Feature

Fantasy football managers encouraged to participate in mental health study

Researchers from Nottingham Trent University are investigating the impact of Fantasy Football on its most passionate fans – and they want your help.

They have applied a pre-existing, validated questionnaire pack to Fantasy Football in order to collect information on how Fantasy the game impacts those that play and, in turn, understand the wider implications of the growing phenomenon.

During this challenging year, mental health issues have been on the rise in almost all groups of people.

While there has been plenty of research on the subject over the past 12 months, very little has been conducted on what role Fantasy Football plays in our wellbeing.

“Fantasy Football has become a huge and global game and continues to grow each year,” says Dr. Luke Wilkins, lecturer in sports and exercise psychology at Nottingham Trent University.

“But one area we don’t know very much about is the mental health of individuals who play it.

“Millions of people play a Fantasy Football game for soccer of some description this season and it only takes a quick scroll through social media channels to see the highs and lows they experience on a regular basis.

“Despite this, there is little concrete information on the positive and negative mental effects Fantasy Football can have on one individual compared to another.

“We want to change that and, in order to do it, we need Fantasy managers to take part in our study.”

Participation in the study involves filling out a questionnaire pack that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Through a series of questions, it assesses your thoughts, behaviours, emotions and experiences around Fantasy Football.

Participants do not have to answer every question and are free to leave any blank should they not wish to respond.

All data will remain confidential and anonymous. You will not be asked for your name or any other identifying features at any point. 

Study data will only be accessible by the principal investigator and his research associate. Data collected in this study may be used in future reports such as academic journals and conference presentations. However, again, no individual will be identifiable through such publication of data.

Participants are free to withdraw at any point, either during the data collection stage or for up to three weeks following it by contacting the research team and providing the unique code they generated at the start of the questionnaire pack. In this eventuality, all of the withdrawing participant’s data will be destroyed immediately.

If you have any questions or thoughts about the questionnaire, or the topic in general, please feel free to contact Dr Luke Wilkins at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk.

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521 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Play up

    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      This affects my mental health 🙁

    2. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      This makes me moderately happy, several times a week, for under 1 minute, and I find it very easy to control.

  2. Seamy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Is anyone else unable to sort comments by rating or sticky anymore?
    I have tried it in multiple browsers but it still doesn't work

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      You can change the default sorting in your profile. It's being worked on but isn't an easy fix atm.

  3. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Having completed this survey I appreciate what data it is trying to record but those sorts of questions aren't half useless for me when I fill them out. I almost definitely would answer differently if I redid it in about 5 hours time.

    1. fusen
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Does feeling excited last for 1-10 minutes or 11-60... I haven't got a clue, I don't monitor that sort of thing.

  4. Malkmus
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    A'noon. I've seen a lot of talk about fixture swing in gw31 and I'm probably doing wc then. Barring form/injuries, who do we think is a priority to get in from gw31 onwards? Chelsea? Rudiger?

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      I think TAA will be one to get.

      1. Malkmus
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 27 days ago

        Hmm. Not sure at that price. Needs a big change of form

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Triple Wolves!

  5. HODGE
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Which city players do people think will miss out tonight from the below?

    A Dias
    B stone's
    C Cancello
    D kdb
    E sterling
    F gundogen

    1. Dasher0303
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      One of A or B

    2. FPL_ UP_Down
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 26 days ago

      Hopefully miss out A & B
      C&E plays

  6. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 27 days ago

    Load of rubbish imo. Fantasy football and mental health shouldn't be in the same sentence. Is that how things are now, where mental health needs to be mentioned everywhere? Oh, let's look at the impact Fifa career mode has on people's mental health. Oh, let's look at the impact that your favourite meal deal not being in Tesco's has on ones mental health.

    It shouldn't be chucked around like this. FPL is just a game. Mentioning a game and mental health completely disregards people with serious mental health issues.

    1. michaelington
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 27 days ago

      Completely agree. Life has ups and downs, that's what makes it interesting. Of course, having a bad week won't put you in a good mood. Forget about it, move on to the next one and more importantly, do something else other than FPL.

      1. Oi! Shadders!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 26 days ago

        Something that you consider to be a 'down' could send someone else plunging into despair.
        It's amazing how some people think that everyone is affected in exactly the same way by an event.

    2. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 27 days ago

        But aren't you doing the same thing by disregarding people that may have mental health issues with fpl?

        There's people out there with phobias of buttons, do you tell them to get over it and that it's a non issue or do you still try to help them

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 26 days ago

          As I said, it disregards people with serious mental health issues. People with serious mental health issues cannot control having serious mental health issues. It can ruin someone's life, I've seen happen with my own eyes.

          Having a phobia of something is not the same as letting a game, which we're meant to enjoy, have a very negative affect on ones mood and personal life. If people have mental health issues with FPL, then can we say people have mental health issues with playing a video game on a Playstation? Are we saying someone who's losing a lot while playing FIFA is being affected mentally and that they need help? Is that what we're really saying?

          Games generally are meant to improve your mood, to take your mind off things going in in your personal life. I find FPL helps with that in some ways and same with most other people who play. Oh and it's a free game too, not like something drastically important is on the line (Unless you are fighting for number 1). If you can't handle doing badly, don't play. We are not obliged to play. I did that in the 18/19 season, stopped playing around GW12 that season because I was making bad decisions and got frustrated at myself but I didn't get genuinely upset. Had a break and came back last season and it's helped me do better at the game, last season and this one.

          1. Wild Rover
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 26 days ago

            This isn't just about you.

            1. Qaiss
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              Where did I say it was? I'm just putting my point across and what I did when the game frustrated me. What are you truly suggesting for people who are negatively affected mentally by FPL?

              1. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                You called it a load of rubbish, based on the fact that you have no issues with it, dissing the fact that others might.

                1. Qaiss
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Nah, I'm asking you who see's it as a concern, what is the solution to it then? Other than don't play it or try and take it less seriously. And you've missed my entire point.

                  1. Wild Rover
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    I don't pretend to have the answers and you have no point, just an ill thought out pointless and ignorant post.

                    1. Qaiss
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Read my reply below to 'would ed woodward'. And tone down your passive aggressiveness. You do it a lot on this site.

                      1. Wild Rover
                        • 13 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        Passive? I think you are a total fool

                        1. Qaiss
                          • 8 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          Because you're completely unable to try and comprehend or debate in a normal way, any point of view that you disagree with. You are the fool here 😉

                  2. Iwantmorepointsthanks
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    What is your point then?
                    If you don't see it as an issue it can't be an issue?
                    If there is no (immediate?) solution to something, there should be no concern?
                    Sorry, your comment is tone deaf and also shows a limited mindset.

                    1. Qaiss
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      I don’t have a concern regarding this. My point was mentioned above and also below replying to others. I think the limited mindset you’re on about comes from people who think FPL and mental health should be mentioned in the same sentence.

          2. @persecuted_by_mods
              3 years, 26 days ago

              I have also seen it with my own eyes in my household but that doesn't mean I look to start point scoring or compare, it's pointless doing that on an individual basis- you don't go around to people in western countries asking why they're depressed because some people in war torn countries aren't depressed there's no serious-o-meter in that sense. You don't go hey stop complaining about breaking your leg because the guy next to you broke two legs

              I kinda want to get where you're coming from but I'm sorry it's just such a bad take- Studying this in no way diminishes whatever you are referring to as the serious mental issues. Just like studying paper cuts doesn't diminish research or seriousness of cancer

              Are some things more serious than others? Of course, but to an individual and in regards to this study/your point I just don't get it

              1. Qaiss
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                If it's going to be a point of discussion on how much FPL affects someone mentally, then we can literally say that for any video game that ever existed then? And again, what is the solution for people being negatively affected by FPL?

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    I think you should research games like eve online or world of warcraft or second life, there's been real life murder attempts and collapsing of lives just from games. Look at competitive e sports people dedicate their lives to being the best at a game to the detriment of their health- it already exists dude

                    I don't know what the solution is, I didn't say I had the solution but I just don't get why you'd respond like this to a simple study

                    1. Baines on Toast...
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      This is a very good point. I think Japan are probably further ahead with this but it's happened more across the world since Covid - people increasingly living huge portions of their life online or in some form of virtual world.

                      There's a few factors - decreasing opportunities in real life, increasing engagement of online worlds (programmes being engineered deliberately to be addictive), and then obviously pandemic.

                      In terms of solutions, I think initiatives like Screen Time on phones and even 'time out' from the bookies are step forward.

                    2. Qaiss
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Time, resources and support don't really go towards people who suffer from mental health issues because of a video game though. What you and others are saying, is that they should. And in that case, most things in life that people do for pleasure, need to have mental health support practices put in place. Which as my point from the beginning stated, can brush to the side people who suffer from serious mental health and mental illness. That's what needs the most attention.

                      1. Baines on Toast...
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • 13 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        I think there's plenty of room for it all though! There is plenty of research into games and health in general (just found this recent one from google https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/nov/16/video-gaming-can-benefit-mental-health-find-oxford-academics) and while obviously there's an issue with support for people with more serious conditions - especially during Covid - that's not something this person (or this site) are going to be able to move forward.

                        The individual looking at this study is an academic working in Sports Psychology - it's unlikely he's going to contribute to the non-sports stuff, or to study many more serious conditions, but he may well be uniquely positioned on this topic in general.

                        1. Baines on Toast...
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 13 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          Long story short sorry - studying one thing doesn't mean other things don't matter/aren't more serious. It just means, even if they aren't tackling some of the biggest issues in the field, someone (and it could just be one person) might be able to find something out about a comparatively niche subject.

          3. Baines on Toast...
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 27 days ago

            It is very close to gambling which is well known to have a negative impact on a lot of people.

            1. Qaiss
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              We aren't paying to play FPL and FPL is generally considered a game of skill.

              1. Vlekz
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  You are not. Many of us are, massive money is involved in many MLs

                  1. Qaiss
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Which I don't think is allowed anymore by the way and the PL strongly encourages people not to take part in such leagues.

                    1. Vlekz
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        How can FPL control offline cash leagues? Nothing is settled in game.
                        Almost every single govt tries to minimise gambling and blah blah, doesn't mean it stops or doesn't affect people mentally.

                        1. Russell
                          • 10 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          The same can be said about Fifa or any other game though. There will always be people playing any game for serious money.

                        2. Qaiss
                          • 8 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          It's actually not allowed and hasn't been since the end of last season. They can't control it, just like they can't control someone having multiple accounts. But it's not allowed.

                  2. Baines on Toast...
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    I'd say even the best players generally consider it a game where chance plays a significant part.

                    There's clearly a lot of ups and downs to the game, and it also risks affecting something that would otherwise be an outlet for people at a difficult time. Whether 'mental health' is the right framing specifically, I'm unsure - it's become a bit of a catch all. But ultimately I have no problem with academic research into something which 8 million people are playing around the world - it's better explored than left alone, surely, and I'd rather it was normalised to talk about rather than people suffering in silence (which is a huge problem in gambling).

                    It's a fair point that money isn't involved, but personally another one of my interests is whether it serves as a gateway into real-money games - especially given the amount of gambling advertising on this site and in the football world more generally.

              2. The Polymath
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Sorry mate, you may be under-estimating how serious mental health issues can get with FPL. I'm sure to some people it's more than a game, it shouldn't be, but it is and it could be affecting their mental health adversely.

              3. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Ignorant comment. There are plenty of people who spend hours and hours devoting their time to FPL. For many it is their biggest or even only hobby. People take it so seriously, that a bad day or week can really ruin their week, just as a good week can really lift the spirit. To compare it with a fav meal not being available in Tesco's is plain stupid.

                1. The Ejiptian King
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  If only people with depression could pick and choose what makes them depressed.

                  1. Qaiss
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    They don't. That's my point of 'people with serious mental health issues'.

                    1. The Ejiptian King
                      • 5 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Yet you listed things which 'shouldn't' impact people's mental health? ANYTHING, even if it's the tiniest thing imaginable (in your opinion) can have a negative impact on someone's mental health if suffering with depression, they can't pick and choose or rationalise it.

                      1. Qaiss
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        Nah, I'm saying people with serious mental health issues can't control it. They might have a very nice life for example but still have severe mental health problems. Whereas with this discussion, ones mental health isn't going to be affected if they're in the top10k, as much as if they're doing quite badly. That's my entire point.

                        1. Oi! Shadders!
                          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                          • 13 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          I'd like to know what you're basing this opinion on and how you feel so qualified to speak for everyone.
                          Having a position in the the top 10k might induce all sorts of anxiety - just not for you.

                          1. Qaiss
                            • 8 Years
                            3 years, 26 days ago

                            How often do people who are doing well at any video game or FPL, also suffer from mental health problems because they're doing well? Not that they don't exist but how often?

                            1. Oi! Shadders!
                              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                              • 13 Years
                              3 years, 26 days ago

                              I don't know how many, but the point is that neither do you.

                              'Doing well' is not necessarily going to prevent feelings of anxiety about continuing to do well. And what happens if someone drops from, say, 1000th to 9000th. Are you saying that you can't imagine that that might have a significant effect on a person's mental health?

                              1. Studs Up
                                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                                • 4 Years
                                3 years, 26 days ago

                                True this......not going into details, but going from top 100 and ending last season on 6 consecutive red arrows wasn't fun

                            2. Rover
                              • 7 Years
                              3 years, 26 days ago

                              Doing well maybe, but doing badly?

                2. Hangman Page
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Totally agree WR, well said.

                  1. Amey
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Hello Mate !

                3. Oi! Shadders!
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  +1

                4. Hazz
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Yeah honestly that comment kind of disgusted me. FPL falls under the banner of addiction which is a very real mental illness; in a way its a form of gambling.

                  When it's something as popularised as football - with how social media, TV etc is nowadays, and with a player base of 8 million and growing - you can learn an awful lot & help those who suffer.

                  There's quite a few people who post here who would actually find some recommendations off the back of this useful.

                  FPL and the Premier League isn't going to go away. Let's learn how we can create a better environment for others - not just the ones who are able to take a step back.

                5. Flair
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 22 days ago

                  Well said WR, this post was insanely ignorant and complete nonsense.

              4. Fulchester's New Centr…
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                I completed the survey to help Dr Luke. It is only a game and doesn't even cost anything even though it does waste massive amounts of time.
                Like everyone I'm briefly annoyed when Kane (TC) misses a sitter, or Richarlison scores instead of DCL, or briefly happy when Stones scores, (or dare I say it slightly pleased that Martinez - who I stupidly sold weeks ago seems to be a bit injured).
                But then again, I might sometimes go to the casino, or the bookies or the dogs with others, but never think about betting outside of those environments or I'll have a drink in the pub or a beer with my dinner, but don't sit alone drinking vodka so I am guessing that there are people who do have personalities or are in an environment where these things become something more.

              5. Hangman Page
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                There is precisely nothing wrong with a study measuring participants' perception of how anything - be it fantasy football or solitaire - affects their mental health.

                In no way does such a study "disregard" those with serious mental health problems. Everyone has "mental health" and having more understanding of how one's habits and behaviour impact it - even in small ways - can only be a good thing.

              6. Oi! Shadders!
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                You are completely unqualified to mock or even comment on how FPL (or anything else) might affect the mental health of someone else.

              7. Boris Bodega
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Your post has affected my mental health 🙁

                Logging off now

              8. Amey
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I think people who care too much about FPL do get upset with bad GW. It's pretty normal as we spend lot of time thinking about it. Only way to detach is take a break or engage yourself into some different things throughout the week, and watch games on weekend. Switching off is possible maybe but it's difficult at least for me. Maybe once life takes over these things fall behind.
                You put valid point but in a bad way IMO. There are important things to care about, but this is equally important

              9. The Polymath
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I think words on paper sometimes aren't enough to make people understand. I suggest FFS produces some videos of FPL players who have been affected mentally. Perhaps then some of the doubters may change their minds about how serious the issue is terms of FPL.

              10. sminkypinky
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Mate of mine asked me a few years back why he played at all. Always frustrated and angry when things don’t go his way. Disappointments last a lot longer than when things do go his way and players do well. I agree that his pondering was on point. I’ve had this discussion with myself way down the line when I seemed to take the game too seriously. Hence I cut back my time here and as our ML host suggested we cut down the ”price” payed each year. We did and I’ve enjoyed the game much more since. Told this to my friend and he seemed somehow relieved to hear others had had similar feelings.
                I consider myself as a quite positive and cheerful person normally so I quite understand the basis of the study. As said before people don’t get to choose how they’re affected by anything. Your feelings live a whole life of their own in a way. No harm in this study imo at all. Hope it even helps someone.
                To this day me, my mate and others still play each and every year, mostly enjoying it. 😉 That said, this hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for many with other things depressing our lives as well.

                1. Wilkins21
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Hi Sminkypinky,

                  Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

                  Thanks again,
                  Luke

            2. tisza
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Like the idea but FF (in a normal season) has emotional peaks around match times in particular. You can go up and down like a yoyo in a 90 minute period. Current COVID timetable means it's generally more spread out as the matches are.
              A "normal" Saturday could see 5/6 3pm kick-offs so at 3.01 you're buzzing with a 1st minute goal, then hitting the ceiling with a 3rd minute missed penalty from another game.

              1. LAMELA_AND_CONSUELA
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Yes exactly. From my perspective, currently it is 10 % of emotional engagement in comparison to the past years, when sometimes 8 out of 11 players played in the same time and during two hours your emotions changed rapidly very often in 15 minutes span.

                1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Actually, I think this is a good point. Now games are on pretty much everyday it does change things.

            3. Dasher0303
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              What to do here?

              Martinez
              Stones Dias Dallas
              Son Bruno Raph Gundo
              Kane Richarlison Bam

              Steele Shaw Barnes Dunne

              1ft 2.5 itb got BB and WC left

              Dunne to targett/konsa/reguilon?
              Or Barnes to lingard/bale?
              Want to target BGW 29 players

            4. niaz1982
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Is Forster likely to have a run now or will they go back to McCarthy?

              I've got Pope but want to swap to Martinez 1st choice, but have McCarthy on bench and wondering if worth switching with Forster?

              1. Konstaapeli
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                McCarthy is worth switching to anyone in any case.

                1. niaz1982
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 27 days ago

                  agreed was just thinking DG27

              2. JabariParkersEyelid
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I'd rather have Martinez in one game than Forster in 2 and I'm a saints fan.

                1. niaz1982
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

            5. Essan
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              Completed the questionaire for what it's worth, but the questions seemed skewed towards negative emotions - I find playing FF relaxing and always a postive experience , even when (as usual) I;ve picked all the wrong players again ..... (like this week 😉 )

              1. JabariParkersEyelid
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Completely agree with this assessment. Short section that covers positive emotion but then overwhelmingly skews to the negative for the latter sections.

              2. Wilkins21
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Hi Essan,

                Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

                Thanks again,
                Luke

            6. DanLFC1
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              How do the monthly FPL tables work on the website?
              Is Feb now done or would we expect the 2nd half of this gameweek (in March) to be included in Feb number?

              1. Pipermaru
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                GW that starts in, for example, February counts for that month, doesn't matter if it finish in March. There's actually pretty clear table in rules section on the FPL website.

              2. Now I'm Panicking
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I think the whole gameweek falls in the month based on the month the deadline was in.

                One gameweek definitely wouldn't straddle two months.

                1. Pipermaru
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Correct, that's how it looks like for remainder of the season:

                  February Gameweek 22 Gameweek 26
                  March Gameweek 27 Gameweek 29
                  April Gameweek 30 Gameweek 33
                  May Gameweek 34 Gameweek 38

            7. casual69
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              65 points so far with:

              Ederson,
              Rüdiger, Digne,Stones
              Salah, Gündogan,Fernandes,
              Calvert-Lewin, Kane,
              Martínez, Watkins, Lowton, El Mohamade

              ...still to play
              Barnes/ Raphina - Not playing

              Think I can hit 120?

              1. JabariParkersEyelid
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 27 days ago

                Depends how your captain goes, but sure you can.

                1. casual69
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 27 days ago

                  dcl as capt,

                  1. hueycho
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    No then

            8. JabariParkersEyelid
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 27 days ago

              The most bizarre part of the questionnaire is that it asks you to confirm you're over 18, then one of the questions asks how often you argue with your parents about the amount of time you spend playing fantasy football.

              It feels like a lot of leading questions that are trying to create an idea that playing fantasy sports games are detrimental to mental health. Sure this might be the case for some but I'd bet the vast majority aren't adversely affected.

              I love sports, fantasy games just add an additional layer of enjoyment as there's an added element of strategy and agency. Nothing to see hear.

              1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I just put no or minimum for nearly all of it except do you think too much spend on it to which the answer is 1000x yes.

              2. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                It's a study. I have plenty of issues with it, but ultimately, we don't know the research question(s) they are asking, nor the true methodology. 50% of these questions might be red herrings to balance the conditions. They might want you to think they are trying to create an idea that playing fantasy sports games are detrimental to mental health to bias towards the null hypothesis. It's quite something to be so dismissive as a blind participant.

                That said, it doesn't seem like a particularly impressive method. If they want to know about emotion regulation, for example, it seems unlikely they will get representative data by simply asking the participant, 'How easy to REGULATE happiness, typically, then?' And the emotion model seems a bit old-school. Is happiness an emotion or a state? Etc. Anyway, I'm going through it, and will give the benefit of the doubt, since I am an ignorant participant.

                1. casual69
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  It is only Nottingham Trent to be fair!

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    I mean, this definitely came to my mind. 😀

              3. Wilkins21
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Hi Jabariparkerseyelid,

                Thanks for your feedback. I completely understand your points here. Let me address the first comment: From our perspective, I think what is important to remember is that there is literally nothing out there at the moment on this topic. As such, it was felt that the best *initial* approach would be to use pre-existing questionnaires from other areas and adapt them to fantasy football. Such an approach is common in the early stages of exploration, as pre-existing questionnaires have a validity and reliability that are supported scientifically that a custom-made questionnaire does not. Thus, the questions you saw were taken from the mental health domain in general, and re-worded slightly to address fantasy football. This did mean, as you correctly pointed out, that not all were worded in the most ideal of manners.
                Re your second comment: this is something that we have very quickly learnt from feedback such as yours! We didn't complete ignore the many positives and benefits that FF brings (hence the initial section which included questions on positive emotions) but you are completely right that this, in hindsight, needed to be built on much more. This is now something we plan to do with our next study.
                Would you be interested in receiving information about this when the time comes? From what you have said, it sounds like you have a very useful perspective from which to drawn upon, and your thoughts would be valuable and contribute a lot. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

                Thanks,
                Luke

            9. tbos83
              • 3 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              Personally I've found FPL to be a great distraction from everything else during the pandemic- though admittedly it sometimes borders on addiction.

              1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                True, though I also regret the fact that in the time I have wasted on here in the last 12 months when I could have got "killer abs", or learned German or done something more useful than knowing Bruno Fernandes' usual EO.

                1. tbos83
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Exactly this. I could be a grade 8 pianist by now (though arguably being in top 100k brings me just as must pride)

            10. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              What disappointment DCL caused me. I TC him. thought SOU will struggle against them but Everton really didn't create much in that game. I hope he can score at least one goal next game.

              1. JabariParkersEyelid
                • 4 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Did the disappointment last 11-60 minutes, 1-4 hours or more than 4 hours?

                1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  LOL currently it lasts until now.

                2. Fulchester's New Centr…
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Lovely stuff

                3. Hangman Page
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  LOL

                4. threeputt
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  it might be 3 hrs 45 mins ago since this was posted but I genuinely couldn't stop laughing when I read this, a definite upvote from me 🙂

              2. Scots Gooner
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 7 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                They missed James. Hopefully he's back next game

                1. Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Yea hope so too

            11. Karan14
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 26 days ago

              Need Cancelo to go big tonight!

              1. Fulchester's New Centr…
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Yes please

              2. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Not kidding, he is my TC 😀

                1. Saka Rice
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  I don't believe you lol...you actually captained a Man City defender knowing he was most likely going to miss out one of the two games?

                  1. Amey
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    He did. He will be laughing at the end I guess. 😀
                    All other popular © either failed or didn't do well.
                    Hopefully Cancelo hauls tonight

                  2. Wild Rover
                    • 13 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    It's true. There are plenty here who can confirm it. He was only 'most likely' to miss out in hindsight. Sure, it was a risk but the rewards could have been huge. They might still be 😉

                  3. The Ejiptian King
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Why would someone lie about TCing someone that scored 0 in their first game?

                    1. Fitzy.
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 12 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Why would someone think WR would lie about anything? As straight as they come, so to speak...

              3. @persecuted_by_mods
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Need an Adama Vs City special

                • Hotdogs for Tea
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Laxative will help 😉

              4. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                What do you think of Gary Linekar's suggestion that:

                A) Players should be able to take free-kicks immediately (not wait for the referee)

                B) Players should be able to play free-kicks to themselves (they don't need to pass to someone else)

                1. Wild Rover
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  A has been tried, it doesn't work. See no problem with B

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    I like the idea, but can't imagine how it would work. Where/when has it been tried?

                    1. Wild Rover
                      • 13 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      It was allowed for years in the early days of the Prem but it got ridiculous, with players booting it into the net while keeper stood by his post lining up the wall or having a drink

                      1. Russell
                        • 10 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        I think this would be a good addition though, why should the opposition be allowed ages to put up a wall and get ready when (in theory) they've just stopped a good attacking opportunity for the opposition illegally.

                      2. Deulofail
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        Not sure why the GK would take a drink when the ball is in play. Sounds like his fault, or otherwise, the rules were different to what's being proposed here.

                2. Now I'm Panicking
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Seems like these are solutions to a problem that doesn't exist to me.

                3. jomikijiq
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  I'd like anything that punishes fouls more and gives bigger advantage to the team being fouled, so both of these options. They also speed up the play for the viewer

                  1. AC/DC AFC
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Especially B.

                4. Pipermaru
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  It will be choas, imagine any free kick just outside of penalty box without waiting for goalie to set up a wall, 9,15m distance from the spot and all of that, can't see it happenning.

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Why should the defence get time to set up a wall? They only do that because they are given the time to, right? Maybe the line between free kick and penalty should be blurred a bit more, so there's less artificial emphasis on the box and more on the crime/punishment. Just thinking allowed

                    1. Deulofail
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Allow it! Haha

                      aloud*

                    2. Russell
                      • 10 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Agree!

                    3. Pipermaru
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      I just got a feeling that as fun as it sounds it would create even more controversies than we have now, it won't be any different than us playing football on the streets when we were 12 years old.

                    4. Studs Up
                      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                      • 4 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Then a pen can be taken even if the gk is not ready....right?

                      1. Deulofail
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        I didn't suggest any changes to how penalties are taken

                    5. Nate(U)dog(ie)
                      • 3 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      Have to agree now that I think about it. Especially nowadays when so little can result in a foul and the significance of professional fouling (not happening too much in the PL currently but certainly some bigger teams did it a lot in recent years and significantly reduced an advantage the opposition would have had)

                      1. Deulofail
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        Right. We 'd see fewer fouls and less disruption of play if there is less advantage (and more disadvantage) to making the foul.

                        It's just difficult to envision how it would work in practice, since you would still need players to stand X feet away from the ball so they don't crowd it, and so then you need time to enforce that, and then how much time, oh now we are giving them tome to set up a wall, and to be fair we need to be consistent, so let's wait until both sides are ready. Oh we're back where we started.

                5. Russell
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  What I've never understood is why they don't 'stop the clock' during subs and injuries like every other sport.

                  It would cut out pointless subs, faking injury etc. People say the downside is the game would go on for ages more, but if the faking and pointless subs stop then it won't change much.

                  I'm not saying stop the clock every time it goes out of play, just for long stoppages like in rugby.

                  1. jomikijiq
                    • 8 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    yeah, this doesn't make sense because some games have ball-in-play for under 50 minutes and some even up to over 60 minutes

                    1. Deulofail
                      • 8 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      doesn't make sense = up to over 60 minutes 😛

                      1. jomikijiq
                        • 8 Years
                        3 years, 26 days ago

                        The fact that we have discrepancies between two games being more than 10 minutes doesn't make sense imo 😀

                        1. jomikijiq
                          • 8 Years
                          3 years, 26 days ago

                          not a native speaker, sorry!

                  2. Pipermaru
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Agree with that 100%.

                6. threeputt
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Salah says 'yes please' to the 2nd

              5. OLD Rafiki
                • 3 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                am from that bloody questionnaire pack,was interesting though.

              6. Hangman Page
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Not sure why that survey didn't include space for free text. Qualitative responses add a lot of context to quantitative ones and coding them isn't that hard. Just strikes me as lazy to not include them.

                1. sunzip14
                  • 7 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  'Statistical analysis' more scientific and authentic while 'qualitative analysis' relying on researcher's own judgement and bias, is one of the worst arguments I often hear. Completely agree with you here. It is just being lazy. Just auto generate chart and graphs from the surveys and you have become a researcher now...

                2. Wilkins21
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Hi Blush Response,

                  Thank you for completing the questionnaire, and for your feedback here. Would you be interested in receiving information about our follow-up study when the time comes? We are going to take a qualitative (interview) approach to explore the topic in more detail. This will also allow us to explore further the many positives and benefits that FF brings that - as many people on here have rightly stated - were perhaps lacking in the current questionnaire. Please drop me an email at luke.wilkins@ntu.ac.uk if so.

                  Thanks again,
                  Luke

              7. Ajax Hamsterdam
                • 9 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Thoughts on mount as a replacement for Barnes ?

                1. jomikijiq
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  it's okay if you FH29, not so much otherwise

                  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Would do yes

                2. Holmes
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Decent pick

                  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Thanks Holmes . I could also start raphina and save transfer

                3. casual69
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Better options out there,

                  1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                    • 9 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Lingard?

                    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
                      • 9 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      I'd keep mount long term

                4. Amey
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  I don't like Chelsea attack at all. Defense or nothing for me. It's a minefield IMO

                5. pingissimus
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Quite like it

                  But if you're looking longer term then you need to take a view on Fulham and Brighton. Do Palace and WBA make up for that?

              8. circusmonkey
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Is any Tottenham defender nailed? Might just get a Villa defender if not.

                1. casual69
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  jose would prob nail them to a cross thy are tht bad - beside regl.

                2. Pegboy
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Reguillon is the closest. But no, none is absolutely nailed.

              9. JOELIO8701
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                I posted a comment yesterday on the DLC Starts article asking for upvotes. I received 25 upvotes last time I checked. When I went to visit this morning to check the total number (my target was 100) I found it had been deleted. I'm pretty gutted as none of my friends believe how many upvotes I got.

                Comment deletion affects mental health.

                Anyone captaining Salah v FUL instead of City asset in dgw 27? I'm considering it for the differential!

                1. jomikijiq
                  • 8 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Gundo will probably be the only City player with higher EO than Salah though

                2. JONALDINHO
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Same here. Got 15 upvotes aiming for 50. They don’t want to see us win

                3. No Professionals
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Fulham have been solid. Salah looks horribly out of form. Don't think i've ever seen him as wide as he was versus Sheff United.

                4. Nate(U)dog(ie)
                  • 3 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Going with Antonio I think

              10. Boris Bodega
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Going for the bold move of Bruno & Barnes to Auba & Saka this week.

                Thinking ahead to GW29 and I'll have the following starters:
                Martinez - Dallas - Dier - Struijk - Son - Auba - Saka - Bamford - Watkins

                Will have two FTs in GW29 so I could do Salah & DCL > Lookman/Grealish & Kane, giving me 10/11 starters.

                OR...I could use my FH chip, but I quite fancy saving it for a rainy day.

                1. Pipermaru
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  I wouldn't add another 2 of not 100% nailed players to your Dier/Struijk combo, it seems Arteta will prioritise EL so I would check Arsenal's fixtures around GW 29 first.

              11. Keep Calm and Play On
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Any updates on Pickford? Took a bit of a knock at the end of the game but haven't read/heard anything regarding it....really need him to play vs WBA to salvage my BB lol

                1. Wild Rover
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Still nowhere near England's number one

              12. casual69
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Saka while he has been close to our best player if not best every game he has played, his minutes will be monitored as we are taking europa more seriously atm in comparison to the EPL.

              13. pingissimus
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Anyone else in the Jan to May league?

                Currently hovering currently around 200 there. One of my aims for the season is to make the top 100 there.

                1. Holmes
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  at 109

                  The Last Ten also going to start soon

                  1. pingissimus
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Well done - see you have the important chips in hand too. You could be in for a cracking second half.

                2. LSK
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  No, but I’m in the Home Stretch league that started this week, which I guess is a similar thing

                  1. pingissimus
                    • 5 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Link? Missed that

                    But given I blew my WC in 24 and FH in 18 both to zero effect maybe it's better I don't look 🙂

              14. Pegboy
                • 13 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Martinez (Forster)
                Cancelo Stones Coufal (Dallas Mee)
                Salah Bruno Son Gund Raphinha
                Antonio Bamford (DCL)

                1FT £2.6m WC, TC & BB left.

                Eventual plan is to dead end team into GW30 and then WC31. Will probably do Salah + DCL > Kane + Lingaard in 28/29.

                Tempted to BB this week now Forster is in favour.

                A) Mee > Dunk (and BB Forster, Dallas, Dunk, DCL)
                B) Mee > Dunk and just build towards 29
                C) Save FT.

              15. *Reformed-Character*
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Any chance Martinez starts against Sheff UTD ?

                1. No Professionals
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  been declared fit i think

                2. g40steve
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Been confirmed fit - BBC interview with DS

              16. No Professionals
                • 6 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                Best Barnes replacement out of:

                A) Lingard
                B) Traore
                C) Saka

                1. Pegboy
                  • 13 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  A

                  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
                    • 14 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    A misses Utd game

                    1. No Professionals
                      • 6 Years
                      3 years, 26 days ago

                      but has better fixtures either side of 28 if you can cover him. tough one.

                2. HuttonDressedasLahm
                  • 14 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  B. Traore if Villa

                  1. No Professionals
                    • 6 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    yeah not greased up deaf guy from wolves

              17. Hangman Page
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 5 Years
                3 years, 26 days ago

                If I am feeling anxious, alone or down about my life, gambling has tended to be something I've turned to in the past. in that sense, FPL is a safe outlet for playing that risk/reward sort of game without p**sing money away - that's why it irritates me so much when I see gambling adverts on here.

                I was reading the other day that by displaying bookies' logos on their shirts football clubs create a "positive association" between betting and fans' favourite team and it may lead to people wanting to bet more. I experience that when I see a website I like a lot in FFS running ads for Betfair - you get the feeling "Its not that bad, I will just have one bet". Before you know it you've spent £100 on the roulette table within their app.

                Bookies are b*stards and this site needs to stop promoting them IMO.

                1. Holmes
                  • 10 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Does saying to yourself that "Gambling (or any other addiction) is illegal for me" won't work?

                  Genuine question

                2. No Professionals
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Not sure how bookies are any different to beer companies or pubs. The vast majority of people will bet in a controlled way that brings them enjoyment.

                  1. jia you
                    • 7 Years
                    3 years, 26 days ago

                    Totally disagree, gambling has become an epidemic and young people are losing their whole pay packets with these gambling apps.
                    As somebody who gambled professionally for periods of time in past decades…the sheer amount of people affected was chronic even back then, imagine its far worse now!
                    One can only drink so much on a night out...

                3. g40steve
                  • 6 Years
                  3 years, 26 days ago

                  Delete all betting APs & don't gamble mugs game.
                  All the adverts create a happy world truth is the opposite