It’s a double-edged sword, maintaining a fantasy footy team for the whole season. You end up worrying about games that should mean nothing to you, just because you have players involved – I shouldn’t really care whether or not that rebound off Gilberto Silva‘s knee counts as an assist.
The best thing to do is pick a team and then resist the urge to tinker – it’s fantasy football’s first law that as soon as you transfer in a form striker, for instance, he loses the ability to score goals. Of course, I’ll endure this water torture for another nine months. With that in mind, here are ten players I’m considering putting in my 2006/07 fantasy team:
10 players I’m seriously considering for my fantasy team this season continued…
In no particular order:
1 DIMITAR BERBATOV (Tottenham)
The Bulgarian striker looked sharp for Spurs on debut (pre-season win over Bordeaux). Bit of a gamble to pick him, but if he settles, could be better even than, er, Mido.
2 GIUSEPPE ROSSI (Man Utd)
Could this be the little Italian’s breakout season or will he continue to bang in goals for the reserves and in the odd League Cup tie? If he ends up in my fantasy team, then probably the latter.
3 CRAIG BELLAMY (Liverpool)
A wonderful player. Unfortunately, he’s also a relentless gobshite and therefore a magnet for yellow cards. Could develop an ‘understanding’ with Crouchinho…
4 LEDLEY KING (Tottenham)
Fit again after breaking a metatarsal. Bound to be pissed off that Sven didn’t take a chance on him – got a point to prove etc. Under Martin Jol, Spurs are tight at the back, too.
5 TIM HOWARD (Everton)
‘We’ve got Timmy Tourettes in our nets, f**k off, f**k off, f**k off!’ The addition of Howard on a season’s loan from Old Trafford should ensure a decent number of clean sheets for the Toffees.
6 FABIO AURELIO (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s new Brazilian left-back. Takes free-kicks and generally looks a class act. Could provide plenty of clean sheets and a steady stream of assists – every fantasy manager’s dream. Doesn’t mean that Rafa Benitez will pick him though.
7 LUIS BOA MORTE (Fulham)
Fulham like to score goals, mainly because their defence is pants. Feather Boa is a regular starter and creates as many as he scores.
8 TIM CAHILL (Everton)
All-action Aussie. Bit of a risk to pick him (if you believe in World Cup hangovers) but there are few better goal-scoring midfielders in the Premiership.
9 GABRIEL HEINZE (Man Utd)
After a long injury lay-off, looked back to his best at the World Cup. Will be a regular starter for Fergie.
10 DARREN BENT (Charlton Athletic)
Dangerous to pick a player who’s just had an outstanding season (he’ll be a marked man now, etc etc.) but I think Bent is the real deal, and the arrival of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, who provides more than he scores these days, should benefit the Englishman.