Fixtures

Fixture Analysis – 2017/18 – A Guide To Rotation

As we near July and the launch of all the major Fantasy games, we begin to step up our pre-season preparations and analysis of the fixture list, in particular.

We’ll start by exploring the basic principles involved in fixture rotation – a strategy practised, or at least used, by many Fantasy Premier League managers when considering initial squads.

The Concept

Selecting assets according to fixture rotation is a strategy that can only be applied to squad-based Fantasy games. It’s also often restricted to the assessment of goalkeepers, defenders and assets in the budget end of the market.

The idea is to simply find a couple of low-cost players whose fixtures dovetail, either to offer successive home matches or, at the very least, a prolonged spell of favourable opponents. This allows for the selection of one player – with the other asset benched – to guarantee us a home encounter or a strong fixture.

A rotation policy tends to focus on the acquisition of budget options, mainly because many Fantasy managers will resist benching mid-price assets.

Those playing games limited to just a starting XI – such as Sky Sports – won’t need to turn to this strategy. But for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, rotation can be a useful variable to consider when compiling an initial squad and, as we will see, it can be effective.

Above all, it can help maximise the points returns from two budget options – freeing up funds for big investment elsewhere.

Has home advantage become less reliable?

In previous seasons we’ve played down the effectiveness of acquiring a pair of players – in goal or defence – that alternate home fixtures.

The consensus was that a home match was becoming less reliable as a guarantee of points. However, the data from 2016/17 appears to contradict that opinion.

As the table below illustrates, last season was something of an outlier when it comes to the likelihood of defensive returns.


SeasonCS Home %GC Home %CS Away %GC Away %
2012/1358.0044.3142.0055.69
2013/1459.0543.1640.9556.84
2014/1558.9342.5641.0757.44
2015/1657.2144.7442.7955.26
2016/1761.2142.9538.7957.05


The percentage of home clean sheets was at 61% – higher than it has been over the last five seasons. Elsewhere, the percentage of goals conceded at home dropped from 44.7% in 2015/16 to 42.9%.

While in 2015/16 there were eight clubs who conceded more or the same number of goals away from home, last season we saw just one team achieve this – champions Chelsea.

Antonio Conte’s defence conceded 17 at Stamford Bridge and just 16 on their travels. Every other team conceded fewer goals in home matches.

We have to conclude that, when it comes to predicting clean sheets, the home fixture strengthened last season.

It also seems that the reliability of clean sheets has become slightly easier to predict, with evidence again suggesting that home advantage became more of a factor.


Clean Sheets – Home and Away split

TeamHomeAwayDiff2015/16 Diff
 TOT12573
 WHM8261
 ARS9452
 LEI7253
 SWA6247
 CPL5234
 EVE853-4
 MID743N/A
 STO7430
 WAT5235
 BOU6421
 BRN642N/A
 SOT8621
 SUN4223
 WBA422-1
 CHE880-3
 LIV6601
 HUL23-1N/A
 MUN89-16
 MCI57-2-4



Looking at the table, only five teams – Chelsea, Liverpool, Hull City, Manchester United and Manchester City – failed to produce more clean sheets at home than away.

Aside from relegated Hull, this was mainly due to their record being so strong on the road rather than down to huge failings at home. Certainly Manchester United and Chelsea presented outstanding potential both home and away.

Manchester City are clearly a unique case – they have now produced more clean sheets away from home for two successive seasons and that could be a factor to consider heading into the new campaign.

Further up the table, Spurs reigned supreme for home defensive reliability, building on their 2015/16 performance. The likes of Everton, Arsenal, West Ham and Stoke City also strengthened – all would be handy providers of defensive assets this time around should they extend their home form in 2017/18.

For more analysis of clean sheets from last season, we highly recommend Giggs Boson’s recent community article.

2016/17 Home Rotation

By default, there should be ten pairings that alternate home fixtures perfectly. These are often decided by geographical proximity, created by the need to spread police resourcing.

So Arsenal/Spurs, Everton/Liverpool and Manchester United/Manchester City are always destined to rotate in this way – barring any fixture postponements later in the season.

However, these are rarely popular combinations when it comes to rotation because of the price tags associated with their assets.

The other pairings – as mentioned in a hot topic by Ludo – are the more likely source to guide our rotation selections.

However, since Ludo’s post, we’ve lost two of those pairings due to the re-arrangement of early fixtures. Southampton’s visit to West Ham United – previously scheduled for Gameweek 2 – has now been switched to St Mary’s.

This means that the combinations between Bournemouth and Southampton and Watford and West Ham are now flawed in terms of offering 38 successive home matches. They are, of course, still worthy of consideration.


Perfect Home Rotation Pairings

Team 1Team 2
ArsenalTottenham
BrightonHuddersfield
BurnleyChelsea
Crystal PalaceStoke City
EvertonLiverpool
LeicesterNewcastle United
Manchester CityManchester United
Swansea CityWest Bromwich Albion


The team pairings listed in the table can provide the foundation for any rotation strategy. However, it is worth stressing again that it pays to look beyond the simple concept of home fixture rotation and consider fixture difficulty – this can often reveal stronger combinations.

The Stopper Solutions

Arguably, a rotation policy is most effective when applied to the goalkeeping position.

This is because many FPL managers like to overlook the option of the expensive ‘one-stop shop’ option in goal, seeking out mid-price and budget solutions that can perhaps work in tandem according to fixture.

The FPL scoring system seems to promote this tactic, with save and bonus points proving such a crucial factor.

This was highlighted by Tom Heaton’s appeal in 2016/17, with the Burnley skipper ranking top for goalkeepers with 149 points, despite claiming just 10 clean sheets.

Priced at just 4.5, he trailed both Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois (16) and Spurs’ Hugo Lloris (15) for shut-outs but easily surpassed them for save points and bonus. Heaton collected 32 points from saves and 21 bonus – dwarfing Courtois (13 and 0) and Lloris (15 and 6).

The conclusion is that cheaper goalkeeping options can better their expensive rivals through saves and bonus points, thus promoting the use of two low-cost assets in rotation.

A guarantee of pitch-time is another factor that promotes the strategy. Barring unfortunate injuries, there is every chance of forming a partnership that can see us through a long period of the season.

From the off, FPL managers will no doubt be assessing the merits of the Brighton/Huddersfield Town pairing. Both will surely offer 4.5 keeper options, with save points helping to cover for a lack of clean sheets.

It’s worth noting that there is a third strategy available: the option of selecting a single team and backing both first choice and reserve stoppers.

This can work when either injury or lack of form plays a part in the respective team’s selection in goal. Last season, for example, West Ham rotated between Adrian and Darren Randolph, and selecting both would have guaranteed cover of the Hammers keeper position.

Build from the back

Before selecting goalkeeper pairings, it is vital also to consider what’s on offer from their respective defences. While you may decide that budget and mid-price keepers is the way to go, there could be defensive options in those sides that can provide some attacking threat at a similar price point.

As an example, a Ben Foster pairing with Lukasz Fabianski would offer perfect home coverage throughout next season via the West Brom and Swansea City pairing. However, with Craig Dawson and Alfie Mawson available in defence as possible alternatives – as a pair or more likely as individual selections – their goal threat could sway your decision.

In many ways, it’s best to settle on your defensive selections first. Find those who can fit a rotation strategy who may also offer up the potential of attacking returns. At that point, revisit the goalkeeping spots and scan the coverage options that remain.

We should also be prepared to revise our rotation pairings once the season begins.

Each year we see injury or a surprise team selection decision unearth a budget gem, and these players should certainly be our targets when considering rotation – even if it means scrapping our initial pairing.

Three-way rotation is another consideration at this point. Arguably, by grouping a trio of cheap defenders who offer at least one strong fixture between them, we give ourselves greater flexibility when deploying a three-man defence alongside two heavy-hitters.

The principle is the same: you’re seeking out three teams that combine to always ensure either a home match or a favourable opponent over a prolonged number of Gameweeks – or even across the entire season.

Attacking Flair

Rotation in the attacking positions is worth investigating but, due to the rapidly fluctuating form in midfield and attack, it is arguably far more difficult to settle on a pairing, even for a short period.

There is the option to rotate the fourth and fifth midfielders in our squad, having recruited three heavy-hitters. This can also be extended to include the third forward and work as a three-way rotation, or it can be a restricted to a fifth midfielder working with a third striker.

The pairings listed above all offer possibilities for attacking rotation – not least Brighton and Huddersfield and – for those willing to splash the funds – perhaps a Matt Phillips/Fernando Llorente job share to exploit the West Brom/Swansea City pairing.

That proposed partnership help illustrate the perils of a rotation policy, however.

Phillips claimed two of his three double-digit hauls away from home, while Llorente earned 13 points away to Liverpool. If you commit to the idea of rotation – particularly in attacking areas – be prepared for some frustrating Gameweeks.

We will touch on the possibilities when we discuss specific rotation pairs in follow-up articles.

Appraising Last Season’s Pairings

So can rotation pairings deliver results?

Checking back 12 months, in addition to an equivalent to this article, we looked at four solutions in detail.

These were Crystal Palace and West Ham United, Bournemouth and Watford, Hull City and Middlesbrough and Burnley and West Brom.

In the articles, we promoted the rotation these teams offered up to Gameweek 20 – the point where the second FPL Wildcard became available. Only one of these pairings put forward – Bournemouth and Watford – offered perfect home rotation.

The table below lists the number of home matches used and the clean sheets gained up until Gameweek 20.

2016/17 PairingHome Matches to GW38Home Matches to GW20CS To GW20
Crystal Palace & West Ham24165
Hull City & Middlesbrough34145
Burnley & West Brom36174
Bournemouth & Watford38126

As we can see, the results are hardly spectacular and, interestingly, it’s the Bournemouth and Watford partnership that came out on top for clean sheet returns.

On first glance then, had we embarked on a rotation of goalkeepers or defenders based on these pairings, by Gameweek 20 and the second Wildcard, we’d almost certainly be hatching exit plans.

However, on closer inspection, the partnership between Bournemouth and Watford emerged as an outstanding prospect when we focused on two specific assets.

The Holebas/Smith Combination

By pairing Jose Holebas of Watford and Adam Smith of Bournemouth – two 4.5 targets – we could have achieved a very strong return over the season.

Simply electing to play the defender with the home fixture over the 38 Gameweeks, the partnership would have produced 136 points in total. That’s a better tally than the top-ranked 4.5 defender – West Brom’s Gareth McAuley – who produced 130 points.

In a nutshell, by rotating these two players, you would have gained the equivalent of a defender who ranked fifth overall in the FPL standings – just six points behind Kyle Walker, who cost 5.5.

It’s certainly not unrealistic to suggest that we would have considered this pair of full-backs given their price point, although their nine assists combined – all recorded in home matches – is perhaps an unexpected return.

Having said that, we’re overlooking the fact that we would have missed out on Holebas’ biggest haul of the season – the 15 points away at Middlesbrough. Feasibly, we may well have elected to play the Watford defender for that fixture, boosting the pair’s final tally further.

This success story goes some way to confirming that rotation can work. However, like all our decisions, it still relies heavily on the correct player selection. Certainly, Smith and Holebas benefited from those home assists, ranking top for that metric in home matches among FPL defenders.

Using the Fixture Ticker

While the Holebas/Smith pairing promotes the use of simple home rotation, we must also strive to look beyond these and consider fixture difficulty.

As of last season, we added a new rotation feature to the members’ Fixture Ticker that certainly aids this process.

By selecting any team in the Ticker and hitting “Sort by Rotation”, you will now see teams ranked according to their suitability for rotation with the highlighted team.

You can apply this using both the attacking and defence filters to analyse rotation pairings in attack and defence. Be sure to check out this chapter of our preview movie to see the rotation feature in action.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be presenting our guides to some of the strongest rotation pairings on offer and discussing the potential assets available when considering the keeper slots, defensive set-up and even options in the final third.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

504 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Woeisme
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Thats a lot of effort

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Worked on it a while and kept unearthing new angles. Enjoyed putting it together - I hope its a useful introduction before we look at pairings.

      Surprised at the home stats last season - it seems the home fixture is actually stronger than ever based on the data.

      1. Jigger & Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Great article

  2. Dreams
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Great article Mark. Just what I was looking for. A good break from future planning.

  3. zotter
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Who do we see this year as prime mid price midfielders? (7 to 8.5m)

    I am thinking :

    - Ozil
    - salah
    - sane maybe
    - pogba
    - Pedro
    - David silva
    - Mktaryan

    1. SUAREZ_MESSI_COUTINHO
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil and Mkhi for me.

    2. UnitedFan
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Currently looking at Pogba and Sane mostly

    3. Lovren an elevator
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Will Ozil be that cheap?!
      If so then him!

  4. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    This is a good article. Type of thing I want to see - next level stuff.

  5. Phil Dagger ⭐
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Nice Nice.

    Although FPL twitter did it 2-3 weeks ago but this looks much better

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      FPL twitter + FPL Show = quality IMO.

  6. diesel001
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Martin Tyler talking about England having heart and courage and that is what makes England great. Such an idiot. We need players with skill and technique first - taking us backwards with his talk.

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah, it is a bit of lazy fall back when discussing English football.

      1. zotter
        • 15 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed. 80s talk

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Needs both tbf

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

      I thought the main critique of England in the last decade has been lack of heart and courage. Overpaid. No desire to compete for their place in the team. Attending to collect paycheck but not 'turning up' etc.

  7. S.Kuqi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Does someone actually build their defence based on home/away rotation?

    1. UnitedFan
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sometimes with for the cheap 4.5s

    2. ᶠᶦˡᵗʰʸLucre $$$
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I go on fixture strength rotation rather than home/away - Huddersfield away is better than Man City at home, for example

      1. S.Kuqi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Exactly

    3. SUAREZ_MESSI_COUTINHO
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Only to settle decisions when fixture difficulty is similar.

    4. 6thGoal
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I am looking at rotating my third defender I (if I start 3-5-2 or 3-4-3) in the home/away manner. After reviewing all the combinations I have come up with a few possible solutions that would give me from 24-25 HOME fixtures for my third defender through the first 33 gameweeks. We all know the season is turned upside down when DGWs are finalized, thus going to GW33. That means I have 8 weeks in which I use one of these teams to cover a favorable away fixture against a non-top 10 team (based on rankings before the season begins).

  8. Mane Of Steel
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Surgery is over. Finally... 4 hour operation. In more pain than Gabbiadini put me through last year. Thanks for prayers and good luck wishes. God bless.

    1. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Good to hear. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery.

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks mate

    2. UnitedFan
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hearing ok?

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Won't be able to hear for a month or so. The "packing" they placed In there to help stabilize my eardrum has to dissolve.

    3. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Congrats on a successful surgery.

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thank you very much.

    4. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Now for the fit nurse bed baths

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        🙂

    5. Flaming Flamingo
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Sounds horrible. But hey, you managed to get over the Gabbiadini ordeal and you'll be through this as well soon enough. All the best 🙂

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks FF 🙂

    6. AA33
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Wishing you a speedy recovery 🙂

  9. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    This article is so useful. Superb stuff.

  10. SweepaKeepa
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Interesting that West Ham had such a strong Home form in their first season in the new stadium. Does it suggest Tottenham won't be so affected by their move this season after all?

    1. diesel001
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham were strong against weak teams. Record against teams that finished 14th or worse:

      Home: P7, W5, D1, L1
      Away: P7, W4, D2, L1
      Total: P14, W9, D3, L2

      Record against teams above 14th:

      Home: P12, W2, D3, L7
      Away: P12, W1, D3, L8
      Total: P24, W3, D6, L15

      Their home form was slightly stronger than their away form, but the major factor was quality of opposition.

      I would argue that Stoke are a better example of a strong home team - they lost all their home games against the top 5, drew all their home games against 6th to 12th and beat everyone placed 14th or below.

      1. diesel001
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Looking at the tables, the teams who are most 'homers' are:

        - Burnley
        - Everton
        - Leicester
        - Watford
        - Swansea
        - Spurs
        - Arsenal

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Everton
          Chelsea
          Leicester
          Burnley
          Bournemouth
          Liverpool
          Brighton
          Tottenham
          West Bromich Albion

          - according to my overall calculations. 🙂

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      A lot - a LOT - of rubbish has been talked of our immediate Season. Even, or perhaps especially, by West Ham fans. 😀

    3. fedolefan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      West Ham and strong??

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        That's enough of that. I thank you. 😛 😀

    4. 6thGoal
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I think Spurs will suffer defensively on a larger pitch at Wembley. More pitch to cover and not being able to pinch the opposition into the middle of the pitch. We will see if Walker and Dier are even there come the start of the season. Will Trippier continue to have success as he did at the tail end of last year. But not playing at WHL, I think Spurs will struggle.

      1. FPL Kangaroo
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        And what about further up the pitch..do you think Wembley will affect there goal returns?

  11. Speédy
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Great article guys, well done.

  12. SweepaKeepa
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    On the attacking rotation: having prime rotating attackers can work well for captaincy. e.g. Sanchez / Kane. Play both, captain the one at home.

    1. S.Kuqi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nah. Bad advice imo

    2. SUAREZ_MESSI_COUTINHO
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Didn't Sanchez have more goals away?

      1. SUAREZ_MESSI_COUTINHO
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Captaining Hazard for home games can work very well.

    3. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      With someone like Sanchez captaining away will get more rewards as evidenced last season. And it was mentioned last season that a manager used a tactic of captaining an away player (Mainly big hitter) as the onus is on home side to attack which helps the away side to have more space on counter attacks.

      But yea with Someone like Harry Kane Home captaincy is advisable most.

      so it depends on player. So I would rather look at ffixture and player than solely basing my captaincy on only home player.

      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Kane 14-16 record suggests otherwise. I think home/away is pretty nonsense in terms of strength of fixture.

        http://i.imgur.com/I26Nt3S.png

        1. FPL Kangaroo
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Wow.Harry Kane's away stats have surprised me.I generally thought he does a lot better at home than away. Cheers for that.

          1. Parm
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Just updated it to include 16-17 data: http://i.imgur.com/taeI1mS.png
            And to remove the fellow top 6 sides for serious captaincy analysis: http://i.imgur.com/Cpv3NXb.png

            Clutch away player.

            1. FPL Kangaroo
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              His return % away from home has shocked me tbh.
              These stats are very good news for next season too since Kane will basically be playing 38 away games.

              The Harry Kane does worse away from home myth is truly dispelled!

            2. Parm
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Purely 16-17 data vs the non top 6 sides.

              total: http://i.imgur.com/WocJqCS.png

              fixture-by-fixture: http://i.imgur.com/vLZtEb9.png

              1. Parm
                • 12 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                £13m all totally worth it.

                1. FPL Kangaroo
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 4 months ago

                  Yep.No one should have any complaints if he is priced at 13m.

        2. Phil Dagger ⭐
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Kane is fixture proof

    4. SweepaKeepa
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks all for sounding out my idea and helping to conclude it's nonsense.

  13. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Fantastic article the best i have read since the season closed.

    1. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hey Ogie. Did you give that interview to the sports editor?

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        They took a picture with the prize and i only had to give a few words it was no big deal in the end thankfully.

        I was able to talk the store manager around into giving me store credit instead of the 4k package which is great because i dont really need a second 4k tv.

        I ordered a snazzy Cannon camera with some extras off them on Monday i am looking forward to playing with it.
        I might do a vlog of my road to the title in the coming season with it 😉

        1. Dreams
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          I do hope that you win it. You fully deserve it.

          1. Lawrø
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            I'd hope I win it more than anyone else - back yourself! 😀

            1. Dreams
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              I really am not interested in winning it. All I play for is to make weird moves and see how they pay off and occasionally trying to get a decent rank.

            1. Dreams
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              You know what. Eff off.

        1. Dreams
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Brilliant stuff. Sooo happy for you.

        2. FPL Kangaroo
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          The manager looks like "The Gooch".

  14. EmreCan Hustle
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Just need a little clarification on the current Arsenal situation.

    (Hypothetical situation)

    1. Sanchez and Ozil get new contract with 150k increment each.
    Which means 150000*2*52=15.6m

    2. Lacazette gets a 230k contract. So that's another 12m.

    FA allows wages increase of 7m a year.
    So Arsenal have to cut their current wages by 20.6m to accommodate the three players?

    How many players can a club realistically sell in a single transfer window? 3/4?

    Negotiations to sell 4 players, the negotiations with Sanchez and Ozil, plus negotiations to buy Lacazette. All these negotiations could take more than a couple of months.

    Would love some views on this.

    Thanks.

    1. Mark
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yep, right now there doesn't seem to be many bodies departing - Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud and Bellerin were among the favourites. I guess Walcott could go.

      It's all at a standstill right now waiting for the first domino to fall.

      Arsenal clearly intend on doing massive business but, unless things are done and the press are being kept in the dark, it seems it's going to be a very hectic six weeks.

      Personally, I see both Sanchez and Ozil gone.

  15. makaveli123
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Great article. Thought this would be one for the members, but glad I was wrong.

  16. George Sillett
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Great article. Glad it was made available for elitist pr****

    1. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Don't listen to the riff raff Slouchy, you're better than them and that's all that matters.

      *sticks pinky in the air*

      http://i.imgur.com/mem8e.gif

    2. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Ogie's online too 😛 Forget the Michael Jackson gifs. I am bathing in popcorn right now.

  17. SneakyPete
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    What an article. OMFG

  18. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    What have I seen Kompany in?

    1. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Aguero's Undies

    2. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Stretcher.

  19. Dr Dream
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    U21's gome to pens...

    Stuart Pearce : Preparations should have been done for months if not years for penalties...

    REALLY !!!.....exactly what could you possibly do that takes years.....?

    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      He said earlier in the program that he wants to have a database of 100's of penalties rather than just a few taken in the week leading up to the game. Fair shout.

      1. Dr Dream
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Germans said they hadn't bothered practising at all.....

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Well, Stuart obviously would have needed more than 6 years...
      Was it '90 and '96...

  20. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Lol at German keepers notes in his sock 😀

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      *fears the worst* 😕

      1. Spike ⚽️
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        You were right to!

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          😆

          1. 32chickens
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Doos
            masuaka or cress this year?

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Tricky. I think Cresswell, but I won't really know until after preSeason. I have prepared that spreadsheet.

              1. 32chickens
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                thankyou
                the question is not for fpl but for a different platform where impact rather than minutes is important
                i like masuaka but i am aware both these players frustrated fans last season

                1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  7 years, 4 months ago

                  Cresswell went through a real slump - until the last 5 games. That is why I'm not sure.

                  1. 32chickens
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 14 Years
                    7 years, 4 months ago

                    yes was there an underlying physical problem -he seemed to lose it

                    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 14 Years
                      7 years, 4 months ago

                      Yeppers. Let us hope that the shiny new physio is on top of the problem.

                      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 14 Years
                        7 years, 4 months ago

                        Thanks. 🙂

  21. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Typical

  22. Dr Dream
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    .....aaaannnnnddddd .....it's happened again....

    Penalty shoot out result

    Years of preparation 3 Not bothered practising 4

    1. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Can't say any of the pens were really bad tbf

      1. Dr Dream
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Agreed.

    2. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Can't really explain why this keeps happening

      Maybe it is a mentality thing

      1. Leaf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Talent thing imo

      2. Dr Dream
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Definitely mentality.

      3. fedolefan
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        100% mentality. South Africa in cricket, for eg.

        1. Team Cruel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          England in cricket as well.

          1. Dreams
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            This. Older chokers than SA.

          2. fedolefan
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Nah, not England, not recently anyway. They may still fall short but there has been a mindset shift. They are very aggressive on the field. Matter of time before they win. South Africa just look timid.

            1. Dreams
              • 7 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Every team goes through different phases. England may all aggressive game they can but mostly bottle it in the decisive stages. I doubt if they'll ever change.

              1. fedolefan
                • 10 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                I doubt you will ever change how you think. You need to watch the games. Compare England to how they were a few years ago and then compare South Africa. All you can do is improve yourself and be fearless. The outcome is not always in your hands,

                1. Dreams
                  • 7 Years
                  7 years, 4 months ago

                  What makes you think I don't watch games? Stick to your opinion. Don't give stupid suggestions.

                  1. fedolefan
                    • 10 Years
                    7 years, 4 months ago

                    Because your opinions sound like that. Some will never ever be convinced until a team has held up a trophy. You've obviously forgotten England were overwhelming lfavorites to win the title prior to their loss to Pakistan. Doesn't take a genius to say a team has arrived after they've won a trophy. When have South Africa last looked like winning a trophy?

                    1. Dreams
                      • 7 Years
                      7 years, 4 months ago

                      First of all, sorry for the rude reply. Really really sorry. What I'm saying is that the mentality of the English team hasn't changed in big games. Remember the world cup T20 finals? Stokes got hit for 4 sixes. Losing to Pakistan was completely unexpected but it was mainly due to the mentality. The same case with South Africa. I wouldn't say that about the English team if I saw the same mentality in big games which hasn't been the case.

                      1. fedolefan
                        • 10 Years
                        7 years, 4 months ago

                        No worries about the rude reply. The Stokes assault came down to 1 player out of 11. 98/100 a team wins that, the other being South Africa. The even let go of a Champions Trophy final against India, where they let a match slip after need 6 an over in the last 5-6 overs. Their progress is in how they've been getting close consistently despite failures, which is why I feel it is a matter of time with them. Contrast that to South Africa, who just get weaker after every defeat.

                      2. Dreams
                        • 7 Years
                        7 years, 4 months ago

                        South Africans choking is quite unbelievable at times. Abd missing the run-out in World Cup semis was unbelievable. Maybe it was fixed. The thing about England is they don't have a player like Pietersen or Collingwood who thrived in tough situations when they won the T20 world cup in 2010. They need some players like those. As far as the South African team is concerned, they are just not getting any better. The quality is also declining. However I do feel the problem of both England and South Africa is the lack of a genuine leader. It may change things for them.

    3. KingNidge
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Cant practice penalties under pressure like that tbf its purely a mental thing now they are beaten before they step up

    4. fedolefan
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      About time the FA changes some domestic competitions/U-21s or whatever to include penalties instead of replays. Only way to get used to this penalty shootout pressure is to "practice" penalties constantly under pressure.

  23. Dreams
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Poor Nathan Redmond.

    1. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      🙂

    2. Spike ⚽️
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Agree- it was a poor penalty attempt!

  24. Leaf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Who'd of thought Redmond wouldn't score

    1. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It was a good save rather than a bad pen

      1. Spike ⚽️
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Telegraphed it WR

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

          Approached ball like a casual.

          1. Spike ⚽️
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            And that !

      2. Leaf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        I wouldn't agree

  25. Wild Rover
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Thing is, if they all took a pen like the JWP one, none would ever be saved. Is that really so hard?

  26. Emiliano Sala
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone saw the paper in german gk socks ? Probably was written about players and their shooting sides

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

      Just said RRLRR

    2. Wild Rover
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No, it was the odds he got at the bookies for each player scoring or missing 😉

    3. 32chickens
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      yes and jumpers for goalposts
      fail to prepare......prepare to fail

  27. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Rotating defenders can be over rated.

    Can spend ages looking at the the best rotations and most of us will have ended up wildcarding by gw4,,,,

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

      I suppose the answer is to WC later than GW4. Obviously a rotation strategy is void if you WC early. But it doesn't hurt to WC early if you planned to rotate, since presumably you've weighed up the pros and cons of WCing before you activate it. It only hurts if you plan to rotate and definitely WC early, because that's nuts.

  28. John t penguin
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I really dont understand why a group of people would feel the need to create their own forum to chat on about ff and limit the input from many more knowledgable managers. They will all clearly end up copying the leader like sheep that they are. Any unique decisions will just be happenstance. So effectively one person will have multiple teams, which in my opinion is just wrong.
    It's is wrong to call the elite however, if this was the case I would be there.

    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      You forgot to log in to FPL Virgin.

      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        May I have a cherry with that, please? 😀

      2. fedolefan
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        * Chappelle

    2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Well, at least the real elite can both spell correctly, and write grammatically. 😉

      1. John t penguin
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        It isn't school

        1. Parm
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          *skool

          1. Dreams
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            😆

          2. John t penguin
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            🙂

          1. 32chickens
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            oldskool rocks!

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              Well, I certainly do!!! 😎 😉 😆

    3. Dreams
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      It'll depend on the people in the forum. Everyone has an opinion and can say whatever the hell they feel like. So stop calling people sheep and shit like that.

    4. Phil Dagger ⭐
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      STOP . FEEDING . THE . TROLLS.
      STOP. FEEDING . THE . TROLLS .
      STOP. FEEDING. THE . TROLLS.

      1. makaveli123
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Do you understand what I am saying to you right now?

        1. Phil Dagger ⭐
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          you dig? 😆

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

      😆 +1

  29. Dreams
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I'm quite surprised to see a great number of posters who don't know what a community means posting here even during the off season. 🙁

    1. John t penguin
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Names or it didn't happen

      1. Dreams
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        It did happen. And I don't think there is any point in talking to you about it.

        1. John t penguin
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Why I have an opinion just like everyone

          1. Dreams
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            And so do I.

            1. John t penguin
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              We should start a forum then. A community forum

              1. Dreams
                • 7 Years
                7 years, 4 months ago

                Oh yes. Surely.

  30. Parm
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    21 year old Lech Poznan centre-back Jan Bednarek is set to have a medical at Southampton. Deal close, is he the van Dijk replacement?