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How the best FPL managers in our Live Hall of Fame are set up for the season run-in

Our Live Hall of Fame ranks Fantasy Premier League managers by performances past and present.

The list not only highlights which Fantasy bosses have been enjoying an excellent 2019/20 campaign but also rewards those who can back this up with admirable finishes in seasons gone by.

These managers are, then, the cream of the crop in FPL.

Earlier in the week, we brought you news of a refresh to our Live Hall of Fame and you can read details of the revised standings here.

In this article, we’ll look at how the top ten in this ranking system are currently set up ahead of a possible Premier League resumption in June.

Before we start, here is a reminder of which FPL managers currently make up the elite list.

Chip Usage

All ten of our featured managers used their Triple Captain chip in Gameweek 24 to great success, with Mohamed Salah (£12.7m) handed the armband by each and every one of them.

All bar Ian Herbert and Hassan Yousri have three chips remaining for the mooted run-in.

Ian and Hassan each deployed a chip in what turned out to be a ten-game Gameweek 29, with the scheduled midweek Manchester City v Arsenal fixture called off.

Four of our managers waited until the last possible moment to deploy their first Wildcards and a further three held onto it until after the second international break, which perhaps highlights one of the upsides of patience in FPL.

Tom Freeman was outside of the top one million after Gameweek 4 and Emil Gustafsson was stuck at around the 600k mark in Gameweek 11, so they could have been forgiven for pulling the trigger earlier than they did.

Just to prove that there’s more than one way to skin a cat, however, Marlen Rattiner activated his Wildcard as early as Gameweek 3.

Transfer Activity: GW31-36

Four of our top ten Live Hall of Fame managers have made five changes to their squads during the downtime (we are looking at Gameweek 31 onwards for the purposes of this study, given that some Gameweek 30 transfers would have been made before the announcement that the season was to be suspended).

Hassan has made four alterations, with all of his transfers used to ditch players he had initially brought in on a Wildcard in Gameweek 29.

Fábio Borges is the only one of this elite group who hasn’t made a single change since a ball was last kicked.

A full breakdown of the transfers is below:

INS
OUTS

Squads as of Gameweek 36

Goalkeepers

Nine of our top ten Live Hall of Fame managers have a budget, non-playing goalkeeper on their bench, with David Button (£3.9m) owned by five of them.

All of these managers still have their second Wildcard intact, of course, so can rectify that situation easily enough before they deploy their Bench Boost (eight of the nine who own goalkeeping bench fodder still have this chip in hand).

The one manager in our top ten who has used his second Wildcard, Hassan, has both Dean Henderson (£5.3m) and Ben Foster (£4.9m) in his squad, so is already in a good position to Bench Boost should the opportunity arise.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.8m) is owned by all ten of our managers, with four of them doubling up on the Liverpool defence in the shape of Andrew Robertson (£7.0m).

Matt Doherty (£6.3m), interestingly, is the second most-owned defender among our elite bunch, having hit a rich vein of form (40 points in five Gameweeks) shortly before the suspension of play.

Wolves and Liverpool, of course, were two of just eight teams who were scheduled to have a fixture in Blank Gameweek 31, so that will have had some bearing on the make-up of these squads.

Charlie Taylor (£4.3m), Jamaal Lascelles (£4.3m) and Jack Stephens (£4.4m) are three semi-popular budget options among this group, while Harry Maguire (£5.3m) has been recruited by three of our top ten Live Hall of Fame managers – Manchester United’s fairly favourable run-in perhaps accounting for that – during the lockdown.

Midfielders

Salah is an ever-present in the squads we are studying, while Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) and Bruno Fernandes (£8.6m) each feature in seven of them.

Sadio Mane (£12.5m) sits in two of the three teams that De Bruyne fails to appear in, with the midfield soaking up a decent chunk of our managers’ budgets.

Harvey Barnes (£6.4m) has a 50% ownership figure among our leading FPL bosses, meanwhile.

All except Ian own at least one midfielder priced at £5.0m or below.

Forwards

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.5m) has been signed by five of our featured managers since coronavirus brought football to a halt and is now the second-most-owned forward behind Raul Jimenez (£8.1m).

Emil is the only manager in the Hall of Fame top ten not to currently own the Mexican, who many had drafted in ahead of Blank Gameweek 31.

Danny Ings (£7.1m) himself had been a part of nine of these squads as of Gameweek 29 but has since lost five of his owners.

Stephen Harrap is the only manager to own a forward who costs less than £6.0m, namely Mason Greenwood (£4.3m).

A 3-4-3, then, looks to be the preferred choice of formation for many of our elite FPL bosses at present – although we do have a bit of time remaining for the managers in question to make further alterations before football resumes.

Miscellany

ManagerCurrent ORSquad ValueHits Taken in 2019/20Most Captained* (no. of times in GW1-29)
Stephen Harrap4,594£102.5m-32Salah (14)
Darren Wiles224£105.5m-8Salah (18)
Fábio Borges8,536£103.0m-12Salah (12)
Ian Herbert591£107.0m-16Salah (11)
Sean Tobin83,322£104.6m-28Salah (11)
Hassan Yousri2,417£105.0m-40Salah (9)
Marlen Rattiner37,178£105.4m-28Salah (10)
Alistair Hughes662£103.8m-16Salah (9)
Emil Gustafsson5,156£105.2m-8Salah (11)
Tom Freeman26,292£103.0m-16Salah (11)

With squad values ranging from £102.5m to £107.0m and significant variation in the number of hits taken, it’s reassuring to see that different strategies can simultaneously pay off, from the aggressive, value-chasing approach to the more patient blueprint.

Darren Wiles, perhaps unsurprisingly given his lofty position, has had the most success with the armband, gaining 454 points from his captaincy picks.

He was also the most consistent in terms of nominating a captain, picking Salah for 18 of the 29 Gameweeks in which there were matches.

*with thanks to FPL Statistico for the captaincy figures

80 Comments Post a Comment
  1. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Imagine being sat at 11th in HoF and missing out on all this lovely attention 🙂

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Ha, just realised. Ah well, you can slip under the radar while I've exposed the top ten to the limelight that they didn't ask for.

      Excellent history you've got, get yourself on Meet the Manager with Joe!

      1. denial
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Oh the hours I've sat by the phone waiting for that call to do Meet the Manager!
        From my experience around here, it's not such a bad thing to stay a bit out of the limelight.

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Yeah, I think I'd crack under the scrutiny if I was a Sutherns or a Ronka. Mercifully I'm nowhere near that level...

  2. StoichkovFPL
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Football is back!
    Everything goes according to plan for now and it looks like the dates are set.

    German Bundesliga: 15.05 (could be 22.05)
    Polish Ekstraklasa: 29.05

  3. Pino
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Yes, Markel has confirmed today that Bundesliga can start in May. Its up to the football association to decide the start date. The start date is not yet confirmed, but it looks like it will be in the second part of May.

  4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    That first BCD Bundesliga match is going to have the largest TV audience for any sporting event in history isn't it

    Will be fantastic to have a bit of the old fuseball back on t'interbox

  5. el polako
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    There is no football, why can't we discuss bit of politics both UK or international ?
    As long as people don't go silly (bit like myself regarding Germans and WWII) I dont see an issue ?
    Clearly it is hot topic at the moment.

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Well Im in South Africa and all Im concerned about now is having a glass of wine. Our idiotic goverment has banned both the purchase of alcohol and cigarettes in our lockdown. People are tearing hair out here. FPL is but a distant thought

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Prohibition ?
        Wow didn't know that, thought you have enough problems with crime down there - why fuel it ?

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          This , crazy , people breaking into liquor stores , illegal cigarettes flooding the market yet no give sigh

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      On the UK front as an observer, no doubt mistakes were made. They (politicians) need to front up and not be so defensive, my take

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        We should blame his direct advisors first then Boris.
        The whole herd immunity concept was very risky considering how little we knew about the virus at the time. (ie. Who is and who isn't vurneable).

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Yep told my nephew in the UK way back that herd immunity gaff was gonna hurt

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Boris Johnson has announced some measures to ease the lockdown could start on Monday, is he has crazy as he looks like Donald Trump !

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Ahh I dunno, watch and wait but they really need to get a better message across. Hope...

      2. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        They will ease them to protect economy. Some might say it's a good idea. Some will disagree.

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          The problem is the total number of daily new cases recorded yesterday in the UK is more than 20 times higher than the daily 7 day average when Coronavirus restrictions were first introduced, and nearly 8 times higher than when the currently lockdown restrictions were introduced, and the second highest daily total so far. I know it's distorted by the number of tests being done, but we are still getting around 7 times more daily cases than Germany's daily average and more than 4 times Italy's . I think the restrictions need to get stricter like other countries have done to reduce the numbers.

      3. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        From my personnal observation made during daily commute I would say people already took upon themselves to ease lockdown , way more cars and pedestrians than at the beginning of lockdown.

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          I've noticed that as well, more people out and about, more traffic, construction companies back at work and more retail businesses open.

    4. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I just got a post insta removed for criticizing the CCP in a reply to Fenor's post.

      Looks like they don't want any real discussion here about the issues that face us all.Even though i don't agree with some here on certain issues and God knows they certainly don't all agree with me but i will still defend anyone's right to their opinion.

      Do they think it would be better if everyone didn't have a difference of opinion and all thought along the same lines and just asked generic Scotty A,B,C questions and all gave the same answers in an echo chamber?

      1. Tinkermania
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Repost so we can see it. Can't comment without seeing it.

      2. Goro Majima
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        But what you posted wasn't criticism. It was an inflammatory accusation with no evidential basis.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          And , challenge then fgs

          1. Ógie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            This is it Debauchy,

            If whoever thought i said something that there was no evidence for circumstantial or otherwise then they should correct me if needs be besides censoring me.

            1. Debauchy
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Agree Ogie , though realise times have changed ..
              As mentioned below a successful outcome is realised only after putting your cards on the table and robustly discussung and debating.

              1. Debauchy
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                Ie no pandering to the easily offended. Fgs you have to face realities

          1. Goro Majima
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            OK and in that article it clearly says that the intelligence services do not believe the virus was manufactured in a lab and that there is a remote, 5%, chance it might have escaped from there. That's not exactly what you were saying initially though is it? Or perhaps I misunderstood.

            1. Debauchy
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              I don't believe it came from the lab either, but I could be wrong, Im a batman. Regardless to get to the truth you need to face all possibilities. To simply deny is not the way.

              1. Goro Majima
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                I agree, but there should at least be some evidence of the possibility... it's not right to pluck accusations from thin air.

                1. Ógie
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 10 months ago

                  Like Dr.Li Wenliang being plucked out of the air and never seen again for blowing the whistle on this?

                  1. Goro Majima
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 10 months ago

                    Sure. I'm not arguing with you there.

            2. Ógie
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              How can they really know where it emerged from when China won't let them carry out a real investigation?

              I wonder why the CCP are so adamant to cover it all up and put pressure on NGO's and world governments to tow the line?

              Guilty of something maybe?

              1. Goro Majima
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                The point is nobody knows anything with certainty right now, it's possible they are covering something up but also possible they're not. I agree the chances of the Chinese govt allowing a proper investigation there are about nil.

                1. Ógie
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 11 Years
                  3 years, 10 months ago

                  If they knew about it and still let it spread especially to the western allied country's which is pretty obvious if you look at the timeline then it has been used as a weapon plain and simple.

                  1. Goro Majima
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 4 Years
                    3 years, 10 months ago

                    I wouldn't agree that's using it as a weapon, I don't think it was deliberate in that sense, I agree they have tried to stifle it initially before it got out of hand. Anyway, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that point.

                    1. Ógie
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 11 Years
                      3 years, 10 months ago

                      It is not as if the CCP's actions since the outbreak have not lead me to this conclusion as in trying to buy up western company's for a song and pushing their weight around in the South China Sea.

                      That's ok, i respect your opinion and the way you are looking at this although we may see it a bit differently.

                      1. Goro Majima
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 4 Years
                        3 years, 10 months ago

                        There are many things you're saying I basically think are fair points, just not everything. Thanks for your time, stay healthy.

                    2. Debauchy
                      • 11 Years
                      3 years, 10 months ago

                      Thats where we are now GM. Nothing proven yet , lets hope that whatever powers that be can get to the truth though, and soon. Happy that you guys could debate as adults 🙂

                  2. Debauchy
                    • 11 Years
                    3 years, 10 months ago

                    I hope you are wrong, regardless a major inquisition is a must in good time

      3. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        Sad Ogie , robust debate and discussion was always the way to get to a better outcome. These days it seems hide and hope the way

      4. el polako
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        That's what I'm talking about.
        Seen begging of discussion the next moment pufff is gone.

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          The magic dragon ..

          1. el polako
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            Most likely chinese...

            1. Debauchy
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Aye

    5. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 3 months ago

      Taking you at face value (I cannot think outside the box after 2 large glasses of red wine). A few weeks ago I head a non politician distil the essence of the British financial (and hence political) situation into one small sentence. He was Lord King, ex governor of the Bank of England, and on Laura Kuenssberg' show, in essence he said this :

      "You cannot have an American level of taxes together with a European level of services."

      The Tories are still trying to con an electoral majority otherwise.
      The British "comfortable" middle earners need to wake up and smell the coffee - we cannot keep all the balls in the air having this level of taxation. We need to pay more. We need to to take a hit in our expected standard of living. Live with it.
      This government is tired and past its sell-by date.
      I have never (in italics) voted Labour, so this time will be the first time.

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 3 months ago

        Why are you replying to a post from 2 years ago?

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 3 months ago

          The two glasses of wine?!

          1. Old Man
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 3 months ago

            Yeah - never even noticed.

  6. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    So would people rather have for the run in:
    A) Mason Mount
    B) Harvey Barnes
    C) Jack Grealish
    ?

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Jack. Nailed on, fighting for something and shop-windowing if Villa drop.

      1. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        damn, I agree but 0.1 short. Who to replace aurier (4.9) with to free up the 0.1?

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Really depends on who you have. A Sheff Utd defender is a decent call at that price but anyone fairly nailed might be wise.

    2. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      I’ve got a feeling Barnes is going to come good and have taken a punt. On paper with the extra game it’s Jack though.

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        I have both and Sarr. But I think one has to go for KDB

  7. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Corona what have you done ? Changed the landscape I guess and hope. Millions of footie fans are wrestling with the dynamics of grossly overpaid players resisting pay cuts while many of those fans are battling to make ends meet.. That the players will be forced kicking(hic) and screaming into the new reality is a given. Gonna be an interesting watch

  8. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Henderson's loan deal ends at end of June. That could affect their chances big time.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Talk has been that all loan agreements would be 'extended' into any matches for this current season, despite end dates in June.

    2. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Big time? Hardly , much more on the plate than the loss of a Henderson

      1. pablo discobar
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        What do you mean?

        1. Debauchy
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          Well , big time is what the common man is living with at this time, Henderson issue is hardly big time,

          1. pablo discobar
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 10 months ago

            This is a fantasy football website. Head over to mumsnet if you want to get emotional

            1. Debauchy
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 10 months ago

              Huh , grow up fella

              1. Debauchy
                • 11 Years
                3 years, 10 months ago

                You asked what I meant, I told you no emotion involved ,

  9. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    It seems that Rashford just enjoys annoying me wether it's the man himself or a virtual version. Gets injured as soon as I eventually bring him in in real FPL. Now in the virtual game he dries up as soon as I get him after seemingly scoring in every game prior.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      This.

      Absolutely this.

  10. JD @JDCochran2
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 10 months ago

    Best 3 forwards now for FPL? Cost is not a worry

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 10 months ago

      Rashford , Auba , Aguero

      1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 10 months ago

        This - but if it is a mega GW38 I would be concerned about Rashford recovery. Jimenez a safer pick.

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 10 months ago

          ...plus Bruno may well now be on pens...

  11. joeyc_33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 3 months ago

    ddsgdgfd

    1. joeyc_33
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 3 months ago

      dfgdfgdfgdf

      1. joeyc_33
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 3 months ago

        dfgdfgd

  12. joeyc_33
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 3 months ago

    dgdfgdf

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 3 months ago

      Let’s go Utd