We turn our attentions to FantasyBet this Friday lunchtime, as I continue my quest to turn £100 pot into profit.
For those unfamiliar, the initial player prices and scoring system in FantasyBet are very similar to Fantasy Premier League, making it an accessible weekly and daily format for those who pay a lot of attention to the official game.
There are eleven guaranteed pots this weekend in FantasyBet, including the two regular freerolls – the £100 weekly game and the £50 flash contest. There’s Monday night football this week, with Stoke traveling to Swansea, but only one match on Sunday as Newcastle welcome Norwich to St James’ Park – both fixtures are covered by a £1.10 entry game that has a £75 pot.
With the majority of matches taking place on Saturday, the double-up game for that day could be tougher than usual with a larger player pool available – it’s £3.30 to enter for a £75 pot and the top half of entries are paid out. For games covering all ten fixtures there’s the ‘no selection budget’ contest for £5.50, also with £75 on offer, and for the high-rollers, a £400 pot for a £22 stake and a £200 flash game for a £11 fee. The must enter game of the week is the £1000 game for 5.50. The game leaves out the early lunchtime clash between Spurs and Liverpool, allowing teams to be picked up until the 3pm kick-offs.
My Team
Once again I’m going to run through my picks for the £100 freeroll. I generally go with a less conventional strategy in the free-rolls as there are more entries, allowing a few more differentials than I would usually include.
In defence, I’ve gone with a couple of budget options from Newcastle and Arsenal that I highlighted in the Weekly Shop article. Rob Elliot and Gabriel are joined by team-mates Daryl Janmaat and Hector Bellerin to add some attacking potential to my backline.
In midfield, I’ve gone with popular picks Kevin de Bruyne and Alexis Sanchez, whilst Yohan Cabaye finds a place alongside those big hitters on the back of some impressive performances for Palace. Finally, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero sidelined, I’ve opted for a punt from City with goals still on the agenda as they host newcomers Bournemouth. Raheem Sterling is likely to see more of the ball and could even get some minutes up front for Manuel Pellegrini’s injury stricken side.
It’s difficult to overlook Graziano Pelle’s form – most teams will have the striker for the clash with Leicester so I’ve played it safe and selected the Italian as my first forward. With Andre Ayew a minor doubt, I’ve gone for Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis ahead of the visit of Stoke, despite his four-match barren streak. The team is completed with Daniel Sturridge, who’s had the international break to continue his recovery – Liverpool should be rejuvenated with the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and their fixtures with Spurs often see plenty of goals.
The Bottom Line
After going into the Sunday matches top of the £1000 game, I needed Swansea to score and Alexis Sanchez to stay quiet to win over £200. Andre Ayew delivered the goal I needed to prevent Spurs’ clean sheet but Sanchez’ brace against Man United dropped me down to fourth (unfortunately just three points off winning over £100), with FFS member Anony42mous clinching first place thanks to a stunning 122-point haul. A first placed finish in the Saturday double-up softened the blow and I ended a positive week overall back in profit with £101.17.
This Week’s Stake
Weekly – A similar stake to last week, with the team above going into the £100 freeroll and an entry into the Flash free game as well. I have to go for the £1000 pot again after missing out on big winnings so narrowly last week and the Scout Picks go into our community league game as usual.
Daily – I enter the Saturday double-up on the back of a first place finish last week and also stump up £1.10 for the End of Week bargain game.
Stake – £11
Current Balance – £90.17
£100 Guaranteed FFScout Picks League
Once again, FantasyBet have provided a £100 pot for the FFScout Picks League, with a £1.10 stake for entry. I will enter our Scout Picks as closely as possible, given a 15-man squad is required with the 100m budget and a captain also needs to be selected. Bouncebackability won last week with 123 points, while our picks came in the money places with 108 points leaving us in eight spot. Feel free to go up against them this week and pick your own squad on FantasyBet.
