The waiting is finally over. This afternoon, the doors swung open on the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game for yet another season, allowing Fantasy managers the chance to finally assemble our new 15-man squads with just over a month until the 2013/14 campaign kicks off.
This time, there are no teasing tweets from the Premier League with two or three player prices every day for a week. Instead, we’re straight in at the deep end, with a brand new bonus point system to consider, an update on the assist definition and the use of statistics from our data partner, OPTA.
Intriguingly, the FPL have been completely transparent with the new bonus scoring system. Statistics such as recoveries, clearances, blocks and interceptions, crosses from open play, key passes, “big chances” created or missed and pass completion percentage are all amongst many critical indicators – you can click on The Scout tab to find out more.
The inclusion of OPTA data makes our members area all the more valuable to FPL managers this season and we intend to add extra tables, offering tailored tables of the relevant stats and a breakdown of the bonus allocation over the last two seasons in accordance with this term’s new rules. As with all our tables, members will be able to slice these by Gameweek range intervals for home and away matches and of course our player comparison tool will be mighty handy when it comes to selection when considering the factors at play behind the bonus points.
A quick glance at the assist ruling update is also eye-opening. The below statement indicates players will no longer be afforded an assist if their pass/cross into the penalty box is cleared by an opposing defender prior to a team mate scoring, for example – an award that has proven contentious in years gone by.
Significant Deflections
If an opposing player touches the ball after the final pass before a goal is scored, significantly altering the intended destination of the ball, then no assist is awarded.
We’ll digest the new features in full and roll out a series of articles – including Player List analysis – in due course but, for now, this is just a heads-up. Enjoy tinkering, folks.
