Fantasy Premier League Intro 2018/19
Welcome to Fantasy Premier League Intro 2018/19. As most of you are aware, FPL has been live for a couple of weeks now, but due to England’s surprising progress to the semi-finals and many of you playing both the Fantasy World Cup game and our very own Predictions Competition we have delayed any FPL articles until today. It’s full speed ahead now though as we look forward to the start of the season which kicks off on Friday 10th August.
If you’ve not been with us over the summer then we hope you feel refreshed and renewed and enjoyed some fantasy-free time. We extend a particular welcome to our new friends who have migrated over from Fantasy Football First – we hope you feel welcome and at home with us.
The purpose of this article is kick off FPL but also to provide you with all the necessary links that you will need…
FPL LEAGUES
First things first and some housekeeping – please be sure to join the main FF247 league here (autojoin link) League Code: 1581-751
There is a ‘Regulars’ league too but for access to this you need to contact Elle via elleffcee@gmail.com
This one is specifically for those who join in on the site conversation on a daily / weekly basis. Please respect that criteria before applying and wasting Elle’s time and ours.
FPL RULES
The rules for the game are simply as per last season – you have two wildcards to use, one in the first half of the season only and one to use in the second half of the season only. The other chips also remain the same – namely Triple Captain, Bench Boost and Free Hit.
So really it’s just time to start building your team if you haven’t already. No doubt the tinkering will continue right up until the GW1 deadline as players impress or not as the case may be, in preseason friendlies.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES
Usually we run an article and ask people to get involved and cover the friendlies with any info they can gather. And it’s usually fun but in all honesty it’s usually also a bit messy and difficult to refer back to. This season we have one link that you will need need for all such info, courtesy of Mito –
Here you will find all the pre-season info you could ever wish for in one place – line-ups, scorers, assists, match info, sarcastic comments….
FPL FIXTURE TRACKER
(It’s scrollable btw, just swipe left or right)
FIXTURE TRACKER LINK
It’s been a busy summer already with Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Chelsea appointing new managers, Manchester City adding to their already dominant squad, Man Utd continuing to splash the cash and Liverpool trying to protect Karius by beefing up their midfield. Spurs may even have a new home soon.
And FPL wise, this is the place to discuss strategy, learn about the promoted teams and their players while in the days and weeks to come we’ll have plenty of articles, interviews, player analysis, Bore Offs, Tips, etc, etc.
So be sure to get involved in the discussions, the RMTs and the banter as we look forward to another season of Fantasy fun!
The League Codes for FF247 for the 2018/19 season are as follows –
The main public FF247 League , which anyone is welcome to join, can be accessed using the following code 1581-751 (auto-link below).
The prize pool for this one will be confirmed in due course.
Join Our League – Quick Link
League Code: 1581-751
View league standings
Our Regulars League* for 2018/19 is now open and has a cash prize pool of £300 paid directly to the winners from the FF247 management team. The first 5 places are paid out in a tiered system.
To enter this one you need to be an active and recognised site member and you need to e-mail us for the league code – elleffcee@gmail.com
*terms and conditions apply and are available upon request. Management reserve the right to review membership of this league on an ongoing basis. If you enter and win a prize you have to have commented on the site at least 5 times for 8 consecutive months between August 2018 and March 2019 or you will not be considered for a prize. That’s basically 1 comment a week all season, we think that’s a reasonable ask to be considered a ‘regular’.
In your e-mail could you please supply:-
Your name.
Your site user name.
Your team name from last season and your new team name if it has changed.
Thanks for reading Fantasy Premier League Intro 2018/19. This article was written by Cookie
1st…wohooo
btw for 1st 5 gameweek, auba or kun?
If you can guarantee me Kun starts all these early games, I think I prefer him. In 6 of the first 7 GWs he plays the 3 teams that were promoted this season and the 3 that were promoted last.
You can make a case for both. Undoubtedly this will be the decision I will be stuck on also.
I think it’ll be another year of Jesus frustrating Kun owners. I’m going to see how pre season goes.
That’s a great stat re early fixtures Mito. The way they banged them in last season I think that’s too good to pass up. 3 City players from the start if I can afford it.
Is both too much?
I think Auba is going to have a massive season. He might not have a World Cup medal but he scored against Borehamwood this weekend so his confidence will be high. 😉
ty for the feedback. need to see more pre season friendly and decide
Thought I saw you score this week against that team also. 😉
I know I saw Guy score a hat trick for Everton while drinking a beer.
It’s back!!!
Can’t wait to get started this year. Wenger finally leaving has rekindled my love for the game. At least until week 4 or 5 when the apathy sets in and I rage quit after missing the deadline. But that’s weeks away still so let’s stay positive.
Questions for you FP gurus (and Cookie) relating to how the World Cup will impact your starting squad selection… Is everyone avoiding the teams that had big representation late in the World Cup? I can’t recall from 4 years ago how much of a break the WC stars got, but the Spuds, Man Utd and Chelski are going to have a lot of tired players. Are there any backup player bargains for those first few weeks that might get a chance until the WC guys return?
Despite the tricky fixtures on paper does anyone one else fancy Arsenal to make a good start? Hardly any players who made it to the knock out stages so they’ll at least be fresh.
Pool fans, Will Firmino and Mane start the season? Is Salah going to be fit?
Any teams facing World Cup impacted squads that might be worth a punt in the first few weeks?
So many questions.
Cheers all.
Based on previous years, you would think we will have to avoid any player who made it to semis at the very least, unless we are told different by the manager or what we see in friendlies. There was 34 days between the start of the PL and the final of the World Cup in 2014. There will be only 26 days between those two dates this year, so that feels like a lot of trouble. In particular since Belgium and England made it to semis and their teams are littered with PL players.
This quote from Jose in the last day or two > “I believe that three weeks of rest is the minimum time that the body needs and the spirt to return to think about football. The players who took part in the World Cup will return in the same weekend that the Premier League starts. This means that they will not be ready to play matches. Another week is needed so that everyone can be ready physically.”
Also this from some paper ‘ After the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski did not start a match for Arsenal until the end of August, and neither did Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero for Manchester City.
It will not only be England’s players who could miss the start of the Premier League season after Russia 2018.
Almost half of Belgium’s squad currently play in England, as do five of semi-final opponents France.
Croatia have only one Premier League player in their squad, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren.’
Think pre-season will determine who could be the sneaky punts early on for those taking up the minutes of the players who are still resting. Yeah Arsenal should be ok even with those two early fixtures. City will basically have their whole backline out in GW1 and there is no telling what CFC will have in GW2.
Thanks Cookie and Init, so exciting before the season starts with all the promise and hope of a great season, until the joy gets sucked out of you as you find yourself fighting to just have a decent finish.
Now the WC is over, as many of you know – I run a “My Rules” league. As it says on the box, you make your own rule for a second team. Only London based players, only left footers, under 23s just go with whatever floats your boat ladies and gents. Now you MUST show us your usual site name AND a hint as to your rule. 3 examples for you, I play Zorro’s reds, then there’s Ivan’s newbies and Midnight’s antienglish. So, my team are those that we class as red shirts, Ivanthe horriblyTerrible can only use players that in the newly promoted or transferred in for this season, midnightrunner is a Welsh git that hates the English players. I also do a few silly cups from time to time.
I’ll not post the league code yet, once the 247 community gets the idea I’ll post it. Now we run an ‘honour code’ about your rules, so anyone found breaking the rules is a Sherman tanker and will just be deleted from the league end of.
The 3 of us mentioned above will police the league from time to time, if we can be arsed and any transgressors just get binned. Ivan has a thing about only 3 teams with the same rule but I’m a bit more relaxed about that tbh. When you have nearly 300 players, it’s a bit hard to find 100 different rules ffs. But just to keep the silly tart happy ‘Newbies’ can only have 3 teams,
Finally, I use transfermarket for checking and my word is final thereafter, this is for fun and silliness, anyone getting serious is liable to get binned.
So make a stupid and ENJOY, ok?
Sounds good, will a South American only side be ok?
Absolutely, so Mito’sDruggies, or Mito’sS.Amers, something like that is required matey…
Yes Mito, South Americans was a popular choice mate.
Zorro, would it be better if we all were under the same rule ? If someone says they only pick from last seasons top 4, they would have a bigger advantage than Meato who is picking south americans.
It’s a bit of fun Elle
I know that Cooks. Morning.
morning fella, you ok?
Sound as a trout Cooks. Daylight now best get off to bed.
Talking Footy, whats your preferred keeper situation ? I usually go for a premium plus a cheapo.
I had Ederson, then I went with Mendy so dropped Ederson…..I may well return to Ederson and downgrade Mendy as I was sat with 5 premium defenders!!!
“Meato”????? Elle Whodat LMAO Nope, this is my game in it’s 12th or 13th year pal, and if it ain’t broke… Don’t tell MEATO and you go with the top 4 then, or anti top 4 or… I don’t care. IT IS FOR FUN, so please don’t take it seriously or you’ll be binned.
Better not let Init into the league then; he only knows serious
Hey AT, :finger:
PS If your rule is a disaster, you can change it with a wildcard, but, BUT I must approve the new rule & you change the team name okee-dokey?
Sounds canny count me in!
AT & Rosco, welcome but please read above: Normal site ‘handle’ and what’s your rule…
Rosco’s NoMancs has a nice sound to it!
So you aren’t allowed to use the top two teams from last season? He said FUN, Rosco, ya boring **** 😉
But that leaves you 18 teams, way too easy so nope,
Wow the fun didn’t last long!
:big-lol:
Half the fun is finding a rule that works ya dipstick Rosco
I did but it didn’t work for you ! 😉
Rosco, if everyone could choose from 18 teams, then it doesn’t work mate. Choose the northernmost 7 teams excluding Manchester for example?
Chill Winston, chill!
I get it, just teasing you mate!
Rosco, try only using teams that don’t wear black + white stripes, you will have 19 teams to choose from.
I found this in my archives from a couple of years ago 😆
It’s the My Rules mini league. It might give you some ideas.
Not sure I have the energy to manage two teams. Can I enter my original team and have my rule that I only pick Premier League players?
Haha it will be a relief to just have 2 teams… I had 5 + a draft and FF… total nightmare!! I’m cutting bAck to 2 and a draft this year!
Rosco’s Pick ‘n Mix. Make 6 teams and claim the best performing one come GW30.
Chins, bog off
Damn straight!! Haha nah I’m going back to basics this year, will def do this as a side project though!
Great stuff SZ. Thanks for organising My Rules again. Please put me down for Chipster’s Noobs
ok chips. That’s 2 newbies now, so only 1 more people.
Cheers SZ :thumbup:
Cheeky question on newbies. I know we are allowed anybody from the newly promoted teams, plus any new signings to existing teams. What about players that are newly classified in different roles by FPL this season (I’m thinking Zaha and Arnie as new strikers in the game, and Ashley Young as a new defender in the game). Can we include those as newbies too?
No Chip, it has always been strictly new players to the league and those who have moved to new clubs plus the three promoted teams. What next? Maybe allow to have Kane because he changed his house :big-lol:
You’re not helping our cause here Ivan! :p
Ivan is right chips, nice try but no cigar
:rant: Grrr! Who makes up these stupid rules 😉
Great concept zorro. Would a rule only allowing me players from Northern European countries be okay? By Northern European I refer specifically to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.
Forget Belgium, 7 countries is enough mate. Tekno’sNorthies as team name?
How about I forget Finland instead, as it turns out, according to transfermarkt, they don’t have any players in the PL! :big-lol:
Tekno’s Norsemen!
ok, no Finland
Count me again SZ. It will be a chance for some laughs again.
The team will probably be all reds again. Maybe a list of all teams by Red, Blue & Others will help to make people aware of which teams are which again. this year. Thx for the opportunity. By the by, how are you doing.
I had everything prepared until my PC went up in smoke, literally, so I lost everything. Reds are: Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Southampton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and West Ham. West Ham’s new shirts are 99% claret & claret is a shade of red. NO Burnley – too much blue.
So do we need to create a new email and FPL account to do this? The rule I’d probably use is only London teams if that is alright?
Yes needs a new account, yes teams inside the M25 plus Watford gives you 7 teams. And before anyone starts Watford’s on the tube, we agreed this years ago.
Cheers SZ. So Matt’s M25 will probably be the team name.
Yes, after long debates we concluded that Watford is a London team :thumbup:
Sounds good. I’ve been doing this for two years now, with a second team (if I recall I’ve tried South Americans, UK only- neither worked very well). Didn’t know there was a league but I’m keen to join.
Maybe the northern half of the league? The 10 teams at highest latitude (Newcastle, 2x Manc, 2x Liverpool, Huddersfield, Burnley, Leicester, Wolves, Watford I guess?)
Make it northernmost 7 teams & then ok
Hey SZ,
Think I’m gonna change it up and go with London teams this season.
Name – LDN’s calling Goldi ??
Sure & you get Watford to make 7 teams dear lady. You must be getting excited now that your lot are buying some decent players?
tbh, I have so much going on at the mo and what with the WC & wimbledon i’m not really up to speed. But general excitement of the start of the season is happening. Plus looking forward to reading up on anything if I can find the time! lol
How’s the sprog doing?
He’s doing grand SZ. Just finishing his first year at school and has loved every minute.
The other one is nearly finished cooking! Probably just in time for the heatwave to break! 😮
Oooooooh so many friendly faces
Welcome aboard Reemslaw, you seem to have slipped in unnoticed there!
Oh my God, the gangster from Sweden is here as well.
I am glad you finally found us 🙂
Took me a while, nothing was happening on the fab page
Great to see you Reems ole boy
, Mito I never have that anxiety luckily 
In baseball there is something they call the Mendoza line. I am not going into a long explanation but basically it is a batting average from a poor hitter which if you hit around or below you are considered incompetent. FPL has a Middy line. 😉
Admin am I allowed to swear on here, especially at aspersions to my fpl ability, no matter how true it maybe
, and if so whats going to far 
Mito you T@@t
:hippo:
Middy Line lol, you are evil mind
Is middy short for midnight?
Yeah.
I feel like I remember you from FFC. Were you on there Reemslaw?
I was, years and years ago that eh! Back when I was good at FPL, ahh I miss those days
Being good at fpl is overrated. At least that’s what I tell myself every year.
Hiya Reems
Hi matey. It feels like fantasy is back really early this year, but that’s probably because of the World Cup. I’m not complaining, my team is 100% sorted already, I won’t be changing it one bit. How about you? Are you playing properly this year?
So make a stupid rule and ENJOY, ok? Sorry about that
Otienos DAVES.
Daniels. Doucoure. Dier
Apzili. Arnie. Auba
Vertonghen. VanDijk. Vardy
Ederson. Elliot. Eriksen
Salah. Sessignon. Sinclair
Does that work?
Yeah, sure
And we are back!!! 😉
How’s everyone’s team coming along? I haven’t really touched my team since the game went live.
What is everyone’s strategy this year in regard to the chips? Save them til the latter end of the season or use them whenever?
What players do you think are a must this season? PEA was the first player in my team?
Thoughts on Arnie and zaha being reclassed as forwards, does that change things?
Hey up Mitro, its gonna get busy now, with all your rmts.
Salah and Citeh cover definitely.
Ha ha! I can’t wait to get going, yep I’ve gone with salah and I currently have sane as my city coverage, would love to squeeze in kun up top but it’s going to be tough, you come across any cheap defenders who will get game time?
Not really looked yet. Thinking some must haves include DDG, Davies, Otamendi, Robbo, Erik, Salah, Sessegnon and Kun. Defender at Wolves, Douglas, maybe worth a shout but hes 5.0m.
Maybe Ederson for the keeper hes only 5.5.
Ederson seems a good option to me, mainly due to his causing very little rotation ballache as he’s a guaranteed City starter. Hopefully a nice drip-feed of points for those nice early City fixtures.
I was thinking of setting Fabianski + a 4m goalie but doubt I’ll have the nerve for that.