STOCKI SURMISES ABOUT HIS FANTASY LEAGUE CHANCES THIS SEASON

It is a big and stressful day for millions of us. Teams need picked for the opening day of a new season of Fantasy League, tomorrow.

Today millions will be working out who they can buy for their £100 million budget. Many will be thrown this season by players like Arsenal’s Aubameyang and Manchester United’s Rashford becoming midfield players instead of strikers. 

How many big players can we afford., What are the cheap players that are going to come through? Should I skimp on my defence for big goal scorers? Will new signings fit in quickly? What about players from promoted teams? 

Of course it is a marathon not a sprint and for most Fantasy League managers their teams will bear little resemblance even in October to the team they choose tomorrow evening. However, there still be some panic. A good start is better than a bad one though it is amazing how quickly the team at the top of your particular league on Sunday night might drop away within a few weeks.

With one free substitution per week and then every additional transfer per week costing 4 valuable points it is best to have a good steady team at the outset.

Of course, there is some luck in this game. One of the biggest factors is choosing the right captain every week as their points double. It might be luck that my player scores a hat trick and yours doesn’t score at all. That might happen week after week!

BUT let me say that as I have followed this game for some 15 years and been involved in a Fitzroy league for 10 that this will have little to do with luck.

As I look at our league I know that reigning champion Jonny Fitch, Stephen Orr and John McMullen will be the big 3 to beat. Isaac Orr, who I baptised less than eleven years ago will be setting his sights on the top 3 too and Jude Holohan after an exceptional year two seasons ago will be trying to prove that he is not just a Leicester City. BUT like cream the same names always come to the top season after season.

I have to do better than the last two seasons, particularly my starts. I have come back in the second half of seasons BUT always too late to compete. So, I am going with a solid spine. Big names who have proven themselves at the core and then hoping to wheel and deal with the cheap players who will be the stars to sign quickly   over the next few weeks. 

If you can spot those cheap big scorers by tomorrow night then you’ll give yourself a great start! Stuart Dallas anyone?!?!