CptPugwash TFF World Cup Blog

[LAMPS27]

My gut feel is if you're chasing a cash league or need to be more maverick in approach the 10-6-4 option is best.

I'm trying to defend a lead in my cash league and would prefer the 5-10-5 option. It's essentially pick 2 defences I guess everyone's will end on Brazil and rotate the strikers.

Lingard is a keeper for me, even if England lose he will just sit there I think as he frees things up cash wise.

Casemiro at £3.70m is the best 2 pts a game option most likely to get you at least 4 points, however he has 1 yellow card so 1 more and he's suspended. As a holder like Lingard he's not someone you want to waste transfers on so I'm not sure if I fancy him in case he gets booked v MEX.

[skiffer]

I'm single team going for my mates league

I'm starting with 5,3,2

I will split 50/50 between Spain & Croatia except for Messi who will move to Ronaldo ...

The use 10 transfers to move to Brazil & Belgium.

Then I will have to use the rest to back the teams that progress.

Feels like a plan.

[robot]

Just looked back at the group stages end results for my teams, overall a bit disappointed and I think the main learning curve is to not focus so much on the big teams, most of my attempts fell apart after going big on germany/brazil, should off looked more at the "average" teams against poor opposition Sweden/croatia/colombia/denmark/belgium/ uruguay combos all had now look good in hindsight!


Best result is 18th overall 334 (10 defender changes) (53 appearances)
went Uruguay/eng/eng/col/col (plus all the big hauls bar kane 1st game)

next best 194th (15 defender changes) (57 appearances)
went Uruguay/por/por/spa/bra/bra, missed kane (by1) and costa haul (15 defender changes) (57 appearences)

[CptPugwash]

My brain's not working today (or any other day for that matter). What would be an example (now we know the order of the fixtures) of the 5,10,5 and 10,6,4 in terms of transfers? Or what do you mean by single/double block, is it for eg Spain and France to start then move to Brazil and Belgium or is it start with Spain, move to Brazil then move back to Spain. (as in a double-back switch)?

5-10-5 would normally be a single block transfer. There's basically 3 approaches to that.
1. Pick a team from the 1st or 3rd Quarter ; ride it to the semis (hopefully) then switch to the other semi. (e.g. Brazil Spain)
2. Pick a team from the 1st 3 quarters; switch after the Q-Final for a team yet to play. (e.g. France Brazil)
3. Pick any team; then switch in the 1st round for a team yet to play (e.g. Spain/Croatia Brazil)

10-6-4 has a couple of different strategies.
a) the normal 433/442 with 2 block transfers OR
b) 532 with 2 semi-blocks & 3 semi-block transfers. - I'll discuss the pros & cons of this approach later.

[Ganzo]

We once again have the problem that, unless we pick France and Uruguay players, we won't know who's starting when we pick them. This might argue against picking the fringe defenders in a side, and going for semi-blocks of nailed-on starters instead.

Fagner, anyone?

[CptPugwash]

I'm single team going for my mates league

I'm starting with 5,3,2

I will split 50/50 between Spain & Croatia except for Messi who will move to Ronaldo ...

The use 10 transfers to move to Brazil & Belgium.

Then I will have to use the rest to back the teams that progress.

Feels like a plan.

Feels like a reasonable plan - I'll certainly be making a couple of teams along those lines. However if I can make 1 suggestion. I wouldn't want be sitting too heavy on both Belgium & Brazil given that they meet in the 2nd QF.

[zipnolan]

The joy of starting with a Uruguay block... don't have to spend money on bloody Ronaldo.

The pain of starting with a Uruguay block.... bloody Ronaldo.

[skiffer]

I'm single team going for my mates league

I'm starting with 5,3,2

I will split 50/50 between Spain & Croatia except for Messi who will move to Ronaldo ...

The use 10 transfers to move to Brazil & Belgium.

Then I will have to use the rest to back the teams that progress.

Feels like a plan.

Feels like a reasonable plan - I'll certainly be making a couple of teams along those lines. However if I can make 1 suggestion. I wouldn't want be sitting too heavy on both Belgium & Brazil given that they meet in the 2nd QF.

Now thinking I'd have 8 Brazil/Bel ... then ship out the 4 that lose the QF ... that leaves me 6 to chase the situation as I'm also burning 1 to bring in Kane v COL as I know a lot of others will have Kane ... (defensive tactic ... wish I'd done that against Panama)

[LAMPS27]

The joy of starting with a Uruguay block... don't have to spend money on bloody Ronaldo.

The pain of starting with a Uruguay block.... bloody Ronaldo.

The problem with Uruguay block is that they have a potential injury to Jose Gimenez. In the last game they also dropped Varela for Laxalt so come 3pm tomorrow (deadline for our teams) we won't know their team.

Varela is the gem he's just £2.2m! you can't get a better enabler than that and started the first 2 games. He's coming off an injury pre tournament so maybe he was just rested?

Varela is my 5th DEF in a 5-3-2 at the moment and someone I won't ship out due to his price. It would be nice if he got at least 2 games. The problem is, to gamble on him or the URU block to start with is we don't know their team.

I'm leaning more to Spain block to start which is brutal on the budget but we know their back 5 isn't changing and we can go with it confidently tomorrow.

Brazil the same but they have a few doubts so i wouldn't want to take their starting back 5 with Marcelo in it only to find Felipe Luis starts.

The most nailed is France and Argentina as we know the lineups. I like France of the two but they don't appeal to start with.

It depends how risk taking/risk averse you are. For me I think SPA is the team to start with and in the next 21 hours or so it would be nice to know if URU give us any information on Varela!

[PEDRO2001]

So what is the best team to start with, Spain to Brazil/Belgium to Spain defensive block looks best.

I guess mix up the attack a bit to include Belgium/Brazil/Spain attackers to start

[PEDRO2001]

any midfield enablers?

[PEDRO2001]

Im going with:

De Gea

Alba
Carvajal
Ramos
Pique
Fagner

Willian
Isco
Iniesta

Costa
Ronaldo

Use 4/5 transfers to swap Spain whole backline to Belgium/Brazil whole backline ride that backline for 2 games hopefully.

Use 3 transfers to bring in Lukaku, Hazard and Neymar, keep in for 2 games.

Assuming Spain qualify use 5 transfers to transfer whole backline to get whole Spain defence again.

After that use 7 transfers to deal with the rest of the games

[Ganzo]

any midfield enablers?

Lingard at 3.3 looks tasty.

[PEDRO2001]

Actually i think the best way is semi blocks, if teams are eliminated it hedges your chances

[Sutter Kane]

Yeah adding to the point above, I'll be having a fair few Brazil and Belgium players in situ when they play each other. 3-4 transfers to remove them for Spaniards is tasty as I see it. The clean sheets look difficult to predict in any game. I can see Belgium getting one against Japan but other than that, it's tough. Even Spain must only be around 50/50 so big defensive block changes don't appeal to me a great deal - maybe I'm wrong but this world cup seems different to other recent ones - the big teams are not having it their own way at all.

Also apologies if anyone has mentioned this or discussed it but is there an ideal looking split of transfers (defensive or offensive) between now and just b4 1st QF and then up to 1st semi. Perhaps 8 transfers in each round? With a contingency of 4.

[Stargunner]

A lot of people seem to be confident in Spain’s defence. They were hardly convincing in qualifying and their only clean sheet and win was against Iran.

[PEDRO2001]

Here is my plan in full: Basically start with predominantly spain, then change backline and key atackers to half belgium/half brazil (hopefully guarantees 4 in the semis, either belgum or brazil) Lingard should be good for the tourney hopefully or a few rounds

30-06-2018 15:00 France - Argentina 2.39 3.06 3.52 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
30-06-2018 19:00 Uruguay - Portugal 2.88 2.92 2.96 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 15:00 Spain - Russia 1.6 3.93 6.62 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 19:00 Croatia - Denmark 1.89 3.26 5.25 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
02-07-2018 15:00 Brazil - Mexico 1.52 4.21 7.7 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Costa 6.5 47.8 3
02-07-2018 19:00 Belgium - Japan 1.41 4.66 9.71 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7 5 8
03-07-2018 15:00 Sweden - Switzerland 3.13 2.97 2.69 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7
03-07-2018 19:00 Colombia - England 4.08 3.18 2.13 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Kane 6.2 47.4 1 9

[CptPugwash]

FORMATION

The Standard 4-3-3.

Benefits. 3 strikers are needed to cover the obvious top quarter options & retain 1 striker to chain the rest of the quarter finals.
e.g. Griezmann , Messi & Suarez
Griezmann/Messi Ronaldo
Ronaldo/Suarez Costa
Then chaining Costa keeping 2 strikers for the 1st Quarter Final.

A big issue to me is that there doesn't appear to be any decent midfield options in the top quarter. Pogba is a lot of money to tie up, when there are far better options at the same price. Argentina's midfield is ever changing, Portugal's look overpriced. So, in order to retain interest in the top quarter 3 strikers may be the way to go.

Drawbacks. In a word money.
Worst case scenario Messi,Ronaldo & Neymar tying up 22.8M - that doesn't leave many beans for the rest of the team.

Example starting XI.
Croatia back 5 - Modric, Hazard, Cheryshev,- Mbappe, Messi, Cavani total cost 48.6.
The plan here would be a single block transfer to Brazil. But might not be affordable, dependent on the striker situation & the brazillian full back situation. To be more confident of being able to afford the switch I could start with Lingard instead of Hazard.

5-3-2 - full block +1 or 2 semi-blocks.
Drawback - obviously retaining 1 striker at most from the top quarter. Though that's not an issue if 1 of the semi-blocks is also from the top quarter.
Benefit - far easier to put a decent team together within budget.

I've lots of entries to throw around so 4 of them will cover the semi-block combinations from the top quarter.

[Stargunner]

Here is my plan in full: Basically start with predominantly spain, then change backline and key atackers to half belgium/half brazil (hopefully guarantees 4 in the semis, either belgum or brazil) Lingard should be good for the tourney hopefully or a few rounds

30-06-2018 15:00 France - Argentina 2.39 3.06 3.52 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
30-06-2018 19:00 Uruguay - Portugal 2.88 2.92 2.96 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 15:00 Spain - Russia 1.6 3.93 6.62 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 19:00 Croatia - Denmark 1.89 3.26 5.25 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
02-07-2018 15:00 Brazil - Mexico 1.52 4.21 7.7 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Costa 6.5 47.8 3
02-07-2018 19:00 Belgium - Japan 1.41 4.66 9.71 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7 5 8
03-07-2018 15:00 Sweden - Switzerland 3.13 2.97 2.69 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7
03-07-2018 19:00 Colombia - England 4.08 3.18 2.13 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Kane 6.2 47.4 1 9

This is very risky and I would avoid unless you are chasing down a big lead. If France or Uruguay keep a clean sheet you would have lost a lot of points to others and then if Spain concede which is quite possible as they have only managed to keep one clean sheet, which was against Iran, it will be all over for you.

[Ganzo]

Here is my plan in full: Basically start with predominantly spain, then change backline and key atackers to half belgium/half brazil (hopefully guarantees 4 in the semis, either belgum or brazil)

I don't understand the reason for a Brazilian / Belgian split in defence. They meet in the QF, so half of them will fail in the second game. The probability of a 0-0 must be rather low, so the strategy is mainly good if you are ahead and want to limit other players' ability to catch up with a block clean sheet.

I was planning on going with Spain for two games, but as I think about it, I think both sides will score in the QF, The best options for keeping 2 clean sheets appear to be Uraguay, Spain and England. But we won't know the Uraguay line up in time, and there's CR7.

[Fat Heed]

I’m chasing a 30 point lead in my mini league so have to go against the obvious strategies. Thinking starting with Croatia block then switching to England. It also more or less allows me any midfield and striking options I want playing 4-3-3


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[PEDRO2001]

Here is my plan in full: Basically start with predominantly spain, then change backline and key atackers to half belgium/half brazil (hopefully guarantees 4 in the semis, either belgum or brazil) Lingard should be good for the tourney hopefully or a few rounds

30-06-2018 15:00 France - Argentina 2.39 3.06 3.52 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
30-06-2018 19:00 Uruguay - Portugal 2.88 2.92 2.96 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 15:00 Spain - Russia 1.6 3.93 6.62 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
01-07-2018 19:00 Croatia - Denmark 1.89 3.26 5.25 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Alba 3.9 Carvajal 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Costa 5.6 49.4
02-07-2018 15:00 Brazil - Mexico 1.52 4.21 7.7 Alisson 3.8 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Iniesta 4.6 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Costa 6.5 47.8 3
02-07-2018 19:00 Belgium - Japan 1.41 4.66 9.71 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7 5 8
03-07-2018 15:00 Sweden - Switzerland 3.13 2.97 2.69 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Lukaku 6.5 47.7
03-07-2018 19:00 Colombia - England 4.08 3.18 2.13 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Fagner 2.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.5 Isco 4.9 Neymar 6.8 Kane 6.2 47.4 1 9

This is very risky and I would avoid unless you are chasing down a big lead. If France or Uruguay keep a clean sheet you would have lost a lot of points to others and then if Spain concede which is quite possible as they have only managed to keep one clean sheet, which was against Iran, it will be all over for you.

I am 31 ahead in my mini league not bothered about the national, Spain are more likely to keep a clean sheet vs Russia than France or Uruguay, maybe I should add in a France/Uruguay defensive component to play it safe

[Ganzo]

I’m chasing a 30 point lead in my mini league so have to go against the obvious strategies. Thinking starting with Croatia block then switching to England. It also more or less allows me any midfield and striking options I want playing 4-3-3

I'm in a similar situation, and I've gone with Croatia, too. If Russia somehow beat Spain, there's the bonus option to keep Croatia for the QF. England might be a better call than the Brazil switch I had planned.

[Stargunner]

A few people are suggesting English defenders but we haven’t kept a clean sheet yet and our defence doesn’t inspire me with any confidence to pick them.

[Sutter Kane]

And knowing sod's law, Russia will beat Spain, then Eriksen will pop up and discard Croatia!

[sarllm]

I was heavy on Uruguay defenders in the group stages (albeit single entrant) but I’m staying clear now. They’ve got to concede at some point (unless they go out on penalties) and Portugal often seem to find a way to score even though they are crap


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[PEDRO2001]

Here is my new plan, uses 9 transfers in the group stage, generally premium attackers, 1 uruguay defender, 1 france defender, 2 spain defenders, 3 brazil defenders, 3/4 belgium defenders. Based on statistical odds for clean sheets this looks like a better more balanced plan to seal my cash league.

30-06-2018 15:00 France - Argentina 2.39 3.06 3.52 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Hernandez 2.4 Godin 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Greizmann 6.6 49.5
30-06-2018 19:00 Uruguay - Portugal 2.88 2.92 2.96 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Hernandez 2.4 Godin 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Isco 4.9 Ronaldo 7 Greizmann 6.6 49.5
01-07-2018 15:00 Spain - Russia 1.6 3.93 6.62 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Hernandez 2.4 Godin 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Isco 4.9 Costa 5.6 Greizmann 6.6 48.1
01-07-2018 19:00 Croatia - Denmark 1.89 3.26 5.25 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Hernandez 2.4 Godin 3.8 Pique 4.2 Ramos 4.5 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Isco 4.9 Costa 5.6 Greizmann 6.6 48.1
02-07-2018 15:00 Brazil - Mexico 1.52 4.21 7.7 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Luis 2.6 Godin 3.8 Pique 4.2 Fagner 2.8 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Coutinho 5.5 Costa 5.6 Neymar 6.8 47.4
02-07-2018 19:00 Belgium - Japan 1.41 4.66 9.71 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Fagner 2.8 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Coutinho 5.5 Lukaku 6.5 Neymar 6.8 48.2
03-07-2018 15:00 Sweden - Switzerland 3.13 2.97 2.69 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Fagner 2.8 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Coutinho 5.5 Lukaku 6.5 Neymar 6.8 48.2
03-07-2018 19:00 Colombia - England 4.08 3.18 2.13 Courtois 3.6 Silva 3.8 Luis 2.6 Vertonghen 4.2 Meunier 3.7 Fagner 2.8 Lingard 3.3 Hazard 5.4 Coutinho 5.5 Kane 6.2 Neymar 6.8 47.9

[Tom D'Arcy]

Am enjoying reading the various permutations, blocks, ideas, but this tournament is:

1/ Wide Open
2/ Full of Surprises
3/ The New Kid on the Block = VAR

With the last in mind here are today's "Nominated Penalty Takers" during the match:

Griezmann
Messi, Aguero

Cavani, Suarez
Ronaldo

4/ Lack of South American Dominance on "European" Soil??
Historial, but relevant?

[bennyc]

I’ve really enjoyed reading this thread. Incredibly useful before the tournament started.

I’ve got a team in 53rd on 323. I’m not going to win it obviously but aiming for top 10.

I’ve decided to go 5-3-2 to start

DDG
Alba
Carvajal
Pique
Boyata
Meunièr

Coutinho
Modric
Isco

Mbappe
Ronaldo

I plan on bringing in three Croatian defenders tomorrow, then three Belgium and then three England.

[LAMPS27]

Here is my plan in full: Basically start with predominantly spain, then change backline and key atackers to half belgium/half brazil (hopefully guarantees 4 in the semis, either belgum or brazil)

I don't understand the reason for a Brazilian / Belgian split in defence. They meet in the QF, so half of them will fail in the second game.

With the deadline looming If all goes to plan I have going into BEL v BRA L8 clash...

Block 5 BRA
Boyata (enabler in the 5-3-2)
Coutinho
Hazard

7 tfr left going into that game.

Big problem here is..

1, No Neymar or Lukaku - I'm thinking Neymar BUT if BRA lose I am left with 7 BRA players and 6 TFR left!
2. It makes my next move an "All In" on SPA (if BRA lose). It would probably be Isco, De Gea and 3 DEF'S. The spare Tfr would be for Kane should ENG make the last 8.

If BEL lose then Boyata stays to keep budget down leaving just Hazard to worry about with 6 TFR going into the last 2 QTR Finals.

Very much risk and reward but so far going with 5-3-2 and rotating 1 striker most games gets me to this point and that's via the SPA/BRA 1 block change route after the SPA-RUS game. Apart from the 1st QTR Final FRA/ARG v URU/POR whereby I have just 1 striker likely Suarez/Ronaldo in the entire game I will have covered every main striker leading up to that point which seems fairly safe.

For me it's all eggs initially on BRA and if they mess up it's then SPA. Should neither make the last 4 it's good night for me!

Anyone else almost set?