Dream Team's new scoring system explained: More points for defensive midfielders and other improvements | The Sun

WHETHER this is your first season playing Dream Team’s fantasy game or you’re a veteran of 20 years, you should familiarise yourself with the scoring system for the 2023/24 campaign.

We’ve revolutionised how players earn points this season in hope of maximising transparency and satisfaction.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

Firstly, while Dream Team gaffers should take all elements of the scoring system into consideration when selecting their XI ahead of the new season, there’s no need to overcomplicate things if you're not keen on stats.

Primarily, you want your strikers and midfielders to get goals and assists, and you want your goalkeeper and defenders to keep clean sheets – that's the classic formula for a reason.

Here’s the full breakdown of how points are gained and lost:

All Players

  • Goal+5 points
  • Assist+2 points
  • Appearance (0-59 minutes)+1 point
  • Appearance (60+ minutes)+1 point
  • Shot on target+1 point
  • Big chance created+1 point
  • Successful tackles+1 point per two
  • Yellow card-1 point
  • Red card-3 points
  • Penalty miss-3 points
  • Own goal-2 points

Goalkeepers & Defenders Only

  • Clean sheet (minimum 60 minutes played)+5 points
  • Each goal conceded over one goal-1 point

Goalkeepers Only

  • Saves+1 point per two
  • Penalty save+3 points

This is mostly self explanatory but it’s worth expanding on a few aspects, particularly those unfamiliar to experienced Dream Team bosses.

Most read in Football

TRANSFER NEWS

Latest as Messi's move CONFIRMED, Xavi Simons set to LEAVE PSV, Kane updates

STAR’S AGONY

Football ace's mum & sister killed in horror car crash after title celebration

RED DEVILS LIVE

Rashford 'AGREES' new contract, Maguire EXCLUSIVE, Onana deal updates

OVER 'N OUT

Maguire 'angry and shocked' after captaincy axe as Chelsea eye stunning move

4
Bruno Fernandes created more big chances than any other Premier League player last seasonCredit: GETTY

As you can see, players will earn one point per shot on target, as defined by OPTA – it’s important to realise that a shot on target is different to a goal-bound shot that is blocked by a defender (registered as a blocked shot).

The average number of shots on target in a Premier League game last season was eight and of course these were generally spread out among several players from both sides.

In fact, only two top-flight players averaged 2+ shots on target per 90 minutes in 2022/23, Julio Enciso and Darwin Nunez.

Big chances created are defined by stats boffins OPTA as “a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one on one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter.” 

For perspective, Bruno Fernandes created the most big chances in the Premier League last term, 32 in 37 appearances.

Again, please note that a ‘big chance created’ is different to the more common ‘chance created’ – we’re only rewarding genuinely brilliant moments of creativity.

Defensive midfielders are long overdue proper recognition in the realm of Dream Team.

This season, their diligent work will be rewarded as players will receive one point per two successful tackles.

To be clear, if a player registers two/three successful tackles they will receive one point, if they make four/five tackles they will earn two points, and so on. 

Combative midfielders will benefit from this addition the most but players from all positions are eligible to score points this way.

Fulham’s Joao Palhinha was in a league of his own in terms of tackles last season with 147 attempted in the league alone at an average of 4.2 per game, with 83 of them being registered as successful.

But the Portugal international was a huge outlier.

Moises Caicedo was his closest competitor and the Brighton midfielder attempted 100 tackles with half of them being successful.

Similarly, goalkeepers will earn one point per two saves – as with all these stats, we align with OPTA’s definition.


CLICK HERE TO PLAY DREAM TEAM 2023/24 NOW – FREE TO PLAY, MORE WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE!

David Raya led the way in terms of Premier League saves last season, he registered 154 in 38 appearances for Brentford at an average of just over four per game.

For comparison, Dream Team’s top two keepers in 2022/23, David de Gea and Nick Pope, averaged 2.7 and 2.4 saves per league game respectively. 

In addition to the core points, each player involved in any given fixture has the opportunity to earn bonus points; zero, one, three or five depending on their performance.

These bonus points are determined by a combination of the following following stats: completed crosses, successful dribbles, pass completion rate, interceptions, blocks, fouls won and goals scored from outside the area.

Offsides, fouls conceded and errors leading to goals will negatively impact a player's chances of earning bonus points.

Read More on The Sun

My son was kicked out of a major supermarket because of their no kids policy

Horror moment two sharks spotted prowling Spanish beach as swimmers flee

When using our app or site, Dream Team managers will be able to view how many points players would have got last season if the new system had been implemented – a helpful tool when selecting an XI.

Click here for the general terms and conditions for The Sun Dream Team 2023/24.

Source: Read Full Article