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Your TFL primer, part 5: Musical chairs at the big clubs

SINGAPORE — So you decide to captain Sergio Aguero in your fantasy football team because the Manchester City striker is on fire, having scored six goals in as many games, and their next match is at home against minnows Hull City.

SINGAPORE — So you decide to captain Sergio Aguero in your fantasy football team because the Manchester City striker is on fire, having scored six goals in as many games, and their next match is at home against minnows Hull City. But then Saturday comes and you discover at kick-off that the Argentinean has been benched, as the manager is saving him for the mid-week Champions League clash. There can be nothing worse for a TODAY Fantasy League (TFL) manager. So consider a club’s reputation for squad rotation when the 2013/2014 English Premier League season kicks off next week, on Aug 17. (In the official game, your vice-captain will get you double points if your captain doesn’t play. But you get only 11 players in the TFL and no substitutes or vice-captain options. Take note.) AGUERO AGONY Aguero was actually the worst big-budget player to have in your fantasy football team last season as he was a victim of Roberto Mancini’s squad rotation at City. He made only 30 appearances, starting only 22 and came on as a substitute in the rest. His average playing time for each appearances was a mere 67 minutes. Aguero did score 12 goals and managed a measly two assists, but the fact that he missed eight matches altogether made him an expensive dud to have in your team, especially when you have no substitutes on standby in the TFL. At the end of the season, Aguero’s fantasy football tally was doubled by that of Manchester United’s Robin van Persie. Carlos Tevez fared a little better with 34 appearances (28 starts, six on as a sub), spending an average of 73 minutes on the pitch. Edin Dzeko was another risky Man City pick, with 16 starts and 16 substitute showings for a miserable average of 60 minutes playing time per appearance. Carlos Tevez is now at Juventus, which will bode well for Aguero, and Man City have a new manager in Manuel Pellegrini this campaign, but tread carefully when picking strikers from big clubs. CHOP AND CHANGE At Manchester United, van Persie is the safest bet, with Wayne Rooney a clear No 2 striker now and jostling for playing time with Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez and Danny Welbeck. With Liverpool, Luis Suarez’ future looks uncertain as he agitates for a transfer out (and he’s banned for the first six games of the season, by the way). Daniel Sturridge looks set to step up as the Reds’ main forward after encouraging performances last season, with Fabio Borini and Iago Aspas further down the pecking order. Chelsea may have only three strikers on their roster, for now, as they chase Suarez, but you can be sure Jose Mourinho will tinker with the line-up in balancing the club’s Premiership hopes with their Champions League and FA Cup aspirations. Romelo Lukaku returns from his loan spell at West Brom, where he managed to outdo Demba Ba and Fernando Torres. At Arsenal, it looks a little clearer with Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski the clear front two, but Arsene Wenger will freshen up his squad as the Gunners balance their Premier League performances push with their League Cup hopes (that jibe was intentional). YOUR TFL PRIMER Part 1: Watch the fixture list — http://tdy.sg/TFLprimer1 Part 2: Spotting the difference — http://tdy.sg/TFLprimer2 Part 3: Rotate the armband — http://tdy.sg/TFLprimer3 Part 4: Help from the bookies — http://tdy.sg/TFLprimer4 Part 5: Musical chairs at the big clubs — http://tdy.sg/TFLprimer5 TFL SCOUT REPORT Part 1: Goalkeepers — http://tdy.sg/TFLscout1 Part 2: Full-backs — http://tdy.sg/TFLscout2 Part 3: Centre-backs — http://tdy.sg/TFLscout3 Part 4: Midfielders — http://tdy.sg/TFLscout4 Part 5: Forwards — http://tdy.sg/TFLscout5 Click here to take part in the TODAY Fantasy League now — Manager of the Season wins US$5,000.

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