Feature

Fantasy Football Book Launch

We are delighted to announce the official launch of the Fantasy Football book ‘Wasting Your Wildcard‘.

Written by regular site contributor David Wardale and fully endorsed by Fantasy Football Scout, it will be out on Thursday, July 26, to plug the painful gap between the end of the World Cup and start of the 2018/19 Premier League season.

Subtitled ‘The Method and Madness of Fantasy Football’, the book is being published by Penguin’s respected sports imprint, Yellow Jersey Press, and is packed with hints and tips from some of the best Fantasy managers out there.

But it is as much about the people as the game, with stories of glory and despair, mini-league skulduggery and humiliating failure and the strange grip the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) in particular has on managers from Australia to Zimbabwe and just about everywhere in between.

There are in-depth interviews with FPL champions and Fantasy-mad Saudi princes, a comprehensive look at the eternal conflict that is stats versus ‘the eye test’ and chapters on the history of the game, the all-conquering beast that is Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and what the future of Fantasy Football might look like.

There’s also a revealing section on our very own Mark, detailing the methods behind his successful approach to playing FPL.

Written by a fan for the fans, we think Wasting Your Wildcard will inform and entertain in equal measure, while grappling with the reasons behind why we, as supposedly grown-up men and women, cannot resist playing a game of footballing dress-up.

And to give you a taste of what you can expect, we’re planning to publish an exclusive extract for newsletter subscribers in the very near future.

SAVE £5 WHEN YOU PRE-ORDER WASTING YOUR WILDCARD WITH WATERSTONES.COM! Simply enter the discout code SCOUT18 at checkout and you can save a fiver – one third off the cover price.

Australian fans can order through Booktopia.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

893 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    There is a method to the madness

  2. gomez123
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Cant believe I lost my mini-league by 1 point ( cost me £250) due to Jesus celebrating his goal and getting a yellow card!!.....

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      That's like Swansea saying they were relegated because the saints beat them last Tuesday. Really really bad luck and I don't want to sound like a t*wt but it's a 38 week season mate

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Harsh.

        1. Andy1
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          But fair

    2. Bilbao Baggins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You lost based on 100's of decisions you madeover the season. Don't beat yourself up about it wasn't jesus that lost you it 🙂

    3. Make Arrows Green Again
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Seen this posted a few times today. Maybe by you, maybe by others. You don't link your team so I don't believe you.

    4. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      i can. he did it on purpose because he dislikes you...

    5. Rik Waller
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I can because I read this comment on the previous post

  3. Sahil Yadav
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will it be available as an e-book?

    1. davidwardale
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Yep. Search on Amazon and any other e-book outlet and it should be there.

      1. Bunk Moreland
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Cool ,then I'll get it for my kindle.

  4. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will it be available in braille?

    1. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Where's that?

      1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        5 mins from Firhill Stadium

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Where's that?

          1. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Left past the pub and left again past the deep fried mars bar dealer

  5. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Players shortlisted for next season?

    Robertson, Salah, Zaha, Arnie, Sterling, Auba to get the ball rolling

    1. Jude Rooney
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      6 14 8.5 8.5 11 11

      Still fancy them all?

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Jesus, 8.5 for Arnie?

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Dubravka - (Darlow)
      Azpi - Vert - PVA - Keane - (bench filler)
      Zaha - Sterling - Salah - Lanzini - (bench filler)
      Auba - Kane - (bench filler)

      1. Jude Rooney
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        About 110m there

      2. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        4.5 (4.0)
        6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.0
        8.0 10.0 13.0 7.0 4.5
        11.5 12.5 4.5

        106.5

      3. Seb Wassell
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Oh god it's started already 😀

    3. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Sub will be 12m IMO, though I hope less as I'll have him.

    4. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Would expect some of the world cup players to miss the first week or two in the new season. It will be hard to get Kane, Salah, Arnie (FWD ???), Auba, City Mid and DDG in from the start so it might be worth going without some of them for the start and use a early wildcard when cheaper options start to emerge

      1. Jude Rooney
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Good point - fixtures will play massive part too obviously

        1. Revival
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          An example is if Belgium do well at world cup, expect Mourinho to give Lukaku extra time off so it could make Sanchez a good option for first few gameweeks, provided we think Utd can actually score a few goals.

          1. I Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            I've learnt my lesson regarding Mourinho attackers. The rest of the top 6 will provide better options than Sanchez and Lukaku.

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 11 months ago

              The worst thing is that with Martial, Pogba, Sanchez and Lukaku their front four could be great. But Mourinho has killed them.

    5. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      The ones you mentioned + Mendy and Ozil.

    6. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Joe Bennett and Calum Paterson as fund freers

    7. shirtless
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Mendy!

    8. grandemessi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I will go with Auba instead of Kane. Greater assist potential.

    9. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You seen that young midfielder' for villa,may be playing FPL- getahlife is his name

    10. dvdguy
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Auba
      Salah
      Sterling
      Mahrez( if he goes to city)

  6. Tomerick
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will it be available on cassette tape?

  7. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Is it going to be better than the Triggerlips book?

    I got caught badly before, once bitten twice shy and all that. 😀

    1. davidwardale
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      It would be remiss of me to say, but yes. Maybe.

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Fair play, I'm just joking.

        I could see me ordering it.

        1. davidwardale
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          It would be remiss of me to say, but yes, please order it. It will change your life, or at least cost you a few quid.

          1. Hibbo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Is there many pages?

      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      If someone's run it through a spellchecker then it's got to be eh?

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        So salty.

      2. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Well done on your rank btw.

        You really smashed the season end.

          • 10 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Cheers Tone, so much of that was down to my new favourite Gabonese Arsenal forward.

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Only if its written by the Robot Machine thing. He carried Triggerlips.

      1. Hibbo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        If it doesn't have the smiley doing a thumbs up I want a refund haha

  8. Rider on the Storm
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will it be available in France? It could be a fun gift for my brother who i beat for 3 years in a row!

    1. davidwardale
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      It's certainly on Amazon.fr. Not sure about eslewhere.

      1. Rider on the Storm
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Hood idea, i'll check

  9. emyoueffsee
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    So another season is over, 22,716 OR. A bad January and February made things a grind for me but I won my mini league so satisfied.

    Just checked my Bench points weekly average for the season, 2.97.
    Seems low, anyone lower?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      That seems low, mine is 4.92 per gameweek and I had a injured RLC on the bench half the season. I seemed to always bench Ryan when he got 10 points or more mind.

      1. emyoueffsee
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        I had him and Femenia injured on my bench for ages too. Uncanny how little I lost on my bench this season though, my benching game seemed strong.

    2. mattressman
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Very low indeed. My bench average was 6.68. Scored points average was 61.52 and 4831 OR.

  10. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Looking forward to adding this to my toilet library it will have to do until Encyclopaedia Britannica Fantasy Football is released.

    Well done Dave i am looking forward to reading the book i have just placed my order.

    1. davidwardale
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Many thanks. Hope it enhances your toilet experience...

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      P.S. Thanks for the discount code FFS it helped offset the high international shipping for us lucky enough not to be based in the UK.

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        The UK is paradise mate.

        1. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          You have obliviously never been to Kerry.

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Nah you’re right, ive been in Kerry though 😉

  11. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I’m still waiting for FPL Virgin’s book on alternative FPL strategy.

    I’ll pay at least £20 for that.

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I'm not really surprised you'd pay £20.

      You'd suck the shite out of his hole for free.

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure if serious....

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          It’s called a joke you big lump of shite

          1. Hibbo
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Hahahaha

            1. Fantasy Gold
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 11 months ago

              😉

          2. Richd
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            Ooh good. Paints a mental image of the sucking

            1. Fantasy Gold
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 11 months ago

              Wow, that’s disturbing.

    2. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      My first novel will be an unauthorized Jonty biography, sorry.

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        😉

  12. Rossendale Rover
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Paul, it appears to deduct £3 from your basket, not £5 as stated in the article.

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Aye it's a con. Haha.

    2. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Watch for further transactions on your account.

      You’ve been scammed buddy 😆

    3. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I think there was already a £2 discount for the pre order and and when you add in the code it adds up to £5

    4. davidwardale
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      As Ogie said, I think it's already two quid off at Waterstones, so the code just takes another three off.

  13. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I'm really looking forward to this, priced at 12.99, code gave 3 quid off. Just what I'm after to fill the void with no FPL.

    1. Spike ⚽️
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Why don't you wait a week and get it on ebay for half the price. Bound to be on there

  14. Rik Waller
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Fun little FPL quiz... See how quick you can get them all...

    https://www.sporcle.com/games/FourFourTwo_/top-fantasy-premier-league-players-201718

    (I had 4:58 spare)

    1. Ron_Swanson
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      too easy with team name and position given

      1. Rik Waller
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Agree, especially for us lot. All about speed

  15. Ramboros
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Some fun Salah comparisons:

    I brought in 303 captaincy points this season, the same points as Salah, but only captained him 12 times.

    Salah gave me 250 base points in 26 games. He had exactly 10.0 PPM if you exclude the Burnley game he didn't play.

    I went without Salah for 12 games this season. He brought in 55 (Dummet as replacement in GW33) points during those games. Eriksen and Hazard were his replacements and brought in 59 (-4) points during those 12 GWs.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Where’s the interesting part?

      1. FFHype
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        I LOL'd

  16. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone else feel the game is less fun with no Triggerlips postings or website? Miss the old crank!

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah.

      I liked how he rattled a few cages. Stirred up some good debates.

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      He is/was a quality poster but seemed to attract a lot of stick for some reason.

      I would not blame him for not putting in the effort considering some of the abuse he used to get.

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      My 'fun' didn't involve Triggerlips.

    4. FPL Virgin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I couldn't agree more. One of the few people who would come up with unique points that no one else has thought of.

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Smart fellow, maybe that's why he left! The game is more fun played with less obsession and less groupthink.

  17. ⚽️ Barry Chocolate ⚽…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    book pre ordered after WSE 🙁

    1. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      WSE?

      1. Reedy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Weird sexual encounter?

        1. ⚽️ Barry Chocolate ⚽…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          hah!

          looks like yours was worse than mine! shocking!

  18. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I might be late but Deadpool is Man United?

    1. Reedy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I don't understand this either

        1. Reedy
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Thank you! Nothing makes sense to me anymore

          1. JustPark
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            And this as well
            https://youtu.be/uxbQATBAXf8

  19. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Will it be available on the Pirate Bay?

  20. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I wanna get this. Is it on amazon ?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      It is on amazon. Prime as well. Boom

      1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        aaaargh.. too late. Sorry!

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Hahaha. Nah it’s a very valid point 😉

          I just miss posting about avoiding Salah b

          1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            😀

  21. emyoueffsee
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone have ideas or templates for mini leagues, ie how many get paid depending on numbers?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Winner takes all. Easiest one to work out.

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      We do 12 man

      Then it’s roughly

      6x buy in to first
      4 x buy in to second
      2x buy in to third

      I think it should be more top heavy and any 3rd place should be money back at most.

      I would prefer winner takes all. However.. people more likely to keep playing if they feel they were in for some kind of return for longer. Else it puts off the dead money and dead money is how we profit from fpl.

      1. Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Also I say man but we have a couple of bitc... girls as well

    3. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Depends on the amount of ppl but id say a something like:

      60:30:10 (percent of total pot)

    4. emyoueffsee
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I'm in a 16 man. Thoughts on payout?

  22. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Anewpla gives you some interesting stats to look at ( https://www.anewpla.net/fpl/report/ ). Interesting ones to consider IMO:

    1) Total Captain Points : 656
    Did your captain points outscore 38 GWs of Salah(c) = 606 pts?

    2) Difference between your total points and the above number : -36
    Did you choose the right captain vs your vice-captain (you want to have the number as close to 0 as possible)

    3) Total immediate points gained from transfers : 316 and Total Transfers : 50
    You want the first number divided by the second number to be as high as possible as it shows good transfer decisions (6.32 for me)

    4) Times Played 'Wrong'(fewer points) Keeper : 9
    You want this number to be as close to 0 as possible

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Damn, keep seeing all these monster captain totals and then looking at my 554... Give me your captaincy Diesel and I'm the FPL winner 😀

      2) -52 compared with Salah perma-captain.

      3) Total immediate points gained from transfers : 226
      41 transfers
      (This doesn't really mean much though, those who got the better long term options early would stand to gain less on average per transfer).

      4) Times Played 'Wrong'(fewer points) Keeper : 7

      I think these two are interesting:

      Total base points for the above Gameweeks (no captain doubling/trebling) : 2142

      Average base points for the above Gameweeks (no captain doubling/trebling) : 56.4

  23. Malcolm Tucker for England …
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Scott Carson...currently the best English 'keeper?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Pickford.

      Still maintain Hart isn't as bad as everyone makes out though. He has a weakness (diving down to his left), which really he should be able to work on and improve.

      I saw Butland's own goal and that guy is not a secure GK IMO. Alex McCarthy could be an interesting choice if he can keep his form up next season.

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Jack Butland or Tom Heaton imo

  24. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I shall be buying this. I love the way David writes. His scout notes this morning, for instance, perfectly summed up the madness of yesterday's 10 games all at once.

  25. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Derby in trouble. Sessegnon goal.

  26. SW6
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Sessegnonnnnnn!!!!!!

    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Nsjksbeusj!!!

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Good old Sess, his last minute goal once broke the OMG machine.

    3. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Not at the game ?

  27. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Someone should compile a book with chapters based on amusing exchanges on the scout. The sites main value for me is the banter.

  28. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Fulham goal. Odoi

  29. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Has anyone on here actually read Triggerlips's book? Is it any good?

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Ask Chapelle.

  30. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Sessegnon goal & assist 😮