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How to find the players with the most FPL defensive contributions

18 July 2025 91 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Is James Tarkowski the new Trent Alexander-Arnold? Is Moises Caicedo the new Jarrod Bowen?

Probably not but the new rule change that came in this morning will unquestionably shake up Fantasy Premier League (FPL) in 2025/26.

Defensive midfielders will no longer be complete afterthoughts, while many centre-halves now have the edge over full-backs from the same side.

And while FPL itself isn’t live and we await the all-important pricing, you can begin your defensive contribution research today…

defensive contributions

In our Members Area, you’ll be able to find all the relevant defensive contribution data from 2024/25 (and indeed every season going back to 2011/12!).

This is the Opta data that FPL will be using in their calculations in 2025/26 – and we’ll be housing it next season, too.

HOW TO FIND THE DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTION DATA

In the Player Stats section of our Members Area, you’ll be able to choose from Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, Forwards, All Players and Outfield Players.

Taking Defenders as an example, the tab we want to access is, unsurprisingly, called ‘Defending’ – as seen in green below.

defensive contributions

The big two we want for defenders are Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions (CBI) and Tackles Won. These are highlighted below:

defensive contributions

Clicking on each stat sorts the players from highest to lowest (clicking again goes from low to high).

If you so wish, you can filter by home matches, away matches, Gameweek range and more:

defensive contributions

For midfielders and forwards, Rec (eg recoveries) is also relevant:

CUSTOM STATS TABLES

If you wish to completely filter out the less relevant stuff (such as aerial duels), you can create your own custom stats tables.

Scoutcast alumni Joe has done that already today with tables you can view on defenders and midfielders.

COMING SOON…

If you’re after something less data-heavy, we’ve got just the thing coming very, very soon.

Our Defensive Contributions (DC) widget will make this easier to process. Here’s a sneak preview…

91 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Not sure I'll play FPL this year. These changes just seem like a ball ache sucking the fun out of watching matches.

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    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      It will be fine, think of it as another challenge

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      1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Cheering on subjective "blocks" is not a challenge I can be bothered with tbh. Life is too short!

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        1. Qaiss
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          It’s not going to happen every week though and

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          1. Qaiss
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 1 month ago

            It will be like defensive bonus anyway. Think we won’t notice it much

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    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      It's not that deep. The AM chip was gamebreaking, this really isn't.

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  2. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    https://x.com/LazyFPL/status/1946147991057752542

    https://x.com/FPLPapa/status/1946148832565137648

    Rumours of 2 TCs and only 1 WCs.. the guy who's spreading the 2 TCs rumours, predicted defensive contributions happening .

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    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Brilliant changes if true

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    2. Rwilliams90
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Surely this just makes it more likely everyone will triple captain at the same time?

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      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        That’s better than everyone wildcarding at the same time

        And it says one of them has to be used in the first half of the season when there’s not going to be a DGW (probably)

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    3. Silecro
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      That's a huge one. TC is often make-or-break season chip, at least it was for me last year (Salah DGW24). Having two would be a big change

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    4. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasypremierleague/comments/1lzr2wd/ok_this_sounds_like_bs_but_a_friend_of_mine_went/

      Yeah I like the chip changes overall. Fewer wildcards is good for people who like planning like me. TCs are a bit too luck based for my liking, but it'll be interesting having to use it outside of a double.

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      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        More emphasis on rolling transfers if one less WC

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    5. Lanley Staurel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      With the collected free transfers up to 5 it makes sense to remove one WC. So much more of a tactical game like it used to be.

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    6. TallestJohn
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Don't see the point of two TCs, especially if it's one for each half of the season. Removes any risk vs. reward for the people who were bold enough to go for Håland for one of his early SGW hat tricks. Would much rather one TC and one max captain, or just bring back AM.

      Only one WC is interesting and could be viable with 5 rolled transfers but I think I've always used both in FPL. This isn't Allsvenskan where there are only 30 GWs, not many big doubles (this year was the first time in any fantasy game I didn't use my first available wildcard). WCs fail often enough that I think it requires plenty of FPL nous/luck (delete as appropriate) to use them both well.

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  3. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    I'm going to apply for the copywrite on the acronym CBIT
    Clearances , Blocks , Interceptions & Tackles .
    Every time this is used I will collect royalties !
    You have been warned

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I propose adding in Hold Ups:

      "when a player, usually a forward, receives a long ball from a teammate, and controls and shields it from the opposition, with the intent of slowing the play down to allow teammates to join the attack"

      Then we could have BITCHs

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    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Did you say CISWTT?

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    3. Wolverine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      You copywrite it, I will copyright it

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      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        My bad I spent too much time spell checking acronym !

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  4. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Time to awaken from FPL slumber!

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    1. FP El Wonky
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Let's go!!

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  5. Rwilliams90
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    This place is going to be unbearable on matchdays with everyone celebrating blocks and interceptions and then arguing about them.

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    1. RedLightning
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I think most of us will just forget about them till they add the points (and then some of them will get added or removed at the end of the Gameweek).

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    2. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      It will be similar to save points I think, you don't really get much argy bargy about them

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  6. WHUFCSmith23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Its a nice idea, I do wonder if if makes the game too easy though. If you had an Everton defender who has 2 tough games, you would usually rotate them out. Now they are just set and forget. Will make hoarding transfers easier.

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    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Yeah it's shirley going to favour teams that like to play without the ball like Everton and Forest. I can't imagine a City CB will be boosted much by this. Price will be key though. Players like Tarkowski and Milenkovic are going to have to be premium.

      I like how it impacts DMs, but it's really messed up the defenders in a weird way.

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  7. Moon Dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Mbeumo confirmed https://x.com/David_Ornstein/status/1946172839129727217

    He's 25 btw. Dunno why Ornstein keeps calling him 26 😆

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    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He looks more like Taaj from Come Fly With Me !
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/comeflywithme/entertainment/

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    2. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      sad to see him going there

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    3. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Dunno how they managed to convince Brentford to pay over 4 instalments. That's a great deal for United tbh...

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      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Ended up paying about £6m more than we wanted to, but worth it to amortise the payment

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  8. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    How about Rodri & Rice
    Already good value for money points earners .

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  9. RedLightning
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    I would like to see tables of DC points and adjusted points totals for the 2024/25 season, together with numbers of appearances, for all players.
    This is going to make a massive difference to the selection of defenders and cheap midfielders in our initial squads, and is likely to catch out many casual players who rely on last season's points and don't adjust them for DCs.

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    1. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      This...the "would've" pts scored is irrelevant in isolation. It needs to be compared to how much one would've gained by selecting that player over another in the same price bracket

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  10. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Not opposed to this change as this enables a bigger source of choice in players such as defensive midfielders and defensive defenders. Plus more routes to getting points is always fun.

    Also on hindsight, It was pretty obvious this was coming after playing FPL challenge.

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Now we know why it's launching so late this year.

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  11. Westfield Irons ⭐️
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    CBIT Defensive Points
    Does it boil down to clearances for defenders?
    Is it all about the C and ignore the other BIT?
    And does that make VVD, Gvardiol and Gabriel/Saliba glue picks?
    Here is the proportion that Clearances make up of CBIT/90 (Source: FBREF 24/25)
    (Player - CBIT/90 - %CBIT=C)
    Tarkowski - 11.52 - 57%
    Murillo - 11.5 - 61%
    Lacroix - 10.9 - 55%
    Branthwaite - 10.22 - 67%
    Collins - 9.92 - 60%
    Kilman - 8.9 - 64%
    VVD - 8.35 - 61%
    Gvardiol - 7.3 - 46% (bound to rise if RAN puts Gvardiol at CB)
    Gab/Saliba - 6.7 - 53% (Gabriel and Saliba have almost identical CBIT/90 and Clearance/90)
    Centre backs from big teams with clean sheet potential, goal threat and that dominate clearances could be worth a premium, in particular with the season ahead likely to be even more focused on set pieces...

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    1. Andy_Social
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I don't see that. Defenders from your Arsenal and Man Cities aren't going to get those points. It's teams under siege with good defences - Everton, Forest - is where the points will be. I've got my mind on Big Team left wingbacks and small team centre backs.

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      1. Westfield Irons ⭐️
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        OK that's fair. I was surprised by how important clearances are in terms of % of these defensive actions.
        Another way I might have wrapped this was an idea that if centre backs are less prone to rotation, have goal threat from set pieces and dominate clearances, I wouldn't mind having 1 or 2 premium centre backs that might stick around all season, picking up defensive bonus points in tougher games and cleans/goals in easier ones... maybe in summary not much has really changed, let's see prices for the likes of Tarkowski, Collins, etc and if they have priced in these new defensive points

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  12. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Reijnders at £6.5m or less will be nailed in my team with these new rules. Proper box to box midfielder so he'll grab goals and assists as well as the defensive contributions

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    1. Andy_Social
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Good if nailed. Rodri will prolly be popular.

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    2. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      can reijnders and rodri both be nailed, dont think so unfortunatley

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      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        I don't see why not, Pep's been trying to find a proper partner to Rodri for years

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    3. SM001
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Would you seriously pick these players over the likes of Salah, Saka, Mbeumo, Palmer, Bowen, Rogers, etc etc etc?

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      1. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Do we have an unlimited budget this year? Think I missed the memo

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        1. SM001
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          The template had most of those players last season. My point was would you choose the likes of Reijnders and Rodri over other midfielders with much better potential attacking returns?

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          1. TheBiffas
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 1 month ago

            We won't be able to afford a midfield like that next season. Probably a £7m increase for those same 5 this season

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            1. SM001
              • 10 Years
              1 year, 1 month ago

              Still missing my point entirely, Run along.

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              1. TheBiffas
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 1 month ago

                No no, please explain your point to me oh wise one.

                Why don't I explain my point. With the new points available for defensive contributions, players like Reijnders, Rice and Rodri provide a new alternative to the cheap attacking players we normally see around the £6-£7m price point. Would I consider choosing one of the three mentioned over a cheap attacker from a worse team? Yeah.

                Don't tell me to run along. I'm not a dog 🙂

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      2. Andy_Social
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        At half the price for a fourth midfielder - absolutely

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    4. Sir Michael Taker
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      He's not good on defensive contributions if you look at his numbers from Milan.

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  13. Jimrod™
    • 17 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Can't really see the details with pop-up ads on the sides blocking the text in the tables with this lovely new layout... saves me from buying the premium subscription at least! 😉

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  14. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    This just increases points left on my bench next season. Had a woeful time last season benching a lot of points, now my 4m defender and 4.5m Midfield bench fodder will be 3, 4 or even 5 points on the bench every 2nd week instead of the usual 1 or 2.

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  15. Babit1967
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    So is it 1 wildcard ? That’s brilliant if true.

    I’ve been saying the second one should have been removed for a while now.

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  16. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Seriously considering leaving FPL alone and calling it a day. Hated the AM chip, now they're bringing in this nonsense.

    It just feels like it's going to be too much stress to think about making the correct decisions and it's just not worth it!

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    1. WHUFCSmith23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I left for a season last season. It made football so dull. Wasn't worth the break for me. I regret it.

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    2. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      try a different format instead

      i couldnt watch football any more without some sort of fantasy involvement

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      1. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Any suggestions?

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        1. Funkyav
          • 17 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Dream Team

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      2. MJF
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Not even your own team?

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    3. dan slo
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Hahaha ,, feels like it's going to be too much stress,?
      oh my sweet butterfly

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      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        wow.

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  17. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Most FPL Points for Defenders Last Season (if Defensive Contribution Points are added):

    Milenkovic- 171
    Murilo- 168
    Van Dijk- 165
    Gvardiol- 163
    Collins- 159
    Munoz- 156
    Alexander Arnold- 154
    Tarkowski- 149
    Laxroix- 148
    Huijsen- 142

    https://x.com/OfficialFPL/status/1946186764361650276?t=4oJCy6Fiouk0ijoWt_cxEw&s=19

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  18. Steirish
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Chips galore

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    1. Westfield Irons ⭐️
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Looks like no Assistant Manager chip and we now have ‘Triple Captain, Free Hit and Bench Boost chips in EACH half of the season, just like the Wildcard’

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  19. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Two of every chip this season

    2x FH
    2x BB
    2x WC
    2x TC

    https://x.com/OfficialFPL/status/1946193298634252420?t=zt5_S2cj8iNU4E83QpNcRQ&s=19

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    1. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Game's f*cked

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      1. Sir Michael Taker
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Count me out. Just going to play draft this year I think. Faffing about with it far too much.

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      2. dan slo
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Yes
        The end of the world as we know it mate

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    2. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      I don't like the chips, but having two of each isn't much worse than having one of each, for me.

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  20. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Two of every chip now!? 😮

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  21. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ofc they made the game even easier

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    1. dan slo
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      How many times have I won it if it's so easy and now that it's even easier you will be able to win it again mate

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  22. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Ah that's just taking the p*ss

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  23. Ron_Swanson
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    No mention of AM though…

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    1. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      as long as that is gone i can get on board with the other changes

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  24. MJF
    1 year, 1 month ago

    Hands up if you're scared of change.

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    1. Sir Michael Taker
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Its not about change its about a simple game getting far too overcomplicated. If their aim is to lose half of the 11m or whatever players there are, they're probably well on track. Lots of the casuals I play in a work league with struggled with 1 of each chip never mind 2.

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      1. dan slo
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        Hahaha
        Half of the players will stop playing because now players get points for blocks?
        Intersting theory

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    2. have you seen cyan
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Heard of the term, don't fix something that isn't broken?

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  25. Flynny
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    GW1 Bench boost sounds good

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  26. Deulofail
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    FPL trying to increase viable player picks in their game is a good thing, of course. I'm not sure this iteration of Defensive Contributions does that a great deal, but at least it does do it a bit!

    One reason the pool of players we pick from is relatively small is the risk of rotation. Although PL teams are increasingly stacked with talent, thanks to the money coming into the league and the dense schedules, we don't want to waste our FPL money on that talent due to the fear and reality of cameo appearances and reduced minutes, leading to 1-pters. And FPL can't price players too low in case an injury or two produces a unicorn that everyone wants to ride (which happens anyway, producing further conformity). So there are lots of players who are simply not desireable, but only due to the rules of the game. Untapped potential.

    So my proposal would be pretty simple: Pick your squad of 15 players. At the end of the GW, the players who scored the most points are pulled into your final XI. That way, people are much freer to play FPL (more purely?) by picking their favourite players or taking risks on obscure picks. The pool of options is suddenly much bigger. Of course, you are still restricted by budget, so it might not pay to have expensive players "on the bench". You could still put all your money in the XI and fill the "bench" with dross. There is still a risk of your players not playing, but it is reduced, and potentially reduced enough that you are willing to try and access the reward.

    More players = more potential strategies. You could try something different. Rotation strategies in attack (and defence) now viable to try. Option to keep a recovering or injury-prone player on the roster as you're less likely to score his 1-pt appearances (or sell him). I could go on. The point is that I think there will be more options, more interesting decisions and freedom to play (in the childlike sense). And a way that FPL could adapt to the times.

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    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 1 month ago

      Not to mention that it might be better for people's mental health to know that their shite player scores from early-kickoff might be replaced by the end of the gameweek. Something to get excited about/look forward to, rather than dread. A bit like Fantasy World Cup/Euro, except without the manual intervention every day.

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      1. Funkyav
        • 17 Years
        1 year, 1 month ago

        if FPL was going down this route why wouldnt you also have the ability to sub out your players that have played for ones that havent, that works really well in other formats

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        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          Way too intensive imo. People would check-out after a few weeks if they failed to log-in and maximise their points satisfactorily

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        2. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          1 year, 1 month ago

          It works well in other, novel and short formats. Not for a whole season every year.

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          1. Funkyav
            • 17 Years
            1 year, 1 month ago

            but for those that dont do it manually, auto subs kick in so it suits both types of player.

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            1. Deulofail
              • 10 Years
              1 year, 1 month ago

              Huge advantage to those who manually sub-out low-scoring players. Autosubs doesn't do that.

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              1. Funkyav
                • 17 Years
                1 year, 1 month ago

                yeah fair point

                i defo prefer the manual subs format but i get that it isnt good for the casuals

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  27. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 1 month ago

    This article needs to be changed.

    Tackles and not 'tackles won' is what counts towards defensive contributions.

    Mark has confirmed this on the above average FPL show today.

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