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. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Is King Power a power company?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Nope. Duty free retail business

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Well... ...would have been funny, but had to google it out.

    3. Marvin Moon
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I always think of prawns when I hear the name.

  2. balint84
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Captain
    A) Dennis
    B) Madison\Tielemann
    C) Kane -4

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      B

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

      A

  3. jonnybhoy
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Is Trossard an option or go safe with Maddison?

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I also considered Trossard but Brighton v Palace is usually quite a close, low-scoring fixture from what I remember. Their second fixture is then away to Chelsea which I wouldn't expect him to get a return in so not sure he's worth it. Also Brighton have blanks coming up if you're not on a FH.

  4. Shardlow
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    If you had to pick any midfielders/forwards for a set and forget team until end of the season, who would you go for?
    De Bruyne?

    1. Shardlow
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Excluding Salah obviously.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      no one is safe this season. If Salah got covid at Afcon then he'd hardly be a set and forget

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        More likely to get covid by staying in England, but your point stands. There are no set-and-forgets.

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Bernardo, Jota, Raphinha (although wait until January transfer window has passed), Son, Ronaldo, Salah, Mount, Saka

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Ronaldo lmfao

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

      Surprisingly difficult question, and I guess I concur that there's no-one... but, if forced, the answer I came up with is kind of surprising even to me (especially as I haven't even owned him yet)

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

        Gabriel Martinelli

    5. Shardlow
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks all. Play the telegraph ff with work, and special work rules is only 3 transfers in Jan and that's it! So after my Bruno replacement!

  5. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Wish the all out attack chip was still a thing... Would love to get two Leicester mids to go with 3 forwards and Jota, Gray and Bowen

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      These days I sometimes wish for a no out attack chip,
      where you can only field 8 or 9 players...

    2. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      This would be the week to use it, I agree. But there were seasons when it was worthless I believe.

  6. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    So Son and DCL to Maddison and Dennis seems popular, 5.4m itb doesn't sit well with me

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have Salah? If not, that's the kind of cash itb you'd want to get him back.

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        It is going to take 2 transfers to Salah anyway , so would rather the money on the pitch

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

      Madness to take dcl out v Norwich. Eve maybe bad, but Norwich are shocking

      1. Dead Balls
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        ThTs a fixture from GW21 how can DCL be transferred

  7. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Mbeumo scoring. Dropping down out of the PL where he gets a bit more time and so can get his passes right and his shots on targtet.

    1. FPL_ UP_Down
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Mbeumo yours !!
      Massive flop

  8. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Which match to watch? Lei - Wat is Lei just standing now.

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

      Watching Lei Wat... Watford almost just scored

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Yes, immediately I had written this. Should use my jinxing skills better.

      2. Definitely not sleeping
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Which channel?

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

          Viasat

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

    JoaoPedro off the crossbar so close

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

      Would have been offside I reckon anyway from initial pass

  10. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Really want to get Maddison + Lookman for Gundo + Son as a hit

    Not worth it if I have to bench one of Antonio Bowen or Gray right?

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

      Yep not worth a hit and benching one of those players

  11. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Joao pedro reminds me of richarlison in watford era

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

    I know it's five gaffers since Watford kept a clean sheet, but how long ago is that?

  13. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Robbo and Trent too much if a fella is on FH?

    1. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Or find someone with a DGW in place of Robbo?

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

        Prefer Robertson and Trent

    2. vova
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I don't think they are, not a lot of appealing defenders on a DGW tbh. Maybe Reguilon/Emerson.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        I wouldn't be afraid of a double-double - all of Spuds and Liverpool wingbacks.

        1. vova
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          I like that idea

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Means no Jota or "forced transfer" when getting Salah back. Not too much, but basically costs one transfer or Jota. So I didn't do it last week.

      1. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        FH not WC

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

        On FH though

        1. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          My bad. I wouldn't start him over dgw players. Reguillon and Alonso over him imo.

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Brentford may score a lucky one. Alonso may get one CS and attacking return. But on the other hand, it's a good sgw fixture. So It's possible that Robbo overscores Alonso or Spurs players. On FH I wouldn't like to double up on sgw players when their defense has been leaky. Didn't even consider anyone would, so didn't notice it being FH first.

            1. jdp219
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              I'm a maverick, I guess. LOL

            2. jdp219
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 3 months ago

              But you hit on the exact reason I asked. They allowed 3 last time. At Brentford, but still. A lot of money to have a CS wiped away.

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

      Go for it

    5. jdp219
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers, all!

  14. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Wonder if Newcastle's owners are thinking of sacking Eddie Howe.

    1. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Wait a tic - Rafa will be available soon.

  15. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Toney/Son -> Dennis/Maddison for -4 a no-brainer?

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldnt remove Toney for a hit no

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        He's got Liverpool/United as his double, so will score 4 points max.

        He's 100% going. Been stinking out my team for too long.

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

      Yep no brainer, especially watford next 3 games compared to brentford

  16. Definitely not sleeping
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Look at this mess:

    Rank: 646k, Bought it Son, No FT, 4.1m ITB, Used 1FH already and have all other chips left - do not intend to use any other this week.

    Sanchez (Foster*)
    Cancelo TAA Dier (Livra* Amarty*)
    Jota Foden* Raph Bowen Son*
    Antonio Dennis (Watkins*)

    Too many fires to put out and feeling brain dead atm. Any advice?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Wait till Wednesday.

      1. Definitely not sleeping
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        What I normally do, then I jumped the gun this week with Son. Tried to beat the further price rise.

    2. vova
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Your team isn't bad really, it should clear up after this week. I think Foden has a decent chance to start, not sure about Watkins as I haven't been keeping track but all your strikers have good fixtures. The only real issue is in defence with Livramento (who I guess will be fit either this gameweek or the next) and Amartey.

      Son > Maddison maybe? Just wait until the last minute and see what is up with Leicester. If their double is good to go then it's a good move and you can even captain Maddison, you could also captain Dennis.

      1. Definitely not sleeping
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Thanks. Good observations. I have been thinking about my defensive issues. Looking at Wolves for that in the next week or two.

        1. vova
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          yeah, Wolves defence is interesting. Thanks for the suggestion, I will keep them in mind too. Best of luck!

          1. Definitely not sleeping
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            Cheers

  17. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Night off for Alonso

    1. mdm
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Covid?

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Rested as expected

        1. mdm
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 3 months ago

          So you say no Covid?

          1. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 3 months ago

            I haven't seen anything that hints him to have covid.

  18. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Mbeumo knocks it in off the inside of the post this time.

  19. Drumandbaines123
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    I really cannot understand why people are looking to sell DCL. I'm looking to bring him in this week! Yes he doesn't have a DGW but he is playing Norwich, could very easily post a double digit return. Everton also have extremely good fixtures and two more DGWs coming. People need to stop with this short-term thinking just to get more DGW players in. Yes you may do slightly better this week but there are still 16 GWS to go and I'd much rather have DCL until the end of the season than a Watford forward for example.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Will take him time to get back into the swing of things?

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        Doubt it tbh.

  20. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Leicester fans.....who is playing striker for your team today?

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

      Lookman seems to be playing as a nine

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 3 months ago

        3rd fantasy assist

  21. sandman58
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Thanks
    Very interesting

  22. ilikewud
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    WC team thoughts?

    Sanchez,
    TAA, Robbo, Cancelo, Cucurella
    Bowen, Jota, Moura
    Kane, Ronaldo, Dennis

    Martinez, Alt Nouri, Martinelli, Gordon

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

    Leicester goal. Albrighton. 3 or 4 different players could have scored. Remarkable save for Lookmans shot and Albrighton with the rebound. 3 assists for Lookman

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      3rd assist was a bit lucky, but counts I guess.

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

        3rd assist should have been a goal only for a great save. Could look at it either way.

  24. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    lol at Newcastle

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

    Son/Bilva to Maddison/Lookman worth -4?

    1. mdm
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Yes

  26. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Mbeumo just scored a hat-trick against Port Vale.

    1. Arteta
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Son replacement we were looking for.

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

        Going to tear United apart 😉

    2. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Post Vale you say? Thats where he usually hits them

  27. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Maddision, Tielemans, Lookman, hope to get 2 of these 3 in dgw22.

  28. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Lookman extremely involved & playing up front.Tough choice between him & Maddison.

    1. mdm
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 3 months ago

      Maddison

  29. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    NewC beaten oh dear nothing new!

  30. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 3 months ago

    Newcastle knocked out.