World Cup

World Cup 2018 – Team Analysis – Morocco

Our Group B team analysis gets underway with Morocco, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Herve Renard’s side begin their campaign at 4pm on Friday 15 June with what is surely a must-win match against Iran in Saint Petersburg.

Morocco then face Portugal five days later in a 1pm kick-off in Moscow, before a 7pm showdown with Spain on Monday 25 June in Kaliningrad.

Road to Qualification

Morocco’s World Cup qualification was a triumph against the odds.

Entering at the second-round stage of CAF qualifying, they were at the time ranked 84th in the world – only the 22nd highest-seeded African team competing at that point. Indeed, their opponents in the second round, Equatorial Guinea, were some 21 places higher in the July 2015 FIFA World Rankings.

A 2-0 win in Agadir preceded a nervy 1-0 defeat in Equatorial Guinea, with Morocco – then under the stewardship of Ezzaki Badou – progressing by the narrowest of aggregate margins.

Renard then took charge of Morocco for the third and final CAF qualification round, leading his new team through an undefeated six-match group campaign. Having drawn three of their first four fixtures 0-0, Morocco then leapfrogged Ivory Coast in their penultimate match with a win over Gabon, before consolidating top spot with a 2-0 success over Les Elephants in Abidjan.

The stand-out feature of Morocco’s World Cup qualification was their impregnable defence, who kept six straight clean sheets. Six of Morocco’s 11 third round goals came in their routing of Mali in Rabat.

Most starts: Munir Mohamedi (8), Medhi Benatia (7), Romain Saiss, Mbark Boussoufa, Nordin Amrabat (6), Karim El Ahmadi, Younes Belhanda, Hakim Ziyech (5), Achraf Hakimi, Khalid Boutaib, Nabil Dirar (4)
Most goals: Khalid Boutaib (4), Hakim Ziyech (2)
Most assists: Mbark Boussoufa, Noureddine Amrabat (3), Hakim Ziyech (2)

Morocco have won all three of their friendlies since last August, defeating South Korea (3-1), Serbia (2-1) and Uzbekistan (2-0).

The Key Targets

In a group containing the European Championship holders and the 2010 World Cup winners, Morocco will have their undoubted defensive strength severely tested.

Munir Mohamedi (priced at £5.3m on Fantasy iTeam | £4.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) is a certain starter between the sticks and was the only Morocco player to feature in all eight of their qualifying matches.

Romain Saiss (£5.3m on Fantasy iTeam | £4.5m on McDonald’s FIFA), who largely operates in midfield for newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers, is a likely starter alongside captain Medhi Benatia (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) in the centre of defence.

Benatia grabbed the second goal in Morocco’s all-important win against Ivory Coast in qualifying and is his country’s most expensive defensive asset on Fantasy iTeam. In the five qualifying matches in which he and Saiss were partnered at the back, Morocco didn’t concede a single goal.

With two goals and as many assists in five qualifying fixtures, Hakim Ziyech (£6.7m on Fantasy iTeam | £7.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) is the standout – and indeed most expensive – option in midfield. A free-kick specialist who can play across the middle, Ziyech scored on nine occasions and supplied 15 assists in 34 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax this season.

Ziyech is likely to be Morocco’s first-choice penalty taker, too, having scored from the spot in his country’s 2-1 friendly win over Serbia in March. Ziyech also provided another assist in that match. He has eight goals in 15 appearances for the national team.

Mbark Boussoufa (£5.4m on Fantasy iTeam | £6.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) and Watford’s Nordin Amrabat (£5.9m on Fantasy iTeam | £6.0 on McDonald’s FIFA) are less of a goal threat, but with three assists apiece during qualification, represent budget midfield options with points potential. Boussoufa takes his fair share of corner-kicks and was the creator of Benatia’s goal in the aforementioned victory over Ivory Coast.

Khalid Boutaib (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £6.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) could be an excellent budget pick in attack. One of the lowest-priced forwards in Fantasy iTeam, Boutaib is set to start the World Cup as Morocco’s only recognised on-field striker in a 4-1-4-1 or, in the crucial opening match against Iran, perhaps as the spearhead of a more attacking 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

Boutaib scored four goals in as many starts in qualification, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Gabon. A relative latecomer to international football, Boutaib made his Morocco debut at the age of 29 and has seven goals in his 15 appearances for the national side.

The Long Shots

The leading goalscorer in the Moroccan squad is not, in fact, Boutaib, but Ayoub El Kaabi (£5.4m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA).

The 24-year-old forward has ten goals in just eight international appearances and was top scorer in the 2018 African Nations Championship, a tournament in which only domestic league players may compete. El Kaabi is one of only three players who featured in that cup-winning squad to receive a call-up for Russia.

While Boutaib is likely to get the nod up front in Morocco’s opening match, El Kaabi is one to monitor as the group stage progresses. El Kaabi was on target in Morocco’s most recent friendly in March, a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan in which many fringe players featured.

One of the most exciting prospects in this Moroccan squad is Real Madrid full-back Achraf Hakimi (£5.7m on Fantasy iTeam | £4.5 on McDonald’s FIFA). The 19-year-old defender has largely been used as Dani Carvajal’s understudy by Zinedine Zidane this season but demonstrated his attacking instincts with two goals in nine La Liga appearances at right-back.

Though he didn’t feature in Morocco’s international friendly double-header in March due to injury, Hakimi is expected to be a first-choice pick in defence. Cristiano Ronaldo’s proclivity for drifting to the flanks means that Hakimi could be directly up against his Real Madrid team-mate in Morocco’s second group game against Portugal.

Areas to Avoid

On the face of it, Morocco appear to be a very well-balanced side. A defensively sound team who conceded only one goal in eight qualifying matches, they possess several players who are plying their trade in the highest reaches of European football.

What counts against them, of course, is their group opponents.

Only Belgium and Germany (both 43) scored more goals than Spain (36) and Portugal (32) in the UEFA qualification section, while no European country conceded fewer goals than Spain (three) in their ten group games.

Portugal were also watertight at the back (conceding four), while Iran (two goals conceded in ten games) had by far the best defence in the third round of AFC qualification.

Fantasy managers would, perhaps, be prudent to target Morocco players in their opening group match with Iran, before jettisoning their assets ahead of games against Portugal and Spain.

Despite being assured of a starting spot, goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi has never featured in a top-flight fixture at club level and will find himself severely tested against the likes of Ronaldo and Diego Costa.

Defensive midfielder Karim El Ahmadi (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA), who has one goal in 44 appearances for Morocco, is arguably one to swerve from a Fantasy perspective. The former Aston Villa man is likely to be stationed just in front of the back four and, at 33 years of age, his ageing limbs are a concern, particularly for the matches against Spain and Portugal in which his side will have to do the bulk of the chasing.

Upcoming Friendlies

None

Further Analysis

Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.

Group A Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group BIran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group CAustralia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group DArgentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group EBrazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group FMexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea

Group GBelgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group HSenegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia

Fantasy iTeam

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We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers.

There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

Click here for details and here to sign up.

Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

406 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    looking for world cup chart where you can put the scores in. Anyone know of where to get one?

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Google?

      1. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        A newspaper maybe

      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        A 2 second google search no less.

        I think people are reverting back to 1970s methods 😉

        1. 1justlookin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          which is actually better

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      i have a pdf of one not too sure if i can even post it here

      1. The Nuttman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        X-rated then?

        1. Norman Conquest
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          absolutely

    3. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      http://www.quinkyart.com/p/world-cup-2018-wall-chart.html?m=1

      I bought one of these for my dad, looks excellent, and it is all for a great cause

  2. 1justlookin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I was after a chart I could hang on the wall rather than an internet one. 🙂

    1. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      do you have any ink left in your printer?

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        NO.

      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        😆

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I love how he thought that this comment justified a new post

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      A football magazine from the shop, probably.

      1. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        What is a magazine? I've heard of shop. Those were the things people used before Amazon Prime right? Can you believe people would literally leave their homes to go 'the shop'. None of them were bright enough to think that items should come to them

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          What is Google?

        2. Norman Conquest
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          i just talk to this weird round thing on my coffee table and two days later it turns up on my doorstep

    3. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Every paper will have one for sure. I'd expect this week

      1. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I have one of these wall charts.
        It is between my mounted jigsaw puzzle of Peter Ozgood and the division One shoot cardboard cut out division One ladder for 1970

    4. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      this is the type of thing, and all for charity

      http://www.quinkyart.com/p/world-cup-2018-wall-chart.html?m=1

  3. Norman Conquest
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    read somewhere earlier spurs have first option to buy back bale until june 2019 if a rival prem side puts in a bid they have 72 hours to match the bid

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I can't imagine those sort of conditions actually mean much. If Spurs and Man Utd bid the exact same and Bale wants to go to Man Utd he'll go to Man Utd.

      1. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        No I think the contract means they have to refuse the other offer.

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Aye on paper I'm sure that is the case, I'm in no doubt that they may have stipulated these conditions, but I think the reality will be very different.

    2. Bragazeti
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Looks like potential suitors will patiently wait

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Spurs wouldn't pay the kind of wages Bale would command, so its a moot point.

      It's like me selling my house I bought 16 years ago and then trying to buy it back a few years later.

      I literally couldn't afford to buy my house if it was on the market today.

      Spurs cannot afford Bale anymore.

  4. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Two very contrasting performances from last night final.

    Mane was excellent throughout.He showed he had a belly for the fight and was well able for the argy bargy that took place with the likes of Ramos.He is a battler and was unlucky not equalize the game to 2-2 when he denied by the post.If Liverpool had a few more players with the attitude he brought to the game the story could have been very different.

    Lallana on the other hand was brutal after he came on for Salah he offered his noting at all.The Liverpool team would have been better off going down to 10 men,at least they would know they were playing with 10 besides being under the false assumption that they had 11 with him on the pitch.

    If someone can show me a positive contribution that Lallana made after coming on i will strip naked run down the main street of my home town and post the video on youtube.

    1. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      A bit harsh on Lallana imo.

      He had a serious long term injury and really hasn’t had the opportunity to build up any match rythm since coming back. Not his fault.

    2. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, Lallana’s never got going this season, maybe it was the wrong sub but there wasn’t a lot of choice. I think the loss and non-replacement of Coutinho finally caught up with Liverpool.

    3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Keita next season should be another character added to the liverpool lineup. Dunno about Fekirs personality on the pitch myself

  5. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Can anyone let me know at what time fifa 18 world cup mode be a available in India for download???

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      you don't need to download it they have their own website and june the 4th ish

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Think he is talking about Fifa the game. Update rolls out tomorrow if I remember correctly. No idea if its any different for India though.

        1. Norman Conquest
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          ah i see haven't got a clue then sorry

    2. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      out tomorrow, however one cannot confirm the time

    3. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      think its 29th may for fifa ps4 wc update

      dont know what time though

  6. HNI
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Is Ryan Sessegnon the only good option from Fulham or any other options like Fredericks/Hot head Mitrovic/Cairney as 4.5mn mid fodder worth a gamble if Fulham start with good matches?

    1. Gregor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I like Mitrovic as a third striker option.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        He's a Newcastle player?

        1. Gregor
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah, hopefully Fulham sign him permanently.

      2. HNI
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Has FFS done article on Fulham? Cant wait really

    2. The Nuttman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Cairney looks good, gutted we didn't get him last summer.

  7. HNI
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    People talking up Gareth Bale as if he is going to play most matches. He already has had 20injuries in his career with thrice this season alone. His calf has weakened considerably due to his fitness issues. He is world class but fpl doesnt award points for cheering from side line or scoring winner in only imp matches. No wonder Real Madrid want to sell him. Any club ready to spend more than 40mn on those damaged goods having 300k something wages will pay a brutal price

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Is he beyond repair?

      1. HNI
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        He is defective model. Cant repair completely ever

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Someone told me that Bale was injured for around the first five games this season and was available for selection thereafter but was just not being picked because he was out of favor.

      I am sure any club prepared to fork out the kind of money he would likely make would be putting him through a very rigorous medical to make sure they are not buying damaged goods.

      1. HNI
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Unless you Manutd and Mancity. Dont think even their modern medical devices could detect injury proneness else Hargreaves and Gundongen wouldnt have ever been bought

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      FPL gives you points for players while they are on the pitch though and I'll be happy for him to score me points before he gets injured and I then transfer him out.

      1. Geoff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Exactly this, like Aguero for me. Get him when he's healthy (and playing) and then transfer him out when he's injured. With high price players it's fine, you can downgrade to anyone

      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        You’re ahead of your time, Epic 🙂

  8. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone here going to Moscow for WC games ?

    1. HNI
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not many brave enough. But surely Lords for Cricket World Cup next year 🙂

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      i would really like to go but i don't fancy getting my head kicked in or poisoned

    3. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I don't even go to my club's home games let alone the WC.

      1. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Who do u support

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Aston Villa.

      2. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Wise fella 🙂

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          on both counts

        2. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Mods. We need the downvote button ASAP. 😀

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Still getting to grips with the influx of new mods ,,, getting to know you , getting to know all about you ,,, ?

  9. Norman Conquest
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Lord Bendtner could miss the wc due to injury
    hope he makes it otherwise no point watching

  10. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    What a plonker.I hope Ramos counter sues this idiot for deformation and cleans him out.

    http://www.goal.com/en/news/egyptian-lawyer-files-1-billion-lawsuit-against-ramos-over-salah-/8pnekokp56dg1ohs9e2yuh5wz

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      *defamation

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not having a leg to stand on springs to mind here Ogie

  11. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Son goal. Owners finally rewarded.

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      how many fantasy points do I get? 😉

  12. FFFrog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Players with PPM (points per minute) of over 0.07 last season (I’ve probably missed some). An interesting indicator of what could be if they got more minutes next season.

    Salah - 0.104
    Sterling - 0.089
    Aguero - 0.086
    Aubameyang - 0.0823
    Martial - 0.079
    Niasse - 0.077
    Jesus - 0.076
    Sane - 0.074
    Son - 0.073
    Hazard - 0.072
    Kane - 0.071
    Ramsey - 0.070

    Some interesting names in there - thoughts?

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Martial and Niasse surprising. Really want a nailed on Kun.

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Wow. So Salah averaged over 9 points every 90 minutes

    2. FFFrog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Giroud in there as well at 0.078

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Once again it's clear what a joke it is that son isn't ahead of Alli in the pecking order at spurs

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Agree but Alli has been the more nailed on player
        Alli was dissaponting the season gone, expect more next ?

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I dont expect more after seeing how Poch lets Alli play poorly all season and still get the first spot on the team sheet along with Kane and Eriksen every game. I would be looking to move if I were Son, similar situation to Willian at Chelsea imo. At the end of the season even Lamela seemed to be at an equal spot in the pecking order to him.

      2. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Alli did have a crazy season last year though

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yep, never got going this one though. Jury still out

    4. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Really want Ramsey in my team GW1

      1. Tommytour
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Me too

  13. Bad Kompany
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Apologies for the long post but I went through and recorded the scores of some of the top mids and fwds vs non top-six teams at home and away from home to see who were the best options for the armband. The players I looked at were Kane, Aubameyang, Kun, Lukaku, Gabriel Jesus, Firmino, Vardy, Salah, Sterling, KDB, Eriksen, Mahrez, Son, Hazard, and Arnautovic. I did Arautovic from gw 18 on to see how an on form cheaper player would stand up compared to the big guns. I only included the games that they played 60 minutes or more.

    Order of each player home/away by ppg:

    Salah Home: 14 games, 10.3ppg, 15g, 6a, 7 double digit hauls, 2 blanks
    Arnie Away(starting gw 18): 5 games, 9.2ppg, 4g, 3a, 2 double digit hauls, 1 blank
    Auba Home: 5 games, 10ppg, 7g, 2a, 2 double digit hauls, 0 blanks
    Kun Home: 10 games, 9ppg, 13g, 2a, 4 double digit hauls, 3 blnaks
    Sterling Home: 12 games, 8.8ppg, 9g, 7a, 5 double digit hauls, 2 blanks
    Salah Away: 12 games, 8.2ppg, 11g, 3a, 4 double digit hauls, 2 blanks
    Son Home: 13 games, 8.2ppg, 8g, 6a, 5 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Kane Away: 12 games, 7.5ppg, 13g, 0a, 4 double digit hauls, 4 blanks
    KDB Home: 13 games, 7.4ppg, 3g, 12a, 4 double digit hauls, 4 blanks
    Auba Away: 4 games, 7.3ppg, 3g, 1a, 0 double digit hauls, 0 blanks
    Sterling Away: 11 games, 7.3ppg, 5g, 7a, 3 double digit hauls, 3 blanks
    Arnie Home(starting gw 18): 8 games, 7.1ppg, 5g, 3a, 2 double digits hauls, 2 blanks
    Hazard Away: 11 games, 7.1ppg, 7g, 2a, 3 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Kun Away: 7 games, 6.9ppg, 6g, 1a, 1 double digit haul, 3 blanks
    Firmino Away: 10 games, 6.7ppg, 6g, 3a, 4 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Kane Home: 14 games, 6.5ppg, 12g, 1a, 4 double digit hauls, 6 blanks
    Hazard Home: 8 games, 6.5ppg, 4g, 2a, 2 double digit hauls, 4 blanks
    Eriksen Away: 13 games, 6.2ppg, 4g, 6a, 2 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Mahrez Home: 12 games, 6.2 ppg, 4g, 5a, 3 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Mahrez Away: 11 games, 5.8ppg, 5g, 3a, 2 double digit hauls, 5 blanks
    Gabriel Jesus Home: 5 games, 5.8ppg, 3g, 2a, 1 double digit haul, 2 blanks
    Lukaku Home: 12 games, 5.6ppg, 9g, 1a, 2 double digit hauls, 4 blanks
    Gabriel Jesus Away: 9 games, 5.4ppg, 5 goals, 1 assist, 0 double digit hauls, 3 blanks
    Lukakau Away: 10 games, 5.4ppg, 5g, 3a, 0 double digit hauls, 2 blanks
    Son Away: 7 games, 5.3ppg, 3g, 1a, 1 double digit haul, 4 blanks
    Firmino Home: 13 games, 5.1ppg, 6g, 2a, 1 double digit haul, 6 blanks
    Eriksen Home: 14 games, 4.8ppg, 3g, 3a, 1 double digit haul, 8 blanks
    KDB Away: 14 games, 4.4ppg, 2g, 4a, 1 double digit hauls, 7 blanks
    Vardy Away: 13 games, 4.2ppg, 5g, 2a, 0 double digit hauls, 6 blanks
    Vardy Home: 12 games, 3.9ppg, 4g, 0a, 0 double digit hauls, 8 blanks

    Comparison of different positions home/away:

    Midfielders Away: 6.5 avg. ppg, 84 games, .49gpg, .35apg, .84rpg, .21ddhpg, .41bpg
    Midfielders Home: 7.5 avg. ppg, 94 games, .54gpg, .47apg, 1.01rpg, .31ddhpg, .34bpg
    Forwards Away without Vardy: 6.5 avg. ppg, 57 games, .67gpg, .16apg, .83rpg, .13ddhpg, .33bpg
    Forwards Home without Vardy: 6.5 avg. ppg, 64 games, .78gpg, .16apg, .94rpg, .18ddhgp, .38bpg

    Surprisingly, midfielders have more double digit hauls but also slightly more blanks than forwards. Also forwards were the same at home and on the road while midfielders were way better at home.

    Weird observation: players play more games at home than away

    Summar: Midfielders at home vs. non top-six teams are the best captain options. For the armband: Vardy was poor. KDB was pretty good at home but poor away. Firmino was poor at home but decent on the roard. Eriksen, Lukaku, Gabriel Jesus, and Mahrez were consistent but not great captaincy options. Hazard was like them but a little bit better (think he could be good with a new manager). Son was real good at home but not on the road. Kane was okay at home and pretty good away (he surprisingly didn’t really improve much overall), Sterling was pretty good on the road and really good at home (problem was he sometimes came on for a cameo which I didn’t count). Arnie from gw 18 on (when West Ham made changes) was good at home and amazing on the road (not a ton of games to go off of though). Kun was good on the road and amazing at home. Auba was good on the road and amazing at home (not a ton of games to go off of though). Salah...enough said...he was just brilliant...he was even better at home though. I think that the reason for the mids now scoring more points by so much is because the rise of wingers and how high they are now playing. Also, playing OOP helps as well as the extra points for cs and goals.

    1. FFFrog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Interesting - Man City’s home form showed in the big scores of their players. The difference between the home/ away form of Firmino and Salah is interesting.

      1. Bad Kompany
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah. Especially City's home form. It is weird how Salah was better at home Firmino was better away. Probably had to do with how their opponents set up.

        1. Bad Kompany
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Also Son was better at home while Kane was better away

          1. Twelve years a slave
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            You say midfielders at home ARE the best option

            What you should have said is midfielders at home WERE the best option

            The sample is only measuring a small window of past performance rather than predicting which group will score the most points this season, Salah and his record points haul in such a small sample is always going to swing results in favour of midfielders.

            1. Tommytour
              • 13 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Am I the only one who still doesn't feel comfortable captaining a midfielder even Salah?

              1. Je suis le chat
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                I actually suspect you are Alone amongst 6m players in that.

              2. Bad Kompany
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Lol. Even before I checked out the stats, I was more comfortable captaining midfielders and not just Salah. I've captained Hazard, Mahrez, Alli, Sanchez, Sterling, and KDB. The only forwards I think I captained Lukaku, Kane, and both Firmino and Aubameyang once

                1. Tommytour
                  • 13 Years
                  5 years, 10 months ago

                  I was firmly in the captain Kane every week camp after seasons of relying on RVP, Suarez previously to great effect, I think its time to adapt.

            2. Bad Kompany
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Yeah your right. Completely correct I should have said that they were last year. As for saying that Salah swung the results of course he affected them but even if you don't include him the midfielders at home still average 7ppg which is still easily the highest. Also the top forwards, Kun and Aubameyang, their sample is very small and if they had more games they might not have been able to keep that average while at least for Salah, we know that he was able to keep that average for a whole season

    2. @FPL_Chess
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Absolute quality. That's a cut-out-and-keep. Nice one.

      • Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Great post, thanks. Be great if someone would compile a list of defenders comparing home and away form. IMO defenders are the most important players in FPL. Suspect the likes of PVA and Robertson have nice stats.

        1. Bad Kompany
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          After fantasy wc, I was thinking of trying to do that so if I get time, I will. It seems like they definately keep more cs at home though. Was also going to look at whether or not defenders who are sometimes rotated but get attacking returns(Bavies for example) are worth it

          1. Je suis le chat
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Be great if you can. Be nice to see if some maverick out there captains only defenders. Maybe I'll try it myself. Good upside.

    3. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Will MU go for Bale , will they match his salary ?
      If so end of Pogba and Sanchez to become a sulker , yep not the be all imo

      1. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        One team who will ruin him is UTD. I really hope not. They got Sanchez

        1. Fantasy Gold
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          More likely to be PSG

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Agree , Sanchez can and will flourish if Mou gives him the go , but will he ?

          1. Tommytour
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            I think Chile missing the world cup is a blessing in disguise for Alexis, the break could reignite him.

      2. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        "Ferdinand urges Bale to write a new chapter as a leader of a club"
        Exactly the same kind of s**t has been said about Sanchez, Di Maria, Falcao, Pogba, and they've done nothing extraordinary.
        Next year only united defs come into consideration, wont give a sniff to their mid or att

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Because Jose does not play to those players' strengths. Although Falcao is clearly not the player he was so the gamble on him failed. Utd should be playing 4-2-1-3 for me. They should get Bale and need to sign a left-footed LB though. They could even play 4 CBs at the back if they wanted. If you have Bale, Lukaku, Sanchez and Pogba and give them the freedom to play they would destroy teams.

          De Gea
          Valencia Bailly Jones ?????
          Matic Herrera
          Pogba
          Sanchez Lukaku Bale

          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Valencia and Jones aren’t good enough so they need replacing too.

            1. diesel001
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              I would just play 4 CBs tbh. De Gea with Smalling, Jones, Bailly and Blind as the back four. Fundamentally you need the back 4 to protect the 'cage' - that is it. No attacking intent whatsoever. Matic and Herrara's job is to pass the ball to one of the front four and to protect the back 4. The front four have limited defensive duty, but are allowed to do what you want in an attacking sense

              1. Tommytour
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                With Bale and Sanchez both liking to cut inside, full backs that can go on the outside when attacking are essential if they want to compete with City.

          2. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Recall a Real side some years back, around the time they bought in Beckham I think. They had so many stars yet they could not play as an effective team.
            Balance is key , and getting the mix of players to be united to the cause is such a deciding factor

      3. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I think when a player of his caliber comes on the market you have to try and sing him.

        United are one of the few teams with the financial muscle to go after him and as for Pogba and Sanchez i think it might be possible for them all to play together but with competition like that in the team they would want to up their games.

        1. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          *sign

        2. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Maybe , but I doubt. Sanchez loves the freedom to attack , Mou will not give him that with a Bale in the side. Sanchez will be relegated to a support role ?

      4. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Mou needs to go before Bale can come IMO. Imagine Bayern more attractive; guaranteed league wins, nicer attacking style.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Agree, can't see Bale loving the restrictive Mou way
          But does he really want to play or is it just about the money ?
          No doubt Sanchez would have gone to City if it was about play before pay

      5. Tommytour
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Utd need a RW desperately and one with pace if they are going to approach games the same way next season, Mata's days as a RW are gone and I think he could benefit by moving inside like David Silva has for City and Lingard is best used centrally either off the bench or starting against weaker teams. Bale is world class who can win games on his own aka Champs League Final and with Mourinho preferring to buy the finished article I see him as an ideal target (Injury prone being the obvious concern however). Matching his salary would be no issue to Utd who would see a lot of money return through marketing especially in China. Personally I'd prefer to go for Dembele if Barca are happy to let him go and have him for a decade rather than a couple of seasons from Bale.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Matching his salary would not be a problem it's about counter balancing ego's

          1. Tommytour
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Pogba, Sanchez haven't got a leg to stand on in that regard until they start performing.

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Proper pick of players. Any room for Stefan Kuntz?

        1. Tacalabala
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Motty would be gutted

          Neuer
          Lahm
          Sammer
          Beckenbauer
          Brehme
          Matthaus
          Hoeness
          Walter
          G Muller
          Klose
          Rummenigge

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        A lot of good players there that the youngsters wouldn't know about. Some of my picks:

        Oliver Kahn - top GK who has basically been forgotten about as people only know Buffon.
        Franz Beckenbauer (Der Kaiser) - one of the best ball-playing defenders ever.
        Lothar Matthaus - most capped for Germany and a FIFA world player of the year winner
        Kael-Heinz Rummenigge - not just a top striker, but a top manager with Bayern Munich

      3. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Kahn
        Brehme - Sammer - Beckenbauer - Lahm
        Kroos - Matthäus - Ballack - Breitner
        Muller - Rummenigge

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        From 2007 apparently.

    4. @FPL_Chess
        5 years, 10 months ago

        For those who like to rotate cheap keepers... have we been doing it wrong?

        Fabianski, Butland, Pickford, Begovic, Forster, Gomes, and Ryan, scored 6 points or more, 'away' from home more often than at home! Pope, Hennessey, Adrián, Elliot, and Schmeichel scored 6 or more points equally at home and away.

        I've covered most of the cheap goalkeepers, but from the sample taken it suggests it may be better to rotate so they don't play the top 6, then select an away match over a home match.

        1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Yes. Pick one and stick with them, or go for broke.

          1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Although that is a bit of a small sample size, but generally most bumper cheap gk hauls are to big teams or away from home.

            1. FFFrog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              But these are matched in the amount of times that these cheaper gks have 4 spanked past them by big teams or away from home

              1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                If you pick the right one, this happens a lot less e.g. Pope got a 5 pointer away to MCI iirc? I'm thinking Dubravka could be that next season if Benitez can strengthen the way he wants.

        2. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Interesting - rotating 4.5s is certainly risky given their propensity to perform in unexpected games or at the same time, but if it saves 0.5m over DDG and a 4m then it could be worth the risk

          1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Pope and 4.0 worked great for me this season

            1. FFFrog
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 10 months ago

              Nice in principle for this season if one gets the No1 shirt, but I'm going to be avoiding Burnley because of Europe

              1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 10 months ago

                Oh i agree I'll be avoiding too, just that there tends to be one cheapie gk who does really well every season.

        3. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          I think I’ll be looking at going with 5.0/4.5-4.0 combo rather than the rotation headache. Rotating keepers can be a nightmare.

      • Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        😮 😮 😮
        Keep it quiet everyone... But once Conte leaves, we could be looking at a 5.5 ish Emerson...

        1. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Psssst.

      • Astronautovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        How is the starting goalkeeper from iran named in mcdonalds fantasy?

        1. Astronautovic
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Sorry not iran, i meant morocco

      • TheProfesssor
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        A. Neymar + Ziyach + El Kajoui

        B. Jesus + Oezil + Muslera