Interview

Meet the Manager: Inside the minds of FPL managers

Joe chats to academic Daniel Whittaker about how Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers think and reach their decisions.

Librarian and information studies academic Daniel (@FPL_Tikka) has just completed his Masters’ dissertation on how FPL managers consume information and use it to decide on their weekly transfers, captain calls and strategies for the weeks ahead.

For this, he has surveyed and interviewed a raft of managers, from ‘hardcore’ content creators, who spend hours each week consuming statistics, to ‘casual’ managers, who spend only a few minutes each week playing the game.

He has kindly agreed to exclusively share the initial findings from his unique research with Joe for the latest in the Meet the Manager series, where we meet interesting managers with a story to tell and who are offering a unique take on FPL.

Among the most eye-catching headlines from his findings is that the FPL community model of gathering data, statistics and news each week is so successful that it could be the future of how all people use information.

He recounts some prominent examples where FPL managers in the community are outpacing mainstream sports journalists and pundits in terms of predicting player availability, tactics and the scheduling of postponed matches across the season.

Who knew last season when Jack Grealish would be available for an extended period first? Who has accurately predicted team line-ups each week? And who knows when extra games will fit into the broadcast schedule, even before the clubs themselves sometimes? These examples are just some of the ways FPL managers are teaching the world how to successfully use information, says Daniel.

Across Joe’s fascinating chat with Daniel, they consider FPL managers’ ‘high levels of information literacy’, the skills they have to refine huge chunks of data each week and the systems and strategies they put in place to help them make key decisions.

Daniel looks back on his own career history to illustrate his points, showing the exact season when he discovered trusted sources of information such as those provided by Fantasy Football Scout and key voices in the FPL Twitter community.

This interview was filmed ahead of Saturday’s deadline, so Daniel also talks through his Gameweek 29 team and transfer plans as he targets a strong finish.

Joe’s chat with Daniel can be viewed below.

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

214 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bruno Commando
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 15 days ago

    Looking to ship out Digne and/or Dennis for BGW30 but not sure who's the best player to get...

    A) Saiss
    B) Coady
    C) Jimi
    D) Toney
    E) Take hit and sell both of them. For A/B and C/D?

    1. Confusedleedsfan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Wolves is difficult. Their defensive stats still aren’t good so investing for the long haul is probably not the best, and most of the top 10k are shifting wolves assets out. Their attacking returns also spread through the team.

      So maybe just Dennis to Toney if you can?

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Thanks mate! Didn't know that the top 10K are shifting Wolves assets out. Yes, I can do Dennis to Toney.

        I guess no need for a hit then, given that there are not many good defenders left. Already have Doherty and Tierney for the BGW, and not looking to sell any of TAA and Cancelo...

  2. The future of FPL as algorithmic models improve
    Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 15 days ago

    Very interesting interview, thanks for posting, and thanks to FPL_Tikka for the really helpful insights.

    My own concern about the future of FPL is that as algorithmic models get better, and as FPL managers we develop a better understanding of our own biases, the predictive side of the game will get so good that playing FPL will be a simple case of trying to second-guess team selections. This hands a huge bias to industry professionals and others in the know.

    It's a small dataset, but since I started being much stricter in my statistical approach around halfway through the season (if you are familiar with my statistical analyses such as they are on the community pages from time to time you will know that I believe there are certain stats which I find more predictive than others) and tried to ignore knee-jerks and bandwagons, my rank has improved massively (500-600k to 72k currently). And my method is far from perfect. It's not even a model, just a key stat selection process really. As algorithms (free and paid) get better and more and more managers begin to use them, I think it's going to be harder and harder for decent managers to differentiate between themselves and the rest. I don't think we're there yet, maybe five seasons away, but I think the game is set to change dramatically from what it once was.

    1. Confusedleedsfan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Yep, the art of the game is being squeezed out a little isn’t it. It’s still fun mind 🙂

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        It's still fun! But we may need to temper our expectations a bit. A couple of years ago I thought 'never again finishing outside the top 100k again' would be a reasonable expectation. I have since finished outside the top 100k twice in a row..

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      I think this season has been much kinder to stat heads than in the past. There is still so much variance. And football is not like some other sports that can be analyzed and grinded down to the numbers. There are still no stats that can measure things like predatory instinct or understanding of space.

      From a fantasy side there are still loads of points that the 'template' doesn't pick up. Matty Cash for instance or Toney now. Bowen earlier in the season before we finally bought him.

      There is still an edge for managers willing to take some risks. Timing is also hugely important in FPL. If you owned Reece James for his run of amazing form vs getting him after it for a string of 1s and 0s.

      I'm not worried about FPL being solved if that's the concern.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        FPL? Completed it mate...

        I hope you're right Camzy. I think my pessimism comes from consuming more and more FPL-related content than ever before. You get exposed to more statistical models and more and more people who claim, either themselves or in relation to others, anecdotally, that they are on the verge of if not beating the system then something pretty close. The logical follow-on to that would be for people to monetise it, and for those paying for that help to end up occupying the top OR tiers.

        As you say, this season has been a bit of a godsend, even though I have not followed my own advice nearly enough.
        The key thing I have learned is that you can't mix two strategies. If, like me, you don't watch football much if at all you have to decide where you get your information: stats, word of mouth etc. I go heavy on stats, but I have learned you can't pick a good player based on good underlying numbers and then ditch him for someone like Cornet because the latter has scored the more actual points in the last few and he becomes a bandwagon. I actually started the season with Bowen and ditched him for Benrahma, I got on James before most people, just in time for his first injury in September and then was late to him when he started returning. I need to follow my own philosophy and not abandon bits of it it I don't see immediate returns.

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        I agree. New manager bounces, tactical twists, player's behaviour, class, form, sharpness etc will be very difficult to predict. Therefore this game will continue to get tougher, but good fpl managers will still usually win those aren't as good. No matter how much computing, stats would have suggested Ramsey over Coutinho for example, I believe. I have heard that were times when following FFS template was enough to get into top 10k. More players and more YouTube channels have already made this game more difficult, but I can't see any algorithm solving the puzzle anytime "soon".

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 14 days ago

          Stats would never have suggested Ramsey over Coutinho. Coutinho's long and short term underlying stats are miles better than Ramsey.

      3. Flair
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 14 days ago

        xG covers predatory instinct and understanding of space just fine where it matters for FPL.

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      I would like to think that there would at least still be a place for human intelligence in collating these stats & applying them to specific matchups between teams/players, i.e. using them in a more predictive sense rather than just analytically. But maybe algorithms could simulate this effectively soon?

      Really interesting question & post. Haven't been able to watch the video yet but will definitely check it out at lunch

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        I think the one thing algos have is limitless patience! Not something we as FPL managers are famous for being blessed with...

        I don't want to misrepresent the video with my post though, this aspect is only one of many discussed, a lot of the discussion is around decision making, bias, information sources etc., but it's still a very interesting factor and discussion to be had.

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Ville Rönkä has been famous with that approach, but it hasn't worked out that well lately. Another significant strategical decision is when to make transfers. Which bandwagons are worth jumping on and which not. Late transfers give more time for better decision making, but early ones give higher TV, which can be very helpful during last quarter of the game. Those who make correct early transfers that don't backfire are likely to have advantage. There won't be model for this anytime soon.

    4. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      For so long, scouting players in the real world was about the eye test. Now, big data has almost completely taken over the process

      Heck, 21st Century Medicine is basically data in motion. It's one of the reasons I left: if I innovate freely on my patients, I'd probably lose my licence and/or end up jailed (maybe rightly so). That was more normal in the pre-1960s. You have to follow what the evidence shows; all the steps laid out for you. No biases or "big brain" ideas. Just adjust the data to your current situation

      It's not just FPL or places where you expect stats to rule. It's humanity as a whole, and it's been sped up exponentially by the Internet

      I consider it a good thing, though. More time to focus on creativity

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        For the FPL part: I agree with Camzy and co: there are still aspects of this game (and humanity in general) where creativity and instincts come in, and there are still things that the popular stats don't pick up (yet)

        The game's still fun. It's still about the template and a few differentials, and the huge variance of captains, chips and absences

      2. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        One area where think eye test may still give an edge on stats though is movement off the ball. Obviously this is tracked to some extent by heat maps but there's still the classic situation where e.g. a player takes up a dangerous position in the box but the player on the ball makes bad decision / the pass to him doesnt quite pan out

        1. Ze_Austin
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Classic example: Vardy's stats

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          I agree with this. Then there are also some other facts that stats don't tell. Cancelo for example used to shoot a lot two seasons ago, but his shots were soft and often direct to gk, so they were flattering but deceived. Yesterday his shot on the post was exact opposite.

      3. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Very interesting, yes, I think the FPL parallel to being struck off as a medical practitioner (not really comparable!) is the 1m+ rank which will sit forever on the scorecard should any of us try a genuinely maverick approach to a given season.

        Case in point - the ONE time I actively tried to push for a top 10k finish on the last day of the (19-20) season, I was on about 50k and went for a maverick Sterling captaincy rather than the template KdB. KdB did well, Sterling flopped, and I ended up on 108k - the first finish outside of the top 100k for five years.

        On the whole we are an incredibly conservative community for reasons such as this - fear of being too different and being left behind.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Stats get you a high score, they dont win

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Lesson learned. Don't be in so risky position before last gw 😉 During my best season so far I didn't attack with differential C when I should have and thought that I'll be able to climb to top 10k with the safe pick. I ended up missing top 10k with exactly 1 point. Lesson learned, don't be too risk averse either.

          1. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            This is an interesting lesson actually in the subjective value we place on tiers - the idea the the next rank with one fewer digits has significantly greater value.

            E.g. if you finish 10,001, the value of those two 'lost' places is significantly more than if you finish 38,001. This is an artificial construct, but considering how FPL managers tend to place the same value on OR tiers it helps us too.

            If you are at 11k going into week 38 you can throw the kitchen sink at a good rank with an 89k safety net between you and the the six-figure rank tier. If you are at 50k and you take the same gamble you risk losing more. The second manager might lose 51k places in the gamble and feel worse about it than the first manger who loses, say, 80k places.

      4. @persecuted_by_mods
          2 years, 15 days ago

          That -4 hit you took on my liver wasn't appreciated

      5. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 14 days ago

        Similar questions have been asked from time to time about the future of chess.

        Unlike FPL, there are no random external factors in chess that cannot theoretically be predicted. If all lines of play in chess could be analysed to their conclusion then it would theoretically be possible to play perfectly - but the problem is that the number of possible games is so astronomically huge that this has not yet happened.

        Some early chess champions were said to be able to conjure up attacks out of nothing, but this was not quite true. The potential for their attacks was already inherent in their positions, but they were just better at making the most of the possibilities.

        Jose Raoul Capablanca thought that the game was too easy, and he proposed a new version on a larger board and with additional pieces - then he lost his world title to Alexander Alekhine.

        In the 1930s, Aaron Niemzowitsch and other hyper-moderns introduced a style of positional play in which the smallest weaknesses in pawn formations could be exploited and therefore ought to be avoided. This led to over-cautious play and excessive numbers of drawn games, and again chess appeared to be in danger of being played out.

        After the war, however, a new and more risky style of play emerged in which players aimed for unbalanced positions where positional weaknesses were acceptable if compensated for by dynamic strengths

        Bobby Fischer thought that the openings had been analysed to death, and invented a new version called Fischer Random or Chess960.

        More recently, computer chess programs have made a tremendous difference to opening preparation, but this has not prevented the top players from continually producing amazing new ideas.

        1. Lord.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 14 days ago

          The best chess programs now perform at the level of top grandmasters, which did spoil it for me, as well as introducing new ways of cheating for humans playing competitively. If it came to that in fpl I’d probably wonder if there was any point in still playing.

          1. Yank Revolution
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 14 days ago

            And the best grandmasters are capable of almost 'perfect' play.

      6. FPL Tikka
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 14 days ago

        Really enjoyed reading this thread. Lots of ideas I hadn't considered.

        I'm more optimistic. I think the difference with something like chess is that in FPL we are dealing with predictions in the real world. There are millions? of permutations in chess but they are conceivably calculable. I don't think anyone can ever predict future real world events in the same way; the possibilities are infinite.

        Algorithmic models will probably improve a lot but there are loads of factors that statistical models will struggle to compute. Others have given some good examples, the one that springs to mind for me is TAA last season. I bought him when he was dropped by England because I thought he'd be motivated to prove the manager wrong. He finished the season strong. How can an algorithm factor in subjective human factors like motivation?

        Is it possible we could see a world where the models level the playing field for statistical data, leaving the advantage with those who can judge the qualitative human factors best?

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 14 days ago

          If you'd be interested I can share some examples of my 'research' which aims to inform decision making by ranking stats by success rates when it comes to the immediate returns in the next match.

          The thought process being that we have all sorts of stats at our disposal but some are less useful than others, and in fact we can be introducing bias by selecting some rather than others to make decisions and arguments.

          Today I had the idea of using the same dataset to try to work out the range of data (e.g. one game, four games, six games) that has the highest predictive value. Happy to discuss further over email or something if you're interested.

          1. FPL Tikka
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 13 days ago

            I'm not sure how much I could help but I'd love to hear more about your research. It sounds like it could be really useful to lots FPL managers.

            I've heard about people doing similar things with line up predictions and analysing who are the most accurate.

            Feel free to email more info: daniel.whittaker@city.ac.uk

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 13 days ago

          "Is it possible we could see a world where the models level the playing field for statistical data, leaving the advantage with those who can judge the qualitative human factors best?"

          We are basically living in this world already. FPL influencers are checking and sharing data they have gathered and we all are trying predict the future with this and all other info we have. I remember even having read Victor Lindelöf's wifes' blog to find out that Victor is going to have paternity leave. Understanding that foreign culture and language helped me to play fpl better 😉 Creating computer model to understand unforeseen events just isn't possible. Many of us look at RMT- tool or bookies odds, but don't trust them 100%

        3. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 13 days ago

          "How can an algorithm factor in subjective human factors like motivation?"

          Manual human interference is needed in these cases. Just like when IBM cheated with their Deep Blue 2 against Kasparov.

      7. noquarternt
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 14 days ago

        This is a good discussion, there’s too much variance though.

        You could get a comfortable rank by relying on stats and advanced models. But you can’t account for a player being injured in the warm up or random benchings (see Man City) where there is so seemingly solid predictor.

        But who knows, maybe people will become more risky to combate this…?

        1. SteJ
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 13 days ago

          A very interesting read. I guess the improvement in models will raise the bar on what you have to score to do "well", but it will be those who are "lucky" or "skilled" and go against the model in the right way and the right time that will win.
          Given the limited sample size that is a season of football, the variance swings will be huge.

        2. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 13 days ago

          Sample size for any statistical model will always be too small. When stats have certainty of something, the train has left the station. It's possible to calculate the risk of late injury and have decent bench player in that case. We are doing it already. Good players don't have too many rotation risks without bench cover. Or take calculated risks if they consider upside to be high enough.

    5. Confusedleedsfan
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Morning everyone. Advice please, if you don’t mind?

      I’m missing Coutinho and maybe a few others, but also trying to take some calculated risks / maximising the upsides on what will probably be a low scoring GW e.g. Kane and Son and Kulu will be a differential in itself

      Team…

      Ramsdale

      Cash - Saiss - Justin

      Saka - Maddison - Son - Kulu

      Kane - Laca - Bamford

      (Meslier - Barnes - Coady - Struijk)

      1. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        That's a good FH draft! I'm concerned about Bamford's minutes given he was subbed at HT.

        1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          As a Bamford owner I'd agree, although what I will say is that that was his second game in 4 days after a long time out, but he now has a 5 day break from that second game until the Wolves one so I think Marsch and he will be hoping for 60-70 mins. The question is whether he's a better choice than other Leeds assets, but even in that 45 mins against Norwich he set up Raphinha for a great chance which he hit the bar with and had a 1-on-1 himself which he should have finished. I guess it's a bit of a punt versus reliability decision. I think on FH you have to have a punt or two so it could work but have to be prepared for 1pt as well

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Bench order with Barnes and Bamford is incorrect. I would still have Raph over Bam anyway.

      3. FPL_ UP_Down
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Do you think Justin Starts ?

    6. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Ramsdale* Foster
      TAA Robbo Cancelo Saiss* Johnson*
      Foden Salah Kulu* Son* Saka*
      King Broja Weghorst

      Currently on 6 for GW30.
      1,5 ITB. 1 FH & WC.

      Foden/Weghorst -> Coutinho/Lacazette -4?

      All suggestions welcomed!

      1. Confusedleedsfan
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Laca is a good shout

        1. MIGHTY JOE
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 14 days ago

          Cheers

    7. james 101
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      On a FH

      A. Tierney
      B. Gabriel

      And why?

      1. Confusedleedsfan
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        B for goal threat and differential. But A is probably the sensible option

    8. LiamK17
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      I’ve currently got 9 players and 2FH: is this transfer a no brainer this week?

      Willock —> Barnes/Madders

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Pretty much so...

    9. boc610
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      As a pool fan I feel it would be remiss of me not to send Harry Kane's brother a luxury hamper if we manage to win the title

      1. TopBinFC
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        What about Guaita's brother?

    10. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Would you make the move Bowen > Barnes for free? to field 10...

      Ramsdale
      White-Coady-Doherty
      Coutinho-Kulusevski-Saka-Bowen**
      Kane-Jimenez

      Guaita-TAA-Cancelo-Salah-King

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Why not?!?

        1. Bavarian
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Maybe I will need him back or probably fit

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            You need him to be in form also. Sell Coutinho for him when you are disappointed with him blanking. You will want Lei assets for their doubles and you just can't bench many mid priced players for long periods of time.

            1. Bavarian
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 14 days ago

              Cheers mate

    11. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Is the free hit worth saving if you can get eight out with a hit d’you think?

      1. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Generally speaking, if you have 1 FH left & 8 players for this week with no hits, I'd be inclined to save it

      2. The Tinkerman
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Probably, as long as you can cover the highest owned players. I only lack Kane really, and plan to not play mine. Have Son and Doherty for spurs.

      3. Bruno Commando
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Depends on who your 8 are...But I think if you have Kane, Son/Kulu, Reguilon/Doc, Rams/Sa, Tierney/Gabriel, Saka/Martinelli as part of your 8, you should be fine.

        1. Cilly Bonnolly
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          It’d be Ramsdale, Coady, Davies, Son, Saka, Martinelli, Raphinha and Toney.

          1. Bruno Commando
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            I think you are pretty good. Save the FH!

            1. Cilly Bonnolly
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 15 days ago

              Cheers.

          2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            Definitely good enough to hold

    12. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Gallagher is a top player.
      If Chelsea cannot find a place for him next season, he won't lack suitors.

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Class. Has skills, hunger and atitude. Shouldn't have been carded last night either.

      2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        The only issue with him is how little he actually gets involved on the ball over the course of a match. I think The Athletic pointed it out a few months ago, this category of PL players that actually have very few touches of the ball per game but are still quite effective and opportunistic (think Vardy). It works well for a side like Palace but I'm not sure what role he'd have at Chelsea, he'd need to make himself available for the ball a lot more as Chelsea would dominate the ball more than Palace do in most games

    13. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Worth -4? Digne, Willock > Thomas, Barnes

      Would give me this for BGW30:

      Ramsdale
      Doherty, Coady, THOMAS
      Son, Saka, BARNES, Coutinho
      Lacazette

      Sanchez; Maupay, Broja, Salah, TAA, Cancelo

      1. nolard
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        no worth in Thomas really, or he will be your 5th defender?

        I would get Barnes though.

        Maupay to Jimi also an option

    14. Sgt Frank Drebin
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Which teams will possibly have a double GW33?

      1. King Kohli
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Rumoured to be Arsenal and Spurs

      2. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Leicester, Burnley, Arsenal v Spurs, maybe Man Utd, Newcastle, Brighton.

        https://mobile.twitter.com/MikkelTokvam/status/1503126087450214405/photo/1

        1. Sgt Frank Drebin
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Cheers.

    15. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Currently have 7 playing in gw 30.
      Would you do
      A. Lowton > White to make it 8 in gw 30
      B. Save FT in gw 30 and do Sa + Lowton + Son > Ramsdale + Cancelo + Havertz(-4) in gw 31.

      Sa
      Gabriel Doherty
      Son Raphinha Saka
      Kane
      (Sanchez Salah TAA James King Broja Gordon Lowton)
      0.1 ITB
      1 FH and BB still to play

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        A

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        A.

    16. TopBinFC
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Really fancy Liverpool going to the Etihad. Definitely not something they will fear, the atmosphere is hardly intimidating. As a neutral I'd love to see Liverpool smash them. Until City buy a proper striker they can forget about winning Champions League.

      1. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Chelsea won it without a proper striker, to be fair

      2. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Looking at thei defence last night if Palace can make headway there the remaining CL teams can do damage. Could get Liverpool in the quarter finals.

    17. dshv
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      FH thoughts??

      Sa
      Saiss doherty tierney
      Saka son coutinho barnes
      Lacazette Kane Toney

      1. Invincibles
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Coady over Saiss

    18. Kodap
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      On a FH, 6.6m in the bank.. any changes?

      Sa
      Tierney - Doherty - Coady
      Son - Saka - Barnes - Coutinho
      Kane - Jimi - Laca

      Raya - Amartey - Thomas - Fornals

    19. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      What do you reckon's best to have left? (Based on two different teams, both ranked around 50k, both not free-hitting in BGW30).

      a) Two Free Hits
      b) Free Hit & Bench Boost

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        A for sure, but that's not to say that you couldn't get by and still do well with just one

    20. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Who takes pens for Villa? Ings?

      1. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Not nailed on could be any one of Ings, Watkins, Coutinho or Buendia.

        El Ghazi was on pen duty but I don't think we've been awarded one since he left.

    21. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Possible FH33 WC34

      With Dennis and Broja not wanted, who are the best forwards to own for the next 3-4 weeks (not including Kane).

      Assume majority will say Toney but curious who else would you buy?

      1. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        At this point I think my transfers can be much more effectively used on mids rather than hopping between the likes of Broja/Toney/Cucho so Im sticking with Kane Broja Gelhardt 451

        1. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Sure. I can only get Kane via Salah in two moves or wait til WC34
          Otherwise midfield is Son Saka Raph Kulu so no wiggle room this week. Dennis has Liverpool 31 so happy to move on

          1. The Mentaculus
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 2 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            Tried looking at the ticker to see if I could come up with any other ideas for 31-3... only one is Bamford, at a push

            1. FPL_Crisis
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 15 days ago

              Ha maybe I’m better off playing 2-4-1 this week and having 2FT for 31

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        There are only 2 strikers worth owning imo.

        Kane and Lacazette.

        1. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Fair. Already own Ramsdale White Saka

    22. BubbaTT
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Team for 30:
      Sa
      Tierney Doherty TAA Cancelo
      Saka Kulusevic Coutinho Salah
      Kane Toney
      (Foster, Rudiger, Dennis, Willock)

      8 to play this week, already made 2 transfers (-4)
      1FH, 1BB left

      Consider transfer out Dennis and Willock for Ødegaard/Eriksen/Martinelli/Barnes and another striker.
      is it worth takling more hits?

      1. BubbaTT
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Made this transfer
        Forster to Sa
        Adams to Toney

      2. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Only if you want that mid (or maybe Lacazette) long-term, otherwise would cap the hits & go with 8

        1. BubbaTT
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Tx

    23. Invincibles
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Extra DEF this week:

      A) Saiss
      B) Doherty

      Have Coady and quite like the upside of double Wolves.

    24. CRAZY TRAIN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      Who to swap Digne out for?

      5m budget, other playing defenders Doherty & Ait Nouri (if he plays!).

      GK is Ramsdale

      1. Invincibles
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 15 days ago

        Coady/Saiss

        1. CRAZY TRAIN
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 15 days ago

          Was thinking Coady.

          1. Invincibles
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 15 days ago

            Better of the two for sure.

            1. Ze_Austin
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 15 days ago

              I wonder what happened. It used to be Saiss with the attacking threat and Coady always camped in his own half

              Ah, well. Growth 🙂

    25. Pablitto
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      ..bottomed (from yesterday)..
      Guys please advise ..
      James (CHE) and Idah (dead wood) to XXX and Toney (-4)

      XXX is max 5.9 DEF out of:

      A Coady
      B White
      C Cash
      D Regulion / Doherty

      have Tierney Ramsdale Cout Jimmy Son Kulu
      ThX 😉

    26. Float
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 15 days ago

      What should my 1FT be? 1.5 ITB


      Davies / Kilman / Digne
      Son (c) / Raphinha / Saka / Ramsey
      Jiménez / Watkins
      (Foster / Salah / Trent / Robbo / Broja)

      Broja to Toney feels pretty good, any other ideas?