1). Thou Shalt Prepare. When round seven comes around and all the names you put in your newspaper fantasy team are gone, you need to know where to turn - at that stage, you still have fifteen picks to make. Don't be the manager who goes to check how his newly-drafted players are doing in pre-season, only to find they've torn a cruciate ligament or been sold to Real Madrid.
2). Thou Shalt Consider How Much Thou (and thy rivals) Canst Separate Fantasy From Reality. Can you stand the thought of cheering a goal scored by one of your real life team's bitter rivals? Can you take the pain of your favourite defender making a howler that costs you points in two universes? How about your fellow managers? That kind of knowledge can be used to stay one step ahead of the competition.
3). Thou Shalt Expect Only To Have Thine Heart Broken By Spurs Defenders, Liverpool Wingers And West Ham Strikers. Don't mess with decades of precedent, folks.
4). Honour Thy Multi-Category Player. Whether it's the full-back who makes a tackle to preserve a clean sheet one minute and curls in an inch-perfect cross the next, the ever-present striker who can make a challenge without conceding a foul or the midfield dynamo who sprints box to box playing one-touch passes all the way, players who can help you in more than one area are a fantasy manager's best friend.
5). Thou Shalt Not Read Too Much Into Pre-Season Form. Line-ups are experimental, limbs are just warming up and the quality of opposition is very mixed. Don't let four weeks of form sway your judgement more than years of competitive performance.
6). Fear Thou Greatly Rafael Benitez And His Rotation Policy. You know the guy you spent that early round pick on is the best in his position at Anfield. The fans know it, the media knows it, the whole damn world knows it... But Rafa's 'saving them' for that big game in May. 2012.
7). Thou Shalt Be Wary Of The Player Without Premier League Experience. Especially the young one.
8). Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour's Player. So, that sleeper you've been itching to snap up just got filched from under your nose by the guy right before you. Keep your head level, think about who's left in the pool, and if you must covet, do it constructively by checking out their emerging team and picking up some trade bait they'll be glad to get hold of.
9). Remember Always The Draft Day And Keep It Holy. Some things can't be put off, but unless you're getting married, shipwrecked on an island with no wi-fi reception or spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure, try not to leave your team selection to an auto-draft. If you must, at least make sure the league has your personal rankings. Commandment 5 a): Thou Shalt Turn Up On Time.
10). Thou Shalt Not Draft Paul Robinson. It will only end in tears.
By Sandy King
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