Week 24: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

My unbeaten run came to a screeching halt against @EPL_MOstradamus last gameweek. Two goals from Spurs’ Son Heung-Min (and he only played 70 minutes) did the majority of the damage. His other players also chipped in with three assists and three clean sheets. My side tried their best in accumulating a healthy-ish 119 points. That was never going to trouble the near 150 points that @EPL_MOstradamus ended up achieving.

Carry on...

The IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer really turns the screw on my team this week with a game against second placed @FuzzyWarbles. I did manage to get one over him in our last encounter, so hopefully I can catch his squad cold again.

@FuzzyWarbles’s Team

Going forward the team is very strong. Sergio Aguero has 21 goals this season and Sadio Mane has eight. Eric Dier averages over 15 points per game; while Aaron Lennon appears to be getting a new lease of life at Burnley. He doesn’t have many slouches at the back either. Hegazi, Christensen, Hoedt and Janmaat, all average over ten points a game.

Can Lloris and Spurs bounce back from their Champions League disappointment?

In goals he has the Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris. 13 clean-sheets in 26 games is an excellent return, and he will get a chance to add to those figures in a fixture away at Bournemouth on Sunday.

What I Need To Happen

My side may not have any star names, but at the moment they seem to be getting minutes on the pitch and that’s all I need. My side are third from bottom of the table and miles behind when it comes to fantasy points scored. The 119 points I scored last weekend, even in a loss, was the highest score I’d achieved since Gameweek 11. If I can post something like that for the rest of the season, I’m sure I’d be fine. Would it be enough this weekend though?

Newcastle have a good home record. But will Gayle keep his starting place?

I swapped out Ayoze Perez for Dwight Gayle last weekend after the Newcastle United team sheet was announced. Either, both, or none could play this weekend for the Toon in a game against Southampton. Hopefully Gayle will keep his place and justify it with a goal.

Predictions

Lots of upheaval last weekend with 17 teams scoring in the triple digits. The highest number of teams doing that since Gameweek 9. Because of this my predictions were a paltry four correct from nine match-ups. Here are this week’s predictions. Don’t forget to check out @THE_IEFSA on Twitter as the league looks to be going down to the wire between @TRKingston and @FuzzyWarbles.

Good Luck Everyone

@TAMc10 over @EPL_MOstradamus

@jwl_15 over @nikarg

@RotoZdroik over @FantasyYIRMA

@TRKingston over @wrigavin

@jasonuk17 over @FPL_MNOP

@BenDinnery over @RotoWireAndrew

@jforquer11 over @TomSunderland_

@SportsByGotti over @nealjthurman

@cjradune over @DFS_Hambazaza

Week 22: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

Another Win! And finally, my side is actually off the bottom of the table! @FantasyYIRMA had a week to forget as some of his new signings failed to come alive (Mangala, Sturridge), while a goal from Milivojevic and six saves from Nick Pope was enough to see my side over the line. In an effort to scrape enough points and in order to give my team a chance at victory, Tammy Abraham was sent to Free Agency after he failed to start another game for Swansea. Dan Gosling of Bournemouth was brought in, and he contributed an acceptable 9.8 points. Gosling may have to be offloaded this week though as I try my best to get eight players onto the pitch. My side might be off the bottom, but they are lagging well behind in fantasy points scored, if I’m tied on wins at the end of the season with someone, I’ll be in big trouble. I need to try and address this imbalance.

Every game is a relegation six pointer now it seems

Abraham might have been one of my top scorers this season, but I had run out of patience with the striker, as I can’t afford to have too many players who are not guaranteed starters in my squad. My impatience is @FuzzyWarbles gain though, as he picked up Abraham midweek for a paltry $5. He was not the only big mover midweek, as a number of teams picked up players on big fees. @TAMc10 put $100 down on Lucas Moura of Spurs. @BenDinnery hopes the $19 spend on Alex Sorloth at Crystal Palace will help fire him to promotion. @TomSunderland_ spent his money on Joao Mario of West Ham, Defender Laporte of Manchester City, and Guido Carillo who now plays with Southampton. $68 for all these players could well be a bargain. The big money though was splashed by @cjradune. In order to secure the services of Arsenal new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang he bid $176. My opponent this week is @jwl_15, and he invested his budget on Gerard Deulofeu at Watford. Spending $25 to claim him for the remainder of the season. I refused to get drawn into any transfer bidding shenanigans after being left with a terrible squad beset with injuries and woeful form after the last signing window. A philosophy of scouting the dregs no one else is interested in, is how my side will play out the next few weeks.

@jwl_15’s Team

Deulofeu will slot straight into the Forward position for Jake. If needed he could put in Brighton’s Jose Izquierdo, who has three league goals this season (none of which were scored when he was in my squad by the way). In Midfield is where @jwl_15 gets most of his points. N’Golo Kante tips along with nearly 15 points per game. His two Arsenal players have been in fine form recently. Aaron Ramsey has six goals and six assists on the season, while his new teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan has eight assists, three of which came last week. Both of these players face a tricky trip to Wembley to face Tottenham in the early Saturday kick off this week.

Deulofeu could worm his way into the Spain World Cup squad

In goals is Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski. Since the appointment of Carlos Carvalhal, things have been looking up at the Liberty Stadium. The Swans have not lost in eight games in all competitions. They may only have gotten two clean sheets in that time, but Fabianski has been racking up the saves. 99 on the season so far. Now if Carvalhal would only find a place for Renato Sanches…

What I Need To Happen

This tie could go one of two ways as early as the first game of the weekend, which as mentioned is the game between Tottenham and Arsenal. If Ramsey and Mkhitaryan inspire a Gunners victory, it could be a long couple of days for my side. If on the other side of the coin Serge Aurier starts and Spurs keep a clean sheet, I could try and ride out the upper hand that gives me.

I'll be heading to bed early if Ramsey and Mkhitaryan are on song this weekend

Unfortunately, it looks like I will have five injured players this week and not a lot of room to move people around in order to get the magic eight starters playing. As I alluded to before, Gosling could be sacrificed for a Defender or a Forward if need be.  If Dan is to keep his place, I’ll need to see starts from players like Tom Ince, Marcos Rojo, Ayoze Perez and Victor Lindelof. But I wouldn’t be holding my breath on too many of those.

Predictions

A poor five correct from nine last week, in what was a surprisingly low scoring round overall. My opponents this week, @jwl_15 were the highest scorers of course, hence why the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer ‘threw’ us together. The big game this gameweek is the clash of the top two in @TRKingston and @FuzzyWarbles. To follow all the transfers, scores, and general mayhem in the league, please follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter. Here are this week’s predictions.

Good Luck Everyone

@RotoZdroik over @EPL_MOstradamus

@TRKingston over @FuzzyWarbles

@TAMc10 over @FantasyYIRMA

@wrigavin over @nikarg

@BenDinnery over @SportsByGotti

@cjradune over @TomSunderland_

@jasonuk17 over @RotoWireAndrew

@jforquer11 over @FPL_MNOP

@DFS_Hambazaza over @nealjthurman

Week 21: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

A hard-fought victory in Gameweek 20 over @nikarg was my side’s seventh win of the season. We are still the bottom side in the table but *whisper it* we are now only a few points from safety. It was a Joe Allen goal that did most of the damage that week and hopefully the Welshman can rediscover his goal scoring touch which seems to have abandoned him these last few,  um, 18, months.

I don't need to caption a picture of Joe Allen surely. Speaks for itself.

Last weekend was a break from the hectic league action as most sides were playing in the FA Cup. That meant midweek fixtures and the return of the IEFSA Cup. We were sitting at home for those of course; but they were entertaining nonetheless and after two high scoring contests, @TRKingston and @jforquer11 will compete in the IEFSA Cup Final. My side had gone out to @TRKingston in the previous round. The round before that I did manage to beat this week’s IEFSA League opponents. Therefore, this is going to be a huge revenge game for @FantasyYIRMA. If YIRMA and my side had been counting scores for the midweek fixtures with our players, he would have squeezed past me by less than two points. On paper I’m coming into this game on the back of two victories and YIRMA two defeats. If you look closer though you’ll see that his team has actually outscored mine in the last three gameweeks. The IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer is once again out to get me.

@FantasyYIRMA’s Team

With the January transfer window now firmly shut a lot of sides were looking to strengthen coming into this gameweek. @FantasyYIRMA has brought in new Everton loanee Eliaquim Mangala. He has also brought in Luke Shaw as cover in his Defence. A couple of players in his squad seemingly got a new lease of life this past week also, as Mesut Ozil signed a new contract at Arsenal, and Daniel Sturridge opted to head to West Bromwich Albion in order to get some game time.

If he scores a hat-trick on his debut, he'll be West Brom's third highest scorer

His top scorer is Jamie Vardy with 11 goals this season. Wayne Rooney who is also in @FantasyYIRMA’s side is not far off with 10. Perhaps Vardy at home to Swansea is the better option in the Forward position this weekend. Rooney does have a good goal scoring record against Arsenal (14 goals) though, so could perhaps be a flex option. Nacho Monreal has four goals this season and is in a great run of form for the Gunners. If there is going to be a goal in the Arsenal Everton game, you wouldn’t put it past Monreal to get it. Oh he also has Dele Alli, Ashley Young, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Ibe and David De Gea in goals…

What I Need To Happen

I need all those players to have an off day. No shots on target, no clean sheets, no goals. I would probably have a better change doing the lottery this weekend I’d say though. My squad has scored a total of 19 goals this season. @FantasyYIRMA on the other hand has 43. Luka Milivojevic is my top scorer with five. One ahead of Tammy Abraham of Swansea. The Swans have been playing better and scoring more goals recently. Not much of that has been down to Abraham though.

Nick Pope saves a penalty against Newcastle's Joselu midweek

Two players I could normally rely on to maybe get me 20 points, or at least double figures would be my goalkeeper and the already mentioned Welsh wizard Joe Allen. Nick Pope has to try and get a clean sheet against Manchester City this weekend though. Something that has only happened once this season in the league. The last time Burnley played Man City back in October they lost 3-0. Joe Allen has to try and work his magic away at one of the most in-form sides in the league, Bournemouth. Burnley against Man City is the early game on Saturday, this week’s fixture against @FantasyYIRMA could get ugly very quickly.

Predictions

Six correct and three incorrect for the last gameweek. @TRKingston still leads the way in the IEFSA Premier, while @BenDinnery also remains atop the IEFSA Championship. Don’t forget to follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter to get the latest goings on in the league. Here are this week’s predictions.

Good Luck Everyone

@FuzzyWarbles over @RotoZdroik

@TRKingston over @EPL_MOstradmus

@TAMc10 over @nikarg

@jwl_15 over @wrigavin

@SportsByGotti over @FPL_MNOP

@cjradune over @RotoWireAndrew

@BenDinnery over @jforquer11

@jasonuk17 over @nealjthurman

@TomSunderland_over @DFS_Hambazaza

Week 20 IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

Not a massive haul of points last weekend (113) but thankfully it was enough to squeeze past @RotoZdroik. I was made to sweat towards the end though, as after a poor start @RotoZdroik had three players left to play with me thinking I was home and dry. But then, one by one, they all scored! Bellerin, Sane and Lukaku all found the net, in what I am reliably informed would have been a 44-1 treble at your local bookies.

Bellerin was one bright spot for Arsenal against Bournemouth

That win doesn’t see my side off the bottom though, as 9^th placed @nikarg also won. And against league leader @TRKingston no less. He also scored the highest number of points for the week, and his second highest points total of the season. Nik is in great form having won five of his last six in the league. Why am I telling you all this? Well, because the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer has saw fit to make sure the bottom two face off this week. All the way back in Gameweek 1 @nikarg beat my side by a whopping 46 points. I was able to extract some revenge in Gameweek 12 when I outscored him by 15 points.

@nikarg’s Team

Eriksen and Mahrez did the damage in the opening Gameweek thanks to combining for three assists, and @nikarg still has those two players in his team. James Ward-Prowse scored 18.6 points that day and the Southampton man has also remained in his side. Up front, it looks like Chicharito could be heading away from West Ham this January. Jermain Defoe is still out injured at Bournemouth. That means Nik will have to call on Shane Long to do the goal-scoring. The Irishman did score this month in the Premier League, which ended a goal drought of over 1,300 minutes. He had failed to score since February 2017, and that was against Sunderland so shouldn’t really count.

Eriksen is due on off day, or perhaps a straight up day off??

At the back @nikarg will hope the good form of Lewis Dunk at Brighton, Jonjoe Kenny of Everton, and Paulo Zabaleta of West Ham United continues. All three average a double figure points return per game. With Dunk average almost 16 points per game. His Goalkeeper is whoever gets put in between the sticks for Crystal Palace. At the moment Wayne Hennessey is winning that battle against Julian Speroni.

What I Need To Happen

Last weekend I brought in Ayoze Perez of Newcastle and Grzegorz Krychowiak of West Brom. Neither set the world on fire, they just went about their 90 minutes picking up points here and there. Unfortunately, both have tough fixtures this weekend meaning a nice 10 point haul could be beyond them. Perez has to travel to a smarting Manchester City side. While Krychowiak also has an away fixture, West Brom have to take a trip to Goodison Park. In fact, I could easily have to field a whole team (bar the goalkeeper) who will be playing away from home. Even then, my Goalkeeper Nick Pope of Burnley has to face Manchester United. Hardly a banker home fixture.

Dlaczego jest tyle spółgłosek w języku polskim?

Injuries seem to be blighting my team this new year. Maybe I will have to dip into the murky pool of Free Agency again. Zlatan is still recovering. Both of my Swansea ‘Stars’ are sidelined. Renato Sanches and Tammy Abraham. And they have been joined by Everton’s Michael Keane who has picked up a foot injury. All in all it looks like I'll need five or six of Nik’s side to have an off day, While one of my players deflects one in off his arse or something. Tom Ince more than likely. Although the smart money is on a Shane long hat-trick this weekend.

Predictions

Lots of close games last weekend. @wrigavin and @FantasyYIRMA were separated by only 1.1 pts. Games like that played havoc with my predictions as only six of nine were correct. That is an improvement on recent weeks, but let’s try and improve again this time out. To follow all these games please head over to @THE_IEFSA on Twitter. Here are this week’s predictions.

Good Luck Everyone

@TRKingston over @RotoZdroik

@FuzzyWarbles over @EPL_MOstradamus

@jwl_15 over @FantasyYIRMA

@wrigavin over @TAMc10

@RotoWireAndrew over @FPL_MNOP

@BenDinnery over @TomSunderland_

@cjradune over @SportsByGotti

@jforquer11 over @nealjthurman

@jasonuk17 over @DFS_Hambazaza

Week 18: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

Welcome to the last preview of 2017. And, thankfully we can sign off on a high note, as my rag-tag bunch actually followed up their defeat of @EPL_MOstradamus last weekend with a cup victory over @FantasyYIRMA in midweek. Two wins in a row is rare enough, but not as rare as a Tom Ince goal, which is what we had to thank for keeping our cup dream alive. The IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer has had enough of my team scraping victories and has decided that now is the time that we should play highest scorers and table toppers @TRKingston. Todd has scored a frankly ridiculous 750 more fantasy points than my side so far this season, and has won his last eight games while opening up a six point lead at the top of the IEFSA Premier. The last time we met @TRKingston walked away with the victory by twenty points. If the teams are even that close once again, I guess I can take it as some kind of moral victory.

Joyous scenes as we knock @FantasyYIRMA out of the cup

@TRKingston’s Team

In a rare bit of good luck, the West Ham and Spurs game has been moved to Thursday January 4^th. This means I will be without Serge Aurier this week, but Todd will have to make do without his hottest player at the moment, Marko Arnautovic. The Forward has five goals in his last five games. This means @TRKingston will have to rely on Richarlison or Joselu up front. He could well play both if each of them make their teams starting lineups for what looks like two favourable fixtures. Joselu and Newcastle are at home to Brighton. While Richarlison of Watford (the more likely of the two to play) has a home game against bottom club Swansea.

Every time this happens, @TRKingston gets about twenty fantasy points

His midfield has a very heavy Manchester City influence. On a good day he could put three Sky Blue players into his starting line-up. Fernandinho, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have eight goals and 12 assists between them. The majority of these have come from Silva though and he is the only one who is an injury worry going into a game against Crystal Palace. In Defence he has another City player in Nicolas Otamendi, who he will probably pair up with two of the three Liverpool players in his squad, Matip, Lovren and Klavan.

What I Need To Happen

With facing so many Liverpool and Manchester City players this week, if both those sides could have a bad day at the office, or at least see a good chunk of their players rested and rotated, then I may have a fighting chance. Of course, I will need the players in my squad to play from the start for their clubs also. Unfortunately, the big signing of my squad looks to have wasted his opportunity to get some valuable minutes. Last time out Zlatan only lasted the first half of a game against Burnley. Even with the fixture pileup over the New Year, this looks to have been the big Swede’s last chance at getting into the Manchester United starting line-up.

Who'll get to the World Cup first? Steve Cook with England? Or Benik Afobe with DR Congo?

My search for goals will have to come from some unlikely sources to have any chance of victory this weekend. Tom Ince has finally gotten off the mark, so could this be the start of a run where he gets so many goals he propels himself into the England squad for the World Cup?? Speaking of the World Cup; What if Tammy Abraham also starts scoring so many goals that he will have to on the plane to Russia also! And what if Steve Cook started defending so well that…….. I think I need to lie down…..

Predictions

Five correct and four incorrect last weekend, which is an improvement on the week before, but nothing to get too excited about. The midweek cup fixtures saw two correct predictions from three games. I surely would have had a clean sweep if @FPL_MNOP had put in two goal ‘difference maker’ Jesse Lingard like I had told him! I’ll be hoping to improve on these figures this weekend. To follow all the action don’t forget to hop on over to Twitter and @THE_IEFSA. Here are this week’s predictions.

Good Luck Everyone.

@RotoZdroik over @TAMc10

@FantasyYIRMA over @nikarg

@FuzzyWarbles over @jwl_15

@wrigavin over @EPL_MOstradamus

@jasonuk17 over @SportsByGotti

@BenDinnery over @cjradune

@TomSunderland_over @nealjthurman

@jforquer11 over @RotoWireAndrew

@DFS_Hambazaza over @FPL_MNOP

Week 17: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

The IEFSA Fantasy League on Fantrax lets you use one goalkeeper and eight outfield players in any given gameweek. So, imagine me rubbing my hands after the early game of Gameweek 16 when my bitter rival @TAMc10 started off by shipping three goals against his goalkeeper and getting a red card in the shape of Wilfred Ndidi. I smelt blood in the water, and swiftly moved to make sure I had enough players playing to scrape together the 90 odd points I was sure I needed for victory. In came Alex Iwobi and out when Gareth Barry (Barry scored a goal against Manchester United); Ciaran Clark of Newcastle was sent packing and in came Sebastian Prodl of Watford (Clark as I guessed, didn’t play. Prodl shipped four goals at home to Huddersfield). Prodl was joining his Watford teammate Kabasele at the back, and my trio of defenders was completed by Steve Cook of Bournemouth. The Cherries let in four goals against Liverpool, though mercifully Cook was only on the field for one of those. Two more of my players didn’t get any minutes and I slumped to an embarrassing fifty-point defeat.

Barry scores, but not for my side

This week the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer has me facing @EPL_MOstradamus, one of the few sides I can claim a victory over earlier in the season. He also lost last time out, but with a score that would have comfortably beaten my side. It looks like he will be out to exact revenge.

@EPL_MOstradamus’s Team

His three highest scorers face tricky away ties this week, which means I may have a slight chance! Roberto Firmino goes to Arsenal who have one of the best home records in the league. Charlie Daniels will have to head to Man City, who have the best overall record in the league. While Heung-Min Son faces a trip to high flying Burnley.

Firmino could outscore my whole side 

My side has 11 goals to @EPL_MOstradmus’s 22. As I always say, goals win games. I’ll be hoping that his in-form players have a bit of an off week, while I can perhaps sneak one in off of Tammy Abraham’s elbow or something. His side have also registered 21 assists, compared to my sides paltry four.

What I Need To Happen

Iwobi was actually one of my highest scoring players last week, so perhaps he can keep his place against Liverpool on Friday night. Although if he spent the whole game shadowing Firmino, I wouldn’t be against that. Steve Cook will be looking to regain his place for Bournemouth meaning I can perhaps drop Prodl and go searching to bolster a different part of the team. Watford seem to be on a downward slide at the moment and I wouldn’t fancy them to keep a clean sheet. Maybe I should look to offload Christian Kabasele also!

Iwobi will find the Liverpool Midfield more of a handful this week

Zlatan scored in the league cup midweek, and I am desperate in my need for him to stamp his authority on the league side. Manchester United play Leicester City in the late game on Saturday. And when I say late, I mean late. It will kick off at 7:45. Which is a ridiculous time for all us sushi and prawn sandwich eating fans forced to get up at four am to watch it!

Predictions

Only four correct predictions last week as the ‘crazy’ Christmas fixtures play havoc with sides and therefore my normally sage-like predictions. With all the fixtures coming thick and fast, there are also midweek games which means the IEFSA Cup comes around again. It’s the quarter finals and my side will play @FantasyYIRMA, but more on that in a post during the week. Please follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter to keep track of every match-ups' scores.

Here are this week’s predictions. Good Luck Everyone.

@RotoZdroik over @nikarg

@jwl_15 over @TAMc10

@TRKingston over @FantasyYIRMA

@FuzzyWarbles over @wrigavin

@SportsByGotti over @TomSunderland_

@jasonuk17 over @jforquer11

@cjradune over @nealjthurman

@BenDinnery over @FPL_MNOP

@DFS_Hambazaza over @RotoWireAndrew

Week 12: IEFSA Fantasy League Preview 2017/18

Young, Alli, Bong, @FantasyYIRMA, your boys took a hell of a beating! Burnley and Bournemouth were the architects of your downfall; a Steve Cook winner and a Nick Pope clean sheet were your undoing. How does it feel? How does it feel when Gareth Barry does a whole lot of nothing, except get booked, and gets more points than your Vardys and your Rooneys and your Ozils. How does it feel?????

Only one Cook needed to spoil Newcastle's day

This was my side’s second victory of the season. The first victory strangely enough also came before an international break. Perhaps my players up their games in order to cement places for their countries at the very highest level of competition. If this is true, the next international break can’t come soon enough. *checks fixtures* The next international break is in March…. Bugger. I’m not sure how the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture compiler swung that one, but it’s surely just further proof of the uphill struggles my side must face. And struggle it will, as this week sees a fixture against @nikarg, the only other side with two wins to his name. This is surely the match-upnic of the weekend. Nik has been eyeing up this fixture for a while now. So much so, that he has lost his last nine games in a row in preparation.

@nikarg’s Team

We last met in Gameweek 1, where Nik picked up the victory thanks to two Christian Eriksen assists. It’s hard to believe but Eriksen has not provided an assist since then and he scored almost a fifth of his season’s total points in that opening game. The Dane is coming into the North London Derby in great form though, having scored three goals midweek against Ireland in the World Cup playoffs. Arsenal’s defence are not going to be as generous as the Irish were in Dublin though.

Christian Eriksen ran riot midweek. (also pictured, Ireland's answer to Eriksen; Aiden McGeady)

The rest of @nikarg’s players, apart from perhaps Riyad Mahrez, will have somewhat favourable fixtures this weekend. Sam Vokes at Forward will face Swansea at home. He could also rotate in Defoe or Chicharito who are playing Huddersfield and Watford respectively. That’s providing either of them start for their clubs. Andros Townsend in Midfield will be up against Everton on Saturday. The Toffees haven’t kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season. Unless you count a game against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup in September, but no one counts a game against Sunderland! At the back he has Scott Dann of Palace, and a couple of players who face off on Monday night. Lewis Dunk and Ryan Shawcross both average over 15 points a game. If @nikarg is behind in our match-up going into this Monday night fixture, just watch as Brighton and Stoke play out a nil all draw.

What I Need To Happen

I have no less than five players who will be sweating over late fitness tests and are basically game-time decisions for their managers. But….. But….. if the stars align for my side, then this man is back…

 

Zlatan is back. Quick, everyone look busy!

You may as well hand that IEFSA Primary League Trophy over to me now if Zlatan returns this week. He inspired his own nation Sweden into knocking out Italy in the World Cup Playoffs and he didn’t even have to play! Everyone had an eleven-week head start, but playtime is over. Manchester United play Newcastle United at home in the evening kick-off on Saturday. Zlatan could well be the Premier League’s top scorer come Saturday night.

Predictions

Six correct predictions last gameweek, as several tight fixtures went against me. There is no doubt as to the tie of the round this week, it’s my side against @nikarg. While the Secondary League has a rather intriguing set of fixtures because the top four all play each other. Remember to follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter to keep abreast of the goings on in the league. Here are this week’s predictions.

Good Luck Everyone

@TRKingston over @RotoZdroik

@FuzzyWarbles over @EPL_MOstradamus

@jwl_15 over @FantasyYIRMA

@wrigavin over @TAMc10

@cjradune over @SportsByGotti

@RotoWireAndrew over @SmokeyLoogy

@BenDinnery over @TomSunderland_

@jforquer11 over @nealjthurman

@DFS_Hambazaza over @jasonuk17

Week 8: IEFSA Fantasy League 2017/18 Preview

Did you all enjoy the international break? I sure did, because it meant my side went unbeaten for another week! YES, in Gameweek 7 my plucky group of misfits managed to get one over @EPL_MOstradamus by seven points. Another superb performance from Burnley keeper Nick Pope (29.9 pts) and the late drafting in of Defender Christian Kabasele of Watford who contributed 9.8 points, helped my side break into triple digit scoring for only the third time this season. Kabasele was brought in at the expense of Brighton’s Jose Izquierdo (who then went ahead and started his first game of the season against Arsenal!). Couple this with @EPL_Mostradamus’s Roberto Firmino turning out to be his side’s lowest contributor, after I had previously mentioned that the Brazilian could easily outperform my whole side.

Nick Pope with another clean sheet against Everton moved Burnley up to sixth

Every green shoot gets quickly trampled underfoot by the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture compiler though. The victory didn’t move my side from the bottom of the table as @TAMc10 also had a big victory; A good chunk of my squad returned injured from the international fixtures meaning I will struggle to get a full roster of players this week. And who will I have to face this gameweek? Oh, it’s just table topping @TRKingston, who has won six games straight, and has scored 400 points more this season than I have. Thanks IEFSA/Fantrax!

@TRKingston’s Team

Todd has eight outfield players who have scored more points this season than my highest scorer (Tom Ince of all people). The only player who has under-performed for @TRKingston so far has been Yohan Cabaye, but everyone in a Crystal Palace shirt has under-performed this season. It also looks like Todd can play a whole outfield eight of players that will be playing at home this weekend. His only new injury worry has been the one suffered by Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi while away with the German squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

Diego Tardelli was in the latest Brazilian squad but not Richarlison?? #TiteOut

Some of Todd’s best performers have been the triple Man City set of Otamendi, Fernandinho and David Silva. Together they average nearly 65 points per game. None of these players are his top goalscorer though, for that you have to look at the inform Richarlison at Watford. The Brazilian has scored three goals this season and has made a habit of scoring important late goals recently.

What I Need To Happen

A week is a long time in football and now facing into Gameweek 8 my side has picked up several injuries. Most worryingly of all Joe Allen has a head injury and will miss Stoke’s next fixture away against Man City. More tragic than this though, is that the football world has been robbed of having Joe Allen play at a World Cup yet again. The Welsh side missed out on any chance of a trip to Russia after finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group. Also injured on international duty was Renato Sanches. The Swansea Midfielder should be at Russia next summer with the Portugese squad. But to do that, he surely must be playing regularly for the Swans no? He more than likely won’t be able to take the field this Saturday at three o’clock against Huddersfield, meaning the rest of my squad will have to drag their working limbs onto the pitch and earn enough points to be competitive this weekend.

Joe Allen joins, Dzeko, Robben, Bale, Alexis Sanchez etc. who won't be going to Russia 2018

I need goals now more than ever. The average points my players pull in every week is not enough to win the usual match-ups. A goal or two could be crucial. Especially since a goal or two is the sum of what my side has managed all season. Ciaran Clark – one goal. Top scorer, Tammy Abraham – two goals. Luckily Abraham gets to the chance to find the back of the net against Huddersfield this week. The Terriers conceded four goals in their last Premier League game, and they haven’t scored in nearly a month.

Predictions

Six correct predictions from nine last time out. A lot of high scoring meant a number of upsets. 12 points separate top from bottom in the Secondary League. That is also the league with the tie of the round. The top two, and highest scorers, in the league face off when @jasonuk17 meets @SportsByGotti. Remember to follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter for all the latest goings on in both Primary and Secondary leagues. Plus, for the inner workings of the inevitable changes to my side, follow @GarryIrwin.

Here are this week’s predictions. Good Luck Everyone.

@RotoZdroik over @TAMc10

@FantasyYIRMA over @nikarg

@FuzzyWarbles over @jwl_15

@wrigavin over @EPL_MOstradamus

@jasonuk17 over @SportsByGotti

@cjradune over @BenDinnery

@TomSunderland_ over @nealjthurman

@RotoWireAndrew over @jforquer11

@DFS_Hambazaza over @SmokeyLoogy

Week 1: IEFSA Fantasy League 2017/18 Preview

Is it just me, or did that summer break seem to pass by in the blink of an eye? Barely have I had time to celebrate finishing fifth in the IEFSA league when Gameweek 1 rolls around and I’ve to cobble together a team to face @nikarg. It seems I’m not the only one who the new season has snuck up on. Spurs have sold four players and loaned out another four, but as of yet haven’t replaced any of them with a game against Newcastle looming. The Toon manager Rafa Benitez for his part has been complaining about his side’s lack of summer signings (they have only brought in seven players). Perhaps the summer break isn’t long enough and the Premier League should copy what happens in Germany, Italy and Spain, where everyone gets an extra week of down time in in order to entice Phillipe Coutinho into a transfer request? Or they could do what they do in Andorra, where the league doesn’t bother to start until the middle of September. That would have given me plenty of time to get an unbeatable squad together.

To see my thoughts on the IEFSA Fantrax draft from earlier in the month, please scroll down and read the previous post.

This season there has been a shake-up to the league. Instead of all 20 teams playing each other. The league has been split into two divisions of ten teams, with promotion and relegation at the end of the year. There will also be a Fantasy Cup which will happen during gameweeks that have midweek fixtures. Thankfully I’ve earned a bye in the cup until the second round. It should be a very interesting season.

@nikarg’s Team

Nik has a team which shouldn’t be short of goals. He splashed out $75 for the services of West Ham’s Chicharito to compliment the attacking threat of Bournmouth’s Jermain Defoe. In Midfield he can call on the talents of Christian Eriksen, who scored eight goals last season. @nikarg will be looking for Riyad Mahrez to rediscover the form he showed in Leicester’s title winning season, where he scored 17 goals. Elsewhere in Midfield he has Jesse Lingard of Man Utd, and Andros Townsend of Crystal Palace. Both players are capable of hitting the back of the net when given the chance.

If Huddersfield can score, Hennessey has problems.

Between the sticks he will have the Palace goalkeeper. Probably Wayne Hennessey for this weekend’s clash with newly promoted Huddersfield. The Terriers were the lowest scorers of the top eight teams in the Championship last season. They are actually the lowest scorers to gain promotion since Birmingham City in 2009. With all this in mind, it looks like Palace have one of the better chances of keeping a clean sheet on Saturday. In Defence, With McAuley out injured, Nik will have to start the trio of Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City, Rob Holding, Arsenal, and Leighton Baines, Everton.

What I Need To Happen

If I can’t score more goals than @nikarg, my players are going to have to out-work his to give me any chance of winning this match-up. Thankfully I have retained the services of the biggest workhorse in world football, Joe Allen. Helping the Welshman in Midfield will be this seasons star signing, the most expensive player in my squad, Tom Ince of Huddersfield. Another new signing in Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle will join an old face in Palace’s Luka Milivojevic. Up front I will have to choose between Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle or Swansea’s Tammy Abraham. Neither player is assured of a starting spot for their respective teams, so I will have to keep an eye on the matchday squads.

New Premier League  season excitement encapsulated in one picture

In goals this year will be Tom Heaton again. The Burnley stopper unfortunately has to travel to the champions Chelsea for the opening game of the season on Saturday. At the back, and hopefully pulling in a clean sheet or two, are Steve Cook of Bournemouth (a holdover from last year), Victor Lindelof of Man Utd (a new $34 signing), Michael Keane now of Everton (another survivor from last year’s squad), and Jose Fonte of West Ham (central defender who cost $15). Lindelof and Cook and not assured of starts, but Keane and Fonte should get 90 minutes. It would be great if three of those four could find their way onto the field this weekend.

Predictions

With so many changes after the draft it’s going to be difficult to call all this weekend’s games. I haven’t even figured out how the IEFSA/Fantrax fixture computer is clandestinely sabotaging my team yet! To keep track of all the action this season please follow @THE_IEFSA on Twitter.

Here are this week’s predictions. Good Luck Everyone.

@EPL_MOstradamus over @FuzzyWarbles

@jwl_15 over @FantasyYIRMA

@RotoZdroik over @TRKingston

@RotoWireAndrew over @SmokeyLoogy

@SportsByGotti over @cjradune

@TAMc10 over @wrigavin

@BenDinnery over @TomSunderland_

@DFS_Hambazaza over @jasonuk17

@nealjthurman over @jforquer11