telegraph fantasy football – FA Cup preview round 4 and tips for extra points

Telegraph fantasy football

Telegraph fantasy football includes the FA Cup.  This allows telegraph fantasy football managers with  a few transfers up their sleeve to pick up players that have the chance to give them an extra points boost.  Here’s my guide and tips on how to take advantage of the up coming round.  I expect to make 2-3 transfers this weekend even though I only have 11.  I need to make up ground being in 3,930 position overall out of the 250,000 or so telegraph fantasy football managers. 

2 types of transfers

In my mind there are 2 types of transfers for telegraph fantasy football managers:

1.  the total one offs – players you will transfer straight out after the 1 game and you’re gambling on them making an impact in a one off game against poor opposition.  A classic example would be someone like Hernandez of Man Utd or Ballotelli if they were playing a lower league club

2. A player with a good fixture who you will want to put in your team anyway.  This is obviously the best scenario

Rotation and the 2 game scenarios

Telegraph fantasy football allows you to do transfers right before the first game of the day starts.

Players must be transferred before the earliest scheduled kick-off featuring a Premier League team on any match day in order to score points on that day. Players transferred after the earliest scheduled kick-off on any day will score points from the following match day.

This gives you the opportunity for certain games to check the line up  before making the transfer therefore avoiding the whole uncertainty of team selection in the FA Cup which occurs due to certain teams views of the FA Cup and other priorities.  Otherwise a transfer is a calculated gamble on selection.  There are 3 games this weekend where you will be able to see the line up before the game starts so to have certainty over transfers.  These games are

1.  Millwall v Aston Villa

Not worth worrying about in my mind after Villas insipid performances against Bradford.  They will surely rotate given the amount of games recently and a relegation battle coming up.  Although you will be able to see the line up no Villa player is worth putting in the team for this fixtures

2.  Stoke v Man City

If you want to put a City or Stoke player in anyway that’s fine but its too tough a fixture for anything other than getting a couple of additional points

3.  Brentford v Chelsea

Shame its not at Stamford Bridge but this has hammering potential all over it.  With the ability to see the line up its definitely worth a transfer

Rotation is the enemy for all the other games.  There are  2 sets of teams that will rotate heavily

1.  Teams going for Champions League spots ie Man City, Man Utd,  Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool.  Arsenal may put out a strong team as Wenger is under pressure for silverware.  AVB has shown that he wants to compete for every trophy so he will have a balanced rotation

2.  Relegation threatened teams.  This is due to the huge financial rewards of being in the premier league now means a no risk approach will be taken to the games. This could involve the following of Villa, Wigan, Norwich, QPR,  Reading and  Fulham.  Transferring anyone from these teams will be a big risk and telegraph fantasy football managers should think carefully about the risk and whether they want them in their team long term.

Just remember if there are players that you want in your team think about putting them in now for the extra points especially if you can change them on different days to get extra points

Millwall v Aston Villa 19:45 Friday

Benteke is the only player worth having in my mind in the Villa team but their fixtures are one of the most difficult of all teams so even if he plays which I don’t expect him too then I wouldn’t put him in my team.  This will be a hard game for Villa. NOTE Benteke is rested as predicted

Saturday 

Stoke v Man City 12:45

 

Every telegraph fantasy football team should have a City defender or Hart in at so check the line up and put 1 in for the extra points if you don’t.  I still think Cameron is good value for Stoke if you don’t have him in your team again it’s worth the transfer.  Man City have quite tricky fixtures which is why I’m a little reluctant to whole heartedly recommend one of them.  If Aguero or Dzeko starts then they are worth putting in again for the extra points as one deserves a place in your team.

Bolton v Everton 15:00

Everton will want to win the FA Cup and I think a full team will be played.  Everton also have good fixtures so I think Fellaini is a good gamble here but that’s the limit to my attacking options.  Distin is the best defensive option

Brighton v Arsenal 15:00

Interesting one this.  Arsenal will want to win a trophy but there will be managed rotation.  I’m just not sure that Walcott or Cazorla will play if you haven’t already got them. Giroud will probably play and coming back in to the side he could be a worth while gamble.  Brighton aren’t the easiest side but we all know what Arsenal can do if it all goes well

Macclesfield v Wigan 15:00

 

Wigan will rotate heavily and have an appalling record against lower league sides.  Wigans fixtures after the FA Cup are also appalling so I’d stay away

Norwich v Luton 15:00

There will be rotation here as Norwich are definitely a relegation threat and I can see a large amount of rotation.  Holt should start as he’s not played anything like every game here and he’s the best bet for me.  Snodgrass is another option but I cant help but think he will be rested.  Holt is a one off gamble though.  Norwich have reasonable fixtures but they aren’t a long term attacking option.

QPR v MK Dons 15:00

Remy is a doubt otherwise he would be a good choice considering he needs the game time and given the opposition are in League 1.  I think Taarabt is a rotation risk so I wouldn’t gamble on him.  If you get a sniff that Remy will play I would take the gamble but its a one off  because although QPR have great fixtures they just don’t look like a side that will create enough chances for Remy to be worth it

Reading v Sheff Utd 15:00

Sheffield United aren’t the worst opposition being high up in league 1 but this is still a great short term opportunity in my mind despite Readings lack of goals scoring.  Adam Le Fondre is the best option here as his place as a super sub means he’s bound to be in this relegation  threatened team for tomorrows game
Man Utd v Fulham 17:30

This is a good option if you can pick the team.  Fulham are hopeless in defence at the best of times let alone with a potentially rotated team they could be a defensive disaster.  Hernandez will surely start up front here and is a great one off option.  Utd have good fixtures but he’s just got too much of a game time question over him.

Sunday 27th January 2013
Brentford v Chelsea 12:00

 

This just has telegraph fantasy football dream land written all over it.  Brentford are doing well in league 1 and the crowd will be manically fanatical given the local derby nature which very well may never be repeated but you will see the line up and this has all the potential of a thrashing if chelsea can score early and counter attack after that.  Look at the line up and then pick any of the following Ba, Lampard, Mata, Azpilicueta and even Torres could be a one off worth doing.  Only Lampard and Torres are  a short term option

Leeds United v Tottenham 14:00

AVB has shown he wants to win every competition and this is the type of game that could suit Bale if he plays.  I’m just not sure he will though and if you want him anyway then take the gamble but not as a one off.  Defoe will definitely play and as there’s no one else to play instead with Adebayor at ACON.  The fixtures aren’t great after that but he’s definitely worth a one off gamble.

Oldham v Liverpool 16:00

This really is a juicy one with Oldham in the lower reaches of league 1.  Sturridge isn’t match fit to start so he really must start here to build it up.  Although he’s got a couple of tricky games next he is definitely worth the gamble.  Sterling and Shelvy could also be worth a one off but Sturridge looks the best bet

Summary

  • best one offs

Lampard – check line up

Remy – an injury doubt though so monitor

Le Fondre

Torres – check line up

Holt

Defoe

Sterling

Shelvy

  • with longer term prospects

Sturridge

Mata  – check line up

Ba – check line up

Azpilicueta – check line up

Bale

Fellaini

Thats it! Good luck to all fantasy football geeks in the telegraph fantasy football FA Cup weekend

 

 

 

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