RADIO
One of the fastest growing fantasy games is the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) - a season-long version of fantasy soccer for the English Premier League (EPL). With millions of players each year, the FPL game is becoming a fixture for soccer enthusiasts across the globe.
Having played the game for the last twelve seasons and largely languished in mediocrity (apart from a top 30K finish in 2009/10), I was ready to finally put my largely wasted knowledge of football statistics to use and strive to become one of the game's elite players. Last season, I finished around the 250K mark and in the process won my family league - but that is not enough for me.
Tired of wasting my time with meaningless, emotion-fueled transfers, I have decided to make a concerted effort to not only destroy my fantasy league this year, but improve on last year's finish and - hopefully - have a good amount of fun in the process. Thanks for joining me on my journey through EPL's Fantasy Premier League. I hope you enjoy the embarrassment that is about to unfold and, just maybe, pick up a piece of advice from a self-described non-expert on the game.
EPL Diaries - Fantasy Premier League
The Squad:
- GK: Joe Hart (4.5M), Maarten Stekelenburg (4M)
- DF: Marcos Alonso (6.9M), Benjamin Mendy (6.3M), Andrew Robertson (6.3M), Aymeric Laporte (5.7M), Ryan Bennett (4.1M)
- MF: Eden Hazard (11.1M), Sadio Mane (9.9M), Heung Min-Son (8.3M), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (4.5M), Pedro (6.6M)
- FW: Romelu Lukaku (11.0M), Aleksandr Mitrovic (7M), Isaac Success (4.5M)
The Analysis:
As has been the theme for much of this season, it was the performance of Eden Hazard that saved this team from wallowing in obscurity once again. Although the points total (46) was underwhelming, it was enough to keep me in the 500K conversation and not send my team ranking to the depths of hell. However, changes are definitely needed as I look to continue to do well in my family league as well as the overall game itself.
In the back, Joe Hart continues to get points for saves even though Burnley failed to keep a clean sheet. Nevertheless, the former England international has been a faithful servant so far this season and I'm not too mad at his three points total for the week. On defense, Ryan Bennett has been an absolute revelation, with the Wolves defender costing a paltry 4M and returning clean sheets every other week. This week was no different, as Bennett joined defensive stalwart Aymeric Laporte in maintaining six fantasy points on the year. Unfortunately, Alonso and Robertson were unable to get an offensive edge in the entertaining 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Liverpool and finished with a boring two points each.
Injuries to Eriksen and Pedro forced my midfield to consist solely of Hazard, Mane, and Hojbjerg. Mane and Hojbjerg made no meaningful contributions, but captain Eden came in big with a 20 point output for the weekend. Mane has been on a bit of a dry spell, but hopefully, he returns to form in the coming weeks so that I can recoup the value that I have shelled out for his services.
Up top was perhaps the most disappointing, as Manchester United's follies against West Ham gave Lukaku little room to operate and Mitrovic and Success each came through with a massively underwhelming one point for the weekend. Big Rom needs to do better to justify his price tag and definitely will be on the chopping block if he continues to fail to impact games in the way that we all know he can.
Looking forward, I have lost my patience with Christian Eriksen. Although his talent is undeniable and I'm sure that he will return to form sooner rather than later, it has become time to move on from the Danish midfielder until he shows that he is able to log in more consistent returns. In his place, I have brought in fellow Spurs midfielder Heung-Min Son, the electric winger who is known for his big performances and has double-digit goals in the last two seasons. I am hopeful that Son is motivated by the fact that he almost had to leave football for a few years for military service and will perform well for a Spurs side that needs a boost on offense if they want to challenge for a Champions League spot at the end of the season.
My lineup for the upcoming week has a few solid fixtures; hopefully, Joe Hart can keep a clean sheet against Huddersfield. Mendy may be in consideration for a start this weekend, and considering that I have kept Mendy through his price fall I hope he starts to play very soon. However, I have subs who should play (Hojbjerg, Pedro, and Success), so if Mendy does not get any action I am still covered. The rest of my back line - Alonso, Robertson, Laporte, and Bennett - are all solid options who have clean sheet upside, even though Liverpool and Man City play each other. Hopefully one of them can keep a clean sheet and the other does something offensively to justify more returns than a mere two points.
In the midfield, Mane and Son will hopefully get back on the scoresheet as I once again captain Hazard against a struggling Southampton. Hazard has been in sensational form; hopefully, the differential option of Son is enough to put me in the upper tier of players this week if he performs alongside the Belgian winger, who half the game now owns.
Finally, Lukaku and Mitrovic both start again up top. Mitrovic plays an underwhelming Arsenal defense and Lukaku is against Newcastle. These are both games where the target men can dominate and generate substantial returns, making them good options for bounce-back performances this weekend.
That's all for this week - good luck gents!
