Community Submissions

New Fantasy Football Scout Head to Head Leagues: 2019-2020

Looking for a new challenge?

Those of you who have been visiting the site for many years may recall Fantasy Football Scout running a number of head to head leagues, which included promotion and relegation. Good news: as of 2019/2020 they are coming back!

Demand will decide how many leagues are created but the initial idea is that we will run 20 leagues of 20 teams each. With 20 teams in each league it means everyone in each league will play each other twice over the 38 gameweek season. What league level you enter at will be decided by your end of 2018/2019 season Hall of Fame ranking. For example, the 20 highest Hall of Fame managers who enter will be in Division 1 and the next 20 will be in Division 2, and so on.

Promotion and relegation will be the top 3 and bottom 3 from each league, with any team in these positions at the end of the season then playing in the relevant higher or lower league the following season.

Nearer the time of FPL launch for the 2019/2020 season further articles and Hot Topics will be published, and details will be announced on how to enter. With entries, the number of leagues will be altered to fit in as many managers in as possible. I hope many of the Moderators, Contributors, consistent posters, and well-known players will join in these leagues – progress and standings in the leagues will be included in the weekly roundups and be the focus of Community Articles.

Myself, Mark Reynolds, will be running these leagues with help from Community Manager Geoff. A few may recognize me around these parts as MIR, although over the 9 years I’ve been using the site I’ve tended to keep a low profile. I’m looking forward to getting this started for next season!

I will work with Geoff to get some of the details settled and will write another Community Article later this season with more information.

For now, enjoy the second half of this season!

110 Comments Post a Comment
  1. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Holy hell, the return of the H2H leagues?!

    1. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I can't wait 🙂

      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Should give automatic enrollment to anyone still playing that was part of the old leagues 🙂

        1. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Just realised this might look like I'm lobbying for inclusion but this wouldn't include me, I was never part of the old H2H leagues (sadly).

          1. Geoff
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, 20x20 is really just a starting point. It'll expand as much as necessary depending on interest

            1. GreenWindmill
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Well, it would take a spectacular collapse to drop me out of the top 400 in the HoF so I ought to be ok. Not ruling out that spectacular collapse though, pretty sure I've got it in me 🙂

    2. Toby Lerone
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Id love to be a part of this

  2. A.T
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great idea.

  3. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great News! I've never been part of a H2H league

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      And still doesn't look like I'll be in one. Live HOF rank: 8,493 😀

      1. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Depends how many people enter and how far they expand the leagues. Hopefully they have a way to make the league management efficient, I think it was Andy who used to run them years ago and I get the impression it was a fair bit of work back then.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I bet! Let's hope so

        2. mir
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes, I'm expecting to very busy in August!

          1. GreenWindmill
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Are you able to script much or is it still very hands on? I'm guessing getting the league codes out to the entrants and making sure the right folk are all in the league before closing it is the hardest bit? Will you need an admin for each league?

            I assume not many of the logistical issues which closed the leagues previously have been solved, maybe just a bit more manpower these days!

            1. mir
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              I'll be looking to use Excel as much as possible. I don't think it'll be possible without it. Yes the hardest part is getting the codes out and in time for first gameweek, making sure all teams are in.

              1. GreenWindmill
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Good luck, can't imagine it's going to be an easy task but will be really appreciated I think.

              2. RedLightning
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                You'd probably need all teams to enter and supply their ids a few days before the GW1 deadline. Any teams not entering by this date would have to go in the Reserves League.

                Would you allow late entrants into the Reserve League, with any fixtures for game-weeks before their entry being counted as losses for their teams?

                1. mir
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Yes, will definitely have a cut off a few days before GW1 deadline. I doubt we'll have a league for late entrants as I'm hoping to run the leagues through the FPL site, but something to discuss.

                  Cheers for the input - keep them comin.

                2. Gnu
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  I'd be looking looking at the weekend before FPL KO, it can't be a last minute thing.
                  This will be the tougest and most frustrating stressful part of the process for the organisers and they need to see it sorted well in advance, it's only fair.
                  The organisers have got their own team and comps to sort out as well.
                  Plenty of warning, especially this season while peeps are still active and then there's no excuses for those that miss out.
                  Just ask any of the organisers of the community tournements, Doosra & Gingkapo who ran LaWR and DJenzio who runs a brilliant one 😉

                  1. mir
                    • 14 Years
                    5 years, 4 months ago

                    Very true. Cheers

        3. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Andy as in Goddard - the Leicester City fan.

          1. GreenWindmill
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Yes indeed, wasn't sure how to differentiate him and hoped people would know/remember anyway 🙂

            1. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Didn't he used to be referred to on Scoutcast as Andy G?

              1. mir
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                Is he still about as would be good to get his views on it all having ran it himself?

                1. RedLightning
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  He's still in the Mods & Cons mini-league.
                  I'll ask how to contact him.

                2. RedLightning
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 4 months ago

                  Geoff says he can help.

  4. A.T
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Not sure I’ll qualify though. I’ve had a couple of stinkers out of the last 3. 😀

    1. Geoff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      20 x 20 isn't at all set in stone, it'll expand depending on interest!

    2. GreenWindmill
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      You're having a cracking season this year though aren't you? At least that's the impression I get from FPL Toilet!

      1. A.T
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I went a bit mental for a bit and cocked my team up but I’ve managed to claw it back a bit now. 15k at present.

        1. A.T
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          I blame a combination of Marco Silva and Ademola Lookman and certainly not myself for trying to be too clever 😉

          1. GreenWindmill
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Ha! Twice I tried to be too clever but those times involved KDB and Mahrez. Pinning your hopes on Lookman was bold (although a lot cheaper than my mistakes!)

        2. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          15k is a great rank. Considerably better than mine!

          1. A.T
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            No I’m not complaining. I know what a bad season feels like, I’ve had enough of them. Plenty would swap I’m sure. How are you getting on then Windy?

            1. GreenWindmill
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              42k - I've clawed my way back to my GW7 rank. I had 7 red arrows in 8 weeks after that point! Had a decent festive period so hoping to kick on a bit although I'm still playing a risky game with no Kane, no Hazard, no Man City, no Alonso...

              1. A.T
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 4 months ago

                I’ve heard a lot of horror stories from the Christmas period, I’m just happy to come out in one piece 🙂

  5. Skid Vicious
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great idea. I'll be looking forward to this.

  6. Lord.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I love a good H2H League and look forward to being enrolled in the FFS equivalent of the Ryman League South.

  7. RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    So it'll take 19 years to get from League 20 to League 1?
    Can you introduce some kind of accelerated promotion for new superstars, perhaps taking the new Hall of Fame rankings into account as well as top 3 finishes?

    The old H2H Leagues used to have an additional league with an unlimited number of teams for everyone else, so that no-one misses out. I think this might still be a good idea.

    1. mir
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      This is something myself and Geoff are discussing. It's very much early days so any input and ideas from the community is very much welcome.

    2. A.T
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Didn’t half the teams get promoted and the other half relegated?

    3. GreenWindmill
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      That's some long term dedication required to reach the top! Although it does assume 100% sign up each year, I expect there'll be some dropping out every year so depending upon the method employed you may shoot up a bit quicker.

      Link which helps to illustrate some of the old methodology you're talking about here: https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2011/05/29/scouting-the-head-to-head-leagues-the-20101-wrap-up/

      1. mir
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Oooh there I am near the bottom of the reserve league!

        1. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          🙂

          I was too in awe of the place to put my name forward back then, might be tempted this time round though 🙂

          1. mir
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            You were the first one to respond to the article so you have to join. New rule.

            1. GreenWindmill
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              Ha! I've always struggled in H2H leagues in the past for some reason, even when I've had a good 'classic' rank I've been mediocre in this format. I guess every league needs some relegation fodder though 🙂

      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        According to the old methodology, the quickest way to be promoted from a lower League to a high one was to first get yourself relegated to the Reserves!

        1. GreenWindmill
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yep, the reserves could catapult you into any league if you did well enough but that was a pretty tall order!

      3. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, the lower leagues will likely have more teams promoted than at the top, as someone not signing up in the 3rd league would affect all the lower leagues but not those higher.

        A few things like this will need to be talked about. More promotion spots, winners jumping more than one spot and 2nd place only moving up one league, etc

      4. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        It got canned as I was going into Division 1 from memory.

    4. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      The previous prom/rel system was quite severe but the principle was very good.
      There's various options i.e bottom going down 2/3/4 divisions, top going up 2/3/4 divisions.
      2nd bottom going down 2/3 divisions 2nd top going up 2/3 divisions.
      It's getting the balance right so that it's not too severe but fair to all in that they can see good seasons rewarded.
      Personally, the H2H format is great fun and a great leveller so perhaps the old system isn't too far from being right although finishing bottom of league and getting punted all the way down the leagues is a bit severe.
      Would be great to see this back.
      Well done Mir.

      1. mir
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers for the input GNR. Some good ideas there.

      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I think that top should go up more than 4 divisions.
        Anyone who wins their division 3 or 4 times in a row deserves to reach the top one.
        Progress upwards was too slow under the old system.
        Perhaps division winners could be promoted at least to their position in the updated Hall of Fame.

        1. mir
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Yes I agree, I'm starting to think along these lines.

    5. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I very much agree with accelerated promotion especially as the competition appears to have been set up to exclude new players or relatively new players to FPL [even good ones], or else ensure they are right at the bottom! I imagine it takes a few years to build up a decent HOF rank.

      1. mir
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This is something to consider too.

        1. fclackless [Brazil Nuts]
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks ... overall think it's a great idea and you seem very open to make it a non exclusive competition or at least have systems in place to reward good play for the newer competitors.

          Sure it will be a great success, love the head to head format.

  8. LosBlancos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Amazing stuff!

  9. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Sounds good to be honest. I can imagine it will be hard work chasing everybody up to enter their relevant leagues though.

  10. Sleep Talk
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    LAWR! Those were the days. Great to have a new H2H league again!

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

    Will we be able to create a separate fpl account and team for this? I’d imagine i would use different transfer strategies to compete compared to the usual format.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Needs to be your Hall of Fame team.

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      If you did you would be in whatever the bottom division is.

    3. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I always think people miss the point when they post stuff like this.

      1. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        and while I'm on it, read the rules - 1 team per player but TM has it covered above.

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          It's against the FPL rules let alone FFS rules so they definitely wouldn't promote it. Doesn't mean you can't do it though.

            • 10 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Just sign up as your wife/grandad/pet goldfish innit

  12. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great idea, massive logistics. Hopefully I'd qualify for the top division but it's tough to stay up there.

    1. mir
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers TM, it was actually a brief conversation with you on here a couple of months ago that made me think I could run these.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Sounds like I fooled you. 😆

  13. The Shaman
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    HOF league just for members?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone, MIR can see your HOF rank if you are in the FFS League.

      1. The Shaman
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks for the information! 🙂

  14. RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    How about a completely different structure - one top division, ten second divisions, ten third divisions, plus a reserve division?

    Ten teams relegated from the top division. One team promoted and one team relegated from each second and third division. Ten teams promoted from the reserve division.

    1. mir
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I actually like this structure alot and can see it working very well. Think it'll make it alot easier for myself to manage too. Means you're only 3 sesons from top divisons. Cheers.

      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This structure could also be expanded if you get a very large number of entries.

        For example, you could have 20 instead of 10 third divisions, 1 team promoted and 2 teams relegated from each second division, 1 team promoted and 1 team relegated from each third division, and 20 teams promoted from the reserve division.

      2. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hall of Fame rankings could be taken into account when deciding which teams should fill any additional vacancies caused by teams from the previous season not entering.

        It would probably make your job easier if the entry form could ask for each team's latest Hall of Fame ranking as well as their new team id. Most teams without a Hall of Fame ranking would have to start in the Reserves.

      3. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        For those without a Hall of Fame ranking, latest OR would be useful.

        (Would experienced teams that were not in the Main or Members FFS League for the previous season but had entered one of them for the new season have a Hall of Fame Ranking?)

        1. mir
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers for all these good points and ideas you've put forward. It's got me thinking as there's alot to work out so all the ideas is much appreciated.

      4. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        or make it half yearly?

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah - I think this is the right answer. I would make it a little bit more pyramid-esque myself - something like this if you are looking at 20 x 20:

      Top tier: 1 division with bottom 8 getting relegated
      2nd tier: 4 divisions with top 2 getting promoted, bottom 6 getting relegated
      3rd tier: 6 division with top 4 getting promoted, bottom 9 getting relegated
      4th tier: 9 divisions with top 6 getting promoted

      Relegated teams will always be relegated, teams not promoted in best place finishes to replace any drop-outs in higher divisions.

      I think the jumping a lot of divisions thing won't work as well as this league is likely to have a large number of drop-outs year on year, which will make it complicated.

      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, that could be even better.

        I'll be rooting for you in Countdown:Championship of Champions tomorrow.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Ha - thanks mate 🙂

  15. Amateur Pundit Zan
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great idea, shame I have imploded this season and taken my HOF ranking with it, guess I will just have to work my way up like the other fantasy plebs 😉

    In other divisional H2H formats, we normally have at least 5 up and down to keep a fresh flow between the divisions and it seems to work quite well.

    I also like some of the suggestions raised above to allow fast-tracking promotion e.g. div winner jumps 3 leagues, runner up 2 leagues and vice versa at the bottom. We are also doing that in one of the H2H divisional comps I am in and it works well. Gives more opportunity and motivation to climb through the leagues, even more important with the scale of FFS

  16. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    This is great news looking forward to the H2H leagues.

    Any reason why I can’t find myself in HOF? Do I have to join the FFS league?

    1. mir
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Yes, you have to join the FFS league first.

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Okay thanks. I had joined past 3 years but forgot to this year. Will do it now.

        1. mir
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          No probs. I'm not even in it. So I'd better join too!

  17. The Wizard of Ozil
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hey guys, hope you're well.
    I'm currently 2nd highest OR I've ever been at 2,569. I'm trying to go with lower owned players but cover some of the big guns too.

    I have 5.4 itb and 2ft. What would you do with this lot...

    Patricio | Stekkers
    Digne | Pereira | Robbo | AWB | Bennett
    Snodgrass | Lingard | Fanderson | Pogba | Son
    Kane | Aubamayang | Kamara

    My thoughts are Salah, De Bruyne and Arnie in ||| Son, Snodgrass & Auba out. I'd like to hear some other thoughts. Thanks.

    1. BitefromBarcelona
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Lingard to Sane (10% ownership)

      Snodgrass (he will be affected by nasriimo) to redmond.

      Can upgrade Son to Eriksen next gw or Hazard if higher ownership isnt a problem.

    2. TOKAMAK
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I like your idea but keep Son and Auba

      Lingard Snod Kane -->> Salah KdB Arnie

      1. TOKAMAK
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Then ship Son next week or the week after at latest which wouldn't be that big of a problem

  18. BitefromBarcelona
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I think leagues with 39 members will be better.

    There's no home-away difference in FPL.

    This will include more players in the structure without having to increase the number of leagues to a very high number.

    Promotion and Demotion can be extended upto 8 teams rather than just 3. This will counter mid table obscurity.

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

      Yup, totally agree, wanna be part of this!

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Average would need to be promoted in most leagues 😛

    3. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hurts my head thinking about it but I think it would need to be 38 teams played over a 37 week season for everyone to play everyone, with 39 teams everyone would have a blank and would need to play the average.

      I prefer 20 teams over 38 weeks fwiw

  19. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I'd throw me hat in the ring but with my HoF rank I haven't got a chance! 😆

    Good luck to all those taking part, not really a fan of H2H but this looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, love the idea of promotion and relegation!!!

  20. Yellin' in my Ear
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Interested in being involved as well, never joined the FFS leagues though so not in HOF, can someone let me know the code please?

    1. GreenWindmill
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      It's always somewhere on the homepage (currently below the captain's poll on the desktop view) 6025-1936

      1. Yellin' in my Ear
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers

  21. Speédy
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    19 k in HoF currently,no chance of qualifying. 😆
    Great concept though. Goodl luck....

  22. Stanislav Ivanov
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    The FFS classic league has, I guess, over 50K participants. 20 leagues x 20 teams means that only less than 0.8% will take part in the H2H competition.
    So that is not a piece of news that concerns most of us anyway...

  23. _Galácticos_
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Great idea and makes the game even more interesting!!

  24. Cak Juris
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Division 2!!