Champions League Picks – Matchday 1

I bought Vertonghen two weeks ago. 😉 I also have Reid.

Agree with you on principle, but no need to overdo it. I think 2 big hitters and overall strong defense at the back to rotate and sometimes play 4 or 5 at the back when fixtures suit is a good plan. Cant have no bench fodders on defense this year.

i like the fb route, started the season with baines, johnson and zab, switched johnson to evra last week. they are my best points scorers next to benteke this year, the rest have done f*^kall

Add in the fact that once you have the heavy hitting defenders...Baines/Vert./Kompany/Agger and co then you really have nowhere to go transfer wise (unlike the mids and forwards)...so no hits for defenders in terms of raising TV or missing the boat...Pick em and leave em..

Far too narrow a selection imo.

Thoughts? A couple. You are missing Evra(6.5m) btw. And Baines, although a bit more exp at 7.5m I can see him bettering last seasons 170+pts. Maybe 200pts?

I do think the CS will get less and your 190pts assumption might be far fetched. The sample is a bit small I think to assume it will continue. Just look at last night...few expected a 2-2 considering Livp haven't scored in their last 3 visits to Swans.

All that said, I am very tempted to get Evra and double up on Baines+Coleman. The next 3-4 weeks will hopefully give me answers.

But also, Fonte for example is cheap and still gets lots of points for more value. I think you need more balance, but I still think 3 at the back is the way forward.

Good thought Eboue but I think you'd agree the 196 is exaggerated (not considering injuries/rest/suspensions, etc)

Also, it's all relative though isn't it. The cheaper defenders points is likely to increase with the same % as the premium. So when you consider value, the effect of the bonus system is very minimal.

This is easily said, but look at my team this week. 4 at the back and only 2 clean sheets from my back 5, despite good fixtures

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/7449/event-history/4/

Old habits die hard, when doing my transfers this morning I was thinking "defence change not worth 4 points".

The point about defenders possibly being worth a hit now is a very good one.

Thinking about wildcard. current team is

Howard, (boruc)
Lescott, Coleman, Toure (chester from hull) (Baker from Villa)
Countinho, Walcott, Oscar, Ben Arfa, (Noble from WestHam)
Anelka, Giroud, Goaldaddo

looking to replace with

Howard, (boruc)
José Enrique, Dawson, Coleman, Evra, Senderos(fulham)
Ramsey, Yaya Touré, Paulinho, Ben Arfa, Sidwell (fulham)
Goaldaddo, Giroud, Rooney

Since it seems to be the year of the defenders (BPS) it seems like I should strike while the iron is hot.

Livepool, with 5 up and coming games with 'difficult'(according to season ticker) game in the next 5 jose looks the obvious choice

Tot, After next weeks game vs chealsea at home they have a 3 favorable games including Westham and hull both at home.

Eve, Newcastle and Hull both at home in the next 4, coleman looks like he should continue to rise in value.

Scumunited, as much as it pains me to put utd player in my team its time to bring them in, after the Manchester derby they play 4 of their next 3 games at home including WBA and STO.

Ful, after chelasea this week they do have 4 games that look to play kindly in their favor. CAR and STO both at home then cpl away. they look ok, well kind of, they are after all fulham.

Ramsey, he is in hot form atm, i am posting this before the C-league match tonight but he is looks the ducks nuts. i expect him to increase in value as Ozil settles in and theo should eventually gets some goals and assists in the coming weeks.

Yaya, well what can i say, that goal in c-league alone deceives to be in every side, with Sivla out for 2 weeks i expect him to pick up the slack, and with the city backline getting kompay back, they might even get a CLEAN SHEET(dare i say)

Tot, a toss up between Paulinho and Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson had a lucky week. Paul still looks the bigger threat and more creative.

Ben Arfa, well, Ben Arfa, the only shinning light coming out of Newcastle

Sidwell, scored a handy goal last week, more of a after thought then anything atm.

Goaldaddo aka Soldaddy aka tot go to man at the top. some easy games coming up, should find the back of the net.

Giroud, like i said before, he should pick up some MORE goals in the up and coming games, looks the business.

this last one hurts me to say.

Rooney. Just keeps on scoring, good form wish he moved to Chelsea, two goals last night in c-league, playing next to RVP and Nani just resigning and Valencia getting a goal and assist last night, wayne should get some good points in the near future.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

after all my rambling, it is to early to freak out and wildcard this early in the year, or and I making the rite move?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.