GW8 – never captain a defender

I spent 4 transfers last time out as I restructured my team. It wasn’t going too bad until I plumped for Holebas captain on Monday night…

sky sept 2016.png

Week points:57
Total points: 477
Rank: 722
Transfers left: 31
Money in the bank: 0.1m

Last week Defoe, Hazard, Fuchs and Nsue made way for Aguero, Firmino, Baines and Holebas. Frustratingly, Defoe bagged a brace and now looks a good bet over the next few weeks. But I’m happy with my front 3 now and believe they provide the best captaincy options over the months to come. The price structure of Sky also makes a cheaper 3rd strikers difficult to justify long term with the likes of Defoe priced the same as the big hitting midfielders.

Elsewhere a Firmino blank in the destruction of Hull was very frustrating but again I think (hope) he will come good. Baines also picked up a niggle and looks a doubt for his Friday night fixture. Some may worry that I have too many eggs in the same basket with 4 Everton players. I think this may cause my rank to fluctuate more, but they are all good picks in their own right, so I’m not concerned.

Holebas was the biggest failure but he does have strong fixtures and is dirt cheap so I’m happy to have him in my team. I also don’t won’t to spend any more transfers on defenders as I have wasted far too many already. Overall then, my transfers were largely a failure but I’m happy with my team now and quietly confident that it will produce the good over the coming weeks.

Watchlist

Sterling, Coutinho, Son and Sanchez all looks great options but no transfers planned for me this week as I look to tighten up my flutterings in the market over the next month.

Captain strategy

That leaves me with just captaincy to worry about. Lukaku is the obvious choice for Friday night. Saturday will be a toss up between Antonio who plays host to Middlesbrough or Firmino who travels to Swansea. Antonio seems to be the only player scoring for a team that can’t score, while Firmino seems to be the only player not scoring for a team that can’t stop scoring! Ibrahimovic will be my captain for Sunday as a dodgy looking Stoke team roll up to Old Trafford.

SFFF Leagues

Lewis Nicklen’s “Mane problems” has shot into the lead on 507 points in both the cash and the free league. There’s plenty right behind him though, in what is proving to be a couple of highly competitive leagues.

If you’re yet to join, you can see league details, passwords and pins here.

Blog coming to an end

Sad news I’m afraid. This is likely to be my penultimate blog post (I can’t end it with a Holebas captain!). The reasons for starting the blog was to create a small Sky Sports Fantasy Football community – which has been achieved on here and on the facebook group. I have enjoyed writing the blog and hope that it has helped others with some hints and tips, but I’m feeling less enthused to keep it up this year. I’m also starting a new job next week and don’t want to feel like its a chore.

The blog has done much better than I ever thought, now gaining around 5,000 hits each month, so thanks to everyone who has visited and to those that have contributed to the site. If anyone wants to start making a regular post, send me a private email: will_thomas08@hotmail.co.uk. The posts don’t have to be a similar format, it could be anything from a weekly round up, a watchlist or captain strategy article.

I’m still enjoying playing the game and will continue to make comments on here and possibly do the odd update when I have time. There are also rumors of Disable running a Sky podcast soon, so watch this space.

If you’re new to the site, join in with the discussion on our growing facebook group and follow on twitter. Feel free to also ask a question or start a discussion in the comments section.

24 thoughts on “GW8 – never captain a defender

  1. Barnsbury United Manager September 28, 2016 / 2:37 pm

    all the best Will, I haven’t commented before but your work has always been greatly appreciated. Last year was my first foray into fantasy football and I came 1502 and won my own league of freinds and this year despite only an okay start, i have 400 points and second in my friends only league (12 of us) – once the season settles down I think I’ll gradually climb table. all the best.

    Like

    • Will September 28, 2016 / 4:03 pm

      Thanks, glad the blog has helped you out. Already had interest in someone making regular posts, so hopefully it will continue.

      Like

      • Justin0 September 28, 2016 / 10:08 pm

        Add an enormous thanks from me too. Sadly, I only recently discovered this site but it’s been an invaluable resource ever since.

        Could I be so bold as to suggest extending the idea you already have? Rather than restricting to a single author, perhaps a group of contributors could be allowed to continue where you’ve left off, with a variety of articles/features to be shared between them. For example the someone you’ve mentioned in your comment could make their contribution, d1sable could offer a podcast, someone else could provide a different form of input (captaincy tips, statistical analysis, watchlists, or similar).

        Naturally the limiting factor would be the number of individuals willing to commit but I think you’ve done a fantastic job of gathering a community of Sky FF players. It would be a shame to lose that expertise and the centralised hub of information you’ve created.

        Like

        • Will September 28, 2016 / 11:18 pm

          Thanks Justin. The more the merrier as far as I’m concerned! If there are people wanting to make a contribution, send me an email.

          First and foremost I love the game, so always keen to hear other peoples thoughts on players, strategy, stats etc.

          Like

  2. Sam W September 28, 2016 / 7:49 pm

    Just wanted to say thanks to Will for starting up this site as it has certainly helped and provided the platform for me to finish in the top 100 last season. I hope that Disable does start a podcast as I’ve found the lack of articles on FFS frustrating this year. Seems like they’re gearing completely towards FPL this year with the daily games around it. A shame as I much prefer Sky for everything bar the website.

    Thanks again Will. Best of luck for the season and the new job!

    Like

    • Will September 28, 2016 / 11:20 pm

      Cheers Sam. If there are people willing to make contributions, which is looks like there are, then hopefully this site will continue to offer some good content!

      Like

  3. Justin0 September 29, 2016 / 5:12 pm

    I was hoping to get a bit of advice for those who have recovered from the grim news of this blog’s impending end. I’m fairly happy with my team as it is now, with Hazard the only exception to that:

    Courtois
    Baines Dawson Holebas
    Hazard Mane Cazorla Antonio Gueye
    Aguero Lukaku

    I’m sat on 31 transfers remaining and Hazard out would give me 12.0 to play with. Assuming it’s another poor performance versus Hull this weekend, I think I’ll need to drop him. The shortlist for replacement includes Sterling, de Bruyne, and Son. I could also double up on Arsenal/Liverpool with Walcott, Firmino, or Coutinho. With City, Tottenham and Arsenal all playing their fixtures the day after Chelsea, this seems the best time to make the change, if ever. My question is, should I hold on to Hazard, to preserve transfers and perhaps be a nice differential, or make the switch? And if so, who would you consider to be the best candidate for replacement?

    Like

    • Will September 29, 2016 / 7:22 pm

      Toughy that. I think if Haz blanks vs hull and looks poor then I’d get rid as they haven’t got great fixtures. Walcott, Sterling and Son are all great options. All of them do have a slight risk of rotation (not so much now but things change).

      It is strange how things can change in a month or so… Would never have predicted we would be considering ditching Haz for one of those 3!

      Ideally you would want Sanchez but think he’s just over 12? Sterling is the safest route, but I might be tempted to gamble on Son or Wallcot

      Like

      • Justin0 September 30, 2016 / 10:53 am

        Yep, Sanchez would have topped the list, however he’s 12.4 if I recall correctly. KdB would have been second were he available. Right now, I’m leaning towards Son as a gamble or Sterling as a safer option, it might come down to how lucky I’m feeling.

        Like

        • Will September 30, 2016 / 12:08 pm

          I watched the Spurs CL game midweek and Son looked brilliant, could of had a hat-trick on another day

          Like

          • Justin0 October 1, 2016 / 10:09 pm

            Wild thought: Would you downgrade Courtois to Stekelenburg, thereby freeing up enough funds for Sanchez? It’s an extra transfer but I’m hoping I can cruise along for a few weeks thereafter with the resulting team.

            Like

            • Will October 2, 2016 / 11:04 am

              I like that move.. Forster could be another option? Been trying to figure out a way to get Sanchez myself but can’t make it work

              Like

    • hrunny7 September 30, 2016 / 2:59 am

      i would probably get rid of Hazard after the next game, but at least it’s very good game for him. Kdb would’ve been the best replacement but he’s injured. I’d get an arsenal player I think

      Like

  4. hrunny7 September 30, 2016 / 3:05 am

    It’s a real shame that you are stopping. I will be reading whoever takes over the mantle though. Thanks of the time you’ve put in Will and I also captained Holebas, pff.

    It’s going to be a good season, a lot of fluctuations which will be annoying but fun

    Like

    • Will September 30, 2016 / 12:09 pm

      Cheers Hrunny!

      Like

  5. Paul J September 30, 2016 / 7:34 am

    Can only echo the sentiments of the guys above Will. The blog & subsequent advice has been invaluable over the past 12 months (got me my best ever finish last year) so thank you for your efforts.

    Good luck with the new endeavours & the rest of the season……i’m sure you’ll be up there once again towards the end!👍

    Like

    • Will September 30, 2016 / 12:10 pm

      Cheers Paul, think its going to be a good season

      Like

  6. Dan September 30, 2016 / 8:46 am

    cheers for the insight Will and good luck!

    What are we doing with Hazard after the hull game guys? Currently on Coutinho

    Like

    • Will September 30, 2016 / 12:11 pm

      If you want the extra game opt for an Arsenal, City or Spurs player. Coutinho is a great shout at the moment though!

      Like

  7. Dan October 1, 2016 / 8:26 am

    Going Hazard(C) over mane, this could go drastically wrong 😬

    Like

  8. hrunny7 October 1, 2016 / 7:55 pm

    Walcott or cazorla?

    Like

    • Cian October 1, 2016 / 10:31 pm

      Walcott all day long..hes on fire !!

      Like

      • hrunny7 October 2, 2016 / 1:00 am

        Yeah, it’s just those bonus points from cazorla they are so tempting . I should never have started with Barrow 😦

        Like

        • Dan October 2, 2016 / 9:28 am

          I’ve got Walcott(C) over Kun

          Like

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