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. THEKID_88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo to Mount for a hit worth it considering the likelihood of him starting and City blanking next week?

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

      Not for me. Just remove him for free in 33

  2. Neves say Neves
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start 2

    A) Ruediger (BHA, playing mendy already)
    B) Coady (SHU)
    C) Fofana (WBA)
    D) Holding (FUL)

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

      BD

    2. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I am in the same situation and probably going BD, will start Rudiger too if I don’t take a hit for Lingard

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

      I’m only benching rudiger as I have Mendy

  3. Ando My Son
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start one?
    Holding (FUL H)
    Smith Rowe (FUL H)
    Bamford (LIV H)

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

      smith rowe, holding

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

      the FWD on pens

  4. aapoman
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    What to do? 1ft and 0.3itb. Really dislike my team at the moment because of triple Chelsea (rotation), double Everton (form) and no Lingard. Also the bench is pretty crap and needs sorting in the next couple weeks.

    Martinez
    Azplilicueta Rüdiger Digne
    Salah Bruno Son Mount Saka
    Kane DCL*

    Fabri; Konsa, Burn, Brewster

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      DCL -> Iheanacho

      1. aapoman
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        yeah that's happening for sure. Also thinking if I should upgrade Digne to TAA or Konsa/Burn.

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

      DCL to Nacho and Saka to Lingard if you really want him

  5. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who scores more points?

    A) Rudiger (BHA)

    B) Lingard -4 (new)

    1. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

      Lingard needs another DD haul just to cover Rudiger if Chelsea get a CS.

    3. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A

    4. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Given Lingard's points returns are last returns are:

      14, 12, 12, [0], 5, 5, 10, 6, 3, 15

      If you think Chelsea 100% keep a CS, Rudiger probably a slightly safer bet.

      However if they don't, Lingard has show he can do well. He's also up against Newcastle.

  6. KirkhamWesham
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Am I GTG?

    Mendy
    Shaw Rudiger TAA
    Bruno Jota Son Salah Lingard
    Iheanacho Kane(C)

    Forster Coufal Brewster Lascelles

    0.3m itb
    0ft

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

      GTG. Very nice team

  7. JamTart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane TC or is there any benefit to holding?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’m playing it

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

      I wouldn’t triple captain Holding

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

        I wondered if this joke would be made...

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

          But 100% triple captain Kane this week

          Can’t see what better opportunity you could want.

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

            Cheers mate

  8. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bring in this week please?

    A...moura
    B.....greenwood
    C....rashford
    D...pogba
    E.....maddison
    F.....chelsea

    Don't own a United attacker / mid

    Thanks

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

      E

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

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

      B

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers

  9. The Head-Ake
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    2FT and 0.9ITB. Have WC left. TC on Kane. Don't know what else to change, please help 🙂

    Mendy
    Rudiger | Stones | Lowton
    Bruno | Salah | Raphina | Bale
    Kane(TC) | Richa | Bamford

    Steer | Gundo | Veltman | Dawson

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

      Bale and Rich to Son and Nacho

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

      Bale -> Son???

      Stones, Gundo, Bale, Raphinha all at risk of not starting

    3. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bale > Son? Bit sideways but don’t think bale is a starter

  10. tom2224
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Think I’m ok to roll the transfer this week, would you agree?

    Mandy
    Shaw Rudiger Coady
    Salah Jota Bruno Lingard Son
    Kane Iheanacho

    Dias Coufal Vydra

    Thanks

  11. AMP
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Morning all

    pls help to decide... really difficult to pu on the bench TAA but my defence is:

    Mendy (BRH)

    Holding (FUL H)
    Coady (SHU)
    Rudig (BRH)

    Mybe Rudiger on the bench instead of TAA? But Leeds will score for sure

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

      Bench Rudiger. Why have TAA and bench him? We have TAA for his attacking points. If you wanted cover for Liverpool def then you may as well have got Philips

      1. AMP
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Good point

        thnx

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

    I've still got my FH available.
    Have I held onto it for too long?

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

      A number of ‘good’ managers still have it left.

      Think you need to hold tight with it now and hope they’re is a big blank / double somewhere in 35-37 with fixtures being rearranged to give everyone a home game with fans

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

        Great. Cheers!

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

      I still have FH and most likely will still have a big double to be arranged due FAC and fans back into stadiums. You are in a very good position

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

      Probably should have been used in BGW29

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

        that is with hindsight knowing Brighton players hauled.

        1. Pompel
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah, but quite a few punted on a Brighton cs, some even tripling up

      2. Pompel
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        but GW33, possible DGW35 or BGW36 are now options

  13. Pointless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it worth doing Wood to Iheanacho for a -4 please?

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

      Probably yes

    2. tom2224
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not really, Iheanacho got to score twice to make it worth your while

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

        Surely a move for more than 1GW

  14. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who would you start this GW Watkins or Bamford?

  15. Ian Davis
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any suggestions for this team?:

    Martinez
    Shaw/Dias/Rudiger
    Salah/Son/Gundogan/Bruno/Lingard
    Kane/Iheanacho

    Areola/Digne/DCL/Mitchell

    O.1 ITB

  16. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is my starting line up and bench order looking ok?

    Mendy
    Rudiger - TAA - Coady
    Bruno - Lingard - Salah - Maddison - Jota
    Kane (c) - Nacho

    Forster - Holding - Fofana - Wood

  17. waltzingmatildas
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I'm really tempted by Bruno to Son (-4) this week....what do you reckon?

    Mendy
    TAA Alonso Shaw
    Salah Mount Jota Lingard
    Kane Nacho
    (Forster Holding Vydra Veltman)

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

      I mean it has a lot of potential upside but I wouldn’t do it.

      Bruno could get a haul vs Burnley. Son blanks in 33 and Bruno has Leeds. So it’s more like a -8 effectively.

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        You are right. Although, even if I did want to bring Bruno back, it would hopefully be for free as I'm happy with the rest of my team (barring injuries)!

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

      I think you need Son for the doube this GW. (Bruno is missing in your 11)

  18. Jarvis
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Why no talk of Lucas Moura for the DGW?

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

      because his attacking stats are not great and teams don't want triple Spurs going into BGW33

      1. Jarvis
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Attacking stats look pretty good to me. 2 goals 4 assists in his last 8 games. All have come since he started getting proper minutes. Fair call re: GW33, but most will have a viable bench option

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

          Have a watch of FPLBlackBox 44:30 onwards. Stats aren't that convincing to buy him

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRKeYBbl_Is

  19. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Keep DCL and play Raphina (who's a doubt) or sell DCL for a hit for Lacazette?

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

      Sell. I don't think Raph will play

    2. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd go to Laca or Cavani

  20. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez
    AWB Azpi Stones Coufal
    Son ESR Gundo Fernandes
    Kane (C) Bamford

    McCarthy Raphina Konsa DCL

    Would you
    A) WC this team
    B) TC Kane this week.
    My initial plan was to TC Kane and -4 for DCL and Gundo --> Lingard & Iheanacho.

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

      b

      1. AC Yew
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks! GL for this week

    2. Mweene
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A.

      What are you saving the wildcard for?

      1. Mweene
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Actually I just read it properly - sorry, B.

  21. Wayne Enterprises
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Who to bench?

    Jota Maddison Rashford Lingard Son

    Kane (TC) Nacho Cavani

    I’m so stuck - help!

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

      Cavani or Rashford

    2. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kane.

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

      Maddison

  22. merin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Anything worth a hit?

    Martinez Areola
    TAA Dias Azpi Dallas Targett
    Salah Bruno Lingard Gundogan Raphinha
    Kane Iheanacho Bamford

    0 FT, 0.4 ITB, No chips left

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

      I’d definitely hit on 9 against a dealer showing a 6 in blackjack.

      As for your team think it’s good to go. You’d need a -8 to make any worthwhile changes. You’ve got a huge amount of money in defence

      1. merin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, the money in defence is a problem. Looking to ship out Dias for a cheapy next week and do Gundo -> Jota maybe

  23. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Alonso gonna start vs brighton?

  24. farmerfat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it too risky going without Son this weekend?
    I have Salah, Bruno, Mahrez, Mount , & Kane (TC) .
    Dont feel like dealing with another blank player in 33.

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

      Most will have Kane just captain.

      So most will have: Kane, Kane, Son
      You will have: Kane, Kane, Kane

      Seems fine to me and not ‘risky’ at all. Son is of course an excellent option this week though

  25. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Salah and Gundo -> Son and Jota (-4)?

    Then Salah back week after

    Currently:

    Martinez/Johnstone
    TAA/Digne/Cancelo

    1. Aaa
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Martinez/Johnstone
      TAA/Digne/Cancelo/James/Velt
      Salah/Bruno/Ling/Gundo/Raph
      Kane(tc)/Bam/Nacho

    2. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Unsure if worth a hit. Surely you’d need to take a hit next week too?

  26. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one?

    A Rudiger
    B Holding
    C Coady

    * Have Mendy as gk

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      RMT says Coady

      1. FPLMACKEM
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It's very close. I think Sheffield United are less likely to score. I must check the bookies odds.

    2. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      B

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Still wavering on Son C.

    Does bench order look correct 🙂

    Mendy,
    Rüdiger, Shaw, Pereira
    Son, Sterling, Lingz, Jota, Bruno,
    Kane, Nacho

    Martinez, Watkins, Dias, Phillips,

    2.0

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

      I’m playing Dias over Rudiger.

      I’d have Dias ahead if Watkins on the bench

      1. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes, RMT - bench order Dias, Watkins, Phillips cheers

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

    TAA / Castagne / Rudiger / Coady / Coufal

    Which 3 to start?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      First three

    2. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      First three unless you have mendy. Then would start coady

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

      If you are doing it on clean sheet odds then you have to play Coady. Obviously you have to play TAA.

      So last spot is a coin flip between Rudiger and Castagne

  29. Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Hey all,

    Mark Sutherns and I recorded FPL BlackBox Episode 30 – Harry's Game – last night and there's lots of ways you can watch / listen if you missed it.

    The idea of FPL BlackBox is to reflect back on the mistakes we make during the season to try and become better managers.

    YouTube:

    https://bit.ly/30077OM

    Other platforms:

    Spotify: https://spoti.fi/30l8xnp
    iTunes: https://apple.co/303zvzo
    Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/2RU2S2S

    Remember to like and sub on your chosen platform! It really helps us out as we look to grow the channel.

    Cheers!

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Listening now 🙂

  30. _Gunner
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on Gundogan > Bowen or Podence?

    Can’t afford Lingard

    1. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bowen could be good. Wouldn't consider Podence

    2. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I like the Bowen punt

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

      Bowen for me - I'm getting him for Neto.

      West Ham score more goals.

    4. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Bowen