Here’s a recap of the rules on Sky Sports fantasy football plus a easy summary reminder of how the game works and the differences with FPL.  Also Ive highlighted the changes from last year and given some general comment on the format and the changes from last year.  As a reminder last year I finished 166 out of an estimated 300k managers and the fantasy football geek league finished as the 6th best league overall.  League pin this year is 8001875.  League name FANTASY FOOTBALL GEEK

The Rules

Ive cut and paste from the Sky Sports fantasy football website the relevant rules including the new ones just so you can recall how the game works.

Eligible matches are all Premier League matches in the 2013/14 season commencing with the first Premier League kick off on Saturday 17th August 2013 and ending with the final round of Premier League fixtures scheduled to be played on Sunday 11th May 2014 (or when so ever played).  In order to score points for the full duration of the Game, entry must have been recorded no later than the first Premier League kick off on Saturday 17th August 2013.

TEAM SELECTION: Managers must select a Fantasy Football Team consisting of 11 players from the player list and within a total budget of £75 million. Managers may choose their preferred formation: 4-4-2 (one goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers) 4-3-3 (one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders, three strikers) 5-3-2 (one goalkeeper, five defenders, three midfielders and two strikers) 3-5-2 (one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders, two strikers) or 4-5-1 (one goalkeeper, four defenders, five midfielders, one striker). Managers may switch formations by using transfers. There is no limit to the number of players from the same Premier League club a user can have in their team.

After the first Premier League kick off on Saturday 17th August, Managers will be permitted a maximum of 40 transfers during the season. Transfers m Managers are allowed 1 captain change per Game week. Game weeks run from Saturday to Friday. Captain changes must be made before the earliest Premier League kick off that day to qualify for that day’s play;  The nominated captain will score double points both positive and negative.ade prior to the scheduled kick off of any day’s first eligible match will be effective from the scheduled kick off of that match.

All Players:
Starting XI +2 (awarded for starting the match in the starting XI)
Substitute appearance +1 (awarded for making a substitute appearance having started the match on the substitute’s bench)
Goal scored +5
Goal assist +3 (assists may be awarded to more than one player assists are awarded to players that win penalties as long as they have touched the ball before being fouled)
Man of the match +5 (awarded to the Skysports.com man of the match which may differ from the televised man of the match)
Missed Penalty (penalty taker) -3 (penalty taker fails to score direct from the penalty kick)
Yellow card -1
Red card -3 (includes -1 for a yellow card)

Goalkeepers and Defenders only:
Team clean sheet +5 (awarded to players who have played for 75 minutes or more in the game and includes the substitute appearance point if applicable)
Goal against -1
Missed Penalty (goalkeeper) +3 (awarded if no goal is scored direct from the penalty kick – save or missed)

Bonus Points

Player completes 60 or more passes: 2pts

Player completes 4 or more successful tackles: 2pts

Goalkeeper successfully makes 5 or more saves: 2pts

Your nominated captain will score double points for your team, both positive and negative.

Points for goal assists will be awarded in the opinion of and at the sole discretion of the judges. Assists are generally awarded to the player who provided the last clean pass, parried or rebounded shot.

Bonus points will be awarded based on strict criteria from our stats provider OPTA.

New rules

Here’s the Sky Sports fantasy football sites explanation of the new rules

More Transfers, More Freedom This season we’ve given you 40 transfers and lifted the monthly restrictions, so you’re free to use your transfers as you wish throughout the season. You’re in control. Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint, so use your transfers wisely.

Goalkeepers Rewarded Goalkeepers are often hard done by in Fantasy Football – they can have a Man of the Match performance, making save after save, but still lose points if they concede just one goal. This season Goalkeepers will be rewarded for an outstanding performance and will now be awarded +2 bonus points for making 5 or more saves in a match.

Captain Changes You can now make a captain change within the Game week. Just like transfers, you can make this alteration for any match day, thus giving you the opportunity to score double points from two of your players over the duration of the Game week.

Comment on game generally and new rules

General rule summary

Here’s a bit of a summary and a reminder of the differences between this and the Barclays fantasy oremier league site:

Premier league games only

cut off before games kick off so good for line up checks

40 transfers per season up from 30 last year.  no monthly limit limit of 5 last year.  You can transfer mid game week

Double points captain and you can change him mid gameweek having a captain on Saturday and one on Sunday or Monday

No wildcard

No substitutes

Player values don’t  change

No vice captain

No 3-4-3

No limits on players from anyone team

Every position has same points (5) for a goal

High goals against points

Pass and tackle points to allow a defensive midfielder to be an option

No clean sheet points for midfielders

“Generally… last clean pass” assist rule

Man of the match points no guidelines though

Clean sheet rule is 75minutes

The lack of subs and the negative points for goals conceded for Defs and Gks mean you need to try and pick players in defence who are automatic choices and in the main from top 6 teams that dont concede as many goals.

The midfield and forwards generally dont have to be significantly different from your FPL team except again the lack of subs means that you need automatic selections and transferring when people are injured becomes more necessary.  No wildcard means you have to be very careful with transfers.

The pass and tackle bomus is very useful and players like Lucas and Schneiderlin that you wouldnt really consider for FPL can really generate points.  Last year these were very fruitful points scoreres at low prices for people like Lucas and Schneiderlin who you wouldnt naturally look at for FPL

New rules comment

More transfers and no monthly limit – self explanatory

GK Saves – theres a 2 point bonus for 5 save points which gives a better chance for poorer GKs.  There’s still -1 for each goal though which negates this to some extent.

Captain changes – This is a huge change.  2 captains in 1 game week.  Much more thought and planning will have to go in to your Sky Sports fantasy football team reflecting Saturday Sunday and Monday fixtures in order to maximise the potential of this change.

Thats it for now and I’ll be doing more articles on players etc as we get closer to GW1.  Remember to join our league.