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The Basics The Golden Gamble The Transfer Window Choosing Your Side The
best footballers make playing look easy. So, as you would expect, the world’s
top fantasy game operates in the same way! There is one big difference, though -
Dream Team REALLY is simple to play. You
pick a Premiership XI from a fantasy budget of £40million, based on the cash
values we have given the players. As ever, we have kept our scoring system
straightforward. But it rewards the things you would expect – like goals,
clean sheets and good performances. And it punishes leaky defences, bookings and
red cards. But
your main job is to decide who you think will perform best over the whole
season. The players come in the usual four groups - Goalkeepers, Defenders,
Midfielders and Strikers. We are constantly improving Dream Team and a couple of seasons ago we introduced our Golden Gamble innovation. Quite simply, it makes Dream Team even more exciting by giving you the chance to take managerial risks. The Golden Gamble gives you the flexibility to decide when your team starts scoring. Enter your team before 12.45pm on Saturday August 14 and it will begin scoring from day one of the season, with ALL the games counting towards your total. But here's where you can take a risk. You can choose to enter your team - or an extra team or teams - for a further five weeks after the big kick-off. If you choose this option, you have until Saturday September 18 to get your entry in. The registration period is then over. So, enter by 12.45pm (UK time) on Saturday August 14 if you want your team to start scoring on that Saturday; by earliest kick-off time on Saturday August 21 to start scoring from then; by earliest kick-off time on Saturday August 28 to start scoring from then; by earliest kick-off time on Saturday September 11 to start scoring from then; by earliest kick-off time on Saturday September 18, the FINAL deadline, to start scoring from then. The games you miss - up to six rounds of matches if you leave it right until the last minute - will NOT count towards your team's score. However, you will have the chance to study form, avoid injuries and reap the benefit of late signings before the Premiership transfer window closes on August 31. You could snap up a bargain in-form player - or avoid being stuck with a striker in a dry spell. It's up to you. But once you have decided when you want to enter, you need to choose your side.There are TWO Transfer Windows in Dream Team - one in October and one in January. The first Transfer Window will open at 00:00 GMT on Saturday October 11 2003 and close on Saturday October 18 2003 at the time of the earliest Premiership game kick-off. The second Transfer Window will open at 00:00 GMT on Saturday January 24 2004 and will close at the time of the earliest Premiership game kick-off on Saturday January 31 2004. Each Transfer Window gives you the chance to gain a real edge on the opposition by booting out injured or under-performing players and replacing them with new ones. So give your no-hopers the shove and bring in the star who could make your season. During each Transfer Window, you can bring in UP TO THREE players and must transfer out the same number. So, you can make one, two or three changes during the transfer procedure (but no more than three changes). When you bring in a new player you do NOT get the points he has scored so far. Likewise, points scored by players you transfer out are FROZEN and remain on your overall score. You must not bust your £40million budget and you must not have more than two players from any one Premiership club. And remember, some players have moved clubs in real life but for Dream Team purposes remain with their original clubs. There will be a charge of £1 per transfer during a Transfer Window. This can be paid either by Cheque or Cash. Study the lists of players by clicking on the Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders and Strikers links. Also, remember to check up on the crucial rules and scoring details. So, who will you pick, Jens Lehmann or Carlo Cudicini? Both cost £4.5million - but with five points for a clean sheet and three points for a penalty save they could be worth it. Up front the most expensive player - Thierry Henry - will set you back a cool £8million. But if he rattles up the points like last season, his price tag will look like peanuts! Follow the three main rules: 1. Your team's value cannot exceed £40million. 2. You must pick no more than two players from any one Premiership side. 3. Your team must have one keeper, four defenders, three or four midfielders, and two or three forwards. |