The Community Round Up

The short supply of Fantasy Football mavericks and the dangers of daring to be different were among key issues being discussed by the community this week. Elsewhere in our round-up, we assess how the throngs reacted to the Manchester derby blank, and Juan Mata’s move to Old Trafford.

There’s also time to find out the origins behind some of the community’s notable usernames and catch up on the latest from our community leagues, where a certain member of the Fantasy Football Scout team continues to cast aside all but one very “special” Fantasy manager.

The Hottest Topics

Just what has become of all the flair Fantasy managers? This was among key questions posed in our hot topic on the apparently increasingly endangered species of Fantasy Football mavericks Some believe that the ever-reliable Suarez captaincy and the stat-breaking phenomena that is Yaya Toure are to blame for the death of the risk-taking Fantasy boss. Others wondered if the so-called “flair managers” have just lost their mojo. McKanata was among those who took part in the discussion and put forward the theory that, with more data at their disposal during the second half of the season, maverick managers may have more confidence to roll the dice with their selections. Time will tell.

Perhaps the decline of the flair manager is down to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game discouraging risk-taking? We asked how the FPL game could be improved to boost maverick management and reward those who look beyond the “template”. Among the options considered, by Anti Top Four and TokyoRed, was the idea of scrapping the winter Wildcard. While TorresMagic favours a sliding scale of points based on ownership of players, with differentials carrying greater weight for the goals and assists they rack up. The FPL propeller heads would surely combust at such a prospect.

On a similar theme, Koflok believes consistently performing bandwagons are making this season easier for the so-called “casual managers” to match the more focused and “hands-on” Fantasy bosses. In previous seasons, the likes of Aaron Ramsey were unable to score double figures week after week and would have been dismissed by savvy managers as a mere bandwagon. This season, though, such players have sustained their form and repaid those who jumped on board early – either through the lure of a bandwagon or their skillful judgment.

The Casual’s post highlights the dangers of missing out on this season’s consistent performers and focusing too much on differentials. Inspired by Mark’s recent Scoutcast revelation that he plans to focus his Wildcard selection on form midfield differentials, The Casual urges caution. He tracks his own scores against Mark’s from Gameweek 8 to show the eye-popping ranking and transfer value gulf between the “smart casual” and those who dare to be different. Looking at his analysis it’s no wonder that the risk-takers have had a re-think this term.

Manchester City’s somewhat inevitable progress to the Capital One Cup final means their Manchester derby in Gameweek 28 will be rescheduled. This is set to leave Fantasy managers with a tough choice: do they bench expensive players like Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure, or do they dare to move them on? Caine & Co is among those who answered our Hot Topic, claiming he was happy to ditch all his Manchester assets, aside from the frighteningly potent Aguero. Greenwindmill announced that he is likely to continue to shun United’s players and bench his City pack.

Juan Mata’s arrival at Old Trafford could shake up a few plans, however. The Red Devils new playmaker supreme prompted a popular discussion with Neotheny among those more than happy to add Mata to his roster, regardless of the Gameweek 28 blank.

Mata was not the only new name brought in from the cold this week. Your Mum’s Athletic has been looking at some further last-minute punts likely to interest the hordes of late Wildcarders. Sunderland’s on-loan forward Fabio Borini and Crystal Palace’s Marouane Chamakh are among his rather surprising left-field choices.

Finally, Give The Todd Some Love decided to take the opportunity offered by this week’s Premier League break to delve into the origins of some of our posters’ usernames. While his will be obvious to fans of US sitcom Scrubs, Colonel Shoe’s was less transparent and has its routes in two childhood nicknames melded together. Meanwhile, Syd’s love of Pink Floyd is the inspiration behind his moniker. There’s plenty of ideas and food for thought for those watching in and perhaps looking to announce themselves in the coming weeks.

The Community Leagues

Teltzham Hotspurs continues to lead HeelsOverHead’s “Worst To First 2Million + Club”, for teams who suffered an overall rank below 2,000,000 in the first five Gameweeks. He improved his overall FPL rank to 23,398. Five teams are now within the top 100,000 and chasing his crown.

Grumpy Camel tops Torres Magic’s “Last Man Standing” league, which now stands at 226 strong as 21 were booted out after Gameweek 22. Goal_Machine leads TM’s “After Xmas” League, while Bosh sits atop the Millionaire Club. Unbelievable Bentek-kers, at 84th overall, leads the seedings for his FPL Open and Elite 64 contests. All his league details can be found here.

Evs continues to blaze a trail in the FFS Old Farts Club – a tournament to cater for our more senior posters. The Welshman has also reclaimed top spot in our FFS Moderators and Contributors league from Atheltico Timbo. As if these two league leads were not enough, Evs is also one of six leaders in In Tommy We Trust’s “All Things FPL” league, alongside Billy Ketsu, Jambo 17, Koneheads and Bootsy and Athletico Timbo. But there is hope for his competitors as Evs has lost his Puffin Boy Memorial Cup league lead to Don The Special One: Don really is the special one, having usurped our Hall of Fame leader.

In the Iron Man competition, for those taking part in multiple games, there is no change, with that Jonty chap retaining the lead in the FPL component of the competition, while Gigging Order continues to top the Sky Sports game, while FFS moderator, In Like Flynn, has cemented his lead in the Metro league.