EPL Fantasy Football

[jonny]

Is anybody up for playing the official Premiership fantasy game? I think there is about 3 weeks before the season starts.

[ZhouPhoenix]

Sure. Have you got a league set up?

[jonny]

Not at the moment. I assumed there would be one for this forum already, as there was one last year. I'll set one up, no worries, but don't want to step on anybody's toes.

[jonny]

:bump:

[ZhouPhoenix]

The Hangzhou Premier League is up and running again.

Send me a PM if you want to join and I will send you the league code.
Here's something to whet your appetite:

The Pundit - Gameweek 1
You're about to spend the next nine months pitting your Barclays Premier League wits against friends and rivals in public and private leagues - so you'd best get off on the right foot.
Scoring points from the off is hugely important as a slow start can kill your challenge before it's even got underway. Here then is a brief look at the likely candidates in each of the four positions, with some pointers to bear in mind first.

It may sound obvious, but the undisputed golden rule is to pick players who are going to start. While not every man will make the first XI for all 38 games try to stick with players who are manager favourites at their respective clubs.

Study the fixture list carefully before making your picks and try to avoid teams who encounter a nasty run of early games. Chelsea's three games in August are West Brom, Wigan and Stoke - few would bet against the champions during that run and anything less than seven points will be a disappointment. On the flipside, Liverpool encounter Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs in their first five games. Good luck, Roy!

Goalkeepers
There's little mystery here - just pick reliable stoppers who will regularly pick up clean sheets. With two positions to fill that will usually be one from a top club - Jose Reina, Edwin van der Sar - and a solid mid-table performer - Thomas Sorensen, Mark Schwarzer.

Defenders
You wouldn't want a back four comprised entirely of Glen Johnsons at your Barclays Premier League club, but it would be a highly effective unit in this game. Defenders with attacking flair who score points for assists and goals as well as keeping clean sheets - players like Johnson, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole - should be in your thoughts when making your selections. Of course, players who are key members of strong defensive units should also be favoured. Last season's four most effective Barclays Premier League defences, according to goals conceded and clean sheets recorded, were Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa. You will pay a premium for players from these clubs but their reliability ensures they bring the points in.

Midfielders
Some of the biggest pointscorers of recent years have been midfielders with players like Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard and perennial Fantasy Premier League favourite, Frank Lampard, all putting up massive end-of-season totals. The Chelsea and England man scored a quite ludicrous 284 points last year - the highest of any player and a figure that pretty much justifies his £13m price tag. These grand names of the Barclays Premier League regularly bring home the bacon but at such huge prices you will struggle to afford a Fabregas to sit alongside a Lampard. Goalscoring attacking talent is the watchword here. Apart from goals and assists, eye-catching displays from the midfield often bring bonus points. Look out for a good defence behind, midfielders are also rewarded for clean sheets.

Forwards
Top strikers who score week-in, week-out are a rare breed and you won't be surprised to see last year's top two, Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba, cost £12.5m and £12m respectively. The simple fact is, however, that they're worth it. Either man is ideal captain material due to their ability to consistently find the net to deliver strong points returns. Fernando Torres, Carlos Tevez and Robin van Persie are the other forwards in the £10m club, but while the latter duo look sound investments, the Liverpool striker's injury struggles are worrying. With three striking positions to fill, you will have to look below the elite and players like Carlton Cole, Hugo Rodallega and Kevin Doyle are all priced below £6.5m. There's bound to be some extra value in the lower ranks, you've just got to find it!

[ZhouPhoenix]

Anyone else interested? We still need a few more.

Send me a PM.

[ZhouPhoenix]

No one else?

[jonny]

I could ask a couple of mates from Istanbul to join our league if it helps?

[ZhouPhoenix]

Teşekkür ederim.

[jonny]

Rica Ederim