The new Fantasy Football season is upon us and many have already began assembly of their squads.
For most, this part is the peak of the fantasy football season as most just build a team for the craic and then totally forget about it for the rest of the season, but the hardcore players will be doing their homework in the desperate search for a positive start.
Whether you are a casual or serious player, it's always nice to try and get a token Irish player in there, so with that in mind we've picked out every Irish player available and rated them ahead of the new season.
There are 15 Irish players currently in the database (although we hope to see Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick added before the end of September), so here are the rankings:
#15 - Shay Given - GK - Stoke - 4.5m
Shay is arguably third choice goalkeeper at Stoke should Jack Butland go down injured, so at 4.5m he's not even worth a sentimental place on the bench as you could save 0.5m by opting for a cheaper keeper that never plays.
#14 - Darron Gibson - MID - Everton - 4.5m
Under Roberto Martinez, Gibbo never got a look in and sadly we don't expect that to change anytime soon. At 4.5m he is cheap as midfielders come but there are Irish midfielders who have a chance of playing for that price.
#13 - Darren Randolph - GK - West Ham - 4.5m
This could become a bargain if Adrian were to get injured or suspended like he did at the start of last season, but you need two goalkeepers who play every week in fantasy football and sadly Daz isn't one of them.
#12 - Eunan O'Kane - MID - Bournemouth - 4.5m
O'Kane did well when given chances last season but is still outside of the starting picture going into the new season. Not worth the risk in fantasy.
#11 - Glenn Whelan - MID - Stoke - 4.5m
Few players in the Premier League play as many minutes of football with such little results in terms of fantasy points as Glenn Whelan. That's not his job. He's the engine room and his game does not translate well to the fantasy realm. Yellows every other week too.
#10 - James McCarthy - MID - Everton - 5.0m
We're not sure what sort of system Ronald Koeman will adpot at Goodison Park, but we're not expecting McCarthy's game to evolve into that of an attacking threat. Like Glenn above, the bookings make him a non-entity.
#9 - David Meyler - MID - Hull - 4.5m
Cork native David Meyler could be an interesting option this year. Steve Bruce has left with just three weeks until the season kicks off and with no big signings brought in, that's good news for Meyler who may see more playing time, but he's not going to get you consistent points. No midfielder for 4.5m is, so if that's what you need you're in trouble.
#8 - John O'Shea - DEF - Sunderland - 4.5m
Under Big Sam it was clear that Sheasy was no longer a starter, but a new manager may fancy the Waterford man to get back into the team.
#7 - Marc Wilson - DEF - Stoke - 4.0m
A very cheap option, and certainly worth keeping an eye on whether or not he gets a chance to start for Stoke at any stage as he did lose his place last year. As cheap as it gets for that last bench slot.
#6 - James McClean - MID - West Brom - 5.0m
He'll start most games and chip in with a few assists, but McClean's love of a feisty challenge defintely hurt his ranking. 5.0m still a reasonable price. We'll never forget his impact on the fantasy football scene in his first six months at Sunderland.
#5 - Jon Walters - MID - Stoke - 6.0m
The most interesting aspect of Walters is that he is listed as a midfielder. If he continues to see a lot of minutes under Mark Hughes he could be an option as he will still be taking penalties and going on runs of good form.
#4 - Harry Arter - MID - Bournemouth - 5.0m
If he can get over his injury troubles he could be a serious option at that price. When he played for Bournemouth last season he rarely failed to impress, and MOTM bonuses are something to keep in mind as when he plays well, he plays really well.
#3 - Damien Delaney - DEF - Crystal Palace - 5.0m
A good defender in a team that had long spells of good defensive form last season, Delaney is just a good shout at that price.
#2 - Seamus Coleman - DEF - Everton - 5.5m
5.5m seems a very reasonable price for a player who traditionally a big scorer in fantasy. Last season was Coleman's poorest in a while, but under a new manager he may bounce back and prove a steal for 5.5m.
#1 - Shane Long - ATT - Southampton - 6.5
You knew he was going to be #1 before you came here, and it's because last year Shane Long emerged as a genuine fantasy shout. 6.5m is very fair, and having just signed a new 4-year deal, Shane Long will hopefully pick up where he left off last season.
