So here we go, the final weekend of the Hive FPL season!
It's been another awesome year with our ever growing community and one in which the standard of FPL teams has, in my opinion, been at it's very highest.
This much is evidenced by the fact that we still don't know who will win the Classic League with @sperosamuel15 and @blockchainfpl seperated by just 3 points. This epic tussle is being undertaken by 2 sides who are currently ranked in the top 10k players worldwide.
When you consider that there are approximately 11 million FPL accounts out there at any one time, that puts them in the top 0.1% of teams on the planet - elite!
In fact, you'd need to be better than top 5% worldwide to get a sniff at our top 10 and win one of the big end of season prizes.
Classic League
So here we are after 297 days, 37 GWs, 370 matches, dozens of transfers, captain picks, starting XI conundrums and a handful of chips, it all comes down to this.
3 miserly points separate the top 2 sides. That's an assist! That's a speculative shot hitting your own teammate's backside and dropping kindly for the centre forward.
To be honest, I think @blockchainfpl have done well to take it this far. They were at a major disadvantage over recent weeks due to the chips that @sperosamuel15 have had available and while those boosts have ensured they maintain top spot, they've not been able to shake off their main challenger as yet.
In all sports, when you're in view of the winning line is where the men get separated from the boys.
I'm a big cricket fan and the best 'finishers' in limited overs cricket always talk about taking the game 'deep'. In other words even if you're behind in a chase, make sure you do enough to give yourself a chance, no matter how small, to pull something out of the bag at the death because pressure does funny things to people. BlockchainFPL have certainly taken it deep.
Ref's Team are having a great season but they find themselves up against a side that has pedigree in Fantasy Premier League, when we compare their historical records.
Ref's Team FPL History
@blockchainfpl have previously ranked as highly as 1,857th (14/15) and in the interim has consistently bettered the finishes of Ref's Team.
Will that have an impact on the final week of fixtures? Are we heading for Kevin Keegan moment from one of these managers?
As noted in last week's blog, Ref's Team continue to burn points via the extra transfer route. That's now 4 of the last 5 GWs in which they've lost 4 points.
By contrast, BlockchainFPL made no changes last week and as such have banked an additional free transfer. Could that be a defining factor?
Further down the league, and you can see @skanderh have made a major move following a 91 point GW in which they deployed their Bench Boost. It's catapulted them beyond both @mckane and @ipalibo while @borran also took advantage of FC McKane's horror GW to slip into 3rd.
With just 13 points separating those 4 teams, I doubt we've reached the final standings just yet and as we've indicated before, the difference in prizes between finishing 3rd and 5th is quite substantial!
As for the top 10 @uwabbs001 had a disappointing GW37 but none of the chasing pack were able to substantially close the gap. 29 points still separate 10th from 11th so it'll take a monumental shift in the final week for someone new to move into the prizes.
Division 1 H2H
While they battle for the Classic League, @blockchainfpl have now sealed victory in Division 1 of the H2H league.
GW37 Results
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skander | @skanderh | 91 | 59 | INEOS REVIVAL | @deniskj |
| Whyte FC | @Ipalibo | 52 | 79 | Vickoly FC | @vickoly |
| Hungry Lions | @gvkanten | 46 | 34 | Lazz | @martinlazizi |
| @BlockchainFPL H2H | @blockchainfpl | 57 | 23 | Simcard FC | @akomoajong |
| Solat FC | @reservedsingle | 52 | 64 | HallAnd Oats FC | @thoth442 |
| Likodra FC | @teofilex11 | 34 | 54 | YAGMAN FC | @yagman01 |
| Suffragette City | @talesfrmthecrypt | 43 | 25 | Creekside FC | @pappyelblanco |
| Shamzy F.C | @shamzy | 49 | 39 | Espressos | @aaalviarez |
| NONZ FC | @nonsowrites | 41 | 42 | Herbae | @herbae |
| Legion fc | @b0s | 56 | 36 | FC McKane | @mckane |
Much like the Classic league, they were looking potentially vulnerable to opposition sides who had saved some late season chips. However, that scenario didn't manifest itself as they hammered Simcard FC and saw their rivals FC McKane go down to Legion FC.
That win for @b0s also secured their status as a Division 1 side and means we enter the final week with 3 sides still scrapping to avoid relegation.
@martinlazizi has unfortunately suffered relegation but as we've stated before, it's best to keep playing for as many points and position in the league not only because of the weekly pay out but because as we saw last year, sometimes a couple of the bottom 5 clubs can stay up regardless.
@nonsowrites is in the enviable position of having things in their own hands. A point (and they do have 4 draws already this season) would be enough to keep them up regardless of what happens below.
They also have what on paper looks like a really easy fixture against bottom club @pappyelblanco who have won just 10 times all season and who look unlikely to breach even the 2000 point mark.
With 4 of Creekside's squad unavailable for GW38, if they don't make any changes to the squad (as they haven't in recent weeks) then Nonz FC really should beat them quite comfortably.
That's bad news then for @aaalviarez and @talesfrmthecrypt who know that their only chance of escaping the bottom 5 is for them to win and Nonz FC to lose. Espresso's would also need to overcome the 12 point difference in total score which is the defining factor if points are equal.
Division 2 H2H
It's a similar story in Division 2!
GW37 Results
| Team | Hive Account | Score | Score | Team | Hive Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARFANTASY FC | @arfa | 54 | 39 | Smiley Team | @carita-feliz |
| Barca | @muka-vybz | 59 | 57 | Yahuzah | @yahuzah |
| Emeka4 | @emeka4 | 51 | 31 | Chris Football Club | @hiveworld |
| ACX United | @pvmihalache | 46 | 33 | The Cella’s | @blanchy |
| Akatsuki | @seki1 | 19 | 55 | Hadji | @hadji |
| Hungry Lions | @gvkanten | 46 | 22 | ArgyeeChitthuFC | @agct1226 |
| Stevenson FC | @stevenson7 | 47 | 52 | Change Name | No Hive Account Linked |
| OG Squad | @graat | 43 | 26 | foloxfc | @thelonegreywolf |
| HIVE KILL STEEM | No Hive Account Linked | 28 | 36 | Coldone | @nasfyneboy92 |
| The Dream Team | @spidersilk | 24 | 53 | Formidable Milano | @damolexy |
| KELLYMAN FC | @justfavour | 36 | 34 | Hornstra XI | @elvis123 |
| Cygnus FC | @donjaun | 60 | 27 | The Beast | @iamchuks |
| The Urge | @kenzzi | 26 | 41 | RHYDA | @rhyda1 |
| SportsNerd | @saif-ul-wahab | 51 | 37 | rubilu | @rubilu |
| ALH | No Hive Account Linked | 54 | 19 | Wanderteam | @kelvinpeters |
| Change Name | No Hive Account Linked | 18 | 35 | samostically | @samostically |
| Tangram | @desro | 51 | 48 | Kane and Unable | @jmehta |
| Holozing.com | @acidyo | 23 | 54 | racibo | @racibo |
| Happyboys FC | @happyboy1 | 43 | 48 | Micheal Fc | @micheal87 |
| Ballgasms | @preshpresh | 46 | 33 | Kraken99 | @kraken99 |
| Outside of Time | No Hive Account Linked | 26 | 26 | Olawalium FC | @olawalium |
| Headies | @Headies | 25 | 37 | Jungle Boy | @george-dee |
| Trinex fc | @og-gamershub | 20 | 36 | Ifeyemi Fc | @valchiz |
| GunnersLoverFC | @nwt93 | 32 | 39 | Lame Ducks | No Hive Account Linked |
| Tilia | No Hive Account Linked | 30 | 59 | Ref's team | @sperosamuel15 |
| Dapomola fc | @dapomolaaaa | 41 | 13 | Monitox | No Hive Account Linked |
| Hiveheadz | @borran | 64 | 35 | Tricky Trees 2024 | @doombot75 |
| TGIF | @gentleshaid | 58 | 66 | Tengo Rangers FC | @tengolotodo |
| Mighty Fc | @twicejoy | 38 | 24 | 11 idiots | No Hive Account Linked |
| Newton Heath FC | @samirich | 60 | 48 | Mollina United | @femisapiens |
| Diistroyers | @diikaan | 31 | 38 | Holte Me Close | @stuartcturnbull |
Four teams are now guaranteed a top 5 spot so we'll take this opportunity as an early reminder to look out for the post(s) in late July when we launch for the 25/26 season to join the Division 1 H2H league. If you miss the boat, then all that hard work will have been in vain and you'll be back in Division 2.
That does mean that there's still 1 spot in Division 1 up for grabs and we have 3 teams fighting it out as we enter GW38.
Holte Me Close know that a win for them will guarantee them promotion and they go up against a team languishing in 47th place in the league and with a squad that still includes Kyle Walker! You'd have to say, it's theirs to lose!
Hive FPL Cup
It was a scrappy couple of matches in the semi-finals during GW37.
Simcard FPL's good fortune finally ran out as they crashed to defeat off the back of 29 point game week. In fact, only 1 of their XI managed over 2 points in GW37 (Mbeumo got an assist) otherwise they blanked 10 times which when you think of it is some acheivement!
Shamzy FC were hardly brilliant with their score of 49 points getting a boost from the AM chip. That they still have that in play could be the defining factor in the final.
There they will meet Uwabbs FC who snuck through against Jungle Boys in no small part thanks to Jamie Vardy's farewell goal at the King Power Stadium and Jungle Boy's decision to bench Milenkovic whose goal saw him record 8 points. Given that their defence and goal keeper contributed just 4 points between them that was ultimately an error that ended their final hopes.
@uwabbs001 v @shamzy
2 teams worthy of a spot in the final!
Shamzy FC were Division 1 champions last season and despite having a horror start to the 24/25 campaign have now worked their way back to 2nd in that league.
In fact, you have to go all the way back to GW30 for the last time they lost a head to head match in any of the Hive FPL comps. In that time their record is played 12, won 11, drawn 1. You might remember they did something similar last season to blow the competition out of the water on their way to a league triumph.
Uwabbs FC should be in Division 1 themselves this season but missed the opportunity to join that league and ultimately failed to join Division 2 either. However, they've made up for it with this run to the final and they look set to claim a top 10 spot in the Classic League and enjoy the larger end of season payout that entails.
As you can see above, there is really very little to choose between these 2 squads. However, Uwabbs FC are limited by injury and general lack of selection. Vardy and Timber are definitely out for GW38 while Disasi hasn't started for Villa since GW31.
Shamzy FC have both better availability and more options to reshape their side. By my calculations they come into the final week with 2 free transfers to use!
One of those might be used to switch up their Assistant Manager. Guardiola is not exactly a bad pick but then City's away form hasn't been the best all season. If Shamzy FC pick a manager whose team wins this round then it's difficult to see how Uwabbs can overcome that significant advantage.
Ultimately, it could require them to take a gamble with their transfers (they've burned 4 points in their last 3 GWs by making additional changes) and their captaincy picks which have mirrored Shamzy's for the last 2 weeks.
Who could those picks be?
Replacing Vardy is likely to be priority number 1 and Bournemouth's Evanilson could be a good shout to do just that as they take on a Foxes side that have conceded 2 or more goals in 11 of their last 13 away matches. They Brazilian has netted 10 times as well as adding 5 assists in 27 starts during his debut season, a more than decent return for a sub £6mil forward.
You get the feeling that if Ait-Nouri and Munoz are going to contribute points from the back then it'll be in an attacking sense as clean sheets for both Wolves and Palace are unlikely.
The one differential in midfield sees Kevin De Bruyne versus Elanga. The Forest man has provided an assist in 3 of his last 5 league games. While KDB has blanked in his last 2 EPL matches, it's not for lack of trying. He's recorded xGI of 1.07 and 1.18 in those games. Can one of the Premier League's all-time greats leave with a bang? If he does, it could be a major factor in deciding this head to head.
Shamzy would appear to have an edge upfront with Cunha available but the forward didn't start in GW37. It's almost certain that the temperamental but brilliant Brazilian will not be a Wolves next season. Will he get the chance to sign-off in style?
Final payouts for the league, cup and H2H will be made early next week!