Opinion

VAR impact on FPL may not be straight-forward

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to the Premier League in 2019/20 may not necessarily lead to more penalties.

Some Fantasy managers are already talking about assembling a penalty-taker XI as their squads for next season.

However, we have examined the data from other leagues that have adopted the system in recent years and discovered that the difference between having and not having it is not black and white.

In fact, the impact of VAR is likely to be a much more nuanced one with several different aspects of it affecting different types of Fantasy assets.

What impact did VAR have on other competitions?


Season before VAR Season after VAR
Bundesliga 98 93
La Liga 113 128
Serie A 137 126
World Cup 13 (2014) 29 (2018)

As you can see from the table above, in each of the selected competitions, there was no stand-out trend set by the introduction of VAR.

La Liga was the only one of the domestic leagues to see an increase in penalties awarded after the introduction of VAR.

In the campaign before it, they saw 113 spot-kicks given, followed by a 13.3% rise the year after.

However, both the Bundesliga and Serie A actually saw drops in the number of penalties given by referees after VAR was introduced.

In Germany’s top flight, they saw a decrease from 98 spot-kicks awarded before VAR was used, and just 93 afterwards.

There was an even bigger downturn in Italy, as 137 penalties given the year before VAR dropped to just 126 the year after its arrival.

It must be remembered that VAR will not only ensure missed fouls in the box are punished with penalties, it should also reduce the number of spot-kicks that were given erroneously.

The impact it had on the World Cup is probably why so many assume VAR will drastically affect the Premier League.

Out of the four competitions we looked at, it was the one that saw the biggest change in penalties awarded.

At the 2014 World Cup, just 13 were given, while a huge 29, more than has ever been awarded in the competition’s history, were given in Russia in 2018.

It must be said that in one sense, comparing two tournaments that were set four years apart is not necessarily a sensible comparison.

Refereeing tends to evolve from year to year, in terms of how the game is officiated and more will have changed between 2014 and 2018 than in just the short space of time between the league campaigns we have already referenced.

That is why their data holds more weight in assessing the impact of VAR, and it does appear, at this stage, hard to quantify considering the disparity between its effects on different leagues.

Would more penalties mean more goals?

Paul Pogba’s record from the spot this season did not inspire confidence in his owners

If we do end up with an increase in the number of penalties in the Premier League there is certainly a good chance that Fantasy assets responsible for the spot-kicks would benefit.

Options such as Luka Milivojevic, Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Joshua King could, therefore, be more appealing as a result.

However, not every penalty taker necessarily has a good record from the spot.

Paul Pogba and Gylfi Sigurdsson both missed three each in the 2018/19 season, the latter also showing a less than impressive record in such situations for his country.

He was one of the seven players who missed penalties at the 2018 World Cup.

Even Jamie Vardy missed a penalty this season, showing that even the most ruthless strikers are capable of failing to convert them.

As these misses carry points deductions for Fantasy managers, an increase in penalties would theoretically increase the chances of takers losing points as well as gaining them.

This should certainly be considered before simply filling a Fantasy squad full of players who take penalties.

What effect would VAR have on defensive assets?

Given his record of saving penalties, an option such as Jordan Pickford could excel with the introduction of VAR

There has been some concern that more penalties in the Premier League could be harmful to defensive assets.

To a certain extent, this could prove true, perhaps especially for Brighton.

They conceded more penalties than any other side in the division in 2018/19, the 10 they gave away two more than the totals posted by Cardiff and Huddersfield who were both relegated.

Liverpool can be less worried given that they conceded just one penalty in 2018/19, a trend that would need to continue to ensure strong value for the dearly-priced Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

However, revisiting the point made in the previous section, more penalties would not necessarily translate to more goals, if the takers fail to capitalise.

Crucially, an increase in penalties could actually prove a boon for goalkeeper assets.

If they are facing more spot-kicks each season, it could be argued that they will be getting more practise at saving them.

Therefore, one of the possible impacts of more penalties in FPL next season could be more penalty saves too.

That could be especially good news for Jordan Pickford, who was joint-top for penalty saves this season (three).

If Neil Etheridge were to earn an immediate return to the top-flight by leaving Cardiff City, he might also welcome the introduction of VAR as he also saved three penalties in 2018/19. Hugo Lloris also stopped two.

Meanwhile, there are a number of goalkeepers currently in the Premier League who have a decent history in the competition.

For example, Ben Foster is joint-fourth for all-time penalty saves in the Premier League with his seven, level with Burnley’s Joe Hart.

Also, from seven Premier League campaigns, Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc has five penalty saves.

175 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    I am all for VAR just as long it is clear and obvious

    And hopefully they will dish out yellow cards for exaggerated diving in the box

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      But who polices the VAR? If Chucky's involved, I'm out.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Season over !!
        😛

  2. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Definitely becoming a member next season as I've just been told it's a requirement to win FPL.

    And as I plan to be the first player to win two successive FPL seasons, seems a no brainer.

  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Is the CL final tonight?

    1. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Next week Sat

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Why so long? Surely this weekend made most sense?

        1. the Penman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          It’s the end of the season in France and I think Italy this weekend too.

  4. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone worked up a team of affordable pens takers yet? Will be how 75% of FPL starts next season.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Any defender pens takers coming up with the promoted sides?

      1. GoingUpUpUp
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Not from Norwich.....or from any position for that matter!!

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Norwich fan?

          Any players worth consideration?

          1. GoingUpUpUp
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Lots already talking about Pukki and Buendia.

            Vrancic is on the freekicks and is nailing them. Stipermann is instrumental.

            However, if you want someone off that radar look at Hernandez. Runs and shoots. BPS potential and his shooting was improving over 2nd half of season - the focus for him over summer will be more shots on target and goals to reward the positions he gets in.

            I hope so anyway...........season ticket of 35 plus years and one of teh best seasons i can remember

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Digne should nick it off from Siggy tbh.

  5. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    My view is managers will be instructing players to be more 'sensible' regarding tackles, shirt pulling etc in box, however what VAR will more likely bring is goals not standing (or obviously being given), simplest example I can think of was Aguero goal vs Watford 'scoring' with his hand

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

      Boly handball goal vs Man City. City would have won the title by even more points if that goal had not stood.

      1. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        There we are. Exactly

      2. Mysterion
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Nice cherry picking 😛

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    It would be interesting to see if certain teams saw an increase in penalties awarded for or against them across the two seasons (before VAR and after VAR)

    1. Saint Steve-O (@EliteFPL)
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I'm thinking my team Burnley

      1. Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Who is on pens again? Wood or Barnes or other?

    2. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      You mean the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A teams? Surely the sample would be too small to draw any meaningful conclusions w.r.t. the effect of VAR... same reason why the table in the article doesn't hold much more weight than the WC 2018 evidence, there just isn't enough data to try and make any useful predictions

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

        I agree it won't be much data. But I still think it will be interesting to see. Especially if you can see who (which player) won the penalties before VAR and after VAR.

  7. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    We need VAR, English refs are poor the last few years

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

      English refs will still be the ones administrating VAR

  8. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Are there any decent alternatives to the Daily Telegraphy Fantasy Cricket World Cup game, in which UK residents are eligible to win prizes ?

    1. Rohirrims
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      The official one looks quite decent..
      https://icc.dream11.com/classic/

  9. Rohirrims
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Cricket World Cup Fantasy game is live now. Is a FFS league in the works?

  10. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Luka Milivojevic Top Scorer incoming.

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Nailed in my team

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Palace likely to be without Zaha? Who wins most of the pens

  11. The Shaman
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Useful information would include:

    number of penalties scored in Premier League season 2018/19 (84*)

    number of penalties missed (18**) in Premier League season 2018/19.

    Number of penalties saved (16**) in Premier League season.

    This means that 17.6% of penalties were missed and 15.7% were saved.

    Two goalkeepers saved 3 penalties.

    9 goalkeepers did not save a penalty during Premier League season 2018/19 (but you would need to check out how many that they actually faced).

    The numbers of penalties faced by each goalkeeper is likely to be small but you may find that teams at the bottom of the league faced more penalties (I currently do not have time to look in to that).

    *https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/att_pen_goal
    **https://fantasy.premierleague.com then filter transfers by penalties missed or penalties saved

    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers

  12. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Man Utd being linked with Bale and Griezzmann

    But you just know they’ll end up with Daniel James and Sean Longstaff

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      No way Griezmann will go there. He's off to Barcelona I'd imagine. Bale maybe but he'll be 30 next season. They might be better off with Longstaff. God it feels good to say that.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Griezmann in particular looks like a classic “leaked” story to try to take pressure off the board... being linked with griezmann is a very different thing to signing him. Utd are in cloud cuckoo land if they think he’ll go imo (I’m a utd fan)

        1. Majestic Chanka
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yup, it’s like Van Persie leaving Arsenal, he wants to win stuff so not going near Utd!

    2. Nas
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      The wages of those two plus Sanchez probably surpasses the gdp of a small country.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Sánchez is the worst signing in man utd’s history, and probably in the running for worst signing by anyone ever

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

          Jack Rodwell to Sunderland has been worse surely

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            He’s up there along with Seth Johnson to Leeds

            The money wasted on Sánchez dwarfs those two though

        2. Supersonic Marv'
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          I give you, Andy Carroll.

          1. Mysterion
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Hey Marvin, if you've got a minute email me kurt-grohl@gmx.com

            No grooming involved 😉

            1. Supersonic Marv'
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              Dude I'm always suspicious of these requests for personal contact. Unless you can be up front about your intentions I fear they must be of questionable value. No offense.

              1. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                FFS don’t let us give details. It’s just an invite only site that is mainly but not exclusively FPL related. Why not create a new email account just for this? Nothing to lose 🙂

                1. Supersonic Marv'
                  • 7 Years
                  4 years, 10 months ago

                  Ah ok that's all it is. Without knowing that I could have imagined anything. I'm naturally paranoid.

                  1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
                    • 14 Years
                    4 years, 10 months ago

                    In this day and age I can't fault you Marv but this is nothing malicious at all..create a throw away email addy like WR says. Nothing to lose is there 🙂

                  2. Desertbug
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    4 years, 10 months ago

                    Total legit and nothing more or less than what they say it is

              2. Mysterion
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Haha none taken man, can't be up front on here without being modded it seems...

          2. Majestic Chanka
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Won a trophy and scored in another final for Pool.

            Maybe for the hammers though although he has had goals **when fit**

            I feel that’s a bit harsh on an honest lad.

            1. Supersonic Marv'
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              An honest lad? Always out on the piss, regularly turned up for training hung over then was first off the training pitch. Charged twice for assaulting his girlfriend. This is before we even mention that he was shite. For what was at the time our record signing I think he qualifies as liverpool's worst ever signing.

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Didn't he have to go & live in Kevin Nolan's house at one point for his own safety when at Newcastle?

                Always would hear urban legends about him constantly falling off stools drunk in the casino in newcastle also contributing to his injuries

                He's a frightening player when fit though

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

          I'm not sure how Woodward still has a job after the Sanchez transfer. It's good to see they are attempting to renegotiate his wage (either to be transferred or if he stays).

          It's arduous to see Herrera leaving.

          What to do with Lukaku if we bring in Griezmann? Loan him out to Chelsea? Ha

          Bale on the right flank makes sense for his pace. I would have liked to see Mata have more game time. I think he had a positive impact with his creativity when he was on the pitch this season.

          WE really need to sort out our defense.

    3. Vobinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I think James, Longstaff & Moussa Dembele are realistic targets.

      De Ligt would be absolutely huge if that happens - Raiola is the agent after all. But Barca will probably get their man in the end.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Dembele would be very interesting, bags of potential

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      If given choice, I'd pick James & Longstaff + Moussa Dembele

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Bale won’t move I imagine. I rather hope he doesn’t as I admire his stance. Has a few years left to play perhaps but even if he took a huge pay cut he’d be paying about 200k a week for the pleasure of playing. I wouldn’t.

    6. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Griezmann is a dick. I hope him and Rabiot don't come. These personalities are a big reason why United are where they are. Players coming to pick up a wage, and not to play for the badge. This is why youth devepment is so important.

      Two of the most successful teams, Pep's Barca & Fergie's United, were assembled through their youth academies. The players were passionate and hard-working, and played for the badge.

      Griezmann and Bale are mercenaries, just like Sanchez.

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        The problem there is that you can wait an awful long time for a Pep Fergie team to appear in your academy. It is possible after all to buy in talent that becomes devoted to the cause: Rio at United is one example and Henderson at Liverpool another.

        I’d be looking for leaders as much as talent. Arguably that’s what VVD has brought to Liverpool.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah, I suppose you just need a strong core of the right type of players to influence the minority of divas.

          Griezmann and Pogba could do some serious damage to opponents, so it may be worth stomaching them, and hope the rest of dressing room rubs off on them...

    7. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Hope Bale stays far away. He doesnt even like playing football any more.

  13. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Great article, nice to finally see some data on VAR, and (unsurprisingly) it doesn’t show a significant increase or decrease in quantity of penalties awarded vs a non- VAR environment

    Across top 3 leagues in Europe with VAR there were 347 pens awarded vs 348 in their prior seasons without VAR

    Admittedly it’s not a huge sample size, but light years ahead of the World Cup in terms of usefulness for forecasting FPL

    That’s not to say there won’t be more penalties next year of course (there were 103 this season, the highest ever premier league count has been 106, twice, in 2009/10 and 2016/17 and lowest ever was 52 in 2001/02 so we can have wild swings in quantity of pens without VAR) but if there is an increase/decrease, it’s going to be difficult to attribute it to VAR imo

    The timing aspect could muddy the waters, but unless i’m missing something there really doesn’t look to be a lot of objective support for penalty takers being any more or less valuable than they would have been without VAR

    The World Cup is absolute bollocks as a comparison imo - it has zero useful relevance for FPL, May as well compare it to quantity of spiders in the shed before and after VAR

    1. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Don't see how it's "light years ahead of the World Cup in terms of usefulness for forecasting FPL"

      Slightly better but still only one season with vs. one season without in leagues where the tech isn't applied in the same ways. Another difference is that PL refs have had relatively more time to adjust to VAR as they've been testing it behind the scenes throughout this season

      It won't be a surprise if there is no significant increase/ decrease in the PL next season, but it also won't be a surprise if there is. Pure guesswork at the moment... and like you say, even if there is an increase/ decrease it'll be difficult to attribute it to VAR

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        A world cup is what, 64 games? That's about equivalent to 6 weekends of premier league fixtures, before taking into consideration the quality differential in teams in a WC

        The Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A sample is what, 1,140 games? That's equivalent to... i don't have my calculator to hand, but its equivalent to a lot more than 64 international games, a fair few of which are involving comedy teams from footballing superpowers such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia, Costa Rica & Co.

        Hence the World Cup is absolute bollocks as a comparison imo - it has zero useful relevance for FPL

        As i said, that’s not to say there won’t be more (or less, or the same) penalties next year of course (there were 103 this season, the highest ever premier league count has been 106, twice, in 2009/10 and 2016/17 and lowest ever was 52 in 2001/02 so we can have wild swings in quantity of pens without VAR)

        At least we agree that it won't be a surprise if there is no significant increase/ decrease in the PL next season, but it also won't be a surprise if there is.

        How many spiders are in your shed?

        1. Mysterion
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Didn't suggest or mean to imply that the WC was of any use, it isn't. The league data is obviously better, but still not really relevant or "robust" enough to make any useful predictions for the PL next season

          1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Yep, we basically have 3 seasons of data that shows no significant increase or decrease in quantity of penalties awarded in a VAR vs a non- VAR environment...

            And we can't be sure that there won’t be more (or less, or the same) penalties in the PL next year vs. this year or prior years...

            And the three seasons of data is light years ahead of the World Cup in terms of it's usefulness for forecasting FPL

            I found the article very useful in helping shed some light on this

    2. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I think it’s a club level where it will vary wildly. If Cardiff we’re still about they would see an increase.

      Maybe your Liverpool’s and Historical Man Utd’s will see drops.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Yep, all guesswork - impossible to tell whether VAR will have any impact, evidence seems to suggest it won't impact the overall count awarded very significantly in one direction or another

        1. Majestic Chanka
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          People have always said decisions balance out over a season. I’ve always thought that was nonsense, especially at club level, but maybe at league level it’s true.

          Are roughly as many pens wrongly not given as are wrongly given?

          I do find it amusing the people complaining of a small sample size. They need to remember that a single premier league season is also a small sample, so trying to apply a general trend over decades (or whatever timescale is deemed long enough) to a single season is pointless.

          1. Mysterion
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Well yeah of course it's pointless, this article may as well have been reduced to "VAR impact on fpl: don't know tbh"

            1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
              • 14 Years
              4 years, 10 months ago

              They can't really forecast VAR's impact though, they can only show the data available and let people draw their own conclusions

              1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Or i suppose they COULD forecast VAR having no significant impact on quantity of pens - but we've already seen penalty quantities vary hugely in a non-VAR environment, so is adding VAR going to be the cause of the change in penalty count (if there is one?)

                I think for me anyways, what I'm getting from this whole thing is, I'm not queuing up to sign penalty takers any more (or any less) than i would be in non-VAR - for now anyways

                If there are 10 penalties awarded in the first weekend, who knows...

              2. Mysterion
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 10 months ago

                Yeah I'm not expecting a forecast, just saying I'm not even gonna try and draw any conclusions based on the limited data available

                1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
                  • 14 Years
                  4 years, 10 months ago

                  It's almost like VAR is a bit of a red herring in a way

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I must admit, I was expecting an increase in pens purely because of the World Cup. I hadn't given it serious thought. But it's such a small sample size with a sizeable gap in between so its credibility pales in comparison to league data above.

      It seems unlikely to make much of an impact, so I'll probably ignore it...

    4. Vobinho
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Taking a step back and looking at the season as a whole, I reckon the poorer sides near the bottom will see an increase in penalties given and the top sides will start keeping less CS as a result.

      Will be interesting to see if the introduction of VAR impacts on the pricing of TAA/Robbo etc

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        It would be cool if someone somehow pulled together a video analysis of every penalty ''incident'' in the league this year

        And then went through them and categorised them according to VAR, I think what you are saying could be a good prediction

        I remember Salah & Auba in particular getting some very dodgy penalties awarded, and Cardiff (Also Burnley?) in particular not getting what looked like cast iron penalties

        So overall no significant change to pens awarded, but pen takers in the bottom half get an extra 1 or 2 (or 3) pens... I think it could still be very hard to turn that into something actionable to give an edge for an FPL manager though

    5. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Love this post mate

      Don’t have a shed but relate

      #citylife

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Of the Top 30 top scoring players in FPL - 25 of them play for one of the Top 6 and Everton.

    The exceptions are Vardy, Jimenez, Wilson, Fraser and Milivojevic.

    Really does pay to focus on Top 6 players in the bulk of your team. I think Everton will also be good next season because they have no European football and momentum (particularly defensively) coming in from the back of last season.

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Don’t especially disagree but the data switches around almost entirely if you look at value over the season - where the top 6 don’t feature much beyond the Liverpool 4. There the majority come from bottom 14 sides. Getting the Fraser Wilson AWB Jim Etheridge Rondon type decisions right is just as critical as they enable the top 6 players.

      One thing I’m curious about is what price swings we’ll see in the big defenders. Those who had them this last season scored a double whammy of points and team value increase. My feeling is that if they come in at the top end then their value may be relatively static as per Mo last season.

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

        You need to find those 3/4 players at each position to complement your Top 6 / Everton players.

        This season they were Etheridge, Doherty, Fraser and Jimenez.

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Incidentally Everton will surely lose Zouma anyway and possibly Gueye too. I’m a bit sceptical about that defence next season right now

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

        Good points on Zouma and Gueye. Hoping PSG go for Doucoure rather than Gueye and Chelsea have given up on Zouma and so let him go.

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

      Good post. Pity we can't pick more players from 1 team as Liverpool probably provide about 7 of the top scoring players. Be nice for Everton to get a few players and kick on next season, form fab.

    4. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Since Man U only have one player in the top 30, I prefer to look at it as 26 of the top 30 scorers are from the top 5 plus Bournemouth and Everton.

      Wilson and Fraser interestme . So do Pickford and Digne but not as much if the defenders mentioned leave.

  15. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Extra time or penalties in League Playoff?

    1. Andy'81
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Extra time.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers.

  16. Andy'81
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Treble treble, how could they know?
    Hot tramp, I love you so!

    Celtic at it again.

    1. Thomas Jerome Newton
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Hey Lennon, your hair's alright...

  17. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Jennings goal

  18. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Mike Dean celebrations on tv imminent

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Us fans seeing him celebrating his head off is like elementary school students seeing a High School Principal going out with friends to watch a movie.
      So f*cking weird.

  19. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    VAR to beat TBC and NONE as top scorer+assister in the league next season.

  20. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Wow, deadzone very much activated haha

  21. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Bored of studying for a bit 🙂 are there any websites where you can draft teams for next season with predicted prices?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Ha ha

    2. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      If your studying use pen + paper maybe?

    3. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Try FFFix...

  22. jtreble
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    FFS: nice VAR article. Thanks.

  23. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    UCL Final predictions (bearing in mind this has been one of the most unpredictable that I can remember!)?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Spurs win on Penalties

    2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      3-3 draw, 4-4 AET

      Spurs win 10-9 on pens

    3. HNI
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Whoever leads will lose. ATleast i have learned big lesson from UCL this season. Always estimate the underdog never underestimate

    4. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Liverpool 3 Spurs 1

  24. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    These transfer rumors are very cruel 😕

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

      Just follow Sky sports, they the only one who post accurate news. For now speed king Daniel James is coming to Manutd and greedy De gea wants Sachez wage. Nothing else accurate. Daily mail and Mirror and had main litigations for posting wrong news. They even printed a false interview with Martial inspite of Martial confirming he never met them nor he knows to speak english lol

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        😮
        That's pathetic.
        Thank you for information mate.
        I hope it's a De ligt full transfer window for Manchester United 😛

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

          I will settle for less expensive Skriniar. Just need Ac milan to bump Inter off ucl spot so he can come

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Nice option too.
            Lukaku out for Defender + 40m £ .....
            😉

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      They are just rumours

      Man Utd are linked with more than any club just purely for click bait

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Yeah.
        Very lazy journalism too. Everyone post same headline with same content with same source 😀

  25. HNI
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Quotes from Current FPL Champ:
    I’m Pretty Sure I Spent Less Preparation Time On Gameweek 1 Than In Previous Seasons.
    “it’s An Increasing Feeling There’s Not Much To Be Gained By Putting Together A Team Before The Last Day Or So Before The Gameweek 1 Deadline, And SOMETHING TO BE LOST BY CONSTANT TINKERING.

    Guess just bother with FPL once community shield is done for 6/11 players from Mcity and Liv for new season. Hoping to take out 3 1s from my 1111 overall finish lol

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah.
      Too much thinking results in only tragedy for me 😀

      Good thing is there isn't any price changes till deadline so can do with last week planning. (Having said that i know I'll form my team ASA the game comes out 😛 )

    2. GUNNERINHO
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Next season your team name should be RECKLESS 1111

  26. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Can't see why any top drawer player would want to sign for Man Utd.
    A club in decline which won't be arrested whilst OGS is at the helm and no ECL football.

    1. Diva
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Are you going fishing this weekend Slouch?

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Looking for a few bottom feeders

        1. Diva
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          I'm sure he knows a good place to catch those.

      2. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Just cast my bait.

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Dude it’s Man Utd.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Dude they're a shambles . Who in their right mind would sign for them ahead of a host of other European clubs ?

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      They light years behind. They have become the butt of everyone's jokes. They have had 2 quality managers and millions to throw at players and they are getting worse and worse. It's great to watch though for non fans. Being a huge club doesn't mean you come out of it, look how long it took Liverpool and they are a massive club.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        And may I point out that Liverpool still haven't won anything

        97 Points just ain't good enough 😎

        1. George Sillett
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          It should be a guaranteed 6 points from Man U anyway.

        2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Yep. They ain't winning the final either. Double the dissapointment hopefully 😉 .

          1. Syd.
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Fingers crossed xx

    4. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      I agree with the sentiment of your post for two main reasons.

      1/ I don't believe OGS is heavyweight enough to manage a club of this caliber I'm afraid. What is clearly needed is a proven "A" lister authoritarian figure with a CV that includes trophies at the highest level.
      2/ Unfortunately his honeymoon period included some of the best sex Utd have had for quite some time post Maureen and his fumbling missionary position.

      I think there is still too much poison within that club and just because the players were willing to bust a gut for a few weeks to lay the blame entirely on Missionary Maureen was a proven false dawn.

      They have shot themselves firmly in the foot yet again.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Spot on.

      2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        To be fair they had Jose and Van Gaal who met requirement for number 1 though and still failed ( barring the cups the no one else picks a strong team for )

    5. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Why did Griezmann put his move to Barcelona on hold then when he heard there was a chance we might be interested? The players want to come, we just wont throw the money about like the others

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Of course The Daily Mail tells the truth , the whole truth and nothing but the truth .

        1. Poseidon.
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 10 months ago

          Is that one of your British papers? My bro Kyle told me about Griezmann, not them

          1. George Sillett
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 10 months ago

            Jeremy Kyle is as reliable as The Daily Fail.

      2. Majestic Chanka
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 10 months ago

        Must have heard about that Sanchez contract and that Utd oil money! 🙂

  27. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Barcelona 0-2 Valencia after 35 minutes

    Looks like Liverpool's win was nothing to write home about

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      Pub team.

  28. TokyoRed 東京赤
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    I wonder if the number of penalties will initially increase, then revert to mean as players see the impact? The overall consistency between seasons before and after in other leagues is over the year, would be good to know if there’s an initial spike.

    I assume some of the smarter players will be able to adjust in advance 🙂

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 10 months ago

      They could decrease given the number of dubious penalties given last season, it will be a case of wait and see.

      I just hope it is just for clear and obvious errors and none of these dubious handballs or Salah going down because somebody in the box farted.

  29. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    Interesting article. I'd be interested to see too how VAR affected the goals scored from set-pieces in the league after it was introduced? Players won't be able to hold or wrestle their opponents from set-pieces anymore. I think in the World Cup there was a lot of penos given for holding etc. on set pieces.

  30. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 10 months ago

    So the new Tory leader eh?