Podcast
13 September 2012 2376 comments
Mark Mark
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“A template” – something that serves as a model for others to copy.

Thanks to the painful international break, we’ve had a testing fortnight during which time we’ve appeared to witness a trend that has seen the birth of a “cookie cutter” Fantasy lineup – much to the frustration of those quick to seize on the merits of Eden Hazard, Michu and company.

Back from our enforced holidays, Granville and I aren’t exactly international bright young things – more jaded, grizzled old grumps who are hoping that somebody steps forward to shake things up. As long as it’s not Gareth Bale – I sold him for Michu. Yeah, busted: I’m as bad as the rest of ‘em.

Wildcard played before the break, I attempt to get Granville to admit its failure, whilst thanking him for his calming words which cooled my boots as my finger hovered over the squad refresh button. I still can’t quite work out why he talked me out of it – a cunning long term strategy perhaps? Surely not?

Break the mould by listening in via this link or use the handy player below to stream the goodness…

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

  1. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Ben Arfa + Baines in for Zabaleta and Kagawa(dependin on news) worth a hit? Would like to concentrate on removin just rafael next week rather than both Zab and Rafael
    Migs (Fed)
    Zabaleta Rafael Hangeland (Gorkks Clyne)
    Bale Kagawa Cazorla Dyer (Noble)
    Rvp Graham Tevez
    0,5 in bank

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    1. Van The Man
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Zaba will play this week i hear and its a decent fixture.. So i would wait and do my FT instead..

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      1. Valar(Keith)
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        hmmm.. guess so. Hope some news comes in bout both zab and kags

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    2. blue cheese
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      I read somewhere that Maicon joined the City squad only on Tuesday and that he won't feature this weekend. So, Zabaleta should be safe for now. I'll link it up if I find it again.

      And I don't think Kagawa will feature.

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  2. Arselona
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Two last decisions to make.. I apologise if you've already responded to this in the page previous..

    A) Play Mignolet or Jussi
    B) Play Hughes or Demel

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    1. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Mig and Hughes

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    2. Van The Man
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Take a chance and play Jussi and Demel and hope West ham do the job!

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    3. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Hmm... not much love for the Hammers away to Norwich around here... I'm either a unconfident genius or a hopeful blind..... I'd bet on the latter of course.. lol..

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  3. Acquafresca
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Nitin, to respond to last page..

    This is LITERALLY my brother's team:

    http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/91131/history/

    Trying to help him win his ML 🙂

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    1. blue cheese
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Ah, ok! 🙂

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  4. Acquafresca
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Would you guys want BOTH Torres+Hazard?

    Or is Hazard enough Chelsea cover??

    Might go Haz+Jelly if that's the case..

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    1. China Mag
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      If they had an extended run of good fixtures, i would have no problem going for both. But the have 3 good games in 4, then they turn REAL bad, so you will probably want to get rid of both

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      1. Twelve years a slave
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        this may sound funny , but in three weeks torres to suarez looks interesting

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        1. China Mag
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          Torres to aguero is where it is at!

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      2. Saint & Reevesy
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Presumeably China you'd want 1 of them in your team for most of the season, so why not take advantage of the next 3/4 games and then sub out one of them when the fixtures get tougher?

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        1. China Mag
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          I'm not a fan of the "season keeper". It might be different if I had hazard from the start, and didn't want to lose on him. Sometimes I feel you are better off (in a way), if you miss out on price rises. Because it makes you more flexible. For example there will be many people who hold onto hazard for his horror run of fixtures, because they have a lot of value tied up in him. Even though somebody like silva or cazorla will probably score a lot more points over that period

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    2. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Chelsea's fixtures don't warrant doubling up for me.

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  5. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    How to pack for a wedding at a tropical island with a Typhoon forecast...

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    1. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Linen suit and crossed fingers 🙂

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      1. Gaz Downright
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        🙂

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  6. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    1 day left and still mess with 1832 WC teams 🙁 cannt sort out the defence

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    1. blue cheese
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Foster / Bego
      Baines / Cuellar / Clark / Demel / Gorkss
      Hazard / Cazorla / Michu / Barfa / Guthrie
      RVP / Tevez / Lambert

      BOOM!

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      1. Acquafresca
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        NN replied above 😉

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      2. Van The Man
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Nice team that..

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      3. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        how much money? I will try to fill it. but you prefer HBA to Pienaar?

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        1. blue cheese
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          Zilch after doing that!

          I've got Baines. So, no not tempted by Pienaar. Plus Barfa is always involed in a Newcastle attack.

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    2. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      You got your front 8 sorted Ruk??

      RVP, Tevez, XXX
      Hazard, Cazorla, Michu, XXX, Guthrie

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Graham (becomes Lambert next week if Graham fails again)
        Pienaar

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  7. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Must do one of these for budget reasons:

    1) STaylor → Hughes
    2) Maloney → Guthrie
    3) Baines → Vertonghen
    4) Berbatov → Lambert

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    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      4 and not becuase im biased, honestly.

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    2. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      1,2,3 i will do all comfortably

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        4, not 3

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    3. fantasykid
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      1 for me

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    4. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      I'd narrow it down to 1 or 2

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    5. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      2 or 4

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    6. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      2

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    7. Crystal Pulis
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      2 or 4. Like the Berba punt though

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  8. Arselona
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Who has more chance of conceding this round, Sunderland or Fulham?

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    1. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Any takers?

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    2. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Fulham, definitely.

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  9. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    cant touch this

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    1. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      der-ner-ner-ner..

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  10. Saint & Reevesy
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Posted this just as the page turned.....

    Is there any love for Nasri out there....like any at all?

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    1. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      No... but I'm biased 🙂

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      1. Saint & Reevesy
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Ha! its so difficult not letting bias get in the way of team selection..so glad pompey arent killing it in the permiership.

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        1. Absinthe 42
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          It'll be a long time until we're back, so worry not 🙂

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    2. Van The Man
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      No..

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    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      rumour has it someone likes him

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      1. Saint & Reevesy
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        maybe just his mum then.......unless shes a gooner.

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  11. majiedo
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    any predictions for the following:

    west ham vs norwich
    &
    west brom vs fulham

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      1-1

      1-1

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    2. 808Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      West Brom will beat Fullham, my guess is 2-1 or 2-0
      and I'm gonna go west ham norwich tie 1 all

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    3. majiedo
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      have to keep in mind, west ham are playing away

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  12. Arselona
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    AVB's downfall is turning teams generic..

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Not really. Consistent players are making teams generic.

      i.e. Tevez, Michu, Hazard, etc..

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    2. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      There is an element of truth to this in that if Bale, Ade and Dempsey all start to fire then it would presumably dilute the template Michu, Hazard, HBA, Carzola, Yaya and Tevez, Torres, RVP

      That said I think Rooney and Ageros injurys are more to blame and you could also level this arguement at Liverpool too.....if Gerrard and Surez can start firing then it broadens the choice further.

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  13. Aosni
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Berba + Bale or Ba + Yaya??

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Berba and Bale by far.

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    2. BootlegRascal
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      bb

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    3. Aosni
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Will Berba play the whole game?

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      1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        No reason why not. He had a decent pre-season and retired from internation football.

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    4. Crystal Pulis
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Berba and Bale by a mile

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  14. Arselona
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    What's the lowest gw high score people have seen?

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      next question.

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    2. Aosni
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      around 60...

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    3. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      25 - he's playing a 5-4-1 with Welbeck up front and 3 injured defenders....im assuming its a randomly generated team 🙂

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  15. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Ive got a lovely bunch of coconuts

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      bounty ftw

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  16. 808Shadow
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    play pienaar and hope for points against new castle or McCaulley and hope for clean sheet/possibility for attacking points against fullham?

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    1. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Pienaar no brainer. half the toon defence is crocked..

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    2. majiedo
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      play them both

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  17. Quish_
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Is Hazard really important? at 10.2 i don't think he is worth but i don't have any Chelsea cover and it worries me. Should i get Hazard and Dump bale for a hit?

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    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Bale has left the building.....

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      1. Acquafresca
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        😆 Didn't he call in sick again at 2pm? 😉

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    2. majiedo
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      he has been in form, most dangerous player for chelsea at the moment, wait for bale to start clicking with his new team mates

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    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      life is a mystery

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      1. Saint & Reevesy
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        and its like a box of chocolates

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  18. majiedo
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    how important is team value?

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    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      less so than points.

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    2. Arselona
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      as important as you consider bragging rights...

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    3. Testing
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      I find it important since it makes it easier to afford the players you want

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  19. OPTA FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Is this defence too weak?

    Begovic Foster

    Baines Cuellar Demel Gorkss Jenkinson

    1.8M bank to consider Jenkinson after 1 week punt

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      its weaker than mine

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        can i copy it? cannt decide my def

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        1. Optimus.
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          but you havent seen my team yet

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    2. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      If it allows for a killer front 8 thenits money well spent.

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      1. OPTA FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        front 8 is generic

        Hazard Santi Michu Pienaar Guthrie

        RVP Tevez Graham

        problem is i ave 1.8 bank but not sure where to invest

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        1. Saint & Reevesy
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          To be fair I've seen the same defence listed on this site a bunch of times too presumeably becuase it alllows for what is a solid front 8.

          Personally I've upgraded Graham to Fletcher...... I'm aware the term upgrade might be considered laughable by some 🙂

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    3. Crystal Pulis
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      It;s not bad.Jenkinson+1.8mil can give you a decent option once he gets dropped.

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  20. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    if im still awake i will post my team on next page for all those who dont care 😉

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      @@

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      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        loading............................................................................

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  21. Pigvig
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    A or B?

    A) Ivanovich & Yaya

    B) Baines & HBA

    Wish I hadn't played my wild card, so confused!

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    1. majiedo
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      B

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    2. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      B by far

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    3. Absinthe 42
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      B B B B B

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    4. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      B

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    5. Pigvig
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Nice. I can't afford either anyway.

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      1. Absinthe 42
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        FFS

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        1. Pigvig
          • 16 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          I did say I was confused 😛

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  22. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    jussi
    hughes cuellar williams
    yaya kagawa michu hazard
    rvp tevez adebayor

    bego kacan demel clyne

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    1. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      no Baines and...Adebayor 😯

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      1. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        non w/c team

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    2. OPTA FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Fail, still old page

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  23. Just A Hat
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    lol I just looked at my money league I'm in for the first time to see where I was on the ladder, I'm last!!! Last!! I cant believe how embarrassing me start has been

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    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      The first step to recovery is admiting you have a problem... well done Hat.

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      1. Just A Hat
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        haha, I wildcarded and just threw in the "template" team, Van Persie capain - no differentials, just a good solid team that I know will get me back into the mix

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  24. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Why isnt FPL addign the swansea defender?

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      dont addign this the wrong way but but you addign me alot

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  25. Saint & Reevesy
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Thoughts on Stoke v City.

    tight physical game with few goals and a narrow win for City?

    or

    City run riot and score 3+ goals?

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      1-2 city

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    2. Just A Hat
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      I predicted a 0-0 draw last week and I'm sticking!

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    3. Acquafresca
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      Narrow 2-0 win methinks, wit the 2nd goal coming in the 90th

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    4. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      so I should swap Nasri for Pienaar then?

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      1. Acquafresca
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        save tranny or Nasri->Caz.

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      2. Just A Hat
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        ooo, are you on your wildcard? Definetly don't put Nasri in a wildcard team!

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        1. Saint & Reevesy
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          Not on WC, just Nasri seemed like a good idea few games back 🙂

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          1. Just A Hat
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 3 months ago

            lol, is your team linked incorrectly? :O

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    5. Crystal Pulis
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      1-3

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  26. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Anomitra Saha, are you here? Anyone know what name he posts under? Got him in h2h this gw.

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      im not sure but i think "gaylord mofo"

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      1. Low-Life
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Classy.

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    2. Pinoche
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      His FFS name is Rick..

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      1. blue cheese
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Hey, mister! Check FB if you're free.

        Happy Birthday btw! 🙂 🙂

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        1. Pinoche
          • 13 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          Thanks Nitin 🙂

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          1. Christina.
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 3 months ago

            Have a good one!

            I will eat some cake tonight.

            😉

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            1. Pinoche
              • 13 Years
              13 years, 3 months ago

              Hahah 😀
              Thanks Chris!! 🙂

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            2. Optimus.
              • 14 Years
              13 years, 3 months ago

              im happy christina is here tonight in my hour of....

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              1. Christina.
                • 15 Years
                13 years, 3 months ago

                ..of what?

                FPL suicide? Should I get my popcorn?

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                1. Optimus.
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 3 months ago

                  its whatever you want it to be 😉

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      2. teddy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 3 months ago

        Ah, thanks. Not a particularly frequent poster.

        Should be a close one. I've taken a 12 point hit, but he's taken an 8 pointer, and I think my team's better 🙂

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        1. blue cheese
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 3 months ago

          You're going down, mister. Better check out of Hotel Tassel while you can!

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    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      i do know what name he posts under

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  27. jimski
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Light the blue touchpaper. Looks as though Terry and Cole will play at QPR, and we'll hear endless stuff about handshakes...

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/john-terry-racism-row-chelseas-1323092

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    1. Saint & Reevesy
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      I posted about this yesterday, I'm really looking forward to this.....

      Reckon Terry will have a pop if he gets the chance

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  28. Manan
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Guys i would like to know how my team for this week is. The only thing bothering me is the defence line i should play with. i want the 3-4-3 formation:

    Friedel,cerny(sub)
    Zab, Mcartney, Mcauley, Barnett(sub),Mariappa(sub),
    Michu, Bale, Carzola, Britton(sub), Noble,
    Van Persie, Tevez, Jelavic

    have used my free transfer: ashley cole out, mcauley in

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  29. Saint & Reevesy
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    IYO does Newcastles defensive injury problems and lack of form from the front 2 affect the appeal of HBA?

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  30. Crystal Pulis
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 3 months ago

    Is Kagawa out worth a -4 and for who? (.7 mil in the bank). Or Play Guthrie instead?!

    rest of team:

    Saylor I Zaba I Gorkks I Demel I Cuellar

    Haz I Santi C. I Michu I Guthrie

    Tevez I RVP I Petric

    Cheers

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    1. Manan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 3 months ago

      not worth the hit. you should go with guthrie instead. he might just be useful in the liverpool game

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