Games

Sky Sports Focus

With our Fantasy Premier League contenders brought into focus earlier this week, we switch attention to our other supported Fantasy pursuit this term, with a glance at the current Scout League rankings in the Sky Sports Game and the latest transfer market activity…

The Scout League

The “Vuvuzela Symphony” plays on and enjoyed a boisterous Gameweek as Chris Tuck not only retained top spot in the Scout League, but climbed to second in the overall rankings with a score of 602. He is now just seven points shy of the summit and being name-dropped on the Fantasy Football Club. Tuck’s outstanding showing has left the chasing pack trailing, with Charles Mouzon’s “Geordie Boys” some 22 points behind on 580, while Gary Paterson’s “Pack Leaders” are back on 574 and 28 behind our leader.

Andy remains the top Scout contributor in the game and is now 32nd on 524 points – back in the ascendancy, then, along with my team which jumped up to 1562 in the world, thanks in the main to Robin Van Persie’s Stamford Bridge returns.

A reminder that if you’re playing the Sky Sports game and have yet to join our league, you can sign up to the FFScout League with this Pin: 8004519. We have a home cinema system, worth Β£600, available to the winner.

Market Forces

There’s been a big surge in activity in the transfer market this week with the weekend’s injuries no doubt providing a catalyst for change. It’s no surprise to see that Robin Van Persie ousts Juan Mata as the most transferred in player following his performance at Chelsea – the Dutchman goes into this Gameweek as the most popular Captain choice in the game and, just as he does in the FPL, looks unshakable as an option up front. Almost 25% of the transfers made this week have seen Van Persie brought in. Mata’s appeal remains strong with 14% of transfers involving the Spaniard, although he is superseded by two goalkeepers, with Chelsea’s Petr Cech and Stoke’s Asmir Begovic both part of over 20% of the transfers in made over the past seven days.

The need for a new stopper has been caused by the injury to Michel Vorm, who has suffered huge sales this week – he’s been involved in 32% of the transfer out deals. There’s been a general exodus of keepers with Pepe Reina suffering big sales after being kept on the bench at Everton, while patience with Joe Hart is wearing thin – he has been subject of 11% of transfers out this week. Elsewhere, Chelsea’ Fernando Torres is mirroring his continued slide in FPL ownership, with a decline in this market. Over 17% of transfers out involved Torres this week with Van Persie and Jermain Defoe seemingly the most popular replacements.

The Fantasy Football Club

It’s Darren Anderton’s turn to make his way into the Fantasy Football Club studio – we’ve heard his fully fit and should make tonight’s episode. Join Fenners and Merse from 10pm later on Sky Sports 1.

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

919 Comments Post a Comment
  1. stumanchuu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    So Demel, Cuellar, Guthrie and BA doubtfull / not playing

    Thinking of doing Rangel to Cameron and then just hoping Cuellar / BA play ( other 2 benched)

    Thoughts welcome thanks

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  2. Golden Oldies
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Thread on the Sunderland Forum SMB saying that Fletcher is a doubt for tomorrow......

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    1. Jonah Takalua
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      That match is going to be so grim

      If it's not last or second last (Norwich and Stoke) on MOTD I'll eat my own underpants

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      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Buggumarked πŸ˜‰

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        1. Jonah Takalua
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          πŸ˜€

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        2. isacki: full casual
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Buggumarked

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          1. GreenWindmill
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            You buggumarked my buggumarking post? Oh boy, now I'm going to have to buggumark you...

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    2. King Nil Miss ✩
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why am I not surprised to see this post?

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    3. Rodders
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      MO didn't mention it in his press conf...

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  3. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    And understatement of the year goes to Paul Lambert when talking about Benteke

    "He's not the finished article by a long shot"

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    1. heartsattack
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Do you (or anyone else) know what is going on with Bent? I find it astonishing that he isn't getting starts.

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      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        By the way Lambert's been going on, it sounds like a case of 'he doth protest too much.' They've clearly fallen out. Imagine if he was somewhere like Pool - serious FPL option then.

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      2. COMH
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        It's obviously got personal between Lambert and Bent. And when that happens the manager always has the power and will happily be stubborn to make a point.

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        1. heartsattack
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers for replies. Beggars can't be choosers is a phrase Lambert should maybe take on board. I quite like Paul Lambert and loved him as a player but I hope his stubborn attitude with Bent doesn't indirectly get him the sack.

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    2. Kostja
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      and what does that say about Bent πŸ™‚

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      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        That I made a mistake having him in my team at the start of the season? πŸ˜‰

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  4. gers23
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Anything worth a hit in this team?

    Begovic

    Ivanovic/Ridgewell/Cuellar

    Mata/Yaya/Bale/Mcclean

    Rvp/Ba/Berbatov

    Mccarthy Dyer Demel Wilson

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    1. reply fail
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nothing is really worth a hit but you have to get rid of Wilson & Demel some time. Might as well do it this week to field 11 (if you are lucky).

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      1. simsey
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I agree
        Ba, Berbatov, Cuellar, Mata all have doubt over them as does Demel.

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  5. floydy_floyd
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Ba and valencia in for aguero and Nolan?

    I'm set on bringing in Valencia and losing aguero.

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    1. Jonah Takalua
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero should be a fairly big differential I should think and West Ham are not at full strength at the back

      Is that for free?

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      1. floydy_floyd
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I think ba probs has more chance of starting than aguero plus I want Valencia v arsenal!

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    2. ΰ€Έΰ€¨ΰ€•ΰ₯€
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      do both transfers next week is better then surely? better fixtures, plus Ba wont rise this week anyway.

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    3. kaz 96
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      i'd wait for another with ba and keep nolan for this week.

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  6. China Mag
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Mason, you asked about potential rotation risk for Simpson. Its possible that for our easy little run after liverpool, that pardiola will try ferguson at left back and santon at right back, as very attacking full backs with a 4-4-2 diamond. This would be the best way to to utilize the players we have (if pardiola insists on sticking with two up front).

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    1. isacki: full casual
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      4-4-2 diamond!! That would be a shock! Is Pardew that tactically adventurous?

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      1. China Mag
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Its the only way that i can see us fitting both dembas in. I'm convinced that we would have played that from the start if we had got debuchy. But simpson is just not good enough attacking. Defenitely worth trying ferguson there I reckon.

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        1. heco87
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Seems a bit far fetched to me, personally .. can't see it happening in the PL unless we're hit by injuries. Simpson not great going forward but he plays on the same side as Ben Arfa so it doesn't usually matter so much.

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          1. China Mag
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            But normal 4-4-2 isn't working. And pardiola seems determined to play with two centre forwards.

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            1. heco87
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              More likely to go back to how we were playing last season I'd say.

              It's not perfect at the moment, but I don't think the system we play is a huge problem at the moment ... it's nice to have options anyway.

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            2. isacki: full casual
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 4 months ago

              The 4-4-2 most definitely isn't working IMO. Outnumbered and outtriangled with only two men in midfield. I think when Anita's played he's just been confused TBH, he comes from this amazingly tactical club like Ajax and ends up basically playing for England. The passing in midfield looks so inferior to last season's that I think you're trying to bypass midfield completely now, just hoof it to Ba and see what happens.

              I think the best thing is to return to 4-3-3, play Ba CF, Cisse as a second striker off him to the left, Barfa right forward. I can understand why Pardew has found it so hard to do that because the pecking order of the strikers seems a very sore point.

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    2. China Mag
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      But i think that santon is worth the little bit extra over simpson anyway. Saylor too when he gets back

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    3. Mason
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Thank you for the post.

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    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Yep. Would like Evans in now.

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  7. isacki: full casual
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Sometimes when I spend all week agonizing over transfers, benching and captaincy I start to wonder why I bother.
    What's the point of putting so many hours into trying to gain a theoretical point here and a theoretical point there?

    That's when I read this:
    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/10/27/the-pre-match-preamble-gameweek-9/comment-page-9/#comment-4182513

    This:
    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/10/27/saturday-dugout-discussion-gameweek-9/comment-page-20/#comment-4184813

    And this:
    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2012/10/28/sunday-dugout-discussion-gameweek-9/comment-page-7/#comment-4192150

    And suddenly I have all the motivation I need.

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    1. heco87
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Haha love it.

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    2. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Haha brilliant πŸ™‚

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

    Here's my team
    Foster (Federici)
    Baines, McAuley, Cuellar, Ivanovic, Gorks
    Michu, Bale, Pienaar, Nolan, Santi,
    Ba, Berb, Jelavic

    Was going to trade--
    Jelly>Suarez
    McAuley>Nelson or Fonte

    Limited by price, of course. Otherwise I might drop others.
    Good idea? Bad idea?
    Any advice much appreciated πŸ™‚

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  9. Federico
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Do you think Mata destined to fall if he doesn't feature today?

    Considering Mata -> Valencia with selling price of 9.2, and Cazorla -> Mata when he's fit.

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    1. ΰ€Έΰ€¨ΰ€•ΰ₯€
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      not rising, and not falling imo. he'll keep his price.

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      1. Federico
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Sounds good!

        Looks like a better move to do Caz -> Valencia straight, as planned.

        Cazorla is -88 at fiso right now. Hoping he can hang on to his price tag till i am ready to sell.

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  10. blue cheese
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Who would you bench from this front 8?

    Hazard - Cazorla - Pienaar - Nolan - Sterling
    RVP(c) - Defoe(vc) - Giroud

    Ta. πŸ™‚

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    1. Kevin Twine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nolan.

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    2. Hakuho FPL
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      sterling

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    3. Chris_White
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling

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    4. reply fail
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Sterling

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    5. Kostja
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I know its hard to do, but Giroud

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      1. heartsattack
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Not so sure. I don't think it will be quite as easy a match as people expect for man u tomorrow.

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    6. blue cheese
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Hmm, cheers guys! πŸ™‚

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  11. Zep
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    For Simsey...

    On the understanding that it was indeed Rory Gallagher on his grav...

    Love this song...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiEMpcI83E

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    1. Le Limpar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Love Rory Gallagher!

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  12. Captain Shirokov
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    On the subject of Mata, even if he was fit for this weekend, I'd doubt he'd start seeing as he's played in the two games against United and Chelsea have a tough game midweek against Shakhtar in the CL.

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  13. Obi Wan Elokobi
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Good afternoon guys, was just wondering who I should bench out of this lot?

    Begovic/Jaas

    Baines/Ridgewell/Nelsen/Hangeland/Wilkinson

    Hazard/Michu/Sterling/Bale/Nolan

    Tevez/Berba/RVP

    Currently have Sterling, Hangeland and Nelsen on the bench

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    1. reply fail
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      O, look at me, I have 11 fit players...;-) Would keep your bench like that.

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      1. Obi Wan Elokobi
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Lol privileges of being top 5k in the world πŸ™‚

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  14. China Mag
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    For all of yous worried that you are spending too much time on this game, thinking that you would be able to do just as well if you didn't spend hour planning out transfers, etc, since I started my new job at the start of October, where I actually have to work, and can't spend hours on my team planning spreadsheets, I have dropped from close to 50,000, to closer to 250,000!!

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  15. penguinsofdeath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Help me!

    Team is:

    Jussi / Federici

    Baines / Gibbs / Rafael / Huth / Clyne

    Michu / Pienaar / Cazorla / Ben Arfa / Nolan

    Rooney / Ba / Lambert

    Any advice on a change for this week? One free transfer, 1mil in the bank!

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  16. slicks1980
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    need some help ...

    rmt

    berg , cerny
    nelson , cuellar , shawx , simpson , mcaurtney
    mata , bale , hazard , michu , sterlin
    rvp . teves , pog

    should i sell mata or keep him ?
    if i sell i would upgrade defense or striker .. ba ?

    on wc

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  17. kaz 96
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Goalkeeping dilemma: foster or ruddy?

    SOT always manage to sneak one in and norwich always manage to concede :angry:

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    1. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Definitely foster. Have u watched Norwich this season?

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  18. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Should I stick or transfer? Any transfers would be hits. 2.1 in bank.

    1) Mata > Bale
    2) Keep Mata and play Pienaar or Nelsen this GW.
    3) Mata > ?? (Someone else)

    Foster (Bego)

    Caulker – Cameron – McAuley – (Nelsen) – (Demel)

    Dempsey – Michu – Sterling – Mata – (Pienaar)

    RVP – Tevez – Jelavic

    Thanks

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  19. CarelessGenius©
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Nelson or Gorkss?
    Or both?

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    1. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nelsen. I like Cameron as well.

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  20. Phaze 1
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    This is the first week where I'm not sure of which moves to make. My current FL is Tevez, Berba and Ba. I'd like some input on these options Please. I have 2FTs.

    1) Ba and Ivanovic --> Rooney and Rafael/Clichy

    2) Ba, Ivanovic and Ridgewell --> RVP, Gorkss and Simpson -4

    3)Tevez and Ivanovic -- > Rooney and 6.5 mil defender

    4) Tevez and Ivanovic --> RVP and Simpson

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    1. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why take Ivan out?
      Chelski's fixtures aren't terrible.

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    2. ASAP Rocky
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      You plan on keeping Mata I take it. Think he'll play do you?

      Out of these options, i would go with 2. Except someone other than Gorkss. Like Cameron or Caulker.

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      1. ASAP Rocky
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Or even Nelsen.

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        1. Phaze 1
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Gorkss is all I can afford if I follow plan 2. I'm keeping mata as he's prob only gonna miss 1 week.

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    3. bring on Real Madrid !
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      i also have the same FL with tevez ba berba
      i am may be just inclined to keep it this way only
      wat say ?

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  21. ASAP Rocky
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    How long will Demel be out?

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    1. CarelessGenius©
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Two weeks ish, says Alladyce.
      Two weeks + I reckon.

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  22. CarelessGenius©
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    If Mata plays, he might have a cameo like Fabregas a couple a seasons ago, against Villa was it? Injured but still came on and ran the game.....

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  23. The Team Principal
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    If anyone has any Fantasy League questions or needs help with their team, leave your questions here.
    Only comments/questions submitted before 10pm Friday will be answered.
    I will give my honest opinion and a detailed answer.

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  24. @theTinkermen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    I dont know if anyone has noticed but Fulham have only conceded 2 goals at home so far this season and those were to City.

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  25. Live4pool
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    anyone knows a good site where you can see player/team statistics?

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

      squawka.com is pretty good

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  26. danmac10
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Big dilemma this week!
    Howard,
    rangel, rafael, baines (demel, harte)
    santi, noble, HBA, Morrison, (sterling)
    RVP, Ba, Tevez
    Not a fan of Cazorla and thinking sterling > kebe & santi > bale (because of poor capital need the 2 changes to get bale). thoughts?

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  27. get_in
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Pick two: Nelsen (RDG), Riise (EVE), Shawcross (nor)

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    1. Bluemoon
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Nelson and shawcross

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