The dataZED Fantasy Premier League

How can you:

• Improve your data skills?
• Support a good cause?
• Whilst watching the football?

If that sounds attractive, then read on about the return of Fantasy Premier League?and the?Datazed Associates?mini league.

This season, I want to focus on the?#data?side of the competition and will be asking our team managers to share how they are using?#dataanalytics?to help them find those extra points.

And to tie in with the focus on data, we're going to be supporting?D.A.T.A.?(Data and Tech Aid) who are mobilising the data & analytics and technology communities to unite in supporting social and humanitarian causes, by asking for a small ￡5 (or local equivalent) donation to take part.

Register at https://forms.gle/vLKWjHkpLgUsFRPRA

To help you with your team, I'll be sharing insights from our entrants, and we kick off with last year's runner-up, Ben Dugdale , a Data and Analytics recruiter at KDR Talent Solutions

Q: Do you operate with a long-term strategy for the season, or do you take it on a week by week basis?

A: Well, my approach tends to straddle both. I look at the next 5-6 games and tailor my team around the upcoming fixtures. A crucial part of my strategy is to have a strong bench that can be rotated based on the difficulty of fixtures, and, of course, to cover for any unexpected injuries. I usually aim to deploy my first wildcard after around 5-6 fixture weeks or whenever I need to revamp my squad for the next batch of fixtures.

Q: As the new season approaches, what are the key attributes you seek in your initial team?

A: The first rule of thumb for me is to pick a team of proven starters. I try to balance my team with a couple of big hitters worth 12 million or more, a few valued at around 8 million, and a mix of good value starters priced between 4.5 and 6 million. Regarding the new shiny signings, I prefer a more cautious approach. I generally wait for a few games to pass before deciding whether they've adapted well to their new teams. While the fixtures certainly play a pivotal role in my player selection, I don't put much weight on pre-season performance.

Q: What are the primary metrics or statistics you prioritise when deciding on your team?

A: The key stats I keep an eye on are Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA). These predictive metrics offer me an insightful perspective on which players I should be considering for transfers.

Q: Do you follow any specific FPL experts or websites?

A: Yes, I do! I find YouTube to be an invaluable resource throughout the season. Among the various content creators, FPL Focal is the one I tend to listen to most.

Q: Being a data and analytics recruiter, have you gleaned any tips from your candidates?

A: Not as such, no. However, I do make it a point to follow Jamie C. 's FPL insights, which he regularly shares on LinkedIn. They're always thought-provoking and worth considering in my strategy.

Q: Lastly, is there anything else you believe would be of interest to our readers?

A: One thing that often gets overlooked is the importance of staying focused until the end of the season. I've certainly been guilty of letting my planning slide towards the latter stages. This period of the season is usually the most challenging, demanding astute planning and savvy transfers. With games coming thick and fast, along with a slew of double and blank game weeks, I believe it's prudent to save a substantial amount of your chips for this part of the season.

Now you've learned all that, go and register at https://forms.gle/vLKWjHkpLgUsFRPRA

Best wishes,

Charles