August 21, 2015

Fantasy Premier League, Week Three: The Translucent holds on to first place in the SportsFilter Fantasy Premier League, scoring 54 in week 2 for a total of 103. Hillbilly F.C. is close behind at 99. It was a good week to have Everton players, with Romelu Lukaku scoring 13 and both Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman 11. Player selections and transfers are due Saturday morning before Manchester United plays Newcastle at 7:45 a.m. to open the weekend's games.

posted by rcade to soccer at 04:05 PM - 12 comments

Tip from the Scout this week: "Luke Shaw -- at a cost of 5.5, the left-back is the cheapest of Manchester United's regular defenders. Shaw has helped the Red Devils chalk up consecutive clean sheets and welcomes a goal-shy Newcastle outfit that scored just 14 times on their travels last term."

posted by rcade at 04:37 PM on August 21, 2015

548 numbers wonk Michael Bertin calls it a "fairly safe bet" Harry Kane will regress from his 19 goal total of last season: "He should see plenty of chances, enough that his ExpG (Expected Goals) could be in the neighborhood of 15."

posted by rcade at 05:11 PM on August 21, 2015

Make that 538. I was off by 10.

posted by rcade at 06:55 PM on August 21, 2015

I keep trying to make sense of it all, but for me it kind of boils down to

I may actually get to watch a game tomorrow though since class hasn't started yet and my SO has to work. What's going to be televised stateside?

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:36 PM on August 21, 2015

I finally put Cech on the bench, bringing in Joe Hart. With my luck, he'll give up three goals, and get a concussion from whacking his head on a post, within the first 30 minutes.

posted by jjzucal at 09:38 PM on August 21, 2015

I benched Cech too, for Brad Guzan.

What's going to be televised stateside?

Man U vs. Newcastle, Leicester City vs. Tottenham and Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa.

posted by rcade at 07:45 AM on August 22, 2015

Guzan, not a good day as he gave up two goals to Palace... Shaw, well, I guess the cleansheet is worth a couple of extra points but given Newcastle also kept a cleansheet doubt he was worth much more.

United, one goal after three games, boy they are lucky to be on seven points is all I will say.

posted by billsaysthis at 01:06 PM on August 22, 2015

As opposed to Liverpool, who are living on offsides goals?

I kid the carpetbaggers from the wrong side of the river. Especially if we get mangled by Man City tomorrow.

posted by yerfatma at 07:30 PM on August 22, 2015

Saturday: guess who pulled Callum Wilson out of the lineup? Went from a 4-3-3 to 4-4-2; I went with Vardy and Pelle. *cries hysterically*

posted by jjzucal at 07:38 PM on August 22, 2015

Not making excuses, but this is going to be a bad fantasy year for me (after 7 or so consecutive finishes in the Champions League places and a couple of titles). It started with my fantasy baseball team just doing horribly and now this on the FPL front. I am blaming a somewhat busy work schedule, followed by the birth of my fourth child a month ago making me stupid. Actually, don't know how anyone who does not work a desk job keeps up with fantasy sports. I've been on paternity leave since the beginning of the season and have forgotten to set/tweak my lineup every gameweek so far.

posted by holden at 09:42 PM on August 22, 2015

*Maplewood Town still crying*

Thank you, John Terry (red card, minus-3 points), for making a putrid weekend absolutely horrible! 33 points (4 guys left tomorrow) and left Wilson's 17 points on the bench.

I began the EPL's game seven seasons ago. I was in the top 10 percent worldwide in the first season; my ranking has sank every year since. I should be relegated to some lame-as-hell non-league fantasy game.

posted by jjzucal at 03:07 PM on August 23, 2015

Somebody did get mangled yesterday (he wrote, four hours before his team's kickoff)

posted by billsaysthis at 10:26 AM on August 24, 2015

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