By Leigh Sanders
With the days quickly evaporating before the beloved football season is upon us it is this time of year when guys and gals the length and breadth of the earth begin to predict who will do what and come where over the next ten months in their domestic leagues.
With the close proximity between sport and gambling in Britain this means that millions of pounds are currently being wagered on trophy winners, top scorers, assist leaders, disciplinary offenders and just about anything else you can think of.
Over the past decade or so one of the most popular aspects of following football is ‘playing the manager’ yourself by selecting a fantasy football team of the players you believe will gain you the points needed to best your mates and come out on top of the league come May.
While some offer huge cash prizes, others are completely free and offer you pride which comes from proving you really know more about your mates when it comes to choosing an attacking fullback capable of scoring goals.
Of course there are stipulations. You have a transfer budget limiting you to a certain amount and you will often find that a limit is put on the number of players you can have from one side. This ensures that not everybody picks the same squad otherwise this would all become very tedious.
Therefore you have to budget your team carefully. Do you pick a cheap defence in order to save up for a host of big-money strikers or do you distribute evenly? Do you go for solid and dependable centre halves capable of keeping clean sheets or pick the quick and nippy fullbacks who contribute assists and the odd goal throughout the season?
You need a goalkeeper and defence who won’t concede, goalscoring midfielders and consistent strikers. Sounds easy don’t it?
There are many differing ways of choosing your team. And, for those of you currently embroiled in similar predicaments, we look at the players you should plump for when selecting your side for the big kick off in a fortnight’s time.
Goalkeepers:
Such an important position, but not where your main points can be won from week to week. Try to go for a middle-price goalkeeper whose team don’t concede too many. Last year Birmingham kept it very tight at the back in what was a very impressive season for them. After signing Ben Foster from Manchester United it looks like they might continue this trend if their defence play equally as well.
How about Brad Friedel who doesn’t concede too many at Aston Villa, or Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen? Picking either Manchester City’s Shay Given or Joe Hart would be unwise as it is always unclear which one will play.
Defenders:
In this category I always favour attacking fullbacks as they are more likely to earn points for goals and assists on top of the usual clean sheet bonuses. Gael Clichy of Arsenal and Liverpool’s Glen Johnson will be favourites for this but it will be unlikely you can afford both so how about Everton’s Leighton Baines or Welsh whizzkid Gareth Bale of Spurs as cheaper options? Players like Bale can also be picked in midfield for their clubs which adds to the possible points haul too.
If you favour your burly centre halves in the chase for clean sheet points then how about Thomas Vermaelen or Arsenal or Tottenham’s Sebastian Bassong who are known to nick the odd goal at corners. Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross gives another goalscoring, cheaper option.
Midfielders:
Some would say the most important points generation machine in your team. Along with defenders you want them to avoid bookings, you need those who can score goals and those who can set them up for teammates. Everton have a whole host of mid-range options for this: Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman and Marouane Fellaini for example. While Fulham’s Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey often end the season with huge points hauls.
Some of the promoted clubs also boast competent playmakers at cheap prices. West Brom have Graeme Dorrans, Chris Brunt and Steven Reid while Newcastle can call upon Wayne Routledge, Danny Guthrie, and Argentina’s Jonas Gutierrez to help out their attackers.
Strikers:
So, so vital. Who is most likely to stay injury free and continue their great form from last season? Fernando Torres looks like his injury woes may continue as do those of Robin Van Persie.
You will always have one star name – Wayne Rooney etc. – but what about cheaper options to partner them and free up finances for the rest of your squad? Ricardo Fuller and Dave Kitson of Stoke are useful options as are Everton’s Yakubu (if injury free) and Carlton Cole of West Ham United. New Manchester United signing Javier Hernandez looks a decent bet if he can adjust to England quickly and Kevin Phillips often comes off the Birmingham City bench to nab late goals.
So good luck to one and all in their quest for Fantasy Football glory this season (whether pride-based or financial). To finish I’ll show you my team selection to begin the season and post your own below to see who the popular players are proving to be.
My 2010/2011 Fantasy Football XI (3-4-3):
Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)
Glen Johnson (Liverpool)
Jerome Boateng (Manchester City)
Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)
Danny Murphy (Fulham)
Tim Cahill (Everton)
Joe Cole (Liverpool)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Carlton Cole (West Ham United)
Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City)
Subs:
Ben Foster (Birmingham City)
Steven Taylor (Newcastle United)
Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion)
Wayne Routledge (Newcastle United)
that team rubbish mate lol,, you need people who give you points and how did you get on with that team