Scout Picks

FPL Gameweek 20 Scout Picks: Three double-ups

2 January 2026 448 comments
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The first Fantasy Premier League (FPL) deadline of 2026 is nearing – so it’s also time for the first Scout Picks of the calendar year.

As usual, we are limited by certain restrictions.

  • An £83.0m budget for our starting XI
  • An overall squad limit of £100.0m
  • No more than three players per team

GAMEWEEK 20 SCOUT PICKS

GOALKEEPER

FPL notes: Palmer's misses, 'OOP' Neto + Evanilson's first minutes 4

Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) earns a place in the Scout Picks on account of Brighton and Hove Albion’s home meeting with Burnley. Not renowned for their impressive underlying defensive stats, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have nevertheless kept four clean sheets in 10 matches since the start of November. Verbruggen has also been racking up the save points of late, with seven to his name in as many outings, the most of any goalkeeper. Burnley, meanwhile, have scored just three times in their last three road trips.

DEFENDERS

FPL notes: Gabriel hauls, why Saliba was a sub + Livramento injury 3

Gabriel Magalhaes’ (£6.4m) aerial prowess could prove key at both ends of the pitch for Arsenal’s away encounter at Bournemouth. The Cherries have conceded 12 non-penalty goals from set-pieces this season, the joint-most of any team. They’ve also scored just one goal in their last three home matches. Arsenal are consequently one of the bookies’ favourites to keep a clean sheet in Gameweek 20, as below.

FPL Gameweek 20: Best clean sheet odds

James Tarkowski (£5.6m) hosts Brentford on the back of six clean sheets in nine matches. Keith Andrews’ side, who will have had two fewer days of rest, have struggled to find the net on their travels, too, scoring in only two of their last five away games. Additionally, Tarkowski has the edge over every other FPL defender except Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) when it comes to defensive contributions (DefCon), with an average of 10.89 DefCons per 90 minutes.

Suspended for the midweek trip to Arsenal, Matty Cash (£4.8m) looks set to return for Aston Villa’s home showdown with Nottingham Forest. The corner-taking right-back has three goals and one assist in 18 appearances this season. He’s joint-fifth for shots and joint-14th for chances created among all Fantasy defenders, too. As for Forest, only West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have fashioned fewer big chances than the Tricky Trees in 2025/26.

MIDFIELDERS

Buy, keep, sell? Transfer trends ahead of Gameweek 13 1
 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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Introducing The Eye Test 2
448 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 10 mins ago

    Used my 5FT, Took a hit the following GW. And now I want to WC....

    This game

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    1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 7 mins ago

      Same same 🙁

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      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 53 mins ago

        Same same 😮

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    2. MJF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 hour, 48 mins ago

      Does that not tell you that things will probably change again a couple of weeks after WC, you may even wish you had your current squad back!

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    3. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 9 Years
      1 hour, 31 mins ago

      Same same. Didnt even get 11 players out last GW though.
      WC activated!

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  2. OptimusBlack
    • 12 Years
    2 hours, 8 mins ago

    For short term
    O'Reilly & Wirtz >
    Gabriel & Rutter
    Yaaay
    Nope

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    1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 6 mins ago

      For free? Seems good although I haven't seen much of Rutter tbh

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      1. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        2 hours, 5 mins ago

        Can't get Gabriel without this

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  3. corderz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 7 mins ago

    Verbruggen Dubravka
    Gabriel VVD O'Reilly Lacroix Thiaw
    Foden Wirtz Rice Wilson King
    Haaland Ekitike Thiago

    3FT's + 0.4m

    Rice > Rogers?

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 6 mins ago

      And Wirtz > Gordon

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      1. corderz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 27 mins ago

        Hmm you think? Not thought of that

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  4. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 7 mins ago

    Does this need a WC?

    Verbrug
    Timber O'Reilly Dorgu
    Saka Foden Semenyo Rice Minteh
    Haaland Ekitike

    Dub Chalobah Richards Guiu

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    1. OptimusBlack
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 6 mins ago

      Noo

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    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 40 mins ago

      It’s sensible to resist, you will regret it in March

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    3. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
      • 14 Years
      1 hour, 33 mins ago

      Thanks both, I'll hold!

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  5. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 6 mins ago

    Defence to target on WC except Arsenal?

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    1. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 2 mins ago

      I'm going with Roefs, Gab, Timber & Tark as set and forget from next week

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      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        1 hour, 50 mins ago

        Why Tark? No goals this season.

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        1. Mother Farke
          • 1 Year
          1 hour, 48 mins ago

          Yes because all defenders offer this season is bullet headers...

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    2. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 hour, 59 mins ago

      Get Matheus Nunes & Joško Gvardiol to play alongside Timber & Gabriel. That's what I'm working towards.

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      1. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        1 hour, 50 mins ago

        The fixtures aren't that great for City to double up on their defence, don't you think?

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      2. I have no Wirtz
          1 hour, 49 mins ago

          How about these 5:

          Gabriel, Timber, Nunes, Gvardial, Tarkowski

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          1. Pep Roulette
            • 8 Years
            1 hour, 48 mins ago

            Again. City double up in defence? What am I missing?

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            1. I have no Wirtz
                1 hour, 20 mins ago

                They are the in-form defenders. Blame the defcon and bonus points?

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        • Yozzer
          • 8 Years
          1 hour, 51 mins ago

          Keller and Verbruggen double up

          Tark , Hall, Colliins, Thiaw, Sunderland

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          1. Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            1 hour, 43 mins ago

            Think Sunderland deserves to be more than a 5th defender. If you have Collins surely Roefs instead of Kelleher

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            1. Yozzer
              • 8 Years
              1 hour, 41 mins ago

              Fair point mate

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              1. Jet5605
                • 11 Years
                1 hour, 35 mins ago

                Cheers bud - good luck

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        • fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          1 hour, 41 mins ago

          Early WC hahahaha

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          1. fedolefan
            • 11 Years
            1 hour, 41 mins ago

            For context: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/12/27/forest-v-man-city-pep-goes-unchanged-again?hc_page=7&hc_sort_by=comment_date#hc_comment_27475880

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        • IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 28 mins ago

          City, Everton, Sunderland, Chelsea, Villa, Newcastle

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      3. One for All
        • 7 Years
        2 hours, 1 min ago

        Wildcard draft:

        Vicario
        Nunes, Gabriel, Hall
        Bruno G, Cherki, Saka, Rogers
        Ekitike, Bowen, Haaland

        Dubravka, Garner, Alderete, Gudmundsson

        0.5 ITB

        Nunes>Timber, Garner> Miley?

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        1. Cheeky Reijnders
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          1 hour, 45 mins ago

          Vicario > Roefs, I think. SUN defense looks solid.

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          1. One for All
            • 7 Years
            1 hour, 17 mins ago

            No double arsenal defence?

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            1. Cheeky Reijnders
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 3 Years
              58 mins ago

              I wouldn't. Prefer double SUN with ARS having many more fixtures.

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              1. One for All
                • 7 Years
                27 mins ago

                Cool thanks will go with Roefs.

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      4. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        2 hours, 1 min ago

        Any of:

        Watkins, Bowen, DCL, Rogers, Gordon, BrunoG

        worth a hit to play over HWilson or Dorgu?

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 29 mins ago

          Bowen or Rogers maybe…

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      5. ct mariner
        • 7 Years
        2 hours ago

        What happens if Semenyo joins City and I already have 3 City players? Do I have to transfer 1 out?

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        1. NobodyF*cksWithTheJesus
          • 14 Years
          1 hour, 33 mins ago

          With your next transfer you'll have to

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          1. ct mariner
            • 7 Years
            1 hour, 28 mins ago

            OK - thank you!

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        2. The Hunt
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          1 hour, 29 mins ago

          No. You can have them for the rest of the season as long as you don't make any transfers.

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          1. ct mariner
            • 7 Years
            1 hour, 25 mins ago

            I think that is unlikely

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      6. kysersosa
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 57 mins ago

        A)Semenyo to Rogers
        B) Thiago to Watkins
        C) Sensei to Gabriel

        1FT

        TIA

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        1. Sandy Ravage
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 7 mins ago

          C

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        2. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 6 mins ago

          C

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      7. Gazzpfc
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 55 mins ago

        Verbruggen

        O’Reilly Gabriel Tarkowski

        Saka Foden Cunha Roger’s Wilson

        Haaland Ekitika

        Dubravka Alderete Guehi

        I really don’t know what to do but O’Reilly is useless and Wilson against Liverpool then Chelsea

        What to do

        ???

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        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 7 mins ago

          O’Reilly to someone for now? Nunes or riskier Gvardiol?

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      8. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 55 mins ago

        Play 2 alongside Gab:
        1) O’Reilly
        2) VdV
        3) Keane
        4) Mukiele

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        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 50 mins ago

          2 and 3

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        2. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          1 hour, 47 mins ago

          2 &3

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        3. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 17 mins ago

          Thanks both, agrees with what I was on.

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      9. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 54 mins ago

        Who else is considering a side ways move of Timber to Gabriel, and how you feeling about it?

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        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          1 hour, 42 mins ago

          It's not necessarily but could be okay

          Do what suits you best

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        2. Lifeariley
          • 16 Years
          1 hour, 41 mins ago

          Thinking maybe I should've instead of keeping Timber and taking a hot for Chalo and Wilson to Gabi and Garner

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        3. Lifeariley
          • 16 Years
          1 hour, 41 mins ago

          *hit

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        4. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 35 mins ago

          Thanks both….

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      10. ShaunGoater123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 hour, 51 mins ago

        Evening all,

        Would you roll here or make a transfer? I’m debating Andersen > hall / cash as I think o’Reilly will be benched at weekend.

        Dubravka
        O’Reilly / Virgil / Gabriel
        Saka / foden / Anderson / cunha
        Haaland / Ekitike / Bowen

        Sanchez / mukiele / Andersen / Potts

        1ft , 0.6 itb

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        1. Yozzer
          • 8 Years
          1 hour, 19 mins ago

          O'Reilly is an issue this gw

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      11. OptimusBlack
        • 12 Years
        1 hour, 51 mins ago

        Who can get more pts for short term ?
        A- Cherki
        B - Bruno G
        C- Szoboszlai

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 30 mins ago

          B

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      12. MGD
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 50 mins ago

        Raya
        Timber - Andersen - Oreilly
        Saka - Gordon - Cunha - Wilson
        Haaland - Ekitike

        Dubravka - Guiu* - Esteve** - Rodon**

        0ITB, 1ft

        Need to upgrade my bench. Looking at a possible stupid move of Saka + Rodon -> Rogers + Gabriel -4

        Would mean triple Arsenal, no Saka but Andersen on the bench and better cover.

        Thoughts?

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 31 mins ago

          Wait a week and do for free?

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          1. MGD
            • 9 Years
            1 hour, 15 mins ago

            Thanks. Yeah but I have no bench cover at all atm..

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      13. Yozzer
        • 8 Years
        1 hour, 50 mins ago

        Guys does anyone know how many doubles are expected and what gw?

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 32 mins ago

          Not yet, won’t become clearer for a fair few weeks yet…

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        2. Cheeky Reijnders
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          47 mins ago

          Early guide here:

          https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2025/12/31/second-set-of-fpl-chips-now-available

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      14. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 49 mins ago

        Konsa any good as an option? Most expensive defender I can afford as a fourth defender without doubling up on Sunderland (have Roefs) and Villa are in pretty good form with good fixtures

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        1. Yozzer
          • 8 Years
          1 hour, 18 mins ago

          No DEFCON really

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          1. The Big Fella
            • 9 Years
            1 hour, 14 mins ago

            I know and no goals or assists but possible clean sheets on the horizon. Could double up on Sunderland defence such as Mukiele. Won’t be playing him every week anyway.

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      15. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 47 mins ago

        Sanchez - Dubravka
        Timber - Guehi - VdB - Dorgu - Esteve*
        Foden - Cunha - Rogers - Rice* - Xhaka
        Haaland - Ekitike - Thiago

        1 x FT, 0.9m ITB

        All suggestions welcome - thinking Timber > Gabriel for free?

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        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 46 mins ago

          Can’t do Guehi to Gabriel?

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          1. Jafooli
            • 13 Years
            1 hour, 45 mins ago

            0.4m out….

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            1. Jafooli
              • 13 Years
              1 hour, 44 mins ago

              But could add Thiago > DCL for a hit?

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            2. The Big Fella
              • 9 Years
              1 hour, 43 mins ago

              I’d wait a week and then do that move with 2FTs and downgrade somebody else like Thiago to fund it

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              1. Jafooli
                • 13 Years
                1 hour, 41 mins ago

                See above, yeah may wait a week and do for free instead…cheers Big Fella

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                1. The Big Fella
                  • 9 Years
                  1 hour, 40 mins ago

                  Great minds think alike (or small minds seldom differ)

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                  1. Jafooli
                    • 13 Years
                    1 hour, 39 mins ago

                    Certainly the latter in my case, lol…

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      16. Drizzle
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 2 Years
        1 hour, 47 mins ago

        My team after using up my only ft. 0.9itb.

        Sanchez
        VVD Keane* Thiaw
        Saka Cunha Bruno G Foden Anderson
        Haaland Ekitike
        (Dub Andersen Kroupi Richards*)

        Glaring issue is no Gabriel or indeed any arsenal defence. And a thin bench given injuries.

        A) Is VVD to Gabriel worth a hit?
        B) anything else worth a hit?

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      17. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 hour, 45 mins ago

        2ft.

        A) Semenyo, O'Reilly > Rogers, Alderete
        B) Semenyo, O'Reilly > Cherki, Gabriel
        C) Foden, O'Reilly> Cherki, Gabriel
        D) O'Reilly > Alderete (Gab after Pool game)

        Raya
        Vvd O'Reilly Dorgu
        Saka Foden Semenyo Cunha Stach
        Haaland Ekitike

        B. Andersen, Richards*, Guiu

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        1. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          1 hour, 43 mins ago

          B with Szoboszlai ?
          Better than Cherki ?

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          1. BobbyDoesNotLook
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 hour, 31 mins ago

            Don't fancy Szobo anymore. Fulham away not the easiest, then it's Arsenal. After that Mo is back so no pens. His playing position is always slightly unsure. And Pool is currently unreliable in general so I am not adding anyone after two of the tastiest fixtures are behind.

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            1. OptimusBlack
              • 12 Years
              1 hour, 30 mins ago

              Okay B then

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      18. Thanos
        • 4 Years
        1 hour, 41 mins ago

        Any reason for Foden fire sale?

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        1. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 12 mins ago

          People feel his minutes are at risk with Semenyo incoming I suppose plus he has not been playing centrally recently so returns have not been all that and a bag of chips

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        2. Lifeariley
          • 16 Years
          1 hour, 10 mins ago

          3 blanks on the spin

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        3. Thanos
          • 4 Years
          1 hour, 5 mins ago

          Ta!

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      19. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 40 mins ago

        Play Sanchez (mci) or Dubravka (bha)?

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        1. OptimusBlack
          • 12 Years
          1 hour, 38 mins ago

          Dubravka

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        2. The Big Fella
          • 9 Years
          1 hour, 38 mins ago

          Defo Dub for me - Chelsea have no manager and Haaland will be hungry!

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        3. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 34 mins ago

          Cheers both, Dubravka it is….

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          1. C0YS
            • 10 Years
            1 hour, 22 mins ago

            Have the same keepers and doing the same. Good luck!

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      20. CoracAld2831
        • 4 Years
        1 hour, 38 mins ago

        Repost as i cannot afford to do Raul, Senesi -> DCL, Gabriel

        Which one would you lose to fund Gabriel?

        A: Thiago (for DCL)
        B: Minteh (for a 5.4m or cheaper mid)
        C: Sanchez (for Areola)
        D: Timber -> Gabriel straight swap
        E: Don't get Gabriel

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 33 mins ago

          C

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      21. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 37 mins ago

        Konsa or Mukiele (I have Roefs)?

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 34 mins ago

          Konsa

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        2. Punned It
            1 hour, 2 mins ago

            Mukiele. Getting him soon myself for Ballard.

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        3. BobbyDoesNotLook
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 hour, 28 mins ago

          If Gabriel's wouldn't have scored (it was ok goal but slightly lucky) and played 90 mins (=lost CS) would everyone buy him before Bournemouth away and Liverpool home?

          Kind of a "if my grandma had wheels" type of argument but anyway. Just trying to keep in mind that my original plan was to wait after Liverpool game.

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          1. AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            37 mins ago

            I know

            It's annoying whichever way you look at it

            Punished for not moving early, albeit it would have been for a hit for me, probably punished for rolling in behind it.

            My midfield starts scoring points and my defence blanks.

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        4. speardrops
          • 13 Years
          1 hour, 26 mins ago

          Made a wildcard audio/video guide for anyone that's clicked the button!:

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ylWSgZiwc

          Have a great 2026. I need to take Calafiori out for someone. Not enough for van Dinkle.

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        5. C0YS
          • 10 Years
          1 hour, 19 mins ago

          How would you rank these defenders? Looking to play 1 and decide on bench order for the other 2:

          A. Mukiele (tot)
          B. Guehi (new)
          C. O'Reilly (CHE)

          Cheers!

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        6. joeynse99
          • 10 Years
          59 mins ago

          Stuck on who to bench this week, current squad is;

          Donnaruma,
          Timber, Mitchell, Cash
          Saka, Paqueta, Cunha, Foden, Szoboszlai
          Haaland (c), Calvert-Lewin

          Subs: Dubravka, Thiago, Mukiele, Andersen

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