World cup fantasy football

[ratkin]

Good news the site is up and running and it looks very good , much improved from the euros

I have set up a private league , you all welcome to join

http://en.mcdonalds.fantasy.fifa.com/

you need to register and then click on the join league and enter the code


40925-9652

Let me know if it proving too complicated !!!

[ratkin]

Diving and screaming , i see you have entered two teams , can i delete one of them?

[shasta]

I'll join up, but seem to be having issues with the sign in button!

[ratkin]

lol there always one. Have you registered yet?

[shasta]

lol there always one. Have you registered yet?

No the sign up button isnt working!

[ratkin]

The yellow sign upo button on the page i linked too?

I just tried it and it seems to be working now

[shasta]

Still not working, & infact when i move the mouse over the yellow sign up button nothing comes up

[ratkin]

try using a different browser if you have one

[ratkin]

Another way is to just click register on the top right of the page

[shasta]

Another way is to just click register on the top right of the page

Did that & now i'm in, i've filled in less details when applying for jobs, sheesh!

[ratkin]

lol , its good fun designing the avatar

Merseyred looks a very shady character !!!

[shasta]

lol , its good fun designing the avatar

Merseyred looks a very shady character !!!

After that i need a rest i'll go back in later, not with it today for some reason

[ratkin]

Should be able to pick our teams today. The site must be keeping american time .

Still plenty of time to enter a team , one week till kick off

[shasta]

Should be able to pick our teams today. The site must be keeping american time .

Still plenty of time to enter a team , one week till kick off

Very generous points system, can easily fit in a few big names, with a few low point players on the bench

I like the setup

[Merseyredboy]

Very generous points system, can easily fit in a few big names, with a few low point players on the bench

I like the setup

Took a few goes No England limited Spainish what am I thinking loaded with Italians, Paraguay and Slovaks.

Still a few days to change mind. Will confess to having Nelsen on the bench. Bigger table than EPL season....

[ratkin]

Seems too generous , can pick the eleven most expensive players in the game. Would of prefered a smaller squad with less money.
You can also transfer another freebie between each round so shouldnt be too hard.

Of course none of us are used the the new scoring system. Looks like there are points just for delivering the ball into the box , or kicking it out of defence. Kiwis might be good at that one !!

[shasta]

Took a few goes No England limited Spainish what am I thinking loaded with Italians, Paraguay and Slovaks.

Still a few days to change mind. Will confess to having Nelsen on the bench. Bigger table than EPL season....

I got Nelsen & Smeltz on my bench, but have had to adjust the squad a few times with injuries in the friendlies, esp Chelsea players first Essien, then Mikel & likely Drogba.

Has everyone got Lionel Messi upfront?

[Merseyredboy]

I got Nelsen & Smeltz on my bench, but have had to adjust the squad a few times with injuries in the friendlies, esp Chelsea players first Essien, then Mikel & likely Drogba.

Has everyone got Lionel Messi upfront?

Not me Ronaldo and Torres very hard to fit all the talent in as Ratkin puts it we can all afford the stars it which ones do we want?// Do I switch and add gerrard with the captaincy, should've been Terry.... Only days to go now.

[root]

I got Nelsen & Smeltz on my bench, but have had to adjust the squad a few times with injuries in the friendlies, esp Chelsea players first Essien, then Mikel & likely Drogba.

Has everyone got Lionel Messi upfront?

Yes to Messi. Have a squad full of very good players or very bad players, nothing in the middle. Might be in injury trouble early on.

[root]

Not me Ronaldo and Torres very hard to fit all the talent in as Ratkin puts it we can all afford the stars it which ones do we want?// Do I switch and add gerrard with the captaincy, should've been Terry.... Only days to go now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, the double points for captaincy applies to the captain of your team not the captain of ENG, ARG etc. Is that right?

[Merseyredboy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, the double points for captaincy applies to the captain of your team not the captain of ENG, ARG etc. Is that right?

Correct. I am looking from an ethereal performance through the honour of captaining country. As he had an average year as the red shirted captain injuries apart. Looking for an line call between him and Lamps......,...

[ratkin]

Problem will be that the really good teams like spain will rotate their players during the group phase , especially in the third game when they have alrady qualified. Same goes for the really easy game , look at Argentina , someone with the quality of Tevez can barely make the first team.

If you go for eleven of the very best and the rest rubbish then it could be tricky when they sit out or come off at half time when they 3 0 up

[root]

Problem will be that the really good teams like spain will rotate their players during the group phase , especially in the third game when they have alrady qualified. Same goes for the really easy game , look at Argentina , someone with the quality of Tevez can barely make the first team.

If you go for eleven of the very best and the rest rubbish then it could be tricky when they sit out or come off at half time when they 3 0 up

Yep, good point. Might have to have a tinker about the edges.

[root]

Correct. I am looking from an ethereal performance through the honour of captaining country. As he had an average year as the red shirted captain injuries apart. Looking for an line call between him and Lamps......,...

I've got Lampard in my lineup, will have to rethink that with Gerrard being the Captain. I was hoping they would both play.

[Merseyredboy]

I've got Lampard in my lineup, will have to rethink that with Gerrard being the Captain. I was hoping they would both play.

Tragedy in time.... Have to change had Nani huge fan. Reshuffle on the cards tonite. Anyone got a 7.0m midfielder than can spare...

[shasta]

Tragedy in time.... Have to change had Nani huge fan. Reshuffle on the cards tonite. Anyone got a 7.0m midfielder than can spare...

Uruguay's Perez @ 5.0 looks great value

[shasta]

Uruguay's Perez @ 5.0 looks great value

Stop press:

Have swapped Perez for Tim Cahill (6.0), Ghana without Michael Essien look a bit weak & Serbia having lost to the All Whites, means the Australians could go thru with Germany, & Cahill is an integral part of the Aussie attack (& for a fairly short bloke he scores with a fair few headers too)

[ratkin]

Kiwis seem too cheap to me . They not total no hopers and the defenders should rack up more points than a pinball machine as they stop shots.
Have a decent chance of a clean sheet too

[Merseyredboy]

Stop press:

Have swapped Perez for Tim Cahill (6.0), Ghana without Michael Essien look a bit weak & Serbia having lost to the All Whites, means the Australians could go thru with Germany, & Cahill is an integral part of the Aussie attack (& for a fairly short bloke he scores with a fair few headers too)

Cahill possible injury cloud took a frenchman *******cuff rejiged brought in gerrard and Van Persie... See Rafa's on his way to Inter good news for LPool. Torres to Inter.....

Also see on news that Chelski, obviously flogs players as club team with most injuries at world cup 2010, have indicated that J Cole and Ballack are going to be definately gone this summer

[shasta]

Cahill possible injury cloud took a frenchman *******cuff rejiged brought in gerrard and Van Persie... See Rafa's on his way to Inter good news for LPool. Torres to Inter.....

Also see on news that Chelski, obviously flogs players as club team with most injuries at world cup 2010, have indicated that J Cole and Ballack are going to be definately gone this summer

Torres is off to stamford bridge, Rafa @ inter may get mascherno & kuyt, Gerrard looks like hes off to Real

Chelsea have released Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Julian Belletti & Deco - all on free transfers

I see my predictions have been echoed by the BBC world wide experts, England 4th, Argentina 3rd, Brazil 2nd & Spain 1st

I made mine about a week before they did, but im sure there will be some surprises, especially as an african team could surprise

[root]

Torres is off to stamford bridge, Rafa @ inter may get mascherno & kuyt, Gerrard looks like hes off to Real

Chelsea have released Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Julian Belletti & Deco - all on free transfers

I see my predictions have been echoed by the BBC world wide experts, England 4th, Argentina 3rd, Brazil 2nd & Spain 1st

I made mine about a week before they did, but im sure there will be some surprises, especially as an african team could surprise

Wouldn't be surprised to see Cole go back under Harry's wing, this time at White Hart Lane.

I bet their will be at least one upset in those 1st to 4th standings.

[Merseyredboy]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Cole go back under Harry's wing, this time at White Hart Lane.

I bet their will be at least one upset in those 1st to 4th standings.

The dutch and South Africans are the teams that I expect performance from..... Remember the rugby world cup word is Louis Late has been added to technical staff this week

[root]

The dutch and South Africans are the teams that I expect performance from..... Remember the rugby world cup word is Louis Late has been added to technical staff this week

I'e got a couple of players from NED hope they bring some points to the table, I'd better get on the FIFA website and re-arrange my squad, running out of time.

[buns]

Hey ‘Shut up shop’ here.

Nearly one round through, what do you guys think of this fantasy format?

Me? I don’t think much of it at all.

Maybe it was their intention but the thing is child proof. First it allows you to stack your team, and then chop and change all through out the gameweek depending on performances and injury’s. Even your captain. As a result, actively managed teams should have pretty much the same line-up.

Pretty boring, but oh well, sweepstakes are always the best for International comp’s.

[ratkin]

I quite like the format , allows more micromanagement of the team . One rule that has cost me is that you cant substitute a player who has been red carded , that is one danger of substituting all players.

Captain situation is interesting , at what point do you settle for the one you have?
I had Ribery 4 points , so changed him to rooney , again four points , so changed to ozil , he scored six (12 doubled up)
With van persie and robhinio to come i decided to change to van persie , if he scores anything over eight will probably stick with him.


Problem is the scoring format was new to us all so was hard to formulatre a strategy. Seems to me that its defenders who score the most points , they can get defending and attacking bonuses plus clean sheets , and if one dosent get one you can replace with one who did.

I wish we could start again , i would get seven of the best defenders from all the top teams , people like raul lahm and mancini , then i would just play the best five .
As it was i did the opposite and went for an ultra cheap defence , and one of my serbs has already been sent off.

Trouble is we have to wait four years for another go

[buns]

Yeah you seem to like it for all the reasons I question it

It essentially takes away any skill, and risk/reward for making bold moves. Filtering through players as you noted just rewards people who can be active every single day. How about the people who pick there team at the start of the week, and nail every position? They get the same reward as someone like you who could have got it horribly wrong, but can go in and change the players out every day.

You are right on the defenders theory though. I’ve got Lahm, Ramos, Alves, Evra and Cannavora. But played an attacking formation this week so can only play three of them. However I think its dangerous thinking this is the way to score big-time, first of all it has very little upside as they won’t score much, and in the 2nd half of the group stage you will get lessor teams who need to steal points of the big teams, resulting in more open games and more goals for the big guns.

[ratkin]

you can change formation too , as long as you have three defenders . Just pull off a midfilder and replace with a defender and it automatically changes the formation.

I think this way more skillful , if you couldnt pick subs to come on everyone would of just chosen the best 11 players and then filled the bench with kiwis and north koreans , that way everyone would of had the same team. This way you have to make sure youer entire squad can play as they may all be called into action

[shasta]

you can change formation too , as long as you have three defenders . Just pull off a midfilder and replace with a defender and it automatically changes the formation.

I think this way more skillful , if you couldnt pick subs to come on everyone would of just chosen the best 11 players and then filled the bench with kiwis and north koreans , that way everyone would of had the same team. This way you have to make sure youer entire squad can play as they may all be called into action

I much prefer the fantasy premiership game, its more tactical than this, but with my squad & using there rules, those who follow it closely can do really well, my 38 points have come from just 4 players, Messi as captain scored 18

[root]

Wasn't happy with Buffon so transferrred him, can't use replacement till round 2, Oops! Only available keeper now is Bannatyne who wont even start.

[ratkin]

lol the substitutions a two edged sword alright. My keepeer scored five but i swapped him for the one playing against the kiwis tonight.
I have set the mark at six points , any less than that and they replaced. Problem is have only kept five players so if tonights dont perform im stuck with them.
Robhino my last chance captain

[shasta]

lol the substitutions a two edged sword alright. My keepeer scored five but i swapped him for the one playing against the kiwis tonight.
I have set the mark at six points , any less than that and they replaced. Problem is have only kept five players so if tonights dont perform im stuck with them.
Robhino my last chance captain

If Robhino cant score against North Korea, i wouldnt have him in the side to play Portugal & Ivory Coast!

Am hoping Ronaldo scores v Ivory Coast

[ratkin]

The brazilians should at least score loads of attack bonus points , im still seething that van persie wasnt given an assist in this mornings own goal

[root]

When you change your Captain I don't think it removes the old Captains points from the total (not sure about this as the site takes a while to update somtimes), I'll have a count up tonight. if that's the case you should keep changing your Captain.

[ratkin]

If you keep the old captain in your team but just remove him of the captaincy he loses the double points ie goes from say 12 to 6 . If you remove the captain totally then you lose all the points he scored , and hes replaced by your new captain.

Like you say best to keep changing captain until you strike gold , although the danger is they all perform badly or even worse one is sent off then they cant be replaced and you score minus points

[shasta]

If you keep the old captain in your team but just remove him of the captaincy he loses the double points ie goes from say 12 to 6 . If you remove the captain totally then you lose all the points he scored , and hes replaced by your new captain.

Like you say best to keep changing captain until you strike gold , although the danger is they all perform badly or even worse one is sent off then they cant be replaced and you score minus points

I got De Rossi on my bench & he got 9 points aftering scoring for Italy, i have Hamisk (Slovakia) & Xavi (Spain) in my midfield to play, hmmm

Decisions decisions!

[shasta]

I got De Rossi on my bench & he got 9 points aftering scoring for Italy, i have Hamisk (Slovakia) & Xavi (Spain) in my midfield to play, hmmm

Decisions decisions!

A quiet first half, with one clear chance each side, for Killen with a header & Hamsik forcing Paston to tip over the bar. It ends 0 - 0, NZ will be happier with that scoreline

Paston still looking as nervy & unsure as he was when playing for Napier City Rovers

Why do i get the feeling he will fluff one & that will be us gone?

Hoping we get a sub on who can mark up in the middle & provide quality ball to Falloon & Killen, the Blackburn style long ball game isnt very effective & Slovakia are too quick & skillful on the break.

Vicelich & Elliott are too slow in the midfield & too negative - this shows we are missing Tim Brown in the midfield

[shasta]

A quiet first half, with one clear chance each side, for Killen with a header & Hamsik forcing Paston to tip over the bar. It ends 0 - 0, NZ will be happier with that scoreline

Paston still looking as nervy & unsure as he was when playing for Napier City Rovers

Why do i get the feeling he will fluff one & that will be us gone?

Hoping we get a sub on who can mark up in the middle & provide quality ball to Falloon & Killen, the Blackburn style long ball game isnt very effective & Slovakia are too quick & skillful on the break.

Vicelich & Elliott are too slow in the midfield & too negative - this shows we are missing Tim Brown in the midfield

NZ 1 Slovakia 1 - Winston Reid scores in the 93rd minute & the All Whites sneak a historic draw!

[Merseyredboy]

NZ 1 Slovakia 1 - Winston Reid scores in the 93rd minute & the All Whites sneak a historic draw!

Took me longer to wind down after this game than it did when we lost the rugby world cup final. Their goal was offside. And we made a couple of good chances. Paston was very nervous. Nelsen is a strong organiser and led the youngsters well.

if italy are as old as they say we maybe even money to draw another one. remember last time Italy scraped through with three draws... If its 0-0 with 15 to go. I bet its Italy that tries to kick us off the park.

[ratkin]

How did Robhino manage to get 7 bonus attacking points ? One of my midfielders yesterday did lots of attacking and didnt score any of these bonus points.
Luckily Robhino was my last hope as captain

Although im not sure exactly how they work them out i much prefer them to the premier league fantasy when someone hands out bonus points to all his favourites

[shasta]

How did Robhino manage to get 7 bonus attacking points ? One of my midfielders yesterday did lots of attacking and didnt score any of these bonus points.
Luckily Robhino was my last hope as captain

Although im not sure exactly how they work them out i much prefer them to the premier league fantasy when someone hands out bonus points to all his favourites

My Brazilian defender Maicon scored - what a bonus & North Korea kept them to 2-1, are Korea that good, or Brazil not so flash?

[ratkin]

Brazil will improve , first game never shows much , the ones that look the best (Argentina . Germany) usually dont go on to win and one of the stugglers does (Brazil , England ,italy , France )

[tesla]

Took me longer to wind down after this game than it did when we lost the rugby world cup final. Their goal was offside. And we made a couple of good chances. Paston was very nervous. Nelsen is a strong organiser and led the youngsters well.

if italy are as old as they say we maybe even money to draw another one. remember last time Italy scraped through with three draws... If its 0-0 with 15 to go. I bet its Italy that tries to kick us off the park.

It's hard to get to sleep after jumping around in the lounge at 1:30 in the morning. I thought they went well, maybe a little bit flat after the break, looked comfortable on the ball most of the time. I think they would have been better off playing Italy first up, surprise attack.

[Merseyredboy]

World values for the Spanish and Portugeezers plummit. Eurozone crisis... Neither to make last 16 instead NZ do and Smeltz now worth $12M and apparently. Chelsea are interested in a straight swap Joe Cole for Leo Bertos. Go the Phoenix.

England to miss last 16 Lampard and Gerrard good at club level. Lack status to carry a national team. GO USA......

Shasta did u drop $40k the other night ???? with 3 mins to go

[shasta]

World values for the Spanish and Portugeezers plummit. Eurozone crisis... Neither to make last 16 instead NZ do and Smeltz now worth $12M and apparently. Chelsea are interested in a straight swap Joe Cole for Leo Bertos. Go the Phoenix.

England to miss last 16 Lampard and Gerrard good at club level. Lack status to carry a national team. GO USA......

Shasta did u drop $40k the other night ???? with 3 mins to go

Whilst ive been known to have a big punt in the weekends, no i didnt lose $40k trying to win $800 - poor fool who did that!

I'll be selling Xavi next chance i get for Kaka or Lampard

[root]

Villa & Xavi now on the bench, will use them if need to as they are the last game of this round. Lahm and Maicon were my top points last round so I have changed my formation from 3-4-3 to 4-4-2 so I can have more fullbacks. Hopefully we are not heading for a goal bonanza.

I understand the rules a bit better now so I might be able to get more than 0 points out of my Goalie.

[ratkin]

They will score a hatful against honduras , goal difference now matters to spain.

I still cant work out the bonus points , spain were camped in the swiss hal\f the entire match yet hardly any spanish players had attacking bonus points , yet kaka and robhino had 13 between them and they didnt attack half as much as the spanish were

[root]

Pretty sure the attacking bonus is just on balls played into the 18 yard box. Goals and Assists are listed separately. I had a big read after my transfer stuff up.

[ratkin]

Yes , but in the spanish game the ball was being played into the 18 yard box almost continuously

[root]

What happens in a penalty shoot out, do the goals and saves count?

Ok. Extra time counts but not penalty shoot outs. Makes sense.

[shasta]

Yes , but in the spanish game the ball was being played into the 18 yard box almost continuously

Spain had 24 shots on goal, Switzerland had about 2 & scored off 1

[root]

Hoping for big things again from Lahm (got 26 points from him in the first round). Strange for a POM to be picking Germans . Maybe this is their time, would be a first for Germany to win it.

Dumped Lloris 5 points out of the Goalie didn't seem right. Rooney and Gerard will have to pull their weight his round.