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Happy New Year from Fantasy Football Scout!

Not quite had your fill of witless drivel after Jools Holland’s Hootenanny? Then good news! The traditional New Year message is here – a little later than usual.

First off, and most importantly, a very happy and healthy 2025 to our readers, from myself and everyone at Fantasy Football Scout.

The upcoming calendar year should be an interesting one for Fantasy Premier League (FPL).

The Mystery Chip, recently unmasked as the Assistant Manager, will become usable from February onwards.

It’s arguably the most significant evolution of the game in a decade. We’ve had the occasional tweak over the years, of course. Unlimited transfers granted midway through the World Cup-affected 2022/23 campaign. Free Hit in, All Out Attack out in 2017/18. The ability to roll five free transfers, new as of this season.

More ‘patches’, perhaps, rather than new software altogether.

The Assistant Manager is the first shift to a slightly different game. It’s teams we’re effectively backing with this chip, not players. There are other considerations, too, such as extra points for one club beating another (five places +) higher up the table.

Above: The Assistant Manager chip wasn’t universally panned in our on-site poll

Could this be the start of a wider move to FPL 2.0? There are reasons to believe this.

Gameweeks 8-11 of Fantasy Challenge, for those that don’t play it/didn’t see it, was entitled ‘Test Lab’. Said challenges were as follows:

  • Gameweek 8 – Ball Winners: Interceptions and tackles are worth 1 point, recoveries are worth 1 point
  • Gameweek 9 – Playmakers: Key passes and crosses worth 2 points
  • Gameweek 10 – Foul Play: Fouls won are worth 2 points, fouls conceded are worth -1 point
  • Gameweek 11 – Accuracy: Shots on target are worth 3 points

It’s not unusual for Fantasy Challenge to try something a bit different – but the accompanying blurb made it more intriguing:

Shape the future of Fantasy Premier League by joining in on our experiments. This series we are running four tests that focus on earning points through different players and playstyles. What new FPL assets become must-haves?”

Just a throwaway line? Or were FPL trying to gauge user reaction to an evolving scoring system before potentially implementing it in FPL for 2025/26?

There’s also the job advert for a new Senior Gaming Manager. Maybe nothing to read into that but there is mention of “new FPL features” and “creative ways to improve the FPL experience”.

The questions are: do we want the game to evolve and does it need to?

The irony is that, after a few years of the game becoming perhaps a little stagnant, 2024/25 is being considered by many as one of the better FPL campaigns in a long while.

A lot of it has been down to pricing. The big hitters just being priced high enough to make the ‘threemium’ a questionable decision regarding squad balance, as well as Erling Haaland (£14.8m) now not being an automatic inclusion, has been a big success.

But just as important has been the lack of game-killing ‘magic beans’ emerging from the budget pool. There’s no real must-have Riyad Mahrez to be had in the sub-£6.0m group. Morgan Rogers (£5.5m), Antoine Semenyo (£5.6m), Amad Diallo (£5.4m) and Enzo Fernandez (£5.1m) have all courted interest in the budget midfield bracket, none of them being so spectacularly and consistently good to be deemed automatic picks. The same goes for the forwards, with Joao Pedro (£5.7m) and Raul Jimenez (£5.5m) drifting in and out of favour.

All of which has meant a welcome lack of herd mentality – or not as much as there usually is at this time of a season. There are always going to be some borderline essentials, like Mohamed Salah (£13.6m), but still enough variety to avoid the dreaded template. Just at a point when that was threatening to happen, an injury to Bukayo Saka (£10.3m) – and the lack of consensus over a replacement – has resulted in more heartening divergence.

So, do FPL rest on their laurels and hope that cracking the pricing again next season – and that no game-busting Lundstrams or Vardys emerge – keeps the game ‘alive’?

I’d personally be (marginally) in favour of a minor scoring system tweak, whether that be in the form of ball recovery/interception points or an adjusted Bonus Points System in which players other than scorers/assisters are more adequately rewarded. We don’t need revolution and more gimmicks, just the evolution of an already successful format.

Fantasy EFL is the latest game to offer points for things tackles, shots on target (UCL Fantasy, Sky etc have led the way for this). I’m playing it this season, and there are many weeks when defenders are in the captaincy mix as a result of the top-up points. How good would that be in FPL?

Change isn’t easy or always welcome. Look at some of the reactions to the introduction of the three chips in 2014/15…

But it is sometimes, if done right (no more Mystery Chips!), for the better. Let’s see what FPL have in store for us in 2025.

I’ll finish the waffle that no one asked for by thanking all those behind the scenes for their hard work in 2024, from my own editorial team (Marc, Tom) to the tech guys, mods, cons and beyond who contribute so much to the site’s output.

Most of all, though, thank you for reading, commenting and – if you do – subscribing to Fantasy Football Scout. The site, like FPL, may have changed from what it was 15 years ago. But thanks to the users, it remains the go-to place for Fantasy insight, discussion and community. And medieval speak.



279 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pringle
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 1 day ago

    What would you do?

    A. Play Pedro and save transfer
    B. Pedro --> Jesus

    0
    1. Captain Mal
        3 months, 1 day ago

        A

        0
      • Bevan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        B

        0
      • Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I think A

        0
      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        The context of your bench would help here.

        0
        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Actually don't worry. Probably A tbh. Pedro two decent fixtures after ARS. Wouldn't berate a transfer though - given Brighton son's form lately.

          0
      • Pringle
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Thanks all!

        0
      • Brehmeren
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        A

        0
    2. Mother Farke
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Just saw Villa had a bid rejected for Donyell Malen.

      0
    3. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Raya (Fab*)
      Gabriel, Hall, Kerkez (Harwood-Bellis, Mazaroui)
      Salah, Palmer, Mbeumo, Diaz (Rogers)
      Jackson, Wood, Isak

      Got 2FT - thinking of doing Maz to Robinson and rolling the other - makes sense to start Robinson (IPS) over Hall (tot) despite the latter's recent hauls?

      0
      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Looks good...

        Robinson is for goal threat too so yeah.

        0
    4. Everyday im Schneiderlin
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      If ive made two transfers this week 1 free and 1 not free will they get cancelled out if i play my wildcard same week ?
      Do i get the free Transfer back?
      Thanks

      0
      1. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Yeah if you play WC it effectively acts as if you never made the prior transfers

        0
    5. royals forever
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      What would you do in this situation

      Play Enzo and roll FT
      Enzo > Elanga

      Rest of Team

      Sels Flekken

      Gabriel Gvardiol Mykolenko RAN Porro

      Salah Palmer Sarr Rogers Enzo

      Gakpo Isak Jackson

      Any ideas would be appreciated

      0
      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Elanga looks a decent shout.

        0
      2. shorey143
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        keep the transfer

        0
    6. Warby84
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Would you play Kerkez or Sarr this week??

      0
      1. shorey143
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Sarr

        0
    7. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Why does everyone all of a sudden have Sarr in their teams?

      0
      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        BiSarre question.

        +1
        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Love it.

          0
      2. el polako
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Because he scored once or twice and people need a new shiny new toy to replace Amad and\or Enzo.

        0
      3. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        People sold Rogers before his haul and Amad has been on chopping block also.

        0
      4. Warby84
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I was 50/50 with Eze to replace Bruno but went with Sarr with the Soton fixture, missed a one on one so very unlucky not to return..

        0
      5. Mother Farke
        • 1 Year
        3 months, 1 day ago

        For the Christmas pun team name: Sarr humbugs.

        +1
      6. Qaiss
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        “Let’s all do it together. We we we we we”

        While Rogers has been smashing it 😉

        0
      7. Tonyawesome69
        • 6 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        - underlying data
        - price
        - fixtures
        - first choice right side 10

        0
      8. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I certainly don't.

        0
        1. FPL Brains
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Smart

          0
    8. Bleh
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Is this GTG? Starting XI correct?

      Pickford
      TAA, Gabriel, Robinson, Hall
      Salah, Palmer, Diaz, Semenyo
      Watkins, Isak

      (Fabianski*, Pedro, Faes*, Rogers*)

      0
      1. shorey143
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Play Pedro over Hall

        0
        1. Bleh
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Not making that mistake again! It’s between Semenyo and Pedro if anything.

          0
          1. shorey143
            • 3 Years
            3 months, 1 day ago

            you don't think Spurs will score?

            0
            1. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 1 day ago

              They probably will but Hall’s attacking threat is difficult to ignore right now. Fancy him over Pedro/Semenyo for sure.

              0
    9. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      My front 8 are decent.

      Defence leaves a bit to be desired.

      Is Gomez the main priority transfer here? Only 1 ft, and no spare cash left.

      Onana, Fab.
      Hall, Kerkez, Timber, O'Shea, Gomez

      Up to £4.8m, do I just go to Muñoz and suck up the Chelsea fixture? He's in for xGI after all. Or look at a Forest defender?

      0
      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I think this will be long term transfer and Muñoz is better long term pick (only when rotated though). Do check the rotation before deciding.

        +1
        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          I'd be playing Timber and Hall normally so the rotation would be between Palace and Bournemouth.

          There's RAN too, but I don't think I can go back there. I seem to dodge his points.

          0
          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 1 day ago

            RAN was good only when he was paying very advanced. I am not certainly not getting him back, barring a lot of injuries that would change the situation again.

            0
        2. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Tbf Palace defenders you can easily play from gw21-26.

          Bench Bournemouth defence after gw20 until gw25.

          So it sort of works for light at the back.

          Front 8 are looking strong. Oh what a difference a week makes!

          0
      2. Hubert
        • 12 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Onana also a problem

        0
        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          I know, I was close to swapping him back to Pickford if it wasn't for both Gomez and Timber out in gw20.

          He *might* get some save points!?

          0
      3. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I'd prefer Milenkovic but Muñoz is fine too

        0
        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Cheers

          I'm also looking there, fixtures favour Palace but Forest keep performing.

          0
    10. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Play 1

      A) Munoz (CHE)
      B) Hall (tot)
      C) Mykolenko (bou)

      0
      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        B

        0
      2. shorey143
        • 3 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        A

        0
      3. Brehmeren
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        B

        0
    11. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Last Man Standing entry open until the weekend.

      Scores needed after hits - https://tmlastmanstanding.blogspot.com/2024/08/last-man-standing-2425.html

      Code is 69toy6

      0
      1. Gazwaz80
        • 5 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Just scraped in with a 66 🙂

        0
    12. @ocprodigy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Not sure I can bring myself to get TAA, however I feel like I need TAA... Especially against United because we're rubbish.

      0
    13. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Mbeumo + Wissa overkill on wildcard?

      0
      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I think so.

        0
      2. Chip
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Probably... I'd prefer Mbeumo given pens corners... And another striker. Lots of similar options.

        0
      3. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Mbeumo merits a place.

        It's just the fixtures but they are strong options.

        Isak, Wood and either Jackson, Jesus or Pedro depending on budget for the 3 attackers looks good.

        0
      4. ButterB
        • 4 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Yes, get Bryan only. I have the two of them and Wissa doesn't get regular starts due to poor away form and poor home form against the harder teams.

        0
      5. Bagpuss
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        I agree Mbeumo is enough, but Wissa has started 15 games so far this season so starts isn't the issue

        0
        1. ButterB
          • 4 Years
          3 months, 19 hours ago

          Sorry, I should've stated for my FF team. His starts in his own world are going just fine

          0
    14. faux_C
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Should I roll this? (Have 3.0 in the bank)

      Raya
      Mykolenko, TAA, Robinson
      Palmer, Salah, Kulu, Sarr
      Pedro, Isak, Jackson

      (Ramsdale, Hall, Colwill, Rogers)

      0
    15. Warby84
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Kerkez vs goal shy Everton

      Or

      Sarr vs a vulnerable Chelsea

      0
      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Sarr

        0
    16. el polako
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Found on LinkedIn:

      Exciting insights on the 2 Manchester clubs’ financials in the 2023/24 season!

      0
      1. el polako
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Exciting insights on the 2 Manchester clubs’ financials in the 2023/24 season!

        Both clubs have experienced an increase of their total operating revenue compared to the previous season, with Manchester United’s revenue increasing by +€22.4M, and Manchester City’s revenue increasing by +€11.6M.

        Upon examining the revenue categories for the 2023/24 season, it's evident that Real Madrid has the upper hand in each category.

        Broadcasting Revenue:
        1. Manchester City
        2. Manchester United

        Matchday Revenue:
        1. Manchester United
        2. Manchester City

        Commercial Revenue:
        1. Manchester City
        2. Manchester United

        Looking at the total operating expenses, both Manchester clubs have also seen their expenses rise compared to the 2022/23 season. The figures are as follows:

        Manchester United: +€47.6M
        Manchester City: +€17.5M

        It's worth noting that despite both clubs’ profit before player trading, only Manchester City reported a profit after tax in 2023/24:

        Manchester City: +€85.9M
        Manchester United: -€131.7M

        0
        1. el polako
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          TOTAL OREVEANE
          €770.4M
          €837.6M
          BROADCASTING REVENUE
          €258.2M
          €343.1M
          MATCHDAY REVENUE
          €159.7M
          €88.0M
          COMMERCIAL REVENUE
          €352.6M
          €406.5M
          TOTAL OXPENSES
          €635.7M
          €715.8M
          STAFF COSTS
          €439.0M
          €480.3M
          OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
          €196.8M
          €235.5M
          PROFIT/LOSS BEFORE
          PLAYER TRADING
          €134.7M
          €121.8M
          PROFIT/LOSS AFTER TAX
          -€131.7M
          €85.9M

          Top number Man Utd
          Bottom Man City

          0
    17. Rodney
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Currently have a busted bench (Rogers, Timber, Bowen). Already used my 1ft to go Cunha to Watkins.

      A) Play Bednerak, no bench
      B) Bowen to similar price point (-4), bench Bed
      C) B, plus Timber to TAA (-8) Bench Bed and L. Davis

      Plan was to move Bowen sideways and Timber to TAA anyway in the next couple of weeks.

      Need to decide who to bring in for Bowen though. Gordon, Diaz or Boomo.

      0
      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        B

        or C if keen on Trent.

        Cup games to watch out for but they'll probably rest the starting 11 in the FA Cup third round matches.

        0
      2. Pep's Money Laundry
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        A

        I've played 4 weeks with 10 men or less, it didn't do my score any harm.
        I wouldn't take a hit with 2 rounds of cup games and 10 days until next set of PL matches

        0
    18. SpaceCadet
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Bench one. Own Sanchez and Gabriel if that matters.

      A. Sarr (che h)
      B. Huijsen (eve h)
      C. Pedro (ars h)

      0
      1. BBC_TF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Pedro

        0
      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        C

        0
      3. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        C

        0
    19. OptimusBlack
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 1 day ago

      Which is best option ??
      A- Amad > Semenyo bench Cunha
      B- Cunha > Jimenez/ Jesus / Wissa

      0
    20. Russell51
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Raya
        VVD, Robinson, Lewis
        Salah, Palmer, Gordon, Enzo
        Isak, Jackson, Jesus

        GK, Timber*, Rogers*, Gomez*
        1ft 2.1itb

        Jackson to Watkins to diversify away from Chelsea attack or Gomez to Aina/Hall (likely leaving Enzo on bench) to add bench cover this GW?

        0
      • BBC_TF
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Play JP vs ARS or Munoz vs CHE?

        I also have sarr palmer jackson.

        0
        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          Same situation. Slightly leaning towards starting Pedro. Although if he'd blanked again I probably wouldn't feel this way, lol.

          I guess with Timber being out, being on pens - his odds of a return are better than Munoz's.

          Mitoma gets to go up against Partey RB, unless it's Calafiori? Could be some chances in that.

          But you know how FPL goes...

          0
      • ViperStripes
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        Bench headache: currently Jackson and Iwobi on the bench.

        Other options:
        a Huijsen vs Eve
        b Munoz vs Che
        c Semenyo vs Eve
        d ISarr vs Che
        e Isak vs Spurs...

        0
        1. The Mentaculus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 1 day ago

          B & C

          0
          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 1 day ago

            Agree...

            0
      • Gizzachance
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 1 day ago

        A Cunha to Jackson
        B Cunha to wood, then can upgrade semenyo to Gordon this week or next

        A Jackson &semenyo
        B wood & Gordon

        Cheers

        0