FPL

Why I didn’t check my FPL rank until Gameweek 38

FPLFrasier has been playing Fantasy Premier League (FPL) a little different to most of us this season.

Here, the Fantasy Football Scout Member explains why they opted to avoid checking their overall rank until the final weekend.


Have you ever felt the exhilaration that comes with a huge rise in overall rank (OR)? Do you feel extremely happy when all your decisions go as well as you had expected? And what about when they don’t? When your OR takes a dive, does it leave you with a sense of despair? You are not alone. I have been in that same place before. However, this year, I tried something new. I decided to stop checking my overall rank around about Gameweek 12. Going into the final weekend, my rank could have been 60k, 600k or six million. I had no idea!

If you are reading this article, there is a high likelihood that you are an engaged FPL manager. As engaged managers, we are at times obsessed with decisions and how our team does every week. With excellent websites like LiveFPL freely available, I know people who check their overall rank after every goal, let alone every week. In my view, this is all great as long as you enjoy the process. At the end of the day, FPL is a game that we all love and we should enjoy it.

As FPL managers, our weekly performance can impact our mood (both positively and negatively) for the whole weekend, and this can even carry over into the week. In addition, regularly reviewing OR also has the potential to subconsciously affect our next FPL decision. For example, a good week can make us feel (over) confident about our next captaincy decision, and vice versa. However, if you take a moment to step outside and look in, your current OR has absolutely no say on whether it is Son Heung-min or Harry Kane or someone else entirely who will be the best captain for the next week. Ideally, the best decision that you can make for your team is independent of your rank.

At the end of the day, I see FPL as a game and a hobby. As long as I get the entertainment from the game, I will keep on playing. The day I am not enjoying it, I will quit. When I considered all this, it prompted me to ask what I can actively do so that my rank changes will have minimal effect on my mental health and I can make the best, most impartial decisions for my FPL team.

Toward the end of 2020/21, I came across another manager, Reuser5, who followed a unique path toward their FPL season: they didn’t check their OR for the entire campaign and only looked at it after Gameweek 38. This season, I decided to follow this path and I have completely enjoyed the process.

One may ask how I do it and what is my weekly process for making FPL decisions? Well, I am a football nerd. I watch a lot of matches, read articles, go through stats etc etc. After a Gameweek ends, I try not to focus on how it went; rather, I concentrate on the next decisions I want to make. I watch extended highlights of the games that I may have missed, listen to podcasts, and read articles on Fantasy Football Scout and other portals. In addition, I also run my own model for FPL points projections and focus on that. I absolutely love doing all of this. Another thing I love is interacting with other FPL managers. I believe all of this is more than enough to keep me occupied and leave me with little room to worry about my overall rank on a weekly basis.

As the season comes to an end, I have been asking myself whether I will employ the same process next season. I don’t know the answer yet but, if you asked me now, it seems likely that I will repeat the experiment. However, I don’t want to restrict myself to a ‘rule’. This is a game – loved and played by millions across the world – and I believe everyone should enjoy playing it, irrespective of the final outcome. I know that my process is not for everyone and it may not even be the one for me in the future.

And what was my final rank? Well… 51k. I was nervous before the big reveal as I could so easily have had a seven-digit OR. So, all in all, I’m pretty satisfied!

By FPLFrasier

132 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jafalad
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I must admit I never check my score on the golf course because it takes me out of the present and adds all sorts of pressure to my game. I wonder of the author is on to something?

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I have done Sunday morning MOTD challenge most weeks this year. Similar vibes.

  2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Tottenham will never be a big club.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Just like Arsenal

      I think league table will look like this for a long time (at least 4-5 years)

      Top 2
      Mid table
      Bottom 3

    2. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Any the reason for this is? Top manager and stadium so one would have thought they are in prime position to succeed.

    3. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Now say that without crying.

    4. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      They’re not as big as Arsenal but they’re still a big club. They already are and have been for at least as long as I’ve been alive. That’s what makes the lack of trophies a bit of a shock. West Ham’s recent trophy record is no better but no-one talks about that (despite West Ham also being a big club - just not quite as big).

    5. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      6 seasons since Arsenal finished above them though

  3. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    How can you not check/know your OR when its simply visible in front of your eyes after logging in! 😮

    1. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Must haves for next season?

      Thinking CPL and NEW defenders if we have room.

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Palace and Newcastle defenders as must haves? 😮

        1. Jafalad
          • 14 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          CPL had a high no of cs.

      2. Jordan.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        trippier is a good fpl type

    2. Wight Bear
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      You have to scroll down on the app so not that difficult.

    3. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I was thinking the same but the only FPL page you absolutely need to access during the season is the transfer page. Your OR isn't stated on that page now, was it before season ended ?

    4. Jock Grealish
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      This. such a lie.

    5. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      On the app it is possible to avoid

  4. el polako
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Each to their own, I guess...

  5. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    What a load of rubbish. Your rank is displayed on the FPL pages, no way you could make transfers or subs and not see it.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I was thinking the same but the only FPL page you absolutely need to access during the season is the transfer page. Your OR isn't stated on that page now, was it before season ended, or was just remaining budget and number of FT's stated ?

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        It's on the 'pick team' page for sure. Unless you never change your bench or captain you would have to open that page.

    2. Rassi
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Not that difficult if you actively avoid looking at it.

      1. Holmes
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Even if I try to avoid, pretty sure I'll look at it by mistake at least once throughout the season.

        Realistically, this can only be possible if someone else is doing my transfers.

        1. Rassi
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Yeah. My solution would be to cover the right side of the screen with something.

          1. Camino Aleatorio
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Chunk of tape on your iPhone - imagine that

            Or walking around with tape between August and May, silly

    3. avfc82
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Reuser, who is mentioned in the article, said he only accesses FPL on his phone browser, where you have to scroll to the bottom to see OR. I don't think OR is as prominent on the app either.

    4. internal error
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      It depends how determined you are to avoid seeing your rank. I could easily make transfers without checking it. you just need to log on, go straight to pick team tab and then you've avoided looking at your rank. Whether I could resist the temptation to look, is another matter

    5. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      It is utter dross isn't it. This FPL Reuser guy is at it too. Probably gets him the likes and attention he craves though
      https://mobile.twitter.com/Reuser5/status/1528259191441440768

    6. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      As mentioned elsewhere, it's eminently possible on the app/phone browser. I use neither but even I avoid looking at my OR *during* Gameweeks, until the last ball is kicked, as a daft superstition. Much squinting/avoidance of the right-hand side required as I'm still looking at transfer, stats etc.

    7. Reacher
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      exactly what a load of tosh!

    8. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      He's a Twitterer - attention is the only thing they want by hook or by crook as that is how Twitter works. At least he isn't lying about being recognised in the street like some of them (yet).

      1. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Do you know him? These dead certain generalizations are just as bad as the worst attention seekers.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Fair challenge, but I don't (for example) need to know a Tory MP to know they are likely a scumbag. I mean, he could be telling the truth sure, but it has to be filed under "highly dubious" and at the end of the day no-one has any way of knowing what the truth is apart from him.

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Wow.

    9. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I've known Frasier for a few years. He's been in my community team and is a thoroughly decent guy who really thinks carefully about his approach to the game. It's definitely not some sort of rouse (as some here seem to imply).

      This was a genuine attempt to play without burden and just enjoy the game for what it is, to avoid the stresses of checking OR and I know it wasn't easy to do. But from what I know it worked as an experiment for the most part.

      I mean I kept looking at my OR sliding towards the end of this season, so I'm tempted to try it myself!

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Don't know why people have to be so negative and call him attention seeker, just trying a different approach and there's nowt up with that.

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Well said, folks. It's completely fine if you don't like the strategy and didn't take much from the article but it's just someone playing the game a bit differently and I don't get the need to go for the jugular with stuff like "dross" and "rubbish", and basically call the writer a liar. There's a person at the other end of the article, at the end of the day, and he's a good egg.

          1. chinmusic
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            You haven’t done Frasier (“he/him”, apparently) any favours at all with the way this piece has been edited. Rather than tut tut in the comments I would try to make sure the article contained the relevant information. You have to go to the comments to find out HOW this feat of ignorance was achieved.

            1. Skonto Rigga
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Aye, and that's a fair criticism of me. Plenty of folk wouldn't know that if they were purely desktop managers, so that is the sort of constructive feedback (rather than just bile) I genuinely welcome.

              1. chinmusic
                • 14 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yeah, no need for bile at all - in fact, I think my tone could have been less snarky so sorry about that.

      2. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Ah but what does Eddie think?

  6. Drexl Spivey
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Problem is, the averages change pretty much every season so there's little other way to gauge success.

    There's a time I'd target 65 points per gameweek, assuming rank would take care of itself. 62.9 ppgw left me with a 3.8k OR two years ago, yet 68.7 ppgw this year left me at 33.2k OR.

    Try as I might, it's just too difficult to ignore the arrows at the side without reacting to them.

    I definitely think there's an argument for ignoring early red arrows though. I wish I hadn't flipped when I missed out on Ronaldo's intro, or kicked myself so often for not captaining certain hauls, or not pulling the trigger on chips early enough.

    'What goes around comes around', seems fitting for this game, and certainly applies to managers like myself who thumbed their nose at Spurs players too long late into the season.

  7. Haa-lala-land
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Changes for next FPL season, I'd like forwards to get 5 points a goal and midfielders 4 points a goal.

    1. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      So defenders 3 points per goal?

      1. Haa-lala-land
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Defenders can still get 6 I think

        1. Haa-lala-land
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Maybe instead, forwards can have 4 points per assist, and keep the goal point all the same for each position

      2. Marmalade Forest
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Wildly celebrating your keeper scoring a goal before remembering it’s only 2 points after the rule change.

    2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think the points for goals are fine as they are, perhaps you could reward the forward with an extra point for the assist or remove the clean sheet point from the midfielder. I also think with the 5 subs rule they should give defenders 2pts after 45 mins played.

    3. Jafalad
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I would like to see Leeds defenders get 20 points for a cs next season. Tis only fair.

  8. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Players that deserves to be on the plane for England to the World Cup

    Maddison
    Bowen
    Gallagher
    Tomori

    Players that Southgate will pick instead due to team bias

    Grealish
    Rashford
    Henderson
    Maguire

    There is a reason 3 lions fail to win any major international competition lately

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Rashford retired, no ?

    2. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think it's safe to say Rashford can be crossed off the list!

    3. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Can't see a way that Rashford goes, but Sancho still might for the same reason. Bowen should definitely be going. Maddison might sneak a place too.

  9. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Liar liar, pants on fire

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Honesty is the best policy?

      1. NorCal Villan
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        It’s such a lonely word

    2. Josh.E
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      also wondering how you can't check your OR all season, BS

    3. NorCal Villan
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      The backstage boogie sets your pants on fire

  10. Baines on Toast...
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I think Mitrovic will be 7.0 this year. Previous standout promoted strikers have been 6.5 with nothing like his record. Even Toney at 6.5 started the season (if I remember correctly) near 30-40% ownership - 6.5 and decent fixtures and Mitro would be 50-60%, which they won't want. The one possible factor against this prediction is his relatively poor PL record, but I don't think that'll take precedence.

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      He was crap last time, best avoid.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      They will be price him kindly.
      At 7m he as no go and the very small poll of forwards worth considering shrinks even more.
      Mitrovic will be around 6m mark to tempt us into rolling a dice on him.

    3. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I can see 6.5 again, tbh. I take what you're saying about his unparalleled goalscoring record in the Championship but I can't recall any promoted asset being higher than that from the off. And I think his top-flight previous has to be a consideration. Given the inevitable price rises for TAA, James, Son etc and Haaland coming in, I could see FPL being generous with the lesser lights.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I hope their generosity is more focused on the 'just off premiums' like Vardy/Mane etc, I think that'd offer more variety than a cheap player who immediately becomes template.

        1. Skonto Rigga
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Yeah, I'd like that too. I thought Fanteam's policy of creating a big chasm between Mane and Salah (I think there may have been 2.5m or 3m in it) was good as it really did make you stop to consider whether the latter was worth it.

        2. Rassi
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Totally agree. Would be great if Mane was 10.5 for example.

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      6.5m.

      In past seasons maybe he would be 7.0m. But the underperformance of strikers across the board will probably see a discount of 1m or 0.5m on most forwards.

      1. Baines on Toast...
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yeah that's a fair shout. Would love to see the same for Kane/Ronaldo.

    5. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I think 6.5 would be fair. It all depends on the club really. If Fulham decides to buy good players to support and feed Mitro - he will do good. If not - he will flop just like previous few seasons when he was in EPL.
      He can't be only goal treat in the club - too easy to mark and neutralize.

  11. davidfromkent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Amazing when opening up the team page to make team changes and look at
    points totals that one can avoid even the slightest notice of the rank sitting in the top right hand box, seriously!

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      See comments above - layout on app/mobile is different.

      1. davidfromkent
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Maybe so but it's nonsense. The article is a page filler, rank may demotivate the odd person however I think Dennis captain DGW for 2 points when he got sent off or the following DGW captain Ronaldo 2 points as he played one game only or transfers not playing or DGW players getting injured or subbed in the first half of the first game. The list is endless of things far more frustrating than rank which is a combination of every event of poor decisions or bad luck!

  12. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Normally we would be tinkering with our World Cup fantasy squads soon.

    Damn corrupt FIFA ruining my summer.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yes it going to be a fantasy football free summer for me, maybe Raga will fill it with another virtual game.

      1. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Sadly, all these virtual fantasy games are not for me. Can't find any interest in them.

  13. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    I've only really begun to take notice of OR this season. I've had an account for probably close to 2 decades now but last season was my first time making an effort and not playing as a casual and still most of my efforts at that went out the window after about 8/9GWs. Even then I only really took note of my OR after GW20 or so. I think you do have to make a concerted effort to avoid it (rather than it being information you need to seek out). I can certainly see the merits of it. Like Neale has said above I too avoid looking at it while gameweeks are in progress, I know a lot here do it and I understand it to an extent, but I also don't see much point in it myself, I see more room for disappointment than pleasure but perhaps that's more to do with my own pragmatism. It won't change anything for your week though so for me it's best avoided. I don't see myself making any large effort to ignore my OR next season but I certainly will try to disregard it for the first 5-10GWs at least while things settle down.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I look at mine rank everyday.

      1. Indpush
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Are you looking at it now?

  14. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    There is no way to not check your OR rank from your pc/laptop.I don't use the app so i don't know but the OR change of each gw is on of the joys of this game.Not for me.

  15. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Not really sure what avoiding OR achieves, do we really play any different based on overall ranking?

    EO is a different kettle of fish. I’ve already made a vow to have fpl radio silence before epl kicks off again and I’m going to put a piece of tape on my screen to avoid seeing ownership percentages and just pick the team I want and see how that goes. I suspect it will still be relatively close to template anyway.

    1. The Mentaculus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Tied into EO isn't it? I guess the idea is that a lower/unsatisfactory rank compels you to take more risks, and protecting rank fewer risks. As in all the posts about chasing/protecting dictating strategy, rather than simply picking who you think scores most

    2. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Yeah, EO is more of an influence on decision-making. OR, if you let it get to you, is more of a mood-affector than anything that sways strategy, transfers, planning etc over the season as a whole, although I do think it comes a lot more into play for some managers (me included) towards the end of a campaign. If you're trying to preserve a top 10k rank, for example, or trying to break into that rank tier. Funnily enough, like Natedog mentions above, despite playing for two decades now, I didn't really worry myself about OR until about the mid-2010s, it was all about mini-league glory/cash until that point.

      1. Tic Tacs
        • 4 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Yeah I have only recently started taking OR into account, whilst also trying to do well in my head to head league which is a little bit tricky. Probably still too much focus on my mini league but finished 2nd and won a mystery football shirt so all good!

  16. SCOUTCAST questions - season review and lessons learned
    J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 10 months ago

    Season review Scoutcast - lessons learned.

    Tues 8pm.

    Join Andy and I as we look back on the campaign and consider ways to approach the game differently next time around.

    We are featuring lots of community thoughts as always.

    Feel free to add the lessons, which you will take into next season, here

    1. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Avoiding pre-deadline team news. So basically not being around for the hour or so in the run up to the deadline. Think it does as much harm as good. There’s still too much of a risk of dodgy info even from often reliable sources that think they’re doing the right thing.

      Even if the news is right I think it can lead you to doing stuff impulsively because you have little time to think and on reflection you’d have been better off letting a sub come in or something.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I agree.

        I normally came out of the wrong side of making any changes to FPL Rockstar team sheets when it was a 60 minute deadline.

        Slow and steady with minor changes often pays off. Avoid last minute nonsense.

    2. Tic Tacs
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Looking forward to the review! My main lesson is to be stricter on transfers and especially hits, looking more medium and long term as this season I've seen that hits hardly ever work out short term.

      Have faith in your gut feeling about a player and try to ignore all of the noise around bandwagons, but if a player looks like they are hitting form then try and get on early unless it involves restructuring the entire team.

      Price points are important to make sure that you can move to a player without making multiple transfers. Have faith in form players and those integral to form teams, even if they may have a couple of quiet games.

      Enjoy FPL! If you find that the game is impacting too much on your 'normal life' then take a break. This also helps when making decisions, coming back to your team with a fresh mindset can be helpful. If you're not sure what to do with your team regarding transfers then normally the best option is to do nothing, those players are in your team for a reason!

    3. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Effective ownership:
      This seems to have developed exponentially over this season. There seems to be a common thread though with success stories; if you want to do well in the game, be your own master. Choosing due to EO is running scared and limiting your ambition. Going against it can be just as harmful.
      A case in point was the last GW. Those who wanted to hold rank went Son (c); those who wanted to make ground went Kane (c) in many cases. Were these choices due to personal preference who was going to do well? I think not; it was a choice based on EO.

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Ignore EO.

        Deal with any BO tho.

    4. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Being level headed and not making emotional decisions are key traits to sustain an effective season.

      The amount of poor decisions I saw other managers make in the second half of this season was really very surprising. This season in particular. Even vets. Justifying bad decisions because maybe their rank was not exactly where they had hoped it would be. Chasing differentials too often. Differentials can work out great but need to be picked wisely.

      I saw great managers lose even more ground by continuously chasing. Maintaining composure is so important. But not easy.

    5. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      Template = Happiness

    6. el polako
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      I know it's a cliche but for me main takeaway is "Trust your instincts".
      There is nothing worse than being swayed away from original plan by general consensus only to see your original option scoring much better than people's choice.

      1. Rassi
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        I agree. Lost my top10k finish because of this. Next season much less FFS and FPL twitter before deadlines.

    7. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 10 months ago

      - Don't make last minute changes on things you've planned on or had as a preference all week. One of the best pieces of advice I've had but I still sometimes need to remind myself of it.
      - If I'm really unsure or back and forth on changes, the likelihood is that it's best to leave it. Best to save the FT / hit and make a more informed decision later on once you have more info.
      - Go with your gut. It's done me well this season, I had the highest "risk-taker" profile on FPL Review but I think it's done me well this season. My captains scored 7+ in 30GWs which is a huge turnaround for me, but I also picked 12 players for captaincy just once, along with a few others I picked multiple times. My best resource has been the eye test and working off of that, so I'll continue to watch as much football as I can.
      - Less hits. Self explanatory, I think with so many postponements and covid cases and DGWs most people would have taken more hits than usual, and they can work, but I took 17 and know that realistically I could have lost at least about 5 of those and done better.

      1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 10 months ago

        Not sure why I repeated myself in that third section, I'm a long way from my years scrupulously editing work in college

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 10 months ago

          The second point you make absolute destroys me, every season, every week of every season it seems I would be better off doing nothing

          Yet again on the final week I got mount and Jesus in for a hit to avoid playing..... coutinho and cash

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              1 year, 10 months ago

              The allure of being active is too much, I think I'll try to see every transfer as a -4 hit and hope that helps next year

              1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yeah I think I remember an interview with Fabio Borges posted here only a couple of weeks ago where he spoke about this being the season with his highest ever hits and it was something like 9? I found it crazy. But he also said something eye-opening, something like that when he thinks about a transfer and if it's going to be short-term (or relatively short-term) he sees it as being -8, -4 to transfer in and -4 to transfer out again. It's definitely something to keep in mind or as you say viewing any transfers as -4 as well.

                1. @persecuted_by_mods
                    1 year, 10 months ago

                    I read you making that comment and he is exactly who I'm thinking of, I've had some great finishes don't get me wrong but a consistent theme this season has been the week ending and thinking yup once again I was better off doing nothing not just points wise but future transfers wise and everything

                    The guy who did the Oxford data YouTube video also showed how a one off transfer very rarely pays off

            • Jock Grealish
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              The amount of times I sold a player and he hauled is insane. Note taken.

            • Peteski29
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Couldn't agree more on your point about being unsure on your transfer. Sometimes doing nothing and coming back with more information the following week can be a great advantage

          2. Peteski29
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Transfers are precious and planning is important. When looking at transfer targets don't just look at how that player will impact your team this GW, look at the bigger picture and how will it affect future moves you want to make. Always look ahead and imagine what your ideal team would look like and how you can get there. If you're really unsure about which transfer to make its probably best not to make any and save the FT.

            There's a lot of FPL related content/opinions about now but make sure you always do your own research and do what you feel is right. Don't be afraid to do something just because no one else is. Trust your instincts/gut and your decision making process.

            Enjoy the highs and don't dwell for too long on the lows. If you need to, have a break and remember that FPL is only a game.

          3. Gangster Panda
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Limit your follows.
            Don't assume everyone with FPL in their twitter name knows any more than you do.

        • Zimo
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          When's the new season starting? I kinda stopped playing over a month ago and now I need my fpl fix 😆

          1. Jock Grealish
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            August as usual

          2. Jebiga
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            6th of August

          3. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Thankyou. I meant fpl though 🙂 usually it's around June. I wanna start tinkering

            1. RedLightning
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 13 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Some tie in mid-June. We'll know it's imminent when FPL starts releasing new prices.

        • Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Grealish is such a little turd

          If I’d done as little as him this season and not even come on in a crucial game id be embarrassed let alone getting pi**ed up and making an idiot of myself

          1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            He came on against Real Madrid and nearly scored twice (being denied on one of those occasions by an insane block that then hit off someone about 2 yards in front of goal and somehow went wide). It was the same for nearly all new signings at City, even Mahrez only starred 14 games in his first season, Grealish would likely have started even less this time around if City managed to sign Kane

            1. Steve The Spud
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              100m to come on and ‘nearly score’ - LOL

          2. Baines on Toast...
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            I don't think he needs any excuse to get pissed up, by all accounts. Given his lifestyle it's pretty amazing he's a top level footballer. If he lived like Ronaldo he could be the best in the world.

          3. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            He won the Premier League and celebrated how the vast majority celebrate winning the premier league. Partying and getting drunk. He shouldn't have called out Almiron on camera but other than that there's nothing to see here.

          4. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            You seem a bit jealous of a young successful good looking man having fun.

            Where have I seen this behaviour before?

            1. Steve The Spud
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 4 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Hey Dave, don’t forget to pencil out Thursday nights in your diary for next season mate, don’t want you missing any of the games.

              1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Hey Steve the spud, have you ever seen your team win a trophy in your lifetime?

                Except the Audi cup. Let me know what else you’ve seen won at that run down area in north London. Proper toilet round there spud.

        • Camino Aleatorio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          Not possible - you see it everywhere

        • Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          The pushback here is incredible. If it's not for you or you don't think it's possible, fine, but I respect his experiment and this approach. We've all had back to back seasons with little break (and the gap to the next isn't far off) - so it's easy to see the appeal.

          I know Frasier well (top guy and great threads on twitter) and he tried this experiment to free himself of the burdens of OR. It is possible to do, just very hard.

        • Riverside Red
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          1 year, 10 months ago

          What a boring end of the season discussion...let's call it a day.

          1. Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Guess this answers my message below

        • @persecuted_by_mods
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Any of those websites that analyse your season up and running yet? Cheers

          • Grande Tubarão
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 2 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Anyone else just not care either way whether he can/can't or does/doesn't check his rank?

            1. The Ilfordian
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              It’s incredibly self restrained . I check my rank about half a dozen times during the match.

              1. Grande Tubarão
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yeah, I guess. Just surprised at the number of vehement responses it's generated on either side.

            2. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              Who is everyone talking about? All seems rather silly if you ask me

              1. Grande Tubarão
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                The guy in the article mate. I don't mind either way that he does it or anything, just feels a bit of a non-story.

            3. NorCal Villan
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              I honestly don’t care about OR. It’s all about MLs and H2H. In these I am playing against people I know, against people with whom I can talk smack and, in some cases, hang out with face-to-face. I just don’t worry about OR when a small amount of points can lead to rank differences in the thousands/tens of thousands. Of course this is just me- not saying that there is anything wrong with emphasizing/pursuing rank, just saying that it isn’t everything and that other approaches to game exist. That’s all

              I spend enough time tinkering and such that I see my OR pretty much daily but I don’t give it any thought. I feel that with way I approach my leagues the rank will take care of itself. According to the year-end recap email I got from FPL yesterday my OR of 44k puts me in the top 1% of managers. And I am good with that. I have played 6 seasons now and in each have made significant point increases in each season. I believe I will be in 10k next year and if so it will be because of my approach, not by obsession with rank

              But hey - enough of my yakkin'. Whaddaya say, let's boogie!

              1. Grande Tubarão
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Yeah, your approach sounds similar to my own.

                While obviously very interested in the game (just by way of the fact that I'm here) I'm not that hung up on the outcomes of my decisions - it's more the process in making the decisions in the 1st place that I enjoy. When I see some reactions when the results come in (both in person and online) I feel like my approach is a pretty healthy one.

                Congrats on top 44k rank! Season-on-season increases for 6 years is fantastic too. I tend to consistently finish in the top 100k but it's a bit all over the place in terms of going up and down year on year. Hopefully join you in the top 10k next time!

                1. NorCal Villan
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 10 months ago

                  To be clear, I am just saying that I don’t care about OR. I probably care WAY more about my MLs than I should, but that’s another story 😎

            4. Not again Shirley
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 10 months ago

              For what it’s worth I am not really bothered about OR. I only care about the ML I am in against friends. That’s what makes the difference to me. Had one of my worst ever seasons with OR over 500,000 but still won ML (just) so to me that was a successful season.

              1. NorCal Villan
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 10 months ago

                Can I join your ML next year? {eye winking at you}

          • AC/DC AFC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            1 year, 10 months ago

            Champions League Saturday night.

            No points at stake but real glory and records.

            It's a cup winner takes all at the end of a TV league competition.