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The world’s greatest Fantasy manager? An FPL Q&A with Fábio Borges

Fantasy Football Scout community writer Greyhead is the author of ‘The Great and The Good’ series, which takes a look at the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) transfers and strategies of some noted managers.

One of those Fantasy bosses is arguably the best on the planet: Fábio Borges.

Fábio is top of our Career Hall of Fame and is on course for a sixth successive top 2k finish, currently sitting at 865th in the world and with a Free Hit still left to burn.

Greyhead caught up with the elusive Fábio in the last few days for a special Q&A on his FPL strategy.


“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.”

The Greatest? I’ll let others argue over that one, but there is no doubt that Fábio Borges is quite good at this FPL lark.

He is no.1 in the Fantasy Football Scout Career Hall of Fame, has finished in the top 2,000 for the last five consecutive years, has never ended a season outside of the top 20,000, came 95th in 2018/19 and currently has another triple-digit rank this campaign.

All this and he is a member, in fact, the reigning champion, of The Great and The Good, my made-up mini-league of some of the more prominent FPL managers.

You can probably tell I’m a fan, and so having gazed admiringly from afar penning my FPL love letters through my weekly articles I was delighted when, through a mutual acquaintance, I was able to get in touch and he agreed to answer some of my burning questions (Pras and SonaldoTM)

So, let’s get to it…


Has your management style changed over the last few seasons?

Laporte injury latest as De Bruyne hauls: FPL notes

Fábio: To be honest, I don’t think it has changed much over the years. I don’t consider myself either a conservative or an aggressive manager since I think it is very important to adapt to the circumstances.

Of course, this season was a bit different than any other given the number of cancellations and Double Gameweeks, which forced me to take more hits and play a bit more aggressively than in previous seasons.

Again, I think being able to adapt to the circumstances is one of the most important skills in FPL.

Comments: Fábio has taken nine hits this season, compared to four in 2019/20, but the point about adaptability being the key skill rings true and rather than considering ourselves maverick or conservative, perhaps we should all strive to be better situational managers.


You had a slow start this season, up to about Gameweek 11/12. How do you manage such a situation, did you ever have doubts about your approach?

Fábio: Yes, of course, I am not immune to bad runs, and I probably complain a bit too much about it with some of my friends and it is something I am trying to improve on.

It is hard not to be upset when your goalkeeper loses a clean sheet at the last minute but, nowadays, whenever things don’t go my way, I just log out for a couple of days and try to forget about FPL.

Then, when I feel motivated again, I start preparing for the next Gameweek and try to make the best decisions I can possibly make with the information I have available at the time.

Comments: It’s refreshing to see that even one of the best managers gets frustrated over a captaincy blank or clean sheet wipe-out. A lesson to us all that taking time away can be the best approach.


 

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304 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    For gw37
    SA
    Cancelo james dier
    Jota sterling saka martineli kdb
    Watkins richar

    Subs dubravka saiss telles broja

    Will u do sterling to zaha and saiss to digne for -4
    Or sterling to zaha, watkins to vardy for -4?

    1. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      If KDB had scored 2 points yesterday you would never be getting him.

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Can be said about anyone tbh

      2. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Huh??? Is because i already have him. And if he score 2 pts i will still be keeping him?

    2. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      reply fail to previous page

  2. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Probably going with Salah/Mane and Son on FH which should leave a room for KDB or Kane, maybe even KDB along Vardy. Which one would you choose - KDB or Kane?

  3. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Please rate my FH team:

    Martinez
    Cash TAA Coleman
    Salah Kdb Son Zaha Gordon
    Watkins Richarlison

    0.9 left itb

    1. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      KDB points chasing

      1. The Mentaculus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Balls. KDB & Son have been the best FPL assets out there for weeks now. And OP appears have TC'd KDB this week, so theres no "chasing" with that in the bag

        1. Jock Grealish
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          easy tiger. he's been ok not immense.

          1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 11 months ago

            13 returns / 86 points in his last 9 games. "OK"

            1. Jock Grealish
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 11 months ago

              thanks nerd

              1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 11 months ago

                No problem mate:)

              2. Dennis System
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 11 months ago

                "thanks nerd" - translation "I didn't do very well this week"

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 11 months ago

                  nope. on 130. so you're wrong.

                  1. Grande Tubarão
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 11 months ago

                    Are you ok mate?

                    1. Jock Grealish
                      • 2 Years
                      1 year, 11 months ago

                      yeah thanks.

    2. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      8.25/10

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Mykolenko (WB - getting decent number of shots in recently) is probably a better option than Coleman (RCB)

    4. Your Man With The Hair
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      looks good

    5. Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      thans all

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Nice!

  4. Catalan Rangers
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Best TC this week?

    1. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Keane

    2. sulldaddy
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Buendia?
      Im trying to figure this out too.
      Lotta good SGW matchups, also good DGW player for average teams.

    3. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Maguire

  5. Your Man With The Hair
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Ings or Watkins? (on a FH)

    1. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      watkins injured maybe

  6. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Ings or Watkins? Ings as surely fit?

    1. Your Man With The Hair
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      excuse me, get your own question please!

      1. Atimis
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Haha, just in time!

    2. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I’m leaning towards ings.

      Worried even if Watkins is ‘fit’, if he feels his injury niggle a bit in the first game, I doubt they risk him in the 2nd

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Ings for me.

  7. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Do you prefer ?

    A Zaha
    B Maddison

    1. EL tridente
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Zaha. Don't think Maddison will start both games

      1. Dennis System
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        why would Maddi only play one?

        1. The Mentaculus
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          Still a slight doubt over fitness, wih recent hamstring & hip issues

    2. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A

  8. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    How is this FH looking?
    Schmeichel, (Jakupovic)
    Mykolenko, Cancelo, Cash, (Andersen), (Tsimikas)
    Salah, Son, Zaha, Gordon, De Bruyne
    Ings, Richarlison (Gelhardt)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Like it, especially the midfield

  9. akhilrajau
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    A. Pickford, Butland
    Cash, Digne, Robertson, Anderson, Mykolenko
    HmZaha, Son, Salah, Coutinho, Gray/Gordan
    Vardy, Richalison, Mateta
    Bank: 0.2/0.9

    A. Pickford, Butland
    Cash, Digne, Robertson, Anderson, Mykolenko
    HmZaha, Son, Sterling, Coutinho, Luis Diaz
    Vardy, Richalison, Mateta
    Bank: 0.2

    which FH team is good for 352. or any other improvements?

  10. BHA_Seagull
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Can't afford Zaha.
    Eze or Gallagher for a one week punt before FH

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Olise

    2. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      palace don't have amazing fixtures in the dgw

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Trossard or neto

  11. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Journo described NLD as "virtually winner takes all", because we *must* use clichéd sensationalism even when it's not appropriate 😆

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      *Got a headache*
      It's practically life or death

      *locked of home*
      He's almost literally homeless

      *Earns same salary as parents*
      It's a pretty much a rags-to-riches story

      etc

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        "I bought my own house and set up my own business at 19"
        *with the millions I got from my rich parents

  12. One More Hit
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    To accommodate Dennis to Richarlison, which I think is a no-brainer, I either need:

    1) Salah to Son
    2) Laporte to 4.1m fodder, possibly Amartey, won't be looking to play him either way.

    I've got 2FT. I've absolutely no idea which is the better route; I'll be waiting until after the cup final for sure.

    I'm annoyed as to how Salah sellers have largely been proven right, but the one week I've had Son (FH33) I got punished for selling Salah.

    What do you reckon?

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Laporte. He might not play again this season

  13. Stimps
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    On FH

    Gordon or Barnes / Maddison?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Maddison

  14. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    H37 Draft… thoughts please:

    Pickford
    TAA Cash Digne
    Salah Son KDB Zaha Gordon
    Richarlison Ings

    Steele Nketiah Kelly Tsimikas

    0.0 itb

    Thanks

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Like it, as good as mine below with Kane and one with KDB

  15. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Which FH team do you prefer?

    A)
    Pickford (Steele)
    TAA, Cash, Mykolenko (Andersen, Tsimikas)
    Salah, Son, Zaha, Kulu (KDH)
    Kane, Ings, Rich

    B)
    Pickford (Steele)
    Digne, Cash, Mykolenko (Amartey, Tsimikas)
    Salah, Son, KDB, Gordon (Brownhill)
    Kane, Ings, Rich

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      The Kane Son KDB looks like a great setup!!

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Thanks! Enough doublers?
        Not too many eggs in the point chasing SGW player basket?

        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          And of course weak bench

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      How’s b possible? You’ve got 4 Everton?

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Yes, sorry, noticed that now. Will have Ramsey instead of Gordon if confirmed fit, or KDH

        1. Grande Tubarão
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 2 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          Nice. Think I prefer B with KDH

          1. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 11 months ago

            Cheers and GL, mate

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Makes me want to lose the NLD. But it does sound like there's something in it for the winner too

  16. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Schmeichel
    TAA Robbo Cancelo Alonso
    Salah KDB Coutinho Saka Gordon
    Watkins
    (dubravka broja schar gelhardt)
    1FT 1.0M ITB

    Any suggestions?? Really dont like Watkins or Coutinho

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Coutinho to Zaha or Maddison. See if there's any news on Watkins.

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        This

  17. Harvey_27
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Who to Zaha?
    A) Kulu
    B) Saka

    Who to captain?
    A) Zaha
    B) Cash
    C) Kane

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      BC

  18. TopBinFC
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Have FH left. Thinking of playing it this week but I fear I may only have a 8 or 9 players then on Final day GW38. Will Klopp rest Salah, Trent etc on final day? We can assume city will beat west ham.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Uh.. If City and Liverpool win their next games. Liverpool will probably try to win the final game by as many goals as possible in case City loses...?

      1. TopBinFC
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        City aint losing to Villa at home, lets be realistic. Champions League final 6 days later and Liverpool players look tired.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          You think Liverpool will give up even when there's a real chance? Even if there's a slim chance?

          1. TopBinFC
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 11 months ago

            No, thats not what I'm saying. Theyve rested TAA and Salah in recent week so dont see why they wouldnt do the same final day.

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              1 year, 11 months ago

              Pool will try until the last minute and why can't villa win at city ???craziest things have already happened

            2. Deulofail
              • 8 Years
              1 year, 11 months ago

              To try and win the league. Let's say they reduce the GD to -5 in the next game, then if City lose by 1 goal on the final day, Liverpool need to win by 4 goals to win the league. I think they would try to win by 4 goals in that scenario, in the off-chance that City lose. And that would probably mean playing Salah and TAA. Even if they don't make it to +4 goals, City might lose by more than 1.

              Maybe you're right in the scenario that that City have beaten West Ham and they are 10 goals ahead of Liverpool. I don't know what Klopp's threshold would be, or what would go down well with the fans and higher-ups.

              1. TopBinFC
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 11 months ago

                Good points, just my opinion, the league is done and dusted. Only ones who think anything else are delusional Liverpool fans.

                1. No Kane No Gain
                  • 5 Years
                  1 year, 11 months ago

                  I agree, but klopp can’t just say it’s done so I’m going to play tsimikas joe Gomez and origi for the final 2 games.

                  He has to try till the last minute.

                  He will try the league until the end but probably have an eye or 2 on the champs
                  League final as well

    2. TopBinFC
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Team for this GW is

      Pickford
      Matip, TAA, Cancelo, Dias (Cash or Digne)
      Gordon, Son, KDB, Salah, Saka,
      Pukki

  19. FlockofSeagulls
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Hello.

    Can someone please confirm my worse fears that I can't play my 2 free hit chips in consecutive game weeks?

    1. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      I'm afraid your fears are correct.

      1. FlockofSeagulls
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Thanks for the reply.

        I'm so stupid for not knowing this. Based my whole strategy around it.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          They tried to make it clear, but people are bound to slip through the net. They shouldn't have changed the game rules halfway through the season.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Correct

  20. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    What's better on FH?

    A TAA, Cash, Gordon with a solid bench.
    B Robertson, Mykolenko, Maddison with an awful bench.

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Would take the chance on B

      1. Traction Engine Foot
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Thanks

    2. TopBinFC
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B, I'd say all them 3 will start

  21. NaranjaMecanica
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Hi,

    Big dilemma here.. Got FH and TC left and 6 points lead in the ML at the moment.
    Nr2 in the ML has only FH left, doesn't have Salah but does have Son and TAA.

    Current team:
    Pickford (Schmeichel)
    Cancelo - Tavares - James (Thomas - Dier)
    Salah - Kulusevski - Maddison - Mount - Gordon
    Kane - Nketiah (Dennis)

    Option A: Play TC (Get Richarlison and budget defender like Cash for -4 and TC Richarlison)
    Option B: Play Free Hit and see if I still have a lead and act accordingly with the transfer(s)

    Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B, but it's close...

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B and TC Son/Kane in 38

  22. Malkmus
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    A'noon all. 1FT, 0.1 ITB. I'm thinking of saving FT this gw, and then getting Son in for gw38 - my main rival has him. Agree with that?

    Ramsdale
    TTA - Robbo - Cancelo - James
    Salah - Kulu - KDB - Saka - Martinelli
    Richa

    Subs - Dennis, Davies, Gelhardt

    Ta!

  23. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    a vvd and digne
    b robertson and andersen

    Have cash already

    thanks

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        Cheers

  24. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Free hit A or B? Thanks :

    A
    Pickford
    TAA / Digne / Cash
    KDB / Son / Jota (or Diaz) / Zaha
    Vardy / Watkins (or Ings) / Richarlison

    Steele, Gordon, Ait Nouri, Tsimikas

    B
    Pickford
    Robbo / Digne / Cash
    Salah / KDB / Son / Maddison
    Richarlison / Watkins(or Ings) / Richarlison

    Steele, Andersen, Tsimikas, Richardson

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Oops sorry B is :

      Pickford
      Robbo / Digne / Cash
      Salah / KDB / Son / Zaha / Maddison
      Richarlison / Watkins (or Ings)

      Steele, Andersen, Tsimikas, Richardson

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        B still ( well you can move if you want 🙂 )

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B

  25. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Anyone with some thoughts on:

    KDB vs Kane

    and

    Salah vs Mane

    ?

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Kane and see what happens in the final but I'd go salah

    2. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Similar question below. You considered Kane, KDB and Jota?

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        I think Salah can easily do a kdb v Southampton

  26. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    If you could only have two on FH, which two?

    A. Salah
    B. Kane
    C. KDB

    1. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      If you own Son > Salah-KDB
      If not Salah-Kane

      1. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 11 months ago

        What about Son-Kane-KDB-Jota? No salah?

        1. Bavarian
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 11 months ago

          High risk going without Salah this GW, I can feel the hattrick

          1. Bavarian
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 11 months ago

            Golden boot between Salah and Son and both are essentials

    2. ryacoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      A and B for me

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      AC

    4. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Been set on A C but having second thoughts now

  27. The Final Boss
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Guys saka starting chances today?

    1. tokara
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      Tell u on 6hrs

  28. ryacoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    Start:

    A) Cancelo vs whu
    B) James vs LEI (assuming he starts in FA Cup final)

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 11 months ago

      B

  29. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 11 months ago

    1. TAA Gordon
    2. Mykolenko Diaz

    Best for FH37 ?