Hart 4.0

Cole 4.9
Baines 4.5
Lescott 4.4

Malouda 4.7
Downing 4.0
Etherington 3.9
Sinclair 3.5
Murphy 2.9

Carroll 6.5
Bent 6.4

Value: 49.7
Transfers: 30

And so it started. This team has been entered into the FISO Open XI, so wander over there to check how others are doing.

As I have a number of 'normal' teams, I thought a restriction would be interesting - this team will feature ten players from either England, Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland. One 'overseas' player will be permitted, and their luxury will warrant a fancy red font

So, to the Starting XI.

Hart picks himself in goal but should be the season-long of season-longs for me. I'm sure Citeh will be right up there with the clean sheets, and maybe a wee run in the cup again.

The defence - Cole, Baines and Lescott - is very strong. Cole should offer some attacking threat under Villas-Boas and Lescott is always dangerous with that forehead of his. Both will be good for clean sheets. Baines, well, he's not going to pick up a wealth of cleanies, but those crosses, free kicks and penalties will more than make up for it.

Malouda, Downing, Etherington, Sinclair and Murphy make up the five-man midfield. The latter is a decent enabler at 2.9m, provided he doesn't go crazy on the yellow cards. Sinclair and Etherington have been picked for their relative importance in their respective teams' attack, as well as for their set-piece hogging. Downing seems great value at 4.0m, and I will certainly be hoping that Andy Carroll can leap like a salmon out of water to clumsily head home many a cross.

Florent Malouda is the first of my 'overseas' players. I'm expecting Chelski goals galore and the other options (Fatty, Torres and Drogba) just don't scream value. I'm sure the rotund one will grace my team at some stage.

Up top we have Carroll and Bent. Two solid picks, if slightly unexciting. But then, they are English after all.

Thanks and have a good season

I like the team. Personal opinion is not so keen on Malouda this season until we know how they are going to play, but Chelsea's start is good and he could start like he did last season.

Thinking of suggestions, but struggling at the moment with your restriction in mind. What is your team value?

I know it's early days, but I think this format definitely has potential of being a nice little side game for next season.

Oops, should have put team value (49.7) in - have edited original post.

Not overly convinced by my Malouda decision yet either, and then there's always the fact that I'll need to make a double transfer to get in a premium overseas striker (e.g. Van Persie). Early days though!

The restriction seems very manageable at the moment - plenty of other Brits I wanted I had to leave out (Young, Rooney, O'Hara etc). I think having one overseas player will make for an interesting season. I do feel that I can do well nationally, even with this restriction.

Looks a pretty strong lineup to me despite your restriction, of course you might need to make your first enforced change will you go enabler route to enable Malouda to be upgraded to Aguero (with another transfer cash raiser) ?

Hart 4.0
Cole 4.9
Baines 4.5
Lescott 4.4
Malouda 4.7
Downing 4.0
Etherington 3.9
Sinclair 3.5
Murphy 2.9
Carroll 6.5
Bent 6.4

49.7
T 30

Week 1
Wk Pts 30
Tot Pts 30
Nat Pos 153,575 (- lw)
FISOXI SL Pos 20/21 (- lw)

(format borrowed from happyhoppy)

Second from bottom in the SL, but playing against some decent competitors, some of whom have no restrictions. Not the finest of opening weeks then, but I'm relatively confident in the team. I was impressed with Downing and Carroll, even though they returned deux points a piece and feel returns will come from their direction. Baines didn't figure. Etherington may have picked up a shoulder injury, so a first transfer may be enforced this weekend, prompting the idea of a reshuffle to get aboard the Aguero Bandwagon. Malouda didn't set the world alight against Stoke, but with West Brom and Norwich at home for the next two games, I feel getting rid of him after Week 1 may turn out to be questionable move.

On the radar
Warnock, as a defensive enabler
Ashley Young, decent season-long prospect
Ramsey/O'Hara, a straight-swap for Etherington, which would free-up some cash for Rooney if needed
Aguero, for obvious reasons

Hart 4.0
Cole 4.9
Baines 4.5
Lescott 4.4
Malouda 4.7
Downing 4.0
Etherington 3.9
Sinclair 3.5
Murphy 2.9
Carroll 6.5
Bent 6.4

49.7
T 30

Week 2
Wk Pts 31
Tot Pts 61
Nat Pos 133,269 (+20,306 lw)
FISOXI SL Pos T16/21 (+4 lw)

Onwards an upwards. A pretty low scoring week but pleased to rise up four places in the FISO SL and a wee bit in the main TFF game. Goals for Bent and Malouda this week, but no clean sheets. Malouda is potentially for the chop after the international break despite his goal as the arrival of Juan Mata, who as a wide-left attacking midfielder, may reduce Malouda's starts. Still pleased with the rest of the team.

On the radar
Cleverley - A better enabler than Murphy?
Ashley Young - an English essential?
Rooney - back to his best, a potential replacement for Carroll if he continues to return 2 points.
Aguero, Silva, or Suarez - lined up to take Malouda's slot if required.

Triple update due to a trip to Russia

Hart
Cole
Baines
Lescott
Malouda Young
Downing
Etherington
Sinclair
Murphy
Bent Rooney
Carroll Tevez Aguero

50.0
T 26

Week 4, 5 & 6
Wk Pts 28, 35 & 36
Tot Pts 155
Nat Pos 186,993
FISOXI SL Pos 21/21

Well, where to start. Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates. Back in the homeland now, so business as usual. Week 5 saw a double transfer, with Malouda & Carroll making way for Young & Tevez. I had a feeling that Carlitos would come good - how completely and utterly wrong I was. Mistake made, and have made another double transfer to bring in Rooney & Aguero for Bent & Tevez.

Outside this glaring error, not much else has gone right, which explains the woeful position both nationally and in the FISOXI SL. Not much in the way of clean sheets, and the likes of Downing and Etherington haven't performed at all. Scott Sinclair came good last week so I feel that him and Everyone's Favourite Midfield Enabler will be solid season-long picks.

On the radar
Anyone who can score me some points

Hart
Cole
Baines
Lescott
Young
Downing
Etherington
Sinclair
Murphy
Rooney
Aguero

50.0
T 26

Week 7
Wk Pts 35
Tot Pts 190
Nat Pos 185,146
FISOXI SL Pos T21/21

Another ever so slightly poor week for the FISOXI team. The freshly transferred in Rooney didn't figure, but scored a couple of cleanies from the Man City players, and two KCs from Etherington and The Foreigner. Still, I like the team as it is, although there will now be a doubt over rotation with Lescott, after Kolo Toure lined up at the back during the week against Bayern. Here's to some points this week!