Pro Pundits - Lateriser

How I am coping with football fatigue in a tough FPL season

We are into Gameweek 32 of this brutal season and being frank, a lot of Fantasy Premier League managers are just about managing to scrape through to the finish line. 

Huffing and puffing through this condensed season, a lot of FPL managers are approaching burn-out levels and it might be a good idea to tackle this issue with this article (thanks for the suggestion @FPL_Beard), especially with the amount of people deciding to quit this game recently. 

This week, I was listening to the latest episode of the brilliant FPL Surgery Podcast where the FPL General’s ‘how to deal with bad Gameweeks and bad seasons’ made for a very interesting listen.

We are at the back end of a gruelling season. There are many reasons for managers to feel FPL fatigue at the moment. I’m not even sure if its just fatigue about FPL, considering the sheer number of hours we have football on in long and dragged-out Gameweeks. As FPL managers, we are used to maybe watching two or three matches during a weekend and now there are some days where we have ten hours of football in a single day. 

The best Neto replacements and whether FPL managers should stick with Fernandes

I am convinced these long drawn-out Gameweeks are the primary reason for football fatigue and so many managers I speak to now just find watching the sport to be a little bit of a chore and I completely empathise with that. What makes it even more drawn out is that we are still very much in the middle of a pandemic and our social lives are not as active as they used to be. 

Even the break we had before the season started was a lot shorter than what we’re used to. It was barely a break if you ask me. And now we have a lot more matches condensed in a much shorter time period. Until recently, this has even affected the quality of the football that we’ve been watching. Nowadays, I find myself tuning out of games and avoiding watching football a lot more than I used to. The international break has definitely changed things though and the quality in the last two Gameweeks in the Premier League has been a lot better. A welcome change.

But yes, if you’re finding your love for football and FPL to dwindle this season, know that you’re not the only one. These are uncertain times. They are the anomaly, not the norm. Still, many will be wondering how one tackles football and FPL burnout. Well,  here are a few suggestions.

PICK YOUR GAMES

You don’t have to watch all the Premier League games to do well in FPL. We never saw all the matches in normal seasons when there were five or six games kicking off at the same time anyway. If you ask me, watching Match of the Day and absorbing some statistics is enough to do well in FPL. Give yourself some time off from football and that should definitely help dealing with FPL burnout.

WHEN YOU’RE SWITCHED OFF, STAY SWITCHED OFF

Does early FPL team news really provide an advantage?

Often when I’ve decided to not watch a game during a Gameweek, I find myself distracted while ‘doing that other activity’ I had planned to do because I’ll constantly be looking at Twitter, my FPL Whatsapp groups and there will be constant notifications from your football apps. 

And considering that we have 15 to 20 hours of football to get through every Gameweek, and you’re not able to switch off when you switch off, burnout will naturally happen. 

What I’ve started doing in the second half of the season is just have a little bit of a digital detox. I switch off notifications (highly recommend this for most of your applications so that you’re deciding when to check your phone instead of letting your phone decide that for you) on all my apps on weekends and try staying off my Whatsapp groups and Twitter. 

Social Media around FPL has grown tremendously during the last few years and if you’re an active part of the forums and Twitter, on matchdays it’ll seem like every goal that is scored by someone is highly owned by everyone else but you. This isn’t actually the case and can be unnecessarily damaging for you to believe it.

MAKE YOURSELF MISS FOOTBALL AND FPL

Do other things. I find that if I have managed to successfully switch off for a day or two, I really enjoy catching up on things on the third day because I’ve truly switched off when I’ve needed to (probably not as often as I should but that’s my choice as a content creator). 

I am hopelessly addicted to FPL and when I give myself genuine time off doing other things for a couple of days, the love for the game comes gushing back on the third day where I truly enjoy my interaction, writing and consuming football and FPL content. 

Trying to box your time during FPL and other things will really really help. You can cheat a little with how you box things and its perfectly okay to have your score update applications on during Gameweeks but I would highly recommend switching off social media during matchdays, although it all comes down to your preference and how you can handle things. 

FIND SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR

If, like me, you are having a poor season, you need to indulge in little mini-games and find something to play for. I am currently ranked outside the one-million mark and I raised the white flag a few weeks ago when it comes to overall rank. 

So all I’m doing is getting players and differentials I like and trying to catch some differential hauls. I know managers that are taking multiple hits every week trying to achieve Manager of the week (because the hits don’t count) and I admire that because they are doing what they are doing to keep their interest alive in the game. 

On a personal note, I will admit it is a little bit of a relief to give up on the season and has made the game a lot more enjoyable for me when I’m watching the matches owning players that I like. Yes, you can throw the ‘points are fun’ argument in my face but I’ll argue that it is entirely subjective. I’ve concluded that I am not going to achieve my Overall Rank goal this year and a Sergio Aguero (£10.3m) goal when he’s in my team will give me a lot more joy than a 200k green arrow at this stage. My advice on FPL will definitely be more rational than the moves I make and I’m completely okay with that. 

A little bit of a sidetrack, but I’ve done some reflection on my poor decision making in 2020/21 and I’m chomping at the bit to start next season. That’s one thing you will always have when you’re having a poor season. The lessons learned during a poor campaign are usually more helpful than if you’ve had a good one and, of course, my motivation to make up for it in 2021/22 is very high. Not to mention the fact that I have the privilege to write and create podcasts definitely keeps the fire burning.

CONCLUSION

I hope you find some of my ideas helpful. I believe it is entirely feasible to play FPL, enjoy and do well in the game even by putting healthy thought-processes in place to protect our mental state.

These are only my suggestions, so please treat them as such. I am curious to know what you are doing to combat football and FPL fatigue, so feel free to let me know in the comments section. 

Here is hoping we do not have staggered kick-offs next season. Never forget. FPL itself is not a sport. It’s a game. 

If you want more detailed thoughts on the best FPL players to own for the run-in, Zophar and I discussed the fixture-swings, differentials and teams to target for the home-stretch in our latest episode of The FPL Wire which you can view below.

1,329 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watching Blackbox

    Bit of an anomaly. Both Az and Mark seem convinced there is no option for captain next week. Then they point out Palace and SHU are the two must target teams.

    What's wrong with Leicester against Palace next week over Liverpool against Newcastle? Feels like EO fear to me. Little on current form to suggest that Mo against Newcastle is that much better.

    1. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fernandes vs Leeds is a great shout too imo. Dont expect them to sit back against us.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Leeds def has vastly improved in recent games. I don't expect it to be that open

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This is not true, they highlight Salah as the preferred captaincy pick in 33 and they highlight Nacho as a differential captaincy in the matrix. Probably due to not being a premium option for captaincy

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's highlighted but they discount it as an option - explicitly say there is no real option in next two weeks.

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I can't remember what they said (watched it last night). Seem strange to discount them but highlight them in the cap matrix

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yep

            Slightly surprised - it's one of those weeks that do seem to offer an option to me. They were looking more to the end of the season but who knows where players like Nacho and Lingard will be by then.

            1. Tonyawesome69
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              If Nacho hauls again this GW and Salah is fairly quiet, I would probably lean towards Nacho over Salah. I don't think Bruno is a cap option for me unless he picks up his form this GW.

              1. pingissimus
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Agreed

                Only Bruno option for me would be a possible DGW.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Salah cappo 33

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Necessarily is the question.

        Remains to be seen what happens this week. But right now Salah over Nacho is close if you ignore cost and Palace to me are much more vulnerable as a defence.

  2. Lexi2014
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Good to go?

    All ready to wildcard next week.

    Martinez
    Dias / Cresswell / Lowton
    Son / Salah / Fernandes / Mount
    Bamford / Nacho / Kane (TC)

    McCarthy / Dunk / Konsa / Soucek

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      GTG here

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dunk over Lowton for me. Get Soucek up to bench position 1.

  3. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Plan is to roll the FT. I think I'm GTG here pending pressers tomorrow.

    Defence and bench in the right order?

    1FT 0ITB
    Mendy
    Alonso TAA Holding
    Son Lingard Salah Jota Bruno
    Kane Nacho
    (Forster Rudiger Dallas Davis)

    1. GE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes IMO

    2. Lexi2014
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Deadline is tonight.

      Looks good to me.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        haha cheers for point out that mistake

    3. RamboRN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I think holding or rudiger is close call either way.

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, I'm currently starting Mendy and Alonso and didn't think it was wise to triple up based on recent games

  4. GE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lost on last page

    Bench headache, correct first XI and bench order?

    Mendy
    TAA/Shaw/Holding
    Salah/Bruno/Son/Lingard/Jota
    Kane/Nacho

    Bench: Forster, Rudiger, Dias, Vydra

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Correct order. Similar team to mine

  5. The Road to Turfdom
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is:

    Forster (tot), Vydra (mun), Amartey (WBA), Phillips (lee) worth BBing?

    Not exactly inspired but will there be many better weeks to use it/ build towards DGW 35 BB maybe?thanks

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jesus, no.

      1. The Road to Turfdom
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha. What I needed to hear, thanks

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nope. Soy is back training so expect Amartey to drop to the bench

      1. The Road to Turfdom
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Helpful info, ty

  6. McSauce
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    -8 (I own Vardy)

    Dias, Gundy & Watkins --> Reg, Jota & Iheanacho

    A) YES
    B) NO

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would just do the forward move

  7. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    1FT, 0.4 ITB, thoughts?

    Mendy / Forster

    TAA / Castagne / Rudiger / Coady / Coufal

    Salah / Fernandes / Son / Jota / Lingard

    Kane / Iheanacho / Vydra

  8. KaKa37
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who is to play? Jota or Mount?

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota

    2. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Brought Jota in last week regret it now isn't nailed and probably end up a trap and won't return till I sell him

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

      Jota

    4. KaKa37
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thank you. I will choose Jota

  9. Oggle22
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Leno
    TAA Holding Coady
    Salah Son Bruno Jota Neto
    Iheanaco Kane(c)

    Forster Fabio Silva Amartey Mitchell

    5.8m in the bank Neto to Saka or Pereira or -4 Neto and Fabio Silva to Lingz and Brewster

    Cheers

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

    A) Bruno to Son
    B) Gundo to Moura

    Would reverse A next week probably if I went for that. TC Kane either way I think. Cheers.

    1. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A but in doubt

  11. arkom
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Odds that Gundogan will start Villa game?

    1. FeverPitch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      No one has any idea, but you would think unlikely with the cup games either side

      1. No Kane No Gain
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        They have to play someone though, pep won’t trust the team that played leeds...

        1. FeverPitch
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep, true, and therefore he may well play. But imo he's emerged as a key part of this City side, he's a bit older than some, and I can see him being saved for the more important cup games. But as I said no one knows! He's in my side, think I might bench him though this week

  12. Bobby_Baggio
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Afternoon all. G2G or use FT for Gundo > Moura? 1.1m ITB. Cheers.

    Martinez
    Dias - Coufal - Azpi
    Lingard - Bruno - Salah - Jota - Gundo
    Kane(C) - Ihenacho

    (McCarthy) - Bam - Dunk - Alioski

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Good move

  13. Wee Jinky
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Will Alonso play versus Brighton?

  14. Union_Jacks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez
    Shaw / Cancelo / Dallas
    Bruno / Son / Jota / Lingard / Raphinha
    Kane / DCL

    Sanchez, Watkins, Digne, Stones

    Already done Gundo > Son, is DCL > Iheanacho -4 worth it?

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Similar team but I did DCL to laca. He’s on pens and his main competition is out!

      Differential too

      1. Union_Jacks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Could be good! Just worry Auba is only out for the short term though

        1. No Kane No Gain
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          With Auba current form, laca plays most games and auba will be back on the wing

  15. Lignja
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy
    Rudiger, Coady, Shaw, Holding
    Salah, Son, Jota, Bruno
    Kane, Ihenacho

    Forster, xxx, xxx, Philips

    Will bb this week

    A. Bamford, Lingard
    B. Saka, Cavani
    C. Saka, Lacazete

  16. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one:
    A) Digne
    B) Dallas
    C) Raphinia

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      C

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

  17. The VAR Team
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play one:

    A) Rüdiger (BRI)
    B) Coady (SHU)

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  18. Eastman
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start Rudiger (BRI) or Holding (FUL) ?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Depends if you are starting any other Chelsea GK/def

      1. Eastman
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        No other

    2. Gizzachance
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rudiger

    3. fn.jota
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      rudi

    4. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Rudda

  19. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start 3 of these:

    A) Dias (Villa away)
    B) Fofana (West Brom at home)
    C) Holding (Fulham at home)
    D) Rudiger (Brighton at home)
    E) TAA (Leeds away)

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      CDE

    2. fn.jota
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      ACD

    3. trinzoo
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You need to play TAA if you have him imho...

  20. benpurser
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who do I drop out of this front 8 for GW32?

    Salah, Bruno, Son, Lingard, Jota
    Kane, Inho, Cavani

    I'm so stuck...

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cavani I guess....yuck

    2. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      How did you end up with that?!

      1. benpurser
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Team Value, I'm 12k OR lol

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Wow why put yourself in that position?! Clearly not Kane or Son. Lingard and Nacho in red hot form. Jota due to start since he didn't in the UCL. You can't bench pen takers Salah and Bruno so Cavani

      1. benpurser
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Both Son and Kane not playing next week, so I will be nice and strong. Season is almost over and I'm 12k OR. Im doing alright

        1. No Kane No Gain
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          12K overall is hardly to get super wet over...

  21. tbhogal
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start one Rudiger or Holding ?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Depends if you are starting any other Chelsea GK/def

  22. fn.jota
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Morning lads

    Should i take out havertz to put Son for -4? I have Kane

  23. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you say is the best Neto replacement for 5.7 or less?
    Pereira, Podence, Saka?

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Podence

  24. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    i have a chance of winning my m/league ,my dilemma is i dont face bruno in any of my next 4 h2h so thinking of selling to son for the dgwk and a hit to get lacazette in for dcl,or just keep bruno and have his points as an advantage ,i will still get laca for free ,what to do ????

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If they don’t have bruno, you should keep. Might get decent points!

    2. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I would still get Son.

      1. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        t/y mr arteta ,but im going with what tekkers says on reflection

    3. Wee Jinky
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Think positive and keep Bruno!

  25. Gleys11
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Sorry if already asked,
    Anyone happen to know consequences for top 4 champions league places if English teams win Champs league and Europa league?
    Am presuming if Chelsea win Champs league and finish 5th and Arsenal win Europa league then only top 3 qualify for next year.
    Is this correct? (Presuming Arsenal dont get top 4 of course)

    1. Tango74
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes correct

      Maximum 5 in champions league

      You have this new Europa conference league crap as well now

      1. Gleys11
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks for confirming.

  26. JonSnow
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bench:
    A) gundo
    B) dias
    C) Cresswell

    I feel if dias and Cresswell don't start they don't play, where as Gundo might get a cameo

  27. footballcandy
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Got the the template midfield + Saka vs. Fulham this GW.

    Salah - Bruno - Jota - Son - Saka
    Kane - Nacho

    Surely I should seek help at a mental institution if i concider doing -4 Saka to the on fire Lingz?

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not the best idea I agree. He looked lethal last night.

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Will Saka be prioritised for the Europa over league?

  28. Vovhund
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Some advice needed here. What to do with this defensive bunch (0.0m in the bank)?: Digne-Stone-Veltman-Konsa-Dallas

    I like the fixtures for Konsa and Veltman next week, so I could do:

    A) Stones+Dallas to Shaw+Holding
    B) Stones+Dallas to Shaw+Masuaku
    C) Any suggestions?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I wouldn't be losing Dallas now. Waste of transfers to take him out then bring him back for Leeds fixture turn in 34

      1. Vovhund
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure I want him back. Either way, I have my WC left

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          OOP def playing in mid and has 5 good fixtures from 34, I think you need to evaluate that again. WC does change things as you can take short terms transfers. Shaw and Holdng are the preferred pair

          1. Vovhund
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Thanks for the feedback. I could also just do Stones to Coady and play Dallas vs Liverpool.

  29. ratski
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bamford to laca or nacho?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Nacho - nailed and in form.

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        So is laca with auba out with malaria and he’s capt

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Depends how long Auba is out with Malaria.

  30. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one
    A) Shaw
    B) Azpi
    C) Coady
    D) Dias

    Got Mendy as my keeper

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      D