Pro Pundits

Why you should keep your head when considering FPL hits

Ex-FPL winner Simon March: How to avoid getting carried away with your GW1 picks

We all have our own unique relationship with -4 points hits in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). Some of us avoid them at all costs, others see them as a sometimes-necessary evil and for some, they are a core part of their FPL strategy, something they use to get an edge on their more risk-averse rivals.

However you view hits normally, it is very apparent from chaotic times such as these that these perceptions can quickly change based on circumstances but, also, on how the prospect of a hit is perceived contextually. This article will examine some of the ways that our perception of hits can be skewed and it considers some methods that we might employ to avoid this becoming problematic for our FPL ranks.

Personal Experience

Why you should keep your head when considering FPL hits

I’m very firmly in the ‘avoid hits wherever possible’ camp, partly because I think spending points isn’t something we should take lightly but, also, because I’ve historically been bad at using them. My first ever hit was to bring in James Collins back in 2009 and that went about as well as you might expect but even the hits I’ve attempted since then, those that have been less objectively idiotic, have tended to backfire more often than not. As a result, it takes a lot for me to take an unenforced hit nowadays.

That said, if my record of taking hits was much better, I would probably take them more freely. It’s hard to look beyond personal experience when assessing whether or not to take a hit and that is one of the more prevalent ways in which our relationship with hits can become skewed. If we were completely rational, whether a hit worked out for us in the past or not would be an irrelevant factor in deciding whether or not to take one now.

With this in mind, it’s useful to step back for a moment when considering whether or not to take a hit and actively question how much of your drive or hesitancy is influenced by past experiences. If you feel like it is very much influenced by past experiences, you might want to seek a more rigorous means of assessing the risk or pay-off of the hit you are considering.

There are many ways in which you might approach this but I personally see it is a fairly simple probability equation; what can I reasonably expect the player coming in to score versus what might I expect from the player I am taking out. Subtract four from the former and you have a very basic formula, though you might also want to consider other factors such as the longer-term pay-off of the hit, the other possible benefits of bringing them in now (e.g. price rises) as well. 

Naturally, all this remains subjective and doesn’t remove the possibility that your decision will be wrong, but applied consistently it will likely lead to much better outcomes than not consciously thinking about it at all. Whatever method you use to assess a hits’ potential, the important thing is that it isn’t simply left up to pure impulse.

Permissive Cascading

FPL Gameweek 15 round-up: Sunday review, injury news and the things we learned

This season, I went all the way up to Gameweek 19 without taking a hit and then proceeded to take three hits in as many Gameweeks. Uncharacteristically for me, they’ve actually paid off reasonably well but, needless to say, the first one was more difficult to take than the other two. 

Making it 18 Gameweeks without a hit meant that the bar for taking one was much higher than if I had taken one in, say, Gameweek 3. Had I done that, it’s very likely I would’ve already taken a lot more by now. This is because the act of taking a hit is ‘enabling’ and ‘permissive’; taking one mentally lowers the bar for taking others, making them easier to stomach.

This is a principle that will be familiar to many of us at this time of year when a good number of us will be trying to give up stuff. Typically it is easier, in the long run, to abstain from something altogether than to have to repeatedly convince yourself not to smoke a cigarette, eat a donut or whatever your ‘vice’ may be. This is because willpower takes effort and, contrary to popular belief, our ability to invoke it becomes weaker rather than stronger the more we try to.

By contrast, habits become easier the longer they remain in place, so forming a habit is ultimately much easier than trying to talk yourself out of doing something each time you feel like doing it.

Typically we form habits of doing something rather than not doing something so, rather than get into the habit of not taking hits, it is probably easier to seek to form habits that might reduce your tendency to take them. This could be applying standard criteria ahead of making transfers or taking hits using a pay-off formula as described above, or it could be carrying the second transfer wherever possible, something which is very likely to reduce the impulse to take hits by both mitigating the urge and reducing the necessity.

At the other end of the spectrum is the reticence or inertia you can develop from not taking hits for a prolonged period. Here the bar gets raised too high so you won’t take them even when taking one is likely beneficial. In these instances, it’s helpful to have criteria for when a hit might be broadly strategically valuable. An example might be where you would otherwise be left without a playing player or a viable captaincy option. While this doesn’t alone justify taking a hit, identifying these scenarios ahead of time might be useful as a means of overcoming hesitancy when they occur.

Packaging Hits

Conte’s 3-4-3 in focus ahead of FPL Gameweek 12 fixture swing 5

Finally, something weird happens mentally when we start packaging hits alongside other transfers. For example, take the following:

  • Mahrez > Jota
  • Mane > Son
  • Martinelli > Gray -4

The three transfers taken collectively look a lot better than just Martinelli > Gray -4 yet, unless the first two are somehow funding the third move, the two free transfers are irrelevant to the viability of the hit. However, our minds sometimes trick us into looking at the three transfers holistically instead of what it ultimately is; Martinelli to Gray for a -4. 

As a result, if we are pleased with our first two transfers, we are sometimes more willing to take a risk and/or a hit with the third. Therefore judging hits by their own merit, rather than as a collective set of transfers, is key to ensuring that they make sense independently.

Conclusion

The prevalent debate in FPL when it comes to taking hits has always centred on whether they are, generally speaking, good or bad. However, a much more valuable question is probably; ‘when are they good and when are they bad?’ How we perceive a hit in the moment, whether that be based on our previous experiences, our current relationship with taking them or how we’ve packaged them mentally, can significantly impact our ability to make good decisions when it comes to this part of the game.

Introducing some formality or rigour to the decision of whether or not to take a hit can help a lot here, in particular criteria for what circumstances might justify one or not. But, broadly, creating some distance or friction between the impulse to take a hit and the action of doing it is key to making better decisions in this context. In the same way that not having lots of unhealthy food readily available in the house is likely to help you eat more healthily, making it easier to do good things and harder to do bad things is always a positive step in the right direction.

143 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    PKAY UP POMPEY!

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

      M'KKKKAY?

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

      Drinking early again?

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

        there is no such thing as early, or again, only drinking

    3. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Pompey are no bigger than Leyton Orient these days.

      1. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        You seem to be under the misapprehension that this started because Pompey were the biggest team in the world at some point.

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

          Why did this start? I haven't got a clue

          1. Black Knights
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            No nor do I, but it makes some people happy and i can't see how it offends anyone so I don't see why people need to complain about it.

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

              Started by Tamagotchi Massacre. I don't recall when, maybe it was about a decade ago. It does makes me smile when I see it and variants of it pop up. It's also pretty funny how an insignificant and silly relic pushes some oddballs buttons

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

                Maybe just the aliteration? Goes very smooth, with all the P's and the vocals is distributed nicely in terms of short and long stems.

  2. Gunners in Haaland
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Morning

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

      It could be night time for some. Let's be accommodating

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

        You forgot the ones with an afternoon 😉

      2. Gazwaz80
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        This is true, we are one beautiful worldwide community 🙂

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

    This guy remembers the first hit he ever took!

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

      Better than Netflix and Chill!

  4. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    It's so weird seeing player prices rise and fall. I know there are millions of people playing, but how can they not be a little smarter and not do transfers THIS early?

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

      But what do I know? It's been one of my worst seasons(if not my worst) since I started taking it seriously.

    2. Nightrain_
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Price driven by first-seasoners, maybe some have double or triple accounts just for the fun of getting the highest team value, and the rest well maybe just don't want to be priced out so they're forced to do early transfer

      But IMHO this year's price maybe wilder than last season perhaps because there's a difference of what, 1.5 million new players ?
      The algorithm could be in need of a little tweak to adjust that ?

    3. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      People make early transfers while they remember to make them.

    4. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      If FPL Towers were more transparent about it, everything would change.

    5. reubster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      wildcards and freehits in play?

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

    I have taken a 32 points hit since week 15 with rank rising from 236K to 35K so luckily they worked for me so far but conscious that could easily change and trying not to make a habit of it- how have hits worked out for you this season?

    1. Nightrain_
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      That's really great mate, historically I think I made lots of poor choices with hits but I can say hits will be easier paid off with DGW or to fund a captain-material player

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

      I think people get a bit superstitious about it.

      Take a hit if there is a realistic chance it'll get you more points than not. Perhaps over a few gameweeks.

      It's true though that anticipated points quite often don't materialise... so I'm trying to set the bar very high.

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

      Hits in Blank gameweeks have worked out well for me this year, so far.

  6. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    This place is deaddddddd

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

      People are enjoying the break.............

    2. Gazwaz80
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I’m trying to work 🙂

    3. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It's been pretty hectic in December. I feel quite lucky to have gotten out of it with a decent green arrow and all chips in-hand. Nice to have a little break, but excited for any DGW announcements so we can plan towards something tangible again.

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

    Watkins for a hit just minutes before the game was cancelled was a good one,

    lesson learnt, wait till last minute to make transfers...

    Tried that and FPL broke so couldnt make the changes i wanted!

    Happy Days 🙂

  8. Claudio555
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Why is Shaw and McTominay banned in the league game against Villa, not the FA cup?

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

      They changed the rule so suspensions are served in the comp they were "won" in I think.

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

        its a good rule as the bigger teams players might not of even played in the cup anyways so the suspensions were pointless

    2. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Yellow cards suspensions only apply to the competition they were received in. Suspensions for red cards can be served in other competitions.

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

        I don't think that is correct.

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Yep, it is.

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

            so do league red cards now count to the FA cup? they didn't used to?

            1. Wild Rover
              • 13 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              A red card suspension is served in the next game, regardless of whether it be League,

              1. Wild Rover
                • 13 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                *League, FA Cup or League Cup.

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

      you serve a league suspension in the league cup, but not in the fa cup.

      been like that for years.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Lol

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

    I always like Simon March's articles, this one's no exception.

    I think the hits that have worked me have usually been either when I couldn't 11 out without a hit or when my squad's reached a point where it almost, but not quite, needs a wildcard and three moves for -4 can rectify it.

    The other hits tend to be gambles - some pay off instantly but in most cases since football's very hard to predict I've found I'd have been better making the move for free the following week.

  10. lugs
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    my formula for a hit is factor in how much the outgoing player can hurt you in the immediate gw, then factor in how many points you'd reasonably assume the incoming player to get, then factor in how many points your bench player could get if you played him instead, if the answer is between 0-2 for outgoing and bench player, and above 6 for the incoming player, then the hit is worth it imo

  11. Hotdogs for Tea
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Ten hits so far, risen from 3.2 mill in GW1 to 320k this game week … hits can work if used strategically when needed rather than just wanting a bunch of new shiny players 🙂

    Strangely 10 red and 10 green arrows … hoping this week’s red turns to green though with 4 players to go.

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

      I normally aim for ten per season but I finished ~30k having taken almost 20 last year and one of those was a -12 which involved buying then removing Rashford in the lead up to a DGW 🙂

      I reckon you can get away with a fair few hits!

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

      Its not that straightforward, is it?

      It could be possible that your hits have actually resulted in net loss but its your overall team that has been doing well.

      1. Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed it’s never straight forward and hits take a couple of weeks to work through … the hits I have taken generally is when players are out or have tough fixtures and the players I bring in have had easy fixtures against weak teams for the next 4 weeks or so - upside chasing I suppose. In most cases it’s an immediate GW small red or big green with the greens out scoring the red arrows.

        Seems to have worked after an awful start

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

      10 red 10 green here, 150k

    4. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      70K OR with 80 points in hits; and early at that. looking on over 5 weeks and comparing the upsides and downsides, i have made a net gain. There is a time to do and a time to do not. my real winner is my TV is 107 and would be about 104 if I avoided them.

    5. El Presidente
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      13 hits so far, a bit over my personal average at this stage of the season. A couple of them were really stupid, a couple were really smart, the rest was OK.

  12. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    7 (-4) 6 (-8) 1.6m rank in GW8 now 200k…

  13. drughi
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I tend to Always take alot of hits during a season. Think it has to do with my gambling and optimistic side. Dont think I could go a season with playing safe and sensible all the time. Took a -12 this week for example and did James, ESR, foden and Lacazette > Dawson, Gray, KDB and DCL. The outcome so far is terrible but se skall see. On another night DCL gets 13 points instead of zero and the hits has paus off almost right away.

    1. reubster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      DCL... sheesh. You really are a gambler!

  14. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Very interesting view oh taking hits. For me it's rather simple: take the hit when it's worth, don't take when it's not. I took only one hit before GW18, and then took a hit in three consecutive gameweeks, so there is no rule really. But evaluating the worth of bringing in a player may be the most difficult part. Tor Mikkel Tokvam has a very interesting system and I think it's really great in the long run (not an advertisement). Here is also a very interesting view: https://twitter.com/analytic_fpl/status/1458379862234832900

  15. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Ajax only 2nd in the league with 56 goals and 4 conceded while PSV is first with 46/24. Crazy!

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

      Ajax have only conceded 4 goals? wtf

    2. fplgaruda
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Crazy stuff

  16. Jambot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Good year for taking hits IMO as long as they are good long terms moves as well as improving your team
    for the week. I’ve taken 11 hits already and I’m at 3K OR and plan to keep being aggressive with them.

  17. Hazardous1983
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    what chip strategy to do with this

    sanchez (steele)
    trent livra cancelo (alonso james)
    son bowen jota gray (foden)
    dennis king antonio

    5.0m in bank 1ft, all chips left to use, used 1 free hit

    1. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Almost every question needs clarification on DGWs before proper answers can be given, including this one.

  18. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    While it’s quiet and a long shot and nut football related, but is there anyone from Iceland on here? Just wondering what the restrictions on bars and restaurants are like and what it might be like in a couple of weeks.... ta

    1. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Any mums on here? Coz only mums go to Iceland …

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        And Peter Andre

        1. Dammit_182
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I’d imagine he is still welcome to guest at any student guild bar around the UK for a horrendous cheesy club night. Hopefully this clears things up for Danno.

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

    Look at hits independently when you have 15 players and say as the example in the article, a - 4 in a 3 transfer deal, you have to look at that holistically. You are getting points/deductions of points in rrgard to your whole team.
    Yes, you can tell yourself this and this transfer/hits are good or bad, but in the end you get points from your whole team and it is the sum of the 11 you play that constitutes the total points tally.

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

      So in essence, you buy yourself a New set of pieces and takes another/different path, but in that you have to count all actions and the pieces you bought with you, if you have a suitcase full of things on a Journey those pieces you at whoever time got in it is part of your travel. You dont pluck apart every pieces in it and say they are independently on that journey.

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

        that's cleared things up...

        1. Gazwaz80
          • 4 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I’m confused….

        2. rokonto
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Intergalactic journeys do not counter themselves into the realms of judicence. Therefore downgrading overtures do not come into the equation.

  20. fantasy champ man 01/02
    Az
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone playing the new season of Fantasy Champ Man 01/02?

    https://twitter.com/FantasyChampMan

    I played last year, it's amazing. Of course it's incredibly nerdy, but as a massive Football Manager fan, I love it.

    There's a proper website for it alongside the Championship Fantasy game (https://www.gaffr.io/team). Matches are run during the week and then Thursday nights theres a full "Soccer Saturday" style stream alongside minute by minute commentary across all games posted on Twitter.

    It's a bit like the final day of the season every week... but of course its a Fantasy game of a Fantasy game so its a bit like inception.

    Join! Reply here or DM me if you have any questions

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ah the greatest game ever made. Well, Championship manager 01/02.

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

      Could anything be more geeky than this?

      I had a go in the opening season it was OK but lost interest when the Premier League kicked back off in the June. Might give it another go now that they've got this website going. I am such a sad g!t.

    3. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Oh thanks AZ, looks like a fun nostalgia trip! I was so obsessed with this game aged 12-13ish. Dont suppose theres a FFS league..?

      Also, if anyone's wondering how the hell you research a team for this (short of digging out the old CDRom), this site is quite handy:

      https://whitebeard.top/cmfpl-s2-data-s3-prices/

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

      This topic doesn't appear to be very hot...

    5. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Love the game, still play it to this day. You can play numerous databases of CM0102 these days fron 89/90 to 21/22. The fantasy game live stream was fun, will give it another go being the CM saddo that I am lol

  21. TKC07
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    If you plan to own/keep one City MID, Spurs DEF/GK and Wolves DEF/GK each for long term. Which ones would you recommend?

    Current on:
    A) Foden
    B) Emerson
    C) Ait Nouri

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      A) Check Grealish's diary
      B) One of the worst crossers in the league
      C) Nailed on?

      1. TKC07
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Which ones would you recommend?

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          KDB
          Reg/ Davies
          No clue. I would have said Saiss but he is off to Afcon

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

    I adopt the Marie Condo approach to hits - get rid of the player if they don't bring me joy. Son brings me joy so happy to have him back in my side. Perversely binning Mo has also enhanced my enjoyment of the game!

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Agree with both.

  23. Pringle
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Remember Aguero some years back. Often injured and once playing you always feared the look of him holding his hamstring. You were always tempted to put the armband on him even though he would probably only get 15 minutes. Team sheets published and boom Aguero starting. Your friends not having him scared to death and you sitting there with the armband on him expecting no less then 17 points. What a thrill. The most exciting thing about fpl as long I have played. What a legend.

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

      The most exciting FPL player. His injury proneness is what made it exciting. Otherwise everyone would own him.

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

      Great memories re Kun. Remember the famous weekend when I read an article about spurs being very susceptible with their high line of defence before coming up against City. I stupidly thought they would take precautions and avoided getting Aguero. I sulked behind my 3 seater as he feasted for my rival, who also had Tadic for his haul. Season over. Peak Aguero is missed.

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

      This. I remember when my mate had him and I didn't. I got used to hiding behind the couch everytime City played.

    4. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Well.. I captained him on final day of 11/12 season.
      I lost to my ML rival by 1 point.. All thanks to Aguero's celebration for the legendary goal and finally getting YC..

      That was one hell of a roller coaster finish in my ML too..

  24. RobboMR82
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    No idea where to post a question, there used to be a forum years ago. So I opted not to do the PL FFL this season so I could help my son with his Sun Dream Team. I just signed up to the membership but it seems the website is purely for PL FFL and not fantasy leagues in general. For example the fixture lists differ on the Sun Dream Team and FFL. Also the team checker asks for a link to the PL FFL. Am I correct in thinking this site is only for PL FFL?

    Help much Appreciated.

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It tends to be called FPL. This site is geared towards it but does Champions League and Bendesliga and a couple of things like Fan Team. I’ve never seen anything on the Sun.

    2. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Some people on here play Dream Team (not me, though). It might take a while to get an answer to your questions, but if you tried asking a couple of times, I'm pretty sure someone would give you an answer.

  25. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Maybe I misunderstand and it is something we often forget about; cards from suspension. since it is 19 games is there a place where we can see this and know it is accurate. Think of Ronaldo and Alonso for instance.

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      It is accurate. It changes to 10 yc's for a ban when a players team has played 19 Prem games. What is it that you don't understand? Seems simple enough to me.

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        What is accurate? seeing 4 yellows? I need a site that says.

        4 yellows, 17 games played, 1 yellow from a ban, 2 games from null and void.

        Do you get my meaning? Struggling to explain myself maybe?

    2. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      "Any player earning five bookings from their side's first 19 Premier League matches will serve a one-match ban in the same competition."
      Just check the number of games played by each team.

      Below link has 1 week old data (when GW20 was completed):
      https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/rsdut9/1_yellow_card_away_from_suspension_after_gw20/

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Tnks for that. So why do they bother with the "suspension tightrope"? surely a different format would be more valuable?

    3. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Check this link for latest details on official PL page:
      https://www.premierleague.com/news/2287133

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks again. Can't FFS tweak their list to offer info we all need?

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          It's a fair criticism. I'd already raised a tech ticket to get it tweaked. It's a limited widget in its current guise but it usually serves a purpose, as in most seasons clubs will have reached 19 league fixtures at the same time (we don't often get blanks in the first half of a season).

          Anyway, we've been doing a weekly article instead with a guide to who is nearing a suspension and the different number of matches played, and the next one rather coincidentally is coming out at lunchtime.

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Cheers bud. It was a little confusing as many won't know the rules in finer detail and the "suspension tightrope" could mislead someone in transferring someone out when not really needed or running the risk of missing a fixture in a DGW. Cheers anyway.

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

          If a team has played under 19 games and you want to transfer in one of their players, then check the player's bookings or suspension tightrope.

          Seems pretty straight forward.

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

            Sorry 19 or under games!

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              See how easy to be confused mate. (smile)

          2. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            It may seem simple. Maybe I have not explained myself. Yes, it is a little help to know how many yellow cards a player has but it is so simple to note, more importantly, how many games and yellows from suspension. It seems logical to have 1 point to find this info on. For instance Ronaldo started on GW4, and ManU missed GW17 and 18, rather than showing a blank line. Therefore one needs to count the games played.

  26. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hits are bloody great.
    Can't get enough of 'em.

    1. Junglist95
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I've cleaned my life up recently. I suggest you try the same! Clean mind and body!

  27. Junglist95
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Remember Charlie Adam at Blackpool? Fun times!
    Wasn't it also the same time we had Brunt crushing it at WBA?
    Who else at that time that wasn't a superstar name?

    1. gera.bostock
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Joey Barton

      1. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Good for yellows and reds

    2. theplayer
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I remember Odemwingie being a great pick for a while when he was first at WBA

      1. Junglist95
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        That soured fast!

    3. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Dempsey at Fulham and Nolan at Newcastle both scored 12 leagues goals in 2010/11 as midfielders.

      1. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Looks like that was the same amount as Charlie Adam in that season, with Adam no doubt getting plenty of assists too.

      2. theplayer
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Got great memories of captaining Dempsey home to Newcastle when he scored a hat-trick

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

          Not sure it counts but Berbatov DGW haul before TC chip is my single biggest dollar memory of smashing a gw.

      3. Junglist95
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Oh yes! Those two!

  28. Dammit_182
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hits release Dopamine and provide instant gratification. Last minute hits even more so. Once you start it’s hard to stop (like the author suggests). I’m a Hit o’Holic

    It’s tough to go cold Turkey on Hits with so many cancellations just now. Going try ti wean myself off them gradually, first to -4, -4 every 2 weeks and then none. Hopefully I can get to a point where i only take hits in a measured way….

    …but then again. I own foden.

  29. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hits, hits and more hits. That is the way

  30. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Liverpool and Arsenal game is off by the looks of it. No DGW22 for them.

    1. Dammit_182
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Firstly, why the hell did they keep the cup over 2 legs. Would have sorted this.

      Second, with 2 city, 2 Liverpool & 2 West Ham does that point more to a FH or just sell Foden for DGW and accept Liverpool & West Ham still have a great fixture?

      Will know more next week but no pool/arsenal double does change things.

      1. Dammit_182
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        (Was planning on BB)