Fantasy Football 09/10: in search of the key player

As August approaches alarmingly quickly, it’s time to start considering strategies and selection for this season’s Fantasy XI.

Lots of people have different opinions on how best to play the game, and that I suppose is the fun of it. Three strikers will be expensive, but could offer a high points yield, defenders are less costly and consistent clean sheets will keep you in the hunt, or do you buy the star midfielder like Frank Lampard who always seems to score well.

For me, it’s about finding the one or two players that make a far bigger contribution that their value suggests. Over the years, a number of players have filled this role, but unfortunately not many of them were in my team: Muzzy Izzet, Yakubu, Distin and last season’s shining light: Stephen Ireland.

The Stephen Ireland subject is a sort point for me, given that a few of my rivals picked him only because he was the last player they could afford, and I stuck to my guns in refusing to include him in my team right to the very end – needless to say, I wasn’t top last year.

So who will it be this time around? Please help me find him! I am keeping an eye on the Never Captain Nicky Butt blog for a few little gems like this, but your suggestions would be welcome.

I’m wondering whether Manchester City will be worth looking at closely, Carlos Tevez could be a prolific scorer if slightly on the expensive side, Jermain Defoe is probably a shoo-in as he’ll be feeding off Crouch’s head (so to speak), Robinho will be considered, but these are all too obvious.

Where should I look?

By James Hutchison

July 30, 2009