WonkyPenguin

[wonkypenguin]

Thoughts? Midfield too weak?

343

Foster, (Myhill)
Trippier, Lindelof, Ake, (Mee), (Stankovic)
Alli, Coutinho, Zaha, Knockaert, (OriolRomeu)
Kane, Lacazette/Jesus, Defoe

Which just about works as a 433...

Foster (Myhill)
Trippier, Lindelof, Ake, Mee, (Stankovic)
Alli, Coutinho, Zaha, (Knockaert), (OriolRomeu)
Kane, Lacazette/Jesus, Defoe

[Mav3rick]

I think if you genuinely expect to play a 433 then you'd need a stronger 5th defender there. I'd say you've picked a solid 343 though.

I would be tempted to look at the 5.0 defenders just as a way of saving yourself 0.5 that would allow Coutinho Mane for flexibility in that key position.

Defoe is a player who has made my front line too, I think he's a good option for 8.0, but that is an awkward price point. I'm certainly keeping an eye on any 6.5-ish strikers that could take the spot, and equally any 5.5-6.5 mids that stand out.

[Baerardi]

For the starting weeks, I'd agree with Mav's point that the fifth defender could be stronger. I'd be tempted to take out Defoe for Gabbiadini for the first few weeks given Soton's strong fixtures.

I think there's better options out there than Knockaert too. But, any midfield with Alli, Coutinho and Zaha should do well this year IMO.

Overall, a good draft selection.

[wonkypenguin]

Cheers for the feedback I'd completely forgotten about Gabbiadini... good call, esp with the opening 5 fixtures. That would leave me with a million to tweak as we go along, and allow a switch to Mane if he gets off to a flyer. Re: Knockaert, the only other to catch my eye at that price point was Gundogan, but as I was aiming for 343, was worried about his game time due to City midfield roulette

Edit: Hrm, Snodgrass maybe.

[sunbather]

I wondered how the midfield was so good and then realised no Lukaku. You happy with that? Will be heavily captained so you could start off behind the pack if he gets a brace or something like that.

[wonkypenguin]

I wondered how the midfield was so good and then realised no Lukaku. You happy with that? Will be heavily captained so you could start off behind the pack if he gets a brace or something like that.

I'm more worried about not having Sanchez again... burned badly last year!

[wonkypenguin]

Round and round in circles, and I've ended up here.

Foster (Elliot)
Ake, Yoshida, Danilo (Mee), (Long)
De Bruyne, Alli, Fabregas, Zaha, (Obiang)
Lukaku, Jesus, Chicharito

.5 ITB

Thoughts? Should I just give up and go back to draft 1?

[blahblah]

Nope, Stank is fooked.

There are loads of 5.5m and unders: dump Fab and beef up the defence. Or dump Kdb too and join those of us with Kane, Lulu and Jesus

[wonkypenguin]

So after a few months my team feels like a mess. Started off OK, but now every week seems to get worse... I think I may have overspent on the midfield to the detriment of other areas. What would you change? Is it a simple as getting rid of Ramsey for a couple of weeks, or should I be taking a hit or two and doing some rework?

TIA

Hennesey (Speroni)
Azpilicueta Jones Ward (Maguire) (Long)
Salah Sane Hazard (Ramsey) LoftusCheek
Jesus Morata Wilson

[Aldershot Rejects]

So after a few months my team feels like a mess. Started off OK, but now every week seems to get worse... I think I may have overspent on the midfield to the detriment of other areas. What would you change? Is it a simple as getting rid of Ramsey for a couple of weeks, or should I be taking a hit or two and doing some rework?

TIA

Hennesey (Speroni)
Azpilicueta Jones Ward (Maguire) (Long)
Salah Sane Hazard (Ramsey) LoftusCheek
Jesus Morata Wilson

I would concentrate on your forward line which I think is your real weakness although you may also have to shift Ramsey on.

[Oxford NZ]

Hennesey (Speroni)
Azpilicueta Jones Ward (Maguire) (Long)
Salah Sane Hazard (Ramsey) LoftusCheek
Jesus Morata Wilson

Hennesey Adrian or Hart depending on the one who is most likely to play the DGW
Azpi Christensen
Ramsey Zaha or Arnautovic
Jesus DCL
Kane for the DGW if not Kane then a Spurs mid of your choice.

[wonkypenguin]

I would concentrate on your forward line which I think is your real weakness although you may also have to shift Ramsey on.

OK, thinking of patching with Wilson -> Firminho and Hazard -> Sterling for a single hit (I have exact money). That will mean I play RLC this week and decide on Ramsey later.

Madness?

[Aldershot Rejects]

I would concentrate on your forward line which I think is your real weakness although you may also have to shift Ramsey on.

OK, thinking of patching with Wilson -> Firminho and Hazard -> Sterling for a single hit (I have exact money). That will mean I play RLC this week and decide on Ramsey later.

Madness?

It depends. Do you have any plan of where you might like to be in 5 weeks time? I would start there and then work out how you might get there.
Having said that, I would be more tempted to do Jesus to Firmino and Ramsey to Stirling, if that is affordable. But whatever you do, sort out what you want your team to look like in a few weeks time.

[wonkypenguin]

Goalkeepers... So after getting burned with Elliot when I had a spare free, I've ended up back in the 2xPalace camp. After the thrashing yesterday, I'm getting a little nervous about their GW 28-32 run. I'm unlikely to use the wildcard until after that run, so the question is should I just be brave and stick with it, or take another hit to move Speroni on. And if the latter, where should I be looking (funds will be tight!)

Edit: And thanks all for the earlier advice... at a point now where I am Morataless, and for the most part happy with my team!

[wonkypenguin]

Well my gamble on Obiang the other week worked well :I

[wonkypenguin]

So without Aguero/Kane available, I am looking at spreading the pennies around. Dumb idea? Am I just giving myself selection problems? Should I be spending less on M5 (Son/Mkhi) and bringing in a Lukakku/Aubumayang/Jesus type striker?

Anyone here you wouldn't fancy for the run-in?

Hennessey Karnezis
Azpilicueta Aurier Kompany Robertson Tomkins
Salah Sterling D.Silva Son Mkhitarian
Firmino Vardy Tosun

(0.3ITB)

[No Way Jose]

Team there looks good. I’d be wary of city rotation, especially given kompany is injury prone. I’d swap him for smalling personally

On your WC I’d say the extra cash for upgrading 1 of the two keepers to a Fabianski or pope would be worthwhile

Wouldn’t be too worried about your striker situation. Auba and Lukaku are the big winners atm but vardy and firmino have good fixtures and could match them for cheaper

[wonkypenguin]

Thanks... I like the smalling idea, it gives me a few extra pennies to spend on the keeper. Plenty of time to think about it!

[Smurphy Paw]

I’d be tempted to give yourself an easy ‘in’ to one of the top strikers. As it is, all 8 Mid/Att are playable but one always has to be benched. Who is that player for you? Perhaps save a little there to be able to move from Firminho to (say) Aubameyang/similar for the DGW. Until then, keeping Firminho makes sense

[wonkypenguin]

Argh. That time of year again where we all have to guess! Initial thought is to go "striker lite" this year as the Zaha/Arnie reclassifications are great IMHO

First draft...

Fabianski / Adrian
Azpi / Coleman / Bellerin / Tarkowski / Daniels
De Bruyne / D.Silva / Eriksen / Mhkyi / Pogba
Zaha / Arnie / Murray
0.5 ITB

Expectation is 352/343 all season.

Rip it apart!

[No Way Jose]

Pogba and KDB will probably miss round 1 or 2 so I’d replace him. Arnie’s fixtures with west ham are tough

I think cheap strikers are always gambles so 3 could be tough but arnie and zaha were great as you say

[blahblah]

And Burnley could well be in the EL Groups stages.

And Spurs have a LOT of players going deep in the WC, so another plague.....

[TheBigLewandowski]

Arnie/Murray > Wood/Tosun? Both have a better set of opening fixtures.

[wonkypenguin]

Thanks all. Ripped it up and having another attempt

[wonkypenguin]

Advice followed! At least until I rip it up and do it all again this weekend!

Thanks all!

[wonkypenguin]

Don't laugh, but I've decided to be reckless and go Salah-less. If I don't include him, I just see gaps everywhere that I can't plug. Decided to skip the super-premiums (Aguero excluded) and gone with a lot of similar priced players that hopefully makes it easy to swap people in and out without hits (Davies/Trippier/Bellerin, D.Silva/Alli/Pogba if he stays, Arnie/Rashford + Auba etc). The only thing locked down is the 2xEverton GK

I'm fully expecting a GW2 wildcard to rectify my mistake(s)!

#nomorechanges ???

[blahblah]

Why Erik if WC'ing so soon? Even if he starts, it will be with a load of kids?

[wonkypenguin]

Why Erik if WC'ing so soon? Even if he starts, it will be with a load of kids?

The W/C thing wasn't serious... more tongue in cheek if week 1 is a complete fail and I panic

[wonkypenguin]

But good point re: Eriksen... maybe I should just bring him in GW2/3 and start with someone else.

[blahblah]

But good point re: Eriksen... maybe I should just bring him in GW2/3 and start with someone else.