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FPL General’s latest no-Salah-or-Haaland FPL 2025/26 team

7 August 2025 115 comments
@FPLGeneral @FPLGeneral
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With Fantasy Premier League (FPL) live for 2025/26, we’re welcoming back our team of guest writers for the new campaign. 

FPL General – who has three top 500 finishes to his name – is fully committed to going without Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) and Erling Haaland (£14.0m) this season. He shares his latest team thoughts here…

Make sure you sign up for the new season to get all the Member-only articles, tools and features to make 2025/26 your best FPL campaign yet!

Here’s where I’m at with just over a week to go until another FPL season kicks off…

I’m fully committed to a campaign without Mohamed Salah (£14.5m) and Erling Haaland (£14.0m), including Free Hit weeks! Not spending £28.5m on those two makes squad building a lot more fun. The Salah blank next Friday night is going to be beautiful (wishful thinking). I’ve ordered two extra-large sofas from DFS: one for Liverpool games, the other for when Man City play. 

Nothing is set in stone yet, but there are a few players who have been in almost every tinker. Mats Sels (£5.0m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m), Daniel Munoz (£5.5m), Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m), Cole Palmer (£10.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) make up the core group I’m building around. 

FOREST TRIPLE-UP

FPL notes: Forest top for clean sheets + positive for Wolves

For the first seven Gameweeks, which brings us up to the second international break, Nottingham Forest rank fourth on the Scout fixture ticker, which makes Sels attractive. I like him a lot more than the £4.5m goalkeeper alternatives.

Pairing him with Neco Williams (£5.0m), who performed better than Ola Aina (£5.0m) last season for defensive contributions, feels good.

I’ve even considered a defensive triple-up but I want to keep the door open for Chris Wood (£7.5m). If I do end up tripling on the defence, Murillo (£5.5m) would be the other. His ownership being only 5.5% surprises me. 

MUNOZ + VAN DIJK: NOT GOING ANYWHERE

FPL Gameweek 26 round-up: Saturday’s goals, assists, bonus points + stats 7

Liverpool’s van Dijk and Crystal Palace defender (attacker) Munoz are two I don’t want to overthink.

The Dutchman is as secure as it comes for minutes and he’s got more routes to points now. There’s also no Trent Alexander-Arnold to compete with for bonus points. The full-back rotation at Liverpool scares me off owning Jeremie Frimpong (£6.0m) and/or Milos Kerkez (£6.0m) until we see a few games.

Munoz is fantasy gold. I don’t fancy sitting down to watch any Palace match without him. 

UNITED OPTIMISM

FPL pre-season: Malen + Watkins again, Xhaka debut, secretive Man City 2
115 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. 3 A
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 40 mins ago

    So u rotate captaincy around Watkins, Palmer and Bruno? Goodluck.

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 34 mins ago

      Absolutely pointless article.

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 30 mins ago

        He's decided to go without the big two

        Instead of packing it in this season I think

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        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Correct

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      2. Strike me a Gakpose
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        It’s only an article calm down lad

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        1. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Absolutely pointless response!

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      3. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Off to the dungeon with you.

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    2. Silva Bilva Tilva Pilva
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 34 mins ago

      This is a good argument... with Salah or Haaland is almost a set and forget option...

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  2. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 37 mins ago

    Sels
    Muñoz Milenković Diouf
    Palmer Wirtz Rogers Rice Gakpo
    Haaland Watkins

    Dúbravka Guiu Rodon Estève

    Who am I missing?

    Besides Salah, Bruno, Saka and Isak plus Eze etc.

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    1. Mother Farke
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 35 mins ago

      Strong!

      Hopefully Haaland/City do rediscover themselves for the prospect of an interesting season.

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        4 months, 32 mins ago

        I'd take another strong start...

        Blazing goals for the first few weeks from Erling again!

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    2. Fellaini's Fro
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Looks very strong
      If I had to criticise anything it would be that you've got 3 defenders I don't really trust

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      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Fair play, I'm keen on Munoz for attacking returns.

        I wanted Kerkez or VVD but can't afford them.

        Hoping Milenković heads a couple of goals in, along with clean sheets.

        The 4.5 spot is either Konsa or AWB or as above, what don't you trust about them?

        There is VdV but I think it's a flyer on Spurs again.

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  3. Silva Bilva Tilva Pilva
    • 7 Years
    4 months, 35 mins ago

    Amazing that I was tinkering with this and this article comes out.

    Is this too crazy?

    Sanchez | Dubravka`
    Porro | Murillo | Tarkowski | Diouf | Dorgu
    Palmer | Saka | Bruno | Wirtz | Reijnders
    Watkins | Bowen | Guiu

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      4 months, 33 mins ago

      I didn’t find this amazing at all.

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    2. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 31 mins ago

      I'd make space for Isak in that case ...

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  4. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 34 mins ago

    You can obviously spread the funds because I have the same bench as the article expect for Dorgu.

    Isak and Saka give you £2.5m to play with against Salah or Haaland plus one premium pick.

    Some weeks it will be viable when Isak is scoring again.

    But backing both Salah and Haaland to blank in a gw is unlikely.

    I'd just go against one of them, not both.

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 months, 33 mins ago

      *except

      Need to proof read all my posts at the moment.

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  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 30 mins ago

    Sels or Sanchez?

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    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      On Sels personally

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  6. marpy016
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 25 mins ago

    Thoughts on this latest draft:

    Kelleher
    VVD - Neco - Diouf
    Salah - Palmer - Wirtz - Kudus - Arias
    Bowen - Watkins

    Dubravka - Konsa - Guiu - Rodon

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  7. funny money
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 23 mins ago

    I like my team with three premiums incl haaland and salah ….

    Sels dubravka
    Vvd gvardiol mykelenko reinders esteve
    Salah palmer malen sarr miley
    Haaland pedro guiu

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    1. Strike me a Gakpose
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Shocking team

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  8. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 14 mins ago

    How's this looking? Still undecided on GK and 4.5m def.

    Sanchez/Sels
    Williams Konsa Diouf/Guehi/VDV
    Salah Palmer Wirtz P.M.Sarr
    Watkins Gyokeres Wood

    Dubz KDH Gudmundsson Esteve

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  9. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    4 months, 6 mins ago

    Hey chaps! Season drawing near, we all can’t wait!!
    Posting my first current draft just to see the lay of the land, opinions most welcome! 🙂

    Sanchez
    VVD - VDV - N.Williams
    Palmer - Wirtz - Anderson - Salah - Rogers
    Watkins - Wood
    _____________________________________
    Dubravka: Konsa: Esteve: Marc Guiu

    Toying with Sanchez + VDV > Kelleher + Colwill, and Rogers + Wood + Guiu > Malen + JSL + Evanilson or something.

    Any thoughts so far? Cheers gents!

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    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      "Levi Colwill has an ACL injury and is set for a significant period on the sidelines"

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      1. RICICLE
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Oh! Cheers for this mate, I was completely unaware! Shall scrap that idea then haha!
        Also saw that Rogers is injured but just precautionary.

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      2. Strike me a Gakpose
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Don’t tell the casuals they need to learn first themselves

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        1. RICICLE
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Just because I was busy and unaware a player was injured and not glued to updates makes me a causal? Lmao! Been playing the game for over 12 seasons lad.

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          1. Bushwhacker
            • 6 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Everyone’s a casual. Even those paid to do it.

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        2. MC Hammer
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Learn what? A lot of them do much better than a lot of people on here anyway. Many ways to play the game without dedicating your life to it.

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  10. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Top 3 mids at 6.5m?

    Kudus, Ndiaye and Sarr ?

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    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Sarr or Rice I'd say.

      Otherwise you're relying on penalties for Everton and they have quite a bit of transfer business to conclude so the team may need to gell.

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      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Kudus and Sarr I'm going for

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  11. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Non BB team

    Kelleher
    RAN Williams Diouf
    Palmer Wirtz Gakpo Malen
    Haaland(C) Watkins Pedro

    Dubravka PMSarr Dorgu Gudmundsson

    BB team (spread Haaland money)

    Vicario Sels
    RAN Frimpong Cucurella Porro Williams
    Palmer(C) Wirtz Gakpo Malen PMSarr
    Watkins Bowen Pedro

    I'm tempted to BB, I think. Only problem is I can't captain Haaland ×)

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I like the non bb team, but prefer Wood over Pedro and Im not sure who the 5.5m mid is, so not sure on Malen

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      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        I have zero interest in Wood. Forest cant score.
        I do like Pedro a lot thougj and I like double-ups.

        Malen is a punt

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Yeah don't mind stacking at all, G2G mate

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  12. InsertPunHere
    • 3 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    I have to say the Dubravka transfer is throwing me off somewhat. 4.0 starting keeper feels like he should be straight in there, but I don’t trust any of the 4.5s to start week in week out, and the only 5.0 keeper I’d really look at is Sels - the thing being that I already have Williams and don’t like the feel of double Forest defence for some gut reason. Should I stick with Petrović and Kelleher as my pair or get over myself and go to Sels and Dubravka?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Sels and Dubz, I like Sanchez too

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    2. Silva Bilva Tilva Pilva
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I actually prefer Sanchez... NFO has better options for the DEF.

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  13. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    A,B or C?

    A) Kudus, Sarr and Guiu(bench)
    B) Wood, P.M.Sarr and KDH(bench)
    C) Mbeumo, P.M.Sarr and Guiu(bench)

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    1. FFSbet.com
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      A

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  14. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Thoughts on this team, any changes to this?

    Kelleher
    Neco Williams, Diouf, De Cuyper
    Salah, Wirtz, Palmer, Mitoma, Sarr
    Evanilson, Watkins

    Dubravka, Strand Larsen, Dorgu, Gudmundsson

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  15. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Any 6m forwards ? Anyone rate Fullkrug or Thiago?

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Good*

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    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I want to wait and see on both tbh

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    3. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      4.5 + $$$ ?

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  16. Pumpkinhead
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    I have Salah and Palmer + 1.5itb and I’m happy with my team. Going without one of Salah or Haaland is different just to be different.

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    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I don’t know. Salah playing a lot into Wirtz last game ; Haaland and City back or not? Problem is waiting for WC to fix it if they fly

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  17. FFSbet.com
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Stuck on this:
    A) Haaland + Ndiaye + 6.0M defender
    B) Salah + Wood + 4.5M defender

    (defender is starter)

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    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      B

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  18. Lallana_
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    The Colwill injury is unfortunate. Leaning towards this now. Watchlist is Eze, Sarr, Saka, Tielemans, Evanilson, Haaland and Anderson.

    Sels | Dubravka
    Gvardiol | Tarkowski | Richards | Diouf | Esteve
    Salah (C) | Palmer | Wirtz | Malen | 4.5
    Watkins | J. Pedro | Strand Larsen

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I like this, is quite balanced structure. Not so sure on Diouf, but I get the attraction.

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  19. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Thoughts?

    Kelleher Dubravka
    VDV Konsa Diouf Dorgu Esteve
    Salah Palmer Rice Anderson PMS
    Haaland Watkins Guiu

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Nice squeezing in Watkins. My draft is below. Not sure on Diouf, I've gone for nailed picks when going cheap on def.

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    2. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      I prefer J. Pedro and another premium like Saka over Haaland unless you captain Haaland most weeks as a differential.

      The Rice pick is underrated.

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  20. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 months, 29 days ago

    Nailed it, almost.

    Kelleher Dubravka
    Williams Richards Andersen Esteve Dorgu
    Salah Palmer Rice Rodri Anderson
    Haaland JSL Guiu

    Have 0.5 itb, not sure where to spend it.

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    1. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Kelleher>Sels, change Williams

      Also I'd do Rice>Malen and Rodri>Eze

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      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Just not sure on rocking 2 x 5.5 mids in the starting 11. Something to ponder and thanks for the reply.

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    2. Dangerous Rhubarb
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 29 days ago

      Not sure about Rice or Rodri.....surprisingly they didn't get alot of DEFCON points if they would have been awarded last season.

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      1. martynteresa
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Rodri was injured all season.Look at his goals and assists the previous season and someone went back to that season and calculated his Dc points around 40+

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          1. martynteresa
              3 months, 29 days ago

              Correct myself
              Rodri DC pts in 47% of games totaling 32 DC points

              "The current Ballon d’Or holder racked up eight goals and 10 assists in 2023/24, ranking 12th amongst all Fantasy Premier League (FPL) midfielders on 159 points.'

              So 191 points for the season

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      2. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Which combo do think is best here?

        Mbeumo and Pedro
        Solanke/Wood and Pedro
        Gyokeres and Sarr

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        1. The FPL Units
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          B

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        2. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Can you do Eze/Pedro?

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          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Yeah that works and can upgrade a def

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        3. The Knights Template
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          G and S

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      3. 2EyedTurk
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        What about this.....

        Sanchez
        Ait-Nouri VVD VDV
        Salah Palmer Bruno James Dewsbury-Hall
        Gyo Wood

        Dubravka Guiu Konsa Hickey

        0.5 ITB

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        1. Dangerous Rhubarb
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Strong

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        2. Letsgo!
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          No aston villa attackers?

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      4. Dangerous Rhubarb
        • 16 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Apologies guys.....haven't posted on here for a while. If you could kindly give your thoughts as to my latest Salah free draft it would be tremendous. Many thanks.

        Verbruggen
        Virgil Murilo Van Der Van
        Saka Parmer(c) Wirtz Fenandez Anderson
        Watkins Gyokeres

        SUBS Dubrovka Esteves Guiu

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        1. Dangerous Rhubarb
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          1.0M ITB

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          1. The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Apologies accepted!

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        2. Dangerous Rhubarb
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Also Richards as sub

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      5. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        So people prefer VDV to AWB or Diouf?

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        1. Dangerous Rhubarb
          • 16 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          I prefer Richards for 4.5M personally

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      6. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Finished now, hope Guehi gets a move to Liverpool or Chelsea.

        Sels
        Williams Konsa Diouf
        Salah Palmer Wirtz Eze Kudus
        Watkins Pedro

        Dubz Guiu Gudmundsson Guehi

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        1. Ohh1454
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Solid good structure double forest defence could be a winner, if Eze moves does that dampen his appeal or enhance it for you ?

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          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Makes him better for me even though he loses pens

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        2. Sheffield Wednesday
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Did you select your bench after filtering players by the letters "Gu"?

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          1. Dynamic Duos
            • 12 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Yep haha 🙂

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      7. Letsgo!
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Kelleher petrovic
        Awb vvd vdv
        BrunoF salah palmer mitoma malen
        Bowen watkins

        Subs petrovic konsa marcguiu hoever

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Brilliant

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          1. Letsgo!
            • 9 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Will u do watkins to gyokeres?

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            1. Dynamic Duos
              • 12 Years
              3 months, 29 days ago

              Not to start with but you have that price point , may be your first transfer in starts gw1 for that juicy leeds game gwk2

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      8. Ohh1454
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Are many starting the season with three 4.5m defenders and putting more money in attack ? Seems like could be some good value and who are the best picks ? Currently between Diouf Richards Konsa Vdv and Dorgu for me atm

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      9. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        AVL-WHU-BHA Make a nice pick 2 of 3 (4.5) defenders thru GW 10

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        1. Dynamic Duos
          • 12 Years
          3 months, 29 days ago

          Konsa, Diouf and De Cuyper?

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          1. Freshy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            3 months, 29 days ago

            Allegedly

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      10. Letsgo!
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        Is dubravka injured actually?

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      11. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 29 days ago

        So made this change, just hope P.M.Sarr keeps his place, having a great pre season and Frank seems to like him.

        Kudus and Guehi to P.M.Sarr and VVD

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