Goals and assists in the pre-season friendlies sparked much debate among the community over the past week, as two notable big -hitters showed their class to get the locals chattering.
We look back over those notable discussions in our review of the week’s Hot Topics, while also highlighting another set of articles from two regular scribes.
We also bring news of an exciting – and rather epic – new community tournament.
The Community Articles
The player ownership debate was once again all the rage this week, with Red Arrows setting the agenda with his hugely acclaimed Hot Topic, a discussion which followed hot on the heels of a new updated article from Milvus which scans the current movers and shakers in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) market.
Elsewhere, we saw a debut community article from YTFC_Scratch who offered us insight into his own struggle between trusting his emotions and gut instincts next to putting faith in mathematical algorithms such as our own Rate My Team. A great new addition to our community contributors, look out for more from Scratch next week.
Finally, our resident Draft game expert Pav A Nice Day has delivered once again, providing another essential guide that breaks down his top ten tips for Draft Day. This is his third article submitted this summer and follows on from his perfect player list.
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
That lauded thread from Red Arrows was one of many key discussions that took place this week, with big ticket Fantasy assets hogging the attention.
Ironically, we’d already laid the groundwork for what was to come by asking you how much credence you put on pre-season form and how it influences your decision-making.
It didn’t end there, with this Hot Topic from The Fantasy Freak also pre-empting events and discussions to come. He asked whether we were overlooking Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso and, just two days later and following a goal against Bayern Munich, that subject resurfaced.
First, Rupert The Horse provided some vital analysis of the Blues wing-back. Then we asked if, even with his price of 7.0, Alonso was back in the game and returning to our initial squad line-ups.
Then it was Kevin De Bruyne’s turn to shine. His stellar performance and two assists in Manchester City’s stunning 4-1 victory over Real Madrid opened our eyes, once again, to the Belgian’s appeal and we swooped to chair the discussion. That extended later in the week with AceK1ght’s excellent post on the potential routes into Pep Guardiola’s stellar attack.
Following that, Kuntheman offered his views on City’s likely line-up and our options for navigating their notorious rotation policy. Meanwhile, IMember chose to focus purely on the debate raging over the City strikers, underlining his view that “Pep loves Jesus”.
Away from City, Distinctly Average was anything but with his superb post that examined our midfield options, confessing that he was troubled by the array of options on offer. Deulofail then followed up by suggesting that we were being blinded by the cast of 7.0 candidates.
Switching to the strikers, AceKn1ght returned with another popular post on the merits of West Ham United’s new capture Javier Hernandez – a player we know well and who seems perfectly suited to the role of third striker in 3-4-3 setups.
“Little Pea” offers potential, a word which sums up Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. Overshadowed by new team-mate Romelu Lukaku, Forever Mirin certainly made a strong case to us to consider the starlet striker in his midweek Hot Topic.
While that pair are both prospects for next season, Spurs’ Harry Kane is undoubtedly a proven commodity and yet Aggero was on hand to draw our attention to the fact that pundits have claimed that the striker will be unable to sustain his scoring form. It’s fair to say that I, and many others, were not ready to accept such a theory.
Finally, and on a lighter note perhaps, this fabulous post from 1569Tippins describes a nightmarish scenario that might just haunt other experienced Fantasy managers. Tippins describes how he’s been refused entry to his work’s cash league on the grounds of his expertise, with his colleagues insisting that he accepts a handicap if he is to enter. Extraordinary stuff and a story we’re keen to track.
The Members’ Tables
FPL Virgin hogged the limelight when it came to Members’ tables this week, donating no less than three excellent new public offerings for our perusal.
He started with this view of Bournemouth’s defensive options. He followed that up with an effort which analysed those players assured of starting roles in his “Nailed On” table. Meanwhile, the third table looked at those players hooked off before the 90-minute mark, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard topping the ranks of his “Never Finishes A Match” analysis.
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
There was big news this week with the launch of a first tournament from the new Community Watch committee. The aptly-named Community Watch Tournament is built around the concept of a head-to-head league made up of 20 teams, each with seven to 10 members.
If you’ve ever played one of the classic FFSUEFA team tournaments then you already know the gist. If not, then you really need to check it out and get involved.
Elsewhere, PDM is still looking for those who have finished at least one FPL season within the top 1,000 to join his Top 1K Any Season league (21265-6670), and those with at least one top 10,000 finish are invited to join Red Lightning’s Top 10,000 Any Season league. (757-400).
Also, Torres Magic’s Last Man Standing contest (44937-13340) is still open for entries, clocking up over 2000 so far.
If you are running a community tournament and would like the latest scores included in future Community Round-ups, please email us a summary of the current leaders and a link to your league, spreadsheet or head-to-head competition, at jonty@fantasyfootballscout.co.uk.
