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. BenDavies
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Please Bojan do well.
    That is all.

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

      Here's hoping

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    2. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Awkward price if he flops....

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  2. King Huth
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    please help my final dillema before game day!!!

    A. Sterling Young

    B. Lamela Hendo/Siggy

    Note: I have sturiddge mata rooney

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    1. King Huth
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      any reply frm anyone? :S

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

        c) Eriksen + Siggy

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      2. The Miracle Man
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        B

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    2. King Kaka
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Eriksen and Siggy for me too

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    3. King Huth
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      thanks guys... was on B the whole time... but young-wagon is just so tempting and BR favorism on sterling is just making me swing

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

        How much a coach likes a player doesn't always turn into points..

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  3. john25
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Repost

    How does my final team look guys?

    Begovic - 4.0

    Chester - Lovren - Naylor - PVA - Hutton

    Mata - Ramsey - Siggy - Hazard - Marney

    Costa - Dzeko - Rooney

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    1. King Kaka
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Same front 8 as me, but gone Krul/Foster/Chambers over Bego/4.0/PVA; ergo, I think its a strong squad.

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

    Would you make any changes to this team? Weak at the back but thats my style...

    http://tinypic.com/r/2959vn9/8

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

      DDG - 4.0

      Chester - Colicinni - Clyne - Moore - Baird

      Mata - Ramsey - Eriksen - Hazard - Siggy

      Costa - Rooney - Bojan

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

        Quite similar to mine, although I have gone for a slightly stronger back line. Although that might change since I am missing Ramsey at the moment.

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

          Cheers for the feedback, much appreciated.. Who would you lose to beef up the defence??

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      2. King Kaka
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Good to go imho

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  5. President John F. Keninnsie
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ward fitted in so well with the rest of my defence 🙁 Time to start again 🙁

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

      Caulker, Davies, clyne - some nice 5.0 options

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      1. President John F. Keninnsie
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Already have them or defenders from those teams.

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      2. Your Mum Zohore
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        What about Lovren, is he a bad pick? Should be nailed on, good in the air, etc.

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    2. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      My team was all set yesterday with Ward in there. Now I'm taking a punt with Kelly instead, at least it saves me 0.5

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

      I remember defense being so much easier last year. I also remember sabotaging it with transfers

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    4. Zep
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'm happy enough with the Caulker/Clyne rotation...

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      1. President John F. Keninnsie
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Clyne is playable for the first third of the season himself though...

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

          2, 4, 8, 10, 11, 16, 18... those are the games I need Caulker cover...

          Clyne is the best fit...

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      2. Venom Snake
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Rotation? You can play clyne every week for about 2 months after Liverpool 😕

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

          Each to their own...

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

            My plan takes into account that rotations barely ever work, so I've deliberately bumped up the defense in anticipation of that happening...

            Once I see how it goes I'll change accordingly...

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  6. Lord Flashheart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Here is the love for tadic?

    Can be great from gw2 no?

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    1. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      No 1 player on my watchlist, could be very very handy

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

        Agreed

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

      😎

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

    How can I free up .5 to do Davis to Young?

    Bego 4.0
    Terry Kaboul Clyne PVA Moore
    Sanchez Hazard Sterling Eriksen
    Rooney Jovetic Bojan

    Other than Sanchez 🙂

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    1. Venom Snake
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Kaboul to a 4.5 of your choice

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      1. @BigChrisso
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Agree, is Kaboul even nailed on? Spurs back line all over the shop.

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

        Makes sense. I just feel driven to fit Poch's defense in there somehow.

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        1. @BigChrisso
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          wait until his first choice LB is determind and go there. Or pluck up the 6.0 mil for Vert

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

            I've toyed with the idea. Thanks 🙂

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  8. Your Mum Zohore
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Hi guys, team is almost done, just need one last defender to complete it:

    Debuchy PVA Moore Bartley $5.5

    Please help =)

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    1. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Caulker (pocket the 0.5)

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

        Who is your goalie? I see more value at 4.5... Jones if you don't have DDG

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        1. Your Mum Zohore
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Mannone/Krul will rotate them

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        2. @BigChrisso
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Man U haven't finished shopping for CB's. DDG or nothing in the Man U backline i would suggest

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

      Could do Debuchy PVA 4.5 4.5 4.5

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      1. Your Mum Zohore
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Could do that, but 4.5 defenders will make my pool of options bigger and confuse me even more lol

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  9. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    My biggest decision right now - whatcha reckon fellas?

    A) Mata & Dzeko

    B) Young & Sturridge

    A seems more balanced but B offers a genuine captaincy option and both of B have been in good form pre season.

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    1. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Prefer B)

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

      A

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

      a

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  10. Acquafresca
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Should I continue writing my weekly captaincy articles on my blog this season?

    Speak now or forever hold your peace.

    http://elitefpl.blogspot.ca/

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

      Keep em coming Acqua!!

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    2. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Do it already!

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

      Enjoyed them on Total FPL last year

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

      do it

      have you stopped writing for tfpl?

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    5. King Kaka
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Definitely.

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

        Kaka real smooth... whats ur starting line-up if you dont mind?? ur team is similar to mine nd it looks like u've got a good pedigree

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        1. King Kaka
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Krul/Foster
          Lovren/Naylor/Chambers/Chester/Wisdom
          Hazard/Mata/Ramsey/Siggy/Marney
          Costa/Rooney/Dzeko

          Gks and front 8 set in stone, undecided on backline. WIll probably end up going with more nailed on 4.5s than Naylor/Chambers.

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  11. Nicko87
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    First year playing who is PVA?

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

      Van Aanholt

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    2. SENTI CAZORLA
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Patrick van Aanholt

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    3. Zep
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Paddy van Aalholt, Sunderland's sticky left back...

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      1. Nicko87
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks lads

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  12. footballoholic
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Why is everyone going with Foster over Mannonne? Is he not nailed on to start?

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    1. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      fixtures as well

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  13. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just over 5 hours to go for anyone who wants to play the Dead Team Challenge...

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2014/08/13/the-dead-team-challenge/

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    1. President John F. Keninnsie
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I'm guessing we can't edit our team after the 5 hours?

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

        You can change it up until the deadline...

        After that I'll need time to input all the data into the spreadsheet, so I won't be able to accept any changes...

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        1. President John F. Keninnsie
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Ok. I'll swap Ward for someone else soon.

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

          which deadline? your deadline or the fpl deadline?

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

            My deadline... you entered a team yet?

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

              not yet... hopefully i remember to do it before i go to bed in a couple hours

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

                Maybe you should do it now then... 😉

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    2. Najoman86
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Hey Zep, I would be keen on getting a dead team going. Great idea!
      Once I've locked a team in, shall I just paste it in the dead team comp. post?

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

        Yes mate, post it in the link as a comment...

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        1. Najoman86
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Will do! Cheers!

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  14. Najoman86
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Hey all! Are we going with the GK rotation with a spend of £9.0-£9.5m - Foster/Krul, Begovic/Krul etc? Or, is it the 5.5m GK lock in DDG with a non-playing £4.0m the preferred option?

    I'm currently on a Begovic/Krul rotation, but deliberating over DDG/£4.0m combo

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

      I think DDG + 4.0 if you are spending 9.5... id do Krul + another 4.5 if you want to save money

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  15. @BigChrisso
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Going with this team, thanks to all DZ posters, it really is my favourite time of the year to post (pre season) and the DZ operates in a way where really discussion happen:

    Bego / Gilks

    Terry / Chambers / Caulker / PvA / Moore

    Marney / Mata / Fab / Ramsey / Young

    Costa / Rooney / Jovetic

    Cheers all and go well....

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

      🙂 looks good.

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      1. Angin out the Begović
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        no liverpool ?

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        1. @BigChrisso
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          fixtures (& Europe) plus you cant have em all....

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  16. Deicide
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I think i found my team:

    Bego Gilks

    Debu Lovren Evans PVA Baird

    Hazard Ramsey Mata Henderson Westwood

    Austin D.Costa Rooney

    Thoughts?

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

      Is austin nailed on? With zamora and remy there...

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    2. @BigChrisso
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Like it - is westwood a regular (genuine question) ?

      Perhaps 1 player to heavy at the back price wise (3 x 5.5).

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  17. The Darkest Knight
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Irrespective of price.... do you guys prefer BOJAN OR DIOUF?

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

      BOJAN

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

        Diouf is playing in advance role than bojan?

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

      Diouf by a fair margin.

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    3. Najoman86
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Opening the season with Diouf in my side. Leading the line almost exclusively for Stoke/less competition. Worth the additional £1.0m over Bojan for mine

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

        I am also going with Diouf at the moment

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  18. Kevtheotter
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Interesting one

    A) Caulker Fab Dzeko
    B) Cahill De Jong/Cabella Dzeko
    C) Cahill Silva Riviere

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  19. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Players i am scared of not owning. Sanchez and Hazard!

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

      I dont have sanchez... As he doesn't seems settled...
      get hazard...!

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

      And Yaya, Fabregas, Mata and Sturridge.

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

      same

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

      Bojan lol

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  20. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Dzeko, Giroud or Bony for the first few games?

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

      Forget bony...
      get dzeko or giroud... Depends on your midfield

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  21. gatherjunk
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    A) Clyne and Mata

    or

    B) Fonte and Sterling

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

      Clyne and mata... 100%

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

    Greetings from Washington State !
    If you all don't mind I could use some feedback on my team.

    Begovic

    Debuchy, Lovren, Caulker

    Mata, Ramsey, Eriksen, Fabregas

    Austin, Rooney, Costa

    Myhill, O' Shea, Wisdom, Wanyama

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  23. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Okay so I just realised I can afford to do a straight swap of
    Eriksen to Young
    Dzeko to Sturridge

    😯

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

      F u... so can i.. i'm going mad here.

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  24. Angin out the Begović
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Whos the best current 4.5 Midfielder ?

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

      Marney

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

      Stretch an extra 0.5 and get Davis.

      I predict a big season for him this year.

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  25. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Innsie bud!..How does your team look?

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    1. President John F. Keninnsie
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      It looked good until Pulis left 🙁 My main dilemma currently is Hazard v Fabregas and whether or not I should punt on Chambers/Naughton or play it safe. Jovetic is in my third striker spot but I'm not feeling too happy with that 😕 How's your team shaping up mate?

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      1. Blue Lion
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I know...what you mean!!

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  26. The Miracle Man
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Think Iam going with Schurrle ... High rotation risk but might just get the reward .

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  27. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Has Pulis taken Wards legs with him or something?

    Why everyone ditching?

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

      what pulis did last season what nothing short of a miracle. got absolutely no faith anyone else can fill those shoes. bye bye palace

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

      I think most people were just waiting for an excuse to drop to a 4.5 defender.

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  28. Zoom Zoom
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Please RMT. Would especially value any thoughts on "better" budget defense options (2 in the 4.5 range, 2 in the 4.0 range)

    Begovic (Krul)
    Debuchey, Wisdom, Hutton (Collocini, Neil Taylor)
    Hazard, Fabregas, Mata, Tadic (Sigurdsson)
    Rooney, Costa, Bojan

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  29. The Dinkum Donuts
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Any help on this one appreciated

    A) Sturridge and Young

    B) Jovetic and Mata

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  30. Bggz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    my front three. have i lost my mind?

    Bojan
    Rooney
    Nugent

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

      Yes

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