And so it begins

I have some form with Fantasy Football.

Several years ago I won a competition run by Corinthian, the people who used to make the small plastic statuettes of Premiership and International players. My prize was to be immortalised as a small plastic statuette in a Chelsea kit.

Three years ago I won a work based league and won a few bob.

Two years ago I won a league run by a group on LinkedIn.

Last year I was rubbish. I tried to use my previously successful tactics, and it all went horribly wrong. I have no idea why. So this year I thought I would record my thinking week by week in an attempt to bring some additional focus to my thought processes. If I attempt to record my decisions and justify them in a blog, then it will make me think about them in more depth in order to avoid looking a complete idiot.

I have created a team but I am not yet happy with it. There are many factors to consider. Players who last year were good value are significantly more expensive this year. Last years's  bargain buy was Michu. This year he is more expensive. The search is on for the new Michu. But of course that is very difficult because you need to know about the form of the large number of imports coming in to the Premiership and in addition to that, you have to work out who will be successful in English football. What a nightmare.

In the past my approach has been to load my back 5 with players from the top 5 clubs, Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Arsenal, and either Spurs or Liverpool. This is to minimise point loss and if you can pick the player who will pick up a few goals like Ivanovic then happy days. Anyone with Patrice Evra last year got a pleasant surprise as he scored an unlikely number of goals as well as playing in the champion defence. He's unlikely to do that again.

In midfield I look for a combination of goals and assists. I also try to be mindful of yellow cards especially as suspensions are a real pain to have to select around. Two years ago Bale was a revelation and last year was probably still worth the extra money. Will that be the case this year? If he stays.

In attack I look for an expensive proven scorer, a lesser second striker and a bargain buy who will play fewer games.

It is not easy.

But it is fun.