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Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Season 2024/25 – Pre-Season

It’s the 2024/25 Fantasy Premier League season, and a fresh set of changes brings renewed excitement to the way we play FPL. For veterans and newcomers alike, an understanding of these changes is important for an effective planning strategy.

In this post, we dig a little deeper into these updates and what they mean, offering you insights on how to make the most out of the new FPL season. Ready? Let’s go!

1. Saving Up to Five Free Transfers

One significant change for the 2024-25 FPL season is the ability to save up to five free transfers, a significant increase from the previous limit of two. This new rule opens up strategic possibilities to plan ahead and exercise patience.

The Previous System

Under the old system, you could only bank two free transfers at any given time. Any additional free transfers earned would be lost if not used. This limitation often forced managers to make transfers they might not have needed, simply to avoid wasting a free transfer.

The New Rule

Now, with the ability to save up to five free transfers, you can afford to be more strategic with your moves. This change also affects how you will handle transfers with Wildcards and Free Hit chips. Previously, playing these chips would reset your saved transfers to zero. However, under the new system, you can play a Wildcard or Free Hit and retain your saved transfers, up to a maximum of five.

Strategic Implications

This change significantly alters the landscape of FPL strategy:

• Enhanced Flexibility: You can now build your squad with a longer-term vision. If you’re satisfied with your team, you can hold onto your transfers and use them when needed, rather than making incremental changes.
• Chip Strategy: The interaction between saved transfers and chips adds a new layer of depth. For example, you could save transfers leading up to a Wildcard, allowing for a substantial squad overhaul both during and after the chip is played. This provides greater flexibility in navigating double gameweeks or fixture swings.
• Patience Rewarded: This system rewards patient managers who can resist the urge to make unnecessary changes. By banking transfers, you position yourself to make impactful moves when they matter most. potentially decreasing the urge to take hits (-4) as well.

Potential Challenges

While the ability to save five transfers is mostly positive, it’s not without its challenges:

• Price Changes: You might miss out on early price rises or fall victim to price drops if you keep banking your transfers. Balancing the desire to save transfers with the need to maintain team value will be crucial.
• Decision Paralysis: With more transfers at your disposal, decision-making could become more complex. Deciding when to use your saved transfers for maximum impact requires careful consideration.

Overall, the introduction of this new rule is a game-changer. It offers seasoned managers new ways to play, while also leveling the playing field for those who prefer a more cautious approach.

2. Introduction of the Mystery Chip

One of the most intriguing updates this season is the announcement of a new chip “Mystery Chip“. This new addition to the game is set to be revealed in January 2025. But here’s the kicker – we don’t know what this chip will do yet. The FPL team has kept the details a secret, promising to reveal its function just ahead of its release.

Announcement and Speculation

The introduction of the Mystery Chip has sparked widespread curiosity and speculation within the FPL community. According to the official announcement, the details of this chip will be disclosed ahead of January 2025.

Speculative Functions

While we can only guess at this stage, here are a few possibilities for what the Mystery Chip might do:

• Limitless Budget: This could allow you to create a team with no budget constraints for one gameweek.
• Double Points: This could grant double points for some players, for example, all defenders, or Capatin and Vice Captain in a single gameweek.
• Special Points: It might provide an extra set of points for certain actions, such as clean sheets or goals, potentially shaking up the usual scoring patterns.

While the delay in revealing the Mystery Chip’s details might be frustrating for some, it does add an element of excitement and anticipation to the season. However, the true test of its impact will only be clear once the specifics are known and we start to integrate it into our strategies.

3. User Interface (UI) Changes

This season, the Fantasy Premier League has introduced a new pitch design. If you participated in the FPL Challenge beta last year, you might find the new layout familiar.

Visually, the pitch design might seem a bit different from what we’re used to, which some might find less aesthetically pleasing. However, the trade-off is improved functionality.

If you find the new UI isn’t quite your cup of tea, don’t worry! There are other apps available to help you manage your team that you may find more pleasing. Off the top of my head, mmm, how about We Play FPL? 😉 Our app not only offers a clean and user-friendly interface but also provides tools to help you manage your team efficiently.

The visual changes have received mixed reactions from the FPL community. Some managers appreciate the more modern look and the enhanced functionality that comes with it, while others feel that the new design lacks the traditional charm, with the boxed areas around kits being a particular point of contention.

Ultimately, any UI change will have its lovers and haters. Over time, as managers become more accustomed to the new layout, initial criticisms are likely to fade. So embrace the new design, explore the enhanced player cards, and leverage this extra layer of information to refine your decisions.

4. Changes to Points and Bonus Point Systems

This season brings interesting changes to the points and bonus point system in FPL aimed at refining how players are rewarded for their performances on the pitch. Let’s break down the key updates:

Goalkeeper Goals

One of the standout changes is the increase in points for goalkeeper goals, from 6 to 10 points. While goalkeeper goals are rare, this change ensures that such a significant and unlikely event is rewarded appropriately.

Adjustments to the Bonus Point System (BPS)

Several modifications have been made to the BPS, which determines the allocation of bonus points after each match. Here are the key changes:

• Penalty Saves: Previously, a goalkeeper saving a penalty earned 15 BPS, often leading to an automatic awarding of maximum bonus points. This has now been reduced to 9 BPS, making it slightly harder for goalkeepers to dominate the bonus points just by saving a penalty.

• New BPS Actions:
  • Conceding Goals: Goalkeepers and defenders now lose 4 BPS for each goal conceded. This adjustment aims to more accurately reflect the defensive responsibility.
  • Goal-line Clearances: Players making a goal-line clearance will earn 3 BPS. This rewards critical defensive actions that prevent goals.
  • Fouls Won: Players will gain 1 BPS for each foul won, recognizing their contribution to creating advantageous situations for their team.
  • Shots on Target: Each shot on target will now be worth 2 BPS. This change acknowledges the value of attacking players who consistently test the opposition’s goalkeeper.

Impact on Player Selection and Strategy

These changes to the BPS and points system are likely to influence player selection and overall strategy:

• Goalkeepers and Defenders: The increased penalty for conceding goals and the reward for goal-line clearances will make managers more cautious about selecting defenders from teams with leaky defenses. However, it will also reward solid defensive teams more handsomely.
• Attacking Players: The addition of BPS for shots on target and fouls won will benefit attacking players who consistently pressure defenses and win free kicks, making them more attractive options.
• Overall Balance: These tweaks aim to create a more balanced and fair scoring system, ensuring that players are rewarded more accurately for their on-field contributions.

These changes are subtle but they reflect a thoughtful approach to making the scoring system more comprehensive and reflective of actual performance on the pitch. While these tweaks might not revolutionize player selection, they do reward a broader range of actions and could influence some of the finer points of your strategy.

5. Less Blank and Double Gameweeks

This season, the schedule for FA Cup ties has been adjusted, significantly impacting the number and size of blank and double gameweeks in the FPL calendar. Traditionally, FA Cup rounds have often clashed with Premier League fixtures, causing teams that progress far in the cup to have their league matches postponed. These postponed matches would then be rescheduled, leading to blank and double gameweeks. However, this season, the FA Cup will get its dedicated weekends, resulting in fewer and smaller blank and double gameweeks.

So what does this mean for your FPL strategy?

These changes necessitate a shift in how you approach the use of your chips and overall season strategy:

• Wildcard and Free Hit: In past seasons, blank and double gameweeks have been prime opportunities to deploy the Wildcard and Free Hit chips to maximize points. With fewer of these opportunities, you may need to rethink the timing and use of these chips. There may be less emphasis on saving these chips for large double gameweeks and more focus on using them to navigate fixture swings or injury crises.
• Transfer Strategy: The ability to save up to five free transfers becomes even more valuable in this context. You can bank transfers to navigate smaller blank and double gameweeks more effectively without needing to rely heavily on chips.
• Team Rotation: With fewer disruptions, you can focus more on the overall balance and strength of your squad rather than constantly preparing for and reacting to blank and double gameweeks. This more stable schedule should allow for a smoother management experience.

The adjustments to the blank and double gameweeks represent a significant shift in how the FPL season will unfold. While it might reduce some of the headaches associated with these gameweeks, it also opens up new strategic considerations. You will need to adapt and rethink your approach to maximize your team’s performance throughout the season.

Conclusion

The 2024-25 FPL season is shaping up to be an exciting one, filled with changes that will keep even the most experienced managers on their toes. From the game-changing ability to save up to five free transfers to the mysterious new chip, there’s plenty to look forward to.

As you navigate these new features, remember that the right tools can make all the difference. The We Play FPL app is your ultimate companion, offering tools, and transfer planning features to help you stay ahead of the game. Download the app today and take your FPL management to the next level.

May your arrows be green, and your captaincy choices be spot on. Until next time, happy managing!