PLFantasy

Two trains are set to depart at the same time for your given destination. One will take 90 minutes and cost $20 (apologies to UK readers but my keyboard doesn’t have a pound sign), the other will take just an hour but cost $70. In most cases you would opt for the cheaper train, right? The other is faster, but not sufficiently so as to justify the extra cost. Why then, do we often still talk about fantasy points in terms of absolute points earned? Every point you earn comes at cost, namely the opportunity cost of using your limited resources to strengthen other areas of your team. Getting this balance right is the name of the game, and it’s where we’ll start our look back at the 2011-12 season. Note that in some cases, continuing the analogy, you would want to take the faster train. Perhaps there is a vital metting you need to attend or you are a millionaire and thus $50 is immaterial to you. The same goes for the fantasy world. You may wish to ‘overpay’ for a certain player given hi...

Here we go again. Enjoy your last few stress-free Friday evenings, fill your mind with philosophical musings about the meaning of life and soak up those precious sun rays while you still can (that one might not apply to readers in Manchester), for we all know those freedoms will end in just a mere matter of weeks. The annual release of the pl.com player price list marks the start of the footballing season for me, and that landmark event is now in the rear view mirror for 2012 (By the way, how is this day  still   not  a public holiday? Honestly, wouldn't you have preferred a day to tinker with your team than watch Tom Jones and Suggs sing to the Queen?). It's also the first time in a couple of months that I've faced the reality of a Bolton-less Premier League, though   I'm sure most of you will get over that one quicker than me. Silver lining fans may well note that at least I will avoid the twinge of guilt when a small part of me is satisfied with a Van Persie ...