The tussle for the overall Sky Sports crown is heating up, with Fantasy Football Scout community members well and truly in the mix for the top prize of £25,000. We take a look at those involved, analyse the current market trends and player form and take a peak through the keyhole of the Fantasy Football Club dressing room ahead of tonight’s episode.
The Scout League
After a pair of simply outstanding Gameweeks, Chris Pearce’s “UtakaDefoeKingPearce†lineup is not only dominating our league table, his squad has dramatically closed the gap in the chase for the overall top prize. Pearce is sitting on 1966 points, some 47 ahead of “Housewives Favourite†boss Paul McAnulty in second, with Chris Tuck’s “Vuvuzela Symphony†sitting in third spot back on 1877.
More significantly, having been a full 85 points off the overall summit a fortnight ago, Chris is now just 27 points behind the overall leader going into this weekend. The top manager, Simon Ward, has had a comfortable lead for so long but Pearce has now seemingly assured us a dramatic title run-in as the pair wrestle for the bumper cash prize.
With Chris leading the charge and six other managers in the top twenty, the Scout league remains on top of the Private League rankings as we approach the home stretch.
A reminder that if you’re playing the Sky Sports game and have yet to join our league, you can still sign up to the FFScout League with this Pin: 8004519. We have a home cinema system, worth £600, available to the winner.
Market Trends
With Gareth Bale transferred out as part of 26% of deals this week, the volatile position has been midfield with a lot of activity centred in this area of our squads. Steven Gerrard has been the biggest benefactor as a result of Bale’s ankle injury, claiming over 5% of the trades in, while Chelsea pairing Eden Hazard and Juan Mata have been party to 8% combined. City’s Yaya Toure has been the other midfielder to attract attention, with just over 3% of transfer deals this week seeing the Ivorian recruited.
Double Gameweek pairing Marouane Fellaini and Theo Walcott have also been subject to heavy sales this week, with over 13% of transfers seeing one of the duo dropping out of squads. Both look set to be in line for returns this weekend, however, which could lead to a few regrets given the two fixtures on their respective agendas.
Looking at current form in this game, Southampton’s stunning league displays are mirrored by the fortunes of Artur Boruc in goal and Jay Rodriguez up front. That pair top the keeper and striker form rankings with 19 and 44 points respectively – Rodriguez is now ranked fourth overall for value amongst the strikers, delivering 21.2 points per million for his 5.7 fee. With Morgan Schneiderlin sitting third in the midfielder value rankings and Rickie Lambert second only to Luis Suarez amongst the strikers, it’s clear that the Saints have shown up superbly in this game over the season and have come into bloom in recent weeks following the Mauricio Pochettino revolution. With fixtures remaining in their favour, Southampton assets look set to continue to offer outstanding value right through to the final Gameweek.
The Fantasy Football Club – Tonight 10pm
Axed by Leeds just ten days ago, Neil Warnock finds solace by popping in to lend his brand of football management to the Fantasy Football Club cause. Warnock will join Fenners and Merse to no doubt present his CV to watching chairmen from 10pm on Sky Sports One tonight. If you miss out, you can catch the repeat tomorrow morning at 9am on Sky Sports Two.
