Sideshow league

[Northernmonkey]

Thanks for the nudge in the Cloud forum Coleridge.

I’ll play this again. Just as a single entrant this year, I bit off way more than I could chew last season.

[Art Vandelay]

In the fantasy lobby of 365 it's got 'There are currently no tournaments available. New tournaments will appear very soon...' So they're up to something.

Absolutely fine with me if you fancy it, but we'll just need to clear it with Art, who is this seasons boss, having won last year,

Not sure I'm comfortable with that level of responsibility . Everyone's welcome. Well, with the exception of Gianni Infantino. You've got to draw the line somewhere.

OK, How about something like this:

Sels 4.5
Gabriel 6.5
Kerkez 5.5
Lacroix 4.5

Fernandes 10.5
Palmer 8.5
Rice 7
Manzambi 6

Haaland 13.5
Pedro 9
Thiago 8

Rushworth 4
Maguire 4.5
Diop 4.0
Norgaard 4.5

0.5 spare

Thinking:

I think Sels is likely to be the top scorer of the 4.5 keepers but if people prefer Kelleher, Henderson, or someone else I'm happy to go with that.

Kerkez got a lot of assists under under Iriola at Bournemouth and with Robertson gone he could be a big scorer. Although it might be better to start with White/Mosquera depending on injury/signings situation at Arsenal. Dorgu also one to keep an eye on.

Maguire and Lacroix likely regular starters at sky six clubs, underpriced.

Diop (joined Ipswich) likely starter, looks the best of the 4s, but will happily swap if there's a better option. Same goes for Rushworth (Coventry).

Rice is a bit of a place holder as a safe choice. Plenty of options at 6.5-7.5, open to suggestions.

Manzambi (Villa) - a bit of gamble but could be the pick of the 6s? Although Harvey Barnes has always been good for me in fantasy games.

Norgaard - 4.5 placeholder for now. I'd go Gallagher if he's a definite starter or Joelinton if he's fit. Maybe Grimes (Coventry)?

No explanations needed on the rest. I do prefer 352 generally but you have to pay 5.5 for a definite starter forward while there are a few 4.5 midfielders so if you want a starter for the bench it's better for the budget.

Feel free to suggest/criticise/complain/praise

Right, I'm off to see what Coleridge has offered up in the Cloud game.....

[coleridge]

Cheers Art

I haven't had a proper look yet.
I'll get back to where have.

[Northernmonkey]

Looks good to me Art.

Only dubious pick is Manzambi who got injured at the World Cup and is still out.

I love your optimism for Lacroix, maybe we should carry that into Cloud. I also like Vuskovic for attacking potential.

For Rice does Szob edge it? Played more 90 mins last season and others seem confident he’s on pens.

[BLOCKHEAD]

Palmer an injury doubt and Arsenal away in GW3 so let's swap him for either a city mid or Mbeumo.

[Art Vandelay]

I think it's a bit early to call Palmer an injury doubt but Man United do have the best two fixtures to start with so I don't mind a Utd double up to start.

Although that does make replacing Manzambi harder. I didn't realise he's still injured. There are a lot safe choices at 6.5, not so many at 6 - Maybe Mitoma 5.5?

Happy to go Szob over Rice. I'd expect Isak to get pens? Rice in much more danger of being rested now they've got Guimaraes.

Lacroix and Colwill be be Chelsea first choice surely? They're not in Europe so should be little swapping about.

I did consider Vuskovic but there's a lot of choice at 4.5. I know he's a got a good scoring record but I don't really trust Brighton for clean sheets and they're in Europe so will probably do a bit worse than usual in the league. I think he'll need to be a regular goalscorer to be better than Maguire/Lacroix.

[coleridge]

Sarr looks good at 6.5.
Agree with Szobs.
Sels lost his place last season. Is he back in favour?
Spurs new £85 million midfielder is 5.5 and should be good 90 minutes.

[Northernmonkey]

Agree on Spuds new Fernandes, should do well in a more attacking line up and what a price tag

Minor one but I’m also a bit sceptical on Norgard. I find Everton a bit confusing, but aren’t Garner and KDH nailed as central mids? An alternative bench fodder would be Matt Grimes for Coventry also at £4.5m, he’s an ever present 90 mins guy (capt), set and forget.

[Art Vandelay]

Unless they sign another keeper, Sels is nailed on. They only have one other senior keeper and he looks woeful.

I'm not sure Grimes is nailed on. Coventry have just made a record signing of a Ghana international midfielder so either Grimes or Onyeka likely misses out.

I'd assume Norgaard slots in behind Garner and Dewsbury-Hall as a Guaye replacement. Although they have also signed Hackney. How about Sangare at Brenford for the 4.5 they've not spent that amount on someone to sit on the bench surely?

I don't really see the appeal of Fernandes. Why is he any better than Gross, Scott, Gomes (ex-wolves now Villa), or even Tonali if you must have a Tottenham? They are all 0.5 cheaper.

[Jok57]

Sangare at Brentford has excellent underlying stats….I agree he must be a nailed on starter and hopefully a 90 mins man…Could be very useful….

[Jok57]

Hi...
I've entered one team in the Fanteam 20...
Please could I be considered for the sideshow league?
Cheers
Marko

[coleridge]

Welcome Jok.

Art.
Gross looks a good shout @ 5
Palmer played 85 minutes yesterday.

[Art Vandelay]

OK, What do we think about Palmer? Go with him from the start, or start with Mbeumo for the Hull and Ipswich games and make sure Palmer is fully fit and firing?

Still no sign of manzambi in preseason so I'm writing him off. If we go Palmer we could go to up to 6.5 for the cheapish midfieder (Sarr/N'daiye?) Or we could go Gross or similar and hold a bit back. I'm thinking future upgrade option ofThiago to Isak depending on if they produce their form from last season (Thiago) or not (Isak).

[Jok57]

From what I've witnessed so far pre season Palmer is dropping very deep especially if Welbeck starts and they pivot with two number 10's ( Palmer and JP) ....
Mbeumo looks hungry at the moment and looks the better option....

[Art Vandelay]

So as things stand the team is:

Sels 4.5
Gabriel 6.5
Kerkez 5.5
Maguire 4.5

Fernandes 10.5 (vc)
Mbeumo 9
Szoboszlai 7
Gross 5

Haaland 13.5 (c)
Pedro 9
Thiago 8

Rushworth 4
Sangare (brentford) 4.5
Lacroix 4.5
Diop 4.0

Happy Pappy?

[Northernmonkey]

Solid! Team entered, I’m FFJonny in this if you need to find.

Just a single entrant this year.

[coleridge]

Works fine for me

[Art Vandelay]

I thought I might to have to pull out of this as they wouldn't let me make a deposit. I was just writing out a post giving Nm two days notice he might have to take charge, when it was resolved impressively quickly. Credit to fanteam - their email help is much much much better than bet365's.

Talking of 365 their lobby is still showing 'New tournaments will appear very soon...' although it's been 'very soon' for about three weeks already. I think we can write them off in terms of this game. I wouldn't be surprised if that message is still there next year.

Anyway, baring injuries or a shock transfer, that's the final selection listed above then. Anyone wanting to join in - Enter that squad then post your username on here (or pm it if you're secretive) and we'll track you down

[coleridge]

Good news
Username Donnhaus.
What I done the last two years was c&p the teams url and saved it in notes and then had a direct link to everyone's team, providing I was logged in to fanteam.

[Jok57]

Hi…
My username jok57…..just the one team.

[Johnners]

Talking of 365 their lobby is still showing 'New tournaments will appear very soon...' although it's been 'very soon' for about three weeks already. I think we can write them off in terms of this game.

Yes, think that’s me out for this year, but at least there’s another ISO competition to go for, so I’ll just have to win that instead.

Best of luck to you all, and hope you’re all in the money when May comes around.

[Northernmonkey]

All set. Shame you can’t play this year Johnners.

I’m in as FFJonny in case you missed that above Art.

Be good to have a few more if any lurkers fancy joining us - all welcome. Team line up is looking mighty fine

[coleridge]

Yes, think that’s me out for this year, but at least there’s another ISO competition to go for, so I’ll just have to win that instead.

Best of luck to you all, and hope you’re all in the money when May comes around.

Sad you're not going to make it Johnners

If you could be bothered, you could see if you can just register without them asking for anything.
They run lots of very quick to enter freerolls.
You'd easy win your entry by this time next year

[Johnners]

If you could be bothered, you could see if you can just register without them asking for anything.
They run lots of very quick to enter freerolls.
You'd easy win your entry by this time next year

Gave that idea a lot of thought over the last couple of weeks, as I didn’t really want to give Fanteam up, but have since made my peace with it. Have grown used to my favourite games disappearing every couple of years!

Have entered a few extra mini-leagues in other formats to satisfy my fix, but especially looking forward to Cloud. At least I know my starting XI will be a hit.

[Art Vandelay]

I suppose I'll take a turn in doing updates. Coleridge deserves a rest after the regular updates all last season and then having do the cloud team. I will regularly forget throughout the season so feel free to chip in Coleridge/anyone.

Right here we go then. Overall a pretty average start and annoyed I didn't start with White over Kerkez. Two of us captained Fernandes, but immediately undid that advantage by leaving Gross on the bench. Jok missing out on both counts.

Art 141.5
Nm 141.5
Col 141.3
Jok 132.2


Just the four of us is it? No sign of Hayesag or anyone else?

[Jok57]

Yes Not the best of starts for me…
RANK 5526 OF 6298…..
Captained Mbeumo instead of Bruno
Left Gross as the unused first sub on the bench….

On the Plus side managed to luckily get tickets for Fulham away and Brighton home and saw 2 cracking Chelsea wins last week….

[coleridge]

Cheers Art
Happy to chip in if/when you forget

Pleased to somewhat get away with it after captaining Haaland.
Well done picking Sangare at 4.5. I picked some shockers in my other teams.