Podcast
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.

  1. Back on the horse
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What is the latest thinking on Cesc? Will he play deep or up for some big points hauls?

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

      i reckon he will score well regardless of the deep role or not

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

        I Disagree. He didn't score much for Barca so why should he start scoring now?? He is likely to play with Matic in the middle of the field.

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

          🙄

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

          He scored 28 in 96 for Barca. Not bad, considering I bet a lot of those weren't even full games!

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

            Don't forget the assists

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

            I bet at least 20 of those goals where in his first 50 games for Barca..

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

              I'll take 20 in his first 50 games for Chelsea.

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

                I would to. But he is not the same player he was 2-3 years ago.

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

                  He is only 27 😆

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

      Think Hazard is well worth the extra 1m.

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

      Both

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

    With all these uncertainties I'm going to have to wait for team news tomorrow and finalise my team drunk.

    Top 1k GW1 rank guaranteed 😎

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    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Thats the confidence of Ballotelli 🙂

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    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      It's funny isn't it? The more you look at your team the more you find reasons not to pick them.

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

        Sometimes I think the best thing to do is to pick your team in 5 minutes just before the season starts, then spend an hour or so looking into fixtures/lineups, make some amendments and done.

        Enjoy tinkering too much for that approach though.

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

      In my 1st season of Fpl and not knowing of this site I was inside rank 1200 1st gw 🙂 I did manage after that to make almost 90 transfers 🙂

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      1. Top Drawer Jeff
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Come along way since.... Thinking of going with this forward line...Wayne Rooney, Francis McGee & Diego Costa. Like it 🙂

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

        I'd really like to know how I was doing in my first season about halfway through. I had picked a load of the top scoring players at that point in GW1 or got on them very quickly afterwards plus I took no hits. Things fell apart in the second half but my overall rank must have been very good for a while.

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    4. Bolivian Seaman
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Not many will get 1k rank, it will be full of randoms like lamela/fletcher/bony teams

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

        After a few pints that might be mine 😉

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

        I reckon about a thousand will...

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  3. Magico
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Hy folks.

    What Hull defenders do you think are more nailed on?

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

      Davies, Chester.

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        What about Rosenior?

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

          Exactly.

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    2. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Davies

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

    Anyone getting Courtois?

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

      I am yes and doubling up with terry

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    2. Volk
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I always start my FPL campaign with the Chelsea goalkeeper since I am usually most confident in the Chelsea defence. However, this year I am not, based on my belief that Cech should remain first choice. The general consensus appears to favour Courtois; as good a goalkeeper as he obviously is, I personally prefer Cech.

      In short, it is uncertain. 🙂

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  5. Dynamic Duos
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    eriksen costa siggy or dzeko fabs de jong thougths plz?

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

    With the prospect of Palace being managed by Lennon, Mackay, Clark, Sherwood, or 50 foreign bucks with coaching licences, the stock of Palace defensive options has, sadly, fallen due to The Leek Protector's departure. See what I did there 😉

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    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Very good for a Mayo man! It might make palaces attacking prospects better though. Like Bolaise etc.

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

    Seems like everyone's thinking Sanchez needs some time to settle in EPL, while there's no such talk about Costa and everybody happily getting him in their teams.. What's the difference?

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    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Preseason having a huge say

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

      Costa has already "settled" in pre-season. It's still flawed logic, b/c the premier league is of a different intensity entirely to pre-season friendlies, but costa appears to have settled in fast based on his strong pre-season. Sanchez on the other hand hasn't played many minutes and hasn't scored. Plus costa' early fixtures are better.

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    3. Frank Black
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Chelsea was already a fantastic team that needed a great forward and a Fabregas. Arsenal is not Chelsea. There's your difference.

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    4. reubster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I have both, but I think Mourinho is more focused and decisive when it comes to communicating a game plan to his team. Wenger is more organic and takes longer to get the side working.

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    5. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Mourinho manages one and Wenger manages the other.

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

      Costa is a goalscorer. Before last season goalscoring wasn't Sanchez's forte.

      Costa is Chelsea's main goal threat whereas, a very pricy, Sanchez, plays in a team with a few decent goal threats from midfield and upfront, possibly a smaller share from a bigger pool of goalthreats.

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

        Costa wasn't really a great goal scorer before the last season either. Also, Chelsea's midfield has plenty of goal threat.

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

          True. I've argued that point with some, seems to be coming into his own though, although penalties make up a fair bit of his tally.
          Costa is a goalscorer though, whereas Sanchez is a converted winger, hence the popularity for both. I have neither. Too early to tell when you have proven FPL points merchants in this wildcard.

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  8. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Krul (Elliot)
    Debuchy - Cahill - Wisdom (Clyne,Moore)
    Mata - Sigurdsson - Young - Ramsey (Albrighton)
    Sturridge - Costa - Rooney

    What do we think?

    A) Cahill & Sig
    or

    B) Eriksen & PVA

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  9. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Telegraph game (30 transfers total so need to get this right!)

    Ramsey or Mata?

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

      Mata. And keep him in until the fixtures turn bad.

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

      Probably both.

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I can only afford 2 of Hazard, Mata and Ramsey

        Unless I downgrade one of my front three

        Rooney Sturridge Costa

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

          Ramsey probably. Since you have Rooney/

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

    Feck you Pulis.

    You've ruined my plans. 😡

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

      I don't think that he was wholly responsible ... 🙂

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

        I know.

        The timing is just so wrong.

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

          Ain't it just. 🙁

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

    Best 6.0 mil max strikers anyone?

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

      Krkic

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  12. GummiG
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Team after Pulis sacking:
    Bego - Gilks
    PJones - Debuchy - Naughton - Hutton - Moore
    Hazard - Sigurðsson - Mata - Ramsey - Wanyama
    Rooney - Costa - Jovetic

    Any thoughts? 0 in bank

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    1. An Púca
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Pjones...injury magnet

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  13. Spencer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I thought Kieth Millen did alright when he was in charge before Pulis came in. Might keep Ward and Kelly after all...

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

      Lazy.

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I am waiting GW4

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  14. RD84
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone think Diouf is worth .5 more than Austin? I have 1.5M left to play around with, and debating putting some of it there, but not totally sure...

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

      adebayor or jovetic?

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    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yep.

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

      Go for it

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

      No. Less.

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  15. The ghost of a Pug's g…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Silva or mata?

    I already have young and pig...

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

      Silva.

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

    De Gea
    Debuchy, Terry, Vertonghen (subs: Wisdom, Hutton)

    Don't know what to do with Vertonghen.
    Should I sell him? But who should I replace him with?

    I have no money in the bank.

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    1. RD84
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      If you are willing to potentially go a week without him, I think he'll be in GW2 and on.

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

    Ward and Fabregas>Clyne and Ramsey considering the recent developments?

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

      Ramsey is a must IMO

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

      For sure.

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

      u must be the only person around here without Ramsey

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  18. Razmataz
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    How am I looking?

    Krul Manone

    Wisdom Evans Cahill Lovren Shawcross

    Eriksen Arnautovic Siggy Mata Davis

    Costa Rooney Dzeko

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Well your gravatar is looking half decent

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    2. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      think u need fab or haz

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

      nice. 8.5

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

    Just to let you know....Sturridge without Suarez is a bigger FPL prospect....

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  20. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Jones or Debuchy

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

      Debuchy

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      1. Fernando Torres
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Or lovren?

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      J.

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    3. Frank Black
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Jones.

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    4. Steevo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Jones (and Chambers for ARS defence)

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

      Deb

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  21. Hawk Eye
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What MID & FWD pairing is better?
    A) Alexi Sanchez & Bojan
    B) Schürrle & Giroud

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    1. Steevo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      A

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    2. The Manbearpig
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      b

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

    A lot of folk don't seem tempted by Man City players. Is there a reason?

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

      Pricy and difficult, at this point, to name a settled 11.

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Com. S. game

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

        Is that some sort of code word?

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

      Their price.

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

    Howard, Begovic or Lloris?

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

      Bego.

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      L

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    3. Bad Pen
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I am tempted by Lloris but my initial decision was between Bego and Speroni so I'm probably going to follow that instinct.

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    4. Hawk Eye
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Begovic

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

    Eriksen or mata?

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      M

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

        🙁

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

      Mata.

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  25. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ok will try again. The case Blackett. Is he nailed on for 4 weeks as Granny is saying? Is he really gonna play for 4 weeks? Can't be Valencia from one side and Young from the other? Or they will soon sign Blind/ Rojo?

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

      when evans comes back he'll be benched imo

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

        Evans will play this weekend

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

      4 weeks?!!! really. Valencia surely back

      otherwise maybe I go chambers/blackett 😀

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

      When they get duffed by Swansea he will be dropped

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    4. NapalmDeath (Northern Chaos…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Blackett/Evans play in a back 3. Young and Valencia aren't part of the back 3 and won't affect game time of the defenders.

      The ones contesting the wing back positions are Shaw (inj.) and James (inexperienced).

      In short, Blackett should play until Evans returns.

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

    pick only one...

    Hazard, Mata, Fabregas...

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

      jovetic or adebayor?

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

        giroud!

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    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      H

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

      Hazard

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

      Mata

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    5. bodsc
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Hazard.

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  27. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What's everyone doing with their Palace defensive assets?

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    1. Respect My Authoritah
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Sold to Clyne. Keeper was already a risk with Hennessey lurking

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

      I think I'm keeping...

      Stoke stayed defensive for a little bit after Pulis. It won't be a sudden change imo.

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

        This.

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

      dumping

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

      Changed half my defence.

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  28. Respect My Authoritah
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A) Hazard + Jovetic/Dzeko

    or

    B) Silva + Costa

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

      B

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  29. Bod
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Guys I've change every player in my team at least 3 times in the last hour to the extent I can't even remember who was in it when I started, thoughts?

    Green (speroni)
    Debuchy - jones - Ferdinand (oshea , Williamson)
    Yaya - hazard - coutinho - A Young - Marney
    Costa - Sturridge - sanogo

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

      Where's Wayne??

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

      I'd punt Sanogo.

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

      take sanogo out. Jones and ferdinand are just injuries waiting to happen. Very risky going without rooney

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

      Cheers for the replies, yeah Rooney is a risk not having but he's an easy swap with Costa if it all goes horribly wrong.

      Point taken about Ferdinand and jones.

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

    Best budget striker

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