Feature
14 May 2018 893 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

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 Login to Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Can you come up with a better dead team squad?

    De Gea (5.5m)
    Azpi (6.5m) - Otamendi (5.5m) - Alonso (7.0m)
    Salah (9.0m) - Sterling (8.0m) - KDB (10.0m) - Gross (5.5m) - Eriksen (9.5m)
    Vardy (8.5m) - Firmino (8.5m)

    Bench = 4.0m GK, 4.0m DEF, 4.0m DEF, 4.5m FWD

    GK = 172 pts
    DEF = 496 pts
    MID = 1,104 pts
    FWD = 364 pts
    Salah(c) = 303 pts

    Total points (assuming no auto-subs, Salah permanent captain and no chips) = 2,439pts

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Would have got a top 100 finish that team

  2. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Haven't posted on here in about two (maybe three) seasons, but, still regular reader and watcher of Scout cast. Anyhow, Pre ordered this book. For (incl discount and P&P) £12.75. Bargain.

  3. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Would like to buy the book, but the delivery to my country is more expensive than the book itself 😀

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      I’m sure Mark will hand deliver it to you 😉

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Oh, how nice. I'm waiting for the delivery then. FFS has really nice customer service.

  4. SW6
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Wow how's this for FPL woe. My brother is in a 1v1 head to head league with his best mate. He had a great start to the season (was ranked 7th overall at a point in November) but he lost 11 of the final 13 GWs and it finished 19-19, then losing on points difference....by 3 points. 😆 : lol:

  5. knave88
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Sorry about the off-topic, but does anyone know if there will be some Fantasy League platform for the World Cup this summer?

    1. Kane Toads
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      McDonalds do a Fantasy game - keep an eye on this site for details when it becomes available.. there has been a few questions around this.

  6. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Does anyone have the link where it would tell you your score if you stopped playing at each week of the season?

  7. Marc
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Hi - is there any decent fantasy football game for the world cup? Thanks

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      The official McDonalds one.

      There will be articles on here about it when the game launches

    2. CloudSky
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Mcdonalds one when it opens.

      1. Marc
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks both

  8. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Made saome summary what makes me win my cash ML:

    - played my WC later than my rivals (GW9)
    - at that WC picked right players like Salah and they did it a bit too late
    - players who got me much points (Salah, Hazard) picked right time
    - players who were nice diferentials (Daniels, Mariappa, Milivo, Fabian, Ayew)

    1. Captain Roberto
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      those are the outcomes. posting your criteria that led you to those outcomes would be far more helpful. otherwise you are just saying "why I win: luck".

      The thoughts behind the outcome are more important to people wanting to follow advice.

  9. PapsH
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    whats the best world cup fantasy site?

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      there isnt any yet I think
      FIFA will have an official one

    2. SW6
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      the fifa mcdonalds one will be the most played and probably the best.

      it normally has some technical glitches but I love the gameplay rules

      1. HALFSPACE
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        What are the gameplay rules, I'm unfamiliar

        1. SW6
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          You can make subs throughout a GW in a kind of stick/twist scenario. Same with captain. Basically it rewards a strong squad and lots of planning so you have a captain option every matchday (particularly a strong one near the end of the GW in case it all goes wrong)

  10. HALFSPACE
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Auba price pred next ssn? 10.5

    Must-have with Arteta coming in imo

    1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      11

    2. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      I think given his start he'll be 11.0

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      11 or 11.5

  11. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone know when the HOF is updated for non members?

    I want to mark the fall out of the top 100 with a quiet ceremony for close friends and family 🙁

  12. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    When does the WC fantasy come out?
    Btw anyone looking at Finbogasson?

  13. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Do we reckon Salah's price be close to Messi/Ronaldo?

  14. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    So WC is almost here and I thought it will be nice to see how everyone here think the group stage will end, this is my guess:

    Group A - Very intersting Group as Uruguay seems to be the most quality team. as an FPL manager i just can see how Salah dont succeed to take Egypt to the next stage, also so Russia against Brazil and they were really bad.
    1.Urguay
    2.Egypt
    3.Russia
    4.Saudy arabia

    Group B - not much in it, I think that spain is far more better then portugal.
    1.Spain
    2.Portugal
    3.Morocco
    4.Iran

    Group C - aside from france and denmark I really dont know peru and australia but as far as i remmber south amrican teams have diffculty in tournamemnts outside from their mainland
    1.France
    2.Denmark
    3.Peru
    4.Australia

    Group D - another intersting group. I think that Argentina morale are very low. saw them agianst spain and they were really bad. Iceland are very stubborn team, ask Croatia. they will do a lot of problem to argentina and Croatia, but have feeling that Croatia will take that.
    1.Croatia
    2.Argentina
    3.Iceland
    4.Nigeria

    Group E - Brazil, Brazil, Brazil. Put Costa Rica last but the memory of them in WC 2014 when they won they group leaving Urugay, Italy and England behind are still in my mind. I would really like to here if someone know their quality.
    1.Brazil
    2.Switzerland
    3.Serbia
    4.Costa rica

    Group F - very close competition on the second place.
    1.Germany
    2.Mexico
    3.Sweden
    4.South Korea

    Group G- The war will be on the first place between England and Belgium but i think the later have more quality
    1.Belgium
    2.England
    3.Tunisia
    4.Panama

    Group H - The most intersting group IMO. every team can beat each other but colombia win over france give them advantege for me.
    1.Colombia
    2.Senegal
    3.Poland
    4.Japan

    TD;LR I would like to discuss about WC group stage. which gropu is the most intersting and why? who will be the winners of every group.

    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Some possible upsets in my opinion.

      Swiss topping the group ahead of Brazil

      Argentina not getting out the group. - Group D is the most interesting I think. Croatia team is packed with quality, Argentina have Messi but no 'team', Iceland have shown they're solid and Nigeria have some quality and are unpredictable

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Sorry Brazil,Milivojevic FTW

    3. Twelve years a slave
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      What awful looking groups, quality very thin on the ground and not the same without the Nederlanders and the Italians

  15. FplBerg
    • 16 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    I beat AI by 7 points - season now kinda feels like a success.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44070530
    (AI got 2270 pts)

  16. TLF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Which players do you think will be reclassified next season, Alonso a midfielder now ? Arny a striker surely ?

    1. Get up ya bum
      • 16 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Alonso nothing has changed since the season before. They seem to see it as a 5 man backline.
      Arnie played 17 as striker and 15 elsewhere. Maybe

    2. Give The Todd Some Love
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Arnie as a striker would actually be a good thing, absolutely no mid range strikers this year

  17. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    How would this FPL season have been different if Firmino was a midfielder?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Double up with him and salah would have been near essential at times I guess. Would have meant many went cheap up top to allow big hitters in midfield. Or vardy would have been more popular for longer.

  18. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Mikel Arteta close to being announced Arsenal manager. Not quite Allegri.

    https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/996323514247516165

    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      lol such a poor choice. What are Arsenal thinking

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Wasnt ancelotti interested?

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Wages would be the issue probably.

        1. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          oh

        2. Give The Todd Some Love
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Wenger was the highest paid in the league wasn’t he?

  19. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    already can't wait for the preparation for next season to get underway..

  20. #FPLBhuna
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Pre-ordered - looking forward to reading this!

  21. vibhormbic91
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Was trying to put together the best dead team of the season gone by. Seems like a dead team could have won FPL this time by 32 points. Astonished to see that..

    Below is the best possible dead team I could create.

    Dubravka - 53 (4.5)
    Azpi - 175 (6.5)
    Davies - 143 (5.5)
    Otamendi - 156 (5.5)
    Salah (c) - 303 * 2 (9)
    Sterling - 229 (8)
    Mahrez (vc) - 195 (8.5) + 16 points as Captain in GW 22 and 33
    Gross - 164 (5.5)
    Vardy - 183 (8.5)
    Firmino - 181 (8.5)

    De Gea - 135 (5.5)
    J. Ayew - 32 (5)
    Robertson - 39 (5)
    Tomkins - 34 (4.5)

    Total - 2544 (100)

    Callouts:
    1. Dubravka wasn't on the game before GW 1. Having De Gea + Fabianski reduces the total by 8-9 points
    2. Triple Captain in GW 1 increases another 11 points

    I feel there is scope to redistribute the funds across defense and the bench and optimize it further. Has anybody got to a better one?

  22. FPL Niall
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Hi guys.

    Can somebody please tell me what season the chips were first introduced? Cheers.

    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      3 years

      1. FPL Niall
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Cheers man

  23. The Road Not Taken
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Pre-order placed 🙂 I always find DW articles to be an amusing read, so I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

  24. Hawk Eye
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Havent read all the comments, so might have been here. The artical says £5 off for early order but the link shows £2... not much but...

    https://www.waterstones.com/book/wasting-your-wildcard/david-wardale/9781787290167

    I will be buying anyway 🙂

    Cheers

  25. Daniel Martine
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Great Article, that is too much helpful for us, and it has been too much information, as like I suppose to tell u that some support number like "Xbox Customer Support" they are too much help get to us.