Writerings

Yes, it is that time of the year again already. The new FPL season is almost upon us and I’ve got all the tips and tricks to make the most of your Fantasy Parliament League team. Who are the must haves and who are the key differentials as you select your fantasy cabinet?

Now, everyone is picking Andy Burnham, he is hot right now. Hotter than Britain itself. But what are his fundamentals like? He hasn’t been seen in the game since the 2016/17 season where he delivered average returns, albeit for a poor Labour team. Also, the game was very different then. How will Burnham perform for defcon (defensive contributions under attack from the media) points, for example? My advice is to pick him, but maybe hold back on giving him the PM armband in the early weeks.

This season’s early dilemma is what to do about Nigel Farage? £5 million for an established right-winger seems like a good deal, but will the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority rule him ineligible at some point? All eyes will be on FPL Towers for this one. The other thing to consider is will Reform suffer from second-season-syndrome? Or will we all be kneejerking towards Robert Jenrick by GW3?

Now, if you don’t want to take the gamble on Farage, Kemi Badenoch is an interesting differential. She doesn’t always capitalise on opponents’ mistakes and is prone to an own goal, but as her team’s designated PMQs-taker, she has the opportunity for some decent returns. And frankly, if you’re going to pick a Tory, the rest of the party is slim pickings.

And what about Ed Davey? A perennial budget option, nothing flashy, but consistent in scoring points. Data from Hansard-Opta does show that he has a high  xG (expected gaffes), but as anyone who has played this game for long enough knows, underlying stats (like number of MPs to media coverage) don’t always translate to points.  

And here is some quick-fire advice:

Wes Streeting had a calamitous end to last season, missing games through his self-imposed suspension, but in his new role has the chance for more of those crucial defcon points.

Meanwhile, some big names to avoid include Rachel Reeves, David Lammy and Darren Jones all of whom have been placed on the transfer list. Anyone looking at the Greens for some budget options would do well to note that Carla Denyer is currently facing a spell on the sidelines for an unknown period of time. There is a new face leading the SNP ranks, as Dave Doogan takes over as their new LIW and could spring a surprise or two as an alternative to the meta.