Pro Pundits - Lateriser

How to stop the Mane ‘bad beat’ affecting your FPL season

Fantasy Premier League and the game of Texas Hold’ Em Poker have a lot of similarities.

You’re playing a game of cards throughout the night and there sometimes comes a hand where you have played everything correctly and, statistically, the odds are in your favour.

But then the least probable outcome happens. Your Sadio Mané (£12.5m) Triple Captain goes off injured early. That’s just how the dice rolls sometimes.

In Poker, we call it a ‘bad beat’. Over the course of the night, you have about 150-200 hands to play and there will be times when you do face a bad beat; a statistically unfavourable outcome (more than once in a lot of cases).

What separates the skilled players from the normal players in Poker though are the ones that temperamentally do not get affected by the statistically improbable ‘bad beat’ and continue hammering on with their strategy and trust. Despite a few setbacks along the way, they should end the night with a positive outcome with or without minor adjustments.

Keeping your temperament in control is incredibly important. It’s very easy to go ‘on tilt’ and make a series of low probability, irrational decisions after facing a bad beat.

I was talking to Trigg from the FFS boards while writing this in the morning and he had an important point to make here. As humans, we have a tendency to want instant gratification. We want our money (FPL points) back right away and that sometimes leads to poor decision making.

Clear your head and think again.

Mane, Abraham and Vardy injury updates ahead of FA Cup fourth round weekend

My good friend from the FFS boards, Prophet was telling me about a Serbian saying that when roughly translated in English goes like this – “Mom didn’t blame you for gambling but for trying to dig yourself out of the hole”.

The digging yourself out here means first putting in 100 Euros, then 500 and eventually your house. Tilts are dangerous and we should avoid them. The good Poker players are always looking to hunt and find which of their competitors are going ‘on tilt’ so that they can exploit them for some serious money.

Sometimes, you’re not really lucky throughout the night (or your FPL season) and other nights (seasons) you will be more fortunate than normal. Don’t pay attention to the improbable outcomes. We might not even know about it but we’ve probably made a few ‘statistically stupid’ decisions ourselves that have worked out for the best but it is human tendency to remember only the ones that don’t land on your side of the court.

FPL in some ways is similar. You’re making a skilled decision for an unknown outcome. Arguably, you have more control in Poker but there are similarities. There are factors you control and others you don’t. I wrote an article earlier this season that we are making about 140-150 FPL decisions a season:

  • Initial Team + 2 Wildcards + 1 Free Hit = 4 x 15 = 60
  • 38 Captains = 38
  • 3 Chips = 3
  • 35-55 Transfers throughout the season

Naturally, the FPL chips and your captaincies are your relatively high impact decisions. There is more at stake than normal. But they are still not going to decide your ‘entire’ season. All that has happened with some of the high impact decisions not coming your way is that you have received a ‘bad beat’ in a pot in which you have invested a lot of money. It happens. We’ve seen it over the years and if you want to develop as an FPL/ Poker player, don’t let this affect you, laugh it off, clear your head and continue doing what you are doing.

I’ve faced both sides of the coin very recently. The Jamie Vardy (£9.9m) to Sergio Aguero (£12.0m) captain move which worked out spectacularly (I’ve since sold the Manchester City forward and I’m plotting to get him back). But then, of course, I Triple Captained Mané and that turned out to be quite spectacular in its own right. Just goes to see that no one can really see the future and we’re all playing a game where we’re trying to put ourselves in an advantageous position week on week is all. 

Aguero asking the question of non-owners as De Bruyne ticks over

You have to think of your current position as the starting line. AK, another good friend of mine from the FFS boards says that in Poker, whatever be the case, you have to focus on salvaging your ‘current position’. There is a lot of the game left to be played.  Most of us still have about 50 to 60 decisions remaining in the season. That is about 40% of your decision-making pool. There is a lot you can do to affect that.

  • If you’re ranked at around the 1 million mark right now, 500k is just 37 points ahead. That’s one good differential captaincy in my eyes.
  • If you’re ranked at around 500k right now, 100k is just 59 points ahead right now.
  • If you’re ranked at 100k right now, 10k is only 55 points ahead.

If you look at the game this way, you realize that you can still have the rub of the green, have some decisions working in your way and who knows where you will land at the end of the season.

I’d recommend not looking back at what has already happened; instead, plot further ahead (or just take a break and enjoy the FA Cup football over the weekend) and salvage your current position.

The game is more fun that way. Make yourselves immune to the ‘bad beats’. If you’re far away from your actual goal, experiment with some new strategies for the next season. Re-condition your mind to the changing nature of FPL, or check if your current strategy will take you through this night (season) of FPL Poker and go past the bad beats.

Don’t forget it’s a game that we’re playing for fun based around a sport we watch for enjoyment (supposedly!). Don’t make it anything else. I’m currently sitting at an overall rank of 528 and I definitely intend on having fun with the privileged position I am in. Let’s see where it takes me.

Here’s to no more bad beats.

1,630 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on the wildcard..?

    Henderson McCarthy

    TAA VVD Lascelles Lundstram C.Taylor*

    KDB Grealish Salah Traore Fleck*

    Aguero Jiminez Wilson* (placeholder for ings)

    0.1 ITB

    Not sure about the ones I have * ?

    Thanks!..

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Holding on to Lundstram because of value? Serious question

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Yes. Got him @4.0

        Worth holding.? Can get O’Connell/Egan?

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Stephens (Sou) rotates nicely with Lascelles.

          1. Champions League Varane
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Could be a decent idea actually.

            And could go Pope instead of McCarthy/upgrade C.Taylor?

            But Lund is Lund so I’m not sure.

            1. Bobby Digital
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              I'm planning to bank the 0.5m profit on Lundstram next week. Could come back and haunt me tho.

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

    Is it better to WC now if team needs it ( probably Mané missing for couple of weeks, Vardy might miss a game, Lundstram Kelly Rico’ s starts all on a “shoogly peg”, Haller punt needs to move on). Or keep team going with few hits over next couple of weeks?

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Always WC whem team needs it imo

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy’ll be fine I suspect.

  3. Black Panther
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is FPL stricter this season regarding your team name? My team name has been changed to 'CHANGE NAME'. Is Fer Fuchs Ake really that offensive?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Let me just tell you my friend in my ML has a much worse name..! That isn’t even a bad name.

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Aren't there plenty of teams with that name though? Might be the reason

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Change it to SakaMeeLongstaff

      1. El Presidente
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        LOL

  4. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Just saw I can afford a Mané, Tammy and Vardy 0.1 drop without losing further profit. 0.6 itb and I'm thinking Tammy to Jimmy. Wait or pull the trigger?

  5. rjcv177
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    To save the WC, a -8 for this:
    Out - soy, mane, vardy
    In - robbo, traore, auba

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      No

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maybe cheaper doing it over 2 weeks.

  6. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mane out for long?

    1. Nailed Jesus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Long isn't nailed 😉

      1. OneTreeTwoStars
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Hahahaha love it

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Long is not a midfielder 😉

      1. pitstop1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        He meant Longstaff

        1. Bruno Bruno!!
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          shaun or matty

    3. Camino Aleatorio
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Is 6 weeks long?

      Might be until February 18...champions league vs Atletico Madrid

  7. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Savimg my WC for dgw/blank, worked wonders last year..

    1. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Not in my case...

      Could've had at least 40 more points if I played it earlier....

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      WC week before DGW, get decent subs and play benchboost DGW.

  8. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Aguero and Traore or Jimenez and Son?

    1. King Sheep
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Jimi/Son

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Latter

  9. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Evening everyone I have a four transfer plan over the next three game weeks.....however .....
    Ings > for

    A, Vardy. 
    B. Haller. ( does have Brighton next and currently fit )
    C. Tammy.
    D. Save .........currently on this but Mane, injury also needs looking at have Salah & KDB

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Tammy and Vardy might be crocked.. Monitor the situ.

    2. Mortal.Swinbat
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Keep Ings have you even looked at his fixtures?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I think he's getting in Ings...

  10. Yoshimiwinz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    WC Thoughts? Need advice massively:

    Henderson
    TAA//Digne//Baldock
    Grealish//KDB//Salah//Fleck
    Jimi//Firmy//Aguero

    McCarthy//Hayden//Stephens//Williams

    Digne to Cathcart and Fleck to Traore?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You like Firmino as an option?

      1. Yoshimiwinz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        With Mane' out I do

  11. Mortal.Swinbat
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Are we all being a bit hasty getting rid of Vardy...? I see the allure of Aguero and Aubameyang, but the value of front 3 Vardy, Jiminez, Ings seems the best for me. I am very tempted to get Aub/Aguero but Vardy will punish people

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Low risk high reward moves

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Keeping V I J

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      If he is OK I'm definitely keeping, he's gonna go back to scoring in no time

    4. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      This for me

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

    A) Rico and Soyuncu
    B) Williams and Baldock (-4)

    Thanks

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Depends if you're playing both or no...

      1. leo_messi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        I have taa robbo and Lund already

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          343 or?

  13. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Ryan Button
    TAA Stephens Holgate Lund Söy
    Salah KDB Son Martial Cantwell
    Firmino Jimenez Ings
    No ft. Take a hit or go with it?

    1. Going To Win This Year
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like a WC team

  14. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best 4.4 million option?

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Defender*

      1. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Stephens

        1. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Anyone else

          Apart from Lascelles and Stephens?

  15. Wensink
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mane > Salah before tonight’s price rise?

  16. skins1979
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Advice please on best moves to improve team:

    McCarthy, button
    Airier, Taa, Gomez, Lund, Webster
    Salah, Kdb, martial, Dendoncker, fleck
    Abraham, Vardy, Ings

    2 free transfers and 3.8 in bank

    Thanks

  17. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on this redrafted wildcard?
    Henderson Pope

    TAA VVD Lascelles Stephens Lundstram*

    KDB Grealish Salah Traore Fleck

    Sergio Ings Jiminez

    Thanks!..

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Well mine is;

      Hendo McCarthy
      Van Dijk TAA Doherty Stevens(SU) Lascelles
      Salah DeBruyne Fleck Grealish Traoré
      Aubameyang Maupay (Placeholder for Ings) Jimenez(So happy to have back!!)

      So very similar, I like yours very much

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Insane team.!

        What’s your thinking behind Doherty?.. because he is very expensive!

        1. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          He’s looked really dangerous everytime I watch him, always seems to pop up at the back post.. Was between him and Digne and really need a Differential

      2. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Maupay no double digit haul until now,still you want to punt ?

    2. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Nice. He is very good player!

        You like Maupay?I think I will get a placeholder too.You have great differentials.!

        1. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Maupay has West Ham, I was going for Wilson but chickened out.. Have exact 1.2 and can not see Ings going up...

        2. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Maupay was so close to scoring vs Brighton so unlucky

          1. Warby84
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            Bournemouth***

            1. Champions League Varane
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 2 months ago

              I think I may punt on him or Wilson!

              Thank you 🙂

              1. Warby84
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 2 months ago

                Wilson has Villa but feels wrong to go for a player so low on confidence, 1G in 18 games is horrendous. So for that reason I will pass, will probably get a brace!!

  18. Soto Ayam
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Can anyone please explain why they think Lund is a rotation risk? He's only started 2 games all season and last week was a midweek game so he might just have been rested?
    isn't it very knee - jerky, seeing as he offers great points return at both ends of the pitch and is the highest points per million player?
    Or am I missing something as I have no intention of getting rid of him?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I personally am pretty bored with him, so fancy mixing it up a little

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Now thats the kinda logic I like. Who would you sell for? I do understand flipping him to generate more cash.

        1. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          I’ve moved to Enda Stevens...

        2. Warby84
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          See WC team above

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Keeping. Now very good fixtures

    3. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      The thought is that Besic has taken his place... im holding for now ... iv a lot of money tied up in him ... i dont believe hes been dropped

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Ah I see, that's the logic behind it. I guess we'll have to monitor and see how it pans out

  19. jia you
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Mane to KDB(-4) looks fine right?
    (bench is Williams, Hayden and Stephens with a horrible fixture!)

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Its fine

      1. jia you
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        will have triple City for Spurs and the for WHU the GW after... could be gold or could be Pepped!

  20. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Seriously want Couple of suggestions:
    Poor team with poor Rank force me to early wildcard.
    A) Baldock or Stevens
    B) VVD or Robbo
    C) Mahrez or Grealish
    D) Kun or auba

    1. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Stevens
      VVD
      Grealish
      Kun

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

      Stevens VVD Mahrez Aubameyang

    3. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Stevens
      VD
      Grealish
      Aubameyang

  21. Bruno Bruno!!
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Should I WC:

    Ryan
    Lundstram TAA VVD Robertson
    Grealish KDB Maddison Martial
    Vardy Jiminez

    Button Tosun Traore Dunk

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I would personally

    2. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Nope teems look fine m punty as well

  22. Squib
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Would really appreciate persuasion either way with this potential WC team. Thanks.
    Pope McCarthy
    TAA Lund Lascelles Cathcart Ward/Tangana
    Salah KDB Grealish Fleck Traore
    Auba Aguero Ings

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

      In my view choose one of Aubameyang or Aguero and get Jiménez then get Henderson over Pope and double Liverpool defence.

      1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        This

  23. skins1979
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    best moves to improve team:

    McCarthy, button
    Airier, Taa, Gomez, Lund, Webster
    Salah, Kdb, martial, Dendoncker, fleck
    Abraham, Vardy, Ings

    2 free transfers and 3.8 in bank

    Thanks

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

      Tammy to Jiménez and carry unless Vardy out

  24. Purse83
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    RMWCT please - Looking at 15 ‘starters’ to counter dread of using too early and to help Bench Boost with a few differentials:

    Hendo McCarthy
    TAA VVD Stephens Lascelles Soy
    Salah KDB Grealish Traoré St Maxim
    Ings Auba Jimi

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

      Very good. Similar to one I am considering except I am presently on Fleck Stevens over St Maxim Soyünücü

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        You have made me consider St.Maximin.

      2. Purse83
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers - I’ve pulled the trigger!

        Like your moves too, just seems that St Maxim runs riot everytime he plays (admittedly a headless chicken at times) like Traoré not too long ago and maybe he’ll haul.

  25. FPL Alaska
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Is Mane confirmed out for a spell?

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

      Not yet

  26. venitol
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts on my WC?

    Henderson Martin
    TAA Robertson Cathcart Lunds Kelly
    Salah KDB Martial Perez Cantwell
    Auba Ings Greenwood

    Not 100% on Robertson or Kelly at the moment

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Kelly martial Greenwood and Cantwell, not keen.. Try to get Jimenez in somehow, by downgrading Martial and Cantwell? Martin is non playing keeper so try move him up to McCarthy(4.4)?

      1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        This

      2. venitol
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  27. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How nailed is Williams ?
    I am 0.1 off in having Stevens so
    Downgrading lascelles > Williams worth ?
    Basically

    Lundstram + lascelles
    Or,
    Stevens + Williams

    Also Other option is Stephens > c.taylor

    Which one is best ?

  28. Monya Meow Meow
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Which of these players is more likely to be out for longer term?

    1) Vardy
    2) Tammy
    3) Mane

    Only have 1 FT and don't feel like WC yet thanks.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Have to wait till Friday to knos. Likely Mane.

  29. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Best 4.3 million defender that isn’t Lascelles.?

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

      Charlie Taylor or Joel Ward

      1. Dr. Agabuse
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Uu Ward

    2. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Williams

  30. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    I hate that salah is rising and I dont know how serious the Mane injury is!

    its forcing me to make moves on my wildcard in not comfortable with ... hes definitly done his hamstring though right? surely 3 weeks recovery right ?