Podcast

Meet the Manager #14 – Simon March


For the first time in our Meet the Manager series we chat to a prolific manager who has snatched the ultimate prize – winning the Fantasy Premier League game.

Simon March joins me to discuss the impact of his 2014/15 winning season, what it takes to conquer the game and how he dealt with pressure at the top. 

He also reveals how his victory has unlocked work opportunities and why avoiding watching matches proved a blessing in disguise in his title winning campaign.

With two top 10,000 finishes prior to his momentous victory and top 50,000 overall ranks in his subsequent three seasons he remains as committed to FPL as ever, with his masters degree in behavioural science at the London School of Economics now giving him extra motivation. 

His chat about how his academic work links up with Fantasy management proves revelatory, in particular how Swansea’s former striker Michu is still impacting on many managers transfer plans despite last kicking a ball in the English top flight five years ago. 

He also reveals his plans for the remaining Gameweeks of 2018/19, including the players he is looking to ditch and those he wants to bring in.

The chat with Simon is available to view on Youtube here and in the embedded video below.

Previous Meet the Manager interviews:

Sean Tobin

Aleksander Våge Nilsen

Mark Sutherns

Mark McGettigan

Marc Rubinstein

Kenneth Tang

Jay Egersdorff

Adam Hopcroft

Matthew Jones

Richard Clarke

Will Thomas

Philman

Triggerlips

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

682 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I should really know/understand this concept...

    But I really don’t...when people say a hit “could pay off over time”. Is this a straightforward as people make out?

    I always just view it as Player X - Player Y -4. (If not captaining either to keep it simple).

    If you are always going to make the same transfer the following week for free then it will have paid off or it won’t have. The only reason I can see why it might pay off over time was if you were locked out price wise if you waited until the following Gw.

    Am I being dumb?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A hit equals a goal so if your player scores you get nothing, this week, so if you want to keep him long term then might worth it bit in the best case scenario (goal) you'll be level without the transfer

      1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I get that.

        Let’s take an example:

        Universe 1: I do this in GW26
        Kun out Auba in. For a hit.
        Kun scores 5, Auba scores 8 points. So minus 1 after the hit.

        Universe 2: I do this in GW27
        Kun to Auba, free.

        How is Universe 1 going to catch universe 2?

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Universe 1 has another transfer you fail to mention

          1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Ah yes! Cool.

            So even a loss of 2-3 points might be worth it with the FT and potential price increases.

            I guess universe 2 can assess injuries that might happen between gameweeks.

        2. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          In universe 1 you now have an extra FT to use for GW27 as you won't have to do the Kun > Auba switch

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Yep, this is why all transfers should be looked at as costing 4 points (except when you have 2 FTs and use one instead of losing it).

    2. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah it's a loaded statement

      • Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        There is usually another problem that needs addressing on the horizon so it often pays to take a hit now and be free to sort other issues later

      • jtreble
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Sort of. Example: I bring in Rondon for Ings for GW26-38 for a -4 hit. RMT projects Rondon will get 52 points; Ings 42 points. My 'hit' actually hasn't cost anything - I'll actually make money on the move.

      • FPL Laurenzo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        A hit in the current gameweek for me makes sense in the context of your mini league and upcoming blanks and doubles. A hit this week makes sense in light of who my head to head competitor is next week. Any other hit is -4 and never catching up in the future unless other injuries pop up.

    3. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A) sane,rich to mane,f. Anderson (-4)
      B) sane, ings to lacca,6.2 mid (-4)
      c) sane to mane
      d) save ft

    4. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mark has leapfrogged me in rank - drat

      1. MTPockets
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I'm shocked. Shocked

        • Fitzy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          History says it was inevitable.

        • Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He's taken plenty of hits along the way.

        • Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I'm only 30pts behind. Not long now

        • Peter Ouch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Who are you

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            😆

          2. Top Lad Dakes.
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            You lot understand a joke, yeah?

            1. Fitzy.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              You banging on about your rank all season has been a right hoot...

              1. Top Lad Dakes.
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Sorry I don't recall overtly bragging about it day in, day out or anything of the sort. I'm happy to be doing well this year given I've actually played seriously the whole season up til this point for the first time. Not looking for an argument...

        • Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Who who, who who

      2. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Haven't been around in a few days so im playing catch up -

        What's the chances of Richarlison starting at watford?

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          90 mins 2pts

          1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Nah, he hasn’t had a red in a while. Watford fans will get under his skin. -2

      3. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Anyone know when auba got flagged with an illness? First I've heard. Ta.

        1. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          This afternoon pal

          1. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Cheers. Did emery just mention it or something?

        2. SADIO SANÉ
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          about 7 hours ago

        3. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Google Aubameyang. Loads of articles with Emery quotes

      4. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Why is Auba yellow flagged? Got him last night for Kun....

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Why do people make early hits?

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            *transfers

          2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Price rises. In this case, when Kun was rising and Auba still falling: no idea.

            1. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Right there's no rise fall danger on either of those

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Sh1ts

        3. Chucky
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Just saw above post... cheers all...

      5. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Is everyone getting rid of Sane now?

        1. soup natsi
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          keeping, have to sell hazard first, and good fixtures 28-30

        2. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yes but not sure for who.

        3. Babit1967
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah raged out for Sterling for a hit, don’t want to see his name again near my team

      6. 1justlookin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Did Emery say that Auba should be fine? Was thinking of bring him in.

        1. Yank Revolution
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He did

      7. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        G2G?

        Fab
        Robbo Doherty Laporte
        Salah (c) Hazard Pogba Rich Son
        Rashford Jimenez

        Bench: AWB Alonso Kamara

      8. Mackans
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Would you do Sane -> Son tonight or tomorrow after the press conferances?

        1. how now brown cow
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Wait unless cash is vital.

          1. 1justlookin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Why would you wait?

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Auba wasn't flagged this morning.

              Who's to say son isn't ill?

        2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Potential 0.2 swing if you are losing value on Sane..

          1. how now brown cow
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Sane shouldn't drop tonight

      9. how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Forward planning is bollox. 🙂

        Auba transfer been planned for weeks

        Oh well. Kun gets to stay I guess.

        1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Better than the other way around: Auba would be I’m everyside.

          1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            In*

      10. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Waiting for Auba news probably so only transfer already today is either

        A) Sane to Son
        B) Hazard to Son

        Both will be heading out this week if Auba is certain to play.

        1. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          A

      11. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Mane or Son for this week, and beyond?

        Mane is soooo streaky, Son is consistent.

        1. AuFeld
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I think you answered your own question.

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            The deciding factor I think is cash-- I'll need more of it to upgrade Rich after this weekend...Son it is.

        2. wulfrunian
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Son

        3. MTPockets
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Mane personally

            1. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Thx for replies

          • frenchfries
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Close for me, im choosing Son over Mane

            1. frenchfries
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Might do both

          • YEAH PITCH!
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Son

        4. columbo
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Will Kikos price be frozen as he went from a red flag to an orange one or have I got that completely wrong? Just wondering as he's close to falling, thanks

          1. MTPockets
              5 years, 1 month ago

              No, only frozen when goes straight from 0 to 100 (red flag to no flag)

              1. columbo
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Bugger thanks

          2. wulfrunian
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Do you think it's worth to take a hit?
            Pat
            Doherty TAA PVA
            Salah RIcharlison Son Pogba
            Barnes Kun Rashford

            Fab Bednarek Gibbs Kiko
            0ft 2.1itb

            a)Kun->Auba/Laca/Arnie
            b)Richarlison->Anderson

          3. zuio
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            sterling and kamara for
            auba and someone (puncheon or below 7.8m)
            for -4?

            1. Top Lad Dakes.
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              auba and felipe

          4. 1justlookin
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Would you WC if you had this team?

            Alisson, TAA, Alonso, Doherty, Perreira, AWB
            Hazard, Sane, Salah, Anderson, Richarlison.
            Rashford, Jiminez, Kamara

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Now is no time to wc.

            2. CRO KLOPP
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Of course not

            3. frenchfries
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I would not WC yet

            4. Yank Revolution
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              No, but I may shift some funds from Haz to upgrade Kamara...dont like only playing w 2 strikers (mid-priced to boot, I like at least one expensive one)

              1. 1justlookin
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Yeah thats what I was looking at, thinking of upgrading to Auba & downgrading Hazard. I'm still left with Sane & Richarlison mind.

            5. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Why would you? COuple of transfers and you have a good team

          5. The Train Driver
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            (C) Rash or Mane? Don't dare to keep it on Auba after those sickness news. Even if he plays, it won't be 90 min.

            1. Rash
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              What sickness news?

            2. Pierce34
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              I think he'll be fine personally, but I'd captain Rashford between the two.

            3. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Auba will be fine so (C) him or Salah if you have

          6. frenchfries
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Alisson
            Robertson Digne Doherty
            Salah Sane Pogba Richarlison
            Aguero Rashford

            Boruc Bennett AWB Kamara

            What looks better:

            A) Alisson+Sane+Richarlison->Guaita+Son+Mane (-4)
            B) Aguero+Sane -> Aubameyang+Son (Hit next week most likely for Mane)

          7. Danno - Emre Canada
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Just to let the powers that be know which I presume you do, Team news has Utd playing Leicester away not Fulham, apologies if already flagged.

            1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Hasn’t updated. That’s their last match

          8. BigBillyBass
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Aubameflop crocked?

            1. how now brown cow
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Sick

            2. WVA
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Sick so will have to wait until next week

            3. MANGE TOUT RODNEY
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              He's got the sniffles

            4. YEAH PITCH!
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              He got a reaction to triple captaining Sane.

              1. BigBillyBass
                • 5 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Lol

          9. WVA
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Sane > Pogba for free? Brought Sane in and captained him for the double! FML.

            Ryan
            Kola AWB Jonny
            Salah Hazard Son Pogba
            Aguero Rashford Jimenez
            Boruc Bednarek Westwood Keane

            1. kinghenry14
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              i'd do it

            2. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              yep

          10. kinghenry14
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            what to do with this lot? 2FT 0.5ITB

            ederson
            robbo doherty awb
            salah sterling pogba rich
            kun rashford jimenez

            A) kun --> auba
            B) sterling --> son
            C) other

            cheers

            1. kinghenry14
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              bench is button digne bennett gunnarsson

            2. WVA
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Just B this week

            3. Bobby_Baggio
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              B is enough

          11. Bobby_Baggio
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Evening chaps. Bit stuck on what to do and your advice is always appreciated. 1FT & 0.2m ITB. Thanks all.

            Fab
            Robbo - AWB - Pereira
            Sane - Pogba - Salah - Haz - Son
            Jimenez - Rashford

            Bennett - Digne - Kamara

            A) Sane > Mane
            B) Digne > Shaw
            C) Haz + Kamara > Hayden + Auba (-4)
            D) Anything else

            1. MTPockets
                5 years, 1 month ago

                A

              • kinghenry14
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                a out of those imo

                1. Bobby_Baggio
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  No Auba may sting me though

                  1. kinghenry14
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    it's a little risky but i'm going without him this week too

            2. Kiwivillan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Mkhi for back to back double figure scores? He's my under the radar pick this game week

              1. MTPockets
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Is he even nailed when fit?

                  1. kinghenry14
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    this

              2. _Ninja_
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                Which 2 to start? Cheers

                A Deeney
                B Rich
                C Holebas
                D AWB
                E Digne

              3. COYR
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                https://www.mancity.com/citytv/features/2019/february/man-city-valvoline-midfield-engine-january-leroy-sane

                For all my fellow Sane TC'ers (and C'ers) - some extra salt for our wounds...

                Feel like I have the kiss of death sometimes, transferred him in ahead of the Newcastle game.

              4. how now brown cow
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 1 month ago

                If you are getting in a defender now do you...

                A - get someone who plays in blanks like taa or pereira to avoid FH in 31

                B - get someone who plays in doubles and assume FH in 31.

                C - don't worry about gw31

                1. MTPockets
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    A - same for all transfers now

                  • Ambrosiana Inter
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    C

                    1. how now brown cow
                      • 9 Years
                      5 years, 1 month ago

                      What is your strategy for.gw31 then?

                2. Rash
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Play fabs or Etheridge this week?

                3. timawflowers
                  • 6 Years
                  5 years, 1 month ago

                  Auba or Salah for captain?

                  1. Ambrosiana Inter
                    • 6 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Mo

                  2. Weasel Boy
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 11 Years
                    5 years, 1 month ago

                    Mo