Comments on: Ready for Kick-off: Premier League Fantasy Football 09/10

By: Neil Jones

Neil Jones — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:05:42 +0000

How about that for a first weekend eh WazNation?!!

Keep reading for the latest column this week, and follow me on the road to glory!

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:03:56 +0000

once you sign up, you have to confirm your subscription. then you get the code, etc.

By: sheps

sheps — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:40:00 +0000

Want to join but all the instructions say “Get the code by signing up to the newsletter:” and then there’s no link! Infuriating! I have played the first week, so have some points to compete with, just not in your league!

By: Neil Jones

Neil Jones — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:10:32 +0000

@Waz

Ah the changes were made to strengthen the backline before deadline day.

Dunne, Turner & Insua in for Figueroa, Zayatte & Hangeland, Lucas in for Anderson, and Tevez for Adebayor (doh!).

Started well, Drogba with a couple, Shawcross on target. Its a marathon not a sprint.

Risks taken yourself, Gerrard, Skrtel & Vermaelen are all doubts for the first week, who is on your subs bench?

Neil

By: WazNation

WazNation — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:57:18 +0000

I don’t much fancy your team Neil. Your backline and keeper are clearly weak so no point in me going on about them. You’ve got Anderson who pre-season friendly rasper aside hasn’t looked like he could hit a donkey’s arse with a banjo. James McCarthy is a punt at best, he did fairly well in Scotland and now has to adjust to a huge step up in standards. And as for insomnia he may be decent but he scored under 100 points last season and I can’t see him performing much better this time. Lots of crap players in the side to afford yourself the luxury of a star studed forward line.
Here’s my team let me know what you think.
GK Ben Foster.
DF Skrtel
DF Vermaelen
DF A Hughes
MF Barry
MF A Young
MF Gerrard
MF Carrick
MF Pienaar
CF Rooney
CF D Bent

By: dave

dave — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:58:52 +0000

Shawcross was first pick in my team. Stoke’s defense are decent, he’ll start more games, and is a goal threat from corners and Delaps throw-ins/missiles!

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:10:40 +0000

lol – nope, my math is way, way off. upside down even

By: Claude

Claude — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:59:30 +0000

@Ahmed Bilal

Maybe that is the reason why I don’t win this stuff

By: Ahmed Bilal

Ahmed Bilal — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:56:35 +0000

@Claude

back five (7 if you count subs) out of 60 players and front 2 (3 if you count subs) out of 20 players.

1/12 chance of picking a high-scoring defender v 1/10 chance of picking a high-scoring forward.

your math’s a bit off mate

By: Claude

Claude — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:50:37 +0000

Good piece and good points.

My strategy is completely different from yours. I aim to spend less on forwards and more on midfielders and defenders. Especially in defence I find it important to focus on defenders from solid teams. I find it easier to pick 4-5 defenders and a goalie with a likely clean sheet than it is to pick a front line that will score an average of one goal. And since a clean sheet is awarded the same way as a goal from a striker I find it the better option to focus on defence.

Last season 15 goalies managed a 100+ score and app 45 defenders scored in that region. This compares to app 20 strikers reaching the same number. In short you are most likely to pick a consistent points scorer among your backline.

If I was to find a place to splash the cash it would definitely be in midfield. Gerrard, Lampard, Fab score more points than strikers shen they hit the net. Buy, buy, buy.

To finish this bit I’d like to touch a bit on changing strategies as the game advances. My initial approach is to focus on the early hotshots. Players that are underpriced. This will boost you bank roll and put you in a position where you will soon have 6-9M extra which will give you an extra star player.

And since the big names all tend to get fired up as the season progresses you don’t really need all those big names in the early parts of the game.

Just my thoughts