Podcast

The ScoutCast – Episode 133 – Beginnings

14 August 2014 7186 comments
Mark Mark
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A new beginning. On the eve of a new campaign, two grumpy middle-aged has-beens gather in a studio to recall the summer’s feast of football and look ahead to another Fantasy season, full of hope.

There’s no frills. No live video cast. No special guests. Just Granville and I, stripped back and almost unplugged.

Don’t let that put you off, though. Even with our limited powers we at least attempt to cut through the issues currently rattling around in the minds of Fantasy managers.

We assess the Old Trafford revolution, the world without Suarez and the merits of the three-man strike force. We slice through the current transfer trends and weigh up matters such as the Sigurdsson/Bojan rotation, Fagregas vs Hazard and the Chelsea back four conundrum. We also manage to warm up with a nice little argument about the Alexis Sanchez bandwagon – the traditional pre-season barney.

Be there at the birth via this link, or witness the new dawn via the handy player below.

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

7,186 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. copps
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    atm i have bego/4.0m but feel uncomfortable about it. seeing one of those lineups where the keeper is mysteriously not there at late notice will suck.

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  2. RmS
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Sorry chaps. Very poor form I know. But I need to choose one of these two teams.

    I am aware neither is great, but the issue is which one is less not great ? Ta ......

    Begovic

    Caulker Trippier Moore

    Toure Snodgrass Arnautovic Ramsey

    Rooney Costa Pelle

    Begovic

    Baines Caulker Moore

    Snodgrass Ramsey Delph Arnautovic Fabregas

    Rooney Costa

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    1. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      you must surely have a lot in the bank with these teams?

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    2. Trigg ⭐️
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      The second one, but get Baines out of there for a Chelsea def and strengthen your midfield.

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    3. Aston Villa-Boas
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      A is not as bad I think? may want to rework a bit though...

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      1. RmS
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I like A I think, it's Sky not FPL. Its not great to be fair but all my pals have signed up (old FPL veteran struggling with youngsters and their new fangled way's)

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  3. Mílanista
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    *changes defence*

    AGAIN

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    1. WWW.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Because of Pulis leaving...?

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      1. Mílanista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Yep.

        No Pulis, no Palace.

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      2. hassan158
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        You do realise they will probably deploy the same tactics for the first few GW's. The assistant manager is likely to take charge and he won't change the team up to much. Once they find a permanent replacement then its time to ditch CPL defenders imo.

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        1. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I don't want to have a Palace defender as part of a rotation if I feel I'll need to sell after a few weeks. Will be more pressing transfers

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        2. Manamongst
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I just assumed that everyone that had a Palace defender was benching them this week anyway...so why should it matter at this juncture? Hell the wait and see approach seems most prudent at this point no?

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    2. FPL Touches
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Treat yourself to a five-way instead.

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      1. Mílanista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        3 big, 2 4m

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        1. FPL Touches
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Safety first, Terry, Mangala, Debuchy?

          Those 3 could stay for the season.

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          1. Mílanista
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Umm... yeah mine are very safe 😉

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    3. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      if transfers counted from the start i would be on about a 200 point hit right now, about 100 of that from defence changes

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  4. Method man
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Silva and fab

    Or

    Eriksen and hazard

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    1. Return Of Chamakh
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Eriksen and Hazard for me! Way more exciting

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  5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Manamongst?

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  6. hassan158
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Do you guys think its worth Downgrading Ward to Kelly?

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    1. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      i am but not 100% sure on it. kelly will pick up as many assists as ward if he plays.

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    2. FPL Touches
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

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    3. Shipstontrev
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I did that two hours ago, so yes.

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      1. hassan158
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        What makes you so sure that he will play?

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    4. hassan158
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      What makes you guys so sure that Kelly will play?

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  7. davies
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    How well do Sunderland and Hull rotate?

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    1. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Check the ticker

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    2. tw
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gn280a6EMMxCvIQ5own-B4Zd4H_EsYudliY2HpXLVnM/edit#gid=1462765500

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      1. Strawberry Jelavic
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Excellent work!!

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  8. FC Tinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    After tinkering for a few weeks I have reverted to almost *exactly* my first team on launch day.

    Krul - Foster
    Luis - Clyne - O’Shea - Coloccini - Wisdom
    Hazard - Mata - Eriksen - Henderson - Wanyama
    Rooney © - Costa - Dzeko

    1.) Rotating save-point-hogging GKs
    2.) Luis and Henderson shameless punts, easily transfered in GW 2 and 3 if they fail.
    3.) Rotating cheap defenders guaranteed to play.
    4.) Hazard, Rooney © choices for GW 1-6
    5.) Likeliest transfer: Henderson or Luis + Costa for Aguero and whoever cheapo gets a decent price rise. Definitely want Aguero before his price starts rising GW3.

    What’s my point? Don’t second guess your instincts.

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    1. MarvelouSuccess
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Downgrade Foster to Gilk/Elliot. Luis to Cahill. Colo to Caulker. That's it. Good team mate.

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      1. FC Tinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Good suggestion, actually. I expect WBA to do badly this year. Thanks!

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  9. Tinmen
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    There must be something badly wrong at Swansea and Villa if Bartley and Hutton are expected to start..

    Are there people injured or are they the best they've have got?

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    1. MarvelouSuccess
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      They're the cheaper option. They are also the best to use for the price.

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  10. shiffo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Are there some 4m defenders that should be more or less assured of playing at least the first few gameweeks? Duff? anyone else? thanks

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    1. lifes a pitch
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      a few Wisdom, Hutton, Bruce.
      ask Evs, he's familiar with em all.

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      1. shiffo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        great thanks

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  11. Ferguson
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Fletcher or Austin?

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Fletcher is the better player but too injury prone for me

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  12. lifes a pitch
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    how are Krul/Elliot owners feeling about GW1?

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    1. Geordienufc1
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      As a Krul/Elliot owner AND a Newcastle fan, GW 1 promises to be a treat 😛

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      1. lifes a pitch
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Man City must be reeling after Arse beating. Hopefully Newcastle kick em while they're down, but i fear the worst.

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  13. CCaddy
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    11.5 5th midfielder, 3rd striker rotation pair anyone?

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    1. DynamoTomato
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      im struggling with this idea myself. Going with more expensive striker and cheap midfielder Giroud and James.

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

    What do folk think of this team?? This is my first draft.

    Mannone (Krul)
    Chambers Jones Lovren (Ferdinand Wisdom)
    Mata Ramsey Silva Henderson (James)
    Costa Rooney Giroud

    Not sure of 4.5 James. Should i even midfield out a bit more?

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    1. MarvelouSuccess
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Silva to Eriksen. Lovren to Cahill. Good team though 😛

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      1. MarvelouSuccess
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Or Silva to Fabregas if you prefer it.

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        1. DynamoTomato
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Cheers. Think i fancy fabregas more.

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  15. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    In the first 6 GWs of last season, when Suarez was absent, Sturridge was involved in 88% of Liverpool goals.

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      😯

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    2. DynamoTomato
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      impressive stat. too expensive for me.

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    3. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      😆

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      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      but how many did they actually score...

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        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        i.e. 60% of 20 goals is better than 88% of 10.

        how much creativity has been lost..

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        1. Piggs Boson
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          7 goals out of 8.

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

      Midfield and Forwards as it stands now?

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Mata - Ramsey - Lamela - Siggy - 4.5
        Rooney - Sturridge - Costa

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Madness. 🙂

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        2. copps
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          wow thats a very good attack

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        3. Mílanista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          That must be some defence 🙂

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          1. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Kelly(?) - Van Aanholt - Clyne - Chester - Hutton

            🙂

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        4. Optimus.
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Tasty,I've looked at similar,no defence ftw 🙂

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        5. lifes a pitch
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Mata-Ramsey-Siggy-Young-4.5
          Ronney-Costa-Sturridge

          its the way to be

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          1. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            But difficult to transition out of when Valencia and Shaw are fit...

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        6. Method man
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Who is defence?

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          1. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            See above ^

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          2. lifes a pitch
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Terry, Debuchy+ 3 rotators

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    6. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yup his goals per game was significantly higher when suarez didnt play too. also his run when suarez was banned at the end of the previous season he was hitting hattricks and all sorts

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  16. amol
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    RMT thoughts?
    Begovic
    Lovren Clyne Luis (Cameron Wisdom)
    Hazard Ramsey Mutch Sterling (Marney)
    Diouf Sturridge Rooney

    0.5 itb

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    1. DynamoTomato
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Nice! I have gone with Costa myself but dont have Hazard. no city coverage?

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      1. amol
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I might go for Jovetic for Diouf

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  17. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Krul/Foster or Bego/4.0?

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    1. Pav A Nice Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Bego/4.0

      But if Poyet comes out tomorrow and tells us who he's playing in goal (please Gus, give us just this one), then I'd go Krul/Mannone or Pantilimon

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      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I don't fancy Krul/Mannone. They don't actually rotate that well in terms of fixture difficulty. I would be tempted to just go Mannone/4.0 and save .5 though

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        1. Pav A Nice Day
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah but at the end of the day you're never really gonna want to be transferring your goalkeepers, these 2 could be season keepers. Mannone did really well last season with all the saves and a moderate defence and Krul is playing for a team with a good shout at finishing 8th

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      2. copps
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        i dont like sunderlands home games at all. cant see any match where id want to play mannone

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    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Bego/Green

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      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Too expensive. And I have Caulker

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    3. MarvelouSuccess
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Begovic and a 4.0. Stoke have better opening fixtures.

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  18. Pav A Nice Day
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Kelly or Chester.

    I can see Hull struggling this season and doing a Swansea with the added Europa League pressure on their squad.

    Then again, Crystal Palace...well we all know

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  19. colin1981
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ok, two last decisions, help please...

    a) Sigurdsson, Snodgrass and Austin (as three into two rotation)
    VS
    b) Sigurdsson, Albrighton and Remy (with Albrighton as bench fodder)

    AND

    a) Cameron and Chester
    VS
    b) Ben Davies and Michael Duff

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B and maybe B... Davies isn't nailed on

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  20. yer old da
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Giroud plus 3 x 4.0m defenders to rotate for one slot

    Or

    Austin/Bojan and beef up the defence significantly?

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  21. Mr. Greedy
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Which is better?

    A) Terry + Arnie
    Or
    B) Debuchy + Eriksen

    I have Cahill in as well if that makes a difference.

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B

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  22. Konig Luther
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Cahill or Azpi

    And pick TWO from: Sterling, Eriksen, Hazard, Fabregas (except both chelsea mids)

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    1. Pav A Nice Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Cahill

      Hazard and Sterling

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      1. Konig Luther
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        thanks

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  23. RoyaleBlue
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Is it crazy to go Haz and lamela over fab and Mata

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    1. Pav A Nice Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      No. Hazard will very likely top score out of all of those and Lamela is a good punt, maybe risky considering you have Eriksen right there as well. Fabregas could be the assister to the assister playing in such a deep role

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  24. Evans
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ufpl anyone ?

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    1. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yep. More so than FPL

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  25. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Everyone tripling on Arsenal now?

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Chambers/Debuchy/Ramsey

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      1. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Nice.

        You'll get a good headstart.

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    2. Rats Ass
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Ramsey for captain!

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    3. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      still 0 players

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  26. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    do you think europa league means chester potentially rotated?

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      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      potential

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    2. Pav A Nice Day
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yes big worry especially with all their centre backs, Bruce, Figueroa, Mcguire, McShane,

      I'm very tempted to stick with Kelly for a little while

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    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      No, and even if he was, the PL is more important.

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  27. kennethrhcp
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Young worth a punt for a few weeks?

    if I downgrade Mata to Young it gives me lots to play with upgraded my backline

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Get both and play with yourself

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      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Onanism!!! 😀

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      2. kennethrhcp
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        always a pleasure WR 😉

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    2. Pea Soup
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      My problem with picking Ashley Young is being left with Ashley Young

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      1. kennethrhcp
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        100% this 🙂

        might just go back to plan A & go with Sterling...

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        1. Return Of Chamakh
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Keep hold of Mata I reckon, got a feeling he will smash this season!

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  28. BT31 - WE ARE ALL TINKERMEN…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A) Jovetic & Sterling

    or

    B) Costa & Henderson

    ?

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    1. kennethrhcp
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B for Costa, I don't like Hendo

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    2. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      B in my opinion

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  29. Gorgles
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Does Diouf mean that Bojan isn't nailed any more???

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  30. Pea Soup
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    So... it all boils down to this for me....

    I) Lamella & Taylor

    or...

    II) Lovren & Siggy

    What do you reckon?

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