Interview
19 August 2021 382 comments
J0E J0E
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Veteran Fantasy Premier League (FPL) manager Shivanand Atre (@ShivaFPL) has shown remarkable consistency across his 14-year career, with only two finishes outside of the top 100,000 over that time.

He has been particularly good in recent years, showing he has been able to adapt well to the proliferation of content and opinions on social media: he has achieved five top 25,000 finishes in as many years, including a top 3,000 overall rank and another in the top 10k.

He also has a previous top 2,000 season-ending rank under his belt.

In this latest Meet the Manager episode, Joe quizzes Shiva on how he has managed to filter out the growing FPL ‘noise’ to perform well in each campaign.

His focus on anchoring a view at the start of the week and ensuring he can be flexible enough to react to emerging trends and news before a deadline has been a key tactic for success. Joe also finds out why a pen and paper has been Shiva’s secret weapon over this time.

The eye test has helped, too, as he focuses on the importance of watching matches over reading statistics. The ability to make rare, but calculated risks is also key.

To give a snapshot of his thinking, Shiva reveals his Gameweek 2 team and how he is putting his strategies into action.

Joe also wanted to catch up with Shiva to discuss how the game has developed in popularity in India, where he first started playing more than a decade ago, as well as in the US, where he now lives.

He recounts the struggle to make family commitments on a Saturday in India, when so many of his friends and relations had no idea how important ‘wildcarding’ and ‘making a transfer’ was to him.

The Meet the Manager series is where Joe chats to FPL managers with a strong record of success, an interesting view of the game and/or who are offering the community a unique insight into Fantasy management.

Joe’s interview with Shiva can be viewed below.

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

382 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. leo_messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who to start?

    A) Digne (Lee)
    B) Targett (NEW)

    1. MJF
        4 years, 7 months ago

        As Morrissey sang,

        “Neither one particularly appeals to me”

        1. Nuka Girl
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          That Neil Morrissey song?

      • I Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A

      • Simon69
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A

      • Defcons are for Kinnear
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Sword and shield

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Might & magic.

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            VI: The Mandate of Heaven

            1. el polako
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              HOMM 3 - I'm old.

              1. Zalk
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                The only right answer though

              2. Piggs Boson
                • 14 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Never played the Heroes series but MM6 is one of my favourite games. Huge open-world RPG.

    2. Sergeant Slaughter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cancelo regret. Serious doubts about his starting. Stones was the play, if any. A transfer seems silly, but I can’t get it out of my head. Want to save my moves. I can’t be trusted.

      1. Defcons are for Kinnear
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        With TAA, Shaw and Digne what made you consider Cancelo? Especially as Walker had a good Euros and both LBs are available

        1. Sergeant Slaughter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Thought he would bring returns beyond CS. Lots of early door attacking questions with City. He could fill the gap. He seemed a clever selection. He wasn’t.

          1. Defcons are for Kinnear
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            No. He wasn't. Too risky for GW1

      2. I Member
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Got to keep and hope he plays.

        1. Sergeant Slaughter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Agreed

    3. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Start 1 out of:-
      A) Ayling
      B) Coufal
      C) Targett

      1. Defcons are for Kinnear
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        A

      2. Snooze ya lose
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        B

    4. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Just imagining people's disappointment at clicking on the Hot Topic

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        lmao. Had me curious. How stupid.

        It's resolution dependent. I can see my whole team no problem on a 1440p screen.

    5. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Triple captain Toney seems like the obvious choice this week, doesnt it? Hatti inbound, may as well count the points now

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'd zoom in again, mate. Not worth fitting it into the screen if you're mixing up players.

        1. Defcons are for Kinnear
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          😆

        2. have you seen cyan
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          its 110% zoomed in on (((T)))oney

      2. Botman and Robben
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Gilmour more promising. They have a way with City.

    6. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Hold Veltman or move on?

      Out another week at least. Ugh

      1. Chandler Bing
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        If you don't have any reinforcements that can come off your bench, it's a no brainer. Otherwise, keep.

        1. Stupendous
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          ESR and Balogun

          That's basically one sub and have the likes of Torres who could be benched

      2. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'm just putting him on the bench again. There's nothing else out there in the 4.0 - 4.5 price range worth wasting a move on. White looked terrible, and it's too soon to bring Ayling in.

        1. Stupendous
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I WAS thinking Ayling tbh

          White hell no

          Ta

          1. Disco Stu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            I'm not bringing Ayling in until GW 5

            1. Stupendous
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              At least if Brighton lose again you have to fancy Veltman to be nailed

            2. Stupendous
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Livramento and use the .5m elsewhere?

              I know they're awful

              Pointless for Amartey or even more for Duffy

              Starting to agree with you

              1. Disco Stu
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Save the transfer and have two to play around with next week. Also, Veltman in for sure next week

    7. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      What's the relevance of a Hot Topic in FPL?

      1. Defcons are for Kinnear
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Click bait on Google

      2. el polako
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This made me chuckle a bit, first time I smiled today.
        Or was it just wind ?

        Thank you.

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Hot air for sure

    8. HollywoodXI
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Bruno non owner. Any news of a slight injury meaning he’ll miss the Saints game? Anything? At all? No?! 🙂

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Stay strong.

      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Chin up mate

      3. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Right your wrong.

    9. chaser123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Who to start?
      1) Coufal
      2) Amartey

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Amartey wont start will he?

      2. amitmishr
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Can start anyone, coufal will be auto sub

      3. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Right your wrong.

        1. Forever In Our Shadow
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Sorry. 1

    10. el polako
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Recently finished watching The Wire for 2nd time and not quite ready to re-watch Line of Duty but really want to get into another police drama.
      Is The Shield any good ?

      1. Eleven Hag
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thought FPL wire for a moment

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Shiiiittttt...

      2. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yes

      3. Uncle Baby Billy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Think of The Wire as Salah at home to Burnley. The Shield is a triple captained 4.0m Newcastle defender away to Man City.

        1. Pacer.
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          If Salah scored an own goal and got sent of on 80 and the Newcastle defender scored a perfect hattrick in injury time

      4. Bartowski
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Signal. Korean show on Netflix.

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          See don't mind off mainstream picks, absolutely loved German "Dark".

          1. Bartowski
            • 15 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            It's widely revered.

      5. Sergeant Slaughter
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Fauda

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          See above, never heard of it but it looks promising.

      6. Lazaretti
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hill Street Blues.

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Just checked it on YouTube, Real old school stuff.

          1. Pacer.
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            It's kind of the recognisable genesis of modern drama along with stuff like st elsewhere and so on. But it is OLD

      7. Pacer.
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        The Shield is great, I would also recommend Southland. Justified is up there with The Wire imo. Very different shows to compare, but it is flawless

        1. Andy_Social
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green and not reference enough these days.

          1. Pacer.
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Drama started in the late 90s, like football started in 1992

      8. Je suis le chat
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Check out Bosch, absolutely love it. Has lots of actors from The Wire.

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          That's the show with the guy that got capped in SoA, isn't it ?

          1. Je suis le chat
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Haven't seen SoA, but yes Titus Welliver is great as the lead in Bosch. I empathise with his extreme competency in his work yet not giving a damn about social niceties!

      9. asdf_1
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        True Detective, Manhunt, Mindhunter

        1. Pacer.
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          true detective is just a load of old mumbling

        2. asdf_1
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          And to answer your question, the shield is good but it has an episodic nature which made me dislike it a bit. Nevertheless, it has one of the most perfect endings.

          1. Pacer.
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            I haven't watched it for a long time but I don't remember it being THAT episodic. I'm fairly certain that each individual season and the show has a clear arc

            1. asdf_1
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              By episodic, i mean that each episode has a different police case. The major arc keeps moving forward though on a slower basis.

      10. @Gemmill78
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Excellent - my mrs still uses it as her baseline - very bingeable

      11. S.Kuqi
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Shield is better than the Wire

        1. el polako
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Wow, that's some statement.
          I've The Wire twice and whilst watching second time picked up on all little thing I've missed initially.

          For me this show is genius, characters and their development is like nowhere else, plot, roughness and sense humor- watched all major series but to me nothing comes close to stories from Baltimore

          1. S.Kuqi
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Agreed. Wire is excellent but prefer Shield. Out of police series my rank would be :

            True Detective season 1
            Shield
            Wire

            1. Rassi
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Shield should never be mentioned with those two masterpieces.

              1. Pacer.
                • 11 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                On the contrary, the shield is really great. True Detective on the other hand is a load of old cobblers

                1. Rassi
                  • 11 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Oh, the depravity.

      12. Lord.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You need to watch Breaking Bad if you want to maintain the standards of The Wire.

        1. Pacer.
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Justified is also their equal

      13. Zimo
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mindhunter

        1. Je suis le chat
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Great show, shame they only made 3 series.

      14. el polako
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thank you All !
        Looks like my winter season is sorted.

      15. Zalk
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ah damn, Line of duty is a 10/10 for me, what a series!
        Just finished watching Bosch on HBO, 9/10 for me.

    11. Stupendous
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Balogun to Dennis?

      Only other subs are ESR Veltman*

      1. Stupendous
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Anyone?

      2. Je suis le chat
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Save the transfer.

        1. Stupendous
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Ta. Balo could get SOME time but they are about to get spanked

      3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Go for his mate Cucho since Dennis is a doubt?

        1. Stupendous
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Fair point but I would want Dennis over Cucho long term I think

    12. Edgar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Draft League...transfer out Pukki for A.Armstrong?

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Armstrong

      2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Can you get on of the Watford lads?

    13. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Am I the only one with Wilfried Zaha this week?

      1. Bartowski
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Just you and Palace.

      2. FPL Theorist
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It's an interesting pick. I think Palace will win and surprise all the new Brentford fans around here.

      3. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You hit biiiig gahooners.

    14. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Nuno's line-up for the Sucky Conference Pot signalling his Starting XI for Sunday, there.

    15. Lord of Ings
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Predicting the following games?

      Everton v leeds
      Leicester v West ham

      1. Lord of Ings
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Leeds and Ham at are (H) teams.

    16. Here is Cash, give McGinn
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Start 1
      A) Digne
      B) Toney

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Toney

    17. THL33
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      What player you don't own scares you the most going into this GW, for me it has to be Greenwood or Antonio.

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Salah or Fernandes

        1. THL33
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          You own neither? That takes cojones!

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Cojones and severe underthinking maybe

      2. Stupendous
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lukaku!!!

        Haha at least not many will have him but I am scared my rival will already

        1. Stupendous
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Hat trick incoming

      3. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ings. More jam incoming.

        1. THL33
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I hope so

      4. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        DCL

        1. THL33
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Good to know, I am an owner 😉

    18. Champions League Varane
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Barnes -> Greenwood for free?.

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah get Greenwood

      2. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I’d stick with Barnes. Give the guy a chance.

    19. Aaa
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Roll the transfer here?

      Sanchez
      TAA/Shaw/Tsim
      Salah(c)/Bruno/Barnes/Greenwood/Mbeumo
      Ings/Antonio
      (Steele/Digne/White/Scarlett)

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yup

    20. Sam feasts
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      What would a good WC team look like at this point? Asking for a friend.............

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Cheap defence. 2 mid big hitters and room for a Lukaku or Kane up front.

      2. Tony Two Tone
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Forster/McGovern
        Zimmerman, Valery, Collins, Sorensen, Nathan Ferguson
        Marvelous, Brownhill, Oriol Romeu Vidal, Alexis Mac Allister, Fred
        Scarlett, Zequiri, Street

        No need to thank me ; - )

    21. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Ole needs time, he has done good at ManU. Let him build a dynasty

      People said the same about Fergie

    22. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Kane turgid as usual

    23. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      my bench is a carehome:
      James, Normann, Bornwhill. ImAgine how bad that christmas would be, ur eating the last cold mince pie

    24. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Such a waste Ings going to Villa. Such a strange move to begin with tbh

    25. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      why doesnt this website auto refresh instead of you havign to refresh it every 5 minutes. pffftt, a website as old as time itself

    26. have you seen cyan
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I see casuals have been rewarded with a goal. This is good, it will make them think he is good for the next 8 weeks (they probably have Gray as well, and Antonio).