The aim is simple: finish the league as champions. You start at the very bottom and the only way up is to beat the teams above you, stealing one of their players every time.
You start rock bottom
Each day you are handed a real team from a real Premier League season. Above you sit 19 teams, running from a real 19th-placed side all the way up to a real champion in 1st. Everyone gets the same table on the same day, and it refreshes at midnight.
How poaching works
Before every match you carry out a blind steal.
- PICK A PLAYER. You see the real formation, but every name is hidden. Pick the position you think will help you the most.
- THEY JOIN YOUR TEAM. Their top player in that role is revealed. If he is better than the man you already have there, or in a similar position, he signs for you immediately and slots straight into your XI.
- HE DOESN'T PLAY FOR THEM. The player you steal is missing from your opponent's side for the match, so a smart raid weakens them and strengthens you in the same move.
You are picking blind, so it is a gamble. A weak rival might have a hidden star in one position, and a strong rival might be ordinary in another. It all comes down to your ball knowledge.
Win to climb, lose and you are out
Once you have stolen a player, the match is played. Win and you climb a place up the table. Lose or draw and the run is over. There are no replays of a single match and no second chances within a run. You go right back to the bottom and start again.
Scoring
Your score is the highest position you reach. String wins together and you push toward the top. Beat all 19 rivals and you finish as champions.
You get unlimited goes each day, and your best finish is the one that counts. The real bragging right is how many goes it takes you. The fewer goes it takes you to reach the top, the better your ball knowledge.
A few tips
- Raid your weaknesses. Stealing a striker when you are already strong up front is probably a wasted raid. Look at your own XI first and poach the position that will actually improve your team.
- The early rungs are gentle. The sides near the bottom are beatable, but do not sleepwalk. A bad raid can still cost you the match, and one slip ends everything.
- Respect the summit. The team at the top is a real champion. By the time you face them you will need every upgrade you can get, so think about how strong you need to be long before you arrive.
- It is the same table all day. Use your goes to learn where the hidden value sits, then put a clean run together once you know the table.