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12 August 2026 68 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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If you’re about to go on holiday, want to squeeze in some advice before the Gameweek 1 deadline, or generally enjoy reading about Fantasy Premier League (FPL) strategy, it’s worth checking out ‘The FPL Playbook.’

Available on Kindle (£6.95) and in paperback (£12.95), author Gregory J Zuckerman goes into detail about how managers can use the six Fs – form, fixtures, forward planning, full commitment, finer details and fortitude – to avoid classic traps and improve the way they make each key Fantasy decision.

The FPL Playbook is the ultimate guide for fantasy football managers who want to ditch gut instinct and master the numbers game.

Blending sharp statistical insight with cold, calculated strategy, this book unveils the hidden patterns, mathematical models, and data-driven truths behind consistent FPL success.

The book dishes out advice about how to correctly use statistics, but then reinforce the advantage by having a particular mentality.

Hopefully, it can help improve your rank and help you win mini-leagues in 2026/27!


FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

68 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    2 hours, 2 mins ago

    Could never ditch gut-instinct to have a slightly better rank. No-one cares about our FPL ranks apart from us ;))

  2. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 hour, 59 mins ago

    Bring back WH Smiths so I can buy this book!

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 hour, 31 mins ago

      Do you have Trigger Lips book?

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 hour, 23 mins ago

        I have a signed first edition.

        1. Jaws
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          1 hour, 8 mins ago

          There never was a second edition

  3. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    1 hour, 55 mins ago

    United after Jorge Salinas. 19 year old who can play LB and CB. Doubt he'd dislodge Shaw straight away, but the competition would be there.

    1. Boydinho
      • 11 Years
      1 hour ago

      Thought Atletico had snared him, anyways i like that bet or Matehalie over the likes of Raum or those older duds.

      1. Raoul Nogues
        2 mins ago

        Methalie is expected at Sunderland

  4. TafOnTour1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 hour, 43 mins ago

    Pretty darned happy with this team, what we thinking here guys?!

    Lammens (Dubravka)

    Calafiori, Palestra, Muharemovic (Hume, Van Ewijk)

    Bruno Guimaraes, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Cunha, Wirtz

    Haaland, Joao Pedro (Walle Egeli).

  5. FantasyClub
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 36 mins ago

    Cant decide lads...
    A) kerkez
    B) Gavrdiol
    C) palestra
    D) double up on ARS defence

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 23 mins ago

      Which double Arsenal defence?

    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      18 mins ago

      C

  6. Stimps
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 36 mins ago

    A) Shaw, Bollard
    B) Maguire, Hume

    1. FantasyClub
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 16 mins ago

      B

  7. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 hour, 31 mins ago

    Subway Socceroo Lucas Herrington having a medical at Hull. If he’s 4.0m he’s in! Can’t underestimate growing up on a diet of toast and vegemite, meat pies, succulent prawns and lots of meat! He is commended to all.

  8. Sabz_1111
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 22 mins ago

    Am I mad for considering Hinshelwood? Just a gut feel but those have proven to be wrong over and over again. Thoughts? Him or Gross?

    1. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      36 mins ago

      Think there are good arguments for Hinsh, Gross and Gomez. Definitely can have one of these depending on your budget and set up.

    2. The vagus nerve can never be underestimated! Tis the feasting nerve after all!

  9. BR510
    1 hour ago

    Kinsky Verbruggen
    Calafiori Palestra Shaw Hume Davis
    Bruno Palmer Mbeumo Tzolis Semenyo
    Isak Pedro DCL

    BB1

    1. Raoul Nogues
      23 mins ago

      Close to mine but different
      I have Haaland but no Ars/Liv/Che
      Calafiori-Palestra-> Ajer-Bogle
      Isak-Pedro-Palmer->Haaland-Bournemouth (Evanilson or Kluivert)-Palace (Mateta or Sarr)
      Tzolis-> KDH Garner or 5.5 midfield
      Kinsky -> 4.5 or 5 Villa keeper

    2. Wooohooo you got an answer! Persistence is to character as carbon is to steel!

  10. Mother Farke
    • 2 Years
    59 mins ago

    UCL fantasy is live.

    1. To the ramparts, quickly!

    2. Boydinho
      • 11 Years
      29 mins ago

      "Haha building a team w/o knowing the games is crazy"
      *Starts tinkering*

  11. davewg59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    46 mins ago

    Why no love for Dango Outtara?

    1. Why do you think we should love him? Explain yourself.

      1. davewg59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        13 mins ago

        His stats were pretty good last season. Why such low ownership?

        1. I’m guessing many will have Bruno, Mbeumo, Szob in a 3-4-3 which just leaves one spot left. A lot of competition for that spot.

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      21 mins ago

      Because there is a plethora of mids which are very kindly priced, playing for better team and\or with fpl pedigree.

      1. davewg59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        18 mins ago

        Who is in a better team?

        1. el polako
          • 9 Years
          14 mins ago

          What do you mean who?
          All the top teams picks priced between 7-8m

          Starting with Foden for example.

          1. davewg59
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            12 mins ago

            Ok fair enough but i am referring to a 6.5 but never mind

            1. el polako
              • 9 Years
              10 mins ago

              I didn’t say matching in price, I’ve said kindly priced.

              But even if you look at 6.5m and below you get the like os Ndiaye 0.5m cheaper, nailed and on pens or Le Fee cheaper and on pens and set pieces.

        2. Nomar
          • 16 Years
          7 mins ago

          Sangaré is worth a punt imo.

          Keith Andrew’s has already said he’s going to have a huge part to play and Brentford aren’t loaded like Chelsea, Arsenal and City, so these are the types of player teams like Brentford start every week until they get injured.

  12. PogChamp
    • 14 Years
    43 mins ago

    Limited time means I can only do a few drafts. How this looking?

    Kinsky
    Nunes Shaw Mosquera
    Bruno Foden Le Fee Ndiaye Groß
    Isak Haaland

    ——

    Dubravka Hume Kayode Wright

    1. Given the limited time, it’ll do for now.

  13. Powers106
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    42 mins ago

    Have any 4.5 mids emerged as starters (I realize they are 1 pointers at best but might as well pick one that plays!)?

    1. Slater at Hull.

    2. Raoul Nogues
      28 mins ago

      I would rather have a 4.5 defender and and a 5.0 playing midfielder

      1. Fitzy.
        • 14 Years
        23 mins ago

        Who you dropping from your other front 7 to play one?

        1. Raoul Nogues
          4 mins ago

          Unless specific circumstnces, he would stay on the bench

        2. Powers106
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 min ago

          I have Slater now but just for bench - starting 7 are:
          Bruno - Mbeumo - Semenyo - Sadiki (Slater)
          JP - Haaland - Isak

  14. Zimo
    • 8 Years
    38 mins ago

    Ballard or Muharemovic?

    1. Both good, I like the latter.

  15. Falafel333
    • 4 Years
    32 mins ago

    Any thoughts on Tsoliz? Will he be a starter for the first GWs?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      30 mins ago

      Maybe first 3, at max

      1. Falafel333
        • 4 Years
        23 mins ago

        Hmm yeah I agree

      2. Jaws
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        8 mins ago

        Have you ever seen him play?

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      27 mins ago

      Most talented winger league have seen since George Best.

      1. Mother Farke
        • 2 Years
        24 mins ago

        Georgios Bestos?

        1. el polako
          • 9 Years
          13 mins ago

          🙂

      2. Nomar
        • 16 Years
        just now

        That’s not the issue though. The problem is there’s Eze, Odegaard, Saka, Madueke, Bruno G, Martinelli, Rice, Dowman, amongst others. They don’t all play the same position but they equally can’t all play at the same time.

        Tzolis may well nail down a starting spot, but at the moment we’re fairly certain he starts GW1 because Saka will be rested, but after that it gets a bit murky.

  16. Falafel333
    • 4 Years
    31 mins ago

    A- Palmer and DCL
    B- Tsoliz and Isak

  17. In Carrick we trust
    • 9 Years
    23 mins ago

    How this team looking?
    Open to feedback and help,

    Kinksy
    Shaw, neco Williams, Mosquera
    Semenyo, gross, Bruno Fernandes,
    Szoboszlai
    Haaland, Calvert lewin, Pedro

    Bench, petrovic, sangare, ajer, van Ewijk

    1. HotCrossGuns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 mins ago

      On the basis that it's almost 100% template, yeah looks good :p

    2. Looks fine for now.

  18. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    22 mins ago

    Team 1 - No WC No BB

    Kinsky
    Shaw - Mykolenko - Reinildo
    Bruno - Semenyo - Mbeumo - Wirtz
    Haaland - Pedro - DCL

    Dubravka - Mitchel - Slater - Thomas

    GW 4 - Bruno + Reinildo + Shaw ➡ Palmer + Palestra + Munoz

    Team 2 - BB 1 WC 4

    Lammens - Verbruggen
    White - Mosquera - Gvardiol - Palestra - Hume
    Bruno - Semenyo - Mbeumo - Tzolis - ELF
    Isak - Pedro - Brobbey

    0.5m in the bank

    GW 2 - Save
    GW 3 - Bruno + Pedro ➡ Haaland + Slater
    GW 4 - WC

    Gotta decide between these two paths.

    Team 1 (saves the chips) or Team 2 (fast start) ?

    1. Is it locked for now, locked for now, buuuuck, buck, buck buck, buck!

    2. Raoul Nogues
      just now

      Team 1 !

  19. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    19 mins ago

    Better 4.5 pick?

    A: Cash
    B: Aina

    1. Only a nihilist could answer this!

    2. el polako
      • 9 Years
      12 mins ago

      Aina all about Cash?

    3. Raoul Nogues
      just now

      A safer

  20. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    11 mins ago

    Who are at 4.5m the best DefCon CBs? Looking for 2x 4.5m CBs

  21. Jaws
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    10 mins ago

    I've seen about 25 games from Tzolis last season and it baffles me that many people already have an opinion about him without ever seeing him play.
    Martinelli will have to up his game or he'll only play Cup games. In fact he hope Arsenal can still sell him & buy another LW. It's obvious why Arteta rates Tzolis,
    since his workrate is out of this world. FPL-wise I think this bodes well especially for Calafiori (assuming he stays fit), since there will be numerous positional overlaps on left wing.

  22. lilmessipran
    • 14 Years
    7 mins ago

    If you are settled on an early WC like Gw4, isn't it better to start with a Thiago/Brobbey over Pedro? Better fixtures for both, yet I don't see either in any draft at all.

    1. WVA
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 mins ago

      Better not to plan an early WC

  23. SIMBOBIANTHEIII
    just now

    Mbuemo or Rogers + 0.5
    Thanks