attacker, who beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home.

Obviously, it is early days in West Ham’s pre-season campaign so we certainly don’t want to encourage interest in Antonio based off one outing.

But is worth making ourselves aware that Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (£6.0m) may have to hold off competition from him to claim the centre-forward role from him this summer.

Manuel Pellegrini largely went for the approach of two teams per half, making eight changes at half-time.

Just three players were treated to more than an hour of football in Austria.

One of those was new goalkeeper Roberto (£4.5m) who played 76 minutes before being replaced by fellow new recruit David Martin.

Lukasz Fabianski (£5.0m) was one of six players priced up by FPL to have no involvement in the game.

New signing Pablo Fornals (£6.5m) was one of them, while Fabian Balbuena‘s (£4.5m) involvement with Paraguay at the Copa America has delayed his return to the West Ham camp and Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) is on leave following DR Congo’s elimination from the African Cup of Nations in the second round.

Aaron Cresswell (£5.0m) was left out of the matchday squad for precautionary reasons, while Xande Silva (£4.5m) also played no part.

“It was a good workout. We worked well physically but we conceded two goals, which was too much, but we won, which is the most important thing.” – Issa Diop

“I’m happy to score but obviously it was just a friendly game, so to get a goal is not very important, but we always want to win every game, so of course I am happy about this goal.” – Issa Diop

West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Roberto (Martin 76′); Fredericks (Zabaleta 45′), Diop (Rice 68′), Ogbonna (Reid 45′), Johnson (Byram 68′); Sanchez (Obiang 45′), Noble (Cullen 45′); Snodgrass (Yarmolenko 45′), Lanzini (Wilshere 45′), Felipe Anderson (Diangana 45′); Antonio (Chicharito 46).

1,264 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Beinahruga
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    RMT

    Loris
    Robbo - Laporte - Christansen (pending pre) - Digne
    Salah - Sterling - Gylfi - Fraser/Moura
    King - Che Adams

    1. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      "Christ!ansen" is often something I say, pending pre.

    2. BigBarn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I know it simply makes it more template, but what 'template' means is, really, 'more justifiable', so .... Lloris to Pope and Digne to Coleman allows Christansen to VvD and that will almost certainly be better because, even if Christansen is in contention for a starting spot, he's obviously a huge rotation risk with Zouma around.

      Lovely midfield, though. Good luck!

  2. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on giroud at 7m?? He should nail down that starting role with morata gone and transfer ban in place.....

    Pick 2 out of....

    A....king
    B....deulofeu
    C....giroud

    Thanjs

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      I like A and C pal

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Cheers mate
        Giroud seems to be seriously under the radar

        Cant wait to the new season mate. Hope Jim can pick up a couple of new players. And hopefully Stott

        1. Stockport Hatter
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Need a left back and left sided centre half or we're very light. The rest looking good though.

          1. Flynny
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yup. And a striker I'd suggest

    2. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Giroud has been in my team since my first draft. It's a little punty with Batshuayi and Tammy lurking, but imo l think Giroud will be first choice.

      I'm on King and Giroud.

    3. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Tammy and Batty will be fighting for that spot

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I'd expect giroud to be ahead of both of them to start.

        1. OLLY G
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          We can 100% count Tammy out of starting, let's be honest. It's Giroud vs Batshuayi.

          I feel like Giroud is at least a 75% favourite to start in this battle.

    4. Get up ya bum
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      It will be much clearer come deadline. For now nobody has any idea which striker lamps will prefer

  3. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    You know youve lost it when Giroud scoring a brace against St. Pattrick's throws a wrench into your carefully crafted draft lol.

    Kepa
    TAA VvD Walker Digne
    Salah Sterling Sigurddsson Tielemans
    Giroud Adams

    Button Dendonkey Kelly Greenwood.

    0.0m ITB

    1. The 5% Team
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      we'll have a few more pre-season matches tomorrow... 🙂

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Watch Che Adams score tomorrow. And see everyone saying "Adams is essential", when I've been on that train all along.

        1. Get up ya bum
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I think Adams have a brilliant career in the premier league. Can see him being as successful as Wilson in making the step up. Whether or not he'll fire from the off I've no idea but he's my favourite 6.0

          And yes this site is hilarious during pre season. Pre season form has no predictive power at all.

  4. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 8 months ago

    So this 😀

    https://ibb.co/qyxQ49B

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Hahahahaha

  5. JohnnyMagrinho
      4 years, 8 months ago

      Does anybody know what price Hazard was at the start of last season, and what his final points tally was?

      Would be very much appreciated. I don't know why these kinds of statistics aren't on the FPL website. If they are and I've missed them, feel free to inform me where I can find them and at the same time ridicule me for missing them.

      Ta.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hazard was 10.5m beginning of last season.
        Dont remember total pts, though.

        1. The 5% Team
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          238 points last season

          1. JohnnyMagrinho
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Cheers bud.

              Where are you getting that info?

              I can't find it anywhere.

        2. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Member XLS.

      2. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        What was the best overall formation in fpl for the 18/19 season again?

        1. Differential C (Mark)
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Wasnt it 3.5.2?

          1. Ógie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Probably but i am not sure and my limited interweb search skills can not find the answer either. 🙁

        2. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          3 4 3 has been proven to be the most effective (not based on value, just points!) formation in Fantasy EPL.

          Last year, based on value, 3 5 2 was the winner.

          1. Ógie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Thank you sir.

          2. G-Whizz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Winner for who? Certainly wasn't the most effective for me over the course of last season as the stats point out...

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              There was a recent article on here that showed 3 5 2 was the best VALUE formation last season

        3. Harrypottermus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Look at the total points for last season which are still available for the players (exc. Hazard and other departures).

          3-5-2 scores the best but you will have struggled to get the expensive midfielders and attackers (Salah, Sterling, Mane, Auba, Aguerro).

          So 3-4-3 with 2 Liverpool defenders will have proven best value for money. TAA started last season at 5.0 but began quite slowly. Jimenez began at 5.5 and also started slowly.

          1. DantheManinaPan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Which suggests to me that starting with 4 or 5 atb and then reverting to 3atb for a wildcard when the fab cheapies appear could be a good idea

            1. Harrypottermus
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              I think sticking with 4 or more at the back for a long stretch might prove effective because there is such good value there. A 7.0 defender gets you Liverpool's finest. This cannot be matched by a forward or midfielder of the same price from any team.

              There have been earlier analyses of how good the value is at the back. It increases with price too so it pays to invest in quality there.

              If you have two expensive strikers/midfielders that should be sufficient for a captain choice, particularly if you rotate the captain between Liverpool and Man City.

          1. DantheManinaPan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Intriguing

      3. SH1M1
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A) Tielemans & McCarthur
        or
        B) Perreya & Townsend

        1. zdrojo187
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          B 110%

      4. cuppatea78
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        What do you think of this team? Suggestions please:

        Pope

        Laporte - Bednarek - VVD

        Milovojevic - Ndombele - Sigurdsson - Sterling

        Vardy - Jimenez - Kane

        Subs: Ryan - Dunk - Dendoncker - Kelly

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Bed/Ndom stick out. No Salah?! Downgrade that front 3

          1. cuppatea78
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            How about Swapping:

            Kane, Vardy and Ndombele
            for
            King, Deulefeu, Salah

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Better...Deu is a risk to me tho.

        2. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Sorry but not keen on this. Need to spend less on front line and distribute in midfield and defence. Ndombele plays deeper so not sure if good for fpl and Milo other than he is on penalties not good choice. Need to double up Liverpool defence I suggest with Laporte and 4 m keeper alongside Pope/Ryan.

          1. cuppatea78
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I think there will be a lot of pens in the first few weeks due to VAR and the change in handball so want Milo in the team as he take a good pen. Have changed my team now gone with:

            Pope (Ryan)

            Laporte - TAA - VVD - Dunk (Kelly)

            Milo - Salah - Sterling - Brooks (Dendoncker)

            Vardy - King (Wickham)

            1. dunas_dog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Yes much stronger

      5. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        So I picked a squad this year determined not to come on here beforehand. And yet my squad is still remarkably template.

        There really is no escape, wherever you are it will find you.

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          If one thing was proven last year, is that template isnt such a bad thing.

          1. Rasping Drive
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Actually I thought last season was one of the most positive in terms of lots of different points scoring options. Certainly better than a lot of seasons gone by

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Nope, people were punished again and again for going off template and punting (punts that went nowhere to boot). That's part of the reason many consistently good managers dropped like a stone...they were used to playing one way (have a solid core template and a few differentials to shake it up) when the game slapped them across the face and said, "No sirree, you get MAYYYYBE one punt out of the template and even that's risky!"

              1. Rasping Drive
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Then you and I will have to disagree on that one.

                1. Yank Revolution
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  I dont see what there is to disagree about...Effective Ownership played a monstrous role, more than ever in my years of playing, last year. And not just for captaincy!

                  For much of the season, "template teams" (highest EO per position) were beating everyone and climbing week to week.

                  1. Rasping Drive
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 8 months ago

                    You could have gone without Salah for mostnof the aeason and done well; you could have gone light up top and heavy at the back and in the middle and done very well with the likes of Jimenez and Wilson; on the contrary you could have gone Auba and Vardy up top and a bit lightet elsewhere. Loads of options.

                    1. Get up ya bum
                      • 14 Years
                      4 years, 8 months ago

                      Yup. Think I bought and sold Salah 3 times last season. Had great runs from Doherty, Jimenez, mane, son, kdb, Aubameyang amongst others when their ownership was low and the masses were still holding the highly "essential" alternatives tightly.
                      The big key to this game is timing. If your predictions are perfect you'll be buying low ownership players and selling ownership player roughly in line with form swings. Ownership follows points. I don't even factor in ownership to my decisions at all

              2. Get up ya bum
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                This is nonsense. I don't care at all what the FFS boards flavours of the week are and I don't use statistics much at all so my team very often looks very different from the FFS template yet I always do well. It's true there is a limited pool of players that are actually good picks but the FFS template is always just the points chasing 11 from that pool. Last season was no different. I jumped from about 70k to top 100 within a few weeks of wildcarding and I've posted my wildcard team on here it would have been shot down because it didn't have the points chasey flavours of the week

                1. Yank Revolution
                  • 12 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  No one is saying a few maverick moves don't or can't work out, of course they can. And maybe they did for you! I'm not even talking FFS template, but the Effective Ownership template, which goes beyond this website...and, even more specifically, the Top 10 k EO template. I monitored both all year and for once, the 'hive mind' worked for climbing the standings ALL SEASON. It was rather unusual, I will say that. I don't remember it being so rote in other seasons, but we also have more articles on it here and more people monitoring it week to week than ever before.

                  1. Get up ya bum
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 8 months ago

                    The top 10k by definition is going to be full of the highly owned players. Players are highly owned because they have scored the most points and ownership always chases points. Top 10k obviously had the best scoring players so of course ownership and top 10k correlate. You have the cause and effect backwards. The top 10k got them before they were template.

                    1. Yank Revolution
                      • 12 Years
                      4 years, 8 months ago

                      Couldnt disagree more. This is not about "point chasing" (Definition: The act of acquiring a player AFTER they've scored well the week before -or 2 weeks in a row- and will likely/possibly regress "to the mean" in the near future, so you won't gain as much as you thought you might!) a term I havent used, but you continue to.

                      This is about entire squad construction, and numbers based on thousands of owners, not a player here or there or week to week.

                      Choose to ignore EO at your own peril then if you like. If you followed the EO template last year, even if you were off by a player or maybe two, you did well in the standings, and that's just a fact.

                      1. Get up ya bum
                        • 14 Years
                        4 years, 8 months ago

                        Dude how are you not getting this. Ownership literally chases points. Every week the people that score best are bought most and the longer they score the more their ownership increases. By definition EO is going to correlate with position in the standings. Every season not just last season.
                        They picked the players that got the most points > ergo their players kept increasing in ownership because ownership chases points > ergo everyone that finishes high had template players.
                        But the causation is backwards. They finished high because they got the template players BEFORE they were template. That is why they are ranked above the hundreds of thousands or millions of people that bought them later.

                        I do ignore EO. Not because I think it's the best tactic to completely ignore it, it's probably a bit of a weakness of mine. It's just how I like to play the game. I predict future points based on past performance and hate to play out of fear or doubt. You say ignore it at your peril but I'll happily put my history up as proof that you can ignore EO completely and be successful. There is many ways to skin a cat

                        1. Get up ya bum
                          • 14 Years
                          4 years, 8 months ago

                          Also your definition of points chasing is strangely complicated and specific. To me points chasing means chasing a players previous scores instead of predicting their future scores.

        2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          If you find have players in your team that ARENT at least even relatively/mildly popular that’s a really bad sign imo

          Chances are it will go horribly wrong (not a guarantee - but likely)

          One or two maybe, but any more than that & it may be TTBTC

          1. Rasping Drive
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Hmm. If that was the case, why do so many rip up their teams 3 weeks in and start again?

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              Because there is quite a large pool of players who are at least even relatively/mildly popular

      6. JJeyy
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Best option here?

        A) Wilson, Walker, Fraser

        B) Wilson, King, Jiminez

        ...

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          A I reckon

      7. shapply
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        third draft

        Ryan (Button)
        VVD, TAA, Coleman, Trippier, Laporte
        Salah, Sterling, Zaha (Guendouzi, Dendoncker)
        Vardy, King (Wickham)

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Strong, I like it.

        2. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Not too far off from mine, but Id lose Trips and get a better MF

          1. shapply
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            you mean to upgrade Zaha or those 4.5 mids?

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              one of the 4.5s

        3. Worsle90
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Went 5-3-2, too:

          Ryan
          Aké, TAA, Zinchenko, Digne, Shaw
          Salah, Mané, KDB
          King, Adams

          Button, Noble, Dendoncker, Greenwood

          £2.5m ITB for Aké-VVD and Mané-Sterling in GW3

        4. Ole's at the wheel
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Downgrade trip to Kelly and 4.5mid to 6.0 like pereyra etc

      8. g0nzo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I'm thinking 5 ATB this year. Any thoughts?

        Ryan // Krul (for GW 4,7, 8)

        AAT - VVD - Laporte - Digne - Aké

        Salah - Sterling - Siggi - Fraser

        King

        Bench: Dendoncker, Wickham, Nketiah

      9. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Tinkered my way back to three strikers. Not long until my defenders are reduced to 3 and the full circle back to 3-4-3 is complete.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Ha ha - you won't be alone. 5 at the back is like voting Labour. Seems right at first but when it comes to the crunch the brain will take over.

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            "I must kill...the Queen...."

            4 defenders at back maximum, no matter what. And even that I don't like, but may come out of the gate with this yr.

        2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I can’t pass up the opportunity

          11 seasons of 3-4-3’s, 3-5-2’s & 4-4-2’s

          If TAA, Robbo, Laporte, Digne, Coleman are fit (and Gueye isn’t too delayed back from ACON), I’m going with a back 5

          We’ll possibly never again have a better lineup of elite defs to choose from - you can keep the Fraser’s, Siggy’s, Zaha’s of this world - give me some rampaging fullbacks 🙂

      10. The MadJW
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ederson
        VVD TAA Zinchenko
        Sterling Saha Moutinho Schneiderlin
        King Kane Jota

        Bench: Button Prodl Kelly Stevens

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Don’t like Moutinho or Schneiderlin- you will not get full team out every week with rotation. Kane to Vardy or 6.5/ 7 m player and spend cash elsewhere

          1. The MadJW
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I have Kane in for 2 reasons -
            1 - I see a lot of drafts without a premium forward and relying too much on a strong defence - a defender can only get you 5 pts for a CS whereas a premium forward can bank you 15 if they bang in a hatrick. Also I can see many kicking themselves if their forwards fire blanks and Kane hits a brace against my team Villa during GW1

            2 - I like Spurs first 3 home games

            I'm thinking of switching formation to 442 and get a 4.5 forward who will be on my bench and use the funds to strengthen midfield

      11. Across
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Hello. Townsend still nailed, right?

        1. The Wise Owl
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Nailed, yes. Good, no.

        2. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Would say so, always seems to end seasons well and start them badly though.

          1. Across
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Thank you. (:

      12. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Delph to Everton seems like its happening...does that affect Digne/Coleman at all?

        1. I Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          No don't think so. Delph doesn't play RB and Digne is too good to be benched for him. I think they would use him in midfield.

        2. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Should be good for them, Delph an upgrade on Schneiderlin.

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Thx for replies Greg, Member, Bigbarn

        3. BigBarn
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Only insofar as it could mean Gueye is off to PSG, which would be a major blow to our CS chances. Really, it would put me right off. A much larger loss than Zouma going back to Chelsea, in my humble one.

      13. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        So how’s this looking? Any obvious weaknesses?

        Heaton/pope 4.0
        Azpi coleman taa vvd 4.0
        Salah siggy perez sterling 4.5
        Wilson jota/del 4.5

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Looks good-but weak bench main issue and no City defence alongside your double Liverpool defence. And personally rather Tielemans over Pérez

          1. Eat my goal!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Going to judge Perez on pre season - figure 6.5 is a reasonable price point for the 4th mid

            I’d like city defence but I don’t like Walker, If Mendy or zinchenko nail the spot I can adjust. Thing with city is they didn’t have a an unchanged backline so it’s difficult to know who to choose other than Laporte and ederson. It is tempting to go Ederson and then a cheaper 4th defender but city don’t have the best of fixtures from the off!

      14. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ryan [Button]
        Robertson TAA Digne Laporte [Kelly]
        Sterling Salah Siggy Jorginho [Hayden]
        Wilson King [Greenwood]

        Thoughts? Wilson can become Vardy after fixture changes.

        1. nisag17
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          You are making two sacrifices (Ryan and Jorginho) both of which will earn around 3 ppm on average. Don't think players like Siggy and Laporte justify that sacrifice. Downgrade one of them and upgrade Jorginho imo.

          1. Lucky Z
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            I just compared statistics of Ryan and 6.0 and can't justify 1.5 overspend. For Jorginho agree. Will try do do smth. Thanks.

      15. NotNowKato
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        I think Palace look interesting for cheap players. Max myer, once described as the Herman Lionel Messi is a ready fit for Zaha, and it looks like they might sign Alberto Morelas from Rangers up front. Add the transfer money from AWB and Zaha going to Arsenal and they've got some money in the pot to pick up a couple of other really good players.

        1. NotNowKato
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          German, not Herman obvs

          1. el polako
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Quite few Hermans among Germans.

        2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Lol. Arsenal won't sign Zaha this window

          1. NotNowKato
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            They will my friend does all his house alarms. He knows. His brother knows. Arsenal know. It will happen. He's also been left out of the new team strip photos.

            Palace don't need to sell, but arsenal need to buy. It will be a transfer deadline day deal.

            1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              😆 you must be joking. Why on Earth would Palace sell on deadline day and not leave any time to find a replacement? Arsenal need to buy, do they? What about the creative CM, 2 CBs, LB they also need to buy on a £40 million budget?

              1. NotNowKato
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                That's arsenal's problem. Not Palaces. Zaha will go for £65m and Carl Jenkinson

                1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  Ahaha, you assume Jenkinson would be AWB's replacement I guess? Crystal Palace don't want to get relegated, mate.

                  1. Get up ya bum
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 8 months ago

                    That's the thing, people baulk at an 80m fee for Zaha but you gotta realise palace pretty much sell their place in the premier league when they sell zaha

              2. Get up ya bum
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                My mates cousin is an a bartender and one of the regulars at his pub is a vet. Well turns out this vet vaccinated a litter of puppies one of which was bought by a certain bobby bishnakov. Well turns out bobby is actually best mates with an albino fella named andy and Andy gets his haircut at the barber next door to where Zaha had dinner once and can confirm Zaha is signing for Bolton Wanderers. #itk

                1. NotNowKato
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  I like this, but I genuinely do know the guy that does all of Wilfs alarm systems in his house.

                  His name is Frank and used to be a bad boy before turning to the other side and installing alarm systems.

                  When Frank turns up, Wilf just goes "is that you Ftank* as Wilf is in bed playing Fifa on his xbox.

                  Believe me or not, I don't care, but he is going to Arsenal.

              3. NotNowKato
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Because Max Myer will fill Zahas space

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

              Arsenal can't afford Zaha, simple as that.

              1. el polako
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 8 months ago

                Arsenal is the new(old) Spurs.

                1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 8 months ago

                  From the outside looking in, it's hilarious seeing the relationship between the clubs reverse, and the Arsenal fans clinging to their past as evidence of some kind of nebulous moral supremacy.

      16. class
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Targett, Fraser and Perez

        Or

        Trippier, Siggy and Norwood?

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Top one.

        2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Neither enamours me. TFP is mildly better

      17. hnmfm
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Which team is better:

        a)Ederson
        TAA-VVD-Laporte-4.0-4.0
        Maddison-Perez-Salah-Sterling-Zaha
        Adams-King-4.5

        or

        b)Ederson
        TAA-Robertson-Laporte-Digne-Coleman
        Salah-Sterling-Maddison-4.5-4.5
        Adams-King-4.5

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          B has a bench that will actually see some minutes, so that one.
          also Everton > Leicester/Palace just looking from a fixtures perspective.

        2. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Just say no to double Everton D

      18. Dr. Rog
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Ryan/Button
        TAA VVD Digne Coleman Zinky
        Salah Sterling Siggy Brooks (donkey)
        King Jota (Greenwood)

        5-4-1/5-3-2 depending.
        Brooks & King are placeholders for chelsea players, yarmalenko or any other 6-7m bandwagon that takes my fancy after their first 2 fixtures.

        1. Winston.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          What about Coleman and Ryan to 4.0 defender and Ederson ? And Dendoncker first on the bench...

      19. Werner Bremen
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        This is it guys, I hope I won't change my mind, atleast not soon..

        Pickford (Button)
        TAA, VVD, Laporte (Kelly, Reid)
        Salah, Siggy, Fraser, Zaha (Dendoncker)
        Vardy, King, Deulofeu

        Have still 1M in the bank. I'll see how the season starts and then I'll make my moves.

        1. cuppatea78
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I like.

          Not sold on Pickford but team looks good to go to me!

          1. Werner Bremen
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Pickford had more points than Digne last season. Just sayin'

      20. nelluckram
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        A) Robbo & Deulofeu
        B) VVD & Giroud

        1. Hedge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          B if Giroud looks like first choice

      21. cuppatea78
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Looking for £6.5 striker.

        A) Jota
        B) Deulofeu
        C) Any other suggestion?

        1. nelluckram
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          My first choice is King

          1. cuppatea78
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah I have King and Vardy as the two strikers so far

            1. nelluckram
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 8 months ago

              I currently have Deulofeu but thinking of getting Giroud and downgrading Robbo to VVD

        2. Hedge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Am on Jota currently. If you already have two other strikers I'd go for a mid instead. Better options at 6.5 or 7 if you can squeeze an extra 0.5

      22. dmenezes
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        First draft, surprisingly happy with it.

        Pope I Ryan
        Robertson I Cathcart I Diop I Kelly I Dunk
        Zaha I Maddison I Mane I Sterling I Felipe
        Wilson I Jimenez I Deleufeu

        Thoughts?

        1. Hedge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Too much on the bench and not enough in defence.

          Wouldn't be very confident in Felipe, but if you want a punt in your team he's not too bad

        2. Aztec Kamara
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Looks unbalanced. Given the value in premium defs I think you need more than 1, and you’re going to be leaving some £ from a decent M/F on the bench every week.

      23. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Out of interest, how many goals do you expect Vardy to get this season, assuming he's fit for at least 35 games.

        1. The Royal Robin
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          18.

        2. Moxon
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          Around 20

      24. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        No Mendy on the pre-season tour surely means Zinchenko is LB for at least the first few weeks, does it not?

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          You’d hope so, that’s why they resigned that other kiddie

          They know mendy is a liability so they need additional back up

          1. Get up ya bum
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            That kiddie is a hell of a player and I wouldn't be surprised if he was first choice by the end of the season. But yeah zinchenkos position atm

        2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It probably does.

          1. The Royal Robin
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 8 months ago

            The new signing probably makes that point even clearer, like you mention.

        3. I Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          It's definitely a good sign.

      25. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        My burning question
        2 of:
        A) digne
        B) walker
        C) tielemans

        1. Bullet Eder
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          A+B

        2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          I would do A and B. But I like Zinchenko.

        3. Hedge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 8 months ago

          A+C

      26. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 8 months ago

        Heaton
        TAA VVD Digne Zinchenko
        Salah KDB Sigurdsson Bernado
        Vardy King

        Button Kelly Dendoncker Greenwood

        Looks ok?