Podcast

Meet the Manager #14 – Simon March


For the first time in our Meet the Manager series we chat to a prolific manager who has snatched the ultimate prize – winning the Fantasy Premier League game.

Simon March joins me to discuss the impact of his 2014/15 winning season, what it takes to conquer the game and how he dealt with pressure at the top. 

He also reveals how his victory has unlocked work opportunities and why avoiding watching matches proved a blessing in disguise in his title winning campaign.

With two top 10,000 finishes prior to his momentous victory and top 50,000 overall ranks in his subsequent three seasons he remains as committed to FPL as ever, with his masters degree in behavioural science at the London School of Economics now giving him extra motivation. 

His chat about how his academic work links up with Fantasy management proves revelatory, in particular how Swansea’s former striker Michu is still impacting on many managers transfer plans despite last kicking a ball in the English top flight five years ago. 

He also reveals his plans for the remaining Gameweeks of 2018/19, including the players he is looking to ditch and those he wants to bring in.

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

Previous Meet the Manager interviews:

Sean Tobin

Aleksander Våge Nilsen

Mark Sutherns

Mark McGettigan

Marc Rubinstein

Kenneth Tang

Jay Egersdorff

Adam Hopcroft

Matthew Jones

Richard Clarke

Will Thomas

Philman

Triggerlips

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

682 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 824545201
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play 1:
    A) AWB (WHU)
    B) Bennett (NEW)
    C) Bilva (CHE)

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      c

    2. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B
      Why do you even have Bilva?

      1. 824545201
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Not enough FT's to get rid of him for free.

        1. LeicesterNygaard
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          What's your team like?

          1. 824545201
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            GKP: Patrício (Hamer)
            DEF: Wan-Bissaka, Laporte, van Dijk, Robertson (Bennett)
            MID: Richarlison, Son (V), Salah (C), Bernardo Silva (Fraser)
            FWD: Aubameyang, Jiménez (Kamara)

  2. LeicesterNygaard
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Who to play?
    A. AWB (WHU)
    Or
    B. Bednarek (CAR)

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

  3. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan
    VVD Jonny bednarek
    Salah(c) pogba son sane
    Aguero Jimenez rashford

    Fabianski awb digne puncheon

    1ft 0.3 ITV

    A) aguero to aubameyang
    B) sane to mane
    C) save

    1. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I like A
      3 plump fixtures for auba coming up vs Chelsea and blank for aguero

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks, that's my thinking

        1. LeicesterNygaard
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

  4. VinMar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Martial or Richarlison to go for Pogba?

    1. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I'd give more time to rich

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        How much? 2 years?

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      both, m if must choose

    3. MyBall MyRules
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      100% richarlison, for so many reasons!

  5. abaalan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Get in:
    Lacazette (+ money) or Auba

    Play 2:
    A) Bednarek (H car)
    B) WanB (H Whu)
    C) Holebas (H Eve)
    D) Digne (A Wat)

    Thanks!

    1. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Auba
      AC

    2. raskothekid
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      lacazette

      AC

  6. zon
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Evening lads, enjoying a dreadful last 3 gw's which have seen my rank drop from 15k to 60k. 1 ft, 0.8 itb

    Fabianski
    Robbo / Doherty / Shaw / AWB
    Salah / Hazard / Sane / Pogba
    Rashford / Jimenez

    Button TAA Fraser Success

    A) Hazard -> Son
    B) Sane -> Son
    C) Hazard + Success -> 5.1 + Aina

    Overthinking? Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

    1. zon
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      C) Auba

    2. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      b

  7. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Aguero to:
    A) Auba
    B) Rashford
    C) Other
    D) Keep
    Sane is only other City asset

    1. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A or B
      Tough choice

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      d

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Id ditch Sane before Kun

    4. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A

  8. raskothekid
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Should i do aguero to lacazette? or leave him in against chelsea?

    1. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      for free? maybe -4 - No

      1. raskothekid
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        yeah, for free

  9. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    190k have transferred Sane out this week so far.....he could be a tidy differential if he starts the next game.

    1. LeicesterNygaard
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think he'll be effective against Chelsea even if he starts

      1. LeicesterNygaard
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        And then there's a blank

  10. Viper
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I'm really really in two minds on this one.

    A. Save Ft

    B. Aguero - > Aubameyang

    I'll be doing Sané - > Son with my other move

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Keep,Aguero if moving sane

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Same dilemma here. Did Rich->Son. Think i keep Aguer, not 100% sure

  11. thewhitepele
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    McCarthy
    Rose Doherty Shaw TAA
    Salah Sane Son Pogba
    Rasford Jimenez

    Fabs, Solanke, Lookman, Bamba,

    A) Lookman --> FAnderson
    B) Save
    C) Something else?

  12. VinMar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A.) Mane + Jota + Bednarek
    or
    B.) Fanderson + Jimenez + Pereira

    1. fantasygurumd
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Do you have Salah?

      A if no
      B if yes

      1. VinMar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yep have salah

    2. King Kun Ta
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

  13. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Looking at my transfer strategy for next 2 gw's, best options here

    A: Alonso + Son + Auba + 5.6m (benchfodder but will play gw27) (-4)
    B: Kola + Son + Auba + Maddison (-8)
    C: Bamba + Anderson + Auba + Sterling (-8)..schindler will play for sterling in gw27

  14. soup natsi
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I'm ashamed to admit but I'm considering selling Hazard for Ndidi. To fund Ings > Aubameyang.

    I'm considering Ndidi. Wow.

    1. The Mighty Hippo
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hazard to Ndidi. Is that not a bit too sideways?

    2. Art Vandelay
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No soup for you!

    3. Ould Onion Bagger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Solly March a better shout, IMO.

      1. FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Solly 16pts in last 8
        Plays GW26,28,29,30
        Blank 27,31
        (If they beat derby)
        4.9m

        Decent 4 Fixtures in next 6 but potential 2 blanks- what I want from my bench fodder is back up every week

  15. FPL Forward Thinker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    2 FT & 42.5m in the bank

    Boruc, Speroni
    Peltier, Stankovic, Kelly, Connelly, Simpson
    Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Hudson-Odoi, Elneny, McTominay
    Kamara, Crouch, Gallacher

    1. Mike82
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Differentials there pal lol

      1. FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I’m Clearly bored

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      G2G

  16. Arn De Gothia
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Play AWB (WHU)or Shaw (ful)?

    Aguero out for -4?

  17. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Geez, Mark had 102 points this past week.

    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/entry/4668/history

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He should have captained Laporte and played Bednarek over Salah.

      1. Ambrosiana Inter
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Easymsaid now

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      No Aguero. Rookie mistake.

  18. Up the tics
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    My thinking for how to navigate the BGW/DGW without TC

    GW26 to GW30 - Use 1FTs
    GW31 BGW - 1FT
    GW32 DGW - FH
    GW33 BGW - 1FT
    GW34 - WC
    GW35 DGW - BB

    Use free transfers from GW26 to BGW31 to bring in players who don't blank. Free hit DGW32 to 11DGW'ers. Another FT for BGW33. Wildcard GW34 to bring in a solid team for the last few game weeks and bring in majority DGW'ers. And finally Bench boost DGW35

    Yes or no. Any other strategies?

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      The spyon

    2. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      As long as it doesn't mean losing in form players on the run up to GW31 then this is the best plan.. think if there are 5-6 blanks then might have FH there instead

      1. Up the tics
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah that worries me now you mention it, not many confirmed teams who play in the bgw have good options tbh

    3. BOATIES FC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    4. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Sounds good

    5. Cluckfuster
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Dumb question - what's a BGW?

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Big Green Winkie

      2. Up the tics
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Blank gameweek

    6. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      So you're going to be selling City, United and Chelsea assets to get players in for BGW31? Not sure how profitable that will be.

      1. Up the tics
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Well it's just an idea. I will only have 3 players from them teams anyway after GW27 so I can easily bench them but fair point something to think about, thanks

  19. suddenorgan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A) Rich -> Pogba
    B) Haz + Barnes -> Pogba + Auba (-4)

    1. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      B

  20. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    A. Ings --> Jimenez (-4)
    B. Hazard + Ings --> Moutinho + Auba (-8)

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who are you playing if you kept Ings?

      1. Dosh
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Digne

        1. suddenorgan
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ha, as usual I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Digne but I'd be tempted to save the hit and play him

  21. Big Ping
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Patricio

    Robertson Kolasinac Holebas

    Salah Sane Pogba Son

    Aguero Rashford Jiminez

    Sane to Mane this week seems sensible?

  22. i am jose mourinho
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I would appreciate if anyone tells me blank gw

  23. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Great news about TAA, back training.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah Liverpool might start getting clean sheets again.

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Probably won't start maybe a place on the bench at best

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I think he’ll start.

        1. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Looking at last 6 games stats I'm leaning towards Laca

          1. Kiwivillan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Wrong thread

  24. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Why is Auba flagged? Can’t see anything in the scout tweets.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Got the sh1ts.

      1. Ambrosiana Inter
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully TIL momday

    2. Ambrosiana Inter
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nice this, I hope he ll be out, nothing serious though, just loads have him and I dont

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Emery said he will be fine for saturday.

        1. Ambrosiana Inter
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ahhhhh

        2. Kiwivillan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          He said sick today I think is good for Saturday Kosc sick yesterday training well today

  25. Schliegs
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Rank in order for most points in the next 5 GWs
    a) Auba
    b) Haz
    c) Son
    d) Sane
    e) Kun

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A, C, E, B, D

    2. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      c
      a
      e
      b
      d

  26. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Hi.....What is my best bet here?

    A....sane to son

    B...sane to mane (slight differential and plays all the blanks)

    Ederson fab
    Robbo Doherty lindelof awb bednarek
    Salah hazard sane richi pogba
    Rashford jiminez kamara

    Thanks

    1. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      A as next two fixtures are better imo plus Mane fills up your pool allocation and you would be blocked from getting Firmino in after his hat trick v BOU

  27. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think Auba is worth the extra $2m over Laca?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah probably

    2. FPL Forward Thinker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      If fit yes. Just look at his 2018 record. But if doubts on Auba’s health then laca would be a great differential in next 3 weeks

      If your chasing then Laca
      If your leading then Auba if healthy

    3. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Laca 3 goals to Auba 2 in less minutes last 6. Maybe I just keep Aguero vs Chelsea

  28. TheSteel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone rolling the dice this week on Kun>Firmino?

    1. Peter Ouch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Nice one

    2. Kiwivillan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      So many blanks and playing too deep

  29. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Evening chaps. Bit stuck on what to do. Your advice as always is appreciated. Thanks

    Fab
    Robbo - AWB - Pereira
    Sane - Pogba - Salah - Haz - Son
    Jimenez - Rashford

    Bennett - Digne - Kamara

    A) Sane > Mane
    B) Haz + Kamara > Hayden + Auba (-4)
    C) Digne > Shaw
    D) Anything else

  30. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    For this week would you say Son or Auba is the bigger priority? Will get the other for next week

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Depends who for but probably Auba