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Fantasy Premier League Tips for Gameweek 10: A Dash of Strategy and a Sprinkle of Whimsy

2024-10-31T14:07:00.006+00:00

Ah, Gameweek 10 is upon us! The crisp air of autumn in the air, and just like our favorite footballers, it’s time to shake off the dust and strut our stuff in Fantasy Premier League. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or just dipping your toes into the magical realm of FPL, here are some tips to help you conquer this week’s challenges.

1. Assess Your Squad: The Crystal Ball Approach

Before you set your transfers in motion, take a good, long look at your squad. Are there any injury clouds looming over your players? Check the news—it's like peering into a crystal ball to avoid disaster! Players like Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland often steal the spotlight, but make sure they’re fit to play before you bank on their brilliance.

2. Fixture Foresight: Who’s Got the Easy Ride?

A wise manager knows that not all fixtures are created equal. This week, look out for teams like Manchester City and Arsenal, who are facing off against relatively weaker opponents. Think of them as knights embarking on a quest against hapless goblins—there’s glory to be had!

3. Captaincy Conundrum: The Crown Jewel

Choosing your captain can feel like a royal decision, and it often makes or breaks your week. For Gameweek 10, consider players with a favorable matchup and recent form. Here are some striker options to consider, especially from teams facing weaker opponents:

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): The goal-scoring machine continues to be a popular choice. If City are facing a struggling defense, he could easily bag a brace or more.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal): If Arsenal is up against a team that’s been shaky at the back, Jesus could shine. His ability to create chances and finish makes him a solid captain pick.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa): If Villa’s fixture looks promising, Watkins could capitalize on defensive lapses. He’s been in decent form and has a knack for finding the net.

If you’re feeling bold, why not hand the armband to a lesser-known hero? After all, every fairy tale needs a surprise twist!

4. Differential Darlings: The Hidden Gems

While the superstars shine bright, there’s beauty in the overlooked. Scour your team for differential picks—players owned by less than 10% of managers. They’re the underdogs ready to spring a surprise. Here are a few hidden gems to consider for Gameweek 10:

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United): With a knack for finding the net and a favorable fixture, he could be a sneaky addition. Keep an eye on his form, and if he’s in the starting lineup, he might just deliver the goods.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford): Mbeumo has been quietly impressive and could capitalize on set pieces and counters. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, he might just fit the bill.
Che Adams (Southampton): With his ability to score in crucial moments, Adams is often overlooked. If he gets a starting spot, he could be a delightful surprise in your lineup.

A well-timed goal from a fringe player can send your rank soaring, like a phoenix rising from the ashes!

5. Set-Piece Sorcery: Goals from Unlikely Places

Don’t forget about those delightful set pieces! Players like James Ward-Prowse or Trent Alexander-Arnold can be your secret weapons. Corner kicks and free kicks are like magical spells—one well-placed kick can change the course of your game week!

6. Stay Updated: The Gossip Mill

In the whimsical world of FPL, news can change everything! Keep an eye on injury updates, press conferences, and transfer rumors. A player’s potential to start can swing wildly with just a hint from a manager’s press conference—like a plot twist in a gripping fantasy novel.

Final Whistle

As you prepare for Gameweek 10, remember that Fantasy Premier League is as much about strategy as it is about having fun. Embrace the highs and lows, and may your team triumph like a hero in an epic saga!

Happy managing, and may your points soar higher than a dragon in flight!

Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 9 Recap: Top Performers and Underachievers

2024-10-31T14:07:00.005+00:00

Gameweek 9 brought its fair share of surprises, as top players jostled for points, some unexpected names rose to the occasion, and fan favorites faltered. Whether you’re riding high on the leaderboard or looking to make up ground, here’s a breakdown of the week’s best and worst performances.

In Gameweek 9 of the 2024-2025 Fantasy Premier League, Bryan Mbeumo was the star, scoring 15 points with two goals in Brentford's thrilling 4-3 win over Ipswich. He continues to demonstrate his scoring ability, making him a valuable asset for fantasy managers.

Mohamed Salah contributed 10 points in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Arsenal, while Bukayo Saka added 9 points for his goal in the same match. Conversely, Erling Haaland disappointed many with just 6 points after a lackluster performance despite scoring.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also continued his struggle, failing to score for the fifth consecutive match, leaving his owners frustrated.

Gameweek 9 taught us that while FPL is all about planning, sometimes the game surprises even the best-prepared managers. Balancing premium and mid-tier assets and staying adaptable will help you stay competitive. Best of luck in Gameweek 10—may your captaincy choice bring the haul you’ve been hoping for!

Fantasy Premier League 2024-2025: Mid-Season Recap and Key Insights

2024-10-31T14:07:00.001+00:00

With the 2024-2025 Fantasy Premier League season well underway, it’s time to reflect on some of the season’s biggest developments, standout players, and key trends that have kept FPL managers engaged. From high-performing stars and rising differential picks to frustrating underachievers, the first part of the season has given managers plenty to think about. Here’s a look at the highlights so far and what to consider going forward.

Standout Players: Consistent Point Earners 🌟

Certain players have stood out for their consistency, rewarding managers who invested in them from the beginning. Here are some of the season’s key performers:

1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah has once again solidified his status as an FPL essential. His combination of goals and assists has made him the top captaincy choice for most weeks, and his returns have justified his premium price tag. His popularity in the FPL community is as high as ever, and he remains a must-have as Liverpool continues to push for a top spot.

2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
After a record-breaking season in 2023-2024, Haaland has continued his scoring ways, making him a dominant forward option. Despite a few quiet gameweeks, he’s largely maintained his reputation as one of the top assets in FPL. Managers are regularly captaining Haaland due to his goal-scoring ability and consistent City setup that plays to his strengths.

3. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
With Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich, Son has taken on a more central role at Tottenham and adapted seamlessly. He’s become a valuable out-of-position asset, playing forward while still classified as a midfielder. His contributions, both in goals and assists, make him a high-value pick and a staple in many FPL teams.

4. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
Newcastle’s defense has remained strong, and Trippier’s set-piece prowess has led to consistent point hauls. With assists, clean sheets, and the occasional goal, he’s been one of the top-performing defenders in FPL, making him popular among managers looking for steady returns from the backline.

5. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Watkins has enjoyed a stellar season so far, especially in home games where he’s been nearly unstoppable. His goal-scoring form and Villa’s favorable fixtures have seen his ownership soar, making him a reliable option for those looking for a mid-priced forward with high upside.

Differential Players: Hidden Gems ⚡

In addition to the stars, several under-the-radar players have emerged as valuable assets. These “differentials” have provided managers with an edge in mini-leagues:

1. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Classified as a midfielder but often playing as a forward, Mbeumo has been a great value pick, particularly for managers on a budget. His combination of goals and assists, along with Brentford’s favorable schedule, makes him a solid option for anyone looking to save on budget without sacrificing points.

2. Pedro Neto (Wolves)
Neto has quietly amassed a solid points haul for Wolves, excelling in assists and contributing goals. He’s low-owned, making him a powerful differential pick for managers willing to take a risk on a lower-priced midfielder with high involvement in attacking play.

3. Matty Cash (Aston Villa)
With his frequent attacking runs and contributions to Villa’s defensive stability, Cash has emerged as a popular mid-priced defender. His attacking returns have caught the attention of FPL managers, particularly when Villa has a string of favorable fixtures.

4. Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
Alvarez has become a breakout player this season, with regular starts and contributions in both goals and assists. Priced lower than Haaland, he provides a way into the City attack for managers on a tighter budget, and he’s proving to be a valuable asset for those looking for differential points.

Underperforming Assets: Popular Picks Falling Short 😕

Not all FPL picks have met expectations. Here are some of the season’s disappointments so far:

1. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Fernandes has had a frustrating season, with Manchester United struggling to find form. Despite his potential for creativity and goals, the lack of returns has led to a decline in his ownership. Managers who started the season with him are now weighing other options.

2. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
Despite flashes of brilliance, Sterling’s inconsistency has made him a challenging pick for managers. Chelsea’s unpredictable form has affected his returns, and managers may consider moving on unless Chelsea can find consistency in attack.

3. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)
Initially hyped as a budget-friendly forward, Jackson’s lack of goals has disappointed those who invested in him early on. Chelsea’s struggles have contributed to his lack of returns, making him a frequent transfer-out for frustrated managers.

Popular Strategies: Formation and Transfer Trends 🔄

Managers have employed several strategies this season to maximize points, including shifting formations and focusing on transfers based on fixture difficulty:

3-5-2 Formation: With a plethora of high-performing midfielders, many managers have opted for a 3-5-2 formation, maximizing returns from midfield while selecting one or two reliable forwards.
Rotating Midfielders: As premium midfielders like Salah and Son have shown consistent form, some managers are rotating budget and mid-priced midfielders to take advantage of fixture swings, bringing in players like Mbeumo, Neto, or Eberechi Eze for strategic matchups.
Budget Defenders: Many managers have sought value in defense by investing in cheaper options who offer both clean sheet potential and attacking returns, like Matty Cash and Destiny Udogie. This allows for more budget allocation to premium midfielders and forwards.

Key Takeaways for the Rest of the Season 📈

As the season progresses, here are a few insights and trends that may shape the second half of the 2024-2025 FPL season:

Monitor Fixture Swings: Keeping an eye on fixture shifts can be crucial, especially as winter congestion approaches. Teams with favorable matchups, like Aston Villa and Tottenham, offer managers a chance to pick up points with in-form assets.
Plan for Injuries and Rotation: With international breaks and cup competitions, expect squad rotations and potential injuries. Depth on the bench is becoming increasingly important to ensure your team stays competitive.
Evaluate Premium Picks Regularly: While Salah and Haaland are reliable picks, other premium assets need to justify their price tags. It may be worth exploring differentials if premium players falter in upcoming fixtures.
Consider Differential Captains: Standard captain choices like Haaland and Salah dominate ownership, but managers looking to catch up in mini-leagues may consider taking calculated risks with differential captains in favorable matchups.

The 2024-2025 season has already given FPL managers a lot to think about, from star performers to high-value differentials and disappointing underachievers. With thoughtful planning, careful squad management, and some well-timed risks, there’s plenty of room to rise through the ranks. Good luck with the rest of the season, and may your captain picks bring home the points!

Introduction to Fantasy Premier League: How to Get Started

2024-10-31T14:07:00.000+00:00

Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is a global online fantasy football game where you manage a team of real Premier League players and earn points based on their actual performance each game week. It’s a perfect blend of strategic planning, football knowledge, and competitive fun, making it a favorite for millions of fans worldwide.

How to Play Fantasy Premier League

Create Your Team:
- Start with a budget of £100 million to draft a squad of 15 players (2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 3 forwards).
- Players have different prices based on their real-life performances and popularity in the game, so balance is key.
Score Points:
- Points are awarded based on your players' real-life performances each week. Goals, assists, clean sheets, saves, and even bonus points contribute to your weekly score, while red/yellow cards and missed penalties reduce points.
Make Transfers:
- Each week, you have the option to make free transfers to replace underperforming or injured players, allowing your team to stay competitive throughout the season.
Choose Your Captain:
- Selecting a captain each week is crucial, as their points are doubled. Captaining an in-form player can significantly boost your score.
Join Leagues:
- FPL offers various leagues, from head-to-head leagues with friends to global leagues with millions of players, adding a fun, competitive element to the game.

How to Start Playing

Getting started is easy. Simply visit the official Fantasy Premier League website, create an account, and start building your team!

Fantasy Premier League is more than just a game—it’s an opportunity to test your football knowledge, compete with friends, and celebrate the highs and lows of the Premier League season. Good luck, and happy managing!

The Fantasy Premier League Blog is Back!

2024-10-31T14:06:00.000+00:00

After over a decade away, the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) blog has officially returned! This dedicated space for tips, strategies, and weekly insights is here to guide new and seasoned managers alike through the twists and turns of the season.

What to Expect from the FPLBlog

With a fresh look and regular updates, the FPLblog brings:

Weekly Player Tips: Find out who’s in form, who’s rising in value, and who to watch for differential picks.
In-Depth Gameweek reviews: Get gameweek analysis' that translate directly into FPL points potential.
And much more...

Whether you're gearing up for mini-leagues or aiming for a top overall rank, the FPL blog has everything you need to stay on top of your game.

Season 2013 - 2014 of the Fantasy Premier League has begun!

2013-08-28T16:01:00.002+01:00

Two rounds of FPL have been played already, but it's still early to say which players are going to be Fantasy Premier League goldmines this season. But of course we can try, isn't that the whole points if fantasy sports, right?

After 2 rounds played it's new Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who's on top of the goalkeeper charts. With 2 clean sheets and a saved penalty shot Mignolet has 22 points to his name. At 5.6M he's a goalkeeper to have.

Concerning defenders it a whole new ballgame. Almost 30 defenders have gathered 10 points or more after 2 played matches in Fantasy Premier League. Top defender right now is Chelseas Ivanovich, with 19 points and 3 matches played. 6.5M, not a bad price for him.

Midfielders are usually the players that make or break your Fantasy Premier League team. And you'll never guess who's on top of that list. Good ol' Frank Lampard. It's like 2009 all over again. He's taken home 16 points in 3 matches. Premier league newbies, Coutinho and Paulinho on the other hand haven't shown too much pointpower yet. Coutinho and Paulinho both have gotten "only" 6 points so far.

Aston Villas Benteke leads the forwards with 20 points, and there we have found a real surprise from Cardiff, Campbell with 18 points. His price 5.6M is a joke, he's almost free!

Evolution of my Barclays Fantasy Premier League team - GW 16

2011-12-13T16:27:00.004+00:00

It's been a few weeks since my last post, but I thought now would be a good time to see what has become of my Barclays fantasy premier league team.

As you can see from the earlier post, only Silva has been able to keep his spot in the team, all the other players have been forced to give their places to more suitable fantasy football players.

Nowadays my team consists of:

Goalkeepers:

Vorm and Begovich.

So basically I only have a one goalkeeper, as Begovich isn't playing. I've been meaning to sell him for a while, but there has always been one more important transfer around. Luckily Vorm has been performing beautifully.

Defenders:

Vermaelen, Jones, R Taylor, Taylor, Simpson

This is the part of my team that still needs work. I've had my eye on Richards and Enrique for a while, but it may be I missed the train on both occasions as their prices have been steadily climbing. I'm very happy with Vermalen, Jones and Taylor, but not sure if Newcastles defenders are still up for the job, we'll see.

Midfielders.

Silva, Bale, Mata, Sinclair and Johnson.

I'm quite happy with my fantasy football midfield at the moment. The 3 first ones play always and 4th and 5th are up for rotation. Also the prices align beautifully, should a need arise to buy Nani, Young or maybe Adam.

Strikers:

Ba, Adebayor, Van Persie.

Again I'm pretty happy with my forwards. At the time being I think these are the best options from each price point.

So what players do you have in your fantasy premier league team nowadays...?

10th week of English Premier League Fantasy Football excitement

2011-10-24T12:43:00.000+01:00

Wow, that's really all I can say about yesterdays match between United and City in English Premier League. Manchester teams went against each other and boy did City come off victorious. The match was definitely most awaitened match this season in Premier League soccer, and it delivered. Fantasy soccer wise, it was also a lot better than expected. Both Balotelli and Dzeko scored twice, Silva collected a goal and an assists and Aguero scored once.

Rest of the gameweek obviously didn't get as much attention as Manchester derby, but a lot of action was also seen elsewhere in Premier League soccer. Chelsea took a devastating 0-1 loss against QPR, as both Bosingwa and Drogba were given a straight red card, and QPR given a penalty shot that Helguson delivered. Elsewhere it was a great night for Mr van Persie, who scored two great goals even though starting the match on the bench. Arsenal obviously needs the man, as he's goals were the ones to give Arsenal 3-1 victory over Stoke. Also scoring 2 goals in Premiership football, was Tottenhams Rafael Van der Vaart, as Tottenham took an away win over Blackburn.

Gameweek 10 sees once again great many opportunities for English Premier League soccer players to gather points for your fantasy football team. One of the best is, can you guess it, Manchester City who welcomes Wolverhampton to Etihad stadium. Even though Mancinis rotational tendencies make it a little difficult, any City forward is captain material, as their scored goals prove. City strikers have scored 22 goals in 9 matches, divided to 9 for Agueroa, 8 for Dzeko and 5 for Balotelli. Balotelli, though, has scored in last 4 matches. And what is great about Balotelli, at the time of the writing, he's in just 1.6% of the Fantasy Premier League teams. So he's very hottest of the hot of Fantasy Premeir League tips. Of course never forget Silva, who has been performing so consistently, it's unbelievable.

Liverpool goes against West Brom in an away game, and it's going to be tough for Liverpool. Suarez had half a dozen scoring opportunites against Norwich, but wasn't able to score. If he gets a few shots between the posts, he's in such a form, he might score big. West Bromwich's Chris Brunt has been playing very well, collecting 1 goal and 3 assists in the last 3 premier league soccer games.

Norwich showed that they can very well take points from even the big teams in this season premiership campaign, now going against Balckburn at their homefield, Norwich should take home 3 points. There are 2 players in Norwich you might want consider for rotation in your fantasy football team. One is midfielder Anthony Pilkington, who has collected very nice 41 points this season, his price is very affordable 5.1M. Other one, is defender Leon Barnett, who costs only 4M and has gathered 27 points. He has also scored a goal and given an assist.

English Premier League Gameweek 9 Fantasy Football Tips

2011-10-18T19:46:00.000+01:00

English Premier League has given us eight weeks of soccer action so far, and now it's time to predict what will this new batch of fixtures bring to the football table.

Last gameweek in Fantasy Premier League saw new names arise on top of the weekly point table as the usual suspects didn't deliver. Names such as Rooney and Silva were left with mere point and week's number one pointman was Norwich's Anthony Pilkington with 15 points gathered from 2 goals and 3 bonus points. Also with 2 goal scored was Arsenal's Robin van Persie who dominated the field against Sunderland.

This week it's easy to predict one thing, sunday is the day every soccer fan will be glued to his seat as Manchester United goes against Manchester City. While the match may not be the best match fantasy football wise, it's certainly one of those matches you have to watch this season. Both teams will surely bring on their A game, but the match could as easily end with results like 0-0, 1-0 or 0-1. If the teams would score as they have this season, it might be a dream day for fantasy soccer players with Rooney, Nani, Silva or Aguero.

The hottest tips in Fantasy Premier League for gameweek 9 come from other teams. Liverpool took a point away from ManU in their last game and now host riser team Norwich. Everyone has been waiting for Suarez to start performing and this might just be the game in which the man scores big.

Newcastle's start of the season has been phenomenall in English Premier League. Situated in the fourth place and going against Wigan in their hometurf, one can expect a lot. Ba has scored 5 goals in last 3 matches and is the man to look to if in need of a budget striker. Also, even if Newcastle defence isn't as cheap as it was because of the price rise, you can still find defenders very capable of clean sheets with still affordable prices for your football team.

How do you enjoy your English Premier League fantasy football?

2011-09-27T18:50:00.000+01:00

Fantasy football can be enjoyed in many different forms. Of course one major way to do that is the part where your choosing and tweaking your fantasy football team. That's probably what your doing right now, when you're here on Fantasy Premier League tips blog. Key aspects of that are of course gathering information about football teams, hot football players, their conditions, their injuries, their fixtures. Then of course you want to get good advice and best fantasy football tips.

For this part of fantasy football, internet is the best place to go. Football information is everywhere online. It's also nice to change opinions with other fantasy premier league players and football enthusiasts.

Of course this part is only a foreplay for the best part. Saturday, and the new gameweek in English premier league. I myself stay tuned about premier league football by watching matches, at least 4-5 of them live. (That's 3 matches saturday, one sunday, one monday...) I also like to keep Premier League live score center open, because from there it's easy to check the formations, and statistics and substitutions. Of course you can also keep up with football goals and assists, as well as injuries.

Of course if I've been lucky enough to be in England and get tickets to English Premier League football matches I'll be watching the game live. And even though that's definitely a experience in it's own, I rather like watching my football at home.

The football matches I can't watch live, I watch afterwards, either whole matches or at least the best football goals made in them. Then of course after the games have been played, I go to Barclays Fantasy Premier League site, and check what is the total of my fantasy football team. That's also a great way to see how did I do in the work league.

And that leads us to one great part of fantasy football. The conversations at workplace. The hours after hours of thinking why did I do that transfer and why didn't I captain him and how in the world did he buy that player.

Man, isn't fantasy football just awesome?

Premiership Football enters the 7th dimension

2011-09-26T18:24:00.000+01:00

The King is Dead ( well, injured ) Long live the King!

The biggest shock in this week of premiership soccer was that Wayne Rooney (the aformentioned King) didn't play due to a injury acquired from practice. And boy did that show. Of course everyone knew that Stoke as a host wouldn't be giving anything for free, and in a way the Manchester United players were lucky to get even the one pt that they got. English Premier League just isn't the same without Rooney, and ManU really isnt.

Fantasy wise gw 6 will be remembered from Newcastle's Ba's hatrick and double goals by Chelsea's Ramires and Arsenal's van Persie. Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all took home very convincing victories as did Newcastle.

Gameweek 7 in Fantasy premier league soccer starts with half of the managers asking theirselves: "What am I going to do with Rooney" It seems he might be out even few weeks, and that leaves us with many interesting options as to what to do with him. One could of course transfer him out and leave enough money to bank account to get him back when he gets fit. Of course you can keep him, as he might be back sooner to play some football.

If you would choose to substitute him the first and foremost option is of course Aguero, if you already haven't got him. He might even raise in value while Rooney isn't playing. Another good option is van Persie from Arsenal. As I said last week, Arsenal seems to be bettering its game and van Persie's 2 goals proved he's still got it.

Chelsea took a nice victory, even though mr Torres managed to get himself a red card. They go against Bolton, who isn't performing for whatever reason. There are 2 players in team Chelsea, that are very good to have in your fantasy football team, even for the long haul. Other one, is of course defender Bosingwa. The other one seems to be Ramires, solid opening player, who can also score it seems. Price 7M, that's a no brainer.

And of course I wouldn't go a week without giving you the tip of Manchester City. Blackburn has been pretty awful, and City players are going to score big this gameweek. So hold on to your Silvas, Dzekos and Agueros.

Premier League Soccer goes GW 6

2011-09-19T19:09:00.000+01:00

Football is great, fantasy soccer exciting, but some gameweeks you just wish you could forget as quick as you can. I've already had my share of those this season, as it seems my football team has faced it all: injuries, red cards, missed penalties... You name it, my make believe soccer team has done it....And I bet you know the feeling too, odds are you know it right now...

This GW I got 2 red cards (Klasnic, Adam) and a missed penalty by Rooney(also happened to be my captain so...) I'm not exactly happy with the players carrying my fantasy football jerseys. How about scoring a goal once in a while, boys!

Well, luckily there's always another GW ahead in fantasy soccer, so let's stop dwelling in the past and head forward, all the way to GW 6. Here come the tips for Fantasy Premier League!

Manchester City ended up with only a draw from Fulham, which I must say was the biggest surprise of English Premier League last GW. Now they return to their homefield and welcome Everton as their opponent. Everton took a convincing 3-1 win over Wigan but I doubt they'll be able to stop the team with as much goal scoring ability as Manchester City. Aguero really seems to be cashing in on the expectations, and is on his way of becoming another striker who you just have to have in your team to succeed in fantasy Soccer. It's really exciting to see, who will be the top goal scorer this season in English Premier League, Rooney or Aguero. If I was the betting type, I'd bet big on Manchester City, again.

Tottenham Spurs' first 2 matches didn't promise too much, but it seems they are getting the hang of it. Watching their EPL match it seemed Emmanuel Adebayor was all over the field against Liverpool and scored 2 great goals. Also Luka Modric scored along Defoe. Heading against Wigan, I think they'll continue on their newfound game and all three are to be considered for your own fantasy sports football team.

Queenspark Rangers go against Aston Villa, and that match is going to be English Premier League soccer at it's finest. Two teams that are just about getting their game working and both desperately wanting a win. Aston Villa's Agbonlahor has been in great form, and you should surely think about getting him for you Fantasy Premier League football team. Queenspark Rangers also have a few players that are hot picks right now. Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton. Cheap and very capable, sounds like premium fantasy soccer material.

Arsenal's defense is a mess, as you have surely figured out. But their offense is still quite powerfull. As Gunners play against Bolton, there is one player I'd have you check out before confirming your Barclays fantasy premier league football team. That player goes by the name of Mikel Arteta. This very skillfull midfielder scored a goal against Blackburn, and seems to be thriving in his new club. Also he's price of just over £8M is still actually not that bad for a midfielder of his calibre. Hottest tip this week I bet!

Shift your Fantasy Premier League team to fifth gear

2011-09-13T13:31:00.002+01:00

Gameweek 5 gives us yet another batch of Fantasy Football excitement as ManU and Chelsea go against each other in English Premier League. Before we get to that, though, let's see what went on in GW 4.

Fantasy Premier League once again showed us, that having player from a team that has a lot of great players is not only a blessing but a curse for players of Premier league fantasy football. For example Dzeko's 6 goals this season weren't enough to give him any playtime this week as ManCity crushed Wigan 3-0. Another players who didn't fit their teams opening formations were Torres and Malouda from Chelsea. This just teaches us that having a player that opens regulary is very difficult in the football climate we live in. In Manchester it was Agueros night as he scored a clean hat trick. And giving him great backup was David Silva who collected two assists. Chelsea goals were scored by defender Terry and striker Sturridge as they took an away win in Sunderland.

Not only was this gameweek a jackpot for Aguero, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney is still on fire. I've said this before and I say it again, Rooney seems to be a MUST BUY this season. 55 points in 4 games is promising numbers that might amount to Fantasy Premier League records. ManU's other players also gathered fair amount of points as Hernandez took home 12 as did defender Phil Jones. Nani also achieved his season high 10 points.

So, back to gameweek 5. Of course the cherry on top is the game where Manchester United welcomes Chelsea to Old Trafford. Even though on paper it seems ManU is the stronger team, I guarentee, even with their quite modest season opening, Chelsea won't be giving anything for free. It's also exciting to see, does last seasons trend continue in these so called big games. That is that they turn into a goal scoring festivals.

One very hot tip this gameweek in Fantasy Premier League is Bolton. And especially their Striker Klasnic. Team plays against Norwich, and I except Bolton to win big. Their last 3 games of course have been losses, but let's face it, they are not going to be the only team who loses their home games against Manchester teams. But now against Norwich their goal scoring abilities will produce at least 2-3 goals and a great win.

Fulham hosts ManCity this week and they are about to get crushed. Team hasn't gotten their game together at all, and ManCity will take a convincing victory. But who is it going to be who scores those goals? I predict it is once again time for Dzeko to open and that hopefully means big points for the striker. Of course Silva and the City defence are good picks too, as I doubt Fulham will score a single goal.

Barclays Fantasy Football - My Team

2011-09-05T13:55:00.003+01:00

I recently got asked in a comment to tell you my team for this seasons Barclays fantasy football. So here it comes, this is my team for Fantasy Premier League.

My goalkeepers are Given for Aston Villa and Al-Habsi from Wigan. I've never really believed in using too much money in goalkeepers in fantasy football, and that hasn't changed this season. You can get good playing goalies for £5M or under. Given is a great player in a good team and Al Habsi also. I also like to rotate my playing goalkeeper according to English Premier League fixtures.

My defense consists of solids defenders from winning teams. Kompany from Manchester City, Bosingwa from Chelsea and Huth from Stoke were my original choices. Wolves' Ward and Newcastle's Steven Taylor have been transferred in. When choosing defenders it's wise to consider defenders who also like to play offence. Such examples are Huth and Bosingwa who don't shy away from scoring from time to time.

My midfield in Barclays fantasy football is split in two very expensive players and three so called bargains. Manchester City's David Silva is what I'd call my playmaker. I used to have Malouda from Chelsea is my second midfielder in command, but he was transferred out as ManU's Ashley Young took his place. Out of my "bargains" this year, only Jarvis from Wolverhampton has performed as I had hoped. WBA's Brunt has been playing well but hasn't really scored too many points. Blackburn's Formica scored a goal in the first gameweek, but missed a penalty last week so the jury's still out on that one.

This season of Premier League fantasy football my team is extremely front heavy. I usually don't go for two expensive forwards, but somehow I felt I didn't have a choice this year. Dzeko has been in my team from day one, and his 6 goals from last 3 games have made me really happy. Two new forwards are Wayne Rooney from Manchester United, who its seems is the player you can't do without this season, and Shane Long from West Bromwich Albion. Long scored a goal in first two matches and has been in good form. Equally priced there is also Bolton's Klasnic, and I've been thinking that he might be my new third forward if Long's injury is more serious than expected.

Hopefully this is the team that will win my office league and the English Premier League tickets and hotel that go with it :)

Wildcard in English Premier League Fantasy Football

2011-09-02T16:15:00.003+01:00

I bet many of the managers in English Premier League would like to have one wildcard in their possession when the season begins. Unfortunately they don't, but the players of fantasy premier league get, not only one but two wildcards to use. One you can use any time of the season and the other during gameweeks 20 to 23.

Wildcard is of course a chance to look over your team, and change the players to your likings. If you want, you can change every player in your football team. There has always been many different opinions as to when to use your wildcards to gain maximun advantage. Some say to use very early on in the premier league season, and some think you should save your opportunity until you're team value has increased. Thought process in that being of course that with more money you can buy better players for you fantasy premier league team.

My opinion is that using your wildcard early on is a good decision if the team you chose in the beginning of the English Premier League season just isn't performing to their abilities. The math is simple, every gameweek you get less points than you should be, and the more gameweeks you do that, the less points you're getting. But if using the wildcard improves your team dramatically, your also scoring more points every gameweek. And again, the more gameweeks, the more points.

If however, you managed to assemble a team that is doing very well in premier league fantasy football, you should hold on to your wildcard and wait for a better time to use it. One such better time is of course if games get delayed and many so called double gameweeks occur. Using you wildcard knowing that many of the player transferred in will play one or more double gameweeks, can lead to incredible results.

So what is your opinion, when should fantasy football managers use their wildcard?

Time to go fourth - Premier League fantasy football continues

2011-08-28T21:47:00.003+01:00

Wow, what a gameweek! Don't you just love soccer! My comment from last week about this season being evenly matched jumped out of the window. Both teams from Manchester dominated their opponents, and showed just how you play football. And how about that Dzeko! Not to mention Young or Rooney. Hopefully you captained one of the them.

So, how about gameweek 4 in fantasy premier league? First of course, take note that there's a 2 week break in premier league because international matches so gameweek 4 takes places September 10 trough 12. Looking at the fixtures, there are a few matches that jump out as great scoring possibilities.

Let's begin with Manchester City vs Wigan. Of course, you should definitely consider buying Dzeko, if you already haven't. £8.5M buys you six goals in 3 matches...I know I'd buy that. Also transfer Nasri played beautifully and is also worth mentioning.

Wolves go against Tottenham at their homefield, and it seems the Spurs are really having difficulties getting their act together. Wolves on the other hand has allowed a single goal in 3 matches, and seem to be playing at the peak of their abilities. Wolves defence is cheap and you should really look into that. Midfielders Jarvis and Hunt are both very good players, and have started the season strongly.

And ManU's Ashley Young, it seems there's no stopping him. At the moment he seems to be million miles away from similarly priced Malouda, Silva and Gerrard. So, if you already haven't got your fantasy premier league team filled with Manchester players, time to buy one more. :)

Third Gameweek in Fantasy Premier League Soccer

2011-08-24T23:42:00.001+01:00

Fantasy Premier League gameweek 2 showed us once again, how even this years premier league is. There are only 3 teams that continue with 6 points. Those teams of course being ManU, ManCity and Wolves.

This gameweek, I again await big things from Chelsea. Their performance last week left a lot of room to improve, but I think that they will. Playing against Norwich at their home turf, the numbers might get ugly. Fernando Torres is still without a goal and in last game, we didn't see the best of him. Still, he's a great finisher, and will surely score many goals this season. Also Florent Malouda and Jose Bosingwa, are both in fine form.

Manchester United has played 2 great games, and they go up against Arsenal this gameweek. Arsenal has been suffering with injuries, and of course losing Fabregas and Nasri. ManU is a clear favourite, and Wayne Rooney just might continue his goal streak. Also youngster Wellbeck and Cleverley are both catches with their prices low at the start of the season.

West Bromwich has started the season valiantly, even though having suffered 2 losses. Those of course have been in the hands of ManU and Chelsea. Now at their home turf, it might just be a time for a win against Stoke. Striker Shane Long has scored a goal against both Manchester United and Chelsea and is truly a bargain find with a £6M pricetag.

Fantasy Premier League has officially began!

2011-08-17T20:25:00.003+01:00

There's still one game to go until the first gameweek of fantasy premier league has been completed, but it is still safe to say that this is going to be an interesting season. Matches have been very even, and 5 out 9 games ended in a draw. Out of those 5, 4 matches ended 0-0.

Game week 2 in fantasy premier league sees many interesting matches too, and here are some tips for you for when making your first tranfers.

Chelsea's first match against Stoke ended 0-0, even though there were a few very good scoring opportunities. Overall it seemed though that the team is ready to improve it's game and when they get their last touches right, Chelsea will score many goals this season. One especially stood out, and that was Fernando Torres. If you already have him in your team, I'd say this gameweek, with a game against West Bromwich, he is really good captain material.

QPR opened it's season quite poorly with a 0-4 defeat against Bolton at home turf. Their season isn't about to get any easier when they go against Everton at Goodison Park. Everton has many players that are very capable of scoring big points. Defender Baines, midfielder Cahill and Striker Saha are all very good picks this GW.

Aston Villas start wasn't too impressive, but now that they play in their home turf, against Blackburn who lost their opening to Wolves, they are bound to improve. Midfielder N'Zogbia has played two very solid season in Fantasy Premier League while in Wigan. So it's very nice to see if he can continue playing as good in Aston Villa. I personally think so, and with a price of £7.5M his one of the hottest transfers this week.

Fantasy Premier League apology - I accept

2011-08-17T20:24:00.000+01:00

Fantasy Premier League just issued an apology, for their servers malfunctioning last weekend. You can read it behind the link. The most important part of it is, that you can make unlimited transfer until the beginning of gameweek 2. And I think, this is a great thing. And fantasy premier league, I accept your apology.

Fantasy premier league site not working!!!

2011-08-13T10:13:00.001+01:00

Fantasy premier league site seems to be having some problems and it is not working!!! Hope they get it fixed soon as there are many players who haven't still made up their fantasy premier league team. Me being one of them. So if you can't login to site either, know that your not alone.

Fix the the problem fantasy premier league webmasters...please...

More Clean Sheets - Best Defenders in Fantasy Premier League

2011-08-11T20:07:00.002+01:00

What makes a great defender for your fantasy soccer team? He of course has to play in a winning team. He of course has to play often and whole games. If he scores a goal or gives an assist now and then that is a big plus. Of course we wouldnt mind if his price wouldnt be too much either.

So who are these denfenders. Take a look down for my tips.

Over £6M

Last season of fantasy premier league is of course the best place to start searching for your defenders. Everton's Leighton Baines collected 178 points, mostly due to his 5 goals and 11 assists. Great effort for sure, but I think his price of £8M is too much this season. Out of the more expensive players I'd go for Ashley Cole of Chelsea and Nemanja Vidic of ManU. They collected 150 and 148 points last season, but are more likely to keep to their points or increase them than Baines. One player that costs even £6M is Stoke City's Robert Huth. He scored 6 goals last season and gave 3 assists. And for Huth, the price truly is right.

Under £6M

When you get a Chelsea defender for £5M you're probably making a bargain. Paulo Ferreira is just that. From Everton you can also find couple of players whose price doesn't necessarily correlate to their skill. Both Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka have the pricetag of £5.5M. Both are good picks for your fantasy premier league team. At £6M sharp there is also Gael Clichy who transferred from Arsenal to ManCity.

Hope these tips are helpfull and you choose the best team possible as your fantasy premier league team.

Best midfielders for your fantasy soccer team

2011-08-09T22:50:00.002+01:00

So, what about midfielders. After all, they are usually the most important choices to be made in your fantasy premier league team. Many seasons have shown that the players who collect the most points in fantasy premier league are almost always midfielders. The reason of course being that they get points for just about anything, 5 points for a goal (that's 1 point more than attackers get..., and they even get a point for a clean sheet.

Last seasons top pointscorer was Luis Nani from Manchester United, midfielder. Second most points was gathered by Charlie Adam, who played for Blackpool and has since transfeered to Liverpool, with 192 points, and guess what position he plays... :) You get the drift.

The aformentioned players are not a bad place to start when choosing midfielders for your fantasy soccer team.

Over £8M

Midfielders are quite expensive, but I'd say there are two players you're guaranteed to get your moneys worth. They are Nani (£10M), as stated above and Malouda (£10.5M) from Chelsea. The most expensive midfielders this season are Frank Lampard from Chelsea and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal. Both have a pricetag of £12M Both have been suffering injuries, and aren't to be purchased, not yet at least.

Under £8M

Every season of fantasy premier league, there are players who score points even if they cost considerabely less then their fellow midfielders. Last season Charlie Adam was a good example, now his price has of course skyrocketed. Under the 8M mark I'd recommend N'Zogbia who has trasferred from Wigan to Aston Villa. His price of 7.5M can be considered a bargain. Another budget midfielder comes from Queens Park Rangers. Adel Taarabt costs only £6.5M, but is without a doubt one of then most interesting midfielders this fantasy soccer season.

Goalkeeper picks and tips for your Fantasy Premier League Team season 2011/2012

2011-08-08T10:49:00.004+01:00

Less than week to go until the begininng of the Fantasy Premier League, so it's about time to start looking at the top picks and tips for your team. I'll try to give comments about the best player for your team in every price range. So, no more blabbering, let's get right to business.

GOALKEEPERS:

Over £6M
At the top of the price list for goalkeepers are ManCity's Joe Hart and Chelsea's Petr Cech. Out of these to I'd pick Hart. He played a great fantasy soccer season last year with 175 points edging out Cech with 17 points. Manchester City has been quite active on the transfer market again this season, and I think they just might have the team to go all the way. ManU's Van der Saar called it quits last season and the pressure of catching balls has been transferred to one David de Gea. This Atletico Madrid transfer has the pricetag of 6.5M and is only half a mill cheaper then Hart and Cech but might a good buy on the long run.

Under £6M
We're all after a successfull budget goalkeeper aren't we. Best choices would seem to be Wigan's Al-Habsi costing 4.5M and WBA's Foster with a 5M tag. Out of these two I'd start with Al Habsi for the soul reason of fixtures. While Wigan's first three matches are against Norwich, Swansea and QPR, WBA opens with matches against ManU, Chelsea and Stoke.

2 weeks to go until season 2011/2012 in Barclay's Fantasy Premier League

2011-07-29T22:08:00.002+01:00

It's only 2 weeks until the beginning of the Fantasy Premier League, and again tension rises as it gets more and more imminent to choose the players you want to have in your team. FPLBlog will be here once again to give you the best tips, so that you choose the best possible team for this years fantasy soccer.

It has been an interesting summer and in two weeks we will all be able to see which managers managed to grab the top of the crop and which are about regret their decisions. Fantasy Premier League Blog will be back with more in few days. Then we can seriously start pondering the best tips and best players to buy for this season of Barclays fantasy soccer.

Fantasy Premier League Tips Gameweek 25 - Welcome Back Mr Van Persie

2011-01-29T22:39:00.002+00:00

Gameweek 24 with it double matches went very well, my tips for fantasy premier league performed admirably, and that's always nice. I even hit the 100 points mark I was after with 113 points.

But it's again time for another gameweek, and let's see if I can succeed as well this week as the previous.

We have many great matches this gameweek in fantasy premier league, but let's start with Arsenal vs Everton. Arsenal's striker Van Persie has been making a splendid comeback with 5 goals scored in last 2 matches, and his hot streak might just continue against Everton. Van Persie's price is still under £10M mark, so he is a catch compairing to the likes of Drogba and Rooney.

ManU goes against ASton Villa this week in english premier league, and Berbatov who also scored impressive 5 goals last gameweek (though in 2 different matches). Aston Villa took 2 very impressive wins last gameweek, and it seems that newly arrived Darren Bent has really woken up the team. Still ManU is a team of a whole different calibre, so tough match for Villa.

Bolton started the season amazing but has been taking a big leap backwards in the last few games. Now they host Wolves on their home turf, and it's time for Bolton to once again show what they are made of. Bolton strikers Elmander and Davies are extremely affordable forwards and this just mgith be their gameweek in fantasy premier league.