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. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any changes/bench order good? Got such a benching headache this week.

    Mendy
    Holding Rudiger Coufal
    Salah Son Lingard Bruno
    Nacho Kane (C) Lacazette

    Forster Jota Stones Phillps

  2. 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

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

      Martinez to Mendy/Patricio?

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I would agree with jonnybhoy to a degree as this is a sensible move ... but Martinez is such a points magnet and the highest scoring gk .. I’d probably leave it ... he’ll have a DGW soon as well.

        Team looks solid enough ... I’d roll the transfer and maybe do DCL for Laca and Digne for a cheaper defender as a make weight.

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

          Good advice mate. You reckon wait for those moves though?

          1. Eh, just one more thing ...
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I would wait ... you’ve got a good starting 11 this week, so no need to take hits ... if you have 2 free transfers next week, do it then for free.

            1. Eh, just one more thing ...
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Of course if you have 2 free transfers this week .. I’d do it now before Laca rises in price tonight.

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

              Yeah I’ll probably go with that mate. Nice one!

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

      Good team imo.

      Dont think you can do too much here. Captain Kane or Son?

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

        Triple captain on Kane, got the advantage of pens

  3. Eh, just one more thing ...
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Without knowing you GK or other defenders .... I’d go AB

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

      I'd go CD tbh.

  4. Gazza2000
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Chances of this lot starting this games week?

    Need 3 of these four starting... worried about both the City boys and Rudiger..

    Cancelo
    Dias
    Rudiger
    Shaw

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      2 out of 4.

      Surely Man City are going for the cups as the main picks and rest and rotation in the league.

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Shaw should start, rested in Europe. I would expect Dias to start ... and Rudiger also ... biggest risk Cancelo.

  5. OneDennisBergkamp
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Veltman (che) or Dallas (LIV)?

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

      Dallas

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

        Agree

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dallas

    3. Vjm6891
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Difficult. Veltman potentially better chance of a Cleans sheet. Dallas more chance of attacking points.

      I'd probably go with Dallas

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

      Only one of those could haul, and it ain’t Veltman

    5. Poison Apple
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dallas. dont rate the CS odds for both though Veltman probably a bit better. But Dallas is potentially more scary to bench with a higher upside

    6. JBG
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dallas

    7. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      NEVER BENCH DALLAS AGAIN FFS

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

    My only remaining decision revolves around Holding. Do I start him? And for who?

    0FT, 1.9ITB
    Mendy
    TAA Coady Rudiger
    Salah Bruno Son Lingard Jota
    Kane Iheanacho

    Forster Holding Masuaku Davis

    Thanks!

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

      Incredible team value.I have the exact same team(Veltman over Masuaku) but i have 0.0itb.I will also bench Holding.

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

        Thanks! I shed a fair bit of team value with last week’s WC too. Martinez, Watkins, Dallas etc and Son, who I’ve bought back this week. Guess it doesn’t hurt to have a decent 4.2 option as first on the bench.

  7. Erez Avni
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would really appreciate some help here...

    Areola (Martinez)

    Dias Shaw Cresswell Dallas (Burn)
    Lingard Bruno Son Jota (Gundo)
    Kane DCL (Bamford)

    The plan is bringing Nacho for DCL but should I bring also TAA for cresswell for a hit or just play Bamford?

  8. Poison Apple
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Choose 1 to play
    A. Diagne
    B. Dallas
    C. N. Philips (Already playing TAA)
    D. Diagne to Laca and play Laca (for a hit)

    Appreciate any thoughts

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      D

  9. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it worth a hit for triple Spurs?

    1. Vjm6891
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Depends who for who, and do you have cover next week or you FH/WC for GW33?

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It would be Bamford or even Mahrez.

        Or improving on Tarkowski but happy with defence this week with Shaw, Rudiger and Holding all with home games and Spurs aren't keeping many clean sheets.

        Even have Mendy on the bench to away at Villa.

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

      trying hard to find a 3rd name that justify tbh

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

      As long as you have a bench to counter act them not playing next GW.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can wild card out into a new squad for next week so don't mind a punt.

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

      Only if you’re missing Son or Kane

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

      Don't see it

      Some argument for defence I guess if you can hold through blank and also play in 34 against SHU. A couple of cs might be there over that run.

      Lucas just isn't explosive enough imo.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Lucas could bag some points or Ndombelle or Sanchez?

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

          Yep

          Lucas could bag some points for sure. Not sure who you'd be losing but just not seeing a big enough upside. He's been ticking over nicely recently but just with the odd return.

          Think I'd prefer Reg as the one more likely to double return. One cs could be there anyway in the DGW and if he pushes up against Southampton then an attacking return feels plausible. Southampton iirc concede a lot down the flanks.

    6. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not for me ... I think son and Kane plenty ... if for zero hit, sure but not for a hit.

  10. Vjm6891
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GOt WC, BB, FH and TC left to play.

    Not convinced about Kane TC this week, but I've gotta start using these chips at some point right? haha

    1. Poison Apple
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I wld still think its the best week to use the TC all else considered even if you have all the chips.

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

      Must be TC this week on that scenario.

      WC BB could fall nicely if the big DGW happens or even WC BB followed by FH if the double and blanks follow each other

    3. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dude we're 7 GWs away from the end of the season and you still have 4 chips to play. I would argue that was a bit silly and you wont be able to get the best out of them now, but still you're not convinced this is the best time to play the TC?

      Just do it.

      1. Vjm6891
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Agreed. Probably should have played them sooner.

        My comment was a bit toungue in cheek. There isn't many gameweeks left. haha

  11. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    People shouldnt so easily disregard the potential for minutes to be managed for spurs vs saints, when the final is on the Sunday,

    Sonny is more likely to be the one managed as he runs more! alot more than Kane!

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

      This is my thinking behind just captaining Kane, even though I’m chasing a ML rival with an almost identical team.

      Last week’s Sterling punt was a reminder of why one-week punts are a bad idea!

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      There's potential for it, Mou has options to play over Son and he's only recently back from injury. Kane I feel is safe for starting both (maybe not the full 90), can't see Vinicius leading the line.

  12. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play one more week with this team or WC now?

    Martinez
    Coufal, Reguilon, Dallas
    Bruno, Son, Lingard, Bowen
    Bamford, Kane, Vardy

    Pope, Dias, Gundo, Dunk

    0 ft, 0.0 itb

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

      Who would you get on WC?

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

        WC team for 32 and beyond would be:

        Lloris
        Robertson, Coady, Shaw
        Salah, Son, Rashford, Lingard, Pereira
        Kane, Nacho

        Martinez, Dallas, Vydra, Veltman

  13. LC1
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Horrific benching headache..

    Mendy
    Rudiger Holding Coady
    Salah Son Bruno Lingard Jota
    Kane(C) Iheanacho

    Forster Dias Phillips Vydra.

    Am I benching the right players?!

    Thanks in advance!

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

      If you may want to play Dias over Rudiger just in case Chelsea concede, otherwise g2g.

  14. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Smith Rowe likely to play upcoming games?

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

      Yes but starts get riskier around the time of the semi finals

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers mate!

  15. tinear
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Martinez
    Alonso Digne Holding
    Salah Bruno Lingard Jota
    Kane Laca Nacho

    3.9 Philips Gundo Cancelo

    Gtg? Or should I bench Digne for anyone?

  16. iL PiStOlErO
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    GTG?

    Mendy
    Robbo Castagne Coady
    Bruno Jota Gundo Lingard
    Kane(C) Vardy Lacca

    3.9 Raphinha Dias Mitchell

  17. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Chasing 80 pts frm top of ML would u go TC on Kane or Son??

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Son

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

      Go with whomever yout hink scores most this GW.

      Still have another 76 players to make up the difference between now and the end of the season.

      1. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Btw most of not all of 6 above me have no TC

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

        this

    3. Vjm6891
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For "differential" go with SOn, but as someone said, go with who you think will score the most.

      I think Kane will defintiely play both games (as they don't really have any other options). Son could potentially be rested one game?

  18. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Alonso likely to start vs brighton??

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

      Yes - except Chilwell to start vs City which would be his 4th start in a row.

  19. Smudger’s Dirty Dozen
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bit dull I know but back four headache...

    Bench two from

    A Holding
    B TAA
    C Jota
    D Shaw
    E Saiss
    F Rudiger

    Currently on AF

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

      AF

  20. MGD
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Mendy or Schmeichel in?

    Lei fixtures looks tasty

  21. Kno
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Would you start Dias over any of these boys? Shaw, Coady or Rudiger

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

      I’ve got the exact same and currently planning to play Dias over Rudiger

  22. fpork
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Correct bench and captain?

    Mendy (Forster)
    Shaw, Coady, Reguilón
    Fernandes, Salah (VC), Son, Jota, Lingard
    Iheanacho, Kane (C)
    Forster - Wood - Rüdiger - Phillips

  23. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Maddison+Rudiger➡️Lingard+TAA

    worth a hit on a Tc Spurs gw?

  24. A19
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Choose one transfer :

    A) Mount - > Salah
    B) Richarlison - > Cavani

    Team:
    Son Mount Jota Lingard (Raph)
    Kane Nacho Rich
    5.7 itb

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

      How much value do you have tied up in Mount and is it a FT or hit?

      1. A19
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Only 0.1 tied up in Mount. But that would be for a hit, already brought in Lingard with the ft. That's why I am hesitant to bring in Salah as Leeds could set up quite defensively as they did against City. And with Liverpool form, it could be either a goal fest or they miss everything. But at the same time, I am not sure Mount starts.
        That's why I considered moving Rich (which is in really bad form but faces a suspect Spurs defence) to Cavani (good form, good fixture). I am super torn aha.

  25. Weilong7
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    go ahead and wildcard?
    good for future fixtures too?

    from:
    martinez forster
    targett azpi dias coufal 3.8
    salah gundogan bruno lingard raphinha
    kane dcl bamford

    to:
    lloris forster
    coady azpi dias coufal philips
    salah son bruno lingard saka (not confirmed)
    kane nacho davis

    still tinkering.. thanks.
    might downgrade dias too...
    thinking of FH next week cause WC team has 3 Spurs players but there is going to be some big DGW due to the rearrangements for home fans?

  26. ididnt
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bench one of:

    A. Holding
    B. Azpi
    C. Jota
    D. Pereira

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

      Tough. I'd say A.

      1. ididnt
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It is. I’m erring towards A

  27. WhatWouldYourZlatanSay
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Lost a little ground in ML but can still overhaul leader, who used his WC last week. I'll do mine for GW33 just through lack of time this week.

    Question is - should I TC this week (Kane or Son)? He also has TC left.

    Thanks guys!

  28. The Habib Beyes
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Wildcarding. Down to my final tweaks, and I feel I've got too much invested in my defence.

    Considering making a move of Cresswell + Bamford -> Holding + Cavani.

    Any thoughts?

  29. School of Poch
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play one:

    A: Coady
    B: Holding
    C: Masuaku

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

      A

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

      I’d go with 1. Coady 2. Holding 3. Masuaku

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

    Struggling on which duo to go for, any help would be much appreciated:
    A) Vardy, Mount
    B) Lacazette, Son (-4)
    C) Cavani, Son (-4)