Team Picking Guides: Part 3

For Part 1, which guides you about picking your core players, click here.

For Part 2, which guides you about picking your goalkeepers, click here.

For Part 4, which guides you about picking your midfielders, click here.

For Part 5, which guides you about picking your forwards, click here.

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Thank you for proceeding to view my two cents guides. This is part 3, a guide for selecting defenders for your team. Again, lets review some facts about good defenders of FPL:

1. He should secure a lot of clean sheets (at least 15 if he's a member of big four, 12 for others).
2. He should score goals or provide assists occasionally (preferably combined figure of at least 3).
3. He should score plenty of bonuses (preferably 10++).
4. He should free from any frequent or long injuries and cards.

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Expensive (£7.0 onwards)

In this price range, you'll maximise your points on defense, but do you have that kind of budget?

Vidic (£8.0m)

Still strong, but expected to be weakened compared to last season.

Zhirkov (£7.5m)

If he start as LM, he'll be too good to be missed.

Terry (£7.5m)

I'll rather go for his teammates. A great player, but not a great FPL choice.

Bosingwa (£7.5m)

Strong, but a little bit pricey this season.

Johnson (£7.5m)

We need time to see his adaptivity.

Lescott (£7.5m)

Good at Everton; doubtful if at Manchester City.

Carragher (£7.0m)

Consistent and injury free.

Ferdinand (£7.0m)

It's such a long time ago when he shone.

Alex (£7.0m)

Too expensive.

Cole (£7.0m)

Much inferior compared to Bosingwa.

Aurelio (£7.0m)

Heavily overpriced.

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Mid Range (£5.5-6.5m)

In this range you expect to gamble for some potential players.

Evra (£6.5m)

A consistent starter from Man Utd with cheaper price.

Baines (£6.5m)

He had proven himself on the ending stage last season.

Toure (£6.5m)

His move to Manchester City is a great news - only for himself.

Sagna (£6.5m), Gallas (£6.5m), Vermaelen (£6.5m)

I don't trust Arsenal's defense.

Clichy (£6.5m)

Will his offense cover up the score he'll lose for defense?

Agger (£6.5m), Skrtel (£6.0m)

We'll need to determine who'll partner Carragher first.

Jagielka (£6.0m)

A strong man who grab a lot of bonuses.

Insua (£6.0m)

Can he steal the place from Aurelio?

Brown (£6.0m), O'Shea (£5.5m), Rafael (£5.5m), Neville (£5.5m)

Who'll sit firmly on the RB position?

Hangeland (£5.5m)

Will he be as good as before even with increased intensity of Fulham's games?

Bale (£5.5m), Corluka (£5.5m)

Any improvements from them?

Upson (£5.5m)

Can he lead his teammates for resolute defense?

Song (£5.5m)

A MF ended up and DF in FPL. Interesting.

Bridge (£5.5m)

The highest salary full-back had never earned scores which tallies to his pay.

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Cheap (£5.0 and below)

This price range offers the most attractive choices but with high degree of uncertainties.

Warnock (£5.0m)

Might playing as LMF. Have a close eye on him.

Cahill (£5.0m), Steinsson (£5.0m)

Great attacking ability with cheap price.

Knight (£5.0m)

I wonder if he can prove himself at Bolton.

Woodgate (£5.0m)

If he can be less fragile...

Hughes (£5.0m), Pantsil (£5.0m)

Pay £0.5m more and you can get Hangeland. Not quite worthy.

Campbell (£5.0m), Distin (£5.0m)

Experienced but old.

Finnan (£4.5m)

Will he attack from behind just like his days at Anfield?

Faye Ab (£4.5m), Shawcross (£4.5m)

Stoke's defenders who can attack.

A Ferdinand (£4.5m)

Will Bruce pump him up to his brother's standard?

Turner (£4.5m)

The pillar of Hull City.

Bramble (£4.5m), Figueroa (£4.5m)

Will them be affected by Wigan's awful frontline?

R Johnson (£4.5m)

Has good scoring records from set pieces.

Ridgewell (£4.0m)

One of the Birmingham's defenders I will consider to take.

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You should invest neither too much nor too less on defenders. By overspending you'll have a sloppy lineup of midfielders; by underspending you'll waste the easiest way to secure for 6 points - clean sheets. My advice will be spend for around £25-28m on this area. As for combinations, it's all up to you except for two things. Firstly, don't pick multiple defenders from the same team as it is very risky to start them together, even if they're from big four. Secondly, don't include substitutes in your teams as season starters can earn you 2 points for 60 minutes played per game at least while substitutes do not.

How to pick your defenders for game? It's relatively easy. Just find the ones with easier opponents and you'll have a better chance to grab the 4 clean sheet points. Note that it's more likely for teams outside of big three (Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd) to score clean sheets when they're away due to their tendency to contain and defend. As stated, this does not apply to Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd.

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My Top 7 Picks (In Order)

1. Agger/Skrtel - Cheaper ones from top four. Agger is great in offense while Skrtel is solid in defense. Both are well proven, so whoever who is able partner Carragher will be a good choice. Expected pts: 150 pts.
2. Brown/O'Shea/Rafael/G Neville - Another set of cheaper ones, but this one with bigger headache of guessing. I think it's either O'Shea or Rafael. Expected pts: 140.
3. Evra - He is a definite starter for LB and is cheaper than both Ferdinand and Vidic. Expected pts: 140.
4. Zhirkov - He can play as both LB and LM, but he'll need to battle for his place first. Expected pts: 160.
5. R Johnson - He scored five goals last season... on the premiership. Expected pts: 130.
6. Warnock - He's playing under Allardyce now, and he might end up playing as LM. Expected pts: 140.
7. Shawcross - Decent in both offense and defense. Expected pts: 130.

Other good picks: Carragher, Hangeland, Jagielka, Steinsson, Cahill, A Ferdinand

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For Part 1, which guides you about picking your core players, click here.

For Part 2, which guides you about picking your goalkeepers, click here.

For Part 4, which guides you about picking your midfielders, click here.

For Part 5, which guides you about picking your forwards, click here.