Injuries took centre stage among out hot topic posters this week as the community were tested by a wave of international injuries.
Meanwhile, our community writers offer their top tips for surviving the weekend’s post international Gameweek and, in particular, where to place the armband.
Players to avoid come under the gaze of our Members table creators and finally we find out the Fantasy managers who will be battling through the mounting knocks and niggles to take each other on in our community competitions.
The Community Articles
With a 100 per cent success rate in using bookies odds, form and fixtures to predict the Gameweek’s best captain, it is no wonder that YMA won our latest best community writer of the month prize. Dare you ignore his advice on Gameweek 12’s best armband contender?
TM245 is another focused on captaincy issues and this week dropped by deliver his latest research on the best predictors of success, which includes our Members’ Rate My Team tool.
Those playing Sky Sports are blessed with multiple captaincy options as they are able to select a different player each of the Gameweek. Disable has taken a look at some of the best options, and, in particular, the game’s bonus and man of the match award magnets, as well as analysing the transfer habits of the top managers.
Elsewhere, Bolivian Seaman has been visiting the supporter forums for his regular look at what the fans are saying about the forthcoming fixtures.
Don’t forget, if you’ve got some analysis, scout reports or features brewing, be sure to visit our community section to submit your article.
The Hottest Topics
The community found itself flagging in more ways than one during the long international break. While the lack of Premier League action was a chief concern, so too was the amount of injuries being dished out among players on international duty.
Eden Hazard’s knock during Belgium’s victory over Estonia this week prompted Pochecinno to question whether he’d been labeled a doubt prematurely.
Mark chipped in by lending his views on the Chelsea schemer’s injury and shedding some light on how such news is deciphered here on the site.
Adam Lallana was another to succumb to injury having been substituted early on in England’s friendly with Spain with a recurrence of a groin injury. With more than one in ten FPL managers owning the Liverpool midfielder, Individual sparked a timely discussion on the best candidates to replace him, with Lallana perhaps unlikely to figure at former club Southampton this weekend.
With so many injuries circling, many fear they may not be able to field a full XI in Gameweek 12, according to our hot topic on how to survive a gruelling international break.
Thankfully, there is still a degree of certainty when it comes to penalty awards this season, with Bun Rab carrying out some further research into where the Premier League’s spot kick happy referees will be deployed over the weekend.
There is also security in opting for a premium heavy-hitter in attack, particularly Liverpool’s pair of midfield maestros – Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. Our look at the Hall of Fame leaders template team found that investment in the duo had been key to their success.
This prompted us to ask which players among this elite group’s template team you own and how you think their template will change over the coming Gameweeks.
Numb believes that, realistically, most Fantasy managers will only be able to afford five of the many excellent expensive options available. After asking us on the Scoutcast which quintet we prefer, we opened up the discussion to find your favoured heavyweight options.
Finally, with the Premier League break nearing its conclusion Neenyg took some time to ask how fans of top flight teams cope with managing a Fantasy lineup without showing allegiance to their supported club. We duly discovered that this was not a problem for Mark, either now and, in all likelihood, the near future.
The Members Tables
As an antidote to my goals imminent table, Noobtastic has created an implosion imminent table to showcase recent goalscorers who are set to let their owners down in spectacular style.
If you’re a member and are yet to get to grips with the custom statistics tables, you can view this movie for an explanation of how they work. Also, remember to tag them so that people can find the tables with ease.
The Community Tournaments
This weekend marks the start of the community’s newest team contest, The Fantasy Chili Bowl.
On behalf of the organising committee, Jarvish delivered an update on the fixtures and lineups of the teams taking part.
Another keenly contested tournament is the FFS UEFA Champions League, where the group stages include some nailbiting ties, according to organiser Jaffalicious’ latest dispatch.
If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round Ups please email me a brief summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spreadsheet or head to head competition, at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.
7 years, 6 months agoHeaton (Pickford)
Lovren Pieters Evans (Amat Holebas)
Sanchez Hazard Firmino Gundogan (Fletcher)
Aguero Lukaku Austin
Bank: 0FT and 2.7m
Current thinking: On paper it's a decent hit-free team right now but I'm tempted to take a -4 to upgrade Amat to Alonso. I chickened out of Amat > Fuchs for a -4 last gameweek (got Holebas' -2 off the bench as a result and thus ended up +1 pt by not doing the move but -1 good long-term player). With Xmas looming, it may be time to ditch Amat but it's a big upgrade and would scupper Gundogan > Walcott or Lukaku > Kane upgrades I am also eyeing up soon.
Advice?