Today’s Members article is the third instalment focusing on player value. We turn our attentions to the top ten midfielders in our Members Projections area and analyse just why we anticipate each of them to be so budget-friendly Fantasy prospects in the upcoming 2011/12 campaign. With three of our top four are already justifying our hopes in early pre-season by finding the net in their respective clubs’ friendlies, some of the names are already blinking brightly on our radars…
ANyone know whether Formica will be added to the balckburn team?
Open ControlsNope - he will be a rotation risk with Teflon.
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Shame the bonus points system hass changed. I remember the bonus points algorithm from 2009/2010... Is chris eagles on the pitch? - if yes, give three points to Chris Eagles.
Open ControlsGiven
Brown, Nelsen, Cahill
Ephraim, VDV, Moses, Dempsey
Rooney, RVP, Drogba
Ruddy, Thomas, Simpson, Wilkinson
Ok so I know my defense is weak but think i will be able to rotate them ok.
Drogba has the obvious problem of a Mr Torres but will reconsider the Drogba option closer to the first Gameweek.
Thoughts or improvements?Open ControlsInteresting! So you've ignored issues around rotation and the fixtures and gone for heavyweight big guns up front? Ive seen it work before bizarrely!
Open ControlsMaybe downgrade drogba (suarez maybe if starter or carroll) and upgrade cahill to kompany or clichy. if cahill starts the season at bolton they've got some tough fixtures whereas citys is fairly easy.
in MF not sold on Moses or Ephraim. especially as starters and a fairly integral part of your team.
Mine is
Given (Ruddy)
Alcaraz Kompany Luiz (Simpson) (Wilkinson)
N'Zog Downing Toure VDV (Tiote)
Rooney(c) Suarez(vc) HoltOpen Controls
Anyone else experiencing difficulties logging onto FLP site? Each time I login the message 'an unexpected error has occurred' pops up. Usually after attempting to login a few times it works, and this is without changing password etc which I am certain are correct each time. Very annoying at this stage. Anyone else come accross this. A friend is also experiencing similar difficulties.
Open ControlsMy team so far.. expecting it to change a lot.. lol
Any thoughts?
Given (Mignolet)
A. Cole - Sagna - Rafael (Simpson, W.Brown)
Malouda - Valencia - Taarabt - Sinclair (Ferguson)
Holt - Hernandez - Tevez
Kinda expensive def with offensive wingbacks.
Not sure about Malouda, suggestions?
Tevez could be transfered for any top goalscorer at that price.
Holt, Taarabt and Sinclair are all top scorers and important in their teams, BP?! Not sure about having all 3 of them tho..Open ControlsCan someone offer up a 4.5 midfielder for me? I'm thinking Norwich look to have pretty good fixtures. I've also heard a lot about Dyer, but I don't know why he's supposed to be any good.
Current team is:
Given, Begovic
Simpson, Kompany, Shawcross, A. Cole, Bardsley
Silva, VdV, Barton, Moses, _____
Rooney, Bent, Zamora
Not entirely happy doubling up with Stoke Defence, but I feel it's a fairly strong team. Most of the time I think I'll bench Simpson and ShawX, and Moses or the 4.5 mid I put in. So I guess it might be nie to see who rotates well, or just get someone with decent early fixtures and get their price up.Open ControlsDyer for me. Sounds like the perfect 4.5.
Open ControlsNope, that's all 95.5m. 4.5 left for my midfielder. Impressive eh?
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Your team looks top class. One HUGE PROBLEM though. When you add it up it comes to 97M with one midfielder still to be input. So unless you are superman or dynamo the magician or have rigged the system some way you may think again buddy!!
Open Controlswell, not according to the site...
Hmmm, wonder if there's some kind of glitch...
Nope, I've added it up, and it's correct.Open ControlsI've checked it too and got 3.0 for the last midfilder as well, you should check it once again Soop
Open ControlsSoop, either there's some sort of glitch going on there, or you're wrong with the figures/players.
5 + 5 = 10
4 + 6 + 5 + 7.5 + 5 = 27.5
9.5 + 10 + 6 + 5 = 30.5
12 + 10 + 7 = 29
10 + 27.5 + 30.5 + 29 = 97
Leaving £3M to spend.Open ControlsOh shit. I put Yaya toure in instead of Silve. Duuhhh...
Well that's not as good a team. Maybe back to the drawing board.Open Controls
You're not going to get anyone "any good" for 4.5. I'm afraid Dyer is the best you'll find. Should start plenty of matches, won't be a massive card risk, and may chip in with the odd goal or assist. Decent enough for the bench.
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My team so far.. expecting it to change a lot.. lol
Any thoughts?
Given (Mignolet)
A. Cole – Sagna – Rafael (Simpson, W.Brown)
Malouda – Valencia – Taarabt – Sinclair (Ferguson)
Holt – Hernandez – Tevez
Kinda expensive def with offensive wingbacks.
Not sure about Malouda, suggestions?
Tevez could be transfered for any top goalscorer at that price.
Holt, Taarabt and Sinclair are all top scorers and important in their teams, BP?! Not sure about having all 3 of them tho..Open Controlsany guesses on how the arrival of aguero is going to affect silva, toure, and tevez or will mancini play all together?
Open Controlstbh, I have no clue how the starting lineup will look like.. If hTevez stays, Mancini gotta go for 4-4-2 imo.. I dont thing He will bench De Jong or Barry...
Open ControlsSilva always played when he was available for Mancini last season. I dont see that changing. I actually believe that rather than benching someone in the midfield Tevez role as sure starter is in jeopardy. Atleast in the "easier" games. There is no reason to waste valuable playing time for Aguero. I am not certain on Tevez and Aguero together. I would rather se Aguero and Balotelli for example if the 4.4.2 is played.
If Tevez stays and Mancini plays him with Aguero in a 4.4.2 the midfield will consist of
Balotelli/Johnsson, De Jong, Toure/Barry, Silva
Aguero, TevezOpen Controls
i think its not really worth tinkering with the teams ATM until agueros in the game! I can imagine sliva should benefit but again have to wait to see kun's price as to whos gonna be the best option
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I mean, is he going to start? Finished last season well, a steal at 6.0 if he is a starter.
Hopefully United dont get the CM they are looking for!Open ControlsI like him a lot, but if hes a starter he wont be playing the offensive role I prefer him in.. Young, Valencia & Nani, he cant bench any of them.. can he?
Open ControlsAgreed. But Anderson likes to drive forward, thats why he is in the team. For me its a question of whether he starts. I'd imagine Valencia and Nani play exclusively on the wings, and Young is more likely on the wings. So I dont see them challenging Anderson for a spot. It all depends whether United get another CM, doesnt it?
Open ControlsCarrick and Fletcher will be first choice CM and neither represent much FPL potential, so whether or not United sign someone I don't think Anderson will be first choice.
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Hopefully they do.
That wide load Anderson is not and will not be world class (imo), still have nightmares about his tap-dancing routine in front of Xavi/Iniesta etc in Rome 2009.
For 6m though, if he is a sure starter he will be worth consideration as an 'in' to the United midfield. There really are no bargains available there...Open ControlsWhat I mean is, Valencia and Nani on the wings, and young as off CM.. that leaves only the DM for Anderson (or anyone). Dont think that will be the case tho, Ferguson have to rotate on Valencia, Nani, Young, Hernandez and Rooney...
Open ControlsYoung won't play CM. He's too attack minded and will only play on the wing or the central attacking role behind a main striker striker when Rooney isn't playing that role.
Open ControlsIMO Two Centre mids when Rooney plays support striker/attacking mid. Both 'box to box' CMs. One more defensive ( Carrick, Flectcher or even Jones). The other more attacking (Anderson, Giggs, Park, Cleverly).
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young in the hole is interesting, but with rooney's #10 role i guess that they can't use young that way.
sadly it has to be rotation amongst young, nani and valencia on the two wings, i think.
anyone have any other ideas? maybe 4-4-2 with
valencia/fletcher (anderson)/nani/young
rooney/hernandez
4-3-3 doesn't seem to work at all.
4-2-3-1 with
valencia/fletcher (anderson)
nani/rooney/young
hernandez
just trying to come up with SOME system where those three MF assets aren't rotation risks!Open Controls
I did have my team yesterday, but having downgraded a couple of defenders, I'm looking to strengthen midfield
Currently for certain I have Lamps, Downing, Nzog - will prob downgrade Lamps once Chelseas regulars are known
Looking for 2 more from the following
Sess, Sinclair, Walters, Moses, O'Hara
Any opinionsOpen ControlsN'zogbia VS Bent... Round 1... FIGHT!
So, if one were to predict they will score roughly the same amount of points this season then surely N'Zogbia with his cheaper price is the better option.
Currently have Bent in my frontline but starting to wonder if I may as well save the 2.5m for elsewhere. OR option C would be to double up on Villa? Your thoughts please my respected fellow posters!Open ControlsI was going to double up, but I've settled for Bent. I think while N'zog is going to be his main supplier, I think everything is ultimately most likely to go through Bent. And Penalties.
Open ControlsI'm going for Bent as well. The penalty duties and change to a bonus system that favours goalscorers has convinced me. May double up at some point.
Open ControlsJust Bent for me. I don't fancy doubling up on them at the start, if I see some form from N'Zog then I can change that.
So many baps came N'Zogs way as he was the shining light in that Wigan team, whereas I don't think it'll be the case at Villa. The majority of the goals will still involve Bent I think, so he'll be enough for me. And I think Bent will be the big winner from the bap system change.Open ControlsGood reasoning from all of you. Thanks Soop, Jonty and Bubbles.
More than anything I think bonus points is the most poignant consideration (2.5m more for penalties alone is not enough to sway me). If this change in BPs means more of them will be going the goalscorers' way, that means Bent will get plenty and N'zgobia will have to fight it out with him (which he never had to do at Wigan).Open Controlsthose days of Nzogbia just getting those extra 3pts as standard are gone. If Villa win, it will more than likely involve a bent goal or two, even if Charles does his jinky magic.
Open ControlsExaclty why I'm going for Bent over N'Zog. This year Bent's goals will give him some baps.
Open ControlsYOU@RE ALL WRONG!
But Bent was 25th overall in the EA index last year, and N'Zog was 28th!
Its all very well to say that Bent will get you more goals, but that's one of your 3 precious goal scoring, BP hogging, strikers spots gone. YOu could give it to Carroll, get just as many goals and BPs from him, AND get N'Zogs points on top of that.Open ControlsAlways assuming that Liverpool score ... 😉
Open ControlsCarroll, Zamora, Aguero, whoever. I'd prefer to be getting their points and N'Zog's rather than Bent's and a lesser midfielder.
Open ControlsBut my argument is that N'Zog was 28th last year whist being the heartbeat of that Wigan team. The majoirty of their play went through him. I just can't see him being as instrumental this season, I may well be wrong, but that's just my opinion at the moment.
I plan (if I can actually hold out that long) to WC after GW11, and I prefer Bent to Carroll until then, well for the first few weeks at least.Open ControlsBent for me too, Bubbles ... and Nzogbia. Quite like the shape of Villa ...
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Bent rarely if ever assists.
Whatever advantage Bent has in terms of penalties and, from a wider perpective, goals scored... I expect N'Zgobia will be able to make up with assists and cleanie points.
That's why BPs will be so important in this debate. Rumours are more will go to goalscorers so for that reason Round 1 goes to Bent.Open Controls
Arggghhhh - why do I read this, you all make too much sense
Open ControlsVilla last year were arguably far more pants and far less likely to score. Also if Bent had had penalty duties last season his tally would have been far far higher.
Very difficult to compare a penaltyless Bent playing for a team all at sea to a penalty taking Bent playing for a team that by the looks of it will have more coherance to it and crucially will win more matches.
Winning matches is another factor in the new scoring system. Villa should win more this season.Open Controls
Hey, guys, come on...Last season Young scored some and assisted some more so N´Zogbia has the same potential to get the bonus points even if it is just 2baps!
Open ControlsThanks for the input. Just coz Bent may be more likely to get the 3, there's no reason Nzgos won't be getting the 2 or if I'm correct in understanding the new BP rules they could frequently tie for the 3!?
I'm just wary that my judgement may be clouded by the simple fact that Nzogs is cheaper than Bent. That is a consideration but I don't want to let it be the overriding factor in my decision making process.Open ControlsI have gone back and forwards over this one. For me it is down to pricing as much as anything else.10m is a great holding amount. Also,i regret not having Bent at some point every year. His early fix are golden and not sure I want to miss out. I don't see why zog is any better an early shout than albrighton or ireland.
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The only thing that should stop both of them firing would be super defensive tactics by McLeish, and even if that happens then it's easy to swap Zog down for of the many tempting 6.5s or Bent down to Suarez, that's my thinking anyway.
Open ControlsAnother thing that could stop them firing is their defensive mids not winning enough of the ball. Of all parts of their team, it was always this that needed strengthening IMO. Makoun, Petrov and Bannan? C'mon.. I don't think there will be much improvement on their defensive performance of last season.
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In the same boat and currently wishing I could pick 6 midfielders and just 2 strikers. Who would you have instead of Bent?
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Contrary to a story in today's Daily Mirror, Blackburn are not about to sign the Romanian striker Ciprian Marica. It's just been announced that he's signing for Schalke 04 instead.
http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/555810/artikel_perfekt_schalke-holt-marica.htmlOpen ControlsContrary to what Venkys say, they're never going to attract, let alone sign any decent players.
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Ok quick question guys
Benayoun & Toure
or
Taarabt & Ohara/Sinclair
My midfield is doing my head in now!
It was never gonna be easy cause i spent 33.5 on my strikers!Open ControlsIm going for Taarabt & Sinclair my self.. not sure about it tho..
Open ControlsQPR and Swansea rotate very well for the first four weeks...that's enough time to work out whether Taarabt and Sinclair are premiership material. If they don't score big then with their easy home games then they never will. that's why Taarabt and Sinclair is a superb combo at first.
Open ControlsUnquestionable logic from Jonty here people. Take note.
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I can see the temptation in both Benayoun and Toure although they are both risky picks. Especially Toure. I believe he will play deeper this season and he has himself expressed that he doesnt feel all that comfortable with last seasons more attacking role. If Mancini plays a 4.4.2 he will definetly not come forward as much as last season.
Benayoun is a rotation threat and far away from being a sure starter. I would consider taking a punt on him but the problem is if he is your only chelsea man your gonna have a hard time correcting your team if it turns out that he isnt in the starting 11.
Taraabt and Sinclair rotate nicely but I would feel the risk of depending to much on players and teams relatively unproven in PL.
I feel that Barton is a safer pick. My own city/chelsea-coverage is Silva as I see him as instrumental to citys play this season and Malouda as I believe him to be the best attacking player in Chelsea that is the closest your coming to a sure starter. Who knows where Lampard will play.Open ControlsUnless city sign some kind of attacking midfielder I think Yaya is a solid pick.
Two scenarios... IF Tevez were to leave I'd say Yaya's stock would rise even more as it would increase the liklihood of City continuing with a lone striker. I do not see Italian Roberto playing 4-4-2 anyway but it is a danger with Tevez and Aguero on the books.
2nd scenario... IF someone like Nasri were to sign, Yaya's stock would plummet.Open ControlsThe problem is it is unsure if Tevez leaves and even if Dzeko is bound to be playing sooner or later. He has looked better in preseason.
The question about Toure is this. Would you be comfortable captaining him? I would answer no to that. Silva on the other hand is captaining material.Open Controls
I know the first game shouldn't be too important but the fact that city have swansea first game is leading me to pick yaya over the zog. Is this madness? I always use my wild card early aswell
Open ControlsI am currently doing the same,
Yaya over Nzog because I want City coverage,
Bent is my Villa coverage but with Aguero now at City the two may be swapped.
Aguero and N'zog in Bent and Yaya out?Open Controls
hi guys, can anyone help? i've got the code for ffs h2h league but it wont allow me join. the code is only 5 numbers. is that right?
Open Controlsscratch that, it seems to have worked now. typical!
Open ControlsLots of delays and gliches on all the FF games atm, if they go wrong best to leave em, log out and go back ten mins later.
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Hi Man
How did you get the code ?
I am still not getting it...Open Controls
cheap striker alert: Blackpool accept QPR bid for DJ Campbell....welcome to the Jonty radar station Dudley.
Open ControlsThanks, definately someone to consider.
Open ControlsI can never work out how much the attraction is down to having a value goalscorer vs. having initials before the name...
Would as many select him if it read Dudley Junior Campbell??Open Controls
Morning chaps,
latest iteration is this lot...
Given - Ruddy
Kompany - Ivanovic - Enrique (if Lpool) - Hughes - Simpson
VDV - Silva - N'Zog - Moses - J.Thomas
Rooney - Suarez - Graham
My main concern is no Arsenal or Chelsea attacking coverage. Main reasons being I don't see any safe bets from Chelsea (did have Malouda but now unsure)... and the only Arsenal thats worth the money seems to be RVP...and Id prefer Rooney.
Thoughts would be appreciated???Open ControlsI was having the same problem with Arsenal and MU. But I decided Van Persie can wait till gw4 and Rooney till gw10.
If you are going to play 3-4-3 I would upgrade Graham. With 3-5-2 upgrade Moses / Thomas. Get the extra money from downgrading Ivanovic.Open Controls
Just a heads up on Aguero's price
Sun are putting his price as 5.5, with Tevez = 8
I reckon he's going to be 9.5 in FPLOpen ControlsSo Teves is 2/3 what he is on FPL.
All things being equal it would mean he'd be about 8.5 ... we can hope!!Open Controls8.5/9.5m he would be a V V tempting choice! (Therefore a complete re think of my strategy)
Open Controlsi recon 9.5 too dont see how he can be more expensive then suarez
Open ControlsDefinitely no less, expecting more. Suarez seems good value... maybe his price reflects opinions that Carroll is more of a team focal point? A lot depends on Tevez, and whether they assume/predict his exit... my assumption is that price will be more (10/10.5) to reflect this. (who knows?!)
Open Controls(the sun pricing seems mental on that one)
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About 520,000 currently active on FPL.
Last season was almost 2,500,000 wonder if the delay will effect the figures significantly.Open ControlsI know.
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Hey folks. Out of the Villa defence which is a) nailed on and b) most attacking?
Open ControlsDunne's gonna smash it this season
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I wouldn't bother, with the front options so obvious.
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Given
Ruddy
Cole A
Dunne
Rafael
O'Shea
Simpson
Malouda
Silva
Barton
Moses
Rooney
Bent
Zamora
all for 96.5 so I need to free up 1mil to get Dyer in as a sub at 4.5 by down-grading one of the above.
Anyone got any ideas?
All help appreciatedOpen ControlsYou do know there's a 4m midfielder don't you?
anyway it looks like you copied my team!Open Controlshaha, recon you've copied mine!
There is ferguson but don't think he'll play.
Main thing I do not want to do is have a sub who is goingt o drop in vlaue and have to waste an early transfer on a sub for another sub who will not play in my first 11!
Will choose a low picked 4.5mid so that he can't drop in value as easily (in theory).
I think O'shea is going to go for Bramble to make way for anothr 4.5 sub in mid.Open Controls
To Start A great run to Earn a nice rank....One must start the gw with great score....
Means what i am trying to say is If u earn a nice points in starting Gws...then afterwards even If one gw is not nice It will not affect much to the rankings....
So the turning point of the fantasy Lies in the Starting Gws.....Open ControlsTotally not true.
I always start badly and finish strong. From around January till season end, I usually go from around 300000 in rank to 5000. Caught up a 150 deficit over 4 months 2 seasons ago to win it!
Starting well is nice, of course, but the season is long and no lead is insurmountable early on.Open Controls
Attention all football fans!!!!
With the new season just round the corner this can mean only one thing, ITS FANTASY FOOTBALL time 🙂
The offical fantasy football league is up and running and ready for you too pick a dream team!
...
My league code is 14045-18011
Good luck, and here's some free advice "DONT PICK ANY WOLVES PLAYERS!!"Open ControlsMalouda + Walcott (Arsenal and Chelsea attacking coverage)
or
Silva + VDV
????
Or any combo of these?Open ControlsWal;cott is crocked again.
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Problem is I want che captain for gw 2 and 3, and I atm I only trust Lampard. That leaves me very short on defence, so thinking of playing Kompany and Luiz + one 4.0 defender - but is there sure starters at that price?
Orr?
Simpson?
Taylor (Swa)?Open ControlsThanks for the help with my team. Not convinced about Yaya, I see Silva as a potential captain, but not him. So I could either downgrade someone to get Silva, which would weaken my bench considerably, or I could scrap the city player and go with Sinclair and Taraabt.
Open ControlsHere you go:-
Given, Ruddy
Simpson, Kompany, O'Shea, A. Cole, Orr
Silva, Malouda, Barton, Moses, Dyer
Rooney, Bent, ZamoraOpen ControlsLike it.
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What's your team looking like at the moment mate?
Open ControlsFor me I only see value in City's defense and strikers (Hart, Kompany, Tevez and Aguero)
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Please rate my team lads:
Robinson (Given)
Gibbs Hangeland Cahill (Rafael) (Simpson)
Nani Van der Vaart Pennant O'Hara (Sinclair)
Van Persie Odemwingie Holt
Any help on where to improve my team???Open Controlsnot sold on your defence but each one to his own.
Nani- rotation threat
VDV- Bad fixturesOpen Controls
just took up the early bird members offer wow even more confused now but hey worth the purchase and leaves 50 quid shopping money in the bank for the missus too everyones a winner 🙂
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