634x258 Preamble
18 January 2014 1714 comments
Mark Mark
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I think thereโ€™s a danger I could run out of ideas. Seven green arrows in eight Gameweeks should indicate progress but, looking at the gap in the contributors league and the chasm between myself and Granville, it seems that my efforts have been little more than powder puff. I need to find a boost in a season which, to this point, has offered few opportunities for those looking to make up ground.

Much as I like the fella, Luis Suarez hasnโ€™t helped matters. Last weekend provided yet more evidence that itโ€™s almost suicidal to peel the armband from the Uruguayan’s bicep. The option to take a risk with the captaincy doesnโ€™t look a viable strategy for the straggling Fantasy manager. Iโ€™ve tried that route and, while Luis let me get away with it by drawing two blanks, even that gamble had little impact.

So where do I turn next? As Iโ€™ve mentioned, Granville doesnโ€™t have any apparent chinks in his armour. His squad looks settled, his budget far in advance of my own โ€“ย if anything the Wildcard will hand him further advantage. Iโ€™m faced with having to take some calculated risks but, such a decision also threatens to derail my run of green arrows and begs the question, when do you allow mini-league rivalries to influence your overall decision making?

A few weeks back I decided to don the blinkers, ignore the mini-league scenario and set about saving face. Iโ€™ve gradually climbed the ranks and so, naturally, I have to conclude that Iโ€™m on a gradual path of progress. It feels cosy and safe but, equally, I can’t help thinking that Granvilleโ€™s has his slippers on and is running the foamy bath of victory.

Should I continue to look at the bigger picture? Maybe if I continue to play safe and go with template signings โ€“ Mesut Ozil being my latest โ€“ I will ensure an ascent up the ranks and I may yet even avoid my lowest ever Fantasy Premier League finish. However, I canโ€™t help consider that, if I allow the Fantasy Sat Nav to keep me on this comfortable path, Granville has it won. I swear when it advised me to turn to Ozil there was a Manchester twang in its voice.

To this point Iโ€™ve been subdued with the risk taking. Iโ€™ve veered off to take an occasional hit, taken the Edin Dzeko detour โ€“ nothing too outlandish. Clearly, it’s had little effect.

My latest half-baked plan is to use my third forward slot in rotation โ€“ attempting to hit a Gameweek sweet spot and find some double-figure differentials. It will be hatched later today but, if this also fails to make an instant impression, Iโ€™m faced with having to decide to either stay on this path of safety and effectively concede or go for broke and risk inviting the red arrows.

Sooner or later the Sat Nav will tell me to turn to Ramsey. Iโ€™ve a feeling that, by then, my season will be at the crossroads.

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

  1. Scottys Army
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    137 k sold luk this week

    Wont be long till hes a diff in active teams

    boommmmmmmm

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    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Have you got a Lukaku poster on your bedroom wall?

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      1. Scottys Army
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        aye looks better than hibbert though

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    2. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      highly doubt he will outscore suarez, aguero, sturridge etc

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  2. Alton E.
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Those Defoe quotes real?

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    1. Tim Canterbury
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      What quotes

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

      what were they??

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    3. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I hope not, for his sake.

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  3. Crouch Potato!
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Leeds v Leicester a cracker!

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

    Stats for top 50 FFScout League Managers.
    For full stats:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/13CHa6fvXgVah-EitFCiEPC7D6y8pg4omTPUyMmbWdsM/edit

    Transfer Data This Gameweek:

    Average Team Value:
    108.9m
    Average Bank Value:
    0.9m
    Teams with wildcard available:
    44.00%
    Average transfers per person:
    0.74
    Average point hits per person:
    -0.64
    Zero Transfers:
    44.00%
    One Transfer:
    38.00%
    Two Transfers:
    18.00%
    Three Transfers:
    0.00%
    Four Or More Transfers:
    0.00%

    Captain Duties This Gameweek:

    Captain selections: Suárez : 98.00%, Giroud : 2.00%,

    Vice-Captain selections: Agüero : 24.00%, Negredo : 22.00%, Giroud : 12.00%, Özil : 12.00%, Hazard : 6.00%, Sturridge : 6.00%, Silva : 4.00%, Yaya Touré : 4.00%, Suárez : 2.00%, Cazorla : 2.00%, Eriksen : 2.00%, Dzeko : 2.00%, Gerrard : 2.00%,

    Team Selections This Gameweek:
    Goalkeeper selections: Mannone : 26.00%, Mignolet : 26.00%, Szczesny : 12.00%, Speroni : 10.00%, Boruc : 10.00%, Howard : 4.00%, Kelvin Davis : 4.00%, Foster : 2.00%, Krul : 2.00%, Guzan : 2.00%, Cech : 2.00%,

    Defender selections: Coleman: 94.00%, Mertesacker: 58.00%, Kolarov: 32.00%, Koscielny: 20.00%, Ward: 14.00%, Gabbidon: 12.00%, Sagna: 12.00%, Terry: 10.00%, Baines: 10.00%, Clyne: 8.00%, Bardsley: 6.00%, Fonte: 6.00%, Zabaleta: 6.00%, Dawson: 6.00%, Kompany: 4.00%, Chiriches: 4.00%, Shaw: 4.00%, Chester: 4.00%

    Midfielder selections: Hazard: 84.00%, Özil: 64.00%, YayaTouré: 54.00%, Silva: 32.00%, Eriksen: 30.00%, Lallana: 26.00%, Sterling: 14.00%, Cabaye: 14.00%, Gerrard: 8.00%, Wilshere: 8.00%, Navas: 6.00%, Januzaj: 6.00%, Cazorla: 6.00%, Gnabry: 6.00%, Oscar: 4.00%, Puncheon: 4.00%, KiSung-Yueng: 4.00%,

    Striker selections: Suárez: 100.00%, Agüero: 50.00%, Negredo: 36.00%, Giroud: 30.00%, Lukaku: 26.00%, Adebayor: 22.00%, Sturridge: 14.00%, Rodriguez: 12.00%, Welbeck: 6.00%, Rooney: 2.00%, Dzeko: 2.00%,

    Bench selections: Chester: 46.00%, KelvinDavis: 28.00%, Marshall: 24.00%, Ward: 20.00%, Turner: 20.00%, Januzaj: 18.00%, Ramsey: 14.00%, Clyne: 14.00%, Mannone: 14.00%, Baker: 12.00%, Colback: 8.00%, Shaw: 8.00%, Sterling: 8.00%, Gabbidon: 8.00%, Redmond: 6.00%, Mutch: 6.00%, Whittingham: 6.00%, Harper: 6.00%, Johnson: 6.00%, Boruc: 6.00%, Azpilicueta: 6.00%, Chico: 6.00%, Terry: 4.00%, Gnabry: 4.00%, Speroni: 4.00%, Barkley: 4.00%, Brown: 4.00%, Morrison: 4.00%, McGregor: 4.00%, Whittaker: 4.00%, Collins: 4.00%, Huddlestone: 4.00%, Livermore: 4.00%, Lallana: 4.00%

    Transferred Players This Gameweek:
    Transferred in players: Agüero: 50.00%, Kolarov: 24.00%, Giroud: 22.00%, Sturridge: 16.00%, Baines: 12.00%, Lallana: 12.00%, Boruc: 12.00%, Gnabry: 10.00%, Kelvin Davis: 10.00%, Januzaj: 8.00%, Eriksen: 8.00%, Silva: 8.00%, Gerrard: 8.00%, Hazard: 6.00%, Negredo: 6.00%, Wilshere: 6.00%, Ward: 6.00%, Zabaleta: 4.00%, Navas: 4.00%, Ki Sung-Yueng: 4.00%, Özil: 4.00%, Mignolet: 4.00%, Oscar: 4.00%, Clyne: 4.00%, Ramsey: 4.00%, Azpilicueta: 4.00%, Sagna: 4.00%, Adrián: 4.00%, Johnson: 4.00%,

    Transferred out players: Rooney: 24.00%, Lukaku: 24.00%, Negredo: 16.00%, Welbeck: 14.00%, Terry: 10.00%, Barkley: 8.00%, Özil: 8.00%, Zabaleta: 8.00%, Adebayor: 8.00%, Sterling: 8.00%, Gazzaniga: 8.00%, Baines: 8.00%, Eriksen: 6.00%, Cabaye: 6.00%, Jääskeläinen: 6.00%, Silva: 6.00%, Evra: 6.00%, Oscar: 6.00%, Yaya Touré: 6.00%, Lallana: 6.00%, Gerrard: 4.00%, Turner: 4.00%, Mignolet: 4.00%, Wilshere: 4.00%, Clyne: 4.00%, Hazard: 4.00%, Rodriguez: 4.00%, Oviedo: 4.00%, Mertesacker: 4.00%, Mutch: 4.00%, Marshall: 4.00%, Kelvin Davis: 4.00%, Gabbidon: 4.00%, Boruc: 4.00%,

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    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      50% with Aguero ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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      1. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        1 point cameo please

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    2. โญ Bemba_Da โญ
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      thanks

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

      Nice one Bentekers.

      You need to get yourself a grav....

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    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Half the teams got Kun this week ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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    5. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      awesome post!

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    6. Az
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Woo I'm included in this! ๐Ÿ˜€

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      1. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        enjoy your 10s of fame

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    7. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Giroud a diff.

      Agüero a bit of a diff.

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      1. 4-4-who?
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        A 1 point differential Aguero

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    8. tm245
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Cheers for this. Any reason why you went from top 200 to top 50?

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      1. tm245
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Now I get it. Thanks.

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      2. Mary
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Sorry, I was short of time. I will go back to top 200 next week.

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    9. Scottys Army
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      the ade % seems high .....

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    10. Noisy Neighbour
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Almost 1/3 with Kolarov. That's even more than I expected.

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  5. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Hazard (c) next week.

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    1. benlw1994
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Same I think

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    2. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      No way, Nando for safety. ;-p

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    3. Noisy Neighbour
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I'll stick with Suarez. He got a goal and an assist the first time around in the derby.

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  6. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Suarez over 90% captain in the top 1K
    Around 50% got Aguero this week.

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    1. aehii
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      One captained giroud, which is ballsy.

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        2 in the top 50 did.

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        1. Grumpy Camel
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          number 7 did

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    2. The Shadow
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      No. 2 in the world captained Giroud and is playing 5-2-3.

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Wow. Good luck.

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    3. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Got the link? I can't see it on his page.

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    4. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Where are these stats?

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      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Same chrome addon as above in sticky.

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  7. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    cash ML leader's bench is:

    Terry GJ Yaya

    Dafaq!? ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

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    1. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      does he have injured players on the pitch?

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  8. aehii
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    It comes down to hazard and ramsey or oscar and ozil. for me...

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  9. Grumpy Camel
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    The team that is 2nd overall is playing 5-2-3 with Giroud as captain and Suarez vice.

    Lesson: Do your own thing.

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    1. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      and still has ramsey

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    2. bunk_medal
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Or the lesson is that just because someone is 2nd in the world it doesn't mean they know what they're doing.

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      1. The Shadow
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Nobody's that lucky. You don't get to no. 2 without knowing what you're doing.

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        1. bunk_medal
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          There's a good book called "Irrationality" by Stuart Sutherland which shows how human beings are hard wired to assume successful people deserve their success, even when they've just benefited from random luck.

          Stock market traders are a good example - most of their success is pure chance, yet people believe that those who have had success must have a "system" and invest in them (often losing their money).

          Not saying he's an idiot, but the difference between number 2 and number 2,000 in this game is largely luck so I wouldn't read much into it.

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          1. Noisy Neighbour
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            Truth!

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          2. The Shadow
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            You don't need a book. You can just look at his history. I'm sure you'll see he made better decisions than you have.

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            1. bunk_medal
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 11 months ago

              Well I certainly don't know what I'm doing - there's not much debate about that.

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            2. bunk_medal
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 11 months ago

              Well with one game to go he's on a paltry 36 points, captaining Giroud was a flop, and he's dropping down the rankings like a stone. I guess he's no longer a genius now, right?

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    3. MCH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Really just suggests he is second because he has made bad decisions that have worked out.

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    4. Christina.
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      True. But what's also true is the post below.

      Only worst thing then gambling and getting it wrong is not gambling and finishing 2nd after 38 weeks.

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      1. Christina.
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        *post above....

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    5. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      the guy in 7th is playing Marshall (mci)

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    6. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      amazes me the arrogance (in a good way) on this site. This guy is 2nd after 21 GWs and we just think he is a muppet. I was thinking it at week 10, maybe even week 15 but at the halfway mark i think its time to concede that there is more ways to play then the way we all do

      rotating gks
      Heavy heavy cheap cheap cheap
      heavy heavy mid mid fodder
      elephant heavy mid

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      1. Christina.
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        I agree with the camel.

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        1. Christina.
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          *toe

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  10. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Imagine if :

    This man is your godfather -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85j6pWEbhE0

    This man is your father -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5zu-jGK6E

    This man is your grandfather -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BgnbsgnBes

    Your career choices would be kinda limited ๐Ÿ˜‰

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    1. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      without even seeing them i know who that is about

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Name him

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        1. Mojo Rojo
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          Kun Jr?

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          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            Yip. Benjamin. Only a childeen. Hopefully he'll never be under any pressure to be anything in life, they'll let him decide for himself if he even wants to kick a ball.

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        2. Grumpy Camel
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          kun jnr, messi godfather, pressure is a privilege or so they say.

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  11. Christina.
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    So Mark's last roll of the dice is to pick his third striker by looking at who plays Fulham? Gru this week.

    Bony next week.

    It's official. He has lost it.

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    1. Chris_White
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I got Kolarov in for a hit.

      I've lost it.

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      1. Chucky
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Did you captain him ? ๐Ÿ˜‰

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        1. Chris_White
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 11 months ago

          I'm not sure if waking up before the deadline was good or not. Changed it back to Suarez. Cue Kolarov 15 pointer and Suarez blank ๐Ÿ™

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          1. GREENDREAMS11
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 11 months ago

            I was seriously toying with putting it on him or even Navas funnily enough. Think Navas might give young John a horrible afternoon

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  12. Re'a Le Vaughn
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Do to think Aguero will be in line up for today?

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    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      No.

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      1. Scottys Army
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        +1

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    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Are the cops after him?

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  13. Chris_White
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Spurs - Citeh

    Goalfest or something like 0-1?

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    1. Breadbin
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      1-2 or 2-2, the former more likely.

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    2. CABAYE4
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Immediately thought goalfest but it never seems to work that way.

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  14. Adam Lallana makes Messi lo…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Say you can make a transfer upto 19:30 ....?

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    1. Adam Lallana makes Messi lo…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      On the 28th...

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    2. MCH
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      You can make transfers up 19:30 somewhere.

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  15. New Post
  16. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Thats right guys. Keep doubting ade for sturridge. I will gladly keep him in my team.

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  17. Your Mum's Athletic
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    So went out with a mate last night and got completely wasted, he stayed over in guest room. Wake up and he's not around, check his bed, he's PISSED the bed, he is 24! ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ˜€

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    1. Grumpy Camel
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      hard not to laugh, especially at him not cleaning it up

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    2. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Gotta love the culture these days. Get wasted and fked.

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  18. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    People who got aguero this early should really be punished. 20 minute game only 2 days ago and expecting him to start. That will be extremely lucky...

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  19. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    £30m for Luke Shaw...

    Is any team stupid enough to pay this??

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    1. El Berbossa - \\\"El b…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      The frozen one.

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  20. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Please Kun only come on for a 1 point cameo this week so those that wildcarded later will benefit

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    1. aehii
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      I didn't want to pay more for him.

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  21. copps
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    any reason why mignolet is protected?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Everyone is protected it seems except Aguero.

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  22. Mr Smith
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    Just noticed Clyne benched, what happened?

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    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 11 months ago

      Dropped.

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      1. Mr Smith
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 11 months ago

        Having just brought him in i'll fess up and say i jinxed it, sorry all ๐Ÿ˜†

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  23. michudagawd
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 11 months ago

    8 Scout Picks, can only end in tears. ๐Ÿ™‚

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