Premier League Fantasy Football Tips

It's that time of year again fantasy football time. After one of my most impressive seasons I have already been planning for this season. As usual I do my fantasy football (not nfl) through premierleague.com, it's the best I've found so far and has a couple of new additions this year. Firstly, the ability to have a sub-captain and also to carry over transfers. There is one problem though no Ronaldo. My captain for 3 years has disappeared and I'm a little lost without him. I've got pass this and created my new team but wanted to provide a bit of a guide of players to look out for to give newcomers some help.

Firstly, premierleague is slightly different in that you have to pick a squad (2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders and 3 strikers) this means you really need to choose between having an all-round team or a star and bargain team. I prefer the latter. I think that midfielders are the key, in recent years they have been scoring as much as strikers and also build up the assists tally. The top 5 point scorers last year were all midfielders. A mistake people make is thinking strikers are where it's at, when apart from Anelka last season none finished in the top 20ish.

So where to start, Goalkeepers. Last season Schwarzer finished top of the tree, thanks in large part to Fulham home record and at 5.5m he is still good value. Van Der Saar (Man Utd) just beat Reina (Lpool) to the most clean sheets but looked a little dodgy once his clean sheet record had gone. A large part of his record came from the sublime performances of Vidic. Reina and Cech (Chelsea) should be a safe bet for points but outside the top four you have to pick between Howard (Everton), Friedel (AV) and perhaps Robinson (Blackburn). I don't think Man City or Spurs are defensively minded enough to keep clean sheets. On the other end of the scale there are only 2 realistic choices; Sorensen (Stoke) and Hart (Brum), they are the two cheapest keepers that might actually play.

Defense is another area that you should perhaps look at the club rather than the name. As the players get most their points for clean sheets then as long they play in the team they will all get the same. It's difficult to look beyond the top 4 but last year Fulham, Everton, Wigan and Aston Villa were the glimmers of light. In the top four the key is to pick a player that will play alot but not cost a fortune. Chelsea back four would be Cole, Bosingwa, Terry and probably Carvalho (All over £7m). Liverpool you would think would play Johnson, Carragher and then either all the others will play bit parts. Man Utd would pick Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand and then a choice at right back. From those players Evra I think is the hidden gem. Other players outside the Top 3 would be Lescott and Baines (Everton) who are both expensive. Hangeland surely can't have a repeat of last year. Bramble and Figueroa (Wigan) are cheap and potentially hidden gems if Martinez gets Wigan playing. With Steve Bruce at Sunderland maybe they will learn to defend.
Personally I would go for 2-3 top players and then 2 cheap gems.

Unlike Defense and Goalkeepers, Midfielders are more individual scorers than team scorers. You need some guaranteed points and it's difficult to look beyond Gerrard or Lampard or both in your team. They are expensive but consistently in the top 3 scorers in the game for the last 3 to 4 years. They are worth it, how Chelsea play under Ancelotti will be interesting and may effect Lampards goals. Dirk Kuyt is a player than would make a good partner for either player and he does work hard!! I'm not sure how Man City will go this year. I'm not convinced we will see the best of Stephen Ireland this year and how forward Barry will be allowed to go. I'm avoiding them all together. I was very impressed with Clint Dempsey in the Confed cup and he's done a good job for me for a few years. This could be a good year for Luka Modric (Spurs) and they surely can't be as bad as the start of last year. There is no Man Utd midfielders who really take my interest and this is a good position to look at clubs like Spurs who score goals. Young, Milner (Villa), Arteta, Cahill, Felliani, Pienaar (Everton), Murphy (Fulham) or even Matt Taylor (Bolton) are all players than on their day can bag the crucial points. Arshavin will be interesting and did a very good job for me at the end of last year. On the other end of the scale Mendy at Hull is cheap and had a good year last season and I'm very interested in Moekena who didn't do alot at Blackburn but may be given a lease of life at Pompey.
If Fabian Delph is signed by any premier league team then he is instantly my captain. I would spend all your money making sure you have at least 4 decent midfielders.

Strikers are the glory position but the way the game is now not many players score a bucket of goals. Torres, Anelka and Drogba will score goals. Rooney should shine without Ronaldo. Owen I think will be the bargain of the season. I'm amazed no other club went for him. Agbonalor, Bent, Carew, Defoe all scored plenty. Defoe should pick up a nice load again this year. Further down Ebanks-Blake and Doyle (Wolves) score goals and will be important if Wolves are to survive. Ashton has been out for a couple of seasons and if he is fit could be the biggest bargain. I think one top striker and 2 gems is what is needed. Like I said before it's all about your midfielders.

Hope that helps, as for my team well I can't say everything.