Best Formation

[fantasyfaz]

what formation do people think is the best ?

Trying to pick the best 11 and having base players that play to fill the gaps.

What wins it for you and do you Pick your team round you Defence / midfield or attack ?

Finding it really hard this year with the uncertainty of decent strikers and lots of decent midfielders. I normally pick a strong 3 strikers but got hammered last season with the cheap Vardy, Ighalo going mad.

so all in not sure what is the best formation

[cesc408]

343. Tinkered with different formations over the last 30mins but struggling to beat what I already have

[fantasyfaz]

343. Tinkered with different formations over the last 30mins but struggling to beat what I already have

which 3 strikers you got as I am struggling up top ?

[Carlos Kickaball]

4-2-3-1 is good, because it gives you an extra man in the centre of the park vs a 4-4-2.

[cesc408]

Currently Aguero and Lukaku. 3rd is up for grabs with 6.5 free. If Benteke moves he would be my choice at 7.5 meaning downgrading elsewhere.

For me Aguero is a must when fit, Hoping Lukaku does well (9.0) Don't think I can stretch him to Kane (11.0) + would like to see how he does. Not interested in Zlatan.

I am tempted to look no further then 3 game weeks, when there is then an international break and I can wildcard, gives a shot start to see who looks decent.

[Beerfuelledman]

Ah, the J-Lo, the Dolly or the Anne Widdecombe...
We haven't enjoyed this debate in a while....

[Mav3rick]

Must need some updated names!

[SFC_Fan]

I've always liked 352 as there's always loads of midfield talent. The problem is getting a 4.5m striker who plays.

Having so many 2 point 4.5m midfielders makes it so much easier to go 343.

[bulgarche]

5 - 2 - 3 with 5 premium defenders, 1 premium midfielder and 3 premium strikers. The best strategy!

[fantasyfaz]

5 - 2 - 3 with 5 premium defenders, 1 premium midfielder and 3 premium strikers. The best strategy!

Do premium defenders really score than many points to cheap ones ? I think I'm spoilt for choice in midfield so thinking of playing with 5 top midfielders and then working round it.

[Weisenwolf]

I've always liked 352 as there's always loads of midfield talent. The problem is getting a 4.5m striker who plays.

Having so many 2 point 4.5m midfielders makes it so much easier to go 343.

Barnes at Burnley?

[Weisenwolf]

I'm going 442

[Notned]

3-4-3 all the way.

Bought in a better 5th mid towards the second half of last season once I had a bit of value built up and tinkered with the formation a bit week to week, but the above is how I always set up to begin with.

Aguero/Lukaku/6.5 up top. The 6.5 could be any one of Wilson/Long/Tadic/Rondon/Berahino.

Benteke would throw a spanner in the works, either as my third striker with downgrades elsewhere, or as my second with a stacked midfield.

[MPTree]

I don't know that it's hugely clear cut. If Baines is back on pens, for example, I'd fancy him to out-score, say, Townsend at 1m more, which could make a 4-3-3 something worth exploring. I'll definitely consider it, but haven't properly looked at my team yet.

[Mav3rick]

I don't know that it's hugely clear cut. If Baines is back on pens, for example, I'd fancy him to out-score, say, Townsend at 1m more, which could make a 4-3-3 something worth exploring. I'll definitely consider it, but haven't properly looked at my team yet.

Yes, myself and asm_fanz had similar thoughts and were looking at that exact reasoning yesterday. In a player-to-player comparison, I think your second choice premium defender (because you'd have the first choice in most cases anyway) looks good compared to a 5.5-6.5 mid, the problem comes in balancing the 4th midfield spot - there's so little flexibility for cheap over performing mids and, in my drafts at least, I end up with a dead spot in midfield.

[Gambit]

another vote for 3-4-3,

I do really like 3-5-2 because of the abundance of quality options in midfield but that 3rd striker can be an issue.

[Beerfuelledman]

I would prefer a 352, and went that way last year - but a 4.5m striker is hard to find this year. Conversely a 4.5m MF is relatively easy. So it'll be 343 for me to start with. That may allow for a 4.0m Def who will be a perma 3rd sub... we'll see.

[Cliffard]

Only planning for about 3 gws, will then WC probably. Do games tend to have more goals at the start of the season?

[payetme]

3-4-3 will always reign supreme , I remember last season I tried to tinker with 5 mids and it didn't work well for my squad.

Although, this year there is a plenty of great midfielders and not a lot of great reliable strikers are a god price. 2 standout strikers in Aguero and Zlatan are very expensive.

[00tennis]

3-4-3

[Beerfuelledman]

I hear people poo-poo the points per million debate; citing its points that are important not points per million - but ultimately, isnt what we are after the most amount of points for our 100m? therefore points per million does matter at least to a degree...

Looking at the current prices, and what the players scored over the year last year as a guide,

Last year the top 5 scoring defenders were : -
Bellerín £6.5 172
Alderweireld £6.5 166
Koscielny£6.0 153
Monreal£6.0 152
Fuchs £5.5 150
Thats an average score of 159pts or - 793/30.5 = 26pts per million.

Last year the top 5 scoring Midfielders were : -
Mahrez £9.5 240
Özil £9.5 200
Eriksen £8.5 178
Ayew £7.5 171
Payet £9.5 171
Thats an average score of 192pts or - 960/44.5 = 21.57pts per million.

Last year the top 5 scoring Strikers were : -
Vardy £10.0 211
Kane £11.0 211
Lukaku £9.0 185
Agüero £13.0 184
Ighalo £7.5 175
Thats an average score of 193pts or - 966/50.5 = 19.13pts per million.

So.... my calculations tell me :-
* defenders offer the best points per million - yet we scrimp on 3 of them and include a 4m player who isnt even playing
* we load up on strikers allocating them all 3 berths at an extra 2/3 million a head for the same points return as a good midfielder...

I'd be tempted to go 451 if base price strikers werent so hard to find. Im on 352 atm...

[MOBIUS]

For the first time Im going 433
My thinking is that its easier to find nailed on defenders at a budget / mid-price range than midfielders. Once value budget mids are revealed, I might change. I think that there are plenty of underpriced defenders this season, so intend to capitalise

[Mav3rick]

but ultimately, isnt what we are after the most amount of points for our 100m? therefore points per million does matter at least to a degree...

It does matter, but the other side of the debate is that cheaper defenders also score more PPM than cheaper mids/strikers, so you can still get a similar number of points from the better cheaper defenders. You also captain the expensive players so their points tallies tend to be doubled.

Ultimately, if 5 defenders (or even 4) were optimal then the top 10k would be full of inexperienced but lucky players who happened to pick the right defenders. For the most recent available data (2014/15) 85% of top 10k teams played a 3 man defence in each GW.

I am quite tempted by Bellerin though. If I could fit him in with a decent cheap 4th mid and play 4-3-3 I think I would. The trouble is the dead spot in midfield (where you'd really like to rotate options) and the fact that the 4.5 mids are (usually) a lot less effective than a 4.5 defender.

[gallus]

I hear people poo-poo the points per million debate; citing its points that are important not points per million - but ultimately, isnt what we are after the most amount of points for our 100m? therefore points per million does matter at least to a degree...

Looking at the current prices, and what the players scored over the year last year as a guide,

Last year the top 5 scoring defenders were : -
Bellerín £6.5 172
Alderweireld £6.5 166
Koscielny£6.0 153
Monreal£6.0 152
Fuchs £5.5 150
Thats an average score of 159pts or - 793/30.5 = 26pts per million.

Last year the top 5 scoring Midfielders were : -
Mahrez £9.5 240
Özil £9.5 200
Eriksen £8.5 178
Ayew £7.5 171
Payet £9.5 171
Thats an average score of 192pts or - 960/44.5 = 21.57pts per million.

Last year the top 5 scoring Strikers were : -
Vardy £10.0 211
Kane £11.0 211
Lukaku £9.0 185
Agüero £13.0 184
Ighalo £7.5 175
Thats an average score of 193pts or - 966/50.5 = 19.13pts per million.

So.... my calculations tell me :-
* defenders offer the best points per million - yet we scrimp on 3 of them and include a 4m player who isnt even playing
* we load up on strikers allocating them all 3 berths at an extra 2/3 million a head for the same points return as a good midfielder...

I'd be tempted to go 451 if base price strikers werent so hard to find. Im on 352 atm...

these calculations are pointless. The fact is that 4.5 defenders benefit from rotation and 4.5 mids and strikers don't, so it makes sense to spend money on mids and strikers. You can easily match Monreal's 152 points with 2*4.5. Also, 3rd best striker outscored 3rd best mid.

[White Tiger]

I've played this game for absolutely yonks, & have always gone for 3-4-3, apart from the good old days when you could go 2-5-3. I'm too pig headed to pay any attention to stats that might prove another strategy has ever been better

[DanCaek]

I naturally tend to start 3-4-3, because I feel the pricing is set up for it. You don't have a useless base price striker, you have an occasionally useful base price mid, and then rotate 3x 4-4.5 defenders. This lets your cheapest players maintain a use in the squad, and it helps with depth to cover injuries and rotate efficiently.

[Beerfuelledman]

these calculations are pointless. The fact is that 4.5 defenders benefit from rotation and 4.5 mids and strikers don't, so it makes sense to spend money on mids and strikers. You can easily match Monreal's 152 points with 2*4.5. Also, 3rd best striker outscored 3rd best mid.

These calculations are pointless

The 3rd best striker outscored 3rd best mid

but at at a cost of £30m for 607pts for the three compared to £27.5m for 618pts with 3 x midfielders.

[Mav3rick]

You can easily match Monreal's 152 points with 2*4.5. Also, 3rd best striker outscored 3rd best mid.

"easily" match 152 is probably a bit optimistic, at least with 2x4.5 defenders. I had a look at some common rotations during the last pre-season (so looking at 2014/15 results) and the average rotation score was 125 points from favourable fixture pairs. Yes you can boost that with transfers, but I usually find that my precious transfers get spent elsewhere!

In terms of budget though, 2x4.5 has usually been better than 5.5+4.0 under normal conditions. If that 5.5 is someone like Baines though, and he's on pens, well that changes things as the difference is only 0.5.

I naturally tend to start 3-4-3, because I feel the pricing is set up for it. You don't have a useless base price striker, you have an occasionally useful base price mid, and then rotate 3x 4-4.5 defenders. This lets your cheapest players maintain a use in the squad, and it helps with depth to cover injuries and rotate efficiently.

Yes I think that's a good explanation as to why we probably all default to 3-4-3 - it just looks better, most likely because it uses the initial budget the most efficiently.

[DanCaek]

Perhaps lacks it's conviction without a 4.0 or two(or three) presenting themselves thus far, but this is often the case until late injuries/transfers/loans.

[Weisenwolf]

Historicall I've always gone 3-5-2 but I'm going 3-4-3 this season so I can have Kun and two cheaper but on form strikers.