634x258 Members
22 November 2012 796 comments
Mark Mark
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Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland have four home games and five matches in the next four Gameweeks. It’s a scenario that screams investment and yet Fantasy managers are still showing caution, not least because, in terms of attacking output, the Black Cats have proven particularly ineffectual.

While their defensive assets, notably Simon Mignolet and Carlos Cuellar, look obvious routes, in attacking quarters our sights seem somewhat limited. Striker Steven Fletcher leads the line as a lone striker and has more than justified the fee O’Neill laid down for his services – six goals in 10 starts have kept Sunderland afloat and singled out Fletcher as the key target for those contemplating coverage of Sunderland’s attacking output.

With competition for places in our forward lines so fierce, however, it’s prudent to delve further; to investigate O’Neill’s squad and assess whether there will be another name to emerge as a force over the forthcoming run of favourable fixtures.

In this latest article for members, we analyse the data for Sunderland’s squad over the season so far, assess the protagonists and the recent improvement that has harvested four goals in their last two outings.

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

796 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. isacki: full casual
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    So who is left for Newcastle now?? Barfa and Cabaye out. Coloccini still suspended? Is it gonna be Gutierrez, Tiote and Perch trying to score in midfield? Maybe one of the reserves such as marveaux needs to come in.

    Looking dire for them this week.

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    1. Scroobius Mac
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Marveux isn't bad.
      Obertan is though.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Haha yeah. You might as well play sylvain because at least he got skills. But unreliable. Remember first day of the season when he didn't even make the bench because they couldn't find him?

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    2. Locarno
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Rickie (c)...

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Moments like this I wish I didn't have RVP so I could captain him.

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    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      it does........really disappointing

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    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Am considering the unthinkable and Ba out despite playing Southampton this weekend. Cabaye and Ben Arfa are huge losses, imo.

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      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        if it wasnt southampton defense id possibly bench ba and play sterling.......but wont

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    5. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Whats the story with Barfa?

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Hamstring injury just now in Europa. No word in condition of course but looks seriously unlikely he'll bounce back into the Southampton fixture.

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        1. Crouch Potato!
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 2 months ago

          Not with any kind of hammy methinks.

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    6. Hazmat
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Is Barfa a serious injury?

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    7. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Shane Ferguson - The Beast !

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Best owner to minutes ratio in history

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    8. QPR expects... glory!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Perch is out with a thigh injury. Anita will be the 4th midfielder.

      Still, HBA's injury is Marveuxless news for us seeking a cheapie 5th midfielder nailed on for a few games 🙂

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      1. Crouch Potato!
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Not if saints pick up 3pts against them.

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        1. QPR expects... glory!
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 2 months ago

          Shhh! Don't even think it

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      2. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        haha, marveauxless. Don't worry, been there gw1 and never going back again.

        Tiote, Anita, Gutierrez, Marveaux/Obertan. Joy.

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    9. Sweetpea
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      didnt look like a hamstring, he got a knock on the thigh whichs quite different

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      1. QPR expects... glory!
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Grabbed the back of his leg. Now I ain't no quack but I'm pretty sure that's the hammy...

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      2. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Take it up with the bbc then.

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  2. COMH
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Hilarious. I'm sure you can all relate to this in some way.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHJOZNvBQF0

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      1. COMH
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Class

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

          you should check out that 50min stand up of his..probably in top 3 of funniest ive seen

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  3. Super John McGinn-
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Looking forward to the scout cast today, needs to hurry up

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    1. super zlatan
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      +1

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  4. hossuck
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Is it ludicrous to swap Hughes and Fellaini for Jose Enrique and Swansea's Hernandez?

    Or, instead of swapping those mids, changing Hazard to Valencia?

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      yeah stick with fellani hes only out for one game be patient.

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      1. hossuck
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        So Hazard to Valencia instead? Or just leave as is? I have 2 free transfers, and my midfield is a bit weighty with Hazard Bale and Cazorla. Everton's fixtures stiffen soon, is it worth leaving Bines in this week and just changing to Jose Enrique next GW?

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    2. the axolotl
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      call me crazy but i think selling either of the 2 highest scoring mids in the game is a bad idea, especially for they players you've mentioned.

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      1. hossuck
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        I know you're right, but at some stage I feel as though I need to get some money out of my mid.. So it either has to come from Hazard, Fellaini, Bale, or Cazorla

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        1. the axolotl
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 2 months ago

          why do you want to lose money in your mids though, this is where much of the points are. they are 4 really good players to have.

          are you raising funds for rvp?

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          1. hossuck
            • 16 Years
            13 years, 2 months ago

            No, I have RVP. I just feel like I need some room to manoeuvre. I have Crouch and Lambert up top, which is fine for now, but I will need to ditch one or both of them in the future, probably for a bigger hitter. I could get rid of Baines, but I like having Baines, just in case there's a pen!

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            1. the axolotl
              • 14 Years
              13 years, 2 months ago

              fair enough, but if it was me, i'd lose baines and beef up your striker(s).

              that said, this game is all about pre-empting things so maybe one of your mids is about to have a downturn, so if that's your instinct, go for it

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              1. hossuck
                • 16 Years
                13 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah, I can't get rid of Baines yet though, not with a home game against Norwich. I was only thinking of getting rid of Fellaini because Everton's fixtures get a lot tougher sfter the next GW. But, I do feel as though Fellaini could score points against any team. I'll probably just leave it.

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  5. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Barfa serious injury?

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Not that I needed an excuse, but he's gone now. Ba owners should be worried too, as with no Cabaye or HBA, they have NO creativity

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      1. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        I was tempted to get him out for Johnson or Sessegnon. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and take the punt.

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

      Hamstring 3/4 weeks

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  6. Scroobius Mac
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Marveaux 4.2m.

    Bagonwheel.

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    1. QPR expects... glory!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Rolling!

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

      id rather pay the extra .2 for ferguson...setpieces/penos and all that

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      1. HVT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Shane - never lets you down.

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

          bought him twice last year 😎

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    1. Hazmat
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Yes. Not everything on the internet is true.

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    2. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      catering the fat spanish waiter

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  7. The Chosen One...
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Ba > Lambert to free up funds?

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      no

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  8. In Tommy We Trust
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    I wonder why the word explode is in quotation marks 😉

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    1. the axolotl
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      i'm thinking because he scored last week with a super goal, maybe he'll rediscover his form of last year which was explosive, sort of....?

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      1. In Tommy We Trust
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Never mind 😀

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  9. Jonny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    HBA --> gervinho? 1 week punt

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      no.

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  10. My name is an echo
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    just looked at SUN fixtures - actually pretty decent. I really rate BA but with no services...

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      ba can still score just like he did last week.

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      1. My name is an echo
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        very true plus I have Berbs. Best to leave both. Was a moment of madness

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  11. Deano
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    C'mon guys, lets show a little interest here:

    A. Puncheon
    Or
    B. Maloney

    And

    A. Enrique
    Or
    B. Rafael

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    1. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      B and A. that's my interest over

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      1. Deano
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Nothing like getting some advice from a Tea Party Texan. Thanks Joey!

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    2. reshardo
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Adam johnson or fletcher?

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    3. Fulgencio Obelmejias
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      B and B

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  12. jaybommber
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    barfa- santi or silva
    have tevez
    its a 4 pt er
    suggestions??

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      silv

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    2. Jonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      santi

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  13. Mr. Perfectionist
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    With HBA injured. Which is the best option??
    A) HBA>AJ
    B) HBA>Pablo Hernandez

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    1. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      AJ

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    2. living the dream
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Having the same problem below, A Johnson is a good option I think.

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  14. living the dream
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    That's that decided then, HBA out but who for is the question.

    1 Silva- already have Teve, city fixtures not great
    2 Valencia- already have RVP, Uniteds fixtures decent
    3 Mata- not sure what Benitez impact will be
    4 Hazard- same as above
    5 Nolan- fixtures awful
    6 A Johnson- good run of fixtures and starting to hit form
    7 Other

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    1. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      I dont know if he is exactly starting to hit form. The fuhlam game was against 10 men and he only returned decent points in one other game. plus, I am sure they have scored some of the lowest amount of goals in the league

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      1. living the dream
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Who do you think the best option is?

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Puncheon

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      1. living the dream
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Already have Rickie, wouldn't want 2 Southampton players

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    3. Mr. Perfectionist
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      I am not too sure of AJ to be honest. Dunno what to make of him. Not even a member so no access to his stats 🙁

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      1. living the dream
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        I have faith in Oneil, Sunderland are on the up, he always gets his teams playing well. I think they are just starting to turn the corner, fixtures are good plus dgwk

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    4. jaybommber
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Santi.. I am in same boat too with tevez and silva option.. leaning santi myself

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      1. living the dream
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Got Santi already.

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  15. reply fail
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Nolan to Walters? Yes, no, stupid?

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      keep kev

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      1. reply fail
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        I just don't see Nolan scoring a lot in the next 4 weeks. He is a home boy.

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    2. My name is an echo
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      very stupid. ask your - who would win in fight?

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      1. reply fail
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        I'm sorry, but what are you trying to say?

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      2. My name is an echo
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        keep Nolan - best celebrations as well

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        1. reply fail
          • 15 Years
          13 years, 2 months ago

          Aha, the chicken!

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    3. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      STAWP

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      1. reply fail
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Need some help with this one 🙂

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  16. Leaf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    spent a while working out the sess potential ... And now you go produce an article for all

    🙁

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    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Ok it's members only

      Or not now 🙁

      ill get my coat

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    2. In Tommy We Trust
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      And you decide to tell all the non-members 😉

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  17. mjcm
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    mignolet or begovic

    i have cuellar but sunderlans will have good fixtures

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    1. GYM JUNKIE
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      beg

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  18. Richd
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Guthrie on loan to Newcastle ? ;o)

    Seeing as his injury is more fake than Federici's one...

    McDermott '*lists all injured players like Kebe.. changes subject... 'oh Guthrie is injured too, nothing to do with his Twitter antics'

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  19. GYM JUNKIE
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    berba > fletcher?

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    1. reply fail
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      I would say yes.

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    2. Eboue
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Did the other day

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  20. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Which one to play: Cuelaar WBA, Nollan tot or Sterling swa? And if possible why?

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    1. Richd
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Nolan.

      He will get the most points.

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Tricky but Sterling swa. They're not defensively so solid this year and the Liverpool front three could really dice up that backline.

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      1. isacki: full casual
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        The main thing of course is that he's in insane form.

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

      Nolan for me I think,

      Cuallar - West Brom are dangerous

      Sterling - good prospect but still only that

      Nolan - proven, who else is most likely to score for WHU and Spurs defence? not brilliant plus a derby game.

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  21. QPR expects... glory!
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    What are people's thoughts on Sgt Pilko? Had a great game last weekend and Norwich's upcoming schedule is kind of easy on the eye

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    1. Jonah
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Ignore the fact he just had a good game, that's a complete red herring,

      Solid signing though i would say, been producing the points for well over a year now when he's been in the team, which he currently is. And as you observe, good fixtures.

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  22. That's Groß
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Looking at Sunderland's run of fixtures (inc. DGW) I'm seriously considering doubling up on the their defence.

    What do you think?

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    1. reply fail
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      I would double up on Stoke & maybe get a Sunderland defender for GW16

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  23. New Ghost
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Question for the English lads:

    Cheryl Cole's accent, what part of England is it from?

    Thanks.

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Newcastle

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    2. isacki: full casual
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Newcastle I believe

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    3. That's Groß
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Tyneside

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    4. Dynamic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      North-east

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    5. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Just avoid the topic and talk about other stuff, her beautiful earrings etc!

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    6. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      She's a Geordie. North East England.

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    7. In Tommy We Trust
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Are you actually listening to her

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  24. Deano
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    HBA and Wisdom injured. That should send some cats among the pigeons!

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  25. SW6
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    What a goal!

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

    stunning goal

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    1. Crouch Potato!
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Slight lack of info 😉

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  27. Blue Moon Rising
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Likely to be a scout cast tonight?

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    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Mark will publish it shortly.

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      1. Blue Moon Rising
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers Granny, I'll run the bath, anyone got a spare rubber duck?

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    2. Ayling Buyers Club
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

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  28. Scroobius Mac
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Lee Ryder ‏@lee_ryder

    Looks like Cisse has added to the injury woes after hobbling up the tunnel #nufc

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    1. New Ghost
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Oh my.

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    2. reply fail
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 2 months ago

      Good news, Ba is the sole striker. bad news, nobody will provide him?

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  29. Lubic87
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 2 months ago

    Walcott in for a -4 fail. But it was for Ben Arfa at least.

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