Okay, time to get serious about winning or making the top 10k
in this season's #FantasyFootball.
Having read what the experts say, and then doing totally my own thing, I'll be blogging my game-plan and the top tips I firmly believe in.
1. Do your research, but watch the games, the ''eye test'' is preferable to just looking at stats. Stats are a useful tool, don't get me wrong, but watching how a team performs over 90 mins is far more useful. Use your own judgement.
2. Decide on a formation; foe me either a 343 or 352 providing maximum attacking returns. No earth shattering revelations here (or throughout as most of it is commonsense). You may prefer 5 attacking FBs 4 MDFs and a striker, each to his own.
3. Decide my bench players first, you need at least two players guaranteed to start to come off the bench and have a chance, plus a def and a goalkeeper who are simply rock bottom price. This means your XI must be solid first team regulars and not prone to the manager's whims. Salah, DCL, Son, Bamford, VVD, etc ... Players like Foden, Mahrez, etc should be minimal as too often the don't start meaning your bench has to take the strain and sudden last minute injuries to regulars exacerbate the problem should the likes of Foden not start. I'm not knocking Foden as he's still a great pick.
4. My forward line, most likely, will be all mid priced attackers (e.g. DCL, Watkins, Bamford, Jiminez, Antonio etc) as there is a plethora of talent which will be easily interchangeable, if required.
(*This will free funds to have my heavy hitters/captains in midfield and the extra point for a clean sheet or a goal being doubled up, always adds up. That's 4 extra possible points straight away, everything else being equal).
N.B. Kane, if he stays would cause me to rethink this and possibly go two upfront and five across the middle (it's also still an option with 2 x mid-priced strikers).
5. Read/research and stick my my preferred options on a watch-list. Then whittle these down by examining their opening six week fixtures. (Don't worry about fixtures in regard to premium picks, except for armband duty.
6. For the first XI get the best possible budget players lined up first, then your premium players and shoehorn the best mid-priced options in last. Lastly tweak your squad as deadline approaches to include any new EPL players, differentials or budget players who are excelling during preseason games.
I already have a solid 5.5 midfield option, imo, who I've already pencilled in to my first XI ...
I'll be sharing more thoughts and tips in the coming weeks ...
Enjoy the season, honestly have fun and don't let Pep's roulette wheel get you down.
