Interview

Meet the Manager: Tips and strategy from three-time top 1k FPL finisher

Joe (@FFScout_Joe) chats to Dave Perrins (@SimpleGull), who can boast of three top 1,000 finishes across his last nine seasons as a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) manager.

Dave’s stellar career also includes two further top 10k overall ranks, and he talks to Joe about his key strategies and tips for success.

But while he has an enviable track record in FPL, the bulk of their chat focuses on Dave’s mission to use the game to bring families together.

As the head of a training consultancy for new dads, Dave has created a Big and Smalls league for FPL managers and their children to take part in.

This includes some notable FPL families, including those of Mark Sutherns (@FFScout_Mark), Tim Hill (@FFScout_Anorak) and Richard Nykvist (@VionylRichie).

Can the grown-up, seasoned veterans learn about FPL management from their offspring? The current standings indicate they can, with Mark among many dads to be either lagging behind or matched by their children.

Not weighed down by painful memories of triple captaining Brighton centre-back Shane Duffy (£4.4m) or faced with an onslaught of Fantasy Football opinion on social media, the junior FPL managers are excelling this season in making simple, effective decisions to propel them up the rankings.

There’s a serious message to the league too, as it means parents can share their hobby with their children and involve them in the highs and lows of the game they love.

Dave’s strong record in FPL is not forgotten, though. Joe finds out how he has achieved so many high finishes and why his riskier mentality hasn’t always gone to plan over his career.

He also reveals his Gameweek 12 plans and why he is set on continuing with a ‘big at the back’ strategy, especially with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£13.0m) covering the captaincy for the foreseeable future.

The Meet the Manager series is where Joe chats to FPL managers with a strong record of success, who have an interesting view of the game and who can provide a unique insight into Fantasy management.

This chat is available below.

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

281 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Philosopher's Stones
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Have we ever felt like majority of the people prefer the blue pill rather than the red pill? In this instance, Kane being the former and Wilson being the latter. Think a Wilson paired with an own friend does well rather than a disinterested Kane tied to a big name. But we'll see I guess.

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      *old friend. Howe, specifically

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

      Howe might get a 'tune' out of Wilson, but take a look at the rest of the squad, Big Band needed there!

      1. Philosopher's Stones
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Will be swell if he could get a few returns out of my FPL target Wilson, tbh. Won't be much bothered how their results go tbh 😉

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Kane's points potential has more upside than Wilson but it's reflected in his price. Could get both.

  2. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Steele
    Trent Dias James Livramento
    Salah Havertz Raphinha Smith-Rowe
    Vardy Toney

    Sanchez Gray white Scarlett
    3.5m 1ft

    A) vardy and havertz to kane and foden -4
    B) havertz to son
    C) just vardy to Kane

    Siding with A for overall team improvement

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B

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

      B

    3. KieranKA
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B, but Gray to Jota might be an even better move

  3. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Which one all? Have Kane, would be for a -4 thanks.

    A-Vardy and Mbuemo to Son and Wilson.
    B-Vardy and D.Luiz/Sissoko to Jota and Jesus.

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      I would not be in a rush to get son if I already have Kane

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        But if you didn’t have Kane and this team instead?

        Steele (Sanchez)
        Rudiger, James, TAA (Livra, White?
        Salah, Havertz, Raphina, Foden (Sissoko)
        Vardy, Broja, Jimenez

        1 ft, 2.4 in the bank

        1. Champions League Varane
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          You gotta get Cancelo

        2. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Broja to Wilson.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

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

      A

    4. KieranKA
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      A

  4. bench boost for every gamew…
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Wilson is going to get injured so why do people bother? Howe is not a physiologist, so the logic in bringing Wilson must be because Newcastle got a New physiologist? They have?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Logic is the fixtures

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        And Newcastle are bad so should be target them, the team playing Newcastle have good fixture..

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Theory worked well for Antonio.

      Get injured, transfer out. Problem solved.

    3. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Buy injury-prone player with potential when they're fit. Sell them when they aren't.

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        And with midweek games he wont start every gw. So that fixture list must be read with interpreting eyes. Will wither play every game from start and get injured after 3 or rotated by Howe to make sure he stays fit.

  5. bench boost for every gamew…
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Owning Jota all season and now i am unhappy because his Brother Bobby is injured, this is not good.

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Makes sense

      1. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        With that schedule Jota would have played a lot anyway, and with Origi and Minamino as rotation it weakens Liverpool. Its better to have the game where all four rotates because more fresh and more goals. Maybe a tad more minutes but if those 50 minutes are in a game where Liverpool are tired because they cant rotate

        1. bench boost for every gamew…
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Then what is the point?

  6. ZakyJ
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    I have 8.7m to spend on 2 X GKs

    Ramsdale/Sanchez & Steele

    Guaita/McCarthy & Foster/Steele

    1. KieranKA
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Guaita Foster

  7. CoracAld2831
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    My full team:
    Sanchez- Foster
    White-James-TAA-Cancelo-Livramento
    Mbeumo-Havertz-Gilmour-Raphinha-Salah
    Vardy-Antonio-Jimenez

    Would you WC this team? I myself am unsure. (obviously)

    A: Yes, you should WC
    B: No, keep and use transfers

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Looks ok to me

      1. ClaudesMackerelelé
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Why on earth would you wc? Keep

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B

    3. beerhockeyrock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Keep, my team is similar
      Back line it tight
      Personally I'd look to get Galagher (for Mbeuno) long stretch of potential
      Contemplate lose Vardy, get Son or Jota? I am
      (Havertz is performing, I'm holding on Raphina)

    4. CoracAld2831
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks, guys.

  8. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo James Chilwell
    Salah Foden Raphinha Mbeumo
    Jimenez Antonio

    Foster Vardy Livramento Brownhill

    2 FT, 0.0 itb

    1. Vardy + Brownhill >> Son + FWD fodder [4.8 budget] (Davis)
    2. Brownhill Vardy >> Jota Wilson
    3. Something else ??

    Thanks

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      2 probably

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Sure gives some depth / benching headaches

        1. Fulchester's New Centr…
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          I'm looking at bringing those 2 in, but already have bench legends Davis (who actually got a few minutes the other day) and Brownhill (90 mins and 2 pts every week)

          1. FCSB
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Do you have Sonny

            1. Fulchester's New Centr…
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 4 months ago

              Yes. I do. WCed about 2 weeks ago.

              1. FCSB
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 4 months ago

                Nice

                That’s what I’m wary of, not having him or Kane

  9. Fulchester's New Centr…
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    “Harry Kane has to liven up. He’s got to look at himself and say: get over these disappointments. Listen, he plays for Spurs, he should be used to disappointment. It’s not as if they win stuff.”
    Roy Keane nails it

  10. ClaudesMackerelelé
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    ** Could i raise the Man City fixture list?! **

    Everton H
    West Ham H
    Villa A
    Watford A
    Wolves H
    Leeds H
    Newcastle A
    Leicester H
    Brentford A

    That's seriously good, no?

    Only two tricky ones are West Ham and Leicester but they're both at home, that's 2/9, and city can steam roller anyone at home. In there you've got some of the poorest teams in the league too and this is a crucial time in the season.

    Cancelo doesn't need an introduction, then for me it's Foden, Jesus and maybe Bilva?
    Only drawback is, of course, pep roulette and they have PSG on the Wednesday after the next gameweek but then no champions league until February (assuming they qualify vs PSG and get a rest vs Leipzig)

    This is still Foden's break out season so I'm expecting more points but mindful of him vs Jota with his nice little run in the Liverpool team incoming.

    I feel this run isn't being spoken about in amongst Spurs/ Gerrard noise?

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Those that know, know.
      Those that don't, don't need to.

      Jesus, Cancelo & either Bilva or Foden, budget depending, already pencilled in for me.

      1. ClaudesMackerelelé
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Shall we keep it on the down low then?

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

    Also Ndidi are you sure you're happy with Jesus? Nailed on right wing?

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nailed anywhere in a Pep team is good enough for me.
      What other options are there? I've got Antonio as well, Wilson might fire, but he might not. Jimenez understandably isn't the Jimenez of a couple of seasons ago, and everyone else is either crocked or out of form. Go cheap and put your faith in Toney or Pukki, or go big and bank on CR7, Kane or Lukaku finding something?

      1. ClaudesMackerelelé
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Hm Jesus does look pretty nailed but his returns are not amazing, although nearly had a goal vs Palace.
        I think Foden is the stand out pick, he would have had that assist vs Palace and hit the post vs Utd. Think he gets rested around PSG though.
        Bilva interesting?

  12. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Chilwell looks like he used the whole tub of Brylcreem.

  13. Assisting the assister
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Kane essential - oh dear price rise incoming

  14. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That head clash looked nasty. Bit concerning for James this, took a huge whack

  15. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Smith-Row first cap, nice one!

  16. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Hi all

    These moves yay or nay?

    A) Ronaldo + Mbuemo > Kane + Gallagher

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      i d keep CR7 and do the other move

  17. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Why Son & Wilson over Kane & Jota??

    Been contemplating both since last week. A week on and I'm no closer to choosing.

    1. ClaudesMackerelelé
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      In a similar quandary.
      Atm I prefer kane and jota. Jota is nailed for quite a while now and underlying stats great. Kane looks in the mood finally, rates conte, and will want to put himself in transfer window?
      But will he outscore son by 2 million quid?
      Wilson is playing in an awful team. Have you considered foden?

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

      I'm thinking of Son and Jota, and running 5 Mids

  18. Tic Tacs
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Current GW 12 lineup:

    Guaita
    James, TAA, Cancelo, Chilwell
    Salah (vc), Cornet, Foden, Gallagher
    Kane (C), Wilson

    Gunnarsson, Livramento, ESR, Davis

    Any changes needed?

  19. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Best move out of these?

    A. Havertz to Son
    B. Vardy/Havertz to Kane/Jota -4

    Sanchez
    TAA Chilwell Cancelo Livra
    Salah Raphinha Havertz Mbeumo
    Vardy Antonio

    Steele ESR Dennis Marcal

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      B