Sick of the water cooler chat over Wayne Rooney being back to his ‘best?’ at Everton? Is eight Irish players on a team really a winning strategy? Then Paddy Power’s Fantasy Premier League is just for you.
Paddy’s picked his FPL team – and he’s challenging you to beat it – and be in with with a chance of winning a mystery prize by winning the competition outright.
And not only can you enter his League – Paddy Power vs the World – you can back yourself to win the competition (Max bet £/€20).
That’s because we’re pricing up who will win the overall FPL game – with Paddy the early short-price fav (1/3). Huzzah!
Here’s his team.
Think you can do better and willing to put your money where you mouth is? Join Paddy’s league, with the code 1032981-248363, and tweet @PaddyPower to request your team is added to the betting.
Ideally with a screenshot of your XI, so our traders can have a decent stab at pricing up your chances – and a good laugh at your team.
Paddy explains his line-up. You may want to look away now ..
GOALKEEPERS
Thibaut Courtois (£5.5m) and Rob Elliott (£4m)
The champion shot-stopper and a champion back up. Perfect.
I’m not even sure if Elliott is the Irish number one but, at £4m, he’s in my team.
I just hope I don’t have to use him.
DEFENDERS
Shane Duffy (£.5m), Ciaran Clark (£4.5m), David Luiz (£6m), Hector Bellerin (£6m), Antonio Valencia (£6.5m).
I haven’t got time to explain every choice individually – the social media crew said this would only take five minutes, an hour ago – so let’s just put it this way: a couple of Irish lads, and then some real choices.
Just wait till Seamus Coleman returns from injury, though. Best of both worlds…
MIDFIELDERS
Harry Arter (£5m), Robbie Brady (£5.5m), JonWalters (£5.5m), James McClean (£5m), James McCarthy (£5m)
I think these selections are pretty self explanatory. Some English numpty in marketing assumes that my football knowledge only extends as far as the BIG. He’s not wrong.
FORWARDS
Shane Long (£6m), Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m), Harry Kane (£12.5m)
And this is how I win it. After packing my team full of sturdy, reliable but unspectacular grafters, I can now afford last season’s two top goalscorers.
Genius. 1/3 looking like real value now.