DREAM TEAM is up and running for the 2023/24 season!
If you haven’t yet selected an XI, what are you waiting for?
You can make as many changes as you like before Gameweek 1 gets underway so there’s no reason to delay in picking a team, even if it’s just a first draft.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!
This season’s edition features an improved scoring system, one that recognises individual performance in more detail than ever before.
Click here to get the full lowdown on 2023/24’s scoring system if you’re not already familiar.
A change in how points are distributed means even experienced Dream Team gaffers will need to think carefully about which players to select for the campaign ahead.
In hope of providing a helping hand, we’ve listed the ten defenders whose points tally would have increased the most last season had the new scoring system been implemented – we’ll cover all the positions before the action starts.
This should give you an idea of which individuals are likely to benefit from the new methodology.
HIGHEST POINTS INCREASES AMONG DREAM TEAM DEFENDERS
- Adam Smith (£2m) -10 points to 85 points
- Rico Henry (£2.5m) 61 pts to 149 pts
- Vladimir Coufal (£2.5m) 44 pts to 126 pts
- Marc Guehi (£2.5m) 63 pts to 141 pts
- Tyrick Mitchell (£2.5m) 53 pts to 130 pts
- Nelson Semedo (£2.5m) 43 pts to 120 pts
- Tyrell Malacia (£3m) 87 pts to 162 pts
- Joel Veltman (£2.5m) 61 pts to 134 pts
- Antonee Robinson (£2m) 53 pts to 125 pts
- Ezri Konsa (£2.5m) 52 pts to 124 pts
At first glance, Bournemouth’s Adam Smith may be an underwhelming name to top this list (no offence, Adam!) but the 32-year-old is actually the perfect man to highlight the fundamental change in how points will be earned this coming season.
In reality, the Cherries’ long-serving defender finished 2022/23 on minus ten points, a reflection of his club’s poor defensive record as a whole – Bournemouth conceded 71 league goals last term, only Southampton and Leeds leaked more.
However, our new scoring system would have rewarded him with 85 points – a modest score, granted, but one that reflects his individual efforts more accurately.
Smith featured in all but one of Bournemouth’s league fixtures last season (34 starts) and he ranked relatively highly for the metrics that will matter going forward (blocks, tackles, clearances, etc) among his team-mates.
Even if the new scoring system had been applied, Smith wouldn’t have been a smart selection but it’s worth noting the significant difference between relatively inactive players and those who are near ever-present for their team and actually contribute to how the games unfold.
Rico Henry is another defender possibly set to benefit from Dream Team’s new scoring system.
The Brentford faithful would probably agree that his individual performances were worthy of more than 61 points last season – only Mathias Jensen (£2.5m) made more tackles in the top flight for the Bees last season and the marauding left-back also ranked highly for chances created and dribbles.
Full-backs who offer plenty going forward have always thrived in Dream Team but gaffers would do well to note that individuals who noticeably impact their side’s fortunes in a positive manner will now receive just rewards even if they don’t end up with bucket-loads of goal contributions and clean sheets.
Could Selhurst Park be a haven of value-for-money points this season?
Tyrick Mitchell and Marc Guehi registered underwhelming points tallies of 53 and 63 respectively last term but again that was a reflection of the fact Crystal Palace mustered just nine clean sheets in the league.
Their respective revised totals of 130 and 141 paint a more accurate picture of their individual performances, which aligns with the pair’s deserved statuses as England internationals.
A quick look at the stats reveals that Guehi and Mitchell played the most minutes for the Eagles in 2022/23 – the latter ranked first for tackles won and blocks.
If you take nothing else away from this article when selecting your XI, make sure you’re fully aware that individual performance will be more of a factor in determining the success of defenders this coming season.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
