Maximising points while following rules

First, a shout out to all those still in contention for the August prize (A Fuji X 30 Camera!) One more week left! Good luck, and make those transfers count!

Weekly scores and maximising points

If you’re like me and have been trying to figure out how to see the points you’ve scored each round, well, here’s what you do. Through the Stadium Astro Fantasy - BPL Edition Facebook page, our friend in the community Rodriguez Kim has given instructions on how to see the points scored for each round, both for you AND for other teams.

Click on your team (or anyone else’s for that matter). On the top right corner of the graphic, click on View Player Stats.

On the next page, there’s an option on the top left which reads Points Per Round. Click that, and you can then see points for each round. It’s a bit cumbersome I know, but it’s better than nothing.

Do note, since you can move your players around during the match weekend, as per the rules, it seems like its best that you make sure your bench all can play to maximise points by subbing them in during the weekend matches (before the matches those players play in of course). Also, rather than do your transfers during the week, you should do it during the weekend, again to maximise your points. (Apologies to Kerm for my error in a previous reply to his comment).

Confusing? To illustrate, let's take a look at the current number one player's team after the first 3 weeks, True Champs. This is going to get a bit technical but bear with me.

Using the same steps written above, let's check out his team week by week. 

Let's start with week one. Click on Game Week 1 to see his full team.

Week 1 team

Count how many players he has (including the manager) for week one. He has 16 (which is the 11 starters, 4 bench and 1 manager). Total the points up manually and you'll see that his total of 16 players all tallies up to his game total, i.e. 56 points. Why 16 instead of 12 (11 players + Manager) for points counted? It's because he's substituting in his bench to make sure everyone plays. Everyone is contributing points.

Now check out week 2.

Week 2 (includes Wijnaldum)

How many players (incl. manager) does he have? He has 18 now (I can't capture it all in the screenshot), and if you total it up you get his week's points, 59.  Where did the two extra players come from? From his transfers, that's where, and this can only happen if it's done during the weekend.

Here's week 3:

Week 3 (includes Payet and Wijnaldum)

So he now has 19 players (incl. manager) scoring points for him to equal 74 points. So he managed to get his initial 16 all playing for him, PLUS 3 (two regular transfers + 1 bonus code transfer) more players.

This is his team as it stands:

Try this out with a few of the other teams at the top and I'm sure you'll find the same trend. I'll be exercising this strategy this weekend myself, and you should too. True Champs is currently at the top because he understands the rules, and makes it happen. It does mean we have to be active during the weekend though! As long as you plan properly, we should have 19 players (incl. manager) scoring points for us on a weekly basis.

Thus, the system differs from games like the Official Fantasy Premier League game and Yahoo. However, I have seen a similar system in other games I play like Fantrax.

Thanks again to Rodriguez Kim, whose insight on how to see weekly scores paved the way for me to come up with this analysis.

Also, the captaincy points are indicated in the weekly scores. You won't see them on the main team page.

Note: If I'm wrong in an of my rules interpretation, I should know after this weekend. :p

Quick note on the transfer window

By this time next week, the transfer window will have closed and there’ll be plenty of new variables to consider, not just new players to buy but possibly how we look at a team’s assets might change BECAUSE a player has been brought in, for example, the arrival of a proper holding midfielder frees up the rest to attack better. Take Stoke for example, and imagine how much better Diouf's returns could be when he has Afellay, Shaqiri and a fit Bojan behind him.

By the way, Pedro has been added into the database. Help yourselves.

Incidentally, I’m not sure whether there'll be any changes to the Euro Scout options once the transfer window closes, but I’ll look out for it and let you good folks know.

Friday evening, we look at Week 4, before the International break and the end of the transfer window!