Fantasy Football as a Way of Analysis, Vol. 1

Posted by Kevin Breathnach on November 24, 2009 | No Comments

It’s a cliché to say that the stuff of champions is the ability to win when not playing particularly well. But nevertheless, I think there’s a degree of truth in it.

For years, Manchester United have got through the first half of the season with little in the way of flair, but enough points to be within reach come Christmas, at which point they turn on the style at last, winning countless games in a row, and with more clean sheets than you see hanging in the back gardens of Cleaner Close.

I took a look at the Fantasy Football statistics today, intending to put a spring in the step of my increasingly limp looking team. United are playing bottom-of-the-league Portsmouth next week, and so I kept an eye out for any of United’s shining stars who might excel come next Saturday. And here’s the telling fact: of the outstanding players of this Fantasy Football season, Wayne Rooney is the only one who plays for United.

United currently sit in second place, five points behind Chelsea: ready to pounce, in my opinion. I’d put money on them going the distance again this year. And they’ve done all this without recourse to any great individual effort. Ryan Giggs is, for example, their best midfielder this season, but only the fifteenth best in the league, as far as the statistics are concerned. I mean, come on! Ryan Giggs, their best midfielder. This, the man who, on 51 points so far, has nearly as many years as he has points.

Perhaps this is foolish. Perhaps there is no wisdom to be chiselled from the cold marble of the Fantasy Football statistics. Be that as it may, I’ll be popping over to this corner of the internet every so often, chisel in hand, to carve out the contours of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker. If we haven’t had any wisdom by then, I’m sure he’ll have some to offer.

Remember to join Football Corner’s Fantasy League. Prizes to be won. And, at the very least, take pleasure in your certain triumph over yours truly. Here’s the code, suckas: 188499-49548

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