My best differential this season ? Other people’s bad decisions.
FPL is a game, a competition, bottom line, use whatever you can to get to the top.
I am driven by big picture thinking, I like the game play psychology, I enjoy a good three-pipe problem.
Stepping back from the standard FPL protocols, the decrees from the ‘experts’ ‘in the know’, the monotony of ‘choose my team for me oh great herd mentality’ polls – if ever there was a season to buck the norm this must be it, and that means thinking for oneself.
How quickly things can change. In last week’s blog I was boosted by the feeling things were returning to normal, the reliability of 8 week’s data, the demise of penalties and freak results with excessive goals, the rise of obvious candidates for selection… well that bubble certainly burst over the needless cross contamination flag inducing mess that was the International Break.
Instead of the full on fun of attack! attack! attack! my intuition says, back to square one we go, and that means patience and caution.
This is my blog, so you are reading my thoughts and takeaways ( by the way I focus on overall rank not mini leagues) , but I urge you to make your own conclusions and formulate your own strategy.
Covid positives, injuries and uncertainties, well we have had 6 months of it, so we know what to expect – the unexpected.
Grab your popcorn and enjoy the mayhem as the archaic minds living in the past of last season’s norms try to negotiate their way to the Christmas hiatus.
So, bottom line, you can check out here if you cba to evaluate my reasoning.
My strategy going forward ?
Defensive, low risk.Again.
In short, think hard before you hit, don’t waste transfers on short term players, keep one eye on team value (it could give you the edge later in the season), go semi template ie prioritise the premiums and attack, build a playing bench, keep motivated and keep evolving the strategy.
My Little Brain Attic **
Maintain your passion and purpose along with a positive mind for clear good decision making.
Transfers Retain transfers for dealing with crisis. Watch ownership levels, prioritise transfers to top 6 team template figures but not as you would when upside chasing, as a 1 week punt, hold them as long as possible. Get to a position of rolling a transfer every week as a safety measure.
Team structure Be balanced and flexible, look at 2 (?3) playing bench players rather than 1 – for me this means investing in defence at expense of MIDs : is there an opportunity to do this without weakening the attack ? Set up the team around core premiums and template players. Emphasis should be put on enablers who could be considered ‘season keepers’. Regarding bench positions 2 & 3, aim for budget options under 4.5m, how about looking at CB ?
Old school thinking. Are the traditional top 6 teams still relevant ? Look at the league table.
HITs is the zeitgeist changing ? Hits can be a positive when there is a genuine need to reposition the team for 6-8 weeks. Capitalise on other’s negative hitting (knee jerking for short term gain/points chasing) – how many times have you experienced a green arrow before a ball has been kicked? Is a hitting mind set the new band wagon?
Bench Bench Bench ! not only to cover injuries/covid but, fixture congestion (Europe,cup games and the Christmas period).
(Typical, just as I have come to terms with the ‘no money on the bench’ rule, now I have to put it back there in this anomaly of a season)
Fielding 10 players – might be a coping option, I need to come to terms with this.
Anxiety I feel like we’re back to ground zero again.How long will the chaos last this time ? How long is it going to take for the bubble around the EPL players to reform, 4 weeks ? 5 weeks ?
Will there be more goals again ? With teams patched together, trying to get used to each other, makeshift defences… more goals mean more points which could cover the cost of hits.
Will the 5 subs rule be re-introduced ? Some assets will become more tempting and some will diminish in appeal.
CONCLUSION
Circumstances are changing so quickly. Apply due diligence, be patient, be as safe as you can and accept things can still go wrong. Monitor and evolve.
I have several plays in mind for when Saturday comes – including a -8. Last week I rolled a transfer, I might even roll over again. Also in the back of my mind I have declared GW9 null & void, any points will be a bonus, this takes the pressure off. Whatever I decide I will wait until as late as possible.
My current team, yet to be prepped for GW9 – waiting until Saturday morning, (deadline 11.00) OR 711k.
** In “A Study in Scarlet” Sherlock Holmes suggests that man’s brain is like an attic. The fool will stuff all sorts of furniture and items in his brain attic so that the useful information becomes lost in the clutter. The wiser man will store only the tools that will help him do his work and have it organized so that it can be accessed quickly and easily.
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