How to play
Three players. One captain. Plenty of questionable decisions.
Your squad
Pick exactly three different ThemLads players each gameweek.
You have a fictional £20m budget. It is game currency only and has no monetary value. Any positional combination is allowed.
Edit your picks as often as you like before the deadline. Nothing is charged and nothing is penalised.
Predicting the score is optional — your team saves without it.
Captain and vice
Your captain scores double, including negative points.
If your captain does not appear, your vice-captain gets the double instead. There are no substitutes.
A player who does not appear scores zero.
Deadlines
Teams and predictions normally lock at 12 noon UK time on the day of the match. Gameweek 10 only has an 8pm UK deadline on Wednesday 14 October 2026; teams remain visible from noon. Future gameweeks return to noon. The kick-off time does not change.
Check each gameweek's displayed deadline—it may be earlier than kick-off.
Team talk's over. Your picks are locked.
Other managers' picks and selection percentages normally stay hidden until the deadline passes. For Gameweek 10, teams stay visible from noon even while editing remains open until 8pm UK.
Scoring
Positions are Goalkeeper, Defender and Attacker.
| Action | GK | DEF | ATT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | +2 | +2 | +2 |
| Goal | +5 | +5 | +5 |
| Assist | +3 | +3 | +3 |
| Every 2 saves | +1 | — | — |
| Every 3 tackles won | — | +1 | +1 |
| Penalty saved | +3 extra | — | — |
| Player of the match | +3 | +3 | +3 |
| Yellow card | −1 | −1 | −1 |
| Red card | −3 | −3 | −3 |
| Own goal | −2 | −2 | −2 |
| Penalty missed | −2 | −2 | −2 |
- Save points: one point for every two saves in a match. A saved penalty counts as a save and earns +3 extra.
- Defensive contributions (defenders and attackers): one point for every three tackles won, up to +8 a match.
- Defensive bonus for playing at least half the match: 0 conceded GK +5 / DEF +4; 1–2 conceded +3 / +2; 3–4 conceded +1 / +1; 5+ nothing. Attackers don't get it.
- Sent off for a second yellow: −3 in total. A yellow then a straight red: −4 in total.
- No points for the team winning. Scores can go negative.
How pricing works
- Prices run from £4m to £10m in £0.5m steps.
- After each published match, we look at a lad's last five appearances, newest counting most (5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Zero and minus scores count too.
- Early on, their starting price still counts for a lot, so one big game can't send them flying.
- That form sets a target price. The price moves towards it by up to £1m a week. Miss a match and the price stays put.
- Captain doubling and how many people pick a lad make no difference.
- New prices only apply to gameweeks that haven't opened. Your saved team is never repriced.
Delayed results
Matches are often played before the episode goes out. Until results are released alongside the episode you will see "Awaiting episode" and no stats, totals or prediction outcomes.
Points are revealed when the episode drops, so nobody gets spoilers.
Predictions
Score predictions are optional for every gameweek and lock at the same deadline as teams. Fill in both scores or leave both blank.
An exact score earns 3 points. The correct winning team, or a correctly predicted draw, earns 1 point. Anything else earns 0.
Prediction points are shown in your matchday history and do not affect the fantasy leaderboards.
Four different numbers
Player season stats — each lad's appearances, goals, saves and points across the real season, including matches before the fantasy game started.
Fantasy points — what your three picks earn you in gameweeks you entered, with your captain doubled. These decide the leaderboards.
Prediction points — 3 for an exact score, 1 for the correct result. Kept separate from fantasy points.
XP — cosmetic only. Unlocks ranks and badges, never a fantasy advantage.
XP, ranks and achievements
XP is engagement only and unlocks cosmetic ranks and badges. It never gives a fantasy advantage.
First valid team each gameweek: +20 XP. First valid prediction each gameweek: +10 XP. Three consecutive eligible gameweeks: +30 XP once per season.
Ranks: Trialist, Benchwarmer, Squad Player, Starter, Captain, Gaffa. Ranks are never taken away.
Ties and void fixtures
Equal points share the same rank. Display order after that is stable but is not a sporting tiebreaker.
Cancelled or void gameweeks are excluded from scores and do not break your streak.
Postponed gameweeks count only once they are played and published.