#UCLFantasy Scout: make your picks
Friday, September 8, 2017
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A good start is vital, so make wise use of your unlimited picks now.
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1. Start with the irreplaceables
Always pick first the players you can't imagine your team doing without. In my case, three Real Madrid players fit that criteria. For starters, the indispensable Cristiano Ronaldo – my captain for quite a few seasons now. High-scoring, eager to play due to his domestic ban, and very expensive. Face up to that €12m price tag early: don't try to make multiple changes later in order to afford him. Dani Carvajal (DF, €6.0m) for his assists and Marco Asensio (MF, €7.5m) for his scoring prowess regardless of how much time he spends on the pitch complete my expensive-but-worth-it trio.
2. Go for form
Iker Casillas (GK, €5.5m) has yet to concede in the Portuguese Liga, and David de Gea (GK, €6.0m) has also started the season in fine form for club and country. They also play on alternate evenings – an important consideration when choosing goalkeepers, because you need a substitution option.
3. Goalscoring defenders
Defenders with an eye for goal are a huge plus. Identify set-piece takers like David Alaba (€6.5m) or attacking defenders like Marcos Alonso (€6.5m) and Monaco's Djibril Sidibé (€5,5m). There's always room for a gamble and I'm going for teenager Dan-Axel Zagadou; priced just €4.0m, he's already begun to shine at Dortmund.
4. Midfield of attackers
Avoid defensive midfielders; they don't earn many points and also get hit with yellow cards. Look for free-scoring attacking midfielders, players who could very well fit into the striker category, such as David Silva (€8.5m) or Christian Pulišić (€7.5m) as well as Asensio. Adrien Rabiot (€6.5m) could also be a good source of assists, given the attacking might of Paris Saint-Germain.
5. Check out the calendar
On matchday one, Monaco visit debutants Leipzig, while Benfica play host to CSKA Moskva. That is good enough reason for me to pick two of Stefan Jovetić (€7.5m), Haris Seferović (€5.5m) or Jonas (€7.5m) in my attack, behind Ronaldo. On the other hand, Barcelona host Juventus and Atlético face Roma in Italy, reason to stay away from players of these four sides. If someone really stands out on opening night, there's always that one transfer ahead of matchday two to use.