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. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I've still got TC an FH to play, my initial plan was to TC Kane this week but I'm concerned of a benching v Southampton and my main rival will also (c) him and I'm behind. I've messed up my other Spurs players and have Alderweireld & Lloris (as well as Kane) so a Son transfer in would cost 4 pts and I'm loathe for that reason, if I did I would be tempted to TC him.
    I guess my main question is whether I still have options of TC & FH in a later week if I decide to delay.
    What would be your opinions please, thanks

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Kane will not get benched

    2. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Son is worth -4 imo.

    3. Sean
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      A few bad results and Jose is gone, Kane will be playing every game

    4. FPL_Motty
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Basically all of the above, classic overthinking. TC kane, no better opportunity

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

    Will you sell neto for greenwood or saka for -4?
    Dont have manutd attackers or arsenal attackers

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

      Trying to decide this myself

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

        Lol really? Also between this two?

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

          Actually between Mount and Greenwood as not sure Saka will play every game but mainly the -4 I would need as could play Watkins instead!

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

    Those with only BB left, what are your plans?

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

      Kinda want to play it this week so i can be done with that...

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

      Build for any double as soon as announced

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

        Still those who have double will be in your first 11 doubt you will have bench with double fixture anyway

  4. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    "FPL fatigue and FPL burnout" - Jesus Christ, wait until you get a job and have kids!

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

      With FPL there's no real reward for all the time and stressing and decision fatigue that people put in. At best you have a player who scores some goals and feel good till a player you don't have scores some goals as well.

      With a job, you get cash in your bank account. And with kids you get moments of love to truly cherish.

      It's an odd one where I can see why something absolutely trivial can be relatively more fatiguing.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It’s more fatiguing because individuals are more or less addicted. It’s easy to say it’s all about balance but genuinely, 24/7 football with Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp, is not good for you.

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

        clearly this lad does not have kids!!!

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I know right!

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      FPL harder than both of those things

    4. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Or a labrador puppy that is eating your house. Literally eating the walls!

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        My lab pup ate the skirting boards 😆

        1. The Knights Template
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep. He also eats potting mix. And tries to eat decorative pebbles. And if I open the fridge he magically appears beneath it looking up at me.

  5. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts here? 2ft and not sure either of DCL or Raphina is worth transfering out. 2ft 0.3itb

    Martinez
    TAA Alonso Shaw
    SonC Bruno Gubdogan Jota
    Kane DCL* Iheanacho

    Forster Rudiger Raphina* Phillips

    A) DCL to 7.8?
    B) DCL, Raphina to Lingard, Watkins
    C) Raphina, Alonso to Lingard, Dier

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dcl to greenwood?

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can get Cavani too, who's a better option?

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

        Different position

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

    Hi Guys

    See a few of these on here today so sorry for posting similar!

    From the below who would be the best one to bench, I have Mendy as GK

    A. Dias
    B. Shaw
    C. TAA
    D. Rudiger
    E. Holding

    Much appreciated.

    Thanks

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      E

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

      Holding, but Dias likely not going to play so Holding will come in

  7. Rasping Drive
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I got my bench all wrong last week. So, which two would you bench out of these:

    A. Alonso (BHA)
    B. Rudiger (BHA)
    C. Holding (FUL)
    D. Shaw (BUR)

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      BC

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

      BC

    3. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      bench B and C

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

        Thanks fellas. That's who I currently have.

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

      Lol u seriously put shaw in the list?

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

        Burnley looking decent going forward at the moment.

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

          What?? Lol. Shaw is playing so well atm.

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

            I revert to my previous comment

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

              Yeah bench B and C is gd

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

                cheers mucker

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

      B and C

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

    and one more thing ,you can sit down zouma we want rudiger heading goals from corners ,so get out of the way if you please..

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

      Rudiger to play City and Zouma vs Brighton

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

    Bench Two

    1. Holding
    2. Dias
    3. Azpilicueta
    4.Philips
    5.coady

  10. Sean
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Have 5.0m for a defender, doesn't need to play this week but will want him for GW 33,34 and 35. On Coady at the moment but is there anything better i'm missing?

    1. KLOPPS AND ROBBERS... the s…
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Fofana?

      1. Sean
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's on the shortlist but not to keen, more of a gut feeling than any factual reason.

    2. jai1212
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'd recommend Saiss over Coady!

      1. Sean
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I looked at this but seems like there's nothing between them and Coady is the first name on the teamsheet, Saiss was only the better option because he was playing wing back earlier in the season wasn't it?

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

      Decent argument for Dunk

      33 is perfect and 35 not much worse. Think I'd back Brighton to match Wolves for cs over that run and Dunk is close to best in class for attacking returns from CBs

      1. Sean
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Dunk is the primary contender, only thing is the GW 34 fixture vs Leeds, i'll likely be playing Raph against him which creates a conflict, could be the better option regardless in fairness.

    4. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dunk

      1. Sean
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers

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

    Select 1 please:

    A) Phillips - Leeds A
    B) F Silva - SHU H
    C) Gund - AV A

    Currently on B.

    TIA

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

      Still C for me

  12. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Any suggestions?

    Martinez,
    Shaw, Dias, Coufal, Dallas, Veltman
    Son, Lingard, Jota, Fernandes, Gundogan
    Kane, Vardy, Bamford

    1ft - 1.0 itb

    Still got my wc for next gws

  13. jai1212
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Aubameyang definitely out for Fulham?

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

      Yes

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He has malaria doesn't he?

  14. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    G2G?

    Mendy
    Rudiger Maguire TAA
    Jota Fernandes Son Salah Lingard
    Kane (C) Ihenacho

    Subs: Fofana, Holding, Davis

  15. bobwils
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    In what order would you put these if they were on your bench: Dallas, Watkins, Cresswell.

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

      The same order as you have in the post, in my view.

  16. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Chance Rudiger gets benched so a bench boost would be pointless?

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

      Would save the BB for the double game week in the final 3 GWs

  17. Russell
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play Watkins or a -4 to do Neto to Greenwood/Mount?

    I'm FH next week so don't take into account next week's fixtures.

  18. Maeki2
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Have 3 spurs and 3 city need to get rid of two before next blank gw

    Dias,cancelo, gundo
    Bale,son,kane

    Do i get rid of bale before dgw or 2 city?

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

      Cancelo-Gundo

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

    G2G?

    Mendy
    TAA-Coady-Shaw
    Salah-Jota-Son-Bowen-Lingard
    Kane-Vardy

    Forster-Rudiger-Coufal-Brewster

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

    christ it seems most teams have something to play for barring leeds,wolves,palace and villa and who wants their players ,its making things rather tricky

  21. Dele
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Best Goalkeeper for the run in, Mendy?

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

      Gone with him and regret it, hope I kept Martinez...

    2. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Or Rue

    3. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Ederson

  22. FC Bazalona
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Please help guys
    Got a benching headache what shall I do ??
    Current line up

    Leno
    Reguilon rudiger shaw
    Salah Bruno lingard son
    Nacho Kane laca
    Bench Forster jota coady Philips
    Thanks

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

      All set

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

    B boost thoughts
    Forster vydra rudiger holding?
    Tricky fixtures for Forster an vydra (tot & utd)
    Cheers

  24. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Play two:
    A) Rudiger
    B) Fofana
    C) Coufal
    D) Holding

    1. 1314
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      tough, probably C & D

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

      I'm having a similar issue deciding as to who are the best two to play out of B C and D, I think Coufal is probably the best option out of those three, and given how good arsenal were yesterday and how good wba have been recently I think i'd put Holding ahead of Fofana

  25. Booked4Dissent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I’m afraid to transfer out or bench Martinez. That’s a sign he’s a keeper!

    😀

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I wasn't.

  26. jimbobmij
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rodon likely to start both do we think?

  27. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    60pts behind in my league. Everyone will captain Kane. Is it worth saving the TC for later on down the line as I wouldn’t really be gaining too much on them

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'm saving but will cap Kane. Who knows?

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Start 1
    Areola (Ars)
    Martinez (MCI)

  29. 1314
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    should I bench boost this ?
    Forster (tot) , Holding (Ful) , Coady (SHU) , Watkins (MCi)

  30. DonBenzema
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is this move worth it?

    Targett or Struijk (Which one?) -> Reguilon

    If yes, bench one of Dias (avl) or Rudiger (BHA)