Interview

Meet the Manager: Shivanand Atre’s five straight top 25k FPL finishes

Veteran Fantasy Premier League (FPL) manager Shivanand Atre (@ShivaFPL) has shown remarkable consistency across his 14-year career, with only two finishes outside of the top 100,000 over that time.

He has been particularly good in recent years, showing he has been able to adapt well to the proliferation of content and opinions on social media: he has achieved five top 25,000 finishes in as many years, including a top 3,000 overall rank and another in the top 10k.

He also has a previous top 2,000 season-ending rank under his belt.

In this latest Meet the Manager episode, Joe quizzes Shiva on how he has managed to filter out the growing FPL ‘noise’ to perform well in each campaign.

His focus on anchoring a view at the start of the week and ensuring he can be flexible enough to react to emerging trends and news before a deadline has been a key tactic for success. Joe also finds out why a pen and paper has been Shiva’s secret weapon over this time.

The eye test has helped, too, as he focuses on the importance of watching matches over reading statistics. The ability to make rare, but calculated risks is also key.

To give a snapshot of his thinking, Shiva reveals his Gameweek 2 team and how he is putting his strategies into action.

Joe also wanted to catch up with Shiva to discuss how the game has developed in popularity in India, where he first started playing more than a decade ago, as well as in the US, where he now lives.

He recounts the struggle to make family commitments on a Saturday in India, when so many of his friends and relations had no idea how important ‘wildcarding’ and ‘making a transfer’ was to him.

The Meet the Manager series is where Joe chats to FPL managers with a strong record of success, an interesting view of the game and/or who are offering the community a unique insight into Fantasy management.

Joe’s interview with Shiva can be viewed below.

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

382 Comments Post a Comment
  1. leo_messi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Who to start?

    A) Digne (Lee)
    B) Targett (NEW)

    1. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      As Morrissey sang,

      “Neither one particularly appeals to me”

      1. Thomas Jerome Newton
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        That Neil Morrissey song?

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

    4. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Sword and shield

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Might & magic.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          VI: The Mandate of Heaven

          1. el polako
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            HOMM 3 - I'm old.

            1. Zalk
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              The only right answer though

            2. Piggs Boson
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Never played the Heroes series but MM6 is one of my favourite games. Huge open-world RPG.

  2. Sergeant Slaughter
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Cancelo regret. Serious doubts about his starting. Stones was the play, if any. A transfer seems silly, but I can’t get it out of my head. Want to save my moves. I can’t be trusted.

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      With TAA, Shaw and Digne what made you consider Cancelo? Especially as Walker had a good Euros and both LBs are available

      1. Sergeant Slaughter
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Thought he would bring returns beyond CS. Lots of early door attacking questions with City. He could fill the gap. He seemed a clever selection. He wasn’t.

        1. FPL price manipulators are …
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          No. He wasn't. Too risky for GW1

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Got to keep and hope he plays.

      1. Sergeant Slaughter
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Agreed

  3. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Start 1 out of:-
    A) Ayling
    B) Coufal
    C) Targett

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Snooze ya lose
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

  4. FPL price manipulators are …
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Just imagining people's disappointment at clicking on the Hot Topic

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      lmao. Had me curious. How stupid.

      It's resolution dependent. I can see my whole team no problem on a 1440p screen.

  5. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Triple captain Toney seems like the obvious choice this week, doesnt it? Hatti inbound, may as well count the points now

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I'd zoom in again, mate. Not worth fitting it into the screen if you're mixing up players.

      1. FPL price manipulators are …
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        😆

      2. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        its 110% zoomed in on (((T)))oney

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

      Gilmour more promising. They have a way with City.

  6. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Hold Veltman or move on?

    Out another week at least. Ugh

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      If you don't have any reinforcements that can come off your bench, it's a no brainer. Otherwise, keep.

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

        ESR and Balogun

        That's basically one sub and have the likes of Torres who could be benched

    2. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I'm just putting him on the bench again. There's nothing else out there in the 4.0 - 4.5 price range worth wasting a move on. White looked terrible, and it's too soon to bring Ayling in.

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

        I WAS thinking Ayling tbh

        White hell no

        Ta

        1. Disco Stu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          I'm not bringing Ayling in until GW 5

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

            At least if Brighton lose again you have to fancy Veltman to be nailed

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

            Livramento and use the .5m elsewhere?

            I know they're awful

            Pointless for Amartey or even more for Duffy

            Starting to agree with you

            1. Disco Stu
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              Save the transfer and have two to play around with next week. Also, Veltman in for sure next week

  7. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What's the relevance of a Hot Topic in FPL?

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Click bait on Google

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      This made me chuckle a bit, first time I smiled today.
      Or was it just wind ?

      Thank you.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Hot air for sure

  8. HollywoodXI
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Bruno non owner. Any news of a slight injury meaning he’ll miss the Saints game? Anything? At all? No?! 🙂

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Stay strong.

    2. TheBiffas
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Chin up mate

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Right your wrong.

  9. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Who to start?
    1) Coufal
    2) Amartey

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Amartey wont start will he?

    2. amitmishr
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Can start anyone, coufal will be auto sub

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Right your wrong.

      1. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Sorry. 1

  10. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Recently finished watching The Wire for 2nd time and not quite ready to re-watch Line of Duty but really want to get into another police drama.
    Is The Shield any good ?

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Thought FPL wire for a moment

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Shiiiittttt...

    2. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yes

    3. Uncle Baby Billy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Think of The Wire as Salah at home to Burnley. The Shield is a triple captained 4.0m Newcastle defender away to Man City.

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        If Salah scored an own goal and got sent of on 80 and the Newcastle defender scored a perfect hattrick in injury time

    4. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Signal. Korean show on Netflix.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        See don't mind off mainstream picks, absolutely loved German "Dark".

        1. Bartowski
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          It's widely revered.

    5. Sergeant Slaughter
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Fauda

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        See above, never heard of it but it looks promising.

    6. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Hill Street Blues.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Just checked it on YouTube, Real old school stuff.

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          It's kind of the recognisable genesis of modern drama along with stuff like st elsewhere and so on. But it is OLD

    7. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      The Shield is great, I would also recommend Southland. Justified is up there with The Wire imo. Very different shows to compare, but it is flawless

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

        Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green and not reference enough these days.

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Drama started in the late 90s, like football started in 1992

    8. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Check out Bosch, absolutely love it. Has lots of actors from The Wire.

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        That's the show with the guy that got capped in SoA, isn't it ?

        1. Je suis le chat
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Haven't seen SoA, but yes Titus Welliver is great as the lead in Bosch. I empathise with his extreme competency in his work yet not giving a damn about social niceties!

    9. asdf_1
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      True Detective, Manhunt, Mindhunter

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        true detective is just a load of old mumbling

      2. asdf_1
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        And to answer your question, the shield is good but it has an episodic nature which made me dislike it a bit. Nevertheless, it has one of the most perfect endings.

        1. Pacer.
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          I haven't watched it for a long time but I don't remember it being THAT episodic. I'm fairly certain that each individual season and the show has a clear arc

          1. asdf_1
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            By episodic, i mean that each episode has a different police case. The major arc keeps moving forward though on a slower basis.

    10. @Gemmill78
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Excellent - my mrs still uses it as her baseline - very bingeable

    11. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Shield is better than the Wire

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Wow, that's some statement.
        I've The Wire twice and whilst watching second time picked up on all little thing I've missed initially.

        For me this show is genius, characters and their development is like nowhere else, plot, roughness and sense humor- watched all major series but to me nothing comes close to stories from Baltimore

        1. S.Kuqi
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Agreed. Wire is excellent but prefer Shield. Out of police series my rank would be :

          True Detective season 1
          Shield
          Wire

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 7 months ago

            Shield should never be mentioned with those two masterpieces.

            1. Pacer.
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 7 months ago

              On the contrary, the shield is really great. True Detective on the other hand is a load of old cobblers

              1. Rassi
                • 9 Years
                2 years, 7 months ago

                Oh, the depravity.

    12. Lord.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      You need to watch Breaking Bad if you want to maintain the standards of The Wire.

      1. Pacer.
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Justified is also their equal

    13. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Mindhunter

      1. Je suis le chat
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Great show, shame they only made 3 series.

    14. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Thank you All !
      Looks like my winter season is sorted.

    15. Zalk
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ah damn, Line of duty is a 10/10 for me, what a series!
      Just finished watching Bosch on HBO, 9/10 for me.

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

    Balogun to Dennis?

    Only other subs are ESR Veltman*

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

      Anyone?

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Save the transfer.

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

        Ta. Balo could get SOME time but they are about to get spanked

    3. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Go for his mate Cucho since Dennis is a doubt?

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

        Fair point but I would want Dennis over Cucho long term I think

  12. Edgar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Draft League...transfer out Pukki for A.Armstrong?

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Armstrong

    2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Can you get on of the Watford lads?

  13. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Am I the only one with Wilfried Zaha this week?

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Just you and Palace.

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      It's an interesting pick. I think Palace will win and surprise all the new Brentford fans around here.

    3. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      You hit biiiig gahooners.

  14. Andy_Social
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Nuno's line-up for the Sucky Conference Pot signalling his Starting XI for Sunday, there.

  15. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Predicting the following games?

    Everton v leeds
    Leicester v West ham

    1. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Leeds and Ham at are (H) teams.

  16. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Start 1
    A) Digne
    B) Toney

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Toney

  17. THL33
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What player you don't own scares you the most going into this GW, for me it has to be Greenwood or Antonio.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Salah or Fernandes

      1. THL33
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        You own neither? That takes cojones!

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          Cojones and severe underthinking maybe

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

      Lukaku!!!

      Haha at least not many will have him but I am scared my rival will already

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

        Hat trick incoming

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Ings. More jam incoming.

      1. THL33
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I hope so

    4. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      DCL

      1. THL33
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Good to know, I am an owner 😉

  18. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes -> Greenwood for free?.

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah get Greenwood

    2. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I’d stick with Barnes. Give the guy a chance.

  19. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Roll the transfer here?

    Sanchez
    TAA/Shaw/Tsim
    Salah(c)/Bruno/Barnes/Greenwood/Mbeumo
    Ings/Antonio
    (Steele/Digne/White/Scarlett)

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yup

  20. Sam feasts
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What would a good WC team look like at this point? Asking for a friend.............

    1. Forever In Our Shadow
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Cheap defence. 2 mid big hitters and room for a Lukaku or Kane up front.

    2. Tony Two Tone
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Forster/McGovern
      Zimmerman, Valery, Collins, Sorensen, Nathan Ferguson
      Marvelous, Brownhill, Oriol Romeu Vidal, Alexis Mac Allister, Fred
      Scarlett, Zequiri, Street

      No need to thank me ; - )

  21. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ole needs time, he has done good at ManU. Let him build a dynasty

    People said the same about Fergie

  22. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Kane turgid as usual

  23. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    my bench is a carehome:
    James, Normann, Bornwhill. ImAgine how bad that christmas would be, ur eating the last cold mince pie

  24. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Such a waste Ings going to Villa. Such a strange move to begin with tbh

  25. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    why doesnt this website auto refresh instead of you havign to refresh it every 5 minutes. pffftt, a website as old as time itself

  26. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 1 month ago

    I see casuals have been rewarded with a goal. This is good, it will make them think he is good for the next 8 weeks (they probably have Gray as well, and Antonio).