Fixtures

2018/19 Premier League – A Guide to Fixture Rotation

With the World Cup in full swing, Fantasy managers could be forgiven for putting the domestic game to the back of their minds.

The release of the 2018/19 Premier League fixture list, however, means we can start our pre-season planning in earnest with a look at fixture rotation.

Many Fantasy managers will be familiar with the approach but for the uninitiated, we’ll begin by exploring the strategy in detail.

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 and premium 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.

We’ll begin our exploration of this strategy with a look at the defensive benefits that home advantage brings.

Home Advantage – A Season-by-Season Analysis

SeasonCS Home %GC Home %CS Away %GC Away %
2013/1459.0543.1640.9556.84
2014/1558.9342.5641.0757.44
2015/1657.2144.7442.7955.26
2016/1761.2142.9538.7957.05
2017/1860.1842.8339.8257.17

CS = Clean Sheets
GC = Goals Conceded

For the second season running, the percentage of clean sheets being kept at home broke the 60% barrier. Though there was a slight drop-off in home shut-outs from the percentage posted in 2016/17, the percentage of goals conceded at home in 2017/18 fell to 42.83% from 42.95% the season before.

The total of 136 home clean sheets posted in 2017/18 was five better than the previous campaign and the highest figure since 2013/14, when 137 home shut-outs were recorded.

Only relegated West Bromwich Albion and champions Manchester City – two sides whose assets Fantasy managers won’t be rotating in 2018/19 – conceded more goals at home in 2017/18 than they did on their travels, further underlining the importance of home advantage.

It’s hardly a surprise that a side playing on their own turf has a better chance of keeping a clean sheet, but as our team-by-team breakdown illustrates, home advantage is more pronounced with some teams that it is with others.

2017/18 CLEAN SHEETS – HOME AND AWAY SPLIT

TeamHomeAwayDiff2016/17 Diff
 LIV12570
 MUN1275-1
 ARS9455
 NEW725N/A
 CHE10640
 TOT10647
 EVE7343
 HUD734N/A
 WHU7346
 LEI6335
 BUR7522
 WBA6422
 SWA5414
 WAT5413
 BHA550N/A
 BOU3302
 STK3303
 CRY45-13
 MCI810-2-2
 SOT35-22

 

In 2016/17, Tottenham Hotspur were the only team to hit double figures for home clean sheets. Four of the top five managed that in 2017/18, with Arsenal only one shut-out away from joining them.

Manchester City have become something of an anomaly in recent years: this was the third successive season in which they have kept more clean sheets on the road than at the Etihad.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea pressed their home advantage considerably more in 2017/18 than they did in the previous campaign: indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s side kept six more clean sheets at Anfield than they did in 2016/17.

What would perhaps be of some concern to Fantasy managers who rotate budget goalkeepers and defenders would be the diminishing role that home advantage plays for sides outside the top six.

Crystal Palace and Southampton registered more shut-outs on their travels than they did at Selhurst Park and St Mary’s respectively, while Bournemouth, Watford, West Ham United, Leicester City and two of the three relegated clubs – Swansea City and Stoke City – were not as dominant defensively on their own turf as they had been in 2016/17: the difference between home and away clean sheets was less marked this time around.

Debutants Brighton and Hove Albion kept as many shut-outs on the road as they did at the Amex, meanwhile. The other two promoted clubs, Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town, were much stronger clean sheet prospects at home than they were away, however.

2018/19 HOME AND AWAY PAIRINGS

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

Everton/Liverpool, Manchester United/Manchester City, Fulham/Chelsea, Huddersfield/Burnley and Wolves/Leicester rotate in this way, barring any fixture postponements later in the season.

Spurs/Arsenal would ordinarily alternate home and away fixtures, of course, but the Premier League schedule has been somewhat complicated early in the season due to Spurs’ new ground not being ready for the start of 2018/19.

That combination – along with the Manchester and Merseyside clubs – is largely irrelevant anyway when it comes to rotation because of the price tags associated with the respective clubs’ assets.

There are eight perfect pairings in total:

 

Team 1Team 2
BournemouthCrystal Palace
FulhamChelsea
Huddersfield TownBurnley
LiverpoolEverton
Manchester UnitedManchester City
Newcastle UnitedBrighton and Hove Albion
SouthamptonWest Ham United
Wolverhampton WanderersLeicester City

 

Southampton and West Ham look like a great pairing for the first five fixtures (BUR, BOU, LEI, WLV, BHA) but it pays to look beyond the succession of home matches and factor fixture difficulty into the equation.

Newcastle and Brighton, for example, looks an enticing double-up on paper but rotating their home matches early in the season would appear to be folly (their first six combined home matches are TOT, MUN, CHE, FUL, ARS, TOT).

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace offer a balance of perfect home rotation and decent away fixtures: alternating assets of these two clubs would give a run of CDF, whu, EVE, SOU, LEI, NEW, CRY, WLV, SOU, ful in the opening ten Gameweeks of the season.

Gregor and Ludo are among the regulars who have been discussing the rotation options on our site and we’ll have a more in-depth look at the best interchanging pairs for 2018/19 over the summer.

Last Season’s Pairings

We looked at two rotating pairs before the start of last season: Swansea/West Brom and Bournemouth/Brighton.

In these articles, we promoted the rotation these teams offered up to Gameweek 21 – the point where the second FPL Wildcard became available.

Swansea/West Brom

These two clubs offered perfect rotation all season, with only the blank Gameweek 31 offering no home fixture for either side.

Gameweeks 1-10

BOU MUN/bur STK NEW WHM WAT WAT HUD LEI MCI/ars

Gameweeks 11-21

BHA bur/CHE BOU NEW CRY WBA MCI/liv MUN/eve CRY EVE/liv wat/ARS

A modest seven clean sheets were recorded over the opening 21 home games, though that total could have been boosted to nine factoring in Albion’s shut-outs in Gameweeks 2 and 17 (away matches against Burnley and Liverpool).

Bournemouth/Brighton

This was a very different pairing: these two clubs’ home fixtures dovetailed nicely until Gameweek 9 and from Gameweek 19 onwards, though the ten fixtures in between meant that Fantasy managers were forced to pick between simultaneous home/away fixtures between mid-October and mid-December.

As a result, there was more focus on fixture difficulty for the first 21 Gameweeks of the season:

Gameweeks 1-10

wba WAT wat WBA BHA NEW LEI EVE/tot whu/stk SOT

Gameweeks 11-21

swa HUD swa BUR SOT hud tot/mun BUR WAT WHU new

Ten clean sheets were recorded up to and including Gameweek 21 if Fantasy managers opted for Brighton’s defensive assets in their 3-0 win at West Ham in Gameweek 9, rather than Bournemouth’s backline for their trip to Stoke.

A clean sheet almost once every other match is a decent return for a budget defender or goalkeeper, particularly if backed up by save points in the case of the latter.

IN PRACTICE

As mentioned above, Swansea and West Brom rotated home fixtures perfectly all season (aside from Gameweek 31).

Lukasz Fabianski and Ben Foster were both priced up as £4.5m-rated goalkeepers at the start of 2017/18 and seemed to be the pairing of choice for Fantasy managers who wanted to rotate budget shot-stoppers rather than plump for a premium asset like David de Gea.

By electing to play the home goalkeeper in every fixture of last season (fielding Foster in Gameweek 31 and Fabianski in the Double Gameweek 37), Fantasy managers would have accrued 132 points: some 25 less than Fabianski scored on his own.

The Polish custodian started 2017/18 with three consecutive clean sheets (including a double-digit haul at Spurs) on the road and saved spot-kicks in two away games over the course of the season. While Fabianski’s away haul was unusually good, it shows that rotation is not without its drawbacks.

A better example of rotational success last season would be Harry Maguire (£5.0m) and Jamaal Lascelles (£4.5m), whose sides – Leicester and Newcastle – also had perfect fixture rotation, bar a blank in Gameweek 31. While Maguire’s starting price comes in at the high-end of what could be described as “budget”, rotating the two centre-backs would have reaped huge dividends.

Maguire and Lascelles scored 117 and 116 points respectively last season but blooding them only for home fixtures (Maguire covering Lascelles’ injury between Gameweeks 12 and 16 and indeed being the preferred option for the Double Gameweeks in 34 and 37) would have yielded 151 points.

That total was bettered only Nicolas Otamendi (156), Cesar Azpilicueta (165) and Marcos Alonso (175) in FPL last season, while the highest score posted by a defender with a starting price of £5.0m or below was Aaron Cresswell’s 118.

POSITIONAL ROTATION IN 2018/19

GOALKEEPERS

The goalkeeping position is ripe for rotation in the method we’ve outlined above. With save and bonus points compensating for any goals conceded (or indeed bolstering the usual six points one would expect from a clean sheet) in FPL, mid-price and budget solutions can easily match the output of the more expensive shot-stoppers.

Three of the five highest-scoring goalkeepers in FPL last season started off at £4.5m: Fabianski, Nick Pope and Mathew Ryan. Martin Dubravka, a January transfer window signing for Newcastle who was also priced up at £4.5m, averaged 4.4 points per match in his 12 appearances between the posts for the Magpies: that mean betters premium goalkeepers such as Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois.

While we can expect the likes of Pope and Fabianski – should he make a move to another Premier League club from relegated Swansea, as expected – to rise in price, there will still be plenty of options in the budget price bracket.

Ryan and Dubravka are ones to watch from Gameweek 7 onwards, perhaps for those deploying their first Wildcard early in the season. Rotating the two until Christmas would give a run of LEI, WHU, BHA, WLV, WAT, BOU, LEI, WHU, CRY, WLV, hud, FUL.

Leicester and Wolves looks like an excellent pairing until Gameweek 18, though at least one – if not both – of Kasper Schmeichel and Rui Patricio will surely be initially priced at £5.0m.

DEFENDERS

Fantasy managers’ goalkeeper picks are likely to be determined by the defensive alternatives on offer. Attack-minded wing-back Barry Douglas of Wolves, for example, would appear to be a better way into the Championship winners’ backline than Rui Patricio.

Should Douglas and, perhaps, Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira be priced at £5.0m or under, this duo would arguably be a better pairing than the two clubs’ respective goalkeepers, offering as they do the possibility of attacking returns as well as defensive ones.

Bournemouth and Crystal Palace kept only seven home clean sheets between them last season but the two clubs’ favourable starts and complimenting home/away schedules seems too good to resist: a Charlie Daniels/Patrick van Aanholt double-up certainly appeals, but a pairing of perhaps Simon Francis and James Tomkins (depending on their starting prices) would free up funds to spend elsewhere.

FPL managers have numerous options available to them in defence: load up on premium assets; combine two big-priced defenders with a dovetailing pair; or perhaps even venture down the three-way rotation route. Peter Blake’s excellent article expounds on this last approach.

MIDFIELDERS AND FORWARDS

Fixture-led rotation, of course, is not just limited to goalkeepers and defenders. Rotating two budget assets in the fourth midfield spot or indeed interchanging a cheap, fifth midfielder with a similarly priced forward are two common approaches in FPL.

Midfielders Junior Stanislas and Ruben Loftus-Cheek would interchange well for the Bournemouth/Palace cycle, while Matt Ritchie and Glenn Murray (should the veteran striker still be in Chris Hughton’s first-team plans after the signing of Florin Andone) would perhaps work nicely in tandem after the first half-dozen Gameweeks are over.

As we mentioned in these articles last year, rotation in the attacking positions is arguably far more difficult to plan in the long or even medium term due to the inevitable fluctuations in form.

We are also, of course, two months away from the start of the 2018/19 season and there is much transfer activity to be done in that time: there are still over seven weeks until the summer transfer window closes.

Too much speculative talk about personnel pairings at this juncture would be unwise, given that we are also yet to cast our eyes over the FPL price list or witness any pre-season action. But we can, at least, begin to plan our strategies around the 20 Premier League clubs and their fixtures.

USING THE FIXTURE TICKER

The 2018/19 Season Ticker is now live in the Members’ area. By selecting any team in the Ticker and clicking “Sort by Rotation”, you will be able to 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. For a guide to using this feature, visit this chapter of our preview movie.

Over the coming month, we will take a closer look at the strongest rotation pairings on offer and discuss the potential assets available when considering the goalkeeper slots, interchangeable backlines and even options in the final third.

 

698 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Sub Dalsgaard(AUS) on for Cueva(FRA)?,

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Play them both and sub off someone who player later?

      (You can sub on/off anyone you like unlimited times, as long as they haven't played yet)

      1. ooooo
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        So I can sub on any sub as long as they havent played yet on for a player who has played?

        1. 420king
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Yes, just has to be within the deadline (before the first game of the day)

      2. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I swear you answered this same question last night too. Got a strong sense of deja vu

  2. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Do we expect Lingard and Maguire from start against Panama/Belgium

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      With Alli out I would say Lingard to play. I did not rate Maguire game but pundits did.

      1. ludaslol
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Oh Thanks for that, Any news on Carvajal vs Nacho yet?

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

          Carvajal is fit now but not sure about his starting

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

    Will i switch captaincy from Salah to Ronaldo, hope he repeats his form today?? Or stick with Salah ....
    Need some suggestions Guys....

    1. Trippier Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      As its early in the round id prob twist, but depends on the other cap options you have if Ronaldo blanks

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Tell ur other options

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

    Who to captain, Ronaldo (vs Morocco), Costa (vs Iran), or Cavani (vs Saudi)?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani though cr7 has pens

    2. Ciro Di Marzio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I have the same 3. I’m on ronaldo due to set pieces bit Cavani is tempting me!

    3. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I have Costa and Cavani, I'm giving the latter the armband.

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

      I've gone Ronaldo as the focal point of the Portugal team (think he's record chasing too) - Costa has disciplinary issues and may sub early, Cavani may interplay with Suarez and be less effective. Though Cavani has the weakest opposition

  5. fenixri
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Do you think I will need to wc for r3?

    Uzoho-Olsen
    Trippier-Meunier-Kimmich-Varela-Danilo

    Isco-Eriksen-Belhanda-Ljajic-Halffredsson

    Cavani-Jesus-Lukaku

    1. Trippier Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      You need to think about eng vs bel and if they've both qualified by winning next games as more subs in, are Denmark playing France in r3? Either wc in r3 or for QF

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Ist place on the cards will result in strong sides IMO

        1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Actually getting second in the group is advantageous tbh.See the draw

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I was going to ask you. Not looked, just presumed to play second spot in another group would help. Also momentum is important. Who are they likely to play?

            1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              1st plays plays second of group H(Colombia maybe) and 2nd place plays Senegal.In quarters 1st place plays winner of Brazil vs Germany and 2nd place plays winner of Mexico vs Swiss/Serbia most likely

              1. Eze Really?
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                Thanks for that

              2. Eze Really?
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                I got 35 to 1 on Germany Belgium final. I hope things work out LOL

      2. fenixri
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Plan is to WC in GF given how little FTs we get. Also this tournament is full of surprises. I think this team will hold good enough in GW3.

        1. fenixri
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          *WC in QF

  6. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    This is my team

    Ochoa elshanawy
    Salcedo godin varela r.rodriguez kimmich
    Isco coutinho layun cueva inui
    Messi cavani Salah

    Stick or twist with salah captaincy?

    Captaincy is like cavani to messi to coutinho to kimmich to inui

    1. Trippier Hazard
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      As per your advice Cavani has best fixture and form, hopefully you don't need to go farther than Messi though

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Hopefully

  7. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Guys, i have got a doubt.
    I have activated Maximum Captain Booster for Round 2. I have Salah(c) now. If Suarez or Isco (players i own) manage to score more points than Salah, would that Captaincy change automatically today itself or at the end of Round ?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      does it matter?

      1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        It doesn't really matter at the end of the round but matters for Daily update of Leaderboards.

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          in this format the daily updates mean nothing.

          it's over when the fat lady sings.

          1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Just for the daily bragging rights.

    2. Eden Wizard
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      read the rules

      1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        The rules doesn't mention about this.

    3. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rules are inconclusive-
      "This booster automatically makes the highest scoring player from your final playing 11 as the captain."
      Just wait and see tonight if either of your guys goes big and it auto switches. I'd also double check you activated it for R2 and not R3.

      1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Thank you. I was thinking if someone from the forum who had activated Max Captain booster for RD1 would know about this. Double Checked - Maximum Captain active for RD2 .

        1. 420king
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          ˇˇˇ

        2. Eden Wizard
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Oh look...the rules tell you SHOCK!

      2. Eden Wizard
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Seems incredibly conclusive.

    4. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      At the very end of Round 2 - verified.

      1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Thank you. I hope it doesn't end up with Salah. ☺️

        1. 420king
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          That would be a waste, yeah. GL

          1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Got a strong feeling Suarez would bite Saudis today. A strong differential as many opted for Cavani. Also got the PKs in his locker

            1. 420king
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Love that wording. 😛

              1. 420king
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                Also, I agree.

                1. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
                  • 11 Years
                  5 years, 9 months ago

                  Good Luck for the round

    5. azz007
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yes i played maxiumum captain RD1, left cavani captain all round and didnt chnage captains

      last night it updated to my hihgest scorer - Lukakau 20pts.

      i advise if you have maximum cpatain, dont chnage captain daily as not sure if this would affect it as the rules dont say otherwise.

  8. Eden Wizard
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Stick or twist 1*2? 😆

  9. fridge
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How many times can you switch your captain in the same round?

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      as much as you have players per day

  10. RyanC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Got Ronaldo but can’t overlook Cavani for captain. Anyone else?

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Im going big with Suarez C, De Arrascaeta and Varela 🙂

    2. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yep, I'm captaining Cavani over Ronaldo.

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani(c) varela and Godin

    4. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Suarez, but I'd back Ronaldo if I had him. Not much point spending 12m if he doesn't even qualify as one of your daily captain shouts

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        He also has pens over Cavani which is a massive consideration given what's happening

    5. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yep (c)avani for me

  11. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    If Arabian GK concede 8 goals and get red card, i cant swhitch him to Nigerian GK ?

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      not if he gets a red card, no

    2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      He get smacked by messing and co lol

  12. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Who've you all got playing today?

    El Kajoui, Varela, Suarez(c) and new friend Isco here

    GL everyone 🙂

    1. Root
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani and Varela

    2. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Guereirro, Ronaldo, Varela, Cavani(c), Pique, Isco.

      Big day ahead

    3. Lone_Wolf
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Muslera, Suarez (c) , Isco & Pique . . .not sure on Nandez !

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

      costa isco alba and varela bentancur cavani (c)

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Full house 😯

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

          quite scary really will be a long week if things don't go to plan
          mind you i have my mexican backup standing bye ARIBA ARIBA

    5. vickyz r3d d3vil$ !!!
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Same players here except El Kajoui. Good Luck to you too

    6. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Costa, Cavani, Varela & Muslera

    7. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani(c) isco godin varela

    8. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Al-Dawsari, Suarez(c), Varela, Gimenez

    9. white lightning
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I have 7 players - Varella, Gimenez, Ronaldo (c), Guerreiro, Pique, Isco, Costa.

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        😯 big day!

      2. Yes Don
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        eggs firmly in basket. Best of luck.

    10. George James
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      (C)avani, Ronaldo, Costa, Isco, Alba, Varela, Muslera

    11. Midlands Saint73
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani (C), Isco, Muslera

    12. Yes Don
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      (C)avani
      Godin
      Varela
      Costa
      Isco

    13. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Suarez (c), Cavani, Varela, Isco 🙂

    14. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Cavani(C)
      Muslera
      Varela
      Isco (new signing)
      That Saudi fella that I somehow still have in my team 😉

  13. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What's everyone's decision so far regarding chip/WC usage?

    My current thinking is:
    BB L16
    WC QF
    MC SF or Final

    Though I may be tempted to WC in R3

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Pretty much the same. Even I’m tempted to wildcard for Round 3 but I think it’ll hamper our selection for BB in R16 if we don’t have wildcard for QF.

    2. fenixri
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Same here. I think it's worth it to try get pass GW3 with team you got. We get so little FTs in QF.

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      WC round 2
      Bb r16
      MC sf or f

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

      Pretty much this.

      Although my one major concern is that I'm going to want a 4.0 defender and a 4.5m mid from an eliminated team for the final games so bench boost might not be best for R16.

      Hope Senegal get through and I can pick up Sabaly. 4.5m mid not as hard since Gazinsky is already through.

      1. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        If you have wildcard for QF then that shouldn’t matter.

    5. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      WC in round 3
      BB in round 3
      MC semis or final

      I think there is no point in BBing after group stages because you have to have 4.5 and 5.5 players and they are very scarce in the knockout stage

      1. Legomané
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Extra 5m budget should help

        1. SW6
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          It won't be enough to help make BB as useful imo.

          Look at the price of all starting mids and defenders at Spain/Germany/Brazil/Belgium etc.
          The cheap players in the KO stages will not have good fixtures like they do in the groups. Surely it's best to use BB to take advantage of when 4.5/5.0m defenders and ~5.5m mids have good fixtures and chances of scoring well.

          1. SW6
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            E.g. You may get 15 starters with your 105m in R16 but you'll probably still need Russians Vs Portugal/Span or Senegalese Vs England/Belgium. I think using it in the groups when you can have those cheap players Vs Saudi/Panama/Iran or whoever is better

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

            this exactly you can kiss 1 mill of that extra 5 goodbye straight away due to price increases then that leaves 4 mill for 15 players round 16 is prob the last time you will get a decent bench to use the BB chip after that we need to retain some fodder just to enable the better players

      2. Karan14
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        The budget will also increase by 5m in R16 so that argument isn’t valid imo.

    6. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      WC R3
      BB L16
      MC Final

    7. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah WC QF if you can - as it's only 3 transfers. So impossible without if there are any upsets or injuries. Agree BB L16 and WC SF or F.

    8. Midlands Saint73
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Don't we get unlimited transfers after group stage anyway?

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Fair play to Wilshere if he has left to play more football. Should go to Leicester IMO. He would fit in well with Vardy, Demarai Gray, Ndidi, Albrighton and would provide some oomph if Mahrez is leaving.

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      If his spell at Bou showed us anything its that he will have a job on his hands to rebuild his career. GL to him anyway

    2. Midlands Saint73
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Hoping he stays down south, ideally a bit further south than London.

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        France?

        1. Midlands Saint73
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Newport FC IOW

  15. Firmino
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Did Neymar to Kane, wise move?

    1. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Great move

    2. andy85wsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Kane hat trick incoming

  16. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I really need a Messi haul this GW to justify the 12m outlay.

    Go on lad.

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

      Think he needs to perform to still be relevant compared to Ronaldo for the casual fan.

  17. stat
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Did Jesus -> Salah before the start of this round and captained Salah.
      Shall I stick with his 16 pts or keep moving?

      June 20: Cavani vs Saudi Arabia
      June 21: Eriksen vs Australia
      June 22: Uzoho vs Iceland
      June 23: Lukaku vs Tunisia
      June 24: J Rodriguez vs Poland

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

        Twist

      2. Obligatory
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I'm in a similar situation. Captained Cheryshev and now have 14 points with him. Not sure where to stick or switch to Suarez or Silva for the games today

      3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Decent chance to beat that with Kaku, Eriksen and Cavani so I’d twist but I like to gamble

        1. stat
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Each goal scored by a captained striker is worth 8 pts, and each goal scored by a captained mid is 10 points.
            Each assist is 6 pts, each penalty win is 4 pts.

            This means that for a player to significantly outscore Salah (since an improvement of 4 points isn't that much) they would need to be involved in at least 3 goals.

            On the other hand there are some good looking fixtures there so I might be tempted to twist.

      4. ludaslol
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Most nailed/best pick for next 2 games

        A) Trippier
        B) Maguire
        C) Carvajal

        1. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Trippier

        2. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Definitely A

      5. timPgoodwin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Should I captain Cavani, Ronaldo or Costa today?

        1. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Cavani

        2. fattfattygavgav
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          All teams should win, it's just a question of by how many. I have a feeling Spain will come out with a point to prove and needing a win so maybe Costa. I also think they've played the best football in the tournament so far.

        3. retodd33
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          In exactly the same boat, I've gone Ronaldo. I feel like the other two fixtures could be whitewashes but with goals from a bit of everywhere. Where as Portugal's goals will just all go through Ronaldo. They're all good options though.

        4. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Think it has to be Ronaldo although I'm regretting not getting Cavani or Suarez on my wildcard

      6. fattfattygavgav
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Morning All,

        Which one for FiT?

        A. Suarez
        B. Cavani

        Thanks

        1. OldBenKenobi
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          A

        2. Fred54
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I have both in McDonalds....

          Looking at previous records over qualifying Suarez has much better numbers if you include assits while Cavani has more goals.

          WCQ games / Goals/ Assists
          13, 5, 7 Suarez
          15 10, 1 Cavani

          1. fattfattygavgav
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Cheers for the stats. The Saudi's have quite a small team so I'm tempted to go Cavani with his height. Suarez is on pens though and there's been quite a few of those this WC.

        3. noquarternt
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Either or. They share pens and both could get a haul.

      7. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I will put 3-4 euros on Iran win just in case 😉 😀

      8. OldBenKenobi
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Would you twist on Salah(c) if you had these captain options?

        - Ronaldo/Cavani/Isco
        - Coutinho
        - Kroos

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

          On Cavani yes.

        2. RyanC
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Cavani

      9. Sharkytect
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        during the game yesterday carlos sanchez had a minus 1 for conceding a penalty. But that's gone now, bringing him back up to -2. lots of others in my league have him. why has he been let off?

        1. SW6
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Apparently handball does not count for either positive or negative points interns in winning/conceding a penalty

          1. SW6
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            *in terms of

      10. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        A) Ronaldo and one of Suarez/Cavani

        B) Suarez and Cavani

        Just for today, no captains.

        1. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ronaldo + 1

      11. MartialMatas
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Who to cap today?
        I have Suarez, Costa, Nandez and Varela playing

        1. GoonerByron
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Suarez, easy pick for me

        2. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Suarez absolutely

      12. Vobinho
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Captain conundrum!

        Ronaldo, Suarez, Costa??

        TIA

        1. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ronaldoooooooooooooo

        2. GoonerByron
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Suarez

      13. laveshp
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I'm sure many are in a similar pickle.

        Captain Choice today:

        A. Ronaldo VS Morocco
        B. Cavani VS Saudi
        C. Isco VS Iran
        D. Keep it at Salah.

        Thanks!
        (Vote with reasoning would be much appreciated! - however if you can't be bothered, just vote) 🙂

        1. retodd33
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          You're not wrong, most of this page is people with the same query. For your situation I'd go A or B for sure. But I can't decide between the two, but I'm swinging towards A.

          1. Euro Raiders
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            You know what they say about a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

        2. Vobinho
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I have a similar problem, but have Suarez as opposed to Cavani. Suarez and Ronaldo both on pens, Uruguay started poorly but easier fixture, Portugal started well but have the tougher fixture. I have Costa but not keen on Spain as their points could come from anywhere. Tempted with Ronaldo I think.. Such a tough call!!

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

            APPARENTLY, Ronaldo is ONE GOAL AWAY from becoming the all-time top European scorer ever in International Football (Source: Squawka Football)

            And I would assume the Saudi's would not want to be punished in their home country for crashing out of the cup in a ridiculous fashion so I think they may tighten up a bit. (Source: Me)

            My heart has been swinging towards Cavani, but I think it has to be CR7.

          2. laveshp
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Hang on, I thought Cavani was on pens instead of Suarez? Am I wrong?

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

              they share them

            2. Vobinho
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              My understanding was Suarez 1st, then Cavani if Suarez is off the pitch. Still tempted with CR7...

      14. FPL Mentor
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Stick or Twist on Salah(C) 16pts?

        Other Captain options:
        20th - Cavani
        21st - Meza
        22nd - Neymar (Cout if out)
        23rd - Alderweireld (Triple BEL defence)
        24th - Fodder

        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I'm in same position and think it's better go safe

        2. GoonerByron
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Twist.. Cavani + Neymar/Cout should get you more.

      15. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Stick with salah's 16 points or twist?
        Have costa messi isco coutinho as options

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I would stick.

        2. Karan14
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I’d stick. Would twist if you had Cavani & Kane.

        3. GoonerByron
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          It's close but would probably stick..

        4. Kolarov Fpl Legend
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Stick as you don't have Ronaldo or Cavani/Suarez

        5. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks all

      16. Kolarov Fpl Legend
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Imagine fpl had this C sub option. Oh boy...

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

          This site would be unbearable

        2. andy85wsm
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ultimate FPL 😀