The Offside Fantasy League: And So It Begins

By: Daryl | August 16th, 2007

Osman scores So the first week of The Offside Fantasy League action is behind us, and we’re all a little wiser. Some of us even scored some points. My get well wishes from last week obviously aided Didier Drogba’s recovery as he returned with a goal and an assist against Reading. But that didn’t help me any as I’d traded him for Yakubu, who put in two performances that positively screamed “not bothered.”

The big lesson from this first week is that SquadGod really is a little different to other fantasy football leagues in that it goes beyond goals, assists and clean sheets to reward the little things like tackles, interceptions, passes and shots on goal. Goals are still good though, which is why Leon Osman had such a good week.

The other thing we’ve learned is that captains are important. Their bonus points can be the difference between mid-table mediocrity and a challenge at the top. For example, if you had Leon Osman as your captain this week he was worth a stonking 78 points.

It’s early in the season to be making snap judgments, but based on the couple of games most teams have had, let’s see who looks like a Fantasy League bargain and who’s been a complete waste of money:

Bargains:

Leon Osman (Everton) 7.8m
Tim Cahill was supposed to be Everton’s goalscoring midfielder, but the Aussie has a fractured metatarsal (as well as some sort of Asian Cup induced pride injury) has him out of action until mid-September. Step forward the slightly cheaper Leon Osman. Three strikes in 34 games last season didn’t exactly scream goalscorer, but two goals in two games this season, plus five interceptions make him SquadGod’s top scorer with 52 points.

David Healy (Fulham) 7m
Surely Lawrie Sanchez’ mad plan to turn Fulham into Northern Ireland FC can’t work can it? But he has managed to take Healy’s lethal goalscoring form (hat-trick against Spain anyone?) and transfer it to the Premiership. Jens Lehmann gifted him the first on Saturday, but Wednesday’s goal against Bolton was all Healy.

Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland) 5m
You wouldn’t have expected newly promoted Sunderland defenders to fare quite so well in the Prem. But with one assist, one clean sheet, seven interceptions and plenty of passing and tackling, SquadGod are holding Nosworthy up as an example of the sort of player who excels in their game. And at 5m you can’t go wrong.

Antoine Sibierski (Wigan) 7m
Newcastle fans weren’t too upset to see the back of Sibierski, but we now know that glamour doesn’t win you any points from the SquadGod people. The great thing about Sibierski is that he’s listed as a midfielder but is playing as a striker for Wigan, and has already notched twice.

Waste Of Money:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 15m
If you spent a big chunk of change you want goals and assists for your money, not rubbish headbutts. He scored a handful of points for shots on goal against Reading, but his overenthusiastic nod against Portsmouth scores you -6 for the sending off, and you’re going to have to use your weekly free transfer to get in a replacement while Ronaldo serves his probable three match ban.

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 15m
This was supposed to be Roonaldo’s year. The number 10 shirt, the first time he’s had a proper pre-season in years. An exciting looking United team around him. It all looked good. Until Michael Duberry stepped on Wayne’s foot and gave him a hairline fracture. Another one that will need replacing.

Dave Kitson (Reading) 7.5
Ok, so he costs exactly half of what Ronaldo costs. But in terms of time spent on the pitch vs points earned, Kitson is easily the worst player in The Offside Fantasy League so far. He came on as a sub for Reading against Man Utd and was sent off just 37 seconds later. So that’s -6 points in less than a minute of Fantasy League action.

Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 12.5m
The Yak just doesn’t look interested this season and that’s translated into no goals in two games. I’m still expecting him to be moving on sometime in the near future (especialy with Mido arriving at ‘Boro) so he could still catch fire at Portsmouth or Everton. But until then he’s a waste of money and you’d be well advised to keep your distance.

Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs) 13m
Despite playing the majority of two games for Spurs, the Bulgarian has been frustrated. It’s not all his fault, he’s not getting any service because Spurs haven’t got any wingers. But with just 3 points from two games there are better ways to spend 13m.

So What Now?
We may be a little wiser, but we still have no idea what’s to come. Will Leon Osman’s goalscoring run continue? Or is that all his goals for the season? The road to fantasy league failure is paved with Johnny Come Latelies, who buy players AFTER they play well. The trick is to get them before. Which brings us to my already notoriously unreliable tips.

El Hadji Diouf (Bolton)
I like the look in his eye against Fulham. Sure Bolton lost, but Diouf looked like a man out to prove a point. He may be the most unlikeable player in the history of the Premiership (spitting, parking in disabled spots, etc) but when Diouf’s motivated he’s a player worth backing.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
Not just yet obviously, because he’s got that ban to serve. But when he returns expect him to go out there and put on a show. In the meantime look for Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes to take on extra creative responsibility at Old Trafford.

Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 12.5m
Arsenal have only played one league game thanks to their midweek Champions League qualifier, but I’m expecting Van the man to continue scoring in the Prem. Did you see the confidence in that penalty as he smashed it high into the corner? That’s a man who’s going to score a lot of goals.

David Bentley (Blackburn) 9m
With Aaron Lennon injured and Beckham’s ankle still a bit dodgy, there’s an opportunity on England’s right flank. Bentley may have (foolishly) dropped out of Stuart Pearce’s England U-21 squad for the European Championships this summer, but just you watch him give McClaren a headache with some impressive performances on Blackburn’s right flank.