Podcast

Meet the Manager #5 – Matthew Jones (aka Numb)

In what proved to be a perfectly timed Meet the Manager interview, we caught up with Matthew Jones (known as Numb round these parts) just days after he reached the summit of our Live Hall of Fame for the first time.

In this series, we meet a manager with an exceptional track record in their Fantasy Premier League and find out their strategies for success as well as gathering some top tips for the current campaign.

With seven top 10,000 finishes, including three in the top 500, across his previous nine seasons, Matthew has indeed had an exceptional career.

In fact, his lowest ever finish is still a highly respectable 15,353 and with a rank just outside the top 20k this time around he looks on course for another memorable season.

During the interview, he reveals how patience has proved a virtue, including during this campaign with the bulk of his Gameweek 1 team still in place as he prioritises avoiding hits and swerving short-term bandwagons.

Matthew (FPL team link here) also explains how his rigid, four-stage preparation each week has been key to his success. This strategy also helped him pull off perhaps his greatest achievement, leaping from 2,993,511 in the overall rankings in Gameweek 5 last season to the edge of the top 10,000 by the close of the campaign.

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

Previous Meet the Manager interviews:

Richard Clarke

Will Thomas

Philman

Triggerlips

READ MORE: Our guide to which FPL players are on international duty this week

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326 Comments Post a Comment
  1. CFC1990
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Thinking of this team for my WC:

    Fabianski, Patricio
    Alonso, Robertson, TAA, AWB, Doherty
    Salah, Hazard, Richarlison, Maddison, 4.4
    Arnautovic, Mitrovic, Vardy

    0m itb

    Like it?

    My concerns are no Aguero and also do i want to be fluctuating between formations?

    This allows for 4 at the back but is it wise to be benching the likes of Maddison, Arnie, Mitrovic and Richarlison, even with tough fixtures?

    Currently 31k and managed to get 2k last season. Not as good before that though, usually finish around the 35k mark!!

    1. Maddamotha
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Too much money on the bench for my taste.

    2. Pinturicchio10
        5 years, 5 months ago

        No Agüero, no likey. It's how I roll.

      • Visionaries
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Really nice. But I'd personally take some money out of defence/bench and upgrade Mitrovic

      • Dr Mulholland
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Virtually identical team to mine. I have confidence in it. I just need to have the patience to let the players score. It does feel wrong to bench one or two strong players, but at least it allows rolling with the fixtures.

        1. Dr Mulholland
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Who you planning to bench this week?

    3. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Richarlison owners who are keeping long term... will you be starting him against United (A) Chelsea (A) Liverpool (A)? If not, who are you planning to rotate him with?

      1. Pinturicchio10
          5 years, 5 months ago

          He's not in my squad but I'd start him against Untied for sure and probably only bench vs the other two if there was a really good stand-in.

        • Elly88 > KTR (Kevin The …
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I have Alonso, Mendy, Robbo, and planning to go for Doherty. I think I am sorted.

        • leo_messi
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          I'm gonna rotate him with Doherty, Kenedy and AWB during these fixtures...

        • Rotation's Alter Ego
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Not really stressing it.

          Wouldn't be that against playing him against those three, but my bench will no doubt offer up some alternatives when the time roles around, if I need it.

      2. New Post
      3. tambourineman
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Mitro goal (pen), Serbia 1-0

      4. Visionaries
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Have 2 FT's
        Holebas & Vertoghen both out. Best move?

        A Kane & Vert > Vardy & Robertson
        B Kane & Vert > Lacaz & Robertson
        C Holebas & Vert > TAA & Doherty

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          C

        2. N00B
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          C

      5. Mayo for Sam
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Choose two:

        A Kun
        B Sterling

        1 King
        2 Wilson

        1. Visionaries
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          B2, although there's barely anything between any of them

        2. N00B
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          A2

      6. anwarzaaki
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Patrucio

        Alonso Trippier Robertson Doherty Wan-Bissaka

        Maddison Hazard Salah

        Mitrovic Agüero.

        Subs:
        Speroni Fraser Jiménez Højbjerg.

        guys how is my lineUp? any advice please?

      7. N00B
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Who do you prefer to have in this 4-3-3 ?

        X
        Z Robertson TAA Doherty
        Salah Hazard Siggy
        Aguero Arnie Wilson

        A) Ederson, Alonso and 4.5 mil for 4th mid
        B) Ederson, Mendy and 5.2 mil for 4th mid
        C) Kepa, Mendy and 5.4mil for 4th mid
        D) Patricio, Mendy and 6.4 mil for 4th mid

      8. Reckoner
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Would you rather:
        a) spend money on Salah , and have this:

        Def: Alonso, Robertson, Perreira (Bennet, Wan Bissaka)
        Mid: Hazard, SALAH, Maddison, Richarlison (Hojbjerg)
        Att: Aguero, Mitro, Wilson

        or
        b) go Salahless, but spread money like this:

        Mid: Hazard, Maddison, Richarlison, RAMSEY
        Att: Aguero , Mitro, LACAZETTE

        with 2.0m in the bank to upgrade Kun>Kane or Perreira>Mendy/Trippier

        The latter team looks stronger, but Salah.....so tempted....

        1. SlowStart
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          B