Facebook Fantasy Football
Talk of football between pals often includes who we have selected in our team and what transfers to make for the coming week. The game brings a new dimension to our outlook on football, especially when we have a player that comes up against the team we support. How many times have you heard someone say just after your team have leaked, "It's ok, I've got him in my fantasy football team"?. "Who got the assist?" must be the most common question.
Clearly there is a huge following in the Premier Fantasy Football world, and we all want to have the best team but most of us don't have the time to manage and tinker on a weekly basis. Over the course of a season, the cream rise to the top based on the effort and research they put in.
Here are a few tips that should help you efficiently spend as little time as necessary making substitutions and transfers.
Midfielders and forwards on average score more points than defenders and because of this suggest selecting either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 formation for all games.
Home teams statistically concede fewer goals than away teams, therefore checking upcoming fixtures. Review the next 6 game weeks and try to choose goalkeepers that you can alternate for whoever has a home game. Given and Begovic look a decent combination at their prices. Some may prefer to opt for Hart as he's proved his consistency. I think an extra 2 million pounds in the kitty can be used to greater effect spent elsewhere.
In similar fashion, if you mix 3 defenders that play at home with just 2 away, this will bring you a good return of clean sheets. The one free weekly transfer will often be best used transferring a defender to make this work. Leighton Baines will again score heavily although his price tag is a little steep. Enrique, at Liverpool, for just 5 million pounds is a steal. Others to be noted are Collins for Aston Villa, Bosingwa for Chelsea, Everton's Jagielka or Distin. Ryan Taylor at 4 million pounds will play left back for Newcastle with Enrique sold and no replacement made yet. You might remember his left foot producing a few spectacular goals in his Wigan days.
This will leave you a large wad of cash to blow on the stars that will fire your team to the top of your mates and give you bragging rights next May. Unless your players pick up injuries, get suspended or suffer a lack of form, your midfield and attack shouldn't be tinkered with as often.
The top teams, those in the Champions League, will rotate during the course of the season and having a ten million pound plus player sidelined is a waste. Unless we are personal friends with Mancini or Fergie, we can read as many websites as we want, but there is no way to know who will start up front for Manchester City or Chelsea.
Chelsea have just signed Lukaku and he will want to play. The pressure is on Torres. How Villas-Boas will accommodate Drogba, Anelka and the in-form Sturridge is an interesting one (if he moves on loan, I'll definitely be snapping him up).
Equally interesting at Manchester City, Tevez is yet to leave the club, Dzeko has finally found his feet and Aguero looks just as good as Tevez! For the midfield, David Silva is sheer class and is the first name on my team sheet. I'd like to fit Nani in but he irritates me and is either sensational or dire.
N'Zogbia will be Aston Villa's playmaker this season. Expect him to win a few man of the match awards. Charlie Adam might now get the nod to take penalties and justify his cost. Other cheaper alternatives are Everton's Osman, West Brom's Tchoyi, Swansea's Nathan Dyer and Stoke's Walters or Blackburns's Formica who play up front. Watson at Wigan or Hoolahan at Norwich, both scored on the opening day and look like bargains. Check out our Set Piece Takers section to see who take penalties and corners.
In attack, Rooney will play almost every game for Manchester United as will Van Persie at Arsenal. Suarez at 9.5 million will be great value for money. Other strikers worth a thought are Zamora, Darren Bent, Shane Long and Saha. Tough choice, pick your favourites!