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Dugout Discussion March 21

Son and Grealish absent as Bale is benched for final Blank Gameweek 29 match

1,164 Comments
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Son Heung-min (£9.4m) and Jack Grealish (£7.5m) will both sit out the final match of Blank Gameweek 29, while Gareth Bale (£9.7m) begins this evening’s clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur on the bench.

Kick-off at Villa Park is at 19:30 GMT.

Bale’s demotion from the Spurs starting XI is a blow to the legions of Fantasy Premier League managers who bought the Welshman ahead of Gameweek 29.

The winger was the subject of more transfers in (771,282) than any other player ahead of Friday’s deadline.

The most-sold FPL asset of the round, Son, hasn’t recovered from the muscle injury that forced him off in the north London derby last Sunday.

Son and Bale are among four players in Jose Mourinho’s Gameweek 28 line-up who miss out this afternoon, with the benched Matt Doherty (£5.6m) and the absent Toby Alderweireld (£5.4m) the others to make way.

Spurs confirmed that Alderweireld and Serge Aurier (£5.2m) both miss out through illness today.

In come Carlos Vinicius (£6.9m), Japhet Tanganga (£4.9m), Joe Rodon (£5.0m) and Giovani Lo Celso (£6.9m).

There’s no rest for Harry Kane (£11.5m) after his 120-minute run-out on Thursday: the England striker, captained by over two million FPL bosses tonight, starts.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has made two changes following his side’s draw with Newcastle United over a week ago.

Matty Cash (£5.0m) and Morgan Sanson (£5.5m) start, with Ahmed El Mohamady (£4.3m) and Jacob Ramsey (£4.5m) dropping out.

Despite the positive noises about Grealish in Smith’s pre-match press conference, the Villa talisman misses his sixth successive league match.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Sanson, Traore, Watkins, Trezeguet.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Vinicius, Kane, Moura.

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1,164 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Any words from Jose on Bale ?

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    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      He said something about agent's influence, rubbish he doesn't need to say. Bale good to play for Wales though.

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      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        So Bale/Jose must have had a falling out? He was making a point by leaving him benched.

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        1. FPL Daniel
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          He'll play him next game then. I think he was punishing for Dinamo Zagreb

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          1. GreennRed
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Bale is behaving like a clown. Should be the best player in the Premier League and a role model for the young Spurs players. Wasting his talent.

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            1. Hotdogs for Tea
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              what has Bale done ?

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              1. GreennRed
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Not enough.

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                1. Hotdogs for Tea
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 7 months ago

                  but you said he was behaving like a clown ? i don’t know what he has actually done wrong to support that view from you ?

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                  1. GreennRed
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 7 months ago

                    You don't think a world class footballer should be the first name on the team sheet for a fairly average Spurs team?

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                    1. Hotdogs for Tea
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 7 months ago

                      that doesn’t mean he has been behaving like a clown though ?

                      If his manager doesn’t pick him what is Bale to do ?

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        2. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Who knows. What goes on within the team should stay within the team. Like watching Coronation Street when he's being interviewed, narcissist.

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  2. 7rjngs lollygagger
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Strange to think Spurs have made ground on Chelsea over the last 5 matches.

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  3. FPL_Hazards
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is Eve/avl the only game to be re-arranged??

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    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Tot vs Sot too

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Any guesses when?

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        1. tbos83
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          There's a school of thought that they'll save them until the end when fans are back

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    2. jtreble
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No, lots of games could be rearranged. Suggest you follow Crellin on Twitter.

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  4. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Amongst all the high FH scores of 70-80 or even more, is my 59 alright I feel?
    Still got my FH left for a rainy day

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    1. Kanga roo
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nice flex. You know the answer.

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    2. Bennerman
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A rainy day, interesting strategy. I usually try to employ it during sleet and/or snow

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  5. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    20 pts more then top 10K.

    That is a success FH IMO even with benching Bamford. Him being yellow flagged made me risk it

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What is your threshold for Success of the FH chip? I am happy with 20 on FH, 15 on TC and 25 on BB

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      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        dont be so hard on yourself

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      2. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        20 is meh
        30+ is great which is what makes it so situational.

        My non FH team would have got 30-35 depending on last min transfer decisions. My FH scored 97 so I’ll put that down as freakish luck and run manically laughing off into the distance

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        1. TomSaints
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          My TC stunk with 7 (21) though that topped mane / Sane previous years!

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        2. FPL Daniel
          • 15 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          That's super rare

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      3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        It depends on your rank and your team.
        Also what you consider a good season based on how you did so far. And also how you have done in the past.

        I am pleased enough with my 68 even though I have Bamford second sub. It takes me to 440k ish. Which I am happy with because I was 1m plus for most of the season.
        I am aiming for 250k this season which is my target as it is respectable, considering how badly I did for so long this year.

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    2. The Red Devil
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What's the top10k average?

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      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        47

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        1. The Red Devil
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Ah, I'd thought it'd be 50+
          My 59 without FH feels quite nice now
          With a FH in the back pocket

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          1. Christina.
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            well played

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            1. The Red Devil
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Thanks mate

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          2. Bennerman
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Back pocket, interesting strategy. I keep mine in a bespoke velvet bag

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            1. The Red Devil
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 7 months ago

              Naah, that's for WCs
              FH should be in the back pocket to reveal it quickly as a surprise

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              1. Bennerman
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 7 months ago

                Fair point, fair point.
                Lots of good advice on here

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    3. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      What was top 10K? 86 points free hit here think I must be pretty high GW rank but don’t know how to check

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      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        https://www.livefpl.net/rank

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        1. Jambot
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Thanks

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  6. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Thinking for the rest of the season to C a differential.
    This week I moved from Kane to Lingz & finally got a decent green.

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    1. Big Ping
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      It's what I'm doing now in a desperate bid to catch my rivals, went Trossard this week so a good start, considering Digne for next week....

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  7. DonBenzema
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    How Watkins still is in my team is beyond me... he’s so baaad

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    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Shifting for Nacho here 😉

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      1. DonBenzema
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Wanting to do the same but they are however playing City next...

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    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Nailed and gets 90 minutes every week though at least.

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  8. waldo666
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Providing Son get ups for next GW I will look to finally use BB, how's this look? Will transfer Dunk to someone with a more favourable fixture.

    Pope Antonio Coufal Dunk

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  9. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is 56 points with 4 fransfers (- 12) okay?

    Why did El Ghazi did not start? I thought that he is nailed when Grealish will not play.

    Last week I thought for hours about whether I should bring El Ghazi or Trossard into the team. This game is very lucky.

    Thank you!

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    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      https://www.livefpl.net/rank

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    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Is the 56 before or after transfer hits?

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  10. dmcnam12
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Start one of these 3:

    A) Antonio (WOL)
    B) Gundo (LEI)
    C) Stones (LEI)

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    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A

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    2. waldo666
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      A but really wouldn't want to leave Gundo on the bench.

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    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      B

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  11. SADIO SANÉ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    that Reguilon subbing followed by Kane pen was the most FPL thing ever

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I liked bamford on Friday, looked like he was going off injured and stays on for goal and assist before hobbling off!

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    2. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Should have been off earlier. Hopefully his injury isn't too bad.

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  12. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Bale has to go right? Wildcard in 31 - so who is best 1 week punt?

    A....Bruno v Brighton

    B....havertz v what

    C....someone else

    Martinez
    Dias cancelo dallas (coufal dunk)
    Son bale mount raphinha (lingard)
    Kane dcl watkins

    Thanks

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    1. WVA
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Gundogan

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      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Leicester away tough

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    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Liverpool mid vs. Arsenal could work!

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    3. Igz08
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I do fancy Salah

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  13. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    What happened to Reguilon?

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Got a kick on his foot and hobbled around for 5mins before going off

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      1. Bennerman
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        And did a hilarious melodramatic pratfall before being subbed

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    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Tackled on ankle and cried like a girl for 3 mins then subbed off. Absolute drama queen

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    3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I brought him on the FH - and it caused him back pain. It also caused a Villa player to stand on his foot.

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  14. Pat Bonner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    64 without FH or any hits. Delighted with a green arrow considering

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    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      same here
      well played

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      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Nice one! Was just thinking of damage limitation this week, would’ve taken a grey arrow

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        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Nah, I planned for this and my BB 4 weeks ago with 2nd WC.
          Paid off.
          Highest OR of the season and might sneak into top 10k still with a bit of luck and a magic TC

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    2. FPL_Hazards
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      71 with just a 12 pt hit

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      1. The Knights Template
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        83 or 59?

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    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      61 here with same scenario.

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    4. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      56(-4) from my six players got me from 14.4k to 13.3k much to my surprise, as reading on these pages sort of convinces one that everybody else got full team out! Need the international break to consider team till end of season with no chips!

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    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Lovely mate. I only managed 54 with no FH or hits. But at least a small green arrow and scraped inside top 50k.

      Issue now is I have Bale, Dunk, Son and no Salah, Bruno or Chelsea

      GW31 WC though

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    6. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      58 from 8 players here. No hits taken. More than happy with that.

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  15. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Early thoughts on whether should replace Watkins (FUL) for Bamford (SHU) before WC31?

    Transfer would otherwise be a luxury one like bringing in Shaw for another defender who could easily do well.

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    1. Pat Bonner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Keep bamford for sure. Watkins could maybe go but depends who you get in

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      1. Gandalf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Meant doing Watkins > Bamford possibly to cover another potential haul and Watkins not in that good form

        Got a benching headache for GW30 in any case unless Son still out..

        Bruno, Son, Bale, Lingard, Raphinha
        Kane, DCL, Watkins/Bamford

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  16. GreennRed
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is Vinicius the head off of John Carew?

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  17. NETFLIX & CHILWELL
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Could have been much better but could have been much worse if Laca, Kane and Moura didn't score well today.

    Probably lost 15-20 points worth of ground on the guys around me, but I'm reasonably OK with that.

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    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Moura 🙂

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  18. Salah_Fingers
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Is Coufal to cresswell worth it or keep the £1.5 to upgrade elsewhere?

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    1. waldo666
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Just keep, Coufal pretty unlucky not to register an assist today.

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    2. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Have you 5 playing defenders and are you playing Coufal most gameweeks?

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      1. Salah_Fingers
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yes

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        1. Salah_Fingers
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          I've just taken 1st in ml but 2nd has cresswell and is 12 points behind

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    3. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      For me he is

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  19. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Up to 3.5 k. It's getting real yall.

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    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Lovely hurling 🙂

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  20. DAZZ
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    53 with 10 players including Bale Burn no shows and Martinez Struijk Watkins Auba blanks. Lingz (C) Antonio and Raph single handedly saved my GW

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  21. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Not the best week but it really couldve been worse. Words cant describe how pissed off I wouldve been if Martinez had saved Kane's pen

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  22. DonBenzema
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I know that this is a bit premature ahead of a big break, but who would you bench out these next GW?

    Areola (avl), Martinez (FUL)
    Dias (lei), Shaw (BHA), Rudiger (WBA), Targett (FUL), Struijk (SHU)
    Fernandes (BHA), KDB (lei), Son (new), Lingard (wol), Raphinha (SHU)
    Kane (new), Bamford (SHU), Watkins (FUL)

    Wish I had BB left...

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    1. GreennRed
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Areola, Watkins, Strujik, Son

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      1. PapaWengzz
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Bench Son vs Newcastle??

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        1. GreennRed
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Son is injured and out of form besides. Who would you drop?

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  23. Don Kloppeone
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Small green from 54pts no hits. Up to 49k now. Is a hit before a WC just silly?

    Obviously lots of time to tinker and wait but was thinking of getting in Bruno and a CHE def for GW30 and then GW31 WC

    1FT 6.6itb
    Martinez
    Shaw, Dallas, Dias
    Son, Bale, Gundo, Raphinha
    Kane, DCL, Bamford
    (Pope) (Lingard, Coufal, Dunk)

    Cheers

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  24. Kryptonite666
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Should have used the FH in hindsight. For those who still have FH, when do you plan to use it ?

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    1. PapaWengzz
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      If theres a DGW in GW35 then ill save it for that, else GW33 fixtures look good to maxmise on certain teams.

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  25. Dirty Harry
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Have 1FT, not sure where to use it at this moment? Will be WC31

    Is it worth holding Bale > Mount or go Dallas > Chelsea defender?

    Martinez
    Shaw Digne Dallas
    Bruno Bale Lingard Raph
    Kane DCL Bam

    Pope | Trossard Stones Dunk

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  26. tbos83
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    73 and up to 22k rank. Extremely chuffed and v grateful to Jose for benching Bale (got Trossard off the bench)

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  27. Mouldmaster
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I get the sense that a lot of people were overthinking the chip strategy and being very confident in this week being low scoring.

    There’s a huge amount of luck as to what you get from your chips, however big points or not, this week was a (*the*?) clear week for FH.

    We got lucky that so many ‘template’ free hitters returned. But you’ve got to trust yourself and not those who may have biases based on their own strategy.

    Well played the free-hitters and feel for those who were unlucky. Hope everyone is getting some big Bale points off the bench 🙂

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    1. PapaWengzz
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Hopefully FH in GW 33 or 35 will be even bigger! Ill be honest im kicking myself for not picking the straightforward option and using it this GW.

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    2. waldo666
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Na, it's all situational. I used my FH in 18 and it was absolutely the right time for me, points difference was massive. I've managed to scrape 58 with just the one hit this week which looks to be an OK score.

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      1. waldo666
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Actually, make that 61.

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        1. Mouldmaster
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          Well played, that’s great without the FH.

          I think we can make almost any circumstances work, I also think there were a lot playing down how big this week could be, and it turned out a good week to FH.

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    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      I think it was just a lucky week the way the results fell rather than an obvious good week for the FH ... how often will we get returns from the likes of Sanchez, Veltman, Anderson, Trossard and the others etc., all in the same week ? but well done everyone who backed themselves this week

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      1. Mouldmaster
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Yea definitely agree. Unbelievable that so many of the FH picks came good. But as a FHer many of the articles and videos beforehand felt like they leaned towards just getting 9 out and that 9 clearly different to a FH team.

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        1. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 7 months ago

          42 -4 for me and FH saved so I hope I can get a bit of luck when I play it too 🙂

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          1. Mouldmaster
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 7 months ago

            Yea hope so mate. There will be a few cracking opportunities.

            I may have got lucky with this FH (82) but blew my bench boost for 10

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  28. PapaWengzz
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Never had a bigger benching headache this season:

    Martinez
    Cresswell Targett Shaw
    Fernandes Bale Son Raphinha
    Kane Bamford Antonio
    Bench: Areola Gundogan Dias Strujik

    Benching and Bench order correct?? Still cant convince myself to bench the city boys and Strujik looks like the most straightforward Cleansheet.

    Thoughts Appreciated, cheers.

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    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      No BB ?

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      1. PapaWengzz
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 7 months ago

        Nope already used

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  29. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    I would have gained 33 points (83 instead of 50) if I used FH. It seems a lot, time will tell if saving was the right decision.

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah you are right should have play it

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  30. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 7 months ago

    Gundo is red flagged for the next game in Fan Team. Anyone knows why?

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    1. JJO
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 7 months ago

      They are just late with updates

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