THE SCOTCH CORNER – SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP FANTASY FOOTBALL 2020/21
Irn Bru
Deep Fried Mars Bars
Shortbread
The Loch Ness Monster
The Proclaimers
Whisky spelt without the ‘e’
…… and a professional football league which is awful and in all honesty could be won at a canter by a team of middle-aged, beer-bellied Englishmen pulled out the pub a couple of hours before the start of the season.
Sound about right?
The Scottish Premiership returns on 1st August and a new and improved fantasy game comes with it and we at FF247 (by which I mean me) invite you to join our (by which I mean my) FF247 fantasy league for a little harmless ‘bit on the side’.
I don’t expect you to follow religiously every team in the SPFL and dedicate endless hours to this as it will eventually run alongside the main FPL game once the 2020/21 season of it starts, but we hope you find it a bit of fun to compete much as we did not so long ago with our Bundesliga Fantasy game.
The Outstanding Issues
Covid
As things stand we begin on Saturday despite there being a couple of issues surrounding recent testing of players and staff in Scotland. Ross County arrived in Edinburgh to play Hibs last weekend and had to turn back as Hibs were told by the lab that their results couldn’t be prioritised and wouldn’t arrive until the next day.
Rangers and Motherwell played last Wednesday at 8pm despite the game being scheduled for 6pm due to the late arrival of test results.
St Mirren isolated 7 members of staff (non-playing) last week but it was later confirmed that their results were ‘false positives’.
It’s one thing to be aware of.
The Registration
Search for the Fantasy Football Scotland App in your app store
The App is very user friendly and vibrant and has had no bugs or issues in the entire time I’ve been using it. I’m sure you’ll find it simple enough to get used to.
The Joining
Join our FF247 league using this code:
GLGRc
The Stats
Here is a link to some of previous season’s statistics:
The Squad
You need to pick 15 players:
2 Goalkeepers
5 Defenders
5 Midfielders
3 Forwards
You have £60mln to spend and as FPL, you are limited to a maximum of three players from any one club.
The Scoring
The scoring is the same as FPL apart from the following, applied to individual player scores
A hat-trick bonus: 2 points
A penalty won (regardless of outcome): 2 points
A penalty conceded: -2 points
2+ goals conceded by a midfielder: -1 point
All awards are given by Opta and there is no bonus points system.
The Captain/Vice-captain
Each week your captain will score double points as in FPL.
However, your vice-captain will ALSO COUNT DOUBLE for the goals they score (if they are a midfielder or forward) or the clean sheet they keep (if they are a goalkeeper or defender). Example: You could have two players score hat-tricks in a gameweek and get double points for every goal they score.
The Chips
Like FPL we have two wildcards – one to be used at any time and the other only available after the Premiership ‘Split’*.
*The Scottish Premiership splits after every team has played 33 matches into a Top 6 and a Bottom 6 where they then play a further five matches against the teams in their side of the split.
You also have your Triple Captain and Bench Boost chips as you are used to however there is no Free Hit chip in this game.
The Transfers
You will have one free transfer a week and each additional transfer you make will incur a 4 point penalty. Your transfer will NOT roll over if you don’t use it.
The Substitutions
Auto substitutions will be updated at the end of the gameweek HOWEVER, the game will add your highest scoring bench player regardless of bench order if it still falls within the remit of an allowed formation.
The Prize
The inaugural winner of the FF247 Scottish FPL will be awarded their very own FF247 branded T shirt (so long as I speak nicely to admin).
The Teams
Aberdeen
Celtic
Dundee United
Hamilton Academical
Hibernian
Kilmarnock
Livingston
Motherwell
Rangers
Ross County
St. Johnstone
St. Mirren
The Gameweek 1 Fixtures
Saturday 1st August
Aberdeen v Rangers (1230)
Dundee United v St Johnstone (1500)
Hibernian v Kilmarnock (1500)
St. Mirren v Livingston (1500)
Sunday 2nd August
Celtic v Hamilton Academical (1630)
Monday 3rd August
Ross County v Motherwell (1945)
The Gameweek 1 Deadline
The initial deadline is Saturday 1st August 2020 at 11.30am.
The Plan
That this article will be in the background of FF247 and I will add the latest injury news/signings etc. as well as deadline reminders and other useful information. There won’t be a regular article but I’ll continue to tag all news to this so you can return here for anything you need. I’ll be vigilant to comments and answer everything I possibly can.
The ‘Comparison’
There’s no doubt that the Scottish Premiership isn’t as strong a league as the English but speaking as someone who has watched both most of his life, it’s a different kind of difficult in Scotland. There is good football played, but you have to really earn the right to play it. There’s nowhere near the money and as a consequence, the quality, but it’s honest and hard. The constant comparison to the EPL is tiresome and irrelevant – it’s like comparing apples and …… super-charged, TV-inflated, FFP-flaunting super apples from space!
The Fun Stuff
Leave them laughing they say so here’s some stuff which might be QI
*Senior football in Scotland is the most attended in Europe per capita.
*Sam Leitch the English BBC Sports reporter gaffed after one Raith Rovers win that “They’ll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight”. There’s no such place. The club play in Kirkcaldy.
*On the exact same day when Arbroath set the world record for the largest victory in a professional football match when they beat Bon Accord 36-0 in the Scottish Cup First Round, only 18 miles away Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0 in the same competition.
*Crafted in 1874, the Scottish Cup Trophy is the oldest football trophy still in active use.
*Aberdeen are the only team to have an undefeated record in professional matches against Real Madrid. Similarly, Dundee United have played Barcelona four times and won all four.
*Rangers and Dumbarton shared the first Scottish First Division title DESPITE playing a play-off. There was no goal difference at that time (Dumbarton would have won it if so) so they played a 2-2 play-off and at the end decided just to share the title.
*From brick to brick, Dundee’s Dens Park and Dundee United’s Tannadice Park are just 299 metres apart on Tannadice Street in Dundee.
*When ex-Partick Thistle manager John Lambie was told at the touchline by his physio that his striker Colin McGlashan had probable concussion and didn’t know who he was, remarked:
“That’s great! Get him back on and tell him he’s Pele.
Good luck to absolutely everyone for Gameweek 1 from all at FF247! Well, mostly just me.
Thanks for reading THE SCOTCH CORNER – SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP FANTASY FOOTBALL 2020/21
**Scottish Fantasy Football**
Yeah you read that right and don’t make fun of the Scottish league or our very own Scot GP will hit you with a knee high tackle.
Many thanks GP for this, great work mate. I was wanting fpl to end before I dove in a bit. This will certainly get me going in the right direction.
Top article, well written and fully explained, whats not to like ? If Celtic win the league will they be dancing in the streets of Celtic ? Already in mate.
want to join but i dont know any players..so damn difficult to pick a sqaud..only know Celtic and Raners but not any players.. :wacko: :help: :close_tema: :unknw:
Join up, just about everyone in the league will be in the same boat. After a few weeks we will start figuring out who is who. Plus you can post RMTs in here and GP or if anyone knows the Scottish league will help out.
Yeah you might aswell join Redmen. It’ll be a bit of craic anyway. Just look up FIFA20 and start looking at players on that. That’s pretty much how I’ve picked my team.
:good: :good:
Mito, I am trying to join but that code doesn’t work. It’s asking me me for a number :blink:
GLGRc
Strange Ivan. Had about 10 join already using that.
Case sensitive remember.
Also just make sure if you are copy and pasting you don’t have a space at the end of the letters
GP, Matt I tried with copy and paste, then manually put in.
That is what appearing every time :unknw:
Are you using the app Ivan? As this is my screen when I click enter league which looks completely different from your pic.
No Matt, I am using my desktop at the moment as still at work to finish some stuff. I will try later on my mobile or laptop. If that doesn’t work Mito can send me an invitation, he has my email.
Ah that’s probably the problem then as I believe it’s all on an app now. There is an SPFL website but that’s the old one and no longer works. I could be completely wrong though.
This is the app you’re looking for. Called Fantasy football Scotland.
The website works perfectly, apart from this glitch. I will try the app later on.
https://fantasy.spfl.co.uk/#/game/equipe/me
That website is completely different from the app I mentioned though that’s why the code isn’t working.
Just opened the app on my mobile and all I get is the logo with nothing to press or open. Don’t know what f is going on, maybe it’s a sign that I should take a break until the new FPL season :laugh2:
Try the app again tomorrow Ivan and let us know.
Took a while there for me but eventually got in.
Yeah give it another go tomorrow as GP says.
Just checking did you download the app with this logo?
Yep, I will have another go tomorrow, it’s been a long day.
Cheers guys :good:
Great stuff GP. I’m already in but will definitely be losing. Can’t wait to see Henrik Larrsson bang in a hat trick 😉
Assisted by Regi Blinker :wacko:
What a combo! :hippo:
What a good idea GP – the chase is afoot! Now I’ll have to bone up on Scottish football, latest signings etc etc. Basically the only thing I know is what I saw in the series ‘The English Game’ (on Nitflex) and what I can remember from Rod Stewart songs! I know you guys invented the passing game! Oh well – I will sign up for it and provide cannon fodder to help you improve your own position! Hope you’re fine old fella! Thanks for the info.
Cheerio.
Brilliant AJW :good:
I’ll fire up some Tips here later this week so hopefully that helps.
Good on you mate. Hey I noticed there was a McGinn and a Kane up there too! Probably a Robertson and a few Frasers as well!
. Thanks and see you round GP. Gonna need some advice I think. Unless I go total rogue (The Wild Colonial Boy!).
Hi all, couple of points of order just so you are all aware.
First off we have asked GP (The Gallant Pioneer) to move upstairs so he is now on the main site committee along with Cookie, Kop, Mito, Floydeth and I. Hopefully you’ll agree that it’s much deserved after his years of dedicated service to FF247. And a fitting article on which to announce it!
Secondly we have decided to basically have a well earned break for a month. We are 7 weeks out from the new season so we shall look to resume any new season articles 3 weeks before it begins. Gives us 2 weeks to knock out the promoted ones, and an interview and probably a few other bits before we go into normal articles the week before.
I’d already committed to a CL one so that’ll be along shortly. And I’m aware H&L want to close off with their winners so we shall coincide that with the Site Team and do a combined rounding up of loose ends. And Elle wants to tell you about the new Regs League. Other than that we won’t be doing anything new whilst we have said break. Well, until I inevitably get bored in about a week… :rofl:
Nice one GP, well deserved.
Thank you Elle.
Regrettably the letter of resignation from our doubles (trebles) team will be with you in due course. You and Alex really were more switched on than me so I know it’s in fine hands pal.
He’s going to get a complex at this rate, I quit our doubles team yesterday!
Do i smell or what ?
Probably just people realigning priorities Elle. Ok for someone like yourself who’s retired and is looking for stuff to do, less so for those like myself who have more going on than is actually manageable. One less distraction is great. Trust me it’s not the only thing I’ve binned this week. I always use this particular week to clean my closet.
Elle
Don’t worry mate it’s nothing personal.
Like Init says it was at a point in a Friday night I had to write myself a list of football related stuff to do! Fantasy, predictions, bets, clubs etc. I’m back.
(He says as he runs a new Fantasy League 😯 )
I’ve said it off site but I’ll say it here too, a massive congratulations to GP!
I can attest to him being just as much of a nice guy in real life as he is here!
A credit to the site and he deserves his seat at the top table after the countless hours he dedicates to the site in general, and on the boards helping everyone and anyone like the gentleman he is!!
Bravo sir!!! :worthy:
No problem! I’m claiming shared glory on your excellent season Rosco. Not that I told you who to buy or captain just that I had to talk you down from the edge where you had no real business being. 😉
Seriously, those are some very kind words and appreciate them enormously.
Haha thanks mate!! So true!! As is what I wrote about you!!
Well, thanks very much to yourself and the rest of the management for
not furloughing us allyour tireless efforts and for giving us all a bit of space to rant, weep and wax lyrical.I know you all work hard but I salute Cookie’s heroic efforts whilst juggling family life and probably six flaming torches yesterday – was it really only yesterday?
You all deserve a break. I hope the CL passes in the shake of a lamb’s tail.
Kralin I think I furloughed my FF ability as I’ve been abysmal since the break! Then again I’m not sure my heart has been in it. I’ve not particularly enjoyed the games which hasn’t helped.
Yesterday probably summed it up. The Mrs had asked about going out for the day and ordinarily I’d have said ‘no, I need to be on site’ and also plan my team. I didn’t, which probably sums it up.
Even last night when I saw I’d won my main ML I was a bit like ‘meh, whatever’.
Hopefully a good break will reignite me.
I think those leaked line-ups were the final straw for me. I just found that particularly exasperating and it was really starting to piss me off. Probably the high point for me yesterday was hearing that the main culprit had had his site removed from Twitter. I had not a second’s sympathy for them.
I made virtually no effort to watch the football – perhaps it was because Liverpool had the league won. I found the endless GWs quite trying though of course that stemmed from the miracle that the league finished ‘normally’.
Hopefully 20/21 will see some other normality return.
Yeah I agree, I’m not a fan of those. Either move the deadline so we can all see line-ups and make our move/s accordingly, as per MLS or Bundesliga, or move it so far back to negate the leaks.
Yesterday was horrendous. I was literally on here, Twitter and another site trying to get team news just so folk on here weren’t disadvantaged.
Ruined the day completely, was short with the kids (unfairly), moody with the mrs (fairly) and it just went beyond being an enjoyable game.
Hopefully a short break will see some common sense changes and a rejuvenation of enthusiasm.
On a more positive note, GP is more than a welcome addition to the management team and is only a positive for the site.
Welcome to my other 37 weeks of the season :rofl:
Thanks for the work. Have a nice break!
Delighted to accept Init.
I thank you and the rest of the committee.
Genuinely touched.
More than well deserved. As Rosco said you have been and are a credit to the site. Welcome to the team.
You do realise this just means I now get to shout at you without any politeness being involved?! :rofl:
This is basically it, GP!!
At least I’m honest about it!
Unrelated, but who’s my HR representative? :no:
Me
I’m knackered then.