2nd Apr
Heading into the home straight, Manchester City – with four games against the bottom 6 and none against the top 6, and Newcastle and Liverpool, without top six fixtures until May 10 and May 4 (both vs Chelsea) have arguably the easiest run-ins, so it could be a good time to bring in the likes of Marmoush/Isak/or Jota for the injured Haaland.
On the flip side, Everton and Palace, after tonight’s game at Southampton, have the toughest run-ins with six and five of their remainging games respectively against the top-six, so it could be judicious to take out their value keepers/defenders.
11th January 2025
Halfway through the season and some fairly modest results from my five teams.
But with cause for optimism – plenty of transfers in hand.
Team Pts Pos Transfers left
Nutmegging Pele 887 19,300 33
Cutest little thing on the planet 875 22,686 38
But still seven and half inches taller 756 56,477 37
One accolade would do me 826 37,131 37
Taking tips 793 46,901 33
(as of 8th January)
Last season, 33 transfers left in mid-Feb enabled me to drag one team from nowhere – 28,889th – to a respectable 3,416th by the season end.
Let’s go.
Opportunities beckon for those with a transfer or two in hand this FA Cup third round week with PL managers bosses set to rest first-choice regulars against lowly opposition.
Haaland, Salah and Palmer, along with the in-form but injured Isak, look set for the weekend off vs Salford, Accrington, Morecambe and Bromley.
Expect Chelsea to revert to their European X1 and bring in Marc Guiu, scorer of six goals in six in the UEFA Conference league, whilst I like the look of Man City’s James McAtee, scorer of a brace for Sheff Utd this time last year.
Conversely, with Richarlison injured, Solanke might still get a run-out at non-league Tamworth.
20th October
A team founded on a fast start from two of Liverpool’s top-scoring defenders topped my mini-league and stood at 3,585 after GW5.
But one without Cole Palmer – a painful experience following his four-goal haul (22 TFF pts) the following week.
Bringing in Konate – 41pts for £3.9m – for Van Dijk – 38pts ( £5.1m) – frees up some monies to bring in Palmer, whose selection has jumped from 52% of teams after gw2 to near enough two in every three (65%)
Other take-aways from yesterday’s fixtures –
Tottenham topping the PL scoring charts.
Neither Solanke or Johnson scored or assisted any of their four goals against West Ham but at just £4.4m and £3.6m, and with a run of favourable fixtures coming up.……
And Arsenal’s defence is not as solid with an injury or two, with goals conceded against Leicester, Southampton and Bournemouth.
14th September
Early tactical transfers.
We’ve all been there, a slow start and we’re reaching for the transfer button to make multiple changes.
Last season, one TFF manager in my WhatsApp group made four changes after just one week.
Salah (£7.2m) for Brownhill (£2.8m)
Henry (£3.0m) for Mee (£3.1m)
Mitoma (£3.6m) for Rashford (£5.9m) and
Mbeumo (£3.8) for Fernandes (£6.3m) –
So one big hitter, Salah, has come in for another in Fernandes,
whilst one Brentford defender (Mee) has been swapped for another (Henry).
So perhaps not much to be expected from these changes.
Did they work?
The table below shows the total points accrued by each player after GW1
In Out Gain/loss
Salah 182 Brownhill 100 +82
Henry 11 Mee 31 -20
Mitoma 64 Rashford 117 -53
Mbeumo 104 Fernandes 198 -94
Net loss – -85pts
The above is skewed somewhat by season-ending injuries to Henry (after GW4), Mee (GW26) and to Mitoma (GW 25), so the above does not take into account further transfers made to cover these injuries. These would have at the very least reduced the net loss (it would take some doing not to outscore an injured player) but would have necessitated a total of 6 transfers in all.
Alternatively, take away the Henry and Mitoma transfers, and we’re left with a slight loss of -12 pts.
Worth it? You decide.
Last season Everton’s defenders outscored Liverpool’s, and for considerably less outlay.
But their start to the season has already them ditched by a number of TFF managers
This season they have accrued a grand total of 0 pts.
Last season. 8pts.
Too early to be drawing conclusions?
Villa away is a tough test but forthcoming fixtures do ease, with
Leicester (a) Palace (h) Newcastle (h) Ipswich (a) Fulham (h) and Southampton (a) next up.
16th August
For those looking for the encouragement of a quick start, a selection based on ease of fixtures could be profitable, particularly in the defensive positions.
More nuanced fixture planners are out there, but a useful barometer is the number of fixtures against “bottom” six sides – the three promoted sides plus those filling the three spots just above the relegation zone – and top six sides from the previous season. Last season, both Spurs and Chelsea had relatively gentle starts to the season, and Vicario and Sanchez both recorded two clean sheets.
This season, the number crunchers have predicted Man City will top the clean sheet charts after six weeks, though fixtures at Chelsea and Newcastle, and Arsenal at home look tricky.
Liverpool look to have the easiest start – Ipswich (a) Brentford (h) and Forest (h) with no games against last season’s top six. Southampton, Villa, Brighton, Bournemouth and Spurs also have three opening fixtures against the “bottom” six.
15th August
A team.
Raya Ars 4.3m
Gabriel Ars 4.5m
Sailba Ars 4.3m
Konsa Avl 3.3m
Palmer Che 5.8m
Bailey Avl 4.0m
Eze Cry P 3.9m
Mitoma Bri 3.6m
Haaland Man C 8.5m
Solanke Tott 4.4m
Pedro Bri 3.3m
49.9m
With just three at the back. Defenders earn 5pts for a clean sheet but last season saw a PL low of 157 shutouts (usually around the 200 mark)
But Arteta’s Arsenal have recorded more clean sheets with each passing season. And there’s no reason for this to change, save for injury.
Haaland is shoehorned in despite a£8.5m price tag, a hefty chunk of anyone’s £50m budget.
Though with the right combinations elsewhere, it’s possible to reap hay without last season’s top TFF points scorer (247pts).
(If the following sounds like he’s bigging himself up, the writer is no elite TFF manager. Save for perhaps in 96-97 when he built a team around bargain buy Solksjaer – 2.8m in his first season at Old Trafford – to finish in the top 1,000)
In the Starting X1 league, one of his teams, see below, placed 898th.
With no Haaland. But near ever presents – save for Hickey, injured after week 10, and Martinelli, 24 starts.
One Accolade Would Do Me points apps
Neto Bourn 2.6 116 32
White Ars 4.0 179 36
Saliba Ars 3.6 166 39
Hickey Brent 2.6 18 9
Saka Ars 5.7 209 36
Odegaard Ars 5.1 159 36
Martinelli Ars 4.8 112 24
Kulusevski Tott 4.8 137 33
Watkins Avl 5.5 224 37
Son Tott 6.4 180 34
Isak New 4.8 189 31
1689
Combining this with a kitty of 33 transfers for the last 13 weeks, when TFF’s top scorers can be more easily identified, propelled the team from nowhere – 28,889th – to a final 3,416th overall simply by bringing in and rotating Haaland and other Arsenal and City players, plus the likes of Isak and Eze, around Palmer (£2.5m) and Branthwaite (£2.2m).
This transfer surplus enabled the writer to score three top 100 scores in the weekly charts and 12th position for April.
At £8.0 million, Haaland still featured in the optimal team for 23-24.
£m pts
Onana Man U 4.1 177
White Ars 4.0 179
Saliba Ars 3.6 166
Gabriel Ars 3.9 156
Palmer Che 2.5 235
Foden Man C 5.0 216
Saka Ars 5.7 209
Gordon New 3.4 194
Haaland Man C 8.0 247
Watkins Avl 5.5 224
Solanke Bourn 4.2 183
2186
thanks to the outstanding value for money provided by Palmer, Gordon and Solanke.
So who might emulate these value players this time round?
(Solanke still looks value at 4.4m, though it may take him time to bed in at Spurs.)
Emile Smith-Rowe (Ful) 3.0m – playing the number 10 position gives him the opportunity for goals and assists
Jarred Branthwaite (Eve) 3.0m – the go-to value player for TFF managers. Included in 30.47% of all teams at the time of writing. Looks set to stay at Goodison.
Plus fellow team-mates at the back. Sean Dyche knows how to organize a defence – his former Burnley side kept the joint second most clean sheets (15) in 2019-20 – though they may miss the protection offered by defensive midfielder Onana, now at Villa.
Could Everton’s loss be Villa’s gain? The return of Mings could also bolster their backline.
Rodrigo Muniz (Ful) 3.4m – flew under the radar last season as he netted 8 in 9 for a healthy 101 TFF pts from just 20 full appearances. Replicate this over the season and…. In only 1.7% of teams at the time of writing.
Leif Davis (Ips) 2.5m – An attacking left-back who topped last-season’s assists charts for the Championship with 21. Though a word of caution, Ipswich do have a baptism of fire on their return to the PL – Liverpool (h) City (a) and Villa (h) in their first six matches.
Mateta (Cry Pal) 4.1m A nailed on starter, and for an enticing price after 160 TFF pts last season.
Pedro (Bri) 3.3m – On penalties for Brighton.
Mitoma (Bri) 3.6m – 68 pts in an injury curtailed last season. An average 4.5pts per game, equal to 171 for a full PL season.
Elliott (Liv) 3.5m – if he gets the minutes, especially in Slot’s No. 10 role. But failing to make the cut for the Seville game last weekend suggests he may not.
Plus Garnacho (3.8), McTominay (£3.4m) and Diallo (3.0m), subject to game time, at Man U.
But don’t sweat it. Current champ James Ingram started with Norwood, (£2.4m, 62pts for the season) and Estupinan (£3.4m, 59pts). He just had a slightly better transfer strategy/execution!
2023-24
19th Apr
Man U have provided mixed returns for the writer this season.
Rasmus Hojlund has mirrored their fluctuating fortunes, his first league (and TFF) goal not coming until Boxing Day. Then he topped the TFF form charts (61pts in 8 games) with goals in six consecutive matches.
He’s yet to score since returning from injury but with Coventry, Sheff Utd(h) and Burnley(h) up next, the time looks ripe to throw him into your team with the likes of the in-form Onana and Fernandes.
13th April
Last season you’d have been well-served by Arsenal players – you could pick their entire team and still be within the £50million budget.
You couldn’t do the same this TFF season, but a pivotal point this year came when, after encouraging a player sale with a Cup exit in the 3rd round (and the potential loss of TFF pts from five further rounds of cup-ties), the Gunners ramped up 17 goals and three clean sheets against West Ham, Sheffield United and Burnley.
Playing in a mini-league of six, made up of his nephew and other Arsenal supporters, the writer saw the league leader stretch his lead over him from 68 to 107 points. By the Burnley match he’d seen enough to bring Saliba and Martinell into his designated Nutmegging Pele team, but two months on and he’s still 103 TFF pts behind with 10 transfers left.
Where he’s doing a little better, is with another of his five teams, “one accolade would do me” currently lying in 12,042nd place but with 23 transfers remaining (see table below)
And all without Haaland, until Palace last week, and Palmer before the last two weeks.
One could be forgiven for thinking one team would be enough for any TFF manager to focus on, but up until the last couple of weeks, this has almost been a “pick and forget” team, founded on having the 550th best starting X1.
Now he’s challenging himself to make the top 1000 – the latest post from TFF Towers gives an average of 6.36 transfers left for managers of these teams.
And speaking of players with multiple teams, a James Ingram has teams currently in 6th to 10th positions overall.
Sounds like he knows what he’s doing – perhaps he should be writing this column!
Currently lying in 734th place with 1737 pts is a Steve Heighway.
The Steve Heighway? Former Academy Director at Liverpool, now making hay from Connor Bradley’s step up to the first-team? (59 TFF points,11 starts)
| one accolade would do me | value | pts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| neto/bayindir(22)kelleher(24) | bourn/man u/liv | 2.6/2.8/2.4 | 112 |
| saliba | ars | 3.6 | 134 |
| white | ars | 4.0 | 138 |
| martinelli/ward-prowse(7)branthwaite(25) | ars/whu/eve | 4.8/4.2/2.2 | 107 |
| saka | ars | 5.7 | 177 |
| odegaard/palmer(30) | ars/che | 5.1/2.5 | 146 |
| kulusevski | tott | 4.8 | 112 |
| son/foden(20)de bruyne(31) | tott/man c/man c | 6.4/5.0 | 204 |
| hickey/colwill(15)/varane(22)/son(30)salah(30)haaland(31)watkins(31) | brent/che/man u/tott/liv/man c/avl | 2.6/2.9/4.0/6.4/7.2/8.0/5.5 | 96 |
| watkins/hojlund(31) | avl/man u | 5.5/4.8 | 190 |
| isak/hojlund(8)isak(27)son(31) | new/man u/new/tott | 4.8/4.8 | 162 |
| 17 transfers (transfer wk in brackets) | 1578 | ||
26th January
For likely rich pickings, United’s tie at League Two Newport has stood out ever since the 4th round draw was made. In the midst of a deflating season for the Reds, they still have the 5th best record at the back in the Prem and it is in this area that the writer will be making his next transfers.
They’ve already shut out of League One Wigan in the Cup, when the writer brought in Evans.
The only question mark – Ten Haag’s selection with the likes of Martinez coming back from injury, though the Dutchman has said Byandir starts in goal.
7th October
An eye-catching two goals in midweek makes at – £4.8million – Manchester United’s Hojlund worthy of consideration for TFF managers.
Sure, United are spluttering, but with the exception of the derby in three weeks, a kind run of fixtures – Brentford (h) Sheff Utd (a) Fulham (a) Luton (h) and Everton (a) – could jump start their season. And with Hojlund in just 2.35% of teams, now might be just the right time to have him in yours.
30th Sept,
After six game weeks of a 37 game week season, the writer’s best performing team, of five, is
is Nutmegging Pele in 13,642 place, see tables below.
| team | pts | pos |
|---|---|---|
| nutmegging pele | 294 | 13,642 |
| the cutest little thing on the planet | 264 | 37,720 |
| but still seven and a half inches taller | 267 | 34,746 |
| one accolade would do me | 280 | 24,409 |
| taking tips | 240 | 55,728 |
| nutmegging pele | team | value | wk1 | wk2 | wk3 | wk4 | wk5 | wk6 | totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| martinez | avl | 3.9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 20 |
| saliba | ars | 3.6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 23 |
| moreno/konsa(2) | avl | 2.9/3.0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 18 |
| timber/botman(5) | new | 3.1/3.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 20 |
| eze | cry p | 3.8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| saka | ars | 5.7 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 42 |
| mitoma | bri | 3.6 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 34 |
| martinelli | ars | 4.8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| wilson | ful | 2.9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| haaland | man c | 8.0 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 53 |
| salah | liv | 7.2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 37 |
| 2 transfers | wk pts | 45 | 49 | 30 | 56 | 46 | 68 | 294 | |
| position | 21333 | 33126 | 28198 | 22084 | 13642 |
But with Saliba, Botman, Saka and Martinelli, all injury doubts, leaving him with potentially just seven starters and Wilson yet to fire at Fulham,
the writer is ready to bring in two mainstays
Joao Palhinha for Wilson
And Ward-Prowse for Martinelli.
Both accrued 155 points last season, Palhinha as the Premier League’s top tackler and JWP despite playing for bottom side Southampton.
This season, Palhinha has notched up 15 pts from only three matches whilst JWP is plying his trade towards the other end of the table, with West Ham, and for £0.3million less.
It doesn’t take a footballing genius to predict Haaland, Salah and Saka would be amongst the top TFF points scores but maxing out at £50m doesn’t leave much wriggle room when one’s budget value selections either get injured – Morena (£2.9m ), Timber (3.1m) – or don’t fire – Wilson (2.9m)
Bringing in JWP (£4.2m) for Martinelli (£4.8) will free up some funds to hopefully help in this regard.
STOP PRESS
Mee out again, fails a late fitness test.
Pedro benched. Reminds of a recent Sky interview Brighton chief exec Paul Barber gave – “We try to bring in players before we need them”
19th Aug
At first glance, 45 points, and a place just inside the top 40,000, may sound like a discouragingly modest start for the writer’s team nutmegging pele
But looking at all five of his teams, and the reason behind his best – taking tips – accruing 64 pts highlights the folly of placing too much store into scores from any one given week.
For half of the points amassed by taking tips
– by Onana (10) Varane (12), Wan Bissaka (10) and Martinez (3) –
came from United’s predictable but fortuitous clean sheet against a goal-shy Wolves
And somehow the writer does not foresee another shut-out from United’s defence at Tottenham on Sunday.
Too early then for changes other than for injury absences, such as Timber (£3.1m).
The writer likes Matty Cash(£3.5m) – 129 points in 21-22 before an injury ravaged 22-23, but how much will Tyrone Mings be missed by the Villa defence.
Of undoubted quality, Digne (3.4m) may be gone by September whilst Tierney’s (£3.5m) minutes may be restricted once more by Zinchenko’s return from injury.
More nailed on for a starting place are Brentford’s Ben Mee (£3.1m) – 140 TFF points last season – and Rico Henry (£3.0m) seen as a more offensive option (115pts).
whilst Colwill’s (£2.9m) Chelsea side has a favourable run of fixtures – Luton (H) Forest (h) and Bournemouth (a) – after Sunday’s trip to West Ham.
11th August
Mings (£3.3m) for Moreno – a safer bet than the out of favour Digne (£3.4)
STOP PRESS
Injury rules out Moreno until end of August/beginning of September.
A new pick to follow.
11th August
A new season.
And a new team to pick – Nutmegging Pele – for the writer, whose best side finished in 8,915th place last season (top 10% – no crowing)
With Harry Kane Munich-bound, Haaland (£8.0m) and Salah (7.2m) look set to top the goalscoring charts, tho’ Haaland hasn’t scored for six competitive matches.
leaving £34.8m for nine players, or £3.86m per player.
Chelsea has arguably the easiest start, with three matches from their first five against those promoted or the three closest to the drop last season – Luton(h) Forest (h) Bournemouth (a)
followed by Arsenal – Forest (h) Everton (a)
and City – Burnley (a) Sheff. Utd (a) – with two apiece.
Chelsea’s state of flux and Pep’s rotation policy leaves Arsenal with the most settled-looking defence,
and Timber (at a bargain £3.1m) has impressed in pre-season in the absence of the injured Zinchenko.
The writer looks to an upwardly mobile Villa – bolstered by Pau Torres at the back with no notable outgoings, for his ‘keeper – Martinez (3.9m).
and has plumped for Saliba and Villa’s Moreno (2.9m) – 74 TFF points after arriving mid-season – to complete his defence.
Worth considering is last season’s top scoring defender with 176 pts – Kieran Trippier (£4.0m). The Magpies have a very tough opening – Villa (h) Man City (a) Liverpool (h) Brighton (a) Brentford (h) – but from a similar start last season – Forest (h) Brighton (a) Man City (h) Wolves (a) Liverpool (a) – Trips still accrued 27pts, behind only Cancelo (30pts).
In midfield, Eze (3.8m) is set to succeed Zaha at Palace,
Saka (5.7m) and Martinelli (4.8m) are no-brainers,
and a projected move to City for Brighton’s Mitoma (3.6m) and subsequent drop in game time (increased competition for places) appears to have receded with Albion likely reluctant to lose any more after MacAllister and Caidedo.
Caicedo’s proposed move to Anfield is a potential TFF game changer, in offering greater protection to Pool’s back-four, and makes Alexander-Arnold (a pricey £5.5m) a more attractive proposition. His classification as a defender in TFF enables the double whammy of points accrued for clean sheets as well as for assists from a potential move into midfield, with Gomez filling in behind. TAA still garnered 150 points in a disappointing last season for the Reds.
Which leaves a maximum £3.4m for the final piece in the jigsaw.
Pedro is on penalties for Brighton, but will how often will he start ahead of Ferguson?
Spurs new keeper Vicario (2.5m) comes recommended in the writer’s WhatsApp group, but just how good is the defence in front of him?
Brownhill (£2.7m) scored seven and made eight for Burnley, whilst the writer also likes Twine (2.2m),
Enciso looks almost too good to be true at 2.8m, tho’ he only made seven starts last season,
whilst German international Schade (£2.7m) has looked sharp in pre-season in the absence of Toney.
All possible options, but in the end the writer has opted for Harry Wilson (£2.9m) to provide the assists for Mitrovic, now Fulham have blocked the Serb’s move to Saudi. Marco Silva likes his wingers.
So there we have it, Haaland and Salah up top, four from a stronger than ever looking Arsenal, lots of flair in midfield, what’s not to like?
A cautionary thought. All – with the exception of Eze and Wilson – are with Europe-bound clubs.
No such exertions for Spurs – anyone for Maddison and Kulesevski under an attack-minded Postecoglou?
20th May,
Arsenal – tweaked.
Writing before penultimate weekend of the PL season, heading the season leaderboard for the past few weeks has been Steven Sinton (2185 pts) with a team called , interestingly enough, Arsenal.
His team is blocked from public view, but what of a team comprised entirely of Arsenal players?
The mainstays of Arteta’s team –
for TFF purposes lining-up in a 4-5-1 formation
– Ramsdale (£3.8m)
Zinchenko (£3.2m) Gabriel (£3.5m) White (£3.4m) Saliba (2.5m)
Odegaard (£4.2m) Xhaka (£3.2m) Partey (£3.5m) Saka (£6.1m) Martinelli (£4.1m) and
Jesus (6.1m)
have accrued 1529 pts for a total budget of £42.6million, well-within the allowance of £50m.
TFF doesn’t cater for in-game substitutions, but excluding the cup-ties at Oxford and Man City, when wholesale changes were made,
replicating the 36 changes to Arteta’s starting line-up (within the 40 “transfers” allowed)
would have brought in a further 162 pts, making a total of 1691 pts, and a place outside the top 25,000 managers.
Tweak it just a little, though, and bring in Haaland and Kane for Xhaka and Partey, in a 4-3-3 formation, and you’d have a team for 49.0million, with 1822 pts, in around 12,000th place.
This would leave you 365 pts behind the leader but before making any transfers.
An overturnable deficit?
The writer has 1831 pts – and his 36 transfers thus far have gleaned 377 pts (calculated from a starting line-up score of 1454 pts).
Now hindsight is a wonderful thing, but ….
Talking of starting line-ups, sitting in 2nd place in the season leaderboard, just seven points behind the leader, with a team called Shanko’s Stars, is ….. Steven Sinton (1919pts)
11th Mar,
Having reaped the benefits of a favourable run of fixtures for Newcastle, with the Toon’s defence keeping five clean sheets in six PL and FA Cup games following his last posting, the writer is now switching from ease of fixtures to the number of matches teams have to play to inform his transfer strategy.
For Premier League and FA Cup schedules in the next four weeks throw up some wild differences in the number of matches PL teams have to play.
After Liverpool visit Bournemouth in the early kick-off (12.30) today, in-form Brighton and Brentford have six games to play, in contrast to Reds two, before leaders Arsenal visit Anfield on April 9th , see table below
Mitoma instead of Salah, anyone?
| Brighton | Brentford | Liverpool | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Mar | 12.30 | Bournemouth(a) | ||
| 15.00 | Leeds (a) | Everton (a) | ||
| 15-Mar | 19.30 | Palace (h) | Southampton (a) | |
| 18-Mar | 15.00 | Leicester (h) | ||
| 19-Mar | 14.15 | Grimsby(h) | ||
| 1-Apr | 12.30 | Man City(a) | ||
| 15.00 | Brentford(h) | Brighton (a) | ||
| 4-Apr | 19.45 | Bournemouth(a) | ||
| 20.00 | Chelsea (a) | |||
| 5-Apr | 20.00 | Man United | ||
| 8-Apr | 15.00 | Tottenham (a) | Newcastle (h) | |
| 16.30 | Arsenal (h) |
| keeper | £m | pts | defender (1) | £m | pts | defender (2) | £m | pts | defender (3) | £m | pts | total pts | total £m | defender (4) | value | pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Ramsdale | 3.8 | 71 | gabriel | 3.5 | 67 | saliba | 2.5 | 65 | white | 3.4 | 62 | 265 | 13.2 | Zinchenko | 3.2 | 36 |
| Man C | Moraes | 4.4 | 62 | cancelo | 5.4 | 63 | dias | 5.1 | 45 | stones | 3.8 | 44 | 214 | 18.7 | Akanji | 3.0 | 30 |
| Newcastle | Pope | 3.6 | 79 | trippier | 3.3 | 76 | schar | 3.0 | 62 | Botman | 2.9 | 58 | 275 | 12.8 | burn | 2.9 | 56 |
| Tottenham | Lloris | 4.2 | 59 | dier | 3.3 | 49 | davies | 2.9 | 49 | perisic | 3.8 | 44 | 201 | 14.2 | romero | 3.6 | 20 |
| Man United | De Gea | 4.1 | 58 | martinez | 3.8 | 39 | varane | 3.8 | 35 | shaw | 4.2 | 30 | 162 | 15.9 | |||
| Brighton | Sanchez | 3.4 | 52 | veltman | 3.0 | 37 | dunk | 3.4 | 36 | webster | 2.8 | 34 | 159 | 12.6 | estupinan | 3.0 | 24 |
| Liverpool | Allison | 4.5 | 70 | Alexander-Arnold | 5.5 | 41 | Van Dijk | 5.3 | 45 | Robertson | 5.2 | 45 | 201 | 20.5 | |||
| Chelsea | Mendy/Arrizabelaga | 3.75 | 61 | chilwell | 4.8 | 33 | azpilicueta | 4.5 | 32 | koulibaly | 4.2 | 30 | 156 | 17.25 | silva | 4.2 | 31 |
| Leicester | Ward | 2.5 | 62 | castagne | 3.8 | 55 | justin | 3.1 | 43 | faes | 3.0 | 41 | 201 | 12.4 | amartey | 2.6 | 41 |
| Everton | Pickford | 3.5 | 65 | coady | 3.5 | 50 | mykolenko | 3.0 | 46 | tarkowski | 3.4 | 42 | 203 | 13.4 |
December 26th
Languishing around the 23,000 mark and bottom of a seven-team mini-league prior to the Boxing Day fixtures would at first glance offer leave little cause for optimism.
This is where the writer found himself with the team Spurs Block, see below, his best of five.
But with just five transfers made and 14 weeks passed in a season which runs to the Cup Final on 3rd June, he remains bullish about his prospects.
According to the latest dispatch from Telegraph Towers,
the top 100 players had 8.73 average transfers remaining
the top 1,000 – 15.60
and the top 10,000 – 22.93.
So with 35 transfers remaining, and some successful transfers….
But firstly the small matter of who to replace the injured Jesus up front?
A potential long-term ban for match betting from January persuaded the writer to pass over the in-form Toney, and instead opt for Salah on the back of the Egyptian proving his sharpness up front after the World Cup break with a goal in the Carabao at City.
Almiron is the top scoring midfielder on the back of 7 goals in 9 matches. But he can’t keep on scoring, can he? (As it happened, he could.)
Rather the stats above persuaded the writer to bring in some of his ever-present team-mates at the back, despite a tricky looking trip to in-form Leicester. And dismantle his Spurs block, which always seemed more prone to tinkering from Conte.
Ease of fixtures can have a bearing on results. Witness Leicester’s rise from bottom to 13th after a run of games against five of the bottom six – Forest (h, 4-0), Bournemouth (a, 1-2) Palace (h, 0-0) Leeds (h, 2-0) Wolves (a, 4-0) Man City (h, 0-1) Everton (a, 2-0) and West Ham (a, 2-0)
And now seems to be as good a time as ever to bring in Toon defenders with Leeds (h, 31st Dec), Arsenal (a, 3rd Jan) Sheff Weds (FA Cup, a, 7th Jan) Fulham (h, 15th Jan) Palace (a, 21st Jan) and West Ham (a, 4th Feb) coming up.
| Spurs Block | value, £m | pts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison | Liv | 4.5 | 70 |
| Romero | Tott | 3.6 | 20 |
| Davies/Trippier(8) | Tott/New | 2.9/3.3 | 65 |
| Saliba | Ars | 2.5 | 65 |
| Dier | Tott | 2.9 | 49 |
| Ward-Prowse | Sot | 4.5 | 49 |
| Martinelli | Ars | 4.1 | 68 |
| Lingard/Eze(11) | Nottm F/Cry P | 3.9/3.6 | 34 |
| Salah/Haaland(5)Alvarez(12)Haaland(14) | Liv/Man C/Man C/Man C | 7.0/6.9/4.6/6.9 | 99 |
| Kane | Tott | 6.8 | 93 |
| Jesus | Ars | 6.1 | 67 |
| 5 transfers | total pts | 679 |
October 10th
Guehi at the back
10pts from six appearances this season does not suggest a case for inclusion in anyone’s side at the current time.
But factor in Palace’s tough opening to the season and their upcoming fixtures in the run-up to World Cup, see tables below. Then ally this to last season’s points haul, 133, and you have a potential bargain for just £3.0million
Less than 1 in 10 (8.65%) of managers have him in at the current time. With all but Leicester and Leeds amongst Palace’s upcoming opponents struggling for goals, now looks a opportune time to join them.
Tyrick Mitchell’s haul of 19 pts would appear to make him a better option at 2.8million, but the figures have been partly skewed by Guehi seeing four goals pass him at Man City, where he also picked up a booking, whilst Mitchell came off injured with Palace leading 2-1. Though Mitchell did contribute an assist against Villa.
Palace’s first seven fixtures Current position Goals scored
Arsenal (h) 0-2 1st 20
Liverpool (a) 1-1 10th 18
Aston V (h) 3-1 14th 6
Man C (a) 2-4 2nd 33
Brentford (h) 1-1 12th 16
Newcastle (a) 0-0 5th 17
Chelsea (h) 1-2 4th 13
Next seven
Current position
Leeds (h) 13th 10
Leicester (a) 19th 15
Wolves (h) 18th 3
Everton (a) 11th 7
Southampton (h) 16th 8
West Ham (a) 15th 5
Nottm Forest (h) 20th 6
August 12th
Haaland or no Haaland?
A match at home to unfancied Bournemouth on the back of an opening week 12-point haul at West Ham has seen a further 2% of TFF managers scurrying to bring City’s new signing into their team(s)
But what of the wisdom of making such an early transfer?
Back in 2013-14, Luis Suarez propelled Liverpool to within a whisker of a first title in 20+ years with 31 goals in 33 PL games and was by far and way the leading points scorer in TFF (290pts to next placed Giroud with 214 pts)
But is Haaland going to leave the likes of Salah and Kane trailing in his wake when it comes to the Golden Boot awards, and TFF scores?
Will he figure as prominently as Suarez did in a Liverpool team unburdened by European football, or will Pep use hIm more sparingly?
Remarkably, overall TFF winner in 13/14, Gregory Wright, called on Suarez for just 59 of his 2,014 pts total
And his advice to fellow TFF managers – “don’t waste too many transfers early doors, you can always make up any points deficit later on with second judgement”. (www.telegraph.co.uk)
2022-23
August 2nd
Three days before the big kick-off, and TFF managers are tasked with finding
Eleven players for £50million, an average of £4.5m per player.
But then there’s Salah (7.0m) Haaland (6.9m) Kane (6.8m) Seung-Min (£6.7m) and any combination thereof you’d like to bring in.
Not to mention Trent (5.5m) Van Dyke (5.3) and Robertson (5.2) at the back.
Enablers
Enter the “enablers” – “value” selections of £4.5m or less who could rack up circa 150 points or more and facilitate a few of the above selections.
Last season, we had Crystal Palace’s Conor Gallagher with 159 pts and Marc Guehi, 141 pts, for a bargain £2.7m and £3.0m
In 2020-21, West Brom’s Matheus Pereira (£3.7m) accrued 141pts – despite his side’s relegation.
And the season before, the Sheffield United defence, headed by George Baldock with 155pts for a paltry £2.3m.
Could any of these have been confidently predicted?
With the exception of Pereira – who totted up the most assists, 17, in the Championship the previous season – probably not.
Perhaps the trick, like last season’s TFF winner – take a bow Peter Marshall – is to latch onto the likes of Gallagher after some impressive early returns – hauls of 13pts (wk2) and 8pts (wk3) followed by 11pts and 8pts in weeks 10 and 11.
But before a ball is even kicked, here are a few to look out for.
William Saliba (Ars) £2.5m
Yet to make a competitive appearance for the Gunners after three seasons on loan in France, Arteta has said he’s now ready for the the PL.
And with Arsenal’s match at Palace a day or two ahead of the remaining PL fixtures – should he not make the first XL, TFF managers can remove him from their team ahead of kick-off (8pm GMT) without affecting their 40 transfers per season allowance.
For those who put store on the fixture difficulty of a player’s selection’s team, Arsenal play two of the promoted sides, Bournemouth (a) wk 3 and Fulham(h) wk4 – with the increased potential for clean sheets? – in their opening six games.
Bruno Guimaeres (New) £3.6m
5 goals in 11 games from 50% of his shots put the Brazilian on his way to 77 TFF points since his mid-season arrival, suggesting a sharp-shooter…. or purple patch. Previously described as a defensive and deep-lying midfielder.
Another mid-season signing to hit the ground running, Dejan Kulusevski (Tott) posted similarly impressive figures – 90pts from 15 appearances– but a value of £4.8m excludes him from our “enabler” category. He’ll also take up one of the forward, rather than midfield, positions for TFF managers.
Brennan Johnson (Nottm F) £2.5m
Selected in 24% of all TFF teams at the time of writing– the eight most popular pick – following an eye-catching goal for Wales in the summer. 16 players have come through the door at Forest in the summer, their survival prospects hinging on how the new guard gel with the old.
Harry Wilson (Ful) £3.0m
In contrast to Johnson, picked by just 3% of teams and therefore with a better “differential” (impact in terms of overall league position) for those who select him. Contributed a league high 19 assists to Fulham’s promotion last season.
Kieran Trippier (New) (3.3m)
Newcastle’s club captain and free-kick expert scored two goals and 29 TFF points from just six games before a season-ending injury to 21-22.
Previous seasons have also been hampered by injury – his best TFF season, for Tottenham in 2017-18, 140 pts from just 24 starts. Either way, it may be best to bring him in AFTER the Magpies opening fixtures against City at home (wk3) and Liverpool away (wk5)
Emile Smith-Rowe (Ars) 3.6m,
Another possibly to hold for now after failing to make the squad for the Gunner’s final warm-up game against Sevilla.
But on the back of ten goals in 33 appearances and a call-up to the England squad last season, more could come from him in a number 10 role just made for both scoring and creating goals – if he gets the game time.
And a block defence?
With just the top eight exceeding £4.5million, defenders offer the most options for freeing up some funds for the big-hitters elsewhere.
Five points for a clean sheet (subject to playing 60 minutes or more) – the same for a goal – is the attraction of a block defence made up of players from just one or two teams.
A boom or bust strategy perhaps best suited to shorter competitions, such as The Euros.?
Central to such a strategy – Identifying an emerging defence – such as the Liverpool back-four of 2018-19, which took the Reds from 4th in 17-18 to their first title in 30 years . And catapulted Adrian Frost’s winning TFF team into the top 1,000
in December – with ZERO transfers used.
Allison, Van Dyke, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (all Liverpool); Mahrez, Sterling, Sane, Salah, Redmond; Aguero was the line-up.
But with £50million to spend on 11 players, how could he afford such a team?
Whilst City had finished the previous season as champions, the Reds – with van Dijk signed mid-season – had trailed 25 points behind.
Hence the entire Liverpool back line of Allison (3.7m) Van Dyke (4.3m) Robertson (3.8) Alexander-Arnold (3.6m) and Gomez (3.3m) totalled only £18.7m (now a combined £24.1m)
Could Conte’s Spurs follow suit? Maybe not all the way to the title but the likes of
Dier (3.2m) Romero (3.6m) and Davies (2.9m) could still post improved numbers in a full season under the Italian and allow plenty of funds for elsewhere on the pitch. And the stand-out selection would appear to be Perisic
(8 goals in 34 Serie A games for Inter last season) for £3.9m
Though unlike the Reds back four, there’s the potential thorn of squad rotation from Conte, with added Champions League fixtures and up to five substitutions per game this season.
The writer believes Perisic, Spence and Sessegnon will be preferred at wing-back ahead of Reguillon, Royal and former TFF favourite Matt Doherty (183 pts for Wolves in 18-19)
Spurs are one of three teams – Liverpool and Wolves the others – playing at least three from the promoted sides or those closest to relegation last season (Southampton, Everton and Leeds) in their opening six matches- and therefore with the optimum prospects for clean sheets.