ShePlays NWSL Fantasy: First Draft Team

NWSL is back for 2025! Well, almost. And that means it's time to start prepping your fantasy team.

Thanks to our friends at ShePlays, we've got another edition of their awesome NWSL fantasy game. I've been writing about fantasy sports for twenty years (!) and have finished in the top-20 places overall in the last two years of the NWSL game. I'm going to write about my team leading up to the season start on March 14. Let's see how the side evolves over the next few weeks, and maybe we can make another winner together.

This is my first draft. I'll go through the selections, talk about strategy, and ruminate as to where we'll go from here.

NWSL Round 9

Short post as I'm travelling again this week. Where am I going? My first ever away Wave game! I have family in the Bay Area and decided to kill several birds with one road trip and am taking my sister and her family to the Wave versus Bay FC at PayPal Park. Wish us luck, and look for me -- I'll be the one in my Wave gear (no jersey yet) trying to make nice with the opposition fans.

Let's quickly look back at last week's results. We're going to need a gimmick.

The Good
Buying Ann-Katrin Berger, for sure. My early-season strategy of going cheap at the keeper position was working out well, but with Cassie Miller AND Lysianne Proulx losing their place I needed a new approach. Gotham had a double-gameweek and looked very stingy at the back. Berger ended up keeping one clean sheet and making some big saves for a total of 15 points. 

The Bad
Dropping Mallory Swanson for Temwa Chawinga gave me money to spend, but cost me points -- in the transfer, and the difference between their points earned. I've got to make peace with the fact that Swanson is just going to be one of those players with whom it just doesn't work out in fantasy. I never own her when she scores and always strike out when chasing those points. That all being said, the decision-making process was sound and it's not like Chawinga was a bad pick. It happens.

The Ugly
I knew I was getting cocky when I did it, but I did it anyway. Bringing Ji So-Yun back into my team for a minus five points because she was a two-gamer backfired. Not only did she just return nine points over those two games, but I benched Olivia Moultrie and her goal and eleven points to do it. A seven point mistake.

This week I think it's simple. I'm going to captain Sophia Smith. No lollipops given for deciding on that move. For the transfer, I'm going to bring in Ryan Williams for Deyna Castellanos. Williams is killing it this season and has Utah and Houston in their next two. Makes sense to double up on the Courage defence alongside Felicitas Rauch, who hasn't hit the heights I was hoping from her. It's been Williams who has been the two-way player out of the back for North Carolina and I'm hoping for big returns from her to continue.

Looking ahead, I hope to bring Taylor Flint into my midfield but I'm happy enough to wait until after they finish this rough run of matches against Kansas City this week. Things look better for Racing Louisville coming up with games against Chicago, Houston, Angel City, and Seattle on the horizon.

NWSL Double Gameweek Round 8

That was something else!

Wednesday night's matches brought goals, goals, goals. And fantasy points. As discussed on this here blog, and on BlueSky, I made two changes to my fantasy team for a cost of five points. I brought in the Orlando duo of Barbra Banda and Summer Yates. I have to admit: Yates was a disappointment. She started both matches, but didn't notch a return and came off early in the second match for a returning-from-injury Adriana. I think here time in the team will be short-lived.

That being said, she returned 15 fantasy points! It was that kind of week.

Banda came through with 40 points off three goals and two assists. Just incredible scenes. My only concern now, is can I bench her with just the one match (home against Bay FC) this week. Spoiler alert: No way.

Overall, my fantasy team scored 203 points -- the large majority on that crazy Wednesday night -- and I'm up to seventeen overall. I'm really happy I attacked the double gameweek. 

Which brings us to this week: double gameweek, part deux. I would love bring in as many players with two matches as possible, but I'm less optimistic on this round than I was last week. Let's look at why.

First, you have the team playing twice: KC, Seattle, Gotham, Utah, San Diego, and Houston. Save for the second placed Current, that's 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 in the standings. None of them are scoring even one goal per game! Whom do you target with those stats?

Well, obviously you target the Kansas City Current (at Seattle, NC Courage). I have Bia Zaneratto and Vanessa DiBernardo in my team at the moment. I want to bring in Temwa Chawinga, and in fact I will indeed be bringing her in for Mallory Swanson. The diffuculty lies with Bia's status. She missed the Houston match with a foot injury. I don't expect to see her in midweek, which means at best she's a one-gamer.  I would love to swap her for Chawinga, but I need the money from selling Swanson for another move. I'm likely to just bench her instead of selling for a minus five points. It's not the worst problem in the world to be over-invested in the Current right now. However forward spots are precious and with Sophia Smith and Barbra Banda demanding to be picked, that leaves only one spot for a Current forward.

But that's a problem I'm happy to push to next week and just hope that my sit/start decision works out.

Let's look at the other matchups and see what we can do with them.

Houston Dash (Gotham, @Angel City)

The Dash have shored up the backline over the last few weeks and that's reflected in their best fantasy asset being the goalkeeper Jane Campbell. She made 12 (12!) saves against the Current and I wouldn't argue against bringing her in to any fantasy team. She's on the expensive side for a keeper, but at that position, the differences are pretty small. Diana Ordoñez and Ramona Bachmann are your two forward options, but I don't think either will justify taking one of your three spots. It's a shame Bachmann wasn't classified as a midfielder, as she was in the ShePlays World Cup game. Also to note that she's picked up a card in each of her first two games. That's negative fantasy points, and is heading towards an early suspension.

San Diego Wave (Utah, Gotham)

Ah... what to do with my precious Wave? I've given up trying to understand what Casey Stoney is doing with this team this season, but I'll go on record as not liking it. They had a player advantage for 90 minutes against Seattle, but one could not tell watching the game. They were slow and sloppy, and that didn't change regardless of if it was the subs who started or the starters who subbed in. Savannah McCaskill was a favorite of my last season as a consistent fantasy midfielder. While everything on the field goes through her, there's yet to be any regular end-product from the Wave. Ordinarily I would argue for their defence but due to injuries and suspensions, it's likely to be three rookies and a second-year utility player. For me, it's a stay-away until things change. And I really, really hope things change soon.

Utah (@San Diego, @Chicago)

Fading after a good start. Ally Sentnor (She of the two Ls and two Ns) is still putting up good numbers, especially at her rock-bottom $75,000 price. She's not hitting the ceiling of some of the top forwards in the game, but is certainly a viable punt for this week.

I miss Paige Monaghan's being listed as a defender for fantasy. Those were the days.

Gotham (@Houston, @San Diego)

Ground out a win a the weekend over North Carolina, which they'll have to repeat on the road twice this week. While they, along with San Diego, have still played a game (or two!) fewer than the other teams in the NWSL, they've scored and conceeded the fewest number of goals. For fantasy, Lynn Williams is always a good pick. However, I'm more interested in their defence. I picked Cassie Miller at the beginning of the season and if you combined her scores with new signing Ann-Katrin Berger they'd be among the top fantasy keepers. With that in mind, I'm going to spend five points to move from Miller to Berger this week.

I'm not sure I can recommend any other their other players. None are bad picks, and if you think they're on the upswing then definitely get in this week. I'm hoping Berger covers me and I can wait and see who else secures a starting spot, and pops. 

Seattle (Kansas City, @Portland)

Another mess of a team who gutted out a win at the weekend. Seattle are the Micheal Myers of the NWSL. I'll be fascinated to see how they try to handle the two top scoring teams in the league back-to-back. I have Sophia Huerta on my fantasy team, and I'm not excited about that. Hopefully two matches in a week means points regardless, but... ugh.

Ji So-Yun got a rest against San Diego but still came on and assisted a goal. She's a stellar midfield pick in a year without too many of those. I'm not sure it's worth five points to bring her in over a single game player, but I'm not sure I won't do it. If that makes sense.

NWSL Double Gameweek Round 7

photo courtesy Bola News

Round 7 of the ShePlays NWSL fantasy game brings us both midweek matches — starting Wednesday, May 1 so be sure to set your lineups! — as well as out first double gameweek of the season. Here's the schedule:

Next Round
Orlando Pride	1st May, 4:00 PM	North Carolina Courage
Chicago Red Stars	1st May, 5:00 PM	Washington Spirit
Bay FC	1st May, 7:00 PM	Portland Thorns
Utah Royals FC	3rd May, 6:30 PM	Angel City FC
Seattle Reign FC	3rd May, 7:00 PM	San Diego Wave FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC	4th May, 4:30 PM	North Carolina Courage
Portland Thorns	4th May, 7:00 PM	Washington Spirit
Houston Dash	5th May, 10:00 AM	Kansas City Current
Orlando Pride	5th May, 3:00 PM	Racing Louisville FC
Bay FC	5th May, 5:00 PM	Chicago Red Stars

The teams with two matches this week are the Courage, Thorns, Spirit, Pride, Chicago Red Stars, and Bay FC. That list probably covers a fair chunk of your fantasy team as is but it's worth looking at in a bit more depth.

North Carolina Courage - @Orlando, @Gotham

The Courage are a strong team as always, however they have two road games against tough opponents. Their defense is tops in the fantasy league, but their attack is of the "just enough" category. I would hold and happily play anyone you already own but I'm not sure I'm looking to load up on their players. Ashley Sanchez would be a great midfield pick, but unfortunately she's listed as a forward in the game.

Portland Thorns - @Bay FC, Spirit

Sophia Smith with two game? Yes, please. I'll take some of that. She's a stand-out captaincy option this week. I'm not sure of any other great picks on the team. Sam Coffey is steady if not spectacular. She has the highest floor but lowest ceiling of almost any player in the game. Olivia Moultrie is the opposite - as liable to get twenty minutes to see out a match as she is to start and score. She's on my team and I'm hoping for more of the latter especially as games this close together would have you expect Christine Sinclair's minutes to be closely managed. As for their defence, the less said the better.

Washington Spirit - @Chicago, @Portland

Croix Bethune continues to be one of the revelations among a standout rookie class. She plays so far forward to this Spirit team and has been coming up with goals and assists since settling in. Trinity Rodman is an evergreen pick while Tara McKeown is a surprising fantasy standout in their backline. Ouleymata Sarr would be a risky differential. Like the Courage, the Spirit play two road games and neither are even along the East Coast so buyer beware.

Orlando Pride - Courage, Racing

The high-flying Pride get two home matches this week. Barbra Banda has finally arrived and in two matches (only one start) she has a goal and two assists. She's probably the only player I see to rival Smith for captaincy this week. I'm likely to drop Bia for Banda, as much as that pains me. I would try to bring Bia back (in my best Justin Timberlake voice) immediately, but the extra match and the double home comforts tips it towards the Zambian. It may even be worth a minus five points to bring her into your team. I'm also looking at midfield playing at forward Summer Yates. I'm a bit worried about her minutes getting shared around with Marta and the other Pride attackers but she's been putting up fantasy points and you don't change a winning side, do you? Her being mis-classified (out of position, OOO in fantasy parlance) helps.

Chicago Red Stars - Spirit, @Bay FC

The "so close" team of the last round. They were beaten by the Thorns but they were denied by the woodwork. I have picked around all of Mallory Swanson's fantasy points so far this season so I'm hoping that going with her in the double finally works out for me. There are lots of good, and well priced, fantasy options on this team. They're not the elite of the league but could round out your team. For me, I'm hoping Maximiliane Rall is healthy to return but might consider a minus five to get someone else into the team this week. With two matches to play I would hope to gain points despite starting in the hole.

Bay FC - Portland, Chicago

The other team with two home matches, but I'm not as high on their prospects. That being said, I'll happily field my two players - Denya Castellanos and Lyianne Proulx. I'm not sure I'd bring in any other players save for perhaps Asisat Oshoala, who seems to have just had a cramp that led her to leave the Wave match the other day.

NWSL Week 3 Wrap-Up: We need to talk about Jaedyn Shaw

Ok. Let's talk about Jaedyn Shaw.

Listen, we love her. She's a national treasure. As a San Diego Wave FC (do we need the "Football Club" crap?) fan and season ticket holder I will lay down my life to defend Jaedyn Shaw. What she did for the club last season is being surpassed on a game-by-game basis by what she's doing for the USWNT this year. My favorite fantasy memory last season was captaining Shaw in the Wave's final match, home against Racing Louisville. I was at the game. Shaw scored; the Wave clinched the Supporters Shield. It was honestly one of the best games I've attended for sheer fun and good vibes.

This season my fantasy team is named, "O Jae can you see". 

All that being said, I'm not going to start Shaw in Round 3. I might even sell her from my team. It breaks my heart.

Under Casey Stoney this season, Shaw has been shunted off to the left wing while all of the Wave's play goes through Savanah McCaskill on the right.  She's a peripheral players who's impact on the game comes more from her tracking back on the wing rather than her getting into good areas in the attacking third.

We say how that positioning worked for the US yesterday. It wasn't until Shaw was moved in from the wing to the 10 that the game turned in our favor. She assisted the opener and created (hockey assist!) the second goal.

But until we see Stoney put her in her best position, or at least give her license to create, Shaw is a fantasy no-go.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I'm the king of the reverse jinx, and I'm leaning into this one with all my weight.

As for the week that was, here's the wrap-up:

• nwsl week 3: xG race charts & pass networks
• NWSL Snap: Mentally, I'm still in the Bay
• VAR’s ‘clear and obvious’ question in NWSL; Emma Hayes explains Conti Cup clash: Full Time

My team, the aforementioned "O Jae does that Shaw-spangled banner yet Wave" brought in a huge 105 points. It's always a milestone in fantasy to hit 100 points. The ShePlays game makes it easier than some other scoring systems, and thank them for that. Points are fun! It's why we do this.

My quasi-perma captain (more on that soon), Sophia Smith, returned despite not scoring herself. An assist and 11 (!) attacking points from several shots on goal and chances created for others led to her second double-digit return in three rounds.

Ally Sentor and Deyna Castellanos we other bright spots, with most of the team looking pretty good. The disappointments were Shaw (have I mentioned that?) and last week's start Ji So-Yun. I played Ji despiter her facing San Diego, and while it didn't make for great viewing, I was happy enough for her to be kept quiet by Stoney-ball for the night. If five points is her floor from passing and chance creation, I'm going to enjoy having her on my fantasy team.

Looking forwards, I have two main targets: Mallory Swanson and Vanessa DiBernardo. Last week, I said that, "Swanson has been starting matches this season without impacting them. I want to be able to cash in when, in about a month's time and she has her soccer legs back under her, that changes." Let's just say that my assesment of her timetable may have been pessimistic. She's already scored for the Red Stars and looked good for the national team. My only concern is the knock she took against Canade. I skeeted that I was worried Chicago would rest her against Angel City this weekend. I hope we get some kind of statement from the team. I'm likely to buy and start her regardless. It's good to have her back!

DiBernardo scored again last round and is the ShePlays game's highest scoring player to date. KC's attack looks really good and she's a large part of it. In a game with fewer good midfield options than forwards, I think she's going to be owned by most fantasy managers soon — if they haven't already brought her in.

Looking at the matchups for the two, Swanson at home to Angel City is much more attractive than KC at Gotham. Unless we get hints that Mal Swanson might have her minutes managed, I think she's the pick with DiBernardo being a clear pick up in Round 5 when they host Bay FC.

That brings up my weekly keeper conundrum. The schedule has me leaning towards a third consecutive start for Lysianne Proulx. To reiterate, I expected Cassie Miller to be my every week starter and just added Proulx for Gotham's absence from Round 1. However she's proved a high-scoring keeper in her own right. I like her matchup home to Seattle better than Miller's hosting KC. I don't expect either to keep a clean sheet, but Proulx seems to be the more active, and thus higher-scoring, keeper. Miller will have to wait another week before getting her first start for me.

Finally, as promised above, let's look at captain for the week. Quasi-perma captain Sophia Smith travels to the usually stingy North Carolina Courage, so I'm in the market for a different choice. Right now that choice is Ally Sentor. The rookie is the hub of the Utah Royals and has scored in consecutive games. Home to the Orlando Pride, who have only travelled as far as Kentucky this season, looks a good chance for Sentor to make it three in a row.

I'm tempted to vice-captain Swanson, but may err on the side of caution myself and not do that. Castellanos may just step up into that role.

NWSL Week 2 Wrap-Up: Ji Whiz

Round up from week 2:

• NWSL is back and so are the Chicago Red Stars: Takeaways
• nwsl week 2: xG race charts & pass networks
• NWSL Snap: Lorneball, and staying "humble"

Not sure it was a strong fantasy week for too many teams. I thought my week was going to be HORRIBLE. First on Friday I benched Ally Sentor for Messiah Bright -- who did so well for me last season. 

Well, we know how that turned out.

Sentor scored a banger for the Royal, leading a host of "rookie queens score for fun" stories around the league. See above. Meanwhile Bright looked... off the pace. She got a few good chances - mostly from Claire Emslie's endless supply or corner kicks - only to shoot over, or misconnect on a pass. It was deeply frustrating, and honesty (and to my great shame) put me in a lousy mood.

Saturday seemed to go just as poorly, but mostly that was Wave-focused. I was surprised to see Jaedyn Shaw benched, and even more surprised by how poorly the Wave played for much of that match. Kansas City could have scored more than the two goals they got.

I knew I had a goal from Ji - my week two transfer, replacing the injured Debinha - in my pocket. But I also spent five points to bring in Feli Rauch, who didn't keep a clean sheet at Utah. Nor did week one hero, Lysianne Proulx against a previously shot-shy Washington Spirit.

But enough bitching. You're not here for my bitching. Ji's goal and a surprisingly strong Carson Pickett performance got me to 70 points. Juuust enough to keep my lead in the BlueSky League and 85 overall (out of 1419 teams).

For week 3, I'm going to focus on two things:

1. I want to invest in either Chicago or Kansas City, and
2. I want to be sure to have players playing Houston

I'm thinking of trading Bruninha, who didn't start for Gotham this weekend and will likely have Kelly O'Hara vulturing minutes from her all season, to Chicago's Maximiliane Rall. I may not start Rall this week, but the $50k savings means that in future weeks I can get from Messiah Bright to Mallory Swanson. Swanson has been starting matches this season without impacting them. I want to be able to cash in when, in about a month's time and she has her soccer legs back under her, that changes.

I was planning to start Cassie Miller in goal this week, but Bay FC gets the gift of a home game against the Houston Dash. So I'll probably keep Proulx as my starting keeper. I'm happy to have Castellanos on my team, but would look to pick up Oshoala if you're looking for a one week punt.

NWSL Week 1 Wrap-Up

Dusting off the old blog home for some ShePlays NWSL fantasy game content. This is to help me organize my own thoughts, but that's always been something we've been happy to share with the community.

I did pretty well, ending on 92 points. Sophia Smith returned as captain for the second year in a row. Manaka Matsukubo came off the bench to assist in North Carolina's rout of the Dash. On Sunday I got clean sheets from Sofia Huerta and Lysianne Proulx. Interestingly, Ally Sentor and Deyna Castellanos brought in some attacking points despite not getting any "counting" stats.

Let's catch-up on what happened last week and try to learn some lessons, shall we?

Three Stats: Seattle Reign vs. Washington Spirit
Ji looks like a good midfield target. I have to decide what to do with Debinha, who pulled up with a hamstring against Portland. I have half a mind just to go for the Korean who earned six attacking points without recording a goal or assist. She seems to have a very high floor -- the opposite of Debinha's high ceiling.

NWSL Power Rankings: North Carolina Courage begin at No.1
3 most important takeaways from Week 1 of the 2024 NWSL season
The Courage look like the team to target. I have Matsukubo, but I'm discouraged that she didn't start. Feli Rauch was one the last players cut from my fantasy team, and that seems like a mistake I need to rectify. Haley Hopkins is already in the goal scoring books, and is a dirt cheap option at forward. I'm not sure it's worth moving off Messiah Bright for a minus five points, but I'll consider it for sure.

Evaluating the 5 Chicago Red Stars Debuts vs. Utah

NWSL Weekend Take-Off: KC Current, NC Courage start 2024 off with goal avalanche

Seven Observations from KC Current’s Amazing Opener

Dydasco’s late defensive gem preserves Bay FC’s win in inaugural game
As a Castellanos owner, I was disappointed in how involved Boade and Anderson were. The latter seemed to dominate the set pieces, which are an easy source of points in the ShePlays game. Something to monitor.

Red Stars Shine in Season Debut
Chicago's young attackers were good, if inconsistent last season, and were good again in week one. My concern is that there are too many options and you won't know which one to back week to week. That is, unless...

Swanson is back! As she gets her legs back under her, maybe she can re-establish herself as Chicago's talisman. Nothing to rush -- for her, Chicago, or your fantasy team as she's still at a premium price -- but something to watch.

Finally, I'll leave you with the thoughts of someone much smarter than me about all of this:

5 things about nwsl opening weekend

yo dawg i heard you like xG race charts & pass networks

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

A quick repost of this story so I don't lose it if Never Manage Alone goes dark. (Thanks, Vox Media.)

---

credit: Scott Heavey

Dec 1, 2012, 11:41am PST

So I woke up at 3am - no alarm, but couldn't sleep - with every intention of selling Anderson (will he or won't he start?) for Bertrand or maybe Marin. The team sheets came out, and my options are... Gary O'Neil and Carlton Cole. Fuck! So what the hell, I picked Cartlon Cole figuring at best he gets a shot and at worst it's a -2 for backing into the defender over and over again. Go for the striker, even if he's no better than an inanimate carbon rod most of the time. Then I went back to bed.

Needless to say, a goal and assist later and I am the greatest fantasy manager OF ALL TIME! ;-);-)

Updated: Of course Anderson scores! *sigh* Well, just imagine how angry I would be if I had picked O'Neil.

France - Morocco

5' Game over, five minutes in? Morocco have been very fortunate in game-state all tournament and now France can bunker and break through Mbappe.

96’ Yep. Sometimes you’re the windshield; sometimes you’re the bug. 

Argentina-Croatia

My takeaway from the match is that Julian Alvarez is due a move to a bigger club.

World Cup 2018 Fantasy: To the Nines

The nine. The finisher. The poacher. The goal scorer. El zorro en la caja. In these days of false nines and wide forwards, there is a crop of men - so manly, so dashing, so cool - that they could only be center forwards. It's on these players that a team will rest their goal scoring hopes.

• Robert Lewandowski
• Romelu Lukaku
• Harry Kane
• Luis Suarez, and Uruguay blessed with not only an easy group, but also with...
• Edinson Cavani
• Sergio Aguero
• Timo Werner
• Andre Silva
• Olivier Giroud
• Diego Costa
• Javier Hernandez, or...
• Oribe Peralta
• Radamel Falcao
• Marcus Berg
• Paolo Guerrero
• Aleksandar Mitrovic
• Odion Ighalo
• Blas Perez

You're probably getting at least one of the top five or six names in that group on to your fantasy team. If you bring in an OMAC, you're probably looking down the list for value. Falcao is particularly interesting to me. He's in teammate James Rodriguez's shadow this summer, but is back to form in Monaco after a few years of injury recovery paid for by some of England's bigger clubs. If Colombia can live up to their well-earned entertainers reputation, Falcao will be banging them in.

World Cup 2018 Fantasy: Ten

The OMAC is the player you build around - in real life, and in fantasy. The nine is your Golden Boot hopeful. But the ten... the ten is something magical. The attacking midfielder. The small, skillful player directing his teams forward play, taking set pieces, and finishing moves. They may play off a striker, or behind a pair. They may be a false 9, but especially come the World Cup, these are the players the hipsters love, and at whom scouts can't throw enough money.

• Antoine Griezmann (he's part 9, part 10, and almost an OMAC, and will get a mention in each of those posts)
• David Silva (he's part 10, part wide-forward. In fact, half the Spain side fits that bill, so let's add...)
• Isco
• Luka Modric
• Mesut Ozil
• James Rodriguez
• Gylfi Sigurdsson
• Carlos Vela (listed as a forward, and probably starting)
• Giovanni Dos Santos (listed as a midfielder, and probably not starting)
• Hakim Ziyach
• Shinji Kagawa
• Christian Cueva
• Joao Mario
• Giorgian De Arrascaeta

I'm all-in on De Arrascaeta. He's hopefully a cheap in to a Uruguay attack that should score buckets in a historically bad group. He counts against a forward spot, but if he can set-up Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani - or be set up by them, as happened in their most recent friendly - he could be a productive player in his own right, and enable you to afford big hitters elsewhere in your squad.

Hakim Ziyach and Christian Cueva, would complete my bargain tens. My (playing at the tip of the) diamonds in the rough.

World Cup 2018 Fantasy: OMAC

My first category, and the one you should look at first, is OMAC: One Man Army Corps. These are the players around whom their national teams are established. These are the rare few players who coaches construct systems around and who will be expected, indeed needed, to lead their teams. Needless to say, these players will be the most expensive, but still the most heavily owned players in the game.

• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Lionel Messi
• Neymar
• Christen Eriksen

Probably no surprises here. Eriksen is interesting. He's the only one on the list classified as a midfielder, and by far the cheapest of the lot. As such, I think he's a must own. If you want to squeeze one of the big fish into your team, I would suggest Neymar. Hopefully he's fit. He's definitely rested. I think Brasil are the most balanced team of the three (Brasil, Argentina, and Portugal) and there seems to be an enthusiasm in that side that the others are lacking.

Mohamed Salah might have made the cut were he healthy, and maybe he is. We just can't take the chance in round one. I would have also considered James Rodriguez, Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann especially has a Golden Boot ceiling, and would have made the list if I thought Deschamps was a little more committed to him. 

Former Southampton Eleven

Updated to address some Spurs-blindness, noted by @FFScout_Anorak.

pic.twitter.com/OTcziKsHFl

— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) December 27, 2017

With the news that Virgil van Dijk's long-anticipated move to Anfield is becoming a 75-million-pound reality, we thought it would be fun to come up with a Premier League all-ex-Saints eleven. We'll line up in a 4-2-3-1, as is the fashion, and see if we can fill a bench as well.

Flowers
Clyne Fonte Van Dijk Shaw
Schneiderlin Cork
Oxlade-Chamberlain Lallana Mané
Walcott

Bench: Rodriguez, Lambert, Surman, Wanyama, Lovren, Jones

Goalkeepers
We're going to bring two keepers out of retirement for this team. Tim Flowers gets the nod because he was sold by Southampton to Blackburn Rovers for a then record fee, and he went on to win the title. Paul Jones is on the bench because he was loaned from Saints to Liverpool, which is just too perfect for the purposes of this list.

Defenders
These names are pretty obvious as top clubs have bought most any good defender Saints have developed - the majority to Liverpool. Nathaniel Clyne and Manchester United's reclamation project, Luke Shaw, are the fullbacks We'll let West Ham man Jose Fonte partner Virgil van Dijk for variety's sake. That will leave Dejan Lovren on the bench, as he's found himself for Liverpool, and will expect to be going forward.

There's been some shouts for Toby Alderweireld to be included in this team, and oh boy would we love to do it! He's the best center back in the world for our money. However, he was a Saint on loan from Athletico Madrid, and as such, we're going to have to pass. It's like a competition where a less-qualified candidate advances because the one who should have won violated some stupid technicality that no one really cares about. But rules are rules. Even the rules one makes up on the fly.

Midfielders
Our holders are Morgan Schneiderlin and Jack Cork. Who would have thought the latter would be having the better post-Saints career? That's 2017 for you. The attacking trio is a Liverpool clean-sweep with Adam Lallana, Alexander Mark David Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Sadio Mané starting. Andrew Surman, though he never played for Saints outside of the Championship, takes his place on the bench. Victor Wanyama should clearly be in this team. We'll leave him on the bench because of his current injury, and not because it was easier to edit that way. Nope, definitely the injury.

Forwards
We've given the lone-forward role to Theo Walcott, who incredibly moved to Arsenal eleven years-ago! He'll be coming into his own soon enough. He'll have to perform though, as we've got competition for the role. Jay Rodriguez, now of West Bromwich Albion can play center-forward, or cover for the attacking-midfield. Then there's Rickie Lambert, Southampton legend who moved to Liverpool and then to West Brom himself. He's available on a free now, having been released by Cardiff City, and that is well enough for our squad.

Gareth Bale gets his name in this team as soon as the ink is dry on his Manchester United contract.

I think we can be safely mid-table with this squad, and if things go right we can challenge for Europe. Kind of like a certain selling club on the south coast of England. Don't you think?

Star Wars Football XI

A long time ago in a social media platform far, far away.

Could we get a Star Wars XI? Jar Jar Okocha. Obi Mikelnobi. Luke Young. Kyle “Sky” Walker. Gareth Bale Organa.

— Jeremy Spitzberg 🇺🇸 (@jspitzberg) December 9, 2017

Here's what we have. Feel free to add more in the comments. Thanks to @FantasyYIRMA, @FantasyGaffer, @jbullDFS, @alstra78, @wrigavin, @Nutk1ns, @JamesMartin013, and anyone else I may have missed.

The team would play at the Vicente Alderaan Staidum, and be managed by Gerardo Daniel "Tauntaun” Martino. Obviously, they would look to play with X-wing backs, and Bothans would be in charge of scouting the opponent.

Here's the 24-man squad:

Goalkeeper

• Edwin Vader Sar
• Michel Vormtrooper
• Cassian Schmeichel

Defenders

• Poe Darmian
• Poe Cameron
• Grand Moff Tarkowski
• Kyle “Skyle” Skywalker
• Young, Luke
• Fabi Yoda Silva
• Robert Hoth

Midfielders

• Jar Jar Okocha
• Alex Ewoki
• Gareth Bale Organa
• Uncle Owen Hargreaves
• Xhaka the Hutt
• R2DBruyne
• Count Doucouré
• C3PÖzil
• Obi Mikelnobi

Forwards

• Bobba Fettmino
• Niall-Gon Quinn
• Aunt Berubatov
• C3POkazaki
• Lando Calrissian-Lewin

In defence of Big Sam

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My colleague and friend, Neal Thurman (formerly of these pages), had this little nugget buried in his Monday Morning Manager post:

"As much as I appreciate what Big Sam accomplished at Bolton back in the day, it seems like a poor fit of manager and roster. The Black Cats are handing a roster full of attacking midfielder-types to a guy best known for blood-and-guts football."

Neal, you're talking about a manager who ran out Jay Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Stelios Giannakopolis, etc behind (pun intended) the not-inconsiderable backside of Kevin Davies. At West Ham, he converted Stewart Downing from a winger to a (temporarily, at least) surprisingly effective number 10.

Big Sam has a plan, and works that plan to a hard edge. It may not always be pretty, but sometimes it can be.

At Sunderland, he has some talent in the likes of Jermaine Lens, and Yoann M'Villa. He has the target-forward he likes in Steven Fletcher. And while Bruno N'Gotty isn't walking through the door, he's got... well, maybe the less said about Sunderland's defensive options the better.

I'm not saying that Sunderland are poised for a run at the European places, but Allardici is a good manager who has done more with less in the past. I'm fascinated to see what he can do with the Black Cats, starting this weekend against Newcastle, who may have just had their own dead-cat bounce against Norwich.

The Five Stages of Fantasy Manager Grief

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With the news that Sergio Aguero has injured his hamstring playing for Argentina, we turn to Twitter, the internet's id, to demonstrate fantasy managers going through the classic five stages of grief.

1. Denial — The first reaction is denial. In this stage individuals believe the diagnosis is somehow mistaken, and cling to a false, preferable reality.
   
   

   Won't believe anything people say about Aguero's injury until it's confirmed by him! I've heard knee, hamstring, quad

   — Jaßon〽️✌️ (@Jason1874__) October 9, 2015

   
   
   
2. Anger — When the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue, it becomes frustrated, especially at proximate individuals. Certain psychological responses of a person undergoing this phase would be: "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"; "Why would this happen?".
   
   

   Why is Aguero allowed to play in these pointless shit fucking games? It's a fucking JOKE

   — FPL Waffle (@fpl_waffle) October 9, 2015

   
   

   @mcfc after Aguero picking up his injury playing when he wasn't 100%. If Belgium start Kompany & he gets injured I'll hunt their boss down!👌

   — JσrdanBrσwn (@Browny_MCFC91) October 9, 2015

   
   
   
3. Bargaining — The third stage involves the hope that the individual can avoid a cause of grief. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. People facing less serious trauma can bargain or seek compromise.
   
   

   I'll donate my hamstring to Aguero. Lord knows I'm not using it. Don't think it'll help much though.

   — Mike L. Goodman (@TheM_L_G) October 9, 2015

   
   
   
4. Depression — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"
   During the fourth stage, the individual becomes saddened by the mathematical probability of death. In this state, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time mournful and sullen.
   
   

   i'm not going to think about sergio aguero until he comes back from injury. my heart can't take it. 💔

   — Nabil Baracat (@nabilbaracat) October 9, 2015

   
   

   Anytime I hear bou aguero' injury, my mood changes 😭😭

   — Unknown Citizen (@addiswell) October 9, 2015

   
   
   
5. Acceptance — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."; "Nothing is impossible."
   In this last stage, individuals embrace mortality or inevitable future, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event. People dying may precede the survivors in this state, which typically comes with a calm, retrospective view for the individual, and a stable condition of emotions.
   
   

   @BantersyFPL Knew injury will befall one or two of my FPL players. Costa in for Aguero seems logical

   — ifeanyi (@BlueFromNigeria) October 9, 2015

   
   

   Assuming he'll be out for a few weeks, Lukaku, Sturridge or Costa look like my potential Aguero replacements.

   — . (@James__1905) October 9, 2015

Serious Question

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Has anyone broken the news to them?

Amidst all the, justified, excitement around Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Liverpool manager is one thing I haven't heard. How do Liverpool fans - not ones to give up on their image of the club as a premier destination - feel about Klopp's deigning to take the job in the first place?

“I’m really very relaxed – but only because I know that is how it goes sometime. I’ll be back to train a team. It must be somewhere in the world that is not an absolute top club, there are other good projects that are exciting who need help.” 

"not an absolute top club"

"good projects"

"need help"

Really? And Liverpool fandom is accepting of this? It seems to me that some of their most fundamental self-images (Delusions, if you're being mean. Which I'm not.) are being challenged.

But, hey.... YNWA and all that.

Robin Van Persie is not impressed

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It seems as if the ex-Arsenal, ex-Manchester United star isn't happy with his lot in life with Fernebache. Here he is, on the bench, "celebrating" one of teammate Fernandao's recent goals:



I don't know why it's gone wrong for him. Maybe he's just past it. Maybe all those injuries didn't save his body from wear and tear - the theory when he was healthy and scoring - and he can't compete physically anymore. Maybe he's just missing London. If that's the case, I have a wonderful idea! I know he'd probably just end up at Chelsea on a loan back to the Premier League. It's just the sad way things work. But they already have a Falcao-batross (™ © ® Jeremy Spitzberg) around their collective necks. The last thing they need is another reclamation project.

However, no such baggage weighs down the Eagles of Crystal Palace. Hear me out on this.

This January, Chelsea recalls Patrick Bamford from his loan spell at Palace. He's not getting any playing time there anyway so that is helping no one. Bamford, with youth on his side, and a chip on his shoulder, immediately becomes second choice at the Bridge behind the oft-suspended Diego Costa (27? You're having a laugh!) and we finally learn whether or not he's good enough for Chelsea.

Making that possible, is Robin Van Persie's loan to Palace. He is miles ahead of the other options like Gayle, Campbell, and Wickham. His movement (albeit slowed by time) allows Palace's other attacking players new, and more dangerous lanes to... attack. His finishing turns chances into goals. Humbled by his travails in Turkey, he's a team-player, deferring to Yohan Cabaye, and the other leaders already at the club.

There! It all adds up!

Sadly, porcupines are allergic to raisins.

What I'm reading - October 7, 2015

View image | gettyimages.com

I do love this photo.

First, the fantasy tips:

Premier League Power Rankings: 5 October

Fantasy Premier League Gw9 Tips – The Early Bandwagons And Sinking Ships

FPL Scout Extra: Chips should be held despite Aguero heroics


Hopefully, you don't have any of these players in your fantasy side:

The Premier League's underperforming (but undropped) players


Of course there's a lot more about Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool. Today's trend is pragmatic, leaning towards pessimistic. Yes, he's a great manager, but what about the players and what about the boardroom?

New approach needs to follow new manager at Liverpool

Assessing Liverpool's Klopp Coup

What Jurgen Klopp can do with the players he inherits at Liverpool




Finally, ESPN FC has an interesting, side-by-side look at the Milan clubs.

Roberto Mancini has rebuilt Inter into a throwback side all about athleticism

AC Milan are in crisis again despite summer transfers and a new coach

I'm intrigued by the notion of Inter "zigging" when others are all "zagging". Are we seeing a return of the colossus midfielder? The Patrick Viera, Roy Keane type? Arturo Vidal... Nemanja Matic... Paul Pogba... Blaise Matuidi... Moussa Sissoko...

Wow, the French are stocked in the middle of the park! Throw in Yohan Cabaye and Morgan Schneiderlin for good measure and you're looking at a collection of players that would be the envy of any manager - international or club.