Fantasy Football 247 team – Fantasy Premier League 2014/15
We are delighted to announce that FF247 will be running a site team this year, which will be competing in the FF247 Classic and Manager of the Month Leagues as well as taking its bow in the Banterbury Leagues. The main objective of the team however is to give you all an insight into our thinking and planning, which we hope will not only help you with your teams but also prompt plenty of debate, banter and advice along the way. Clearly with over a fortnight still to go until the season kicks off, plenty can still happen with any of the players we have selected – injuries, new transfers in or out, hell we may even have the odd bite to contend with! Therefore please treat this very much as a provisional squad for now and allow us to talk you through it and the thinking behind what we have come up with thus far.
Goalkeepers:
Tim Krul – as soon as the visit of the Champions in GW1 is out of the way, Le Toon face a pretty attractive run of fixtures. We feel Pardew has actually spent wisely this window (that could come back to bite us) and with Captain Coloccini fit and seemingly happy, we believe Krul is great value at 4.5mln.
Vito Mannone – this is one we need to keep a close eye on due to the summer acquisition of Costel Pantilimon from City. Both Sunderland keepers are priced at 4.5mln and once we have determined who is the no.1 they will come in to rotate perfectly with Krul, with our two keepers costing a total outlay of just 9mln.
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Defenders:
Filipe Luis – but what about rotation, we hear you cry? And you’d be absolutely correct to bring it up. However, we feel Chelsea’s opening fixtures are too good to ignore, they have the strongest defence in the league and Jose will be gunning for the Premier League title that he will feel his team threw away last season, despite him maintaining all year that Chelsea couldn’t win it. Can’t fool us Jose! New recruit Felipe Luis is, alongside Cesar Azpilicueta, the cheapest of the mainstream defenders and we feel that they wouldn’t have forked out €16mln to leave Luis on the bench on a regular basis.
Luke Shaw – United’s new left back has been deployed by LVG in the left wingback role in the 3-5-2 formation that United look like they are deploying this season. Therefore, as he will be given licence to join in the attacks we feel that he could benefit from a few assists, maybe the odd goal and could be a contender for bonus points, similar to Leighton Baines. Not only that, but with LVG breathing fire into the United dressing room, we estimate that they will be a more competitive force this season and clean sheets aplenty should be forthcoming.
Rio Ferdinand – cheap, experienced defender, who alongside Steven Caulker should make the Rangers defence more solid. Some attractive looking early fixtures make Rio a good option for us.
Adrian Mariappa – Palace left back and the only likely starter priced at 4.5mln. We need to keep track of Palace’s pre-season friendlies to ensure he retains his place but given the solidity they showed under Pulis at the latter end of last season we feel they are a good bet to continue that trend.
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Midfielders:
Juan Mata – now being played in his preferred and most effective no.10 position. Sat behind Rooney and RvP and with a sumptuous list of opening fixtures, we feel we may just see the Mata of old. If we don’t then he’ll be out of there quicker than you can say Yaya Toure!
Gylfi Sigurdsson – another with potential to be fantasy gold, but with the added bonus of costing just 6mln. A return to Swansea will see increased game time and two goals on his debut makes him difficult to ignore. He showed enough on the rare occasions Spurs did venture to utilise him to suggest he’s still the player that graced the Liberty a few short seasons ago.
Alexis Sanchez – everyone loves an out-of-position fantasy prospect and Sanchez is just that. Capable of playing up top, just off the striker or on the wing we feel he is hard to ignore, despite his 10.5mln price tag. Arsenal’s opening fixtures are mixed and they do face City, Spurs and Chelsea in the first seven matches but we feel, with the Gunners attacking talent, they are more than capable of scoring in all those matches. Whether they win them or not, we don’t care!
Cesc Fabregas – another world class midfielder down at the Bridge. Can be deployed just behind the striker or even deeper but has the ability to get involved in attacks, provide assists, score and it looks like he’s on set pieces as well. At 9mln we feel he’s good value and has the advantage of not being involved much at the World Cup.
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Strikers
Wayne Rooney – seemingly happy with life under LVG at Old Trafford, we consider Rooney a must for our team. Has been in good scoring form on United’s tour of the US and LVG has already stated he sees Wazza as a no.9 or 10. With RvP having spent pre-season on the beach, we expect Rooney to hit the ground running in the league and like Mata and Shaw, will benefit from no European competition this season.
Diego Costa – Jose has been courting Costa for some time and sees the Brazilian Spaniard as the cure to his striking problem. With just Fernando “Row Z” Torres and Chelsea Pensioner Drogba as competition, Costa is the no.1 striker by a long way. With a supply line of Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Schurrle and Fabregas behind him, expect Costa to be one of the stars of the league. Now fit again and with an injury plagued World Cup behind him, Costa scored 27 times in 35 games for Atletico Madrid last season and will be eyeing a similar return this term.
Blanks!
You will have noticed that we have left three spaces blank – one defender, one midfielder and one striker. This is where you, our community, come in. We have 14.5mln left in the bank to fill these spots and would appreciate your thoughts and ideas as to who should be added to the FF247 squad. Do we fill them according to what we have left as of now or do we sacrifice a big name elsewhere to provide more balance? These are the questions we will be asking ourselves over the coming days and weeks ahead of the season and hope you will help us decide as you continue to discuss your own teams on the boards too.
What you guys think? Don’t really know who to pick for 3rd striker so I went with Remy any alternatives? Thoughts on Lovren I assume he will be a starter? 0.5 in the bank.
Krul (Mannone)
Ferdi, Lovren, Debuch (Mariappa, Chambers)
Gerrard, Silva, Barkley, Ramsey (Wanyama)
Sturridge, Luka, Remy
I dont think Liverpool will be too strong at the back so I might ditch Lovren, I think the team itself is okay but you could really do with some Chelsea or United cover, if not you could be left behind early on!
ok thanks for the tip!
Hello all, hows peoples teams looking?
Well with mine I always think Im happy and then I question my own intelligence haha.
Atm Im lining out as
Krul Mannone
Terry, Shaw, Ben Davies, Cameron and Taylor
Sanchez, Mata, Siggy, Davis, Albrighton
Costa, Rooney, Jovetic
Im trying to take advantage of the defensive rotations, I also have .5m in the bank in the case anything comes up that Jovetic wont play and I want Dzeko in, if not I’ll upgrade Cameron or Taylor.
Eastbound, that is a good looking team. You seem to have al bases covered, do your defenders rotate well at present? I assume Terry and Shaw will be main stays? Have you checked how Jov and Davis rotate?
Thank Alex. Oh yeah they will, the last spot will be between Ben Davies or the home team out of Swansea and Stoke, but if both cases are favorable then I wont be afraid to play 4 at the back! They rotate very averagely, I think its 18 or 20 games to the season, I plan on jumping on bandwagons early on anyways, make some money to upgrade Davis if possible!
Eastbound, sounds like a solid plan my friend! What are your thoughts on Haz, Costa or Fab?
I think the best options Costa, from a real life view Jose will build the squad around him, meaning he’ll be excellent in FPL. Hazard would be my second choice, no doubt he’ll be a magician again this year, but he wont be as much of an asset as last year, he’ll score high the odd week though. I think Fabregas will be the sort of player to pick up an assist every second week along with snatching the odd goal, theres better options for 9m in my opinion.
Eastbound, looking at my team below, which 9.0 midfielder would you change Fab too?
Id keep Fab for the first 2 weeks anyways and then maybe take Silva on board afterwards. Keep Fab in if hes hitting the points though!
Eastbound, fab is doing well in preseason but I’m worried he will move further back when Haz, Oscar etc come back into the fold. And I really want City coverage, your the same are you not tempted?
I have either Jovetic or Dzeko in the first week just for damage limitation really Alex haha, City have Newcastle (A) and Liverpool(H) the first two weeks, that’ll give enough time to see who their main men will be this year. I’d go with Fab the first 2 weeks anyways, just as long as you have United and Arsenal coverage there aswell!
Eastbound, I was thinking that was Jov from Hull! ok cool so you are covered, will be interesting to see how he goes. Another man with excellent pre-season form.
I hope he has a cracking first game, he could be my differential the first week. That is if I dont pussy out and get Dzeko in haha. Thats the exact reason I think he cant possibly be ignored!
Best of luck this season if we dont meet again anyways Alex! I may hit the pillow work in just over 5 hours, the sleeping pattern is a little bit awkward lately haha. Good night.
HI Alex,
It’s looking a lot like my auto-complete team actually!!
Just can’t bring myself to even start. I just know there will be a big transfer or two in the next 2 weeks that will through any plans I make up in the air. I think it’ll be a Thursday night start before the season kicks off.
Loads of great teams and ideas flying around on here though.
How’s yours looking? – Guessing mine will end up similar! 😉
Hello Chins, well I’m very disappointed I was planning on checking how you/me/we were doing!? My team has changed/is changing daily! but I’m enjoying playing around with it:
Mannone/Krul
Caulker/Shaw/Peters/Marriappa/Taylor
Fab/Sanchez/Sig/Mata/Henderson
Rooney/Costa/Zamora
Look similar to your auto-select team?! What do you think?
Alex,
Sorry mate. Let’s check in nearer kick off day!
Your team looks pretty good. (Nothing like my autocomplete).
I’m not sure I buy into the whole QPR defender thing. Rio hasn’t looked solid for a couple of years at least in my opinion and it’s still QPR FFS. I don’t know if Caulker has much of an attacking threat either so, he’s not one for me. I like the rest. Budget clearly being saved for further up front…
Mids look great. I think Henderson could be a really good differential. Looked to get involved in all the attacking play vs Man City the other night. Nice pick.
Up front, yeah, I can see me having two of those three. Zamora is an interesting one. If he stays injury free then maybe…
Guessing you’re set for a 3-5-2 with that lot though right?
Chins, NiN put me on to Chaluker, QPR rotate well and he did score well at Cardiff. Its tricky though, if i down grade him to Simpson (or another 4.5 that rotates well) I can upgrade to a Palace defender that will defiantly start or go with Davis at Spurs who I like the look of. Thoughts mate?
Yeah, that NIN has a lot to answer for. He was actually the one that convinced me to double up on Fulham defence last year!!! *
Don’t let me talk you out of Caulker mate. Stick to your plan. I have an inbuilt disliking for melted candle face Redknapp and so maybe that is clouding my judgment of QPRs chances. Even as an Arsenal fan though, I think Davies at Tottenham could be a great signing. Might be worth thinking about a way to get him in.
And I’ve answered the Palace question below. I can’t see the Palace defence changing. Just look at the consistency Stoke achieved under Pullis. More of the same this season I think.
* Not true.
Chins, it’s all good for thought. My big concern going into the season is having nonstarters and if I downgrade that 0.5 brings in a more likely starter. Davis may be a player I bring in a few weeks in as fixtures improve and we can see his role. What did you think about the gooners defence and attack?
Gooners defence I think should be more solid as a four as I think Debuchy is good enough to fit right in and will have a good understanding with Kos already. If Gibbs can stay injury free for 5 minutes then we’re looking solid. Plus Sir Chesney has to up his game now we have a stronger number 2.
What worries me, is the lack of strengthening in Defensive Midfield. Hoping Wenger addresses that before the season starts. If he does, then i’ll be backing the arsenal defence every week. If not, i’ll be nervous touching them when we’re playing any of the top 6.
In attack I think we’re looking great. Tricky bit will be to decide which ones to buy. Sanchez is going to get a lot of attention but i’m just as excited seeing Walcott and Ozil combining for the first time. Goals and Assists all round I think. Plus we’ve got Ramsey who will be looking to build on last year and a now fit Wilshire who has to take every chance just to stay in the team. Fun times. Take your pick!!
Oh, and we’ve got Giroud too. He’ll score loads. Even on a one chance in three conversation ratio. 😉
Thanks chins. Although by saing that you know through gooners cover into the mix at the back!! Maybe their keeper…………
Hey Chins, is there a return date on Walcott yet? And do you think he would go straight back into the team when he’s fit?
Hi Josh,
Last time Wenger spoke on it I think he said he’ll be back in full training at the end of August. Guess it’ll be 4 weeks at least from there before he’s starting games. Maybe a sub appearance by the end of August? Not 100% on this exactly but definitely isn’t one for the start of the season.
Right. 3am. Time for bed.
Alex, You’ve inspired me….
Had a quick play around. But enough about that…
Not studied the fixtures yet, but here’s my team for now:
Speroni Mannone
Debuchy Coloccini Collins Terry Chester
Mirallas Silva Eriksen Ramsey Sterling
Giroud Dzeko Austin
Even without studying fixtures thats a good looking team, 3-5-2 I assume?
Cheers IpswichHippo.
Yep, i’m thinking 3-5-2 at the moment. Most likely will end up at 3-4-3 for the start of the season though.
My strategy at this point is to go with mainly proven players where possible and pick up any newbies that hit the ground running when I play my wildcard. In the past I’ve filled my team with exciting new signings from other leagues only to watch them take longer than I’d hoped to settle. Hello Soldardo.
Chins, First thing (and I’m sure you will) check the fixtures and who rotates well. I haven’t looked with specific repletion to your team but I think their are players for that price who would rotate better. I’m looking at Silva at the minute, I’m amazed the amount of teams without City coverage (mine included!) And What about Man U coverage?
Alex,
Of course, you’re right. THis is a bit of a thrown together team.
Shrek will find his way into my team for sure, and I will have to fight the urge to go Krul/Sunderland GKs like everyone else. I just really like what Pulis is doing at Palace. And… I think Poyet has got a great record of really tightening up defences in the championship so I think given time, we’ll see the same at Sunderland.
Newcastle defence I’ve got covered by the poor mans David Luiz, and no way am I doubling up on that defence!! 😉
Give me a week or two and i’m sure it’ll look better!
Chins, for a first attempt it’s bloody good! The Sunderland gk situation worrys me a little, I may avoid and go ddg or spironi instead. Krul does look good value at 4.5 and I think they will be a lot better than the end of last year. Do you think mirellas will be used the same as last year? That could be frustrating.
Delafaou has gone back to Barca Alex so I think Mirallas is a certainty to start most games.
Chins. Good point. And your not worried about their poor early fixtures?
Quick knock mates
Eriksen or Lamela?
Offside, erik for me but it really is a watching brief there. It could go either way.
I’ve actually just switched out Eriksen for Lamela. I’m really hoping he starts consistently.
Scratch that, I switched it again to De Jong haha. I would probably go for Eriksen though because he seems to be nailed on. Follow it during preseason though.
Josh721
That means, you are starting with Lamela and Eriksen?
At the moment, neither is in my team. I had Eriksen for a while, then I switched to Lamela, but now I’m on De Jong haha.
Where is the pre season articles gone?
Dreamers
Morning mate. There is one in the pipeline. Standby.
Meantime, if you go to the preseason hub articles you can see in the comments, all the match summaries so far.
Hey TGP – I’m not that impatient. Don’t see the pre-season hub anymore. Can you?
Dreamers
Yeah it’s the fourth or fifth article down on the home page. I can see it ok. The Pre Season Friendly Hub Part 2.
Defo still there, we never remove anything.
https://fantasyfootball247.co.uk/pre-season-friendly-hub-part-2/
Cheers Init.
There you go ….. Cheers lads.
Evening GP, you well? We enjoyed the Scot getting silver in track and field this morning.
Alex
Great thanks. Yeah very please with Lynsey’s performance in getting Silver last night.
We have done brilliantly this games especially Judo and in the pool.
Gp. Excellent mate, the kiwis are happy with their hall of medels too! As an English man I’m not fussed about being top, just beating the Aussies!!!
Let’s face it, ye’ve really only got the Aussies to beat 😉
That’s true Kop.
Scotland were always gonna be third at best but we’ve excelled ourselves.
Is this Scotland’s best medal haul?
This is true kop. But we are also talking England; the masters of throwing a sure thing away!
Kop
Yep. Most golds as well.
Nice one
But kop you’d know about that being a pool fan ay?
We didn’t throw anything away, we let it slip!
Hi everyone..feels good to be back again to the greatest fantasy site in the world
Killer, hows the team shaping up mate? You ok?
Hi Alex…team is almost done but with me tinkering often things might change.will share my team as oon as im done.how you doing bro
Killer I’m well thanks pal. The infernal tinkering we all do! How you been and where you been hiding?
i have been working pal..probably too much,lol…was transferred from the capital so couldnt get access to the internet..but i back for good mate..hows your teaming shaping up?
Killer. Slowly and in circles. But that’s preseason!! Where do you live?
i am from Ghana Alex
KILLER!!!!!!
My mate, great to see you man. Where you been hiding? This is spooky, I was only thinking about you yesterday that I hadn’t seen or spoken to you for months.
Hope is all well mate. Guess running the Republic is taking up all your time?
Family well mate?
COOKIEEEE!!!!!!
How have you been my brother?…im doing great mate..wow was also thinking about how its aeons since i logged on.i have been good mate.was working outside the capital so didnt get access to internet that often and i was almost always busy but im a tad less busy now so will frequent here often..the family and Republic is great.
what did i miss?
Killer, you’ve missed loads mate, but you’re here now so all
is well. Preseason has been manic, articles every day, record numbers on site, it’s buzzing man.
Our quiet summer off was ruined by the World Cup, which took off massively, most of which is down to Potty, who ran the most amazing league(s)
-basically everytime you lost or got knocked out you went into a different league – so it was never dull, which you kind of expect with Potty! It was brilliant.
And now for the big one – kick off in 2 weeks – have you looked at your team?
I’m struggling big time, have different thoughts everyday and just don’t know who to leave out – I have about 45 players on my watch list.
Just the midfield – I don’t know who to leave out!!
Anyway, glad you’re well, was concerned something had happened or you’d been caught up in difficult trade negotiations with the Congo or something similar!!
Great to have you back mate – we’ve missed you.
hahahaha…far from that…the Congo have stopped negotiations with me because of my name.i really miss this site and you all..my team isnt ready yet but still mulling over my choices..cant wait for the start of the league and especially the banterbury league…glad to be back
Killer
Great to see you again.
Site is buzzing right now. It’s being brilliantly run.
TGP
Great to be back mate..i can see the changes and improvements already..Cookie and the other guys are doing some tremendous work here
Good to have you back Killer
thanks mate…how you faring?
I’m doing good mate, although I’m currently being given the run around by my 18 month old…
hahahaha…anything for the family