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. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Cornet not in Burnley squad although he returned last week and played some minutes.
    Rested or a setback of his injury? has Dyche said something about it?

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

      AFcon

    2. rnrd
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      oh well.. AFCON..

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

      Lol

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

    Are their 3rd round replays? If so, if Burnley draw today (which is currently happening), does that ruin their DGW?

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

      No replays mate

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

      Good bye Burnley anyway

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

    DDG
    Alonso Davies TAA
    Salah Son Jota Bowen
    Antonio DCL King
    Ramsdale Gray Cancelo Liver

    Salah, Son, Antonio to Kan(C), Maddison, Bruno -8 the best option available?

    I know they say Chaos is a ladder but between the server crash and Covid .. Chaos is pretty luck based haha .. love/hate relationship with all this madness

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

    We can't even beat Huddersfield 🙁 🙁

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

    Burnley losing now. Poor for FPL

  6. tambourineman
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    League 2 Hartlepool through to the fourth round where they'll play Man City.

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Is that who’ve we’ve drawn?

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

        No it's a joke on City's amazing ability to draw low ranked teams in Cup draws.

        1. The 12th Man
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Yeh it’s on Sunday. Would be a great draw for us though.

  7. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Wycombe v Sunderland been a great game

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

    How FPL rolls: Burnely loses in FA Cup. Every serious FPL manager avoids Burnley assets like the plague for DGW22. Wood gets hatty and brace and they keep 2 clean sheets with assists from Lowton and Mee and a penalty save from Pope...

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

      Burnley have been poor for a while now.

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

      Yep. I think I saw white elephants crossing the road too. (smile)

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

        🙂

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

      Whoa, quite a scenario. Considered writing fiction?

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

        Often FPL is stranger than fiction... 🙂

    4. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Tbf Burnley have two home games and they have a few CS at home. Still a good chance that Tarkowski or Mee get double digits over two games.

  9. The 12th Man
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Hartlepool! Get in there.

  10. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of Olise nailing down a starting spot?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      With Ayew away at AFCON, I would say there's a chance.

      1. BENOIT
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I mean, that's only a couple of gameweeks though.

        You meaning he uses those games to make himself undroppable when Ayew returns?

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          I hope so. At his price and with his talent he could be a great pick.

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

    Is Barnes worth a punt?

    1. BENOIT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Is he fit?

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

        He starting for Leics today

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

          On my watch list but will probably go safer Maddison

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

        Playing today

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

    Kane owners, are you captaining him? Can't figure out whether to bring in Ronaldo as well and captain him instead......

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

      Yes, cap Kane

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

      Kane will be my captain

  13. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Goal and assist for Michael Olise again. Added to watchlist and after looking at Palace' fixtures, I gotta say he could be a great differential from GW24 on.

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Don't you think Ayew gets his place back after he returns?

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

      Most Palace fans think Olise should be ahead of Zaha.

      When Eze is back up to speed he will be the one on the left.

      Ayew is there for the top half where energy and experience is needed. Olise will start against Norwich I would have thought, he will be rotated.

      Gallagher is still the main man, despite having Covid

  14. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Who is playing upfront for Leicester this evening? Barnes, Lookman or Perez?

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

      I am trying to work that out although just been told Barnes

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Interesting option for GW 22 then.

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

          Yeh guess risk is that only just back so could have his minutes managed

          1. Alexis Nonsense
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            And he's been deployed as nr. 9 before without success, so even if he is he is typically a worse asset than usual if nr. 9

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

              Yeh v true - DGW trap

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

      Hard to say … only formationnive seen on BBC has Perez up top, Mads behind and Barnes and Lookman wide ….. buts it’s the BBC to be fair so bags of salt.

    3. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Jonny Evans at this rate

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

    Someone was talking about great FA Cup moments we remembered as kids earlier on.

    As a QPR fan I remember Peter Hucker’s save from Steve Archibald in the 1982 Cup Final with 10 minutes to go in normal time, score at 0-0. Crooks played Archibald through one on one and the season Archibald was having you would have put your house on him scoring.

    The save can be seen here if you fast forward to about 1hr 58mins and 48 seconds.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCK2c_lbPB0

    Game ended 1-1 after extra time, but Spurs went on to win the replay 1-0.

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

      Yeah i remember that game. Hated Venables but was too young to understand why lol

    2. notlob legin
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Great memories - I'm a QPR fan too and went to both games

  16. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Good afternoon everyone!!! With Son out I not have only Kane And Sanchez with doubles but the rest of the team all have favourable fixtures for a variety of reason, any advise here welcomed!! Can do Son and Antonio to Ronaldo and Jorginho with the exact money, would be -4

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo Coady
    Jota Bowen Raphinha Gray
    Kane Antonio DCL
    Subs- Pickford Dawson Targett Son

    1FT and 0.3 in the bank!!

    Cheers!!

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I'd be keeping Antonio, fwiw.

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        I’m with you on that mate!! Definitely!! Maybe a bit of fear not having Ronaldo for the double kicking in!! Haha

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          Me too, but It's too much of a juggle bringing Ronnie in just to dump him again for Salah (c ), and too expensive in the short term with Watford looking decent.

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            Yeah that’s the other thing with that move is complicated getting Salah back, my plan is Kane to Dennis the filling gameweek and Gray back to Salah, the Ronaldo move would cause more surgery and hits!!

            1. Drexl Spivey
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 2 months ago

              Yeah, maybe some managers will profit a few points one gameweek. Not enough I'd take on the long term headache.

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                I agree mate!!! Think rolling the transfer could be the best move for me

      2. Mighty Banana
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        fwiw?

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 2 months ago

          imho

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

          for what it's worth

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

      Good team and No don’t do that move as keep Antonio. Be good to get Maddison for son?

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        That’s an option mate!! I like Maddison, not really any standout options in midfield this coming gameweek now

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

          Other is DCL to Dennis

          1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 2 months ago

            An option mate, would be different to remove DCL when he’s got Norwich tho

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

              Maybe best to roll transfer then

              1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 2 months ago

                Could be the smart move mate!!

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

    How much will Coutinho be?

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

      142 000 000 before add ons.

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

        On fpl?

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

          7.5 my guess

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I think 8.5

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

      6.5

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

      8.0

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

      I will consider him if he is 5.5

    6. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      7.0/7.5

    7. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      7.5

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

      FPL hinted he's not gonna be much more expensive than Buendia. 7.0m would be my guess. Could be well worth it imho.

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

    Will watch and wait over the coming days but at the moment the only Son replacement I have my eye on is MacAllister for Brighton with decent mid-term fixtures and a low price and ownership. Potentially can swap him for Olise in a few gameweeks too, not going to get another premium in until Salah is back from AFCON.

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

    Charlie Taylor got covid?

  20. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Welbeck being fit isn't the best news for Trossard punters

  21. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Google has Perez as Leicester's striker today

    Just saw Albrighton in a back 4. What a time to be alive

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

      Oh not Barnes then. Still think Maddison most secure pick

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

        Maddison's already very involved in this match

  22. dshv
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Ddg
    Cancelo reguilon trent
    Jota foden son maddison bowen
    Ronaldo king

    Foster - watkins cash livra

    Son to who for a hit?
    Or just play him and if he is not ready for the second match then watkins first sub.

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

      Wouldn’t do a hit to replace him So either play or sub

  23. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Could really use a 2nd OP
    DDG**/Ramsdale
    Trent/Reguilon**/Cancelo/Dias/(James)
    Jota/Gray/Bowen/Bernardo/(Son)
    Antonio/Watkins/(Hwang)
    1.8 itb, 1 FT

    A) first free hit
    B) James + Hwang + Son -> Cucurella + Perez + Ronaldo for -8
    C) Same 3 out but Lamptey + Barnes + Ronaldo for -8
    D) something else

    Leaning towards A... and then James to Tierney in 23 should allow Salah for Son in 24. ???

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I would have said C as I feel Son, James and Hwang you’re going to want rid of anyway but actually given your last sentence I think I’d go A

      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers, appreciate the feedback - Hwang 0.01% ownership in top 10k... he's my boi 🙂

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

    Interested to see how Tielemans, Lookman and Barnes compare in this match. Will go one on free hit

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

      Looks like Tielemans takes an early lead

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

      Vest just won a penalty gift for Tielemans

  25. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Son, wilson to cr7 and kdb? I have exact monies right now

    1. Chelsea Dagger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      i wouldn't make any moves until next Thursday. Between COVID and injuries, too much to risk

  26. Ruudy Van
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Would you sell Son for free and who to?

    Can bring in gray or cancelo to starting 11 if needed.
    Team below

    Lloris
    TAA Dier Dalot
    Jota Foden Bowen Son**
    Antonio Ronaldo (C) king
    (Foster gray cancelo livra)

  27. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Does anyone ever to stupid transfers first thing in the morning

    I got up at 5am, had a coffee then for some reason did Dawson > lamptey

    I mean the move is ok but now in the light of day I’m like why didn’t I wait?

    I really need to delete the fpl app between game weeks

  28. Crunchie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    Best moment as a Palace fan ever just before my 18th Birthday.

    Palace 4 Liverpool 3.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYdiw0KR-aY

  29. Tinfoil Deathstar
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 2 months ago

    I've got four DGW'ers in place, excluding Son (CR7, King, Dier, Sanchez).

    Who should I move Son to with the FT?:

    A) Maddison
    B) Bruno
    C) Foden

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

      C

    2. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      Keep Son and free hit
      You'll want him back
      Of those 3 I'd go Maddison

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

    Thoughts on Bruno? Do you think he's nailed for the double GW? He's benching last week was due to rest or tactical reasons? Thoughts?

    1. sandman58
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 2 months ago

      I'm a United fan and I'd say he's nailed....but his fantasy pedigree is very poor
      1 goal in 20 games
      I'd prefer Sancho