Pro Pundits

Does early FPL team news really provide an advantage?

In his latest Pro Pundits column, former Fantasy Premier League champion Simon March looks at the issue of early team news.


One of Fantasy Premier League’s most controversial topics this season has been that of ‘early team news’ as several Twitter accounts have recently emerged with information before the deadline.

Sometimes this takes the form of a diligent and well-connected journalist who has spoken to the relevant club before kick-off, while others are more clandestine in nature.

Some FPL managers have shown gratitude but, recently, among them, these accounts may have noticed some growing murmurs of discontent.

Among those are FPL enthusiasts who suggest that early team news is unfair and some have gone as far as to suggest that it might even be ruining the game.

So, the inevitable question is: is early team news fair?

For many, accessing this information is viewed simply as an element of their preparation. Fantasy football is generally (though not always…) something that rewards effort and dedication. If you make the effort to track down and monitor early team news, then sometimes you can benefit from it in the same way that studying underlying stats, or watching a lot of football can inform you too.

Now that so much information is so easily distilled, disseminated and digested in relation to FPL, the advantage gap between those who take it very seriously and those who approach it more casually is narrowing.

Early team news, while not hard to access, is something that requires active seeking and monitoring and, despite the recent early team news craze, this is something most managers will not do.

It’s also fair to question exactly how much of an advantage early team news actually offers. In most cases, it will only be useful for the first fixture(s) of the Gameweek and the window to act on it is typically five to ten minutes maximum. That’s hardly enough time to re-do a whole Wildcard team.

Also, if you’re taking out a player who has been revealed as being benched, there’s nothing to say that this player won’t come on and score more than the player you started ahead of them. Perhaps it edges the probabilities in your favour, but maybe not by as much as some will suggest.

It, therefore, follows that there are several arguments against early team news. Firstly, for some, it reduces the skill associated with predicting line-ups.

It’s true that, as Neale demonstrates on this very site each week, there is a skill to deciphering what managers actually mean when they say a certain player has ‘a knock’, ‘a chance’ or is ‘undroppable’ (we’re looking at you Pep, we’re looking directly at you). It also takes a lot of effort to monitor press conferences, injury news etc…

While it takes less effort to absorb this information, it still takes some effort and some judgement, all of which becomes less significant when you can access reliable early team news. So, you could argue that early team news reduces a skill and/or effort element from the game and, potentially, even a fun element (not that having a player benched is ever ‘fun’ exactly).

Another argument against early team news is that, while this it is made public, it is not always ‘accessible’ to all. The typical conduit for early team news is Twitter, which as we continue to see demonstrated in all walks of life, is not actually a particularly large proportion of the wider population.

It’s not that hard to find so-called ‘in the know’ accounts if you want to monitor them or to find the information reproduced on FPL forums, those who are well-connected with clubs and pass things on in the week rather than on FPL deadline day, so I’m not convinced that this is a huge barrier, but it is a barrier nonetheless.

Furthermore, accessing this information is not always straightforward or convenient. As we know, FPL is a global game and, for example, if you wanted to monitor early team news for Gameweek 24 in parts of Southeast Asia, you’d need to wake yourself up at about 2:25am or, if you wanted to monitor early team news for Gameweek 25 in California, you’d have to wake up at 3:25am.

It’s hard to argue that this doesn’t offer an advantage to FPL managers in the UK or more GMT-adjacent time zones when it comes to viewing early team news. Thus, it follows, this phenomenon creates something of an unfair imbalance in favour of players in some locations over others.

Early team news is also something you use at your own risk with no guarantees that it will actually pay off. It has potential, however, to negate the skill element and some of the fun associated with FPL by reducing the need to monitor team and injury news and it may also create an uneven playing field between those managers who can easily access the news and those who can’t, particularly those in different time zones.

If I do have a biggest concern with early team news, it would centre on the fact that not everybody can access it with the same level of ease and the potential that this might have to affect the fairness and global appeal of FPL, something which, I’m sure most will agree, adds a lot to the game and to the FPL community.

Speaking as somebody who once woke themselves up at 3:20am because I was in Jakarta and I wanted to take advantage of a scheduling quirk that allowed us to see a pre-deadline Arsenal teamsheet and switch Santi Cazorla for Alexis Sanchez if the latter was passed fit (wasn’t worth it), I can say from personal experience that this is not something you’d want to do regularly.

Ultimately, it would be a shame for a global game like FPL if how well you can do becomes significantly influenced by where you live.


Simon March is a member of our Pro Pundits initiative, a team of Fantasy managers here to bring you regular advice and updates on their teams. Simon won the FPL title in 2014/15 and has become a fixture on the punditry circuit ever since.


469 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ninjaa
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    1 ft and 1.6m itb. What do do with this lot ?

    Ramsgate Pope
    TAA Soyuncu Rico Aurier Lundstram
    Salah KDB Grealish Traore Hayden
    Vardy Firminho DCL..

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Save if you don't want to sort the defence/DCL.

    2. Tomerick
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think it’s time for DCL to Jiménez.

      1. Juza
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

  2. Cto
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Top of the ML. A nice, but stessful position to be in I find. Does anyone else find themselves trying to defend or protect a lead and making decisions that go against your game style or tactics when they are top? I’m trying to forget about other people’s teams but it’s difficult.

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

      Just ignore them.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nope, feels safe and allows to play your own game which isnt the case if chasing.

    3. Fulgencio Obelmejias
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I never defend, I always try to get the maximum points possible.

  3. Amey
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is there any chance that Villa SHU game in GW 28 gets played before GW 34 ?

    I mean in GW 29 ??

    Thinking about selling Grealish for Traore.

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

      I mean there is no need for that right ?
      Neither club in Europe so ...

      1. ppv
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Doubt it. They are not supposed to schedule on European week unless necessary

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

          Thank you.

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t worry too much about it. That’s what your wildcard is for.
      None of us have any information on the blanks and doubles.
      Keep your wildcard as long as possible. Will be very useful

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

        I have already used my WC 😛
        So i should be slightly worried.
        Cheers for the response ...

  4. Warbling Wendy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Mccarthy, Button
    TAA, VVD, Stephens, Lascelles, C.Taylor
    Salah, KDB, Grealish, Traore, (Hayden)
    Aguero, Aubameyang, Jiminez

    2FT with nothing in the bank - I can't really see any moves to make, but it just feels wrong to burn a transfer - any suggestions?

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

      Auba to Ings easily

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Agree with this - releases loads of dosh for next transfers

    2. KunDogan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Let it burn, very strong team!

    3. ppv
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero rotation risk?

    4. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Get 2 playing GKs?

  5. DF
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    anyone else's comment stream on the right above the season ticker not loading on any devices today?

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

      Yep
      Not able to see HT too

      1. DF
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        jolly good. i'll stop hitting refresh. ta

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, thought it was my internet 😀

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

    4. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same here

  6. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Seeing a link to a preamble on the home page (https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2018/05/13/the-pre-match-preamble-gameweek-38-6/) has got me really nostalgic. Miss Mark's presence around here.

  7. Francescoli
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ahead of the next gameweek the plan was to do DCL & Soyuncu -> Jimenez & Lascelles for a hit.

    Just to do the defender transfer (Soy to Lascelles) this week for free?

    Henderson
    TAA Rico Stephens
    KDB Salah Mane Grealish
    Auba DCL Ings

    McCarthy Soyuncu Holgate Elneny

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Dropping Holgate/Rico might be better, Soyuncu has better fixtures.

    2. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Do you think NEW will get clean sheet? If no, just save.

    3. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Keep Soy

    4. Juza
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      DCL to jimi

  8. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Guys need some help. The comments don't seem to be loading for me, although the site is working fine. Anything I can do?

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Saw the answer above, all good.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nope, same for everyone

  9. BNMC
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I just woke up to the news that MCI-WHU was rescheduled. First thoughts not good - my ML rival captained Aguero. But I guess we could see some more rotation given the proximity to the LC and Madrid games?

    1. Juza
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Aguero will play WHU

  10. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any suggestions for this team? 1ft, 1.3m itb. Thanks.

    mccarthy
    taa stevens dunk
    salah kdb grealish traore
    kun firmino ings

    button soy rico dendo

    1. Ninjaa
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Looks tidy. I'd save the transfer to have 2 next week

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers Ninja

  11. Soto Ayam
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Which would you prefer?

    A) keep grealish, DCL to Jimenez
    B) keep DCL, grealish to richarli

    Leaning towards b. Everton have a lot of red fixtures, but many are against team's with not great defences: ars, chel, man utd, . However, wolves do have exceptional fixtures in the horizon.

    Rich is a bigger grade over grealish, than Jimenez is over DCL.
    Jimenez and DCL don't really inspire much confidence

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

      A

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

    2. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

      Actually think Grealish + Jimenez will get more points than Rich + DCL.

      But that's just my opinion ...

      1. Soto Ayam
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers appreciate your comment. Grealish's fixtures look awful, so that's why I was thibk the rich, DCL double would score more than the dcl, Jimenez. Everyone here seems DCL to Jimenez is the move, but I....... Haha

  12. Dannywaz
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Henderson
    Stevens taa vvd
    Grealish traore salah kdb
    Ings auba Jimmy
    Gtg
    Bench McCarty Stephens Perez lacelless

  13. melvinmbabazi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    What to do with this lot ? James to Traore? Any other suggestions?
    1FT 0ITB

    McCarthy-McGovern
    TAA-Stephens-Aurier-Williams-Rico
    Salah-KDB-Martial-James-Cantwell
    Vardy-Firmino-Ings

    1. Saro0808
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      rico to lascellas or james to traore

  14. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    FPL rival got rid of Mahrez and KDB last week and got in Mane hoping he plays. Laughing big time at me who has them Sunday. is it nasty to laugh back when I jave Mahrez and KDB or should I wait for a mane to start and blank. He has Lund and Dracoure benched and now unlikely to come on. (Smile)

    1. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Well ... he who laughs last laughs best and all that ... maybe wait for the games to finish and see who is left standing before laughing?

      Storm Dennis might have a say in the Nor-Liv game ... Mane might not start/play ... or he might haul big time ... Mahrez & KDB might be rotated ... so many possibilities ...

      Just sayin

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You are right of course. Thats why we are here in the first place. But what a turn up for the book!

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think that you can quietly switch to smug mode but no need to gloat - he'll be contrite enough.

    3. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Mane will start and haul. Sorry

  15. Saro0808
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Finally some ray of light...!!!!
    city vs hammers rescheduled this week only,but i fear the fraud balds rotation tactics 🙁
    was chasing top 50k. currently 0 from 0. from 59k to 82k atm
    wildcarded this week to push through the ranks but sadly.....
    my current team
    mccarthy
    taa vvd stephens
    salah kdb son mahrez
    kun ings martinelli

    bench: button tanganga hayden williams

    1)any changes should i make for the upcoming weeks?

  16. pjanns
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How does this look?

    Reid + Martial --> Lascelles + Traore

    For this GW 27 it will leave me with:
    Ryan
    TAA - Lascelles - Lunds
    Traore - KDB - Mane - Salah
    DCL - Auba - Ings

    (Button - Dendo - Williams - Soy)

    Next GW: DCL --> Jiminez

    How does this look? Any comments much appreciated.

    Thanks 🙂

  17. Make Arrows Green Again
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    This team news issue is really simple.

    There are thousands of people out there who play FPL and who work in football or the media and who know team news in advance. Some of these people know team news hours early; some of them days early.

    So regardless of what tactics regular FPL players use, they will never be on a level playing field. They're still relying on the goodwill of those in the know and it's weighted against most people.

    It follows that the only way to make the team news "problem" fair is to allow transfers after the announcement of team news.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Plenty are sleeping at the deadline or after.

      1. Make Arrows Green Again
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Does an hour really make much of a difference though?

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Ok I see what you mean. Then have the deadline 24 hours before or something

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A rolling lockout would work well, just make changes up until kick-off of every match like most other fantasy sports. FPL is archaic in this regard

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The solution is to put the dead line shortly after the press conferences

  18. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Struggling with best move here. Thoughts?

    0.4itb 1FT. (16k)

    Pope
    TAA • Lund • Rico
    Salah • KDB • Grealish • Son
    DCL • Kun • Ings

    Button / Cantwell / Soy / Kelly

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Save FT for now, long way to go

  19. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Sterling likely to be fit for the WHU game now with the extra time to recover ?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Unlikely.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Hammy injuries are worst. Can't risk him i guess. Especially when CL is so close

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        FPL says expected back 22 Feb, which effectively was the next PL game v Leicester ... maybe a chance a few days earlier ?

        Anyway looks like he is targeting the CL game but he lacked a bit of rhythm and confidence even before the injury ... could do with a run out no before CL no matter what

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

          Leicester game looks like a run out can be given/possible/needed. WHU home doesn't sound like it if I'm being honest.

          1. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            agreed, a bit too early - can see him coming off the bench though before the CL game

            Makes Mahrez and KdB a bit more safe for a start v WHU

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

              Yep

  20. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Something wrong with the rolling comments in the right hand panel below the Scout Picks. Anyone else getting that problem?

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      (They're not showing at all)

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's being looked at.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers TM

    3. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Same here

  21. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Do you think David Silva will start consistently in last few games of the season? Especially in home games vs NEW, BOU, NOR.

    Could be a decent season end differential 😀

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        No farewell for the legend? League will be over anyway...

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Other Cups equal a trophy

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yep
      I'm looking at him + Foden particularly.
      Plan now is to FH in biggest Dgw. So if that is on 37, it's easy to have them. If not I'll probably just sell Kdb to fund moves for both.

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lets see if they can beat Madrid or not 😀

        Do you expect likes of Foden to get gametime even if they get knocked out of UCL?

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

          Yep. Still a long way to go though. I like D Silva as a player too. Would be a nice farewell gift 😀

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

          City will bottle it and go out to RM then go on the hammer teams in the league left, right and center!
          Then Pep off to Juventus in the Summer for his next project 😉

        3. OverTinker
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          In current form it's simply not easy to beat Madrid. Much depends on Laporte. Play Rodri and Fernand. in the middle with KDB in advance role and then City has a decent chance

  22. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Simple fix.

    Close the deadline 2 hours before kick off. Rather than the current 60 minutes.

    1. Francescoli
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah I like that. I’m in Australia and trying to stay up for early team news is unsustainable.

  23. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    2fts but struggling to see what to do, maybe prepare for blanks and lose Lundy? 0itb

    Guaita

    Lundy Taa Stephens

    Salah KDB Martial Grealish

    Kun Bobby Deeney

    Button Cantwell Rico Soyuncu

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

      Could just get Pope in - those recent hauls very flukey I know but much better fixtures and gets 31 if that matters

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I assume this is Martial's last chance v Watford - it ought to be. I'd lose Lundy for a cheapie .

  24. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Morning dzzz, what would you recommend here with 2FT and 1.8m

    Ryan
    TAA • Robbo • Lundy -- Aurier (che) Rico
    Salah • Kdb • Grealish • Martial
    Vardy • Ings • DCL

    A: DCL >> Jimmy (as planned) and carry over FT
    B: Ryan >> XXX
    C: Something else. Grealish >> XXX as he has (TOT, sot, blank)
    D: A+C combined

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A is just fine. Grealish OK until the blank, then sell. Ryan also needs to go at some stage soon. Martial also in departure lounge I assume?

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

        Exactly what I had in mind

  25. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    @TM
    Rate My Team tool: NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID

  26. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    How much rotation was there for Wolves in EL weeks before Xmas? If the pack does get shuffled, who’s at risk?

    Not just looking at Norwich but also the GW31 fixture for if they go further. I’d assume the Bournemouth match would get put back to the Sunday then.

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not sure but home grown could have an impact.

  27. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Fernandez Grealish Salah Auba (c) My ML rival differing from my players.

    Aurier Traore Mahrez Vardy Firmino Salah (C) is what I have.

    Who wins and take a guess how much?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      2,5,12,14= 33
      V
      2,1,6,2,11,24= 47

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Tnks. He is 37 points ahead. If all play. 1 minute he had Dacoure and Lund coming on from the bench. Hopefully he does not now

  28. offspinnersinahurry
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Which is the best Twitter user to follow for early team news please with FPL Rockstar not available?