Gameweek 15 - FPL

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Swansea vs WBA

I've liked what Swansea have been doing of late, not sure on this set-up though...yes they certainly bring fire-power to the table but they are asking one hell of a lot from Kimmich to hold the midfield on his own...WBA are the more balanced side and will have a good foothold in this game but strangely even though I've moaned I still expect Swansea to have enough goals in them to put this game away

Swansea 3-2 WBA
Kane, Siggy Son
Rashford, KFC

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Sunderland vs Watford

the thing that struck me most was Rashford being on Watfords bench?
both sides setting up in the same system makes it an even game for me, it's almost like mirror images the amount of like for like players - I really couldn't split them - still against Dibbles as the #9 though

Sun 2-2 Wat
Dibbles x2
Aguero x2

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Stoke vs B'Mouth

Stoke get lots of joy out-wide but B'mouth have such a solid core in this set-up that Stokes wing play doesn't get them anywhere - I like that back 3 it's solid and Suarez doesn't get a sniff.

Stoke 0-1 B'mouth

Messi

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Boro vs Burnley

For one reason or another it's not clicked for Burnley but I do like their side....the front four are a strong unit but in comparison Boro's is a notch above and with possibly a better defence too....

Boro 2-1 Bur

Ibra, Ronaldo

KDB

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Swansea vs West Brom
Rashford is in good form in real life and in general the West Brom attack has a lot of pace which would trouble the Swansea defense. Lindelof in particular I'm not a fan of. Swansea have some good players going forward in Dembele and Kane, but where this game is won for me is in the middle. Fabinho, Dembele and Keita would boss the midfield with Kimmich not getting as much support as he needs. It's one of those formations which I might think differently seeing tactics but as it stands, I have not alternative but to give West Brom the win in what I'd imagine to be an exciting game.

Swansea 2-3 West Brom
Dembele, Kane; Costa, Rashford x2


Sunderland vs Watford
I'm really not a fan of Mascherano in midfield as I've mentioned before - and Dybala for me is a great player but I prefer two up top with him. But where this game is won for me is Watford's attack against Sunderland CB pairing in Rugani and Pepe. Aguero and Alli would run them ragged. Three Real Madrid defenders in the Watford back four which looks solidly protected by Kroos and Kante. It's a good game, but Watford deservedly get the win for me.

Sunderland 1-2 Watford
Draxler; Aguero, Alli


Stoke vs Bournemouth
Straight away the two attacks with Messi and Suarez hit you. Problem with Bournemouth is I don't think it would suit Messi playing behind two strikers. I think Bournemouth should play Firmino as a false nine with Jesus and Messi either side. However, they have built a great side. As for Stoke, they look weak defensively but going forward their side looks quality. Gundogan is a tricky one to rate because of his injuries. Overall it's difficult, Stoke slightly better attackwise, Bournemouth better defensively. I can't pick a winner so I'll go for a draw.

Stoke 2-2 Bournemouth
Reus, Suarez; Jesus x2


Hull vs Crystal Palace
I'm glad that Herrera and Hazard are on the same team here - and it's a good Crystal Palace side. I'm not sold in their defense and two world class attackers in Aubemayang and Hazard. Hull have got a great side, it's hard to pick faults but I would say that a top level attacker is required to really push them on. Vidal and Marchisio obviously a fantastic midfield pairing too, I would love to see those two battle Herrera and Iniesta.

Hull 1-1 Crystal Palace
Berardi; Aubemayang

SUN vs WAT

I can't look beyond the away side in this game. Sunderland have a strong and experienced side. Have some good creative players but not enough goals up front for me for them to make the difference in this game. Watford were too strong defensively and better going forward. Watford need another keeper still and Sunderland just replace the retired players and find an out and out goalscorer.

Score: 0-2

STO vs BOU

Both are very good sides, neither could really find the win for me though here. Bournemouth have an excellent defence and are near perfectly set up defence, but coming up against an excellent attacking side, they'd have done well to keep a clean sheet. Defensively Stoke just need another strong defender somewhere and they will be getting nearer and Bournemouth even with Messi playing in behind, they just need an improvement on Jesus up front for me.

Score: 1-1

MID vs BUR

Both with excellent sides but Middlesbrough just edge this for me. Middlesbrough are a top side throughout, Rabiot stands out as the weakest player for me, but as I've said previously, worth holding onto to see how he develops yet. Burnley again are a strong side also, but not a fan of Valencia at RB personally which hinders them. But the home side just coming out on top.

Score: 2-1

HULL vs CP

High scoring game this one, Hull for me now do have enough goals to see this one through! The home side's front line has a top goalscorer with plenty of creativity as well and strong in midfield. Not an obvious weakness, but looking on the side of caution, it's potentially worth looking for replacements for a couple of older players in their squad. For me, Palace still need a strong defence which let them down here. Very good going forward, but defensively, they just need another player or two to strengthen them at the back for me.

Score: 3-2

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Swansea City v West Brom

Swansea have gradually improved and look set to be extremely competitive next season. Having said that I'm not convinced by their current cm set up and feel that they would be dominated in this area by today's opponents. They do however look solid both defensively and going forward. West Brom still seem to be lacking that creative spark in the middle of the park however I can see Costa causing Lindelof problems and felt a draw was a fair result.

Swansea City 1-1 West Brom
Kane : Costa


Sunderland v Watford

The home side have a very talented side albeit the likes of Lahm, Romero and possibly Pepe will need to be replaced/improved heading in to next season. I also feel they're not quite getting the best out of Dybala in his current position. Watford are extremely an strong side with Marcelo in particular a stand out after his recent showings. I still feel they need to potentially add some more firepower going forward as Pedro and Silva didn't really test the Sunderland full backs. Both sides are superb in the middle of the park and cancelled each other out in this department.

Sunderland 0-0 Watford


Stoke City v Bournemouth

As always Stoke remain strong going forward however this Bournemouth side looked nigh on impenetrable on today's performance. The home side could look to improve on their full backs and move Guerriero to cm. There are no real weaknesses in this Bournemouth side, Casillas could be replaced by a top gk and I wouldn't necessarily put either Jesus or Firmino in the top bracket of forwards however that is being extremely picky!

Stoke 0-1 Bournemouth
Firmino


Hull City v Crystal Palace

As always Hull remain a solid outfit by virtue of their set up. I feel they could possibly do with another star name in both defence and attack to elevate them to the next level and this may be their target areas for improvement. Palace are solid going forward but look defensively susceptible against the top sides. I felt Hull had the edge in overall quality which just tipped the tie in their favour.

Hull City 2-1 Crystal Palace
Belotti, Vidal : Hazard

Swansea City 0-1 West Brom
Keita

Swansea - think that formation gives kimmich too much to do in midfield and others would have to move out of position to help out

West Brom - Rashford needs to be improved on for me, a talented youngster yes, but not enough for this level atm


Sunderland 0-1 Watford
Aguero

Sunderland - dont see dybala being as effective as a lone striker, needs someone to play off, also these small improvements on keeper arent worth it for me, save the cashola and get a big hitter in later down the line

Watford - Sule not on the level of the rest of the team for me


Middlesbrough 0-0 Burnley

didnt see a lot wrong with either side today, only advice would be to burnley and that would be to switch mertens and sane around if you plan on playing both


Hull City 0-0 Crystal Palace

Hull - think berardi is the weakest link in the team atm

Palace - not a fan of the cb pairing and personally i would replace both

Swansea 1-1 WBA
Kane; Carrasco

WBA solid, Swansea with the experimental formation, think it ends in a score draw.

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Sunderland 1-1 Watford
Eriksen; Aguero

Sunderland improving week by week, Watford solid as ever but now looking to get world class in every position, can't separate these two today.

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Stoke 2-3 Bournemouth
Suarez, Reus; Messi, Firmino, Thiago

Stoke solid but Bournemouth's system suits them perfectly and Messi in that AM role is getting the best out of him.

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Boro 2-2 Burnley
Sanchez, Ronaldo; Costa, Sane

Burnley do match up well today, maybe Boro need to scout better and focus on potential Weaknesses rather than just assuming 4-2-3-1 is enough. Burnley need to play Mertens LW to get the best out of him.

Swansea 1 - 2 West Brom
Kane ; Rashford, D.Costa

Had to give the win to WBA here as just didn't think the Swansea formation would work here. Think Siggy and Kimmich in the centre would struggle vs the WBA trio and that they would come out on top of the midfield battle and the match. With a different formation for the home side the result would've been different for me. The away side should look to add more creativity/quality up top to bring them up a level.

Sunderland 1 - 1 Watford
Dybala ; Aguero

With similar formations, and player for player not too much difference I had to go for the draw. Overall I prefer the away sides defence, but I prefer the home sides attack, bar Dybala being the lone striker. I thought the two teams cancelled each other out in the end so sat on the fence.

Boro 2-1 Burnley
Ronaldo, Sanchez ; Costa

The home side are solid at the back, and with Silva pulling the strings with their fire power I think they simply had too much for Burnley. The away side have a top defence, but going forward didn't have the same quality, I don't get why Mertens on the right and Sane left going on their careers surely. The world class wingers Boro had were largely the difference here. No weaknesses as such for the home side and I really like the balance of the side now so all you can say is to upgrade the few players that aren't to the world class level...

Hull 1 - 1 CP
Belotti ; Auba

I can see both sides causing each others problems. Two top cms, which I couldn't pick a winner from which i thought made it a tight game. And then at the back, CP look weaker but they also look stronger in attack and vice versa. So I went for the draw here.

Sunderland 2 - 1 Watford

Stoke City 0 - 0 Bournemouth

Boro 2 - 0 Burnley

Hull 3 - 1 Palace