Podcast

Meet the Manager #12 – Aleksander Våge Nilsen

Being able to visualise future moves has been key to Aleksander Våge Nilsen’s successful Fantasy Premier League career.

Each season he creates a spreadsheet that allows him to see his best line-up in any given Gameweek.

Based around fixtures this bespoke Rate My Team tool has helped Aleksander pinpoint the optimal times to ditch players and the best replacements.

It’s clearly been a great asset in his Fantasy management armoury, with two top 500 finishes, another in the top 2,000 and two overall ranks just outside the top 10,000, to put him fifth in our Live Hall of Fame.

This season his trusty spreadsheet has been particularly fruitful, seeing him rocket to 104thin the world.

During our chat, he also reveals how following top Premier League players on Instagram gives him vital knowledge before deadlines and why having a full squad of players helps him avoid unnecessary hits.

He also explains why Norwegians, who take up 13 of the top 100 places, are so good at FPL and how being a Liverpool fan has proved costly in the past to his overall rank.

Guided by his spreadsheet he also gives a rundown of his next likely moves, with impending blank and double Gameweeks set to influence his decisions.

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

Previous Meet the Manager interviews:

Mark Sutherns

Mark McGettigan

Marc Rubinstein

Kenneth Tang

Jay Egersdorff

Adam Hopcroft

Matthew Jones

Richard Clarke

Will Thomas

Philman

Triggerlips

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £10.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

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

576 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pluge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    What are your opinions on having several players from both sides of the same fixture? I'm generally against it, as I feel it lowers your point ceiling and am considering the best approach to navigate the possible dgw25 and bgw27 when liverpool play man u, where I like many others own several liverpool and man u assets.

    1. fridge
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Generally don't like it but sometimes unavoidable. Think it's worse if you have defenders from one with little attacking intent though

    2. Ohh1454
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I was thinking about the same problem, free hit crossed my mind but I want to save it for one of the DGW

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Since its for only 1 week, not really an issue, especially if they are attacking players... sooner or later, premium assets will play against each other, so cant do anything

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

      Not a big deal if both are attackers or defenders.

  2. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Darn Norwegians, they're too good at this!

    1. Sir Edo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      But the best are probably the Finnish FPL players. Take in consideration that national sport are javelin and ski jumping.
      3 in top 15 in Live rank. I think the Nordic countries are quite great FPL managers in general, must be the logical thinking moment.. 🙂

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Think I'm dragging us Finns back this season 😀

        1. KUNingas
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Same here!

      2. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I tought that the ice hokey is the most popular sport in Finnland. However, I think that success in FPL is not related to given country the most popular sport. For example, there are lot good players from India, where I may assume football is not very popular. IMHO success in FPL is more related to analitical skills which are connecte with math than your national sport.

  3. fridge
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Loved my midfield a couple of weeks ago, now I want to get rid of 3 of them!

    Foster
    Robbo. Digne. Doherty
    Salah. Haz. Pog. Rich. Fanderson
    Rash. Jiminez

    Speroni. Bednarek. AWB. Kamara

    A) Fanderson > Sane
    B) Richarlison > Sane
    C) Hazard & Fanderson > Sterling & Sane (-4)
    D)Save

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      B

    3. Pinturicchio10
        5 years, 2 months ago

        D

      • Runaway
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Wait until the deadline, if DGW25 is confirmed A, if not D.

      • Chelsea91
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        B

      • zdrojo187
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        A
        Not B against Huddersfield

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

      1FT 1.8ITB. Do I roll FT with this?

      Fabianski
      Robbo Digne Doherty TAA
      Anderson Salah Hazard Pogba
      Auba Jimenez

      Boruc AWB Højbjerg Kamara

      1. fridge
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'd save that

    5. mik-hail-tal
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone thinking of playing Button (ful) over Fabianski (wol) ?
      Fulham 3 goals in their last 4 home fixtures and Button might be playing his last match in a while, point to proof?

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, play Button.

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

        I'm doing Hamer->Button this week to play him.

      3. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Button definitely playing?
        Are Australia still in the Asia cup?

        1. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Just checked - they play the hosts (UAE) today.

        2. mik-hail-tal
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          They have a game today vs United Arab Emirates.

      4. zdrojo187
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Same problem...
        1. West Ham will keep possession in this match + Saves from Fabianski
        2. Fulham MUST win this match...so probably no CS for Button

    6. boc610
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Alonso dropped by sarri last night?

      1. Dannywaz
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Gona say yep if he plays against sheff wed he's done

        1. Tshelby
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          You think so?

      2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Hopefully, Emerson was quality and Sarri said the only thing holding him back from the dquad was the need for a taller squad for set pieces, with Higgy coming in we may see Emerson feature permanently now.

        1. Runaway
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Higuain is shorter than Morata and Giroud which were in the squad most of the weeks. I don't think Higuain would enable Emerson.

      3. Dannyb
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I don't actually think Alonso is a very good footballer and never have really. Wouldn't be surprised if he was dropped.

    7. Jimbo-Jones
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Anything urgent or roll the FT?

      Fabianski
      Robertson Digne Doherty WanB
      Pogba Hazard Salah Anderson
      Auba Rashford

      Guaita Rondon Chambers Masuaku
      1ft, 0.1itb

      1. Pinturicchio10
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Save

        • dbeck
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Roll

      2. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        How did L.Moura look yesterday? Initial benching and penalty miss didn't really help his appeal.

      3. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        TC Hazard if there's a double GW25 anyone?

        1. Robson-Canoe
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          (2+3)x3= 15 pts - nice

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

          Considering it.

        3. Konstaapeli
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I know the risk's but will most likely do it.

        4. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I would never captain him, let alone triple captain. Not for me. Hazard is fixture proof in the worst way - fixtures have very little bearing on whether he scores or not. He's too unreliable.

        5. Dannyb
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Higuian lol

        6. korbendallas82
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I Always miss trippel Captain.

        7. Sánchez
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I have him and rival doesn't.
          I could for a big differential or could just regular captain then get a good differential and save TC.
          For him to get him in, he'll need to use a transfer so I'll use mine for other dgw players. That way I have more doublers as a differential.

        8. It’s gonna Ben Mee
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Never bench, never captain

        9. Dybala10
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Made that mistake in the past. I’ll pass.

      4. Sz21
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Which of these would you be removing 1st to get some Liv defence?
        1. Fabianski.
        2. Holebas.
        3. Doherty.
        4. Digne.

        AWB, Bednarek def not going anywhere..
        Allison, Robertson, TAA on my radar.

        1. Chelsea91
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Digne

        2. Pukki Party
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          1

      5. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        1 free transfer and 1.1 m in bank. Thinking of boring keeper swap getting McCarthy over Steele and play over Fabianski?

        A Make that transfer
        B Carry

        Fabianski
        Digne Van Dijk Kolasinac
        Salah (c) Hazard Pogba Anderson
        Aubameyang Rashford Jiminez

        Steele Doherty AWB Gunnarsson

        1. Chelsea91
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          B

      6. TaiwanHC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        GTG?

        Guaita - Button
        Robertson - Luiz - Doherty - Digne - AWB
        Salah - Hazard - Sane - Pogba - Richarlison
        Rashford - Jimenez - Ings

        Thanks guys!

      7. George James
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Anyone considering free hit for the possible DGW25?

        I currently have

        Alonso - Possibly dropped
        Richarlison - off form
        Sane - doubt will play both

        I would look at something like this

        Ederson
        Luiz / Digne / Laporte / Azpil
        Salah / Sterling / Hazard / Siggy / Rich
        Rashford

        Worth it?

        1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Why are you keep Rich then?

          1. George James
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Name a better option at that price for the DGW?

            1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Well, firstly, there is no confirmation of a DGW that week, so it's fruitless at this point worrying about it. Still needs fixtures this weekend to go certain ways and then the clubs to organise games very quickly. Even if the fixture part works out, there's no way of saying if there will still be a DGW.

              What about Pedro for a punt?

              1. George James
                • 9 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                This is obviously subject to a DGW happening in 25. No harm in planing ahead.

                Pedro not nailed to play both IMO

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

          don't like your defence, little to no threat.

          1. George James
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            True but nailed

          2. George James
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Also digne / Luiz have more attacking threat than most defenders at present

      8. dee_top
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Am I ready for next GW?

        Speroni
        Robbo | Doherty | Digne | AWB
        Hazard | Pogba | F.Anderson | Salah
        Auba | Rashford
        Subs: Etheridge, Deeney, Puncheon, Holebas
        0FT, 0,2m INB

        Or do I need some changes?

        1. McEwan
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Recon yours set. Nothing jumping out for a hit here

      9. Sz21
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Fabianski.
        Doherty, AWB, Digne, Bednarek.
        Rich, Sane, Pogba, Salah (c).
        Auba (vc), Rashford.
        Hamer, Holebas, Camarasa, Kamara.

        1ft~ 5.5m ITB.

        1. Holebas -> Robertson. (3.6m left).
        2. Kamara-> Firmino. (0.6m left for Holebas-> TAA probably).
        3. Kamara-> Jimenez. (3.4m left).
        4. 1 + 3 combined for a -4. (1.5m left).
        5. Other moves? Maybe keep Holebas?

      10. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Interesting article, cheers. Looking at Aleksander Våge Nilsen's team it is, at any given time, very balanced.

        He appears to tend to go for two big hitters, including the two preferred captain choices at any any given time, presumably so that he can hedge the points missed by selecting the 'wrong' captain.

        I've long thought this strategy to be the best in theory, but it requires excellent discipline, knowledge of which of the mid-tier players are going to outscore their delta, and courage not to try and cram your team full of the 'big name' players who you are scared might 'haul' in any given gameweek.

        Bravo, Aleksander, and good luck to you!

      11. Óró Sé…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Would you start

        A. AWB (sou)
        B. Dunk (ful)
        C. Ashley Barnes (mun)

        1. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          A

        2. Pinturicchio10
            5 years, 2 months ago

            A

        3. Jordan.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          who plays instead of bellerin?

          1. #FPLBhuna
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            itll be either litchsteiner or maitland-niles

            my guess is the latter due to litchsteiner's llorente-esque pace

            1. Jordan.
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              yep agreed cheers ,4.4 am-n cant really go wrong..

              1. Jordan.
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                pffttt didn't realise hes a midfielder

        4. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          no idea what to do for dgw, bgw

          currently have sterling, sane, siggy and that's it

          any thoughts - team below? 2.4m itb

          fab - hamer
          robbo - Pereira - awb - Doherty - bednarek
          salah - sane - sterling - Pogba - siggy
          rashford - ings - jiminez

        5. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Hazard played very well last night. Is there a transfer window nearing an end or something?

          1. korbendallas82
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            He cryed and got Higuain.

            1. Make Arrows Green Again
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              If that's the case I hope he's happy for now and carries on like he did last night. No more of this false nine nonsense 🙂

              1. korbendallas82
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                I think so. Might be a good investment.

          2. Malkmus
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            I'd be v surprised if he's at chels next season

            1. HamezMace
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              I'm still surprised he's there this season

        6. aarrgghh
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          To keep the balance it really comes down to this.Owning Salah I can have only one of Sterling Auba Hazard which one do you prefer?

          1. korbendallas82
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Haz. With double. Sterling might Get rested. Old story.

            1. aarrgghh
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              So Auba not even an option?

          2. Karan14
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Id want atleast 2 of those.

            Sterling
            Auba
            Hazard

            Thats how I would rank them.

            1. aarrgghh
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Would owning Sane chance the order

              1. aarrgghh
                • 7 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                change

        7. FPL Puppy
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Will Son come back to before their game against Dortmund in the Champions League? Doing a promo trailer at work for the upcoming game Spurs-Dortmund and just want to make sure that he's available. 🙂

          1. Robson-Canoe
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Yes, the final of the Asian Cup is on the 1st of February. The Spurs-Dortmund game is 12 days later.

            1. FPL Puppy
              • 8 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Perfect, thank you so much! 😀

        8. Malkmus
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Morning. Who would you get in this gw (1FT, 5.4 ITB):

          A - Sterling - for Anderson
          B - Auba - For Wilson

          Fab (Hamer)
          Luiz - Doherty - TAA
          Haz - Anderson - Pog - Salah
          Wilson - Rash - Jimenez

          Subs - WB - Bennet - Billing

          Cheers!

          1. Karan14
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Tough one. Both Sterling & Auba look great options.

            Think you need to decide who's better between Anderson or Wilson.

            1. Malkmus
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Thanks, yup is a toughie

        9. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          So no one knows anything about a DGW. Yet everyone is posting their dgw teams on here.

          lol

          1. Robson-Canoe
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            rofl

          2. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Iv'e got all my transfers for the rest of the season planned on a spreadsheet. A guy on Twitter designed it for me for £4.99 per month. I might upgrade to the Delux package and get a head start on next year

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              noice! I purchased a parrot at the petshop a while back. They promised me I would do better in fpl if I have one.

              1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                Are you interested? I could take you under my wing. This could be like a pyramid scheme and we'd be rich £££

        10. Karan14
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Neale mentioned a great stat in the captaincy options video yesterday:

          Sterling has the joint top most touches in the penalty area over the past 6 gameweeks.
          But 54 players have taken more shots on goal than him in the same period.

          He's getting in the right areas but he's shooting less.
          Although he is creating a lot of chances (ranked 3rd over past 6 matches).

          As someone who is looking to buy him this week im not sure if this is good or bad?

          Appreciate your thoughts! 🙂

          1. Robson-Canoe
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            It's not only that he shoots less, but the quality of his shooting is atrocious at times. If both were nailed, I'd prefer Sané.

          2. AuFeld
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Historically, he has a high conversion rate, so he doesn't need many goal attempts. In the past four, his conversion rate is 16.7% and his average is 25% for the season, so he's not firing on all cylinders right now.

            GW11-14 he had an attempt every 34 mins and during the last four he has had an attempt every 60 mins. So he's taking less goal attempts and he's not converting his attempts as well as he used to.

            Mins per chance created in GW11-14 is every 38 mins and in the last four he has created a chance every 33 mins. It seems he's creating more chances but who ever he is supplying the assists to is not converting their opportunities.

            I'd be put off by this info if I were considering Sterling.

        11. Lanley Staurel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          I’d have thought the captain poll for the next GW would have been up by now.

          1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            FFS was waiting for Higuain to be added

        12. mataave
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Hennessey
          David Luiz / Kolašinac / Bennett
          Sterling / Salah / F. Anderson / Pogba
          Aguero / Rashford / Jiménez

          Speroni / Guendouzi / AWB / Morgan

          1FT - 0.5itb

          Worth a save? Would ideally like to get rid of Morgan and upgrade using the 0.5.
          Thanks in advance!

          1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Have you factored in DGW25?

        13. b91jh
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          A) jota/below 6.9+auba
          B) sterling+jiminez

          Which one? I know there is dgw for sterling but also two big fixtutes...

          1. Chelsea91
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            A

        14. Typo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          So, if there were to be a DGW in 25, would anyone consider Free Hit that week? Point is to get as many DGW players in 25, and still have a solid team for 27.

          Could be a team that looks like this:

          Kepa(2x)
          Digne(2x), Duffy(2x), AWB
          KDB(2x), Rich(2x), Salah, Hazard(2x), Sane(2x)
          Higuain(2x), Rashford

          What do you think?

          1. Now I'm Panicking
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Get rid of those SGW players

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              lol

          2. Amey
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            FH could be effective in the big dgw imo. (Gw32)

          3. DeathoftheParty
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            It looks a great idea. In theory. Although if Chelsea do have Cardiff and Judd (I think) Hazard could be TCed...

          4. BARIO MALOTELLI
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            What means 2x ?

            1. Typo
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Has two matches

        15. BARIO MALOTELLI
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Hello guys my dilema is sho to play:
          A) etheridge(arsenal)
          B) speroni(southampton)
          Cheers

          1. GreekFreak
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Speroni would not play , they get a new goalkeeper on loan .

            1. BARIO MALOTELLI
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              If sperone doesnt play wil it automaticly sub in etheridge ?