6 Differential Hacks from a Top 0.02% Manager

Viktor Fischer (TSB - 1.7%)

At the age of 22, Fischer arrives at Middlesbrough with bags of potential and talent, previously having been scouted by European giants such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan. However, a move never materialised and he has spent his entire professional career (four seasons) plying his trade in the Dutch Eredivisie for Ajax.

Fischer comes off the back of only 18 appearances starts for Ajax last season, with 10 of those starts. However, impressively, he still managed to net 8 goals and register 3 assists, with a shot frequency of 1 shot every 29 minutes. His creativity was less impressive however, creating a chance every 62.7 minutes. Fischer’s attacking potential is highlighted in two of his more recent appearances. In an international match against Bulgaria on June 7, Fischer featured prominently, registering 3 assists in a 4-0 win. Additionally, against Aston Villa on July 31, he managed a goal and assist in a 3-1 win. Furthermore, his potential against ‘better’ teams is also evident. In 6 appearances in the Europa League last season, Fischer managed 2 goals and 1 assist. In one match (vs Molde), he managed 1 goal, 7 shots (5 on target, 2 off target & 4 inside box) and 3 chances created. In Ajax’s final group game, he then managed 5 shots and 3 chances created. These performances clearly exhibit Fischer’s capability of both firing shots and created chances for his teammates.

Moreover, Fischer will most likely assume his fair share of dead ball duties; either curling a freekick at goal or whipping in a corner to aerial threats such as Ayala, Espinosa, Negredo and Rhodes. This heightens his appeal.

With Middlesbrough not lacking attacking depth, also having Gaston Ramirez, Stewart Downing, Alvaro Negredo and Jordan Rhodes, uncertainty surrounds Karanka’s starting line up for their first league match against Stoke. Historically, Karanka has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would see Fischer most likely starting on the left of the attacking midfield trio alongside Ramirez in the centre, Downing on the right and Negredo up front. However, if Karanka opts for Rhodes to partner Negredo up front (as he has recently done at times in preseason), Downing would drop out of the side, with Fischer lining up on the left. Nevertheless, Fischer’s ability to play along all attacking midfield positions as well as at the ‘false 9’ position plus his quality will almost definitely cement his role as a certain starter, no matter what formation.

Overall, it is evident that Fischer has great potential as a genuine FPL option, not just as a cheap 5th midfielder. With a price of only £5.5, his flair and ability to both score and assist will definitely be something to watch out for this Premier League season.


Leighton Baines (TSB – 6.4%)

We all know the quality of Leighton Baines. Over the years, he has proved himself to be one of the most sought after defenders in FPL, rewarding managers with a steady stream of both attacking and defensive returns. Over the past 10 seasons, Baines’ attacking output has definitely been a major factor in the minds of FPL managers, with 28 goals and 55 assists coming over that period. 

Last season, Baines was hampered by injury, only starting 16 of Everton’s 38 league games. In this time however, his creativity is still evident, as he managed 22 shot assists and 2 assists (both coming in the 3-3 draw with Chelsea). That’s a key pass frequency of 1 every 64.5 minutes (quite good for a defender, especially one returning from injury). During last season however, he only managed 9 shots. It is worth noting though that once he has returned to full fitness towards the end of the season, he did managed 2 goals in the final four games. Further to this, Baines’ tendency to get forward and take the attacking option is highlighted by two main distribution stats: (1) Of 61 completed crosses from open play last season, 34 of them came from within 18 yards of the goal (2) 379/621 of his passes were played into the ‘forward’ zone of the field.

Baines’ appeal is heightened by the fact that although being a defender, he is Everton’s first choice penalty taker. In the final match of the season vs Norwich, even though Lukaku and Mirallas (who have both previously taken penalties) were on the field, Baines took it and converted. Although Baines may not take as many corners as he used to with the likes of Barkley, Deulofeu and Mirallas all capable takers, last season he did take 42 in his 16 starts, which was only bettered by Barkley (71), suggesting that he may still feature prominently in this domain. However, although he is a proven free kick taker, with Deulofeu and Mirallas also quality takers themselves and both scoring brilliant free kicks already in pre-season, he may fall down the pecking order.

When fit, Baines is a definite starter. Under Martinez, a 4-2-3-1 was rolled out each week. If Koeman keeps the formation the same (as he used frequently for Southampton over the past few years), Baines will certainly be first choice at left back. However, Koeman is not afraid to alter his tactics, on occasion setting his team up in a 3-5-2. If this is the case, Jagielka and Funes Mori would play alongside Stones (if he stays) or Williams (if he is bought) at centre back. This would see Baines shift to left wing back/left midfield, with Coleman on the opposite side, increasing his appeal.

Although in previous seasons, Everton has had one of the most resilient defences, last season their defence was rather leaky, conceding 55 times. However, Koeman’s Southampton only conceded 41 goals and he is likely to instil this resilience, the same one as Everton defence’s past, back into this Everton backline.

Overall, it is clear that Baines has great potential for both attacking and defensive returns. With an ownership of only 6.4% and a price of £5.5 (down from as much as £8.1 in 2010/11), the acquisition of Baines by FPL mangers will be a smart move, with the prospect of large point hauls achievable.


Isaac Success (TSB – 0.2%)

Before signing for Watford from Granada for a club record fee of £12.5m, Success had been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, PSG, Valencia and Inter Milan. However, the 20 year old Nigerian opted for a move to Vicarage Road and is hoping for a successful season ahead.

Last season, Success started 28 games for Granada in the La Liga. In these 28 games, he managed to net 6 goals and provide 3 assists. Delving into his underlying stats from last season, Success managed 58 shots on goal in total, with 18 of them on target. He finished to season with an acceptable shot frequency of 1 shot every 41.97 minutes. However, his ability to be provider is a slight let down, with a key pass provided every 86.93 minutes.

As a player, Success is quite well rounded. His most notable strength is his pace and dribbling ability, however, he is also very strong on the ball which is needed to succeed in the Premier League. Last season, the Nigerian flyer attempted 155 take ones. He beat his opponent on 67 occasions with a success rate of 43.23%.

Talking about his potential position, Success started the majority of his games started on right of an attacking midfield trio. He also featured prominently on the left side, cutting in onto his favoured right foot. Success is a versatile player who is comfortable playing in a wide position or central attacking position. The fact that he is Watford’s record signing suggests that he will be a nailed on starter. At Napoli, Mazzarri often utilised the 3-5-2 formation. He has also used this in every preseason match. This formation could result in Success being fielded up front with Ighalo and Deeney being deployed behind the front two. This is the most likely scenario and it bodes well for FPL managers as Success is classified as a midfielder. Mazzarri has also trialled a 3-4-3 in preseason which would see Success fielded on either wing. 4-2-3-1 is also an option, which would again see Success fielded on either wing.   

Despite his promising attacking talents and OOP potential, some FPL managers may be deterred by the ill-discipline of the young and raw 20 year old. Last season, Success committed 51 fouls in total, picking up 10 yellow cards and 1 red card. This may affect the thinking of FPL managers when selecting their team.

Overall, despite his tendency to pick up cards, the probability that Success will be fielded up front despite being classified as a midfielder as well as his attacking talents mean that he may well outperform his price tag of £6.0. Clearly, he has the attributes to be a success in the Premier League (even though some unsuccessful haircuts are expected).


Nathan Ake (TSB – 2.3%)

Ake moves to Bournemouth on the back of a very good season for Watford, being named the club’s Young Player of the Year. However, Chelsea could not foresee a place for Ake in their senior squad for the 2015/16, and opted for another loan deal for the youngster.

Last season, Ake took part in 24 league games for Watford, starting 20 of them. Overall, he finished the season with 1 goal and 1 assist, picking up 7 bonus points.  In terms of attacking output, he registered 16 shots, so almost 1 every match he started. However, only 5 of these were on target. In terms of creativity, he was less impressive, only registering 9 shot assists. Nevertheless, his attempted shot assist statistics were impressive. Out of his 42 crosses completed, 29 of them arrived from within 18 yards of the goal, highlight how he is not afraid to get forward. Furthermore, he had a take on success rate of 69%. Defensively, Ake was very strong last season, winning 67% of his attempted tackles and rarely getting caught out of position. Therefore, for a young and inexperienced player, Ake’s statistics and performances last season suggest that he will develop into a quality player.

In terms of where he will fit into the Bournemouth side, it is unclear at this stage. Although he started 19/20 matches at left back for Watford last season, it is highly unlikely he will play there for Bournemouth with Charlie Daniels, Brad Smith and Tyrone Mings all vying for one spot. With Adam Smith playing well at right back last season, that may force Simon Francis to partner Steve Cook at centre back, a spot in which Ake has played in preseason. This will allow Ake to push into the midfield, which, as described by himself, is his natural position. Although he will face competition from the likes of Surman, Arter and L.Cook, the fact that Chelsea loaned him out again to a lower club for development would almost certainly suggest that he will be a starter. Therefore, despite being classified as a defender, the likelihood that Ake will be deployed in the midfield heightens his appeal.

Overall, the £4.5 priced Nathan Ake’s OOP potential and his ability to balance his defensive game with getting forward into the attack means that he is definitely a viable budget option for the 2016/17 FPL season.


Erik Lamela (TSB – 10.4%)

Over the past few seasons, Erik Lamela has shown glimpses of his potential and talent, but has yet to live up to the £25.8 million transfer fee that Tottenham paid for him. However, last season was promising for the 24 year old, and this season he is hoping to take a step up and develop into a world class player.

Lamela made 34 appearances for Tottenham last season, starting 28 of those matches. In those matches, he managed 5 goals and 9 assists. In total over the Premier League season, he managed 58 shots, with 20 on target and an impressive shot frequency of 1 shot every 41.12 minutes. In terms of creativity, he was even more impressive, with a chance created every 31.80 minutes. However, it was in the Europa League where Lamela impressed the most, registering 6 goals in 7 games, including a hat-trick vs Monaco. In these 7 matches, he managed 12 shots and created 12 chances, displaying his all round abilities. Furthermore, the goals have continued to come for Lamela as he improves as a player, scoring 2 goals for Argentina at the Copa America as well as 1 goal against Juventus and 1 goal and 1 assist against Inter Milan in preseason friendlies.

In addition Lamela’s appeal is heightened by his set piece threat. Although Eriksen if the primary set piece specialist at the club, Lamela still took 100 corners last season (126 for Eriksen) and frequently took free kicks. He also delivered 40 crosses from open play, with 36 of them coming from within 18 yards of the goal. Moreover, his ability to take on and get past his opponents bodes well, winning 58% of his take ons.

Last season, Lamela was stationed on the right of an attacking midfield trio on 18 of his 28 starts. He also started 2 matches at no.10 and 8 on the left. This demonstrates Lamela’s versatility.  This season, it is highly likely that Lamela will be a nailed on starter on the right, with Alli at no.10 and Eriksen on the left.

With all this being said however, Lamela’s discipline irritated FPL managers last season. He committed 67 niggling fouls, picking up 9 yellow cards. However, as he matures, he should remove this from his game as it shouldn’t be much of a problem. In addition to this minor deterrent, with Tottenham having qualified for the Champions League, once that competition starts Lamela may be rested in some league games so that he can be fit for ‘the big games’ in the UCL.

Overall, Erik Lamela certainly has the potential to become one of the best players in the Premier League. His all round style of play as a creator and score, combined with his set piece threat and certainty of starts, definitely suggests that he may well outperform his miserly £7.0 price tag.
 

 By Sebastian Candido 

The £5.0M Defender Debate in Fantasy Premier League: John Stones, Ashley Williams or Ramiro Funes Mori?

Recent transfers have conspired to shred apart the defensive templates of FPL teams on the eve of Gameweek 1. Specifically, it’s mid-priced defenders where the new trouble is. Williams, now of Everton with teammate Funes Mori and Man City’s Stones all occupy the 5.0 bracket. Stones appears to be the cheapest entry route into Man City’s starting line-up while the other two are most likely to be the starting central pairing for the Toffees. FPL managers expect that both teams will shore up their respective defences under new management which were previously their Achilles Heels. Williams also carries the distinction of being known in fantasy circles as a “bonus points magnet” and Stones is favoured because he’s a young English defender that tries to pass the ball for a title challenging club. But who’s actually the best pick? I’ll try dispel some myths about various players so that reasons for choices become fact-based and try to make a recommendation myself too. You could see this as a follow up to my recent article about FPL defenders.

**Click on the image to zoom in**

The real attraction to Ashley Williams is quite clearly his bonus points potential. He comprehensively outscored Stones and Mori on bonuses last season despite being part part of a shaky Swansea defensive unit. Obviously, most if not all of those bonus points came in the few games that Swansea kept clean sheets and when Williams scored.  Williams got max BAPs against Watford in the 1-0 win over Watford and the night he scored in the late 2-1 victory over Arsenal. Why was Williams so good at winning the bonuses in the Swansea clean sheet games though? Why him and not Fabianski or Fernandez or whoever else was there? The answer to that lies in how bonus points are allocated and how often Swansea scored. There were 8 games in which the Swans kept a cleanie where the scored one or no goals. In one of those, Williams scored the goal. Hence there were 7 games where there wasn’t many attacking players to be rewarded for goals and assists in BAPs. Meanwhile defenders were being richly rewarded for successful tackles, high pass accuracy (so weren’t hoofers), blocks, clearances, interceptions and recoveries along with their clean sheet. That’s why Williams, the defensive titan and leader in the middle did so well. Things may not be that straight-forward at Goodison where Everton’s attacking players should score often and hoover up a lot of bonus points Williams would’ve got back in Wales.

One of the players who will be putting a vacuum to Williams’ bonus points is his soon to be partner in clean sheets Ramiro Funes Mori. Both players will benefit from more clean sheets this year. Roberto Martinez proved himself unable to form a fortress at the back last season but Ronald Koeman won’t allow that porosity remain. However the above graph shows that Funes Mori poses a goal threat that his teammate could only dream of. 4 goals last year in only 28 games is huge strike rate for a 5.0 defender. Unfortunately for him, Everton’s consistent lack of clean sheets (6 in the 28 FM played) and decent scoring at the other end meant that he rarely got in among the bonuses. I believe that Funes Mori should be more of a BAPs magnet than his teammate in 2016/17 but only if he stays disciplined. Both players pick up cautions regularly which could hamper their chances of picking up bonuses even in tight 1-0 victories as Coleman and Baines will get preferential treatment in the system for their up-field play.

John Stones just left Everton for Pep Guardiola’s Man City and immediately becomes an enticing FPL prospect. His attraction lies in the team he plays for, not in his own personal contribution as he provides almost no threat in front of goal (or providing assists for that matter). But Man City’s defence are hardly trustworthy based on previous seasons. Last term, Joe Hart was error prone and the cause of his own demise on multiple occasions and their new signings were pathetically poor. Hence, they were joint 5^th on goals conceded with Southampton on 41. Guardiola has so far failed to fully replace this unit and it’s impossible to see a complete reversal in their fortunes. Only compounding the case against Stones, for the present at least, is City’s defensive injury crisis – they were forced to start Kolarov and Fernando at the back against Arsenal last weekend. None of this bodes well for selecting Stones instead of the other options for GW 1.

Conclusion

It seems to me that Funes Mori is the best option among the 5.0 options for Gameweek 1 so long as he starts. Some uncertainty still hangs over whether he or Phil Jagielka will partner Williams into the coming campaign but all indications are that the Argentine will get the nod. He scores more than either of the others and he should also outscore them on bonuses this season. In the long term, Stones may prove to be a brilliant route into a solid City defence but as of now, he does not provide that and should be avoided.

FPLStag is a wannabe FPL genius and tea enthusiast. You can follow the highs and lows of the 2016/17 season on his Twitter feed here.

 

The New 'Big' Things In FPL

The New Gomes: Valdes

Goalkeepers priced at 4.5 can quickly rise in value. After an impressive season they usually go up to 5.0. This might not seem like a huge price hike, but to many FPL managers looking for a cheap combo of rotating keepers, only 4.5-rated keepers and under are chosen in order to spend big elsewhere. Last season Heurelho Gomes exorcised his Premier League demons with consistently excellent performances. He returned 257 points, which was the second highest in the league behind Petr Cech. Now priced at 5.0 he only has a 3.8% ownership and new Boro keeper Victor Valdes looks to do the same after a miserable time at Man United where he was released for refusing to play for the reserves. Valdes is a more popular choice (8.7%) and could be the one who returns the most points from the 4.5 bracket behind a solid Boro defence that kept a huge 22 clean sheets last season.

The New Baines: Daniels

We may not have seen the last of Leighton Baines' double-figure hauls for Everton, but his injured ankle has cut his game time short over the past two seasons. Baines is no longer a staple FPL defender. If his injury woes return then it might be best to look elsewhere for a defender who can provide attacking returns. Like Baines but 0.5 cheaper, Charlie Daniels is a defender who takes penalties and now Ritchie has left Bournemouth he is likely to take free kicks too.

The New Terry: Williams

John Terry is no longer a certain starter in the Chelsea side, but look no further than the Swansea captain for a replacement. We saw at the Euros what a commanding centre back Williams is. He is dominant in the air, strong in the tackle and makes vital interceptions. This is how he managed 24 bonus points (2nd most of all defenders) for his defensive work last season despite only 2 goals and 1 assist. He will be gunning for more goals from corners this season after the threat he showed for Wales this summer.

The New Ivanovic: Van Dijk

Ivanovic's best days are behind him and will likely have less game time than in his previous 7 seasons in a Chelsea shirt with Ola Aina playing well in pre-season. The new goalscoring defender on the block is Southampton's Virgil Van Dijk, who came into the Premier League after scoring 6 goals in a season for Celtic. He only scored 3 in his debut season, but now he's adapted to life in the Premier League he will score more to go with many clean sheets as part of a solid and settled defence.

The New Mata: Mkhitaryan

Mkhitaryan cost United £30m because he is the all-round attacking midfielder. The Armenian scores and creates goals and will take Juan Mata's place in the United team. His 11 league goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga last season is similar to that of Mata's peak in 2012/13.

The New Silva: Sane

Leroy Sane could be another straight swap for a previously fruitful FPL player. Silva struggled with an ankle injury last season, which meant he was in and out of the City team. If the same happens this season Sane could get the chance to prove his lauded potential. His stats for Schalke could mean he hits Silva's heights of 12 goals and 12 assists early in his career. Sane has an eye for a pass as well as being more of a clinical goalscorer than the Spaniard, with more goals and assists per 90 mins of De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito and Sterling last season, so he could hit the ground running for Guardiola's team.

The New Yaya Toure: Alli

Alli has quickly become a stand-out midfielder in his 28 Premier League starts. His willingness to dribble with the ball and shoot from the centre of the pitch is similar to Yaya Toure of 2014/15. Alli scored 10 goals and layed on 9 more, which are better stats than Yaya Toure in the same number of appearances. Toure seems to have dropped to a deeper midfield role with less freedom to get forward and get FPL points, while Alli has moved into an attacking midfield role, so big things are expected of Dele Alli in FPL this season.

The New Ramsey: Feghouli

Every season there is a 5.5 midfielder who performs as well as the high-end players. Last season it was Mahrez, in 2013/14 it was Downing, in 2012/13 it was Ramsey. This season it could be West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli. He is touted by many as this season's Mahrez and has obvious comparisons as an Algerian winger. Last season proved a difficult one for Valencia and Feghouli failed to deliver, which might be the reason he is priced so low, but it was his attacking returns in previous seasons that earned him a move to West Ham. He reached 6 Gs and 6 As in 2014/15 and 4 Gs and 8 As in 2013/14. Playing in the same team as Dimitri Payet can only help his returns.

The New Van Persie: Ibrahimovic

It is clear that 34 year old Ibrahimovic is a short-term solution to United's lack of goals, but if he can be as prolific as Van Persie was in his first season at Old Trafford in 2012/13 when he scored 26 league goals then he will run Aguero close for the golden boot. He finished the most prolific debut season in Man Utd history as the league's top scorer and helped United win the title. If anyone can match or better that, it's Zlatan.

The New Kane: Musa

In three seasons Harry Kane has gone from a budget striker to the third most expensive player in the game. Many previous Kane owners might feel 11.0 is too expensive to also fit Aguero and Ibra into their team, so they scout the lower priced strikers for someone who might make a similar price increase. That man might be Leicester's new forward Ahmed Musa, who comes in at just 7.5. The Nigerian is blessed with lightning pace and scored 13 goals in 30 games last season in the Russian league. He has improved year on year at CSKA between impressive performances at the World Cup, scoring twice against Argentina. The signs are there from his 45 minute brace against Barcelona that he could become a reliable goalscorer for the Foxes.

The New Rooney: Kane or Vardy

He has had his testimonial and this could be Rooney's last season at Man Utd after a decline in form over the past few seasons. Kane and Vardy are his natural successors as players who will take his place at international level, and also in people's FPL teams. They are both expected to hit at least 20 goals again this season, but who will go on to fair better this season to become a must-have is up for debate. Kane is 1.0 more having had an extra season of proven goalscoring, but Vardy is able to assist as well as score like Rooney. It may depend on who of Spurs and Leicester best continues their breathtaking form from the previous campaign. 

Kyle Norbury, obsessive fantasy football manager and have been for many years. Bit of a nerd when it comes to stats.  #TeamIbra.

Follow me, Kyle on Twitter: @SCFCNerd, and subscribe on Youtube @FPLNerd

FPL analysis at your finger tips for 2016/2017

The start of the season is now only days away, it’s time to get serious about squad selection and we thought what better time to review the Pre-Season Pack on offer from the stats geeks over at fantasyfootballfix.com.

You might have come across the Fix site before, but for those that haven’t they offer a range of useful tools and predictive stats help your player transfer selections – and rather than football punditry they use mathematical formulas to suggest your best transfer moves – might seem crazy but it works.

So given that they have used this logic for the pre-season build up, lets have a look at what they can offer to help educate us on our initial squad selection before the new season gets underway.

Analytics on the top 50 FPL managers from last season

We believe strategy plays a huge part in fantasy football and this makes for great reading, we all want to know the secrets of the best fantasy managers in the game and this section of the fix site does just that.

Here are some of the stats quoted to get you thinking.

 

• 46% of the top managers had used their first wildcard before GW3.

• 40% of the time the Top 50 managers used 2 or 3 players who were on their bench in the previous Gameweek

• As much as 80% of the time the Top 50's Captain Pick was amongst the top 3 most popular in that gameweek.

The data is revealed in graphs and charts giving the playing styles of the best managers, from when they played their wildcard to the times they made player transfers.

The current FPL ‘Template Team’ showing player ownership

Here we have taken a screenshot showing the current highest ownership players in FPL within the 100M budget – often referred to as the ‘template team’.

The template team will give you a great starting point in FPL and will return an above average score, however don’t neglect the differential picks if you get these right you will out perform the template choices.

As more and more teams are entered into the FPL game, Fix continues to update the data so you can see the trends of which players are the most popular.

Predicted Stats and Optimisation Tools

This section really forms the main part of the Fix pre-season pack, giving you everything you need from projected player points scores right through to optimization tools that allow you to create your Gameweek 1 draft squad, then the Fix Algorithms to educate you on how you can improve on player selection to increase points – clever stuff.

When you find a player you think would be a good fit for your squad you can drill down into the stats for both player and team to make an informed choice!

So if you are struggling with your starting squad selection, or you just want the inside stats from the top managers on the FPL game, then this might well be worth a look.  Click here to learn more.

Football Survivor: A Game by Game Guide, Part One

I've had a go at predicting which team you should back in the first 20 weeks of the Premier League! So have a read about the perfect strategy to survive in Football Survivor!
 

Match 1: Boro v. Stoke

I'm backing Middlesborough in the first game week. The promoted side face Stoke City at home this Saturday in a 3pm KO. Boro have had a wonderful transfer season, with Negredo and Victor Valdes joining the club. Stoke, on the other hand, haven't strengthened significantly and are relying upon the mercurial talents of Shaqiri, Bojan and Arnautović. Promoted teams have a history of kicking things off well - and what better way to get rid of one of the lower teams than to start things off? 

Match 2: Swansea v. Hull City 

Another unlikely pick… but Swansea kick off things at the Liberty Stadium against currently manageress Hull City. Bar, some sort of miracle, Hull look destined for the drop. Key player Mo Diame, the man who fired the winner in the Play Off Final in May has just left for Newcastle. Steve Bruce has resigned and half the fans are rumoured to be planning a boycott due to the owners unpopular antics. The Swans, on the other hand, will be looking to get off to a flying start - and who'd doubt them, given the atrocious scenes at Hull?

Match 3: Chelsea v. Burnley

The first of our big boy picks. Conte arrives in West London with a difficult job; he must energise a Chelsea team, who were, quite frankly, a disgrace last time round. Hazard, Costa, Fabregas and co. all underperformed in a season which was tarnished by Mourinho’s sacking and the worst title defence of all time. This time round, you'd expect Conte to organise this Chelsea team better and bring the best out of the star players at Stamford Bridge. Burnley, on the other hand, don't have the biggest budget and would expect to be battling in the dog fight all season. 

Antonio Conte 

Match 4: Burnley v. Hull

The great thing about Football Survivor is that you’ve got to back the teams that you wouldn't usually back… in this case, newly promoted Burnley. As mentioned previously, both these teams will look to be avoiding the drop and this might be seen as an early relegation battle. Of course, nothing is decided in match 4 of 38, but don't be surprised if Burnley make a statement here, perhaps with Gray leading the line and firing in a late winner to send Turf Moore ballistic. 

Match 5: Tottenham v. Sunderland 

Pochetinno and co will be looking to go one better this time round. Last year, Spurs were immense, although finishing third eventually, Harry Kane, Deli Alli, Erik Dier and Christian Erikson were all stand out performers in a sensational season for Tottenham. Certainly, Kane, who secured the BPL Golden Boot and Alli who won PFA Young Player of the Year, will look to kick on this year. Home matches against teams like Sunderland will be exactly the sort of game which Spurs will need to win in order to keep or set the pace. 

Match 6: Manchester United v. Leicester 

It seems odd to back last years 5th placed team against the reigning champions, but the arrival of Jose Mourinho has entirely changed the contest. Jose is notorious for his ability to get results against the big guns in the league, having consistency beaten the top dogs in the race for the title. United will expect to win every game this season with their new man in charge; and, the acquisition of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a certain Paul Pogba. Expect Vardy and co to put a very good fight, but Mourinho will fancy this. There’ll be lots of mindgames, Zlatan antics and probably a late winner to ignite the spark at Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho 

Match 7: Burnley v. Arsenal 

Burnley fans might start to think I've got it in for them.. but I just don't see anything but an Arsenal win here. The first away team that I’ve backed, but Arsenal are usually superb at destroying teams who are off lesser quality. Expect Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to have great games here. Mind you, if Arsenal don't sort out their defensive fragilities, Gray might fancy this, especially if he's running at Monreal, just ask Wayne Rooney about that. 

Match 8: Stoke City v. Sunderland 

Stoke City will be up for this. Sunderland are precisely the sort of team that Stoke’s mercurial players will fancy themselves against; with space and time to pick a pass and split Sunderland’s defence. The Britannia faithful will expect Stoke to sweep past opponents like Sunderland, and will make sure that their team do the job.

Match 9: Liverpool v. West Brom 

Jurgen Klopp will back his chances at Liverpool this season. A solid transfer season has witnessed the acquisition of Wiljnaldum, Mane and others. Both star signings looked very impressive in Klopps 4-0 demolition job over Barcelona at Wembley just last weekend. If Champions League football is to return to Anfield, or if a title challenge is to be maintained and mustered than a win against opposition such as West Brom is paramount. 

Match 10: Everton v. West Ham

The Hammers look a real prospect this season. A move to a new stadium, some good new additions and the holding onto of star man Dimitri Payet are all reasons for the Irons to get excited about this BPL season. Everton, on the other hand, are looking to kick off from the back of a very poor season last time round. Although FA Cup sem-finalists, Roberto Martinez’s men were off the pace for large parts of the season, and ultimately the Spaniard lost his job. It’s crucial for Everton and Koeman, that Lukaku, especially after Stones’ move to City, stays at Goodison Park, but you wouldn’t rule the Belgian out of a move home to West London. 

We've got the second instalment coming next week! Stay tuned! 

FanFeud FPL Podcast - Gameweek 1

Chief's Survivor League is now ready to play!

Chief's Survivor League  is now ready to play!   SURVIVAL OF THE PICKEST It's now time to choose your first team. Who are you going to pick? Make sure you pick before 13 Aug 12:30 BST to avoid missing out. Now is the time to prove you know more than your mates! But remember, you can't pick the same team twice!

Three tips to get you started with Football Chairman

“Football Chairman” has been one of the top-selling games in the UK app store for over three years, and to celebrate there’s a new FREE version of the game available now for the 2016/17 season.  It’s called – imaginatively enough – Football Chairman Free.

 

If you’re new to the Football Chairman series, here are three key tips to get your chairman career heading in the right direction:

1. Appoint the right manager for the job

One of the first tasks you’ll need to carry out as chairman is to find a manager for your club.  Managers have skill ratings based on three key areas: Matches (M), Coaching (C) and Transfers (T).

A manager with a high “Matches” rating will be able to get the best out of his players on matchday – perhaps with his motivational ability, or tactical nous.  This can be a critical skill if your team is likely to be struggling near the bottom of the table and you need a boss whocan help a poor squad to over-perform.

A manager with a high “Coaching” rating will be able to work with his players on the training field to help them improve.  A boss like this is often a good long-term investment, especially if your club can’t afford big-money signings.

A manager with a high “Transfers” rating will be able to find and attract better players in the transfer market.  If you’ve got some cash to spend and want to improve your squad as quickly as possible, this is the guy to go for.

In an ideal world you’ll find a candidate who is strong in all three of those areas.  But if the perfect man isn’t available, think about which of the skill areas your club needs to prioritise.

2. Don’t improve your club’s facilities too quickly

At the start of the game a lot of people think “Right, I’m going to give my club a fantastic new stadium and great training facilities”.  But overspending on facilities is the easiest way to send your club’s finances spiralling out of control.

Remember, you start the game as a tiny non-league club in the seventh tier of English football.  You’ve only got a few hundred fans, so there’s no point in giving them a big stadium to sit in.

Likewise your players at the start are a hardworking but pretty talentless bunch.  What do you expect when they’re being paid a tenner a week?  Even the world’s best training facilities aren’t going to make a lot of difference when half your players lack the basic skills to kick the ball straight.

Just improve your club’s facilities slowly and steadily as your team moves up the divisions, and hopefully you’ll reap the rewards in the end.

3. You’re not the manager - but you are the boss!

Being a chairman is very different to being a manager, and that’s a point that quite a lot of people miss when they first start playing the game.

For one thing, managing the club’s finances off the field is just as important as achieving success on the pitch. Making sure you don’t overspend on the club’s facilities, as mentioned above, is crucial.

But perhaps even more important is keeping control of the transfer activity.  Although the manager will find potential signings, it’s your job to negotiate transfer fees and wages.

The manager won’t always get it right – sometimes he’ll suggest a player who you might not think is worth signing.  He might be too old, too expensive, not good enough, or play in a position in which you’ve already got plenty of good players.

In those circumstances, remember, you’re the boss!  Don’t buy players unless you want to – even if it upsets the manager when you ignore his recommendations.  At the end of the day it’s your club… and if the manager gets stroppy, you’ll always be able to find a replacement!

 

If you remember the tips above, you’ll have a much better chance of building a successful, sustainable club.  In thefree app you’ve got 30 seasons to reach the top, and with a lot of shrewd planning and a little bit of luck, hopefully you’ll see your club lifting the Prem trophy before you retire!