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Season Predictions – The View From The Scouts

12 August 2011 2184 comments
Andy Andy
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We’re almost there. After three months, countless RMT’s (That’s Rate-My-Team for our new readers), a whole host of injury scares and the regular gamut of transfer talk, the season is now just hours away.

This means just one thing- it’s time for a host of the Fantasy Football Scout team to start off one last debate by sticking our necks on the line with predictions for the year to come. As evidenced by last year, our choices can range from the sublime to the ridiculous – let’s see how the cards fall for 2011/12…

I, Andy, kick things off by singling out teams and players I am not perhaps known for endorsing. Towing the party line, then, I’ve done everything I can to make my predictions as impartial as possible. Not believe me? Look- no Fernando Torres…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool (1-5)
Bottom four: Norwich, QPR, Blackburn, Swansea (17-20)
This year’s Overachievers: Stoke
This Year’s Underachievers: Everton
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Ashley Young
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man United
Most Yellow Cards: Cheik Tiote
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Kean
Worst Signing: Gabriel Obertan

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Robin Van Persie
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Steven Taylor
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Adel Taarabt
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Shane Long

Next up to the batters plate is johnfinlay, our roving reporter and all round top bloke. John’s choices seem to indicate one promoted player is quite likely to be appearing on his teamsheet at 11:30am this coming Saturday….

The Premier League

Top five: Man City, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool
Bottom four: Norwich, Wigan, QPR, Swansea
This year’s Overachievers: Stoke
This Year’s Underachievers: Tottenham
Top Goalscorer: Sergio Aguero
Most Assists: Ashley Young
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: Newcastle
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Bruce
Worst Signing: Jordan Henderson

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Robin Van Persie
Top Bonus Point Darling: Scott Sinclair
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Mark Schwarzer
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Jose Enrique
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Scott Sinclair
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Demba Ba

We head to our resident Everton fan Big Dunc next who, bar perhaps one choice, seems to be sticking down the straight and narrow when it comes to Liverpool-based bias…

The Premier League

Top five: Chelsea, Man City, Man United, Spurs, Arsenal
Bottom four: Wolves, Norwich, Swansea, Wigan
This year’s Overachievers: West Brom
This Year’s Underachievers: Liverpool
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Stewart Downing
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: Charlie Adam
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Kean
Worst Signing: David De Gea

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Robin Van Persie
Top Bonus Point Darling: Robin Van Persie
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Ben Foster
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Jose Enrique
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Stephane Sessegnon
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Demba Ba

Resident Fantasy Football Scout statistician Superior Being is next to offer his credentials for the coming season, as he sneaks in a vote for his own beloved Premier League outfit…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal
Bottom four: Blackburn, Wigan, Swansea, Norwich
This year’s Overachievers: Wolves
This Year’s Underachievers: Villa
Top Goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
Most Assists: Luis Suarez
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man United
Most Yellow Cards: Cheik Tiote
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Alan Pardew
Worst Signing: David Goodwillie

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Wayne Rooney
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): John O’Shea
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Adel Taarabt
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Demba Ba

Our podcast companion Granville is next up on the chopping block with his choices for the season ahead. It perhaps isn’t too surprising, given his well known allegiances, that we’re seeing a lot of red affiliated names listed here…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal
Bottom four: Everton, Blackburn, Swasea, QPR
This year’s Overachievers: Stoke
This Year’s Underachievers: Everton
Top Goalscorer: Wayne Rooney
Most Assists: David Silva
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man United
Most Yellow Cards: Bradley Johnson
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Neil Warnock
Worst Signing: Gael Clichy

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Wayne Rooney
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): David Wheater
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Aaron Ramsey
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Danny Graham

We head to the shores of Greece and the Fantasy Football Scout summer villa where Greek Fan is currently residing, as he brings us all his Scout Tweets and Injuries & Bans news hot off the press…

The Premier League

Top five: Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Liverpool
Bottom four: Wigan, QPR, Blackburn, Swansea
This year’s Overachievers: West Brom
This Year’s Underachievers: Tottenham
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Charlie Adam
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: Lee Cattermole
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Kean
Worst Signing: Jose Moreira

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Jamie O’Hara
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Roger Johnson
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Scott Sinclair
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Kevin Davies

Our second United supporting Scout, Akers, gives us his run of the season ahead as he appears to have taken credence of my analysis of the EA Sports Index…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal
Bottom four: Wigan, QPR, Swansea, Norwich
This year’s Overachievers: Liverpool
This Year’s Underachievers: Everton
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Wayne Rooney
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Chelsea
Most Yellow Cards: Team – Stoke, Player – Charlie Adam
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Kean
Worst Signing: Jordan Henderson

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Darren Bent
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Luke Young
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Chris Brunt
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Demba Ba

Peering up from his magical work on the Fantasy Football Scout Season Ticker for a second is Pure Olivia. By the looks of things he’s looking for big things from a certain biblical midfielder this season…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Spurs (same again please barman)
Bottom four: Norwich, Blackburn, QPR, Swansea
This year’s Overachievers: Stoke
This Year’s Underachievers: Liverpool
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Nani
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: K. Davies
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Steve Kean
Worst Signing: Jordan Henderson (not necessarily a bad player – just way over-priced)

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Robin Van Persie
Top Bonus Point Darling: Robin Van Persie
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Luis Enrique
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Victor Moses
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Demba Ba

The penultimate Scout to put their hat in the ring as king of the soothsayers is Sir Paulos. The following choices will only prove whether he has earned that crown or not come May 2012…

The Premier League

Top five: Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal
Bottom four: Swansea, Norwich, Blackburn, QPR
This year’s Overachievers: Fulham
This Year’s Underachievers: Newcastle
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Florent Malouda
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: Cheik Tiote
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Neil Warnock
Worst Signing: Jay Bothroyd

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Robin Van Persie
Top Bonus Point Darling: Robin Van Persie
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Jose Enrique
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Jamie O’Hara
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Kevin Davies

Last, but not least, is Fantasy Football Scout overload Mark who makes his estimations for the season without even mentioning Matty Taylor – the fact he now plays in the Championship wouldn’t normally stop him…

Top five: Man United, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal
Bottom four: Blackburn, Norwich, Swansea, QPR
This year’s Overachievers: Wolves
This Year’s Underachievers: Everton
Top Goalscorer: Robin Van Persie
Most Assists: Stewart Downing
Team with Most Clean Sheets: Man City
Most Yellow Cards: Cheik Tiote
First Boss to Bite the Bullet: Neil Warnock
Worst Signing: Gabriel Obertan

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Top Points Scorers

Overall Top Points Scorer: Wayne Rooney
Top Bonus Point Darling: Luis Suarez
Top Scoring Budget Goalkeeper (5.0 and under): Shay Given
Top Scoring Budget Defender (5.0 and under): Jose Enrique
Top Scoring Budget Midfielder (6.5 and under): Jamie O’Hara
Top Scoring Budget Forward (6.5 and under): Grant Holt

So there we have it, that’s how the Scouts see it; no need for any of this fantasy lark as we’re clearly going to be 100% correct. Remember this post at season’s end for all the good choices and forget it for those that end up down the garden path. Who are your choice picks for the 2011/12 season?

Andy Leicester won the Premier League. Leicester. Premier League. What is this life? Follow them on Twitter

2,184 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Go_To_Sleep1
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    What are people's opinion on Lampard this year, is he worth having? what position will he play this year, more of a holding role? or still attacking? Does anyone else have him...

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    1. Giggs Boson redundant accou…
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Not worth 12m in my opinion. His only upside are that he's on pens, but then so is rooney...

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      1. kbiffo
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah - pens for just now.
        How many has he missed in the last 12 months?
        Me personally, I've lost count

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  2. Jimmyjbomb
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Kompany & Bent

    Will Berbatov play a bit less with the arrival of Young maybe...?

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    1. Bartowski
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Do you think, think the abundance of strikers is more of a threat, just really want Lescott, think he'll be up for nailing down a place before Toure returns and will score a few.

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  3. The Doctor "Oh heavens…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Am struggling to resist making changes to my team, that being said about full time tomorrow i will most likely be kicking myself saying why did i not just do that change last night. love it. actually no i dont, damn it i need to make a change just to help me calm down a bit.. "i am not addicted i can stop any time i want to".

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  4. Bartowski
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Just figured out who might be the new Foster this season....it's Foster.

    Next week...Charlie Adam

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  5. dan4short
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Is it more important to have nani or Rooney this week??

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    1. Go_To_Sleep1
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      For me i'd say Rooney.

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    2. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      It may not be important to have either.

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    3. tommys
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      both

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      1. dan4short
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        at the expense of Malouda? I'm thinking i could avoid chelsea cover for GW1, get both Nani & Rooney, then bring in Malouda GW2??

        Front 8 as follows:

        Malouda, Nzog, Silva, Moses, Dyer
        Rooney, Carroll, Campbell

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  6. Baby Face Nelson
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Is newcastle Taylor a guarantee starter?

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    1. Baby Face Nelson
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Is newcastle's Taylor a guaranteed starter?

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      1. Tatty Bojangles
        • 15 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        Which one? Steven or Ryan?

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  7. tommys
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    are people here thinking Campbell will do well this year....what about rodallaega?

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  8. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Final and last post up of my team lads, please please please RMT and will do yours in return if you like.

    Given (Ruddy)

    Kompany - Carragher - Orr (Simpson, Young)

    Nani - Kuyt - Moses - Taarabt (O'Hara)

    Rooney - Bent - Rodallega

    Thanks lads if you could rate it, appreciate it a lot.

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      It's not laziness but I think your team is pretty hard to find flaws in.

      My one criticism is having Moses and Rodallega seems a little bit of Wigan overkill. I would personally only have one.

      Carragher and Kuyt are perhaps a bit original (I smell a Liverpool fan) but not "bad" picks.

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      1. kbiffo
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        I think if he was a Liverpool fan, he would have Carroll in instead of Bent! 😉

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        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 14 Years
          14 years, 3 months ago

          kbiffo - That's true but i'd rather wait and see if carroll performs, i raelise villa will have to try harder with the loss of N'Zogs, but do think Bent will shine nonetheless. Also i think that van Persie will ahve to try twice as hard to score goals with the loss of nasri and fabragas.

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    2. Bartowski
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Id' go for Agger if you insist on a 6m Liverpool defender. more likely to score goals. But really i'd downgrade to Enrique and spend the money somewhere else.

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      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        Cheers lads, really do appreciate the comments.

        Impressive tackle - Cheers man, my thoughts are the same having two wigan players in there, particularly rodallega, his head might be a bit all over the place with arsenal showing a keen interest, i might swap him for someone else or leave it, undecided as yet.
        Haha funnuily enough im a man u fan, but raelly think liverpool will do great this season, or at very least a great start. Thanks again anyway, will surely be back here after tomoz's games haha.

        Bartowski - Yeah agger does seem the better option of the two, i just though carragher for experience really but yeah, agger would be the better option, or enrique like you say. thanks again and will be debating on here soon after gameweek 1 haha.

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  9. @ImpressiveTackl
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    After all the constant tinkering and fiddling with my squad I have decided to put in 15 players I would never EVER have in my team. I'll then move through the team and build it from the bottom.

    I think I already know for sure 10-12 of the players I am gonna choose and I have most of them in already but I just want a clean slate and a clear head to start with.

    Right. Team destroyed. Time to start again but I am almost as ready to rock as the people in this vid...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-fVSIclhy4

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    1. kbiffo
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Best of luck! 😀

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  10. pukey
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    A) Rodellega, Caroll, Drogba & Malouda

    or

    B) Zamora, Van Persie/Rooney, Caroll & downing (or another 8.5 mf)

    Do you guys think the drog will play?

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    1. @ImpressiveTackl
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      I prefer B so much more.

      I think Drog will play but Chelsea coverage may not be essential for GW1.

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  11. Giggs Boson redundant accou…
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    1) Kompany, N'zogbia

    OR

    2) Bardsely, Downing

    If you want context...

    Kompany Lescott Enrique
    N'zogbia Taarabt Moses Malouda

    Subs: Riise, obertan, simpson

    OR

    Enrique Lescott Riise
    Malouda Taarabt Moses Downing

    Subs: Bardsley, obertan, simpson

    SO TOUGH! I'm thinking 1) because it allows better rotation!

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    1. Bartowski
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah 1 obviously

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      1. Giggs Boson redundant accou…
        • 14 Years
        14 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah thanks. After posting it i thought people would get mad. It's such an annoyingly repetative post. SORRY GUYS!

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  12. Bartowski
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    He'll play but not enough for 10.5 so B

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  13. MrJefferson
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    with tevez n agurio not match fit is it completly stupid to go with crazy crazy balloltelli n keep hlf a mil to upgrade to saurez GW2???

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  14. kbiffo
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    For me, this seasons Charlie Adam may well be one of the following:

    Sinclair
    Moses
    Taarabt
    O'Hara
    Hoolahan

    Yes Adam hit a lot of pens last season and I'm not sure if any of the above take any for their team.
    Maybe there won't be a new Charlie Adam after all, what do you think

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    1. Goodfish
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      I'm blowing my load on Taarabt for the opener...See how it goes...If he's bunk, then I'm gonna get me some O'Hara, Sinclair, Sessegnon or Anderson.

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  15. hossuck
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Rooney or RVP then?

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  16. hossuck
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Al Habsi, (Given);
    Kompany, Alex, Hughes, (Jose Enrique, Gabiddon);
    Nani, Silva, Taarabt, Moses, (Ramsey)
    RVP/Rooney, Suarez, Johnson

    Any thoughts? Roonuck, or Van Persuck?

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  17. CK
    • 16 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone else experiencing diffs getting into FPL website?

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    1. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      Totally seized up - not happy

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    2. Goodfish
      • 15 Years
      14 years, 3 months ago

      It is ze same with I. Iz not good.

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  18. Gunning 4 Glory
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    gutted

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  19. dan_utd
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    Has anyone any updates on FPL site? Was OK last night but haven't been able to log on for last hour. Stress levels increasing round here ...

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  20. johnnyone23
    • 14 Years
    14 years, 3 months ago

    cant log on either

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