Podcast

Meet the Manager: LiveFPL creator Ragabolly speaks ahead of Gameweek 22

Joe chats to Ragabolly about his LiveFPL website, which has transformed Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers’ understanding of the game over the last three years.

When chatting to Ragabolly, it seems incredible that he manages to pack so much into a day.

Not only does he teach physics at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) but he has also finds time to create and manage such a hugely popular FPL site.

Launched in 2018, his LiveFPL set of tools, or “his baby” as he refers to it, has vastly expanded its roster of features over the years.

This includes viewing real-time rank changes, tracking the performance of ‘legendary managers’ and a ‘what if?’ tool to see how players’ potential performance can alter rank.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking feature has been his look at effective ownership (which includes captaincy and chip use) amongst groups of FPL managers, including those nearby in the rankings.

As Ragabolly explains to Joe, in this rare interview, his work with effective ownership has gone a long way to helping FPL managers understand why their arrows are red or green each week.

In addition, he chats about his Virtual FPL game, which was a welcome distraction for thousands of managers during the Covid lockdowns of 2020.

During their chat, Ragabolly also reveals how his early work in developing a virtual FPL game was interrupted by the Egyptian army and how Fantasy Football Scout creator Mark Sutherns has helped him to develop his site.

He also discusses how he deals with mixed feedback from managers, who can have different reactions to being helped to understand their FPL performance a little better.

Ragabolly discusses his own impressive FPL team management over the years – finishing inside the top 100K in ten of his 12 campaigns, with 2017/18’s finish of 2,821 his best yet.

This episode was recorded ahead of Double Gameweek 22 and the LiveFPL creator explains how his freshly Wildcarded team is geared up for this set of fixtures.

Above all, what comes through from this hour-long discussion is Ragabolly’s enthusiasm for FPL and being able to offer managers greater insight into the game they also love.

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 who offers the community valuable knowledge around Fantasy management.

Joe’s chat with Ragabolly is available below:

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

1,153 Comments Post a Comment
  1. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Legend Ragabolly!

    1. Hooky
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Teaching Physics at MIT is very impressive. Big brain!

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Surely ... 😛

      2. Ragabolly
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Just blessed that I was lucky enough to get such a job! Thanks 🙂

        1. The Great Statuto
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Hi Ragabolly. Really enjoyed your interview and seing the person behind the name.
          As my fantasy season has bombed since the postponements and covid return I'm Just hijacking this to ask a science question instead please which is bought about the deployment of that new telescope to look back at the beginning of the universe. So we can see the universes as it was a long time ago becuase the light is effectively slow and takes a while to trave to us so, we see the source as it was then not now. But as our planet wasn only formerd about 3,8b years ago and the universe about 13.8b surely that light has passed us by now ? How can it still be travelling to us fornus to see things near the beginning?

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

            Mate I had exactly the same question but had nobody to ask so I looked it up.

            The simple answer is that the rule regarding the speed of light is that things are only limited to travel at the speed of light within time space. It doesn't apply to the edge of time space and that means that time-space / edge of the universe is expanding faster than the speed of light 🙂

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

            Sorry - my answer didn't answer your question exactly. What we see happened in the past, depending on how far away something is. So what we can see is a combination of how far away something vs how long it has been in existance. Some of the stars we see now no longer exist for example and things at the very outer limits of the universe, we cannot see because there hasn't been enough time for that light to reach us.

            1. The Great Statuto
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Cheers for that and the followup. I'm still a tad confused to be honest but the edge of space and speed revelation has just blown my mind now-That Brian Cox kept that under his hat I think, probably hoping for another series

              1. Ginkapo FPL
                • 12 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Yeah its because space is expanding from the single big bang point. Our galaxy stays together because the gravity forces are sufficient but everything else is moving.

                1. The Great Statuto
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  2 years, 2 months ago

                  Thanks Aston VIi and Ginkapo. Inspired by your feedback Just spent a fascinating teatime reading the following. In short the universe is expanding so fast that thononly 13.8B years old we can actually see up to 30B years away because the distances are stretching away constantly from each other, so its more a case of the distance you can see being related to where and when you are in space as the surrounding elements affect that space. Cheers boys, understand it a bit better because in had to change my mode of thinking about it.
                  https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/01/21/how-far-is-it-to-the-edge-of-the-universe/?sh=755fd19055a3

    2. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Thank you, honored to be here 🙂

      1. The Great Statuto
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        You're a humble dude. Many thanks for the price updates every night. For years it's been the first thing check in the morning. Have a great season and your thoughts about picking players you like from the eye test despite the stats really resonate with me.

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

    Who is the best defender for 4.7 or less?

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

      Vestergaard or Lamptey

    2. balint84
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Dier?

    3. Hits from the Bong
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Davies, Lamptey, Al Nouri, tomiyasu

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

      Lamptey

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

      Davies.

    6. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Coady a dull but solid pick

    7. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Davies.. Lamptey 2nd

  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I have no idea how to play this game anymore, total guesswork.

    Squad has more coloured flags than a Himalayan mountain peak.

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

      May your prayers be answered...

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        *players

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

      Chaos presents opportunity

      Different people will be impacted differently which is luck but, just got to embrace it and take more hits than in a typical season.

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

    An interesting insight into how a hobby becomes something much bigger and spins off commercial opportunities in ad revenue etc. No doubt it was a labour of love for Ragabolly funding his passion too.

    A great story.

    1. Ragabolly
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks a lot my friend! I am and will always be an amateur following his passion 🙂

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

    Salah to Maddison
    Or
    Salah and Antonio to Maddison and Kane -4
    ?

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

      So it's Antonio > Kane -4?

      If you captain Kane it's a yes.

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

      Sal to mads … no hit.

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Take the hit

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

      What you are in fact doing is:
      paying 4 points to move Antonio to Kane when Antonio has a good fixture and Kane has 2.
      you are moving Salah money to the forwards making it another 4 points to bring salah back.
      Is it worth the double transfer? You decide.

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

    Very hesitant to even use my FT to make a move for DGW22 but I currently only have 4 DGWers. Should I be ok or anything worth a move?

    DDG*

    TAA, Dier*, Johnson

    Jota, Bowen, Gallagher, Saka

    CR7*, Antonio, King*

    Subs: McGovern, Guéhi, Cancelo, Foden

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

      I think your good … of course some of these DGW could get cancelled depending on FACup … so at most I’d use your FT at the last minute when we know more … but I don’t think there anything remotely worth a hit for example.

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

        Much appreciated!

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

      I’d start Cancelo over Gallagher

  7. Third Eye Vision
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Best midfielders on a FH?

    Maddison
    Tielemans
    Mount
    Moura
    Fernandes
    Jorginho

    ??
    It’s slim pickings for this FH.

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

      Do you have to FH? It’s a crap DGW and could get crapper?

      1. Third Eye Vision
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Not at all. I’m sat on all my chips. I had it in my head I’d FH this week, but it’s not looking very exciting.

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

          Yeah I’d hold if you can, better opportunities later.

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I’m on Bruno, Maddison, Tielemans and Lucas at the moment

      1. Third Eye Vision
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah. The Leicester double up is probably the right idea.

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

          Probably only get 1 game though. Leicester are depleted

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

        Why Tielemans over Barnes?

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno, Maddison, Tielemans, Moura

    4. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Maddison

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

    Anyone considering KDB as the Son replacement and Salah placeholder?

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

      At first look I’m considering;

      Son+Broja >> KDB+Dennis/King (-4)?

      DDG+
      TAA. Cancelo. Reguilón+
      Son+. Jota. Gray. Bowen
      Kane+. Antonio. Broja
      (Foster, Dalot+, Martinelli, Tierney)

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

        Since you have no city mids, Kdb is good to buy as Salah placeholder. Unless you want to punt on DGW Bruno

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

          Yikes! That would be a punt

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

    Son, Watkins to Maddison, Ronaldo (C) for -4?

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

      yes

    2. vova
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Wait and see what happens with Leicester. Their squad is depleted as it is and they have an FA Cup game coming up.

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good

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

      Im thinking about the exact same move. But watkins is fit again and could hurt united. Shall wait for fa cup game first.

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

    Was going to do Bilva > Maddison to play my BB chip this week, thoughts on this -4 to play it?

    Son > Bruno
    Bilva > Maddison

    Lloris
    TAA - Cancelo - Coufal
    Son - KDB - Jota - Bowen - Bilva
    Antonio - Dennis

    Bachmann - Lamptey - Rudiger - Broja

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

      Son > Bilva or Maddison may be and not take a hit?
      I'm thinking Bruno as well, it may pay out

    2. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      If Bachmann looks like he'll play both I'd do it

  11. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Butane has had an absolute shocker there. Embarrassing

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      *Butland

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Aye. It was all over his face.

      The humiliation.

  12. The Point About It Is
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    You had it right first time - Butane: Always a risk of blowing up in your face.

    1. The Point About It Is
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      reply to above

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Ha. Same smutty minds.

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

    Olise BELTER!

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Palace equaliser. Olise

  15. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I was all set for Watkins > Ronaldo this week but with Son's injury and other yellow flags, which move might be better?

    DDG
    TAA Cancelo Rudi
    Foden Bowen Jota Gray
    Watkins Antonio Dennis

    Foster Son Livra White

    a) Son > Bruno or Maddison
    b) Livra > Reguilon
    c) Stick with Watkins > Ronaldo and captain
    d) Play FH

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      D

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

      Son and watkins > maddison and ronaldo for a hit. Or just son to maddison for free.

  16. jay01
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Is it really worth getting Son out? Conte quoted two weeks but scans to be done, meaning he does have a chance to return very soon. At worst he should be back in 2gwks vs soutnampton. (At the same time wed be wanting to get mo salah back).. might just keep him

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

      Will be holding if I can and monitoring … got enough cover as it stands.

      1. jay01
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Same.. hopefully Contes pressers will give us more

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

    Do i need to use my 2nd free hit for this or just take hits.

    Pickford (foster)
    Taa rudiger coufal (cancelo white)
    Jota bowen saka foden (sonl
    Watkins antonio king

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

      Team looks fine, don’t think a hit is necessary tbh. I would also consider starting Cancelo.

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

        Not enough doubles

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

          Would try to get Ronaldo/Kane in but not a lot of doubles are appealing this week. Wouldn’t get them in just for the sake of it as you will still have them next week when they lose their appeal.

      2. Do I Not Like Orange
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Only thing I would say (similar to my own) is no clear captain candidate. Think it will be too risky to go without Ronaldo when so many will captain him for a double.

  18. Salalalalah
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Olise may be a good differential if he can keep a starting spot in CRY

    1. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Olise with 3 goals and 4 assists in about 370mins of play, hopefully gets a run while the rest are at AFCON.

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

        which attacking players have gone to AFCON ?

        1. Tasty Jerk
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Zaha and Ayew

  19. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Casual glance at Olise price

  20. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Palace ahead. Mateta G.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Means no worries

  21. fish&chips
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone thinking to avoid Ronaldo? His fixtures after the double are good but if I move for him it will become difficult to get Salah back as I don't think I can afford both with the way my team is setup, so I likely wouldn't be able to benefit from the good fixtures anyway as I'll surely move back for Salah. Plus his form is terrible.

    I'm thinking going with double Watford attack this week and picking up a couple of city players next week to cover captaincy whilst Salah is away.

    1. Do I Not Like Orange
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Who will you captain this GW? I don't have him either & would happily have done without while Son was fit, but think it becomes too big a risk now when almost everyone else in my MLs will put the armband on him.

      1. fish&chips
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah this is my main dilemma. Will have to take a risk and go for King or Dennis, or god forbid, Alonso?!

        1. Do I Not Like Orange
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          It would be Dennis for me otherwise, but Watford look pretty dreadful atm.

  22. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Harvey Barnes band wagon?

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

      I thought he'd be better than Tielemans...

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Still Maddy for me

  23. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Leicester XI: Ward, Albrighton, Brunt, Vestergaard, Daley-Campbell, Perez, Tielemans, Choudhury, Maddison, Lookman, Barnes
    Subs: Schmeichel, Stolarczyk, Nelson, McAteer, Madivadua, Braybrooke, Alves

    Watford XI: Bachmann; Ngakia, Cathcart, Sierralta, Morris; Sissoko, Cleverley, Tufan; Pedro, Hernandez, Fletcher
    Subs: Elliot, King, Sema, Kamara, Gosling, Kucka, Conteh, Forde, Agyakwa

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

      Brunt 😮

  24. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    FA Cup PL Teams
    Leicester:Ward, Albrighton(c), Brunt, Vestergaard, Daley-Campbell, Perez, Tielemans, Choudhury,Maddison, Lookman, Barnes
    Subs: Schmeichel, Stolarczyk, Nelson, McAteer, Madivadua, Braybrooke, Alves.

    Watford: Bachmann, Ngakia, Cathcart, Sierralta, Morris, Cleverley, Sissoko, Tufan, Hernandez, Joao Pedro, Fletcher
    Subs: Elliot, King, Sema, Kamara, Gosling, Kucka, Conteh, Forde, Agyakwa

    Newcastle: Dubravka, Trippier, Krafth, Schar, Ritchie, Shelvey, Longstaff, Murphy, Joelinton, Fraser, Saint-Maximin.

    Brentford: Lossl, Ajer, Bech, Pinnock, Stevens, Ghoddos, Bidstrup, Janelt, Thompson, Wissa, Forss
    Subs: Fernandez, Norgaard, Toney, Jansson, Mbuemo, Peart-Harris, Baptiste, Roerslev, Young-Coombes

    Brighton: Schepen, Maupay, Mwepu, Gross, Alzate, Welbeck, March, Duffy, Burn, Veltman, Offiah
    Subs: Sanchez, Cucurella, Mac Allister, Trossard, Moder, Roberts, Leonard, Turns, Ferguson

  25. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Early DGw 22 thoughts.

    Which move please

    a) Son > Bruno
    B) Son > Maddison
    C) son + Broja > Maddison + Kane (-4)

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      C

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

    What would you do with this lot?

    This is the best I can come up with…if doing C I could get a 5.8m DEF, but anove 4.6 means another FT to get Salah back. BB would be SGWers but they all have good fixtures bar Ramsdale and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see ARS get a clean sheet with Son out.

    A) Dalot -> 4.8m (Lowton/Bavies)
    B) Salah -> Maddison
    C) Dalot & Salah -> Lowton & Bruno (-4) (and maybe BB)

    DDG
    DALOT, Trent, Dawson
    Jota, Bowen, Gray, BROWNHILL
    CR7(c), KING, Antonio

    Ramsdale, Cancelo, Keane, Salah
    Bank 0.3m, 1FT

  27. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Will there be better DGWs in the future?

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

      Your guess is as good as mine but I would think so. If anything there will be a blank for Liverpool/Arsenal and so might be worth using a FH then.

  28. Well you know, Triffic
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Burnley with their strongest team and still being held.

  29. Jet5605
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hey guys, 2 FT and 0.4 ITB. Bit of a benching headache. Should I do Salah, Son & Broja > Foden, Saka and CR7 for -4?

    DDG
    TAA - Cancelo - Dier - Lamptey
    Son - Jota - Bowen - Maddison
    Antonio - Broja

    Bachman - Salah - King - Coady

  30. Stranger Mings
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Few games cup observations-Is Barnes playing up front? Worth a punt? Plus foster not in squad as guess still major risk for DGW22?

    1. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Foster is still a few weeks away from being fit. Barnes will be up front but he can't hold the ball up.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Ok cheers sounds like foster major doubt (although could make 2nd Watford game) and better to go Maddison