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MK's avatar

Lineup question coming up!! Which 3 should I start out of ASM, Klich, Barnes, Townsend, Matheus Pereira and Barkley?

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John Wallin's avatar

ASM is on the bench so that’s easy.

Pereira and Barkley are every week starters. So is Barnes if he’s in the foxes XI (esp w/ no Vardy!)

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Chaps's avatar

Would you drop Dias, el ghazi or benrahma for Jose Willian?

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John Wallin's avatar

I’d drop El Ghazi for literally anyone named either Willian or Jose. Dudes job is gone while everyone else is healthy.

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Chaps's avatar

Hahaha...he's going in the bin - thanks!

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Chaps's avatar

Other options to drop are Tete, Jota (I have mane)

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Chaps's avatar

Or havertz but seeing the lamps news today that feels like a bad move

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MN's avatar

Hi Gaffer!

Keep ESR or pick up ASM on waiver wire? OPL

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John Wallin's avatar

Wow. I’m actually keeping ESR for the time being. Saint-Max has missed a lot of time, that team is dreadful at creating opportunities and that format requires he get more g/a than ESR which I think is low odds.

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Kyle P.'s avatar

Hey Gaffer! 12 team league hear, I'm looking to bring in Kai Havertz on a low, how high would you offer for him? Are AWB/Maguire too much? How about someone like Moutinho, Tanguy or El Ghazi if not the defenders? Thank you so much

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John Wallin's avatar

I would trade any of those last three. I probably wouldn't trade Maguire for him but AWB? Yeah, I'd make that deal if that was the only acceptable deal for my trade partner. That's less a bet on Kai becoming exceptional and more a play on AWB being exactly what he's shown so far - I want the guy with the upside.

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Dave T's avatar

Hey Gaffer - in Official draft 8 team I have Salah, Rodriguez, Bowen, Raphinha and El Ghazi at MF. I’m in a position to play 3 F and 4-5 D right now. My thought is to try and get Barkley for El Ghazi but he might be scooped up before I can get him. The only other guy I’d be maybe interested in is Lookman. Given I can probably get away with 3-4 MF should I just stash Jota at this point? Ben D has a return of Feb 13, but I’m thinking he’ll get a serious look when he gets back now that pool has been struggling. Thoughts?

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John Wallin's avatar

Yeah stashing Jota isn’t a bad play - El Ghazi is droppable in this format 100% so don’t think twice about making that move. But if you can get a stud like Barkley now, you don’t stash Jota for later. Like I would probably rather have Lookman than stashing Jota because there are FIVE matches between now and then and Klopp isn’t dropping him into the starting XI to face Leicester on that day. Maybe, maybe, he gets 30’ in the next one but its the derby. I don’t think he’s back until that Fulham, Sheffield back-to-back and six matches of Lookman isn’t nothing.

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SkinnyLegs's avatar

Looking at dealing Walcott for Matt Doherty. Matt is a stud when he plays and fills a need with AWB, A. Robinson, and Cresswell manning my backline. Love what Walcott has done but ASM, Eze, and ghost point guru Josh Brownhill, with Trezeguet and Dwight McNeil as backups. Is this a great sell high on Walcott or am I simply giving up a solid mid for a DEF2 destined to only play 40% of the remaining games?

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John Wallin's avatar

This is a sell high buy low and normally I’d love to see it but Theo is never getting sat down and Doherty isn’t a lock. If you’re trading Theo you’re better off trying to land on of the West Ham fulllbacks (my sell high for your sell high) or snag someone like Ricardo Pereira who has a flag but if he’s set in the XI won’t lose his job and is a stud.

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DJ77's avatar

Gaffer, I would go for Jose.

Huge dilemma in my OFPL draft midfield. Currently; Saka, Maddison, Lookman, Mahrez, Havertz.

Available in my league; James Rodríguez, Ross Barkley, Matheus Pereira, Stuart Armstrong, Emile Smith Rowe.

I'm likely to only get one of those. Two questions: Who would be your no.1 pick? Who would you drop, Mahrez or Havertz?

Your help, as ever, is appreciated.

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John Wallin's avatar

I’d rather have Barkley, then James then ESR in that format unless you like the high upside of Pereira on penalties. I’d drop both Mahrez and Havertz to get in Barkley and James but if you’re only going for one it’s Kai out, Ross in.

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BFG's avatar

Ive been debating whether to drop Mahrez for someone who has more consistent minutes but now with KDB out, Im wondering if he will get more starts....

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John Wallin's avatar

Mahrez may well get more minutes for a short stretch but man Barkley is playing so well and has the minutes locked up in the exact role you want for OFPL points.

In any other draft format you’re tucking Mahrez on the bench and bursting anytime he starts but when you don’t have that luxury he can be churned for the regular starts and points.

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DJ77's avatar

I know how you feel. He could have more of a role now. He has 58 points in OFPL draft with 4 goals and 1 assist. However, 33 of those points and all those goals and assists came in just two games. The rest of the time he has done nothing (and often not played). No return for 9 weeks. In my mind I’m happy to drop him.

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BFG's avatar

I also acknowledge I have some irrational attachment to him since he was an early draft pick :P. My midfield is struggling, currently Lookman, Maddison, KDB(injured), Mahrez, and Smith Rowe. Thinking about dropping Smith Rowe (and now thanks to your alls guidance, Mahrez) for Klich or M. Pereira, and potentially stow away Jota although he seems closer to a month out from returning. Thanks all!

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DJ77's avatar

@BFG Did you do it? Did you get who you wanted? I finally let Mahrez go (he was a third round pick). I feel free already!

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BFG's avatar

I cant bring myself to do it yet!! (deluding myself that he will get major minutes while KDB is out). Ill wait another week and then take your lead and finally feel free! I dropped Smith Rowe and picked up M. Pereira but not feeling super excited given this week's matchup.

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DJ77's avatar

Thanks.

Breaking news that Frank Lampard will be sacked: https://twitter.com/matt_law_dt/status/1353640103130890240?s=21

If this turns out to be true, would you keep Havertz to see who comes in, new system etc.?

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John Wallin's avatar

I’d still rather have Barkley than Kai. I have no idea what Tuchel is going to do and anyone who thinks he’s remaking that side on day one - which seems to be the prevailing narrative - would also have to admit they don’t know what that means. Maybe CHO and Kai win, maybe Mason, maybe Jorginho is back as a regista! Anything could happen. Barkley is known quantity and quite valuable.

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