Transcript for anyone interested: - In 1966, Alf Ramsey's England side won the world cup with an innovative 4-4-2. The so called "wingless wonders" set a template that would dominate English football for decades to come. This change from playing four forwards to only two gave teams the midfield width needed to dominate games. - In the same year, retired economics teacher Bernie Donnelly came up with a concept he named “Donnelly Fantasy Football League". Whilst it bears little resemblance to what we play today, it's credited with being the first ever fantasy football game. - In 1971 the game launched, and at 3.12pm on Saturday 14th August, 1971, Kevin Keegan scored for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest, for the first ever points in fantasy football history. - In Donnelly's Fantasy Football only 5 of your 15 players could score points, and only goals scored points at all. - 20 years later Andrew Wainstein sets up Fantasy Football Ltd. This set the template for what we play now, points for goals, assists, clean sheets etc., and a 15 man squad- enough for your starting 11 plus one spare man in each position on the bench. - The game explodes in popularity. One year later Wainstein sets up a fantasy football game for the Daily Telegraph, a paper which had a circulation of over a million. - Meanwhile, during this formative period for fantasy football, 442's grip on English football has never been stronger, with a continental trend for 352 failing to make inroads in the UK. - This all changed with Jose Mourinho joining the Premier League in 2004. 433 was already starting to gain popularity in Spain, but Jose's Chelsea established it as the dominant formation in English football. - 433 broke fantasy football's rigid definitions of DEF/MID/FWD. Wide players exist in a state of ambiguity, neither being satisfyingly midfielders or forwards. The Makelele role underlined the issue with defensive midfielders, a whole class of player who could play excellently all season yet remain irrelevant to your team. - There's an argument that this has improved the game. Playing the Telegraph game in the 90's, the template was to go as big as possible on your strikers, then see what was left over for the remaining 12 men. Modern fantasy football has shifted towards high scoring midfielders, who also give you so many more options building a team, and a premium striker remains an option. - Trying to fit 21st century footballers into a 1990's template is really what's caused obscurity such as Aubameyang's reclassification. Last season he was reclassified as a midfielder, having played as a winger 21 times, and a striker 15 times. This season he's been changed back to a striker despite making 1 more appearance as a winger than he did as a striker. - If we compare Salah and Firmino, Salah actually has an average position further up the pitch, yet he's categorised as a midfielder, while Firmino as a forward. That isn't to say they should be positionally swapped, but it's an interesting point of reference in football's evolution. Fantasy positions are now a square peg in a round hole, but with a sytem contstructed from 40 years of history it's the best compromise. - Football's a very different game now, and Fantasy Football has done its best to keep up. Next time your team's having a bad gameweek, you can always blame Mourinho.
Interesting topic. I didn’t even know FF went that far back, I’ve only been playing for about 9 years. The 4-3-3 has definitely rendered the DM useless and the whole Salah/Friminio positioning debacle is also interesting, I’m surprised wingers count in the same position as DMs
I know how we fix this. Midfielder subclasses. You still get 5 midfielders and can have any number of the subclasses. However, CMs and CDMs get 3 points for a clean sheet, CAMs and wingers get no points for a clean sheet.
I think wingers should be classed as forwards, you'd still have the likes of Fernandes and De Bruyne to pick in midfield, and you aren't left with weak striker choices from the get go.
Thanks so much Affan. Yeah I can feel myself getting better at editing each video! I use Camtasia, although I’ve read there’s many better ones out there
@@FPLFocal Well if it isn't broke, don't fix it! With this kind of quality and creativity in your videos, I can honestly see you going very far on RUclips
@@AffanKhan-lv3ok Huge compliment, thank you. Making a very conscious effort to try and sprinkle in different content to the usual in this space. Not that there's anything wrong with the usual, it's just a very saturated space to be making content in imo!
1k subs by GW1, hit subscribe!
genius content mate!
@@aishahkhairuddin5110 Thanks so much 👊
@@FPLFocal most welcome!
Close to 47k subs after 17 GWs. Well deserved!!
#1 in The world and now at 50k since GW1 started, that’s insane man congrats
Love it!
Wow thanks so much Andy!
Woah Andy love your content
Transcript for anyone interested:
- In 1966, Alf Ramsey's England side won the world cup with an innovative 4-4-2. The so called "wingless wonders" set a template that would dominate English football for decades to come. This change from playing four forwards to only two gave teams the midfield width needed to dominate games.
- In the same year, retired economics teacher Bernie Donnelly came up with a concept he named “Donnelly Fantasy Football League". Whilst it bears little resemblance to what we play today, it's credited with being the first ever fantasy football game.
- In 1971 the game launched, and at 3.12pm on Saturday 14th August, 1971, Kevin Keegan scored for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest, for the first ever points in fantasy football history.
- In Donnelly's Fantasy Football only 5 of your 15 players could score points, and only goals scored points at all.
- 20 years later Andrew Wainstein sets up Fantasy Football Ltd. This set the template for what we play now, points for goals, assists, clean sheets etc., and a 15 man squad- enough for your starting 11 plus one spare man in each position on the bench.
- The game explodes in popularity. One year later Wainstein sets up a fantasy football game for the Daily Telegraph, a paper which had a circulation of over a million.
- Meanwhile, during this formative period for fantasy football, 442's grip on English football has never been stronger, with a continental trend for 352 failing to make inroads in the UK.
- This all changed with Jose Mourinho joining the Premier League in 2004. 433 was already starting to gain popularity in Spain, but Jose's Chelsea established it as the dominant formation in English football.
- 433 broke fantasy football's rigid definitions of DEF/MID/FWD. Wide players exist in a state of ambiguity, neither being satisfyingly midfielders or forwards. The Makelele role underlined the issue with defensive midfielders, a whole class of player who could play excellently all season yet remain irrelevant to your team.
- There's an argument that this has improved the game. Playing the Telegraph game in the 90's, the template was to go as big as possible on your strikers, then see what was left over for the remaining 12 men. Modern fantasy football has shifted towards high scoring midfielders, who also give you so many more options building a team, and a premium striker remains an option.
- Trying to fit 21st century footballers into a 1990's template is really what's caused obscurity such as Aubameyang's reclassification. Last season he was reclassified as a midfielder, having played as a winger 21 times, and a striker 15 times. This season he's been changed back to a striker despite making 1 more appearance as a winger than he did as a striker.
- If we compare Salah and Firmino, Salah actually has an average position further up the pitch, yet he's categorised as a midfielder, while Firmino as a forward. That isn't to say they should be positionally swapped, but it's an interesting point of reference in football's evolution. Fantasy positions are now a square peg in a round hole, but with a sytem contstructed from 40 years of history it's the best compromise.
- Football's a very different game now, and Fantasy Football has done its best to keep up. Next time your team's having a bad gameweek, you can always blame Mourinho.
From memory the Telegraph fantasy league was only 11 players?
Very very unique content. Hoping you no longer remain underrated after a month💪👊
Thanks Prakhar 👊
This aged extremely well
Interesting topic. I didn’t even know FF went that far back, I’ve only been playing for about 9 years. The 4-3-3 has definitely rendered the DM useless and the whole Salah/Friminio positioning debacle is also interesting, I’m surprised wingers count in the same position as DMs
I know how we fix this. Midfielder subclasses. You still get 5 midfielders and can have any number of the subclasses. However, CMs and CDMs get 3 points for a clean sheet, CAMs and wingers get no points for a clean sheet.
Thats a very good idea that wold make kante or rodri a great option
Would be hard to differentiate cms and cams but
Then do the CAMs and wingers get more points for goals scored
@@shamecracker no, it would be the opposite. Since defenders get 6 for a goal, CDMs could get the same. However, it's better they both stay on 5
One of the best FPL youtubers, yet so underated, keep us this amazing and creative content!
Can't believe I missed this video somehow. Very interesting, one of your best!
Your content rocks mate, super interesting and really well put together
Thanks mate, appreciate that
I think wingers should be classed as forwards, you'd still have the likes of Fernandes and De Bruyne to pick in midfield, and you aren't left with weak striker choices from the get go.
But that would mean no one would go for wingers and would only go for centre forwards
@@mozzimozzi10 not necessarily look at Salah's numbers. He would still be an FPL asset as a forward.
Very nice editing!
i can see them adding more specific positions (like Wingers, DMs, full backs) and adding new ways to score points
Brilliant content an respect for the shout out to Adam..
Thanks Macca 👊
nice content man. Been watching more of ur videos recently.Hope to watch more, they really are interesting.
Thanks mate 🙂
Man the graphics and transitions on this are immense.
Thanks mate! Appreciate the watch
Beautifully crafted video.. Great job focal💯
Thank you Ian 🙂
Love these unique videos!
Thanks, taking full advantage of the time off from FPL to produce more original content! Really enjoyed editing this one.
It use to cost a lot of money for my parents (for I was still in school) to ring a premium line and dial in your team
brilliant video idea, love it👏🏻
Ive subsribed it mate, and wont change my mind. Keep it up!
Thanks mate 👊
Great stuff!
Top video, and the editing is getting better every video, what editor are you using?
Thanks so much Affan. Yeah I can feel myself getting better at editing each video! I use Camtasia, although I’ve read there’s many better ones out there
@@FPLFocal Well if it isn't broke, don't fix it! With this kind of quality and creativity in your videos, I can honestly see you going very far on RUclips
@@AffanKhan-lv3ok Huge compliment, thank you. Making a very conscious effort to try and sprinkle in different content to the usual in this space. Not that there's anything wrong with the usual, it's just a very saturated space to be making content in imo!
Amazing content
1k SUBS COMING SOON 💪🏻💪🏻
Amusing facts🤩
Smashed it again mate, keep the vids coming!
Cheers Farl 👊
Who's here in 2022?
DM's should be defenders...
😁👍💪👊🍻