The most viewed, anticipated league in the world, the English Premier League will begin another marathon journey for the next ten months.
The very opening match promises an encounter between a likely protégée in former Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The start of the new season promises managers of Fantasy Premier League a chance again to wipe the slate clean and gun for the top spot in that mini-league that matters. The overall rank also, because that is the helm of ultimate prestige.
To not get derailed off the tracks right at the very beginning, here are some notes and tips, and reminders when the time comes to take those rogue decisions.
Avoid making late changes before the game week 1 deadline
Fantasy Premier League opened doors for drafts before the commencement of the season about one and a half months back.
Most managers will by now have gone through multiple numbers of changes in drafts owing to information and misinformation and new information and injuries.
Suffice it to say the period has provided plenty of logic behind the selection of every asset in each position. Yes, even the players that might either/or brackets in the drafts.
There is nothing more horrible than a feeling with the last-minute changes done in haste failing accompanied by the player getting removed and grabbing a haul.
Potential last-minute changes barring news of the player being out always have the risk of this misfortune taking place.
It is simply because the drafts are done over a long period based on vast data and logic. The change five minutes before the deadline is done with the enthrallment of gambling on certain hopeful happenings.
Avoid early Wildcards
No one is going to win the mini-league or enter the top 100k and be guaranteed to have a high rank with a splendid start early on. After so much effort in making the final 15 squads, expectations are always natural for game week 1 and game week 2 to go well.
That might not be the case. It is then a human tendency to fix things as fast and as swiftly as possible. The Wildcard button in such a scenario presents the ultimate solution to such early-season woes.
Q. How many weeks should you wait to collect data from matches before using a wildcard and picking a new team? 🗣️ @mikenoller
— FPL Olympian (@FPLOlympian) August 9, 2023
A. In my opinion, a minimum 4-6 weeks of data is needed. The risk with wildcarding so early arises from small sample sizes, which can easily mislead… pic.twitter.com/wT4FYMyshv
The problems with pressing the wildcard early are of various manifolds. Teams are still bedding in, there is not enough information on the main assets from the major teams including how players are operating under new coaches.
An early wildcard means setting up the team for the potential of the next 26 to 27 game weeks at the least, as is often the case. That is a long period and a lot can go wrong that will require multiple transfers. There is almost always a very slim chance of early wildcards providing many benefits.
Do and don’t follow the herd
Template teams are strong with high-ownership players for a reason. They are good and are likely with the most chance to provide points. Bets against absolute template formations also need to be made to gain an edge and therefore rank. Here comes the nuance in play.
There is no point in betting against Erling Haaland, no matter how attacking are Tottenham in general and Kane as their likely focal point, if he stays, Kane plays.
The good idea to do here is to maybe go for a double-up but not Kane instead of Haaland. That is not a maverick move but rather a stupidity.
At the same time, safe bets that should ideally be considered particularly early on, can be made against a player like Estupinan, the most selected defender in the game, by going for maybe a Chilwell.
It is another matter of how Chelsea will fare now with the loss of Nkunku.
Similarly, betting against an Arsenal defender by going three Gunners attackers or going into game week 1 with Salah, are all viable bets that can yield great benefits while an exit plan remains open if they do go wrong.
Make sure the bets have an exit plan always, that is a way to jump into other players with a single or at worst two transfers.
Avoid Hits
If a certain Mo Salah goes big in game week 2 at home to Bournemouth. There will be itchy fingers and likely hits in play to bring in the Egyptian for managers going without him.
Scenarios such as those mentioned should always be considered with previously thought-about logic. That it was always a possibility of Mo Salah getting a huge haul and he will likely do it again but over a certain period the assets selected in the draft will outscore him. Kneejerk isn’t known for providing good outcomes.
As a general rule, for players failing to live up to expectations, a period of three to four games can be considered before moving them on.
