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
What are members thoughts on Salah I know it will be asked a thousand times I’m not sure I will be taking him
Assuming he’s fit I will be.
Init Does he not decimate your team at best you will probably only get your other MF players for 7-6.5m if lucky were you could pick three up between 9.5m – 7.5m surely that will easy make up the difference???
I think he’s essential at the start, given LIV’s opening fixtures, his past form and his high ownership (currently 46.8%, although it is still early days). Also, if you don’t have him and he goes goal crazy, it will be almost impossible to get him in at that price without wildcarding or taking multiple hits, but it’s easier to ship him out if he does disappoint.
Hey Chipster I here what everyone is saying but does everyone believe he is going to perform at the level he did last season
That is what worries me as well Silvers. He wasn’t that good towards the end of the season. He is a great player but a shy guy and that enormous media attention started to affects him.
Fair point Silvers. I think it’s unlikely he’ll break 300pts again, but conversely I don’t see him getting an awful score this season. Will his points haul this season justify his price? Probably not. Does that put me off getting him in early doors? Absolutely not.
I see it as a risk either way: You either get him from the start, and he disappoints and you sell him, or you don’t get him at the start and he scores big and you have to rip up your team 2 or 3 GWs in to shoehorn him in somehow. The first option is more preferable to me.
If it goes tits up, and he gets injured or starts playing like a muppet for the first few GWs, then I’ll have an unexpected £13M pay check to spend in the FPL sweetie store 😛 Plus, by that time we’ll have a better indication of who is worth spending the money on, rather than trying to second-guess it from the outset.
Fixtures are very good to start. He will be heavily owned. Probably over 50% and we know what he’s capable of
It’s the same argument that was around with Ibra. It’s better to have him and sell him if he’s crap than not have him and have to scramble to get him in if he starts great. I think I’ll be starting with him and seeing what happens but I think teams have figured him out so won’t be as good. I fancy Firmino to do better but not sure if I’ll take the risk.
I’m not sure he will be the real deal again this year but I’m not risking going without
Definitely starting with Salah. Would have thought a bit more had he been classified as a striker.
I have thought about two from Mane/Firmino/Fekir (or whoever comes in as the 4th attacking mid) but others have expressed very well the huge disadvantages of not owning him – it’ll take an early wildcard to get him in.
Is North of Watford viable for a my rules team?
Me mam is from ooop North. So in her honour
Dad from Midlands
Take the northernmost 7 teams, we think 7 teams is enough to make a decent team; or name the 7 you want…
Or do a 3 from 5; 3 players from each of 5 clubs. But if you want to change a club, you have to change all 3 players together.
I only see 5 teams with a “RED” designation. Can I include a few with Red/White stripes?
Colors is an easy way to go, but with 5 teams it means 3 from each team & no leeway.
What’s your take? I know you will do Reds as usual.
That means you have to exclude all London teams plus Brighton, Sotton and Bournemouth. Not sure if Cardiff is geographically north of or on the same parallel with London. Zorro must decide.
Already have mate, see above
This is what I’m currently on. Not sure about triple City attack. Think I’ll go 3-5-2 to start as not a fan of the cheap strikers. I see Everton signing another defender so don’t think their cheap defenders will be an option. I like the Douglas punt at 5 million but not sure how to squeeze him in.
I like this Smash – very strong 3-5-2 team you got there :thumbup:
Karius is a canny way into the LIV defence if TAA is not nailed (and may be late starting after the world cup) and Robertson is quite pricey.
I guess a downgrade on Silva to would get you the cash to upgrade Doherty to Douglas, and possibly also get a playing second keeper so you can rotate for LIV’s tough games.
I’m not sure about Mkhy though – consider upgrading Firmino to Auba for your ARS attack and swapping Mkhy out for a cheapie 5th mid.
Smash,
Liverpool fans will know more but I understand there is big chat that Klopp will give Ward a chance in goal, which I guess is not totally a shock. Just means if you keep Karius, you’ll need to get a 2nd playing keeper.
Thanks Cookie. Yeah it’s wait and see. He says that about Ward every year. Would be great to have a 4.5 Liverpool keeper. Pickford could be a safer alternative or possibly the Arsenal keeper. Though at this stage I think Karius will be number one but they really should sign someone
Thanks chipster. Yeah I have to keep an eye on Karius. As long as he don’t get dropped. Keeping an eye on Arsenal keeper situation. It would probably be Aguero who would go for Auba I expect. Agree on Mkhi I’m not sold I like his price though, same can be said for Silva. I like TAA and Lovren but unfortunately I don’t see them playing week one and may even be longer
Karius can’t catch a cold to save himself, VvD will be a bonus magnet if kloppity buys a keeper or uses Mignolet.
Luka better than Kun, Pep rotates Kun/Jesus
Luka might miss the first game though. United attack is a bit of a concern. I think Aguero is first choice I’m not 100% but think I’ll start with him at this stage
I’m currently looking like this.
Use defenders with home fixtures better imo.
Really nice team mate. I think you have most of the bases covered there. Goes to show you can have a decent whole squad and still accommodate Salah. Yes there are omissions (Spurs, Utd, Chelsea) but ones you can live without for the first few GWs I think (although I’d consider a Utd defender for Coleman personally). Doucoure is a nice pick, but Deulofeu is £0.5M cheaper if you need to squeeze cash for an upgrade elsewhere
I think you have a benching headache there. Neves could be a 4.5. Don’t think you need Fabianski as you have Ederson. I’d use that million to get someone better than Doucore
Enjoyed The World Cup. Best I ever seen, also played the fantasy game. I did ok finishing 22k now its unto FPL. I am concerned with players needing a rest. Don’t know where to begin?
Ok, now this is more like it, a fantasy football thread
Right, my draft team is below….. tell me if there is a better way to show it:
Pickford
Cedric/Tomkins/Ward/TAA
Mili/Salah(c)/Lindgard
Firmino/Arnie/Kane(v)
Subs: Ederson/Daniels/Cork/Masuaku
ITB:1m
Now, I am thinking of bringing in either Yarmolenko or Anderson, but who do I take out – obviously Masuaku.
Want to keep Salah, but may well take out Kane, for now, but still have enough funds to bring him back in September, when his August hoodoo is over.
Thoughts please ff247
Too much spent on keepers. Pick either Pickford or Ederson and get a fodder. I don’t like Mili either Palace won’t get that freak amount of pens again. Lingard won’t play to start so I’d get a City mid in there Silva, Mahrez or Sane. West Ham have a horrible start so would not be going with two of them
City midfield rotation worries me. I fell fowl of not having Lindgard last year. Fear he could do well this season. If I ditch Mili, I would like either Yarmo or Anderson as a foil for Arnie. Being a Hammers fan, thats why I am going two of them, just which one.
United have loads of midfielders. J Lingz played a lot in World Cup. He might be an ok pick in a few weeks but can’t see him starting season. I’d go Anderson then he cost a lot more money and had less injury problems last year
ok, so far, changes are, Lindgard->Anderson, Masuaku->Iwobi
ok, have decided against Iwobi. Bad decision. Need to rethink who to have instead of him, Cork, maybe Mili. What about the defence? Do I need a stronger leader in there somewhere?
Be glad when the season is over, before its even started!
I’d say dropping Iwobi is a very good decision. I know the 5.5 midfield options aren’t brill but is Iwobi even going to play?
Depends on how much cash you have to splash on the defence. I’ve got Azpi and Robertson plus 3x 4.5s at the moment.
Don’t know about you, but I’m overly worried about my team at the moment. I’ve just got a handful of players who I think I’ll keep, then am just shuffling the pack (or spinning the chamber) now and then and seeing what comes up. Looking at settled teams with good fixtures. There are many transfers to come. One or two of those may change the way we see things.
Should have said ‘not overly worried’
Kralin,
This is the tinkered team so far…
Pickford
Cedric/Tomkins/Ward/TAA
Mili/Salah(c)/F.Anderson
Firmino/Arnie/Kane(v)
Subs: Ederson/Daniels/Cork/Iwobi
ITB- Zilch.
I’m sure others will have said you’ve overspent on goalies. I’ve gone (for now) for Ederson plus a 4m goalie; you could do the same with Pickford maybe.
Someone like Masuaku is handy for saving a few pence.
Personally I’d start Kun ahead of Kane.
Is going for Anderson too much then? I think he could be quite a good foil for Arnie.
Will downgrade Pickford, as you are right, plus think his WC antics will have knackered him.
Same with Kane, but think I might keep funds for when August is over.
You know more about West Ham than me, so I’ll leave that decision to you.
But having two of their players at the expense of a City attacking player isn’t a direction I’d go in. West Ham’s fixtures are truly dreadful, well into the winter.
Agreed, I may know more about the Hammers, but I know little, or nothing about Yarmolenko and Anderson. I read something on here at the weekend that said the stats for Anderson seemed pretty good. The City midfield just worries me with the amount of talent they have in midfield, and who they will actually play.
Looking at their prices, they are way too high, so going for one of them means I may not be able to go for Kane in a few weeks if he is doing well.
I will swap Kane for Kun for now at least. Arnie stays, as does Salah. They are concreted in my team, unless they get injured long term.
Tinkering needed. First out, Pickford for a 4m keeper – decent back-up suggestions?
If I hear of a 4m playing goalie I’ll gladly have him in. But I picked a 4m goalie at random, Norris of Wolves.
Ok, I am considering ditching Mili and Lindgard. Any ideas on who I a can replace them with.
Team currently tweaked to:
Ederson/Boruc
Daniels/Cedric/Tomkins/Ward/Robertson
Mili/Salah/Anderson/Kante/Fernandinho
Arnie/Kane/Firminp
It’s very unlikely kane starts in gw 1 plus kane has a history of starting slow. Aubameyang or Aguero are solid picks for the first few game weeks.
Kane did say he intends to play against Newcastle. It’s impossible to tell at this stage though ain’t it