Help me pick a Fantasy Football team

[Ewan]

If you're not interested in / follow English football, there is no point reading on.

If you are, well, hi.

To put it simple: I am doing a fantasy football league with my brother, my sister, and a few friends. We each put in some money and the winner gets it (or maybe split between 1 2 3, we don't know yet).

I want to win, cause I need money and I am a greedy fucker.

This is where you come in, any suggestions for particular players, or if you're really bored, a whole team would be welcome.

Here's the rules:

Team

* Pick a team of 11 players, in any of the formations below.
* Your budget is £50 million max.
* You may not have more than TWO players from any one Premiership
team, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. As players move teams, their club will be
updated for anyone who transfers them in after that time.
* Watch the points roll in!

Formations

To make it a bit different this year, there will be different formations -
which one you choose will be up to you. Choose carefully though, as you will
be stuck with this formation until the transfer windows open!

The formations are;
* 4-4-2 (2 full backs, 2 centrebacks, 4 midfielders and 2 strikers)
* 5-3-2 (2 full backs, 3 centrebacks, 3 midfielders and 2 strikers)
* 4-5-1 (2 full backs, 2 centrebacks, 5 midfielders and 1 striker)
* 5-4-1 (2 full backs, 3 centrebacks, 4 midfielders and 1 strikers)

All formations will obviously need one goalkeeper!

Points

For the avoidance of doubt, we'll be using the scoring procedure as set down
by the original Fantasty League. This keeps it simple and to the point.
Points can be won (and lost) as follows.

Goal 3pts
Assist 2pts
GK/Defender clean sheet (must play at least 45 mins) 1pt
GK/Defender clean sheet (must play at least 75 mins) 3pt
GK/Defender concede -1pt

If a GK/defender is sent off, he will continue to concede goals as if he was
playing.

Please the points are only scored for FA Premiership games only!

There are two ways you can go: Go for the big names, and score big points, or go for the lesser known high scorers, and get big points that no one else gets.

It's my opinion that a mixture is the best, you don't want to be the ONLY ONE without the big scoring striker, as you'll lose points on everyone, but the flipside being, if you do have him, the points you get from him aren't gained on anyone else, as they get them too.

Anyway, I suck at writing, but I think you get the jist of what I am trying to say.

EDIT: I guess players help, here is the list with their relevant prices http://classic.fantasyleague.com/Stat/PlayerList.aspx

[Superted]

Eric Cantona

[Dameon Angell]

I would say to get Henry, but he's going for 11.4 which would give you 1 big striker, but he might be not as great for this season, so then you wasted 11.4 on him. But I would get Ferdinand from MU for a Centreback, but that's just me.

[Dabram]

Goalie:

You could pick a cheap goalie, who is on a shit team, but then you get no points at all or even go negative if you're unlucky..

Cech (Che) - 5 - bit expensive but worth the pts (Chelsea plays boring football)
Robinson (Tot) - 3.8 - tot plays attractive football so expect a lot of goals against tho.
James (Man C.) - 3.7 - cause man c. is one of my fave teams, i always hope they do well. plus he's an excellent goalie.

Fullbacks:

There are not many good fullbacks, so I wouldn't waste my cash on buying A. Cole or Lauren...

Queudrue (Mid) - 4.1 - bit expensive, very attacking fullback tho.
Reiziger (Mid) - 3.8 - bit cheaper, very experienced pacey (Dutch :P) fullback
Repka (Wh) - 3.4 - very experienced, Czech international, but with your scoring system he might make not much pts since he's on West Ham..
Nosworthy (Sun) 3.3 - supposedly a talent, but only on sunderland..
Melchiot (Bir) 3.8 - same as Reiziger
Volz (Ful) 3.6 - Arsenal reject, but still very good for a club like Fulham I think..

Centre backs:

Some teams just play so defensively, you're bound to make a lot of cash by buying a defender of em.. (*cough* Chelsea *cough*)

Mellberg (AV) - 3.9 - dissapointed me last season, but who knows.
Terry (Che) - 5.5 - expensive but a lot of pts you might not wanna miss
Toure (ars) - 4.5 - but then again for 1 mil less you get Toure, and arsenal WILL be this years champions.
De Zeeuw (Por) - 3.5 - Very cheap, but yeah.. he's on Portsmouth..
King (tot) - 3.9 - wow only 3.9, too bad tottenham will win all their games with 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2 etc this season. (I love Jol).
A. Ferdinand (Wh) - 3.5 - He's like Rio's brother, too bad he's on West ham, plus I don't know if he's a starter this season already.
Bramble (New) - 3.9 - I'm not a Newcastle fan.

(I would've mentionned Distin and Dunne, but I think they're both injured atm...)

Midfielders:

Here is were your points are at. A lot of teams have just one good creative midfielder and sometimes they're quite cheap because of their shitty team. You could also pick up a guy who usually plays as striker (Diouf) but is listed as midfielder.. I'd safe some cash here to be able to buy an expensive striker.

Fabregas (Ars) - 3.9 - Wow so cheap, with Vieira gone, I expect a lot of him. Although as defensive midfielder he won't get too many assists/goals..
Lampard (Che) - 7.0 - Very expensive, not sure he can live up to it.
Pennant (Bir) - 3.9 - Classic winger, if lucky he gets 5 assists in a season (if Heskey learns how to score again)
Dunn (Bir) - 3.9 - Talented midfielder, should get some goals/assists.
Emerton (Bla) - 4.0 - Plays a lot, scores and assists plenty.
Giannakapolous (Bol) - 4.0 - Guy to get, lots of goals and assists last season.
Diouf (Bol) - 4.8 - This guy is a striker to look out for in the next season... why is he listed as midfielder? I'd get him just so you have the advantage of having 3 strikers in your team..
Murphy (Cha) - 4.1 - Will probably make half of Charlton's assists and score some goals.
Gerrard (Liv) - 4.9 - Bit expensive for my likes
Musampa (Man c.) - 3.7 - He's an internation for Holland, says enough right?
Sibierski (Man c.) - 3.9 - If you don't wanna get Musampa
Parker (New) - 3.9 - Will be back in England squad in no time.
Scholes (Mu) - 5.5 - I wouldn't buy anyone from MU, but you could get him..
Downing (Mid) - 4.7 - Too expensive maybe..
Robert (Por) - 4.5 - Expensive, but will make all assists and score most goals for Portsmouth (if they score any)
Lawrence (Sun) - 3.7 - If you run out of cash/clubs and need a guy who will make some points.
Gera (WBA) - 3.8 - Very attacking midfielder, could even play as striker
Greening (WBA) - 3.6 - Lotsa assists!
Etherington (WH) - 3.6 - Should make a lot of assists and score some goals..
Francis (Wig) - 3.8 - Bit expensive for a player from Wigan...
McCulloch (Wig) - 3.8 - ^

Strikers:

As Arsenal fan I'd always go for Henry (although I have to admit here he's ridicilously expensive) and then add a striker from a team that has only 2/3 strikers, so you know he'll get most playing time. Teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U. just have too many strikers who never seem to be on the topscoring list.

Henry (Ars) - 11.4 - Buy some cheap midfielders, full backs, which will make you lose like 10 a player, and then have the cash to buy Henry who will get A LOT of points.
Angel (Av) - 6.5 - Bit expensive, but I don't think Phillips will score any goals, so Angel will have to...
Bent (Eve) - 6.2 - I'm hoping this guy will step up this season..
Bellamy (Bla) - 6.6 - I'd only get him if you have exactly 6.6 left... well even then I wouldn't..
John (Ful) - 5.7 - If you have no cash left.. Dutch talent, but has an ego-problem..
Vassell (Man C.) - 6.0 - Don't know if he'll start over Cole/Fowler..
Haisselbaink (Mid) - 7.6 - Top 5 topscorers guarantee.. bit expensive tho
Yakubu (Mid) - 7.1 - A bit cheaper, a bit less goals.
Shearer (New) - 7.2 - If Newcastle won't buy any striker before season starts (which I doubt) then I'd buy him, cause he'll HAVE to score goals.
Defoe (Tot) - 7.1 - Future topscorer, but with Keane, Kanoute and Mido, a bit too much competition I think....

That's about it.. I'll make my own top 11 soon (need some food now haha). I'm afraid if you buy Henry you can only buy players around 3.8 after...

[PjOtTeR]

Looking at the format you need midfielders and strikers who give lots of assists or score a lot.... And you need defenders/a goalie that doesn't get much goals against.... or get a decent amount of goals against, but happen to score themselves aswell...

So i would say:

Goalie:
D James from Manchester City for 3.6 million
( They guy doesn't get a lot of goals against most likely, but their team doesn't have a top of notch scorer or midfielder but a pretty decent defence)
2nd choice cech or van der sar

Fullbacks:
E Edman(3.8 million) from Tottenham hotspur (good defender and has a team that doesn't get much goals against)
L Neill(3.8 million) from blackburn rovers ( GOod defender and has a team that doesn't get much goals against)


Centerbacks:
Silvestre (4.6 million) from Man. united (will give good points)
Carragher(4.3 million) from liverpool (Doesn't get much goals against, always plays and can score a few times with his head in a season and they don't really have an outstanding scorer/assister)
Terry(5.5 million) From chelsea (See carragher, also you might pick lampard instead... cus that is like the best scoring/assisting midfielder out there)

Midfielders:
Diouff(4.8 million) from bolton wanderers(will get you points, believe me)
[removed for sylvestre]Downing (4.7 million) from midesborough [/removed]
Fabregas(3.9 million) from arsenal cus he is so cheap, will get quite some assists and goals for a midfielder
JS Park (4.4 million) from Man. United ( watch this guy run and run and run and etc..run... he will score and give assist just cus he is so goddamn active in the field)
[Removed for gerrard]Cahill(4.8 million) from everton[/removed]
Gerrard (4.9 million) from liverpool ( need i tell about him)

Strikers:
Van Persie (6.3 million) from arsenal (will be his big breaktrough year)

Totall of 49.9 million... and looks like a good team to me... in the defence i don't see a real person that can make you go into the - points and midfielders and scorer can only be +'s and might be big +'s..

EDIT: I had to twist and turn a lot cause it isn't that easy to only use 50 million if you want good players only + the fact you can only get 1 player pro team sucks a bit aswell.

EDIT2: Since i just saw you can have 2 players from 1 team i changed it a bit

[Dabram]

Cech (Che) - 5

Edman (Tot) - 3.8
Young (Cha) - 3.6

Terry (Che) - 5.5
Jaidi (Bol) - 3.6

Diouf (Bol) - 4.8
Greening (WBA) - 3.6
Etherington (WH) - 3.6
Gera (WBA) / Osman (Eve) / McCulloch (Wig) / Holland (Cha) - 3.8

Angel (AV) - 6.5
Bent (Eve) - 6.2
____
50

Looks so strange. :P Maybe it's smarter to get two very expensive players and the rest cheap ones. Also I realised too late it's possible to play with 1 striker and get another midfielder instead.. hmm..

[PjOtTeR]

Cech (Che) - 5

Edman (Tot) - 3.8
Young (Cha) - 3.6

Terry (Che) - 5.5
Jaidi (Bol) - 3.6

Diouf (Bol) - 4.8
Greening (WBA) - 3.6
Etherington (WH) - 3.6
Gera (WBA) / Osman (Eve) / McCulloch (Wig) / Holland (Cha) - 3.8

Angel (AV) - 6.5
Bent (Eve) - 6.2
____
50

Looks so strange. :P Maybe it's smarter to get two very expensive players and the rest cheap ones. Also I realised too late it's possible to play with 1 striker and get another midfielder instead.. hmm..

My team is better i think, that's just oppinion though

[Dabram]

yeah, 5 midfielders is definatly an advantage in this fantasy league.

[Dabram]

Ok best team =

Cech CHE 5

Edman TOT 3.8
Queudrue MID 4.1
Terry CHE 5.5
Carragher LIV 4.3
Silvestre MAN 4.6

Diouf BOL 4.8
Fabregas ARS 3.9 / Giannakapolous BOL 4.0 / Gera WBA 3.8 / Parker NEW 3.9 / Routledge TOT 3.9

Bent EVE 6.2 / v. Persie ARS 6.3

(I have to admit getting v. Persie is tempting since he's SO much cheaper than in any other fantasy game)

[RogerMexico]

Goalkeeper:
Reina (Liverpool) - £4.0

Fullbacks:
Heinze (Man Utd) - £4.6
del Horno (Chelsea) - £5.1

Centerbacks:
Dunne (Man City) - £3.8
Distin (Man City) - £3.8

Midfielders:
Gerrard (Liverpool) - £4.9
Fabregas (Arsenal) - £3.9
Dyer (Newcastle) - £4.2
Cole (Chelsea) - £4.5
Emre (Newcastle) - £4.1

Striker:
Forssell (Birmingham) - £6.7

Reina was brought in as a first-choice keeper, but with Dudek now injured there's little doubt. They should tighten up this year and let in fewer goals, especially away, so he's a bargain compared to the other keepers. For fullbacks, Heinze and del Horno are the only two that will play consistently, keep clean sheets, and provide assists (and take left-footed freekicks as well). Arsenal leaks too many goals, Neville and Ferreira don't provide enough crosses, and all the other teams are a gamble for conceding goals. Except for the supreme duo of Dunne and Distin, who I picked for centerbacks, of course. Dunne was voted player of the year despite a buck-wild season for Wright-Phillips, and Distin is the ever-present captain who City refused to sell for £7 mil this summer. Underrated partnership, especially when you look at how few goals Man City conceded last year (4th best in the premiership). As far as midfielders, Gerrard is a lock for a few assists, but you might questions his goalscoring frequency. If you look at his play since the whole signing fiasco, though, he's been off the hook (six goals in the first three Chapmions League gualifiers, or something like that). Fabregas is a no-brainer. In the absense of Vieira, and at that price, everyone in the league is going to have him. Dyer is a twat, but Souness is planning to play him forward, just behind Shearer, in the absense of proper striker support. When tried in this position for four games at the end of last year, Dyer played the best football anyone had seen out of him in a couple years. Cole is a gamble, what with all of those wingers at Chelsea, but you've got to figure between a busy fixture and two injury-prone competitors (Duff, Robben) he's going to see his fair share of time. And when he does, he's going to score some goals. And Emre: I've seen Emre play live twice now, and he's a swashbuckling young midget who's going to light up the midfield. Both times he took full command of everything happening in the area, and I imagine he's going to quickly become a pretty serious cog in whatever Newcastle tries to do. That just leaves Forssell, who is a badass -- bargain of the summer -- and should take the premiership by storm, especially playing with The Rifle. That's the team I'd pick, anyway.

[RogerMexico]

Goalie:

You could pick a cheap goalie, who is on a shit team, but then you get no points at all or even go negative if you're unlucky..

Cech (Che) - 5 - bit expensive but worth the pts (Chelsea plays boring football)
Robinson (Tot) - 3.8 - tot plays attractive football so expect a lot of goals against tho.
James (Man C.) - 3.7 - cause man c. is one of my fave teams, i always hope they do well. plus he's an excellent goalie.

Fullbacks:

There are not many good fullbacks, so I wouldn't waste my cash on buying A. Cole or Lauren...

Queudrue (Mid) - 4.1 - bit expensive, very attacking fullback tho.
Reiziger (Mid) - 3.8 - bit cheaper, very experienced pacey (Dutch :P) fullback
Repka (Wh) - 3.4 - very experienced, Czech international, but with your scoring system he might make not much pts since he's on West Ham..
Nosworthy (Sun) 3.3 - supposedly a talent, but only on sunderland..
Melchiot (Bir) 3.8 - same as Reiziger
Volz (Ful) 3.6 - Arsenal reject, but still very good for a club like Fulham I think..

Centre backs:

Some teams just play so defensively, you're bound to make a lot of cash by buying a defender of em.. (*cough* Chelsea *cough*)

Mellberg (AV) - 3.9 - dissapointed me last season, but who knows.
Terry (Che) - 5.5 - expensive but a lot of pts you might not wanna miss
Toure (ars) - 4.5 - but then again for 1 mil less you get Toure, and arsenal WILL be this years champions.
De Zeeuw (Por) - 3.5 - Very cheap, but yeah.. he's on Portsmouth..
King (tot) - 3.9 - wow only 3.9, too bad tottenham will win all their games with 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2 etc this season. (I love Jol).
A. Ferdinand (Wh) - 3.5 - He's like Rio's brother, too bad he's on West ham, plus I don't know if he's a starter this season already.
Bramble (New) - 3.9 - I'm not a Newcastle fan.

(I would've mentionned Distin and Dunne, but I think they're both injured atm...)

Midfielders:

Here is were your points are at. A lot of teams have just one good creative midfielder and sometimes they're quite cheap because of their shitty team. You could also pick up a guy who usually plays as striker (Diouf) but is listed as midfielder.. I'd safe some cash here to be able to buy an expensive striker.

Fabregas (Ars) - 3.9 - Wow so cheap, with Vieira gone, I expect a lot of him. Although as defensive midfielder he won't get too many assists/goals..
Lampard (Che) - 7.0 - Very expensive, not sure he can live up to it.
Pennant (Bir) - 3.9 - Classic winger, if lucky he gets 5 assists in a season (if Heskey learns how to score again)
Dunn (Bir) - 3.9 - Talented midfielder, should get some goals/assists.
Emerton (Bla) - 4.0 - Plays a lot, scores and assists plenty.
Giannakapolous (Bol) - 4.0 - Guy to get, lots of goals and assists last season.
Diouf (Bol) - 4.8 - This guy is a striker to look out for in the next season... why is he listed as midfielder? I'd get him just so you have the advantage of having 3 strikers in your team..
Murphy (Cha) - 4.1 - Will probably make half of Charlton's assists and score some goals.
Gerrard (Liv) - 4.9 - Bit expensive for my likes
Musampa (Man c.) - 3.7 - He's an internation for Holland, says enough right?
Sibierski (Man c.) - 3.9 - If you don't wanna get Musampa
Parker (New) - 3.9 - Will be back in England squad in no time.
Scholes (Mu) - 5.5 - I wouldn't buy anyone from MU, but you could get him..
Downing (Mid) - 4.7 - Too expensive maybe..
Robert (Por) - 4.5 - Expensive, but will make all assists and score most goals for Portsmouth (if they score any)
Lawrence (Sun) - 3.7 - If you run out of cash/clubs and need a guy who will make some points.
Gera (WBA) - 3.8 - Very attacking midfielder, could even play as striker
Greening (WBA) - 3.6 - Lotsa assists!
Etherington (WH) - 3.6 - Should make a lot of assists and score some goals..
Francis (Wig) - 3.8 - Bit expensive for a player from Wigan...
McCulloch (Wig) - 3.8 - ^

Strikers:

As Arsenal fan I'd always go for Henry (although I have to admit here he's ridicilously expensive) and then add a striker from a team that has only 2/3 strikers, so you know he'll get most playing time. Teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U. just have too many strikers who never seem to be on the topscoring list.

Henry (Ars) - 11.4 - Buy some cheap midfielders, full backs, which will make you lose like 10 a player, and then have the cash to buy Henry who will get A LOT of points.
Angel (Av) - 6.5 - Bit expensive, but I don't think Phillips will score any goals, so Angel will have to...
Bent (Eve) - 6.2 - I'm hoping this guy will step up this season..
Bellamy (Bla) - 6.6 - I'd only get him if you have exactly 6.6 left... well even then I wouldn't..
John (Ful) - 5.7 - If you have no cash left.. Dutch talent, but has an ego-problem..
Vassell (Man C.) - 6.0 - Don't know if he'll start over Cole/Fowler..
Haisselbaink (Mid) - 7.6 - Top 5 topscorers guarantee.. bit expensive tho
Yakubu (Mid) - 7.1 - A bit cheaper, a bit less goals.
Shearer (New) - 7.2 - If Newcastle won't buy any striker before season starts (which I doubt) then I'd buy him, cause he'll HAVE to score goals.
Defoe (Tot) - 7.1 - Future topscorer, but with Keane, Kanoute and Mido, a bit too much competition I think....

That's about it.. I'll make my own top 11 soon (need some food now haha). I'm afraid if you buy Henry you can only buy players around 3.8 after...

Really comprehensive list, but a couple points: Bramble is one to avoid -- has flashes of brilliance, but can't concentrate for shit, and finds himself demoted to the bench with frequency. Distin/Dunne injuries are nothing too concerning -- Distin is out for two weeks, and Dunne is back in training as of today (after original reports that he'd be out for three months). Giannakapolous might still be making a move to Liverpool, which would kill his fantasy value. Sibierski hasn't found a solid place in Psycho's Man City side yet, so playing time might be an issue for him. Souness is using Parker as a holding midfielder for Newcastle, so expect Makalele statistics from him (not "Parker from the days of Charlton" statistics). At £5.7 Collins John is extremely overpriced, even with a striker shortage at the club. Vassell will likely be third striker to start off with. Hasselbaink will have a tough time finishing the season as Borough's leading scorer with Yakubu there. Shearer's body might break completely at some point this season, and if it doesn't you're still risking the purchase of a player who will likely be fit for 25 games (too many calf strains, etc. for him at this age). And Defoe really doesn't have much competition at Spurs -- Jol will only play short/tall striker partnerships, which means Keane is Defoe's only competition, and needless to say Keane isn't in Jol's best favor. Otherwise good info for the fantasy upstarts of subspace.

[Ewan]

Giannakapolous might still be making a move to Liverpool, which would kill his fantasy value.

Explain please.

And thanks for what you've put forward so far guys, very helpful :up::up:

[RogerMexico]

Explain please.

And thanks for what you've put forward so far guys, very helpful :up::up:

Do you mean "explain the speculation" or "explain why this would hurt Stelios's value"? If you mean the former, the link was in the Daily Mail last week (take that with a grain of salt) for £1.2 mil, since Rafa is looking for right-sided support. If you mean the latter, this would hurt his value because it's a role that Luis Garcia filled last season, and he did the job admirably after a shakey few months of adjustment. With 7 strikers on the books, I'm guessing Rafa will play two up front, and with Alonso and Gerrard locks for the middle two spots, Garcia is usually going to get the nod above Stelios for play on the right side. That said, none of this matters if the transfer doesn't go through... just thought I'd warn you to wait for a bit to find out where he'll be plying his trade.

[ZeUs!!]

Really comprehensive list, but a couple points: Bramble is one to avoid -- has flashes of brilliance, but can't concentrate for shit, and finds himself demoted to the bench with frequency

When he was at Ipswich our fanzine wrote a poem for him. I can't remember the exact wording but this was the general idea:

I stand here, a tall tower of defence, graciously prowling the penalty area
A ball is sent back from midfield, I swoop to gather it
I hear the crowd cheering my name
I see the whites of the onrushing attackers eyes
The manager goes wild
I ponder the deft flic-
oh shit they've scored

I spent the other night chosing my team for The Sun's competition and I have just typed out a 2,000 word letter so excuse me for not going into depth here, but I'll give out a few pointers:

• Xabi Alonso is a lot better than Steven Gerrard and £400k cheaper
• I'm gambling on Richard Wright to replace Nigel Martyn at some point this season, I think he's too good to have been on the bench for this long and is only £3.6m. I'm also an Ipswich fan.
• Tommy Miller scored 15 goals from midfield for Ipswich last year and is an expert penalty taker. Given that Sunderland's strikers at not that stable I'd opt for Tommy if you're short on cash
• Arsene Wenger currently prefers Phillipe Senderos for Sol Campbell so don't be fooled by the name
• Mido is shitting goals
• The proverbial pies have been shared around Middlesborough's strike force so don't pick any of them (except for Job that is, but he's shit)
• Given the lack of competition and therefore pressure for starting places up front at City, is this the year Robbie Fowler regains his midas touch?
• Chelsea win football matches. When you're buying expensive players, make them Chelsea. However most of Chelsea's goals come from midfield as they only play one-up, something to consider
• I'd avoid the Newcastle midfield, with so much competition for places it could all change each week
• I'm tipping Spurs to do well this year

[eehh]

[*]Arsene Wenger currently prefers Phillipe Senderos for Sol Campbell so don't be fooled by the name isnt cuntbell injured, and that is why senderos is playing?
[*]Mido is shitting goals he hasn't scored any more than keane and defoe, and you dont know who of tottenham's 4 strikers who vill start..
[*]I'm tipping Spurs to do well this year here you are right [/list]

need to write something. (c) zeuz (i think)