Fantasy Football World

END OF SEASON AWARDS – THE GOALKEEPERS

2014-05-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

As promised, the first End of Season poll is rolled out this afternoon as the Fantasy Football Scout awards get underway. To begin with, we focus on the goalkeepers, where the poll will be available on the middle column of the home page. Bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) value should all come into consideration here:

Our five options have all merited their place in the list below. The league’s tightest defence, the number one keeper in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) standings, the best value stopper and the two most impressive in terms of points per game are all included. Next term, we’ll be hoping that the likes of Adrian can step up, having replaced Jussi Jaaskelainen as West Ham’s number one midway through the season, whilst Joe Hart and Allan McGregor will be hoping to put the form and fitness issues that have blighted their respective campaigns firmly behind them in 2014/15. For now, though, here’s our main contenders:

Wojciech Szczesny
The Arsenal stopper sits at the top of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) keeper rankings as we edge towards the final round of fixtures. Szczesny started the season priced at 5.5 after accumulating 102 points in 2012/13 but has comfortably surpassed that tally already – a current total of 157 points is joint-top with Per Mertesacker in the Gunners’ rearguard and superior to all but Olivier Giroud amongst Arsene Wenger’s charges.

The Pole is also joint-top with Chelsea’s Petr Cech in the race for the Golden Gloves award, with 16 shut-outs apiece and, whilst the latter is a real doubt for the weekend trip to Cardiff, Szczesny – one of only four stoppers to have played every minute of the season so far – could well be set for another shut-out away to Norwich.

Petr Cech
Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge has re-established the Chelsea defence as the meanest around. Initially, the Blues struggled to deliver defence returns, though – only four times in the first 16 matches did they manage to register a shut-out, conceding 11 goals in the space of just six fixtures between Gameweeks 10-15.

A change in approach from Gameweek 17 onwards has reaped reward, with Mourinho’s men keeping out their opponents 14 times in the last 22 games. A shoulder injury has deprived Cech of the chance to earn a pair of recent shut-outs against Liverpool and Norwich but, as mentioned above, no other keeper has registered more than his 16 clean sheets – for those looking to double up on the Chelsea backline, he’s been a reliable option week in, week out, with an average of 4.3 ppg only just less than Branislav Ivanovic amongst Jose’s backline regulars.

Vito Mannone
Sunderland’s summer signing from Arsenal warmed the Black Cats’ bench for the first ten Gameweeks before an injury to Kieran Westwood allowed the Italian to replace the stricken Irishman midway through an early-November trip to Hull.

In his first full start for the Wearsiders, Mannone set the tone for what was to follow by delivering a clean sheet in a 1-0 home win over Man City – his side’s first of the season. With 10 shut-outs to his name, the Italian’s heroics between the posts have been key to Sunderland’s survival – his total of 127 saves is second only to Cardiff’s David Marshall (144), despite failing to feature for the first few months. With six sets of 10+ hauls, 16 bonus points and an average of 4.6 ppg – higher than any regular stopper – Mannone has been an outstanding servant to the Wearsiders and Fantasy managers alike.

Artur Boruc
Priced at just 4.5 in the FPL, the Southampton stopper arrived quickly onto our radars after conceding a mere three goals in the opening nine league matches. Boruc’s contribution to the Saints has been vital under Mauricio Pochettino – they have managed just one clean sheet in the nine matches he has missed through injury, compared to 14 shut-outs in 28 games with the former Glasgow Celtic stopper between the posts.

Indeed, whilst Boruc’s reduced game time (due to hand and back problems) means Jose Fonte has outscored him amongst the St Mary’s defensive options by 147 points to 122, his average of 4.4 ppg is superior to the centre-back’s 4.2 and is bettered only by Mannone’s 4.6 amongst keepers.

Julian Speroni
The Argentine sits in fourth spot in the FPL keeper standings, with 144 points picked up thus far – just two less than Chelsea’s Petr Cech. After the first 10 Gameweeks of the season, though, Speroni – and, for that matter, the Palace defence, were far from Fantasy radars after shipping 21 goals in that run, without a single shut-out to his name.

Ian Holloway’s departure and the subsequent installation of Tony Pulis at the Selhurst Park helm was the catalyst for a stunning turnaround in fortunes, though. Speroni has proceeded to deliver 12 clean sheets in his last 27 appearances and, having started the campaign at a price of 4.5, has proven to be the best value keeper in the league, scoring 25 points more than any Palace defender ahead of next week’s trip to relegated Fulham.

END OF SEASON AWARDS – THE DEFENDERS

2014-05-21T22:44:00.002-07:00

Having started the End of Season awards with the Goalkeepers, we now turn our attentions to Defenders, after Sunderland’s Vito Mannone racked up over 50% of the votes cast for keepers:

Once again, please bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) value should all come into consideration here:

Seamus Coleman
A goal, assist and maximum bonus points in the season opener at Norwich ensured the Everton right-back was immediately installed in many manager’s sides. Starting the season at just 5.0, Coleman’s star has risen under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, with six strikes and a pair of assists supplemented by 13 clean sheets and 20 bonus points indicative of his potential at both ends of the pitch. Now owned by 37% of FPL managers, the Republic of Ireland international is the most popular defensive option by some distance, rising to 6.8 in price – with just a single match remaining, his 174 points is enough to earn Coleman top spot in the defender rankings so far.

Leighton Baines
Whilst his fellow Toffees full-back has served up the most points, Baines has still managed to outscore Coleman in terms of points per game, by 5.3 to 5.0 – indeed, his average is higher than any defensive regular this season. Priced at 7.5 as the season got underway, the left-back’s popularly suffered as a result of his team-mate’s superior value but, as Coleman’s price escalated, there’s not been that much between them in the second half of the season. With five goals, five assists, 26 bonus points and 12 clean sheets over his 31 appearances, Baines sits on 163 points – third amongst defenders – and despite missing six matches through injury, is just 14 points off last season’s 177.

John Terry
Having played a part in just 14 matches in 2012/13, with previous boss Rafa Benitez citing concerns over a knee problem for his lack of game time, the Chelsea skipper was handed a 6.0 price-tag this time around. Under Jose Mourinho, Terry has missed just three league fixtures and helped the Blues rediscover their defensive edge, with the London club conceding a mere 26 times in the first 37 Gameweeks. Terry has chipped in with three goals, an assist and 14 clean sheets. He has also proven to be one of the main beneficiaries of the change to the bonus points system – his total of 29 bonus points is not only more than any other backline option, it is superior to any Stamford Bridge team-mate.

Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian started the season with a 6.5 price-tag after scoring five times in 33 starts over the previous campaign. Ivanovic’s security of game time has continued under Jose Mourinho – he’s played 34 of the Blues’ first 37 matches and has mirrored Terry’s above-mentioned attacking output, in addition to delivering 16 clean sheets. His right-back berth may have earned him just 16 bonus points by comparison, but he still sits fourth amongst defenders on 157 points, yet has risen in price by only 0.2 over the season.

Martin Skrtel
Liverpool’s free-scoring defender has found the net more than any other backline option this season. After warming the bench for the first two Gameweeks, Skrtel has started every one of the Merseysiders’ subsequent 35 matches, with his aerial ability in the opposition box helping him to seven goals for Brendan Rodgers’ title-challenging side. A lack of resilience has proven costly, though, with Skrtel managing just eight clean sheets in a campaign that has seen the Reds concede 49 times; nonetheless, his current haul of 137 points is vastly superior to last term’s minimal 88 in Rodgers’ first year at the Anfield helm.

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny
Arsenals’ first-choice centre-half pairing both started the campaign at 5.5 but have made a mockery of their price tags. Mertesacker and Koscielny have both delivered 16 clean sheets – joint-top amongst defenders – and have each found the net on a couple of occasions thus far, with the German also chipping in with an assist over his 35 appearances. Arsenal have managed just a single shut-out in the six games Koscielny has missed this term and the Frenchman has delivered a greater average than his team-mate, with 4.8 ppg to Mertesacker’s 4.5, and has earned more bonus points (24 to 23) in spite of the fact he has played four fixtures fewer. The German leads the way for overall points by 157 to 148, though Koscielny has proven a greater differential – he is owned by only 8% of FPL managers compared to his team-mate’s 25%.

Jose Fonte
Priced at 4.5 as the season got underway, the Southampton centre-half was quick out the blocks. By Gameweek 2, Fonte had already delivered a goal, a clean sheet and maximum bonus, and proved to be a key component of a Saints back-four that conceded just three times in the opening nine matches. Having delivered three goals, 15 clean sheets and 21 bonus points, he’s served up 147 points and is the highest-scoring budget defender of the season and best value outfield player thus far, currently sitting 25 points ahead of any other defensive team-mate.

Joel Ward
Palace’s versatile defender has afforded Fantasy managers a real bargain option this term. Starting at 4.0, Ward has been utilised in both full-back positions and, on occasion, central midfield as the Eagles produced a dramatic turnaround under Tony Pulis. The signs looked ominous after the Selhurst Park club failed to produce a single shut-out in their first 10 matches but Ian Holloway’s departure has since helped Ward earn 12 clean sheets and 13 bonus points, with a pair of assists also accrued. Now up to 4.5 and with a share of corners, he’s been far more than just a budget enabler this season.

James Chester
Granted, a total of 56 points is less than half team-mate Curtis Davies’ 114 but the latter’s 4.5 starting price ensured we steered well clear as we scoured the promoted sides for bargains. Priced at 4.0, Chester found himself as a cheap bench-warming defender for many Fantasy sides around these parts, and whilst injuries curtailed his game time and limited him to a goal and five clean sheets over 22 starts, Chester’s favourable price and security of starts – when fit – meant that he probably lasted longer in some 15-man squads than the majority of defensive alternatives.

Steven Caulker
Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, the Cardiff centre-half started the season at Tottenham and came in at 5.0 when the Player Price Lists were released back in July. In spite of his side’s dire defensive record – just seven clean sheets and 72 goals conceded – Caulker’s attacking potential has ensured he remained a viable option; the only defender to have managed every minute of the season, he’s served up five goals and 19 bonus points and sits on 121 points; 53 more than any other player in the Bluebirds’ backline.

Pablo Zabaleta
Amongst defenders, the City right-back is second only to Seamus Coleman in terms of popularity, with an ownership level of 26%. Zabaleta’s attacking forays have produced a goal and six assists, though a change to the bonus point system has proven detrimental – he’s picked up just 11 so far, to go along with 14 clean sheets. Having appeared 34 times under Manuel Pellegrini, Zabaleta is the top-scoring City defender on 137 points – 13 points more than last term’s haul of 124 for the champions-elect.

Guy Demel
A cult hero around these parts, the West Ham right-back has delivered 13 clean sheets so far – offering strong value on a starting price of 4.5. Demel has mustered just a single goal and one assist, whilst a total of eight bonus points has hardly caught the eye but, in a season where most of Sam Allardyce’s backline have been hampered with injury, in addition to a change of first-choice keeper midway through the campaign, the Ivorian has been the most secure defensive pick the Upton Park outfit has had to offer. With 112 points returned, he’s 21 ahead of last term’s haul and 26 ahead of any other Hammers defender.

Patrice Evra
The United left-back was firmly on course to better last season’s 152 points, having started 28 of the first 29 league matches. With just four appearances in the last eight league fixtures, though, Evra’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse, though he’s still managed to serve up 140 points – three more than Liverpool’s Skrtel, for example. Priced at 6.5 as the season got underway, the Frenchman has produced a goal, five assists and 19 bonus points in addition to 13 clean sheets for the Old Trafford outfit and is a good 54 points clear of any other defensive team-mate.

END OF SEASON AWARDS – THE MIDFIELDERS

2014-05-21T22:36:00.001-07:00

We roll out the third instalment in our series of End of Season articles this afternoon. Having previously analysed the Goalkeepers

and Defenders late last week, we turn our attentions to the midfield.

The new poll is on the home page (middle column), with four midfielders available for your selection. Once again, please bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and value should all come into consideration here.

Yaya Toure
Prior to this season, the Ivorian had never notched more than six times in a Premier League campaign. Under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, however, Toure has been afforded license to bomb forward and plunder the goals for the champions – with an unerring eye for a set-piece strike and a fair share of converted spot-kicks, his total of 20 goals(and nine assists) proved decisive as the Etihad side clinched the crown for the second time in three seasons. Having started this season at 8.5, Toure ended at 10.6, with an ownership of 42% making him the second most popular player in the FPL game -next time, a price hike into the premium bracket is inevitable.

Eden Hazard
Having delivered 190 points in his first year at the Bridge, the Belgian was handed a 9.5 price tag this time around. With Juan Mata starting at 10.5 for the Blues, Hazard quickly became the Chelsea midfielder of choice amongst Fantasy managers and whilst the Spaniard’s struggles under Jose Mourinho eventually led to his departure, the former Lille flier flourished on the flank. The club’s leading goalscorer with 14 strikes – five more than 2012/13 – Hazard finished the campaign disappointingly and failed to produce any returns from Gameweek 32 onwards, though still managed to finish fourth overall on 202 points.

Aaron Ramsey
Like Toure, the Arsenal midfielder had a meagre scoring history in the top-flight heading into 2013/14. Ramsey’s starting price of 5.5 reflected a goal record that had seen him score just seven times in the previous four seasons but in a real breakthrough year, he finally stepped up in class for Arsene Wenger’s side. The Welshman had delivered eight goals and six assists in the first 18 Gameweeks before a thigh injury sidelined him for four months but Ramsey was back in the points, serving up a two and three assists in his final four appearances of the league campaign. An average of 6.3 ppg is second only to Toure amongst midfielders and hints at what could be next year if he can keep clear of the treatment room.

Christian Eriksen
The Dane arrived on these shores having dazzled at Ajax in the Dutch top division but struggled to make any impact under Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham. By the time the Portuguese manager parted company with the club, Eriksen had managed a single assist in the opening 16 Gameweeks but, afforded license to wreak havoc on the left by Tim Sherwood, has since delivered seven goals and eight assists in the subsequent 22 fixtures – an average of 6.4ppg post-AVB, with double figures hauls in three of his last four home matches. Priced at 8.0 at the start of the season, Eriksen may come in around the same mark for 2014/15 and will surely be on many a Watchlist this summer.

Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool skipper started the season slowly, failing to produce a goal or assist in the first five fixtures. Luis Suarez’ return from suspension proved the turning point for Gerrard as the midfielder embarked on a run which saw him score or assists in all but one of the next ten league games. In spite of his new, deep-lying role for the Reds, Gerrard continued to benefit from spot-kick duties as opposition backlines were unable to cope with Suarez and Daniel Sturridge up front and by the end of the season, had more than justified his initial value of 9.0, serving up 13 goals and 15 assists – a total of 205 points was his best since 2008/09 and placed Gerrard third overall in the FPL standings.

Raheem Sterling
Beginning with a 5.5 price tag in FPL, the youngster struggled to make an impact. Sterling managed just one assist and a single start in the opening 12 Gameweeks before he began to establish himself as a regular on Brendan Rodgers’ teamsheet. His confidence thrived due to a consistency of starts and, either on the flank in a 4-3-3 or at the tip of a midfield diamond, his contribution was key to the Merseysiders title tilt, with nine goals and six assists in the final 26 Gameweeks underling his excellent value as a route into Rodgers’ free-scoring side.

Adam Lallana
The Southampton captain kicked off the campaign priced at just 6.0, having delivered three goals and five assists in his first year in the top-flight. Lallana was slow out the blocks and failed to produce points in any of the first four but then developed a consistency which earned his owners a goal or assist in 13 of the next 22 Gameweeks. His season has tailed off dramatically in the last few months, with returns in only two of the final 12 fixtures, but that doesn’t deter from a superb campaign that saw Lallana serve up 178 points – fourth amongst midfielders and almost double last year’s 93 points. Nailed-on for the Saints, he started all but one of his side’s matches, though it remains to be seen if he’ll still be at St Mary’s when the following campaign gets underway.

Jordan Mutch
By the time Gameweek 6 came around, the Cardiff midfielder had managed a total of six minutes on the pitch, courtesy of four very brief sub appearances. Two goals in the next three matches helped Mutch edge his way into the Bluebirds first XI and despite the likes of Peter Whittingham and Craig Noon offering alternatives, it was the former Birmingham man who ultimately proved to be the most reliable. With seven strikes, six assists and 13 bonus points, Mutch returned 123 points – top amongst midfielders with a starting priced under 5.0 and also top for value.

Ross Barkley
The Everton youngster quickly announced himself on the opening day of the season, with a goal and maximum bonus points against Norwich. Priced at just 4.5, Barkley’s bandwagon was up and running after it became apparent he would be a first-team regular under Robert Martinez and by Gameweek 9, he’d risen to a season high of 5.7. With over 20% ownership, he proved an invaluable cheap midfielder for much of the campaign and ended with a respectable 112 points – second only to Mutch amongst the initial sub-5.0 category.

Samir Nasri
Over the final few months of the season, the Frenchman really stepped up in class for City. Nasri’s consistency was key to his side’s run-in, with a goal or assist in eight of the final 11 Gameweeks proving pivotal for Manuel Pellegrini’s troops – a total of seven goals, 11 assists and 14 bonus points helped him to 155 points in the FPL game, his highest scoring haul since arriving on these shores. If he can maintain his form going into the next season, there’s every chance that Nasri could be the better value option, with both Toure and David Silva likely to be markedly higher when the Player Price Lists are revealed.

Kevin Mirallas
We’d high expectations of the Everton wide man after Roberto Martinez took the helm last summer. The Belgian, who started the season at 7.5, was slow to pick up the points and had scored just three times by the turn of the year but picked up over the final few months – Mirallas ultimately ended the campaign with nine strikes and seven assists (a total of 144 points) before injury prematurely brought his campaign to a close. Martinez’ rotation policy over the final few matches hinted at what is likely to come next season, though, suggesting many may overlook Mirallas next time around.

Jason Puncheon
Starting the season at Southampton (and priced at 5.5), the winger arrived at Palace back in August but was far from Fantasy radars after delivering a single assist in the opening 12 Gameweeks. Having dropped down to 4.9, Puncheon’s season was kick-started by the arrival of Tony Pulis at Selhurst Park and he quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in the Eagles’ remarkable ascent to safety. Fantasy managers were quick to adopt Puncheon as a cut-price midfield option and were rewarded with seven goals and a trio of assists as the wide man served up 131 points, with three consecutive double-figure hauls over April the highlight of his Fantasy season.

David Silva
Firmly overshadowed by Toure in the City midfield this time around, the Spaniard’s propensity for picking up injuries has seen him miss 11 of the champions’ fixtures. Nonetheless, when fully fit, Silva was a consistent source of returns and produced points in 15 of his 27 appearances, whilst an average of 5.6 ppg was fifth amongst midfielders. Seven goals, 12 assists and 20 bonus points helped the playmaker to 151 points – sixth in the midfield bracket – though with Nasri also emerging as a real contender, Silva’s inability to remain injury-free may persuade many to steer clear next time.

Steve Sidwell
Second only to Jordan Mutch for value amongst midfielders, the Fulham man produced his most prolific Premier League campaign to date. In spite of his side’s relegation, Sidwell scored seven times – equalling his tally for the previous three seasons – and with a couple of assists and 14 bonus points also delivered, finished with a respectable 126 points, or two less than Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla. Opening the campaign at 5.0, Sidwell was a secure starter for the Cottagers and played all 38 of their fixtures, though never rose more than 0.2 in price all season.

END OF SEASON AWARDS – THE FORWARDS

2014-05-21T22:33:00.001-07:00

We roll out the final instalment in our series of End of Season articles this afternoon. Having previously analysed the Goalkeepers, Defenders and Midfielders over the last week, we now cast an eye over the forwards:

The new poll is on the home page (middle column), with two forwards available for your selection. Once again, please bear in mind that the vote is from an overall Fantasy perspective – overall points, price, performances and value should all come into consideration here.

Luis Suarez
Returning from suspension in Gameweek 6, the Liverpool forward set the tone for what was to follow with a 13-point haul against Sunderland. Thirteen double figure hauls, including four consecutive 10+ returns between Gameweek 14-17, underlined Suarez’ armband capabilities, with many Fantasy content happy to hand him the captaincy on a weekly basis. The Uruguayan rarely let us down, with attacking points in 27 of his 33 appearances and ended the campaign with 30 goals, 25 assists and 40 bonus points. Runaway winner in the FPL standings on 295 points, with a staggering average of 8.9 points per game, Suarez can be expected to rise considerably from last season’s starting price of 11.0 but if he can continue in the same vein, overlooking him in our 15-man squads could be a very risky tactic.

Wayne Rooney
Overshadowed by Robin Van Persie in the previous campaign, the United striker came in at just 10.5 for the first season of the post-Ferguson era. In spite of his side’s toils under David Moyes, Rooney still managed to produce 17 goals, 12 assists and 38 bonus points in just 29 appearances for the Red Devils. His campaign was frustratingly blighted by injury, though, and with the England star picking up problems six times, transferring him in seemed to became a risky tactic, as his failure to appear in United’s double Gameweek 37 will attest to. Van Persie’s absence helped Rooney benefit from free-kicks and penalties and serve up 10 sets of double figures, though a fully-fit Dutchman may dent his team-mate’s chances next time around.

Jay Rodriguez
The top value forward in the FPL game. Rodriguez started the season priced at just 6.0 and with just one goal to his name by Gameweek 8, had dropped down to a bargain 5.7. Rodriguez stepped up in consistency over the next few months and by the time a knee injury ruled him out for the campaign at City in Gameweek 33, had netted 15 times and provided a trio of assists for Southampton – all the more impressive given that he didn’t have set-piece or penalty duties. A hike into the mid-price bracket seems inevitable, though he seems set to be sidelined until October after sustaining ligament damage at the Etihad.

Rickie Lambert
Overshadowed by Rodriguez and skipper Adam Lallana for much of the year, Lambert’s impressive last couple of months ensured he ended as the club’s top scoring FPL player for the second successive season. After serving up 187 points in his debut year in the Premier League, the veteran was handed a 7.5 price tag and with 13 goals and 11 assists, was second only to team-mate Rodriguez for value amongst forwards, yet never rose higher than 7.6 over the entirety of 2013/14.

Romelu Lukaku
Three games into Jose Mourinho’s second stint at Chelsea, it became glaringly obvious that the youngster was far down the pecking order. Having starred on loan for West Brom the previous season, Lukaku’s impressive pre-season suggested we could have a bargain on our hands, with an initial price of 8.0 persuading many to snap him up prior to double Gameweek 1. After just 40 minutes’ game time in the opening trio of fixtures, Lukaku had dropped in price to 7.4 but, legging it on loan to Everton, he quickly became Roberto Martinez’ first-choice forward as Fantasy managers came flocking back. A goal on his Toffees debut was followed by a 16-point return on his first start the following week as the Belgian proceeded to fire 15 goals and deliver nine assists – whilst he failed to impress as a captaincy option (four double figure hauls all season), Lukaku was far more consistent than many gave him credit for, producing returns in 19 of 31 appearances for the Merseysiders. Back at Chelsea once again, a loan move seems in his best interests, with Mourinho already confirming he’s on the lookout for a new forward to lead the line.

Daniel Sturridge
Quick out the blocks with a goal in eight of the opening nine Gameweeks, Sturridge was to prove exceptional value for a starting price of 9.0, with his displays alongside Suarez dispelling the notion of spreading our coverage across teams. Those who opted for both the Reds’ frontmen were richly rewarded as the England man went on to score 22 times and despite missing nine matches , still finished the campaign on 197 points, fifth in the overall standings. An average of 6.8 ppg was bettered only by Suarez amongst regular forwards and Sturridge is expected to make his way into the premium bracket for the first time next term – with Liverpool set for European duties, though, his propensity for picking up injuries could be a worry, with the threat of rotation perhaps more likely next time around.

Loic Remy
A loan move to Newcastle allowed the Frenchman to display his top-flight credentials after he tasted relegation with parent club QPR in the previous campaign. Slapped with a 7.5 price tag, Remy wasted little time in delivering for Alan Pardew’s side and served up eight goals and an assist in his first 10 appearances. Injuries and suspension somewhat limited his game time but he still managed to end the season with 14 goals and a trio of assists supplemented by 27 bonus points – Pardew’s side scored just two goals in the 12 league games Remy failed to feature in, a clear sign of just how crucial his acquisition was for the Magpies.

Olivier Giroud
Whilst most of Arsenal’s main midfielders were hampered by injuries over the course of the campaign, their first-choice forward afforded Fantasy managers a real security of starts. With a goal in each of the first four Gameweeks, Giroud’s opening 8.5 price tag persuaded many to get on board, though a lack of explosive potential saw him register just three sets of double figures over his 36 appearances. After serving up 16 goals and nine assists, the Frenchman finished 30 points clear of any Emirates team-mate in the FPL standings and ended the campaign in seventh place overall – a price hike looks on the cards and may well deter many next time round, particularly if the likes of Aaron Ramsey or Theo Walcott can steer clear of injury amongst Arsene Wenger’s first-team.

Sergio Aguero
Over the first few months of the campaign, the City forward was matching Suarez step-for-step. By Gameweek 16, Aguero had delivered 13 goals and eight assists and with five 10+ hauls also thrown in, had even offered us a valid captaincy alternative to the Liverpool striker. The Argentine’s season then tailed off dramatically, with just four goals and three assists in the final 22 rounds of fixtures as injury restricted him to eight league appearances from mid-December onwards. An average of 6.8 ppg was bettered only by Suarez amongst frontmen but with Yaya Toure delivering consistently in midfield, Aguero’s constant injury worries may persuade many to steer clear from snapping him up in 2014/15 – a run of 10 successive appearances was the most he could muster in Manuel Pellegrini’s first year at the helm.

Edin Dzeko
The Bosnian ended the campaign as City’s top scoring FPL forward, bettering Aguero’s score by a single point. Dzeko’s season was the polar opposite of his fellow forward’s – handed just five starts in the opening 18 Gameweeks as Pellegrini opted for Alvaro Negredo alongside the Argentine, he’d managed just four goals and two assists by the turn of the year. With Aguero hampered by injury and Negredo struggling for form, Dzeko started all but three of the champions’ final 20 fixtures and, with his form flourishing due to a consistency of selection, served up 13 goals and four assists over that period. He started and finished the season at 7.5 in FPL but a price rise now seems inevitable after he picked up 157 points – his highest return since arriving at the Etihad.

Emmanuel Adebayor
The departure of Andre Villas-Boas brought the Togo international back onto our radars in mid-December. Adebayor had appeared just once in the opening 16 Gameweeks for Tottenham before a home hammering by Liverpool allowed Tim Sherwood to take the reins – immediately installed to the starting line-up, he delivered a 13-point haul on his first start in an impressive comeback win at Southampton. Over 20 appearances, Adebayor produced 11 goals and six assists and, with 19 bonus points also thrown in, averaged 5.7 ppg – only Suarez, Sturridge, Aguero and Rooney managed more – but with Sherwood departing the club earlier this week, the striker’s Fantasy future once again looks in doubt.

Wilfried Bony
Swansea’s summer signing was slow to adapt to his new surrounds and by the turn of the year, had mustered just four goals and a single assist. In a sign of intent, Bony bagged a brace against United on New Year’s Day and never looked back, going on to score against the likes of Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and Arsenal and finish the season on 17 goals – a tally bettered only by Suarez and Sturridge. With no European fixtures on the horizon next term, the Ivorian could thrive once again – having started at 8.0 last summer, a similar price would make him a very popular pick as Garry Monk’s men look to improve upon a twelfth-place finish.

INTERVIEW – TOM FENLEY – FANTASY PREMIER LEAGUE WINNER

2014-05-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

We kick off our series of summer interviews with none other than Tom Fenley, the overall winner of the 2013/14 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game. In a nail-biting finale, Tom’s team, “Captain Suarez!”, held onto the top spot by just a single point over his nearest rival – he gives us an in-depth look into his experience and recounts the highlights of an unforgettable season:

Congratulations on winning. Where were you when the final Gameweek matches were taking place and when you had to make your final transfer of the season? What were your emotions like?

I was at home on the morning of the final Gameweek deadline, nervously determining my transfers. I usually confirm my trades the night before or, earlier in the season, even a few days prior, to avoid the slip-ups that had marred previous seasons; often ruinous drunk transfers or missed deadlines due to unplanned hangovers. This time I wanted to see as much news as possible and attempt to figure out the chasers’ transfers as well – it’s an important part of the game when up at the top – so unfortunately I had to stay in the night before, didn’t drink a drop, then set my alarm….

I like beer and knew I was going to be thirsty win or lose, so was in the pub with some mates for the matches. It was an odd feeling, knowing I was first could have put a lot of pressure on but although I wasn’t confident, I also couldn’t be in a better position so felt relatively calm. The first half passed quickly but the second half was torment; it was difficult to keep up with what was happening and all I knew was that it would be close. At full-time we knew it would be down to bonus points and perhaps even Sergio Aguero’s yellow card could have lost it.

Then I went into meltdown, I had no idea what was going on for hours. Unsubstantiated claims that I had won, scribbled maths, enigmatic bonus points, champagne opened (courtesy of Huttondressedaslahm, many thanks) and sipped in misery as I thought I had lost on number of transfers.

Finally, the game updated and I got a few texts; I was pretty sure I had won. Stared at the table for a bit that night, pondering how I had got there. Then I received the email the next day and I could finally believe it, I had survived and won by one point.

You left your final transfer with 17 minutes to spare, I’m assuming that means you were agonising over the decision?

Well, yes and no, the first transfer was always going to be relatively straightforward, Wayne Rooney out for Edin Dzeko or Daniel Sturridge. It was the decision to take a hit or not in order to bring in Leighton Baines that was tortuous. I knew the second placed team had him and that covering another player could be crucial.

There was also doubt over Aaron Ramsey’s playing time and Adam Johnson was just an incredibly frustrating player to own so he was not going in the first XI. I almost did the Baines move (he was on great form and a good bet for a clean sheet) but resolved to trust my instinct that Ramsey would play – it was a very nervous five minutes to the deadline and I had the confirm transfer button ready but I made the right decision. Knowing when to stick is as important a skill as making a transfer and in the end I couldn’t give up the four points just for one match.

On the final Gameweek you avoided taking a hit and transferred out Rooney for Dzeko? What made you decide on that move, as opposed to Sturridge as many others were, or a lucky punt as Luke Weston had with Lukaku.

As mentioned, the Dzeko move was a relatively easy decision to make. I knew that Luke Weston and those behind would take risks but fortunately the gaps were too sizeable unless they were ridiculously lucky. It was Borna (second placed manager) I was worried about and I was certain he would bring in Sturridge, as he already had Dzeko, so it was between those two.

Sturridge had an incredible record this season and was in my team for long stretches, but he was recently back from injury and after Liverpool’s previous games it was a difficult to call that match.

Dzeko had the better form, in a team that was in better form, scored braces in the previous two matches and additionally as I had Aguero, it was insurance to have the Bosnian. If Aguero didn’t play then Dzeko would be the main man in a game where they were endeavoring to clinch the title, so I couldn’t risk not having him.

Your team name is Captain Suarez. How important was he to your season? How often did you captain him?

I only got him in Gameweek 7 after that explosive first appearance at Sunderland. I captained him 22 times, 68.75% of the matches he was available for me – after those initial five matches (suspended), he only missed seven minutes of league football! I watch every Liverpool match and had mentioned to a friend in a previous season that if he hit his potential form he could be indispensable but he certainly exceeded expectations in terms of points. Not exactly a punt, but this game is about having the best players and without bringing him in relatively early I would not have won. As I climbed the rankings it helped to be able to forget about the captaincy most weeks and focus on the rest of the team.

You are a Liverpool fan. Would you have forfeited FPL victory for Liverpool’s first Premier League title in decades?

Yes, absolutely, without a doubt. Liverpool played the most attacking football and it would have been an unbelievable achievement to go from seventh to first, it’s still impressive that they came second. Also it would have made a lot more people happy and I’m all for the greater good. If only both had happened, I would probably still be out somewhere.

You made 48 transfers this season. Is this a lot or not a lot of hits based on previous seasons for you? What is your attitude to hits? What have been your other key strategies this season?

I certainly took more hits than ever this season. It was part of the planned strategy to use free transfers to maintain a balance in the squad in relation to fixtures and to get the form players in with a hit if it looked like paying off.

Hits can quite clearly be successful, I think you have to weigh them up on an individual basis and I did incredibly well with them this season. It is all about the effect it has on your team, if you are bringing in a better player it allows pivotal transfers when faced with injury pileups and provides economic benefit which helps the squad develop over time. This is also illustrated by the fact I didn’t use my wildcard until Gameweek 30, it is all about the long term value of a player and maintaining momentum. In the end the wildcard didn’t help as much as it could have, but with all the burgeoning injuries and doubles it allowed me some breathing space at a crucial point of the season.

There is no trick, or one key area that helps you to do well in FPL, it is always a combination of factors and being able to bring all the various bits of news, information, stats, comments, gut feeling, offbeat thoughts and strategy together with a bit of luck so that you make the right transfer. If there was one piece of advice I’d give it would be to use common sense, it’s not actually that common, be rational, this is not football, it’s Fantasy Football.

In the last four years your highest FPL rank was 79,653. Why was this year so successful for you? Was the reduction in available key players and players maintaining form this year a factor?

To start I would like to say, as many do, that this is the first season I have been fully committed to FPL and not had distractions – I was traveling abroad for three months in each of the last two seasons, making it very difficult to keep in touch with what’s going on, and I stopped paying attention half way through the first season. Before this year, I stopped working at weekends and late as much, so could be more diligent in monitoring price changes and most importantly watch more football matches. I’m not suggesting you should quit your job and start a new career to watch football and play FPL but it would probably help.

The way the season developed certainly aligned productively with the approach I had set myself, to make obvious moves early on, not to over-think and focus on building value for later in the season when more sophisticated scheming could come into play. At the start it was just about staying in with a chance and getting a green arrow, which unfortunately means being boring or a Jonty. The wisdom of the crowd, as Mark has mentioned, was the way to go this season.

The game plan meant I bought in key players promptly. Fortunately they continued to perform and as there were less of them it was easier to cover the big hitters and shift attention to the fringes of the squad. It was unusual for players to be so consistent but I would also check stats and watch matches as well and even if they weren’t impressive in the stats, seeing them involved and performing well in games is always the best indicator.

You are a FFS member? How important was having access to the members area to your success this year?

This was my first season as a member and to go from 80,000 to number one would not have been possible without signing up. The access was an eye-opener in terms of how many different ways there are to examine a player’s credentials alongside watching matches. It’s easy to use and once you get familiar with how to read the stats it makes decisions much less ambiguous or risky.

Which FFS members tools do you use the most? Are there any examples where the members tools helped you make a particularly successful decision?

The season ticker is the initial one that I went to. I knew access to that would be integral in doing well, especially before the season starts as it’s the best tool for establishing which teams to target.

Then I started using the RMT tool which is quite self-explanatory and signals weak areas of your squad. The projections are effective for narrowing the pool of potential players and the comparison tool is the decider, the final judge between the two players you can’t choose between.

I can’t really pick out any specific transfers that were successful due to the tools because I used them for every single one. I wouldn’t bring in a player before using the tools to check: fixtures, projections, how they compared to at least two alternatives and the effect on the RMT score. I would do this in circles, adding or dismissing options and going from one to the other until the most sensible transfer became apparent.

What was your best decision this season? And what was your worst? Also which player has been your biggest let-down?

Clearly picking Suarez up in Gameweek 7 was important. Aaron Ramsey in Gameweek 5 helped but also the decision not to over-think and just go with the flow at the start. I was very close to captaining Eden Hazard for his hat-trick at home to Newcastle, had the armband on him all week and changed it last minute (always a bad idea) – this happens to everyone I know, but was definitely the worst decision I made. Also getting Adam Johnson in, I think most will understand why he was a major let-down.

Your friend, HuttonDressedAsLahm, has been your champion on the site as you have mainly kept a low profile. Will you now comment more? What other community members have helped you?

When I started doing well and realised I was in with a shout I decided not to comment too much, I didn’t know who might be looking and it was so close at the top as evidenced by the one point finish! I was doing so well without asking for guidance I thought I should just stick to my guns and go without any outside influence. I don’t even have Facebook so I’m still getting my head round commenting on the internet. Hopefully, now when I comment I will be able to provide some sound advice!

I wouldn’t want to single anybody out, it’s a great community with some wonderfully eccentric and knowledgeable individuals around, I’ve taken something from every comment I read to contribute to the win. Sometimes I’ve found it’s better to stick with my own thoughts and it’s easy to be swayed the wrong way, but overall the community members are unquestionably a positive influence, a diverse and rambunctious family who love football and all its idiosyncrasies.

Your prize is a seven night’s holiday in the UK and VIP trip to a couple of Premier League matches. Who are you taking and which matches do you hope to attend? What do your friends, partner, wife, family think of your achievement?

I will be taking my long-suffering girlfriend, who can’t think I’m mad for tinkering with an imaginary football team anymore and unexpectedly, angrily blurting out ‘should have captained him, I’d have two more points’. It also avoids upsetting the dad, brothers and friends who I would obviously prefer to accompany to the matches, but don’t really want to spend seven nights in a hotel with.

I hope to go to Anfield for at least one of them, VIP tickets there will be an unforgettable experience, especially if Liverpool play like they did last season. I initially thought versus Man United but I’m not sure if I ever want to see Marouane Fellaini play, so perhaps against Arsenal or Man City.

Almost everyone is incredibly pleased and proud, some don’t have a clue what I’m on about. Most didn’t know I even played it until the last few weeks but recognise it’s probably quite difficult to do so have said “well done”. I get widely different reactions, some people explode with shock and others just look at me like I’m a loon and whisper ‘that’s sad’. But I don’t care, I’m number one in the world!

Will you play again next year and defend your title? If you are playing next year will you be as focused as last year’s winner Matt, who achieved a top 1,000 ranking this year? Or will you be more relaxed and take more risks?

At first I thought I would like a break (or to give it up completely, I’m not winning it again!) but we will see. I think it’s likely I will have a team but no expectations. I might shift focus to the Ultimate game or Sky and maybe join a World Cup game. I play mainly for the added fun when watching games and being a ‘scout’ so can’t see a reason to stop.

I noticed how well Matt was doing this year, he was even higher at some points so congratulations to him, clearly an excellent player and a lovely bloke for starting a charity league. I can’t hope to match that level of consistency and would be more than happy just to do better than Mark, and win my mini-league again.

I would just like to add a huge thank you to everyone involved with the site, for Mark and the contributors for running it and to all the community for the funny and informative comments, links and general shenanigans. It’s now payback time and hopefully I can help one of you guys take the title next year, stay tuned!

Also, thank you to everyone who finished in the top 10 for being such good adversaries. The rivalry was incredible and I was really pushed to win it – to Luke Weston, especially, my commiserations, you played so well and I was surprised you didn’t run away with it, perhaps I can buy you a pint one day? Finally, a shout out to Borna – you made me a nervous wreck the final Gameweek with that magnificent Dzeko captaincy the week before. Well played, I still can’t believe there was only one point in it.

VAN GAAL CONFIRMED AS UNITED BOSS

2014-05-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

After weeks of speculation, Manchester United finally confirmed Louis Van Gaal as their new manager earlier this afternoon.

The Dutchman has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford and has named Ryan Giggs as his assistant manager, with Frans Hoek and Marcel Bout coming on board as assistant coaches.

Van Gaal will take over the helm once the Netherlands’ participation in this summer’s World Cup comes to an end and is expected to be handed a considerable budget as the Red Devils attempt to put last year’s miserable seventh place finish behind them. Speaking to the club’s official website, the 62-year-old went on to say:

“It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League. To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud. I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are. This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”

We’ll have a Moving Target piece on Van Gaal’s installation later in the week as we look at the potential knock-on effect, both from a tactical and personnel perspective, his appointment is expected to have.

WORLD CUP 2014 – INTRODUCING FANTASYITEAM

2014-05-21T22:25:00.002-07:00

After getting our World Cup analysis underway with yesterday’s look at Brazil’s main men and Cameroon earlier today, it’s time to give you a heads-up on some of the games we’re going to be playing during the tournament. Fantasy iTeam were one of the first to swing open their doors and we’re delighted to say that we’ll be supporting their World Cup game during the summer.

FantasyiTeam is a free Fantasy football app that’s available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. It’s been around since the last World Cup and we’ve been discussing an opportunity to work with their team ever since.

With so many of you accessing this site and other apps on your mobile or tablets, the World Cup is the perfect opportunity for us to jump on board – set up a league and try the game out within the community. As mentioned, the game is up and running, nice and slick and proven over a number of seasons with a dedicated following.

Fantasy iTeam is free to download and play, you can already go in and start drafting up your starting XI with unlimited transfers and, with a £500 Amazon voucher on offer to the Fantasy Football Scout league winner, there’s no reason not to get involved.

We’ve already tinkered and set up an official Fantasy Football Scout league for you to join – the league name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 4915.

What’s more, the game is littered with decent prizes should you find yourself challenging at the very top. Finish first overall and you win a trip a trip of a lifetime to share with your mates, worth £5,000, whilst the highest scoring manager of every Gameround (there are seven in total) wins a £250 Amazon voucher.

The FantasyiTeam game also uses fluctuating player prices based on the transfer market, making it a wise idea to follow the movers and shakers – the team with the highest value by the end of the tournament wins another £500 Amazon voucher.

If you’ve been itching to commit to a World Cup game and you’ve got a compatible device, then there’s really no reason to click here for the official website and download the app.

We’ll be ramping up our coverage of the game and our league over the next week or so. We’ll start by giving the Fantasy iTeam rules a good grilling, before following up with a scan of their player list for potential bargains.

INTERVIEW – ALEX BOWERS – UFPL WINNER

2014-05-21T22:23:00.002-07:00

We continue our summer interviews with Fantasy Football Scout member Alex Bowers, otherwise known as Gavigon within our community, who scooped top spot in the Beta version of the Ultimate Fantasy Premier League (UFPL) game and a tablet computer.

Congratulations on achieving first place. You were first going into the final Gameweek and ended up winning by just five points. Where were you when you realised you had won and what does it feel like to be the inaugural winner of this competition?

My wife had a family hike planned for that day. When I told her that it was the last day of the season and I’d be glued to scoring updates in front of the TV and internet for those two hours it nearly caused a divorce. I was fortunate enough to have a small lead going into the Gameweek, but there were probably ten teams that could have overtaken me with the differentials they had. During the game I had no idea how my team was doing compared to others, and was forlornly hoping that Manchester City would hand the title to my team Liverpool but kept an eye on goal updates. At the end I quickly checked the top ten teams weekly scores and noticed that no-one had enough to go past me and was pretty sure I’d won. It’s polarising being both a fan and a Fantasy player as you usually take both the good and bad from each weekend. As a lifelong Liverpool fan I believed this would be our year even after the Palace game, so there was disappointment together with elation at winning a big Fantasy competition.

What is your history with Fantasy Football?

I started with the Telegraph Fantasy Football game some years ago, and for the last few years have played Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and OFL (Original Fantasy League). I’m also part of a small group which has played an auction game for the last ten plus years, where the highlight is the start of season bidding. I took the wooden spoon this year, so not everything went well. My best finish in FPL was 800 or so a couple of years ago, this season I ended up around 25,000.

What did you think of the differences between UFPL and FPL in terms of squad choice, points scoring and its focus on loans rather than transfers?

Like most I was intrigued by what the FPL team would introduce as their premium game format so wanted to give it a try in Beta. The main differences in mechanics seemed to be the larger squad, which would rotate according to fixtures each Gameweek, and the restriction on transfers outside of windows meaning the initial choices carried more weight. After the first couple of Gameweeks I found I really enjoyed the format; each week brought new, tough, decisions on who to bench and who to leave out as eight of your squad had to be omitted completely. Additionally there was a decision to make on Saturday and Sunday night on whether to bring in a substitute or not. Four or five points seemed to be a good threshold for swapping a player, but this varied if, for example, it was Luis Suarez being brought in. Whether to change the armband each day was another key decision point I enjoyed, and paid off for me more than once.

To be honest I couldn’t figure out the value of the loan system, it seemed overly complex and the price to use it was high compared to the potential of bringing someone in if you already had a good squad to choose from. I did use a couple of loan moves towards the end but this was more to test the system to see what happened than anything else. None of my moves worked out (Aaron Ramsey in for Adam Johnson, then for the final double Gameweek Juan Mata and Connor Wickham in for Steven Gerrard and an injured striker). There are some situations in which a loan makes more sense, like captaincy choices and double Gameweeks, but in my case it didn’t help or wasn’t needed.

One concern from some Fantasy managers before the UFPL game launched was that it would become boring with no transfers? Did you find there was less excitement without changes to prices, transfers and points hits?

I actually found it more interesting than the transfer system in FPL, where everyone tends to jump on the same bandwagons and the timing of them are influenced by price rises or falls. Not having to worry about who might rise or fall on any particular day made things a lot easier for me. I enjoyed being able to set my team up in midweek with the knowledge that if someone didn’t start I could just bring in a bench player the next day. The decisions on who to bench versus who to leave out or who bring off the bench were interesting ones. I did have a good team, however, so I can imagine that not having the best team and being unable to do much about it outside of the loan system would be frustrating.

Who were your key players and who were you biggest mistakes?

For the Beta the squad choices were heavily influenced by the fixture list and double Gameweeks. I wanted to pick a balanced team that had several bench options for Sunday and Monday games, but also wanted to make sure that Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Sunderland had a lot of coverage for doubles. With this in mind I had to leave out some expensive players that at the time were seen as ‘must haves’ in favour of mid-range players. For example, I chose Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard over Daniel Sturridge, Edin Dzeko over Sergio Aguero for City and left out Eden Hazard and Chelsea defenders completely. The 11 players I chose from Liverpool, City and Everton were the key players, plus notable contributions from Christian Eriksen, Olivier Giroud and Jay Rodriguez. The rest of my squad hardly made any difference, as they rarely got selected over the core. I thought my biggest mistake was having too many players playing on Sundays or later as you can only have 7 on your bench. I often ended up with very few playing on Saturday because of this, but it never hurt me too much.

What were you best captaincy and substitution sticks or twists? What were your worst?

The best for me was the Gameweek where I’d changed the captain twice already due to only four to five points being scored, and gave Eriksen the armband for a Monday night game where he went rampant. I felt that seven to eight points was a good threshold for sticking with a captain, and remember one late Gameweek where I stuck in that situation when Suarez was playing the next day and being very nervous he could have a big game. I lost a couple of points on occasions when I twisted and the new choice scored two points, but it was no big deal given the seven to eight point guideline.

You are a FFS member. What were the key tools you used to help you?

I love all the data that’s available in the members area. The articles are the main benefit I get from the membership, particularly those paying attention to players that are creating or receiving a lot of chances without necessarily getting end product. There’s been a big change in the way I’ve played Fantasy Football the last couple of years: now I look for players to bring into my team, whereas previously I used to look for players to ship out who weren’t doing well. It’s a subtle difference, but helps to manage transfers better and avoid tinkering. As I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, a great approach is to combine form with stats from the members area and also TV highlights so you can see who’s getting real chances versus random long shots.

Do you think the FPL game could learn from the UFPL, for example defensive midfielders benefit from the UFPL scoring? Could this more stat based form of scoring replace bonus points?

I really like the scoring system in UFPL, the way that core points are still for goals, assists and clean sheets but additionally points are award for defined actions such as key tackles, chances created, etc. It means that strong players in those categories will score four to five points consistently even if they end up with no goals or assists, making investment in them a reliable option. So yes I prefer the scoring system to FPL, which changes every year and seems overly contrived.

Finally, tell us a bit about yourself and what your family thinks of your achievement?

I work in business intelligence, so using data to make smarter decisions is something I do every day and plays into Fantasy Football. My wife was great when I explained I won UFPL, she doesn’t know much about Fantasy or what goes into it but is very excited about the achievement and hopefully that and a box of chocolates makes up for not going for a hike last Sunday.

WORLD CUP 2014 – TEAM ANALYSIS – CROATIA

2014-05-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

Having looked at Brazil and Cameroon over the last couple of days, we turn our attentions to Croatia. Niko Kovac’s side get the tournament underway against the hosts on Thursday June 12 at 9pm, then square up to Cameroon six days later at 11pm before going head-to-head with their final opponents, Mexico at 9pm on Monday June 23.

ROAD TO QUALIFICATION

Croatia’s qualifying campaign got off to a great start, with five wins in the first six, but they ultimately finished nine points behind Belgium in Group A after picking up a single point in their final four fixtures. Over the course of 10 matches, they scored just 12 times and conceded nine goals before parting company with Igor Stimac – Kovac was appointed in time for the play-offs against Iceland and led his country to a 2-0 aggregate win. They have since played a friendly away to Switzerland and drew 2-2 back in March this year.

Listed below are Croatia’s most regular performers over the qualifying stages, with play-off appearances also factored in.

Most Starts Stipe Pletikosa, Mario Mandzukic (12), Luka Modric, Darijo Srna (11), Ivan Rakitic (10), Vedran Corluka, Josip Simunic, Ivan Strinic (9)

Most Goals Mario Mandzukic (4), Eduardo (2)

Most Assists Darijo Srna, Ivica Olic, Ivan Perisic (2)

THE KEY TARGETS

There’s no doubt that Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic (5.6 in FantasyiTeam) approaches the tournament in outstanding form. The midfielder has delivered 12 goals and 10 assists for his side in La Liga this season and with set-piece duties also boosting his appeal, he is set play a pivotal role in Croatia’s chances of making the knockout stages. Together with Luka Modric, Rakitic will form a central midfield pairing, bristling with creative talent at the hub of Kovac’s system, prompting their side’s counter-attacking style.

At the back, Josip Simunic misses the tournament altogether, due to suspension with Dejan Lovrenlikely to partner Vedran Corluka (5.4 and 5.2 in FantasyiTeam) at the heart of defence. Darijo Srna still looks the best bet, though – coming in at 5.8 in FantasyiTeam, he grabbed a goal and a pair of assists during qualification, whilst Corluka and Lovren also notched one apiece. The left-back situation is unclear with Danijel Pranjic and Ivan Strinic vying for the role.

The only outfield player to feature in all 12 of those matches, Mario Mandzukic’s Fantasy prospects are dented by the fact that he is suspended for the Group A opener against Brazil. The Bayern forward (priced at 9.2 in FantasyiTeam) is available for the two remaining matches, though, and with a security of starts guaranteed, will be desperate to miss up for lost time against Mexico and Cameroon.

THE LONG SHOTS

Most Fantasy managers eyeing up Croatia’s frontline will be more inclined to gravitate towards Mandzukic – potentially leaving Ivica Olic as a differential. Having served up 14 goals and five assists for Wolfsburg, he finished the 2013/14 Bundesliga season as tenth top scorer. Olic’s team-mate Ivan Perisic also hit double-figures in 2013/14, producing 10 goals and four assists and is another under the radar option. Those two come at at 8.2 and 5.9 respectively in FantasyiTeam.)

Young Mateo Kovacic could be an option, if he can nail down a starting berth. Certainly, with Modric and Rakitic as assured starters in the double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, the versatile 20-year-old could be shifted to the role in “the hole” behind a lone forward – Inter Milan team-mate Javier Zanetti has recently claimed that, with the exception of Brazil’s Ronaldo, Kovacic is the most impressive youngster he has ever seen in his 19 years at the club. At 5.5, in FantasyiTeam, he’s likely to struggle for investment, given Raktic’s similar price.

WORLD CUP 2014 – TEAM ANALYSIS – CAMEROON

2014-05-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

Having analysed Brazil in the first of our World Cup articles, we now take a look at the rank outsiders in Group A. Cameroon failed to impress during the qualifying stages and, having been thumped 5-1 by Portugal in a friendly match back in March, many are already writing off the Africans side’s chances of making it out of the group and into the knockout stages.

Volker Finke’s side begin their campaign with a clash with Mexico on Friday June 13 at 5pm – perhaps their best opportunity for a victory. Five days later the “Indomitable Lions” square up to Croatia at the later time of 11pm, before they take on hosts Brazil in the final batch of Group A ties on Monday June 23 at 9pm.

ROAD TO QUALIFICATION

Cameroon finished top of a four-team qualifying group that included Libya, DR Congo and Togo. They registered four wins and a draw, although one of those victories was after a 2-0 defeat in Togo was overturned due to the hosts fielding an ineligible player, with Cameroon awarded a 3-0 win. Over their remaining five matches, they scored five goals, conceding three and earning three clean sheets. They then went head-to-head with Tunisia for a place in this month’s tournament and, after a goalless first-leg away draw, triumphed 4-1 at home to progress.

ROAD TO QUALIFICATION

Most Starts Alex Song, Aurélien Chedjou,Nicolas Nkoulou (7), Jean Makoun, Dany Nounkeu, Eyong Enoh, Carlos Kameni, Benjamin Moukandjo, Joel Matip (5)

Most Goals Jean Makoun, Samuel Eto’o, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (2)

THE KEY TARGETS

Fueled by the 1990’s World Cup displays, the popular perception will be that Cameroon may well be a swashbuckling attacking side, spearheaded by Samuel Eto’o. They are actually set up to be a strong defensive unit who will look to retai possession and keep opponents at arm’s length. It’s in attacking terms that they struggle, unlike both Brazil and Croatia, they lack influential playmakers in midfield.

In a side largely bereft of attacking craft, Eto’o remains the star turn. The Chelsea man’s decision to come out of international retirement proved a successful one as his influence helped steer Cameroon through qualifying. There’s no doubt Finke’s side are up against it in Group A but, if they are to prosper, the performance of their veteran striker – who is first-choice penalty taker – will be pivotal.

Finke is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, to maximise the power of Alex Song and Enoh Eyong in the engine room. This duo provide ample stability in front of a back four that boasts an established and touted centre-back pairing of Nicolhas N’Koulou and Aurelien Chedjou. That quartet will be tested and could reap plenty of points from recovered balls.

That spine can be further reinforced by Jean Makoun – the Rennes star will likely to be fielded the furthest forward of the central midfield three and will be looking to replicate the attacking form that saw him score twice in the crucial win over Tunisia. Makoun is not a natural “number 10″ and Finke is far from blessed in this area. He has other options – notably Schalke’s highly-rated Joel Matip, along with Stéphane Mbia of Seville – both could feature but are imposing defensively minded assets rather than major attacking threats.

THE LONG SHOT

Vincent Aboubakar is likely to get the nod on the right flank of either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. He failed to impress over the qualification period and was unable to find the net but he arrives on the back of a highly successful domestic campaign, having netted on 16 occasions for Ligue 1 side Lorient.

WORLD CUP 2014 – TEAM ANALYSIS – BRAZIL

2014-05-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have noticed, there’s a tournament taking place in Brazil next month. The 2014 World Cup kicks off on Thursday June 12 – just six days before the new Premier League fixture list is announced – and lasts all the way until Sunday July 13, filling the time perfectly until Fantasy managers can begin to plan for the new domestic campaign:

We’ll be covering a handful of Fantasy games for the upcoming tournament (more on that later in the week) and as the days begin to tick down, we kick off our coverage with Group A and run the rule over host nation, Brazil.

Phil Scolari’s side get the tournament underway on Thursday June 12 at 9pm against Croatia, then square up to Mexico five days later at 8pm before entertaining Cameroon in their final Group A match on June 23 at 9pm:

The tournament favourites, they captured last year’s Confederations Cup in convincing style, winning all six games including triumphs over the likes of France, Italy, Uruguay and Spain. Such rampant form means that Fantasy managers will be desperate to load up on the South Americans and their chances of delivering us early points are boosted by a scheduling quirk which means that both Brazil and Mexico both play twice in the first round of fixtures. Their June 17 showdown, which takes place at 8pm, kicks off before Russia face South Korea in the second match of Group H at 11pm the same evening – the downside is that Brazil and Mexico are without a match in Matchday 2.

RECENT FRIENDLIES

Since Scolari returned to the helm, Brazil have played a total of 20 times. Starting off with a Wembley defeat to England, the South Americans won one and drew four of Big Phil’s first six matches but have since found their form and, having adjusted to a change in style, have triumphed in 13 of the last 14, with a defeat in Switzerland last year the only blip on an otherwise perfect record.

Having analysed the teamsheets, we list the main performers for Scolari’s side from the start of last June’s Confederations Cup onwards, in a run that has seen them score 42 times and concede just six, with nine clean sheets accrued in that 14-match streak.

Most Starts Neymar (14), Paulinho, David Luiz (13), Thiago Silva, Oscar, Luiz Gustavo (11), Julio Cesar, Marcelo, Hulk (10)

Top Scorers Neymar (11), Fred, Jo (5), Oscar (4)

Most Assists Neymar (7), Paulinho (4), Oscar, Fred (3)

THE KEY TARGETS

As the above stats show, Neymar is the standout option by some distance. The only player to start every one of the previous 14 fixtures, he fired a hat-trick in Brazil’s final friendly against South African – handed a role on the left of a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Barcelona man has scored or assisted in 12 of those matches; a clear indication of his excellent consistency.

Chelsea’s Oscar looks vital to Scolari’s side – providing he has fully recovered from the thigh strain that curtailed his domestic game time at the end of the season. Having cemented the role as most advanced central midfielder for the hosts, Oscar has produced three goals and an assist in his last five appearances for his country. Up front, Fred is Scolari’s number one when fully fit. He’s featured in only one of the last seven matches due to a long-term thigh problem, though, but still managed to produce five goals and three assists in eight starts.

At the back, investment amongst Scolari’s regulars may well come down to both player price and scoring system across the Fantasy games. Given their recent resilience, many will be eyeing up the likes of attacking full-backs Dani Alves or Marcelo, though it worth noting that both have managed just an assist apiece over those 14 matches. David Luiz and Thiago Silva are nailed-on at the heart of the back-four and the Chelsea man’s penchant for a long shot may persuade some to snap him up if he’s cheaper than the Brazilian skipper.

THE LONG SHOTS

An inconsistent figure in the Premier League last term, Tottenham’s Paulinho has played all but one of the previous 14 and is a key figure in the centre of the park – he’s chipped in with an assist in four of the last five games for his country. He looks assured of his start in central midfield and will be given the freedom to bomb forward with the security of Luiz Gustavo anchoring in the middle of the park.

Whilst it’s difficult to see anyone eclipsing Neymar amongst Scolari’s main men in attack, Hulk could be worth a flutter. Having started 10 of the last 14 on the opposite flank and emerged from the bench on a couple of occasions, he seems to have found his form in recent matches, grabbing two goals and a trio of assists in the last three friendlies.

Finally, if Fred struggles for full fitness, back-up option Jo may come into contention – he has scored five times from 12 appearances, with seven of those coming courtesy of the bench.